family

Holding Space

family

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Old Blue is actually my husband's truck, but it spends more time at my son's house than at home.  He's had some major gardening projects this year and Blue has been hanging out with him since spring, and always seems to be full of dirt, or mulch, or some other fun pile for the kids to play with. Kind of like a sand box on wheels.

When we pull into their drive way, we usually see kids climbing all over Blue, like he is some sort of jungle gym.  It will break their hearts when we finally pick up that pick up and bring it home.

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Now, the truck is being used to haul stuff to Sugarwing's Daddy's new business!  "Holding Space" is a massage therapy, energy work, and healing center.

I've been helping them get it ready, the place was not so nice to start with.  He has been cleaning and patching and soundproofing for weeks.   We've just started painting, you can see the two rooms behind him, they are the ones that are done.  The white walls will soon be looking like a fiery sunset.

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Here is a close up of the massage room wall.  We painted  the base deep blue (I am in LOVE with Behr's new paint and prime together.  It covers in one coat, even with deep colors!!!!!!), and after the blue, I glazed it in darker blue, raspberry, purple and red.

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Over all of the glazes, I flecked white from my brush, and while it was wet, swirled some of it with a rag. The room is going to be kept dark, and restful. We thought this would be a calming finish for the walls in there.

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This room is the entrance, where they will have some small tables and chairs.  We painted it sand colored, and glazed over it in all metallics.  Bronze, pewter, gold, and copper.  I think it makes a dramatic entrance for the guests, don't you?

I used to do faux finishes and murals for a living, and travelled around quite a bit doing walls for hotels, day care centers, and what felt like billions of other places.  I love to see what a rag and some color can turn a plain room into, but honestly don't miss the hard work. 

It was fun to hang out with my boy and spiff up his new workspace, but I am glad that I no longer have to haul ladders, buckets and all the other stuff around like I used to. Painting itself is fun. Its the prep, set up and clean up that is so awful. 

And it tends to make me achy. But, painting at a healing center is ideal! After I climbed down from the ladder for the last time, with my shoulders tight and my arm in pain, my son worked on it for about an hour and I felt better than before I started. That kid can even take the arthritis from my right  thumb.

I have a feeling that his new space will be a success.  He has some amazing skills.

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They have a nice, big space, with high ceilings and a sky light.  The far wall butts up to a restaurant kitchen, and the room was loud before. So my son hung rolls of old carpet over it, and covered that with bamboo. It deadened the sound, but is not done yet, he'll be doing a clay/plaster treatment over the top of that too.  All very green and cheap.

If you are local and want to attend a workshop on how it is done, please let me know.

And if your thumb hurts, come to see Adam!

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This was pre-posted while I am visiting the Guncles in Florida.  I'll be answering emails and if you sign up for the Mini Dress form tutorials, I will send you the password.  I'm sorry I won't be able to answer all comments, though, and all orders from the Boutique will be sent out on Wed. the 29th.

Gilding

Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), family, flowers, paintings, Sugarwings, swaps

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My computer is home safe and seems to be working.  Even though it was all backed up, the Geeks had some trouble finding where all the stuff was hiding. And a lot of it, they restored in weird places.  I'm hunting and gathering and finding odds and ends as I go along. My email files are a wreck, all jumbled and not in files anymore, just years of saved things smooshed together.

But it still feels GREAT to have her back.

While my computer was out of commission, I was kind of on a forced vacation from work.  While I kept up with emails on my Ipad and still worked in the studio, I also did some puttering around, reading, entertaining, and playing with grandies. 

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It was good to have some extra cuddle time with this dumpling.

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And I hitch hiked along on Sugarwing's class field trip to a farm.

IMG_2146 But it wasn't all play time. A huge start was made on the tag book covers too. I did a little painting of a bird, on a page torn from an old book about birds.  Then I had it copied onto premium card stock and I really like the way they came out, very vibrant.

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In the original, all the bars of the cage are black. So, I am going over each cage, slowly but surely, with metallic inks or glitters, gilding the black lines. I get bored easily and keep changing  up how I do it.

If I am ever When I am done with this part, I'll cover the backs with pretty wallpaper, cut them out, trim 'em up with lace, add a charm and that is it. They'll be ready to put together.

Which reminds me-

If you are in the swap, all the details, including my address, can be found on the swap info page. You can get to it by clicking on the button on my side bar.

Also, I'm taking a trip to see family in Utah on July 14th, so I'll be extending the date from the 15th  till the 18th.  But please do go ahead and mail your tags by the 15th, they will be here in time for me to start assembly.

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But, even though I just told you my address and the fact that I will be out of town, don't think you can come and rob me. My son lives here and he is a weight lifter, very strong. His weightlifting friends hang out with him here too.

 I also have 3 attack dogs.  And an alarm system.  So don't even try to come by and raid my hat collection while I'm away, its well protected.

Happy Birthday Rich

celebrations, family, Food and Drink, Sugarwings

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My husband had a birthday this week and Sugarwings helped me bake him an ultra healthy, low fat cake to celebrate.  He has high cholesterol and really works hard at keeping the numbers down, but he also has a sweet tooth. So I came up with a guilt free cake for him. Well, semi-guilt free, at least, healthier than a double fudge chocolate cake anyway.

We took fat free, cranberry/orange muffin mix, and added 1/2 cup of applesauce, 1 cup of blueberries, 1/4 cup of ground, golden flaxseed, 1/2 cup of shelled and finely chopped pistachios, 3/4 cup of chopped pecans, and 3/4 cup of toasted coconut, then about 1/2 cup of water.

While it was in the oven, we cleaned and sliced strawberries.  Then, I covered them with 2 spoonfuls of organic brown sugar and a 1/4 cup of lime juice.

After the cake was cooled we poked holes all over it and topped it with the strawberries and lime juice. (It was an ooey, gooey, moist cake!)

Over that, we added this mix, which is what really made it yuumy:

  • 1 cup of Dannon Greek 0 fat plain yogurt- That stuff is so thick and rich, you'd never know it was low fat!!
  • 1 block of low fat cream cheese
  • 1 cup of fat free sour cream
  • 1 tsp real vanilla
  • 1/4 cup organic powdered sugar
  • splash of lime juice

That was fluffed with the blender and dolloped over the berry covered cake, then spread.  To top it off, we served it with low fat Cool Whip.

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Sguarwings had 3 pieces and  shared a bite of hers with the birthday boy. I didn't feel bad about her eating so much cake since it was mostly fruit, nuts, and yogurt.

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She also shared some messy kisses.

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Maybe all three pieces didn't make it into her tummy, she looked like she was wearing quite a bit of the dessert, so went right into the tub after. 

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Ps- all of the bird cage charms I listed in the Boutique sold out right away, so I have replenished the supply.  If you are in the Bird Song Tag Book Swap, don't worry, I have plenty of pretties to adorn the books with! I've ordered more charms to paint too.

By the way, we are at about 120 swappers. I have room for a FEW more, since I haven't started making the covers yet.   Email me if you are interested.  Details HERE.

(I will be away, so please forgive me if I don't get right back to you)

 

Shopping at the Habitat for Humanity Restore

family, Food and Drink, parties, Sugarwings

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What a lovely weekend we had, but then any weekend with our Sugarwings is just the best.  We spent Saturday morning at the Farmer's Market where I loaded up on fresh veggies and Sugarwings found a little "house" to play in. 

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At my cottage, I try to cook healthy things, local ingredients,vegetarian a few days a week, chicken and fish the rest, organic when I can afford it, or when it really matters.  I think we eat okay around here.

But no matter how hard I try, I'll never live up to my son's family's guidelines for healthy eating. These guys are all natural.  Recently they have gone vegan. So, we tried out some vegan doughnuts at the market, and I just don't think they were all that great.  Just because its vegan doesn't mean its good for you, it was still a deep fried, greasy hunk of dough.

Sugarwings liked it, but she loves anything with pink icing. 

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Her parents are nice about letting me bake with her and give her treats, and don't insist on me following a strict diet for her at our house. I think they trust me to not let her fill up on Koolaide and junk food, and to feed her stuff that is good for her. So, they'll let me give her some sweet treats or a piece of chicken when she stays with us.

IMG_1073 I like it when people are true to their own beliefs but don't try to force them onto others. 

I like my kids.

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Adam is working on opening an energy/healing center.  He has the spot rented and is fixing it up, as greenly as he can.  So, after the Farmer's Market, we went shopping for supplies.  At the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store, he found big rolls of carpet for only about $10 each, and will be stapling those to the wall for sound proofing. 

Now, that sounds a bit like a  shagadellic 70s look, doesn't it? But that is only the first step. Over the carpet, he will mix tinted plaster and clay-mud and trowel it on. It should look really nice, I'll get some pictures of the walls when it is done. Its "dirt cheap", green, and arty.  I'm looking forward to seeing the process.

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We also went to see the Doo Dads over the weekend. They are a band that plays rock for kids.  And they have TWO bubble machines on the stage.  Sugarwings and Pixie Pie were entranced by the bubbles.

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And all the girls danced their hearts out.

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Very little work got done this weekend, and Paper Cowgirls is fast approaching.  It will get done, I still have two weeks, but I am starting to feel a little wriggly worry in the back of my mind.   Once I get something completely done, like all of my kits packed, or the instructions written for the class, that feeling will pass. At this point, I have a lot of started, but not completed things going on.

The mini dress forms class that I am teaching in Texas, will also have an online class. I'd like to have it online before I go to Paper Cowgirls so I can give the link to all of my students there. That way, when they get home, they will have access to a  refresher course  if they need to finish their mannequin later, or make a few more of them.

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My plan is to offer the class two ways.  You can buy a (limited supply) kit in the Boutique and get a free link to the online classes.  Or you can furnish your own supplies and just buy the instructions (they will include some images of vintage papers to download).

I'll let you know when its ready to roll. 

But for now, I'd better get back to work on it while I can, because I never know when I'll get an opportunity to go play with the grand fairies. When that happens, all work stops!

Going nutty

family

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Have I showed you Creature yet?  He is a baby squirrel rescued by Mayara's biggest brother and that little baby is fascinated by him.    I was over there yesterday and the squirrel was sitting on her head in her baby swing and she was laughing like it was the funniest thing that ever happened in her entire 6 months of life.

Now, that is a good reason to start carrying a video camera with me, at all times, huh?  Baby belly laughs are a treasure.

IMG_0558 This little squirrel climbed up me and tried to burrow into my pocket, he's a friendly guy.

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A Springtime tea party

fairies, family, flowers, Food and Drink, Sugarwings, We're having a party

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The weather around here has been weird, which means, its a typical Kansas Spring. The air conditioner was in use on Monday and by the end of the week we had the furnace back on again.

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Sugarwings spent some of the weekend with me and we were both sick of the cold weather, so we cheered ourselves up with a Fairy Tea Party.  A big part of the fun was setting her table and planning treats that our guests would like.

We made cupcakes together, then I put her to work making cherry tomato and cheese kabobs on colorful toothpicks. (she preferred to make her tomatoes connected with multiple picks, and her platter of snacks looked more like an erector set than kabobs)

I let her pick the flowers for the centerpiece and she chose all yellow, which is odd for her, she loves pink even more than I do.  But I think she made a good choice for the table cloth and the teapot that she chose.

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Our guests were Pixie Pie and Lola (which means Grandmother in Filipino, Lola is Grandpa Ardell's widow).  All day, while getting ready for them, Sugarwings refused to call them by their names, she would only refer to them as "our guests".

And after they left, she set and re-set her table for guests to come again.

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The goodies went over well.  I don't have a single photo where someone isn't chewing.  Everyone was pretty engrossed in the meal. (that is Sparkle in the background waiting patiently to clean up the floor under the table after the meal is over, Agnes Rosebud and Twinkle aren't that patient, they are under the table already.)

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The girls might think that tea parties are all about the food, but I am sneakily teaching manners as we chow down.   They learn about passing the food around, pouring their own cream, and sharing food, but not sharing the spoons or double dipping. As well as polite conversation and asking each person how their day was.

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There might have been a little bit too much sugar in the tea, so we bundled up and went outside to run some of the energy off. It sure looks like Spring with all the iris in bloom, but it was too chilly for me.

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Promising them a bubble bath got the two little girls to come inside again so I could get warm  They were happy running full speed through the garden trails while I shivered, but a chance to play in the big tub convinced them.

And a warm bubble bath was good for them too, they were cold and sticky.

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Thanks for all of your sign ups for my Birdsong Tag Book Swap!

And there is room for more.  Scroll down to the previous post for details if interested.

New traditions

celebrations, family, flowers, Sugarwings

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How was your Mother's Day?  Mine started off a bit weepy, thinking about my mom, but it turned around real quick when my girls arrived for a day of fun. My husband took Sugarwings for the day and was happy to do it. I think it was his happiest Mother's Day of all time. No pressure, just fun with the apple of his eye.

She rode on his shoulders while in line to buy tickets to see a kid flick.  He says that she turned around to everyone in line and said, "This is my Pop Pop." 

Then, she added, "And I am a Princess". 

And then turned one more time to tell the crowd behind her, "Because my Pop Pop says I am!"

Yes, she knows that in her Pop Pop's eyes, she's pure royalty and just eats it up.

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My Mother's Day was not bad at all, either.   Typically, my sons and husband help me with a big job in the yard as a gift.  It always turns into the most exhausting day of the entire year, with all of us working till we drop. (me too)

They are sweet to do it, and for non-shopping guys, it was pretty good.  But I've decided to change the way things are done for the next generation of moms in the family. No more hard labor on Mom's Day!

Our plan for this year was to have a girly day out.

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The littlest fairy wanted to be with her mom for the day, so she got to tag along.  And since all she does is nurse, sleep, laugh and smile, she was a welcome guest. 

We went out for seafood and steaks with bellinis for lunch then went to Liberty Hall, our local theater that has been around since Civil War days and started as an Opera House. Its always beautiful to see a movie there, and you can sip wine while you watch a show.  We chose Jane Eyre, great for a girl's day.

I can see a tradition beginning, this was the best Mother's Day ever.  Relaxation, conversation, a cuddly baby, and wine!!

And did I mention NO hauling mulch???? NO digging holes?? Yay!!!

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It was a weekend of celebration, with friends over on Saturday night  to share some good wine and sit by the bonfire. As if that is not enough, we also had Sugarwings for 3 nights in a row.  Yep, it wasn't just a good Mother's Day, it was a GREAT Mother's Day weekend.

I'm feeling pretty lucky right now.

Nest banners
Its time that I pull a name for the winner of a Birdsong souvenir.  I promised last week, and then forgot to do it.  The present goes to:

Kim Allen

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Today I've been taking photos of some flowers to list online for my April Showers Bring May Flowers sale.

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My birthday is in May and my mom always used to tell me that little rhyme and tell me I was a May Flower. So I decided to have a sale in the Boutique and Etsy with FREE shipping on all millinery for the month of May.

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On Etsy, the shipping is already marked FREE.  In the Boutique, you'll need to pay for the shipping and I will send you a refund for the postage you paid. (USA only, sorry)

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Right now, I'm in the middle of adding flowers.  Etsy has some new ones, the Boutique will soon. Thanks for looking!

Marty Jo

celebrations, family

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Today, I'm missing my mom.  So, I got out the photo album I made of her to take some time to think of her on Mother's Day.

IMG_0614 This is my favorite picture of the two of us.  I spent a lot of time on her lap, being spoiled and cuddled and no matter how old I get, I won't forget that feeling.  There is nothing like a warm, comforting lap to make you feel wonderful. I'm all the time trying to get anyone sad to sit on my lap for a hug. I tried to convince Beth, just the other day when she was feeling emotional.

IMG_0610 In the library, I keep a display of photos of my mom and grandma.  This is another favorite, of us with my sisters at my wedding.  I think it is the only photo I have of all of us together.

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No, maybe THIS is my favorite!  It was such a fun day. But then, any day with my sisses and mom was a blast. We'd go junking, out to lunch, or just sit and talk and drink coffee around the kitchen table.  And laugh. My mom loved being silly and laughing.

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She was the kind of mom who would bake fresh apple dumplings while I was in school so that when I got home, I'd walk into a house that smelled like cinnamon.

She could sew anything. If I pointed to a dress in a magazine, she could whip it up with no pattern. Plus make a matching dress for my Barbie. Of course, her matching skills could get carried away. I remember one time when mom made matching blue gingham dresses for herself, me, my doll and a shirt to go with it for my dad.

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She was an amazing quilter. But I think that her favorite part of making them was the math and the skill involved, not as much as the beauty of the creation. She was a perfectionist with her needles and took great pride in what she did. The artistic part  was just a by-product of her work.  I don't even know if she realized how gorgeous they were, she was so interested in the tiny stitches in the "ditch".

IMG_0607 (This is a watercolor I did of her. The background is a pink and white log cabin quilt that she made for me, and she is wearing a necklace that I made for her.  After she died, I hung the necklace on the frame)

She was a carpenter too. When I was in my twenties and homeless, she took me and the boys in to live with her.  One weekend while we were away, she built an entire play fort for the kids as a surprise.  We got home to see this giant, wooden structure that she handcrafted in TWO days with no plans. She had  a sunning deck on the top for me, and a slide and swing for the boys.  We all used the slide together, and it was super fast because she topped it with a floor vinyl scrap sprayed with silicone.

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I got my love of horror movies from her.  We'd stay up till midnight every Friday to watch the late night scary shows and she'd always jump up and scare me at the most tense moments. But I knew that it was just fun, not real and we'd laugh about it.  This is a lesson that has kept me brave all my life, knowing that you need to look for the fun or the happiness that is hidden in any situation, no matter how frightening it may seem. 

My love of laughter came from her too.  She wasn't always appropriate or politically correct, and I'm not either. We both like to see things from an irreverent angle. 

Mom wasn't perfect, and went through some rough spells. She didn't always have the best taste in men and we had our arguments over the years.  But who wants perfect?  My mom was interesting, warm, funny, slightly crazy, very talented, and a hard, hard worker.  And loved her daughters more than anything in the whole world.

And I miss my mommy. And I always will.

 

 

Happy Easter!

celebrations, family, holiday decor, Sugarwings

  IMG_0198 We are having a quiet Easter this year.  Well, quiet meaning that we aren't having a big family gathering and dinner for dozens this time. Sugarwings spent the weekend and that isn't exactly quiet.

IMG_0271 Saturday morning started with egg coloring.  And I guess you'd have to say that she and I aren't what you'd call tong users when it comes to dying eggs. We prefer getting our fingers in the colors instead of using the dippers that come with the kit, and we like to use paint brushes to spiff up the shells.

Not just the eggs get colored either.   When you have all those lovely dyes in front of you, and only a couple dozen eggs to dip, it hurts to waste it all. So we did some experimenting and found that the egg dye is beautiful on the unfinished wood of a bird house.  (We had picked up this princess castle bird house at Michaels)

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And it makes stuffed rabbits pretty too.

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Not to mention Dorky heads. Yep, little Agnes Rosebud started it. She jumped up on my lap and put her nose in the dye to see what it was. Of course, how could we resist painting the top of her head with a paint brush dipped in purple? 

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Hope your holiday is a Hoppy one too.

Sorry I won't be answering emails or comments, but I will be taking time to read them.  And I'll chose a name from commenters to give a Birdsong memento to later on.

The fairie’s surprise

family, Sugarwings

Rainbow fairy trail
Recently I discovered the gardening junk at the Dollar Store and filled the Fairy Berry Trail with a gaudy cartful of rainbow-ey things.

Sugarwings was coming to spend the day with me, so I hurried out and filled the trail with the decor to surprise her. She thinks that the fairies decorated it for her.   I never  get the credit, but I don't mind.

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What on earth would  my life be like without my grands?  I'd be doing something yucky like actually getting some work done instead of hanging rainbow wind socks out in the woods.

I'll be busy getting ready for BirdSong this week, please forgive me for not answering comments.  I'll be taking the time to read them, tho!

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