~ Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real ~ Pre Mother's Day

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

So many pretties this week, I'm having a hard time deciding! 

{pretty}

While visiting with my parents, I took my dear mother out to visit some local thrift shops, antique shops, and home decor shops...at one of the antique shops I found a little something for my Butterfly's upcoming Confirmation.   

 

This is how they handed over my purchase...pretty.

My mother immediately said that she would copy make me an entire set, after I commented that they would make cute coasters.  I can just picture them under my teacups!
I love my mother and how she can just do these things...I need to learn!  Is there still time?  I turn the BIG 5-OH this year...

{happy}

This purchase made me happy...what a steal!

I just love the happy mosaic work...one of my children said, "someones child probably broke a plate...and the mom probably wasn't happy"

{funny}

I remember having one of these in our home growing up...it was in pink satin and (as a child) I used to love to play with it.  I would take all the pins out and make different designs or smiley faces...

My mom made this one, too.   She gives them out as gifts, I have my very own (but I would have liked it in pink satin). :op

{real}

This is real to me...my mother's hands.  I love how they have aged, yet, she continues to create lovely things...always something for her family or friends...in this case, her granddaughters friend's baby...each of my children have blankets, personalized with her work...
truly HAND-MADE WITH LOVE.

 

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to find more contentment...

~ Gentle Shepherd ~

We gave a toast to Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, while he celebrated his 86th Birthday...

Today (10:30PM Rome time), we continue to celebrate during our simple afternoon tea.  
 

Our hearts ....

and prayers....

are with Pope Emeritus on his birthday.  A gentle and loving shepherd...

This mornings Holy Mass was for his intentions...we offered our Mass for him.

~ Good Red Wine ~

My husband said the name caught his eye...and they were on sale...

 

 

Happy 86th Birthday to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI...we salute you!

“Wherever the Catholic sun doth shine,
There’s always laughter and good red wine.
At least I’ve always found it so.
Benedicamus Domino!”

~ Hilaire Belloc

~ Before & After ~

Rosen looking on...wanting to be a part if all  the digging?

We are still happily working on our gardens and yard...

BEFORE:  (after some cleaning and serious weeding).
 
 
 
 
 
AFTER:  (still needing to place irrigation drainage, etc...)

Softening up a corning with some pansies.

Herb Garden...

Curled Parsley and Italian Parsley

Tea Anyone?

Lemon Balm, Peppermint, Chocolate Mint....or Chamomile?

All this thought and work was completed by my three children...They have been hard at work slowly transforming our landscape into fun and luscious gardens.  Even though this is a family project...today I watched, and did a little sweeping...Made lunches...Gave my opinion...Daddy was working on some plumbing...

It was a very productive and lovely day...our garden is finally taking shape.

Speaking of Gardens...Isn't this a lovely family garden story? 

 

 

~ Pretty, Happy, Funny, Real ~ Gala, Art, Westies and Sacrifices

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~

Every Thursday at Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

{pretty}

 

 Everyone was looking {pretty} beautiful and handsome all decked out in their finest while attending a friend's Pretend Quinceañera Gala...
 

 

All the young ladies were in dresses and all the young men were in ties...they looked magnificent in their grand and noble attire!

Very Elegant!

They even took a poll of how they were to dress:

Formal, Crazy Tacky Formal, Casual, Semi-Formal.

It was good to see them all dressed up and having such a blast!!!

They are all such amazing young people...with such virtue and good moral character!

Another one of the teen guests made the birthday cake!

I was SO impressed with the detail and taste, (yes, I tasted it...the mom's & some dad's hung out for a bit at the end of the eve)

that I asked her to make my First Holy Communion Class' cake!

Very {pretty} cake!

 

{pretty} awesome tasting!

{pretty} details

 

 

{happy}

 

 

My children have been very {happy} with our current art program!

They have been able to complete some fun and interesting pieces of
art.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more completed art work, click here!

 

 

 

 

 

{funny} in a {real} kinda way

 

Westies love to dig. They love to dig in, what else, dirt.

Lately, we have had rain.

Dirt + Rain = Dirty Westie...

 

 

{real}

Even though this makes him sneeze...my wonderful son brings me flowers from his garden.  I love that boy!

 

 

Go to Like Mother, Like Daughter to  find more contentment...

~ Artwork for Home Educators ~

Art has been one subject that has really given me a challenge.  Not so much in the younger years, but in the middle school years, and now the high school years.

I've used so many different art programs, books, and classes...trying to teach three grade levels at one time has been, as I mentioned, a challenge.

Last year we began to use The Art of Drawing for Kids - The Gluck Method Fine Art Instruction Series.  It has worked wonderfully!  We were able to cover several different drawing techniques.

Here are a couple drawings, from last year:

I, too, got in on the fun!

Wouldn't this type of pastel drawing fit well in a baby nursery?  I think I may just frame these.  :o)  For my nieces and nephews children...

Well, I'm hoping to continue to use this Art Class for my teens this Fall.  Teen Art Class

But I'm also leaning towards continuing to use the Christian Heritage Art Program with Little Lamb.  Although I've used CHA with my two oldest, my youngest has not yet used this program. 
I like the idea of using an art curriculum program that teaches about  the history and heritage of Christianity.


I'm undecided...

~ Three Popes? ~

OK, this picture has been sent to me, twice...can this be? 

I have not seen this authenticated...yet.
Wouldn't it be great...I   would definitely frame this if it turns out to be true.

To the right Pope John Paul II, to the left Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict XVI ) and to the center Cardinal Bergoglio (Pope Francis).

I wasn't sent a source...

~ And That's Not All... ~

Butterfly's Birthday continues...Because Life is worth celebrating!

After Mass, our pastor had everyone sing "Happy Birthday" to our sweet 14 year old!  She took it in stride; she doesn't like to draw attention to herself...but I know she appreciates the sentiments & love.

Then she was treated to a wonderful breakfast feast...including red Easter eggs, as shown here.

Conductor had been asked to serve at a funeral Mass in San Francisco...off we traveled!

We stopped to visit Stella Pastry & Cafe, where the best cannoli's are produced. 


The cannoli was my quest, but I was confident that we would find something here for Butterfly...

This is what we found...

Everyone found a little something...

Cup of Cappeccino and Cannoli...

Happy Birthday cupcake and pastries! 

We really enjoyed our little outing!

But wait...the day was absolutely beautiful, so, we decided to take a walk in the park.

Monument for our Firefighters

Taking a (car) trip up to Coit Tower

And driving down the crookedest street, Lombard Street

We made a couple more excursions...but by far, the grand finale was the private tour, from a friend, through here...

A birthday extravaganza at it's finest!