A friend in need becomes a tower of strength...

We've all been through it at one time or another, and it's not easy...

It's just never easy to see a friend going through a tough time in life. This past year has been...well...let's say challenging for my dear friend Janae. In the beginning I wasn't sure how to help other than to lend an ear when she needed someone to listen.

And then something started to happen, really without her even noticing.

She kept putting one foot in front of the other...

Taking one bite of the elephant at a time... And figuring out a way to get through each day... And now instead of worrying about her a lot, I'm rejoicing in her inner strength and seeing her emerge into her new existence like a butterfly squeezing herself out of a restrictive cocoon...

Head on over to Janae's blog to read about her birthday Random Acts of Kindness campaign. You'll see what I mean.

♥

Love you, Janae!

You're rockin' this life, girl!

xo

Easter eggs and fireplace color.

Me to Doug last week: "Honey? Will you get our Easter decorations out of the attic when you get a chance?" Doug's reply: "We have Easter decorations?" We do have a few decorations, but not many. Truth is, I don't really go all out on Easter decorations, but I do like to have something on our fireplace mantel.

This plastic egg garland was super easy and inexpensive to put together.

:o) Note the cat in the background. {Love me some Whiskers Jay!} Putting this together was really scientific, as you can see. I used a highly sophisticated method for evenly spacing the eggs: {I know, everyone on the planet has an iPhone except for me!} {How embarrassing...} Then I enjoyed the pretty light coming through my kitchen windows and took a ton of photos that all looked the same when I uploaded them. :o]

Me to Doug last week: "Honey? Will you paint the fireplace white for me?"

Doug's reply: "Really? I like it brown."

My reply: "But my decorations would look sooooo much better if it wasn't brown..."

It's always something, isn't it? :o)

Just a photo for Friday...

{my niece, Presley}

Wishing each of you a wonderful weekend.
♥

Blossom overload!

When you've been in the car for 10 hours, and you're about 30 minutes away from your final destination (sister's house), stopping to take photos of an orchard might not seem like the thing to do at the time. But...

On our way into Fresno a couple of weeks ago, Carrie and I were in awe of the nut trees in bloom this time of year. We finally found a freeway exit that we took, then followed a dirt/farm road down to this almond tree orchard.

The fallen petals looked like snow underneath the trees.

And the air was BUZZING with bees, which didn't make for a happy Carrie, but she was enjoying the view as well.

Simply breathtaking!

I think I'll use this next shot for a greeting card:

And then there were pistachio trees...all lined up and in two varieties - one white and one pink...

SOOOO pretty!

I loved the pink blossoms on these trees!

Are you tired of looking at blossoms yet?

~sigh~ I took SO many pictures that day! Then! We got to my sister's house and the tree in her front yard was in full bloom as well!

This is a fruitless pear tree and the blossoms are so pretty {sadly, these blossoms smell horrible but their beauty compensates...}.

This tree is so pretty, no matter what the season! Beautiful green shade in the summer, gorgeous fall colors in autumn, stark long branches in the winter, and pretty blossoms in the spring.

I'm also including these shots, taken of a tree in my sister's neighborhood. I'm not sure what kind of tree it is, but the blooms were absolutely stunning:

Right?

I just love California for its lush vegetation -
so very different from my own state of Arizona.
♥
What's blooming on your part of the planet?

♥

Excuse me, Mr. Weekend...where do you go?

Time really does fly when you're having fun!
♥

Our weekend fun started Friday night when we met Carrie at Lucky Lou's for dinner. Now that she lives in her own house, we really appreciate those times together to catch up and just see her smiling face. After dinner Carrie and I headed to Costco where she finally bought the computer she's been waiting for {thanks to receiving her long awaited tax refund}. Expect more frequent blog posts from her now. :o)

Saturday was busy with Doug and I both working in our respective home areas - me cleaning inside and him working outside. Then Saturday night we headed to Scottsdale to meet some good friends for dinner. The weather was perfect and we had dessert and a glass of wine {ok, two glasses...} while sitting outside along the "River Walk" {which is actually a canal all fancied up} waiting for the Super-moon to rise.

After dinner we enjoyed a nice stroll around the area and took a bunch of photos that mostly didn't turn out very well {point-and-shoot along for the ride}.

Sunday morning found Carrie and I in front of my computer for two hours chatting with some lovely blog friends on Skype. I had to borrow Rhona's photo {I hope you don't mind, Rhona!} because I accidentally deleted mine before I was able to upload it. Gr!!!

It was so much fun visiting with these ladies and getting to know each other a little better. If you haven't tried Skype, I highly recommend it!!! From top left to bottom: Carrie and me, Mel, Karen, Denise & Deb, Ruth, and Rhona at the bottom. Fun. Fun. Fun! xo

♥

And as if that wasn't enough fun for one weekend, Carrie and I met our dear friend Janae at the park with her two adorables, B & K. These little dudes just turned 2 and they are busy, busy, busy, and oh so cute. Top that all off with grilled burgers on our patio with Carrie for a Sunday evening meal and you've had yourself a great weekend!

.

So tell me, how was your weekend?
♥

Accordian Mini-book - Shower Gift Part II

♥

When I made this cosmetic bag for my niece, Karie, I knew it needed a little something tucked inside...
Then I got my hands on the disc that contained Karie and Joey's engagement photos, and knew right away that I wanted to make a mini-book for them.

Aren't they adorable?

And such great kids too!
♥ ♥

Part III of the gift was a gift card to Sephora {make-up store}.

♥

Their wedding date is April 29th! Can't wait!!!
:o)

Cosmetic Bag ~ Shower Gift Part I

Our niece Karie is getting married next month.
Here's a little look at one of the gifts I made for her bridal shower.
:o) ♥

There are plenty of online tutorials for zippered cosmetic bags and I've wanted to give those a try for some time now. But, it wasn't until Carrie gave me Amy Butler's book "12 easy ways to 26 wonderful bags" for Christmas that I found instructions that were really easy to follow.

I wanted to dress it up a bit, so I used this pretty fabric I found to
create a ruffled look on the front {eh-hm...my idea, not Amy Butler's...;o) }

I love the look of this gathered fabric combined with the heavy canvas.

I lined the bag with a pretty teal fabric but if I show you that you'd
see part II of this gift, so you'll just have to wait till my next post.

♥

And now, I have about 500 things to fit into one short weekend!
Ready...set...GO!!!
What's on your agenda?

A giveaway {with strings attached}

Did you know that every type of cancer is represented by a color?
The color of my mom's cancer is teal.
♥

When my sister ordered these plastic bands, I had her add some extras to use as giveaways on my blog. I would be honored and grateful if you, my blog readers, would wear one of these bands as a way of supporting my mom in her fight against ovarian cancer.

♥

So, I'm giving these teal cancer awareness bands away here on my blog while supplies last.

My California family wearing the bands last weekend:

My Arizona family sporting them this week!

{thumbs up for Marti!}♥

To receive one of these bands, please send
your mailing information to me at
paperturtle {at} cox {dot} net

Thanks so much for your love and support!
My mom {Marti} and my family and I really appreciate it!
♥