~Dear God~

Dear God,

Thank you for another year of life. You've given me so many blessings, starting with two sweet parents. Dad is already there in heaven with you....but you have given me another birthday with my mom here on earth. Thank you for that.

I know I often start my days with asking you to take her home to heaven to be with you, because of her condition...but hospice has made me see that that that is not my choice....but yours....and it will be in your own good time. And certainly, and selfishly, on days like today, I'm glad she's still here on earth. So, today, I'm taking her a cake and baby roses to celebrate my birthday with her...and to let her know how much I appreciate that she and my dad decided to bring me into this world. Thank you, sweet Lord.

Your humble daughter,

Carol

~Monday Blessings~

The weekend-before-last, we went from this.....

To this........

It was wonderful spending my birthday by the sea….but oh so different this time: no kids, grand-kids, puppies. It’s very different without little puppy or baby faces greeting you whenever you come home! Sigh.

But….on to the Blessings:

~A birthday by the sea

~Sandy toes

~Walks by the ocean

~Winter Martinis at BoneFish in Hilton Head

~Flowering trees

~Daffodils and pansies everywhere

~Lunch at Truffles with John and Joyce. And seeing their place on the ocean at Harbor Town (I’m still dreaming about that décor, Joyce!)

~Being gone…and coming home. I love them both!

~Dinner in Wytheville at The Log House.... One of the most romantic places we’ve ever been to….ghosts and all!

~Reconnecting with a dear friend I’ve known since we each had our first sons ‘way back when'

~Planning some trips before bringing a new puppy into our lives

~~Being back in my studio on this Monday morning…..typing this blogpost and drinking coffee while looking out at this:


May you be blessed with lots of Monday Blessings, wherever you are in the world on this Monday in March~

~Too Many Ideas...Too Little Time~

I've been busy producing lots of Truffles and Trinkets for my upcoming shows, and came up with yet another product to add to the line: Birthday Age Necklaces. Now...if you thought I was going nuts trying to figure out how to display the custom initial pendants....this one may just put me over the edge! But they're SO cute, and when I found the perfect little numbers print, I just had to add them in to the mix of the other Truffle products. I think I'll take as many as I can, and take orders for any I run out of!

Then there's Halloween.....which is right around the corner, and a holiday that every store owner will tell you is the second biggest money-maker next to Christmas....so, I'm making lots of these, too!

My house looks like Halloween and Christmas exploded, as many of the designs seem to creep out of the studio and into the kitchen. Jim never knows what he's going to find each nite when he walks through that back door! Thank goodness he's understanding and has a great sense of humor and unending compassion for the hours I'm putting into all this! If not....I'd surely be divorced by now!
And my Mom's comment when I showed her my latest creations: "You're nuts, Carol. Really nuts! How on earth are you ever going to produce the hundreds you'll need by October?" Remember Mom helped me with dolls through all the years I did shows. And no one knows as well as Mom does that once I make up my mind about something, there's no stopping me!

Let me know what you think of them!

~How Can You Be 25 Already?~

Happy Birthday Tom!

Your Dad and I are so thankful that God chose us to be your parents. You were a ball of energy from the day you were born, never standing still for very long. Twenty-five years later, you’re still always moving!

You continue to develop the gifts God gave you, working diligently at a career you love. You are a happy, successful young man. I can’t wait to see how your life unfolds as you continue your journey! I pray I will be here for a long time……for as Dr. Seuss says, “Oh the places you’ll go”.

I’m so proud to call you, “My Son”.

I love you, Tom.

Mom

~Remembering Paris~

We were fortunate to have celebrated my husband's 60th birthday in Paris. It was blissfully romantic. We reveled in the sights, the sounds, the smells....and ah, yes: the food! We sampled Creme Brulle and 'potage d'oignon' (onion soup) in every Parisian restaurant and cafe from the Eiffel Tower to Montmartre and back. We hope to visit The City of Lights again some day, and maybe visit other countries as well. So, in remembrance of our holiday, I've created this Paris Charm Pin. You'll find it in my Etsy shop, along with other delightful pieces of Art-To-Wear!