Flowers and Froth and Frills, Oh My!

If you haven't had anything to do with a prom in a while, you might be surprised to know that it is a BIG thing these days! No more buying a dress down the street and 'fixin' your hair all pretty... by yourself. Nowadays, it's just about like getting dressed for a wedding. Seriously.

This was my daughter's first prom. Between hair and make-up, shoe shopping, and all that jazz, our calendar was pretty busy. But today was the day....

So, without further ado, here are Hannah's before prom photos. Her handsome date, Austin, just so happens to be one of my former students (how about that!).

Oh, and you might want to get a cup of coffee or tea.... because this might take a few minutes. I had a lot of fun today.

These two girls are Hannah's 'girls.' She babysits them every day after school. I think they were a bit in awe of all that glitz and glam.
 

 I sure do love that girl.

A Vintage Poke or Two...

A tiny, white poodle danced around as I walked up the wooden steps. Inside, chandeliers twinkled their sparkly lights bringing life to the old mill. Once a hub of production, the vast space is now full of antiques and other old treasures. My path is one of habit. Once around the outer loop, then up and down the other rows. Afterwards, a sweep downstairs and through the larger areas stacked high with furniture, Persian rugs, and the other odd item or two.

I poked around for quite a while, even stirring up a conversation or two. "How about that coach?" an elderly gentleman asked. Puzzled, it took me a minute to remember that I was wearing a long-sleeve t-shirt with my daughter's school's name splashed across the front. He was talking football; my shirt was talking volleyball. But we still chatted.

I saw treasures and junk. But most of all treasures. Old estate photos, some of which were rather creepy I thought, a glass rolling pin to replace my broken one.... And of course a Royal typewriter. But what I really liked were those old floors.

  and this little treasure that I claimed for myself....

It kind of reminded me to bloom where I am planted.

Overall, it was a very good day. Low key (just like I prefer) and nothing on my agenda except freedom. Now that was a good way to spend part of my weekend. 

I hope you found time to squander on whatever you wanted to do this weekend. There's nothing like having a day to yourself to feel rejuvenated and a little lighthearted. I kind of needed that this week. How 'bout you?

And They Were Just Boys....

Earlier this week, I let anger take hold. I don't enjoy that emotion. It's draining. Especially when you have no control over a situation. Like the Boston Marathon bombing. I was angry that someone could so thoughtlessly and maliciously injure and kill innocent people.

Tonight I watched the drama unfold.... The older brother, a 26-year-old, died yesterday. The younger one, a mere 19 years old, was finally arrested tonight. And I literally shook my head and felt a sadness drop kick the anger right out of me. They were not much more than boys, those two. Yet apparently they held so much anger and hatred that they could place a bomb right next to an eight-year-old boy and think nothing of it.

Death. Dying. Sadness. I promise in a day or two I will post something on a lighter note. I really didn't want my anger to remain here.... I wanted it gone. 

So instead of anger, there's a little sadness lingering. But hope, too. If you've seen any of the accounts from Boston, the people in that city are nothing less than tough. And patriotic. And they are bound and determined to return to the marathon route next year and cheer once more for the dedicated and determined athletes who aren't about to let someone scare them away from their hopes and dreams.

Letter to a Coward

I am heartbroken for the men and women and the boys and girls who happened to be in your path of destruction yesterday. And I am angry. I am angry that you feel beyond reproach for taking peoples' lives or maiming them in one fell blow. Who do you think you are? And what gives you the right to take innocent lives or leave scars - both physical and emotional - on victims that you don't even know.

When I heard the news yesterday afternoon, I was once again in stunned disbelief, just as I was on that September day in 2001 when other innocent lives were lost. And regardless of whether you are an American or someone from distant shores, I consider you with disgust. And with pity because you are an empty shell with no moral compass to steer your course.

I consider you a coward because you hide behind your causes or your grievances when you construct your weapons and detonate them in crowds of unsuspecting men, women, and children. You run. You hide. And you don't know how to create change in the world unless you inflict pain upon others. 

It is time to rein in the madness in this world. To toss into the junk pile the trash that others see as change. To reclaim goodness, and kindness, and the knowledge that we should do unto others as we would have them do unto us. 

If you have grown up as an American citizen, shame on you for trying to tear your country's fabric apart. And if you are here and are not an American citizen, it is time for you to crawl home.

The Smiles Won Out

I tried to shoot (with my camera, of course) a pair of blue birds today, but I quickly found out that I don't have much patience for wildlife photography. I was afraid to get too close, so I stood in a doorway and waited....

and waited....

and waited....

but they stayed in the blue bird house while I stood there.

I knew the cousins were out on the front lawn on this Easter Sunday, so it didn't take me a minute to decide that the front lawn was where my camera and I needed to be. Faces get me every time.

Especially this little boy's face, which I think is adorable.

And this guy.... He taught me how to make guacamole a few years ago.

And their big brother....

And just when I had just about given up, I spied a streak of blue in the backyard again.

The bluebirds were back. I'm still not very good with my wildlife photography, but at least I was able to get a few photos of this fella before I gave up for good.

P.S. It's Spring Break. I am so ready for this week!