A Special Presentation

Do you remember when you were a kid, and something "special" was going to be on TV that night? It could have been a holiday program, or some other special program, but you were excited to see something on the tube. In my childhood home, it usually meant getting in your PJs on time, Mom making homemade popcorn, and sitting down on the couch with a blanket or a pillow on the floor waiting for that show to start. It all seemed so EXCITING, didn't it?



I never feel that the current childhood generation has that same feeling. Everything is on DVD, there are a million channels instead of just a couple of networks, and nothing much seems to capture the collective group as those TV specials (or TV programs in general) did a long time ago.

The other night, however, I think my daughter had a similar experience from my youth, however. NBC was airing a new American Girl movie, based on its current girl of the year, McKenna. Big Girl has that doll and has read the books numerous times, and we had marked the calendar a long time ago for this special movie. She was really looking forward to it, and even though we had a busy day, she raced in the house from playing the year, eager to shower and put her PJs on before the movie started.

Popcorn was being made from scratch, of course, and while I prepared the snack she was busy setting up the living room. When I delivered her treat, this was the scene:

Doll and daughter dressed alike, both with "popcorn." Big Girl was very ready for this movie.

The movie was sweet, held some lessons, and we both enjoyed watching it on the small screen. (I was kind of disappointed to see the DVD release in Walmart a few days before the NBC airing -- couldn't they wait until AFTER it aired on TV?)

Do you remember those TV specials

with as much fondness as I do?

Ride like the Wind!

Big Girl has been intimidated by her bike. For years, she has avoided mastering the two-wheel thing, and it has been slightly frustrating to me. And has made me feel like a parental failure. She is not a sports-oriented child, and does not like to get hurt, so the trial-and-error process of staying upright and pedaling has been a challenge. There has been a lot of coaxing. And resistance. And avoidance.

That said, time has been ticking. She is getting older. And when I created the Summer Bucket List, learning to ride a bike was included. She still resisted, but I told her it's like learning to swim. You just need to learn how to do it. And you need to learn how to do it now or it will be so much harder.

Her old bike is quite small now, but I figured at least balancing on it could start the process. My parents offered to get her a new bike for her birthday, an incentive for the process. And then, enter my father: He said, "I'm taking her out to learn. Tomorrow."

It is so hard sometimes, especially with the twins and a husband who works a lot, to find time to do the simplest things, so having Grampy step in and take the lead was fine with me. He is patient, and he taught both me and my brother, so I figured it would go well with my sensitive Big Girl. He packed up the old bike and took her to a parking lot. I did not go with them, but the report was this: It will take more than one lesson, obviously, and her legs are so long that a new bike would definitely be helpful.

We headed out the next day and picked out
a new bike as an early birthday gift:

A very pretty and affordable Schwinn from Walmart.

Isn't it cute? It's Big Girl's favorite color. With the new bike,  Big Girl was motivated. She found her groove. We came home and she started hopping around on the driveway on it. I thought she might break a leg, and I thought it might be too big for her to learn, but she showed perserverence and motivation. She would go out in that driveway and try, come in and take a break, then ask to go back out again. I let her fool around on it, wanting to capitalize on her motivation.

The next day, we went back to the big parking lot with Grampy and the new bike. Within a half hour. She was managing to coast along on her own. She came home and practiced in the driveway, on and off, in the afternoon. I would watch her out the window, and was so proud of her for not giving up. I was so surprised a few times to see her on two wheels for the length of the driveway. She was figuring out to start off on her own without someone giving her a push.

A trip to another parking lot at night after dinner, with the whole family, and it was like she had been riding forever. I didn't have to help her at all, not even to start. She just got on that bike and rode along like it was nothing:

Only two lessons. A new bike. A proud mom. And a confident daughter. So relieved!

Now, here's the catch: I always told her when she learned how to ride a bike, I could get a bike too. She reminded me of that last night, after I took a spin on hers around the parking lot. Of course, it's not in the budget immediately, but one can window shop, right? I starting "pinning" to my Pinterest wishlist board, of course.

I found a few cute ones. This one is my dream bike!

Source: schwinnbikes.com via Kellie on Pinterest

I love the colors, and the plaid -- so retro-vintage cute. The only catch is that it's $355 and I know I can find a decent bike cheaper, especially since I won't be riding daily or crazy like my mountain-biking husband who thinks he is 15 years old and in the X Games (until the morning after when his body is aching :)

This one is more affordable, and still cute, with it's argyle pattern:

Source: schwinnbikes.com via Kellie on Pinterest

Of course, neither would be complete without an adorable basket on the front. I am actually looking forward to coasting along with the wind in my hair now. There's nothing like a leisurely bike ride to make one feel like a kid again. And now I'm so glad my kid will get the chance to enjoy this simple outdoor activity.

Simple Summer Supper

I'm not food stylist or food photographer, but you get it, right?

Sometimes it's best not to overthink things. Like dinner.

I was out of ideas for supper, Hubby was golfing and I wanted to have a quick easy meal.

I had a wealth of pasta on hand, but I didn't want another tomato sauce-laden meal. I wanted pasta without sauce, light and easy. I had a bunch of grape tomatoes on hand, so I just cut them in half, cooked them in olive oil and garlic with some onions, and mixed it in with some bow-tie pasta. Parmesan cheese and fresh basil from the garden finished it off.

Light and simple and easy and a break from pasta with tomato sauce, which has become a frugal staple in this house. Improvising solved a meal dilemna that night and didn't cut into the food budget by succumbing to take-out!

Vermont Garden

When I was in Vermont, I came across the prettiest garden! It was a kitchen garden outside the Timbers restaurant at Sugarbush ski area's Lincoln Peak. I feel in love with its organized neatness, mountain prettiness, the birch trellises and the planting patterns. I wish my garden was this beautiful! Enjoy the photos and I hope you are as inspired as I was by its beauty.

Vintage TV



Within a week, two things reminded me of how much I love everything old, even TV.
The Hallmark Channel had a "Lucy" marathon, and then Andy Griffith passed away.

I have always loved "I Love Lucy." When I was a little girl, my mom always had the re-runs on, and I grew up laughing at Lucy's antics. I still enjoy watching "Lucy" re-runs when they are on, and I always encouraged Big Girl to watch them too. During the recent marathon, Big Girl was sitting on the couch, watching them on her own, and laughing and laughing. It made me happy to see her enjoying it. Good TV really does stand the test of time, and span generations.

As a mom, I can get pretty aggravated when the Disney Channel overtakes my house. Although Big Girl seems to enjoy many of the programs, she did say something interesting in the car one day:

"Mom, I sometimes think when I'm watching something on the Disney Channel, 'Would Walt Disney approve of this?'"

I asked her what made her think of that.

"Every since I read his biography, I remember how he made things for families. And sometimes Disney isn't appropriate, or for families."

I told her she was right, and that I was so happy to hear her say that.

As much as I love Disney things (and Disney World!), the Disney Channel definitely disappoints me often. It seems too "old" for tweens, much of the time, and many of the characters have sassy attitudes and the mouths that go along with that.

And many of the programs present characters who walk around thinking, acting and dressing like rock stars instead of kids. And kids idolize these characters.

I do let Big Girl watch the Disney Channel, because as someone who follows pop culture, and remembers what it was like to be a kid, I want her to somewhat be in the loop. That said, I voice my displeasure when I think something isn't right, or nice, so she can recognize it. It seems to have worked.

I also try to create a healthy balance by exposing her to what I consider good TV, and some of it includes old stuff, like "Lucy." When Andy Griffith passed away, I thought about searching out some re-runs of his old show -- although I have to admit I didn't enjoy it as much as a kid. We do watch "Little House on the Prairie" re-runs because of my Laura fascination, but I avoid certain depressing episodes (and always, always, the two "Sylvia" episodes which involve rape).

There is another show that has particularly appealed to Big Girl: "The Brady Bunch." I thought she might like it, so we got her some DVDs a few years ago and we have really enjoyed watching them as a family. We have all the seasons now except the last one. It's fun to re-watch this show now, as an adult and parent. (Oddly enough, my husband and I were shocked when Mike & Carol let Marcia just go out on a date in 8th grade, by herself, walking home alone... Seems like such a ridiculous thing to allow now with all the psychos out there.)

I'm always on the lookout for decent family entertainment. Big Girl did go through a "Full House" phase, watching the re-runs. I'm thinking of trying to get her to sample "Gilligan's Island," another favorite of my youth. I'm sure "Bewitched" might be fun too.

And of course, she clearly does enjoy "Lucy," and asked to watch the DVD when we were in Vermont recently (where there is no cable). We had a bag of DVDs, and she still chose the vintage show.

If any TV producers are reading this, please, please, please create some appropriate programming for families and kids. We need decent laughs today, fun family stuff. We need a Mayberry. We need a cast of characters who remind us how to be decent individuals. We need something we can all watch together, and all enjoy. There's not a lot of that out there lately.

Mom's Summer Reading

I don't have a lot of time to read. While my friends are devouring the "50 Shades" trilogy -- which doesn't appeal to me, in any way (and not because of the *ahem* sex, but the story itself) -- I was just hoping that I could read something this summer. It is hard to find the time to read anything of length anymore, with little ones buzzing around, and at night I'm just too tired to concentrate on words on a page without falling asleep!

I am a devoted reader of Sugar Pie Farmhouse and when Aunt Ruthie suggested this Fannie Flagg book, I was intrigued. And dowloaded it to my Nook immediately. We had a 5-day vacation looming, with no cable TV, and I thought it would give me time to read, possibly.

Now, I love to read. Books were the backbone of my youth. I have a master's in English lit. But like I said, finding time to read lately has been a challenge. And I have high standards now because my time is limited. It must suck me in. Must not be ridiculously unrealistic. Must not be depressing. And must make me happy. I am quite picky in my old age, when it comes to books. "Twilight" was not for me; I tried. And "50 Shades" just doesn't appeal to me.

So what does appeal to me? I will read just about anything by Alice Hoffman. And I loved, loved, loved "The Help." I love lighthearted things with quirky characters, and a small town feeling definitely adds to the charm. And I am often drawn to stories which take place in the South. This Fannie Flagg book seemed right up my alley. And it was!

"Standing in the Rainbow" was such a warm reminder the old days, of small towns, of family and neighbors and how simple things sometimes get so complicated as time goes on. It made me long for the past, in many ways, but it also reminded me of how I want life to be, too.
To say I loved this book was an understatement. I found any minute I could to read it. I loved it. And was sad when it ended. And looked up other related Fannie Flagg books to download when I got home. My next choice is this one. I'll let you know what I think when I'm done.

I'm thinking this may be a Fannie Flagg-sort-of-summer. I'm hoping to have the time to finish each and every one. How 'bout you?

Vermont Vacation

Last week, we took a little vacation in Vermont at our family cabin. We had a lovely time and it was good to get away from the everyday routine, unplug (no technology!) and relax with loved ones. Everyone needed a break, and enjoyed our time in the slow lane with the simple life.

Twins watch the 4th of July parade.

Big Girl poses with a cow!

Sunset on the 4th of July

Fireworks!

Big Girl poses as a cow to entertain the twins.

American Flatbread

Flatbread's "The Lorax" garden

Waitsfield covered bridge, rebuilt after last year's flood.

Bunny Twin walks with her grandmother.

Big Girl poses in VT

My 3 beautiful kids -- although Buddy Twin is squinching his face...

Bunny Twin admires her late great-grandmother's flowers

Buddy Twin plays with old LEGOs at the cabin

S'mores!

Big Girl tends the campfire with her Girl Scout skills.