Mail's in

And who doesn't love getting mail from a friend or family? I try to make a new set of cards each week and send one to my mom and save the rest to send to special friends when I write to them. Yes, write. I still send letters and cards. Call me old fashioned. But not too loudly. I started texting with my new phone last week! Whoo Hoo!

I am not sure if you can see it or not but the white on the previous cards was embossed and there was a 2" x 12" strip left over so I cut it in half and added solid pink card-stock to the back, rounded the corners and punched a hole in the top. That was the easy part. Trying to remember how to tat these flowers with beads took hours and digging through numerous, baskets and tubs looking for beads and books. I found my notes right off but they assumed I remembered how and were just design specific... Hmmmm it has obviously been too long since I tatted. I need to work on that! Anyway, I think they made pretty bookmarks. If I had intended to include them with the cards I would have used a yellow variegated thread and yellow beads and backing.

This is the other card. Can anyone tell me a trick for rotating the photo on here? Darn. Anyway, this card is twice as large as the other one so I can send photos. I am anticipating lots of baby photos. LOL

Surprise!

This new coffee table was waiting for me when I returned home from my trip.

I was so surprised! I can't believe my kids and grandchildren and even my brother kept it from me. You see this Pepperwood burl slab has been in my garage, (in fact has been moved several times) for years. It was a gift from my dad. But it was rough cut from the mill and I had not found someone I trusted to finish it.

Well, my son snuck it out of the garage a year ago! Not easy considering it takes at least two men to lift it! Then had it in his garage covered with a tarp. (I even asked what it was once!) Boy, am I gullible! And needless to say, I really need to clean out that garage since I did not even miss it!

At any rate he used a hand sander and did an amazing job on it. I sure wish I had pictures from before! Then even finishing it was tricky with our high humidity and abundance of mosquitoes. Can't you just picture him hovering over it with tweezers for half an hour after each coat picking out any bug reckless enough to fall into the still tacky polyurethane?

You can't see the base in these photos but years ago I had bought a glass topped table hoping to use the base for this slab. I am actually quite glad to have the glass gone but I love the table so much I still haven't put anything on it.

I was so surprised! And feel so very loved!

This 4th of July

Here is my quick salute to the 4th.

After being gone for a couple of months I got home just in time to come down with the 'crud'. I officially was no longer contagious when my granddaughter made her appearance about a week early. So needless to say I have been very slowly getting through my mail and just generally catching up.

Did I mention it is hot? Hardly needs mentioning since most of the country is in the throes of July. Consequently not a lot of baking going on here. Fortunately the peppermint cake that I always make my number one granddaughter also makes a loaf size angel food cake that I freeze. So thawed that baby out and spread some quick frosting with sprinkles and I managed to pull off something just for today.

Now it is time to cut a slice and settle down in front of the TV to watch the Freedom Over Texas celebration in the comfort of my A/C!