Waiting for Ruby

Be my Valentine... for just a little while

Dear Ruby,

Dad and I make dinner together and have strawberry cupcakes with strawberry frosting for Valentine's Day but we don't exchange gifts. It may sound corny,but the memories of doing things together is so much better than a tangible item. When you are finally with us,and you are old enough to stand,you will make this tradition a little messier,but a whole lot more fun!

My favorite part of Valentine's day is putting up cutesy decorations that you wouldn't want to look at for more than a few days! I can't live with clutter and little things all over the place, it drives me crazy. When you are old enough to read this,you will know that already! But maybe,when you are old enough to read this,I will have changed because I learned to deal with that better by having a child around,I hope this is the case.

I made this heart garland with a vintage pillowcase,two liberty prints,and felt. I also used an embroidered rose that was cut from a damaged needlepoint purse. I long for the day that you tug at my sleeve and ask me if you can help me decorate. My little love, I am thinking of you always.

Love,

Mom

Organezizing

I finished this patchwork ottoman cover yesterday. It is the first time that I sewed a cover,I am happy with how it turned out. I haven't been doing too much in the way of crafting lately because I have been running myself ragged organizing my house-not that we were unorganized before-but I want to be super-organized. Some say a clean and organized house is over-rated,but I say there is nothing more calming than knowing exactly where something is,and that there is nothing in the house that we don't need or love. And it is so funny,because it seems many have been doing the same thing,I have been reading about organizing on other blogs!

Ron brought these ruby-red roses home to cheer me early last week,and they still look lovely. We have been discussing our adoption situation,and needless to say that is all I can think about these days.

I wanted to show pictures of Ron and my evening walk in the snow from last week,but it was too dark and none of the pictures came out right. We walked to the woods,which is only a mile away from us.The beauty of the snow covered trees literally took my breath away. We brought a thermos of hot chocolate,but sleet started to fall,so we had to enjoy it at home. The next morning we woke up,and all of the snow was gone.

364 days left

Thankful

Seven years ago my husband and I met on Thanksgiving eve night, and a year later, we were engaged on Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for in our little lives. We so get each other, and have the utmost respect for one another. The love we feel goes without saying. We know each other's flaws but they make us more beautiful to one another,verde gris on copper. Shakespeare's sonnet 130 comes to mind:

My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;
Coral is far more red than her lips' red;
If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun;
If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head.
I have seen roses damasked, red and white,
But no such roses see I in her cheeks;
And in some perfumes is there more delight
Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks.
I love to hear her speak, yet well I know
That music hath a far more pleasing sound;
I grant I never saw a goddess go;
My mistress, when she walks, treads on the ground.
And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare
As any she belied with false compare.

This Thanksgiving, treasure all of life's gifts, as well as it's beautiful flaws.

Downtown Picnic Lunch

Dear Ruby,

It was a bootiful beautiful day for a picnic! I won't drive downtown, so I rode the bus in to meet Dad for a picnic lunch. Did I feel silly taking a picnic basket on the bus? Well, I didn't care what people thought,but I did feel uncomfortable about people staring. It is Halloween,after all, so there are plenty of strange people out, but then again,there are always strange people on the bus!

It was for the greater good of the day. After all,to experience a true picnic you need the old school basket and the works. We even had a little bouquet of daisies that the boy I babysit for brought me yesterday! He's such a charmer.

I picked up some delicious spinach and jack cheese perogies from a best-of-Philly-award-winning perogie kitchen right down the street from us. 

A ladybug landed on Dad's sleeve when we were about to leave. In many cultures, including China's,they believe it brings good luck if a ladybug lands on you and flies away on it's own. Good luck,we could use a little of that! So many things make us think of you,little Ruby. One day you will ride into the city with me,and the three of us will have a picnic during Dad's lunch hour. I dream about it often.

Love,

Mom

When we travel with water,we always use a SIGG bottle-they are the best- and if we pack sandwiches or certain snacks-we use reusable fabric wraps. Check out these products and even more green stuff here:

http://www.reusablebags.com/