For the Moms

New Reads

source: alicebaby.tumblr.com

This spring, several of my favorite authors are releasing new books.

Charlaine Harris releases the final installment in the Sookie Stackhouse Southern Vampire series, Dead Ever After, tomorrow, May 7, 2013.  This book is coming to our local library and I'm number four on the wait list so I've still got some waiting to do, but I'm really looking forward to discovering what becomes of my beloved Sookie.  In the meantime, I'm beginning her Harper Connelly series which is available at our library.  I just finished Grave Sight and have book two on hold.

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Next up, Mary Kay Andrews is releasing Ladies Night.  I always enjoy her reads.  I've currently been reading her Callahan Garrity Mystery series.  I'm just starting, To Live & Die in Dixie which is book number two in the series.  I like going to look at authors' past works to fill in the time until their next release.

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Michael Lee West has released the follow up to Acquainted With the Night under the pen name Piper Maitland.  This book is titled Hunting Daylight. 

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I think she may also have a third installment on her Teeny Templeton series released this spring, but am not entirely sure about when.  I'll enjoy reading that, too, and if you haven't meet Teeny Templeton, you should.  The first book in the series is, Gone With a Handsomer Man, followed by A Teeny Bit of Trouble.

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Are you building a summer reading list?  If so, what's on it?

Playhouse Updates

The playhouse, not complete, but getting close, has brought a lot of smiles to our girl.  In this photo she is enjoying the table we'd just set in place.  We have finishing touches to complete, still, and I've been picking up fun little things to decorate her space, things that will stand up to outdoor weather.  It's proved to be somewhat of a more difficult task than I'd imagined.  For example, I can't find a plastic flamingo anywhere around town and we live in a coastal community!  I did find a metal art yard stake flamingo at the Hobby Lobby and it will have to suffice...

It doesn't look terrible, but I'd imagined a little line of plastic flamingos marching across the front of the house.  The flowers helped add some whimsy.

Here's a bit more of the décor.  I found the seahorse hooks at a local antique store and finagled them down to $2 a piece.  I painted them purple and think they add nicely to the beachy vibe we've got going on.  The oven mitt came from the Dollar Store for, you guessed it, one dollar.  The Mason jar was on hand as was the bit of twine and the crocheted trimming.  I wove the twine through the crochet and tied it onto the lattice.  I'm thinking of adding a few more of these in various spots to use as silk flower vases.  This one is being used to hold her utensils.

Her Memaw clued us in on these chairs found at Wal-Mart for $5 bucks.  The daisy bench, I'd bought long ago, was rusted so I touched it up with some white pray paint.  I'm thinking to spray it another color so that it stands out against the white lattice.  The little melamine plates were found at the same antique store as the sea horse hooks.  The doily and centerpiece were things stuffed in a closet.   I was glad to pull them out and find use for them.  The table cover is nothing but a plastic Dollar Store shower curtain.  I need to trim it down, for sure, but it's serving its purpose for the time being.

 

I've got just a few more things left to do and I'll post a completed picture soon.  The girls and I have thoroughly enjoyed sitting in the house for lunches and sessions of blowing bubbles.  We've been stuck indoors with a stomach virus and it's not finished having its way with us so any entertainment has been welcome.

Even having certain feathered visitors...

 

 

 

A Play House for Our Daughter

Recently, I shared a post with many charming playhouse pictures.  We'd wanted to build our youngest a playhouse for her birthday, but I was skeptical that we could complete it in time.  Well, hubs had the weekend off this past week so we set to work.  Here are pics of our progress.

Hubs started out with the frame for the floor.

Yours truly secured the floor.  Hey, I love power tools. ;)

Teeny Tiny was pretty skeptical, too, up to this point, but came around right about the time there was a floor for her to climb up on.  She still wasn't a fan of the noise from the tools and took off running anytime one sounded.

At this point, Husby has been working on the roof and I'm slapping on some primer before the roof goes on.

Big Sissy paid me a visit once some shade was established.

Lattice board went up for walls.  For our South Texas heat, we opted for something that would let a lot of breeze through.

Lattice was trimmed for the "porch" of the project which will set in about two feet.  We will show distinction between the porch and playhouse with curtains dividing the spaces.  I've still got to work on that as well as paint on Bebe's requested colors, "pink and purple and blue."  I haven't exactly figured out where color will go and quite like the "white house," but will figure it all out this coming weekend, just in time for her party.  Pictures of a finished and decorated project to follow. 

Until then, have a wonderful week.

The Whaley House in San Diego

As promised, I wanted to post about the Whaley House, claimed as "one of the most haunted houses in America."

Prior to the house being built, the lot was used as an area to conduct hangings.  Mr. Whaley didn't care a thing about that because he bought the lot and built the Whaley House, anyway.  It was used for many different purposes throughout the years, and it didn't always look like this, but it is a beautiful structure used for house tours, now.

Of course, I loved the "haint blue" on the front porch.

The grounds around the house were beautiful, green and flowering and shaded by massive, old trees, none of which would have been there back in the house's hay day.  Other period buildings have been brought in for preservation from around the area.  It adds an old-timey quality to the space even though it's not entirely authentic.

Here is an adult sized sippy-cup.  I kid, but was tickled because I'd never heard of moustache cups.  Apparently the bridge across the top of the cup was to protect men's moustaches, common trend of the period, from getting doused in the beverage.  This cup was part of the Whaley's china set.  I'll be on the lookout for this type of cup when I visit antique stores from now on.

This is a picture of the dining room.  Since there was no electric lighting, at that time, the wall paper served a purpose beyond looking decorative on the walls.  The gold inlay reflects the candlelight so that it appears more lit up than it actually is.  Pretty clever.

It was in this space that my oldest daughter felt a tingling sensation in her fingers and hand.  She said the feeling was reminiscent of the prickly feeling you get when your hand falls asleep, but it dissipated as quickly as it set on only lasting for about thirty seconds.  She said it was as if someone was gripping her hand.  There are reports of the ghost of a two-year old relative of the Whaley's that passed away at the house after discovering and consuming some toxic substance.  Could be she had a little visitor.

 

Although I didn't experience anything in the house, I did come home with this eerie picture.  This is a picture of one of the bedrooms in the Whaley House.  Do you notice the slight outline of a woman to the left of the bed?

 

Pretty creepy, huh?  Unfortunately I can debunk any ghastly apparitions appearing in this photo.  See, the rooms have plexi-glass over each entry way so you can't actually enter them.  Here, I caught the reflection of a fellow tour-taker in the plexi-glass.  I turned around to see who was behind me just to be sure because the face appeared in my preview on my camera, too.  Still, it's fun photo to fool my friends with. ; )

 

Despite my lack of "ghostly" encounters, I love touring old homes so it was a win for me.  I'd recommend visiting the Whaley House if you're in Old Town, San Diego.  It was affordable and a lot of fun.

 

Our First Family Vacation

We recently took our first family trip with our youngest.  We were reluctant to put a toddler on a plane, not wanting to be "those parents" whose kiddo had melt downs on the plane or at the airport.  Flying is stressful enough as it is, I get it. Flight delays, cancelations, crowds, and those that just plain have a fear of flying all add to a tension riddled environment.  Thankfully, both girls behaved wonderfully.  Teeny Tiny was so excited to fly that I think everyone sitting near her was tickled to hear her expressions of joy as we took off and landed.  We had an I-Pad for entertainment when she got bored.  Big Sissy napped mostly which was good because we had three packed days of sight-seeing beautiful San Diego, California.

Our first stop was the San Diego Zoo. 

 There were just too many great shots of animals to share.  We had a blast.

Next stop was Sea World in San Diego.  I was reluctant to go seeing as how we have one two hours away from where we live, but I'm glad we did.  It was a great visit and I think the girls' favorite part of the trip.

Here, Teeny Tiny is in Daddy's lap and just a tad distracted by the whale that slid up behind her.

We were in awe of all the sea life...

and Seasame Street friends,

even though we got a little bashful when it came time to make introductions. ;)

Old Town was a neat area to visit and everywhere we looked were beautiful plants

We visited the infamously haunted Whaley House, too.  I'll share pictures of that house tour in another post.  It was a gripping experience. (hint, hint)

 

Until then, I hope you're having a great week and finding ways to enjoy your loved ones.

 

 

 

I Was Born a Ramblin' Man

 

Well, woman.  Folks, I am a ramblin' fool, apparently, when it comes to interviews.  Today was my third interview, not with the same school mind you, and I feel like a goon.  I ramble.  A lot.  My inner voice is saying, "Get to the point, already!" 

It's nerves, I guess, but I wish I could get this under wraps because I know it's hampering me.  The trouble is, I have great responses in mind, they just fly out the window instead of my mouth when it comes time to answer.


 Gahhhhhhh!  I really want this job.  Send a hope and a prayer to this fool.

Muah,

The Kitchen Witch