vintage paintings

these two small original oil paintings hung in my grandmother's house.  they were a gift to her from my mother.  i love these two paintings.  they are quaint, sweet and vivid, and, in person, have dimension and layers.  they make my heart smile.

my mother purchased them from the artist, eric linnell, in 1945.  she was on her way to work (her very first job) at wanamaker's in philadelphia.  the artist was sitting outside of wanamaker's on the sidewalk painting them.  still in their original frames, they measure only about 5" X 6".

they were lovingly handed from daughter to mother.

they hung in my grandma's house until she died in 1977.

after that they hung in my mom's house.

i've had my eyes on them ever since i can remember.
(so much so that i put my name on the back of them lest any of my siblings get any ideas that they might be going to their homes.)

recently they came home with me and they now hang in my house.

i see them every single time i enter my home.

love.

additions

i wish i could be one of those bloggers who posts everyday but things have been busy around here.  real busy.  and all this busyness has included a couple of new additions.

addition number one is by far the most beautiful, enchanting and heralded addition to come into our lives, well, since the last most beautiful, enchanting and heralded addition.

introducing

natalie olivia

natalie came into the world on tuesday, december 7, 2010 at 4:43 pm.

7 pounds and 11 ounces of pure joy.

i am most blessed.  she has filled my heart during a time i was afraid it was breaking.

and while natalie and mom and dad were resting in the hospital

this sassy little creature spent the night with me.

she let me take two pictures and then proclaimed,

"ok nana, that's enough".

during all this busyness i was drooling over christmas ball wreaths.  i had to have one.

i liked the more abstract ones best.  i didn't want my balls all lined up.

(in contrast to the days when i needed all my "balls" lined up and the boy i live with gave me some telling advice..."all your 'balls' are swimming on different ponds.  get used to it".)

so i made me a christmas ball wreath.  and my balls are not all lined up.

additions are a very good thing.

siblings

the first time in a very long time that my three siblings and i had a chance to get together...just the four of us.  no spouses.  no children.  not that their spouses and children aren't wonderful...they are. 
but it was so nice to just have us.
and while the occasion that brought us all together is a sad and painful one,
i am so grateful for the time we had together.
i love you bobby.
i love you charlie.
               i love you jo.      

he da man

 i fell in love with this face the very first time i saw it.  he (and his brother...i'll tell you about him later) had been on a plane for 24 hours.  his eyes couldn't have been bigger and the look of fear on his face couldn't have been more real.  he didn't know that he had a family waiting.  that he was loved beyond measure.  and that he was ours forever.  he had no idea that he was in for the adventure of a lifetime.  neither did we.

now he's all grown up.  almost.

 that's him playing the stand up bass with the cdo jazz band.  and he plays golf.  and he's in r.o.t.c.  he loves to fish.  he loves to hunt.  he plays a mean cornhole.  he's always happy.  he's very loved.

 you da man koll.

we're back

pinetop was beautiful.  the parade was "small town" and entertaining (well, except for the belly dancers...seriously who puts belly dancers in a 4th of july parade?).  the fireworks were "small town"...which for fireworks translates to fabulously stupendous.  really, the best to be had.
the resort had everything we wanted or needed.  the pool was inviting.  the game room was hopping.  the kids were great.  and the temps never got over 80. 

so what could be wrong.

my picture taking skills.  my camera.  whichever one is the culprit doesn't matter.

these are the only pics i got.  not that i didn't take more.  i took dozens more.
they were just all blank.

jen, i'll ask again.  please help.  i need it.

p.s.  the thrifting was nonexistant.  so sad. 
guess i'll have to hit my favorite tucson haunts.

let freedom ring

headed to heaven on earth again.  get to stay the whole week this time.  we'll be staying at the timeshare.  and  the kids will be with us (sash, koll, and oksana where are you?) so this pool will be hopping with ball progeny.  

but the best thing about the 4th of july in the white mountains is the show low freedom fest.  old style, hometown parade, barbeque, farmer's market, artisan fair, rodeo, and fireworks.  the best fireworks known to man.

and then there's the thrifting.  which requires a trip to the bank before we leave.

can't wait to show you all my treasures.  because they will be there.  they always are.

can't get enough of that white mountain thrifting.

tea time (and a sneak peek)

oh how my girls love a tea party.  they love fresh flowers and hats.  they love pretty dishes and "fancy" food.  they love talking like "grown ups" and sipping lemonade.  it makes me wish they would never grow up.  that they would always want to come to nana's.  and spend hours pretending we are "fancy" people.

it couldn't have been a more perfect afternoon.

except we missed oksana.

sani leigh, one summer you must stay home so we can be "fancy" with you too.

could these pics be any worse.  is it me or the camera?

which is why i have yet to post my finished dining room pics.

well, that and the fact that it's still not quite done yet.

jen, please help.  you take beautiful pictures.

wanna come over?

p.s.  sani, hurry home.  we miss you.  we don't like having fun without you.

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a saturday well spent...sorta...i think

my beautiful, loving and very capable daughter spent the day with me today.  cleaning out my closet.  a chore that has needed to be done for about a year now.   yes, we cleaned out my closet just one year ago.  who knew that in a year's time one could accumulate so many shirts and shoes and purses and scarfs and jeans and capris and sweaters.  she was brutal.  she did not let me hang on to anything that didn't have her stamp of approval.  well, except for one sentimental piece.  this is what things looked like about half way through.  before my anxiety attack.  because she was making me get rid of all my hangers.  but i talked her into the white ones.  after i promised that i would change out all the hangers in the closet.  because hangers really should match.
 

and if you're thinking those piles don't look like much....they filled up 8 large plastic lawn and leaf trash bags.

this is the one sentimental piece that she let me keep...a cowgirl shirt that the boy i live with bought me in san antonio...a george strait shirt.  i love george strait.

and my clean closet.

and my beautiful, loving and very capable daughter.

thanks bear.

but just so you know...i got nothing to wear.

my loves

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no, i'm not a bad blogger. i've just been busy living life.

and in case you don't believe that much living could be going on over here, i'll list the events and then just let this post speak for itself.

allie's bachelorette party at el charro.

making centerpieces for the reception.

making bridal party and bride's bouquets.

a wedding.

a wedding reception.

a family breakfast.  that i wasn't invited to.  so carrie and i crashed it.  we're not shy.

a birthday party.

and so many more pictures.

but i could post for 10 more pages.  so i'll stop now.

but just so you know.  we are very busy living life.

and couldn't be happier.

a shower, a missionary, and somebody's wish list

a full weekend for sure...my feet still hurt.  but one of the best ever.  it started with a bridal shower for my niece, allison.  she will soon marry mike.  they are good together.  and she raked in the loot.  it made me happy.

                                          the spread, the panty line and the attendees.

and carrie and ashley were the best co-hosts and workers ever.  they let me leave early...and did all the clean-up...so i could go off to prescott.  i love you girls.

the trip to prescott (rhymes with bisquit) was to attend a missionary farewell.  elder max kurtz is quite the young man.  confident, ready, and a smile that is going to light up spokane.  you will be in my prayers elder kurtz.  every night.

and of course, the prescsott trip included these amazing women.

somebody's wish list.  no self esteem issues here.

(and because chicka trips without them would be boring and dull.)

i got your backs girls...thanks for having mine.

i love my life.  i am blessed.  i am grateful.

my pocketbook is full.