Hungry for Sandwich!

Today was so yummy! Beautiful sunny, 60 degree weather greeted me and my trusty little shopping cart this morning. The day was so nice it caused a few of my shopping pals to join in on my adventrue to the wonderful Sandwich Antiques Market.
When we arrived, the day got even tastier.
Instead of lots of words tonight...I give you lots of pictures instead.
Should have bought it...but didn't
I am going to install a water fountain on either on my back patio or in the garage. That way all the kids can have a drink outside and stop running through my house.
I met someone new today...Diane Passi, she is from Wheaton (or Glen Ellyn...yikes I forgot). We talked for a little and I was fortunate enough to get her card. The next few pics are from her booth, which I found to be so much fun. You can tell she is so full of creativity.



My next stop was at my favorite spot in all of the market...Michelle Jackson and her mother own Willows and together they have the most wonderfully creative displays. They come in every month from Dubuque, Iowa and much to my delight remake their displays to coordinate with the present season.Just keep looking because everytime you think you have seen it all...you find something new. Today's theme was mushrooms!
See those wicker bottles..they are now mine. I just need the right spot....
The merchandising is just outstanding and makes you just want to take it all home. Now you know The Accountant would die if I did that.
But there are times when you just can't help yourself!
I only wish I had a bigger budget.


OK just one more...

Now these are the deals I came home with and can I say good deals....
A new comfy chair that has found a home in my bedroom or master bath..not sure have to play around with that after I steam clean it...
Couldn't resist getting a feed sack....I have seen so many of you get creative with making them into pillows and seat covers, I decided I couldn't help myself and started my collection, which made it's home on the front porch. Definately need some more to complete the look.I already put a pillow in the one I purchased and The Accountant has started putting it to good use as he drinks his glass of wine and greets the neighborhood.I love floral frogs...these came from Diane Passi's spot.
I picked up this sweet picnic basket...it is in great shape. I hope to assemble a colorful summer party basket with plates, glasses and all things that will help someone create the perfect setting. Work in progress.
This little bucket can hang from the wall and the spiget on the front is in working order. I think I am going to use it outside for hand washing. That way before the kids come in from catching frogs and toads they can clean up just a little bit :) Another item for the plumber to help me with.
I picked up a few more items, but forgot to photgraph them...a nice tiny silver box that reminds me of my friend Nanci and some colored aluminum glasses to start filling my party basket.
Hope you enjoyed my trip...I certainly did. I found that there were a lot fewer vendors this year, but those that were there really wanted to be there. They understand times are tough for all of us, but they realize that we still have a need for our stuff! They were very fair in their pricing and as always so full of helpful information. Thanks for making it a great day...especially to Michelle and her mother who spent a lot of time talking with me. It was fun.

My baby looses a tooth...

I finally get to experience Shea loosing his first tooth....NATURALLY!

Yes, there is a story behind that statement.
Back in December, I was in hospital and my dear friend and neighbor graciously took care of my children. Taking them to and from school, feeding them and genuinely loving them as I would have.
Unfortunately, for her, Shea and her son have a very unique relationship. It's not love/hate/....its more like a competitive kind of love.
Well, as they were playing/running like nutty kids, Shea ran head into this poor little guys head.

What ensued was a lost front tooth with tons of blood and drama. Gina, God love her, called our neighbor...who just happens to be a dentist...and gets Shea to her office promptly.

The tooth quickly comes out and all is fine... just try to tell that to a mother who is lying in bed, worrying that she is not doing her job as a mom. I cried upon learning of the ordeal and cried even more when I saw that sweet little face.

When you get to the bottom of it...it couldn't have happened any better. We now have a story that will be shared by both families for the rest of our lives.

Our neighbors happen to be some of our best friends.

Our children play with one another constantly. We share birthdays and holidays with each other and come to rely on each other in many ways.

It is a blessing you don't get very often.



In coming months Gina and I will start preparing for her annual Halloween Party. Last year we set the bar pretty high...so this year we are going to raise it. We will share with you all the fun details as we get closer to the date.

Tuesday was much more fun...

Today Shea and I headed out with my good friend Mary, to Redbud Creek Farm in Sheridan, Illinois. This place is so deeply hidden in the countryside, it presents itself as a magic oasis for us nutty gardeners. Seeing that this is so early in the season, not everything was in full bloom and you could just tell there was so much more waiting to emerge in the coming months. There also seemed to be a shortage of their usual unique mixture of plantings. We soon found out that this past weekend anxious spring shoppers cleaned them out and they were waiting on new deliveries...Thursday. (No recession here) I just love ponds and would love to have one in my yard, The Accountant is not so keen on the idea. But, if I had one I would want it to look like this. You never know...one day I could just start digging myself a hole. They also had this adorable Bird House for sale, I had to put it on my wish list for now as it was a little over budget. Hopefully one day it will come to roost in Sugar Grove. I managed to pick up some great new plantings and have started moving everything around in my yard to make way for them. My arms are officially sunburned with my first farmer's tan of the season. While spending time outside today the kids took some time to investigate our own little pond in the empty lot next to us. What they found was nothing short of amazing. Thousands upon thousands of tadpoles, millions of funny looking pond snails, leeches and I believe pond plankton. I took a sampling indoors for further observation. I took this little video of a jar we filled with the found pond life. Please notice at the end of the video the mass of pond snails near the top of the water line.... hummmm wonder what they are up to?? (snicker)

I have to say, the tadpoles swimming around is quite comical as well. Just reminds me of our fertility treatments...
By the way, please excuse my children in the background...tried to get rid of that little outburst!
Have a wonderful Wednesday! I am off to help my neighbor arrange some artwork we found on Etsy. Stay tuned !!!!

And then it's Monday....

I don't know about you but, Monday's in my house are just too much to bear. After a weekend of baseball, family fun, traveling to relatives, children creating in the kitchen and The Accountant being home, you would think we have been hit by a nuclear explosion.

Even though you try to keep up on laundry during the week, it always seems to grow exponentially over the weekend.

This is what my kids left me with this morning.

So today, I will spend most of my day cleaning and putting away toys, walking in that permanent hunched position, doing a million loads of laundry and containing the mess all in preparation for the cleaning ladies to come tomorrow and do their thing.

I know it sounds crazy, clean for the cleaning ladies....but if you only knew. Yes, I am very very blessed to have cleaning ladies that come and I am forever thankful.

We will see how much I can get done and find a little time to create my next project. I am making magic wands for the kids teachers. I should have them ready by the end of the week and I can share my fun with you then....

But, for now...I have to leave my favorite past time of keeping up with all of you and get my butt moving...

Mother's Day Cheer

If you haven't seen this video...watch it now. Science will never be able to understand the power of motherly love and it's ability to transcend rationality.

First Communion Details

Well, the event we have been working toward is over and I have to say I am a little sad. I feel like the day slipped through my fingers and now it is only a sweet memory.

For those of you that don't know Hannah, she is painfully shy around people and situations she is unfamiliar with, but she did an amazing job of being strong. As she matures, she gains more confidence in approaching these situations and she really proved up to the challenge on Saturday.

The ceremony was just heart wrenchingly sweet and to be honest I cried many times. My little girl made such a big step in her life. She stood proud and confident among a group of her peers.

During the mass I finally had a little time to further ponder what it means to be a parent and really came to understand how important it is to guide our children with faith in God as the lead player.

Before I get to philosophical and start crying again, I will get to the details.
Hannah's dress turned out just as I imagined. The vintage lace and softness of the cotton fabric made it extra sumptuous. My mother really helped bring my dreams to life and had patience to deal with my complex mind. Thanks mom, from the bottom of my heart!




Food Galore!

The menu:
For Starters we had
Grilled Chipotle Shrimp
Cucumber Sandwiches
Chicken Crostinis
Deviled Eggs with horseradish (yes for the "horse race)
Spinach Dips
Potato Pancakes with sour cream/chive sauce
Bourbon Meatballs with pineapple brown sugar sauce

Main Course
Fried Chicken
BBQ Beef Brisket and Pork Tenderloin
Sweet Potato Hash with Sausage
Pioneer Woman Mac and Cheese (yummy)
Spicy Mustard Coleslaw

Sweets
Strawberry Short Cakes
Horse Head Cookies
Individual bite size desserts, tarts, hohos etc.
Fruit on a stick
We had so many I didn't even get to pull out the chocolate cake we purchased.

Here are the horse cookies my neighbor Gina made....I think she should be in business selling her creations

The flags added such color and made the rooms feel so happy. Above the fireplace I hung an old bridal with whips and a garland of red roses. The bridal was a purchase my neighbor Gina (aka cookie lady) made at a flea market some time ago. Lucky for me she never hung it in her house.

There are so many detail that I would love to share but I have to get to the job of gardening now...I will post some more later and more pics as I receive them from friends and family. It was really a great time but, the let down afterwards is a whole other story.
Have a Wonderful Day
Janet