Hollyhocks

Morning Light

 
 
I have a challenging assignment at work this summer, so I have been trying to say a morning prayer. This morning I was letting our dog out and I noticed some simple pretty things...Chia gourmet herbs, believe it or not.

 
Dill has such a lacy look...

 
I don't mind the birds sharing our handful of raspberries.

 
Now I just need some tomatoes and fresh mozarella. I hope you are enjoying the morning light where you are.

 

 

 

 

 

Catching Up

 
After 3 years of "planning to" work on the Country Girls peg doll kit I ordered from Alicia before the twins were born...

 
It's finally complete...and...I could easily become addicted to making these dolls. I want to do a 1930s group...and a Swedish group...and...and... I will teach my girl group at school to make them. Great activity. Very therapeutic.

 
I've been on vacation so I have been baking...a lot...and I wanted to share a busy mama tip with you. I never have a long stretch of time to measure and mix and bake, so, I measure dry ingredients ahead of time and label the bag(s). Then, all I need to do is mix and bake. Saves time and late nights waiting for things to finish baking. You're welcome.

 
The twins and I had a chance to visit a friend who has horses and sheep and tons of room to run. The sheep scared Rory so she immediately ran to the side of her 39" twin for protection. He says that if Rory takes ballet lessons he will have to go too, "to protect her". I love that.

 
I hope you are enjoying some time off too.

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks. I think of you often. Just need more hours in the day.

 

 

A Slippery Slope

 
 

 
 
Rory went for her first pedicure on Saturday...I know, today it's an ice cream scrub pedicure...tomorrow it's spray tans and hair extensions...Mommy quits her job to do the pageant circuit... Not this girl...she has her twin to keep her from getting too girly-girly. She has, however, entered every room  since Saturday and announced "Look my pretty toes" to all present. Ahhh, how to preserve that confidence and unbridled joy!

 

There's No Denying It

 
I love to bargain and I love purple. This is the first time I have seen an amethyst Mason jar in person and I LOVE these little bobbins...

 
Do you knw about these jars? I have read that they were made of clear glass that contained magnesium. When the magnesium was exposed to light, it turned the jars purple. That was a lucky accident. It's local too.The jars are fairly rare and I was lucky to get this one at a good price...of course now I want to collect more. I do love to go to estate sales and poke around, dirty hands and all.

 
I am  hoping to get the rest of my plants in the ground today if I can keep Bonnie and Clyde (seen here at the Memorial Day parade) occupied. Big plans for tomorrrow...I will write about it next week if I can get some good photos. Until then, thanks for checking in and keep your eyes open for amethyst glass jars for me!

Thank you for visiting Hollyhocks!

 

Rain Rain Go Away...

 
 

It's a bad sign when you pick your twins up at day care and the first thing they ask -every day-when they see you is...Raining, Mama? That's because it-has-rained-almost-every-day-for-weeks. Their other new favorite is "It's raining, it's pouring..." I have ruined it for these poor kids. Not only do they live in the snowbelt...they now live in the rainbelt. It is pretty though. Grass is flourescent green, shrubs have reached record sizes...The forecast is for some sun this weekend. I'll take a picture...

Thinking of the folks who are enduring the most damaging and severe of weather, and praying for their recovery.

Thank you for visiting Hollyhocks.

(Iris plants courtesy of a generous co-worker-my favorite flower...ever)
 

Estate Saling

 

I have been meaning to tell you about this estate sale. It was a few weeks ago. I was poking around the attic, looking through boxes of uninteresting fabric when I came upon a plastic bag full of gingham. I love gingham so I put the bag under my arm and when I went to pay, the lady asked if $1.00 would be o.k. for the bag...Sure, I thought, $1 for gingham scraps sounded great. When I got home I found 10 (!) homemade aprons...6 gingham

 
one spotted....

 
One voile. I love these!

 
and 2 cotton....

 
3 cute hankies...

 

Quaint vintage wrapping paper...

 
Non-glass toddler-safe vintage snow...

 
and yards and yards of unbleached muslin, some of which is already lining handmade student bookbags at work. The muslin gods, realizing that I had used the last of my old supply from years ago, sent more. Oh for a couple of days to sit and sew...

Total Estate Sale Fun cost...$5.00. A few more like that sale and I could rediscover my old ES obsession.

Vacation days coming up at the end of June. An opportunity to slow things down a bit...Strawberry-Rhubarb crumble is on the menu for this weekend. 1 month until kindred spirit Josie from Bread and Buttons Blog moves back...counting the days.

Happy Mother's Day

 
2 of the perks that come with the job...the 3rd is Cadbury-who turned 11 last Friday. Happy Mother's Day to every woman out there who is important in the life of a child.

Easter Greetings

 
 
                                                                                   

 

Just one year ago...How time flies.

What's New?

 
Why, not much...just this Liberty of London mini spectrum bundle from Purl Soho. I have plans for these incomparable little prints. If you are wondering what the fabric is perched upon...

 
It's just this ADORABLE vintage tabletop washing machine (!), found in an estate sale cellar, in the box, for $6. I can't tell you how much I love this little beauty. It has an agitator and everything.

But I digress, I have been sewing during my blog absence...

 
Iron-on vinyl over Japanese fabric bib UFOs

 
Natural linen, japanese fairy tale and 30s repro fabric quilt top UFOs...

o.k., o.k. I said I have been sewing, not necessarily finishing! I've also made a veritable rackful of PJ bottoms for the (newly potty-trained!) twins...from a Whimsy Couture pattern and tutorial. I'll post about that geniusly simple pattern soon.

 
I'll leave you with these flocked chicks and spun cotton bunny heads...

Thank you for stopping by. Hollyhocks wouldn't be the same without you.

Still Here

 
Thanks Moda, That about says it all (Fabric from a wonderful new local quilt shop.) First I should say that I never intended to be away from the blog for this long. I just kept tearing the pages off of the calendar until...here we are well into April. I have a minute to catch up with you because I am on R&R at my favorite B&B for a tune-up. I shut off the to-do list in my head and tore into a new book here...

 
I read for so long yesterday that I had to use Visine to get the red out! I am reading this book and if I had an oven in my room, I would already be baking egg cakes (vanilla butter mini cakes).

 

The owner of an eccentric little shop (Hen House Antiques) pointed this out to me. It's a recipe box...ish

 

The "books" turn into little file boxes. Are you there Barbara? Do you love it? I collect recipe tins, but I have never seen one like this.

 

This was the scene outside of the window when I arrived yesterday. A glass half-full person could say something negative here, but I will take the high road and extoll the virtues of a climate that allows for extended fireplace use...

Every shop I visited today was an independent. These people have had a tough row to hoe these last few years. So many great little shops have disappeared. There is nothing like shopping at a place where the "greeter" is the owner. It kind of slows things down, doesn't it? No long lines at the register. A bit of conversation, tips about other places of interest...I can just feel my heart rate dipping...which reminds me...I think I am late for a nap...Back to toddler kisses tomorrow. Pretty great, huh?

Thank you for visiting Hollyhocks. It was good to catch up.