Tuesday Ten

Here is my list of top ten things for the week. I am enjoying participating in this as is is making me use my camera more and capturing the little things in life again.

1. My favorite cleaning tool. One that I use multiple times a day. Can't stand crumbs on my bare feet!

2. Little girls who love to play with dolls, and pose for their momma for "just one more shot."

3. Homemade pretzels for Friday lunches with Poppa.

4. These four who were so excited to go swimming with their Poppa while I worked on some school planning.

5. Cardboard Boxes. Need I say more? :)

   6. Puzzles on hot summer afternoons.

7. Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies that did not bake flat as pancakes.

8. A creek under the shade of trees on a hot day.

9. Children who love to play in creeks and crayfish hunt for hours.

10. Perfect photo opportunities that I will treasure forever. Thanks to Melissa over at 320 Sycamore for the inspiration!

6 weeks

That's how long our house has been on the market, give or take a few days. Is some ways is seems like such a long time and in others it has flown by. We have had 12 showings and one offer that we could not accept. I have kept my house clean, changed plans at a moments notice, and swept and mopped my floor more times that I probably do in 6 months.

It will all be worth it in the end.

There are many benefits to keeping the house up and I am so glad I took the time to organize everything before the sign went in the yard. I can find anything in my house, and so can everyone else. When we do move it will be easy to set up house again. The house doesn't really get that messy because we got rid of everything we didn't need. Even today I was going through the school room and found 3 more trash bags of things to donate. Our house looks bigger than it really is because there is lots of open space and empty shelves. I have a floor in my laundry room for the first time in 5 years, and I get to enjoy all the work I did for a while longer.

 

The feed back we receive is all very positive for the house itself. The yard and location are the main reasons people don't look a second time. Since I can't do anything about that we just keep praying for the right person to come along and I'll keep cleaning the house.

Country Candy

This is my husbands favorite snack, a fresh onion dipped in salt.

He calls it "Country Candy".

Even my son has grown to love them. The best benefit of eating lots of raw onion over the summer? No mosquito bites. The smell of onion off the skin deters them. Anyone else eat them this way?

Sunday Best

I finally finished these dresses for the girls that I started back in March. With the house cleaning and showings I had a hard time finding the time. Fiona chose the fabric for this dress also. I love how the orange looks on them. It's also not something you would see in the stores, so that makes is special.

I used this pattern from Simplicity. The number is 2683. At first glance it looks like a simple A-line style. I thought it would be a quick sew.

It turns out that is had small gathers along the empire waist, waistband, ties, and gathered sleeves.  All these are simple to do but add extra time to the construction. Of course they also make the dress stand out.

I just love the detail on the sleeve!

Here is a detail photo of the waistband from the side. You can see the little gathered area and where the waist band and ties meet.  I had even purchased coordinating shirts for the boys. It was so nice to finally see it all together!

I love this pattern and would use it again, as square necklines are one of my favorite styles.

Tuesday Ten

When Stephanie of Under The Table And Dreaming posted her Tuesday Ten I just couldn't help but participating! It's a great way to recap the week. So here are mine.

1. Pickling beets for the first time. I always tell my husband if he grows it I'll preserve it. There are only so many beets you can eat before the harvest becomes overwhelming, this was my solution. Hopefully they will taste as good as they look. 2. Little girls who still fit in bathroom sinks.

3. Friends who go yard sale-ing and find me over fifty blue mason jars for a dollar each.   

4. A little girl who likes to dress up and sing make-up songs while dancing to their own tunes.

5. Boys who like to help bring in the harvest.6. Finally finishing two Sunday best dresses for my girls, and the little girls who didn't want to take them off.

7. Children who would rather go to Valley Forge and study history than go to a parade.  8. Making cake pops for the first time, and the excitement on the children's faces when they saw them.


 9. Learning to ride a bike for the first time. .10. Old American flags, or any flag for that matter, I just love looking at them!

4th Of July

I hope everyone had a wonderful day celebrating our freedom! We spent the morning at Valley Forge for a picnic and festival, listened to the Declaration of Independence being read, and then headed home for an evening with friends. I spent some time decorating the house using what I had on hand.  It's so easy to put up some flags and call it done. This 48 star flag is my most recent find. I couldn't wait to hand it up!  I made cake pops for the occasion. Lots of yummy food!We ate outside in the front yard as our back yard gets the setting sun. I put the drinks on the entry table in the front foyer to keep them chilled. Lots of cold water and homemade lemonade!We finished off the evening with sparklers and watching fireworks from the front yard. In writing to Abigail, John Adams predicted the celebration would take place on the 2nd. "The second day of July, 1776, will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illumination, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forevermore."

The music room

Or the very first room you see when opening the front door. The room I always keep clean, so it makes me feel like the rest of the house is not imploding in from chaos. It get's the morning sun, is the smallest room on the first floor, and the most popular for hanging out it.

When we first moved in this room was empty. We had come from a small house to one twice the size. Almost everything in this room is from a yard sale, a family heirloom, or handmade. I found the rug at Pottery Barn outlet for 350.00, it is an 8x10 and I still remember the first day we laid it down. I was so excited to cut down on the echo noise an empty room creates!

The clock is from my grandparent's home. It graced their mantel and chimed on the hour. The painting on the wall was done by my husband's grandmother.  My grandfather made this lamp and when he passed away my mother brought it to me.This little sewing machine tucked inside the cabinet still works and someday my girls will use it. I have plans to refinish the cabinet and bench. I did the cross stitch when I was in high school . This table is also from my grandparents. The little chair from my husband's Aunt. I love using things in my home that bring back memories or have a story behind them.