If this doesn't make you feel like dancing. . .

Fred and Ginger. . .The best of the best!




And you're twirling around your bedroom, humming and leaping and dancing with a fabulous imaginary. . .

. . .Oh. . . Just me?

Polyvore: Like there's no tomorrow

What I'm doing today. . .

Needs to be done by Friday!

(Thumbs up for Emma, right? :D)

Meet Bradley

Here he is.

I met him when I was washing the Bok Choi from our garden.


Our acquaintance ended rapidly.

Etching Glass

Yesterday we attended the beautiful wedding of a young lady from our church. For our gift, we decided to be a little creative and etch a glass bowl and dish for the couple. I was delighted to try this out; I love making wedding gifts. Since we have supplies left over, I can etch our own dishes as well.

I used the tutorial here (link). Be warned though, that Armour Etching Cream will *not* work on Pyrex. The instructions specify this. I etched on four separate dishes and they all turned out beautifully except for the Pyrex dish.

Reading instructions. . . It's a really simple process!

I created some designs and transferred them onto the sticky-backed vinyl.

Making them bolder with a sharpie. As you can see, Mama also bought some letter stencils which were a great blessing to have.


Applying the stencils with a credit card (or an expired gift card :))


The highly toxic etching cream. It's hard to get a good thick layer, but that's what you need for even etching.


Wait 10 minutes, then rinse. Here's the result!



I've blurred out the family name for privacy.

A very useful skill, no? :)

I'd rather waltz. . .

I'd rather waltz than just walk through the forest
The trees keep the tempo as they swing in time
Quartet of crickets chime in for the chorus
If I were to pluck on your heart strings
Would you strum on mine?
-Plant Life by Owl City

Cuppa Tea

What's the best tuna?

Blessings: 126-150

126. The violin
127. Sheet music
128. Smiles
129. Kisses
130. Jokes
131. Crackers
132. Hymns
134. Natural fibers
135. Forgiveness
136. Salvation
137. The ability to converse
138. Fingers
139. Bumblebees
140. Honey
141. Soap
142. Distinction
143. Imagination
144. Joy
145. Productivity
146. Medicine
147. Bricks
148. Complexity
149. Color
150. Playdates

Dear Next Door Neighbor. . .

Please stop playing that 70's rock. Just, stop please.

Roses

I love flowers. How could I not? They're one of my favorite things and they posses the indefinite power to brighten my day.

The roses are in bloom now. . . They're so fragrant!


I love these orange ones!



Some are as big as my little sister's head!



After Fort Nisqually last week we went to the rose garden nearby.

Blessings: 101-125

101. The clouds
102. Sense of smell
103. Things that smell nice
104. Enlightenment
105. Clocks, time
106. Heavy duty hair clips
107. Erasers
108. The ability to contact people in a moment
109. Pain killers
110. Sweaters
111. X-rays
112. Airplanes
113. Brave pilots who fly airplanes
114. Feathers
115. Eggs
116. Peanut butter cookies
117. Textbooks
118. The glorious moon
119. Knives
120. The washing machine
121. Carpet
123. Snow
124. Ice
125. My glasses

Please forgive any repeats!

I was just browsing the pictures on the computer when I realized that I haven't posted about our beach trip! I have some fun pictures- would you believe that last June was the first time I flew a kite?

Headbands

Blessings: 75-100

76. Life
77. Patience
78. Eyes that see
79. My country: the land of the free and the home of the brave
80. Mail
81. Grace
82. Protection
83. The ability to speak
84. Jobs
85. The ability to dance
86. Teachers
87. Mentors
88. The piano
89. Tape, glue, string: things that hold object together
90. Good health
91. Lakes
92. Problem-solving
93. When someone you love comes back
94. Family reunions
95. Shoes
96. Memories
97. Constructive criticism
98. Sweet words
99. Rhythm
100. Reminders from God's creation

A Million Marshmallows

Yesterday I spent the morning hanging out with a friend. We went to the shoe store and tried on sunglasses, hats, jewelry, purses and every shoe in our size. We chatted the whole time and danced to the music playing- pretending that the clerks weren't there. :)
We decided that such strenuous exercise deserved ice cream, so we bought some cones and then went home.



After making some deviled eggs and cookies, we went to the neighbor's backyard party and played volleyball, badminton, ladder golf, lawn darts and ate food. We also boated, lit fireworks, roasted marshmallows and spent time on the dock!

I taught the younger three to roast marshmallows. My efforts were more or less wasted, but they had a fabulous time trying.

Tarquie would try his best, have me put it out, and then run and select a fresh stick from the stack and try, try again. Next time I'll try to save some room for dinner. . .

"It's okay Sophie. I'll make you another one."

The boys trying out the boat. I'm not sure what you'd call it, but it was operated by foot pedals. Pedal-boat? Well, it was a Human Powered Boat at any rate :).

We headed out to our annual spot to watch fireworks. For the first time in 14 years, we couldn't park there- a new building was in the works. We found another spot some lots away, and stayed in the car. The moon was spectacular. . .

As were the fireworks! I fell asleep half-way through, woke up for the finale, then slept the way home.


God bless our country!

Goodness Gracious!!!

My apologies, I'm not sure how all of those Polyvores got published here. . . I must check my settings! My sisters made them; aren't they fabulous! Polyvore is so fun-- such a time-waster too!!!

I hope everyone had a safe and fun day yesterday celebrating our great country! I'll be posting pictures later today!

Blessings: 50-75

50. The ability to learn.
51. Mistakes
52. Successes
53. Lungs
54. The ability to capture music
55. The ability to capture memories through photos
56. The computer
57. New technology
58. Humor
59. Friends who make me laugh and cry
60. Warmth
61. Transportation
62. Hugs
63. Tents
64. Words, and eloquence to present them
65. Stars: gorgeous and useful
66. Color
67. Healthy snacks
68. The waltz
69. Tradition
70. Streets and paved roads
71. Air conditioning
72. Paint
73. Reminders from God's Word
74. Sunsets
75. Sleep

Clara: Floating Down The River

Araminta: Summer Sparkle

Clara: Prada