"Memories, light the corners of my mind" ???

I got an email from an old friend the other day.  We went through all 12 years of grade school and high school together -

"You know what tomorrow is?" she asked.





May 28th, I thought.


"May 28, 1970 - our high school graduation day" she continued.

As if I could ever forget.

 How does it seem that some dates are inexplicably etched in your memory?

(If it were not for the copy of our wedding invitation, sealed in stained glass, that hangs on our bathroom wall (ok, I know that sounds like a funny place for it to be, but it works) I would never be able to remember our anniversary.  It gets mixed in with Earth Day and an old friend's birthday - I just always have to go look at it and check.)

Sorry, I digress -

And peonies - They always remind me of graduation too.  We lived in a small town in North Central Washington - there were no florists - but you always knew who had the best gardens and that is who did the flowers for the important community events.  Big baskets of peonies and branches of bridal veil spirea decorated the gym that day.

I think I was co-valedictorian (ok, it's been 45 years - the mind is not the steel trap it used to be, ha ha)  That meant I had to give a speech!

Me, "Miss last minute/procrastination is my middle name", knew weeks before the ceremony that I was going to have to give that speech.  Mr. Godden, our principal, had to approve it before hand and kept bugging me.  "I'll get it done!" I said - probably somewhat testily because in those days there was no Wikipedia, no computers to help you hastily write up something "meaningful"  - no, it had to be HAND WRITTEN on to those 3x5 cards, with all of your "main points" written in capitals, so you wouldn't forget them.

Here I am in my 18 year old splendor

Well, I finally got my speech written, I do remember that it was something inspiring about where we were all going from here.  And I can still remember that main point:  "AND WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE" -  (flip to next card) - Oh, crap - even though I had just written this dribble, I knew for sure, that the next sentence, which instructed us all on where to go from here - was missing.  I hadn't had time to proof read my cards.  Damn...  and in the way that memories hide in the corners of your mind, to tell you the truth, I really don't remember how I recovered from that boo-boo.

Somehow I finished up the speech, got my diploma and was off to the many "graduation parties" that were happening that night - well not really "many" - there were only 12 of us - and nine of us had gone through all 12 years together - "One big happy family" - yeah, right...

But I still remember that date - May 28, 1970. 

Not quite Christmas in July...

So, my family, although we're all in the same state, is spread out, and it's awkward to drive through the traffic or over the passes to get together for Christmas- so, we don't really "celebrate" together like many other families do - in fact we kind of have a laissez faire attitude about Christmas presents - sort of a "you'll get them when you get them" approach. 

My sisters got their 2014 Christmas presents from me in May...well, I was only 5 months late...

Last week, I got a call from my youngest sister - she sort of goes by the philosophy of you'll get yours when I get mine.  And since she got her's last month , I've been anticipating  her call -

"I sent your Christmas package today - it's coming to your office - I hope that's OK?"

"I've included some "Hand-me-up" clothes" she said.  (And these two cool reusable shopping totes) 

Oh, good - I love her "hand-me-ups" - she has fairly good taste in clothes...

The first item in the box was a small muslin covered pillow - "hmmm, I thought - this is "weird" " - but then I dug down a little deeper, and found this really cute pillow cover  - Kitty and, velvet - what else could you ask for...

A decorated mug & coaster set - bigger than it looks - probably holds almost two cups -

Just perfect for the hot lemon tea that I can make with the dehydrated lemons that Trish sent me...

I love dragonflies -

This scarf is almost 4' square - so it is really more of a shawl - Old Navy - who'd a thought???

And, of course, the perfect stocking stuffer items - stickers, a box of Peeps and these cute elastic hair bands........

All in all, a pretty good Christmas box, don't ya think? 

A SweetTart Surprise!

A couple of months ago my friend Trish, the Heavenly Maven from The Katnip Lounge (and Mommy to THIRTEEN of the most entertaining and engaging kitties you will ever meet!!!) mentioned that they had their own lemon tree in their yard (they live close to Las Vegas) and that she uses her food dehydrator and makes dried lemon slices. "Oh, that sounds yummy!" I said.

Last week, in the mail I got this wonderful package of lemony goodness!  I haven't had time to try anything but a nibble of one - sufficiently lemony flavor.  Can't wait to come up with ideas for their use!

Thank you Trish!



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The Birth of a Princess

Last month a new Princess was born - 

 Marietta's Lilah! 

Oh, you thought I meant THIS Princess -Princess Charlotte of Cambridge (ie Princess Charlotte Elizabeth Diana...)  Sober looking little thing, isn't she? 

Not as good looking as "Uncle Henry", but here are all of Lilah's Aunties and cousins - checking in to see what all of the excitement is about. 

This is Lilah's brother Sammy  -  (pre-sold, can you believe it!)  They are actually almost a month old, so I need to get out and take some new pictures.  His horns are going to be massive and she has just the sweetest face. 

Nothing says spring like new lambs! 




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