What's that BUZZ?

Shhhhh! What's that noise? There's something buzzing.

Do you hear it? Come on....tell me you can hear it.

I'm not sure where it is coming from...

Shhhh! I hear it again!

Oh my! It's coming from this package I just received from Oliver Rain.

Why it's a bumblebee backpack for Dear Bebe! HOW CUTE IS THAT?

Of course that's what the buzz is all about.

And a market bag for Mommy, too. (I was a giveaway winner! Whoo hoo!)

Thank you!

And handmade too. You just don't find wonderful things like this at the store anymore.

Only through bloggyland. Isn't it fabulous?

Hope you're enjoying the beginning of your weekend. I'm off to use my new bag.

Girl Time ... Digging Through the Hope Chest

Over the July 4th holiday we had friends of my Dear Hubby's over for a barbecue. They are also now my friends, of course. While the guys were outside running around, playing horseshoes, bocce ball and generally just getting sweaty, the girls were inside.

Having GIRL TIME.

One thing led to another and the next thing you know, I'm pulling things out of my hope chest I've been saving for "someday." For the longest time I didn't know if anyone would ever care...or if I'd have a little girl of my own to show them to. Well, I do have a little girl but she's not old enough yet.

But my friend's oldest daughter takes dance lessons and REALLY wanted to see one of my ballet costumes.

I even let her try it on!

Isn't she sweet? Now at this point I must mention she had gone to a swimming birthday party and her father drove them to our house in a convertible...so pay no attention to her airblown dry hair. Tee hee!

Then it was this Coca-Cola shirt that really made her mother laugh. Does anyone remember wearing these in the late 80's and early 90's? I don't know why I thought it necessary to save it in my hope chest, but I'm glad I did now.

I also shared other items I've been saving like my cheerleading jacket, disco purse (what did I need that for at age 11????), and sequined leg warmers.

One of my favorite things to do is reminisce.

I can't wait until I can share these things with Dear Bebe.

What have you saved for "someday?"

Bambi Sighting

I've been so busy lately I haven't been able to blog about the little fawns we had in our backyard. We live in the woods so this is why it looks like the "grass" needs to be mowed!

It was difficult getting these photos. Dear Bebe had just learned to crawl and I had to keep my eye on her and the deer. It was tough! After I had taken several I looked down at the camera and it read "No Camera Card." Aaaargh! Very frustrating.

So these are the shots I did get. I hope you enjoy the Bambinos as much as I did. They looked so frail and tiny compared to their momma.

Spiritual Sunday ~ Plugging In

(This devotional was written by Jim Liebelt.)

More and more, we are a culture that is dependent upon technology. I find that I rely heavily on technology today. Like many people, I own a cell phone, laptop, and a digital camera. These are great tools that I have learned to depend on from day to day. So, there’s no surprise that these electronics are dependent on… electricity. I pretty much run my electronic “tools” on battery power, and generally, it’s not a problem. Yet, if you are like me, then you know it always seems that it’s at the worst possible moment—when we really need to use that camera, make a call on that cell phone or send off one more email—that the batteries inevitably go dead. It’s so frustrating!

Okay, I know that I bring this on myself! I understand that I ought to keep on top of my battery charging, but I just don’t seem to get around to it. I think I ought to have learned by now that I need to keep these tools charged, especially when I can anticipate times when I have tasks that I need to make sure are completed. Often, anticipating the need is the issue, and is exactly where I run into trouble.

This is a simple, average life experience that has a profound spiritual parallel. We understand we are totally dependent on God to empower us to live life as faithful Christ-followers. We know that we have to stay plugged into the power source in order to be able to face the day-to-day challenges that life throws our way. Yet too often we fail to anticipate our spiritual need. We disconnect and attempt to live life in our own strength. And just when we most need God’s life flowing into ours, we find that our spiritual batteries are dead. Then we experience the remorse that comes from knowing better.

Fortunately, God’s power to recharge our lives is not far away. We don’t have to shut everything down, pack everything up and wait for next Sunday’s church service. We can access God’s power wherever we are through prayer. We can find strength in His Word. We can find support and empowerment through His people.

Today, if you find your spiritual batteries are running low, don’t wait. Wherever you are, plug in!

To really charge your spiritual batteries visit the Spiritual Sunday blog, hosted by Charlotte & Ginger...you'll be glad you did!

The Tatting Lady ~ Dresses, Hankies, Purse, Teddy Bear Gown

Once in awhile I receive a request to sell other people's handcrafted items. Since my website, Bella Rosa Antiques, is mostly about vintage items, I have turned most down. Recently I received an email from someone I wasn't sure I could say no to.

Her email started with tattinglady@.... and it gives her talent away.

Yep, tatting.

I've actually sold a few pieces of vintage tatting. But I didn't KNOW anyone who created these items anymore.

So, back to the Tatting Lady. Here she is in a photo she sent to me. She makes items of tatting, smocking, and Irish crochet.

Here is a snippet from her email:

I have tatted for 25 years. In Cork County, Ireland, the nuns brought out their lace work in 1845 because of the potato crop failure. With the money, the nuns gave the money to the poor who were eating grass. Once the lace work of tatting was seen, it was copied. I learned from a teacher when I was teaching first grade in Gillespie,Illinois. In Springfield, Ill. at New Salem Park, I demonstrated tatting and sold tatted items. I moved to Florida to retire. Now I still show and lecture to ladies, the lost art of tatting.

She even wrote an article about the history of tatting here :

And her pieces are GORGEOUS!

I mean, look at this hankie and framed piece above.

Sweet!

She sent me the photo above and the photos below. I'm sharing them with you and if you are interested in any of them...I've included the price on some.

Dresses 30.00

Booties 25.00, Bonnets 20.00

This amazing teddy bear outfit and these other items I am not sure of the price but I'm sure she would work up something for you.

Tatted earrings, too! Who knew?

I personally love this little bag. I also like the framed tatted piece, the hanky, and the tatted crown on top of the bear's head in the first picture. I can picture the crown with some fancy jeweled embellishments. Wonder if she'd do that for me?

She really does nice work and from what I'm seeing, she can create just about anything using this unique and old art form. Guess it's not lost after all!

Old Fashioned Charm

Over the long holiday weekend we took another trip to visit a quaint and charming small town. It has lovely shops to stroll along and great little cafe's.

Last year when I was pregnant we went there and had lots of ice cream. I mean, I had lots of ice cream! (I'm paying for it now!)

While this year we didn't stop for ice cream ... we did go in several of the cute shops.

Then we took Dear Bebe for a stroll in the lovely park and for a snack. I had just finished feeding her when we took the photo, which is why you might notice the cheerios still clinging to her chin...

There is a live spring flowing in the park which leads to a fountain. Lots of ducks to feed. Here she is on Daddy's shoulders... staring at them. I love watching her expressions as she discovers new things.

She enjoyed the park and we loved taking her. This age is really a lot of fun. I'm looking forward to doing a lot more with my sweeties this summer.

We Have Tomato

I'm not a green thumb. Wasn't born on a farm...and I don't really have a desire to take care of plants. I can only sustain spider plants it seems. But tomatoes, I love and will do whatever I can to grow them.

Back in April when my Dad was visiting, I talked to him about wanting a tomato in time for the 4th of July. He said "get the early variety. " So we went shopping and bought a couple of "early girls" as they were called. We planted and hoped.


Well it worked! I had my first tomato in time for the 4th! And I mean, JUST IN TIME. Don't ask me why this made me happy. Sometimes it's the little things in life, I guess!


And we ended up having a small get together or cookout with a few friends.


Hope your holiday was great!

What the 4th Means to Me

Sure, the 4th of July means a backyard barbecue.

And Uncle Sam and firecrackers...

Lots of cheering and flag waving...

And a whole lot of this...

"My country tis of thee...sweet land of liberty...of thee I sing...land where my father's died...land of the pilgrims pride from every mountain side...Let freedom ring!"

Everyone knows this first line of the song. But did you know the last line?

"Our father's God to thee, author of liberty, to thee we sing. Long may our land be bright with freedom's holy light, protect us by thy might...great God our King!"

Something we have forgotten...somewhere between the Uncle Sam and the backyard barbecue.

Let us remember ...those who have fought for our freedom and the one who gave it to us in the first place.

Part of the ten commandments (Exodus 20) in The Bible states: "Thou shall have no other gods before me."

Our nation was built on that premise. We do not have to answer to any other king, tyranny, or ruler. God is our king. This is why the ten commandments have been seen in courthouses and communities across the nation. And slowly they're being taken away ... by people who don't remember (or care) what our country is based on.

What people fought for. And died for.

"One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Take away God and we have become divisible.

Something to think about.

A July 4th Prototype

Not too many blog posts ago I wrote about getting crafty for the July 4th holiday. I showed the photo above from Country Living magazine's website.

I bought patriotic ribbon. I scoured ebay looking for vintage streamers, blue crepe paper, etc. I purchased and waited for items to arrive in the mail.(One was coming all the way from England. Oh the irony!)

And after much head scratching and pondering... I came up with the ribbon below! I added a ribbon hanger (yes, I actually got out my sewing box. Gasp!)


You can hang it here.

You can hang it there.

You can hang it just about anywhere! (You'll have to excuse me, I've been reading too many Dr. Seuss books.)

More ribbon and trims were added to the "tail" so my version is completely different...(Plus I used wired ribbon instead of crepe paper) and I could have embellished the top with glitter AND I could have been more precise in my cutting abilities... but for now I am happy with my prototype!

It was harder than it looked to come up with an exact match to the magazine's version. My crepe paper was too wide and too light weight so I gave up and just went for my own design using the ribbon.

Sometimes it just works out better that way!

I've decided this fun souvenir could be the "prize" to the winner of our patriotic contest when we have guests over for July 4th. This year we decided not to have anything big but maybe next year. Gives me plenty of time to work on my craft skills.

I do think they need some fine tuning. A little rusty here!

And I've been saving paper towel and toilet tissue rolls to make these little firecrackers but it is taking forever to use up the paper so I only have three so far. I know, I could just rip all the paper off but where is the fun in that?

Note to self: Need to start thinking about this way in advance.

Maybe I'll start in the winter when the snow is on the ground and I'm longing for backyard barbecues, potato salad and fresh summer corn...ahhhhhhhhhh.

Deeeeeelish!

Having Fun

We're just having fun...


Mommy found this cute Dept 56 deviled egg dish at the thrift store. It sure brightens up the room!



And of course I had to see how the eggs looked on the plate so VOILA...here they are!

They were quite yummy too. (If I don't say so myself!)

How do you make your deviled eggs? I love to read other recipes.

And hard as I tried I couldn't get a good photo of Dear Bebe with her sun glasses on. She's just too quick. For now they are more fun to taste!

Going for her 9 month check up soon. She's growing so fast. Sigh.