The Kind of Girls who Jump in Puddles...

When I found out that I was pregnant, I really wanted girls. I hoped they would have curly hair. And I imagined the kind of girls who would play in the mud and jump in puddles. Well, here they are...

These girls can spend hours inspecting leaves, collecting stones, watching the birds, and talking to the ants.

How did I get so lucky?

Crafty Birds - Making Trees out of Toilet Rolls

We made these sweet autum trees out of toilet paper rolls, burlap, and dried leaves.

Materials

Toilet paper rolls

Dried leaves

Card stock

Burlap

Elmer's Glue

Paint brush

Sharpie

Step 1: Draw the tree top on green card stock.

Step 2: With Elmer's Glue attach leaves - let dry

Step 3: Cut burlap to fit the toilet paper roll and attach with Elmer's Glue

Step 4: Let dry and have lunch

Step 5: Cut 2 slits in the burlap-covered toilet paper roll and attach tree top to trunk

Step 6: Cut out tree animals on card stock (we used squirrels and hedgehog)

Step 7: Glue animals on tree

Step 8: Play!

Welcome Autumn

Why is autumn my favorite season?
Cooler days
Dropping leaves
Wearing lots of layers
Drinking apple cider
Planning birthday parties

Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop...

I have taken a little break from blogging because we had visitors. The house is trashed, the girls are spoilt, and I ate chocolate for dinner last night. We miss you already Grandma and Grandpop. xx

I heart Mrs. Bero

My favorite biscuits (cookies) are from my favorite cookbook, and my favorite cookbook is on a shelf in my mum's kitchen. We refer to the cookbook as Mrs. Bero and only recently (just a few minutes ago) did I notice that Bero is the name of the flour advertised throughout the book and isn't an actual person. Mrs. Bero - you will always be my goddess of domestication.

I heart Mrs. Bero

the perfect biscuit with pot of tea

I must blame Multiples and More for demoting my childhood hero into an imaginary friend (but thank you for caring about my cookie preferences.)

Weekend Fun

More scarecrows

More fountains

More projects (more to come...)

Tortoise Love

My dear Nola and Kira,

Your love of tortoise is an inherited trait passed down from generations of curly-haired people.

These tortoise were hatched by your Great Grandfather.

And now cared for by your grandfather.

And someday they will be for you.

They are 200 years of family fun!

Houses

Nola's dream house includes a sewing room and an airplane. Kira has lots of purple, a monkey and a very large toilet...

Crafty Birds - Making a Scarecrow out of Repurposed Materials

As soon as we saw the scarecrows at Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, both the girls and I knew we had to make our own...

Materials - all repurposed
Wooden stake and stick
Burlap rice bag
Old clothes - trousers and top
Wing
Hat (with elastic to keep wig on)
Plastic bags (I'm not proud that I have these, but somethimes I forget to take my cloth ones)
String
Permanent markers

Step 1: Use a wooden stake for the vertical support and tie and small stick on horizontally for the arms.

  

Step 2: For the head - turn a burlap rice bag inside out, cut off zipper, and fill with plastic grocery bags.

Step 3: Dress scarecrow with shirt and attach stuffed rice-bag head with string.

Step 4: To hold trousers up - make suspenders by attaching string to belt loops.

Step 5: Stuff trousers with plastic bags and tie the ankles with string.

Step 6: Add wing, hat and draw a face.

Step 7: Drive scarecrow into the ground and decorate with flowers.

This is by far our favorite project yet!

A Visit to the Botanical Gardens

The scarecrows gave us an idea. You'll have to wait for tomorrow to see...

Namesake

Nola has a namesake. A beautiful cat was abandoned at my dear friend Gwen's business - Camp Kitty.

Nola is beside herself with joy and Kira is eagerly waiting a kitty named after her (not that we condone abandoning cats.)

Camp Kitty, by the way, is a new cat-only boarding facility in Atlanta, GA.

Horsing Around

For the Birds

We have a new Saturday ritual.

For the last month we have woken up to a Farmer’s Market in our park. We race to get dressed so we can join the merriment, visit with our neighbors, and buy local produce.

We eat lunch on our porch to the gentle sound of folk music as I ponder what to make with the season's harvest. By the afternoon, the stalls are cleaned up and there is no trace of the hustle and bustle of the market. But, we are left with a relaxed and satisfied feeling that makes our whole weekend feel more focused on family and home.