Do You Play The Lottery?

Every few weeks I buy a lottery ticket, and it sits in my purse until I remember to get it checked at the grocery store, and then I pick up another one. I've never been a habitual lottery player, but my mom is.

When I was in high school, my mom won the lottery.

I remember waking up to sounds of exciting downstairs, a voice saying we won over and over again. I had no idea what was happening.

As I came downstairs I was stopped just short of the bottom by my mom and her partner, huge grins, eyes wide.

We won, we won, we won!

A lottery ticket and that morning's paper were shoved into my hands as I read out the number. Sure enough, it matched. And we were all a little stunned.

My mom, not wanting to risk a possible newspaper typo (and since we didn't have the internet, couldn't check online) took the ticket to the same convenience store where she bought it, and sure enough, the numbers didn't lie.

It was definitely the start of something very interesting for our family. And despite the fact that perhaps lightning doesn't strike twice, my mister and I still buy tickets every so often and keep our fingers crossed. It'd be a nice retirement fund, right?

Do you ever play the lottery? Do you check via lottery.net, or another online site? Or do you check it in person? In Ontario we have little kiosks where you can scan your tickets, but I still like to take mine to an actual person for some reason. Call me old fashioned!

Image source: Lisa Brewster via photopin cc

Day 17: My Family

Generations & Family Traditions

There's a very sweet little pink dress that has been in my family for years. Soon it'll be time for Gretchen to try it on.

See the blonde gal in the larger frame? That'd be yours truly at about age two. In the smaller photo? My grandmother. For some reason, the dress went missing during my own mother's childhood, and so she was never photographed in it -- but my little Fawn will carry on the tradition.

The material has the finest, most precious feeling, gauze-like quality to it. The embroidered details are absolutely beautiful and it's in glorious condition. It's originally from Germany, as is my family.

Much like our last name, this dress has been passed down in a matriarchal fashion an so it will continue. I cannot wait to see my little girl in this outfit, just like her mama and great-grandmother before her.

Family traditions make me smile a great deal. In our tiny clan it's wonderful to be able to count on something so simple and lovely. I'm grateful to my grandmother who kept such great care of this outfit and was able to pull it out at a moment's notice when I inquired.

And I promise to share photos after Gretchen's photo shoot, of course. I sense a future edition of Small Style in the making. 

Please tell me, mes amis, are you carrying on any family traditions? What makes them important to you? I'd love to hear. 

PS. Happy Family Day to those celebrating!

Recently

Snapshots from my gramma's house. The energy is so calming and and I always feel at peace. Her home is filled with treasures and fabulous books and an incredible art collection from the places she's lived and traveled. Everything is warm and inviting and cozy.

This might be one of my most favourite places on earth.

PS. Was at the hospital with doula clients & their beautiful little boy last night. Today is a lots o' coffee kind of day. I think a trip to our favourite downtown cafe may be in order.
PPS. If you haven't already entered the Schoolhouse Toys giveaway, pop over here for your chance to win some gorgeous handmade wooden blocks. Best wishes.

Saying Goodbye To 2011

What a year! I won't pretend that 2011 was all kittens and sunshine, because it really wasn't -- but what good is dwelling on the negative? No good can come of it and so we're truckin' on. Twenty-eleven brought changes in my career, life, relationship, friendships, family & more... some good, some bad... and everything is different now. But that's life, right? I have great hopes for 2012. Things will even out this year. More than ever, I know what I want, and despite knowing that things are never quite reigned in, it's giving me a sense of satisfaction. At least I've got an idea in my head, you know? There are some fun things I'll be talking about in the next month or so... lifewise, exciting things. I've only got time for positivity and happiness this year, people. Join me?

January

It Just Takes A Moment

All Things Excellent

February

Friends, Baby Girls & Embroidery

Late Last Night

March

The Fawn's Quick & Easy Chili

On Toddlers & Chutzpah

On Sunshine, Bangs & Taking Care Of Mama

April

On This Mama's Mind Tonight

"John's Pants"

So That I Remember

Easter Weekend Love List

On Break-Ins & Feeling Violated

May

Hide & Seek

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

Moment By Moment

Pretty Girls & Their Bikes

June

The Babes, Together Again

Dedicated To The Rain

July

A Girl & Her Bike

The One Where The Fawn Gushes Because Her Heart Is Simply Bursting

Yurt Love

August
Snapshots From San Diego: A BlogHer'11 Visual

Bancroft, Ontario

The Burning Hell Loves Babies

September
There's Music At The House Of Fawn
Our Sunday
Neighbourhood Sweethearts

October
A Thanksgiving Retrospective
The Gibson Tuck... In Action
Our Pumpkin Patch Adventure

November

 Deep In The Hundred Acre Woods
Some Style Inspiration For The Season
Eight Things You Didn't Know About Me

December
Shiny Happy People: The Blogger Meetup!
O Tannenbaum & Tradition
Hematomattack
Blogs Nights

And if you're looking for a little eye candy... take a peek back at all the Fawned Friday posts too. My favourite blog feature.

Happy New Year, dear hearts. So much love.

Hear, hear.

Christmas With My Little Fawn

A morning with kin, five generations, gifts from so many who love her, smiles, twirling, brunch & a cozy nap with mama. Dinnertime with chosen family, good eats, lots of laughter, hugs and happiness.

Gretchen had a fantastic day. Oh my, the things she says and does. A constant source of brilliance and amusement. She keeps me on my toes. She keeps me grounded just the same.

Grateful for our wonderfully mellow Christmas.

Wishing you all the best, mes amis. I hope your day was everything you'd hoped for and more.

Goodnight, Christmas Eve

Gifts have been placed, the lights are aglow, tea's been sipped & all is still. A lovely, quiet night at the House of Fawn, and soon mama will be off to bed too.

In the morning, family will arrive... breakfast, quiche, treats & more. Christmas evening the little one and I will be off to spend time with her godfather & fam. Best friends and so much love.

A mellow Christmas. A happy Christmas.

Goodnight, on Christmas Eve.

Day 17: My Family

One, Two, Three, Four, Five

Happy Mother's Day, with love from five generations of Kretschmar women ♥

Maple Fest

Yesterday morning I told Gretchen we were going to a farm to see how maple syrup is made and to ride on a wagon and pet goats. You've never seen a 2-year-old so thrilled!

She's been obsessed with farms since watching the Leah's Farm episode of Signing Time, a staple in our home. All morning long she did her little happy dance, signing "farm" at me and yelled about "horses!!"

The trip was a huge success! Climbing on hay bales, horse drawn wagon rides, watching syrup boil, petting cows, feeding goats and rolling maple candy in the snow, yum! The candy got stuck to Gretchen's teeth and my mother laughed as I cringed... we brushed twice when we got home because I'm neurotic.
















Delightful! The weather was mild and my little lass was in a mostly wonderful mood. This is the second time I've brought Gretchen to Maple Fest, of course, the first time she was just two months old and slept soundly in her wrap during the festivities.

What a beautiful day! How did you spend your weekend, mes amis?

Sidenote: Gretchen showed her very sweet side when a little boy fell down in front of her. "You ok?" she kept whispering, with an incredibly concerned look on her face. She looked close to tears as the little boy's father comforted him. She continued playing, but went back to their picnic table to check on him a few more times before we left. My gosh, she's a darling.