Favorite things

Sometimes when I am feeling down, it perks me up to go down to Kierland Commons shopping center and browse through Anthropologie.

I rarely buy much of anything in here but since the first time I went in, have loved their methods of display and set decoration.

Many of their products are French, much about cooking and table service. These 2 bits of fluff are paper peacocks. They make delightful, creative artsy displays with the humblest of materials.

The back wall where toiletries are displayed makes you wish it was your boudoir. For a chain store, this has my vote for appeal.

never too cool for a swim

For about the past month, Jake has been invited to swim in our neighbor's pool with their Golden, KC who is Jake's good friend. Yesterday Sadie was able to walk down the street and around the corner for a little visit. Sadie has never been a water dog and doesn't really even like to get her feet wet.

Jake and KC enjoying each other's company.

The fountain is Jake's "diving board."

One of my attempts to get a shot of our dogs together. I have given this the title of "2 ships that pass in the night."

1st October project

For my vow to myself to try to make a few things in October I've started with a pair of embroidered unbleached muslin pillowcases for my bed. The French side.

The English side.

Favorite things

One of my favorite things to do is have lunch at someone's very own home. So last week was a treat for me to be included in a little bit of elegance at my friend Jennie's table. This was a luncheon for members of the greeting committee at my church. I can only loosely be called a member of that group so I appreciated being a part of this.

These were our lovely and tasty lunches.

Our rolls beautifully presented with butter balls.

And a choice of 2 tasty desserts of which I had a small of each. I might not be very elegant but I am certainly a big fan of that style.

Leading to depression

I have been mildly depressed for a month or more in spite of medication. I think part of it is due to my lack of creativity. Making the church flowers one time

and this final pair of pajamas for Jack were the sum total of my productivity for September. I think if I get back to my blog which is essentially a journal for me, do a little picture taking and make something I will feel better. Hope so anyway.

The children I adore

so long

Bisbee has many rambling elevations and a lot of stairs to climb.

An interesting old advertisement.

Bye-bye Bisbee. A charming little tunnel on the way in and out of town.

The Bisbee dining

The girls have their local brew at dinner.

Breakfast at a market and bakery combo, quite tasty.

And Sunday lunch at a beautifully decorated Mexican restaurant.

My lunch of the taco trio.

The Bisbee shopping

An antique mall and gift shop had something for everyone. Aaron takes a break.

Becky chose an intersting pewter bracelet in this brightly decorated shop as her birthday gift from us.

Amanda chose a one of a kind work at this miniscule little toy shop. The fiber artist signed it for her. Has it own little removable baby.

The boys had to make their own fun in some of the shops.

The Bisbee overnight

Last month my daughters, grandsons and I spent a little time in Bisbee to help celebrate our birthdays, especially Mandy's since her husband is in Iraq. We stayed here at the Jonquil Inn and had a little 3 room suite which was this little building. Becky said it was once a gas station.

One of the bedrooms.

The mural painted on the end of the building.

The birthday girl

My oldest daughter is 38 today. Guess I can't be 40 anymore or even 50. This is Becky at about 6 weeks before we moved from Tampa.

At Thanksgiving when she was a year old. Her dad was back for a 2nd tour in Southeast Asia.

About 8 years old.

When my baby became a teenager. My children have always been a source of great joy to me. May you have a very good year, my love.

Golden birthday boy

Today my dear grandson Jack is 8 years old on the 8th. I only ever heard of golden birthdays a few years ago but like the idea.

Since I got my first digital camera last fall these are my own favorites of Jack. Both have been here before, I think. They capture for me what the Jackness of Jack is.