Friday Night Favorites

A few of my favorite things on a Friday night . . . a cold beer, nachos, paper cranes, adidas . . . and then there is Richard hiding under that hat. 

Tonight . . .

Just for today . . .

Outside my window . . . It is dark and I can feel the breeze blowing through the window.  I was just outside and watered the garden . . . it is a beautiful summer evening! 
I am thinking . . . drinking coffee this late at night was not a good idea, but then I love being up half the night.
I am thankful for . . . a job that allows me to have summers off from work. 
From the kitchen . . . Dinner was baked potatoes, fresh green beans, and the one large ripe tomato from the garden. 
I am wearing . . . my favorite cut-off shorts and a blue t-shirt with peace signs all over the front of it.  (PEACE . . . LOVE . . . SUMMER!)
I am creating . . . a big mess (I brought a lot of work home with me . . . it is everywhere.)  I am also working on some doll bodies. 
I am going . . . to try to spend more time this summer doing what I want to do rather than what I have to do.  I also plan on enjoying life while I do the things I have to do. 
I am reading . . . "The Paris Wife" - by Paula McLain. It is about the love affair between Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley.
I am hoping . . . to get up early and go for a walk/run.  But then I have had some coffee - it may not be all that early.
I am hearing . . . the sound of my husband snoring.  lol . . . I guess I have gotten used to that over the years - most of the time I don't even notice.
Around the house . . . all is quiet.  Sadie is curled up asleep next to the bed. 
One of my favorite things . . . is the cathedral window quilt that my grandma made.  Each piece is a different fabric.  I have it on the foot of my bed.  It is beautiful.
A few plans for the rest of the week . . . and the weekend . . . play some tennis, finish a couple of dolls and celebrate Father's Day with my family.
From my picture journal . . .



Thursday already . . .

Where has this week gone?  It seems like one day as run into the next - normal feeling when I am so busy.  I can't believe it is Thursday.  Let's see - after swimming yesterday I took Charlotte for a walk.  A little special time with Grandma is always a good thing.

After our walk we watered the garden.  My tomato plants have gotten so big.  I've gotten only two tomatoes so far - but there are a ton of green ones . . . so they are coming. 

The zucchini and yellow squash plants are still sort of small, but we have had a few to eat already.  I have three different types of hot peppers - one of them isn't doing so well, but the same thing happened last year and all of a sudden the plant took off and we ended up with some HOT peppers.  I also have cucumbers . . . still waiting on those.  I'm thinking that zucchini fritters sound good - I may have to make them tonight.

Richard was off work today and surprised me by bringing breakfast to the office . . . complete with monkey plates and sriracha sauce.  Probably a good thing that he did.  It is my last day here and I probably won't stop to eat . . . in fact I better get busy.   

 

“I still get wildly enthusiastic about little things... I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind.”
                                    ― Leo F. Buscaglia

Poolside

It's always nice to find time to swim and enjoy the sun.  (plenty of sunscreen of course!)  I think between Abbie and the grandmas, Charlotte has quite few hats to wear while she is in the sun this summer. 

I've been so busy winding up things at work that I haven't been able to get much done in my craft room . . . that has to change since I have two orders for dolls that I need to get done by next week . . . but for today it was fun in the sun!

Random Wednesday

This isn't a very good picture of Charlotte wearing her new little pants, but I just love her chubby little arms and feet . . . and her chubby little cheeks and smile.  She is such a happy baby!

I like these jars that I saw in an antiques store . . . I think if the jars would have been for sale - I would have bought them - especially the one with the turquoise lid.  This booth had lots of vintage sewing items that reminded me of Mom and Grandma. 

I love walking into greenhouses.  I love all the colors and smells . . . and always go home inspired.  I have so much that I want to do in our yard . . . always more ideas than time.  :)

Charlotte's Big Red Ball!

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."  ~Anaïs Nin

Czech it out . . . more bandanna pants

More bandanna pants.  Abbie picked out these bandannas . . . not the typical bandanna print, but they make for cute little cotton capris for Charlotte.  She is very tired tonight - so I will see how they look on her later.  $2.00 for the bandannas . . . and about 15 minutes of sewing. 

Summer . . .

We were actually quite busy and productive today, but as the temperature climbed to over 100 . . . (I believe it reached 109 today.)

. . . it was time to cool down and relax.

Love Summer!!!!!

Last Day of School . . .

Our wonderful crossing guards on the last day of school.  Horns were honking, children were crossing . . . safety first, but a little fun never hurts.  Love these amazing ladies.

They even decorated the bushes.

Here's to another great school year!  This one went by so fast, I guess what they say is true . . . Time flies when you are having fun!

The last day of school is always a little combination of relief, excitement,  and sadness.  Some of our kids and staff will not be returning . . . The youngest of our students are absolutely priceless performing at their end of the year assemblies . . . there are field trips, read & feeds, parties, and sprinkler runs . . . summer vacation is finally here!

 

"Hey! It's summer! Be free and happy and danceful and uninhibited and now-y!"

                                              ~Terri Guillemets

B is for . . .

Another Little Miss Bandanna Pants.  I finally had a chance to try the first pair of pants I made on Lily.  They fit her perfect . . . and look so cute on.  I have more bandannas to play with and just a few more busy days at work and then I will have time to do something with them.

This one traded in her bandanna pants for a polka dotted dress and a rosebud.  I am simply in awe of these two little girls . . . not a day goes by that they do not make me smile and make the day better.

Tonight we had bubbles . . . a gift that Papa picked up for Lily.  Nothing like a summer night with bubbles.

B is for baby . . . bubbles . . . bandannas!

Lunch with Lily

We picked up Lily for lunch today.  I think it is as much of a treat for us as it is for her.  She sees me every day . . . she was so excited to see Papa.

We let her choose where she wanted to eat . . . so it was Chicken McNuggets and chocolate milk at McDonalds.  Not our first choice, but it was Lily's day.   She had on a t-shirt that read "Papa Makes Me Smile".  It was a fun lunch . . . followed by an ice cream sundae.  Spoiling grand babies is just way too easy. 

Playing with french fries . . .

 Lily's letters - (I guess she was writing in Japanese)

For Lily . . . a "Happy" meal of course.

Papa really does make her smile.  :)  

 By this time she was laughing at him . . . and asking what kind of ice cream he was going to get.  I hated to go back to work.

 

The only rock I know that stays steady, the only institution I know that works is the family.  ~Lee Iacocca

lace and inspiration . . .

Another stop at an antique store before my hair appointment . . . my hairdresser moving to this shop is either a blessing or a curse.  I love the antique stores so close, but I end up spending more money than just on my hair . . . no worries.  :) 

This time what I found actually didn't cost all that much - some wonderful vintage lace to use on my dolls . . .

. . . and this wonderful little rhinestone dragonfly pin.

I have another special order for a Disney doll.  The lady that I am making it for brought me some items that I can possibly use for her doll.  I have a picture in my head what I want this doll to look like - with these items being the inspiration. 

  It is the last week of school - so work is CRAZY busy . . . I am having a little trouble finding time to sew or do much of anything other than work.  I hate that . . . but with the last week of school comes summer vacation and finally some extra time to do the things I like to do. 

Bailey . . .

Finally another Shabby Charlotte doll completed (and sold).

This doll was a special order for a very special little girl who graduates from kindergarten tomorrow.

This little tablet and colored pencils are my favorite thing about her.

Meet Bailey . . .

Bailey is a very special little doll.  She is sweet, kind, and loves to make people happy.  She likes pretty flowers and even more she loves giving them to the people she cares about.   She has a special little butterfly named Nat that helps her find the best flowers.  Bailey is very creative and  likes to draw.  She always carries some pencils in her bag just in case she gets in the mood to create a pretty picture.  Bailey can be a little shy, but once you get to know her she will be your best friend always.  Keep her close by in a special place and anytime you need a smile – she will give you one.

Happy Monday!

Busy weekend . . . but also lots of parties and fun.  I snapped this picture leaving a graduation party.  This is in our neighbors yard . . . her father bought this for them when they moved in.  When they asked him why, he responded, "It will make people think that you own a big dog."   ?????

So they laugh about how it looks - and decorate him according to holidays.  This month he is a high school graduate . . .

I was able to drop a couple of cranes this weekend.  My 1000 Paper Crane Project is moving forward slowly . . . but it is moving forward.  I am hoping to not be quite so busy this summer - so I can give it a little more attention.

The week is off and running.  This is the last week of school - which means work will be hectic . . . but I tend to function very well in that sort of chaos . . . . and Summer vacation is right around the corner!!!!!!

 

"Sometimes the shortest distance between two points is a winding path walked arm in arm."   ~Robert Brault

Little Miss Bandanna Pants . . .

Charlotte doesn't want to sit still long enough to have her picture taken . . . this is the best I could get of her in her bandanna pants.  Her t-shirt reads . . . GET THE SILLIES OUT . . . love that!

 Bandanna pants are the best for getting your sillies out!

This and That

I have a good friend that had a baby last week.  Baby Aleena was born at 25 weeks . . . and is doing great.  The nurses describe her as strong and feisty . . . prayers for Aleena Marie.  I keep looking at the size of her little footprints in awe.  I am hoping to get to go see her tomorrow.

Richard and I went to dinner last night and happened upon a new little vintage shop next to the restaurant we went to.  What a great little place - definitely going back when I have more time.  I found this little heart charm that I thought I could use on a Shabby Charlotte doll.

This little wood ornament is only about an inch tall - also will probably use for one of my dolls.

For some reason these vintage appetizer skewers had to come home with me too. . . . I loved the colors and also think I can use them with my dolls.  I think the lady wondered why I would want them . . . sold them to me for next to nothing. 

I am picturing a very festive, summery Shabby Charlotte . . .

I guess this was the top spike on an iron fence.  It is quite heavy.  I am not sure exactly how I will use this . . . but loved the worn rusty look and the combination of rust and the pink on it. 

I did get around to cutting down another pair of bandannas that I had to make some smaller pants for Charlotte.  I am anxious to see how they fit and how they look on her. 

Happy Saturday!