Thursday, May 6, 2010

update on things in my little corner of the world


Oh boy, am I happy right now! Things are wrapping up and getting wonderful here and since I just finished my government course I'm letting myself post. Here's a fair warning, when I'm happy I tend to be wordy and use a lot of exclamation points (I've already deleted four! whoops). I first want to thank you all for your lovely comments and support, you've all been amazing and I appreciate you so much. I am planning to post a whole lot more real soon, this has just been a wild in-between/figure-everything-out-at-least-as-much-as-I-can kind of section of my life, so we'll just have to see where everything goes. ANYWAY, what's some things I've done. I've been baking a little, but mostly playing with what I bake, as you an see from my little elephant parade here.

I've been drinking lots of tea and have the pleasure of watching all the snow melt. That's right, our yard is now completely snow free! I am more ready than I think I've ever been in my life for summer.

No, I did not do this, and no, it is not my truck. It's my friend's and I thought it was funny and fun, and in it's own strange way, kind of pretty. If anything you can see what my little town is looking like right now in the back ground, beautiful skies and soon to be budding trees.
Now for the thrifted things. I wish I had a better picture of this, it's a wonderful leather backpack that I got for a $1.50! It's just what I've been needing and it will be perfect for bike rides this summer.
A nice peach sweater, that's very soft and sweet, I especially love the collar.
And what I got just last Monday, a pattern for little girls coat, some very tall socks, and a nightgown. The coat the pattern is for is so adorable, I'm pretty sure it's early sixties, which I love for little girl clothes, knee socks and short pleated skirts everywhere! When I say these socks are tall I mean tall, as in they go above my thighs, I do have short legs, but I didn't know that they even made socks like these! I'm just hoping I can find more. Now the nightgown, I hope no one thinks is gross that I'd thrift one. Yes, I am planning to sleep in it, but only after it's been well washed. You see, I've been looking for something like this for a long time, it's long and soft, worn, flannel. It's perfect for pretending I'm Elizabeth Bennett or just about any other storybook character.
This summer I plan on learning more about wild plants that grow here in Alaska, their food and medicinal abilities. I know a bit already, but my goal is to eventually know just about everything I can. I'm especially interested in healing properties, have you noticed too that in many of the best books the main girl knows herb lore? How amazing would it be to be able to save some one's life (or at least sooth a stomach ache) without any medicine or help! So yes, that's a summer goal, you will hopefully be hearing a lot about. Here's a little sneak peak on the one and only project I've managed to finish in all this time (but I haven't started any new ones, I've been good, I promise!). I'm going to dedicate an entire post to it though, because it's so amazing. Not really, I mean, yes I'm proud of it, but the main reason for waiting is so that I can show you more pictures of it than I could if it was mentioned now. Also, if I'm to post more I probably shouldn't talk about eveything at once.
And so I'll leave you with this lovely rainbow we saw last week, and I must say, I've never seen one that wide. Ah, the marvels of nature.
with fresh air and leaf buds,
Clara

13 comments:

Clare said...

i do love your blog, its so pretty and puts me in such a lovely place.
i love herb lore, it is so fascinating and very useful x

Tabitha Bird said...

Every time I come here you make me smile. :) Enjoy the tea and the blue skies :)
Oh, I loved the car full of balloons. Wish I'd done it!

Erica Pru said...

Oh I'm so glad you're happy again dear! May has a way of doing that doesn't it?
I hope you see many more rainbows this summer xoxox

magnoliaamber said...

Hi I'm back for commenting! How are you? I've been looking for the rainbow lately. None of the rains produce any...

Your rainbow was splendid!

Anonymous said...

I have pretty much the exact same backpack except I got it for 25 pounds in England so good find!!
Love your posts!

Melee said...

Hehe, I love your elephant parade!! :)

I don't think thrifting nightgowns is gross at all! After a good wash, of course. :)
Wow! I'd love to wear socks that high! Especially if they were striped! {I have a penchant for striped knee socks. =D}

And that rainbow is beautiful!!

Clara said...

Little Bear Stories: Thankyou so much! that's exactly what I think about herblore as well.

Tabitha Bird: oh I'm so glad, It makes me smile when you come here too. I wish I'd filled that truck with balloons too. :)

Erica Pru: you're exactly right! May does make everything look brighter. I hope you see lots of rainbows as well. <3

magnoliaamber: yay! and here many wishes to you finding some rainbows soon.

frenchtoile:oh boy! we're backpack twins! fun fun :D and thank you so much dear!

Melee: oh yes I love the idea of striped knee socks, I don't have any at the moment, but I'd like to find some. The length of these that I found are indeed wonderful, I just know I'm gonna wear them alot. (I'm really glad you like my elephant parade and don't think thrifted nightgowns are gross too) :)

Faux Naif said...

your cookies are just too adorable, and that leather backpack is amazing! ooh i am just DYING to find a leather backpack and i can't seem to have any luck of it. yours is just too beautiful. i hope you are well!

Clare said...

*p.s. i left you a little award on my blog xx

Unknown said...

Oh, really cool stuff! I'm sure you are delighted to have the snow melt, I know the feeling. I was going through your blog and I read your ballet post below, I TOTALLY get that. I had to quit dancing in high school, I was very serious about it, there every day and all day Saturday and Sunday, my schoolwork was slipping and I wasn't able to do anything social, it was just too much. It made me sad, but in retrospect it was SO the right thing. Anyway, just wanted to share that, I came over from Little Bear Stories, I'm defintely following and I'll be stopping back by!

its simple love said...

Oh my gosh! I want the elephant cookie cutter you used! I love elephants more than any other animal. How adorable. And one time, my friend and I got pulled over for driving in a car with about that many balloons... we had a purpose for them i swear.

Rachael

Clara said...

Faux Naif: :D thank you! I'm sure you'll find the perfect leather backpact eventually. it can be hard to find exactly what one is looking for when one has something so specific in mind, I'm having that exact delema with a red silk skirt.

Little Bear Stories: AHH! thank you so much!!!! <3

Shari: I'm so glad to hear you say it was the right decision, I've been regretting my choice ever so slightly lately. I mean, in my mind I KNOW that it was the right choice, but I still can't help feeling as though something died, it's hard, but it helps to hear such encouragement from you. and thankyou very very much. :)

it's simple love: elephants are my favorite animal too! oooh, there's just something about them that is irristable. And oh my goodness you got pulled over for to many balloons! how awful and funny at the same time. and I am certainally of the opinion that of all the things to get pulled over for that would be the best. deffinetly.

Kim said...

I'm still looking for a pair of socks like that! And I don't think it's gross to thrift a nightgown - especially not a cute one like that. It's not really that different from thrifting a blouse, right?
Btw - I really love your blog.

Xx