This Vintage Chica

Pretty Pictures and a bit of Housekeeping

Wyatt officially out of preschool.  And I am welcoming these several weeks it is just he and I before the older boys are out.  This morning we are off to run a few errands (pay off our fines at the library and hit TJ's) before we eat lunch with the older boys at school.

Above are just some photos I took of some of the flowers blooming in our yard right now.  The pansies and daffodils have given way to delphenium, lavender, and whatever this pretty pink one is that the bees love so much.  The zinnias are starting to pop up too.

Memorial Day weekend is special around here, so I will probably not be back until Tuesday.  If you will be hitting the farmer's market this weekend, I have a new post over at Simple Organic on how to make an easy market bag out of a t-shirt.  So easy!

The Magnifying Glass is going great guns again with new commenters and followers every day.  Check it out if you have a few minutes this weekend.

And a big thank you to Tammy and Ohdeedoh for featuring our outdoor movie night.  What a treat!

Happy weekend my friends!

The Shift

The season is shifting...do you feel it?

We've got three and a half weeks left of school for the older boys here and we still have homework, bedtimes.  But I remembered late last night that today is the last day of preschool for the little guys and I hadn't done anything for Wyatt's teachers.  Easy Peasy tote bags to the rescue!  I originally found Skip To My Lou's instructions for a Simple Reversible Tote bag a while back, but it has become my go-to pattern for quick gifts needed on the fly.

One child out of school and two other still in is not the only indication of riding the fence on which season we are really living in these days.

We picked the last of the peas.  And now the edamame and pole beans are beginning to climb where the peas were.  Tomatoes are starting to take off.  So are the cucumbers, melons and squash we planted several weeks back.  The potatoes are blooming now, so it won't be long before we can dig those up.

We're spending every free moment we have at the beach.  It is such a perfect time to enjoy the surf before the summer tourists get here in full force.  And before the "skitos" get bad.

We've been eating better too.  Fresh and local is so much easier during this time of year. Im addicted to grilled chicken and avocado taquitos with fresh berries.  I've had them for lunch and dinner for the past two days.  I picked up the vintage melamine a few weeks back.  Now that the patio is finished we were in need of some cute dishes that would not break if dropped on the stone.

Are you feeling it too?  The season shift I mean?

What does the shift look like where you are?

Make Way For Ducklings

Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey is one of our most favorite books of all time. The cover of our copy is tattered and taped many times over.

Its so fitting that it is duckling season in our neighborhood.  Our area is pelted with little ponds and inlets.  You can't drive one mile in any direction without finding water.  Which makes this area a perfect place to hatch ducklings.

Remember last year?  We're not planning on taking any in this year as last year our luck wasn't so good.  We've had a few in the back yard that were only a few days old, but luckily their mama was still around and we were able to shoo them all in the direction of the water.

This weekend S had two of the boys on an errand with him and Ian and I were cooking in the kitchen.  It was cool outside so we had the windows open.  All of a sudden we heard a racket outside and Ian went to check to see what the noise was.

And it was this brood of 11 ducklings.

According to Wike Answers...

A group of ducks is called a badelynge, bunch, brace, flock, paddling, raft or team. 

If it's a group of ducklings (i.e., they've recently hatched and are being looked after by their mother), it is called a brood.

Their mother was not with them, but this group was around 5 or 6 weeks old, so we weren't concerned.  They were doing a great job of foraging for worms and dropped bird seed.

Ian and I watched for at least 30 minutes or so.  

We had such a great conversation about the ducklings themselves.  About mothers and babies.  About independence.  About respecting the natural world.

Moments like this seem like such a gift in an otherwise busy season of life.

Eventually we heard a loud quacking overhead.  Both the mother and father (we're guessing) flew over, made a circle and landed.  She called them off of the front porch and down the street.

Thank you little ducks...for the excuse to stop for just a few minutes and enjoy how pretty you are.

More info. on ducklings on The Magnifying Glass.

The Patio...Finally

Sorry everyone.  I didn't mean to be away from this space for so long.

The patio project officially began two weeks ago and has been a huge exercise in delayed gratification.  It was supposed to be finished by Mother's Day.  But you know how construction projects go.  First the stone was delivered late, then the sand was late.  And then it rained for 4 days.

There were many nights S and I were up until midnight laying these huge stones (really more of him than me) with flashlights.  The boys helped fill in the cracks with sand and helped me plant the stepables that will eventually fill in and look something like this.  I can't tell you how much I am loving these stepables.

Our stepables include:

• two types of ajuga
• three varieties of thyme (my fave is wooly thyme with its pretty little flowers)
• golden creeping jenny
• irish moss and scottish moss (which really are not mosses at all since they flower)
• and sedum goldmoss stonecrop

We've also ordered some irish moss seeds to see how they will do.  They should be arriving via mail this week.

I know you all are wondering if the chairs got a coat of paint or not.  Well of course they did!  I had a hard time coming up with a color...or colors.  But I have loved this little succulent that sits in the middle of our patio table and thought it might be good inspiration for the chair colors.  Each chair is spray painted a different shade of blue/green.

*** I have to say it again...I love spray paint. ***

Zane was doing his homework at the patio table yesterday while I was putting a second coat of paint on the chairs.  He commented that I must really like spray paint since I had spent so much time with a can in my hand.  And after I explained all of the wonderful things you can do with spray paint and how much I loved it...in true 2nd grader style, he told me that if I loved it so much, I should marry it.  I told him to call the preacher then, cuz' Im getting married again.  He thought that was pretty funny.

The old metal glider got a fresh coat of black paint.  And new cushions found on sale for $10 each.  And the wisteria was repotted in pretty lime green.

Im really loving how it all turned out.  It was SO worth the late nights and juggling who was putting who to bed while the other parent worked outside.  We still have plans for a pergola or something to provide a little shade during the hot summers.

So if you need to find me, this is where I'll be...until...about...November.

Happy Thursday everyone...I just noticed the legs on the patio need a new coat of paint. *wink*

Strawberry Season and a Winner

This weekend I saw the first roadside signs for pick your own strawberries.  And for the past several days all I can think about are getting my hands on some pretty red berries.

This morning I dropped by my favorite fruit and veggie stand to pick up a few of these little gems to tide me over until I can get to our annual picking.

I'm thinking the few I picked up this morning just might not make it to after desert after dinner.  Because I'm dreaming of freezer jam and fruit leather.

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I loved, loved, love reading about everyone's thrift, family hand me down, flea market furniture finds.  I read each and every entry and loved hearing the stories behind why you love the pieces you do.

And now for the winner of the Flea Market Style book giveaway.

The winner is #22 is  Sarah Jackson of Green Clogs who said...

Oh gosh - that bedroom is adorable. I don't think Annika would go for it either, but I can dream. I'd love for my house to look like that, but I'm afraid for me it would just look messy and cluttered, instead of carefully crafted. Maybe the book would help?

I don't have any flea market furniture, but my favorite thrift store furniture is an end table that I bought about 14 years ago for $25. It's mahogany with a little cupboard on top that has beveled glass in its doors and a leather top. It has traveled with me everywhere. The cupboard is the perfect place to stash my mess when people are coming over and I don't have time to clean. :)

Happy weekend, friend. xoxo

Congratulations Sarah!!!

Send me your address and I'll pop this little book in the mail to you pronto!

Off to nibble on some more berries.

Happy Monday!

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Mom,

Thank you for washing my cheerleading uniform at midnight the night before the big game.

Thank you for having the best hugs in the world that always seem to make everything OK.

Thank you for helping me find the most perfect pair of jeans with rainbows on the pockets…and encouraging Dad to get them for me even though they were way too much money at the time.

Thank you for making me take my dishes to the sink.  And help with the laundry.  And make my own lunch. 

Thank you for making me wait while you talked to Dad before letting me go to Kristen DeMonte’s house.

I’m glad you made me write notes to my grandparents and call them on the phone. 

I’m glad you made me say “Yes Ma’am and No Sir”.

Im glad you took me to church.

Thank you for making it through a long, difficult labor just to see my little face.

Thank you for staying up all night to make my Christmas cantata dress. 

Thank you for making every one of my prom dresses, four homecoming dresses…and my wedding dress.

Thank you for teaching me how to make 7-up pound cake, homemade macaroni and cheese and meatloaf.

Thank you for naming me Eren…I still love my name and have never wanted it to be something different…unlike my brother (who wanted to be called Clint).

Thank you for setting my 11:00 p.m. curfew, even though I had to be home earlier than everyone else.

I will never forget you letting me take in lost little baby birds, and turtles, and snakes…even though you hate snakes.

I will never forget our vacations to St. George Island and you showing us the sea turtle nest.

Because of you I will never forget the names of all of the Texas wildflowers or the words to “Skip to the Lou, My Darlin’”.

Because of you I know the difference between Roseville and Zanesville pottery.

Thank you for buying a station wagon when I know you probably wanted something a little sportier and more red.

Thank you for showing me women can be anything they want to be…a career woman (like you) or a stay at home mom (like me).  Or anything else.

Thank you for having an impact on your community through volunteering.

Thank you for beginning to put money away for me to go to college even before I was born.

I’m sorry I lied to you about going to Jennifer's graduation party.  But thank you for cooking breakfast at 4 a.m. for all of my friends anyway.

I’m sorry you continued to work so long in a job that did not appreciate you so that Ryan and I could both go to college.

I’m sorry for forgetting your anniversary this year.

And for not asking how you are before I go on and on about my latest frustration with the PTA or about our orders not coming through.

Thank you for letting me date Peter Prodanov…and Shane Listch…and Jeremy Green…even though you almost pulled your hair out.

Thank you for chaperoning the Jr. High dances and two stepping with Dad.  I was not as embarrassed as I acted.  Inside, I was really proud of you two.

Thank you for being next to me through all three of my boys’ births…even though you said it was one of the toughest things you’ve ever done.

Thank you for marrying Dad…he’s the best.

Thank you for raising me to be independent…and then having the courage to let me go.

Thank you for letting me make my own decisions.

Thank you for always worrying about me…even after I left home.

And now thanks for worrying about not only me, but my husband and our three boys.

Thank you for being proud of me now that Im all grown up (almost).

I am a good mom because you are a great mom.

And I love you!

Happy Mother’s Day Diana.

And Happy Mother's Day to all of the great mothers I am lucky enough to know and do this mothering thing along side you.  I am inspired by you daily.  Much love to all of you. 

(inspired by Kelly Corrigan's video through )

Weekend Giveaway: Flea Market Style

love this table and bench combo...especially the color of the bench's legs

and you all already know how I love chalkboard paint

Im in love with Friday right now...

I feel like everyweekend that comes along is just a little taste of the summer that is coming right around the bend. We have just a little over a month of school left here in Virginia. And believe me my boys are counting down the days.

So to celebrate just because its the weekend, I'm giving away another book.

another mismatched, multicolor chair photo to add to the inspiration

I don't think I could talk one of the boys into redecorating their room like this one, but the wall treatment is so darned sweet it makes my teeth hurt

I have had Flea Market Style by Emily Chalmers and Ali Hanan for several years now and continue to refer to it often. It has become one of my favorite decorating reference books. 

A few weeks ago I came across another copy and couldn't resist not picking it up.

Luck you!

To enter to win this book, simply comment below with an answer to the following question:

What is your most favorite piece of flea market furniture in your home right now...and why do you love it so much?

I'll be back on Monday morning with the winner and hopefully some pics of an almost finished patio.

Good luck everyone.

Happy weekend to you!

In the Garden: Early Morning

I took my coffee (and my camera) outside this morning, before the boys were up.  The birds were chirping away, mallards flying overhead.  It was a good way to begin a day. Little did I know, that the littlest would be home from school today with a cough and a fever.

We're trying to do a bit more repurposing in the garden.  A few weeks back, S needed new tires unexpectedly.  Luckily he asked for the old tires back, because they are making great potato pots now.  We started the potatos in the bottom tire and then as we piled the soil on top, we added the next tire.  This is the first time we've grown them this way, so we'll see how they do.

We've had a tiny little cement slab patio ever since we purchased this house 5 years ago. It is barely big enough for the grill and a small bistro table.  But this past week S and the boys started digging out the grass to lay a new slate patio.  The rock gets delivered tomorrow. Im so excited!

Perfect timing too because on Tuesday I rescued three sweet little patio chairs from the garbage.  They will go great with the iron table that has had no chairs. I can't wait to see it all come together.  Hmmm...to paint them or not to paint them?

Im a bit crazy with the spray paint around here these days.  So Im guessing they'll end up with a new coat of paint.

There's a new book giveaway coming up tomorrow, so stay tuned my friends!

Decorating: In Need Of White Space

You know how it goes.

You paint one wall.  But then the wall next to it looks dirty in comparison, so it needs painting too.  Or you get new curtains, but then they don't really go with the throw pillows, so you'll need to make some new pillows as well.  One thing leads to another.

Well that's the way things have been going around here.

I love the new light over the breakfast table.  But there was just something not quite right about it.  I finally decided the green light (which I decided to leave green) and the yellow tablecloth curtain behind it was just a bit too much for me.  So I replaced the curtain with some really gauzy linen.

Simple is always better it seems.

I love it.

And I've been working on rearranging some pictures and framing some of our favorite photographs.  Since I switched to a digital camera, I never seem to get prints made and framed.  One day I looked around and all of our framed photographs were from at least 3 years ago.

I've been picking up random frames here and there.  The three cork board frames now holding photos from our Christmas vacation trip to TX now hang in the playroom.  

Finding good boy fabric is tough for me...meaning finding fabric that doesn't look too much like a baby and does not include a transformer or a star wars character.  Not that we don't play with those things.  I just don't want them on my curtains.  The vintage fabric above used to be two coverlets originally sold by SEARS.  They are now new playroom curtains.  I love the boats and compasses and eagles.

 

The boys have been bringing home some exceptionally good artwork from school as well. They helped me pick out their favorite pieces and we framed them alongside some other prints that are finally hung.

In looking at all of these photos, I can't help but think that there is a lot of white...and clean space that is a bit out of character for me.  Im guessing that my brain is in need of some clarity and white space as of late.  We are up for orders again and things have been a bit tense around here.  I don't really want to move again.  But you military wives know how that goes, eh?

I guess the way one decorates their house really is a direct reflection of the owner.

What do you think your decorating is say about you right now?