Big Weekend Ahead

Marlys - Kindergarten

I am so excited! I am attending my 45th-year high school reunion; the 30-year was the last one I was able to attend and I can't wait to see everyone. Facebook has brought me together with old school friends and I have so enjoyed connecting with everyone again after so long.

Judi - 4th Grade

Judi and I go all the way back to kindergarten. We live on opposite ends of the state so we decided it would be more fun to leave the guys home and be each other's date for the reunion. We're bringing yearbooks, school journals and more. I'm bringing the wine and she's bringing the glasses and we plan to have a terrific time.

It's a small world...

Evening is when I look through some of my favorite blogs. Invariably, something always catches my attention and leads me to another blog, and so on and so forth. Last night, while visiting Barely Sane...Blog of a Bear Nut, Sandi's tutorial for making felt gingerbread people caught my attention. Visit Sandi's tutorial to see how to turn this cut-out into a cute little Gingerbread Man.

A comment left by Dawn of Cottage State of Mind caught my eye. She promised

photos of the treasures in her attic. Who can resist a chance to take a peek into another person's treasures? Certainly, not me. If you love collecting things "just because," then take a look at Dawn's post, Playing in the Attic.

But that's not the best part. Reading Dawn's profile, I found she grew up in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California. So did I! Well, it's a big Valley, so finding someone who grew up there isn't such a big deal. But this is: the internet connects me with Sandi in Australia, and Sandi connects me with someone from my own back yard. I love the friendships I've found through blogs and bears and the creative spirit. Amazing!

Bloom Where You're Planted

Here she is, my Spring is Sprung Challenge bear...and I'm two days under the deadline! She is made from 1.8" dense Shulte mohair and she's 15" tall. Stop by and take a look at all the Challenge entries.

Empty Nest...again

Bright and early this morning I gave my 26-year-old baby boy and hug and a kiss and sent him on his way to the University of Maryland. Everyone was up early today, by 3:30 am, so Allyn could get him to the airport in time to make his 6 am flight. He'll be at UMD for the next five years working toward a Ph.D. in Sociology.

I got a call from him just minutes before 1 pm letting me know his flight landed safely, he was heading to baggage, and he would be taking a long nap once he reached his hotel. His apartment will be available tomorrow, but when his furniture will arrive is anybody's guess.

He had an hour lay-over in Denver and said his flight out was delayed, but they arrived on schedule. Now, Joseph has a history of not quite telling the whole story...Morocco comes to mind, but that's a story for another day. Shortly after I talked with him, Allyn called to say he'd talked with him as well. Joseph sent a text message to Allyn telling him about a security breach in Denver as they were boarding. That's why the plane was delayed. They were shuffled here and there until the breach was addressed.

Okay, so it's probably a good thing I didn't know about it as it was happening, but it makes me wonder about other things he "isn't telling so Mom won't worry." This is the first day of my next five-year-worry plan.

I think I'll go find some cute baby pictures...

I'm Back!

At least I hope I'm back. It's been a busy summer and, yet, I can't say that I've really accomplished a whole lot. Spent time with the kids together and separately; visited Ashley and her new home; saw friends and my sister in Fresno; and now we're getting ready to send Joseph off to school...for the third time.

I wish I had the organization and discipline of my good friend, Sandi Smith. Don't know how she does it but she manages to keep up with, not only her website, Bearly Sane, but also with two blogs: Blog of a Bear Nut and Fantasy and Fancy, the TBACA site, organizing and creating the wonderful venues of several online shows each year...and she still manages to find time make bears. My mid-year resolution is to be more like Sandi in productivity and discipline. Unfortunately, I cannot duplicate her creativity and imagination.

Fantasy & Fancy

Just want to tell you about a new blog by my friend Sandi Smith, Fantasy & Fancy. She hasn't yet told us what she has planned for this blog, but I know it will be something wonderful. Her first post, The Child Within, reminds us of the dreams and imagination of our childhood...something many of us tend to forget as we get older and busier. I will nurture my child within. Thanks, Sandi.

Visit Sandi's other blog...Bearly Sane -- Blog of a Bear Nut.

Swap Bears

This is Emma from a new line called Puppy Grrls. She's even cuter in person than in the photo.

Nancy Dontigney is the artist behind Puppy Grrls and Dog Patch Critters. She has a wonderful imagination and all of her pieces have a happy and whimsical look about them. I've wanted one of Nancy's critters for some time and I recently asked if she'd consider a swap with me.

She just happened to be working on a new line that she thought I would like, but she wanted it to be a surprise and wouldn't tell me anything about it. Emma arrived last week and I was overjoyed with her especially since we are currently owned by two wheaten Scottish Terriers and previously had our own little Emma Girl. She seemed to be created just for me.

Patrick was Nancy's choice of my bears and he now lives happily in sunny Florida with Nancy and all the Dog Patch Critters.

Thanks, Nancy, for being open to a swap. I love my little Puppy Grrl.