It's Official!

Spring arrived today.

And what could be better for a little boy than playing in the dirt while daddy
works in the the garden.

Spring is Here

This pink azalea has just about reached its peak. The white one hasn't gotten started yet. The Redbud tree is blooming. The forsythia (here in the South we call them yellowbells) are covered with blossoms. At this rate, I'm afraid everything will have bloomed and be gone by the time Easter arrives.

Spring always comes and goes too fast to suit me.

Ever Have Days Like This?

When I'm at home I never feel this way...too many possibilities.

Saturday Random

A drive by view of some of the area tornado damage...lots of rubble and debris has been cleaned away, but it still looks really bad.

A friend and I went to the Birmingham Museum of Art today to see the "Look of Love" eye miniatures exhibit. No photography is allowed at special events, but I did stop by my favorite permanent room and take a couple of photos

See the reflection of my fingers?


My friend had never seen Railroad Park, so we stopped and people watched until a chilly breeze sent us on our way.

I know the calendar says Sunday, but I actually drew this yesterday...see, I do still doodle at work sometimes.

Hope you have had as nice of a random Saturday I I have!

Make It Soon Please!

Season 3 of Downton Abbey please hurry! I can hardly wait.

Rainy Afternoon Doodling

A dear friend sent this cute little guy to be my Valentine. Who could resist that face?

Mirror, Mirror

The Daddy Book by Robert Stewart

Recently, daughter Rachel came over with the intent purpose of going through my collection of Little Golden Books. She was looking for duplicates that she could take home for her kids. I have no idea just how many Golden Books I have, but I know this....it's a lot! I sewed on a project, the kids played and she searched. She searched through the books stashed in the closet under the stairs. She searched through the bookcase. She looked in two chest drawers that are packed full. She looked on the kid's bedroom shelves. She missed the stack resting under the basement television.

I bought most of my books at thrift stores and second hand bookshops. Sometimes I see a book and unable to determine if I already own it, I'll buy another copy. Needless to say, I've collected doubles and some triples that way. Rachel was able to take home a big sackful. I'm happy to know the kids will enjoy them and perhaps learn to appreciate everything wonderful about these particular books.

In their heyday, Little Golden Books employed some of the best children's authors and illustrators. Authors like, Richard Scarry, Lucy Sprague Mitchell, Margaret Wise Moon and illustrators Tibor Gergely, Garth Williams, Eloise Wilkin, Gustaf Tenggren and many others. The thing that draws me to Golden Books are their simple sweet children's stories as well as their wonderfully imaginative illustrations.

While Rachel was looking, it occurred to me that I needed to pass The Daddy Book on to her for Elijah. It's not a Golden Book, but it was the favorite, read again and again, of his Uncle Brandon when he was a boy. No other of my children loved it like he did. Because Elijah is crazy about his daddy, I bet he will love having this classic read to him again and again.

Before I let it go, I had to scan some of my favorite images. I'm sure those of you who remember the 70s will recognize the daddy's floral shirts, long haircuts and mustaches. Your father's and husbands probably looked much like these Dads.









If you are fortune enough to come across this book when you are out thrifting or yard saleing...buy it for the children in your lives. I'll just bet that they will love it too!

Tornado

I've been offline for a couple of days. My little pint sized city of Clay was hit hard by a tornado before daylight Monday morning. I went down to the basement, because if there is anything we all learned from last April's terrible tornadoes, it was don't ignore the warnings. I think it was because of that lesson learned and the grace of God that there were only 2 fatalities in the whole county. The tornado has been determined to have been a F-3 with winds of 150 miles per hour.

I thought it was a non event because it was barely raining at my house and I heard no wind at all. My sister lives only 3 minutes away. Her neighborhood seems to have been the last hit before the tornado lifted and didn't set down again until it was out of the county...we are on the northern edge of Jefferson County.

Over 200 homes in our tiny town were damaged or destroyed. I think I read that there are 500 damaged or destroyed homes county wide. One elderly man lost his life on the opposite side of the county and sadly, one teenager lost her life on our side.

My sister and her husband are fine. They lost 7 trees, but none fell on their home. In fact, theirs is the only home in that neighborhood without structural damage.

We have a lot to be thankful for here in Alabama this week. It is heartening to hear about and to see the number of volunteers who have poured in to help those in need. Area churches have opened their doors as shelters and are serving meals to victims and volunteers alike. But, please remember to say a prayer for those two families who lost their loved ones and for those who've lost their homes.