Bluebirdbaby

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Our day kinda looked like this ::

The morning started with seeing what the sleepy fairies brought the little one. Sasa went to work super early for our town's yearly "Early Bird Sale" which meant whoever could wake up and go shopping in your pajamas at 6 a.m. got quite a deal. The little one and I were semi-early birds, but we still had to get through our morning routine before we left. Sasa? He was up at 4:30 today! Poor guy!

We had a visit from one of our favorite friends who joined us for painting day. We introduced purple today (guess who requested that?!) and painted quite a few pictures. We had applesauce bubbling away on the stove and all sat down for a nice snack after. The little one loves to "turn" the sauce in the mouli mill.

We were headed to the big city tonight for a special family dinner at my mother's house. The little one got nice and clean before we left and ended up spending an hour and a half in the tub! Just long enough for me to read through my new camera manual and figure out that silly video recording feature. I had no idea it would be so  much fun!! Maybe you'll be seeing videos soon...

And we enjoyed a lovely evening at Baba's. Now we're home, ready for bed, and off I head to work tomorrow bright and early.

I hope you are all enjoying your weekend!

What a Good Day (again!)

Oh, what a fun day! And it's not even over. I sit here at 4 p.m., already having fixed dinner, the little one is completely engrossed in creative play, and I have a moment. I have a moment! I went through the photos of our day and couldn't help but feel so inspired. It was a good day. A really good day. The little one and I started off our day with the above :: a little snuggling in the morning sunlight with some good books and tea. What a great way to start the day!

After our snuggling it was time for our nature walk. We had a very special activity planned for this afternoon, so we were on a leaf collecting hunt. We wanted to find the prettiest leaves we could to dip in melted beeswax and preserve them for future crafts and our nature table. So we went all over town looking for the best leaves ever, and we found them! We also had to stop for a hot cocoa and a pink balloon (oh no...please tell me pink is not after purple!).

We got home and spread our loot out on the table. The beeswax was melted in a pot and placed on the table ready for dipping. The little one and I took turns dipping our leaves in the wax. The end result was so pretty! We also tried a couple of flowers which turned out lovely as well. We'll save these leaves for our nature table and maybe a leaf wreath too! Such a fun and easy activity. We plan on making candles with the extra beeswax to use at our meals.

And look what the fairies brought the little one today :: fences for her barn scene! We just love Zoo Loo Naturals! You can find their Etsy shop here! (The animals are from there too!)

What a good day, eh?! And coming up for Friday...a giveaway for the little ones! Yay!

Painting Day

Saturday is our official painting day. We start off our morning with some homemade pancakes (monkey-George style!) and the rest of the morning is filled with fun activities. By lunch, we are all ready for a quiet activity and painting seems to be just the ticket. We clean up, get our painting supplies, and set to work.

For anyone new to Waldorf education, I would highly recommended this book. It has a great section on painting with young children. Our painting board and watercolor paints came from here. We've had the watercolor paints since she was just a year old and they are only now running out! It's a good investment and they are very good quality.

We use the wet-on-wet method. Soak your watercolor paper for a few minutes prior to painting. When it's all ready to go, wipe off any excess water with a dry sponge. The wet paper really allows colors to mix and blend, remaining vibrant or muted depending on how your child paints. The little one paints vibrant paintings, while I tend to have a softer technique. Sasa is right in between!

I just love sitting down together and connecting through an activity we are all participating in. There's nothing like it. I am really looking forward to future painting days! And I just love Ella's idea of an "art installation" and think we will definitely have to try that with the little one soon!

Still Fits

My baby still asks for the sling once and a while. Usually when she's tired or in need of a little extra cuddling. We worked on dinner last Friday with her in the sling. She loves to cuddle, and I love to cuddle, so this works perfectly.

And I couldn't resist pulling up this old picture. I look tired and worn out (probably hadn't showered or slept in days!), and the little one looks a little stunned (that pesky flash...), but it's a gentle reminder of just how quickly time flies. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss those baby days so much.

I hope you're having a happy weekend!!

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!!

Waldorf In the Kitchen

Something I've always struggled with the little one by my side is cooking and cleaning. Children and these two things just never mix; or so was my experience. I always tried to get her to help, but I was usually faced with a little one who just wanted undivided attention. There was a time when we settled into a good rhythm waaaay back when and she would gladly help me cook or sweep. But those days have been long gone.

The little one has required lots of attention lately. I found I was getting nothing done, but was mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the day. This week, after Sasa and I decided it was time for her to be engaged along side of us (which meant she was still getting lots of attention, but it was a structured activity), I rearranged the kitchen a bit to suit her smallness. This is our first step. Her cups, plates, bowls, place mats, napkins, cutting board and crinkle cutter (great for little hands), and silverware are all arranged in a cupboard she can get to easily. She helps set the table at each meal by getting whatever she will need. The brooms and dustpans are lined up along the wall within easy reach. We sweep after preparing the meals (she swept on her own tonight without us asking!) and I find a spontaneous "cleaning" song helps the jobs get done.

I set up a little table for her next to our baking corner. Our "baking day" is now officially on Thursday, so this Thursday morning I had everything set up for making skillet cornbread. I placed each ingredient in a separate bowl (all pre-measured) so she could just pour it in and stir. She did it without help and had the batter in the skillet in no time! I find this approach really works wonders with her. She had a smile on her face the entire time and just loved baking! By the way, this book is wonderful with easy recipes for the little ones.

We also made applesauce while our cornbread was baking. We made up an apple cutting song while we washed, peeled, and cut the apples. The little one sat for a good 45 minutes doing this, so content and happy. I've noticed that when she is having a hard time getting absorbed in an activity, making up a song about it always grabs her attention. Our enamel pots are great for washing. We use them for washing dishes, apples, napkins and place mats, and all kinds of other things!

The applesauce was delicious and guess what the little one started to do while I prepared dinner tonight? That's right...she got out her apple washing and cutting tools and went to work, all on her own!

Most of these ideas were inspired by the book Heaven on Earth, which is one of my favorite Waldorf parenting books. After spending some time in a parent/child Waldorf class this fall, I've discovered that with the use of song, having everything at their level, and involving them in all the household tasks makes the days flow smoother. Our rhythm is set, the little one is happy (so far!), we are getting things done, she's getting the attention she needs and mama is getting the chores done! Yay!

Rhythm to me equals peace. When we find our rhythm, everything is easier. Everyone is happier. What have you found helps your little ones? Do you have any songs that help with household tasks? What about seasonal activities? I'd love to hear!!

And now I'm off to finish up a Halloween costume. Yikes!!

Artful Blogging and a Day of Leaves

I'm super excited to announce that I was contacted by the editor of Artful Blogging this past summer about submitting an article about Bluebirdbaby. I had stumbled across Artful Blogging this past spring when Sasa brought it home for me. I was immediately inspired by the beautiful photos, articles, and just plain amazing quality of the magazine.

So I wrote my article in July, submitted my photos, and waited and waited for the winter issue to come out. I approached the article like I was writing a blog post. Writing comes so naturally to me. I was one of those kids who turned in 20 pages fictional stories to my fourth grade teacher. I love to write. I love to take pictures. And I love spreading the happiness love. So I was thrilled to write a little blurb about Bluebirdbaby for Artful Blogging.

I definitely focused on the happiness I've found through blogging; the amazing amount of support from readers like you, the unexpected and so very sweet e-mails I receive from readers on a daily basis that just make me happy to be alive. Blogging has provided me with a way to focus on the positivity of my days. And the longer I focus on that, write about it and share it with all of you, the more positivity each day seems to hold. It's like some crazy magic spell...blogging makes me happy. You all make me happy. So thank you, thank you, thank you. And please, pick up a copy of Artful Blogging at your local bookstore. It's an amazingly inspiring magazine and you won't be disappointed.

For all you locals, you can purchase it at the Maine Coast Bookshop! (And say hi to Sasa when you do!)

In other news...the little one and I had an amazing day today just chilling at home. More to come tomorrow, but for now I'll share some leaf raking photos. We raked the entire backyard, she and I. And we did a fantastic job, if I do say so myself. She is an expert little raker, and loves to shoo the chickens away from our leaf piles. She is also an expert little leaf pile diver. So much fun. I remember this being my favorite time of year as a kid. Looks like she's following in my shoes...!

Happy Fall! Happy almost Halloween! (Oh gosh... I need to finish a costume!) And Happy Thursday!

Birthday Parties, Craftiness, and Something for You!

My mother celebrated a birthday over a week ago, although we really didn't get a chance to celebrate. So we had her up for a birthday dinner, party, and sleepover. The little one just adores her Baba. The two of them are so similar and just watching them is amazing. So everyone was super excited when Baba arrived at the door and was greeted with a handmade birthday banner and a table full of goodies!

I made her an eye pillow filled with flax seeds and lavender. I added a bottle of lavender essential oil too. It can be heated up or frozen for a cold pack. These things are so handy and so easy to make! I got the eye pillow pattern from here. I downsized it a tad because it was huge. It was a hit with the little one. I'm just waiting for the request to make a purple one...

We enjoyed a yummy dinner made by the amazing Sasa. It was followed by the most delicious apple pie ever! (Should I mention I'm eating another piece as I type this? Yum. He is just so crazy awesome.) And Sasa finally wrote down that gluten-free pie crust recipe and wanted to share it with all of you!

So here it is. Enjoy!...

Sasa's Famous Gluten-free Pie Crust

Sift together ::

• 1 1/4c white rice flour
• 4/3c potato starch
• 1/2 tapioca flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp xantham gum

Blend in until it resembles cornmeal::

• 1 1/2 sticks butter (cold)

Mix ::

• 1 large egg
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 tbs ice water

Mix liquid into dry with fingers until soft dough that can be formed into a ball. Chill 1 hour. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Mom!! You deserve the best one ever. xoxo

I Have A Little Shadow

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow--
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes goes so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make a fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close behind me, he's a coward you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleepy-head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

Robert Louis Stevenson

Just a few cute photos from our latest fall walk. Stay tuned tomorrow for a treat for all you gluten-free peeps! Happy weekend!!

Vintage Goodness and Cookies Too

Thank you all so, so much for your thoughtful comments on yesterday's post. Yes, I agree that seventeen flues in a year is far too many. But I'm working hard everyday to strengthen my immune system. I've been pumping myself with supplements for ages, have adopted a Macrobiotic Diet (heavy on the veggies and fermented goodness), and all that I need now is to get some good rest! Hopefully before the next month is out I will be feeling better. So thank you for all your well wishes and suggestions! I really enjoyed them. xoxo

Yesterday, the little one and I trekked to the famous "Rummage Sale" in hopes of finding something special. I stuck her in the Ergo, pushed my way through hundreds and hundreds of people, and together we managed to find some special things for our home. Remember that bunny from yesterday? That was a score in the "boutique" tent. All the rest took some digging and shoving. I'm particularly proud of the bird prints. I have one more set of four prints to put up someplace special. And the vintage linens on the line this morning? Nothing better! Other scores were :: a vintage tray, some plaid flannel for a scarf I've been putting together, and some nice wooden bowls. Woohoo!

I'm trying to get the little one and I back on a weekly rhythm. It's challenging with our schedules, but I've officially made Friday "baking day," so we set to work baking cookies. She helped me measure and pour and stir and taste and roll and cut. She was part of it from beginning to end, which was a lot of fun for both of us. She has been needing some really structured activities and lots of attention from either Mama or Sasa, so finding little things like this is super helpful.

Have a good weekend!! Hopefully I'll be back with some crafting!

Morning, Noon, and Night

It's been a hectic week here. The little one is still battling croup. I came down with my seventeenth flu since last September. And Sasa is beyond tired and a little sniffly too. So, my apologies for my absence. I do hope it won't be long until we're all back on our feet, well rested, and ready for fun! For now, here's a little glimpse of our day today...

:: Morning ::

:: Noon ::

:: Night ::

What have you all been up to this week? And what kinds of activities do you do to keep sick little ones (with tons of energy) still and entertained?!

Oh, and a big thank you to Juliana and Joel for the yummy soup! It really saved us these last two nights...!

A Memory

Something I want to remember forever ::

My babe tossing and turning last night in the midst of croupy coughing fits, finally stops moving and says, "Mama?" I look over...she's fast asleep. Talking in her sleep again, I suppose. She's been doing that a lot lately. I close my eyes, ready to let sleep fall over me again. As the gentle light fades I hear, "Mama? I want to be just like you."

I smile. My heart melts. I open my eyes once again, look over, and she's fast asleep in dreamland. 

"No, my little one. I want to be just like you."

And I fall asleep, a happy, grateful mama to one special little girl.

A memory I will forever keep in my heart.

The 411 :: Our Style

I get a lot of people asking me about my clothes, or rather my look. I buy mostly thrifted items, but staples usually are bought new like jeans and tank tops. So here's a little glimpse into my style and how to achieve the Bluebirdbaby look ::

• layer, layer, layer
• leggings are very handy
• skirts (the comfier the better) over leggings or jeans
• long tank tops under all shirts
• comfy top over tank top
• finish off with a sweater
• scarves (knit for colder weather or silk/cotton for inside)
• long necklaces
• funky earrings (for locals...try Mexicali Blues)
• hats, hats, and more hats (I am a wicked hat gal. The one above is from Kindred)
• my "leggings" above were made from an old shirt. I just hacked off the arms and put them on my legs. Cozy, upcycled, and funky at the same time. Yay!
• shoes (I prefer Keens, my vintage cowboy boots, and Simple. They are all super comfy and last forever and can be worn with anything.)
• long jersey or sweater dresses over leggings or jeans is another fav of mine
• short style sweaters over long shirts, or short sleeve sweaters over long sleeved shirts is something I often adorn
• I really want to add these and these to my wardrobe

To achieve the mini Bluebirdbaby style ::

• anything purple
• anything striped
• anything polka-dotted
• preferably all three together

I guess the little one has an easier time getting dressed in the morning. But at least I'm guaranteed to be warmer with all those layers!

Our Day

We spent the day taking it easy. A croupy toddler prompted this "wellness tray" that could be carried from room to room. It was packed with everything to make croup a little more tolerable, lots of miso soup, and some chamomile tea with honey.

Lots of laundry. I always get a kick out of folding the little one's clothes...one pile of purple, another of stripes and polka-dots.

Working on the little one's costume during some quiet time. Any guesses as to what she requested to be?! And finally, the book I've had on pre-order for months has finally arrived! Yay! Now if I can figure out a way to re-size all the patterns to fit me!

Taking pictures of the little one while she takes pictures of me. I bought her this very cheap digital camera to see how she liked having her own. It's definitely a hit, although I'm not too thrilled with the quality. She sure is a budding photographer despite lack of megapixels!

And lastly, Kiwi stole the little one's laundry basket, so she naturally had to steal mine.

We ended the day with a yummy spaghetti supper. Have you ever tried this sauce? It has whole cloves of garlic in it! Yum! After supper was a new favorite game, designed by Sasa's sister. Have you ever checked out eeboo? I just adore this. It's on my wish list for the little one.

Have a happy rest of the week!!

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!

Our Weekend

Our weekend kinda went like this ::

It was awesome, fun, busy, crazy, silly, full of love and laughter, and it's coming to an end. I have so many pictures to share, so many things to say, but I've just finished shooting a 7+ hour wedding and my body and mind are exhausted, so it will all have to wait. But I couldn't resist these cute pictures of the little one!

I hope you all enjoyed the weekend! I hope to share more this coming week!

What's Happening

There's been a lot of construction going on around here. They've torn up our streets, replaced water pipes and other various plumbing things, and will be starting to rip up the old sidewalks soon too. All this construction means tractors everywhere! We wake up to see tractors literally parked outside our front door with very inviting (and empty) seats. The tractors seem to like our house so much that they sleep over almost every night, which means the little one has unlimited access to all this construction fun. And boy, does she take advantage of it!

We've switched around her play area to provide a cozy corner for her dollhouse and barn, which opened up some space for all her art supplies. It's nice to have her table and desk in the same area, and since this little gal is all about the coloring, painting, and cutting/gluing, this space gets a lot of use!

To display her artwork, I took some clothespins and backed them with sticky tacky and stuck it to the wall. Instant art clip! And it's easily movable too. She walked into the room and said, "Mama...are those my paintings on the wall? The purple one is my favorite!" She was so proud!

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 :: Things That Bring Me Joy

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

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

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

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

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

30 Days of Happiness :: She's 3

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

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

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

30 Days of Happiness :: Fairy Parties

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

30 Days of Happiness :: Birthday Shoes

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

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

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

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

Stay tuned for more birthday celebration fun!!

30 Days of Happiness :: Painting With My Girl

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

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

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

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

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

What brought a smile to your face today?

30 Days of Happiness :: Making

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

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

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

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

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

We hope you're enjoying the weekend!

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

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

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

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

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

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

30 Days of Happiness :: Sewing With My Girl

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

It's A Good Day

Well, I just got over a flu. A summer flu? Really?! So I'm a little behind on catching up here. Okay...I'm a little behind on just about everything. Life is crazy busy right now. Good, but busy. I'm sure you've all noticed that nothing has been sewn lately. My creative energy is going into photography and writing at the moment. Oh, and parenting. Let's not forget that!

But I wanted to just share with you some little bits from our day today. Our "very good day," as the little one would say. There was some walking, biking, flea marketing, swimming, porch play, chicken bonding (oh yes...we have baby chicks!), visits from neighbor cats, and some good eatin' (cheese with truffles, rice crackers, artichokes with dip, gazpacho with pesto...yum!).

Top it all off with a yummy dinner, lots of play time after, some good reading before bed, and actually getting the little one to sleep without a three hour bedtime routine, and well...you have a recipe for a very good day!

Things That Make Me Happy

It's a busy week for us here. Lots of work, lots of play time with the little one, and then more work. I'm exhausted already! But I didn't want to let a few days pass by without checking in here. So this is my happy post. All these things make me so very happy. When the little one is gone for days at a time, I pull out these photos and her energy comes shining through. She is such an amazing little one. I hope these photos bring a smile to your face too!

::That face ::

:: Late afternoon jumping on the bed during a thunderstorm (we turned on really loud music and danced around so the thunder wouldn't be so scary) ::

:: Indoor rainy day play. Gotta love the down winter coat! ::

:: Afternoon baking. Lots of cookie eating. Delivering cookies to neighbors and friends down the road ::

So what makes you all happy?

Winners (and some cuteness!)

Thanks for all the Bearkat love! Gosh, I had no idea just how many people were on the search for some good music. I'm so glad I could put Katy's work out there. She's really amazing! So...without further ado, my random number generator (Sasa) picked three winners. He chose numbers 16, 69, and 148 ::

# 16 ::

I'm always looking for new indie folk/rock!

Posted by: Ms.Cleaver | July 17, 2009 at 10:37 AM

#69

My goodness! She's excellent! I would LOVE her CD.

Posted by: Kelly | July 17, 2009 at 04:59 PM

#148

Ooh, fun! I could use some new summer tunes. Fun give-away!

Posted by: megbrothers | July 19, 2009 at 01:08 PM

So ladies...please send me an e-mail and I'll get your Bearkat goodness in the mail to you! Thanks to all who entered. Stay tuned for next Friday's super awesome giveaway!

And because I couldn't let myself post without photos, here is my little fish, enjoying the cool lake on a warm day. She is quite the swimmer and loves to be in the water. Luckily, we're five minutes from a beautiful lake with a great little beach. So enjoy my little fish/model, doing what she does best: enjoying life.

Enjoy the start to your week!

More Rainy Days

So, I guess we're dealing with some seriously rainy weather. I think we last saw the sun for a full day in early June. That seems forever ago! There have been no trips to the beach, no picnics by the river, and no bike rides through town. It's cold, wet, and dark. So what's to do when you're dealing with day after day of this stuff? Well, head down to the big city for a trip to the museum! We had lots of fun and even forgot it was raining outside.

Here's hoping the sun will come out soon. I'd love to know what you all do for rainy day activities??! We're running out of ideas!

Oh, and stay tuned for an Etsy update. Woohoo!

It's a Good Day for Everything

I wish I had more appropriate pictures for this story. But these photos were taken today after we decided it was a "good morning for a trip to the playground." Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me on our kite flying expedition. The last one is an oldie, but my favorite.

This afternoon we found our kites in the outdoor toy box. We decided a trip to the cemetery was in order for some kite flying. I put the little one in the Ergo and off we went. On our walk down, she squeezed me tight and said, "Mama, today is a good day for kite flying!" I felt the humidity creep under my clothes and was wishing there was more of a breeze. I said, "I hope so, sweetie. We will definitely try."

We got to the cemetery where the big field is and I tried so, so hard to get that kite up. It just wasn't windy enough. The little one was running all around trying to get her "baby kite" to fly. I think she was having just as much fun trying as she would flying. She looked over, out of breath and halfway across the field, and yelled, "Mama, it's a good day for flying kites, isn't it?"

Just then a cold front moved in. I was suddenly shivering in my sweater, jeans, and wool socks. The wind picked up and I could hardly keep that kite under control. It flew up and up and up. It kept going until it seemed like our entire little town could see it. The little one beamed and we took turns holding the string. I looked over at her and said, "Hey sweetie, it's a great day for flying kites."

We flew that kite for two hours. We rolled down the hill through the buttercups and daisies. We searched for four leaf clovers. We pretended we were dogs and ran on all fours. We stopped at the pond to throw rocks and look for frogs. And then I carried her back home, with her arms around my neck and her head nuzzled into my chest. As we approached the house she looked into my eyes and said, "Thanks for the good day" and kissed my lips.

No my little one, thank you for the good day.

Everyday she teaches me more and more about life, about living, about joy, and about myself. Everyday I get to spend with her is amazing and I am so very thankful for every second we are together. I am the person I am today because of her. Motherhood has pushed me out of my shell, it has made me more compassionate and loving, it has taught me how to be comfortable with myself, it has taught me to believe in myself, it has taught me what's important, and it's taught me how to live life to its fullest. How could anyone ask for more?

Yoga Babe

I had the pleasure of photographing a children's yoga class as a partial trade for the little one's toddler/mama yoga classes. Now, the little one had her own idea of what was fun during those classes. It didn't so much involve yoga, but more licking the mirror and running around in circles. So when she had enough of that, we moved on and decided yoga would best suit her if it was in the form of gymnastics.

But what happens when you add big kids to a yoga class? Well, you get one toddler who is insanely interested in doing each and every yoga pose in an hour long class. You get a toddler who wants to sit on the meditation cushion and listen to a story. You get a toddler who drinks her tea while seated and staring intently at what the bigger kids are doing. And you get one mama who stares in bewilderment that mirrors aren't being licked and requests to jump from the tallest cushion aren't being heard.

So mama clicked away while the little one did downward dog, cat pose, and sat with her legs crossed looking completely blissful. She adored those big kids and she learned that she really adores yoga. And in the car on the way home, I kept looking back to to see her beaming and saying proudly, "Mama, I did yoga with real big kids!'

Yes, sweetie, you sure did. And you were really good at it too!

On Our Walks

If you lived in our little town, you'd be sure to see the little one and I walking everywhere. People probably think we don't own a car. I even walk up to her preschool pushing an empty tricycle (getting many weird looks) a mile to pick her up. And the little one would rather be walking around town exploring than anything else.

Each spring, I am amazed again and again at the beauty everywhere. The little one has grown so fond of road side flowers; specifically dandelions, lilacs, and buttercups. We pick flowers for everyone: the staff at our favorite little bookshop and cafe, my coworkers at the co-op, the people at our favorite restaurant, and just about anyone walking down the street. Not to mention every surface in our house!

Thank goodness for sun, pretty flowers, and spring. We are loving every minute of our days! I hope you are too!

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.

All In a Weekend

The first lawn mowing, flowers blooming everywhere, a high of 70 degrees, tank tops, shorts, bare feet in the grass, playing the guitar on the back porch while soaking in the sun, swinging and sandbox playing after dinner, long walks, a bit of sewing, lots of spring cleaning, writing some new tunes, taking lots of pictures, another trip to the big city for a great concert, homemade coconut milk ice cream, the first sunburn of the season, waking up early to get to work, pumping up the bike tires for the seasons first ride, smelling that freshly-cut-grass smell, creating a new c.d. mix perfect for summer days, and just enjoying every little bit of sun and warmth this weekend had to offer.

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 Milestone

Well, the little one has said "bye-bye" to diapers. In one day she potty trained herself. Since Wednesday, she's been out of diapers. I can't believe it. I don't even have to bring her to the potty...she just disappears upstairs and moments later I hear the toilet flush. She's a quick one, I tell ya.

She's very proud of herself, but this new independence has also been trying. She's growing increasingly stubborn and the potty training has certainly interfered with naps and bedtime. But I think in another couple of weeks it will be all sorted out. I really can't believe how easy it was.

We had a little "potty party" for her last night, complete with chocolate cupcakes and homemade whip cream (which she made herself!) and we made up a potty song. She's so proud of herself...she tells everyone "I pee in the potty!" quite enthusiastically.

But it seems we are not quite leaving diapers behind for good. Oh no. Apparently she has attached herself to this brand new pack of diapers. It's her new "baby" and she brings it with her everywhere, even to bed! She named it "Abby" and loves to read her books, sing her songs, feed her dinner, and make Sasa give her a bath. It's the funniest thing to watch her lug this bag of diapers with her everywhere. She also decided that "Abby" doubles as a great cushion!

So adios diaper changes! I am so proud of her...!

Sledding

We've got snow. Lots of it, in fact. Actually, according to the little one we have "too much snow" to even sled properly. So after about five minutes of being pulled around the yard, she made it loud and clear that the excessive amount of snow was too much to handle. So inside we went! But I did manage to snap a few pictures of our activities before my frozen fingers refused to press the shutter release. Ah, winter...

Making Christmas Cookies

It's been a while since I've done any holiday baking (with the gluten-free challenge and all...nothing ever tastes the same) but living with a baker definitely has its perks! Tonight we decided to bake some sugar cookies. The little one was a great help and insisted on putting most of the sprinkles on herself. The end result? Definitely very yummy! Next week: gingerbread cookies!

The New Digs

So, the closing was today. The home is ours! We spent a couple of hours in the house tonight, just soaking it all in and unpacking the few boxes that my friend's parents had brought over while we were at work. It's the quirkiest little house ever and I'm so in love with it. I've never felt more at home than in this house. Even when it's empty, it feels remarkably similar to the home I grew up in. With the large windows overlooking town and the high ceilings, it brought back many memories of my childhood.
So much of this house was left untouched over the years. It was built in the 1850's. It has no light switches, so we need to fill it with lights. Unpacking in the dark was rather challenging! And it doesn't even have a shower...just a big clawfoot tub! The wallpaper and vinyl flooring will be all ripped up. The first thing I did was take down all the curtains.
The entire back yard will be converted to a veggie garden, with a small play area for the little one and a fenced in area for the chickens, goats, and ducks.
My friend and I spent three days last week traveling from thrift shop to flea market to antique store to Goodwill to Salvation Army, and found some absolutely amazing vintage finds that I can't wait to share with you! So stay tuned for redecorating and house updating info and some sewing too! I can't wait to get my machine out again...

Click on the photos for more information.

And thank you all so much for your continued support and sweet comments. I've never been so at peace before. I feel like my entire life has been spent in a tense state, and all of a sudden I am sighing a big sigh. And I think I will forever continue to do that. I am so content and so happy and so in love with my life. And I have a tremendous amount of faith in the universe and all the goodness in the world. I feel incredibly lucky. So thank you for joining me on this journey. I'm glad I can share it all with you!

Giving Thanks

I don't typically get that excited about holidays, and have never really focused on "giving thanks" for anything in a serious manner around Thanksgiving. But this year, I feel thankful for so many things. I woke up yesterday morning feeling like it was Christmas. I felt that same excitement I did as a little child as I ran to the Christmas tree. We woke up to a yard full of frost that almost looked like snow, and there was such a feeling of festivity in the air. I went the whole day thinking how lucky I was and how thankful I am for everything and everyone in my life. There is just so much to be thankful for...

The little one's first television viewing. I haven't had television in 6 years, so the little one has never seen a show on t.v. or a commercial for that matter. But there is cable where we are staying, and we turned it on for the first time to view the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. The little one thoroughly enjoyed the dancing and singing before the parade started. She kept getting annoyed by the commercials and requested "more people!!!" every two minutes.

A Thanksgiving Day morning walk. We hiked over 3 miles with two friends while the little one stayed unusually content in her backpack. The weather was mild and the rain held off. We enjoyed some gorgeous views and it felt great to get some exercise.

Thanksgiving dinner at the sweetest little house ever, with some lovely company. It was a very low-key, relaxed day and we all had a lot of fun. One of the nicest parts was the fact that the pies, stuffing, and side dishes were gluten-free! So I had my first complete Thanksgiving meal without a lot of pain afterward!

An after dinner walk down to the ocean where the little one found a "choo-choo train". The walk seemed to finally tire her out, so she slept on the car ride home and remarkably fell asleep once placed in her bed at home.

And I am thankful for a new place to live, which will hopefully happen this coming week! The little one and I are so excited. We'll be sharing the house with a friend, and I promise to update you with all the renovations/redecorating that goes on. The little one has requested a "green and purple" room...any ideas on how I could make that work?! And you know...there will be a new sewing studio to put together and I am very excited about a new color/theme for that! And soon there will be some craftiness happening on this blog again. I am just itching to get back to sewing! There is just so much to be thankful for!

I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one. Enjoy the weekend!

A Visit to the Farm

My friend (and coworker) is building a house and invited the little one and I over to see the progress. Her parents live on a big farm with beautiful gardens, apple trees, four pigs, two horses, and chickens just down the road. So we spent some time at the farm exploring. I was sent home with a stalk of brussel sprouts, kale, and beets. Not to mention our weekly trade of duck eggs for garlic and potatoes. I think I'll have a happy belly all winter long!

The little one especially loved discovering the toys inside that were tucked away in a corner. I've noticed a huge difference in her play since she started preschool in September. She is more engaged and happily plays away for long stretches of time. I've also noticed that the less toys there are, the more she plays. I'm thinking about going through a lot of ours and dwindling them down to a few. Most just sit in the baskets or on the shelves unused. Blocks, her new ukulele, her wooden farm family, and her cars are the most played with. Everything else just seems to go unnoticed! Has anyone else found that having less toys encourages more play?

And we have been regularly putting on performances for anyone who will listen of this song. This is the very song I sang the other month with the guitarist at a local barn gig. The little one insists I play the ukulele while she bangs away on her mini piano. So far she's received some very enthusiastic clapping for her talents. Maybe she'll join me on stage next time!

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!

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!