I know I have been posting more on the sporadic side - I look at all the paintings I was doing this time last year and want to sigh - but here is a quick list of things going on in just about the past month or so, and maybe you'll forgive a slowness to post:

• family member in and out of hospitals since before Christmas
• dear friend and boss of 15 years passed away and I still miss him every day
• my sister's getting married: I made her wedding invitations
• and secondary invitations for the reception for people at work
• and invitations for her bridal shower
• which I also hosted at my house
• wedding at end of this month and I am in the wedding party
• Sophie's 6th birthday was this past Thursday
• Sophie's incredibly awesome fairy-themed birthday party this past weekend
• and I made hand-painted magic wands for each party-goer to take home after
• Peter and Angela's 5th birthday is today
• their safari party is next Saturday
• did I mention I have a day job
• and have been helping with my husband's paperwork to try to lighten his load
• this weekend is the super-fantastic mother's retreat
• and of course I am hand-lettering the poster for it
• ...there's more, but don't you think that's enough for now?

While a few of the things on this list are stressful, the majority of them are joyous, and for that I am truly thankful. But they all take time! Whenever I think, "Ooh, I should post that!", by the time I get the pictures in the computer, or sit down to write, I think it's all old news, and then I don't bother. So I'll throw it out to you: what do you want to hear about? Do you want to see the magic wands? Do you want to hear about the Mother's Retreat? Or none of the above, go paint something already?