What a find

While looking for something I was rummaging through some storage boxes. You know, those boxes you stick the things you just don't know what to do with. Things that have sentimental value but you don't need to see them all the time. I have one entire bedroom, albeit small, dedicated to this type of stuff. I optimistically call it my studio but it's become the dumping ground for junk.

When my mother-in-law passed we sorted through her personal items, boxed up things we thought we wanted to keep, and donated the rest. I'd never get rid of photos though I've ended up with some of people we don't have a clue as to their names. And, to make it worse when her mother-in-law passed she did the same so there are more pictures of strangers.

I love old table cloths, napkins, handkerchiefs and the like so it was a pleasure to find a large box of these items. Table cloths were from the 50s and most in quite good shape. A few of the hankies were embroidered with "Anna Barrett Jones" I thought that was my mother-in-law's maiden name and since she was married once before these had to be from about 1930. My husband reminded me her middle name was Maria and Barrett was his Grandmother's maiden name and these must have been hers. They are in good shape but still think they are 50s era handkerchiefs by some of the designs but fun to have the history on.

I also found a lovely hand painted fan that most likely was my father-in-law's mothers. She was originally from Spain and it is in very good condition. Not sure if it's much older than the 60s but a nice piece to keep. Our lil bird may remember her as she was young when her great-grandmother passed. She was in a nursing home the last few years of her life.

I found lots to keep me wondering about but I still didn't find the original item I went searching for. Ah, the search continues. Wonder what else will turn up?

DMB for more than a decade

Big update but not surprising. The concert last night had to be the best. They played past 11 pm, we wondered if they have to pay a fine, and they rocked the bowl.

It all started in 1998 when lil bird asked me to go to a concert with her. Oh, I'd heard of the Dave Matthews Band but never thought to go. My beloved was not a concert goer. So off we went to see my darling daughter's favorite band at the Los Angeles Forum. Really bad seats and the sound was not so good but the show was amazing. Toots and the Maytals were the opening act and we did have a great time though the Nazi's behind us wouldn't let us stand up.

Next year they played in Irvine and she had extra tickets so we took another friend. Unfortunately she had to sit on the grassy knoll but she didn't mind. It was a fantastic concert though the parking really sucks at that venue and I swore I'd never go back, and I haven't had to eat those words, yet.

2000 was Glen Helen Dark in San Bernardino and the first year lil bird bought tickets through the fan club. Front row. I was truly impressed. At a concert like this I felt conspicuously older but would feel better finding someone older than me there. So far I've always been able to since they have fans from all generations.

Now in '01 we went crazy. She saw them three times, me twice. Dodger Stadium on a Tuesday night and then Las Vegas on Wednesday. The Vegas concert, at Sam Boyd Stadium, was the best I'd ever heard them play and we had a great time. We flew to the concert, ate dinner on the strip then took the early morning flight home. I washed my feet in a casino restroom and slept on the floor in the Vegas airport. Life was good.

In 2003 I was in Bakersfield and lil bird called with a great opportunity to see them out of town, again. They were playing in SF, a charity concert and would I like tickets. Yes. We included our friend Tia from Tacoma and my son-in-law and made a weekend trip. The concert was fantastic and I cherish the live DVD of the concert. I think I can hear Tia and me screaming for Carlos Santana when he came on stage.

The concerts not mentioned all were equally good but do I need to bore you? No. Each concert was different with the common thread being we were enjoying it together. She usually gets more than one date and takes either her husband or some other, equally as lucky, fan.

2008 was equally memorable but for a different reason. It was at the Staples Center downtown LA and bought our t-shirts and such before we got seated. Someone was saying LeRoi Moore, their band member had died and a little while longer it was confirmed. They band went on as a tribute to their friend but it was a sad concert without his sweet jazzy sax and though Jeff Coffin is good, he just doesn't have the same 'Roi sound for me.

This long post brings us up to date but wait, there's more. Monday August 23, once again, my darling daughter will take me to see DMB. We'll be going to the Hollywood Bowl, a favorite of mine, and all the crowd and music and, most important; my night out with her. Hope I can spot someone older.

It's not what's for supper

I've never had a problem eating animals. Killing them, that might be more difficult but if I were hungry I'm sure I'd have no problem. I never had a problem until now. Lil bird is off at Sheep Camp and these two precious animals were born while she was there. She also has adorable pix of her holding one shortly after it was born all dewy eyed and nuzzley.

Look at them, all sproingy with their new little lambie legs and sweet little lambie eyes. Well at the market this morning, as a picked up some lamb chops, those sweet little lambie eyes were staring back at me. Damn. I love lamb, in all chops and cuts but those precious little wet noses and darling sproingy legs wouldn't let me put those tasty lamb chops in my basket.

Now one of lil bird's fortes is a scrumptious rack of lamb and I wonder how this experience will effect her. That lamb she fixes is wonderful. Damn, I say, damn.

Lil bird goes to camp

Our darling daughter is going to camp; Sheep Camp on Martha's Vineyard to be exact. You can follow her adventures on her blog, Maltese Parakeet. There will be a request for a Twitter password but if you don't have one, just cancel and you can read her blog updates. Her first update was from the airplane at 30,000 feet.

The backstory for this trip; she loves to knit and is quite accomplished, so when see saw the blog Fiber Farm she jumped at a chance to visit and learn how to get yarn from the sheep to the needles.

Some people were very suprised when they heard how she was spending her vacation but not her mother and father. She has always been the type of person who, when sees something she wants, goes out and accomplishes it. Love her spirit. Good luck lil bird.

Today is our little girl's birthday

Being parents mean you no longer turn on your planetary axis but on your child's. The world slows when they are small to give you time to learn about each other. Time for you to bring them from their world into yours. Your steps become tiny as they run to keep up until you stride together side by side. Hoping all along you've prepared them for the lives they'll live without your guidance.

From the beginning your hearts are tied together, and though miles will eventually separate you, the gentle tug is always there reminding you both you are made of the same cells, the same breath, the same stardust.

We wish our lil bird the most happy day and look back on all the love and good things she's accomplished this year knowing a year isn't made up of days and hours and minutes but of memories.

Happy Birthday

I have a green daughter

Mother's Day present from my thoughtful daughter. It is a recycled pot filled with drought resistant plants. How great is that? She really knows her momma.

Thanks lil bird.

Happy Mother's Day

Sisters

Publishing photos of myself is something different for this blog but I got such joy from finding this photo. I was contemplating giving away an old book and there it was, stuck in the back. As with all photographs there is a story.

In 1988 Doodles and her beloved invited us to their condo in Key Largo, Florida. They were living in Connecticut and thought it would be fun to celebrate Christmas in their little corner of paradise. I even made t-shirts for the trip for everyone--I'm wearing one in this photo-- which was not something our sixteen-year-old lil bird had a desire to wear but did without too much complaining.

We had a great trip of sightseeing, snorkeling, and boating and way too much laughing but that's what family's are all about. Now the next June, sister Doodles invited me down to celebrate my 40th birthday, just the two of us, and we won't tell anyone what we did.

lil bird: on the wing

With the inauguration next week we are all a twitter here. Our own lil bird and her husband are traveling to the nation's capital to view some history and you can follow their antics on Twitter or her regular blog, Maltese Parakeet. Twitter allows herto publish from her cell phone so here's hoping we get many photos directly from the "goings on."

I'm truly jealous of them but will be thrilled to get them back and hear every word. I hope they remember and that it isn't all a blur.

Tuesdays with Moon: and the band played on

This past Tuesday was quite the trial for my No Gas Tuesday. I took a bus to a train, to a bus, to another bus, and it all took about three hours. Yes, I could have driven in a third of that time but I'm staying true to my self challenge. I did not drive my car but in the end did carpool with daughter, lil bird to the Dave Matthews concert. The end was well worth my effort.

Once there we we not sure the concert would take place. LeRoi Moore, the horn player and original band member died that morning of complications from a recent accident. This was a shock. You see, my daughter has been taking me to their concerts since 1998; it's become a tradition. Though I can't say I'm as big a fan as her, I love their music and have so much fun with her at the shows.

That night the emotions ran the gamut from shock and sadness to joy and remembrance. What really happened was a huge wake at the Staple Center with fans and band members giving their friend quite the send off. I think any musician would be thrilled with that memorial. Dave summed it up by saying, "It's always easier to leave, than to be left."

Do your kids pay attention?

Though back to school time is far behind us it was most important when our daughter was growing up. Going to college was NOT an option, it was expected and I’d drive that point home every chance I got. We didn't care what she did after college but a degree was expected.

When our daughter was about five I needed to make regular trips to the downtown area and usually took her with me when she wasn’t in school. This was an area that had, sorry to say, a number of people living on the street and to explain this to her I told them they lived that way because they never went to college.

This must have made quite an impression on her because about eight years later when a friend ask if she wanted to go to college she quickly said, “Oh yes, I don’t want to be a bum and live on the street.” For a while I felt bad I’d scared the kid but she went on to graduate college with honors, put herself through law school, and is now a practicing attorney. She must not hold that against me because she also takes me with her to a yearly ritual, a Dave Matthews Band concert. This year's was fantastic. Sometimes they do listen.

This site is so free

Lil bird found this site and posted this on our food blog, Peanut Butter Étouffee. Like anything else, it can be addictive but at least you are helping someone. We throw away more food than some children get in a year so check it out, learn something, and feel good that you wasted a bit of time for someone else.

While you're there, check out some of the sponsors, they are the ones footing the bill.

Free Rice is a sister site of the world poverty site, Poverty.com.

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.

2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site.

Whether you are CEO of a large corporation or a street child in a poor country, improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself.

Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide. Thank you.

Is there a goldmine in my desk drawer?

When I pulled out a few items at the back of my desk drawer today I thought I might have found a goldmine. To be honest, and I would, it would be my daughter's gold I mined. What did I find? An old baseball card from 1982. Remembering how much some old autographed cards were valued on the Antiques Road Show I got real interested.

I only slightly remember how this card came to us. I think she stood in line at a local shop to get Steve Sax's, then with the Los Angeles Dodgers, autograph on his card. First thing I did was check the 'net and though this is his rookie card, he came to the Dodgers half season in '81, it wasn't worth much. Closest price I could find was about twenty dollars and it would all hers if she had the notion to part with it. Not exactly enough to retire on.

Magical moments

Our darling daughter has a blog, Maltese Parakeet and from that we've nicknamed her lil bird. She's the only one and parents couldn't hope for a nicer kid. Not going to college wasn't an option and she got her degree then went on to put herself through law school and is an accomplished professional at her job.

When she was little we could pridefully boast about her accomplishments because we did have something to do with them. She spoke early and I'd like to think it's because I taught her but more likely it's because I chatter on incessantly. I will take credit for teaching her to read and for her love of reading. She was read to every night until she was old enough to take the book herself.

When she was nine I taught her to do laundry and balance my check book. No, I wasn't that lazy, it was summer and she was bored. She wasn't much older when she picked up a camera and as a teen she became quite accomplished on her own. It was about then we could no longer brag about what we'd taught her and switch to feeling good about what she was learning on her own. That was a magical moment.

As a parent, those moments are etched into your collective memory like first steps and first words; lots of "firsts" associated with kids. The one I'm thinking of today is one filled with all the emotions; joy, sadness, pride. Our goal was to raise her to think on her own. We felt independence was the most important thing we could give her and the day she got her driver's license and drove away, alone was that goal coming true. She was beginning a life on her own; that was our magical moment.

Thanks, lil bird for all you've given us.

Needles up: daugher becomes teacher

Mother's Day was yesterday and I'm very lucky to have such a thoughtful daughter. She asked me what I'd like to do on my special day and my request was for a knitting lesson. Lil Bird does many things well but she has turned into quite the knitter. She knit her Aunt Doodles wool socks before they headed out to the Great Northern Summer Experience. This would have made her Grandma Ann very proud as she was the knitter in the family.

Our dear friend has breast cancer and with the thought of having chemo, and the possibility of losing her hair, in the back of my mind, I wanted to make her a hat. Just in case. My darling child arrived Sunday morning, dogs in tow, with a wonderful present of knitting paraphernalia and printed out her favorite "easy" hat pattern from the 'net. She has a great site, Crazy Aunt Purl. She's a bit wacky and always funny.

We sat down and got busy with the lesson only to break and make a yummy pasta lunch. Check out a future blog on PBE about our lunch.

You see the hat, I finished last night after Lil Bird left and no, I wasn't up until mid-night. I finished by 9:00 pm. Under her tutelage I created a great hat and hope to make more. There is a children's cancer center at UCLA and I know they'd love to have hats donated for the kids.

So my Mother's Day was filled with yarn and needles and chit chat. That's what happens when you knit. It was also filled with cooking with my darling daugher. We even had some time for shopping and attending to the ears of one of the dogs. I didn't mind. I love them both. All in all it was a very special day, indeed.