just a few hours to go and i will be leaving for the airport to pick up Our #1.
i spent my morning wisely pottling around and achieving very little for my pottling ways except a few stitches.
i also managed to write a sign saying "welcome home sweetie" which i promptly attached to a large Father Christmas balloon i bought at the grocery store, intent on taking to the airport with me.
i have no idea what came over me, i am not a grocery store balloon kind of person but the moment seized me as i bought the carrots, the oranges and the sunchips (all good stuff from the food group 'orange')... i noted mothers all around with little children in their carts, i was struck by the moment, that moment that hits you when you know life has moved on, that your days of stuffing kids into carts and bribing them around the grocery store are long gone. when your rose colored specs fall into place, those moments are always recalled with fondness.
as i bought the over sized Father Christmas balloon, i stood with glistening eyes, telling the lady who the balloon was for. can it really be 122 days have gone by and now the day has come when she will be back in our family nest for 11 whole peachy, festive, gleeful days and then she will be gone again. this time around it will be far longer than 122 days, more like 222.
but that is okay, for i will be busy preparing for Our #2 to fly the nest next summer, she too choosing to spread her wings to adventures far away. i am quite sure by the time Our #4 leaves i will be a dab hand at this apron string cutting lark
and so tomorrow i have quite the jam packed thrilling day planned for her, first we will go and look at bi-focal lenses for me and then we will head to the thrift store! she will go her way to the clothing, i will go mine to the knick knack department, we will meet half way and compare our finds and it will, dearest readers, i am quite positively sure, feel like old times, the very good sort of old times that keeps one going on the days when the distance seems unbearable.
she is thanking you so very kindly for the lovely words concerning her dottie angel fim and wishes you the peachiest of weekends ~ Tif
oh tif... enjoy your baby while she's home for the holidays. sounds like a wonderful plan. and i LOVE the balloon! it will certainly put a big smile on her face. xo
ReplyDeleteHave a truly wonderful time with your sweet girl...and the whole clan!
ReplyDeleteenjoy this sweet time with your daughter dear dottie.
ReplyDeleteMy oh my....How those feelings still resonate in my bones even after cutting my vintage apron strings long ago with my four! I can just imagine your #1 pacing in her mind on the plane as she reunites with her clan!....Another mama anxiousness: My #4 is 3 days overdue with her firstborn...Ah, these mama stages...Enjoy your time!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely Beautiful, Your words made my heart feel right.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas & Happy Holidays to you & all of yours!
Enjoy your daughters visit,,as they will few and far in between,,as I will be missing my children and grandchildren as they are all in Arizona as I am in Florida..hope you both find some goodies in your thrift store runs..and you to have a peachiest of a weekend,,
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased your nest will be full again even if it is for only a while. Enjoy every moment in the charity store with No.1 and may you both come home with fab lttle finds.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have such precious moments with your #1 this Christmas! And, numbers 2 through 4 as well. Enjoy the little things!
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas,
Karen
"i noted mothers all around with little children in their carts, i was struck by the moment, that moment that hits you when you know life has moved on, that your days of stuffing kids into carts and bribing them around the grocery store are long gone. when your rose colored specs fall into place, those moments are always recalled with fondness."
ReplyDeleteThank you for this. I am still very much stuffing kids into carts and bribing them, but I know that this too shall pass.
I love your grocery store balloon, perfect! Enjoy your special time, that apron sting cutting is one tricky caper, I dread it! Have fun with all your babies back in the nest, even if it just 11 days, it will be wonderful!
ReplyDeleteWishing you the peachiest of weekends with your dear little (big) one. I'm sure the balloon will act like a magnet drawing her right to your arms. ;)
ReplyDeleteoh the joy and excitement of seeing #1! and what a fun day you've planned...bi-focals and all! enjoy all you have planned and have the "peachiest" of times!
ReplyDeleteThese posts always make me teary eyed and have difficulty swollowing the lump in my throat away.
ReplyDeleteMy Dolly is 3, but I worry of the day she flies.
Your public love for your daughter is very very beautiful and makes me very emotional.
I can totally relate - I've just had another one of my chicks fly the coop. Mine has only moved a couple of suburbs away however that has it's own set of issues because I'm often tempted to 'just pop over' knowing I can't, so I don't and as sad as I am momentarily it doesn't take long for the moment to pass and be replaced with pride - which reminds me there's always texting!
ReplyDeleteplease don't tell me your 2 is flying the nest next summer. what are you trying to do to us! x
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful weekend miss Tif... :) x
ReplyDeleteHi Tiff
ReplyDeleteI only have one, I drove to collect him yesterday, although he is only 100 miles away, he is 16 living in halls, and the silliest things move me to tears.
Have a lovely time with all.
T X
Have a lovely weekend Tif but I suspect you will!!!
ReplyDeleteVivienne x
I haven't checked in to your blog for a while, but I did today and I find that it is a day of days. Wishing you a lovely holiday with your nest all full again. I have to say I had a little tear at thinking about the day when my lovely girl will go on her adventures. She is only twelve but she already has an occasional faraway look in her eyes.
ReplyDeleteAwww!
ReplyDeleteSweetie, enjoy your time together! For it is very precious an ever so sweet!
Happy Thrifting!
Ciao Bella!
Creative Carmelina
XoXo
What a wonderful video...of you in your element!
ReplyDeleteHow good was it to see you working in your studio! Thanks for sharing this...the clip was fun to watch and very well put together!
Ciao Bella!
Creative Carmelina
Have the most wonderful of times together!
ReplyDeleteYou move me in so many ways dear miss Tif and so does your alter ego Dottie Angel. Simply adore the way you write, create...and actually all you do.
Remembet to also greet and pet the other creatures of the mossy shed from me ;)
with the warmest of regards,
Iro - and her alter ego Ivy ;)
well congrats on #1's homecoming. hope you enjoy your holidays together.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit ahead of myself yesterday - 'time differences' me thinks :)
ReplyDeleteShe MUST be back by the time you read this.
Have a fantastic 10 days Tif :0)
Balloons are good too...
Donna x
As you speak of the excitement you are feeling to receive your eldest back into your home I look at my own young ones and dread for the day when they will fly away for I am that lady who has her cart filled with more children than groceries bribing them along the way to stay quite and sit down. Although that day is still far off when I look at their sweet faces I can feel that very moment getting closer and closer. I feel for you and am glad you have made it over the first hump of separation.
ReplyDeleteDon't have any children myself, just a smelly old cloth cat (!) that likes to bite, however you have just made my nose go tingly and my eyes have welled up reading about your balloon purchase at the local super-market. I had a boyfriend who worked in Germany (after lusting after him for years only got the courage to say I love you when he was leaving the country...)and only saw him every 4 to 5 weeks when he could get back. Totally understand the missing of your #1, as each time he went it felt like my heart was breaking. However he's been back a good few years and we have our own happy little nest! Just know you will have a wonderful Yule/Christmas/Festive Season....thank you for a wonderful and uplifting and inspiring blog x
ReplyDeletehave a super wonderful 11 days! They sure do grow up far too quickly don't they?!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely holiday with your precious girl. Thankfully I have years before my #1 is old enough to leave the nest, but I dread the day and know it will come around faster than I want to think.
ReplyDeleteI know how you feel, I leave in 2 hours to pick up my long lost child at the air port. I haven't seen him since July and can't wait until he gets home. His flight was delayed by 90 minutes and it just prolongs the wait! Can't wait to have him back in the house and all the kids together for Christmas!!
ReplyDeletereally like your work, wil kepping following you
ReplyDeleteso fun to read about your adventures here. enjoy your holidays with your family! :::
ReplyDeleteI have as many as you and it worked out that way about half the time.
ReplyDeletei just heard about your blog in 'artful blogging'...i am already a big fan! just wanted to stop by and say hello!
ReplyDeletehezké,krásné vánoce...
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful day!!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like a perfect time..!
family... fun... and funky finds! .....
Both of mine have left the nest... for two years... and now.. they have Both MOVED BACK HOME!!
I secretly am in heaven..I wont complain at all! :)
I know my time is short, and they will continue there journey, so for now... you have reminded me to count my blessings! You are an inspiration to all us thrifty store mums!
Vintage Christmas Love...
Vanessa
Sussex Wisconsin
RhinestoneContessa.com
Hi Tif!
ReplyDeleteI saw your video on the etsy blog, thtought I'd introduce myself, I am Lauren, another fellow etsy-er like yourself (www.minxden.etsy.com) I live in Nebraska in a very old 1,100 square foot house with my hubby, I have 2 "furrbabies" (cats) but no human children yet. I also love to sew, collect vintage wares, and surround myself with my own creations. I mainly sell tiny throw pillows, but I have sold other things in my shop from time to time! your blog and your etsy shop look great~! if you want to visit my blog, go to www.minxesden.blogspot.com glad I came across you little world! I will visit often! great job on your shop!!!
-Lauren
I love reading your blog entries - I just wish they were daily!
ReplyDeleteI have tears in my eyes just reading your post..... all those mixed feelings! While looking forward to the next week ahead frantically making so many things for my #1 & #2 who have also flown the nest Im back to pushing the late arrival #4 in the cart and juggling the time I need to do it all. You have made me think that to cherrish it all is the most important thing. Have a lovely Christmas time and thank you for sharing with us your beautiful blog x
ReplyDelete♥♥♥
ReplyDeletehappy christmas to you
Your blog is so lovely;o)
ReplyDeleteI love Christmas time, especially when it means everyone is under the same roof again. Hope you have a wonderful time. Love, Emma. xx
ReplyDeletecute :)
ReplyDeleteDear Tif, I wish you a beautiful time and merry christmas! By the way I tried making your beautiful crochet jars. In case you are curious http://annluise-illicitlybeautiful.blogspot.com/2010/11/my-creative-space-on-tifs-blog-i-found.html#links. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteBest, Antje
how fortunate am i! to have such readers of the utmost kind, that allow me to talk from the heart and not feel 'silly' :)
ReplyDelete'tis so grand to have her home that words do not convey how complete our little nest feels for the next few days!
wishing you all the most warming of times with your clans, furry and cloth critters included...
I love your blog..it looks very nice. Take a look at my blog that has also a vintage theme: http://ciocolataneagra.blogspot.com
ReplyDelete