Celebrations

I couldn't have been happier then to have our 30-something son ask me to make a cake that "you and grandma used to make" for his birthday when I asked him what he wanted.  He described it as "really high and with coconut on it."  Wow! Really? He remembered it, especially in that way?  Well, it didn't matter that I was up until midnight baking the cake and up at 6:30 the next morning to make the creamy white frosting so we could celebrate his birthday later that day.  I definitely was going to bake it for him. And it got me to thinking that we often find out much later in life what simple things we do that make an impression. 

Yellow cake with seven minute frosting and coconut,
and Stroh's Ice Cream, of course

Toni's Eclipse

On the day Toni died, the sun and moon raised her up through a 'ring of fire'.  She would love the irony of exiting this planet on a day so rare.  I can hear her laugh off in the distance.  But she would shrug off any suggestion about it being such a fitting send off.  However, it tells so much about her.  Although alone as that moment came, the circle of friends she held dear surrounded her.  Friends she gathered through her many areas of interest and involvement.  First and foremost, she shared a sisterhood with Nina, who she met during junior high.  Not only did Toni cherish her, but she became family with the Jacques as Nina and Bob raised their children.  I know this was something she loved, for she had little family of her own. 

She spoke often about Maggie during our frequent emails and it was evident how close they were.  They were always doing something fun or inspiring together.  There  were so many from her literary circles, her book and writing groups; her art friends; friends from Al Anon; from work; from life that she gathered near.  Her circles ran strong and deep and connected those who knew her by a thread.  For we were all touched by her inspiration, values, warmth, sincerity, support and love that she shared.

She lived her life outside the darkness and within the circle that showed so vibrant as the moon passed before the sun.  Her honesty and wit surfaced in what she wrote, how she lived her life, what she created.  She loved making gifts and was always eager to try something new.  Always a project was in the making, whether a collage, a beaded bracelet, wine charms, or cards.   She enjoyed photography and took wonderful images that captured many special moments.  She often said her first love was paper art.  She found joy in placing snippets of neatly trimmed papers together to tell a story.  And her writing was deep and honest and full of emotion.   

She brought out the best in others.  Her support and enthusiasm was endless.  She shared of herself and enjoyed that which you shared with her.  She kept journals throughout her life and wrote and told amazing stories from moments of simplicity.  One project she was working on involved sharing experiences based on the songs of her youth.  They were as diverse as the edgy songs of Guns and Roses or the lyrical harmonies of the Eagles.   Toni had plans.   So much more to do; books to finish, art to create, many to support.  How can we understand? 

I will miss so much of her.  Her frequent emails; our lengthy phone conversations about our creative projects,  movies, books, or the fog that hung over her condo that overlooked San Francisco Bay.  I will miss postcards she would send from Half Moon Bay, Reno, or the coffee shop she frequented in the Haight.   I will miss so much of her.  How can we understand?   Laugh on T....

Tea Please

I've had a lot going on these past few weeks, but have been thinking about all the SimplyJoy in my life.  Along with family activities, I've done gardening, art projects, and activities with friends.  Last week we had our May Tea at Lovett Hall in Greenfield Village.  Twice a year the Village Herb Associates join together to celebrate in high fashion the many days spent tending the gardens at the Village.  I've been very lucky to have been able to join Pat Mann in the Chef's Garden, where we tend garden herbs grown specifically for the chef's at Eagle Tavern, the Michigan Cafe, and the catering service. 

For our Herb tea, I was asked to make a decoupaged box for our raffle.  This years herb of the year is the rose, so I used vintage rose images and other emphemera to decorate it.  After painting the Michigan Casino box I was given to remake a creamy antique white, I decided to try adding the tea papers I'd been saving.  After pauging them on, I soon discovered how lovely they made the background, so I left them as is, except for embellishing the top and front of the box. 

The tea paper was overlapped slightly and has a random pattern of tea stain.  I've found while saving the papers that if you let them dry before you remove the leaves, there is more of this tea stain pattern.  Be sure to save the tea leaves for your garden.  They add anti-oxidents and other nutrients to the soil.  Tea paper is a wonderful paper to work with.  Below is the back of the box.

For the front of the box, I used vintage green paper for the background, rose bud paper, the dictionary definition of "rose" (most of my projects include dictionary text), old buttons, and it is stamped with VHA for Village Herb Associates.