Karla's Cottage – Page 128

A Cabin visit in Crested Butte with the Billings

By Karla Nathan / August 6, 2015

Long time best buds of ours have taken a place in CO. They go back and forth from there and Lawrence, but recently, they have been in the mountains more than the plains and we have been missing them.

Oh, and did I mention that David is a GREAT cook, and these two are some of the best hosts you could ever visit? Crested Butte is such a funky, interesting town, with unique restaurants, that we just had to explore some local dining, but the best meal in town was David's special chicken tortilla soup served with a view on the porch.

The view from the hot tub wasn't bad either. A soak with a glass of wine is just what I needed after white water rafting, too.

We were there for the blue moon, and had some peek-a-boo cloud formations to watch the moon rise through. I found that in CO the weather changes from one extreme to another during the course of a day, but I managed to get a lot of deck time in, chilly, damp, sunny, or whatever temps were thrown my way.

And I agreed with my pal, Dixie, that the view from the easy chair by the window wasn't bad when we couldn't be outside. I spent a lot of time there, watching the hummingbirds flit about. And trying to snap a photo of all of that high speed flitting. I ended up with thirty pictures of a flower, not a single one of the little hummer hovering above it. Those guys are too quick for me.

But then again, unless I'm trying to get a photo of a creature that I can say "stay" to, I don't have much luck. There were mountain bluebirds galore, and I was never quick enough to get a snapshop of one of those beauties either, even though they aren't a fraction as fast as the 4 or 5 hummingbirds hanging out on the patio.

These guys were much more cooperative than the birds.

Dave and Judy have little bears in every room of their home. It's a whimsical touch, and every time I came across one of the stuffed bears about the house, I could imagine how much fun David had as he was tucking them in here and there for his guests to find.

Hand carved bears….

A giant bear looking over the railing to greet guests…

And of course, a cuddly bear on each bed.

The cabin sleeps twelve, I don't know what you call a bunch of bears. Not a pack, or a herd, definitely not a flock. But it is a LOT of cute little bears.

There is plenty of attention to detail, and the place is true to its Colorado vibe from the antler lamps and log tables to the wall hangings above them. (made by David)

They have added a mural to the dining room to go with the antler chandelier and wooden candle holder in there.

The kitchen has all been updated with natural stone counter tops, new appliances, and cabinets. When they aren't here, they rent the place out, (minimum three night stay) and they are generous with the kitchen goods. I've rented places that lack a can opener, and supply barely enough plates to serve a meal. But this kitchen is better equipped than my own at home. Right down to the pasta maker.

David is a gourmet cook and didn't skimp on the necessities.

My room was upstairs and I didn't get pics of it because I had too much strewn about. And I didn't go in the master suite at all. There is also a den, laundry room, three garages, and 4 bathrooms. All in the same western lodge motif.

There are big screens available, but why turn on a TV when you have that window to look out of, or that deck to relax on?

It really can't be easy to furnish a house both for yourself and for vacationers. They have done an excellent job of adding personal touches, but still leaving open spaces for guests to relax and spread out their own things in.

I highly recommend the place if you need a vacation rental in CO. Most of it was revamped when they bought it, with the kitchen gutted. It has nice showers, new carpets, comfy beds, a hot tub, it is clean, well equipped, and….

THAT VIEW!!!!!!!!!!

A visit to see Snow White and the dinosaurs, just a regular day with the Nathans

Dew Drop, dogs, family, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / August 3, 2015

We are all infatuated with Honey. Playing with her has been our favorite activity.

We have had to tear ourselves away to do other things. Last week, we visited the Prairie Fire Natural History Museum to see the dinos.

There is an interactive screen where you can build your own dinosaur. Or dragon. That confused me… Dragons at the museum? You find a fossil in the wild, and work through what you think the live animal would have looked like, guessing coloring and skin textures.

Wait a minute, dragon fossils? Yes, that confuses me a little.

We didn't realize that the creatures you built showed up on the screen in the lobby. We were enjoying the giant TV screen with animals projected over the video feed from the room, and didn't know the two things were connected.

We were just having fun taking our pictures with the dinos.

And pretending they were coming for us.

Then we noticed that the dragons and other monsters had names. And some of the names matched the ones we had made ourselves.

Fun, huh? And totally free. We played with these and hung out in the lobby for an hour or so before we bought tickets for a session in the children's discovery room.

Where I had another surprise. Tea party stuff? At a natural history museum? Dewdrop was thrilled. Of course, there were tons of other things too, animals to look at, rocks and crystals to examine, things to look at under microscopes, a fossil scavenger hunt in the bricks of the balcony, and much more.

But I really didn't get the whole section of different style tea services. Maybe it was supposed to be about different cultures?

While in the neighborhood, we stopped by and visited Snow White.

At last year's Halloween party at Lions Gate Club, one of the coworkers was dressed as Snow White. She not only looked the part, she was so kind and sweet to Dewdrop, and spent so much time with her, that this little girl still talks about her on a regular basis. Snow is her favorite princess and none of the Disneyworld princesses quite measured up.

So, we polished some apples and wrapped them up pretty with nice notes, and filled a basket for Dewdrop to take to her. Before going in, I told her that Snow White probably wouldn't have her party dress on, she'd be wearing work clothes.

And Dewdrop got very shy when seeing her buddy again. She was tongue tied, and star struck. But she did get brave enough to give her a hug and as we left, called out, "I love you, Snow White!"

Yep, a very nice day.

Pet pics and what is new in the Boutique

dogs, Dorkies (Yorkshire Terrriers), kitties, photography, the Boutique at Karla's Cottage

By Karla Nathan / July 31, 2015

Honey is fitting in better than I had expected. She pees on command, fetches, knows to go into her kennel when told, and has stolen everyone's hearts.

She is even learning to pose, but isn't the best at it. This photo is a fluke, she isn't very patient with the camera like Twinkle is. Of course, Twinkle sees a camera in my hand and thinks all photos are of her. She jumped right up in the chair next to her blonde nemesis to make sure she got her share of camera time too.

Actually, they are getting along pretty good. Twinkle has her jealous moments, but as long as Honey remembers that Tinks is alpha dog, they seem to enjoy each other's company. Albie isn't happy with her at all, though. He takes every opportunity he gets to nip at her tail.

I don't know if Twinkle likes being around her, or is just making sure that the new dog doesn't get more time with me than she does.

These guys are champion posers. The puppeesh are almost as talented at modelling as their mom. Although they do it just to please me, they don't care about being in a photo. Twinkle likes to think that the camera is always pointed her way. Sometimes, I have to agree to take her photo to get on with my business of snapping what I had meant to in the first place.

Honey doesn't get the point. Most pics of her look like this.

Or this.

I have to act fast to get all four of them together. I'm going to keep trying. It will be fun to have a record of how big she gets in comparison to her peers. I'll try to get a weekly update of the group as she sprouts up.

Even if Honey can't keep her eyes open in the shots. Poor dog, I know what it is like.

Not everyone can pose like Twinkle, of course. Pumpkin's kittens can be elusive. And this one, Gourdie, always has RBF (Resting B**ch Face). She is a perfectly nice cat, she just looks cranky.

PS- I've added quite a few ephemera packs to the Boutique.

Wallpaper scrap packs, ephemera, paper dolls…

Fairy book kits, and more.

Oh, did I mention wallpaper? I loaded a few packs of that too.

Plus, a completed Fairy book over at the Etsy shop.

As well as an art journal with an included ephemera pack, ready for you to fill up and create in.

Big Birdsong Thank Yous!

bird song art event

By Karla Nathan / July 29, 2015

Did you think I'd finished gushing about how much I loved hosting Birdsong 5? Nope, I still have some pictures to share. These are the thoughtful, generous gifts that my Peeps gave to me.

This pic is of some ephemera that has a perfect sentiment for how the weekend went.

I was overwhelmed with the gifts I received. Everything was thought out, with a birdie, fairy, or romantic cottage theme. Everyone seemed to know just what I'd love. The vintage powder box from Linda was immediately put to use as a temporary tooth soaker.

Yep, I'm still dealing with toothlessness issues and had a "flipper" that had to be left in water while not wearing it. This pretty powder box was an ideal solution for where to keep it. The ugly box from the dentist was a depressing looking blah thing that was just a reminder of the whole sad, ugly situation. This little box was a cheerful replacement!

The soaps, lotions, and other treats in the basket were wonderful too! I am trying to hoard them away til next year's event to use then, but… those bottles sure are purdy, and the soap smells soooo good. I might not be able to resist using them now.

These bluebird measuring cups from Shelli sure made me do a happy dance when I opened them. Birdie shaped? With a PINK ROSEBUD wing?? Perfect for my glass canisters in the kitchen!!

Not only was this vintage book a beautiful gift on its own, Jenn and her little Vivvie had made a set of cards to go along with it, and tied them up with soft, silky ribbons.

Tami blew me away with her fairy garden creation.

And Cheri's pink heart garland fits my studio window like she designed it for that spot.

See what I mean? These Peeps were so kind to shower me with loveliness!

Tins, tidbits, doodads, old stuff, hand made stuff, specialty coffees, teas, soaps, and more. Thoughtfulness at its most thoughtful!

Goodies galore!

All of it was above and beyond.

I can't wait to make something with these tiny, satin shoes.

And how perfect is this tin tea set from Jane?

Dewdrop and I made up some tasty playdough sandwiches to serve on it.

Sissy gifted me with the ideal apron. I've always had trouble with aprons, finding one comfy to wear, but still functional. This one feels weightless around my neck, has two big pockets, and it is just plain old, beautiful. I think I'd be comfortable wearing it daily, but I'd hate to ruin it. At least I can enjoy seeing it daily, hung on my bedroom door.

And isn't it pretty with the silk rose she had given to me earlier?

And do you believe this??? Wow! Another Lori Oles original for my collection. She is my favorite jewelry making artist. And one of my favorite people, too.

Lesa gifted me with this angel, which will go on my holiday tree this year, along with a few other goodies I've bought from her over the years. I have a nice Lesa Daily collection going too.

Both of these treasures came from Betti.

Thank you, to everyone for being such a delight to have in my home, that was gift enough. I know that vacation time and dollars are a tight stretch with all the things we want to do. So, it means the world to me that my Peeps join me here in Kansas for Birdsong. The true gift is the creative energy they all share while here.

But honestly? I'm loving these lil pressies too!! Thank you, Peeps!

A spur of the moment trip to Chicago

dogs, Travel

By Karla Nathan / July 27, 2015

My husband has been in Chicago quite a bit for business. The other day, he asked if I wanted to join him, but last minute plane tickets were too high, so we decided against it. Then, the next day, I got to thinking that I should just drive up. Within about an hour, I was packed and out the door.

Too bad I didn't think of that the night before, I wouldn't have stayed up til 1 am getting caught up on "Unreal."

Stopping at a few antique shops and doing a little hat whispering on the side kept me alert during the drive. I didn't shop much at all, mostly I was stretching my legs and waking up.

Instead of going straight to Chicago, I stopped over night in Indiana to stay with Bobbie.

Sissy took the morning off and came to visit, as well as her two daughters. We had a nice breakfast, then I continued to Chicago, where I was meeting my husband DOWNTOWN at about 5pm.

uhmm, I'm a bit of a wimp about downtowns and traffic.

I can drive cross country all by myself with no worries, (as long as I have a book to listen to and stay on interstates) but get me into a city I don't know…. a big city… with people who honk (there isn't much honking where I live), I slightly freak out.

Well, maybe I freak out a lot. But I just cry a little. And drive around blocks forever trying to find the address, even though the GPS is clear, I have trouble with making the correct turns with traffic downtown. And there was a lot of that. I spent 45 minutes with the GPS saying I was ten minutes away from the hotel, til I finally made it into the parking garage.

We had a beautiful, king suite at the Trump Tower over looking the city. While I am not, and never have been a fan of Donald Trump, but I have to admit, he has a spectacular hotel. Luxurious, and detail oriented. With the world's best sheets and most comfy pillows.

I was a little too overwhelmed by my traffic dilemma to take photos, though. I did snap this one. See the black square in the mirror? It's a TV screen! That hotel is a pampering palace, with a magnificent view.

Especially from the outdoor terrace bar, way up above the city. Where we heard a helicopter going by, and I of course, looked up, like you do when you hear one close. But it was railing height, not up above us and I missed seeing it right there at our level,

We went to a friend's restaurant for dinner, and when the taxi pulled up, I kind of wondered if this was correct.

No worries, once we stepped inside, it was an urban, hip, wonderland.

With a bar made of old suitcases.

Funky art.

And even a resident artist who paints in the dining room.

After a beautiful walk through the city, back to our hotel and up to the bar with a view, we talked about trying to find a puppy while in that part of the country. I'd looked within a couple hundred miles of Lawrence, and had no luck.

So when we saw a post on Craigslist about a horse ranch an hour out of Chicago that had 8 week old pups, we gave them a call to see if we could take a look on our way home. But the rancher had to deliver a horse that day. My husband really wanted a puppy and this one sounded exactly like what we were looking for.

We had another night booked at this fab place, and reservations at The Mid America Club for dinner, which I was very excited about.

But, a puppy was waiting for us….

You know what we chose.

Luxury and pampering don't hold a candle to snuggling a fuzzy, new friend with puppy breath. We checked out a day early, cut our trip short and headed out to the farm to get this little girl and take her home.

Honey

dogs

By Karla Nathan / July 24, 2015

We have a new baby, her name is Honey.

She is a happy, little, calm, ball of fluff. So far, she seems to have a mellow personality.

She is about Yorkie sized today. Probably only today. By tomorrow, I'll bet she will already be larger than they are. It has been ages since I've had a big dog. I wasn't quite sure I was ever going to be ready to have another large dog again, but my husband was. After a year or so of discussion, I relented. At first I tried to convince him to get a Golden Doodle since they don't shed. But, he had his heart set on a lab or a golden, and this is HIS dog, not mine.

Out here on the farm, over the last 20 some years, we have taken in lost dogs, dogs needing homes, or just adopted adult dogs. We have never, ever had success with any of them. It might just be us and our training skills, or it could be the wrong fit with the dogs, but we decided we had to start with a puppy, not adopt a full grown, big dog.

We wanted her to grow up in the fences and accept them, not look at them seeking a way out. We live on two highways, and a dog who digs out of or climbs over a fence isn't destined to be here long.

And we love to have puppies around.

So, please don't lecture me about a rescue dog. We've done that. And we do a LOT of nice things for others, we aren't evil just because we adore puppies.

With a yard full of cats, small dogs, and chickens, we wanted to start from the beginning with a baby, too. Plus, this might not be a good thing to acknowledge, but it was hard for me to taken on a large dog. After having little bitty ones around, I honestly didn't like the idea of a big guy. I had a feeling that if we took on a full grown dog, I would be resentful.

Yes, an ugly thing to admit but the truth.

I knew I needed a baby to bond with and get used to it small before it gradually became an 80 lb shedding machine.

And it is working. She has my heart. What a sweetie she is. I think she is going to be a good fit for our family.

The kittens aren't quite sure about her yet.

Twinkle is bossy, but not mean, and she doesn't really care for dogs much. Albie is terrified, and Dorothy is worried but intrigued.

Sugarwings, Dewdrop, and my husband are smitten.

I might be too.

Visiting Lori’s House

antiques/junking, friends

By Karla Nathan / July 21, 2015

My friend, Lori's husband, a KU professor of illustration, was teaching in Italy for a few weeks and her son was away at camp. She decided to use this break from menfolk in the house to do a redecorating project to surprise her husband when he got back. She called our friend, Jen Unekis, an artist who also dabbles in design, to help her update, brighten and lighten, but still keep the arty feel of her old home.

Jen is an expert in arty-ness with a touch of funky, all done with the eye of a talented abstract painter.

Lori and Jen not only chose new wall colors, had the drywall and the ceiling patched, they took lots of shopping trips to pick out all new curtains, pillows and accessories, as well as repurposing furniture pieces that were already in the house and giving them all a shuffling around, or a coat of paint.

The kitchen went from a deep, brick red, to this centering shade of gray, and the color continues into the entry hall, which had been kind of a dark olive before this. The woodwork in the hall was painted to match the kitchen too. Matching up the two connecting areas, opened up the space visually and made it feel larger.

All of the rooms open into each other, so the colors had to flow, and Jen really found a good balance with the warm woods and the sunny gold with the soft grays.

The twig style chandy fits well with the eclectic art collection.

And Jen turned a storage problem into art, by hanging the instruments on the wall.

This room hasn't been painted yet, it is currently khaki, and the color is a bit washed out when compared with all the fresh tones around the house. Lori was asking for our advice on color when she invited us over for coffee.

Mine was to use the same gray that was used on the kitchen and entryway walls throughout the room, then use the sunny golden dining room color behind the chest and up the stairs. The room is small (I know what that is like, my house is of the same era) and my thinking was that continuity would make the space look bigger, while the gold color as an accent would brighten it up.

I've noticed that with my small rooms, an accent wall seems to give the illusion of more space, maybe because it takes away the boxy feeling of four walls the same color? And a darker shade for the accent wall tends to make the wall "step back" from the lighter walls.

I'm also big on using the same color from room to room, but choosing a shade lighter or darker, from the same swatch. I wondered if one shade of gray lighter than the kitchen might be nice.

What do you think?

This is another angle of the living room. All is redone and ready to go, but the walls are waiting for a color choice. The khaki changes with the light, and here it even looks greenish-gold, doesn't it? In the previous photo it is creamier, but that is just an illusion of the light. I think a warm gray is a good choice, that is what Lori has in the kitchen, a gray with a mushroom undertone.

Kind of like Sammy, here. All Lori needs to do is take the kitty to Home Depot and match up the paint chip colors to the cat's fur.

Here is the view from the dining room into the kitchen and living room. You would see the stairway wall from there. I doubt if a shade lighter would work with the gold, it would turn buttery. A shade darker for the accent wall in the living room could work, though.

If not the exact same color…

Or she should just listen to Jen, because whatever she decides is going to be done with a lot of thought and care. Plus, Jen really knows what she is doing.

I love what she has done with the rest of the downstairs.

Coloring Pages for adults, fairy tales and birds

drawing, Etsy Goodies, Hand painted, paintings

By Karla Nathan / July 19, 2015

I've been hearing a lot about coloring pages for adults lately. And last week, in the Parade magazine was this article about them.

Over the last few years, I've been doing what I call "doodle pages" and including them with journal classes and swaps. Most of mine are done over collaged, vintage text pages, and some are actual pages of tips and how to's on how to make your own. I still have a couple of those kits left here. I also have that info and the pages to download in my online, "Creating an Art Journal" class.

When I was working on these pages for my Birdsong 5 kits, I was enamoured with coloring and had to stop myself from staying at the kitchen table and coloring one page after another, over and over again. I told myself that I was making "examples" for the class…

Yea, right.

I was hooked on the markers and ink. I was an avid color-er as a kid and apparently, that is not something that you outgrow.

I figure I can't be the only one, and have heard friends talking about coloring pages, listened to a story on NPR about it, then when I saw it in Parade, I knew it was as addictive and fun for others as it is for me.

So, I've added a pair of the collage background, bird themed pages to Etsy.

And I reworked the sketch for this painting to make it "coloring friendly". Which involved printing the sketch, and removing all the shading, redrawing the black outlines sharper, and using white ink to cover up some areas, then scanning it again, printing it over, and doing that same process again, until all of my lines were the way I wanted them to be and were easy to follow for anyone to fill in.

I probably should have just started over from scratch instead of spending so much time redoing this page, but this picture of Snow White has a special place in my heart. And honestly, I wanted to color one myself….

So far, I haven't had a chance to do that. Things have been busy around the cottage. Just a typical stuff, like a roof caving in at my son's house, and all of his belongings covered in black mold spores, so that he had to move out and move here temporarily. It has been rough on his family, but I'm glad that we have plenty of space for them here while they are unsettled and have no roof.

And lucky too, that we have an extra garage that we don't need to park in for summertime so they can store their stuff in it, as well as a big yard to spread out a tarp and let all of their belongings bleach in the sunshine. They spritzed it all with vinegar and let the sun cure the mold spores. And are now waiting to see if the landlord will release them from their lease.

Dewdrop is coming back this week, and Sugarwings was very worried that she would be upset when she heard about what happened to her bedroom. It was sweet of her to think of her sister's reaction.

On the other hand, it was a bit selfish of me to be thinking, "Oh goody, we get all the little girls here, living with us again!!"

But back to coloring…if you like coloring too, I have two fairy tale themed coloring sheets available as well as the birdie ones- right here. Each pair is $3, and a digital download that you save to your computer and can print out at 5×7" or 8×10" as many times as you'd like.

If you are anything like me, you'll be printing out multiples and coloring them over and over again, because you never get the same result twice, and it is a relaxing, creative little hobby.

I hope to have more added in the next few weeks. These are fun to make, as well as to color!

Birdsong FIVE- My Peeps

bird song art event, family, guncles, studio tour, We're having a party, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / July 17, 2015

Do you know what I love best about Birdsong? My peeps, of course!

It's a special time with old friends and new, plus a few family members who come along to be a part of it, and to help out.

Gail, Nora, Beth, and Tami have been to every Birdsong (plus many of the smaller workshops we have throughout the year- and by the way, I've got a Halloween idea in the works…)

To commemorate their 5th year, I made up special ribbons for them to wear, and added little birdie pins to their name tags.

Most of us gathered for dinner the night before our party began.

I'm so glad it worked out to meet for a Pre-Birdsong dinner, because by that time, I'm very impatient to get the party started.

And you know what else is special about Birdsong to me? Family members who want to be a part of the gathering. While this is my busiest time of the entire year, and I don't always have much extra time, I'm happy to have them nearby and share the experience with me.

There is a lot of fluttering and flitting from one thing to another, but we manage to squeeze in a few good conversations here and there. Especially while prepping in the kitchen. But it does go by fast, and then all of a sudden, everyone is leaving and I'm wondering how days slipped by without getting around to topics I wanted to talk about. When Terry and her husband pulled out of the driveway to head back to Utah, I found myself teary eyed to see them go, thinking that we barely scratched the surface of all we wanted to talk about, and knowing it would be months before I saw her again.

That is how I feel about all of my Peeps, when the weekend starts, it seems like there is so much time to talk, play, and create, then all of a sudden, it is over. And I miss them all.

This year, Sissy brought her daughter, Shelli. It was a first time for her, and I hope she comes back for another one.

Especially when she looks so cute in her outfit that matches my fly strip…. Ha!! (I did take the strip down before guests arrived, even though it was a very stylish pattern)

This year, there were a lot of weddings, graduations, and family events that prevented some of our regulars from attending, so we got to add some new Peeps to the group. (sign ups are offered first to previous attendees or sponsors)

Along with some favorite friends who come back every time.

Terry once again offered neck massages for hard working crafters. I think some of my friends attend just for her magic touch!

And my baby bro, Guncle Randy, is our official parking guide. (Or as he calls himself, the "Parking B*#ch")

It is surprising how many cars we can fit into our driveway,when properly coordinated, and he has the pattern down pat after years of guiding the way.

Birdsong is a highlight of my year, and it means a lot to me that so many people join in and make it special for us all.

It's a lovely group, and I'm happy to call them friends.

If you are interested, Birdsong kits are available here.

ps-If you are here for the studio tour, you can find it here.

A magical day in Topeka. Yep, Topeka.

family, flowers, Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / July 14, 2015

Last week, Sugarwings and I made a trip to Gage Park in Topeka. We've often gone to the zoo and the Discovery Center, but this was our first stop at the gardens.

Many times, we have ridden the train around the park, and I always say, "I'd like to go walk across that pretty bridge someday," but till now, we have never taken the time. We usually hang at the zoo, playground, or carousel, and since I don't go there without grand fairies, I stick to things they prefer. But this time, I figured Sugarwings was old enough to do some exploring with me.

She can now walk by a fountain, without having to be pulled out of it. At least on a most days….

And she was happy to take a detour through the rose gardens on our way to the Discovery Center. I don't think she was just humoring me, it seemed like she enjoyed the flowers as much as I did.

Of course, the bridge was an attraction for her too.

And the pond is so pretty. But the best part was watching a school of tiny, black fish as they twisted and turned in the water, they almost seemed to be trying to spell something out for us. And I swear, at one point, they all joined in to form a heart shape as they swam by.

Anywhere that I go with this girl is a magical place.

Through her eyes and imagination, I see all the possibilities of magic being real in a public park in Topeka, Kansas. We could have been over the rainbow and it wouldn't have been any more special than it was right here in the midwest on an ordinary, overcast Tuesday.

You can find magic anywhere if you keep your eyes open. Not only were the fishies making heart shapes for us, I came across a mossy heart in the cracks of the pavement too.

We looked around, took photos, talked about flowers, watched the fish. It was a simple kind of entertainment, aren't those often the best?

She offered to take my picture too.

And, like usual, my eyes were closed in each one.

We did some of our regular kid activities too. She rode the merry go round a few times ($1 a ride, no lines, no crowds), we played in the black light room at the Discovery Zone a couple of hours, until my eyes were crossed, and we had lunch at the zoo.

After years of riding by the pretty, little, stone bridge, I was so glad that we stopped and explored the park. It was such a small thing, such an easy thing to do, but such a big adventure for the two of us.

ps- here are some newbies to my Boutique. And if you are here for the studio tour, you can find it here.