Grandmother Wren

Outside my window… cloudy, but mild. Only one sunny day promised for this week? But it will be warm and the ice cream stand just down the road will open for the season on Wednesday. We’ve made plans to visit the first day it opens – we’ll follow through with that plan even if we have to go by car. Or carry umbrellas.

I am thinking… that it’s fun to have a weekend away, but it’s also very nice to be home.

I am thankful for… one more day near the ocean.

From the learning rooms… spring crafting. We need a new spring wreath for our door.

From the kitchen… not from my kitchen but… we found the most wonderful Taco stand this weekend. I like to check the local reviews on sites like TripAdvisor to find places to eat that aren’t tourist traps. A few times this has led us to some rather funky bar and grill combos, but this time we found super Mexican food with lots of kitschy atmosphere. The owner had a collection of books and magazines to browse while waiting for your order – Fashion Mistakes of the 60’s (I’m still wearing some of this stuff. Oh, dear…) and a book of Spam Haiku. We loved it!

I am wearing… red sweater, white tee shirt, comfy jeans and bare feet

I am creating… spring dresses for the Terri Lee dolls

I am going… to the post office to get some advice on how to figure postage for the pattern books I’ll be offering for sale on my Grandmother’s Patternbook site.

I am reading… some of the craft books I picked up at the used bookstore we visited on our weekend away.

I am hoping… that the weather man is wrong and the sun will shine more than one day this week.

I am hearing… Maya talking to her toys while she plays

Around the house… it’s kitchen cleaning day.

One of my favorite things… standing by the sea.

A few plans for the rest of the week: I need to decide what I want to do with my blogging and website. I’ve stretched myself too thin – some ideas need to be consolidated, some discarded – this is supposed to be fun, not an additional source of stress!

Here are some pictures I am sharing

Read the Daybooks of more Simple Women - Click Here

Grandmother’s Dollhouse is finally functional again – the first posts to return are the vintage Barbie patterns! – Click Here and Check Back Daily!

Grandmother Wren will resume posting on Wednesday, April 1

Outside my window… sunny but very cold – temperatures in the 20’s tonight – that’s January weather, not Spring!

I am thinking… that I know exactly what Russ is going through, trying to recover his files and put his Grampy blog back together following a mistake in renovating and the resulting crash.

I am thankful for… the opportunity to nap this afternoon.

From the learning rooms… a planned trip to the nature center we discovered in a neighboring town.

From the kitchen… soup. Good, Hot soup!

I am wearing… a purple fleece top (a purchase I still question the wisdom of – purple???) and comfy jeans

I am creating… still plugging away at the new format for the my dollhouse site. It’s coming, I promise!

I am going… to the shore this weekend. Blessing!

I am reading… old, very old, cookbooks.

I am hoping… to have the spring cleaning of the bedroom done this week

I am hearing… the quiet, grim determination of my husband trying to restore the damage done to his blog. Sighing and the clicking of the keyboard…

Around the house… steady progress toward a Clean Spring

One of my favorite things… planning my container gardens, looking for ideas, visiting the garden center

A few plans for the rest of the week: lots of time outdoors

Here is picture thought I am sharing…

The first hike of Spring – even if it doesn’t look much like Spring. Notice the empy container held by a little girl hoping to find some polliwogs…

Read the Daybooks of more Simple Women – click here

Today’s post in Grandmother’s patternbook – a knit baby bunting

Today’s post in Thrifty Creativity – Sewing without a pattern – an apron/ shawl

Today’s post in Grandmother Wren’s pantry - the beginning of a series of illustrations from a very old children’s cookbook – nice graphics, there to share

It was a lovely afternoon.

Plan your own Learning Afternoon celebrating the arrival of Spring accompanied by classical music – Click on a sample lesson plan – Here

Visit my other blogs

Today’s post in Grandmother’s Patternbook – Crochet a Colorful Butterfly potholder

Today’s post in Grandmother Wren’s Pantry – a recipe for Red Flannel Hash

Today’s post on Thrifty Creativity – It’s Spring! free graphics, coloring pages, printable Easter games

I found this cute interview at My Kids Are My World and thought it would make a great TT. There are more than 13 questions, but who’s counting? Next week, we’ll try “Maya – on Daddy”.

1. What is something mom always says to you?

- She loves me

2. What makes mom happy?

- My happy smile

3. What makes mom sad?

- Being upset makes my mom sad

4. How does your mom make you laugh?

- By telling silly jokes

5. What was your mom like as a child?

- She wanted another baby like me to play with

6. How old is your mom?

- I don’t know yet

7. How tall is your mom?

- about this tall (stretching on tiptoes with her hand held high)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?

- pick up my stuffed animals when I make a mess

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?

- go to work

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?

- she should practice ballet. Practice every day and every night.

11. What is your mom really good at?

- she’s good at not breaking any dishes

12. What is you mom not very good at?

- tumbling. One day she got herself hurt.

13. What does your mom do for a job?

- work at the bank

14. What is your moms favorite food?

- every kind of food

15. What makes mom proud of you?

- picking up my toys with her

16. If your mom were a cartoon, who would she be?

- I’m Sponge Bob. She’d be Patrick.

17. What do you and your mom do together?

- play outside

18. How are you and your mom the same?

- we like to hug each other

19. How are you and your mom different?

- I have curly hair, she has blonde hair

20. How do you know your mom loves you?

- because we love each other

21. What does your mom like most about your dad?

- he always kisses me

22. Where is your moms favorite place to go?

- the playground with me

Visit Other Thursday Thirteeners – Click Here

Visit my other blogs

Today’s post in Grandmother’s Patternbook – The Thursday 13 – Knit and Crochet for Spring – Links to Free Patterns

Today’s post in Grandmother Wren’s Pantry – The Thursday 13 – It’s Spring Time in the Kitchen!

Today’s post on Thrifty Creativity - The Thursday 13 – Welcome Spring!