the sky is pink

So, things are getting expensive. Gas. Groceries. Life with six children. We just learned that our water rates are going up 9% across the county. While I've always cut coupons (if and when I get a Sunday paper), I wasn't very diligent. I only cut the coupons of the things I regularly buy. And then I'd still buy generic. However, a co-worker of Joe's is really into couponing and has been getting Joe all pumped up about it. I thought I'd show you my deals. Um. Yeah. A cardigan and shoes. I'm pretty sure that when Joe was pumped about saving money, he thought I'd actually save the money instead of turning around and spending my savings. (But I got excellent deals on both!) (Sorry for the dark photo. If it would ever stop raining here, I might have some decent sunlight. And it would help my severe vitamin-D deficiency.)

On Friday I went to the ribbon outlet . Yes, there is such a thing. The last time I went I was pregnant with Sawyer. They've changed things around in the past 4 1/2 years. They no longer sell ribbon by the (generous) yard. They only sell it by the spool now. I went in for some brown ribbon. I couldn't decide between satin and grosgrain. Then, I saw some gray (satin and grosgrain) and decided I needed some of that, too. I mean, how could I resist? Especially when I saw the prices ... $1.25 per spool. Four spools of gray (light and dark) and two spools of brown. My total bill was less than $8. And the spools are huge ! Anyone have suggestions for ribbon crafts? I'm thinking about ribbon flowers, although none of the ribbon I bought has wire. Oh, and some belts .

Keen meet Merrell . Happy feet. (My new Christmas boots.)

There's always a reason to celebrate, no? Joe and I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary last week. Except, we really didn't do anything special to celebrate. Unless, of course, you count my fixing dinner for the family and eating together. We had wanted to go out to eat, but Joe didn't get home from work early enough, so we didn't get to do anything. With Fathers Day just a few short days after our anniversary, I didn't really know what to get Joe for either. I decided to buy him a French-cuff shirt for church. After four stores, I finally found some at Boscov's . They were half-price, so I bought him two. (As hard as they were to find, I don't want to have to worry about it again for a few more years.) I didn't want to buy him cuff links until I knew I could find the shirt, but I had a pair in mind. A fun set of buffalo-head nickel cuff links from Etsy. They look giant in my hand, but they are real nickels in real nickel size. (I just ordered a ...

New pink shoes. And guess who has a matching pair ?

When I saw this bag advertised in a magazine, I fell in love. Before I even knew it was designed by Marimekko. Thankfully, the bag is inexpensive and benefits a good cause. You can get yours here . (I bought two. And my sister bought one. We aren't sure if we have enough, so you better act quickly.)

On Tuesday I went with my parents, three sisters, two brothers, one sister-in-law, five nephews, three nieces, Spenser and Sawyer to Lancaster for the day. We hit Roots first, which is an auction/flea market/farmers market all in one. It's really a place you can get lost in. Quite easily. There wasn't a lot of time to go through each vendor carefully, so I used my best Lera-radar to scan the area. Two of my most treasured finds of the day were the vintage cookbook and the cheater-cloth apron. The cookbook, Cooking by the Garden Calendar , has recipes separated by month. It truly brings home the "eating in the season thereof" theory of eating fruits, veggies, and grains in the season they are harvested. (Never mind my frozen strawberry use for the strawberry butter .) The other adorable cookbook was actually a reproduction of a vintage cookbook that was given to me by my sister, Kate. Our favorite part is this, "Have on a pretty apron, and is your hair looking...

Yesterday it felt like my birthday all over again. I stopped by my mother's house after boot shopping (see below) and my sister had dropped off a gift for me. Look at this vintagey goodness. A Pyrex cookbook from 1953 (!), a small orange juice glass, and a FireKing mug (which I already used for my chamomile tea). The book was dedicated right to me: And it was full of great recipes. I can't wait to try this creamy marshmallow frosting: Thank you, Kate. I love it all . It's the best cookbook I own. My new favorite. I received some money for my birthday a few weeks ago and decided I was going to buy myself something I normally wouldn't. The money started to dwindle away (on root beer float ingredients and school field trips), so I knew I had to act quickly. I couldn't decide what I should buy. This only happens once a year, so it's gotta be the right decision. I considered a nice pair of jeans (which I promised myself I would buy this season) and a pair of boo...

Yesterday I received the nicest package from Diane (who still remains blogless, but says she might start one next year). She is always so kind and generous. This is just one of many packages she has sent me. She asked if she could make Spenser a doll. And boy, did Diane show her dollmaking skills. Spenser adores this baby, to put it mildly. She gave her old, hand-me-down, store-bought baby (Baby Bea) to Sawyer. And she named this baby Diana . She has been everywhere with her so far. I draw the line though in the bathroom and at dinner (too many germs and/or messes). And I saw Diana in Spenser's arms this morning when she came down for breakfast. The top of her dress is dotted swiss! It's really too cute. The skirt is the last of Diane's cherry fabric stash. Diane not only sent a doll to Spenser, but an Elmo to Sawyer, who also seems to be attached to Sawyer's hip. It's not photographed because Sawyer was napping with Elmo. And because Diane is so very thoughtful,...

With all of my thrifting treasures finding their way into my home, I have a steady trickle of "new" things that are going out of the house. I've been going through our buffet and cabinets and antique glass secretary and cleaning out. Newer stuff is going to be donated. I have a box and a pile on the floor of stuff that won't fit in the box. And I'm just starting ... Here are some of the things that have recently made their way into my home. Some lovely Pyrex from my friend, Kat . Look at the lid to that aqua piece! It has a lovely gold design! And I've been needing a divided casserole. Since my kids are anti-potato , it will make roast-night dinners easier for me. Carrots on one side. Potatoes on the other. These are also from Kat. A Pyrex pie plate, a little flower teacup for Spenser, and a fruity casserole dish. I was just looking at that same pattern in the thrift store the day that Kat dropped it off at my house. It has strawberries on it! Swoon! She also ...

As soon as we unloaded the car and ate lunch on Sunday afternoon, Spenser and I headed to the garden. There were lots of tomatoes waiting for us after being away for a week. We filled her basket and she headed into the house to get something else. She came out with some of my Pyrex. I think I was calm on the outside, but on the inside I was screaming "Don't drop it!!!!" We filled a few Pyrex bowls full of cherry and Roma tomatoes. I gotta love a girl who values the beauty of Pyrex. I received the nicest surprise package yesterday from Rachael . It was a huge box filled with something for everyone. And I do mean everyone . Chocolate popping elves and eggs. Bubbles. Activities for the boredom bucket . 2010 Winter Olympic stickers and tattoos. Canadian flag muffin papers and flags. Strawberry Shortcake barrettes and lip gloss. And, the cutest, cutest, cutest color pencils ever ... Oh. My. Goodness. I don't know who is more enthralled with them. Me or Spenser. It's...

Here are a few of the wonderful goodies I've received lately: A giant bag of goodies (not all pictured) from my Canadian friends, Karyn and Dianne , on their recent visit. They brought a ton of stuff for each of my six children and for Joe as well. It was like Christmas in July. Part of the loot included a Canadian flag magnet, two tablecloths (look at that sweet red one with doilies!), a thread-catcher for my sewing area, a set of Karyn's beautiful cards , homemade soap (strawberry and peppermint-pumice), a soapmaking book and an amigurumi book. Note to self: must perfect crochet skills soon to make butterflies! Too cute! Then I received a bag of ribbons and trims from Brenda . Brenda recently started a blog of her own and mainly sews for her adorable grandchildren (her blog is even named after them). She has been sewing for many years and I think we can all learn a lot from her. Thank you, Brenda! This will keep me busy for awhile. And the last of my goodies making...

I had a few minutes to run into the thrift store earlier in the week. Because they no longer carry sheets, I decided to look in housewares. My new first stop. I found two vintage Pyrex bowls. One solid harvest gold Cinderella mixing bowl and an Autumn Harvest mixing bowl (which is in near perfect condition). I don't usually look in the book section, because I am too overwhelmed there and, frankly, there are usually no real treasures. I found a Goosebumps book, which I don't think we have; a Martha Stewart Christmas book; and this vintage sewing book: How to Make Clothes that Fit and Flatter. Once I learn the mystery of fitting and flattering clothes, I'll let you know. So, Lera, what is that lovely striped fabric below? That, my friends, is a sheet. I know. Imagine my surprise as I was circling housewares I noticed a few pillowcases and sheets. What? Could it be true? Could they be carrying sheets again? After all of my lamenting , was it just in vain? The answer i...

I haven't been crafting much. With school out ... And six kids home (five are boys ) ... And I'm still partially recovering from surgery last week ... And Joe's out of town ... There's not a lot of time or energy. This is not an apron that I made, but one that we received in the mail from Cindy . She emailed me last week and said she had a little something for Spenser that she wanted to send. It was addressed directly to Spenser and, boy, did the children think that was cool. The boys stood around to watch Spenser open the package. Cindy also kindly sent me the vintage fabric underneath the apron. I have ideas for that swirling around in my head already ... Thank you, Cindy, you made our day! Last night when we came home from Pack Meeting, the lightning bugs were all over the place. The boys immediately started to chase after them. Usually I'm ready to go in and get baths and showers started for the boys and get them ready for bed. Last night I decided to let them r...

Thank you for your kind wishes yesterday . Each one touched my heart. I am home and recuperating. Everything went well. I am loopy from my narcotics, but I feel no pain. Joe planned to surprise me with a bracelet for our anniversary and told the nurses he wanted to put it on my wrist after surgery for when I woke up in recovery. Unfortunately, as soon as they removed the oxygen from my nose and started to move the bed, I woke up. His plans were thwarted. The nurses came up with a new solution. They gave him a teddy bear and put the bracelet on the bear. He is so good to me. I picked a winner. So I had two new lovely bracelets to wear for my anniversary.

Summer is in full swing here. It's crazy. And hot. And hectic. And busy. Here are a few things that have been keeping us busy. Snacking on blanched green beans. Yum. (Plain or with salt or with lemon juice or with basil mayonnaise or with ranch dressing. Can't. Get. Enough.) Making homemade peanut butter with the kids. The shelling of the peanuts was the most fun, unless you asked Taylor. We I sang Found a Peanut at the top of our my lungs until we I got stuck after "ate it anyway." I remember the story line, just not how the words fit into the song. Little hands shelling nuts and little hands eating nuts. Jammin' to the kids songs on my ipod. Walking on pavers as Daddy works. Loving vintage Pyrex given to me by a friend from church . Thanks, Kat!

Last week I had the privilege of receiving a sweet package from Miss Chris . It included an adorable embroidered cherry flour sack towel (already in use), some vintage strawberry eyelet, and a cute bunny tag with some red vintage buttons attached. I am thinking the strawberry eyelet would make the cutest bloomers for Spenser. I need to get right on that. (Thanks, again, Chris.) I also popped into the two local thrift stores as I waited for a prescription to be filled. I found the above sheets (love the yellows and oranges), about a yard of vintage printed dotted swiss (that looked like it was trying to be a curtain), a striped pillowcase, the crib sheet that I used on Sawyer's outfit , and the piece de resistance ... a set of four vintage sandwich plates.