Happy Birthday Elly

This is the first March 24th in twenty-one years that I haven't spent with my eldest. She's in Dublin preparing for an exam and interview in order to enter a new school. She's accompanied on her journey by her boyfriend, making a sort of mini-holiday out of five days. If I remember correctly, they're going to have a wander through Dun Laoghaire and later check out the Guinness Storehouse for a tour and a meal.

Going through old photos of her, it's easy to see how much she's changed over the years, but I can also see the person who she's always been.

Elly loves the sunshine, the rain, the snow, the trees, the clouds, the wind, and the flowers. When she was little she liked knowing that her name meant "sunshine".

Elly at less than a year.



At one and a bit.



At two and a half (looking a bit gnome-ish).



Elly loves people, old or young. Nothing makes her happier than to be in conversation with another person, and she has a great gift for relating to others no matter how different they are from her. She also adores animals. In planning for a move overseas, when talk turns to things she'll need to get once she's there, the conversation frequently starts with, "I'll need a cat".I've had to put a moratorium on her bringing anymore pets into the house.

At six.



She loves art and books, and has a fantastic memory for words and a great gift for writing. These particular gifts will serve her very well in the future.

At eleven - sketching at Lower Fort Garry.



Where's the best place to find people and conversation? A party, of course. Another of Elly's great loves in life, THE EVENT. Whether it's a loose gathering of friends at coffee shop, or something more grand and formal, this is where she feels at home and comfortable.

At eighteen.



Happy Birthday Elly!

Birthday Part I and Handmade Part I

I've got two first halves of things to show you today.

First of firsts, we had a brief mini birthday for my eldest last Saturday. It was only a mini event because it wasn't her birthday.

Elly will turn 21 (...21?!...) on the 24th, but since she's going to be in Dublin (...Dublin?!...) at that time, we thought we'd give her part of her birthday present early.



She wanted a new camera,



she went to the store and chose one and told me, "quick, go get it, the sale ends tomorrow."






Why Elly, you look surprised and delighted, I guess those years of acting lessons really were worth it.



Second of firsts is my handmade-of-the-month for Jane.

I posted it on Monday so it should be there Wednesday or Thursday. Since it hasn't arrived yet, I won't show the final product. However, this is the beginning:




I didn't use all of this, only bits and pieces. Some beads, some undyed silk ribbon and those fantastic undyed silk cocoons (worm removed, if you don't mind).

and this is the end: