Found It! (sort of)

Found this reprint of the original Boxcar Children at the B&N on Sunday. I've been searching EBay and second-hand shops for years for a copy, but haven't yet found one in decent condition for a decent price. This will do for now. These are some of my favorite illustrations of all time.
I loved these kids so much - especially Violet who carried a workbag full of sewing stuff. --cds

Another Sunday, Another Mall

Despite the fact that I have become a devoted on-line shopper and am on a first-name-basis with our UPS guy (Tony), we were forced to seek out the giant shopping village at Winter Gardens yesterday in order to visit a Barnes and Noble. The Lakeland store closed in March and I've yet to find a funky bookshop or decent used-book store. I so miss the college-town shops. My current hometown has whole streets devoted to medical supply stores and pharmacies (I know, I know, I brought this on myself). Anyway, I was able to pick up the chapter-books I was seeking for Bella who is reading like mad - it is heartening to talk books over the phone with a 7-year old.
My only other purchase was backing-fabric for this quilt. This top has been finished for a while, but as it is king-sized, the task of actually quilting it is daunting. I'm going to have to do some mad hand-basting in order to even handle the thing. It's very jungle-ly, but I was hooked on batiks at the time. Time to stitch. --cds

July Doldrums

So I must be a little bored when I find myself taking a picture of my new Ikea juice glasses. But these are making me ridiculously happy at the moment. We strolled around the giant Ikea in Orlando on Sunday, as well as the very upscale Mall at Millenia. The Mall is located at the same exit off I-4 as The Holy Land Experience. Hmmm, Mall or Holy Land Experience.... Apologies to my former buds in the RS Department at SMC, but Bloomingdale's won out. --cds

Where Is Luke Skywalker When We Need Him?

Apparently Jabba the Hut is alive and well and living on my patio. This gigantic, disgusting slug was sliming his way across the bricks this morning with my zinnias in his sights, I could tell.

No longer, tho. I couldn't imagine squishing a slug of this size, so I scooped it up and tossed it in the field across the street. Hopefully, he became a tasty breakfast for some lucky egret. Ugh. --cds

Happy 4th of July

We drove up to Mt. Dora yesterday, northwest of Orlando, because I had heard there were some cute shops (not really) and antique malls (one, medium-sized) - I picked up two cheap Nancy Drews and a couple Wodehouse in paperback, 2 for $1. No quilt shops, no bookshops, no donut stores - I was underwhelmed with Mt. Dora. However, we did arrive in time for the parade. Lots of vintage vehicles, politicians, and fire trucks, but NO bands and NO majorettes! People just don't know how to put on a decent parade anymore. It's all about the candy throwing and political handouts.
Nice cars, though, huh?

Now, you know how I hate to judge other people (let me pause and wait for the lightening strike...), but oh my, there happened to be many motorcycle club couples in attendance. Here is a cute couple:
Now for the back view. This is not a tatt, thank goodness, but a shirt with a sheer mesh back with the design painted on. Oh, there were spikey-toed and -heeled boots over the stretch slacks also, but I couldn't capture that in the photo. And then there was this gentleman.
Now, don't you think when your husband says "Honey, I think I'll wear that little white hat to go with my white fringed sleeveless club shirt," you might just want to give the guy's outfit the once-over. Oh, my goodness. --cds