Spoonflower

Someday I would love to try out this Spoonflower business... Have any of you tried it?

Here's an interview with the founder on npr.com.

Library bday.

I found this on a random page of a library book I picked up today. A few days off but still I let it count. Seeing that little tag brought back memories of school Fridays when we'd buy a beat tag for a quarter to support the teams. Do they still do that in schools? I guess go, but they call them "spirit ribbons" now. I'm sure they're no longer a quarter.

Sari if I'm hoarding...

I have won the lottery. Look what came in the mail.
Thank you, Melinda. And you too, Kat! You are incredibly thoughtful. I am drooling over this magnificent stash!

Earlier this week I got my own stash, today this comes in the mail, and I've heard from a little bird that some Ikea textiley treasures are heading my way via Sharon. Oh joy.
Sure makes me wish I could actually SEW. :(
Thank you dear friends! What a fun fabric-y birthday!

Who can resist a sale?

Just in time for my birthday. What a good husband I have, who gives me a gift certificate to Textile Fabric, and on a sale week. It was insanity incarnate, even on the third day of the sale, but oh what fun! Had to call and gloat to my sewing sister... who was thrilled for me because she is just a sweet person. And doesn't it take the fun out of gloating when someone responds with joy for you? Ah well. Anyhow, it brought our total phone calls (to and fro this birthday week so far) up to 26. And that's not counting gmail chats and webcam conversations. I tell you, it's the next best thing to being together. When I first moved away from her, Texas, and all of my family, we relied on stamped, mailed, hand-written letters. I know, it's unbelievable. But we were too broke for long distance, and cell phones of that era were high dollar and as big as a briefcase. For Emergency Use Only, Dad said. It stayed under the seat of my car. In it's giant bag.
Between Textile and Hancock's of Paducah, I'm developing an addiction I can neither afford nor store. But it's all on sale, and who can resist that?
Thanks, husband. Remember, your birthday's coming up.

Happy bday.

Happy birthday to my favorite twin! Here's what we can expect on our full moon, deep into Cancer, hot July day:

According to most Sun-sign guides, Cancers are famous for one thing: their love of home and family.

Well, I'm not a big believer in horoscopes but that one's true.

The one trait that's not usually mentioned under Cancer's list of qualities, however, is the one that's the most important to them: privacy. Their symbol is the crab, after all, which is so fond of privacy that she carries a shell on her back to retreat into at any time.

Well, what a fun mascot to be. I always felt we and the Scorpios got ripped off.

As parents, they offer an endless supply of nurturing -- even if it's aimed toward animals, plants or other people's kids. They have a knack for taking good care of anyone or anything that needs them. Cancers make the world a better, kinder place!

Aw, that's just somebody trying to make up for the fact that we are crabs with a name like "Cancer". Ugh.

It's been almost 10 years since I've spent my birthday with my identical twin, and that just makes me sad. So we are making up for it by wearing out our endless member-to-member cell plan. Don't be surprised if AT&T cans it due to our overuse. I don't care!

Still have a lot to be thankful for (see last post). Not the least a deluxe cake made for me by my dear husband, as he most always does. I wish I could share it with my twin but we'll just have to make up for it some other birthday. So, Happy Birthday, my monozygote! I love ye!


And here's some more (strangely accurate!) little silliness about Cancers.

Cancer
June 22 - July 22 Cancerians are ruled by the Moon, the Great Mother of the heavens in ancient times. Here on Earth, this is manifested in the Crab's maternal instincts and desire to protect home and hearth. This may appear smothering at times, but that's the Crab for you. The Moon is associated with fertility, too, a quality which is most pleasing to Cancerians. The Moon is also the ruler of moods, and Cancers have plenty of those. These folks can cry you a river if they're so inclined, and they usually are. They can be overly sensitive, easily hurt and prone to brooding. Even so, Crabs find it easy to be sympathetic to others and are quick to show their affection. Their intuition is also a great help to them, especially in times of stress.

The Element associated with Cancer is Water. Like the rolling waves of the sea, the Crab's emotions can make quite a splash. These folks tend to pick up on things and bring them in, with the outward result ranging from sentimentality to possessiveness. Crabs need to resist the temptation to become selfish or to feel sorry for themselves, since this behavior won't help. On the bright side, Cancers are good with money (although some consider them too thrifty), probably because they value a sense of security. Crabs are also quick to help others and tend to avoid confrontation. In keeping with their nurturing bent, those born under this Sign are a whiz with food. A hearty picnic in the park is heaven on earth to most Crabs.

Happy day.

There's a cold front in Middle Tennessee (hello, 80° and low humidity, thank you God!), my dad's going home from the hospital as I type, Leslie brought us a big bag of homemade treats from her kitchen, construction starts next week, and my husband is well from his own surgery.

I have a lot to be thankful for.

More vintage Dad.

In a few days my dad goes in for some surgery, which he never has, for cancer, which we never thought he would have. Typically light-hearted about it, he's not fretting but ready to get it taken care of. Now I'm not so placid, and am not above garnering extra prayers on his behalf in any way I can. Stinks that it's just so close to Father's Day, too.
John Piper said, after being diagnosed himself, The most dangerous thing in the world is the sin of self-reliance and the stupor of worldliness. The news of cancer has a wonderfully blasting effect on both. It is true about the blasting effect, and the dose of perspective it prescribes. But I still rather wish we could skip it.
Here's a couple of pictures I considered for last week's post; there are so many cute ones that I've got a lot to choose from.

Update 29 June 09:
Good news...all went well in surgery, and a very groggy Dad is eating ice chips and longing to go home. Oh so grateful. Thank you Lord.

Update 07 July 09:
I have a cancer-free Dad for my birthday. Home, recovering, and sans any inserted equipment. Thank you Lord, again.

Breakfast date.

Today I had a breakfast date with one of my favorite men. Actually with his mom, but he seemed to know it was all about him. What a delightful little guy! I love that I've known him and his big brother from birth, and that his mom is one of my oldest friends. She just had a birthday on the solstice, so another shout out to my pal Leslie. Thanks for meeting today, and making my day!

Fathers Day.

In honor of Fathers Day, here's a photo of my favorite father in the arms of his dad, taken probably in 1943 or 1944. Apparently the boyhood fascination with airplanes has been around as long as, well, airplanes. Obviously.
I can't be with him today but my heart is. He looks just the same; I would know his little face anywhere at any age, although lately, I tend to confuse him with his dad. But I don't think he'd mind if he knew.