Double Posted and Collections

I kept thinking I had blogged this picture--but I put these last few days in a Facebook album. First time here!

The rocks behind us were a dramatic scene from our honeymoon. Something about a "Love on the Rocks" penguin poster, very romantic. Wolves and penguin symbolism early in our dating years. We've outgrown that sentimentality? Or grown up? There are still in-jokes we share, winks, knowing nods, but I don't collect penguins/wolves anymore. I have other collections, some I have limited or declared capped. (DO NOT BUY ME ANY ROLLING PINS! I LOVE THEM, BUT IT BECAME A HARDSHIP TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO STORE/DISPLAY THEM! GREAT WHILE IT LASTED, THANKS!)

Still collect fabric. A Church friend dropped off a couple of bags this morning of fabric. John told her if I can use them, I will, or I will pass them on (exact right answer!).

I love "LOVE BAGS" from friends/family, trading clothes kids have out-grown or never wore. Our women's group does an exchange ever few weeks--bring stuff and take what you want for free and everything left over is bagged up and taken to the Clothing Exchange in Baltimore, where it is free for the taking (like a free DI, it is a test project for the Church, to see how it does in big cities like ours).

I collect kids' books. I call it my future Grandma Library. (NOT an announcement, or pressure, just a long-term plan/goal of mine).

I collect IKEA lights. Love 'em.

I wish I had a leather furniture collection.

Or a peony garden collection.

(HA HA-- I have a CROC shoe collection!) No Prada shoes (pause for a wistful sigh). Always searching for comfort and cuteness, wishing the two crossed more often in women's dressy shoes.

I collect thread. Quilts. Curtains (so hard to resist at thrift stores, when I see more than one matching panel, I am a sucker for the set, even if it is completely different colors from anything else in our home).

I collect paint. By the gallon. Love, love paint. Love the potential, the possibilities, love mixing different colors. I love the smells, the thick paint swirling under my paint stick.

Watched library-checked out "Confessions of a Shopaholic" and was surprised at how much I liked the film. The message. The reasons she shopped. The senses it involved. The emotions. The decisions and the transformation into responsibility. It gave me hope. It has made me think a lot about why I collect things and why I thrift store shop. I don't think it is out of hand in my life, definitely controlled by limited very fixed budget and only shopping with cash in hand...

Interesting stuff, more I would like to talk about, but time for family scriptures. (I collect Books of Mormon, too.)

Camo Mural + Sweet Date Treat

Client painted base coat and medium blue stripe (exactly 1/3 of wall ) and even left the tarps down for me. Goal was to match the Ranger blue camo bedding and sheet-turned-into curtain (clever idea!).

Two days later it looked like this! With airplanes, helicopters, and para-troopers!

On our date tonight we had Maryland crab cakes, Ritas, and stopped at Ollie's--and John found my size in sizzling Mary Jane crocs, very, very comfy. I really, really should throw away my bright green crocs now...

Outer Banks & Family Gatherings

We just got back from the ocean with my husband's family. My favorite parts were actually playing in the ocean. Emma and I got caught in a rip tide that took us way, WAY out to sea. Shark Bait territory-far. We didn't realize how far out we were with our boogie boards until niece Abby came paddling out. We tried kicking straight in, with no progress, and had to angle in to shore so we weren't fighting against the current. My bright green crocs (no, I did not throw them away yet, knowing they would be perfect for the beach) attracted some nibbles on my legs. It was like getting kissed by so many fish lips.

Ghost crabbing comes in second! Husband John has invested in enough head lamp flashlights for all the kids to use. If you go down on the beach after dark you see hundreds of various sized white or sand-colored crabs. They must think they are invisible (they are during the day) but their movement when you walk towards them and their waving stalk eyes give them away. It kind of creeps you out to see how many there really are.

No bad sunburns, thanks to ruthless spreading of sunscreen and cool swim shirts. Sara L's guacamole was perfect (must watch her make it. Garlic and fresh cilantro being big parts of her secret). Watching "Brigham City" together had a jump-for-fear part that made us laugh, and I was moved at the emotion at the end of the film and the "he who is without sin throw the first stone" theme. I missed the chance we've had other years to go to church together because of the local units having Stake Conference (I was too late anyway, taking train down-which was also a cool part of the trip!).

We have gone into Washington DC in the past to see the fireworks from the Mall. Spectacular! LOUD! Fun family reunions, meeting and sharing snacks until dark. Uncle Blen got his gourmet reputation from the wonderful things he would bring: French bread & hummus, strange olives, tasty desserts. Good memories. I almost called Jen & John to see what their plans were for tonight ... but I took a nap instead. Catching up from a long week of little sleep. I get grouchy tired.