Happy Gnome

The last couple of weeks weren't my best.

But it got better.

And then this little guy came in the mail....and made me feel even better.




Thank you sweet sister, I love you more than m&ms!

very merry unbirthday mail!

Monday was a happy mail day!

First, I got my bookmarks from Messy Missy's bookmark swap. I love to read and love nice bookmarks...who wants to use a scrap of paper when you can use a origami Geisha Girl? Or a Diva on her way to an unfortunate accident with a vampire......Totally cute!



Then, I found a box on my door step....the box with the Alice In Wonderland apron swap apron.
The apron made by none other than Melinda...the super duper talented Melinda of Melinda'sfabricfancies!

I was so excited, I didn't want to open it. Does that make sense? I knew it would be awesome!

Before I show you the apron, here are some tuck ins she made for fun:



and this too.....which I wore to work already!

here is a close up I stole off her blog...my camera is suckish


and here is the apron....just click on the photo to see all the detail.

I wish I had a better camera...this photo just doesn't do the apron justice.

here is another close up I stole off her blog.....these are the legs before they were finished...those stripes? She did those with 2 spools of thread....the entire apron is thread painted...and it is GORGEOUS!


Melinda, you ROCK! Thank you!!!!

Fun day and toy drop.

Saturday, went into NOLA to go to the aquarium.
We almost didn't go because of the weather but it cleared up for a few hours so we went and had a good time.
I was walking with our neighbors and took this photo......Matt is almost as tall as Dean now, with Kaela not far behind.....

The first thing we did once we got in was our August toy drop. Since we were going to the aquarium, I made an octopus.


The aquarium was packed! So, the kids ran interference while I quickly dropped the toy behind a large tank.


We checked on our way out 2 hours later and it was gone :-)

Then, we went on into the Amazon exhibit...

and into the kid's area...

for some sting ray petting....


This boat was interesting. It was made with recycled trash and foam insulation...plastic 2 liter bottles and other junk. It made a 2,300 mile drip down the Mississippi before resting at the aquarium.



Close up of the construction...


One thing I was excited about is that they have several baby Kemp Ridley rescues...they had them in several tanks throughout the aquarium.
Gosh how I love these guys....thank goodness these were rescued and saved...so many weren't...hundreds in fact.



this little one keep popping up to say hello!
To get an idea of size....these babies are about the size of a charger or serving platter...

While the big guy in the main aquarium is HUGE! He isn't a rescue to my knowledge, he is here all the time....this is the big walk through tank at the aquarium entrance.



In another tank is this grouper.
I seem to get this SAME shot each time we come...he is about 100 pounds....
and would taste good fried, blackened or grilled, with a side of hush puppies....


Here are the kids as we are leaving...look how they've grown!!!

We had a good time and followed it up with lunch at Superior...like always!!!!
This plaque is on the wall as you leave the aquarium.


Pretty much says it all....

tragedy...

The other day we were talking about funny things the kids had done in the past....which brings me to this post. The star of this story is Curly Girl. (Ripstick Boy's story comes later....)

Here is our star at the beach....right before this tragedy occurred...so happy. Look at that sweet little face *sigh*

Nothing sinister in that smile. Back then she even had corrective glasses.

She was about 5 years old here.


We had traveled to see family in Florida. CG had developed a bad cold. CG already had raging allergies.

cold + allergies = a LOT of the green stuff.

This green stuff tends to fly out of CG's nose at high velocity when she sneezes.
Now, as a 5 year old, CG hadn't yet learned how to scream "thar she blows!" loud enough for us to get out of the way. Plus, sometimes, you know...sneezes sneak up on you.

We were heading home after Christmas in Florida and were in line at a McDonald's bathroom. There are tons of people so the bathroom line is loooooong.
Curly Girl is beside & slightly behind me because the woman in front of me kept backing up and stepping on me. I had moved CG so she wouldn't get stomped on. Little did I know CG was about to get that lady back for stepping on me. By sneezing. TWICE.

At the sound of the first sneeze I dove into my purse to grab a tissue....because I KNEW what she was capable of.
Curly Girl says meekly. "Mommy, I need a tissue." I'm buying time here because I had a BIG purse and hadn't found my pack o' tissues, so said "uh, no, you don't....there is nothing on your face"...and went back tissue diving. ( I mean, she really had nothing on HER face. )

But then the lady in front of me said VERY loudly:

"ITS ON MY FOOT"

at this, every single person in line turned to look at her foot.

Her tanned foot was clad in festive flip flops with a big green bow goober the size of Cincinnati. To be precise. The green giant goober was on the flip flop, her heel...and the floor.
It was reminiscent of "The BLOB"...remember that movie? Yeah, sorta like that...just enveloping everything.

By now I've handed a wad of tissues to CG and turn to hand the lady a tissue too. Then I look at her face....you know, the lady who's foot is now covered in a shiny mass of green goo. Her face is sort of beet red and she has on her angry eyes.

After seeing that face I decided to just wipe the ladies foot off myself...after all, I didn't want to DIE because of a ball of green goo. Plus, I couldn't say a word because I was afraid I would burst out laughing. I mean, come on...it WAS funny. (its always funny when it happens to someone else.)

I say I'm sorry and she glares at me....doesn't say a word....then she glares at Curly Girl. Who bursts into tears....gee thanks lady.

So now I'm irritated...no one has a right to be mad at a small child because of an involuntary snot rocket, am I right here? I'm right...no need to answer that.

Curly Girl wouldn't stop crying...which means she would soon have MORE snots rockets on deck...I didn't have THAT many tissues left.......

I straightened up and said "Oh honey, she isn't MAD at you, she knows you didn't do it on purpose." "You just sneezed...everyone sneezes sweetie".

Then I picked her up and glared at the lady. At this, the lady sort of smiled and turned around. We stayed in line out of necessity...there wasn't another place to stop for at least an hour and she had TO GO. So we stood in line, Curly Girl sniffling, me secretly cracking up... for another 10 minutes.
Finally, we used the bathroom and left the scene of the crime. I saw the lady outside POINTING at us as we dashed to the car.

Once inside, I burst out laughing.....I mean, you can't MAKE THIS STUFF UP! I swear, that lady probably ditched those flip flops and boiled her foot when she got home!

Now...I'm sure there are other equally hysterical but gross funny stories and I want to read them...I can always use a good laugh. So share.

Cupcakey goodness...

I was in a cupcake themed apron swap on swap-bot. I made this for my partner:



Then I realized I needed to make a FULL apron instead so made this too:




close up of the applique....I love it!

then I got this one in the mail in return:


I love pink and brown together :-)
If I ever own a bakery, it will be a cupcake bakery.......yum.

cuteness

I keep seeing teeny lizards. First in the moon flowers and now all on my baker's rack.

I'm used to seeing teeny frogs in late spring...but these teeny lizards with their teeny tails are total cuteness! No offense to teeny toads though....gotta spread the love.

I couldn't catch the smallest one, but this guy decided to run up my arm instead of letting me catch him...


he ran all the way up my arm and shoulder, to other shoulder, then he turned back around and ran to the tip of my finger...


once he'd had enough, I took him back where I found him...

Bye!

Mosaic Monday

Here is a stepping stone I made about 8 years ago. I love this size and would make a few more for our yard but they are hard to find here. This one is used almost daily by the boys who live next door. They step on it through the roses so they don't have to go all the way around to the sidewalk...

again with the plants....

I'd never heard of rain lilies before stumbling across them online a few years ago. I did a bit of research and bought some off ebay, crossing my fingers they would do well here. The first year, they just barely hung on and I really didn't think they'd come back.

But...each year they come back a little stronger. They only bloom after a hard rain. Even sprinklers can't fool them...must be something with the pressure dropping ...?

The pink is the weakest of all and has fewer blooms than the others but still blooms with regularity...


I love these white ones...



But my heart just sings when these yellow ones bloom!

and bun-bun loves them too!



at look at the moon flowers...they are so lovely! I started these from seed... I hope they over winter well like the morning glories...


Look at this teeny tiny lizard! You can't tell because the leaf he is on is about 7" across but he is really tiny...so stinkin' cute!


I found this birdhouse at Tuesday Morning and weatherproofed it. I put it with the morning glory and after just one day, the vines have already started climbing all over it...I can't wait til it is just peeking out.



so...how does YOUR garden grow?

Happy Snails to Youuuuu...

I think snails are just tooooo cute! Unless they are in my garden! These guys will be on Christmas trees this year!

Here is what I sent Melinda for July's YOE ornament:



this lil snail-a-roo is for her camper...



tea wallet


snail pincushion...


and other goodies include beads, bath salts, a teeny snail charm, emergency chocolate and head kerchief for the camper


Here is what she sent me.....packed into this sweet box


a darling little snail 'elf'


and one with perfectly fun wonky eyes


the card is so cute I may have to turn it into an ornie!


and other goodies....lavender from her garden, charms, a gorgeous pansy hankie, a lovely wallet she made, some scrap booking stash stuff......I love it all!

Thank you Melinda!