++ playing in the park ++

 

 

 

 

If this isn't cute, I don't know what is!

 

 

 

 

[ Suzie style ]

 

 

 

 

I spent some time at my daughter Suzie and Winston's house in Las Vegas last week and wanted to show you a bit of Suzie's style. Her house is darling and clean and organized like none I know. I brought home some ideas for organization and great memories of time spent with two nice people in a nice house!

My kid rocks Bob Dylan

My son Michael, plays a great Bob Dylan song for the enjoyment of the masses on U-Tube. Mike is the good-looking, guitar and harmonica-playing one. His friend, Thomas Williams, is singing with him. Have fun:

Would it be bad...

...to go back to IN-N-OUT Burger again tomorrow? It was good, ohhh, it was so good. Was it the Vegas palm trees (just like the picture) that made it so special - I can't figure it out. I just stopped by on a whim - haven't had an IN-N-OUT burger for a long time - I can't remember the last time. But Suzie let me take her car to do a little shopping, and I passed the sign and thought, "Why not?" I drove to the next intersection and turned around and went back. And loved every bite.

Suzie told me that when Becky was here last she almost missed her flight because of an IN-N-OUT stop. I would not have understood until this afternoon!

{ some random things I like }

This linen cabinet...from Ikea - I want to put one just like this, in black, with baskets, in our game room to hold all of Mike's music stuff. Note: I like Mike's music. Note: it only comes in yellow which probably wouldn't work with the green walls.


This kleenex box...from Puffs Plus. It is the first kleenex box that I have EVER liked. I have often wondered why there isn't one decent graphic designer at any of those tissue companies. Paper towels too. But this box, it's a winner. You have to buy a pack of three and the other two are, of course, ugly.

This notebook...that I GRABBED when I saw it, at a little gift shop in Jackson Hole. I have had a like-affair with Orla Kiely designs (link to Anthropologie) since I discovered them about a year ago. Awesome bags and housewares. Problem is, they're pricey. Now Target, being the marketing whizzes they are, recently came out with a less expensive line of Orla Keily products - but the one thing I really like at Target, a red flowered tray, is always sold out. Good stuff's always gone. Or as the Orla Keily website says, being a proper British company, "Offer available whilst stocks last."

This fabric...classic Orla.

This flower. I'm not a big fan of marigolds, but they do grow well, so it's good to plant them. When I found this version, I liked marigolds again. They are called Disco Yellow Marigold. They look a lot like daisies - which is why I like them. Gotta go - off to Vegas to hang out with Suzie. Have a good week.

** surprise party for one **

Yesterday was my birthday - and it started with a phone call from Brookelyn and Bailee. Brookie said, "I got up and said to myself, 'Today's Grammy's birthday, we have to give her a call.'" After a nice and very grown-up chat, Brookie gave the phone to Bailee - who, at age five, has the cutest little voice ever. Bailee said, "We got you a present. You're going to be so ticked off." I could hear Brookie whispering loudly to her, "no, shocked." "Oh yeah," said Bailee, "You're going to be so shocked." I had to keep from laughing out loud. I'm so glad I had my pen in hand to write that down. The day just got better as I got calls from my parents, Suzie, Merilee and others.

I just have to show you my 'surprise' from Scott. He decorated the dining room and got a cake and flowers - and some gifts from the dollar store. I had told him "no presents," because I got some nice stuff for Mother's Day - so he bought funny little gifts at Honks - and he enjoyed shopping there a lot more than wandering through Dillards.

There's a little lamb that says, "Ewe are special to me," and a ridiculous pair of chimps hugging. The pink plastic necklace says, "It's my birthday." It came in handy when we had dinner at Hamiltons - free dessert. He also got me a Shrek notebook, a trashy romance novel, some glue sticks and a pair of chip bag clips. lol


I looked out the window and saw that our good friend Dewey Forsberg had just pulled up. Bonnie had sent him to deliver some Bluebird chocolates - thanks Bonnie - I've been loving them all day!

I had to get some photos of Dewey's decked-out Jeep - adapted by his own company, Novak. I said, "Dewey, would you have dreamed 20 years ago that you would be doing what you're doing?" He laughed and said, "No way!"

We had a nice dinner to end a wonderful day. Then, Becky came to Logan today and we went to lunch at The Italian Place, fabric shopping and we all (even Grandma Jean) went to the matinee of the movie UP.

My Beginner Basics post for the Adornit blog

It’s time for June’s Beginner’s Basics from Adornit editor Debbie Raymond. Debbie writes: This month I want to give you ideas for scrapping while you travel. I got my inspiration from my friend/scrapper, Robin Karren, who has designed layouts for Adornit and from an article that Ali Edwards wrote for CK Magazine, March 2006. The idea is to make a mini travel scrapbook that you create in your room (or tent!) while you travel. You can use a blank book, a chipboard book, or simply sheets of paper trimmed to 8 x 8 that you’ll add to an album when you get home. Here’s a photo of me in our condo room working on my trip scrapbook.

When I saw Adornit's Busy Women Scrapbook Kit for June, I knew it was perfect for a travel scrapbook. The colors and style of the papers will look great with photos from your journey.

To prepare, before your trip, you need to make a little TRAVEL KIT. Gather patterned papers and matching cardstock, cut them to 8” x 8”, and put them in a one gallon ziplock bag. Add coordinating stickers (I used the Life's a Hoot Cardstock Stickers - cut to fit in the bag) and a set of pre-cut lined journaling spots. (I used a sheet of Adornit’s Red Lined Paper cut to 4”x 4” squares – that gave me nine journaling spots.) You’ll want to take only the most basic scrapbook supplies – scissors, gluestick and/or glue runner, pen, rubber stamp and inkpad. (Robin took a mini-stapler on her trip.)

As you travel, gather your memorabilia to add to your scrapbook. Things like maps, ticket stubs, brochures etc. Be sure to jot down details that you’ll want to remember about the places you go. When you have an hour in the evening, make a quick page about your day. You can leave spaces for your photos and add them later. Most importantly, write what was special or interesting about the place you visited. Ali suggests that on your way home you jot down your 10 favorite memories from your trip. When your journey’s done, your scrapbook will be (almost) done too.

Happy traveling and scrapping from Debbie and Adornit.

"Each word is carefully measured and gently offered."

Yesterday, between downpours, I pulled about a thousand weeds and planted 31 pink geraniums. The ground was perfect for both pulling and planting - wet and soft. I'm behind in my flower-work because of the two trips. In fact, I keep forgetting it's June. It seems like April or May to me. This wet, rainy weather makes me want to curl up with a good book. Which I did yesterday.

I finished the book I started on our last trip. I love author Karen Hesse and her Young Adult literature books. I picked up this book when I was searching for something to read that wasn't an adult bestseller filled with swear words I hate and sicko life situations. That's when I turn to old classics and YA lit. I'm going to enthusiastically recommend "A Time of Angels," but you have to remember something before you read it. You HAVE to go to the end of the book and read the Author's Note and the Glossary first. Then you can start the book. You also have to believe in angels. That's easy for me.

Here is a short review by School Library Journal: A Time of Angels is a warm, personal novel set in Boston during 1918. Hannah Gold, 14, and her two sisters live with their Tanta Rose while their parents are trapped in Russia because of the war. Although life is not easy, Tanta Rose provides for the girls as best she can. When the deadly influenza epidemic ravishes the city, Hannah's world is turned upside-down. Aspects of Jewish culture are nicely incorporated into the story, as are period details. However, some plot elements may cause confusion. The angel, portrayed as a guiding force instead of a fully developed character, interacts with Hannah on an almost subconscious level. Hesse offers readers much to enjoy, analyze, and consider in this piece of historical fiction with a mystical bent.

I just can't mention Karen Hesse without also recommending "Out of the Dust," another YA book that took my breath away. This book is written in free verse - but as you read it it doesn't seem like poetry, just like narrative in short sentences.

Here is a bit about the book from a reviewer: When Billie Jo is just fourteen she must endure heart-wrenching ordeals that no child should have to face. The quiet strength she displays while dealing with unspeakable loss is as surprising as it is inspiring. Written in free verse, this award-winning story is set in the heart of the Great Depression. It chronicles Oklahoma's staggering dust storms, and the environmental—and emotional—turmoil they leave in their path. An unforgettable tribute to hope and inner strength.

Karen Hesse must be a person with great compassion because many of her characters are filled with compassion. I loved Uncle Klaus in the first book and Louise in the second. I believe we all have a lot to learn about compassion.

- special day -

Saturday we went to American Fork for Brookelyn's baptism. It was a wonderful day.

Here's a favorite photo of my two cute daughters - it seems to me that they were eight years old not that long ago. Becky (and Pitt) came from SLC and Suzie from Las Vegas. We missed Winston - he had to attend a family wedding.

I made Brookelyn a little 'comforter' to commemorate the day. She is a darling girl and showed proper awe at the wonder of Grammy sewing a blanket for her.

One of the most delightful things about making this quilt was discovering these darling little button pins. They are the cutest sewing notions ever. They are long and lie flat so they're easy to use and the pastel colors make you want to make a pink quilt. Oh, I did that!

{ painting and quilting }

All set up to paint some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. This picture is on Day 2 of Scott's painting workshop. You can see a bunch of logs in the centerof the photo - that's a beaver dam. Below is Jim Wilcox (on Day 3) demonstrating how to paint this Wyoming scenery.

This is Jim's painting - Scott took lots of photos so he could refer to them later. Half of the painters in the class considered themselves "professionals."

I'm hanging out in the motel room making a little quilt for Brookie's eight birthday. It has been a little bit of a challenge to accomplish this, but I've really loved every step. The above picture is proof that you can use a rotary cutter on a tile floor if you forget your Olfa mat and the local quilt shop has none. I haven't made a quilt for awhile, and I'm learning to use a new sewing machine, so the process has been kinda slow. Truth be known, it's mainly because I keep Googling stuff like "how to make a quilt sandwich" or "how to baste with adhesive spray" or "how to machine quilt without using a walking foot." Then, I get distracted reading all the google results and before I know it I'm off on some quilter in Indiana's blog reading about her homeschooling her kids. So I told myself no more computer 'til I updated my blog tonight. Then I had fun focusing on the quilt. It is turning out so cute and will be soft and cuddly - just what I wanted for Brookie.

This photo is to show that you don't need to baste with needle and thread or with big safety pins anymore! Using spray adhesive is awesome - I can't even describe how easy and convenient it is. (And expensive darn it - I need to find a cheaper brand.) You just lay down your layers on the floor, spray the stuff, and smooth it together.

Here is the quilt spread out on the bed. The light pink dots toward the bottom is soft fuzzy minkee fabric. The rest of the quilt is a wonderfully soft flannel. This line of fabric had a brown flowered piece that I wish I had bought, but oh well....

Here's me still sewing. It seems like I've worked on this for three full days, but I actually did a lot in between. I walked downtown today and shopped for awhile then sat at the counter at Billy's Burgers and ate a huge hamburger - probably the first hamburger I've had in six months. Oh, it was delicious. Got acquainted with a kid who is shooting photos for the Wyoming Travel Bureau.