The Tooth-fairy does not bring you cupcakes

She will however, leave you a note explaining why a cupcake might not be the wisest item to leave under your pillow, and enough coin to pick out any cupcake you want at the store. Now that's thinkin'!

When asked, "but what does the tooth-fairy do with all the teeth?" I could not come up with an answer that did not somehow conjure ghastly visions of fairy villages built with thousands of little teeth, or jewelry made of them hanging around the necks of...
I clearly didn't think this whole tooth-fairy business through. I did as any good parent would, who doesn't know the answer to a question from their child; I answered her question with a question, "So, what kind of cupcake are you gonna get?"

Getting Aquainted

So I've done it. I have a new camera! We are still getting acquainted. Though I do think I may need to start lifting weights, as this one is a bit more hefty than my last. A Nikon D7000 with a 18 - 105mm all around lens, and a 85mm micro/macro.

I have loads of work I need to get to but the lure of the lens is powerful stuff! All I want to do is play and shoot. I have mostly been messing about with the 85mm f/3.5G.
See...



Having never shot with this type of lens before it takes some getting used to, much practice is needed...and yes, there's more!




Well, I'm off to find some more bugs to take pictures of! Seriously friends, I am completely distracted by my new toy...if you don't hear from me in a few days, it's likely that I am hiding in a bush, dressed in camo and waiting for a dragonfly to land on a nearby leaf!

Have a lovely day!

I Want A New Toy (oh ay oh)

... to keep my head expanding.

So looky what came in the mail! There really is nothing like getting a package in the mail - especially when it is being delivered by a rather attractive postman. Of course the scenario would have been much better had I not been wearing the Engineer's grubby college t-shirt, paint covered 'comfy pants,' hair sticking out all over a la crazy cat lady, and covered in dirt from the garden at the time...I digress.

I ordered a load of new fabric paint. I am trying out some new products plus replenishing my regular supply, and I'm pretty excited about it. "I'm painting, I'm painting again."

I ordered from Dharma Trading Company, they have a vast selection of paints, inks, dyes, roving, and an astonishing amount of dye-able scarves and clothing. I wanted to make sure and give them a mention. This is only the second time I have ordered from the company though they have been around for ages. My first order was very smooth and arrived quickly. This time, about an hour after I made my order on-line, my phone rang. "Hi, this is Michelle* from Dharma Trading Company and we are just processing you order and packing it up. I noticed you chose 3 day shipping but, regular priority mail will get there just as quickly and you will save $5.00 on your bill." I don't think I have ever received a call like that from a company, for the staff to take the time to call me personally to save me $5.00 is a pretty big plus in my book. The paints arrived within 3 days and the items were packed so carefully, I am quite pleased. Often people seem to be chomping at the bit to say something negative about a company and it's service but, too few take the time to report really positive feedback. So, I highly recommend them. Their prices are quite fair and their service outstanding. I don't know if they ship absolutely everywhere but, you should go have a look.

Today I am also headed to the camera shop. "I take pictures, photographic pictures. Bright light, dark room." I am going to have a gander at some new equipment and hopefully receive some sound professional advice. I will try my absolute darndest not to become overly-excited and sweep up the first handsome camera that catches my eye. I will attempt to be discerning and wise and more patient than usual. I am hoping that my lesson has been learned from my last impulsive foray into new camera ownership. Not too long ago I found myself seduced by consumer reviews and promises of glory. The affair lasted only 2 days before I saw the error of my ways and took him back to where I found him.

So that's it for now. Happy Monday!
And kudos to you if you spotted the obscure 80's song lyrics dotted throughout this post!

*not her real name.

From the Pantry

I recently was the lucky winner of this interesting book, Urban Pantry by Amy Pennington, from Sherri at Little House In Paradise! This morning I plan to finally sit down and take a good look see. Heaven knows I love a well stocked pantry. I would love to some day have a kitchen with an actual pantry, until then this book seems to appeal to those of us with a less than grand sized kitchen. I am hoping to get some useful tips. There are also a good number of recipes as well. I'm looking forward to spending some time with the book, to see if it's a winner.

For now I'm just gonna throw out some photos of recent kitchen experiments from my own Urban Pantry that came off pretty well, a little 'food porn' if you will.

Pasta with asparagus and pistachio. So delicious - however, as I could not find shelled pistachios, there was a bit of heavy labor in preparing the nuts. Well worth it in the end!

Blackberry peach cobbler! Pretty much the taste of summer. Served warm with vanilla ice cream (it's the only way).

Well, I'm off to my coffee and my book. Have you been cooking up anything good lately?

Oh there you are!

It feels like I have been away for a long time yet, I did not actually go anywhere. In fact my mom came here. The thing about out of town visitors is, you often see things, go places, do stuff, in your own town that you don't normally see, go, or do. This is a good thing. It's a bit like playing out of town guest in your own back yard.

Unfortunately, my declaration to my family last week that it was "Finally, officially summer!" was a bit premature. You would think a visitor in the middle of July would enjoy some serious sunshine, and while there was a decent day or so, the rain came tumbling down. This morning, it continues to pour upon our city. Ah well.

We still managed to enjoy ourselves. Good food, some shopping therapy, and the simple act of spending time with family that is the important thing. The best bit is that Pony Girl got to get some grandma loving time!



I hope that you all had a good weekend with your loved ones.

Seeing Red

Image sources:
1. june 5, 2011 - at wiksunds garden and apple factory, 2. 018, 3. vintage red leather childs clogs

Finding some red to energize me! Lots to do!

My mother arrives tomorrow and the little green cottage needs a proper tidy. I will be off for a few days while she is in town and see you all on the flip side!

Wishing you all a happy weekend!

This is how it all starts

First, you build a hen house in your back yard. Not just any hen house mind you, but a fancy chook palace. Then you get yourself a few fuzzy little chicks that really are the sweetest and you make a great big fuss about it.

You name them, raise them, the chicks turn into 3 lovely lady chickens, and you fancy yourself a sort of glamorous yet earthy urban flock tender. You do your best mother hen taking good care of your feathered family; often whilst wearing a vintage apron, and you make a great big fuss about it.

When one of your chooks lays the very first egg, you do a little song and dance number, you take lots of photos, tell all your friends, and generally make a Great Big Fuss about it.

Inspired by your back yard farm, you whip up some happy chicken themed projects, you make slightly less of a fuss about it but you do show it off a little.

You know, I have often wondered how people with large collections of a particular animal say, got started on their collections. I once had a neighbor who's house was filled with pigs; piggy banks, piggy towels, piggy salt and pepper shakers, paintings of pigs, softie pigs, and so on. I never asked her how she came to own so many pig items. Did she set out with a passion for pigs, collecting every pig she came across? Or did the collection find her? Perhaps one day she mentioned to a friend that she thought pigs were cute, and that friend bought her a little porcelain pig for her birthday, then because she liked pigs and it was a present from a friend, she went on to make a great big fuss about it...then all her other friends thought, 'Ooh, I know what I'll get her for Christmas!' and it just grew from there.

I do see how that could happen; it does appear that a few friends and family members have noted my making a Great Big Fuss over chickens and have thought to themselves, 'Ooh, that Lola really likes those chooks!' So, over the last couple of years a wee flock of vintage chickens have arrived at the little green cottage.

It is a sweet little collection, just manageable without seeming like too much an obsession. But before it gets out of hand, maybe, just maybe I should start making a Great Big Fuss over something else... like chocolate.
my favorite is the little vintage hen and chick bank from my mom

Old Blue

Progress has been made. Six old shirts and a lot of long seams. The blanket top is done...I think.

A whole field of blue. Thank goodness the elbows went out on the stripy number at the last minute, the stripy bits really pulled it all together.

Still deciding if I should add sashing to the sides and ends. Or a pop of color somewhere. It'll make a fine picnic blanket in the end. I'm calling it a blanket and not a quilt, for I imagine I broke far too many quilting rules along the way to make it a proper quilt.

Is anyone interested in just how I put "Old Blue" together? let me know and I will work up a little 'how to' when it's all done.

Have a happy day!

The long weekend: a post of random goodness

It was a long weekend, a holiday weekend, it was busy, raucous, sweet, colorful, fun, and did I mention long? I need a weekend to recover from my weekend.

Random goodness #1
The photo above is of our first potatoes of the year. They were the most amazing color of magenta! They were also delicious for breakfast; potatoes from our garden with eggs from our hens, and toast with homemade strawberry jam. The spoils of our labor are truly enjoyed and appreciated.

Random goodness #2

My beautiful (and very colorful) sister was in town for a couple of days. It was so nice to have time with her. We spent most of it sitting on the back yard swing relishing the gorgeous summer weather. She is such a unique and precious woman, I love her madly!

Random goodness #3
I have finally figured out what to make with all of The Engineer's old work shirts that I have been squirreling away. You know, it's really amazing what all can be made from men's shirts. A picnic blanket in blue will be just the thing.

Random goodness #4

Meet Hazel!
(and yes, her feathers are naturally that color of green!)

I hope you have enjoyed my snippets of Random Goodness. I will return after the fuzz has cleared from my brain, the mountain of laundry whittled down to a mere hill, and the pieces put back together.

Have a sweet day