snooze in-a-basket!

Please.

I just want to smooshie kisses all over their sweet little faces!

These are my new babies. Well, that's not entirely true. They're not my babies, they're our babies.

As in, my niece's babies. Which technically means, they're the family's babies.

My-oh-my, I'd give anything to hold these darlings right now.

Babies...proof that God is still in control.

And that we are loved.

view from my office!

This is the view from my office window.

At first, it was a typical construction site.

Nothing special...

I was impressed that every morning at 8 AM sharp, workers were on site and constructing!

 Which is what they're supposed to do.

I think it is very nice of them to get to work on time and start doing their thing.

Time is of the essence!

It is very important that this project gets completed in a timely fashion.

Rumor had it that my favorite fast-food restaurant was going in on this site...NO!

It was almost too good to be true...

Confirmation was needed!

This morning, I received it. The sign is there!

Zaxby's!

 It's official...

Salads! Zalads! Grilled chicken sandwich! Chicken!

Right smack-dab across the street and I have a bird's-eye chicken's-eye view from my office window...

Zaxby's, thy name is temptation!

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

This is a Christmas-quilt kit.

I've had for about a month...

and it hasn't changed! It still looks just like this.

When I get around to putting this together, it's going to be one sweet, happy quilt!

There's only one thing...I have a problem cutting into pretty fresh fabrics.

I like to sit and look at it, admire it, appreciate it.

I'm thinking this quilt is never going to happen.

Time will tell.

Do me a favor...remind me about this kit in a few months, K?

Thanks bunches!

Down On The Boardwalk



Being Saturday and the day before Easter,

Jason and I opted to go grab a bite to eat.

But we didn't want to go just anywhere....

we wanted to have a dining experience!



The restaurant itself isn't elegant, the food is good and satisfying, but not particularly incredible. But the view...the view is spectacular! Look at the gentleman to the right, he was eating lobster...I love how I have a shot of him in mid-bite, so enjoying his food!

Just outside the restaurant is a small boardwalk, overlooking the ocean. We left just as dusk was settling in and the ocean was at high-tide. Thank goodness for iPhones, as I didn't bring my camera (as usual) and the phone has a decent-enough camera. I saw our shadows and thought it would make for an interesting photo.

The beauty of the ocean is breathtaking! Especially on the eve of Easter...

God's perfect beauty...

An unsuspecting cactus hidden in the dunes...

Houses on the beach...can you imagine?

The restaurant.

Palm trees...so elegant and perfect on the coast.

We sat and watched the breaking of the waves. The skies are blue, the wind whipping about...

A random beach-estate on the ride home.

But are they happy??!!

Ha, ha...I'll bet they are!

But do they have a cozy little home with a sweet little dog to greet them when they walk through the door?

I wouldn't trade a thing in my life...God's plan is perfectly perfect for me!

Boating the St. John's River

Cruise Ship...I Think I'll Pass

Chillin'

J

Condos on the River

Jacksonville Landing

Pirate Ship

Curls....

 What a beautiful day!

I grew up on an island, but I never really thought twice about all the water. Boating wasn't such a big deal to the inlander Islanders...a boat was never on my radar.

Apparently, it's been on my husband's for many years and we're really enjoying our boat...

Though I no longer live on an island, we do live by lots and lots of water! Our home isn't far from the St. John's River, so we're able to enjoy the water, especially now that the weather is turning very warm.

 I love being out on the boat, especially with my two guys... my husband and our son. Today, we cruised along a part of the river we've never been before.

The water was calm and the sky was a beautiful blue, with gigantic puffy clouds. Basking under the warm sun was lovely and I must say, my farmer's tan is coming along quite nicely...don't be jealous!

We're looking forward to our next outing...

Why don't you join us?

Oh, my!

Eyelash curlers, in assorted colors!

Love them. I once had an eyelash curler that hung around for 20 years. Truth-be-told, I might still be using it! I'm frugal that way.

But THESE...these took my breath away!

I really, really think that I must buy one of these...so pretty!

And one's eyelashes can never have too much curl.

I am, afterall, an '80's girl!

These are my girls...my first dolls.

I am having such a blast with these dolls! I love coordinating the fabrics, sewing the dresses, ironing the dresses...I think these are the little girls I never had!

The pattern for the dolls were purchased from Retro Mama...as was the pattern for their sweet little dresses. Which are reversible, by the way. So she really has two little dresses. There's also a pattern for a little cape, but I haven't tried that yet. Maybe soon...I want to make a few more dolls and list them on Etsy.

These girls are available for purchase, if anyone is interested. Their little faces are embroidered and their dresses are made from lovely, durable fabric. The hair and shoes are constructed of wool felt...

My favorite thing about this dolly is that she's so old-fashioned. She's a perfect, wholesome companion for a little girl.

It's going to be sad letting go of these darlings...I've so enjoyed looking at them spending time together in the family rocking chair!

Dogs On Needles!

Oh, mercy! Just look at these sweet little dogs...

I wish I knew a knitting wizard who could teach me how to knit. I would knit a pack of these canine wonders.

This one, he's amazingly cute. His face is all bunched up and he's so ugly that he's so cute.

If you happen to be a Wizard of Knitting, here is the darling book that has the patterns for these pooches, and more!

Then knit like you've never knat before! And send one my way, would ya?

Sweet, Blessed Nativity

What Child is this, who laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here,
The silent Word is pleading.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The Cross be borne, for me, for you:
Hail, hail, the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;
Come peasant, king to own Him.
The King of Kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary.

Raise, raise, the song on high,
The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy joy for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!
This, this is Christ the King
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing.
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary

May You Have A Blessed

 and Merry Christmas!

 

handpainted Christmas.

Over the years, I've collected many Christmas decorations. Some are expensive, some, not so much. This little fishbowl is the one I treasure most...it was made for me with lots of love. Third-grade was the year I had taken Jonathan to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with Jim Carrey and Jonathan could recite almost every line spoken by the Grinch. He was very good at mimicking voices and perfected the voice of the Grinch. Needless to say, we all had a lot of laughs when he'd recite a scene with a dead-on impersonation. Jonathan was in Mrs. Fowler's third grade class and her students would decorate a glass fishbowl for their mothers' Christmas gifts. Now  when I look at the bowl,  I smile and remember the fun Jonathan and I shared when he was little. Some of Jonathan's little classmates drew little religious figures on their bowls, some drew snowmen and Santas...I have an original. My boy chose to draw something he and I had shared, laughing together. Memories on glass... I wouldn't trade this bowl for all the Who pudding or rare Who roast beast!

miscellany. Fabulous!

My camera went kaput...I am now reduced to pulling up a photo of the dog and embellishing it. It seems I have more shots of the dog than anything else. She's just so easy and will sit pretty for a cookie.

Today was an A+ day. I didn't work. This was the first day in a month (other than Sundays), that I've had off. Not counting Thanksgiving...work would have been easier than that! It was so nice to not have anywhere to be, anything to do. The whole day was mine. Christmas is, of course, on my list of "to-do." So I "did." Oh, I still have a great deal of stuff to do, but still, it was great just puttering around town and being loose and fancy free.

You know those chickens Wal-Mart sells? I bought one and made chicken and dumplings from this recipe. It was very delicious! I added a few herbs and spices, but the guys ate it up and really, that's the only barometer a mom needs to know that her dinner was pretty darn good!

Hair clips. Reindeer clips. I made a bunch and they're pretty darn cute! I'd love to take a photo of them and post it, but my camera isn't working. I dragged out some Christmas decorations...I love Christmas! I figure that if I decorate a little bit every day, I should be all decorated by the end of the week. Minus the tree, but I'm hoping we'll get that covered next weekend.

And that, my friends, was my day off. I have sewing and cleaning and more shopping...but right now, today, I am content just taking my day one minute at a time.

clean herd.

Clean elephants, that's what the world needs...made from baby washcloths.

Have you ever seen albino elephants? Here ya go! Here are two!

I made this herd last night, while we watched T.V. They're really not too difficult to make...but the ears! The ears are definitely maddening.

I'm hoping with a little more practice, the ears won't be such a challenge.

Here's Pinky. Wouldn't you know that she turned out to be the cutest of them all?! She even looks kind of prissy, the way she's standing.

You're wondering what one does with these, aren't you?

You use them as accents on baby gifts or diaper cakes. And you can take the washcloths apart and use them on baby!

If you're interested in the pattern, go here. She has all kinds of washcloth creations and I happen to have my eye on a few more patterns. It seems I started off with the most challenging, but hey! The next project should be easier, right?

At least that's what I'm hoping!

blue skies, smiling at me!

Our day in photos.

Blue skies, smiling at me. Nothing but blue skies, do I see.

And our great son, who is now grown...but forever our "Bud."

God is good.

skirt and somebody, stop me!

I found this pattern for a little girl's skirt and fell in love with the pleating detail. There's only one problem.

We don't have a little girl.

 Knowing this pattern could produce a really cute skirt, I was on the hunt for cute coordinating fabric, that the little-girl-we-don't-have, would love to look at and feel pretty in.

The green argyle caught my eye and I knew it would be great for the pleat. There was a coordinating turtle fabric, but the little-girl we-don't-have didn't really gravitate towards the turtles...cute, but boring.

Instead, the birdies flew before my eyes and I knew in my heart this was the perfect combination for the skirt.

I came home and made the skirt. It's not perfect, but the first is always tricky...those to come will be much easier.

In case you're curious, this is a size 2T. The sizes run from 12-months to size 10...and there's even a matching doll skirt.

I might just have to make a few more and hopefully, sell them in my Etsy shop.

Inspiration, get thee away from me! Whatever am I going to do with these girlie dresses?!