Treasure.

Tim's Great-Auntie Lily lives in Australia. She is an amazingly talented seamstress/knitter/crochet-er/gardener/make life more beautiful by creating it-er. I sent her some yarn a few months back and asked her to make a winter sweater (jumper) for each Little Girl. This is what she sent back yesterday. It was love at first sight for The Little Girls and I- I knew she would send back magic. Never before have I seen such splendid jumpers.

 

 

   Lily made me a couple of wrap dresses a few years back. I am wearing the pink one today, you can see it here.

 

Lily also made this afghan in The Goo's crib. ♥

Art Defined.

 I know bragg-y parents can be obnoxious and so it is with MUCH restraint that I dial my pride back a bit everyday and not post artwork done by Miss Savannah Jane. As an art enthusiast and former Art Teacher, I am thrilled to hold in my hands daily examples and proof of my child's extraordinary ability to capture her current thoughts and imagination in a drawing embellished with brilliant color. Kids play in different ways. Savannah plays in her drawing.

This morning while I was taming The Goo, I passed the easel and this rendering caught my eye.

 This is Savannah's explanation...

Savannah: "This is Ivy and I getting married. Ivy is marrying Daddy and I am marrying Grady. Each one of us is thinking where we would like to get married. Ivy wants to be married in Paris, but Daddy wants to be married somewhere else in France. I want to be married in London but Grady has decided on Lost Angela's."

Me: "So where are you here?"

Savannah: "Lost Angela's. Sorry you can't be there, you died."

 Me: "Oh."

Game Night.

 Last winter we lost all our boardgames to a water leak in our garage. It was sad, especially for Tim whose favorite game is no longer made (Rail Barron). We have started a new collection focusing on games The Little Girls can play too, all purchased from thrift stores in amazing condition.

Last Saturday night we tried each one out, the giggles and squeals were priceless.

Zoo Day.

 Leilani and I took our chickies to the zoo last Monday, it was chilly but playing in the sun with friends warmed us right up.

 Ivy and her "Anteater Friend", her favorite animal exhibit.

Weekend Report.

 

Tim's Mom came to stay the weekend with us, the Little Girls were thrilled to have Grandma sleepover. We shared restful days filled with good conversation and oodles of playtime. Oh, and The Goo is sitting up...by himself.

Quandries.

 

This morning I found both Little Girls in Ivy's bed snuggling together. This has NEVER happened. Oh, they have both slept in Savannah's bed many times but not in Ivy's. She is very particular about who is allowed to touch/play on her bed. This Barbie menagerie took up any and all pillow space there would have been for two Little Girls-how did they manage to sleep? Creepy. 

Tim just informed me that my red lipstick makes me look like a clown. I asked if it was the color or my big lips. He said both. I told him I wore it to Savannah's school yesterday. He said that was a mistake. I'm going to wear it anyway. My grandma always wore red lipstick when we were little, I thought she was so glamorous. I loved watching her apply it in a cross-like fashion, then rubbing her lips together and smudging it gently with her ring finger. I remember sneaking into her pocketbook once to try some on myself, I chickened out.

 

 What do you think? Clown?

So this post wraps up my week. Look! Did you notice? I posted every day this week. I haven't found time to do this in...in...I don't remember. Have a lovely weekend.

Ugh.

Last night I made Butternut Squash and Leek Risotto, cooked using a good Chardonnay and homemade chicken stock. The Little Girls cried over me making them eat a mere 4 bites. 

 I ate three healthy servings.

Hello...

 

...and have a sweet day.

♥ The Goo.

Celebrate!

Eva is having a baby girl later this month (isn't she gorgeous!). I cannot wait to meet her! Last Sunday Eva's family and friends showered her with love and girlie gifts.

 Beautiful Julie and her precious Lindsey.

 Andrea and The Goo.

 There were seven of us girls from high school-Eva, Leilani and I, and these four lovelies (l-r) Shelley, Andrea, Julie and Joy. Nothing like celebrating a new baby to bring us all together again.

(I missed you Tamber!)

Smorgasbord.

 

The last three or four antique fairs have been anti-climatic. So much so I almost didn't go yesterday and I was seriously considering no longer attending regularly. But yesterday morning, my faith in the treasure hunt was restored. There were paintings and furniture everywhere and all for the most ridiculously low prices. I was there for a mere 40 minutes; my mind could not keep up with my eyes, my hands and arms were full. This is what I took home.

  

Oh, don't forget about A Dusty Closet. What are you wearing today?

A New Project.

If you look over there (sidebar), --------------------------------------------->

you'll find a new blog I'm working on. For a full description of what this is all about, scroll down to my first post on A Dusty Closet. or read here.

Take A Peek.

On Christmas Day I had a great conversation with an old family friend, Ray Terk. We shared countless stories of found treasures from local thrift stores. I love hearing stories of what other people find as treasure second hand. I always look for Hobnail Milk-glass, hoop earrings, paintings and objects used to organize (wooden boxes, shelves, trays, baskets), all for a steal. The other day I found these.

Gold Hammered Hoop Earrings  $1.50

Hobnail Milk-glass S&P shakers  $5.00 (for both!)

Little Red.

 

  

While Savannah is in school, Ivy is...restless. She is so excited to have more attention from me but misses playing with her best friend. Yesterday we played Art Class Outdoors. She loved ordering me around and taking over the "class". Is there anything a 4 year-old girl loves more than glitter? I had to reign her in and help her put that "pixie dust" to good use. Currently there are little piles here and there in the backyard, luckily some gold ended up on the canvas.

 

 

Best Week Ever.

  

Look who was Student of the Week! Her head has been in the clouds all week especially today when the lovely Mrs. R gave her a book compiled with compliments from each student in her class.

  

What a keepsake.

  

I remember when my 1st grade teacher did Student of the Week. Like Savannah, my head was also in the clouds. I specifically remember asking Mrs. Fessler to take this picture of me.

 

Winter Warmth.

The Little Girls and I gussied up The Honey Hut this afternoon with some canvases begging to come out of hiding and into the warm January air.
Dear Mother Nature,
You have redeemed yourself after last year's early and late snowfalls. I love you now.
Fondly,
Dusty.

Easy Peasy.

Have you ever seen these?

Tim's parents gifted these Magnatab boards to The Little Girls for Christmas. They are getting so much use! If you are ever looking for a gift for a preschool/kindergarten aged child, search no more. Buy these here.

 Look at them having fun while learning!