The Usual Memorial Day Weather is Good for Something

I could have predicted clouds and rain today in Indiana. It is always yucky on Memorial Day. 'Yucky' is a very specific meteorological term describing gloomy holiday weather- specifically on the three long weekends of summer. I know it's not summer yet; that's probably what's always been wrong with Memorial Day anyway. I can remember so many Indy 500 races that were rained out on day one, and occasionally, on day two. Race Day Sunday was beautiful in the Hoosier state, but today looks like something out of Dungeons and Dragons. No offense meant to you fans of dungeons, dragons, dark, dank, drab or dangerously dreadful.

The yucky weather is perfect, however, if one wants to stay in one's slightly dark and not too dank basement making art. So I did. I can't post pictures of my first two projects. One will be unveiled Aug. 22 on Creative Therapy, and the other is a 1:1 swap for Heather Robinson of Creative Solace. Heather is a design team member for my art friend Kris Hubick of Retro Cafe Art. I sent a picture of my finished work to Kris to see if Heather would like it. Seems that she may.

I spent the bulk of the day finishing my son's scrapbook. I have kept a book for both children, recording in pictures their lives from birth to age 18. For my daughter's graduation in 2001, I stayed up all night right before her open house. That doesn't seem too unusual to the insomniac in me now, but it was quite unusual- and stressful- then.

So my son's book is done with 11 days to spare until graduation and 19 whole days until his open house. Sometimes I amaze even myself. I may have amazed my son, too. He looked at his scrapbook- page after page of adorable-ness, hour upon hour of labor- and he grunted.

I Love a Parade

I love a parade. Or a prom. Or the best of both: a promenade. Maybe that explains my fascination with the circus. Or maybe it explains why I like to trot out all my artwork on this here blog in chronological fashion, sort of a daily diary of dids. I think it is also why I like to thrive on chaos to borrow a vintage business term. Unexpected company? Cool! Staying up late to play board games and chat? Great! Cram as much as possible into every day? Is there any other way?

That's why I loved the sparkly T my friend Jen showed up in today. It said something like "Love this day." Okay, I did love the shirt; I just can't remember exactly how it was phrased, but something like Carpe Diem. So, carpe I did, enough to capture a family photo of the Fretzes who came calling: Jen, Andy, Gwenyth and Winnie the dog. Winnie is much less hyper than her puppy days and much less hyper than similar-sized-and-breed neighbors Ellie and Gracie, who would knock me over if I were blocking them from a bone, branch or bug.

Today was the Memorial Day parade- a Leesburg tradition of tractors, fire engines, bikes, veterans in vintage cars, local kids on patriotic bikes, but not a single band nor horse. Wonder if the parade committee has any openings?

Meanwhile, I also packaged up the apron I made for Sharrena of Brighton, England for our vintage apron swap. It is a black and yellow number with ball fringe and a large crocheted flower. I also finished 30 original trading-card-sized prom dresses for the Itty Bitty Book Club vintage prom dress book page swap. I had fun recalling the bohemian things I wore in high school, the peasant dresses, hippy girl stuff, sueded fringe handbags, wood platform shoes, over the knee boots, mini skirts (but of course), bell bottom beat-up jeans, flip flops- I mean haven't styles changed at all in the last 30 years? I guess maybe prom dresses are a little less demure, but other than that, I think I could fit right in. I wonder why my son didn't ask me to be a chaperone? Hmmmpf!