Great grandpa

There's been radio silence on this blog for a while because Joe's grandfather became very ill last week and was transferred to a hospice care center. Joe's grandfather passed away on Tuesday night. He was 93 and was one of the kindest men I have ever met. He always had a funny joke to share, a quick witted remark and a sparkle in his eye. I already see some of his great sense of humor in Charlie. I have comfort in knowing he is at peace and with his wife and savior.

Mini Table & Chairs Before & After

My sister Kristen gave me a table and set of chairs for the bean (thanks Kris!). He has been trying to find items throughout the house to sit down on so he can"read". He has turned over trucks, pots, and baskets- not so comfy! One of our gifts for him this Christmas is going to be this set:

Since we will be renovating the kitchen next year (hopefully) to a beachy white look I figured I would paint the set so it will fit in with the future kitchen. Here's my after:

Not a perfect paint job by any means, but I think those days are over since I can only paint when Charlie naps! It will be perfect for him to enjoy reading, coloring and maybe even some play-doh-ing :o)

Tile Love

If it's possible to be in love with tile then I have fallen hard.

There is something about a basketweave and it's neat, orderly design that speaks to my heart; a heart that thrives on organization. I picked up this lovely and 15 others like her today at the tile store (along with a mountain of 12x12 carrara and some carrara chair rail).

She will adorn the floor of our shower. I wish I could afford more of her but this little lady comes with a high price tag.

Polished Carrara & Bardiglio Basketweave=Pure Bliss. Worth.Every.Penny.

A day in the life of...

Tonight I am so completely exhausted. Exhausted from Joe's trip away, dealing with a sick bean (he has developed a cough from his ear infection/cold), and I feel like I may be getting a cold. I have that scratchiness in the back of my throat and bone tired feel.

Joe flew back in town late last night which led to an even later night because we wanted to catch up. Then Charlie woke up at 6am which literally felt like a smack in the face. Gosh now I'm thinking of the days when he was up every two hours- not sure how I pulled myself through LOL.

Anyways, I'm babbling but the point (and yes there is one) of this post was that five minutes ago when Joe relieved me of my motherly duties for the bedtime routine I decided I would write a list. A simple little roll of all the things I can remember I did today. And here it is:

• feed Charlie breakfast
• feed Malcolm
• make lunch for joe
• wrap a couple gifts for a friend
  
• change charlie into clothes for the day
• change three diapers
  
• give charlie his meds
• play
• read books
• sort, wash and fold four large loads of laundry
• organize laundry area
• make snack for charlie
• read more books
  
• put charlie down for a nap
• vacuum two rooms
  
• complete menu planning for next week and research some ideas for winter months in cookbooks and online
• write out shopping list for two stores
• clip coupons
• research weekly sales at store
• clean up all toys
  
• sweep the floor
  
• very short nap for the bean change him two or three more times for the day
  
• make lunch for the bean
• go food shopping to two stores
• unload car
• clean out fridge
• take out three bags or garbage
• play more and read more books
• take left over rotisserie chicken and shred meat and then freeze for enchiladas next wk
  
• make snack for charlie
• cut, core, slice 10 cps of apples that need to be eaten and make large apple crisp
• play
• check email quickly!
• make homemade pizza since cheese will not last for much longer before spoiling
• clean out the sink and start dishwasher
  
• play
• make charlie dinner- he refuses to eat any
• lay on the floor for the last ten mins before Joe arrives in surrender with charlie practically jumping on my head
• clean countertops and kitchen table
• hand pjs, diaper and blankie to Joe and clean up Charlie's bedroom
• blog!

And when I go to bed I will be praying for a good night's sleep!

Mini design dilemma

Today I hit s little bump in the road with the design for the other bathroom reno (the bath for Charlie and guests). The bathroom is going to be a mixture of browns, somewhat similar to our old bathroom seen here:

We are flipping the colors in the room so the beadboard will be white and the walls Bleeker Beige. (FYI The color on the beadboard is actually Great Plans Gold). I made a trip to the marble/granite countertop company to make a deposit and asked for a sample so I could look at all my samples together. Here's everything with the exception of the plan white subway tile that will cover the three bath walls.
Without flash:


With flash:

I'm a little concerned the countertop color (Durango limestone) is a bit too light for the floor tile. What do you think?

The little reader

One of my sisters handed us down a great table and chair set for the bean. My plan is to spray paint it a glossy white and then give it to him officially as one of his Christmas gifts. But lately I've noticed Charlie trying to make chairs out of many of his toys. He will turn a truck on its side and then go grab a book, back his little tush up until he feels the edge of the truck and sit down to read. So adorable. So I let him have a go at one of the chairs tonight and he loved it :o)
My little book worm!

Happy Halloween!

Our little farmer with Daddy

And Mama

Trying out the tractor

Taking her for a ride :o)

This is fun!

Daddy playin some blues- notice they have the same expression

Just hangin :o)

Hope you had a very happy Halloween!

Potentially Promising Morning

Well Charlie sat in his tractor this morning and wanted to play.
A much better response than the previous shrieks of horror ha, ha.
Not sure if he'll wear it but maybe we can get a few shots of him sitting with his overalls.

With cowboy hat :o)

Happy Halloween!

A Year And A Half!

My sweet boy,

It's been a long time since Mama wrote you a letter and I'm sorry for that. But I couldn't let this milestone pass us by. Yesterday you turned 18 months; a year and a half! I can't believe it, you're growing up entirely too fast for Mommy's comfort.

Charlie, you are a very social creature right now, which I find funny since your Daddy and I can tend to be on the quiet side. When you and I are out and about, I see you trying to make eye contact with everyone we come into contact with. Then you say "hi" until you have a captive audience. You'll flash a smile, giggle and try to carry on a conversation that consists of some "giggles" (a word like to use often) and other words. You close with a wave or "bye bye."

You love music and are quite the dancer. You have smoother moves than your Mama, ha, ha! You'll roll your shoulders, bop your head, bend your knees, tap dance and do a jig! You really like Trader Joe's for their fantastic music selections- especially the disco hits LOL. You also still enjoy Garth Brooks greatest hits, and anything else upbeat on the radio.

You are quite the practical jokester, you're always trying to find new ways to make me and Daddy laugh and crack yourself up in the process.

Right now your favorite thing to play with is the mini kitchen from your Aunt ChiChi & Uncle Jeff. You also love to play with your tractors and trucks, clean with Mama's dust buster and broom and stack whatever you can to climb on things. I think if you could fashion suction cups to your hands you would be crawling up the walls. You're also trying out new acrobatic moves, like somersaulting, rolling over and over and whatever else you can dream up.

You love to read books and often when we are in the kitchen and I am working at errands you'll grab me by the hand (or leg) lead me over to your books, pick one out yourself and then back up to sit in my lap. I love having that time with you.

Although now you know how to give kisses you are much more generous at blowing kisses than giving the real thing.

Charlie you are a big nature lover and would be content to play in our front yard for hours on end, scraping the trees with sticks, picking out special rocks, watching ants march and just exploring.

You also adore animals. If it has fur, feathers or scales you are in love. You are also so gentle with Malcolm, you kiss, pet and snuggle with him.

Today we had bible study and though my stomach was in knots, I prayed again that you would have fun with your friends and teachers. Guess what, my dear? I peaked in on you mid-way through and you looked like you were having a great time. Then when I went to pick you up, you were so happy to see me -and I found out-hadn't shed one tear!

My sweet boy, you have such a gentle, tender spirit to you that everyone sees when they come into contact with you. I am so honored to be your Mama and I look forward to each morning with you. I don't think I tell your Daddy enough how thankful I am to be able to spend my days with you, sweetheart. You a truly a blessing from God.

Love Always,
Mama

Really Hope He'll wear it....

Getting a little closer to finished with the tractor costume. I've gotta put a little yellow stripe in there, but my biggest concern is that Charlie won't want to wear it :o( Fingers crossed.

18 months

Charlie turned 18 months today. Thought I would take the list of words he is using that I jot down on our blackboard in the kitchen and add it to the blog.

There's currently several words Charlie says that I have yet to decipher, but we'll add them in once I can translate!

1. yum yum
2. tickle
3. pop pop (grandpa)
4. no no
5. yes, yeah
6. ok
7. owl
8. cat
9. dirt*
10. light
11. uh oh
12. door
13. mama
14. dada
15. up
16. wiggle
17. giggle
18. happy
19. mommy
20. malcolm, malc
    
21. bubble
22. ball
23. baby
24. digger*
25. hot
26. boat
27. apple
28. baba
29. bye bye
30. wow
    
31. moo (for cows)
32. baaa (for sheep)
33. raspberries (for elephants)
34. grrrr (for lions)

Charlie also uses baby signs for please, milk, bye bye, no & yes. Charlie is also starting to put two words together like "uh oh, dirt" or "milk please" :o) Dirt and digger are his favorite words (other than giggle).

The Best Chili Recipe EVER.

Chili To Warm The Soul (Adapted from Allrecipes)

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground turkey (7% fat)
• 1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage
• 2 (15 ounce) cans chili beans, drained, 1/2 can mashed
  
• 1 (15 ounce) can chili beans in spicy sauce
• 2 (28 ounce) cans diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 (6 ounce) can tomato paste
• 1 large yellow onion, chopped
• 3 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 green bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and chopped
• 1 can diced green chile peppers
• 4 cubes beef bouillon (or if you have large ones just 2)
  
• 1/2 cup beer (water can be substituted)
  
• 1/4 cup chili powder
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 2 teaspoons ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon white sugar

1. Heat a large stock pot over medium-high heat. Crumble the ground chuck and sausage into the hot pan, and cook until evenly browned. Drain off excess grease.
2. Pour in the chili beans, spicy chili beans, diced tomatoes and tomato paste. Add the onion, celery, green and red bell peppers, chile peppers, bouillon, and beer. Season with chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, oregano, cumin, basil, salt, pepper, paprika, and sugar. Stir to blend, then cover and simmer over low heat for at least 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. After 2 hours, taste, and adjust salt, pepper, and chili powder if necessary. The longer the chili simmers, the better it will taste. Remove from heat and serve, or refrigerate, and serve the next day.
4. To serve, ladle into bowls, and top with corn chips and shredded Cheddar cheese.
5. If you like your chili spicy you can add 2 tsps tabasco sauce and 1 tsp cayenne.
   

John Deere Green

Ready or not, here comes Halloween!

I cannot disappoint my little man, whose favorite thing on earth is a tractor.

Thanks to a creative friend (thanks Siv!) I was able to get a start on the design this afternoon. Then tonight after then bean went to bed and the kitchen was put back together I ran out to the store for some extra pieces for his costume.

I spray-painted the smokestack and 'cab'. I'll use those black paper plates for the tires, cotton for the smoke coming out of the smokestack and those mini ashtrays are going to my head lights. I'm also going to make a steering wheel out of one of those plates :o)

I picked up some elastic to make suspender straps so the box can rest on Charlie's shoulders and he looks like he is driving. This is my first attempt at a homemade costume, but I'm really enjoying the process. A lot of fun and love are going into it! Hopefully he will be excited to wear it.

One another thing to add- tonight I made a new chili recipe from Allrecipes.com that was the.best.chili.recipe.ever. It was not easy to make while trying to feed and entertain my child, but somehow it all worked out! Allrecipes is down for site maintenance tonight, but I will post that recipe tomorrow.

Sunday Walk

Saturday was a literal deluge all day so when the sun was shining in our windows this morning, all three of us had the itch to get out of the house! I decided to take the camera along because we are making our way to 'peak' with the fall colors.
This is a shot of our pepperidge tree in the front yard. It has the prettiest leaves; bright cheerful yellows in the middle and pinky red at the top.

When Joe and I were looking for our house we wanted a quiet street where we would feel comfortable with Charlie playing in the front and back yards.
We feel so lucky to have found the home we did.

Here are some shots from our journey down the street:

Peace and quiet (such a contrast from our last home)!

A little brook

A beautiful old tree right in the middle of the road :o)

Someone has serious hat head, click on this picture to see the full effect :o)

And finally the pepperide tree looking up :o)

Hope you enjoyed the little tour :o)

Petting Zoo Take Two

Charlie loves his furry, stinky animal friends :o)

Bible Study

I started attending a bible study late last spring with Charlie. I want Charlie to have a deep and strong faith and a relationship with God; for me it's really important to learn more about the bible so I can share it with him.

The study group I attend has an opening speaker, where everyone attends together and then we break up into smaller study groups going over the lesson for the week. Once we complete the study groups we reconvene for a closing lecture. The whole weekly session is about two hours.

I can't tell you how hard it has been this fall to drop Charlie off in the baby group and have him crying and upset while I am away. The women that take care of him are so incredibly loving so that does ease my nerves. We have been trying some different techniques at having me separate, but each week is different from the last and he always cries (sometimes more than others). Today he cried when I pulled into the church driveway. If I didn't feel to the depths of my heart how vitally important it is for me to be there learning and hearing God's word then I would turn around and run as fast as I could in the other direction.

Some days I can hear Charlie crying when I am in my study group and I honestly can't focus. My stomach physically hurts every Thursday morning as we get ready. And every morning on our little five minute drive in the country I pray.

I ask God to give my sweet boy peace and comfort and to wrap his arms around him. I tried to tell Charlie today on our way over that even when Mommy can't be there, God is there; that he is never, ever alone. I know he is too young to understand the depth of those words but I hope the message will make its way to his heart in the years to come.

I am starting to feel changed by this group. As each week passes I feel as though I am being nourished by God, his word and these other women who so humbly and sincerely profess their faith. There are many women in the group that genuinely seem as if a light shines from within them. I find myself thinking, "I want that; want to be more like that!" I can only pray that God is guiding me on a path to be a little 'light' for others at some point.

Without Scaffolding

Notice the little person (with blankie) in the lower right corner?

The front of my house is up!

Yippee!

Not so sure about the door stain color but we'll work it out...

what do you think?

I heart my slow cooker

Slow Cooker New England Clam Chowder (adapted from a recipe on Allrecipes)

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of celery soup

1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of potato soup

1 (16 ounce) can New England clam chowder

2 (6.5 ounce) cans minced clams

1 large Idaho potato peeled and diced

1 quart half-and-half cream

1 pint heavy whipping cream

S&P to taste

Optional (two strips of cooked crispy bacon and freshly cut chives as a topping)

Directions:

1. Mix cream of celery soup, cream of potato soup, clam chowder, 1 can undrained clams, 1 can drained clams, diced potato, half-and-half cream, and whipping cream into a slow cooker.

2. Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Enjoy with Crusty bread and a salad. YUM.

Pumpkin Day Procrastinator

Not sure what possessed me but about a month ago I decided that I was going to make Charlie's costume for Halloween. Since his favorite thing in the world is any type of tractor, I thought hmmm how hard could it be to make a cardboard tractor for him to wear???

Well, I still have yet to find out how difficult this project may end up being as I have accomplished zippo, save purchasing some John Deere green spray paint at Home Cheapo this weekend. Here's some inspiration:

Look at this cutie!In addition to making Charlie's costume I have to get my house Halloween ready because I am having a bunch of Charlie's toddler friends and their parents (my dear friends) over to celebrate, trick-or-treat and have a potluck dinner on All Hallow's Eve! It will be a bunch of fun, but I need to get my ducks in a row with what to make and start on my lists.

I'm one of those people, a list writer. I have lists for everyday errands, for dinner menu inspiration, for renovation projects, for everything there can be a list for. I love them and live by their tidy columns of order :o) So I'm off...to write some more lists!

Holiday Traditions

When I think of holidays I think Christmas. Christmas has always been close to my heart because I get to be around the people adore most: my beautiful family. Both of my sisters and my Mom go into cooking and baking overdrive from Thanksgiving to New Year's. We try out new recipes and bring out our tried and true ones.

The holidays have a new meaning when you have a little one. It's the best thing in the world because you get to be a kid all over again. I cannot wait to see how Charlie enjoys the magic of the season. Last year he was only 8 months old; this year it will be fun to watch the wheels turning in his little analytical mind.

Here are some shots from Charlie's first Christmas.
Helping mama wrap presents:

Clearly overwhelmed, lol!

Christmas morning

Enjoying the tree and sparkly lights

love this shot and can't wait to take another this year

And because it's pretty chilly out tonight and they are calling for flurries I thought I would add a recipe to warm you up from the inside out. There's nothing like a steamy bowl of soup and some crusty bread on a cold fall night. Enjoy!

Cream of Six Onion Soup

3/4 lb of Spanish Onions, sliced

3/4 lb of Vidalia Onions, sliced

½ lb red onions, sliced

1 lb leeks, white and pale green parts only, cleaned and sliced

1 bunch scallions, chopped

¼ lb shallots sliced

6 tbsp butter

11/2 quarts chicken stock (extra large can)

1 cup heavy cream

Salt and pepper to taste

In a large saucepan over medium heat cook all the onions in the butter until translucent, about ten minutes; do not brown. Add the chicken stock and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook until the onions are tender, about ten to fifteen minutes. Puree the soup in a food processor blender until smooth. Return to the saucepan; stir in heavy cream and season with salt and pepper. You can make this more of a substantial meal by serving with a Caesar salad and crusty French bread and butter. Makes two quarts of soup.

Now go over to lovely Miss Marie's website and see the rest of the party!

Siding Shots

the new door (trim work in progress)

Swiss cheese holes are from blown-in insulation.

I don't think I could ever be a designer because the shear number of decisions I need to make on the current reno projects are staggering. My head is ready to explode from staring at bathroom lighting for days, trying to find something stylish, low priced but quality and within our specs is a lot harder than I thought it would be. I will also say that I am blessed to be able to make these changes to the house and know everything will fall into place- at some point!

Hooked on Crystal Lighting

I'm contemplating a sparkly light fixture in the master bath. Not sure if this is a good design choice or not, but I thought it would look pretty with polished chrome fixtures, white cabinetry and gray/white carrera marble- what do you think? As a preface to the pictures, this light would be no larger than 9 in in diameter; a petite crystal light.

This is an inspiration pic, no doubt its way out of the budget at $500+

Some lower priced options:

And this one although shown in gold comes in silver too:

Are crystal light fixtures dated or a 'do'? Please go see what everyone else is hooked on today :o)

Bathroom Cabinetry

For the master (picture this cabinet in creamy white):

and Charlie/Guest Bath (in a deeper mahogany finish):


Getting closer to choosing paint colors too.
I think BM's Bleeker Beige would pop against creamy white beadbord and dark wood cabinetry in Charlie's Bath.

The master is where I am having more issues. I'd like to do a lighter version of a muted blue in the bath and then go deeper in the bedroom. Just throwing a few colors out there, haven't really settled anywhere yet. I'm looking for something that will draw out the cool tones of the carrera marble.Wedgewood Gray for the bedroom?
Paint colors are not my forte' so any suggestions are more than welcome!

Touch a Truck

was too cool for words :o)

Progress :o)

A view of the plastic 'doorway' to our bedroom, reminds me of the oxygen tents from ET.

Bathrooms with new windows and nothing else, lol.

Siding progress!

Happy Weekend :o)

Hooked on bathroom fixtures

After lots of research and many hours surfing through faucet websites, I have settled on the above lav fixture for our master bath reno. Who knew these things were so expensive?!
As we are currently updating two bathrooms I'm trying to save in every way I can without sacrificing in the quality department. The faucet above is made by Symmons, a company that offers a lifetime home owner warranty on all their products. It's offered at Home Depot.

The runner up was this lovely from Newport Brass:
Pretty but pricey at $560 especially when we need two- ouch! Then you add in the shower and tub systems is the price goes up exponentially. Hope I made the right choice, at least my wallet thinks so!

And here are Charlie's bathroom fixtures:





Now go take a look at what everyone else is hooked on today.

the reason I haven't been blogging

Current Reno projects (all happening at the same time):

Siding
Insulating
Two upstairs bathrooms
Front Door
Tree/landscaping

Ahhhh!!

Apple & Pumpkin Pickin'

We had a great day at the farm with Mima and Daddy.
The bean could not get enough of the fresh-picked apples, as you can see in the pictures below!

Birthday celebration Shots

Here's Charlie trying to make his Daddy smile.

I am so blessed to be his Mama. Charlie waking up to you (you're our alarm clock)
each morning is such a gift.

Beached...and a birthday

This past weekend we had our 4th annual Lobsterbake on one of the islands off of Norwalk. It was a ,lot of fun but the tide was unusually low and we ended up getting stuck on the island (our boat was stuck in the mud). Four hours later we made our way home way past the bean's bedtime, but we all fared ok. We also saw this crazy NASA experiment while we were warming by the bonfire.

Yesterday was Joe's fortieth and, no joke, I spent most the day prepping for his dinner. The star of the 'menu' was Lobster and Crab Ravioli, I made a few modifications to suit Joe's taste, very yummy indeed.

Tomorrow the front door should be put up, so hopefully I can snap and post some pictures of that. And maybe I can post some before's of the siding since next week it will all be torn down and carted away.

Charlie seems to be learning a new 'trick' everyday. Yesterday he started saying 'baby' and today it was 'digger.' Amazing.

Heirloom Party

I'm coming to this party a little late, but please take a look over at Marie's Heirloom Party. Here is my submission:

This is a civil war gun chest that my husband's grandfather gave to us several years ago. It is lovely and though, right now it sits practically unused, I have several ideas in mind for it. Joe is going to install lots of shelving, so we can really put every inch of space to good use. Please excuse the box in front of our heirloom ;o) it serves a temporary purpose: to keep the doors from opening up.

If the gun case does not stay permanently in our office as an adored bookcase then it may find life in our kitchen as a hutch for kitchen crockery and cookbooks. Since we are going to eventually have an all-white kitchen (ala Something's Gotta Give) I think a warm dark wood piece would really pop with the white.

In other news, we are working on getting our new front door to the right shade of deep chocolate, something between milk and dark ;o) Tomorrow is the second coat.

One design dilemma I am still grappling with is whether to stain the sidelights (panelled windows) or to paint them white. What would you do if your cedar shingle siding is a warm beige color with white trim?

White (or cream) Sidelights:
Stained Sidelights:
What do you think?
When you're finished looking through Marie's lovely website, take a look over at hooked on houses for another blog party. That's all for now, happy weekend!

The little tree hugger

and airplane lover too...

As I was looking at this last shot I focused in on the little shell of Charlie's ear.
That perfect, tiny body part reminds me of how miraculous life really is,
and how incredible our creator is.

Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well...All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. Psalm 139

Potpourri

Here's our chalkboard wall going to good use. I'm really enjoying it. Please excuse the dustiness of the board, I'm not allowed to wipe it with water for a week.

We are in full swing with house renovations right now. Current projects are, new doors (including the front),siding, and planning of the bathrooms... oh and the backyard too. I've been running all over for door knobs and locks, paint and stain. I'm also working on a big birthday surprise for my sweet husband's fortieth coming up in a week.

One quick cute story, today Charlie and I were checking out at Home Depot. I told Charlie to wave bye bye to the nice lady, instead Charlie said "Buh-bye." He also said "shirt" today for the first time, but his favorite word is still dirt- a true boy!

Chalkboard Love

A few months ago I tested out how easily the floral circa1975 wall paper would peel off the wall. Not so easy- it gripped on for dear life.

I regretted the impulsive action ever since. We won't be renovating the kitchen for another year (and that wall will be torn down in the process) so I needed a cheap, temporary fix/cover up. Enter the ever-handy chalkboard paint...

Before:

After:

I can't 'play' and draw on it for three days, but I'm looking forward to putting a chalk calendar up along with a grocery list and drawings for Charlie. Ahh, one less wall of ugly wall paper to fix my eyes on :o)

Now go visit the hooked on houses party and see what everyone else is loving this Friday.

Hooked on...Dash & Albert

I'm in love with the beachy feel to these rugs...
and the prices are very reasonable to boot!

This might be nice for our entry way:

But then, upon closer inspection of their website,
I found some beautiful wool rugs as well.I think this one might be beautiful in our bedroom:

Now go check out and see what everyone else is hooked on. Happy looong weekend :o)

My sweet, gentle boy

Do you know your Mama misses you as soon as she places you in your little bed? The moment I close your bedroom door, I look forward to seeing you again. Each day, though I didn't think it possible, my heart swells a little more with love for you.

Each morning , though it takes you a few minutes to 'warm up' just like your Daddy, you are so excited to explore your world. This week your favorite word is 'dirt'. Other favorites are hi, uh oh, mama, and light. You've taken up reading in the car (mainly books on tractors and the farm), which I find hilarious but so adorable too.

You already have mastered the art of flirtation because every time I say, "Charlie, do eyes" you bat your eyelashes and blink like an old pro. You are also learning where your ears and nose are.

Today you were in love with keys and locks and tried to twist my car keys into every cabinet knob in the kitchen (once you finished with the doors). You still love pointing at everything and directing me with your pointer finger demands, ha. You're also trying to communicate so much more with nodding yes and no.

A first for today: we played with sidewalk chalk on the driveway and you had fun drawing scribbles on the ground.

My prayer, sweet little bean, is that you will always know how much of a treasure you are to me and to the Lord.
Love, Mama

First boat outing of the season

ha, ha just in time for September...

first unofficial dip into the Long Island Sound

- the bean found it a tad too chilly for his taste

cheese doodle smile

leftovers on my chin? a cookie I stole from Daddy

Here's hoping summer will stretch out a bit longer, we have some time to make up for!

Hooked on Blue October

Ok, so this may not be house-related content for the "Hooked On party" but I rediscovered this song today and I think it is just beautiful, creative and unique. Enjoy and happy weekend :o)
...Oh and be sure to check what everyone else is hooked on.