My Birdsong

The Right Stuff

Well, we have made it to the new house all 1,000 boxes, our furniture, Winston (our German Shepherd), my hubby and I. Trevor was smart and went to Spain for three weeks while we packed and moved from a 4,000 sq ft home with three garages to a 3,000 sq ft home and two garages. As you can imagine, there are boxes everywhere! And even though we shed a lot before the packing, we still have a long way to go in getting rid of things. We had no idea how much "stuff" we had!! I guess no one realizes how much "stuff" you accumulate over the years until that dreadful day when the words "we need to move" are uttered.

All in all, we are happy about our new place. The commute is much closer for John, and it was time for us to get a little leaner with our belongings. So for the next few weeks, I will be arranging and rearranging furniture and making trips to the local thrift store to make donations and trying to get better organized. (I hate to admit that I so want to head in the front door of the thrift store and shop after unloading our "stuff" in the back door!) All this while trying to create. 

So I know you will understand if I am a bit quiet for the next week or so. I hope your summer is turning out wonderful.
~ Iva

A Moving Independence Day

We are up to our eyeballs in packing boxes and if the dog is not careful, he may get taped up in a box! Moving day is July 3, so it will be a working Independence day for us.

I continue to go through Brianna's room, sobbing and smiling, and sometimes both at the same time. She was a prolific doodler. I will have to include some of her little characters she loved to draw here for you to see. I will make a scrap book of all the precious little notes, drawings and special things she cherished.

Trevor was able to bask in the glory of Spain winning the Euro Cup in soccer (I think that is what it is called). He said there were thousands of people every where in the streets yelling "Viva La Spain!!" They sang, chanted and danced with the crowds.

And, he arrived in Nerja, a southern coastal part of Spain, the night of the festival of San Juan. The tradition is that everyone goes into the ocean at midnight and says a special wish. He and the other high school students on the trip jumped in the sea at midnight with all the Spaniards. They loved it! My husband and I welled up with tears learning of this. It is something we dream of doing and it was something we wished� Brianna could have experienced. We're so glad Trevor has this opportunity.

I've opened an Etsy shop and am slowly adding pieces, in between moving boxes. I want to thank Davis Designs for including me in her Etsy Treasury. She featured a "Cirque" theme and pictured a little salt box assemblage piece I have listed. Click here to my piece. (Unfortunately, Treasury of cirque-themed pieces is no longer listed on Etsy.) There were some neat pieces.

I hope you all have a safe July 4th, enjoy the fireworks, eat lots of American apple pie and enjoy your time with your family. Hugs...Iva

PS - The doll pictured is one I made a long time ago. She was the first photo-face doll I made. I still have her and she sits (or did sit) on a bench near our bedrooms.