Weekend Update

Meet the baby sister!  She is so tiny and so pretty.  The little bird could not be a prouder big sister.  Holding a newborn baby is a precious gift. I admit I was a little nervous before holding the little one.  Luckily, it's like riding a bike, it instantly comes back to you.  I automatically start rocking, patting, humming... I am happiest with a baby in my arms, a child on my lap... It's what I do best.  We were invited to Grandma and Grandpa's place to welcome the newest member of our family. They are old hands at this Grandparent thing, so calm for grandbaby #2.   Seems like yesterday we were meeting her big sister.  Just a wonderful way to start the new year.

Not everything was as cool as meeting a new baby!  We did some regular weekend things too, like shopping.  We went to Ikea and found this paper roll holder.  I'm sure you've seen the vintage type paper holder that every butcher, baker or grocer had on their counter.  I've seen them for sale, but they are usually huge, heavy and costly.  This one was $6.99, and the roll of paper $4.99.  This will be perfect for my work table. Especially when rubber stamping, when you need something to protect your work surface.  I'm sure our little one will love the giant pieces of paper to draw and paint on.  It's all made of wood with just 4 screws to assemble the holder.  The top comes down to touch the roll of paper and serve as a cutting edge. 

I also bought a couple of pillow covers.  They tie closed on the pillow and will grace the bed in the guest room.  The guest room was put together quickly before Thanksgiving and needs a little TLC.  So does the rest of the house...it's looking a little shabby since the Christmas decorations came down.  (and not in a good shabby way)

 Once again affordable cool stuff from Ikea.  If you haven't been, you gotta go.

We also visited the  local Goodwill and I found some books I'll share in a future post.

Did you catch the first part of the second season of Downton Abbey on PBS?  It's really good, and you can see all the episodes online at PBS.org.  That's how we spent our weekend...  Just to add a controversial comment,  I miss the SNOW.  How about you? It just doesn't feel like winter without it.  Let's discuss... ;-)

Enjoy this beautiful, though snow less day.

Our New Addition!

The beautiful sunrise this morning!

During the night, a new baby girl was born to our family...

She is the new sister of our little bird.

Guess who picked the baby's name...Yes, it was her big sister.  How cool is that?! 

A long time ago, a nurse entered the room where I was in labor with my first child...She threw open the curtains and said, "It's a beautiful day to be born!" (I didn't exactly share her enthusiasm at the time;-) 

And...so is today.  Welcome baby to our family. We are gonna love you like crazy cakes!  Little bird, you have a sister! (Thanks for letting me share her, since I don't have one!)  You'll be the best big sister ever. I can't wait to see you two together.  My heart will overflow!

Congratulations Mom and Dad.  We're all here to help when you need us, and we love you all so much.
Yes, it is a beautiful day to be born!

Quick and Crafty

While perusing my favorite blogs, I visited The Graphics Fairy for her Brag Monday.  I do love this site, but it takes so long for it to load on my computer.  I can have breakfast, throw in a load of laundry, clean a bathroom, sew a quilt...you get the picture.  It takes a LONG time. So, I'm sorry I haven't linked to the actual project. 

It is one of those quick and crafty projects I love, when I  find I have everything at home I need.  The key to this project is the Lazertran, Waterside Decal Paper.  I purchased mine several years ago, on the internet at http://www.lazertran.com/. 

It is very easy to do...Find an image you love, and print it onto the Waterside Decal Paper.  I saved the image to picasa and changed it to a sepia image, and printed it onto the waterslide decal paper.  I waited overnite for the ink to set, but the instructions state that you can use the image after only 30 minutes drying time.

Sepia Images

Trimmed and ready to put into warm water.

These are bottles I had, the clear bottles are from olive oil.   I bought  them at a rummage sale this summer for .25 each.  I can't get rid of a blue bottle, they are so pretty...so I always seem to have one around for crafting.

 The paper immediately curls when it hits the water...no worries...

 You can easily flatten it out.  Then slide a corner to remove the decal.

 I was a little rough on the first decal, I tore it and rubbed a little too hard with a plastic scraper.

 As it dries, you can see the white back of the decal.  If you want to make this clear, you can use a clear coat varnish.

I'll clear coat the clear bottle, but leave the blue bottle as is.  With a pretty stopper this will look charming.
If you are interested in trying this, I'm going to print out a few labels.  If you email me, I'll send you one to try. I have enough decal paper to make just a few, so let me know.  Enjoy this beautiful day my friends!

They had me at The Seasons!

I mentioned yesterday that I was reading a book I couldn't put down.  Well, that page turner is The Seasons at Henry's Farm by Terra Brockman,  A Year of Food and Life on a Sustainable Farm.  This book takes you through a farmer's year, a week at a time.  Starting in November, with the planting of garlic and ending with preparations the following year to do the same.  The never ending cycle of life on a farm.  Those of us with a romantic view of farming and farm life, this book sets things straight.  Henry and his family work, work and work to be good stewards of land that has been in his family for five generations.  The farm is here in Illinois, in the Mackinaw River Valley, in Congerville.  Henry grows more than 650 varieties of vegetables on 10 acres. and sells his produce in Evanston, a suburb of Chicago, at their weekly farmers market.  Henry also feeds his own and extended family.  The book is full of recipes, family stories and facts about how farming was done in the past, the present day methods and the way back to growing good food.  Food that is good for us and for the soil and water. "That we can eat well and live well and still leave this earth a better place than we found it."

The Christmas decorations are being packed away, though the candles in the windows, the lights on the arbor and the evergreens out in front of the house will stay for a few more weeks.  My Mom never thought of taking down the tree until the Three Kings came on January 6th.  I remember a small box with a sliding top, filled with fragrant incense and a piece of chalk... I couldn't remember the significance so I looked it up...

The Epiphany or Feast of the Three Kings - Trzech Kroli

On Twelfth Night, Jan. 6, Poles take small boxes containing chalk, a gold ring, incense and a piece of amber, in memory of the gifts of the Magi, to church to be blessed. Once at home, they inscribe the date and "K+M+B" with the blessed chalk above every door in the house to provide protection against illness and misfortune for those within. The letters, with a cross after each one, stand for names of the Three Kings -- Kaspar, Melchior and Balthasar. They remain above the doors all year until they are inadvertently dusted off or replaced by new markings the next year.

Do any of you remember this custom?  It's those kinds of memories that make me so glad that I was raised with traditon, and a proud Polish heritage.


Remembering... 
People, look east. The time is near
Of the crowning of the year.
Make your house fair as you are able,
Trim the hearth and set the table.
People, look east and sing today:
Love, the guest, is on the way.

January...

I went to the library on Friday, because with the new year comes the need to read!  There were too many books I wanted to take home with me.  I settled on a dozen or so, and have looked at each one and am reading one that I can't put down. (I'll talk about that in another post.)

The titles are many, with some decorating, some craft, some gardening. I even found a book by the American Pickers on how to find good junk.  (Like I need help with that ;-)

The need to craft is great in the new year...and I have a salvaged set of old encyclopedias just waiting to be folded and cut.

Once the Christmas decorations come down, the house will need some refreshing.  Looking through this Shabby Chic book, reminded me that you don't need new things to make your home a welcoming place.  Rachel does it with worn chairs, frayed fabric and many things I already have around the house.

 We had a quiet New Years, it was great to have nothing I had to do.  I made my favorite meal, and found a spud o love in the bag of many weird shaped potatoes. 

Of course I had to photograph it, and send it to my kids. 


I received this special gift during the holiday rush, but wanted to show it to you.  My dear friend Barb from Babs Just a Babblin' sent me this charming package with a vintage linen towel she found for me this summer, and saved for my Christmas present.  She thought it said, "Penny", and it does!

The little bean bags are actually hand warmers that you put in the microwave and snuggle in your gloves.  Such a thoughtful gift, though dear Barb is gift enough for me.  A friendship I cherish.

The sad work of taking down the decorations is on my agenda for this week.  Luckily the Sun is shining this morning.  It's not as hard on the spirit when the day is bright.  Back to the real world...but it sure was a great holiday, with so many happy memories to keep me warm on this cold January day.  Take care my friends!