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...

cozy time.

 We've been making an effort to take extra long walks and explore the neighborhoods of Seattle a bit more. There are so many things you miss when you are driving through and now that my little lady is almost 2 1/2, her legs can handle a small walk all on her own, as long as it's interesting.

We looked at this chair tree a long time. I've been by this way so many times but never noticed the dozen or so chairs wedged and tied to this tree. It was hard to get a good picture but it was really lovely! So Fremont! Fremont is a sweet little neighborhood and they have the yummiest vegan/gluten free bakery. Flying Apron is our special treat stop. We get to go today to pick up Daddy's cake. mmmm...

  A few days ago was, I think, our last sunny day. Hopefully the tomatoes got enough sun to keep ripening or else I need to start researching green tomato recipes... There are still hundreds (we have 13 tomato plants) of green ones in various shapes and sizes.

  Shady cat nap spot. All the wasps and hornets have moved out, this chair was formerly one of their favorite spots. Tommy loves to nap under it on warm days.

Finally, ripe tomatoes. WE slow roasted them in the oven. so so good!

  Try as I might, I was unable to get a picture that capture the magic and immenseness of this tree. It's in our neighbors back yard and it's just HUGE. On warm breezy days, it's magical to lay on a blanket and listen to the whispering rustle of the leaves. I look at this tree and focus on it and I can imagine all the houses and pavement and man made things falling away and just picture this place as it once was, an untamable forest. I want to go there. I want that so badly.
  Someday we'll have it. For now we're in the city and have to take the trees where we find them, and there are many, but soon we'll have a home where there are more trees than houses! We're working towards that.

  My favorite kind of mess!

  I'm trying to make as many bags and clothes as possible so I can update my handmade etsy store and for bootyland and for a trunk show my friend is organizing in november. My etsy vintage store is doing well and I feel so  happy about that. Selling to vintage stores is something I just don't want to do anymore and it looks like, if I concentrate on these other options, I won't need to. Thankfully!

I'm trying to decide if I should put the heat on for a little bit. It's so crisp in here. I am wanting some hot apple cider or hot cocoa or well, a mocha. With all the other dietary restrictions we've imposed, a little coffee once in a while will have to be allowed.

pink & blue!

  Every year I want to go berry picking but I never get a plan together early enough. The last few summers we've missed everything but blackberries (which grow wild EVERYWHERE in our neighborhood so it requires very little effort to pick them). I managed to find a good farm and they had raspberries and blueberries so off we went.

The raspberry field was way more picturesque (dusty roads, way off the highway, lots of trees and mountains nestling it in) but there was a sad amount of ripe fruit. We had to look real hard to find ripe berries and there were many people picking unripe berries which I don't really understand but hmm, maybe they had their reasons...? We still got about a half flat (for $6!) and it was enough to make two batches of raspberry jam.

beautiful green beetle couple.

Maybe this was a robins nest? It was a wonderful surprise, made up for the lack of berries!

Way at the top of the bushes, a snail. How'd it get all the way up there?

There are mostly highbush blueberries around here. The blueberry field was full of ripe berries! Baby was eating handfuls at a time. Blueberries are her favorite. I think she was happy and somewhat confused to see them growing like crazy on every bush. They were lovely.

Once our box started filling up she stopped picking and plopped down under a bush to eat from the box. We brought home 2 big boxes. mmmm. fruit tastes so perfect eaten in the field.

sea life...

    Last week we went to the aquarium. My son is forever begging to go to the zoo and I will not. I was an animal rights activist for many years and I still feel they are mostly not cool-at least for me. Where I grew up the "zoo" was the Wild Animal Park and it is HUGE. The focus of the Wild Animal Park seemed to be education and conservation/preservation and it didn't seem as bad, there were no cages and many large natural habitats. I just don't like to see animals in cages, especially the big cats, it just breaks my heart. The Zoo in Seattle is pretty depressing and small with many cages, somewhat sickly looking animals on concrete floors and bad bleach-y/dirty smells all around. It's a total bummer. Don't even get me started on the elephants.  So anyway, as we drove by the zoo for the hundredth time (it's very close by and we usually drive by it daily) the begging began... I thought aloud "How about the aquarium?" and that seemed like a good enough compromise to him so we set out and went the next day...
  I still do not enjoy seeing sea life in captivity but I think in some cases the good may outweigh the bad. I think it is necessary for many people to actually SEE these magical sea creatures in order to have the proper reverence for their lives and respect for the ocean in general. The Seattle aquarium is very education based and seems to be quite clean and roomy. Mostly native fish and smaller or rescued creatures (I can't even explain how awful I felt when I saw the shark exhibit at sea world, I am just very sensitive to life. I guess that's the best way of putting it...). The children loved it.

  The big octopus was so lovely. I only took pictures from his underside, I didn't want to flash in his eyes (not sure if they are sensitive to that but, just in case).

  That is a "salmon ladder"

starfish everywhere!