"I started photographing my domestic world and writing not just about what I had made,
but why I made it, examining the thoughts that accompany creativity and the act of making."
Jane Brocket from The Gentle Art of Domesticity p. 189 UK edition

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Happy Valentine's Day!

Look what my youngest daughter found in a bag of potatoes! [She is making a good recovery from her hip surgery]
Celebrating Valentine's Day and my 64th birthday a little early :)
Yummy peanut butter and chocolate chip heart shaped cookies my youngest daughter made.
My oldest son David and his family gave me this interesting book for Christmas.
My alpaca-silk cowl is almost done.
Mt Hood cuddled under a blanket of clouds near Portland, Oregon.
Look what the stem of my Amaryllis did after I cut it and put it in a vase of water...kinda neat, huh?

Happy Valentine's Day!  I have had a lovely day in every way.  My oldest sister is visiting from Sonoma, CA for a week. We went to a day of reflection at St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Portland, OR, for part of the day and when we came home my youngest daughter spearheaded a wonderfully themed Italian spaghetti dinner [red checked tablecloth and candle light and Italian music].

I have had a string of technical difficulties blogging.  This week I created a new Blogger Profile which allows me to not be a no-reply blogger. Yay!  But then today I managed to lose all the photos from my last blogger's lunch.  Don't ask me how.  I do not know :(

At any rate, in spite of the technical difficulties, I feel so blessed with loving family and friends who share their creativity with me and help me celebrate life, and I am grateful.

Have you had a lovely day?  I hope you will let me know.  

xx
Gracie



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23 comments:

  1. mamasmercantileFebruary 15, 2015 at 1:11 AM

    The potato heart really made me smile. You are certainly blessed with a lovely family and sounds like a great celebration of your birthday. Wishing you many happy returns of the day and many more.

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  2. Crafty in the MedFebruary 15, 2015 at 2:02 AM

    Dear Gracie. Once again I'm fighting to catch up on my lack of communication with my dear fellow bloggers! Before I comment on this recent blog post of yours I would just like to add a thank you for mentioning in previous comments to me how you USE the little bits I sent you in our swap. I so like to hear they are of use and not just put away in a drawer. :-) Very glad to hear also your daughter is on the mend! Those cookies look quite delicious I bet they disappeared really quick. I see you have been given Yarn among your gifts ....how they know you :-)
    Is nature trying to tell us something when we find hearts likes these among our veg??? LOL!

    keep well

    Amanda xx

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  3. Home MeadowsFebruary 15, 2015 at 4:18 AM

    Happy birthday! It sounds like you've enjoyed a wonderful day with your family. Neat potato your daughter found. Enjoy your yarn and have a blessed day, Heather

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  4. MeredithFebruary 15, 2015 at 5:31 AM

    Happy Birthday and Happy Valentine's Day Gracie. I am glad you were spoiled as you deserve it. Love that your sister is visiting. Hooray for you becoming a reply blogger. I did that a year or so ago and it really changed my way of blogging. I had no idea I was a no-reply blogger at that point. I jut thought bloggers did not reply to you when you commented. This new way opens a new avenue of conversation. Hooray! We can talk more!
    Sending you a big hug,
    Meredith

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  5. AnonymousFebruary 15, 2015 at 5:33 AM

    He'll there lovely Gracie. Firstly, I am so glad your daughter is making a good recovery. Secondly I am so glad you are surrounded by love ,peace,contentment and good food!

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  6. BetsyFebruary 15, 2015 at 7:36 AM

    Hi Gracie! My how I have missed you. It's so good to hear that your daughter is doing well. She looks wonderful. How fun that your sister is visiting. That book looks very interesting. I think I'll see if our library has it. Blogger is giving me difficulties too lately. It isn't emailing me when a comment is made. If I don't actually go into blogger to the comments section I don't know there is a comment waiting yo be posted. Ack! I hope your day is lovely sweet Gracie.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  7. KrisFebruary 15, 2015 at 7:50 AM

    Hi Gracie! How fun is that potato! Glad to hear that your daughter is healing nicely! Sure looks like you got a lot of Valentine love there!!! When is your birthday? Oh, I love the looks of what is on your needles! I have designated this to be the year that I will learn more about knitting! I an venturing into greater skill, and giving something other than dish clothes a try!
    Have a lovely visit with your sis!!
    XO Kris

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  8. Tammy@T's Daily TreasuresFebruary 15, 2015 at 9:34 AM

    That book looks very interesting and the cookies very yummy! Glad to hear your daughter is doing well and able to cook such a lovely meal to boot. Happy almost birthday? Hugs and blessings, Tammy

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  9. Teresa KasnerFebruary 15, 2015 at 11:04 AM

    Hello my friend! What a fun photo of your heart shaped potato and your adorable youngest daughter! It sounds like such a fun spaghetti dinner, with the tablecloth and music. Fun times! Your cowl is gorgeous and I look forward to seeing you wear it. I loved seeing all your valentine and birthday goodies.. you are loved.

    *H*A*P*P*Y* * *B*I*R*T*H*D*A*Y*!*!*!*

    ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  10. BellsysFebruary 15, 2015 at 11:57 AM

    Hi Gracie! We spent the day hunkered down after another snowstorm. I personally love them, but then I don't HAVE to go out in them! I see it appears to be your birthday? How do I not know this? HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU! Been super busy here between the two paying jobs and the volunteer ministry one. Loving it all and feeling so blessed. Hope to be a more faithful follower in the future...Luv you, JoAnn

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  11. Stitchy Mc Floss February 15, 2015 at 12:07 PM

    Awww the potato is adorable. What a lovely surprise. Oh your cowl is looking awesome. Sounds like your birthday celebration was very nice. It's also great that your daughter is doing so well...hope she recovers quickly. Blessings always

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  12. Jill at emeraldcottageFebruary 15, 2015 at 1:26 PM

    Great pictures Gracie, especially the heart shaped cookies! Happy Early Birthday, I'm sure you'll be spoiled rotten :)
    Jillxo

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  13. Jennifer HaysFebruary 15, 2015 at 4:35 PM

    It's always nice to see what you've been up to, Gracie. That potato is such a sweet surprise. Your daughter looks a lot like you. I hope she is recovering well after her surgery. Hope you have a great week.

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  14. aimeeFebruary 16, 2015 at 12:37 AM

    Sorry to hear you've had some technical difficulties. Those can be very, very frustrating! Enjoyed seeing my beloved Mt Hood as always! Love that potato--too cool! Happy to hear your daughter's post surgical recovery is going well:) Wishing you a blessed birthday!
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  15. AnneFebruary 16, 2015 at 12:56 PM

    Hello Gracie lovely to see you blogging - hope there will be no more technical difficulties. Glad that your daughter is making a good recovery. We had a lovely Valentines Day thank you. We went out with our son and granddaughters to visit our D.I.L. who had a table at a Craft Fair - she had made some lovely items to sell. ( I sent a few little bits but they didn't do that well - wrong place for them really) We went to do a little shopping - and kept an I on the girls while DS went to get ingredients for the Valentine's Dinner he was going to cook for our D.I.L. We left D.I.L. to finish the day at the Fair and came back here with DS and the girls. later that evening DH cooked a delicious dinner for us both. I also had a gorgeous red rose from him and a card of course. He has never missed sending me a card in 48 years :-) and he always signs it with a question mark :-) I am the same age as you. I will be 64 in April.
    Today I've baked a 9" square rich fruit cake ready for my sister and brother in law's Ruby Wedding celebrations in June. Also baked a loaf. It's been torture as I was trying to eat very healthily today :-) Hugs Anne x

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  16. susanFebruary 16, 2015 at 7:49 PM

    Hi Gracie - so glad to see you're back. Looks like you've been having some lovely days. Your spaghetti dinner sounded wonderful and I love your cookies. Hope you have a very happy birthday. xoxo

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  17. Mrs. MicawberFebruary 16, 2015 at 8:12 PM

    Happy Birthday (early)! I see some foreign yarn in that photo ... how exciting!

    I'm making an alpaca-silk hat for a niece right now. It's the softest yarn I've ever touched. :)

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  18. WillowFebruary 16, 2015 at 8:35 PM

    Happy Valentine's Day to you, too! I'm glad you had such a wonderful day.

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  19. AnonymousFebruary 18, 2015 at 6:50 AM

    Hi Gracie :)
    The heart-shaped potato is amazing, what a great find! I am really thrilled that you had a great day....and that yarn farming book looks really interesting.
    I didn't do much on Valentines Day as I was busy trying to settle into a new home......but now that it is pretty much up and running, I am planning on catching up with your lovely blog :)
    Happy Early Birthday, love Sarah x x

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  20. Annie CholewaFebruary 20, 2015 at 2:03 PM

    A belated Happy Birthday Gracie x

    I'd love to hear your take on that book, it's on my wish list but I don't know anyone who has read it.

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  21. Helen PhilippsFebruary 23, 2015 at 5:49 AM

    A lovely post, filled with happy things! I am glad your daughter is recovering so well, and you have been having such good family times. Wishing you a very Happy belated Birthday, Gracie, and a wonderful year ahead!
    Helen xox

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  22. Taci simmonsFebruary 24, 2015 at 10:41 PM

    I had a great valentines and I hope your birthday was just fantastic. I really enjoyed celebrating it with you. I love the we share our birthdays in the same month. Hope to see you soon. Maybe we will celebrate st Patrick's day ?!

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  23. Vicki BosterMarch 17, 2015 at 9:29 PM

    Gracie-- I love your beautiful blog-- I'm your newest follower:)
    Vicki

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