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Category: because I had to show someone

feminine prettiness

feminine prettiness

Back in November, when Emma and I went to California to visit Gramma and the rest of the family, Mom pulled out a few of Gramma’s old hats that she used to wear to her ladies’ meetings. We tried them on, Gramma wearing a lovely royal blue feather one for quite a while.
It added a bit of lovely fun-ness to an otherwise emotion filled day.

Anyway, all that to say, I really like those pretty little hats. They’re not the sun hat type, not meant to protect you in any way, just to be pretty.
My head is a tad bigger than most womens’ (apparently), and I have had a hard time finding any type of hat that will fit (and it’s not the hair that gets in the way – the hats really won’t fit).

I stumbled upon this veil this evening, and it was so pretty.

Kind of expensive since it is a bridal veil, but so lovely. I would love to wear it to church …

I don’t want to stand out or distract anyone from worshipping (having them wondering why the redhead is wearing a veil when they should be pondering other things is not my intention!) or anything, but it would be pretty. And oh, so feminine. Wonder if I could pull it off?

image from onelittledove

this afternoon

this afternoon

in the midst of all the ice and snow I find myself yearning after a yard and a garden of my own.
One of the things I used to do each year in California was, after Christmas and all the bustle that came along with it was over, head out into the yard to prune back the verdure that was ever trying to take over Dad and Mom’s house. Here, though, nothing grows in the winter. Except for the occasional snow drift that is.

flower photos taken last spring
a new heirloom

a new heirloom

I finished knitting Emma’s dress a few days before Thanksgiving, just perfect since I had been imagining it as her holiday dress for this year. It is a rather simple pattern, once you figure out how the yoke is laid out. :) I found it in The Expectant Knitter and knit it up in Pattons “Grace” cotton yarn instead of the silk that the pattern recommended and like it just as well. It is light enough to to be a Spring dress but heavy enough to keep her little belly warm this winter, too.

want one?

want one?

I put a large bowl of clementines on our coffee table, thinking that even if Emma could reach it she wouldn’t be able to damage them (the worst she could do would be to suck on the fruit). Well, our little one has longer arms than I thought! And now she spends several minutes after each nap standing at the coffee table under our window pulling clementines out of the bowl and either dropping them or handing them to me. And sometimes she lets me keep them, too. :)

our teething babe

our teething babe

The past few days have been filled with lots and LOTS of Emma holding, Emma comforting, and trying to find ways to relieve her discomfort.

So, when I heard her pull out the basket that holds our CDs tonight – which is usually a “no touch” item – I ignored it and let her play. She wasn’t being destructive, just curious. She pulled most of the cases part way out and slid them back in, playing with a few colorful ones that caught her interest. It kept her busy and distracted for quite a while.

Now the thing is, she is happy but I feel bad that I was inconsistent!

I want to make …

I want to make …

… Emma some flannel jammies.


Soft, cuddly, flannel jammies. Like these (and I have a pattern to knit little bunny slippers – she would look so sweet!) …

… with this material. I saw a bolt of it the other night at JoAnns, and it was soooooooo sweet. I kind of want to make myself a pair of p.j. pants out of the same material, it’s so soft and snugly and sweet. And we’d match. :)

The only thing is, as adorable as it is, this pattern costs $16. And doesn’t go on sale. Does anyone else have a toddler size jammy pattern?

images from Oliver + S and JoAnn Fabrics

a divergence …

a divergence …

a rooting jar, hanging in our window

… from posts all about Emma, that is (and yes, I did just go look up “divergence” to see if it really is a word, which it is, and if it means what I want it to, which it does).

I love Crate & Barrel. I mean, I love Crate & Barrel. Not obsessively, but I have a very strong affection for that store. I even registered there for our wedding when there weren’t any C & B stores in Fresno. Walking in and seeing rows and rows of shining glass, white porcelain and china, and the brilliant colors of the crisp linens brings me such joy. It also brings memories of the first time I was introduced to it by my Gramma, walking in carefully and holding her hand lest I break something, enjoying the smell of candles and wood. The vivid colors and all that white china, the pots and pans. The gadgets I had no idea what they were for. It is such a wonderful place …..

So, imagine my delight a few weeks ago when I found out that there are others who share my love!

“the feeling of being with [my mother], in that store, surrounded by so much cooking possibility, stuck with me. Contained within the shelves there, packed away amidst the plain white plates and jelly jar glasses, were meals as yet uncooked, conversations unspoken, a whole future of smells and tastes and togetherness.”
“… being surrounded by anything food-related — kitchen ware included — brings me a calm usually reserved for places of worship.”

–Emily Franklin, Too Many Cooks

There is something so exciting and yet restful and calming about a store that is devoted to homemaking, entertaining and cooking. And I can’t get enough.

a sweet and summery idea

a sweet and summery idea

Martha Stewart’s website features a tutorial on how to make plump tomato pincushions. They look so cute and sweet and so very summery.
I just had an idea that would bring them into fall ……….. make little pumpkins! Not even as pincushions, just little decorative pumpkins (instead of the petite ones that you can buy to decorate with but aren’t supposed to cook). They would be adorable on a mantle or in a big bowl. A fun project that you can keep for years to come, and one that might be fun for little hands to help with.
Of course, you could also make a big bunch of soft tomatoes to put in a bowl on your table. They might make cute little baby toys, too …………
Ah, so many ideas!
so lovely

so lovely

I saw this post in my blogroll this morning – oh, it is so lovely! The photos (all shamelessly borrowed from the post) are from a stationary boutique – Luxe Expressions – in Atlanta

Wouldn’t it be lovely to translate these into an apartment? Duponi silk drapes, sheer organza draping the ceiling, glass doors, lots of rich colors, gilding and white and a bit of brick to keep it all grounded ……. *sigh*