I Like Fresh Air

Half of our family has been out of commission for over a week (including myself). What's the deal with these summer cold viruses that sneak up and keep you down for days! I find it to be one of the most difficult things as a mom, taking care of children, when all you want to do is lay in bed. Luckily, things are turning around . . . if we can keep it from spreading some more, I might just  find the energy to do something.

Fortunately, we were able to enjoy the 4th of July Holiday weekend (right before the microscopic pathogens hit).

We were able to enjoy a little hike up the canyon and partake of some higher elevation weather. Crisp, cool air and green scenery throughout!

                                                                              Our home is that way!

We enjoyed a packed lunch, and had some Chex Mix, which we shared a little bit with a new friend . . .  Introducing:  "Chimpmunk Chex"!

Overall it was such a nice day. It'll  be nice once this head cold clears up, and I can finally breathe again.  Some fresh air would be nice!

Summer Dawn

I've been keeping tabs on our tree tenant.  I can peek out my bedroom window, and when the wind blows just right, I can catch a glimpse of the nest. Sure enough every time I looked, I could see the mother bird (I think) devotedly sitting there, guarding those perfectly blue eggs.

Wierdly enough, early this morning, I was awaken from a dream.  In my dream I was trying to take a picture of a nest that was in a tree, and when I got close enough, I could see two little birds and an angry mother bird with her wings spread out as if protecting her young. It was chirping as if yelling and warning me,  it proceeded to fly straight toward me, and I woke up. I am not making this up, this was seriously my dream this morning!

I think it had been about a week since I peeked out my bedroom window.  So after that strange dream I had to look. I noticed the mother bird was no longer just nesting, but it was standing on the edge of the nest.  I had to clear up my suspicions, so here's the update:

As for the mother bird, this is she. She did fly back and forth a couple of times from the fence to the roof, she almost flew toward me, and warned me, enough to make me silently scream  a couple of times.

I didn't want to label this post "When Mother Bird Attacks!", So I let the little family be.

Vintage Spring Blues

I've been craving to make a Spring throw out of my stash of vintage fabrics. It was just a matter of designing a pattern, and choosing a color scheme. Inspired by this teacup and plate I rescued,

it was now time to cut, and sew.

Here it is ready for some stippling fun!

After a few hours of free motion bliss . . .

It just needed a little something more . . . Inspired by our very own morning visitors,

I came up with this.

My Vintage Spring Vision has become reality!

Summer may be just around the corner, but Spring is still in the air! A feathered friend has made a home in our backyard. Littlest girl can't get enough of our little tree tenant!

I tried to get as close as I could to take a picture, and our friend flew away. I was curious . . . So while our friend was gone, I took a peek.

(They're not the best pictures, but it was too high to reach without a ladder, and it started to rain)

Luckily our friend returned and has been there since!  So even though my Vintage Spring Blue color scheme was sparked by merely a plate and a cup, I can't get over how perfectly blue those eggs are!

Confessions Of A Chocoholic

Days ago, I wasn't exactly having the best of days . . . Okay,  I was having an absolutely sad, down in the dumps, or as Anne Shirley puts it, I was "in the depths of despair" . . . While expressing my frustrations, and dealing with my own emotions, hubby asked me, "What do you need?" "CHOCOLATE", I responded. I wasn't entirely serious. After all, I'm not one that fills my emotional voids with food, or chocolate (since it's not technically food, but more of it's own food group).  Usually, I just need to vent, sort out my feelings, and move on. Sarcasm or not, I don't think hubby was taking any chances. In an attempt to soothe my blues,  after a trip to the local home improvement store, hubby took a slight detour. He not only came home with four of these:

(Might I add they're the king size)
But also with a dozen chocolate, chocolate glazed doughnuts! I must have been quite an emotionally unstable sad case! It's nice to have a hubby who cares, and knows me so well. None of that milk chocolate for me!
I did share.
A while back at the library, this children's book caught my eye. I had to check it out.

Except I would title mine, "I love Dark chocolate"

Speaking of chocolate . . .
Here's the chocolate layered cake filled with chocolate whipped cream, covered in chocolate frosting, surrounded by chocolate sprinkles, and topped with dark chocolate shavings, I made for my mom's birthday. After all, I do believe this addiction runs in the genes!

(The sugar daisies were left over flowers I made for littlest girl's birthday cake).

Not that I don't appreciate or savor chocolate-free treats, but in my world, chocolate does make everything better, even bad days!

Bijou Box - 5th Edition

This one was the most expensive of my thrifty box finds.

Here is the $4 find before:

Behind one of the drawers I found a newspaper clipping with a birth announcement from the same hospital where hubby was born. Judging by the lining, I'm guessing it's probably from his era too.

I also found this surprise inside!

The melody is just like a music toy camera I had when I was little (I still have it).

Now in Antique White.

I loved the little handles! Especially that I didn't even have to paint them!

It was hard to decide on what paper to use.

This was the winner!

Fifth Box done!

Would you believe there's a 6th Edition in the works?!

As I said before, I have issues...

Twin Bijou Box

Several months ago, I thrifted another jewelry box just like the one I made-over for Oldest Daughter. For a look back, click here . I've made them matching clothes in the past, they have the same style of dressers and desks that I refinished a couple of years ago, so it was only fitting that Littlest Girl have a jewelry box too!

Here it is before surgery:

This is it now:

My work here is done!

Until the next box! (Which is in the works . . . so stayed tuned! I know, I have OCD issues with the wierdest things.)