A Closer Look at Ottoman

Rather Grimm

I spotted a vintage cloth-bound copy of Grimm's Fairy Tales recently at a shop, but didn't have any money on me. I've always wanted a copy of the book, and a cloth-bound vintage edition was quite a find...and less money than new to boot. Then when my parents were visiting, we went back to the shop and I was so worried that the book wouldn't be there...and it wasn't. At least, it wasn't in the same place. After searching the shop for it for a few minutes, I found it. It was meant to be.

The book is a 1944 edition with both black-and-white an color illustrations (which I think are in a rather unusual style). If you aren't familiar with the book, Grimm's Fairy Tales was written by two German brothers in the early 1800s from verbal stories (when stories were told in the evenings) many of which you are probably familiar: Hansel and Gretel, Cinderella, Little Red-Cap (aka Little Red Riding Hood), Rapunzel...the list goes on. I took a representative sample of images from the book (rather randomly) and I may post some from the more familiar stories soon.

I've been slowly reading the stories when I have time...and they are rather grim. Maybe stories I'll save for Boo when he's a little older...not only because they are dark, but because the language is rather old and I think he'll get more out of it in a few years.

I hope you aren't wilting in the heat...I have to admit I am. It's days like these when I must admit I'm a shade violet.

Evidence of a Birthday Party

Boo recently had a birthday. There was planning, of course, and I wanted to make sure we brought everything since the party location wasn't around the corner in case we forgot anything. All was well...until we were there and the festivities started...and I realized I forgot my camera. Live in the moment, it was.

When I got home, I decided to document the occasion with leftovers from the party. I probably would have cleverly thought of more things to photograph, but I was SO tired.

1. Boo wanted a pinata for his birthday and specifically a green and yellow star. You know what that means...I made it. I thought that since the ages of kids at the birthday ranged a bit, I didn't want all the big kids getting the loot from the pinata while the younger ones couldn't get in there. So, I decided to fill the pinata with wild bird seed...and no mess and non-biodegradables that cannot be picked up (ex. glitter...as pretty as it is).

2. After the pinata, we did a treasure hunt (instead of goodie bags) with numbered clues to get to the treasure. I did this at the very last minute because I didn't know where I was going to hide each clue. This was a tricky task since I didn't want to hide the clues so well that the kids couldn't find them...and I didn't want them to be so obvious that the kids would see them before the hunt. The treasure hunt worked, but the kids did find one clue ahead of time and skipped one due to it being hidden a little too well.

3. The back of one of the clues. I decided to make them rhyme (since I'm a little neurotic that way) and underlined the words/numbers that rhymed to make the clues easier to read aloud. The kids made it so quickly through this treasure hunt that the adults had a difficult time keeping up with them...they read the clue then ran to the next. The goodies were a Silly Putty for each kid (they are actually still made in the US - crazy...and why I bought them). The Silly Putty packages have a little hanger for how they are displayed in the store, so I just tucked them in some low-branched trees hanging on thin branches. Perfect.

4. Birthday candles

5. Leftover birthday cupcakes. Boo wanted a rather elaborate cake. To be exact: 3 layers, green cake with chocolate chips, green frosting...vanilla flavored. I started to run out of time (I HAVE to make the cake from scratch as well as the frosting...neurotic I tell you.), and Boo started saying things like "mint-flavored." I required the compromise of cupcakes (no possibility of cake cracking and sliding frosting on the drive in the heat) and sprinkles (all-natural...a total score) instead of green and minty. I used this recipe...a total hit (subbing the sprinkles atop for the chocolate chips in the frosting).

On another note, I'm sure you've noticed I haven't posted in awhile. Not because I haven't wanted to, but it's a combination of family visits, busy-ness, exhaustion (is it the heat?), and simply seizing the summer while it's not raining! Well, it did rain a couple of days this week...so truly, we are seizing it while we can.

I hope to be back soon! I hope you're seizing the summer as well.

Local Lately

We've been getting produce from the farmers' market and local farms lately. I love eating fruit and veggies that are in season. It's been said before, but it's so true - kids do eat more fruits and veggies when they know where they came from. Yesterday, Boo and I sat outside eating shelling peas from the pod after picking them up from a farm.

1. Beet-stained hands: I roasted beets from a local farm (No, Boo didn't partake in the beets.)

2. Huevos Rancheros: 2 fried eggs from the same local farm

3. Rainier Cherries: from the farmers' market

I'm enjoying the fresh produce (and trying to enjoy the heat) while it's here!

Happy 4th!