Four Hundred Twenty, Actually...

That's if you use the standard "1 human year equals 7 dog years".   Tag was right, though. Today is my Birthday. This is what "60" looks like on me. (The photograph was taken at our guild Christmas Party last night.)   Do I wish there were fewer wrinkles or a few less pounds? Who wouldn't? (I have to admit, though, I do love the silver sparkles in my hair.) I've heard people say, "Oh, don't use that picture of me. I don't like it." I look at it differently. I may not always like the way my pictures turn out, or "Gosh! I can't believe that's what I look like from behind now!", but it's who I am - or rather - who I've become through all these years.   The way I look at it, I've earned every wrinkle (and pound) and each  and every little, silver hair on my head. They've come from the years, the laughter, and the tears. They're earned over every life-changing,  life-altering decision I've made. They've come with each love and life shared or lost. They've come with every "hello"...and "goodbye". They've been earned during unimaginable joy and unbearable grief. Can you tell I'm a little more introspective this year? I'm feeling a little different on this Birthday than the others.    My appearance is only the outward evidence of my life; the wisdom  I've gained through countless trials and errors; the person I've become  as a result of the countless experiences I've had. These visual traits are  only clues to the essence of who I have become. The person I am inside. I'm not the "hot" 30-something I used to be, but I'm a "hot" 60 now. I still giggle, and blush (Can you believe my husband can still make me blush?). I dance and sing with reckless abandon. I love my life.  I love who I have become.   But most of all, I love the people with whom I share this blessed and wonderful existence...My husband of thirty years, our family and my dear and loving friends who are so generous with their affection. Yes. Today is the start of my sixtieth year, and I can't wait to see what's next on this adventure.

Life Happens...

Just when I've planned to get so much accomplished, Life happens. (I'm not complaining. It's important to be flexible. Spontaneous, even!)   The client who I thought would require three hours for a graphic piece ended up taking closer to twelve hours over two days. It's finished now.
The laundry that would usually be shuttled from our master bath to our laundry room, wasn't. The washing machine is on the fritz and won't be repaired until next Monday. Instead, I drove our laundry to be cleaned.  Even using the double load washers,  I was away from the studio for  another four hours (from the time I drove out 'til I got back home again).
So, if you're wondering what I accomplished yesterday...I've got a photo for you. I started cutting the fabrics (and choosing zippers) for the organizers.  That's it.
What's on the agenda for today?  I am definitely going to get into the studio again... but I have a couple of things I have to do first. If you want to know what they are, you'll have to come back again tomorrow. I'm not even giving hints today.
Seeeee yoouu tomoooorroooww!

Tuesdays With Tag - Live a Great Life In 10 Easy Steps...

Hi, Everybody!   I'm so excited that Mom is finally finished with her HUGE project. She told me I could do anything I want yesterday...after she finished her gift from me to Miss Kris. I hung around for a while and then I told her what I wanted to do. HANG OUT BY MY POOL (of course!)   So, today, I want to show you how to Live A Great Life in 10 Easy Steps! It's another one of my Life Lessons. (Insert snickerin' here.)

So, are ya ready?

STEP ONE: It's nice to share your adventures with someone else.

(Cameras optional)

STEP TWO: Take the plunge.

Don't be afraid.
Once you take that first leap, it's all downhill from there!

STEP THREE: Paddle like crazy. Just keep headin' toward your goal.

It's really not as far as you think to reach it.

STEP FOUR: It's ok to swim in circles for a while.

Sometimes you need to just wait to know the next move.

STEP FIVE: When you achieve your goal, make a new one!

No restin' on your laurels.

STEP SIX: Always keep at least one ear open.

You never know what you'll hear along the way.

STEP SEVEN: Keep your eyes open, too.

You'll see amazin' and wonderful things. I promise.

STEP EIGHT: Be prepared to shake it out...

or shake it off.

When you shake things off, you're always ready for the next adventure.

STEP NINE: Take time to be silly. 

If no one will scratch your back, do it yourself.

It feels really good - and it's worth the effort.

STEP 10: Take time to look back. It's good to know where you've come from...It's who you are, and then, know what you want and where you're goin'.   You can learn all over again by lookin' back. It will make you better.   So, there you have it. Livin' a great life (accordin' to me!) in 10 easy steps.   Wow! I got to play and teach you somethin' about life at the same time. I'd like to say this is just a Corgi thing, but all pets can teach you about life. You just have to be willin' to listen.   'til next week... "Wag Like Ya Mean It!"

One Day At A Time...

I played in the studio yesterday. It's always good to go through the 

"inventory" from time to time so you don't forget what you have in

your stash just waiting to be made into something fun or beautiful.

I found myself contemplating the metaphors to be found in color and

pattern. Cheerful, soft, polka dots are always good to have on hand. 

They're sort of the "vanilla" days in life...nice, normal, peaceful, and fun.

Likewise, it's nice to have restful, muted tones, peppered with florals

in your repertoire for those times when saying less is actually "more".

Muted colors always seem so "graceful" to me.

 Every girl needs to have fabrics for those times when you want to

"live out loud". You put on your big girl panties and tell the world,

"Here I am, y'all. Take your best shot. You don't scare me!"

Believe me, I could go on (especially with my stash), but I'll give 

you a break and stop before I get too carried away with this theme.

It seems that I'm more than a little introspective today. Birthdays,
critical illness of a dear and treasured friend, and the recent passings
of loved ones can do that to you. What I think is important is to
embrace all the myriad colors and textures that define our lives, and
find a reason to be grateful for each new day life presents us. 

I trust my faith and integrity to guide and shape my decisions, and I know

that I'm never alone. I make the best choices I can for the project I find on

my table. When I'm finished I rest...confident that I've done my best.

Mothers Day - With Quiet Courage...

Irene May Palmer

As I reflected on a Mother's Day post, I decided that I wanted 

to pay special tribute to my British grandmother...my Nanny.

Her name was Irene May Palmer. She was born on November 10, 1915 and

died on November 1, 1961 only 9 short days before her 46th Birthday.  She

was taken all too soon by ovarian cancer, passing at her home in England.
I was only seven years old when she died, but I remember that day vividly.

I think this first photograph is one of my favorites. There aren't many of 

her, but this one was taken at a wedding only months before my birth.
I can see the gentleness in her eyes and her smile is almost "Mona Lisa-esque".

Nanny was one of six children. She had four sisters and one brother.

She was second in birth order to Francis (Frannie). After her came Nell; Lily

(whose nickname was Bobbie because of her hairstyle); brother Arthur (Art) and

youngest sister, Margaret (Marg) who is still living in England. (You'll remember,
I have another Aunty Margaret, so I call Nanny's sister "Aunty Margaret Senior".)
Don't you just love those names?

I've tried to locate a photograph of all of them together, but many of the old pictures
were lost to the war (World War II). "Things" were just not as important as "people",
and Nanny preferred to spend her precious days caring for her family.

 I showed you this image not long ago. It's the lid to a box in which I keep treasured
letters from my Nanny to my mother (and me) written so many years ago.

 Inside, I keep not only the letters, but an old bottle of "Evening in Paris"

perfume, which was my grandmother's favorite fragrance. When I sit

and read her letters (which I've done frequently in recent weeks), I will

occasionally open the bottle, close my eyes and imagine Nan sitting with me.

Nanny with her first grandchild - me. circa 1955

 Nan was married more than once and lived a short, difficult life. She had
four children...one girl (my mother) and three boys, Richard, John and Trevor.
She was a kind and honest woman who worked hard, loved her children and
adored me and her other grandchildren. She only met two of us in person

 before she passed...me (her first) and my cousin, Dawn who was also born in
England - and still lives there with her husband and family.

In reading her letters, I learned that she often called me "Dee Dee". I smiled
when I realized that. To this day, no one else has used that nickname for me.
My Uncle Larry called me "Dee", but that's as close as anyone else came to it. 

As I grew older, I would also write to her, and it's fun for me to go back and read
 her reactions to my childish notes. I wish I remembered more of those days, but
 her letters help to remind me - and I'm able to know her better through her words.

I've often wondered what I would say to her now if I had the chance to sit 

face-to-face with her and hold her hand in mine. Many times I've felt her presence
in my life. Her sister has said that she would be proud of the woman I've become.
I feel that in her letters, and I know that she watches over me and smiles.

At Handsome's last Suncoast Concert Band concert, conductor Bob Stoll

read a passage that was written by composer Larry Daehn for a piece of

music he wrote in tribute to his own mother. The piece is called

"With Quiet Courage", and when I heard these words, Nanny immediately

came to mind. By the time the music was finished, I had tears streaming

 down my cheeks. I'd like to share Mr. Daehn's words and music as tribute

to my loving, sweet Nanny and her beautiful life ended decades too soon.

With Quiet Courage

by Larry Daehn

"Her life was heroic, but without fanfare.

She worked and hoped and inspired.

She loved and was loved.

Her life was a noble song of quiet courage."

******

Happy Mother's Day, Dear Nanny. 
I miss you and love you always.

This is the music if you'd like to hear it...
(Turn up your sound and sit back. You might want to grab a Kleenex, too.)

 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S9uc_qW1vOU)
Happy Mother's Day!

Sunday Scripture...

 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. 

No one comes to the Father except through me."

                                                  - John 14:6

Your Wonderful House...

I found this book in the antique mall in Kewaskum, WI last week. I was intrigued by the cover...and then fell in love with the images and thoughts inside. The title is "Yourself And Your House Wonderful" by H.A. Guerber © 1913 in Great Britain. It was also reprinted in the United States and Canada.

This appears on the inside page: "Dedicated to all children with many hopes that this book will help to make them strong and happy".

The copy reflects life from an earlier time. It's a young person's guide to their body (referred to as their "little house") and how to conduct their life. It is filled with the wonderful naivete' that is sadly, long-gone. Wouldn't you love to be able to recapture some of this innocence lost? People living in this genteel day would faint dead away to see some of our current television commercials, how some people think, speak or dress today. I can practically hear their "Oh, my"s in my mind.

You can click on the photograph of the cover to link to more images and thoughts to be found in this book. I hope you'll go and check them out. I'd love to hear what you think about them. I'm sure that I'll be scanning some of these images as backgrounds for future projects.

He is Risen...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!
By His great mercy He has given us a new birth into a
living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead.
1 Peter 1.3

I finished Preston's Christening gown, bonnet and slip today...Easter Sunday. (Go to my Flickr album to see photos.)