Hazel comes around to things in her own time, always. She has never liked to ride Mechanical Things… tiny zoo train, quarter helicopter / car / dog things at the mall. No way. No. Way. But then…

Last night at the Buckwheat Festival, she had a silent epiphany. I don’t know how or why. A couple hours of looking, watching, enjoying the midway but flatly refusing to go near for a close look, panic-voice if her stroller strolled too near a whirring, blinking ride. And for some reason, just as it was getting dark, she looked at the small carnival prize bears clutched in each hand. Calmly and certainly decided.

“I want to take ‘dese bears on ‘dose boats, Mommy.”

I only let myself say “are you sure?” one time. She was secured into a boat. Ordered me outside the fence. Sat patiently while more kids trickled in. My heart was racing… I was sure she would bail or freak out as soon as the ride started. I was sure I would freak out.

A momentary panic-stricken look and arm-flail at the first tiny hill and then… bliss. We all cheered every time the Devlin-and-Hazel-boat came around (we were THOSE moms.) Three bucks to ride one more time. A toddler meltdown when I vetoed the airplanes because it was already bedtime and we were forty minutes from her bed… but a promise to go back on Saturday afternoon for a $9 wristband and rides ’til she pukes. If it doesn’t rain.

Please don’t rain.

I made a bunch of these little ephemera packs for Sunday’s benefit music / craft show… scalloped circles, hearts, umbrellas, airplanes, and circles all from fun patterned papers. Perfect for collage, scrapbooking, journaling, gift enclosures, dressing up packaging, or… um… toddler pilfering.

This is where I work. Well, I do a lot of work – Etsy work, taking care of another human work, but this is my Job. That pays the Bills. I am always happy and grateful to be able to do this work… always. Even when I am sitting across from some fifteen year old whose teenage experience in 2011 completely confuses / saddens / sickens / baffles me. Lucky me, eh? But, seriously, thank god in heaven that I was a teenager pre-texting-and-facebook. And that I spent my teenage years in the smallest of small towns. Never thought I’d say that one so certainly. But my kids, all fiftyish of them, are completely amazing for all sorts of reasons, but one in common: they are surviving high school in 2011.

(Yes, this all makes me very terrified for my daughter, and I just try to ignore that because she’s only two.)

Anyway, on Sunday evening this is happening:

I’ve been spending lots of time (partly afforded by the fact that this week has been Sick Week in our little yellow house) making goods for a craft table whose profits will entirely benefit MAYSP. Other people are making fun stuff, too. I can’t wait to see it all together! A sneak peek…

…are the nearest thing to heaven that I know.

And they are not green, but blue, as seen through this lovely instagram filter. I’m teaandlaundry, and I’m an addict.

Hay-z is three years old in about a month. This will be our view from her party, if the weather cooperates. She has long loved birthday parties, but has never put too much (voiced) thought into her own. She has requested “chalk, crayons, Ella, Xavier, Morgan, black balloons and black cake.” Auntie Megan has already taken care of the first. I have high hopes for some of the others. I can indulge some Snoopy-colored balloons (to complement her Snoopy-themed invites, of which I’ve completed steps 1-3!) I have other cake ideas that are hopefully so exciting she’ll forget she asked for a black one. Does anyone out there happen to have the retired 1960s Wilton Snoopy cake pan? :)

Nothing makes this kid happier than birthday parties. And when you ask her how she got so tall, she says “workin’ for Chuck.” The ideas are pretty much directing themselves… :)

I finally got around to photographing some vintage goodies over the weekend, and spent part of this rainy day (eating soup and listening to Iron & Wine and) listing them in my shop. Have a peek! Many more fun and colorful housewares to come, as well as clothing and a goldmine of pristine 1950s and 1960s greeting cards.

(Just a few – click through to my shop to see the rest!)