Laura is a teenager today

Hard to believe the ten year old turned thirteen today. She has developed an independent and lovely sense of self and still runs up the stairs two at a time. Like all her siblings she is unremittingly cheerful.

When the walls of her room became populated entirely by her portraits of unicorns it was time to corral her direction, and the lovely Mrs. P is guiding her, through still life of squash and fried eggs. Mrs. P’s hip replacement is not progressing perfectly and she had to give up most of her teaching. Laura and one other student she kept, drawing away at the kitchen counter.

Art seems a part of Laura, like running up stairs two at a time. It is expressed in things she can control, like her drawing. Her style in clothing could not be imitated. Most of both girls’ wardrobes are either hand-me-downs or thrift store.  But as these two are at the end of the sibling and cousin line, where come the pass alongs? From adults. A friend of Jan’s is downsizing and sending the tiny clothes she wore thirty years ago. Laura selects carefully and rocks her choices.

Ann sent a backseat full of good clothing from her eighties office days. Blouses, nice tees that were outgrown, and the like. Watching Laura select what to keep was so interesting. The tees went to the donate pile. The office blouses were “keep.” Sometimes I wonder if she’s embarrassed by not looking like every other girl in class, but I don’t think so.

On my cell phone; a blouse from Ann. Look at the beautiful quill work. 

We were waiting at a nursery for our plants to be rung up;

I just took the picture.

Laura loves skirts, and probably dresses, too, but is limited to her sources, I think. I took Emily to help me find her a skirt to go with the leggin’s that flash up the stairs, two at a time. We didn’t hit pay dirt before I crapped out (my limit is thirty minutes before I seize up), but we did pass this dress, and it said “leggings and her blue jean jacket” to me.

Laura’s birthday present, on Helen, my faithful studio model of woven scarves.

Helen has no legs, or I would have found leggin's.

Helen does have perky little breasts, like the sister-in-law she was named for.

That was so long ago....