I'm glad it's your birthday!

It's 3:15 and I am watching the window for Jazz's arrival from school. While I am always excited to see her, today's special because it's her 9th birthday and I really want to see her expression when she finds this ready for her:

This little set up kept me occupied for hours on end as a child. My parents discovered Ginny dolls about the time I turned eight or nine and I was enamored. I'd never liked Barbie dolls, but these dolls, with their properly proportioned bodies and their little rounded tummies sparked a deep love in me. Probably because I, too, have short little legs and a rounded tummy.  I used the carrying case to transport them and their attire to my grandmother's for the weekend. She and I would sew and crochet little outfits for them and then I'd immerse myself in an imaginary world while she watched Friday's episode of Dallas!

Here's Ginny primping at her vanity.  I wonder which perfume she'll choose today?

And here is younger sister Penny, which in the South rhymes with Ginny.

When she awakens, she'll dress in her tennis whites.

See them hanging at the ready back there?

Let's hear it for 1970's fashion! 

Wait till you see the jogging shorts and striped knee socks!

I found two of the crochet dresses - ball gowns actually - that my grandmother made.  They need a bit of cleaning before an internet reveal.  My mother and I had a long conversation about cleaning vintage linens.  I think I have several posts coming with directions and suggestions for cleaning the treasures of your attic!

I must go watch the window for a sweet, freckled 9 year old :)

Today's post title from The Beatles Birthday

With an instant radical change of perception

I'll just keep this week about handmades. I posted about the little girl jumper and now here's a little crochet project.

This bunting started as a pillow front.  Last year, I saw this pillow project with the interesting crochet motif over at Wisecraft and knew I wanted to try it.  I started the motifs, alternating the color patterns and thinking the entire time that I really didn't want to join them.  I liked the motif part but not the joining part - I knew it would be time intensive and I am really an instant gratification kinda gal.  After having this poor, sad, little stack sitting on a shelf for over a year, I decided to just change directions.  Okay, so it's not instant (it took a year) and it's not radical (it's just yarn), but this UB40 song has great lyrics.

The bunting idea came from my Pinterest board of crochet projects to try.  I realized I'd pinned several crochet buntings but had never followed through with the creation part.  [Side note:  I've noticed that most of my pins don't make it to the creation step.  That's why I don't invite you to follow me there.]

Anyway, I had just enough motifs to make a bunting to span the desk area between the girls' closets.  Their room has been a work in progress for about a year if you include the painting, closet overhauls, and bed refinishing.  The desk alcove has wonderful built in shelves that we use to house Baptismal candles, special gifts, glue higher than the reach of a three year old, the baby doll bed set made by Papa, and a whole overflowing village of Littlest Pet Shop junk treasures.  

The yarn used for these motifs is the same yarn used for the sweet mobile I made Irish Jig.  It hangs across the room in front of the windows.  I blogged about this previously, should you want details.

Today's post title from UB40's Instant Radical Change in Perception

I'm wearing a new dress

While I try to offer variety here on the blog, the sad truth is that Irish Jig spends the most time with me and, thus, is the source of many stories and pictures. That said, I apologize for posting more pictures of her same face.  It's a cute face, for sure, but I'll drum up new stories for the rest of the week.

I excitedly made this sweet jumper as a Christmas gift and, at zero hour on Christmas Eve, busted out the matching doll dress for a doll that I knew would be under the tree. I used Simplicity 2483 for the jumper and a freebie downloaded pattern for the doll dress. The jumper calls for a 12" zipper, which I changed to a 9" during construction.  A 12" length would have put her sitting on the zipper stop and that seemed unreasonably uncomfortable.  I really like the tuck detailing on the front, too. The fabric is a cotton twill from JoAnn's and isn't a designer name. I tend to save the bigger name designer fabrics for my Vintage Collection pieces.  For everyday yogurt drips, mud pies, play doh, and water paints, store brands are just fine :)

Although this jumper was available at Christmas, she refused to wear it until last week.  I'd offer it almost daily, along with one other outfit (she only gets two choices) and she'd never opt to wear it.  I was getting aggravated with the situation and just shoved it to the back of the closet.  Then she found the stash of fabrics waiting for me to make more jumpers and asked about a Mr. Potato Head print.  I told her I wouldn't make another until she wore the first one.  Now, she chooses it each time it's clean.   A Catholic mother's guilt trip is a fierce weapon, my friends.

And, yes, I am planning to cut into Mr. Potato Head soon.

Today's post title from Patti Labelle's New Attitude, which actually would have fit the story, as well :)

Lord, I'm sorry; please forgive me

Dear Lord,

Several weeks ago, I joyously celebrated the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This time, our new pastor was present to assist me. You know that I enjoy this opportunity to reflect and pray, and in the past I've celebrated with sweet little Fr. Peter [he's actually little, so it's okay to say that]. Fr. Peter has always made this celebration wonderful by including hugs, wonderful words of encouragement and the direction to always remember that I am Holy and Happy in You. Just direction - that was key.

Celebrating with Fr. John David was also wonderful and I thank you for the experience. Unfortunately, Fr. John David didn't get your most Holy and Important memo about penance [for me] being "a reminder" and not "a task". I left with directions to "BE STILL AND KNOW" several times daily over the next two weeks.

You know me, Lord...when am I ever STILL in order to KNOW? I tried each day to sit. I focused on a cherished cross; I focused on the Pieta statue left to us by my grandmother; and I read the daily assigned Gospel in order to provide a focus point of thought. Inevitably, I found myself nodding off, making a grocery list, mentally reviewing the list of things to do (in it's Excel form, of course), or being interrupted by a small blond creation of your making.

A month into this time of Penitential Zen and I was no closer to finishing up this "task". Until today....

Because today, I spent two hours of Penitential Zen pretending to be a princess Mama. I had to dress the part, including shoes with heels and a princess hat (see blond braided hat above). I was chosen to be the carriage driver for the horse drawn carriage that took us to the ball. That's right - a ball. Where I had to dance - one, two, three, one, two, three - and have light refreshments - which I had to provide as there's no servant here. Oh wait, it's me. A ball that included an art lesson with an attitudinal tutor who didn't appreciate my folk art approach to sketching.

Therefore, due to the aforementioned hours of Zen, I am declaring us even. The whole penance thing is done. Completed. Fulfilled. There will be no more.

I will still read your daily Gospels and discuss them with my children. That keeps me Holy and Happy in You and I like that. As for Reconciliation, though, I think I'll be checking the priest assignments from now on. I'm just sayin'.

Your loving Servant and refreshment provider,

Princess Mama

Today's post title from Tom Booth's/ Jenny Pixler's/ Anothony Kuner's Sacred Silence.  This song is the best bedtime lullaby, by the way.

Teach me to walk in your way

I am excited to share with you an activity from our last parish faith formation night - People of Faith. Each month, members of the parish family join for a meal, fellowship, learning and worship. Usually, after the meal and an opening activity, the different age groups separate for age-appropriate learning sessions. This time, we stayed together as families and joined with others for a wonderful activity.

Each table was given a Gospel story to read and each person at the table had a worksheet with the activity.  After reading the Gospel story together, each person turned the sheet over to find the beginning of a Catholic prayer - the Hail Mary**.

Hail Mary, full of grace

the Lord is with you

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb,

JESUS...

Then, rather than the remainder of the prayer, we saw the word WHO.  We were to think about the story we'd read, consider it's message to us and then complete the thought -

Jesus, WHO...

For example, one of the stories we heard that evening was Jesus meeting Zacchaeus and the tax collector's repentance.  The activity followed, with each person writing their own individual thoughts:

Hail Mary, full of grace

the Lord is with you

Blessed are you among women,

and blessed is the fruit of your womb,

JESUS...

WHO...

 -showed mercy to a sinner just as he would show mercy to me.

-invited the outcast to join him

-encourages me to say I am sorry

-wants me to always be in communion with Him

As the activity continued around the room, we heard many different expressions and interpretations of the same stories.  We shared our table with great friends and enjoyed hearing their statements of faith.

This is a simple activity that can be incorporated into family prayer time or meal time.  As food is served, one child could read a story aloud.  After a few moments of reflection, each family member could share their feelings concerning the story's message.  

**[For my non-Catholic friends, the beginning verses of this prayer are taken from the Angel's words to Mary announcing that she is with child and from Mary's visit to Elizabeth shortly thereafter.]

Today's post title from Joe Pinson's Come to My Heart

Who more than self their country loved

While running errands with Zydeco this past weekend, we stopped at the post office and waited in line to mail a package. We'd just left the orthopedist and Zydeco's arm was officially free and soaking up Vitamin D once again. Chatting with him in line, I noticed a much older, gray haired black gentleman standing in front of us. The band on the back of his baseball cap read "Redtails" and a memory was sparked in my brain.  I just couldn't quite place the term. Then I read the back of the gentleman's sweatshirt. Under various pictures of old-time jet fighters with red tips was a phrase about "bringing them all home safely."

Then it hit me - Redtails. Tuskegee Airmen. History.

I studied the back of this man, judging his age to be about right for him to have been an Airmen circa World War II. As I was drumming up courage to ask a complete stranger about his life, the young woman behind us jumped right in and asked for me. She was in uniform - the standard Air Force Battle Uniform - and was so excited to hear him say, "Yes, I am a Tuskgekee Airman."

Zydeco immediately perked up and joined the conversation.  He'd heard of Tuskegee, but didn't understand the significance of these Airmen.  Mr. Erza Hill, Sr. was generous with his discussion and even offered to stand off to the side and chat with us and the young female airman after we'd all finished our post office business.  We learned about his story - he was too young to serve during WWII, but was so inspired by the achievements of (then) Capt. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. that he, too, entered the Air Force and trained at Tuskegee.  He lead a distinguished career in his own right and was proud to receive a Congressional Medal of Honor with his Tuskegee peers.

The young airman, also African American, told of her inspiration to join the Air Force based on the groundbreaking work of the original Tuskegee men.  Her joy and exuberance at meeting a "real" Airman was palpable.  I gladly snapped several pictures of her with Mr. Hill.

Mr. Hill explained that, following his retirement, he eagerly traveled to share his story and that of the famed Airmen in order to educate youth.  He even published a children's book recounting the establishment of the Tuskegee Airmen.  Since he mentioned having copies with him, I was happy to get one for Zydeco.  We were even able to snap a quick shot of them together.

We've always enjoyed and appreciated living in this history rich section of the United States.  We've often visited the Historic Triangle areas and traveled just a few hours to tour and learn about Monticello, D.C., and the James River Plantations.  I love enriching my children's educations with family tours and experiences - I just didn't realize I would accomplish this by simply running errands.  Truthfully, more learning occurred for Zydeco in those twenty minutes spent in a dusty post office corner than in any tour, lecture or video presented at any historic venue.

Today's post title taken from a stanza of America the Beautiful

Snapshot image froze without a sound

Zydeco is currently attending sessions to earn his Photography Merit Badge.  He now understands more about my camera (a Canon SX20 IS) than I do.  This is a good thing because he let me follow him around the yard while he took pictures of the newest Spring blooms to grace our little piece of heaven.  I enjoyed observing his point of view.  He made the iris look huge by taking the photo while aiming upward.  He also shot just the right angle to make it seem as though a tongue was rolling out of the cavernous mouth, gasping for breath.

I requested that he catch a quick shot of dinner (grilled veggie quesadillas, con carne for some) because Mr. Neoclassic did a fabulous improvisation of dish I love to order when dining at the local Mexican restaurant.  We're not letting the fact that we used the panini press to finish off the quesadillas ruin our fiesta evening.  We're just full of contradictions and dichotomy over here.

PS - 3rd Down is a shot of FIGS!  That means more cookies!  Woohoo!

Today's post title from The J. Geils Band Freeze Frame