Balcony Girl falls off balcony into loving arms, will soon be gardening again.

My little sister is getting married!!!

Yes that's right she's engaged, off the market, soon to be hitched, tying the knot, taking the plunge.

There's no official date for the nuptials but we hope it won't be to far down the road.

CONGRATULATIONS Holly and Matt! May your garden grow and flourish more everyday.

Here are a few snaps of the happy couple's visit to Spokane this past weekend, where they announced the big news.







zee ring daahling...

twilight race

Richard raced his second race in the 'A' group last night in Lincoln Park on Spokane's south hill. I took tons of photos in the hope that I would get a couple good ones.
Richard came um ...last... but really just by a matter of seconds.

This racing thing, although not really a new concept for Richard who has pretty much been competing on his bike for the last 20 years, is a new and challenging chapter in his illustrious bike career. Which, by the way, paid his college tuition back in the 90's. He doesn't spend hours on his bike everyday. He doesn't take himself away from home for weekend races in other cities unless it's someplace we both want to go. He rides to work, the long way. He gets up a 5am and rides until 7:30 and then he does the dishes. He mows the lawn, fixes the sprinklers, goes on long walks with me and our socially challenged dogs, ok, I am a bit socially challenged too, and makes dinner. He is undeniably generous with the little amount of free time for friends, for family and for me.

I'm really glad that he takes riding seriously enough to want to be faster and willingly accepts the challenge to ride with the fastest group and puts everything he has into it knowing that he has no chance of winning, this time. Bikes and riding bikes are truly his passion and this town has proven to be an amazing support of that passion.

The groups of people we've been privileged to meet who ride, race and travel by bike are also truly passionate about cycling and it's wonderful to see those folks popping up all over town.

A couple of weeks ago Richard and I were at Grape and Grain, a fund raiser for The Spokane Ad Fed. There were a few people there that I knew because I am on the Ad Fed board but we ran into Sean who raced with Richard at the 24 hour race and his wife Jane who, I think, has the energy of 10 women bottled up inside her. We ended up having a great time with them. During the week I usually run into John Speare and one or more of his posse 3 or 4 times a week. John writes the Cycling Spokane blog and is an indefatigable local bike activist. Last night he made it out to the race to support his friend, Taylor and to get some very bad information about the race from me..sorry John, everything I told you was absolutely wrong, I'm sure you've figured that out by now. My Mom and Dave made it out to show their support too, which makes me happy.

Anyway, I guess what it all comes down to is that I am so proud of Richard. He has brought something really special to this town with his skill and talent and in turn is rewarded with mentors, peers and friends. What more can you ask for?

Here are some of the photos. More on my flickr page if you're interested.

John Speare and friends - chilling in the long grass.


cheering on Taylor, in blue. He came third in his race, I think.


pre-race


the pond








my mom snapping some pics








why they call it the Twilight Race series


cool down lap


post-race


scenic park shots






ps. The Shop summer movies will start on July 18th - Be there!

new stuff

Oooh that felt good! I have been itching to create something and I finally got a few hours today to stretch my creative muscles again. Surprisingly, going to school hasn't been doing that for me.

So, I was inspired by Petit Collage to create these little wood collages. They are about 6"x 6".





After I finished this set I looked at them and realized that they look a lot like the cards that I make. It's funny how your personal style comes through no matter what you set out to create.





I'm glad that they came out that way and I'm hoping to have these available in my etsy shop soon. I'm not sure how to sell them, individually or as a set or sets? I'll figure that out I guess but I'm just glad to have glue on my fingers and a messy studio.





In other crafting news, I made this felt anagram book (the biggest one yet) for little Solomon..phew that's a lot of Os.
I sure do hope he likes it.



these books are so much fun to make. I like imagining that I am a real life illustrator when I'm making them and that makes me happy in a real life way.

Spotted in the park - Friday's post

For my vision board



Love those polka dots!

Happy Friday everyone.

weather complainers, get some perspective!

Two months ago the garden on the northwest side of the house looked like this.



Now it looks like this.



I have to complain a little, just a little, ok maybe a lot. Ironically it's about people in this town complaining. Complaining about the weather.

Yes, I know that there was a BBQ planned for your grad and it was cold and rainy and everyone had to huddle around the dip in the kitchen instead of admiring the pansies you planted in the high school's colors. I know you've been waiting all year to get out in the yard to plant tomatoes and you're just dying to weed and lounge on the deck warming your bones in the hot summer sun.

What I think is that we just like complaining. Because when it comes down to the weather we've got it pretty good. Oh poor us, we might have wait a few more weeks to wear that summer dress that we couldn't resist buying back on that one hot day in April. I've seen us wearing those godawful flip flops like it's 80 degrees since March. No wonder we're cranky, our toes are practically frozen off. I think that most of the complainers, who get all their fuel from local weather announcers who wouldn't know a nice day if it slapped them in the face, are waiting for the perfect day that will never come. Why do we need a perfect day to plant tomatoes? Fact is, they'd probably transplant better if the sky was slightly overcast. I'm sick of being "below average" and "not having much to look forward to". If we listened to the weather guy we may as well just stay in bed.

I love this time of year. I think the days are filled with astonishing beauty. Just being able to witness the natural growth of spring and to see the wind in the shapes of the clouds. We have more than enough equipment to deal with a few rain drops. Ever heard to REI? I find that gardening in the rain is quite peaceful - FYI mud washes off and so do you.

I suppose we would rather have pure sun all day everyday with nothing getting in the way of our big plans. I wonder, do we ever consider that while we moan and groan about a chilly June day, half the country is being ravaged by tornadoes, floods and sweltering heat? I suppose that what we really want is having to water the lawn constantly because it hasn't rained in 2 months. Perhaps we're just not happy unless we're walking from a 95 degree street into an air conditioned building that is so cold you need your space heater under your desk.

What have we become? Picky little weather complainers who can't appreciate a good rain storm or a long spring. We always want what we don't get. We want to complain!

Well, I've had enough - I am grateful that we are having a long cool spring without horrible house crushing storms and heat that makes you wish you could remove your skin, and you should be to!

Cheers to all of you who are getting out there - despite the horrors of rain and chill, embracing the days for all they have to offer, which is a lot.






(me, fully embracing a wet day)

See me in August when I'm trying to make peace with the heat - I may not be embracing the weather so easily then.

Birthday Song

I didn't quite make it up at 4:02 but I think that the birds were still singing for you at 5:00.
Happy Birthday to you both.
xoxox