Bluebirdbaby

Food Roots

Shannon, over at Nourishing Days, is hosting a little discussion on where your food comes from. She asked me to join in by talking a little bit more about what we eat and how we live, and being a lover of all things green, I happily agreed.

I am a huge believer in supporting local businesses. The smaller, the better in my book. I had been shopping at our little natural foods co-op since I moved to this area, and was delighted to start working there last summer. All of the food we eat comes from this store. Winter in Maine can be pretty long, and prior to spring the only local produce available seems to be root vegetables and garlic, but come spring and summer, the local produce available is overwhelming (and so yummy!).

It's neat working in a store like this. I've gotten to know all the farmers who deliver the vegetables, the goat man who delivers the goat cheese (and always brings the cutest goat with him...oh yes, that's where the $10 goat came from), the bread guy who drives an insane distance to deliver their freshly baked bread, the wee-bit farmer who brings in his yummy sausages, and the mushroom man who grows wild mushrooms in his yard. Meeting all these people has really allowed me to connect with my food. I know where it comes from, I know who made it or grew it. I love knowing who I'm supporting when I buy a head of lettuce or a tub of goat cheese. And it just makes everything taste better.

At home, we try to limit packaging as much as possible. We're off all grains, starches, and sugars since finding out I'm hypoglycemic, so we tend to stick to nuts, veggies, fruit, local meats, and raw dairy. We use glass containers that we bring with us to get large quantities of bulk items (nuts, brown rice, quinoa, millet, etc.) and cloth bags for produce.

As for what we do at home, well...we keep things simple. Meals are usually quick and tasty. Nothing too complicated unless we find we have loads of time to devote to a meal. We have found interesting ways to work around the limited produce available in the winter months by experimenting with new recipes. We try to make any snacks the little one likes to eat (graham crackers, Popsicles, nut butters, raw crackers, sunflower seed butter balls, etc.) to limit the amount of plastic or cardboard coming into the house. We wash plastic baggies out and reuse them again and again. We store all food in glass containers (our local kitchen store has a great selection) and reuse any containers we've had to purchase.

We also make our own yogurt from raw milk, cheese, jams, kimchi, and kombucha. None of these are challenging at all, and in the future we hope to share how to get started doing this on your own. Then there's the garden in the works (the lasagna method), the chickens and ducks that need to be moved over to our in-town lot, and the goats that will eventually arrive after we've installed fences. Homesteading has always been a dream of mine and I never quite pictured doing it on a half-acre lot in town, but the more I think about it, the more practical it is!

In every area of our life, whether it be food or traveling, we live consciously. We hardly ever use the car, we avoid buying things new, we recycle as much as possible, we buy locally, we produce as much of our own food as we can, and mainly we just really think about every decision we make about how we live, and how it affects our planet. And the best part? It feels really good to live this way.

Here's an easy, fast, delicious, mostly local recipe we love. We call these "zucchini sticks" and I love how quick they are to whip up! The little one thinks they are French fries they are so good!

:: Zucchini Sticks ::

-however many zucchinis you would like, sliced length-wise and then cut into thinner pieces
-olive oil (enough to coat zucchini)
-Parmesan cheese (as much as you'd like)
-salt and pepper

Mix olive oil, cheese, salt and pepper together in the bottom of a big bowl. Toss zucchini until well coated. Place on a baking sheet and broil for 10 minutes, or until brown and crispy. Enjoy!

Some of the books I'd recommend for others wanting to learn more are: (Please check your local bookstore to see if you can order them!)

-The Backyard Homestead
-Fresh Food From Small Places
-Country Wisdom and Know-How (personal fav!)
-In Defense of Food
-Full Moon Feast
-Edible Schoolyard
-Slow Food Nation's Come to the Table
-Coop
-Nourishing Traditions (a book all households should own!)

So go check Food Roots out and think about joining in one of these Thursdays! Oh, and stay tuned for a cool little DIY project I have for tomorrow. Now go eat your (local) greens...!

Another One...

Another post bragging about the glorious weather. 80+ degrees?! In April?!! Why yes, and I'll take it. Nothing beats an unexpected summer day, stuck smack dab in the middle of spring.
It's cooled off since earlier, the wind is howling outside, and we're anticipating a chillier day tomorrow. But today was all about sunscreen, dipping toes in the water, skipping rocks, picnic baskets filled with goodies, ice cream, and spending every.single.second outside.

So indulge me one more time...just one. And I promise I'll write something soon that doesn't have to do with the sun or ice cream. Promise.

All In a Weekend

The first lawn mowing, flowers blooming everywhere, a high of 70 degrees, tank tops, shorts, bare feet in the grass, playing the guitar on the back porch while soaking in the sun, swinging and sandbox playing after dinner, long walks, a bit of sewing, lots of spring cleaning, writing some new tunes, taking lots of pictures, another trip to the big city for a great concert, homemade coconut milk ice cream, the first sunburn of the season, waking up early to get to work, pumping up the bike tires for the seasons first ride, smelling that freshly-cut-grass smell, creating a new c.d. mix perfect for summer days, and just enjoying every little bit of sun and warmth this weekend had to offer.

You and I

Don't you worry, there my honey
we might not have any money
but we've got our love to pay the bills

Maybe I think you're cute and funny,
maybe I wanna do what bunnies do with you,
if you know what I mean

Oh, let's get rich and buy our parents homes in the South of France
let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters
and teach them how to dance
let's get rich and build our house on a mountain
making everybody look like ants
from way up there, you and I, you and I

Well you might be a bit confused
and you might be a little bit bruised
but baby how we spoon like no one else

So I will help you read those books
if you will soothe my worried looks
and we will put the lonesome on the shelf

Oh let’s get rich and buy our parents homes in the South of France
let's get rich and give everybody nice sweaters
and teach them how to dance
let's get rich and build our house on a mountain
making everybody look like ants
from way up there you and I, you and I

-Ingrid Michaelson

My new favorite song. Listen here. I hope it's as gorgeous where you are as it is here. The sun is shining, I've been dying fabric for a new project (more on that later), and just enjoying sitting around catching up on life, work, and hopes and dreams for the future.

Have a lovely weekend everyone!

The Farm and a Good Salad

As we start getting ready to dive into urban homesteading, it's always inspirational to visit a small farm for ideas. We spent this overcast, chilly morning at one of the many homesteads surrounding our little town. We were told there was just about every animal you could imagine there, and it was true!

There were the biggest turkeys you ever did see. I have never seen a turkey quite so big. This lovely gal followed us around the entire time we were there. So cute. I really wanted to bring her home.

There were rare baby goats from New Zealand who lived inside the house, but came out for a visit and a walk through the woods.

There was a "ginormous" (as the little one likes to say) tractor, complete with two buckets, all accessible for a small child to sit on and pretend to drive.

There were geese,

and bigger goats,

and pot-bellied pigs in the greatest little pig pen ever.

We got some gardening ideas, some chicken tractor ideas, some fencing ideas, and a whole lot of urges to just dive in right this second and get a little half-acre farm going in town. Should I mention I almost (almost...) bought a goat yesterday for ten dollars?! With the amount of goat milk the little one drinks, a goat in the backyard would sure be handy! It was ever so tempting...

And I came up with a chicken Waldorf salad recipe today. It's one of my favorite lunches, and after spending a fortune on them at the local co-op, I finally decided to make my own. I never measure ingredients, so you'll have to use your own judgment because I'm totally guessing here...

-chicken (I buy organic chicken breast strips and cook them in a shallow pan with water and olive oil. Put the lid on and in about 5 minutes they are nice and tender.)
-1/2 red onion diced
-1/2 apple chopped with skin on
-2 celery sticks chopped
-1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper (I love this stuff)
-1 teaspoon thyme
-1/2 to 3/4 cup of mayonnaise (I use too much of this stuff on everything. I think it's a food from the Gods...)
-2 cloves raw garlic chopped (or 6 cloves if you're garlic nuts like us)

Mix all together and serve over lettuce. It's really the perfect lunch (or dinner, or even breakfast!). Enjoy!
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Rainy Days Are Good For Making

After a long stretch of gorgeous weather, we welcomed this rainy day and the break it gave us from our normal inside-outside, inside-outside, (and on and on) routine. We were stuck inside. And being stuck inside can be a marvelous thing.

First there was the breakfast making, which resulted in a lot of really yummy food. But it's breakfast, and breakfast is the most important meal of the day. So why not go overboard?!

Then there was the slow, but sure, progress on the picnic blanket I keep mentioning. It felt so good to actually start it. I'm still debating on whether or not I should use any type of batting. But the above is a sneak peak at the finished top. I'm backing it with a vintage table cloth and hopefully I'll have action shots to show you soon.

And I've been absolutely loving this book lately. The fruit bags were first on my list. Our counter top space is so limited, and with our massive consumption of fruit, the fruit bowl was taking up an enormous amount of space. So I knew these bags would really come in handy and eliminate a lot of clutter.

The cheese cloth I used was from the natural foods co-op I work at. It's unbleached cotton and a pack was enough to make three bags. It's a horror to work with, I tell you. And this stuff unravels with a mere touch of a finger, so trying to sew through 4 layers of the stuff was a bit tricky.

But I'm pretty excited about the end result. I cut a piece of scrap linen and stamped "fruit" on it to add a unique touch to the bags. I've got three more in the works, which will probably accompany me to the co-op when I buy more fruit.

So rainy days can be blessings in disguise. We've got homemade graham crackers, chicken soup bubbling away on the stove, a good movie for tonight, and lots of books to keep the little one entertained until bedtime. Yes, I think I kind of like rainy days. They are most definitely good for making.

The Winner and Some Love

So, I know you're all on the edges of your seats just waiting to find out the winner of the giveaway. Sorry I'm a tad late. But the random number generator picked commenter 114:

I love the blue one with the birds. They are all so special!
Thanks for the chance.

Posted by: Janet

So Janet, please e-mail me and we'll get the bookplates of your choice off to you! Thanks for all who entered. Stay tuned for more lovely giveaways!
.........................................................................................................................................................

Night falls like people into love
we generate our own light
to compensate
for the lack of light from above
every time we fight
a cold wind blows our way

But we learn like the trees
how to bend
how to sway and say

I think I understand
what all this fighting is for
and baby, I just want you to understand
that I'm not angry anymore

~Ani DiFranco

That's my little tribute to Ani who will be in the big city tonight!

Things I am loving right now ::

-Ani and seeing her live tonight (!!!)
-This photo
-The sun
-This mixed media print
-This song
-This print for the little one's room
-This blouse
-Sushi
-This blog
-This video
-Gardening
-This movie

What are you loving right now?!

Spring

Okay, I know I was just talking about summer in my last post, but I'm also not denying that it is indeed spring. And just the beginning of spring, I will surely admit. So the spring nature table finally made it on the list of to-dos...a bit later than I had originally anticipated, but better late than never, right?!

It was fun putting this simple display together. It sits on the shelf near her play corner, right in front of the sunniest window in the house. The wool felt represents the growing green grass, the brown squishy mud everywhere, and the puddles and ponds that are coming to life all over. The pussy willows were a gift from her yoga teacher, the stump was collected on one of our recent walks, and the moss was spotted by mama last week growing down the street and I knew it had to come home with us.

And, I've been getting lots of e-mails asking what music is on my photography website. I've finally gotten around to typing up the list:

Hello- Tristan Prettyman
Sweat Pea- Amos Lee
We Were Free- Priscilla Ahn
Lay Your Head Down-Keren Ann
Crooked Legs-The Acorn
Leave the Light On-Priscilla Ahn

And now, I'm off to continue working on that picnic blanket I keep mentioning. Oh yes, it's underway! Finally!!

Stay tuned for the winner of the giveaway tomorrow. Enjoy your Thursday!

Almost Time...

Almost time...

For daily trips to the beach.

For sunset picnics full of yummy food, sand, and a bit of chocolate.

For trying to catch the waves and laughing when they catch us instead.

For watching the beautiful sunsets while packing up the gear and heading home.

For finally starting that picnic blanket I keep talking about.

Yes, indeed. It's almost, almost time for summer. There's nothing like watching the last bit of snow melting from the yard, feeling the warm sun on your face, packing away the winter clothes, and knowing that just around the corner warmer weather will be here for good. It's amazing how much joy can be packed into one day.

Giveaway :: Oiseaux :: The Sweetest Bookplates Ever

Every now and then you'll find a featured artist on here with a fabulous giveaway. I'd like to introduce Oiseaux. Shelley is a West Coast Mama, artist, and a lover of all things vintage and book related. Her book plates are absolutely adorable, and of course I couldn't resist the sweet little bluebird bookplates.

Now that the little one is getting older, I find we are carting more books to and from places (school, friends houses, etc) and having a personalized bookplate would not only be super cute, but also very practical! And how cute are these? As another lover of all things vintage, I think Shelley's goods are so inspiring.

Shelley is offering a giveaway here at Bluebirdbaby. Just leave a comment to enter, including what bookplates you would choose if you won, and I'll draw a name this Friday at noon EST. The winner gets to choose his or her favorite bookplates from Shelley's shop! Don't forget to check out her fabulous blog too!

Good luck!

Hippity Hoppity

As a child, Easter was my favorite holiday. Way better than Christmas in my book. I mean, you've got the warm weather, the family gathering, flowers sprouting up all over, a special egg hunt, the anticipation of a basket filled with goodies, and a new, fancy dress. It was no surprise that the little one enjoyed it just as much as I remember enjoying it too.

The favorite part? The trail the Easter bunny left from her bed to the hidden basket, complete with new books along the way.

Her basket was filled with some homemade goodies (wool felt balls filled with organic cotton stuffing), some Bento boxes from here (a local store), organic jelly beans, and super soft stuffed animals.

Then there was the Easter dress I decided to make the night before. Only after telling her the Easter bunny made it would she try it on. I used a vintage pattern, modified the fit just a bit, and added the front pocket. It's a simple style and is great for layering. The apple print corduroy has been sitting in my stash for over a year and I was thrilled to finally use it.

Then there was the great egg hunt. Only challenging for the knee-high group. Twenty eggs were hidden, and thankfully, all recovered.

After a late lunch of sushi (platters and platters full!) we headed out for a walk and ended up at a favorite place for some hide and seek.

And what could beat this perfect Easter sunset? I hope you all enjoyed the day too. Stay tuned for a giveaway tomorrow!

Scenes From Outside

It's definitely warming up around here. There's seeds to be planted (we're planting the seeds to coincide with the lunar cycle), a new yard to be explored, a play area to set up, and a deck to be enjoyed. Dare I say I even got a bit of a sunburn yesterday while lounging outside?! Oh, how my body was aching to be at the beach. The windows were opened, spring cleaning was underway, and everything seemed so alive.

But today we're faced with another cold front, forcing us to drag back out the scarves, hats, and mittens. While the finishing touches were put on the new sandbox, the Easter eggs were boiling away inside. And now I'm off to make a special Easter skirt for the little one.

You'll notice a bit of spring cleaning here too. A new banner to celebrate the sun and warmth, and a relatively new menu underneath for easier navigation.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. Happy Easter to all of you!

Makin' Stuff

Making a favorite dinner around here. One that's enjoyed by everyone. And yes, that platter will be consumed by three hungry bellies. I won't even mention the delicious dessert that followed...

And I've been busy making Easter goodies for the little one. She is so darn excited about an egg hunt, more "Easter" sushi, dying Easter eggs using foods and spices, and finding a special basket loaded with fun things on Easter morning. Gosh, it's so fun being a mama.

 I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Stop by next week for a fantastic giveaway!!

You're Never Fully Dressed...

Okay, so it's probably a little obvious that the sewing bug has bit...hard. My sewing room is all organized and is just so inviting that I find myself unable to walk past the door without stopping in. While at a resale shop recently, I found myself with an almost impossible task: to find something striped, to be matched with something polka-dot, with a comfy waist band that wouldn't fall off of my petite gal. Phew! Did I find anything? Nope. (Okay, other than a vintage wool coat with a lace collar that she will most likely refuse to wear.)

So on my way past the sewing room last weekend, I suddenly realized that I have loads of corduroy, linen, and cotton that would be perfect for her specific tastes. And with my favorite pattern that I came up with last fall (of course, with an adjusted rise and inseam to suit her many growth spurts!) that fits the little one perfectly, I whipped up two pair of pants in under two hours. Nothing beats some pretty sweet results without a lot of time and effort involved.

I used the other bit of polka-dot, light-weight corduroy I purchased recently for one pair. And for the other, I used a heavy-weight charcoal gray corduroy and my new favorite cotton print. "It's just like the trees, Mama!" she says. She, of course, put the polka-dot pair on right away and has worn them the past two days in a row. The other pair was made big enough for next fall too, in hopes she will expand her tastes just a bit...!

Adding Some Fun

With a very unoffensive, yet still flowery, wallpaper coating the walls, it's hard to come up with ways to really decorate the space. I found that if I add some bold, funky colors, it really dresses up the wallpaper without clashing a whole lot. This fabric banner adds a lot of fun to the sleeping corner and it was a breeze to whip up! I love using vintage trim to string it all together.

After finding a lot of old embroidery hoops at thrift shops, I've been meaning to do this for a while. My friend Mandi came over one morning and we managed to finally pick out some fabrics and get them finished. It was a fun (and very easy) project to do together.

And I think they work wonders in the room. The little one walked in and said, "Mama, you're sewing circles are on the wall!" Why, yes dear...they are! But they are definitely a hit and I'm pretty sure some more will be in the works soon too...

Warm Weather Crafting

The weather is getting warmer. The porch is turning out to be our favorite spot. Meals are being eaten in the sun, interrupted by frequent trips to the swing. I had grand plans of making a picnic blanket last summer. Exactly how many times did I mention that in this space?! But the blanket never did make it into production. Maybe this summer. Now place mats...those are a little more manageable.

I started with three for everyday use. I think more will be in order for trips to the beach this summer with friends. The little one is very pleased with her new place mat. Meal times are a very important part of the day to me. They are a time for connecting and checking in with each other. Having a ritual for each meal time helps tremendously with focusing everyone after a hectic day. Setting the table (the little one has help from a picture diagram of a place setting I made her), arranging the place cards, lighting the candle, saying our blessing while holding hands, and cheering by clinking our glasses (the little one's favorite thing!) to another sweet day that has passed makes meal time very special.

I got the idea to add a little ribbon from Ella's marvelous creations. Rolling them up is the perfect way to fit them neatly into the picnic basket. And you know what? Just by writing this for you all, I am super inspired to make a matching picnic blanket! So thank you for being here. I love how this little space inspires and motivates me. What a gift!

Have you all seen the Sew, Mama, Sew! Easter tutorials? Can you guess what I'll be busy doing this weekend?!

Etsy Love :: SparklePower

I love sharing bits of Etsy goodness I've found. With a quest to fill a house with secondhand or handmade goodness, Etsy has become a huge source of both lately! Over the winter I marked the fabulous "La La Love You" print as a fav and stored it in the back of my mind until I knew exactly where I'd want to hang it. I love SparklePower's goodies. Her new daily affirmations are fabulous!

The bird print made its way into our yoga room. Nobody seems to be able to pass it without saying "Tweet, tweet!" The colors are so fun and bright and somehow compliment the crazy paint in the yoga room. I just love it!

So thank you, SparklePower, for sharing your wonderful talent! Your creations add some extra love and warmth to our home!

Rainy Days

Rainy days are the best days for:

Early morning coloring.
It's fascinating to see children's artistic abilities change as they get older. Messy lines soon give way to circles with faces and legs, or a concentrated tracing of the hand.

Button necklaces.
A favorite activity while mama sews: making button necklaces. Doorknobs are the perfect place to hang them.

New pants for a special little guy.
Made from navy linen. They are so soft and super cute!

Spending time in the sewing room, trying to finish my grand list of "to-dos."
This is the new Oliver + S pattern. I hardly ever use patterns, and after I finished this one I remembered why...the fit is never right! But I love the front design on this pattern, which was the reason I bought it in the first place. I used the 2T size, but they are huge and might not fit until next year. I found the directions very easy to follow, which was nice because I usually feel pattern lingo is insanely hard to understand!
And the polka-dots? That sweet light-weight corduroy came from here.

Thanks for your ideas on my last post! I really appreciate it. Keep them coming!