Seventeen

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.  

Today Mr. Peculiar and I have been married for seventeen years.  After work he, I and Little walked downtown for a leisurely dinner.  On the way home we spied these lovelies -- gorgeous sunflowers nestled in a rusty blue corrugated tin bed.  Just right.   

And now my shoes are off and my feet are up.  I am very much looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow.

This weekend work was challenging, heart-breaking.  We provided much needed services for ailing animals and their families. But, with each interaction, we gave away a piece of ourselves.  Upon arriving home my cup was empty; I was mentally and physically exhausted.

I am so grateful my family was here to help me refill my cup.

These last seventeen years have passed in the blink of an eye.  Here's to another seventeen and then some.

xo.

Things I'm Loving Today

The epitome of summer is fresh flowers from the garden.  They are sweet, frugal and born from years of tending.  I can't even begin to tell you how happy they make me.  These flowers are but one of many things I am loving today.  

Today I am loving:

• My cutting garden
• A clean living room
• A quiet house
• The gentle cluck of a chicken as she lays an egg
• Nights off work
• Air conditioning
• Blueberries straight off the vine
• Chores systematically checked off the list
• Naps and sleeping in
• Fresh baked bread

And now off to have that nap.  

xo.  

Ball Jar Sewing Kit -- Perfect Little Gifts

It's been nearly a month since I've been to this site.  I've had the opportunity to pick up shifts. Extra work. And I jumped on it.  This work is a chance to make up some ground.  And it's good.  But oh it's tiring.  So tiring.  And I miss this space.  And contemplation.  And I miss my time with the house -- cooking and cleaning and keeping the chaos at bay.  But something has got to give - and the house and this space (and possibly my hearing) are it.

This summer, though only just begun, already feels like the summer that was; something that's going to slip through my grasp like sand.  I find myself wistfully looking forward to fall.  Pumpkins and crafts, cooking and "me" time.  Time to regroup and reorganize, time to putter and nest.  Time to pull back from working two jobs.

But for now?  Well I am simply getting through each day.  One minute, one hour and one day at a time.  I'm striving to enjoy the little things.  The spaces in between available for me and my family.

And yesterday was one of those days.  Time off.  At home.  Little has a couple of birthday parties to attend and I used my time to whip up some gifts.  I wanted to make something useful.  Something to occupy and to entertain.  Something pretty.

After some bouncing around Pinterest I came across this -- a ball jar sewing kit.  Perfect!  Just the thing for the soon to be nine and soon to be ten-year-old.

I had some ball jars laying around.  And some vintage lids picked up at tag sale. At the time I didn't know what I was going to use them for.  But I'm grateful I didn't pass them by.  Following the basic instructions here I turned the jar tops into pin cushions.  Then I went to Joann's and bought some notions; embroidery scissors, floss, thread, needles, measuring tape, etc.  I also picked up a couple of these sweet towels pre-stamped for embroidery with adorable kittens.  In addition I bought a couple of small embroidery hoops.

I'm pleased with the way these kits turned out and am happy to have these gifts done and ready to go.  Now another long weekend at work.  

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can ... 

xo.