Patriotic for the Remainder of Our Stay

The bunnies, eggs, and butterflies are put away, not to be seen again until next spring, back in Kansas. I get a bit of a break now, April, May, and June, as I won’t switch the decor again- in fact, the movers will pack it up at the end of June, leaving me a few weeks in July to explore our new home, new floorplan, and new decor ideas. “Patriotic” is the theme for the next few months, and will probably be the theme once we unpack before school starts, unless I’m ready for autumn, at which point the fall leaves and pumpkins will appear long before October!

Being a military family, red, white and blue, stars and stripes work for us no matter what:

I love this garland!

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My husband and I have been watching John Adams on HBO. The mini-series is wonderful (though not appropriate for young children), as is its broadcast timing while our country’s politics continue to make history in front of our eyes:

Buttons Bunnies and Carrots…

… on a wreath! Apparently the sugar rush experienced after my earlier Rocky Road indulgence provoked a crafting urge. Should I list it on Ebay?

It’s those felt bunnies and carrots I made a while back, along with some fabric left over from my heart wreath. Wreath form, tulle cut into strips…

But who wants to see a plain ol’ brown wreath form? I wrapped it with muslin…

…and *then* added the tulle and fabric strips!

Bunny, bunny, where to put the bunny…

Hey, buttons!

Add a strip of fabric for hanging, and…

Ta Da!

Plain. Simple. Cute.

Spring has Sprung!

All over the kitchen, apparently!

The epergne:

Soffits:

And above the sink:

Whoops, don’t forget the front door! The wreath I made last year survived the move from Kansas to Texas so it’s ready to greet visitors yet once again:

Do you decorate for spring?

Show and Share Thursday: Bunny Love

With spring just around the corner, our dark winter decor has been taken down, laundered, and packed away, and the “spring stuff” has been put up in its place. But there are a few characters, fluffy spirits, that stay up year ’round in our house, albeit in one little corner of my bedroom:

My bunnies. “Bunnies by the Bay Bunnies” to be exact. These aren’t the ones you might find in Hallmark stores around the country, these are PRE-Hallmark. I place the blame for my love of them squarely on three peoples’ shoulders: Karen, her mother Ginny, and brother David. There’s only one bunny that’s not in this photo, and it’s the one that started it all: my angel Christmas tree topper bunny that Ginny made for me when I visited Oak Harbor, WA, too many years ago. Ginny helped me choose the fabric and details for bunny’s dress, and David graciously donated his kitchen table to serve as Ginny’s workspace one afternoon. Several hours later, I had a beautiful tree topper. She’s carefully packed away with our Christmas decor, but is never far from my thoughts thanks to her relatives:

These two are dressed warmly with knit caps and long bloomers…

This one *had* to be mine after we were stationed in Kansas for two years…

These twins sit on top of my dresser, watching over my perfume bottles, crystal dish, and silver-tone dresser set…

…and this patriotic beach-goer sits in my magazine basket, next to my bed.

Yes, this thirty-eight year old woman has bunnies in her bedroom, but somehow, my collection doesn’t inspire that awful “Ewww, stuffed animals…” comment when friends see them.

And my husband hasn’t pitched them out the door. Good thing, because I know how to track them down on eBay. And will continue to do so. So there. Nyeah.

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More bunny love:

Betty Crocker Bunny Cupcakes

Check out “Fun with Max and Ruby” on Rosemary Wells’ homepage (it’s a link to the left on her page) for coloring pages and games with some of my favorite (bunny) characters created by the author of:

Here’s a very cute crochet bunny pattern at Lion Brand Yarn:

And finally, despite the cuteness factor, toy or chocolate bunnies are the best choices when it comes to deciding how to fill up your child’s Easter basket. The House Rabbit Society provides lots of helpful information that will explain the reasons why live rabbits are NOT good Easter gifts.

Simple Spring Centerpiece

This is probably the simplest dining room table centerpiece yet (at least for me!), and all it took was:

1 basket

1 pip berry wreath (light lavender, purple, and white berries)

1 length of recycled lace (this came off of the skirt of a well-loved dress)

1 bunny figurine

Could it get any cuter?

By the way, I’d love some ideas for the lace… it’s not sewn, glued, or tacked in any way (I have about three yards of it), and I’d love to be able to use it, see it, daily. Suggestions and inspiration are most appreciated- thanks!

Left You Hanging

Apologies! I showed you all of those bunnies, eggs and other spring decorations piled on top of my kitchen counter, wondered where I’d end up putting them, and then… left you hanging! A little bit today, a little bit tomorrow, how about that?

You know I enjoy vignettes:

Some of you have wondered about my blog’s new banner (those of you reading me in an RSS feed might want to take a peek just once to see the pretty photo I put up at the blog site itself), so here’s where the photographs were taken:

I hope you enjoyed the peek at my spring decor- I’ll have the simplest table centerpiece for you tomorrow, but I’ll give you one element of it now- lace salvaged from one of my “fairy tale dress up day” outfits- no longer worn…but still put to good use:

Oh yes, I’m happy that at least here at home (indoors), SPRING HAS SPRUNG!

I’m Wondering

… why husbands and children don’t close what they’ve opened. Closet doors, dresser drawers, kitchen cabinets…

… why as I get older, inconveniences come in threes: fungal nail infection, bronchitis, allergies… boom (gross), boom (cough/hack), boom (sneeze).

… which Master’s Degree Program I should look into once we are finally relocated. Curriculum and Instruction (will I get to implement something non-scripted?), School Administration (not only no but heck no), Early Childhood Education, Child Psychology, or Advanced Glitter-and-Glue Applications?

… if there’s anything better than a duckie blankie on a chilly morning during cartoon time? (Special thanks to Rissa!)

… which wreath to make next (Easter? Patriotic? Floral?)…

… how many parents of students in the Bordertown really read the school district’s “report card” info, considering it’s a document of 400+ pages. I certainly found Daughter’s school info, and knew enough to shudder at what it did and *did not* report. I haven’t heard any other parents asking things like “how, when the school’s scores have dropped two to twenty percent in writing, math and science from 2005-2006, does this school earn a rating of ‘academically acceptable’?”

…where all of these bunnies and eggs will go…

February Flowers

These will be around a bit longer than the flowers my husband is bound to get for me and our daughter- and I can take the bouquet apart and use the flowers again in the months to come for new arrangements, decor, and crafts. For now, they cheerfully greet any and all who come through our door.

Start to finish:

Decor, Broccoli, NCLB Reality, Wish List

Though there are a ton of chores on my to-do list today, I had to take a break after the sun made an appearance, filtering some much-appreciated light onto the latest decor changes:

Have I ever told you I can’t stand broccoli? *Yuck* to the nth degree, let me tell you. Until, that is…this recipe:

1 bunch of broccoli, raw (I just use the floret/crowns)

1/4 cup onion, sliced/diced

1 cup sunflower seeds

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup chopped cooked bacon

1 cup mayo (but you could easily use less)

2 tablespoons vinegar

1/4 cup sugar (or 1/8 cup Splenda, though it says it can be measured the same for the required sugar, I don’t care for the aftertaste so I cut it back a bit)

Mix all ingredients well, chill, then munch down to your heart’s content. My husband and I never have left overs when I make this salad. Ever. Quite a testament, coming from broccoli-avoiders!

The only thing lately that has made me shudder as much as most other broccoli dishes do would be the latest, thankfully, last, State of the Union Address made by President Bush. Following Thumper’s mother’s advice (”If you can’t say something nice… don’t say nothing at all.”), I’ll just provide some links to some great blogs that are pretty closely aligned to how I’m feeling:

Schools Matter: School Privatization Plan

Schools Matter: Art? Music? Cultures? NCLB?

The Elementary Educator: The Importance of Recess

NCLB In Your Face

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…and on a lighter note, my latest wished-for-items from MacKenzie-Childs: