by lynn krestel

end of summer update...

i dont like to even think about it! but the end of summer is here!! i love warm sunshiney mornings, lazy schedule free days, and sleeping in with no alarm clock!! jayme will head back to school and regular hours will commence...and yes, it is good for me...but cant say i'm exactly happy!!

so for now - i'll share a few more of my favorite vacation pics and pretend its not over and just a memory!

jayme enjoying a quiet moment at the edge of the canyon...

me and my sister soaking in the sights and sun!!

we only lost one member of our group!!

just kidding!!

we were in vegas one night and headed over to the bellagio for dinner...after a 45 minute walk in 100 dregree heat, we realized we werent the only ones planning to dine at the famed buffet! the line wound around and we sadly estimated we might have a 1 1/2 to 2 hour wait...deflated, hungry but resolved, we settled in to line. we had been teasing about seeing `mr benedict`stroll by and then in our reality, from where - we dont know - a man came to us, asked how many we were, and handed us two line passes!! we stepped out of line, and we rushed to the front of all the hungry diners...

we couldnt understand who or why - but believe me we didnt ask and within minutes, a table was specially set for us, and  the feasting began!

our waiter waited on us hand and foot...drew sketches for the girls, shared pictures of his travels and brought us a special anniversary  dessert...chocolate covered strawberries and cake!! what a sweet way to end the evening!! and vacation...!

see you soon..and i promise - i`ll be back to work and have new tutorials. designs, and projects to share with you!!

 

 

a little oasis...

see the view from my room!? it is just so peaceful and beautiful - and warm!! my hubby and i are on our long-awaited anniversary trip!! we were given the sweetest gift  from my sister and her hubby to travel to las vegas..and stay in a secluded resort loews on lake las vegas...far from the lights and activity of the city...

so this is our view from the 7th floor....

the veranda...lovely in the afternoon or evening...

recreation/beach..we could rent paddle boats or kayaks..we've stayed with sunbathing and swimming!!
 
complete with koi!

cactus and succulents garden

 

we saw two humming birds, dragonflies and black locusts on bright orange flowered bushes...

 

 

 thats all for now...grand canyon friday!! cant wait!!

family update...

ok! i was planning to keep you all posted on the wedding craziness and joy!! and it was wonderful! and busy! the day of the wedding...my camera went m.i.a.- so my pics are sparse and borrowed! but i'll share what i have!!

 

heres jayme with the bride! goreth! here - waiting for eyebrow threading!!

 

manicures and pedicures all around!! (and as this was a first time experience for jayme - as a bridesmaid) it was a fun week of doing all things girly and beautiful!!

beth and jayme waiting for a ride after jayme's 'blow out'!

i was on for creating bouquets and boutonnieres ...which i love! its exhausting (no zzz's for me the night before the wedding!) but look at these colors! whats not to love!?!

and it all came together...

 

 

it is amazing to see these young people  who have overcome such great obstacles...and move forward with their lives! (every one in the wedding party -excepting jayme and the children- has lost one or both parents as a result of the genocide in rwanda, 1994)

it is such a blessing to be able to be part of their lives!

in a pinch!

i woke up this morning with a craving!! ok, nothing new - but its summer, and usually the only baking i do is in my toaster oven! but here on the west (wet) coast - its still cool...cool enough to bake!

so satisfy my craving, i could!!! and i wanted cinnamon buns!! esp. loving my kitchen aid - makes whipping up a batch of anything simple, effortless, wonderful!!

as the buns were beautiful rising in the oven - i go to my cupboard and cannot find any powdered sugar! now how can you have cinnamon buns and no cream cheese frosting!!! baking in my pj's  puts a damper on knocking on my neighbors door to borrow a cuppa!! so i decided to make my own!!

 

about 1/3 cup of granulated sugar in the blender...it took several rounds on 'liquefy' 

and voila! powdered sugar...granted a bit grainier than i wanted...i should have pulled out my food processor..but hey, i'm baking in my pjs, i'm starving - its got to be fast!!

ok, i'm off to make a pot of coffee...and now i should go knocking on my neighbors door - and invite her to join me!! 

 

now i know my posts have been few and far between lately...its not that i dont care!! i sit down to my computer to write...and i'm wordless..it just hasnt been coming! i dont know if i'm in a creative slump, panic - trying get everything ready for the bead festival!! - or what?! but i will continue on..and thank you for your patience!!

happy day! 
  
 
  

little sister

 
i am the lucky big sister of a crazy smart, funny, unique sister...now i am the middle sister - and those descriptions i could say of both of my sisters! but for today, we celebrate her and the day she was born!  happy birthday - jill!!

 

last weekend we celebrated this birthday as well as enjoyed watching proudly as our sammy danced her part in her ballet troupes production of the wizard of oz!

good times!!
  

a bear! over there!!

we were off! leaving the mainland behind!

the weekend of the 23/24 of april ( i know - its been over a week ago!!) we traveled to north vancouver island for a trunk show. after a 1 and a 1/2 hour ferry ride, we then journey four hours drive north through mountains almost as far as you can go. it is relaxing and peaceful!

jayme and i insisted on a beach combing excursion - highly successful too! as we left the rocky beach we spotted this crazy hand carved driftwood - that reminds me of a tiki man...but is probably a rough carving that could be the beginnings of a novice carvers totem pole!!

our favorite highlight - as we drove through the mountain pass was a medium size (maybe 350 pounds) black bear. he was foraging through the ditch and just stopped and looked at us a few moments before lumbering on!! i have lived 30 years in this pacific northwest.southwestern b.c. region..and have finally spotted a bear!!

davida (left), the shop owner was also traveling back to vancouver - and is caught here catching up on the weeks gossip!! 

a very fond farewell to vancouver island..but we will be back!!

  
  
  
  

hbd mom!

today - the 13th of april is my moms birthday! she was born on this day 62 years ago. my heart aches to celebrate this day with her. to dial her number- and hear her cheery voice answer back... to send her favorite chocolate covered cherries. to mail a quirky card.

she was creative - and thrifty. she loved to cheer someone sad. she could whistle to beat the band -actually she would whistle the whole score of handels messiah while she cleaned her house!!!

i see her in myself when i look at my hands. and hear my voice joking with a cashier. and hope somehow to make a difference in someones life as she has in mine...

i miss you, mom. and love you!!

a birthday wish

on march 4, 1994 at 8 am jayme lynn entered our world. the second daughter into our little family. a healthy pregnancy, scary delivery, and a baby born blue...we held our breath as we waited for hers - minutes that seemed like hours  - and then a cry! from baby and then parents!

so as we celebrated her 16 years - the days were filled with her favorite things!!

a computer! (well netbook!)

cousins!

converse!!

 

what more could a girl wish for - except maybe her drivers license!!

i apologize too because i have no pics from our family bday celebration - dead batteries...

: (

mementos

i've been accepted to teach! i tell you i'm so excited - i could bust! so as soon as the details are out - i'll tell you all about it!! oh and if you could come join in the fun - please try to...
but for now - i'll share with you a couple of newly discovered treasures! i'm making some new memento samples and was so pleased to uncover these beauties...of course i need to memento-ize these!

my gram with the largest slice of melon a kid  in kansas - on a hot summer day - could want!! look at that grin!!

my gramp is the young guy standing at the front. i believe it was taken in italy during ww ll. such boys - yet brave. truly amazing to look into their faces.

my mom! it must be kindergarten or first grade. she must be so pleased to be having her picture taken!
what a girl!

(now i hate to add this - but please these pictures are not to be copied and used for personal or business use!!)

a game

 
i think his face says it all! unabashed satisfaction! hockey! men on ice with sticks chasing a puck! he loves this game - he's a true canadian!!

 
my husband was the very lucky recipient of olympic hockey tickets last christmas. i was the fortunate accompanier! we saw sweden vs germany.

 

 i was thinking there would be a national song - but no- shortly after this pic - they waved their sticks at each other and the game was on! talk about protocol...!

 
  we have been able to go to nhl hockey - vancouver canucks - but i must say olympic hockey was sooo much more exciting! the fans are more invested in the game... this german fan was one of many in these decorated garments. a trio of german fans behind us would sing a cheer in their language, and fans across the stadium would begin to echo...you could hear it all around - and then the swedes would answer back lustily singing/cheering and waving their flags...

 
i must admit i enjoy the game - its intense, skillful, and fast. you have to pay attention or you miss a pass and a score! but i tend to get easily distracted - people watching . just being part of a world event as this - seeing first hand the pride of a people. the love of a country. its moving. heartwarming. even over a game. of hockey!!

i'll leave you with pics of coming and going from the hockey arena. absolutely packed with people.

 

 

thanks lee and eric for making it happen!