Piper's first job

Piper is 18 months and she is already working.

Piper spends quite a bit of time with her Aunt Erin and Uncle Peepee (Patrick). A couple of days later I will see photos of her in these adorable outfits that my mom has made for the store.

Piper is their primary model. I love it.

Ethel May Piper

I was scanning through Erin's flikr page, and came across this photo of my great grandmother. This photo hangs in Pipers Quilts.

My daughter, Piper Rowan Dunlop, was named after my great grandmother, Ethel May Piper. I have always been a big fan of family names, especially when the person you are naming your child after was so amazing. She was a school teacher. I think she died at 105. Taught well into her 80s. She was married and had two daughters, Aline and Kathryn. Her husband died young. She was hopelessly in love with him. She talked about him often. She never remarried.

My grandma Aline was my favorite. Tough as nails. My grandma Aline wore big diamonds and loved the outdoors. She too worked well into her 80s. She and my grandpa Lincoln owned Schubach Jewlers. They ran the businesses together for years. My mom tells me stories of stinging pearls when she was a young girl. My mom learned to sew from my great grandma Piper. She was a rule breaker. She stayed up late eating ice cream and sewing, and she let my mom do anything she wanted. This is exactly how my mom is.

Piper and I come from a chain of hardworking, amazing women. I hope this is what I can pass on to my Piper girl.

New Quilt

This is a new line of fabrics at Pipers. I flipped when I saw it. I actually finished a quilt. It wasn't added to my pile of unfinished projects. I am a complete beginner when it comes to quilting, but these simple patterns are so easy. It is amazing what you can get done during nap time.

Keeping Up Cookbook

So I got my copy today. So thrilled. I guess this means I am officially an old nerd if I am this excited about a cookbook. If you don't have Favorites, you seriously should order Favorites and this new one. I love these recipes. They really are so simple and you don't have to buy a thousand ingredients to cook one meal. My amazing friend is one of the contributors to the newest addition. Every time we go to the Harbertson's house for dinner the food really is incredible. I love the idea of fabulous local women putting their brilliant cooking minds together and sharing their tasty delights. Just trust me on this one. You will not be let down. Enjoy!
http://www.keepingupcookbook.com/

Red Butte Garden

My beautiful, happy Piper girl

Flynn and Piper. I would be so happy if these two got married one day.

I believe the key to happiness is finding joy in the simple things life has to offer. This is one of the many beauties of children. Yesterday we had our first trip to Red Butte Gardens. What an amazing place. Watching my Piper girl explore this beautiful natural area was a treat. I know it sounds so silly, but before Piper was born, I never knew happiness like I know now. Watching her explore all these firsts in her life is incredible. Looking at bugs and flowers. Eating juicy oranges in the sun. What is better than that.

Piper's first spin in her wagon

Our sweet little next door neighbor loves Piper, her pink ball, baby Limbaugh, and the wagon. Not sure if Piper is ok with all of this.

We loaded up the wagon today for Piper's first ride with Baby Limbaugh
(Piper's baby doll who looks like Rush Limbaugh), and Eli and took a spin.

Food Co-op

I did something this morning that most families are probably already doing. I joined a food co-op. What a fantastic program. I have mini heart attacks every time I see what I have spent on food each month. Go to https://foodco-op.net/ to sign up. The food is all local and really good quality. The price is ridiculously cheap. You place your order on line and you go pick it up at the location of your choosing. You have to volunteer 2 hours per month. You chose what you do for your volunteer hours. I am going to deliver food to home bound individuals.
Seth and I got married at the First Unitarian Church in 2001 on 1300 East. I have always wanted to go back. So I chose this as our pick up location. The next pick up date is April 24.
Whenever I discover something in life that is wonderful, I want to share it with those I love. So I am encouraging all of you to join this co-op. Volunteering and eating local food is good for your soul and body.
ALSO, less money spent on food means more money for shoes and vacations.

Piper's first Easter egg hunt

Happy Easter!
Yesterday Seth and I got to watch Piper hunt for eggs for the first time. As we were stuffing the eggs for the hunt I stood there thinking how much fun all of this is. Piper makes everything so magical.
My mom always made holidays so special. She still does even though we are adults. Over the top Valentines boxes that always won the contest, amazing Easter egg hunts, and legendary Halloween costumes. I totally understand now. Thanks mom for the great example.

Project 52