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How important it is for us to recognize and celebrate our heroes and she-roes! - Maya Angelou
A friend included this as a comment about Memorial Day... I loved it and am sharing it here. I hope you are having a day filled with loved ones and loved things, as we are! Back with some pictures of what we've been up to in a bit.
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I'm sort of loving these Classic Illustrated books found on Ebay. Even the covers make me laugh... Bertha Rochester (the woman in green who is insane, in need of a leg shaving and some rest) in the Jane Eyre edition above has had some harrowing days, clearly. These classics made into comics are from the 1950s, when young people actually purchased these stories made into comics because they were just that, great stories. My days at school have kind of resembled poor Bertha up there lately... many of my students have lost the connection to a really great story... I find myself dragging them towards one that they'll like, I promise... Odysseus encountering sea monsters on his way home, Frankenstein accused by the very monster he created of moral negligence. And they do eventually like them, their hesitancy when it comes to books can be a little alarming... it makes the days feel a bit long. Some of our students relish these books, I have to say that, and I'm lucky my teaching preparations invite me to work with many of those students all day long. But I wonder, when did kids lose the desire to devour these tales in one sitting or actually go out and purchase them just for the fun of it? Reading has been such a constant in my life, a journey of thought and wonder that I feel the loss for my students who have lost the ability to immerse themselves in a good tale just because. I've so loved these stories...
... great authors. We're exploring books for summer reading at the library this week, and though some of our kids (and one or two teachers, no names of course) are already mentally on summer vacation, my hope is that they happen upon something that they love... I'll be in the back reading Chris Bohjalian's Double Blind... dreaming of reading it in my hammock on a weekday in the coming weeks...and loving it.
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Antique Wood Delivery Dairy Box from Ingenuity on Display's Etsy Shop
Are we agreed that this Milk Box needs to come home to Gehring Road as a happy birthday present to me? I thought so. Sigh... oh, it is adorable.
We're in full birthday swing here... this time it's my turn. Off to dinner at Tuscany Grill, one of my very favorite restaurants tonight and a mango martini will be consumed by yours truly sitting on the patio enjoying a beautiful day... speaking of beautiful days... yesterday (despite the fact I had Saturday Detention duty - a very unglamorous version of the Breakfast Club, complete with juvenile offenders - the real ones) was a fantastic day... fabric was purchased, a road trip for said fabric ensued. Pictures and post to follow.
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Vintage Orange/Yellow Butterfly and Flower Apron, from JennyPenny (love the name!) Etsy Shop
There's been a whole lot of baking going on... muffins, cupcakes, brownies to be exact. The aprons we have here on Gehring Road are very industrial, hit me a few inches above my ankles and one says ROB. I might have to get to sewing myself (or thrifting for myself...) an apron, now that I'm actively baking these days... it's ok I give you permission to laugh, the absolute lack of time and lack of baking skills make that statement a laugh riot. Happy tuesday...
Vintage Apron With Crochet Trim, from Mailordervintage Etsy Shop
Vintage Farm Wife's Cotton Apron Bright Flowers, from MrsP'sHome Etsy Shop
Vintage Sunshine Yellow Apron, from Mailordervintage Etsy Shop
Vintage Red/Orange Ruffle Apron, from JennyPennyVintage Etsy Shop
Vintage Freedsack Apron, from Tracinicole Etsy Shop
Petite Vintage Handmade Apron, from Etsy Shop
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Alexander Henry The Ghastlies fabric from Hancocks of Paducah
Leapfrogging into seasons and especially holiday seasons prematurely usually gives me fits... I hate seeing Christmas paraphernalia in Lowes in August... it makes it feel like retail establishments conspire to rush my summer - an unforgivable offense, I assure you. In the world of fabric, new lines are presented early to get a jump on things that need to be made for holidays and actually take months to make... I think. I'm a last minute kind of gal, myself (poor Rob!). Again... don't rush me! But these new fabrics from Alexander Henry made me smile... dark and macabre is apparently always in season. Seems this girl loves a little May reminder of the spooky season so until then, and not before...
Sebastian Ghastlie A... this one reminds me of the cat herder Super Bowl commercial from a few years ago... I laughed until I cried...
Happy weekend to you and yours... as I contemplate the mountain of papers that need to be graded and are currently living in my car, as I think about projects that need to be started, those that need to be completed... Rob is making chocolate cupcakes in the kitchen... pictures to follow.
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This wonderful man had a birthday this week... we had a very low-key, just-as-he-wanted-it celebration at the place we love to be... home. In the end, it was cheeseburgers and good company and the promise of brownies with some pretty amazing ice cream. The day looked a bit like this...
... an excruciating 4:45 am wake up call to make...
... some really delicious mixed berry muffins...
...I love that these lovelies were made with berries picked last summer from Rob's mom's blueberry bushes and raspberries from our garden, they were amazing...
... some snuggling happened...
...gifts were laid on the buffet table with care...
...and eventually opened...
How we love him... his unfailing patience when it comes to all things Jen and Kylie, an amazing ability to make me laugh, the food... my god the food, his delight in seeing others (especially me) happy, the love and concern he has for others (including one very taxing Jack Russell), his ideas and plans, that sparkle in his eyes... I'm so glad to be a part of his adventure in this life... happy birthday (again, and I'll stop saying it I promise) honey.
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Gratitude Wrap as seen on Plaid Post Blog
My sister and I have been playing phone tag... for two weeks... I miss her. When you're 2000 miles away (2,810 to be exact) you look for ways to stay connected. Amy and I stalk each other regularly via Flickr, Facebook, this little blog... I still miss her. I've been thinking of sending some snail mail, we talk about doing that regularly and oh I tell you time just gets away from us. So today's tutorial is in honor of keeping up with those you love and miss. My sister and I share of love for Soulemama's blog (if you aren't reading this blog you should be!) and I love Amanda aka Soulemama's Gratitude Wrap tutorial. Stick pens and paper and stamps and all good things in it's folds and note writing becomes easy and I dare say very stylish... think I could get away with taking this out at a faculty meeting? Probably not. But I'm searching for time to reconnect and checking under rocks for my sister. I miss her.
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Vintage Candy Tin Storage Box from Fishlegs Etsy Shop
Some celebrating of a very special day here on Gehring Road tomorrow, until then... Etsy finds tuesday! I'm just loving these little things...
Rennes Lace Necklace from Fox and Clover Etsy Shop
Amelia Earhart Butterscotch Train Case from GallivantingGirls Etsy Shop
Cartography Series Part II from BlackHoneyCrafts Etsy Shop
Serving Platter Bird in the Sky by Gleenashop Etsy Shop
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Image from Suppose Quilt Boutique
I really can't get enough of Anna Maria Horner's Little Folks Voile. The fabric is simply heaven... I used them on the curtains in my loft, now I'm finding reasons to put them in every single project I'm working on... and I am in a three quilt rotation here... sigh. The projects (top secret) that I worked on this weekend were made with the voile exclusively... luxurious. So this stash peek is all about the voile that has found it's way recently into our home... then quickly up the stairs.
How I love that fabric. May is quite a busy month in a very good way here on Gehring Road... My father's birthday is two days before Rob's, Rob's mom was born two days before me... (all in May) and we have Mother's Day in the midst of all of that celebrating. Needless to say, some of that fabric has been used to make some really lovely surprises. More to come after the celebrating and gift unveiling. The start of my week will surely find me missing the hours of sewing and fabric preparing... summer cannot come soon enough. Happy start to the week!
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