As Four Years Fly Past

Seems like yesterday that on a sparkling May day in Manhattan,  a magical little girl was born named Penny, making me a grandmother.   That was 4 years ago.  To see this girl grow to be a extraordinary person has been my joy.  

This is what we always say about this photo, our very first together...  I say, "I looked at you, and you looked at me, and then, Penny says, "We fell in love!"  No explaining it, the connection was immediate and even during the first three years when she lived in NY and I was here in Chicagoland,  we bonded and became close. (Everyday on Facetime helped, sometimes twice a day.

 Manhattan was filled with pink roses the day Penny was born.

 Not that you could ever imagine

such beauty in a crowded busy place like it is.

Today my girl is an artist, a dancer, a princess, a romantic.  She is sweet and silly, compassionate and kind.
We dance at the grocery store in front of the piano player, pretend at the grove that we are at a ball and dance and twirl in our beautiful pretend gowns.  We have coronations where we play Pomp and Circumstance on the iphone and march around the living room while I carry her train. We cook and clean
together, tea parties are the norm.  Penny lets me hold her for quiet time, no naps for a big girl, but she manages to fall asleep in my arms.  She imitates the way I walk, which is hysterical, and has a big crush on Grandpa.  Penny fills our lives with pure love and joy.

To Penny's Mom and Dad, thank you for sharing your wonderful child with us, for making us grandparents and for the time we spend together.  You'll never know how much we love having you all close, and appreciate being a part of Penny's life.  Love you guys.

Happy Birthday Penny, with all our love forever.

Grandma

The Trouble with Glasses

Since I broke my glasses, seems I'm having trouble with other glass objects.  (By the way, the reason my glasses had to go to Denmark to be repaired was that they are discontinued and the manufacturer agreed to make me a new pair with the template they kept on file.  Pretty cool.)   Anyway, I had all of this vintage sewing stuff in a glass cloche.  I moved it so it wouldn't get broken by my baby grand and her friend Guy who were visiting.  When I went to put it back, of course, I broke it.  Then, while sitting in this very chair ,I glanced over to see this box on a shelf in my office. This is perfect.  It has a soft back so I pinned the sewing items securely to the back and stacked the thread and wrapped several measuring tapes here and there.   Thanks to my friend Jean who always thinks of me when we get donated items that are vintage.  (We, as in my Guild) The box was thrifted a while back and we had the glass replaced because it was etched with a family name.  I am very pleased with how it turned out.  Safer too.

 Out and about...A walk a few minutes from home, flying fish!

 I often photograph this pretty place,

 Appreciating nature in all seasons.

 We walked the neighborhood with Penny last weekend.  She tripped and fell.  When she saw this bench, she found the perfect spot to recover.  Luckily, it's in the yard of a neighbor I know.

 The kiwi vine on our arbor has not a bit of pink this year.

My front yard is overrun with Queen Anne's Lace, with a spattering of Hostas. I can't wait to see them all in bloom.  I was thrilled when some volunteers took root,

In a neighbors garden, silvery Lamb's-ear.  Of course you have to stop and touch,

So many wonderful things to see.

Looking forward to a beautiful weekend.

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy this beautiful day.

Bleeding Hearts and Adjusting to Changes

First time posting on my own, on this different computer.  Imagine the nerve of my technical support leaving me on my own today. (My Dearest). Oh well, got to grow up sometime.  I love technology.  I am in awe of all my hubby knows and it comes so easy to him.  He has actually worked in the computer industry since before there were personal computers in every office and home.  Yet,  I on the other hand am a one trick pony.  I use the computer for blogging, word processing and crafts. I was running a computer system that was easily 20  years behind the times.  None of my programs are compatible, most cannot be upgraded.  I felt like a dinosaur.., computer extinct!

 But...Here I am,  I'm doing it.  I down  loaded my photos.  WHAT!? NO MORE PICASA!? ( It was so easy to blog from Picasa.)

 I will learn.  This is so much faster than the old computer, and it's not even brand new but a refurbished one.

I so appreciate all the hard work my dearest put into making this as painless for me as he possibly could. You, my dear are the very best!  Love you so.

Now, the real problem I am having, is seeing.  I broke my glasses, or should I say my glasses broke on me.  The news is that I will get my glasses back in two weeks,(NO I DON'T HAVE A SPARE PAIR).and that they have to go to DENMARK, where they are making me a new pair.  I had no idea that they were fancy pants, though the cost should have sent up a red flag now that I think of it.  Having little experience with prescription glasses, I thought I'd leave it to the professionals.  Can you say trusting with a smidge of knucklehead?  I hope my glasses have a happy journey and a safe flight. Until then it's back to readers, and my eyes are not having it.  First question to my "support tech"... How do you change the font size!?

Thanks for stopping by and for your kindness always.  Enjoy this beautiful day.

Around the House

Hand thrown pottery plate, a work of art.

 This is a test of the English Valley Broadcasting System.  Honey has set me up with a computer that is actually not run by squirrels.  It is a learning curve that will take me some time to conquer.These are a few photos from recent thrifting and some crafting.

A scarf for my new gypsy grandma look. 

I am a sucker for  a pricey napkin.

I had to add a little rose to cover a rust spot.

A fern for the front porch.

I am getting on the succulent craze bandwagon, but in paper since I am not able to keep a real one alive.

A hundred or so pieces...maybe two hundred...

To make this lovely.  It's a kit from the Paper Source.

My white lilacs scent the whole first floor with springtime.

Whew, When I get my old keyboard and mouse back this might be easy!  Thanks to my sweetheart, for everything, what a guy!

Speaking of my guy, He's been very sick with pneumonia.  Knocked him down for almost two weeks.

Kept us from  the rest of the family for Mother's Day since Kris was really sick with strep and we couldn't chance Grandpa getting sick again.  Still just the two of us had the nicest day, and we will celebrate together very soon.  More on our weekend, when I try this without my "technical support".

Thank you for stopping by and enjoy this beautiful day.

The Lusty Month of May

 My favorite of all time, the musical Camelot, has a song, The Lusty Month of May.

" Tra la, it's May the lusty month of May
That lovely month when everyone goes blissfully astray..."

 We had a cloudy and cold weekend, but this morning IT'S MAY!

 No gray skies...

 No shivering tulips...

Glorious sunshine, the little leaves are happy. (See that patch of purple?  We stopped using any chemicals on the lawn as soon as Penny was born.  Now we have a meadow.  These tiny purple flowers cover a large portion of lawn and the bees are loving it.  A quarter acre of paradise.)

 Just glowing in the sun.

 As John Denver once sang, "Everything that's cold and gray is gone!"

 This might be a great year for roses They have buds and leaves to the very ends of the canes.

 The hosta seem to have no ill effects from the late cold temps.

 The white lilacs are putting on a show.

 Just dripping in beauty.

 From the tiniest little violet and dandelion,

 To the apple tree next door...

It's May and I am twitterpated.  Thanks for stopping by and enjoy this beautiful day.