Our Hunny Turned One

Winnie the Pooh and his gang of squishy-cute pals celebrated with us yesterday. Picnic and frolic were on the agenda. It was Charlie's first birthday.

Warm picnic weather, lots of family and friends and packages wrapped in all sorts of brightly colored attire. Truly creative party details in every corner.

Yummy picnic food!!

Here's an "exclusive" shot of our Hunny ~

I know, you can't see his precious face... his parents really appreciate us not posting photos of him on any public sites. Take it from me.... Charlie's precious.

Oh so many reasons to celebrate - a life that has just begun... so much to look forward to!

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh


Much love to my sweet little Great-nephew on this, the start of his second year....

One Year

Sweet cheeks is a year old! Our Great-Nephew, Charlie is a doe-eyed, dark haired, smiling bundle of joy. He high-fives, walks and is nearly always happy.

Winnie the Pooh will be in town to celebrate his birth. We will be picnicking even! Go figure - his Great Aunt that adores picnics and all things about them... is so very happy! Off to make the best picnic-type fare of all : potato salad! My Mom's recipe, somehow it never quite tastes like hers.

Rites Of Life

Ceremoniously we gathered in His house and lovingly smiled upon the service of Baptism being held. Our great nephew, in his handcrafted white romper, eyed his surroundings in wonder. He was smiley, joyful and quite content. Did he feel the love? Was this little creature able to sense what this morning meant to his village of loved ones? Such a profound thought -one, this amazement that I'm into another life phase. The next generation - my GREAT nephew!

Well, and the MOST profound thought about Charlie and his introduction to God and the hope of his parents (and us) that he find a lighted path in life to spirituality and good deeds. The best we can hope is for him to have guidance to all things GOOD.

I'm keenly aware of this same ceremony held twenty seven years ago for his father. That lovely young man found his way to a good and caring life. This rite of passage will be one of many for Charlie, both inside the walls of church, and in our big ol' world. Important times, these gatherings, we may feel emotions in our hearts, but together in a group, the bonding and kinship are immeasurable. May the happiness and tender love flow over into Charlie's world.

May angels watch over you ~

May sunshine brighten your road ~

Remember always to abide the Golden Rule ~

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...

There's possibly no better lesson to be learned in this life!

Playing Catch Up

Needing a vacation from my vacation. On second thought, not another vacation - more time in the day and more time at home to catch up on life around here. At this time of year work in the garden seems so crucial. Such strange weather though has aided me in my poor timing and inability to stay on task. I've hardly planted a veggie or herb... well, very few anyway. Without further ado, I've spent my waking hours since home,either walking, laundering, or gardening!

Removing 10+ year  fortnight lilies is not an easy task. My hands are sore; my thumbs barely able to work this keyboard. Still much on the to-do list! Some fun ideas that I'm hoping to accomplish in the coming months.

Our new, sweet addition has arrived! Our great nephew Charlie was brought into this world while we were away playing in LA. He has, in the last few days, brought many smiles and some happy tears too. That full head of inky-black hair is just wild! There's an impish turned up nose that'll just knock the girls dead when he's grown!

The other addition to the family is still nesting. Hasn't budged a smidgen. The flower hanging basket is blowing in the wind, and it's downright cold outside. I did, however witness a surprise. There was a changing of the dove-guard this evening. While cooking dinner I saw the mate to the sitter land in the basket too. Just as I wondered how they might possibly both fit, the #1 nester flew the coop. Guess they take turns?!

Good night for now. Have sleep to catch up on also!                                                                        

They've Gone and Done It!

Officially this has been " WITH A CHERRY ON TOP " kind of day!
 My jaw dropped when I entered the house, and stayed that way for quite some time while I took it all in! Willy Wonka's factory was everything I dreamed it would be! Amazing technicolor. Enough candy to bust Augustus Gloop's gut.  Dripping with creativity just like the chocolate fountains! A signature drink to make one giddy - and not cause of the vodka - giddy at the vibrant turquoise fluid! A cupcake creation that reached into the Ace of Cakes files and came out way ahead!!

                               OH, MY WORD !!!

I do believe they've gone and done it....one of the most impressive parties I've ever seen! And all of this was in honor of our Great Nephew and his Momma.
Let's just say the cherry on top didn't slide down a melting scoop and get lost in the bowl. Oh no!... still more beauty and excitement to rock my world....

At Goat Hill in the Santa Cruz Mountains I was about to be floored again! I will be participating in an antique event later this year. We had our first meeting and tour of the place that will be hosting. I should just let the pictures do the talking, but, that just wouldn't be me! Now, would it?? Dreamy white farmhouse plucked down into an orchard and meadows. Baby goats in the barn. Gardens galore. Massive redwood trees. The setting of a plein-air artists dream! Here, on this farm we will have the first annual Goat Hill Show. I am in awe, nearly speechless that I am invited to be a part of it! Much more on it in the following months. Also on my new blog: http://www.abundantfinds.blogspot.com/.

thus the reason for the farm name - Goat Hill...

* This post is without photos because there are technical difficulties. We'll see what I can do about that.*
    will add some great shots when I'm able!  Well now a couple of pics are added, but still many problems!
May not post for a day or five!

RRRRRibbit

A green frog has taken over my house! A couple of them. It's all in good fun though, they're all a part of my gift for Charlie's baby shower Sunday. The new Mum and Pop have decorated the nursery in jungle theme, soft green, beige, browns. Many an animal are included. I particularly like the monkeys that I saw on the bedding! Oh, so sweet! From that scheme I then tackled my project...... here is some of what we have ~

Before

After

A request from the invite asked to bring some diapers. No one specified they had to be the newfangled plastic-y things! So I hunted for the old cloth style. FOUND 'em! Don't think people use them much anymore!
The whites were dyed a spring-like green to match the jungle! Pretty, huh? wait though - there's more....

my supplies

monogram!

I then ironed on stitched letter "C''s to the backside of the diapers. Charlie will have is very own monogrammed bottom!!
Oh the laughs trying to remember how I folded these things when my brother was a wee tot!! I nearly knocked on the doors of my elder neighbor ladies to ask if they could recall! I came up with one diaper that would fit an adult!!

Next the frog and more green...

The frog face is a plastic bib that has a catch drawer for falling objects!!  HA!

This is the special package for the secret diaper event. Will it be for a game?? Love that ribbon that says
                             ~     Welcome little darling    ~

And.... I did forget to take a snap of the gifts inside. One was another froggy. That guy was very rubbery  and slips onto a sink or tub faucet for safety during a bath. Adorable.

I'm quite pleased with the outcome. Just hoping they don't think it's all a bit too JOLLY GREEN GIANT!

Charlie & Chuck

This musical score is one of my favorites. It was used for our wedding photo montage video. Thus, it evokes lots of sentiment.

After all of the frivolity of the Oscar, and animal posts, I had mulled over posting about an important date that just passed.  February 28th holds much sadness for us, as Hubby's family had a tragic event occur on that day twenty seven years ago. That long, and still tears can flow when speaking the unfathomable.

I suppose that it's inevitable that I'd contemplate this sadness more closely this year. Over a quarter century ago my husband's brother was in an automobile accident and died. This brother, Chuck, would now be a Grandfather-in-waiting. His son will be welcoming his first child in May. That, as I've explained, is our Charlie. The sweet boy namesake of his patriarch.

Chuck was the BMOC. This moniker is meant with all due respect. He could be classified in no better terms. Chuck was the attractive to look at, impossible to pin down, athletic jock that many guys wish to be in their High School years. Unfortunately he didn't have many more years to show us what other great things he had in store for us. What he did do before he left was leave a baby boy;only a month old at the time - for his family to lavish with love and attention. He could not have given a better gift of himself!

As the years trickle by - at first, then rush steadily into the future the utter sorrow lessens to pain, and then becomes a distant, albeit ever present, sad memory. I, without thinking of the day, mentioned to Hubby that Spring was on it's way; that March would be coming tomorrow. An anguished look flashed briefly in Hubby's eyes and he reminded me. And then it comes back. I can picture it. I do even possess a photo from that evening. We were together as a family for dinner. The baby still so new. The phone call. The devastation........

And then that photographic montage of memory clicks to the most recent scene where in happiness we wait for Charlie. Buoyant ;bubbling near to bursting with anticipation and glee - tempered with those sad memories. And given pause by the fact that Chuck will not meet Charlie; cannot hold him during his first glimpse of life. However, Chuck, we know you will be there and without you this life would not be possible.

The gift of life carries on......

Kid In A Candy Store

A sparkling piece of mail arrived in the post today!!  I love to open the mailbox and find  sweet handwritten somethings!

Handmade and creative as all get-out! I am officially inspired! The envelope contained an invitation. It is brilliantly asking for my attendance at the baby shower for our soon to arrive Great-nephew. It sparkled and shone. Here take a look ~

The paper is glittery and blue to represent his male chromosome. The theme as obviously shown is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  Charlie is the name chosen for him before birth. Sweet, huh? His Grandfather's name was Charles (Chuck). Any further elaboration on his namesake and the history will just make everyone emotional  - so I'll not go there right now.

The wording on the invite is chosen with care and creative too. Once I pulled the shiny silver "candy" wrapper from it's blue label - here is what I found ~

I won a golden ticket!!.... well, everyone did I suppose! More party specifics on this card. The shower is being given by friends and family of the Mum-to-be. There are some definite ULTIMATE party throwers in that group! I can only imagine what lies in store for us golden ticket holders!

Every little red postbox ought to be honored with such filler!! Mine lies in wait for the next fabulously handwritten and stamped piece of art....