A Fine Season

Sunday morning has slipped away already, but not without "brunch". Who says that you can't have pie for breakfast? Especially fresh strawberry rhubarb at the peak of strawberry season in the Adirondacks. Days like these were meant for spending outside. Long Summer days do speed by quickly as we get older.

Miss Bailey will be finding that out now.She has worked hard to be able to graduate on time with her class and I am very proud of her. If you have a child with challenges, you know the struggle it is to get what you need for your child in the school system. Bailey and I have both learned along the way...and are both better for it. She has completed one year of Cosmetology and will continue full time next year. Bailey was also surprised with two scholarship awards to help her on her way. 

She couldn't wait to show Gramma Judy; and Gramma Judy couldn't wait to see and hear about it all. Bailey was quite saddened that her Grampy wasn't here to watch her, as he promised long ago. Ahhh, but he was watching it all, I reminded her. Didn't you feel him beside you the whole time? 

And so, as the tassel is moved... so is a lifetime. Bailey's life will never be the same, she will make mistakes as well as great accomplishments. Her family will be beside her. She will know they are there, because she knows and feels their love for her. It is this love that will give her wings to fly and courage to reach beyond what she thinks she can do. Congratulations Bailey, to you and your class. It is a fine season, indeed. 

Striking A Balance

 It's hard for me to believe that it has been nearly six months since I moved to my new home and life with Tim. I'd love to say that I am all settled, but everything has come slowly.I still take care of many of my Mother's needs even though I am not living there. There are groceries, bills, housekeeping issues as well as staff that still takes plenty of time. By going up and staying a day or two a week, she has been able to stay at home for about a month or so longer than planned.

I never realized how exhausted my body was from all of this, until I was able to rest...REALLY rest. I have been able to rest and heal my body and soul. I am loving the simple joys such as gardening now that Spring has come. I'm also enjoying time with my daughters when I go up weekly. They have grown, it seems, in a blink of an eye. We are closer than ever and the miles between haven't been as difficult as we thought.

There have been a lot of changes with my business too! Tim's computer as well as mine were about the same age and after about 7 years, both needed to retire. We upgraded to a large touch screen and I love it! It is much easier to process my pattern orders. We also upgraded our cell phones and have become up to date with technology. At least for the moment. I have always been a basics person when it comes to a phone. I just needed something so that my kids or Mom could get a hold of me quickly. With the travel, I needed something with me on the road too. Now, I have an amazing phone, access to the Internet and can answer emails...even text, which I thought I would never get the hang of. It works well and as I start doing shows again, I will be able to process credit cards with the phone.

I also have STAFF! For those of you that have a cat, you fully understand the picture. Bobo is the hub of what goes on here...well, she thinks she is. She inspects ALL incoming shipments of supplies and her favorite job is Quality Control Checker in the Stuffing Department. She makes sure that the "loft" of the stuffing is always perfect. 

Murphy is Security and Entertainment. He's sporting his new Summer haircut and thinks himself quite the spiffy looking man. He's right on top of making sure that the house is secure and the birds and squirrels stay out of the garden. This gives me time to hunker right down in my work and not have anything to worry about.

And finally, there is Mollie. We aren't quite sure what her role is...except perhaps Company Princess. She is my constant companion, until Tim comes home...and yes, has her own tiara. 


The past six months have brought a lot of changes in my life. There is a peacefulness here in the little cottage. My days are filled with my goode work; be it art, garden or home. I see my mountains, my Mom and my girls quite a lot and the miles between aren't really so far.


 I've had a lot of new changes, even in my work. I'm loving the graphics that I am doing for Monahan Papers. The sculpted dolls always give me a challenge which is important to me. My wee folks and patterns still move forward, just a bit slower with everything else.  Life is always changing, sometimes little by little...and sometimes leaps and bounds. It all falls in place as it should. There have been changes that I haven't been too happy about, but in the end, everything is balancing out quite nicely. 

Sunshine & Whimsy

 Today, I have two sweet offerings for Simply Primitives. When I work, there are two things that you can count on, that I am listening to beloved movies or classical music. Either will keep me, "in my zone" to a time I am drawn to. There is no clutter of lyrics and I can put my everything in my work. If it is a movie, it is one that I have watched over and over or read in such away, that I don't have to watch the screen; I can be lulled by it as I work. I have passed this on to those I have mentored, just as it was passed to me. I even get a giggle to see that the one person, I had to let go for dishonesty, still makes it very public that she keeps this lesson close as she works along. Anyways, my wee Amy is small, but full of character in her simple expression. Her inspire was the movie made from my favorite novel, Little Women. Dear, impish Amy March~

 .....And wee little Maisy? She is inspired by another movie that keeps me company and is also a novel. The Secret Life of Bees. This wee one has a huge love of bees and the sweetness of their honey, which they kindly share with her. The bees and their hive can teach you many lessons in life.

And finally.....The cycle of life as it circles in our gardens. Thousands of baby spiders are hatched and use the Parsley to start their life journey. They will keep our gardens under proper care and balance this Summer. It's the simple joys~