Queen Bee....autiful!

These are my wonderful "buys" at the Queen Bee in Lafayette Ca. I really wanted the blue bench and the Pig, but we just can't have everything we want in life, can we? So, I bought this card which I thought was absolutely beautiful. I think I will frame it or put it on my peg board over the computer desk. It will remind me that each and everyone of us needs to have a vision that is true to our own being and that when we find what that is, we need to follow it and create our world accordingly. The word "attempt" has been crossed out and "transform" has been written under it. I find this reassuring. It says to me that things can be changed or altered according to your vision of the world and that it's ok to make these changes. It's even Ok to show others the change. That's revolutionary! I thought you only showed the perfect, completed, piece of art; as if your vision was born in perfect form from the beginning. Kind of like letting people only see you with your makeup on and you hair combed and every hair in place.

Just look at this interesting woman. I like to think that she was having a really bad hair day. So what did she do? She wrapped a beautiful scarf around her head and let the wild hair fly behind her. Then she added a pair of gorgeous earrings (or maybe two pairs) and said to herself ,"There..., this is how I will be today...., and I I'm beautiful." To me she says: Live for today and don't try to recreate ; TRANSFORM...,believe in yourself.

Then I saw this embroidered ribbon. Isn't this the most beautiful piece of ribbon ever? I bought 1/2 yard of it (it was VERY expensive) and I don't have any idea what I'm going to do with it. I'm kind of intimidated by it. I would like to work it into a collage but I don't want to loose the lovely texture and openess of it. I don't sew much and only have 18 inches of it, so if anyone out there has some good ideas I would love to hear them. I know someone is saying, " Ooooo!, I know what I would do with it ...., I'd.........."

Come on all of you who read blogs and don't comment: Those of you who are talented and have "vision". Start a new tradition. "Follow you bliss";.... dream, imagine, create an idea. I'm open to all suggestions, and maybe you can find inspiration to create something that will honor the loveliness of the ribbon.

If I think your idea is just too super wonderful, I will send you the ribbon so you can create your own piece of art. So please let me know what you come up with.

Happy 90th Birthday Mom

You were always feeding someone...,

And holding someone's hand...

And what a beauty!

We were so glad that you decided to get married and have children...., and that you had such good "mommy" skills. We are forever grateful for the patience, the listen and setting an example of what a person with a good heart can do under, sometimes, difficult circumstances. We are the beneficiaries of your goodness and the recipients of you unconditional love. Thank you.

We send you our love and best wishes for a very happy 90th birthday.With Love, your daughters, Connie & Lisa.

Wordless Wednesday: Jezebel

Queen Bee; dripping with honey.

If you drive in from Oakland and go east through the Caldecott Tunnel on hiway 24, you will come to a town called Lafayette. It's a upper class suburb of the Bay Area and a very nice place to live; with lot's of charming shops and restaurants. This one is called Queen Bee and it's a wonderful place to visit. I think that it was a small house at one time. Now it has been turned into a lovely store with absolutely marvelous things for your home.

Each room is a different color and each is filled with an amazing assortment of things to buy. One room was filled with ribbon , lace, cards , buttons and miscellany that any collage artist would go crazy over.

Check out the beautiful blue bench. I love it! This shop is a feast for the eyes.

This room was probably my favorite. I love yellow and the pig on the table is just waiting for someone to take him home. I'm afraid it wasn't me, so he's still waiting. (As far as I know.)

The Queen Bee is at 261 Lafayette Circle in Downtown Lafayette

Snickerdoodles for Bambino

Yesterday I baked some cookies for the Prospector to take up to Pine Crest Lake. This is an annual event for the fathers , sons and daughters of the family. We moms are not allowed on this trip. It's a tradition. This will be my little bambino bean's first time going up there with his daddy and papa.

So this morning the Bean and his daddy arrived early. Papa hooked the boat to daddy's suv and Papa already had the tent trailer hook up to the truck. I gave the Bean his very own pail with cookies, grapes and things to play with. He had to have a cookie but check out the look on his face. He took a bite. He acted, at first, like he wasn't sure about the cookie, he savored the bite for a minute and then he smiled his sweet little smile and said "That's good Noni. Would you like a bite?" I answered "I'd love one", and took a bite.

"Thank you" I said
and Bean said "Lets go outside".
I said "Ok" and we put the cookies in the pail, which he picked up and never let go of.
He had the cookie in his right hand and I told him to hold it up high so Mokie couldn't grab it.
We got through the gate before Moke saw us and Bean went to Papa and said "Papa, want a bite?"
The Prospector said "Sure" and took a bit. Then Bean went over to his daddy and offered him a bite.
My son took a bite and said "Yum". He looked at me and said "Thanks". I gave him the big bag of cookies.

Bean gave me another bite of his cookie and his daddy finished off the rest of it.
We took a couple of pictures of him in the boat and then Daddy put him in his car seat and as they got ready to drive off, gripping his pail with both hands, " Noni, aren't you coming too?"....., Oh how I wanted to go with him, but someone has to stay here and feed the goats, the chickens and the dogs. Someone has to water everything and take care of the farm. This is the "Guy" trip: Fishing, sleeping in tents and for my little bean, learning to float in the lake and make the same memories that my boys did so long ago.
" Not this time Bean, I have to stay here and take care of the animals. But maybe next time, Ok?"
"Ok, Bye." and they left.

I know they will have a great time. Making memories: Cooking dinners, swimming , camping, sleeping in a tent together but next year I think I'm going to break a tradition and go with them...., next year I won't be standing in the driveway saying goodby.

Take care guys and watch the Bean closely. I'll miss you.