honeyed heaven

daughter of the moon...

2012-02-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

Taking a bit of a pause for a few days and here is the decreasing cycle of the moon, just in time, giving me extra cause to breathe and nourish things that are already growing. changing. tearing down the old to make way for the new...
I'm thankful there is this:

and let's be honest, this too...

back to deep relaxing... xo m

dream of spring

2012-02-01T21:48:00.000-08:00

Today was such a wonderful bright, and warm day. It really felt like spring and we were able to get outside, fix the fence (it's been falling apart for so long) and take a peek around the garden. The rhubarb is already starting to poke out! I'm hoping the warm days continue because the yard needs a lot of picking up and things need to be done now to get ready for early planting.
I can't wait to have access to fresh food that's waiting just outside the back door. I still have a tiny bit of greens growing but they've been mainly a treat for the chickens.

We've been eating sooo good! I've been true to my regime (with only a few minor slip ups- a glass of wine on occasion, and a coffee or two in the last few months) and it feels good to be vegan and staying off gluten and refined sugar (ok, there has been a secret dark chocolate bar living in the kitchen cupboard for the last week).

My little assistant. She LOVES beads and jewelry and all my tools. I still can't find my wire snips or rosary pliers. She hid them.

Sewing, making, organizing and curating my vintage inventory. Working on my herbal products tomorrow. It has taken me forever to get my packaging, labels, stamps, tape, etc etc... I finally have nearly everything in place and look forward to adding some special treats to the shop... February is gonna be good! xo m

snow bound!

2012-01-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

Last week kept us at home mostly because of the snow (well, I can drive my car in the snow but everything was closed and...) but mainly because of the colds, ear infections etc that were worming their way through our house. It was not good. The snow was so pretty to see but it was difficult to enjoy it super sleep deprived and in the midst of nurse maid duties and trips to the hospital. Our little lady, who is actually quite healthy, has terrible breathing problems when she gets a congested cold. Now we have an inhaler in the emergency arsenal so I'm happy to know it's there if/when we need it.

Some of the snow days were so impossibly grey. Still, the kids managed to get out in it for a bit everyday. It was so so quite. Like everyone disappeared or something. I liked it. Our usually bustling city seemed deserted and small town-ish. Driving was THE BEST! No one was out on the roads. It was delightful, if a little slippery...

I made some progress on the pile of work that needs to be finished up before I photograph and put them into the shop. There will be many little spring skirts for pretty little pixie girls! I'm all about the elastic waist-that way the skirt can grow with a girl. Elastic waist is so perfect for ladies under 12 or so!

Here's the crazy cat lady cat face mug that we got at the estate sale up the street (we walked in the snow to get there). Everything was priced ridiculously high but this mug was a quarter and now there are 3 of us that seem to be fighting over using it. I love that it's ladylike china but with a jumbo cat face.

Ok, back to sewing trims on tiny skirts. If the sun is with me tomorrow, I'll take pics and get listing. happy Wednesday friends! xo m

friday link loves...

2012-01-20T21:24:00.000-08:00

There's still a lot of snow on the ground but it's raining and melting and I think things will be back on track tomorrow. It's been hard to really enjoy the snowy prettiness of it all. The little lady has been terribly sick and just as she improved the rest of us came down with (I hope!) the same nasty cold. It seems like the winter is just one cold after another. I've had a lot of time to catch up on internet based things (I had been making a real effort to spend very little time online but with being snowed in and everyone ill... well you know...).

Here's what I'm loving right now:

*ahhh pinterest. what a fun and lovely little time waster! I'm here so check it out...
*netflix kept suggesting united states of tara and I finally gave in and ripped through all 3 seasons in about 5 days. I really enjoyed it but season 3 is kind of a mess...
*will the Ryan Gosling goodness ever end? I hope not.
*I super wanna try this! I hope it works, we'll see.
*this recipe makes me wanna dig out the old crock pot.
*Chelsea Wolfe is so RAD! How did I just know find out about her magicalness?
*I'm wanting to make some valentines paper garlands kinda like this...
*seriously, this lady is amazing!

So tomorrow will find me slaving away at my sewing machine. My etsy store is being pretty (blehhhh) bad this month. I haven't sold a stitch in 10 days (um but I haven't listed anything new since the 9th...) and I'm determined to list a batch of handmade clothes & herbal items next. My calendula/chamomile infused oil was ready today so I can make a few potions with that for the shop... off to sleep. well, maybe not yet, but I need something new to watch...? xo m

snowed in...

2012-01-19T11:53:00.000-08:00

Yes, the snow is here. Seattle is a ghost town, everyone at home on lock down. The lights keep flickering. I actually had to drive out to childrens hospital in the blizzard yesterday morning (an ear infection on top of a nasty cold had my girl coughing like crazy with a high fever) and at first I was scared but it was actually pretty chill and really beautiful and no one was out on the roads. It felt good to try something hard/frightening and push through it to get something done, coming out on the other side just fine!

It was just too cold to stay outside for more than 15 mins or so. I was desperately bribing with cocoa to come back in.

I broke down and had a little coffee (75% decaf) yesterday. so so good!

and this morning, more snow. covering up all the footsteps and trails. It's still snowing hard now and the sky is the darkest grey. It's obviously pretty but I love to get outside and go do things. As much as I'm a homebody, the day is usually punctuated with numerous trips outside of the home.

This picture was taken from inside the chicken run. They are NOT happy about the snow, or the fact that I had to grease down their combs and wattles (we had a few spots of frostbite last year and Sadie lost most of her comb) with vaseline... The hens won't even step into the snow. It's sooo deep!
I guess today is a chane to really clean out the kitchen drawers etc... happy snow! xo m

before the snow...

2012-01-15T09:33:00.000-08:00

There are rumors and whispering that a HUGE snowstorm is headed this way. Weather reports are often wrong, so far we've had tiny dustings of snow. Today it's supposed to get crazy... We'll see. When there's even a bit of snow on the ground, this city pretty much shuts down, at least transportation wise, and the people who are out there driving, really should not be cuz they have no clue what they're doing...

On Friday I was tidying up my sewing area (/playroom/hallway/family room-our house is small and each room is multi-purpose) when the house became awash in the lovliest light! It was as if someone clicked on these perfect pinky-orange floodlights outside and it just came pouring in all the windows. I went to take a closer look of the setting sun out back...

wow!! Happy Sunday relaxing... xo m

eating joyfully!

2012-01-11T08:47:00.000-08:00

After Christmas day I made a renewed commitment to eat super healthfully and prepare mindful meals every day. For me, this means being vegan, gluten free, sugar free, coffee free and alcohol free. I feel like I've been overdoing it with certain things (sugar is a real problem around here!) and I can't really moderate so I need to do a complete ban on problem items and I was vegan from age 10-23 and then when I got pregnant with my first child that conviction wavered. My littlest is very sensitive to gluten so it's best not to have it in the house. So anyways, it's been going well. The kids are happily eating everything I make and enjoying it. It's been fun making and trying new things.

Miso soup with rice noodles, kale and tofu...

phad see ew and panang curry w vegetables.

red beans and rice with avocado and tempeh. salad w tahini (tahini is my favorite thing in the world!)

chickpea curry w rice... (this was a yummy lunch at chaco canyon cafe)

crispy brown rice treats! so good. Just kind of threw together a few things cuz we were all needing a sweet treat.

Crispy rice treats:
5 cups brown rice crisps cereal
1 cup natural peanut butter
2/3 cup sweetener (I used 1/2 agave and 1/2 maple syrup)
pinch of salt
handful of raisins and currants (you could use natural chocolate chips to be really naughty...)

Put cereal in a large bowl. oil a 9x13 baking dish. melt sweetener and peanut butter over low in a small saucepan, add pinch of sugar, combine well. pour over rice crisps. add raisins, currants. mix well. press into dish. pat down firmly. It helps to refrigerate for about an hour it so it firms up well. cut into squares and eat! store in refrigerator.
so super yummy!

Happy Wednesday! xo m

old moon-presley-bowie...

2012-01-08T20:48:00.000-08:00

The first full moon of the year is called the old moon. It also happens to be the birthday of Elvis Presley and David Bowie... yowza... super magic vibes today. I'm gonna do a tarot card reading right now!

oh so pretty! tonight's moon via earthsky.org

Happy Old Moon! xo m

pssst... bluebell and bonnet blog!

2012-01-07T21:22:00.000-08:00

I forgot to mention that I changed my etsy store name from "birds and black fawns" (honestly that portlandia "put a bird on it" skit was the last straw for me clinging to a name that I no longer felt worked) to "bluebell and bonnet". I'll be adding handmade (by me) clothes and herbal bath products (and a few other surprises)in the next few weeks.

Please stop by the bluebell and bonnet blog and follow there for shop updates, special offers and sales.
xo m

moments to meditate...

2012-01-07T09:42:00.000-08:00

The dark and rainy days are here. I've been making an effort to get away and spend some time alone, without the computer, writing and sitting and thinking. Mapping out what I want 2012 to be. I want to be released of my judgements of others and the ability of thoughtless people to get under my skin. One off interaction with someone will cause me to go over and over it in my head. It shouldn't affect me so...

Bath time. Plenty of candles, a little incense, bath salts and rose petals in the tub... ahhhhh. breathing in tranquility. Getting over a cold as well which has turned into a cough, but it's on it's way out.

happy weekending. xo m

12 visions for the year 2012...

2011-12-31T22:48:00.000-08:00

I am constantly making dream lists (ok everything lists but real, true life goal lists also) but I do sit down around dec 30 or 31 and make a list for the new year. I want this year to be fruitful and positive and so so lovely but positive is the BIG word here. So super cool and just like this:

it's gonna happen! Here's a little run down of what I wanna dream for 2012..

1. Don't complain, really! Not at all, it's super boring and no one wants to hear it.
2. Write- a lot. books, letters, zines, etc. and self publish (also submit to places that may pay actual $$$).
3. Go on more dates w/myself.
4. Go on more dates w/my man.
5. Be an amazingly healthy/vegan/gluten free/sugar free/coffee free/alcohol free goddess.
6. No yelling. I will always always keep my cool!
7. Be less critical of others (this is a blanket statement that includes, but is not limited to, hurtful gossip and inane trash talking).
8. Learn to play the pretty blue guitar that I bought at a yard sale last spring. This will most likely involve actual lessons.
9. work work work on making my etsy store super wonderful (big changes are coming and I am excited and recharged!).
10. Be magical. And see magic in other people/places/thing.
11. Clean the basement of doom.
12. keep bees

I am already sure that 1 and 7 will be the hardest but hey, I'm not complaining. Happy new years my friends! xo m

early xmas gift extraordinaire!

2011-12-22T21:54:00.000-08:00

Oh Johnny Jewel. You still rule. Aside from being sweet and adorable...

This guy is a major musical wizard. This appeared today via facebook and I am so very happy to hear it. Happy holidays to me me me! xo m

the winter solstice...

2011-12-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

Happy Winter Solstice friends! Hope you enjoy the darkest day and fest and celebrate the return of the light. It is coming!!

xo m

ch ch ch changes...

2011-12-18T09:59:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to revamp/change the name of my etsy shop for some time. I love vintage but after almost 15 years of selling vintage clothes it's no longer the passionate love affair it once was. I'm much more fulfilled when making things. So, I've been thinking about it, taking classes, researching and visualizing the future and I've formulated a plan. I feel excited and look forward to the changes. There will still be vintage clothes but there will be so much more also! I hope to begin the changes next month, starting with the name change. My shop moniker has been kicking around for over 7 years and I'm pretty over and ready for fresh energy.

Also, My son is turning 13 this month. We had a little party last night. I can't believe I am the parent of a teenager. I still feel like a teen in my own mind sometimes!! It just all happened so quick!

Happy Sunday. I am off to be a productive little solstice fairy... xo m

sunrise of dreams!

2011-12-14T08:39:00.000-08:00

Woke up to this yesterday!! For reals, no fancy instagram filters folks! If the temp and fog and moisture are just right, this is what I see in the fall and winter around 7am. yesssss....

Went to bed last night feeling a little icky, woke up today feeling baaad. Time to put all my herbal home remedies to the test. xo m

the tree!

2011-12-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

Our tree is large! This year we said we would choose a smaller tree but after walking around the tree farm for 45 minutes half of us had very frozen feet (we were wearing thick wool sock, it was cold that morning.) and wanted to get over to the fire by the car and warm up a little. When we got the tree home we had to cut off another foot or so just so it would fit without bending into the ceiling.

These two (super native northwesterners) didn't complain about their feet being cold even once.

ahhh, warmth!!

coconut milk egg nog. So very good! I forgot, I still have some left in the fridge! Would it be delicious to make a black tea late with it? I'm gonna find out tomorrow!

Tomorrow is my last class (of a 5 class series) in herbal home remedies. I'm kind of bummed it's over. I'm trying to discover where this new knowledge will lead me... I'm brainstorming. So many idas about the future!! happy weekending... xo m

fall feast...

2011-12-03T08:20:00.000-08:00

Here our some snaps of our fall feast. It was so delicious and we had all the treats you'd need except, I forgot to take the cranberries out of the fridge! oops..

Staying around home this weekend except we are sneaking away to the tree fields to cut down our own little holiday tree.. Today will be hot cocoa and tea and decorating all day. Happy weekend! xo m

red...

2011-11-28T23:01:00.000-08:00

I'm enjoying the intense rush of inspiration and busyness that begins in fall (although there is never ever enough time in each day!)...

*dress up...

*hibiscus/rose infusion...

*new hair!!!

Happy Monday! xo m

freeeeee shipping at my etsy shop!

2011-11-28T12:20:00.000-08:00

Head on over to my esty shop, birds and black fawns, for free shipping (US orders only) today and tomorrow only. Use the coupon code "FREESHIP" at checkout. Happy cyber monday.... xo m

breathing...

2011-11-21T22:56:00.000-08:00

Spending some time this week really trying to devote myself to work and making an amazing fall feast for the 4 of us. I'm excited and in full on nesting mode. Tomorrow I am going to buy some sort of play structure for these two but where will it go?? There will be rearranging for sure... And more pictures (always more pictures!) for work. Now I need to sit down and make a fool proof master list for groceries and items I can make ahead of time.

Trying to take time to pause and breathe and relax in the midst of all the making... I cannot wait to eat some pumpkin pie! xo m

there will be snow...

2011-11-18T20:24:00.000-08:00

I can feel it in every joint of my body, cold is super seeping in. It feels difficult to get thoroughly warm. Time to change the filters in the heater, oh dear, don't want the heat to just suddenly STOP this year...

So this is what it looks like most days around 3:45 pm. I'm serious. oh the north lands....

icy beach days...

Trying to get all the plants that were in the mus room inside where it's warmer...

These two are still not friends but I think he's trying to be pals with her. Sort of... okay. I'm off to work on some writing. Really should be seeing the new Twilight movie but it's just not in the cards tonight (sob sob...). Tomorrow I hope. xo m

winter is coming...

2011-11-14T12:16:00.000-08:00

I haven't been around this space much lately. I've been fighting of a cold and sinus infection and feeling not inspired to do much but the necessities... I'm determines to feel better and dosing up on elderberry syrup, honeyed teas, and tinctures...

these leaves are everywhere, starting to be replaced little by little with brown pulp... winter is on it's way...

Gluten free bread making experiments. A lot more work than regular bread baking and I've yet to find a recipe I really love. The search continues...

So hard to not bring this guy home. I could easily become a crazy cat lady..

And this guy... Bummed that he can no longer roam around outside. He just can't stop fighting and getting infected wounds/cysts that require (very expensive) surgery. He is not happy about his indoor life one bit.

Biscuits are good!

The best $1.99 ever spent around here...

Loving my once a week coffee fix. Organic, vegan, almond milk, pumpkin spice latte. yes!

The Full Moon was really lovely, especially reflected off the lake. wow wow wow!

Then a Full Moon lantern walk around the lake. So sweet and magical...
I'm visualizing wellness and looking forward to returning energy and less sniffles. xo m

twas Halloween...

2011-11-09T07:20:00.000-08:00

I couldn't not be bloody...

Camera and phone were left at home when we went trick of treating. I only got these the saturday before Halloween when I stepped out to a friends party... xo m

loving autumn...

2011-11-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

I've been absent from this space for awhile... Not intentionally, but I've been immersed in so many projects (dress making, garden tending, reading up on bees and bunnies, making my first quilt, trying to do a redux/clutter clearing in the house/basement that seems neverending-those things each need their own post. soon...) and so much cozy time. It's gotten very cold all of a sudden and it's been raining a lot. I NEED to get my garlic in the ground. today or tomorrow it will happen. Now to sip a little coffee and add a few more pieces to the quilt...

This chicken... No one has ever loved a rubber chicken more!

It's the season of lots of garlic and elderberry syrup every day. I'm taking a herbal home remedies class and learning how to make all sorts of wonderful concoctions! The elderberry syrup is, so far, one of my favorites. Who knew it was so easy, and much cheaper than buying it, to make. We take it in the morning and evening and it tastes sooo delicious that no one complains a bit. xo m

pumpkins...

2011-10-23T08:25:00.000-07:00

So many pumpkins! We went out to the farm last week (our 3 vines produced only 3 tiny pumpkins-we planted them too late). I dream of living out of the city and having all kinds of room like this...

Now off to finish various sewing projects. Happy Sunday. xo m

coal dust woman

2011-10-16T21:13:00.000-07:00

I felt like doing little posting over at my ever so neglected tumblr blog. This space won't be going away it's just that sometimes I feel like posting only a picture or video or different subject matter... so now I have another little thread to sew with...

Now it's back to arranging all these squares into a pleasing arrangement to finish the remaining sections of my first ever quilt. I'm excited, more pictures soon! xo m

happy birthday to me...

2011-10-11T20:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was my birthday and there was a little get together Saturday evening full of sweet friends/family. It was a lovely birthday and birthday weekend to be sure!

Now, I'm bustling with ideas and ready to nestle in for a bunch or Autumn and Winter projects! Looking forward to a year of productivity and completion of many unfinished goals. Here's to staying motivated! xo m

something's gotten hold of my hand, dragging my soul to a beautiful land

2011-10-05T20:57:00.000-07:00

this version of this song makes me melt...

xo m

the fair...

2011-09-30T08:20:00.000-07:00

Oh the fair... The trashy, yet charming. Puyallup fair. The day that worked best for us to go was rainy and gloomy. I like to look around and see the animals and go on a few rides but all the food is so terribly unhealthy and I wish there was a fair like this around here... Still, the kids loved it!

You wouldn't believe how long the line at the deep fried butter stand was. eeeew!

Now we're settling into Autumn. There are a few more yard projects that have to get done this weekend. And then I'll start looking for a good place to pick apples. The place we've gone the last few years isn't that wonderful and has gotten more and more crowded... Any ideas, Washington friends? Happy Friday! xo m

last days of summer...

2011-09-25T08:56:00.000-07:00

The last week has been freakishly warm. A nice little bit of Summer when it really should feel like Autumn already. We've been trying to get in as many outdoor outings as possible. I've been really into walking around on the waterfront. We started going down there more once we got the aquarium membership, (there are often many tourists and I have to try and fuzz them out sometimes....) it's nice and old timey Seattle on the waterfront, so pretty...

There is a carousel on the waterfront that goes REALLY fast. I'm serious, I had to tell the lady that we were done, I was getting so dizzy. Someone loves the carousel to death.

The fair at night is a magical place. Soooo dreamy with all those lights. And rides are so much more fun in the dark.

I woke up this morning to darkness and rain. The backyard looks swampy and I need to finish making that dang chicken fence... Today's the day, getting it done before it really starts raining. Happy Sunday. xo m

warmth-in store!

2011-09-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

I'll be filling up my etsy shop with all kinds of Autumnal coziness this week! My sweet (and super talented!) friend, Margot, was kind enough to model for me today. Here's a sneak peek...

Oh dear, Autumn is just days away. Time to dust off the knitting needles and get busy... xo m

autumns approach...

2011-09-16T09:38:00.000-07:00

Technically, there are a handful of summer days left, but here, it's all autumn already. The temperature really dropped last night and I'm hoping it doesn't get too cold as I wanna squeeze a few more tomatoes out of this years wimpy harvest. If not, I LOVE fried green tomatoes! I need to make a few more batches of jam this week as we've been breezing through jar after jar.

The squash are doing well and growing crazily...

The little lady went back to preschool (just two mornings a week but still a very big deal for us).

A late afternoon sunbreak through some real dark clouds... I'm taking it easy and trying not to be too demanding of myself, mentally and physically. The car accident last weekend left me feeling beyond wiped out and very bummed, adding to that a long lost high school friend passing away and I need some quiet time. This weekend will bring the county fair and some farm dreaming (looking at all the sweet animals gets me scheming about our future farm). Happy friday friends... xo m

lazy days...

2011-09-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling sorta sick, like I'm fighting a back to school cold or maybe just the after effects of saturdays car crash-we're all ok buy I'm still sore... Maybe I'm just bummed, dealing with my old pal pms... Just spending a few days reading watching the occasional movie...

also, fall is setting in. xo m

school schmool...

2011-09-09T10:30:00.000-07:00

Trying to get into this new/old rhythm of school days. My mind is not cooperating and I have been unable to get to sleep the last few nights. I have been getting up early (6:30) but not early enough. The last few days have been a flurry or hurry to get out the door by 7:50. It's haaaaard! And next week the littlest starts her school back up (just two morning a week but still...)... I miss you summer. I want to pack up an rv and travel around the country chasing lazy warm weather. It's possible, right?

Our "new" bbq! found by the side of the road several blocks away. sweet end of summer surprise.

Labor day snack bbq buddies...

BALLET! Someone is obsessed with ballet! Funny, is that in my dna or something? must be...

I'm so happy it's friday. But, I'm afraid the weekend will go by too quickly. xo m

breakfast-lunch-dinner

2011-09-08T07:12:00.000-07:00

Summer days are slip sliding away. Our forecast says this week will be HOT right into the weekend and it's been really lovely weather so far. Thank you Seattle for giving a bit of sweetness before the endless rain starts!

And I finally made a decent gluten free pizza the other night. That is a big deal! It was Bobs Red Mill mix. Happy back to schooling (if you do that), I'm a bit bummed... xo m

summer dreams...

2011-09-03T22:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight, as we were walking home from a party, I could feel Autumn's edge on the evening air. Pretty soon it will be sweaters and blankets and hot cups of tea in hand all the time. School is starting very soon and I am trying to enjoy every last bit summer has to offer.

A few mornings ago in the blueberry fields...

This beautiful rooster stopped by to say hello. Oh how I want a rooster. Soon... soon. I have to keep rooster in my dreams for now but one day we will have a farm and a rooster, goats, horses...

This tiny little nest was in a blueberry bush. I accidentally dropped a blueberry into it.

Incense making experiments. Have been using my mortar and pestle a lot this summer. It helps that I took it out of the cupboard and can actually see it. Down below are a few yard sale gems I got last weekend. I LOVE finding old kitchen and glassware.

Now I need to get sleepy. I need to go pick blackberries early before I have to take kitty to get his stitches out. Thank goodness the time has come! A cat who has to wear a neck cone is one unhappy, unbalanced critter! xo m

happy birthday happy birthday

2011-09-02T08:59:00.000-07:00

My mans birthday was on Saturday (shhhhh, don't tell but he's 41!). Every year he makes a big deal of saying he doesn't want a cake or any gifts (why does he say this, I wonder??) but luckily I know better. The cake was a big project but the kids helped and it turned out wonderful.

Later we went to the tavern alone and they gave him the birthday chalice which is huge and holds 3 or 4 glasses worth. It didn't get finished. Happy Birthday Hot Stuff! xo m

bubbles...

2011-08-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

As these days of summer come closer to a close, I just want to hold tight and stay here in sunny days blowing bubbles a while longer. Summer is such a vibrant time here. It seems like once the rain sets in everyone begins a long period of social hibernation until spring. Trying to appreciate these last couple weeks (um, could be a few days, who knows...) of light and lively-ness of spirit.

Hot apple cider and cozy sweaters (I got this amazing huge Irish wool one the other day) will be fun though! xo m

when it rains it pours...

2011-08-30T09:29:00.000-07:00

Last week ended up being a stressful crazy time. I had the best intentions of making the effort to post everyday but it seems that anytime I set a goal like that things happen that demand so much of my attention that posting is the last thing on my mind.

On Tuesday we were spending time downtown looking around and when we got home I noticed that our kitty, Tommy seemed a little out of it. A tiny wound that he got over a month (that healed quickly and I watched for 2 weeks) had developed and abscess deep under the surface. A big one, it was terrible. He had to get surgery to remove it and is on a 10 day coarse of antibiotics. The worst part about it is that he has to wear a cone on his neck so he can't get at the stitches. He really hates the cone.

And then our neighbor decides that (even though we gave him the courtesy of asking him, which we didn't need to do-and we built it legally and followed the coop building laws) he would like us to move our un-movable chicken coop to the middle of our backyard. He's one of those cranky types that has nothing better to do than complain and it's just one thing after another with him and we've never asking anything of him. Big damn headache. And we're not moving it so now we get to have a huge war with him cuz he won't be happy until we jump through his little hoops and do what he wants. Help!

The Prada shoes (on sale, $169.) that I thankfully didn't splurge on cuz all our money is going to pay for vet bills.

At least the garden is being easy going and giving us good food and staying pest free.

And now my little gal and I are sick... Here's to hoping that this week, a tide change happens and things lighten up...

moonchild

2011-08-24T13:41:00.000-07:00

A little end of summer sale is going on over at my etsy shop. Use coupon code "MOONCHILD" for 35% off anything. Buy yourself something pretty before fall sets in...

thanks friends! xo m

everything all the time forever...

2011-08-22T21:27:00.000-07:00

The last few days I've felt like I'm sifting through more thoughts in my head than I really process into words. There has been much tea sipping and journal writing and rosary making (not a real "rosary" but beads and metal joined together rosary style...). Here's the sun room sitting spot where I try to slip away to with my morning tea.

There was a ho-hum yardsale a couple weeks ago but I scored a ton of awesome cookie cutters (most were super old) for 10 cents each. I was really happy! I really needed a circle one. I got like, 10 circle ones.

This teeny spade is a favorite.

Ok, back to bead making and watching really tragic love stories where people die from exposure and prolonged sickness. I'm so romantic. xo m

postive summer love

2011-08-19T22:06:00.000-07:00

Awesome summer times are being had. Spending so much time with our new sweetheart lady friends and doing all sort of lovely summer things...

I found this little push bike for $2.99 at the thrift store and she LOVES it so much. Tried to get Domino to ride it. Domino was not pleased.

*Making these dangerous little no bake cookies (which are pretty much more candy than cookie but dang they are gluten free!) and eating too many.

*spending afternoons foraging for blackberries and rosehips.

*picking green (and yellow) beans and checking the progress of the drying garlic (almost done!)

*going to the library pretty much everyday and loving it. Reading so many new books to the little lady and getting to order cds and dvds from the computer.

*Going to the plants store and bringing home new plant friends every week.

*watering the garden at sunset and checking on the squash and cucumbers.

*planting seeds for the fall garden and walking around the neighborhood gathering seeds here and there (giant sunflowers, lupines, fennel).

Enjoying amazing sunsets night after night. In love with these summer days. Tomorrow we're heading out early for one more outing to the blueberry fields. We might actually get sick of blueberries this winter! Hope your weekends is warm and wonderful. xo m

blueberries & blackberries...

2011-08-18T22:29:00.000-07:00

I love berries and I love jam. I've gotten the chance to go berry picking so many times this summer and the jams are stacking up in the pantry (and the freezer is full of so many cups of wonderful fruit). The delicious and elusive boysenberry is still no where to be picked. I may have to break down and just buy a flat from the farmers market. All the places that used to have you-pick boysenberries are either mysteriously not open or closed... hmm...

There are so many blackberries in our neighborhood so we go on a little berry picking walk daily. I think one last trip to get blueberries this weekend is in order. I'm off to work on a special project for friend. I'll post more on this tomorrow. Sweet Dreams! xo m

how does your garden grow??

2011-08-17T23:03:00.000-07:00

So there is sun now. And everything's growing. Really growing and it makes me so happy. I took these pictures a few days ago and already the squash has pretty much overtaken the new bed. Good! We didn't get a spring this year or much sun, this summer was so slow to appear but now... I hope it stays a while.

Our green beans are so delicious. Steamed with a little salt and some red pepper flakes... mmm.

the scarlet runner beans look so pretty, They've yet to produce a bean yet so we'll see...

Tomorrow we'll be having more beans and beets too. Our lettuce got mostly munched down to nubs because I forgot to shut the fence and the hens snuck in for about 5 whole minutes and chomped away. They are so quick at destroying plants... How does your garden grow? xo m

summer please stay...

2011-08-16T22:02:00.000-07:00

Summer just got started around here and already I can feel it slipping away! Every evening it gets dark a bit earlier and I feel the chill sneaking in as I go to close the windows before bed...

Trying to make the most of these sunny days. Enjoying the beach and water as much as possible and collecting and making jam out of as many berries as we can find. ooh, gotta get a box of peaches too!! Happy Summering! xo m

Summer Forever SALE

2011-08-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

I'm having a little 25% off sale at my etsy shop... Just enter coupon code "SUMMERFOREVER" at checkout. Head over and buy yourself something sweet (Seattle pals, please convo me and I can make it free shipping if u wanna pick up). Don't forget to check out my new SALE SALE SALE section for super cheap deals... pretty please! xo m

friends!

2011-08-09T22:10:00.000-07:00

My little gal has her first real friend. She's played with kids plenty and has a brother and cousins but no little ones close to her age that she really wanted to see all the time and spoke of as her friend. It's so sweet and makes me so happy to see her exploring the complex feelings of friendship. Not to mention that her friend has an awesome mama (and papa) that I get to hang out with! win win! xo m

garlic!

2011-08-06T09:47:00.000-07:00

I've learned, this summer, that with certain things (potatoes, garlic...), when they start to look ugly and sickly it means they are ready to harvest. Our garlic was looking pretty funky (and I happened to notice that farmama had a garlic post up) so I started carefully digging them up. They were all ready. It was real exciting. We got well over 30 heads of garlic from a little 3x3 patch.

Here's my gal bringing me the clothespins to hang it up in the shed to dry out. Things are growing. Our new raised bed is looking wonderful. I need to add much more soil and compost to the older beds after summer's over.

I need to clean the shed. So much to do outside in the summer, none of the cleaning projects are getting done. I think we're off to go berry picking again. Happy Saturday. xo m

fresh produce...

2011-08-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

Got a new batch of clothes up at my esty shop. It's pretty flannel heavy over there. I just have soooo many and thought it was time to list em all and cheap.

happy friday friends! xo m

i love blueberries!

2011-08-03T22:34:00.000-07:00

Well, not just blueberries but ALL berries! Strawberries, raspberries, huckleberries, boysenberries, blackberries... I love how the berries are all at their prime at different times, one after the other, so there's always a wonderful berry perfectly ready to be picked. I need to go down the road and see if the wild blackberries are ready... Last weekend was all about blueberries. There were ripe raspberries at one place but the filed was so darn crowded and I honestly like blueberries better.

We found a few sweet heart shaped blueberries.

It was a hot weekend and my kids aren't very into farm work in the sun so we only did a short picking but still ended up with 30 cups in the freezer (plus the blueberries I used to make a batch of jam and popsicles and a bowl full to snack on). We're heading back in a few days to get a bit more. It will be so wonderful to have plump blueberries, that we picked ourselves, come mid-winter.
My list of garden chores is crazy long tomorrow. I'm really going to go to bed early (hahaha... yeah, right!) so I can get up and at least get started before the sun gets too high. It was nearly 80 today (don't laugh) and it's going to be in the 80s for the rest of the week. Our summer has been nonexistent up until now so even a bit of warmth feels super hot. xo m

there will be food...

2011-08-02T09:44:00.000-07:00

The quality of the food I eat now is just a million times better (and fresher) than ever before. It's really important to me that we eat nourishing fresh, (mostly) animal free, non-processed foods... And fancy foods are good too... Vosges chocolate is sooo very delicious! Sweet and salty and perfect. My friend took me to the store in Chicago and it was heaven...

We usually end up at Red Mill about once a week. The guys always want a burger fix. I'm in it for the sauce. They have this smoky mill sauce (just a chipotle mayo) that is amazing and the fries are good. I get a veggie burger which is a regular garden burger but the sauce makes up for it... It was so exciting last week because it was their anniversary and Papa won a free meal.

love, love these two...

And... A new quilt! So pretty and it was crumpled up in the back of Uncle Donnie's Jeep being used to cover up stuff!! I saw it and he said I could have it if I gave him an old sheet or something to cover up his junk. um, ok! I washed it and it's in perfect condition and the loveliest little squares of printed 30's & 40's fabrics.

date night chandelier...

Wonderful Thai food lunch combo, this sweet thai grandma makes at her family's cafe.

The new raised bed is growing. Here's a view through the fence. Now we're off to run a bunch of errands and pick up new orders from the library. yippee! I also really need to find a few models. My shop is neglected and Big Brother is on vacation with his Dad so no one is home to take pics of me... Oh my. so much to do... xo m

picnic at hanging rock=inspiration

2011-07-30T22:30:00.000-07:00

Have you ever seen "Picnic at Hanging Rock"? One of my all time favorite strange and magical movies and the clothes are amazing.Very Nellie Olsen Australian Style, love love love it all!

Back to organizing my closet. I need more sashes, hair ribbons and bows. tra la! xo m

dirt

2011-07-26T21:48:00.000-07:00

We finally filled up our new raised bed. We had to borrow a friends truck and go to the dirt exchange and buy a truckload of soil. This giant claw picks it up and dumps it right into the bed of the truck while you're sitting in the cab watching. crazy cool. Then we went to the hardware store and my man bought me a wheelbarrow and a tarp. I was so jazzed. My idea of a really great date. Serious.

Oooh, I want a truck SO BAD. I really want this one. yeah, that might be Tim Riggins in it... Dang, 1985 Chevy Silverado... A girl can dream...

Everyone helped unload. Dad wore his weird white suit.

The chickens were in super love, until I put up the new keep-out-hens-chickenwire-fence. They were mad. Now it's all planted up with squash and needs a few other starts and seeds. ok, time to try this new $5.99 wine. I was convinced by the name "Velvet Moon", sounds like bandname. We'll see. xo m

new in the shop...

2011-07-26T21:36:00.000-07:00

So... I am obviously not a model, never wanted to be one, I don't like to "pose" for pictures... eek! But necessity is the mother of invention and a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do cuz coordinating with pals to model is too complicated so I handed my 12 yr old the camera and struck a pose... find these gems in my shop!

and yes, since you asked, there is still a 30% off sale happening. Use the coupon code "SUPERFRIEND" and buy whatever makes you smile the most. xo m

lightning frightening!

2011-07-25T22:33:00.000-07:00

This morning I was awoken by the craziest thunder I've ever heard in my life. It sounded like a car was being ripped apart and thrown onto the pavement. It was terrifying and the lightning was super visible in a very end of days sort of way. It was a rude way to wake up but the dream it woke me from was way too strange and creepy so... better thunder and lightning than scary nightmare sorcerer dudes trying to bewitch my best friend and I (that's what I get for watching true blood right before bed)!

We are so lucky to live in a city with so many wonderful parks. Several in walking distance of our house and we walk to one every day, sometimes (usually) more than just once a day.

It was 58 degrees today, It really feels like fall. I am feeling like I'm fighting a cold so I made green lentil soup(with coconut milk from the Super Natural Everyday cookbook) and I was overcome with Autumnal emotion as I was sipping my soup, it was eerie. Nature seems very confused, or totally dysfunctional, it makes me sad. I love the seasons. Getting a bit of summer makes the constant Northwest gloom bearable. Without the sun, it's like living in a desperate barren frontier land where everyone is kinda hard hearted and depressed. Have you read The Living? It's like that...

Studying up on bees bees bees... I've had this book on my wish list for years and My friend, Ria has a super awesome original that she let me borrow. In love with those bees. I am planning on getting a hive this coming spring.

Reeeeeally into muffins right now. Maybe it's because it gives me a reason to use all my cool colorful and patterned muffin papers...

Once in a while it hits, oh, 75 degrees and we can have a popsicle.

Spent some time over the weekend organizing my herbs and tea shelves and I'm so happy I did. Some teas were super old or ones I didn't even like and now I know what i have and can see it all.

Yesterday was a cooker, I think it actually got up to 80 at one point. I'm so used to the cold I was actually sweating like crazy and fanning myself with my hand, it was silly, but sheesh it felt so hot. Spending time with friends in the sun felt so nice though.

Tomorrow I get to force my man (or son) to take pics of me for my etsy. It's so hard trying to find a model and then coordinate a time to take pics. My stack of items that need to be listed are piling up so I guess I'll have to model what I can because I can't put it off any longer. try not to giggle (too hard) when you see my new listings in a couple days! xo m

wuthering heights & the great gatsby

2011-07-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

I think Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte) has to be tied with The Great Gatsby (F. Scott Fitzgerald, sigh...) for the most romantic book I've ever read. Boy, I was obsessed deeply with these two books... Reading them as a child certainly assisted in warping my own sensibilities regarding love...
You may have heard that we're not having summer anymore in the Pacific Northwest. It's pretty much Autumn forever all the time from now on so I feel darn cozy spending my time baking cookies, watching my seedlings get waterlogged and watching depressing love stories... and they're even on you tube for you to enjoy... I really enjoy these modern adaptations.

The Great Gatsby wouldn't embed but here's the link to it....

sweet dreams lovlies... xo m

p o t a t o e s

2011-07-20T22:25:00.000-07:00

The other morning I was outside sipping my tea and picking up around the backyard and I kind of tugged on one of the potato plants (they kept falling over and I felt sort of annoyed and thought they were dying-I had no idea they were just ready!) to try and get it to straiten up... and... It came out in my hand revealing tons of little potatoes!

We pulled and tugged, and collected and dusted off a good 8 or so pounds of potatoes (from only 5 little seed potatoes). It was incredibly satisfying and dang, they are sooo good! The best potatoes ever! I'm going to try a late planting of some blue ones tomorrow. we'll see... xo m

handkerchief curtain...

2011-07-18T22:19:00.000-07:00

I had been wanting to make a handkerchief curtain for months (I don't know why it took me so long to get around to this project, it took me less than an hour and I really love the way it turned out). The curtain that was on this window before was an ugly blue/white/brown 60s floral that I didn't really like but I found at a thrift store and it was the right size so I got it and there it sat, on our window, taunting me, for a good six months and every time I looked at it I though "ick"...

I've been collecting (hoarding?) vintage handkerchiefs for years. I used to make dresses out of ace bandages and old slips and used hankies for hem ruffles. Mostly we've been using hanks for their actual purpose (blowing noses) since we all have allergies... But I got to use a few of my favorites for this curtain. I'm starting a new project of making dresses and using some handkerchiefs on those so more handkerchief projects will be coming up soon...

I really wanted a sheer curtain, to let light through but not so sheer so that our neighbors could see completely through. It is just perfect!

This little horse is such a sweetie! I see his face whenever I lock the door. Happy Monday friends! xo m

late night sewing soundtrack...

2011-07-15T22:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight I'm making a curtain out of vintage handkerchiefs and listening to...

and...

and...

and...

and...

and...

and yes, I was goth when I was a teenager! xo m

portland, oregon

2011-07-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

A whirlwind 24 hours in Portland. It was a crazy little trip and I only snapped 4 pics on my phone...

strawberry fields forever...

2011-07-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

We went on a pretty long (we got very lost and the gps couldn't get a signal) strawberry picking expedition last week. When we finally got to the berry field we were all a little cranky and the sun was high so we only picked for about an hour. Still, we brought home a good 9 lbs worth.

One of us did much more eating than actually picking...

I made jam and froze the rest. Perfect timing, our jam from last summer was down to the last jar of peach and the little gal and I are the only ones who even like peach.

The next day we went to a birthday party in the park and the cousins were there so I had to get some pics of them showing their love.

I think we'll be heading back to the berry fields on Friday or Saturday but to the one that's a bit closer (and I know how to get there)... Happy Wednesday! xo m

sunny summer seattle

2011-07-12T23:04:00.000-07:00

We just returned to our city after an intense 24 hours away. I really do love Seattle, sometimes I just need to go to another state to have my perspective shifted. So happy to be home! xo m

love love love

2011-07-09T22:47:00.000-07:00

I want to spend as much time as possible...

1- Appreciating the beautiful city I live in. There are still so many little corners I have yet to explore, even after 15 years!

2- Laying in the sun and just relaxing, without strict schedules and too many plans.

3- Reading a few inspiring articles and just spending a bit more time with friends who are doing really wonderful, creative things.

4- Loving all the sweet people and animals in our home. Practicing patience and kindness.
now I need to practice getting to be early. This mama has been keeping some crazy hours, staying up way too late writing and watching bland tv shows on netflix. not tonight. I'm going to be, right now! xo m

summer is...

2011-07-07T22:15:00.000-07:00

We've been enjoying our sunny days at much as possible. It was actually really gloomy and sprinkly today but it gave me a much needed change to work on our garden (which is mostly containers this year), I just camped out under the carport and potted tomatoes, peppers, mint, catnip, cucumbers, and many more tomatoes... We had to go all over town to three different places before I actually found some decent looking ones. No sungolds though, oh well, next year for sure.

Making so much sun tea. Mostly green and white ones.

Date night, fancy (strong!) margaritas and many salsas at senor moose.

Love these faces. Makes me so happy when we aren't on a schedule and can just hang out and be together.

A "shandy" is beer and lemonade. Sometime I add a little hot sauce, a salted rim is good too!

best ever gluten free biscuits. We'll be making more for dinner tomorrow. I will hopefully have a fresh batch of strawberry jam (berry picking tomorrow!)...

the tiniest pool. She loves it.

Real beach, I really sunburned my legs and tops of feet, ouch. We just stopped by unexpectedly and I only had a little tube of sunblock for the kids. It was worth it. Thankfully I had a paper parasol so my face, shoulders and arms were spared.

Looks like we may be getting a new kitty in our family. We'll see, Papa is sleeping on it... cross your fingers. xo m

hey babe, it's the 4th of July...

2011-07-04T21:11:00.001-07:00

new york is too far away...

2011-07-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

I have been absent from this space since my bestest friend, Hillary, was here for 8 days. It was so fun to just hang out. We got in a few good late nights (and one awesome house party with a Rolling Stones cover band that I will hold dear in my little memory vault forever)... Now she's back in nyc and I am getting down to business.

Too bad the weather was mostly awful for her visit, this was our beach day...

I took so many pics of Hill modeling clothes for my etsy shop so that will keep me busy for a couple weeks at least.

There were also hand poked tattoos... more on that later...

Now I need to save my pennies for a ny visit. asap... xo m

devotion.

2011-06-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

We've been lucky to have been getting sunny days. Most mornings start off gloomy but by early afternoon the sun is out. It's so much easier for me to get out and be motivated with a little sunshine. I've started making a real effort to be consistent in my yoga practice and it makes me so happy and keeps my head and breath calm.

These hens are so smart. Maybe "smart" isn't the right word but (wow!) they sure are easily trained. I can get them to anything if I reinforce it with a snack. I don't know how much they understand of what I'm saying, maybe they understand the tone of my voice. They do know their names. I love them. They behave better than our cats.

This guy is a professional sleeper. all day long. Nothing more cozy than a nap in the sun...

I'm looking forward to more sunny days. We have a bunch of wedding related events coming up in the next few days. One of my dearest friends is in town (for our mutual friends wedding on Saturday) and I got to spend some time with her today and it's so wonderful to have friends who have known you since you were a kid and can remind you of things you have forgotten about life, yourself and who you used to be or used to dream of becoming... Old friends are so magical! xo m

clothes, clothes, clothes... shop update.

2011-06-13T21:19:00.000-07:00

Spring seems to have been skipped and summer is pretty much here and I feel it! So alive with promise and I'm embracing the transition. I REALLY want to clear out some things in my shop (ok, and make some money for a summer trip!). Use coupon code "SUPERFRIEND" for 30% off anything (please feel free to link, tweet, whatever... to this post). If there's a special something you've had your eye on for over a month or so, don't be afraid to ask for an even deeper discount. Our bags are packed (in my mind) and these little birds and I wanna fly, fly away for a bit to sand and surf so don't be shy...
New in the shop!!

Hope you're having a sweet and sunny Monday! xo m

all things must pass...

2011-06-11T09:24:00.000-07:00

Honesty is the beast policy... Our spring has been so slow to come, winter went on and on... I have been feeling so blue and anxious. I've been out of this space waiting for test after test to come back, thinking maybe I had hyperthyroidism and what that would mean... all tests came back good and I (and my thyroid) are fine. I've been making a real effort to eat super healthy and avoid my allergens (dairy and wheat-so so hard!!), no alcohol, no caffeine (green tea on occasion) no refined sugars... going to yoga, laying in the sun when it peeks out, working on garden projects... I'm starting to feel better, well starting to feel not terrible.
Depression and anxiety are emptiness-I don't really feel anything. There's just this shadow over me, disconnected blackness. The awful bleakness of looking at strangers as they smile and laugh, I'm thinking, "how can they be so happy, don't they feel how terrible everything is?" It's a big fight to pull myself out of it. Every year (around March) I think, "That's it, we're moving back to California. No more Northwest darkness" and then it becomes spring and I feel better. This year... I don't think it's even spring yet (and here we are nearly in summer). It seems like fall.

Finally getting to know my ukulele a bit. I love that it's so small and portable. I can tune it myself and that is a big achievement! Off to dig up weeds. and maybe hit a few yard sales in a bit... xo m

work tunes...

2011-05-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty convinced that Ryan Gosling is a magical wizard.

for sure...
back to the factory, my factory, which right now is a chop shop of cotton jersey, old t-shirts, braided fabrics. pics soon. workin on the handmades and listening to dead mans bones. sigh...

sunny spring!

2011-05-22T17:23:00.000-07:00

We've been lucky enough to enjoy some good sunny days here. It seems that the sunny ones have began to outnumber the rainy ones. Everyday, the chicks roam the yard and they've been (for the most part) sweethearts about staying out of the garden beds, I think they're learning...

My guy dressed as Jesse James for his historical biography project. My dad, whom I haven't spoken to in years, claims we are related. hmmm.

Happy chickens make lots of eggs. We've been eating so so many.

Here's a blurry picture of a recent thrift score. I love the purple and orange color combination, so simple and perfect! It was a good day at the thrift.

crumble... mmm.. so good! from that book. Heidi Swanson is a food wizard for sure!! Get the book if you need a little more magic in your kitchen.

rhubarb season...

Is it cheating to use my iphone to take pictures? My digital camera is my work camera and I have more fun with the iphone, plus, then I can leave the camera at home... what do u think?
Hope the weekend was lovely. I'm fighting a cold or something.I went to bed at 8pm last night! I had hoped the colds were behind me now. sniff sniff... xo m

blue valentine

2011-05-18T23:15:00.000-07:00

Oh my.... so so good. Really wonderful, just run out and get this movie, like right this minute! Ok, I'm off to practice my ukulele now. xo m

love & beauty

2011-05-17T22:37:00.000-07:00

I feel so grateful and surrounded in love when I look at the sweet faces around me. Tonight there is a full moon and it's streaming in the windows so bright. The air is electric and there are so many possibilities and choices ahead. I feel... excited!
Happy Spring, it seems it's finally here! xo m

spring flings...

2011-05-14T10:05:00.000-07:00

Guess who finally got an iphone?? yep, big girl time. instagram is crazy fun! loving it big time!

brother and sister love!

cousin love!

kimmy & e.

Senor Moose has the most amazing Mexican food. I always end up getting the same thing which is kind of savory potato pancakes with green chiles... so wonderful!

The light outside it flickering and the day is trying to decide what it will be. I need to plant so many beans so hopefully it will be a sunny day. So many gardening projects to get done. This is the coldest spring here EVER. I'm going to think SUN and radiate that it will be warm and hopefully the weather will just cooperate. happy weekending to you! xo m

with the spring comes a world of choices...

2011-05-10T19:35:00.000-07:00

My little gal was so excited on Friday (her birthday party was Saturday). She kept saying "OH, it's so hard to wait!!" all day and then it was extremely difficult to get to sleep Friday night. I remember feeling that way, really knowing and understanding and showing how important growing older is. It's real magical and should be celebrated with friends, food and cake.

I whipped up some amazing gluten free caramel cupcakes thanks to the Blackbird Bakery Gluten Free cookbook. Oh my, the recipes are dangerously delicious!

We also went to a wonderful may day gathering. So sweet and calm and just all around lovely.

The trees are whispering to me that change is in the air. All around. More and more I feel so smothered by the city, and we live in one of the most relaxed parts of it. I just envision a bit more space, more room to grow food and have animal friends, a studio space, and bedroom for the little one would be real nice. Working and saving and dreaming of the farm to be... xo m

sowing seeds...

2011-05-06T09:38:00.000-07:00

We are immersed in our version of spring. Rumored to be the most frigid in ages. I refuse to accept that. I will just keep thinking spring spring spring and sooner or later it will warm up and stop raining. Right? It can't stay cold forever....

Our neighbor, Katherine, gave us a bunch of rhubarb roots and they are starting to grow (no thanks to the chickens!!). I guess you aren't supposed to cut the stalks the first year, they need to work on getting established. But Katherine's Rhubarbs are out of control and she said I can have some whenever I want. I made rhubarb apple sauce.

Domino is laying in the potato patch. It's a good warm spot when the sun is out. Our raised beds are pretty much full already and I haven't even planted half of what I wanted. I planted a lot of herbs and flowers, that are coming back, last year. This week we'll be building at least 2 more raised bed. I want to do one all herbs and greens and another for squash and beets... I need to order a truckload of soil too. Next week is gonna be busy... Grandma get's in tonight too. My little lady's birthday is on Sunday and Grandma rides the train up every year.

The beans and peas are finally starting to climb up and grow. We didn't have much luck with them last year but I put them in a different spot and I think the soil is better.

This was a few days ago and already they're twice as high! The herb beds were/are such a mess. Weeds and grass growing everywhere. I spent so much time on my knees weeding. See that board? I have to put boards and upside down pots where we planted carrots, otherwise the cats use the fresh little patch of soil for their litterbox. As soon as they start coming up I can mulch around them with old chicken straw to hopefully discourage more weeds.

ooooh. Baked Oatmeal!! Soooo delicious! From Super Natural Every Day. Wow. This kids did not like it as they are oatmeal haters in general. The grown ups ate it all up...

Now we are off in search of a few party hats and some last minute ingredients we need for the gluten free caramel cupcakes we're making tomorrow morning. Happy Friday! xo m

clothes, clothes, clothes... shop update.

2011-05-04T18:21:00.000-07:00

Sunshine days... along with spring and it's lovliness and it's business (so much to do outside) comes to many bills. always bills, and a broken phone (gasp). So, I've been a busy bee and listed a few extra special items. Take a peek in my shop and see if something strikes your fancy...

So many pretty dresses and delights made their way home from Chicago with me. It was a thrifitng dream come true! xo m

in the moment...

2011-05-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

Adjusting to life at home was a little hard after 5 solid days of intense friend (do whatever I want all day and night long with no one to take care of) time. The first couple of days of any vacation I spend mentally comparing the new city to Seattle and kind of missing Seattle and then a shift happens and I start to feel the energy of the new city and it feels good and fun and new. Chicago was a whole new place for me. I've never been to the Midwest and was at first surprised by the flat, sort of barren landscape. In some ways it reminded me of LA and NY. Very urban and lacking in greenery. But beautiful in a burnt out industrial way. People were friendly and real. I had such a great trip and it was wonderful to get to spend time with my friends thrifting and eating and staying up way too late.

Back in my own reality now. Trying to concentrate on simplifying and doing one thing at a time. Planting seeds, getting the garden going, cleaning up the yard, getting rid of the "things" that are cluttering up a house that is really too small for 4 people and 2 cats. Getting things in order and being in the moment. Also, stashing away spare change in the vacation fund, summers coming and these kids (and mama and papa) need a little desert trip! xo m

c h i c a g o r u l e s

2011-04-24T23:22:00.000-07:00

Outside recovering from the Friday night Mahjongg dance a thon... I still have sore feet.

Chicago rules, a lot! xo m

7 random things about me...

2011-04-20T09:21:00.000-07:00

I got a blog award from this super cool lady blogger I dig a lot... I post 7 random things about myself.
hmmmm... and then I am to pass it on to 15 (eek) other new found bloggers I like. 15 seems a bit much maybe I'll do half that.
let me see...

This is Cinnamon, she can help me think... think think think... randomness...
1) As a small child I was totally obsessed with Unicorns and then I realized that Horses are pretty much just like Unicorns (minus the horn) but you can ride a Horse!! So yeah, I become very INTO horses until around 15 and then... you know... boys, bleck...
2) I used to (this is embarrassing) have 6 piercings other than my ears. ugh...
3) I am very into Clowns. Not scary clowns but old timey depression era type clowns, and Harlequins. I am also very into goats and have a goat-lequin tattoo- yep, that's a goat with a harlequin style clown collar...
4) I have only ever lived on the west coast. In California, Oregon and Washington. Sometimes, I think this needs to change and I have big time fantasies about living in Maine, Nebraska and Texas.
5) I have always been very into animals. I became vegetarian at age 10 and then vegan (and very animal rights fanatical) at 14. I worked for a wildlife rescue/rehab guy named Bob Farner when I was in high school and it was awesome getting to see so many wild animals up close. He had a cougar, bobcats, deer, owls, raccoons, an alligator, snakes, everything... Mostly animals people had gotten illegally as "pets" and ones too handicapped or unused to the wild to be released back into it... The possums were scary. I wanted to be a vet until I realized the amount of dissection that would mean...
6) I used to work for Dione Warwick's Psychic Friends Network. I read tarot cards over the phone...
7) I have always been an avid journal-er and used to write poetry a lot. I've kept all my old notebooks and have a about 70 or so. I used to sit in my room and burn black candles and incense, listen to the Cure and write poetry and cry and stuff for hours. Hormones are hard... Now it seems funny but at the time I just felt so horrible. All awful and misunderstood. Thank Goodness for music, it got me through...

okay, so that's my 7 random things... I choose these fine ladies to share my blog award with: Sara, Miriam, Natalia, Jane & Chelsea... Hope you ladies have the time to post 7 randoms, I want to read them! xo M

you can find me in the garden...

2011-04-15T21:58:00.000-07:00

In between bursts or rain, we've been getting some sunny days. I even unplugged the lamp in the chicken coop tonight (oh I hope it doesn't drop and they are upset when I get them out tomorrow...).
My little gal was soooo into these old school chairs outside a cafe. She's very into any "school" stuff as it's kind of a cool mystery place to her, where her brother spends the better part of his days...

cleaning and collecting doiies for some clothes making projects. They are everywhere...

Getting the yard in order. Securing areas so the chickens have no escape holes to sneak out of...

dying cotton things and more cleaning...

The chickens are sooooo frustrated that I used this gate thing to put around the garlic & rhubarb beds. They loved to get into it and really tear it up. Not anymore...

That's popcorn bunny. Our friends bunny and my little one wants one so badly now. I'm trying to work it all out. Am I really adding another being to my constant care repertoire? why not!... sigh...

rabbits are really sweet....

There will be more sun tomorrow and more chores outside and errands and a shop update and a little blog challenge my new friend tagged me on... so much to do... Hope your weekend is full of sun! xo m

obsessed...

2011-04-13T21:37:00.000-07:00

I've been spending some long overdue time trying to get the garden in order. Is my back ever sore! And I'm tired... I guess good old fashioned hard work is the cure for my insomnia! Here are a few things that have been making me extra happy lately...

*I LOVE Joanna Newsom. Super much! I have a great many friends who do not love her and I think they might be crazy. My little lady loves her and always grabs my hands, demanding, "Dance Mama! Dance with me NOW!" it's nice.

*This esty store: Tiny Owl Knits is blowing my mind! I read her lovely blog, owl in the dark, for awhile but kind of forgot about it (and so many other blogs...) as all my bookmarks got wiped out when my old computer died. But I found it again, yay!
this is killing me!!! I need it. and I want this too! I doubt my knitting skils are up to par yet but I will for sure try some of her simpler patterns this fall (when the urge to knit returns). For now I am all about my sewing machine...
*Back to sewing more "Nashville" inspired clothes... That movie (and the women in it) are so wonderful...

(Nashville images courtesy Google images...)
*oooh, baby chicks AND a baby goat!? So awesome! I have goat fever!!
*but someone, who's birthday is coming has rabbit fever... Trying to figure out how this will work... Maybe bunny will live in the mudroom? I'm not sure... We had planned on having an outdoor rabbit hutch (We have a few friends who have these) but the rabbit people say that's not a good idea... hmmm..
ok, off to be early. xo m

sunny/windy/rainy...

2011-04-11T21:25:00.000-07:00

In typical Northwest fashion, the weather could not commit to just one way of being today. We were wet to work on outside projects and just when we'd get down to it, the wind would start churning, and then the darkness falls and then rain and then we're hurrying to pack up and head back inside only to have the sun peek out again just as we close the door behind up. repeat and repeat over and over... that was today. It happens a lot round here...

We've been enjoying our walks around the neighborhood. My little gal is so good about pointing out all the flowers and she knows most of their names. Cherry Blossoms are her favorite. There was a lot of lifting up to smell the cherry blossom trees...

They really are stunning. We have two very small white ones in the backyard but they don't appear to be doing much yet. There are plenty of huge pink ones all over town.

So many of our outdoor pots cracked this tear due to all the cold snaps, and so many indoor plants were in need of upsizing so we got a start on transferring and tending those babies. I need to get a few more pots and finish that. As well as weed and ready some more areas for planting... Now we've entered the season of endless weeding. I need to read up on alternate planting methods...

This back corner is a mess. overgrown with blackberry brambles and weird purple puff weed flowers. There are wild strawberries & lavender under there somewhere... I'm just not sure what I want to try and do with this area. Maybe just throw down more poppy seeds and call it good? We're building a few more raised beds this weekend and those will be for vegetables and herbs.

Now, I am determined to finish season five of friday night lights. It's pretty weak and not as good as the first 4 seasons (hmm, maybe cuz tim riggins is hardly in season 5??) but I just have to get it done with. wish me luck. Hope your monday was lovely. xo m

makes my heart beat faster....

2011-04-09T08:50:00.000-07:00

Spending a mellow saturday trying to update (um, procrastinate, I mean...) my shop... Thought I'd post some links and things I'm digging that are making me happy...
* My pal, Kime Buzzelli (who is pretty amazing herself, you should read her blog-the Moldy Doily) posted this link about a miss Lizzie Brandt on facebook. Lizzie is so adorable. The kind of girl you could spend hours playing dress up with and sipping champagne.
* this makes me so giddy!

*why am I dreaming of pastel colored hair? I've never tried pastels....
*loving all the t shirts in the Lay Swing Boutique.... Nevada City seems to be a little wonderland of cool people!

ok, enough fooling around, back to work... happy saturday lovlies... xo m

so much to do!

2011-04-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

It's wonderful to feel (almost completely) well again. One good thing about being sick, it really makes me appreciate wellness and energy. Nothing got crossed off the to do lists last week. There were so many projects (and work...) waiting for our attention!
Also, I'm afraid something traumatizing happened to Tommy outdoors. He's always wanted to spend so much time outside but one day last week, he came in hasn't really ventured out since. I tried to nudge him out and he cried and hid under the covers of my bed for hours. I wish he could talk or I wish I had gotten one of those tiny spy cameras for his collar.

This is what happens to "Mom's baby" (that's what my little gal calls this 1930s doll of mine because she used to be up on a high shelf in my closet and she begged and begged to play with her so I finally gave in) when the miss is left alone with her and a sheet of easter stickers. It took a long time to pick all those off! Even with a set of tiny hands helping.

Trying to catch up on work. Letting my gal play with her yarn stash all over the kitchen so I can try and throw a few more items into my etsy shop...

Planting seeds to put in our mudroom which is like a little greenhouse. See how he's staring out the window? It's so sad. He's lost his outside mojo... I want to know what happened out there!!!

I found a HUGE pile of quilt pieces. Lots of really interesting vintage fabric bits. I LOVE finding vintage quilt blocks. My Grandma is coming next month and we're going to put a quilt together using the 6 pointed star pieces, there were quite a lot of them. so excited!

Drinking tons of tea. All day long. It is still so cold in the mornings and evenings... ok, I need sleep. I vowed to go to bed extra early and now's my chance. Wishing a happy weekend to you! xo

clothes, clothes, clothes... shop update.

2011-04-05T11:46:00.000-07:00

taking pictures in the mudroom as it's a freezing wind storm outside and everything keeps trying to blow away... new in the birds and black fawns shop!

Not my finest photographic work... After I get home from my trip, I want to get serious (ie, spend a bunch of money on lights, etc) and make an indoor studio so the pictures will get better. The gloomy weather never wants to break when I have time to do photos.... xo

17 years ago, I was 17 and you were gone...

2011-04-05T09:43:00.000-07:00

We're starting to pull out of the flu-ness around here. Everyone still has aching tummies (a little) and I have a smashing headache, sore throat, achy-ness... I have been moaning and groaning and marveling at how often we've gotten sick this year and then I realized that we've all had antibiotics this year (something we never usually do) and possibly that could be contributing to wonky immune systems... hmmm.
This morning I realized (well listened to kexp and figured out why the songs were all grunge bands and then they played "jesus doesn't want me for a sunbeam"...)that today is the anniversary of Kurt Cobain's death. A dark day around old Seattle for sure...

At the time, I had a Hole cassette stuck in my car's tape deck and while I never listened to the radio, I wasn't in the mood to hear "pretty on the inside" for the 8 millionth time so I clicked on the radio... bummer. I really loved Kurt and Courtney...

(source: google images)
ps, now C. Love kind of frightens me. Mainly because of her now striking resemblance in looks and attitude (I followed her on twitter a while back and it was too strange.) to my own mom.

anyways... the sun is trying to shine and it's cold but not raining here so maybe I'll get some work done. green tea here I come... xo
here's one more for the road...

amethyst, tigers eye, hematite, sage & pinon...

2011-04-02T11:12:00.000-07:00

Dealing with another little patch of sickness.. Thursday afternoon my gal was a bit sniffly and then it progressed to insane ear infection by evening.

There she is in the easter aisle of the drug store. " Whoa, they have SO MUCH cool stuff!" ...

and then yesterday morning, she was looking very pale, complaining non stop about back pain so it was back to the er. urinalysis, blood work, x-rays... all fine. Home resting. She is on the upswing and I'm feeling sick again. eek. I kind of knew this was coming. At pre-school on Mon and Wed all the kids were coughing, crying, extreme runny noses...

I spent the afternoon, cleaning house and "cleaning" house, burning sage and pinon. Making herbal, lemon honey drinks... Here's to a weekend of rest and recovery. to wellness ans sunshine! xo

4 films I love...

2011-03-30T20:44:00.000-07:00

I like to watch movies, mostly late at night, when everyone else is asleep, the house is quite and my orange cat nestles in next to me. There are so many I love. I think I'll start with fims grouped by favorite directors... Let's start with Robert Altman.
*"Nashville" 1975 (someone took the time to put it all up in 10 minute segments on youtube-it's a LONG movie!!)

This movie is soooo magical. I absolutely LOVE it. About ten years ago I was so enamored of this movie that I watched it almost once a week, made many, many clothes inspired by it and had the soundtrack on vinyl (thrifted for 25 cents) which drove my then boyfriend, pretty much insane. I've recommended this movie to so many people but they usually claim they "couldn't get through it.". It was one of those movies that, on vhs, took up two tapes. Shelley Duvall and Karen Black are so wonderful and Keith Carradine is such a dreamboat. Let me know if you take the time to make it all the way through. You can join my Nashville lovers club!

*"McCabe and Mrs. Miller" 1971

I am a sucker for anything set in the wild west. Yes sir. This gem also has a Leonard Cohen soundtrack, gamblers, outlaws, prostitutes... Starring Warren Beatty and Julie Christie. Also, Keith Carradine in a small part. sigh. Love this movie for the dreamy frontier aesthetic it creates...

*"Come Back to the Five and Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean" 1982

This mostly female cast has, Cher, Karen Black, Kathy Bates. Super Weird and Interesting...

*"3 Women" 1977

Shelley Duvall and Sissy Spacek get craaaaaazy! Like really koo koo. I need to watch this one again, it's been awhile.
So it seems that all of Robert Altman's films are on youtube so (if you don't mind watching em in 10 minute increments) get watching! xo

in bloom...

2011-03-29T20:56:00.000-07:00

It was a drizzly, extra dark morning so we went for a special treat at Flying Apron. I had and almond matcha and the Pecan cinnamon roll (which is, In my opinion, pretty much the best thing on the menu.) and my little gal got a chocolate shortbread cookie. Nothing like sugar (oh wait maybe it's agave? they don't use refined sugars..) to brighten up a gloomy day...

pssst... that's my new leopard print bag. I'm super into it. I had some hastily purchased jeans to return to F21 and I saw this bag and it just called to me...

Flowers are blooming everywhere. I'm waiting for the tulips to show, the leaves are there. Soon. We have so much work to do in the raised beds in the back yard. I think we'll do most of it this weekend. I hate weeding. I am learning about permaculture but I don't now much. I did a permaculture bed for our garlic which was planted near Halloween and it's doing wonderful-despite the chickens going crazy in it and digging like maniacs... number one on the to do list is making better fencing in the backyard to keep the chickens out of the food plants growing. Chickens can destroy plants in under a minute. They are fierce...

Oh Camellias... What a pretty pink mess you make. Like fluttery confetti. Hopefully the little miss will wear her dresses tomorrow. She was in no mood to model today. She kept saying "No pictures, Mom!" ok... xo

showing love/these things make me happy!

2011-03-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

It's still way too grey to go outside and take pictures, oh Seattle, come on... Let's do this, it's called SPRING. sun?? I need my sunshine.
*loving the Miracles Club. sweet sweet sounds!

*the Astral Boutique (etsy) is too cute....
*the Freshy Fig (etsy) has so many sweet little pendants!
*I need more terrariums. I'm so maxed out on air plants... these are a dream!

from: katyelliott.com
*going to CHICAGO in only 23 days!! So very excited. Full time thrifting and eating and... for 5 days!!
ok, looks like the suns out. Time to get to work... xo

she will be your lving end...

2011-03-28T21:08:00.000-07:00

A busy day of work and Bowie on the stereo. sigh....

How does a song sound so so good! woooooooooow!
but there are just so many wonderful Bowie songs...
I'll back tomorrow with pics of the dresses I made for my gal a couple weeks ago. I just have to get her to stand still for pictures.. Until them, let David keep you company...
and here's one more! xo

spring weekend in pictures...

2011-03-27T21:42:00.000-07:00

Fun times this weekend! Spent so much time in the sun and working on gardening/outdoor projects. Today, our friends had the Reptile Man over for their 6 yr olds birthday. Pretty Awesome! Guess who wants a snake now? Hope your weekend was magical! xo

the sun was shining, then the grey rolled in...

2011-03-24T20:34:00.000-07:00

It's so easy to wake up in the morning when it's light outside. The pitch black mornings are gone until next winter. It makes it easier to stay away from coffee... Usually, not today. I had espresso, we met up with friends in the morning and it was so delicious...

Guess who got a brand new boater? Me, yes! After years of searching I stumbled upon this one, brand new, at Nordstrom. I was afraid to look at the price tag, but it was only $28. It's a bit different than the traditional style, mine is a bit more of an open weave, but I LOVE it! Today was sunny and warm enough for no sweater and a straw hat, at least for a few afternoon hours. It was a blissful dream...

I got to sneak in some alone time with my guy and had a little treat time too. So, my cleanse starts Monday. In all seriousness. I need a little time to "mentally prepare" (meaning, eat a lot of treats/drink cocktails at a friends b-day party at a fancy bar...). I have willpower. I can do it. Really and truly. Right? xo

ps: the cheesecake was a little disappointing and I only ate half.

cherry blossoms, cherry blossoms, coming up!

2011-03-23T21:10:00.000-07:00

Today was such a lovely Seattle spring day! I know we will have many rainy days this spring (and summer, and...)but I really try and enjoy and appreciate ever sunlit moment. All my friends on the East coast are freezing and snowed in and it got up into the 70s here today, so lucky! So many flowers blooming and popping up seemingly overnight.

I'm really trying to practice a sweet zen like attitude while driving. I get so cranky in the car and traffic. I'm working on it. I always seem to be stuck right in the worst of it. By the time I get the kids off to their schools it's 8:45 am as I'm hopping on the freeway and oh it's a challenge to remain un-rattled.

My gal came home from school singing the sweetest song. "cherry blossom, cherry blossom, coming up, coming up..." and then there's a tulip verse and a crocus verse and "li lo, li lo" in the chorus. Is anyone familiar with it? I think it's a Waldorf song. I have to ask the teacher next week. I need to buy a Waldorf song book.

The sword was being used in a not so kind game of sword fighting with the (unarmed) chickens so we had to go inside to draw.

Got to sneak away for an hour alone with Papa to have an adult beverage and pick songs on the jukebox. I brought the garden calendar so we picked out some new and old favorites to get planting on and I made notes of what kind of wood to pick up so we can build a new raised bed this weekend. We're planting potatoes this year and I'm so very excited!

What will your garden grow? xo

You got your head all tangled up but if I could only make you care...

2011-03-22T20:42:00.000-07:00

Early am, sans makeup, coffee emergency... what? that's not my coffee... ok, maybe it is. Oh well. I ate super healthy today though, Swear... It was a busy day of work, playtime, more work, eye appt, trip to trader joes, cleaning house and more playtime. and lots and lots of Ziggy era Bowie today.

Who could deny that this is pure and utter magic? Still gives me chills each and every time! xo

monday, monday...

2011-03-21T21:26:00.000-07:00

Try as I might, I was unable to get my thrifting mojo on today... It was a trashy day of "wares" (this means pile upon pile of toys, kitchen junk, and electronics ugh!) down at the olde junk factory. Oh well. But, I think, I did stumble upon the most perfect ever EVER flannel! I got a few flannels for my shop and after washing them (I have become so sensitive to smells and um, afraid of bedbugs-that I have to wash everything-even items I'm selling) realized that one (yellow and blue in the cart below) was pretty sweet... We'll see. I'm wearing it tomorrow.

I was all geared up to start a good detox cleanse. I've been wanting to for weeks. I follow Miss James of Bleubird vintage on twitter and her ongoing cleanse is encouraging. but. but... we always get ice cream on Monday after school and I couldn't talk my little miss out of it. And, do you have any idea how impossible it is to sit in an adorable ice cream shop where they dish out the cadillac of ice creams, air heavy with the perfume of waffle cones being made, and not have a single bite?? I couldn't resist sharing my babes scoop.

I just finished reading Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui and WOW. It was just the kick in the pants I needed to continue and accelerate my spring redux. I suggest than anyone who i an avid thrifter and prone to um, collecting, get this book. It made me look at items with a clearer perspective. Today i worked on my fabric nd sewing area. i c=got rid of several project that I never want to finish. All you sewers out there understand how big the project pile can get. It was bad, mine was pretty out of control. It felt good to let those things go. The things I kept are in a mall pile right next to my machine and if they don't get fixed this week, they're gone too.

Some sun today and then super healthy dinner or Quinoa, steamed broccoli, sauteed mushrooms and shallots and grilled lemongrass tofu. So so good. At least no one complained at dinner, I liked it.

We spent some time in our old neighborhood (Capitol Hill) on Saturday, just running errands and walking around with friends and it actually made me miss it. We're only 4 miles away now but it seems like we're much further than that.
I was really good about staying away from the coffee today (yippee) and I've been tired all day so maybe, just maybe I'll be able to drop off to sleep soon. Happy Monday! xo

spring is sneaking in!

2011-03-20T21:00:00.000-07:00

We spent a lot of time outside today. The chickens were out of their run and loose in the yard so I was mostly running around trying to protect my garlic (the green shoots are already nearly a foot tall!), rhubarb and greens. All the other beds are empty and covered with mulch etc so the chickens did a lovely job of churning it around-which is something they love and will do for hours. They munched so much grass and ate so many worms and things that they just nibbled at their dinner.

They are such funny, sweet tempered (for the most part...) girls. I really had to fight the urge to order a bunch of chicks. Next year we'll add to the flock but not this spring. There is talk of a bunny, maybe. Gotta get Papa on board with that...

Yes, the Holiday lights are still up. I like being able to see what's going on back there at night. When it gets a bit warmer and I can take the heat lamp out of their coop, the lights will go too. A couple more weeks...

Some little miss stole my camera and took a million picture when i was washing up the breakfast dishes... Domino is her favorite model. And the toilet paper. She drug all the rolls out of the bathroom cabinet and was building a tower with them and then took so many pictures. Really, like 40 mindfully staged toilet paper pictures. So funny...

Tomorrow I'm going treasure hunting/thrifting at the rag house. I'm putting my positive vintage vibes out for it to be a good day at the factory. Some days it's really like digging through trash. Scary and gross. I'm feeling like tomorrow will be nice (and clean, please! fingers crossed!).
I also need to get some seeds in the ground and start a few in the sun room. Spring just happens so fast! Thankfully, the gloom was wearing on me a bit. Hope your weekend was sweet. xo

ah. mint chip. tis Irish?!

2011-03-19T22:38:00.000-07:00

Oh that mint chip. It has always seemed so magical to me. For our St Patrick's Day dinner I knew the dessert would just have to be mint chip ice cream because, well, it's green and all. You see, half of our house, me and she, eat no meat and the other half (ahem, the men) well, yes they want some meat but I don't cook it... I was trying to figure out a proper Irish dinner as corned beef was out and I don't really enjoy boiled cabbage so I knew it would have to be potatoes (totally Irish!!) and um, well, we have plenty of eggs, yes, that's Irish enough, and some nice bread, with a good green salad and then the bright totally green mint chip ice cream... I am so not into artificial colors in foods but I have to bend my rules when it comes to mint chip ice cream and creme de menthe cuz they should just be so darn green, right? Of course our supper began with a healthy slug of Bushmill's followed by Guiness (yes, adults only).

As a child this was my absolute favorite ice cream. De-throned for a time by baskin robbins amazing daiquiri ice (what is it with me and green stuff? and, um, what does it say that a young girls fave treat is named after an alcoholic beverage??) sherbert. I do think people pick colors to fixate upon when they need to work through a particular emotional scenario where that color applies... or something like that... At any rate, I'm not feeling super greeny but dear me, still love that ice cream. Hope your st pats was sweet and not too many whiskey headaches had to be nursed....
xo

i love clothes...

2011-03-17T18:32:00.000-07:00

I have lots of clothes. I make clothes, sell them, sell vintage clothes... Mostly this space has been an expression of my private side, crafting, food makin, family life... a little talk of clothes and such. The more I'm working (which now, is more and more as I'm finding that I've missed it and well, we need the money!) the more this space is becoming about clothes... I will find a balance. At times, I feel annoyed with clothes and fashion, I am prone to melancholy and dark moods and sometimes fashion bugs me with it's vanity, airs and triviality but I do so love it and through expression in fashion I make myself happy. It's been that way as long as I can remember. I remember piling on every print and color and bright pink reebok high tops (oh how everyone teased me over those shoes, but I loved em!) and trying to get the esprit look down in grade school... and then I discovered thrifting and the rest is history...

details:

dress: H&M/goodwill

jeans: Antik Denim/goodwill

belt: goodwill

sweater: F21

Shoes: Aerosoles

Bag: goodwill (love it, it's a mystery)

And dang, those aerosoles are comfortable! This mama needs some comfy shoes!!

Happy St Patrick's Day. Now back to my Guiness! xo Mindy Sue