18 Months Old

Our little Punkin' turned 18 months old this week! Josh decided a little cake was in order...so of course we had to sing happy birthday too. He's getting such a good vocabulary and I love listening to him talk. Some of his favorites right now are "wa-ter" - with a very pronounced 'T' - and "light". We hear those all day long. Today we ran into Home Depot to buy a switch which was in the fan/light fixture department and I thought he was going to blow a gasket yelling "light" over and over, pointing at all the lights. It was really funny!

He has started getting that "two-year old" personality...if you know what I mean. Everything is "mine" and lots of no's. The little turkey started this run-by turning of the dishwasher switch. It's gotten sorta comical, but still a no-no. He'll be running by full speed and practically skid in his socks to stop and turn the switch real fast, then he'll catch my eye and all wide eyed he'll run off full speed again. He knows I'm gonna get him if he hangs around.

And everything is "hot". He waves his little hand to cool it off and blows, even if it isn't hot. He's got the blowing of candles down pat. We lit this one several times!

Always the little boy, he's gotten so good at climbing and loves to explore. He loves to throw rocks and dig in the dirt. It's a losing battle cleaning under his nails anymore.

He uses his spoon like a champ and can shovel in food with the best of 'em. We're working on swallowing before he starts gaging now. Ha.

Yes sir...our sweetie is one big ball of joy. Most days, that is. Just like anything else we have our rough days and it gives me all the opportunity I need to work on my patience and endurance. I always thought I was a patient gal until Joseph came along. Thank goodness we have it as good as we do. He's healthy and happy and learning so much. And that beaming smile...no one can resist it. If every single person had the chance to capture a glimpse just once, it could change the world. I just know it. :)

Everything is all about making my home a haven these days...I can't stop thinking of the next thing I want to do to make it more comfy, beautiful or organized. Goes hand in hand with staying home I suppose. I see this place alllll day long and have all the time in the world to sit and stew on arrangements for the table, pillows for the couch, wishing for this and that...the nesting bug has bitten me hard this year. Then there is Pottery Barn....stupid, stupid, wonderful, sexy Pottery Barn.

I've found a fun new blog called Buzzings of a Queen Bee that I like to check in on every couple of days or so. She had a post recently about copying the wreath above...and I shamelessly copied her shamelessly copying Pottery Barn. It had been awhile since I'd busted out my bitty glue gun and it was high time!

I grabbed a 14" wreath form from Hobby Lobby and a couple bags of Reindeer Moss (from Norway, apparently...). It took way longer than I thought it would, as do ALL my projects. And any of my time estimates, really. Always waaay off. I'll tell Josh I'll be back in 30 minutes and an hour and a half later I come walking in through the door, apologizing for taking so long. He says 'no big deal' that he knew it would take me three times longer than I said. I get that from my Dad...no denying it. I come by it naturally, what can I say?

My Little Helper got a few pieces to help me out with. He was oh so helpful with his eagle eyes and told me when I missed a spot and helped me with the positioning of it all. He's going to make an excellent decorator...er, I mean Doctor or Professional Wrestler...someday!

That glue gun gets so stinking hot. It's ridiculous. They need to have a warning on there. "Even though you've used this tool a hundred times and you think you know what you are doing, please do not touch the hot glue unless you want to melt the skin off of your precious little fingers...and it really really hurts." I mean, I knew it was hot and it would hurt, but when you're gluing down porous fluffy moss...it's bound to happen.

Uh oh, Little Helper has somehow opened the baby proofed utensil drawer. In about three minutes, he puts every single thing in there on the cabinet in a nice little pile then whacks me with the metal garlic press.

Here we are! I thought it turned out perfect! Perfectly springy and fresh! A little spring for spring! A fresh little wreath for a fresh little mama! ;)

Oh nutso! I didn't do the back side in an effort to save time and materials...didn't consider the window in the door though.
"Oh Heather! What a lovely styrofoam wreath form! I always thought you were supposed to cover those but what an interesting take on it! Bravo!"
Take that Pottery Barn! I bet yours was actually covered all the way around! You think you're so fancy!

But from the front...too cute! I think this is my new favorite thing. I went out and saw it this morning and it was so nice hanging there! Simple, fresh and springy. Happy Spring!

P.S. Josh said it looked Christmassy and weird. Good thing he didn't get a vote on it because it would have been vetoed anyway. What do boys know about fabulous moss wreaths anyway?

The List: Hutch - Check!

One of my top ten "house to-do list" things was checked off recently. Of course the real truth is that the top ten to-do's are constantly changing and moving around "the list" depending on what's important at the time, right?! But "the list" gods were looking down on me one gray stormy day as I sat with the computer to pass the time. I sighed as I decided to pull up CraigsList thinking that I certainly didn't need to be shopping, but as always when I pull up CraigsList, I knew that there were bonafide treasures out there just waiting to be discovered for cheap!

Lo and behold...I had to rub the blurriness out of my eyes when I found this ad to make sure I wasn't missing something. Now, it's not the beaute I've been eyeing from Crate and Barrel for years now...and it's not the gorgeous dark stained, leaded glass, craftsman style one that I've been coveting of Summer's...but this was perfect for us! It matches our table and chairs (immediately to the left in close proximity) and it matches the cabinets (immediately to the right...), and it is lighted inside, it does have the coveted leaded glass...and goodness gracious the price is just right! I felt for sure someone was going to snatch it up before us, but the nice guy and gal who were selling it said they would hold it for us until the weekend on just our word that we wanted it. Probably didn't have much interest in it from others or else I'm betting that it would have been first come first serve. Anyway, we hauled out to Flower Mound that Saturday and it was as perfect in person as in the picture online. Welcome to your new home, sweet little buffet-with-hutch!

Just a side note, Jennifer has started tassel mania around these parts and I've been infected by the bug! Now, if you didn't know...there are a whole mess of serious tassel makers out there. I'm talking huge, themed, tassel-on-steroids. Not your ordinary tassel. And not your ordinary price either. But none the less, on a scavenger hunt for some tassels to hang around I came across the cheap tassel mecca. Tuesday Morning had boxes and boxes and boxes of them. I got a couple which I had priced similar ones at $29.99 for $5.99. Score! And found this perfect one for my new hutch.

The next day was Mother's day...and here is my beautiful Mother's Day gift from Josh and Joseph. It's blue depression glass - but I won't be able to know if it's authentic or a reproduction since it doesn't have any markings. I've read some on the depression glass and they started remaking it in the 60's and 70's when it's popularity grew so much. I've been eying this canister at the Antique Store the past few times I've gone, and lucky for me no one else was...so it was there for me to take home Mother's Day. My Mother's Day wish was to make a family outing of my beloved Antique Mall and have dinner at LaMadelines - and boy did that French Onion Soup hit the spot! It was perfect!

This canister is the "Moon and Stars" pattern. I love blue glass and always have - the cobalt grabs me. I love the blue and white dishware too and I just noticed you can see my blue and white Blue Butterflies dish in the back ground behind the canister - newly found at the Antique Mall. In the background in the picture below are our blue and white Japanese finds from a garage sale years ago.

And here is my favorite blue glass piece because my Grandma gave it to me. I think she saw me eying it so much that she decided if she didn't give it to me, I might just steal it. Just kidding, it was in her garage sale and I decided there was no way that sweet little blue jar was being sold to a stranger so she gave it to me. It used to sit filled with German coins...and once my sister used it in a beautiful painting she did at my Grandma's. I'm going to own a copy of that painting someday. It had one of my most vivid memories of my Grandma's old house painted in it...the vintage red and white plastic covering for the cabinet that sat next to the kitchen table. That and the red and white checkered kitchen curtains are two of my most strong memories of the old house. Aren't memories amazing?!

But anyway, I am so grateful to find our little hutch for some much needed storage for extra platters and other dishes. And of course to display my finds. It fills in the big huge wall perfectly too. Hooray Craigslist!

What a rainy morning! We came out of our bedrooms to thunder and an ominous sky. It was one of those "get cozy on the couch" type of rains. So I am having another cup of tea - Lady Grey this time, Chai earlier - and Joseph is walking around hoarding a box of store brand Lucky Charms. They're actually really old and stale, but he likes them as a special treat from time to time, so I'm hoping he'll finish off the bag soon and they'll be GONE. Glad we got out to the park yesterday morning and afternoon with the weather being questionable today. Is it time for some home made playdoh?! I think so!

Yesterday was my last knitting class lesson. It finished up great and I feel a little more confident with my mad knitting skillz. I learned a thing or four and can't wait to FINISH THIS CARDIGAN!! No, I still haven't finished, but am getting closer and closer! I've been so tired lately that when I try to knit during the baby's nap time, I find my eyes getting heavy - it makes me sleepy! And in the evenings after Joseph goes to bed I can manage a little bit before I just want to sit there an vegge. Yesterday I learned how to make a cable - like you might think of a traditional knit sweater having, you know...the twisting cable design? - and it was really easy. It's nice when things turn out like they're supposed to! It was definitely fun times to have the group of women there, chatting away and knitting like we knew what we were doing, all feeling like a real-live knitting circle. Then one by one, we'd start messing up and whisper to our neighbor asking for help. Then someone would mess up real good and show everyone, and we'd all start laughing our heads off at them, swearing that we'll eventually get it! So, for me...I need a lot more time of uninterrupted knitting before I can be good enough to have distractions around. Especially when you are doing a lot of counting or switching back and forth between knitting and purling (the two main stitches in knitting). I've got the CUTEST pattern for a scarf that I can't wait to get going on after my baby sweater.

We just made a little tabouli to start chilling for lunch. We'll see if Joseph likes it. If you haven't had tabouli - I know not everyone's taste is as eclectic as my family's - then you should try it sometime! You can make it from bulgur wheat and add in your own spices or do as I like to do and buy the box kind and just add water and what ever veggies you like. I like cucumbers and tomatoes the best. After Tammy's tabouli post (thanks for sharing, mom *humph*) I had a hankering for it. Mmmm, smell's so good too with aroma of mint and parsley in the air. Try it, try it!!

Looks like the weather is clearing up now. I see some sun...just to make it nice and MUGGY for us! Well at least the yard and plants are looking GREAT these rainy days. Stay dry! Love and hugs to you!

Hello from the Blachlys! I've been fussing at myself for not sitting down and writing you a note sooner...catching you up on all the fun goodness going on over here...so I today I had the great idea to at the very least POST A VIDEO!

This video features a couple of our most fun tricks these days; waving, saying bye, and blowing kisses! (There is a pretty cute "no" in there too!) The bread-speared-on-a-spoon feature is just a little something extra for your viewing pleasure. What a character!

Hugs and kisses and dry umbrella wishes until our next post!

The Never-Ending Cardigan...

This is the baby cardigan that is almost as old as Joseph. I strategically began making the 18 month size last February so I would have plenty of time to finish it. Ha! Famous last words or what?! Here we are...Joseph will be 18 months in May...the cold weather has past...and I am knitting away on my little project. Call me the Little Engine That Could. (I think I can, I think I can...)

I didn't work on it routinely or I could have knocked it out. Obviously. But knitting really is enjoyable and I took a liking to it. I'd pick up the needles every now and again, enough times until now when I decided to finish it off - that I don't have that much left. I've made big progress over the past week and last night finished off my first ever button holes! See above! I am pretty darn proud of those button holes! Now, they may look just like regular old holes to you - like maybe I just skipped a stitch or something...but don't tell an amateur knitter something like that. They were planned just so...and I executed it perfectly!! ;)

Ha! And this is my row from binding off. Beautiful!! Knitting is a crazy cool hobby. I catch myself really following the thread from the needles trying to figure out how it makes patterns. This is the right front of the sweater and it's all finished. I am pretty sure I can finish off the back and left front today.

Here's a shot of the whole body in the works. Again, the right front (on the right in the picture) is finished and has the button holes. I'll add a hoodie too.

...and my attempt at a sleeve. I was pretty proud of learning how to increase a stitch, which I did every few rows to make it wider at the top. Then it'll be sewn together to form a sleeve, the narrow end being for the wrist. BUT, sadly, I didn't make it right so it'll need to be pulled allllll out and I'll start over. I didn't count my rows right and this sleeve is waaay to big.

Joseph may not ever wear this little gem, but it's staying in the family. It's my first sweater after all! Hopefully we'll have another little baby that can wear it.

I've started a knitting class on Wednesday's for four weeks and I am totally stoked. Tonight is my second class and I've been thinking about it all day! Just like a kid! There is something so homey and warm about a knitting store - it just feels right being in there.

Now off to get that cardigan body finished up so I can start on your Christmas presents! Scarfs for everyone! ;)

Everyday is Earth Day!

Happy Earth Day. In celebration of Earth Day, I am going to throw my banana peel out the window instead of in the trash can and into a landfill. It can return to that from which it was born. Ha. Just kidding!

I got my RecycleBank points email today for the last week. I thought this little widget was fun! Plus pigs are my favorite so I had to post it...

We went to the Live Green Expo last weekend...in the rain...and the cold...and snow...both ways up hill...wait, I think I am getting my stories mixed up. It was only raining last weekend. I think if it had been clear outside there would have been much more space in the main hall, which was really crowded. There supposed to be kite demonstrations and we saw only one guy when the rain slowed to a sprinkle. I couldn't help but think that those kite guys aren't very hardcore. I mean, a little rain and lightening scares them? Joseph did like watching the one guy from a covered spot and stretching his legs from being strolled around the expo.

Anyway, the green cars were very cool. We all liked looking at them. They had several SmartCars and some old cars that had been converted to electric. I wasn't impressed with the setup of the composting area and just skimmed over it. I wanted to learn more, but it was muddy and hard to tell what table was what. So with that and having the stroller I didn't spend much time there. I was also hoping there would be more landscaping areas but I only saw a lecture area for it.

Sure does make me want to green up the house, though. We can get one of those rainwater barrels, radiant barrier, more insulation, more efficient appliances and water heater, weather stripping, go organic in the garden and yard...ahhh, and here I thought I was a green gal. I guess using cloth grocery bags, compact florescent light bulbs, and practicing recycling just isn't going to cut it anymore. But that's what I can do without spending hundreds of dollars, so what can I say? Josh has been talking about radiant barrier for the attic for awhile now and I have the number of a place that I am going to try to call today. I hope we go ahead and go for it. Should cut our energy bills by 30%.

We made the rounds and had to head back for lunch and nap time. It was overall very nice! A new idea that was planted in my head are these electric lawnmowers. I may not be able to afford an electric car but the sort of thing like a lawnmower we can look in to for someday. Joseph's big news is that he got to ride a Dart Bus from the off site parking to the Expo! I was pretty unsure about it because more times than not he doesn't sit still, but he did great! Even seemed to enjoy himself a little. He stared out the big windows and touched the little girl's curly hair in front of us. She didn't notice so I let him keep doing it. ;) Ha.

Now if we can just stop those polar ice caps from melting. It's getting way too scary, guys...

Happy Belated Passover!

We celebrated the first two nights of Passover at Josh's mom's with a delicious seder - can't go wrong when Edie is cooking! A "seder" is a festive meal celebrated in the home and we read from the haggadah, a traditional "guidebook" for Passover. The haggadah tells the story of the Exodus from Egypt and explains some of the practices and symbols of the holiday. It's the most commonly observed Jewish holiday, I think even for those who don't normally observe other holidays. Passover is the 8 day observance commemorating the freedom and exodus of the Israelites (Jewish slaves) from Egypt during the reign of the Pharaoh Ramses II (Exodus, Ch 1-15). It refers to the fact that God "passed over" the houses of the Jews when he was slaying the firstborn of Egypt.


This is from Wikipedia: "In the story of The Exodus, the Bible tells that God inflicted ten plagues upon the Egyptians before Pharaoh would release his Hebrew slaves, with the tenth plague being the killing of firstborn sons. The Hebrews were instructed to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a spring lamb and, upon seeing this, the spirit of the Lord passed over these homes, hence the term "passover". When Pharaoh freed the Hebrews, it is said that they left in such a hurry that they could not wait for bread to rise. In commemoration, for the duration of Passover, no leavened bread is eaten, for which reason it is called "The Festival of the Unleavened Bread". Matza (unleavened bread) is the primary symbol of the holiday. This bread that is flat and unrisen is called Matzo."

Oh yeah...and that whole parting of the red seas incident happened. ;)


Edie had a beautiful seder plate - I loved the fiesta-wareness of it. I'm sure that kind of Earthenware has a name but I don't know what it is. Maybe, um, Earthenware. Anyway...each item represents something and the egg here represents mourning over the destruction of the Temple, OR according to other sources it represents spring. There is so much that goes into Passover it's hard to touch on it all here.


All are welcomed to a Passover Seder, no matter what creed, race, or religion you are. For me, it's always been a time to gather family and friends and remind myself where we came from. Each year it amazes me how forgiving and accepting and full of insight the Jewish religion is...it makes me very happy to be a part of it.

The Dallas Zoo

Thank you Ticia. Even after all this time, he still LOVES the bag of blocks you gave him...

Today is much better! In fact, yesterday finished up nicely. Nap time gave us that much needed break and time to recharge. Today we met cousins Connor and Cayden at White Rock Lake and had some GREAT play time. We played at the play ground, but also walked all over the place - fed the ducks and ran around on the big bridge by Tee Pee Hill Park by the boat houses. It was perfect out and I couldn't have asked for a nicer day. Joseph had his first Taco Bell for lunch today! I got him 7-layer nachos and he ate almost every last one. And some cinnamon sticks, of course! ;)

I was reading in my Simple Abundance book (Daybook of Comfort and Joy for Women) and it asked me if I could do anything, what would it be? I thought about how easily this answer changes. Depending on the day and circumstances, it's always changing! Sometimes it's to have land and a ranch house. Sometimes it's to have my whole family living on the same block. Sometimes it's to be on vacation (somewhere warm). Sometimes it's any other of a variety of personal goals...to have a working craft room, go back to school, lose weight, etc, etc...you know how it is. The point was that in each of us lies a deeply personal dream waiting to be discovered and fulfilled. Within us lies the seeds of opportunity and when we cherish our dream and then invest love, creative energy, perseverance, and passion in ourselves, we will achieve authentic success. I like thinking of my dreams and especially of being successful in making them come true. Without our dreams there would be nothing to strive for and things would be a lot more boring. It gives me time to be better at being me too.

I saw a guy at Taco Bell today playing a horn on the corner by the parking lot. He was really good! I don't know if he was homeless or just eccentric or what his story was...but in reflecting on dreams and life I wondered what his dreams were. I wondered if once upon a time he had aspired to be in a band, and how he learned to play in the first place. I bet he was self taught. But maybe he learned sitting on the front porch from his grandfather years and years ago. Whatever his story, I can only assume that he didn't think he would be playing his bugle on a street corner in Dallas. Or is his life such that playing his ear catching music for strangers in cars with their windows rolled down is his dream...and he is perfectly happy playing there for us. He may be an eccentric retired man who walks to the corner just to see the smiles on others faces when we pass and catch a note in the wind. I hope he is fulfilling his dream! And probably like me, it changes daily with the circumstances of the moment. At least in that moment, he looked pretty satisfied with everything and I am too.

Someone save me. This has been a hard morning...but it's only 1:30 so as I see it, there is still time for a big turn around. I woke up in a bad mood and it was downhill from there. I woke up in a bad mood yesterday too, but luckily Josh was around so it wasn't just me taking care of the the munchkin and struggling through. I think I just get caught up in the mundane side of motherhood and end up going through phases where I am SO irritable. Maybe it's hormones, maybe it's the barometric pressure in the atmosphere...who knows. All I know is I hate it! I want to be happy and set a good example for Joseph. I don't want him to pick up my anger, sighs, "grrr's"....foulness...and I think that is really what bothers me the most - that I don't want him to learn how to be foul...from ME.

I know I am allowed bad moods, but man, what a waste of time. I could be working on solutions instead of dwelling on what is pissing me off. Why do we do that to ourselves? I could have cleaned the kitchen 10 times by now, instead of getting mad when I can't find something on the counter or have to clear a space to cut apple slices. I wish that I had better CONTROL of my feelings . When I feel mad about something I need to be able to confront it, acknowledge that it's valid to feel that way, but then let it go and move on. Don't let it build too much pressure! Come on, you're a grown woman!

So how about a little gratitude to finish this post off? How about ending on a positive note? Today I am grateful for my sanity. I could be a lot worse off, eh? I am grateful for my sons beautiful hair and that he lets me run my hand through it when we cuddle. I am grateful for apples that taste delicious and nourish our hungry tummies. I am grateful for the opportunity to stay home with Joseph instead of sending him to day care and heading off to a job that doesn't feed my soul. And mostly I am grateful for the big blue eyes that look up at me, and want to be picked up and hugged, even after I have a mommy breakdown and get kind of crazy. Talk about unconditional love...that's all he knows how to do. He's has no concept of hate or rage or feeling out of control. All he knows how to do is love, and if that isn't enough for me to be grateful about for a long time, then I don't know what is.

My Little Picasso

Joseph has been having so much fun with the chalk I got him. I wasn't too sure how he was going to take to it, but he loves marking up anything he can get his hands on...



...the door, the wall, the plant stands...the table, the chairs...I should have gotten a picture of the front of his jacket! (And my pants!) But how can you call yourself an 'artist' if you don't submerge yourself in your work? You certainly can't worry about staying clean!

He was busy drawing for probably a good 45 minutes before it was time to go in to start dinner. One of my favorite memories is chalking with my nephew, David, out at Grandma's when I was probably around 14. She had a big circle concrete slab at the bottom of the stairs coming out the back door. I can *almost* remember the way the sunshine felt on my skin that day; it wasn't too hot yet - like a nice spring day. So we drew and ended up decorating the whole slab with a colorful abstract of swirls and little doodles.

It was pretty chilly this day with Joseph...but as long as we sat in the sun it felt ok. I loved the way these shots turned out with contrast of the deep shadows and bright light.

The classic Joseph face these days. I would snatch that little wrinkled nose and stick it in my pocket to keep for all times if I could. My own little bunny nose! And I can't quite tell...but it seems like his hair has been lightening up some. I guess all the sunshine has something to do with it. He loves to go outside these days, and much to Josh's chagrin, I'll leave the back door open and let him wander in and out on nice afternoons. (Well, to my own chagrin too because I hate having to hunt down the mayflies and other bugs that fly in.)

Just this week Joseph has started copying everything we say! It's been really funny! Our favorite so far is "Uh-0h"...I'll take that and put it in my pocket with the wrinkled bunny nose. Since pretty much forever, I've been waiting patiently for this day so I can teach my children "please" and "thank-you". I hold good manners so high in my book that I pray I can instill that in Joseph and he can learn to appreciate how important they are.

But until then, I am going to take this sweet profile and stick it in my pocket with "Uh-oh" and the wrinkled bunny nose so I have it forever and ever. Life is good.