rainy, windy, long weekend...

This past weekend was rainy (most of the time) and windy (all of the time). The littlest got her very first big bike. It's a bit big for hr but she has room to grow into it. It's not exactly the best biking weather right now, anyway.

  The pillows on the couch had been bothering me. I don't even want to post a pic of their ugliness before I recovered them. I did like the fabric I had used on them (about a year ago, when we first moved in) but then after they sat there for a few months, I realized I didn't like it at all. A change was needed. I saw Anna Maria Horner's new innocent crush fabrics and was smitten! I used 2 of the innocent crush fabrics and a few other pink & orange bits I had in my stash. I'm happy with the new pillow covers. Someone didn't want me to take a picture of just the pillows....

   I also got so super sucked into Friday Night Lights and spent waaaay too much time streaming on netflix (every episode is on there!!). I've heard about this show for some time but stayed far away because... Well, I was raised in a football family, my Grandpa was a very successful high school football coach, and I was never into it. My Grandpa was cool w/ that and supported me. I never really understood or liked the competitive, male dominated attitude that many of the players, fans (and too many other family members) had... I was just really not into football at all, still don't care for it but this is a good show. And Tim Riggins? Hello, second coming of Jordan Catalano!
  But today, no tv watching...  I need to get busy and be productive! Time to take pics and list on etsy, make a lace curtain and bake cookies w/ my gal! My little lady really wanted me to post this pic of the frozen yogurt (do it yourself-by weight) we got yesterday. She was very into it. We're in trouble now...
Ok, friends, off to work! Happy Tuesday (that feels like a Monday)!

where is away?

saw this today and though it was beyond inspiring and certainly something my family needs to be mindful of...

snow melt

  Our snow was brief and oh so fleeting. So lovely all Tuesday night, looked a bit wimpy once the sun came up, resembled a grey slurppie by lunchtime and gone completely before dinner. sigh... I have often fantasized about long Maine (or New Hampshire or Vermont or Wisconsin or...) winters and, having spent half my life growing up in Southern California, I should simply be grateful for the bit we got...  but I want MORE! More snow play, more cozy cocoa time, more baking... I love how the snow forces people to chill out and slow down.

   Today was mama meet up time. I needed some time with ladies, even though my little one is the oldest and that usually means a bit of trouble/negotiating here and there. There was warm cherry crisp, and I brought blueberry muffins (all vegan & gluten free). I want to find a charitable project for us all to do together so I need to  do a bit of researching.

   The last few days have been difficult for me in the anxiety dept. I find that, day after day of dark skies, really contributes to a gloomy mood for me. I'm trying to make as many plans as possible because, as hard as it is to drag myself out of the house, it almost always helps.  The sun broke through for about 15 minutes today and it was positively magical. My little one keeps going about saying "Sun! Wake up!" in this frustrated tone...

waiting for the snow...

  There have bean big rumors the last few days that a major snowstorm is headed our way. We got a little snow on Monday morning but it melted off by lunchtime. Many people (ahem, my kids) really want a ton of snow. I like snow but it sure increases my chores (um, chicken care mostly).

Monday am snow driving...

 And now, along with the ever present pink sunglasses, my little miss is into bandannas. Like biker style. It's funny.

 Spent some time taking etsy pics before I got distracted by some clothes in need of mending, loads of laundry and a little corner of the basement I got carried away cleaning. Still, progress was made and hopefully there will be some fresh vintage treasures in my shop tomorrow.

 Egg production is a bit sporadic these days. The girls do not enjoy the freezing temps and haven't been delivering the usual 3 eggs a morning. The huddle around the light set up near the nesting box looking very forlorn.

  They got some extra special spinach treats today. I'm going to make them a little dust bath and am thinking of putting a layer of bark beneath the alfalfa that floors their run. The ground gets so wet here and they are such little diggers, on some days it gets quite swampy in there...
  We'll see what the night holds as far as the snow goes. Snow days are sure good cookie baking, cocoa drinking days!
  I try to show my lighter side here but have to say, on a serious note, I'm trying to be here in my home and life right now and not let the shootings in Tuscon seriously affect my anxiety level. It makes me feel so down and introspective... So sad and disturbing on so many levels. I made the mistake of casually looking at a paper at the corner market and am now haunted by it. It breaks my heart. Guns should be far less accessible and mental health care more available. The darkness of our world, at times, can be unbelievable. Holding light in my heart for the families torn apart by violence. Much love, M

breathe...

  Today was one of those days I had to keep reminding myself to breathe. It seems so silly but I really did. When I'm stressed and tense I kind of forget to breathe. I'm working on relaxing, cutting out the coffee, no alcohol, eating well, no sugar, not worrying, appreciating (and just seeing) the beauty around me. It's a constant battle. I've let my yoga and meditation practice slip in the last six months and I need to get back to it, find a balance and remember to breathe deep.
  I've been emerged in the reduction of stuff and just clearing space-letting go, opening up corners. There is so much yet to be done but progress is being made. The fact that I put up a curtain (my closet has door) on a tension rod over the closet doorway make me real happy. It's not too crazy in there but I didn't like laying in bed and staring into the closet. It looks nice now, settled. I've been sneaking away annoying or unused toys little by little. I have to wait until the little one is off to sleep or at the park with her Papa. Her little corners are coming together.

 Over the weekend we got out our wool stash and played with it and felted it into a few small balls. I love the farm-y smell of it.

 before...

 after...

 We ventured downtown and went to the big monster bookstore. I planned on getting a magazine but the one I wanted most (Artful Blogging $14.95!) was too expensive. It was really visually inspiring but it's a big expense to me at the moment. I remember years ago, buying french and italian vogues often, oh how priorities change... sigh. I looked at a couple lovely knitting magazines but all the patterns seemed a bit too ambitious for my skill level at the moment. I'm eager to start a sweater but want to start with something simple.

Tomorrow's Monday, a big working day for me. Looking towards the week with openness & positive vibes.

today was long!

  Today I woke up at 6am, the usual weekday time, but for some reason , the passage of time seemed so dang slow. It was actually really nice. Too often, I'm frustrated by how quickly each day flies by. I had plenty of time to try and tackle the closet of doom (I totally see why the hoarders on that sad reality show start freaking out when they have to go through all their stuff! I only had few extra boxes of random-ness to sort and it was just awful!). I didn't quite finish the closet-I had to stop and take a breather. I spent some time rearranging my little gals play areas. Our house is small but I am figuring out what works and well, less is really more.
  I'm going through all the hidden corners and really trying to make the most of our space and get rid of things we do not need and LOVE. We both sell vintage for a living so it's easy to accumulate so much stuff and become a half-way house to STUFF. It makes me crazy. But I've been making some real progress. I don't look at these special treasures with a need to covet them any longer. I'm excited to pass them on (and even make a little money). I'll start updating my etsy vintage store tomorrow and will be working on continually doing so. That's one of my goals for this year. I need to be less of a lazy occasional etsy lister... I have two big boxes of lovely clothes, jewelry etc. A friend is designing some headers and new business cards for me, now if my camera will just cooperate...
 

 frozen waterfront... We ventured downtown on New Years Day and it was wonderfully uncrowded and COLD. The kids were sliding all over these frozen wooden docks.

 On our way across the waters to visit family... I get real seasick, even on the ferry. I have to stand outside, on the back and let the wind blow in my face the whole time or its curtains for me.

 ice cream... I manage to avoid eating too much ice cream most of the summer but come winter, it's all I want.

 

  Tomorrow will, hopefully, hold plenty of time for organizing and casting on a new hat and trying to figure out what sort of sweater to make-my first! I need to do more than just hats, mittens, wrist warmers, I think I'm ready for a sweater. Maybe a simple one for the little lady...