Category Archive

1. pillowcase dress

A while back I made THESE pillowcase dresses. Like the t-shirt skirts, I thought the project went smoothly, and always planned to get back to the idea. But, like the skirts, I never did. I did save these links as cute ideas though…

Jen, at Red Instead, has this tutorial.

Leslie also has a tutorial up at her blog, A Room Somewhere. I enjoy reading Leslie’s blog regularly, by the way.

And then there’s Susan’s tutorial on Freshly Picked

2. boston terrier puppies

I don’t actually have Boston Terriers, but my parents do, and they love them to death. They have three of them actually - two females and a male. THe male is virtually impossible to photograph, but here are the two females…

3. dobson ron paul

This search term is interesting to me for many different reasons. The search usually takes people to the post about the open letter to Dr. Dobson. The interesting thing to me, is that any leader in the Christian community can carry so much weight that his endorsement of any political candidate is crucial to that candidacy. It’s also amazing that Christians are so willing to not think, and instead allow a “spiritual geru” to do their thinking for them. We seem to be like sheep who confuse a slightly larger, more prominent sheep for The Shepherd.

4. home crafts

This is one of my favorite topics, right up there with thrifting!

5. baseball posters

I have no idea why this search would lead to my blog. I don’t own any baseball posters, and don’t really have any interest in them. But hello, people searching for baseball posters! Can I interest you in a cup of coffee and photos of my daughters? They’re much cuter than big stinky baseball players anyway. And they sweat less. Not that a poster sweats, but you’d probably have the impression of sweat every time you looked at your poster.

6. embroidery patterns

I love anything with vintage embroidery - especially pillowcases. I wish I could embroidery, but I can’t ever make it look right. I envision all these sweet, simple little girls dresses in natural fibers and neutral colors with charming little embroidered accents.

Beetastic has an amazing collection of vintage embroidery finds. I love to browse through her photostream.

7. seashell crafts

I assume that this search leads to Gentlewood Cottage because of the wreath which I made for Christmas two years ago…

8. marme

The girls’ name for my mom. The name was chosen by my sister-in-law, Delana. I insisted that I got to choose what our kids would call my dad, so he’s Granddad.

9. retro homemaking

An endlessly fun topic. But really, there’s not much difference in Retro Homemaking, and Modern Homemaking, when it comes to the technique - it’s the mentality that’s different. Maybe that should be a whole ‘nother post for a whole ‘nother time.

10. vintage picnic

Ahh the romance…

We used to do this sort of thing more often pre-kid. Maybe someday it won’t seem so daunting and we’ll do it more often again.

You could serve any food at a “vintage” picnic. The romance is in the presentation. Chipped vintage plates with cheery colored flowers, sparkling citrus soda served in real glasses, and strong black coffee in chunky vintage coffee mugs are all essential. Someday I would love to find a genuine red-checkered table cloth to add to my picnic stash. If you’re lucky enough, you will dine on a grassy slope, overlooking a smooth jazz or a big band concert playing in the distance.

In the “old days” we took a book and read for hours. Maybe in the future we will enjoy that again, this time with our children flying kites and chasing butterflies in the distance.

11. love husband

This search thrills me. It’s like Google saw that search and thought “Who was that lady who writes that blog? Don’t you think it’s pretty obvious that she loves her husband? Let’s add that as a search result.” Yup, it must have gone something like that.

12. pioneer spider cooking pan

What? You lost me on that one.

13. handsome husband

See number 11. Strike “loves her husband?”. Insert “has a handsome husband?”.

I’ve been very fascinated to see how people find my blog. Some searches I cannot understand. Some searches I wish I could answer in a more useful manner. Some I just can’t even repeat on this Family Friendly blog. But they all fascinate me.

1. t-shirt reconstruction and all it’s variations.

I can’t believe how popular this search is. It is my number one search term, and the second search term is simply a variation on the spelling. I while back a reconstructed a large t-shirt into two cute little skirts, and thought the project went very well. I’ve saved many a t0shirt, and nearly as many links, intending to get back to the whole topic, but time has not allowed.

Craftster is an invaluable “idea” place for me. There are tons and tons of interesting clothing reconstruction projects. I can’t believe how creative people can get!

2. vintage shoes

I love vintage shoes. But I don’t really remember ever posting about them. If I weren’t me, and I weren’t hopelessly clumsy, I would surely wear those shoes every single day. They’re from Remix Vintage Shoes. I’d pretty much wear any of their shoes - if I weren’t a klutz.

3. blooming tea

My dear friend Rachel let me in on this stuff. Someday, I’ll actually buy some and try it. I can envision the exact setting… In the meantime, I look at the pictures and imagine…

4. gentlewood cottage

It’s nice when people actually search for the blog by name. It gives me a feeling of existence.

5. thrift shop chic rooms

To me, it’s a satisfying feeling to look around any room in my house and spot the thrifted items. It makes me feel frugal and productive. You know - “she bringeth her food from afar” - except… it’s junk. Making the house cozy with unexpected little finds is just thrilling.

6. steak dinner

Does life get any better than that?

7. sewing room

This is an appropriate search in my estimation, because thanks to my husband, I have a wonderful sewing area. It’s so handy and bright and cheery! I think I’d like it, even if it weren’t mine.

8. khaki skirt

I’m still on the lookout for the “perfect” khaki skirt. It’s kind of elusive, like the “perfect” denim skirt. Maybe someday…

9. vintage inspired dresses

Some of my favorite things in life!

10. vintage things

Now that’s a general search for you. But then again, imagine what you might find…

11. miniature dachshund

Got one. A very pregnant one, in fact.

12. frederick morgan

He’s good, isn’t he?

13. which way is the bus traveling

A very deep and thought provoking question. Which usually leads people to this post.

So that’s it for now. The second edition will be released next Thursday!

While our husbands (and my parents) were not having fun being at the State Convention, Emily and I were having fun taking our daughters shopping. Which actually has it’s not fun moments, due to the fact that they are all babies, and we had no strollers.

Kinsley and Sophie were fascinated by the mannequins. And the cushy seating areas in Ann Taylor Loft.

The highlights for the girls were the Wiggle Scooters….

The ice cream…

The play area…

And the street performers.

All in all, it was a very exhausting excursion.

I have been very fascinated by these little flowers (or weeds?) this spring. I seem to be obsessed with photographing them, and both girls have a new appreciation for them.

I have heard that the dandelion is supposed to be a good measuring device for all sorts of things.

Weather:

“The dandelion is an excellent barometer, one of the commonest and most reliable. It is when the blooms have seeded and are in the fluffy, feathery condition that its weather prophet facilities come to the fore. In fine weather the ball extends to the full, but when rain approaches, it shuts like an umbrella. If the weather is inclined to be showery it keeps shut all the time, only opening when the danger from the wet is past.” Says “Camping For Boys” by H.W. Gibson

The time:

“The dandelion is called the rustic oracle; its flowers always open about 5 A.M. and shut at 8 P.M., serving the shepherd for a clock.” “The Child and Childhood in Folk-Thought” by Alexander F. Chamberlain

And, last but not least, Love:

It’s said that if you can blow all the seeds off with one blow, then you are loved with a passionate love. If some seeds remain, then your lover has reservations about the relationship. If a lot of the seeds still remain on the globe, then you are not loved at all, or very little. Source: “Unusual Vegetables, Something New for this Year’s Garden,” Rodale Press Emmaus, PA.

Maybe I need to make something of this obsession. Have you ever made dandelion wine? I’m considering this recipe.

“Dear common flower, that grow’st beside the way,
Fringing the dusty road with harmless gold,
First pledge of blithesome May.”
~ Ellen Mackay Hutchinson Cortissoz

1) What is the capital city of New Mexico?
a. Albuquerque
b. Las Cruces
c. Sante Fe

2) What is the official state insect of New Mexico?
a. Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
b. Firefly (Poturis pensylvanica)
c. Tarantula Hawk Wasp (Pepsis formosa)

3) Which of these Native Americans was born in New Mexico?
a. Mangas Colradas
b. Geronimo
c. Cochise

4) Which of these rivers does not run through New Mexico?
a. The Rio Grande
b. The Colorado River
c. The Pecos River

5) What is the red symbol in the center of the New Mexico State flag?
a. A Maleewa
b. A Zia
c. A Castilla

6) Which of these is a nickname for New Mexico?
a. The Silver State
b. Land of Enchantment
c. Land of Shining Mountains

7) What is the highest point in New Mexico?
a. Wheeler Peak (13,161 feet)
b. Boundary Peak (13,140 feet)
c. Kings Peak (13,528 feet)

What is the official state question of New Mexico?
a. Hello or goodbye?
b. Sun or moon?
c. Red or green?

9) What is the motto of New Mexico?
a. To be, rather than to seem
b. Ever upward
c. It grows as it goes

10) The northwest corner of New Mexico touches three other states. This point is called Four Corners. What other states does New Mexico meet at Four Corners?
a. Colorado, Utah, Arizona
b. Colorado, Idaho, Arizona
c. Utah, Nevada, Arizona

See comments for answers…

1. Do you ever use all caps when typing online messages?
No. I hate all caps - it makes me feel like the writer is screaming at me. Either that or too lazy to use proper pronunciation so they choose all caps as an easy out.

2. Does it bother you when other people use all caps in their messages?
Oh. SEE ANSWER ABOVE! (I just had to know how it felt. Just this once.)

3. Do you use abbreviations (i.e. lol, brb, etc.) when typing email messages or text messages?
I use etc a lot. I have on occasion used i.e. I hate the lol, roflmbo (or any variation on that one) and most other “cutesy” abbreviations. I feel like the English language is being dumbed down to nothing and it reminds me of 1984.

4. Do you ever receive faxes or other correspondence from a professional office that are typed in all caps? If so, what do you think of that?
No, I don’t because I am a stay at home mom. I do, however, see all cap foam letters or refrigerator magnets, and I don’t like that. I am going to great lengths to find a set of children’s refrigerator magnets in lower case letters.

5. Do you rely on the computer program to catch your typing errors, or do you proofread your material before sending it out?
Mostly I rely on the computer to catch my spelling errors, though I also proofread to see if what I have just written makes any sense at all.