oh so sweet ...

The last weekend of July, Jari and I headed up to Flagstaff for the weekend.

It has been at least a quarter of a century since we stayed at Little America.

Did I really just say quarter of a century?!

Talk about elegance.

We spent one night there and the other with our dear niece Keilah and family

who were so gracious to add a few more bodies to their busy household for the night.

A while ago I posted about a piece of music that I needed to learn.

Tia was the epitome of patience and I learned.

Unfortunately, it does sound a whole lot different on an actual piano but it happened!

The adorable wedding was held outdoors as the rain clouds circled.

The wedding reception was held at the home of another sister of the bride.

Pure. Adorable.

My youngest cherub ...

  

The entire day was beautiful and blessed.

The most wonderful surprise of the day was the arrival of Bridget ...

with our youngest grandcharmer!

Beautiful wedding of two young people followed by snuggles of the sweetest ever kind.

s is for

spoiled.

Jari and I received gifts of good size Yeti's several weeks ago.

It passed the test.

Hotter than blazes cup on the outside following hours of sitting in a hot vehicle ....

cool and refreshing (with frozen ice!) on the inside.

Then again ... if there was ice still in the cup ...

I know.

It was frozen.

Makes this summer weather a wee bit more tolerable.

when it rains in the valley

It ain't just the little people watching in awe ...

The umbrellas are in the car ... necessitating some creativity ..

that didn't really do a lick of good ...

herboristerie

This table came to me as a white simple table a while back in need of serious help.

If you're a project person ... you know those pieces that you fight with and they just don't seem to come together.

You park them somewhere and someday inspiration comes along and wham!

It. Works.

Personally, I'm not into the French craze but I really do like the table gone French.

The image is from the Graphics Fairy.

They do have a large supply of charming things to create with.

My challenge might be knowing what it says.

I envision all kinds of hard work only to find out I'm advertising something completely inappropriate.

The stuff serious nightmares are made of.

Some Dark Walnut Stain, white or cream paint, sandpaper and polyacrlic to seal ...

a glass knob with antique flavor ...

and I love it!

before the internet

Well before the internet even existed, at least in our worlds, these two guys were childhood friends.

They did things together that back then might have been considered "pranks" and today would probably land them in juvenile hall.

But they had fun together.

It has been a while since they saw each other.

The east coast friend has moved to the southwest and came to spend a weekend with us several weeks back.

Sanford doesn't know the internet.

My brother Frans was explaining photo restoration to him over lunch one day and using the word "photo shop". I had to inform him that such a thing wouldn't be in the knowledge base of this incredibly intelligent man who in many ways is so fortunate to not be in this age of technology.

We've had a Wii for a number of years and I threaten at least once a year to get rid of the thing because no one uses it.

Mind you ... the only games we have are the original ones that came on it.

These little sport things that have the ability to keep grown men entertained.

Jari decided to give Sanford a try at the thing.

Was fun to watch and made us all remember why they put those wrist band things on the controls to discourage launching and flight.

The photo below is my favorite from that weekend.
This was the scene.
The background will tell you that I was busy with some project or another.
The subjects ....
One reading the newspaper cover to cover while the other surfs the internet.

It is almost unfathomable in this age where news, especially all the horrifying news of the past week, is constantly at our fingertips assaulting our senses.
Not the elderly generation who probably keep the doors of the Arizona Repugnant Republic open, but of even my generation.
The one where facebook, Instagram, email, twitter and who knows what all are the mode of communication.
I think it harkens to a time where daily life was so much more peaceful ...
a time that is probably gone for so many of us.

as much as he grumbles ...

He still brings home stuff for me from curb sides.

This particular crib was one thing.

However, it looks like someone thought about doing something crafty with it

and promptly changed their mind after cutting off several key pieces.

So it sat here for much too long.

Curbside trash pickup was coming and I wanted things out of here.

Use it or lose it became the goal.

In the meantime, he also brought home a multiplug thing for all my toys.

Serious.

He's something else.

Do you cut wood the same way I do?

The same way I usually sew ... without pins?

Some Kreg Jig activity for pocket holes.

Mr. Helper Man at the ready.

I'm sure he secretly looks for projects from me.

Else he'd be relaxed for sure!

He has vision for some things and can come up with ideas that make it work.

Being as the side arm pieces for my bench were cut off ...

I was still hoping to use what I could.

And wham! The bench goes together!

I think the production of this little thing netted me several new tools and bits.

Serious. You should join me on a trip to Home Depot with Jari.

His hands have had a lifetime of trigger action.

They have sprayed foam and coating for years.

Mine haven't had that luxury.

I don't know if you've ever had this experience, but sometimes there are these

"here, I'll show you how" moments.

Love it and am pig headed enough that I really want to finish it myself.

 

I was looking at the progression of benches the other week.

They are growing in ways with each new one.

I can't wait to see what I discover with the next one!

In the meantime ... this may be my favorite thus far. 

There are several more sitting outside waiting for attention.

They may wait for cooler weather while I play with smaller things.

Unless I get antsy ..

he rolled back into town ...

after being gone for almost 3 months.

He and his parents are staying with us for a while

and he is busy finding Nana's furniture piles.

So this would be my current excuse for pokey blogging.

The little guys are all about multi use ...

and I'm gladly sharing my breakfast table with this little charmer ...