Yesterday, the mail person brought me the loveliest present.  Cute "Thank You" notes from the twins for birthday cards and money we sent.  But best of all, the package also contained pictures of the boys.  I tried to post these pictures on my Facebook wall but could not get them to download.  Hope I have better luck with this Blog.

THE TOLMAN BOYS

Design

Just finished doing things to my openeing page.  Have spent the whole morning (another day wasted) playing with this Blog.  I am wondering if it is really goingto be worth the effort?

Beginning

In my first attempt at blogging, of course, as usual, I encountered a major glitch on the way.  I spent my Sabbath morning creating my first blog, and then invited everyone on Facebook to look in.  Somehow, nothing I wrote that day was saved.   For those who visited, all that was there (here) was a blank page. Grr-r-r!  When all else fails, read the instructions--my  motto for life!  I went to the Blogger site, downloaded the "Getting Started Guide", actually read it, and here goes for my second attempt.  For anyone joining me, this will  give you an inkling of what to be prepared for with my journaling.  Can anyone give me advice on getting the "Service Unavailable 503" thing?  I went to Blogger/help and all I got were umpteen thousand other posts complaining about the same thing, but no solutions offered.

Well, here goes.  I am starting this journal with the encouragement of my dear granddaughter-in-law, Kala, and the inspiration of my other granddaughter-in-law, Alyssa.  This is a picture of me and my dear companion of 58 years, George.  More about him later.  All my life, I have been encouraged by my church to keep a journal, and except for a few special incidents, I have pretty much ignored the advice.  But, here I am, at the age of 78 (in a few more days) opening my mind to the world.  I am not sure the world can handle it.   How fortunate that this site has a spell-check feature.  What learning shorthand (in high school) did not do to affect my spelling ability, studying French, and learning to "get by" in Spanish finished it off.

I am trying to think of some interesting things to but in this blog.  Things that might be interesting to others, besides myself. 

Creativity:  I spent every morning last week experimenting with making pictures to put on the  front  of note cards.  When I really should have been folding laundry, ironing, or some other long neglected household drudgery, I was very happily creating little miniature pictures with watercolors, marking pens, crayons, and pen and ink and cutting and pasting and making a big mess on my desk top.  George said not a word about the time I spent (managed to get supper on the table on time).  He thought I was relaxing.  Actually, I was making a set of cards as a thank-you-gift for a friend, and getting cards made to use as prototypes to submit to a an artist convention with the idea of teaching a class using my techniques.  This coming week, I must sew.  I will talk about that project next week.