Book of the Month: planting a seed

There is a new favorite in our family.  This time it is not mama, dada or big brother who love a specific book but the littlest member of our foursome.  Elliott has chosen The Carrot Seed By Ruth Krauss as his current read of choice.  There are a couple other books that he enjoys but this one is special because it is about the littlest member of the family and how his faith and perseverance is rewarded.

 I bought this book when Ky was a baby.  The vintage colours and illustration style called to me from the cramped book shelves of Value Village.  It is copyrighted 1945 and the illustrations were done by Krauss' husband Crockett Johnson.  A quick internet search didn't reveal a ton of information about Ruth although she is regarded as a star of child literature (not that uncommon for many women artists unfortunately).  I saw on Amazon that someone has written a biography about the couple that will be released this fall.  What I admire about the story is that it is simple and has a wonderful message.

The little boy plants a seed and the rest of the family says it won't come up.  When it gets to the page with the big brother piping in Kyan will run over and recite his line: "It won't come up."  And then...

The whole family is in one illustration together and Kyan will point to each character and name us as the family.  I mean we look like them, don't you think?  Oh, right my hair is never that coiffed, but Dave has always harbored a secret desire to take up pipe smoking (really!)  And if the suit was replaced by a hoodie and jeans we'd be in business.

All kidding aside, what makes my heart sing about this story is that while it must be hard to be the littlest brother and try something on your own when everyone tells you it won't work, if you believe in yourself you can make your goals happen.  I love the message that Elliott and Kyan get each time we read this to them.  Granted at 15 months Elliott may not get the deeper meaning but something about this book compels him to want to see it again and again.  That's a great start.

Saturday at the Flea Market

Heidi Joy and I had a mama's morning out today.  Amidst the junk we did find some treasures.  And then it was on to the fabric store to pick up the last supplies before starting our spring sewing project which I'll share here as soon as the sewing starts.  But here is our day...

Our score!  Two sewing boxes, one for each of us, a chair to match Ky's set and a retro tin picnic basket for Heidi Joy.  Fun was had and yes, we are going again...someday.

Vintage love

Have I mentioned my love of vintage here before? I really do love it. Most of all I love pieces that have a family connection as this table did. They have a story, a history and a connection through time. It is like they add to the overall energy of your home by carrying feelings with them.


This weekend I was given a set of dishes from my aunt-in-law. These dishes are Dave's paternal grandmother's set. She used these ones specifically for passover. They were made in England by the W. H. Grindley China company. They were made sometime after 1928 and have been in the family since the 1930's. So far I haven't been able to find out what the pattern is called. Although they say "The Rossall" on the back but that doesn't seem to correspond to a pattern name that I can find.


Picking out a china set wasn't something that Dave and I found important when we registered for wedding gifts. Instead we chose a nice set of stoneware dishes to use for everyday. And they are fantastic. Receiving a set of china like this is more my style. Luckily I love the pattern. Ivory with gold, orangey-red, blue and black outlining. They set is huge, twelve dinner & side plates and wide soup bowls, four platters, three side dish bowls, a gravy boat and another gravy bowl and a beautiful soup serving dish. I aspire to have a table and occasion big enough to use the whole set someday. I feel so lucky to have this treasure passed on to me. The set is in great condition and the little chips that a few plates have just add to the charm of them for me.