My Little Loves

Saving the world....

one piece of trash at a time.  A few days ago on our walk, I saw a pop can laying on the trail.  Usually I just walk on by.  But this time was different......I remembered when my friends Dan and Katie were here and we went for a walk.  Dan picked up a piece of trash and put it in the nearest garbage can.  For some reason, I was a bit shocked by it....why didn't I ever think of doing something like that.  Partly, I am somewhat of a germaphobe...and I guess I always think someone else will do it eventually.  Probably not the right attitude but I cannot lie.  This time though, following Dan's lead, I proceeded to pick up the can and put it in the trash that wasn't but a few yards away.  Nissa and her friend, Emily, saw me do this and were a bit curious but then took the lead from there.  I grabbed a small garbage bag (one of those doggy bag ones that are conveniently free to take right there) and the girls eagerly picked up more trash..."we are making the earth so beautiful"....I heard from one of them, then...."wow, so many people littered."  Now I am not a very 'green' individual....yes, I recycle (most of the time), eat lots of home grown vegetables but that is about it.  Picking up trash?...hey, that isn't too hard!  So the next several days were spent with Nissa's eagerness to get out and clean up the Earth.  I say, give it a try!  (but I give everyone medical gloves to wear....I did say I'm a bit of a germaphobe right?)

Today and yesterday were spent making danish pastries....I've wanted to make these for awhile now.  I have been slowing making my way through one of my favorite bread books....

Here are the results....

I did the pinwheel pastries with an almond filling.  Very yummy and actually not too hard to make.  If you are looking for a really good bread book....this one has it all.

We have a guest....

The fairy home has recently been inhabited by a sweet fairy named Annabelle.  Nissa and a neighbor friend had placed a note under a colored stone in the fairy garden.  They wanted to let all the fairies out there know that there was a vacant home perfect for a fairy to live in and take care of.  The next day a note had arrived back for them in the garden.  It was rolled and tied with a little pink string....

The fairy even left a little fairy dust on the chair...

Now most days we have correspondence between Nissa and the fairy.  Nissa's friend, Connor, has been stopping by almost daily as well to check and see what, if anything, has been left or changed.  It has been quite fun for the kids!

This past Sunday morning, Nissa and I made some cranberry-orange and chocolate chip scones for the local firemen.

Nissa on the truck....

Boden and fireman Steve (who is also our neighbor and such a great guy)....

 

By the way, we used the best scone recipe from Alton Brown.  Have you guys ever seen his show Good Eats?  Man that is a good show....I use the DVR for it.  He is a genious and every recipe of his I've tried rocks...plus you learn the reason behind adding eggs when you add them, etc.  Oh, and if you like soft pretzels, try his....they are sooo good.

Nice feet.....

Being married to a podiatrist has many benefits.  The top being great foot massages...yes, I do get them every night, being able to ask stupid questions about all the little aches and pains my feet get....and also great tips on taking care of my super dry feet.  I don't know why but for some reason I get really dry heels and it's way worse in the summer.  It's pretty bad....almost bad enough to forgo wearing flip flops....almost (nothing can keep me out of my 5 year old black flip flop teva's...now molded to my foots every curve).  If you are like me and suffer from this embarrassment there is hope for you as well! 

What you need:

Stridex pads (yep, that is the stuff for zits) - generic is just as good
Eucerin Aquaphor Healing Ointment (you can use vaseline as well but I prefer the Aquaphor)
Socks

What you do:

Before you go to bed at night....rub the stridex pads on your feet concentrating on the heel.  It's the salicyclic acid that exfoliates the skin.  Then generously apply the lotion or vaseline.  I put a lot on.  Now just put your socks on and go to bed.  It takes about a week for it to heal but you get decent results in a few days.

Give it a try....you will be amazed!

btw...you didn't think I'd put a picture of my own feet up there did you?  Boden's are a lot cuter...

Good day...

Drinks on the front porch....

Flowers in our hair....

Afternoon naps....

Sundays....

Bubbles at dusk....

A blur....

The past week was a blur.  It went by so fast and there was so much going on.  First, my husband and daughter went off to Chicago together so it was just me and the baby for several days.  I didn't know how we would fare together.....it's a rare treat to be alone with Boden, yet rarer to have him all to myself for hours, let alone days.  We had so much fun together and connected so beautifully.....my attention was focused all on him and he didn't have to share me with anyone.  We relished in it. 

(picture props courtesy of Nissa)

Second, on their way back from Chicago, they brought back some dear old friends of ours from Brooklyn, NY.  Katie and I had bonded right away when we met each other working at the same company in Manhattan about five years back.  We quickly realized we lived really close to each other and I remember meeting up for coffee/tea at the Tea Lounge in Park Slope.  I had that nervous feeling one gets when they are going on a first date......will she like me?....will she want to be my friend?  Well, I guess she liked me alright because we have been fast friends ever since.  She is a beautiful girl and I'm lucky to know her!  Here she is with her great husband and sweet little 8 month old baby, Evelyn (Evi)...

When they all arrived back here on Sunday, I had to quickly get Nissa ready for her ballet recital.  That involved slipping into her little tutu attire, pulling her hair back into frou frou hair accessory, and applying some blush and lipstick (given to us by the studio).  Here she is on the big day.....

She did a great job!  We are so proud of her!  She is pretty good at dancing so I hope she wants to continue on.  I always wished that I did more dancing when I was younger.  Though I did take ballroom, swing, and latin lessons many years back.  Really, I don't think there is any better feeling than being able to dance......I mean really dance.  When I was younger I used to watch all those old musicals with Gene Kelly and Ginger Rogers....they were romantic and compelling to me.  It's just such a neat feeling when you are with a partner and moving together with precision.  I really need to get back into it.  I've been hunting for a studio near my home and not having much luck.  Might have to travel a bit to find a place but I'm willing and able.

But I digress......we had a great time with our friends.  Our kids got along together so well.  Boden really liked Evi and many times he would lean his head into her and give her some love.  Nissa took to Evi and they really enjoyed each other as well.  Sadly they left us yesterday afternoon.....but not before we had some fun at the park....

Nothing beats a bottle to cool down...

Goodbye Katie friend and good luck on your cross country move......I will see you all again someday soon, ok?

First crops...

We are finally able to pick some of our spring crops.   The strawberries are ripening like crazy so we are enjoying those everyday.  We have been eating lots of spinach and strawberry salads....nothing is better than vine ripened strawberries....especially warm and sweet ones picked in the hottest part of the day.  We also picked lots of radishes.  The lettuces and greens are being eaten a bit by bugs so we'll have to figure out what we can do to save them.  They look good though!

The girl loves her strawberries....

Boden loose in the garden....

Fairy gardening.....

The fairy garden has made it's way out of the small rusty bucket and into the woods behind the house where it's beginning it's new life....

This fairy house was gifted to me by Jill from her amazing shop The Wee Garden.  You can visit her site to see how to begin your own garden.....or just admire her beautiful photography!  Isn't it amazing and so generous of her....thank you Jill!!!  It's from seeing her wee garden that I began my love of fairy gardening...

I will be adding to it little by little over time.   So far I have moved in some moss that I had found in the backyard to put by the stone house.  I also planted some irish moss to hopefully provide a little lawn or stepping/sitting area for visitors.  I've been eyeing some mini fencing and garden furniture as well.  Can't wait to enjoy the process with Nissa!

Spring dress....

This dress just went home to one of my daughter's friends.  I've been holding onto this fabric for awhile now.  When I lived in Wisconsin there was a fabric shop that mainly sold cheap remnants.  I went in there quite often since it was only a short walk away.....man I still miss that place.  There were quite a few times I got real lucky and spotted lots of 1930's reproduction feedsack fabrics...which I love.  I'm sure I pretty much bought all the pieces they had.

This is my go-to pattern for dresses.  It's actually Simplicity 4206 which is a pattern for a top but I just added about 12" to the length.  I guess it looks a bit like a nightgown but I think you could go either way with it.

Yesterday was gorgeous so we spent part of the day outside.  Some of the flowers are starting to bloom and Nissa picked a few for me and collected them in this flower pot plate....

Inside, Boden decided to do a little painting....

What's his medium?....

Birthday party wrap-up....

the birthday girl.....

the pinata...

decorations....

the favors...

Super big cupcake cake made from this mold.  See the plate it's on...that's a dinner size plate.  This thing is huge!

Whew!  The party is over.  Nissa's party theme was cupcakes......she loves all things cupcakey.  So I ran with that idea.  You know, I just have to be honest and tell you that it is really hard to entertain the 5-6 year old crowd.  I had a few games to play but they went so fast and then I'm like...hmmm...what to do now....it was only a two hour party mind you.  I'm not the best kid party organizer.....I should've done some crafts....I can't believe I forgot that!  Nissa had a bunch of meltdowns too which tends to happen a lot when there are a bunch of kids over.  All in all it went fairly well and I think Nissa had a good time.  I even asked her that question a few too many times because she told me to stop.  Just making sure kid....though the question was more to appease my feelings of feeling like a party failure!

And we can't forget about the little man!  Boden turned one on Thursday and we just had a small birthday celebration here with our family.  Just one regular sized cupcake this time around..

They both demolished this thing...