Five months and 9 days later...where does one start to pick up the pieces. My life seems to change as quickly as technology these days. I was reminded this morning of one year ago,greeting old friends at Parents in Prayer, and introducing Lila and Larkin, transplanted grands! It was a happy morning, despite the fact that we left hurriedly when not sharing resulted in two screamers. Another happy morning today, introducing yet another change in my life, Indy, a pup in training for tenderlovingcanines. In between I've continued to celebrate my endless summer. April was filled with the joys of LindseyOstrom's National Letter Writing Month swap. I have an altered book filled with wonderful art and letters. Another highlight has been taking JoanneSharpe's Letter Love and Color Love classes. Then there's been many hours of grand time. How blessed we are that they're so close. We had fun showing Flat Fanny the wonders of Yosemite, on a trip to Diane and Neil's fabulous house on Pine Mountain Lake. I thank all of you who faithfully check in and perhaps I can get back to blogging. It was such a big think in my life for a while. I guess now I'm just too busy living it to write about it. Time will tell.

what a fun day!

What a fabulous program at UCSD. During finals Andra Lew and her volunteers set up several stations for multiple dogs to offer their support to stressed students. America was at her best and, was especially happy that she could spend time with Caleb and Archie.
One girl sat with us for an hour, just loving on all three dogs, and said how much better she felt.

Altered Christmas Card book

This altered book, a gift from the Churchyards many years ago, now contains Christmas cards, more or less in chronological order, saved in a tattered box, as samples of the ones we've sent for the past 40+ years.

Picking just the right Christmas card was always a big deal to me. It had to be religious and have just the right sentiment.

This first one is signed as Ann Dietz

Then Ann and Rod

Sadly I can't get these in chronological order, but you get the idea.

All three kids, then back to The Deakers Family as some leave.

This was a no kids, puppy year.

bring on the grands.

These are two signed, Ann Rod and Katie

Now Laurie's joined the fun.

Joanne Sharpe

Even though I haven't come even close to watching all the videos in Joanne Sharpe's Letter Love class, the quality of the class compelled me to sign up for her next one.
alphabets

It's been a heady and hearty experience to see the creativity of fellow letter (and quote) lovers!
Joanne's made the class so easy, and so fun and there are three different groups, yahoo, facebook and flickr, to ogle over everyone's work and read their comments.

I can't say enough good things about Letter Love, For $35 we got 29 different videos, sheets of quotes, tips about the best use of products. It's the best art deal around! Not only that, it's available FOREVER!

Caution though, hard to hold on to your pocketbook when you see all the fun pens, paints, sprays everyone is using, BUT, everyone's great about sharing where to get the best deal.

joannesharpe

Bless you, Ted!

Source: mamiverse.com via Christine on Pinterest

They're off!

Hearty thanks to all!

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hope monument

Congratulations to Marilyn Ambrose, Sandy Murphy and all those who worked so hard to have this beautiful monument grace the patio at St. James.

Special Love for Special People

It was on a CCI group that I first got the idea to knit scarves for Special Olympics.
The project began a few years ago, specialolympicscarves, and people have donated thousands of scarves to Special Olympics participants, their coaches and their families. I do love to knit and I love to teach knitting. Knowing how receptive the fabulous 5th and 6th grade teachers at St. James Academy are to outreach projects, I approached them with the idea of teaching their students to knit or crochet. They graciously provided me time to spend with their students and here are some finished products!
I owe a debt of gratitude to Samira Salameh, Hannah's grandmother, for giving of her time and talents to help teach the children. She and her sister and daughter-in-law also contributed scarves. Hannah actually taught her mom to knit!
Others, like Andi Medley and Rose Garner, contributed yarn and scarves.
Last of all, great friends stepped up with numerous scarves. Patty Fuqua, Chris Harrell, Pam Scott and Pattie Urie, bless you for your gorgeous creations.
Part of the fun was being able to design your own pattern and design they did.
The kids were great sports and fabulous about helping each other. I actually think some will continue to refine their skills in the future. Knitting has been a life saver to my mental state many times and my hope was to give that gift to students I love.
I'll pack all the scarves up after they're blessed at mass on Ash Wednesday. They'll be off to grace the shoulders of recipients in Louisiana.
Here is their motto: "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt"
Hear hear!

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