supper tonight

It was cool and rainy today, one last chance for vegetable barley soup. I make this a little too often. But it is easy and guilt free...unless you eat it with a too big hunk of homemade bread slathered in butter.

Saturday Charm

My latest bag, it was a fairly simple pattern from Grand Revival called the Flea Market bag.

I spent today and yesterday burning a tank of gas going to yard sales. It wasn't productive at first. I didn't find anything that would make me do cartwheels. But my last two stops this morning I hit the motherload with clothes for my youngest two kids and books for the whole family. My ten year old was with me, he is the best yard saling partner though I am not sure why he likes to go as he does a lot of standing around and holding piles of books with teetering objects on top. But he never complains! I have yard saled over the years with different friends and relatives (sorry sisters) not to mention my husband (gasp) but my green eyed boy is the best. He can inventory an entire yard sale in about twenty seconds and tell me what is where. How many ten year olds know how excited their mother is over Fire King hand painted bowls and which Trixie Belden are needed to complete a set? I love that kid!

I am working on a darling dress for Molly. I seriously can't stop combining yellow and blue. Maybe when Spring turns to Summer, then I will turn all red, white and navy. Anyhow the carefully cut and pieced dress is now balled up in a cloth bag as we had 20 minutes to tidy before a realtor arrived. I swiped my whole sewing table (10 ft long) into two tote bags. I have never seen my sewing table so naked. My oldest saved the day for me as I quickly became overwhelmed. But now that's done and I can haul all our junk out from its hiding places. I will grill supper for my yard sale assistant, it's his favorite.

flea market finds

This past weekend was perfect. The weather was beyond beautiful, this of course equates to flea market utopia. I had no business being there knowing we are moving this summer but what is a girl to do? I love Eloise Wilkin, her art work is so nostalgic. I saved my Golden Books from childhood hoping that someday I would be toting around a chubby baby like she illustrated so well. This is the second oversized Eloise Wilkin book I have found. The other one is about childhood. I'm not sure how many there are.

Who doesn't have a weakness for hand stitched linens? I found this aqua stitched tablecloth to match all the pyrex I collect here and there. The tablecloth is the perfect size and it was only two dollars!

My husband was also able to visit. It had been nearly four weeks since we had seen him. The kids were ecstatic. A weekend is too short but definitely better than not seeing him at all. I carry around so much woe about the military but truth be told I guess I would never be so appreciative of my husband if I didn't miss him all the time. He is my hero!

Bubby is done with his lunch, by that I mean he has consumed what he wanted...the rest is on the floor. Where is Eloise Wilkin's painting of that???

pick up after yourself

I have many ideas swirling around in my head...sewing, crafting, baking. It is what keeps me level, those ideas. It is fun to plan and organize. At least for me! My kids think I am too organized, I guess from their point of view I am. Lately it seems all I do is follow them around declaring a mess here and there. There is not much time for anything else at this point. I seriously disgust this part of selling a house. You never know how much time you will have to tidy up before a showing, on top of my regular cleaning primping the house to its full glory wipes me out. My youngest daughter and I like to wear our cleaning "uniforms" usually retro aprons and indoor red Keds. And truthfully all this nervous energy I feel about selling the house makes good use of my time. I have several patterns cut out and ready, dinners are planned a week in advance. The kids know to wipe out the toothpaste from their sink and put their clothes away...NOW! Having said all that I am anxious to move and be settled and make a mess. This is our house...wanna buy it????

thoughts

Recently I had posted and included a picture of my son. It began to bother me that I put his picture on the internet. Does this bother anyone else? I have since deleted it and feel much better. I often see other posts with family pics and enjoy them but I guess you can never be too careful. From now on it'll be plain and simple. Like me.

The new Victorian Papers came in the mail and this was on the cover. Isn't she sweet? I wish I could wear a hat and look cute. It's a matter of confidence I think. When I wear a hat my subconscious is yelling LOOK AT MY HAT. Like I am riding a unicycle or something. Whereas my sister can wear any hat and look perfectly natural.

Anyhow I stayed up and made another shirt. I bought this pattern months ago. After seeing posted so often I am proud to say it is my favorite new old pattern. Have a wonderful day.

Cherry Pie is Cheery

A cherry pie eaten at a picnic table is divine. I cheated with this one and used canned cherries. Top it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and my belly won't know the difference. '

Today I filled our old clunky truck with bulky house stuff and donated it. Usually it is the other way around. I leave the house with nothing and come home with junk. But it feels good! The stuff I choose to hang on to would be the first stuff most would give away. It is usually the smallest tattered thing that gives me inspiration. Today an old children's farm book inspired me to cut out white shortalls with blue gingham trim for my four year old. It's strange how that happens.

What a rainy day. It was a perfect day to sit and sew while the little ones had their afternoon naps. It was also a great day to have a cup of tea (or two) and lounge around in my yoga pants.

What's your favorite way to spend a rainy afternoon?

It's April! This morning my daughter was running wild outside with the wind blowing her hair every which way. She found a little egg that must have blown out of its nest during last nights storms. It was so tiny and delicate. It was a noisy night with thunder booming and wind and rain. This morning it seemed so calm and quiet.

I have sorted and stacked my "keep handy" fabric stash. Once it goes in the trunk it might be months or even years before I dig it out again. I made a little doll dress with Spring in mind. I'm on a robins egg blue and yellow kick.

Back to my day...