"When they return, may quiet fill their souls...

...dearest Lord, keep them safe within its walls." Prayer for Home by Fernando Ortega.

Hello, lovelies!

Apologies again for a somewhat lengthy absence; the baby is becoming more mobile and getting into everything! What a joy.

Babyface and I went to Post to eat lunch with Daddy the other day, and he had to run off to answer a call, so we were alone in the conference room for a little while as I finished eating. A detective and friend of ours was working on a case and he came in and started visiting.

We talked about how important it was to be near family, and he asked if we had any leads to possibly moving soon to be nearer ours (we don't presently, but you could pray for that!) and then he asked an interesting question.

"When you guys do move, do you think you'll get to go back to work?"

You have to understand, his wife works full time and they have a baby just three months younger than Jamesy. I know from previous conversations with his wife that they never even really considered her staying home. They have a house payment and she loves her career and they are well-connected to the community here--and it sounds like they have a great setup with daycare, etc. that they really like. I'm glad this works for them, but I can't even imagine it - and I'm inclined to make some self-deprecating comment about how I am not a tough enough woman to work and raise a kid (which I really do believe in a lot of cases--especially the ones where there's no other option--it does take a much stronger woman than me!)

And he made some remark about wasting my degree, to which I said I would consider working after the kids all go off to college, and he joked that there was an awful lot I could forget between now and then. The conversation turned to other channels, and eventually I finished eating and came home. But that part of the conversation stuck in my head.

In fact, the only two responses to those kinds of questions posed to "full-time housewives" that I usually hear are mine kind (a non-committal reference to career options I could have, were I so inclined) or a very righteous indignation at the implied belittling of the role of homemaker (which is how I actually feel when questioned thus, but I don't like getting into it with people who are just trying to make casual conversation.)

I wish I could communicate better a more middle ground - there are careers I am qualified for; I paid big bucks to get those qualifications; it would be entertaining and perhaps fulfilling to pursue those careers; my husband and I have chosen this path; staying full time with my son (and any future kids we may have) is a higher priority in our family than more money or my career; I consider educating my children from 0-18 an excellent and fulfilling utilization of my degree - I think career women are great, I'm proud of my friends who are doing that very thing. But it is not for me.

I could even go so far as to say that being a church lady and homemaker has been my dream all along - but then, I've had many dreams. Spy, actress, event planner, fashion designer, author, politician, adventurer...and some of those have or will come true yet, and some of them will not. And that is life.

But it also brought to mind a quote I've been seeing around lately that is attributed to C.S. Lewis:

The homemaker has the ultimate career. All other careers exist for one purpose only - and that is to support the ultimate career.

But of course, the internet being what it is, this quote is a loose replication of what Lewis actually said on the subject:

I think I can understand that feeling about a housewife's work being like that of Sisyphus (who was the stone rolling gentleman). But it is surely in reality the most important work in the world. What do ships, railways, miners, cars, government etc exist for except that people may be fed, warmed, and safe in their own homes? As Dr. Johnson said, "To be happy at home is the end of all human endeavour". (1st to be happy to prepare for being happy in our own real home hereafter: 2nd in the meantime to be happy in our houses.) We wage war in order to have peace, we work in order to have leisure, we produce food in order to eat it. So your job is the one for which all others exist..." (pg. 447, Letters of CS Lewis, 1988 ed.)

And I think that he puts it beautifully. For though there is deeper meaning in many jobs, that deeper meaning still yet goes back to that idea of home...home...home.

And I thought of one particular friend; a hard-working, delightful woman--and when she gets home from her job, she has a darling apartment with a fluffy cat. She cooks herself gourmet dinners and buys fresh flowers at the farmer's market. I just love that!

Anyhow, that's what I've been pondering of late.

Love!

"Sent from up above...

...you are the one I love." Endangered Love from Veggie Tales - Silly Songs with Larry.

Hello, lovelies!

The big news around here is, our old (um, only 2 years?!) blue-ray/dvd player died, so my sweet husband scoured sales and web deals and found us a new one! And this one is ever and ever so much better. One amazing upgrade...Youtube, straight to our TV!

But why do I care so much?

Because of this channel!

That's right, instead of exclusively watching classic Winnie-the-Pooh (which is still his favorite, by the way) James has branched out to Veggie Tales! So now when we're tired of rumblies in our tumblies, we can switch to water buffaloes, Barbara Manitee, and Kilts and Stilts. Previously, a computer was hooked up to the TV for this, but the full screen feature didn't carry through a playlist.

It is very heartwarming to see my 10-month old dancing and singing gibberish along to the Veggie Theme Song--his favorite.

Another exciting development with our little baby-face, is that he has stopped chewing on his board books and realizes that there is a story that goes with them. He brings me books to read him now, and sits and watches and turns pages. And he spends a good amount of time just flipping through them on his own, which completely delights me! He especially loves his "Touch and Feel" books (one Winnie the Pooh and one Beatrix Potter) and any of the Sandra Boyntons that have a song associated with them. (He just doesn't get tired of mom and dad singing Perfect Piggies.)

So that's fun. It's so exciting to see him comprehending more and more every day!

This isn't just impacting his playtime (but who am I kidding? It's all playtime). He's also developing in response to Mommy and Daddy telling him things. For several months now, when we would say "No!" He would freeze - pausing in what he was doing - and then we could get over to wherever he was and take the cord out of his hand, pull him away from the DVD player, pull the cat's tail out of his mouth, etc. Also, we'd taught him to not grab at the spoon when we fed him, roll on the changing table, and other simple things like that, and he reliably could be expected to obey.

But in the last few weeks, Jamesy was getting into EVERYTHING and doing all the stuff we'd so painstakingly taught him not to do! It was like he'd totally forgotten, and we started to question if he was really old enough to comprehend it anyway. But at the same time, his comprehension was rocketing up in other areas, so we decided to just consistently correct, explain, discipline--and the last few days have almost reverted back to his prior level of obedience. He's still prone to try to do things he knows he shouldn't...but I know he knows, because he watches me when he starts to reach for, say, an electrical outlet, and when I say no, he smiles and rolls away as if to say, "Yeah, I figured." So I suppose he's just testing us, bless his sinful little heart.

And now when we say, "Yay, good job!" he claps and says "Yay!" along with us. Which makes eating very cheerful, as I praise him frequently for eating well and neatly. And when that palls, we start singing Barbara Ann. It works for everybody, but let's just say we won't be going to any quite and fancy restaurants any time soon. Unless they have a special cheering section.

So that's the news from "Helm's Deep," as my mom calls our little estate.  ;)

Love!

"The rest of it's fine...

...and everybody knows that." We Used To Be Friends by The Dandy Warhols

Today I have accomplished something I have long wanted to do but just never got my act together enough to do it, and, frankly, I was intimidated by it.

I baked bread! From scratch! With no bread machine! With crying baby in tow, no less!

One of the two loaves the recipe rendered.

And it is good. I used this recipe (found on Pinterest, of course) and it couldn't have turned out more perfectly. We had it with slow-cooker vegetable beef stew, and it was deeeeeee-licious!

And the baby finally fell asleep, permitting mommy to not only complete her amazing bread-making, but also to post about it. Bless his sweet little heart.

Love!

"Be vewy quiet...

...I'm hunting wabbits." What's Opera, Doc? from Looney Tunes by The Warner Bros.

James went out hunting today. He caught a wabbit (ok, a Jackalope).

He had a good haul - two bears, a jackalope, and a skunk!

Izzy and Irony don't seem overly bothered.

Such adventures!

"If I could be yours, and you could be mine...

...our cozy little world would be twice as nice." Personal Penguin by Sandra Boynton

Today, while James did this...

...and Irony did this...

..and Izzy did this...

...and the weather did this...

(...and a squirrel in our front yard did this...)

...I did this on our little chalkboard:

A well-spent morning. 

(And don't worry, the back still has our running Scrabble scores. I'm still winning. Barely.) :P

Love!

"And I'm dreaming of a place...

...where I could see your face." If I Were A Painter by Norah Jones.

Hello, lovelies! Sorry for the prolonged absence (and prepare for more...) but it's been crazy the last month or two. Baby James is just about ready to arrive (37 weeks!) and we had an incredible opportunity come up in the last week or two to move to a great new house - so we did!

Our pretty new house! 

Irony sniffing the fall air.

We're just loving being out amongst the trees and fields as the season changes! It smells so fresh and yummy right now - I love fall! Irony and Izzy and I are spending this afternoon with the windows open so we can watch squirrels frolic and hear acorns fall in our front yard. :)

Anyhow, I'll let everybody know when the baby arrives, but till then, I'm going to be eating, sleeping, and keeping my poor swollen ankles up!

Much love!

"Holey-moley, me oh my...

...you're the apple of my eye." Home by Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros.

Hey friends, again, sorry I haven't been on much! What with headaches and getting ready for baby and being ridiculously busy with random things (doctor's appointments!) I haven't had a moment for the computer except to quickly check email and then race away again!

I mentioned in the last post about wanting to build a little pantry thing, and we did it! I measured and designed and my sweet Ryan went to Lowe's and got all the wood cut for it and he built it right in our living room. :)

Irony, looking at our supplies. 

Irony approving the preliminary work.

She perched there to oversee the remainder of the construction.

Izzy: "What size drill bit did you say?" 

"I'm not finding it!"

Building is exhausting for little Izzy.

Ryan adds the rails.

Quick paint job...

Our sneaky pantry is done! 

Taa-daa! 

 Love!

"I must stay deep...

...cuz talk is cheap." Mambo No. 5 by Lou Bega.

Hello lovelies!

So, you'll never guess what I've been doing with my less-than-energetic time.

(My mom has probably already guessed it.)

Organizing!!!

Yes, yes. I love so much sorting things and making them prettier! And since I spend a lot of time these days in my room staring (alternately) out the window at our (brown) fence and then, when that side of me gets tired, at the bulletin board where all my necklaces live. So I re-arranged all my jewelry on the board so it's so much more attractive to look at now, and I got rid of a heap-o-stuff that has been taking up space since high school and I am never, ever, ever going to be caught dead in it.

And then once I'd done that, I was just on a role and went ahead and did my earrings too. And once that was done, I suddenly thought of that particular bowl being stored in the kitchen downstairs doing NOTHING with its life, and all my bangle bracelets draped over various corners of things and being chased around the floor by the cats, so I ribboned each set together and voila! I am pleased.

I'm pondering using a matching bowl for small scarves, but there's only so much space on my dresser. On the other hand, scarves are so pretty, what's the point of having them all tucked in a drawer and only coming out when I remember to wear one? So that may be next. What I really want is like two hanging fruit basket from the ceiling, one on either side of my vanity (but they have to look more chandelier-y than fruit basket-y) and then I can put all kinds of pretty things in them and have them handy for wearing! It looks great in my mind, but yeah. It's like those good ideas on pinterest that never quite work.

Any fun re-organizing projects you've been working on lately?

Irony all decked out. :)  

Much Love!

"I break tradition...

...sometimes my tries are outside the lines." Unwritten by Natasha Beddingfield.

Good morning, lovelies!

Sorry for missing yesterday - I usually get myself organized on the weekends to write for the week ahead, but I felt rotten this weekend (plus I was distracted by a lovely 5-hour nap which was my own personal celebration of Mother's Day) so I didn't get it together until today.

I have no news, and my creativity quota is maxed out with another endeavor. I've had a flash of genius, and I'm trying to get it figured out before I forget it or it seems less brilliant. In that vein, I've been browsing this site and drooling over some of the houses. And now that I've thoroughly roused your curiosity, I'm not going to tell you what it is I'm doing! :P

On another note, I've been super-productive today! I cleaned my whole house (me, not my sweet husband! He always does so much, so I wanted to get it done for him to give him a week off, since I felt ok this morning), and got dressed by 9:00 in the morning. Do you have any idea how rare that is? Like, unicorn rare. Or blue moon rare. Or maybe even Loch Ness Monster rare.

Charisma napping after a traumatic morning. (He hates the vacuum)

Irony ignoring me because she knows I'm trying to take a picture.

So anyway, I hope you have a happy Tuesday! I'll have a fun feature or two for you this week, and Friday Linkage Trivia is going to melt your face off. :P

Love!

"May it be a refuge for their love...

...a harbor for their deepest prayers." Prayer for Home by Fernando Ortega

Hello, lovelies! Happy Monday!

One of my personal pet peeves about rental homes is carpet. I mean, the rest of the house can be perfect but carpet...you get what you get. For example: our current house has a fairly neutral (beige) carpet throughout. It's worn, it's dirty (and cleaning seems to make no difference), but neutral. The only exception is in the guest bedroom where the carpet is...red. With blue polka-dots.

So on our initial moving-in, I was stymied. I don't own a lot of red, it's not really my color, and the room felt hopeless to me.  But as the rest of the house fell into place and certain decorating pieces were left without a home, it soon became clear how I would decorate that room. It would be French!

And so, all my college-era French-obsession prints and provincial-style beddings found a home at last! And with the orange-stained inherited furniture, I must say, the red carpet isn't half bad.

Ah well, I tried. I mostly just wanted the room to be welcoming and convenient for visitors. As I have never actually stayed there myself, I can only hope that it's functional and reasonably comfortable. And with the baby coming in October, I anticipate the guest room getting quite a little workout!

Speaking of decorating, I was directed to this fun home-style quiz by my sister, and as it turns out, I am apparently:

A COUNTRY CLASSIC

You have a naturally refined sensibility with an appreciation for tradition and history. You value beauty, craftsmanship, and family heirlooms, but you like to open things up with pretty, easy-going pieces like painted wood or distressed furniture, lovely florals and other patterns, and bunches of fresh flowers that give your home a breezy, relaxed feeling. You love unique finds, have a thrifty, creative side, and can make these things work together.

You value creativity. You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors, finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out. Your home can be happy and lively and the place all of your friends want to be.

So now we all know! :) 

"Something in the wind has learned my name...

...and it's telling me that things are not the same." Top of the World by The Carpenters.

One more little crafty thing for you this week! I have this grapevine wreath that I change seasonally, and here's the latest effort:

But I am fresh out of any ribbon...except leftover wedding ribbon. So for Easter/Anniversary I did this little arrangement with things that were laying around in the  craft room. I desperately need supplies!

(I especially like the little cowbells under the bow. :P Also leftover from a wedding I did last summer.)

Hopefully soon I'll find some pretty summery ribbon! I kind of want to do a Cinco de Mayo wreath, because if we faux celebrate that it's an excuse to make mexican food. Teehee. And use my little mini pinatas. I'll show you the results if it turns out!

Have a happy Thursday! Much love!

"We'll listen to it twice...

...cuz the DJ is asleep." On The Radio by Regina Spektor. 

Happy Thursday, Lovelies! 

I am seriously pleased with my latest little home inspiration. 

I was reading my Southern Living (or was it Better Homes and Gardens?) and I noticed all featured houses had sideboards with little whimsical displays of some form of alcohol, charming knick-knacks, and other such sideboard-y items. It looked so Winston Churchill--so Downton Abbey--so Lord Peter Whimsey--so Jeeves and Wooster!

I must have one.

We aren't particularly frequent drinkers, understand (I mean, I'm a complete tee-totaler these days anyhow) but when I foraged beneath the cabinets I found that we had a bottle of Crown Royal and a cute little raspberry liquor and some shot glasses we'd got on our cruise so...I set them on a tray, put our pretty cork collection in a vase, added a few candle holders, the Irony bottle, and a silver-leaf camel figurine and viola! Sideboard! The table/shelf itself is a black bookshelf we recently moved to the dining room to extend our china and cookbook storage room.

So now if you stagger in from the rain and need a medicinal whiskey, I can take you right to it.

(A Critic informs me that I should technically put out little tumblers instead of shot glasses, because you don't exactly take shots of Crown. But I stand by my shot glasses. I use our tumblers as juice glasses, so they are Occupied Elsewhere.)

Notice the nice little allusions to classic shapes? I'm really quite proud of it - the oversized stemware style candleholders, the carafe vase for the corks, and the nice striking black-and-tan color scheme. Ha.

Love!

"More than fine...

...more than (bum-bum) getting by." More Than Fine by Switchfoot. (Flashback to your 90's youth group days? Anybody? :P)

Hello lovelies!

I am so excited about a special guest post coming later this week from none-other than my sister! She's got a fun hostessey post all ready for us that we'll be coming up on Thursday, so don't miss it!

My sister (far right), her husband and baby Meg (center) and our dad (left). 

In other news...

I have wonderful neighbors. I've mentioned this before, but really, wow. One neighbor regularly gives us food (the latest was an amazing homemade peach cobbler!) but another neighbor who we see less often showed up on my doorstep with some fresh, made-from-scratch fried apple pies. Oh. My. Word.

I wish I were a better neighbor but, I'm really terrible. I always take over desserts whenever I make anything (which isn't super often) and of course anytime they need furniture moved or stuff like that my sweet husband does it. And we do store runs and lend cups of flour and things like that. It's very chummy, here in our little strip of townhouses. I am inspired to be a better neighbor! I think I'll make some of these and take them around. Yum!

Whenever we finally move, I will definitely miss all our neighbors!

What are ya'll's neighbors like? Do you share food or visit often?

Love!

"We wish you a merry Christmas...

...and a happy new year!" We Wish You a Merry Christmas by Reliant K

Hello, friends!!!! I hope you all had an incredibly Merry Christmas!

Here's a yummy drinkable holiday treat for your post-Christmas, pre-New Years holiday limbo. :)

Peppermint Hot Cocoa

To make this delicious beverage, I am spoiled enough to have a hot chocolate pot and milk-frother given to me by a dear friend for a wedding present. Never fear, you can make it without that too!

Just make hot cocoa from a packet as per the instructions, mix in some milk (or heavier cream if you are feeling decadent!) and whisk till it's nice and foamy. Add whipped cream, stick in a peppermint stick as a stirrer (it will melt and give that delightful peppermint flavor!) Top with crushed peppermint on your whipped cream!!!!

Much love!

"I want a hippopotamus for Christmas...

...only a hippopotamus will do." I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas by Gayla Peevey.

Another fun DIY today - and I'm pleased I can offer you not only a hippo, but an elephant, a rhino, a lion, tiger, zebra, sheep, cow, pig...and possibly a jaguar.

I am still working on a name for these cuties - my best efforts so far are "Farm Friends Mini-Candle Perchers," "Safari Friends Mini-Candle Perchers," or, finally,  "Jungle Friends Mini-Candle Perchers." Or maybe just the "Animal Adventure Mini-Candles."

They are super versatile. Anywhere you need a quirky little decoration, you can set one of these. I like having them perch on picture frames (as you can see below) but they're super cute for tablescapes, cake-toppers, and any other random thing you can imagine!

This takes three simple items to create - plastic toy animals (dollar store), spray paint, and sparkle birthday candles in sconces (dollar store). Simply paint the animals (several coats per side), drill a hole for the candle sconce, and viola!