Thankful Thursdays

This Thursday I am thankful for:

The rays of sunshine that are lighting up my yard - rain has been clouding our days for a week straight.

Our much loved homemade queen sized quilt that has been lulling me to sleep on these rainy days.

Baked potatoes with sour cream and chives - so filling and warm and yummy.

Waking up Easter morning to find that our neighbors had filled the front yard with brightly colored eggs for Miss Addie (Thanks Kels & Bay!).

A weekend with no plans - followed by four weekends of travel.

GG's goulash - I can't believe that I didn't score a bowl of leftovers.

Play dates at the Children's Museum and the Art Museum - more importantly having a three year old who thought the Art Museum was "super great".

The many sewing projects I have planned, however, I have no idea when exactly I will tackle these projects.

There being less than month until I have toes in the ocean and am surrounded by people who make laugh until I cry.

Finally being able to share the big secret of Baby Number 2 with all the people I love most.

Addison being so excited at the idea of being a big sister - now I just have to find the patience to field endless questions the next 30 weeks.

Homemade

When I was in middle school, maybe seventh or eighth grade, I took a sewing class as part of Home Economics. I really don't remember much about the class, but I know that I made two slightly cockeyed pink and blue pillows. I am pretty sure I gave them to my mother as a Mothers Day gift and that they sat on her bed for quite a few years. Interestingly, she has no memory of these masterpieces, which perhaps speaks to their beauty.

Anyway, after taking this class I thought that I could be a heckuva seamstress and I begged my mother to let me make an outfit. If memory serves, I chose a black, white and red print to make a one piece shorts jumper (I know, wth??). I also seem to recall getting as far as cutting out the pattern before I declared it a far too difficult endeavor and shoving the whole thing into some dark corner of the basement where it forever stayed, rotting.

Sewing was just not for me.

Then along came Addison.

When she was two I wanted to dress her up for Halloween as a bumblebee because she loved the
song "I'm bringing home a baby bumblebee..." and because I thought she'd look darn cute. This is where the sewing machine reentered my life. My mom convinced me that she and I could whip up a cute little bee outfit in no time. She was right and I was smitten with the sewing machine.

Fast forward to my 33rd birthday - Mom got me my own sewing machine. I made a curtain for the kitchen. I made pillows for the couch (and the bed, and the living room, and anywhere else I could shove a pillow). I made aprons as Christmas gifts. I bound baby blankets. I essentially had a love affair with my sewing machine.

In early Spring I decided to step it up a notch. When my mom came to visit I informed her that I was going to sew Addie's Easter dress with her help. And I did. It took hours of sitting in front of the sewing machine. Many stitches were ripped out and resown. The skirt was hemmed. The bodice was taken in. The dress was pressed to perfection. I had managed to make a dress not only in pink and purple, the only colors her highness approves of, but one that twirled and had a bow. She was excited, and I was, to say the very least, darn proud.

And yesterday a smiling little lady wore it with a perfectly matched smile.

Thankful Thursdays

I think this says it all....so very thankful.

eye of the beholder

When I was little I thought that dandelions were the most fabulous flower. They were bright and yellow. They were around all spring, summer and fall. I could pick them and pick them and still more would show up.

Dandelions made gorgeous bouquets for my mother. They were perfect to weave into bracelets and necklaces and crowns. I thought they were like little dots of perfection. Even when they were dead I thought they were fluffy and fun.

Now that I have my own yard, my taste in flowers has shifted a bit. I love lilies and daffodils. I think daisies and late summer black-eyed susans are gorgeous. Flowering trees make me smile and my hydrangeas are a labor of love. I am constantly trying to think of the right combinations of flowers and colors to brighten our landscape.

And it seems I am forever waring with dandelions.

Our yard is like the yellow brick road of dandelions. They are thriving everywhere. And while Andy and I see tons of annoying weeds, someone else in our house sees them through more innocent eyes.

She sees tiny, perfect bouquets. And little dots of perfection. A soft place to take a mid afternoon break. And a thousand reasons to smile.

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am thankful :

• For not be harassed about updating this little blog of mine. I have been low on wit, insight and time lately and just really haven't had much to say.


• That my sweet neighbor is okay. She was in an awful car accident that left her bruised and her car totalled. Needless to say we are anxious to see her so that Addie can smother her in hugs.


• Honey Nut Cheerios with fresh sliced strawberries - they really made my morning today.


• Family time snuggled on the couch.


• Two beautiful days of sunshine and warm breezes and a back yard for us to play in.


• A Tuesday night date to the Bob Seger concert - that old dude can still rock it out, but I would be even more thankful if he had played You'll Accompany Me. This is my second Seger concert in four years and he still hasn't played that one glorious song. I guess I can forgive him...since he's awesome.


• The finches who eat breakfast outside our bay window each morning - they're so colorful and they make a certain three year old so happy.


• Friends who take Addie to play in the park allowing me to go grocery shopping solo - heavenly.


• The promise of a laughter filled weekend and girl time with some of my very bestest - watch NYC, here we come!


• This little stinker.