Great Day

Summer has unofficially ended.  Labor day has come and gone and we are all happy, full, tired, and calm.  Today was the first day in a while we were all home so we took full advantage.  Although we got a late start on the day, we ended up in Luna Pier, Michigan, on Lake Erie.  Lake Erie isn't always known for it's prettiness, or beautiful sunsets like Lake Michigan,  rock-hounding like Lake Superior, desolated coastlines like Lake Huron...all which surround Michigan.  Erie is known mainly for, well, starting on fire.  The little town of Luna Pier, like many small Michigan towns, has seen better days.  Buildings are boarded up, for sale signs on every street.  But there is beauty in this kind of environment.  It's almost like, life after people.  I'm getting off subject.  The beach was just a little strip but we had it all to ourselves.  Simon was in heaven.  I haven't seen him so happy and so himself in months.  He, too, needs to be by water.  His soul was settled today.  He was a kid.  He had no worries.  He gets very high strung, very stressed out, for three.  We all felt calm.  Relaxed.  Better.  Next summer we will be in Portland...and the beach won't be so far.  And we can run and laugh and fly kites and just be, all of us, calmer people.

I've been neglecting my Etsy site this summer.  Too much going on with birthdays, visits from family, playing outside, watching Simon and Duncan sprout and grow and all their milestones.  My goal for the weekend is to update my Etsy site, and put up new pictures for sale.  I have a lot from the summer garden, sunflowers, alliums, etc.  Pretty things that I just love and hope others love too.  It's already September and it seems like just a week ago that we were bringing out our summer shorts and bathing suits.  All too soon we will have to bring out the cold weather gear.  Here's a sample of what I will be posting for sale.  I will update again when they're up!

busted

These two got busted.  Greg says, 'Well, isn't your blog called sleeping with a sunflower?'

the fast and the furious, ann arbor thrift

At my job we are allowed to purchase items as they come in, hold them aside, and purchase later, etc.  It is a really nice perk, and we can set things in a cubby until payday if we choose.  My cubby is always full.  I buy a lot of vintages dishes, linens, toys and clothes for the boys, books.  I had socked away a case of never opened canning jars this month, a mustard yellow Fossil purse, some sweet Van's for Simon (red and black check, awesome!), a red table runner and the beauties below.

Left to Right:

2 Fiesta saucers in a sweet butter yellow, Old Pyrex measuring cup, two cups instead of one cup, Bodum coffee press, juicer, vintage Glassbake bread loaf pan, vintage cookie cutter, like my grandma had, and a red graphic table runner.  All for under $10.  Score.

close up of the edge of the Fiesta plates and Pyrex measuring cup. And a close up of the cookie cutter.









I'm always on the lookout for vintage Pyrex.  If you see some, consider me! What do you thrift for?

Mother's Day, in August

My momma is coming to Michigan tomorrow along with my cousin Olivia.  She has never seen our 'new' home (we've been here two years, she has never been to see us in Michigan (this month is 5 years here for me) so we are very excited.  It will be a short visit, only 3 days, but the boys are most excited to see Gramma Beep. 

Tomorrow is the first of 10 momma days.  I have planned making some hand prints, make play doh, and bubbles.  Simon will be in heaven.
best bubbles
and maybe if there's time the next ten days, momma will get a chance to make herself a new skirt or two.

Long Day

Had to crash early.  Too much to handle.

Let it Grow

Gardening has always been something I do.  Plants and me are friends.  I give them what they need and they give me what I need, and sometimes what I didn't even know I needed.  This is the first summer since we moved into our house that I could plant a little garden and enjoy it.  (The first year, we moved in August, so planting season was almost over.  Last year, well it's hard to get down and dig and weed with a baby growing in your belly!)  I think our garden has come along well this year.  Here are some recents of our flowers, vegetables, beauty.