Cute Wittle Trees

I was dropping off the remnants of the garage sale we held on Saturday and figured I might as well do a walk through the thrift store just in case. (I mean, where else are you gonna spend 10 dollars in quarters?) I found these candle holders and just liked them very, very much.

At home, I learned they are made by a fine company and could probably be re-sold. But I like them and I think they will be adorable in the new house. You know, if we ever get to move into it. (Closing was delayed until Friday because of a mistake the bank made.)

I Christen Thee ....

...The Wendy Burger.

Not the restaurant Wendy's. The friend Wendy. Who brought us Turkey Bacon Cheese-burgers with tater tots and baked beans for supper on Friday night. She and her hubby braved Bikes Blues and BBQ/Friday night traffic with adorable baby in tow.

Apparently she sneaks oatmeal into this stuff. It tasted so darn good, you would never know.

Our dear friends from Vintage brought us meals all of last week. It took me until Friday to take a picture of any of it. If you know someone who is going through it, fix them a meal. It helps to heal their souls. Especially if it has copious amounts of bacon heaped on top.

A Head-Scratching Moment.

Had parent-teacher conferences today and it was great to touch base with the kids' teachers and make sure they are doing all right in spite of everything that has kept us from anything even resembling routine and normalcy at home. They are testing well, improving, and socializing well.

We did have an odd moment though, while reading their papers that had been hung in the main hallways. Mattie had a kind of "about me" poem which was insightful and well-written -described herself as "independent and fun loving."

And then she wrote, "I worry about my parents getting a divorce."

Insert that sound like a record spinning off the needle.

"WHAT?!" We both gasped.

So later on, at home, I told Mattie how much I enjoyed her paper but I needed to know why she would write that she was worried about a divorce. "Oh," she replied airily, "I couldn't think of anything else that I was worried about."

So there you go. Harp Elementary, we are O-K.

A Little Thought

I saw this quote on a friend's blog and liked it.

“For a long time it had seemed to me

that life was about to begin - real life.

But there was always some obstacle in the way.

Something to be got through first,

some unfinished business,

time still to be served,

a debt to be paid.

Then life would begin.

At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life.”

~Fr. Alfred D'Souza

Isaiah 43:2

I learned something yesterday. I was listening to the Daily Audio Bible and I heard this verse:

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.

I've heard that verse before and had the image of pioneers crossing a deep river with a Conastoga wagon. Talk about your American mindset, huh?

What I learned, though, was that the phrase "the waters" is actually a Hebrew euphemism for urine. Literally, when you go through the piss, even a river of piss, I will be there with you.

Maybe that offends some of you. I find it deeply, deeply comforting.

She's a Double Digit Now

I wanted to frost this ipod birthday cake a little more crisply, but I couldn't find my tips (wink, wink)

When She Grows Up, She Wants To Be A Grown Up.

Business Topics

Just thought I'd give a little update on how things are going here. We got back from Grand Rapids on Sunday and on Monday the bank informed us that they needed some other paperwork in order to close. The closing has now been moved to next Monday, the 28th.
We feel pretty confident now that it will actually happen.

Mattie turns 10 tomorrow. I'm not ready. No really, I'm not ready at all.

This week is very weird. I still have Etsy orders to fill and I'm now maybe at 35 percent packed because I've been holding off until I knew for sure that closing was actually happening.

I spent about 35 minutes yesterday trying to find a bracket for the microwave that goes over the stove. That's 35 minutes I'll never get back. But the Home Depot customer service was amazing. I don't know if I'll ever shop Lowes again.

Last night, Robb came home and was just sitting quietly on the couch. He said, "I'm so tired." It occurred to me just then, "I don't think we're tired. I think we are sad."

My parents are in Las Vegas. If you know my parents at all, you know that this is the most hilarious thing I have ever written on this blog.

Broken Hearted

I just wanted to let all of you, my blog friends, know that my-brother-in-law was killed in accident this afternoon and we are flying to Grand Rapids tomorrow morning.

Please pray for Robb's sister, Cathy and their children Nate (14) and Megan (9).

Kevin was the most warm-hearted, generous, teddy-bear of a guy. I will miss him terribly.

Bare Walls

I have started to pack.

My walls are bare.

And it looks weird in here.

This is a real word!

crapulous: sick from, or marked by, excessive drinking.


I'm not.
I just thought it was a funny word in my "Dictionary.com: word of the day."

This Week's Projects

What's that you say? How could I still be making stuff when I should be packing and I played single parent all week? Weeeeeellll, let's just say two things: I started most of these two weeks ago. And, I tend to work on inappropriate projects when I am stressed about other ones that I don't feel like I can tackle. So here we go: a bunch for the upcoming craft fair...including my own take on mosaic orbs...I add the teacup handle on them so that they can be used for Christmas ornaments. My favorite is probably the green one with the cameo face.

The blue cake plate is one of the best piecing jobs I've ever done. I made it while listening to the video commentary on the documentary "Grey Gardens" which absolutely deserves it's own post, but I'm not going to do it right now. Let me just say that after watching/listening, I had a greater than normal need for order and neatness.

I've been hankering to do some more decoupage work, too, and I finally got a chance to work out a couple of trash cans that have been lurking in my brain. The Ladies Home Journal, 1960 one is very marketable under the Mad Men genre. The other one is poorly executed, but it has a funny ad for Talon zippers, which were made in my home town.

Finally, I've been seeing some not particularly serviceable cake tier trays that are made just for looks. I married an old victrola record to a etched glass shade to make an interesting platform for candles, buffet serving or just an interesting table scape.

And now...I should probably stop playing and do something more pressing. Although, with the move coming up at an alarming speed, it's all so pressing, I just want to go to bed and put the covers over my head.

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not

Been having a couple of days that felt like God really didn't like me. Pee. Overdrafts. Unexpected bills of unusual size. Hubby on a business trip. Rain. Dental work. Etsy headaches. The dog ate my favorite knickers. Seriously, like God had raised his eyebrow and put me in the corner for some misdeed I wasn't conscious of.

And then something wonderful happened.

Video. Chat.

I saw my Beloved's face. It was like he was here. I made dinner while we chatted. The kids all competed for the screen. I fluttered around and picked up and put on a little makeup. And I felt so much better. Not nearly as alone. Not nearly as tragic. It's just money. We've never been rich. Never gonna be. But we have each other.

The kids ate their tomato soup that I made from scratch. Okay, that I made from some cans of this and that. Point being, it was good and it was cheap, just like we like it.

They went outside to play for a few minutes and I clicked in to check the store and lo and behold, I had made the front page. That is still rare enough to keep me feeling cheered up for a little while.

So maybe God does love me. A little bit.

: )

It was an honor just to be nominated

Charleigh is stressed.

When Charleigh is stressed, she poops and pees in the wrong places.

Like at the dentist office. While her sister and brother are having teeth pulled.
After I already was nearly late the appointment because she had peed her pants
and I had to stop by the house and get her a change of clothes.

So I walk into the dentist office after having changed my drenched child
using a roll of paper towel and a bottle of Windex, because that was what I saw
when I ran into the house to get a change of clothes for the accident she had at school.

And I asked them if I could please wash my hands before I did anything else.
And I mentally congratulated myself for not yelling at her.
And not telling the receptionist that I needed to wash my hands because my kid had peed her pants.
"YEAH! You are like... mother of the year! You are handling it, Vanessa! Way to go!"

And then I look up from my clean hands and my pile of paperwork to fill out at the dentists office and what do I see? I see a big wet spot on her overalls.

And the applause in my head stops as they hand the Mother of the Year award to somebody who has actual clothing packed for such a situation, which I of course, do not. I have paper towel and Windex.

And so, as I am at that very second, ushered into the room where one kid is about to be miserable, and I already am, I turn to the hygienist and ask for a plastic bag for Charleigh to sit on. Which she does. For over an hour. Cheerfully. As if all her stress has puddled away.

And once again, I remind myself that a kid who can sit in her own urine for over an hour and not complain might just make an amazing missionary. Right?

20 Minutes Left

I'm at the Gallery today. Because God loves me very much and knows I am frail, not one customer has walked through the door. I know that's terrible for business, but I can't tell you how good it has been for my soul.

It's been an insane week. I've had moments when I couldn't remember if I went to the bathroom or not. When I've ignored my own hunger pangs long enough to not be able to remember if I was still hungry or not. It's disconcerting. But I'm sure some of you know what I'm talking about.

In the last couple of days, I have purchased a washer and dryer, a refrigerator, 11 cans of paint and hardware for curtain rods. I hope you don't find it hokey if I say I think that God just had that all out there for us with minimal second guessing. I'm still stalking a dishwasher and over-the-range microwave to complete the suite, but I feel hopeful that the right things will pop up at the right moment.

I'm not sure how much this has to do with my forgetfulness, but I've discovered the joy of SPRAY PAINT. It costs 99 cents. And it does the most amazing things. Like transforming both lamp and shade.

I accidentally deleted the picture of the 17 boxes that went out the door on Wednesday. Business has been fantastic. I sold two of my biggest mosaics on one day...just in time to buy those appliances!

Someday in the near future, I am going to sit on my couch in my own house and not be hounded by Have-To-Do's. I'm so ready....

Here Comes Some Weather

Prayer Requests: Take One, Leave One

Vintage is praying today. I am feeling anxious and small. So I am praying a lot. I am thinking of many of you already. But if you'd like, post what you need prayer for, and take a moment to pray for something someone has posted.

Here's mine: The move is coming up fast and there is much that needs to be done. I am feeling it this morning.

What can I pray for you today?