snow bound!

   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

snowed in...

   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   

snow melt

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

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

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

waiting for the snow...

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

Monday am snow driving...

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

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

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

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

autumnal times...

  It feels like I've been away from this space for so long. It's been intense holiday crafting overload around here and I've been making a real effort to work on my writing (fiction & journaling), also, my mans computer cord broke so mine keeps (ahem!) disappearing to the dungeon, I mean basement office and I never want to go down and fetch it so haven't been loading pics much...
  Also, I've been feeling really wonderfully positive and content which is not really my normal demeanor but this lovely feeling has been around me for about a week and I'm going to embrace the vibe and roll with it. I feel happy! I've been trying TRYING!! to be super mindful and in the moment and kind and calm. Also, The tv has been OFF and we've been really trying to live the Waldorf way as our little one seems to respond so well to it...

 My mess of ribbons, sequins, fabric... love the looks of a textile mess.

 We made little lanterns for martinmas and went on a lantern walk around a bubbling bog as sundown. It was magically rad!

 It snowed a couple days before thanksgiving. I'm guessing there will be more, our winter has been so very cold this year, er... I mean our Autumn...

 The day after the snow first fell we awoke to all our windows being covered in ice.

 The chickens did not enjoy it one bit, got frozen wattles and now are very spoilt with their very own heat lamp which will most likely stay on till spring comes...

 Here I am so so cold. It's amazing how much a difference a few degrees makes. I enjoy the upper 30s a good bit but on this day it was 24 degrees and I was very uncomfortable and ill clothes and not loving it...

 Do cats go out in the snow? I didn't let mine out since they're not used to that much cold. They laid around, bummed.

 We didn't get too much outside time in that week so much fun was had clomping around in mama's shoes.
 I'm planning a winter solstice party and I can't wait to make a bunch of festive barks, brittles, candies, hot drinks and... who knows what else!!
  Loving this season and all the magic it brings!