Teddy Bear Tea Party: Part 2-Invitations & the pink flamingos

Hey, that title could be the name of a rock band!

Thanks for dropping by to help me celebrate my

One Year Blogoversary!

Your presence blesses me on a daily basis!  Your comment love means a lot to me!

It's been so much fun planning for this party.  As I made up the guest list, I thought of all the wonderful women and girls who bless me and my daughter with their friendship and I wanted to invite twice as many as I did!  In fact, if I invited all of my blogger friends I'd have to rent a huge hall to accommodate us all! Thanks for your prayer and comment support this past year.  How appropriate that I get to celebrate this milepost in my life pondering my real and virtual relationships.  

Want to bless kids with cancer?  Click here to here to earn donations for Friends of Kids with Cancer & for another MiracleMakeovertm for someone in-need.  Before you leave here today, please scroll to the bottom of this post and read the message from Beverly at How Sweet the Sound about the Miracle Makeover or just click here [to go to the MM site].

The day before we left on vacation, I made the invitations for the party.  First, I went to Micheal's and bought several packages of cards that were blank-inside,  $1.50 for 6.

Next, I typed the words of invitation on a Word document and then copied and pasted it 2 more times on the same document.  I cut the 3 invitations apart, trimmed the edges, and nipped the corners with my handy-dandy corner rounder punch thingy.  Last, I glued them to the inside of the cards.

This is how I worded it:

You are invited to

A Teddy Bear Tea Party

To honor

Sonja * *, My First Grandchild

And

[Daughter #2]

Saturday, August 20, 2011

1 p.m.

At My Home

[my address]

Please bring a favorite childhood toy (teddy bear, doll, book, etc.)

or be prepared to tell us a story about your childhood.

R.S.V.P. [my phone number] or [my email address]

I asked my friends to bring a toy or story so they could share about it with the group as an ice-breaker.  What do you think about that?  Do you have any other suggestions to just get 

a group of women (ages 4-85) talking?

Also, I invited 4 of my little girlfriends, ages 4 to 8, along with their Mommies and/or Grandmas.  It seems like a fun, informal way for them to learn ladylike manners in a group social situation.  

I wanted to get the invitations out before I left on vacation so my friends would have nearly a month to plan and respond.  So far, about 12 women I invited have R.S.V.P.'ed, which I really appreciate. Makes it so much easier to plan how much food and party supplies to buy.

Speaking of goodies.  Let me just say this:  if you leave the party without having satisfied your sweet tooth it will be your own fault!  I hope to share my menu and recipe links soon.

While I was creating and addressing the invitations, my Dear Husband was glamming up the border of this flower bed.  The bricks defined it so nicely.

Then he made a new bed under the rhododendron on the back side of our home.  Remember the French drain he installed here last summer?  This is an improvement of monumental proportions.

Oh, there are the 2 new members of the family, the pink flamingos.  I bought them as a kind of memorial to our local garden column writer, Dulcy Mahar, who passed away in July.  She wrote a weekly column with contagious passion, enthusiasm, and wit for nearly 20 years.  A few years ago, she added a flock of 4 flamingos to her woodsy back area.  Before that, she had a thing for garden gnomes.    By her suggestion, I created my outdoor room.  I will miss her.

.

Did you know that flamingos like the seeds on fern fronds?  I didn't either.

This area under the fir and cottonwood trees gets very little sun.  We've struggled valiantly to grow grass here, but to no avail.  My DH covered it with some garden mulch just to cover the bare clay.  Voila!  He'd just added another flower bed to his Honey-Do list.  He didn't mind.  I transplanted 4 ferns from elsewhere in the yard.  Then I took a hit for the team and visited a favorite nursery to purchase several new ferns, some ground cover, and 3 pink impatiens for a little of the party's theme color.  We're thrilled to reclaim and beautify the area just in time for the party.  I plan to spread quilts, chairs, and small tables on the grass in front of this area so we can talk amongst ourselves.

By the way, would you please pray with me that we have pleasant weather for the party, especially because I plan to have it in the back yard.  Thanks!  I knew I could count on you.
Love,

Linking up with
Charlotte & Ginger for Spiritual Sundays.
Beverly for Pink Saturday.  

Here's a message from Beverly about this week's Pink Saturday.  Please click on the Pink Saturday link above to find out how your blessing post and comments can contribute to the Miracle Makeover sponsored by Design Gives Back@ Design Gives Back/Kelee. 

I'm so excited because

today is the day

we all share a blessing

in our life,

and

help to raise money for

another Miracle Makeover.

Teddy Bear Tea Party: Part 1-Preparations

Sonja already has a collection of Teddy Bears

 Before we ever knew we would be grandparents, preparations were underway to spiff up the place for my 

Teddy Bear Tea Party

August 20, 2011

When we knew my Daughter would give birth in May, I wanted to give her a party here where she finished her growing up years with our friends from school, our church, and the community.  But her spring was full of school, a baby shower, and attending SIL's choir performances, so that didn't happen.  We decided to do it in summer so everyone here could meet our first grandbaby.

Okay, backing up to last summer.  My Dear Husband helped me reclaim what had been an eyesore next to our driveway.  He dug up a patch of clay and rocks. 

I planted alyssum and zinnias...

and a new, to me, cosmos...

and sunflowers all from seed.

I just love this one.  Not the most imaginative shot, but what a beautiful color!

Then my Sweetie cleaned the moss off the entire roof!  At least he had good weather to do it and me to bring him a cold glass of water and take pictures of him working hard.

Of course, there's the Saga of Installing 2 French Drains.  Our gutters and drains off the back of the house were being strangled by tree roots and debris.  DH hired a couple of guys to help him dig two 3'x4'x3' holes and two 12' pipe trenches.

Here's how both holes looked after filling them with 6 yards of gravel and a foot of dirt:

Next time I'll show you how we gussied this up.

Then when my Little Brother came to visit last August, we put him to work, too, fixing the window panes in the garage door.

But here's some prep work which probably isn't common to most parties: 

My county repaved the whole street just so it would look clean for my party. 

Uh, not so much.  But it was nice to see my tax dollars at work.  If you get my drift.

You're probably getting carpel tunnel just scrolling down through all this, so I'll sign off.

But you have fair warning, folks!  Yours truly is on a mission to complete preparations for the

Teddy Bear Tea Party. 

So take a deep breath and hold on tight 'cuz I'm going to share more tomorrow.

Love, 

Meditation, Weeds, and Crocuses

This is how my brain felt when I woke up today at 5:30.

That would be 4:30, if you take into account that Daylight Savings Time

just kicked in.

Takes me about a week to adjust my inner clock in spring.

Never takes that long in fall when we get another hour to sleep

add an hour.

My ritual of drinking 2 cups of coffee with hazelnut cream 

did little to soothe me while reading the paper.

Yes, my heart aches for all the folks affected by those headlines.

But I was anxious.  Couldn't concentrate, much less, meditate, on anything.

Then I thought of my blogger friend, Julie, who's going to give the Lord some meditation time each day during Lent.

Bingo.

With eager movements and an expectant heart,

I reached for and haphazardly opened my Women's Devotional Bible.

Then I had a little conversation with God.

What should I read, Lord?

The devotion you opened to.

"Thanksgiving for All Things"?  Sorry, not today.  

[I wasn't really sorry.  He knew it.  But His still small voice said gently,]

Read it anyway.

Okay, but I'm certain that 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 is not on my to-do list today:

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

Not feelin' it, Lord.

You don't have to.  Just do it because I asked.

[Obstinate silence.  *Anxiously thumbing to another selection*  Happened upon Ephesians 6:11]

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

But I'm too weak to stand.  I'm so burdened with care.

There's a hymn** about your condition.  

The refrain goes, "Take it to the Lord in prayer."

[Beginning to tear up.]

Okay, Lord.

Life's season is changing again and I never got used to the last one.

I was hoping to share my joy at being a Grandma with my Mom.  

But her health is so if-y.  

After 24 years of living so far from her and missing so many celebrations of life with her...

Are You going to continue to allow her to suffer and then take her...??

[Full-on boohooing now.]  

Her care needs are very high, beyond what I can do for her from so far away or even really if she were here with us.  What do I do about that?

You're doing it.

My daughter is going to be a mother.  I'm going to be a grandmother.

Yes, those are wonderful things.  But again, I'm so far away.

Are we going to miss out on doing life together, too?

Go on.

[Dear Husband] was sick all weekend.  All I could do was feed him antibiotics and food at regular intervals.  Oh, and as much as I love him and he loves me, I feel far from him, too.

#3 child has not found his purpose.  

There is estrangement in the family.

I feel inadequate to help those I love the most.

You are.  But I'm not.  

I'm the One who created your family.  I love them more than you do.  

Did you forget that I have "plans to give you and your family hope and a future"?

[Jeremiah 29:11]

When you aren't joyful and thankful, it's cuz your heart is far from Me.

 You need to draw near to Me daily 

by reading My Word, talking with Me, and waiting for My response.
Oh.

Remember the post you wrote on Saturday?
Yup.
Read it again.  Those words aren't just for your readers' benefit.
They are for you, too.
You were at peace and full of hope in Me by the time you'd finished writing it.
You're right, Lord.  And I feel that way now, too.
Thank you, Jesus.


By then, it was time to kiss my DH and send him off to work.
I usually stand on the driveway, oblivious to what any passersby may think,
and blow kisses to him as he drives away.
He honks and says, "I love you!  See you tonight!"
Love that moment in our day.

I turned to go in, but decided to linger in the morning sunshine
-thank you for the sunshine, Lord!-
to enjoy the crocuses
and pull weeds from between the flagstones.
I don't like it when they go to seed and make more weeds!

I don't mind gettin' my hands dirty gardening.

Time with Jesus, kisses from my man, gardening.
Oh, I feel so much better!

Do you give up listening to Rolling Stones music, chocolate, or shaving your legs
for Lent?
The first two I've actually done.
The third would not be a sacrifice.

Hoping that you are joyful in the Lord today!
Love,
Karen

**Click here to find out more about Joseph Scriven, the writer of the hymn,

"What a friend we have in Jesus,"**

Linking with:

Jodi @ Magical Mouse Schoolhouse for

Spring Has Sprung!

I mentioned yesterday that I'm looking forward to my bulbs coming up.
Crocuses are the first of my perennials

to poke their brave little noggins through the soil each January.

I began charting their journey to the surface here.

They've never disappointed me.

Talk about a reason for hope!

This weekend we had a heat wave of sorts.

It's been a blistering 60 degrees since last Thursday, 

which was all the encouragement the crocuses 

and a few other perennials needed to make their 2011 debut.

Like brave little soldiers, they are!

Or, maybe show-off divas!

This little thing.  Just wait till you see what she turns into.

I'll keep you posted.

I divided these day lilies last summer and plopped 'em in another bed.

Their sisters are just across the path.

They will make their appearance in June.  Stay tuned.

And here is my perennial hero.

Mi vida!  [My life!] 

This is the picture I posted on the mcp Project 52 Flickr group last week.

Our assignment for the week was to illustrate a song.

Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I'm 64?
From The Beatles' 1967 album, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band

Yes, Yes, I will, God-willing, till you're 104!

All you wanna be photographers out there

-you know who you are-

join us for this fun project.

Here's another way I like to share my photos

and see the work of others photographers:

Link up with Darcy @ my3boybarians:

You can click here to find out how to participate.

How handsome you are, my lover!

Oh, how charming...

Place me like a seal over your heart...

for love is as strong as death...

It burns like blazing fire...

Many waters cannot quench love; 

rivers cannot wash it away.

Song of Songs 1:16; 8:6-7

Thanks for stopping by.

God bless your moments with joy and peace today!

Love,

Putting the garden to bed-Day #2 of Thanksgiving

Today I'm thankful for having the means and health to garden this summer. 

Gardening is an activity that fuels my passion for life.  

I feel refreshed and energized every time I get to do it.

But in fall there comes a time when I must put the garden to bed,
i.e., pull out the annuals, trim down the perennials, and clean the beds before frost makes it's seasonal appearance.

However, on a recent morning, I glanced out through my kitchen sliding door and saw fall sunlight kissing the last of the zinnias and lobelias on the deck...
 

...and I made up my mind: 

I'm not putting my garden to bed just yet.

With a certifiable procrastinator's rationale, 

I said to myself,  
"Look how bravely those flowers are reaching for the bright fall sun!

Probably a posse from my garden club will show up toute suite and bury me in a worm bin for the winter

if I r-r-rip up those lovelies and toss 'em in the yard debris bin

today!"

All I could do was grab my camera and capture the last of summer's glory around my home. 

It's so great to be a procrastinator have an artist's spontaneity!

Here, out in the bed by the street are more zinnias...

and more...

And this little beauty!  She's so vain.

She prob'ly thinks this post is about her.
(Name that song from the 70's.) 

Wearing a tutu and a crown

like she's a bloomin'  extra in

the Nutcracker.

And just look at those aster groupies behind her.

Look at this show-off. 

She's nearly as big as my hand. 

And that color just makes me swoon!

Cast an eye on these ruby orbs.

If I figured how much it cost me to grow them,

they're probably worth 7 bucks a pound.

All summer we gardeners have been whining about

the cool summer days and nights.

"Do you have tomatoes yet?"

"Me neither."

And then I waited too long to harvest some that ripened!

But these are destined for greatness!

I made a killer sauce with 'em, sans the lemon cucumber.

See you next summer, Miss Alyssum.

It was nice to know you, Mr. Nasturtium.

And here's the last of my clematis for this year.

She's grown at the corner of our home for 15 years.

Fall light strreaming through the dogwood.



Better grab these lemon cukes before the frost gets 'em

Come to mama.


I'd never had this color of cosmos.  Planted them from seed.

 I planted sweet peas for the first time the May before my first child was born, 30 years ago.  I thought my baby would love to smell them, so I planted them under her window.  On her wedding day 7 years ago, my girlfriend went to Pike Place Market in Seattle, bought her a whole bouquet of them, and gave them to her just before she put on her wedding dress. 

You can't buy memories like that. 

You can plant them, though. 

What a brave soul this gladiola is.  I don't think the fall sun reaches her any more, but she fulfilled her desiny by blooming anyway.

You do not see the chain link fence.  It is a figment of your imagination.

It's hard to beat perennial fuschias.  They bloom profusely for about 4 months.

And the groupie asters?  They make excellent cut flowers.  A few of them came inside to delight us for nearly 10 days!  

The pumpkin is another gift from the friend who bought our daughter

sweet peas on her wedding day.

This is what the words say:

As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15

Thank You, God, for making flowers and veggies!

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation:  seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds."

And it was so...

And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:11, 12

Grace to you, my friend.

Love, Karen