UrbanLittleHouse

Wednesday Link Love

2012-02-09T00:26:00.001-05:00

I wish I could pack a knapsack and run away to Crystal Cottage! Click on the layout to see where it’s situated with the rest of the little cottages. Good-bye cruel world! I’m going into seclusion!

This looks like a simple way to perk up a package!

Imagine the shadows if the sun hit just right!

I would love to think I could do this in March. I could start with one and see where it leads me?

I have some blood oranges on hand. May give this a try. If that’s a success, I may move on to make this.

So many sweet ideas here, I wouldn’t know where to start. I’m a little partial to the marshmallow bear though.

This story! This picture!

Wednesday Link Love

2012-02-02T07:51:00.001-05:00

Some beautiful images of mothers and some great reading too.

Loving this little ring, and hoping to try to make one soon.

Can’t wait to hunt down an old watch like this (thrift store?!) to make this bracelet. Love it!

Amen to this, Sister. This is a fundamental difference in DH and I. He loves to have all small appliances lined up.

Sure hope I remember this site at Christmas time. I know any number of people who would love to have that solar powered waving queen!

Does this look heavenly, or what? I felt like I had been on a little getaway after looking at the pictures.

Black and White in Eastern Kentucky

2012-01-31T23:20:00.001-05:00

My smart, handsome, kind son made an important trip to Washington, D.C. over the weekend. It all went so well that the trip was golden….or was until he began his trip back to his college in Eastern Kentucky. Somewhere along the road it turned to black and white. Real white, a little black.

It doesn’t really matter how many books I read to my three little black children about injustice and bigotry, hoping to steal them against a world they knew little of. This mom is never truly prepared for the object of degradation to be one of her own. And I pray that they never get used to it either.

In a perfect world, moms don’t have to tell their kids to just keep their mouths shut, to not question or challenge, to just stay quiet and keep peace if they are cornered. But in a perfect world there would not be people ignorant enough to believe that skin color gives them entitlement, or that bullying is enjoyable.

In a perfect world, my son would not have seen a police car in his rearview mirror and watch it following him for miles before finally turning on his lights. In a perfect world, the officer might not have made him sit there on the side of the road for an eternity, just sitting there, only to return and give back his license and registration with no explanation as to why he had been detained. And when asked, “you were going a little fast, son”, would clearly not be an acceptable answer. And when asked how fast, it would be inexcusable for that officer to admit to not having even clocked him.

In a perfect world, no one would ever ever have the right or inclination to just make my son sweat for the pure pleasure of it, simply because they could. In his wisdom, he didn’t say a word- just took his stuff back and followed the officer back onto the road with nothing but some time lost.

I want his badge number! I want to know why or how a Commercial Vehicle Enforcement officer has the authority to pull young black men over at whim for no offense. But the truth is, my son drives that stretch often. There is nothing to be gained and a lot to fear in making an issue of this.

My son is wayyyyyy nicer than I am, and probably forgave this man of his ignorance before he hit campus. But I’m not quite there yet. I just want to give my boy his golden day back.

Happy Birthday to Pugsley’s Mom

2012-01-30T23:51:00.001-05:00

Today is the birthday of my friend Gayle. These are some of the things I know about Gayle:

She has the tenderest of hearts. At the same time, she has a fierce love for her family, her friends, her beloved fur babies, for folks living with HIV/AIDS, and really, for anyone who cannot speak for themselves. Do NOT mess with anyone that Gayle loves.
She is a proud resident of Staten Island, living a modest life in her home full of love and pets and extended family. At the same time, she has this big world of friends and friends who have become family all over the internet. I’m proud to be included.
She is a poet and can bring comfort to the saddest of hearts. At the same time, I would NOT suggest you mess with her, her daughters, her dogs, her cats, her friends or really any dog. Or cat. Or person who cannot speak for themselves.
She drives a red car. A perfect night for her might be a potluck with neighbors, a sleepover with her adult daughters, or piled up in bed listening to Dean Martin reading 3 newspapers with dogs and cats snuggled in all around her.

And we have never met. Well, never met in person anyway.

I met Gayle on the AOL Pug Board 10 years ago when my first little pug Herbie was alive. A finer group of folks you would never find. And Gayle is the glue that has held us all together for many of these years. Sadly, AOL has decided to take down all of their boards and today signals the end of an era. Not to be dissuaded, we are piecing the old group back together on a group page on facebook.

I love any turn in life that makes friends of folks who we might never have met if not for one event or place or time. And I love Gayle. She’s on my list (along with Mother Theresa) of people I would most like to meet. So grateful for all of my pug board friends, and tonight especially for Gayle! Enjoy your day, my friend!

Late Link Love

2012-01-27T00:50:00.001-05:00

Wanna do some Guerilla Goodness? Kindness Girl is up to her magic again!

Nella turned two!! Yay! Her mama writes a sweet post.

And since we’re visiting with old friends, hop over for a little tour of Andy and Alicia’s house.

Check out this twist on cake…..

And for desert? How about a cherry coke float cupcake?

Some very fun Valentine printables to be found right here!

What do you mean, not sent from my iPhone? What other way is there? Ohhhhhhhhhh, cool!

Oh, the places I will never go!

2012-01-19T23:19:00.002-05:00

The Places You'll Go --Theodore Geisel
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy
who'll decide where to go.
~ Dr. Seuss

I think it’s a holdover from my childhood, but I am a devoted homebody. This has grown more pronounced as I age. I am always so curious about the people in my life who love love love to travel. I’m almost certain that if someone arrived on my doorstep right at this moment and offered me an expense paid trip to anywhere……I’d forfeit the prize. If, however, I could just wake up and be somewhere without ever having to plan and worry and prepare and travel to get there, and if I were assured a room and bath of my own, and preferably if my husband or one of my kids or sister or mother or best friends were with me……then I think I’d be quite happy about it.

So, where would I be happy to wake up (in my own room with my chosen traveling companion)?

India. And during Holi if I get to choose. Seattle or Portland- with money in my pocket to eat and shop in the little places I’ve read of for years. A cabin in one of those little camps on a lake in Minnesota in August.

Mohonk. But I definitely don’t want to get there, just want to wake up there!

Of course there would be the trip to Chicago with my best friend, a trip with my sister to about anywhere, a trip with DH back to where we went on our honeymoon, my friend’s lake house in Tennessee, the kitchen table of dear friends all over the country.

Where else would be lovely?

Truth is, just imagining it is fine by me, or better yet, hearing a first hand account from people who have been there. I love to read of travel and of faraway places….from the comfort of my own home where I sleep happily in my own bed every night.

Wednesday Link Love

2012-01-18T23:03:00.001-05:00

Oh, the memories!! I had not thought of this in years, but once I saw it, every cardboard detail came back to me. And I had the peach colored corvette to park outside…

I wish I had a set of these over the years!

Love the idea. Super love that stencil!

I have a friend or two who would probably love a banjo sweater.

This has come up recently in a couple of food blogs I frequent. Gotta try it.

Lots of good reading to be had here, as I love to hear what word other folks have chosen for the year.

Ah, yesterday

2012-01-17T08:23:00.002-05:00

Fresh -- Naomi Shihab Nye
Fresh
To move
Cleanly.
Needing to be
Nowhere else.
Wanting nothing
From any store.
To lift something
You already had
And set it down in
A new place.
Awakened eye
Seeing freshly.
What does that do to
The old blood moving through
Its channels?
~ Naomi Shihab Nye ~

This was yesterday for me! Grateful for a holiday from work, and a glorious long day of just being at home.

Beloved Community

2012-01-16T02:29:00.001-05:00

Love is creative and redemptive. Love builds up and unites; hate tears down and destroys. The aftermath of the ‘fight with fire’ method which you suggest is bitterness and chaos, the aftermath of the love method is reconciliation and creation of the beloved community. Physical force can repress, restrain, coerce, destroy, but it cannot create and organize anything permanent; only love can do that. Yes, love—which means understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill, even for one’s enemies—is the solution to the race problem.
—Martin Luther King, Jr., 1957

Today was our annual Beloved Community breakfast which is our way of honoring the memory of Dr. King and his dream. It’s a great time of just being family together, and of reflecting on peace.

On the first Sunday after the US invasion of Iraq in March of 2003, and for every single Sunday until today we have lit a candle for peace and sung the World Peace Prayer. Today that candle was extinguished in honor of the December 2011 withdrawal of troops from Iraq. In its place we lit a number of candles for other wars, other conflicts, other injustices that we each shared, and we will continue to light our candle and sing each week.

World Peace Prayer

Lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth, From despair to hope, from fear to trust, lead us from hate to love, from war to peace; let peace fill our hearts, let peace fill our world, let peace fill our universe.

Still all the angry cries, still all the angry guns, Still now your people die, earth's sons and daughters. Let Justice roll, let mercy pour down, come and teach us Your way of compassion.

So many lonely hearts, so many broken lives, longing for love to break into their darkness. Come, teach us love, come, teach us peace, come and teach us Your way of compassion.

Let justice ever roll, let mercy fill the earth, let us begin to grow into your people. We can be love, we can be peace, we can be Your way of compassion.

I feel so blessed to be a part of this truly beloved community.

Stuff I’m loving

2012-01-15T00:19:00.001-05:00

So, I am really loving my Women’s Success Planner. I had heard about it over at Plannerisms. This post sold me. I ordered the first quarter for 2012 so I would have it on hand when the new year started. The folks there were kind enough to send me the last quarter of 2011 at no charge with my order so I had a chance to start using the system in November. I love it. Got the cool leather cover for Christmas. I’ve always been sure that the only thing standing between me and great business and personal success was finding the right planner. No excuses now! Look out!

On the rare occasions of late that I am able to sneak in a little nap, I have been enjoying a little rainbow therapy thanks to my daughter. I love the big brilliant rainbow that splashes across my dark room, and it makes me smile! My son spoiled me with a box full of Lush bath treats. There are days when the thought of a Lush bubble bar is enough to pull me out of bed to face the day. I’m set! And how nice it is to know that my daughter reads my blog! She saw this post, and ordered me a morse code necklace that says “mom”!

So far, I haven’t found a thing at Trader Joe’s that hasn’t been wonderful, but some things quickly worked their way onto my weekly list of staples. Like Powerberries! I’m not even much of a dark chocolate person, but I love these and I love that a small handful of them is enough to totally satisfy me.

And then there are these soy crackers! Love them! Have to have some at my desk at work for an attack of the munchies!

Now, if only that Cinnamon Pear Cider weren’t just a seasonal product….

Link Love

2012-01-14T00:30:00.002-05:00

I always wanted to get a Wii just so that DH and I could have a weekly bowling night. This may be closer to our price range…..

I adore Bakerella, and have even more love and respect for her when I look at her year and her amazing talent and spirit.

Lovin’ this tee and the tutorial that goes with it makes it look pretty easy!

I love them all, but the tiny necklace is my fav.

Clean Mama always has a plan. I can’t seem to link to the individual day, but the January 2nd post has a plan for the whole year. Lots of other great tips and printables on her site. Enjoy!

I made these tonight, minus the sprinkles and my colors were a bit lighter. Taking them to the coffee house tomorrow night.

I love doilies. Especially around Valentines time of year.

Another homemade kitchen island idea….

Memory fail…..already!

2012-01-09T22:36:00.001-05:00

I missed my blogoversary!! I guess, like wedding anniversaries, after the first couple they aren’t such a big deal.

The day after I made my first post in 2009, I remember checking about 10 times just to be sure it was really there. I somehow kept being, and still keep being surprised, at the audacity of it all! That people all over the world tell their stories and their hopes and their likes and dislikes to just anyone who wants to read them?! And to think anyone might even want to read it? It has been good therapy for me, and really that was all it has ever been about.

So, this year as in the past, I share again the poem that I shared in my first post because it is as beautiful to me today as then and it is like music to my heart.

Sometimes -- Sheenagh Pugh

Sometimes things don't go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.

A people sometimes step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can't leave some stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.

Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen to you

New Year, New Word

2012-01-09T00:03:00.002-05:00

It’s that time of year again- time to pick the word I want to live with for the coming year. I have enjoyed this tradition now for 4 years, and I try to be very thoughtful in the selection of my word, knowing well that choosing a word does not always guarantee that I Iive into it fully so much as that I am putting it out there. Today I hold up into the light Memory, my word I have chosen for 2012.

While I may say it jokingly, there is a little tinge of anxiety in my voice when I make light of my issues with memory as I grow older. I’ve taken it for granted for years, and I can still make it happen, but it takes a while to crank over and produce sometimes!

I would like to honor the great gift of memory and to savor it this year. I would like to be more intentional about making good memories, and about recording them in some way either by journaling or art or photos or storytelling. I want to be sure to tell my children stories that matter. I want to do things that help mine stay healthy. (No Soduku….) I want to hold dear what money can never buy. So, to 2012. The year of memory.

One small thing I am doing, having wanted to do it for several years and finally getting in gear, is writing in a five year memory book. Just one line a day and each year it should be fun and dear and clarifying to see what I was doing in previous years on the same day. I’m using this book, and got one for my son’s girlfriend who is about to graduate from college and head off into what will surely be 5 years of great change. I love its color and how it feels in my hand, and I love making that tiny investment into my memory at the end of each day. Several times I have picked it up around 8 to jot down something for the day and something in me says, “Wait! something else might happen yet!”

Shame

2012-01-08T00:59:00.001-05:00

The first thing I saw when I opened facebook this morning was a discussion about this billboard and the Georgia campaign against childhood obesity that it came from.

The best thing I read was this response from Brene’ Brown, and not one thing I could say would say it as well.

"Shame is often the cause and NEVER the cure. This "anti-obesity" campaign will deeply hurt children. Kids may want to be spoken to directly, but they don't want to be reduced to their greatest struggle. None of us do. Heartbreaking." - Brené Brown

I have been filled with such sadness all day for this little girl, and wondered what adult in her life thought it was okay to make her the poster child for childhood obesity.

There has been a good bit of public outcry over this campaign and I hope the folks in Georgia are re-considering this strategy. Most of all I hope for that little girl that there is someone in her life who tells her how beautiful she is, how smart and fun she is, and how dearly she is loved.

A little link love, and a promise to myself

2011-12-30T02:53:00.002-05:00

I decorated a lot this Christmas with peppermint candies- whole apothecary jars of them. When the time comes to “undecorate”, I’ve found a great little project. I tried one out tonight and it really is as easy as it sounds on this tutorial.

Not usually a map fan, but this map is just so delightful!!

Spoiler Alert: My next wedding shower? This is the gift!

I’ve just discovered Sammy and I adore his perspective on NYC.

So, I’m thinking seriously about the fresh start of a new year. This is a great tool to use for an annual assessment.

I’ve promised myself that I will return to more regular postings on this blog. Welcome to a new year!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-12-15T00:12:00.002-05:00

Well, I can’t actually read a word on this site, but I can get a pretty good idea and if you click on Overnacten, you will find some swell accommodations. I have a soft spot for caravan’s, so that’s what really captured my heart but look at all of them!

Love this “smarter” advice…..

Uh, yeah. Three of my favorite things? Bring it!

Oh, this is so very pretty! I have a few of those patterns in pillow cases. I’m gradually building my stash of vintage pillow cases. They are so soft and wonderful!

Amy’s room is so sweet! Such a fun idea she has about a fairy room!

And now, by popular demand, the Cavalcade of Bad Nativities….

I have a love of Morse code. Makes me think of my father. Love these bracelets!

A Tender Word

2011-12-07T21:45:00.002-05:00

He who kindled
The fire of the sun
He who draws out the tender leaves
From the dark twigs of winter
He who has whittled
A cabin for the snail
Has also carved our names
In the palm of his hand
And he became a child
The better to be near us

An excerpt from Anne Porter's poem, Here on Earth.
For the full text, see:
http://maggidawn.com/advent-poems-2/

It seems that several of my dearest friends are walking around wounded and sad right now- all amazing women, all soldiering on, all stunned and aching and staggering. Their loads are so large and of such a nature that friends are at a loss to know just what to do, but a word of beauty and tenderness is always always always welcome.

Second Sunday of Advent

2011-12-06T00:06:00.002-05:00

Hope
It hovers in dark corners
before the lights are turned on,
it shakes sleep from its eyes
and drops from mushroom gills,
it explodes in the starry heads
of dandelions turned sages,
it sticks to the wings of green angels
that sail from the tops of maples.
It sprouts in each occluded eye
of the many-eyed potato,
it lives in each earthworm segment
surviving cruelty,
it is the motion that runs the tail of a dog,
it is the mouth that inflates the lungs
of the child that has just been born.

It is the singular gift
we cannot destroy in ourselves,
the argument that refutes death,
the genius that invents the future,
all we know of God.
It is the serum which makes us swear
not to betray one another;
it is in this poem, trying to speak.
~ Lisel Mueller ~

Wednesday Link Love!

2011-12-01T00:14:00.002-05:00

Could anything be cuter than this? Well, yes, this!

I love this story about something pink from NieNie, and I love love love this pink bicycle she introduced me to. I mean, what could you NOT haul in a bike like that?!

Loving this, and wondering where you could get those loops!

Wishing the graffiti artists in my neighborhood would try a new medium. Like this, for instance…

Loving these! Wonder if I would have the patience to make some…

I’ve spent hours thinking of what I would love to do with my kitchen. Seriously loving what Saucy did with hers, especially that wonderful sink!

I so love this, truly love it. How happy it looks!

I love a good household tip, especially with someone as cute as Ken.

Welcoming Advent

2011-11-28T02:10:00.002-05:00

One of the things we are doing this year is making a big Advent calendar as a visual. Each of us were invited to decorate a box to indicate what we want to fill our hearts with this Advent.

Iona Community: Cloth for the Cradle

When the world was dark
and the city was quiet,
you came.
You crept in beside us.
And no one knew.
Only the few who dared to believe
that God might do something different.
Will you do the same this Christmas, Lord?
Will you come into the darkness of tonight's world;
not the friendly darkness
as when sleep rescues us from tiredness,
but the fearful darkness,in which people have stopped believing
that war will end
or that food will come
or that a government will change
or that the Church cares?
Will you come into that darkness
and do something different
to save your people from death and despair?
Will you come into the quietness of this town,
not the friendly quietness
as when lovers hold hands,
but the fearful silence when the phone has not rung
the letter has not come,
the friendly voice no longer speaks,
the doctor's face says it all?
Will you come into that darkness,
and do something different,
not to distract, but to embrace your people?
And will you come into the dark corners
and the quiet places of our lives?
We ask this not because we are guilt-ridden
or want to be,
but because the fullness our lives long for
depends upon us being as open and vulnerable to you
as you were to us,when you came,
wearing no more than diapers,
and trusting human hands
to hold their maker.
Will you come into our lives,
if we open them to you
and do something different?
When the world was dark
and the city was quiet
you came.
You crept in beside us.
Do the same this Christmas, Lord.
Do the same this Christmas.
Amen.

With Thanks

2011-11-24T05:00:00.001-05:00

It’s 4:45 a.m. The house is sweetly silent, and the turkey is happily cooking, all slathered in butter and spice. Of course, I am most mindful of what is right at hand- three healthy, happy, fun kids returned from school and all under roof. I’m so grateful for them that it makes me weepy- for their health and safety for another year, for the mostly wise choices they are making as they grow, for the opportunities that lie ahead of them. DH is snoring and our littlest dog has taken on the challenge of outdoing him, and in this rare moment even that is cause for thanksgiving. For my mother, my sister and her family, for my church and my friends, for meaningful work and great folks to do it with, I am filled with thanks.

Today we will gather with our friends and our families and will with delight renew time honored traditions. We’ll eat well and laugh a lot, but at the end of the day it will be these early morning minutes that framed this day of great thankfulness.

Prayers for a friend I’ve never met

2011-11-21T00:06:00.001-05:00

It’s a funny world, this whole internet social scene. In this world, I have many friends who I have never met, will likely never meet in person. But I know the daily comings and goings of some of my blogging “friends” better than some of my day to day real life friends. And the whole blogging community clusters and hovers over folks who are going through a difficult time or a joyous time.

I’ve been reading Alicia’s blog for years. It was one of the first I ever kept up with regularly. (It’s the third on my list of favorite places……out of hundreds and hundreds of others!) We have all been waiting with great joy for word from Alicia who had gone to Chicago to be present for the birth of their baby girl. We’ve all grown impatient and left hundreds of comments as we waited to hear all of the details. I don’t even want to say how many times I have checked in to see if there had been any news.

And today there was news. And while I have always thought highly of Alicia, who has been through some very very big struggles in her adult life, I have never respected her more than I do after reading this post.

I can’t stop thinking of all of the people who get pregnant easily and take that for granted, or of all of the children who languish without love, and of all of the people I love right now in my own world who are longing for a child. Praying tonight that big empty arms and little hungry hearts could find their way to each other, and soon.

Underneath the Same Big Sky

2011-11-18T00:18:00.001-05:00

Tonight my heart is filled with love and admiration for two dear friends who stepped in to parent a newborn baby who needed lots of love and tender care. From the neonatal ICU to his own bed in their home, they have spoken love and hope over him, have insulated him from things he wasn’t ready to bear, have given him the safe place he needed to grow confidence and strong legs and big dimpled smiles. Today by court decision, they have placed him back into the arms of his birth mother. The nine months of care that have undoubtedly changed the course of his life have also changed the course of theirs. Somewhere, under the same big clear night sky, another mother is trying to get to know her son, and I sincerely hope she can be the mother he needs. I hope that she will tell him in years to come that when she couldn’t give him what he needed that two amazing generous moms stepped in and gave him what he needed and more even at the cost of the heartbreak of saying good-bye. Here’s to foster parents everywhere who don’t hold back, who give their hearts anyway.

Wednesday Link Love, at last!

2011-11-03T00:26:00.002-04:00

As pretty as the aerial view of this cake is, it’s even more beautiful when it’s cut!

And it would be perfect to wash it down with a glass of this! I’m told that the ice cubes are made with jello and then sprite is poured over them. Drink it before it turns brown!

It’s about time to gather these supplies to start the holiday season off with a great smelling home!

Dear little Mabel- I wish you would come live with me. And bring the “It’s Okay” banner from your shop with you!

Oh my. My kids never had the rug, but I wonder if I couldn’t find one at the thrift store? These are so pretty and would be nice and cushy comfortable to stand on while doing chores.

Why do I love these? Well, for starters, they delight me!

Daniel is lucky to have such a crafty mom! From the looks of it, he could be a great fabric designer!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-10-20T00:29:00.004-04:00

I love this brooch….but when I looked at it in scale with the woman who is “wearing” it, it appears to be huge. I love it a lot, but smaller!

Just for fun, I’d like to let my daughters chalk my hair over Christmas break. One of my girls is sporting some purple hair that is woven in that I have a love/hate relationship with. (Her hair, not her!) I’d like to give it a temporary try!

I’ve been watching my thrift store for paint by numbers, but they are popular enough now that I am just not finding them. But this is a possibility!

Patience is at it again!

This is one of those times I wish I knew how to thread my sewing machine and sew! I would make a sun dress for sure!

I’m a sucker for index cards, so of course this sounds fun to me!

I’m not so into coffee, but I do love mandalas. This one is very cool.

I LOVE this idea!!!

TNT Tuesday

2011-10-19T00:17:00.001-04:00

Kinda starting to find myself a bit again, and working my way back to the blog a bit more.

We’ve been enjoying the last of our summer bounty. Last night we had this great Southwestern Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. When DH says in mid-meal, “Be sure to make this again.”, it’s a keeper.

Several years ago after eating ajvar at a local Bosnian restaurant, I fell in love. If you love red pepper like I love red pepper, and if garlic and eggplant and olive oil are okay by you too, then I think you would love it. I am known for the kooky things I like for breakfast, and ajvar mixed with cottage cheese became my standard breakfast for literally over a year! I kind of wore myself out on it and hadn’t had it for a while. But, I had some eggplant I needed to use, and an abundance of roasted red peppers. Made some, and my love affair has begun again. It’s good on the falafel crackers I got this week, or any cracker (or on cottage cheese), bread, you name it.

NPR did a nice little piece on it- check it out. They call it Serbian Salsa!

Then there would be the 7-Up Biscuits. Which are just way too easy and way too good, and so very perfect with the sweet potato butter I bought this week.

And if the 7-Up biscuits are not unhealthy enough, let me send you over the edge……I give you the Chocolate Chip Oreo Brownie…..

I like to think I made the Chocolate Chip Oreo Brownie Lite……I did omit the ice cream AND the hot fudge sauce.

Late Link Love

2011-10-14T00:43:00.001-04:00

I spy a toilet back there behind the curtain. Maybe I could re-think camping…..Aren’t these beautiful?!

Time for a little Cake Wreck love. It’s been a while.

I think I have found a reason to use this template every day since I found it last week!

I think I am going to just have to try a batch of this for research purposes.

Need a friend? One that will go everywhere with you?

I cannot stop looking at this. I want it. Bad. Been checking craigslist about every 15 minutes for two matching dressers like this!

We have this at the work cafeteria and it is so so good. Good enough that they have it most every day. Now I can try to make my own.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-10-06T00:18:00.001-04:00

This is only one of many wonderful ideas from this great site!

Ever since seeing these, I’ve been watching Craigslist and have seen several great pieces you could score for not so many $$$ to make one of these, if you have a special child in your life.

A couple of fun ideas/ways to capture your kids as they grow can be found here and here.

Now, I’m a sucker for a cozy place to nap…..but I’m just not sure about these. I’m afraid I would get all settled into the nest and then would just have to laugh out loud…And for a minute I thought this looked divine, but then I thought a little more about it…

Orange is kind of growing on me, and this room is so happy and wonderful I can hardly stand it!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-09-28T23:51:00.001-04:00

Loving these free printables!

I don’t really have any reason to have fabric scraps, but I like this wall grouping enough to acquire some!

I think you can put me down for Party A. Love those balloons! All 500 of them!

OH, this rug!!!

The perfect marriage in a mug!

We have now reached the time of the year when I start scoping out planners and trying to find the one that will change my life. This year, in keeping with my word of the year (smaller) I chose a small one and it has been fine but not great. But adequate for sure. But I believe this one is the one I truly want, and I want it bad. It’s larger, but not so much larger if I get the spiral bound version.

I don’t really want to take up any space when I die, but if I did, I’d want it to look like this!

I’m a sucker for a recipe that has a story around it, or a story with a recipe woven into it. This one was lovely!

Remember this post? Well, look at this!!! My amazing friend Dan did this for me!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-09-22T00:15:00.001-04:00

I know a new aunt who needs one of these for her sweet sweet baby nephew.

And I know two sweet baby boys who would make perfect little chickies for Halloween! Or maybe they should do THIS!

Assuming that there are chilly days ahead in our future, I want to hang on to this idea!

If you are the type to plan a trip based on visits to some common theme, search no more. The American Pie tour!

Glow Sticks. Again. I just can’t help it.

Definitely making one of these!

And for those who remember my friends Adam and Sophia from their proposal, here’s just a tiny idea of how sweet sweet sweet their wedding day was.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-09-14T23:21:00.001-04:00

Gotta love Clara and her cool parents’ photo project!!

Love this vintage fabric idea (and the cool phone too!)

Better than the average tea cup light fixture.

Fun Halloween eye chart art, and two color choices!

I’ve been thinking of this rug all week!!

Check out Style- it’s lovely!

Count on kindnessgirl to make a party happen in the midst of a difficult time!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-09-07T23:42:00.001-04:00

The SWEETEST tutorials ever! The whole site is lovely!

Fun transfer idea here.

Now here is something I might possibly be able to do with a hula hoop!

Hard to say which of these I like the most- these true true words, this one is pretty true for me too!, and the first illustration here is pretty wonderful too.

What really won me over on this one is that stove!

If only this would catch on with the taggers that plague my neighborhood!

I. Love. These. Chickies…..

I love the blackboard idea!

I think these floor cushions are cool! Imagine them in vintage pillowcases!

So simple, so sweet!

TNT Tuesday

2011-09-07T00:07:00.001-04:00

The best new recipe I tried this weekend was this crockpot Wendy’s chili knock-off. Definitely will be made again and again. ( I, of course, have to add spaghetti to mine!)

Next up would be this simple salmon recipe. I have to say that when I was putting the cast iron skillet back into the oven, part of the handle didn’t go in deep enough and it’s just instinctive- I reached up and pushed it in. For a second I was thinking, “I should not have done that. But it’s not hur………YIKES!!!” It hurt. But years of working with lye to make soap taught me the value of pure lavender oil. Didn’t even blister!

These were supposed to go to some college kids I know and love….but DH loves them too….

And then there were these……Yesterday it seemed like everything I touched flopped. But there is so much potential here that I will try again. I was just having an off day, but bakergirl would not lead us astray.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-09-01T07:05:00.001-04:00

I love buttons, and I’m really loving these button monograms against white or against black I just miss my button sourch, Behr Fabric. They had walls of drawers of buttons.

I know some windows I would love to make paper curtains for. Aren’t they great?!

I think this may be my Labor Day picnic plan!

Looks like a great place to take a nap to me! How about you?

A.Dorable! I am such a sucker for blackboard paint!

If you have ever been a Story Corp listener, you probably knew Annie and Danny. Such a sweet sweet love story. Made me think of my own parents. Tissue alert!

TNT Tuesday

2011-08-30T23:56:00.001-04:00

We had an international potluck at church on Sunday. I fixed three of our old favorites.

Brown Butter Rice- I use basmati rather than brown rice just because folks around my house like that better. And the peas are not a deal breaker. They mostly just make it prettier.

Chana Masala- I used this recipe, but I made it in the crockpot. Tastes good on brown butter rice!

KLUSKI I KAPUSTA- We like sour cream better than cottage cheese with this, but it’s great without either one!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-08-25T00:06:00.001-04:00

The Commission Project- What a great idea. I’ll let you guess what picture I would have done. I wonder what it would be? Something with my front door and my beloved Odie would be nice….What picture would you send?

I have somehow managed to reach adult life without ever having made a shrinky dink……but this makes me have a serious desire to give it a try!

Oh so sweet! Now I want to read the book!

More glow in the dark ideas….this time with glow in the dark paint!

Some really fun ideas here (If you have access to pallets!)

Isn’t this a great idea? (Especially if you are patient and know how to sew.)

Ohhhhh I so seriously want to get some of this! I loved sun prints when I was a child and have remained fascinated, and this kicks it up a notch!

Now, see if this doesn’t make you smile!

TNT Tuesday

2011-08-24T00:17:00.001-04:00

I got okra in my box last week, and am determined to use everything I get in my box each week so I set out to find a good okra recipe. I found this one at Cooking Books, and it was a winner! We were excited to see okra again this week. I should try something new, but this was just so good…..(We didn’t use the lime wedges)

And no week is complete without something from Mommy’s Kitchen. This cherry bread is a keeper for sure! So pretty and delicious and looks like it took a lot more work than it did!

This simple tomato pie is a summertime staple around here.

This smoky chickpea dip (I think of it more as a spread) was sure to be a winner around here- garlic, chickpeas, and smoky paprika?! Three of our favs.

The first time I cooked flat iron steak, I cooked it into shoe leather. This time, I did it this way and it was so so so good! I marinated it overnight in olive oil, Dale’s, and a little soy sauce. It was really good!

Sleeping with the moon

2011-08-20T23:22:00.001-04:00

A week ago today a crazy storm blew through town and in a matter of minutes had wiped out the power in a large portion of town. I am not known to be very flexible when some of my comforts are taken away but in the 18 hours that our power was out, I managed to hold it together. Many of my friends did not regain theirs until days later. I would not have been smiling.

What helped me a lot was that it was not hot out. The streets (and sidewalks) were virtually empty, so it was quiet enough and cool enough to throw open the windows. Many of us still sat out on our porches until late, talking back and forth in the dark. What really made it lovely was a huge bright full moon.

In an urban neighborhood, there’s really not much true darkness or true quiet, but for one night our street was hushed with no air conditioners running, no stereos beating rhythms, no tv’s or radios playing at all. All that quiet and that big full moon made the night almost magical. As I was falling asleep, I remembered the picture (above) that I had seen once and I thought to myself that indeed I did feel like I was sleeping with the moon right beside me.

I was sitting on my porch the next afternoon when the lights came back on- security alarms went off and a/c units ground into gear and life as usual came back. I checked that night, and that big full moon was still there- but with lots of competition from all of the lights of the city. I can’t say I was disappointed to get my power back - there was laundry to be done and email to check……..but I will long remember that bright moon on that quiet night.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-08-17T23:48:00.002-04:00

Oh my! A tiny house WITH wall beds! I love it!

I wish I had read this years ago!!!

I love this house. Truly. But does everyone see the elephant in the room? I mean, let’s talk about the yellow pepper……

I am intrigued by these meals…..

I think one of these would be cool. Or five or six of them!

More fun with glow sticks!

OH what a great idea!!!

Yep, I miss making kids lunches. I always enjoyed making their lunches.

I see this project in my future.

My heart has been warmed as the food blogging community has come together to honor the wishes of one of their own. Lots and lots of peanut butter pies this weekend. Great video from two of the best. Be sure to read Jennifer’s blog post too.

Nice idea for an abandoned building!

TNT’s from the weekend

2011-08-16T23:01:00.001-04:00

I don’t think I have ever had a bad recipe from Gina’s Skinnytaste. This roasted corn, tomato, avocado salad was really really tasty!

Dutch Babies have always been a big staple around here with the kids, but youngest daughter declared this angel food french toast from Sprinkle Bakes to be just as good, and it’s a whole lot easier and quicker to make.

DD had made a big pan of these Monster Cookie Bars on Saturday to take to the coffee house that night- and then the power went out (for 18 hours at our house, lots longer for others) and we ended up with the whole pan of them to share with friends since the coffee house was closed.

Olive Salsa. Oh. So. Good. (If you like olives!)

Fried Egg and Zucchini. Mine wasn’t as pretty as this but boy was it good. Just trying find some ways to switch it up with zucchini at this point of the summer. Somewhere I had seen it but couldn’t find the original post. So, I just sautéed the zukes and some onion and garlic. I did a whole skillet full, then made three little wells and cracked my egg into those. The whites spread out into the zucchini and the yellow was perfectly over easy and both DH and DD said they hoped we got more zucchini this week!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-08-11T00:51:00.001-04:00

While I am not sure if I could sleep there, and am positive I couldn’t use that bathtub, I do think taking a nap here at MaryJanes Farm looks divine!

I love swing/hanging beds and a great tutorial can be found here should you want to make your own. The thing is, I live on a busy urban street…….But if I lived at Fire Lake Camp, I’d be spending some serious time here!

I’m undecided about joining pinterest, but there sure are a zillion great things to look at! Loved these ideas!

Love this! It reminded me that my mother made my case for my first Barbie out of a little old red cardboard suitcase which she made perfect by adding a trip and Barbie spelled out in plaid rickrack.

This time of year I am instinctively drawn to lunch-packing goodies. Isn’t this a fun idea?

I’ve been enjoying these two sites- They Draw and Travel and They Draw and Cook. I see that you can order prints!

TNT’s

2011-08-07T23:33:00.001-04:00

These are some of the recipes we’ve tried around here of late. Some of them have already been made more than once.

Peach and Heirloom Tomato Salad with Goat Cheese from White on Rice Couple.

Cheesy Salsa Mini Meatloaves from Real Mom Kitchen.

Cornbread baked in Bell Peppers from Rhonda on Tasty Kitchen.

Summer Cucumber Salad from Culinary Exploration

Sesame Encrusted Baked Chicken Tenders from Gina at Skinnytaste.

Roasted Wax Beans with Mint from Market Matters.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-08-03T23:39:00.001-04:00

Rachel is so creative! The possibilities are endless now that she has planted the idea in my head! Love this Welcome!

This pretty garland has shown up on a couple of blogs I frequent and you can sure see why. Isn’t it nice?!

I am definitely trying some of these this weekend- maybe blue or maybe cranberry…..or both!

Great steps to come home to!

Ir you have forgotten how to be happy, Jen has some ideas to help=here and here.

DH is generally the pancake maker around here, but I’d like to try my hand at these.

Placemats for those who do not sew….like me.

Don’t these sound divine?

I’m pretty sure I am way too old for these…..and can only imagine the looks on the faces of my friends at the office if I came in with these……but maybe for Easter at Jeff Street? They are so dang cool.

Kiddos schmidos……I want a nook like this just for me!

My friend Amy showed me these cool lego crayons. Look easy enough.

Happy Birthday Aunt Elaine!

2011-07-31T23:21:00.001-04:00

The above picture is of 3 amazing women in my life- my cousin Judy, my mother, and my Aunt Elaine. Aunt Elaine doesn’t like to have her picture taken- bet you can pick her out! She is kind enough to oblige us from time to time when we really want her in a picture, but she doesn’t have to like it!

In years to come, it will not be an old color glossy 4 X 6 that will help future generations know more about Aunt Elaine. But they will indeed know her and picture her fondly. It will be in the stories and descriptions passed down by her nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. It will be in recipes and birthday cards. It will be in stories as we describe with delight her kitchens in the various homes she has lived in during her adult life. She will be known for caring for her mother and making a home for her to live out her life in. There will be fishing stories. No Christmas will ever pass in the lives of anyone who has ever spent a Christmas with her without the memory of her toffee, her corn, her jam cakes, her caramels. No other apple pie in the world will ever measure up to hers with the crisp glistening caramel on top. Not one of us have ever danced in a recital or turned a tassel on a graduation cap that she has not been there to watch. Her pantry has always been and continues to be pure delight and 10 yards deep, filled with whole packs of candy bars and the newest snacks and the ingredients to throw together pretty much any recipe she spots. I am fortunate because I carry her name as my middle name!

Someday, someone will pick up a stack of faded pictures and be completely unable to name the faces looking back in spite of our clever poses. But stories of Aunt Elaine will still be circulating as will her recipes, I’m quite sure.

Happy Birthday to my Aunt Elaine! Oh, that every child could be blessed with an aunt like you. I love you so much.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-07-27T22:54:00.001-04:00

Isn’t this fun! Imagine just happening upon this event!

When my girls were little they went to spend a week with their Aunt Rosenna and came home raving about the snack she made them. I checked with her to see what it was, and she confessed to not having much in the way of sweets in the house so she whipped up some frosting and used it on graham crackers. I bet they tasted as good to the girls as these look to me!

I went to a presentation recently on doing this as well as some other creative stuff with boarded up properties. A house across the street from me has been boarded up since January- wish some guerilla artist would surprise us with something like this!

Isn’t this fun?! I think I could actually make this!

I don’t know which of these I love most, because I adore them all.

Good article for all of us moms who never seem to be in the family pictures.

My friend Beth is having a fun giveaway. Stop by before Saturday morning and leave her some love. You will love her farmer’s market updates and her art.

OH!!!!!

2011-07-22T15:42:00.001-04:00

How in the world did I not know that one of my favorite books has been made into a movie? I can’t wait for it to get here!!!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-07-20T23:47:00.002-04:00

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Let’s have a pinata party!

Now I really want to make a floor cloth!

Check out this major wedding gig that the Junk Gypsys had!!

Wanna smile?

For years when I have described this ice cream truck that came to our neighborhood, no one seemed to have any idea what I was talking about. Finally found proof that there was indeed a round ice cream truck shaped like a carousel!

Oh! I’ve been wanting something like this. Look how easy it can be!

I want to whip up some cards and do the challenge with Kelli.

Turquoise, white, AND built in beds? I do love wall beds so very much!

Love this subway art and the price is right!

And this cool poster-y thing!

Turn the Page Tuesday

2011-07-20T00:00:00.001-04:00

Years ago I read Snowflower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and it is one of those books I still think of these years later. Dreams of Joy will no doubt be long thought of as well. In spite of some really painful imagery, I could not put it down. My friend visited China last year and came back telling me a lot I didn’t know about life during the Great Leap Forward, just heartbreaking stories. This book was even more graphic, but a strong chord of beauty runs through every page. I only regret that I did not read Shanghai Girls first, as Dreams of Joy begins where that story ended. I was very sad to come to the end of the book.

Some Really Late Link Love

2011-07-16T01:07:00.001-04:00

Oh, what a week it has been! Details to follow, but let’s talk granny squares. I mean, I seriously love granny squares. So imagine my delight!

I love beets. Dearly. Really love beets. And I do love doughnuts. But beet doughnuts may be stretching the limits of my love. But, how about mango doughnuts?

We enjoy Thanksgiving dinner at our friends’ house, and they set one long bountiful table for sometimes 30+ folks. I’ve always thought it would be fun to do one of these tablecloths as a history of all of the people who have sat around that table. And it would be fun to have a family version too!

I want a Giant Jenga game!!!! Here are some instructions if anyone wants to try their hand at one.

I wish I were going to Brave Girls Camp. While you are over there, be sure to sign up for the daily emails. They are great!

Bookmark this post for a rainy Monday when you need it.

Check out Yindi’s golden 4th birthday.

In case you want a tent like Yindi’s.

Seems like a ton of trouble, but look at the amazing pictures~

This is one great photo shoot backdrop. Would I like one? You bet! Would I make one? probably not.

Kate and her family have hit the road. Didn’t they do a great job on their trailer?!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-07-07T00:09:00.002-04:00

I would like to rush right over to this etsy shop and buy 15 of this print to give to people. And I’d order a bunch of her other prints!

I love this dreamy print too!

These drawers and cabinets make my heart sing! Especially that pull out pantry. I have just the spot for it!

Has anyone seen a Hoffsicle in real life yet?

I’m just sorry that I didn’t discover these calendars of the month until July!

I want every child to have such a thoughtful teacher in first grade!

I love these! Can’t decide which one I like the most.

A book town! I want to visit!

Setting the table

2011-07-06T00:13:00.001-04:00

This Sunday, as we continued to observe the time in the church year called Ordinary Time, my pastor invited those of us who wanted to bring a dish that was dear to us to set the communion table. After each person told about their dish and placed it on the table we all said, “We set this ordinary table with extraordinary love.”

And to make it all the more tender, our deacons served communion from those dishes.

There was a toothpick holder that had been on my friend’s father-in-law’s simple table for years, the plate from another friend’s grandparents shelves, a plate brought from a childhood in Turkey, and so on. Each time……setting an ordinary table with extraordinary love.

I brought one of the plates from our dishes we got when we got married and shared how on the day the first place setting was delivered from Bacon’s (a bygone era), I remember holding the plate and looking long and hard at it and wondering who would be sitting around our table over the years. I underestimated! Wayyy underestimated. Never saw three kids coming down the pike or community meals of 20 + friends, or the many new friends who would enter our lives. We have and do indeed set an ordinary table with extraordinary love.

Music Monday

2011-07-05T08:22:00.001-04:00

Music tonight from the very talented Trabue family doing a cover of a Vespers song. I like theirs better than the Vespers!

When I Grow Old, I Shall Wear……..Bangles?

2011-07-03T09:30:00.001-04:00

But…what if I didn’t have style BEFORE I get old? Can I just wake up one day and wear leopard glasses?

Six Word Saturday

2011-07-02T16:37:00.001-04:00

No Friend Like an Old Friend!

(Here’s to enduring friendships and long lunches and catching up. Did we dream in high school we would discuss our failing vision and aching feet?!!!)

Link Love….on Thursday/Friday

2011-07-01T01:24:00.003-04:00

Better late than never, I hope. I’ve had some computer issues I’ve been working my way through…

I’m seeing some glow cones in my future.

Perhaps my adult friends would prefer some of these, or how about some chocolate hummus?

Fun idea for some of those old cd cases you have hanging around.

Not sure why bracelets always catch my eye- I don’t even wear them. Maybe I want to…. Here are some cool ones to start with- these, and I think I like these because they remind me of camp days.

Love these ballerina paper dolls!

Two things I could and should make because I like them both so much! This mail sorter and these solar lights

Some beautiful tattoos. I especially love the calligraphy.!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-06-23T00:22:00.001-04:00

This great tutorial makes me think I could actually make something this beautiful!

Doesn’t this look just like you would think Mary E’s office would look?

Nella walks!!!

Wouldn’t this be a fun addition to the yard?!

Gotta make one of these photo flip books.

This fabric! This dish towel!

I want to sleep in this bedroom, and read a book in that little nook.

This cake is just so gorgeous! I can’t imagine the trouble involved!

I want to try one of these photo shots.

Turn the Page Tuesday

2011-06-22T00:17:00.001-04:00

Really enjoying this one! It’s one of those books that make you want to not leave the house until you’ve finished it!

Meijer Gardens

2011-06-20T08:10:00.001-04:00

While in Grand Rapids last week, we took a little side trip to the Meijer Sculpture Gardens. It was a rich and delicious reward taken during a couple of stolen hours after an exhausting conference. It was a mid-week afternoon, so there was a fairly small group of people there and it was almost like having it all to ourselves. The perennial garden was our favorite, but I also loved the children’s garden. Even the cafe was whimsical and bright and hushed.

I loved this piece- I think it is an autobiography of my garden and the disarray it is in right now!

A Thank-You Note to Adam and Sophia

2011-06-13T10:40:00.001-04:00

I had a sweet picture to put here, but alas my computer’s hard drive has crashed and if I still have my pictures, I can’t get to them.

Dear Adam and Sophia-

This is a note of thanks for the fun and joy you have brought to my week. I heard Adam’s news on the down low just as we were stepping into the communion circle last Sunday. I got all flushed and smiley and could hardly look at your sweet family all intertwined across the circle. The excitement mounted when Cindy sent out an email to the whole church saying you wanted us all to be a part and it’s all we talked about all week. It gave my week such a jolt of energy and excitement!

When I arrived at the Urban Goatwalker Coffeehouse, the room was just buzzing with love and anticipation! There were sweet faces around that room that never come to Goatwalker. I had to run to pick up my youngest and we drove like a bat out of hell on an empty tank of gas to get back for fear we would miss it! But alas, it was unnecessary because there was no Adam and Sophia. Can I say we were getting a bit anxious? Adam texted that he was really having to work to make this happen. For some reason, Sophia wasn’t feeling the Goatwalker. At our table we shared the stories from when we got engaged to pass the time which was very sweet.

But you got there. We sighed with relief and tried not to turn to keep looking at you! Anne and I went ahead and started crying then. Thankfully, you didn’t make us wait long. Adam took the stage as soon as the act you had been watching ended. Adam, when you said to settle in because you had three pages……I was even more thrilled. I love your writing so much. I.Loved.Every.Word. And Sophia, you were so “present”- looking him straight in the eye as he spoke love and love and love to you. If your mind (as mine would have been) was racing ahead and you thinking,”Oh my gosh. Is this what I think it is?”, it sure did not show. And you let him work his way through all three pages. Girl, when he said, “Come with me Sophia”, I would have jumped up off that stool and screamed yes yes yes but you just stayed right there with him. Hey, did you guys know there were a hundred people there? Because it totally seemed like maybe you forgot that. Adam, you said every word you wanted to say and in your good time. Anne and I were not the only ones in the room crying now. You would have been hard pressed to find anyone who wasn’t crying at that point! And thank you Sophia for finally saying yes. But not before a kiss. Swoons, sighs, and tears times ten. Then a standing ovation and a line to hug and see the ring. And even sweeter that you stayed for the rest of the Goatwalker!

Thank you thank you thank you for letting us be a part of this! What a gift you gave us! It was the most romantic thing this old woman has seen in a very long time and it will continue to make me smile for as long as I can remember it. (insert wisecracks about my failing memory here) It was big and generous and delightful, and a gift to us all.

May you have years and years of love and happiness!

Love, Miss Sue

TNT

2011-06-10T01:21:00.001-04:00

Around cooking blogs and online recipe groups, folks refer to TNT recipes. Tried and True. I’ve tried a few new ones recently that are now in my TNT rotation.

Key Lime Pie ice cream. I made mine without an ice cream freezer. It works fine- best though if you stir it up a bit about every 30 minutes. What I dream of is having some push-up molds, and this would be a great push-up!

Mango ice cream – Couldn’t be easier, couldn’t be more refreshing! Again, made without an ice cream freezer. ( Mine hasn’t come down from the attic yet)

Sticky Fingers! OH my! Always a hit!

Salted Brown Butter Rice Krispy Treats. Love them!

Sauteed radishes with mint You heard me. And they are also good without the mint. Fixed some last night for my husband who is not a radish lover and he said, “Those little potatoes you fixed were really good!”

Fresh Minty Fruit Salad It’s good with or without the kiwi if you don’t have a kiwi on hand.

Lemon Pepper Asparagus Salad Really peppery, really good!

Wednesday Link Love

2011-06-08T23:17:00.002-04:00

I could seriously take up camping if I had one of these. And a private bath with a tub.

How loved would you feel if 25 of your friends did this for you on your birthday?!!!

I’ve never had a hummingbird feeder. But when two of my favorite colors meet up, I could be tempted! Love this!

Joel has a new baby, just this week! And he made her some tiny socks out of his old ones. Looks so easy that I could maybe do it! While you’re over at his site, check out his paper towns. Very cool.

I love it when one of my favorite bloggers shows up on another favorite blog. And how sweet sweet sweet is this little bib?

I love these garlands. They are so beautiful. The Purple Pug shows us how to make something one.

Ummmm. This looks like something my Aunt Elaine might make!

So, what happens when your video goes viral?!

Check out the video of Elsie’s wedding. Of special interest is the smallest member of the wedding party who shoes up at the one minute mark.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-06-01T23:32:00.001-04:00

I love these water ideas from Maryam from Peacock Pavillions. They look perfect for the very hot days we’ve been having.

Bluebirds make me happy, so this birthday looks delightful!

Because it’s always good to have a spare crown around the house……

These rugs!!! I love them! But 4,500 balloons?!

I love these pictures and their rich colors!

Fun little bird mobile. I’m making one as soon as I find a stick!

Another fun wreath! I have a lampshade on my desk lamp at the office covered in these and it makes me happy.

Fun idea for your old jeans.

Turn the Page Tuesday

2011-06-01T00:53:00.001-04:00

Thanks to my friend Shanda, I’m enjoying Bossypants. (Like everyone else in America, I think.) It’s very funny. Every word of it really. My favorite so far? The story of the fire on the cruise ship while she and her husband were on their honeymoon. They were given the all-clear just as they were stepping into lifeboats, but then had to wait on the deck for a very long time while the entire ship was checked cabin by cabin. She says:

Some crew members come around with coolers of cold drinks. A nearby woman takes a soda and hands it back, saying, “Do you have diet?” If God had a sense of humor, the ship would have exploded right then.

And in talking about a summer theatre group she worked with, she says:

No one ever turned gay by being at Summer Showtime, because that’s not possible. If you cold turn gay from being around gay people, wouldn’t Kathy Griffen be Rosie O’Donnell by now? The straight boys quickly learned to be accepting and easygoing, and the straight girls learned over the course of several years to stop falling in love with gay boys.

It’s a fun read!

Music Monday

2011-05-30T12:11:00.001-04:00

Service- Not Optional

2011-05-28T01:01:00.001-04:00

Saturday night my mother was honored at a dinner for the Portland Promise Center for the volunteer work that she and my father have done there and their continued love and interest in the work done there.

It was a lovely dinner, graciously staffed by the youth who attend the programs at Portland. There were several hundred of the most lovely people in this city there to show their support of the work and the staff of PPC.

In her remarks, my mother told that before they married my father told her that there were three things that she would need to agree on- that they would always tithe, that they would always be involved in missions, and that she would not cook cabbage, and she was happy to report that she was faithful to two of the three.

Mother gave most of the credit for their involvement at Portland to my dad, but I’ve thought through the week of the influence of my mother. Growing up, volunteering was a given- if you live in a neighborhood, if you go to a church, if you believe in God’s call to love, than it was without question that you would would give time and energy to those things. If someone is sick, you organize a meal. If there is an event, you show up. Those lessons were not lost on me, and I hope my own children will have that same sense of responsibility.

We are very proud of Nana and the way she has shaped us all as a family.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-05-26T00:45:00.002-04:00

Great summer subway art printable here, and in several options of colors!

Make your own curry powder!

This pillow is so sweet I want to hug it!

Some funny sentiments here!

I want to read this book. I noticed on her site that a book group had read it and prepared some of her recipes together. Sounds fun!

Lots of really fun retro things to be found here!

What an easy and perfect teacher gift!

What would we ever do without our sisters? Joann is lucky to have a sister who is so atuned to her and who feels her pain.

Music Monday

2011-05-23T23:36:00.001-04:00

Jeff Street Earth Day Orchestra

Earth Day!

2011-05-22T23:48:00.002-04:00

It has been a tradition in my church to celebrate God’s creation one Sunday each year by having our worship out of doors and a picnic to follow. The date was moved further out from the universal Earth Day in hopes of weather more conducive to the outdoor gathering….but for the past several years, the weather had not cooperated. Today the grass and ground were just too wet. Didn’t stop us from celebrating!

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Wednesday Link Love

2011-05-19T01:10:00.001-04:00

Love this idea from Thrifty Miss Priss

Two great Mother’s Day posts- Antique Mommy’s great story and a beautiful post by my friend Amy about her wonderful mom Beth.

Still love these journal pages.

I love Emily’s trees.

A lot of wisdom to be had right here.

Fun backgrounds for doing art with.

So, if you are toying with the idea of getting an SLR, you can play around with a simulator here.

I’m a sucker for paint chips!

I’d love to have this tent for the times when littles come to dinner. Or for me to take a nap in!

This Moment

2011-05-13T23:50:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-05-12T00:28:00.000-04:00

Loving the vinyl here at Urbanwalls

I see another celebratory wreath comin’ on……

Gotta try some of these sometime soon.

I’m wanting to try this laundry recipe for sheets.

Fun link for those of you who send digital greetings.

It has been a while since I pointed out any funnies from Cake Wreck. This time, the Mother’s Day edition.

Love these steps. Love the red ones the most!

Music Monday

2011-05-09T22:59:00.001-04:00

I think that meeting Mr. B for me is right up there with having dinner with Maya Angelou and interviewing Mother Theresa. Oh, that every child could have an educator like Mr. B in their lives to make them feel like a rock star!

Oh Happy Day!

2011-05-08T23:41:00.001-04:00

Today is the 40th birthday of my precious friend Gwen and Gwen’s first Mother’s Day as a mom. I couldn’t help but think today about the Mother’s Day Sundays that she and I have “cut” church together, feeling an acute aloneness on that day in a church full of moms. If anyone had told us as we sat in Cherokee Park with Gwen playing her guitar and us watching people all around that already change was winding a crooked path toward us, we would have not believed it.

When my first Mother’s Day as a mom rolled around, it was Gwen who helped my little ones make it a perfect day for me, and continued to do that until they were old enough to do what they wanted to do on their own.

For as long as I have known her, I have known how smart she is, how rock solid, faithful to a fault, big hearted, and steadfast she is. And now I am seeing all new things growing in her life, not the least of them being an uncharacteristic ferocity- the kind that comes with motherhood. She has this new glint in her eye- that don’t. mess.with.my.kid walk on hot coals swim the deepest seas I will never leave you look.

Happy Birthday to my dear friend. Welcome to the pack.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-05-04T23:58:00.001-04:00

Being the conformist that I can be, I HAD to say something about this cookbook because at least 5 of the blogs I frequent have brought it up this week. So, of course, I want it. Must say we had this for dinner this week (mustard greens in place of the dandelion greens) and it will be a go-to quick and tasty main dish in our meal rotation.

For my friend Kelly who has been playing with spoons lately. I am deeply in love with the chandelier!! And speaking of silverware! If anyone finds the food safe spray paint, let me know where.

I want to make one of these!

Great shirt!

I love the foot stool idea!

And what could be cuter than Nella in the Big Apple!!

This Moment

2011-04-29T23:13:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-04-27T22:07:00.001-04:00

Lots of fun ideas with hoops! Like this one and these!

I hope I can remember this for my next celebration.

Love this seder plate and this tradition!

I’m going to give this a try.

Oh, how I love these hanging lanterns!

In case you ended up with more plastic eggs than you know what to do with…..

Two new sites, or new to me this week. Well worth getting on their daily email list. Very Jane has had some fun stuff this week including some nice printables. And Pickyourplum has offered some really lovely stuff too! And great prices!

Turn the page Tuesday

2011-04-26T22:11:00.001-04:00

My friend Jay had mentioned loving this book several times, and then one day this article popped up on facebook to remind me. Now my book group is doing it as our book this month. I’m not far in, but enjoying what I’ve read so far. Anyone else read it?

It Aint Easter ‘til the conga line forms….

2011-04-24T23:36:00.001-04:00

Easter worship at Jeff Street starts in darkness and culminates in boisterous color and joy. Balloons drop, confetti flies, and noise makers clang and whistle while Keith Green sings in the background. Then there is a moment when the joy cannot be contained and we all begin singing “We Are Marching in the light of God” and the conga line begins to snake its way around the room, gaining more and more folks, all dancing to the beat of the resurrection song. Christ is Risen and our joy cannot be contained.

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This Moment

2011-04-23T02:45:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-04-20T23:19:00.001-04:00

If you are paying closer attention than I am, you probably noticed that I posted Music Monday…..on Tuesday. And when today rolled around and was Wednesday, I was shocked! I’m out of whack because of a very very fun trip I made Monday and Tuesday with 3 of my favorite women in the world- my sister, mother, and aunt. And we went to visit my very amazing and talented cousin Julie in Nashville.

Julie has recently begun her own business making cake pops and is enjoying great success. And there’s no wonder why-

They are just adorable! And they make a really tasty treat.

Check out her web page here!

There are so many clever ideas here for a wedding, or even for just a party, and all rolled together made for the sweetest of weddings! And look at this dreamy wedding! Be sure to watch the video.

Totally loving these jars!!

Another great video made by my friend Dan. This one made me fall in love with my friends and church and Wendell Berry and even my daughters all over again.

Music Monday

2011-04-20T08:10:00.001-04:00

I can’t seem go get this one to imbed, but it’s worth clicking here to see.

I love a parade!

2011-04-18T01:16:00.001-04:00

One of my favorite days of the year is coming soon- it involves a parade to celebrate Derby week here in the Derby city. My friend Miss Cheryl and I go up hours and hours in advance and stake out the same place we’ve been sitting for years and we sit there, holding our good place for all of our friends to join us later.

Couldn’t help but think of that parade this morning as I was getting ready for church. The excitement, the jockeying for a good spot, the gathering of friends and kindred spirits.

And such was another parade on another day. The path lined in palms and garments prepared for the triumphant and joyful entry into the city of Jesus.

Over the next few days, tables would be turned over and whips would crack and cocks would crow. But for today, a parade.

I place my stone upon the Lenten road.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-04-13T23:28:00.001-04:00

These sweet hearts and this lovely grouping make me want to hunt up my hook and some yarn!

I love the Plush Birdies with legs too! Think I’m craving spring?

And then there are these gorgeous photos. Hmmmmmm……also spring colors.

Quite honestly, COULD a working laundry room ever look like this?

Here’s a fun idea to keep a little one busy!

I’m swooning over this room. For some reason tonight several of the pictures are not up on the post, but if you click where they should be they come up on her Flcker stream.

Who will step out and give this recipe a try for me? When I was in my first apartment, a recipe called for oil and having nothing else, I used olive oil. I think with a cake mix. It did not go well. But this sounds quite good.

Ever since my friend sent me in the direction of their blog, this sweet family has been on my heart, and I am praying that they get to bring Kirill home soon. Will you pray that too?

Turn the page Tuesday

2011-04-13T00:03:00.001-04:00

So, this is my read of the week. As a woman who does, indeed, feel bad about her neck, I’m finding it both delightful….and painful. Here’s what Nora has to say in the first essay.

Oh, the necks. There are chicken necks. There are turkey gobbler necks. There are elephant necks. There are necks with wattles and necks with creases that are on the verge of becoming wattles. There are scrawny necks and fat necks, loose necks, crepey necks, banded necks, wrinkled necks, stringy necks, saggy necks, flabby necks, mottled necks. There are necks that are an amazing combination of all of the above. According to my dermatologist, the neck starts to go at forty-three, and that’s that. You can put makeup on your face and concealer under your eyes and dye on your hair, you can shoot collagen and Botox and Restylane into your wrinkles and creases, but short of surgery, there’s not a thing you can do about a neck. The neck is a dead giveaway. Our faces are lies and our necks are the truth. You have to cut open a redwood tree to see how old it is, but you wouldn’t have to if it had a neck.

Necks aren’t her only subject. She covers our health and our purses and our failing vision and memory. I’m wondering what a man would think if he read it. Anyway, it’s a nice little collection of essays that are well written and help me try to keep a sense of humor about things that aren’t feeling so funny.

Music Monday

2011-04-11T23:54:00.001-04:00

I haven’t thought of this song for quite a while. We sang it as part of a game at a meeting I went to tonight and I was surprised that there were folks who didn’t know it. Everyone should learn this song!

Slam!

2011-04-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

A young woman did this poem tonight at the Urban Goatwalker. Her mom was there and at the end her mom came straight up the center aisle and tackled that sweet girl and they just hugged and hugged and cried and cried. And so of course, so did I. (Cried, that is.)

And if you aren’t too slammed out…….here’s another great one about motherhood and an inspiring talk behind it too.

This Moment

2011-04-08T23:32:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-04-07T00:09:00.001-04:00

I love these pictures of colorful pockets of the world.

Check out the cool party at Outside the Box Studio!

And speaking of parties, I can’t stop thinking of a way to have a cool party like this one. For more party fun, check out Bird’s Party Magazine. And lovin’ the “sponge ball thingies” and the whole water party theme.

A favorite local meteorologist retired, but has started a great weather blog. Check out his tip on how to tell the weather by tulips.

My wooden spoons rank right up there with my cast iron skillet of items I can’t live without in my kitchen. Now that I’ve seen this, I think maybe it’s time to make a little spoon oil and show my spoons some love.

Now, here’s a cake decoration to make me smile!

OH, Sara! Please come paint my windows!

Aren’t these Happy Tees A-dorable?

Cupcakes in a jar!! What a great idea! And Cakespy is giving 4 away right here.

What could possibly NOT be good about chocolate butter?

Well, I’m sure my friend Beth could pull this off with her hands behind her back, but I keep looking at it to try to decide if I could stare at it and try to copy it. So cute!

Definitely hanging on to these for my next photo booth-y type thing. Maybe I’ll use them at my cereal party!

Turn the page Tuesday

2011-04-06T01:01:00.001-04:00

First of all, if you check the time on this post (as my mother often does!) you will see that it’s actually past Tuesday. It was Tuesday when I went to bed…..and when DH’s alarm that he forgot to reset went off. It’s a siren. The dogs and I are all now wide awake. So, it’s still Tuesday to me, with the hope of still getting some sleep before Wednesday.

And on to the subject at hand. I first heard of “One Small Step….” on a professional teleconference about quality in the workplace and the presenter said just enough and praised it just enough to perk my interest. It’s a very simple concept- that moving a tiny bit is indeed moving, and then explains why that works. And it has really helped me make some progress on some things I had lost all hope in moving forward on. Small book, simple concept, and good medicine for me.

Now I’m off to try the whole sleep thing again.

Music Monday

2011-04-04T22:51:00.001-04:00

Ohhhhhh, how I would love to go to Owensboro for Romp 2011! Lots of great acts, but my primary interest would be Sarah Jarosz.

This Moment

2011-04-01T23:34:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wednesday Link Love

2011-03-30T23:38:00.001-04:00

Ever since I found this site and realized that you really can bake just about anything in a cupcake, I keep thinking of fun things to bake. I’m thinking a tiny apple dumpling inside a yellow cake with a cinnamon buttercream frosting……

Is this house dreamy or what?

Check out this great birthday party? I can’t stop looking at the garland and the big grouping hung from the ceiling. Very cool.

Very cool idea. Just have to wonder how someone thought of it.

Oh, how sweet her work is!

I had never seen a DEAREST ring before and I’m taken with the concept.

Loving this idea. Might be a good way to keep adult’s attention too!

Music Monday

2011-03-28T23:32:00.001-04:00

Yep, I’m a sucker for a sappy love song. Especially if it has a chick flick video to go along with it.

Three (or 30) women

2011-03-28T00:46:00.002-04:00

Friday night I had the nicest time sharing a meal with some of the brightest, most interesting women I know. We get together once a month for dinner and catching up. I’ve mentioned before that I try very hard to sigh and then smile as my head hits the pillow, and Friday night I fell asleep smiling at the pure joy of friendship.

My youngest daughter came home especially to support her dad at a very significant event, and on the ride there we spoke as friends, anxious that the event would be everything my husband/her dad hoped it would be. There was a moment that afternoon when our eyes met and while unspoken, we both signaled to each other that it was indeed a perfect day for him.

Today I sat in a big wonderful circle of women (and one brave man) who had come together to celebrate with two of our favorite friends as they have brought a sweet new baby into their hearts and home. All kinds of love and wisdom was flowing around that room. I can bet I’ll fall asleep again tonight smiling at the thought of it all.

Carrie Newcomer has a wonderful song called “Three Women” that has played like a soundtrack in the back of my mind today. If I were savvy enough, I’d have a link to the music here, but I’m not, so the lyrics will have to suffice. Here’s to the strength of women holding hands!

There's a light in the kitchen There's a glass on the stand Three women round the table And they're holding hands They're care taking the birthings Bringing food when they can They're easin' the leavin' And they're holding hands Love can get tangled And jumbled sometimes You can lose your way in this world You can lose your mind But there's something love In which I can depend It's the strength in women Holding hands The night can be dark So dark and wild And life burns like a diamond It's unbearably hard But it's sweeter than honey Right from the jar Your eyes have the look Of some different place You've got one foot in heaven And one still in this land So we breathe it in deep And we let it out slow We're holding you up While you're letting us go There's a free falling feeling I'm lighter than air and home burns Like a beacon in your eyes But somehow we get anchored Somehow we get by Here's to the women Who bind the wounds tight Here's to the ones Who sit talking half of the night Here's to the love And the life that they mend And here's to the strength In women holding hands And here's to the strength In women holding hands And here's to the strength In women holding hands

Wednesday Link Love

2011-03-23T23:21:00.002-04:00

I spent the first 40 years of my life dog phobic. I mean seriously phobic. Like calling in sick if a dog was in the parking lot where my car was. And then when DH and I started having a house built and I knew I was no longer living in a controlled no pets environment, I decided I didn’t want to be afraid any more and did a lot of work to move on past that. It was hard work, and it is one of my proudest achievements that I stuck it out, and how much richer I am because I did! When I was starting to feel like I was ready, I did some research on dog breeds. I remember a chart that showed various circumstances like when the doorbell rings, when it storms, when a stranger comes into the house, etc and of all breeds, Basset Hounds were flat-liners all the way across. So laid back are they, that not even the dreaded siren of a passing firetruck brought a rise out of them according to this chart. So, we paid a lot of money for a purebred Basset named Elvis……..and I was not ready. I was scared to death of that puppy after my husband left for work. Elvis ended up going to live with a friend within a few days. I’ve still remained enamored with the breed, and these pictures just cracked me up.

And speaking of dogs…..how is that my two seem to find the simple concept of “doing their business” outside so difficult when there are dogs clearly capable of so much more.

Made some of this one night this week and we both loved it! Yum!

I think these cupcake stands are adorable!

Another beautiful post by Kelly for World Down Syndrome Awareness Day.

Having eaten just one toooooo many Cadbury eggs one year, they no longer hold the allure that they once did. But this list could threaten to win me back over.

I highly recommend you read this post by Allison about Japan and the amazing spirit of the Japanese people. Be sure to also watch the video.

Six Word Saturday

2011-03-19T11:52:00.001-04:00

Celebrating 17 years as Shawn’s wife

For Japan with Love

2011-03-17T22:12:00.001-04:00

This Friday I will be participating in the For Japan with Love Bloggers Day of Silence (no postings) to acknowledge and help raise awareness and respect for the devastation going on in Japan, as well as to help raise money for relief aid to Japan. Please stop by the For Japan With Love site and contribute if you are able to do so. Every little bit helps!
“All of the donations {For Japan, With Love} will go to ShelterBox, which provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.”

Wednesday Link Love

2011-03-16T23:07:00.001-04:00

I made one of these this week- very easy and very festive!

Wish I had seen these before Valentines Day! But maybe I will make these instead.

A little bit of quilt love here and here.

Great idea here from annalea as the guest blogger on kojodesigns.

We almost have to try this just to see how it works.

So, how much would you love to have Mary E make YOUR wedding invitaitons?!

I think I’d like one of these. Wonder how DH would feel about it!

Now this is some candy bling!

Fun party invite!

I need this girl to come pack my purse!

Carrying an unknown friend

2011-03-16T00:16:00.001-04:00

In the wee hours of the morning today, a woman crept into my vision, then into my heart, and I have carried her piggy back all day long. She is a mother, just like me, and my same age. Her children, like mine, are off at school or in jobs in other cities. She likes to journal, enjoys decorating her home, loves her alone time, and collects old photographs. I live in Kentucky. She lives in Japan. And right now all she knows, all she wants to know is that her children are somewhere safe, to hear their voices, to know that they are out of all harms way.

A simple question, “What would I do if.......?” and there she was, and all day long as I've watched or read news, I have seen it through her eyes. She and I are a rather unwieldy entanglement. I have carried her sadness as mine all day long, and can't shake it tonight.

Dear Other Mother who I do not know- I will pray for your children as my own. I will pray for you. I will hold out the hope of a day to come when you may write in your journal, set a red pitcher on a table, tuck photos of your grandchildren into a book, fall asleep easily in your own bed.

Loyalty

2011-03-15T22:53:00.001-04:00

I apologize for posting videos back to back, but this is so dear I wanted to share it. While I can’t understand the Japanese, I can surely tell what is going on here. May we all have a friend so loyal!