Clothing Transformation Inherited

My grandmother was a professional seamstress, sewing wedding gowns, prom dresses, and tailoring anything, even turning men's suits into form fitted smart women's suits. She even sewed drill team uniforms for the Utah State University Aggiettes. 

(Hey, I didn't choose the name!)

My sister said I should take some "before" and "after" pictures of clothes that I fix, because I alter a lot of my own clothing, but don't think about the process it until after it's done..

Well, I didn't take before pictures of this tropical dress before I fixed it to fit me, but I remembered in time to show you what the color looked like before I got my fabric markers out.

(Confession: I actually started working on it pre-photo, but left that part out of the camera frame.)

I wore this a couple of times as a black and white tropical dress, but  in my mind that isn't tropical,

so... 

I left the dolphins white, and ADDED SOME COLORS!

Do you like black and white clothes?

Do you like colorful clothes?

Enthusiasm for Christmas Is Fun!

Happy birthday to my brother, DellRay, today! He is approximately 17 months and 22 days older than me. We had great times growing up, which included all 8 of us children. Carolyn is the youngest. Since she recently moved in with Bob and me, I've been reminded that having her live with us makes Christmas even more fun!

She helped my son, Jeff, put lights up outside his house.

She got to sit on Santa's lap.

She put Christmas lights in her room. (A gift from our sister, Bev.)

She was surprised with a timely gift from our sister, Loraine.

She's teaching me that it's more fun to have enthusiasm in life for every experience, and if you can't be enthusiastic, at least reach for optimism.

My other sister, Rebecca, told me how she'd simplified her Christmas gift giving, and was all done by Thanksgiving this year, leaving her free to experience the joyous spirit of Christmas instead of the stress of trying to get everything done.

How are your Christmas preparations? 

Are you an early finisher?

Or do you like to wait until the last minute?

I noticed this rock outside the Dixie Convention Center while walking with my sister, but there was something out of the ordinary. An odd lump at the top of the rock caught my attention, so I bent down for a closer look.

I couldn't help but smile at what I saw.

(Did you smile, too?)

Do you look down when you walk? Do you look up? How about overhead? 

Where have you found the nicest surprises?

Shirley on a Rolly Thing

When I saw my niece (check out her handstand on the right side of the photo! We're both amazing) zipping around on this little white two-feeter unit, I asked for a turn.

Wow. Watch out! Windmill arms coming through!

My niece didn't have that windmilling feature on her speedy quick ride through the house. She just zippity-do-dahed right along, arms wherever she wanted them to go, not focusing on keeping her balance.

She was just... balanced!

Well, adventurous Anderson girls abound, so of course my little sister had to take a turn. She got to where she could steer herself pretty well, and she didn't even run over my toes!

My son Scott got the hang of it so quickly that he rolled down the hallway with perfect balance in a kind of creepy-blue-lights-robot/alien-coming-to-get-you (Look, Ma, no hands!) 

If you had to the chance to ride this space age- looking thing (which I was told is called a "hoverboard" EVEN THOUGH IT ROLLS, PEOPLE!) would you ride it?

Why?

Thanks Daddy Dell and Momma Ru

My parents were so popular with our friends and neighborhood kids that my father, Dell Anderson, was given the nickname "Daddy Dell."

(Try singing this... 'The farmer Daddy Dell, the farmer Daddy Dell, Heigh ho the dairy-o, the farmer Daddy Dell.') See? It works!

(Isn't he handsome? He never lost his hair throughout his life, either! I think he looks like a celebrity.)

Daddy Dell

President Kennedy

So then the neighborhood kids came up with "Mama Ru" for my mother, Ruth Anderson. She was always setting extra places at the table for kids who would frequently drop by for meals, especially only child Ronnie Ballant, who seemed to be there every evening for dinner. Mom didn't even blink an eye, but fed whoever, whenever.

More than one person said she resembled the actress Myrna Loy. Go ahead, see for yourself! They could be sisters!

Mama Ru

Myrna Loy

So at this Thanksgiving time, I wish to say I'm thankful for my parents adding me to their big, happy family, because my brothers (2) and sisters (5...I make 6) are my ROCKS. They ROcK LiKE A PaRTy!

LOVE YOU!

Who's your rock?

Why there's a Pirate Flag on a Pink Car

I spied this car on one of my morning walks, and it made me stop and take a picture. If I didn't know the family, I would probably be able to come up with several theories behind the appearance of a pirate flag on a pink car. But this is the best reason I know of:

This family had four girls before they had a boy, so either one of the girls is really into pirates, or they already had a pink play car and didn't want to invest in another one, so they "pirate-ized" the one they already had for their son to ride. It could also be true that the girls and their brother collaborated on this effort, deciding to play "Pirate and Lady Pirates."

Whatever the reason, it struck my fancy, and I hope it tickles yours!

"You Look Like A Giraffe"

How honest can a sister get?

I jumped at the chance to go on a spontaneous road trip with two of my sisters. With only time to sling my hair into a ponytail, I ignored the limp curls left over from the day before. Why do I bother curling it when it doesn't like to hold onto curls for more than a couple of hours? I suppose it's because human nature makes us want what we don't have.)

On the road, I discovered that my sister Rebecca planned to treat Carolyn and me to a birthday lunch. (I had my birthday last month, and Carolyn is looking forward to hers next month. She'll be 48, but her Down Syndrome makes her perpetually childlike.)

Carolyn delightedly chose the restaurant and we walked in with empty tummies and great anticipation. As we seated ourselves, Carolyn turned to me and said, "You look like a giraffe."

"What?" I'll admit I was surprised. "Is it because I'm so tall?"

She shook her head. "It's your hair. You look like a giraffe." Then she pointed to Rebecca's ponytail and said, "I like hers better. It's smooth."

In case you can't tell giraffe from pony, I'm in the red shirt, Rebecca's in the blue. Mom's taking the picture while Carolyn is in the car, laughing. 

What do you think? Who's the giraffe?

Now ask yourself... what animal do you resemble?

A good day for smiling

Here's my sassy sister Rebecca with a cool fashion tip for you: when you wear glamorous scarf like she does (she pulls it off so well, don't you think?) then PIN the scarf to your shirt so it doesn't flop around like an octopus tentacle when you're trying to get some work done. Look how classy! (Rebecca is a classy lady.)

It's fun to smile when your sister Loraine (in the green) makes you laugh. Of course she would do it on a day when I (in red) was without my waterproof mascara on! (Now that's funny!)

But the best reason of all to smile today is because it's my son Zack's birthday. I don't care how big he gets, he'll always be my boy. 

What is it that makes you smile today? If you haven't smiled yet, go out and do a smiley thing, then come back and tell us what you did. Happy people want to know, and sad people need to know!