Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Brand New Atticus

 Atticus Jeffrey is beautiful!  He looks like his brother Finnegan!  I can't wait to see him.  He and his mama will stay at the hospital until Wednesday.  Bill and I want to drive up to see the happy family on Saturday morning.  Praise God for a new little man.  Thank you for your prayers, kind friends.
 I've been drawing birds and designing new feathers.  Have you been seeing bird images everywhere like I have?  Birds are so symbolic.
 This is the season of pink sky mornings.  I grab my camera and hurry outdoors to capture the fleeting pink and turquoise greetings from the Creator.  Good morning, sky watchers.

 While we were waiting for the Atticus phone call on Sunday, I took up my sewing.  Miss Bug's birthday is on Groundhog Day and I wanted to finish her rag quilt.  I'm so happy with it!  It's just heavy enough for comfort and soft enough for cuddles.  Rag quilts are so easy to make.  I'm thinking about making a big cozy covering for our bed!  Miss Bug will be three on her birthday. What a great age!



Good bye, January.  Thank you for hosting the baby that came into our lives on Sunday.  Atticus's daddy Brad was also born in January and I must say that was a very bright January back in 1981.  Hello, February!  Kelli came two years later at the beginning of the love month.  Now Kelli has two heart girls with February birthdays, too! 
Are you going to make some Valentines?  I'd like to make them for my 130 students, but I'm not sure I can pull that off.  Maybe.
I pray for blessings on YOUR path today.  I hope you hear the rush of angels' wings and find peace filling the corners of your good soul.

Saturday, January 28, 2012

Color Pop and Baby News!

 Do you have any handkerchiefs you'd like Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle to iron?  I have two pink Beatrix books, new to my pile of books.  Amazon knows my preferences a little too well, I think.  I read the two stories below to myself, before bed this week.  This morning I had fun copying Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle into my sketch book.  I especially adore the stripey skirt.  If I ever get around to wearing skirts, I must sew a Tiggy-Winkle version for my own granny self.




 Do you love the gentleman's coat?  I do, even though he is a villain in the story.
 My friend Debbie from No Spring Chicken pointed me toward a little video about Kaffe Fassett found on Little Jenny Wren's blog.  Talk about inspirational color material!  Wow!  I ordered a book!  I love Kaffe's polka dot shirt and springy shorts, don't you?





 One of my Christmas money orders could not be fulfilled (a new set of Laura Ingals Wilder books) but I still have my old tattered set, so I ordered this wall sticker for the living room instead.  Isn't it fun to "stick" something pretty on your walls?  I think so!  Gigi at My Firefly Cottage said that pretty soon I'm going to have to rename my blog in a toadstool fashion.  Ha ha!  No, I will give myself a toadstool year and then move on to something else (maybe something a little less silly, right?)

Meanwhile, I feel quite inspired by this mama toadstool and her pretty babies!
The grandbaby is being born right now!  I will update as soon as he/she arrives!  Thank you for your prayers for April.
I am going to a Scentsy party at Kelli's today.  Do you know what it is?  I think it's products that send lovely smells through the hallways and corridors of your home.  Yummy!  I hope they sell strawberry smells.
Bill and I are going to try a new church tomorrow.  We're looking forward to that.
Thank you for popping by today.  It's always nice when you peek in to check on me.  May you have a VERY colorful and inspirational weekend.  (Big hug and kiss!)
Added update:  Atticus Jeffrey has arrived!  He weighs in at 8 lbs. 1 oz! 20.5 inches long!  Hooray!  Mommy is doing well! She's a champion, Brad says!  Thank you, God!  
Oh, and we really liked the new church, too!  Pictures to come!

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

A Toadstool Grew

 Another toadstool grew and even though the green one I showed you fell to the floor and broke into pieces (yikes!) this shiny little "stool" came in the mail to replace it, I guess. When Birdie and Miss Bug played here, they found the toadstool Lynn made and moved it.  There's just something about a toadstool house, I tell you.
 It's still very dark outside this morning.  I need a yellow cup to "sunshine up" this Wednesday.
 I'm wearing my new corduroy "big shirt" which is a delicious "robin's egg blue" and WARM!  Yahoo!
 Bunnies on my feet.  I am very thankful for the bunnies.  I glanced through my gift list (you know about 1000 Gifts, right?)  It's encouraging to read what I've been thankful for.
 I'm dabbling in I Thessalonians these days.
 January is almost over and the LOVE month waits.  Hearts.  Valentines.  Roses.  Birthdays. (We have three in February!)  The baby has not chosen to arrive yet.  Maybe today!  
Somehow it seems like this week should be a bit further along than it is.  I'm a bit droopy.
I'm definitely going to look out the window more today.  I need the light.
What's outside your window?
Where do you see hearts today?
"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  John 16:33.
Cheers!
(God be with you.)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Three Girls and Flowers

 I spent the weekend with three fairies.
 Sometimes fairy wings get heavy, so fairies rest them when they can.
 Babies don't get heavy.
 Flower files.  Needed badly when winter comes to stay a while.
Summer will be back soon, won't it?  I think so.
Still waiting for the baby to come.  Bless you, April.  
My dad told us that when his mother would see him out the door she would put her hand on his head and say, "God be with you."
God be with you.  

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Delighted

 Hello!  How is this fine January day in your neck of the woods?  It's a little chilly here.  I have my butterfly wing shawl around my shoulders and last night I took the hot water bottle to bed.  
We had parent/teacher conferences in the evening.  Whew.  Busy.
The other day a little English parcel arrived for me.  My friend Lynn (The Sunny Side of the Street) is so kind, so thoughtful, so smart.  I told her that I plan on moving into this little toadstool house very soon.
 While I was visiting my parents in Arizona I drank some good "mama" coffee.  I gave this little coffee set to my mom quite some time ago and she gave it back to me.  It's good for granddaughter tea parties and it's good for Pom Pom shelves.  Isn't it cute?
 Beads and fake wildflower garlands hang in our entry way.  Ah, hopes for spring!  Isn't it fun to read about friends' garden plans?  I like thinking about herbs, sunflowers, hollyhocks, zinnias . . .
We sat on the patio in Phoenix and looked at all the busy birds.  Sometimes a cardinal and his wife come to my parents' feeder.  He didn't come, but my mother is the loveliest red bird I know.  Isn't she bright?  I love looking at her.  When I visit, I usually give my dad a manicure.  We clip and file, making his hands neat.  He has the sweetest hands.  His fingers are narrow and his nails are perfectly oval.  I love holding my dad's hands.
My sister and I had fun together.  We talked while falling asleep.  It is a privilege to be close to a sister, isn't it?
I'm off to school.  Today is the due date of grandchild number eight.  Will you join me in prayer for April?  I hope her delivery is smooth and safe.  Babies.  JOY!
Jenny is pregnant!  Samantha Rose will have a sibling in September.  Nine grandchildren for Bill and I!  BLESSED!
Thank you for coming by.  I hope your day is sparkly. 

Friday, January 13, 2012

Canary Yellow

 January days need sweaters, canary yellow sweaters, in fact.  I found the heart pin at the grocery store.  
 Do you like yellow?  I like a little blue with my yellow.
 When this book came in the mail, I flipped through it and thought, "Hmmm.  I'm not sure I like this."  I have changed my mind.  It's full of scribbles and color.


 Aisling over at Whatever the Weather (see my blog links below) reminded me of this book.  It's a beautiful story of healing.  There is NOTHING like a story about a family and a house.  I've been carrying it around, poking my nose in it whenever I can grab a quick read.
 Have you started a new journal for 2012?
 Elsa's toadstool-hatted children are wonderful, so I ordered this little book, too.
 The EZ book above is new and crisp, full of all kinds of friendly knitting advice.

 Here's my indoor flora.

And here is our first born son who turned 31 years old today.  My oh my, THAT was a miraculous day.  I remember how his little baby head smelled, covered with black downy hair.  Now he's a daddy himself with his and April's fourth baby due any day.  He's a pastor, a scholar, crazy over The Wind in the Willows, too!  I sometimes call him Ratty.  I have been a mother for 31 years.  I feel like a mother in every fiber of my being.  Tomorrow, I'll see my mother!  I can't wait to fly to sunny Arizona and sit in the company of my parents and my big sister.  Hooray!
I'll be back very soon, Winter People!  (BIG HUGE HUG AND A SMOOCH ON THE CHEEK!)

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