Halloween Tag Swap

One craft project the ladies in my family enjoy is having a tag swap. These usually involve some of my sisters, my mom and a sister in law. Having a tag swap gives us a chance to do a small manageable art project, and  it’s a fun way to stay connected to those that live far away. We don’t use the tags on gifts, just to decorate around the house.

We decide on a holiday or theme, give people a chance to join, and then set a target date for mailing the tag.

These are the tags for our Halloween 2013 tag swap. I made the one on the top left. Each of us made six tags. we keep one of our own and mail out the others to the other participants.

Aren’t they cute?

-Lynnae

July in New Orleans

While we were in New Orleans for a second wedding reception for Nicholas and my daughter Hillary we went out and about to show my husband some of the town like I had seen in June, except there was one big difference….The Rain!

It wasn’t pouring on the night of their reception, which was the most important thing. But the rain on the other days did make it tough to see the town. Our host’s Nick’s family brought a big umbrella, though no one bothered to use it except me. I still ended up pretty soaked because water was everywhere, but it did enable me to take some pictures without ruining my camera.

After a very rainy so-far summer in Seattle we were looking forward to sweltering in a Louisiana steam bath for a while. But it rained, we toured, and made the most of it. And I still loved it! I want to go back.

We went to the wax museum, where my husband was determined to get a picture that looked like he was patting a bathing Napoleon Bonaparte  on the head as he negotiated the Louisiana Purchase (not pictured).

We had a fun time being shown around by Nicholas’ family while the newlyweds were having time to themselves.

My husband and I and our two younger daughters at Jackson Square in the rain.

Then we decided to dodge the rain and drop into house of blues for lunch. The restaurant was SO cold, and we were soaked, so we decided to eat out on the covered patio. I loved the funky decorating, and the patio was the cutest part. Bring on my Po-Boy!

 

 

 

After the day on the town it was time to head back to our host’s house for family, swimming, and, yes, more food!

Thanks for reading my post.

And, OK, OK, I know you really wanted to see this………

-Lynnae

Jealous of Colin Firth

One day on facebook my friend said she’d had a rough day and just wanted to settle down with some chocolate and Colin Firth. From there we started wishing you could buy a box of chocolate Darcys- something I think would be a big hit.

Then my husband disappeared into the den for a while and after a bit showed my this picture he’d made……. I think somebody is feeling a little jealous!

Don’t worry dear. I love you and all your awesomeness and NOT Colin Firth. Now if there was a real Mr. Darcy, then you might have a problem.

Or if there was a real box of chocolate Darcys.

-Lynnae

Love Stories for Valentines

Karen Valentine is having a blog party on Valentines day where you can link up and tell your own love stories. Doesn’t that sound sweet and fun?

Go to My Desert Cottage and grab the button for your sidebar to spread the word. Then prepare your own story, and on Valentines day you can link to the blog and tell all about your special someone.

-Lynnae

Leavenworth, Washington

Last week my daughter’s middle school choir took a trip out to Leavenworth, Washington. It’s a old fashioned Bavarian themed town a few hours away, nestled in an Alp like setting in the Cascade mountains.

I was a chaperone for the activity. We had a couple hours to eat and shop before the choir needed to ‘warm up’ (in sarcastic quotes because they sang outside and it was freezing).

My little one and I trying on hats in the hat shop.

Oh! The Christmas cheer!

Lovely store windows.

Inside The Gingerbread Factory, a cute little house just off the main street.

Plain gingerbread men labeled ‘Skinny Dippers’.

“Your days are numbered, Snowman!”

Once the hypothermia set in things really got silly.

The choir singing at the town square.

And a very special visitor at the end of the day- Saint Nicholas.

After posting a few of these pictures on facebook I was accosted with family asking why we hadn’t taken them to Leavenworth before. It’s a great place, and now I think we’ll have to take more of our visitors out there. Ever since a visit to the Scandanavian town of Solvang when I was very young I’ve loved the idea of themed towns. In fact it would be fun to travel across the US visiting all the quaint and kitchy foreign themed towns along the way.

But back to Leavenworth. It’s lovely in the spring and summer, but this was the first time I’ve gone at Christmastime, and the visit was just the thing to get those Christmas feelings flowing!

-Lynnae

Janeites, Get Out Your Crayons…

… And click on over to The Graphics Fairy for a page of lovely Regency ladies for your little holiday guests (or you) to color. It might be a fun activity to celebrate Jane Austen’s birthday next month. And nothing beats stress like taking a few minutes to relax and color.

While you are there, browse the categories on the right sidebar. I love using graphics from her blog on craft projects. Now I have a full page of Lady Catherines and Lydias to decorate in holiday colors.

Now where are those colored pencils?????

-Lynnae

For Henry Tilney Fangirls

The Jane Austen Society AGM opened with a fun, lively panel discussion by ‘Team Tilney’ and the special guest was Henry Tilney himself, played by Joe Homes. He started with a Henry Tilney style parody of the Old Spice commercial. By the time I frantically grabbed my camera I could only catch the ending, but here is the text written by Heather Lawrence:

Hello ladies. Look at your Mister Darcy. Now back to me. Now look at Captain Wentworth. Now back to me. Sadly, those gentlemen are not me. But if they knew enough about muslin to buy their own cravats and were more nice than wise, they could be like me.

Look down. Back up. Where are you? You’re in the Lower Rooms with the gentleman your gentleman could be like. I’m asking you to dance. Unlike some gentlemen who refuse to dance, I love to dance, and you are handsome enough to tempt me.

What’s in your hand? Back at me. I have it. I’m reading that novel you love. I’m reading it to my sister.

Anything is possible when your gentleman is Henry Tilney.

I have a puppy. (Arf!)

[whistle Old Spice theme]

 

All the details on the creation of this delightful event can be found on this post on Austenblog. Maggie Sullivan conceived of the event, and she and her fellow ‘Team Tilney’ fangirls did an excellent job!

Here are a few more selections……..

I hope you enjoy these. Please read the link on Austenblog where you can learn all about the talented creators of this fun event.

-Lynnae

Dorothy Tag Swap

I am at a hotel in a college town 800 miles from my home. Tomorrow morning I say goodbye to my second baby and we will just start driving. After all we’ve been through this year it’s hard to believe I will hug her in a parking lot and voluntarily just drive away. It’s so much harder now that I know what it will be like, how contracted our family circle will seem when we get home, how much quieter our afternoons and evenings will be.

This means I did a good job. This means we have successfully raised a capable child (and believe me this one is more than capable). This means a lot of GOOD things. It just doesn’t feel good.

Last year when I was feeling down about being in my boot cast and grounded from running and my aerobics class I joined a fat-book swap. It was a lot of fun and gave me a project to perk me up a little. So when I ran across Karla Nathan’s Dorothy Tag Swap I thought it would be just the thing to help pass the next month.

It’s only six tags, and with a Wizard of Oz theme the possibilities are endless! As far as I know the swap is still open. Click on the button in my sidebar if you are interested.

Well, wish me luck tomorrow.

-Lynnae

Jane Austen Fight Club

And now for a bit of silliness……………………

 

Enjoy!

 

-Lynnae

Glamour

Today I am linking up to the Fabulous blog of Kristina Pulsipher, who is asking us to get out our old Glamour Shots, basically to ridicule the clothes and big hair, etc.

I thought I’d link up even though I was too poverty stricken to ever go to a real Glamour Shots, or any studio for that matter. That’s not to say that in college I didn’t enlist the help of my friends to get some ‘ooh la la’ shots to send to my fiancé who was serving overseas…..So here you go. This is me circa 1987.

This is my BIG HAIR picture. Seriously I rarely had the big hair look down, my hair was so thick and just didn’t stay poofed very well.

This was photographed on my friends VW for added glamour. I’m surprised they didn’t hire me for auto showrooms then and there.

This is in my homecoming dress from High School. My Mom made the POOFY sleeves to be worn tastefully on the shoulders so the ruffles would caress my tresses and frame my face. As you can see, my wanton college life had me scandalously dropping the ruffle of my shoulder. This was pretty risqué for me, and rest assured, I didn’t leave my room exposed like this.

Do You have any flashy photos? If so, link up to the fun!

Click on photo for link

-Lynnae

How Much of a Janeite Am I?

I am here to report my official score from the esteemed and reputable facebook application quiz “How Much of a Janeite Are You?'”.

I had 21 correct out of 23. My final score, which seems to factor in the time needed, was 2612.  I don’t know how many have taken the quiz so far, But I ranked in the global top ten at the time of completion. Now to hunt down the other nine……..

-Lynnae

Happy New Year!

Once my sisters and I had the crazy idea of making Rice Krispies Treat Sushi. So I made some to take to the New Years Eve Party. I used Kelloggs Rice Krispies, fruit leather, Swedish Fish, Sour Patch worms and other delicacies, along with a little bit of pink frosting. Instead of putting the warm rice krispie treats into a pan, I put it on wax paper, washed and buttered my hands and pushed it down into a thin layer that could be rolled up easily.

My favorites are wrapped in green apple fruit leather with red-hots on top.

 

I’m taking them to the New years party at my sis’ house.

Luckily in our family you can do something a little strange and no one really questions it.

Happy New Year!

-Lynnae

Give Boredom the Boot

Here’s the picture of my boot I showed you a couple days ago.

Well, one long boring Saturday and a box of Sharpies later……….

  

I colored my boot!

The sides are pink with gray flowers.

I drew a butterfly on the heel.

Here’s the side with the strap undone. And for the final artsy touch I drew a crown on the toe.

It’s the first decorated aircast boot I’ve ever seen. And it’s MINE!!!