Stop and Smell the Roses

Sophia's Gift

This has been a busy summer!  Truly, I do not know how we could already be entering the home stretch to summer's end!  Classes resume in August!  Sophia delivered these to my front door!  She knew, in her perceptive way, I needed to literally,  

"stop and smell the roses!"

I am reminded that it is the little things in life that matter so much, like sweet notes, kind words or a wheelbarrow filled with flowers!  I am grateful and touched!

Clothespins Aplenty

The Multipurpose Clothespin

We have a fondness for clothespins! For fun my daughters and I have even decorated clothespins.  Lately I seem to see one on every surface and around every corner in our home. My favorites are the old, weathered-wood peg style clothespins. 

One-piece wooden clothes-pegs were invented by the Shaker community in the 1700s.

The first design resembling the modern clothespin was patented in 1853. 

What can a humble, little clothespin do?

Prevent spoons from getting lost in the soup pot.

Hold rubber bands,

recipes, or old supermarket sales signs - 

Imagine that!  $.47 cents for a bag of potatoes! 

Hang special papers inside a kitchen cabinet. 

(see my post Displaying Art for a How To on adhering clothespins to walls)

Hang children's art.

Organize paper stuff like "to do" piles.

Seal open packages.

Wish Happy Birthday.

Make lunch or gift bags a bit more fun.
Become animal legs,

big and small.

Celebrate Christmas,

Valentine's Day,

or spring.

Instead of laundry on the line, pictures on the line.

 Peg type pins disguise as Mary and Joseph.
Look pretty packaged for gifts.
Decorate a Clothespin "How To"...

Supplies

Clothespins, glitter, Mod Podge, Foam paint brush, scissors, paper cutter, paper, adornments - (flowers, plastic insects, buttons, seasonal items)

How To:

Simply paint one side of the clothespin with a light coat of Mod Podge.

Then  

Sprinkle on glitter, allow to dry, then repeat on the other side. 

OR

Adhere paper strip (cut to clothespin dimension before gluing) to the clothespin. When dry, apply one more thin coat of Mod Podge. Repeat on other side.

OR

Use a small amount of hot glue to glue on adornments. 

Our Taiwanese Girls

Our Taiwanese Girls' "Home Stay"

I stress the "Our," as I feel selfishly possessive!  I love these girls!  They are part of our family!  When consenting to do this, I was hoping my daughters' would brush up on their Chinese and learn about another culture.  Was I ever blown over...these girls brought soooo much more to our home and lives.   Evenings, the time we were together, were priceless:  singing, piano, guitar, games, movies, conversation, laughter, relaxing, partying, eating...     

After reading my previous post titled, Hosting International Guests, you may ask,  

"What is it like having a house full of appreciative, polite, respectful, smart, sweet, 

and always ready for fun, 15 year old Taiwanese girls?" 

It is beautiful!                         

                          IMAGINE THIS:

touring America on USA BINGO night,

receiving Chinese lessons,

preparing mud pies,

giggling all the time,  

They put "socks" on the pasta (sauce!)

They request "snakes" (snacks!)

visiting the inside of a whale,

plotting pranks,

late nights, early mornings, busy days,

(One of us got some sleep!)

shopping, 

singing,

playing games like memory,

hot potato,

BINGO, 

musical chairs,

Q-bitz,

racing,

relaxing,

having joy grace your table,

your silver polished,

touring local markets, 

sharing the keyboard,

savoring Pineapple Cakes, a Taiwanese treat,

romping at the beach,

celebrating water game victories,

feeding turtles, ducks, and playing with Dolly,

(Look for Dolly, the parrot, in September on a PBS Parrot Special)  

receiving sweet notes,

Need I say more?!  We love "our" dear girls!

They enjoyed United States of America!