it is unexpectedly, beautifully white and begs for no color

We do still have a lot of stuff, that's for sure.  It's hard to be a crafter and a DIY-er without it.  Once you throw away that spool of vintage mustard colored thread it is a sure bet that it is exactly the color that matches the mustard corduroy pants you're trying to patch.

It doesn't really bother me - I've never found a comfortable seat on the extreme minimalist's bandwagon.

I know that "stuff" doesn't make us happy, but I just don't buy that it makes us unhappy either.

But boy, you sure are forced to look at your stuff when you have to pack every little paper clip, playing card and shishkabob stick to move across the state.  We had to give away a lot of stuff.  Some of it stung.  Some of it made us just laugh and gaffaw at the idea that we even owned it in the first place.  And all of it probably needed to be gone.

But this new house loves it.   I don't know what it is about this house - and I have to wonder if I just have a mother's eyes for it but this simple home loves the simple decor.

It's the professional model that you see featured in a magazine without her makeup and realize she is more beautiful natural.  It is the bare chocolate cake that you're hesitant to taste because it lacks frosting and sprinkles - yet ends up being the best cake you've ever tasted.  It is the small bundle of daisies picked from a wildflower field when you thought you liked red roses.

It is unexpectedly, beautifully white and begs for no color.  It is mostly stone and wood and wears natural ivy around its neck.  It is simple, and natural, and close.  Most importantly, it feels like ours (for now), and I am very grateful for it.

All the Cool Kids Got the Katie Daisy Art

So, I wrote this post yesterday:

I have long watched television shows about home renovations.  I remember one show in particular where a homeowner took on a little more than she bargained for. The renovation was long and arduous for her - with so much of her blood, sweat, and tears having gone into years of this renewal.  At the end of it all, she really did have this beautiful, unique home that she took comfort in.

I remember very clearly - to sum up her experience, the tv show host asked, "Was it worth it?"
I'll never forget the homeowner said, "Yes.....but just."

364 days out of the year, you could ask me about our home, and I would absolutely call it a labor of love, - worth every creak in the floor, and every ancient cockroach carcass hiding behind the appliances...but today is that off day.

I feel if I get one more splinter from our *gorgeous* 100 year old original hardwood floors....or try to plug one more three pronged electrical cord into a two pronged electrical socket, I just might cry out of the left side of my face.  /omg

*le sigh*

...and that was all, but then I hesitated to publish it. (I guess I didn't want my friends and family that read the blog to be concerned.  I knew I must lay my burdens down at the throne...)

But then, today, I met a most wonderful man who came to work on the framing in our attic.

As he was walking out the door, he turned and said, "Hey, let me show you something."  He pulled out a picture of an old home he had renovated in South Dakota (a vacation home to him and his family now).  He explained it was 108 years old, and he talked about hunting in the neighbor's rubble for siding and other home renovation parts.  He said most days he felt like a rat scavenging for parts, and we both understood that it was much fun.

"We share a love of fixing up old houses."  I said, "Yes, 364 days out of the year I will tell you it's a labor of love, but there is just about one day out of the year that I think I will cry if I try to plug in one more three pronged outlet..."

And then he joined me, and we said, in unison,

"INTO A TWO PRONGED SOCKET!"
"INTO A TWO PRONGED SOCKET!"

And we laughed at how we both understood.

There's something about knowing you're not TOO crazy, not SO stupid (just the healthy amount of crazy and stupid).  There was something about how he saw fit to store that photograph in his wallet next to the photos of his family that I found encouraging...

I knew we would be just fine.

And so today, I am resting into the larger part of the pie chart - the 364 days I feel grateful.  It certainly helps that I received this in the mail today:

If you're not already familiar with this artist, this is Katie Daisy.

It was hard to pick one I liked the most.  There are those that say, "You Shall See Wonders", and "Be Filled with Joy" - which I wrestled over because I feel those sayings speak to me more - but in the end, this won out because it matches the bathroom. 

Happy Valentine's Day to meeeeee!  (And to youuuuuu!)

A Walk Around the Block

Let me tell you, I could take you on a walk about three blocks from our home that would make you feel like you weren't in the desert anymore.  You would see houses with Southern style wrap-around porches, evergreen trees as though they had traveled from the forest, and even stone cottages with brightly painted doors reminiscent of England. (And then there are some things that remind you exactly of the desert...and I love that the best.)

On days when I feel my identity is the "to do" list, and I lament the feel of wetness around my belly from the dishes splashing up on it -  I get out for a walk, and look at much of this beauty.  There's something about this neighborhood that inspires me, there's something about the quiet walk that reminds me to count the ways I love thee - and after these walks, I find it is not only easier, but I am grateful and happy to get that bless-ed list back in hand. 

And sometimes I take a camera.... 

The picket fence.  A "dream home" staple, but also good to be readily available for killing vampires.

And guess what?  Somebody was throwing these out, and I grabbed them up.  Not sure what to do with them just yet, but hey...free..........................oh, and sodium.

A Quick Project and a Little Wiser

Hi guys!

Do you remember those little frames I picked up for one buck each and used in the Christmas mantle here?   Well, they were too pretty to put away with the Christmas stuff, so check out their ultimate destination:

1.  Cut out a white backing using the previous paper pinned to the fabric as a template:

 2.  Cut the felt into squares of the same size to get letters that are also comparable in size

 3.  Cut out the letters.  (originally I thought I would separate the word, thus the dash, but the whole word fit on the wall, as you'll see below.)

4.  I opted to use felt glue instead of taking the tedious time to sew it together.  I had this on hand, so I used it, but for a project like this where the felt won't be washed, regular Elmer's glue would even suffice.  (Just don't use too much or it will soak through to the top.)

And this is my first gray hair.  Sort of exciting in a way.  I did not expect to see it, as I haven't heard anyone else in my age group talk about gray hairs quite yet (although some people have mentioned it AFTER the fact - I'm kind of going, "How do I not know this already when I've been telling everybody I know three times each?").  To answer your question:  I do feel wiser.  The nickname "Gandalf" has even been thrown around.  /hmm

(This was a hard picture to get.  I had to endure mocking from my family as I sat in the sitting room and took 15 pictures of the top of my head.  Worth it, though - because I look deep in it, huh?)

Delightful Day

Hello all.

We had a delightful day yesterday.

It rained lightly all day, and the atmosphere was just too nice for working - so I took a break from organizing the craft room, tried out a new pumpkin spice latte recipe (Holly, you must come over and have these with me, dah-ling.), and Maggie and I sat down to create some art for eventually putting in the craft room (she used this flower for her inspiration).

 

I'll keep you guys posted on what we created!

"Fig Milkshakes" New Layout!

The reviews for "Fig Milkshakes" blog are in, and the people are raving! :

Mom hails, "It's very nice dear."  !!!

Friends reporting, "Yeah, I checked your blog last week." !!!

Husband applauds, "I think it's your most time consuming hobby to date."  !!!

And now there's even more reason to keep up with "Fig Milkshakes" as author unveils new layout complete with side menu bar!
<----------------------- (See it?)


Don't miss this unique opportunity to click on the buttons!!!


You'll be amazed and delighted when the button is clicked to find a neatly organized list of web logs corresponding to the label on the button!!!


You want more you say?!?!  You won't be disappointed!!!  You can then choose which web log you would like to go to.  Simply click on the title of the log you would like to read, and the wonders of technology will reveal yet another page to take you to your destination where you can read about such things as how to eat cereal around your neck and how to make banners out of insects!!!


Try it now!  It won't disappoint, or your money back. 
 
(Guarantee void in Kentucky, Tennessee, and any other state housing any resident that has lost a finger or toe.)

10 on 10: Part Deux

Hi Guys!

Once again, I'm joining the link part over at  bit of sunshine for the 10 on 10 project.  The project is simple: Take 10 pictures, on the 10th of the month, with the purpose of finding beauty in what is otherwise an ordinary day. 

Emphasis on "ordinary day" here, okay?  I mean some days we could be taking a walk, or doing a craft, or some other semi-photo worthy thing, but today was a day I sort of woke up...looked around, and just said, "nope".  So we spent a good portion of the day playing Mario, building legos, watched a delightfully cheesy 1970s movie, and had a lovely sizeable nap in the middle of the day.  So, with the laziness of the day, I felt I was reaching a little bit trying to get some good pictures, I mostly just snapped pictures around the house.  Here they are!

The wee one helped me out and snuck this one in...that's my shoe, but not my foot.

Oh, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.  Where would we be without thee?

We played a game with the Lite Bright.  It was dark in the master bedroom, so we just took it around to see what things looked like with lit circles all over them.  Lite Bright on the bed...Lite Bright on the dog..Lite Bright on your armpit...I'm really glad I was doing 10 on 10 this day, otherwise this may have been something I would have easily let slip through my memory.

Maggie says, "Mom, it's not a weed if it has flowers."  (She says this, by the way, like she is the master of all knowledge and I have long to achieve her level of wisdom...)  

But, I'm inclined to agree about the weeds.  (Of course, all my plants die, so what do I know anyway?)

Unprepared...

I've never considered myself one of the more "prepared" parents.

In my personal experience - one day I was staring at a little white stick, trying not to touch the wet end, shrugging and saying, "All right, let's do this thing." And, the next thing I know, I am holding a child in my arms, thinking, 'Oh, that's what all the fuss is about,' as I gently blow on her face to rouse her from her sleep to keep me company.

It is nine years later and most days I still feel like motherhood just mostly "happens" to me.  And, I (with my husband) do our best and pray God will take care of the rest.

Even so, I've never really considered myself at a disadvantage from any of the more "prepared" moms.  I think it becomes apparent early on, that no matter how many parenting books you read...or how much money you spend on Baby Einstein videos...no matter how big your box of "someday baby" clothes is...or how many years you waited until the timing was "just right"...

You can never be prepared for the day you say:

"Are you fanning yourself with your pizza!?"