Lily of the Valley...

I finished painting this box yesterday. It only needed that last coat of varnish but it was difficult to work that in when with swimming lessons and two ballet rehearsals. Little c and her cousin J make such beautiful little Autumn Leaves. The recital is based on the 4 seasons... it's been so fun.

Leggo My Eggo...

I love these things because I am not a hot breakfast maker, little c has tired of toast and cereal and all the other two second deals (lean pockets are my next move I think), but as long as you don't overdo on the syrup they are 2 Waffles @ 180 calories and 6 grams of fat... not too bad and there are 6 grams of protein which is actually pretty good. It's not scrabbled eggs, but it only takes 2min. Hooray!

Mom & Me...

My mom gave me these cute pictures over the weekend. Not to be braggy, but aren't we kinda cute?

The Audrey Movies...

Of all of Audrey's fun films, these two are my favorites. We watched How To Steal a Million last night. I never get tired of it. The script is so fun and the clothes are so beautiful, with the exception of a hat or two which just seem ridiculous (one looks like she's wearing a Q-tip on her head).

About nine years ago, I was able to aquire one the original 14X36 inserts from How to Steal a Million. It wasn't at all expensive back then. I framed it and hung in by the TV. Since we like classic movies so much, it feels appropriate there. I think that it gives the room a touch of the Granny Chic that I love so much.

Dandelion Quilts...

I guess that I've been interested in quilts lately. I love the bright and original designs of Dandelion Quilts.. See her beautiful shop here. How about these gorgeous colors!

Lily of the Valley...

I've been so busy lately painting Christmas designs, but yesterday I decided to take a break from that and paint some yellow boxes with bouquets of Lily of the Valley on them. I must really miss spring. It seems like we've had a day or two here or there. And the last two days have been so wonderful with all the rain, but I love spring. It never lasts long enough for me. I adore tulips, lilac, bleeding heart, pansies and all the other bright and happy spring flowers. And, since I've been out of season anyway, I guess it's not too wierd to paint spring.

(not my photo)

Judi Boisson...

There is a beautiful article in Country Living Magazine this month about Judi Boisson and her lovely quilts and her beautiful home. See her online shop here. (Mom this means you.)

Middlemarch...

I wish that I had read the novel Middlemarch before I watched the film this week. A long film, by the way, six hours of film. However, the six hours are no burden at all because this movie is fascinating with its deep character analysis along with many twists and turns. I did a little reading to prepare for this post and I believe that I can say the film follows the novel pretty well.

I think that I read some George Eliot in college, but it must not have been memorable, and I didn't really know much about her life which was fascinatingly scandalous. The main point not being that she used the pen name of George Eliot so that her work would be taken more seriously in Victorian England (her real name was Mary Ann Evans), the real scandal was that she lived as the wife of the philosopher and critic George Henry Lewes when he was already married and had a wife and three children (he believed in "open marriage"). Yes, that kind of scandal... (raise one eyebrow).

I did know how she felt about many of her comtemporary female authors (she thought they were just silly). Subsequently, I prejudged her work thinking that it would be very cynical, but I found instead that while it was very critical of social injustice, it was very liberal with people.

Middlemarch shows that even the worst people are not all bad and that the best people are not perfect. If I get into this point and try and give some examples, (there are sooooo many characters) we could be here all day. So with my one critisism that often even very good films end far too abruptly, I will recommend this film to you without reservation feeling quite sure that you'll like it, and if you don't like it... it will make you think. And, speaking for my own case, I always find that a good thing.

A light within...

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in their true beauty is revealed only if there is light from within.

~Elisabeth Kübler-Ross

Something really marvelous is happing outside my window at this moment. It's raining. Rain hasn't happened for a long time. It has rained just right so that everything will be watered and clean again and the air is cooled and smells like spring. When it doesn't rain for a very long time... I feel like I've been holding my breath. Thank Heaven for this beautiful day. And, thank Dad for another beautiful picture.

Pearls...

Found this on Etsy this morning... See it here.

Garden Fare...

Dinner in the garden, darling? I love this little romantic tray from Room Service Home. See it here.

Salad Spritzers...

Has anyone tried these? If I could get over the idea that this seems like spraying your salad with hair-spray... possibly it could be a good dieting option with only 1 calorie per spray.

Summer Bridge...

Going through these little workbooks over the summer helps me to worry less about the possibility that little c is forgetting everything from the previous years. And, it helps me to understand some of the Math curriculum we will be facing in the fall.

I also like some of the math sites avail. expecially this one. It's a little boring, but it helps me to be clear on the concepts that need to be mastered for each grade.

The Topper Movies...

Little c loves these...

Cary Grant's character and Constance Bennett, who plays his lovely but silly wife, become ghosts driving crazy in their crazy car. They are stuck haunting around because they haven't done a good deed.

This film has no substance whatever, but the costumes are beautiful and there are some witty lines. But, it's the total silliness I think that appeals to little c.

Alexandra...

The June Newsletter is posted.

Sweet Peas and Roses...

Almighty and eternal God, so draw my heart to you, so guide my mind, so fill my imagination... that I may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated unto you; and then use me , I pray, as you will, and always to your glory, and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. ~ Source Unknown

I loved this inspiring quote and hope that you'll enjoy it as well. Best Wishes for a lovely Holy Sabbath Day...

Beautiful photos by Dad. Thanks Dad!!!

Read Allison's Column...

It's very good this week as usual. You'll all enjoy it! Here's the link.

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax...

I finished The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax yesterday. It is the first novel in the Mrs. Pollifax series. I believe there are atleast 12. I am listening to them on tape. This first book took awhile to get going, but then it was quite fun. It's not the most lyrical writing or the best character development, and it's not deep. These books are just for fun, but I do think they are fun to listen to with kids because Dorothy Gilman had a good command of the English language and so there are a lot of good vocabulary words in her books. Little c loved the story. She is a big fan of Nancy Drew (yes, we can't wait for the movie) so, a granny CIA agent is fun too.

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax begins by introducing an Emily Pollifax who has buried her husband and raised her children. She does volunteer work everyday, but one day as she is watering her geraniums on the roof of her apartment building, she realizes that it would be so easy to just take a step off into oblivion. She is bored out of her mind. So she decides to take a trip to Langley, Virginia and volunteer her services as a spy. Yep... Boredom no more. I think anyone over the age of eight could really enjoy these books on tape. The are fun summer reads. We are beginning The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax today.

The Story of the Patriotic Quote...

I remembered that Dick Cheney had read this beautiful quote in one of his speeches. I couldn't remember which speech and the White House site seems to only keeps track of more policy related things and not so much the political things... I found that out today. I wanted this quote and it took me over an hour to find it. This is the Vice President's speech. This speech was given at the 2004 Republican National Convention. During the speech, the Vice President quoted Bernard DeVoto who happens to be a historian originally from Ogden, Utah... a bit ironic I think. DeVoto specialized in writing histories of the American West. He once said, "When America was created, the stars must have danced in the sky." I am putting that quote in one of the flag boxes which will be for sale tomorrow.

I found another cool quote in my search. I will share it later.

The Patriotic Dad...

This is the gift for the Patriotic Dad... These are ready to go. I have nine, 2 that are plain and seven that are decorated up like the top one. If you want one personalized... let me know by Friday before the varnish goes on...

Looking through some patriotic quotes.. here are a few that I really like...

Liberty can no more exist without virtue and independence than the body can live and move without a soul. ~John Adams

Righteousness exalteth a nation. Proverbs 14:34

It is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God and to obey His will. George Washington

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it. ~William Faulkner

Freedom lies in being bold. ~Robert Frost

None of these quotes are my very favorites though. I can't seem to find some of them. Does anyone remember a really beautiful quote that Dick Cheney used in one of his speeches (it made the news that he quoted a liberal), but it was this beautiful quote that talks about the "dream of America" and "stars in the sky" something like that, very lyrical? I'd love that one for my collection if anyone has a clue what I'm blabbering about.