Sunday Afternoon

The house is quiet except for the hum of the washer/dryer.

Willy Jay and Libby are down for a nap.

A mushroom quiche is baking in the oven. 

I've read the paper, sipping a Sonic Diet Vanilla Coke.

Stitched a few 'grannys' - inspired by Lucy.

And, clicked my way through my favorite blogs

It is true that the little things in life can make you happy

Growing up before my eyes . . . . .

The western view from my patio - corn.  Growing by leaps and bounds. 

It is, as the song says, 'as high as an elephant's eye'!

Also growing way too fast -- our only grandson, Joe.

This sweet boy turned 9 on Monday.

Time needs to slow down a little -- my grandbabes aren't babes anymore!

Which brings me to my last photo of this post.

Our youngest grandbabe, Laney-Bug, at VBS for the first time. 

Can't believe she's 4 - wasn't it just yesterday that she was born?!!

Sprinkler birds . . . . . .

I've always known that children loved running through sprinklers on a hot summer day --

 just never realized that the birds loved the sprinklers just as much !

Picture taken at the bedroom window - 7:15pm

Battles, Birds, & Ballerinas

Joe and I scored big on a Saturday garage sale run:  lots and lots of Lincoln Logs.  Which, of course, led to the purchase of tiny Cowboys, Indians & Pirates for an epic battle at MoMo/Papa Bill's house. So worth the $2 price tag.

I've always wanted a bird bath for our backyard - but, the really nice ones are very dear. After a little internet search, I bought a large clay planter saucer, sprayed it with a couple of coats of  clear spray paint -- our neighborhood birds have a little 'splash park'.   It took them almost a week to get used to this new addition to the back patio - but, now it's in full use.  I like to think they know the value of a dollar and appreciate my thrifty effort -- or maybe they just like my terra-cotta chicken!

A tired little ballerina, after her first performance as one of a troup of mice in the ballet 'Peter Pan'.  She had an entire row of family cheering her on and we all agreed she was excellent (and so cute in ruffles, velvet, & tail). 

Yes, May has been a busy month - can't wait to see what June has to offer !

Today: May 24, 2012

outside . . .  cloudy skies with winds blowing  down the plains at  25 to 30 mph, definitely a ‘bad hair’ day

cooking/eating . . .  lots of salads and fresh fruits --  would be healthy if I didn’t love Thousand Island dressing so much

creating . . .  little  knitted baby hats -- and with luck, this weekend will start a baby girl quilt

remembering . . . to slow down and enjoy the little things that truly make my life sweet

reading . . .  so many books, (a Terry Brooks series, ‘Shelter Me’, ‘Lost & Found’, ‘The Choir’).- between my Kindle  & the Better World Books website, there's usually 3 books in rotation, with many more waiting their turn

hoping . . .  for a quiet long holiday weekend – filled with family, food and some sewing/knitting (and maybe a movie too)

hearing . . .  the birds in the mornings – we have a Mockingbird  in the neighborhood and his songs make me smile

home . . .  enjoying our new carpet – as my youngest grandbabe said ‘it’s soft & fluffy’ on our bare feet   

tonight . . . .  spending time with two grandbabes (rumor has it that we might make a run to Braums for ice cream)

from my picture journal . . .  flowers for the front walk - Million Bells & Broom

Everyone has a story . . . some stranger than others

Sometimes I see people here in the City and wonder 'what's their story?'  Because you know, in a lot of cases,  it's got be doozy.  For example: Monday night on my drive home I saw a car with all sorts of bumper stickers, all inviting Aliens to come to Earth.  That was strange enough, but the owner of the car (for the record - the driver was male) had drawn alien pictures all over the back glass -- Aliens jumping around, waving, smiling -- very odd indeed.

You have to wonder about the gentlemen driving this vehicle - and his story.
Is he a big SciFi fan?
Is he promoting a business dealing in Alien memorabilia?
Perhaps he is an Alien and wants to go home?
All these things went through my mind as I was smiling at his Alien art-work.

But what really made me laugh was the 'Obama-Biden' bumper sticker tucked in among all the Aliens.  I'm sure this isn't what the Obama-Biden volunteers pictured when they were passing out bumper stickers?!! 

Note:  Sorry no picture of the 'Alien Car' - by the time I thought to take a picture -  the Aliens made a right turn and were gone. 

Big or small . . .

This week, with Spring rapidly approaching, I packed away all my flannel pants and matching fleece tops.,  While folding and packing -- I thought of how often I give thanks for the big things in my life - but, seem to take the small things for granted : 

- the clean blue skies here on the Prairie,

- the smell of coffee brewing in the morning, 

- my comfy flannels & how they helped keep me warm through cold winter months

- the sights of spring just outside my door (my daffodils are blooming !)

- and, of course, my comfy cottons that will carry me thru until the flannels come out again next fall. 

Starting today -- 

may I remember to be truly grateful for all the blessings in my life - big or small.

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy,

and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

William Arthur Ward

Words on Monday

The smile on my face doesn't mean my life is perfect.

It means I appreciate what I have

and, what God has blessed me with.

Notes:  Baby quilt made in Stacked Coin Pattern.  Fabric from my stash (with the addition of some OU fabric and a little 'camo' from the baby's Marine Daddy.  

Car Pool Waltz . . .

Yesterday - 2:45 pm

Car pool line - Piedmont, Oklahoma

Time to read a cookbook or two

(yes, I 'read' cookbooks - doesn't everybody?)

and work on a small knitting project

(another baby hat - they are like potato chips - you can't stop at just one!)

Tissues close at hand

(still fighting the sniffles/coughing - but, so much better than last week)

By the way, this is how much knitting progress was made on the little purple hat - almost 3 inches

And then, the doors open, 

one teacher with a clip board starts her walk

along the length of cars that completely wrap around the building. 

As she walks, she lists names from signs posted in the car windows

(but, in most cases, she knows what cars go with which children).

The bell rings and children pour out the doors and stand in line -

hopping and skipping in place.

One by one, vehicles pull to the head of the line,

a teacher and child (or children) come forward,

car doors are opened, children step in, 

seat belts are secured, doors are closed

and another school pickup is done.

It's at this point, I'm sure

every parent/grandparent hears the same thing --

" I'm hungry! " 

It's a good thing that MoMo has snickerdoodles and fruit roll-ups ready !!!