Seven Brides for Seven Brothers came on one of the old movie networks, so I raced to record it and spent one of my lowkey days watching it. My entire childhood was spent enamored with this movie, and I have to confess that my sisters and I played “Seven Brides” until an embarrassingly old age. We’d run around our backyard pretending to collect sorrel, having no clue what that actually was, and then spin around singing songs and fighting over which of us got to be Dorcus because she wound up with Benjamin and we all thought Benjamin was the cutest.

Watching it as an adult I’m far more in awe of the dance sequences, and far more uncomfortable with the whole kidnapping angle. But I suppose that since no one actually ended up being forced to marry someone against their will, it’s still OK, right? Stupid complicated adulthood getting in the way of my childhood appreciation.

I really should have taken before pictures so you could appreciate how awful my bathroom cabinets were. Jumbles of travel sized shampoos, old hair styling tools, facial masques, and enough lotion to rehydrate a mummy.

Meanwhile all the pet owner paraphernalia was strewn about, constantly underfoot. Thanks to good old Michael’s and their frequent 50% basket sales, I bought four baskets and now there is a place for everything. Such a simple little change and I can stop having panic attacks every time I need a new tube of toothpaste.

This is peach pear soda in case anyone thinks I’ve suddenly renounced my faith in favor of a wide-bodied Chardonnay.

No, I don’t drink, but I still put my wine glasses to use. To me, drinking a soda out of a wine glass as I’m working in the kitchen (or even sometimes in the garden like today) just makes everything feel more special.

Like using your china on a regular old Saturday night, only just for me.

This picture is left over from last week, but it brings me so much pleasure I had to share it.

Aside from the great company that hosting a get together brings, my favorite part is all the party food leftovers. I’m one of those people who regularly orders an appetizer as my meal, so this is like food nirvana for me. A whole fridge stuffed with little munchy appetizers. Wonderful.

I’ve really wanted to make more time for a social life this year, and so far I’m doing pretty well. My friends Chris and Sandra came over for a big knitting party, and then last Friday I threw a get together for some LDS internet friends.

It was a little bit of a challenge because nearly everyone there were vegetarians and Bear doesn’t consider a meal over until meat comes on board, but I came up with a couple pretty wonderful things that I’ll share over the coming weeks.

Meeting up with these internet friends made me so grateful I had Atticus when I did. I have to say, I haven’t felt that new mommy isolation for one minute. All my friends told me about how lonely that first year can be, and it wasn’t for me in the slightest. Which is especially wonderful given how much time we have to spend at home doing his therapy. I am so grateful for this window I have into the world, and the wonderful friends it’s brought me.

Taken from my backyard. The neighbors didn’t have a pot of gold, though.