My Happy

Having a bad day? This might help.

Or this...

Told ya so.

   The Husband and I both got our happy this week from two little people we both love more than we ever dreamed we could love somebody other than our own children. Of course, it might be in part because these two special little people are our children's children. But just look at the love.
   Oh, and in the first photo, Little Two is trying to sign, "I heart you." That's baby sign talk for "I love you." Just so you know.
     Now then, admit it...don't you feel better already?!

Art Crawl Tomorrow

     I just found out that one of my favorite peeps will be the featured artist at Pangaea TOMORROW, Feb 3, from 5-8 pm in Hillsboro Village at the Art Walk. I am sorry to be giving you folks such late notice but I just found out the good news. If you can't make it, be sure to contact the artist via her website: http://elizabethfosterart.com and please don't be put off by the fact that so much of the featured art has already been sold. You can always contact her and find out what she has available. I don't know about how it will affect you, but it was love at first sight for me. Elizabeth Foster has a thing for birds and so do I, so it is no surprise that I have not one, not two, but three of her delightful  paintings. They make me smile every day...seriously.

         While you are down in the Village, check out one of my other favorites:  BookMan/BookWoman is one of my long-time haunts. I find that I must go in there just to inhale the smell of the books. New bookstores may try, but they simply cannot approximate the timeworn scent of aging leather, accumulated dust, and ink on ragged cotton paper. It can be addictive. I also cannot walk out of the place without buying something. They always have a dollar table. And who can't find something to bury your nose in on a dollar table?!  And don't just think they only sell used books, BM/BW can order just about anything. My Book Club has registered to purchase our monthly reads at a nice discount from them.
       Finally, if you love chocolate the way I love chocolate then you don't want to miss the salted caramel tart at Provence. They come in three sizes: petite (just for one), not so petite (can be shared by two or a hungry one) and what I call the share size. If you haven't had salted dark chocolate, you haven't had chocolate. I don't know why, but the taste makes me crazy...crazy for more!
   And just because I want too, here are a couple of pictures of Little One playing at my house last week. In the first photo she is riding her horse, Ryan. In the second photo, she is discovering her shadow. I waved first, then she waved and her shadow waved. She turned around and looked to see who was behind her. She got a bit perplexed. She would turn back around and wave some more. And of course, the shadow waved with her. She looked up at me as if to say, "What?!"  I was no help. I laughed hilariously until I almost wet my pants. She did this over and over again. I finally had to scoop her up and come inside. I don't think she could figure out why I found it so funny, so touching...or so magical.

  

     Hello shadow! 

Where oh where did my shadow go? 

Discovering things with the grandchildren is just so much more fun!

 

Loving Little Two or a Crazy Honey...Take Your Pick!

  Okay, this is definitely risky. I totally get that I sound ridiculously silly and positively gaga in the audio portion of this video clip. You don't need to tell me. It's what grandbabies do to me. They turn me into mush. I have been known to sing, dance, and do all manner of idiotic things to entertain them or in this case, to earn a smile. This particular bit of idiocy was totally worth it.
   Oh, and you just wait. All you folks out there who are secretly making fun of me. Your turn is coming. No doubt about it. It's what love is all about. Grandmother love that is...

              Isn't she a doll?! Even if she does have an idiot for a grandmother...
Oh and just so you know, The Husband says I sound like a kookaburra. I think he's right. Just this once. 

Having Fun with Some Vintage Etsy

     Nothing better to do on a snowy day but to enjoy perusing a little Etsy. Check out the goodies I found.
  
     Who wouldn't love to give these lovely and unique cufflinks to your special someone as a Valentine's gift? I, for one, am glad that cufflinks are making a return. There is something special about a well-tailored French cuff paired with a nice pair of cufflinks. And besides, I am sure that Edward Cullen would agree...

 

     I chuckle when I read that crewel is back in vogue. About five years ago my Momma got rid of a pair of wing back chairs that were covered in a floral crewel pattern a la 1970's. The Daughter was all agog over them so we hauled one of the chairs back up here to Nashvegas just for her. She gets compliments all the time on it, and everyone asks her if she bought it at Anthropologie. She definitely got the last laugh on that one. I could not live with an entire chair of crewel, but this pillow might just be the ticket for me. Check out this lovely find here:

           These little Spanish ladies remind me of some prints that my Daddy brought my sister and me back from one of his travels when we were little girls. He had visited Malaga, Spain. He gave jewelry to Momma, but my sister and I were thrilled with our petite framed prints of beautiful Spanish ladies. I can see them hanging vertically in a little girl's room just like they were in ours.

             

     I find it somewhat ironic that the AMC television series Mad Men is inspiring an interest in all things related to the 1960's, an era many of us who were around then would prefer to forget. Although it has become the latest pop cultural phenomenon, it is one fad I do not have the energy to embrace. I vowed when I finally got rid of my gold formica countertops and my olive green Franciscan pottery dishes that went perfectly with my navy and yellow wallpaper, to NEVAH EVAH go back -- even though I will admit to hanging on to my acryllic serving tray with lemons! However, I find the clothing trend that Mad Men has inspired to be fascinating, albeit a bit impractical for our current lifestyles. But then again, maybe I could wear this little number with my pearls when I am vacuuming the house a la June Cleaver...what do you think?

          

Unexpected Majesty

    I had taken the way home that took me down a winding tree-lined street with lush undergrowth. The roads were clear but the evening's white wet snow had turned everything into a winter wonderland, coating branches and turning grasses and shrubs into works of art. What had been brown and winter weary the day before had suddenly been transformed into something pure and clean. I knew in two days time it would be different, but I wanted to take the winding way so that I could savor the beauty before me, a gift I have begun to give myself as I have aged.
   I had slowed down to look at the woodlands when I caught a flash of movement out of the corner of my eye. There sitting next to a snow-covered fallen log was a large red-tailed fox. He had begun to preen himself and the flick of his tail had been just enough to draw my eye to him. I slowed my car and ever so slowly rolled down the window. For some strange reason, I wanted us to be breathing the same air. Man and creature. Both fashioned by the same Creator. He raised his head and looked at me. I was not but two car lengths away. Deep golden amber eyes ringed by slightly darker fur. It took my breath away. His tawny red coat had glints of brown, cream, and gold. If not for the snow, I would never have been able to distinguish him from the woods. God had given him a coat of fur, that despite its beauty, allowed him to blend perfectly into his surroundings.
   We sat there eyeing each other for what seemed like the longest time. I broke the spell when I reached for my phone. I wanted a picture. Some proof of what I had seen. It felt like such an amazing gift and one that I wanted to share. The movement of my hand creeping across the seat was enough. He looked me fully in the eye, stood up, flicked his tail, and trotted slowly up the wooded hill, picking his way effortlessly over the underbrush.
     I wanted to cry. My heart was aching with the wonder of it all. I have seen foxes before, but never one so close, so large, or so beautiful. I have also never seen one in repose. I could not help but be drawn to the majesty of a Creator who crowned his creation with such complexity, variety and beauty. You alone, Oh Lord, are worthy of praise. How majestic is your name in all the earth. 

Work and Play Day

    Honey came over to play today. She thought she came over to help Mommy (The Daughter) with housework since Mommy has a hurt knee, but who was Honey kidding...I knew all along that she really came to see me. We started off the day by going to one of my favorite restaurants, Marche. They put me by the window where I could see all the cars and trucks, and I was in hog heaven. Honey always orders the same thing at Marche: their Croissant French Toast. Mommy also got the same thing. They ordered oatmeal, fresh fruit, and some sliced cheese for me. I had brought my cup from home, so I was set. The oatmeal was good and who doesn't love fresh fruit with cheese, but then Honey had to go and give me a taste of her French Toast. Oh man oh man. After that, who wants oatmeal? I kept signing PLEASE and Honey just kept giving it to me. I think I managed to eat a whole piece of that yummy stuff.  It is dipped in eggs after all, so I got my protein in for the day. Well sorta.
    When we got home, Honey took me right upstairs, rocked me for a while, read me my favorite Clifford book and then put me down for a nap. I organized my paci, my lovey, my baby doll, and my favorite blanket and then settled right down for a long beauty sleep.
    While I was sleeping Honey and Mommy tried to organize my toys. I personally think it is a lost cause since I am just going to mess everything up again as soon as I can, but I didn't tell them because they have good intentions.
     When I got up from my nap, I admired all of their hard work and then had to get down to business. The lovey and I went for a ride on my fire engine for a while and then I decided to put my engineering skills to the test with a plastic swing that I discovered on the kitchen floor. I even asked Honey very nicely to let me play with her camera, but she wasn't having any of it. I guess you can't win them all, but you can't blame a girl for trying!

Here I am going for a spin around the den. It was an easy day...no fires to put out!

I took my bow out of my hair when I was working on this project.
 Everybody knows that working girls don't wear bows.

Ya'll take care now...
I'm headed off....to rearrange my toys a bit.

Bridal Tea and Winter White

     What's not to love about a beautiful bride, a lovely home, and a positively spring like Sunday afternoon to set the stage for a lively come and go Bridal Tea? There were treats galore, lovely winter white flowers and a selection of beverages, both hot and cold, from which to choose. Our hostess with the mostess in whose home we held the Bridal Tea also spends her time as a wedding planner extraordinnaire, so she leaves no stone unturned when it comes to entertaining. She has also recently finished refurbishing her house (as if it needed it!) and her new decor set the perfect stage for the party. Just take a look!

The future mother-in-law, the beautiful Bride,
 her mom and a dear cousin

  The other hostesses and I brought the food -- parmesan crisps, creme de menthe brownies, lemon squares, baked brie, almond lace cookies, asparagus roll-ups, chicken salad in puffed pastry shells, and open-face cucumber sandwiches -- but our friend furnished the beverages, arranged the  flowers and opened up her home to the oohs and aahs of everyone!

  
     And at the center of the celebration was the bride herself, a lovely girl who will be lovingly welcomed into our hearts and homes. As the mother of two grown sons, the future mother-in-law has waited a long time to have another "girl" around. She has also prayed faithfully through the years for the woman God would bring as the wife for each son, and it was such a sweet joy to see the precious answer to all those prayers walking through the front door! "And my God will supply all your needs out of the magnificence of His riches in Christ Jesus... " Yes, indeed!