WEEKWORD = GYPSY

Prague, Czech Republic

WEEKWORD = G-Y-P-S-Y 

Stop by CARMEN'S BLOG & let her know you'll be posting a WEEKWORD entry to your blog. 

This sweet organ grinder stood, played & entertained sightseers on the Charles Bridge in Prague.

I wonder...

:: Did he ever have a "real monkey" ::

:: How many years has he been entertaining ::

:: Is he following in the footsteps of his family profession ::

:: Is he a gypsy or performer ::

What do you think?

Don't forget ~ Stop by CARMEN'S BLOG...

CELEBRATED... 80 + 7 + 4 YEARS!!

Heart-shaped Cookies + Lemon Bars + Chocolate-dipped Strawberries

Fruit & Cheese Platter

Tuna Puffs + Asparagus Flatbreads + Cheese Quiches

Scones & Clotted Cream + Jam + Ice Tea

 YUMMY...

THESE WERE A FEW OF OUR
"FAVORITE THINGS"

My sister-in-law treated 

the "GIRLS" 
to a

TEA PARTY

(Saturday, April 30th)

to celebrate

:: Mom's 80th Bday ::

:: Kaitlyn Rose's 7th Bday ::

:: Ada Camille's 4th Bday ::

flowers, dressed-up girls & party favors
(bracelets, scented candles & salt water taffy)

party favor "bracelets"

SLE (from Washington DC) & ACE (from Sunnyvale) flew in 

with their GUYS for the celebration...

the Tea Party GIRLS met up with

ALL the GUYS 

(following the Little League games)

for games, more giggles, & Italian food....

after a full-day of celebrating

we managed to gather the 

two dozen family members

for a group photo!!!

of course, it's censored!!!

due to the

sticky hands, tearful children, raunchy jokes & shiny faces!!!

it was a

MEMORABLE Celebration!!

ITCHING = Mom's recent skin condition

ACE captured our sentiments!!

A DAY FOR ROYALTY...

We spent part of the afternoon watching the "recorded earlier" news coverage of the Royal Day... our brunch included "scones" in honor of William & Catherine's wedding.

What did you enjoy most about the Royal Wedding?

BOOK-MAKER (WEEKWORD)

handmade book

Sorry - this is a LATE post for WEEKWORD! No internet access for the past few days!!

 

Last Friday's WEEKWORD was B-O-O-K!!

destination = Washington DC

"OUR GREAT ADVENTURE" (Washington DC)

three generations = author, SLE & Mom/Nana

In March 2009, my mom & I flew to Washington DC... SLE was receiving a disability leadership award, and that was an excellent excuse to do some sightseeing. 

The following pictures are some pages of the book I made to commemorate our travels!

map of Smithsonian Mall

during our trip, I collected paper ephemera from museums, tourist stands, etc... you know, the throw-away sort of information you pick up when traveling (NO COST!!)

added purchased travel stickers...

National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)

personal pictures of favorite exhibits... we loved the National Museum of the America Indian!!! as some of you know, my dad was a California Mission Indian, so this museum really resonated with us in a spiritual way!

more pictures...

and hand-lettered "narrative" to remind us what we learned at the American Indian Museum!

 

I also included information from our hotel & it's location on the map...

Loved this quote, "Never go on trips with anyone you do not love." I traveled with my mom & we met SLE in Washington DC.

National Museum of American Indian prism & door

...the view of the prisms glistening on the wall of the main floor of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI)... The Mitsum Cafe is the best of the Smithsonian Museum cafes!!! don't miss the fry bread! excellent food!! (lower floor of the NMAI).
More info can be found HERE!
 
We also visited the American History Museum, Library of Congress, went to a play at Ford's Theater... there's so much to SEE in Washington DC!

Ford's Theater + play memorabilia

AND....

...it SNOWED during our visit ~ view of snow from hotel!

I LOVE making books to preserve memories!! another favorite book - Lydia's FIRST camping experience... perhaps I'll post pics of that book another time?

To see other WEEKWORD participants, check SALLY'S BLOG!!

AN EMPTY SPACE!!

JPE'S first roses ~ 4.26.11

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know 

how soon it will be too late."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson, author

We live in a condo... which suits us fine since it's just the two of us! & we like to be able to "lock up the house" & travel.

Several weeks ago, our dear, sweet neighbor, passed away! We loved comparing stories of travel, things we heard on NPR, talking about local concerts, plays & events... She had been a traveler & as she got older, I think her "traveling bug" was supported with our over-the-fence conversations. 

She was a private person, but we enjoyed hearing her bustle around her condo, cooking, tidying her place, caring for her cats, entertaining (her daughter lives 20 minutes away), and the muffled sound of her phone conversations. 

She was a "treasured" neighbor. For the past year, we always let her know when we were "taking off" on an trip for work or pleasure... and she started collecting our newspapers & mail, depositing them on our doorstep as soon as she heard us return. 

The Saturday after her passing, we sat on the patio sipping tea & sharing a scone... it was much too quiet! her presence is missed!! It's sad coming home from a vacation, not being able to share a conversation about the places we visited! A conversation about our Washington DC trip is not to be shared with our dear, sweet friend, Jean.

JPE cut these roses from our garden this morning! 

they are gloriously fragrant, beautiful, tight buds... our across-the-street neighbor graciously offered to collect our mail & newspapers! and for this, we are THANK-FUL!! I hope "BB" will enjoy the roses as much as Jean had, in the past!

Condo-living = close neighbors (of a good kind)!!!

WEEKWORD = BOOK

not home yet!! so pulled these out of my suitcase...

SALLY @ SOW & SEW has taken it upon herself to post this week's WEEKWORD!

Anyone can participate - just contact the host know by leaving a message on HER BLOG! 

SALLY will link everyone up on Friday, April 29th. Then, you visit the other participants to see exactly what they think of the WEEKWORD.

From my blurry picture post, 

you might have guessed that this week's word is: 

"B-O-O-K"

Sally must have been peeking in my suitcase??? we're headed home tonight, so I'm sitting in a San Francisco hotel room checking out the three books I got during my trip to Washington DC.

The World of Eric Carle - Deluxe Scrapbooking: Simple 1-2-3 (purchased at the Arlington COSTCO) - great scrapbook pages - which can be used in creating some of the "kid stuff" I'm planning. Cute stuff for ACE's classroom. Too inexpensive to pass up!

Lawyers, Lead On - Lawyers with Disabilities Share Their Insights 

(my daughter, SLE, is one of the editors of this book). This book is just one of her major accomplishments, as she moves toward her passion for disability rights, advocating for policy change & representing clients with disabilities. 

Hopefully the :: stars :: will align & she will be taking the California Bar Exam at the end of July. Will keep you posted.

The Pocket Paper Engineer: How to Make Pop-Ups Step by Step: Vol 1: Basic Forms (Carol Barton, Popular Kinetics Press)

I LOVE making pop-ups... and they are not as difficult as you might imagine! Of course, they aren't as exciting as Robert Sabuda's - you can check out ROBERT'S WORLD here!

The Smithsonian Museum of American History had an exhibit of POP-UP BOOKS, that is closing next month... saw this "HOW-TO" book in the museum gift shop & had to buy it! I wish I had also purchased The Pocket Paper Engineer: How to Make Pop-Ups Step-by-Step Vol 2: Platforms & Props (by the same author).

If you have any questions about how to participate in WEEKWORD, click on THIS LINK!!!

Come on - everyone has something to say about the word, "B-O-O-K"