Holidays

In years past, I knew that as soon as we celebrated July 4th the Christmas holiday was right around the corner.  I'd lost touch with this tradition in recent years but want to start slowly rekindling old traditions.  Give myself time for handcrafts and pressure free shopping .  Today we went to visit the Hallmark Keepsake 2010 ornaments.  This was Jacob's favorite was Home for the Holidays and this was Holly's favorite.   It is really fun to look at each ornament with the memories of the past and the promise of the future.  I will warn you it is really hard to leave the store without ornaments. 

Don't miss out on Holiday with Matthew Mead  the magazine will not be available in stores so if you are interest buy online.

Other fun happenings at the Pumpkin Cottage....mama help me put pink panther in the princess dress.  YES.

 Our garden at the end of the holiday weekend.  Miss Waffle turned sixteen in June.  She's a little gray all over but still a spunky corgi. 

4th of July

Happy 4th of  July.  Absolutely one of my favorite holidays with memories of fireworks and bbq on the beach.  As immigrants it is especially important to celebrate with our first generation American children.  We love the countries and cultures of our births but always proudly display the American flag.  We hold dear the sacrifices of so many to keep us free.

We painted t-shirts.  Holly's in the front.....

Jacob and I painted little people while Holly napped.  Plenty of time to get help from the whole family.

Next it was time to make stepping stones.  Time to select decorations, words, letters.....

Hand and foot...                                                                          Two little piggies.

                                          Our masterpieces.








 

July 4th Weekend

We are looking forward to three glorious days of crafting with a little cleaning thrown in.  Some movie watching, season four of Friends.  Heaven.

And look what I found.






In honor of the Netherlands' performance in the World Cup today, I ordered this book.




To whet your appetite.  This is one of my favorite cookbooks.  These are the recipes that Lee swears had him hooked on my cooking from the beginning.  He is the one that cooks all these years later (I still prefer baking) but has fond memories of fried chicken and gravy.  

Where would you live?

Today, we visited the last shop on our 2010 Quilt Run treasure hunt.  This year, our goal was to complete Region 2 and Region 3.   Our last stop to achieve this goal was Luella's Quilt Basket in Redondo Beach.

If I had my choice of places to live it would along the coast.   For me it is the smell of the sea,  the breezes and the casualness of the residents.  Beach people seem happier and healthier. 

Our top three shops, for fabric choices,  kid friendliness and desire to return to shop in alphabetical order:

 Flying Geese Fabric... special treats for the kids, the cutest retro fabrics

 Stars and Scraps.... lovely fabrics, nice people, felt so very welcome

 Quilters' Garden ... super nice people, water and popcorn

This is our second quilt run and we are already planning for next year's run when our goal will be  to visit all the shops in Region 4.  We plan to dedicate one full weekend and stay overnight at the half way point.

Our day trip included a side trip to Long Beach to attend Patchwork Long Beach   The shop was so completely worth the multiple trips around the Marina to find a parking space.  Holly's only wish was to dip her toes in the ocean...mission accomplished.

OC Weekly and Yelp were there. 

Anarchy in the Garden.  We totally support this concept.  Last year the kids got seeds and this year we watched them grow.

Thank you for Stopping By

It would mean so much if you would please follow my blog.  Just join in at the top of my list on the right side of the screen. 

We visited the nicest vendors at the HuckFinn Jubilee

Really nice people.  Check out their wonderful soaps at willowsoapsonline.com  This merchant was so sweet he welcomed the kids in and gave them little samples that smelled divine.  A wonderful family day that will definitely become a Father's Day weekend tradition.

Start at the Beginning

Have you ever had a weekend that felt like a week off? A good refreshing week off? I used to experience this phenomenon when I was working two jobs seven days a week and every so often I would have an evening off and it felt like an entire day.



I have to start at the end of the weekend and work my way back to the beginning. The retelling of this weekend's event may take a day or two so stay tuned. This evening, on our way home, I picked up the August 2010 The English Home magazine for the very first time, I had an immediate and amazing connection with the magazine from the front cover photograph of what could be very well be my dream home to the Editor's letter. She writes, "While some countries live with fairly set interiors all year round, the English love to refresh and experiment and engage in a continual evolution." I wanted to cry. I totally get it.



Once Lee and I were safely in the car, me with my three magazines the British Edition of Country Living and for the first time Australian Homespun and he with his EverydayFood, I said it is still cheaper than therapy. Magazines filled with photographs of cozy rooms with painted furniture, Aga stoves, rosy fabrics, Emma Bridgewater pottery, amazing craftiness, gardens to die for and people from all over the world with shared interests. It all cheers me right up and the best part is that I feel normal. That is all I am going to say on that topic for now. 

Our BIG weekend included the HuckFinn Jubilee and the continuation of the quilt run. Below is a photo of the completed Southern California Quilt Run Area 2 quilt. Visit each shop in the Region and receive a different pattern and a matching charm so you too may complete the quilt. We can not express how sweet and generous all the shop owners and their staffs have been. Next week at the end of the Quilt Run we will post our favorite shops.



This nice lady, at the Timeless Quilts shop, stamped our "passports," had treats for the kids and allowed us to take as many photos of the Area 2 quilt as we wanted.

Little tease from HuckFinn: Now I feel like I should have a disclaimer-"Pay no attention to the woman in the photo remind yourself she has had a very long weekend and she doesn't look her best." But what the hay, I want you to see the 1966 VW. My old '66 was all original , it even had the black and yellow plates but it was still sweet to see this cutie up close and personal.

Planning for this Weekend's Outing

How lucky am I that I can read in the car while Lee drives us on our adventures?  Today, I have Handmade Home on my lap.  I bought this book the day my beloved mother went on hospice.  As I have shared before, for years  we have had  a tradition of marking events with  book purchases.  And while magazines are really my drug of choice, a book has staying power and rarely is discarded.  I always write a note so I can recall what inspired me on that particular day and often write follow-up messages in my books as the mood strikes.  Lee has adopted this  tradition and always writes an inscription in the books  he gives as gifts.  It is so touching, even years later, to recall the events of our shared life whether good or bad.  Almost any book about home, the domestic arts, family traditions, or small towns will capture my heart but the little notes in the inside covers of my books often bring tears to my eyes.  It is such a personal thing the books that entertain, educate and comfort us.  I hope you will check out Amanda's blog and book.
Now that I have a break from school I can read for pleasure and actually made a few things in the process.   Here's to day tripping and crafting.