I had the Mattel Mickey Mouse record player and all sorts of Sesame Street 45's. I have seen the record player on ebay but not the 45's and have been so tempted to bid. My kids would have loved this find! (and so would I!)

A very thoughtgul and needed post. I am writing from the perspective of being a little further down the shute with older children. Firstly, I would echo the idea that what happens in the home is the biggest influence and that choices have to be based on the needs of the individual child and family. Our oldest has multiple developmental disabilities and would be unlikely to posses many of the skills he has were it not for the patience and experience of his teachers and aids at his specialized school that he has attended since leaving his intergrated preschool. If I had been homeschooling him, I am sure that my other children would not have had the benefit of a rational and patient mother because I would have been overwhelmed. My daughter is now an highly competent and successful highschool student with many choices for post-secondary educational. She successfully negotiated the regular public school system without us pushing for the gifted programme that she could have been streamed through without losing her desire to learn and has stronger social/leadership skills than many of her friends who were so streamed. She had a few less than perfect teachers but also so stellar teachers along the way so a balance was found. Number 3 is presently being homeschooled after a few years when we felt the school was not meeting his needs. We have been shocked to discover how many basic skills this bright boy did not learn! I am spending the year figuring out the holes and rebuilding his confidence. Next year we will work on the skills he will need for highschool with the plan to send him to the arts-based highschool in our area. With Nuber 4, academically he is doing well but slightly underchallenged in our local French-immersion programme (the first of our children to do early immersion) but socially is frustrated by his peers. Being the youngest in our family has allowed him to be sophisticated intellectually but not socially patient with kids that do not get his well-reasoned and articulated ideas! What to do with him? We are working on this and are thankful for the extracurricular activities that we are involved with. Thanks for addressing the need to stay flexible with solutions in creating the best educational environment for our children.

Sometimes the so-called distractions are the things we need the most at that exact time and place. Yours are very lovely indeed and, I am sure, most healing.

What a wonderful experience to look forward to; live music is always best! I was wondering about grooming when you have been ill as my Clara, an Himalyan, suffers when I have been ill. When I have been confined to bed, she steadfastly keeps me company and rarely leaves the foot of my bed. A big comfort!

Sounds like your finding just the right prescription for trying out you 'normal' legs again. Lovely treasures -quality not quantity. Enjoy them while waiting for the birds. Going to the (sentimental) movies with my husband is one of my favourite dates too as he is usually happier than when I drag him along treasure hunting!

My Mother says that I have a PhD. in rationalization. After reading your post, I realize that I must be pursuing post-doc studies in procrastination and if you were marking to the above points, I am sure that you would give me all A's but deduct marks for the meals that I actually make. It is really a good thing that my husband does not usually read the comments that I post or the jig would be up!

What a lovely romantic post! Pictures do indeed say words than words. You have got to love a man who can take all the florals ( I know I do!-mine is very tolerant or maybe just a romantic!) and I am so glad Anth makes you happy! I wish everyone such well-matched partners.

I do not collect any of those things either so I can see why the store closure would not be bothering you. Oh Barbara, as my kids would say, that sucks!

A very pretty and inventive use of the neckerchiefs. Not only do you have a talent for making lovely things you are wonderful a keeping all your readers cheered too. It seems that you are perking up so I hope that it continues and you do not get too frustrated if the pace is not quick enough. I know that having a pretty surrounding when I am poorly makes a huge difference and your bedroom is so lovely.

If you are torturing us, I must be some kind of machoscist because I am lovely every minute! I am not suprised by your use of the French General book as I was definitely getting the vibe in the last post and it looks like you did a beautiful job on the table cloth despite the added complications. Lucky you that your Wal-Mart had the upholstry tape. That bowl is fabulous especially filled with sewing notions. The irons birds are so lovely!

You look quite lovely in your newest headgear! But maybe everyone is right and it needs a little embellishment with a crocheted bloom or three. It will even work with your flowers on black theme you have had recently. There must be some fountain of youth aspect of it too as you do not look old enough to be the mother of the lovely and talented young lady you claim is you daughter!

What a simple innovative idea! The yellow print would make me happy but I think the Mac book would do it for my husband. I can't wait to see Bright Star. A friend just saw The Young Victoria (the times and theatres have yet to work for us) and we have seen An Education and A Single Man recently; both which really created an impact on us. All three should be on DVD soon and are all noted for great costumes and sets.

Lucky you to have friends that know what it takes to make you smile on the inside. Lucky us for you reminding us how it is those little things that can really make a friendship. I think I have a few phone calls/emails to make/write.

I am inclined to think of you as an organizing goddess as Christine suggested and indeed, you are my go to blog for such information. I find the whole trade mark thing rather ridiculous when it comes to this sort of situation. Jealousy of your success must be at the route of this but like many things this could back fire in the end. I recently heard a story on the radio that nice guys really finish first and we are actually wired to be empathetic and helpful to each other. I will make sure that I link to your blog as often as it makes sense to do so on my blog and would encourage other bloggers to do the same as it will pass on useful information to our readers and increase Benita's blog traffic.

Thank-you for your always great photos and bringing up the tipping discussion. In Canada, I think wear you live determines how much and to whom you tip. In more rural or suburban areas it is less. I remember my parents only tipping at restaurants when I was growing up and when I moved from the West coast to the East coast in the late 80's, 15% was still standard but it was the first time that I encountered tipping hairdressers. In the larger cities, tipping was more wide spread and generous and my sister made a good income as a waitress in Vancouver because of tips. Tipping does make we feel awkward and in Canada there is a minimum wage so I question why someone who works in a restaurant can make the same income as someone who has done graduate or other specialized study. I will keep in mind the information when travelling to the U.S.. It is my blog's first anniversary and you can enter the giveqway with no tipping required!

I love your pictures (as usual)and I am fascinated by the tipping discussion. In Canada, how much and who you tip seems to be very geographically determined. As a child I lived in rural and then suburban British Columbia through the late 60's to mid 80's and I remember my parents only tipping for restaurants at 15% and leaving very little if the service was poor. The same habit seemed to be found went I moved to Halifax in the late 80's but there I was suprised that people tipped their hairdressers. In the larger cities, tipping seems far more extravegant and my sister made a good living as a waitress from her early to late twenties and it seems that you tip for a lot more services now. Canada does have a minimum wage so it seems odd to me that someone working in a restaurant can make as much money as someone who has done graduate or specialized studies, paid for the pleasure of doing those studies and did not make much money when going to school. In general, tipping does make me feel a little awkward but I will keep in mind some of the suggestions when I travel to the U.S.. It is my blog's first anniversary today and people can enter a give away without leaving a tip!

Just the type of encouragement this Canadian gardener needs when I know it will be another (four -if we are lucky to) six weeks before I can get in the garden. I hope that some swiss chard made it through as we have had somewhat less snow cover than usual. Today is my blog's first anniversary and I have a giveaway of some vintage sparkle and a modern cookbook.

The view from your kitchen window with the lovely primose and adorable tea cosy is gently inspiring and I hope keeps you on the road to healing just as reading your blog does for all of us. I have had some chronic health issues that have had me quite down sometimes so I think I can empathize. Your blog inspired me to start my own in part so I could emphasize and share all the positives in my life so I thank-you for that gift. Today is the first anniversary to my blog so I have a give away of some vintage sparkle and a great cookbook

Your links make me happy too! The link to the unhappy hipster blog cracks me up. I think that Mr. Thoroughly Modern Vintage would like a little more contempory hip in the house but I think it could all turn out really badly. Today is my blog's first birthday and I have a give away!

These are lovely especially since the intended contents relate to the needlework of the materials used to make them. So pretty it is enough to inspire lots of crafting.

Love those cups. Perfect presentation for a great idea!

Your dresser looks delightfully pretty! I like your scribbles idea. I too gave up on Julia Cameron's book but I did glean the idea of putting creativity into my day which was very valuable. Every creative soul has a different way of connecting with the muse and it looks like you have found yours. Enjoy today's creative pursuits!

I do not get to stay in hotels very often but when my husband does (he plays in an orchestra that occaissionally still does international as well as national tours), he tends to bring home quite a few of the toiletries or what he has not used while travelling. The best hotel toiletries that I have brought home were L'Occitane and I wish that I had been more greedy. Lovely organization as usual and I like your little bag!

Also, I love your shelf papers which I first saw in use at Oodles and Oodles.