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Things That Make Me Smile

That big bright Super-moon that we saw ultra-up-close the other night. We stood out on the deck and stared at it for 20 minutes–just so we could say we did it.

The very first lilac rose of the year–pretty little shy thing. I almost didn’t see it all hidden away in the back there.

The garden all tilled and ready to plant–later this week…I hope. It’s an odd thing to have both my boys gone now. I keep waiting for my “garden army” to show up and get it all planted…but alas. I may just be on my own this time around. Even so, there’s something so full of promise about a garden ready to plant.

He-man…fast asleep…wherever I am…again…

with his sister She-ra Princess of Power. Or so they think.

That funny little plant that the Bald Kid named “Pandora” before he left. You may recall that it actually died once and came back to life unexpectedly. Crazy cool thing.

A well placed stained glass birdy of some sort, shining and catching the light in my window. Finch, I think.

A brave little strawberry that’s just barely poking it’s head out. Hide all you like–Miss Chompy will find you. :}

A new project that will eventually entertain the little, soon-to-be-grabbing fingers that we have around here.

The sleepy bit of pixie dust that is ours to hold and bounce and pat and kiss…as long as he’ll let us. Hopefully that’s a long, long time.

What makes you smile on this lovely Wednesday?

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The Fairy World

Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a thing for fairies. I love the magic of them, the fluttering, the sparkle, the pointy toes, the wings–all of it. So for Christmas one year, my daughter Lyndi gave me a Hallmark Flower Fairy. This one is the Marigold Fairy.

At the time, I had no idea that there’d be a new one each year. This is the Bluebell Fairy.

I have them hanging–each one, from a tiny piece of embroidery floss on the canopy of my bed. They just kind of float there and when the window is open, or the cool air comes on, they flutter just enough to look like they’re…

real.  This is the Rose Fairy.

Yes, I know–this little soul is missing something. Miraculously, she escaped one day and had a lovely time playing with a human child, and it cost her her wings. She doesn’t look too unhappy about her plight. This is the Lily Fairy.

In all the years since we started collecting, we’ve only missed one–the Pansy Fairy. There must have been something big going on that Christmas. I’ve seen her on line, but she’s become a collector’s item, so, well…yeah…we won’t be getting that one. :}

This is the Poinsetta Fairy.

Here are my newest ones. This is the little Mistletoe Fairy and she’s blowing a kiss to…

her little sweetheart. He is the Holly Fairy. I’m not sure how long Hallmark will keep it up, but I’m game if they are. These little guys make me think of Scotland and Ireland where they pretty much take for granted that fairies are still hiding out in the woods. I love that. Probably, I should just move there and find a little thatched roof cottage by a brook where I can put out fairy cakes and berries in little tiny teacups. Then I’d just sit by the window and wait. After all this time, it’s still true.

I do believe in fairies.

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A Lovely Feeling

Maybe it makes me a total geek, but I swear, having a big bag of the most scrumptious, soft, fluffy Caron yarn…

well…it makes my heart pound right out of my chest. In fact, I get a little endorphin rush every time I walk past it, and see it all just sitting there, waiting for me to do something with it.

No, it didn’t take long. I fell into the smooth wavy ripple again, only this time, the project is twice the size as the last one. A grown-up blanket that needs to be finished before a certain girly-girl does that…wedding thing.

So, along with all the lists and assignments and check marks and schedules and crazy excitement that comes with a daughter getting married, this gift of mama-love has a ticking clock attached to it.

Lucky for me the peaceful, soothing rhythm–the waves of 4 up and 4 down, over and over, times a million–make this the perfect de-stressing therapy for my silly little soul.

So, in those taking-a-break moments—and sometimes they are just moments–you can be sure that this pretty thing will be in my hands, warming my lap, not to mention my heart.

After all, it’s for my baby girl.

And I have a schedule to keep.

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Carrot Patch Cupcakes

While everyone is out planting their real gardens around here, I must confess that I’ve been working on a few “seedlings” of my own. Heh, heh, heh. Aren’t these the cutest little garden cupcakes you’ve ever seen? And such a painless way to get a few more–ahem–vegetables into your system. Baaaa!

Start with fruity Mike and Ikes. I picked several kinds to make sure I had plenty of orange ones.

Plus all the leftovers didn’t hurt my feelings any either.  :}

I’d never seen Rips Whips before, and I tore them out of the bag before getting a picture. Essentially, they are skinny, little multicolored licorice strings. You’ll be using the green ones–so go ahead and eat the rest.

First just take a paring knife and make a tiny cut clear through the top of each little orange candy.

Now, cut the green licorice into one inch pieces. Then with scissors or a knife cut through the top of the licorice about half way down the piece so it looks like greenery.

Next, gently pinch the sides of the orange candy to open the cut up just a bit. Don’t get too rambunctious with this step or you’ll crack the outsides and make them ugly. Then, well, you’ll have to eat them.

Now poke the green stems into the top of your carrot. I used the tip of a knife to set it in–that worked the best for me.

Carefully squeeze your carrot closed a bit around the green top.

Oh, just look at your little harvest! Aren’t they adorable?!

All that’s left to do now is to “plant” your little candy carrots into your favorite patch…I mean batch of chocolate cupcakes. These sweet things–along with a tall glass of ice water–will make a fine reward for all those little backyard farmers coming in from a long day with the rototiller. Wouldn’t you say?

Oh, I do so love Spring!