"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!

"Jump in your car; drive into the city...

...buy a jug of milk for your nauseated kitty." The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps from Veggie Tales.

I just realized that today is this handsome fella's birthday!

Izzy-boo!

Charisma is two years old!

Happy Birthday Izzy.

My two boys playing with the closet door.

Love!

"We were sailing, sailing, over the bounding main...

...but now we're not." Cabin Fever from Muppet Treasure Island (1996). 

Wow, July went by me in a flash! I can't believe the summer is winding down...and the beginning of the end was marked (in our part of the world!) by the World's Longest Yard Sale on route 127!

Baby and I hopped in and out of the car all along the nearest 20 miles of 127, and we found several treasures, one of which is this darling antique silver sugar bowl.

Not being used for sugar, as you can see.

And Irony is dismayed in the background (James was hollering "Kitty!") Also, on the shelf just below the cat, onions from some amazing (green thumbed) neighbors! 

The house is a general disaster right now, as I bought a bunch of bulk stuff and we're in the throes of canning from our fruit 'n veggie bonanza (thanks again to those neighbors!) so there's crates of tomatoes and squash scattered throughout the house amongst huge packages of paper towels and boxes of water bottles, but after this weekend hopefully order will be restored and we'll have more pretties (and baby) to show you!

For now, this will have to do. Baby is practicing his in-line-skating skills.

Love!

"The coffee's never strong enough...

...I know you think it's more than just bad luck." Speeding Cars by Imogen Heap.

Izzy playing with Irony (in basket).

Happy Friday!

Adorable pop-up book proposal
Loving this cute baby shower idea!
Seriously desiring these vintage coupes.
Someone brilliant thought of these toaster bags.
Fun personalized vintage-styled signs. (Thanks to my sister for showing me this!)
Follow Agatha Christie on a world journey!

Much love!

"And she'll have fun fun fun...

...till her daddy takes the T-bird away." Fun Fun Fun by the Beach Boys.

Since I didn't feel like moving around much over the weekend with nausea and very low energy, I did one of those monotonous tasks I've been putting off since I got my new computer (over a year ago). Back when I got my first macbook, in college, I had backed up everything from my old Dell on CDs (the Dell had a tendency to get things spilled on it--not be me, oddly enough--and die, as dorm life is hard on a laptop. So it was backed up frequently). I went back and saved all my old pictures and music from college onto my "new" computer!

Tex inside (Lilly outside) circa 2004.

Have any of ya'll gone back through old pictures lately? These went back through my senior year of high school (the older pictures are on my parent's computers) and it was crazy how much things have changed! I was sad though - I had pictures from college up to my Junior year, but neither my senior nor super-senior year were saved, and the Morocco trip was lost as well. Also all our dating/wedding/honeymoon pictures except the professional ones (which were on a disc, thankfully!) were gone.

I still get choked up about my stolen computer--not the money really it's just all those pictures. There's something very personal about my laptop, I mean, it acts as my diary, my file cabinet, and my scrapbook...and I only want people poking around in it when and where invited. Perhaps that seems silly in an information sharing age (and generation) but I like to have my privacy! I should've backed them up, but then, the computer wasn't even two years old (a lot happened in two years!) and in perfect condition. I know better now!

Just some thoughts on this Monday. :) The picture above is one I discovered from way back when I had two completely different kitties.

Anyhow, I have a fun little springy DIY this week and some other goodies, so stay tuned through Friday!

Love!

"I like smoke and lightning...

...heavy metal thunder." Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf.

Happy Weekend, lovelies!

Double-decker kittehs. Irony's rolling her eyes at Izzy being such a ham.

I apologize for not getting this out sooner, but yesterday was definitely one of my worst morning-sick days so far (and by "morning sick" I mean "always sick".) I hope everybody enjoyed my sister's fun post the day before! I love it! I hope to feature some "sister posts" in the future, but that may have to wait until after the first trimester.

And here's a bonus picture because I feel bad about being a day late with this post.

Izzy passed out with Tigger. I, meanwhiles, read the entire Harry Potter series this week as I was too tired to do anything useful.

Speaking of Harry Potter, I am amazed at some of the beautiful themes Rowling wove into the story so seamlessly - truths and lessons so integral to goodness in the created order that, even such a godless universe as the Harry Potter universe, cannot be escaped. Things like loyalty, sacrifice, friendship, forgiveness, remorse for evil, and a true hero protecting those weaker than himself. I do not agree or endorse everything Harry Potter...but Rowling certainly has my respect as an author. I wish I could write that well.

And now, to the part everyone has been waiting for...

Linkage Trivia!

Lovely decorative lightbulbs
I desperately want to get these for my kitchen!
Awesome idea: this lady makes stuffed animals modeled off kids' drawings!
Sounds sketchy to me: edible spray paint?
So amazing "snow walking" art.
Real-life dragon found in Indonesia!!! (Smaller than I anticipated...)
Loving this ivy bike lock.
Favorite (ok, one of the many favorite) Alice in Wonderland quotes.

Much Love!

"You laugh until you cry, you cry until you laugh...

...and everyone must breathe until their dying breath." On the Radio by Regina Spektor.

Hello lovelies!!!

Good news...Izzy finished his last day in the cone of shame. His paws are all better, poor baby!

Irony is less than thrilled with his renewed freedom and...ahem, a return to always winning every tussle. The cone gave her a definite advantage. (Like, he had no peripheral vision...)

But in other big news...

There was an ALMOST cuddle sighting!!!

Naturally as soon as they were spotted in such friendly proximity, they immediately parted ways. Like, within seconds.

Ah me. But they were close! Very close!

Eeeh!

"Wherever I go tomorrow...

...you'll be here next to me." Here In My Heart by Plus One. (Blast from the past!)

As promised, a yummy recipe! This is not terribly healthy (but then again, it's not utterly reprehensible either!) but it is marvelous to take to potlucks and as easy as...well, you'll see!

Ingredients: 
Pasta of choice (I use bow-tie or rotini)
Grape tomatoes, sliced in half
Black Olives
Chopped Celery or Green Peppers
Zesty Italian Dressing

Using measurements of each ingredient according to the number of people you are serving, boil the pasta, cool, then mix it all together into a nice medley...adding more dressing on top immediately before serving, as it will tend to dry out a little.

This recipe is very forgiving, like most of my recipes, so switching out anything for what you have on hand will probably still be delightful! It's pretty to look at, and perfect for picnics, potlucks, and larger gatherings when you need filler foods!

In other news, I saw this recently by T.S. Elliot and it struck me as interesting, considering our recent acquisition of Charisma.

The Naming of Cats

It isn't just one of your holiday games;
You may think at first I'm as mad as a hatter
When I tell you, a cat must have THREE DIFFERENT NAMES.
First of all, there's the name that the family use daily,
Such as Peter, Augustus, Alonzo or James,
Such as Victor or Jonathan, or George or Bill Bailey -
All of them sensible everyday names.
There are fancier names if you think they sound sweeter,
Some for the gentlemen, some for the dames:
Such as Plato, Admetus, Electra, Demeter -
But all of them sensible everyday names.
But I tell you, a cat needs a name that's particular,
A name that's peculiar, and more dignified,
Else how can he keep up his tail perpendicular,
Or spread out his whiskers, or cherish his pride?
Of names of this kind, I can give you a quorum,
Such as Munkustrap, Quaxo, or Coricopat,
Such as Bombalurina, or else Jellylorum -
Names that never belong to more than one cat.
But above and beyond there's still one name left over,
And that is the name that you never will guess;
The name that no human research can discover -
But THE CAT HIMSELF KNOWS, and will never confess.
When you notice a cat in profound meditation,
The reason, I tell you, is always the same:
His mind is engaged in a rapt contemplation
Of the thought, of the thought, of the thought of his name:
His ineffable effable
Effanineffable
Deep and inscrutable singular Name.
T S Elliot

For the record, our kitties names are Irony Laverne and Charisma "Izzy" Thor.

Much love!

"With your smile so warm...

...and your cheeks so soft, there is nothing for me but to love you. " Just The Way You Look Tonight by Tony Bennet

Autumn love: scented candles and turning out all the lights.

Irony by candlelight.

Love!

"I love you, I do...

...angel baby, my angel baby." Angel Baby by Rosie and the Originals

Irony and I had a little impromptu photo shoot the other day. I love how photogenic she is! (Ok, so I'm a little biased. Imagine what I would be like with children!?) Watch her face - she is so dramatic!

Much Love! 

"Are they laughing at or with me...

...aw, baby, those are such great shoes." At Or With Me by Jack Johnson.

This is a blog about cats and dogs and Michelle Obama.

Randomly, I was made aware of Michelle Obama's new haircut. Ever since our current president entered the national scene, there have been parallels drawn between the current first lady and the legendary First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy. Indeed, in the feminine circles where I run, Jackie is held in fashion and charm esteem only surpassed by the likes of such as Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. There is a long list of beauty and fashion icons, but beauty paired with the manners and breeding of such as these three keep them on a pedestal. Jackie well earned her place on our list. Take the whole Marilyn Monroe issue--a horrible scandal, yet Jackie maintained a gracious charm. The current first lady does well to try to follow in her footsteps.

In the picture above, (from Obama's inauguration) Michelle wore a clearly vintage-inspired jacket and dress set, which we can only speculate was intended to remind us of Jackie. I have to admit, with all the hype for Michelle's "fabulous" fashion sense, I was disappointed. Not that it wasn't attractive--it was fine. It simply wasn't as good as she could do--yellow probably isn't her best color, nor is that boxy cut the most flattering for her body type. And while I like teal shoes as much as the next person, it was out of place with the occasion, the dress, the mood...I was disappointed.

But this is old news. For a current look at First Lady fashion, the New York magazine has conveniently compiled a 2010 Michelle Obama Stylebook so you can see her latest fashion statements, including her new haircut which, not surprisingly, is very similar to Jackie's classic cut. I have to admit, I really liked the pink Talbots dress and chunky necklace she wears on the campaign trail for this November--but even a chunky necklace can't blind me to the Obamas terrible politics and policies, and the frankly disgusting misuse of American taxpayer dollars with her lavish vacations (notice, "vacations" in the plural) earlier this year. A second parallel that could be drawn is between Michelle and another political-fashion-icon with a spending problem, Marie Antoinette (and I'm not the first to draw this parallel, btw).

But that is enough politics for the moment.

I was sent this op-ed by a friend recently, who knows that I love cats, and I was enchanted. It is so true! Even my husband has made comments about how it's a good thing I didn't get Irony until after I was married to him, or I'd be that crazy, single cat lady. I was insulted, and so was Irony, but both of us were too nicely-brought up to respond rudely. (Ok, maybe I smacked him, but we're all good). Why can people who adore dogs gush about it and go crazy without any fear of social disgrace, while those of us who love cats need to hide it like a nerdy, immature (or premature) obsession with Star Wars?

Think about it. Dogs are messy and loud and large, and unless you have a large yard (which, frankly, most of us don't!) they are high maintenance. And yet so many people, my dear husband included, see nothing hypocritical about saying, "Aw, der's a good boy, sucha good widdle boy!!!!!!" in a ridiculous voice at the sight of any old dog, while he mocks me mercilessly for saying, "Pretty girl, you love mummy don't you, yes darling?" in baby-talk to my cat (at least she's MY cat!).

I'm just sayin'.

And don't get me wrong, I like dogs.

I don't like them on me or in my face or licking me or making me or my things smell, but I like having them around, and I love all the attributes that made them "man's best friend." Once we have a yard, I definitely would support my husband in his desire for a dog. I just had some bad experiences.

There were the big dogs next door who were probably completely harmless, but at age seven, I was terrified as they romped and rolled all over me after knocking me down, and I didn't move till they got distracted (several minutes later) chasing my cat.

Then there was little Pumpkin, the dog I pet-sat, who was fat and constipated, and yipped incessantly, and was unable to wet outdoors, regardless of setting, length of walk, or any other kind of encouragement, but had absolutely no trouble wetting all over the one, single rug in the downstairs tiled area. (Pumpkin's owner, by the way, spent a great many of our conversations informing me of the folly of owning an indoor cat, and how it decreased the value of real estate, while an indoor dog did nothing of the sort. Ha.)

Hmm, maybe we'll see about getting a dog...

No, but I've had good dog experiences too--my in-law's family dog, Ginger, is a dear, and of course there was our old farm dog Bowser, from my childhood. (I called him "Bow" and my sister would always get upset and tell me that it was "Bow with a 'ZER' on the end!")

Ok fine, but I am not walking it. Or cleaning up after it. I'll feed it.

But back to my original point. Cats are self-cleaning (I've had four and cat-sat several more, and I maintain this statement--I have yet to meet these "slob" cats people claim exist), cats are naturally house-trained, and their personal waste is contained, easy to clean, and their bathroom habits need not control the owner's life. Cats are quiet, entertaining, and intelligent. In other words, cats are the perfect pet for a lady, or any other fastidious individual looking for animal companionship.

I am not alone in loving cats--lots of great people agree with me, and by "Great People" I mean people of note, of historical, artistic, literary, or political importance. Off the top of my head:

General Robert E. Lee

Mark Twain who said, "I simply can't resist a cat, especially a purring one."

Vanna White

Andrew Lloyd Webber

Cardinal Richelieu

Queen Victoria

Edger Allen Poe

Florence Nightingale

Charles Lindbergh

John Lennon

Several Popes, Benedict XVI, Leo XII among them

Marie Antoinette (while we're talking about her...)

George Burns

Lord Byron

Presidents Lincoln, TR, Wilson, Ford, Hayes, Kennedy, Coolidge, Carter, Clinton, and W. Bush

Einstein

Dickens

TS Elliot

HG Wells

and of course...Marlon Brando

In fact, I'm pretty sure it was these pictures that convinced my husband that having a cat isn't all that bad. :)

Isn't it ironic?

"I know I'm doing fine, but sometimes finding you...

...is just like trying to smell the color nine." Smell The Color 9 by Chris Rice.

I'm on a color kick. I am obsessed by colors. Here is Irony playing in the streamers leftover from the birthdays (after I took them down).

And I organized all our books by color.

...and my scarves.

...and our DVDs...

And Irony is exhausted after all our work. >^..^<

"We can make her dress so pretty...

...there's nothing to it really." The Work Song from Cinderella.

I designed my first dress!

And up close the back: (notice the one tiny button at the top :)

and the front up close. :) I love the buttons. <3

And yes, it is pink. :P

I've also finally mailed my brother-in-law his graduation present! I was kind of proud of it: dish towels with appliqued republican elephants! :)

Also, for my wonderful husband's birthday Irony and I have been doing birthday things. >^..^<

The shirt is one of his presents from me--it's a sharpie shirt that he probably will NEVER wear...but have you seen Night At The Museum 2? My favorite line in it is when The Thinker, a character in the museum, makes muscles with both arms saying, "BOOM! BANG! Firepower" then poses. It cracks me up every time (my sister-in-law does the best imitation of that EVER.) But I always think of my husband and his marvelous muscles, so I made him this shirt. :P

And all the birthday things...

Irony investigates birthday things...
Cute picture of Irony...
Exhausted after all her work.
The pretty birthday set-up. :)
This is NOT going to end well.

:) It's been a good week.

"Someday we'll find it; the rainbow connection...

...the lovers, the dreamers, and me." Rainbow Connection, by The Carpenters.

I haven't done a "things I love" post for a while--partly because that would usually mean I've had internet to peruse and a list of things to compile--but today I do have a little list of things I like, so I'm going to share it!

10 Things That Make Me Smile

Birthdays, birthday shopping, and making things for birthdays

(Photo by me of card I made)

Moroccan tiles.

(Doorway at Chalet in Rabat, Morocco. My photo)

Street art

(Photo off All The Lovely Particulars)

Anthropologie Scarves

(Photo off Anthropologie website)

Modcloth's "Journalism Dress"

(Photo off Modcloth website)

Alice in Wonderland--I love the colors.

(Photo off IMDB)

Laura Holt

(Photo off IMDB)

Irony

(Very Much My Photo.)

Marlon Brando with a cat. :)

(Photo off Google Images)

Bamboo clock by Fawn & Forest

(Photo off Fawn and Forest website)

These are my happy things today.