Girl Time

Yesterday afternoon was spent in one of the most delightful fashions ever -- as girl time.  It began with a stop at Starbucks where we sat and chatted over tea and scones.  And then out of necessity was grocery shopping; however, it involved my daughters buying me a beautiful miniature red rose plant.  That makes grocery shopping a cheerful adventure any time.  Next stop, dinner at Red Robin (yum).  And then it was back home where we settled in and watched the movie, "Letters to Juliet", while eating generous portions of cinnamon butter pound coffee cake from Costco.  I love spending time with my girls :D

A Vintage Tea Set

When I was first married I didn't own a teapot ... a thought I can hardly even contemplate now.  After receiving my first teapot, I decided it would be kind of fun to have a variety to choose from.  I must have mentioned it around my grandmother, because the next time she came for a visit, she brought me this most delightful tea set.  She didn't use it any longer, and thought I might like it.  Obviously, it is not a typical pattern for a tea set, and I'm thinking it must be a product of the 1960's.  But don't you agree that it is just plain fun.

Looking Forward to Spring

Today is the first day of February.  In my mind that means that spring really isn't that far off.  Even though part of our country is currently in the midst of frigid temperatures and terrible snowstorms, it is February nonetheless.  Yes, I realize that we very well may still have a month ahead of us of snow and cold, but it is only one month.  And based on how quickly January zipped by, I am assuming that February will zip by just as fast.  Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy winter; however, at this time of year, I start to envision just what it feels like to sit out in the warm sunshine, and start looking forward to our wonderful spring season.  So here is a picture of colorful fabric from Marie Madeline Studio that really says spring to me, and helps me to realize that before I know it, we will be enjoying sunshine, wearing sandals, and maybe even skirts made out of cute fabric.  I have only recently discovered this little website, as well as their blog, and find it all very cheerful while waiting for my days to warm up.

Organizing and Knitting

The other day I was going through some papers when I came across a pattern for a circle cloth dishcloth.  So I set it to the side knowing I wanted to give it a try.  As a matter of fact, I then proceeded to put away the basket of items I was going through, made a visit to my yarn stash, located the proper size needles, and began knitting right then and there.  Don't you think that is a fun thing to do while organizing papers?  In fact, I haven't revisited that particular basket since because I am still knitting away.  I figure it is all part of the organizing process.  Why find a pattern just to neatly put it in its proper place.  Why not begin working on the pattern immediately.

Breakfast Cookies

My daughters used to buy breakfast cookies at the grocery store, and then they seemed to disappear from the shelves.  They liked having them on the mornings they needed to grab a quick breakfast before school, or now and then when they needed a filling snack.  I had forgotten about them until last week when King Arthur Flour posted a recipe for them on their website.  I gave them a try, and they are very good.  It was a great opportunity to use up all of the leftover bits of dried fruit and nuts that we had used in our Christmas baking.  And they are definitely filling.  I also think they would make a great snack for active kids that need something healthy and filling in the afternoon.  They also keep well just in case you don't manage to get through them all in a day or two.

(Note ... my picture didn't come out very well, so I am hereby giving full credit of this picture to King Arthur Flour).

Staying Warm

I love the fact that I can buy hand and toe warmers in bulk at Costco.  This winter I have taken advantage of them while shopping in the cold before Christmas, shoveling snow, and walking out in the snow.  It makes spending time outside in the cold much more enjoyable; and from looking outside at this moment, it looks like I will be making use of them today as well. 

Left Behind

When Christmas is over, it  always seems to take a little longer to get all of the Christmas decorations down and put away.  It just isn't as fun to take them down as to put them up ... nothing cheery about that at all, just a feeling of wanting to get things cleaned up and put back in order.  So in contrast to decorating for Christmas, I just begin to gather things from here and there and start putting them away in their boxes.  After I thought I had all of my decorations put away this year, one of my daughter's brought to my attention my large crock that sits under my desk.  It seems that there was still a bit of celebrating going on that I had forgotten about.

Colorful Cooking

I think that adding cute and colorful utensils to your kitchen repertoire just makes the whole cooking experience that much more enjoyable.  A good example is my little whisk that was a gift from one of my daughters.  Who wouldn't want to do some baking just as an excuse to pull this little jewel out of the drawer.

A Teeny Tiny Scarf

Before Christmas gets too far behind us, I just wanted to share one little gift that I received.  It was from my youngest daughter, and was given to me as an advent gift.  You see each day leading up to Christmas I leave her a little gift and note on her doorknob before she wakes up; and then she leaves little gifts and notes for me on the stairs leading up to my bedroom.  One day I received the cutest scarf that she had knit.  In fact it is a very teeny tiny scarf knit on toothpicks.  I just love it!  And even though it won't be keeping me warm during this winter, it definitely warms my heart.

A Labor of Love

My mom is amazingly talented with a crochet hook.  She can whip things up like they were nothing.  All of my life she has had a project of one sort or another nearby; and she never ceases to amaze me with what she can make, and in how short of a time that she can make it.  Last year she decided that she wanted to make all of her daughters crocheted tablecloths.  So last year my sister, Molly, was the lucky recipient.  My mom told me that I would be the next one in line.  She asked me which pattern I liked, and what measurements my table were.  But this last summer she told me she didn't think she would be able to finish it by Christmas, as she suffers terribly from arthritis and rheumatism, and it just really hurt her hands to do much crocheting.  I told her that was fine, as obviously I didn't want her to be in pain while making me a gift.  Just the thought that she wanted to make something for me counted the most.  But on Christmas Eve, I opened a gift from my mom.  And yes, it was the tablecloth.  It is absolutely beautiful, and what makes it so special is that she obviously forged on ahead with the work even though it caused her pain.  A good example of a labor of love, and what a mother will endure for a child.  Thanks mom -- it will always be very special to me.  I love you.