Albany Visitor's Association Photography Contest

These would have been my entries in the Albany Visitor's Association Photography Contest if I had managed my time better...

Let me know if you want to buy any prints...just leave me a comment!

Forty before Forty update

Random "Googie" architechture business sign. I have a soft spot for Googie architechture and try to snap a picture of signs as I see one

Remember this:

Forty before Forty

If Blogger would let me cut and paste, I'd have written an update by now....as it is, I have to rewrite the entire list (unless someone knows how to over-ride the lack of pasting in Blogger???)

I can tell you that with 2 months to go, I've accomplished 16 of them and have several more in process...some aren't going to happen, and that's okay. In this case, it may be more about the journey than the destination.

Look Mom! I finished the curtains!

Our dining area used to look like this:

taken during one of our birthday celebrations--I think this was H's bday a few years ago

Now, only about 4 (5 maybe?) years after finishing the first set of green curtains, it looks like this:

The saleslady at JoAnn Fabrics was QUITE surprised when I excitedly and confidently asked for 22 yards of this luscious green fabric. It IS bright, but I love it. I mean I LOVE it! It is a heavier weight fabric, smooth, silky and a little bit shiny. Seems VERY luxurious. I knew it would be the perfect counterpoint to my favorite periwinkle purple-blue walls. I think it's pretty stunning! I knew that the color would perfectly match this vase:
I bought this vase at the Portland Saturday Market about 13 years ago while visiting my Mother. Love going shopping with my Mom! I had the glassmaker, a young kid in his early twenties, sign the bottom of it. I was quite taken with his work (and I should see if he's still around and get more of it!) I love his whole booth, and would have bought more if I could have. He was surprised that I wanted his signature. To me, his work was Art, and deserved a signature! It's definitely one of my favorite pieces.
I pulled out these four remaining panels and had a moment of panic when I realized that I didn't remember my measurements for the curtains I made so long ago. Luckily, when I originally cut out the panels for these curtains, I cut them all at once. I was so grateful for that! (and felt that I was pretty smart for doing that--it made them very easy to put together after all this time)
I love sewing, even though I don't seem to have the time to sew very often. I'm grateful my mother taught me, even though at the time I think it frustrated both of us! But sewing means that we've never had bare windows, my kids have always had shorts to wear, and when my daughter was little, she had super cute leggings and jumpers and other dresses. I've whipped up costumes for backyard plays, tote bags to corral toys and little boy gear, aprons, Halloween costumes, and Christmas presents. I'm going to be teaching all of my children to sew, if only a little bit. (I feel it's a life skill of sorts) I hope my daughter learns to love sewing. I think that it will open up worlds of creativity for her and allow her to dress in a way that expresses her individuality but still keeps her modest. I think that sewing opens doors. I also think that sewing connects us to our past--especially when it connects generations. My mother-in-law has also spent time sewing with my daughter--so this connection is on both sides of our family.
What are your connections? Have you felt that crafts connect you with your friends, your children, your in-laws, your past? Leave a comment and let me know!

January went by in a flash...

H. playing basketball through the Boys and Girls club. They won this game, 42-30

Have lots of ideas swimming around that I hope make it to the blog. Plans, ideas and fun! Stay tuned!

I don't know why this choked me up a bit, but it did

So yesterday, in Church, I noticed a young boy and his little sister sitting off by themselves. I didn't think much of it. Didn't even really notice that there weren't any parents with them. The boy was about 12, I think, and the girl is about 4.

Then while leading the music at the children's worship part of our meeting, I was struck by this little girl's dress. It was just a lovely little thing, with a lovely print. She looked very clean and neat and sweet. I remembered some more details about her--mostly that her family hadn't been to church for awhile, and that what started them coming in the first place was her brother. He was baptized about a year ago, and started bringing them all (all being his sister and his mother) to church with him. But it had been about six months or so since I've seen them around.

What choked me up was noticing them a third time as I left the building. This brother and sister had come to church all by themselves. On a bike. Well, the brother was on a bike and pulled his sister with a bike trailer attached to his bike. He was buckling her into the trailer as I went past, and adjusting the rain hood on the trailer so she'd stay warm and dry. (remember that I live in Oregon--January is not kind biking weather) He didn't have a coat, but had his bike helmet on. I wished them safe travel and hurried to my car to get on my way. I saw them last as he crossed the big intersection on his bike, pulling his sister home. To him, being at church was so important that he'd ride his bike in inclement weather, pulling his sister behind him. What can I say, it got to me. I love church and I love going, but I don't know if I'd have that same kind of devotion. I wished I could do more for him, but also reasoned that he was doing pretty well as it was. Anyone with that kind of self-discipline and fortitude is going to be just fine.

College Humor Mashup

we are LOVIN' this mashup of the Top 25 Pop songs of 2009.

You know you want to dance now!
(Okay--I'll admit, I didn't know some of the songs and had to look them up. What can I say, I'm getting old!)

Mystery Birthday Party Scavenger Hunt!

Warning! LOTS of pictures!
You'll remember that the party started with THIS purple cupcake with a clue inside...that sent the party goers to a park in Downtown Albany. All the clues were in red envelopes, and we used purple helium balloons to help pinpoint the locations.

The Intrepid Birthday Crew! I should mention that it was COLD!!! (about 28 degrees)

Their first clue was this:

Find the location where this picture was taken
Hint: you are closer than you think.
Look for the dumpsters and the broken door

Then this picture was in the envelope: Taken during our Summertime photo shoot mentioned HERE.

Even though C was in the picture too, J directed them to the alley near the park--see the balloon? Their next clue was on the dumpster along with a candy bar

C opens the clue with great concentration

Their next clue was:

Your next clue isn't one store, but many stores all in one place

Old things reign supreme!

If you aren't sure where you are going, head west through the alley and turn left.

Open Envelope A for more instructions.

They then went through the alley, turned left, and found themselves at the:

Envelope A's instructions were:

"Pretend Shop" for J and choose something from the store that is her favorite color.

Show it to her, and tell her why you chose it. If it's not her favorite color, it doesn't count!

(and you'll have to "shop" again)

Remember where you got it because you'll have to put it back!

You must finish by 1:40 pm

Open Envelope B when you are done "shopping"

D. chose a purple vase for pretty flowers

J. chose some pretty flowers


and C chose a purple glass slipper

The next clue was this:

Exit the store and turn East.

Find the girl with the purple balloon.

She'll be near the white-flowered tree.

Solve for X and tell her the number to get the next clue

2x=6

No clue unless you can tell her what the number means and why it is important to J.

Hint: it has to do with the Italian words "'et" (meaning little) and "clarino" (a type of trumpet)

Originally, we were going to do the party on a Saturday, when Magnolia's music store was opened, so that they could purchase a #3 reed for J's clarinet. But we moved the party to Monday, and the store was closed. Luckily a good friend of ours was willing to step up and meet them on the street to give them the next clue (and a reed).

The next clue was:

You'll be SURE to have a good time at your next location.

Don't forget to FIRE up your creativity!

Lilee will have your next clue.

That sent them to Surefire Design, a paint-your-own-pottery shop, where I pre-paid for a tile for them to paint in honor of J's birthday. Each of the partygoers took a section and wrote a little note.

planning the tile

C adds a finishing touch

Next clue:

We've got SPEARIT, yes we do!

We've got SPEARIT, how about you!

To find your next location, get a BEAD on 131 Broadalbin

When you get there, open the next envelope

Spearit Beads & Co.

The next envelope said:

One of J's hobbies is making jewelry

Use the $10 included to choose a special bead for J.

Each of you needs to choose a bead.

This will be made into a keepsake bracelet later.

Open Envelope B when you check out.

opening the envelope

J & D bead shopping

The whole crew shopping for beads.

Next clue:

This word means "bunny rabbit" in Korean

But you'll be eating chicken.

See the purple balloon?

We took our food to go (I ordered it when we were at the bead shop) and ate at home. That way we could have CAKE!

Chocolate Caramel Toffee Cake

Whew! That was quite a day! Everyone had fun, and J had memorable birthday! Now what do I do next year?

Handmade Holidays Master Lists

I know that the Sew, Mama, Sew site can be confusing to navigate sometimes, so HERE'S a link to the Master List of 2009. (plus from there you can see 2008 and 2007)

Swooning over Turquoise Subway Tile

Dear Santa,

For Christmas, can I have Becky Higgin's Kitchen?
Not only have I been a good girl, but for those turquoise subway tiles, I'll be good FOREVER!

Sincerely,
Dianne

Favorite Christmas Music

So what are your favorite Holiday music CD's? I am REALLY enjoying compilations--like the Hotel Cafe Wintersongs, and the Starbucks CD's from the past, --but I am especially enjoying a certain mix of old and new:

I LOVE THIS:

I bought it on iTunes, and especially loved that it had all of the dialogue and such. Something about Bing Crosby reminds me of my Grandpa Price. His voice is just one big hug, don't you think? I also love the line, "Right or wrong, I sing either way!" (also how I feel), and it's nice to realize that David Bowie has quite a lovely voice. But for me, it goes back to the hug of Bing Crosby's voice. I never get tired of that!

What are your favorites this season? Leave a comment and let me know!