WIll there be any stars, any stars in my crown....

Although yesterday I had a bittersweet feeling, after just receiving news that my UT [uncle Tony] had passed away from a long battle with cancer and illness, I chose to CELEBRATE life and have a fun-filled day for my birthday! You only turn 21 once... ha! I did, and that was LONG, long ago, in a land far away..... LOL!

Who says you are "over the hill"? Well, if I am over the hill... I just want to keep going 'cause I am having the time of my life. My birthday was wonderfully celebrated yesterday with a few friends and lots of love from everyone.

First, I had a small lunch with some close friends at a new place I had never been to before, as I always choooose Chuy's every chance I get. This time, we went to the "Bistro Cafe" in the Nordstrom's store at Barton Creek Mall... whoddathunk!? It really was "to die for"... especially the french fries, the salads (at least that ALL I tasted] AND the triple berry Shortcake. There was NOTHING short about this dessert or experience in general. I wish that I could have had ALL my "peeps" there to celebrate with me, but as it was, I couldn't really hear across the table and my expertise at lip reading isn't so "expertise" yet. I have a hard time in loud, airy places where things echo and peoples' voices are drowned out by the acoustics of clanking forks and the roar of people "having a good time". So, I will just have to hope that my other friends, whom I love dearly, won't be upset that they were not invited to lunch with me. I would not want them to feel badly, at all and would have wished EVERYONE there if it could have been ideal.
After we had a long, leisurely lunch.. despite the line that was growing outside the cafe for other hungry people waiting their turn (sorry folks, you only turn 35 once... yeah, that was a few years ago, too, ha!), there was a HUGE sale going on in the store so we poked around a bit and headed out. I had a big night in store for me, so I had to conserve my energy a LITTLE!

I got numerous calls on my voice mail and managed to talk to my mom, sister, sister in law and a few others while I still had a voice.... When Kevin got home, he took me to one of the finest restaurants in Austin, "Fonda San Miguel". www.fondasanmiguel.com It's an Austin "tradition" opened in 1975 and he informed me that it was the FIRST restaurant to open which served AUTHENTIC interior Mexican food in the state or did he say Country... ? I don't know, but it's a very well-known restaurant and we've been there on special occasions in the past. It holds a very special place in Kevin's heart as he went there many time with his Dad before he passed away.

Anyway.... the dinner there, was quiet, well, uh, sort of... it really was till they seated the "gaggle of gals" who were fixated on ordering many, many Royal Margarita's and laughing at a decibel level that would have "closed Freddie's Place down".... [inside joke here...] We still managed to have a great time and enjoyed the exquisite meal which included Ceviche.... Yep, never had that before, either of us, so we had to try it. If you don't know what it is, well, it's sort of like antipasto and sushi all wrapped into one. It comes as a "small" salad-like dish of fish, shredded onions, radishes and fresh, slivered jalapenos in which you can pile on top of thick, corn tortilla chips (not the light, flaky ones that they serve you with the salsa here). I think I will just say that I probably would NOT order it again, but wouldn't mind "another bite" for the rest of my life. It was ok.. edible, but not something I would write home to mom about. NOW, the tenderloin and suiza enchilada that I ordered was ANOTHER story! VERY, very tasty! Kevin ordered the special, which he likes to do, a "Filet of Drum", fish filet, stuffed with crabmeat, carrots and zucchini, covered with a white, creamy cheese sauce with sweet, red peppers on the top as garnish.... HE loved it... as you can see, he finished it, but I thought it was a bit fishy. I had never heard of "Drum" before.... neither had he, so he wanted to try it.
While we were finishing up with our meal and relaxing together in conversation, Kevin casually asked me if I had "let Fleckie in" before we left? Uh, NO! I did not know that HE LET HER OUT!? He said he told me while I was "on the phone" [like I listened to him while engaged in another conversation with someone else getting birthday wishes??!?!?!]. Well, we figured out that she was probably home, IN THE DARK, barking at the back door to come in. For SOME neighborhoods it may be NO big deal, but we are not the type of neighbors that let our dogs bark incessantly, bothering EVERYONE!

But, I knew that this place was "known for their Flan" so I saved "a little" room for that(come on, it goes down a different way) and could only think that we would have to forgo the dessert and shorten our evening if we had to go home immediately.... so what to do, what to do!? We called our sweet neighbors, across the street, who happen to be good, high school friends of Kevin's, and asked them kindly to "let the barking Doxie beast in". MISSION accomplished!!! We could take our time and enjoy the rest of the evening without feeling rushed.

So, I wanted to share some of my day with you... some of the food, some of the calligraphy cards I received in the mail, and just simply say that YESTERDAY was a "fairytale" of a Birthday! I've always been one to say "Don't regret growing older, it's a PRIVILEGE denied to many." I feel blessed to still be here and am looking forward to another twenty years [or more] spreading my sunshine on this Earth! If you were even a "smidgeonly" part of my birthday ... THANK YOU for your wishes, for your love and most of all for being your own, unique self!

International Envelope Exchange (local, too!)

Here are another couple of envelopes for my Envelope exchange. I haven't sent one of them out yet so I hope they don't read my blog before they get it! OH well.... Here they are....
I created both of them on the day that my cousin, Caroline from Hawaii, was here visiting. We made a bunch of "Paste Paper" pages for my sister's wedding invitations and when we were done, we started using some WILDER colors to turn out these beauties! This one, to Thea, was well received. She has already emailed me and told me that mine was her "favourite" envelope so far in the exchange. I think she was just making me feel good, but I hope I made HER feel good when she received it in her mailbox. I used INKS on this and while they were still VERY wet, I put plastic wrap/film over them to let dry for 24 hours.... This gives a stained glass effect.

For Brian's... it was acrylic paints on wet paper. I used combs and things to make the cool texture and I think I also put some metallic paints in there, too, to give it a little more character. To do both of the white lettering... I used Doc Martin's bleed proof WHITE ink. I hope he will enjoy it when he eventually GETS it. I have it already done, for June, so I can get a handle on other things that NEED my attention soon! ENJOY! Hope you like 'em.

Shhhhhhhh!!! Don't tell Brian till after June.... he's not usually on the computer, but you never know!

Happy Birthday, to my dear sister, Teresa!

"She whom we love and lose is no longer where she was before. She is wherever we are."

St. John Chrysostom

May 19th, 1972

This is my sister, Teresa. This was her last birthday cake, as she passed on before her tenth birthday! I have fond memories of this wonderful, little angel. She was perhaps the kindest, most generous sister a sibling could ask for. We shared lots of things.... puppies, birthdays, special Christmases, cousins, parades with our baton's down the middle of the road, mud pies, barbies, baby dolls, school bus rides, coughing, taking pills, doctors, mist tents, soap stones, clothes, drinks, toboggan rides, bike rides, mittens and scarves, friends, appreciating the Falls where we grew up and more.
Teresa was a beautiful spirit that went way too soon. Everyone loved her. She loved everyone. I was just the baby sister and she was MY big sister. Cystic Fibrosis is a cruel disease, taking children way too young to die. She went ahead of me to protect me and meet me when it's my time. She is surrounded with love by my great grammy, both of my grandmother's, my dad and Aunt KK now. It will be wonderful to see her again, when the time comes. I know she is waiting and what a solace that is for me. On this day, May 19th, 2010.... Teresa's birthday, she would have been 47 years old. What would she have been like? How would her features still remain from that as the little girl we once knew? Someone once told me that she thought Teresa would look like Jodie Foster or Susan Sarandon when she grew up! She had "Bette Davis Eyes". I know she would have been the loving, incredible person like she was when we were little. If only I had known.....
Teresa had her own ideas of art and love. When I was only 5 or 6 she had me "pose" for my portrait that she drew.... for the most part, it was a stick figure, with features such as my big, brown eyes and red, curly hair... but what MADE the portrait was she used my actual hands to trace around for the hands on the stick figure. Too funny! The portrait was HUGE.... and when she was done... my mom framed it and put it on the wall in my grandmother's house where we spent a good share of our time growing up. It was in Hadley, overlooking Rockwell Falls.... a house with 26 rooms and a zillion places to hide while playing hide-and-go-seek, "Spin around till you all FALL DOWN", a scary, yet homey homestead with a ominous smell, a kerosene stove in the middle of the room to keep warm, a fireplace in the kitchen complete with a dutch oven where they use to bake bread. We'd hide in the "corner cupboard" that was shaped into a triangle that hugged the wall and us. I am still amazed that we fit in there.... and the mitten cupboard... thinking that "they will never find us in here".
This was Teresa's last school photo. What a doll! The fourth graders in her class were so loving and gracious. A good majority of them came to her funeral. It's a hard thing for a child of that age to have to deal with that, but they all loved her. She was MEANT to be loved.....
Here we are... chatting after the "morning coffee", you know, discussing what Saturday morning cartoons we would watch or who was going to get the "funny page" first.... We had some really heavy discussions on that porch. Blitzen, my grandma's Shepherd mix, would come bounding around the corner... realizing that we were out there and just about knock us over with kisses. I think Teresa was actually talking to Grandma's plant at this moment the photo was taken. She always had a way with just about everyone--everything!
For some reason, on this "School Picture Day", Teresa decided that "the thing to do" was to wear her winter coat for the photo.... Perhaps it was 'cause she didn't like her hair that day, or just that she thought the coat would make her look exotic in some way. She definitely had a mind of her own with years so much older than what she actually was. CF kinda makes you grow up fast! I was just missing her and wanted to pay tribute to my dear sister today! I will light a candle and say a prayer, sing a little happy birthday to "someone who hears me". I will drink a toast making a "milk mustache" in her honor, sing "Sunshine on My Shoulders" for her and have a piece of Birthday cake to CELEBRATE her LIFE!

So many years ago, your fight ended. So many years ago, you took in your last pained breath. So many years ago, the Lord called you home. So many years ago, your mother held you for the last time. And just yesterday, it seems, a little girl lost her big sister... I miss you, Twiggy!

I Dream of Jeannie... or Teresa! LOL!

I am in a local envelope exchange.... this is one of the envelopes I sent out for the month of May. I just got an email from the recipient and she loved it. These are HER colors and I knew it would be a hit!

I used Winsor and Newton Acrylic Color, applying color with a sponge to a dampened piece of Arches Text Wove paper. The white writing is Doc Martin's Bleedproof White.... The abstract stamp had just the perfect touch! !

This was the card on the inside!

This is the back of the envelope, in which I used one of my border punches to scallop it.

THANK you to TWO of my favorite peeps!!!

At our last calligraphy meeting for Capital City Scribes, May 11th, I thanked two special individuals who really make a difference in our guild! Both Sandy and Linda are wonderful friends and colleagues which I am so blessed and grateful for! I made these little cards as their THANK YOU from the entire guild, as everyone was as thankful as me.

Scatter-brained me, though.... forgot to give it to Linda and when the meeting was over, I noticed she had already slipped out, so I will mail hers to her and won't post it here till she gets it. Luckily, Sandy was still there, so she got hers.
Both have given endless hours and devotion to the guild with their specialties and although they will still be attending the general meetings, workshops and study groups, we will greatly miss their presence on the board and at those meetings.

T H A N K Y O U, S A N D Y and L I N Z!!!!!

Love, love LOVE!!!

Blowing bubbles.....

Have you ever had one of those days where you just felt like blowing bubbles?
Well, I do....and did! I was cleaning the kitchen, decluttering.... as I call it, and ran across the bubbles from my cousin's (Heather) wedding three June's ago. Yeah, I know, I should DECLUTTER more. It brought back such a great memory and I had to stop what I was doing, right then and there, to BLOW BUBBLES.
Of course, my honey had to follow me and use it as a great photo shoot!
It was great fun and intend to do those kinds of things more!
Life is short!
Deep breath .....
now...
BLOW......................

BLOW BUBBLES, peeps! It's Fun!

Blow... keep blowing.......

BLOW......

keep blowing......

Now.... enjoy all your blowing!
(Reminded me of my PFT's there for a minute!)

You're probably asking where all the kids are...?
Well, you're lookin' at one....

Thanks for checking in.... sorry I haven't posted more...
just been a little busy!!!
Yeah, I know... blowing bubbles!

THE most beautiful envelope...

This is the "promised" upload of the greatest envelope I have ever received..... I am in the local envelope exchange with our calligraphy guild and once a month I send a recipient an envelope as well as receive one in return. Well... THIS month, Holly Z. decided to do some sleuthing around my Facebook page (she said so, but I couldn't even find where I posted this photograph of my dog Fleckie) and pulled a picture off to use as inspiration for this month's envie to me. So, this is the original photo.. I couldn't find it on my FB or even in the computer...so I took a picture with my camera of the photo copy that she included inside my envelope. Below that, is the colored pencil rendering she did on MY envelope. It's the MOST beautiful envelope I have ever received because it is one of my "kids". Of course I am a little partial to them than anything else. I was amazed and stunned.. happy as a clam! THANK YOU, Holly!

This is the photograph:

This is the actual colored pencil rendering:

Norah Jones... in concert... in person!

WOW! What a great show Norah put on! It all started with a plea... a request... and a reply! "YES! I can get you passes to meet Norah." My buddy-bro in NC made the calls and "Presto", we were able to see the show, get VIP seating and meet Norah at the "after show party" at Stubb's BBQ last night! Not only did I get to meet the darling Norah, but I also met some of her family members and their dog. It was quite an incredibly memorable evening! I will never forget it!

Norah's opening act was Sasha Dobson. While she was on, some people who had obviously just arrived said, "Is this Norah?"... They must not have really KNOWN what Norah sounded like 'cause although there were similarities, she sounded NOTHING like Norah and was about a foot or so taller... with LONG hair. We ALL know that Norah cut her hair for the new look, the new SOUND and the new BAND.. which was incredible.
We were able to see the concert from the upper level that over looks the stage. It wasn't the best seating in the world, but at least we could see her face and the goings on while it was happening. I am so short that there was no way we could have sat in the crowd... there's no such thing... "NO chairs were allowed" we were so "nicely" told by the security supervisor after bringing our stools. What did they expect us to STAND for four hours straight? I would have fallen over... luckily, we were escorted to the VIP section...where there were seats.
Norah sang some of the new songs off of "The Fall", her new album, but obliged us all with some of her favorites, too..."Come away with me" is one of my favorites and I hoped that she would choose that one....Of course, she had to do Lonestar, being a Texan and BEING IN Texas! She was very happy to note that several times.... SHE LOVES TEXAS! Well, we love her. Manhattan was another song she sang, which was nice 'cause that is her home now.
Kevin was excited when Sasha pulled out an honest-to-goodness- banjo for one of the more funky songs, but unfortunately, the pick-up wasn't working and despite her efforts to play into the mic... she should have "hung it up" 'cause the electric bass, guitar and drums far outweighed any twangy sound she could have gotten out of it without being plugged in. OH well, you can't blame a girl for trying.
At the after show party, obviously Norah has a lot of family and friends that are from this area because we waited for her while they were cleaning up the joint and she was "freshening up and changing out of her stage clothes" and there were several people hanging out on the far deck with a cooler for her to come "meet and greet"... "shake and howdy"... or whatever you wanna call it. When she finally came out, you wouldn't even have known she was here. She was wearing a very cute dress and all with the show make up, but it was dark and she just meandered over without any gallantry or regard. I just happened to look over and there she was... holding a little baby, not more than 4 months old, on her hip! I honestly thought she was a lot taller than she actually is in person. I could tell she was talking with family because while she was talking to them, she also was "casing the joint" to see who else was there that she did or didn't know. She caught my eye and when she finished up with them, she turned around and I introduced myself and Kevin. It was a little awkward 'cause another gal sort or intervened. Norah just smiled and reached out her hand to me.... I explained how I was able to be there and how grateful I was for this encounter... or something like that... and then I gave her a little gift that I had brought for her. In the gift bag, I also put a letter stating how honored I was to meet her and how her music touched my soul. Of course she didn't open it till after we left, so I hope she got it and liked its contents. What do you get a girl that "has everything"? You'll never know! She did tell me that she "loves to eat". I said, "Me, too!" With all the other folks vying for her attention I didn't want to over extend our welcome so we kept the niceties to a minimum but our meeting was everything I thought it would be. She's so down to earth and a genuinely NICE person... very easy to talk to! Yes, I was a little nervous... but I don't know why!

Anyway... I feel grateful and blessed! THANK YOU to all the parties involved that made this opportunity a reality... and another check off on that "bucket list" of mine. CT, SJ, NJ and JC.

Come away with me.....

Tonight we are going to see Norah Jones, LIVE, in concert, at Stubb's BBQ in Austin, Texas. How'd I get to be such a lucky gurrl!? I am very excited and grateful! This will be one of my favorite memories of my life, I am sure. There are not many people that I really love... in the music world, like I love Norah. She "comes away with me"...wherever I go, I take her. She is in my heart, she is in my soul and she is in my "ears" when times are good or bad! I bring her on the plane with me, on my bike, walking, in Club Med. She is by my side, making things easier! I love her...essence. Now, when I finally get to meet this "soul sister", I will get to LOVE her IN PERSON! Not many entertainers or singers have struck me like she has and does. Just wanted to share that. Perhaps I will have photos of us together to put on the blog in the next couple of days. We'll see. I don't want to act like a "star struck" little girl, but I don't think ONE picture is too much to ask. Stay tuned. ciao! PS (Kev is excited, too!)