Royal Wedding Tea

A lovely day at the Crown and Crumpet....


(P.S.   I got my fabulous fascinator here.)

 

I'm Off to the Royal Wedding (sort of)

Tomorrow, I am taking the day off and heading to San Francisco with my friend Paula for a special wedding tea at the Crown and Crumpet.  Some of you may have read about this lovely tea room on other blogs.  I hosted my mother's 65th birthday party there. (See photos here)

Crown and Crumpet is teaming with the new Acme Party Box to host a special Royal Wedding tea. I know lots of people feel the hullabaloo around this wedding is silly. Especially with everything going on in the world right now. I agree. It is a bit silly. But I think it's also a lovely form of escapism. I can't wait to eat scones and wedding cake with one of my best girlfriends while dressed up in our Sunday best. I even ordered a new hat for the festivities. (hopefully, it will arrive in time!)

Saw this on Facebook:
"What's your royal wedding guest name? Start with either Lord or Lady. Your first name is one of your grandparents' names. Your surname is the name of your first pet, double-barrelled with the name of the street you grew up on."

That would make me Lady Elizabeth Buttercup-Amherst.  Maybe that is who I will be tomorrow!

I hope you all have a lovely weekend and I'll be back Monday with photos.

Halloween in April?

Amy clued everyone in to a special sale going on at Bayberry Cove right now.  Everything is 50% off!!!

I dearly love Halloween so I snapped up these cuties:

I think the cat might stay with us and the witch might go to Grandma's house. If I can bear to part with her!!!

Find your own holiday treasures here.

Thought for Today

(Image Source)

"In a way nobody sees a flower really, it is so small,
we haven't the time---
and to see takes time,
like to have a friend takes time." 
 -Georgia O'Keeffe

Take time to stop and smell the flowers today. And take time to be a good friend.

love--Amy

Day 9--9 Days of Easter Swap

The last day brings an adorable pin from my dear friend Monique--

It's made of rick rack and I just love it!  Monique doesn't have a blog which is too bad because I'd love for you to see all the creative things she does. I am lucky to call her "friend."

I also got a sweet bag of notions from Wanda as a hostess gift:

What a lovely way to end the week!  Thank you to all of my swapper friends. I hope you had as much fun as I did!!!  HAPPY EASTER!!!

Day 8---9 Days of Easter Swap

For the 8th day, Sara created these adorable chick bags for everyone!

(photo borrowed from the Tattered Quilt Cottage)

However, she was sweet enough to make something special just for me. I got a BUNNY bag!!!

Sara, these are absolutely amazing!  I can't believe all the work you put into these. Thank you so much!!!

Very Good Friday Indeed

Every year during Lent, I revisit the LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST in either movie or book form. I know some of you have strong feelings about this book/movie.  I have no wish to offend anyone but I hope that on this Good Friday you will let me share with you why I love it so much.

When I saw the film, it was truly a revelation for me. When the movie first came out in 1988, many people told me that it was the work of the devil. I heard crazy things like "Jesus has sex with Mary Magdalene on the cross!" What?!!! I was 13 years old and actually SCARED to see the movie. Then, in college, my pastor had a screening at the chapel. It became clear to me that none of the people who warned me about the film had actually SEEN it.


The film (and the book) reveals the human side of Jesus. If any god were omnipotent and "died" for us, it wouldn't seem to be *that* big of a deal. I mean, how much of a sacrifice is it if the god in question feels no pain and dying is no big thing. But what if the deity can feel things like rage and fear and pain? Because He is part human? That's a whole different story. The film also brings out the fact that Judas may be the most misunderstand individual in the Bible. If he had not followed through with his mission, where would we all be? In the movie, Judas is Jesus' conscience. He makes sure that Jesus fufills his duty on earth. Remember that Jesus was still struggling with his holy mission when he was in the garden of Gethsemane.  Matthew 26:39 tells us "And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou [wilt]." Judas helped Jesus to fulfill his holy mission and because he loves Jesus, that duty is especially painful. This movie/book imagines the "last" temptation as a chance for Jesus to live a normal life. The devil tries to convince Him that He can get off the cross instead of a being a sacrifice for humankind. And He is tempted to do so. After all, He is human as well as divine. But Judas helps Him to see that He must complete His journey to the cross to save all of us. And that is a very powerful thing. It's a real sacrifice. But when Jesus says "it is accomplished," our relationship with God takes on a whole new meaning. The slate is wiped clean and we are blessed with grace. The ultimate sacrifice has been made.  Hallelujah!

I hope that whatever your faith and whatever your beliefs that you will all have a very blessed Easter!

Day 6---9 Days of Easter Swap

Again, my camera is broken. So I am borrowing this photo from Wanda of the THE RAT'S PAJAMAS. 

Wanda made us these sweet little safety pin baskets! I got a lavender one and each one had a sweet little chocolate bunny in it.  I'll give you three guesses (and the first two don't count) as to what happened to that chocolate bunny.    (wink)


There is no Day 7 because poor Lisa had pneumonia and had to drop out.

Day 5---9 Days of Easter Swap

Michelle and Ashley of the Tattered Quilt Cottage created our Day 5 treasure:

I am borrowing this photo from Wendy because she got a much better photo of this gem than I did.  I love chenille chicks and this little sweetie sits in a basket made from an tart tin.  So cute!!! Noodlebug was fasinated by all the details. Especially the little egg sitting next to the chick. (He is studying eggs and egg-laying animals in preschool this month)

Thank you to Michelle and Ashley for this sweet little basket!!!

Day 4---9 Days of Easter Swap

Look what my brilliant friend Kim made for Day 4!!!

My photo is horrible but it is a wee little chick on a wee little wooden spool with a flag that says Joy.  I love it!  It is so sweet! And a great way to use a baby food jar!

Day 3-- 9 Days of Easter Swap

I was Day 3.  My camera is missing so I am borrowing these photos from Michelle.

Noodlebug helped me stamp all the tags:

My friend Monique inspired me with a daffodil project.  I made these little daffodil shaped drawstring bags that would be perfect for keeping jewelry or small notions in.

Thanks for posting the photos, Michelle!


I am also finally up to date on my reading of SIMPLE ABUNDANCE. I am really really enjoying this daily inspirational journal. It has gotten me thinking about my personal style.  One of the exercises in the book is to start pulling out photos of things that speak to you. I just saw this cake in the latest Williams-Sonoma catalog and realized that it is the perfect cake for me. Not only is it chocolate but it looks like a pot of pansies!!!  Except for the price tag, this would be the perfect birthday cake for me.  (and my birthday is only a month away!) 

(photo borrowed from and owned by WilliamsSonoma)

Lovely!

Cutest Little Chick (?)

Well, we didn't win any prizes but we had a good time. And he is MY cutest little chick after all.

The theme this year was "Petaluma Takes Flight."  Here is the grandstand:

 

And here we are....he was a little overwhelmed by the cheering:

It was a great parade and fun time was had by all!

Day 2---9 Days of Easter Swap

I am missing my photo of Day 1 so I'll have to go back and do that one later. You can see Wendy's post of #1 here.  I made a little gift bag for everyone and put some Spring-like clothespins and an egg that I hope each participant will embellish and post at a later date.

For now....

This package comes from Wendy at THE FROG PALACE

Isn't that the sweetest egg?  I love the colors!  Thank you, Wendy!!!!

Nobody Here But Us Chickens

It's finally here!  The weekend our little town waits for all year.  Butter and Egg Days!!!  Petaluma is the gateway to Sonoma County and the economy of the town was originally driven by its production of eggs, milk and butter.  Butter and Egg Days were revived thirty years ago as a time to celebrate Petaluma and its history. There is a terrific parade with all kinds of contests on Saturday and then a lovely antique faire on Sunday.  Noodlebug will be competing in the Cutest Little Chick contest. I'm still working on embellishing his costume.  Hopefully, it won't rain on us and we'll be able to enjoy a lovely parade day.  I'll post photos on Monday. Wish you were here!!!

Ups and Downs

It was a challenging weekend. Noodlebug and I have been sick.  And we have also been engaged in a battle of wills.  I think I'm losing the battle.  Sometimes, I just want to hide under the covers. 

There were a few moment of grace.  One particular good one at the Zoo:

And my house was Easter Swap Headquarters:

 

I am so looking forward to opening these gifts!!! I had hoped to decorate for Easter this weekend but I just ran out of steam.  Maybe tomorrow....

Delightful Tea Tool

I have been rediscovering tea lately.  I used to drink a lot of tea when I was younger but I have recently heeded the siren call of Starbucks and become addicted to Peppermint Mochas.  (Or as Noodlebug calls them...Mommy's "Peppermochas")  My brother-in-law and sister-in-law gave me some Teavana tea and a tumbler for Christmas and I resolved to start drinking tea at work.  I'm getting addicted!!!  Loose teas are so delightful!  I keep having visions to instituting Afternoon Tea at my house on the weekends.  A pretty teapot with pretty teacups and some delightful tea cake or cones.  That probably isn't going to happen. But it's a nice thought. In the meantime, check out my tumbler:

I love it so much! It has a built-in tea diffuser and this thing keeps tea (and coffee) warm forever.  I'm not kidding. Yesterday, I poured my tea at 1:30pm and then forgot about it.  When I picked up the tumbler at 5pm, it was still almost too warm to drink.  Get your own tumbler here and check out the amazing Teavana teas while you are there. My favorite is the Lemon-Lime Kampari mixed with the Blueberry Bliss.


(This is a completely unsolicited post and I do not receive compensation in any form for it.)

New Addition

We have a new baby in our home:

During Spring Break, I took Noodlebug to get a haircut. He loves the children's hair salon we go to because they have great toys. As I was paying, I noticed he was very quiet over in the toy area. I went to get him and found him cuddling a baby doll.  I told him that it was time to go home and we needed to put the baby down in her bed. He was very distraught about leaving the baby. I thought about this a lot. On a day when he had been particularly good and we happened to be at Target, I took him to the baby doll section and told him he could pick any doll he wanted.  We looked at each one carefully and he picked the one you see above. It was even on sale. (whew!)  He made me open it as soon as we got in the car. 

For the first few days, he carried his baby everywhere we went.  People were surprisingly positive about it.  Only one dad asked me if I thought that was a good idea. I responded, "If my son wants to be a nurturer, I am going to support that in any way I can." It's a new world.  Men never used to be in the delivery room and now many of them are stay-at-home parents.  If I am ever lucky enough to be a grandmother, I want to raise a son who will be a loving nurturer to his family. And if I am lucky enough to ever have another child, this could be good preparation. It would be nice if someday we didn't designate toys as "girl" toys and "boy" toys.  And it would be nice if we gave men everywhere credit for being capable nurturers. We shouldn't pigeonhole anyone. Least of all children. 

These days, Baby sleeps with Noodlebug every night. He insists I make sure that she has her hat on and that I cover her up with the blanket.  I am disappointed that the baby only says "Mama."  Maybe soon we will start seeing dolls that say "Dada" as well.  In the meantime, Noodle is doing a great job taking care of Baby and I am proud to see him do it.

False Start(s)

There are several crafty projects I have been working on that just didn't pan out. 

FAIL:  I started making a Moopy bunny twice and finally gave up.  The arms and legs did me in.  When I tried turning them inside out, they fell apart.  Even when I enlarged the pattern. It just isn't meant to be.  This was going to be my contribution to my 12 9 Days of Easter swap. 

FAIL:  Then, I thought I would make everyone in the swap a little scrapbook using recycled cereal boxes. But they didn't look nice enough. 

FAIL: Then, I thought I would make one of Cathe Holden's wonderful shrinky dink bracelets with an Easter theme.  I just didn't like how my Shrinkys turned out.  Too homemade looking.

SUCCESS:  So, with a little help from a friend, I finally came up with something that I think will be okay. I can't show you the finished product because it's a surprise. However, I will tell you it has something to do with one of my favorite flowers:

FAIL:  I have also been trying to sew my mother a fleece jacket as well as a fleece robe for Noodlebug.  The jacket was moving right along until I broke off my needle sewing the hood onto the neckline.  Noodlebug's robe is cut out but that is as far as I have gotten.


SUCCESS:  I DID finish one of How Does She's balloon wreaths and I will post of a photo of that soon.


TBD:  I am working on altering a costume for Noodlebug for our town's Cutest Little Chick contest.  The theme is "Petaluma Takes Flight" so I'm taking a store-bought costume and modifying it a bit. 

Here is a photo from his very first Cutest Little Chick contest. My husband was so mad that Noodle didn't win that we haven't competed again since.  Until now.

So, I've had some hits and some misses in my creative life.  It's always frustrating when you have a crafting vision that just doesn't pan out.

Hopefully, I'll get out the Easter decorations this week.  I love Easter so much. It brings the promise of so many things and I always start feeling hopeful again.