Bluebirdbaby

a trip up the coast

we ventured up the coast yesterday to visit some galleries, get some pizza and ice cream, and walk around with our cameras.

the little one was in a bit of a mood, but i was able to capture these images that pretty much said it all...

 

gathering

We've been talking a lot about strengthening our social community for a year now. 2011 was the year of big bashes, lots of music and dancing, BBQs, bonfires, karaoke, and potlucks. This year, we have grand plans for simple entertaining; shifting the focus from large gatherings to intimate dinners and quiet evenings. I think we're all ready for this shift, and I'm excited to see what this year will bring.

To start, I've spent the week so far painting the new dining room. I'm almost done, which is very exciting...I've never painted for 4 days straight before. It's tough work! After the walls are finally done, the floor is next. Then the table will hopefully be finished and in the house, we'll be on the hunt for mismatched wooden chairs, although ideally I'd love folding chairs like these.

With the new dining room, we can gather with a few other couples, have a simple meal, and maybe follow that with some music making or game playing. We're so excited for this simple shift.

 

For the past couple of months, we've been starting this trend with various friends. Mostly to lighten the load of cooking everyday of the week...we've been spontaneously gathering at various houses to enjoy a meal prepared by everyone, with a single ingredient brought to use. It helps our budgets and we also end up having a good conversation, or delving into some kind of art project. It's always fun, and so mellow with no expectations or grand plans. I love that.

I'm looking forward to a mellow 2012, full of good food, good people, and good conversations! And I can't wait to show you all the finished dining room! I'm off to paint another coat...

xoxo

Hello 2012!!!

We had a rockin' party last night. Stayed up way too late. Drank lots of wine and champagne. Danced. Sang. And had lots of fun in the photo booth...

There were close to 1,000 shots we took with the booth last night. I try to respect people's privacy, so here's a small sampling with most of the people you already know! What a great way to welcome in the year of 2012! Happy New Year!!!!

Some Killer Links

We had the sweetest little photo session with Maria this past weekend. This image she captured was my favorite, but there were so many good ones.

We have been having such a fun time lately. It's hard juggling school, work, afterschool activities, an amazingly social wee one who is always out running around the neighborhood with friends from early morning to sunset, a busy social weekend life, and then we do it all again. Our time to slow down, breathe, and just be together seems to be few and far between, but we do manage to make the best of every moment we have together; no matter how short.

Today marks the third anniversary of living in this house. It's a special day for Sasa and I. I, of course, completely forgot about it because I am still not convinced it's remotely possible for it to be December. And Sasa, being the sweet guy he is, reminded me at dinner. Oops. So what did I do? I turned our kitchen into an after dinner dance party! We put it on a favorite dancing Pandora station and proceeded to boogie and do the twist and slow dance for the next two hours.

Then the little one put the wicker laundry basket on her back and pretended to be a turtle, which Mama and Sasa bear had to try to eat. But she was a good turtle and curled right up into her shell where she was safe. We ended the night with some drawing before bed. That girl...I swear...she is never NOT drawing. It's insane. I buy her art journals every other day, and they are full before I can get back to the art store. And pens. And pencils. And anything she can draw with. They all get so much use. Her drawings are amazing too. Unbelievable, actually. She's on a horse kick, but she has just started drawing mama with her camera. Cool stuff. She's goooood.

And that's my update. We're all in a silly mood tonight. Dancing does that to us. So here's some pretty sweet links:

• i wanna be your man (how freakin' cool is that dude?!)
• absolutely A-mazing 
• i got inspired and painted my nails this color today
• made this into a necklace. i love it.
• love these tumblers
• enjoying her blog
• this series is gorgeous. she makes everyday beautiful.
• mmmm....for brunch with friends
• i have a horrible addiction to mugs (and tea)
• have you seen melissa's new book?! she was also on the macy's day parade AND martha stewart!! woohoo! go melissa!
• loving his artwork
• one more video. i'm going to style a shoot inspired by it.
• looking forward to this tomorrow night

Happy December! What are you loving right now?!

our day

 

every year it's the same.

and that's a good thing.

30 people, tons of food, more pies than 30 people could ever finish (which means there's half a pumpkin pie in our fridge that i'm looking forward to later), a walk to the ocean after dinner, an early evening with a good movie, and collapsing into bed early.

we have so much to be grateful for this year. i love that there is a whole day that reminds us to be grateful.

what are you grateful for this year?

the most important thing

 

08 Across the Sea

 

i held a dying man's hand for over four hours yesterday. it felt like the most important thing i've ever done in my life.

we've been living in a state of altered reality for days. the quick decline of sasa's father, the way his family cared for him in his own home, the way we were all there for him...they are things that can put all of life into prespective.

my sleep has been in and out. so aware of where he is in this process. i would wake up in another world all through the night, in my own bed, but somehow him right by my side telling me what he needed and when he was going.

there was something about the ending of his life that awakened ours. the hours spent holding his hand were the most peaceful hours i've ever felt before. all i needed to do was be there, hold is hand, and put every ounce of peace and strength i had in me out for him. the presence was remarkable and seemed like magic.

i will miss him. i will miss his love of the ocean, the way he poked fun at me, how he used to love getting me tipsy on his favorite wine, how he was someone who would always take care of us, the joy he felt to have elisabeth in his life, the way he mowed his lawn "just so", and mostly, the love for his family.

it was an honor and a pleasure to have him be a part of my life. it was an honor and a pleasure helping him move on to what's next. it has changed my life forever. he changed my life forever. thank you, grandpa.

 

I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering;
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?

 

And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I look upon time as no more than an idea,
and I consider eternity as another possibility,

 

and I think of each life as a flower, as common
as a field daisy, and as singular,

 

and each name a comfortable music in the mouth
tending as all music does, toward silence,

 

and each body a lion of courage, and something
precious to the earth.

 

When it's over, I want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement.
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms.

 

When it's over, I don't want to wonder
if I have made of my life something particular, and real.
I don't want to find myself sighing and frightened
or full of argument.

 

I don't want to end up simply having visited this world.

 

~ Mary Oliver ~

 

pumpkins

We went on our annual pumpkin hunt this weekend. We take our wagon up the street to the local farm stand and choose three big pumpkins to take home and carve.

This year we added a little something extra...the little one and Sasa made homemade pumpkin pie using pumpkins from our garden! It was so sweet watching them cooking all afternoon in the kitchen. The little one has been wanting to bake and cook and do anything and everything she can in the kitchen. She even requested to wash the dishes the other night. Um, okay...!

Our trip up to the farm stand was shot all on film and Polaroids, but I did manage to capture some of the carving fun with my digital camera! The little one wanted me to carve a horse in mine, she made a funny face (a super cute one I think!), and Sasa wanted to make a gnome house.

We finished the evening with pie, ice cream, and our favorite pumpkin book!

I finally finished her costume yesterday and she is very pleased. Looks like the real deal, if I do say so myself. Pictures to follow...

What are you or your wee ones being for Halloween?!

the fair

 

At the Common Ground Fair. It's officially autumn! Many more photos on film to come...

5 years old

I am the mama of a 5 year old. It seems so crazy that 5 years have passed since she was first born. I never realized why mothers would still call their grown children their "babies" but now I do. I look at her and still see the one year old toddling off on those little pudgy legs. She will always be my baby.

But 5...wow. 5 is BIG! She was so proud of herself too. We spent Friday celebrating with our birthday breakfast table tradition, a walk in the woods with friends and picnic by the river, and a dinner out complete with chocolate cake and the best french fries ever, then followed it all with a fantastic concert where we heard a fiddle player not only play the most amazing fiddle music ever, but also dance while doing it!

Then Saturday we had the big party. She requested a "giant potluck party" like we often have throughout the summer. Wasn't too hard to round up a bunch of friends last minute to make it all happen. But it all came together nicely. Instead of gifts, she asked for donations to bring to the animal shelter. We got a giant basket full, plus bags of food, and two big dog beds! People were so awesome! So that sparked an animal themed party, complete with "pin the tail on Pepper" (not the real Pepper...), a photo booth, face painting and animal ear making, and the best dog bone cake ever made!

It was a blast (we are all still recovering) and I think we heard the phrase "you throw the best parties!" about twenty times. But all that really matters is that my big 5 year old enjoyed herself, and that she did. See for yourself...

And the photo booth, which was hilarious and filled with way more adults than children...

 A big thanks to all the sweet friends who made this night so special!! You are all the best. We love you guys. xoxo

the swing of things

It's funny having a different rhythm all of a sudden. Waking early to get things prepared for the day, driving the little one off to school, coming back to work until the moment I go back to pick her up, picking her up and coming home to have a snack, resting, going for a walk, dinner prep and eating, clean up and outside play before bedtime. There's something comforting in the rhythm that we've already formed, just in a mere three days. I like knowing what to expect. I like having things consistent, but with enough flexibility to make the day feel spontaneous and free.

Right now we are settling into this new rhythm. We are a bit tired, a bit excited, a bit relieved (to have more time to get work done!). But mostly, we are just happy to be doing it all together. Lucky us!

today

today we rode our bikes all over town.

today we ran through a field, skipped rocks in a river, and picked wildflowers.

today we baked bread, picked blackberries, made a pie, baked kale chips, and roasted beets and garlic.

today we felt the cooler breeze that came through the open doors and windows. a reminder that fall is slowly creeping in.

today we made exciting plans for tomorrow.

today we talked about school starting.

today we marveled at just how gigantic our sunflowers are. nearly 14 feet high at this point...

tonight we used the leftover 4th of July sparklers.

tonight we are snuggled in, with the cool air outside, and a warm cup of tea in our hands.

 

what did you do today?!

fairy woods

It's been a funny weekend. Probably others would call it a weekend full of unfortunate events. I've been meaning to post about "a year of choice" for a while now...letting you know more about how this affects my days and what it looks like. And I can honestly say that this space is all about choice. What you read here are snippets of our days. The things I love, the things that make life go round, the things that make us smile, the things that fill our hearts with love. It doesn't mean that there isn't a whole lot of struggle and, ahem, bad luck too. (Sometimes I think I'm jinxed!) But it's easy to get through it with this fabulous guy and amazing little girl by my side.

This past weekend was indeed a series of unfortunate events. It got to the comical level after two days, and when we finally sat down on the couch late last night to breathe, we looked at each other and giggled, joking that maybe the roof would fall through on our heads. But in the end, we caught something just in the knick of time and our cat will live, we still have another way to get around and we did get home finally, there are friends and family always willing to help, after hours of research I finally fixed my camera, and we are safe and happy and together. Which really...is all that matters.

So what does all this have to do with fairy woods?! Well, in the midst of all the unfortunate events, we all took a beautiful walk on an island with my mama and the two dogs. We flew kites, we walked through the forest, waded in the water, and came to the spot where there are hundreds and hundreds of fairy houses. We built a fabulous one. And I remember in that moment, looking at the absolute certainty on the little one's face that fairies would be moving in to our little fairy house that very night, I knew that this was the only moment that really mattered. And, to be honest, I'm not sure if it's from the sheer exhaustion or the hilariously poor memory I have, but really...it's all that I really remember. That one moment was so full of joy and love that it's going to be completely and totally stuck in my heart forever. Love that.

And yes, the little one got her first haircut. She loves it. We do too.

xoxo.

Morning, Noon, and Night

This morning was spent in the kitchen and the garden. It's funny how with all our dietary restrictions going on we have three separate breakfasts most mornings. Sasa sticks with quinoa and greens, the little one loves her eggs and toast, and I'm on a goat yogurt kick. After the dishes were cleaned and the laundry was hung, we headed out into the garden before the sun got too hot to do some weeding. I'm enjoying checking on the strawberries daily, and the bee balm (my favorite) bloomed late last week.

Mid-day found us walking to the library to return some books. I grabbed my outting essentials (back pack and sunglasses) and we set off for new books and to pick up Sasa for lunch. On the way back, we stopped in the garden to pick some chard for lunch and basil for pesto. During the lunch prep, the little one kept running outside to feed the chickens some veggie scraps.

The evening approached quickly after an afternoon full of reading and games in front of the fans. We kept checking on the popscicles we made earlier, drank almost all the cold beverages in the house and used up all the ice. As I was prepping dinner, I grabbed the only cold beverage left. The little one helped wash the potatoes while I picked squash from the garden. I made a summer squash and potato torte roughly based on this recipe (except I use rosemary, ommitted the flour, and added minced garlic instead of green onions). It was delicious. We ate outside on the porch, watching the sun slowly going down, and ended the evening with a final game.

And that, my friends, makes a day. It's fun to look back on it all. How the ordinary things can go by without notice, but when you really stop to make notice of them, you realize exactly how marvelous they all are!

So...what was your "morning, noon, and night" like?!

hello

Well, I just had an entire post written about how I really didn't have much to say at all, and how wedding season is in full swing and I've got so much work (thankfully!) on my plate that there's not much time for anything else, but then Firefox messed up and it was all lost! Ha...guess I didn't really need to say all that anyway!

My thoughts have been here. I've wanted to pop in and say "hello" and had every intention of sharing a Monday link list with you this week. But well...after 10 hours on the computer editing, I was pretty done.

The heat has been unbearable lately. We've managed to keep cool with many swims in the ocean and lake, Popsicles and ice cold drinks, and sitting in front of the fan during the day. Today the heat finally broke with a lengthy downpour. It cooled everything off and gave us an excuse to scurry inside to make a delicious dinner and settle in for an evening game.

These are the only shots I took today. My poor camera needs a break after the weddings, but I've become completely addicted to using my iPhone camera. Not so sure I'm ready to switch the photos here over to that though. But it's so handy...

I'm needing some super link love this week! What are you all loving around the web??!

Strawberry Fields Forever

Yesterday, we braved the heat and headed out for an adventure to some organic strawberry fields. The little one has been begging me to make her a strawberry pie for weeks now. And part of our summer routine each year is to pick and store as many berries as we can to last us all winter long. It's fun to watch as the older she gets, the more involved she wants to be. Last year I remember carrying her through the blueberry fields, keeping her in the Ergo on my back as I picked. This year? She was picking for almost two hours right along with us. She was incredibly excited about the whole process and beamed with pride with each bucket she poured into the larger box.

We got home and settled into the numerous hours' work facing us. The 20+ pounds of berries needed to be washed, the tops cut off, most frozen for later use, two pies needed to be baked (one galette for her and one semi-Paleo almond flour crust for Sasa and I), and a batch of freezer jam needed to be made. We opted for freezer jam because we wanted to make a small batch of strawberry jam, since we don't use jam too often.

We sat on the back porch on our new patio furniture (thanks to Sasa for my early birthday present!) all afternoon and got covered in red juice. Lots went in our mouths, but most went in the freezer. The little one was so excited by the idea of eating strawberries in winter!

We ended the night with our strawberry pies and reading books on the porch. It was the perfect ending to an even more perfect day!

the weekend

This weekend was so full of everything! Playdates with wee friends, gardening, three more raised beds (!!) and three more to go, practicing for a violin concert tomorrow night, stories, ice cream trips, Sunday morning pancakes, bike ride after bike ride, long walks with the dogs, fishing, watching sunsets, barbecues, first smores of the season (we found yummy organic marshmallows! ha!), reading on the porch, sitting in the sun, adoring my new Lisa Leonard magnets, pizza parties with family, and late night viewings of this (which had Sasa and I feeling so nostalgic for the 80's and all it's fashion no-no's!).

What did you do this weekend?! Happy start of the week to you!

a weekend in pictures

It was all too perfect and lovely.

We had a sweet little visit from my mama, BBQs with friends and family, fresh flowers inside, running through the sprinkler, back porch songs, lots of sunshine and time in the garden, cooking and baking, just born baby goats, dreaming up new ideas and plans, and had a wonderful time all being together.

and thank you all for entering the sweet giveaway over the weekend! Random.org chose #20...

angie said...

what a great shop, thanks for introducing me! As for summer, my dream is simple, outside fun with lots of camping trips with the family!

 

Angie...send me an e-mail (ewallacephoto@gmail.com) and we'll get your cape out! Yay! Congrats!

Hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Cheers!

our days

the sun came out. it finally came out.

so we've been outside all day, everyday.

there are flowers to pick, vases to fill, sidewalks to play hopscotch on, bikes to ride, friends to have over, picnics to have, and the sun to enjoy.

and boy, are we enjoying it.

 

hope you all have sun too!

After It All

I woke up with a pinched nerve.

I can't turn my head in either direction.

I can't really use my right arm.

And the pain is excrutiating.

BUT...it's pizza night. And it was so, so good. (Next time I'll add rosemary and olives.)

And the rain keeps coming, which is good for the garden and gives me an excuse to "take it easy" as the doctor says.

We're gearing up for bedtime here...the little one just went on one last walk with Sasa and the dogs. Then it's stories and a long night of rest.

Tomorrow is a new day. A brand new day. So much is possible.

And I know that despite the pain, the challenges, and the things that seem impossible, I thank my lucky stars for these two amazing beings I get to spend my life with.

Easter and Scones

Easter started an early 5:30 a.m. The little one was so super excited about a bunny hopping throughout the house that she woke up much ealier than usual! The night before we left the Easter bunny a letter, some carrots and spinach, and a basket full of eggs for him to hide. Our eggs came out so beautifully. We will definitely be using vegetable dyes again. The sweet little yellow egg basket I found on Etsy weeks ago and had it shipped all the way from Canada. It arrived just in time! 

We enjoyed some chocolate (a bit too much), two egg hunts, a delicious sushi lunch made by Sasa and enjoyed with friends and Baba (my mama!), many hours drawing chalk on the sidewalk and riding our bikes, and a lovely early bedtime to finish the day.

Today we enjoyed the warm air, even though the sun didn't want to come out. I spent three hours on the front porch watching the little one ride her bike back and forth in barefeet and her pajamas. Then we came inside and made delicious scones after visiting our chickens for some eggs.

I hope your Easter weekend was terrific!!

 

In the Kitchen :: Ma Style

We just finished reading our first Little House book. The little one is absolutely smitten with Mary. She insists we call her Mary all day. Her trusty sidekick doll is now Laura. She and "Pa" went out hunting for bear today in the swamp. I couldn't believe it, but they got one! Not only that, but they dug up some potatoes, cabbage, and onions from the root cellar. We were going to have a feast "Little House" style.

So I set to work, cooking up the bear meat (it was really beef, but shhh!) and making a cabbage dish that everyone would love. Mary and Pa did have to run to the nearest store for some ketchup, but they went on foot. Then we set down to dinner, grateful for this meal we all worked so hard for (even if only in our hearts) and enjoyed every bit of it.

Mary is now asleep, after a special made up Little House story. I'm sure we'll wake up tomorrow and do it all again. I just love where imagination can take us!

Late Winter Beach

It was sunny.

It was windy.

We felt the sand in our toes.

Found heart rocks and sea glass.

Uncle Max turned into a hungry beach monster and made the kids run and giggle.

We closed our eyes and pictured beach blankets and picnics and swim suits and sandcastles.

It won't be long before those are all real.

And we all can't wait.

xoxo.

Around the House

We've been busy the last few days. Snow, cooking, baking, visits with friends, sledding, cozy fires, and so much more. Here's a little glimpse from some scenes around the house...

Started my day with a cup of tea and a peek at the Fedco catalog. Making lists and dreaming of more raised beds for more greens next year. So much fun to think of summer while buried in snow.

This print reminds me of our home...always people coming and going. Always food to share and soup on the stove.

The little one requested her art corner back, which was prompted by a move of her play kitchen setup to enlarge her new "home" (the playstands). She's been drawing, and painting, and creating, and displaying it for all to see.

I've been baking bread weekly. It's nice to have an official bread baking day again and makes soup days that much yummier.

Mr. Pickles is hanging in there with all the canine commotion. He surfaces every now and then for some cuddles and sunlight. He makes me happy.

When we had yet another snow day this week which pretty much shut down town, we get around via sled. It's fun to use the roads as our own personal sledding path.

I had a little fir tree growing in that pot on the left. When I brought it in late fall it didn't make it, but up popped a dandelion and some clovers. I love love love it. We have yellow dandelions blooming just about every other week. Such a fun reminder of summer.

The little one...she is getting SO big and her hair is so very long and beautiful. She wanted to cut it last week, but then realized that it wouldn't be long for a while again, so she opted to keep it the way it is. I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Snow snow snow. This is the scene from my computer desk. I love looking out at the snow falling against the windows, with me cozy and warm inside.

Happy weekend everyone! I hope you enjoy every minute of it!

The Winter Beach

The beach is equally as fun during the winter as the summer (although swimming is a wee bit chillier). We visit the beach pretty often in the winter. It's a nice place to let the dogs run free.

This was Pepper's first visit to the cold, cold beach. Fly's getting too old to chase the waves like he used to and Pepper was way more interested in finding decaying sea matter than anything else, but she did enjoy her first beach experience.

Oh, and that face makes me almost forget how absolutely rascally she is. Almost...

xoxo.

Happy Solstice!!

I love the winter Solstice. I love our yearly tradition of visiting a friend's farm for a spectacular bonfire and delicious feast. Despite the sprinkling rain (snow...where ARE you??!) and insanely mild temperatures, we still snuggled in close to the bonfire and had a marvelous night.

I brought materials for the kids to do a Solstice lantern craft. We made our own little jars of sunshine!

Happy Solstice to you all! I'll be back tomorrow with some Solstice knitting and the winner of the giveaway. xoxo.

St. Nicholas and Winter

Happy St. Nicholas Day!! St. Nicholas paid a visit to the little one recently. She was so excited. The night before we polish our shoes, write a letter to St. Nicholas, bake a special treat to leave him, get some hay and a carrot for his horse (apparently his horse's name is Snowflake! Who knew?!), and we leave it outside her bedroom door. In the morning, the little one finds her shoes filled with gold covered chocolate coins, a candy cane, and a special gift with a note left by St. Nicholas.

This year she awoke to find a special horse harness for play made by one of St. Nicholas' elves. Wow. St. Nicholas even told her that the bells on the reins were from his very own horse. She was so excited.

We also began celebrating the first week of Advent on Sunday. We got out our birthday ring which also doubles as an Advent wreath. We sang our candle lighting song for Advent:

"I light the night my candle burns,

I light the night my candle burns.

First one, then two, then three, then four,

my heart is shining like a star."

Next we read the words for the first week of Advent:

"The first light of Advent is the light of stones.

Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones."

We placed some special crystals the little one got for her birthday, some seashells we found on the beach this summer, and some beachstones as well.

And there wasn't really a better day to celebrate, because we got our very first winter snowstorm today! It was SO much fun. I was very satisfied with our snow activities...we made chili (for a chilly day!), cornbread, apple crisp, shoveled the driveway and the porch, went grocery shopping, took out the fall plantings in our window boxes and put in a variety of winter greens, went sledding, I made a wreath (my first one!!), had three delicious homemade meals, and got some knitting done. Such a good day.

I love that we live in this little town. The little one calls it "our cozy town." It was slippery out there and so very snowy, but we could walk everywhere we needed to go. We trek through our backyard to get to the co-op and I bring this amazing basket Sasa got me for my birthday. It fits all our groceries, usually ends up weighing more than I do, but is so nice to be able to carry our food home on foot.

The wreath making was so exciting and super successful. I cut some berries and vines out back and added them to the greens we got at Sasa's sister's house over the weekend. I think the wreath turned out pretty great and it now hangs on our front door!

So yay for winter and St. Nicholas, and Advent! Tis the season for sure!

Happy Monday y'all! xoxo. Oh, and stay tuned for another awesome giveaway on Wednesday, and more to come next week!!

Making Butter

After our violin lesson this morning (oh, she is getting good!) we returned home to do some baking. I had some heavy whipping cream left over from the soup yesterday and wanted to make butter again. We did it long ago and had such fun. It's such an easy and fun project for little ones.

Simply pour heavy cream into a mason jar, add a little salt, put on the lid, and take turns shaking it. In about 15 minutes you'll have the tastiest butter!

Our recipe today was skillet cornbread. I love this simple and easy recipe from the Waldorf Kindergarten Snack Book. And it is so delicious.

While that was baking, we ate a light lunch. We had the cornbread, homemade butter, and local honey for dessert.

It was so yummy. Tomorrow is apple crisp day! What's happening in your kitchen?!

Meet Mr. Pickles

Well, the little one just couldn't stand not having a cat. Sasa and I are still mourning Kiwi, so I was very unsure of the idea of rushing out to get another one. But when we met Mr. Pickles (he came with the name "Sarge"...), it was love at first sight for the little one. He looks like Kiwi too. I'm pretty sure they could be from the same litter.

Mr. Pickles had been at the shelter for a year, so I couldn't leave him there another day. He came home and has settled in nicely. He even sleeps curled up next to the little one. So, so sweet.

I miss Kiwi so much, but I'm very honored to have the pleasure of being with another furry friend. I'm thinking there may be some Super Cat(s) books in the future. And two cats named after food?! Totally rockin'. Although I would have named him after one of my two favorites :: bacon or mayonnaise. But Sasa just wouldn't go for it. Mr. Pickles it is!!

Happy weekend friends! xoxo

Kiwi

Oh, I'm in tears as I write this. Kiwi, our beloved cat who's time with us was much too short, was killed yesterday. It was pretty tragic. We're pretty sure a fox got her in broad daylight. Somehow she escaped and made it home with only her two front legs working. I spent the afternoon rushing her to the vet for surgery, and even after we decided to spend all our savings to save her, she died on the table. The damage was just too much.

It's odd having such a sweet and cuddly part of your life missing. We picked her up last night and buried her next to a chipmunk she got recently. The little one thought they might like to be friends now. We had a little blessing ceremony for her life, gave her one last pat, and said goodbye.

Kiwi inspired many songs, a book, and another book we completed in August that I'm still getting the video together for. She was our little Super Cat. It will be so bittersweet finishing that video, but it's a tribute she deserves.

It was hard. She was loved. She was loved so, so much. And this was so sudden. I've never been a cat lover. But Kiwi was different. She was awesome and she will be missed so very much.

We love you Kiwi. You were one brave cat and you will never be forgetten. xoxo.

After Birthday Fun

We are still recovering from the 4th birthday bash. It was one of the best nights ever. But Sasa and I are still catching up on sleep. So in an attempt to keep this short and sweet, but to let you all know I'm still here, I would like to share some sweet moments from the last few days..

Applesaucing! We love this tradition. We sat on the porch washing, peeling, chopping, and ended up with a huge pot full of applesauce that we devoured in a single day. Yum! The little one is so helpful. I can't get over it.

Speaking of helpful, she cleaned half of the chicken barn all by herself. We spent one morning last week getting it ready for the winter. She was beyond thrilled to be helping out. She kept setting aside hay for the "goats" (we'll hopefully be getting some soon!). We've come to the conclusion that we need some barn cats. We have mice eating up our chicken feed and we're not too thrilled with that. So we're on the hunt for a couple of barn cats and think we found a source. Yay!

Not only has my girl been washing apples and cleaning barns, but she loves to mop. Loves, loves, loves it. She was so excited when I got the mop out. I may make this a weekly activity instead of monthly, because she just loves it so.

She was so lucky to receive so many thoughtful and handmade gifts. She was playing with this little basket of garlic, cinnamon sticks and nutmeg, along with a miniature grater. It kept her busy for so long. Another favorite was the gluten-free play clay. Hours of entertainment with that (thanks Maria!).

And she got a sweet little tree fort just in time for her birthday! Sasa's sister and her husband have been working on it and it was almost finished over the weekend. The little one and I primed it today to get it ready for our funky colors. I can't wait to show more!

What have you all been up to?! I hope to have a link list tomorrow.

Fall is Coming

It was another weekend of apple picking, sweater weather, applesauce making and apple pie baking. We took a stroll through a favorite orchard and picked up bags and bags of "drops." We get them for free and bring them home to make applesauce....jars and jars of sauce to be canned. The little one had her wee basket of apples she picked from the trees :: the "very special" ones.

We had company over on Saturday night and spent the evening in the brisk air, wrapped in sweaters, eating apple pie and staring up into the clear sky where the bright stars seemed to dance. It was a cozy evening.

The little one got out her winter jammies and we cuddled in bed together to stay warm. I woke up to a puppet show this morning. While drinking my tea I looked at her and thought, "she'll be four in four days." It's insane how quickly these little guys grow. They are amazing at it too.

For now we're shifting gears a bit, getting used to this colder weather. It's nice to slow down and feel the peace that fall brings after a busy summer. All I want to do is curl up on the couch with some knitting and tea. I just love that.

Happy almost fall! I hope your weekend was a fine one!

August Apples

There's a great little walking trail right near our house. We haven't used it much, but last week we decided to spend the morning exploring it. We were on the hunt for apples after we heard there was a little orchard down there. So we grabbed our bags and went looking!

(This photo reminds me of this from last year, and this from the year before!)

The center of the trail was just filled with apple trees. Yes, the wormy, spotted kind of apples, but we like them that way. It reminds us that they are there for everyone and everything, and we are lucky enough to get to share! The little one ate as many apples as she picked. I still couldn't believe we were picking apples in August.

We picked and picked, talking about how we were going to make apple crisp, apple butter, and apple pie. Yum! 

We continued on our walk, looking for wild mushrooms as we went. (Found some, but they were too old!) We also found grapes and raspberries. I think a mushroom hunt is next on our list!

So we came home with bags of apples and plan on making so many delicious things this week after this insane 90 degree heat goes away. But for now, that oven is not going to be on at all! Apple popsicles anyone?!

I've got a photo shoot tonight, so I'll have a link list up for you tomorrow!

A Rainy Day

Sometimes I love rainy days. Especially when they are following a hot and sunny summer. Today was chilly, so I bundled up in some corduroys and sweaters. The little one still insisted on shorts and short sleeves. We baked some "surprise muffins" this morning and followed it with lots of creative play.

Then there was reading to Kiwi. (A Curious George book opened to her favorite page...the one that shows how to make a paper boat!)

Then we headed out to have an afternoon of tea and knitting at a friend's house. So fun. On our way home we stopped at a great store to get some nail polish that didn't have acetone and formaldehyde in it. (Why must they put that in it anyway??!) The little one kept asking this morning if I could paint her nails. I have no idea where that idea came from, but it was the perfect rainy afternoon activity and she was so proud. And purple, of course.

After our manicure session, we made some kale and white bean soup and biscuits. Biscuits are my new favorite thing to make, and the little one's new favorite thing to eat! What a yummy dinner.

We ended the day with a late night trip to the store to get Sasa a surprise card. We found the perfect card (with a Border Collie on it) and drew pictures on the inside and hid it upstairs. The little one kept saying, "Sasa, don't peek! Sasa, don't look! Sasa...your surprise rhymes with mard. Sasa...it also rhymes with pard. Okay Sasa...you're getting closer. Don't look under the covers in your bed, because that's where you'll find the surprise that rhymes with mard." She had us in tears we were laughing so hard! He did eventually find his surprise "card" and he said it was the best card ever.

He then told the little one that there would be a yummy surprise for her when she woke up in the morning. He said it would rhyme with "negg"...can you guess what it is?!

Happy rainy day!!

Doing Nothing

Sasa and I have been talking a lot lately about doing nothing. Not just sitting around and doing nothing, but being able to enjoy something so very simple and yet have so much fun. Whether going for a walk, watching a meteor shower (Friday night...it was awesome!) in a field, picking wildflowers, dipping our toes in the pond, putting on music and dancing for hours. All of these are pretty simple things that don't involve planning, car rides, and lots of effort. And they are so much fun.

So we did just that over the weekend. Lots of nothing. Our favorite nothing activity was going for a walk in the woods, finding stick people and building them a house and beds. We must have played for two hours in this little spot. We laughed and giggled, dressed up the stick people in acorn hats and leaf dresses, played fetch with Doggy Fly, had a major tickle game (the little one totally won!), and just enjoyed the simplicity of being together with no agenda, in the middle of a beautiful spot.

(taken by the little one! she's so good!)

We definitely plan on doing nothing as much as we can. There's something about these simple moments that stick with me forever; they are the memories that tend to never leave my mind. I guess these are the moments that mean the most to me. They certainly are filled with lots of love.

When is the last time you did nothing? What was it? I'd love to hear!

Happy Monday everyone! I'll hopefully be back with a link list tomorrow...

Mama's Going to Can Them For Next Winter

The little one and I have been doing lots of picking, cooking, and eating. Remember Bri and her gorgeous family? Well, she let us come back up for some blueberry and blackberry picking. And boy...we got loads. I spent the better part of yesterday (and Sasa the night before) picking through the berries to freeze for the winter. The little one and I love this book. We read it almost daily in the summer time. When we were picking blueberries she said, "Mama...you're going to take these home and can them for next winter!" Yes indeed. Perhaps not can all of them, but freeze them for sure!

We've made blueberry muffins, jam, a tart, and "smoothie popsicles" out of them already. (We discovered that adding Greek yogurt to our homemade popsicles is deeeelicious!) The little one is such a good helper with all this too.

We've also been enjoying loads of tomatoes and cucumbers, so a simple salad of the two mixed with olive oil and feta is a great lunch.

And the jam...oh my. This is just some of it. We are going to be all set with jam through the winter. A lot of you have asked what recipe I use. It's just the "low sugar" recipe on the back of the Pamona's Pectin. I typically use 1/2 cup honey per batch.

We have been enjoying so many picnics and dinners on our back porch. The little one has been so interested in setting the table all by herself. See those folded napkins? She did that! We found a vintage children's cook book at a used bookstore and it illustrates everything, right down to setting the table. She adores it. So sweet. And Sasa and his Pop worked so hard on this porch... it's just beautiful. We have been enjoying it every second!

And up for today...zucchini bread, homemade hummus, millet sqaures, and quinoa salad. Yum!

The Kitchen

We've been spending an insane amount of time in the kitchen this summer. Blueberry cakes, muffins, pancakes, and jam, raspberry jam, blackberry jam, banana bread, roasted kale, rainbow chard frittatas, ice cream, summer soups, cucumber salads, zucchini pasta, pesto, pesto, pesto, and more pesto. And the list goes on...

I love how the little one is getting so used to cooking and baking. I think she'll be able to throw a muffin recipe together on her own in no time! And I absolutely love how excited she is now to pick things from the garden and bring them in to cook and eat. I love that she knows where her food comes from and that she played a part in helping it grow.

Nothing beats homegrown food and all the yumminess that is coming out of our kitchen! What have you been cooking lately?

Blueberry Hill

Our favorite little spot. It's magical. With fields and fields of blueberries, a path up the hill surrounded by clover and blackberries, and the top of the hill covered in chamomile complete with a stone house topped with a sod roof, and you have perfection.

We love this little spot. We picked some berries, some chamomile (it took one smell from the little one for her to identify that this was in her bedtime tea!), some clovers, and had a picnic atop the hill. As we were walking back, the rain started. We climbed into the car and it started to pour. So we nixed the swimming and playground and headed to another special spot for some free sorbet and a little indoor playtime.

We drove home in the pouring rain. By the time we got home, things were dry and the sun was out. We planted some of our chamomile in our herb garden, talking about how some day we would pick it and dry it for our bedtime tea. 

And the afternoon's fun with last in our memories forever. I love this little spot. I love these two beautiful people in my life. We are so very, very lucky!

Happy weekend everyone!

What We've Been Up To...

It's been HOT here. Really hot. The temperature has been in the 90's and humid. We're trying to stay cool every way we can, which means sprinklers, long days at the beach, and swimming in the lake. Oh, and popsicles and ice cream. Can't forget those. But in the midst of the heat, we've managed to do some other things too...

We worked on the porch. (Gotta love the skirt tucked into the undies...!)

Had puppet shows. (Based on this story. Such a sweet and simple tale.) 

Ran through the sprinkler and swam in the kiddie pool for hours.

Made gazpacho for dinner.

Had lots of fun outside in the shade.

And dressed like a kitty!

That's what we've been up to, how about you?!

Running and Dirt

Well, I ran my first 5k (since my pre-little one days) race this morning. I placed first in my age group and was the fourth woman to finish. I was so excited! I credit it all to bacon. Bacon is my speedy run breakfast. It makes me run like the wind! Oh, and I owe a major thanks to my friend Maria for urging me to run even though I've been complaining of the worst ever past two weeks of running. I was anemic and started taking iron which is helping tons. But to be the fourth woman to finish the race and to be running alongside all these super fit guys who look like they do nothing but run? That was pretty thrilling. I had no expectations. So I was pretty proud of myself.

And guess who else ran in her first race? That's right! She ran the 1/4 mile race for the wee ones. She got a number and a t-shirt just like mama too! She did terrific! We finished (and I say "we" because she requested I run with her...) and she immediately turned to me and said, "Mama...I want to keep running! Let's run MORE!" As I passed out on the grass, she was still begging me. So we went home to run more and Sasa took some action shots!

And the rest of the day? Dirt. Sasa built more raised beds because our gardens are overflowing and we are planning on trying to make it through the winter on our very own greens and squash, so he had a dump truck load of composted loam delivered. If you ever want to know how to keep a little one busy for hours, just make sure 3 yards of dirt is available, two flower pots, and a kiddie swimming pool. Nothing beats it!

What do you have planned for this weekend?!

Yard Scenes

We spend a lot of time in the yard. A lot! If we're not at the beach, or the lake, or downtown with friends, we're out back. We're hardly ever inside anymore! So I've taken some yard scene pictures over the last couple of weeks. It's quite the hodgepodge, but here you have it...

So much fun.  Snap pea picking, sprinkler runs, dancing for the chickens, blackberry ice cream smiles, and knitting! And that purple sweater? My FIRST ever sweater? Totally done! The button was put on today. I am so excited to show it and as soon as it's cool enough for the little one to model, it will make an appearance here. That and the three pairs of beach pants I'm working on for her. Oh yes, all I want to do is create! And it's so much fun.

What are you currently working on?

Rainbows and Picnics

We've been doing a lot of this lately. I love how Sasa comes home for lunch everyday and we all get to eat three meals together daily. The pack porch is seeing many picnics. Today I made a salad with mesclun mix from our friends farm and garlic scapes from another friend's garden. Thanks friends for keeping us well fed!

Tonight I made up a salad using greens from our very own garden! They were so delicious. The little one has been picking peas like crazy and eating them before I get a chance to taste one! The lettuce was another hit tonight. Here's my yummy salad recipe ::

Bluebirdbaby's Summer Salad ::

• fresh peas (about 3/4 pound of shelling peas)
• 1 green pepper chopped
• 1 cucumber thinly sliced
• 1-2 carrots cut with julienne peeler

For the dressing ::

• 1-2 tablespoons of minced cilantro
• 3 tablespoons of mayo (or less...I just LOVE mayo!)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tsp lemon juice

Mix the dressing and toss the veggies with it. Serve of a bed of lettuce. YUM!

And I'll leave you with the gorgeous skies, complete with rainbow, we saw earlier this week!

Hula Hoop Party

Well, some friends and I have been wanting to make hula hoops forever. We finally got the chance when two of our fabulous friends hosted a hoop making party at a lakeside cottage they had access to. It was so much fun!!! The little one swam for over two hours, went on three kayaking rides with Sasa, used a "baby hula hoop" and found out she is amazing at it, and stayed up a wee bit too late playing with all her friends. But oh, the memories. Such sweet summer kid memories. I love it!

I made my own hoop, mastered some new tricks, and can't wait for the beach class! My friends are such talented hoopers. This night was just full of magic! I wish every night could be so amazing and full of love.

Here are some glimpses of the night. The light was seriously amazing. These images are barely touched!

Space

Space has been something on my mind lately. Physical space, emotional space, mental space. It's one of those things that you tend to notice when you don't have enough. I'm in a purging mode: things in the house must go to leave blank walls, open floors, and empty corners. Our bedroom was the first to receive a bit of cleansing. My mind and life are next.

I've been thinking a lot about this space here; this space that I adore so very much. But this is also a space that requires a lot of energy, thought, and time. When other parts of my life get hectic and busy, this space is the tipping point. But I know when to back off, when to say enough. And there is comfort in that.

I appreciate that consciousness that allows me to say slow down, in all areas of my life. I know the most important thing to me is our little family, our time together, the simple things.

Sometimes it seems like there is never a moment for those simple things, that life is just too darn busy. But I know that those simple things are all that really matter, and making space for them is the most important thing I can do.

So that's what I'm doing.  I'm mothering, I'm being a partner, I'm working, I'm being a friend, I'm gardening, I'm running a home, I'm having fun, and I'm being ever so aware of letting the simple things take up the most space.

Here's hoping that you are finding space for those simple things too. I miss you all. Now let's get out there and find joy in fresh flowers, the smell of barbecues, a walk through a meadow, friend's laughter, a little one's embrace, or the gentle kiss on the cheek from our loves. Joy is everywhere. Just look...

a day

We started the morning with prepping for tomorrow's raw hummus. Sasa and I love this part about eating raw. The prep, actual making, and eating usually span over the time of two days. We become really connected and invested in the food we are eating. Read Sasa's latest raw recipe here.

"Old broom sweep the floor, old broom sweep some more..." That was the song the little one and I sang lots today. She not only swept the kitchen four times today, but helped vacuum, pick herbs for our dinner, and cleaned the dishes. She rocks! My little helper...

We made Purple Violet a new wrap skirt, based on one the little one got in a package from Bella, and one that I was inspired to make myself. So the leftover scraps were used to make Purple Violet a matching one too! I'm certain Purple Violet really likes it.

Dinner time was sweet. A cozy table, newly found vintage linen that was hiding in my fabric pile, and fresh flowers made it all so special. We cooked "mushy brown rice" for the little one, fresh Ocean Perch from the local fish market (decorated with chive blossoms picked by the little one), and a local salad. Yum!

After dinner, we put on the iPod and danced and danced. The little one and I modeled for Sasa who is getting quite handy at the camera. I have about 50 pictures from tonight of us dancing. Oh my...we had FUN! The little one's favorite song? This! I started singing it after I told her today that we can't always get what we want, and she asked why. Great song to get that point across! My favorite? This! She's amazing. Sasa's? This! Love them...

And it is so very lovely to have a picture of the little one and I! Sasa does a good job, doesn't he?!

Hope your day was full of fun too! And yes, I am still taking a break from this space when my work load gets to be too much...

Alewives Fishladder Festival

It's a yearly tradition to go see the alewives running. Every year the Fishladder Restoration holds a festival to raise money for the fishladder building project. These little fish make quite a journey from salt water to fresh water where they spawn. The ladder project helps them along the way, but it is tough. Watching those little fish swim against strong currents, inclining all the way is rather miraculous. I felt so helpless staring at them struggling against the strong currents. And, of course, some die of exhaustion because it is just that hard. And others are captured by osprey and seagulls. But those who make it are amazing.

We got some smoked alewives (seems a little counterproductive, doesn't it?!), heard some live music, watched a fabulous puppet show, visited with Rhea-Rhea where the little one got her face painted and I picked up my newly arrived quilt pattern (yay!), played osprey games, rode in a horse-pulled carriage with a tiny white dog named Olive chasing after us, and visited with friends. It was very fun.

We bumped into many Bluebirdbaby readers! It was so nice to meet you all! Thanks for introducing yourself. You guys all rock. We should seriously have a little BBQ or something this summer for anyone local...I am so enjoying getting to know you!

The little one bought a smoked alewife with her dollar. She wanted to bring it home for Kiwi the cat. Apparently, even though it's smoked we still need to cook it. So tonight, as I was laying with her in bed she said, "Mama...please ask Sasa to cook that fish for me tonight. I want to eat for breakfast tomorrow morning." Well, alrighty sweet one. So the fish is in the oven and will be ready for breakfast in the morning. I don't think I ever expected an entire fish, gills and all, on our kitchen table. But with the little one, you never know...

And this afternoon? Well, I'm so excited to show you. We have a new addition to our yard, and I am very, very excited! More on that later...

Happy Weekend!!!

a day in the kitchen

A glimpse of our lives returning to normal...

Without a kitchen for a number of months, our rhythm was completely thrown off. We are settling into our typical home life again, and boy, it feels good! I will have complete kitchen pictures to follow soon, but it's not quite done. Cabinets, shelves, hardware, lights, etc. have yet to be finished and when they are, I will reveal the entire kitchen. Yay! And it's seriously so amazing. The way it makes me feel when I'm in there, how it inspires me to cook and bake all day long. I could spend my entire life in this one room. It's the first room I've ever had in my life that is exactly how I would design it. It's perfectly us.

Until it's complete, please enjoy some glimpses of our kitchen and how we're enjoying it oh so much...

homemade blueberry muffins for breakfast

fresh flowers we collected from our yard and our walk around the hood

my lunch :: a raw sandwich with raw seed bread....YUM!

making our own homemade orange juice for our creamsicles

creamsicles in the making...oh yum (we used homemade OJ and vanilla yogurt with a little extra vanilla extract)

dancing in the kitchen with her new boots (just like mama's!)

homemade fries for dinner with a big, delicious, local green salad

So that was our day. It was almost all spent in the kitchen, minus our trips out into town. It was lovely. I can't wait to do it again tomorrow!

Winner and Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks to all who entered the giveaway! Sasa (my random number generator) picked number 72 ::

Heidi in Maine said...

I am a huge fan of Sara's photography and a follower of her blog. I heart the laundry hanging photo!

My husband always makes breakfast on Mother's Day which is always a treat. My children usually shower me with homemade goodies and we usually spend the day together doing something Mom likes to do. Like walking the beach, visiting the Good life Center, hanging in a bookstore, driving up the coast to explore, etc. We also visit/ call important other "Moms" in our life to wish them a great day. Thanks for the giveaway Erin. Happy Mother's Day to you, you rockin mama. : )

So Heidi...please e-mail me and we will get that print out to you soon!

Well, I had an amazing Mother's Day. I woke up extra early for a great morning run before the festivities began. Then I came home to a treasure hunt, complete with four poems written by Sasa (oh my...he is so good) and ended with a huge bunch of purple and pink flowers. Sasa and the little one ROCK! It was such a lovely morning. And guess what? The best part of all was the fact that we had breakfast in our kitchen!! It isn't done enough to show you the full pictures, but I thought I'd surprise you with a sneak peak! How do you like it so far??

And the little one obliged her mama with some pretty braids. She wore them for almost the whole day, even though she thought the bobby pins were "nails" in her hair. She is so beautiful!

The rest of the day was spent with family, at two separate "parties" (as the little one likes to call them). Oh my...what a fun day. It was a fabulous Mama's day and I am so happy to spend it with my daughter who makes my life so alive, and my mother who I have so much to be thankful for.

I hope you all had a fantastic Mother's Day too!! I'll be back tomorrow with some awesome links!

Happy May Day!!

My parents had this sweet little tradition with me on May Day when I was little. My dad would ring the doorbell during breakfast and my mother and I would rush to the door to find two little baskets filled with goodies. We'd have to go find him and give him a kiss and say, "Happy May Day!" I told this story to the little one and she was so excited for May Day. So this morning I snuck out the back door while the little one and Sasa were playing and left my goodies for them on the front steps. I rang the bell and quickly hid in our rhododendron bush. They eventually found me, but it did take a couple of fake sneezes!

We followed the surprise with a special breakfast. I've been off eggs since this raw diet thing, but enjoyed an omelet made with fresh chives and basil, tomatoes, and ricotta salata. Oh my. The little one enjoyed the fruit salad made by Sasa. We just love eating in our new kitchen!!

The rest of the day was spent at home gardening, running inside to read and get out of the hot sun, and plenty of walks. My legs are going to enjoy a good rest on the couch tonight.

And the day ended with a surprise picnic from Sasa at our favorite little spot. The sushi was amazing...even Doggie Fly enjoyed some. And to top it all off, Sasa had a raw chocolate cake hiding behind a tree for me. Aw, he just rocks!! The little one was in on it too! They are something special.

What did you do for May Day? I think May Day has to be one of my new favorite celebrations ever!

Favorites

Favorite moment :: the little one coloring while waiting for friends.

Favorite guy :: Sasa :)

Favorite activity :: gardening

Favorite picture :: See Belina? The one in the middle with her head turned? She's saying "cheeeeese!"

Favorite part of the day :: dinner at the kitchen table.

Other favorites ::

Favorite surprise :: a postcard in the mail from Sasa and the little one asking me out on a date tomorrow. So sweet!

Favorite phrase :: "Mama, I'm gonna play polka-dot on your freckles. Okay?!"

Favorite food :: cucumbers with hummus...mmmm!

Favorite song :: A Well Respected Man

What are your favorites today?? Happy Weekend!

Maple Syrup Season

I took these photos early last month, and am just now getting around to posting them! The maple syrup season this year was so short...the sap started and stopped within a week it seemed. We like to go up to our favorite little spot down the street to see the jugs tied to the maple trees. Our friend taps these trees each year and the sap seems to be plentiful in these big old maples.

The little one loves the taste of sap. It's good for making tea, or just drinking straight. It has a slightly sweet taste and is full of minerals.

We took a few tastes of the sap, said thank you to the trees for sharing, then basked in the March sun. It was such a lovely, warm spring day.

When it's time for maple syrup season, we pull out a few of our favorite books about the subject ::

• Sugarbush Spring
• Maple Syrup Season
• Sugar Snow
• At Grandpa's Sugar Bush

Yay for spring and maple syrup!!