Sticky...

We made magnets with glass baubles and mod podge...so fun! Some of these images I cut from magazines, others were from fabric... For more info on how to make your own.
Hanging out with friends & playing UNO...waiting for their turn to swim at the meet. Great way to spend a hot and sticky summer! It's been 6 weeks of going back and forth to the pool.
Olivia lost 2 teeth this week...one while playing SKEEBALL at Chuck E. Cheese for my niece's 3rd birthday. The other at the final swim meet Wed night...and she accidentally swallowed it. We do not do the tooth fairy stuff...but give them a dollar to save or go buy something special. She bought an egg of color-changing-putty!I've read about Spode teacups...although I don't have one...it is pretty. I got this picture off their website. It reminds me of the blue willow plates we had growing up. I think they all broke. ***Anyhow, on my nightstand currently....the #11 in the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency!

Sewing...and a giveaway!

I checked this book out of the library this week...and bought more fabric. I've been sewing more aprons. Children and adult sizes!
Both of my girls know how to sew with a needle and thread, by hand. This week, I taught my 9-year old daughter, Hannah, how to sew using the sewing machine, and she is learning so quickly!!!
Check out this blog for a chance to win an awesome giveaway! $30 credit to get something from this cute online shop: http://www.sheyb.bigcartel.com/
I would definitely get a camera strap...either green or yellow...ruffled!I met two of my sisters at a little water park near the Ohio River one sunny day...our children had fun together! What a funny bird...squirts out water! You can get a glimpse of the Ohio River behind Andrea and Isaac below.

Apron for a little girl...

I took this basic pattern:
http://www.patternbee.com/FREE5.html
and altered it a bit... sewed a little apron to give as a gift to one of Olivia's friends. The pockets are made of matroshka fabric...see it here:
http://buntefabrics.com/catalog.php?category=33
I'm tempted to order more. I think I'm going to sew up a bunch of these to sell at our annual Russian Fest, which will be Saturday September 4th 11 to 5pm. Do you think they'd go for $10 each?
Now, if we only lived in a sweet little cottage like this...I love the size of this place, I'm sure it only has 1 bathroom, one, maybe two cozy little bedrooms. Isn't that perfect?

The reunion...

We stayed the first night in NY with my cousin, Zoya, her sweet husband and their daughter, Harriett, who is much prettier...I think this was the 3rd photo try...
The Bassett family reunion in MA...we stayed at Friendly Crossings, a really nice hostel. Hannah and Olivia were thrilled that they both got to sleep in the top of the bunk beds! We also went to the Trader Joe's nearby, not as good as the one in Cincinnati...no wine.
Lots more photos HERE. Walgreens has a 10 cent print sale again...enter code: CELEBRATE10.

We went to church in Methuen, MA...full of children, beautiful choir and everyone was so kind!

Hannah took this photo while we drove over the Tappan Zee Bridge.
We went to NJ next. A budgie clung to Grandpa's pocked and kept putting his head in there...then pecked his hand! Pretty little twerp.
May 25, 1968...I see my father and his sister, Ellen in this photo!
This hourglass was given to Mr. Sauser by my great grandfather. Yep, it's purple sand, it's a 4 minute hourglass that now belongs to my grandfather. My great grandfather had quite a collection of hourglasses and most of them are in a museum right now.

29 canes

One of my favorite spots in my grandfather's house is this area near the stairs. We spent a few days with him and my step-grandmother, Josie, in New Jersey. Grandpa told me about his favorite cane, which he bought in England. There is one that is beautifully carved, from Pakistan, another that is made of all glass that was his fathers (my great grandfather who lived to be 100), several with brass tops, not to be used as support, but a fashion cane.