This One's for Zoomer

You see, it all began when...

I sent Zoomer images of the dresses I'd bought SugarPlum for her birthday, and she -- like I -- fell in love with the 3-piece ensemble I'd piggled together, nearly by happenstance.  A hat.  At that point, I was merely looking for a little summer hat to add to the potpourri of gifts.  When I cabbaged onto a hat too cute to pass up, it begged for a top and denim skirt as companions, for no other of the dresses I'd bought could receive such a topper. 

Seeing the image of the outfit lain upon the table for photographing, Zoomer was quick to say I must do photos of the little darlin' wearing it.  And I'd have to do some in sepia.  What a wonderful idea, and I immediately thought of that ancient tree, with its trunk ensconced in gnarly, old, fibrous vines.  Perfect backdrop for the dreamy photo session.

Well, I wasn't going to strip the little kid down on the occasion of our little party, re-dress her, and march her to the tree.  So I decided I'd just make a special request that the outfit accompany the plum to our house one day soon, so I could do my amateur (read: ignorant and inept) magic with the camera.

Heh-heh.  Her Mama2 sent me photos this evening, taken at an event near their home, and there was that plum, wearing the subject outfit.



Uh.
Uh.
Well, that sour face wasn't exactly in my dream.

Anything else here to work with?
Uh.
Uh, o k a y ...



You know, I'm not feelin' it.

Let's do this one:



Dream come true, Zoomer?
I didn't think so.

That's it.
Get the little kid down here.
She's going to the tree!

That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.  ~Colossians 1:10, 11

Caption Contest 1

Slowpoke.  I finally got around to creating the poll for the photo caption contest.  It tops the sidebar now.  I set it to allow each person to vote for more than one entry, and I think by poll creator default each user is locked out of voting after their single or multiple vote.  There may arise the option of changing your vote, after you've voted.  I guess we'll find out.  Vote---->

In the meantime, that head-thunking pool plunge I had was my first and thusfar last, for while I was in there, all the elastic in my lycra swim dress popped, creating a teensy, weird, white fur and extending the formerly knee-length dress to my ankles.  Pleasant.  It's my fault.  I knew full well I should have rinsed the chlorine from it after every swim last year, and I just didn't do it.  My bad.

So I'm grounded from the pool until I can talk myself into pulling out the other piece of lycra and whipping up another swim dress.  Whipping up.  Who am I trying to fool?  While I can't find the post about sewing the now destroyed swim dress, it's here somewhere, and I tattled on myself for every little and big struggle I encountered during the project, not the least of which was searching all over the table for my seam ripper, before I realized it was what was secured between my teeth and poking out the front of my face.

Will she do it?  I don't mean store the seam ripper in her mouth again.  Will she make another swim dress?  It may be a long, hot, DRY summer for the girl.  We'll see.

Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.  ~1 Samuel 12:24

*~* 4 *~*

Someone's having a birthday Saturday.  We celebrated at Poppie's and Nana's house today.


No, that one's twenty-four.  When his little princess just didn't feel like wearing the tiara, he donned it, himself.  And would ya look at that: his lovely bride dotes on him in spite of it.  Really, Son, that's taking waste-not to new and unexpected heights.  It didn't cost me that much, and the plum will wear it eventually.

Here's the birthday girl.

She takes after her nana:





Nana handed her a knife KNIFE and told her to cut herself the first piece.
She did it.


See.  Told ya.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.  ~Psalm 91:11

In the Garden

If you think you're about to be treated to lovely photos of my gardening endeavors, think again.  Some women enjoy gardening.  I'm not among that group.  Zoomer makes frequent references to "playing in the dirt."  (I'd like to smack 'er.)  As I told her, the word "play" never comes to mind in my gardening.  Think chain gang.  Slave labor.  But to appease any photo junkies, here are a couple of shots of Zoomer's lush gardens:



With that out of the way, ...

I realized one recent day, as I was crawling around in the garden, that I'd fallen into praying.  I know being on one's knees and praying are perfect companions.  Okay, gardening isn't all bad.  Later, I also realized that In the Garden has been a favorite hymn of mine since childhood, when I didn't really know the Lord, but He knew me.  I enjoyed pondering all the associations springing from my weeding chores.

Yesterday, I just didn't spend that much time in the garden.  It was insufferably hot, and the sun was ablaze upon my selfingness.  I hadn't been in the pool yet since its fill, so I traded my gloves and knee pads for my swimsuit and took my '09 maiden plunge.  My favorite floaty disintegrated over the winter, so I was consigned to floating without aid.  I can do that very well: 1) My mother taught me to swim (and float) when I was 3 years old, so I've had years to perfect this feat; 2) think of skimming fat from broth — it's right there on top.  (Okay, stop thinking about that now.)

So I was having a moment.  And what arose in this moment — cool, relaxing, refreshing, floating, blue sky, dots of clouds, warmth from the sun — was the swelling in my heart of a hymn.  This time, it was How Great Thou Art.  I didn't sing it aloud.  I know it's okay with God that I have an Alfalfa singing voice, but I just wasn't going to do that to my boys.  I could sing it in my soul, and it would be pretty to the Lord, and it could even be pretty to my internal ears:

Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have *!THLUNK!*

My head bashed into the side of the pool.

Rude.

Of course, the very next line would have been, "I see the stars..."  How fitting is that?  God was listening, and He knew exactly where I was.  I like that.

Mayhap I should have stayed in the garden a bit longer.

He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.  He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.  Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.  ~Psalm 147:3-5

Snippety Cat

Lint rollers, cat hair vacuum, and now a FurBuster: the never-ending quest to rid our home of cat fluff.  Despite the glowing reviews and customer claims their cats loved it, Purrle and I and the new FurBuster have not successfully engaged with one-another, so I was first encouraged, when Son4 came to me this morning, saying, "Hey, that FurBuster really works!"

"He let you use it?"

*nodding*  "Until he bit me."


Do not be fooled by this cat in calm repose.

And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.  ~Philippians 1:9-11