Origami Cranes and A Depressed Baguette

First there was one.

Then a few more,

in varying sizes, and colours

 - and before we knew it,

Laura's origami cranes

were taking over our house!

Well, perhaps not the whole house,

but my part of the house.

The part where I put my teacup

twice a day to relax 

and read blogs or magazines.

So relaxing has become slightly less relaxing ...

* * *

And in case you think Laura's

the only one round here with clever fingers,

here's a sneak peek of Emily's health assignment,

a slideshow entitled 

"One Depressed Baguette".

Complete with little cut-out baguettes,

 furniture, scenery  ...

How cute is that???

* * *

So glad the craft gene was passed on to my girls ;-)

Busy August Days

Life has been busy.

Piano teaching, school assignments

church commitments,

Stampin' Up! plans and preparations,

and everyday busy-ness.

So much for my plans of painting our bedroom

or the fence this term.

But food must go on ;-)

In the last week we've enjoyed a

Pear Clafoutis

and a Carob Cake.

Both dairy-free, gluten-free and failsafe.

I'll post the recipes one of these days.

I'm enjoying the first of the freesias

and warm weather today.

And I've put some things on ebay, 

including the little Kokura Jugs above,

if you're interested.

And now it's time to run out the door 

to the next activity ...

Happy Giftgiving

Recently we celebrated two birthdays in our extended family.

Both of which involved my kind of shopping.

For my sister I found this suitcase in the Reject Shop

and filled it with baking goodies

including some caketoppers I made using Stampin Up! products.

 For Steve's sister (who loves patchwork, pink & blue and was turning 60)

I found a jelly roll in colours and patterns to suit,

(not an easy task as so many jelly rolls

feature bright modern fabrics)

and popped it in a cute box that she can use to store the fabric

once unrolled.

She was over the moon when she opened this gift and

ran around showing everyone what we had given her.

My sister had spotted the suitcases herself but hadn't bought one,

so she was happy too.

So I felt that for once everyone was happy.

And guess what?

I bought one of the suitcases for myself.

Because, unlike my sister, I couldn't resist ...

Friends & Flowers

Last Friday I enjoyed the visit of two good friends.

50% of my blog readership.

LOL

One I have known for a long time

and one who has gotten to know me through this blog.

They both brought flowers.

Violets

and jonquils.

One of them even smuggled in a baby possum!

A delicious diet-friendly lunch was 

contributed to and enjoyed by all,

and good conversation

was the order of the day.

Thrifty Thursdays

Dropping in to the op shop after bible study

on a Thursday has become a habit,

since I started shopping at a much better op shop.

The car just seems to know the way and 

even without my planning it,

there I am, turning into the carpark.

Today I found a turned wood bowl.

Rough and unpolished.

But after some sanding and oiling ...

I have a beautiful bowl to hold tools in 

for my stamping classes

(which I've just begun teaching again)

Why would someone make a bowl and not finish it?

It always makes me wonder.

Remember the quilt I put together out of 

a stack of thrifted pieced squares?

But I guess we all have unfinished projects 

that need to move on at some point.

But this bowl, like the quilt,

have become useful objects of beauty now,

which makes me happy.

And then there was a little soft crocheted rug.

Yes, I could make one myself,

but I love the colours of this one,

and you just can't have too many rugs in winter ....

... right?

I think Laura will love this rug.

The op shop has been good for games lately.

These two historical-themed games today for $2.00 and $3.00,

a few weeks ago the game Loot for just $2.00,

I'd just been tempted to buy it full-price for $22.00

so was very happy.

It's fast becoming one of our favourite games ever.

We'll try these ones on the weekend,

or on second thoughts ... perhaps after the Olympics!

This was the second week I've found some Tupperware,

including the vintage icing sugar duster.

And a pretty glass jar for just 20c.

What goodies have you found lately?

Vintage Suitcase: My Grandfather's Suitcase

When my family visited two weeks ago

my aunt noticed my stack of vintage suitcases

and said something I never expected to hear ...

"I have our father's old suitcase if you want it"

!!!

Umm ... yes ... I want it!!!

Two weeks later the suitcase is in my stack.

the perfect size to fit between my original two suitcases.

(Photo coming soon)

But this one doesn't compare to my thrifty- and market-found suitcases.

Not only is it worn, 

and full of character 

inside and out ...

... but it has my grandfather's initials.

I never met him.

He died in 1954, 

when my mother and aunt were young

and I don't think I have 

anything else that belonged to him.

So ... even though it's hard to open the catches

and I haven't decided what to keep in it yet ...

this suitcase is going to be my most valued one of all.

 * * *

(but just wait till you see my aunt's suitcase!)

One day too many

After lovely holidays ...

relaxing ...

reading ...

walks ...

outings ...

crafts ...

good food ...

togetherness ....

something SNAPPED

and today just was one day of holidays too many.

Many deep breaths were needed

to control my temper

while all sorts of activities were attempted here.

Which then causes all kinds of guilt

at my eagerness for school to begin tomorrow.

So it was good to end the day with 

soup (carrot, sweet potato, celery & lentils)

and fresh herb bread

both set to cook around 2.00pm

and bubbling and rising away

all afternoon

made our house smell delicious.