Other creative ventures

I've been scrapping, but I have a couple pages that require computer journaling sitting around--you know how that makes me feel--so I took a break from scrapping to take on other creative ventures.

• I finished Audition, Barbara Walters' book. Pretty good. Quite dishy.
• Rowan was his first grade class' Star student this week, so I helped him make a poster for it. We used leftover photos that had never been scrapped. I also let him play with my scraps and my punches, to his delight. And to the best of my ability, I resisted the urge to organize those punched stars in a visual triangle. He put them on in any order he pleased.
• I visited with some college friends over the weekend and enjoyed talking with them. I also enjoyed learning we have Saturday afternoons free and may be able to make those conversations a habit.
• I went sledding with the boys. Wow, did they have fun. Now that I scrapped.
• I celebrated my not-yet-fortieth birthday and enjoyed dinner at Buca's, some scrappy goodness from the fam*, and a lovely Hobbit teapot from my MIL. Now I just need to learn how to brew tea the old-fashioned way.

Especially since I finished the book, which was due at the library today (guiltguiltguilt), I now feel energized enough to go back and do some scrapping, particularly finishing the computer journaling.

*My big guilt involves those scrappy birthday gifts. I didn't buy them, so I haven't really borken my New-year's res to make 100 layouts before buying new supplies. Still, should I hold off on using them until I make the remaining layouts? Decisions...

Happy Birthday, Granny

Today is my Grandmother's birthday. I am lucky to have her as a part of my life. She has influenced me in many ways:

• Like Granny, I do needlecrafts, in particular cross-stitching. That is only one of the needlecrafts she can do. Her talents here eclipse me.
• Like Granny, I garden. Though my borders and island beds impress my friends, those beds of mine pale next to hers; where she and my Grandpa lived for many years in Center City, she gardened an entire plot of land--acres, I think--across the street, in addition to her house gardens. And she cultivated house plants, for which I have somewhat of a black thumb.
• Though my friends think I can cook, and in particular bake, my Grandmother is a master chef. Some of my best recipes come from her. And every Christmas, she would send out tins of cookies, their varieties revealing just how many batches she had baked. And given away.
• My Grandmother is a voracious reader. I remember bringing books to her house when I visited her as I grew up, and she still reads, all kinds. I need to remember that, because when I get busy, what goes out the window? My reading. The book club I belong to has been sorely neglected this past year.

So as proud as I am of my accomplishments, I know that in part or whole they are there because I come from a family of amazing women. I look forward to visiting her again in the fall when my parents come out, and my boys look forward to visiting too, not least of which because she pushes them for rides in her walker.

Happy Birthday, Granny. I love you.