We Have Puppies!!!

Adeline, Roo, Annie (the sinking fluffball) and Arizona ZoZO are our first litter of foster puppies! They're going like hotfire - already everyone but Annie is spoken for. They are all adorable! Puppies are easy fosters too, especially these. They entertain themselves, sleep a lot, and only require us to go down to feed and clean them every few hours. And to play with them of course... Hard work that!

Lady Bird Johnson

CollegePlus!

{calling cards maybe? image from darknoises }

Dear friends,

I haven't sat down and told you how much of a blessing CollegePlus! has been. In the four (!!?) months since we started, I've been able to earn 21 college credits and am only 2 1/2 CLEPs away from finishing freshman year. Working with my coach has been a wonderful experience...the set up there has been great for me, since I'm sort of a self-starter who needs one-on-one attention to keep going. It is a real blessing to be able to do this at home, where I can still be with my family.  It's college, just home-style. :)

If it's something that you've been considering, I'd encourage you to enroll soon. (Before September 30th would be lovely because I might win a MacBook then. That would mean more blog posts and comments for all - and every one likes that, right? ;D)

Please do use this Code: 5134

Red Dress and Silver Slippers

{Portrait of Grace Coolidge}

I wonder what sort of dog that is?

A Look I Love

{Redbook}

{Rutherford B. Hayes and his bride Lucy on their wedding day}

  March  16, 1853.-On the 14th, Rutherford and I had our daguerreotypes taken. No difficulty in getting pictures to suit us. The large one is for ourselves, that as old age draws on we might see what we once were. Rutherford has that expression I love to see. 'Tis a mixed one, love, happiness, and a tinge of pride - enough to give a noble, manly air. And he seems to have just said, "This is my wife." How dearly I will prize this pic- ture. It will always bring sweet memories. And whatever shall be our lot, may he retain that look. It is a speaking one, but I cannot tell all it shows. To me the greatest and best expression is only love. I am pleased with mine. It has rather a meek, subdued air, clinging to its only support,-remove that and it will droop.  -From the Hayes journals. 

Falling Early

Way back in December, I promised my big sister Rachel a Clemson-orange hat. She looks so cute in hats! 

The pattern: Foliage from Knitty's archives.

The yarn: Lamb's Pride Worsted, Orange You Glad

It took me three fun days to knit - my first attempt at circular needles. EarthHeart Designs saved me there, with their handy tip to make the circle smaller with a double-pointed needle. First I had to uncurl grandma's long curly plastic needles. Running them through hot water water was not enough for these...maybe they were too old and stiff. A quick swish in just boiled water and then a run of cold tap water did the trick. Yay!

As usual, the pattern threw me a little and I had to bluff for part of it. The resulting hat is a little large even on my big head, so I hope it fits RayRay! It's *awfully* comfortable to wear though and if she doesn't want it, I do! I heart orange. :)

What have you been up to?

Bags are Essential

Custom Amy Butler bag giveaway @ Grosgrain!

Masking Tape is my new best friend - and it comes in colors!!

I can think of about 3 dozen different things (at least!) that I'd do with this HappyTape.

Country Living used it to dress up a lampshade with stripes.

I love this little card garland from the HappyTape blog!

What would you do?

Ruling Passions

Once upon a time...there was a charming little quiz in a gardening book. (I don't remember which one, alas.) After making a  list of 21 favorite plants/uses/accessories, you played them against each other in 'survival of the fittest' until only one remained. 

These are the "Ruling Passions" for my dream garden:

{Ruling Use: A quiet place to drink tea and think.}

{Ruling Sensory Pleasure: Something to taste at every bend.}

{Ruling Emotion: A place to inspire.}

{Ruling Accoutrement: A garden gate that clicks or squeaks.}

{Ruling Plant Category: Herbs.}

{Ruling Plant: Old-fashioned climbing roses.}

www.gardenrooms.typepad.com

http://www.flickr.com/photos/june-oka/129224213/

Carnation Lily Lily Rose - John Singer Sargent

http://www.flickr.com/photos/medicalvegetable/3791404288/in/pool-herbs

http://www.flickr.com/photos/liquidskyarts/163210529/

Pirate

Another puppy dog portrait. This is Pirate, a very handsome and dapper chap. He's at least a little Blue Heeler (Australian Cattle Dog) - he's on the small side. His fosters all adore him, but come this month, he'll be going to a forever home of his very own!! It was very tempting to slap a King-of-the-Pirate's crown on him in Photoshop. I resisted.

Happy August!