Signs of Water

I am the little girl from the movie Signs. I drink half to three quarters of a glass of water and then leave it. All.Over.The.House.

This especially happens at bedtime. I bring a new cup of water into my bedroom each night for that one last sip of water right before I drift off to sleep or for the middle of the night parched mouth.

But… After one night of a glass sitting on my nightstand it has microscopic dust bunnies, unfortunately, a dog hair or two (thanks Manny!) and old water just doesn’t seem as appetizing as new water.

Cue Maggie! She gave me the perfect solution to my collection of water glasses at my bedside. A water carafe with cup cover. It’s perfectly wonderful and everyone should have one! My water is dust bunny and most important dog hair free. Plus it has our last initial, H, etched into it. I am a huge fan of monograms. HUGE!

Thank you dear Maggie from saving me from the life of hairy dust-bunny filled water!

Now my bedside table, which Maggie helped me pick out from a local thrift shop, looks even more glamorous!

Birthstone Memories

A dear friend gave me a gold bracelet with a sapphire stone charm. It’s beautiful!

I like it for three reasons:

1. Gold

2. My birthstone

3. Sri Lanka

Last year, my husband and I with some friends took an adventurous trip to Sri Lanka and Dubai. Sri Lanka is known for its sparkling blue sapphire stones. We went to a gem shop while we were there. I can still remember the glittering different blues dancing before my eyes.

Thank you, Lo, for giving me a daily reminder of a wonderful trip! And of course a little bling to my outfit.

Every day can be improved by a little sparkle!

Childhood Library

My mother has a great love of reading that she has passed down to my siblings and I. She started with her favorite picture books to assist us in forming our own appreciation for the quiet act of reading.

My sister recently passed down a couple of books from our childhood that her little girls have been able to enjoy for awhile. The books are slightly tattered but still in very good reading condition with lots of memories.

The Book Titles:

No More Baths by Brock Cole

Oh, Were They Ever Happy! by Peter Spier

Bored-Nothing To Do! by Peter Spier

Burt Dow Deep-Water Man by Robert McCloskey

Thanks, Kay, for passing along a little family heritage!

No wonder I learned to love to read! The imagery in these picture books is wonderful! Makes me want to sit down to paint and read all at the same time. To the love of art and reading!

 

Fall Gatherings

A good friend invited a group of us out to her parent’s cabin in the woods for a good old fashion sleepover! Long walks, games, good food and a lot of a laughs. All very good for the soul!

Thank you, Caitlin, for creating such a wonderful environment for us all to enjoy!

One of the girls had a Better Homes & Gardens magazine displaying a fall grass wreath. Another one of the ladies and I decided that we would scavenge on our walks in the woods to find the necessities to create our own fall grass wreaths.

The bounty of our scavenging.

The finished product with a little help from the local craft stores floral section and my neighborhood.

A Baby for my Birthday

A glassybaby that is!

A dear friend is long time supporter and admirer of glassybaby votives. I will refrain from naming how many she has but lets just say she a “mother” load!

For my birthday this year, she made me card carrying member of the glassybaby club with this one.

Thank you, my dear Maggie!

Taking deep breathes in this new birthday year and enjoying the blessings all around.

Pucker Up Buttercup!

Pickles are one of my top favorite snacks and sidekicks to a sandwich.

I’m a dill only kinda gal. I’ll eat bread & butter pickles or sweet pickles but there is nothing like the puckering quality of a dill pickle.

My late Grandpa Bee would agree with me!

My sister-in-law gave me a big ‘ol jar of homemade pickles with the recipe and pickling spice for my birthday! For some reason, I had never thought to make my own all these years. Now I’m eating a pickle or two any time the munchies appear.

We had a girl’s day with other family and friends to make refrigerator style traditional and unique pickled items.

Hmmm mmmm Delicious!

Thank you, Becky, for enlightening me on the delectable homemade pickle process!

Beauty Tip: A good dill pickle will always create that perfect lip pucker.

Dill Pickle Recipe:

8 cups water

1/2 cup canning salt

2 cups distilled water

Bring to a boil, then place in bowl with:

1 bulb garlic

2 tsp pickling spice

8-12 stocks dill

3-4 small onions

pickling cucumbers

Let sit out for 3 days (c0vered), refrigerate for 8 months – 1 year.

Sub-Urban Sketching

Other than mail, I love…

Small things

Colorful things

and Art

I recently found a new book that combines all three of these things into one!

Urban sketching is a whole community of artists that I had no idea existed! Everyone has a little book of life-inspired sketches from around their town or travels.

Usually I’m eager to give away anything I create since I’m a purger at heart. But this little book of art is becoming my favorite item to hold onto. I now look for items or scenes throughout the day that inspire or hold meaning for me.

Thank you, Katie, for gifting me this artistically inspiring book!

I’m conquering the suburban elements to sketch onsite. I think a trip into the city is needed next!

Here are my first three sketches.

    

Cut to the Chase

I love mail.

My family knows that.

My brother encourages it.

Done.

Thanks, Zach, for wielding your talents, again, to create a favorite mail-inspired accessory!

No funny business here when it comes to opening mail or defending my home.

Opening Act at the Big Top

I’m excited for the next Family Camp already!

One of my birthday wishes, this year, was for special camping dishes. I was inspired by Deru, a local favorite spot, who serves their food on black and white enamelware dishes. Clean, functional and perfect for camp life. Add a dent or two and suddenly it has more character with memories.

Thank you, Mom and Dad^2, for a wonderful gift and many memories to come!

Camp life is always a juggling act of some kind. But, oh is it fun!

Here is the link to the dishes I received.

A Weekend Away

My man and I had a great excuse to have a weekend away when two great friends were married outside of Bellingham, WA. We enlisted another couple to be our tour guides of the city. They did a spectacular job!!! I now want to spend every weekend away in Bellingham exploring the little shops, drinking coffee and getting in the holiday mood.

Thank you Matt & Maggie for being such gracious hosts and tour guides!

The Herald building felt very ionic on our way to pizza and beer.