First day of Kindergarten was a success! Isabella just adores her teacher, and on her first day, my silly little girl marched right in, sat right down and made herself a friend. I annoyed her by taking too many pictures, and getting just one more smooch...I was cramping her style, man! When I went to pick her up later that afternoon, she was deeply enthralled in her reading circle and had a LOT to tell me about her first day.

I have never been more proud.

 Pretty proud of myself, too actually. I didn't even cry! Instead, I came home, wrung my hands for a bit, bugged David for a baby to fill my empty nest, changed my mind about a baby, and decided to craft instead.

My heart! It hurts! When did my dimpled red-haired baby turn into a gangly school-kid?!

Been busy sewing all weekend and getting myself into the autumn mood (it's never too early to feel fall-ish)

I recently put some of these hand-made pumpkins in my Etsy Shop and had quite a few orders to fill, so I lit some spicy candles, perused all of my autmn printed fabrics and wallowed around in my craft room.

It was spectacular.

But now my fingers are sore.   

The weather has been decidedly autumnal, which is weird because August is usually the most miserable month of the year in my opinion. I've been flipping through my cookbooks and my recipe files...book-marking and dog-earing all of my favorite Autumn meals! This week I'm definitely putting a pot of homemade chili and an apple crisp on the menu. I don't care how hot it decides to be outside that day. We're having that chili dag-nabbit!

Oh, but I do love me some fall.

See this little vignette? Two of my favorite things...hoot-owls and big earrings.

All week long Isabella had been talking about buying me a birthday present. So yesterday morning, she and David went out on a "date" He asked her where she wanted to go, and she replied that she wanted to buy her mommy some earrings.

Oh, my sweet little thing! How I love that girl.

Well, David took her to the closest jewelry store, and let her pick some things out. He said she immediately chose the hoot owls. (she also got one for herself because she liked them so much. That just tickled me!)

She very proudly crumpled them up into a pink paper bag and presented them to me. When I opened the bag my heart just swelled up as big as a balloon. My little girl has been paying attention to me more than I knew. She chose the owls because she "knows that I love hoot owls" and she chose the silver earrings because "they match the black ones that you have already-now you have TWO pairs!"

When your children notice what you love, remember it then show you that they care with little gestures like these...it is the most special feeling. I can't even describe.

So, I just grin all over and kiss and hug her 'til she makes me stop. 

 

My little baby chick starts kindergarten next week. It's weird for me to even comprehend, I feel like our golden years have flown by all too quickly. It hit me the other evening, from now on it's over...my baby is a school-child, no longer will I have her home every day to snuggle at will. Next thing I know, I will be packing her up for college.

I'm being a little melodramatic.

But I am sad that these years have passed by so quickly, however I'm deeply grateful that I was lucky enough to be home with her (for the most part) throughout them all.  I cannot imagine anything more heartbreaking than missing a milestone. Children really are such messy, annoying little things sometimes...but oh man, every little thing they do can be so amazing! And at the end of the day, nothing is sweeter than those little cheeks when they are deep in sleep.

Speaking of chicks...

My mom (Lovie) got some chicks for her farm. Each grandchild got to have a chicken of their own and Isabella's chicken (Princess John-Boy) laid an egg the other day! Bella just loves going to Lovie's house to gather eggs and feed the chickens.

Isabella inspecting Princess John-Boy

Princess John-Boy about 7 months ago

We think it is just too neat that those little balls of fluff that Lovie has to diligently nurtured, have turned into big ole ugly peck-happy birds!

Eggs!

Good job Lovie!!!

It's been nearly an entire year since my last post-a good year. A busy year.

Isabella and I have been courted by a very fine, southeren gentleman for 16 months. (That's one year and three months just in case you were wondering) and guess what? He must have liked us a little bit, because he asked us to marry him.

So we did.

My nerves got the better of me...so very peacefully we skittered off to Charleston, left The Bella with my parents, and together he and I walked the seashore hand-in-hand, talked about our hopes and dreams, and crossed the momentous thresh-hold of matrimony. We never stopped smiling and he held my hands so tightly that my knuckles hurt.

I wore pearls, a vintage blue lace dress and no shoes to speak of.

Blessings abound and I am humbled.

Lately, we three-that is Isabella, myself...and my husband (tee-hee!) are busy nesting our home, settling into routines and very merrily getting used to living with one another. It is sweet, natural and and at times, very curious...but I think we are getting the hang of it.

Sometimes, I miss my mom. That's probably weird. Oh well.

I should also add that my mom recently taught me how to can.

I love canning. With my entire being.

The end.

My wedding dress...ordered it from ShabbyApple.com, they have tons of vintage reproductions that make me swoon.

My peaches! They float, which is weird to me.