sweet 17

doesn't every 17 year old want to go antiquing on her birthday? well, that's just what we did...headed up old rt. 1 to maine, intending to poke through the shops in wells, but the traffic was completely backed up when we hit ogunquit, so we stayed around york instead, which was just as fun! first stop though was lunch and stocking up on goodies at stonewall kitchen. they have the most delicious deli and bakery goods to eat-in or take-out. (how come i didn't notice the cones and caution tape when i took this shot.) this was actually the last day of a week of celebrating, shopping, and entertaining spree with my sister and her hubby. their visit was way too short!

here's the star of the day sporting her funky new hair cut ~ too cute, it kind of goes with the funky cake i threw together in the sweltering heat and humidity. it was a sweet sticky lopsided pink blob, but it tasted yummie! and the birthday girl, well, she's a sweetheart; funky, fabulously fun, hysterically funny, a joy to be around, and an all around wonderful big hearted person. we just wuv, wuv, wuv her sooo much! this next year is going to go way too fast (for me) ~ she'll be a senior... and she is so ready!

i'm looking forward to some down time, time to create, dream, and catch up on some summer reading.

xo for now ~
heidi

putting a shine on...

thought i'd share, oh, just a few of my flickr summer faves ~ hope you enjoy! if you happen to find a snippet of yours here ~ then we truly are birds of a feather! i love your eye for spotting vintage goodies, creating unique wares, and for sharing your passion for collecting tattered treasures. so, from this flickr addict, merci!

we are busy putting a shine on things here ~ my sister and her hubby are coming for a week, and we are soooo excited! lots of fun outdoor things to do here, and in and around boston, and of course plenty of eating and hanging by the pool.

summer flickr love , originally uploaded by birdsofafeather.

going with the flow

it's hard to get much done with a baby in the house, even a tiny furry one ~ because i just couldn't tear myself away. i love babies, any kind, pink, blue, or furry. actually, i wanted to volunteer at the hospital to hold the babies, and guess what, there's a waiting list. can you believe it?

lots of spontaneity going on here, which to me is the essence of summer ~ just going with the flow, pure bliss! sunday we went on a bike ride through marblehead, (where we grew up) and ended with a picnic lunch at grace olivers beach at peach's point, my favorite spot in town. marblehead is such a beautiful new england sea side town. if you have a chance to visit i'm sure you will agree it has loads of charm with it's quaint downtown, historic landmarks, and unique shops. known as the sailing capitol of the world, which is pretty amazing for a tiny town, and it houses the famous spirit of '76 painting at abbot hall. check out my dad's photos to see more. speaking of marblehead, stop by carol's blog and say hello, she's new!

my absolute favorite store downtown is o'rama's which has a european frenchy feel, and is all girly. suzy the owner, packs the tiny shop full of the finest goodies, all with a vintage feel. digging through her wares is half the fun! i think just about every pair of earrings i own are from her shop, collected over the years.

of course i couldn't mention a bike trip without a little shopping or eye candy stop!

xo, heidi

- bike photo taken from ladies home journal july 2007

adoption clause

wow, thank you for cheering for little milo! he is such a sweetie for sure, even if the three mouse-keteers; dandelion, rosie, and smooch didn't warm up to him. clementine loved having someone furry to play with. my daughter taught him how to do high five, and down low ~ wish i got that on video, too funny. you all knew i would fall for him ~ hard. he was my little buddy, always following me around, or falling asleep in my lap. we decided though that it really wasn't fair to keep him where the other three already have a rather precarious relationship. in the winter when we keep them in and it gets a little hairy! yesterday he went to live with his new family, my son's friend. she also took milo's brother, so they will be very happy together. looking through the photos tugs at my heart, we all miss him. of course there was a clause in the adoption where we would welcome him back at any time!

houseguest or keeper?

look what my sweet 16 year old brought home...i know he is so sweet and adorable. the girls think our new house guest is a keeper, but i'm not so sure...the inn is getting pretty filled up with "keepers"! the girls are pleading, "but mom, we already named him milo." he's only 4 weeks old, still needs to be fed from a tiny bottle, so he needs a mommy, and sweet 16 year old is only home for about five minutes a day between work, and play! of course her sweet sister is volunteering her services, but somehow milo just landed asleep in a blanket on my computer desk while she and her friends are in the pool - tag i'm it - you guessed it!

well, dandelion is lurking and hissing! and does rosie look too happy about the new "guest"?









clementine would just like a little lick please.





smoochie was a keeper, one of dandelion's babies, because he is our ever agreeable rag doll who got his name because he is a love!







they all are really, even with their quirks.
then there are the two gerbils and a fish, not to mention the various wildlife we have moseying through the yard daily; cat "friends" howling in the night, raccoons, deer, fox, bunnies, squirrels, birds, frogs, and bugs! we truly commune with nature here, it's a regular zoo. soon they are going to call me the crazy cat lady! we'll see what happens when hubby comes home...