The Stone Rabbit

A BIRTHDAY ROAD TRIP........ or an excuse to look for MORE PINK!!

Recently, I met up with my friends Bonnie and Marian at a wonderful sale we attend each summer in Independence, Missouri.  It's always held on the second Saturday in July on the grounds of the gorgeous Bingham-Waggoner Estate.  It's a sale that consistently draws terrific antiques and crafts vendors.

While I LOVE to look for bargains or additions to my collections, I now have an eye for finding PINKS, too!

 

It didn't take me too long to locate a booth that held tons of delightful PINK items. 

However, I was eager to locate another booth.  It was one that belonged to fellow bloggers---who are sisters.  I'd been looking forward to meeting them ever since I found out they would be vendors at this, my FAVORITE SALE OF THE ENTIRE YEAR!!!

It wasn't too long before I found THE WILD RASPBERRY booth and two of the owners, sisters, Chastity on the left and Deb on the right!  They create wonderful fabric items, which include adorable aprons!  You will love visiting their blog and on line shop!

Yes, while I was busy finding PINK stuff and fellow bloggers, Bonnie (left) and Marian (right) were shopping away!!!   Bonnie was really giving that purchase some serious consideration!

That sale was about three weeks ago.

We're getting the itch to go antiquing again.

But this time, it's gonna be a ROAD TRIP!  Yes, indeedy, it's a Road Trip to celebrate OUR birthdays!  While Bonnie's was in March and Marian's was in April and mine is NOW, we are going to roll the parties into one and take a short trip in honor of our special days! 

So, I pulled out my bags.

Actually, Bonnie, Marian and I all have the SAME bags!  Yep, we found them at a sale one year and have taken them on the road a few times!   We each put little tags on our bags so we could tell them apart. . . . it can get a little confusing! :)

I packed a couple of my serious shopping shirts.

The top one says it all and the other one, the PINK John Deere shirt, will be very appropriate because we're heading to rural Missouri, just East and North of the Kansas City area. 

I also packed my PINK flip flops . . . . .

and the early birthday gift I bought for myself---a PINK "LUG" bag!  I found it at Sharleen's shop, LUTICIA CLEMENTINE'S, located on the historic Square in Independence, Missouri.

THE STONE RABBIT also reminded me to take a Missouri Map.  Bonnie, Marian and I have a tendency to get lost. . . . . .enough said on that topic!! :)

Looks like I'm ready for our Birthday Road Trip and you can bet I'll be on the lookout for some swell PINKNESS to share on a future Pink Saturday Post or two!!

For a list of LOTS of folks with PINKS to share, please visit Beverly at HOW SWEET THE SOUND!!!

Thanks go out to Beverly for working so hard to keep our Pink Saturdays up and running!!!

DANA

WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD! Part 3 of 3

Finally!  I'm posting the last installment of our Grand Girl's recent third birthday party! To visit Part 1, click HERE and to visit Part 2, click HERE!  But to see Part 3-----well here it is!!!

THE STONE RABBIT just had to come to the party, too.  He'd  been looking forward to seeing the end results of all of the preparations.  He told his little yard ornament friends that he had two things he was especially looking forward to doing----the first, he told them, was to be able to hop down the Yellow Brick Road- - -  which he did !!!  The second one will come later! :)

The Grand Girl loved looking at the little OZ exhibit her mom had set up in the entry.

Of course, the actual movie of The Wizard of Oz was playing during the entire party.  The Grand Girl loves this movie. . . . can you tell?  Also playing during the party was the sound track to the movie- - -it made for a very festive atmosphere!

One of my friends and her daughter own a shop, SPECIAL EVENTS, in Blue Springs, Missouri.  Besides providing all sorts of wonderful items needed for special occasions (including plates, napkins, plasticware,  and LOTS more) they also design the sweetest balloon arrangements.  I purchased this cute sunflower design for the party.  After all, sunflowers remind me of Kansas and THAT'S where Dorothy lived!

On Part 2, I showed you the larger Flying Monkeys we had created for the entryway. 

My daughter-in-law came up with this cute display of Flying Monkeys in Training!!  We attached wings to the little plastic monkeys, then hung them from the light fixture above the food table. 

A Rainbow of color was seen in the plates, napkins and plasticware.

My daughter-in-law thought of great labels for the food!!!

The Ruby Slippers seemed to be a favorite among the little party guests! :)

 

These darling creations were made by my DIL!!!  The little party guests also LOVED these!!!

 

After lunch, which also included grilled hot dogs, it was cake time!!!

My son lit the candle while The Girl looked on!

Then she took a BIG breath and . . . . .

 

and blew out her candle!!

 

After cake and ice cream, the little guests played a game of Pin the Heart on the Tin Man!

 The party was a huge hit and a whole bunch of fun. . .  . and, boy oh boy, was The Birthday Girl ever tired by the end of the day!

So there you have it, in three posts, The Wizard of Oz birthday party given for my little Grand Girl. 

It WAS a joy to be a part of the planning and creating. . . . .she certainly loved her day and so did her Nana!

Oh, I told you in the beginning that THE STONE RABBIT had two things he wanted to do at the party.  The first was to hop down the Yellow Brick Road.  The second was to made certain The Wicked Witch was really dead.

After a couple of pokes to her leg, he proudly proclaimed:

"LET, THE JOYOUS NEWS BE SPREAD. . .THE WICKED OLD WITCH AT LAST IS DEAD!"

     

In fact, later that evening,  he told his yard ornament buddies all about the party.  They so enjoyed hearing about his day at the party and the good news about The Wicked Witch.  Then, as they hopped away, I heard them laughing and singing, "Ding Dong, The Witch is dead, the Wicked Witch, the mean old Witch. . . . . . ."

And it WAS a good day!

DANA

Finding Pink at NELL HILL'S!!!

On Thursday, I headed to NELL HILL'S in Kansas City North with my friends Bonnie and Patty.  We were soooo excited---not only because we were going to visit one of the best stores  around, but also, because we were meeting up with fellow blogger, Jeanne, of BACKYARD NEIGHBOR, and her sister-in-law Shirley!!

We were so happy to have a second opportunity to see Jeanne this summer.  On this trip, she and her husband had traveled from North Carolina to meet with a large group of friends who were attending a Royals game together.  Jeanne's sister-in-law and her husband live in the Kansas City area, so they were spending a few days with them, too.  (To read about our first visit this summer, please click HERE.)

Mary Carol Garrity is the talented owner of this store in the Briarcliff Village shopping center and also, her very first store, ( named NELL HILL'S) and GARRITY'S ENCORE, which are located in nearby Atchinson, Kansas.  We we thrilled to find out she was there on the day  we visited AND so was Patty's cousin, Cynthia, who is a gifted stylist for the store.

They were so gracious to pose with us for a group picture.  Standing left to right are: Bonnie, owner Mary Carol Garrity, Shirley, Jeanne, Dana (me!), Patty, and Cynthia.

NOW ----- let the shopping begin!!

Of course, for you Pink Saturday folks, you KNOW we looked really, really hard for some PINKS along the way!

My eyes popped out at the sight of this beautiful black cabinet---the chair and ottoman were pretty danged wonderful, too!! 

The furniture, prints, accessories, bedding and fabric displayed at NELL HILL'S are unique, beautiful and offered at a variety of styles and price points.  Basically, there's something for everyone!

If you have the chance to come to the Kansas City area, a visit to this store is a must.  You will love the amazing and creative vignettes that are EVERYWHERE---all designed to showcase the possibilities of the products offered for sale. 

Not only was there visual inspiration galore, there was plenty of visiting going on, too!!!   What fun to be in a place surrounded by great friends,  wonderful decorative products and a delightful staff.

My photos certainly do not show the true loveliness of the items featured at NELL HILL'S, but I wanted you to have a glimpse of the treats that are in store for you when you visit this location. 

This tablescape featured a mini cloche on a pedestal stand, positioned atop each place setting.  Mary Carol's tablescapes are known for the use of  layers--- with touches of surprise!  The layers beneath each cloche included a wonderful framed print, a napkin, two smaller plates, a larger white plate and a square woven tray. 

Mary Carol's tables often feature huge centerpieces---she makes great use of unexpected items such as concrete urns and risers.  Silver candelabras, trays and pitchers are also frequently mixed in with her tablescapes and  vignettes.

Shirley and Jeanne are shown in one of the many show rooms of this store---all filled with wonderful decorative and functional items.

With the amazing variety of merchandise available for sale at Nell Hill's,  it would be tough to visit this place without walking out the door carrying a sack full of purchases!   I know we each managed to fill up a shopping bag!

Jeanne zeroed in on this darling rabbit cake plate!  She knows my fondness for bunnies!!

 

 

This photo shows another gorgeous tablescape.

 

 

We had so much fun shopping and visiting at NELL HILL's!!

Jeanne and I had already taken our bags to the cars when we decided to get a final photo at the entrance to the store---aren't those some wonderful door handles?  What attention to detail Mary Carol displayed when designing her fabulous store!

After a delicious lunch at the nearby restaurant, called "The Cafe", our time together came to an end.

I really hated to leave Jeanne----I truly hope I am lucky enough to get to see her again!!

 When I returned home, I showed THE STONE RABBIT the purchases I made at NELL HILL'S. 

He LOVED everything---the woven tray, the two rusted cloches and the battery operated candle (WITH A TIMER!!!).

I also showed him the three books (written by Mary Carol) that I had purchased some time ago.  I had intended to take them to her shop, hoping she would be there to sign them.  HOWEVER, in my rush to leave that morning, I'd left them at home.

 

He said he would remind me to take them on my next trip to Nell Hill's. 

Then he looked at me and said, "So, didn't you find anything PINK in the store?"

I said,  "Yes, ........

 

and it made us soooo HAPPY!"

 

PINK Saturday also makes us sooooo happy!!! 

To find many great links to other PINKS, just visit our wonderful hostess, Beverly, at HOW SWEET THE SOUND.

Have a great day!!

DANA

PS  Our little Grand Boy continues to do well---we were able to visit him, his big sis, his mom and his other grandparents today!  He was sleeping, but we were able to get in lots of "holding" time.  Again, thank  you for your comments on last Saturday's post and the prior posts.  While I haven't had a lot of time to answer each and every comment, they all meant the world to me---your kindness will forever be remembered and appreciated.

 

A PINKISH SMILE

You know what it's like. . . . .we all do.

We're living life. . . . .we're happy and excited. . . . things are pretty much in focus like we think they should be......

THEN......

things don't seem so clear. . . . things aren't going the way they're supposed to go . . . . .

the days seem scary and dark and you're frightened about what's going to happen . . . . you need support and help.

You reach out. . . . . .

to  God, your family, your friends. . . . to strangers.

You ask for prayers and for courage . . . and for strength and . . .
 

sometimes it takes a very long time before "things" get better.....

and sometimes they don't get better......

but you receive the strength to "get through it"....

or deal with it....

or accept it. . . .

however, sometimes, things DO get better and life begins to come into focus again. . . . .

and, for awhile, you can breathe without the air catching in your lungs. . . and you can relax again . . .

and you can stand up and not be afraid to be happy. . . . .

and you look forward to the next day . . . .

because you know, that for now, your prayers have been answered and. . . . .

 you  give thanks to those who came to your aid. . . .

to the Lord for his blessings, to those who did send up prayers when asked and those who sent wonderful words of support when they were so needed. . . . .to those who listened to words of fears and worries. . . . to those who were there in so many ways.

To those people, no words can adequately express the gratitude I feel for being there in our family's time of need. . . . . because there IS one thing I've learned during my many years on this earth and that is "you can't do it alone". . . . .

there is power in faith and prayer and family and friends . . . .

and if you're lucky enough to have all of those things in place . . . . .

you can survive the challenges that come your way.

You can enjoy life again. . . . .

and the PINKISH SMILE on a juicy melon that's more red than PINK!

THEN . . . .before long . . . .  you can even enjoy the melon!!!!

To all of you who sent prayers and well wishes to our grandson and his family, we thank you so very much.  He's doing very well at home with his mom and dad and Big Sister.

Please visit Beverly, at HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for a long list of Pink Saturday links.

DANA

HE'S HOME

First, I want to thank all of you who left such kind and uplifting comments on my last post.  They meant so much to me and my family.  Your prayers were certainly heard, as our Grand Boy was released from the hospital last evening.

The spinal tap results did not show any problems and the areas of concern that caused the need for hospitalization appear to be within normal limits now. 

It was a frightening time for his parents and family, but with the work of the wonderful hospital personnel and the grace of God, he is home with his mom, dad and Big Sister.

Here he is, being held by my husband last evening---for the first time in several days.

Our house seems very still today.  Just me and the cats.  The liveliness of The Grand Girl is absent.

We had kept her since the hospitalization of her brother on Saturday, plus she was with us last week for a couple of days right after the baby's birth.

She was very good and easily entertained.  She keeps me moving, that's for sure, but she also keeps me laughing.   We had lots of time to play with the water hose and her "riding toy" and blow bubbles and color and go out to breakfast with my Monday Morning Breakfast Group and shop at Walmart  AND we even watched The Wizard of Oz movie---she loves it so.

So today, I'm gonna catch up on a little rest and put away the craft supplies from her projects. Yesterday afternoon, she made "cards" for several people and had a ball "gluing and cutting".  She was working like crazy, and had cranked out seven cards when we received the call that the baby was being dismissed from the hospital.  We just packed up her cards and all of her other belongings, and a little dinner I had thrown together and promptly headed to their house.

It's nice to be "back to normal" for a bit----we hope it's for a LONG time!!

Thanks again for your prayers-----they certainly worked.

DANA

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR GRANDSON. . . . .

Our newborn grandson was put in a local children's hospital yesterday afternoon.  He had to have a spinal tap last night.  The results will be back tomorrow. 

I know what great and caring people make up the community of bloggers and readers.  I ask that you say a prayer for our little Grand Boy---and for his parents and his Big Sister----and for us.

DANA

ANOTHER BLESSING!

On Wednesday,  we received "the call".

We knew it would be coming at any time, and yet I was still surprised when it came!!

Even though we had been living with the anticipation of the news for months, it just didn't seem real until I pulled up to this building and . . .

 

and saw this and. . . . .

and this----the  sweet bassinet in "the ready position".

Yes, Wednesday was the day.

Wednesday was the day our second grand baby was born!!!

 

It wasn't too long (well, it seemed longer to his mom!) until he entered our world- - - with a strong cry and beautiful PINK coloring and "maybe" just a hint of red hair---it's still a bit early to tell.

I had often secretly wondered just how on earth I could possibly  LOVE another Grand nearly as much as I love the little Red Headed Grand Girl who captured my heart three years earlier.  

Then I saw him for the first time.

Those thoughts promptly disappeared.  

I could feel my heart doing summersaults  from the sheer joy of holding him near  ---just minutes after he was born. 

There was NO doubt.  I was crazy about this little guy!

His Big Sister, who had been been on a "when we get the baby countdown" for weeks, was THRILLED to place a sweet welcoming kiss on his little head when she finally got to meet him, then. . . .  . .

 

she snuggled with Little Brother and mom for a bit.

I had the honor of placing a little heart on his PINK foot---as just one more bit of identification!!!  I also had the honor of drawing a heart on Big Sister's PINK foot just three years earlier,  shortly after she was born!

Yes, indeed----another little Grand for me to love and watch evolve into his own little unique self.  

What an amazing day......what an amazing week......what an amazing blessing.

I wonder what he will call me. 

I don't care......

I'll answer to whatever he calls me.   After all,

                   he's my little Grand Boy.

Of course, I had to get a couple of special gifts for the new Grand Boy and the 3 yr. old Grand Girl, so I raced right up to Luticia Clementine's on The Square in Independence, Missouri.  Sharleen, the owner, has the sweetest lines of baby items!!!

I showed  THE STONE RABBIT the gifts I'd purchased for the The Grands------a new PINK water bottle for The Girl and a little soft snuggle frog for The Boy, and to BOTH of them, a clever Bunny in the Box!!!

 

THE STONE RABBIT said he thought they were all great gifts, but if he had to pick a favorite, it would have to be that Bunny in the Box!  "Yeah," I told him,  "I still have the old Jack in the Box that my parents gave to my kids when they were little."  Then I added, "It used to drive me crazy after awhile, but the kids always loved it. . . . as did my little Grand Girl when she played with the one I gave them!" 

Some toys just don't go out of style!

 

Something else that doesn't go out of style is PINK SATURDAY!!!  It's hosted by our dear friend, Beverly.  Please visit her blog, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, to find lots of others who have PINKS to share!!

 

          DANA

Hmmmmmm. . . . . . . . .

Just today, THE STONE RABBIT and I were hungry for a little afternoon snack!

I told him we had some yummy chocolate chip ice cream in the freezer and he reminded me that we had some cones in the pantry!!

We pulled out the cone box and the ice cream scoop and . . . . .  .

I retrieved the box of frozen goodness and . . . . . .

THIS IS WHAT I FOUND WHEN I OPENED THE BOX!!!!!

THE STONE RABBIT was SHOCKED at the empty sight!!!!  "Who would have DONE such a cruel thing?  WHO would have put that EMPTY box back into the freezer?" he cried out!!!

"WHO?" I thought.  Well, I knew EXACTLY who had loaded up HIS bowl last night with piles of chocolate chip ice cream, then settled down in HIS chair, in front of the TV, and blindly shoveled spoonful after spoonful of that cold goodness into his mouth while he watched the Royals beat the Detroit Tigers. 

Yep, my husband was the culprit who had emptied that container and RETURNED it to the freezer!!!

THE STONE RABBIT, always with his "glass half full attitude", donned his cone and said, "Hey, it was a small price to pay if that's what it took for the Royals to win a game!"

Hmmmmmmmmm . . . . . .

DANA

PINK SATURDAY 4th OF JULY!!!!

My Sams are soooo excited about the Fourth of July!!!  They've been chattering about it for days!!!

They watched as I had gathered my Fourth supplies----the ones I need for the parade we always attend AND the scrumptious potluck that we gather for afterwards!

Oh, yes!!

First, I dusted off my folding flag chair. . . .  I always position myself up as close as possible to the actual parade in this patriotic beauty!!  Then I located my large read and white umbrella....it works fine for rain or shine--we're supposed to have rain this year!! Of course, my flag is ready to wave as the festive parade units march before me!!

My little yard bunnies are decked out in their Fourth of July ribbons---they have their very own parade planned while I'm gone---I'm so glad I have a bunny friend with a camera to snap a few photos of THEIR fun!!!

I have my food items ready for the yummy post parade pot luck!!

My  cooler is filled with water and other very "cooling" spirits!!!

I also found some really fun, sparkly flag rings to pass out and . . . . .

a patriotic fan JUST in case it gets warm when the rain stops!

THE STONE RABBIT said he loves all of the Red, White and Blue, BUT this IS PINK SATURDAY----he was just wondering about the PINK that, so far, seems to be missing in this post!!

I told him "not for long" as I  caught a glimpse of a little "party bus" motoring up our driveway!!!

"Whoa,"  he cried,  "I see some PINK now!!!!"

Oh my goodness---not only were we seeing PINK, but our PINK guests were waving flags!!

The Sams and THE STONE RABBIT were so excited about the bus load of Patriotic Pinks that had just  rolled up our drive and onto our sidewalk!!

They told the PINKS to "Please, come and join us!"

They immediately rolled off that bus and on to the porch!

The PINK guests  took their places on the two cake plates that had been arranged for them.

The Sams expressed their appreciation to the PINKS for making this particular July 4th PINK SATURDAY such a perfect day.

The PINKS added to the excitement of the day by giving all of us a package of Black Cat Firecrackers, some sparklers and our very own punk!!!

The Waving Sam thanked The Pinks for the swell gifts, then asked THE STONE RABBIT to make a little speech.

While typically a rabbit of few words, he quickly said:

"May God bless our country on this Independence Day and those amazing military personnel who so bravely protect us."

He also added, "Don't forget to visit Beverly at, HOW SWEET THE SOUND, for many more links to Pink Saturday fun!!!!"

Have a safe and happy FOURTH!!!

DANA