The Little Nurse

I was sick with a fever and some tummy troubles on Friday and my darling children allowed me an entire day in bed. And no, amazingly, they were not watching TV all day. And I only sent them to seperate rooms once, due to a great amount of screaming at one another. I have no idea why they were screaming at one another, and even if I were feeling well, I would not have asked. I have no interest in being judge and jury - both of you are unhappy with one another? Off to your rooms you go. Don't bother telling me it was his fault. I do not care. Go calm down. This discipline method grew out of laziness on my part, but it works really well. After 15 minutes or so, I usually hear one or the other of them creeping down the hall to the other's room to apologize. Then I think maybe hugs are exchanged and she reads him a story. All I know is that they are quietly playing in the same place again.

But the stunning part of my day was when I was starting to feel a bit better and asked Thing One to bring me some crackers. Proudly she came with two saltines and a little napkin.

"I am only bringing two because, when I am sick, you bring me two crackers and tell me to eat them very slowly. Eat them slowly, Mommy."

Oh dear me! I thought, she is really paying close attention! To every little thing I do! Every little random choice I make! And, of course, I knew this - that I am her example of how to be a Mommy, a wife, a person. But I think maybe in the hustle and bustle of the everyday, I was not as conscious of it as I should be.

Am I living the way I want her to live? Am I valuing the things I want her to value? Is our home the kind of home I want her to conjur in her mind when she thinks of home?

More Cuteness

Thing Two and I were trying to think of words that begin with "N".

Thing Two: nardjana

Me: nardjana?

Thing Two: Yes, it a knife that bad guys use to cut bread.

The Beadmeister

I am going to share a bead source.

I buy beads from this company, not because they are the best beads in the business (msbelle, you will find nothing you need here), or the best prices (though, often I can find an excellent bargain), but because the catalogue never fails to make me giggle.

Willis (self-proclaimed "Beadmeister, Planet Earth") is the man behind South Pacific Wholesale (in Vermont) and has been selling beads since 1974. And when his product newsletters come, I read them from cover to cover, because I must not miss any of the wit and humor. Go ahead, laugh at me and my nerdiness, but please, admire my honesty.

Under a listing for African Turquoise: "You know this isn't turquoise, right?"

Under a listing for Cherry Quartz: "Quartz? Yes, if sand is quartz, and glass is sand..."

Discussing his upcoming bead shows: "There will be a line - please be patient or act like you are."

He is very knowledgable about stones and very honest about his products: "I am not pushing my fluorite with pride."

So if you are as much of a bead nerd as me, go check him out and have a little laugh, and maybe pick up a strand of african turquoise for me.

"Mommy, I Wrote A Song and It Is Called - Kings Do Things That Are Royal"

Oooooooooh, Kings do things
that are royal!
That are royal!
They eat royal food,
and they (mumble,mumble)-ood.

The knights fight the dragons
for the kings.
For the kings!

And the princesses dance
for the queens.
For the queens!
For the queens!
For the queens!

[Wanders away, chanting "For the queens!"
The wandering takes a little more shape and becomes a march back to me, still chanting.
The chanting stops abruptly when he reaches me.]

"So, Mommy? What was your favorite part of my song?"

Book Fair Mama

I am a busy, busy, busy book fair mama.
See you all in two weeks.

Closing in on 100

I am closing in on 100 items sold!

This is very exciting for me, as last March I set a goal of selling 100 items before the anniversary of my first item listing - October 20. Hopefully, I am not jinxing myself when I say I think I might make it!

The photo shows my newest earring style - Mini Modern Cones - a smaller version of my avatar earrings. To celebrate my milestone, I will be giving away a pair of Mini Modern Cones to every person who makes a purchase from my shop this week (now through midnight on Friday - or until I run out of cones). This offer is only good for blog readers, so please put "Blog Love" in the notes to seller to receive your free earrings.

And of course, whomever purchases my 100th item will receive additional goodies in their package as a special "thank -you."