Living my simple life

I’m off to have some fun with my favorite folks. I’ll be back in a few days.

This was found on St. Patty’s day with a big FREE sign on it. A beauty, eh?

Just look at that wood. And the hardware. And all the details — between the cut wood and door panels, you don’t know which way to look. And this baby even has a matching hutch. Oh yeah.

We picked it up after dark and upon inspection the next day, it was destined to go. Just not my style. I tried to give it away to several friends to avoid having to move it myself (LOL….I’m nice like that…..) but, alas, no takers. It sat in my garage for over a month. During that time, the seeds of how to transform this solid but ugly piece began to grow.

After crowbarring off the door panels and sanding them smooth, removing all the hardware (and filling all the holes with wood filler), sanding, priming, and applying 4 coats of black paint, new hardware, and having glass shelves custom cut for the hutch, it is done. Presenting our new Science Cabinet.

A perfect spot to store John’s eclectic collections and to feed the children’s minds.

My friend Megan and I have challenged each other to buy a yard of fabric we wouldn’t normally buy. We then must make something out of it instead of just staring at it and pondering it forever. I bought oilcloth. And decided to make a summer bag for my upcoming trip South. This is the Amy Butler Swing Bag pattern.

The bag is totally reversible — the inner is red cotton home dec fabric.

This should be perfect for the pool or the beach or just running around town. Oh, I can’t wait until vacation!

The neighbors will thank him when there are lots of pretty yellow flowers for everyone next year.

I made one of these as a gift for my friend’s daughter. What could be cuter than a 1 year old with a cupcake on her head? I had so much fun knitting it and enough yarn left over, so I made another. Sized to fit a 1-2 year old. The extra is for sale in my etsy shop on the sidebar.

It’s not often that you see a 73 year old guy walking through our neighborhood with a sword in hand.

But, when walking with the bravest knight in the neighborhood, a sword is necessary. Especially because the knight can suddenly turn on you and demand a duel.

And mercilessly kill you.

And then a few minutes later ask you to read him a story or have a snack.

I know his napping days are numbered but, oh, how I treasure the afternoons when we snuggle together in bed. I hold him close and sniff his head and wait until he relaxes into sleep.

Soon he will be too big for this little afternoon break. Knowing this, I linger longer and hold him closer and cherish the beauty of my sleeping boy.

First Communion Day:

Oh how I love spring!

My mother and her friend are visiting. We went to the farmer’s market this morning and could not pass up a sack of black walnuts. While walking with them we mused about the delicious goodies we could make — black walnut fudge or a yellow cake with walnuts that my mother’s aunt used to make. Maybe we’d just pick them and snack on them. Oh….but first, we had to get them out of their shells.
Three people, three hammers and thirty minutes:

1.5 pounds of nuts yielded a whopping 3 oz after shelling —- not even a full cup.

And we still have half a sack left to shell.