Live Free

Weekend Stroll

I just realized I completely missed my blogoversary.  It seems as though I've been writing on this place for one whole year! I think this is my 57th post. Not exactly a robust flow of material coming from my end, but hey, I'm still logging in at least once a week.  

Onwards to weekend happenings -  Oh, how we are enjoying the reasonable temperatures in our parts lately. These days, while being outside, I am reminded of what the rest of my life experienced - before Austin and it's incessant heat and drought. I can't tell you how dreamy it feels to be comfortable outdoors again.  

This weekend, the family took a little walk through a little hidden gem right in the middle of the city. Lush gardens, some deciduous vegetation, and roaming peacocks.  Take a look.  

Passing the goodness along

Last week, when my friends Ryan and Valerie were here, Valerie turned me on to this gal.  Oh my, she's mesmerizing, don't you think?  And she's so darn, incredibly cute!  Not only does her story telling talents induce feelings of giddiness for me, she comes with a cause .  Now I'm afraid there is no way I can resist purchasing this because I don't know about you, but I think I know what it feels like to be a baby monkey in a frightening tree.  

The second piece of goodness I'd like to talk about is really for all the locals out there.  Anyone?  Any takers in Austin?  Probably not.  Oh well, here goes.  For the past three years, I knew this non-profit agency was supposedly a cool place.  It just so happens to be three blocks from my house.  I knew they had a lending library and materials making tools.  But since I'm not a parent, and Casa Montessori was so well equipped with an abundance of materials, I never adventured into this place.  What a shame! This week, I finally took the time to stroll on over to Family Connections.  My goodness!  I could have spent hours in there.  This place is truly a fantastic resource for families and child care providers. Everything you would think of needing, this place has. First of all, it has free classes galore - on good topics. Just take look at their current calender for January to get an idea. They have a wonderful children's and parenting library - far superior than what I've found at the City of Austin public libraries. Inside the main room which is also the library, there's a children space equipped with a lovely little children's kitchen so that children can occupy themselves if mom or dad want to take their time perusing through the stacks. They have a whole room of dye - cut templates! Oh, the possibilities in that! Then there are several rooms of toys, materials, puzzles, and model animals all neatly organized in plastic containers, just waiting to be checked out and used. I even found a few true Montessori materials like knobless cylinders and dressing frames. I imagine getting to know the staff at Family Connections quite well as we make materials for our learning community in the upcoming months. 

Speaking of our learning community, we hope to offer more information on its progress in the upcoming weeks!  

Lastly, as Lissadell and I begin to make a list of materials to make or buy, I've found a lovely set of sandpaper letters on etsy.  What I love most is that they are not pink and blue like most traditional styles.  The birch wood is just lovely and clean looking.  Now, if she could only produce them in cursive.

I'll try to continue to chime in on a somewhat regular basis, but my schedule picks up starting this week, so I'll have to see how good my time management skills are. 

I leave you with an unrelated photo. This friend and I have been enjoying mid-morning peppermint teas together. I love, love, love how good he's gotten at holding the espresso cup. 

    

I hope y'all had a great weekend!  

Sunday Morning Thrifting

So yesterday, Byron and I got a wild hair up our you know what and decided to go out for breakfast.  We seldom do this because we both agree that breakfast is just too cheap a meal to prepare ourselves. Why pay $20 for breakfast for two when you can cook up some eggs and pancakes for a couple of bucks at most.  Well, because sometimes people get lazy and they don't feel like cooking up breakfast for themselves.  Hence, our excursion.  Both Kerby Lane Cafe's near our house had lines out the door. That was no good, we were hungry and didn't want to wait 45 minutes to be seated.  So we went to this other lesser known place with no wait.  The breakfast tacos were mediocre at best.  We regretted our $20, but what can you do.  You live, you learn, right?  We would have been better off getting breakfast right across the street from our house - a great Mexican restaurant.  

On the way back home, we noticed a strip mall of thrift stores having an outdoor sale in the parking lot. We of course, had to stop.  An auction was about to begin.  And in that auction - mostly junky things - were some beautiful quilts.  I scored one for next to nothing.  It's handmade and in perfect shape.  

The woman who was selling off her quilts said that they were made by her mother.  The quilts had to go though.  She had a DUI fine to pay off.  Can you believe!  Only in Austin on a Sunday morning. Evidently she was quite comfortable sharing her story.  I overheard her tell it to a couple of other buyers after she told me.  

In addition to the lovely quilt, I also scored some vintage pyrex.  I'm obsessed with that stuff right now. My collection is growing but not my cabinet space.  So may have to start using my will power from here on out.  I couldn't refuse these bowls though.   The vendor was practically giving them away.  

Byron scored an old belt buckle.  It's an eagle holding a banner that says "United We Stand".  Patriotic and cheesy, just enough, just for Byron.  No pictures of it though.  Gosh darnit, if he wants a picture of his buckle on the blog, he's going to have to take that picture himself.  Speaking of which,  I don't think you'll be hearing much from the other half.  He firmly believes that the blog is way to girly to his liking. Imagine that.  Come on Byron, you know you'd post The Creative Family as one of your current reads too if you had a blog.  I said it's girly because I'm girly and the only one contributing so far.  Be the change you wish to see, my friend.  

Hope you all had a great weekend.  By the way,  there's no one there is there?  No one is reading this stuff.  I'm all alone here typing to no one.  I guess I should share my link with people.  Maybe one day.  

Cinnamon Rolls and Autumn Envy

One of my new favorite recipes that involves yeast are cinnamon rolls. I use the recipe from this book. I have to say, these cinnamon rolls are worth the effort. Not only does your home smell of cinnamon and bread for hours, but really, they are just divine.