Wordless Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Kai McFadden and Jaya Pearl

Wordless Wednesday - January 4, 2012

Welcome 2012!

Happy happy New Year to each and every one of you!!

My six month break from blogging was the start of a six month break from "me" stuff.  I stopped blogging, writing, working in the sketchbook, spinning, knitting, scrapbooking, and crocheting.  I didn't stop reading books, but every other thing went by the wayside except the very much needed focus on other priorities. We even stopped our Sunday grandson / grandmother trips to the game store for role-playing games.

Sounds like things were pretty quiet, yes?  Well, during that time we:

• had our annual family vacation at the beach which was wonderful as always. We took the puppies, and they both loved the ocean. After three days, though, Jack Junior got very very ill. He cried out in pain, was unable to walk, had urinary problems, and slept rolled up in a tiny ball. Mr. Bryant took him home the very next morning to get pain medication from the vet, while I stayed and took pictures and loved the time with the fam.

  

• said goodbye to Ama as she went off to Portland. Mr. Bryant laid out her driving trip across the country, and we even found a cabin in Yellowstone for one of the nights of the trip. The drive took her to the Arch in St. Louis, Colorado to see friends, Yellowstone, Coeur d'Alene, and the Columbia River Gorge. 
• said Goodbye to Shannon and John and family as they went off to new adventures in Virginia.
• put all the puppies on a new diet. 
• watched the puppies grow like weeds!

• took Jack Junior to six vets and finally to NC State Veterinary School, where they diagnosed the infection that was crippling and killing him.  We got him started on a three to six month course of antibiotics and noticed immediate improvement in his condition.
• continued to take the puppies to Obedience Training. 

 

• flew the cats across the country to greet Ama in Portland.
• learned the incredible blessings of being members of the Leonberger Community. 

 

• had a fabulous family Thanksgiving in the mountains hosted by Mr. and Mrs. McFadden.

 

• had another wonderful Christmas hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Hanson.
• went to an amazing New Years dinner with our very dear friends.

In addition to all this, I interviewed for a new job or two, adjusted to a restructure at work, and did my best to support Mr. Bryant while HE adjusted to a restructure at work.

During all this time off from "me," I thought I was doing the right things, doing the things that needed to be done, paying primary attention to the other people in my life in the best way. But as I look back at the last half of the year, I can see that I was less centered, less thoughtful, and frankly, less confident.

I am grateful to have learned this lesson, which I think I really knew but allowed myself to conveniently forget.  Taking care of "me" is important, and changes how I interact with the world at every level.

I can't say that I am sorry to see 2011 go.  Although it wasn't the worst year it also wasn't the best.  And sometimes, that's exactly the inspiration needed to go forth and know this New Year better, man! (with a nod here to our friends, the Muppets!)

Here is to the most wonderful year yet.  Welcome 2012!

Our Best Friends

In December of 1980, Grandmother and Grandfather Hanson gave Aaron some Christmas money for books. He and I went to the book store together and any book that caught his eye came home with us. One of our very most favorite books was called "Our Best Friends" by Gyo Fujikawa. This delightful little board book has simple art work and tells the story of a little girl Mary, her doll (Doll), her cat Smudge, and her little mouse (Mouse), as they look for new friends. I remember us reading this book again and again to Aaron, and both of us never getting tired of the story. We took the book on picnics and to Grandmother's house; we read it in the car and at the park. My little blond boy sat in my lap and pointed at all the characters in the book as I said their names. I remember the sun shining down on us while we read outside, and listening to the wind chimes on the porch when we read again. I don't have any pictures of those days. But I do know that in the end, Mary, Doll, Smudge, and Mouse become fast friends with Harry, Larry, Spots, Mops, and Peeps. :)

I read the book to Amanda when she was little, and then again to both grandchildren. The book and the pictures and all the little creatures make me smile to this day. As my house fills up with sweet little souls, I watch them becoming the "dearest and the best of friends." The reality makes me smile and the memories of all those wonderful moments with my son, daughter, and grands wash over me. I am glad we have the memories that books bring, and thank Mr. Fujikawa for his gift to my children, and to me.

SteamPunk

All it takes is goggles to create a completely newly imagined story. Let's write one from here. I will share mine with you later this week.

Wordless Wednesday 10-13-2010 - Ama's Pup

Wordless Wednesday 4/28/2010

12th Night

We had a wonderful 12th Night Celebration with lots of laughs.  Mr. and Mrs. Rentschler and family were in attendance, along with Ama and R. and the ever wonderful Mr. Bryant.  We talked about the christmas story and the wise men at the manger at last.  

Dinner was yummy and easy AND low fat :) to keep our New Years resolutions on track.  Turkey Chili and Cornbread - Yum - with assorted Skinny Cow treats for dessert.  

The wonderful Christmas Tree was glowing and lovely for the last time, and the beautiful presents were QUITE the surprise.

  

The cycle of High Holy Days celebrations (Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany) gave us a great ending for 2009, and a great beginning for 2010.

Best wishes to you and all your family as we get 2010 and the new decade started!

Loving Wordless Wednesday 11-18-2009

TreeHouse Saturday

That amazing Mr. Bryant (a.k.a. SuperDad) did indeed wake everyone up on Saturday morning with "A dozen assorted and a Vanilla Chi." The kids woke up and pointed at all the colorful doughnuts, reserving them with "I got dibs on that one!"


Once breakfast was well underway, Super and ADR went on a mission to get the treehouse roof completed before the coming hurricane waters would give us a deluge. And so it went, that they worked all day.

You can still see the sky through the roof as they begin. Jaya helps as only she can, by making sure everything is appropriately labeled.




And the work to cut, measure, and fit the roof all around the tree continues.


As they get more of the roof closed in, the loft takes on a cozy tone. Look how cool the loft windows look!


One last picture, one last look up the tree before the roof is on and we can't get this view anymore anymore.


It was getting dark but with the magic of a camera stand (the porch railing) and a long opened shutter, you can see the tin everywhere - and a finished tree house roof.

Treehouse Update

The Crew, working working working on the roof

That treehouse still isn't done, but every week-end it gets closer and closer. There have been several rain delays that have slowed things down, and Mr. Bryant, Mr. Duke, ADR, and many friends are working hard to make up that time and get the roof on ASAP.

Pearly going up and down, anxious for the finished product.


Some of the roof, covered. A solid beginning!

Once the treehouse is covered and outside walls are done, then ADR will get started on some of the more artistic finishing (although I am sure he will delegate some activities to Mr. Bryant and Asa and Jaya, at least!!!).

The view from the roof - pretty far down there!

With the rain delays, the total project list for Mr. Bryant and ADR is backing up as well, what with plans for a rabbit hutch (yes, you heard that right!), finishing the fence, rebuilding the garage (yep, that's true), and the house addition already on the list. Asa and Jaya are excited about everything, but they are also wondering - when are Super Dad and Dad going to get any rest?

The challenging roof framing around the most wonderful tree.

The view into the loft.

Maybe over Christmas. :)

Looking at the progress, from the back porch.

Long Days, Short Nights

It seems like Monday through Friday are such Loooonnnnnggg days. Work takes so much focus, and I am exhausted by the time I get to sit down and think about doing anything creative - writing, crafting, drawing. But if I make time, I find that I am renewed. Excited and delighted by the act of creating.

And so tonight, as I planned a creation, I received two gifts.

First, I searched through photographs for inspiration. And I found this picture that just made me grin. In the original photograph, the entire family is standing outside in the sun at the beach. It is the day we are headed home, and everyone is looking hot, bothered, a bit grumpy. The sun is in the adults' eyes, and they are squinting. There are a few smiles in the group, but not many. And then, when I looked close, I saw my beautiful little grand daughter, looking like an angel, looking right at me, at the camera, looking so sweet that I could hardly believe I caught the pose.

What a wonderful smile my grandchildren can bring to my face!

As I completed the page, I received my second gift. I was completely and totally delighted that I had created something. Something to treasure, a little bit of our story, a little bit of the legacy of our life.

And so I bring to you the inspiring admonition to create beauty daily. If not us, who?

Wordless Wednesday - August 12

best day ever

When most of two sides of the fence were completed, the guys had piles of leftover lumber - and needed a break from fencing. And so began the much dreamed about, much anticipated tree house project. The kids are working on a super design - or at least the requirements for the tree house (rope bridge, two rooms, balcony, deck, stairs, secret room, swing, etc.)

ADR & SRS have several big trees in the back, and the perfect tree has just been waiting on the wonderful tree house built with love by the ever fabulous Mr. Bryant and the always marvelous ADR. And so, the initial platform was built and everyone scrambled up the ladder to see the world from a new vantage point.

Pearly said it best, as she got her first view of the world from above. "Daddy, this is the best day EVER!"

A Tree House

A tree house, a free house,
A secret you and me house,
A high up in the leafy branches
Cozy as can be house.

A street house, a neat house,
Be sure and wipe your feet house
Is not my kind of house at all~
Let's go live in a tree house.

Shel Silverstein

Rough month - and wonderful grands

It was a rough month, July was. So many shocks, so many unexpected issues. It took my breath away many times. Yet, through the rough waters, there were the absolute delights of my grands. He and she lit up my life on many occasions, and reminded me of the joy that was always there to grab hold of. On the hottest of hot days, when it was easy to be distraught and overwhelmed with everything, including the heat, these two gave me the gift of easy smiles.

***
Another blazing hot day. We were inside thinking about oh, so many things. And then Asa said he needed more exercise, but how ever was he going to get it with all this heat???? Even Gizmo was too hot to move.

(Of course, not the brightest puppy you ever did see, as he laid down right in the sun.... I understand that Border Collies are the smartest dogs. Anyone know anything about how a Pekingese stacks up?)

Veteran's Park to the rescue, with running under the sunshield in the water - what ever could be better???

Asa checks out the field of play.

Jaya gets things started up!

And the playing begins!

Hello Pretty!

Jumping through the spray

Come On!

Let's go!


Our wonderful boy

Happy and wet, ready for home.

I am grateful to my family, my children, and my lovely grandchildren, for the delight that they bring to my life every moment. Every day I pray for more patience and a more open heart, so that I can enjoy them more fully.

Thanks so much, loves.