Kate Middleton becomes HRH The Duchess of Cambridge

I was up with what seems like half the world today--tethered to reality by only my sewing machine, my iPhone/Twitter, and my sleepy poodle. 

Of all that has been said and written, broadcast and published, I think I like this image best.  It captures that precious moment in her life when she's in a liminal state.  Not quite moving forward, but not part of the past. 

xxoo

jenni

Life as a Peer

You may address me as Lady Ada Murphy-Frankford.

What is your Royal Wedding name?
Start with Lord or Lady.
Add 1st name of your favorite grandparent.
Your surname is your family pet & the street on which you grew up.

xxoo

Jenni, I mean, Lady Ada M-F

Sent from my iPhone

Lord, what fools these mortals be

A little birdie told me there might be a royal wedding on Friday.  While the wedding is supposedly going to be a spare affair because of these tough economic times, let us think back to the reign of the luxuriously-gowned Queen Elizabeth.  (Plus I found this cute little book amongst my things at school.  I just love the cover.) 

Here's an accounting of Queen Elizabeth's spending (accounts kept by the Keepr of the Queen's Purse):

jewels               about 2294 pounds
horses               about 524 pounds
lute strings        about 74 pounds
perfumes           about 68 pounds
curtains             about 7 pounds
food for deer     about 145 pounds

Payments to Queen's silkwoman      about 702 pounds
Payments to Queen's embroiderer    about 203 pounds

A woman after my own heart.  Most of her money goes to: jewels, textiles, decoration, and animals. 

xxoo
jenni

Festive Week

Images Pinterest via creaturecomfortsblog; onbluepoolroad; erinheartscourt

I'm celebrating my birthday week.  (Yes, it's now a week of festivities.)  Perhaps even more than a week by the time I'm done with it.  Why not live it up?  Make hay while the sun shines? Gather ye rosebuds while ye may? And all those other carpe diem cliches...

Just a quiet week--Easter week so no fireworks.  Just a few days off school.  Some sewing.  Some reading.  Most likely some napping.  Cake will also be involved.  And pie.  Aaaaaaand maybe a few walks around the block. 

And getting ready for the Etsy Dallas Spring Bash. 

xxoo

jenni

Slicing and Dicing

I can think of a few ways to save paper....

Lost In Translation

So my kids are awesome. Just going to throw that out there.  But every so often, a girl will say something really awesomely bad. 

Today's awesome badness: A Play in One Act.

Kid 1: isn't The Lion King really just a Hamlet adaptation?

Me: From what I can recall of the three times I watched it in French class in high school, yes.  But that was long ago and, as I've said,  I've only seen it in French. 

Kids, in general, cacophony: what? you speak French? you've never seen "The Lion King"? 

Me: Well, I used to be quite proficient in French.  But that was many years ago. 

after some time passed, and the conversation had drawn to a close...

Kid 2 (awesomely bad): But, Ms. A., didn't you watch The Lion King when you were little? 

Me: blank stare.  blank stare.  blank stare.  blank stare. 

Me: Say that again?  Yes, when I was "little" circa 1994, I watched it all the time. 


Hakuna Matatttttta...or whatever,
jenni (older than dirt)

A lesson in etymology

And what it means to me today:

1. seeing this photo on my desk every morning
2. listening to my students making their post-graduation plans
3. wondering why I felt the need to lean down in a weird way--I suppose so I wouldn't obscure the A in Scotland?

xxoo
jenni

Manic Monday

I feel a bit scattered today.  A little not whole.  Cracked due to little sleep.  Stress at work.  You know: the typical Manic Monday. 

Sources: background right bottom left

 
Hoping I can paste myself together and get on with the day, else I'll just float down to Camelot...
 
xxoo
Jenni

Giveaway Winner

Christina, you chronic dog-earer of the Chronicles, email me your mailing address!

Confessions of a Bookworm: Corner Keeper Bookmark

At the risk of sounding like an ABBA song: I've always been a reader--even before I could read.  Mother has pictures of me as a teeny tot just staring, pouring over books, books, books. 

I learned to read early; although, Mother didn't believe that I wasn't just memorizing the words until I grabbed her paperback on a road trip and started reading something like "and in her eyes, he could read all the simmering passion her mouth could not speak."

And when I was younger, I'd get grounded not from friends or tv, but from books.  Torture, I assure you.  I'm fairly certain I was the only kid whose biggest thrill was picking out the books I'd take to summer camp to read during siesta in the hot afternoons....and having to have those books hidden from me until the day of the trip because I'd not be able to resist and read them all cover to cover.

Yes, let's confess to even more nerdiness.  It's okay, I don't mind.  I proudly own my bookworm, bluestocking status.  I typically theme-read my way through vacations.  (I read Giant on a recent trek through Marfa and Big Bend country.)  And there's nothing more enjoyable than reading a book cover to cover on a chilly Saturday morning snuggled in bed. 

So it's really no wonder that my heart is breaking that my local Borders location is closing.  It's not that I have a marked preference between B&N, Amazon, and Borders.  But Borders does hold a soft spot in my heart because at least 4 of every 7 days of the week in my crazy college years were spent, in part, at Borders on E. Liberty.  (Yes, in part because of the amazing potato soup and Zingermann's bread they served in the cafe, and because they would validate parking, and because I could read plays and monologue books for free.)

So it is with fond farwell that I say goodbye to the Borders on Preston/Royal--where I'd tutor private school kids in the evenings when I was in grad school and pick up great little gifts for friends--with a fun little giveaway.  An autographed copy of awesome Ree Drummond's (The Pioneer Woman) story of faith and love.

And a set of my oilcloth Corner Keeper Bookmarks (no dogeared pages, please!).  Soon to be in my etsy boutique after a great run as Bash Bag goodies for the 2011 Etsy Dallas Spring Bash.

To enter (leave one separate comment for each):

1. tell me about your favorite book ah-ha! moment in high school
2. tweet about the give-away, mentioning @jenni20designs so I can see it
3. tell me what book you dogeared until it practically barked at you
4. blog about the giveaway (x2 entries) and link back

That's it.  Awesome autographed hardback, cool set of Corner Keepers, and a Saturday morning of entertainment! Drawing will close on Saturday, April 9th.  And winner will be announced here. 

There's no frigate like a book!
xxoo
jenni

iPhone camera: good, bad, ugly

I adore my iPhone camera but loathe how long it takes to prep. I missed the most awesome shot: 100 people on Vespas, riding biker gang style

Sent from my iPhone