Bluebirdbaby

firsts

we went for our first dip in not only a pond, but the ocean too.

it was chilly, but so wonderful. the sun on our faces, the cool water reminding us that the summer is yet to begin, and we have months of this to enjoy.

then we headed to a big BBQ at a friend's house. their first BBQ there. and it was just perfect.

oh yes, we are most certainly ready for summer.

i've been working so hard...trying to make ends meet. every second of my days are nights are taken up by some kind of work. i like to think of it as a creative challenge.

but it means there really are no rest days; no weekends. just days mixed with fun and play and work and a wee bit of sleep thrown in there too.

it's all worth it-this life we're living. we are happy and having fun and hard workers and able to enjoy all of it. that's all that really matters.

happy monday, friends. hope you're enjoying this long, lovely weekend. xoxo

An "it's almost Friday" potluck

We went to a friend's potluck last night. So much fun.

I roller skated. Ate lots of food. Drank some wine. Chatted with friends. Enjoyed the sun (finally!) and sat back after a long day of work.

The little one ran around with friends in between bites of dinner, giggling and skateboarding.

It really was the perfect evening...

What are your weekend plans?!

through town

I wanted to mention that I am accepting new sponsors and offering a 10% discount for the month of June! Contact me at ewallacephoto@gmail.com for more info!

Late last week there was another break in the rain. We got out for a scooter ride through town after dinner. The weekend was gorgeous, although right now it looks like we are right back to rainy weather again. I'm trying to stay motivated, despite the gray skies.

I've been sitting here at my desk, feeling rather chilled from the lack of sun. I'm on my fourth cup of PG Tips (5 is my max...or at least, I try to tell myself that...). The little one was up at an early hour this morning, battling a headache and feeling not so great. I served her breakfast on the couch, curled up under her blanket. And now she's off to her Papa's house for a part of the week. Such a funny thing letting her go...being in Mama mode for so long, then suddenly switching it "off" and putting on my other hat...the business one, the kid-less one where I get to stay out late with friends, and sleep in, and work as much as I can fit into a day. Somehow it all seems rather perfect, even when it's hard. A balance somewhat.

 

Happy Monday everyone! xo

Polarn O. Pyret Giveaway!

With the little one attending a nature based school, proper outerwear is very important. I'm always on the hunt for warm enough jackets and snowpants, raingear that actually keeps her dry, and everything in between. Polarn O. Pyret always has the greatest clothing...the quality is remarkable, the sizing is always just right and fits for two seasons, and the most important thing is the little one absolutely adores the colors, fit, and designs.

Polarn O. Pyret was kind enough to send us a set of rain gear which we immediately put to good use. Today it was overcast and drizzly, so we put on our new rain gear and headed out into our new backyard (yup...that's our backyard!!) and played on the shore.

What lucky girls we are, eh? The ocean in our backyard and awesome new rain gear! Polarn O. Pyret is also offering one lucky reader a $50 gift certificate. Just leave a comment and tell us what your little one's favorite season is. I'll draw a reader Monday at 10 a.m. EST. Good luck!

A Mishmash

A collection of photos from a roll of film shot late last fall. Click on the photos for descriptions..

Hope you are all enjoying a happy weekend!

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...

 

tea with lari

I had the pleasure of finally meeting a local artist I had met on flickr so long ago. We sat down to tea this morning in her lovely home, chatted about photography and art and travel, took some pictures, and then I got a studio tour.

Lari is so incredibly talented. I was inspired by her work and her eye, and I can't wait to meet up again. (In two weeks I'm getting a lesson! So excited!) Check out more of her work here, and see some originals for sale here!

Thanks again Lari! Can't wait for next time...

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

absence

Phew! Sorry for the abense my friends! Life has been, well....life. Busy and full and lovely and crazy and everything in between. Sometimes the weeks fly by and the one simple thing I've been meaning to do gets undone; like posting here. I miss you all! And I miss being in this space.

Life has been very full. Full of good food, get togethers, friends, creating, work (and lots of it), mothering, partnering, and trying to breathe in the midst of it all.

This past weekend, the little one and I had an afternoon in the big city with our friends. My assistant and I are cooking up something goooood with a certain talented someone in the big city after the holidays. So we took a couple of hours to brainstorm and check out some spaces. After we walked around the city taking some shots for a few minutes. Maria snapped these of the little one and I. I adore them. Love them. I hardly ever have photos of us together. It means so much.

And, oh my...how she has grown. I just started photographing her in a very different way. She is no longer this cute little toddler. She's matured. She's got emotions behind those eyes and expressions. It's amazing to witness and even more amazing to capture. She's the best model anyone could ever ask for. She's opening up more to the camera too. I can't wait to see where it takes us....

How are you all? I hope you are all well and enjoying life. I'll be back soon...promise.

An Unusual Apple Picking Day

Well, each year about this time we head to the orchards for some apple picking. On this particular day, the temperatures were in the mid-80's, which surprised us all. We wondered through the orchards in our shorts and sandals, feeling like it should be fall, but knowing that it felt more like summer. We go to this orchard every year. I love the memories it brings back. I feel like somehow it marks the growth of the little one each and every year. The first year she was on Sasa's shoulders most of the time, reaching high for apples, but mostly just running as fast as she could down the hills, with one of us chasing after her. This year, she picked a whole basket, plus loaded up another bag. It always surprises me just how helpful she is.

At 2:

At 3:

At 4:

And today (at 5!):

After gathering our apples, we went home to drop them off and then headed out on a canoe ride and for the last swim of the season. It was the perfect day. I have so many pictures from that, but they are all on my film camera, along with the fair pictures and so much else. 3 rolls of 36 exposures...that's going to be good! Hence my absence here.

But after our canoe ride and swim, we headed home to make applesauce and apple pie. I see much canning in our future! (We also canned 36 jars of pesto, with many more to go...) The next morning I made my favorite apple pancake for breakfast. And even though the temperatures outside still hover in the high 70's, it now officially feels like fall to me!

And looking back, I'm not sure how we managed to squeeze all of this into one day, but we made a fall banner for the front door. I love coming home to it everyday. It's very cheery! No sewing required...just strips of fabric with raw edges, and some fabric markers! We had a blast making it...

 

How are you spending the start of the fall season?!

the fair

 

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

Blueberry Hill

Another year, another day of hiking, picnicing, watching, playing, laughing, and enjoying. We love this spot. Year after year...it's amazing to remember the past visits and it's remarkable how much the little one has grown. She made it all the way up (and down) at full speed. Of course, this year there was a puppy to coax her along.

We missed the blueberries this year, but the chamomile was still there and we do have a big plant in our garden that we brought home from last year. So fun to think of it being a part of our life here in town.

Today we tried to soak up as much summer as we could. School starts soon, and with it, we find that everyday freedom we've had for so long is quickly coming to a close. The little one is growing literally before our eyes. Her long, lean legs can carry her on a hike no problem now. Last year, she rode up on Sasa's shoulders. It's bittersweet to see it all happen so soon. I'm loving this age and all the fun we are having, but also miss the little hands dropping the berries in the basket, and clasping mine for a little help along the stone wall.

This is my favorite part about traditions: marking the growth all around us against something that is constant and steady. Blueberry Hill will always be there for us, and so will we...however big, small, old or young we may be.

The Fair

Her first fair with rides. We spent 7 hours (!!) and the joy was just priceless. We spent the day with friends looking at the animals, watching acrobats, and riding the ferris wheel until we could see the "mountains and a grassy field!"

The little one is already asking when next August is so we can do it again...

I hope to pop in tomorrow night one more time before I take off to Vermont for another wedding this weekend! Enjoy your Friday!

at the lake

where you will find us most hot days. the echo here is amazing...

We're Home

We're finally home, unpacking, checking e-mails (all 220 of them), pulling weeds in the garden, planting more fall crops, and really, really, really missing California. We loved it out there. I've decided that even after all the bad rap Oakland gets, the north end near Berkeley is the absolute best. It was actually hard coming home to Maine, which is saying a lot because I love Maine so. We're thinking a second home in California?!!

I have loads of photos to upload. The wedding was breathtaking...couldn't have asked for a better location or better models! We loved every minute of our trip, from the day long drive up the coast through Big Sur (oh my...beautiful!), to taking the Bart to SF, to Chinatown, to hanging out at our favorite coffee bar in the mornings, and to totally cheating on my Paleo diet. (I did pay for it however...I walked around with a tummy ache the whole time, but boy...it was worth it!!)

We seriously can't wait to go back. Sasa's brother and wife were such wonderful hostesses. I hope they don't mind frequent visitors....

Here are some pics I captured with my iPhone...more "real" photos to follow!

raspberries in the rain

two mamas. three girls. a rainy afternoon. a beautiful patch. a whole lot of berries.

what have you been picking lately? happy weekend!

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.

the sea

This is one of the many perks of living where we live...the ocean. It's right there at our doorstep. Today I left hours and hours of work behind (aah!) to go on an impromptu coastal cruise with some friends. I snapped these with my phone. We were out on the water for 6 hours. I am sitting here hours later still feeling the room sway back and forth! Sasa got a killer sunburn, and I have to admit that even with my sunscreen application, I'm red too.

We went swimming in 62 degree water (I have a picture to prove it!), ate lunch with gulls and seals nearby, and enjoyed a snooze on the deck during the ride home. It was a fabulous (and much better than working) way to spend a Sunday! Hope yours was sweet too!

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!

it was hot

It was a hot one. A really hot one. And yesterday was hot too.

I swam in the ocean three times yesterday (mind you, we live in Maine and ocean water is freezing) and today we packed up dinner and headed to the lake for a picnic and a dip.

We spent the day in our bathing suits, going between the shade in the backyard with glasses of iced tea and inside where the air seemed just a little bit cooler. The little one plucked away on her ukulele, serenading me during my snack time clean up. We picked fresh herbs from the garden to make a frittata for lunch, served over our greens and some homemade dressing. We ate outside on the picnic table under the shade of the umbrella.

Tonight we retreated to the lake, with my bag packed full of bucheron, salmon, and peas from the garden. The little one almost learned to swim, we played water tag, and watched the clouds roll in.

We returned home for an ice cream cone and the excitement of a thunderstorm. I rushed to get the laundry in, the chickens settled, and the yard toys picked up from a day of play. The little one fell asleep in an exhausted, hot heap on the bed with the lightning flickering around her.

It was a good day. Tomorrow another adventure will be underway! How was your Wednesday?

Oh, and if any of you are wondering how to get the shape of the giant beach bag, just go to my tutorial page here and follow the corner directions for the "everything bag". Easy peasy!

Puddles

<

Last night we experienced a crazy thundestorm. It was so wonderful. We loved every minute of it. I've always told the little one that thunder is just the cloud's talking to one another, and the lightning is the flash from their camera. Ha!

So she's not scared a bit. We played board games and ate chocolate chip cookies.

Then the sun came out and we just had to go puddle stomping! (An after-storm tradition.) So on went the rain boots and off we went!

We discovered a giant puddle down the street at our friend's house and we ran back to get our boat to do some sailing. What a fun sweet night.

We came back home to the power returning, some snuggling in bed with a good book, and some sweet dream-filled sleep.

Happy weekend to you! xoxo

 

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!

an evening walk

We often go out walking in the evenings.

With the warmer weather it has been even more lovely. We've been fighting off a thunderstorm all day. The winds were whipping through the trees and tall grasses, so much so that the bugs were not out.

The little one has been riding her bike everywhere these days. Such a big, independent girl she is.

 

These are my favorite moments. The ones where we are all together, all laughing and giggling, racing down the fields and breathing the fresh air. There is just so much love here. So much gratitude, respect, kindness, and peace. It's lucky if you find that in your life, and to be surrounded by it day after day with the ones you love is so very special.

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!

woods and ferns

It was a rainy day today. In fact, it's going to be a rainy week I hear. I'm pushing myself out of my comfort zone and going out for a walk no matter how wet. I've never liked the rain...even as a kid. But I've been putting on my boots and raincoat and bringing the little one out no matter how wet or misty.

It feels nice to be out in the rain. It's almost as if the forest is asleep and we are intruding on its quiet time. We enjoyed a nice long walk today. The woods looked so magical with the glistening spring ferns and greens. In the end, we didn't mind the rain one bit and I'm sure that it won't stop us the rest of the week either.

And there are plenty of things I'm loving this week, but here are just a few...

• once again i seem to be addicted to her live in Paris performances
• also loving this
• i received two of the most beautiful screenprints i've ever seen today from here. you really, really need to check out her work. i can't wait to hang them!!
• have you noticed some new sponsors in the sidebar?! what wonderful artists!!
• if anyone ever finds mounted framed butterflies at a thrift shop/antique store, please let me know! i'm in search of some!
• seriously cool travel mug
• can i live here please?
• can't fav this enough

What are you loving this Monday?!!

54 in March

Today I ran in a sleeveless shirt and what felt like too-short shorts (these pasty white legs felt a little modest after a long winter). It felt so good. I think my body had forgotten what it was like to run without my lungs practically freezing.

We spent the day mostly outdoors, but this morning we opened windows, mopped every hard floor in the house, put the blankets to air out on the line, then we sat on the back porch letting the sun hit our faces and make us feel alive again.

The world is changing around us...snow is melting and we are seeing bulbs pop up out of the muddy soil. Birds are chirping in the threes above, and the air smells like life again. We talk a lot about the root children waking up below the ground and how they are polishing all the beetles, mending their spring clothes, and helping to push up all the flowers right now. The little one is changing right along with it. Her bleached blonde summer hair has been too long out of the sun and is darker. Freckles started popping up on her nose today, reminding me of my sister. She's growing so fast and I'm constantly amazed by her maturity and sweet presence.

This afternoon we mended the chicken fence, then sat down in the sun to read more of our favorite spring books. "To Market, To Market" inspired a hunt in the stream for salmon which we caught and then "smoked" in some birch trees. We then headed to the farm (the local market) to pick some lettuce, an avocado from the tree, and dig up some garlic from the dirt. On our way home we collected our smoked salmon and headed home with our loot to make a delicious spring-inspired dinner. So much fun!

This evening we did some more fishing in the river. Fly got his feet wet in the cold salt water and we all walked home by the light of the almost full moon.

What a beautiful 54 degree day in March. It was surely enough joy to last a long time!

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.

Hers and a Heavenly Day

Well, I started the little one's cowl yesterday and finished it at the breakfast table this morning. I used leftovers from her sweaters. It came off the needles and she exclaimed, "Mama! It only took you two days to knit me this!" And she put it right on. She was very excited about the idea of having warm cheeks on our walks. So we headed right out to put it to good use.

Perhaps this wasn't the best day for cowl wearing because it warmed up to a marvelous 48 degrees! I was outside in my t-shirt shoveling snow for the chickens (who went on vacation and hopefully will be back really soon!) and cleaning up the back porch. It was amazing. Regardless of this warming trend, I'm still starting my cowl tomorrow...

We found a bird's next on our walk home. A teensy tiny one that I placed on our window sill looking out into the backyard. I like to think of it as a reminder that spring is on its way. Our seed order has been placed, our garden will expand slightly to accomodate more winter storage veggies, I'm looking into my bees (!!!!!! So excited and just wanted to thank you all again for the marvelous links you sent me last summer after my bee lust post. I really hope it happens this year!), and we're about ready to tap the trees. I can't wait to taste the cool, clear sap again. Spring tonic. This full moon (Friday!) will start the Sap Moon, which means spring is definitely on its way! (Check out this book...I adore it.)

I hung my first line of laundry in about four months. I'm pretty sure this is one of the first day in months above 30 degrees. And 30 degrees was a rarity this winter. We were mostly dealing with subzero temps. Killer. I can take the snow, but the cold I would rather leave behind.

The little one played outside all day. We went on bike rides, stomped in puddles, let Mr. Pickles (who decided today was much too nice to sleep away) explore the barn a little, and tried to teach Pepper to fetch. Then it was more walks, a little acupuncture, more soaking in the sunshine, and a lovely dinner full of greens.

And it looks like tomorrow might be a repeat which makes me very, very happy indeed.

What are you loving about late February??

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.

Winners and Sleigh Rides

Thanks to all who entered my giveaway! It was so sweet reading all of your holiday traditions. So many awesome ideas in there!!

Random.org chose commenter #60 ::

Erin said...

I love this giveaway! My favorite tradition is lighting the advent wreath every night at dinner. I spend all week looking forward to Sunday so we can light the next candle.

 

So congrats Erin!! pPease e-mail me with your mailing address at ewallacephoto@gmail.com and I will send your package out ASAP! 

Here's a little glimpse of our magical sleigh ride on our friend's farm where we went to find the perfect Christmas tree...

 

It was so very sweet and magical. The perfect memory for a little one to have around the holidays. We feel very lucky for friends, for the simple things, for such special moments that make life so wonderful. xoxo.

And just a little note I need to add...our amazingly loved Fly Dog is very sick. He's old and was diagnosed with canine lymphoma. He's in kidney failure and we're not sure if he has days or a couple of weeks. It hit fast (just a few days ago) and very hard. The news has been particularly hard after all the losses we've had these last few months. And the holidays coming up...oh, I'm so teary just writing this. I feel sick to my stomach and am finding it hard to digest the news. Fly is a local celebrity. He is so loved. Please, if you can, keep him in your thoughts. Wish him an easy road to the next life.

Depending on what happens and when, I may be sparse here. I'm just having a hard time with this news. Thanks for your support, my sweet friends. xoxo.

film

 

What a weekend.

Sleigh rides. Christmas trees. Blessing Ways. Visits from family. Latkes. Tree trimming. Christmas music. Crafting.

Oh, it was all so marvelous.

I'm loving my film camera, although I do believe I need to get the lens adjusted. The focus is a wee bit off, but I still love the results. These photos were taken in November on a hike. The colors make me happy.

I'm finally back on flickr (yay!), so I'll be around sharing more soon!

Happy Weekend!

 

A Fall Hike

I love this weather. I love hats and hot tea. I love the smell of leaves turning and falling to the ground. I love the delicious sights and sounds. I love being with the ones I love in the midst of all this beauty. We are lucky. Very, very lucky to have all this.

Today we took the little one on a hike that my father used to take me when I was her age. We went on a wild mushroom hunt, told fairy stories, spotted and heard many fairies, breathed in that wonderful fall air, and had a sweet little picnic at the very top. I tried to capture some images like the ones my father took way back when. It's nice to see some place that hasn't changed at all in many years. I'm loving showing you my photos straight out of the camera...no editing. It feels good.

Me. At age 4.

 

Me. At the top

Our plans for the week have shifted a bit. Life has a funny way of surprising you when you least expect it. But I'm headed out on my own to NYC for just a day and two nights. The reason, I will reveal when I get back. It's a good one...I promise!

See you all then! Be well, friends.

A Fall Morning Walk

We decided to take advantage of the cool morning and bundle up in our sweaters and hats. The balance bike is still getting a tremendous amount of use, even though she rides a "big girl bike" now. Purple Violet had to come, so mama rigged up a little baby seat in the front. It worked perfectly.

The little one was so happy about having a passenger. We ended up taking a nice long walk through town (on top of three others today) and ended it with a hot cocoa date with some friends. I can't tell you how excited she was about the whip cream. Mama is usually a tad careful about the sugar consumption. But it was quite a treat.

We spent the afternoon collecting acorns and chestnuts. The little one wants to make chestnut horses, but we need a few more before that. So we're keeping an eye on the tree next door, waiting for some to fall. Although we've talked about saving lots of chestnuts and acorns for the squirrels who need them for the winter.

We also got out some of our fall reads. I've updated the list to the side with some of our favorites. I think I've read "Woody, Hazel, and Little Pip" dozens of times these past few days. She just adores that book, and I do too. I  love how she is pulling all the Elsa Beskow books off the shelves these days. They are such gentle reads inspiring lots of imaginative play long after they've been read.

And, of course, our nature table needed a little lift! What are some fall reads you are loving? Also, I'm craving a good novel about farming. Any ideas? I just can't wait to get some goats (and bees!).

Happy almost Fall!!

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!

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...

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!

Raspberry Jam

It all starts with some good friends, a gorgeous farm, two sweet little ones, lots of red ripe raspberries, straw hats and picnic blankets, fields of buckwheat, and ends with...

... jars of raspberry jam. Mmmmm....yummy!

Beach Days

We've been spending oodles of time at the beach. I rarely bring my camera (it's too risky!) but I happened to have it with me a couple of times last month. I've been waiting for just the right day to share these beach photos, and with the busy week we've had, today feels like the perfect day. There's not much else to do at the beach but slow down, relax, and breathe. These photos are nice reminders!

I'll be back tonight with some amazing photos from an absolutely gorgeous shoot with an absolutely gorgeous gal! Yay!

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!

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!!!

Salt Pond

One of the things I love about being a parent is that it forces me outside into nature everyday. I normally would not take a weekday morning to walk around a salt pond hoping to find empty crab shells, purple lobster trap rope, and any sea-beaten piece of wood, but as a mother...this is what I live for.

I love our little outings; whether they be to the cemetery down the street or the salt pond on the peninsula. There's always something that make these outings so much fun. The little one and I really know how to explore. We love finding treasures to bring back home and never leave our house without her collecting basket or a bucket for the beach.

We found a good loot today, including purple lobster trap rope and empty crab shells of all sizes. They always make it home and find their way to the sandbox out back. Our sand box is starting to look like we stole a bit of the beach. But it's nice to feel like we have our own little piece of it in our backyard. Oh, and you should see the chickens trying to figure out what crab shells are. Quite hilarious!

What did you all do today?!

twenty nine :: 30 days of beauty :: help from the root children

The root children were underground bustling about fixing their evening meal of dandelion soup, grass salad, and mushroom cookies. One root child was late and he came running down the tunnel with some exciting news. "Everyone, everyone! Listen to this! The little girl and her mama planted seeds today! Flowers and herbs and peas and lettuce. We must help them grow!"

All the root children clapped and shouted "hooray!" for they loved spring, and they adored helping the seeds grow. They made a plan to water the seeds first thing in the morning. They also give the seeds a hug, which the seeds love so much that it makes them grow faster. And when the seeds start to sprout, the root children dip into their magic seed dust to sprinkle on the seeds. The magic seed dust makes the plants strong and healthy.

So the very next morning they did just that. All the root children went to work watering and hugging the seeds. Some even told the seeds stories about the sun and blue skies, which made the seeds so anxious to sprout that they started growing faster and faster.

When the flowers and vegetables came up extra early, the little girl and her mama were quite surprised! The little girl didn't know how seeds could grow so fast, but her mama knew that the root children had helped. The little girl wanted to thank the root children for all their hard work, so she asked her mama what they could do for them. Her mama told her what the root children love, so they set to work collecting yummy things to leave the root children :: dandelions for dandelion soup, apple tree blossoms for their tea, a lily pad to use for their bath tub, and even a strawberry from the little girl's lunch. They set all these lovely things on a beautiful plate in the flower garden for the root children to find the very next morning.

The root children absolutely loved their surprises! They were so overjoyed that the littlest root child ran back to her bunk to find a special treasure; it was the teeniest, tiniest heart shaped rock that a beetle had given her on her first birthday. She ran back to the garden and placed the tiny rock on the plate. The little girl came out the next morning and found the tiny heart rock. She was so excited she ran inside to show her mama. She knew the root children had left it for her. She placed it on a windowsill by her bed where she keeps all her special treasures. Every night she would go to sleep looking at her heart rock and thinking about all the help the root children had given her. She already couldn't wait for next spring!!

This was a story I made up tonight for the little one before she fell asleep. Her eyes were closed by the very end and she fell alseep with a smile on her face. I'm pretty sure the root children will be helping out tonight after we planted her special garden with lots of yummy flowers. The peas were planted to grow up the chicken coop fence and we started some other seedlings as well. What a day! I love spring!

thirty :: 30 day of beauty

Finding beauty at the beach is easy. There is just so much of it. We headed out tonight for a picnic at the beach because it was just so very lovely. The sun, the sand, the crashing waves, the food (yay! I'm eating again!), the company. We found two heart rocks and walked the beach hand in hand.

A lovely night full of beauty!

Thanks for all your well wishes. Tomorrow I hope to reveal my new photography site! I've been working on it for about 20 hours (straight, it seems) and I can't wait to show you all. Stay tuned!

fifteen :: 30 Days of Beauty

Oh, the beach. How I love you. How we all love you (especially the little one and Doggy Fly). You make for a perfect afternoon with the warm sunshine on our faces, the sea breeze whispering in our ears, and the waves lapping our boots. If only every day could be so very lovely...

It was such a lovely day today. We had adventure after adventure, and our day finally ended at the beach. The little one caught a boot in the parking lot, made sand castle after sand castle, chased the waves, explored the rocks, and giggled the entire time. What a perfect way to end the day. Thank you beach...we'll be back.

Thankful For...

I'm so thankful for friends. I'm thankful for being surrounded by like-minded people. People who live their lives with passion, creativity, and fun. Sasa and I (and the little one) have never had such a busy social life, full of people we love and nurturing friendships. We had the pleasure of dining with friends over the weekend. It was a night full of good music, creative conversation by creative people, and such delicious food!

I'm thankful for yummy and nourishing food. Sasa made a chicken pot pie after I told him it was my favorite thing to eat as a kid. I never thought a homemade pie could beat the comforting taste of Mrs. Budd's chicken pies that I grew up loving, but I should have known...Sasa always makes things better than I remember them ever being. It was a keeper recipe for sure and he's going to share it all with you soon!

I'm so very thankful for the little one, her joy in life, her amazing energy, and her love of anything and everything that involves being social! She was a cat all night. She scared my friend's cat away with her enthusiastic greeting, but that didn't matter...she just became the cat instead. She even dedicated a few Rolling Stones' songs as "tail chasing songs." She is a delight, and she sure does love life! Such a pleasure to witness!

What are you thankful for today? I always love reading what you share!

nine :: 30 Days of Beauty

Last weekend we took a walk to one of our favorite spots. We ran, we played, we jumped and skipped, we fished, we found a horseshoe crab and a heart rock, we watched the sun sparkle in the water and the waves lapping the shores. We skipped rocks for a good hour, took in all the beauty this little spot had to show us, and then started the long walk home. Close to our house the little one looked up from her seat in the stroller and said, "I love you mama and Sasa sooooooo much." So sweet. So beautiful. Such a perfect little afternoon.

I'd love to see some more of your beauty. Leave me a link in the comments!

seven :: 30 Days of Beauty

It's been warm here. Much warmer than usual. I'm trying not to be freaked out by the climate change, complete lack of new snow in Maine in February, and green grass and bulbs surfacing. So we're making the most of it. We took two long walks today, played outside all day, and spent a morning at our favorite little place. The little one has so much fun here. Everything was so beautiful :: the bare maple trees against the gray sky. The wheat colored grass and dried leaves. And when the sun came out we just soaked in all the beauty we could! 

Here's a little story about how our morning went...

The little one loves to walk. She walks and walks (sometimes gets a shoulder ride) and commands Doggy Fly to go this way and that. She requests "races" with me and Fly until we finally reach our destination. Ever so often, she stops me for a photo op. This was one of those moments. Ah, the cuteness is just too much!

Close to our destination, we had to collect leaf pets. They were put in our bag we brought along and later came home with us.

She can hardly wait for the gate and ends up climbing the fence. Mama decided to enter the proper way through the gate, despite the disapproving look from the little one. Then it was off to play chase.

A good game of chase is always followed by some ice cream. She picked this ice cream spot out when she was a bit over two years old and it's remained her spot ever since. How she can tell the difference, I have no clue. So this is her store and today she was offering "rainbow drip and vanilla chip." I ordered the rainbow drip. I highly recommend it.

Then it was off to gather sticks for our fire in the zoo. The zoo has a fence around it and the animals were getting cold, particularly the giraffe. So we gathered sticks for a good twenty minutes.

We built the most enormous fire that was sure to keep all the animals nice and toasty. She had to use some grass to get it started and seemed to have the entire thing under control, so I just sat back and supervised.

She ran and ran and ran some more. Mama chased and chased and chased some more.

We said hello to our friend the maple tree and asked when it would be tapped for maple syrup. Then we hugged the tree and thanked it for being so beautiful.

And before I knew it, in mid-chase, she announces, "Mama, let's go home and see Sasa! Okay?!" So we walked all the way home, pretty sure we were the luckiest gals to have such a beautiful little spot to come play.

That's how our morning was. How was yours?!

Beach Day

Wow...it's been a long time since I've written "Beach Day" as a title. But we did just that today. We just couldn't pass up the nearly 50 degree weather, sunshine, and smells of spring. We are far from spring, and I know this is a little tease, but it is so nice to smell grass and sunshine. The two feet of snow we got last week has already melted down to a couple of inches. In some places, green grass is showing and our plants have remained alive under the blanket of snow. We hung laundry on the line, aired out some blankets, played in the sandbox, and headed to the beach. The little one really tried to wear her swimsuit and bring her "beach towels" but with my persistent "Goober...it will be cold at the beach!!!" seemed to finally get through to her.

The beach proved to be warmer than expected. Her jacket was soon stripped off and the extra pair of pants I brought came in very handy. Sandcastles were made, heart rocks were found, dump trucks raced the beach, and one sunny day was thoroughly enjoyed. There's nothing better than that!

Over the Years

Each year, since she turned one year old, I've taken her down to a special little place for a girl's day out. We did just that this week and I couldn't help but go through the archives to see just how much as changed. Visiting a place like this once a year really accentuates her maturity and how she has grown. It was fun to see her master new skills and still enjoying things she did at one year. This year we put on a little production in their "theater" (it involved a wizard, castle, and dinosaurs...ahhh!) and she was loving every minute of it. Gosh, we know how to have fun!

We are in full kitchen renovation mode now, so are days are busy and are nights are spent relaxing. Tomorrow, I'll make friends with sheetrock and will say goodbye to linoleum. Yay!

I hope you all have a great weekend. Stay tuned for an awesome giveaway this Sunday!!