Happy Birthday to me!

How lucky am I to have my own private pastry chef?! I could get very spoiled, I have to admit. When I came home from work one day last week, I found this adorable basket cake waiting for me. Not only was it the cutest thing ever, it was yummy! White cake with fresh strawberry filling. Thanks Erin--I loved it, and so did everyone at work!

Lee & Carol - Happy Anniversary!

My oldest and best friends celebrated their 40th anniversary last week. I've known Lee & Carol since 1976. In my opinion, they are the ultimate example of a good marriage--truly partners who respect and support each other in all things. Together they have raised 4 wonderful children and now have five grandchildren (with more, surely, to come). They're each unique, but I can see their parents' influence and good example in all their lives. I have been honored and blessed to know Lee and Carol all these years, and to count them as the dearest of friends. The quality of my life has been immeasurably enhanced through this friendship, and I am absolutely grateful for them both.Their daughters and mine are the same ages and were such good friends when they were all young, and although they have scattered to different areas now, they have reconnected over the last several years, through the internet and especially through each of their blogs. Natalie and Sabrina asked Erin to make the cake for their family get-together this last weekend, and here is the result. They supplied this photo of their parents on their wedding day--are they not just the cutest? (I can hardly imagine Lee this young and beardless!)


I was happy to get to see Natalie and Sabrina on Saturday, when they met Erin at my house to pick up the cake. I haven't seen either of them in years, and it was a fun, though brief, visit.

Erin, Jessica, Natalie, and Sabrina, with two of Sabrina's four children, adorable Isabel and cute baby Hazel.




I am constantly amazed at Erin's ability to produce great cakes, and it has been especially fun for me a couple of times when I've been able to watch the process. She is SO talented, and I love watching her in action!

By the way, if you'd like to see more of her cakes, they're at: ecakes.blogspot.com.

Before and After

Yesterday was grooming day for the dogs. There's not a big difference in Bella after the visit; she just smells better, and her coat is softer. All she gets is a shampoo and toenails cut. So what you see is pretty much what you get--before and after.

But Cocoa--now that's another story. HE is a completely different dog. This is how he looked on the way TO the groomer...

And here he is afterward. Does this look like the same guy? I don't think so. He got kind of a weird cut this time, but still it's a huge improvement. He smells better, and he's soft and "touchable" now.

He's such an old man! He's 12 years old now--look at all that white hair on his muzzle. His hair used to be all dark. (But then again, so did mine!)

The Cricut

So, here's the Cricut Expression machine I've been raving about to everyone who will listen. (I'm sorry if I've bored you to death; just tell me to stop and I'll try.) I first saw the earlier version of it at a scrapbook expo a few years ago, and I've really wanted one ever since. I spent a pretty penny for it, as they say, so I'm counting on it to motivate me to get back working on scrapbook projects, which I've so neglected for the last year or so.

This machine pretty much does it all! There's no need for die cutting devices any more, and in fact I should get myself organized and sell all of my other die-cutting equipment on e-bay. This bad boy will cut virtually any shape, any size, and almost any texture up to 12 x 12 inches, and even, I hear, 12 x 24 inches (although I don't know how to do that yet). In fact, there's a lot I don't know how to do yet. I think I'm going to have to spend some serious study time with this machine, before it gets practical for me to use on a regular basis. I've tried some things out, but am not really good at it yet. I've been watching how-to videos on the internet, and reading the instruction book. But, I think it's going to be just spending time working with it that will do it for me. I was hoping to have actually made something to include with this post, but I haven't even done that yet. I've just tried a few random things, nothing I'd want to show off yet.

I've been following a great scrapbooking blog for the past few months, and am including some things from it to show what the Cricut can do (for any of you who are interested in this stuff). I want to give proper credit to the blog I got these from: thanks and credit to Robyn at thepinkstamper.blogspot.com. If you like scrapbooking and paper crafting, check out her blog.

Here's a cute little purse gift bag with a matching card; should be do-able even for me.

And wouldn't these make cute baby shower favors? Or a larger version could be a great gift wrap for your shower gift. There are just so many possibilities here. Again, from Robyn at The Pink Stamper.

Here's another cute thing that I really like--these little gift boxes with the flower on top. It's cut all in one piece, and you just fold it and put it together. I have to admit, though, I kind of tried it myself and, well, let's just say I wasn't quite as successful as Robyn. Mine didn't come out looking quite this cute, but I'm going to keep trying. I know I can do it! Next time I post something about the Cricut, it will include the projects I made, not Robyn's creations.

Memories

I visited Erin, Tyler and Jaden tonight for a couple of hours (I am not ignoring Jeff--he was at work). We had dinner and then just played with the boys. They showed me their new bunkbeds, and we played monster truck crash (or some such thing). Then Erin played their beautiful new piano for me. I was struck by how beautiful and rich it sounded. Maybe it was the echo because the living room is still empty, but it was gorgeous. She played a couple of songs from Les Miserables, and then started playing something from Phantom. It was beautiful, and I was enjoying it. Then I asked her, "Did you buy that book?" (of sheet music). She answered that no, it had been something Jessica used to play.

All of a sudden, and without warning, my eyes were full of tears and I was actually crying (luckily the boys were playing upstairs by then). It just came back to me in such a rush, that yes, Jessica did used to play that very music. Within just a few seconds, everything that she has lost flashed through my mind. It was really quite overwhelming, and definitely surprising. It has been years since I've felt that, at least like that, so intensely. It has been over 13 years since her stroke; I think that I'm used to it. I pretty much don't think about it any more, most of the time, and would say that I'm used to Jessica--as she is now.

But I guess it is there, always, just under the surface, ready to bubble up and surprise me. It makes me feel guilty that I kind of think of her as who she is now, and not who she was, because who she was is the real Jessica (the good and the bad). No one else seems to really know or remember that, it seems, and I feel that I should--that someone should, and that should be me. I know there are no real rules about this kind of thing, but it just feels that at least her mother should remember who she is. Maybe the reason I cried was because I realized that sometimes I forget, and I don't think I should. I don't know.

Scrapbooking, Part Deux

So, as planned, Alice and I went to the Scrapbook Expo at the O.C. Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa today. It was open from 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., although we were pretty much done—and done in—by 2:30 or so. We could have attended workshops and crops, but all we really wanted to do was wander through the two exhibit halls and browse, and maybe shop a little.

(Just a note—we didn’t pay $40 for our tickets, as shown in the picture; just $8 to get in when you don’t go for the all-day crops or workshops. I guess I just feel the need to explain that I’m not all that obsessed!)

So, somewhere along the way, and fairly early on (like by the second booth), our plan changed from mostly browsing to mostly shopping. It seemed that almost every booth we went to had some new and exciting item that was just “so CUTE!” That’s the word you hear most at these things, as in “Oooooh, Alice, look at this—it’s so CUTE!” But it was true, darn it.

I’m constantly amazed at the sheer numbers of new and creative things that people dream up to sell to us scrapbookers. I love going to these events, at least partly, just to see what’s new. Apparently I’m not the only one, as there were hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of us in the exhibit halls today—it was packed!


I, for one, am a sucker for cardstock and scrapbook papers—plains, patterns, prints, florals, seasonal, baby, paisley, heritage, funky. You name it, I love it! So even though I have more paper than I could ever reasonably expect to use in my lifetime, I did buy some more. This is pretty much my haul from today. Oh yeah--I also ordered an electronic cutting machine that I've had my eye on for, literally, years: the Cricut. I can't wait to get it in my hot little hands; I was told it would ship in a few days, so hopefully will be here by next weekend. I guess this means that the new Kindle I've been coveting on Amazon.com has to wait a few more months. Oh well.



I especially love a most versatile set of stamps that I bought today. I can see hundreds of uses for it. (It helped, immensely, that many of these uses were displayed on the wall of the booth where I bought it.) I generally need to copy my ideas (proves my claim that I'm definitely not innately creative); I loved it that lots of ideas were laid out for me today. This bare tree stamp lends itself to so many different uses, and I'm anxious to try some of them out. As I said in my last post, one of the reasons I wanted to go to the expo today was to get re-invigorated and enthused about scrapbooking again, to get moving on some projects I've had in mind for a long time. I'd say it was a success--I'm ready to go!

So, we had a great time, enjoyed the opportunity to indulge our hobby/obsession, and spend some relaxing time together talking and laughing. It's always rewarding to share with a friend--thanks, Alice!

Addendum 2/16: I had to add this. Alice reminded me at work today about the funniest thing that happened at the expo. Early in the day, we went to pay for a purchase, and the young woman taking our money looked at us and smiled sweetly. Then she said, "Two cute sisters." I realized, with sort of a shock, that she was talking about US! Now, this was wrong on so many levels. Yes, there were two of us--I'll give her that. But "cute," I don't think so. And sisters, come on... Other than both of us being old, we don't look a bit alike. Where did she get that idea? Then I realized that perhaps to someone as young as she is, maybe all old people look alike. You know, the old "they all look alike to me" phenomenon. Maybe? So, the rest of the day, we kept referring to each other as "Sistah."

Scrapbooking

I've thought a lot about scrapbooking lately. The operative word here, unfortunately, is thought. I never seem to have time to actually do it anymore. When I used to work 12 hour shifts, I had four days off every week, and would be able to find time at least once a week. But since I've been working 5 days a week for the last almost 5 years, I never seem to have free time. Saturday is taken up with more chores than I can possibly accomplish, so I'm unable to take 3-4 hours out of that day for a hobby, while leaving more important things undone. Sunday is church, and catching up on lots of small projects. And then, before I know or am ready for it, Monday's here and the week starts all over. I never seem to have time, or more importantly, energy, on weeknights. At least not enough to do much more than the basic, essential stuff, and then fall into bed. I have tried scrapbooking on weeknights, and that does not work for me at all. Mainly because when I'm in the middle of a project I just don't get tired--I will just keep going until 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. Now that absolutely does not work, because the morning alarm does not, sadly, accommodate itself to the time I finally got to sleep. After three or four hours of sleep, I'm just not ready to face most weekdays. So, long ago I decided never to scrapbook on weeknights. That works for me as far as getting enough sleep, but it doesn't get any scrapbooking done. I really miss it, though; it was relaxing and immensely rewarding.

I've always said that the appeal of scrapbooking for me is that it lets me feel creative when I know I am not (but so want to be); I love that. I still hang on to all of my supplies (and believe me, there's a ton of them), in the hopes that when and if I ever am actually able to retire, I'll have endless free days, many of which I hope to devote to this highly addictive hobby. Lately I tell people, when they ask if I have any hobbies, "I used to scrapbook, but now I just buy and collect scrapbooking supplies!" If I never purchased another item, I could probably scrapbook for several years and not run out of supplies.

Having said all this, now comes this confession: I'm going with my friend Alice to the Scrapbook Expo in Orange County next weekend. No doubt I'll buy more stuff, because I absolutely cannot resist the clever new items they keep coming up with. My only concession to any kind of restraint is that I will take a set amount of cash (okay, amount still to be determined) and won't spend any more than that. Whenever I attend one of these events, I get excited and feel so motivated to get going again. So, I'm going to hope that it does that for me this weekend, and that I can find some way to actually get going on some projects I've been thinking about for awhile, a long while.

Heartstrings

Is there anything better? Than grandchildren, I mean. I don't think so. I took this picture of Tyler and Jaden last weekend; we went to check out the park near their new home. I'm sure when most people look at this picture, they see two pretty cute boys. When I look at it, though, something almost physical happens in my heart (and no, I don't think it's just my pacemaker firing). It's taken me a lot of years to finally understand the saying "tugging at my heartstrings." Oh, how I love these boys!

Closet Envy

Let me start by saying that I don't in the least begrudge Erin her new house. I love it and I'm so happy that she has it. I'm excited for her and Jeff and the boys, happy that they are in this great new home, in what looks to be a great neighborhood. And of course I'm thrilled they're now so close to me that much more frequent visiting will be possible. The only thing I'll freely admit to is a fair amount of closet envy. I don't know if there's a real word that describes the feeling, but I bet you know what I mean if you don't have enough closets or storage space in your house.

When I bought my house 11 years ago, I was not thinking about closets when I looked at the models, and even when I did my walk-through right before getting the keys to my new home. It wasn't until we were moved in, probably the first time I went to put away the vacuum cleaner. I literally walked all around the downstairs, looking for some kind of a closet. Guess what? There wasn't one. Upstairs, there's a small linen closet. That's it. The bedrooms have the requisite closets, of course, and there's a nice walk-in closet in the master bedroom. But there is nary a single spot for storage downstairs. The kitchen storage space is pretty slim, too, with only a few cupboards and not a whole lot of counter space. It has been fine, however, and I haven't lamented this lack too very much all these years.


Until now. When I went through Erin's perfect new house last week, that was definitely what I came away with--the feeling that I was jealous of all that storage space. I shopped at Costco today, and when I came home the first thing I thought was, "If I was Erin, I'd have no problem trying to figure out where to put this stuff!" Or maybe I actually
would have a problem--choosing between all the options! This walk-in linen closet alone is enough to die for, as they say. (It actually looks bigger in person, if you can believe it.)

And then there's the kitchen. Let's see, how many cupboards? And how many feet of counter space? And just in case there aren't quite enough cupboards, there's the gigantic walk-in pantry. Hmmm. I told Erin that she doesn't have an excuse to ever have anything out of place. I don't want to hear it. Yes, I think I am suffering from closet envy. I admit it. I know, it's not pretty.

Wake up, Jessica!!!

Recently a helpful "friend" suggested to me that I should just "make Jessica get up at a decent time," that she would feel better and it would be better for her. This came about because she sometimes misses church or other things that happen in the morning. She simply can NOT get up early. And if she does, she pays for it later, and ends up feeling terrible and needing to sleep during the day. I was explaining to this "friend" that she takes a boatload of pills in the morning and again at night, most of which have sleepiness as their main side effect. Not to mention my awareness that people whose brain is starved for oxygen, as hers is because of her Moyamoya disease, simply need more sleep than people with healthy, well-oxygenated brains do, and in fact cannot function without it.

So tonight when I was getting her meds ready for the upcoming week, I snapped these pictures. This is the handful of pills she takes every morning, and there is a similar or larger batch in the evening.

Sometimes I wish people would keep their helpful comments and suggestions to themselves, especially when they really don't know what they're talking about. And I'm very grateful for real friends (and I feel blessed and grateful that they are in the vast majority) who make the effort to try to understand the situation before they start suggesting helpful solutions.

Do I sound bitter? Maybe a little. Sometimes.