And a trip to the farmer's market this morning resulted in an impulse tomato seedlings purchase. They're a heck of a lot bigger than our tiny ones and the little one has decided that they look terrific in her kitchen.
Enjoy the weekend!! See you next week.
Apparently it's a blue-sky kind of week. The weather has been gorgeous and we've been enjoying every second of it. We only have a couple of weeks until the black flies come out, and then we're stuck inside again. Such a short window to enjoy the lovely weather!
Stephen took the day off to work on our deck. The floor is almost finished, then we'll be working on the railing. Finally, a screened room will be added and stairs that lead down to the ground. We think a hot tub would look fabulous up there in the future...
We've discovered Otay is definitely an outdoor cat. She whines and meows and jumps all over you until you open the door to let her out. She's just like a dog and will chase us all over the yard, comes when we call her, and digs large holes in the garden. Oh, and the sandbox...she thinks that is the best thing ever.
The little one has requested that every minute be spent outside, evident from the tantrums she displays as I try to get her in for lunch and dinner. She'd happily play outside until the sun went down, and I admit to expending a great deal of energy chasing her all over the yard, mostly trying to steer her clear of the road. But we have been enjoying ourselves. We've been walking everyday down the road to see the horses, chickens, tractors, and our friend "Mamee's" house. There are buds on the trees and flowers popping up everywhere.
This internet break has done me good. I've enjoyed it and do not intend to stop. I think I'll say to expect random posting for a while. I'm just enjoying everything that's been going on here. Books have been read, seedlings have been ordered, gardens have been prepared, flower beds have been raked and weeded, we've baked everyday, Stephen and I have been enjoying our quiet time reading at night, but mostly I feel like there is a certain "frantic" feeling that has disappeared. Trying to check e-mails, upload pictures, etc. all while multi-tasking left me stressed and frazzled. It's allowed me to be more present with myself and the little one. I almost wish we were back in the computer-less age.
As the little one and I were raking the garden yesterday I began to think of my mother. We had beautiful flower beds around our house growing up. We were always outside gardening or inside baking. I was trying to imagine how much of that would have been lost if we had a computer in our living room. How would I have felt if my mother was online instead of getting her hands dirty in the garden? (And this is in no way said to make anyone feel bad about their computer usage! It's just my feelings about how my time is spent.) Those times spent gardening and baking are some of my fondest memories. I want to make sure the little one has that too.
I have two new things to introduce to the shop, and while I felt I was under a time crunch to do so, I am just taking it easy. I'm enjoying the orders coming in and spending whatever time is needed in my little green room. I've made a goal of dressing the little one in only handmade this summer, so I'm excited to get working on some special things for her. Of course, I'll share some finished pieces here in the future.
So now I'm off to get some reading done in the sun on our half-finished porch before the little one wakes up from her nap. Enjoy your week! I hope you're sky will be as blue as ours.
Okay, I know just about every week I've mentioned how spring is here, and then the next day we end up getting more snow. But I truly, honestly, definitely think it's right around the corner. Definitely. Because I have to believe that, or I think I might go a little crazy thinking about more white fluffy flakes falling from the sky.
Let me show you a bit of evidence that spring is indeed close, if not here already...
Diapers drying on the line outside. (I won't mention that when I brought them in at 8 p.m. that they were frozen solid...)
Lambs! They really are that adorable.
Going for a hike, followed by two pregnant goats.
The first flowers finally popped up in our yard. Let's not think about the two feet of snow directly behind me that has yet to melt.
My new mud boots. The most comfortable footwear I have ever owned. The little one now has a puddle jumping competitor. We spent almost two hours outside yesterday jumping in and out of puddles. Seriously, I never realized how fun it was.
And Stephen started up the tractor for the first ride of the season. After the little one got over the tractor fumes and really loud engine, she enjoyed the ride quite a bit!
I hope spring is finding you all too! Enjoy your weekend and see you back here on Monday.
Being fortunate enough to have some warmer days lately has made me think about spring. It's a long way off, but just being able to open a window and let in some fresh air motivated me to get things organized. Our old living room/play room set up was getting a tad stale, and the little one had lost interest in many toys. I packed away quite a bit of them, but looking at the above picture, I realize just how many toys she has. Mostly simple things like blocks, stacking objects, musical instruments, and puzzles. But I realize that we do have a lot and I'm really of the principal that "less is more."
We didn't buy most of it. They were gifts (her "Baba" loves to spoil her!) and many were found in thrift shops for little money. But they do pile up. So it was nice to get a good sized bag put away. Her old kitchen set-up (the toy she plays with the most) seemed a bit cramped and inspired a good afternoon of rearranging.
In the kitchen's place, a bookshelf sits with piles of books thrown on the shelves. Small baskets for easier access will soon keep those books organized. I really do love moving furniture around. In our small and open living space it can seem impossible at times, but it's amazing how one little difference can really make a room seem entirely new.
Next on the agenda...paint!
Let me first start by explaining that I am not a cat person. I've never been a cat person. I always thought cats had attitudes and acted like they were better than everyone else. They're mysterious: disappearing for several hours at a time. What exactly do they do? They like fishy smelling food, make messes of litter boxes, play with silly things like string, and eat plants. Dogs, on the other hand, are my kind of animal. They just chill and do purposeful things like fetch balls and accompany people on walks.
So who is this small black and white creature you see in these pictures? Well, that's Oreo. The little one calls her "Otay" and I think that will be the name to stick. Oreo is 9 months old and came from the local shelter after being there since last October. She's very sweet and affectionate and loves to climb over my laptop (while I'm trying to type) and eat my crackers.
We talked about getting a cat a few weeks ago after we discovered our mice problem had gotten out of control. I would walk into the pantry to find bags of flour spilling onto the floor because of a little hole in the bottom, or my precious gluten-free banana bread half eaten through the tin foil on the counter. Not cool. And I'm not one to set traps. I wouldn't even let Stephen do it. So I thought I could deal with letting nature take its course. I'm not quite sure we have a hunter on our hands, but hopefully her presence will be enough to scare those little hungry critters away.
The little one acts like the cat has always been here. She pats it roughly on the back and treats it like a dog. She throws her crackers and popcorn, tosses balls in her direction (that are three times the size of the cat), and finally figured out that the cat likes to chase a string around the room. The cat, on the other hand, has little interest in befriending Elisabeth. I think with time their relationship might grow stronger. We'll see.
So Oreo (Otay) is here to stay. I will admit to enjoying having a very soft somebody to snuggle with on the couch while we watch our Netflix. I'm still not a cat person, but perhaps that will change in a few weeks. I do know one family member who is even less of a cat "person." Poor Macaulay is trying to adjust to having a feline around.
I feel as though I'm in a bit of a photography rut. You know, being stuck inside with the same old things, then going outside to have everything look, well...white. It's been warm enough the past couple of days to go for our usual walk on this quiet road. I tried to challenge myself to see things that haven't changed in months in a new way. It certainly helped to have a gorgeous blue sky, a cute little one wearing my favorite hat, argyle socks with sneakers in the snow, and amazing scenery all around us.
So the challenge was good and I think it may have pushed me out of that rut just a tad. Although I look at these photos and am almost positive I have taken one like them in the past...
The point. Gosh, she's getting so tall. Another round of sleepers were outgrown last week and she can now reach things on the kitchen counter. (Did I mention she got three more teeth last week? So that's a total of eight in two weeks!)
A stop for some traditional snow eating. The sneakers were all we had after we realized her boots had gotten too small. I'm too stubborn to buy more winter boots when I *hope* spring is just around the corner.
The family portrait. Hmmm...kind of looks familiar, doesn't it?!
On the bike. I can not convey my affection for that hat. It goes with us everywhere and Alex even wears it to bed.
And I think by next summer she might be able to pedal all by herself. But for now she is content with a push from Papa while she points excitedly to our neighbor's house and hums a little tune.
I realized yesterday was one of the first weekdays I have not posted since starting this blog. It felt odd not to sit down with my computer after the day had come to a close, working out my thoughts of the day's events by typing away at the keyboard. But it's late February, and really, there's not much to say. Custom orders are being worked on, teething tablets are being consumed like candy, laundry is being washed, meals are being prepared, books are being read, and we're trying to enjoy the cold and snow, no matter how far away green grass seems.
Perhaps excuse the prior ramblings and just enjoy the picture. That's the sunlight at 5 p.m., hanging on a little more as each day passes. So you see? Spring really isn't that far away and soon beaches, picnics, catching fireflies, picking flowers, fresh tomatoes from the garden, laundry drying in the sunlight, and walks through the woods will follow. And then we'll be dreaming of snowmen, hot chocolate, cozy fires, mittens, and wool socks. So I think I'll just go on enjoying winter, because it really isn't that long, is it?
Pancakes and pianos? Yes, that's all I've got this Monday morning. It's that time when we're deep in mid-winter: the light is lacking, the photographs feel uninspired due to the lack of light, there isn't a whole lot of outdoor exploring, our daily routine is becoming a tad mundane, and well, it's cold and it's Maine in late January. But nevertheless, things have indeed been going on here. Perhaps I just feel they aren't "blog worthy." So if this post comes across as a bit of hodgepodge, let's just roll with it, okay?
You can bet that on at least one of the weekend mornings blueberry pancakes will make an appearance. The little one knows exactly what needs to be done to get these pancakes on the table and is always willing to help. She does the stirring, the blueberry eating, the batter testing, and always tries the first pancake. Since we are gluten/dairy/egg-free, we use this mix. It has cultured buttermilk in it, but the little one seems to tolerate it fine. It calls for eggs, so we use this egg replacer.
On Saturday we made a trip to our favorite local bookstore and found this fabulous wooden piano on sale. The little one has taken to climbing up on the real piano and stomping on the keyboard with her feet. So we thought this "Schroeder-sized" piano would keep her attention diverted. She adores it.
She either has to have that fancy black shoe on the top, or a book of music which she thumbs through until she finds just the right piece to "play." I really don't think I've ever mentioned her intense love of music. I would even go as far as saying it's in her soul. Anything that produces a beat will get her up and moving. She started conducting out of the blue when she was 10 months old. She'd never seen anyone do it before. Yesterday she successfully sang "Twinkle, twinkle" never missing a pitch. Of course, words were not included, just some cute humming. But boy, we were so proud. I wouldn't be surprised if she figured it out on this little piano before too long.
And I have to leave you with this gorgeous sunset from last night. Isn't it amazing?! The entire sky was a mass of pink and orange. So very beautiful.
A quiet post today is all I can muster after a very busy and unusual day yesterday. Let's just say we're having a bit of a problem at home involving smoke, loud beeping devices, carbon monoxide, fire trucks, boilers out of commission, cold weather, missed naps, late bedtimes, and generally just one really exhausted and slightly chilly family. (On a positive note, we've discovered our neighbors are just really awesome people and are very thankful they are close by.)
I hope to be back to regular posting tomorrow. Have a great Wednesday!
Stephen suggested the idea of tagging along to my (almost) weekly Saturday morning trip to the thrift shop. I think my mouth actually dropped open and I stuttered as I tried to find the words to express my amazement and absolute joy. A family thrifting adventure?! Now this could be exciting.
I wasn't in search of anything special. There's such a turnaround at this little thrift shop that I really never have any idea what I will find. We were delighted to find that it was a half-off day. When I spied a little film camera in the "vintage" section (I don't know if I would exactly call this vintage), I knew it would be coming home. Ever since I can remember, the little one has wanted my camera. So I thought perhaps this could work as a decoy.
She loves it. Really loves it. I found two old canisters of film to use in it too. She took a whole roll (24 photos) of the rug. Flash and all. But oh what fun it was to see her really enjoying herself.
There were the blue shoes I couldn't resist. Shoes are usually the only thing I will not buy used, but these were in great condition and really well made. Still a bit big, but as you can see above she insisted on wearing them. We've discovered they're great for tapping.
And then there was the slide in the toy room. Now, most of you probably know we are not fans of plastic toys. We only have one: a toy cell phone purchased a month ago for entertainment on a long car ride. It worked, but I admit to actually confessing to the lady behind the cash register that this was our "first plastic toy ever." She looked at me in amazement as if to say, "what else are toys made out of??" But we spotted this slide and Stephen the little one fell in love.
It ended up in our car a few minutes later and now resides in our dining room. Hey, I guess it's all about making the long Maine winters a little more bearable. And besides, it kind of goes with the swing.
I've mentioned our love for the local bookstore plenty of times in the past. The Maine Coast Bookshop is a great little store with a terrific selection of books, and for a nice bonus there's a cafe attached. The little one and I usually head in there every day or so, mostly because it's the only place she just loves to be. We can spend a good two hours in there and I still have to chase her around to get her coat on before we leave. Yesterday we all took a trip in to get a hot chocolate and do some book browsing.
One of the best things about this great local store is the people who work there. Above is Lisa, one of Elisabeth's most favorite people. They have a special bond and Lisa is always the recipient of many hugs and kisses.
I really believe in supporting local businesses. Sure, I can browse Amazon and get plenty of books at a discounted price, but where's the fun? There's no real experience in doing that. I can't physically flip through the pages, read excerpts, or ask the staff what they thought of it. There's nobody to recommend a good book or a smiling face at the checkout. Who exactly am I supporting when I buy a book off of Amazon anyway?
So now I do only my browsing on Amazon or other blogs, then special order everything at this bookstore. Plus, there's the fact that the little one thinks nothing is better than running around in a store full of books all day. She browses, rearranges, interacts with the lovely staff, greets customers coming in from the cold, runs to the cafe to give Lisa a hug, plays with her favorite toys, and generally just has more fun than anywhere else. We've actually stopped going to playgroups because she likes the bookstore more.
Stephen enjoyed his mocha, chili, and a good book while I sipped my hot chocolate trying to keep an eye on the little one. After a good two hours of chasing her around a large store, I am usually in need of a rather filling lunch. She has certainly perfected the art of running.
One of her favorite things to do is push this cart around the store. She's usually pretty good about not running into anybody, but mama tends to help a bit turning the corners.
Another favorite would be the Folkmanis Puppets. I have a feeling we'll end up with one in the near future.
And, of course, there's the street watching where she points to every big truck going by and likes to wave to the people on foot.
After we said our goodbyes we went to Renys for a balloon. This provided about five minutes of entertainment in the car before she was out like a light.
A perfect Sunday morning, if you ask me.
On Saturday we drove down to my mother-in-law's house to do a little holiday celebrating. Mare is the greatest mother-in-law, the best hostess, and we always leave smiling and with full bellies. Her house is gorgeous, overlooking Casco Bay, and tucked right into the big city where all the action is going on.
The little one "helped" me wrap up the gifts before we headed out. I've used simple brown packing paper to wrap gifts for a few years now. I love the simplicity of it and you can dress the package up with ribbons and other things. I used scrap fabric for this tie and made a little fabric gift tag to match.
When we arrived, Mare was waiting with hor'dourvers and drinks.
Shortly after, it was time to open gifts. I made Mare a patchwork linen scarf and a tote bag. When she asked me what I would like, I told her I'd rather have her get some toys for Elisabeth that would keep her entertained. This stroller? A big hit! The little one just adores it. (We'll talk about who's in the stroller later this week.)
Then there was the food. It was all so delicious. This is actually one of my favorite parts about the holidays. Food seems to be everywhere and very plentiful this time of year. My mother joined us and brought the little one a special gluten-free (as well as many other things...) blueberry cake, because blueberries are her favorite food. It was delicious and she couldn't get enough of it. It also came in mighty handy on the long car drive home.
I couldn't resist taking some photographs of the lovely artwork Mare has in her home. And, of course, I had to get a shot of the view. It's just perfect. My flickr page has many more pictures of our day.
After supper there was a bit of relaxing, then came the goodbyes and hugs, and the long car drive home. I think this is just how I like the holidays: low-key, relaxing, full of good food and family, and just having fun.
Our family has decided to celebrate Solstice instead of Christmas. What exactly that means for us will develop over the coming years as our family grows and learns. We already have some traditions in place that seem to suit our family's style, like a special ornament for the little one each year. This year's ornament came from the Etsy shop called My Little Acorn. A bird ornament! How could I resist?!
It's so well made and I just adore the colors. I bought two, one for an ornament swap at a party next weekend and one for us. The little one just loved it and felt very special finding the perfect spot for her new ornament on the tree.
I finally found the time to finish our new stockings. We plan on doing just stockings on Christmas with little, practical, and fun gifts inside. We are really trying to stay away from the commercialization of Christmas and all the gifts it entails. The stress and greediness, the expectations and commitments all seem to drive our family further and further away from our culture's biggest holiday. But we still want to honor the special day in a few unique ways.
The stockings' fabrics were carefully selected to fit each of our personalities.
Stephen is very fond of his and asked how I wrote our names on each one. (Well dear, remember the other night when we were sitting on the couch together, me with a needle, embroidery floss, and fabric in hoop?)
Elisabeth was ecstatic about hers. She insisted on taking it down and carrying it around with her. She kept pointing to the bunnies hiding behind the trees and giggling.
Three hours of stocking making for just one short time of the year? Definitely worth it after seeing my family's appreciation. Nothing beats handmade.
I admit, I'm really not into Christmas. Gosh, that sounds horrible, doesn't it?! But with all the Christmas decorating and crafting going on around here in Blogland, I somehow got in the spirit to do a few things...
A tree was first on our list. I really wanted to get a live tree this year, but our budget wouldn't allow it. So we got a small tree from in town, decorated it with any ornaments I could find that weren't breakable, and placed it in our living room where it would be in constant view. My little helper was actually very helpful. She placed more ornaments than I did on the tree and likes to take them off to do it all over again. And I was pleasantly surprised to find myself ordering holiday fabric from Superbuzzy to make a tree skirt and matching stockings.
I put a few decorations that belonged to Stephen's mother around the house. Our home is very hard to decorate for any type of holiday. There is limited wall space (being that our kitchen, dining room, living room, and music room are all one room) and not too many tables around. So finding places to put things is challenging.
I am particularly pleased about our Christmas cards. I found these letterpress holiday cards at a local store and immediately snatched them up. A fun picture of the little one will be included, and hopefully mailed out before the holidays.
So you see? I don't really earn the "ba humbug" title. All you festive bloggers out there saved me this year. Enjoy your weekend!
Father Winter is officially here. Eight inches of snow buried us yesterday. Stephen had a "snow day" and spent the day watching the little one while I spent a little more time bonding with my new love. I got a lot done. Having about four hours to work, of course with sporadic interruptions from a short someone, felt so incredibly invigorating. Actually having completed projects on the table? Heavenly.
So we spent the day inside with a brief outing so the little one could do lots of snow eating. Stephen took charge of the camera and captured some really beautiful photos.
See my new banner above? That's all him. I edited and cropped it, but he gets the credit. I thought it only fitting to replace the banner where Elisabeth was running around without a jacket on the grass. It seemed so out of place after the snow today.
And 'tis the season for holiday outfits! There are four in the shop. My style and tastes definitely reside in the more "classic and simple" look, but I had fun with the matching shirts. I think they are very festive and would make a little one quite thrilled to wear.
Three stuffed bellies.
Lots of dishes.
One very sleepy and worn out babe.
More than enough leftovers.
Feeling pretty darn good about making a gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner.
Did I mention lots of dishes?!
I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and that your weekend be filled with fun!
I'm grateful for little moments of quiet play,
a package from a friend containing the most beautiful hat I've ever seen,
a cozy fire on a chilly night,
a gluten-free pumpkin pie,
and Stephen remembering dish soap (we've been out for two days!) so I could finally tackle all the dishes. Ah, there's nothing like baking in a clean kitchen.
And I'm most certainly grateful for all of you; for those of you who take the time out of your days to stop by and say hello. Here's wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving, from our family to yours.
I used to love to hike. I would get out of work, pick up the dog and head to my favorite winter hiking spot. We would hike through a foot of snow, the only ones on the mountain. No footprints or tracks; we made our own. It was so peaceful and I found it especially refreshing to breathe in the cold mountain air while my body warmed up under layers of wool. The dog would bound merrily down the trail, stopping every 100 feet or so to wait for me.
Sadly, I eventually got too caught up in life and the busyness it entails. I stopped going to my favorite mountain and instead traded it in for the convenient, albeit hectic, streets I would run daily just outside our door. But since having a child, I seem to want to connect with nature more. I want to get back to hiking, walking trails, taking picnics by the lake, burying my toes in the sand at the beach and generally just slowing down a bit, using the outdoors as my starting point.
So Sunday we took a family day and headed to Dodge Point, a short drive from our house with easy trails that navigate around a pond and open up to the gorgeous Damariscotta River. The little one had never been on a trail before and she was rather excited to get going. If she actually would have stayed on the trail, I'm sure she would have walked a good part of it. However, the woods proved to be more exciting to her, so in the Ergo she went!
I told Stephen that he better take some pictures of me for the family album. Elisabeth is going to think her mama never existed because I'm always the one behind the camera.
So, being the natural model I am (insert loud laughing here), I posed in the only position I could think of after a marathon viewing of the Austin Powers movies...just like Dr. Evil.
We collected some things to bring back with us for the winter nature table. I love these little pine cones. We can only find the long, skinny pine cones on our property, so I was so pleased to discover the short, round ones.
Elisabeth was beyond thrilled when we came to the Damariscotta River. She actually tried to go swimming on that cold, windy day. Papa stopped her, thank goodness. There was a great deal of sitting in mud though.
And for the first time since she was 5 months old, she fell asleep in the carrier. It was so sweet. I had tears in my eyes thinking this could very well be the last time it happens.
I'm sure there will be plenty of outdoor time this weekend for us, and I only hope yours will include some too! Enjoy your weekend!
A little late night, last minute sewing turned into an entire fairy tale inspired outfit for the little one. I didn't have a pattern, so the entire project was a big guess with everything being in my head. I must admit, I didn't even measure her first because she was sleeping when I made it. I got lucky...real lucky.
The cape was so easy and I really think it's cute enough to wear more often. The jumper underneath started as a long skirt to keep her warm, then some straps and a front panel with pocket. The red linen had been sitting in my stash forever and I never had a clue what I was going to use it for. The print was a $2 clearance cotton I picked up last summer. And who couldn't resist the chance to use a little rickrack?!
So here she is..Red Riding Hood. Please forgive the massive amount of pictures. I had way too much fun, and only slightly wished it were me in the costume instead.
Her beloved basket was the inspiration for the whole outfit.
I love the pointy hood. It reminds me of a little elf and she actually keeps it on.
We even ran into the big bad wolf! (He decided not to eat us.)
She absolutely loved being in the costume and was a bit upset when we came inside to take it off.
We are headed into Damariscotta for some Halloween fun this evening, and a stop at Alewives to see the marvelous Rhea on our way back home.
Enjoy your Halloween!
I feel as though my posting about Elisabeth has been a little lax, so grab a cup of tea and a cookie...this one might be a doozy.
From the first day of Elisabeth's life, I knew she was different. She's intense, smart, high energy, curious, mischievous, outgoing, extroverted, determined, fearless and always on the go. She came out wanting to run and I swear is continually frustrated by the things she can't yet do.
When she walked at 10 months, you could physically see some of that frustration melting away. The more abilities she gains, the happier she is. She has never sat still (even when she couldn't crawl yet), never wanted to be held in a position that is relaxing or left alone for some quiet time. She doesn't cuddle and would rather only be held if there is something interesting for her to see at the grown-up level. When she gets hurt, she cries for a second, brushes herself off and goes right back to doing what got her hurt in the first place. She is the most determined little thing I have ever seen.
There mere mention of the word "no" sends her into a completely single minded state, where she can think of nothing else but doing the forbidden activity, or wanting that banished object. She spends most of our indoor time trying to get into the toilet or reaching for the disgusting brush behind it. Or what about the diaper pail? Yes, she thinks that's the most interesting thing of all. Electrical cords on the floor or outlets? Yes please! And shall we even mention the objects that go into her mouth while looking straight at me with those sly eyes? Pebbles, rocks, sand, dirt, grass, leaves, paper, buttons, dust balls, dog hair...you name it, she's tried it.
I used to wonder why she was so different. A lot of her "spiritedness" as a younger baby was caused by her lack of sleep. A newborn awake for 10 hours straight? No, it couldn't be, could it?! But once we got her sleeping better that spiritedness started working for her, instead of against her. (In this picture she is three weeks old and was alert like this pretty much all the time.)
Raising a spirited little one is exhausting work. Raising any child is a lot of work and every parenting adventure isn't without its challenges. I've had so many older mothers come up to me while we are out and about and say, "She's different, I can tell. I had one too. Good luck to you." I can't even tell you how many times I've heard this. And I've spotted other little ones out there too with that same spirited quality that Elisabeth holds, all you have to do is look into their eyes.
She wants to swing high, run fast, climb stairs bigger than she, ride her bike at lightning speed, jump off any object she can climb, stand in her chair instead of sit, shout instead of talk with an "indoor voice", play with the big kids and, well, generally do everything more intensely. She throws herself down slides without first checking to see if mama is at the end to catch her. She will hurdle down stairs half as high as she without holding onto anything.
She trips, she falls, she stumbles and she gets right back up with more determination than before. She prefers cinnamon on her toast, garlic hummus instead of plain, pesto on her pasta, olive oil on her rice and garlic on her broccoli. She wants to hold her own spoon, turn her own pages, pick out her own clothes, put on her own socks and shoes, and I think if she could figure it out, she'd change her own diaper.
All of these qualities make for one extremely intense and spirited individual. There's no stopping her. I can't wait to see what the coming years will bring. What activities will she want to excel at or what will capture her interest? (Sky diving is my guess.) What she will be when she grows up? For now, we watch this determined little thing and know for a fact that she will be capable of so many things. Who knows... maybe she'll even change the world.
Before becoming a mother, I often did things that provided my life with a healthy dose of happiness: dinner with friends, a trip to Videoport in town for a movie, the ferry ride home, hiking, drinking Monte Antico with a side of Green and Blacks, and my favorite...performing in front of hundreds of people. But I never thought of these things as the moments in life that fill me with joy. I never really acknowledged that fact until I became a mother. Now there is no time for most of these. I certainly haven't performed in front of hundreds of people lately and Videoport is a long ways away now.
When you spend all day with a little person who can't communicate her needs very well, wakes up very early (yawn) and proceeds to drain every last ounce of energy from your body in the first two hours of the day, sometimes happiness seems a long way off. In the past I found it hard to think about anything positive when my life seemed so full of negatives. But now, the little things that would have gone unnoticed are getting attention and are filling that happiness hole left when this new motherhood adventure started.
A new sweater paired with my favorite orange shirt.
Watching the completely fearless little one climb on anything she can find.
A dreary October day that really makes you appreciate the amazing color of the trees.
A special order that just arrived at our local bookstore. I've already made it through a few chapters and feel like I could have written it myself.
An easy, but oh so tasty, supper. (Rice pasta, pesto, sheep's cheese and broccoli.)
Working on a gift for someone special.
May you find happiness in the little things today...
old |ōld|:
• made or built long ago
• possessed or used for a long time
• having the characteristics or showing the signs of age
~Old~
A bonnet given to us by my sister-in-law. It had belonged to Stephen's mother and he believes she acquired it on one of her trips to Europe during her 20's. It's old. It's beautiful. It's one of those things that is too special to just sit in a box. I haven't yet figured out how to display it, or give it the spotlight it really deserves. Right now it is laying on Elisabeth's desk in her room, ready for a quick "try on" or to just look at and touch.
She tried it on yesterday and thought it was great fun...for about 30 seconds.
new |n(y)oō|
• not existing before; made, introduced, or discovered recently or now for the first time
• freshly or recently produced
~New~
I made this during our vacation in August. It was one of those "I don't have a pattern and am totally going to wing it" ideas. I wanted something quick, easy and cute. I bought this fabric at my beloved Alewives and used a bit for a bag, but I knew I wanted to make something for Elisabeth with the remaining piece. A jumper came to mind.
Something that could slip on over her head; no buttons, zippers, or ties to get in the way. Something that would be good for play and practical for everyday toddler life, but also cute. It's a great drool catcher and we got a lot of comments on it while at the library. I guess she needs some matching pants now.
We returned home one day short because of some sniffles and a runny nose. This is the first time the little one has been sick, so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm also not certain that it's actually anything but teething. The drool fountain, which stopped around month seven, has returned with full force and will soak a shirt in about 30 seconds.
Regardless of the above, we had a marvelous time with Grammie. We tried to stay sane with a week full of rainy weather and an antsy toddler waiting to go outdoors and ride her bike. We played a lot, read a lot and ate a lot. That seemed to do the trick, but we were ever so pleased when the sun arrived on Saturday.
While in Portland, I ventured into Edith and Edna for some Sublime Stitching patterns. I am always amazed by the things in that store. Such talented artists and oh so inspiring. I wanted to fill a bag with goodies to take home, but our budget just won't allow it. So a stitching pattern was my only purchase and I enjoyed the time walking around Portland (in the pouring rain) without the little one on my hip.
On Saturday we had a joint celebration of three birthdays: my mother's, and the birthday that my brother and I share. I made a gluten and dairy free cake and I must say that it was delicious. Even the gluten eating among us enjoyed every bite. It was my first bit of sugar after a two week diet of only agave nectar and maple syrup, and the fact that I had three pieces in one day sent my body into sugar shock. So now I am on the hunt for baking recipes where natural sweeteners work well. Any ideas?
That project I showed you a sneak peak of the other day will have to be revealed at a later date. I actually forgot to take a picture of the entire thing, and I can only say that it was a bag I made for my mother. My own design and definitely something I will be making more of for the shop. I also included this little zippered pouch that I made with the help of Amy's book. I wish I could have gotten the embroidery hoop marks off the corduroy, but even with much ironing, they didn't budge. If you're familiar with the book, I obviously altered the pattern a bit. I was surprised that the lining had to be hand sewn inside along the zipper. There has to be an easier way! Overall, it was a simple, quick project and made a very practical and stylish gift.
Much more tomorrow. I hope you all enjoyed your weekend!
After another brief return of summer-like weather, we finally had a real October day which required Smartwools and a cup of hot chocolate made with almond milk. It felt good to step outside and feel the cold air on our noses. The wind whipped around us, swirling the leaves in little circles, while more rained on us from above. The little one had so much fun dragging her feet through the leaves, listening to them rustle under her toes.
She found our latest addition quite thrilling and wanted to carry it with her on our walk. Of course, weighing more than she, it stayed behind.
Stephen's boss gifted us this German-made tricycle, complete with handle for a little push from mama or papa. There is much less exploring of the yard now, replaced solely by long rides up and down the road while mama pushes and the wee one "drives."
And, of course, the occasional stop to look at something intriguing by the side of the road.
Also, what would the weekend be without a little crafting? Besides finishing up some special orders, I completed this gift for someone special. You only get a sneak peak until it's in the receivers hands, but I'm really very pleased with the way it came out. I designed it myself and used some of the new material I bought the other day. (I told you it wouldn't take long until it was on the cutting table!)
mishmash |ˈmi sh ˌma sh; -ˌmä sh | noun:
a confused mixture : a mishmash of outmoded ideas.
This whole week has been spent catching up on things I neglected during my eight day illness. My posts feel as scattered as the days have been, so please forgive the "mishmash" quality of it all.
Yesterday morning I left to go on a fabric hunt for some special orders, alone! Along the way I picked up these. I seem to be drawn to earth-tones and vintage inspired material. So when I discovered that the majority of these were reproductions, I wasn't surprised. I haven't a clue what to use them for, but I'm sure it won't take long before they are on the cutting table.
Speaking of new material, I seem to be doing a lot of this lately. I had no idea that most of the time spent creating something was behind the ironing board or cutting table when I first began sewing. Now I iron all of my material as soon as it leaves the dryer, whether I plan on using it right away or not. When I start a new project, I really like to dive right in and don't have the patience to do all the ironing first.
The prints are framed! Tucked away in my little corner, I finally feel like this space is becoming my own. It's a temporary studio space (I hope anyway), but I still want it to be an inspiring space to sit down and create. These prints are certainly inspiring.
And the last of the mishmash ... the little one chomping away on an apple. It seems to be her favorite snack this season and I often find the discarded core tucked away with her books or next to her play kitchen. Thank goodness I've always found them the same day. It's hard to miss that apple smell!
Last night I broke in the new sewing machine and finished the "Pleated Beauty Handbag" from Amy's book. I opted for just the flannel lining and left out the interfacing, but now I kind of wish I hadn't bent the rules so much. It's a bit floppy, but for a bag that will most likely be carting around diapers, yarn and knitting needles, I think it will do.
This morning I finished some new "Wee Market Totes'' for the shop, and just as soon as I get another free moment, they will be listed!
Yesterday, we had a lovely visit from Stephen's sister Trudi and her husband Jim. Trudi is a great knitter (I'm certainly very envious of her talent) and knit this adorable little doll for Elisabeth's birthday. She even included an extra blue dress. So sweet. The pattern is from Knitted Toys, a book with so many great projects that someday I hope to complete. For now I'll keep working on Elisabeth's winter hat...
On Friday I left a cranky baby, darling husband and messy house behind to join lovely Rhea over at Alewives for a little sewing fun. Or, I should say a lot of sewing fun.
With a pizza, some Green and Blacks, good music and a new project to work on, we chatted and sewed, and then did some more chatting and sewing. The only thing that didn't make me happy was the fact that my sewing machine broke. Off to the shop it goes.
Saturday we headed down to my mother-in-law's house to celebrate my birthday. She had a table full of delicious food and gave me the gift of a shopping "spree" in downtown Portland. So, so sweet and very fun! My mother joined us and made a heavenly chocolate gluten-free cake.
Then it was off shopping. We started on Exchange St. where I stopped into Awear and bought a gorgeous hemp and wool sweater. My favorite color too! This was just a slice of the goodness I came home with on
