Merry Christmas!

Just wanted to share a few images of Christmas around our house from Christmases past

 and wish you all a very 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Have a Merry Christmas.

Or else.

It's true.

Elf shoes make you stronger.

Happy Holidays!

Summer projects, cont...

This was a baby gift for my lovely friend Erica who just adopted THE MOST ADORABLE baby girl.

Sadly, little miss Jenna arrived (at home) just days after I had to leave Idaho for Maui.

Sniff...sniff...

So I consoled myself by putting together a little something for the "little something".

Again, of course, it had to have a flower.

I hope she liked it...

(Her momma said she did.)

Oh hello there...

You're still around?

Yay!

Then I'll share a few of the projects I worked on this summer with you...

First, a bag for my friend Michelle, the shell collector. She has a gift for seeing the tiniest, most beautiful shells and sand dollars I've ever seen.

It was her birthday and I thought it would come in handy for her.

It has a long shoulder strap that sligs across the torso.

It is made of hand-embroidered linen and has interior pockets for her teeny, tiny sand dollars.

Of course, it had to have a flower...

and vintage buttons...

and her name...

(a most excellent one, I might add)

and pleats...

She liked it.

Of peonies, conversations, and creating...

I was looking through some photos that I took in my garden while I was home in Idaho for the summer and I came across these peony shots. Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE peonies? 

Hands down, my favorite flower.

Especially the light pink ones.

I miss peonies.

Which reminds me that I miss Senecca.

I especially miss our conversations.

The conversations that only come about because we've already spent a couple of hours together in comfortable silence.

These conversations start out with trivial tidbits that weave and bob and gain momentum as they course through a mountain of  shared experiences, places, friends, literature, thoughts, and feelings.

Conversations that eventually bring us back to where we started.

Comfortable silence.

Knowing silence.

Silence that says,

 "I love you and everything about you.

 You are safe with me. 

You are more precious than gold to me."

Senecca has been designing the most beautiful beach-inspired jewelry of late.

 The last time she was home in Maui we sat together and had one of those conversations while she worked on some of her designs. 

It was heavenly to be there together sifting and sorting and watching her beautiful hands at work.

I suppose that every mother and daughter has something that bonds them.

I have found that creating together has become the conduit for closeness for Sen and I.

We grab a few supplies, turn on the music, and begin our ritual.

Of course, not being one to let an opportunity pass without documentation, I grab my camera and start shooting.

"Mom," she says, "Stop it. Look at my nails. I soooo need a manicure before you take pictures."

And since I am such an accomodating soul, I ignore her and keep on shooting.

Because I don't want to waste a single minute of the time we have together.

I want to record it ALL.

While she renders works of art out of glass and shells and gold, I watch and wonder at this marvelous girl. 

And say a little prayer of gratitude for the memories we are creating together.

And marvel at her amazing, ethereal jewelry designs.

I have decided that I am the luckiest mother in the world.

Life is beautiful.

Our (Idaho) summer in pictures 2011

So much to do, so little time to record it all...

So here's just a little slice of our summer in Idaho.

Stocky sailing around the pond with grandpa:

Sweet little Ava:

Camping at Alturas Lake and Redfish Lake:

Fourth of July in Hailey:

Kelsey family reunion: 

My sweet mother:

Little critter on grandma's hill:

Breakfast with the cousins at our house:

Getting ready to raft the Salmon River:

Senecca and her honey, Danny:

(Yep, he's a cutie pie)

Out to dinner at Zou 75:

(Still sporting the eternal pink cast, sigh...)

Shopping with the girls in Boise for our birthday getaway:

(Yes, Christa, you're hot...love the look)

Fun-Tana!

The lamp is cute, but you're cuter.

Just sayin'.

Can you say Cheese.......cake Factory?

So much more  fun was indulged in, but alas, the camera could not accompany me everywhere.

More later...