Friday, September 28, 2007

remember the sunflowers?


well you don't of course.
my son will.
when we moved here, in June 1997, the community we live in was much under construction. But down the street, amidst all the building, was the elementary school which had been built less than 10 years previously. Along the white fencing that surrounded the school were growing sunflowers. we watched them grow all summer long, taking many walks down and around the school. By the time school opened at the end of August there were gorgeous sunflowers peeking over the top of that fence. We really loved it. Once the next spring came we found out that the school had a "sunflower planting" tradition. Everyone gathered around the perimeter of the school and planted seeds. This continued until maybe the last 2 years - they removed the fence (more construction in the adjacent main road). If they planted sunflowers no one could tell. Most likely they don't have the same parents who would make sure those sunflowers got watered all summer long - who knows. But I know my family misses those sunflowers.
The stamp is from a set by StampinUp! and the alphas are Garamouche from Purple Onion Designs. I colored it in using my prismacolor pencils, mineral spirits, with a tortillon (that ever wonderful magic colored pencil technique).


8 comments:

Babsarella said...

What a cute card!!! Love the idea of the sunflowers around the school too!!

Will said...

What has the response been from DS on the card a day mission? Is he just loving them. I would so love and keep everyone. I still have all the notes my Dad wrote to me in college.

Tracy said...

he is liking them. i think he's shocked actually LOL!

lauren bergold said...

oh tracy, i sooooo LOVE this one!!! (i say that like it's a surprise, or like the others were the "merest bagatelle" as m. hercule poirot would say!)

i'm also excited that someone else knows the prismacolor + mineral spirits technique (OF COURSE you would!) and has managed to remind me what the little papercone brush thingies are called! (tortillons, duh!)

i don't think i have mentioned (this week) HOW MUCH you rock and how much i look forward to coming to see "the new pcs"! :)

Jean Katherine Baldridge said...

this is so sweet I love your memory! you are an artist AND a writer!

Sue McGettigan said...

You know I LOVE this one, I'm a sunflower fan :)

June Houck said...

Oh, this post card is REALLY special! I'll bet Joseph choose this as one of his favorites. The art work is particularly nice, as well as the memory :)

Lisa Renéa said...

How cool is your sunflower story! Dakota & I plant "sonflowers", I just love watching them grow!