Rainbow Colors

Spenser loves rainbows. Actually she loves "rainbow colors." To her, any multi-color combinations are "rainbow colors." It doesn't matter if they are the actual colors of the rainbow or pastels. When we bought her new summer sandals, she (not to my surprise) picked rainbow colors (which are pastel pink, blue, green, and yellow).

When I saw these rainbow fat quarters, I knew she'd love them. Since skirts are so easy to whip up (and because she wears skirts all the time), I figured she "needed" a rainbow skirt. Of course she is pleased with her newest skirt.

After 4 1/2 years, I'm still trying to get used to a girl in the house. She is certainly new territory for me. She's quite different than the boys. Rainbow-this and rainbow-that and all those wonderful girly things that she loves have been a real treat in this house of boys. We all adore her. Even her five brothers.

Coveted Patterns

Some times I get a little obsessed. I see a fabric print I like, and I have to have it. And then I'm afraid to use it. (I'm sure you understand.)

A few years ago I found such a vintage sheet and was terrified to cut into it. Once I did, two years later, I almost regretted it. (I have since learned to love the tunic, but I don't wear it as much as I should.)

Anyway, I've been thrifting a lot lately. Some times I find stuff. Some times I do not. This past Monday I was rummaging through some rolled up sheets and found the coveted pattern. I nearly leapt of my skin. It's a flat sheet and much brighter and crisper than my previous one. I almost cried. Almost.

And on the same very trip, I spied this coveted pattern. Steubenville Fairlane, oh how I love thee.

This pattern was one I remember from Mom-Mom's house when I was a child. Every Saturday and Sunday evening we would all go to Mom-Mom's for dinner. Her four daughters and sons-in-law and all of her grandchildren. Every Saturday and Sunday night. For years. Until she got Shingles and then only did it on Sundays for many years until the family grew too large and she was getting older.

These are the dishes I remember. These are the dishes I have always loved.

After she died, we went through her things. I opened a box and the first thing I spied was this pattern. I screamed in delight and dropped a vintage drinking glass, shattering it everywhere (and then I screamed again, but in alarm). Unfortunately the box only had two salad bowls. But at least I had a pattern name for it.

On Monday I found four "berry" bowls and four bread plates in my pattern. For a mere 15 cents each. (Score!) And my renewed interest in Steubenville Fairlane had begun. I googled the pattern and found some locally in an online classified ad. I am now the proud owner of several dinner plates, salad bowls, bread plates, berry bowls, platters, salt and pepper shakers, creamer/sugar, gravy boat, and butter dish. I still have more pieces I need to find. Some had cracks or chips (so I'll have to replace them), but I'm happy to have my base now.

So, what are your coveted patterns? And leave links, if you can.

Red, White & Blue Skirts

For the past few years I have made patriotic clothes for Spenser and I to wear for Memorial Day and Independence Day.

These skirts were supposed to be made for Memorial Day, but I didn't remember until it was too late Sunday night. And so I decided I'd make them for the 4th of July. However, in Lera fashion, I forgot again until the evening before. Luckily they didn't take very long.

[Last week I attended a conference with the Maryland Municipal League for town council. While it was very informative, I realized just how much I need to learn. The convention was down at the beach and, from what I've heard, Joe and the kids had a great time. The closest I got to the beach was 1) when I went for a run one morning and thought the boardwalk started on 28th street. It didn't. It started on 27th street, so instead of running around the block, I ran on the sand for that block. And 2) from some little person who got sand in my bed. *This week Taylor is at boy scout camp, so we're down a man.* **Yesterday I went for a run and started to show signs of heat exhaustion as soon as I came home. My stomach instantly cramped up terribly, so I drank a bunch of water and some milk. I'm just happy it didn't happen while I was out running.**]

Keeping Busy

Summer is in full swing.

The kids are keeping busy.

And keeping me busy.

There's lots to do and see.

And not enough time in the day.

(Some people are relaxing.)

Our chickens are "nesting" in the dirt. They love snuggling in the hole they've dug. Even if there are two or three chickens in there at a time.

A Little Unseasonal

I bought a large bag of apples at the wholesale club, per Spenser's request, and they did not taste good. Well, the flavor might have been okay, if I could get past the mushiness. They just did not pass my apple-eating-taste-bud inspection, so they sat a little long on the kitchen island. A few went to the chickens, who gobbled them up immediately. (They eat almost everything.)

Yesterday I decided to make applesauce. We shared some with some elderly neighbors, and saved the rest for our dinner.

We still ended up with a great big, vintage, bowl of applesauce. And after dinner, we had some to spare. I don't expect it to last past lunch.

The Girl Has Too Many Clothes

... so I made her two skirts.

That would be me. The one who struggles to stuff everything into her daughter's dresser and then decides to sew her some new clothes.

But how could I resist when I saw this cute fat quarter skirt? I mean, I couldn't not make one (or two) for Spenser. How could I not, I ask?

The skirt was super simple and whipped up in hardly any time at all and it's an inexpensive project, costing around $3 for the two fat quarters needed per skirt.

For both skirts I used random widths. For the pink monkey skirt I used three fat quarters, but only about half each of the brown and yellow. (I wanted brown. She wanted yellow. So we decided to make it brown and yellow.)

She loves them both. In fact, she strutted her stuff in the monkey skirt to church on Sunday and then again when we went on a family walk Sunday night.

And, even though her dresser cannot possibly fit any more clothes, she is requesting a dress. Who am I to refuse?!?

Depot Day

Saturday our little town had it's annual Depot Day. 100+ years ago our town was bustling with railroad passengers. (There was even a hotel in town!) We have a little museum on Main Street at the original depot with old railroad memorabilia and a train garden.

Every year we have a small fair with lots of yummy food, tours of the railroad museum and the large factory in town, yard sales, etc.

They had a dunking booth this year and our mayor was in it. He is the boys' karate instructor, so they had a lot of fun trying to get him wet. Carter dunked him first, lefthanded (??).

And Jackson got him next.

The dunking booth was their priority. After that, we settled down for some lunch.

We waited around until the dedication of the town bell. Apparently there was a college on this property over 100 years ago. This bell hung at the college and, when it was torn down, it sat in someone's basement for almost a century. It was donated back to the town and dedicated on Saturday.

And we can't have Depot Day without getting inside of a train. These are the tracks that run right behind our house and this train is similar to (or the same one?) that goes by our house several times a day.

I love the history of our little town. I really do think we picked the perfect place to live.