Who knew that a morning spent tying little raffia bows and planting wildflower seeds could be so much fun?  Actually, these are wedding favors for my daughter, Bonnie, and her dearly beloved. I like what she's doing; the wedding actually reflects who she and Matthew are - down to earth, outdoorsy people with a sense of humor and joy.  I like that.  The wedding decorations include butterflies (no, not live ones - one of the guests has an insect phobia, and Bonnie didn't want to go there) and California wildflowers.  Its simple, but its going to be lovely, especially given that the location is an old Spanish-revival mansion and garden.

Anyway.  After we were done, we spend some time playing with the dogs (or, actually, letting the dogs play with us), drinking way too much coffee and talking.  It was a good morning.  The talking was the best part.  Bonnie's my youngest and I'm kind of blown away sometimes by how my shy little girl grew into such a powerful, kindhearted young woman.  Maybe that's a part of becoming a nurse?  You can't very well be a shrinking violet and take good care of your patients, now, can you?   My friend Dave once said that if he woke up in the morning and the headline of the LA Times read: BONNIE TAKES OVER THE WORLD, he 1) wouldn't be surprised, and 2) wouldn't be worried.  I think I understand what he meant. 

Its a weird feeling, getting to know your adult children. Its not the same as when they were teeny tiny, or even teenagers.  They'll have grown and changed, developed in ways you couldn't foresee.  What is very cool, though, is looking at this person and realizing that you'd love to spend time with them even if you weren't related. 

That's the kind of morning it was.  Yay.

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Success!  Finally got the harp strings changed ... I feel better already.  I'll need to tune again later - tonight, or tomorrow morning - but at least the broken strings aren't hanging there, reproachfully staring at me.  There's something dreadful about a neglected instrument;  seeing Luciana with broken strings was like looking at a once-lovely old lady, now with broken teeth.  You know? She looks much prouder, all restrung and tuned up.

It had been a while since I'd had to change a string, and I went to YouTube for a refresher on how to tie a good knot, etc. etc., and Thank You God / Goddess / All-That-Is, the grande dame herself, Sylvia Woods, had a short, sweet, and oh-so-helpful video online.  I love Sylvia Woods and www.harpcenter.com.  I'd wanted to play an instrument from the time I was a child; Sylvia made it seem like not such a pie-in-the-sky dream, but something achievable even for an adult beginner. But that's a story for another day!