Hollyhocks

I Want Those IQ Points Back

 

They say when you're pregnant, you lose IQ points. With my roller coaster ride of a pregnancy, I'm lucky I can still drive! But now, I want those points back...

I left work today, stopped at Joanns, lucked out and found the perfect vintage-look fabulous outdoor (remnant!)fabric for my faded and soppy bistro chair seats, made a couple other stops and all the while thought to myself..."as soon as the babies go to bed, I'll recover those chairs". I have been looking at those sad tattered cushions all summer and planning this project. So I came home...with the fabric...set it down and, 5 minutes later...COULD NOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME REMEMBER WHAT I PLANNED TO DO AFTER THE TWINS WENT TO BED!!!

Not even a glimmer.

I straightened the house up, got the twins clothes ready for tomorrow and walked up to day care to pick them up and I still could not remember. It took until half way home for me to remember...oh yeah, the chairs. Do I have to wear a notebook around my neck on a chain?

 

It only took half an hour and the rehoming of some angry spiders to cover the chair seats and I am a happy stapler. Now, a couple more perennials back there...

 

and maybe a patterned cushion for the swing...and some more mulch...and I'll be done with the back yard for this summer

 I could really use those IQ points though...

What did you lose the ability to do after you had kids? Don't even get me started on sleep.They sleep through the night, but i never do. I have super-human mommy hearing now.

Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks! Have a great week. I'll be back soon with some simple sewing projects I have been working on.

A Homemade Life

 

I am reading a wonderful book. I look forward to sitting down with it every night after the babies are asleep and today I made 2 of the recipes from the book. It's a memoir with recipes. There are a bunch out there now and I have a few. This is my favorite. Some are overwritten or they just try too hard. Molly  is a talented writer and a great cook. How do I know this? Last night I read the chapter about her dad and I, too cried when he died. This morning I made his potato salad

  

with dill from the farmer's market and chives from my yard. I also made Molly's

  

Banana bread with Dark Chocolate and crystallized Ginger. The babies loved their little bits of it. The book is so readable. It's like a letter from your college roommate...with recipes.

I have been waking up so early on the weekends...5:30-6:00 early...so I had time to make goulash and a black raspberry clafouti (Cla-Foo-Tee. There, I can finally pronounce it properly.) this morning too.

 

I had a slice with creme fraiche during afternoon nap. Next slice I think I will have a bit of confectioner's sugar over the top. The texture is like bread pudding without the bread... or a more substantial custard. It may be breakfast tomorrow. So now that the cooking/baking frenzy is over, I am a bit behind on my cleaning duties. I couldn't possibly clean now though. I'm too full!

Rory-Pie started to crawl this week...

 

She left Joe and daddy in the living room this morning and came to find me in the kitchen. Little does she know that it has been my lifelong plan to have little ones in the kitchen with me, baking and chatting.

 

Now to lure little Joe out there....he did love the banana bread...maybe luscious scents wafting out will get him crawling...

Well, thanks for visiting Hollyhocks. I had a HAIR-owing experience last week. I'll tell you about it soon.

 I have been seeing new readers in my stats. You know who you are. Thanks for stopping by!

First Haircuts!

 

Rory before....

...and....

 

After!

 

Joe before....

...and

 

After!

We had a blast, took zillions of photos and lots of video. These truly are the days to remember! They loved the attention and we saved a lock from each. Thanks for visiting Hollyhocks. 3 weeks until the twins' birthday.

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!