A Big, Fat, Hairy Rant

The only thing worse than a terrible haircut is two bad haircuts in a row. I was really unhappy with my cut on Thursday. It was uneven and choppy and I'll leave it at that. So, yesterday I went to someone new (which was really hard) and asked to have it evened up. That was tough for me, because I dearly love the adorable girl who has cut my hair for years. She is upbeat and positive and a joy to be near. I was extremely specific about what I wanted done yesterday, and over emphasized how nervous I was about getting a second cut.

It went from bad to worse. I was scalped.

Not since my (un)glory junior high years have I dedicated so much emotional drama to my hair. I came home in tears last night, and despite constant prayer I can't seem to get past the fact that I have a horrific hair style. Here's the thing....it's really hard for me to stand up for myself and speak my mind. But during BOTH haircuts I felt like I was very specific and vocal about exactly and precisely what I did NOT want, which is exactly what I ended up with. I have tons of layers, no length, and lots of "texture"....all of which I begged to not have.

I get upset every time I look in the mirror, and I can't decide if it is because I passionately hate the cut or because I'm disappointed in myself for allowing this to be too big of a deal.

It's just hair. It grows. In the scheme of life's potential problems, this doesn't even make the radar. So why can't I get past the anger and disappointment and heartbreak that I feel? In the midst of remodeling, when funds could have been allocated a million other places, I paid a fortune twice to end up desperately unhappy. I have no options for "fixing it" because I have NO HAIR left to "fix". This is evidenced by the fact that last night Buzzard suggested we rent the movie G.I. Jane. Let me just tell you that it was waaaaayyyyy too soon for bald actress jokes.

I have a big social event next weekend with lots of people I have not seen in years and now I don't want to go. How immature is that??? This entire experience makes me want to crawl inside the pantry and eat lots of cookies. But someone beat me to it.

No hair pictures today. I can't bear it. Instead, I'll show you my exciting project for the day. The new shelves are done and they look amazing. I am ready to bring all our school books in from the garage and start arranging. I'm looking so forward, after all the craziness of the last several weeks, to getting back into a routine and schedule. We're starting school on Tuesday, and since I have not even looked at our new box of books for this year, it will be extra exciting to load these shelves with all our supplies for the coming year.

Buzz needs to install the knobs on the doors for me. A certain someone was playing with the knobs this morning and has run off and hid them. We've looked everywhere we can think of and still no knobs. We finally gave up looking. I know sooner or later I'm going to open or lift something and find a little pile of shiny brass hardware. :-)

Our remodeling gusto has waned to a mere dribble, but we're crawling toward the finish line here with a few carpet decisions. The staircase is the first thing you see when you walk in the front door. Do we go for the high drama of black pattern? Or do we play it safe and go with a patterned, cut pile berber? Buzzard is worried about the pets shedding on black carpet. (I'll leave that job to them since I have no hair left to shed.) So, I took the cat and rubbed him all over my carpet board sample. Then, I gathered up a little handful of lint and stuck it to the board to see how noticeable it was. I'm in danger of having no life at all. I'm hunting down a lint collection for my carpet board samples. Is this what people with bad hair do with their time??

Lucky for us, we have design advice. And help. Lots and lots of help.

What carpet should we choose? Where are my new knobs? How fast does hair grow? These are the pressing issues that I am humbled you tune in to read about. I'm going to work on ramping up the excitement a little bit when I write about the new bathroom paint color. :-)

More Change

Emma got her cute and spunky little bob last week and it got me thinking. I've been toying with the idea of change myself. Sometimes I think forever about big decisions. (Think Autumn Blonde paint.) Other times I seem to make huge decisions on impulse. (Just think blond.) I woke up this morning and decided on a whim to call the girl who cuts my hair to see if she could squeeze me in for a color. It just felt like I had grown 80 new gray hairs since yesterday. Somewhere between my driveway and hers I decided to cut it all off and donate it to Locks of Love.

You see, I've been getting hair headaches. Now, doesn't that just sound stupid? It also makes me sound old. And frumpy. My hair was very long, and thick, and so heavy. I wore it up almost every day, and by the afternoon the weight of it just gave me a headache. I think I figured it all out. It wasn't the remodeling after all. It was my pony tail. :-)

I looked and looked for a "before" picture to post. I hardly have any photos with me in them since I'm always the one behind the lens. The few photos I do have with me in them all have my hair pulled back. See, that's the problem with long hair. I never really fixed it up to look cute. I just pulled it to the back of my head like an old, frumpy lady. Then I got a headache. Ha! How's this for a "before" photo? My hair, all covered up with a bike helmet and sunglasses. This was from last spring. It's my long hair incognito.

Today, off it went. My hair is extremely thick, so we made three separate pony tails to donate. She cut each of them off, then laid them in a stack on the ledge in front of me, and I had to sit there and stare at them the entire time she was coloring and cutting the rest of my short little hairs. I thought that was kind of mean. It also made me wish I had my camera with me, but that felt a little weird too. Who takes a picture of three detached pony tails? Is that ghoulish?

Max offered to take some "after" photos of me. Me and my little bob-see twin. These pictures are all a blur, which I find rather ironic. Kind of like the last three hours of my life, in which I left my house with long blond hair and came home with none. Out of the blue.

Now I'm a little worried what Buzzard will think, and also wondering how long it will take me to learn to perfect the behind-the-ear tuck maneuver. Oh....all this worry is giving me a little bit of a headache. And I really didn't expect to get one of those with short hair. :-)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Is this a weird photo to post on a blog?  I had to take a picture so you'll know precisely what to rush out and buy.  My Mom turned me on to these, and they're wonderful.  Glade carpet sprinkles in Clean Linen scent.  They make the house smell amazing.  Since my house is rarely truly clean these days, I'm enjoying this little short cut.  I pick up enough stuff so that carpet is actually showing.  Then I throw some of these babies down and vacuum.  Actually, I saddle a child with that job.  If I close my eyes and take a deep breath I can fool myself into thinking my house is sparkling clean because it smells so spotless.  They're magic sprinkles I tell you.

Some of my very favorite things are purchases I've made because of recommendations from blogs.  A blogger I admire will rave about something, and suddenly all I can think about is how I must try it.  It's like being in junior high again, and wanting what all the "really cool girls" have.  I remember that feeling exactly.  (The year was 1980 and I was in hot pursuit of the super sized bubble gum flavored Bonnie Bell lip smacker that came on a pink rope.  I had to have one hanging around my neck; just had to.  What good was it to have a comb sticking out of the back pocket of my Gloria Vanderbilt's and leg warmers covering the bottoms of them if I couldn't sport a Bonnie Bell to complete the look??)

Thanks to bloggers, I have stumbled upon these great treasures...

1.  Coconut Lime Verbena candles from Bath and Body Works...

2.  ...and the matching antibacterial foamy handsoap.  Smells like vacation.

3.  Pure Grace by Sephora

4.  Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencils (we have nothing else in the school room)

5.  Method bathroom cleaner from Target

6.  Pumpkin Pie Lattes at Starbucks (thank heavens I can only go broke on them in the fall)

7.  David Crowder music

8.  My 50 mm prime lens for my camera (the absolute secret to perfect portraits)

9.  Apothecary jars and cloches for decorating

....and last, but not least....

10.  C.E. Bigelow's lipgloss.  It so trumps Bonnie Bell.

There's another thing I've been introduced to by bloggers.  Something sincerely life changing, and I don't mean in a carpet sprinkle kind of way.  Each year a handful of bloggers are chosen by Compassion International to go abroad with a Compassion team and blog about their experiences.  Five bloggers have spent this week in Calcutta, India.  I'm captivated....riveted, humbled, appalled, shocked, inspired, confused, overwhelmed.  The purpose of the blog posts is to raise awareness about the miracles that $32 can provide for a child in desperate need, and the writing this week has been profound.  You can visit the bloggers here, and if you take the time to read their stories, your heart will be deeply touched.  I promise.  Compassion International will be on your list of favorite things too.  

The Little Black Dress

I got it off a clearance rack at Marshall's this week. Frankly, I found it fetching. It was a real bargain too.

I came home and modeled it for my (not) so fashion savvy loved ones.

"Oh, wow Mom, you could join the church choir in that dress!"

".....Or a convent."

Alright already. Enough. I'm taking it back. Apparently, my pride is worth more to me than $24.99.

A Vision In Peach

So yesterday I posted about my high school prom dress, and this morning Mom sent me this picture.

I have twelve small children hiding under that skirt. And two in each sleeve.

Seriously, I miss the 80's.

The Buffer Year

Today I turned 39. Buzzard says this is my buffer year; the final barrier before greeting 4-0. I have 364 days of buffer left to go.

My Mom takes special orders for birthday dinners. The birthday girl (or boy!) always gets to plan the menu, and my pick is the same every year. I'm not sure where the name "soggy chicken" came from, but despite the rather unappetizing title, this dish is amazing. I have no recipe to share because Mom just makes it happen. A little flour, a little seasoning, a nice slow simmer....the chicken is so juicy and tender, it's just....well....soggy. And delicious. You eat soggy chicken with mashed potatoes, corn, and gravy. It's the kind of meal that dirties every single pot and pan in the kitchen. It takes a long time to make, and even longer to clean up. Gosh, it's worth it. I say that, by the way, as the one who neither cooked it nor cleaned up after it. The eating part was where I made my major contribution. Superb.

After dinner, we all settled in to watch my very favorite show on DVR. I have never missed a single episode. I love this family. We all love watching.

I am always amazed at how well my kids keep secrets about presents. They are great planners, and always pick personal things that have meaning for me. This year they got me a "stress relief" gift set from Bath and Body Works. They reminded me that it is a scent we used recently at a hotel that I really liked. They took note of that and remembered. What good little shoppers. Stress relief, from the kids. Precious irony. :) My in-laws funded a shopping spree at my favorite store -- Coldwater Creek! I took advantage of a big sale this week and have some gorgeous new sweaters for fall. Dad and Suzanne gave me a new Study Bible. I've been using a hardback Bible for many years that is heavily marked with notes, but the spine is breaking. I'm excited about choosing a new, soft covered Bible with commentary. If you have a Study Bible that you love, I'm open to recommendations! Mom brought beautiful flowers to dinner tonight, and gave me a card saying that she will fund a professional blog design! How about that? The Manor is going to get a fancy, new look, so stay tuned for the big make-over! Buzzard gave me something special too. We are going to get a new camera and take some photography classes together. I'll post more about that in the near future.

Sweater shopping, Bible shopping, blog design shopping, and camera shopping. Oh yes, the buffer year is off to quite a lovely start.

Buzzard asked me last night if I was sad about getting older; about closing in on the 40's. (Like all of my dearest friends. I know you're reading. You know who you are, you oldies.) I'm not sad in the least. I'm happier than I've ever been, and I wouldn't turn back the clock if given the chance. I am fortunate to be able to say that in all honesty. I'm immeasurably blessed. Blessed in my buffer. :)

Me and My MINI-van

My brother-in-law is in the market for a Cooper Mini. He is a hobbyist, and is always looking for a way to have fun with wheels. He loves to be on the move. I think I'll call him "Scooter". He used to have a Jeep, and as a member of a Jeep club, he would take my nephews out to ride over humps of mud for fun. He bought an awesome bike, and used to take lots of trail rides while geocaching. He has built model trains and flown model airplanes. His next venture will be into the world of Minis. They actually have clubs where people who drive these cars get together for picnics and such. Interestingly, there are no such clubs for people who drive enormous white minivans, so I am out of luck when it comes to the vehicular social scene.

I like hobbies too, so I'm always interested in what Scooter will come up with next. I must admit I'm having a hard time keeping my jealousy in check on this latest trend. I think the Cooper Mini is the cutest thing on the road. They are zippy and sassy, and I want to know how it feels to spin around town in something so jaunty. I told Scooter I'm bound to the car seat for many a year yet, so this morning he sent me this....

Who knew the Mini was so Mommy friendly?? I'm still partial to my van, for all practical purposes, but at least Scooter and I will both be driving something with "Mini" in the name.

Crabby Goes To The Park

I took the boys to the park today. I suggested it because the weather was beautiful and I felt like doing something nice for my kids. The ones I adore. I'm not in the mood to go to the park very often, but I couldn't think of any reasons why today wouldn't be the perfect day to go. So we went. And we took a friend. And three light sabres. Right when we pulled up to the park we saw five other little boys with light sabres. Max and Hayden had a pow-wow with their friend in the back seat to see which of them was going to go ask the boys to play. They wanted to play, but were rather shy about going up to ask. Hayden lost the round of "rock, paper, scissors", so it was up to him to forge a friendship with the new boys. I pretended to be busy setting up the stroller, but really I was craning my neck to hear his approach.

"Dude. Wanna play Star Wars??" (They haven't seen the movies, but they love it anyway.)

"Dude! I'm in!" Instant buddies.

Ahhh. The universal language of light sabres.

My only rule at the park was that they had to, had to, absolutely had to stay out of the creek. This should not have been any problem considering there were fields to run in, rock pits to climb in, and a playground even bigger than Luke Skywalker's space craft. I worked on my Bible study lesson while the kids played, and although they did fade in and out of sight, I could always hear them. Somehow, they managed to find a long piece of rubber tubing that they tied around a tree and used to repel down the creek bed. The few portions of their bodies that were not covered in mud were adequately smeared with black stains from the hose. My response was not pretty.

Sigh. So, now I remember why I'm never in the mood to go to the park. Some days I like to wade in the creek with kids, looking for tadpoles or other treasures. Other days I like to sit and work on Bible study while kids play quietly on a swing and try not to get sand in their shoes. Does anyone have kids like that they could lend to me??

It's All About Me

I love to read Randi's blog. She came up with a clever idea today. She asked everyone to post a picture of themselves so we can see what our bloggie friends look like. Those of us who are the Official Picture Takers don't appear in front of the lens often enough. In fact, from the few sites I checked so far, it looks like some posted family pictures from Easter. Have we all been hiding behind our cameras since March?

I asked Hannah to take a few pictures of me today. It's a chance for me to show off my Monday Look. Straight hair, old tee shirt, and no make-up. I'm so fond of the look I usually copy it Tuesday through Saturday.

This is me and the little kids during reading time in homeschool today.

Other moms came up with clever and artistic ideas for portraits. I wasn't much for creative today, but my Mother's Day hibiscus is blooming like crazy, so I stood -- ever so clever and artistically -- right next to it.

And just for grins, I pulled up a family photo too, from around Easter I think. LOL.

Sandra mentioned that Jessica is hosting a soup swap on her blog. Fall is soup season, so I feel the need to jump in on this one. I made a pot of this simple and tasty Taco Soup just this weekend. It is a snap to prepare because it cooks in the crockpot. The longer it simmers, the better it tastes. Since the Pickies in my house won't eat anything with "chunks" in it, I do what any good cook would. I deceive them. I run the tomatoes and rotel through the blender before adding it to the soup, which actually gives the soup a hearty, smooth texture that is very good. We like this best served with Fritos and shredded cheese!

Crock Pot Taco Soup

2 lb. ground beef, browned and drained. (Can add green pepper and onion too.)
1 can pinto beans
1 can light red kidney beans
1 can shoepeg corn
1 can tomato juice (10 ounce)
1 can Rotel
1 can petite diced tomatoes
1 envelope Ranch dressing mix
1 envelope taco seasoning

Dump everything into the crockpot. Do not drain any cans. (I use slightly less than one envelope of the seasonings and buy no or low sodium products when available.) Cook on low six hours or more. Serve with your choice of toppings...Fritos, shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro or green onions.

They Saw London, They Saw France

Yesterday the baby and I made our weekly trek through Walmart, where we did an unusually thorough sweep through the store. Our list was long. I got home and hurried to put away groceries, frost some brownies, tidy the kitchen, and watch a history video about Noah's Ark on Mt. Ararat with the boys. Friends were due to arrive at 4, and about five minutes before they pulled into our driveway I happened to feel something...unique. A little breeze, or slight draft, in a place where there most definitely should not have been one. I reached behind me and felt in horror as my worst fears were confirmed. This was the back of my favorite capri pants....

Oh. My. Stars.



Not only did I gallivant through the local super-store, but laundry has been slim pickings around here the last few days, so my choices were limited in the bloomer and pantaloon selections, if you know what I mean. In other words, my Tuesday undies were not tidy whities at all, but rather a bold, brilliant, shiny shade of purple.


Oh. My. Purple. Stars.


I told Buzzard of my misfortune and he asked how it could have happened. How? That is the least of my concerns. The pressing matter on my mind is when?? Was it pre-Walmart, or post? Because that obviously makes all the difference in the world. Unfortunately, Emma never notified me of my indecency. There is one thing I do know for darn spanking sure. I'm shopping exclusively at Target for the foreseeable future.


Yesterday. What shall be forever known as Purple Tuesday.

Tante Do-Do

My Mom showed up the other night with a special surprise for me. She passed along a few vintage aprons she had stashed away that she knew I would just love. I'm not sure why, but tying on a frilly vintage apron seems to transform my state of mind. I love to bake anyway, but baking in a pretty apron? It just makes me feel like I'm somehow a better Mom...

"Beaver, how was school today??"

My baking doesn't turn out any better, but getting things in and out of the oven seems much more, oh, stylish. It goes without saying that I'm generally in a fine mood while preparing to consume baked goods, but doing so in an apron makes it that much sweeter, and more cheerful. In fact, as I write, a thought occurs to me. Perhaps I need to tie aprons on my family members and just see what happens!

Anyway, frilly aprons do make my heart skip a beat, and these aprons in particular are very special to me. My Oma had two sisters, and all three of those life-loving German women lived right next door to each other. Can you imagine my poor Mom and her cousins growing up on that street? If their own Mom didn't catch them creating mischief, one of their Aunts probably did. I'm sure they got into lots of trouble. Especially my Mother. :)

Gertrude was the oldest of the three sisters, all of whom were called "Tante" in our family, because "Tante" is German for "Aunt". Gertrude was hard to pronounce, so someone in the family tree, I'm not sure who, shortened her name to "Do Do". I just know Gertrude was eternally grateful. So, in my family, the reigning matriarch was Tante Do Do. (Pronounced "ton-a-doo-doo.) Isn't that tops? Could there possibly be a family nickname to beat that one??

Do Do made the aprons. I wish I had the ability to scan photos so I could post a picture of her. She had eyes that danced, and an infectious, stellar smile. She was a firecracker of a woman with a lightning quick wit, a razor sharp tongue, and the biggest, kindest heart that God ever did give a Tante. She had an amazing talent for handcrafts. I have hand smocked dresses that she made for me when I was a baby, that Emma now wears. The Bambi quilt that is on Emma's crib at my Mom's house was cross stitched by Do Do for my crib when I was a baby. And now I can set to work in my kitchen with Tante Do Do's infamous white bread recipe while wearing my brand new, very old apron.

One apron is a simple gingham. Tante used the squares to cross stitch a delicate floral design, and she also trimmed all the edges with little white "x" stitches. The other apron is a very light fabric with lace inserts and a beautiful hand worked ruffle. Crocheting perhaps, or maybe tatting. I'm a firm believer in using beautiful things and not just saving them, so I will happily wear my new treasures, and bake my little beavers some white bread.

Tante Do-Do's White Bread Recipe

2 1/2 cups warm milk
3 T. sugar
1 T. salt
2 T. soft butter
2 cakes yeast, dissolved in 1/2 cup warm water
7 or 7 1/2 cups flour

Add sugar, salt and butter to warm milk. Add 1/2 of the four and yeast mixture. Mix with electric mixer until well blended. Add the rest of the flour and until able to knead. Knead until smooth. Let rise until doubled. Shape into loaves. Let rise again. Bake at 350 for 30-35 minutes until golden brown. Dough can be made into dinner rolls, affectionately called "Tante Buns".

Girlfriends

Last night five teenage girls spent the night at my house. Hannah wouldn't allow any photos for the blog, but it was cute to peek in her bedroom and see ipod cords tangled with laptop cords and girls sprawled out on the bed, on the floor, and in the chair. They were talking and giggling and occasionally even squealing. It is never a problem having a group of girls here. They disappear upstairs and we rarely see or hear a thing. I tiptoed into the gameroom this morning to try to roust them from sleep. Teenagers are serious about their sleep. Motionless bodies wrapped in quilts...lazy lumps lurking all about my floor. I knew my sunny disposition alone would never lure them fully awake, so I had boxes from the donut shop waiting in the kitchen to bribe them into consciousness. It worked. They hobbled sleepily down the stairs and packed some carbs. I stood in the kitchen with them listening to them talk about their night together and it brought back lots of fun memories of sleepovers and time with my girlfriends when I was younger.

Tonight I had dinner with a group of friends from high school. I graduated from a really small school, and everyone knew everyone in my class of about 65 students. I have stayed in close contact with a handful of those girls, and they are, to this day, some of my dearest friends. We have shared a lot through the years, and our relationships have stood the test of time. Recently, I have had the opportunity to reconnect with a few additional friends from that class that I have not spent time with in twenty years. We met at a mall a few weeks ago and had lunch while our kids played. Tonight, we met for dinner and took a sentimental stroll down memory lane while munching on fancy salads and pizzas with gourmet toppings. Girlfriends are treasured blessings. These particular girls are very special, because we shared a precious season of life together. Here we are, twenty years and many kids later, and we have a genuine fondness and acceptance for each other because of our common past. I want to hear their news, know where life has taken them, and get updated on who they keep in touch with. I want to tell them about my kids and my life and end the evening with a promise to get together again soon.

I can't help but think about those cute girls who were upstairs last night, as well as Hannah's other precious friends who come to call. The ones who leave their flip flops in my entryway and eat my homemade cookies and stay up late on my couch watching Anne of Green Gables for the hundredth time. I know they enjoy each other now, but they have no idea how much fun it will be to look back on these days twenty-some years from now. Will they tell stories about how great their mothers were? :) Maybe. I hope so.

Girlfriends. Such treasured, treasured blessings.

A Daily Dozen

My friend told me this weekend that I need to share some random facts about myself on my blog. She said that's what bloggers do for fun...reveal personal trivia. By all means, I do aspire to be an honest to goodness official blogger. But is it prideful to assume that anyone cares about my personal trivia? I have nothing exciting to share...no tales of skydiving lessons or world travels or encounters with celebrities.

This weekend we painted the boys' room. By "we" I mean "he". The Man painted. I observed. By "observed" I mean I walked upstairs one time to verify that the color on the wall was acceptable. I put a lot of thought into that color. When we bought this house there was flat white paint in that room. You can imagine, in five years time, how that has held up to two little boys. So, Home Depot advertised a special on some designer paints recently. The sales guy was eager to point out all the admirable features of this particular brand. He seemed to think it was a dandy of a deal. I told him all I cared about was that it was (A) scrubbable, and (B) the color of dirt. He hooked me up with a can of satin finish in brownish. Bueno. I was set. Anyway, painting is always a bigger deal than we think it's going to be. The weekend is now over and I have no "after" photos to share. That is because "after" hasn't happened yet. It is still a work in progress. Our whole weekend was consumed with one project and we have nothing to show for it YET. My hand has been forced. I'm about to unleash on you my own personal useless trivia. It's all I got, folks. There's nothing else of the weekend to share. But the fact that I mentioned the painting thing means that I am now accountable to post "after" photos sometime in the near future. In the meantime, just feast your eyes on these spellbinding facts....

1. My current favorite perfumes are Estee Lauder's Beautiful and Philosophy's Pure Grace.

2. I have a scar on my left knee from where I fell out of the top bunk at asthma camp.

3. When I was pregnant I wanted watermelon and milk. Together in the same bowl.

4. I adore Neil Diamond's music, and I say that proudly.

5. My dream vacation is to Alaska.

6. My Man gave me a heart shaped necklace in the delivery room at Emma's birth and I have never taken it off.

7. I'm addicted to office supplies...new pens, colored notebooks, balls of rubberbands, pencil top erasers, sticky notes in wild colors...it's all grand.

8. I've always wanted a Yorkie dog. The Man calls them "dorkies" and says I can't have one.

9. I hate mustard. No exceptions.

10. All the hangers in my closet have to be evenly spaced apart or it makes me crazy. That's normal, right?

11. I love to fish and can bait my own hook.

12. And now, my final riveting fact, I sneeze every single time I eat a peppermint. Every time.

I will see to it that at least one exciting thing happens to me tomorrow so I don't have to resort to telling you about my shoe size or favorite pizza toppings. :)

I'll Toast To That!

Look what came in the mail today. Thanks, Dad and Suzanne, for a fun surprise. I've always wanted a motto, and I think I've found one.

I Am The Queen....

...Queen of the burned biscuits and undercooked Thanksgiving turkey, of unfinished scrapbooks and half made quilts, of the co-op carpool, of forgetting to water the plants, and of too many books on too many shelves. Queen of denim capris and flip flops, of coupons that expire before I can remember to use them, and of arriving 10 minutes late. Everywhere.

My castle is a bit disheveled, but it is home. I am Queen of the Chaos, and I love every single minute of it. And the best part? Serving my Heavenly King and finding extraordinary blessings in the midst of a very ordinary life. I thank God for every crazy day I'm here, and for the friends and family who are part of my queen scene.

And now, for your viewing pleasure, The Royal Pipsqueak.


Oh, glory be! It is good to be QUEEN.

My Favorite Spaces

Don't you just love a good list of "favorites"? I thought I'd share a few of my favorite spaces with you. These are the places I fritter...

Fully stocked canisters and a Kitchen Wonder Machine. Check, check! I love to cook and bake, and this is where I bungle about three out of every five recipes I try. I cook for picky eaters, so my culinary creativity is greeted with minimal applause, but I have fun trying anyway.

This morning I tried making homemade granola. This is some serious snack food, and I've been munching away at it all day. In fact, I think I'll move my stretchy jeans to the front of the closet this week, just in case. This granola is so good that I'm thinking about becoming a fabled "granola eater". I could go barefoot and have lots of kids and homeschool. Oh wait......hmmmm........

We have a big, comfy couch that we all like to pile into to watch movies or do read alouds. This is the coveted corner spot. We all dive headlong toward the couch in hopes of capturing what is truly the best seat in the house. Sometimes I win the spot, because being a Mom trumps being a kid. But sometimes I lose out, because young, spry, quick legs trump old, slow, crickity legs.

Now this chair is all mine. Well, mine and Emma's. This was my birthday gift before the baby was born. Someday this will go in the nursery, but for now it is in my room and the two of us sit here every few hours to nurse. And smile. And coo. And talk. Sometimes things get left undone so I can rock in this chair, but it doesn't bother me so much. I wish I would have rocked the first three more. This is one of the baby quilts I made for Emma. A homemade quilt and a rocking chair. Isn't that a recipe for a perfect few minutes??

This is where I come to support my new habit. It's thrilling. I'm on the very verge of a "Blogging is Beautiful" bumper sticker. I promise I am. See the furry foot warmer waiting for me? That's Mindy, my King Charles Spaniel.

The laundry room and gardening shed are notably absent from my favorites list. Those are places I most definitely do not heart. How about you? Where is your favorite space??

A Proper Introduction

I have long dreamed of having a blog of my own. I spend many hours on my computer enjoying the blogs of others. Now the time has come for me to try my hand. Computers frighten me a bit, but "Dell" and I have made some peace, settled some scores, and decided to join forces. Thus, a new blog is born. I live on Magnolia Manor. Okay, it isn't a "manor" so much as a house in suburbia with some lovely magnolia trees on the property. You see, I am a city mouse who dreams of becoming a country mouse someday. Until that day comes, I will do my best in the burbs to create a little piece of peace, southern style. I chose the name "Dove" in honor of the precious Morning Doves who once chose to establish a nest in our Magnolia tree. They brought us lots of enjoyment and opportunities for learning. I hope this blog does that too. I hope this becomes a friendly, familiar place where friends and family can catch a glimpse of memory making at the Manor.

So, thanks for stopping by. And welcome to the Manor. I hope you'll settle in and stay a spell, and that you'll be so inclined to stop back often. Manor life is busy, crazy, fun, and creative. I look forward to sharing it with you.