Notes from A Cottage Industry

Birthday boy.

My Mom, my son, daughter-in-law, 11 month old grand daughter flew in for my grandson's first birthday celebration and an early Christmas together. Having babies in the family again makes Christmas feel that much more magical to me, and having all of my own kids together for a long weekend is truly my idea of heaven on earth. I love listening to them tease one another and squabble, and having those two sweet babies underfoot is almost more joy than my heart can hold. It's the best Christmas present in the whole wide world.

Our very own little Christmas eve baby is turning one and so we celebrated with a cake and all the hoopla that goes with it a week early so the day could be all about him. My daughter decided on a Polar Express theme and I got to make the cake!

I found the most perfect little train to go atop the cake and made a little label that read "The Polar Express" for the middle car. The trees were frosted ice cream cones, dusted with a powdered sugar snowfall. So cute. And yummy.

As you can see, the birthday boy thought it tasted yummy too!

Off to PTown for the Labor Day weekend.

     I hope you all will be enjoying a wonderful weekend with your families and friends. I am headed to the airport this morning to fly to the pacific northwest to hang out with my favorite little man and the rest of the family up there. We'll be spending some time at his other Grandma's lake house and so you know I will be sharing pictures shortly!

A few practice shots....

I'm up in the Portland Stars Hollow  Camas Washington area visiting and doing a little business research. I am thrilled to share a couple of photos... from my new camera! (my favorite little man now has two teeth!)

     Yes, thanks to the many, many friends online and otherwise, I was able to make quite a dent in the price of a replacement camera. I decided I'd better buy it while I was up in Portland (where they have no sales tax!!) Thank you seems like such an understatement, but it's fom the bottom of my heart.

Moose. And me.

That's what it is now.

Life has been a bit off kilter the past couple of weeks here at the cottage on Norman Drive. I keep finding myself looking for Mr. Bear, and then, I remember he is gone and I feel that tug at my heart all over again. Moose stays right by my side, each and every minute that I am home. He is puzzled. And kind of lost. I am too.

I bought Moose a chew bone last week and when I gave it to him, he just carried it around. For three days. Before, when I brought home rawhide chew bones, Moose would chew his up in about an hour, and then steal Bear's from him, and chew it, while Bear would look on. 

You see, Bear didn't really care to chew the rawhide, he just liked knowing it was there for him. I would tell him to protect it, to get it back, but he would just smile that wise old smile of his, and kindheartedly let Moose take it from him.

Finally, last night, while I was doing computer work, I heard that old annoying familiar sound. Mr. Moose was laying at my feet, chewing and gnawing his rawhide bone. It might sound odd, but it was a comforting sound.

I guess we are both adjusting, slowly, very slowly, to our life these days, as a pair, instead of a trio.

Yet another shameless Gramma brag post....

...oh, you know you love them!
  I never got to post this morning, and then tonight, while checking out the family blogs, I found this clever and oh-so-terribly-adorable shot of the cutest little princess herself, and of course I was compelled to share!(Are my daugher-in-law and son creative photographers or what?!)

What's more exciting than having two grandbabies?

Three grandbabies, of course! Mmm hmmm, Carter is going to become a big brother next March!

(if you heard very loud squealing Sunday night around 9:00, it was me!)

To everthing there is a season

Sweet, sweet old Mr. Bear was called home yesterday, and I was there, surrounding him with hugs and tears. He left a hole in my heart so large that I cannot find the words to share.

Moose and I will miss you so very, very much, you silly, willy, nilly, old Bear.

41 Taylor update to come....

The open house event at 41 Taylor was successful, and we then spent half of Sunday prepping for this coming Wednesday, when our summertime vintage boutique opens. I didn't have time to edit all of my pictures from the event just yet, but luckily, I had time to share a photo of my two favorite little people on the planet, so today's post is not a complete loss.(If you know anything at all about me, it's that I was meant to be a Gramma!) You can see a few shots on 41 Taylor's new website and blog if you like...but remember, the website is still a bit of a work in progress!

We got them together again on Thursday afternoon, for a "Stand off" as Isabelle's Daddy likes to say. Both of them are standing and holding on to my coffee table, although I have to share that Carter stands on his tip-toes, so he is cheating a little bit in the picture. (He was over eight pounds at birth, while she was just under six and a half pounds) At six and a half months old, he's just a month older than she, but Mr. Carter is on the ...um...shall we say....larger side of the percentiles for his age group, while Miss Isabelle is a dainty, petite little cherub. (with a belly laugh you simply must hear to believe!Don't let her petite stature fool you, this girl is gonna be a diva!)

**Doesn't it look like she's thinking, "Exactly what do they feed you up there in the pacific northwest?!"

Still in party mode!

The party continues!!!(Does that party hat look familiar?)
Last night I was busy gearing up for today's phase two of our 41 Taylor Open House launch party and actually never got two minutes together to post  on my blog... my favorite little man was in town for the grand opening, and...well, time just got away from me!
I promise to share pictures soon!

God Bless America!

Land of the free. Home of the brave.
FYI- My kiddos, July 4,1989...Ready for the neighborhood 4th of July parade.(Note** My son didn't really have a mustache.)
Happy Independence Day!

Vintage rocker at work.

 

    No, it's not another shameless Gramma Blog post. Really, that's just not my style. The simple fact is that I am so blissfully buried in projects (sandwiched around working at the bank) to be ready for this Friday night that I didn't have time for editing more pictures of 41 Taylor for today's post, and then, this picture arrived via email...and...well, it just seemed like the perfect lil' post for today!(I know how you like to see project updates, and this is an older project..in action!)
     Remember this little rocker? Mmm hmm, I knew you'd want to see it in action. Looking back on when I painted it, I couldn't imagine just how much I'd love these grand babies.

Seriously. There are no words.

Sunday morning extra Gramma Brag post...

    My "Words to live by" for today is below this post..but....My little grands (one month apart in age...he is a big boy and she is a dainty little thing!)are having a visit together up in PTown and they sent me a picture this morning. (I just can't stop myself from sharing this!)

Party animal.

Mr. Bear celebrated a milestone birthday yesterday. He turned 15, which makes him...er...a senior citizen in dog years.(Honey-Bear, you don't look a day over 12. Really.)

Now, Bear is not one for wild parties and making a lot of hoopla, we celebrated rather quietly, reminiscing about when he was a puppy, then followed up with milkbones and me singing happy birthday. (Actually, Moose was much more excited about the singing part than Bear was.)

Happy birthday, Bear. Oh, I love you so.

A suitcase full of treasures.

       I arrived home from PTown with an extra suitcase (what else is new?) full of thrifted treasures for my booth at Junkee and the new shop, courtesy of the Obsessive Auntie. Not only is this girl an incredible cardiac recovery unit nurse....Um....Did I mention she was nominated for AACN (American Association of Critical Care Nurses) Greater Portland Chapter Association's Nurse of the year?!) but she is also an amazing thrifter, with a keen eye for finding fabulous treasures!
       Oh yes, the Goodwill folks know her, (and my son-law!) and she can wheel and deal with the best of us. I was so excited when I opened the suitcase and out spilled all of the gems from her treasure hunts! It's hard for me to not want to keep all of it, but, alas, there is no room left in my cottage, (trust me on this one, people.) and so I will be pricing things and they'll be making thier way to Junkee this weekend, looking for new homes.

Uh-oh.

You know how people say that some characteristics are genetic, passed from one generation to another? I think I found out what passed on to my grandson.

What can I say? We're all about feelin' the love of stylin' foot ware.

Happy Monday from Stars Hollow!

I am hanging out with this guy in my favorite town in the Pacific Northwest, so I'll have to post a bit more later today!

A little backyard photography practice

I am working on improving my portrait photography skills and Miss Isabelle graciously agreed to model for me this past Tuesday morning.(See? It's not another shameless Gramma Cupcake bragging post, it's about improving your portrait photography skills!)

Anyway.

Each time I practice, I learn a bit more of what I am doing wrong and it is exciting to see ways of improving my skills with this. Even though she was getting over her first cold, sweet Miss Isabelle was such a good sport all the same. And, hopefully she will be back over for another session in just a week or two when she is fully over her cold so I can work on this photography thing some more.
I am by no stretch of the imagination a pro at this, just somebody's Gramma, trying to get better with  my picture taking skills, but here are a few tips that I have learned from trial and error so far...(learn from my mistakes here, people.)Take the tips for what they are.

*For outdoor shots, don't photograph directly in the sun. It's just too bright. Glaring. Make sure you, with your camera, and your model are in the shade, at least for the most part. (See the grass in the picture above? Some sun, some shade? You want the subject of the picture in the shade fully, or there are too many visual distractions in the picture..just my opinion here.)

*Close ups are nice, but the photo doesn't have to be a close up to start with. Cropping it in after wards works really great, and you may end up with two shots from the same photo that you like both ways, like here:

*Be organized and prepared when photographing babies and little children...(actually, I guess it's good to be organized when photographing anyone.) The time frame is kind of short, since they aren't always thrilled to keep posing and being repositioned for you for hours on end. Check out the area in which you'll be taking the pictures. Look through the camera viewfinder at the area before the subject arrives to get the are a set up if you're doing this shoot outdoors, as I was. Then you see if it's too sunny, or has too much going on in the background.

*Have fun! Just take the shots you can, and then gather up your model (and her mama!) and go out to lunch. It worked for me!

Bachelorette party.

    My daughter-in-law is the Matron of honor in her sister's upcoming wedding and tomorrow night she is throwing the bachelorette party. I am thrilled to get to help with cupcakes, a cute signature drink sign, and a fun banner that reads, "Sexy little bride"! (Thanks to Victoria's Secret for the banner  phrase)

   Working on the banner and little flags got me all excited again to be working on little details for an event, although there is no one left in the family to get married..at least not for another twenty plus years when the grandbabies are grown. This got me thinking and I have an idea I am going to play with a bit (in my spare time...ha!)  about adding some kits and banners to my website in the very near future.
 I'm off to work at the bank now, but my mnd is whirling with ideas.

Girls night in.

 
I can't help myself. I said I wouldn't but I did. It's another shameless Gramma bragging post.

     I was in pink heaven last night. You see, I got to spend the entire evening, one on one, with the sweetest baby girl I've ever laid eyes on. Miss Isabelle came over so her Mama and Daddy could have a night out. Mmm hmmm, we had a girls night in and it was heaven. (Oh, I see that I said that already.)
She's just a couple days shy of three months and she's at that chubby-cuddly-fits-perfectly-on-your-shoulder-nestles-into-your-neck-and-smells-like-love stage.

     We had the most lovely time, she and I. We talked and talked and talked. (She's a deep thinker, this one.) We talked about what she might want to be when she gets grows up, and how much we all love her and how perfect and beautiful she is.(I didn't capture it too well in these photos, but she has the longest eyelashes I have ever seen!)

She liked my slightly off-key Micheal Buble sing along and she was impressed with the walking tour of my cottage. Oh, it was heaven.

She fell asleep on my shoulder and my heart melted as I listened to her soft breathing next to my ear. I swear I could stare at her little sleeping face all night long. In fact, I did.

*sigh* Yes, it was pink heaven all right. Right here on Norman Drive.

bebe' amore'.

 
Okay, I am pretty certain my blog title is incorrect French, but you get the message...er...pictures, as I am sharing in this post.

And...No, this is not yet another post about my grandbabies. (I said I wasn't going to turn this blog into a Gramma Cupcake brag book, and I intend to keep my word.)

It's a post about a photographer that specializes in baby photography. (Um, yes, that is my grandson in the photo!) France Photography is the name of Kellie France's photography business. She's located in Carson City, Nevada and works all around the norther Nevada area. (she gave me permission to share these pictures!)

She does some charming vintage style things (check out her blog!)as well as traditional and more artsy looks. The photo shoot was such fun, and we were so excited to see all of the proofs.

Now, we just all have to figure out which ones we will choose!

It's the little details that REALLY make a home.

  

     Okay, I won't force you to view any more grandbaby pictures today. I promised you that yesterday and I meant it.
     I had my camera with me this past weekend when we stopped by the Sewing Queen's home. I was looking around and I realized that the thing that makes her home so charming are the details.(I shared a couple shots about a year and a half ago, but these give a better idea of her style.) I thought you might enjoy a little tour of her niceties.
     It's a mobile home, and it is absolutely the most adorable cottage ever. I tell you this because so many of you email me saying you don't think you can do these things with the place you live, whether it be large or small, an apartment, a mobile home, a modern styled loft, or a "fixer upper". I want you to understand that it's not about the size or style of your place, it's what you do with your space.

    Make it cozy. Make it charming. Make it yours.

    You see, it's really all in the details. This little piggy has made it through three moves. He used to be a sort of monochromatic cream color if I am remembering correctly, but with this last move, the Sewing Queen and I decided he needed a make over to go with her newly redone kitchen, so we painted him up and sealed him with a nice coat of verathane. He's perfect on the kitchen counter now.

     The kitchen cupboards were in good shape, but the cupboard doors were outdated, so the Sewing Queen had a contractor make new doors from bead board. We wallpapered the area above the cupboards to carry out the cheery cottage look...pretty charming, huh? And all done with one roll of wallpaper!(Of course, the Sewing Queen made the custom valace for the window, as well!)

    Her ceiling lights in the kitchen, dining and gathering room (where she keeps her computer set up) all came from Lowe's. We painted them sage green and added some flowers and shades to give them a custom look for nearly nothing.


Speaking of her computer area, look at the easy fix for a basic folding conference table. She simply skirted it...it adds a lot of personality and it hides whatever she needs out of sight.

     Her guest bath is darling as well. She keeps it looking roomy by using lots of creams and lace. A vintage chair covered in a chennile type fabric holds towels and adds a sweetness to the room.

   Her bedroom is full of cheery cottage bedding. Click on the picture to see all of those adorable pillows. I love mixing and matching patterns within a color group. It adds a custom feel. (Oh dear. I see that I quite accidentally have a grandbaby in that photo. How did that happen?!)

   One thing you might have noticed is that her entire home is done with the same colors in each room. The bedroom pulls more yellow and the kitchen more green, but the rooms flow thanks to the colors being compatible and it gives her home a nice feel. Also, this enables her to move items from one room to another so she won't tire of them and the rooms always seem fresh.
    I hope you've enjoyed the tour. Just remember...life is in the details.

A happy family is but an earlier heaven.

*sigh*
Those words by are so true. I am feeling very blessed and quite content today. Easter at my cottage was beyond wonderful. Having all of my family home, with the two newest family members are all this girl could ever ask for. (and I have over 400 pictures to prove it...but I promise not to turn this blog into a complete Gramma brag log!)
Speaking of baby pictures, indulge me with just a couple more of them...The little man wore the Easter outfit that his uncle wore 25 years ago. His uncle was also a December baby, so they were the same age at the time of these photos. (I do believe that Mr. Carter is a bigger baby than his uncle was at this age!) And, look at little Miss Isabelle up at the top. Doesn't she look a lot like her Daddy's baby picture?
 
    We wrapped up the weekend with brunch together on Sunday and there were tearful goodbyes. (as always) After everyone was gone and the house was quiet, took a long bubble bath and thanked God for all of the wonderful gifts he has given me. I am rich beyond measure.

I hope you all had a blessed Easter too!

It just keeps getting better.

 
I shared a picture of my favorite man yesterday, and today my favorite little princess came over to visit!
The grandbabies got to meet each other face to face today at my cottage and needless to say, it was pure heaven on earth. (I can't wait for tomorrow when we get to do it all over again!)

Put on your lucky Raccoon hat Carter, we're goin' to Monticello.

  I'm up here in Stars Hollow Camas to visit this handsome guy and we decided to take a little trip to our favorite Antique Mall. It was his first time out and about Antiquing.

...turns out he's a great lil' shopping buddy, with a real eye for spotting a diamond in the rough. Oh, so much to see! (I'll share our finds and favorites in a post a little bit later!)

Yup.

We shopped till we dropped.

More baby love.

...so very lovely, made from love.
*sigh* You've simply got to indulge me, 'coz that song just says it all about this sweet little bundle of all things heaven sent.

Look. She's even perfect when she yawns.

Isn't she lovely..isn't she wonderful...

...we have been heaven blessed. (Oh, was Stevie Wonder ever right!) The newest member of the family has arrived, after much waiting and anticipation! Beautiful little Isabelle Marie made her debut last night a bit after 10:00, weighing 6 pounds and 6 ounces, and is 19 inches long.

Truly the angel's best. (The picture is taken through the nursery glass, where her Daddy, my son, was getting her hearing and such tested.) I couldn't get a really good picture of her sweet face up close last night, but I will be taking many, many more pictures tonight, I am sure.

God is so good.

Words to live by - Week 99

A child fills a place in your heart that you never knew was empty.                                                                                                   Author Unknown

*sigh* So true. My heart overflows just looking at his picture.

Home again.

  

     Thank you all so much for all of the nice notes and well wishes on Mr. Carter O'Reilly Roberts!There is something so miraculous, so wondrous, about watching your own child become a parent. To see that bigger than life love all over their face, each time they gaze at thier new baby. It's a feeling that is simply too big to describe in words. I am now back home in the biggest little city after five days of lovin' up that precious little guy all I could. It was so hard to leave, and I cried all the way to the airport. Big sad crocodile tears.
     I knew it was going to be difficult to say good-bye to them, (and I always have cried a little at the good bye part) but it was much more heartbreaking than I anticipated this time. It was harder than when my own last babe started first grade and I realized I was past the preschool mommy stage. (Oh, how I cried and cried!) Harder than when that same last babe graduated high school and I knew I was about to become a legitimate empty nester. My gosh, it was even harder than when I dropped my first born off at college out of state, and believe me, I was pitiful then. (Just ask my poor daughter, who had to endure multiple daily calls from home...for months!) Isn't love the most powerful, incredible thing? It can feel like pure heaven one minute, and become the most nearly unbearable pain the next.
    In anticipation of the gigantic uncontrollable, pathetic crying jag I most likely was going to experience on the flight home, (and for who knows how long after I arrived back in Reno) I brought a little notebook for making my plans and resolutions for 2009. Before the plane even took off I had it out on my lap and forced myself to begin making lists and time lines.
     Have I ever mentioned that I am a list maker? Well, I am. Not that I always follow the lists. Gosh no. Half the time I lose them, but that's okay. It's the idea of putting things down on paper that helps me. It inspires me and centers me. I think that's why blogging was so therapeutic for me when I became suddenly single. Writing things down, whether it be about my plans, some kind of nesting around my cottage, or even sharing  an occasional pity party, helps me sort though my thoughts and it renews me somehow. Making plans and lists, especially at the beginning of a new year just makes me feel so optimistic and hopeful, when anything and everything seems possible.

Anyway.

    So, where was I going with this? Oh yes, lists. I scrawled out pages and pages and pages of ideas for three upcoming Tumbleweed Cotillions this year, monthly booth theme ideas for Junkee, (the first of which will be vintage Valentine Bliss!) projects to create for my cottage and personal goals for the year ahead.
     By the time we landed I was feeling surprisingly better, knowing that I will be going back up for a visit in February (Oh!That feels so far away!) and thanking God for that web cam.(although I still couldn't bring myself to look at any of the 164 photos I took of that little angel on my digital camera until nearly midnight last night, for fear that I would end up in a sad little puddle on my office floor.)  I felt even better after picking my pups up from the Pet hotel they had been vacationing at while I was up in Stars Hollow Camas.
     I will be keeping myself as busy as I know how for the next few days. If I don't, I know I will fall into a pitiful and very sad just-exactly-how-much-is-that-baby-gonna-change-before-I-see-him-again-and-oh-my-gosh-he-won't-even-know-me depression. Also, time feels a bit like it is moving so slowly that it might be going in reverse, as we are all officially on baby watch around here in the biggest little city. Yes, the second grandbaby is due within the next couple of weeks or so, and there will be more excitement and love to spread around very soon!

Happy, happy new year, everyone. I hope 2009 brings you all great blessings and wondeful memories.

Pretty in pink

I'm counting the minutes until Monday when I will be going to Stars Hollow Camas to see and hold Mr. Peanut! Until then...

You've seen Mr. Peanut's nursery. Now, it's time for a peek into Miss Izzy's little pink palace! The mama and daddy-to-be painted the sweet little chocolate colored circles with her name in them. How cute is that?

I'm in love with the bassinet that they chose. It has hidden storage beneath it, and it's just so cute! I'll have to share more pictures now that the room is completely finished. A couple more weeks of waiting, and little Miss Isabelle should be here!

A merry little Christmas, indeed!

Mmm hmm, we've got a white Christmas going on..and yes, those are my Adirondack chairs in the front yard at the cottage, but the biggest little city hasn't gotten near the snowfall to date as our neighbors (and my family!) up north.

    If you don't live in the pacific northwest, or know anyone that does (or haven't managed to see the news lately) you might not realize that the folks up there are still in the midst of a record breaking snowstorm (dubbed the "Arctic Blast" according to PTown's news stations...) which has literally frozen the communities in those parts.

     The airport has been closed and then, when open, lots of delays, roads are closed or barely manageable, and there have been power outages to thousands of residents. This has been all the talk in my family for the past week or so, due to the fact that we have all been anticipating Mr. Peanut's arrival....and the talk focused most specifically on exactly how the parents-to-be were going to actually get to the hospital when the time arrived.

Well, in the end, they did make it, and after many, many hours, our beautiful, perfect, little Christmas baby boy arrived. And, on Christmas eve, no less. He and his mama and daddy are doing just fine.

Aah, God is so good.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Happy birthday to the Nevada Airman of the Year

I am interrupting this Christmas season to share some beyond fabulous news!(And we all could use some fabulous news with all that is in the paper and on the news these days) My son, the youngest of my three babies, has been honored with the prestigious award of Airman of the year for the entire state of Nevada. I am so proud I could bust, but I am not in any way surprised. He's always been the kind of person who could accomplish anything he put his mind to. (I'm not saying this just because I'm his Mom...really. He's always been like this, driven and determined, even when he was quite young.)

    He's currently on active duty with the Nevada Air Guard, working with the Intelligence team and just found out he got the award last weekend. Next month he will be honored by the Governor. (Did I say I was a proud Mom?!)

Anyway.

Today he is celebrating his twenty fifth birthday. (Where did the time go?!) He has a beautiful wife that is as crazy about him as he is about her, a brand new precious baby girl on the way in January, (Oh! You know I can't wait!)and now, to be honored for the excellent things he has accomplished and done is icing on the cake.

I don't think life gets any better than that.

Happy birthday and congrats Sugarman. I love you.