handmade gifts

The last few weeks have been a blur of stitching, trying to finish up Christmas gifts for my nieces.


Julia, who is three, will receive a handmade toadstool mouse house. Equip with two felt mice and handle for toting around.


and window boxes loaded with daisies.


always thankful for help from my stitching bunny.




Lilly, six, will receive a handmade diaper bag set for her baby. A few cloth diapers, a quilted changing pad, bibs, and a way-too-cute diaper bag.




stitching bunny stuck her nose in my pin container. one time, never again.

snow!

The girls were so excited for their first snow! They really weren't sure what to think of it. I was fondly reminded of the children's story Henny Penny - "the sky is falling! the sky is falling!"



India followed everyone around eating the snow off of their backs...until she realized her own back was covered in snow.


My nieces, Lilly and Julia came for a visit. They delightfully hold the family titles of Chicken Tamer and, of course, Chicken Tamer Assistant.



Lilly teaching them to dance for treats.

second-hand

Today is an example of why I love thrift stores. Not all of them though. Some are oddly overpriced - at least in my 1940s mind. Six or seven dollars for used jeans? No thanks. Five or six for a shrunken wool sweater? Pass. Today however, the price was right. Today was Customer Appreciation Day at the Fort Monroe thrift store... and boy did I feel appreciated! Welcomed with tasty cookies - and an amazing, melty chocolate peanut butter stick! mmmm... I'd go back if I hadn't cleaned that plate up!

Anyway, my steals.



I got three pairs of pants for myself (AE, Calvin Klein), three long sleeve shirts (AE & Target), jeans and two tops for Lillian (Old Navy), a striped dress and shirt (stripes by request!) for Julia (Gymboree), tons of cute baby clothes for Lil's doll.

And best of all...my pre-health-nut-transformation best friend would have arm wrestled me for... brown high-heel, annoyingly pointy Nine West shoes!

All of this, my friends... $5.00 + tax. That's it. That's all. And that's why I don't like buying anything new!
(Those Nine West shoes, new: $80. Thrift store: TWENTY-FIVE CENTS!!)

Oh, the high of second-hand bargains. Saving the planet, and adding to my wardrobe!

the gardens

A few days back we took a little trip to the botanical gardens. We were sad to see the trees are past their peak. Some of the Japanese maples were holding on though. But still, winter is clearly not far off. In fact, snow is predicted for this weekend, or so the rumor goes.








i love how hostas look when they are on their way out - they make me think of little plant skeletons.