Pink Roses

blue glass...

It is NO exaggeration when I tell you that I have been wanting this blue glass from Anthropologie for over a year.  Every time I go in the store I pick it up and admire it, and then put it down thinking...it doesn't really match my house. A few weeks ago while doing back to school shopping with Elizabeth, I finally bought it.  This afternoon I took a few pictures with some fading roses, and my new blue glass.  I liked it so much I redid my blog banner! Little blue glass...why did I wait so long to buy you? 

You fit in quite nicely around here...what was I thinking?

simplify & organize...

I've been on a mission this week to simplify and organize my house.  I know it won't last, so I'm being productive while the inspiration is there.  Before the kids left for school, I helped them completely clean out their closets.  We took out the clothes they wanted to take to college, clothes to leave home, and made big bags of clothes for Goodwill.  On Monday I started to do the same in my closet.  I've been working in there a few hours every day, and am finally finished.  I am taking my unwanted things to Goodwill today, and I feel a real sense of accomplishment.  I know it's a small thing, but when everything is in chaos, I can't focus.  When things are organized I can relax and create.  I can think. 

So that's what I've been doing on this first week "home alone"...creating order in my life.  The kids have called me everyday to check in, and I am grateful for that.  Sometimes it's a quick call...the other day Christopher called and when I answered he shouted "What's up baby girl!"  I laughed so hard at his unexpected greeting.  The conversation lasted about 30 seconds because he was on his way to class, but I smiled the rest of the day.  I'm actually still smiling thinking of it.  I received another surprise call from him yesterday at 3:00pm...

him: mom I'm coming home

me:when?

him:now

me:WHAT?

him:I have a ride and I'm coming for the long weekend

me: You mean you'll be here in 4 hours?

him: Yep. Lets go to Mexican when I get there.  I'm craving it.  Call Dad.

I hung up and went to the grocery and bought apple juice and blueberry muffins, ice cream and sprinkles...and all of his other favorite things.  We ate Mexican food last night and listened to him tell us all about his first 2 weeks away.  He went out with friends last night and I gave him a new "college curfew" of 1:00am.  He woke me up when he got home and showed me my alarm clock...the red glowing numbers said 12:58..."I'm early" he whispered.   I walked by his room this morning and saw his big giant feet sticking out of the covers as he is sprawled across his bed.  I just love that. I came into the kitchen and saw his ice cream bowl in the kitchen sink.  He scooped for himself!  Now to get him to load his bowl into the dishwasher!

It's nice to have him back for a few days, and I'm going to try and treat him as more of an adult.  I'm going to try to listen and affirm without micro-managing. The first time home is usually the hardest.  Wish me luck! 

Have a great weekend!

flea finds...

I had about ONE hour last Friday to run by the Nashville flea market, after I had finished moving Elizabeth into her college dorm.  I ran through the flea market, which is at the State Fairgrounds, stopping at all the $1.00 tables.  It was 98degrees, and lots of dealers were not there, and in that heat the Fairgrounds were smelling like a barnyard...and not in a good way.  First time I was ever glad I only had an hour at a flea market!

The green hankie was $1.00, and the seller gave the other one to me because it had a small fray on the edge...SHE pointed out the spot, and refused to take my money.  I would have paid $1.00 even with a fray.

wooden spools of thread 25 cents...

rick rack and lace 10 cents a card...

I bought 2 of these little sewing drawers, one says "needles", this one says "pins"...I think they would make cute little pincushions with vintage fabric.  Another project I will never complete!  The little chair made from a can and the jewelry and doll head were all $1.00...I'm a cheap date.  The big show in Nashville is in October.  I'd like to check it out then, when the weather is cooler and the air is less fragrant.  Maybe I could stay more than an hour!

chocolate boxes...

My Great-Uncle Harry used to manage a candy/chocolate store in Atlanta in the 1940's.  It was a small locally owned store called Nunnally's, and I have one of his business cards (stashed somewhere in this house).  Years ago, (Christopher was in a stroller), I went to an estate sale in Atlanta, of an OLD packrat couple who had lived in the same house for 50 years.  I found this Nunnally's chocolate box and it is filled with War Ration stamps for gas for their 1941 Chrysler!

Years later I found another box...

And another from a different Atlanta Chocolate shop... 

I don't use them for storage because they are all fairly fragile.  I just have them stacked for decoration.  This small grouping of boxes has a lot of meaning to me, because it is combining a family connection with my hometown history...add to that chocolate and pretty and you've got a winning collection!  Another 40 years in this house, and I'll be the old packrat lady having a sale...

I'm back...

Well, I'm back.  What a journey.  I wish I could say I've been somewhere exotic, somewhere relaxing and fabulous, and that I had stories to tell of the sights and smells and the delicious food.  I wish I had been learning to paint in the Italian countryside, or shopping the flea markets of Paris, or sipping a tropical drink on the beach in the Caribbean.  A girl can dream.

My journey was a different sort, one of growing up and letting go.  A motherhood journey.  Both of my children are away at college.  My heart is now spread out across three states, and guess what?  It was big enough to stretch that far without breaking!  I don't know that I have any words of wisdom to give, other than to say it will be OK.  I have been thinking, did I teach them everything they needed to know?  Compassion, gratitude, manners, the right fork...?  In the end you say a BIG prayer and let them go.                My children are happy, how can I be sad? 

As I was leaving Christopher last week, we looked at each other (he had already warned me not to cry, and I didn't), I took his face in my hands and looked into his eyes and said: take care of my baby for me.                                             He said: I will, and you take care of my mommy for me.  His mommy.  I will always be his mommy.  Now my job is to take care of me, and to be happy.  I can do that. 

Anybody want to go to Paris?... 

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p.s. Happy Birthday Daddy!

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