Long weekend

I need more of those so that I can catch up on all the stuff I like to do when well rested, or maybe I just need a vacation.

Anyway, Memorial Day weekend was wonderful. I managed to find a good balance of relaxation and productivity, which enhances the effects of both. We ended Monday with a delicious meal, pictured below. My husband can grill. Be jealous.

And then after the short work week, we headed up to visit my family and had another brilliant weekend.

But today is when the stars aligned and I got the good news that a client appreciated my extensive work editing a document, received an inscribed copy of a book I helped edit, and came home to a mostly tiled kitchen and breakfast area. Talk about a good day. My name is in the Acknowledgments section of a book, y'all! That's kind of like seeing my picture on the silver screen for a bookworm/lover of literature like me.

So tomorrow a crew will finish tiling our main living spaces and I will relish the fact that my name is in print in a bound, published tome of literary merit. Sounds like tomorrow is shaping up to be pretty good, too.

Happy (belated) Day of Moms

I made Mother's Day cards for the moms and grandmas in our life this year. And I had to wait to post this until they received them. I enjoyed pulling out my scrapbooking paper and mixing and matching until I found the right combination of texture, pattern, and layers for each color scheme. And I already had the supplies so all the labor of love cost me was part of a Saturday.

In other news, my sister and cousin successfully graduated from college and there was good food and a good time had by all in attendance at the party afterward. I can't vouch that anyone had fun at the ceremony, but it was well organized and very ceremonial, as such events should be.

Also, my niece graduated from preschool, complete with a little white robe/gown and cap. Her ceremony was tons of fun since seeing little kids walk around in too-long robes and pose for pictures is entertaining. And there was singing. The graduates performed for us, which was adorable.

So here's hoping you all celebrated your moms and if you're obligated (ahem, honored) to sit through a graduation this month, may it be brief and appropriately solemn/celebratory.

Nurse Sister

My sister graduates from college this weekend, which for some reason makes me feel older than when I graduated. Maybe since I'm not caught up in the stress and sleep-deprivation of finals and projects, her graduation sunk in sooner.

For those of you who don't know her, my younger sister is tall, statuesque and probably smarter than me. Don't tell her I said that. She also has a huge heart for the people Jesus said we should look out for: the poor, weak, and wounded. So what is my compassionate, vivacious sister going to be when she grows up (read: graduates)? A nurse, of course.

Here's to many years of my tender-hearted, intelligent sister taking care of people who need her the most. She's a knockout, even in scrubs, I love her, and I'm crazy proud of her.

Jordan, Jordan, how does your garden grow?

One of the many things I've been doing other than blogging is trying to grow a garden. Since I have gained notoriety as a serial killer of house plants, I'm more than proud of the few blooms our garden is producing. Particularly since the weather has been having trouble deciding what season it is.

Will we actually get to eat anything that we grew in our backyard? Maybe not. But it's been a fun science experiment with Husband, and a good reason to spend some time outside.

In other news, I finished painting the breakfast nook (which was a long time coming), made greeting cards and refinished a table today. Productive Saturday for the win.

Been Thinking About This for a While

I read other people's blogs daily, so I should be a better contributor. I've been thinking about that for a while, and then my grandma shamed me on facebook and called me out for never writing.

I could have commented that I write 8+ hours a day and get paid for it, but most of what I do at work is edit and wordsmith, not write.

So, here I am to describe the lovely weekend away I had with my husband. Husband teaches orchestra, and Spring= orchestra widow season, so I have been all on my own a lot lately while he works like crazy at a job he loves and where he makes a difference in the lives of children...so I try not to complain much.

Anyway, he had a free Saturday so we took a mini vacation to Huntsville to see Pirates of Penzance, stay at a B&B, eat delicious foods, and tour Sam Houston's museum/houses.

We're already planning our next visit. It was so much fun and a much needed break from the ordinary. (Our ordinary is extremely blessed, but still.)

So, you too should go to Huntsville, stay at the Whistler, eat at the Homestead, and see a show at Sam Houston State.

Trust me, you'll love it. And you might even have the bonus experience of learning more about Sam Houston and buying an antique side table.

And now, without further ado, some pictures of our room at the B&B. You're welcome, Grandma Rose.

Late to the party

I am what technically savvy people call a late adopter of any popular gadget or gizmo. I waited until Apple came out with the iPhone 4S to decide that maybe an iPhone would be an ok thing for me to own. (It's extremely useful by the way. I'm even typing this post on it.)

So as an avid reader and card carrying library patron, it took me a while to warm up to the idea of ereaders. Nook, Kindle, etc. didn't really tempt me. Then I ran out of reading materials before my return flight from a business trip and succumbed to the temptation of purchasing an overpriced book at the airport.
Don't worry friends because the happy ending to this story is that I received my very own Kindle paper white and I will never have to buy a book at the airport again. All my wonderful husband's birthday presents to me this year were books-a new thinline Bible, The Complete Works of (none other than) Shakespeare, a decoratively bound Bronte sisters collection, and the Kindle.
So far my cheapskate heart is glowing because I have uploaded dozens of books, free samples, and even some games without spending a penny. I will enjoy reading free samples and then adding the books I find interesting to my library hold list.
And when we travel for the holidays, look out, because I will be showing up at your house with a suitcase less the weight of 2-3 books and my Kindle in hand. Happy reading!

Pinterest Inspiration

The past two weekends have been filled with successful Pinterest projects. My sister-in-law is nesting, and I'm reaping the rewards. Last weekend, I used a bathtub cleaner she field tested and recommended, and my bathtub is still shiny, which is good because I don't like cleaning my bathtub that often. Look for it here, and then thank me later.

Then, I covered a canvas with leftover scrapbook paper and created art for my new home...once we find and buy it. The inspiration is this:

Mine looks like this. It still needs a layer of Mod Podge, but I'm happy with the results.

Then I ordered a picture of husband and I in Prague on canvas, and I love it! Canvas4life was recommended by Emily of the Anderson Crew, and I heartily second her endorsement.

Then, this weekend I made a big sister gift for my niece, which I can't show until she receives it (which should happen a week from Thursday when I get to meet my new nephew if he comes as scheduled).

And then I helped hostess a baby shower, and I had a ton of fun carving up fruit for this masterpiece:

All in all, I had a very creative two weekends. Here's to exciting events, people I love, and craft projects to help celebrate it all!