Blue

Blue. Blue reminds me of quiet afternoons on the beach in Hawaii where the sea and the sky seem to be one. I used to sit and look over the massive ocean. Ben and the kids would be swimming or surfing or snorkeling. And if the beach wasn't crowded, I would feel like the only person in the world. Like the ocean and sky existed just for me. Those moments filled me with peace. I don't think I have ever been so relaxed. I miss the ocean.

Thank you everyone for your prayers. It has been a pretty crazy week. Kelly has been in and out and back into the hospital. The good news is that the Cancer has not spread!! But her poor liver has been way overtaxed. She is home resting now. I wish I had pictures of the ocean to send to Kelly, but alas I can't find a single one!!! Anyway, I send to her and you these pictures featuring blue and hope they fill all with a sense of peace and relaxation.

p.s. KT took all of these, too!

Yellow

All these pictures have been taken by my 13 year old daughter, KT over the last few months (she also took our lovely new header, as well). Some were from our trip to California, the others are from home. Yellow feels like a hopeful color to me, right now. It feels like spring, like life, like things possible. This is a short post. Kelly has been wanting to post about this month's giveaway and a special project she has been working on, but unfortunately she is not feeling well these days and there is a fear that the Cancer may have spread. So, because I know what a huge support you have all been to her in the past, I am asking for her and for me, that you join us in hoping and praying that the Cancer hasn't spread, that this down time is short and that she'll be soon feeling well enough to share with you the things she has planned.
Thank you.

Free-for all Friday: An Unsolicited Plug

As I think you all know, Kelly's Mama has a blog of her own. A cooking blog called, My Mother's Apron Strings (MMAS). Next to crafting, cooking runs a close second as my favorite pastime and I frequent this and other cooking blogs frequently (redundant?). I admit, that most of the cooking blogs just help me add to my, already ridiculously large recipe collection (it is way out of control or "double O C" as my SIL would say). But, not so with MMAS. This blog is different. These recipes have actually made it to my table several times. Unfortunately, I haven't taken pictures of everything but here are the latest two:

Irish Soda Bread

Christmas Krinklair

Why, you might ask do I choose to make these recipe's as opposed to one's from Orangette (which is a fabulous blog, btw)? The most obvious answer is that I actually know and completely trust the cook on the other end. I have been able to sample her many culinary creations for the past 20+ years and since the only other master chef I know, my Great Aunt, passed away when I was in high school, she has been my cooking Encyclopedia for any and all cooking needs. I mean, what if one of those other cooking blogs with recipes that look fabulous, really aren't that fabulous after all?! No, it's better to stick with what I know, and let those other recipes live in my culinary imagination... I'm just kidding of course. I have tried a few. Like this one from Orangette that makes me want to eat nothing else ever again (...I get over that). But the truth is that with "My Mother's Apron Strings" there is no doubt, no wondering... only total confidence :) Anyhoo, I just wanted to say how grateful I am to have this blog, by this particular cook and that I hope you'll check it out, too :)

Project Monday: Bird Houses

We're off to a slow start this month. It's just been so sunny outside, it's hard to make myself sit at the computer. We're happy to announce that the winner of our March Giveaway is Tiffany over at Teaworthy. Congratulations, Tiffany! Please check out her site when you get the chance, it's really beautiful!

All of this sunshine just makes us feel, well, hopeful. We're enjoying watching flowers pop up overnight, buds opening on trees, and birds singing in the trees. Our theme this month is simply HOPE, and we'll be working on projects that celebrate Spring and new life.

This morning, after returning from a doctors appointment, I couldn't bring myself to go back inside. I suddenly remembered a wooden birdhouse dear friends in Colorado gave us during the winter months that I stored away in the back of my son's closet. You can find birdhouses like this at any craft store. I grabbed one of my husband's old tee-shirts and a rubber band to make it fit and Ari and I headed for a sunny patch of grass:

I set up non-toxic paint and thought enough to take Ari's socks and shoes off at the last minute:

We had so much fun! It's important to me to sit back and let Ari do his own artwork. It's so tempting to want to add some extra paint here and there or to take away the project before he can glob on more red--right over that gorgeous green he just created. If I sit back, I've noticed that Ari concentrates longer and his project is truly his own.

I have shied away from doing a project like this with Ari because my cancer treatments make me feel less than confident that I'll have enough energy to see it through. The Spring air is energizing me,making me excited about a month of projects and, yes, filling me with hope.