Life on St Martin's Hill 2009 Looking for current Life on St. Martin's Hill? Click on 'Life on St. Martin's Hill -Spring 2009' (in the menu, over there to the left!).           17 March 2009   If It Gets Any Better       The mercury climbs and the Sun bades Miss Winter to gather her white skirts, take a bow and gracefully retreat. All the while, sounds of water dripping from the eaves.     Baby carriages (yes, the English style) are out and the entourages are rather large. Mother, father, grandparents and the family dog all leisurely strolling along.     People you haven't seen in 4 1/2 months begin to appear, all grinning. Waving. Walking. Breathing. Taking it all in.     Windows yawning open, breathing a sigh of relief while lace curtains inhale and exhale gently.     A grandmother sits on the stoop in front of her shop, reading a picture book to her grandchild. Both with the sun full on their faces. Completely absorbed.     No, not even responsibility nor duty will interfere with this day.   And I smile every where I go, for no obvious reason, and I don't care who notices.   * * * * *           15 March 2009   Brides, Birds, Blythe, & Bits       We simply call them Goodie Bags, given at random whenever enough of a stash is amassed.     We try to meet on the street, at the thrift shops, or for a mocha to make our exchanges. No formalities are needed, and one may or may not receive a Goodie Bag due to low stock. You know, it takes time to find just the perfect things, keeping in mind the loves and desires of the receiver. We shriek with delight at the smallest items, yes, right there in public.     Why, I held up a tiny, red-velvet-flocked reindeer on a pipe cleaner stem, and just yelped out loud how fricken' adorable is this?     Did you see anything so adorable in your whole life?     And I'll bet that one of these angels has seen less than perfect days. Gosh, just look at that face! Looks like it wants to run to the first living thing it sees and kill it.     No matter, even scowling does not deter from adding such trinkettes to the collections. After all, there will come a day when making a gift for someone, and that angel's face will come to mind, and I'll think to myself,     Oh, that one will be absolutely perfect!   Ain't that a hoot?   * * * *     12 March 2009   He & She       Does anyone collect Florence Ceramics?   * * * * *     11 March 2009   Antithesis       Look, this little guy wants to show us something!     And my oh my; isn't she cute?   * * * * *       9 March 2009   The Crusade Continues       This is what Andrew calls, oh just doodling.     Armed with only charcoal, papers, and brushes.   * * * * *         7 March 2009   In Tro Ducing       Paper Saviors! (This is Andrew's prototype above). Tough times call for real back-up, and these little guys are sure to have your back! The following photos give you a sneak peek into this year's fashion stylings!     Flocked.     The sacred Fish.     Of the Sea.     With Pearls of Wisdom.     And a bit jazzy, too! Proof not to take life too seriously.     Coming Soon.   * * *                   3 March 2009   G is For. . .       Gorgeous crystal belt buckles.     Green basket woven with beads.       Gee whiz, that is a tiny pink plastic person.     Getting closer to Spring.     Gown of the finest lawn.     Gold trimmed Baptismal.     Geranium colors.     Glorious patina wire egg basket.     Going to the chapel.     Gotta get more of these things.   * * * * *               20 February 2009   Faith Markers       Sitting to one end of the counter, a paper Dixie Cup labeled Just twenty-five cents each.   Amazing. I rummaged through them. Picking out the ones that seemed to have been used the most, of course.       And choosing the most unique.     I don't know how or why I ever started collecting these. They just seemed to find their way into my presence.     Maybe they're trying to tell me something. Something.     * * * * *           14 February 2009   It's V-Day!       A quiet winter evening. A roaring fire. Two sleeping white dogs.     Trinkettes abound in vignettes around the home. Red here. Gold & glitter there.     A general love for most things old. Vintage. Antique.       Be it an old autograph album. French embroidered ribbon, oh so exquisite. Mechanical cards with quirkly personalities. Is he looking up her skirt?       Dresden foils, and vintage mica flakes.     Regardless of language, we all mean the same thing. Or, at least we should. Oops. I mean, shoud.     From the whimsical.     To the ethereally polished. To elegance.     To all our Valentines out there. Affections.   * * *             8 February 2009   The Red Holiday       Well see, and hear this. M-Verdi has been busy in the design and execution of holiday froo-froos. Photos to post soon. Some are even for sale.     Our Valentine Gift List is somewhat long this year, and it's been such a delight to be busy and absorbed in the business of decorating for this Season of Love.       There are oodles of ornament cards. Refurbished spice bottles with miniature sceneries inside. Cherub & pearl key fobs.     Miniature dried floral roses. Heart-shaped candy boxes. With candy, of course. (uh, Andrew & I might have to buy more since we're running low). (Just sayin').       Fancy Victorian candy cones, and sets of OOAK collaged gift tags. And maybe a red jewel or two. And stuff that's all twinkley. (wink)!       You just never know.   * * * * *               3 February 2009   Stuff that Resides Here & We're Sick of Snow & Stuff Like That         It just doesn't stop. The snows.   It's beautiful to look at in photos and stuff like that, but it gets old when you're house-bound for days.       So rather than sit here bemoaning what will be for the rest of my life, I thought I'd fast-forward myself into spring. Via photos.     Andrew grows all this stuff. Those tulips, and these hyacinths. I really can't wait until they're in a huge vase in my kitchen, and in every other room of the house, for that matter. The fragrance is extraordinary.     Are you anxious, too?     More stuff that's green. And lovely.   Yoo-hoo, Mr. Spring! Hurry up and get your pants on, and come outside!   You're really missing out on a lot of stuff here! Or as Andrew would say, Aw come on, dude.     See? We've got a little gathering planned as soon as you arrive!     Don't keep us waiting.   * * * * *       1 February 2009   Black & White         Two colors which exist in this world as a substrate to all others. White is calm, then Black is grounding.     A sort of resting place for white's delicate nature. When it chooses to be so.     Hushed shades of grey, derived from two opposites. And all those greys give depth, hue, and substance to the scape.     In a man-made world, black is the color of strength. Durability. Longevity. Coal cold. Steel & ice.     When colors begin to form and strenghthen, when the grey shadows begin to weaken, it's surely because winter is on the down-side.     Its days are numbered, to be sure.   * * * * *         24 January 2009   Elle*Oh*Vee*Eee       Some lovely Valentines for us to share.       Dresden foils, paper scrap, recycled greeting cards. Ribbons, too.       Glitter to glam.       And tiny boxes to peer into.     All sweetly sentimental.         Of course.   * * * * *