rainy day project

Maybe I was thinking about Brynne and Bo's new baby because I pulled out the pictures of some of my other grandbabies and then thought hmmmmmmmmm. I have this cute table with a ruined top that sits next to my chair so I sanded it down and headed to town. Had lunch with my friend, Sue, and stopped at the copy place to make black and white copies of my pictures.

 I copied three to a page and after cutting and placing and cutting and changing and changing and changing . . .

 I got out the Mod Podge and started gluing them down.

 Then glued the next layer down and voila. It will need one more layer of Mod Podge and then I'll get a clear spray fixative to make it waterproof.

 Here is the side. I think those are Genevieve's cute little feet. Can't remember for sure . . .

I call it my memory table. Sophie calls it a waste of time, as I could have been paying attention to her instead.

Introducing Michael Edwards

My newest grand-nephew was born yesterday (number 9). Isn't he just so lovely?

Party for Anna

My sister throws an awesome party. The table was beautiful. There were pink personalized napkins as well and she made the little favor boxes shown, and filled them with the most amazing little chocolates. 

look at this fabulous bread - tasted as good as it looked

Not too old to sit on dad's lap, where she opened presents

And, can I just say that my lovely brother-in-law is the sweetest person ever and has the patience of a saint and we all know it. He is already having separation anxiety for when Anna goes to college so we all must be extra nice to him.

Leslie and Mom in the kitchen - that is baked salmon with avocado sauce. It was to die for.

brother from another planet

wacky daddy

And, these desserts. OMG Leslie cut them up so we could all have a taste of each one. Divine decadence really. 

So, I made the trek south to my sister and bro-in-law's house yesterday to celebrate my niece's high school graduation. My dad and nephew, Will, were at home when I got here and then my mm turned up after a couple of days away at her 60th! college reunion, and when Leslie and Tom and the new graduate got home, we had a FABU Indian take-out dinner from Khushboo. So Good.

It is sweet to be with my family, to be myself, to know they love me in spite of that.

 Here is little G, doubled in size since I was last here.

Love this picture of my mom sharing her pictures of the reunion with my dad. I cut his legs off in the picture because he insists on wearing the ugliest beige socks with his boat shoes. Zoiks, Daddy, stop it! 

So, here I am in my fave hotel Element, without my little monsters. Imagine my bliss - no late night walk, no little wet noses at 5:30am. ahhhhhhhh life is good. 

Tonight, we're having a party to celebrate Anna. My sister is cooking and there will be chocolate involved. howza! 

Congratulations to Anna

My beautiful niece, Anna, graduated from high school today. She is the sweetest, smartest, most caring person and really, everybody who knows her loves her. She makes it so easy. 

I have not had a moment to write anything because - YAY! - my mother and daddy were visiting me. It was a whirlwind visit but good times. Here are a few pictures for your perusal.

On Monday, we visited mom's college roommate, Marty, at her beautiful new old house in Lincolnville. Great fixer upper and I was quite envious for such a project - peek of the ocean from the windows. Really lovely. We went to Belfast, LOVE Belfast, for lunch and a little shopping. This is actually a 3-panel screen to hide the kitchen in Darby's where we had lunch. Sweet! We went to Fiddleheads and drooled over the fabric (Marty and I think alike so I loved everything she chose) and Yo Mama's Home for an oilcloth fix. Such a fun shop. 

On Tuesday, we went to look at the alewives, who are just about finished spawning so not too many of them. But it was a beautiful day and we walked up to the top of the fish ladder. Then, King Eiders Pub - shout out! - for oysters and then a little shopping in Damariscotta. So yesterday, off to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens because it is just. so. gorgeous. right now. Here are the parental units posing in front of the Garden of the Five Senses.

Cute kitty fence in the Children's Garden, and I missed my little great nieces and nephews who always have such fun here.

 We walked a forest path to see the hundreds of Lady Slippers in bloom. These are two rare albino ones. You really must go to the Gardens.

 The rhododendrons are sublime.

Mom and friend in the drying shed.

And lastly, I'd like to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Dad today. 

Lots of love from your eldest, Daddy! May you enjoy many more.

Woke up this morning with a heavy heart and it took a moment. Today would have been my 28th wedding anniversary. I am So Sick of thinking about my former husband. So, just as every morning, get real, I tell myself, get over it! Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. You know, even people who say this must realize that the exact opposite is true. In Love is a Mixtape, it says that actually what doesn’t kill you maims you, cripples you, leaves you weak, makes you whiny and full of yourself at the same time. The more pain, the more pompous you get. Whatever doesn’t kill you makes you incredibly annoying. ha 

I want to apologize to everybody for being such a sniveling victim. How incredibly annoying.  I should get it by now that you don't really stop missing someone, you just learn to live around the giant gaping hole of their absence. I think I've gotten pretty good at it. Still got a little ways to go. 

Ok, I'm done.