Carry on . . .

I know you're going to miss me terribly, but I'll be away until Wednesday! Carry on sweet bloggers!

Some enchanted evening. . .

The fabulously inspiring e.b. has invited everyone to THE event of the fall -- the Bloglandia Ball on September 26, to coincide with the full moon. Oh, what will I wear? Check out what other folks are doing here and here and here! Oh, and here too! My muse for this dress comes from New Mexico -- The Land of Enchantment -- where I spent most of my formative years.

Peace

I spent last weekend in northern California. I went there to see my youngest son and to participate in the family program at his rehab in San Rafael. I'm not sure how many times he has been in rehab, but it is certainly in the double digits. I am hopeful, as I always am, that this may be the time that treatment takes.

He always looks so good when he's in rehab! He's at least 50 pounds heavier than he was while using.

peace.
it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. it means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.
{unknown}

Birthday boy

Today is Atticus' second birthday! No cake, no balloons, not even a party. Just a couple of funny pictures, a walk and a Frosty Paws.I'm going out of town for the next few days. See you next week!

Fun with Black Patina

Boy, oh boy, is this stuff FUN to work with! Although, now that I'm looking at it all, I guess you have to be into ruining shiny stuff to truly appreciate the effect. You have to be careful with this product as it is very toxic. I wore rubber gloves and safety glasses while applying the Black Patina. And no double-dipping. Once a Q-tip has been dipped into the nitric acid and used to age a piece, no dipping it in the bottle again or the entire thing will be neutralized. I've included some untreated pieces in the photos to show you how dramatic the difference is.

Lake Placid and sunlight in a box. . .

"I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore . . . I hear it in the deep heart's core," said William Butler Yeats.

Well, I heard it myself this past weekend in Lake Placid, New York. What a wonderful three days spent in a cabin in the woods, waking to the song of a white-throated sparrow drifting through my bedroom window each morning. Hear it here. Friends Lee and Paul generously invited us to crash their family/lacrosse vacation in the Adirondacks. Ahhhhh. A few days was not long enough, but how refreshing!

And look what I found when I returned home! Mail art from e.b.! I just knew this was going to be fun, so even though it was waiting for me when I got home last night, I didn't open it until today when I would be fresh.

Look at all the treasures she tucked into the package! She knows I have a "thing" for birds - see the vintage Arm and Hammer baking soda bird card? And the beautiful necklace nestled into the shell nest? I am delighted at the way the colors of the necklace, and the Dream card, and Sophi's angel card, and ALL of it is reflected in her sunset picture. Yes, this treasure box is so e.b., and it will be filled with the most precious of treasures, because when I open it, I will hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore and the call of the white-throated sparrow singing his song of summer.

But wait, there's MORE. Tucked into the spray-painted envelope/label were these! I am awed and touched by this thoughtful, generous gift. Hugs, sweet friend.

Right outside my window . . .

I'd like to say I planned this when I planted sunflowers in the pots right outside my window, but I didn't. Still, here they are every day, just feet from where I work. Goldfinches feeding on the seeds offered by tired sunflower blooms! It's the reason I won't cut the drying flowers back until the birds are finished.

Now, if I could get them to do this, I'd really have a photo! A woman from Louisiana, who had been studying the hummingbirds that came to her feeder daily, put the bowl of sugar water in her hands. How awesome this must have been!

So happy that e.b.'s mail art arrived yesterday. I didn't want to post it here and ruin the surprise! How fun is this, and won't the electric company be delighted when they see how my bill is returned this month!