thankful

What a beautiful morning here in Texas! As I enjoy the quiet (well, Mojo is cracking open sunflower seeds) I pause to consider the blessing of being a citizen of the United States. Our country is flawed, I know, but still it is a beautiful, diverse and gloriously free place. I am grateful to call America my home sweet home. Tonight as I watch fireworks with family and friends I will thank my lucky stars that I was born in the USA.

Paper Cowgirl Afterglow

LOL! Here I am playing teacher to my WONDERFUL and TALENTED students! It was so amazing to see what these incredible gals created with their class kits. We laughed and had so much fun. Is there anything sweeter than kindred spirits???

What a FUN time! Glitter, lace, birds, laughter and FROSTING SHOTS!! I had the BEST students!!! Such clever, creative sweet gals!!! I will post pics soon!! ... happy sigh...

big baby!

OMG! How did this happen? My baby is 13 today!!!!
How utterly astonishing!
Will is such a sweetheart. In this photo he is doing one of his favorite things, though he isn't usually this calm in the pool. He also loves art and is really talented in that area.
But 13! Oh, my! No more babies at my house... sigh...

summer... sigh...

Oh, how I love summer! Fireflies, long days, the pool, happy kids, lazy mornings,

sunshine, my tiki bar, fresh cut lawns... ahhhh....

I am busy, though... playing catch up from my long months of recovery from a broken kneecap. It feels so good to be able to do laundry (what did I just say?!?), drive a little and (slowly, carefully) climb the steps to my studio space! I am regaining my life! YEA!!!

Paper Cowgirl fast approaches and I am in the thick of preparations for this awesome altered art retreat. I am looking forward to teaching my class and hanging out

with some very cool and fun girls!

Life is good!

Hope your summer is off to a sweet, sunny start!

xoxox~dale

this makes me smile!

Why do these tiny tomatoes delight me so?

Well, they're so darn cute and they're in

a topsy-turvy planter and that in itself
is silly. They are growing so fast!

I am looking forward to homemade

pico de gallo!

soon!!

Paper Cowgirl is in a few weeks and I am busy preparing class kits and vendor night items.

I have made some fun necklaces and bracelets loaded with vintage trinkets, beads and other sparkling treasures.

My knee continues to heal. I am limping along and getting stronger day by day.

School is out~~YEA!!!~~~ My house is full of kids, happy kids!!

Hope your summer is off to a fun start!

I've been doing some digi work, making jewelry for Paper Cowgirl and reclaimimg my life one careful step at a time. My knee is better, though far from healed. Sleep is still difficult and I am walking very carefully and using one crutch or a cane. But I feel better and am beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

My boys get out of school on June 5th. Hooray for summer! I am ready for the pool and the deliciously slower pace of life around my house for the next 3 months.

I LOVE sunshine!!!

May is flying by! I am slowly reclaiming my life as my knee heals and I regain strength.

A patella fracture is a complicated injury and takes longer to heal than a broken bone that is not part of one of the major weight bearing joints of your body. Some people seem surprised that I am not completely healed by now. Well, it is a long recovery from this. Muscles have to be retrained. My quads are shot. I still have so much swelling and my surgeon tells me that this will take a year to dissipate. I am not able to drive yet and am still using a crutch, but I am making steady progress.

I think what I truly need is the healing warm water of the Caribbean! The photo above is of Cayo Espanto, a private island resort in Belize. It looks like a bit of heaven on earth to me. I guess I need to get rid of all crutches, canes, etc before I try to walk on the beach. Now that is incentive!

dreams of flight

I love my life. My family is my heart's treasure. My home reflects the things I love. I am blessed with dear, caring friends. And I have time for art and writing, two of my great loves...

Still, there are times when I dream of flight. After these long months of health issues, I sometimes find myself contemplating escape... not from my life, but to a place of calm and good health. I am wingless, so I will continue on my more traditional route that requires patience

and effort on part. Today the sun has returned and brought with it a generous measure of joy and hope.

I hope your day is filled with light and smiles.

xoxox~Dale

It is a grey, stormy Monday. Doesn't feel much like May.

Despite the gloominess of the dayI am trying to be cheerful

and get some things done. I have lots of digi work to finish.

My knee is improving, though not as rapidly as I'd like.

I might need to find a giant wren

and train it to fly me around. What do think?