These cookies look so good. I'm wondering how they would taste with an orange flavored icing? Thanks for the recommendation for these cookies.

What a fun project. This will help us all take a break and go to our vacation spot in our minds if nothing else is available.

I'm, or I am. Really I can type. Really I can.

Your spaces are inspirational. I'm loving your shelves, shadowboxes, and I''m finding myself wondering how I can add some button detailing to my pillows. Love it!

Just a few things I love for what they are: songbirds exceptional children's books the comfiest flip-flops I have ever owned - they are cushioned with a thin layer of pillowy softness - aaaaaaaaahhh a certain boy who turns 8 today music. I should look up the author of this quote, but whoever said it, said it well: "Music washes away the dust of everyday living." Thanks for another happy and gentle post. Love the hen named Buttercream! And those cupcakes are truly a work of art.

MacBeth in the park - I love the idea of that! Your description of visiting the Amish community reminds me of the couple times I was able to go to Lancaster County while living in PA. I was so impressed with their homes and fields - so orderly. Some of the best food I've ever ordered was at the restaurant there. I believe it was staffed by local people (not the Amish themselves), but featured Amish recipes. So simple and so good!

I'm always glad to find a new book to read. It may be possible to own too many books (though I personally doubt it), but it is never bad to have read too many books. At least that is my opinion. Thanks for the chance to win.

These painted mailboxes remind me of being in New England for a few years. Up in New Hampshire a lot of people had slates hanging on their doors with some form of Welcome painted on them. They were a fun custom for that area of the country!

That moose! That moose! I want that moose!

These are really great shots of a very humble bird - a type regularly overlooked. I love birds. I just can't imagine the world without them.

Oh these are classy! The idea of creating earrings from crochet never occurred to me. These delicate earrings remind me of tatting - a dying art I believe. The top pair where both the beads and elongated parts look as if they are crocheted are the pair I like best. My, they really are lovely. Whoever wins these will be very lucky.

Aren't trips to the museum wonderful? I live quite close to a similar museum of life sciences. One of my favorite things there is the butterfly display. They have organized their collection of butterflies in the shape of a butterfly - it is memorable. They must have 2 of every kind of butterfly to get that kind of symmetry you find in a butterfly's wings.

Darling ladybug creations! In answer to your question, I really love the way the cupcakes photograph (good grief - listen to me - talking about cupcakes as if they were models) with the professional method. But when it comes to eating them, I find this amount of frosting just a bit overwhelming. I guess I could say that I like to *look at* those frosted with a bag and tip, and I like to *eat* those frosted by hand, if that makes any sense at all.

Birds are such a wonderful thing to celebrate! Just thinking of their happy songs makes me smile. :)

Sara, I remember making these in school. They make lovely wall decorations and are great for memory books too.

I'm guessing Chicago from that hot dog picture. If I am right, is it true that most Chicagoans feel that the perfect hot dog is a bun, a weiner and mustard? Or am I getting that confused with New York?

Tasting: Tuna on saltines Smelling: Freshly mown grass Seeing: Amazingly blue skies! Feeling: Happy there is a paycheck coming today so I can have something besides tuna on crackers for lunch tomorrow hee hee hee Hearing: Sounds of my keypad as I type a family letter By the way, hope you are enjoying your new haircut - love the pic of your hair!

Sara, this is the perfect illustration that inspiration for any craft can come from anywhere. I don't think I'd look at a pizza box and ever think robot, but I'm glad you did! Such a lovable and colorful robot it turned out to be too.

I just saw your no bake petit fours over at a southern fairy tale - too too too cute! This is gonna become a family favorite, I can tell! And I'll be happy cuz I can dream up new ways to use this idea each year and keep my creativity going.

I can't tell you how much I hope this is true. Most days lately, I have my doubts....

Best of luck to you with your new etsy shop!

I love that you are always thinking of ways to incorporate new experiences into the lives of your children. It is inspiring.

I had to chuckle when I saw the title of your post. We had 2 dogs while growing up, one we called Licky (short for Licorice)and the other was Taffy. Oh, and let's not forget the guinea pigs - one brown, one white, one tan. Names? Brownie, Marshmallow and Peanutbutter. Definitely a theme going on here!

So true. It amazes me how easy it is to forget this simple lesson and end up frustrating both the parent and child. Thank you for the reminder.

Your words remind me of a time we had an inversion here that lasted for weeks and weeks. We all longed for a slip of sunshine, but the trees wore garments of frost that outlined every single twig, pine needle and bit of bark. They were magical, and more like Narnia than I thought was possible.