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*I’m hoping that says "Japanese goodness"

My niece just got back from Tokyo and, as is typical of her, came back bearing gifts.  I recieved Plum wine and a fabulous sheet of chiyogami. 

I love Japanese paper – I like to take just a smidgen of it and add it to a plainer wrapped package.  Kind of like an obi on a kimono.  It can be a bit dear so I tend to be miserly with it.

Sara said that there was a shop next door to the hotel they stayed in that was eight stories of paper and craft goods!  It was so overwhelming that she had to go back four times because she couldn’t make a decision the first three times she went.  I would go to Japan for that store alone.

This online shop has a good assortment.  I haven’t shopped there before but I’m thinking it’s probably my blogging duty to make a purchase and report back.

Then I’ll have to give someone a present….

To borrow a phrase ~ and from a few other bloggers who have had similar posts.  It really is the little things that make me happy.  The touches that just add a little bit of pretty to an ordinary thing.

I keep a little vase right my kitchen sink for a fresh bouquet of basil.  That’s the entire purpose of this particular vase.  I can pinch off a few leaves as I need them and it makes the kitchen smell really good at the same time.  I think the basil might last a bit longer in the fridge but it just isn’t as lovely.

This idea I actually did cop from Martha’s ‘It’s a good thing’ section of her magazine.  Probably about 8 years ago – maybe longer.  How long has her magazine been around anyway?  Take a pretty bottle, add a pourer (you can find them in bar section of a kitchen supply store) and you have a much better looking container for dish soap.   

This next one is really more practical but I do love the little butter holder.  I bought it at Crate and Barrel and it holds a half of cube of butter – just the right amount.  Plus if it gets hot and the butter gets really soft it can’t ooze out anywhere. 

I keep meaning to get another one for margarine (since someone in the house prefers it to butter) and etch each with an "M" and a "B", respectively.   Note to self:  Add ‘buy etching cream’ to todo list.

I do like sparkly, glass things – my sister thinks I was a magpie in a past life, drawn as I am to shiny things.

Thank you for all the lovely anniversary wishes – I really, truly am blessed.  And thank you for the kind words about the photograph – oh for the days of only one chin.  Where did that jawline go, I wonder? 

24 years ago today I married the man of my dreams. 

Happy Anniversary Rick ~ I love you.

When all my will is gone you hold me sway
I need you at the dimming of the day

Lazy HOT days I might add.  It’s about a bagillion degrees here in California.  It’s all I can do to stay awake.  The heat just drains me.  I need to sit on the porch in my slip and drink an icy cold mint julep.

We had guests for the past few days – hence the slowness around here.  My dad, sister and brother in law came up for a few days.  And we just ate and drank and lazed and then started all over again. 

This is the thermometer at 12:45pm today.  100 degrees.  And it’s not even the hottest part of the day.   I think it got up to 107 degrees yesterday.

That thermometer is in the SHADE – did I mention that?

Okay enough whining about the heat –

I said no more quilting posts but the tabletopper above is my July one – my sister Kate made it for me using 30’s reproduction fabrics that I had collected.  This was back when I pretended I couldn’t quilt myself and would get my sisters to feel sorry for me and make them for me.  Guess that gig is over. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful 4th of July – even if you don’t live in the states – I hope you had a perfectly lazy day, eating fabulous food and enjoying the company of your loved ones.  That’s exactly what I did.