The last few years our annual photo card has been composed of individual snapshots that are spliced together. I find it an easier format than wrangling everyone into a group photo. The plus side is that you get a close view of each family member too. This year I cracked myself up with our theme….timely don't you think?
Wishing you the very best, whatever you honor and celebrate at this time of year. Lots to be thankful for…..starting with 2020 is nearly over. It can only get better, right?
XOXO
Sure, it's been a crazy year….but there are many reasons to be grateful and to give thanks. Sending warm wishes your way for a blessed holiday. xo
My last post was Halloween? Next week is New Years? My oh my how time has flown. It's not like I've been slacking….the past two months have been a whirlwind. Let me catch up by saying a belated Happy Thanksgiving, a belated Happy Birthday to my favorite rock star (I post every year here), and a belated Merry Christmas. We'll be sending out cards late this year – but we have a good excuse. The news from here is that we are in the process of buying a home in south Jersey. Graham started a new job and has been commuting home on weekends or we visit him at his temporary digs. If all goes as planned we will be leaving this home that we've loved for twenty years and will begin adventures at a new address. It will be our sixth move as a family – while still stressful it is so much easier now that the kids are grown – they've been a terrific help in packing and prepping this home for a sale.
A big step in our process is getting my studio contents into storage. That happens next week. Ack!!! So I have to put Green Pepper Press on vacation mode for a few months. Anticipated reopening is February. It's likely you won't hear much from me until then. I've got a lot to do! I'll say it now, a little early, so I can cross one more thing off my to-do list: Happy New Year and cheers to a wonderful 2019!!
I've been nurturing a rose garden for ten years in honor of my sister. I love that the latest Somerset Studio arrives in May as it's the month I share a birthday with Shannon. I'm grateful for the opportunity to share my visual journal that chronicles the past ten seasons of growth. I never thought I would ever be a successful gardener, so it was unexpected that I have become a rosarian.
(My mom even makes an appearance in my article….do you spy her?)
Two seasons ago my original rose bush passed 10 ft. tall.
Here's a view from the side yard in 2014.
In March we had a terrible snow storm (several actually) that brought down many trees in the neighborhood. On the left you'll see it didn't look promising for the roses, but then by the end of April, with some assistance of propping agents, they appear to be recovering.
And then this morning….I spied the first bud. The promise of another season. I'm so excited.
"Show me a garden that's bursting into life" from Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.
Are you a gardener? Have you started a garden journal? It's a fun process, especially during Winter as you wait for Spring.
Photo from 1996. Peter was 5, Sam was 4, and Fallon was 8 months. Wearing jelly bean shirts from L.L. Bean, and bunny ears…..Easter decals on the window above in our home when we lived in Michigan. As usual, at least one egg was missing from the hunt. We still dye eggs the same way, and still use the baskets from those early days, but now we use paper grass instead of that green plastic stuff because we have a cat. We've traded in some of the old plastic eggs for the ones that are hinged – so much easier to fill when you don't have to find the matching top or bottom. Wake up time is a little different so the "Easter Bunny" doesn't have to scramble in the wee hours to hide eggs and put out the baskets. I can no longer dress Fallon with ruffles and a hat ….because she's 22! And while the boys are 26 and 27, all three kids + mom + dad colored eggs Friday night.
Happy memories, and Happy Easter.
Thank you for helping me say She Matters. It's been nine years. Putting on Pink Socks today.
I caught this photo Tuesday afternoon. With the heat expected today, there is no doubt this will open up for a birthday sign from Shannon. There are a few dozen that look ready to follow, and by the end of the week it will be a glorious show. The first rose bush planted in honor of my sister in 2008 is well over ten feet high. At one point I had over twenty bushes, but get this….all the non-pink roses have perished. Pink has taken over. You can't even see where the non-pink bushes were since the pink ones have filled in the vacant spaces. Love that. More photos soon.
Miss you sweet Shannon. *blows kisses*
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Seasons Greetings, and Cheers for a Happy New Year!
Last week the new Somerset Studio arrived. My column in this issue features our son Sam and his new venture: Painting with Purpose. Look at this face – it says it all. He was so excited to see his work on the pages of the magazine that regularly arrives here. Our thanks to Stampington who recognized it was a worthwhile story – art making a difference.
We've already gotten some lovely emails about the article, and a handful of orders from new customers! We are adding more selections this week.
Thanks for sharing your kind words and enthusiasm for our story and our project to create purpose for our special guy.
Link to our store: ETSY: ForYourSpecialNeeds
If you missed the post about our shop, see HERE.