Indulge Your Shelf

Last night Rebecca and I went with our families to see our local minor league baseball team, the Sky Sox, play at Security Service Field in Colorado Springs. Before they scatter to the winds this summer, we wanted to get our kids together to recreate this favorite photo, taken in 2004: Here's how the same kids looked last night: I love them all so much!  What a fun night! I wish you a memorable Memorial Day weekend.  Take pictures!

I hope you've been enjoying your Mother's Day weekend...whether you're a mom or not, and whether your mom is still walking the earth, or not.  I'm a mom without a mom myself.  I've had a lovely weekend and day.  My son's home from college for a few weeks, which makes it extra wonderful for me! Recently I was going through my embroidery bag and I found this small snippet roll that I remember piecing together long ago -- probably more than a year back.  I had gotten as far as designing it and pinning on the elements and then got busy elsewhere and never finished it. It was really delightful to pick up where I'd left off -- with most of the project planned.  I sat down and sewed it one evening. I love this netted and silk ribbon embroidered embellishment; it was a gift from a blog friend overseas.  I had three pieces, and this is the last one.  Isn't it funny how sometimes you can tell stories about bits of ribbon or lace -- or buttons? Thi...

I have been finding stuff that I love in thrift shops lately.  I don't go very often at all anymore -- but when I do, I always seem to find something that has made the trip worthwhile!  I guess when that stops happening, I'll stop going. This came from an estate sale: a very kitschy music box topped with glitter and a plastic nativity! This huge bag of someone's de-stashed fancy yarn/ribbon stuff was so much fun to go through. I found this needle-pointed panel irresistible! What a sweet kitty! Another estate sale had some hand-crocheted doilies -- and the pink was perfect for a page in the Jane Austen fabric book I am making. And this silk handkerchief, found at a thrift store, had such interesting fabric I had to bring it home! I thought this tiny framed picture was such a treasure!  When I showed it to my husband, he said it had probably been in a bomber over Europe during WWII.  It's made of glass, reverse painted, and then edged in chrome. ...

I want to believe that all things are possible in May, how about you? My husband is beginning his fourth month of joblessness -- and not for lack of trying to find a job.  He's had several interviews that have come to nothing.  I feel so bad for him.  Heck, I feel bad for myself, if you want to know the truth.  I have had four job interviews in the past five months and didn't get any offers.  It's enough to make a girl want to give up, truly.  My current temporary assignment ends next Friday; so far, I have nothing lined up for after that. I recently went to a sign painting class that was offered at a local restaurant.   It was a lot of fun! This is the quote I chose and painted -- I have it hanging on my family room wall now: I'm telling you: I read it with hungry eyes, every day.  I wish this season of our lives was already behind us!! </end pity party> Anyway... Do you remember when my blogging friend Claudia...