hulloooo there...

Remember me?

I'm Michelle.

(You know, that gal who writes this blog.)

Hee hee, saying "hulloo" always makes me think of Winnie the Pooh ^-^, but I digress.

So, I've been doing well.

The Lord is good.

So good.

So faithful.

My life has been quite filled with good things.

Blessed.

That's what I am.

I kept meaning to get back on board with this blogging business.

Time just kept slipping away bit by bit.

Before I knew it months had passed.

It's a bit like jumping into a swinging jump rope.

Well, I mean, it's not like I'd get smacked in the face with a rope or anything, but still.

I think you catch my drift. ;)

Lately, I've been Instagramming a lot.

I'm kind of into making Bible verse or godly quote pictures such as the ones above.

And this...

Oh, and just to thoroughly confuse y'all my name on there is now miss_strawberry_shortgirl.

It's completely random.

Don't ask me why.

I just thought it would be fun to have a...well...fun name...just for fun. ;P

My mind can be so like a butterfly flitting from one pretty thing to the next.

I am trying to discipline this mind of mine more.

Dwelling on lovely things is good, indeed it's scriptural.

But I can't just stop there.

I'm trying to delve deeper.

To know.

To know Him.

More & more everyday.

The depths.

The riches.

Unfathomable.

But I'll do my best as far as He enables me.

No more scratch & sniff Christianity for this girl.

Nope.

He paid far too great a price to make me His.

Also, just lately I've been crocheting like a fiend.

(If fiends actually do crochet. Don't quote me on that...I'm not 100% sure.)

Having been an avid knitter for so many years I was skeptical as to whether crocheting was even a necessary skill for me to acquire. After all, just about anything crochet could do knit could do better, or so I thought.

I can see now why people are so in love with the craft.

It does work up so fast.

And ya just can't beat a classic granny square for that old fashioned kitschy charm.

I've heard people say crochet is easier than knitting, but that I don't see.

I think they're both easy once you get the hang of it.

There are definite pluses to both.

Oh, and I've just been spending as much time as is humanly possible with my babies & my sisters.

These truly are the good old days.

I know I will miss these days terribly when they're passed & gone.

So for now I cherish every moment that will soon be a memory.

I stare at their little faces to try to memorize them.

I always give them a sniff & a squeeze so I can always remember their smell & squishiness.

For it won't be long before they're all grown & patting me on the head.

As I said before...

blessed.

I'm blessed beyond measure.

Well, sorry about the barrage of pictures.

All of them shamelessly stolen from my Instagram feed.

Thank you for all the kind words from those of you wondering just where I'd got to.

Here I am though.

I hope to stay.

By His grace.

For His glory.

Much Love,

Miss Michelle

aka

miss_strawberry_shortgirl

^_^



april showers & flowers...

Well, Spring has officially sprung in my neck of the woods!

They {the woods} are just bursting with new life!

I always anxiously await the appearance of my favorite little woodland flower -

Dutchman's Britches {or Breeches actually but we always pronounced it the other way}.

They are related to Bleeding Hearts which I've always been fond of as well. Note how the middle stem is slightly more pink that the others & these blooms have the slightest pink tinge as well. Interesting, n'est-ce pas?

When I was a little girl I thought they were called London Bridges & figured these sweet flowers must be what that song was all about! ;)

Don't they just look like little fairies' drawers hung out to dry?

 

Here is a wee "forest" of May Apples 

like so many little umbrellas opening to shield small animals from Spring showers. 

Next month they will have a little fruit (hence their name) under their foliage.

The fruit is edible, though I never have tried. Maybe I will this year! I have a field guide on edible wild plants for my area, and they suggest making a jam or jelly from them.
It's worth a try!

 



 

I ventured deeper into the woods to get some more photos.

One must wear their wellies this time of the year! 



 

I believe these are called Bloodroot. 

They are named this because the liquid inside their stem is red at the root. I'll have you know I had to get a little to close for comfort to a spider to get that shot, so you had better enjoy it!

You're welcome. ;)

 

To my extreme delight, while I was deep in the forest, it started to rain ever so softly.

 



There was no way I could capture the pure enchantment of the sweet Springtime shower with photos alone. Thankfully my camera also has a video option! So here is my first attempt as a videographer. :)
 

 

 



 

If you look closely at the photo above you can see a bumblebee enjoying something sweet from a Dutchman's Breeches bloom. Bumblebees are such cute little fuzzy creatures. I had the hardest time getting a pic of the little stinker! As soon as I got close enough for a good shot she was off again buzzing near & far. Mostly far because I lost sight of her after this shot was taken.

 

~*~

 

These next photos were taken a day later around the yard.

That morning we were blessed with another lovely April shower that moved on as quickly & quietly as it had appeared and left a glorious sunshiny day. I was even able to hang out my wash!

That sort of weather always makes me think of the song Perfect Day

from The World of Peter Rabbit & Friends. I actually found a CD of that soundtrack on eBay. It came free with a VHS of The Tale of Peter Rabbit. I just love the music from those sweet cartoons so I was elated to find it. {For a great deal too which always makes me happy!}



 

 

Beautiful cherry blossoms against a blue sky.

This is an old cherry tree & the cherries are quite too high to reach.

They're very small too so they'd be quite a chore to pit with not much to show for you efforts.

The birdies put them to good use though! :)

The tree grows right by the chicken pen so whatever cherries happen to fall to the ground are immediately devoured by a frenzy of squawking foul.

It's more entertaining than most things on the telly I can assure you! ;)

 



 

These daffodils above were a birthday gift last year from my dear friend Taylor Ella.

She knows that daffs are my favorite Springtime bulb. They're just so sunshiny!

 

 

These little wild violets grow simply everywhere around our yard in the Spring.

 



 

These little cuties are now on my bedside table.

 

"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD.

His going forth is as certain as the dawn;

And He will come to us like the rain,

Like the spring rain watering the earth."

Hosea 6:3

{NASB}

 

~*~

 

Also, I was featured on the Modest Fashion Network again - this time front and center!
You can read the post here.

Thank you MFN!

~*~

 

What's your favorite Springtime flower?

 

Do you enjoy a lovely April shower?

 

Have you seen those Beatrix Potter cartoons?

 



{Photos by Yours Truly}

on a victory rolls roll...

Lately, I've been trying to put more effort into my hair.

Often, I'll just throw it up in a topknot & call it good.

(Usually, because I haven't left myself enough time in my daily beauty routine
to do anything more involved.)
I so love the "victory rolls" from the 1940's. I really wanted to try to replicate them. Easier said than done on my slippery, straight hair. (So, Aqua Net to the rescue!) ;)
These pictures are not even my best attempt, but I happened to have enough time to get out the camera & take a couple snaps, so they'll have to do. :)
 

I can't seem to get them to stand upright, but that's ok. I rather like them this way too.
I have discovered in subsequent attempts that they turn out better
if a take a bit more hair than I did in these.
 

Please pardon the grumpy look on my face in this second picture. I'm not very good at serious faces. I always end up looking a bit angry. ha!


Ugh, my bangs...

I'm never quite sure what to do with them.

I go back & forth between having bangs cut in & then growing them back out.

I've looked at vintage ways to wear bangs on Pinterest

& generally they're just those bumper bangs.

I've tried them before & just don't really care for them on me.

 

***

Here are some of my inspirations found via good ol' Pinterest.

They are all from my pretty board.

 

Oh, I so love this first photo.

The rolls are not over the top, and they don't look devil horns or Mickey Mouse ears.

(Definitely not the look I'd be going for.)

I also like the way the rest of her hair is rolled back.

It's much like Sam's from Foyle's War.

(Which we've been watching & thoroughly enjoying! Per Kathryn & Lily's recommendation.)

 



{Image Source}

 

 Ooo, just look at all those curls in this next photo!

So very lovely.

 

{Image Source}

The photo below seems like a good way to hide unwanted bangs.
Just sweep them back with the rest of the quiff  and plaster them with hair spray.
This is next on my to-try list.
 

{Image Source}

 

Below is a good photo tutorial. My friend, Gussi, sent me this pin. In the message she sent with it she remarked that we should have a vintage hair day. Um, yeah! I bet I could get at least a couple of my sisters to go along with that scheme too. (I'm talking to YOU, Kelsey!) We could go get milkshakes, or get our pics taken in a photo booth, or something cute like that! Who's with me?! haha 

In the summertime, in the little town I live near, they have free concerts in the park on Friday evenings. They play mostly Big Band or Swing music. It would be such a blast to attend those sporting victory rolls and pretty frocks. It's mostly old folks who attend, and I'm quite sure they would get a big kick out it at least. ^_^



{Image Source}

 

Oh, I just love this with the scarf! Very Rosie the Riveter, no?
This is a fun style to wear whilst gardening or cleaning!


{Image Source}



Last, but not least,

I've really been enjoying listening to the charming music of The Secret Sisters.

They have a very vintage country sound. While I usually am not fond, at all, of modern country. (There are a very few exceptions.) I do like a lot of old country, and I absolutely love bluegrass. I guess I'm just a hillbilly at heart. ;)

These gals sing, in lovely harmony,

some of the mid-century country standards my Dad has always favored.

(From whom, I'm sure, I got my love for this sort of music.)

Their albums are offered on vinyl too!

So, I will shortly be adding them to my growing record collection.

But now, let me draw your attention to these gals' hair.

Let me tell you, their hair is a constant source of inspiration.

{Photo Source}



Just watch a few of their videos on YouTube & you'll see what I'm talking about.

{Might I recommend Tennessee Me, House of Gold, & In the Sweet By & By?}

 

***

In order to maintain my new blogging schedule this post had to be a little bit slap dash. I'm really hoping it doesn't seem so! Last week was super busy, and I wasn't able to plan/photograph an outfit or project. The past couple outfit posts worked out to where I could have my sister snap some pics while I was visiting her on our usual coffee klatch day. This is my plan for the foreseeable future, but I needed to watch my 2-year-old nephew Jack all that day this week. {So that his Momma could take the older two kiddos on a homeschooling field trip.} When you get James (Kels' 2-year-old) & Jack together there is just no sneaking away to snap pics. Not unless you want mass chaos to ensue. They get that pack mentality when they're together so constant supervision is required.  ;)

 

My family & I went to a fish fry at my dear friend Debbie's lovely home on Saturday. I had made a couple pies to bring, but neglected to take any pics of them. Ah well, they probably would only have made you all hungry anyway. Really I've just spared you all temptation. You're welcome. ;)

She made the most excellent homemade mac & cheese. Here is the recipe she used.

I can wait to try it at home!

 

On the knitting front: I have finally broken down & ordered the Wonderland Heather needed to complete my Victory Jumper, but I've just got the sleeves left of my Vintage Leaf Sweater so I'd like to finish it first. Mostly because it's a rather slow going pattern, and I'm afraid if I stop I won't start again. I know myself too well. Since the Victory Jumper goes along at such a chipper speed it won't take long at all to complete. 

 

***

Do you like to do your hair with a vintage vibe?

 

How do you feel about bangs?

 

What is your favorite {or least favorite} sort of music?

 



selfies with chickens...

 I've seen some pretty funny selfies (especially on Pinterest).

Crazy cat ladies,

dog fanatics,

etc...

So, I thought...

How  hilarious would it be to take some with a chicken?!

Easier said than done, I can tell you!

I figured everyone could use a good laugh so

here are my favorite failures. ;)

The "In Your Face"

 This is about the best I could get...
The "Looking Affectionately at Prized Chicken" ;)

(On a sewing side note: I made this summer sundress from some old curtains I bought at a local vintage sale for $3.)

My personal favorite:
The "Please Don't Peck Me in the Eye".
Hee hee!
A special thanks to Freckles the Speckled Sussex.
Have a good weekend!
^_~