Not A Lot of Words....

...just two of my loves....

...some puffy clouds.....

...some beautiful spring green...

and a little poetry to start this week.

"Emerge"

Opening.

Ready to grow out, forward.....UP!

Ready to let go! Ready to thrive!

Ready to receive! Ready to give!

Duck Feeding 101

Step 1: Stand on the bank of the pond and say: "Heeeeeeerrrrrrre, Duck! Duck! Duck! Duck! Duck!:

Step 2: Say hello to the ducks and show them the leftover french fries from your lunch. Then toss them into the water.

Step 3: Giggle, giggle, giggle....then giggle some MORE because when the ducks eat those soggy treats and quack their watery thank yous, that is some funny stuff!

Five things for which I feel grateful today:

• Sunshine
• Flowering crabapple trees
• laughter
• photography
• I am their mother

Buzz! Buzz! Buzz!

I am excited to share something with you. I started a photo project back at the end of January. The challenge is to create a photograph every single day. I have to admit: I have tried this project a couple of times before. For whatever reason, I gave up after a couple of weeks.

I got a new computer in March and during the transition phase from my old computer to my new computer, I realized I did have a photo a day! I was a little surprised to say the least. I still toyed with the idea of scrapping the project and starting over yet again...when it dawned on me that I use my camera phone a lot. I started scanning through the files on my cell phone, too and found that days I didn't pick up my "big camera" I did have images to fill in the gaps.

Anyway! I am super excited to share with you my photo project. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE click on the link in the first paragraph of this post and come see what I'm talking about!

Let's Go Fly A Kite

We took Quincy's kite out on her maiden voyage today. We really enjoyed flying the kite. The sun in the blue sky so beautiful and when the kite flew, those bright colors of the kite were so eye-catching. At certain angles, the sun's light shone through the kite's bright and crinkly nylon fabric. The whole experience was just beautiful. Once the sun went down, the temperature dropped quickly.

Something You Can Really Sink Your Teeth Into...

I added a new cookbook to my collection: Artisan Bread In Five Minutes a Day. And the first recipe I tried from it today was for bagels. The dough went together rather easily. Then, after the initial rise, I went ahead and made my first batch of ten bagels. They seem...."lumpy" to me, but then I have to remember that they are a different type of bagel than american bagels. I suppose after I make them a few more times, I will find a rhythm to it and I will be a little more satisfied.

Kaitlyn had been in her room and then came out and caught her first whiff of the treats baking and exclaimed, "Oh my GOSH! IT SMELLS SO GOOD IN HERE!" I think everyone loves the smell of bread baking, right?

We all agreed that our favorite part to this whole bread making adventure was in the eating. We smeared a little cream cheese on the bagels when they were still warm from the oven. It was insanely delicious!

Five

Here is a list of five things for which I feel grateful right now:

• surprise morning snow
• shopping excursions
• the clicking sound of my keyboard when I type
• twinkle lights in my kitchen
• jammy pants

Some Random Thoughts

today....

• my mother came over for coffee
• i sat in the very cold wind to watch Kait play soccer...it was miserable
• i bought a large storage container to store my weekly amounts of bread dough
• i read 7 storybooks for Quincy at bedtime...
• i made a short list of art supplies i need to get during my next outing
• i cursed my hair and can't wait to get it cut by Katie this weekend.
• i wished for a new wardrobe

tomorrow....

• I'm having coffee with my neighbor
• I will send of those pesky tax documents
• I will wish for a new wardrobe
• I will eagerly anticipate my new hair
• I will hope my spool pins for my sewing machine will be in the mail
• I will work on crocheting a little more on my wedding dress

Monday! Monday!

This was one of those weekends that was completely PERFECT! On Saturday, my mom and I took Quincy to hunt eggs at our church's Children's Easter Egg Hunt.

Despite the crazy Colorado springtime wind, we had a great time! Quincy scored a whole bunch of candy in those colorful eggs!

After a Goodwill Hunting with Rachel, my kids and I dyed our own eggs Martha Stewart Style!

On Sunday, my kids and I drove over to my mother's where my sister and her family were also there and we enjoyed a lovely luncheon. Mom had an egg hunt for the younger kids, too. We all had such a lovely time hanging out together and making new memories.

Bubblegum, Bubblegum....

...in a dish! How many pieces do you wish?

One of every color!

I'm so sad! I somehow lost the entry I posted....so here is the picture again....

....and the link to my blog devoted to picture text messages of coffee www.coffeetagsnow.blogspot.com

If you commented here and the comment is gone, I apologize. This wasn't supposed to happen. Boo to the cyberspace gremlins!

Until next time,

Ms. Java!

Strawberry Shortcake

Today, after church, Quincy and I went to the store to pick up a few groceries for dinner. Upon entering the store, I spied some clamshell boxes of fresh strawberries. Instantly, I decided on what we'd have for dessert. I selected a box of the best berries in the display. As soon as Quincy saw the plump red beauties in my shopping cart, he started begging for just one strawberry. I told him, that we'd have them in our dessert. I told him we were going to have strawberry shortcake. He looked up at me and told me, "Mom! Strawberry Shortcake is a toy!"

Sweet Sixteen

My beautiful Daughter, Kaitlyn, turned 16 last week. I was between computers and have just now finally had time to share some of the pictures with you here. Her friends and I all worked together and in less than 24 hours, we created a fun, little surprise party for her.

Kaitlyn wears the silly birthday crown I made for her! She didn't wear it long because she said it made her ears stick out.

We gathered 'round the good stuff!

Kaitlyn and Siv met when they were in preschool at the tender age of two! They've been friends ever since. We invited Siv to Kait's third birthday party. In one of the pictures, you see Siv taking a big inhale because she is ready to blow out the candles. Kaitlyn was too slow and Siv got the candles. Kaitlyn turned around and glared at Siv. So what you see in this picture is a slightly hilarious re-enactment.

I made a few tissue paper flowers for decorations....Amanda decided they looked better on Kaitlyn's head!

Look at all those BEAUTFUL smiles!

We've Only Just Begun

When I started thinking about the possibility of getting married again, I started thinking about what kind of dress I might like to have. What style I wanted. I dreamed up my dress. I thought I might like to make my own dress. I wasn't sure of the fabrics, but I had a basic idea of the design lines.

One day, I was flipping through a knitting magazine. I saw an advertisement for a knitting book by Nicky Epstein. My heart skipped a beat! THAT WAS IT! IT WAS MY DRESS! I was thrilled! I discovered that the dress was crocheted. I've crocheted for a lot of years and have made a lot of afghans. So I knew I could crochet, but there was one little problem: I couldn't make sense of crochet patterns. I knew the basics, but despite that, reading and understanding crochet patterns would stump me every time. Since my sister is an avid crocheter, I asked her to take a look at the pattern and tell me if she thought it would be too difficult. She told me it looked pretty straightforward and she was certain I could handle it. I decided to go ahead and order my yarn.

I bought one hank of the yarn, took it home and made a few practice motifs. I was so happy!

I eagerly awaited the yarn's arrival. While I waited, I used the yarn to knit a scarf. Upon completion of that project, I decided I wasn't too thrilled with it as it was just a little too fuzzy for the look i wanted with my wedding dress. Alas, the word came that the yarn I ordered had been discontinued. I didn't panic. I was relieved, actually. I re-chose my yarn. I decided to use a yarn called Bahia. It's got a silkiness to it and a lovely sheen.

I found a quiet moment and started working on the pile of motifs I will need to sew together to make my very special dress.

I look at them and I smile. I feel happy in my bones. They're beautiful to see.....and to touch.

I've gotten mixed reviews. Some friends are supportive, some question my sanity....I'm thrilled with my choice. I am also happy to report that after practicing with a few little projects from patterns, I can read crochet patterns! I feel so accomplished! :)

I Miss This Space...

Due to computer issues, I am somewhat paralyzed as far as posting. I miss posting with photos. Photographs are such an important part of my blogging experience. I've been promised a new "bag of tools" and that tool kit is on its way ... to arrive soon. Hopefully, by the end of this month, I will be back up and running and posting like never before...including photos.

XOXO!
Ms. Java

A Tisket, A Tasket....

...two Kittehs in a basket!!

Moses and Jick-Jack-Tick-Tack-Rick-Rack-Jack lounge together in this basket. I never know what I will find when I visit the thrift store. My latest score was this cute little kitteh basket bed thing. The cats all LOVE it and rarely will you find it empty. Usually, there are two cats mooshed into it. It was worth every penny of the $2.99 I spent.

Heart Day

Today...:

...was peaceful.

...I made a list of all my W'sIP (...or is it WIP's?)

...was Valentine's Day

...I did NOT knit one single solitary stitch

...we ate a heart-shaped calzone...It's become a tradition!

...I finished up very late Christmas gifts.

...I baked cookies

...I cried

...I didn't take many photographs

...I threw out two bags of clutter.....YAY!

...My kids smiled because of something I did.

...I hugged each of my five beautiful children...

...I hope for a productive day tomorrow

Attitude of Gratitude

Today, I find myself grateful for so many things....here are a few:

• fresh flowers on my table
• skype ... it keeps me connected to my man
• intelligent fruit being delivered to my desktop soon
• a celebratory dinner menu for this evening to include a heart-shaped calzone
• a lovely covering of snow to create more cozy indoors

LuLu

After all these years of sewing...i think it's been 21 years now, I finally invested in a vintage dress form. I'd seen a dressform in an antiques store a little while ago that looked VERY similar to this one and that one still had the sticker on it that indicated that it was sold by Sears Roebuck & Co. around the 1950's. She is in fairly good condition. I was thinking of naming her LuLu. Why? I dunno! Seems like a good name....

LuLu is wearing my Just Enough Ruffles Scarf.

Self Portrait/Comfy Old Sneakers

• In real life, they're old, and faded red.
• They've seen a lot of miles, these Chucks!
• Long, dirty laces help keep them on my feet
• They go really well with my fun, red and pink striped knee-highs
• I wore them to my client meeting today.
• They made me smile...all the way to my core.
• I'm glad I know how to laugh

Friday Afternoon

I got to hang out with Amanda for a little bit on Friday. We went to Castle Rock and took in a few of the sights on Perry Street. It was a lovely little breath of fresh air. Of course, I had my camera with me.

When we got home, I baked a little cake for my anniversary celebration. I've lived in my little magic cottage for twenty years. When I struck the matches to light the candles, Quincy asked me, "So.....are we singing happy birthday to you? Or to me?"

Sucker For Love

Simple and sweet....

Today:

• I'm not feeling well...
• I snapped several photos for a photo project
• I used my sweet little heart mug from Anthropologie for the first time
• I was surprised by a little bit of snowfall overnight
• I wish my sweetie wasn't so far away
• I woke up early and laid in bed and read the new magazines I bought yesterday
• I called about a neat place i think would work well for our wedding site
• I wish for a window of time for a little nap