Cat Mail

When we got back from vacation in Vermont Nature Girl had surprise mail. Nature Girl was excited to find that she had gotten cat mail from Christy. Christy & her son were our very first swap partners ever.

Christy sent this book called Everything Cat for Nature Girl. Can you tell she loves it? She's hugging it. Now we can read all about why cats purr and many other interesting facts. We've started reading a little bit every night and are enjoying it.
By the way while in Vermont she used her own money to purchase another stuffed/robotic cat. I think that brings the total to 22 stuffed cats! I am planning to make her go through her toys and stuffed animals so maybe she'll be willing to part with a few cats, though I think that is unlikely!

A Hoot!

Nature Girl drew and painted this sweet little fish during summer camp. I think it's so cute! I added her conch shell for the photo as it went perfectly and leads into a story.


While we we're in the Bahamas Nature Girl bought this conch shell. She picked this particular shell because the man selling it told her it was his party shell. On the boat ride back from the island she practiced until I finally asked her to stop for the sake of all the other passengers on the boat. Of course it wasn't that loud because she hadn't really gotten the hang of it until now. She was a little disappointed at first because it was supposed to be a party shell but it didn't sound like one when she used it. Like most things it just takes a little practice. Here's a short clip of her practicing here at home. It makes me laugh! Of course you might want to turn your speakers down.

Another Toy Drop

We did another drop for The Toy Society. It's so much fun trying to think of locations, then sneaking around to leave the toys. This time we dropped while visiting my mom in VT. Ironically the drop site was a store that I visited when I was a kid about the same age as Nature Girl.

I made 4 dinosaur finger puppets out of felt. We left them on a community bulletin board out side of a store in VT. Nature Girl picked the spot and help put the tacks through the bag.

We dropped them off around 6pm on Sunday. When we drove by again on Monday afternoon they were gone. We hope whoever found them will have lots of fun playing with them. Now we need to think of another toy to make for our next drop.

Yard Sale fun

I always say that thrifting and yard sales are more fun when you have a buddy with you. You need someone to laugh with you about the gaudy and awful items for sale and to rejoice with you when you make a great find. Nature Girl is often my thrifting buddy and we have a good time together. Last weekend we headed out to some thrift stores and found a few yard sales along the way. Our usual rule is no stuffed animals from thrift stores and yard sales. Lord knows where they've been or what they bring with them! Last weekend I allowed her to break this rule when she found this sweet little batty beanie baby. It looked like Stellaluna to me and I love that story. I justified purchasing it because it still had the tag on it so it hadn't been used much. I'm glad I did because she's had lots of fun with Batty. It has velcro on it's wings so it's been wrapped around everything in the house that it's little wings can fit around. She's also created countless contraptions to help Batty hang upside down during car rides and at home.
It inspired her to hang up side down on the couch wrapped up and sleeping like a bat.

Then to wake up and unwrap her blanket wings, screeching like a bat. I love that she can entertain herself for hours with just a blanket and a toy. It's funny that a little toy can spark so much creativity, experiments with physics, recall of scientific facts and hours of fun!

What Nature Girl says:
Nature Girl wanted to add "I have a bat and it is going to like the vampire a lady is sending us. The one that my mom won." She was hoping Apryl would read this post and see her message.

Zucchini Bread

Summer means fresh veggies and zucchini. Zucchini means making zucchini relish and zucchini bread. Yum!!!!! I love the foods of summer!
Summer cooking and baking gives me another reason to wear an apron. I've enjoyed wearing all of my aprons this summer. It makes cooking so much more fun when you're wearing a pretty apron!

Look Who Arrived!

Milicent arrived at my house today! She came wrapped beautifully in vintage pattern paper and jute rope. Milicent's story was typed on a card using an old typewriter. Have you ever seen such a sweetly wrapped package? If I didn't know the cuteness that lay within I might not have been able to make myself open it. Thank you Apryl for such a beautiful package!!!

Inside the beautiful Milicent was waiting for a hug from Nature Girl. Nature Girl gushed over her just like I did. Nature Girl said "Mom, she really is cute. Milicent the little vampire is a good name." Apryl included this beautiful bracelet for me too. It reminds me of rose quartz. Apryl makes gorgeous bracelets and monsters!!

Milicent has a new home on the fireplace mantle. Nature Girl just moved her over on the mantle as she thought Milicent would like to be next to the sheep. She does look cute next to the grubby prim sheep. I guess she won't be lonely after all, she already has a pet.

Lucky Day!

I consider myself a lucky person because I have all the things I need in life but when it comes to contests I don't usually win. Last week was an exception. I'd been drooling over Milicent the Vampiress over at Meridian Ariel's giveaway when low and behold I got an e-mail telling me that I won her. I can't tell you how excited and giddy I was!!!! Yes, I even did a dance in my kitchen when I read Apryl's e-mail. Milicent is coming to live at my house!!! I already have a spot picked out for her to sit when she comes. Of course I'm a little worried that she may get lonely but if that happens Apryl has more monster's in her Etsy shop.

As if winning Milicent wasn't enough, the same day I got a surprise package in the mail from Betty. I had answered some questions about our wonderful swap mama Val over at the Hot Mamas Apron Swap. I didn't know I was one of the winners until the package showed up. Betty sent some fat quarters, needles, thread, a thimble, warm and natural batting and some cute quilter's magnets. Thanks Betty this was a great surprise. I already have a project in mind for the fabrics but I have a few other things to finish up first.
Talk about a lucky day! I haven't won a blog giveaway in two and a half years, since I won Barb's wonder wallet and tissue cover(which are still in my purse.) Then in one day I won two giveaways, I can hardly believe it. Maybe it's time I share some of the luck!