Blackboard

We did a little DIY project this weekend.
A custom fit blackboard for our kitchen! Now there is a dandy place for my lists and scribbles while the bottom half of the chalkboard remains territory and property of Thing.
Can you tell how tall she is?

She had such a great time playing artist. I'm digging her technique and preference of white. I know, I know, you're like "I've got to see more of this." You're probably thinking "I haven't seen chalk work like this since, wow, never...this is a fresh take on a tired art form". Maybe you are daring to hope I have more pictures?
Oh, maybe I took a couple (25) more......

Just a little proud.

Ranunculus

Kent and I have a saying "That's Ranunculus"...after one of my dearest flower favorites.

This grouping made me gasp today. Eye candy.

Image by: La Dolce Vita

You got horns you got a party!

Kent, Thing, and I went on a flea market excursion this weekend. So many good finds! I walked out with my first piece of silver to add to our serving ware, rolls of fab retro contact paper*, and (my favorite) my first piece of taxidermy.
Tiny little horns from some tiny little thing or other, to which my husband gives me the look that says "Really?"
So I says to him I says, "you just wait and see, paint 'em black and you'll wonder how we ever lived without them."
Two hours later, he is on our side (horns and my) and comes up with the greatest tag line of all time. "You got horns, you got a party!"...and he's right. This little guy straight makes our boot corner the place to be.

*That's a post of its own!

Nostalgia

Recently my dad passed down copies of all the converted slides he has of his childhood.  Is it possible to have nostalgia for a time period where you weren't even a twinkle in your fathers eye?
I do.

Market Day

Saturday mornings are market mornings. Got my basket? Got my hat? Got my small bills? It's my jam.

And how blessed are we to have a friend who is trying to get experience as a photographer, and looking for chances to take pictures of families? (Um very) Thanks Leslie for giving us lasting memories of our favorite family activity.
Incidentally, if you are interested in acquiring her services visit her link and shoot her a message. She is sweet, patient, and has a lens a mile long so you never feel watched...a bonus for us awkward souls.
*Bonus, she gives you all the picture files she takes so you can use 'em however you want!

Horse and Pony Show

So, Monday as I was reading my morning Cup of Joe I spilled my cup of tea on our computer/couch/myself. Which makes for a sad little mac book:(
The keys on the right side of the keyboard are no longer in working order, but the nice people at the apple store say that all that is needed is a new keyboard. The rest of the computer has amazingly come out of its bath otherwise unscathed.
Which means we are using my old beige keyboard from my high school mac and placing it on top of our once swanky computer making it appear (properly) like the horse and pony show* it is. That is, until we buy a keypad from some nerd supply online and have the house nerd install it with dancing feet and shouts of glee.
He drew a picture of our new setup on his blog. I think it is a remarkable resemblance.
So, posts and pictures have been delayed...but this horse and pony show will manage a few fun tricks yet. Stay tuned:)


* Popularly referred to as "Dog and Pony show"...but I like the sound of Horse and Pony better. A little inside joke between the boy and me.

Kid phase 1

Why is mobile so hard for me to say? Is it Mo-beel, Mo-bile, Mo-ble. I have settled on Mo-ble....but it still feels awkward...
I am in the midst of taking the "baby" out of Thing's room. Out with the baby toys, whoosh with the changing table (she's too long for it), fling with the dresser filled with tiny socks and hats...
We are entering kid phase1! I have my mind set on several little projects around Greta's room, but
I thought a small reading nook* would be a nice beginning.

I made this mobile one afternoon out of sticks from the backyard and some paper and string. A fun and easy craft. Balancing the sticks took the longest, but I found it to be a relaxing way to spend a rainy afternoon.

*With Seabiscuit looking on to help her with the trickier words.

Back to Routine

Well, I am back from my stay in Silverdale* and I am readjusting now to my home routine. I think I shows signs of a promising geriatric as I truly love a solid routine.
It was a good stay.  Lots of quiet time to spend watching musicals, scratching dear old dad's head, and putting away sleeves of Oreos**.
Greta also got to check out my old stomping grounds. One day she took a little impromptu dip in the ocean with her pal Opal. It is a surreal feeling to be bringing my baby to the same haunts I went to as a kid. Weird!
Aren't they too cute sitting in the sound?

But home is best. Today we spent all day around town and at the farmers market filling our basket with local goodies and listening to creative folks do their thing. This band is called The Toy Boats . They have such a playful Parisian sound. They play on on the tiniest toy instruments.  Even their cds are wee sized! You can listen to their music at the link. As I listen to it now I am transported to an Amelie like place. With crispy baguettes, skipping stones, and a narrator.

But alas, places where only music can take me is where I draw the line.  I have just unpacked and filled the house with things I want to eat. Not to mention there are a few projects around here that I have begun that beg my attention.
Like those Blondies coming out of the oven...


*To stay with my dad as he recovered from his surgery, which he is doing quickly, and better and better all the time.

** To be completely honest one night it was an entire sleeve minus one...because I got full, and you really should quit when you are full.