thursday

working on new jewelry pieces using an old book of poems, miniaturized photographs, and oxidized
silver pieces...will post photos of them in a few days!!
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bee love

with stripes of yellow and black and onion skin wings...
the little honey makers of the world were happily busy today

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make something

I went out for yellow thread and came home with yellow, fluorescent pink and white thread and
pretty fabric scraps. Wish I'd had that coffee craze jamba to keep me up all night, maybe tomorrow. 

* this one reminds me of an old film image from the end of a roll, the one that's a sweet surprise...just like Hermie

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pink

a perfectly tart beginning to the week...
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hello

chocolate chunk banana bread cookies...grab that old banana on the counter and make these right away!

The beautiful lobby of the hotel where Pam's Art Institute graduation was held. I loved seeing her in her cap and gown and sharing in the happiness. After a bit of socializing and pictures Mom, Pam and I celebrated at The Cheesecake Factory and chatted about what is on the horizon. I do believe I fell asleep with a smile on my face just thinking about what a lovely day it was. Congratulations Pam!! xo


so sleepy, so fluffy, Ladybug on Saturday morning...lately I have felt just like that


working on the displaying of my fine art for the upcoming Dreams of Spring show at Leanna Lin's Wonderland...big list of things to do this week

p.s. the dove family moved away this weekend, the babies grew up super fast...missing our little visits

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{3.24 to 3.27}
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pie

...with an extra single crust leftover from the strawberry pie I had to make another, lucky for me Mom had perfectly ripened bananas... and so a banana cream pie was made

{3.22 to 3.23}
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springtime

rays of sunshine, newborn doves...

rain soaked leaves, the color yellow

 and fresh homemade strawberry pie for breakfast!
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week's end

The doves have settled into their old nest in the lemon tree! So happy to have them back.

A place for studying. Kadee starts back at med school after her week off...wish it had been two weeks.

A new shop in Anaheim opened this weekend, some of my cards, prints and garlands will be there.

{3.18 to 3.20}
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a little irish

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

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found

a few more sock days in the forecast and an afternoon to work on projects

super happy cheerful flowers with pink puffs here and there

a tower of tiny toy animals, a day with Kadee, delicious thai food, cupcakes for later and a painted sky

                                                                            ...

...most of all I've found my heart heavy, watching and listening to what unfolds each day in Japan, and then to see this beautiful microcosm, I am ever more grateful for simple luxuries and each day with the ones I love.
                                                                               ♡♡♡

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{3.15 to 3.16}

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for the entomologist

there is an entomologist who is having a baby girl very soon
her friend custom ordered butterfly garlands to adorn her baby shower...
and with hopes they may hang in the sweet newborn's room once she arrives

I love knowing the story of where one of my creations is going. 

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sugar shoot

Krissy makes sweet creations from dragon fruit, strawberries, chocolate, nectarines, sugar and more...she specializes in baking and pastry (my favorite!).
Waking up bright and early when an hour of sleep has technically disappeared is not bad at all when you
get to photograph powdered sugared berries atop creme brulee and a tower of phyllo and cream for a graduating culinary student, then take a few desserts home, too.

My sister Pam is designing a logo and website for Krissy, so it was a wonderful Sunday morning spent
with Pam, meeting Krissy, and photographing flourless cakes and perfect chocolate chip cookies.
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shake it

I'm a shamrock shaker..

Lover of the green spearminty shake from the days when we drove through a McDonald's in our brown station wagon, no seatbelts, listening to the Pointer Sisters and actually ate there. Usually I try to get different family members to help me track down a shamrock shake. Once I found one in Washington DC.

One time Pam made me a homemade one in an effort to stop my whining about why they wouldn't serve them anymore. 

Then my dad told me he saw an ad in a McDonald's window and Kadee had heard on the radio...
so today I had my shamrock shake.

I don't need a fancy puff of whipped cream and cherry sauce on top, just the shake part. The part that
is the sweet taste of my childhood self, yum!
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within moments of logging onto the computer, just as the sun was peeking out to rise, I learned of the earthquake and tsunami..

after putting on cnn and feeding everyone I walked outside to find the fragrant jasmine waking up and filling the air with their beauty

I think the white jasmine will always remind me of the day.
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home sweet home

the cute towel that dried my hands after a tuna sandwich and pickle for lunch

the yellow stool with painted pears that I stand on when I need to be a little taller to take shop photos

Today I worked on custom orders of garlands...one order is traveling to Venice for a wedding on a bridge and the other to decorate a birthday party in the UK...I thought about tucking myself in the envelopes, too.

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peek-a-boo

Hermie cuteness! This little guy gets his teeth cleaned in the morning...minty fresh kisses for everyone!

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strawberry lemonade

a festive garland for a celebration or just everyday happiness...in the shop 
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tea wisdom

this afternoon my tea told me that the purpose of this life is to enjoy every moment...
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I thought about the wise words of my pomegranate green tea while cleaning up cat puke a few hours later, looking for the enjoyment in it I did laugh to myself and it was more enjoyable than usual.

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poof

...and just like that the weekend was over

a weekend of favorite sweater wearing, saturday morning shop item adding, running, picture taking, kitty purring, thai food enjoying, nephews-playing-sports watching, lemon cake eating, moving viewing, game playing, lazy afternoon sort of sleeping, patio swing swinging, sunday walking, and payday candy bar snacking

{3.5 to 3.6}
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the very first bloom

Mom and I have been tending to a garden that was a bit forgotten over the last few seasons. In this garden is a rose bush for each one of us in the family, mine is white. Daffodils that remind us of Grampa grow happily throughout. Dad built the brick pathway that curves through the flowers leading down to Mom's lilac bush.

We were surprised to see a lavender bloom stretching high above the otherwise bare branches. We both leaned in to take in the scent. The scent of years that have passed and of a new season yet to come.

I'm secretly hoping the days in the garden take longer than expected, it is pure happiness to hear chirps all around, to pull weeds, find ladybugs and worms, smell the lilac, chat with Mom and have her all to myself, even if for just a moment. 

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something sweet

Taking an early afternoon break from the computer.

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