Creating!!

I have had so much fun these last couple of weeks creating a guest book for my niece Kiley's wedding next month. I haven't taken time to just "make things" in so long, and I forgot how much joy it brings me!

I am new to book-binding of any kind, and the original plan I had for the guest book involved some skewers (like shish-ka-bobs) and a weaving in and out of the paper to hold it all together. A very cool technique (which I've never done) but not very sturdy for a book that will get major usage for a few hours during the reception! I have the skewers on hand for another day though...or if my kids get naughty enough.

Etsy is a neat site (etsy.com) where handmade items are sold. I saw some great looking coptic bound journals there, and knew that was the look I wanted. I then watched several online videos (google coptic bookbinding and then go to the alteredbooks site for the best videos), practiced on cheap paper, and threw myself into the project. Kind of like trying a recipe for the first time when you have company coming! I used the covers of an old hardback book that our library was sending to the dump, and covered them with the handmade paper.

Kiley's colors are a beautiful combination of purple, coral, and soft yellow. Although the crystal heart looks blue in the picture, I can assure you it's purple. I promise!

I wish I could be there for the wedding, but I'll be traipsing about somewhere in the middle of New Mexico where I doubt I'll get cell phone coverage. I find that painful. Almost as painful as missing the wedding.

Overdosing on Books! (and liking it)

I have been on a reading binge lately. Two to three books a week. Most of them three stars on my personal grading system (best being five stars). Here are a few of the stand-outs....

A five star-er!
The Making of a Marchioness by Frances Hodges Burnett
Written by the author of the famous "Secret Garden", this book was out of print but can be ordered on Amazon. The humble heroine is absolutely likable, believable and endearing. It is a rather short book, but delightful in a Cinderella type manner.

A four plus star-er
Heart and Soul by Maeve Binchy
I've always been a fan of her work, and if you like her style you will love this book. She brings the stories of several characters together and weaves the connections between them like a beautiful tapestry. I did find it a bit cloying that she used so many characters from previous novels, but I still love her story-telling skills. Another good book written by Binchy is "Whitehorn Woods" about a religious well that people believe can help them.

A four-star book:
Mother of the Believers by Kamran Pasha- an interesting historical fiction look at the beginnings of Islam through the eyes of Aisha, one of Muhammad's wives.

A three-plus star book:
A Most Uncommon degree of Popularity by Kathleen Seidel
Highly recommended, and therefore I probably expected to much. An entertaining read of a mother's feelings when her daughter is excluded from her "popular" group of friends.

Sunrise, Sunset

Feel like singing the Fiddler on the Roof song, "Sunrise, Sunset" today.

The school year is almost over.. it seems as if yesterday we were running to Target to buy school supplies (one of my favorite activities of the year until I hit the cash register.)

Is this the little girl I carried...
Lacrosse season is almost over and KK has had a strong year. Goals in most games, and a growing understanding of the mechanics of lacrosse.

KK is excited to start (gasp) high school next fall. I am so not ready for that.

Is this the little boy at play....
The missionary is heading into his last 6 months of service. I remember after he had been gone a week thinking that there were only 103 weeks to go until he came home. And getting depressed over that. While I still miss him very much, I am a bit sorry that he only has about 26 more weeks to throw himself into the service of the Lord. To teach and preach and put aside worries of the everyday world.

I don't remember growing older... when did they?

And of course, the quintessential sign that the school year is almost over- Prom. Spencer's date was a friend from school, and they went with a group of kids, many of whom have been friends for years.

When did she get to be a beauty?
When did he grow to be so tall?






















Spencer and his date did a good job of matching colors.





















Even their eyes match.

















Sunrise, Sunset
Sunrise, Sunset
Swiftly fly the years

One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears....

Announcing my retirement from marathon running

I'm sure those who know me well are wondering how they missed my great marathon career now that I am on the verge of retirement?

Well, I trained for marathons.

Kind of.

I ran to the mailbox when it was cold or raining.
I also had the hazy goal of someday running a marathon and taking those cool pictures afterwards where arms are stretched up into the air in a victory move. On second thought, I could actually take those pictures without running the marathon and as I get older and more forgetful I might actually forget I never ran further than aforementioned mailbox.

Upon learning recently that marathoners routinely lose their toenails (after the toenails turn a lovely black hue), I have regretfully ended my marathon aspirations.

You see, I LOVE my toenails.
No, they're not especially beautiful or special, and sometimes they have a propensity to become ingrown, but toenails are one part of my aging body that:

won't gain weight when I inhale too many hot fudge sundaes

won't sag like other body parts that I am perpetually trying raise to their former status

won't turn gray (as long as I stay off the marathon circuit) requiring expensive dye treatments

won't blur or require special equipment just to read

The list goes on and on but sharing further details about my aging body might become just a little too much information (TMI) for your reading pleasure.

While the time has come for me to retire, I will never forget the amazing experiences I had while running to the mailbox and pondering future marathon runs. I wish all remaining marathoners the best of luck and good podiatrists.

MWAC in a Mirror!

MWAC is an acronym for "Mom With A Camera" and isn't a compliment in the world of photography. But to me? A compliment! What could be better than a mom with a camera?

A mom with a camera in front of the mirror! Since the MWAC never gets into the photos and lest everyone think that she was somehow out of town (or out of her mind, which is far more likely) for all the great family events and holidays, the MWAC takes self-portraits in the mirror. This has also been deemed "not cool" by the powers that be (whoever they are) but since I am late to the cool party anyways, I decided to insert myself into my family history via self-portraits in the mirror. The other day the hair and outfit gods seemed to align nicely and so I grabbed my camera for my big photo shoot in the mirror.

Hmmmm. This MWAC found the whole self-portrait thing to be harder than she thought it would be! Really now, how hard is it to point the camera into the mirror, smile prettily, and shoot? HARD!!

My first attempt did a nice job of focusing on the plastic flowers and baseball hat on the bathroom counter. Note for future self-portraiture in the mirror. Find a good mirror outside the bathroom.

My second attempt did a great job of memorializing the outfit (the jacket was only $7.48 on clearance, how cool is that?) but somehow missed the person inside.

Attempts three through one hundred involved strange expressions, oddly flared nostrils (remember next time to shoot from above, not below), closed eyes, awkward messy closet shots and the clutter on the bathroom counter.

Attempt #101 is the best of the day. A partial attempt to get myself into the photo album. It works for me.

The MWAC is tired and will now GTTKFAS. (go to the kitchen for a snack)