Any Similar Revival

Know what I love? Waking up in the morning to open windows, balmy air, LIGHT, poppies that bloomed overnight, and the prospect of a day off unfolding before me. I love taking the dog out in my jammie pants, while my elderly and adorable neighbors across the street are sitting on their porch, reading the paper in their bathrobes. I love checking on the state of my garden, walking a slow circuit around the house, greeting each new blossom. It's a lovely morning.

Of course. Some animal dragged a garbage bag off the back porch (I know, I know, what dummy left if on the back porch instead of putting it IN the can) and tore a hole and stole chicken wing bones. And then, some dog we have decided to sneak around and steal a chicken bone before I even realized they were available. And then I had to chase my fraidy-cat dog all over the place trying to save him from certain death by choking on chicken bones. Big oaf. Then I wasn't so serene and in love with my morning.

I took that dog to the Dog Park last night, because we've had to leave him alone a lot the past two days. He loves it, but I worry he'll pick up fleas there. Chad and I took Myles there on Sunday with Luke & Hannah and Rory. They look like Big Sister and Little Brother when they are together, and they are such good friends!

Yesterday:

This morning:

Other bits of loveliness

The planters:

That would be:  Produce.

Fresh, beautiful, luscious produce.

Today was the first Farmer's Market out in Peninsula, and Heidi and I made our way there with great anticipation. We were too late (a mere 20 minutes after opening!) to get any rhubarb, but we did find the Most Beautiful Lettuce Ever. And some baklava, fresh goat cheese, cherry tomato plants, and apples.

When I got home, Chad and I had a porch picnic with salad, toasted garlic bread, apples, and the yums I bought at the Big Fat Greek and Italian Pastry booth.

We've spent the rest of the day (well, CHAD has spent the rest of the day) building my driveway planter boxes and putting up the window boxes. Stay tuned for photos soon.

Happy last day of May

Most places that I remember from my childhood have irrevocably changed. I can never go home–never revisit the site of my wedding, the site of my Mum's memorial service, the place where I became myself. My high school and college were both completely remodelled during the years after I left, and they too, are lost to me. It makes me feel a little bit wobbly inside, this unwilled disconnect from my past. Some places haven't changed, though. There is always Granny's house, Heidi's house, the thrift store in Cuyahoga Falls, and now, as I discovered yesterday, "Freight and Fabric." Except that is not its name. Really, it's called "Fabric and Freight," which I find impossible to say. Mostly, I've always referred to it as "Frabic and Freight," because that is the way my mouth works. Heidi and I made our second attempt to go there yesterday. (Our first was a disappointment. They are, apparently, ONLY open Wednesday through Saturday. What the heck is wrong with Monday??!) And there it was, just as we remembered, with all of the exact, SAME merchandise as thirty years ago. I am not kidding.

So, I know you're wondering exactly WHY we wanted to go to this place, this Aladdin's Cave of Wonders. Cheap Fabric. I found this gorgeous red fabric shot with a golden orange, perfect for a very full, long holiday skirt. It looks, feels, and drapes like silk, but at $1.99 a yard, I don't think it could be. The lady said it is probably a cotton/rayon blend. I bought six yards and probably should have gotten more. This store is in Barberton, but if you decide to go, prepare yourself for the surreal. Seriously, some of this stuff has been sitting here since 1975.

I haven't been blogging as much as I could. I mean, I do have stuff to write about, photos to post. I just get too lazy, or busy, or apathetic, to do so. Here are some things I ought to have blogged but didn't. Better late than never? Why not?

Kristen's sister, Erica, has been in town for several weeks. It has been super-fun to go to work, because I have this built-in friend who encourages me to have little somethings (usually in the form of chocolate-covered pretzel sticks) and with whom I can mentally redecorate Kristen & Mike's house. (Kristen is tres happy about that. Mike? Not so much. All of our plans involve work. And spending money. And trips to Ikea. But he's been very good about it.) Anyways, it has been very fun to have Erica and her cutie-pie daughter, Jade, around. They will be here for a few more weeks, preparing to move to Japan sometime this summer. Jason, Erica's husband, is in the Navy, and he's out at sea on a carrier right now. After my very short trip across the Pacific with Meredith on a carrier, I have such an appreciation for our Navy!

Erica and I went shopping last week to find a rug for Kristen's family room. We found one, and we also found shoes and Panera.

I finally decided to get these, even though they're a half-size too small for my right foot. It's frustrating to buy shoes anymore, because I have this stoopid bunion on my right foot, and it has changed the size I need to wear! An 8.5 is still too big, but an 8 eats up my heel. I really need an 8.25, but they don't make them. My left foot is not such a prima donna.

Last night, I attended Olivia's "Baking Ceremony." I know, you're thinking, "what???" She has been a Daisy for the past two years, and last night, she and her troop got baked into Brownies! It was stinkin' cute. They had this actual oven-type thing, and they sent the girls into it through the oven door. The back opened up behind the stage curtain, and they quickly changed out of their Daisy vests and into their Brownie vests while the door was closed and they were baking. Then they opened the door, and out marched all these little Brownies, grinning and beaming, and oh so CUTE! I took pics with Kristen's camera, so I don't have any. I was also sitting with two very wiggly and talkative four-year-old twins, so it wasn't the best event for my photo-skillz.

Ben: "Allyson, I don't want Liv to get baked in the oven! . . . .Is it a real oven?"

Here are some photos of Lovely Linda from praise team practice Sunday morning before church. She looked so cool playing Chad's guitar, I couldn't resist.

Well, I'm off. I have to take Myles to the vet this morning for shots. We've been VERY irresponsible dog-parents and haven't taken him yet. (hangs head in shame). At first, we couldn't afford to, and then, we just kind of forgot. But we are taking him TODAY, and that is what counts. We would have taken him earlier if he had been sick, but he hasn't, so we didn't. I really hope no workers from the foster/adoption process will be reading this. Really, we DO believe in medical care, we WILL take our children for their check-ups.

I'm a little nervous to take him, since he gets really weird in unfamiliar situations. Let's hope he doesn't growl at the nice vet-people.

Hola!

This was a very full weekend. We cleaned out the basement, bought new shelving,organized most of it. We saw the new Indiana Jones movie (Anyone else think it would have made an excellent X-Files episode? I kept waiting for Mulder and Scully to show up). We visited Hannah and the new bebe twice. I made four pairs of pajama pants and a skirt! We watched the Memorial Day parade with Morgan and Linda. We went to church. We went to Home Depot. A lot. We had a scrumptious feast at Heidi's last night and enjoyed the church picnic on Sunday. I made a big fat mess while going through my Mum's sewing trunk, finding treasures.

Here. I have photos to prove most of that.

Linda and I were twins on Sunday without planning it.

(I am so proud of this skirt, I can hardly stand it. I found the tutorial online to make a wrap skirt, used up fabric from Mum's Stash, and finished it in one afternoon! And I can WEAR it and EVERYTHING!  

It's even reversible.

Hannah and baby are fine and very tired! And very cute!

I love her nose.

I just wanted to tell you that I posted a new stamping class over at www.scrapinyourpants.com which is my stamping and paper crafting blog! It doesn't get as much traffic as Any Similar Revival (probably because I stink at updating it!), so I wanted to do a little blurb about it here.

Monday, the aunties and I went down to Mansfield to Liz's house for Family stamping day. Martha, my cousin and Liz's sister, was in town and stamped with us too.

Then we picked up a fabulous picnic lunch from Panera and drove to Kingwood to eat it!

We toured through the greenhouses,

and Heidi and I bought many tomato plants:

A Beautiful Day:

I have arthritis in my hands. It’s hereditary, and it has never bothered me much until these past few weeks. My left hand has been killing me, especially my thumb and index finger. Holding cups of hot tea helps, as does Ibuprofin. But I want more ideas to help–anybody have any?

I think I just have an issue with inflammation, and I can’t decide if it’s an allergy or environmental, or what. My face breaks out, my arthritis flares, the knots in my back get worse. I am falling apart! At least the face breakouts make me feel young. . .

And it’s still raining.

Yesterday was Luke’s birthday.

I have a card and everything. Guess where it is? Sitting next to me on the desk, that’s where!

Happy Belated B-day, Luke! Too bad you won’t get to share it with your daughter, but I guess she wants her OWN birthday.

I found these on clearance for $11.99 last week.

My heart goes pitter-patter when I look at them.

They’re also a half size too small.

I don’t care.