The Rowdy Pea

Six Unspectacular Quirks

First, a picture of what we saw today at the park:

Isn't that just the sweetest thing ever? I love this time of year.  Now on to Six Unspectacular Quirks.  Kate from Homeschooling in the Garden State coaxed me out of my blogging funk by tagging me for this meme.  Here are the rules:

* Link the person who tagged you
* Mention the rules in your blog
* Tell about six unspectacular quirks of yours
* Tag a new set of six following bloggers by linking them

Ok, here we go . . .
1. I don't really like to watch movies.

2. I drink my morning coffee black with a splash of cold tap water.

3.  I almost always spill a little bit of what I'm eating on my shirt.

4. I'm not religious but sometimes I listen to religious radio shows in the car.

5. I only buy one kind of socks so I never have to match the pairs. I just grab any two socks and go.

6. TLC cheddar crackers + black cherry fruit spread=crazy delicious!!

So, yep . . . pretty boring stuff there. But they are supposed to be "unspectacular", so there ya go. And at least it got me out of my not-blogging rut. Thanks Kate :)

And now to tag six more people:

Carrie from Waiting for Ruby, Mary Beth from Salt and Chocolate, Lizz from Red Dirt Mother, Emilie from The Little Nest ( a sweet blog that I don't visit nearly  enough), Jessamyn from Love This Life, and greenemother from The Owl and the Pussycat . I know you are all busy ladies so there's no pressure -- but I'm sure your readers are dying to know some of your unspectacular quirks :)

a little stroll through the neighborhood . . .

Sometimes I can go a few days without the chance to hop online and visit my favorite blogs, and then when I finally do sit down I feel like I'm in some magical neighborhood going on door-to-door visits up and down the block. Sort of like a version of speed-dating but in this case it's ok to be interested in everyone! And since I love a good linky post (doesn't everyone?) I thought I'd pass on just a few of my recent favorites to my neighbors in this neck of the woods . . .

Jenny from Wildwood Cottage recently posted a slew of links to great children's book resources on her blog.  Did you know there are websites where you can actually look at every page of a book online, like you can really read the whole picture book from cover to cover if you want to? Very neat! Jenny uses it for previewing books for buying or borrowing, which I think is a great idea. Her blog is chock-full of book reviews and recommendations, and lucky for me Ivo is about the same age as her daughter CJ.  We often take her reading list with us to the library and have found some great books that way.

Jessamyn from Love This Life had me nodding along and saying, "yes!" with her Love Thursday post from last week. Which I find myself doing a lot when I read her lovely blog. I would totally sign up for her podcast if she had one.

We will be copying Denise from Mom in Madison with the arts and crafts projects featured here and here. It's so great to see these art ideas that are unfussy, inexpensive, and yet totally creative and clever.  I know Ivo will love to make those texture stones; I can almost picture them in his little hands. And another way to use all of these watercolor paintings I could wallpaper our living room with? yes please and thankyouverymuch! 

This post from Lizz at Red Dirt Mother is really perfection.  Beautifully photographed, a great craft project, and most importantly an inspiring little window into the life of "just another" creative, happy family making their way through the day together. Lizz always makes me wish for a house full of children.

And speaking of creative family living, I'm awaiting my copy of this book which should arrive any day. Can you guess what it is without clicking on the link? I know some of you will :)

OK, neighbors, that's all for today. Don't be a stranger now!

about the bloggy giveaway . . .

. . . I'll have to try that again tomorrow. We've had one of those days today that just seemed to go into a tailspin! I promise to be back tomorrow with details. Now I am off to veg in front of TV with a blankie and a cup of something warm. . . goodnight . . .

unsupervised shopping . . .

    . . . At this fabulous quilt shop led to a very restrained purchase of three fat quarters.  Then since I was at the qulit shop alone I figured I might as well have a look at the antiques mall next door, just pop in you know, not looking to buy, window shopping, but lo and behold I found the cutest lamp ever, when a lamp was just what I needed. Have a look . . .

Other purchases of the day were a pair of hand sewn vintage potholders and a very interesting old wooden toy . . .

You know it's old when "G" is for gun.  I love the little owl, though. That's my favorite one. 

eight random things meme

I was tagged by Dee over at BubbaChic for this. Her blog is just adorable, full of the sweetest handmade things and thoughts on her life with her children--I know you will follow the link over to her blog, but please come back and visit me too :)  Ok, I am done being the insecure blogger. . . here are the rules for the game:

*link to the person who tagged you
*post the rules
*name 8 things others don't know about you
*link to 8 other bloggers

1. I am about to turn 30 in a few weeks (Dee also listed this as one of her 8 things)

2. I get easily overwhelmed by too many choices.  That's one of the reasons I could never be a scrapbooker.

3. When I am stressed out I have to laugh--sometimes in my head I imagine circus music playing ("doo-dee-do-dee-do-dee-doodee-doo-doo . . .")

4. Someday this winter I plan to just stay in bed all day and have my meals brought to me and watch movies and read under the covers and just rest.

5. I have a secret supply of candy in with my crafting and sewing supplies--and it's the really good stuff.

6.  I wish I could step right into any book illustrated by Richard Scarry or Tasha Tudor.

7. I've listened to Bob Dylan records every day of my life (almost!) for the past 15 years.

8. I think chipmunks are just the cutest thing ever.

Ok, now I get to tag eight people. Here they are:

Lissadell from The Owl and the Pussycat, Jenny from Wildwood Cottage (whom I always tag, sorry if I'm annoying), Mary Beth from Salt and Chocolate,  Lizz from Red Dirt Mother (whose etsy shop animals are so awesome--I just got a husky for Ivo and it is so cute and beautifully made), Mom Unplugged ,  Kristin at Prairie Daze, the beautiful smiling Jessamyn at Love This Life (she has the sweetest mama-baby banner picture), and the last spot is for anyone else who wants to play. Just leave a comment here and we will all know to visit you and see your eight things.  And if anyone I tagged is too busy or has already done this a million times, that's ok, you won't flunk my blog if you don't play.

weekend chatter

So the new baby and I did some bonding this weekend, the results of which are not suitable for showcasing at the moment (if ever!).  It's true what they say, the second baby can be completely different from the first.  Bernina was obedient but rather dull.  Janome is full of clever tricks but seems to want to put herself in charge. We're finding our way.  Ha--I need to stop referring to the new sewing machine as "the baby".  This is how rumors get started.  I have real life friends and relatives who read this blog. 

While I did spend much of the weekend holed up in my studio, Ivo (with sniffles) snuggled in a nest of pillows by my side, we managed to complete Mom Unplugged's  first Unplugged Project.   Ivo really enjoyed painting with leafy twigs and making dots with the end of a stick ("footprints" he called them).  We also used acorns and pinecones and one rock.  Josh even joined us for the project, making it a family art afternoon.  Thanks Mom Unplugged!

Tomorrow I have to finish up a custom order for my shop and then work on some new goodies.  And I promised Ivo we'd go to the deli for lunch and then hit the thrift store to pick out a new toy.  He is hoping to find this $69 wooden camper.  I told him, "Well we'll certainly take a look for it. You never know."  Um, I hope he forgets about it before morning. Why did I even let him see it? I am hoping to find a couple of lamps and a work table. Thrift stores, craft marathons, a willing accomplice, and a deli sandwich.  It's going to be a good day :)

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

it's my turn for the "all about the books" meme :)

It's nice to start with a picture, so here is a "before" picture of when I organized Ivo's books.  I like to motivate myself with before and after pictures, it's very satisfying to me.  Strange but true. This was a big job, and the picture only shows a portion of the mess.  Our library sells children's books 12 for a dollar, so it can be so hard to resist. but yikes.

 

Ok, on to the books meme. Stacey from Blooming Fields tagged me for this, and it's all about books. I like this kind of thing, so here we go:

1. Hardcover or paperback, and why?  I like a paperback book with a really good binding.

2. If I were to own a book shop I would call it… I liked Stacey's "Rainy Day Books" with big chairs and tea. Doesn't that sound so cozy? But not to be a copycat, I would have a children's book store and call it something cute like "Firefly Books".  I think fireflies bring up a lot of happy memories for many people. We would have books for children and books about parenting, uplifting things about creating a harmonious and nurturing family life. And there would be big fluffy chairs and coffee and baked goods and things.  This is my fantasy so I don't have to worry about little kids smearing pumpkin bars on the merchandise.

3. My favorite quote from a book (mention the title) is… "Believe me, my young friend, there is nothing--absolutely nothing--half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats." from The Wind in the Willows.  I can't come up with n all-time very favorite off the top of my head, but that's a pretty good one.

4. The author (alive or deceased) I would love to have lunch with would be …. Fred Rogers, I think he counts as an author.  Maybe an odd choice to those of you who are big readers, but I really can't think of anyone else I'd rather meet.

5. If I was going to a deserted island and could only bring one book, except from the SAS survival guide, it would be ... The Complete Stories of Erskine Caldwell, then I could read a new story every day for 96 days. Or maybe I'd pick Be Here Now, so I could blow my mind and return from the island as a yogi or something.

6. I would love someone to invent a bookish gadget that…. I have to say I agree with Stacey on the hands-free book holder and page-turner.  For lying in bed reading and eating ice cream, of course.

7. The smell of an old book reminds me of….going to the flea market with my mom and my sister when I was a little girl.

8. If I could be the lead character in a book (mention the title), it would be…. Any member of The Little Fur Family, warm as toast, smaller than most, in little fur coats, and they lived in a warm wooden tree.

9. The most overestimated book of all times is…. ummm . . .  Great Expectations (sorry tenth grade english)

10. I hate it when a book…. splits down the middle from a cheap binding.

Thanks, Stacey.  Sitting around daydreaming about books was much nicer than what I should have been doing (cleaning the kitchen and picking up toys).  Ok, now I'm going to tag Jenny from Wildwood Cottage. 

wow, nice to hear from you all :)

Wow, thanks for playing along with my crafty giveaway! And the winner is . . .

I truly enjoy hearing from all of you, and visiting your blogs (for those who have them).  Joining this community of bloggers has added so much creative energy into my life.  The inspiration and ideas are just there for the taking and the sharing.  And the supportive and encouraging words mean so much, both to send and to receive them really brightens my day :)

And one more quick little thing to share. This is a flannel board set I made for The Enormous Turnip.  We wait until after dinner and then tell the story by candle light, with me as the storyteller and Ivo and Josh as the audience.  The candlelight makes it seem very special to Ivo, and it creates a dramatic light that makes the flannel board people stand out.  Aren't we fancy?  This is another idea inspired by the Seasons of Joy curriculum.

Here is the best part:

"And *pop* out of the ground it came!"