Story of Imaginations

I've been 'reminded' into posting a new entry in Dodo's House (I won't mention any names, Margaret;) Things have been happening. Happy things and not so happy. I will focus on the happy. We have had lots of visits from the grandkids, including the newest one from Australia that arrived this week. It's been a blessing to see them all together and interact with them. One of the things they like to do most when they come here is sit on Dodo's bed and watch cartoons. They can do this for hours! Well after saying no, not today (Dodo actually said no?!!?), we went outside to see what we could do instead. I wanted to make a fort with them out of a bunch of cardboard boxes that I had saved. We didn't get very far on that but we did let our imaginations bloom a bit.

Caution: Imaginations at work

We had some interesting cardboard vehicles and a wonderfully creative 'Ipod' complete with earphones that I failed to take a picture of!

Sheldon and I found a little world in the grass

We found little critters going about their business.

Where are they going?

Are they afraid of us?-

Why did Heavenly Father make spiders?

It was a great day at Dodo's House!

And then we got a visit from THIS little cutie! Welcome to Dodo's House Mr. Jacksen Lamar Smith, 6 months old and cute as a button!

And Dodo's house was a happy house indeed!

Story of a Jump or Pardon my absence

No. This is not why I haven't been posting lately. This is why I won't be posting from May 9th - 24th. It's a very long story. I will be glad when this upcoming absence has up and comed! No my previous absence has to do with a lot of emergency things - taxes (by myself), a rental house that flooded, Anxiety attacks related to the two previous things, handling everything around here like a single mom (no thank you. I don't want that job!), keeping my business going (not stressful at least!), massive yard work when the sun unexpectedly shines, preparing for my son and his wife and new baby boy to visit with us for the summer (Spring cleaning anyone?) and getting ready to spend 2 weeks in Hawaii. That last one is a happy incedental. Mr. Bill insisted that I buy a ticket. I mean really insisted and he did have to twist my arm because I have felt like I was chained to the problems/events at home. But he sweet talked me into it. He's been over there working already for 2 weeks with 4 of our sons(tough gig I know but someone has to do it). So yeah, he sweet talked me. So now I'm on a crash diet, mega work outs, hair appointment, beach preparedness (any girl who plans to wear a bathing suit in public knows what this entails, and it HURTS) and a zillion other things that pop into my mind at all hours of the day and night. But I think what I'm learning right now is that sometimes you just have to jump. The opportunities that present themselves may not ever come around again. Certainly when you get to my age, you realize that life is getting shorter than ever! So I jumped for it. We shall return with memories and a few pictures that will never show the true size of the experience. Kauaii calls me and I am answering!

Story of A wreath and taxes

So I was supposed to come home and get everything ready for our tax preparer. It was top priority.

Instead...well that's another story.

So today in the middle of getting stuff together like a good girl, I had this thought, "I don't have a spring wreath on my door!", thinking of the family coming over tomorrow for an easter egg hunt. Well I couldn't find last years grapevine, purple hydrangea one. So... I got a little sidetracked...

I had a bunch of these straw wreaths. All from the Goodwill when blue was 1/2 price.

Thought I'd try wrapping the wreath with fabric. This cream colored gauze looked good.

I have a few odds and ends of various crocheted doilies, hankies and napkins. They would look cute on there somewhere.

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I had these doorknob plates kinda here and there. Staying with the 'door' theme...

Old keys. Great idea! It's going on a door so makes sense, right? Keys, doors. Whatever...

Some brass hammered tacks might come in handy.......

Pearl end corsage pins that I've had forever! That will make it easy...

Old ribbon with just the right colors from PicNSave before it turned into Big Lots...

Pink roses. Since I had a pale green doily, a beige doily and a pink edged hanky to turn into something on this wreath, a pink rose would be perfect...

Had this roll of beige tulle from the Dollar Tree from my son's wedding a couple years ago. I'm sure I can work that in...

So I pinned the green doily to the bottom of the wreath. I tucked 2 pieces of a broken doorplate salvaged from Mr. Bill's High School before it was torn down. I loved the ornate design! But what to do with broken pieces??? Hmmmm...They look perfect here as 'leaves' around my 'roses'.

An old hook I've been wanting to use on something...

More odds and ends

And the final product...TA DA!

This was the other doorknob plate. I used it first but switched it to the chippier one.

Now anyone coming to my house is gonna know 2 things...1) Spring has arrived at Dodo's House
2) Dodo is in trouble for not getting her taxes finished.

Someone get me some chocolate, will ya?
Oh and this is what I had for lunch..