So Where Ya Been Betty? Saturday

Man... Where do I start. I have been everywhere and up to everything.

Last I checked in here you saw me scrubbing my ceilings. That was fun and productive and all that goody goodness. It was all part of a grand effort that went far beyond a mere spit and polish!

Later that weekend, I retired to Indian Springs in Calistoga to do a little Spa-ah down time with a lovely group of ladies.

Spa Ladies
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo. Kristen Jones Photographer)

I think this is the 7th year ( 6th for me) that this annual get away has happened. This year we took a bike tour of the local wineries to boot.

Bike portrait with basket damage
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

Fine Winery
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

That was a kick and improved the experience of soaking in the geyser heated waters of tranquility.

Indian Springs Pool
( Polaroid Land Camera Photo)

It was also the perfect time to show off some great New Vintage Wardrobe creations... and I will hopefully have them for the blog very shortly.

I threw a tiny but festive 42nd Birthday dinner for my Mister.

Over the last couple of months we kicked it into high gear on the fix up/clean up front to get ready for our families to gather for Jake's Middle School Graduation. (High School next year???... gulp.) He has now officially survived 3 of the most universally acknowledged as harrowing years of the human experience. I want to thank all of our loving family members who came to celebrate. We love you all, so much.

the Graduate

I'm working on gathering some before and after pics of the many little home improvement projects we took on, but my computer is acting like a neglected boyfriend and is acting out. Falling asleep in the middle of my projects, etc. Perhaps it needs a trip to the computer spa.

Anyway, for those of you who have been leaving comments and asking questions and checking in, I send my smooches and gratitude and I will be getting to the aging pile of emails as well.


Phew.. Well here's to summer! I hope it's a gem!

Here's to Splashing in your Sprinkler,
Betty

Thrift Thursday With a great Big Thanks

My new toy...

I am long over due for sharing some serious Blove (you know blove right?... Blog+Love= blove)
Last summer I got to have an amazing day with other bloggers, most whom I knew pretty well from swaps or their close proximity...
But there was another blogger who I did know of (her blog, Scissors Paper Glue , is just lovely) but hadn't made that extra connection with. That day she was so nice and open and fun and it turned out I knew her sister from a favorite crafting experience . It was so fantastic to get to know her better.
She inspired Jacob and shared her camera with him. She was so kind.

He instantly became interested in Polaroid and I found one for him (not as photogenic as mine though...) an he got it for his birthday.



She sent him a birthday present too. Precious discontinued Polaroid film. And a beautiful Polaroid that she took. But above all she gave the present of showing a young man the kind artistic respect that can only inspire, not just creativity but something more...
"But, Mom," he said, " We only met her Once! Why is she so Nice?!"

And she sent a present for me.



It now hangs where I can see it every day and it makes me so Happy.

But that wasn't all. She also wrote a post that made my week and his week too.

Jen, you are so very special. I am so glad we met!