Prize winners!

Well, I am all partied out. My daughter however, can keep going and going and going....


My little girl is cuter than a doll with bunny ears, don't you think? She drew a picture for the tea party...that is us, of course. Yes, yes, I know, she is a future artist "extraordinary"!


It is time to put my trinkets away and pick a winner for the fabulous prizes. Drum Roll please...

The first winner is:

Kathy at a bit of serendipity

And the second winner is...my first comment of the day!

Lilacspecs~ of Lilac colored glasses,

because, she's right, she totally deserves some American junk food!

Well, I have to say, that was quite fun. It is always nice to skip through playland once and awhile.
I hope you all have a big happy 4th of July. The fire works have already started here.

I live in the pyro-state, and my BFF calls it, where they allow those thing that shoot up in the air and land on your house and catch on fire. It's fun. I tell you. Loads of fun.

I might like the 4th and all it stand for if not for those darn fireworks.

Tea Party Whimsy

Are you here for the party or just wandering through?

Either way I am just glad you are here! Pick a tea cup, pick a tea...don't worry, there is enough for everybody! I am sure I have more in the back of the cupboard, in that corner where I haven't looked since last winter when I wanted a hot cuppa...

Did you bring a costume? A special hat? A silly hat? (Okay, who else knows that song from Blue's Clue's? da da dah...Steve's got a silly hat, sing with me, Dapoppins got a silly hat.) Don't worry, if you didn't want to dress for this party, I have something you can wear instead:

Green and black...surprisingly elegant...with just a touch of sparkle...the pink glitter is so much prettier in person...

What do you think of the stripes? The big bow... the bit of bling?

Not your style? Don't worry. I have another one or two.

This one is my daughter's favorite...I think it might be the pink flowers, but I can't be sure.

This one has buttons, and jewels and lace...I think I will wear it tipped to the side next time I go horseback riding. It would look perfect with my cute red riding coat...(okay, dreaming here. This is playtime, people...get into the spirit of things...even you, Doozer!)

How about some of this?

Or this?

Just a little taste? How can you resist?

Or, if you don't like sweets, there is always something healthy to have, even at a Mad party...

This bowl was empty before I got it to the table, maybe the door mouse got into it, but don't worry, the store is just up the street. I can get more. It was cold, and sweet and perfect for June....

Another cup of tea? Would you like it iced? There is even diet coke in the fridge too...wait, I drank most of it staying up late to make those little hats...

You see, my friends...nothing scary here! But there is so much more, so much more fancy, and whimsy and magic at other blogs today! You can visit them too. The Creative Queen of this party is here: A Fanciful Twist
With other party goers listed in her sidebar...and other goodies too.

Wait...did I say goodies?

No, Bee, I didn't eat everything by myself. If you like Flip Side Pretzel Crackers, or Nutella spread, together or separate...if you like Strawberry Whoppers, which are sweet like strawberry milkshakes...if you like one of the little paper hats, or the doll's paper mask...

Leave me a comment Today. (And only today...!) And I will send some to you...

(* If more than two people comment I am going to have to do that random generator thing because let's face it, my dears, my husband is a hard working teacher and we are considered poor folk. I can't be buying goodies for all of blogland...just saying but I really, really want to share my favorites with my blogland friends, so shhhhh, I will just mail them to you and it will be between us and the white rabbit...)

My Parenting Mentor

When I was in my thirties, I realized a few things about myself I'd been blind to in my twenties.

I'd absorbed tendencies from the four most influential women in my life: my mother, my step mother, and both of my grandmothers. I can pin-point things I do and say that unintentionally mimics their behavior. (And so can my husband, much to my unending disgust. He just loves to rub it in.)

Apparently, this happens to everybody.

I also absorbed Bill Cosby.

---Not that I am fatherless, mind you. Or have a bad Dad. My dad is great. Just for most of my life he was quiet, and this post is more about things I say and do.---

My step mother introduced me to Bill Cosby records.-- the best thing she ever did for me. I can still remember some of his routines that I haven't heard for years...Little Tiny Hairs (growing on my FACE!) and Tonsils, and Special Class, to name a few.

When I was about ten, my mom took us to a live performance in Tahoe. I laughed so hard so hard that my sides ached as he went though most of the same routines in his story-telling-style that I have since seen a hundred times on Bill Cosby: HIMSELF.

And then I grew up, and had my own kids.

And suddenly every hilarious thing Bill Cosby said about parenting and children came true.

I practiced his breathing routines during child birth. I didn't mean to, It just happened.

Later, I transformed into that same wife he came home to, my face twisted by tension as I tell my own husband it was his turn to deal with HIS children.

Bill Cosby prepared me for a 4 year old's explanation of, "I don't know," and the amazing difference between parents and grandparents.

And whenever I let the kids eat apple pie for breakfast....I remember "Chocolate Cake."

Bill Cosby even saved my life.

Really. He has this routine, $75 dollar Car...and it is because of this that I remembered to turn into the spin when my car went into a spin on an ice covered road.

Join me?

My daughter is in the car sleeping, and I am in here blogging. Is that bad? Does that make me a Slacker Mom?

*****
To blog or not to blog, that is the question.

A blog is man’s best friend.

A blog a day keeps the doctor away.

*****

I saw this Denny's commercial the other day advertising a new "take out" pancake and eggs packaging. And I thought, " Yeah, but how would I buy that if I have to get out of the car?" Cause Denny's isn't a drive through. It took me a few times of seeing this commercial to realize that someone actually expects me to go into the restaurant to order.
Why would I do that?

*****

Don't forget Saturday, June 27. This Saturday. There will be photos. There will be silliness. There will be offerings of silly goodness. Leave a comment. Be entered for a prize. Even if you live some place outside of the United States. The prize maybe something you don't even like, but it will still be something in the mail just for you. Really. Promise.

Low Battery

What do you think of my picture? Thank you, Counting Your Blessings, you always have the best links! That pink skirt on the bottom is an apron. Not sure I will be making cookies in that confection.

I had my camera with the me the other day on an outing with #2 son. He loves to find "treasures" in everything. I was going to show you some of the sights of my little corner of the world. There are about six shops all clustered together that I love to visit at the same time when I get a chance. I snapped a couple of shots and then my battery died.

Wouldn't you know it?
So how is your summer going? Traveling much? Not us. I am staying as close to home as I can, until August, when we have a planned family trip via airplane. So don't worry. (I know you were) eventually I will take out my camera to explore the town again.

I know you all must be doing something, because you don't seem to be visiting me. But do you see me complaining?

Crafter's I have a question for you. What kind of glue do you use for your various projects? What is the best paper glue...slick surface glue? What is your favorite glue for German glass glitter? Metal jewelery glue? What do you use to glue your jewelry pieces to paper?I can't seem to find the right stuff to work with my projects.

First week of Summer Vacation

If I were to attend a Mad Tea Party of the Costume Viriety, one wonders what I would wear.

A big green poka-dot bow tie, certainly,
a vest,
and a coat with tials, all with a lovely touch of pink.
And the shoes should be fabulous, and not clash with the rest of the outfit.

No. No. We cant have that.

And ofcourse I would stand on a red candy stripped toad stool.

(Are you freaked out yet?)

I've been dreaming of crafty things I could make all week for this. I have the paper. I have the glitter, I even have the ribbons.

I haven't made one crafty thing!



In other news...remember when I wanted to place an add so my family and I could go work on a farm for a day or a week? We didn't even have to place an add! My husband talked to a wonderful lady who offered to let us feed their baby goats...and ride the neighbor's horse!














It was really a wonderful evening. The kids weren't excited to play in animal poop as I thought they might be, but they were very bold with the animals, and I was afraid they would be afraid. See what asking for something gets you?

No, If I can remember to send those Thank You notes I forced the kids to write, maybe will will be asked back again.

That is, if my daughter didn't kill one of the baby chickens.

But that's another story.

Mad Tea Party

I was thinking of behaving controversially this week. Thinking of all the things going wrong instead of focusing on the many, many blessings that abound in my life and all the things going right. Until I visited one of my favorite blogs of artistic inspiration and saw an invitation to the most delightful sounding event.


A curious happening, Of the cOstume Variety, on June 28th. And I couldn't help myself. I got bit carried away, you see. I am not of the talent of likes of Donna O'Brian, or Sandra Evertson, or Vanessa Valencia, my artistic creations and the time I spend on them are soo...nil. Maybe it was something in the tea or the promise of treats...

I don't know what it was...but I will be there...and here. Would you care to join me?