Little Girls and Easter Dresses

I had a very busy weekend, as usual... In a good way. I took a lot of cell phone photos!  I won't dump them all on you at once but you may want to prep yourself for a week of  photos.

So, let's start with Friday. I often work long hours during the week but am allowed to leave early on Friday if I am caught up. So, I started off by enjoying mall lunch with Mike, Eric, Maria, Cordelia and Elise.  

I don't suppose our funny little mall lunches look like anything special to anyone else, but I think we are making memories for our granddaughters... And ourselves. These little girls probably think all families meet at the mall almost weekly for lunch. Like most traditions maybe, it didn't start out as something we planned to do regularly. In the winter it was a place where we could eat and then let Cordelia run around, before Elise was even born. Somehow along the way, we realized we had ourselves a quirky little family tradition.

It is a weird little tradition, but it is our precious little weird together.

After lunch it was girl time!  It was our afternoon to shop for new Easter Dresses! No I don't think an Easter dress is an essential thing for Easter. I think Easter would come in all its glory no matter what we were to wear. However, our little granddaughters love dresses and I love any excuse to see them twirl and dance around in all their girly cuteness.

In the past, Elise was quick, very quick to choose her dress. She was very decisive and wouldn't be talked out her choice. Well, she now likes to take her time. She and Cordelia both pretty much wanted to see all their choices in most of the stores in the mall. They even enjoy trying them on, something I find a bit annoying for myself. It makes hair so full of static. Elise didn't care.

We shopped until I was about to drop. Admittedly, I do not have very good shopping stamina.

This is not the dress Elise finally chose, but it was my favorite.

I love Cordelia's expression here. This was the dress she chose but it was not available in the proper size.  As you can see, that news did not please her. No one can look as crestfallen as this little girl. Not to worry; she recovered quickly.

No, no spoilers here. Next week I expect to show photos of these sweet girls in their Easter best. You just have to wait! 

Cardboard Mountain

How are doing with your Christmas shopping? Almost done?

Last Saturday I was pretty close to hitting that PANIC Button as I really had not done much Christmas shopping. Mike calmed me down, though, and we went shopping. I generally hate shopping but we actually had a good time. We are both rather overcommitted this time of year, going in opposite directions, so I liked just spending time with him. 

Anyway, Mike had some good ideas for gifts and we managed to get a lot done. We celebrated by getting a drink at Sonic and driving around for a bit. We planned out gifts to be shipped to some of our out of town loved ones as well. To finish it off, I did a significant amount of online shopping as well. Sam works for UPS, you know. We do our part to ensure his job security!

Well, it has been a very busy week. As the packages started arriving, I just tucked them into my craft room. It got all those boxes out of sight, as well as the plastic bags.  As you see, it piles up into a pretty big mountain!

I can't even remember what all we have in that pile! 

The time has come for me to conquer that mountain so I am going to see what I can find on Netflix and have me a sweet little evening. As I open those boxes and wrap those gifts I am going to say thankful prayers for each of the recipients.  I am also going to remember that these gifts and  all good gifts come from God.

Poor Fit

I hate trying clothes on in stores. It's almost as if I were a man. However, I can usually eyeball something and know if it will fit right. The other day I was looking for a blouse to wear to work. Maria was with me and held one up that looked like a nice choice. I bought it and brought it home. That's the kind of shopping I enjoy - a short and sweet trip to the clearance rack!

Later, at home, I took it out of the bag to enjoy my new purchase.  I looked at the tag a bit more carefully and realized I had made a bit of a mistake. This blouse isn't going to fit quite right. At least I hope not.

A Joy-Sprinkled Day

I had the day off yesterday, just an ordinary day off.  There were a lot of tedious types of things to tend to, such as getting prescriptions filled, dealing with some insurance paperwork and refinancing our house. OK, the refinancing part was actually pleasant as our mortgage guy is also a good friend...still, it was a lot of paperwork. Anyway, there was time for family sandwiched in the middle of it all.  When I get to wrap some of my free day around family, that makes it a good day.

Maria, Cordelia and Elise were at the mall so I went there to meet up with them. One of my favorite things is to take the little girls to find holiday dresses. Doesn't that sound grandma-ish? Usually, I think of it kind of late in the game and the dresses are rather picked over. This time, I was more on the ball. It was fun!

As we approached the little dresses at JCPenny, Elise made some kind of excited little sound and ran right at a particular group of dresses. I didn't get my cell phone out fast enough to capture the excited little bobbing and bowing actions she made. She was pretty delighted with what she saw. Even as little as she is, she likes to look pretty!

Cordelia wasn't sure she could choose as they were all so pretty.

However, she is a fairly decisive girl. She held quite a few up to herself and it looked like she was going for a hot pink dress but with a bit of guidance, chose one that was a bit more Christmasy.  You'll have to wait for Christmas photos to see the one she chose.




We held up various dresses for Elise, trying to make she sure she saw them all. Maria would hold three at a time and let her choose her favorite. Then, keeping the favorite in the line up she'd add a couple more. Elise never wavered. She stuck with that very first one she saw and just kept grabbing it and bringing it to me. That girl knows her mind!



Then, it was time for Maria to look around a bit so I followed the girls around, snapping photos because they were just so very adorable. I loved that they wanted to hold hands all over the store. Other people kept ooohing and aaaaahing at their cuteness.  I enjoyed smiling and accepting compliments on my beautiful little granddaughters.

Shopping really is exhausting, though!

Then, we moved on to mall lunch. Again, it was just an ordinary event, but somehow more special because it was shared.

At the end of our meal, Elise is insistent on doing one of her favorite things...putting things in the trash. Seriously, that little girl is nuts about garbage. She spots garbage cans with an eagle eye and announces, "Trash!" so no one misses the joy of seeing a trash can. When it is time to put our lunch garbage in the trash, she is in her element! I especially love that she claps after each trash deposit.

After we parted from the girls, I went with Mike to help him choose new glasses. That was fun...

Thankfully, he did not choose these glasses...all the more reasons for me to feel joyful!

Yep, it was an ordinary day, sprinkled with joy.

Parties, Plants and Plenty of Water

Did you have a busy week-end? We sure did! Here are some of the highlights...

• trip to Master Gardener's Sale with Maria and the girls (Cordy shook hands with people like a politician)
• digging in the dirt, planting flowers and vegetables
• shopping for groceries
• housecleaning (yay! I finally mopped my kitchen floor)
• laundry
• bill paying
• quick trip to the mall
• graduation party
• church service
• another church service (as a guest, speaking about women's resource center...more another day)
• power nap
• another graduation party while Mike goes to do his part at the baccalaureate service...we had to divide and conquer to get everywhere we wanted to be 
• Sunday school swimming party with Cordelia

But, in between a couple of those things, I took time to enjoy the moisture we were receiving. I hope you enjoy the photographs.

Yesterday

I had a lovely day yesterday. I was supposed to work but many of the surgeons are out of town with their families (it is Spring break here) so I wasn't needed. Is there anything better than an unexpected day off?!

I picked up Mike and we met Sam, Maria, Eric, Cordelia and Elise at the mall for our weekly mall lunch.  Elise has recently reached that age where she is excited when she sees us. She is very affectionate and hugs over and over.  It's wonderful!

After lunch today Cordelia left with us. She worried a little that her family would miss her or that she would miss them, but we did fine.

After dropping Mike back at work Cordy came with me to run an errand at a home improvement store. She was quite intrigued. What would otherwise have been just another chore for me, turned out to be an adventure!

We explored a little playhouse before we even went into the store.

Inside the store, Cordelia was mesmerized. In fact, we had to go back a couple of times to take a look...

...at the Koi pond.

We walked all around looking at all the things they had there, discussing how it was for fixing up houses or for building new houses. I told Cordy that I didn't know how to build a whole new house. She told me that I just needed to look at a poster and it would tell me how to do it. Easy as that.

She also told me several times that when she grows up she wants to be a "nurser" like me. Aaaah. I told her she could even be a doctor if she wanted to but she was pretty insistent that she wanted to be a nurser. She told me that when someone in her family got sick she would come to them and save them and they would be better. I love that little girl.

We met up with her family at Walmart. Don't judge us!

Elise was pretty happy to see us!

I did have to return home to laundry and tax preparations and other mundane chores, but I have to say that the dose of granddaughters made the entire day brighter. 

Angel Tree

One of the things I really love this time of year is the Angel Tree that goes up at our church.  Do you have one?  If you aren't familiar with the Angel Tree Program click here.  You'll learn that this program is associated with Prison Fellowship.

Each year the tree at our church is decorated with angel shaped tags.  Each tag has a child's first name and some little details such as their clothing size and a description of a gift they'd like to receive.  One I picked up is for a 13 year old girl named Hope.  She is wishing for a new pair of jeans or a lime green sweatshirt.  That doesn't seem like so much to wish for, does it?

The children who's names appear on these tags have at least one parent in prison.  It is tough for a parent in prison to do any Christmas shopping for their child so we help out a bit.  We don't care if the parent gets credit for the gift.  We don't care what crime the parent committed.  We care that the child feels loved.  Here's words from their website that explains the mission...

Angel Tree, a program of Prison Fellowship, seeks to reconcile prisoners and their families to God, to each other, and to their communities through the transforming love and grace of Jesus Christ. Through your support of Angel Tree, prisoners have the opportunity to send their children a Christmas gift and the Good News of Jesus Christ!

I love being a small part of this program.  I am aware the purpose of the program is not to make me feel good, but it does.  I really don't care much for shopping but each year I have to say that I really enjoy making the purchases for these children we don't even know.  When I read the words above about the mission of the Angel Tree Program I realize their is a much bigger picture than just the part we play in purchasing these gifts.

Do you have an opportunity to share in some kind of special Christmas Program such as the Angel Tree?  I'd love to hear your ideas. I think we can inspire one another!

Up-Scaling Makes Me Feel Like a Hero!

There's something new going on at our Wyoming Rose Boutique.  Yes, we're still crocheting and crafting but we've added up-scaling to the mix as well.  Have you done any up-scaling that you'd recommend?

If you don't know what I am talking about, let me break it down to two simple steps.

1)     SHOP!  Maria and I aren't too excited to shop the usual way.  We aren't big on going to department stores to find our treasures.  What is the most fun is to shop thrift stores, keeping our eyes (and minds) open.  We really try to see items through our creative vision glasses.  OK, we don't have special glasses.  But we are developing an eye for potential.  We don't always know what we are searching for until we see it.  Things that catch my attention are classic styles or delicate remnants from the past.  Sometimes it is just a unique color or texture that I want to enhance.

2)     LET YOUR IMAGINATION RUN WILD!  This is the part that takes the most time.  I take one of our treasures back to my Rose Room and start experimenting.  I can't tell you how many different ideas I worked through on this golden purse, for example.  What I ended up doing is cutting out this piece of vintage lace and appliqueing it to the front of the purse.  The lace itself has some history.  My mother-in-law gave me some of her sewing things years ago (more than 30 years) and I still have some of it.  (Carol, do you recognize it?) This lace is one of my favorites as you just can't find any like it now.  Isn't it pretty?  It took this purse to a new level of of awesome.  But, I still felt like it needed something more.  I cut and twirled and tied and imagined for quite awhile before I realized this purse just needed some bling, so I made a bracelet for it.  I was really quite pleased with the result.  I like the mixture of antique and glamour, don't you?  We have it listed on our Wyoming Rose Boutique on Etsy.

I went kind of a different way with this classic red purse.  I wanted to keep it youthful and fun but it needed some personality.  I pawed through a lot of fabric before seeing how this bright apple print wanted to bring out the best of the red purse.  I put a lot of time into the process but the result was a cheerful, unique and spunky looking up-scaled bag.  What do you think of it?

I am pretty proud of this next one.  We found this chocolatey blazer and I knew right away that it was a candidate for up-scaling.  It was in excellent condition, soft and cozy - perfect for chilly days.  It already had some interesting lines.  Some of the vertical seams actually had encased elastic that gathered it up just enough to give it some drama, but it still wasn't really living up to its potential.  I took  it home and loved it up.  It had perfectly nice covered buttons but the brown on brown just went flat.  I replaced all the buttons with cool white ones that celebrated the fun of shape.  No more round boring buttons!  Then, I started experimenting with color.  I settled on a peachy cotton thread that had kind of a special smooth finish to it.  I hand-crocheted a lace that could peek out at the bottom of the sleeves.  I did not want to over do it but I still felt it needed a bit more.  I then used more of the fun thread to crochet a flower.  I centered the flower on a cut-out of more antique lace (thanks again to my mother-in-law) that was already a daisy-like design.  I centered another of the funky buttons for the center and sewed it all together.  When I attached it to the blazer, a star was born!  To see more detailed photos just click here.  

So, there you have it.  Go shopping and see if you get any fun ideas to upscale something.  I know that it made me feel rather heroic, as though I'd rescued something from boredom.  Have fun!

p.s.  Anyone who orders from Wyoming Rose Boutique can enter the secret code at check-out to receive a 10% discount.  The secret code is:  DISCOUNT 

Why Does Jesus Love Us?

One of my favorite things to do on a day off is to hang out with my beautiful daughter and her beautiful daughters.  We like to search for treasures at a thrift store, buy froo-froo coffees, and just cross some errands off our lists.  Often we meet Mike and Sam at the mall for lunch to top off our morning.

The mundane becomes FUN when together.

I especially love Cordelia's input.  She's such a smart little person and she freely shares her interesting opinions and insights!  She also asks many, MANY questions!

Awhile back I rode along with Maria and her little girls while Maria did a few errands.  When Maria went into one store, Cordelia and I were singing in the vehicle to entertain ourselves.  Elise chose not to join in but I think she was appreciative of our music.  We were singing "Jesus Loves Me" when Cordy stopped me to ask, "Why does Jesus love us?"  I think I said something awesome like, "I don't know, but he does."  Yes, when put on the spot, I came up a bit short with my theological explanations.  Hey!  Don't criticize me!  I'm an RN, Mike is the theologian!

Although Cordy quickly moved on (she's not yet three you know), I kind of pondered that question for awhile.  It's actually a very good question.  Why does he love us?  We're really such a mess most of the time.  We're selfish.  We hurt each other.  We lose sight of what is most important.  Yet, we're much loved in spite of all that.

So, how would you have answered Cordelia?

How a Walmart Clerk's Smile Changes the World

I was at Walmart recently.  I was rather lost in my own thoughts, shopping as fast as I could as my goal was to be anywhere but there.  I don't generally enjoy shopping; it is just another chore that needs to be accomplished.  Checking out at Walmart is not usually a joyful experience either.  This trip was to be different.

As the person in front of me was checking out I noticed that she really had her hands full.  She had several little people attached to her and she was trying to manage a lot of groceries.  The clerk was being so sweet and actually SMILED at this tired mother.

Wow!  That smile just seemed to ease the tension out of that young mom.  You should have seen the change in her! She smiled back, they chatted a little and then the mother and children left.  I imagined that the mother spoke a bit more kindly to her precious children.  The children would then be more kind to each other.  When they got home, I bet their dog even received a bit of the run-off happy feeling!

As I moved up to swipe my debit card, the clerk gave me a big smile as well.  Even though I'd seen her be so encouraging to the previous customer, I still felt as though I'd just received a special sweet gift by her smile and pleasant greeting.   I noticed I pretty much instantly felt lighter, happier.

As I left, I found myself wondering how many people passed through that clerk's aisle during the course of her shift.  Did she manage to stay upbeat and pleasant with all of them?  I'm wondering now if each of those  customers left feeling more kindly toward others?  Did that mean they were more likely to place their carts into the cart rack, rather than leaving them behind the car parked next to their's?  When they drove away, was there a reduction in road rage?  Were they more likely to smile and nod as they patiently waited for a pedestrian?  Did that pedestrian then help a lost dog find its owner?  Did the dog owner, happy to meet a kind neighbor, decide to bake cookies for her child's teacher?  Did the teacher, happy to feel appreciated, encourage each child with a little more enthusiasm?  Did those children, feeling their self-worth, realize their potential and feel more interested and eager to learn?  Perhaps some of those children will use what they learn to build on, eventually leading them to make great discoveries.

I'm sure you can clearly see where I am going with this.  That young clerk's happy smile more than likely will lead to more happy smiles that will likely lead to cancer cures, a drop in national levels of depression, scientific breakthroughs in sustainable forms of energy, poverty resistance, cleaner water, better care of animals, drop in crime, less bankruptcy, a balanced national budget, fresher air, improved international relations and so on and so on.

Don't you agree?  So go ahead, smile at a stranger!

Shopping Day

I don't really like to shop too much.  I thought I wasn't quite a natural woman but as it turns out, I've heard other women say they don't like to shop.  How about you?  Do you enjoy shopping?

Perhaps I should qualify my statement about shopping.  The truth is, I LOVE to shop on line.  It makes me feel guilty, though.  I feel I should be supporting local businesses, especially the small ones.  Do you feel that way?  So, today I am going shopping and I am leaving my living room to do it.

First on my list is a new washing machine.  Our's came with the house.  When we bought the house 8 years ago I thought the washing machine looked like it was on its last leg.  It died a noisy death this week. It has carried us along for 8 years, though, so I won't complain.  I wouldn't likely buy a washing machine online, either, so it makes sense I'd have to go out and about for that.  I'm not looking for fancy or pretty.  Our machine sits in our basement laundry room where looks are not important.  I just want clean clothes.

Next, I have to shop for work shoes.  Previously I've worked where I could wear closed toe hiking sandals, even without socks.  I've loved that for Summer!  However, I now work at a surgical center so the rules are more strict regarding staff footwear.  I'm really, really tempted to shop online for shoes.  I've had some great luck with Zappos and places like that.  If the shoes aren't quite right they are easy and free to ship.  They usually get them to me in 1 to 2 days as well!  I like to reward good practices such as that but I am determined to shop locally first.  Nurses out there, any advice on work shoes?

I probably  need to stop at a grocery store today as well.  I don't really know what I need just yet, but I am sure I need something.  I always do.

The first bit of shopping to be done today, though, is to hit a giant yard sale (garage sale).  Do you call it a yard sale, garage sale or something else?  Our whole subdivision has one week-end every summer where they pool their advertising resources and do their yard sales on the same day.  I do NOT enjoy having a garage sale, do you?  However, I actually do enjoy attending yard sales so that part of my shopping day will be delightful.  Do you enjoy garage sales?  Maria and Cordy will be garage sale-ing with me so that will make it fun.  Cordelia always adds a touch of sparkle and class to any adventure.

(file photo)

(file photo)

I can hear the traffic in our neighborhood already picking up.  I don't feel the need to join those out for the early finds.   I'm content to look over the left-overs when I get there.

So, although I don't really enjoy shopping, I think this will be a good day.  I hope it is for you as well!

Cordelia Fun

I have been fortunate enough to have some Cordy Time this week.  Yesterday she was out and about with her parents.  Maria texted me and I found out they weren't far from my location at that moment so I made sure our paths crossed.

Cordy was so excited and hugged me say, "Grandma, you are a surprise!"  Then she turned to her parents and said, "These are my friends, Mommy and Daddy!  They are my family!  And Baby _______ (you'll have to wait until her birth to learn her name) is going to come out and she is my sister!"

The day before that I enjoyed some shopping time with Maria and Cordelia, followed by swimming time and a picnic.  Mike took a lunch break to join us for lunch.  It was one of those weather-perfect days and the morning was pure delight.  I hope you enjoy the photos...

I will forever be grateful for my family.

Shopping Takes a Lot out of a Girl!

I'm not really very fond of shopping but I have to say that shopping with Cordelia is a very fun adventure.

She is interested in EVERYTHING and discusses it all as we stroll around the store.  Her cuteness is dazzling.

Apparently, though, it is exhausting to be so dazzling.







Thank-you for stopping by. Feel free to use my photos but please link them back to my blog. I am honored if you wish to share content of any of my posts on Facebook, Twitter, etc. as long as it is linked back to my blog.

Treasure Hunt

When my daughter,Maria, and I first talked about having a little business, my thoughts mostly centered around the idea of an outlet for pieces we create ourselves.  We both love designing and crafting, but there is just so much we can wear or display in our own homes.  We like to design a WIDE variety of lovelies, ensuring we are never bored with it.

Then one day Maria started talking about incorporating vintage items into our repertoire.  That sounded intriguing!  Maria, with her art history degree and good eye, has learned a lot about vintage and antiques.  She's been teaching me as we go and it has been such fun! 

For one thing, searching for these delightful items takes some time... time together!  Cordelia comes along and gives her opinion as well.  Even when we don't find pieces that fit into our store, we ALWAYS see something interesting, something with an obviously fascinating history.  Sometimes it isn't the items for sale but those people selling them... or fellow shoppers!  We always have a good time and that's what's important.

Yesterday afternoon was one of those times.  Maria, Cordelia and I  went treasure hunting! 

You can see how excited we were to head out on our adventure!  Well, Cordelia really wanted to get down and do something else at the time Grandpa snapped this photo, but she got into the spirit later.  We headed to a local antique sale, leaving the men at home to watch tennis.  I think they probably felt bad about being left behind but they held it together and hid their disappointment.

When on such a treasure hunt, there are a lot of items that must be sifted through that do NOT qualify as a treasure.  Well, everyone's idea of treasue can vary but we try to only purchase doo-dads that WE find to be charming.  I notice we are especially drawn to dandies that seem a bit unique or display some sort of visual surprise, but we have also found some appealing classic beauties.

These are all items that will soon be available at Wyoming Rose Boutique, but first we must sort, clean and otherwise tweak to be sure each piece is at its best.  That is part of the fun as well!

One day, when returning my shopping cart to the little corral place, someone walking by offered to take my cart.  Such a simple offer but it made me feel just a little bit better about the world.

Truly, it only saved me a few steps but it really did more than that.  

You know how sometimes a little event in a store can put you in a bad mood?  Maybe someone races to get in the check-out line before you or they talk real loud on their cell phone while blocking the aisle?  One of the worst for me is shopping in the early afternoon, hearing all the little children crying their way through the store while their parent talks in a mean voice to them.  I really want to just suggest they take naptime seriously and plan their shopping trips around that.

Oh, wait... this post is going in the wrong direction and I'm getting kind of down again!

OK, back on track!  I wanted to just talk about how one simple little gesture can  brighten someone's day.  I'm not talking about changing a life, but you never know how far that one gesture could go.  Perhaps by offering to return a shopping cart for somebody you put them in such a good mood they go home and speak more kindly to their child, who then loves up on the puppy instead of pulling it's tail.  The puppy grows up more calm and doesn't bite the mailman.  The mailman then has a brighter outlook on life and smiles at a group of teens as they drive by.  The teens then feel valued and instead of joining a gang and spraypainting grafitti, they go to college. While at college, one of them develops an interest in medical research and eventually becomes world-renowned for developing a cure for cancer...all kinds of cancer! 

Whew!  Good thing you offered to return someone's cart to the cart corral!

Eve's Shopping Trip

So, every now and then I think I'm kind of clever.  Yesterday was one of those days.  I and my baby, Sam, were shopping for groceries.  OK, so Sam is about 9 feet tall and almost 18 yrs old, but he's my baby.  Now, where was I?   Oh yeah, checking out at the grocery store.  For some reason, I thought of what I'd put in my next comic strip cartoon.  Remembering that I don't have a comic strip cartoon, I decided to lay it on you here.  The check-out lady didn't laugh when I told it but I have to go on the assumption she just didn't hear it right.  Anyway, I was encouraged because Sam thought it was funny.  Sam is CONSTANTLY thinking of jokes and puns and he is rarely impressed with my attempts at humor.  Here's a picture of Sam NOT laughing.

To set it up, I have to first be sure that you all know that a perennial is a plant that comes up every year.  You can count on it to be the same plant year after year.  An annual is a plant that you only get to enjoy one season as it will not be back in the Spring.  I am thinking maybe the check-out lady didn't know these things.

Having said that, here we go....

We have Eve (as in Adam and Eve) shopping.  She's wearing her strategically placed leaves and shopping at a plant nursery.  On one side of her you see leafy plants marked "perennials" and on the other side you see leafy plants marked "annuals".  Eve is looking rather disdainfully over her shoulder at the perennials.  The little word bubble above Eve says, "Those leaves are so LAST year's fashion!"

Are you laughing?  Grinning?  Even a pity smile?   Man!  This is a tough audience!

I also noticed the new fashions are getting skimpier every year!  Maybe I'll build on that before I go on the road with this show...