Cozy Spots, Toys, and Tiny Dancers

Snuggle, snuggle. I've mentioned Brambly Hedge before and I thought you may want to look at these cozy little love nests!

I Googled playhouse interiors because I like the feeling in my heart when I look at little pieces of furniture that fire the imagination. We had a playhouse when I was small. We even moved it when we relocated to a bigger home. I do remember seeing it when it belonged to the previous owner. She was a very organized housekeeper. Tiny little drawers with child size cutlery, little wardrobes with doll clothes . . .

At our house, in the back yard, it served as a play house but it was never the same. We were not so particular and we didn't have little furniture. I remember time in the playhouse drawing Halloween pictures, soaking dandelion stems in cold water (they curl!) and trying to sweep and clean, but I simply didn't have the resources. It was a nice little spot though.

The other day I rode along with Kelli and the girls to check out a preschool for Birdie. The director was lovely. She escorted us around like a perfect fairy godmother. Birdie settled in at the housekeeping area. Do you remember the housekeeping area from your kindergarten days? I liked it best, too. I found the photos below on line. Aren't they pleasing? When Kelli was little, she was watching me cook and she said, "You get to do all the fun stuff." It IS fun to play in the kitchen, scrubbing, feeling the soapy hot water on tired hands, finding just the right dish or bowl, shining up the spotted fronts of hardworking appliances, and sweeping up crumbs off the messy floor. I have never had a perfect kitchen. Mine have always been a bit worn and mismatched, but last night my old kitchen produced fresh corn on the cob, squash chopped and coated by Jenny, sausages and strawberries . . . good food for good people.

And now, down another Pom Pom bunny trail . . . I was considering some of the toys I loved as a child. I begged for this doll. I worked my mother every night when she came to tuck me in. I opened the box on Christmas eve. I took out all her pins and rubber bands and loved her very much that evening. That's all I remember and I do not remember her face looking like this.

Another thing I REALLY wanted was this fuzzy soap. It grew "hair" otherwise known as MOLD. I found it absolutely captivating for twenty-four hours or so.

My sister received Creeple People for Christmas one year and we enjoyed many hours with it. We would pour the goop in the mold, carefully place the mold on the tiny little cooker, watch for done-ness. After the body parts had cooled, we'd peel them out and arrange them on pencils. I loved this process and Karol was so sweet to share with me. All the things I played with when I was young have remained with me and now I like to play with paper, pencils, glue, yarn, fabric, and dirt.

Last, my two favorite ballerinas. We are going to Birdie's show this afternoon. I have happy memories of my own dance shows, Kelli's dance shows, and special evenings at The Nutcracker. I can't wait to watch Birdie dance. They have so many rules backstage. I hope the whole thing doesn't stress her out too much.

It's raining here.
Saturdays are good.