where we are

Hello!  Did your week start smoothly?  I do hope so...

 Sweet shots from the 'hood:

Another trip to the tea tavern, this time with my sweet mama and both girls.  We bought the teapot you see below on our new tablecloth (more are in the mail)! :

It's a tiny black and white gingham print, and it looks lovely.  It's my new favorite place in the house.

It says "EAT" on one side of the table, and this on the other:  "yes, eat it" and "drink too..."  (I'm so bossy.)

The heart o' spools has found a home.

More cold-weather gear than we are used to!

The type tray is filling in!  I'm enjoying having a color scheme for it.

I found this kokeshi pair and decided they look like my husband and me.  They have apple-heads.  I wonder why?!

It's all good.  Virginia is the place for us.  Everything is not perfect, of course, but it feels right.  It's where we are, and where we should be.  I don't miss California at all.

Take care, sweet dears, and thanks for visiting!

xoxox.

wpa

Good morning! What do you think of these wonderful WPA posters I stumbled upon last night? I love them...

So much more to see, and available as reprints in several sizes, very affordably. Yay!

Which is your favorite? (This one is mine!)

Rock your Monday, sweets!

xoxox.

choosing

This incredibly lovely and cool home in Dallas is exactly what I'm in love with now.  It's the home of Emily McCall, found via Etsy's Get the Look column, and I'm finding lots to be inspired by.  Check Emily's flickr for lots more photos to die over.

Instead of crying, I choose to be inspired and happy.  There.

xoxox.

such beauty

Good morning, my dears! 

What could be better on this fine Sunday than a little sunny inspiration of the granny square sort?  And these are no common grannys, let me tell you...From the talented hands of Adaiha, who is completing a different pattern of square each day for one whole year (see her blog for pattern credits and where to find them)! 

 Here are the first 50:

I love them beyond  all reason, and I'm so grateful to this wonderful artist for sharing them.  (I wish I could get a print of the squares in a mosaic like this, don't you?!  Poster-sized! )

Each one is such a tiny work of art, beautifully photographed. And better yet, go to Adaiha's flicker or blog to see each square closer--and marvel at the beauty!  I just can't get over them...And there is much, much more to see at her blog, from this simple and adorable pdf pattern for crochet bows (with step-by-step photos!) to how-to's for an amazing and extremely-complicate-looking trivet, which she makes look very easy.  Take your time and explore...

Yay for people who create lovely things!

xoxox.

weekend links

Hello, sweets.   A quiet sunny day, with lots of reading and resting ahead.  Plus, I made a great haul at the thrift the other day of new clothes, and I'm going to get them all fresh and ready for wearing.  Nothing like supplementing your entire winter wears for under twenty bucks!

I have been enjoying these links this morning, and I thought you might, too.  Here you go!

~yet another wonderful freebie from Kellie at 74 Lime Lane.  She rocks.

~check these super-cute valentines made by Holly.  (I just want the beads.)  She always had such great stuff for boys, which is mighty rare in the blogosphere.

~take this quiz from Greater Good on reading people.  I failed miserably.

~this incredibly lovely tumblr with all kinds of things I love from Ariana. (Her blog is so beautiful, too!)

~(sigh.)  Everything Ingrid does.

Well, I was shooting for 10 links, but this is taking forever!  My girls are missing me.  I've got to go.  But have a wonderful, wonderful weekend, okay?

xoxox.

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you only went out to get drunk last night

Hey, all!  Happy Friday!

My husband found this video via the Scottish music blog Song, By Toad, and he knew I'd love it.  It combines my absolute love of Scottish music (Kid Canaveral, You Only Went Out to Get Drunk Last Night) with my belief in the secret life of inanimate objects.  I think you will love it, too, I really do!:

 

I almost never click on videos when they are in someone else's blog.  I might have to start.

Have a super day, sweets!

xoxox.

what you've been waiting for

Hey, there, friends!

Sorry to keep you waiting--if you were waiting--so very long for my tips for bathroom storage. I was struck with a fear that my tips would be dumb, but I decided to spice the post up with some ideas found round the web.

First, let me tell you, I know what it is to live in a small bathroom. All four of us share one tiny space, and in the a.m., it's a true exercise in patience. And to top it all off, our shower reminds me of a vertical coffin that's wet...I'm not joking. If one is unfortunate enough to drop one's soap, one must be in good enough shape to do early morning squats, because there is no room to bend over. Don't even ask about leg-shaving (not that you probably would)...

But...here's what I found:

Actually, I didn't find this.  It was sent to me by my dear friend Sandra, and it really rocks. I love the look of the ladder, and what an awesome way to hang guest towels, no? (Also, check the towels rolled in the baskets on the shelf.  Very cool.)

***Found out from Ingrid that it is her bathroom!  I should have known, really.  She is an inspired person in every way.  I hope you are following her beautiful blog!  If not, why not check it out?  You will be delighted, I promise...:o)  Thanks, Ingrid, for letting me know!

This one above, from HGTV, I only like because of the basket under the sink for holding towels (the rest of it is way too posh for me).  But never, ever pass up a basket at the thrift store.  Here, again, is my use of a 1940s Dutch market basket that I bought a couple of years ago from Great Stuff by Paul:

And this one, from Better Homes and Gardens website, is show-casing my other favorite cheap storage solution, which I employ whenever possible, no matter the room:  hooks or pegs...

In our bathroom, there are no towel racks (or places to put them) so we have over the door hooks like this for all of our towels, and they are easy for big and small to access.

Okay, now for the real deal, our little bitty spot.  It has no storage whatsoever, except for the under the sink cabinet shown here:

Rather pathetic, for four people (three of them girls!).  What was this mama to do?  Well, it just so happened that we had brought along from California (I've no idea how they passed muster when so much else did not) some old Ikea bookshelves that I never really understood--they are short and squatty, with very small shelves:

But, as there is a slanted wall right above the candles there, they are perfect.  I found some red (!) dish tubs at Walmart and they fit perfectly.  Each member of the family has their own tub for toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, etc. and we can just pull out our tub, set it on top of the middle bookshelf there, and get to grooming.   The extra two tubs hold overflow (hair dryers, flat-irons and so on) because, as I said, three girls, one bathroom.  At the other end of the shelves there is my little Dutch basket, and for some reason, it makes me very happy.  (Oh!  And here is another version of the same idea, albeit much more expensive and custom-built.)

Things are still sparsely decorated since the Big Move.  But, there you have it!  Easy-peasy storage, cheapity-cheap, if you do it right.

Thanks again for all of the wonderful ideas for my little eating nook (and deer!).  I loved them all.  I'm in a quandary as to which idea to pick, so I'm thinking of going seasonal:  butter yellow for summer, black and white checks for winter, etc.  Or maybe that's just an excuse to buy one of each?  Perhaps, but I'm not hurting anybody, right?  Right.

Catch you later, sweets!  Rock the rest of your week, okay?

xoxox.

help me, rhonda

Hello, my dears! How goes your weekend? There's still time to switch it up, if you need to. I'm liking how mine is looking, so I'm going with it.

I was reading the latest issue of Country Living magazine (March 2011) yesterday, and it had a couple of things I wanted to run by you. First up is this picture from the issue, which confirms, if ever it was in doubt, that I am indeed on the cutting edge of country cool. (Thank heavens.):

A nice little breakfasty-nook with two red chairs. Wait a minute...Hey! I did that, too!:

Now, because it's real-life with real-life lighting and next-to-crappy camera, it doesn't look as fresh, I know. But here's my question: What color table cloth? It needs more color, and I am working with such a limited palette here that I'm flummoxed. I would go with a nice, safe, cheery red, but that's too much red. In-put? Please?

Next, on the very same page of the magazine (fate!) was a bit about this new book I'm going to try to get my hands on pronto--Creative Walls by Geraldine James. Looks like good cheap fun. And check this out!

It's a picture of a picture of a picture at this point, but I'm sure you can tell that it's a deer head made out of photos--just flat on the wall. I love it because it's unexpected, and I really love it because one of the weirdest adjustments to Virginia has been the hunters and their absolute glee when killing harmless animals. Even the little kids do it (bears, deer, etc.) and get their picture in the paper. I hate it. So, this would be kind of a comment on that? Maybe? Anyway, I don't want to use real photos. What would you use? I was thinking black and white copies of photos? Or even pieces of newspaper (they'd get a nice patina) or old book pages? And how big?

Any thoughts you've got would be much appreciated. Not that this is big stuff or anything, but it's always nice to have a little project going on, I've learned. It doesn't really even have to amount to much, it's just the having of it, you know? I know that you do.

Oooh, and coming up tomorrow, if you can wait that long! Storage solutions for my tiny bathroom. (I'm such a tease.)

Later, 'gators.

xoxox.

did you know?

AnnaLela makes some very cute stuff from felt, in her own very sweet way. Go see!

xoxox.

hitting the thrift pronto...

...all in an effort to re-create this beautiful scarf-display from the always stylish and lovely Lilian Day (see a home tour of her previous, but still very covet-worthy home on my old blog here). I don't have any pretty scarves like this, and suddenly I am in great need of some.

A girl's got to do what a girl's got to do.

Have a beautiful Saturday, okay?

xoxox.

going barefoot

Hello, friends! Happy Friday...

Much like all of you, I'm sure, I'm always on the lookout for several things: one, companies and products that enrich the world, it's people, and our understanding of each other; two, bright and fun and colorful good and products; and three: ways to bring in just a touch more cash to put dinner on the table. It's not often that you find all three in one she-bang, but I think I have and I'm very excited!

It's a company you may have heard of--I've been a customer of theirs for years and years. Barefoot Books is a publisher out of England that encourages new artists and encourages childrens' imaginations and senses of wonder, while instilling a deep respect for our planet and the people we share it with. I love what they do, what they dream of, and who they are.

The above book cover is a new title from them, written by Carol Ann Duffy and illustrated with the incredible papercuts of the amazingly talented Rob Ryan. It is beautiful and inspiring, and I know that you would love it. (See an interview with him here!)

My latest favorite, however, is this one:

It's by Anna McQuinn and illustrated by the great Sophie Fatus, who is a huge favorite in our home. Based on the familiar song, it takes children through the whole silly length of it, sprinkled with illustrations of children around the world. It ends with "If you're happy and you know it, and you really want to show it, shout hello!" and teaches children how to say hello in dozens of different ways. It's truly charming and you you'll be humming the song all day. I can't wait to share it with the kids at school--I think they'll love it.Anyhoo, if you click the thumbnail to the right, you can go straight to my little shop at Barefoot to see my latest recommendations, and from there head right on into the whole site. If you enter through my store, I will indeed get a tiny commission, which would be really, really lovely. (A total win-win, I hope.)***
In other news, I've been doing some research on George Washington Carver for a lesson at work that I hope to be able to give to the children. Unfortunately, I made it through some 40 years without ever learning about him, and now that's fixed, to some degree--thank heavens! Here is just one of the many wonderful things he said:

"Anything will give up it's secrets if you love it enough. Not only have I found that when I talk to the little flower or to the little peanut they will give up their secrets, but I have found that when I silently commune with people they give up their secrets also--if you love them enough."

And I love that.

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful weekend, okay?

xoxox.

picking

Hello, all!

I just really like this picture, so I'm sharing it. The painting is of my mom as a little girl. The baby cups are mine, my brother's and my mother's--they are tarnished and I shall keep them that way. The box is old and from Austria and that's all I know about it.

I was just over at flickr checking out the way my house used to look. It was a little like picking at a scab. Wow. A huge change, and it made me sad, just a bit. I don't think I'll be looking at it again for a while. But it's all good. I'm fine!

That's it. Have a good one!

xoxox.

year of the rabbit

Hello, sweet friends! I am so, so happy to see you. It's been a bit slow in these parts, I know. I've been busy, busy, busy learning my new love (Montessori, kids, learning, teaching, growing, etc.) and getting over a killer flu and it's attendant generalized yuck.

But, hey! Have you heard? It's the Year of the Rabbit! I'm so excited about this, for a few reasons. First of all, it's not the year of the rat, which was pretty gross. Second, I like rabbits.

Ever since I saw the rabbits over at das kaninchen, I've had them on my mind. Shannah described her rabbits, and all rabbits, like this: "For me [they] always recall intuition, regeneration, and redemption. Because the rabbit burrows underground and is most active during twilight hours it has been given a shaman like role... a metaphor for a traveling spirit from this world to the next." Isn't that so cool?!

So, it's the year of the rabbit, and that means regeneration, redemption, and...what? I realized that recently I had put this copy of The Velveteen Rabbit on my bedside table, where I only put my most favorite things. I had hardly noticed that I had done it, and while I was home sick, coughing as if to lose a lung, I picked it up and read it...Rabbit! Yes, yes! And what else?

The aspect of being Real.

The velveteen rabbit longs to be real, like the skin horse, and especially like the rabbits he meets out in the woods when he is left there by the Boy one summer evening. He has just learned from the skin horse what it means to be real, and this passage made me cry:

"You become. It doesn't happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept. Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby. But those things don't matter at all, because once you are Real, you can't be ugly, except to people who don't understand."

Oh me, oh my. I do believe I'm Real. I can honestly say that I don't break easily, or have sharp edges, and I certainly don't need to be carefully kept. And there are two girls in this house who would gladly tell you that they REALLY love me, if you asked.

Does this mean I'm done seeking and working and trying? Not by a long shot. There are roads to travel, lessons to learn, new ways and directions to grow in, and more and more people to love. That's the wonderful thing--just as the skin horse says that you can't become unreal again, ("It lasts for always") you can't ever finish becoming more Real. Even the velveteen rabbit goes from being a Real toy to a real rabbit. It's all part of the plan.

I love it when stuff lines up all neat and tidy like this for me every now and then. I'm just going to enjoy it for a while. And enjoy the path and all my friends along the way.

Happy Year of the Rabbit, my dears! May it be a lovely one for us all.

xoxox.

joyful learning

My journey continues...

 I've been lucky enough to find a position with a perfect little Montessori school here in Virginia.  And I love it.  Absolutely love it--everything from the sandpaper letters to the rabbit in a hutch out in the garden.  I feel like I'm home.  I'm learning so much, about myself and the children and learning itself.  It's just wonderful!  Hard, but joyful work, with hugs galore.

Bliss.

If you are not familiar with the Montessori method of teaching, which is based upon the work and observations of Maria Montessori, this is a great place to start.  But really, she had me at:  "Of all things, love is the most potent."  (Hook, line and sinker.)

Hope your week is filled with love and joy, my dears.  In small ways, and big!  Thank you for visiting and reading and sharing.  Back soon.

xoxox.