Purposeful Purple Panties

Funny Story:
I'm with my daughter in Cincinnati, at a trendy eco/mama kinda store.
Wonderful, wonderful things but like all such, pricey as well.
Eldest/Admin sees some felted fruit/veggies for bambinos that she just loves.
There is even some grapes made out of a softer material, like a cotton knit. These grapes have the sweetest faces on them and my daughter just melts.
Meanwhile, this is what's going in my mind:
Years ago, a young friend stayed with me with her tiny infant. Lots of packing and laundry for the young mama and something was bound to get left behind. After all was said and done, the only thing that was left was a pair of post partum purple panties. By the time the young mama got home, far away, they probably were already too big for her.
But being the practical person I am, I placed these in the bottom of my drawer.
Now I forget a lot of things.
People's names, things I am to do, birthdays, anniversaries etc.
But for some reason, I remembered the knit and color of the purple panties that were stowed away in the back of my drawers.
When I saw the beloved grapes, I immediately knew that the color and type of knit of those hidden undies would be the perfect little sweet faced grapes for Miss Vivien.
The week I got back home from my Vivieland Visit, I excavated my chest of drawers to find....'TA DA'! The perfect grape material..!
And here it is in process:

And here is Violet G. Grape!
Vivien's first of many stuffed fruit/veggies I think...

Another Repurposeful Success!
Think carefully before you throw things away, especially nice fabric on any type of clothes...
Fun, fun things can be had from the strangest of items....!

Day Five of Bag Giveaway and What the Heck Happened to Day Four??

Remember, Hubby has been off for the week.
And a Week of Spoofin is a whole lot more busy than a Day of Spoofin.
So where is Day Four?
In the annals of our memories.
There were walks with my Sewing Room Assistant and our photographer.....

There was a wonderful visit with this little fuzzy guy and his people,
aka My Eldest Sister and Her Wonderful Husband. They live another state over so it's a bit of a hike, but the time that we spent there was oh so worth the trek. We had a lovely, lovely visit. Snippets of their neighbors, aka my niece and several of her four sons with a brief drop in by the nephew in law.
Could it be that the sweet little niece that came to our family when I was 16, is now 40 and starting to empty her very full nest? Wow.

And then there was the mundane.
Leaves to contend with, both on the ground and in the brand new gutters.
I took this photo of Hubby on the cliff of our roof to enrage our children further about his antics when there is no witnesses or protectors hanging around.
I'm sewing and he quietly, like he does this every day, exits the window and proceeds to use his broken Gutter Getter to roust out the infernal products of our abundant tulip tree.
Evidence, kids....Your Papa is still stubborn as ever.....

Then there was babysitting.
Just a brief spot with the 2G's so their mama could make a doctor visit.
Grant and Mr. Pat read many books and Miss Grace, the brand new walker, listens in. We thought we should all go to McD's when mama got home.
Just more fun. The 2G's mama spelled out F-o-l-l-o-w t-h-a-t b-i-r-d, a secret Christmas gift, to wit, Grant replied with gusto, 'Follow That Bird'! The Big Bird Movie...!!!" Not quite three.....

Ta Da!!!
Almost completed and really fun, The Giveaway Bag!!!!!
Again, I thank you and all your kind comments....
This has been such fun for me; already planning the next Fun Thing of Interest on My Blog....
Tell me what you think of the First Ever Giveaway Bag...
and maybe ideas for the next event?!
Enjoy your weekend!

Porch Time

Nothing I like better than some porch time.
Been that way since I was very young and my grandmother had this tiny, tiny house that had one awesome front porch. She had this mission oak type porch furniture, and to this day I can still smell the summer that clung to the chintz cushions on that lovely furniture. Sitting in this shaded, screen covered room, with huge hydrangea bushes on both sides, I would sip on my 7 up sherbet float that she made just for me and dream, perhaps, of the day when I would have my own wonderful Porch World.

Since that time, I have accumulated porches and memories along the way.
Even our first apartment has an enclosed porch that I immediately wanted to set up like Grandmas. Our first house had a nice little porch with a swing that brought my first two babies bliss on hot summer days.

Our second house was the porch that remains in my children's memories. A small screened in porch became host to innumerable visitors. Every space was covered with a comfy spot to perch with a neighboring table to lay the inevitable snacks brought out to entice guests to stay longer. The porch evolved and had themes each year. New paint, a ceiling fan, small lamps, many cushions. Lots of naps. How in the world could such a small area host such memories, I have no idea, but I can still picture myself with friends, laughing till way late, while our children played kick the can or flashlight tag.

Now I have my grown up porch. Wide and comfortable, it can accommodate the size of my growing children. We do not have to stumble over each other's feet or risk walking on someone to get around. Wicker collected from many years, finds a home on my porch. I have a wicker porch swing from many years ago thanks to an auction, a rocker from a garage sale, and a small dining set from an estate sale. The one thing my heart has always longed for, wicker-wise, was a chaise lounge. People do not usually let go of those things. They keep them till they are done or they end up in an antique store, out of my range.

Then this happened:
Baby Girl's Mother in law asked me if I wanted a wicker ottoman. I NEVER say no to anything wicker. I gave her an affirmative and a few weeks later, she showed up in her truck with her amazing chaise lounge! The look on my face had to have startled her because she told me quickly, if you don't want it, you don't have to take it! She mistook my awe with crazed disgust. (I'll have to check to see how similar those looks are! :D)
I was speechless.
She had no room for it in her recent downsizing and knew I owned a home for Unwed Wicker. She knew where to take it. Even if she had trouble with it's name, it mattered not....I was going to own a wicker chaise lounge..For my grown up porch!

Last Friday, Faithful Friend, tried it out and proclaimed it very adequate and terribly addictive and stayed till way late while a storm raged outside of the porch.

I love porches.

Whew!

What does a first time grammy do on a visit?
Plenty!

1. Finished three bags and two pillows.
2. Babysat (of course!)
3. Entertained my little Vivien
4. Helped Mama
5. Cooked my new diet dinners for the little fam.
6. Planned my etsy shop and got help from daughter for this blog etc.
7. Drove back home with Vivien on her first long trip.
8. Prepared cottage for Vivie and her mama when we got home.
9. Introduced her to my home and town.
10. And all the normal things......

Today was bliss with my new little guest. She played with and on Grammy's toys, sat on my porch and under the pergola and got used to these things called domestic pets. Her first encounter with my ancient Miss Kitty was startling, but subsequent interactions with Dixie and Stella the fluffy cat went quite well. She might just like them. I got to make a blackberry chocolate cake for the nursing mama who needs all the carbs and calories she can get and the grilled pizza was just the thing for a summer night. We ended the evening with a parade like walk with Poppy, Vivien, Vivien's mama, Uncle Jordan, Dixie and Viv's swanky stroller that Poppy found for her online. I tried desperately to find some friends outside and about to show off my new grandbaby but alas, no one was out.

Just doing what I love......