little things

Tonight, my little guy has gone to bed a few minutes early, so I have a bit of time to write! Here are some of the little things I count as blessings:

1. I'm thankful for the golden orange sun shining off the roofs of the buildings across the street as the sun sets over our city.
2. There are green buds on the trees outside our bathroom window, forsythia flowers spilling over the fence, and lots of robins playing in the (very large) puddle (pond) in the parking lot.
3. My husband was home with us all day as we enjoyed the Sunday service, a quiet lunch of leftovers, and some much-needed family down time.
4. Our new dining room is RED! And I've surprised the cool-colors, conservatively-decorating, introverted me by loving it. So excited.
5. We're moving on Saturday! And very little is packed. But with that, I realize that we have an abundance of possessions. We have much for which to be thankful. How often have I taken these things for granted? How much do I invest in these things that I should be giving to other, more important things? Taking stock of more than stuff as I pack things into boxes, taping and labeling like crazy.
6. I love the way that it stays lighter longer as the seasons lean toward warmer weather. Thanks to God for providing something lovely in every season.
7. I'm trying a dairy-free diet to help my son's digestive troubles go away...I hope they go away! I've discovered that almond milk is pretty delicious, as long as I'm not expecting it to taste like milk. And rice cheese flavored like cheddar is good. Next week, I'll try rice milk.

The cute reason for the temporary diet change

8.  I got to wear one of my favorite skirts today - the purple one with pockets. I felt cute and I feel great about beginning to get back to my previous size. Now, I need to regain muscle tone... how to fit in exercise?
9. Paper plates. This week, I am grateful for them.
10. My family: in-laws, parents, siblings. For good friends. For lots of prayer. God has blessed us in every way, and with more than we could have imagined.

What are you thanking Him for today?

a mini celebration of spring

We've had our first warm Western New York spring day! And I do really mean warm - it was in the 60's and sunny, which is cause for celebration.

What is this warm weather you speak of? All I know is snow!

So, I just couldn't resist dressing the little guy in something cute and summery, and was so excited that this cute little outfit that I made fits him already!

I could get used to warm weather...

Isn't he adorable? Wearing Daddy's shirts already. :o)

celebrating beauty

As we were on our way to church on this beauteous Sunday morning, my husband noticed a bright flower on the side of the road and tried to point it out to me as we drove by. Unfortunately, I missed it in my headache-induced mental fog and worries about being on time. He described it as a coral-colored flower, and I couldn't think of what it might be. Coral flowers? Nope, couldn't think of one.

On the way home, though, he spotted it again! This time, we pulled over, and he told me to hop out and pick a few! Oh, yes! Poppies. So sweet. I love the way he knows what I like - the little things that delight me. Back when we were dating, it would be rare if he would even notice a flower, let alone point it out to me. I'm so grateful for the husband God gave me! He's pretty great.

 

Here are the glorious poppies he found for me! Look at the neat shadows they make.

I love the way their "furry" stems droop under the weight of their tissue-paper thin petals.

Doesn't it look like it should be a day at the beach? Something about those colors....

I love the way their seeds aren't really black, but a deep gray-purple. And so soft!

And this picture makes me almost like the white painted plywood replacement top for the white metal patio table that our apartment was "furnished" with. It's kinda shabby-chic with flowers on top.

The petals feel like a really rich silk. 

Can you imagine a swirly summer skirt made of perfectly wrinkled coral silk?

These photos are just begging me to pull out my watercolors and try to capture the beauty... I'll have to plan to paint soon after our move.

Isn't God's creation amazing?

little things

Today is another beautiful spring day! Counting my blessings, and enjoying the little things:
1. There are little tiny leaves on the lilac bushes and red buds on some of the trees! Here's hoping they don't freeze.

2. We live on a road where there are mostly fields and cows. The rolling hills out my dining room windows are bright spring green, with last fall's golden hay standing stiffly next to the new blades of grass. The hills are edged with evergreen trees, red-branched bushes, and the subtle tones of leaf-less trees.

3. The sky is a brilliant, crisp blue, framed by purple hills in the distance. There aren't any clouds to be seen!
4. My daffodils, hyacinths, narcissus, and grape hyacinths are in full bloom. So pretty!

5. Oscar-cat requires continuous snuggling today.
6. I got to come home from school early, and could actually sit down for dinner with a cup of tea.
7. Hooray for tea!
8. I am cozy, wrapped up in a wooly scarf and in my brown corduroy pants.
9. I get to sing with an excellent choir on a daily basis.
10. I am loved. First, by my heavenly Father, second, by my husband, and third, by dear family and friends.

There. Ten little things.

spring knitting

Quite a while ago, my mom found a lot of red merino wool yarn at an estate sale, and she bought all of it for me! At fifty cents a skein, it wasn't a bad price. I've been enjoying making things out of it - here's the most recent project!

It's a spiral-y, ruffly scarf. It's light and airy, but still warm - just right for spring! I found the pattern on Lion Brand's website. It's called the Spiral 'Ruffled' Scarf. They recommend using a thicker yarn for most of the project, and then switching to mohair for just the outside edge of the ruffle. However, I used mohair for the entire project, making it a much lighter weight scarf!

Here's the ruffle scarf, folded in half, with the ends tucked through the loop!

The construction of a ruffle in knitting is really ingenious. For this one, at least, you cast on 100 stitches - this is the length of the scarf, rather than the width. Then, increases are made by yarn overs (abbreviated yo) for ever stitch in the first row, doubling the stitches. The stitches are doubled twice more for about 800 stitches! The rapid increases make the fabric appear to ruffle as it spirals on itself. Neat! I like the pretty pattern that is created by the yo - lots of lacy eyelets in the fabric.

hunting and thrifting

 Many of the things I enjoy involve looking for quality, beauty, and loveliness in places that may be surprising. This is one reason that shopping, thrifting (form of shopping), hiking, gardening, puzzles, and crafting of all kinds are so fun for me!

On that note, Hubby and I went apartment hunting this weekend. We saw four that had topped our list, and quickly crossed off the first one. The pictures completely hid the fact that it had been inhabited for nine years by heavy smokers, and did little to show that it was so tiny. No, and no. Scratched from our list.

The second place was a little bit too far into the city for me - it's across from a medical building and some little shops, on a busy street - but it was absolutely gorgeously remodeled. Hardwood floors, soft, sea glass colors on the walls, stainless appliances and glass tile in the kitchen, beautiful light fixtures, new double shower in the bathroom... it was a little small, and the price is a bit high for the amount of space, but that place is sittin' pretty at #2 on our list.

The third place we saw is a three-bedroom half-house in a nice residential area. There's sunlight coming in every window, hardwood floors in the first level, three carpeted bedrooms, a claw-foot tub in the bathroom, and a great attic and basement space. It's wonderful - #1 on our list, for sure! We're hoping and praying that our application shines in the sea of applications the leasing company will view.

The fourth place we visited is a second floor one-bedroom apartment with original hardwood floors and neat details. However, the kitchen and hallway are extremely tiny! I don't know how we'll get furniture in that space. Also, there's no dishwasher. Possible deal-breaker. It's a good deal, so that's at #3 on our list.

Tomorrow, Hubby will visit a fifth place: another two-bedroom apartment in an 1880's (restored) mansion. Lovely paint and updates, from what I've seen! And the landlord seemed really friendly on the phone. And the laundry is free.

Today, we went to church as usual, and did our regular grocery run. Little blessings included the surprise of ham being on sale - yay! Post-grocery trip, we went to the local thrift store for some dress pants for Hubby. He scored a pair of almost new, olive-green Dockers for $7, and a pair of Banana Republic khakis for $11. Sweet!

I, of course, couldn't resist these lovely vintage sheets. You know me. I love the soft coral, deep coral, and white watercolor-ish flowers! And, at just $3 for the sheet and $1 for the pillowcase, why not? I foresee some sewing in my future...

little things

It's here!!


Spring, that is. Or, at least, here are the beginnings of many beautiful little things. Thankful for:

1. Brilliant purple crocuses with tiny white stripes and orange pistils and stamens!

2. Tulip leaves pushing through the crinkly leaves of last fall. Look at the red tips!

3. Daffodil yellow beginning to show - soon, soon, soon!

4. Tiny violas. Or are they pansies? I don't know. I do like their little faces.

5. Bright green moss, with a broken branch... see the leaf buds?

6. Long, sunny afternoons, simply made for naps. Oscar approves.

7. Warmer days! Skirt-wearing weather! Picnic weather! Long walks outside weather!
8. Starry nights - the stars are so beautiful tonight! Some lovely red ones, such bright white ones nearer the horizon. I wonder if those are planets?
9. Content furry snugglers. So glad my furbabies are friends.

10. A few moments for card making - for my in-laws and for my brother. Many birthdays this month!

Those, my friends, are the little things. So much to be thankful for!

sharing spring 3

Another reason I love spring:

...drying laundry outside. Breathe that fresh air! Sunshine on my laundry makes me happy...

pretty weeds: a haiku

balloon-like white globes

fuzzy featherweight seedlings

common beauty: weeds

more spring - robins

As I was walking by the lilac bush, I heard this robin mommy tweet at me...

Here are the five(!) baby blue eggs:

sharing spring

a rainbow from Friday night's thunderstorm

a possibility

i applied for a K-5 Vocal Music and General Music position on Friday! i'm excited that there's the possibility of a music education job out there for me. i'm hoping and praying that i will be called to interview. i'm a little bit apprehensive, since i haven't taught at the K-3 level before, but i think i'll be able to do well with some help from my colleagues, a curriculum, and some extra study during the summer (for me, that is). it looks like a good opportunity for me to build some more confidence in my teaching, to have some more experience to put on my resume, and for a lot more money than i'm making right now!

it has been tough to stay with the job i'm in now - a lot of the work takes very little brain function to perform well. the flow of work is also tricky. some days there is absolutely nothing for me to do but answer the phone and greet people when, or if, they walk into the office. other days, there is so much to get done that i can't possibly finish it all in one day! dealing with realtors can be frustrating, too. some of them get so worked up about the smallest details, which reminds me of myself when i finally get home from work, i'm tired, and i can hardly deal with life. it has been good to be the one to encourage them, but hard to see adults acting like this. is it normal for someone to get screaming mad when the fax machine copies instead of faxes? or to completely abandon a project when the copy machine jams 3 times in a row? or to yell at me for naming their pictures the wrong thing when they didn't send me labels for them at all?

you see what i mean.

the environment has also been eye-opening for me. i come from a very conservative background, but here, i am surrounded by liberal thought. this is too much "real world" for me.
as you can read from the previous post, i'm a little shell-shocked, as I believe i should be.

happier note, though:

i have been reading C.S. Lewis's book, Surprised by Joy, which he wrote as an autobiography. the book chronicles the moments in his life as he lost his faith in childhood, took up atheism, discovered Joy in his adolescence, and found the truth of Christianity by his adult years. it's so enjoyable to read his writing and to think along with him (if you can call it that, since he's dead now, and since it's the written word) about the things that bring us joy, and what we truly desire in life. sigh.

this past weekend was absolutely beautiful, and such a blessing! i woke up saturday morning feeling like it was a vacation (well, plus laundry and some housecleaning), with sunny, light-filled rooms, and warm breezes. so nice. my dear husband and i even took a picnic down to the lake and enjoyed being quiet with each other there. i took a few pictures, which i hope to post soon. we needed the break - i'm so glad we could be with each other.

sunday, i finally got to practice piano! it has been months, and i'm really sad about that. i've lost some of my skill, but i think i can get it back with some more practice. and time. and diligence. i really hope i can be more consistent about the whole thing.

and with that, i'm going to go back to work. meaning, i'm going to try to find something to do until 6.

maybe i'll make a salad. :o)