Bluebirdbaby

30 Days of Happiness :: Another Good Day

Because of Typepad's new comment format, I will mostly be replying to individual comments in the comment section, instead of e-mail. So if you've asked a question, please check the comment sections to that particular post for the reply. Sorry for the change!

Fall makes me happy. There's no doubt about it. I'm not one for hot, muggy weather. In fact, up until last year, summer was my least favorite season! I admit that I have grown to love it now, but fall is still on the top of my list. The smells, the colors, the cool and crisp air, the apple and pumpkin pies, the soups on the stove, warm bread in the oven, snuggling on the couch under a blanket with a cup of tea...all of these things create my dream world. But today was not fall-like. The light seemed like fall, but the air was hot and humid! We headed out on a walk after lunch to enjoy the last bit of warmth. The trees are slowly starting to change color here. We've been collecting pretty leaves and acorns by the pocketful. I hope to have our fall nature table up soon!

And this afternoon we had a visit from two of our "bestest friends ever!" The little one just idolizes her older friend. We had snacks, made balloon hats, and of course giggled a lot!

We ended the visit with paper bag puppets, which had us all giggling again. And you'll notice that the little one is wearing that outfit yet again. She just adores her purple elephant pants and her special purple shirt she picked out all by herself. Notice all the purple markers she has stashed in her hand in that first photo! She's telling me she wants her room painted purple too...oh my!

This officially marks the end of my 30 Days of Happiness, although I have one last post tomorrow to sum it all up before we head out camping at the fair! I hope for anyone who joined that you are enjoying it as well. Please let me know what you have thought of the process and anything you gained from it. I'd love to hear!!

30 Days of Happiness :: Apples to Sauce

First there was this...

Then there was this...

And now we have this!

Apples to sauce. Delicious!!

30 Days of Happiness :: Benchless Monday (Sasa Style)

Sasa is stepping in to add some words to our silly "Benchless Monday." We were both so tired and happy to finally be in the kitchen cooking that the idea of finding a funky bench was just too much for our tired brains to handle. So say hello to Sasa and enjoy the rest of your Monday!!

• we made love soup tonight: lots of garlic and sage and tomatoes and potatoes...good for the beginning of autumn
• paired with some homemade rosemary focaccia slathered in lots of olive oil and Parmesan cheese...perfect for dunking
• we ate curled up on the couch under the comforter thinking that autumn is really here
• the sunset was so lush and full of amazing pinks and reds, like the sky was on fire 
• we put the chickens to bed, hoping the hay was enough to keep them cozy
• cleaning the kitchen is next
• then foot rubs and early to bed to start a new book
• tomorrow we'll be planning our trip to the Common Ground Fair
• we're so excited about the little one coming home tomorrow
• tired and sore after working all day
• happy to finally close our eyes on the last day of summer

What did you do on this last day of summer?!

30 Days of Happiness :: More Wedding Love

I shot another wedding this weekend. I just love, love, love photography. And I just love, love, love being able to capture all the love and excitement between two people. This couple had a very lovely traditional wedding, with so many personal touches and flares to express their values and love for one another. It was lovely and I was so honored to be a part of their special day!

Thanks Kyle and Angie!! May your life together be full of sweetness and joy!

30 Days of Happiness :: Apple Picking

It was a beautiful day. We woke up this morning and said, "today is the perfect apple picking day!" And so off to the orchards we headed.

Because Sasa has a friend in the orchards, we were able to collect the "drops" for free! So we loaded up as many baskets and bags as we could.

The little one liked to find all the baby apples for her tiny basket. She also had much fun trying out all the apples before putting them in! Sasa and I heard her announce many times quite excitedly, "We're apple picking!!"

In the end, we got quite a load to take home. Sasa has already made an apple pie (an absolutely amazing one!) and I can tell tomorrow will be spent canning applesauce. Yum! The little one and I spent the afternoon today on the back porch washing each apple, polishing it dry, and of course there was the apple testing...

I think we'll head to the orchards one more time this fall for another round. One can never have enough apple pie or applesauce around, right?!

30 Days of Happiness :: Felted Acorns

The little one and I plunked down on the back porch this afternoon for a little tea and some wool felting. With fall fast approaching, I needed to gather some new materials for our nature table. I saw Ella's acorns recently on flickr and was so inspired. They are just too cute!

So we set to work after some tea (anise and peppermint with honey...yum!) and put our new enamel pots to good use. The little one felted a couple of acorns, but after that she made "felt people" who liked to "swim." It was much fun to watch and I was thoroughly entertained for the rest of my felting project.

Once that last drop of tea had vanished (and trust me, I mean the very last drop!), we had finished up the majority of the acorns. The little one helped picked all the colors and I glued the acorn tops on once they were dry. The end result is rather sweet, and I'm excited to add them to our nature table.

I would love to know any tricks to wet felting. I always seem to get "seams" in it. Does anyone have any tips?! They would be much appreciated!!

30 Days of Happiness :: Things That Bring Me Joy

Sometimes I go thrifting by myself, and other times the little one tags along. It's always a fun adventure either way. With yard sales and flea markets closing for the season, I made a mad dash these last couple of weeks to see what remaining treasures there were to be found. The above were things I've been hunting for all year, and you can bet I was super pleased to score them all at amazing prices. The large enamel pots are for felting, washing up our napkins after meals (the little one adores this...one for soapy water, one for rinsing, and then the drying rack to hang them dry), and for any other household task. I love, love, love them. The silverware (a whole set) is so very perfect for our retro kitchen, and the Amish print Pyrex butter dish was something I have been hunting for for well over a year. Yay!!

The little one is always a source of joy. Today on our morning rounds through town, she chose to travel via stroller. Usually it's walking, followed by the bike, followed by the Ergo or sling, but today it was the stroller. So we loaded it up with our various bits of errand paraphernalia and headed out. Our last stop was the food co-op, where she always gets a "honey pop." But they were out and she chose the fudge pop instead. It wasn't until we returned home and I went to get her out of the stroller that I noticed her face. Oh my! No wonder we were getting some giggles from passersby!

My girl has curls, but it's always amazing to realize just how curly it is. After a bath and a good combing, her hair looks so very long. Sasa and I always get a kick out of it. Once it dries, it will be above shoulder length again with "Shirley Temple curls" in the back (as she likes to call them).

Our late afternoon is always spent doing something "chill." It's a very crazy time of the day for little ones (or at least this little one!) and after our quiet time, we try to carry on that calmness throughout the rest of the day's activities. Today was spent playing quietly with her dollhouse while I did some sewing on the floor next to her. She always needs me close to her these days, so having a project to keep my hands busy helps tremendously :: hand sewing, embroidery, drawing, writing letters, a good book, to name a few...

These were some things that brought joy to my heart today. There's always so many and it's hard to chose! Now please share...where did you find joy today?

30 Days of Happiness :: She's 3

My sweet little baby officially turned three years old today. We planted her butterfly bush, we had an autumn-inspired dinner (take a look at this), some special guests, and the most delicious brownie sundaes made by Sasa. It was a sweet evening.

It's amazing to think about the past three years. She's grown and changed so much, yet I still look into her eyes and see that just-born baby I held on my chest long ago. She will always be my baby. I will always look at her and see my sweet little newborn. I will forever feel her feet kicking my ribs, her hiccups every night at 8 p.m., and how her little bum stuck out the right side of my belly. I'll remember her entrance into the world, her sweet little eyes staring into my soul as she nursed, and her first giggle. I will remember those first steps, her unrelenting determination in everything, her love of smooshed peas (cold!), her silly fake cough to get attention (she's a clever one!) , and her favorite songs and games.
And I am so glad I have these memories. I am so glad we had that time together. I am so glad we know each other so truly and deeply. And I am so glad she is a part of my life. She is amazing and I am very lucky to be her mama.

Happy three years, my sweet little one. May this coming year bring peace, happiness, and joy. I love you.

30 Days of Happiness :: A Tidy Home

I love our little home. I love how everything has a place. And I love how there are so many cozy corners. I make a huge effort to keep it picked up when the toddler tornado has moved through. I think it's so important to keep play areas clean, tidy, and neatly organized. And I think it's important for the little one to see me doing it with intention, focus, and joy. And maybe someday soon, she will too imitate the tidying that goes on daily.

Toys in our home are easily accessible. I'm a huge fan of baskets. Some call me the basket queen. I am constantly picking them up at thrift stores (I've never purchased a new one!) and use them for everything from fruits in the kitchen, mail in our mudroom, to blocks and cars in the play area. It's important for me that everything has a place to return to, and if it doesn't, it usually goes. For Sasa and I, having the same baskets store the same toys everyday and having them neatly labeled is a huge help in us picking up throughout the day, and during our big clean up at night. And for the little one, it keeps things familiar and will someday help her to recognize words.

Her "house" area is usually very neat as well. When I play with her (it's always helpful for me to join her in imaginative play first to get her started, then it's easier to move to my work once she's playing), I always make the effort to tidy up as we play. If she is done ironing her playsilks, I will fold them up and put them in her laundry basket, even if she has moved on to the next thing. If she's done "baking" cookies, I pretend to clean the mixing bowl in her kitchen sink, wipe it dry, and store it in the cupboard. I feel it's important to carry the work I normally do around the house into her play.

Is our house sometimes a complete mess? Yes. Is it a constant effort to keep it from becoming one? Yes. But to me it's worth it. It sets the tone for the day (waking up to a tidy home is so important to me), and allows us to do our work, whether it's actual work or play. I think it's important to show the little one that these are our values; and not by telling her, but by showing her so she can learn it on her own. And I am very lucky to live with a man who feels the same exact way. Now the little one? She may have a differing opinion...!

30 Days of Happiness :: Mama Style

• Dinner with Sasa's mama tonight
• Which resulted in Bench Monday photo with Sasa's mama tonight and one of the three dogs
• Went to a great little restaurant we all adore (and frequent often!) with good food and good wine
• Worked today
• Jumped up and down excitedly way too many times today (but I guess that's a good thing)
• Legal paperwork takes forever, but is somehow slightly satisfying. It makes me organize and get everything together. So yay for that! My file box will never be the same again. But I'll honestly never balance a checkbook still after all this work. I'm a hippie at heart.
• Miss the little one like crazy and I hope she's having fun
• Sasa and I are completely addicted to this (sad, I know)
• this girl rocks
• I want these, badly...
• need to find a really good pair of jeans (that won't have holes in them after 2 weeks of wearing) for a petite gal...any ideas?
• Sasa totally blushed and giggled after reading all of your sweet comments to my last post. "Bluebirdbaby Eats" is officially the new name of his cookbook/recipe shop. So thanks to you all. You readers ROCK!
• Anytime you want to join us for dinner, come on over. Sasa would gladly take the opportunity to experiment with some new recipes! Teehee!
• Total number of cups of coffee Sasa consumed yesterday alone :: 5
• Total number of cups of coffee I consumed yesterday alone :: 2 (Sasa totally wins)
• Sasa would like to admit that he fell off the coffee/caffeine wagon and is enjoying every second

That's all for now! Aren't these little tidbit-ty things fun?! I think so...

30 Days of Happiness :: My Very Own Personal Chef

Anyone who has ever eaten at our house will rave about a certain someone's cooking. Living with Sasa is like living with a gourmet chef. I mean, pick your favorite restaurant and imagine the chef living with you. He's that good...

He went to the Culinary Institute of America and he has the skills to prove it. I always joke that he could heat up a can of soup better than I could. He minces garlic better than anyone I've ever known, and everyone is always trying to figure out just how he cooks so well, and I honestly have to say that he just puts tons of love into it. That's the secret!

He loves cooking. He loves baking. He loves being in the kitchen. And he even loves doing dishes. And, fortunately for him, I love to eat! So we make a really good team. And we're not talking about one great meal a week. I'm talking about three delicious, amazing, extraordinary meals a day!

The crazy part about him? He never writes his magical recipes down. It's all in his head. He makes them up as he goes :: breads, cookies, muffins, pancakes, pies, cakes, amazing soups and elaborate dinners...all of them gluten-free. And they're always the most amazing thing I've ever eaten. And I have absolutely no chance at ever replicating them, but thanks to you all and your request for these recipes, he's coming up with a plan. Yay!

We share the cooking responsibilities, but I tell ya...it's hard to live up to this master chef. He's amazing and I'm always saying, "I bow down to you, O Great One" and he just blushes and giggles. Little does he know, I'm totally and completely serious. I worship the boards he minces garlic on.

So having my very own personal chef definitely makes me super duper happy. And super duper well fed. Thanks Sasa...you rock! (And I just know he will be blushing and giggling after reading this...teehee!)

30 Days of Happiness :: Fairy Parties

What can I say about today? It was amazing, wonderful, magical, and just sweet (and I took too many pictures!!). The little one will turn three years old on Wednesday, and since I will not see her until Wednesday night, we decided to honor her today instead. We started the day with a breakfast celebration, complete with her new birthday outfit, crown, a small gift, and her three year birthday ring. Sasa made a terrific breakfast, and Baba (my mother) was there to celebrate too.

The outfit fabrics were chosen by the little one and we worked on it together over the last three weeks. The shirt is an Oliver + S pattern, slightly modified. I was surprised she picked out these colors, but she was very excited about the Little Red Riding Hood fabric and somehow we made it all work. The best part was she was excited to wear it today!

The theme for our small celebration were fairies. Fairy houses, fairy tea, fairy dolls and books, and fairy snacks. We set up the little table in the yard with pumpkins and bags I had made for the children with fairy dolls inside. The little one helped me make each fairy doll: gluing on their hats, felting the wool, and picking a fairy name for each one. She also told me the colors her friends like the best, and we made bags and fairies to suit each child's favorites.

The little one received many loving gifts including a basket filled with embroidery goodies perfect for little hands, a hand-painted tea cup, a necklace made by a special friend, and so much more. Really, it could not have been a more magical party!

After tea, we set off to make our fairy houses around the yard. Sasa had collected many perfect fairy house building materials on a recent kayaking trip and we had a wagon full of things to choose from. The kids made beautiful houses and I think the fairies who live in our yard will be so excited!

Elisabeth has recently learned how to take pictures using my camera (gulp!) and she is quite good indeed. In the next week I will be setting up a flickr account for her and you can view all her photos there. Really, they are very good!! The above are just a sample...

Then it was cake, which was a gluten-free chocolate cake the little one requested with "stripes and polka-dots" on it. Sasa made up the recipe and it was absolutely delicious. The little one has been talking about this birthday cake for months now, and it was so special to finally see her with it. She had a "ginormous" piece and loved every bit of it.

And last but not least, her special present. Sasa's Pop has been working on it for a while now, and his mother has been busy furnishing it. The dollhouse was a big hit (with all the kids!!) and I'm sure you will see many more pictures of it in the future!

Sasa and I are completely wiped after a day full of fun, fairies, celebrating, and friends. It was so very magical and amazing. I'm glad we will have this memory for ever and always. Happy Birthday, my sweet little one. You bring so much magic to my life! I love you. xoxo

30 Days of Happiness :: Birthday Shoes

The little one has this thing for purple. Purple everything...purple clothes, purple paper, purple crayons, purple socks, and now purple shoes. Not only does she have a thing for purple, but she has a thing for shoes as well. Like mother, like daughter, eh?! So when a mysterious box showed up on our doorstep yesterday, I knew something purple must be inside.

Luckily, Sasa and I are both the kind of people who just can't wait for surprises. I mean, does it make the present more special if she waits to open it on her birthday? Nah! So she tore through the box, opened it up and found the most perfect purple shoes inside.

Not only do they look and feel good and are Earth friendly, but they smell really great too! My silly girl spent a good five minutes breathing them in exclaiming, "Mama...these shoes smell really good!"

I just love these purple shoes, and so does my girl. I really want a pair for me, but I'm not so sure I can pull the purple off. She, on the other hand, can pull anything off! You can find them here.

Stay tuned for more birthday celebration fun!!

30 Days of Happiness :: A Birthday Tree

It's been a wish of mine to plant a special tree on the little one's birthday. Well, finally by her third year I am getting that done! It's a symbol of life, growing, and changes. Each year the tree will grow, just as the little one is growing. Each year it will change shape and size...even how it looks overall, but it will still be the same tree. And my girl will always be my girl.

So this afternoon we ventured to the garden center down the street. I had been telling her the story of this moment for a few weeks now :: when and where we'd pick out a tree, how we'd bring our little red wagon, and Doggy Fly would come too. So the actual event was so very special to all of us.

We got there and she knew immediately what she wanted. The purple Butterfly Bush. With the original idea of a tree, Sasa and I thought this idea was much, much better. I mean, we're just going to have to plant an entire butterfly garden to go with it!

So the Butterfly Bush was loaded into our wagon and off we went. It will be so very sweet to plant this on her birthday and watch it grow with her year after year. And I'm actually quite pleased I waited three years to do it. Now she is involved in the entire process, which makes it even more special.

And just something that made me super-duper happy today. This girl has got style. I mean, all stripes? Right down to the undies and socks?! Fantabulous! And those shoes? Well, that's for another post!

30 Days of Happiness :: Painting With My Girl

We had so much fun today. So very much fun! My girl is back. She's grown in leaps and bounds in just three days. She is cuddly (she held my hand through the night...aw!), full of giggles, and giving hugs to just about anyone she sees. Everything we did today was fun. Who can't be happy about that?!

Towards the very end of the day, which is usually that really hard stretch right before dinner, we parked ourselves in the backyard for some painting. Sasa's table is not only handy for eating, but for crafts too!

We painted and painted. We painted big sheets of paper (over and over) and little postcards to mail to our friends.

We even had a few visitors. Penelope has been pretty lonely since Roxanne left us, so she likes to hang out whenever we're around. And today she even had an interest in painting! The little one thought it would be great fun to give her a brush, and if she hadn't been more interested in the bread nearby, I think she actually might have painted...

In the end, the finished products made our yard look rather pretty. And we have oodles of postcards to send to "everyone!" (the little one insists).

What brought a smile to your face today?

30 Days of Happiness :: Evening Play

One of my favorite times of the day is when the three of us are together, after dinner, fully engaged in whatever activity the little one has going. One night we had a bookshop up and running, complete with real money, "shelves" of books, a cash register, a very helpful tiny tot who recommended all the best books for our needs, and even cloth bags to bring our loot home in. Let me tell you...she is a very good sales person. You can not leave the store without spending at least ten dollars!

Tonight we colored on the sidewalk. She insisted I draw a house, a car, a bicycle, a sun, a doggy Fly, a Kiwi cat, a chicken, an Elisabeth, and of course a Mama and Sasa. Our front sidewalk is pretty darn colorful right now. I would even call it a work of art! I hope it makes people happy as they walk by.

And here is something else that is making me happy...I get to share more pictures from my senior shoot with you! Enjoy!!

30 Days of Happiness : A Moment

Sometimes taking an afternoon to lie in bed with some books and a cup of tea is all you need for a good day. I really love staring out the window, looking at the blue sky void of clouds, watching seagulls soar above and the people milling about below. Sometimes I'll catch a glimpse of a child running down the sidewalk, or a couple walking hand in hand, or an elderly woman walking slowly but surely across the way. It's so comforting to see these people living. We're all living. Everyday we wake up, do it again and again, and sometimes we are lucky enough to really appreciate it. We realize that every moment is amazing and wonderful and one of a kind. We realize we'll never get that moment back...no matter how hard we might try.

So here's to living in the moment. Here's to appreciating those moments. And the one thing that is so comforting is that every moment happens exactly as it's supposed to, whether we want that moment to or not. There's no arguing with it. It's all there is, and we are so, so lucky to have it.

30 Days of Happiness :: Photo Shoot

I had the pleasure of doing my first senior portrait shoot for a co-worker's daughter. It was a really great experience. I first took her to the coast by Pemaquid Lighthouse where we got some great shots on the rocks with the ocean in the background. After that, we headed to a field at sunset. I'm so thrilled with the shots I got. I came home and spent the next three hours editing.
She was a fantastic model...so beautiful and so, so lovely! She made my job look very easy. I hope to share more shots soon. I forgot to ask if she was comfortable with me using them in this space, so I've used a few that aren't very personal. Hopefully you'll have the chance to view more soon!

But I've learned that I really, really love being behind the camera. I love the whole process: I love capturing the image, I love editing the image, and I really love showing them the finished product. And I love capturing someone in such a beautiful moment. It really makes my heart sing. And today there were many beautiful moments, so I am a very happy gal!

I hope your day was wonderful too!

30 Days of Happiness :: Making

We all spent the day making. It was a wonderful, wonderful making day. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, the air was warm with a tinge of fall, and we started the day with a great breakfast on the porch complete with a latte delivered by my two loves. How perfect!

We started the morning with a stone for Roxanne. We wanted to paint a special rock for her for the spot she was buried. Sasa found this nice flat rock in our backyard, and the little one and I painted it this morning. I really like the finished result and it was a great way to add something special to our goodbye.

I've been working on pants for the little one. She's grown a good two or three inches since last fall and all of her pants are much too short. So she helped me pick out fabric, told me what she wanted, and I set to work. Her favorite color is purple (as of this summer), so now everything has to not only have stripes or polka dots, but it also has to be purple! So that kind of narrows down our choices. She gladly opted for purple elephants when I told her no purple polka dots could be found, and I turned out these "jammy pants" in about an hour. I drafted my own pattern and was pretty pleased with how it turned out. I made a test pair and altered the rise from the original, but finally worked out a great pattern I think will last until next spring! Yay!

While we were working away on pants and rocks, Sasa was making a sweet little tea table for our yard. He had this put together in no time at all, and it was perfect for play, snack, and dinner! Add some buckwheat cushions, a couple of yards of oil cloth, and it is just the perfect little dining spot! I foresee many tea parties in our future...

And the final "making" of the day was some homemade pizza. Sasa (the baker of the household) has finally perfected his gluten-free pizza crust. And oh my...was it delicious!!! The best pizza I've had in my entire life! And the little one (who can be pretty picky) ate two pieces! It was amazing and we are so thankful for such a fabulous baker in our household.

We hope you're enjoying the weekend!

30 Days of Happiness :: The Little Things

For me, finding happiness and joy is mostly about being grateful for the little things. Because at the end of the day, they're really all that matter.

I'm grateful for fresh flowers from our garden. Some of the last of the season.

I'm grateful for the many heart rocks I continue to find and add to our windowsills. (One of those is actually a heart-shaped piece of driftwood!)

I'm grateful for the little one's smile and her giggles.

I'm grateful for beautiful sunsets.

What are you grateful for today?

30 Days of Happiness :: Flea Markets and My Little Helper

Thanks for all your comments on my last post. They really meant so much. I had no idea how much losing a chicken would affect our family. Roxanne was very special and I'm so glad I could share her life with all of you!

It's the last week of the flea market for the season. I walked around the market a good three times, taking it all in, being thankful that I've had an entire season to enjoy it and find goodies to fill our new home at very decent prices. While nothing really struck me as a "must-have" I did find the cutest little table, painted the most perfect color, with the most perfect price tag. I bargained, got it even a little cheaper, and brought it home for our front room.

And for an extra four bucks I scored the funniest platter (I fell in love with the chickens on it!) and a sweet little Fire King bowl. Nothing beats a deal!

And another thing that made me super happy? My super helper! She mops, she cooks, she scrubs, she sweeps, and she just adores cleaning windows! She's thinking about going into the business actually. She wants to save a little cash for the next thrifting season...

And a common scene around here after our cleaning frenzies...laying on the couch, feet up, with a cozy blanket and a good book!

30 Days of Happiness :: Roxanne

I had planned to post about our chicken Roxanne and her new talent of laying eggs last week, but some other happy thing just made me keep postponing it. Roxanne was one of the three meat birds that were "rescued" from a local hardware store and we later adopted. Roxanne was my favorite and had the best personality of any chicken I've ever known.

I would come home from work to find her on the sidewalk waiting for me. She would come running over for a hello and would sit there while I pet her. She would even let the little one kiss her! Just two weeks ago she started laying eggs. She would go to her little nest under our porch stairs, lay an egg (or two!) and announce it by squawking from her little nest, all the way around the house, onto the sidewalk, and back down to the yard via the other side of the house. It was quite a scene!

We had those first two eggs for breakfast one morning, and meat bird or not...they were delicious! We were so very thankful for them and we all let her know we appreciated them very much. Little did we know she would spend the next two weeks laying her eggs in someone else's yard!

But today when I returned from some errands, Roxanne was nowhere to be found. Construction started in front of our house today, and I assumed the chickens were scared and hid in the yard. But when I called her name and still no sign of her, I knew something was wrong. I went into the barn and found her. Penelope (her sidekick) was in much distress because Roxanne had suddenly passed away.

We're not sure what happened, but perhaps it was just her time. She did live a good five months longer than she would have anywhere else, and they were a very good five months indeed. We had a special goodbye for her in the backyard, but it was just so sad to see her go.

Anyway, I wanted to give her a tribute she deserves. She was amazing. And yes...she was just a chicken, but a very fine chicken! So thanks, Roxanne. We really, really enjoyed you. xoxo

30 Days of Happiness :: A Dinner Date

Once a week Sasa and I make a dinner date. We always eat together every night, but there's something just a tad different about these dinners. Candles, something special like our homemade pesto and some fresh garden tomatoes, the intention of sitting down to a yummy meal to connect in the midst of a hectic week...that's what makes it different. We shift our focus to us :: what we're feeling, what we're thinking, what our plans and goals are, and what we're excited about.

Dinners can be rushed, even when we sit down every night to eat together. We're focusing on making it through a meal with an energetic toddler who needs more milk or water or juice or sauce or butter or salt. And while those dinners are just so sweet and special too, it's always nice to have a calm, relaxing meal with the mental space to really check in.

So that's what we did tonight. The pesto was a hit, the chickens kept us company, the music made us happy, and we talked and connected and smiled and laughed.

Yes, it was a good evening. An evening full of happiness, joy, love, togetherness, good food, and some giggles thrown in there too!

What made you joyful today? What made you smile, or laugh, or made you grateful for life? Come on...I'd love to hear!

30 Days of Happiness :: Bench Monday Sewing Edition

Things that are making me happy today ::

• sewing for my birthday girl
• a latte delivered by my sweetie while I was working
• good tunes that make me want to dance and smile
• a beautiful sunset
• cool weather that's just right for snuggling under the covers
• visits from friends
• finding a crazy amount of perfectly perfect vintage wallpaper
• motivation to get the kitchen done to use that perfectly perfect vintage wallpaper
• cute things on Etsy
• a super duper cute phone conversation with the little one
• finding pictures of mice all around the house (the little one is into drawing mice these days...)
• finding an actual real mouse in the house (I fed it some bread and named him Henry. At least, I think it was a "he".)
• seeing Sasa smile while I fed the mouse and named him Henry
• a yummy salad and rice for dinner
• followed by a movie and some snuggling on the couch
• then it's early to bed and work again in the morning

30 Days of Happiness :: Dream Kitchen

While I spent the day at work, Sasa worked diligently on getting our kitchen finally primed. I came home to a little less mustard yellow, a white-speckled handsome guy working away, and a black dog who just happened to be laying against the wet white trim. "Silly doggy Fly!" (as the little one would say...)

The kitchen already looks better. The cupboards are next, along with about 4 more coats of whatever color we choose. I'm still in search of a great vintage inspired wallpaper for one poorly intact plaster wall. I'm confident I'll find just what I had in mind, along with a repro counter top. Oh, the possibilities!

I'd like to leave you with some pictures of my dream kitchen. These are pretty close to the colors I have in mind for ours. I happened to stumble upon this kitchen a couple of weekends ago while swimming at my sister-in-law's family lake house. "Oh my" (and drool) is pretty much all I can say.

So yay for painting! Yay for hard working men willing to paint! Yay for funky colors and vintage finds! And yay for weekends (even if I have to work!).

30 Days of Happiness :: Sewing With My Girl

It was a rainy day today. I guess we're getting the tail end of a hurricane. It's been dark, gloomy, and wet all day long. But after a birthday party, some errands, and a yummy lunch, the little one and I headed to my sewing room for a bit of quiet time while Sasa baked in the kitchen.

I had made two floor pillows for the birthday boy and girl. The little one was completely involved in the process, from picking the fabrics to filling the pillows with buckwheat hulls and lavender flowers, to wrapping them up with pretty ribbon. She's becoming quite the little crafty gal herself! So we set up her little "quiet, cozy corner" that we started doing after lunch everyday and set to work.

She likes to take the fabric scraps and make something out of them. Yesterday it was bows for my chair, today it was a little scene taped to a piece of wool felt. (Scotch-tape and scissors are huge hits over here!)

She chose her fabrics well and in less than 45 minutes, she had her own little play pillow. She even chose a ribbon to use as a handle for carrying the pillow around. Clever girl! The buckwheat hulls give it a lot of height, so it also doubles as a "booster" for our kitchen chairs.

I'm so happy to have memories like these of our time spent together. It fills me with such warmth and joy!

And I'm really enjoying all of your happiness posts too! Keep them coming! I fixed the list on the sidebar, so everyone who e-mailed me should see their blog added now. Thanks so much for joining me in this journey!

30 Days of Happiness :: Friends

This morning the little one and I headed to a dear friend's house. She lives on a beautiful property with amazing gardens and even a goldfish pond!

This friend also happens to be a co-worker. She's an amazing woman and I find such joy being around her. She has a beautiful way of living life and is always inspiring me to be gentler, slower, more mindful, and more present.

We played with toys, ate yummy snacks, found strawberries in the garden, fed the fish, and took a walk through their beautiful woods.

The little ones were good sports with all the walking, but by the end it was time for a rest and another snack. Then we said our goodbyes, gave lots of hugs, and promised to to it all again soon.

I am so thankful for the friends I have. I am so thankful for beautiful, cool days like today. I am so thankful for the little one and all her joy. And I am so very, very thankful for life...whatever it may hold at any given moment because there is so much to be joyful about!

I've added a list of blogs to the left of those who decided to join my 30 Days of Happiness journey themselves. If I've missed you, please let me know! *Update* :: There is a problem on Typepad's end with my list. I've added 20+ blogs, but only 10 are showing. I'm resolving this with Typepad soon, and hopefully once it's fixed, I will have everyone up there!

30 Days of Happiness :: Make A Face

The little one is becoming quite the actress. We had a little fun today with the camera. She wanted to show you all her funny faces...

"Make a face like Kiwi (our cat)."

"Make a face like Doggy Fly."

"Make a face like a chicken!" (??)

"Make a face like Sasa." (Hehee!)

"Make a face like Baba (my mama)."

"Make a face like Mama."

"Make a face like Elisabeth."

Yea, I think that last one is definitely an Elisabeth face. She rocks. And her triple layered stripey goodness? That rocks too!

Happy Thursday!

30 Days of Happiness :: Togetherness

One of the things I adore about our life is the fact that we share three meals together. The simple act of sitting down three times a day to check in with each other, share a blessing and a home cooked meal, and just being together makes the day connect in a way I've never known.

And there's something about it that seems so "old-fashioned" to me. It's like going back to our roots, back in time...to a time that was slower, more meaningful, and just closer to the things that matter.

We ended the day with dinner on the porch while watching the sunset. Then it was a final push on the swing, followed by getting cozy in bed with some good books until her eyes finally closed, and now here I am reliving it all over again. Just thinking about it makes me smile. Oh yes, this 30 Days of Happiness is already doing me good!

30 Days of Happiness :: Local Yumminess

Last week we headed back to my dear friend's farm for some more yumminess. We picked oodles of basil to make my annual batch of pesto. Because of all the rain and our rather swampy backyard, our basil crop did not do well. So I was extra thankful for some of Kat's. And boy, did we make a lot of pesto. Twenty-four jars to be exact!

And my favorite part about it? The three of us, sitting on the back porch watching a thunderstorm move in, picking basil leaves off the stems. Oh yes, that is what I call a perfect afternoon!

And I'm so very thrilled that many of you have decided to join me in my 30 Days of Happiness journey! I want to get a list up of all the blogs participating, so if you haven't left a comment letting me know you've joined, please do so!

30 Days of Happiness :: Us

It's that time again...
That time where I want to relish the simple, little things that make our days so very enjoyable. Those little things that make life worth living, that make all the harder things seem not that hard anymore. In a time in my life where there can be challenges, hardships, things that are disappointing and frustrating, there is something that just seems to keep all of those in the background. There is something special that puts it all into perspective and something that keeps me smiling despite the tears that could be there instead.

And that something is who we are. Who the three of us are. We are three people who can not get enough of each other. We are three people who's perfect day is sitting on the porch in the sun, drawing pictures with "googly eyes", making "hand people", or spending hours in the lake. We are three people who thrive on hugs and kisses, smiles and giggles, and little acts of thoughtfulness. We are three people who find joy in lawnmower races, banana bread warm from the oven, and fresh eggs from our chickens.

Our life together is what makes everything so amazing and wonderful. There are so many little bits and pieces of it that I want to share. I have tried to live a life where these little bits and pieces are actually what life is about. They are what I choose to focus on. The simplicity of life, the joy in the little things, the fulfillment of being with two amazing people that make my heart smile every time I look at them...that's what defines my life. That's what I choose to focus on.

So with the beginning of another round of "30 Days of Happiness" I am giddy with excitement. I don't know where these 30 days will take me, but I do know where the last 30 days did. They brought me to an amazing place. A place of joy, peace, happiness, and a deep appreciation for everything in life.

And I'd like to ask for you to join me. Will you? I promise it will change your life. It did mine. Do it passionately and authentically with an open heart and mind, and I promise you won't be disappointed.

So begins my journey of another 30 Days of Happiness. Enjoy!

30 Days of Happiness: 30

30 days of happiness. 30 days of little things that make me smile. 30 days of pictures that will be a reminder of that happiness.
As I laid in the grass with this magnificent view, I reflected on the last 30 days. I have grown so much in the past month. I don't even know how to begin to write about it. There is so much beauty in the world, so much that can fill you with joy. It's endless. The green grass tickling my feet, ants crawling on my arms, wind blowing through my hair, trees dancing in the wind, sun shining on my face, doing cartwheels in an open field, a baby deer running circles around its mother, a bald eagle soaring high above, and myself: smiling and crying at all the beauty around me. It's all so wonderful and beautiful and amazing. And to think I can experience it everyday, because it's always around me and now I know how to find it. Spectacular.

"It's hard to stay mad when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much. My heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst ...

And then I remember ... to relax, and not try to hold on to it. And then it flows through me like rain. And I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life." (Kevin Spacey, American Beauty)

Thank you for joining me on this journey of happiness. I'm excited to see where this space will take me next.

30 Days of Happiness: 29

Found this bear shaped rock yesterday along the river while Elisabeth was dipping her toes in the water.

"Bear is a symbol of wisdom. This animal reveals the interrelationship between the person within the environment of creation, personal truth within the clan and the universe. Bear helps people recognize personal truth and when to stand up for rights and when to walk away. To both European and Native American Shamanic people, this power animal or totem symbolizes awakening the strong force of the unconscious"

30 Days of Happiness: 28

Happiness is early morning flower picking in our garden.

Happiness is having friends over for some playsilk dyeing. We used this tutorial.

Happiness is dancing like there's nobody watching.

30 Days of Happiness: 27

One of my favorite times of the day is the preparation of dinner. As long as the little one is content and being entertained elsewhere, I love to make dinner. Last night was a pasta salad with lots of veggies and garlic (one can never have enough garlic...) and chicken on the grill. A glass of red wine is always something to be happy about too.

30 Days of Happiness: 26

Ever since I was a little girl I have been searching for an abandoned bird's nest. I used to look for them on hikes, in our backyard, at our camp on the lake, and at parks. But I never found one. Then yesterday while on a walk with a dear friend, we literally stumbled upon this perfect nest. It had fallen from above and lay on the ground, right in the middle of the path where we were walking. Fate? I think it may have something to do with it. It makes me very happy.

30 Days of Happiness: 25

Happiness is my new (to me) kayak. Just brought it home last week and had my first lesson this morning. It was a lot of fun and I'm looking forward to going out again soon!

Hope you're all enjoying the weekend!

30 Days of Happiness: 24

Happiness is licking the bowl after making brownies. The little one won't even share, so I get the spatula and she gets the beater and the bowl. Lucky girl. The brownies are going into some homemade ice cream tonight.

Happiness is a toddler-free night. The little one is headed down to her Baba's house so Stephen and I can go out to dinner, enjoy a movie without interruptions, and have my first kayaking lesson tomorrow morning. Not to mention a relaxing bath and a full night's rest. Hopefully the dark circles under my eyes will be a little lighter come tomorrow morning...

And happiness is this video and this video.

30 Days of Happiness: 23

Happiness is more sun, a play date with friends, cool water for swimming, and a sandy-bottomed toddler.

30 Days of Happiness: 22

"And the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true."

30 Days of Happiness: 21

Happiness is a sunny day, a favorite dress, and a vintage Schwinn.

Happiness is a bit of sewing time and a new skirt for the shop, available tonight. (Thanks to Tiny Happy for the doily inspiration!)

Happiness is a special order on its way to Australia, and realizing that I need to make myself one too!

30 Days of Happiness: 20

I love food. I love food so much that it had to be included in my "30 Days of Happiness" because it makes me really happy. I've been through a lot of different dietary stages in my life, from vegan to vegetarian, to eating red meat weekly. I've been on a gluten-free diet for almost two years now and have realized that I can't even get near gluten without reacting. But I'm so happy with the food I can eat and the positive response from my body, that I don't miss gluten a bit. I feel healthy for the first time in my life.

I've fallen in love with this bread (it makes me very happy and I eat an amazing four slices a day sometimes) and have rediscovered my love for turkey sandwiches. Above was my lunch today, made with local veggies and cheese from a nearby farm. It was delicious.

This is my all-time favorite food book. Seriously, it's like the book I always wanted to write; the one that has been in my head for ages. As soon as I picked up this book and started reading it, it was like reading all the thoughts I've collected and stored over the years. It's been an amazing resource for me and I've found even a deeper connection and appreciation for the food we eat.

Off to find some chocolate...!

30 Days of Happiness: 19

Thank you for all your well wishes. After a really long night, we seem to be through the worst of it. Her temp is down to 102.7 this morning and she's up and running around, eating waffles, and reading books. Apparently it's only when it reaches over 105 degrees that she loses some of her spunk!

30 Days of Happiness: 18

Happiness is a good book...

and a good view.

30 Days of Happiness: 17

When I was four years old I decided that I would own a farm when I grew up. With animals, gardens, apple trees, a big barn with lots of hay to jump in, and a tire swing hanging from a big maple tree. I still dream of this. So the fact that we have six ducks and a dozen chicks makes me very happy. So happy, in fact, that I want to tell everyone I bump into that we have ducks and chickens. I've learned that most people just give me a crazy look, so I usually don't add on the tidbit about wanting goats soon.

I absolutely adore the idea of having farm animals around. The ducks are extremely timid, and even though I've belted out "Hey Jude" every night as I round them up into their house, they still quack and waddle away from me as fast as they can. (Really, my voice isn't that bad!)

The fact that I scour the yard for their beloved dandelion greens, carefully tearing them into little bits to place in their tub of water doesn't seem to convince them that I'm worth bonding with. I mean, technically they're adolescents now, right? So maybe they just need their space...

And the chicks are so completely mellow compared to the ducks. These gals are less than a week old and I already found three of them who squeezed through the bars of their cage outside chilling with the ducks! Daring little chicks, aren't they? So I gave in and decided to let them roam in the big pen outside. They are loving every minute of it. As I watch now from the window at them pecking the grass, I realize that my life seems to be headed in the exact direction I dreamed of all those years ago. What could be lovelier than that?!

Happy Solstice to you! Enjoy the weekend.

30 Days of Happiness: 16

I haven't really said much about the black flies on my blog, but let's just say that we had about three weeks of glorious spring weather to enjoy the outside after a rather long winter (okay, Maine winters are always long...) until the black flies came out. When the black flies came out we were forced back inside, or had to make a drive into town to enjoy a bit of fresh air. Until yesterday...

All of a sudden, the clouds of black flies that used to swarm our heads as we dashed to the car lessened a bit. Sure, the mosquitoes are out in full force and the horse flies are making their appearance. But those little, annoying, pesky flies that zip right into your eye, nose, or mouth without warning are almost gone. And that, my friends, makes me happier than you could ever imagine.

We spent most of yesterday evening outside enjoying the sunshine without wearing nets over our heads and covering every bit of skin on our bodies. I still found some bites (more than I care to admit) on my arms, legs, and neck, but being outside again in our own yard is something to be very joyful about!

30 Days of Happiness: 15

Green on my feet is always nice, but barefoot is even better...

30 Days of Happiness: 14

When I stepped out of the shower this morning, I noticed artwork all over the bathroom floor. I chuckled a bit, then went to find the culprit who was hiding in the corner with a big smile on her face. I said, "Nice drawing! Why didn't you draw on your paper instead?" She pointed to something behind me and I turned around to find the piece of paper in the toilet. Then I chuckled again thinking "toilet paper!" which, of course, she didn't quite get.

When I went to fetch the camera (which is always expected by the little one) she wanted me to take her picture. I guess this is her "shortly after being caught guilty" face. We decided to leave the artwork there to show Papa when he gets home. Won't he be thrilled!

30 Days of Happiness: 13

Happiness is happy feet. And my feet are always happy when dressed in green.

30 Days of Happiness: 11 & 12

Happiness is food growing in our own yard. Basil, lettuce, tomatoes, beets, squash, pumpkins, beans, peas, and so much more! I have hopes of expanding our little garden even more in the coming years.

I love looking at the neat rows of beats, onions, and leeks. Watching little seeds sprout and turn into actual plants over the last two months has been so satisfying.

And Happy Papa's Day! It's lovely to see the little one bonding more and more with her Papa. This was one of my favorite memories: a brief break from the colic and a Papa being willing to go on a brisk, winter walk with me while I snapped away. She eventually did fall asleep during that walk, which we were both extremely grateful for!