the Chair of Many Colors

I finally brought it home. Finally. 

I had my eye on this old, paint splattered stool for, gosh, at least a year, maybe more. It was for sale in a local antiques mall, and I would faithfully visit it every time I stopped by. I couldn't figure out why I was so drawn to it. Other than the fact that I love old wood. And a lot of color. Splattered. 

Perhaps it was the turquoise paint... I finally realized this stool reminded me of my father. I'm not even sure why. I've thought and thought. I have a vague recollection of a turquoise bird house he built with my brother when I was very young. He didn't do things like that often. He had a workshop, had some tools, but my father was mainly a businessman. Strange, that an old battered stool with globs of paint would remind me of him. 
I am happy with the recollection though, and the connection. I do think it must be the turquoise paint, and all the splatters. I am very content with this stool reminding me of my father. He's been gone 13 years now. He was already in his fifties when I was born. I will be without him a long time in my life. It gives me unexpected and welcomed comfort to look at this stool and remember him. 

But I so nearly missed it, came so close to never having the chance to bring it home. The thought makes me shudder.

I wandered into the antiques mall just before New Year's, when to my dismay, the place was nearly empty. They were closing - it was their very last day! NO! I ran to where the stool had always been, only to find an empty corner. I was heartbroken. I had had so many chances. 

I inquired where the owner of the stool might be, and was stunned to find her out front loading her truck. The old stool? With all the paint? Please, where is it? It was already in storage... but she would be happy to bring it back for me - and sell it at a discount. Bless her! 

So that is how I finally brought my father's stool home. It must have been meant to be. 

Someone else decided they wanted a chance to be photographed also.

And when that cranky client left, this one decided she wanted a turn.

I'm ready for my close-up. Hellooooo!

Okay, I admit it. I had to have a turn as well :) What a great stool.

Weekend Update, Fairy Dust, and Magazine Day

Good morning! My high school/junior high kids went back to school today, and as much as I love them, and as much as we had an awesome Christmas break... I am thrilled and delighted to have the house to myself for a whole 6 hours. 

The magazines above? Those are my textbooks today. And you can tell by the covers I'm a month late reading them! I tried oh-so-many times over the break to sit down and read, but loud music, video games blasting, brawling boys, screaming guitars, kids in and out, and Christmas busyness kept me from them time and time again. I was all set to post a completely different post today - in fact, I have several terrific posts photographed and ready - but I decided to switch gears and get to those shiny pages of inspiration ASAP!

See the Mouse? See all his army gear? And the huge airsoft gun that I can hardly pick up? And the ax peeking out from behind him? And the gigantic pile of wood next to him? Well, my weekend update begins with my 13-year-old modeling the airsoft vest he saved up for AND the pile of wood that he himself chopped with that very ax.
Yes, you heard me right - the Mouse chopped that ENTIRE pile of wood, from huge logs, all on his own, with that ax. Seriously. Himself. Solo. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that. And we have enjoyed several lovely fires in the fireplace, thanks to him. Wow...
Now, I realize this is not the greatest picture, but I had to at least take a "before" so when all my roses start blooming I can remember the humble beginnings from whence they came. I already had 5 rose bushes, which I cut back when our pretend winter weather showed up for a week. The Mouse and I planted 7 more to fill everything in, and my husband helped me pour some much-needed new soil into the planter. You'd never know I had a 2 day migraine over the weekend.
And here is a project my husband and the Mouse are overwhelmingly proud of. They kept at it until we can now fit both cars in the garage. We have always been cars-go-in-the-garage people, but in moving several times and finding ourselves in a much smaller space really pulled the rug out from under us. And drove my husband insane. So the task is finally accomplished, and it only took 4 years. 
One final note - and a very exciting one! My lovely and talented friend from high school, Kim (White) Nelson, is having one of her adorable products featured today in Seattle's Daily Candy web magazine! She is the inventor and force behind Sprinkles of Magic "sprinkle dust", bringing a dose of simple, old-fashioned fun to our young ones and the young at heart. If you click on Seattle's Daily Candy you can check it all out, and if you click HERE you can read the entire write-up for Sweet Dreams Dust. Congrats Kim!

Well there you have it. I'm already late for a date with my magazines so I'm outta here :)

Banana Bread Goodness

As the holidays were winding down, I got up early the morning the Red Power Ranger had to fly back to school. I had been wanting to try this recipe not only because it sounded so good, but it makes two large loaves, so I could send one with the RPR. It sounded like a good idea at the time. 
Banana bread. Such a loyal, no-fail friend, you know? This recipe came from the talented, beloved-by-all Alicia Paulson of Posey Gets Cozy. It's her version of Nigella Lawson's recipe. Thanks Alicia, for the go-ahead to post it here - you're the best :)

Alicia's Version of Nigella's Banana Bread
Makes 2 (9" x 5") loaves

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat pastry flour
1 T. + 1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 t. cinnamon
1 c. unsalted butter, melted
1 c. sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
5 medium bananas, mashed
2 t. vanilla extract
(and no nuts! hah!)

 

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium-sized bowl and combine well. In a stand mixer (I just mixed mine by hand - and the world actually kept turning), mix the melted butter and sugar and beat until blended. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the mashed bananas and vanilla extract. Stir in the flour mixture until just mixed. Pour into 2 greased and floured 9" x 5" loaf pans and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour. A toothpick should come out "cleanish," as Nigella says.
Mine were done at exactly 50 minutes, and I let them cool for as long as my family could stand it before they were brandishing a sharp bread knife. I barely got these photos taken!
Banana bread was soon being sliced by one and all, and disappearing at an alarming speed. The RPR never did get his loaf to take back to college with him, because both loaves were literally inhaled before we left for the airport. INHALED! But admittedly, a good time was had by all :) 
Now, what I'd really like to know, is if any of you out there have a delectable PUMPKIN bread recipe - my favorite! Oh be still my heart!

More Etsy Love

I am such an Etsy lover! And lately I've been finding some way cool handmade things! Very possibly too many way cool things! Yikes! I mean YAY! Look at this purse! LOOK at it!

I am about the pickiest purse girl ever. I'll spare you the details, I'll just say that I'm forever in search of the perfect purse. According to all my specifications. I actually gasped out loud when I saw this purse! Daphne makes them and you can find her Etsy store HERE.

Now, look at this ball! Are you kidding me with how adorable it is!?! It's common knowledge I'm obsessed with orbs. My vintage croquet balls are my all time faves, but I love spheres of every kind. I don't even know why. I just do. And I can if I want to.

These play balls are made by Heather at the Polka Dot Tot Spot, which you can find on Etsy HERE. They're about 5" with a tiny jingle bell inside. I purchased several and they are going to look fabu in my big glass jars. When I'm done playing with them.

Lastly, here are a few pics from a store I just found - I love these pudgy drawings! Look at Flight Training and Above the Clouds. TOO CUTE! Oh, Etsy... why must you torment me so!

the Walker Family You Tube video debut...

We wanted to do something fun and a bit off beat (how us of us) while the Red Power Ranger was home for Christmas. Since our lives pretty much revolve around music, and since the RPR is an editing genius, this video is the result of a lot of fun. The song "Machu Pichu" was written by my husband, and it's on his CD "Primrose Gardens". As we go about our (somewhat) normal activities, he pops in and out - his presence unbeknownst to us - singing and playing his guitar. 

Yes, the RPR does play the drums. Yes, the Mouse really does play the bass guitar. Yes, I am usually sitting on my fat arse with my computer. And yes, the Complex Middle Child really does play an awesome solo on his guitar (hard to hear on You Tube... bummer). There are also typical Walker things to watch for: my diet Coke glass, my dog Angel winking, my husband's Mini in the driveway, the sunflower on my blog scrolling by... just some fun things like that. So... enjoy!

P.S. if the vid won't play on my blog... click on THIS LINK.

I Heart This Boy

So we said goodbye to the Red Power Ranger on Saturday, as it was time for him to fly back to college and start yet another semester. We have all been a bit melancholy since he's been gone. We even played games last night and though we had fun, it just isn't the same when he's not here to be his jovial self and beat up his brothers. 

I am the mother of an adult child. No matter how I try to wrap my head around that, I can't seem to make it sink in. Maybe someday it will. It better, because I have two more boys rapidly headed for adulthood no matter what I do to thwart them. 

All kidding aside, I really wouldn't want it any other way. I love who my boys are. And I love the men they are becoming. I am so proud of the Red Power Ranger. He takes butt-kicking classes but manages to maintain a scholarship. He's determined to make the world a better place by focusing on education in third world countries. And he does it while working part time at a job where he has quite a bit of responsibility. How could I not be proud of such a great person? I know that he will, indeed, make this world a better place. 

Happy New Year 2009 ~ I Wish You Peace

I wish you peace when the cold wind blows

warm by the fire's glow

I wish you comfort in the lonely times

arms to hold you when you ache inside

I wish you hope when things are going bad

kind words when times are sad

I wish you shelter from the raging wind

cooling waters at the fever's end

I wish you peace when times are hard

a light to guide you in the dark

and when storms are high and your dreams are low

I wish you the strength to let love grow

I wish you the strength to let love glow.

~ the Eagles

P.S. They're way cool - and 50% off at the Sundance Catalog - I've had my eye on them for years, oh yeah :)