~tiny sweater for Sweetest, little guy~

~tiny sweater, that I knitted for my sister, Bronwyn's sweet baby boy, Dominic.~ He was born on Dec. 30, 2010~ 3 weeks early.~ 4lbs.7oz.~ I can tell you, it is very hard to find preemie clothes~ I was amazed, I went from store to store & managed to find only 3 outfits.~Then I decided I needed to knit a sweet little sweater for Dom.~I had to make up my own pattern, but it came together pretty quickly.~

~My beautiful sister Bronwyn & her precious little, baby boy~ 2 weeks old here.~Look how beautiful they are.~

~Bronwyn is in her quiet baby world~her days & nights are all about baby Dom~I am in awe of her.~She went in for her regular check-up last year & walked out 9 weeks pregnant !~ She turned 44 in Nov.~ Dominic is her 4th. child~ Bronwyn's last baby Ella, is 12.~~~~ Isn't she beautiful ?~~~& Baby Dom is just the sweetest little fellow~ so many expressions.~I love listening to her talk to him.~

~Christmas~

~Merry Christmas !~
~We are having a sweet Christmas here in Virginia.~It was a white Christmas~snow~so, beautiful !~
~I want very much to show you the doll that was made by Cathy @ ~Snugglebug Blessings~ for me for our doll swap, hosted by Zan @ Vagabond Creations~~~
Isn't she beautiful?~I love her so much !~Thank you Cathy~

~Here is the doll that I made for Cathy~ I love doll swaps !~
Merry Christmas to you all !~
~amy~

~Halloween~

~Halloween at my house.~
We had Rowan as "Alice" & Hannah as the "Cheshire Cat"~ & the Rowan's sweet, little bunny as the "sweet little bunny".~ :)

~Where'd it Go?~

~Something happened to my "background color & design" here on my bloggy.~ It used to be a very pretty blue, kinda linen look.~ And, it just disappeared one day.~I have cautiously tried to get it back, by messing w/ the design elements.~But, I'm afraid I will mess up the whole thing.~Guess, I'm going to message Annette @ Huckleberry Arts, she did such a great job, making my bloggy look pretty.~
~Does anyone know of a "quick fix"?~
OoO~amy~

~Fall~

~Love this time of year~ Time to decorate~ Open windows~ You don't need the AC on or the heat, it is just perfect, better than perfect, refreshing.~
~This little ghosty was made last Halloween for the Monster Swap~ Can't believe I never posted a picture of him.~Oh wait, yes I can~ :)

~the Ocean !~

~We are here !~ Surf City, N.C. !~ We arrived yesterday, we will be here all week in our oceanfront cottage.~ It is so beautiful here.~ We are going to relax & enjoy this beautiful beach.~
~It has been so long since we have had a family vacation.~We are so happy.~
~Wish, Gabriel could come, he had to stay home~work~ bummer~ but, I am going to try & put together a "mini vacation" when we get back.~
~amy~

~Ms. Aaloka~

~This beautiful flower was given to me by Ms. Aaloka.~ It is a "Tube Rose" & it smells so wonderful!~ Aaloka is her first name & she is from Bangladesh. We worked together for about a year in the "after school day-care, at Our Lady of Lourdes School".~It was a perfect part-time job for me at the time.~We were took care of the pre-K & kindergartners. She was Ms. Aaloke & I was Ms. Amy, to the little peoples.~
~So, I call her Ms. Aaloka, Aaloka, means "lustrous".~ And, Ms. Aaloka really is, she lights up when you see her.~She is more than likely in her mid, maybe late 60's, but it is hard to tell, by the way she looks & acts.~Her manner is kind,loving & very happy.~The two of us, just loved each other & would talk & talk.~
~Anyway, our job was to love & care for those "little, tiny bits" when they were done with school.~From 3 till 5:30.~
~At the end of the school year, Ms. Aaloka started bringing these flowers in, from her garden~ some for Ms. Kathy ~who was our wonderful "boss-lady"& some for me.~What a gift !~She told me, "put them on your table & when you wake up in the morning your house is going to smell so wonderful!"~I fell in love!~Amazing smell!~
~I had to quit working there this past Dec., I was painting a lot of sets~& that was a good thing, but, bad, because I had to leave the after care program & my sweet friends & "little stinkers".
~So, this Spring~who do you think I got a call from?~ Ms. Aaloka~Funny because, I answered the phone:"hello"~ the very sweet Indian voice on the end said,: "Amy!~Who do you think this is?"~in my mind I was (smiling) & saying, "ummm this is hard, lol!"~ Out loud, I said: "Ms. Aaloka!"~(she doesn't use the phone very often, I know this, because, she told me so. :)
~Her answer was the sweetest :"YES!"~ you ever herd.~
~We talked a little, then she said:" Remember I told you, I would give those flowers?"~
~me~"Yes"~ Her: "I have some for you!"~
You have to know how happy she sounded, my heart felt so happy too.~
We planted them in the front yard, near our porch.~
~So, I now have my own Tube Roses~ & they are blooming right now.~ I'm not sure, but, I guess they bloom all summer.~Because, Ms. Aaloka's bloomed in the Spring.~We had no blosomes when we planted them & I didn't think they would bloom till next year.~
~I was just sitting outside & their beautiful smell was just now, relaxing me & making me feel so happy.~
~Thank You Ms. Aaloka~<3~
~amy~

~I want to write my name in the sand with my toes again !~ This "little" family needs to have a vacation.~We all have been working real hard & we need to be refreshed.~ I have taken the kids on little day trips to the river & "here & there's".~But, we need a real get away.~ It has been 3 years since our last family vacation.~
~Well, with any luck after these last projects are complete, the Sullivan's will load up the"Sulevan", (that is what my license plates read) & get away to breath the ocean air.~
~amy~

~To Pick or Not to Pick~

~"That is the Question !"~
~After driving my son to work very early this morning, I stepped out of my car, to a wonderful smell.~ I followed my nose across my yard to these gorgeous irises, that opened a day ago. They are a beigey , green color, very old fashion in style, very ruffled petals.~The blossoms were so heavy that they were leaning almost to the ground.~I planted them 2 years ago, wish I knew what they were called.~ Then I walked over to my peony's, another wonderful smell.~"Hmmmm, to pick or not to pick?" ~We always pick the magnolia blossoms & put them in a bowl, sweet lemony smell.~Poor Iris broke while I was trying to take her picture.~So, into the bowl.~
~I think the answer is BOTH.~~~~Well, I am painting sets tonight,"Peter Pan"~ so I need to put my "paint clothes" on~ I wouldn't want to get paint on my favorite overalls.~ LOL~
~This weekend is going to be full to the brim.~amy~

~Slowly~

~Cinderella Set~

~Rowan, all dressed for the "Fairy Tale Ball, last weekend~"Sound of Music" theme.~
~My oldest son Gabriel w/ Vicky~at the ball~"aren't they sweet?~
~Slowly~
I haven't been here in forever.~Time just keeps getting away from me.~
And, when I come by & think I need to leave a post~ I just freeze. What will I write?~I can talk about, painting sets or homeschooling Rowan or how hard this past February & March were, with the passing of my sweet Mother-in-law, Delma & how much I miss her.~
But, I say nothing.
~So, I'm going to "Slowly" come back to my bloggy.~ I have just started painting on a new set~"Peter Pan" !~ I have been working in my yard & learning how to teach my little girl, who is dyslexic.~I am also dyslexic, you just learn differently, you are smart, you just see things in ways others do not.~Well, it has been a journey, but I must say, I am glad that I am taking it with Rowan.~
~Here are a few pictures, taken over the past few months.~<3~"SLOWLY"~

~Revamp My Heart~

~Oh Goodness !~ For really !~
~We have had some snow here in Richmond Va., yes we have !~ All the snow that we have been wishing for these past, many years.~But, we have gotten it all at once or twice, maybe three times, it's becoming a blur.~ The little snowman tells the story, Rowan made him & with each snow, he just gets better & better looking.~Wish I could say the same for me. ~LOL~Actually, I love snow and everything that comes with it~snowmen , sledding , the thrill of going to the grocery store, with all the other "goof-balls".~
~But, the reality check is painful.~Shows have to go up, so sets need to be painted & we are behind.~ And, oh how hard is it to get into work mode when there are so many gaps in what you neeeed to focus on.~ That's me right now.~
~But, today I took a moment to "Revamp My Heart"~ the wooden Valentine heart that I have been hanging on my door for about 10 years, needed some revamping.~I had Philip cut it out for me & I painted & decorated it.~ I should have taken a before picture, but trust me the gold leaves & berry's were pretty sad looking.It was a kinda Baroque look.~Now, my heart has a new look, pretty !~
~amy~

~2o10~

~Wow, it is 2o10 !~
~I am eating my black-eyed peas & turnip greens, as I write this.~I am lucky because, I really do enjoy both. I woke this morning & remembered to say "Rabbit, Rabbit", even before I got out of bed.If you say "Rabbit, Rabbit" on the 1st. of every new month, it is supposed to bring you luck for that month.~So, peas, greens & Rabbit~ that should do it ~right ?~
~I come by superstitions honestly, being 1st. generation Scotch*Irish !~But, rest assure that I am not putting the future in the luck of rabbits or peas.~ No, no~ working hard at what I love & praying that our Lord will bless my work.~Much better, yes ?~And, I feel this is going to be a very good year !~

~So, eat your peas & greens, then take some time to ask that the coming year will be "WOnderuSe"!~(i made up that word)

~"HAPPY NEW YEAR !"~

~SNOW~

~"While visions of sugarplums dance in their heads"~
Last week my 15 year old, Hannah, came dashing down the stairs~"Mom where's the camera?"~
"Come up stairs, you have to see this"~ it was very early morning, still dark outside & this what all the fuss was about.~ Hannah was all, "She's so cute when she's sleeping."~"Look at her little hands."~& our kitty "Sprite" all cuddled up with Rowan.~ "Ahhhh, so sweet"~ sorry, it came out so dark, but, I took it over to picnic.com to try & brighten it up some & then started having fun with all the goodies they have to enhance pictures.~cute, right?~(just wish it was brighter)
~AND~we had a very Magical weekend. Look at my front door ! Snow !~that's right beautiful magical snow, Richmond Virginia was just soooo excited, we haven't had a snow like this in years, years I tell you !~It was a huge celebration of WoW! Everyone was calling, Facebooking, running to the grocery store, you have to "run" to the store, it's in the "Snow Book of Rules"~ I think we got about a foot of more.~
~I hope everyone is having a truly lovely & blessed Christmas !~
~ooo~amy~

~Oh Christmas Tree~

~See my "Snow Babies"?~well, really they belong to my children~I gave them, each one for their 1st. Christmas~but, until they get "all" grown up & have their own trees...now that I'm thinking about it, quite a lot of these ornaments belong to them.~o~o~But, that is the spirit & fun of putting up the tree~remembering when...~O~I can remember when "Snow Babies" were kinda hard to find.~
~This paper Angle has been my tree topper, ever since I had my very 1st. Christmas Tree~way back in 1983, when I was in college.~A few years back I started adding the star.~I think they look so pretty together.~

~This jolly elf is one of my favorite ornaments~he is decorating my little chandelier this year.~
~ AND~ last ,but not least~~~This darling "little elf" arrived in the mail on Saturday.~He was my gift from the "Littlest Elf Swap" , hosted by the lovely Vivian.~He was created by the very talented Fran, at "Dolls Are My Canvas Within My Soul"~ He is so cute & sits on the tiniest bench~ I think I am going to find a spot for him, on the Christmas Tree~"Thank you Fran !~"~
~I can't post pics. of my elf to Fran yet~ I don't think he has arrived in Las Vegas yet !~That's right !~my littlest elf is going to Vegas !~lucky little guy!~

~ooo~amy~

~It is Time~

~When you just threw away a" beaUtiful" head of cauliflower~& you see that you own, not one but~2 heads of cabbage~& worst of all you let a red pepper & an eggplant go bad !~ Well, something is not right, in my little world.~Cleaning out your fridge can tell you alot about yourself. And, I don't look very good.~Oh boy~not good.~
~I am way out of balance !~I love cooking!~ Curried Cauliflower recipe will be in this post.~
Such a pretty cauliflower, gone !~
~I have just been running in to many directions.~ It does not work well with me. Things fall apart, when I juggle to much.I am thinking on it.~

~Creamed Curried Cauliflower~
1 sm./med. head of Cauliflower
2Tbsp. butter
2Tbsp. flour
3/4 tsp. salt
2 cups milk
scant 1/2 tsp. curry powder

preheat oven to 400~
Cook cauliflower in salted water~till barely done.Drain~
(lemon juice will keep it "whiter"~while boiling~but not necessary~)
Butter a casserole dish~mine is 11x8 oval~
Brake up the cauliflower (mouth size)
~Sauce~
~in a sauce pan over mid-high heat, melt butter
add flour to butter & whisk, till you have a rue~
add milk then, keep wisking till you have
a creamy thickness~
take of the heat & add curry~

~cauliflower in your buttered casserole~
~pour your sauce over~
~I often top with bread crumbs & dot w/ butter~
~Bake 15 min. or till bubbly~
~Very Good~

~amy~:0)