Joyful Frenzy

We've been living in a joyful frenzy around here with the visit of the Little Men and their folks and the getting ready for a wedding!!  We've been outfit shopping, wedding gift buying, engagement party attending, birthday celebrating... just running at full speed.  Joyful FRENZY, I tell you.  ;)

Little Man and I ejoyed some early morning hours (as in, still in our jammies early) yesterday playing with the rocks around the pond...

I love, "Noni, I have a question for you..." and "I need my Noni."  Makes my heart sing.

We checked out the first blossoms of our azaleas...

A sea of color is errupting in Tyler, Texas... I do so love our springs!

The Historic Tyler on Tour 2012 home tour will be coming up the last weekend of the month... If you've never been, it is a real treat!

We enjoyed meeting up with Pop Pop for a quick lunch yesterday!! 

I'll be off continuing the frenzy for awhile longer... but, I'll be back.  ;)

blessings to all ~ tanna

On Letters, Sea Murals and Beachwear

Today, I received this wonderful mural from the Little Man; plus, a beachwear preview and a sweet, sweet note to go along:

Dear Noni,

I am excited about Uncle Zack's wedding. I am especially excited they are having it at the beach. Like I told Mom, "It's a good idea."

Mom has been helping me get ready for our trip to the beach by teaching me a few things about sea life. For the last several weeks, we've been working on a sea mural and reading books about animals that live in the ocean. I've painted fish and made hand-print crabs. I've painted a jellyfish and cut its tentacles. (Dad says to watch out for those, by the way. He says they sting.) I've also made a rainbow fish just like the one in the book Mom read to me. I love the single shiny scale he has. And there are a few shells, just like the ones I hope we'll find and collect in my Cars bucket.

After we got the mural all put together, Mom started to teach me about letters. "R" is for rainbow fish. "C" is for crab. "S" is for seahorse. Oh! Did you see the seahorses? We made three, and I can count them: one, two, three! I crinkled up the tissue paper and glued them on one at a time. I also cut the white "mane" along their backs. I told Mom that those pieces of cut paper were "beautiful." Aren't they, though?

Anyway, I've gotta run now, but I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU AND POP POP in just a few days!!! YAY!!!

I love you bigger than the sky, to the moon and back.
Alex - The Little Man

Can't wait, Little Man!!  I am looking forward to our visit here and then picking up shells on the beach and crabbing and cooking and having a wonderful time!! Won't be long now.  Love you bigger than the sky, to the moon and back!!  Give your brother lovin' for us, too!!  XOXOXOXOXOXO  Noni and Pop Pop

Heartfelt Thanks and the Finish of a Promise

I could never express in words the deep sense of gratitude I feel to all of you who took the time, spent your energy and shared your experience to give me your help.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  I am always filled with such a sense of awe at the amazing women, from early twenties to great-grandmothers, who come together in this odd little world of blogs offering encouragement and sharing their great wisdom.  My heart is full.  And, my mind is deep into the consideration of all the suggestions offered.  Again, my thanks.

I finished this Promise Me design by Boo Knits.  Bev, a.k.a. generous-gardener on Ravelry, makes intricate easy, for those of us who love great designs without having to contort ourselves or fry our brains trying to concentrate on the pattern.  LOL!

And, this yarn.... oh, be still my heart.  GRACIE lace by Fiesta yarns.  It is 70% extrafine merino, 15% silk and 15% cashmere... I think it must be the cashmere that I am so in love with...  This was my first experience with lace weight yarn.  It took a little getting used to at first, but it is amazing!

The beading was done by a crochet method, so instead of stringing them and pushing them along, you add them as you come up to them with a tiny crochet hook (USE an addi brand 0.75!!  so easy, no snagging). 

I'm thinking this may become the Mother of the Groom shawl... Seems the Sand and Surf may not fit the color scheme, but it will still be fun on the beach!!

To those of you who offered me your wisdom, THANK YOU AGAIN.  I hope I can demonstrate the lessons learned.  =)

blessings ~ tanna