Enjoying the final week of summer vacation.
I dream about visiting Venice and Paris and Barcelona and Athens and Copenhagen....
But these days the best place for our family to bond and make memories is right here. Close to home with the warm sand, the ocean waves, and the salty air.
"And there is a time for every event under heaven." -Ecclesiastes
There is nothing quite like roaming around a 100 acre park for a day.
We had so much fun.
We were exhausted.
One of us still had the energy to climb a tree.
This dancing girl of mine.
She takes her dancing responsibilies so very seriously.
But she never forgets to have fun.
One of the many, many reasons I love her so.
Making memories with my peeps.
Dearest Outer Banks, NC,
Oh how I love thee,
For helping us create so many wonderful memories,
And for providing such a beautiful place for us to bond.
We shall be back.
Please don't ever change,
Please remain forever Simple and Pure and oh so very Welcoming.
Thank you.
Today is our third snow day in a row. I'm liking that our little family is spending a whole lot of time together.
We are playing + making + cooking + eating.
We are also trying to keep warm + drinking tons of tea and hot chocolate + making the house look very "lived in"
I'm (once again) thinking about how we need to get rid of more stuff we're not using. To make room for dancing + playing + creating + daydreaming.
I like that I have been spending a lot more time outside - running + walking + playing with zoe.
Liking that clearing out + organizing always equals sewing inspiration.
Liking that my girlie loves science + creating + dancing while doing the science and making.
Enjoying the music + dancing entertainment that fills our evenings. Garnering inspiration from my kiddos.
Cooking after school snacks...
That taste even yummier for breakfast the next day. (recipe on my flickr)
Other things that I am liking in january are:
- reading in bed each night on my new kindle paperwhite.
- drinking my favorite tea combo (1 bag tazo awake + 1 bag tazo passion) each morning.
- listening to NPR while I drive my kiddos to all their activities and events.
- roasting a seventeen pound turkey because I found an extra can of whole cranberry sauce in my pantry.
- catching up with old friends through blogs and flickr.
- taking weekly five mile walks with a good friend.
- going on daily runs with my pups each morning.
- laughing with my smart + silly kiddos - who are a lot of fun when they're not arguing!
Hope you too are finding many things to like this january.
I'm going to try to be present in this space once more.
Once again weighing my lack of time versus my need for a creative outlet.
Not much has changed since I was last here. We sold our country house and moved to the city (just 45 minutes away) full time. In October we added Zoe (a rescue pup) to our family. We celebrated birthdays and holidays - I'm now 43. Everything else is pretty much the same. We still like to make and play and have fun.
Looking forward to seeing what 2014 brings. Hoping for lots of peace, love, and good health.
Wishing the same to your family.
We spent a week at the beach. It was cold and windy but the sun came out most days and we had the best time ever. All three kiddos are already looking forward to renting the same house next year.
I mainly took photos at the beach but we also spent a lot of time eating out and cooking in (why is it more fun to make pancakes for breakfast in someone else's house?). The house we rented had a pool table and we played a lot of pool. We took a four wheel drive tour to see the island's wild horses and we took lots of bubble baths. I read a lot. We ate the yummiest hot maple & chocolate donuts here. And we took walks - lots and lots of walks each day along the beach. But most of all we made new memories and shared new experiences. For many years I underestimated the importance of time away from home for our family. But there's something about being away that makes every single member of our family breathe deeper, step lighter, require less stuff (hardly anything really) and forget to bicker. Maybe it was the daily ice cream sundaes we made with tons of strawberries and whipped cream.....hmmm.
Finally, I'd like to share a bit about how my views on editing down the number of photos I take has changed recently. For the past several years I have been editing my photos down in number quite a bit - I have been deleting what appear to be duplicates, photos in which one of us looks unhappy, photos that are not perfectly clear, photos of the kiddos doing like things....How many photos do I need of my kiddos sliding down a sand hill anyway? Well it turns out I need lots. Ever since I started organizing and documenting my photos with project life I have realized that I had forgotten so many of the fun things that we've done and most of the places we've visited over the years - really! And I need lots and lots of photos to truly remember. So while I will continue to edit down my clothes, books, and stuff to solely what I need and use I will no longer do the same with my photos. From now on I will keep the imperfect, the similar, the blurry because I want to be able to recall ALL of our moments - not just the ones I deemed "good photos" at the time.
Do you edit down your photos a lot? How do you decide what to keep or delete? Do you ever feel it's those blurry, imperfect shots you may miss the most?
Last week I finished the star blocks for this quilt but realized I didn't have enough white kona cotton for sashing. So I ordered the white kona and waited...
Then I chain pieced a whole bunch of 2 1/2 inch squares together.
Then I mixed them all up in a basket and pieced them once more.
It's a good thing all the colors go together. Last week a very nice landscape designer lady told me the blue plant I liked didn't go well with all the yellow of our house. Why is it that blue and yellow don't play well together? I feel all the colors would get along just fine if people gave them a chance.
Then the white kona arrived in the mail. And it, too, wanted to play with all these colors. So I let it - encouraged it even. I'll share more on this quilt top soon. But I've been busy taking dozens of photos of my kiddos because yesterday Ezra turned 14 and the years are flying by.
And I don't want to miss these moments.
Still playing with the maco lens rather than reading the manual.
A big thanks to Jane for letting me know that macros take great kiddo photos.
Hope to be back here real soon.
In the meantime, do what you love. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. And remember that all the colors go together - no matter what anyone else says.
So excited to finally be doing Project Life. I keep reading about it on all your blogs but never had the courage to jump in because... I have nearly five years of photos in boxes! Feels much better now that I've admitted it and can get to the "doing" part rather than just feeling overwhelmed.
This is not my entire stash. I have three more boxes in the closet! I plan go forth slowly and steadily and tackle these one binder at a time.
My motivation will be sorting through thousands of photos bearing these adorable little faces.
People, these were taken in September of 2007 on the day Abigail turned three!
One sheet at a time, I will tackle 2007 - 2013. Wish me luck!
Also wanted to let you know that there are numerous ways so arrange the half square triangles from last weeks' tutorial. You can sew them together as individual triangles (above).
They can be arranged into a zig-zag pattern like so.
Or pinwheels.
Diamond pattern ...
... or Hourglass shapes. Just have fun with them.
I'm off to bed. This Spring forward has caused me to be very sleepy. all. day. long.
Most times taking pictures, making stuff, blogging and flickr are super fun and creative outlets for me. But for some reason I cannot get in the habit of taking a picture a day for my flickr 365 - I have failed in previous years but intend to make it though the year in 2013. I seem to remember to take a photo on days that my family sticks to a schedule. But the whole family was home last Monday in honor of President's Day and I didn't take any pictures. We went out for breakfast and then for a hike with the dog. I didn't bring my camera and just thought I would take a photo "later." We came home for a bit and cleaned up around the house, ate a late lunch, and then off to ballet for the girl and taekwondo for the boys - still no pictures taken. I went grocery shopping during the kids' classes and came home to put away groceries, whip up a quick pasta dish for dinner, clean the kitchen, and hang out with the family......no pictures were taken. I won't bother with the details but exercise, pets, kids, a dirty house, an unexpected visit, and guitar lessons filled up my Tuesday as well - once again no pictures.
So on Wednesday I was pretty upset with myself for truly enjoying my days but somehow not being able to take a single photo to document them. I left the house right after the kiddos got on the bus to exercise with a friend, then I ran errands for myself and on behalf of several members of our temple. I came home and walked the dog right before the boys came home from school. We had thirty minutes until we needed to get in the car again to drive to taekwondo. I grabbed my camera and took pictures of anything - mostly nothing - but I took pictures. It was quick and fun. And I (hopefully) proved to myself that all I need to do to take a picture a day is to pick up my camera. How easy is that - right!?
On Friday I also (hopefully) proved to myself that I can piece a quilt again - all I have to do is take out my sewing machine and fabric and place it on the kitchen table while I eat my lunch! I will share quilt progress soon!
The following are just some of the pictures I took in the thirty minutes it took me to get the boys a snack and get everyone out of the house and on to taekwondo. Lesson learned - pick up the camera even when you think you are super busy and running around the house (still) in your workout clothes at 4:30pm!
Quilt blocks coming soon. I am so excited to be making again!
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Valentine's Day 2013 in pictures:
On this Valentine's I took pictures.
Abby went off to school with a bag full of Valentine's cards, candy and small gifts.
Ezra and David are in middle school and no longer exchange cards or candy in school so they have to settle for the cookies and brownies that mama bakes.
Above photos of plastic rings are from Target. $1.50 for a pack of eight. Abby asked that we buy some for her girlfriends. There were three left and they are so lovely when the sun hit them that I couldn't stop photographing them.
Martha Stewart's heart sandwich cookies were beautiful but not terribly flavorful. The chocolate were much better than the pink sugar variety. They were, however, a ton of fun to gift to friends and neighbors!
There were hearts in my ivy plant and pink streaks in the sky. It was a wonderful day!
I bought myself red tulips from trader joe's for $4.00.
Greg bought me what I really wanted for Valentine's. (I had to tell him what I wanted ahead of time but after nearly twenty one years of marriage we are both just fine with that) And now I cannot stop smelling myself - and i'm just fine with that too!
The morning after shot...
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
For this year my goal is to be happy.
Simple right?
I figure that in order to be happy I need to feel happy.
And in order to feel happy I need to do the things that make me happy.
Things that make me feel happy all the time: My family, long walks with my doggy, good food, great books, a clean house, sunshine, music.
But I also feel happy when I clean the house so that it is no longer messy.
I feel happy when I go to bed early even though I want the time to read or knit.
I feel happy when I am grateful that my family is healthy and thriving instead of dwelling on the kiddos' squabbling.
This morning I even felt happy when I paid the bills because it meant I could cross it off my to-do list.
This year I hope to choose to feel happy as much as possible. I plan to count my blessings each day.
And to refer to this quote that I have posted on my refrigerator:
“Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony.” Mahatma Gandhi
What are you going to do to feel happy in 2013?
We spent Thanksgiving 2012 in Washington DC.
We had a blast.
We ate Thanksgiving dinner in a restaurant for the first time ever.
I missed cooking a turkey and all our favorite sides but realized that all that truly matters is that we are together.
I'm blogging about this in january 2013 because I don't journal or scrapbook and rarely print my photos. I'm afraid that if I don't record it here I may forget.
I cannot afford to forget a single moment because the years are flying by. My children used to look like this.
Thank you for coming along on this journey with us!
I have been absent for so long but keep coming back to this bloggy space because you all have been so good to me. Thanks so very much!
This week marks the fourth installment of focus, a little photo project that Sarah and I are collaborating on.
Each week we hope to take time to Focus ourselves and to Focus our cameras.
To Focus on looking and seeing,
to Focus on how we spend our time,
to Focus on friends and family and what's important,
to Focus on what's been there all the along but we just didn't take the time to look.
This week our Focus is on water.
We ran errands all morning as the rain came down. And just when we were all feeling claustrophobic and a bit sick of mailing and driving and shopping and choosing and standing in line... just when we were getting a bit sick of one another (it happens!) the rain stopped.
It stopped as we were driving along the river - along this calm, clear stretch of water. So the kiddos and I took advantage of this break in the rain and decided on an impromptu stop. Instantly, the sound and the sight and the smell and the feel of the cool water soothed us and breathed new life into our day. I have always loved this power that being near water has over us.
On the ride home I felt grateful for the quiet in the car.
And grateful for my kiddos, whose decision it was to make this impromptu stop on the water.
It's time for the third installment of focus, a little photo project that Sarah and I are collaborating on.
Each week we hope to take time to Focus ourselves and to Focus our cameras.
To Focus on looking and seeing,
to Focus on how we spend our time,
to Focus on friends and family and what's important,
to Focus on what's been there all the along but we just didn't take the time to look.
This week our Focus is on noticing the details in our family getaways.
We are back from a wonderful vacation in Orlando. We visited the disney parks, universal studios and seaworld. We laughed. We bonded. We walked (a lot). We stayed up way too late. We ate way too much ice cream - every single day. We rode planes, trains and automobiles. We declared this the best vacation ever!
There was a time when I didn't think that going away for vacation was important. But today I feel that getting away from your home and routine is essential to growing - and to seeing those around you grow.
Time for another installment of focus, a little photo project that Sarah and I are collaborating on.
Each week we hope to take time to Focus ourselves and to Focus our cameras.
To Focus on looking and seeing,
to Focus on how we spend our time,
to Focus on friends and family and what's important,
to Focus on what's been there all the along but we just didn't take the time to look.
This week our Focus is on 'the kitchen table."
But first a little disclaimer. I waited until the last minute to take these photos. I wish I hadn't because the past 48 hours have been kinda crazy around here. First, my husband fell off his bike while racing through the woods with Ezra, and hurt his ribs and wrist. Just hours later, I decided to clear out the garage and dropped a wood board on my toe, causing it to swell and turn a lovely shade of blue - also, it hurt a bit! So I sit down at the kitchen table, injured foot elevated on nearby chair, and decide to focus. To take a minute and breathe deeply. To feel grateful that Greg is feeling better with a brace on his wrist. Grateful that I only hurt my toe and not my whole foot. To take a photo of my kitchen table for this photo project... When the thunder storm causes us to loose power. So much for making a nice family dinner. Greg drives the two blocks to the nearest Subway and we eat sandwiches for dinner. I must say they were pretty tasty (subway now offers baby spinach) and I was glad to not have to cook. And for dessert we ate all the ice cream melting in the freezer. You gotta do what you gotta do ...and when the power goes out the whole family must suck it up and eat ice cream! By candlelight.
This morning I get up to find cereal bowls left on the table from the 7am breakfast. (most mornings there's also a 9am breakfast followed by lunch at 12:30)
And the girl eating last night's popcorn for breakfast.
So I make myself a cup of tea and sit down at the messy table - foot elevated, of course...
When David walks in and tells me that he just fell of his skateboard! A whole lot of living takes place around our table. Good thing he's old enough to apply his own antibiotic ointment.
Later Ezra read a book on how to repair whatever was misaligned on Greg's bike. Then he went and fixed it. A whole lot goes on at this table.
Oh, and sometimes, we also eat our meals at the kitchen table.
Hydrangeas courtesy of Trader Joe's. Abby and I stopped by while the boys were in taekwondo and we couldn't resist these blooms. For five dollars. They help me focus. On beauty. On seeing. On what's important. On all that goes on at the kitchen table.
(By the way, I am doing just fine. I'm able to get around. My toe isn't broken so Greg just buddy taped it. I am, however, limited in the shoes I'm able to wear:)
The other day we met some friends for fun at the pool. My girlfriend, who works outside the home, said she was cutting back on her work hours in order to focus on work she truly enjoys. She hopes this time will allow her to hone new skills and make connections in order to find a lucrative and fulfilling job once her kiddos are grown.
Our conversation got me thinking about what work I would find fulfilling...
I enjoy twirling on the river with my girl.
I like going out for frozen yogurt on really hot days.
I love reading really good books. (these are all really good reads!)
I like to doodle while Abby dances to the Beauty and the Beast soundtrack.
I love going on nature walks with my family. And photographing cute squirrels in fig trees.
I have absolutely no idea what will become of me. Or, rather, who I will become. I know that I want to feel useful, spread compassion, and have enough free time to play with my family, to travel, read and create. I will continue to ponder this and keep you posted. In the meantime I will enjoy more trips for frozen yogurt. I like to combine vanilla, cappuccino and raspberry flavors - topped with hot fudge sauce. Wonder what that says about me?!
Just popping in to share our weekend snacking favorites.
On Saturday it rained. And we snacked. And then it stopped. And the sun came out. So we rode our bikes around the neighborhood. And then it rained once more. And we snacked again. And then the sun came out again so i decided to take pictures of all our snacking. Of course!
This first snack relies on the concept of "ratio" - a small amount of dark chocolate and a big handful of almonds. Yummy, healthy, absolutely no prep involved. Who needs portion control when we have ratio?
Second snack is anything topped with trader joe's cherry preserves. Perfect on bread, ice cream or right out of the jar. We didn't make strawberry jam this year so we're making do!
Third snack is this awesome organic popcorn.
And, or course, I am never too far away from a cuppa warm chai tea. Helps wash down all the snacks in the most delightful way! (for some reason i cannot help but channel Mary Poppins this morning....)
Hope your Sunday includes a bit of snacking. It's Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
"You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus."
- Mark Twain
It's summer. The weather is scorching hot, each and every day. And I feel like "my imagination is out of focus."
I have so many ideas in my head, so many projects I want to begin and some fun challenges I want to explore in this space.
I had planned to write that I am "too busy" to begin these because it's summer, my kiddos need me, there are meals to prepare + housework and laundry to do. There's driving to day camps and classes and trips to fun and educational places so that no one is feeling bored.
But the truth is that I can find time - make time - for what I really want to do.
This past month I found the time to read some great books. I read on the couch with my kiddos. I read in bed when everyone else was asleep. I read during trips to the library, which encouraged Abby to seek out the librarian, who taught her how the dewey decimal system works - why do I always forget that it takes a village to raise kiddos and that I don't have to do it all myself?!
Beginning today I plan to make time to do the projects I can't stop thinking about. I will find a way to sneak them into our summer schedule. I will not claim to be too busy. I will bring my imagination back into focus. And I will not feel guilty if my children argue (loudly) while I'm working on something that brings me joy. I will breath deeply and remind myself that siblings fight, that it's part of learning to compromise, it's part of learning to live and share with others - it's perfectly normal. Just like taking the time to do something for myself, to see, to focus is perfectly normal too.
Working on clearing up some issues so that you all can view my blog again.
Extremely thankful to Sarah for some very detailed instructions on how to go about doing this. You totally rock!
Grateful to all the folks who sent me emails and flickr messages - i heart blog friends so much.
In the meantime, we're making salad out of veggies from the farmer's market.
We're finding hearts in the sweetest figs.
We're playing in the pool.
And remembering always that "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." -Albert Einstein
Third week of summer break is in full swing around here. We are very busy with swimming and playing, dance camp for the girl and guitar lessons for the boys. Of course there is still tons of taekwondo and torah study for the boys who will be chanting torah for the first time during high holidays this year. There is also tons of cooking and eating which requires much grocery shopping and many farmer's market visits. The plumbing issue I mentioned in my last post turned out to require major pipe replacement and drywall repair - could've been a lot worse but I do have a major patch in the guest bathroom that still requires taping, sanding and painting.
Through all the playing and driving and learning and plumbing I have managed to take a few pictures. Not much is new but David no longer wants to have his picture taken.
Ezra is still reading two to three books per week.
Abigail is becoming more independent each day - unfortunately all this independence is accompanied by a heavy dose of sassyness. Today she asked me if other seven year olds still sleep with a stuffie. I told her that she shouldn't concern herself with what others do and should continue to do what feels right for her. Without missing a beat Abigail said,"You're right, I should just follow my own path." Indeed, each moment of every day this girl follows her own path - which keeps this mama on her toes.
And speaking of me, I hung these mirrors in the foyer. Just trying to pretty up the parts of the house that still have drywall!
I spied this deer in our yard. Turns out there are lots of deer in the city where hunting is not permitted!
I let this girl out for some fresh air.
I baked heart shaped brownies to celebrate a job well done.
I restocked supplies.
And I read John Green's books The Fault in Our Stars and Looking for Alaska - both amazing! Both novels are quick reads geared for the teen audience and they make just perfect summer reading.
I also managed to sit here for half an hour and read before the thunder storm rolled in. That's Ezra on the rocks - he wasn't as bothered by the huge storm. Hope your week is wonderful!
"The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore." Vincent van Gogh
We are officially into our second week of summer break. Two weeks ago David "graduated" from elementary school - making me the proud mama of not one, but two middle schoolers.
We've been spending our mornings in our pj's but around 10:30am everyone gathers around the kitchen table for a snack (second breakfast really) and tries to agree on a place for us to go because they've already done "everything" and will be "getting bored soon."
On this day we played and explored and ate at the shore of the river by our home.
Hope your summer is off to a great start!
(I'm waiting for the plumber right now because we have a water leak that has me quite concerned so please send good thoughts our way - i'll update soon.)
Hope your mother's day was full of big hugs and smoochy kisses.
Here's a little recap - mostly in pictures - of our day. If you're wondering why so many pictures, it's because they take up a whole lot of room. Which means that I have to write less. Because writing takes time. And since I'm pretty much behind in every thing that needs to get done today, I have very little time left. Plus "a picture is worth a thousand words" which enables me to convey a large amount of data to you quickly. So here goes:
In anticipation of mother's day I bought myself flowers on Saturday. I bought them because I was in the market and spotted these gorgeous peonies. I absolutely adore peonies and have been coveting Erin's for nearly a week now. Plus I knew that my wonderful husband would arrive home from work early sunday morning and may be too tired pick up flowers on his way home. He gave me the sweetest card instead and told me how much he loved and appreciated me. He then told me that he didn't stop to get me flowers because he was sure he wouldn't find ones more beautiful than these peonies (he saw these before he left for work on saturday night). I'm fine with that because we just celebrated our 20 year wedding anniversary and I can honestly say that he has told me he loves me and values all that I do every single one of those days - and on days when the kiddos are fighting he has been known to tell me how much he loves me and appreciates me numerous times in one hour!
Next we ate my favorite cake for breakfast - Raspberry Almond Cake from the Fresh Market. Yes, there are five of us and we ate over half the cake - it's that good.
Then Ezra presented me with a beautiful letter that made me cry and freshly picked flowers which he picked for me on his morning run. Never mind that he may have slammed the door on his way out at 6:30am jolting his mama out of her peaceful slumber. I forgave him because he gave me a huge hug and because he told me he had to get up extra early in order to look up on the internet how to make an envelope - and I love the envelope so much because he made it. Plus I forgave him because he is now thirteen and I don't know how many more freshly picked flowers and handmade envelopes I will receive from him.
Then I tried to document this special moment between mother and son with a picture when Abigail flung herself into the shot - because this girly of mine loves having her picture taken! I'm fine with this because frankly, the girl is cute.
Plus she gives a fine pedicure! All I had to do was sit in the chair shrouded in purple tulle and she rubbed my feet and painted my toes. Good stuff, I tell you.
She also gave me a card that read "I love you more that donuts, I love you more than cake." Of course by that time she had already consumed two slices of cake for breakfast - so she may have been sick of cake! But I choose to believe that my girly loves me a whole lot nonetheless.
David picked me strawberries from our garden. They may not look like much but they are the sweetest, yummiest things ever!
Then he went outside and played nicely with his sister. No fighting allowed on mother's day.
This photo is from a few weeks back but I just had to share what the middle child has to put up with. He was watching his favorite show on tv - Chopped on the food network - when Abby attempted to kick him. It was all in jest (of course!) but this happens so often around here that he just leans out of the way while continuing to watch his show.
Well, all this excitement took place before 10am so we rounded off the day with a yummy salmon lunch prepared by yours truly. Followed by a trip to the movie theater to see the Avengers. That movie is over two and a half hours of action-packed fun full of violence and adventure which apparently we all love because we really enjoyed it.
Hope your day was spent having fun with your kiddos. And now I must remind myself that mother's day is long over and that I have groceries to buy, dinner to cook, toilets to clean and homework to check over - all before heading out to taekwondo at 5. Happy Tuesday to all!
Since I last posted:
I have been crazy busy.
I have had a lot of fun with my family.
I enrolled my three kiddos in school in the city.
Greg and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary.
I took my kiddos to an opera - it was a matinee performance and they loved every minute. Yet another reason to love the city.
We helped with food and clean-up and danced a whole lot at our friend's Bat Mitzvah.
I have collapsed into bed soon after the kiddos were tucked in - except for the night that I folded laundry until midnight and the night that Abigail refused to go to sleep until she finished her book.
I have laughed a lot - sometimes at myself.
We went to an outdoor art fair - the same one we visit every year. So that my kiddos can meet artists, see, touch and appreciate art - and of course choose a piece that speaks to them to bring home.
I have watched and enjoyed numerous skits and song + dance performances put on by Abigail in our living room. I have the handmade tickets to prove it.
I have written dozens of blog posts in my head while driving, standing in line at the grocery store, folding laundry....sadly I can no longer recall any of them.
I listened to this interview with Maurice Sendack. And I cried because I will miss him. I have kept a copy of this book on my nightstand for the past year.
I have watched my boys compose weapons and board breaking routines for taekwondo - they are now second degree black belts and I am so proud of their strength and accomplishment.
Some photos just so that we can catch up a bit -
Abigail is now seven - and she prefers to be called Abby.
Ezra is thirteen - he still loves playing in the woods with his family. These days he has taken up running - alongside+through the woods - of course. He is taller than me and wears a size twelve men's shoe.
David just turned eleven. He is a wonderful writer, teller of jokes, and greatest supporter of his older brother.
Many things have changed. But all the important stuff has stayed the same - and that's the way we like it.
Here are a few photos of the new house. The light was bad and I was in a hurry so this is just the main space. The whole house is really just this one space - plus three bedrooms and bathrooms and kitchen. I'll post kitchen and bedroom photos once I take them.
That's most of the house. But the best part is that this house sits on over an acre; that this acre is wooded; and that this wooded acre is on a creek; and that this house on a wooded acre that is on a creek is right in the middle of the city.
I'll share more soon. Right now I'm off to the kiddo's school to do good deeds in honor of teacher appreciation week.
and while I'm on the subject of appreciation, I'd like to wish a very HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY to all!
Stopping in to say Hello!
We are safe and sound post hurricane Irene - we lost power for two days, several trees fell, and there are leaves, branches and debris scattered on our property but we are just fine. Sending best wishes to those still dealing with the aftermath of this storm.
I've been away from this space so that I can fully partake in the fun, and topsy turvy summer, we've been having. The kiddos and I have been playing and driving and eating and driving and spending time with friends and driving some more this summer. All the while we have been enjoying a wonderful and fun-filled summer while redoing the city home. We knew it was a fixer and were excited about putting our personal touches on this home. After nearly two months of new roof and new HVAC and tile and countertops and paint everything seems to be coming together to the make the sweetest little city house we could've imagined. I cannot wait to share our new space with you. But first we have another week of summer to enjoy around here before school begins.
Just to prove that we're all about topsy-turvy around here - here's Abigail watching tv.
She'd much rather pose for pictures than watch Sorcerer's Apprentice with her brothers.
My guys didn't mind the power outage too much. Gave them more time to work on puzzle solving.
And picking and eating yummy veggies from our garden.
We have a beautiful bounty thanks to Ezra who loves to tend to the garden. He has been out there each morning at 7am watering and picking and doing whatever else he does because I'm really more of a garden "planter" - the tending part is really not my thing. I'd rather be in the kitchen making pasta sauce and lasagnas using these yummies!
I heart you all (and miss you) and will be back once school starts!
a quick PS: the hubby and i enjoyed a wonderful film via netflix last week. I wholeheartedly recommend Departures (2008). Watch it - you will not be disappointed.
Thank you so much for your encouraging comments on my last post.
You sure got me thinking about the benefits (or not) of country vs. city living. But first I'd like to share the only benefit that my sewing machine table is providing these days. Do you think he's dreaming up exciting new quilt patterns?
Lots of benefits to having a pool these first few weeks of summer vacation. We're in it every day that we don't spend driving to the city.
We even find benefits in cleaning up the pool at the end of the day. This girl adores her big brother and is so excited that he takes the time to give her "noodle rides."
And some nights this mama finds benefits in eating Chinese takeout for dinner.
Accompanied by the benefit of a welcome fortune that reads:
"Lucky you make this choice. Everything comes out for the best."
There's something endearing about the poor english and timing of this fortune that made it feel like more than a ramdom slip of paper found in a stale cookie.
Now for the Benefits of city living (in my opinion/experience):
- The city provides numerous free or low cost amenities such as -
- public parks with play equipment and restrooms,
- public swimming pools so that my kiddos can make new friends,
- well maintained walking and biking trails,
- summer concerts in the park,
- weekend farmer's markets,
- large libraries that offer e-books for download and fun activities on Tuesday mornings,
- large chain bookstores kiddos can spend hours reading + browsing in,
- museums, aquariums,
- zoos, and botanical gardens,
- local yarn store,
- target, trader joe's, joann fabrics, tj maxx, panera
- our temple and all our friends there.
Benefits of country living (in my opinion/experience):
- living on five wooded acres,
- walking dogs off leash through the woods,
- kiddos riding bikes down small quiet roads,
- watching nine chickens happily free range on our property,
- running and playing in the woods without a care in the world,
- having a pool in our yard, surrounded by woods, where my kiddos can splash and scream and swim in various states of undress. (some days this one doesn't actually feel like a benefit!)
Not-so-much benefits of country living (for our family):
- driving for 50 minutes - 1 hour to get to most parks, museums, bookstores, trader joe's, temple (with three high energy kiddos in the car)
- having to leave the house for much of the day when we drive to said city so that our trip will be "worth the two hour round trip drive," (this one is difficult with three opinionated kiddos. just the other day we drove to the city for an hour at the bookstore followed by a picnic lunch and playtime at a wonderful park when a certain ten year old middle child complained that he had no energy for a grocery store trip to buy organic fruits and veggies (we have almost no organic produce available in the country - and no CSA)
- eating out on many of the days we drive to the city because there's really no way to drive an hour there and an hour back and get home in time for lunch. (Some days I take along a picnic lunch and other days we get panini's, pizza and fruit salad from the deli section of gourmet markets but i would love to just be able to make a quick trip to target, buy what we need and get home in time for lunch.)
- having to leave the house extra early and return home extra late. (the best time to be at the farmer's market is 8am but that's hard when you're an hour away and have to get three kiddos to agree to sit in the car for an hour. When we leave the summer concert at 8:30pm we are still an hour from home and end up going to bed way past bedtime.)
- our temple is an hour away in the city (it's the nearest temple to our home which just happens to have the best ex-highschool english teacher, kiddo loving rabbi who always has time for a knock-knock joke or a game of plants vs. zombies. My kiddos cry when we can't make it to service - it's their "club.")
For our family, right now, there are benefits to both country and city living and, for a while at least, we won't have to choose. And for this we feel very fortunate - "Lucky [we] make this choice. Everything comes out for the best."
School let out two weeks ago and we have been thoroughly enjoying our summer vacation.
Eating healthy lunches that include yummy eggs courtesy of our sweet hens.
Arranging flowers on our kitchen table.
Picking perfectly sweet strawberries from our garden.
Reading and playing together. (not always this amicably)
Gobbling up salt water taffy. (yet another reason to love trader joe's)
Swimming (and splashing and teasing and giggling) in the pool until we are exhausted.
And then resting up so that we can do it all over again the next day.
These days I am being patient with myself.
After the tornado hit our town the oldest boy has arrived home from am school by 12:45. With Mondays off from school and my husband working most weekends I have had little alone time.
I have been taking moments for myself here and there.
Giving myself space to breathe deeply. to pause. to think.
to enjoy the weather. to walk my dogs in the woods.
I have also chosen enjoy the not-so-pleasant chores. like cleaning out the chicken coop. mowing. weeding. planting. mulching. driving my kiddos to Hebrew school, swim meet, taekwondo, math bowl practice.
Chosen to spend more one on one time with my kiddos. with ezra leaving for school at 6am I have two hours each morning to spend with the younger kiddos. Middle child who never gets to sit in the front seat of the car really enjoyed the privilege each morning for the short drive to the bus stop. even though we barely drove for a mile he loved adjusting the seat and turning on the seat warmers. I never use these because it can't be that healthy to sit on hot electric coils but i figured that just a few minutes each morning wouldn't hurt. Plus we giggled as our backsides became warm.
We also found the time to stop by the ice cream shop after finding out that his team did not place in the statewide round of the great computer challenge. We decided on ice cream floats to "drown our sorrows" and giggled at how silly we sounded. In the booth, sitting on extra tall bar stools the boy told me how much fun he had and how well he worked with the two girls that comprised his team. We agreed that his team would have done better if there was more time to practice bridge construction methods. We realize that with the short school year only four practice sessions may not have been enough and we move on.
We are living in the moment. We are focusing on fun. We are sucking down ice cream and soda through pink straws.
I'm not really making much of anything these days. Still knitting a dishcloth out of yarn sent to me by a friend. Washing dishes using the dishcloth she knit for me. Feeling fortunate to have made many wonderful friends through blogging.
Just finished washing dishes from lunch. Peering out the window every so often to see that the rain has broken and the sun is shining. Feeling fortunate that I have dishes to wash. Fortunate that it's summer and I no longer have to wake up at 5:30am to get ezra on the 6am school bus. So happy that I am a mama with many commitments and responsibilities who is finally figuring out that not everything needs to be done immediately or perfectly. But that each and every moment must be appreciated.
We are also just two weeks away from finalizing the purchase of a small home in the city. We are just overjoyed. After years of hoping and dreaming and preparing our country home is nearly paid off and we were able to make a small space in the city a reality. For the past six years I have been driving to the city several times per week (usually fridays and sundays and some saturdays) to the city an hour away to attend temple services and hebrew school. This is the closest temple to our home and while an hour drive each way isn't that bad add in three kiddos and a husband who's at work while mama is driving said kiddos and you get the picture. Plus with two bar mitzvahs in the next three years we are going to love our little oasis in the city even more. We are already planning lunches and play dates with all of our city friends who have generously invited us over and fed us over the years - this home base will do us a world of good. I am not even allowing myself to think about the fact that I will have another kitchen and two more bathrooms to clean or bedrooms to pick up and more clothes to put away because I would rather do all those things with my kiddos than spend six hours per week strapped into our car seats driving through traffic. So if all goes well in two short weeks we will be enjoying our woods and chickens in the country and our friends, temple and community pool and playground in the city. Oh, and while this had nothing to do with our decision to buy the city house it just happens to be exactly one mile away from a trader joe's and a target. I am one lucky girl - and I am appreciating each and every single moment because they fly by so fast.
Thanks for letting me share this news with you friends! Hope you are appreciating the moments this summer.
"We do not remember days. We remember moments." - Cesare Pavese
This is such a good thing because I haven't a clue where my days have gone.
Thanks goodness I managed to take some photographs.
During the days that I have been away from the computer my middle kiddo turned ten years old and greg and I celebrated our nineteenth wedding anniversary.
I have missed you all and I am so glad to be in this space again.
I only have a few moments today and it's important that I make this re-entry slowly.
I'd like to share two quotes with you:
"The greatest gift I ever received was a present my dad gave me one Christmas. He handed me a note which read: Son, this year I will give you 365 hours, an hour every day after dinner. My dad not only kept his promise, but he renewed it every year after that. It's the greatest gift I ever received in my life. I am the result of his time." --Someone's Child
And:
Marriage Advice from 1886 - "Let your love be stronger than your hate or anger. Learn the wisdom of compromise, for it is better to bend a little than to break. Believe the best rather than the worst; people have a way of living up or down to your opinion of them. Remember that true friendship is the basis for any lasting relationship. The person you choose to marry is deserving of the courtesies and kindness you bestow on your friends. Please hand this down to your children and your children's children for the more things change the more they are the same." --Jane Wells
Hope you enjoy these words as much as I do.
Oops. I forgot to post the giveaway winners. So here goes.....
The winners of Jennifer Casa's awesome new book: Teach Yourself Visually - Crafting with Kids are:
#41 Jessica from j bee delightful and
#4 Andrea from at home mommy knits
Ladies, please email me your addresses so that we can get your books out to you.
I meant to get here all week but time has gotten away from me. We have been working, playing, driving, celebrating, going to school a bit, and dealing with an unexpected issue (nothing particularly good or bad - just something that required dealing with). I'll be back in this space again soon. In the meantime we are heading to Virginia Beach tomorrow where my kiddos will compete in the ATA tournament. Wish us luck!
Welcome friends! Today I have the pleasure of reviewing Jennifer Casa's awesome new book: Teach Yourself Visually - Crafting with Kids.
First a little disclaimer. Jennifer is my friend, I have loved reading her blog for years, two years ago I won some gorgeous wool in a giveaway on her blog and I have purchased some of her lovely creations from her etsy shop to gift to family and friends for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts. So when Jennifer asked me if I'd like to review her new book in a blog tour I jumped at the chance. I was sure it would be filled with fun and creative ideas to make with kiddos....
But then I received this book and saw that it had 75 fun crafts and projects (yes 75!), each illustrated with numerous step-by-step color photographs and using common materials we have on hand and divided into chapters for seasonal making, game playing, gift giving, party celebrating and more!
Immediately, my kiddos were inspired to grab what we had on hand and create Button Botanicals on page 71. More on that later....
This book is great for so many reasons.
First, every single project is accompanied by so many photos that you don't even have to read (heck, you don't even have to know how to read) the instructions to get the urge to begin making. The moment this book arrived at my house my kiddos began flipping through it's 240 pages and rummaging through our craft supplies. What's so wonderful about this book is that although Jennifer provides clear and easy to follow step-by-step instructions the photos provide so much inspiration to get the creative juices flowing that kiddos can easily put their own spin on the projects. This is a must at my house - my kiddos love to be inspired to make but they often rebel if they feel that they have to follow precise instructions.
Second, I love that most of the projects call for craft materials that most people already have on hand. You can complete so many of these projects with just paper, paints, fabric scraps, glue, buttons, foil, toilet paper tubes, popsicle sticks and yarn. We always have these items lying around the house but need ideas to use them in new and creative ways and this book does just that. When I was reading this book I often had to stop and say, "Why didn't I think of that?" or "So that's how you make a Kaleidoscope out of two toilet paper tubes!"
This brings me to my third point. This book is not just for kiddos - it's also great for grown people. I loved learning about how to make dyed t-shirts, easy play dough, tissue paper sun catchers, marbled paper, and button barrettes.
Around here we love collecting buttons and coming up with new, fun ways to create with them. So button botanicals was the first project we tackled. We already had these canvas boards, some poster paint, buttons and glue so off we went.
Even the just turned twelve year old boy was inspired and had a blast making. And he gifted his creation to his mama! Then he told me he wants to make watercolor cards (page 148) next. I just love what a great book can do!
Teach Yourself Visually Crafting with Kids
Here's the blog tour schedule for more reviews, interviews and chances to win:
Tuesday, April 5 (release date) - JCasa *handmade
Wednesday, April 6 - The Crafty Crow
Thursday, April 7 - Sparkle Power
Monday, April 11 - WhipUp
Wednesday, April 13 - A Stitch in Dye
Friday, April 15 - Smile and Wave
Monday, April 18 - Elsie Marley
Wednesday, April 20 - Maya*Made
Friday, April 22 - Stitches in Play
Tuesday, April 26 - Aesthetic Outburst
Thursday, April 28 - Artsy Crafty Babe
I cannot believe i have been away from this space for so long. But not only did my kiddos get a super long spring break due to budget cuts but...On Saturday a tornado hit our town. Many homes were damaged and the roof was completely blown off one of our two middle schools and mangled school buses were thrown about the roads. Clean up is underway. People are thinking about what is important and which possessions truly matter. One newspaper article stated that teachers had asked to be allowed to return to the school to retrieve their belongings. But on Tuesday the perimeter of the school was fenced off and it was announced that the structure was not stable enough to enter. Everyone received an important lesson on letting go of the 'stuff' and turning our attention to the people and community.
[On a personal note my family is just fine - we lost power overnight and our yard is littered with branches but we suffered no damage. Today I drove Ezra to the bus stop at 6:30am for AM middle school. He will attend school until 12:45pm and the students from the damaged school will be bussed to his school for PM classes (1:00 to 6:30 pm!). Thank goodness there were no students in the school when the storm hit on Saturday and thank goodness there are only thirty-four days of school left - i, for one, cannot wait for summer vacation to begin.]
All of this has caused people around here to focus on what is important: friends, family, pets, relationships, health, sunshine...
This article talks about living with less stuff and how we are happiest when we spend our time and money on experiences such as vacations, entertainment and sports because they allow us to create lasting memories. I love the simple quote by Professor Dunn, "It's better to go on a vacation than buy a new couch" This quote, in particular, speaks to me because last July I painted the walls of my home white and donated two of our three couches. I fully intended to replace them with a nicer, no-so-worn couch but nearly a year has passed and our family of five has lived very happily with just one couch (and two arm chairs + the twelve chairs surrounding our dining room and kitchen tables!). All of this leads me to the post I said i would write on how i go about keeping our home clear and clean. Although i enjoy decluttering, organizing and donating these tasks are not synonymous with having a picked-up home - complete with clean, cleared-off surfaces.
Cleaning up, unfortunately, is a daily chore that I have to constantly remind myself to stay on top of. To find motivation i tell myself how much better my family functions when the kitchen table, couch, coffee table, and kitchen counter tops are clean and available for play, cooking, and making. And having supplies for crafting, cooking, and playing games neat and organized allows us to begin a fun project or recipe when we choose rather than waste precious family time searching for the lost game piece or missing purple marker.
My number one trick to quick cleaning is to keep all surfaces as bare as possible.
Only flowers and a candle on the kitchen and dining tables. I have put away the place mats because crumbs and juice spills get underneath so i have to clean the top and bottom of five place mats as well as the table top. This way i just clear the dirty dishes, throw the napkins in the wash, and wipe down the table.
Only a lamp, alarm clock and a book on the bedroom nightstands. Makes for easy and quick dusting.
Only a lamp and artwork propped up on dressers in each of the kiddos bedrooms. Everything else has a home in a drawer or on a bookcase. I can dust all four bedrooms in ten minutes when all the surfaces are free of clutter.
Only a toaster oven, cutting board and blender (for daily smoothies) on the kitchen counter. I do not have many appliances or kitchen gadgets and i have made room for the ones i do have in the cabinets. My kitchen is tiny with only four pull out drawers and four cabinets and very little counter space. I have gotten into the habit of cleaning as i work when preparing meals - i am constantly wiping down the counter top and cutting board and putting away ingredients as i use them. This makes for quick cleanup after dinner because there are no spills or stuck on food to scrub.
Only soap, toothbrushes, and contacts lens stuff on the bathroom counters. (the kiddos only have soap and toothbrushes). I dislike cleaning bathrooms the most so very recently i decided that i would wipe down the counter tops and sinks with just a rag and warm water daily. While i'm there i swish the toilets with a bit of comet cleanser. I usually wipe down the master bath and guest bath in the mornings and the kid's bath when abigail is in the tub. This only takes a few minutes per day and i never feel like the bathrooms are dirty. About once a week i use method all purpose cleaner in grapefruit scent on the counter tops and floors - i get mine at target. I do not worry too much about killing all germs in the bathroom - there will always be germs and i don't like the thought of being responsible for their death.
In order to maintain all these surfaces free of clutter i do two things:
1. Follow the rule "if you used it - you are responsible for putting it away." Your kiddos will do this if they see you doing it. Remember that kiddos learn by example and love working as a team. We also have a "five minute put-away time" each night before dinner or before bedtime.
2. Donate all things in your home that you do not use often or love. The dilemma here is that often the items we use most are out on tables and counter tops while those that we have no use for and have forgotten we own are neatly stored away taking up precious space in closets, drawers, bookshelves and pantries. To remedy this, every few months I go through my closets and drawers and donate items that i don't use to make room for those that i use daily. I came across this book on amazon the other night and judging from the stellar reviews it could be very useful. I have not read this book - just putting the information out there for those who wish to live with less and want a bit more guidance.
As for laundry, I have recently switched from a big laundry day (where i washed a weeks worth of clothes + bedding and towels) to throwing in a load every evening after dinner. Some days I fold this load in the evenings while the kiddos are going about their nightly bathroom + snack routine. Other days I fold the clothes in the morning while everyone is waking up and preparing for breakfast. The following sentence is controversial but I will admit to putting my kid's clothes away for them and straightening up their rooms and tossing trash while i am in there - my boys rooms are often already neat and tidy but the six year old girly still cuts, shreds, glues and paints on every surface and needs some help to keep all the supplies + the resulting projects organized. Once a week, in the morning, i wash everyone's bedding and get it back on the beds by bedtime - that way i don't have to worry about folding or putting it away.
Ezra vacuums most of the house every week (or more often if needed) and David and Abby each vacuum their own rooms.
Each of the kiddos dust their own rooms. I dust the rest of the house (usually in the evenings when the kiddos are doing homework) using a Swiffer sweeper cloth - these work great for dust. I do not own the stick sweeper that it attaches to because i do not use these to clean the floor (we just wipe up spills and vacuum the floor).
We do not make the beds - everyone just straightens his or her covers/ quilts each morning.
I hope this helps a bit and that you can take this information and apply it to your cleaning routine. Don't worry too much about what you clean or organize or donate - just do what you can today.
Because "You can't wring your hands and roll up your sleeves at the same time." Anonymous
If nothing else, be sure to clear off a space to create with your kiddos and then stop by here on Friday for a review of Jennifer Casa's gorgeous new book and a chance to win one of your very own! Book tour schedule is here for more chances to win.
Big hugs to you and thanks so much for stopping by!
Last week was spring break and my kiddos and i headed out to play in the sand and surf and to visit cool places. We were all a bit sad that papa had to work and wasn't able to join us. The day before we were set to leave my kiddos questioned whether we should leave for five whole days and if we could have as much fun without dad there. I must admit that i had doubts myself. But i revisited one of my favorite quotes and then shared it with my kiddos:
"There are two things to aim at in life: first, to get what you want; and, after that, to enjoy it. Only the wisest of mankind acheives the second." - Logan Pearsall Smith
We decided that we would make the choice to truly enjoy our vacation - and set off for a week of fun.
We had the best time ever because we made an effort to focus on the simple pleasures like:
watching the sunrise over the ocean from our hotel balcony,
taking bubble baths in a tub that mama didn't have to clean afterwards,
wishing on twinkly stars while staying up way past our bedtime,
giving and receiving huge bear hugs,
being tickled and getting ticked,
jumping in the cold, salty ocean, and squealing with delight,
digging for sandcrabs (and collecting and counting and playing with said sandcrabs),
falling asleep each night to the sound of waves crashing (except for the night that the lacrosse team staying on the floor below threw a wild party!)
saying bedtime prayers all together,
playing 'this little piggy' on the toes of my too-quickly-growing kiddos,
sharing a bed with my girly who is always super warm and gives the best good-night hugs,
enjoying yummy breakfasts we didn't have to prepare while reading the newspaper,
feeling the warm sand seep between our toes,
Saying "I love you" and hearing "I love you" over and over again.
We returned home feeling very 'wise' indeed.
Enjoy your weekend friends!
Just stopping in to say that we are currently enjoying our Spring Break!
Thank you so much for all your awesome comments on my last post. I plan to write a part II on how i tackle the cleaning (and keeping rooms clean) of our home. Because while i do enjoy de-cluttering and organizing, i truly dislike cleaning and am constantly coming up with little tricks and motivators to get the job done.
Sadly, dad has to work every single day so we are on our own. But worry not, mama and kiddos are having a blast. Right now we are heading out for a couple of days of sun and sand and water. I will be back in this space on Monday but for now here are some photos from our trip (last month) to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. We loved the Picasso exhibit but no photographs were allowed. You know what that means - Yes, the very minute we left Picasso i began snapping dozens of photos of us enjoying the rest of this huge, gorgeous museum.
Have a wonderful week, friends!
"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do" -Epictetus
I've been thinking a lot about this quote lately. The calendar says it's spring yet the weather is dark and dreary and yesterday it snowed and rained and hailed and then snowed again. I can't seem to focus or sit still long enough to complete any making. Instead I feel the need to clean, to declutter, to donate and toss.
Back to the above quote. I want "to be" a mama who spends time reading, talking, playing, and walking through the woods with my children. I already do these things but i also spend a lot of time caring for "stuff." So what I "have to do" is keep my home free of stuff that needs washing, dusting, tending to or picking up - this will give me more free time to spend doing those things I find important.
For the past week I have been cleaning out drawers and closets and donating any clothes that have not been worn in the past year. I feel a bit more free with each to-be-donated bag that is loaded onto the minivan. I go quickly before I can change my mind because the rational me knows that I will not miss any of these items. I am sure of this because many of the donated things are items I considered letting go of last year but figured I would find a use for them. Well guess what? I didn't. I never wore the cute brand name jeans that never fit me quite right and caused my stomach to stick out. (Alright, it may not have been ALL the jeans' fault but you know what I mean) I'd rather wear the same two pairs of jeans (with a white cotton tee from Target + a cardi) everyday and look lean and put together than wear a hundred different outfits that make me look frumpy and cause me to feel less confident. Actually, I'm wearing more clothes now because I rediscovered several shirts that were buried behind all the stuff I never wore and I have lots of empty hangers for a few new Spring items. But I have no plans to go shopping any time soon because those bare hangers are making me oh so happy. Happiness really is in the little things - or in the lack of little things.
I've cleared books off my coffee table (bench, really) which, of course, encourages kiddos standing on and jumping off said coffee table-bench. But that is all part of the carefree play that is in the "what would be" part of above quote.
I also put away pillows and quilts that adorned the couch. These inevitably ended up on the floor, collecting dog hair and dust bunnies (I have no idea where these come from as bunnies are about the only pet that we don't have), and causing my kiddos to trip as they race through the family room. All this caused this mama to reprimand said kiddos so I did "what I have to do" in order to achieve the "what I would be."
Even my husband noticed that two lamps were gone and asked why they didn't make the cut. For a brief moment I questioned whether I had cleared out too much or left too little. Maybe I had created a home that was so bare bones that even my guy - who rarely notices such things - realized that we were living with less. But no, I had not cleared away and donated too much - I took away just the right amount of stuff to create a home where the unnecessary clutter was gone and what was left had room to shine - and that was what greg noticed.
Yes, my home is pared down to the things that we need and love. Things that did not serve a purpose had to go - i'm sure that someone perusing my local thrift store right now is seeking a red glass lamp and will be overjoyed when she comes accross the one I donated. I feel like a giver - which sure beats feeling like a hoarder!
For extra clearing out fun I went through each of our sock and underwear drawers and pulled out items that were worn or didn't have a match. You don't need to know this but I kept only four white bras - the ones that looked good under white tees and only the underwear that I actually wear. This really is too much information for a crafty blog but if this helps someone out there clear the excess clutter out of their homes then so be it.
Since I cleaned out all the excess I am able to breathe deeper and feel less stressed. Plus I have more room for flowers and more time to enjoy them!
And for moments when you feel like this, I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes:
"Out of clutter find simplicity; from discord find harmony; in the middle of difficulty lies opportunity." -Albert Einstein
Cannot believe more than a week has passed since I was last here.
During this past week rain has poured down and bright sunshine has shone.
David had strep throat and got to spend a quiet day at home with mama while the effects of his antibiotics kicked in.
Having Mondays off from school has provided us with a true day off. A day without taekwondo practice or tournaments or hebrew school or swim meets. We are loving these Mondays.
During this week a sweet raccoon came to visit. Then it fell out of his super tall tree, right on Remmy's head and bit him on the ear. This was followed by a visit from the animal control officer, a visit to the veterinarian for a rabies booster, a visit from the county health department. And many extra pets for our sweet doggie who goes above and beyond the call of duty to serve and protect his family from trespassers, big or small.
I spent two entire days at the kiddos' school finishing up an art fundraiser and setting up for this week's book fair.
I learned that my tires were so worn that they only had 1/32 (how is that possible) of their tread left. I had them replaced, but not before I drove ninety miles into the big city and back - all the while holding my breath.
I tripped and fell and hurt my knee - it's still bruised and swollen but I didn't twist or tear anything and for that i am grateful. It happened when I was chasing after my kiddos with a camera and a nosy neighbor came out to tell me gossip about another neighbor. I was trying to smile politely while keeping up with my kiddos when I slipped on a large piece of gravel and fell. Yet another reason to dislike gossip.
My oldest kiddo turned twelve this weekend. We celebrated with friends and pizza at a park in the big city and then we celebrated again at home with his favorite fish tacos and a raspberry amaretto cake.
The following are some of the many random pictures that I took this past week - in no particular order.
Do you see mr. raccoon high up in the tree?
Do you see the girly behind the sunflower?
Do you see the girl's teddy bear - sleeping on the kitchen table? This teddy goes everywhere the girl goes. And once a week, when the girl goes to school, teddy takes a bath in the washing machine.
This is what she looks like when i tell her that bear got a bath.
Do you see the girl, way in the distance, who took off down the road - all by herself? And the big brother who takes the best care of said girl?
He turned his bike around to follow the girl who has no fears or inhibitions.
Girl ended up in the ditch. Boy helped her get back on track.
Then boy got some well deserved birthday cake.
I warned you it was random. But so are the days of my life. And it's these little moments that make up the best parts of my days.
And to steal a quote from Oscar Wilde's very funny play, "Life is far too important a thing ever to talk seriously about."
See you back here soon with some 'making'.
Abigail could not wait to reveal her new mama-made sweater.
First, she "styled" the look. (Translation: she refused to wear the shirt and pants that i had picked out.)
Next, she "choreographed" the photo shoot. (Translation: she figured that 'all those people who read your blog' would think that the sweater was 'boring' if she 'just stood there' so she decided to show you all that 'you can do' while wearing this cardi.)
Apparently the sweater is good for doing this...
And this...
And for looking directly at the sun.
It's also perfectly suited for pointing at passing brothers...
And for "giving yourself a hug."
Oh, and she thought you should see the back.
Bet you didn't know that my knits were this versatile! Yours can be too if you let Miss Abby conduct a "photo shoot" for you.
Now for the pattern - or lack thereof. I wanted to knit Leslie's Libby cardi (pattern in Leslie's sidebar). But the pattern is a bit too large for my girly who wears size 6-8 so I made up my own using the top-down raglan formula. This basic formula can be found in many books on top down knitting but my favorite web instructions are written by Laura of cosmicpluto knits.
Here are my numbers for this size 8 cardi:
I used worsted weight wool (Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool in the colors Limoncello and Antique) and
US sz 8 needles.
CO 70 stitches.
k1p1 ribbing for 6 rows. (for the band around the neck)
Divide for yolk (RS): k5 for button band, pm, k10 for front, pm, k10 for sleeve, pm, k20 for back, pm, k10 for sleeve, pm, k10 for front, pm, k5 for button band
row 2 (WS): k5 for button band, purl to last 5 stitches (last marker), k5
row 3 (RS): *k to 2 sts before marker, kf&b, k1, sl m, k1, kf&b*, repeat from * to * three more times. Knit to the end of the round.
row 4 (WS): k5, purl to last 5 stitches (last marker), k5.
Repeat rows 3 & 4 sixteen times. (or until you have 42 stitches between the sleeve markers.)
Slip the sleeve stitches onto scrap yarn and continue knitting the body of the sweater in stockinette stitch to desired length.
Work 14 rows garter stitch for the bottom band. (knit every row) Bind off.
Laura gives instructions for side shaping in her pattern. I did not do any side shaping for a child's cardi but i highly recommend side shaping if you are knitting a cardi for yourself.
Slip sleeve stitches off scrap yarn and join stitches to work in the round (i love magic loop knitting method for sleeves) until sleeves are desired length. Work 14 rows garter stitch. Bind off. Repeat for second sleeve.
For the stripes I just switched between the two colors every 6, 8, 10 and 14 rows respectively. See how the stripes become wider as the sweater progresses. Have fun and make the stripes any width you like - just remember to do the same for the sleeves so that the stripes line up.
You can easily make this cardi larger by adding several more kf&b increases in the yoke before separating the sleeves. Then knit the body and sleeves to desired length.
Hope you find these instructions helpful. I know that wearing this cardi has helped my girly run faster through the woods, gather dozens of pine cones, and build a fort for all the imaginary students that she schools each day.
Oh my, I said I would announce the giveaway winners on Monday... but for some reason I keep on forgetting that with my kiddos home nearly every Monday, Tuesday has become my new Monday. Thanks so much to all of you who entered - I really enjoyed reading all of your sweet and clever comments. I couldn't choose just two winners so I chose three:
comment #5 - annri
comment #26 - miri
comment #32 Laura (no blog link) Ladies, send me your addresses!
In the meantime:
We enjoyed a wonderful three-day weekend full of playing, house cleaning and organizing, and a trip here to see this. Each of these will receive its own post sometime this week. I'm off to read with some first graders and pick up a whole bunch of kiddo artwork from the art teacher that will be turned into mugs and totes for our next fundraiser - hoping to raise enough money so that we can have school on Mondays again!
On the home front:
Abigail's sweater is all done,
this quilt top is almost complete,
these ladies are enjoying their morning constitutional,
this kitty is in search of a warm and sunny perch,
and this girly is ready to reveal her new cardi.
Wishing you all a fabulous Tuesday! (although it sure does feel like a Monday around here!)
Working to finish up works in progress... and, of course, couldn't keep myself from starting a new project. Not much to share just yet so with a little inspiration from my afternoon pick-me-up - delish coffee ice cream - I went in search of the color brown. Here goes...
May you find much inspiration this weekend.
"Without inspiration the best powers of the mind remain dormant. There is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks." Johann Gottfried Von Herder
I like to think it happened because Valentine's Day fell on a Monday.
And because I have absolutely no sewing time on most weekends. I play with the kiddos all weekend (and drive them around a lot) while my husband's at work. He returns home minutes before they go to bed, helps out with a few chores, and then wants quality time for us. Poor me, right? People, my life is the best - just little time for making.
And it could have happened a little because I took on three big projects, planned my time poorly, and began my making way too late. However I still think that it's that darn Monday that's to blame!
I did not finish my kiddos' gifts.
I wanted to make them quilts like Erin's but I only got this far...
And i only sewed the D - I - D for David...
And this is Abby's rabbit...
I was feeling defeated - and a bit sad - until I turned to my address book for some sound advice...
And then it came to me ...I would give my family the gift of my time, my undivided attention when they spoke, my help in crafting valentine's for their friends. I would give them the gift of a mama who breathed more deeply and time spent in the kitchen baking brownies. I also gifted them each a small box of chocolates and a special love note. Everyone was happy. Thank goodness for wise quotes in address books. (Wise address book available here.)
Ezra and David have birthdays coming up in March and April and their quilts will become birthday gifts. And Abigail will receive her bunny rabbit just in time for spring solstice. All is well again.
This is the result of a a girly who grabbed a big pair of scissors and cut through a dozen 'pixy stix' at once only to make a huge mess on the kitchen table. When we gathered up all the sugary powder we found a heart.
Wishing that all good things will be yours today!
Hello there! I miss you! Verizon hasn't let me upload for days. You see they're upgrading our phone lines for all the extra smartphone users and adding iphone service to our area. Yes, such are the perks of living out in the country!
Thank you so much for all your sweet comments on my last two posts. Shelby really liked the hat I knit her and the bracelet pattern was indeed from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson.
We have all taken turns being under the weather around here. Abigail was home with me yesterday due to some tummy troubles. She's off to school today but Ezra is home with a headache and stomach bug. He's such a trooper and hates missing a day of school - he got dressed, ate breakfast, took some motrin and made it all the way to the bus stop before he admitted defeat and asked to stay home. Right now he's wrapped in a quilt, nursing a cup of cinnamon apple tea, and reading Make magazine. So glad he's feeling a bit better.
I've come to the conclusion that there's nothing more important than one's health. Each week in temple we take a moment of silence to pray to G-d individually yet all under one roof - I always ask for health for my family and friends. Some weeks I question whether I should be asking for world peace or an end to hunger or...but I always end up asking for health. I guess i figure that we can work on fixing most other issues if only we had our health.
And on that note we've been cooking up a storm of healthy yumminess around here.
We baked the moistest pumpkin muffins using Ellie Krieger's recipe. We omitted the pumpkin seeds and sprinkled chocolate chips over the top to make them even more yummy.
We also made potato leek soup - twice. I modified this recipe. I doubled the amount of chicken stock and added three sliced carrots and some chopped broccoli because who couldn't use some extra veggies in their soup. We used yukon gold potatoes because they make the soup creamier and give it a pretty yellow color.
And here's some veggie/beef pasta sauce that was a huge hit with all three kiddos.
Saute 1 chopped onion, 3 sliced carrots, I head cauliflower in olive oil. (You can add or substitute with mushrooms, broccoli, spinach, etc.)
Add 1 pound ground beef to veggie mixture and continue to saute until meat is cooked through. Adding the beef to the veggies keeps it from browning and makes it moist. (kinda like meatball consistency)
Pour in 1 can of diced tomatoes with juice, 1 cup of chicken broth and juice of 1 lemon. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Simmer for 10 minutes and toss with whole wheat pasta. Enjoy.
In case you were wondering - yes, 95% of the meals i cook are prepared using just one pot - or one bowl. I have a lengthy lack-of-dishwasher story that I will share at a later time but we do just fine bringing our one-pot meals to the table and digging in!
As long as we're on the topic of food, I wanted to mention that we do not bake the dried cherries or cranberries with the granola we make - we just stir them in once the granola is baked and cooled. I mention this because Ezra was making the granola this week and came to ask me if he should add the dried fruit before baking - as directed in Ina's recipe. He knew to ask because we always add the cranberries and cherries to the jar with the cooled granola and shake until it's incorporated. I must admit that I never read the recipe carefully enough to realize that Ina recommended baking dried fruit for 30 minutes - this would surely make it dry and not very tasty.
See the hearts?
We have been finding them everywhere lately.
Turns out you just have to slow down and look!
Thanks so much for all the apron love on the last post. And if I had known that you would've enjoyed my washer/dryer delivery story so I would have shared more details of this bizarre delivery. Like the fact that they telephoned me from my driveway, repeatedly, to tell me that they were terrified of my pups. And how at one point they ran back to the Sears truck so quickly to get away from my dog, who was busy sniffing their tires, that one of them twisted his ankle and complained about it for the entire time they were here!
But enough about that because it's time to move on. And now that I have finally finished up the last 2010 holiday season gift I feel I can do just that.
On December 18, after three years of taekwondo training, both of my boys earned their first degree black belts. I actually wrote a post about this but never published it because the gloomy morning light and the fact that the entire belt presentation & tea ceremony is done with the lights off resulted in some less than attractive photos.
I did post about their Black Belt Recommended testing here. After the testing I presented my boys with small gifts to let them know how very proud we are of them. This prompted Shelby, who also earned her black belt that morning, to ask me to knit her a hat for Christmas. She told me that she doesn't care what style I knit so long as it's black. I must say that I don't like to knit hats for non-knitters because they don't know what to expect and are rarely happy with the results. Plus Shelby, standing on the left between my guys, is an eighteen year old girl and a college freshman which places her in the most-difficult-to-please-with-a-knit category. This is why I gifted Shelby a very nice (store bought) scarf and an insulated mug for Christmas. I didn't even attempt to knit a black hat for a teenage girl.
Long story short, she opens the gift, immediately puts on the scarf and tells me she loves it. Then she tells me that she really needed a new insulated cup and thanks me for it. I assume i'm home free when she asks about the hat. I explained that she may not like what I knit and that I didn't have time to get washable black wool with my kiddos home over winter break. Shelby stood firm, told me that she really wanted me to knit her a hat and that she would love whatever I knit.
So I went home and dug through my stash for the black/grey washable wool left over from my rusted root sweater. And then I knit the Slouched Tuva Hat.
Which, by the way, looks adorable on my six year old.
It's not truly black. It's very slouchy. And it may be a tad large...
But it is 'close' to black in color. And it's 'kinda' fun in a teenage girl sorta way.
And it looks fabulous paired with pink polka dot boots!
Best of all, Abigail enjoyed modeling it - and didn't even try to take it off once!
I must go now. It's time to feed my kiddos dinner #1.
Then off to taekwondo (where I will gift Shelby her hat).
I will see you all back here around 8:30 tonight - after I have fed my kiddos dinner #2 and tucked them into bed.
We welcomed 2011 with many of the family traditions we have established over the past several years.
We put up our New Year's tree, wore paper crowns, tooted on horns, drank sparkling cider and played In a Pickle - our new favorite game. We rang in the New Year at 9:30 pm and everyone was tucked into bed by ten.
On New Year's morning we ate carrot cake for breakfast - for a sweet, bountiful and joyous year. This symbalism only makes sense if eating carrot cake brings you joy - like it does me!
After some confetti popping, we headed out into our woods...
"I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived."
Henry David Thoreau
we seesawed.
we climbed.
we helped one another reach new heights.
we marveled.
we schemed.
we batted snowballs with sticks - simply because we could.
we uncovered.
we contemplated.
we deliberated.
Upon returning home we gathered the makings for breakfast #2. Because growing kiddos cannot live on cake alone.
Welcome 2011!
Thank you so much for sticking by me through all these kiddo centric posts. This past summer I stepped away from the computer for a while in an attempt to be sure that I could continue blogging and still be fully present for my family. The only thing I was able to conclude with certainty was that I missed all of you and this supportive community. When I chose to return I knew that my space here could no longer be solely about sewing and knitting. This space must be where I tell my story, express my thoughts, capture the everyday, celebrate accomplishments, and simply share our life and play.
Thank you for visiting, for sharing, for your support - I hope you choose to continue on this journey with me in 2011. I wish you and your families peace and joy and light in this New Year.
Having said all that I actually sewed something - and will share as soon as I take some photos.
This Sunday the snow came down. A whole foot of it!
In the morning I took photos out the window.
But once the wiggles set in and i had three stir crazy kiddos on my hands we took the show - and the camera - outdoors.
Then the sun came out and we set forth to explore...
in the veggie garden:
with the girls: who refused to let their feet touch the snow and remained "cooped up" (pun intended) for two whole days.
with icicles picked off the roof:
All that play can be exhausting so we took a break.
Then back inside for a snack.
I have been making Ina Garten's Cherry Granola for a while now but when Soulemama posted her granola recipe i decided to combine the two into what turned out to be the best granola EVER!
We just mixed all the ingredients leftover from making holiday gifts for the teachers and we got this half gallon jar + one quart jar full of yummy, healthy, hearty goodness.
We couldn't stop munching on it right out of the jar...
But around here everyone enjoys granola best over a bowl of plain yogurt, generously drizzled with honey.
Happy New Year to you!
I can't believe I've been away for two weeks.
I am a bit sad to report that my computer is no longer with us. My IT guy (awesome husband) was able to retrieve most of my data.
I am so excited that a brand spanking new computer is on its way to my house.
In the mean time I have been playing with my kiddos (who have more days off this year than school days), celebrating Hanukkah, cleaning and organizing my home, squeezing in a bit of making time, and wracking my mind wondering what all of you have been up to.
This week, snow days have been added to all the usual days off from school and we have been enjoying every minute.
We received these fabulous chalkboard place mats from Leslie several weeks ago and have loved using them. The kiddos sit at the table longer playing hangman and tic-tac-toe or patiently await dinner while doodling away. And each morning they find mama written 'love notes' or words of encouragement under their cereal bowls. These place mats are brilliant and make me proud to be a part of this community of bloggers who Dream and Create and Make.
And yes, David does sit at the head of the table because that's where the window is and this middle kiddo likes to read in the kitchen while mama cooks.
I must return to my kiddos who are busily making birthday gifts for their Dad. We are celebrating his birthday tonight. I will be checking in with all of you and sharing that soup recipe (yikes!) and some knitting very soon - promise. For the next several days I will need to kindly ask permission from my husband to use his computer - and wait in line behind the kiddos who are officially on winter break - but no worries because I am up later than they are!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Today finds me busily putting together a few Hanukkah gifts - the first night is tomorrow and I am not ready, many things that I had planned will not get done and I am just fine with that.
I cannot help but think about how thankful I am that really and truly we already have everything we need. But because I cannot wrap up hugs nor kisses nor giggles nor time playing or hiking outdoors, I wrap gifts that symbolize all of these to me.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving full of food, family and about a gazillion games of Apples to Apples Jr. (give or take a few).
Before I share a few images from our week, I'd like to thank all of you who come here and visit and share. You all mean so much to me and I feel blessed to have you in my life and to call you my friends. I wish you much joy and thanks giving - not just in this holiday season but throughout the coming year.
This past week we...
Enjoyed the yummiest, tiniest, and most fun brussel sprouts ever. We roasted them with lots of olive oil, salt and pepper and everyone ate because everyone helped!
Arranged flowers for our table.
Marveled at how the blue eggs are blue on the inside too.
We took cooking breaks to venture outside and breathe the beautiful, crisp fall air.
We shot arrows at targets - or just into the woods. This boy loves his archery and spends time each day perfecting his shot.
Then we made mushroom soup to accompany our turkey and all the trimmings. The secret to this soup is definitely in the dried mushrooms. (two stalks of celery and one turnip also went into the mix)
When it was all cooked, in went this gorgeous swiss chard.
Yum.
In fact, the mushroom soup was such a hit that only half the Thanksgiving feast was comsummed before the masses decided it was time for a walk in the woods.
We walked...
We ran...
We played hide-and-seek.
And lots of cinnamon hot cocoa was consummed.
See. I told you we already have everything we need. But the presents will be wrapped (and unwrapped), the latkes will be fried, all the menorahs will be lit, and there will be lots of silly singing and dancing.
And all weekend long I wore this very warm little gift that I made for myself (finished more than a week ago). More details as soon as I get the photos cropped.
I'm off pick up my kiddos and rush them to the dentist. Why is it that I always forget to consult the calendar before scheduling that six month visit? Winter break and holidays just seem so far off when the heat of June is messing with my last few brain cells! At least I get to walk through my carpet of red maple leaves one extra time. I am so very thankful that no one in this family takes the time to rake - these leaves are fabulous!
Be well, my friends!
