Bluebirdbaby

Our Holiday Gift to You

Will you join us on a winter walk? It was a lovely, sunny, cold winter day here in Maine. The little one and I put this little video together for you. I know a lot of you live in places with no snow. Although this video is mostly of the little one, there are blurry scenes of snow in the background! The quality isn't that great (any tips??! it was super clear in iMovie, but once on Vimeo it was horrible!) and for some reason the song plays over again at the end. That was clearly my editing mishap! But we hope you enjoy it anyway!

So sit back, enjoy, and Happy Holidays everyone. I hope to see some of you locals on Saturday at the Maine Coast Bookshop from 12-2 p.m.!

A Late Afternoon Walk With Gnomes

We arrived late afternoon, hoping the rain would hold off for a while and the mist would stay. We were prepared with the Ergo and our canvas bag for all the goodies we would find.

We talked about the gnomes and elves that live in the woods. She knows some of the sleepy fairy gifts were made by the gnomes that live in the woods. We searched and searched and searched for gnome and elf homes.

We giggled, we ran, we collected pine cones and acorns, we listened for fairies and gnomes and elves.

We finally found a gnome home. They enter their home through a little door in the front. The little one said, "Shhhh! They're sleeping Mama!" So we were quiet and listened. We walked a few steps and found their workshop :: a small log turned on its side, complete with a door and some windows. We listened very carefully and heard the gnomes and elves working away. They were working hard on a toy that the sleepy fairies were bringing a lucky child tonight. We tiptoed away so we wouldn't disturb them.

We finally reached the water after over a mile. We were excited to throw rocks in the water. Mama found five heart shaped rocks while the little one threw rock after rock into the water with a big splash.

We threw Fly's ball. He retrieved it a couple of times, but then he decided to do no more. The ball was slowly floating out into the sea. The little one was quite upset, but I reminded her that the gnomes would probably get it when they came down tonight to take their baths. Thank goodness!

After the little one tried to wade out to get it, she agreed to let the gnomes get it at bath time. She thought the little gnome babies would have so much fun with it. And I told her I was sure they would leave it by the shore for next time.

So we went home, rosy cheeked from the fresh air, happily tired from our long walk, and anticipating our return to see if the gnomes did indeed find the ball and leave it for us. It was a lovely afternoon; full of imagination, nature, treasures, and giggles.

I hope you all have a happy Thanksgiving!! I know I am thankful for so very much, including all of you!!

A Happy Halloween

Over the summer, the little one requested to be a "purple flower fairy" for Halloween. I ordered the wool felt for her skirt and crown back in August and started working on the whole thing in September. The tutu was so easy and required no sewing at all! The flower petal skirt took the longest because of the hand embroidery, but the crown went together rather quickly too. All in all, it was an easy costume! She had no wings because she didn't want them. The costume didn't stay on too long. For a little one with sensory issues, the "itchy" fabrics and extra layers were just not something she was into. But that's okay. It will fit for years and into the dress up box it goes!

Early this evening we headed up to the annual All Hallow's Eve walk that the local Waldorf school puts on. It was a magical evening, full of forest fairies, knights and dragons, and ended with a story about jack-o-lanterns. The children walked quietly for a quarter of a mile through the woods, completely enchanted by the magical creatures. It was just beautiful. I snapped some photos from the walk so you could "join in" too! Enjoy!

Happy Halloween!!

The Pumpkin Festival

Over the weekend our little town was flooded with guests for our annual Pumpkin Festival. Gigantic pumpkins are rolled in, which are then carved, painted, and made into all kinds of different things. There's a parade, games, face painting, special treats, and so many fun things to celebrate the arrival of fall. So our weekend was full of celebrating!

I hope to have some wedding photos to share with you soon! It was a fabulous wedding, with an extra fabulous couple, on a pretty darn fabulous farm. Doesn't get any better than that!!

Enjoy the start to your week!

A Morning Walk

The little one and I headed out on an early morning walk today to collect some fall treasures. There were chestnuts, money plants, acorns by the handful, pretty leaves of all colors, sticks for magic wands, and the last of the dandelions. The little one got to make a wish.
We raced through the cemetery (one of our favorite spots), running up and down hills for a good 30 minutes, watching geese fly by and leaves fall around us. We gathered everything we could to fit inside her tiny little basket that has accompanied us on so many adventures in the past.
We smiled and giggled and rolled down hills. We had so much fun neither of us wanted it to end. So we stayed out in the cool morning air for quite a while, soaking up the beauty that autumn brings us.

These are the days I hope to remember forever. The days where we giggle and cuddle and say, "I love you" so many times it could make my heart burst. The days where the simplest things brought the greatest joys. These are the things that little ones bring to our lives. And we, as the adults who know them, are so very lucky to have that pleasure. And I will never take it for granted. I will forever be grateful for every single moment. I am so lucky. Thanks, little one. You bring more joy than you'll ever know.

We are heading to the big city for some fun! Have a great weekend!

Common Ground Fair

We spent two days at the Common Ground Fair this weekend, and boy did we have fun! The animals, the handmade goodies, the food, the farmer's market...it was all so amazing. The little one particularly enjoyed the horse carriage rides, cardboard hill, and the hay jump. She and Sasa spent an hour jumping into the hay. Sasa actually beat the record for the farthest jump after some kid triple dog dared him. It was quite a sight! I took so many pictures over the course of two days that I had hundreds to choose from!

We had such a great time and I can't think of a better way to welcome autumn. We managed to camp out with some friends on Friday night and woke up to ice on our sleeping bags, but we were all toasty warm inside them, thank goodness! I can hardly wait for next year!! A big thanks to Kat for being such a great host and fair buddy!

For now I'm battling yet another flu and am stuck inside for the next couple of days. I've been doing lots of crafting while laying on the couch. Does anyone have ideas for easy hand crafts? (Sewing, felting, etc.) I'd love any ideas!!

30 Days of Happiness :: Apple Picking

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

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

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

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

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

Fairy Houses and Flowers

Fairies love to hang out where lots of beautiful flowers grow. In fact, they use flowers for all sorts of things: hats, cushions, soups, tea, and tutus. So where there are lots of flowers, you can be sure that they are close by. Fairies also let honeybees know where all the beautiful flowers are. That way, more flowers can grow and fairies get yummy honey in return.

Sometimes, when big people realize that fairies are so important to beautiful flower gardens, they put on big festivals for them. At these festivals, there are many ways to honor the fairies. Such as dancing, painting, fairy costumes, and building houses for them.

The fairies love when the children build them houses. They usually have such a hard time lugging all the branches, bark, and pine cones from the deep forests to where they want to build their village. So when the children help out, the fairies reward them with wonderful berries and beautiful flowers.

Sometimes, a child will get a fairy house just right. With such a perfect house, a fairy will move right in before the child is finished building it! Sometimes the child just knows what a fairy loves. A swing makes them so excited that they start to clap from behind the trees as they watch the swing being built. And when the child adds a walkway and yard complete with table and chairs, they all start cheering from under their toadstools and flower hats.  When the house is finally finished, and the child leaves it behind for the fairies, sometimes you can see the fairies, with their luggage made from maple leaves and birch bark, walking through the ferns on their way to the new house. In return, they reward the child with patch full of yummy blueberries.

And the child will be so pleased that they built a house a fairy family will live in, that they will smile and giggle as blueberry juice drips down their chin. The child will run to their family and excitedly tell the story of how wonderful it is to be amongst the fairies for a day.

And the family will feel exactly the same way.

A Day at the Farm

So, I think summer is officially here. We spent the day soaking wet from the sun and humidity, watching tractors down the street while fanning ourselves off, cooling down with quick dips in the kiddie pool, drinking lots of cold water, and basically just trying not to move. By late afternoon we had had enough of lazing around and decided a trip to our friend's farm was in order to see her new goats.

So we met my friend at her sweet little house in the woods. The little one had a blast with the goats. I had a blast drooling over her beautiful garden. The little one kept requesting "the goats!" even when we went to show her the pigs and horses. I guess goats are a definite addition in our future!

We saw a butterfly in the road with a broken leg. The little one wanted to save it, so we carefully moved it to the side of the road.

We picked bee balm and calendula to bring home for Sasa.

We did some more lazing on the hammock.

Fed the goats some yummy maple leaves.

And brought home a bag full of veggies from the garden. Yum!

I guess you could say we had another "very good day!" We hope you did too!

Salt Pond

The sun was out, the little one and I were anxious for a day outside, and we were both in the mood for some treasure hunting. Yay for Salt Ponds! After a lovely morning of hanging around town, the little one and I decided to go on an adventure. While at the Salt Pond, we ran into our friends (one of which is an almost eight year old that the little one adores!) who taught us all about hermit crabs, fairy shrimp, Eider ducks, and periwinkles. And boy, we have the bucket of treasures to prove it! (Nothing living...I promise.)

Follow a couple of hours of that with a trip to the ice cream shop, and you have one fantabulous afternoon! Yay for sun. Yay for friends. Yay for salt ponds. And double yay for really good chocolate ice cream!

A Night At the Alley

Friday night we headed off to the bowling alley with some friends. I had found the little one some bowling shoes last fall at a thrift shop, and although she had no clue what bowling was, she loved the shoes. Friday night we finally put them to good use!

She is an expert bowler already. She carefully selects a ball, heaves it into the air and watches as it lands with a thump on the lane. All six of us would stare in bewilderment as the ball would slowly inch towards the pins, veering off to the gutters, then pulling through at the last moment and knocking down numerous pins on its way out. We would all clap and cheer and jump, and she would grin her biggest grin and grab another ball.

Then we discovered the jukebox and the disco music. Armed with a bag full of quarters, we loaded that baby up with enough songs to last an hour. We all got crazy and silly and by the time we were dancing the "Chicken Dance", we pretty much had the whole bowling alley staring at us and watching us dance. Then we hit the arcade for some air hockey, pinball, and pool.

I think we can expect more trips to the bowling alley. It seemed to be a hit with everyone. And just a note to parents...I think they charge by the number of times the button is pushed to clear the pins. So our "one string" turned into six somehow. I guess that's easy with a 2 year old who just happens to looooove buttons!

Ode to The Beach

Oh beach, how we love you
We love the sand in our toes, the cold Maine ocean, and the warm sun on our faces
We love the beach fries, the ice cream cones, and cold lemonade
We love coming home after a long day at the beach, tired and happy, with big smiles and hungry bellies

We just love, love, love the beach. (Expect to see many more beach pictures this summer too!)

I hope you're all enjoying the long weekend!

The Really, Really Big City

Well, the little one got a glimpse of a really, really big city. Boston, to be exact. And the verdict? She loved it! I mean, she acted like she was born in the city. I thought my little farm girl would be scared of things like escalators, subway trains, amazingly tall buildings, noisy people and traffic and such, but not her. She just reveled in it all. I think she thrives on energy like this, and she probably was doing all she could to soak up as much as possible to bring back to our little town.

We took a trip to the aquarium where she enthusiastically clapped and giggled at the sight of real penguins. She ran up and down that place so many times (there's a slight incline that circles around the gigantic fish tank in the center of the building) looking at the sharks, sea turtles, and tropical fish. She waved "hello" to pretty much everyone. She spent over 30 minutes in the touch tank mesmerized by the star fish. And then we hit the gift shop where she toted around almost every stuffed penguin she could find. (Don't worry, she did bring one home: a penguin backpack!)

She rode the "T" like a pro, insisting she "do it mysewf!" She gave a guitar player a dollar and danced a little jig while he played with a smile. And the "escagator"? Well, that was right up there on her list of favorites.

All in all, it was an amazing day. We're still beaming about it (with a few yawns thrown in there). I hope you enjoyed the little glimpse of our day in the big, big city.

Enjoy the weekend! I'll have the tutorial up by Monday morning.

Blooms and Bowling

:: Weekend blooming, yard work, and chores ::

:: Weekend bowling, dinner with friends, arcade games, and pool ::

Now I'm off to finish some sewing projects. I hope your weekend was full of joy and laughter!

Another One...

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

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

The Farm and a Good Salad

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

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

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

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

There were geese,

and bigger goats,

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

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

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

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

Mix all together and serve over lettuce. It's really the perfect lunch (or dinner, or even breakfast!). Enjoy!
-

Almost Time...

Almost time...

For daily trips to the beach.

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

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

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

For finally starting that picnic blanket I keep talking about.

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

Winter Beach Days

I'm Here

Sorry I've been a bit absent. The weeks are going by so quickly, a certain toddler is keeping us very busy, and between working at our regular jobs and doing house projects, I've spent very little time on the computer! But I've received quite a bit of e-mails asking where I am and if I'm okay, so I wanted to let you all know everything is fine...just busy!

I've been searching for a yoga class for the little one and I ever since she was born. A local mama started one in a gorgeous studio nearby, and I was very excited to get a spot. The little one had a lot of fun, mostly running over to the big mirror to say "hello!" to herself, and she particularly liked showing off her favorite (and well practiced) pose: downward dog. We ended the class with some yummy tea and can't wait to go back next week!

The local YMCA started an open gym morning for toddlers. We head over there for some bike riding, rock climbing, and roller skating. The little one mastered pedaling all by herself and discovered her love for zooming around the room with wheels under her feet. Her balance is amazing.

I've had some good luck thrifting lately. The little one got a new doll crib and a house for her wooden figures. In the past few weeks she doesn't want to let Sasa or I out of her sight, so we usually end up involved in lots of imaginary play, complete with elaborate tents made from blankets and couches.

And the weather is finally warming up. After another big snowstorm, we were lucky enough to have some mild days where we spent most of the time on the porch. Today looks like more of the same, possibly with a trip to the big city thrown in for some fun.

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

A Trip to the Big City

Sasa and I took the little one down to the big city for some fun yesterday. We stopped at the toy store, visited Baba at work, ventured into our favorite little record store, and finally ended the day with a very long stay at the children's museum. The little one had a day full of laughs, smiles, good food, lots of love, and two people who were so very excited to spend the day with her. It's amazing how much she is growing and changing. We are having so much fun watching it all happen!

And thanks for your continued well wishes. I am indeed feeling better. I still have the same hacking cough I've had since early November, and I'm not sure exactly where I stand with this pesky mono. But Sasa and the little one have done a very good job taking care of me. And I am so very thankful for that!

I have some crafty posts coming, a little guest blogging action, and I'll finally be revealing what that photographer from the Salt Institute was all about. So stay tuned! Enjoy the weekend!

A Day in Camden

Sorry there hasn't been much action on the blog lately. I think I keep mentioning that things are crazy for me right now. So I will mention it again: things are crazy for me right now! So I don't have the time or energy to do much writing, although my camera is always by my side. So please forgive me for another picture post. This time we headed to Camden for a picnic by the water and a walk around town.

I hope you are all enjoying the lovely fall weather! I'm hoping there is time to get in plenty of hiking trips before the weather gets too chilly.

Speaking of chilly weather, I'd love to hear some of your favorite children's books for winter. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

Away

The little one and I headed down to my mother's house (right outside the "big city") for a few days. We are having lots of fun, although sleep tends to be last on the list, which makes for a very tired mama and a very tired toddler. There's just way too much excitement down this way!

We headed out to a famous lighthouse and fort this afternoon for some kite flying, swinging, and ocean air. After it was a trip to the city to walk around and grab a bite to eat. The little one is thoroughly enjoying herself and everything the big city has to offer! We will return to our little homestead this weekend to settle back into our country life...

A Beach Picnic at Sunset

Two posts in one day?! Why yes. It was just too beautiful of a day not to. I'm off to shoot another wedding tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have some photos to share!

Fall Festivities

We headed to a local apple orchard this morning for some picking. This was the little one's first time, and she really enjoyed filling our baskets and bags with the drops. (And they're free!) We walked away with about 30 pounds of apples which will be turned into pies, applesauce, and apple butter in the next few days.

And downtown gets pretty excited about fall/Halloween. Friday night we watched as the gigantic pumpkins were brought in on tractors and placed all along the sidewalks. Some weigh as much as 400 pounds! Today the festivities began, with artists painting or carving the gigantic pumpkins, and a pumpkin painting party for the little ones. Tomorrow is a parade. I'm pretty sure the little one is going to be a turkey with her preschool class.

I hope you're all enjoying the weekend!

I'll leave you with some songs I am really enjoying at the moment:
This one
This one
and this one.

A Spontaneous Evening

The little one has gone almost an entire week without an afternoon nap. I fear the days of naps may be almost over. Instead of being tired and cranky, she is just loving every minute of her extra awake time. Tonight, we took a spontaneous trip to town. We ended up wandering into the open door of the local Coin-O-Matic, where the little one was overwhelmed with joy by the various washing machine, dryers, and rolling carts. 30 minutes later, we were finally ready to move on.

We ended up heading out to a nearby lighthouse to watch the sunset. It was amazing. We spent a good amount of time climbing on the rocks, watching the moon, and listening to the waves crash against the shore. Follow that with a trip to a restaurant where two bowls of vanilla ice cream awaited for dinner, and you have one fun evening! (And a surprisingly energetic toddler who finally fell asleep after 9 p.m....)

A Fun Morning

After a nice chilly morning breakfast of quinoa flakes, we headed into town for story time at the library. We enjoyed some fun fall stories and lots of mama chatting time, then wandered over to the cafe from some tea. The little one was having such a cooperative morning that I decided a stop at the thrift shop was in order. We scored some neat things at a lovely price and spent some time wandering around the little neighborhood after, pointing to all the red, orange, and yellow trees.

Autumn always makes me so happy. I have many wonderful fall memories from my childhood; jumping in leaves, apple picking, pies, curling up under a cozy blanket with a book, the smells, the light changing, spending weekends raking the yard with my mother, Halloween costumes, baking, picking out pumpkins, and the list goes on. I hope the little one finds this time of year just as special as I do. I'm sure she'll have plenty of pictures to remember it by!

Catching Up

Sorry I've been MIA lately. Thank you all so much for your birthday wishes! I like being 25...it's a good number.

There has been so much going on lately. Not much sewing has been happening, although I did whip up a couple of bags for a local market day I participated in. It was a gorgeous fall day, but after sitting in the shade for 3 hours, I came home with blocks of ice for toes and numb fingers. It took me a good 2 hours to warm myself up! It's definitely fall in Maine.

My friend Mandi has a great Etsy shop called Long Winter Farm where she sells lovely soaps. I helped make the apple pie soap that will cure on the 19th. It was fun! Mandi and I shared a table at the market, and we were joined by Liza, another crafty gal in town. The three of us together make quite a team! I think we all enjoyed ourselves, even though I'm on my 6th day of a nasty cold and hardly had a voice yesterday...

And today, after I got out of work, I took a hike up in Camden. The weather was so very, very lovely. It was the first time I've actually smelled that fall smell, even with my stuffy nose. I wanted to bury my face in the leaves. It was a great hike up and at the top I was surprised by the most amazing view. Not only did I get to see acres of colorful fall trees, but the ocean was there and so beautiful. A rainbow emerged a few minutes later over one of the islands. Everything was just gorgeous! I look forward to my next hike. Fall in Maine is such a marvelous time!

And I will leave you with one of my new favorite photos of the little one. She really loves oranges right now and was quite pleased with herself for figuring out this silly trick!

A Train Ride

We went on a narrow gauge railroad today. It's right in our little town and we've never been! It was fun, although the little one seemed to be more interested in watching the other children. She loved discovering the front car that was covered in soot.

Stay tuned for a giveaway in the next two days. I finally got some time to work down in the green room, so I have something to show for it! I hope you are all enjoying your weekend.

A Beach Day

Alpaca Farm

First off, I must admit that I just stumbled across Picnik.com. Am I the only one who didn't know about this fabulous program? I've never had Photoshop, so being able to add some special effects to my photos is beyond exciting. So you'll have to bare with me while I go a little overboard with the 70's photo look.  Perhaps I'm way behind the times here, but I've been seeing it all over flickr and loving it. So now I'll have my fun. Although Typepad cuts the right side off, so you'll have to click on the photos to see the full version.

We made the trip to a local alpaca farm this morning. The kids had fun watching all the alpacas, which after being shaved looked like rather large poodles. The little one enjoyed her first "juice box" and finally got the hang of it after watching the other kids. We also met up with her best bud, who the little one was so pleased to see. Now we're just trying to escape the humidity...

An afternoon in the big city

Stephen and I enjoyed a great afternoon in the big city sans toddler. We had a lot of fun and I even discovered a great coffee shop that offers gluten-free brownies. Oh yes, I was a happy gal. (Don't worry, Stephen got his gluten-filled whoopie pie, so we were both happy.)

A Foggy Day at the Beach

Our Morning

I used to do a "day in the life" in pictures on my old blog. My readers always liked that and it was a fun way to document exactly what happens around here, and fun for me to look back and see too. So I snapped some shots of our morning together. Stephen is away for a while, so it's just me and the little one until my mother comes up to visit. We are having a blast, just us girls.



I co-sleep with the little one for half the night. She starts out in her crib (which is pushed up against my bed) and ends up with me. This morning she amazingly slept until 6 a.m. and woke me up with a big, wet kiss.



Then it was off for the first play of the day. Starting with the kitchen, of course. Isn't that light something?!



Blueberry pancakes were on the menu this morning. The little one helped me stir and mix, tested the blueberries, and had the first pancake with her requested "extra" blueberries and maple syrup. Note the messy kitchen and dishes I must wash after I get off the computer...





It was soon out the door to get more duckling supplies (who knew I would have to fill two water jugs four times a day for those silly ducks?), a much needed green tea at the cafe and a visit with all our friends, then it was off to the farmer's market. That first picture is the parking lot at the farmer's market! Beautiful, isn't it? We got some greens and fresh chicken and spent some time running around the grass and listening to the fiddle player.





On the ride home I spotted dozens of seagulls soaring through the sky. I knew the alewives were running, so I quickly pulled over and grabbed the camera. It was amazing to see hundreds of alewives just below the water. The little one yelled "fishy, fishy!" over and over again. I had to juggle holding her (not a toddler-friendly place, mind you) and the camera while trying to snap shots. We watched the seagulls swooping down for a little snack and collected some rocks to bring home.

That was our morning (all before 11 a.m. anyway). Wasn't that just thrilling?! I'm attempting to work on a patchwork picnic blanket this weekend. I have never, ever made anything remotely close to a quilt and I will be making this up as I go. Any tips? I promise you'll see some crafty stuff around here soon. We've just been so busy with the garden, the ducks, and well...life. Thanks for continuing to read what I have to say in this little space. Enjoy your (long) weekend!

(Oh, can I mention that I stumbled across a 1980's Mercedes lime-green diesel sedan? Can I mention that I really, really want it? And that I will convert it to biodiesel, which has been my dream for a couple of years? Seriously...lime green, vintage Mercedes, biodiesel...what more could a crazy girl want?!)

Beautiful

I really can not get over how beautiful everything is this time of year. With temperatures in a very comfortable range, we have been enjoying the little bits of time we spend outside. Unfortunately, living in Maine means the black flies come out in May (and just keep getting worse as time goes on at our house), so you won't see many pictures of the little one playing in our yard. Now we have to drive to town to be outside, or even better...to the beach!



But today we went into town for story time at the library, and after it was over it was off to explore the lovely flowers around the building. I couldn't help but snap a few pictures, although my white balance was off, so I had to adjust them a bit. But look at those flowers! Amazing.



Hopefully the flies will let up soon and the days will grow warmer so we can let our ducklings outside to enjoy the warm sun and plenty of greens. You should see them...already DOUBLED in size! Speaking of ducklings, I'm off to clean their cage. Enjoy the rest of the day!

Green On Our Walk

We went on a lovely walk today down by the river in town. The little one loves to pick dandelions, so we always end up taking home a bunch. The leaves just emerged last week and it has been so lovely looking at green everywhere. (Not so lovely for the allergies though...)

We want to shout out a goodbye to our good friend Bobbi! We miss you already!! (These "flowers" were for you Bobbi, but somehow never made it out of the car...)

A Good Beach Day

A Sunday Afternoon Walk

I've decided my body is in desperate need of exercise. My extent of any physical activity now solely involves running around after a small, energetic child. That's it. Because it wears me out so, it must be enough exercise, right?  Sadly, I have come to realize that it's just not. But when to fit in this exercise?! I can't bring the little one; it's too cold and windy this time of year. Waking up before she wakes up to squeeze some physical activity in would mean I'm up at 4 a.m. No thank you. So I guess I have to just snatch up the one or two times a week I may be able to get out alone.

I used to be a runner and hope that someday soon I will get back into it. But walking is perfect for now. It allows me to marvel at the red apples still hanging from the apple trees; surviving through wintry blizzards, wind storms, and hail.

Or soak up every detail of New England architecture, staring longingly at the house a half mile down the road from us that I have completely fallen in love with. It's original broken windows, the peeling pant on the clapboards, the crooked front steps, and rotting foundation. But I love it so and often imagine fixing it up and  moving ourselves in. It's for sale too. Anyone want to be our neighbor?

The bits and pieces of life abandoned over the years; half buried in snow, waiting for nature's next season and to be enveloped in green grass once again. It amazes me to think of the history this land has. The people who lived here, who worked here, the animals that grazed the land,  and the children who ran among the trees. It's humbling to think that we are only a small piece of a very large picture.

The exercise was much needed and the breaths of fresh air revived my energy. It only seemed fitting to top it off with a slice of flourless chocolate torte, complete with homemade whipped cream. Yes, I think this exercise thing will become a regular occurrence.

Little Things From the Green Room

I had the pleasure of doing a swap with Lizz from ZooLooNaturals. The little one is so incredibly smitten with our dog Macaulay, but due to a slow paralysis of his hind legs, he is not able to join us upstairs very often. I can tell she misses him and it makes our time with him even more special. It's hard to witness the aging of a beloved pet. A big dog going on twelve, he is still like a puppy in every other way. I can tell he is confused and scared about his sudden fight to control his back legs, and it's so hard to sit by and watch knowing I can't do a thing about it. So Lizz agreed to do a custom wooden figure of Macaulay! I think the little one will be very excited about it and I can imagine the play that will ensue.

So for Lizz I made a custom pair of pants for her little one. The yellow print is a heavy cotton and I love the look of it with the brown corduroy. I also included a little something extra, but unfortunately forgot to photograph it before packing it up.

I've been promising an outfit for my niece in Utah. She's going on three now and her mother informed me that she only likes "comfy" clothes. So a soft pair of flannel pants and a matching cotton shirt should do the trick. The little one still loves her "squirrel" pants and insists on wearing them when our little visitor climbs up to the deck to eat the birdseed.

And isn't this shirt lovely? It's made with organic cotton by Speesees with a flock of birds on the front. It came from one of my favorite places: Edith & Edna in Portland. Above is the little one pointing to the birds. She loves it as much as I do. Now if only they came in bigger sizes...

Welcoming Home Friends

Our neighbors just returned from their yearly trip to Cambodia to do some amazing work with the foundation they started. I hope to interview them soon about their work for a future post. They truly are a very inspirational couple and we've been so lucky to have them as friends and neighbors. I decided to put aside my work in the green room for some baking while the little one was napping. I used my favorite gluten, sugar, soy, dairy, egg-free chocolate chip cookie recipe. It's amazing and always produces delicious results.

Can you read that recipe above? I hope so. I'm much too lazy to type it out. Basically you mix all the wet ingredients separately from the dry. Combine and stir well. DO NOT taste the batter. It is absolutely revolting and you will never believe the cookies will actually be edible. I use this mix which I think provides good results. I also use agave nectar or honey in place of sugar. Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes or so.

They look like real chocolate chip cookies, don't they?! They taste a lot like the real ones too.

So when the little one awoke, we packed up the cookies and a card I made (using a photo of Fred's lovely woodpile) in her favorite basket, grabbed a cookie for the road and bundled up.

We took a lovely walk down the road to drop off the "welcome home" basket. The little one insisted on her bike and not the stroller or carrier. Thank goodness it has a handle for me to push it. We had a great visit with Fred and Kitty and heard some fabulous stories about their trip. And to top it off, they loved the cookies and didn't have a clue they were gluten-free until I told them.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the winner of the Bluebird Bag giveaway!

On the Way to the Post Office

We do live in a very beautiful place.

Out

We woke up to a chilly morning yesterday. It didn't deter us from our (almost) daily trip in town. Even being an introvert, I have found that I need to get out daily to be energized. It gets me motivated for the day ahead and I'm more productive. The twenty minute drive never becomes a chore for me. Lately the little one has been using the "sunglasses" her cousins gave her when the sun is in her eyes. It's amusing to peek back and see two pink hearts staring at me.

The music for the road is always different. Yesterday was a Steely Dan kind of day. I've played their music countless times in combos and have fallen in love with their unique sound. This song was a favorite of mine; I not only played the trumpet, but I also sang. A lot of fun and many good memories.

The drive is mostly pastures with farm houses here and there. We point to the trees, to the houses, to the birds flying above, and slow way down when we get here. We have to almost come to a complete stop to say "hi" to the cows and make an insane amount of mooing noises. Only then can we move on...

I've never really enjoyed driving, and having a little one that usually needs to be entertained while on the road doesn't make it any easier. But there's something about this drive that is meditative to me. The rolling hills, the people who always seem to be outside regardless of the weather that offer a wave and smile, the cows busily munching on their piles of hay, the frozen lake, the dips and turns through pines and meandering through fields of snow. It's all so peaceful and certain. It's always there; no matter what.

So the drive has become a relaxing and soothing activity. The little one knows exactly where we are and where we are going. She starts mooing 100 ft. before we even see the cows. I'm sure the drive has become a stable and expected part of her routine as well. When we finally reach town there is much clapping in the back seat, followed by enthusiastic pointing as we pass over the river. She knows what comes next.

A Walk In the Woods

Please note that the time of my shop update has changed. Have a lovely weekend!

A Weekend Trip

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.

Girls' Night Out

For a couple of months now, some local crafty ladies and I have been getting together for a girl's night out. I've always found it difficult to find people I can truly connect with, but since moving to this area I have found the greatest bunch of very talented, intelligent, and fun-loving women. We always have a blast and there's never a shortage of good food and laughter.

Saturday night was our holiday party. The boys were invited too, although they spent most of the time warming up by the bonfire outside. (Did you know you could buy a burn permit online with your debit card, just minutes before lighting the fire?! Very cool.) We exchanged gag gifts, the ladies did a holiday ornament swap, and we just hung out chatting and eating the night away.

We warmed ourselves by the wood stove. It was a particularly chilly winter night and a bad storm was expected to hit any hour. I kept peeking outside expecting to see snowflakes falling, but they held off until early morning.

We discussed sewing, life in general, babies, houses, and Maine winter gear. Above is the marvelous Rhea sporting her leg warmers. If I knew how to knit anything other than a scarf I'd make myself a pair. I can see these becoming a must-have accessory in my wardrobe this season.

And introducing our littlest member of the group. He's always sleeping and we joke about never seeing him actually awake. It's so calming to glance over and see a sleeping baby in the midst of all the talking and laughter.

I really feel honored to have found these wonderful ladies. The welcomed break from parenting and life's stresses is always much needed and much remedied by the fun we have together. I look forward to many more nights like these in the future. Thanks gals.

A little holiday celebrating

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.

A Morning To Myself

It's becoming a rare treat to have a morning to myself. With all of the house projects and winterizing activities going on, I am with the little one seven days a week. But Saturday I was delighted to do a little shopping on my own, complete with a stop at a fabulous flea market. I always feel a tinge of guilt walking out the door, while the little one stands bewildered holding her arms out so I will take her with me. She doesn't quite get that mama can leave without her. But she's much too independent and soon forgets I'm even gone. Still, I usually rush through my errands, ignoring the fact that I need moments away from her to be a better mama.

But on this trip, I enjoyed every moment. I walked up and down the aisles, visiting the same booths over and over again to stare at the wonderful vintage treasures I longed to take home with me. I think I picked up the same bowl at least four times on my trips around the vast building, staring at its lovely sea-green color, debating whether it should join the others on the shelf in my kitchen. This basket and the vintage linens and fabric scraps inside were a find at a local thrift store I stopped at first. 

This apron? A deal for sure, and can I say how fun it was to make pancakes the next morning wearing it? Why don't more people wear aprons? They're fabulous!

This apron's rick-rack was hand sewn. I love turning it over and looking at the not-quite-perfect zigzag stitching on the back. There is something so meditative and rewarding about sewing by hand. I must do more of it.

And I was completely overjoyed to find this bit of vintage fabric. I love it.

I was happy to take my time that morning. I completely let go of all the guilt and just told myself to "be in the moment." I stopped to get a latte, pulled off the road to visit any antique shop that I pleased and really enjoyed having the time to myself. When I got back home I was ready for another week of parenting. I was more centered and able to be fully present for the little one. All of the goodies I came home with? A nice bonus, that's all.

First Snowfall

*Not such a quiet post today. Sometimes I just can't keep my word!*

Amazing the difference a year can make. Last year the little one was not too impressed with the snow. But this year? Well, as soon as she woke up from her nap and saw the window, she screamed in excitement and ran to it to get a closer look.

Of course, we had to go outside. As I opened the door you could see the delight on her face. How fun it must be to really see snow for the first time. Quite fitting it should snow today, the same day our special order Winter book by Gerda Muller arrived at our local bookstore. (See that dog on the front page? That's "Twister," Elisabeth's special friend. The coffee shop is attached to the bookstore and we visit everyday. Need I say more?!)

While playing in the snow, Elisabeth discovered that it's also good for eating. I'm surprised this picture even came out as the camera was jumping up and down from my laughing. She insisted on eating all the snow off of every  solar light along the walkway. 

With the snow today and Thanksgiving quickly approaching, I'm definitely getting into the holiday mood. I felt so much excitement today, just like I remember as a child. Now, if I could only find time to work on all the gifts for Christmas...

On Our Walk

Expect some quiet posting this week. There is much to do around the house to prepare for the winter ahead and even more sewing to take place. I'll be back to regular posting next Monday.

A long walk with the little one just before sunset. A stop to look at the sun's golden rays on the apple tree and to touch some winter berries. A quiet, peaceful break in the midst of a hectic day. A chance to recharge and catch our breath. Much needed by both.

A Walk In the Woods

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!

The Morris Farm

Yesterday we took a trip to the Morris Farm in Wiscasset. It's just a quick drive from our house and I've never taken Elisabeth there before. We met at our friend's house and walked to the farm with the little ones in their strollers.

When we arrived, there was a baby chick in a cage by the door. Elisabeth immediately spotted it and remained fascinated by it for the next 20 minutes. No fear, this one. Stuck her fingers right in the cage and let the chick peck her.

The chick seemed as amused by her, as she did by it. It came up to her when she knelt down to see it and didn't leave after discovering that she had no treats in her hand. I told Stephen that our plans to get chickens next spring is a must-do.

We walked around some more and saw sheep. I later learned that they have a spinning class next month at the farm, undoubtedly using their sheep's wool. I plan on looking into that further...

And two horses came to say hello on the path. Elisabeth acted as if they were just a really big Mac (our dog) and gave them both a pat on the side.

We checked out the goodies.

And lastly, we looked at all the pumpkins. Elisabeth had her eye on one, but we would have needed an extra stroller for the ride home.