Hands To Work

Helen again...

I got an updated picture of little Helen.  About 10 days until she moves in.  I can't wait!

A Happy Picture

Went through some of my pictures this evening and thought I would share this one.  She makes me happy!

Unless she is teething and grumpy and refuses to do what she is asked...

 

And just when I've had enough and am ready for her to go home, I get this:

 

Lucky Me

t

Happy Birthday!

It's the most wonderful day of the year.  The birthday of the most wonderful country in the world.  I'm proud to be a member, a citizen of these United States!  And thankful for the men and women in uniform that keep this great country safe.

We spent the day with Lily and Elisabeth.  A lazy day for us.  We drove to Leesburg to a yard sale held by my boss and his wife.  Lily played with Wayne's grand daugher Kayleigh and picked out many things to bring home.  But all of those got left behind when she scored her prize of the day...a page of green price stickers!  That kept her busy all the way home. 

We also stopped at the Hunter's Head in Upperville.  It's such a quaint restaurant with delicious food.  We ate on the terrace and Lily was perfectly adorable.  She had fun playing with a dog named Blue that sat at the next table. 

Once home, we had fun drawing pictures on the drive way with sidewalk chalk, running with sparklers and blowing bubbles.     What joy this child brings to our lives!

Happy Fourth!  Tracy

It's nice to be loved...

I love my husband.  And he loves me.  I never doubt that.  He does so many wonderful things for me that I overlook his few flaws.  Like gift buying.  He's terrible at gift buying!  I gave up long ago expecting to get amazing presents for birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas.  It's just not his thing.  So imagine my surprise when I walked into the family room yesterday when I got home from work to find this awesome oak platform rocker.  I've wanted one for the longest time and he found it at a local thrift store.  It's so cool.  The seat fabric will have to  be changed but it's in perfect condition!  And he bought a card.  A CARD!  I'm still amazed.  Lucky me.

  

Speaking of love, we will be welcoming a new girl into the house in three weeks.  Meet Helen.

This beauty is one of seven puppies and she chose me.  Cindy the breeder sent this picture to me last night.  Her eyes are still blue.  

Chuck and I have been babysitting dogs again.  Matt's boy Jack is here for the weekend.  He loves to play with Betty.  The just about wore out the grass last night as they ran in circles until they both collapsed!  Chloe was annoyed with the whole thing!

  

Off to bed.  I have to get up early in the morning to put home made baked beans in the oven.  We are having a church picnic immediately following morning services.  Ta ta for now!

Tracy

Pretty In Pink

I love pink flowers!  This is the first year for the pink bee balm.  Hope the bees are loving it as much as I do!  Happy Friday.

This is what sucks me in....

I try to go home, mind my own business and be a good girl.  And then some one posts pictures like this which makes me go to my local knit store and stock up on another thousand yards of yarn.  And needles.  Sigh, what's a girl to do?

This is Beata and she is a yarn dyer in Ireland.  She has the most beautiful silks and such on etsy.  Of course I have her site on my favorites.  

So I was perusing some of my favorite blogs the other day and Beata posted more of this:

   

Isn't she just adorable?  I'm sure I would look cute in one of those too.  I can't resist...gotta get me more yarn, gotta get more yarn!

By the way Aunt Marilyn, I'm sorry there hasn't been new pictures of Lily.  I will load some pictures this weekend and post asap.  She and her momma went to TN for a week.  I'm missing them already and they have only been gone for a few hours!

Happy Thursday.

t

Jonathan

 Jonathan DaDalt, ten year old son of my cousin Kathy fought his cancer long and hard but left this world on Monday.  Finally he rests in the arms of our Father.  We are going to Rhode Island on Friday morning to be with family and say goodbye to a tough little guy. 

So many of you have followed Jonathan's fight over the years and asked often about him.  I wanted to let you know that it was so appreciated.  Please keep Kathy, Pete, his little sister Alyssa and baby Benjamin in your prayers as they will be going through so many emotions and a lot of heartache. 

A Mismash of Topics

Hello friends,

I have about ten wonderful topics for my blog in my brain but since my camera is at Elisabeth's apartment with the pictures that go with the posts....I am going to improvise.  And catch up.

Chuck, Courtney, Elisabeth, Lily and I went to WV for the weekend.  My beautiful neice Kelley graduated from Morgantown High School.  Chuck and I had Lily at the ceremony and thank goodness it was at the WVU Collesium as we sat away from the sniffling parents and gave Lily room to roam.  She loved the band and clapped and sang.  Anything that she can hold in her hand becomes a microphone and she yells LA LA LA LA LA as loudly as she can.  It's cute at home, not so cute at a public ceremony. 

After the graduation, we took Lily to lunch and then had to stop by a Hallmark store as I had neglected to buy a graduation card.  Didn't have much to chose from.  Guess I should have gone to the store sooner.  And without an 18 month old.  Lily was a wild child in the store.  She screamed to be put down and then went running through the aisles grabbing cards.  I was mortified.  So I left my husband to card shop while I took the heathen to the car.  Oh my.  There is a reason women my age don't have babies.  I was wiped out!

So the weekend was great fun.  It's always nice to spend time with family. 

I am going to be teaching  a class at the Loudoun Sampler Guild in July.  I'm hoping to teach my Acorn Necessary.  If you live near by, see what you can do to come join me.  I'm starting to get my creative drive again and am so excited!  It's been a long time coming.

Some disapointing news.  I was hoping to get a lab puppy at the end of this month from a good friend that breeds.  He had quit breeding and decided to have another litter.  The mother got sick during the pregnancy, lost some of the litter and the ones that were delivered died soon after birth.  I'm so sad.  I've had a hard time getting over the loss of Maggie and was looking forward to having another dog in the house. 

 Of course this goofball comes over quite a bit and chews up furniture and knocks glasses and plates off tables. 

It's about time for bed.  4:45 a.m. comes very quickly.  Shouldn't complain as this is what I drive past on the way to work:

Have a lovely evening!  Tracy

PS My apologies for the blurry pictures.  I told you I was improvising!

I ate at Clyde's!

 Have you ever heard of Clyde's?  Guess it's a restaurant chain and each one has it's own theme.  Last Friday night Chuck and I went with two friends (Kevin and Brenda) to the one in Broadlands called Willow Creek Farm.  Oh man, was it the coolest restaurant I've ever been to!  Above is a private dining room called The Samuel French room.  

  

This is the room where we ate.  I had a filet ( my standard restaurant fare), Chuck had the most beautiful crab cakes, we had appetizers and desert.  YUM!  If you live in the area, GO!

Happy Monday

Easter Weekend

 Chuck and I spent the weekend visiting his brother and family and his mom.  We stayed with MIL and she fed us and fed us and fed us.  I consumed more starch from Friday through Sunday than I usually have in six months.  I'm still full.  We had a marvelous time catching up on all the family gossip...and eating.  I felt ashamed that we hadn't been there since Christmas!

The above picture is a woman holding a dog and they live in Fairmont WV (where we were).  I wish I could entertain you with family photos but guess who forgot her camera.  This was the best I could do....a picture from the Fairmont Times/WV.  Hey, at least it's from the same town.  We can pretend that the blonde lady is my long lost cousin that happened to be in Fairmont for Easter and we hooked up at church discussing our love of dogs and WV. 

I'm stopping by the grocery store on my way home to pick up various items to make spaghetti and meatballs for dinner.  Elisabeth asked me to fix dinner for her and her new boyfriend this evening.  I have a problem saying no.  Even though I found myself digging to the back of the closet this morning trying to find a pair of jeans that would still fit as nothing is clean.  Well, nothing that still fits me is clean.  I'm not ready to tell you who the boyfriend is but after a week or so if all goes well then I will spill the beans. 

Did you see Alma's poston dyeing chenille trim?  Geesh, even when she's dumping Rit dye in a jar she takes the time to make it look sweet and wonderful.  Wonder if she ever forgets to wipe up toast crumbs from the counter or uses paper cups....  Anyway,  she then went on to make springerle cookies and the pictures were lovely and I've already checked out the link as I'm sure I need to make cookies like that as well!

Happy Monday!