Took a spin around Barnes and Noble with the kids this evening. Hard to say no when they want to check out books. Got lucky at the 75% off table and scored a few reference books for collectors...one on Fostoria glass, Hull pottery, and two about vintage costume jewels[a personal weakness!!!!] Who knows...maybe some obscure thing I got for a buck will be worth thousands!

Vacation Day

Today we took a day to just hang with friends. It was close to 100...we spent the entire afternoon in the pool. Water so warm and yet so refreshing...in 5 hours not one of us got out because we were cold. After her friends went home, Maggie and I swam for 2 hours alone. We talked and swam and talked and dove. She told me little secrets and big worries. When she got out of the water she spied 2 butterflies playing tag among the lilies. One took a shine to her and hung out on Maggie's crazy-cool curls for quite a while. For a few moments all her worries seemed to vanish and there was nothing but pure joy in her face.

Sunday Sunday

Spent all afternoon of this gloriously sunny but hot and humid day trying to unload a bunch of clutter. Can almost see the entire kitchen island! If you only knew what an accomplishment that would be!!!I am at the very least, a clutter magnet. It sticks to me, is attracted to me, stalks me. I could probably spend the better portion of a month dejunking and still not be close to the kind of organization that most people require in their homes. On the other hand, we are never bored. We always have some cool thing to fiddle with, rearrange, do a craft with. In fact, anyone who ever comments about the sheer amount of stuff in our house usually is the first to call us to 'borrow' something that they just can't seem to find anywhere else[ at a moments notice.]Some examples....my vintage glasses for a rowdy party [no], green tights for a costume, a black cape, shoe buckles, glass beads for an art class, a car seat, vintage toys, sleds, platters, chairs, 2 tiered tea plates,etc..... Gee, I am just sooooo silly for being such an archivist of the arcane but so useful to know in the event you need something. Go figure.
Gotta run. Taking my 15 year old to see "Wordplay." She is a serious crossword and sudoku junky. Thank god...imagine what else she could be into. Gotta love her. She is so cool.

Slowly getting back up to speed after a bout of stomach nasties for M, my ten year old. Today was a day of tasting...to see if she could eat,so we finally broke out the Magic Bullet. She got it for Christmas because she loves to cook, but it just sat in the box til now. It is awesome!!! It really does make the best smoothies we have ever made at home. I have broken 2 blenders attempting to make frappaccinos at home...so I am really impressed with this blender.[ I am almost able to overlook the horrible commercial but not quite.] Tomorrow I will attempt a frappacino despite my bad record. And M wants to make cheddar cheese salsa.[?]We'll let you know how it works out.

Greetings on this day filled with clouds and soaking all-day rain. So comfy-cosy.Unfortunately I have a little girl down with the stomach flu...ahhhh, the joys of motherhood. Funny, but I really do seem to be at my best when they need me the most. My role as Mama ia so clear when they are sick or hurt. No gray area. I am the ONE. The stomach- patter, the water- getter, the bathroom cleaner-upper. The 3 am storyteller, the tucker-inner, the tell silly- jokester. I am Mommy. So, today, the dishes and clothes will have to wait. No long talks about garage sale finds. No cruising the thrift stores.No wondering about the meaning of my life. My baby needs me. I am right where I want to be.