Making it Monday...

For my Sky Scarf progress this month, I thought I'd put something in the photo to give some perspective...so that's a yard stick there on the left (1 yard = 0.9144 meters).  To date the scarf measures 28 inches (71 cm).  That will put it at 7 feet at the end of the year...plenty of length to loop and wrap...because in the long cold south Texas winters we really have to bundle up don't you know.  :)

Friday's fun and fashion...

Mom and Dad got a rare night out alone on Friday and went to a concert.  The boys were away for the weekend, so the girls came to Grandma's.

We have THE best driveway for riding toys...a big, smooth concrete surface with a circle makes for a good race track.  These toys are marketed as Plasmacars, but the girls call them their airplanes. 

I love this picture of Chloe...you can tell how much she enjoys hers.  Though the feet are supposed to rest on the front of the car, with all forward motion initiated and maintained just by swiveling the handles, Chloe can never resist using her feet to get the racing edge.

Caitlyn usually enjoys the ride just as it is intended.

And the Plasmacars have a pretty high weight limit (even big kids can ride) so doubling up is okay too.

As dark came on, and we were putting the 'airplanes' back in the garage, the girls noticed a big plastic bin of dress up clothes that had recently been passed on to me but had yet to be carried into the house.  So of course nothing would do but we take them in right away and have a fashion show.

Chloe carries off hats well, I think.

Caitlyn tripped the light fantastic...thank goodness she never tripped over that hem.

And dressing up is just as fun in the morning...along with cinnamon toast and letter writing to great-grandmother.  All in all a pretty typical weekend...and thankful I am indeed.

Polly's paintings...

One of the things that made last weekend's road trip so much fun was stopping on the way home to visit one of my favorite artists, Polly Jones, and pick up two paintings that she's been working on for me.

I can't remember how I first found Polly, maybe through her Etsy shop, but from the first time I saw her amazing paintings I've become a huge fan.  I have purchased several small paintings--marbles, jars with flowers, a tea cup with a pear--and I began to wish that I could have her paint one just for me of my favorite heirloom pitcher.

So after corresponding via email, and arranging a meeting to hand off the pitcher when she was in my area, she began sketching and painting and sharing the progress on her blog.  And when she finished the large painting that we originally had planned, I asked her if she would do another smaller one too.  I thoroughly enjoyed the process, and I absolutely love the results!  The photo of us above shows us holding the two finished paintings in her studio.

I'm a lucky person indeed to enjoy her work around my home.  She's a lovely blog friend, and I am blessed to know her now in real life too.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Buddha in the Atttic by Julie Otsuka.

So happy that I've finally figured out how to borrow library books for my Kindle.  This one first came to my attention when I heard the author interviewed on the radio.  It's about Japanese 'picture brides' who came as a group to America to marry the men who sent for them.  It follows the difficulties of their lives in a new country, and their move to internment camps in World War II.

A change of scenery...

We just got home from a spur-of-the-minute road trip.  Eleven hundred miles in three days!  But it was FUN!

Back to work tomorrow.  :)

Sweet blessings...

We went out to celebrate our mutual April anniversaries with our favorite couple friends this evening.   We had such a good time with them, as we always do, and when we got home I found the following poem in my email inbox.  It is by the female half of the duo, who has a gift with word and song.  Thank you, V...you know I feel the same.


Tonight I Shared Supper With A Dear Friend Of Mine

Tonight,  I shared supper with a dear friend of mine.
And I thank God that this was not the first, nor, the last time.

We shared a laugh and a joke or two,

About each other and the things we have done or plan to do.
We shared food and laughter and joked about our age,
Yes we’re getting older and another year has turned a page.

A year filled with laughter and also some tears,

Our spouses  were also there, for this was a very special meal.
Each year we meet to share our anniversary dinner
and I hope we always will.

I thank God that He gave me a friend and a sister too,

Because my life has been more complete
 since the day I met you.

So my friend until we meet again,

I hope your days are filled with happiness and health.
And if it be God’s will, maybe even a little wealth.
Not only for you but for me too.
Oh, and don’t forget that I love you.

What I'm reading Wednesday...

The Midwife of Venice by Roberta Rich.  I picked this one up at Costco...along with two others. 

The shelf space that was cleared when I moved my 2012 Reading Challenge choices to my bedside table has been refilled with new books...and then some.