Little Things

My family unexpectedly suffered a loss last week. While I've been muddling through the shock and sadness, it's been nice to have these little things to appreciate. Some of them came to me last week, and some are just the happy product of the world continuing to roll around through space.

This was my Grandma's garlic keeper, and the "Dial a Pick" toothpick holder I remember being in Grandma and Grandpa's kitchen when I was a kid. I'd forgotten about the garlic keeper until last week, and was really happy to see it. I think it's pretty funny, and I like to think my Grandma did, too.

Here's the back:

This is the dish my Grandpa would always have peanut brittle in. It sat on the desk in their living room, waiting for the odd sweet tooth to get curious and take a peak.

Here's one of the first tight curls of rhubarb starting to unfurl through last year's dried leaves. It's a strange, sort of alien looking thing, but the first vibrant sign of spring to brave the chilliness.

A blown open crocus. It's so amazing how those delicate little things can manage through the cold nights, isn't it?

Ah, the surest sign of spring. Short of making bread or maybe folding sheets, there's no work as honest and mind cleaning as breaking up the garden and getting it ready to go another year. That hoe is my parents ( I "borrowed" it a while ago), and the handle is nice and worn. It's nice to keep using old thing like that, I think. It's reassuring, ya know?

It's heeerrre!

Well, after finding out that it had actually been waiting for pickup for over a month, my wedding dress is finally in my possession! It's so nice to know it's hanging there in the closet, and it's not going to go anywhere without me in it. In fact, I have plans to make the most of this dress, and wear it around a little - when T's not home of course. I just think I'd like to a.) get a little practice wearing something fancy again, and b.) get a little more than a few hours wear out of it. So, hopefully the gas meter reader won't come to the door, or I might have some awkward explaining to do.

In other news, I finally feel like I'm caught up and "back" from my last NJ visit. I had a whirlwind of a time at work last week, due to a library staff plague, and I had a busy weekend, gallery hopping, working and well, not cleaning the bathroom. So, now here I am, simmering up some amazing smelling chicken stock (I'm trying herb de provence this time!) and letting some bread raise. Aaaaahhhh. And since the sun set just an hour ago, I don't feel like I'm living in Siberia. Life is incredibly good right now, right?

As a parting photo, I caught one cute kid displaying about 5 of the 6 Ready to Read skills! (You can't hear it, but she's "reading" Green Eggs and Ham to herself.) I miss this little lady and her sis big time!