Thank you all for your kind words and your shoulder a girl in the dumps can lean on. Breathe I say. It gets me through some of those more grayer days. But…..
The sun is out! Literally. I say that as I picture myself outside twirling around. It’s still very chilly, but I’m O’so happy to see Mr. Sunshine pay us a visit. The best medicine if you ask me.

That also means yard sale season is just around the corner. More flea market trip and more goodies by the curb. I’m quite excited about it all. Really! Last years finds were wonderful. I get all giddy just thinking about it. I’m hoping this year will be even better.

I found an older pictures on my computer of thrifted cup I acquired but haven’t shared yet, a picture on flickr that I haven’t blogged about and a dresser that was one of last years finds. Snapped a photo of it earlier today. A little this and a little that.

Dresser was a free by the road find. I wish I had taken a before picture. You would appreciate it so much if I had. It was horrible. When my husband brought it home. I wasn’t very optimistic about it being revived. The veneer was peeling all over it, one drawer was broken and it was marked all up. It looked like it should have been sent to the burn pile. I guess it was a good thing I wasn’t the one that found it. But…..with all of us working to scrap of the peeling wood, A good heavy duty sander, wood putty, and bit of carpenter know how on my husband part. A functioning dresser was born again. Bound for my daughters room, where a dresser was much needed. Hence, the white color. If I had a choice, it would be wearing a beautiful mustard tone. I promised to step back from decorating her room. So, white it became.

Then this fabric, which I just think is so beautiful. It makes me think, no wish of RV’s, road trips and colorful dreams. I’ll say no more. Don’t want to cause something to fall through. I’ve learned the hard way that some things are best to be revealed at the grand opening,(if it makes it to grand opening) not during work in progress.  No good to expect fireworks and only get dudes. My kids always make that sad..ahhh when we get those. So no ahhh here today..hee. Nope, sunshine thoughts.

A set of saucers, cups and bowls from The Second Thought thrift. A hidden gem tucked in a quaint little corner. These say comfort of Grandma’s embrace and warm belly of her chocolate gravy to me. I know I’ve said this before, but such a fond memory for me. Never gets old. She had a set similar to these when I was growing up. Her’s were a bit chunky and bigger. Bigger servings could happen.

Back to work. A friend of mine has offered to take the kids for the day so I can get some work done. I’m really excited with what I’m working on. It’s one of the things that has kept me busy and my mind off unpleasant things. Nothing like pouring yourself into something. What’s that saying, Idle hands is devils play? I probably have it quoted wrong, I think I read it in one of Tasha Tudors books years ago. I’m going to photo it before the sun set any further.

Happy Day.

My little supporter chimed in this morning, reminding me to take pictures and post.  I love that little girl.  She might not fully understand it, but she has given me strength when it was needed. She keeps me on my toes.

Recycling and reusing once again..a can of black beans. They went from part of our Mexican supper dish to a pencil holder.  A little embroidered horse, of course.  Just when you think a faze will wane, it sparks even brighter.  I see horses sticking around for quite some time.  This was a mother and daughter joint project. I was thrilled to see her sit that long. Working the needle. A couple years ago, she would have given up after a few stitches. 

Hope you all had a Happy New Year!

I always feel so energized this time a year. Beginnings, fresh starts. I guess it’s the starting point in a timeline that seem so much more tangible to me.  Finding pleasure and peace in the little things to come. Letting turmoil of life past go with the flip of a calendar page. I don’t really make resolutions but I do reflex on goals, desires, achievements and what has worked in the past. Building on those stepping stones.

I guess becoming a better mother is always on top of my list. Ways of learning to deal with little spats between siblings. How to handle situations where my kids want to grow, need to grow but finding a way to let them and still provide that hidden safety of hands till they have mature enough to let them go. Guiding them in their interests, cooking better meals, learning to run the house of little smoother so that my time can be spent more on them and myself. One of the things my daughter and I were talking about was creating every day no matter how small. Sometimes during the work in progress of a big project, you can feel like not much is getting accomplished. So the small things are a great salve to the confidence, creative spirit of artist, mother, people as a whole. Seeing, holding and knowing something is complete. It was funny that during our conversation. She slipped in the teacher role and I become the student. She was wanted me to post all our creative things on my blog. A keepsake for her and journal for me. I felt during that moment that she became my partner of this blog. A support I didn’t even know I had. It was a bitter sweet moment, bring me completely full circle with letting them grow.

I guess that’s sort of my word for 2010. Complete. It seems to just fit and feel right to me. It can be used for any aspect of life. Complete……

So as requested my little partner, who ideas will grace more of my pages to comes.  Apple crisp, the requested dessert of New Years Eve.  Funny, I would have thought they’d want cupcakes with bright colored icing. This was made in the evening as you can tell by the poor lighting of the pic. I figured we’d take a picture of a baked apple crisp piece in the morning….but it was completely gone by the time new light of the day had risen over the horizon. I woke up to see my husband eating that last piece.

And the picture above is pin and hair bow holder. I used an old belt of mine. It was part of sweater jacket I once had. It ended up at the thrift store, but the belt I guess didn’t make it. While cleaning out my closet..a new years tradition for me. I found it. It was either throw it away or recycle and reuse. I felt better about the second option. 

So what are some New Years traditions, resolutions, goals or just favorite 2009 moments you have?