Category: Ding Dong!

Curious Thoughts on Summer Reading

I love our new library, which is my old library, which is now diamonds. (Hmmm…apparently one should not attempt creative writing while her husband watches Old Spice commercials on youtube in the background.) But really, back to the library (which really was my library when I was a little girl): My love for the library could be a whole post in and of itself.  And we’ve been spending a lot of time there lately, seeing as it’s free (I know, Dad, it’s not actually free…) and air-conditioned and such a piece-of-cake walking distance.

I love the way Laura chooses books from the library.  I’ll give you a  hint at her method: It has mostly to do with the amount of rainbow colors on the spines of books that are approximately 36 inches off the ground.  Last week, she recognized an old friend, as we meandered around the corner of the room that houses the picture books into the R-E-Y section.  That’s right.  Good old Curious George. She chose a few of Houghton Mifflin’s “Margret & H.A. Rey’s Curious George” books, and I prodded her to choose one of the seven original Curious George titles, actually created by Margret & H.A. Rey.

While Houghton Mifflin’s done well to preserve the style and look of the Curious George books (and Laura does love them), the educator in me was stunned at the quality of the writing in the original books.  Just the sheer quantity of reading comprehension skills and complex grammar lessons packed into each page of the original books, tucked into such a happy little story, makes the process of learning to read seem so effortless.  Literally, (oh, a pun, how I love a pun… even a bad one!) I spotted fourteen different language arts lessons on one page spread.  Funny that after reading so many basic, blasé stories, an eighty page children’s book would be so refreshing!

So head to the library, whether you have little people or not, and revisit those old favorites.  I’d love to know, what are your favorite classic children’s books?

Table Etiquette [summer edition]

Is this normal summer behavior, or could the heat be affecting their brains?  Hmmm….

Baby Girl Turns One!

The first time I ventured out of the house when Laura was a baby, I realized a newborn was a magnet for mothers, particularly mothers whose children are grown but do not yet have grandchildren.  I had a woman literally weeping at the farm market about how quickly they grow.  And they all say the same exact thing: Enjoy every moment; it goes so quick.

Of course they’re all right.  Today we’re celebrating Ellie’s first birthday.  The last 12 months have brought so many changes in our family – some wonderful, some heart-wrenching.  But little Ellie has added a heaping dose of sunshine to each one.  She may just be the sweetest, most cuddly little person I’ve ever met. Happy birthday, baby!

May’s Poem

Do you remember the little series of poems by Molly O’Connor D’Antonio that I was publishing each month?  I missed a few during the crazy spring, but yesterday, after carrying two sleeping beauties up the stairs after a long walk (stroller ride) on a hot day, I found her latest musings, shared above.  The more times I read it, the more beautiful it seems. Enjoy!

Hiatus & Five Blogs

My apologies for the lack of content around here lately.  Although, to be candid, I’m not really sorry.  This computer has been the last place I’ve wanted to be, as we recently received news that my oldest sister passed away.  It’s been heart-wrenching, and despite all my pondering and experience of grief in the past, nothing could have prepared me for the shock and sadness that have been my companions this week.  I’ve been so grateful for the love and comfort we’ve received from so many friends near and far as we walk through this time of loss. Here’s a picture of us as kids, my oldest sister keeping me (on the right) from sliding off the hay bale.

I’m taking a little hiatus from blogging and taking comfort in extra time with my family and just adding a little space.  As I sign off for a bit, I’ll leave you with a few links I had prepared & planned to share a few weeks ago, but never got to post.

Be back soon,

Annie

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Here are a few of the many, many blogs I discovered during the Blogging Your Way class that Holly, from decor8, and Leslie, of A Creative Mint taught this Spring. I highly recommend the class to any aspiring bloggers.

The posts from Jules of Pancakes & French Fries is hysterical, useful, comforting, thought-provoking – depending on the day. Be sure to check out  The Bright Side Project, which she and the lovely Miss B collaborate on.

Oh, Alison.  Beets and Biscuits makes cooking from scratch look like so much fun!  Great recipes, great photos.  If you need inspiration to get in the kitchen…

At Good Measure, find a daily dose of inspiration, and then some!

Eva’s beautiful photography inspires me to take more [better] pictures of my kids.  Beautiful.

Despite the fact that home and burlap and cute birds are dear to both of our hearts, Bonnie’s blog has a totally different approach to settling at home & exploring design.  Again, lots of great inspiration.

You’ll be seeing all these blogs on the blogroll soon!

Mamamama Mamamama

It happened.  Tonight.  She said my name.  Well, one of them.  Sweet little Ellie’s been working on her “m” for a week or two now, but tonight she looked at me and said “Mamamama” and then buried her face in my shoulder, her sweet, shy gesture, when I gushed over her in delight. She did it again and again, all throughout the night.

After I snuggled her to sleep, I stood in the kitchen, slicing mozzarella and chopping basil to freshen up the leftovers I was nuking in the microwave.  No one else was there, but I stood beaming ear to ear, thinking about the sound of her little voice saying my name.  On any given day, a lot of people say my name: friends, family members who know my childhood nicknames, the telemarketers who call our house, my husband, who knows how to melt my heart with the sweet names he calls me.

But there was something about this little voice, just now learning how to articulate the sounds produced by her very breath wafting over her little vocal chords, those same vocal chords that developed while she was growing inside my own body, and the fact that she used those first sounds to say my name.  And it hit me, as it usually does, like a ton of bricks. How must our Creator, God, feel when His children – those He made in His image, with a heart full of love and creative design, speak His name – on purpose, because He is the center of our lives, the source of our existence, the one who cares and provides for us daily.  And when Scripture says “The heavens declare the glory of God, the skies proclaim the work of His hands,” could it mean that He has been whispering to us “Mamamama,” as I have to Ellie, longing to hear her say my name? And does His heart just break that some of those He’s created never speak his name at all?

I’m thankful for the quiet in my home tonight, and the opportunity to soak this all in, and to whisper, “Abba, Father,” knowing He delights in the sound of this little voice calling His name with all the love I have to muster.

Blizzards & Banana Bread

Day number two of snow, snow, snow! This morning Laura and I made Grandmama’s banana bread. We’ve made it so much this winter, that she knows the recipe almost by heart. She works right beside me on her trusty big girl stool, shown here next to the remains of an egg that someone (who shall remain nameless) rolled off the counter – oops! When my mom bakes, her kitchen is a well oiled machine.  She can be smack in the middle of 30 dozen cookies (which she did in her spare time Thursday) and her kitchen is cleaner in the middle of that than mine is after I’ve finished scrubbing it for hours (which I did… oh, wait – never).  I, however, create such a crazy whirlwind of chaos around me (in my kitchen, when I’m cooking, that is) that my husband thinks the aftermath could be an art form.

We saved one loaf for our family, and decided to spontaneously serve the other to our neighbors, as a treat when they came in from the great car shuffle at noon, when our apartment’s parking lot gets plowed.  Hope you’re warm and cozy this February night.

Unique Fiber Arts Interview

Did you read about the Valentines Day Giveaway at Unique Fiber Arts that I posted yesterday?  Well, I’m back today with an interview with Debbie Reagan, the creator of these beautiful Waldorf dolls.  If you’ve ever thought about working from home, opening an etsy shop, or just think these dolls are as adorable as I do, read on. (Be sure to click “read more” at the bottom of this post for the full interview!)

Annie: How did you get into making these gorgeous dolls?

Debbie:   I sought to learn an new art technique in doll making and had always wondered how these beautiful dolls were made. Last year I began to search the internet and found sources for the materials (that are mostly from Europe) for making the dolls and after even more research I found 2 experienced Waldorf doll makers online to learn from. The quality is so superior to any doll I have ever made before that I knew this is something I wanted to spend my time making and I couldn’t wait to share them with others…

Annie: I love Etsy.com, and from time to time have played with the idea of selling handmade little works of art. What has that process been like for you?

Debbie: I was so blessed to be able to stay-at-home to raise our children for 17 straight years. During that time I experimented with various home business opportunities. I am a great advocate for home based businesses for young moms who stay-at-home to raise their families. It is a great way to spend your time and to help earn extra money for the family while building valuable skills that keep you marketable.

I love the business side of things and I love people and while I could make money selling things to people, I found that I most loved being a craftswoman and artist first. The work of my hands satisfied me more than selling other people’s products. I first began to work for other successful sellers of handmade baby and children items when our first child was a baby. It was a way to begin to learn from a seasoned artist as I created items for her store. She paid me a few dollars for my work, but the greatest value for me came from being exposed to a successful business woman and her store, without having to commit to being a business owner myself. It was a great start….

Unique Fiber Arts :: Giveaway

photo credit :: Unique Fiber Arts

I happened upon Unique Fiber Arts last week, through a post on a friend’s facebook page, and after examining her wonderful work, was so pleasantly surprised to find that the creator of these lovely dolls is an old friend!  Debbie Reagan had a huge impact in my life, introducing me to the opportunity to work among those living in poverty just minutes from my home. She opened my eyes to great need, and modeled what it looks like to live out your faith with both conviction and love.

Among many other pursuits, she now handcrafts lovely Waldorf dolls, like this one, and sells them on her etsy shop.  (You know about etsy, right? If not, go search “”baby boots” on etsy.com. You’ll never buy off a registry again!) Be sure to check out Debbie’s shop!

To top it all off, she’s having a Valentine’s Day Giveaway.  For more details and to enter, please visit her giveaway post at Unique Fiber Arts before Friday.  Enjoy!

Christmas Card

If you rang my doorbell right now, you’d find me at my desk, with a pile of 200 cards that look exactly like this one – except the left & bottom eighth of an inch would be strangely, no, sadly cropped off.  Let me explain.

This year, with adorable cards pouring in from friends and loved ones all over the country, I was inspired to create my own photo card.  I had way too much fun playing with photoshop.   My very patient  and web savvy husband, Ted, has taught me some photoshop basics over the past few years – enough to create graphics for this blog, images for evites and such,  but this was my first attempt at a printable project all on my own.  I’m most proud of the dotted lines, mostly because it’s a trick Ted, somehow, didn’t know how to accomplish… (Okay, so I did cave and ask him for help!  But I ended up figuring out with a little help from designer/illustrator Marlina who blogs over at Lovely Room, not from Ted!)

So, the design was a great success.  Sadly, I had them printed at a less then apt printing establishment, whose name I shall not defame here but whose services I will never again use, and while I was able to recover the cashola I paid for the pitiful printing mess, I was out of time to send them for 2009.  Maybe next year… Regardless, I hope all of you thoroughly enjoyed the Holidays!  We had a several wonderful days with family, the surprise homecoming of my cousin who is stationed far away with the Air Force, a Christmas Eve Pageant with live animals and beautiful hymns in a stone church that borders Central Park, and two little girls with twinkles in their eyes & awe in their hearts at the mystery of a baby King in a stable.  And, like my cards, our holiday memories weren’t perfect, but making them was a blast!