A Father's Day Thank-You

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My mass today was offered up for one of the most important, special, and wonderful men I know..........my father.


I could not stop thinking about everything he has done for me, and how blessed I am to have him for my papa.


Whenever I am fretful, stressed, or just plain grumpy, he knows how to soothe me--he makes me feel safe and secure, deep-down inside. He also knows how to make me laugh. And when ever I overcome some little obstacle, get an A on an exam, sew something new, or learn exciting news, I always feel like I am bursting at the seams until I share my delight with him.


I remember what it feels like to be really small, and spread my arms trustingly as he swung me round and round. I remember outings to the "tunnel slide" park, where he was always the highlight of the playground, with kids running from every corner to line up for spins on the tire swing.



He has influenced every aspect of my life, from teaching me to clean the kitchen to the point of "perfection" :) to inspiring me with determination to succeed at school........................

He says I'll be his baby girl forever, and I sure am glad..........because I wouldn't want it any other way.

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There are two other dads I particularly love and want to thank this Father's Day.

My Paternal Grandfather, otherwise known as Jiddee.......................

who taught me all that I know about making Lebanese food, and who passed on his love of, and ability to dance (all day, and all night).

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My Maternal Grandfather...........................known as Georgie-Pop (a name of his own invention), who shares a love of reading historical non-fiction, and provides a never ending source of over-the-phone encouragement for everything I undertake.

I acknowledge and thank these father figures who have my truest love and gratitude!!!!!!!

Still Playing Dress-up

School ended two weeks ago....... my joy and relief is scarcely to be described. As the turmoil and stress of finals subsided I was seized with a new energy. It was almost terrifying! The need to exercise my creativity, to make something, to sew, seemed to dominant all my thoughts. I found a pattern that I was saving for the far off day when I became an accomplished seamstress, four yards of fabric that just begged to be sewn, and started cutting at a feverish rate. Then, after I got home each day (from my one summer class) I would spend the afternoon sewing. It was a challenging pattern for someone who has only sewn simple skirts, but I learned a great deal, and I had the help of a dear and experienced friend, who I called every time the instructions on the pattern seemed like gibberish.

The result was a dream come true.

After years of reading and rereading everything by Jane Austen, or similar to Jane Austen, and watching all the historical and literature-based movies I could get my hands on, and enviously looking at pictures on sewing websites of stranger's regency dresses, I finally have my own regency dress.


I do feel rather silly about posting so many pictures of myself, but then, the dress is so pretty, and Matthew (my personal photographer!) did such a lovely job with the photo angles that I couldn't decide which ones to leave out.

Sarah is a magician with hair, and she kindly swept it up into a proper regency style...

It's a book of poetry, of course...

Finally, a sunset view of the mountain...such splendor..........

It is probably unnecessary to mention that I shall always love to play dress up...

I wonder what era shall come next...