Surprises in Life

 Our Dublin doors coasters started the tale.

Since this story is a bit about Ireland green it is!  We have a couple staying with us from Louisiana for a Guitar Festival and Competition.  Last night we went to our first guitar guest recital which was amazing but lead to many questions (Is the music written for all the different ways it's played?  No.).  The conversation continued this morning & included a fun story about his guitar acquisition.  In August they were in Dublin for a competition and took a train trip to visit a master guitar makers studio.  Of course he fell in love with the guitars but there is a year & a half waiting list so he left empty handed.  On the trip back to Dublin he received an e-mail that the father & son had come up with a solution.  He could "buy" one of the sons guitars, the beautiful one he had played, and use it until his was ready.  The story gets even better - they drove the hour to Dublin to bring him the guitar!  The only tricky thing is they will have to return to Ireland to exchange the guitars but since they too love Ireland they were smiling when they told us that.  Well they were smiling during the whole story!
A great story I'm thankful to share.  Now I'm off to cheer for the Vikings... who lost.  If you want to hear the story of who we watched the game with give me a call (hint - it was an award winning musician). 

The World Needs Bees

Oh life would be so much simpler if I could only figure out my pictures...  my computer seems to eat them.

Last Wednesday I knit this bee and started a flower which was a dismal failure.  Thursday I made this rose which turned out kind of cute.  Then I made macaroni & cheese, roasted carrots & rolls (dessert was Reese's Peanut Butter Cups!).  I delivered dinner, bee & rose to a family with a newborn daughter.  The bee & rose were for the big sister.  I am happy to report that dinner was a success AND so was the Big Sister present.  She named the bee "Bug" and it flew a few laps before diving into the rose.  I remember flying my finger around my kids & when they swatted it I would turn it into a tickle bee.  I love bees.   

My Aunt Jean

Yesterday my Aunt Jean passed away.  My Dad grew up in the north woods of Minnesota with 2 older brothers & his younger sister, Jean.  Every time I saw Aunt Jean she was happy to see me.  When my children were born she made flannel blankets for them, a tradition I try to carry on.  She remembered my birthday!  Every once in a while I'll happen upon a fun picture that she sent for no reason.  I just sent a picture for no reason yesterday. 
But my favorite thing that Aunt Jean did was start a family history.  She made each of her children, nieces & nephews a small notebook with significant dates, pictures and some stories.  My father and his siblings are all gone now and I wish I had asked more questions.  I wish Dad & Mom would have written some things down.  I hope to continue what Aunt Jean started.  I'm going to write down the things I remember & see what stories my cousins have to share.  Life doesn't seem eventful or exciting many days but those we love may like having our stories when we're gone.  I learned that from my Aunt Jean. 

THANK YOU...

I am a firm believer in the power of the handwritten word.  When I lived in Aspen I visited a beautiful home with the oddest artwork in the kitchen.  It was a cute note from a child with a fun misspelled word in it.  When we were going through my parents' home after my Mom passed away I found a note that Mom had saved for years from a dear friend of mine.  It was written so simply yet so thoughtfully.  I have a dog tag from a school trip that my son went on that has "Thanks Mom" scrapped on the back.  I have a letter from camp written by my oldest daughter that I cherish.  And I have a homework assignment from my youngest that I stole before she handed it in.  I do not condone stealing!  When my husband & I were dating he wrote me a 7 page letter - on very small pages but it's still 7 pages.  One of my dearest friends left a note on the pillow after visiting me when I lived across the country from her.  I found it when I was crying because I missed her so.  

So in this world of quick communication please slow down and write a note.  Your handwriting is distinctly yours and beautiful.  Your words give significance to a friendship or a special time.  Yes it may get thrown away after reading but it will still have brightened a day.  It could be put in a special place & looked at often (or forgotten about only to bring a jolt of joy when found).  It could even end up being framed... I have a poem my father sent to me when I was in college.  It is framed and hidden away.  He too has passed away and it reminds me of his love for me.       

Thank you for reading - I wish I could have handwritten this!  I did write a friend before this & yesterday I got a beautiful post card from Seattle.  Check your mailbox : )

Welcome & please allow me to explain...

I LOVE HOME & GARDEN DESIGN; KNITTING; ETIQUETTE; TRAVEL AND ENTERTAINING/HAVING FUN.  THIS BLOG IS GOING TO BE ABOUT MY LIFE & TRANSFORMATIONS (boring bedrooms into sanctuaries - skeins of yarn into afghans or sweaters - a "rustic" cabin in the north-woods of Minnesota into a peaceful Nordic destination - just another Saturday night into game night).

A journey begins with a single step so here goes...

A beautiful California sky from our previous home.