my sorrow

I've spent the weekend reflecting on the loss of my mom's cousin and his wife. They died in a horrific traffic accident on Friday evening. The type that makes the news.

Like so many, in the last decade or so, I've only seen them at the funerals of others, and the small bits I knew about them recently was from the Christmas cards with smiling faces of their grandchildren.

The accident happened on the way to visit their daughter and her family across the state. Which to me makes it so much worse.

I can't imagine. Comprehend. Understand. Fathom. It makes me a bit hysterical thinking about it. And angry.

My mom mentioned that she'd never been to a funeral for two people before. And that tonight she was afraid on the roads.

Two years ago, my cousin lost her mom on December 26th. She's an only child and had lost her father as a child. I can't imagine being parent-less.

I keep adding to the list of people for whom the holidays are beyond difficult. :(

I am swept away with gratitude for my healthy family & friends.

That 70s Christmas

Mom and Dad unloaded the last of their vintage Christmas stuff and, of course, I was the lucky recipient. Years ago they stashed this old stuff and went with designer themed trees. I am thrilled to be the new owner of the sugar plum & plastic popcorn garland - I may spiff it up with some glitter spray (pictures to follow soon I promise). Most of the stuff the girls went nuts for - it's all pretty silly stuff - and a ton we made in ceramics, and are quite bright and funky!

I decided to sell a lot of 1970s Christmas stuff on ebay. And found out that the 1976-1979 Hallmark ornaments are highly collectible. Weird, huh? One person's trash indeed. Keeping my fingers crossed for a very happy ending to this story.
These babies are a thrift store score, buried at the bottom of a box of ratty, broken cheapo ornies, they are delicate glass walnuts from West Germany and oh so fragile. Also offered on ebay.

Off to unload tote 17 of the Christmas decor...! ttfn!

Can they build it? Yes, they can!

Home Depot rocks! If you don't know, they offer a FREE craft for the kiddos the 1st Saturday morning of each month. Hammer, nails, sand paper... it's all included. Even a keeper - snazzy orange apron, and a pin & certificate for each monthly project. Last month was a memory box, this is an artist caddy. They're painting them even as I type this. As an added bonus, Pappy was there to lend assistance and a much needed hand. We finished the boxes, headed for Lunch at Cracker Barrel, then off for more craft supplies at Pat Catans. Great ways to avoid the heat!

ice cream sandwiches for breakfast

That's what happens when you're 4 or 6 and have an impromptu sleep-over at Grammy & Pappy's. Complete with baking sugar cookies, sleeping in their clothes, and ice cream sandwiches for breakfast. If the evening hadn't been quite so cool, they would've been able to sleep out under the stars on the gliders, and would've been completely over the moon. What magical moments.

Frank already had a guy's night out planned. That gave me an unexpected evening with my girlfriends. Don't you love when things just fall together? Not scripted & planned. When the details just fall together? The more I plan, the greater chance that something will go wrong.

Not last night. With the little girls and Frank off to their own amusement, I headed to the hills for my own gal's night out. The only thing requested of me - some vanilla ice cream. Which was sublime over a cobbler Dana tossed together from oatmeal & fresh blackberries. Ummmmm. I'll bet she's having some for breakfast even as I write this.

And, after that, we visited Darla's charming cottage. Her home is a storybook that includes lazy cats and eager pups, her own decorating style of incredible hand-painted murals, and a host of garden-y touches, a very elegant & eclectic style that defies description. I'm hopeful that she'll start a blog soon with glimpses of her artwork and home. Until then I won't spoil the fun, but I will tell you that she opened the french doors and we spent the summer evening under the stars in the tree tops, with margaritas in hand, on her upstairs balcony lounging on wrought iron chaises & vintage wicker, across from a quaint little gazebo, echoes of Louie Armstrong from a neighbor's gathering and our own laughter filling the air, and hummingbirds swirling around us & her overflowing flowerpots.

Yes, it is a wonderful life.