A Locket Gift

I swear, I don't live in a novel. That said, I did, indeed find a beautiful old locket this morning, tucked into the floorboards of my attic.

I can't complain. Sometimes life hands you ridiculous doses of romance even if it does amount to an absurdly little thing. This is the sort of thing dreamy girls like me want to buy old houses for. I imagine scenarios like this but I don't think I know anyone personally that this sort of thing has happened to.

First there was the long curved bladed, etched filet knife, then the mother of pearl crucifix and now beautiful old locket. A locket for crying out loud! The only way it could get better was if the inside contained the grainy black and white photos of wartime lovers and the necklace was wrapped in a love note promising undying affection. The locket is completely empty save the tiny heart-shaped frames meant to hold photos in, but it is beautiful and it's not every necklace that comes with a story like this.

It feels like personal, lavish Divine Love in tangible form sometimes for these stunning little life gifts to appear. I have to say that I sure feel like I have been beamed upon. I know that may sound trite or hokus-pokus or even vain but I mean it in a truly grateful, honest way.

Related articles

• Hang My Locket Around Your Neck (debbie915631.wordpress.com)
• Police seek owner of unclaimed locket (cbc.ca)
• The Locket (classicsparklers.wordpress.com)
• Afraid of Losing My Locket (boobykizzy.wordpress.com)

Mobile Love

Been busy! Of course...never a dull moment around here. I have been by turns: working on craft projects, painting, arranging the house, working on poetry, catching up on email finally, doing laundry, baking, landscaping, visiting friends and family and enjoying a little time outdoors.

I thought, I'd share the crafting bit.  Today, I helped throw a shower for a friend who is about to have a baby and I made her a little Peter Rabbit themed mobile for her nursery as my gift. She's having a little boy who will have the same, P. R. initials. I do love Beatrix Potter. Before I started, I got out our big collected stories volume and thumbed through it for inspiration, then I went off to the yard and the studio fabric collection respectively and gathered materials. Here's what came out:

I love it and fortunately, so did the mama I made it for. I am especially pleased with Peter himself and the little carrots. They are all made out of cloth scraps, embroidery floss and a touch of stuffing to make them look full enough.


Little trivia for you on the subject. Did you know that Alexander Calder (of giant orange sculptural fame) invented mobiles in 1931? Its true! And I bet he had no idea he was inventing a staple nursery item. Little known facts you can learn, right here.

Miq The Fairytale Genius

So, I've mentioned before that A has this brother, Miq who is utterly splendiferous in his own right and is married to the equally wonderful Penny. Lately, one of the big events in our extended family has been Uncle Miq's deployment to Iraq. (Ru is very impressed) All of us have been watching Facebook for the little updates he throws Stateside and doing what we can to stay in touch with Penny and their daughters. His little girls who are my boys cousins are now down to just one utterly fabulous parent which, is not as bad as it might be but, is obviously far less than ideal. We're all thinking of them often and watching (as much as you can watch when they live in Germany and we all live on this side of the pond) and wishing them all the very best.

But that Miq is a clever one. Never the type to sit on his hands mournfully in the middle of all that burning sand...he's been dreaming up one of the most creative and lovely daddy gifts I've ever seen. Sandstorms must be good for the imagination. He's been writing (from scratch mind you) lavish, bedtime fairytales for his daughters and recording himself telling them. If they half as big a hit with his daughters as they are with my sons, his special stories will never be forgotten in family lore.

At our house, we play them over and over and over.

So far, there are two installments...but, I expect there are more forthcoming. How many more? Heaven only knows...but, every one is a gem and whatever arrives we'll all rejoice.

I'm toying with sketching up some watercolor illustrations of Aclaircy's adventures. They're such beautifully imaginative stories, I'd have fun creating visuals.

Without further ado folks....The Amazing Uncle Miq:





Much love to you Miq as you wait and work and while away the days and days and days. We're rooting for you!