Laughing and Crying Out Loud with Earth

Happy Flowers in Flower boxes at local Artisan Shop

Sometimes, Earth needs a good laugh,
~

Sometimes, she starts to cry...

Virga

{wisps of rain or snow, seen trailing from clouds, that evaporate before reaching the earth}

{Photos of Virga taken on my way home from work.}

Virga subsides and tears dry.

~ Now turn that little pout around ~

Okay

Now, Earth,

you're giggling!

*

Thank you, Lord,
for this amazing planet we enjoy.

*

Dear Family and Friends,

~ Have a happy, happy weekend ~

Enjoy it All

Love,

Thank you to our Sky Watch Friday hosts: 

Klaus Sandy Sylvia Wren Louise Fishing Guy

{Commencement}

Where did the time go?

Wasn't he just a little boy?

How did he learn to do this kind of math?

{Differential Equations}

But he did!

He got A's in all his Physics classes!

(He didn't get that from me ;o)

Jason doesn't want to be on television.
Instead, he enjoys researching and forecasting the weather.

He loved his internship with the National Weather Service at the University's

College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering

Jason also likes presenting lessons.

I'm so proud of him.

~

Saturday afternoon we watched Jason, and a little over a dozen more students, graduate from the Atmospheric Science department.

{It's a very difficult major}

During the day, the grounds were prepared for all 2,600 students that will gather again on Sunday for the big commencement ceremony at the University.

...This was Saturday...

...and this...

was Sunday morning!

. . . This weekend . . .
Our youngest of three graduated from college.

we came full circle.

Jason, we love you!
*
Let your Light Keep Shining!

Wedding Shower Tablescaping

Rachael's wedding shower

...was a gift for her...

but

it was also a gift for me!

*

I enjoyed the preparations for this so much.

So much was learned from all of you.

~ thank you ~

I saw these pink dishes in my new favorite consignment shop

several weeks ago.

"Something Olde ~ Something New"

Service for 10

in pink.

...from the '50's...

Could I just leave them there knowing how sweet they'd look on our buffet table?

When they were reduced to $30 for the whole set...

I knew they were meant to be on our table!
We had disposable plates as well, but our first guests loved using 'real' plates.

I bought the vintage napkins on eBay ~ 9 matching linen napkins for $6.95!

I took Friday off from school and it was wonderful!

I got so much done.

We took out all our serving dishes ~ especially the vintage ones!
platters from my grandmother's set and two pink glass Mikasa dishes from my sister.

Saturday morning, I frosted the cupcakes...

Amanda frosted the angel food cake and we assembled the hors d'oeuvres.

Amanda was my right arm that day!
 *

The sands of the hour glass seem to disappear as we approached noon.

Everyone would be here by 1pm.

My nieces, sister and sister-in-law were awesome helpers that last hour!
It was like conducting an orchestra!

We had a dessert table with the cupcakes, angel food cake and cookies.

I went with pink and green flowers
and love baby's breath.

My favorite things were our "homemade" cupcake stand

and the pretty Martha Stewart paper dahlia favors

Later this week, I'll post some of the food pics.
This was a gift for Rachael, but I feel all the richer for it.
 *

It's Tablescape Thursday too!

Blessings to you all,

Love in Bloom

Yesterday was Magical

After two months of day dreams and plans

{Amanda and I had lots of both!}

and right up to the last hour
...when closest family and friends helped with last minute needs...

...I must say that...
~

The wedding shower was so much FUN!

~

...Rachael was smiling ear to ear...

She was overwhelmed with joy and love

♥

~ which is what it's all about ~

 ~ family & friends ~

Today

I'm posting a

thank you

to all the wonderful women in my daughter's life

...You are kind, generous and so very loving...

~ Blessings from Heaven ~

and

to all of my dear blog friends,

who inspire me

...to think beautiful thoughts...

that ring so true

 "In a soulmate we find not company but a completed solitude."

♥

"Marriage is a multiplication of whatever you bring to it."

*Robert Brault* 

and

...to have adventures in tablescaping, cooking and cupcakes...

 cupcakes by Maria!

*Inspired by my cupcake loving blog friends*

{stand= 3 vintage trays $9 + two $1 glasses ~ Thanks Myrna}
{ribbon idea from husband :o}

A fun time was had by all.

We are now enjoying the afterglow of
*another awesome girls' weekend*
♥
AND

...to all who practice the fine art of mothering...

*More on food and party ideas later this week*

A Thoughtful Bouquet

When I came home from work today

there were crabapple blossoms everywhere

We had rising temperatures and lots of humidity early this afternoon.

This brought a gusty thunderstorm.

The blossoms on the Snow Mound trees in my front yard

are now on my front yard.

I found them in sweet places.

...like the center of a bird's nest that must have fallen too...

This is what one of the trees looked like the evening before.
~
They were Mother's Day gifts years ago.
I treasure them.

~ They always smile for the camera ~

It certainly looked like a snow shower today instead of a rain shower!

Knowing that the trees would look different after this storm,
my thoughtful husband gathered a few branches
before it started and set them on
our cafe table.

Thank you, Chris

♥

That was really sweet.

Fairytale Blossoms

This is the view outside my bedroom window.

It's like looking into a fairytale.

 I ♥ these apple trees.

All through the winter I watch them persevere.

Then in the spring,

they gift me with blossoms.

*

I'm up a bit late tonight.

I've been making blossoms of my own.

These took a while, but they will be fun shower favors!
I hope they'll be glad to get the 'gladiolas.' 

How to is here.

*

I hope your week is filled with

sweet scents of spring.

*Love*

Frosting Cupcakes {Vicariously}

I watched this

...just for the fun of it...

and then, I remembered that

Rachael

still has her Wilton cake decorating kit tucked away
here at home!

After three viewings, I made a small sample of buttercream.

and

practice and practiced.

*

It's not as easy as it looks!

but

...I love her soft, sweet British accent...

I'm making these tutorials a favorite!
oh and you'll love these two lovely ladies as well!

~ Yvonne has the most beautiful blog Stone Gable where she nurtures creativity ~
I discovered MonsterMom through Foodie Friday.
She makes the most incredible cupcakes!

 *

It's Saturday!

Off for a second cup

and to

tidy - tidy - tidy!

~

Enjoy your Saturday 

dear family and friends!