Potatoes, Lanterns, Bee Stings and A Dose of Reality

I think I am becoming a photography junkie. I find that I'm carrying my camera with me everywhere I go, and when I don't have it on me, I'm always thinking, "oooh, I should take a picture of that." Deep down, I am still a purist.  I'd much rather have a handful of photographs from my SLR than be sitting in front a computer screen scrolling through pictures. But, I guess I'm becoming a sucker for the convenience and immediate satisfaction of digital prints.
So, with that said, I have pictures to share today.
It has been on my mind lately to get some potatoes out of my pantry and little paint to do some good old fashioned potato-stamping. Several years ago, my college roommate and I ran a nature camp and had so much fun doing this with the kids. So, on a whim today, I finally got out the knife and potatoes and carved two simple squares for stamping. I wanted to do an easy shape, but at the same time, I really like the simplicity of the square in different sizes. Maybe it's the subliminal mommy square, baby square effect that I'm drawn to.  I was having so much fun stamping by myself, and then emma wandered in with two of her own tshirts to stamp. It was lots of fun and I'm pleased with the results. One of Emma's shirts is on the left, and I did the baby onesie for Mary.

Last week, I saw these Chinese Lanterns for sale in a thrift store. I didn't buy any, but when I mentioned them to my mother-in-law, she said she had them in her back yard garden. So, this afternoon I picked a whole bunch and trimmed off the leaves because apparently they dry really well.  I love the vibrant colors. 

When I was looking for information about them online. I found this website about a blossom and seed swap. It sounds so interesting. I will have to check it out when I have more time. What a neat idea.
While we were picking flowers a yellow jacket landed on Emma's calf. When she stood up to run away (mostly because her mother was freaking out yelling, "emma's there's a bee on you, get up, get up!!") she caught the bee between her calf and thigh and it stung her.  Oh, I HATE bee stings.

Just as I was typing this, she came into the room in her most dramatic, frail voice and told me that now she won't be able to do anything-- not eat, not play, not nap, not pickup, not go anywhere...all because of her bee sting. It is too much to handle. 
Maybe I need a bee sting, too...
Lastly, for a dose of reality, and to avoid having my day sound like a romantic afternoon of artwork and flower-picking, let me confess that last night's dinner dishes are still on the counter, there are wet clothes in the washing machine and wrinkled, unfolded clothes in the dryer, goldfish crackers are swimming around my living rug, and if I rolled around on my carpets for a few minutes, I'd stand up with an extra layer of dog hair for warmth.  That is reality.