Gift of Confidence

Today in RS our lesson was on "The Gifts that We Individually Receive from our Father."  We talked about feeling positive in what we have been given as talents, spiritual gifts, etc that we use in our lives.  Many of us feel like we can't do things as well as the other people, and tend to feel inadequate.

I was sitting next to my Stephanie who just drove home from college yesterday. (thankfully safe and no worse for wear after a 12 hour ride alone) I said to her," I never don't think I can do things." She agreed that, "Yes Mom, you always think you can do everything," with a cute little devilish smile.

Okay, maybe I don't do things perfectly, or even very well sometimes, but I always know I can try and can eventually learn and do them pretty well. I decided that is my GIFT. I've always said I'm a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. 

(Picture of Joyce MK surrounded by some of her progeny (in the teal turtleneck))

So... just as I was trying to think of what I should write about my sweet Mother on this beautiful day, I thought, "well she gave me the GIFT to think I can tackle anything before me."

She too can do anything, but does it all very well. She instilled in me the confidence to follow that direction. "Thanks Mom!"

Here is a list of just 10 things my Mother does well:

1. Smiles and spreads good cheer to everyone she meets

2. Loves my Daddy with all her heart

3. Makes sure her 5 children, 19 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren know they are loved

4. SINGS beautifully

5. Cooks

6. Sews, knits, creates stained glass

7. Nurtures and supports

8. Thoughtful in remembering all the birthdays, and does thank yous so well

9. Has impeccable taste - making a beautiful home

10. Is the prettiest 80 something women EVER

 

Butterfly Dress

Such cute fabrics they have these days and I just don't think most people I know want a bunch of quilts, so this is a great way to mix and match the many materials into something that will get used. Plus my cute little Granddaughter will look adorable in this. 

I got the pattern from a new book I bought called, "Kari Mecca's Sewing with Whimsy."

The pattern is "Color Me Happy," and I did.

The little rick-rack flower corsage and matching barrette took me about 6 hours after I thought I was pretty much done with the dress, but they do add a lot of character to the ensemble. 

Top it off with butterfly lace appliques that I bought 

with Kathryn and Austin in Brussels and you've got the finished product.

I did have some fun making this. I started it several months ago for an Easter dress, but changed my mind so that the 3 Easter dresses would all match. 

After a couple of other pressing moves and paint jobs I was able to sit down this week and knock it out.

New Job

I went shopping for invitation ideas for a party to be thrown for my friend Carolyn's sister.

Carolyn has great taste, so I tried to just let her take the lead on what she wanted, and I was trying to give her ideas and available materials to use for the invite.

There are so many great papers and stores to get them, but sometimes the manufactures don't make the one(s) that I have in my mind. I do the some thing when I'm shopping for clothes and want a particular color and style. I guess I just will have to become the next Vera Wang. Then I can just throw out ideas and my "team" will just whip them up.

We settled on beautiful pastels in sparkly paper, with ripped mulberry off white paper thrown in between the layers. We added a small sand dollar to a ribbon running along the bottom of the invite.

Kathryn addressed them in her beautiful hand and they turned out pretty elegant.

Woo Hoo!!

More BABY Sweaters

I figured out how to take a picture using my computer cam and these are a result. Most of them turned out pretty good, so perhaps that will be another way to add pictures to my blog.  I do like using the Nikon 200 and have been learning more about its use, so that is still my primary media provider. I also need to figure out how to do a collage at some point.This is a little "Feather and Fan" baby sweater and hat that I made out of a silk/wool fingering weight yarn that is wonderful to work with.  The lacy pattern works up super fast, and I'm going to make another one in just lavender. I made one last year as well. I don't think I've made anything 3 times before except the felted wool slippers, socks for different people, and felted wool purses that knit up so quickly.

You can find more specifics here.

I continued helping my DIL paint their new rental house this week. She and her little helpers painted every square inch of this needy house except one bedroom which had just been painted in the past couple years. I hope she posts before and after pictures because the change is dramatic. She has really turned this humble abode into a home. I just helped for about 4 of the days, but she had a crew going for 2 weeks before they moved in this past weekend. Good job gals and guys!!! Check it out here.

MY Bi-weekly "Walk"

Before I got picked up by Debbie, Obie and Kyle for my walk this morning, I decided that I needed to show the beautiful roses next to our driveway. There are 9 healthy bushes of tea roses and the first bloom of the year is always the best. This light pink one is huge and fragrant, but the orange behind it is really what makes the olfactory nerve go nuts. In bloom citrus is heavenly.
After dropping Kyle off at school, we went to the parking lot off College Ave. (where we aren't supposed to park,) and met Carolyn and Laurie. We headed up the hill, through the neighborhood, and to the Jones Creek trail head.
Manzanita trees are so cool.
...and the California Coastal Oaks are amazing.  

No, but they really are. AMAZING !!!

So is Lexington Reservoir. Don't you agree?

But the reason that I brought my camera along on this beautiful morning is because when be were here at the beginning of the week, this hill was ablaze with little, bright, purple lupine.

It looks better in person. I'm getting a little more knowledgeable about this fabulous camera that my husbando gave me when I bought him a new one for Christmas, but not so good as he is. I am still definitely a novice.

From the top of St. Joseph Hill looking out toward a smoggy San Jose. (it is a "spare the air" day because it's been so warm and windless)

California Poppies aren't too shabby either. Such a bright fun color. (My favorite crayon was orange-yellow when I was in 1st and 2nd grade.) 

More huge Coastal Oaks, and then a good drink of water for Obie in the neighborhood on the way back to the cars.
I love LOS GATOS. Aren't I lucky to be able to do this so often? Thanks HUN!

BF Scarf

This scarf is one I have worked on for the past 2 months. It seems like forever that it has been laying around my house.

I guess I  do better with starting and finishing one project at a time and I have been working on sewing and other projects.

I finally decided to get it out of my room and I am very happy to move on to something else.

It did turn out nice.

I got the pattern free from a "Ravelry" download.

You can read more about it here.

www.ravelry.com/projects/hodgknit/best-friend-scarf

(It is blocked with straight pins and drying in this picture.)

South Bay

We hiked a couple of trails at the Almaden Quicksilver County Park yesterday. Carolyn, Debbie and I went for about 7 miles.

Beautiful views, flora and an interesting mining education were enjoyed by all.

Wild turkeys next to the parking lot and I didn't take their picture until we were a quarter of a mile into it. Can you see them down there? Live and learn.

Obie dog loved rolling in some sweet smelling manure so when we saw this trough with a hose attached we thought we might help him get rid of some of the odor. 

The hose didn't work and Obie didn't really want a bath anyway.

Indian paint brush.

Many valleys and deep ravines throughout the park.

We took a small trail only for pedestrians at one point. All uphill for about half a mile, and then back onto a graveled road trail that's fit for bicycles, horses and peds alike.

A little larger flower and leaf on this lupine than we see on our normal trail up to St. Joseph's Hill by Lexington Reservoir.

....and some cute little "Bachelor Buttons."

A tiny humming bird spotted by Carolyn on a nearby bush.