tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35029872690542063162024-02-07T12:53:04.734-05:00purple petuniavfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.comBlogger455125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-88045468523031178312023-11-29T22:10:00.000-05:002023-11-29T22:10:36.687-05:00Holding on <p> This is a post to show I have an active account and will someday print this or something, so Google! Please don’t delete me!</p><p>XOXO</p><p>Valerie </p>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-44168479264837138432020-09-06T19:51:00.001-05:002020-09-06T19:53:22.427-05:00Halls to Home<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7DOOd8ek9iJMB5G4jfOwcKUNUCmX3uMsezbIP2FybbKvAgwnLnQ2Y6DIJx6T1dnxIaiZTs1rZVZDMMfvT0rvjXuTveVvWlWvBXkZbT6NN8wJPsfJs4Sv8S2kFqHu1B-8z7fYF804oEn2/s2048/897D8ADC-DA1F-43BA-BE1A-70B8B1C722C2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-7DOOd8ek9iJMB5G4jfOwcKUNUCmX3uMsezbIP2FybbKvAgwnLnQ2Y6DIJx6T1dnxIaiZTs1rZVZDMMfvT0rvjXuTveVvWlWvBXkZbT6NN8wJPsfJs4Sv8S2kFqHu1B-8z7fYF804oEn2/s320/897D8ADC-DA1F-43BA-BE1A-70B8B1C722C2.jpeg" /></a></div><br /> Reuben’s team of teachers is making a valiant effort so far. I’m posting this so Reuben can find & use as his profile pic: studying hard! XOXO<p></p>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-74332556330837796412014-03-03T15:09:00.000-05:002020-03-14T11:03:21.576-05:00Fanconi Fun<div class="assessmentAnswer">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7BoWmRKaaLsAPG35hVzZ7xSqp9WzveWNftIJQfViwBJBE1lADir18TgOerVDbauyiNRhKgy48Q80NNN6BLdM04xqBXEW0HNOd7qNve4C-Obkcbdkn7jcW1HqWmyRAVU_8A-Evns-gl1Q/s1600/reuben+my+birthday.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7BoWmRKaaLsAPG35hVzZ7xSqp9WzveWNftIJQfViwBJBE1lADir18TgOerVDbauyiNRhKgy48Q80NNN6BLdM04xqBXEW0HNOd7qNve4C-Obkcbdkn7jcW1HqWmyRAVU_8A-Evns-gl1Q/s1600/reuben+my+birthday.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Reuben yesterday with my birthday "cupcake on ice cream!"</span></i></div>
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<i>I wrote this rather slapdash report last week for my Coursera Chemistry mini research paper. If you've been interested in Reuben's kidney disease, well, THIS TREAT IS FOR YOU. </i></div>
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<div>
My five year old son Reuben has
Fanconi syndrome, diagnosed during a period of poor growth after
chemotherapy treatment for a synovial sarcoma in his right shoulder.
Fanconi syndrome is a kidney disorder caused by damage to the proximal
tubules in the kidney, in his case from therapeutic use of the drug
ifosfamide [2,3]. The result is a diminished reabsorption of solutes by
the proximal tubule. Clinical manifestations of this disorder can be
more complex, depending on the biological cause of the tubule damage,
but in Reuben's case his symptoms and management are limited to
nutritional electrolyte levels and prevention of acidosis. [1,2]</div>
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<div>
Reuben
was promptly treated with heavy supplementation of electrolytes and
bicarbonate, and avoided the side effects (rickets from phosphorus and
vitamin D deficiency is one concern) that could be caused by nutritional
deficiency of essential electrolytes [3]. This treatment has continued
for four years. More advanced biochemistry can be applied to the
mechanisms of his renal tubules and the biological effects of these
electrolytes, but I will limit this brief discussion to inorganic
chemistry. As we learned about electrolytic reactions and precipitates
in Week 4, I immediately thought of the precipitates I have observed in
Reuben's urine. "Tell your doctor about cloudy urine" urge parenting
articles, so I asked his nephrologist, who has assured me (from
theoretical knowledge and the urinalysis done regularly) that the
cloudiness in the toilet bowl, what I saw crystalized at the bottom of
his wee toilet during potty training, and the residue I sometimes
observe in his underwear is expected. I'm seeing a solid result of most
of the electrolyte solution I deliver three times daily orally,
processed inefficiently by his damaged kidneys ("It's chemistry in
action!" I told my physician and biologist siblings. Our inner chemistry
geeks were very excited). This paper--and the refreshing of my
20-year-dormant inorganic chemistry skills with this class--gives me the
opportunity to make a prediction exactly what the precipitates are.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
I
theoretically know that Reuben likely has excessive urination of many
solutes, including glucose, amino acids, calcium, phosphate, uric acid,
bicarbonate and many organic compounds [3]. I can reasonably conclude,
however, that he is excreting most what he receives most of. His daily
oral supplementation regimen gives him the following, which represents a
massive excess of what his little 43 pound body uses: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
*30
mL of CYTRA-2, a formulation that includes sodium citrate and citric
acid in a neutralizing buffer. For the purposes of this paper, I'm going
to ignore the inactive ingredients, and just consider the stated
concentrations in 5 mL aqueous solution: 500 mg Sodium Citrate Dihydrate
and 334 mg Citric Acid Monohydrate. The label states that each mL
contains 1 mEq Sodium Ion and is equivalent to 1 mEq Bicarbonate (HCO3)
[4].</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
*1 1/2 packets of PHOS-NaK, a powdered
concentrate. Each packet contains (again, just the active ingredients)
160 mg sodium, 280 mg potassium, and 250 mg phosphorus in the form of
potassium phosphate and sodium phosphate.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Calculations:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
part 1: the ions</div>
<div>
From CYTRA-2: Na+, HCO3 -2 (the sodium citrate and citric acid in the CYTRA-2 are converted to bicarbonate by the liver [7]).</div>
<div>
From
Phos-NaK: K+, Na+, PO4 -3 (phosphorus is transported and processed in
the intestine, kidneys, and urine in phosphate form [8]).</div>
<div>
Resultant cations: Na+, K+</div>
<div>
Resultant anions: HCO3 -2, PO4 -3</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
part 2: the precipitates </div>
<div>
I
expected to discover in this step that one of the resultant ionic
compounds was insoluble, and that would be the precipitate that I
observe, but according to solubility rule #1, "Most compounds of Group 1
metal cations are soluble." Because both of the supplemental cations
are Group 1 metals, I can expect that the possible compounds of the ions
listed above would be primarily in solution. The precipitate I observe
must therefore be the result of an already fully saturated aqueous
solution in Reuben's urine. I predict the following possible electrolyte
salts in excess: Na2HCO3, K2HCO3, Na3PO4, K3PO4 (sodium bicarbonate,
potassium bicarbonate, sodium phosphate, and potassium phosphate).</div>
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<div>
If
this chapter of my education extends to a laboratory portion of
my chemistry review, I may, in the future, be able to test the accuracy
of the predictions made by my chemical figuring above. I could do
further research on the way the digestive system uses and transforms
elements and their ions to be more accurate in my chemical predictions,
but the above exercise was interesting, and appropriate at my current
chemistry knowledge level. "Fanconi syndrome" describes a class of
disorders whose variable symptoms depend on the cause and extent of the
proximal tubule damage [2]. I would like to know exactly what Reuben's
body disposes of, and how this changes as his body and metabolic needs
grow. More specific research could still be done on the chemistry of
affected patients' urine and blood to see exactly the sort of damage
done to a 6 month old child with high doses of ifosfamide (it was
reported as early as 1974 [3,6]), but I hope that the incidence of cases
remain low enough that such studies cannot be categorically conclusive,
particularly at stages of early development, such as my 6-month old
baby. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
Sources cited:</div>
<div>
1. "Fanconi Syndrome." Author: Sahar Fathallah-Shaykh, MD; Chief Editor: Craig B Langman, MD. Accessed on web at <a href="http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/981774-overview">http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/981774-overview</a>.</div>
<div>
2. Discussions with the subject's mother and nephrologists.</div>
<div>
3. " Ifosfamide induced Fanconi syndrome." Samantha Buttemer, Mohan Pai2 and Keith K Lau. BMJ Case Rep. 2011; 2011. Accessed on web at <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246161/">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3246161/</a></div>
<div>
4. Label for Cypress Pharmaceutical, Inc.'s CYTRA-2 oral solution.</div>
<div>
5. Label for Cypress Pharmaceutical, Inc.'s PHOS-NaK powder concentrate supplements.</div>
<div>
6. "Renal dysfunction after treatment with isophosphamide." DeFronzo RA, Abeloff M, Braine H, Humphrey RL, Davis PJ. Cancer Chemother Rep. 1974 May-Jun;58(3):375-82. Accessed on web at <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4842666">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/4842666</a>.<br />7. "Urinary
Alkalization" by David S Goldfarb, M.D.(Director, Kidney Stone
Prevention Program, St. Vincents Hospital & Professor of Medicine
and Physiology, NYU School of Medicine). Accessed on web at <a href="http://www.cystinuria.com/articles/urinary-alkalization/">http://www.cystinuria.com/articles/urinary-alkalization/</a>.</div>
<div>
8. "Potassium Phosphate/Pharmacology." Accessed on the web at <a href="http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=516951#x94">http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=516951#x94</a></div>
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vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-58416652678852032772014-03-01T12:29:00.001-05:002014-03-03T14:59:07.392-05:00Educational Trip<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3x8EkBZoNBcPZFOPY1E_gHpyMSK5htCYo4afcjLDMTD-nsA12wsaMAnZ0-1KWFivrMtdEsR32m0LxOBjsNrjHLibUEIoJxELsa6fRiLYOeEwFb0NyaBDsBLc4AK09b0OD-Ft9tJBK7jOL/s1600/sibs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3x8EkBZoNBcPZFOPY1E_gHpyMSK5htCYo4afcjLDMTD-nsA12wsaMAnZ0-1KWFivrMtdEsR32m0LxOBjsNrjHLibUEIoJxELsa6fRiLYOeEwFb0NyaBDsBLc4AK09b0OD-Ft9tJBK7jOL/s1600/sibs.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><i>Self + sibs: a blurry attempt to recreate a favorite 2002 photo, the last time we were all together for my mom's 60th a couple of years ago</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Today's morning task: Educational Trip Form Request for both daughters, seeking excused absence status when missing school around Easter for a trip to join this bunch, my mom (Grandma Donna the Grand Madonna), plus so many spouses and kids.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Please write a short summary of the educational value of the planned trip"</span></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I'm not going to try to make a case for the April entertainment pursuits in Orlando being essential to my girls' education, but I firmly believe that the company is. This is the first biannual reunion of my family of origin, seven siblings and their mum spread between seven states, so also my kids' only chance to spend time with, appreciated and loved and taught by their best educational mentors. We'll have fourteen bachelor's degrees, two master's, and four doctorates, with one just starting medical school and another three years into an evolutionary biostatistics entomology PhD program. There will be three professors, two practicing physicians, one scrupulous dentist, and a successful entrepreneur in our little group, all people (along with the also brilliant rest) with senses of wonder to match their senses of humor, a week-long interactive lesson on how education makes minds sharp, parenting fuller, and lives better. Value indeed!</span> </span></i></div>
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vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-6054970893084978432014-02-22T10:19:00.004-05:002014-02-22T10:19:53.766-05:00a love story<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A year and a half since I've posted on this neglected blog! This story, too long for the replacement Facebook, needed to be told</span><span style="font-size: xx-small;">.</span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Thursday night before bookclub, Goat and I attended the funeral of Evelyn Gilmartin, a member of our church. Neither of us had interacted past the "good morning" level with Sister Gilmartin, whose poor health often kept her home, but we went in support of her widower, Frankie, an iconic presence every Sunday. Frankie passes out the programs, reaches past three or four people to adjust your hymnal if you put it away "wrong" (it's firm tradition in our particular congregation--something I've never seen before--that hymnals must be put in place spine down; they're even stamped "this side up" along the outer margin), and is always prompt with his after-meeting task of wheeling in the chalkboard for the Sunday School class that meets in the chapel after our main devotional services. Frankie will need the support of his church without Evelyn. She was quiet but bright, efficient with her church calling (sending the women's organization e-newsletter), and definitely took care of the adult world for their household. Frankie, officious but kind, has the mind of a child. He's difficult to understand, and will not be able to live on his own without her. Their marriage was a happy mystery to us.<div>
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<div>
The glowing spot in the simple service was their love story. When we arrived and stopped to sign the guest book, Evelyn's sister Jessie was setting out a few items to represent her sister--the bracelets she enjoyed making, a small sampling of her proudly complete <i>Dark Shadows</i> collection, family photos, and a plain black-and-white dollar store composition book. "She wrote the things she wasn't able to say." Jessie's husband gave the eulogy, with both his words and a written memorial from his wife, who was feeling too emotional to speak. He explained that the Gilmartins' marriage was Evelyn's third. Her first husband was physically abusive, and her second "had plenty of issues of his own." When she met Frankie while living for a time with a friend in Florida, she was in another abusive relationship, which he, entranced by Evelyn, stepped into. Frankie spent half of his few words at the service describing their beginning: "I said to him, 'If you want to hit her, you're going to have to get past ME FIRST.'" Jessie said of Frankie, "He treated her like a queen." </div>
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<div>
Jessie asked Mary Ellen Moore, a friend of Evelyn, to read a poem from that composition book I saw on entrance. It is titled simply "To Frankie", and was written four years ago. He had never heard it.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewI2bnszlYF7w87zcKyReHkhipO8PLeKXYLaOxHpSRACpFJLiOgdzuZHhbLtG6HCG2S589gH-yig7CuimXrkbuuAFe7MfjDGwGfqqPOyJh_AL7CWZxl1HZNrxBGCf34PdY28fc3MUwHYH/s1600/For+Frankie+pg1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhewI2bnszlYF7w87zcKyReHkhipO8PLeKXYLaOxHpSRACpFJLiOgdzuZHhbLtG6HCG2S589gH-yig7CuimXrkbuuAFe7MfjDGwGfqqPOyJh_AL7CWZxl1HZNrxBGCf34PdY28fc3MUwHYH/s1600/For+Frankie+pg1.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a><i>Thank you for being a part of my life;</i></div>
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<i>for being my partner and friend;</i></div>
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<i>for sharing my life, the good and the bad,</i></div>
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<i>through all of the thick and thin.</i></div>
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<i>Thank you for being my anchor,</i></div>
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<i>for your shoulder whenever I cried;</i></div>
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<i>for being that one special someone,</i></div>
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<i>in whom I can always confide,</i></div>
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<i>for staying when I'm at my worst, </i></div>
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<i>and praising when I'm at my best;</i></div>
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<i>for listening quietly to me,</i></div>
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<i>when I have things to get off of my chest.</i></div>
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<i>Thank you for not criticizing, </i></div>
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<i>or pointing out all of my flaws;</i></div>
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<i>for being supportive and caring, </i></div>
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<i>and loving me just because.</i></div>
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<i>Thank you for not ever hitting, </i></div>
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<i>but helping wherever you can;</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-C_Acf2JqJd7SXeE6G86Ulkf4vLLiA3LnV49Sm2TVmIrdgpPOT-bAFIjwpMH2KONOhyphenhyphenPbTYlRpNG53QuOjlUyUljL38qqviPjxXdRE9hgiX89-iGQBJwM8M6cyJKwSoHGWsuGo1gFwX6/s1600/For+Frankie+pg2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><i><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW-C_Acf2JqJd7SXeE6G86Ulkf4vLLiA3LnV49Sm2TVmIrdgpPOT-bAFIjwpMH2KONOhyphenhyphenPbTYlRpNG53QuOjlUyUljL38qqviPjxXdRE9hgiX89-iGQBJwM8M6cyJKwSoHGWsuGo1gFwX6/s1600/For+Frankie+pg2.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></i></a><i>and when I am struggling and falling,</i></div>
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<i>for offering me your hand.</i></div>
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<i>For being my strength and my guidepost,</i></div>
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<i>my joy and the love of my life;</i></div>
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<i>Thank you for all that you've given, </i></div>
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<i>and especially for making me your wife.</i></div>
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<i>For all that you are, for all that you give,</i></div>
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<i>for all you have helped me to be;</i></div>
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<i>for all of the people to choose from,</i></div>
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<i>I thank you for choosing me.</i></div>
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<i>I love you my darling Frankie,</i></div>
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<i>you're my heart, my soul and my life.</i></div>
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<i>In all of the things I could have done,</i></div>
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<i>I'm proudest that I am your wife.</i></div>
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<i>I love you!</i></div>
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My favorite moment of the evening was watching Frankie mouth clearly to his sister-in-law, sitting closely and protectively nearby, "She wrote that for ME?" A breathtaking gift for a heartbroken new widower.</div>
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The Gilmartins' kindness to each other continued for the rest of their twenty-year marriage. A dear friend's marriage hit a move-out-and-begin-again crisis this week, which has led me to think a lot about my own. My marriage moanings are usually of the "we don't have the same goals" variety [fear not, reader: we mostly do, veering <i>sharply</i> at leisure time activities]. Frankie and Evelyn's love story is a beautiful example of the right marriage goals: unfailing support, the audacity of love in the face of difference, and the eminence of kindness in every relationship. May we all be so lucky and so wise.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> A memorial with a beautiful lesson--please share it in honor of Evelyn and Frankie Gilmartin and L-O-V-E (it's still February, after all!)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GnwkGss-AgB_O_pIRqO50yXRcGCekTZtDSfTDYS1XAv1eaatuWRqk0C-dMJbfdCMLmZnbQbamfBiOn97Fy475LgyO_QqWMKn3Jii7afweLSigpga0qWPiST_HEZsg2yJIN77_AUzQolU/s1600/Frankie+&+Evelyn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8GnwkGss-AgB_O_pIRqO50yXRcGCekTZtDSfTDYS1XAv1eaatuWRqk0C-dMJbfdCMLmZnbQbamfBiOn97Fy475LgyO_QqWMKn3Jii7afweLSigpga0qWPiST_HEZsg2yJIN77_AUzQolU/s1600/Frankie+&+Evelyn.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">A happy portrait of Frankie and Evelyn Gilmartin. The photo to the right is on their sealing day in the Washington, D.C. temple.</span></div>
vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-87449941020925325182012-11-08T10:34:00.001-05:002012-11-08T10:34:07.318-05:00For SusanProud to be a supporter of Susan Spicka, who ran for state representative from the 89th district after frustration with wide state funding cuts for education. She definitely made her (our) voice heard, and gave Rob Kauffman a run for his money! Though the bid was unsuccessful, she carried our county, and was closer. than most challengers to incumbents this year. I'm sure we'll continue to hear from her and benefit from her advocacy. Great thanks to her while family and campaign.<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcWlG-WWIkAjdRIps0ileOrLa_RFa1fXf8_rmCczj-RL_U40oTqiAG-tJITbM5wzHw3akiwbPb6VDEIuoprMC9BTWa9PDeKnVIkXmBLsc0sGCNEk0-bJeFNUfP1pdTL8NyU9FhCJLrzU_/s640/blogger-image--1038828950.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcWlG-WWIkAjdRIps0ileOrLa_RFa1fXf8_rmCczj-RL_U40oTqiAG-tJITbM5wzHw3akiwbPb6VDEIuoprMC9BTWa9PDeKnVIkXmBLsc0sGCNEk0-bJeFNUfP1pdTL8NyU9FhCJLrzU_/s640/blogger-image--1038828950.jpg" /></a></div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-17235513660698651972012-10-31T14:39:00.004-05:002012-10-31T14:40:34.321-05:00favorite hand sewing tutorials<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqofLe59QG1fIf3RNcrtO-pn8YWdJHHg6eFVLD4SYQCzdd-ee9_dxwpYQ140jVtQ2lwZ7loQPBpSrgdpdn9UR3bNNDGrhbnX0ifPLcn6SHe3zwtxD6yasv_ZTY7jLeLBZeYU4lDcZDFeN-/s1600/IMG_9625.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqofLe59QG1fIf3RNcrtO-pn8YWdJHHg6eFVLD4SYQCzdd-ee9_dxwpYQ140jVtQ2lwZ7loQPBpSrgdpdn9UR3bNNDGrhbnX0ifPLcn6SHe3zwtxD6yasv_ZTY7jLeLBZeYU4lDcZDFeN-/s640/IMG_9625.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">I've been a fan of hand sewing for years, and I firmly believe that with just a couple of stitches you can hack your way through anything and it will turn out sweet. Having said that, the following tutorials are excellent ones, with hints for even experienced stitchers. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">For a perfect little whip stitch on your felt goodies, this is THE tutorial:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/01/tutorial-hand-sew-felt.aspx">http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/01/tutorial-hand-sew-felt.aspx</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">By the same brill crafter, here's an exhaustive, step-by-step tutorial for blanket stitch, including hints for starting, stopping, turning corners, and working round objects. So good!</span><br />
<a href="http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/09/tutorial-hand-sew-felt.aspx">http://www.futuregirl.com/craft_blog/2007/09/tutorial-hand-sew-felt.aspx</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">As advised by her (and everybody else), here's "the knot trick". Yes, a knot is a knot, but you feel very smart when you do this, and can perfectly control the knot size & placement. Very detailed tutorial for a knot that takes 2 seconds.</span><br />
<a href="http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/my_favorite_knot/index.html">http://heatherbailey.typepad.com/photos/my_favorite_knot/index.html</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Darling little printable origami book with six essential stitches. Developed by Cassi Griffin of </span><a href="http://belladia.typepad.com/crafty_crow/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">The Crafty Crow</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"> for </span><a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/" style="background-color: white; color: #888888; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Sew, Mama, Sew!</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">(I recommend them both, by the way!)</span><br />
<a href="http://www.sewmamasew.com/store/media/blog/SMSstitchbook.pdf">http://www.sewmamasew.com/store/media/blog/SMSstitchbook.pdf</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Sewing up the space-left-to-invert-and-stuff: hidden stitch aka ladder stitch aka blind stitch, illustrated:</span><br />
<a href="http://www.sewingstars.com/images/latterstitch-howto.pdf">http://www.sewingstars.com/images/latterstitch-howto.pdf</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Any other suggestions?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">Comment & add!</span>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-44521850240984416502012-10-17T12:54:00.001-05:002012-10-17T12:54:25.296-05:00BittiesCraft therapy last night was painting tiny watercolors (fine sewing needle there for scale) to use in the November resin workshop. I love me some good wees!<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ_DDePsDXJMlqi86-gQ11z6GZ3H-gP2r_NHAtfZ0CEMislH1GmjqjSIWKSIxJyalICHqT9kGbBTqElb1hC4sO_v65sLw3GuF5EZG6Q-55D2AbMxWQ7bjiKYF6wpHtoxIGU8Tk4ff2hbc/s640/blogger-image--2105030427.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGJ_DDePsDXJMlqi86-gQ11z6GZ3H-gP2r_NHAtfZ0CEMislH1GmjqjSIWKSIxJyalICHqT9kGbBTqElb1hC4sO_v65sLw3GuF5EZG6Q-55D2AbMxWQ7bjiKYF6wpHtoxIGU8Tk4ff2hbc/s640/blogger-image--2105030427.jpg" /></a></div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-33299876618961471942012-09-20T21:03:00.001-05:002012-09-20T21:03:52.081-05:00HappilyFilling autumn evening hours with a new porcelain/botanical/resin/miniature project. My favorites: sage varieties gathered at The National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center in Baker City, Oregon this summer. www.blm.gov/or/oregontrail/<div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3grNpjT7A_MzycboSimEuH4RrUVWwVEpRMle2lsIcf-GgR8lyklDHkwYKUDEs6niSZGqSLzoEN3Gx8gpzNiPCREvfqqlxmGeeza25XUK-oCgmLJKRZ8FWB0J77R5LXtiE12Ya0ceA2bIb/s640/blogger-image--470168897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3grNpjT7A_MzycboSimEuH4RrUVWwVEpRMle2lsIcf-GgR8lyklDHkwYKUDEs6niSZGqSLzoEN3Gx8gpzNiPCREvfqqlxmGeeza25XUK-oCgmLJKRZ8FWB0J77R5LXtiE12Ya0ceA2bIb/s640/blogger-image--470168897.jpg" /></a></div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-60485474207044414712012-08-06T00:45:00.000-05:002012-08-06T00:45:35.874-05:00Craft Party 2012<br />
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<span class="deemphasize" style="color: #302d21; display: inline; font-family: inherit;">Meetups Everywhere</span></h1>
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<span><i>Free.</i></span></div>
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<span><i>Crafty goodness.</i></span></div>
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<span><i>Hosted by the children's art and education collective we just founded and are so excited about.</i></span></div>
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<span><i>Please come!</i></span></div>
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<span><i>forward to your friends...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">I met with The Thought Lot’s board this afternoon and they agreed to host our local event for Etsy Craft Party 2012. We're so excited to host at <a href="http://www.thethoughtlot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">The Thought Lot</a>! It's a beautifully emerging space ran by creative locals working hard to promote the arts in our area. Come and craft and build our local creative community.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Shippensburg's Etsy Craft Party 2012</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Friday, 24 August, 2012.<u></u><u></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5-8 pm<u></u><u></u></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>37 E Garfield St., Shippensburg, PA 17257.</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">Please spread the word to friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and<span style="color: #60bf00;"> RSVP via <a href="http://meetup.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">meetup.com</a> </span>here:<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';"><a href="http://www.meetup.com/etsy/Shippensburg-PA/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.meetup.com/etsy/<wbr>Shippensburg-PA/</wbr></a><u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">25 RSVPs by August 16 = box of supplies from Michael’s<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">Serendipity:<span> </span>Etsy* chose Friday, August 24th for the worldwide Craft Party 2012: the night before Shippensburg Corn Festival, with the theme "Wish You Were Here."<span> </span>We’re working on a great line up of projects to celebrate creativity and our hometown.<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span><span style="font-size: medium;">Sponsored by <span style="color: #40a0ff;">the wonder collective</span>, a new children's art and education cooperative in south central Pennsylvania that I've started with two lovely creative friends. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">Please do peek at our plans for both this and our new programs at <a href="http://thewondercollective.blogspot.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://thewondercollective.<wbr>blogspot.com</wbr></a>. We're starting our second week of Springfield Camp, a summer day camp for ages 5-12, tomorrow, and are working on plans for a season of Firefly Creative Teams and crafty workshops for adults this fall, most to be held at The Thought Lots<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">*[a note on <a href="http://etsy.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">Etsy.com</a> if you're unfamiliar: <i style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">Etsy is the online world's foremost craft, vintage, and supplies marketplace.</i> </span><span style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>I've been an Etsy seller for 6 years (<a href="http://purplepetunia.etsy.com/" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">purplepetunia.etsy.com</a>; the shop is on vacation mode but you can look at my sold items there if curious) and have watched it grow into not only a very successful way for independent artists to sell and promote their work, but into a beautiful community for those artists and all lovers of handmade. When I saw that Etsy's Craft Party was coming up soon, I had to get involved!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">More information on Etsy's Craft Party here: </span><span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';"><a href="http://www.etsy.com/craftparty2012" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">http://www.etsy.com/<wbr>craftparty2012</wbr></a>]</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">Hope to meet you there!<u></u><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Arial Narrow';">Valerie</span></div>
</div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-37314039511091376412012-06-26T13:31:00.001-05:002012-07-08T15:15:54.650-05:00While we were driving...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D5Yru2LF1HDOpYF1uO_bEjLovueKwWbIDT4eQqpPhkcQwa1kt65gE7SN_Cr70c7u2qMKSt5QvOSExdXyucI5tOl5XwfEozxo9mWvR80NXudIZt2tZjABDMOGx33qy-oORYN-WsX3ud9b/s640/blogger-image--1944861646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_D5Yru2LF1HDOpYF1uO_bEjLovueKwWbIDT4eQqpPhkcQwa1kt65gE7SN_Cr70c7u2qMKSt5QvOSExdXyucI5tOl5XwfEozxo9mWvR80NXudIZt2tZjABDMOGx33qy-oORYN-WsX3ud9b/s640/blogger-image--1944861646.jpg" /></a>I planted a little area with a wildflower mix this spring. It was nothing fancy, just a box I bought at Dollar General for $2-3. I was delighted with the pretties! Shannon, friend and fellow lover of flowers, sent me this photo this morning! The poor little tomato plant in that huge wire cage has a lot of competition this season. I think I might need to thin next year....but love the wild abundance, too!<br />
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I had this photo on my phone from before we left (fenced to protect from the flower-loving bunnies):<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmJ496TMZjrt72Ehs04Hbll-8neXajpHPnDtMKDaGXFE2xJyn4DDrXeF3zEqhA1kaNCc7moOIOZwm_flcqRhpB0Eb5TV-XxLfPTkdS9lyugfb-LgAjc30EzHFbTzMLYUcDpY-bL6REgCY/s640/blogger-image-761060433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcmJ496TMZjrt72Ehs04Hbll-8neXajpHPnDtMKDaGXFE2xJyn4DDrXeF3zEqhA1kaNCc7moOIOZwm_flcqRhpB0Eb5TV-XxLfPTkdS9lyugfb-LgAjc30EzHFbTzMLYUcDpY-bL6REgCY/s640/blogger-image-761060433.jpg" /></a></div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-57392012583762212162012-05-13T19:48:00.001-05:002012-05-13T19:48:09.089-05:00From Audrey: Mother's Day 2012<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Fy5UOFfw9T0?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-34243519613875763152012-05-10T15:48:00.003-05:002012-05-10T15:48:29.412-05:00trainman<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I first peeked into Scott MacLaughlin's train room a year or so ago when I was visiting his lovely wife Linda and she brought me back for a little introduction. Scott is a retired food inspector, and he has brought his professional meticulous attention to detail along for a whimsical retirement ride. His current layout has developed over 14 years and delighted every member of our family (even the hard to impress goatman) when we finally visited formally this week. Marian especially loved the scenery details, </div>
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Audrey loved the wiring (peek here under one of the circuit boards!),<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvsY1TTeLEmcUY1A45xYfFBMjNomSjFr5cscpArTghhpAznSG4llMRzAWmGhnIO65nan59HgvuR1mtjZ-5AoCSfsp4f5N-fJ4PX5HVDWGQ63mCHCP63Y1Gb3hSqkARFVumQnoqT7GEzPn/s1600/IMG_2457.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvsY1TTeLEmcUY1A45xYfFBMjNomSjFr5cscpArTghhpAznSG4llMRzAWmGhnIO65nan59HgvuR1mtjZ-5AoCSfsp4f5N-fJ4PX5HVDWGQ63mCHCP63Y1Gb3hSqkARFVumQnoqT7GEzPn/s320/IMG_2457.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
and I loved the evidence of artist-at-work. Look at this great upcycling storage for "grass" and details!<br />
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Reuben loved every every everything. For the next month, every time we pulled up to an unknown house, he shouted in delight, "choo!" He was so disappointed that not every house held such good treasure!<br />
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<br />vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-32743190037400034242012-05-10T15:38:00.003-05:002012-05-10T15:38:38.142-05:00fourteen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xWXqc14QGsHmA0VkhJu8mAwOstqdrM8IuWF_0mm7qaMUQx9-W56RrhIfNrwWuA-JTR6uaX_kYqtdpZupWmNTMQ68QUaSKAQ3G9KyPyH-R4hoD61hnH1A_kggKkjO8NDijWdw8dDE_8Ul/s1600/IMG_7383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2xWXqc14QGsHmA0VkhJu8mAwOstqdrM8IuWF_0mm7qaMUQx9-W56RrhIfNrwWuA-JTR6uaX_kYqtdpZupWmNTMQ68QUaSKAQ3G9KyPyH-R4hoD61hnH1A_kggKkjO8NDijWdw8dDE_8Ul/s700/IMG_7383.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a>My girl turned fourteen this week.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMFVvlDUJF3bk5T-ZDCSZOdPc-llTbHIOLTPpxxid-ieDy7Rwk6xYYTfaocyuco2HGKkR4p3XEPcHXDkQFGdb7mNh3FFwJK6a_DkgJcZRHAzgpIiTgu9quLzEnf3AYAuTqPv_xK71mpY1/s1600/IMG_7382.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFMFVvlDUJF3bk5T-ZDCSZOdPc-llTbHIOLTPpxxid-ieDy7Rwk6xYYTfaocyuco2HGKkR4p3XEPcHXDkQFGdb7mNh3FFwJK6a_DkgJcZRHAzgpIiTgu9quLzEnf3AYAuTqPv_xK71mpY1/s700/IMG_7382.jpg" /></a></div>
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Daddy bought her flowers.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dZqEzjo0Dx4bgHJkoaVyEEI2Cdp-umghodJnrHIirqeIxdoiPhgqzwd2lwXtymvmZrpabh2Asme2C4bv0sAlPSfFR1kkH0C3pzt6ck2oH3Y7-AauIepQmekZscYUK7WGZaT_0tcNtN5D/s1600/IMG_7385.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9dZqEzjo0Dx4bgHJkoaVyEEI2Cdp-umghodJnrHIirqeIxdoiPhgqzwd2lwXtymvmZrpabh2Asme2C4bv0sAlPSfFR1kkH0C3pzt6ck2oH3Y7-AauIepQmekZscYUK7WGZaT_0tcNtN5D/s700/IMG_7385.jpg" /></a>I'm trying to be all sentimental about it, but mostly I'm just proud. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2wnWzZeiTehCpMCe5Kuwe8heZ_VMFOhj9ZSYSwz2qG7dHJ6vtu8k9yujnjm66L1xDozyOhIM1d6GgOsqCysVhh1s7BUOzntUX6BQYrow8hLluLeTDxsdQSROeI4phRbrmAmN-mhTE511/s1600/IMG_7388.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE2wnWzZeiTehCpMCe5Kuwe8heZ_VMFOhj9ZSYSwz2qG7dHJ6vtu8k9yujnjm66L1xDozyOhIM1d6GgOsqCysVhh1s7BUOzntUX6BQYrow8hLluLeTDxsdQSROeI4phRbrmAmN-mhTE511/s700/IMG_7388.jpg" /></a></div>
We're going to the This American Life live broadcast at a movie theatre in Harrisburg tonight. It's awesome to have her old enough to enjoy grown-up (ish! we're so excited about the ok go handbells app for it!) things together.vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-48873146596199752632012-04-03T08:58:00.004-05:002012-04-14T08:59:26.471-05:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4uDwvqsqJr-OO_Pxt5h9Y0ZexodzrLXfbjCQliptKkJW_w7ZDKE88crj-LMEAmoHv9UoN8XIFdljlxA1UcxXBCHEgfp9M82pJUfCvMnIYrjAUeYdvQfK7lEhRKRIzYOq7rXD9LVcGbTH/s1600/lille+huset.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4uDwvqsqJr-OO_Pxt5h9Y0ZexodzrLXfbjCQliptKkJW_w7ZDKE88crj-LMEAmoHv9UoN8XIFdljlxA1UcxXBCHEgfp9M82pJUfCvMnIYrjAUeYdvQfK7lEhRKRIzYOq7rXD9LVcGbTH/s400/lille+huset.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5727175302927917202" /></a><br />Heard of kickstarter.com?<br />Kind of like Kiva, but more first world. Which is good and bad.<br />Little capital campaigns that give you hey-I'm-a-helper cute rewards. My friend John used it to fund his self-published book last year. My only other backer effort so far.<br /><br />It could definitely get addictive just browsing...<br />I just pledged in at the $15 backer level for <a href="http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1166919790/lille-huset?ref=live">Lille Huset</a>: one extra little house and one bicycle (had to!). Brilliant and beautiful across the board.<br />I love them very much.<br /><br />I would like to GET THEM ALL.<br />But should get a job first....<br /><br />(PS: if you're interested, this particular campaign ends 4/22. If she gets her goal, it's a go--1/2 way there!--and she gets her $ and we get our swag, and if not, well,<i> not</i>.)<br /><br />http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1166919790/lille-huset?ref=live<div><br /></div><div>UPDATE: Goal met! But can still purchase kits at kickstarter rate for a limited time. I would, if I were you...</div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-51538613806895492812012-03-22T10:20:00.003-05:002012-03-22T10:45:52.601-05:00spring restocking<div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9yAGgEJbnNYsTEDZOfqqAbCBttS-jVSd1gkaaMjZzCy1rStKjHYigNd9plAVmdg-eduyNuz_YEDv6Tj1KuMB6J2fbLjtNWe3RT83Z3OL3RnbXvwDK3839d-cK0gZ51te3JeKRFBO3-cjs/s700/Photos+-+1020.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722742575655293570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 700px; height: 700px; " /></div>The three-year-old is at the babysitter, so I'm finally starting to fill the little shop for Easter/Spring shopping.<br /><br />I'm really excited about some new stained, unglazed porcelain handwork<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbAJFXq8HHvWe83GH_3zrwHqZATi2obWC6sFLL5QFjbOfuUcaGJ3CvFcCJoRGi574DYJSAuLL9PxcBbNTUZ6UHLxGLXY2mjp79ie53_knxXGJcaSDhFwLw90Vo_DgQ93rtuWtciyxSaz7/s1600/Photos+-+1015.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJbAJFXq8HHvWe83GH_3zrwHqZATi2obWC6sFLL5QFjbOfuUcaGJ3CvFcCJoRGi574DYJSAuLL9PxcBbNTUZ6UHLxGLXY2mjp79ie53_knxXGJcaSDhFwLw90Vo_DgQ93rtuWtciyxSaz7/s400/Photos+-+1015.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722742584043149826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a>and have a few of my classic surprise bowls </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk2AYuyq0Numfs02BTzBW8g4Okjti9UJbzO0feV2DvcrixkpM7cdUifUjh0n-uzpH8PcBQQ43MVPb-FcoMAJA2tLP0WE-H0KbXki_hRyxthpLiUuqMy9DSD90aAwSLM1JQ1DT9VyqE56G/s1600/Photos+-+1013.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnk2AYuyq0Numfs02BTzBW8g4Okjti9UJbzO0feV2DvcrixkpM7cdUifUjh0n-uzpH8PcBQQ43MVPb-FcoMAJA2tLP0WE-H0KbXki_hRyxthpLiUuqMy9DSD90aAwSLM1JQ1DT9VyqE56G/s400/Photos+-+1013.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722742599947867714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span">and miniatures, too.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChNxhAYI8eh-eogKOghEvHA8qjrTkyTjwsAJSZN6jcomFrrTDokNU7ULt-gCsCMpXfav1ws8_lVsKetBVlFO-6NGJkWDOQV3w55ayvkLAVdyz686R5GyGGdrFlRYuzUwwv3DNYBpISelr/s400/Photos+-+1024.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722742610638285954" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></span><span class="Apple-style-span">Only one new tiny mug.<br /><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCIIZF-0wSNHhxMcvFa_yUO8iLYMp-8QzD-7-r-_UuOiYViewOeGJAfNMxv82-QxHVw4JfrgL4gSB_euTtKdvtbjdPlCXvyeYEIrMreCR8-rvTy5G6VLVgkC-eqQCZIEwVf4FbWDqJLzT/s1600/Photos+-+1011.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCIIZF-0wSNHhxMcvFa_yUO8iLYMp-8QzD-7-r-_UuOiYViewOeGJAfNMxv82-QxHVw4JfrgL4gSB_euTtKdvtbjdPlCXvyeYEIrMreCR8-rvTy5G6VLVgkC-eqQCZIEwVf4FbWDqJLzT/s400/Photos+-+1011.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5722742593674089746" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a><div>Peek here: <a href="http://purplepetunia.etsy.com">purplepetunia.etsy.com</a><br /><br />(more coming through the weekend!)</div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-42622435937820694882012-02-01T21:42:00.003-05:002012-02-01T21:52:16.954-05:00purple petunia Valentine giveaway with We Bloom Here<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0F9ya-uzxjcBRCjIY81FOfidjjx7HTjSqjFoX2BzDZxQOttc1lI8gn_uKzxpvwu9Fbj3N2mbQ1hOECmlUbGzXJMBkiu0bkMivBxL2I6cP3mFYiufmJiUNuSg3ad3Oy7FVyo64ybj4nM/s1600/birdbowl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 600px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE0F9ya-uzxjcBRCjIY81FOfidjjx7HTjSqjFoX2BzDZxQOttc1lI8gn_uKzxpvwu9Fbj3N2mbQ1hOECmlUbGzXJMBkiu0bkMivBxL2I6cP3mFYiufmJiUNuSg3ad3Oy7FVyo64ybj4nM/s600/birdbowl.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Margaret Bloom runs a very pretty little blog at webloomhere.blogspot.com and she's hosting a wee Valentine's giveaway of one of my red-and-white birdbath bowls. Drop by <a href="http://webloomhere.blogspot.com/2012/02/introducing-purple-petunia-and.html">here</a> to enter (and find a coupon code good for the month of February). I have a fair selection of pottery left, as well as some sweet candy-hued Valentine dolls I made while in Singapore, including a handful of 1 1/4" (and just $4) bitty pixies. Plus you'll just want to browse and absorb her aesthetic and ideas (I just like reading all the nice comments ;)!). I was completely charmed when we "met" in December. Enjoy!<br /><br />Happy February!vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-5792658768231792962012-01-17T08:38:00.004-05:002012-01-17T10:02:10.570-05:00the pathway to truth<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFVJ6ZZv0LIVIvCrFQIGHhVDSdyzgpqSh7Jv0rX0nm3vNct7mExIE8nT83sONaI596Ya4cCEAxGnpwRa1voo1RZsIWg9yeVgsmn4dgje7vZO2EFjJ5e7ozjpTbMnSYXbPW7gXz2L8RVBi/s1600/vfg+066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNFVJ6ZZv0LIVIvCrFQIGHhVDSdyzgpqSh7Jv0rX0nm3vNct7mExIE8nT83sONaI596Ya4cCEAxGnpwRa1voo1RZsIWg9yeVgsmn4dgje7vZO2EFjJ5e7ozjpTbMnSYXbPW7gXz2L8RVBi/s800/vfg+066.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698613688473908034" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">The wayfarer,</span><br /><pre face="verdana" style=" font-style: italic;">Perceiving the pathway to truth,<br />Was struck with astonishment.<br />It was thickly grown with weeds.<br />"Ha," he said,<br />"I see that none has passed here<br />In a long time."<br />Later he saw that each weed<br />Was a singular knife.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBFA1ave3vg9ufFGO8tOo_Ujjg873UnNFgeurIlHel9TMn-UIvrDXn4GxCozHW-4EPacAc3HLOrrfMJf83gJSyfLO0iDjyS4TTFRabBgfJuiJrahkfEj_bQ-SFOl8wo9DswtH73u3Dgq2/s1600/vfg+058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBFA1ave3vg9ufFGO8tOo_Ujjg873UnNFgeurIlHel9TMn-UIvrDXn4GxCozHW-4EPacAc3HLOrrfMJf83gJSyfLO0iDjyS4TTFRabBgfJuiJrahkfEj_bQ-SFOl8wo9DswtH73u3Dgq2/s800/vfg+058.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5698614237636534050" border="0" /></a>"Well," he mumbled at last,<br />"Doubtless there are other roads."<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">STEVEN CRANE, "The Wayfarer," from War Is Kind and other Lines, 1899<br />quoted by Valerie Frandsen in her valedictory address, June 1992 ;)<br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br />Two excellent bits of news for the New Year: (1) I'm in Singapore and (2) I got a new camera for Christmas. These young pineapple plants in our hotel garden instantly brought my favorite Mr. Crane to mind....<br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbSX0j0AB4-tmRXxyihvxBT2-_vMk-zGUCi2hvAmPOPvS5d1fiPvmPoCBIIIdcdL1T8ep40GNsjWeAdukFSA9byI_LfcvBMfc3mzWO6mrs4_cZj1reDY-HGDb9l3ShcnCx3DhwNzUyC6Pu/s1600/vfg+069.jpg"><br /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><br /></span></pre>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-44563459402358723182011-12-12T23:57:00.003-05:002011-12-13T00:04:26.739-05:00giveaway!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpAD_-KfR2OJZJjInYBX1FIddl8YoSWn8oRHFjFfqa9OkiGZsrZl3aMua3qCe2iPKdo63Ft9qTEbsxorhfHDoixUOCkhpt_lhS2h1kzPwbJF9tP5wJ2Y1_Doqa-FUsmBd_v_xaF3TuhDB/s1600/IMG_4283.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUpAD_-KfR2OJZJjInYBX1FIddl8YoSWn8oRHFjFfqa9OkiGZsrZl3aMua3qCe2iPKdo63Ft9qTEbsxorhfHDoixUOCkhpt_lhS2h1kzPwbJF9tP5wJ2Y1_Doqa-FUsmBd_v_xaF3TuhDB/s400/IMG_4283.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5685473956705819746" /></a><br />I've been busy with pottery and etsy stocking and filling, and trying to squeeze in a little Christmas making, too. So many good ideas! I'm hosting a giveaway right now on a sweet Maine-based blog, bluebirdbaby. Lovely photography! Comment on <a href="http://bluebirdbaby.typepad.com/bluebirdbaby/2011/12/giveaway-purple-petunia.html">this post</a> for a chance to win anything in <a href="http://purplepetunia.etsy.com/">my shop</a>. <div><br /></div><div><i>Enter through tomorrow night, 6 pm EST. </i></div><div><i>Plus: a coupon code for 10% off through next Monday!</i></div><div><br /></div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-52604414725810182532011-11-28T23:41:00.007-05:002011-11-29T01:25:30.159-05:00Christmas is coming...<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgaNAE1q4oAqo3coVOTivLFaA8FeGSxxIa1FSlwd-u89w72zZd7FGG3pVm_pKP_AiRzVsQ8S-dRFch0pT6TkMVmf9jWMqqNqLAbp_0nfsAdYVzGOIs9CoJ8DPehCLd37hUQbssigPBP-2/s1600/ViPhone+112.jpg" style="text-align: left; " onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgaNAE1q4oAqo3coVOTivLFaA8FeGSxxIa1FSlwd-u89w72zZd7FGG3pVm_pKP_AiRzVsQ8S-dRFch0pT6TkMVmf9jWMqqNqLAbp_0nfsAdYVzGOIs9CoJ8DPehCLd37hUQbssigPBP-2/s800/ViPhone+112.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680295525889518770" /></a></div>Really the best thing about Christmas is having children along for the ride. I've noticed this since they've been around and conscious: every year I think, eh...Christmas really is not all that and this year I think it might fall flat. But their elation is deep and true and that little 3' tree of ours looks flat out magic every year.<div><br /></div><div>Audrey is my co-conspirator and, at 13, eagerly striding towards hopes of clothing (a wool coat and fedora!) and electronics, but keeps looking over her shoulder at Toyland. Her current compromise is to ask for lots of logic puzzles so she has "something to do on Christmas afternoon." She is haunted by a story I told her of my own cusp-of-womanhood Christmas morning, when showing my new amethyst ring to my happily-playing-and-not-too-interested younger siblings for the tenth time got dull as dirt.</div><div><br /></div><div>My first present from 10-year-old Marian has already appeared under the tree. I think last year she gave me six. We are makingmakingmaking together, including this little honey she sewed last night (from a recycled sweater, of course!) for her Calico Critters. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8Uyz0qTGIXCLSRnR6wWZyHy0c2FS0L5q9aQ4i2B0ecQyeszpEw7eEIFZzjRF049aiVF_-ZDWZhB_gRx9gOTSVAN1fwfCAr7AQSDHyA2nZBY58Oj49Vf2fld9Vmj-X9Po6ktVi02kGt4b/s1600/IMG_3835.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8Uyz0qTGIXCLSRnR6wWZyHy0c2FS0L5q9aQ4i2B0ecQyeszpEw7eEIFZzjRF049aiVF_-ZDWZhB_gRx9gOTSVAN1fwfCAr7AQSDHyA2nZBY58Oj49Vf2fld9Vmj-X9Po6ktVi02kGt4b/s400/IMG_3835.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680295548533767026" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px; " /></a><div>We took process shots because she's mulling over restarting <a href="http://imacraftartist.blogspot.com/">I'm a Craft Artist</a>, but, well, you know how the Goates girls are with their really very excellent plans...if we follow through, I'll let you know. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhvpD0vEyt958wssYXKaubvuklg0DzzU8kEgpNP71vlksebPjK11pENEVx8gzISeCVuoyYacchYXn7eHzPQ6nKqDlmckVprb3EMbSnudvh6YORNBCMjp2i9QLwgE8AICM-L5olFCQxQdU/s1600/IMG_3844.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhvpD0vEyt958wssYXKaubvuklg0DzzU8kEgpNP71vlksebPjK11pENEVx8gzISeCVuoyYacchYXn7eHzPQ6nKqDlmckVprb3EMbSnudvh6YORNBCMjp2i9QLwgE8AICM-L5olFCQxQdU/s400/IMG_3844.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680296058975895426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px; " /></a><div>She's also getting a case of the galloping gimmees, with actual brimming tears over her conflict over snooping to see ("I want a surprise but I want to know so bad!") what Grandma gave her after the exposure made possible by this afternoon's incident (story below) and her insistence that she really must get Marie-Grace (the newest American Girl doll, whose name not only mirrors my Marian Grace's but has the golden brown hair and freckles to match and yes I bought her a month ago) or she <i>will cry Christmas morning. </i> I told her that this was not really the sort of behavior that would convince me.</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipISyUJMZku-6BLQqZGU4FoGGtXiZEAWQTAx7p_DNL5I3UxIymZrwj-gl4mJmzfPTPiRfrWWk0CZ-RQDl2G4S8eHnrAOAfUiAovXjw35PuLIRgMCSjcVS0wzbL5hUkQNFWWiWAbBl4smKn/s400/ViPhone+051.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680298265790304722" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Reuben and I sat in the Wegman's dairy aisle a couple of weeks ago for half an hour watching the suspended train, shifting positions periodically for optimal viewing. The big toddler paradox: an attention span so limited for some things and so vastly patient for others.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Reuben is a smashing little guy and wholeheartedly...everything. His full dedication to trains continues, as does his reluctance regarding the spoken word, though he did begrudgingly stoop to say "choco" last night when I was pretending obtuseness over his insistence for a glass of chocolate milk (and, noticing his mistake, would not repeat). He will be very good at charades when his days of parlour games begin. He communicates his desires and observations quite clearly. Tonight, for example, his gestures told me "No, that figure couldn't represent Daddy because he is much taller than that" and "Hey, Mom: join in the tickling and kissing and wrestling of Reuben! There is a spot right there on my tummy between Daddy and Audrey that I'm saving for you!"</div><div><br /></div><div>Reuben has proven his dexterity with scissors (bad incident with a stack of Marian's careful tiny drawings last week), and I took advantage of that for a little Christmas package enclosure card collaboration at a friend's house this morning. He chopped and I mosaic-ed us a couple of trains. I love them so much! The card in the center is entirely his effort as he learned Gluestick (I did have to rescue a couple of pieces from a particularly sticky finger).</div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0ozM4vJUJki6uO_v6p_kdQL_0Em-FH-CRTt6cjm_gr5k9oqfo5ES94Tv48oy610CUwtxYl1r80nMYfUojgOFJmQZ_7yyx1dwoiuMyOStpz5tnE0xO6i2zylOtuFEm7aEroo9hS86bs21/s600/IMG_3846.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680295531502410162" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><u><br /></u></span></div><div>We belly laughed our way through a classic Christmas-with-a-toddler moment this afternoon. I was with Marian at the dentist office when I received a call from Audrey, home babysitting Reuben. He was HOWLING in the background. Audrey noticed Reuben had slipped away while they were watching TV in the basement when he came tripping downtown, happily clutching a new Chuggington train in each hand. He was not parted from them happily. And from whence came this fine addition to his extensive small train collection? He had unwrapped each of the 15 or so gifts under the tree to find the train pay dirt from Grandma Donna's early-shipped holiday offering. I think his third birthday earlier this month was altogether too fine a training ground for gift appreciation. Looks like we'll be honoring the old tradition of bringing out the gifts all at once on Christmas Eve or thereabouts this year (Audrey has a complicated algorithm for exactly when, taking into account when the girls get out of school for the holiday break, our tolerance for 24-7 tree surveillance, the amount of space under our beds for hidden gifts, and probably the alignment of the moon with Jupiter).</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZCc_a3Lhb87nebv-zeHRhox_1GoITW1rqB8CCq97wlyp9YC0QH7GHnRqFHyNSjEWNWwok5elmGSg2p9ZCkFJVgPkX9_ryo39ldhnuqR6hP8ERfUMCaSpBGb4rxxXUc1AhAC25PW34I13/s1600/IMG_1314.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZCc_a3Lhb87nebv-zeHRhox_1GoITW1rqB8CCq97wlyp9YC0QH7GHnRqFHyNSjEWNWwok5elmGSg2p9ZCkFJVgPkX9_ryo39ldhnuqR6hP8ERfUMCaSpBGb4rxxXUc1AhAC25PW34I13/s400/IMG_1314.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5680295534686979970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></a></div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-55438021246171215272011-11-27T20:38:00.001-05:002011-11-27T20:39:36.554-05:00newsletterAND:<div><br /></div><div>I started a newsletter. Sign up on the left!</div><div><br /></div><div>It will not by any means be a frequent one. </div><div>And it's all official through a service, so opting out is easy, if you're so inclined.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ooh, so fancy...</div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-56179879223681221312011-11-27T20:33:00.003-05:002011-11-27T20:38:06.005-05:00my first coupon code :)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra_CNe7_eo8oAQ91c0fxCHDy15dJ9QIz8U4kxvDDrDpzwVuZfPYisHIPfdFrlFGQKCKJquO_X8pJDwklb9LoTbno0fHGbZ18FRe_NB16YKsqi7qShGJPW_VI1F50ZPykGaTe1d5_ouNmK/s1600/banner+hands+no+text.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhra_CNe7_eo8oAQ91c0fxCHDy15dJ9QIz8U4kxvDDrDpzwVuZfPYisHIPfdFrlFGQKCKJquO_X8pJDwklb9LoTbno0fHGbZ18FRe_NB16YKsqi7qShGJPW_VI1F50ZPykGaTe1d5_ouNmK/s800/banner+hands+no+text.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5679854829380051586" /></a><br />Monday only: 15% off all purchases until 12 midnight EST. Enter code CYBER15.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://purplepetunia.etsy.com/">shop!</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Also Monday-Wednesday I'll be selling at Shippensburg University's Holiday Art Sale. There are some talented students unloading a full kiln of work, all holiday sale-bound, as well as other work by Shippensburg art students and faculty. Drop by, 9 am-8 pm all three days in the Hoffman Gallery, Huber Arts Center building. (I'm working Tuesday, 1-3 pm & 6-8 pm)</div><div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span">ugh! is this blog turning all commercial? Must post soon!!</span></i></div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-5148017890135751822011-11-17T02:36:00.005-05:002011-11-17T02:42:09.784-05:00on Mitt Romney<span style="font-size:78%;">This is a toughie for me. Allow an off-topic, non-crafty mini-rant and link. Or skip it and move on.<br /><br />I won't vote for him because I disagree with his politics.<br />But I also feel like I need to vouch for him. Co-religionists and all, and it's obvious to all that his (my) religion is holding him back among certain conservatives, and that makes me crazy.<br /><br />Forefront in my newly-blogging-again-tonight-anyway mind because I just read this great little article by a used-to-be-Mormon, which is a state perfect for the purpose because she (a) knows what she is talking about and (b) isn't feeling hurt or defensive. Just clarification-motivated.<br /><br />Perfect.<br /><a href="http://www.the-broad-side.com/the-truth-about-mormons-and-mitt-romney">http://www.the-broad-side.com/the-truth-about-mormons-and-mitt-romney</a><br /><br />There you go.</span>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-31513734795150329192011-11-17T01:57:00.005-05:002011-11-17T02:17:27.575-05:00oh, snap!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSXjgX67qZgOf4YQJKTHMqceclvea0qyJp2mkSXpG80oR5oIZnaW9ZpoPWr10O19nAmCmL_7Chbg9kM726kLMuO8HDGtYcu9eqjHEVTTnBNquI2prBcjgIr1rEw004R-CwxO9-eFrOF8e/s1600/IMG_3556.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSXjgX67qZgOf4YQJKTHMqceclvea0qyJp2mkSXpG80oR5oIZnaW9ZpoPWr10O19nAmCmL_7Chbg9kM726kLMuO8HDGtYcu9eqjHEVTTnBNquI2prBcjgIr1rEw004R-CwxO9-eFrOF8e/s400/IMG_3556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675858615764251266" border="0" /></a>I intend almost every day to start blogging again.<br />I take photos with that intent.<br />Then I don't.<br />The computer is old and slow and my photo world is still in flux...and I'm just out of the habit, I think.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3BNIGN2ddmGNT5ea3Bi2bsqR00nvh2sK4Gj6eZt_QzfTyQVKAx7-rDKlz1NuVw3ta1eBiAPAGZlwHOBTQziRy7tA9u3lYNvEc4H-0xS3evG0Jgvfy6jK7vlOsCYYyaEuuR8uo60GXTsJ/s1600/IMG_3571.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO3BNIGN2ddmGNT5ea3Bi2bsqR00nvh2sK4Gj6eZt_QzfTyQVKAx7-rDKlz1NuVw3ta1eBiAPAGZlwHOBTQziRy7tA9u3lYNvEc4H-0xS3evG0Jgvfy6jK7vlOsCYYyaEuuR8uo60GXTsJ/s400/IMG_3571.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675858596832499906" border="0" /></a>But here I am, with no interesting content, just a commercial.<br /><br />I'm working a bit, and did one show in August (our town's Corn Festival, which is huge, but was kind of interrupted by our friend Irene and her accompanying rain showers), and have a bit of stock on hand. Enough to be, bit by bit, posting more in my <a href="http://purplepetunia.etsy.com/">shop</a> and to do one pre-holiday show. For my neighbor, who is organizing. Thus:<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtC8DtkLleY9wZ03BjZM7omcImkUAfcp6cLiRPCam6RuGirTnAzZ0DZhVhqladi1qJpg6_tHQIZimn2ntr3xc-ILzwaVnlecMPdenmtvNOYoRSIVnRKHeJDGCWMfhIAMbast79h9DLW3Wx/s1600/IMG_3509.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtC8DtkLleY9wZ03BjZM7omcImkUAfcp6cLiRPCam6RuGirTnAzZ0DZhVhqladi1qJpg6_tHQIZimn2ntr3xc-ILzwaVnlecMPdenmtvNOYoRSIVnRKHeJDGCWMfhIAMbast79h9DLW3Wx/s400/IMG_3509.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675858610405361554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style=""> </span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" >Marcie Taylor of the Drew Michael Taylor Foundation of </span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321512727_1" >Shippensburg</span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > has organized the 2</span><sup style="font-family: arial; font-style: italic;">nd</sup><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > annual <span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:180%;">C</span><span style="font-size:180%;">hristmas for Causes Holiday Craft/Gift Show.</span></span></span> The event will be held </span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321512727_2" >on <span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Monday, Nov. 21, 2011 from 6-8 p.m</span></span></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">.</span></span> at </span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1321512726679124" class="yiv317275766uistorymessage" ><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1321512726679121" style="" lang="EN">Corner Coffee, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321512727_3">240 W. King St., Shippensburg, PA 17257</span>.<span style=""> </span>This event allows local shoppers to get a pre-Black Friday start to their holiday shopping while helping local charities and non-profit organizations since a portion of all proceeds from the event will benefit causes designated by the crafters and other participants involved.</span></span><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN"> </span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN">Local groups benefitting from this year’s event include:</span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN"> </span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN">Cure Crusaders Relay for Life Team, Drew Michael Taylor Foundation, Shippensburg Kiwanis Club, Shippensburg Produce Outreach, Lester M. Cline P.A.P.S. Fund, Shippensburg Women’s Club, Women In Need and Better Days Animal League.</span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN"> </span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="text-indent: 0.5in; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN">The following items will be available for purchase:</span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN"> </span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN">Jewelry, homemade greeting cards, wine glass charms, repurposed wool mittens, hats and bags, knitted items to fit American Girl dolls, Christmas ornaments, Bonus Books, ceramic replicas of historic buildings, baked goods, and much more.<span style=""> </span>Hot and cold drinks including coffee, tea and cocoa will be sold and Corner Coffee. Gift cards will also be available for purchase. <span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 255);font-size:130%;" >Hey! She left off my<span style="font-size:180%;"> pottery. </span> Some friend! I think I'll take back using her foundation as my cause! J/K I have a selection of fairies, wood gnomes, and jewelry as well as some hair pins and believing buttons. Good times.</span></span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN"> </span></span></p><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" > </span><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; font-style: italic;font-family:arial;" class="yiv317275766MsoNormal"><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN">Questions? – Contact Marcie Taylor at 532-8922 or <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="mailto:drewmichaeltaylor@pa.net"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1321512727_4">drewmichaeltaylor@pa.net</span></a></span></span></p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNAAWFAdo4zKaf_6fufYVFXvFyRZ0lBfRm6dzUN4jqlTrQTyX2ZO0Q7gfo-OuHG9jJVFBQj7I3U51UoH0fpRPeRnpPXGe6UxgUYiHks835eAUHJZR6K6_Nt7OtfM3DyscgXb8egQdMFmL/s1600/IMG_3703.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNAAWFAdo4zKaf_6fufYVFXvFyRZ0lBfRm6dzUN4jqlTrQTyX2ZO0Q7gfo-OuHG9jJVFBQj7I3U51UoH0fpRPeRnpPXGe6UxgUYiHks835eAUHJZR6K6_Nt7OtfM3DyscgXb8egQdMFmL/s400/IMG_3703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5675858594731036850" border="0" /></a><span class="yiv317275766uistorymessage"><span style="" lang="EN"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Come see me :)<br /><br />And Happy Thanksgiving. We're going to Pittsburgh...because our plans cancelled on us. But I think this is a good new plan.<br /><br />(I'm trying to take more of my product photos in-use, as in "look how this fits into your life!". What do you think? When shopping, do you prefer "catalog" or "fine art photo" styling?)<br /></span></span></span>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3502987269054206316.post-13030533560545822522011-11-01T23:05:00.007-05:002011-11-02T00:24:42.762-05:00FRANDSENS!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B1XoPer30wfoo11gJSA0Xl2R2mMsA1AXxVR_PfUYpRoDErlmg4CDHAH63vVVaLBeFwjm2DrOPNX6C1G8L8XliWnLAWhnRIP5KMv8l9AMAOik2AkfKPCudShEErnZ3LZ0ROAJP0F-9dgh/s1600/2011-10-18+download+431_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYMNMWmz73x4dO1qW0M6ZuN5fib9Wx2SN0U7TE8g3OcI9ScYvl0zNfXyCbeByTTS9iABObCgWOOdvxA4MexvbRUweBkPm5IQFRdOGf11hr4vEntDl_GU40TDksjpOHVJch4R17zkYEiHI/s1600/2011-10-18+download+376_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFBHvONoOCYz1ADeBOxUjFxq5zwbwE1OiLS0Y0y_yGPv0dHtlFXj5ZWeECQjBUQiNldlPRrRj0-5SxWsLx30fjMZ5Im272OYwbmSLjYHPp8kBarHxrOJsdsJKK7-xbOW6delXVGlgb0ep/s1600/The+Grand+Frandsen+Photo_1536x2048.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width:" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFBHvONoOCYz1ADeBOxUjFxq5zwbwE1OiLS0Y0y_yGPv0dHtlFXj5ZWeECQjBUQiNldlPRrRj0-5SxWsLx30fjMZ5Im272OYwbmSLjYHPp8kBarHxrOJsdsJKK7-xbOW6delXVGlgb0ep/s800/The+Grand+Frandsen+Photo_1536x2048.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670250818645386322" /></a>I just received this great image. My family of origin plus married-ins and progeny. I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: medium; ">love it so much!! The whole clan was together for the wedding of that gorgeous couple on the far right (the extra sparkly ones). We coerced the wedding photographer into snapping a couple of quick ones after the wedding breakfast--<i>in the parking lot</i>--so we'd have a family photo that wasn't so obviously a wedding one. We live all over, and <i>together</i> doesn't happen often enough.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span><div id="yiv1800694046"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124"><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352121" style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); "><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352115"><span class="Apple-style-span">I'm debating who is my favorite and right now it's a tie between Ian and Isaac, the twins in the front row...but then I see that extreme grin on Will's face, and then Marian's little fingers and Jovie & Irelynd holding tight, and Jason goofing off eating leaves... lots of personality here, and lots of people I love dearly. But mostly, this shines: genuine happiness on everyone's faces. I do love those real smiles; they make us all so very beautiful. </span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span">So, since the details are crafty and the event happened during one of my many blog hiatuses this year, I'm indulging in a few photos tonight.</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span">I'm the oldest of seven children and this is the last one to marry. As I overheard Marian telling a friend, "I've been a flower girl my whole life!" We couldn't believe it was our last! I got my oldest-sister bossy on and insisted on two things: light habotai silk for our glorious gaggle of girls to wear to this August wedding and giant poppies for the wedding breakfast (which we, the groom's family, hosted). </span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span">The silk demand I followed through with properly. I dyed the silk </span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEkJZMCb8A7LpGdIl_hzL53JpU__K5P2EDszZzPtCzyAROFmjFWLDzlzT3YClEQ_PTiFEuOHLjxbnI0EcVyrPTGIsCp8bl0HZbHf2RCUGvrJBZSVsAuUjgTu7POZdOvKqGxZF-v0b_jm8H/s800/2011-10-18+download+181_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670250822301128290" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline; display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span">(note to self: a little salmon silk dye goes a very very long way!)</span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span">and sewed the big girl dresses (mine + one). </span></span></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span">My mom sewed the littles (four more!).</span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGDv7tNC-h5hbCBFVKIut-TXcRfa72u9X3KVNDQyJllhnvFnBflvrG8ykdwF1KQ1uO0FKzm5v0n55QuoZNSK4twoiFrz-AzXmT8JYKt3i93d-sqM8zYHE8KPOZHd_G0aEKy67F-MIpQ6q/s1600/2011-10-18+download+368_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGDv7tNC-h5hbCBFVKIut-TXcRfa72u9X3KVNDQyJllhnvFnBflvrG8ykdwF1KQ1uO0FKzm5v0n55QuoZNSK4twoiFrz-AzXmT8JYKt3i93d-sqM8zYHE8KPOZHd_G0aEKy67F-MIpQ6q/s800/2011-10-18+download+368_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670250849708894850" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352118" style="text-align: -webkit-auto; "><span><span class="Apple-style-span"> The poppies my mom and sisters were left to do (they were not travel-on-the-plane-from-PA friendly!). I saw <a href="http://www.100layercake.com/blog/2010/10/06/real-wedding-brittany-paul/">these</a> on <a href="http://www.100layercake.com/blog">100 layer cake </a>and was just so very delighted. Demi, our bride, wanted vintage washed aquas and warm pinks for her wedding colors, so in a nod to that we pushed up the intensity with bright poppies and turquoise banners and word garland ("And then my soul saw you and it kind of went, 'oh, there you are. I've been looking for you,'" gleaned from <a href="http://pinterest.com/demilyn/">Demi's pinterest board</a>). We had a church gym instead of a manicured garden to work with, but the blossoms were just as cheerful inside (and probably more needed!).<br /></span></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nVsYd-QHGuYMTmCpPQz2J5LTtiM6kGTBRC6-WkeUR_0cfOtHFR33VsVw5Gfdky6ssLA6zgaEiKtmpDMEsZKFARuW4Ey5LWfVyChVGlozxX4RQoVXfzzELIal5Mkbwix9Fk_WsA-SRXCo/s1600/2011-10-18+download+330.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5nVsYd-QHGuYMTmCpPQz2J5LTtiM6kGTBRC6-WkeUR_0cfOtHFR33VsVw5Gfdky6ssLA6zgaEiKtmpDMEsZKFARuW4Ey5LWfVyChVGlozxX4RQoVXfzzELIal5Mkbwix9Fk_WsA-SRXCo/s800/2011-10-18+download+330.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670258182684909426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBb_Imf3ns76rpfd2O_3d_5301O6Pa-3Hf_dtm2ihrRhS1RMbt3FT7HkjwxYpTBd70Iad0UvZBPWCxDmNOqoQndNURH82S2BzkNcNZiD0y62_XPrVIoGAnh0fWVGnEjkZux7dJOYvDRfv/s1600/2011-10-18+download+320.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBb_Imf3ns76rpfd2O_3d_5301O6Pa-3Hf_dtm2ihrRhS1RMbt3FT7HkjwxYpTBd70Iad0UvZBPWCxDmNOqoQndNURH82S2BzkNcNZiD0y62_XPrVIoGAnh0fWVGnEjkZux7dJOYvDRfv/s400/2011-10-18+download+320.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670258179880841794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 299px; " /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><u><br /></u></div><div style="text-align: left;">Since most of the weddings I go to are as a sister dragging along travel-weary children, I love best to see all of our little ones beaming</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYMNMWmz73x4dO1qW0M6ZuN5fib9Wx2SN0U7TE8g3OcI9ScYvl0zNfXyCbeByTTS9iABObCgWOOdvxA4MexvbRUweBkPm5IQFRdOGf11hr4vEntDl_GU40TDksjpOHVJch4R17zkYEiHI/s1600/2011-10-18+download+376_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioYMNMWmz73x4dO1qW0M6ZuN5fib9Wx2SN0U7TE8g3OcI9ScYvl0zNfXyCbeByTTS9iABObCgWOOdvxA4MexvbRUweBkPm5IQFRdOGf11hr4vEntDl_GU40TDksjpOHVJch4R17zkYEiHI/s800/2011-10-18+download+376_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670250874238359970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYZLRs0XZQro6dF5Lf264KwuXLEOHFqjMBocB4PwLZmQZTLeeeRzGe_HADan1-LebYB9FziOn1PLDLmmDx8x2FYWBEnDaKF2yAvZSSccieU1Qx8U-F5sUNiGELus4i-B3Q4co4nte0A4h/s1600/2011-10-18+download+374_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsYZLRs0XZQro6dF5Lf264KwuXLEOHFqjMBocB4PwLZmQZTLeeeRzGe_HADan1-LebYB9FziOn1PLDLmmDx8x2FYWBEnDaKF2yAvZSSccieU1Qx8U-F5sUNiGELus4i-B3Q4co4nte0A4h/s800/2011-10-18+download+374_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670250855257518114" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><div style="text-align: left;">and enjoying their aunt-crafted accessories</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHufnJvrLiub0zc9nU3979gWM-PKrwVFPYHN9nMhl74gaCDSEbmQS1PmIt2vXF4a1qyo-EIFipIfhMXVQnOnGxyPxXaesnb-cl9xM3yvihQLwJYHu19b2m_Jm7nsDRMChF9LmGLKM8-rY2/s1600/2011-10-18+download+417_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHufnJvrLiub0zc9nU3979gWM-PKrwVFPYHN9nMhl74gaCDSEbmQS1PmIt2vXF4a1qyo-EIFipIfhMXVQnOnGxyPxXaesnb-cl9xM3yvihQLwJYHu19b2m_Jm7nsDRMChF9LmGLKM8-rY2/s400/2011-10-18+download+417_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670262427358110034" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 298px; " /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;">and the treats (the bluest cotton candy EVER, which miraculously washed out of the silk with ease!)</div></div><div><div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPYRU6kwi11u4q5k2uiBofE7me05xMj7yUIWzLj1k8o32teP-jAuQhFVQm0F63Za-FuVFNur-sQs_C6N3GSQwMVqlrJsa4ty_HdnEo5YJGromOZFagBpoTOgDNEpQu-oZaOopbDX9PiD4/s800/2011-10-18+download+410_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQPYRU6kwi11u4q5k2uiBofE7me05xMj7yUIWzLj1k8o32teP-jAuQhFVQm0F63Za-FuVFNur-sQs_C6N3GSQwMVqlrJsa4ty_HdnEo5YJGromOZFagBpoTOgDNEpQu-oZaOopbDX9PiD4/s800/2011-10-18+download+410_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670260519429728738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a>and just generally having a gay old time TOGETHER.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY3YRyPZwAhOejVuNpFvTenYhkkmJW3kXFxQQneCvoevgSQROP3o9koWAzTrGahfCtnsWR_TdRvkAuPmEHxfrx8cJwnAkcCH-muOnTYM4L2rLzsQqhcx5gNf-wK_TGh2tX1CvM_Iq9OS-/s1600/2011-10-18+download+426_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyY3YRyPZwAhOejVuNpFvTenYhkkmJW3kXFxQQneCvoevgSQROP3o9koWAzTrGahfCtnsWR_TdRvkAuPmEHxfrx8cJwnAkcCH-muOnTYM4L2rLzsQqhcx5gNf-wK_TGh2tX1CvM_Iq9OS-/s800/2011-10-18+download+426_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670260507320204770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jfv7Hjc0gKQbZUSNIHOcGXWZBiGDm1c0LKikCi19uxjhED0mla_DJROhgE5bynUd_VYHmros543bCScu9PqlUvYV2nzQXns7XU_75NP5OEMOhGeiTpZAeznk6n3Bp3L1p486STgXZpVH/s1600/2011-10-18+download+402_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_jfv7Hjc0gKQbZUSNIHOcGXWZBiGDm1c0LKikCi19uxjhED0mla_DJROhgE5bynUd_VYHmros543bCScu9PqlUvYV2nzQXns7XU_75NP5OEMOhGeiTpZAeznk6n3Bp3L1p486STgXZpVH/s800/2011-10-18+download+402_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670260500832699250" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; " /></a>Even if they have to pose now and then.</div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124"><br /></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124">Of course, the best part is getting a new aunt.</div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU68vWRLneS2qBZ-TqDeY_E71k6ES1J3UqftIIkcrgAL2laeqqFRf5dgBUf0WtjcwmXsTs7RWVjKDHP6AaH06Pn_9uSQ_CLq16lduNThDF6NBNSfDBZJPMs9NXofA63Q079gd63XikmW2/s1600/2011-10-18+download+379_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheU68vWRLneS2qBZ-TqDeY_E71k6ES1J3UqftIIkcrgAL2laeqqFRf5dgBUf0WtjcwmXsTs7RWVjKDHP6AaH06Pn_9uSQ_CLq16lduNThDF6NBNSfDBZJPMs9NXofA63Q079gd63XikmW2/s600/2011-10-18+download+379_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670262423214935826" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a></div><div>The more the merrier.</div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124"><i>(and oh, this one's a keeper!!)</i></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124"><br /></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124">PS: one last crafty note</div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124">wedding bowls!</div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124"><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B1XoPer30wfoo11gJSA0Xl2R2mMsA1AXxVR_PfUYpRoDErlmg4CDHAH63vVVaLBeFwjm2DrOPNX6C1G8L8XliWnLAWhnRIP5KMv8l9AMAOik2AkfKPCudShEErnZ3LZ0ROAJP0F-9dgh/s1600/2011-10-18+download+431_800x600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6B1XoPer30wfoo11gJSA0Xl2R2mMsA1AXxVR_PfUYpRoDErlmg4CDHAH63vVVaLBeFwjm2DrOPNX6C1G8L8XliWnLAWhnRIP5KMv8l9AMAOik2AkfKPCudShEErnZ3LZ0ROAJP0F-9dgh/s400/2011-10-18+download+431_800x600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5670262441423832994" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px; " /></a></div></div><div id="yui_3_2_0_1_1320205076352124"><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div></span></div><div style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; "><span><br /></span></div></div></div></div></div>vfghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16858616105228539309noreply@blogger.com2