Victorian Eye Candy

I stumbled across these little reproduction Victorian bags at the Shabby Chic Boutique website today. They are sooooo pretty. Not something to be toted to the grocery store, but with your classic "little black dress"...? They'd shine like little jewels displayed on a black velvet backdrop!

Tweaking Things

I've been in one of those nesting moods. Doing lots of puttering around the house plumping pillows and tidying drawers. As I go I'm making a list of things that aren't working for me, things that grate on my nerves or corners that definitely need a touch of beauty. This is one of the things on my list...



This is a swing arm lamp in our bedroom. There is one on both sides of our bed. Our bedroom tends towards the romantic/victorian with a moss green, burgundy and black color scheme. My husband brought home and installed these lamps one day. While they function well on a logistical level, they are all wrong from a design point of view. They are too stark white for the room and stick out like a sore thumb. I've been meaning to make them over for some time and am ready to tackle these. I'll spray paint them black and then age them in some way. Then get new lampshades, add some tassel trim, etc. I'll post an "After" picture when I get done.

Asking for a Favor

I'd like to request prayer tommorrow, Thurs July 12th, for an online acquaintance, Ruth, who will be undergoing surgery following breast cancer chemotherapy. Ruth, is a young woman and mother of two young children, one of whom was recently adopted from China. Please pray for her, her husband and her children tomm. You may learn more about Ruth on her blog, http://www.rdtupdate.blogspot.com/

Thank you!

Charity

A Few of My Favorite Things...Cowboy Boots

I was cleaning out my closet last night. It's always an exercise in "What WAS I Thinking?" A yearly reminder that we are all capable of occasional lapses in taste and judgement. Case in point...I tossed out a large scale paisley print cowboy shirt. Complete with yoked front and pearl snaps. Who bought this hideous thing? Surely not me! Must have been an alternate personality emerging. Most likely a regular on Blackwell's fashion hit list.

But the cowboy boots...the cowboy boots are staying. I might hate horses, but I adore cowboy boots. I have four pair. I bought my first pair, classic black, at a thrift store and was hooked. When my sweet and generous mother-in-law found out about my new love, she fueled the addiction with three more pair, red, teal, and pink! The pink are my favorite, but don't tell the others.

Below are my current objects of affection found online. Aren't they wonderful! Someday...

Sweaters in July

I've decided to sew something for myself, something I haven't done in a long time. I haven't wanted to sew clothes for myself while at this current (undesired) weight. But I truly love pretty clothes and feel better when I'm nicely dressed. So I made a commitment to sew myself some new things for "in the meantime." I'm considering this pattern in the wrapped version, altering it slightly to raise the neckline a bit.



I actually made something similar to this in a children's design I sold on Ebay last year. When I finished it I thought "That's actually something I'd wear!" And so...I'm going ahead and making one. Here's the children's version. It's made from the loveliest lambswool blend sweaterknit. Fortunately, I have enough to make a top for myself and perhaps even a matching skirt. I'll probably include some felted wool embellishment on the shoulder.




Charity

An Unwelcome Guest

We had an uninvited guest show up for dinner Friday evening. He was quite rude and rather than joining us at the dining room table, he dragged our trash all over the backyard. We would have scolded him, but he was bigger then we were....



Yes...that IS a grizzly bear. And YES, I did go out for my 4 mile walk the next morning anyway. I figure that I'm more likely to die of some unpleasant disease brought on by lack of exercise than by being eaten by a bear. So I added jingle bells to my running shoes and was off. We have not seen our hirsute friend since. I guess he didn't like what was on the dinner menu.

Charity

A Small Town Hosts the Fourth

Seward, Alaska hosts what has to be one of the most unique Independence Day festivals. Our family tries to make it down there every few years and that is where we spent this year's Fourth of July. We camped on this beautiful Kenai Fjords National Park beach in downtown Seward.

The Beach at Low Tide






We spent the time walking the beach, watching Casey salmon-fish, searching for lost tackle at low tide as well as roaming quaint downtown Seward. Seward's normal population is under 3,000, but for the famous Mount Marathon Fourth of July celebration the population can swell up to 20,000! So any strolling main street is done combat style! The Fourth is kicked off at midnight with fireworks from the Seward harbor.



The next morning we fixed a quick breakfast before hurrying off to catch the famous Mount Marathon races! We watched the junior event for children and young teens. Then cheered on the women before grabbing a quick lunch of deep-fried halibut at the local greek restaurant. We returned to our post at the finish line to watch the women come in and stayed on for the parade. There is nothing as marvelously, heart-warmingly American as a small-town parade. Local kids on crepe-covered bikes, the King and Queen from the retirement home, the town's war veterans, people showing off their hot rods, a beauty queen and of course, the fire trucks blaring their horns.



Then the big event...the men's Mount Marathon race. You cannot imagine what a grueling race this is unless you see it in person. A true athletic feat of wonder. You can read about the Mount Marathon race here and see some amazing photos here. We watched the first dozen top contenders come in before walking back to our campground, stopping for homemade lemonade from some young entrepreneurs.



We wrapped up our weekend the next day with a trip to the Sea Life Center, some fishing and a little more exploration before heading home for hot showers, clean clothes and a real bed! All of which I was much in need of by Day Four! :)

Charity