Hollyhocks

How Will They Remember You?

 

Just a minute ago I was looking in on Julie and all of the beautiful things she knits...and I thought...someday when her son thinks of her...he will remember her with knitting needles in her hands. I remember my mom (who is still here by the way...Hi Mom!) with the garden hose, watering her flowers in the early morning and at night.

How will your children remember you? 

How will Rory and Kitten remember me?

More than likely, they will remember me in an apron, baking.

That would be o.k. with me.

 Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks. I missed you.

Antique Store Finds Gaining Value By the Minute!

 

I found this Jadite mixing bowl at a little antique store on routes 5&20 in Bloomfield NY. I paid $10 for it and I was thrilled because my last one was $25. This is actuall my 3rd because I already have one and I broke one (@@##$$%%%!!!) a few years ago. They are wonderful mixing bowls, just the right size and weight.

Well, I paid for it and stashed it in the car and...found it at the next shop for $44. I joked with the DH that I was going to go out to the car and get it to sell to them for $30...until...

I found it at the next store for $50!!!! That bowl was appreciating in value every few minutes! It just shows that you have to know what you are buying...

Does anybody want to buy a nice Jadite mixing bowl for the low, low price of $65?

I also found these, which was pretty exciting...I felt very Velvet Strawberries. Andrea always finds things like this...

  

Pink and blue crepe paper favor cups...in their original packages. Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks!

Now Where Were We?

 

The weeks are flying by at warp factor 7. My vacation is over and I start the summer session at work tomorrow. Yikes. I have lots to say, but today I want to share some recent estate sale finds. The best part of this sale was running into fellow local blogger Susan. Susan's mother approached me and introduced  herself. I can't believe that she recognized me from a photo here last year. Susan arrived and it was fun to shop around together. Susan makes pretty satin cuffs from vintage satin ribbon and sparkly jewelry as well as photo frames from vintage wallpaper. You may remember me mentioning that she is my estate sale find heroine for finding over 200 bolts of vintage fabric. She also cooks and raises children. 

Some of you may recognize the item above. When I was a child, every Saturday morning began with my mom saying "where is my clicker?" on her way out to grocery shop. Before we all had calculators this little number took care of all of your adding needs.

 

 

 

 

There were lots of plastic ornaments and 70s era decorations, but among them was this treasure box, full of angels.

 Pretty little hair bows...

 

flocked folks, putz house...

 

a few millinery flowers...

 

and a pristine cigar box, for treasures. It was a great way to kick off vacation. I had a great week with the twins and lots of help from my sister-in-law who flew in from San Diego to spend time with them. I'll leave you with a recent photo of Joe with his new soccer ball and a promise to get a shot of Rory with her matching (pink) soccer ball. Happy Independence weekend everybody! Thank you for visiting Hollyhocks!

Happy Father's Day

 

Joe Jr. here....Yep. Those are crumbs on my face. They took us to the Memorial Day parade in our town and thought they'd secure our cooperation by jamming organic maple teething biscuits in our mouths...

It did kind of work, but eesh, what a mess. Rory and I have been on the move...

 

They drove us 4 hours to Saratoga Springs and changed our diapers in cold bathrooms at rest stops with strangers coming up to coo at us while we were, shall we say...not receiving guests. I slept like a baby in what can only be described as a prison-issue crib, but Rory refused her nap and cried and cried. We ate at a cafe on Sunday and mom and dad slipped me bits of some fancy pancakes to keep me quiet. Last week we went to a Farmer's Market and the Allentown Art Festival. I pitched a fuss about being stuck in the stroller and dad carried me for a while. That was great fun. I smiled at people around us and waved a backwards wave to the crowd. Mom thinks I may run for office some day.

 

We took baths in the big boy/big girl tub last week for the first time. It was scary. Rory splashed but I was more cautious. Speaking of Rory...she is pretty funny. When she sneezes we laugh our heads off and we love fake hiccoughs. We see right through fake sneezes though. Rory is pretty cute. People always stop to look at her, until I smile one of my Joey from "Friends" smiles and win them over. Rory looks like an angel so...you may be surprised to hear that...

 

She BITES! Yep. day care says that's the only way I could have gotten the tooth impression on my arm. That girl likes to gather all of the best toys and put them behind her, leaving me with a lone plastic ring to play with. She steals toys too.Mom and dad are working on that with her.

Mom taught us to clap when she enters a room, but it kind of got muddled up and now we clap for any event. Rory claps when I burp a good one and I clap if I like my food...which I always do. That reminds me, Rory and I are eating the school lunch at day care. Roasted veggies on Friday and they have a tasting menu 2 times a month. This month we're trying Bok Choy and Spaghetti Squash. Mmmmm.

 

Cadbury had surgery to remove the bumps on his eyelids and he feels much better now. We are learning to pet him without pulling his fur and he is starting to bring us his toys...he does still need his time away to relax.

Well, thanks for visiting mom's blog today. Dad wants to cuddle with us this morning so mom's going to get us ready, feed us and deliver us to him. We got him some fun presents from the Pan American Exposition in 1901 and Cadbury got him a Barnes and Noble gift card. Have a great day with your dads. We'll be remembering our grandpa, too.

Are You a Field Hand or a Flower? And, Jon and Kate, of Course...

 

Today I helped the Dear Husband move this 500 pound,  huge slab from the driveway to the yard. The thing is 8" thick by several feet of solid concrete, stones and shells (no doubt from my grandparent's cottage decades ago). It has been sitting on the driveway since bedrest as we pondered what we could do with a huge, unbreakable, immovable slab. This move took the highest level of logistical planning, wooden boards, a hockey stick and some bad words. 

I was just labor on the project.

When we flipped it over, we decided that we kind of liked the look and, since grandpa made it, we'd keep it (it also weighs the aforementioned quarter ton and, as such, was unlikely to go far). After it was tucked into its new home with cilantro and basil planted around it, I remarked to the DH (who works in TV news with lots of pretty toothpick types) that he was "very lucky to have married such a useful woman". I think a little reminder now and then never hurts... So, what about you...are you a field hand or a flower, mostly?

This weekend marked the very first weekend visit to the Farmer's Market!!!!!!You know how happy that makes me.

 

Our growing season has just started so I wondered what I would find...It turns out that there are lots of things growing...perennials, annuals, greens, overwintered apples, fresh meat and breads and...this rhubarb, shown baked into a Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp. I just threw a few things together but this is how it went..

3 cups of Rhubarb, 2 cups of strawberries, 1 tblsp.of flour, 1/2 cup of sugar, a pinch of salt, 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon and 1/4 tsp.of freshly grated nutmeg, mixed together and spread into a buttered 9 by 13 ish pan.

Then...

2/3 cup of flour, 1/2 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of oats with 1 stick of butter cut in with a vintage pastry blender (very important) and sprinkled over the top.

Bake in a 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes, until the filling is bubbly. Eat warm on a swing in your garden.

But I digress, the real reason I called you all here together is last week's episode of Jon and Kate Plus 8. Did anybody else go to bed that night feeling like a friend just announced that she may be getting divorced?  For most of us..marriage is a crazy life, but it's our life, and we're in it together...

Poor Kate, Poor Jon. Millions aside, they have daunting responsibilities. Kate's driving the van and Jon is barely reading the map. I think if they would just take divorce off of the table, they could sit down, with or without help and figure things out.

 They would need family support though, not that nasty Jodi and husband, Jon's relatives. Can't wait to see the Thanksgiving episode..."Pass the GRAVY Jodi, that is if you have time before you leave for your next Inside Edition appearance". I can't help but hope that they work things out. Those children need them.

I also think that they need to replace Kate's James Brolin look-alike bodyguard and take away Jon's ID so he stays out of the bars...But, that's just me...

Thanks for stopping by Hollyhocks! Have a good week.

Fabric Fabric Everywhere, and Only One Bolt to Buy

 

The Dear Husband and I went to an estate sale Friday because there was a WHOLE ROOM OF FABRIC! There was also lots of guy stuff so he was pretty happy too... I found..

 

A flock of flocked chicks...

 

A Swanky Swigs glass that I don't have. Or at least it's a glass for the collection that may be Swanky Swigs...

 

4 lovely linen napkins...because we are now a family of 4.Well, 5 actually, but Cadbury uses us for a napkin...

  

Rick Rack for crafting...

 

2 Gurley candles. Not unusual candles, but it's unusual to find them still in the package.

...and, finally, a bolt of fabric. Total cost...$8.00. There was a fairly large room, devoted entirely to fabric and trim, dozens of bolts, yards and yards of lace...boxes of thread...and all polyester...and not the good kind. It was so strange to be in this room and not want to buy anything...well, except this...

 

5 yards of a pretty little cotton. I have been sewing again and can't wait to show you what I have made, courtesy of Martha (Stewart, of course) and her great sewing ideas lately.

Well, I hope this finds you all loving the long weekend. I typed this post while swinging on my Mother's Day swing. My new favorite perch (the twins love it too). We set up...

 

Baby Jail this week, also known as the play yard. The twins have been loving the fresh air and sunshine...at least what they get of it through the SPF 500 they are coated in from head to toe. The DH also set up an umbrella over the corner of the jail so they are shaded... until they start crawling... The thing is huge and a great idea so far. I can get a few things done/planted while they play.

Parade tomorrow and we can't wait. It's the twins' first and this family LOVES a parade! Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks.

Home Sweet Home

 

I got the pattern for this dollhouse potholder  from Pam, who got it from Freda's Hive. It's a super easy project, layered with Insul-Bright (from Joann's) and backed with

  

This pretty cupcake fabric, also from Joann's. I added a button doorknob since I took the photo and will probably jazz up the window a bit. I made it as an example for one of my students to follow.

The IDT feature on the Pfaff sewing machine makes sewing multiple layers a breeze. I LOVE that feature.

My project for this weekend is to dream up a small last project for the sewing class. I had some ideas, but they were too girly. It's always a challenge to come up with projects the boys will get on board with. We are finishing the PJ pants (from Sew What Fleece). They have you measure yourself and make a custom pattern. The boys had difficulty with drafting the pattern, but the pants are coming out really well. Our principal is considering setting aside a day for the sewing students to wear them to school. If we are allowed, I will be rocking the yellow flannel Hello Kitty PJs. The twins gave me a wonderful 1st Mother's Day. The DH may have noticed my not-too-subtle hints because he gave me a covered futon swing for the yard...some assembly required...and the twins...

 

(Rory in vintage from Pretty Petals and a handmade cardigan from Josie, and Joe, of course, in stripes-mom loves stripes on him) got me 2 charms for my bracelet, a kitten and a dolphin (Joe Sr. calls Rory Flipper because when we put her in her crib, she flips over immediately.)

 

We saw the pediatrician this week for their 9 month checkup and Joe is, as predicted, a big dude, 29 inches and almost 23 pounds. Rory is 28 inches and 20.5 pounds. Both are in the 75th percentile for height and weight. It's so funny how I worried myself sick that they'd be frail and here they are, 2 big babies! We are so thankful. A bit of sibling squabbling has started recently...

 

The first time, Joe grabbed Rory's toy and she cried. She learned quickly though, and now she seems to be the "assertive" toy grabber. Here we go...

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks. If we get a break in the rain this weekend, I have lots of planting to do. Warm weather is a reliable cure for most things here in the Northeast.

Sometimes You Break a Plate or Two

 

I thought I was doing o.k. I was going to bed earlier and earlier and I was snippy with the DH, but I was working a full-time job, taking care of twins, trying to be a good daughter and an o.k. friend and I was constantly cleaning up after 2 babies, a dog and a husband...but, I'm preaching to the choir here. You all get what I mean.

 If you have 2 X chromosomes and live with a man, your life is like mine more likely than not. So, I was spinning all of the plates...and then my stepdad died. I was dealing with it but never had time to be alone with my thoughts for a minute...and then, 2 weeks ago, a 12 year old boy was hit by a car in front of my school one morning. We all waited for word from the paramedics and were quickly told that he had died.

Recently, 2 pasta bowls fell out of the cupboard and shattered in a perfect metaphor for how I have felt over the past 2 weeks. I was sad, and tired and really, really angry that I was so sad and so tired and I still had to clean up after the DH.

Marriage is hard. If you don't believe me, Google the phrase "husband doesn't help around the house" and you'll find 6,700,000+ like-minded women. That's what I do when I am upset about something. I Google the term. It's nice to know you're not alone.

Life is hard. People die. I get that. I have just always had time to process things in my mind and then move on.

I get so tired.

 I woke up today and felt better. Still overwhelmed, but better. I need to talk to my friends more...and I got more pasta plates, online. First order of business...have a good friend over for dinner.

The twins are great. Such little loves. They laugh at each other when they sneeze and Kitten steals Rory's toys and she cries. We have to work on sharing...and on yanking the toy back!

...and I have been sewing...

 

...An apron and dish towels for a colleague. She painted her kitchen "creamsicle" and do you think I could find an orange dish towel anywhere? I had to dye white towels with Rit dye.

 

More terry lined bibs. Never enough bibs!

 

...and a drawstring bag for the pile of laundry that leaves day care every day with the twins. I am anxious to sew a dress for Rory with an Oliver and S pattern and lemon fabric, but that will take time and concentration. Good thing the pattern goes up to 24 months...

Hi to Barbara, Corrie, Josie, Sondra, Susan and all of my friends inside the computer. I am saving your emails and hope to answer someday soon.

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks. I'm here if you need to "talk".

Jerusalem and SbonetSue won the pincushions. I decided to give away 2 because I made 2 more...Please email me your address and I'll send them off. (I used the random number generator. What a fun little toy). 

Do You Know What Time the Early Bird Buffet Opens?

 

The DH (dear husband) says they look like a couple of Miami retirees. The twins came out to observe yesterday as I was digging in the garden.

 

Rory lasted 10 minutes with the sunglasses before trying to eat them.

 

Joe's glasses ended up around his mouth. A good time was, however, had by all. Those of you who dote on your dogs will totally get this next photo and others will be appalled...

 

Rory and Cadbury are B-inter species-F.

 

...and Kitten is his momma's son. We've never met a nap we didn't like. I hope you are having a great weekend. Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks...

Scroll down to put your name in for the pin cushion giveaway!

Bet You Can't Make Just One and a Giveaway

 

I have wanted one of these since Manda made her first one. Every time she made a bunch though, they sold out immediately. I love what people do with selvages (or is it selvedges?). One woman even has a whole blog devoted to them. So, when Manda posted that the pattern was going to be in Quiltmaker magazine, I ran right out... and found that it was in the previous issue. I decided to order the back issue and 4 TIMES the web site crashed my request. Undaunted, I waited a few days and tried again...and then I waited over a month for the magazine to arrive.

It arrived on Monday and I have spent every spare second making these. They are truly addictive. Don't let me near your fabric collection or you may find your selvages mysteriously missing. They make a great gift for a sewer. I stuffed mine with cotton stuffing from Near Sea Naturals

In fact, if you would like a selvage pin cushion, leave a comment on this post by midnight Sunday and I will pick a name and send one out to you. Then I have a reason to make another one.

Many thanks to Manda for dreaming up this clever idea. Did anybody see the "Trouble With Tribbles" episode of Star Trek? I think these pin cushions may multiply like that here at Hollyhocks. What can't you stop making?