:: plant shopping ::

Yesterday we went to the store to purchase the last of the flowers for the year (I say that, but, of course, since I am not the flower purchaser, planter, or care taker, I could be totally wrong that it's the last batch, but I think he's getting close).  Every year My One True Love transforms our back yard, deck and patio into a beautiful oasis that helps us escape, enjoy and entertain. Each year B. becomes more and more involved in the process.

The first thing she saw that she really, really  wanted was watermelons (and pumpkins, but watermelons were the fave). We don't really have the space for that, so they were eventually put back, but look at that face??!!  The Grandma's saw these photos on Facebook and decided that either one of the may have the space for watermelons.  :-)  I'll keep you updated.

Early on in the process she saw that they had wagons.  This was a hit.  She was totally in charge of the wagon. 

this wagon photo is probably my favorite one of the day

At three, she is such a little sponge and mimic. As she would pick out plants, Daddy would check the tags. At one point, early on in the adventure, he looked at a tag and said something about this plant not doing well in the full sun. So, that lead to her checking the tags and saying, "Those won't work in the sun." very confidently and convincingly, as if she had really read that. Or, if she really wanted to know, she would just pull it out and ask us (and yes, @3 she asks lots of questions)!

Another phrase we heard frequently, "These are kinda cute." She was saying that exact phrase as she was looking the plants in the photo above. This phrase would typically be heard right before she would try to pick up the entire tray of plants that were "cute" (or pretty, or pink, usually all three). Apparently, we haven't learned that "less is more". 

The conversation that prompted me to take the above photo went like this:

B: "Hey Dad, we need more. See, there're spaces!"

Daddy: "Honey, we don't have to fill up the wagon."

So love her.

Shopping for plants with the family is magic for sure.

Call me crazy, but you just might see these photos again really soon on a layout. ;-) 

Here's a short video clip that I captured. Just prior to this video, Daddy taught her how to smell the leaves of a mint plant. So of course, she had to smell the leaves of all the plants...

Join me tomorrow for another Scrap Your Story Challenge reveal!

:: my mother's hands ::

So, yesterday morning I ran across this photo, and that prompted me to write this blog post. Then I spent the day with my mother, older daughter, then my MIL, and then back home for a movie and popcorn with my family. After everyone went to bed, I grabbed the goodies that I just got in the mail on Friday from Paper Issues, (all from Crate Paper's :: The Pier collection) and I made this:

I used yesterday's blog post for my journaling (which is hidden in the vellum envelope behind the photo)

This was my favorite part! I used my exacto knife to cut one of the chevrons out and replaced it with a little homemade confetti! The stitching serves two purposes -- that finishing touch, and it holds all the confetti in the pocket!

 Amy Tangerine alphas that I inked with a bit of yellow ink.

Several layers and scraps, enamel dots, washi tape, and Mister Huey's spray to finish it off!  This was a fun one to make, and I love how it turned out!

my mom

My mom has always looked and acted much younger than she is. In fact, it is unbelievably easy to forget that she is seventy-six. Her attitude and heart are clearly still somewhere in their thirties…maybe forties...and she looks at least twenty years younger than her chronological age. I took this photo a year ago, on Mother’s Day. After our celebrations were over and I was home looking at all the photos on my computer, this photo of her hand reminded me, she is in her seventies. I am so lucky that I have my mom. I don’t know what I would do without her.

There were other memories that came flooding back when I saw this photo. I used to sit on my mother’s lap and play with her hands.  Specifically, I would hold a finger from each of her hands and click the fingernails together. I don’t know why I did this, I just remember that I felt safe in her arms, and somehow doing this was comforting. I always wanted to grow up and have long nails like my mother (I don’t, by the way).  I also remember that her hands and fingers seemed so big compared to mine. This memory must be from when I was quite small because her hands are tiny compared to mine now! I think it’s interesting that something that seems so minor, clicking my mother’s fingernails together, is really such an important memory; and that this photo strikes such an emotional chord in me. 

matching socks -- from just a few weeks ago!

at the fair last summer

at grandma's last summer