Time Flies

My baby boy turned 6 on Monday. They always say "it goes by so fast". They say it because it's true.

The contrast of feelings is interesting to me, I'm so proud of him, and love to watch his personality develop, it makes me happy to see him learning, and changing. At the same time, it breaks my heart that he's growing up, and before I know it he will be a teenager. He won't want my kisses and hugs so much ....SOB! I really did tear up writing that bit.

So, all I can do is treasure every moment..... and take lots of pictures.

Check out this one, it's his daddy.

His daddy isn't really bow legged, or have big red eyes that take up 80 percent of his head....but I imagine you probably guessed that.

Ramble On - I Made My Very First Treasury

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list.php?room_id=122083

Moving my needles

Last year I made a quilt for the first time. I never made a quilt before, but I decided I needed one for all the picnics I plan to take (more on that later). It was fun, more fun than I thought it would be. Still, I don't think I will ever progress out of the crazy quilt stage for I hate to measure and be precise.

Anyhoo, I decided to do a little embroidery on the quilt. Just a little initial here, and a bug there. I hadn't done any needlework for quite some time, but once I got started I couldn't seem to stop. It went from a simple lady bug on the corner of a quilt square to wall hangings and then cuff bracelets. I'm having a lot of fun.

All of my most recent projects have been inspired by gifts from my fabulous parents (hmmm, seems to be a theme lately).

First, these beautiful gloves that my mom bought on the Champs Elysees, on a trip to Paris with my dad some time around 1958. On a side note, she came home from Europe with child... my eldest brother....ahhh Paris.

and the result:

and

Second, this lovely barrette that my father bought for me around 1987 in Tel Aviv, Israel. He said he walked around town all day trying to find just the right gift. I think he did a great job, I love it and still wear it often.

I'm not completely finished with this one

I'm partial to a black background, can you tell.

Third, the fabric from this apron. It was my grandmothers. I can picture her wearing it, some time in the 40's making bread in her sweet little kitchen back in Minnesota...brrrrrr...she probably spent a lot of time in the kitchen cooking just to stay warm. =)

I like how this came out, but I may give it another try.

I need to get back to painting some time soon, but for whatever reason I'm currently paralyzed by the blank page...all the more reason to just get painting...maybe after one more embroidery project.

The Family of Man

I love this book

It was gifted to me by my parents. Every time I open it I find something new.

The Family of Man is the book from The photographic exhibition created by Edward Steichen for the Museum of Modern art in 1955

It contains photos that run the gambit of life, from birth to death, relationships, heartache, daily worship, trials and tribulations, and exaltation.

Love

Babies

Loneliness

Dreamers

Joy

They used 503 photographs from 68 countries by 273 men and women, professionals and amateurs.

It's a beautiful book full of life and emotion

Simple Things

Some days it's the simple things that make me smile.

Like daffodils on my sink

The bubbles created when refilling my dish soap

And making chocolate chip banana muffins with my little one

Serious Yum

Happy Tuesday!

Holy Cow that's a lot of Geese!

It's Snow Goose season here in the Skagit Valley. Every year they stop by here on their way to wherever they are going and hang out for a while. There are a few places here they like to congregate, some of them are have been set up as wildlife preserves, and others are farms. I went to see them with my parents a few years ago, it is impressive to see the sheer numbers but most of the time they are just sitting around, eating worms, doing goose type stuff.

I'm not much of a bird watcher, but can appreciate a pretty bird when I see it.

So, yesterday we had to run an errand that took us right by the wildlife sanctuary and happened to be passing by right when the WHOLE flock took flight. I have to emphasize here that it is A LOT of snow geese. Luckily I happened to have my camera with me (I'm trying to get into the habit of taking it everywhere). This is one of those things that is amazing to see in person, and a bit hard to capture on a little point and shoot camera, but I did get a couple acceptable shots

I put this one up just to show the sheer number of birds, I couldn't get them all in the frame. I did manage to get my husbands finger though. If you look closely there are a few people out in the field right under the birds (maybe why they took off) It would be an amazing vantage point but way more likely to get pooped on than from our view from the car.

They flew right over our car and landed in a field on the other side of the road...just to give me a nice shot with the sunset in the background.

Also, my prize arrived from the OWOH event. I won a lovely ATC made by Rein at Stamping Rika. Thank you Rein!