thrifty thursday {trash day}

Let me set the scene.

It is Tuesday morning.  Trash day.  The rumblings of the garbage truck making its way through the neighborhood can be heard through the open windows.

In need of a momentary diversion for the kids I encourage them to look out the window, "the garbage truck is right across the street" I say.

I look too.  And I see something.

Something I want.  Right there on the tree lawn of the house across the street.

The garbage truck is one house away.

The garbage truck is one house, one trash can, away from getting that thing I want, and throwing it into its large front bin.

Without a second thought, with babe in arms, and I think still wearing slippers, I run out the front door, down the sidewalk and just as the trash collector is poising this item up to throw into the bin I holler above the sound of the truck, "Can I have that?!"

He gives a grin, a shrug and says "Sure."

He even carries it across the street and places it on my front lawn for me.

The kind, and very amused, trash collector brought me this amazing door.

A door, you ask?

You may see a door, but I see a cool desk, made from real wood, with panes for pictures or artwork.  Or maybe I see a chartreuse room divider, hung from the ceiling, with black and white portraits in the window panes.  Maybe I see a large-scale artwork, with spaces for even more artwork that rotates.  

I am not exactly sure what I saw in that split second that I decided to run out of the house and claim my neighbor's trash.  But I do know I saw real wood, intact glass, something that could be made into something else that can't be bought at Target, or Pier One, or Arhaus.  Even the door knob is cool, maybe that will become something different altogether.

And I will have time to decide what it will become, because realistically I don't have room for more furniture in this house.  So it will be stored here (by a very patient husband) and moved (by a very patient husband) to whichever house we move to next in which I have space for a desk, or a room divider, or large-scale art.

But for now, I am going to dream about what this door will become, and sincerely thank Honey for not putting this door out on our tree lawn for collection next week.


Linking up with Lady Cordelia for thrifty thursday.

play imitating life

Last week Munchkin and Lovey spent time playing with a whole stash of dolls and doll furniture.  They set up an elaborate living space for these dollies, just like real life.

Look closer. 

See Mama sitting on the couch.

There.

That is Mama breastfeeding her baby.

Just like real life.

special delivery

I love getting good mail.  Last week was a very good mail week.  Three special deliveries:

~ Yard signs for the neighborhood that read "Keep Kids Alive Drive 25"

~ A magnet with the International Breastfeeding Symbol

~ Taproot...the second issue of this magazine is oh so lovely!

And the kiddos helped make our own special deliveries to neighbors who also ordered signs.

Oh yes, good mail indeed!  What is your favorite kind of mail?

this moment {sweet sleep}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "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."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

thrifty thursday {lesson learned}

I learned a very important thrifting lesson last week.

If you take your daughter thrifting with you, and that daughter notices a lovely pink sundress as soon as she enters the store, and within minutes is wearing that lovely pink sundress over her clothing, and she walks around the store wearing the lovely pink sundress...there is 100% probability that the lovely pink sundress will be going home with you.

Lovely lesson learned.  (And I am thanking my thrifting stars that the dress fit, and was not too expensive!)

larger than life

On Mother's Day we got to spend some time with family at my sister's house.  When I walked into her kitchen I noticed this hanging on the wall.

Recognize it?

It is a picture of one of many quiet moments that Pal and I shared after he was born.

Then I noticed this massive canvas next to the picture.

My niece painted this for a final art project at school, for which she was assigned a large-scale portrait.  She had to finalize her subject about the time Pal was born, and she chose us.  For many weeks she wouldn't tell her family who she was painting, and she kept it secret from me until I saw it completed last weekend.

The Monday following Mother's Day, she transported the painting back to school to be graded.  But once done, she is giving the portrait to us.

How lucky are we?

Sometimes someone gifts you with a present so beautiful and overwhelming you can't quite define the feeling or put accurately into words your gratitude and love.

Pretty amazing, this niece of mine.  Her generosity always larger than life. 

benevolence

Well readers it seems that I will be taking the advice of Cory, a dear blogger friend.  

Shortly after Pal was born she wrote to me to say that it was okay to only post a picture or two and just a few words for awhile.  Oh, little did I know how much I needed her insight!

Even though we've settled quite nicely into our rhythm as a family of six (thankfully including sleep and some time to relax) I still haven't quite figured out how to fit in my blogging.  Oh, not that I don't have thoughts and photos to share, I do.  I keep lists of ideas in my notebooks, and have plenty to write about.  I am always writing my next post in my head.  (Don't you?)  What you are reading now has been mentally written and edited over the past couple of days.  But to find the time to actually type?  That has eluded me.  I also haven't been able to visit your spaces nearly as often as I like to.  What to do?

For now I will do as Cory says.  A few pictures, a few words.  Not let my perfectionist ways get in my way of documenting these days, such as they are.  Thank you Cory.  And thank you dear readers for understanding.  I hope that what I do get to post will be enjoyed!

benevolent
adjective, def: well-meaning and kindly

Or as it is experienced in my life:  having your pre-schooler who is totally rocking your socks off in the memory game decide, on his own, to put some of his matches back into play because he realizes so.

He still beat me.  Like 17 to 7.  I was trying my hardest.  For real.

this moment {in the sewing box}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "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."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

mother's day {happy}

Much happy happening here, and still so early in the day.

~ a cup of coffee on my new red chair

~ a clean car, with the help of many hands

~ reading my new book Sugar Cookies, and discovering a page that looks just like Lovey

~ snuggling my babies, all four of them

~ and getting ready for a day of sewing


Happiest of Mother's Day to all of you Mamas!  Especially to Nonnie, my Mother.

this moment {cleaning day}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "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."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

in progress {and giveaway}

I love that I have my hands in some works in progress right now.  I scored some great fabric sales this week and am delighted to be spending some time sewing a few many different things.

And designer fabric swatches, for practically nothing?  Please, load me up, I just got myself an idea.  Add another work in progress to the list!  And this one has a deadline, for they will become presents to give very soon.

Oh the blessing (or is it the curse?) of the creative.  There are always projects in progress.  Always.  And when I am actively working on something I tend to be thinking and daydreaming about the next three I want to do.

Even now, as I wash and cut the fabric I bought last night, I am thinking about the fabric I want to go back and buy because I have another idea that I. must. make.

Must.  Ah yes, the blessing of the creative.


~~ on to the giveaway ~~

It has been oh so long since I've had a giveaway, and have been itching to do so.  One of my recent projects completed was a series of mobiles for Pal.  I have an extra one that I want to give away to one lucky reader.

The mobile can be hung anywhere indoors, and doesn't have to be for a little one.  (I have caught myself watching the graceful twirl of these colorful mobiles.)  Since it is made of paper it would be interesting to write important or meaningful words on the strips, similar to this.  Perfect near a desk or somewhere where you often sit.

Simply leave a comment in this post by noon next Friday, May 18, and I will randomly pick a winner.

pink

During these busy days of finding our rhythm and way, I am glad to find goodness in the teeny tiniest of places.  I think her toes qualify as teeny tiny.

Somehow I had thought painting toenails was too much of a luxury of time.  But it turns out that it can be done when big brothers are at school and baby brother is sleeping.  That is if we do it quickly, and don't worry about a bit of imperfection.   

Imperfection.  A lesson I am learning to embrace a bit each day.

It also turns out that I can be inspired to quickly paint mine.  And when Munchkin gets home, he won't be left out too.

So, pretty in pink.  And pretty perfect after all.

wondering

"Why do babies smell so good?"

Buddy asked this question again this weekend.  He's been thinking about it I can tell.  He has even developed his own theory that involves the vernix soaking into babies skin very deeply and explains why their good smell is stronger right when they are born, and the scent lingers, but gets washed off a bit with each newborn bath.  Ahh, a young boy knowing so much about babies and birth, it makes me proud.

And it makes me wonder.  Wonder, why do babies smell so good.  I am not quite sure, but I know that the smell is intoxicating and wonderful and can sway you to pass the time with your nose buried into their sweet necks and wrinkly fists.  My big kids can't resist the lure of his fragrant ears and feet.  I even adore the scent mingled with that just-spit-up breastmilk smell.  All of it so sweet and warm and oh so fleeting.

There is much I've been wondering lately...

:: Why Lovey picks each and every bloom in our yard, despite the many reminders to let them keep growing.  She loves those flowers so.

:: How a kid-made bird feeder is so delightful.  Maybe it is the anticipation of the birds to come that is the true delight.

:: How that first day of swimsuits and sprinklers in the back yard holds a magic that can't be duplicated any other day of the summer.

:: Why every time I see this cup of toothbrushes that I feel happiness and disbelief all jumbled together.  How did our family grow to be this size, and Pal doesn't even have teeth yet.

:: How it's possible that soccer last weekend involved snowflakes and scarves and this weekend involved sunscreen and sitting out on a blanket.

:: Why, no matter how caught up with laundry I get, that there is always more, and ever more.

:: What the routine will be for the summer.  Wondering alot about my ability as a parent to make it  lovely and calm and fun and memorable.  This summer will be so different than any before, so I have such high hopes.

:: How, with the busy that is to come with summer, I can make sure to enjoy my own summer daydreams too.  I've begun daydreaming what my list might be this year.

:: About my next project.  There are so many, little and big, that I want to do.  So I am always wondering what I can successfully squeeze in between and among this role of mothering.

What, my friends, has you wondering today?

this {iPhone} moment

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "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."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!