Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday!

We are looking forward to spending the holiday with my sister in the

Central Valley, along with nieces, grandnieces, great-grand nieces

and nephews, our daughter and dear friends.

Long Overdue Reunion Update

Thanks to everyone who wrote me a note of interest about my reunion. I suffered a little post-reunion depression when I got home and realized how much I miss my hometown friends. It was like the years hadn't passed at all.

Judi, me, Patty, Toni

It was an outside event at a ranch belonging to a school friend, though not in our class. Even though it was miserably hot that evening, everyone said it was the most fun they've had and a reunion, and I thought so, too.

Friday evening after we arrived at the hotel, Judi and I opened a bottle of wine and invited some classmates staying in the hotel to our room for just catching up. She thought my hair style was doing nothing for me and she brought out the scissors and I told her to have at it. I didn't see what she was doing until she finished but I loved it...thought it made me look younger.

Unfortunately, I went off and left my camera in the room so I've had to depend on others sharing their photos.

And just for fun, the four of us at the last reunion I attended, 1994, the 30-year.
Darlene, Toni, Linda, me

And, to show you what I looked like before Judi cut my hair...what do you think?

And I'm already looking forward to the next one in 2014.

Big Weekend Ahead

Marlys - Kindergarten

I am so excited! I am attending my 45th-year high school reunion; the 30-year was the last one I was able to attend and I can't wait to see everyone. Facebook has brought me together with old school friends and I have so enjoyed connecting with everyone again after so long.

Judi - 4th Grade

Judi and I go all the way back to kindergarten. We live on opposite ends of the state so we decided it would be more fun to leave the guys home and be each other's date for the reunion. We're bringing yearbooks, school journals and more. I'm bringing the wine and she's bringing the glasses and we plan to have a terrific time.

It's a small world...

Evening is when I look through some of my favorite blogs. Invariably, something always catches my attention and leads me to another blog, and so on and so forth. Last night, while visiting Barely Sane...Blog of a Bear Nut, Sandi's tutorial for making felt gingerbread people caught my attention. Visit Sandi's tutorial to see how to turn this cut-out into a cute little Gingerbread Man.

A comment left by Dawn of Cottage State of Mind caught my eye. She promised

photos of the treasures in her attic. Who can resist a chance to take a peek into another person's treasures? Certainly, not me. If you love collecting things "just because," then take a look at Dawn's post, Playing in the Attic.

But that's not the best part. Reading Dawn's profile, I found she grew up in the Central San Joaquin Valley of California. So did I! Well, it's a big Valley, so finding someone who grew up there isn't such a big deal. But this is: the internet connects me with Sandi in Australia, and Sandi connects me with someone from my own back yard. I love the friendships I've found through blogs and bears and the creative spirit. Amazing!

Bloom Where You're Planted

Here she is, my Spring is Sprung Challenge bear...and I'm two days under the deadline! She is made from 1.8" dense Shulte mohair and she's 15" tall. Stop by and take a look at all the Challenge entries.

Empty Nest...again

Bright and early this morning I gave my 26-year-old baby boy and hug and a kiss and sent him on his way to the University of Maryland. Everyone was up early today, by 3:30 am, so Allyn could get him to the airport in time to make his 6 am flight. He'll be at UMD for the next five years working toward a Ph.D. in Sociology.

I got a call from him just minutes before 1 pm letting me know his flight landed safely, he was heading to baggage, and he would be taking a long nap once he reached his hotel. His apartment will be available tomorrow, but when his furniture will arrive is anybody's guess.

He had an hour lay-over in Denver and said his flight out was delayed, but they arrived on schedule. Now, Joseph has a history of not quite telling the whole story...Morocco comes to mind, but that's a story for another day. Shortly after I talked with him, Allyn called to say he'd talked with him as well. Joseph sent a text message to Allyn telling him about a security breach in Denver as they were boarding. That's why the plane was delayed. They were shuffled here and there until the breach was addressed.

Okay, so it's probably a good thing I didn't know about it as it was happening, but it makes me wonder about other things he "isn't telling so Mom won't worry." This is the first day of my next five-year-worry plan.

I think I'll go find some cute baby pictures...

I'm Back!

At least I hope I'm back. It's been a busy summer and, yet, I can't say that I've really accomplished a whole lot. Spent time with the kids together and separately; visited Ashley and her new home; saw friends and my sister in Fresno; and now we're getting ready to send Joseph off to school...for the third time.

I wish I had the organization and discipline of my good friend, Sandi Smith. Don't know how she does it but she manages to keep up with, not only her website, Bearly Sane, but also with two blogs: Blog of a Bear Nut and Fantasy and Fancy, the TBACA site, organizing and creating the wonderful venues of several online shows each year...and she still manages to find time make bears. My mid-year resolution is to be more like Sandi in productivity and discipline. Unfortunately, I cannot duplicate her creativity and imagination.