HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

The last few days in Houston have been - errr - TRYING, to say the least. We had some seriously hellacious weather night before last, yesterday, and last night. Today, we were 'threatened' with more which (thankfully) never materialized. Instead, we are hot-sticky-humid-yukky. But my youngest granddaughter, Jessica, surprised me with the above flowers, and not only made me forget about WEATHER, but she made me remember how lucky I am to have such awesome grandkids! And I thought I'd come to the computer and let you all know I am ALSO lucky to have YOU - my sweet Bloggy friends! I'm wishing EACH of you who are mommies a VERY happy Mothers Day! SENDING LOADS OF HUGS AND SMILES TO THE BLOGGYHOOD! 

LETTING EVERYONE KNOW ...

... what's going on. If some of you wonder why I've been kind of awful about emailing, and not SO great about blogging, well, here's why. I've kept it under wraps because I didn't want to be a whine-tail. LOL! Most of you know I am blind in my right eye - have been for quite a few years. My left eye vision is also seriously deteriorating now. I can SEE. I can use the software I have to edit without vision, and I've learned to use it. And until about 2 months ago, I was managing to do most things without a lot of trouble. It's still semi-simple blogging because that's a fast thing. Same with reading and commenting on YOUR blogs. But emails are about 90% out of the question now. I've TRIED to keep up. Truly. It's just overpowering for me. I fell recently and hit my head right OVER my failing eye - wouldn't you just know? - (I have 8 stitches) because I tripped when I THOUGHT the house was too dark. My housemate pointed out that it was sunny. It didn't SEEM sunny to me. The fall definitely affected my remaining vision. Probably didn't help my remaining brain cell either - LOL! Anyway, all I'm saying is that I am probably not emailing much, if at all, anymore. I hope you all will understand if I communicate via blogs. Currently I am fighting NOT to be depressed. (Secret: I AM though. Just a bit.) So if I seem to have disappeared other than posting to MY blog now and then or commenting on yours, please know I haven't deserted you. BIG HUGS TO ALL!

NESTS READY FOR VIEWING!

I know that my swap partner's nest is out for delivery so I think it's safe to show this. And I also know Viv's lil' hostess gift has been delivered so I'll post that here, too! I loved doing both and truly hope both of them like my crazy nesties!

Here's the beach-inspired nest (in a shell) for Vivvy.

From a different angle ...

The big beads are just decoration. The 'eggs' in the nest are small and pale peach.

I painted the 'B' (for 'birdies on the 'beach') with sand-textured paint and an 'ocean' blue background peeking through.



Linda's girly pink nest has an easel which reads, "Shhh ... baby eggs sleeping!"

Another angle ...

From the opposite side ...


Typical Kai, right? LOL! But my partner SAID she also likes pink and girly! And I know Vivvy-pie is a beach kinda girl! Fingers crossed that they think they're okay! I DO know I had a great time with this swap! THANKS, VIV!!!!

MY KIND OF NESTING!

My dear friend Viv  Neroni (aka Vivvy-pie) at  http://vivs-whimsy.blogspot.com/ recently hosted a NEST SWAP. Talk about FUN! She made it simple, HAPPY, and said only that we should make our partner a nest we would want to keep for ourselves. Now, to ME, a huge part of swapping is getting paired with a person I've never met. Everyone I meet either in person or in the Bloggyhood is a new friend in the making. I was VERY lucky because Vivvy paired me with Linda, a really nice and EXTREMELY interesting person! You who know me well know I love learning other languages, and I love interacting with all cultures! I hit the JACKPOT with Linda! She's awesome! And today I received my box! (I mailed hers this morning. USPS assures me it will be in her hands Friday!) Anyway, here are a couple of photos of the most darling lil' nesty I received!

CUTE, CUTE, CUTE, RIGHT? Sorry for the crummy photo quality. The light in this room is not great! In fact the light in this entire HOUSE sucks. But trust me - it's ULTRA adorable! THANK YOU, LINDA! I LOVE IT!!!
   While I'm on the adorable topic:

JACOBY - HAPPY (AND TOOTHLESS) LIL' SWEETY

NEO WHO IS DEFINITELY  THE SINGLE MOST LOVING CHILD EVER!

NEO'S LITTLE SIS, MAKENA AT ALMOST 5 MONTHS, WEARING A HAT I MADE HER

BRADLEY AKA LIL' MAN, ROCKIN' HIS HAT

Sorry. You KNOW I had to include the great grandchildren. LOL! And one last thing, totally unrelated to cuteness. The other day I took a trip to a place I generally avoid. THE DREADED MALL. See, I've got a very bad habit of ordering my clothes online. But it takes FOREVER. And because I am now at a point where even 5 pounds loss makes a difference in my dress size, by the time I'd GET the clothes, they'd be too big. So I took the plunge and headed for the aforementioned 'dreaded mall'. A saleslady in one shop said, "You DO know your bra is way too big, don't you?" Trust me, she wasn't being rude. And the comment wasn't 'out of nowhere'. See, she'd brought me 2 skirts to the dressing room. Anyway, I said,  " I don't THINK so. I used to wear a 54D but I wear a 48C now." She looked at me as though she couldn't decide whether to laugh or slap me upside my head. I asked, "Why do you think it's too big?" At this point she turned and left the dressing room, muttering, "Be right back."  She returned with a tape measure. Long story short? I wear a 36C. Heehee. I guess it WAS a bit large, my 48C. No WONDER it wasn't really doing anything for me. Well, I rectified that by buying 4 new ones in the PROPER size - black, white, nude, and pink. Pretty, feminine ones with lace! Funny how I could be so dumb as to totally go crazy over CLOTHES but forget the foundation items. Sigh. By the way, if YOU haven't been measured for bra size in a long time, DO. It REALLY makes a difference in how your clothes look on you. LOL! Now - aren't you thrilled to have fashion advice from a moron who was cluelessly wearing a bra 6 freakin' SIZES too big? With that, I will end this by referring to my original topic: nests. I BELONG in a nest. The CUCKOO'S NEST! Sigh ... 

Just got home last night in the middle of one HORRIBLE storm! I HATE storms!!! We had large hail, lots of wind, rain, rain, rain, lightening on the way into Houston, and IN Houston. By the time we arrived HERE the streets were retaining water. LOTS of it! Our next door neighbor took it upon herself to push her STALLED vehicle in OUR driveway, SIDEWAYS so WE couldn't get IN! OMG! (Did I mention I HATE STORMS?) Anyway, I'm here but about as weary as I have ever been. So here's what I plan to do: I'll be blogging AND I'll check YOUR blogs! But I am not going to email anyone for the remainder of this month because I need to get caught up around here AND caught up with some rest. I hope everyone in Bloggyland is well, had a WONDERFUL Easter, and knows I'm thinking of each of you! If I get a chance later today I will blog again and tell you a bit about the Treasuring. It ROCKED! (But DO remind me NOT to do any more quilling for a looooong time. Those porcupine quills are hard on fingers! LOL!) For now, I'll leave you with some updated grandkids and great grandkids photos they sent me while I was away. BIG HUGS TO ALL OF YOU!!!! I've MISSED you!

My Jake-man with daughter Makena

Bradley aka Lil' Man, with his Easter eggs

My crazy grandson and wifey, Vanessa being silly

My beautiful Jessica (Bradley's mommy)

My tiny Jacoby, all scrunched up - LOL!

My Neo - Makena's big brother - with HIS eggies

My Megan, her hubby Tony, and Jacoby Scott

HEADING OUT!

 

 

 

 

What on EARTH happened to MARCH? It seems to have disappeared right under my nose! I know one thing: it DID come in like a lion, but it is sure NOT to go out like a lamb because I've been RIDING that lion all month and it's certain I will continue right up until the last moments of the 31st. Translation: This has been one of the busiest months I can EVER recall. A good month, true. But exhausting! And for the next three days I'll be getting last minute things accomplished before we three (Mar, MB, and I) head for New Mexico and the event we've been working on. I will return on April Fools Day. I want to wish all of YOU a Happy St. Patrick's Day TODAY, a wonderful Easter NEXT Sunday, and an abundance of silliness on the 1st! I've tried to keep up with blogs this month, but will be MUCH better after I return, and will also be more reliable about emailing. Hopefully, anyone to whom I owe an email will PLEASE forgive me. I repeat: it's been an INSANE month. And, having said all of that, I'll leave you with another photo of my newest great grandson wearing his daddy's hat in a rather non-regulation way.  

 

 

 

NEW BABY PEOPLE AND A FROG FOR A DOG FOR A BOY IS A DINOSAUR ... WHAT??? OH! AND OTHER STUFF, TOO!

ONE HOUR OLD!!! My 4th great grandchild, Jacoby fresh off the assembly line! LOL!

Three month old Makena Rae - a HAPPY girl!

A day before delivering Jacoby! (My middle granddaughter, Megan!)

FROGASAURUS

HE LIKES RAY. BWAHAHAHA!

AND HE'S LAAAAAZZZZY!

EXCUUUUUUSE ME, MR. FROGASAURUS, BUT YOU ARE IN MY CHAIR AND I NEED TO EDIT. SO, SCRAM!
 

What a wild and wonderful time this is. Dearest friends here with me, all of us working HARD to prepare a celebration worthy of our sweet holy man's first little blessing with his wifey! My crazy-funny granddaughter, Megan aka Meggydoodle, delivering HER first child only an hour ago! (She and her hubby are over the moon!) And life is GOOD. As for the - uhhh - unusual green critter, well that's for my 2nd great grandson Bradley aka Lil' Man. He LOVES dinosaurs and his entire room is all about the critters. But he ALSO loves frogs. So a while back I happened upon this VERY long-legged froggy in the grocery store. I was buying paper towels and he, along with a cute long-limbed pink piggy and a NOT so cute badger-looking thing were hanging on a rack at the aisle's end. It's supposed to be a DOG toy. ?????? But I bought it (and the pig) and decided it was a new BREED of dinosaur - a Frogasaurus! I crocheted him a hat with spines, similar to ones I've seen on newborns, and made it HIS size. I'll be happy to send him to Wisconsin soon because this creature has SERIOUS attitude! LOL!  Hope all of you are feeling as happy as I am at this moment! Life really IS good!