Weekend away

Bentley
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

We enjoyed a family weekend at the cabin in Tahoe this past weekend. It has been way too long since we have been to the cabin, almost seven month. I always feel so recharged and regenerated when I am in the mountains. Of course being the first weekend of the summer we expected some fun in the sun. That didn't happen, but a fire and a little snow is always nice too.

Bentley also had a great time. He played with his Tahoe toys, rested by the fire and found the one small patch of snow left on the lawn to play in. There are also wonderful sniffs in the country.

All in all it was nice to be together. Welcome summer......

Reliquaries

Reliquaries
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

Reliquary: receptacle containing the relics of saints and other sacred objects of the Christain religion. They are richly decorated with gold, silver,enamel and jewels.

Over the weekend I took a reliquary class at an enchanting place called "Castle in the Air " in Berkeley. Eight delightful women sat down to design, assemble and solder these decorated little treasures. I have been wanting to learn to solder forever! It was great fun and wonderful to make new friends. Enchanting is the only word I can use to describe "Castle in the Air", with their imported papers, dresden filigrees, tiny bottles, waxes and ink, SO much to look at. I spent two days working on my pieces, each day coming home with so many ideas reeling in my head and a bag of goodies.

Friends

Do you have a friend that is someone who truly makes you laugh? This morning I got a call from a high school friend who I am also lucky enough to have as a neighbor. Patti is one of those friends! We laughed so hard I had tears rolling down my face and my stomach hurt. Our conversation made me laugh through out the day. What a great way to start your day. I hope everyone has a "Patti" in their life.

Girls and their trinkets

Blue
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

What is it about trinkets, pretty plates, lace and vintage anything that makes our little hearts flutter. For me I think it is the history and nostalgia. These cherished pieces bring joy to our days. We truly do love all that glitters and sparkles. I get so excited when I sign on to flickr and my flickr friends are sharing their beautiful things, vintage hankies, jewels, dishes, flea market finds, handmade creations. I find these ladies so very inspiring. Who ever came up with the word "eye candy" said it all!

The Birthday Hug!

The Birthday Hug!
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

Tomorrow I will be 52 years old! UGH!!!! Seven years ago tomorrow I recieved a gift that would last two lifetimes. Tim was leaving to go back to school in Santa Barbara, it was my 45th birthday ,he was home for the weekend. When he left that afternoon I walked to his truck with him and he gave me a hug. But this hug was very special , it lasted a little longer and was a little tighter than usual, enough to make me aware that it was different. I didn't know then that it would be the last hug I would ever get from my sweet boy. Tim was killed 3 weeks later in Santa Barbara. It didn't take me very long to realize what an incredible gift Tim had given me that afternoon. How many times do you really remember something as simple as a hug or a quick kiss? I have cherished this memory everyday day for the last seven years and will cherish it for the rest of my life. How blessed I am to have this memory. As you can tell I wear my heart on my sleeve for everyone to see. I share this story because I like to think that it is things like this that make us take notice of the little pleasures in life that are not to be taken for granted. It is actually a happy day for me( except for the 52 thing!)

Charmed

Charmed
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

Next week Emma wil be 3 years old and since she and I are Birthday Buddies, I wanted to share a special treat with her. Emma and I have a very special bond that will forever hold a huge place in my heart ( a very long story that I shall tell at another time). Emma's mom has started a silver charm bracelet for her,so I have decided we will start a tradition and have a "birthday outing" every year to get a new silver charm for our bracelets.
I can remember my mother's charm bracelet as a child. She would always let me play with all the tiny charms to see which ones opened or moved. My mother started her bracelet around 1935 when she was working downtown San Francisco. Each Friday when she got paid she would go to the gift shop at the Saint Francis Hotel and buy a new charm. My mom had so many charms she filled 3 bracelets, overflowing . My bracelet , though still not so full, holds many memories of my own, from places I have been to charms with a special meaning to me. I think this will be the perfect gift for my "special birthday buddy".

A day at the races

A day at the races
Originally uploaded by colleenbaptista

At what point in your family life do you take note to how much things have change thru the years? A family outing on a Saturday with the children use to be a day at the park or going to feed the ducks. At 24 years old Katie wasnt in to taking a bag og stale bread to the pond, her choice was going to the race track. Who would ever have imagined someday we would be at the track looking over horses and having a beer with our "little ones". I must say the weather was glorious and we had great fun.