Bluebirdbaby

I'm Swooning

Meet my new pal; the Activa 220. She (and I get to call her "she" because Stephen calls his boat a "she") and I have become great friends and we've done a bit of bonding already. I'm amazed at how quiet this machine is. Stephen asked if it was running and I had to reassure him that it indeed was.

The little one was a good sport, being carted from thrift shop to thrift shop, fabrics stores and finally the Bernina dealer after refusing to nap. I spent over an hour going from machine to machine (luckily Stephen works next door to the dealer and was able to watch her while I spent my time asking questions) and after debating if I really wanted to open a credit card to get that higher end model, I spotted the 220 and fell in love.

So she's here to stay. I'm pretty happy with the fact that I won't need to upgrade later on down the road. I think this machine does all and more than I'll ever need. Doesn't my old machine in the background look rather sad pushed aside? Poor thing. It served me well.

Thank you for all of your suggestions yesterday! They were certainly reassuring and I never would have made the leap without your help.

Outside Again

The weather here has been just lovely this past week. Periods of clouds that seem to dissipate as the days wear on, followed by the lovely sun and its warmth. I've discovered that the little one dislikes mittens. You see, mittens tend to stifle her normal "collecting activities" (acorns, pine cones, and lately the ice sheets on top of puddles) and she either wants to go in right away or makes it loud and clear that the mittens MUST COME OFF! So I have been thankful that the thermometer has been reaching a high 50 degrees (late November in Maine?!) and mittens are not required.

We do, however, have to wear the cute little hat the talented Grace sent us. I'm surprised she is content with keeping it on her head and I laugh every time she smiles as I tie the strings underneath her chin.

The back is my favorite part. That little point at the top? Lovely.

Her new thing is throwing the dog his ball. She usually finds it sitting in a puddle, all wet and covered in slobber. Shall I mention she usually tastes it before throwing it?!

And here she is trying to get Macaulay's attention. He wasn't entirely enthused by her game.

Of course, we check the mail. She has to get it herself (with a little hoist from mama) and carry it all the way back to the house.

Lately there have been puddles everywhere. If she didn't have such tiny feet, I'd get her some rain boots. They'd come in very handy around here. I once told her "no" when she tried to step in a deep puddle with her only pair of shoes on, and being the determined little thing she is, puddles have become like gold to her. So I stay out of it and let her at 'em.

And with all the interesting things to climb on, a little help from mama is always needed.

*I'm headed an hour west later today to look at sewing machines; both new and used. Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated!!*

Sew What?

I assure you, there has been a lot of time spent behind the sewing machine here lately. Christmas gifts, things for me, things for the little one, clothes and new items for the shop. I'm getting ready to upgrade my machine because I'm often left with a half done project that requires something more heavy duty, or even a machine that can actually apply the zigzag stitch correctly. Stephen is usually begging me to upgrade because he's tired of hearing those naughty words escape my mouth while I reach for the stitch ripper. And my serger? Are you supposed to have to bang on it to get it working again?! So it looks like both of them might be in for an upgrade. Oy vey.

Nevertheless, I have managed to complete a few things. This was one of those, "what was I thinking??" projects. I designed a simple skirt with two pleats in the front and a ruffle around the bottom. I wanted something nice to wear to Thanksgiving but this was honestly too much for me. I once again measured myself no less than ten times and still came out with a skirt eight inches too big. A lot of cutting and resewing and I ended up with something that was a bit too "fluffy" for me. I'm hacking the back off and turning it into an apron.

A few Christmas gifts for family and friends.  I made four of these patchwork scarves and they were so incredibly quick to whip up. I think it's safe to post these here, but I'm sorry if I spoiled the surprise for anyone! I used cotton prints from my favorite little fabric store and linen I had on hand.

And lastly, a little sneak peak at the new batch of things for the shop. This "Library Tote'' is strong enough to carry a load of books. This one was made with a chocolate brown corduroy and one of my favorite Japanese cotton prints. I really want to keep it for myself! It's lined with fusible fleece (gosh, I despise working with this stuff, but it sure does make a bag sturdy!) and has a wonderful feel to it. The straps are long enough to go over your shoulder, because I'm one of those people who never has a free hand for carrying a bag. I plan on finishing the rest and adding them to the shop by the weekend.

Now, off to do more sewing...

For those music fans out there, the title of this post was inspired by my favorite Miles Davis tune: "So What"

Corners of My Home

*I know I'm due for a crafty post, and don't you worry...there will be one tomorrow!*

We did a little reorganizing over the weekend. Our house isn't the easiest to rearrange as we please, so subtle changes have to do when I'm in need of a little something new. Switching carpets around, moving a table here and there, lamps in different spots...you know, the little things that when all changed at once, do seem to create a whole new room.

This is the little one's corner. Where the most play takes place and where she "cooks" me soup countless times throughout the day. Our temporary nature table is on the top shelf of her kitchen. The cupboard and oven doors still need to be attached by Papa, but it's not high on the list of to-dos. The broom on the right is probably the second most played with object in the house. She loves it and often helps mama sweep the kitchen.

This is where we keep an endless supply of paper and crayons. Most of the time the crayons end up in her mouth, so I'm not investing in anything fancy yet. The basket and paper sit on the bottom shelf of our bookcase, right next to her basket of books. I love looking over and seeing her scribbling on a piece of paper.

And lastly, not quite a corner but Elisabeth's favorite spot; her perch, if you will. Papa put up a bird feeder over the weekend just outside these big windows. We  have had so much fun spending time looking out the window at the birds. I think I've mentioned her amazing love for birds before. I have no idea where it comes from and I certainly have to wonder why her favorite book is A Field Guide To The Birds. She found this book stuffed in between hundreds on the bookshelf months ago and hasn't yet let it out of her sight. So mama is learning a lot about birds lately.

As I mentioned above, a crafty post will follow tomorrow. You know, all this holiday crafting going on can't exactly be revealed on the blog because of some family readers, but I can show a bit here and there.

A Morning To Myself

It's becoming a rare treat to have a morning to myself. With all of the house projects and winterizing activities going on, I am with the little one seven days a week. But Saturday I was delighted to do a little shopping on my own, complete with a stop at a fabulous flea market. I always feel a tinge of guilt walking out the door, while the little one stands bewildered holding her arms out so I will take her with me. She doesn't quite get that mama can leave without her. But she's much too independent and soon forgets I'm even gone. Still, I usually rush through my errands, ignoring the fact that I need moments away from her to be a better mama.

But on this trip, I enjoyed every moment. I walked up and down the aisles, visiting the same booths over and over again to stare at the wonderful vintage treasures I longed to take home with me. I think I picked up the same bowl at least four times on my trips around the vast building, staring at its lovely sea-green color, debating whether it should join the others on the shelf in my kitchen. This basket and the vintage linens and fabric scraps inside were a find at a local thrift store I stopped at first. 

This apron? A deal for sure, and can I say how fun it was to make pancakes the next morning wearing it? Why don't more people wear aprons? They're fabulous!

This apron's rick-rack was hand sewn. I love turning it over and looking at the not-quite-perfect zigzag stitching on the back. There is something so meditative and rewarding about sewing by hand. I must do more of it.

And I was completely overjoyed to find this bit of vintage fabric. I love it.

I was happy to take my time that morning. I completely let go of all the guilt and just told myself to "be in the moment." I stopped to get a latte, pulled off the road to visit any antique shop that I pleased and really enjoyed having the time to myself. When I got back home I was ready for another week of parenting. I was more centered and able to be fully present for the little one. All of the goodies I came home with? A nice bonus, that's all.

The Aftermath

Three stuffed bellies.
Lots of dishes.
One very sleepy and worn out babe.
More than enough leftovers.
Feeling pretty darn good about making a gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner.
Did I mention lots of dishes?!

 

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and that your weekend be filled with fun!

Giving Thanks

I'm grateful for little moments of quiet play,

a package from a friend containing the most beautiful hat I've ever seen,

a cozy fire on a chilly night,

a gluten-free pumpkin pie,

and Stephen remembering dish soap (we've been out for two days!) so I could finally tackle all the dishes. Ah, there's nothing like baking in a clean kitchen.

And I'm most certainly grateful for all of you; for those of you who take the time out of your days to stop by and say hello. Here's wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving, from our family to yours.

First Snowfall

*Not such a quiet post today. Sometimes I just can't keep my word!*

Amazing the difference a year can make. Last year the little one was not too impressed with the snow. But this year? Well, as soon as she woke up from her nap and saw the window, she screamed in excitement and ran to it to get a closer look.

Of course, we had to go outside. As I opened the door you could see the delight on her face. How fun it must be to really see snow for the first time. Quite fitting it should snow today, the same day our special order Winter book by Gerda Muller arrived at our local bookstore. (See that dog on the front page? That's "Twister," Elisabeth's special friend. The coffee shop is attached to the bookstore and we visit everyday. Need I say more?!)

While playing in the snow, Elisabeth discovered that it's also good for eating. I'm surprised this picture even came out as the camera was jumping up and down from my laughing. She insisted on eating all the snow off of every  solar light along the walkway. 

With the snow today and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I'm definitely getting into the holiday mood. I felt so much excitement today, just like I remember as a child. Now, if I could only find time to work on all the gifts for Christmas...

Yum

As the weather gets colder and we end up spending more and more time inside, soup has been showing up for lunch more days than not. Our favorite? Butternut squash. The enthusiastic clapping as I light the burner is a sure sign this soup will be around for a while. This soup is so good that we actually don't want to waste precious time with spoons, so the bowl becomes a rather large cup. There's much slurping, lots of "mmmmm!"-ing, and of course, the traditional licking of the bowl at the end. Have a look for yourself...

And of course, there is more baking going on these days. Cookies and muffins being things the oven sees most.  The above were some delicious banana-quinoa muffins topped with raw honey and Earth Balance. Ah, delicious.

On Our Walk

Expect some quiet posting this week. There is much to do around the house to prepare for the winter ahead and even more sewing to take place. I'll be back to regular posting next Monday.

A long walk with the little one just before sunset. A stop to look at the sun's golden rays on the apple tree and to touch some winter berries. A quiet, peaceful break in the midst of a hectic day. A chance to recharge and catch our breath. Much needed by both.

Shop Update

I added three pairs of jeans to the shop. What's a wardrobe without a pair of jeans?!

Don't forget, free shipping for blog readers until Wednesday with code "blog1107."

We Love to Eat

There are times I feel like it's quite unfair for a family who loves food to live with so many dietary restrictions. I mean dairy I could deal with, but add gluten, wheat, soy, eggs, citrus and other things to the mess and finding a meal we all like and can eat is so very challenging. However, after finishing Gluten-Free Girl I don't feel so bad anymore. I did love the book in many ways and it certainly inspired me to be a little more adventurous in the kitchen. The biggest thing we struggle with is the time it takes to cook those nice meals (with a little one climbing up your leg) and the money it costs to purchase the food.

All those years of passing on bagels, cinnamon rolls, bread fresh from the oven, cookie dough from the bowl and Flatbread pizza (okay, I really never passed on that...) makes me want to turn back time and eat them all when I had the chance. Now, I can't. Now I go into the cafe and stare longingly at the people biting into their chewy bagels and wish I could be them, just for one bite.

I am very glad I read Shauna's book. I have been beyond tired for months. When I stopped nursing Elisabeth because of her mulptiple allergies (she is now on a medical formula), I slowly started slipping gluten back into my diet. But I became so tired. I would have to lie on the couch in the afternoons, my eye lids drooping and feeling every last ounce of energy drain from my body. I didn't know what was wrong. I knew it was so much more than the normal motherhood induced exhaustion.

But Shauna explains this phenomenon as if I had called her up and told her my sleepiness woes. She put it all into words and even found the culprit: gluten. So the book did inspire me to take those oats and barley products back out of my diet and I was a whole new mama in two days. I feel terrific. Beyond terrific. In fact, I have so much energy that many nights I am lying awake until 1 a.m.

But sometimes that gluten slips back in. The other night Stephen made chicken with Dijon mustard and honey. The mustard was made using grain vinegar, which neither of us registered as "gluten." I was up all night with a bad flare up of eczema. I woke up the next morning and checked everything I had eaten the night before. It's things like this that make me a little crazy. I don't want to have to scrutinize everything that goes in my mouth, but I have no choice.

The little one has it much worse off than I. I struggle to find foods she can eat. More often than not, even the foods marked "allergen free" will cause a reaction and we're dealing with blistering rashes and a babe screaming in pain. It's not fun. And the fact that I was the one who handed her the food makes me feel horrible. But I'm confident that as she grows older, we will find new and better foods. Foods that will make her tummy happy, help her grow big and strong, and foods that will make her close her eyes and say "yum!" as she takes that first bite.

Well really, we have no choice because this girl just loves to eat. But with people like Shauna getting the word out about Celiac's, I really have the hope that one day Elisabeth and I will be able to walk into a cafe and have that bagel. Thanks Shauna.

We Love Books

*I am so thrilled by the enthusiastic responses to yesterday's post. I'm very interested to see what you all come up with, so if you do find that perfect thrifted sheet and decide to do something with it, let me know-I'd love to see it!*

A good deal of our day is spent reading. I started reading to Elisabeth when she was three weeks old. For months it was one of the only ways to stop the incessant crying. She had her favorites back then; those books that really caught her attention, even during the midst of doctors poking and prodding and the long car drives down to the big city.

We keep a basket handy of books to get through the week. It sits in the living room near the rest of her toys. There are pillows to plop on for a good read and snacks always nearby. Sometimes she can get absorbed in a book for about fifteen minutes, which is saying a lot considering she never seems to slow down for anything else; not even food.

We're still mostly into board books because she does like to flip the pages herself and tends to lug the books around with her everywhere, so traditional paper pages just don't hold up. However, we are now into reading longer stories so our biweekly trips to the library result in a bag full of books mama is very excited to get reading.

The rest of her books are kept in her room. We rotate the selection in the smaller basket each week. Most of the books come from thrift shops and the secondhand bookstore in town. Our local bookstore carries a wonderful selection of children's books and I've had my eye on Elsa Beskow's books for weeks now.

Most of the day, our reading time is spontaneous. She grabs a book, comes over and puts it in my lap while signing the word for "more" (like the above photo) and saying "please" ("peeee!"). We sit, read, and repeat the process until we've gone through at least five books.

Most of the time it's mama who needs a break from the reading. There's only so many times I can read about saying goodnight to a moon in one day. But I have to smile when she insists on reading the same book I loved as a child over and over again. The same old, well-loved, taped together copy I had at her age.

But I really enjoy our reading time together.  It's the only (and I mean only) time of the day when she is contently sitting and not struggling to get out of my lap. She is one busy little lady, and I am so thankful for her love of books and the time it allows us to spend together.

We're always on the lookout for more great books. Please, leave a comment and let us know some of your favorites.

I Love Creating

We have been on the search for a new shower curtain for months. I kept putting it off until the disgusting state of our existing shower curtain was no longer ignorable. So I looked around and could find nothing for a price a family on a budget was willing to settle for. I ended up getting two liners to at least keep the floor dry, but they were oh so boring.

Enter thrifted sheet. I found it this past weekend and bought it on impulse. I had no plans for it and couldn't even decide if I liked it. When I saw this photo on flickr and realized the curtain was a repurposed duvet cover, I got the bright idea of making my own shower curtain. So that's just what I did a few nights ago.

Super easy. I serged the bottom edge to the desired length, then added button holes to the top of the sheet where the shower curtain rings would go. It took me about 15 minutes. I waited for Stephen to get home and walk into the bathroom, fearing he would say "oh my!" and declare it too "flowery," but he was sweet about it and agreed it looked much better than plain white.

I made a matching bath mat using scraps from the sheet, a vintage table linen, and backed it with an old towel. The little one loves pointing at the flowers. She spends a good deal of time smelling them too, thinking that all things mama calls "flowers" are supposed to smell.

She also spends a good deal of time taking off with the bath mat. I wouldn't be surprised if this ended up in her bed and I spent another night making a duplicate.

And there are four new pants up in the shop. I am really into the charcoal corduroy. I have a feeling there will be more of these in the future. And for all you blog readers out there, I am offering free shipping until next Wednesday. Just write "blog1107" in the comments to seller area.

I Love the Great Outdoors

We spend the middle part of our days outside exploring the eight acres that surround our house. The little one is always excited to get going. She insists on walking herself, motioning for me to put her down after I open the door. These days we are always greeted by a blast of chilly air, which for a moment makes me question our decision to venture out instead of curling up on the couch with a cup of cocoa. But the little one will not be stopped.

We have our little rituals: stopping to scoop up rocks on the path (while I keep them from going into her mouth), touching the garden lights, saying "hello" to our car, trying to find the dog, and then we finally get to exploring.

On this particularly chilly day, we had a mission. We wanted to find some objects to bring inside for our winter nature table. Yes, it's getting to be that time. Winter. Brrrr. I actually smelled snow the other day. It always comes sooner than we ever expect it to. So before that white blanket covers the earth, we decided to find a few things first. Her little basket is always with us on our walks. She never lets go of it.  She does allow mama to plop a few goodies in there too, but mostly she decides.

Then we come inside, warm up with a hot drink and look at our treasures.  She pulls each one out with more excitement than when she put it in. I'll miss these days come winter. For now I just take comfort in the fact that these objects will remind us of the walks we took, the things that made her smile, and the fun we had, all winter long.

I Love Etsy

Lovely things from the Green Leaf & Owl. Eva is the greatest and I think her creations are brilliant.

A tiny felted bird for the little one to add to our nature table. The creator of this is a home schooled student who has her own Etsy shop called Vermont Fairies. Elisabeth loves it and says "beh" over and over again in between kissing its little beak.

And some felted gnomes from Chocolate Lily's. They are the cutest things and so well made. She even included a little gift with our purchase which is always a pleasant surprise.

I took the pledge to buy handmade for the holidays. Have you?!

I Love Fabric

With the holidays fast approaching and future shop updates with things for the little ones and the ladies, I decided I was in need of some new fabric. Sometimes I like to just buy fabric with no preconceived notion of what it will become, but I have plans for every bit of this bunch. Mostly holiday gifts and some pockets and cuffs for future outfits. I have a new bag design I've been working on that I'm really excited about and this fabric fits the bill.

And then, after two wholesale orders, I decided a little trip over to Superbuzzy was in order. I love how there's a plethora of prints you don't often see. The children's themes are so attractive and simple, making them perfect additions to the little outfits I make for the shop. The blue kerchief girl will most likely go on some pants and a shirt for the little one.

And I am just in love with these prints. The one on the left is called "Grandma's Sofa." Okay, since when did Grandma's sofa look so cool? The remaining two are for the new bags. All of these prints were on sale by the way, so get over there before they're sold out!

With two wholesale orders going and custom orders rolling in, I've found it difficult to be tied to one thing. I want to create something new, but I don't have the time to do it right now. I wake up at night with a new design and struggle to fall back asleep in my excitement. But I have found that I love custom orders, even if it's another outfit in the midst of 15 for a wholesale order. There's something about communicating with the future recipient, coming up with an idea I think they'll love and sending it off for their little one to enjoy and make memories in. It's almost like a piece of myself is mailed off in each little package. I love it.

Tonight we're headed off to a gallery opening at Alewives. Enjoy your weekend!

Nifty Thrifty

Thrifting and I go way back. Of course, we didn't call it "thrifting" back then. I didn't even know the word existed. I thought everyone shopped at the Salvation Army. I have vivid memories of my mother asking myself and the other children she took care of in her home daycare if we would rather go to the movies, go to the library or go to the Salvation Army. Our answer was always the Salvation Army. Unless, of course, the option to drive through the car wash was given, then we really had to think about it.

We would always head straight for the baby aisle, looking for anything small enough to fit our dolls. My mother would hand us each $.50 and we would walk away with a bag full of things. Our next favorite place to look was at the shoes. We would try on all the high heels and walk around the store seeing who could get the farthest without falling. And, we never left without hitting the dress rack. Many of our dress up clothes came from the Salvation Army and I even found a "princess gown" my mother hemmed to become my third grade Halloween costume.

So you see, I love finding a deal. I grew up with the thrill of seeking out the best deal I could find. But when I reached junior high, the peer pressure started and the Salvation Army was a thing of the past. Now? I adore thrift shops. I love laying my eyes on something that makes my heart skip a beat and realize that I could walk away with it for barely nothing. And I never knew that "thrifting" was so cool in the blogging world until I started reading more crafty blogs. I do something that's cool?! No way...

Since moving up here, I have to start over with finding the good thrifting spots. Sometimes it's frustrating and I haven't yet walked away with that amazing deal, but I have found a few neat things. There's a thrift shop in the basement of a church I visit frequently. They have a huge basket of fabric scraps and sometimes, if I dig deep enough, I can find a small piece of vintage goodness. The above was one score. I used the red on the left for another pair of knee patches on yoga pants for the little one.

And this bird linen print? Lovely.

My mother had a collection of mismatched tea cups that she used for our "tea parties." I loved that time spent with my mother and drinking out of the pretty cups made me feel so special. I have started collecting mismatched vintage tea cups as I find them for future tea parties with the little one. The above cost me a whopping dollar.

And vintage sheets are great for cutting up. I think this one may become part of a bag.

Thrifting might be more work than just going to the mall, but it is so much more satisfying and way easier on the budget!

A Swap

About a month ago, I realized that the little one's head had gotten so big that she no longer fit in any of the winter hats we had for her. I have always wanted to knit a hat. I've knit 3 scarves but think my knitting ventures may just stop there. I love the idea of being able to bring the knitting with you wherever you are, but really...when I am not chasing after a very fast toddler when we're out? I don't think knitting and chasing mix. But I attempted to knit a hat for her, and after more tries than I care to admit, I gave up. Then I commissioned the talented Grace to knit one for me. Being the kind person she is, she was willing to do a trade. Perfect!

She had commented on the clutches awhile back, so I came up with something unique. First I made this one using a freezer paper stencil of a tree I drew. I added little birds (because who doesn't love birds?!) and used an orange button that I have been saving for something special. But then I remembered that Grace loves pink. Maybe I will put this one up in the shop if anyone is interested.

So then I created something different. I used brown canvas to contrast with the pink Joel Dewberry fabric. I put some lining inside to add some bulk, since this would be used for a clutch and wallet. I wanted it to be sturdy. The button came from Alewives, my favorite little fabric store.

The freezer paper stencil of the girl flying a kite was modified from something I found on one of Rhea's notepads at the store. It took me three attempts at cutting out the small details, but I just love the end result. And, of course, it had to be pink. I used the acrylics I had on hand mixed with a fabric medium I bought at the art store in town.

I added some pockets inside for credit or business cards. I desperately want Grace to open an Etsy shop because she is so very, very talented. So I designed a little mock business card for her and stuck it in the pocket. She thought that was quite funny!

And I couldn't just leave her wee ones out of the swap, so I included two market totes. A cherry one for Elle and a tomato for Jem. I'm sure they'll get lots of use out of them.

This was my very first swap and I had so much fun. I can't wait to receive the hat for Elisabeth. Grace is a talented knitter and sewer, so I'm sure it will be amazing. Enjoy your goodies Grace!

Changes and Yoga Pants

The little one is still an hour ahead despite the time change, so we have been rising early. I kept the bedroom clock on the old time, so I wouldn't freak when I saw 4:30 a.m. glaring me in the face when I heard the first peep out of her mouth.

Getting used to the time change is hard for Mama too. The space between the end of her afternoon nap and when Papa arrives home was our outside time. We took a walk, played in the woods, threw the dog sticks and rode on her bike. Now it's dark. We went outside after her nap today to discover the sun setting. I almost cried.

We quickly got in a little exploration (and outdoors snacking) before it got too dark to find our way home.

We arranged some rocks we brought home with us from the beach on Papa's shop steps. Elisabeth took off with one, clearly deciding it was too worthy of sitting on a step outside. (I think she ended up bringing it in and placing it in the dog food bowl.)

She ran and giggled while I tried to snap pictures of her new yoga pants I made over the weekend. Two pairs  were created out of thrifted, thick jersey. I added some Superbuzzy patches to the front for fun. She likes them and the wee bit of flare at the bottom makes me smile.

She made funny faces I had never seen before and laughed when I did my best to copy her expression.

She perfected her running, so Mama needed extra cookies to make up for the energy loss of chasing after her.

And, on our way inside to warm up, we noticed the solar garden lights shining at an amazing 4:30 p.m. I think I may have shed a tear thinking of the long, dark winter ahead. We'll make it through, right?

Progress

After a large wholesale order for outfits like the ones in the shop, we finally decided to start creating my workspace.

Let me give you three, really good reasons why I need this workspace:

This is how I store my fabric. I have boxes all over the dining room floor filled with fabric like this one. I honestly don't even know what's underneath the top bit.

And, my attempt at actually organizing the fabric I have multiple yards of ended up like this; knocked over in the first 10 minutes by a small somebody who just couldn't resist. I don't even bother stacking them neatly anymore.

Or what about the fact that we haven't eaten at the dining room table for at least 6 months?! It looks like this all of the time because I work whenever I get a free moment. It drives me crazy and you can see this mess from every other room in the house.

So with the help of our neighbor, the men got down to business Saturday morning and started creating my little space. Stephen has continued working on it all weekend and just finished putting up the drywall tonight. It's starting to look like a room! I'm so thankful he was willing to part with a corner of his big workshop.

I already have the colors picked out for the walls and I'm doing something very funky with the concrete floor. It's very exciting to think about having my own space. I will be more than happy to leave the dining room and my small, windowless corner. I'm thinking on holding off on all "in progress" pictures and just showing you the end result. Much more dramatic that way. For now, I stay at the dining room table cutting out oodles of wee little pants for the wholesale order.

And...

Bluebird Baby may just be an official business in a few days! After the town meeting tonight I should find out if my business license has been approved. A big thank you to Blair for answering my many questions about this whole process. Be sure to check out her amazing Etsy shop too!

A Walk In the Woods

I used to love to hike. I would get out of work, pick up the dog and head to my favorite winter hiking spot. We would hike through a foot of snow, the only ones on the mountain. No footprints or tracks; we made our own. It was so peaceful and I found it especially refreshing to breathe in the cold mountain air while my body warmed up under layers of wool. The dog would bound merrily down the trail, stopping every 100 feet or so to wait for me.

Sadly, I eventually got too caught up in life and the busyness it entails. I stopped going to my favorite mountain and instead traded it in for the convenient, albeit hectic, streets I would run daily just outside our door. But since having a child, I seem to want to connect with nature more. I want to get back to hiking, walking trails, taking picnics by the lake, burying my toes in the sand at the beach and generally just slowing down a bit, using the outdoors as my starting point.

So Sunday we took a family day and headed to Dodge Point, a short drive from our house with easy trails that navigate around a pond and open up to the gorgeous Damariscotta River. The little one had never been on a trail before and she was rather excited to get going. If she actually would have stayed on the trail, I'm sure she would have walked a good part of it. However, the woods proved to be more exciting to her, so in the Ergo she went!

I told Stephen that he better take some pictures of me for the family album. Elisabeth is going to think her mama never existed because I'm always the one behind the camera.

So, being the natural model I am (insert loud laughing here), I posed in the only position I could think of after a marathon viewing of the Austin Powers movies...just like Dr. Evil.

We collected some things to bring back with us for the winter nature table. I love these little pine cones. We can only find the long, skinny pine cones on our property, so I was so pleased to discover the short, round ones.

Elisabeth was beyond thrilled when we came to the Damariscotta River. She actually tried to go swimming on that cold, windy day. Papa stopped her, thank goodness. There was a great deal of sitting in mud though.

And for the first time since she was 5 months old, she fell asleep in the carrier. It was so sweet. I had tears in my eyes thinking this could very well be the last time it happens. 

I'm sure there will be plenty of outdoor time this weekend for us, and I only hope yours will include some too! Enjoy your weekend!

Creative Play

A quiet post today seems right after a hectic start to the week. The little one has been much more into play lately than sleep.

Enjoy your Thursday!