a little inspiration

Is there anybody out there?  I wanted to share this puppy with you. Meet Honey Bear: We have had her about a month and half.  I asked for her for my birthday.  She is a doll.  And getting bigger by the moment.  I realized I've been under feeding her two days ago and I would swear she put on a few pounds since I upped the food.

Soy seems to have been okay, though I will admit to not eating as much of it as maybe I should have.  I had one serving a day plus tamari on anything I could think of... Today is the first day of corn and already I feel bloated and a little gross.  I did have corn three times today so maybe that was overkill for any day... But I couldn't resist.  Corn is such a big substitute for all things gluten and snack like. Anyway, I'll give it a couple more days to judge.  Yesterday my lovely mother in law got married and I spent the whole day running around with her and eating nothing but fruit and cheese(when we ate at all.)  It was a wonderful day and everyone had a splendid time.  I wore the Hawthorn dress I made from Colette Patterns.  I even got pictures for you!  I'll share later this week.  Can you believe how many things I've made the last few months?  I don't think I've been this productive since Emerson was born. Speaking of t...

Next up? Minimalism.   This is an exciting topic to me, one with many, many branches and sprouts growing off of it. I hope you'll explore it with me. At the time that we moved from the first house we rented in Asheville to the apartment we are in now we threw out so much stuff I can't even begin to describe it all.  I wish there was a picture.  A 12 foot box truck would have been full.  And this was after a move just one year before!  Some of it was forced because of a moldy basement and some of it was baby things outgrown, but much of it was just too much stuff.  Too much!! I am the type of person who remembers where almost everything in my house came from.  I know which of Anjali's clothes came from which person, I think of them every time she wears them.  I know who gave us the shower curtain for our wedding (10! years ago) and think of them when I see it.  I remember who sent each toy, where I bought each shirt and piece ...

Good morning!  How are you all?  Is anyone still here?  The last couple months have been busy and then this last one has just slammed us all with many new things.  There are several that I'd like to share with you and then I am hoping to share the journey too.  At the same time, since it is not all about me, I need to maintain some boundaries (which I quite admit I am not great at.)  I hope you'll find the journey interesting and you'll share it with other friends who might be going through something similar.  I'd love to start an actual dialogue here instead of just hearing my own voice, so if you have a comment or idea or story to share, please do. The first big change is my diet.  You know I am trained as a Health Coach and many of you know that before my son was born I struggled with Ulcerative Colitis.  Pregnancy and nursing somehow delivered the perfect cocktail of hormones to stop the disease in its tracks but in the last few mon...

Proof of walking.  Look at her go.  I tried to get it the other way but of course she wanted to eat the phone and not walk when I tried.  So, turn your monitor or your head.  Enjoy!

Someone went exploring today.  Before this she had just been pulling all the things out.  I didn't realize she was moving it all so so she'd have room to get in. ;)

Our transition to a family of 4 (or really 5- because Morai cannot be left out) has been better in some ways than expected and harder too. I have been feeling great, and except for my midwife telling me to stay in bed over the weekend, have been surprised at my bodies ability to recover so quickly from such a fast birth.  (or any birth for that matter!)  I've been in love from the first second and I think the hormonal cocktail of the first little while makes me a much kinder and gentler version of myself and I think that works well for everyone. :)  Unless I don't get fed- then all bets are off. Anjali has been a sleepy baby like her brother was so we aren't so sleep deprived most days.  And with all the help around the house we are even keeping up with the mountains of laundry!   Emerson has been so sweet and loving toward his "baby Sissie", always worried about the noises she is making and singing to her during diaper changes.  Offering...

I’d had a few nights where I really thought she was coming with gentle contractions forming distinct patterns and continuing for hours at a time.  The previous Saturday when I saw my midwife, Sara, she thought I really looked like I was in early labor and expected to get called back that night.  So when I was still pregnant the following Saturday we talked over my previous birth and how I’d never really gone into labor myself.  She offered me the option of taking some cotton root bark the next time I had contractions to help things move along into a more active pattern.  Something that if my body was as ready as she believed it was would help my body commit.  After having such a confusing week I thought it sounded pretty good. That evening I began having contractions again, stronger than before so I went ahead with the cotton root.  It was also the night of the full moon, called the Wolf Moon by Native Americans and it was bright as a street light shining...

  Some days just line up to be perfect.  The friends, the weather, the watermelon, the bands.  Perfect.  I'm going to try for a picture everyday for the rest of May.  It is a good practice.  And soon I will share more pictures of the birthday things we made and the happy three year old himself.

Thursday came and went.  I'm still waiting for that post for you all so when it gets here I will put it up. In the mean time things have been fast and fun here.  Readjusting.  Learning new skills.  Finding our rhythm again. He has discovered scissors.  And gotten more interested in drawing.  Look at those papers.  Multiple colors and lots of lines.  This is very new.  Before it was one or two lines and then eat the crayon or marker.  The scissors are his favorite.  It seems to be going around right now.  Soulemama and Meg from Sew Liberated are also posting these kinds of images.  He tells me, "I need cut." and "Trimmy, trimmy, I need trimmy." And of course, stickers.  He is able to take them off the sheet and place them all by himself now.  It is quite amazing really.  When you watch someone trying this for the first time and you see just how hard it really is.  Amazing these things we do ever...

You may have noticed my list of "inspirations" over on the side and I hope you've had the chance to click on a few.  One of them is my dad, Old Bike Rider .  My dad has been an inspiration to me as long as I can remember.  We've been lucky that we've always really clicked.  I've always thought we are very alike and I've always been proud of that. He is the kind of person that you can depend on to help you do anything.  He can tell you how to fix your sink over the phone.  He can take great photographs.  He can wrangle farm animals or college students.  He can help you choose fabric for a sewing project and tires for your motorcycle.  Or anything for your motorcycle.  You can talk to him about life, love, catastrophes, mechanics, God, celebrations or food. He will take care of you when you need it if you are his child, parent, spouse, friend or stranger.  He will let you believe what is true for you even when it isn't true for hi...

First- thank you all for your kind words about Zo.  It has meant a lot to me to be reminded how many others loved her. So many things have changed here in the last couple weeks.  On the evening after the Bug's party our black cat, Sydney, went to live with my mother-in-law.  He has been adjusting into her household and sounds like he is very happy there.  And of course, Zo.  That leaves us with just Sebastien for a fuzzy friend.  Turns out, Sebastien isn't really a quiet, mild mannered, deaf Persian cat.   He is actually a very loud and looking for rubs kind of cat.  Even more amazing, my allergies to him seem to have subsided completely!  I always knew I was allergic to Sydney's saliva and that he would groom Sebastien.  I just had no idea I wasn't actually allergic to Sebastien at all.  Can you imagine?  For 12 years I thought I was allergic to this cat and it was really the other one all along!  So anyway, now they ar...

For Autumn??  I started this one in April  and just finished it last night.  I had to. At the end of August I signed up the  Professional Training Program with the Institute of Integrative Nutrition .  In October my classes start in earnest.  In March I will be able to start seeing clients as a Health Coach.  Helping people make the changes they want and need in their lives to become healthier and happier.  I am so excited to be able to go to this school and have the chance to do this kind of work.  Work which is helpful to individuals, communities and our whole world.  Right now I am going through the fundamentals, they call them Warm Up classes.  And I am certainly getting warmer.  It is so wonderful to be learning again.  To have something to share with my family and friends aside from what the Bug did today. I am sure you will all get to listen to me ramble on about all this in the next year.  I mi...

I just finished a blouse of the lightest yellow fabric.  Perfect for summer.  I will have to wait to get a picture of it on because the hanger picture is not doing it justice... In other news I got a little job at a boutique.  It is either an amazingly perfect job or the downfall of my GSC.  All the pretty clothes!!  Luckily, all the money I will be making is already spoken for (probably a few times over honestly) and so I would have to content myself with just visiting the pretty dresses anyway.  I got to work Friday and it was so lovely.  Adult conversation, witty women, and did I mention the clothes??  Ah, aside from slightly tired feet it was like a break instead of a job.  Delightful. Also of note- a certain someone is weaned.  As of a week or so ago.  I am not sure if there will be sadness over this in the future but right now I think we both feel great about it.  I know some women keep going longer but we were done....

  The other day I had this crazy idea: What if I didn't buy any clothing for myself for one year?  What if anything I wanted I had to make?  I immediately wanted to try and do this.  No second thoughts at all.  And so here we go.  This is my rule and you are going to hold me to it: 1) No buying any clothing item for myself for one year, July 4th, 2010 to July 4th 2011. With two exceptions:       a) Bras.  I can buy bras since I am in the middle of weaning and things are changing rather dramatically.       b) One emergency clothing item buy in case of lost luggage, unexpected freezing temperatures or something like that.  Hopefully not to be used at all. That's it. I'm going to call this the Getting Skills Challenge.  I want to be able to make all basic items of clothing for myself.  I want to use my button hole foot and my zipper foot without fear.  I want to make patterns t...

Ladies and Gentlefish I am proud to announce.... a shop ! To inaugurate it I am working with Mel Yukna who started "My Share" on facebook. MyShare is a group of Baltimore area folks who want to eat local, shop local, support local. How cool is that? The first offering in the shop has to do with just this idea. Cloth produce bags for taking to the market (or grocery store.) If you are like me, when you go to the market you go for many reasons and one of the biggest is feeling like you are doing your part to reduce consumption of fossil fuels by buying food grown near you instead of half way around the globe. And you find the most beautiful peaches or raspberries, your mouth is salivating imagining the deliciousness as you wait your turn to pay and the farmer dumps them into... a plastic bag! It's like someone took the needle off the record and ruined your perfect little moment. Well, no need to hear that icky scratching sound again! Now you can buy reusable cloth...

Edit: I will take new sign ups until the 12th. After that I will send out an email with all the details. Thanks everyone! Okay, I want to do a quilt block swap! Here are the rules I am thinking, let me know if I am missing something: 1. One 10" block a month sent to someone else in the swap. I haven't decided yet if we will have the same partner every month or switch up since I don't know how many people might be interested. 2. The block can be traditional, contemporary or free form. 3. The block will be based on a theme each month which my lovely assistant, er, husband, will come up with for us. Like "sunshine" or whatever and then you make a block that says "sunshine" to you. We will put up the new word or theme on the first of the month, blocks should get to the person your swapping with by the end of the month. 4. Blocks must be primarily made of quilting cotton but embellishments and embroidery is fine to add. 5. Part of me wants to say when...

Happy New Year! I've never been one for resolutions but there are a few things I know about the coming year and I am sure about them so I don't have to worry about keeping up with them. They will be happening- my participation is not optional. 1) I will be enjoying the first floor more because of the curtains I found at Ikea and my father was kind enough to hang for me. 2) I will be doing more laundry. The Bug's diapers have been washed by a service up to this point (thanks MomMom!) but we are transitioning to our own diapers and the service will be me. I have been working through the process of this in my mind to figure out the logistics. Diapers moving up and down the stairs, clean, dirty, often with only one hand to carry. I use the big Ikea bags to carry most of our laundry but who wants the chance that clean clothes will go into a bag dirty diapers just came out of? And I can't see using trash liners. Cloth diapering is supposed to cause less waste, right? ...

On the Winter Solstice the night is long and the day is short in the Northern Hemisphere. In ancient times, when humans were more connected to the earth, in almost every culture this day was marked by some celebration. The Romans worshiped a sun god called Sol and on this special day they celebrated his re-emergence from the dark. I can imagine a time before the sophistication of the Romans when the long night was a time to gather and share stories and warmth and keep away the pernicious thought of the sun staying dark forever. This is a night of great hope, of faith in the return of the sun. So this year, when we are finally home, near our garden (which worships the sun in its own way) and our friends we plan to gather together, share company and stories and burn a light through the night to help welcome the sun back from its long journey in morning. Won't you celebrate with us?

Happy 200 posts to me! I can't believe that two years ago I started writing this because I was wanting to craft and be part of the amazing crafting/blogging community I had discovered. These amazing , vivacious artists , mothers and creators . Everyday I would read their blogs and be blown away by beautiful pictures of wonderful things that they were creating. And they had other jobs like being mama or owning a shop. I was inspired! And then we moved into this wonderful house and a month later Senor gave me a sewing machine. I was floored because it meant he believed I could really create something. My family and friends have always been supportive but this was somehow different. Senor has this almost magical ability to take my ideas and help turn them into reality. Okay- before I diverge and wax on endlessly, let us just say, "And the rest is in my archives!" :) I am also proud to present little a! My new business! For this moment I am only taking special o...