Little People Everywhere

It all started out so innocently. As a new mother I just wanted basic imaginative toys for my daughters. Nothing that had a battery operated voice or buttons that bleep and beep as they are sitting upside down in the toy box. I had several of my own little people from childhood. As my girls bonded with their new "friends" I was buying them when ever I saw them. I couldn't say no to anyone, they are so cute with their little plastic faces (the toys, not my children). They would be sitting at the bottom of a box full of junk toys and I would dig them out usually for a quarter. But those days of finding 7-8 at a time are gone. Now people have them neatly lined up on their flea market tables asking way too much money. Though at times it seemed I was obsessed digging through other peoples things just to find a green bald-headed little man...I am glad I did. When my kids are grown I imagine dividing them up into equal collections so they too can see the loving hands of their own children playing with their plastic friends.

Speaking of being obsessed, I got way too carried away playing with these people today. Here is our family...

Freckles and all. Ken is away from us for a couple more months. This makes my heart hurt. Plastic smooching isn't the same...

I love my family, all 300 of them.

PS Our cat is old and grouchy...what a trouble maker!

Apron of the Week 2

This apron is from a box of goodies from my mother. Her grandparents saved everything. I mean everything...they were lovely people and lived during a great time. She labeled everything and why it had sentimental value. Through these little notes I feel like I know her. She was born in the late 1880's. She lived through her children and her love is still strong within her things. Does that make sense? My grandfather always said he had a perfect childhood. He was taught well as he was a storybook grandfather to me. It is always a special gift to receive a box of hand-me-downs from my mother!


Things have been crazy at home being the last week of school but luckily I have found time for some sewing therapy. These quick pj's for Molly used a yard of gingham, a Michael's $2.50 shirt and an iron on from the thrift store.

I was attempting to take a pretty outdoor picture of this shirt when the yard service people showed up in ambush fashion...I felt a little silly having to stretch and reach my shirt from a tree and skip da lou into the house. Anyhow this pattern (New Look 6775) has several nice styles, I will try a dress next.

Sesame Street is over, which means in short I must go. Tootleloo!

Thank You

Memorial Day

The words to "Taps"

Day is done, gone the sun

From the hills, from the lake

From the sky.

All is well, safely rest.

God is nigh.

Fade the light; And afar

Goeth day, And the stars

Shineth bright,

Fare thee well;

Day had gone

Night is on.

Thanks and praise, For our Days,

'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,

Neath the sky,

As we go, This we know,

God is nigh.

history and the homemaker

Kitchens of the past were so sparsely furnished. There was limited counter space, the energy to create wonderful meals from scratch was provided by the homemaker and not from a machine that we conveniently plug in. We are so lucky! One house I lived in was built in 1830, it still had a lacking kitchen--there was no place appropriate for a fridge. This was my favorite house, it had a certain romance about it. The kitchen was the hub of the house. Baked goods tasted best there. It was the only place I ever canned anything. I am grateful I don't have to do the infinite amount of chores women had to do 100 years ago, everything was work. But at the same time I wish we could all slow our pace and appreciate ourselves just a bit more. So here I sit at home with a beautiful kitchen stocked with my favorite dishes, appliances and food. No cow to milk, no butter to churn, no bread to bake... so why don't I feel like making dinner?

The above illustration is from "Bluberries for Sal" by Robert McCloskey.

Apron of the Week

I bought this apron many years ago from a woman who was glad to be rid of it. She had a rather large pile of aprons and needle work. Every item was a dollar and I only picked two aprons. Was I crazy? This is often the case with me...always in a hurry with my eyes set to the next point rather than enjoying the present.

The first roses of the season. The bushes are loaded with buds and a couple more warm days will force them out. They smell so good!

First of Many

Henry has his first skinned knees. He is 17 months and has been a runner for all of about two weeks. Whenever the phone or doorbell rings he is one step ahead of me, but it's okay as he is so darn cute.

a happy weekend

Everything is beautiful...the weather, my family, the crowded flea market, the weekend art festival. I wish the weekend could last forever. Sigh.

But yes, let us get back to the crowded flea market. I found some great stuff today. The box of patterns is my favorite. There are some great dress patterns. The pitcher set is just lovely. It reminds me of my Gram. She was such a dear woman. She was very elegant but yet resourceful...so pretty and feminine. What would she think of my t-shirt and bad ponytail habit?

I am really trying to put my best foot forward with my emotions and our upcoming move this summer. I think I have braced myself for the move and often wish the moving van would arrive today. It is all the unknowns that get to me. I am really trying to think in a more positive way. I gripe a lot about how often Ken is away. I need to stop! 15 years is a lot of griping! In the big picture we are blessed with our family and his job.

My two oldest Hadley and Maggie are always full of fashion advice for me (and trust me I have lots for them). Maggie did my hair this weekend and I actually like it. It's nice to have a fresh perspective. Although this is the same girl that wanted to wear mustard yellow tights and a skirt with Converse sneakers.

Lastly here are a couple new sundresses for Molly. They were both very easy. The blue and yellow is a Project Runway pattern. The pink and green one is a Holly Hobbie fabric from last year. I had to force myself to cut into it.

Thanks for visiting my blog...I hope your weekend was beautiful, too.

Still here

A hectic couple weeks...has anyone missed me? Does anyone read these words? Who are you? What defines you? Are you happy?

These last weeks have been spent experiencing every emotion. I wasn't feeling well and my father came to visit. Is this a good mix? The kids became absolutely insane without the normalcy of my regular routines. Do you ever go through something like that and can't imagine the life you led while you were well? I missed my energy. Now I'm up and running, Papa has gone home. I am dressed decently with make up mind you and could tap dance with Molly in the living room. My beautiful husband comes home this weekend and I am very grateful for feeling better. Molly will turn five tomorrow. I am not sure where the time has gone as she was just my little baby girl. Birthday's are big doings in our house. Who doesn't like cake and a stack of gifts? By big doings I guess I mean to us it is a big deal. We are not the rent a clown and jumpy castle kind of people. More like hide the cake in the laundry room and hang balloons from the dining room chandelier. I like to decorate for each kid, in the beginning when the older girls were young I had fun finding vintage Holly Hobbie party stuff and making patchwork tablecloths, as they grew older I realized vintage to a kid was just the old stuff from Mom's closet, they wanted glitter and pinatas. Molly is still young enough to enjoy the junk from my closet and I am excited to make her day fun. Speaking of Holly Hobbie I made the above costume for Molly, I hope someday she treasures it as it took me way too long to make!

My list is long with playing catch up. My sewing machine has dust on it, so does the elliptical.

Have a great Monday!