Books, Dandelions and Wild Violets

"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket." Chinese Proverb

Last Saturday Scott, Chelsea, Gabby and I piled into the car and headed for Peoria to shop at our favorite Christian bookstore. Sadly, due to the decline in our economy, this bookstore that has existed for all of my memory, is now closing its doors.

Although it's hard to see it go, we did enjoy a shopping spree we wouldn't have been able to afford without the fabulous discounted prices. Everything in the store was down to 90% off the original price. Can you believe it?!!! All music CD's were either 5o cents or $1.00.

We spent a blissful two hours there where I immersed myself in as many books as possible before they either threw us out or Scott dragged me to the car.

I am of the same mind as the late Groucho Marx who said, "I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book."

Remember ~ I gave birth to and raised a librarian {Hilary}!

Gabby is also an avid book lover already and behaved remarkably well for a two year old with lots of energy spending such a span of time in a bookstore.

We came away with a total of 17 books { 2 of which were childrens books that Miss Gabby chose herself}, 2 CD's, and 9 greeting cards. Our grand total, tax included, BEFORE the discount would have been: $263.50. Never in my life have I been able to spend that amount of money at one time on books!

Grand total we spent AFTER the discount: $25.65 ~ PAID IN CASH!!!

That's the price that ONE of the books I chose would have been without anything else!

So~ here's my stash............... {Oh, the darling oversized teacup with flowers was a gift from Hilary.}

"Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book."

Author Unknown

Here's a picture of Phoebe enjoying her story time courtesy of Gabby in the kitchen floor. Notice she's "reading" from a Webster's book of quotations ~ NOT one of her new books! But I don't think Phoebe minded the lack of pretty pictures too much.

After story time, Gabby escaped {and I mean literally~ I have to keep the back storm door locked all of the time} to the backyard for her other favorite pastime of flower picking.

We should all be like little children ~escaping out the back door to laugh and dance in the sunshine and green grass amidst the dandelions and wild violets!

And remembering to settle into the life of a good book as often as possible.

Where Has April Gone?

I cannot believe April is nearly over with and I haven't done any blogging since the first few days of the month!!! It's been a whirlwind of a time around here lately. Gabby turned two on April 5th, then she got a new "big girl bed", and then there was Easter!

So... I do have a few selected pictures to show you.

This first one is of a Grammy and BaPa who couldn't be more in love with this little one {and each other as far as that goes!!!:)}

We, of course, had a birthday bash with all the family here. Gabby got a new bike from Pappy {that's my dad} and some sunglasses that she loves to wear indoors and out!

I had to include this picture of my youngest nephew, Brendan, so you would all think Jimmy Hendricks is still alive and well! { I mean ... why not?... if Elvis is still alive, why not Jimmy?} He's wearing Gabby's glasses and Chelsea's belt.

Also, just so you know all of the household dogs are still naughty as ever, this is a picture of Sophie scavenging for any cake crumbs on the table after I had cleared it and wiped it off. She may be a dog, but she still has the female sugar loving gene!

Gabby is now sleeping in her "big girl" bed upstairs where it belongs. When my dad first brought it over in his truck though, we parked it in the front room where she jumped right in and started dictating which movie she wanted put in the DVD player! We knew we better get that sucker upstairs before this became her version of a "man in a recliner with a couple of remotes"!!!

My dad always hides Easter eggs in my backyard for all the grandkids {YES~ my grown up daughters still run around searching frantically, giggling all the while, in hunt of their specific color of eggs!} After they were done Gabby had her own hunt {with a little help from Mommy and Aunt Hilary}.

In the midst of all these other activities, we're still working on the whole potty training thing. Some days are good and then some days .... WELL... let's just say Gabby is OFFICIALLY two years old and lavishly invokes her right to use the word "NO!!!" as often as she deems necessary. {Notice there is no toilet paper on the holder. I have to remove it, and the box of Kleenex from the back of the toilet, every time the princess takes her seat on the throne, or it ALL ends up in the toilet the second I turn my back!}

As for me, LIFE IS GOOD! I'm still knitting and crocheting up a storm {mostly for other people} and teaching my Monday night class at the coffee shop with its mixture of knitters and crocheters, plus a crochet class at my house on Tuesday nights. I love teaching so much that I'm actually getting ready to go through the program to get my teaching certification for both knitting and crocheting.

Oh! I do have to leave you with a couple more pictures so you can see I did manage to whip up something for Gabby over the weekend.

I've missed you all so very much! It feels good to be back again.
Happy knitting, crocheting, tea~sipping, or whatever else you are all into these days!

Though I've been taking a break from my computer lately, you have all been on my mind, in my heart and in my prayers. Thanks to those of you who have e-mailed or called me recently just to make sure I'm still amongst the living! May you all be blessed!

Missing You All

Just a quick little post to let everyone in the Land of Blog know I'm still kickin'!

Life has been a bit hectic here this week. We thought Gabby had the stomach flu, but found out, after a trip to the doc, she has her first ever ear infection. She has been one sick little girl. Mommy, Bapa, and I have taken shifts day and night of holding her while she sleeps here and there. There's been fever, lots of tears, sporatic sleep, and very little appetite.

It's so hard to watch them be so sick!:{

I've tried to keep up some with all of your blogs but have fallen behind and am missing all the action of your daily lives. You know what it's like to have a sick little one, everything else fades to the background.

I did leave home on Monday night for 2 hours to teach my knitting/crochet class. Gabby was safe and happy in her BaPa's care. But, other than that, Grammy and Gabby have stuck close together.

I hope you are all enjoying the many blessings of life and the approaching Spring. I'll be back in full swing in a few days {pictures and all, hopefully!}, but just wanted to give an explanation of why I've been MIA!

Missing you all,

Danette

You know me, I have the hardest time making a post without a picture. So here's a picture of my mother reading to Gabby a week or so ago.

Well~ TaTa For Now!

My Fair Little Lady

Gabby is trying to phase out napping. The only problem is around early evening she usually becomes "Crabby Gabby"! Sometimes it's all we can do to keep her awake until bedtime. If we let her fall asleep too early she wakes up in the middle of the night wanting to be up for the day. Needless to say, that's rather unappealing to the rest of us!

When her mommy leaves for an evening of school or work I have strict orders to not let the Little Miss fall asleep. As you can see, sometimes that's just a whole lot easier said than done!!!

I was in ~ shall we say ~ the Ladies room ~ for about 1 minute and she climbed up on my bed and went out like a light.

I've tried and tried {along with BaPa's help} to wake the little sleeping one, but still she slumbers on. Scott is just taking pizza out of the oven, so I'll try again. I'm hoping it works. If not, well.....

SORRY MOMMY ~ I TRIED!

A Smile On My Face

My dear friend Amy showed up at my door today with this lovely bunch of delicate little tulips.

Hearing a knock on my door, but not expecting anyone, I opened it and there she stood. She stepped in, thrust them at me, hugged me & away she went! What a breath of fresh air ~ the tulips AND the friend!

Thanks Amy!

The pretty square coffee pitcher was a Christmas gift I bought myself {I know ~ rather naughty!... but it WAS on sale... HONEST!} Don't you just love it?! Now you KNOW I had to HAVE it.

The cute little ducks, which Gabby sat and played with off & on all day, were another gift to self a few years ago. I found them in a hospital gift shop. I guess really the idea is to purchase something for the patient, but since I was there that day for a mammogram {or something utterly pleasant~I don't REALLY remember exactly what}, I decided I was the patient and, therefore, must have a little something! So, they found their way home with me. That was before there was a Gabby and now I am especially glad I bought them because she loves them so much.

Phoebe is another thing she loves so much. The two of them are partners in crime who keep this Grammy on her toes all day long. But they're so darn CUTE together that they get away with pretty much anything. No matter how long the day has been, their antics and Gabby's giggles send me off to bed with a smile on my face and a thankful heart!