Karla Nathan – Page 145 – Karla's Cottage

A back yard renovation

By Karla Nathan / June 6, 2014

The construction was delayed. Then delayed again. That was after we ripped out the deck and were at the point of no return.

After years of dealing with mole holes, weeds, and chair legs that sank into the mud when someone tried to sit down, I was ready for a concrete pad, and thought I started the process plenty early to get it finished before Birdsong.

Finally, weeks later than I had thought it would be, the digging began.

I was thrilled to get it started, but it was just a little more than a week before the party! Thunderstorms were forecasted every single day. And now NONE of the yard was usable.

Luckily, the storms held off and in just a couple of days, the whole thing was done.

The guys we hired were just wonderful. Friendly, helpful, fast, and good at what they did. Matt helped Sugarwings put her hand print in the wet cement.

Dewdrop was a little shy and wanted me to help her.

I did some imprinting in wet cement myself.

Once the guys were done, then our work began.

AT&T and Directtv had moved the wires that used to be under the wooden deck. Those had to be cammofluaged with white paint. While I was at it, I scraped and repainted the walls from about 3' up, then went all the way around the whole house, scraping and touching up where needed. I've found that patchwork painting keeps the peeling under control and we can go much longer between paint jobs.

We also needed a retaining wall to make a transition between the levels.

Not to mention all the landscaping and clean up that had to be done. Plus the intire house needed a power wash to get all the concrete dust off, from where the guys had to use a saw to cut out old cement.

More gifties!

bird song art event

By Karla Nathan / June 4, 2014

Mitzi is someone I met online, and whose blog I really enjoy. She knows her antiques and is interesting to read. I've not met her in person yet, but I hope to. I already know she is a generous person, each year she has donated to the "tweet" bags for Birdsong.

Darling Linda, also sent some goodies. Each is wrapped with this cute tag she made from her photo taken last year at Birdsong 3.

Her gifts are hand made tussie mussies each filled with a sweet bird. Dozens of them! That is devotion, isn't it?

Kim has put together these caged beauties for us too. I can't wait to peek inside to see all the goodies.

Marriane sent these wonderfully wrapped bundles. I have no idea what is in them, but the packaging itself will make fun crafting supplies.

Aren't these old butter boxes cool? Pam Perilla sent these.

Tami dropped by to visit and dropped off her gifts. It made me even more anticipatory for our party to begin, after having a visit with one of our "Peeps".

She made these switch covers from decopaged napkins! I don't think I'd be able to get so many so perfect, those flimsy napkins are hard to work with, she did an admirable job with them.

Very pretty!

She also made this pretty teacup nest for me!

And brought dress up clothes for the grand fairies.

I've already mentioned that Gwen has gifted the "Birdsong Ladies" (as Sugarwings calls them) with $50 worth of gift certificates at Bottom's Up antique mall. To draw the names, I thought I'd Wonka it up. I made of list of how many were going to attend that day, then posted the list a few times to make sure no one was left off.

Then, wrapped up 25 mini candy bars (if the ladies wonder why there were no Krackle bars in with the others, it is because they were quite delicious.) Inside the wrappers of 3 of them, I wrote notes in gold ink to create the Golden Tickets to use as prizes, then mailed them all to Gwen. When the Birdsong Ladies arrive to shop, each gets a sweet treat and 3 of them will get gift certificates.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the bags and the drawings. Their generosity and kindness makes the party even more special for our guests.

And so it begins

Books, Sugarwings

By Karla Nathan / June 2, 2014

School is out, and Sugarwings was sorry to see it end. I've decided to do what I did last summer and take some time off with the girls for summer activities. Lots of painting, zoo time, movies, etc.

Before first grade was over, we were invited to an Author's Tea Party in the classroom to see the books each kid had written and illustrated. Since Sugarwings' illustrations are always unique (like her self portrait, above), I knew her book would be a fun one.

It was. You could see the influence Disney had on her topic too. Princess Leandra was the title of her book.

We decided to honor the occasion by dressing up for the tea party.

I wore my tea party hat and good dress.

After I saw this photo, I realized just how big that child has become. I'm trying to break the habit of carrying her everywhere, now that I see that soon, it will be her turn to carry me.

She already misses school. For now, she has offered to help me prep for our big party and the family reunion that goes along with it. After Birdsong ends, we are having a family dinner with relatives that are in town, and the grand fairies have a Fairy Tea Party Breakfast for their great grandmother while she is visiting from Wyoming.

It's starting out to be an exciting summer! Swimming, zoos, walks in the woods, arts and crafts, movies, and most likely, more tea parties. I've been collecting ideas from Pinterest for things to make, and Sugarwings and I have compiled a shopping list of ingredients to have on hand for them.

I can't wait.

Embellished bottles and tins

bird song art event, swaps

By Karla Nathan / May 30, 2014

We have a small group at Birdsong, so I thought that just a few swaps would do. We are swapping banners, Altoid tins, and embellished bottles.

Swaps are a blast to watch. The ladies come up with such spectacular gifts for each other. I rarely have time to join in at most events I go to, but love watching them.

This year, one swap was not partnered up. Instead, participants bring an embellished bottle, and draw names to trade. Since it was open ended, I figured I'd be able to join in if time allowed. And it did. Or I forced it to, by making time to do it.

I had this cool, old bottle, with kind of wavy glass and decided to fill it with a bird and nest. I used a picture of a meadowlark on the inside, since that is the state bird of Kansas. First, I drizzled glue down into the bottle, then with a narrow dowel rod, I arranged moss and turquoise eggs to make a nest. After that, I added the bird picture and a twig.

While the glue was wet, I dropped in a few little millinery blooms and sprinkled glitter over the nest. I drizzled more glue over it all to hold it in place, then left the lid off for a week or so, till it all dried.

I decided that I needed a little meadowlark info from a vintage birding book, and glued that to the inside of the bottle too.

Which was dumb. It was so hard to do, trying to get it straight with the stick. Like building a ship in a bottle.

Trouble is, after all that effort, it could have just as easily been glued to the outside of the bottle for the same effect. Oh well. You don't learn if you don't try.

I had to add some paper to the back of the bottle anyway. So, should have just glued the meadowlark paper there in the first place.

The bottle is further decked out in aqua velvet ribbon, and a pink velvet flower, plus some other tidbits.

While I was at it, I did a couple more bottles.

And tried my hand at an Altoid tin. I'd never decorated one before and soon realized that with the moving lid and hinges, paper wasn't the best choice for it all. So, I spray painted the box, inside and out first, and then distressed the paint with sandpaper.

I was able to use ribbon, paper, flowers, and other embellishments on the non moving parts.

Doing something out of my normal type of colors and materials was a challenge that I enjoyed, I'd been so busy with cleaning, entertaining, getting ready for Birdsong, that my soul needed a little creative break.

As much as I love doing this event, it does take a lot out of me, and I miss my time just to sit and make stuff.

But- soon, I'll be sitting with my Peeps, and crafting away. Can't wait!

Rosemary Garlic dinner rolls

cottage, flowers, Food and Drink

By Karla Nathan / May 28, 2014

There has been a lot of entertaining going on around here lately. Three weeks in a row, my husband has had someone from his company in town, and we've had a dinner party for them.

Typical of my house, there is a Twister game on the floor to greet the guests. There is usually a toy or pile of toys of some kind around.

Luckily, it has been peony season, they have been in bloom for me to pick for all three little parties.

Peonies can be a lot of work to de-ant, but worth the trouble. I rinse, soak, whack, rinse each flower. If I accidently break one off while getting the little ants off of them, those big, fluffy, flower heads look every bit as pretty floating in a tea cup.

I think I got all of the ants off. None of the guests spoke up to say one was crawling around on the table. I wasn't too worried. Those flowers are so sweet, that if I did miss an ant, it would be soooo in love with the flower it was on, that it wouldn't want to leave it and bother us.

The dinners have been a great excuse for me to over indulge on rolls. I've been baking for each party. These are rosemary garlic.

Here is how I make them, please note that my measurements are guestimates, I don't actually use measuring cups or spoons, I eyeball the amounts.

Dump together in greased bread machine pan:

1-1/2 cups warm water

1-1/2 tsp. sea salt

2 Tbl olive oil

1 Tbl Guar Gum (helps in rising)

3 Tbl sugar

Add:

4 Tbl dried rosemary

1 Tbl minced garlic

3 cups bread flour

And last, 2-1/2 tsp of yeast on top.

Turn on the bread maker till all is mixed, then remove. Pinch off pieces, roll them into balls (with greased fingers) and line up in a greased cake pan. Oil the tops. I don't cover them because I let them raise in the closed microwave.

I set mine to rise for an hour or so. I've found that the perfect "Hot Box" for me to use for bread dough is the microwave. I boil a cup of water in it, turn on the light, and that light along with the hot water is enough to keep the temperature evenly warm for the dough to rise. Usually it takes 30-45 minutes to rise.

Bake at 350 til golden.

That is about how I make all of my bread, except not pinched into balls, divided up into bread pans to rise instead.

I use the same basic recipe so much that I never have to think about it. I just throw in different things for variety. Every loaf is the same amount of water, sugar, salt, guar gum, oil, flour, yeast.

Variations can be chia or sunflower seeds, or ground flax. I try to use chia and flax in almost all the loaves, but find that with the rosemary, it is better without those. I've also thrown in about 3/4 cup of whole multi-grain cereal and cut back on the flour a little. I'm surprised at just how simple and easy it is to bake bread. We rarely buy a loaf any more, and we have developed a bad habit of eating way too much bread.

I'd love to bake enough for Birdsong, but I'd have to make it ahead of time, and while that is good, it is not the same as standing by the oven with a stick of butter in your hand, waiting impatiently for it to finish baking.

Unless this hot weather turns the lettuce bitter before my Peeps arrive, I do plan on serving fresh greens from the food forest.

All this entertaining has me in good practice, I'm excited about all of my friends arriving soon for Birdsong!

Sweet Gifties

bird song art event

By Karla Nathan / May 23, 2014

The sponsor gifts for Birdsong are making me giddy with anticipation. I love filling the bags up with goodies while oohing and ahhing over all the thoughtfulness that came in the mail. These hand made birdie soaps are from Karen Hillman.

She has also sent this delightful birdcage! I don't know what treasures it holds, and I can't wait to see the winner open it so I can find out!

Very sweet!

Laurie has sent us this beautiful wreath inspired by Lori Oles' class last year.

Filled with wonderful and colorful Birdie tags.

And, Hope, journal-er extraordinaire, has gifted a journaling supply kit along with an online class. I have to admit that I did peek in at some of the vintage pieces packed inside. Yep, this is going to a lucky winner too.

Heather has sent not just a kit to make your own coffee filter flowers, but also a Pinkly Perfect and Pretty, completed flower for each guest!

A huge gift is coming from Angie, my shabby chic friend. Her birthday is June 6th and she is throwing a party and inviting all the Birdsong ladies for pizza, wine, and celebration in her shop the night before our arty weekend begins.

Beth will do a make and take at the party of a vintage collage piece, and Sugarwings' Hippy Chick Mommy is making her gourmet cupcakes for us.

Not only that, but Beth has also donated a hand stitched apron as a drawing gift for our weekend.

She has made a tradition of crafting the cutest apron around, every year for Birdsong to give as a gift.

I hope that the wisteria is still in bloom when everyone arrives. The garden is producing and I should have plenty of greens to fix salads, but it would be so nice if the flowers are still here too.

More Disneyland

Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / May 20, 2014

When you are at Disney on your birthday, you get enough wishes for a happy day to last a lifetime! I don't think I've ever been told, Happy Birthday, that many times.

Even the numerous Facebook well wishes aren't any comparison to the ones from the park employees.

We had my birthday lunch with Ariel.

And Cinderella, among other royalty.

The food at Ariel's Grotto was spectacular, and they were very helpful in fixing Sugarwings a gluten/dairy free meal. There was no problem at all throughout the park, especially since she is only sensitive, not allergic. We can go gluten/dairy careful, not avoid it completely. We made sure she had solid, healthy meals, then let her have treats and dessert that are usually not allowed.

Heck, it was vacation!!

My husband doesn't care much for Disney, but he does enjoy watching his girl smile and then drown him with hugs. So he is happy to go. Especially since I don't mind him leaving for a few hours to get a break, Sugarwings and I were fine on our own for a bit.

And he made it back in plenty of time to meet us for the parade. In off season, the parade is smaller, but I swear, the crowd to watch it is NOT. We planned ahead, and found a spot on a bench for me, and my husband sat in the stroller with Sugarwings on his lap. (I am not allowed to post that photo)

Maybe we should have planned a little further ahead to actually get a whole bench… But at least we were down front and could see the whole show.

I think that if we go back, I'd plan a picnic dinner, get a to-go meal, find a bench and take our time waiting for the parade to begin.

There are plenty of to-go restaurants that are good, but we sure liked our sit down meals. We ended up doing two character dinners, by accident. We'd planned to meet the royalty at Ariel's Grotto, and paid for it in advance along with our room, and shuttle transport.

(by the way, that is so much better than renting a car, since we only go from the airport to the park and don't leave, $90 for all of us, round trip, cheaper than a car too. Plus it was adorable to hear every little girl on the bus start singing along to Frozen as we watched the movie on monitors.)

We had so much fun, mingling with the princesses, that I forgot about our meal vouchers. Untill a couple hours later when it struck me, with a sick feeling that I'd paid cash for a meal that had already been paid for and thought I was out about a hundred bucks!

A very sick feeling. Visting Walt is expensive enough without paying for the same thing twice.

Which is why it is great to have a cell phone. I called customer service to get their advice and was set up with reservations at Goofy's Kitchen that night where I could use the vouchers. Even though they were for lunch price at the mermaid restaurant, for about $30 each, and Goofy's Kitchen's dinner was $47 each. We were able to use them and not pay a difference.

The phone call itself wasn't as carefree as the results. My battery was running low, and I was trying to hurry, but the park was so loud, the operator couldn't hear me. Sugarwings took advantage of me being on the phone and distracted and climbed a light pole. Really high.

Park employees told her all day that the rule was: One Foot on the Ground at ALL Times. But that is not an easy rule to follow.

And my poor husband had to sit through another endless parade of characters interrupting his meal! Sugarwings and I loved it. He just wanted to eat without a giant headed creature bothering him.

Not everyone is born to love Disneyland. But he tolerates it okay for us.

He's a keeper.

Okay, I promise, this is the last vacation post.

It was a great trip, I just wish our whole family could've came. Sugarwings spent a great deal of time picking out gifts to take home and talking about the people who couldn't join us.

She's a keeper too.

Avoiding stress at Disneyland and keeping it fun

Sugarwings, Travel

By Karla Nathan / May 18, 2014

Traveling to Disney with Sugarwings was a trip into the world of her imagination.
She is a kid who prefers pretending to playing with toys, and there was a lot of props for her to back up her stories at Disneyland.

Walking through the gardens from the Disney Hotel to the secret entrance to California Adventure, our kiddo had so much fun becoming Cinderella, that I didn't think we were going to make it to the park that day. We could have saved a lot of money by just playing in the gazebo all day. She loved running from it and losing a shoe along the way.

And before that, I didn't think we'd ever get out of the hotel room, because she had an apple for breakfast and every bite put her to sleep.

Once we got in the park, our first stop was stroller rental. Yes, the fairy child is 7, not a baby, but it was more for containment than because she was too little too walk. It made the trip much easier to have her riding instead of running. And she loved the "chariot". (the cotton candy is our traditional splurge at the end of the trip, her treat for staying in the stroller most of the time)

Every once in a while, she'd spy something that caused her to leap from her ride to get a closer look. It was the little details around the park that caught her eye. Like this statue.

First, the dancing royalty needed cooling off with her fan.

Then, she needed to act out the dance, with her own prince.

Ending with True Love's Kiss.

I'm afraid this encounter with Olaf was as close as she got to seeing anyone from Frozen. The line to see the two princesses was

FIVE HOURS LONG.

Seriously????

Who waits in those lines? We made a deal not to get in any line that was more than 40 minutes and she was happy with that. Not that we rode many rides that way, even in off season. But we have fun looking around, watching shows and being silly. And the older, less popular rides are pretty durn cool too.

Tarzan's tree house had interactive things to do, so we climbed it twice.

And the shows at the Royal Theater were so cute, we watched them 4 times. Sugarwings sat in front by the stage and at each performance, made a new friend. When I went to check on her, and asked what they were talking about, she said, "Princesses" in a way that implied I was deranged for even wondering what they might be talking about besides that.

Side note: The Royal Theater has a park employee at the entrance, no one goes in or out during the show. It's a small room, and you can see your kids down in front just fine. When the ushers asked all of us to slide down and make room on the benches, the lady next to us got volatile, flames shot from her eyes, smoke from her ears. She refused to move, said that she had to keep "eyes on her kids" the entire show. Well, it wasn't the sentiment so much as the way she said it. She yelled and stated that she is happy to "be a B" if it means keeping her kids safe.

First of all, her kids were safe. Second, all she had to say, was something polite, like "can I please remain in this seat so I can watch my kids?" The Disney employees didn't deserve her anger and pride in 'being a B". What was the chip on her shoulder about? I think that so many people go to the parks thinking that they have to squeeze in so much, be here, there, everywhere, that they forget to slow down and enjoy it. If you try to do it all, and fight the crowds, you will burn out. She was already stressed beyond her limits and it wasn't even noon yet.

In my mind, the trick to getting your money's worth from Disney, is just to slow down. Chose a couple things that matter to you, then just explore and take your time.

We also made use of the play ground in Toontown. Free time to frolic was important for us.

And finding lines to wait in, like the one for the show at BugsLife, where you could mill about, not zig zag back and forth in roped lines was good too.

At California Adventure, there is a room with giant screens that plays movie clips. It's nice on hot days because of the air conditioning and the comfy sofas. There is plenty of space to twirl and stretch too. The only downfall was that they repeated the life and love cycle montage from UP that breaks my heart every time I see it, and I got teary eyed over and over.

The room is an excellent break for a child who becomes overwhelmed with the park. The activities in that building are pretty low key, with no lines. but every bit as fun. I also recommend Tom Sawyer Island as a break from the hectic-ness of the park. It has green spaces and caves, plus a play ground and fort.

The hardest part for us, was simply getting back and forth to the park itself. I really really really love that you can walk from the hotels to the parks, unlike Disneyworld where it's a major undertaking to get back to your room.

But, we had to make our way through Downtown Disney, and that is nothing but one temptation after another. Between the Legos, fountains, live music, shops, it tries to trap you at every step!

I discovered that making it a game to get from one end to the other worked to keep her going. There were no strollers, so we had to keep her focused all the way through this wonderland. They play music from various Disney shows, and when the Beauty and the Beast theme began, I had an idea.

We decided to dance walk the route and pretend we were in a movie. We lip synced and danced the whole length (well except the Legos, who can resist those?) of the shopping district. We ran, twirled, jumped up on benches, leaped into the air, and made it all the way to the park with very little stopping.

After arriving, panting and tired, at the park, we found out that you can take a monorail and avoid the Downtown Disney trap! But when we went to take it home that night, it was broken down.

My brave, strong, husband, who was very ready to get back to the hotel for a glass of wine and to put his feet up, hefted our girl up on his shoulders and did his own version of the dance walk all the way back. Until they reached the bandstand. And had to stop for a grandfather/granddaughter dance.

Those are the moments we will treasure much more than any of the rides.

Gilding, Frenchness, and fun

antiques/junking, We're having a party

By Karla Nathan / May 15, 2014

Darling LA locals, hauled a group of us around before the Downton Affaire began.

Cheryl and Andrea were kind to take us to visit Gilding the Lily, and the owner even accommodated us with an extra hour of time before the store opened. (photo by Tiffany)

The jewelry making side of our group really loaded up. There are vast amounts of charms, beads, dangles and doodads there.

And it is a charming place to shop.

I loved the props used for display!

And of course, the items that were on display too. Who can resist shiny stones?

Or piles of paper?

After, we were invited to the French General for a cute make and take plus shopping and lunch. All elements, including scissors and glue were provided, but I couldn't help shopping in the ephemera stashes and buying some special paper to cover my own box.

Lunch was perfectly wonderful. Kale salad with chopped cabbage, dried fruit and nuts, along with sandwiches and ginger cookies.

There were sweet little embossed name tags for the luncheon, and my pal, Hope, known for her world class journalling skills, wrote karla on mine. Since my handwriting is so bad that when I wrote one, it looked like Harla instead. (by the way, this photo was edited to leave out the sagging neck)

Normally, I'd have just left the name tag as I'd written it and pretended my name was Harla, but Hope was hosting a travel journal make and take at the Downton party and I wanted the name tag for the book.

My friend, Sherry, gave me this bit of ephemera that she found at the French General, it is going in the travel journal too.

A lot of our trip was spent eating. Lunches, and dinners out, many, many, many treats. I loaded up on goods at Louie's to share with everyone, then we were served a ton more at the dessert buffet during our party.

Good friends, good treats, shopping, and projects. And everything around us was simply much prettier than real life.

Just when I thought the trip couldn't be more perfect, it was time to meet Sugarwings to go to Disneyland. Yep, it was a fantastic week. I'll have some pics of that trip too, but for now will leave you with some more scenes from Downton

(that is my vendor night, lace fanny pack. I guess I should have taken it off for pictures, huh?)

Sightings and sightseeing in LA: Ghosts, Stars, and Cupcake Thieves

We're having a party, Workshops

By Karla Nathan / May 13, 2014

Before the big bash in LA began, Beth and I headed to the wholesale district and scooped up some deals.

We also saw some ghostly apparitions! We'd heard that the Millineum Biltmore hotel was haunted, but we didn't expect ghosts downtown too. (actually, these are just fabric displays, but we thought they were cool)

We wondered if we'd see a real ghost, and spent some time talking to a housekeeper at the hotel who told us some spooky stories from some of the employees' experiences.

And then we noticed the writing on the mirror…

It didn't show up after the first couple showers, but then Beth saw it after hers. We couldn't read it. Some other language, I guess.

I tried to sound it out, then wondered if I cursed us by speaking it aloud, (as in many horror movies) but when nothing bad happened, I figured that like in some movies, you had to say it three times for the ghost to appear. (I learned a lot from Beetlejuice).

We didn't think we should tempt it, so I didn't sound it out again. Lori wiped it off and tried to sub her own joke message, but after my shower, her message wasn't there. And this one was.

We also experienced ecto-goo. Well, at least that was what I was claiming it was. Items around our room were wet for no reason and Lori's dress was slimed.

As Dewdrop would say, "cweeepy!"

An equally fascinating sighting for a midwesterner visiting California, was this sign.

Matthew Broderick and Warren Beatty were shooting a movie at the hotel.

And in the courtyard outside.

I can see why. Wow, what a place.

The place itself, ghosts or not, was beautiful in every detail. Service was impeccable, and the rooms were comfy.

And have I mentioned the food? OH MY!

But not all treats are safe…. I sat down with a group who were discussing a serious cupcake disappearance from a past gathering Kim hosted.

uhm………

It was me.

I am the Cupcake Thief.

But really, there were circumstances behind the theft! Peer pressure, a bottle of wine, and the most delectable treats sitting in a hallway, all alone, on the floor, I couldn't help myself. They were left overs from our earlier party, and we didn't get one then.

Soooooo, when we saw them there, tempting us with their deliciousness, how could I resist scooping them up and running with them to one of our rooms, where we had a little midnight party going on????

Well, there are two sides to the story. One is a group of tipsy gals being silly and sneaking treats. The other side is a poor, hungry young lady yearning for a cupcake, that disappeared from her doorway.

When I heard the other side of the story, I had to make amends and purchased the best little cake I could find to replace the stolen goodies for Cynthia, the victim of our crime.

I think she forgives me.

Author name: Karla Nathan