Gettin' My Hair Did

   Waiting my turn, actually. Bob's busy. And with as crazy as this week (year!) has been at work, I'm thinking maybe I should tell him, "Screw the haircut, just give me the extended scalp massage."

Tag Team Tompkins

   Diane & Madeline, aka "Tag Team Tompkins", the dynamo mother-and-daughter duo has some fantastic new letterpress prints, hot off the presses of Skylab! They're also featured in the special Halloween issue of Better Homes & Gardens, on newsstands now. Hurry on over to their Etsy shop to get your favorite quotes, immortalized with Diane's cut-paper silhouettes, and Madeline's hand-lettering.
   I just purchased my favorites, the two prints above, and bought frames for them this morning. The printing quality is so high, with a heavy white paper and crisp inks. They look incredible as soon as you pop them in the frame—no mat required! I love how their work is so balanced: lovely, but with teeth—many of the quotes have dark undertones.
   I've been fortunate to know the Tompkins family for many years now; they're my unofficial home-away-from-home here in KC. Great people. So what are you waiting for? Get some prints!

Read about them on Paper Crave

Read their interview on the Neenah Paper Blog

   Madeline graciously surprised me with this print, and although the image features a Scottish Terrier, I'm reasonably sure that she had my Aki in mind when she lettered it. (It's certainly Aki's attitude!)

Love thy neighbor

   Oh, I do. Here's why: In June 2009, there were a couple of times when I noticed that my back lawn seemed to be growing faster than my front lawn. I would have to mow the back every week at least, while the front could go longer. Huh. Maybe I put more fertilizer in the back yard? Then one day I was working upstairs on the computer & heard what sounded like a lawn mower very close to my house. I peeked out the window, and there was my neighbor Bob, on a ride-on zero-turn-radius mower, going all the way across both his yard & mine!
   After he finished (because he wouldn't have heard me otherwise), I went outside to thank him. And before I could open my mouth he asked if I MINDED if he mowed for me. He said it's just as easy for him to do both yards at once. And he has been mowing my yard once a week—or as needed—ever since!
   I've left gifts & cards for him & Laura occasionally, which they keep telling me isn't necessary. But seriously, not only does he mow, he also does the EDGING, as evidenced in this photo that I took out the kitchen window this morning. The man is my hero. I'm assuming that because he started soon after I broke up with my ex, he wanted to give me a hand. And I am equally surprised & thankful every time he has mowed since.
   What can I learn from this? Don't ever pass up the opportunity to surprise someone & help them out. Don't expect anything in return. And be good to your neighbors.