I recently had the privilege to take a road trip down old Route 66 from LA to Las Vegas with my Hubby. There were so many cool sights to see. From mid-century gas stations to antique markets, it was truly exciting. One of my favorite stops was Elmer’s Bottle Tree Ranch in Oro Grande, CA. It was a smoldering 100 something degrees out and way too dry for this FL girl. I felt like the inside of my nose was coated in finely ground sand. This dry heat kept us from spending too much time there, but as soon as we stepped through the gates, we were bombarded with sunshine peering through thousands and thousands of gorgeous colorful pieces of glass. The historic trinkets and treasures were meticulously placed all around the property and strung with beautiful glass bottles and shards. My husband thought it was creepy and made a wrong turn reference. I thought it was stunning.

The man that has been living on the property for 32 years can sometimes be seen working on his passion. I have read that he started building these glass trees in 1953. I don’t know much about Elmer himself and unfortunately didn’t get to meet him, but this man has spent years creating a random outdoor glass museum that I could look at all day. Such beauty and creativity. Creativity.

Everyone sees things differently. A lot of people state they aren’t creative or maybe don’t care to be, but in reality, we are all creating something every day. It may not look exactly how we hoped it would, it may be a little broke, but in the end, it’s all beautiful. Try something new, make a last minute decision, and decide to make creative moves.

This random trip through the dust of California inspired me.

My 90th percentile 3 year old was still sitting in a toddler car seat. I was tired  of lifting her up into a bucket that would conveniently angle her legs and feet to so perfectly against my head rest while driving. It was time for a big girl seat. (yes, still 5 point harness)

Fast forward, seat installed, and we are left with this giant box by the door waiting to be taken to the trash. Less than 5 min pass before my kids have turned it into a spaceship and the empty hamper they dragged out of the hall into a space cafe. Most kids see a box and turn it into a spaceship. Seems typical, right? But it doesn’t really matter what they turn it into. What matters is what’s going on inside those brains! I see a box with crayon scribble and flaps so meticulously positioned into wings. They see a high functioning space station with a fully stocked space cafe and all you can eat ice cream buffet.

Do you remember that? The kind of imagination that lead to hours of adventures that truly felt real. (As I am writing this the box has turned into a dog house) So when does this all change? When do we no longer visualize and believe our own stories? I guess my point is, how much time do I have left before these outrageous quests and crazy made up lands disappear?

For now I will soak up as much imagination as I can. Especially from the panting child, i mean puppy, sitting next to me.

My little girl was only 2 and already showing signs of Barbie obsession. What did that mean for me? This momma was on a quest to find a vintage Barbie House to makeover! I rummaged through thrift stores, garage sales, and flea markets for months to no avail. I was beginning to lose hope and started paging through the over priced choices on ebay.

About 5 months passed.

It is almost impossible for me to see an estate sale sign and not stop. Just another day running errands with my funny bunny while big brother was at school and I saw the sign. Yup… we have to check it out. (random stops throughout the day are now totally normal to my kids) As we pulled up, I saw it. I SAW IT! EXACTLY what I had been looking for. Ok, not exactly. But the story that unfolded as I discovered it, made it perfect.

My daughter immediately ran up to the old, wooden, outdated house. “Doll house, mommy!” I was carefully inspecting the oddly electrically wired contraption of a house when an older woman approached me. “My husband made that barbie house for our daughter.” She looked at it with her heart full of love and her eyes full of tears. We chatted while my little one explored the little door and switches. Her husband had built this house over 30 years ago. She watched him put his heart into that house day after day. She was sad to be letting it go, but said they really had no use for it anymore. She pointed out that the numbers on the front door was the address of the home they had lived in. I love it.

$25. That was it. Twenty five dollars for a little house full of endless play and imagination.

How could I not buy it. Not only was it vintage and handmade, but it already had a season of love and many more years of love to come.

The now elderly father helped me carry it to my car as my daughter followed behind us skipping in joy. In his little bright eyes were tears. Happy tears. He seemed proud that not only could he still carry the damn heavy thing but that his hard work would live on. And my eyes were full of tears too. We hugged. A good long hug as if we were somehow no longer strangers. It was perfect.

And so, our Barbie home makeover journey begins!