My Father, The Bonsai Master

Gentle reader,

I love my folks. I’m properly close to my Ma and Pa. Sometimes I suspect I’m adopted because they’re far more awesome than I could ever hope to be. My Pa is one of those people who are so talented at everything that it makes the color drain from your face and throw up in your mouth a little bit because you may as well pack up and go home, but in a good way.  ^_~

One of his more recent hobbies is bonsai plants. The other week he sent me an email with some photos of his plants as some of them were in flower. I was so taken with them that I simply had to share them with you.

Here’s what he had to say:

Hi Ralphie,

Not sure if this is going to work, but here goes.
I have attached some photos of by bonsais, the bougainvillea is just gorgeous and my desert rose is just starting to flower, it’s pretty too.

Luv Pa.

His nickname for me is Ralphie. None of us remember why. When I asked him if there was any info he particularly wanted me to include, he said “Just point out that my bonsai  skills are still in their infancy.” If these are his amateur bonsai, I’m fairly certain that his expert ones will make my eyes bleed with awe and incredulity. But anyway, here’s the bougainvillea; isn’t it a thing to behold?

The little thing in the corner of the pot is a little ceramic pagoda. I also feel a bit bad for cropping of Buddha’s head! Oops! Sorry, B-man!

This one is the desert rose. Isn’t it wonderful!? I wish I’d inherited Pa’s green thumb, but unfortunately I haven’t had tooooo much luck so far. Maybe I’ll have another attempt at gardening at our next house. But, I’ll leave the bonsai to him… that’d be biting off a bit more than I can chew, I think!

Pa has lots of other amazing hobbies that I’m sure I’ll share with you sooner or later. He also does decorative knot work (more in the maritime knot tradition rather than macrame, I think. It’s a bit different) which is kind of amazeballs. I have a rope mat that he made me, and some key chain charms. I love ’em!

Thanks for letting me brag about my Pa! I do adore him so. I’ll have some more knitting and crochet for you very soon! The last few posts have been all sorts of different things – I hope you liked ’em – but don’t worry, the yarn-iness will be back, I promise!

What interesting hobbies and talents are there within your family? It’s your turn to brag about your famz in the comments! Sharezies!

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I Have So Many Loves For GlassTieStudio

Gentle reader,

I’m pretty lucky. Like, so lucky it’s almost cray-to-the-azy. One of the ways in which I am lucky is that I have some of the best ladies in the world in my life. One of those ladies is one of my dearest, most precious, delightfulest friends Elise (we totes went to prom together where we made everyone jealous of how awesome we are, or at least, that’s my story ^_~ ). She’s one of the most unique, beautiful people I’ve ever met, and she’s in New Zealand living her dream working for WETA now. Are you totes jel? Sure you are, natch. We also share a determined vow to find a portal to Narnia. We leave no wardrobe un-rummaged!

Now, Elise’s mother is one of those other amazing ladies. Beth is super-extra-special to me, because when I was in America, I really missed my Ma (I’m an only child, so my parents were – still are! – my besties), so, I borrowed Elise’s mom to get my mothering fix. I think of her as my American Mom or my MeriMom, as I call her. You can’t not love her! Impossible! She’s the most! And making some foreign-stranger-child feel welcome and safe is a gift that could only come from a capital-G Good heart. But, why am I gushing like a babbling brook about her? Cuz she’s also an incredible glass artist, and she’s just opened an Etsy store too, and I wanna show her off!

GlassTieStudio is amazeballs. No lie.

Those colors! That plate! Are you dying? You should totally go there and add her to your fave stores. G’on! Get and do it HERE! So much loves.