Night

I tried to sleep. Really I did.
It's just too hot, and the full moon is peeking through my blinds and taunting me.
It knows that when it is bright and full, it makes me want to drive up into the hills and look at the stars in the sky and the lights in the valley below.

I like to watch the bats come out and get them to dive at the little pebbles I throw at them, and remember the days of night games, tree houses, and sleeping out on the big front porch.

I love my little town at night. The streets roll up, and it's so quiet and still.
I've spent many a restless night driving around and discovering little crannies and hills with views that take my breath away. All those favorite little places hold memories that are best enjoyed alone because that's how I first experienced them...

But since it's too late for a respectable old lady to be wandering around town alone, I've been sitting here looking for pictures of favorite things to cheer me.

One of my favorite sites had tons of gorgeous pictures of Oregon - which led me to think of my children, and how things are going to change at the end of this Summer.

My son is going to move back to the Pacific North West - not Oregon, but even further. Seattle.

On the one hand, I'm excited for him to be going off to a new adventure, and continuing on to fulfill his goals - but on the other hand, something in my gut fears that he will never come home again. Ever.

I've been so spoiled having all my kids so close.

But fish gotta swim, and birds gotta fly.

(...While crotchety mamas sit home and *Sigh*)


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Summer Solstice

It's official (by the calendar anyway) Summer is here.

When the kids are out of school - so am I. No more reason to get up early in the morning. The thing is, that for me, school is out forever. No more children in that routine ever again.

Trying to make plans to fill my days. I must accomplish things - or just sit around waiting to die. (Boring!)
Planning to de-junk the house little by little, get the garden in, start reading again, and hopefully do some creative things too.

Planning a trip this fall - so working to save for that. Difficult when the job is dwindling down to nothing...

I spent this past weekend at a couple of dance recitals for my granddaughter.
The one on Friday was for her tap/jazz class, and the other on Saturday was a full blown ballet (Coppelia.) The performances were at the new art center in Provo, a very nice venue.

Long performances, but it was fun to see how focused she was, and how seriously she was taking it. So cute. Wish I could share pictures, but they wouldn't let us take any...

Saturday I also went with my sister to the Parade of Homes. It's always fun to tour the homes and see what is new not only in the architectural styles, but in decorating styles as well.
We were only able to get through four of the homes before I had to leave for Millie's dance recital (the homes are spread all over the county) but it was fun - I enjoyed it.
In past years, the homes have all been huge and outrageous, but this year they were mostly small and conservative - signs of the times.

There was one huge "castle" type home that was my favorite - because I could imagine my entire family being able to live there together without feeling crowded. I never knew I wanted that - but it would be awesome, I think.
It was completely self-contained - movie theater, gym, indoor pool, even a dance studio! The only thing the place didn't have was a bowling alley!
Awesome. *Sigh* Unfortunately, the only oil on my property belongs to Questar.

News
Sad week in the neighborhood - 2 of my neighbors passed away this past weekend.

One a nice old gentleman who lives around the corner. Salt of the earth - his kind smile will be missed.

The other was an 11 year old boy. So sad when there is a life that will be unfulfilled - and especially when it was an accident that could have been easily prevented with a little forethought. The boy is in a better place, but his family will struggle.

Enough for today - I have laundry to do, and dishes to wash.

Happy Summer! (Wish I were on that beach...)

Weekend Rewind...

Thanks for being patient with me...

It's not that I have nothing to say these days - it's a technical thing.
It's so complicated to post these days, because I have to go back & forth between computers, email photos to myself, download them onto the other computer, then post them... (I have an unhealthy virus on my main computer, so I don't trust doing everything there.)

I haven't deserted - I've just gotten lazy. (Too much work)

Anyway, It's been a good week here - Sunday we celebrated my daughter in law's birthday with a barbecue up the canyon. She did all the work herself, and it was AMAZING! Yummy ribs, dutch oven potatoes, and home made doughnuts.

The weather man (as well as Mother Nature) kept threatening rain, but thankfully, that didn't happen. It was a bit chilly, but it was green and beautiful up there!
The party was a success, and lot's of fun! I enjoy her family, they are kindred spirits.


Family& Friends


As the air got cooler, the circle around the fire got closer...


Babe in the woods Sighted the elusive Babe-squatch


Beauty My daughter caught this shot - lovely.


Sorry the photos are so small... still trying to get the hang of this.
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Friday

It's been a pleasant week here - rain during the nights, cool breezes during the day. I love sleeping with the windows open, and what the rain does for my flowers.
(Even though it does make the grass grow a little too fast...)

It's also been very quiet.
Hubby has spent most of the week at the Huntsman Cancer Center with his brother, so I've been on my own. (The brother is doing well - almost beyond expectations.)

Been finding this & that to do - finished a little album for my daughter's best friend. She's been a part of our family for almost as long as my daughter - so a mere graduation card just didn't seem like enough...


I had the hardest time deciding what to do for her - then it occurred to me that I had all these photos of times that she had spent with our family - and voila! ...the idea was born.





I only hope that she can recognize the heart-felt sentiment that comes with it - she means a lot to us.


Other pass times this week?

Wrote a few chapters on my silly story, spent some time with the grans and my girls. Last night my daughter and I watched "On a Clear Day" together - what a trip back in time! (Gotta love those fashions from the '70's!) ...and the ever present laundry and cleaning.

It's Friday now, and I'm so ready to get out of here for a bit - any suggestions?

Have a great weekend!
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HellOooooo!

It's Summer vacation - now if someone would just alert the weather...
Still coolish and damp here, but the upside is that for the time being, everything is very GREEN.

I made a little trip to the garden shop this week, and lost myself among all the flowers. Heaven.
I wish those folks would come and re-do my whole yard for me, the shop was so full of beautiful blooms.

I picked up just a few to plant in my 'giant' teacup:

I had such a hard time deciding with all the beautiful choices there - but I settled on a few that were unique and fun.
These petunias captured my imagination - they are so different from any I've ever seen...
Love the green around the edges - so cool.

I had a plan to eliminate some of the large plants in my front flower beds - they have always been unruly, and laid flat in a tangled up mess. I was finally going to rip them out this year and replace them with daisies or something - but guess what? The darn things are pretty this year!



I've also been creating a little. With graduation comes the need for more cards...

Not terribly exciting, but I was in a pinch...

I also made this little recipe book for my daughter who will be leaving home for the first time this fall.

I made it out of one of those inexpensive photo albums you can find at any department store. I used some Basic Grey papers I had on hand, and the vintage title which is Cosmo Cricket. I don't know if she'll appreciate the "old fashioned" look that much, but it spoke to me of my momma and yummy home cooking, so there it is.
I'll fill it with my recipes that are her favorites, so she can create them herself. (Although she already knows most of them!)

Lastly, a little card to celebrate some new ribbons that came in the mail the other day...

I was inspired (or should I say 'tempted'?) by some creations by my favorite card artist; Lilybean. She is such a hazard to me - anything she uses on her blog - I have to have. She just makes it look so gorgeous! I swear the woman could sell me old socks, and I'd be happy about it. I hope the folks she designs for appreciate her!

...But I digress... I ordered the ribbons from This Good Day at etsy.com. The papers are some K&Co. that I had laying around, and the vintage 'seed packet' is a sticker that was a fun sister gift last fall (from Victorian Trading).

That's it for today. I was supposed to work this afternoon, but they are cutting hours again. I'm wondering how long until I find myself laid off again?

Nursing a toothache, so I just may put myself to bed...

Enjoy your weekend!
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