Artist envy.

Blog hopping today I came across the very talented Kari Herer. You must check out her post with more photos/drawings with these beautiful and buggy magnolia blossoms.

New Stamps.

The U. S. postage rate goes up on Sunday. I still think 44¢ is not much to mail a letter, especially if you compare it to postage rates around the world. I'm loving some of the new stamp designs especially the King and Queen of Hearts and Wedding Cake. You can get them on the USPS website or come on in to Paper Products, Etc. those of you who live on Bainbridge...we are a contract post office! (A little plug for my workplace.)

btw....it's still raining

Rain, rain and more rain.

More springtime in the Pacific Northwest...not much to do outdoors, but get wet. It still looks beautiful though with lilacs, rhodies and the magnolia in bloom!

The garden plan.

Here's how the garden plan is shaping up. There are 15 raised beds all 4' x 4' in a fenced enclosure with a beautiful gate that my husband built for me. I'm pulling out two lavender plants that have gotten too leggy and can be outside the fenced area because the deer don't like lavender. Technically I could put the dahlias and rosemary outside the fence too. As I need more room for veggies, I may do that. I still have some of the veggies to get in the ground, but it's looking great! Here's what it looks like come summertime....

May flowers.

I love turning the page every month of this gorgeous letterpress calendar from ilee papergoods (you'll have to google, the website address I have doesn't work).

Well, I've been in quite a funk since my mom died. I have not been blogging... looking or posting. I came back from California and went right back to work 32-40 hours a week. On nice days (my standard for "nice" is pretty low) I've been in my garden which has been much-needed therapy. I definitely have some garden posts coming. It is so gorgeous out there right now as the sun is coming up and everything is wet from last night's rain. I'm planting more veggies than flowers this year.....the usual tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, pumpkins and zucchini and new this year: eggplant, broccoli, bok choy, yellow bell pepper, and spinach.

It's good to be back!

You know what they say...

We pay our dues up here in the Pacific Northwest, but May will be bloomin' beautiful!

Spring in California.

Yesterday was a gorgeous spring day here in the Pacific Northwest and today is suppose to be just as nice, BUT I must say when I flew in from California last week the weather was miserable!!! And it made me miserable. It had actually snowed the day before...April Fool's Day. Who's the fool? In California roses and geraniums and nasturstiums are blooming. My daffodils just opened yesterday. What's a girl to do? I'm sure in a month I'll have no complaints.

Home.

I'm back on Bainbridge and back to blogging, trying to get back to "normal." Thank you to everyone for your much needed support over the last few weeks....from hospice, the calls from relatives and friends, everyone who covered my shifts at work, my friends who came to the service and especially to Vong for taking these and many other photos. I am so grateful to you and for a mother who taught and loved me so much.

Bye Mom.

My mom passed away last night. She was extremely peaceful and I am so blessed to have spent so much time with her this last month. Your prayers for her soul's journey to heaven are much appreciated. With love...Joan

Travel days.

Just some random photos from traveling back and forth from Bainbridge to Southern California. Here's a wonderful window at SeaTac...
The ferry landing on Bainbridge Island...

The very efficient bus tunnel in Seattle where you can catch an express bus to the airport for only $1.75!!! And finally, a couple shots from the airplane. The latter is actually of the ferry landing on Bainbridge. We rarely fly right over the Island...it was clear and sunny so I could see everything!!!

Stardust Shoes.

The very talented Joanna over at StardustShoes is having a wonderful giveaway if you like to knit. Check out her blog for all the details. I've been following her blog since the beginning of my relatively short blogging life (about five months). She's one of my favorites AND from the Pacific Northwest. (Note to self: Add StardustShoes to blog list.) I love these pictures, kind of self portraits taken last fall...from her "Old Man Winter" post and "I do believe I'm back" post.

Take time for tea...

...and a book. I l-o-v-e the sale table at Anthropologie. I had spied this book a couple of months ago, but couldn't really afford the $24.00 price tag. Patience paid off and I found it in the clearance section at my Seattle Anthropologie last month. Copyright date is 2007, but it's so old-fashioned and fun!

Giveaway winner.

Karen K. from FlimsyFilm is my giveaway winner of two Anthropologie spring tea towels. Karen, email me with your address so I can get these to you just in time for Spring!

It's cold!

I'm back on the Island for a few days. This Pacific Northwest weather is a little difficult to endure after being in sunny and warm Southern California. Did anyone see Dennis the Menace yesterday? It's quite appropriate.

Update.

Hospice is here and my mom is comfortable. My sisters and I are taking turns being here. Thank you everyone for your kind thoughts and your prayers.

Like I said before I don't have a computer here so posts will be infrequent for a bit. I promise to look at the giveaway comments as soon as I get back. :-) Joan

My Mom.

I'm heading back to California to be with my mom at the end of her life. Please keep us in your prayers.

I didn't have time to take a picture of the tea towels to be given away, but they are gorgeous!

Giveaway, no strings attached.

I think I'm too young to have a contest with requirements so here's just a plain giveaway. I have two beautiful Anthropologie spring tea towels to send to a randomly selected comment left on this post.

Made by Joan.

This is my first giveaway! I'm not sure where the MEME started or what it stands for, but I'm joining in. I saw it over on my friend Michelle's blog. The first 5 people who respond to this post will get something special from me... it could be anything, it will be my choice, but especially for you. But along with everything fun there are some restrictions & limitations...
• What I give you will be just for you.
• I make no guarantees that you will like it...but I hope you do!

• You will receive it before the end of the year...or sooner.
• You will have no idea what it will be, orwhen you will receive it.
The BIG catch is you have to repost this MEME and put together something to be sent out as 5 surprises of your own. These surprises can be anything.... whatever you choose...
So ladies, come join in on the fun!!! Post this MEME, comment back here to let me know you have passed it along then email me your addy so I can send you your special surprise!! And to those first 5 people... I'll be checking out your blogs to see what kind of things you like...

Michele Maule.

Another incredibly talented artist...Michele Maule who I just discovered over on Stephanie Levy's blog. Michele is from Portland, but recently relocated to Pontiac, Michigan. She writes a blog called "how 2 draw a cup of coffee." Check it out!

Bozeman explosion.

My very first post on this blog was about visiting my son at MSU in Bozeman. I love their downtown Main Street! I've been out of touch for a week so I had not heard anything about an explosion last Thursday on Main Street at 8:15 in the morning. One person was killed, which is so sad for her loved ones, but it could have been so much worse had the restaurant, bar and sandwich shop been filled. These signs that I had taken pictures of in October were destroyed in the blast. You can read more in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.