Here Comes Susie Snowflake

My Mom used to sing 'Here Comes Susie Snowflake, Dressed in a Snow White Gown' - whenever we had snowy weather. We could be griping about the snow and she never failed to start singing this song. So Jason ordered this bouquet for me with those memories in mind - he gave the florist instructions: Snowflake ribbon, a snowflake inserted, white flowers, perfect for memories of Mom. This is our third Christmas without her. I still miss her every single day.

WINTER has Arrived

It's beginning to look a lot like .... last year's winter!! At least it waited a couple months longer this year though. THE MALL IS CLOSED. Snow is still coming down.

Waiting for Santa

My sister Connie's little Yorkies waiting excitedly for Santa.....oh the cuteness!

Winter Wonderland

Mountain Ash Tree

What EVER

Holiday Season

Thanksgiving is over - bring on Christmas & New Year! Last year at this time we were inundated under a few feet of snow. No snow yet this year, and if we have a snowless Christmas, *I* for one will not complain!!

Kickoff the Holidays

Gaby's first trip to Lowe's - we went there after the Victorian Tea.

Indian Summer

We are blessed with Indian Summer, temps in the 50s!! We even had a couple 70s days a couple weeks ago. Last year at this time we were under a couple feet of snow!!

Alliyah & Scarlett

Gabriella

Look at those darling little toes!

Another Amusing Title

Vaccinia Infection After Lab Accident Leads CDC to Change Guidelines.
Okay, I will attempt to explain this title without having read the actual article. A lab accident led the CDC to change some guidelines. It's quite pathetic the guidelines weren't in place prior to the vaccinia infection. It's ironic that the change in guidelines then caused vaccinia infection! Are you as confused about this as *I* am??

Artist Trading Card

Yard Pictures

I planted some California poppies amongst the violas - the bright yellow-orange
make these my fav
wildflowers.

One Year Since Our Loss of Rich

It's one year since we lost Rich....in many ways it seems much longer, yet how can it already be one full year?? We miss our son, our lives have changed in a way that's inalterable - but there is joy knowing where he is & that someday we'll meet again - and we have little Gaby now and babies are therapeutic!

Medical Article Titles

My sage remarks follow each title. I enjoy reading titles, while skipping the actual article. The titles are just so neat all by themselves!

Needs of Bottle-Feeding Mothers May Require More Attention Which needs would those be? And who should pay more attention?

Condoms May Offer Moderate Protection Against Herpes May? May Offer? MAY OFFER? *Moderate* protection? May offer only moderate protection???

Imported Case of Human Rabies in U.S. Described And WHO, pray tell, imported this case?? They should be reprimanded!

FDA OKs Integrase Inhibitor for Treatment-Naive HIV-Infected Patients It's a good thing that naive patients can still be selectively treated, but who gets to decide who is naive?

Sleep-Disordered Breathing Linked With Behavior Problems in Asthma Asthma has behavior problems????

Drug Company Recalls Three Cough Mixtures in France And why only in France? Three cough mixtures? Were the three mixed together?

Watercolor w/Lettering

My Yard

Alliyah Amongst the Flowers

Here's Alliyah - we went outside today, it was actually quite nice for about half an hour! Then the wind came up, the sun disappeared under clouds, and brrrrrrr it was chilly so we had to go into the porch. Fun while it lasted though!

Artist Trading Cards

Here are a couple ATCs made with background watercolors...........

Spring

Spring

The snow is gone from our yard and what to my wondering eyes did appear but GREEN VIOLETS, & some of them are even blooming!! My southern friends probably don't realize what a miracle this is after the longest winter in memory. The usual scenario is that in the fall, the violets last until a hard frost. Then they dry up, turn brown, and re-seed themselves in the rocks where they've been thriving all summer; last fall however, it snowed before they had a chance to freeze & dry - you may remember my posts about the violets in November. Am I preoccupied with violets? Most assuredly! Anyway, somehow, they lived through this winter and are already giving me hopes that SPRING has really arrived!

Inchies

Tiny little pieces of art that are 1" x 1"

Mountain Sheep

We saw this handsome fella at the Desert Museum in Tucson. Cherie & I really wanted to see him hop down from the rocks, but he just stood there looking at us. He probably jumped down as soon as we walked away. Fascinating, the way he balances on the edge of those steep rocks!

Keep Looking Up

From my files...
oh, and by the way, we have a big robin in our yard - he/she arrived Sunday much to our delight!

Tucson

Arizona was a WONDERFUL getaway, however the time went by way too fast. I do have a sunburn to remind me that it IS warm & the sun is shining SOMEwhere. How can the desert be SO beautiful??

Gaby

Isn't she the cutest? Why do babies look so cute when they yawn, but adults look so ... well, contorted & distorted when they yawn??

Lunch

Alliyah & I had Coldstone ice cream today for lunch. She loved it. We didn't have dessert though.

March 17

What a fabulous remembrance book Connie made - she spent hours making five of these, in different color themes. She let me pick the one I wanted. There are pictures of Rich inside, and also pictures of his artwork. Connie helped me make miniature versions of these books for ATCs, the theme was 'Things that Go Together' - so I used St. Patrick's Day & Rich's Birthday..............she kept it a secret that she was making larger versions to share with our family. THANK YOU CONNIE! She's Rich's most favorite aunt.

Happy Birthday Rich!

March 17, 1970 - Rich's birthday. Darrel Richard Hovde. He would have been 39 this year.......we miss him!! Here's a picture of Rich & my Mom that was taken at Jason & Jenelle's wedding about 8 years ago.

This is a picture that Rich drew. When he was little, he used to tell my sister Connie that when he grew up, he was going to have a purple pickup. Notice his detail in the grass and the shading of the pickup, sidewalk, tree, and part of a mailbox. He had a keen eye for detail - the pickup even has a shadow!!

I often hear his voice saying "It's all right Mom!"

Life will never, ever be the same after the grievous loss of my first son.

Alliyah Joy

What a joyful baby!! Alliyah is 8 months - I babysit her once a week, she's my niece Missy's daughter. She is the happiest baby - complete with sound effects - she makes boat motor sounds in all ranges, high and low, she laughs, she giggles, she CRAWLS - and she doesn't take naps very often. When she does take a nap, it's a short one, basically a re-charge. Look at those EYELASHES!

March Bloom

This morning I found this tiny little bloom in my planter - this is the planter Rich gave me last year in early May. A tiny bud formed in early December, so TINY....and last week another bud showed up. So now the first bud is beginning to bloom! This marigold grew from seed from a previous marigold in this planter.
It's been a blue month - Rich's birthday is March 17, St. Patrick's Day. He would've been 39. Usually I don't try to keep planters going throughout the winter, however since THIS one is from Rich, I want to keep it alive. What a glorious lift to see this little piece of sunshine.................

Pharmaceuticals

I recently saw an article titled 'U.S. FDA Approves Drug Produced in Genetically-Engineered Goats.' Did I actually read the article? No, because the title is so delicious that it seems reading about it would just ruin the glow and the mind-rambling daydreams ....
Goat 1: Uh-Oh, here comes that mad scientist again. He has that gleam in his eye.
Goat 2: That isn't a gleam, it's a dollar sign! You should have your eyes tested, I can actually SEE the dollar sign!!
Goat 1: As if it isn't bad enough that they genetically engineered us last week. We've been the laughing stocks of the herd ever since. If someone ever calls me a caricature of Neanderthal goats once more, I'll ... I'll .....
Goat 2: Y-e-e-e-s-s-s-s-s?
Goat 1: Oh it's just SOOOO embarrassing!
Goat 2: But at least we have better coloring than the rest of the herd.
Goat 1: That's just so the mad scientist & his friends can easily identify us when they want to make us into .... DRUGS. There's a rumor that this would NOT work if we weren't genetically-engineered. If people only KNEW what we'd gone through, all that we've lost, the humiliation, the degradation, the indignity of it all, I just know they'd never want to take this new drug!
Goat 2: Kind of gives new meaning to political correctness, doesn't it? Hey.... what's that big gun doing in the mad scientist's hand????!!!

Pretty In Pink Gabriella

A picture's worth a thousand words.

Lurker Definition

Today I posted on a calligraphy site - there's a thread there regarding 'lurkers.' It has always bothered me when people use this word to refer to folks who don't often post to a site - why, you ask? Because the definition for lurk is lie in wait, lie in ambush, to behave in a sneaky and secretive manner - which is not the intent of anyone reading the posts - well, maybe there are SOME people who do plan to ambush the people who do post often, but come on - what kind of ambush could they possibly achieve? So I made my thoughts known and immediately received back a snide & sarcastic note from a guy who often posts his IMPORTANT thoughts on the site. Which reminded me why I don't often post - a few years ago I wrote a post asking about printers - & said anyone with information could contact me privately. I did this to be polite and not 'gum up' the site with answers to my question. I received a note from some woman who bawled me out, saying how DARE I not wish to share this information with the group, how selfish I was. Needless to say, it was a L-O-N-G time before I ever posted again. Sigh. You just can't win sometimes. So... post, receive snotty reply, don't post, be called something you are definitely NOT, you lurker you, out there secretly and so sneaky with your plans to ambush... mention that, receive snotty reply......

Brush Alphabet

I feel bored, so looked through my saved stuff file and found this. For some reason, it particularly appeals to me today. It's been many years since I lettered this alphabet.