Lasts and Firsts

As I was sweeping out the garage yesterday morning, the girls came out to take off for school.  Hannah announced, "This will be our last day of school together".  I really hadn't put it together, and for a moment I felt a rush of emotion.  I have taken pictures of these two on their first day of school for years.  You see, they are only a year apart and have had a lot of "togethers".  Then I was shocked as Hannah suggested that I take a picture (she hates having her picture taken!).  So I realized that this was a fleeting moment and even the girls felt it's importance.

These two have come a long way.  They are two very different personalities and have very different interest and talents.  For years the differences kept them at odds, but once they embraced the idea that they didn't have to be the same and that the differences would be a benefit to them, they have been very real friends.  I am not sure that there is anything more pleasing to a parent than when your children are truly friends!

 Later that day a "first" took place.  I took our new puppy up to pet day for Steven.  He's our youngest and I am sure that there will be complaints from the older kids.  It's Herman's puppy, so I got him out of class to help out.

The kids loved Maybell and I think she loved all of the attention!

I think Steven didn't mind it either!

"Dandy"lions

Why did it have to end?  Why can't dandelion and I be like we used to?  Our relationship was once full of fun, mischief, and laughter.  Can we regain what we've lost?  I don't know, but I'm willing to do my part to bring us back together.........

Once this little, sunny flower meant happy days laying under a summer sky, making glorious crowns of gold, and rubbing each others cheeks to see if we liked butter.  Those days seem like so long ago.  I miss them.  Now, with a yard full of the dandelions, I just seem to find myself annoyed.  I don't like to be annoyed.  It's a negative, joy-sucking parasite that doesn't help anyone.  So I find myself at a crossroads......either I spray my lawn incessantly or I change my attitude.  (I'm not quite sure which would be more difficult.)  One option guarantees grumbling and cussing the cute little plants that came there no fault of their own or I can choose to re-embrace my youthful attitude.  If I can embrace anything youthful, I think now is the time to do it.  So, I chose the latter of the two........or at least I am trying to!

 It's fun to remember how I used to love dandelions - didn't we all.  Even when they were past their prime, they were still fun......fun to blow and watch drift away.  And in some ways, they were still beautiful with their puffy, white heads.  It was always a challenge to try and find the perfect orb with all of it's billowy seeds barely hanging on and quickly blow them all away before the breeze would.  It was fun.  They were fun.  Now the only challenge is to get rid of them before they reach any kind of billowy beauty.

 I also remember thinking about each little individual seed as it launched from it's mother plant.  Wondering how far and where it would go.  Would it end up across the road or miles away?  I would never know and not knowing made it wonderful.  So fun to wonder about things.......

As I sat there taking this picture I was mesmerized by the little seed barely hanging on and I couldn't look away as it did battle with the breeze blowing slightly.  I was surprised at how long it took before the breeze finally set it aloft.

So, after some reflection, I find dandelions much more pleasing.  I think of the joy they've brought me in the past, the metaphors that can be derived from them at the present and I do see a future for us together. A new perspective can cure a lot of ills.  So much of what we find annoying in life can be changed if we only change our attitudes toward them. It's not an easy thing to do, but worth the time and effort. That's the lesson learned from my yard of dandelions.  So when you drive by and wonder why I've let my yard go, no, I'm not ill, not on vacation, and I'm not suffering a nervous breakdown.  I've just been busy adjusting my attitude!!

*Life on the Farm - Boys Need Not Apply

The Opal of My Eye

I haven't blogged in awhile.  I feel a little bad, but I've been lured away by a new love.........my '63 Lil Loafer trailer.  I acquired it while hanging with some of my best pals a few weeks back.  Since that time, I have been consumed with my "make-over" ambition and spent every extra minute painting, sewing, and dreaming.  Yesterday, I finally finished!  Well, I finished the inside, at least for now.  I've heard that these little trailers can cause an infatuation that keeps you tweaking, updating, and working on them.  It's a real love affair!  I wanted to share some of my before and after photos.  I would love nothing more than to hear your comments!

Here's the "before" eating/sitting area.  The birch interior was in great shape, so not too much work  was needed - just dollying it up a bit.  It was missing the table, so I re-purposed an old door.  David even commented how much he liked my new "table"!

The other end of the trailer had old wood paneling and brown appliances.  It did not have that glamping feeling!  So I painted the paneling cream and the appliances a deep turquoise.  I also painted the drawer fronts a pale pink and added clear glass pulls.  Some might find it a little girly, but that's the point - I am a girl and it's my trailer!

Here's the "after"!  I just love how much lighter and brighter it is!  Check out the cool original back splash behind the stove.......so cute!

 And here's the in-between space, the closet.  It gives some of my kids a headache that one door is wood while the other is painted.  Truth is that one was the nice birch and the other the yucky paneling. I guess I am too lazy to replace one of the doors and/or paint over the wood (that just seems morally wrong).  The only solution was to paint the paneled door and leave the other.  It doesn't bother me and well, it's my trailer!!

After spending so much time and effort, I feel as if I've birthed another child - one of my creative self.  I now understand why the women who re-do these vintage trailers name them!  In that spirit, I have named my sweet, little bundle of fun, Opal!  Because, well, she's a real gem.......and I love her!!

* Check out the new recipe I tried yesterday - Citrus Coconut Butter Cookie -

under the recipe tab!