a little inspiration

This place we chose to live in on such short notice has surpised me over and over with its beauty.  The sounds of birds in the morning, the sounds of children playing all afternoon.  Flowers and freshness and friendliness all wrapped up perfectly to be a balm to the soul after such a big move.  With the exception of the spider population which seems never ending and widely varied all the flora and fauna has been delightful.  A wild turkey in the yard today, some baby opossums hanging in the tree the other day.  And the planting here are so lovely I just wanted to share.  To be able to really spend some time outside the house has been a dream come true.  To have great children for E to play with, a blessing.  Surrounded by beauty.

Yesterday Emerson wanted to make a card for our friend Jill.  He wanted to put flowers on it.  We used star stickers and I showed him how to draw a stem and little leaf.  And then he did it.  I am very impressed. 

Sometimes the most beautiful thing is right outside your door.

Near our home there is Cylburn Arboretum.  This has always been a favorite place, especially right at the start of Spring, when we are desperate to stretch our legs and see the new flowers blooming.  On Sunday we packed up some snacks and the dog and went out for a walk. We discovered snails. And daffodils (he calls them sunflower daffOdils.) We were all eager to be out. (she is sniffing at a waffle ;) And when it got too steep, there was always someone to help. This tree was pretty much the only tree in bloom. As you got closer you could hear the hum. Thousands of fuzzy little honey bees covered these blossoms.  Can you find one? I laid down in the grass and let the sun warm my face.  It was a perfect day.

It is making me so happy to have Spring here so early.  I feel like it is a gift just for me.  There is so much life and beauty around me, how can I be sad?  The sunshine warming the ground and the flowers turning their little faces up.  Branches reaching ever longer in a never ending hope. Thank you all so, so much.  The comments and emails I have gotten have been so meaningful, so full of love and kindness.  You all have brought me such comfort, just knowing how much you care, hearing all of your stories of loss and hope.  Thank you.  Thank you.

Happy Valentine's Day.  I always like a holiday dedicated to eating chocolates and telling people how much you love them!  This morning I was nudged awake at 6am sharp so that I could hear a singing card.  The Bug had gotten it in the mail yesterday from his Nana and Pappy and Aunt Carolyn (they have a little tradition with the singing cards.  Remember this ?)  It is obvious that he had slept with the card and had been waiting all night to share it with me (I didn't come home for dinner last night, I was at meditation until after he was in bed.)  It was the sweetest way to wake up way too early I've ever experienced.  He said, "You want to hear it again, Mama?" Of course, darling, of course!   After that I sent him down to find Papa so I could pull myself out of bed and head downstairs to make breakfast.  You heard me. I. Made. Breakfast.  Crazy talk!! In all fairness, I cheated.  I made a Dutch baby,  from this recipe ...

          I've been working on a quilt.  With wool on the inside to keep me nice and toasty. And big summer flowers on the outside to keep me cheerful all winter long.  I got this fabric about year ago.  The wool that I used for the batting in actually a fabric someone gifted me from an old stash.  It was a huge plaid I couldn't imagine ever using but it is so warm and such a nice wool.  I knew it must have some use.  And 60" inches wide even after washing! I practiced my embroidery to keep it in place.  I finally got the chain stitch down.  I think it is funny I waited so long....  it is so easy and pretty.  (I always say this.  Why did I wait so long to try x?  It is so easy!) Desi liked the quilt from the beginning.  You can see the evidence on all the pictures....  That white hair really does stick. (ps- there are even more pictures if you click on any one of these.)

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...

In an effort to get some started projects converted to finished projects I have been trying to sew or crochet a little each day this week. I finished the bloomers I need for this coming weekend first (you know, since I will be using them :) and then moved on the this block. I knew when I made it that it needed to be a pillow. I already had it mapped out in my head. Last night when I went to finish it up I had already had half a glass of wine and none of my (already poor) math skills could see through the haze. So it is different than expected. And then I sewed one of the back panels on backwards and I decided to walk away... Luckily the haze cleared and I finished it today after doing some seam ripping. Lesson learned.

So last week consisted of two days with only a dribble of water followed by a few emails sent by Senor to the Mayor, a Council woman, the neighborhood list serves and the company handling the water project in our area (to be fair I had already called 311 to find out if the City could help me or tell me when we might get water back and only gotten a rude response saying I should be grateful I have any water at all.) Then, only thirty minutes after Senor sent the emails he received phone calls back and only ten minutes after that a very large man was standing on our doorstep with wrench. He bent down to walk through the door and our water was restored. Then we had two blissful days of perfect water. Sunday morning Senor turned on the faucet to discover no hot water. He went to investigate and found that we had plenty of water in the basement. So much that it had put out the pilot light and flooded our "wine cellar". So everything that was in the water got moved outside. ...

is one week away. Yay!

First off- did you know it was already Thursday? I really thought I would be able to make this post early in the week. Instead of writing a bunch, how 'bout a list of things on my mind: 1) I did in fact manage to complete the things on my list for last weekend. Most important being making some baby bum wipes. Cloth wipes? you say, and I say, Yes! because if I am using cloth diapers I should at least try using cloth wipes too. I do have to say this is the most boring sewing project. I almost could nap while sewing it was so simple... The coolest part was getting to use an old flannel sheet that I picked up at a thrift store a while ago. Keep your eyes peeled for this fabric as it figures into this weekends project as well. 2) I ordered diaper covers from a wonderful woman named Kara on esty and they arrived this week. Can I tell you how much I love them?? The cuteness is killing me. Please visit her shop , tell her I sent you if you buy things and admire her work. She wa...

Do you see that little ticker on the side over there? Does it look like it says something less than 100 to you?? That's what I thought it said... Can that be true? I am 26 weeks now- that is very nearly 7 months along. You all wont mind if I freak a bit about how fast time is moving will you? I am not freaking out about actually having a baby (though perhaps I should be) and I am not freaking out about not having all the stuff I maybe should or whatever (though again, a saner person might be.) No, I am freaked out by time, which speeds up and slows down with no reason according to it's own schedule. Days drag on by and months fly. How is this possible? I guess I really should get those parenting books I was thinking of and maybe I should be going to more (some) consignment places on the weekend so I can find the little things I know we need. And I keep thinking we should get away, just the two of us, one last time but I don't know how that could happen. This is s...

With the paper! Yippy! Now I just need to read 70 pages to catch up and prepare a ten minute talk. It's okay- yesterday was lovely out and today is rainy... Seńor brought home a little azelea and we stuck it in the ground yesterday. We also watched Mr & Mrs Smith in Spanish last night while drinking rum and coke (sorry c-pher, that is why we didn't make it... I poured the first one at 5:30...) and it was very funny. Anybody remember that jacket I was working on ages ago? I am going to finish it right now.

So last night I raced home from work so I could finish the project I started this week. I didn't want it languishing upstairs while I was working on my paper and distracting me. This is the last step to banishing the distraction. After this I should be able to go get started on the paper. (I have even already vacuumed... It is only 9:30 though, I have plenty of time....) This one I made for me. I have a new wallet coming which needed a new bag. Click on either picture to go to my flikr page and see more.... Have a great weekend!

In my yard, things are in bloom. Can you see the tiny bug? I didn't even know it was there when I snapped this picture... I had hoped to be able to buy more plants and get the yard going this year but I think the reality is that it won't be happening though. There are too many other things we want to do (did I hear Nicaragua?) so something has to suffer. Or I have to acquire a job that pays double....