Scrappin' Seminole

Rainy Day

If nothing else does, these spice bottles clearly prove how rarely my mom ever threw anything away. 

Found these in the spice cabinet with all kinds of other old spices, extracts and syrups.  Then I found a little pedestal with holes cut out exactly the shape of these bottles. 

It struck me that it was most likely a set she received when she and my dad got married. 

Not that I think the spices themselves were that old. 

At least not all of them anyway. 

Maybe just the marjoram, because, really?  Who uses marjoram?

A drop in the bucket

My mom spent more time than anybody I know reading through magazines and newspapers. 

Inevitably, you could find a month's worth of papers stacked up somewhere in the living room that she was planning to get to sometime down the road. 

She always kept a pen (usually perfumy purple ones that Dad had brought home from his job), notebook and scissors next to her while she went through them. She would clip out recipes or household hints that she wanted to file away.  The pen and notebook were for her endless lists and notes to herself about gift ideas, shopping lists or dinner party menu plans.

If I thought she had a lot of clippings to begin with, that was nothing compared to what she printed once she discovered the Internet.

This was one of the last stacks of such clippings and printings that I went through from the kitchen a couple of weeks ago.  While most of it was recipes that are easily found online or other things that were of interest to just her, I found it a little hard to get rid of it all.

I guess because the fact is that even after two and half years, it still seems like it was just yesterday. 

And even though these are just papers and old newspapers, it struck me that this was her. 

This was how she spent a lot of her time.

This was where she found most of her inspiration.

And this was where she wrote down her thoughts.

That someday, I would find and remember her.

Sitting in her chair, feet up, one of the cats at her feet.  Purple pen, notebook and scissors by her side.

Girls Weekend 2009 part 2

Girls Weekend 2009 part 1

The girls and I spent a long weekend with Becky and her two girls.  We had a lot of good "girl time" and it included lots of shopping, eating and walking.  Stayed overnight at Port Orleans French Quarter which is right near Downtown Disney, location of aforementioned shopping, eating and walking. 

One of the coolest things about Disney is that you are never at a loss for things to look at.  It is a true feast for the eyes and no detail is overlooked, right down to the hitching posts that are on the miniature streets between buildings at the resort.  As Becky pointed out, "there is no reason for those to be there, that's just for you."  We got a kick out of the street signs.  We stayed on the corner of Rue D' Baga and Cake Walk.  The girls loved the not-so-hidden Mickey that we found on the bed in our room, made out of towels, naturally.

Keeping with the New Orleans theme, the restaurant where we ate breakfast was draped in an explosion of Mardi Gras favors and icons.  Large crowns, masks, necklaces and playing cards were only a few of the oversized wall and ceiling hangings.  They had some really awesome coffee there!  Not Cafe du Monde but the beignets were surely delish.

Two in action

mischievous grins

big-squeezy-around-the-neck hugs

daredevil climbing and hanging

pressing buttons and keyboard keys

“Watch.  Dora?” [insert cute sideways smile]

“Love you, _____!” [go around room and insert each person's name]

“Pa-pease” (pacifier) and blankie at bedtime

bouncing everywhere

random shoe theft

always in someone else’s shoes, hence above-mentioned theft

“juicey”

loves fruit (esp. blueberries) and pasta

“A, B, C, D, E, F, G, how I wonder what you are!  Yayyyyyyyyy!”

“Read it!” [shoves book at you]

Counting:  “One, two, FIVE!”

a lot of whining

jumping for no reason

“oh-gut” or “ah-pauce” in Dora bowl - don't forget the "soon"

“Damn!” yes she does and with a lot of volume

“Bless you!” (even for a cough and often from another room)

bursts of enthusiasm

“Mandy?  JOHN!”  [insert cute-where-are-they gesture]

STUBBORN

climbing out of crib (it's gone now)

did I mention whining?

how about STUBBORN?

crazy curly mop head morning hair

smashing her face against yours to get your attention

"I'll DO it!"

I-could-smooch-her-all-day-long-and-eat-her-up deliciousness