Around here: a little work, a little play

May is a busy month.  We are busy doing lots of different things:

Watering flowers and watching them grow.

Picking flowers. Okay, technically I think these are weeds, but Jacob and the neighbor boy think they are flowers, and they picked them for me, so flowers they are.  As I was snapping a few pics, Jacob told his friend: "I'm gonna get a lot for Mama."  So sweet. 

I picked up some new papers at ephemera recently.  They have some awesome new stuff.  I've already used all of these and they are wonderful.  I was pretty happy to find my favorite green velvet-flocked paper on the rack at ephemera, which means I can buy it locally at one of my favorite shops.  Incidentally, I just delivered a bunch of my journals to ephemera yesterday, as inventory was low.  Always a pleasure doing business with Arin and Karen.  Stop in and say hi next time you're in the East Village.  You will find their delightful, wonderful shop at 505 E. Locust. 

I work at home.  And so does Jacob.  The other morning he put on his hard hat and grabbed his tools, and he was ready to go.  Apparently when you're three, you can also work in your underwear. 

Last week Jacob and I took a little road trip to Iowa Falls.  A while back, I'd told him all about the swinging bridge, and of course, he didn't forget about it.  So we went.  And we had a great time.  First we stopped in Alden at a sweet park right on the Iowa River, the same one my grandpa and I used to go to.  They had some great new play equipment, but I was happy to see that the old swings that I used to swing on were still there.  Grandpa and I drove the five miles just to go to that park because there were often ducks on the river bank and those swings have long chains so I could go really high. 

In Iowa Falls, our first stop was the swinging bridge.  I remember going across it before they fixed it up and reinforced it--it was really pretty creaky and I was truly scared that it would break and I'd end up in the river.  Now, of course, it is safe to walk on, but I still felt a tiny bit nervous, I have to admit.  Not Jacob.  He marched right across that bridge as if he did it every day.  We hit two more parks in Iowa Falls, took a walk uptown and checked out what's new and what's the same (the Princess Cafe is now the Princess Grill & Pizzeria; the Red Rooster cafe is still open--thank goodness!) and then we went to Union Cemetery to decorate the graves of my great-grandmother and her siblings.  And of course, we had to stop for milkshakes before heading home.  All in all, a great day.  May is a great month for road trips, I think.  And just for playing, in general. 

Today is the third day of May

A special day, to me, for a few reasons.  It's my awesome friend Kate's birthday (Happy Birthday to you!) and it's also what I like to think of as my parents' un-anniversary.  Thirty-nine years ago today my mom and dad got married:

from left to right: my mom's parents, Louie & Aurelia, Mom & Dad, my dad's parents, Bessie & Bud. 
May 3, 1973.  Note how no one in this photo is smiling.  Love it. 

They had a small ceremony just a few blocks away from where we live now, at the Park Avenue Christian Church right here in Des Moines.  Then, ten years later, they got divorced.  But if they hadn't made the terrible decision to get married, I wouldn't be here, now would I?  I say terrible decision simply because my parents are about as opposite as two people can get.  Which is probably why I'm a bit crazy myself! 

Also, it's a new month, so that means a new calendar page:

Papers are from Stampington & Co., vintage measuring tape, and yellow flower trim that I can't remember the brand.

I am a little behind here, as I don't have a photo of Jacob on this yet....but we're headed to the park in a bit, so I will snap one this afternoon and stick it on. 

This week Jacob and I also started planting some flowers.  This year I'm trying out some new ones, including lilies:

These were on sale for a dollar each at the Hy-Vee garden tent, so I figured what the hell.  Gardening is a lot like gambling for me.  I spend a bunch of money without guaranteed results.  But it's sure fun digging in the dirt and seeing if I can manage not to kill a bunch of flowers.  I did okay last year, so I'm hoping I can keep most of what I bought alive! 

I've also been busy working on just a few more things for Market Day this Saturday:

Like a batch of Nancy Notebooks, since I managed to pick up quite a few old Nancy Drews at the book sale.  Jacob has also been busy being creative:

Man, does he love using the paint roller.  He really gets into it.  I mean, really gets into it.  It's fun to watch him go. 

All in all, a good start to what's probably my favorite month of the year.  May is busy.  There's always a lot going on.  Lots to celebrate.  Hope you have a fabulous month.  If you're in Des Moines this Saturday, come down to Market Day and say hello!  It's also the opening day of the Farmers' Market, which is always lots of fun. 

Happy April!

April started out wonderfully: our thermometer showed a high temperature of 88 degrees yesterday! We spent most of it outside, playing, washing vehicles the old-fashioned way, and finished off the day with a nice long bike ride.  It was Jacob's first time riding on the bike trail at Gray's Lake here in Des Moines and he did great.  As for me, it was much more fun to ride with him than to push him up hills and then chase him down hills. 

I was gone all day Saturday at Sycamore Craft Market in Iowa City (had a great time, and thanks to Jody & Jason for creating and hosting this event!) so yesterday I put together our April calendar layout in record time by grabbing a few supplies from my stash and sticking it all together. 

Once again, I used one of Jacob's many paintings for the background.  He's a very prolific "paint artist."  The measuring-tape trim on the bottom is by Webster's Pages, the "play" ticket is Tim Holtz idea-ology, and the "Grow" bingo card is from Jenni Bowlin Studios a couple years back.  I've had the flowers in my collection so long that I have no idea what brand they are.  I stuck it all together and got the page done.  Easy peasy. 

I wanted to include a picture of Jacob and the tulips in the yard, because he was so excited when they bloomed last week.  I can't take any credit for the tulips; they came with our house when we moved here almost five years ago.  The fact that I didn't plant them is probably why they continue to bloom every year. 
We are so enjoying this early spring that we've got.  I wanted our April calendar to be bright and colorful as well, just like the tulips. 
Now we're off on another bike ride.  Enjoy your day!

Books & Begonias

This is what's blooming around our house right now: new handmade spiral books and begonias in the backyard.  Love, love, love summertime! 

Mud and Flowers

I was very happy to pick up a vintage washtub this weekend at the Valley Junction Antique Jamboree; yesterday I got some flowers planted in it.  Maybe I should have waited though, because having a washtub available might have come in handy after Jacob accidentally took a dive into the huge mud puddle in our yard, courtesy of yesterday's torrential downpour. 

How cute is he covered in mud?  Pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.  He handled the situation well:  "Mommy, please help me.  Get me out of this mud puddle."  Apparently he enjoys splashing in puddles but not diving into them; but his little bicycle got stuck and he went face-first over the handlebars.  I haven't laughed so hard in a long time.