A jumble of thoughts on a busy week...

1.  The "Carry On" posters have been everywhere for the last few years...a bit too much popular fad for my taste...but came across this one recently, and the small print gave me a chuckle.

2.  This week is kicking my booty.  I will be VERY glad when one special person gets back to work from maternity leave (that is so selfish of me, because I know how hard it is to leave a sweet baby with a new sitter situation) and another empty staff position is filled.

3.  Added to my crazy schedule this week was Carey having some outpatient surgery yesterday.  We had to be up very early to get to the city on time (right at rush hour I might add), and ended up choosing a route that completely backfired when we came to a low place in the road with fast moving water flowing across it.  Had to turn around and take alternate route.  More storms expected tonight, so the flooding is probably not over.

4.  Speaking of floods...so much destruction and heartbreak nearby.  Prayers for the lost and those who love them.  Prayers for the searchers.  Prayers for those mucking out the mud.  If you have never cleaned up after a flood, the smell...oh the smell.

5.  Must add that Carey is recovering very well, in honor of which I think I should order this: 

image credit: keepcalmandcarryon.com

In memory and appreciation...

left to right: Uncle Red (Raymond), Dad (Gene), Uncle John

I phoned my sister last night, and she said she was looking through a box of old photos for a copy of this one to post on Facebook for Memorial Day.  Since I had it scanned and filed on my computer, it was easy to help her out.

It's such a great photo of my dad (middle, Army) and his two brothers (Navy) in their WWII uniforms standing beside my grandparents' house.  They were all able to be home at the same time before reporting for their assignments.  It speaks to me of what our service members fight and sacrifice for: home and family.

They were lucky.  They all made it home again.

Today we honor the memory of those in all wars who haven't, and honor all who serve and sacrifice.

Girls gone mild...

 We switched out girls yesterday.  Beau came and picked up Chloe and dropped off Caitlyn.

Caitlyn and I went to a late lunch with her Uncle Jared, then stopped on the way home at a new popcorn store that we have both been curious about...so many flavors!  Other than that we spent a pretty quiet time at home.

She did some more sewing on a project we started awhile back.  It had been awhile since we had worked on it, so she needed a bit of help at first, but then got on happily and finished up on her own all that I had pinned and marked for her in advance.

We took a couple of photos, as I had promised her great-grandmother.  I like this one, because it shows the dimple in her chin that she inherited from her mother (who inherited hers from her dad), and because she looks rather mischievous.

I thought Carey's mom would like this photo better, so it's the one I put on a card for Caitlyn to write to her.  Both girls really write quite sweet notes to her, and I'm proud that they have developed the skill of letter writing.  That it continues to earn me daughter-in-law points with their great-grandmother is nice too.  :)

Now her mama has come to pick her up, so the house is quiet, and the laundry is screaming to be sorted and the first load put in the machine.  Since there is a howling thunderstorm keeping me housebound, I have no excuse not to get right on it.

She's a doll...

...of course, I may be  just a little partial.  :)

School's out for a long weekend, so the girls wanted to take turns spending the night at Grandma's.  Chloe had first dibs.

 I promised Carey's mom I would take some photos while the girls are here.  I love this one of Chloe on the sofa, snuggled into a pile of stuffed animals and Raggedy Anns.

And since I always aim to have the girls write a letter to Carey's mom while they are here, I used the photo to make a card for Chloe to write and send.  It's written, enveloped, addressed, and stamped.

Now it's almost time to switch one girlie for another.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

I finished last week's book a couple of hours ago.  Though it started well, it finished poorly.

If anyone is ever interested, I always put a very short review of each book I finish on my Reading List page of the blog.

Next up I will be reading...

The Jump-Off Creek by Molly Gloss

I've read another book by this author this year, and I rated it 10/10.  I'm heading back for another by her as I'm in the mood for something engaging and lyrical, which is how I remember the previous one.

Tales of the old goat...

image credit: Bing clip art

Responding to something on television or a menu (I can't remember the exact setting) my husband stated, "That sounds really good, except for the goat cheese."  

me:  You're just saying that because you're prejudiced against goats.

him:  No, I'm not.

me:  You've eaten goat cheese and liked it, I say.

him:  No, I haven't.

me:  The tortellini salad I make has feta in it.

him:  I know.

me:  Feta is goat cheese.

him:  Mm-hmm.

me:  You like the salad.  

him:  All except the goat cheese.

These conversations with him are frustrating.  He's easy to feed, because he's always grateful and complimentary...to the point of me not knowing that he doesn't like something.  

It makes me a little crazy.  

Thirty.  Nine.  Years.

Sunday desserts...

As usual I made a dessert to take to Sunday dinner at the kids' house.  This week it was a Strawberry Lemonade Layer Cake by Easybaked.  It was easy and turned out very pretty.  The kids thought the frosting was a little too tart, and I would probably adjust it a little if I make it again.

I also took Asparagus Tomato and Avocado Salad.  When we had asparagus with them a couple of weeks ago, Beau was unhappy that Kasey prefers it overcooked, and so always makes it that way.  I love the cooked-but-with-a-tender-crunch texture of the asparagus when cooked as the salad recipe directs, so I knew he would appreciate that about it.  He's a good son-in-law, and he doesn't like sweets, so I like to take a dessert alternative especially for him occasionally.  :)

5 things Friday...

My week in a snapshot...or five snapshots.

Monday: Listening to an NPR story piqued my interest to look up the journalist online.  I'll bet people don't forget her name...though they may forget it on their shopping list.

Tuesday:  Quiet day at work...made a couple of cards (actually stationery) using copy paper and clip art.

Wednesday:  Another quiet day, so I kept a sheet of graph paper handy to sketch out an idea for some quilt blocks.  I blurred them below...just in case I decide to do something with them someday.

Thursday:  Though Chloe's theater class is over for the school year, we decided we would still like to hang out together on Thursday afternoons.

Friday:  Carey's truck radio was not factory installed, and there was no manual included when he bought the truck.  Today I took a photo of it so that I would remember to look online for a manual to download, because the nonsensical scrolling messages it flashes drive me nuts.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

Miramont's Ghost by Elizabeth Hall

Prickly posies...

For eleven months of the year, cactus displays a lusterless appearance and lethal spines ...

but come Springtime...

its blooms...

paint my world...

with prism bursts.

Saturday snail mail...

My endeavor to mail 52 letters in 52 weeks continues.

I found that I had quite a few card photos stacking up, so it's time for a bit of a Saturday snail mail catch up.

The latest group were inspired by Lori Vliegen watercolors.

I figured if I could do birdies, then I could do posies too.

 I actually disassembled the following one, trimmed it down, added a stamped message, and then reassembled it in another way and used it as my mother-in-law's Mother's Day card...I just forgot to take a photo of it finished, so what you see is actually the before.

I had also made a few previously that were mailed out in April.

I found the images of the blue and white plates online and printed them out on watercolor paper.  Then I cut them out and placed them on a lace-lined 'shelf' on a kraft card base.

And then I was inspired by Amethyst Designs...hers were stamped and then white embossed on kraft paper.  I used a white gel pen to doodle some flowers on kraft cards.

There were quite a few mailed that I didn't get photos of.

Accountability stats: 19 weeks / 21 letters

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins

Yea!  I finally made it to the top of the reserve list for this library ebook!  I think when I reserved it there were sixty-four people in front of me.  :)

Tip of the week...

This tip is another one that saves fingernails/manicures.  I have terribly weak nails, so anything that can save me a tear or break is welcome information.

Step 1:  Staple puller

Step 2: Insert teeth in the split of your key ring. 

 Step 3: Insert or remove key.

Best.  Tip.  Ever.