every little thing

Chow Chow

 

I was thinking that my blog is kinda drab these days. Stale.  Boring.  While pondering the ways I could drum up some action over here, I couldn't help noticing that other bloggers seem to really respond favorably to photos and posts about family pets.  (People like adorable animals, go figure?)  Since we don't really have a live-in pet a the moment (Sydney is still on loan to my brother,) Charlie is the closest living pet relative we have.  We adopted him 10-ish years ago, when we lived in Idaho.  He lived in California also, before settling here on the East Coast, staying briefly with Mike and I in our first apartment and finally settling in with my mom.   I guess their isn't much to say about him really, except that he's awesome.  And I saved him from the terrible fate of being named "Peanut Butter" by my little sister.  It took a while, but once I had everyone calling him "Charlie," she eventually gave up.  Now we sometimes call him Chow Chow, or even just "Chow."  Not sure why.  Anyway, feast your eyes on the preciously adorable kittyness.

Ahh.  Now to sit back and watch my blog stats skyrocket...

It's a Zoo Around Here

Even the meercat was looking at me like, "What are you doing here?  Don't you have a craft show this Sunday?!?"  Seriously though, it was a lovely afternoon at the zoo today.  I made a promise/mission statement this year that I would not let my work+business stuff dominate my life, even when it's 'crunch time', like the week before a craft show, and add to that a surprising flurry of business at both my vintage and supply shop these last few day, too.  I am always grateful (and often even amazed) that I sell anything at all, but keeping perspective can be hard.  My instinct is to pack every order immediately, list more items, research for new products, make new handmade things, etc.  But, as the saying goes, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. And it is very true.  Finding that elusive balance that everyone talks about seems like a pipe dream most of the time, but I have to keep trying, right?

We thought it very strange that the peacock was just hanging out in rafters of the barn area like that, but I guess they are allowed to just roam about the zoo on their own, because later we saw this same bird wandering into the Men's Room next to the reptile gallery.

If you haven't guessed already, this is turning into the obligatory - I'm too busy to blog this week so here I am blogging about how I'm too busy to be blogging - blog post. I'll be back soon though, I promise.  This Friday's Hero post will be replaced with a Friend-of-the-Blog coupon for the Bada-Bing in Richmond this Sunday.  So if you're local, planning on going to the show, and you like free stuff, you may want to check back here Friday!

Bye for now.

 

Historical

Hey, that's my brother!  I mentioned many months ago that my little brother was an extra for HBO's new Mini series, John Adams.  Well, the premier is March 15th, and the promos are coming out now!  How exciting!  Mike (my brother) said that he was in so many angles of so many different scenes, that there is a good chance we'll get to see him a lot  in the show.  The above picture is a freeze-frame of a HBO preview my sister found on you-tube.    Here's the close up:

That's Mike, in the middle of the angry mob (at least, we're pretty sure it's him.)   I'm excited to see the series too, it looks good.   I'm not a huge fan of Historical Drama-type movies, but some are better than others.  The New World was very good, maybe I liked that one because it also was filmed in this part of Virginia?  Anyway, if you watch John Adams, be sure to look out for the tall, skinny, dark-haired peasant in the background that may possibly be my little bro. 

Hostage

Alright, Kristina.  Yes, I admit that you talked me into buying this at the thrift store.  Yes, I was hesitant at first and I don't know why.  But whose to say what would have happened if you had not been there?  I could have changed my mind, I might have gone back for it on my own, without your counsel.  The mere fact that you were present during the purchase of this music box, and allegedly drove me to make the final decision, does not give you the right to snatch it so cruelly and secretively from me.  And now you feel the need to torture me further with this video?  My poor little birds, held captive.  You are truly cruel, darling sister.  And now let me ask you this: I was over visiting last night, was I not?  Were you keeping a sharp eye on this little treasure?  Perhaps you let your guard down, perhaps you noticed something missing this morning?  Then again, maybe not.  Maybe everything is safe and sound as it should be, but I doubt your conscience will be able to rest now.  The music box will be mine again, oh yes, it will be mine. 

Another Weekend Adventure

I finally admitted  that I lost our rechargeable battery charger and bought a new one,  so there will be more pictures and postings soon!  I'm still playing catch-up with the orders from the  Emporium Valentine's update,  and I'm almost done.    Thanks so much for all the miniature-love!    

Current  background noise  while packing orders?  Law and Order reruns.  How long has that show been totally awesome?!?  Wow.  I could so be an SVU investigator, (ha ha, yeah right.)   

This is for the ladies....

Are these some handsome  dudes, or what?  And check out Max's new do.  His hair had gotten so loooong  and I tried to trim it myself (which ended in utter disaster.)   So, I took the child to SuperCuts and they totally buzzed him!  He went from sister golden hair  to Lieutenant Dan with two  swipes of  clippers!  I miss his curls, but I have to admit that I'm digging the new look, except it makes him look much older and taller.  :(

Oh, and by the by, the tissue cozies and Holiday Cards are in the Studio  now.  Sweater Creatures  arrive tomorrow, and I'm doing the giveaway then too!

The Best Weekend in Many a Moon

The birthday festivities continue!  Max's duck-pin party at Bowlarama.  Props to Amber for the awesome pictures and the deeelicious cupcakes!  Thank you!!! 

 

Ice skating at MacArthur Mall outdoor rink!!!  Oh, it was so fun!  We went to see the parade downtown, but it was so crowded we skipped it and did skating instead.  I think we will be going a lot this year, Max was really getting into it.  I'm the only one without skates, so I had to rent them this time.  Looks like I'll be headed to Play It Again Sports this week.

Late breakfast at home with my boys.  So over due it wasn't even funny.  Boiled eggs, friend ham, pancakes, and peach smoothies.

Even a quickie thrift store jaunt with my mom!  I didn't buy much, but there was so much to see and covet.  These vintage dolls  were calling my name.

 

Oh, and these pictures!  I may have to go back, because I just can't stop obsessing over them!  How amazing are they!?!?!  I really have a thing for sea captains, I suppose, because I could not stop gushing over them, to the point that my mom was getting annoyed. 

 

(That's her hand up there, I think she was trying to smack me.)  Check out the close ups.

They're so dreamy.   And, you better believe they got me humming this song, again!

Anyway, they were asking $20 for the set of 4, which was  reasonable, but I really only needed 2 of them, seeing as there were 2 sets of each print.  They would not sell them separately to me.  Jerks.  So I stomped away, knowing I'd probably be back for them later this week.  If they're  still there.  They really remind me of that John Masefield Poem, Sea Fever.  It's been an all time favorite of mine since I read it in 5th grade.   When we moved from Virgina to Idaho for the second time, I read this poem in class for an assignment, and I could barely get through it without bawling.  I can only imagine what a fruitcake everyone thought I was.  I was just beginning to see then, how deeply connected I really was to the ocean.  Then, suddenly I was land-locked, hundreds of miles from any coast, and it was very, very cold.   It's such a simple poem, and it's no secret that people have romanticized the ocean since probably the beginning of time.  It was comforting to know that I wasn't the only one.  Me and John Masefield got it.   It's strange to feel inexplicably drawn to something so big and powerful.  Knowing full well that one day, it could rise up and carry away you, and everything you've ever loved.  Such a mystery to me.

Whoa.  Sidetracked much?  I promise that won't happen again.  ;)

Hope everyone had a lovely weekend (ye scurvy, landlubbers, you!) 

Pause

                        

Hold everything for a bit.  My baby is turning  five years old today.  I almost forgot about today, well...no, that's not true.  I wanted to forget.  I tried to forget.  It's going too fast, I tell you. Much too fast.

Happy Birthday, my little bunny face.

Field Trip, Round One

 

 

(well, that's a strange looking critter...)

Field Trips are fun, but DANG.  Max's preschool class goes on lots of field trips.  They have at least one week these days.  These pics are from last week's trip to the farm.  The week before they toured the Krispy Kreme Donut Factory, and today we went to the pumpkin patch.  Whew.  Those four year olds get around more than I do.   Next one up is another trip to the Throughgood House, same as last year.  I think we may be skipping this one, once was enough.  It's hard to believe that I was blogging about the same thing almost exactly a year ago.  I am very close to my One Year Bloggiversary.  Crazy.

The Wild One

Sorry I've been absent again!  I feel a bit like Miss doll-head over here.  Droopy eyed, disheveled and displaced.  I guess September can do that to you. 

Back to school time is always exciting.  Especially if your little angel has been spoiled all summer long, and has an inherent  disregard for authority figures.  He's one of those kids that everyone says has a big "personality", which can really mean many different things: bossy, obstinate, showboat, thug (to name a few.)   I was pretty good this year though, I didn't do any major crying on the first day, after I dropped him off.  I did have to shake of the overwhelming urge to sit on the porch, chain smoke, and worry.  But that's not my fault, that's my Greek ancestry rearing it's ugly head.  You know, the Greeks actually invented the art of chain smoking and worrying......and Democracy.   But anyway, wow, having kids is really fun.  Really.  I mean, where did this kid come from?  I was (am) a quiet, bookish nerd that never spoke up.  How am I supposed to raise this wild animal?  I can barely even relate to him.  Luckily, he is insanely cute and cunning, so with luck he will win over his teachers heart, as he did mine, and all will be well.  (and this is only preschool.  he he.....I'm in trouble.)