Happy Birthday Brown Hawk...

Ten years ago today my daughter presented us with a little brown bundle of joy. Today he is a big brown bundle of joy.

Happy Birthday my sweet Brown Hawk!!!

My Summer Reading...

If I were to give my summer a title I would call it "The Summer of the Classics." For months, with the exception of two books, I have read either classics, or those that are, shall we say, getting along in years. I enjoyed those two, yet the feeling of satisfaction never quite rose to the level that it did as I read of the escapades of the March sisters, or the romance between Lucy Honeychurch and George Emerson, or the adventures at Mole End. I couldn't shake the feeling that something unexplainable was missing. I started "The Kite Runner" and a Mary Higgins Clark, but sat both aside in favor of another oldie.

This is my latest endeavor. It is approximately 4 inches thick and by the time I finish it I expect summer to be over, cooler weather to have set in and my choices in literature to be back to normal. 

  Have a great week!!!

Summer's End in Sight...

I'm beginning to think the "dog days of summer" are winding down. When we arrived home this weekend the dirt was dotted with what must have been a bit of rain and a tad of green was emerging from the dry, dead grass, but the best sign was the fact that it only registered 104 on the thermometer today. I'm thinking positive here.  

It is 9:30pm and 91 degrees.

The silver lining is the fact that the humidity has been low most of the summer with very few mosquitoes. There is always something to be thankful for.

Have a great week in spite of the heat!!!

Saturday Night at the Movies...

Just returned from seeing  "The Help". If you haven't seen it I highly recommend it. The book was better, but then it always is. They did a good job with the casting of characters. Hubby and I both enjoyed it.

I Am Determined...

To learn to knit.

I've been trying to learn off and on for about 6 years. Each year at our family New Year's Eve party my mother would pack up her knitting, bring it with her and try her best to teach me. This went on for three years. I still haven't mastered the art of knitting. I've ripped out all but two of the projects I started. One was a little white baby cap and the other a Prayer Shawl. I still haven't progressed beyond the beginner stage, but have decided to try again. This time I am determined. Wish me luck! 

Mother Goose...

I found this treasure at a yard sale for $2.00. When I looked it up on Amazon turns out it really is a treasure. Copyright 1913. This edition published in 1985 by Chancellor Press in London. (The used ones started at $38.00).

There are 12 beautiful color illustrations

and many, many drawings like these. This is a favorite of mine. How many of us have wiggled our baby's toes while reciting "this little piggy"?

As kids we used a variation of this one while stirring the doodle bug hole with a tiny stick.

"Lady bug, lady bug, fly away home:

Your house is on fire and your children will burn."

Sure enough that little doodle bug would come wiggling out.

Some of the illustrations are a little scary, but most are adorable like this one,

but then on the end page of the book comes the sad part of my story...

How could anyone part with this. It's a family heirloom.

I know there was a divorce, so that explains it, but every time I read this inscription I want to anonymously mail it back to the grandmother. I can just feel the love that was sent with this gift.

More Crazy Quilting...

Thought I'd share some of my favorite Crazy Quilt books. These have instructions on how to make a Crazy Quilt. They also have embroidery patterns and many good ideas for embellishing your Crazy Quilt.

The Magic of Crazy Quilting by J. Marsha Michler is an excellent one. The Crazy Quilt Handbook by Judith Baker Montano is another good one. I bought my copies at the Houston Quilt Show, but they can be purchased at Amazon.com.

I am always on the look-out for material to use. I like to use velvets, satins, men's vintage ties, any type of material that might seem "elegant" or unusual. I find remnants at flea markets, yard sales, thrift shops...

Hope you have a great Sunday!!!

Portraits...

BRENDA'S PHOTO CHALLENGE

Follow this link for more portraits.

Crazy Quilt Purse...

My youngest daughter asked me one day if I would make her a purse that looked like a crazy quilt. I was working on a crazy quilt at the time and told her I would try. She wanted it to be an over-the-shoulder bag with a flap. Here is the end result.

 It was a lot of  fun choosing just the right embellishments to fit her personality.

Her name begins with a D

and they say every crazy quilt needs a spider for luck

and of course, a fan and some grapes.

My personal favorite-two little bees buzzing around

near a nest of blue eggs.

A row of birdhouses perched on a fence.

I lined it with a soft, blue cotton calico. Her birthday is in October, so I gave her a little row of jack-o-lanterns in the bottom corner.

 I am thinking of starting another one soon. I think I'll make the next one smaller and come up with a different style. I'm thinking no flap.

Have a great Thursday!!!

Vroom, Vroom..

These little people of his actually interact and talk to each other.

His choo-choo and

his cars have sounds like vroom vroom.

  

And he doesn't mind if I hang around with my camera

as long as I pretend I'm not looking at him, or

paying any attention at all.

I just wonder what kind of life these toys lead in the imagination of a 16 month old.

Have a nice day!!!

Laughter...

A Simple Saturday...

Today turned out to be nice and relaxing. Hubby took me to Abilene to the Historic Paramount Theatre. It was built in 1930 and was restored in 1986 and is a nostalgic glimpse into the past.

I love this old theatre. There are clouds projected on the ceiling with twinkling stars. A man with a suit on comes out and introduces the movie (just like in the old days). Then the red velvet curtain is opened and it's showtime. There is an intermission halfway through the movie with concessions available in the basement. We like to sit in the balcony (middle of the front row). It makes seeing these old movies a real treat.

Rain, Rain, Don't Go Away...

It started late yesterday evening. The first in months. It continued throughout the night and is still raining this morning. Thunder and all.

Praise the Lord.

Brown, dead grass and one dead pine tree waiting on the rain.

Have a nice day!!!  

Flowers for the Patient...

My husband began treatment today for his second tooth implant. The first one garnered him a huge bouquet of mixed flowers. This time it was a beautiful red vase full of equally beautiful red roses. I must say I have never received anything more than a phone call from a doctor, but it was nice and appreciated.

Have a great weekend!!!

A Happy Fuzzy...

 

Have a great weekend!!!

Hiking in the Heat...

Today I officially broke my "no exercise" streak. I have been keeping two of my grandkids since November and that coupled with the intense heat wave we've been experiencing has pretty much kept me indoors.

Today I decided to saddle-up the stroller, drag out the leash, pack up the snacks and water (oh yes, the water) and head out on what we decided to call a "hike". I forgot the camera so used my phone.

Fuzzy ready for the hike.

We left the house and traveled north.

Giving Piper a drink.

 About two blocks into it we decided north held no excitement for us, so we turned our stroller around  and headed south. I asked Tall Feathers where he wanted to hike to and he immediately said, "Wal-Mart".

I thought that sounded reasonable. I'm thinking AC and he's thinking toys. We hiked to Wal-Mart, stopped under every shade tree along the way, hid Piper in the compartment below the stroller, bought Beverly Hills Chihuahua, a toy hamster for Fuzzy, a toy motorcycle for Tall Feathers and hiked back home.

We had a great time, got plenty of exercise, and made it back in time for lunch.

 Tall Feathers wants to do it again tomorrow. 

Have a great day!!!!