project journal

I want you to meet someone...

2009-08-08T14:39:00.000-07:00

Welcome
Harrison Starr Smith

It doesn't get better than this.

the treasure

2009-06-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

$15 for a small scale love seat. It's old, worn, but has great bones. (I had to "dare" Dave to sit on it at the yard sale.) Right now I'm imagining it dressed in this fabric by Anna Maria Horner (have fun looking through all her fabrics).

It certainly isn't on the top of the to do list. Currently, said treasure is hiding under a sheet in the basement. Mom, you are an expert at these sorts of things, what do you think? Good?

a full day

2009-06-15T15:34:00.000-07:00

Saturday was great:

*being together as a family, hurray for Dave's Day Off

*farmers market....strawberries

*treasure hunting at a yard sale...I found a treasure and a project for $15.

*Parade!

*WWKIP
I love how in this picture we are all wearing essentially the same hat. The green and yellow stripey that I'm working on was started for Malcolm when he was a baby. He grew faster than I knit. I should have it done before the one on the way arrives.

*naps

*BBQ (one in which we were invited, I did no cooking, just brought strawberries and enjoyed)

*movie night: Jane Austen's Persuasion, because I don't think I'll get the book read in time for book club this week. I'm sure it wasn't his first choice, but he still enjoyed it with me, Dave is the BEST.

wwkip

2009-06-12T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hello knitters...

Tomorrow is World Wide Knit in Public Day. (Apparently it is also on the 20th this year.)

Anyway, to celebrate, find a group of knitters, or just take your yarn and needles with you where ever you go. Check out the years past on flicker.

I'll be with the knitters atNoble Library 1-4pm. After Parade the Circle of course. It will be a fun filled day.

Poppy

2009-05-27T13:37:00.000-07:00

Dear Poppy,

Thank you for blooming. Last night you were still holding it all in and sometime between then and this morning you have opened, burst, shed your shell. Your happy shout of color marks two years here for me. The first morning I woke in this Ohio home I was greeted by poppies. Thank you for returning year after year and thanks to the someone who planted you. You make me happy.

Yours Truly,
Sarah

orange and purple vest

2009-05-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

Malcolm has two favorite colors: orange and purple. So when I asked him what colors I should use for his (Easter) vest, orange and purple it was. I wondered, should I honor his request? I did ask didn't I? And concluded with, it is special when someone takes your favorite things seriously. This was something I wanted to do for this boy, while he's still a boy and takes my knitting creations seriously. I was a little intimidated by such a bold combination until I realized it could be snazzy done up with an argyle pattern. So, using the same pattern as last year I just replaced the cables with diamonds, which only took a little figuring. It was completed for wearing the Sunday after Easter and I feel really good about that. Even though it was so so so very close... It was a lesson learned in "letting go". Knitting on deadline can take the fun out of it. Yes, I was knitting Easter morning and sort of stressing over it. (Finishing always takes much longer than I realize with all the seams and weaving in ends, bah.) I don't need to let that happen again.
Back to the boy and his vest. He loves it. He is two, he can pull it off. And I think he should.

(vest details: modified cable vest pattern, Manos Del Uruguay Stria Cotton: Tangerine and Violet)

spelled: muumuu

2009-05-19T12:01:00.000-07:00

That's right. I'm learning new things every day. Muumuu is spelled with double, double u's. Fascinating.

I realized that while I was working on this dress that I haven't sewn for myself since I was 13 years old. Growing up there were a few summers when I would spend a week with my Grandma Vera and she would teach my antsy body to slow down and sew. I wonder who had to learn more patience in those weeks? Anyway, I am so grateful for that time together, and the smell of a hot iron on fabric always takes me back to that place.

One thing I didn't realize then, but struck me now is that it takes a certain amount of courage to sew for yourself. AND, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to sew for yourself when pregnant (and then take a picture and post in on your blog). I'm feeling quite courageous.

I've got the whole summer to be pregnant and I want to be comfortable. I am starting to get the point where I have very little tolerance for anything around my waist, hips, or belly. When I was walking through the fabric store (only intending to buy elastic and a snap setter) this pattern nearly jumped off the shelf. It spoke to me: flowing, roomy, nonrestrictive, muumuu. Then the linen was on sale and that settled it. At home I began cutting, sewing, and thinking: "Am I going to look like a sack of potatoes in this thing?" (Enter courage.) I adjust a little here and there and kept going until it was finished. And then, I wore it. In public. Multiple times. I can pull weeds in it. I can dress it up or down with a cardigan, necklace, and shoes. If I want a little more shape I can add a sash empire style.

The back yoke is quite large and in all it's whiteness stands out quite a bit. It makes me think it should be embellished with a big rose or something. That would require more courage so we'll see.

I think it will do nicely, even though I have to admit it is a little "potato sackish".

preview

2009-05-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

So I know it is a sorry way to end a week of non-blogging, but here is a sampling of what you'll want to tune in for next week. This is deep stuff my friends:

*Did I succeed in sewing a mu-mu for myself? (how do you spell mu-mu? do you know what I'm talking about?)

*Should orange and purple be knit together?

*A tale in which I attempt to sell books for yarn.

*Why I can't resist the baby kimono.

and,

*All about when I took a "sick day".

Have a good weekend. I think it will be a scrambled eggs and toast dinner tonight with a walk to the park.

Were you wondering?

2009-05-04T13:12:00.000-07:00

I've been knitting little things. And yes, that's my bump.

(bootie details: pattern - Stay on Booties from Knitting for Baby, yarn - sport weight Blue Sky alpaca)

the month of May

2009-05-01T14:47:00.000-07:00

Hello friends, hello blog. May. It's a good month. A good month to ease back into blogging. Sorry about the disappearance - I'm so magic. I had a case of blogging ambivalence which lead to blogging absence. But, since it's May - such a beautiful month - I'm back.

2009-02-13T11:41:00.000-08:00

This is why I knit.

Lucky you!

2009-02-11T09:47:00.000-08:00

Ammie made me do this, but it's because I can't wait to find out what that something could be. I think it's a great idea, play along if you'd like.

{Lucky you!
The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!}

I'll make one change, if you don't have a blog you can still enter, just promise you will make a surprise something for 5 special people in you life.

{a little surprise something for my mom's b-day awhile back, just to give you a teaser}

UPDATE:

Okay, I have my five. If I don't have your address please email me so I know where to send your surprise. sarahstarrsmith@gmail.com
1 - Tara (are you NY Tara or TX Tara or another Tara? email me your mailing address)
2 - Suzanne (email me your mailing address)
3 - Annie
4 - Lauren
5 - Sarah P.

love

2009-02-10T13:41:00.000-08:00

cut paper
drippy glue
sticky glitter
a way to show a little love

Hi friends

2009-02-06T09:02:00.000-08:00

This week started with squirrel and ended with accidentally washing (and drying - that's where it got icky) a yellow crayon in a full load of laundry. Today, Friday, I finally sat myself down to post a little of the "I've been meaning to posts". So enjoy.

I'm getting all razzle-dazzled about Valentines Day. My friend Becky came for a little visit a couple of weeks ago and she said she has a plan for getting through the rest of the winter. "Go all out for the holidays: Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day..." Not a bad idea. I'm pulling out all the pink, red, hearts, candles, love birds, cookie cutters... you get the idea. There is still a lot of winter to go.

Happy weekend to you.

Marmalade

2009-02-06T08:42:00.000-08:00

Marmalade's her name. I finally put my Knitted Babes book to good use and knit up this sweet thing for my niece. The thing about making a doll is that the making NEVER ENDS. They must be clothed, oh yes, and have at least a few out-fit options. And then there are the ACCESSORIES!!!, oh my. And just when I thought I was done (enough anyway), I couldn't bear to send her away with out a pillow and blanket. You know, a little comfort and security for her travels. She is now in her new home and loved as much as ever.

jump ropes

2009-02-06T08:31:00.000-08:00

Dave drew the name of my nephew, who, how cool is this... is really into jump rope. Dave did all the work here. My favorite thing about this gift was that is was made using things that we already had. Oh, and, it's also my favorite because it's a jump rope. They are getting put to good use, I hear he takes them to school.

barn

2009-02-06T08:09:00.000-08:00

It didn't surprise me much to learn that my 2 year old nephew loves barns. He is, after all, the son of my brother (painter of barns). Lucky me, I drew his name for Christmas. Also lucky was finding this lovely barn/dollhouse tutorial. This barn was a lot of fun to put together. Malcolm played with it lots before I shipped it off. Knowing that I had better make a double batch, the pieces are cut out to sew one up for Malcolm. It's just that I haven't gotten out my sewing machine since Christmas. After all those bags and everything else, I needed a little space.

Squirrel follow up:

2009-02-06T07:56:00.000-08:00

Here's the squirrel pic. I didn't want to get too close and possibly frighten the poor thing any more.

Yes, it was a sunny day when he left out home and I think he saw his shadow as he scampered up the tree. More winter, I know. But I kind of figured as much. I'm not too heart broken. I just keep telling myself "I love snow." Because really there is a part of me that does.

Yes, Natalie, I remember the mink farm, one got stuck in our window-well once.

Malcolm, he was mostly fine with the whole squirrel thing. I tried to play it really cool for him. Although, Dave made the mistake of telling him the squirrel was going to "eat mommy up". I made him take that back right away and assured Malcolm that squirrels only eat nuts and things like that - not people. (Dave.)

Yes, again, an "All the Way Home" moment.

And yes, I like squirrels. When they are outside, in trees, free.

The end. I hope.

Now we can have a happy Groundhog Day...

2009-02-02T09:48:00.000-08:00

The squirrel has been caught and released.

Special thanks to Bruce (next door neighbor) for the squirrel consult, the Waites for lending their super-duper trap, Dave for setting up the trap, my mom for saying lots of squirrel out-of-house prayers, my across the street neighbor who helped release the poor thing, and Sarah G. for offering her home as a getaway this morning.

The sun is shining and it is a BEAUTIFUL day.

Help

2009-02-02T05:28:00.001-08:00

There is a squirrel in our house. We he/she...it came in through the chimney yesterday and made quite a mess while we were at church. We borrowed a big trap from a neighbor. But I think the squirrel is hiding out in our dining room ceiling. I saw it scamper up there all in a fright through an easy access hole because "currently" we are "remodeling" our kitchen ceiling. I just hope it doesn't think it can hibernate here. I'll call animal control. The big trap is a little uninviting in the kitchen and I just want the squirrel to be FREE and NOT IN MY HOUSE!

Are we still having a happy new year?

2009-01-30T12:31:00.001-08:00

It's a good question. And the answer, for me, is yes.

But really
I just wanted to show off
these great New Year party hats
and
my adorable family.

Dave was on call overnight at the hospital so we had to deliver his hat. Can you tell he was sooo excited?

Making hats with the family. It doesn't get better than that. Trust me.

It's really not too late, have a Happy New Year.

And I hope you don't mind but next week will be my crafty Christmas catch up. There are many things to show and tell. And even though Christmas was sooooo long ago, this is my blog and I can do what I want.

a great poem about lousy pie

2009-01-19T18:12:00.000-08:00

I meant to post this way back, but I disremembered. Listen to how cool this is. Little did we know, but around the same time I was having a pie and poetry evening in OH, my friend in NY was having a pie and poetry experience all her own. She has gracefully given permission for me to share her poem.

Of Lousy Pie and Cellulite
a poem by Charlotte Mountain

Diner waitress, she’s pigeon-toed

Offers pie, it’s a-la-mode

Tight-lipped and frost-nipped

It was December or November

I disremember

Although I am no connoisseur

The pie it tasted quite impure

I needed quick a water-cure

Perhaps liqueur

I am unsure

Of pie, of ice cream

I don’t blaspheme

The taste of both was so oppressive

Aggressive, depressive and in-digestive

Diner waitress you bedlamite

Of lousy pie and cellulite

birthday

2009-01-15T15:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I built myself a cake

and made a wish.

Happy New Year to me.

the book of 2009

2009-01-12T13:24:00.000-08:00

My BOOK for 2009 arrived in the mail today.

{image from jill bliss website - there are lots of pretty things over there}

The year is still young. Time to get organized!

gray cloud Cleveland style

2009-01-08T03:41:00.000-08:00

Because I drove my honey to work early this morning, and because I just finished off the last of his hot chocolate, and because I just read an email from Sara O. A. who "just wanted to say 'hi' and make sure [I] haven't morphed into a gray cloud Cleveland style", I am putting out a little ramshackle post instead of crawling back under my warm covers.
Merry Christmas.
Happy New Year!
Is it really January 8th?

If you've been wondering where I've been, I think Sara got it right. I morphed into a gray cloud Cleveland style. And now it's time to come back.

Our Christmas season was sweet. My favorite part, which should be no surprise here, was the music and the singing. Malcolm's renditions of "Angels we have heard of on high, each-ly singing o're the planes...", "Feliz Navidad", and "Deck the Halls" really had a way of ushering in the Christmas spirit. Christmas Eve, Dave and I burnt some midnight oil making our gifts for the boy. Malcolm woke to a little kitchen and some felt food. "A little kitchen! For me!" (It still has some finish work to be done, but in the mean time it is getting played with as is.) A few days later, my parents, Megan, Benny-boy, and Hillary Kate arrived with a sleigh (van) full of cheer. All the way from Utah, bless their hearts. We rang in the New Year together, I made cinnamon rolls for the 1st time, and before I knew it, the family was backing out of the driveway and Malcolm and I were waving goodbye. There was a lump and then there were tears. I tried to explain to the little two and a half year old that I was happy AND sad. He snuggled on my lap and let me rock him and that was just-the-thing.

The gray cloud is still hovering. But, here is my little bit of inspiration for 2009 - received, like all good things, while humming in the shower: "This little light of mine." 'Let it shine', I thought, that will be my theme for this year, and then I thought, that will be our family theme for this year (growing up we had such yearly themes, I'm trying to remember what they were, help me out family), and then I thought, we'll make it into a collage and hang it where we see it everyday and add to it throughout the year, 2009 Let it Shine, and then I thought, that rhymes, cool.

So there you go. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 2009, Let it Shine. Catchy.

This post was brought to you today by cold toes on a cold morning, hot chocolaty liquid, and an email in which I am told "you're really cool."

new deadline

2008-12-12T11:48:00.000-08:00

I won't be at the post office today (as previously planned).
There is still much to do, but I'm well on my way. Yesterday instead of sewing I had to go buy some Burt's Bees Lip Balm. It was really important.

Monday. That's my new deadline.

P.S. I don't think Christmas cards are on my radar this year. So dearest friends and family (if you are reading), don't be surprised if you don't get a Christmas card and be surprised if you do. Much love, peace, and merry Christmas.

Check it out.

2008-12-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

Joseph Alleman (my brother) is on the cover of Watercolor Artist this month. Go to your bookstore and check it out.

Open up to the 1st page of the article and you will become lost in this painting.

It is cold, gray, and drippy here today. I bet Joe could paint it beautifully. I will try to think of it that way as I look out my window.

Did you want to see ALL the bags?

2008-12-10T12:29:00.000-08:00

project notes: patience and pacing, making 25 of anything is a lot, even if you get bored - finish

{These bags look like they are having a little chat.}

The bags were finished last week. Malcolm sat on my lap for the sewing of a few. He would help by adjusting the pressure foot up and down for me. It is a good thing they all fit onto the mantel, barely. They are each filled with their own Christmas Song and as of late before we open one I slip in a treat for Malcolm - a marshmallow or a dried cherry.

The visual countdown is a good thing for me. I feel a little less like time is flying by. Although, now that I think of it, it's the 10th! Wow. Do the days sneak up on anyone else that way?

numbered bags

2008-12-03T11:55:00.000-08:00

I managed to knock some sense into myself and I am not going to be making 25 new ornaments for the advent. I'll just make a few and steal the rest from the tree. I am sewing 25 of these bags though. It's a good thing I can look into the future and see many years of December use ahead. It's one of those things you do once. I'm using the reverse sides of fabric remnants for the bags. You know the samples from fabric books? I got some (for free) when we lived in NY and Dave thought I was mildly crazy for ripping out and hording away all these squares of fabric. Now look, I've given them a new life after all.

I'm glad I realized I could stamp the numbers. Check out my 1st bag.

Imagine cutting and stitching all those numbers. That would have been bad - and the bags (among other Christmas things) wouldn't have gotten done, and I would have felt mildly crazy.

Tonight's song is "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen". I like singing the "comfort and joy, comfort and joy" part.

In other news Cleveland was sunny for the 1st half of the day, and that was happy.
(Also, old news, the room that was to be painted yellow changed it's mind and got painted blue - blue like a sunny day sort of blue. And I like it.)

2008-12-02T05:50:00.000-08:00

December 12th.

That's my goal.
I will be at the post office in the morning.

Wish me luck!

I have a few other thoughts for this season to help me keep the peace.

*less is more
*use what you have (yarn, fabric, cards, etc.)
*go handmade
*pace, go slow
*enjoy
*invite the spirit
*do all with love

What are your Christmas goals, thoughts, mantras?

Days 1 & 2

2008-12-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

1
Away in a Manger

{a manger and baby Jesus}
I cut a doll pin for the babe, stitched a square of felt around him, and drew a little face. (As if the picture itself isn't self explanatory.)

The bed of hay is a cut and fringed rectangle piece of felt shoved in this little wreath I found with the Christmas Decorations.

2
Go Tell it on the Mountain

{a mountain, of course}

The little mountain is made with felt cut into mountain shapes, stitched together with a blanket stitch, stuffed, and stitched some more.

Caroling Advent

2008-12-01T12:18:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was sweet. I baked rolls and our friends took care of the rest. All we had to do this year was show up, which was good considering Dave's post-call nap I had to wake him up from just before the feast. It was a sunny day.

Welcome to a not too sunny December 1st. On days like this I can keep the Christmas tree lights on all day for extra cheer through our window.

One of my favorite things about this season is song. The songs surrounding Christmas have a way of instantly connecting us with the spirit and with each other. This year I'm putting together a Caroling Advent for the count down to Christmas. Each day there will be a song and ornament to open. For this, I imagine little numbered drawstring bags (yet to be purchased or made) sitting atop the piano. I'm sure Malcolm will get a kick out of it and this new tradition will help us expand our holiday singing repertoire. Of course this idea only started to formulate Sunday afternoon - so I'll be making and putting it together as I go along this month. I'll share my ideas and make note of the progress here. If you want to do this for your own family - the fist thing to do is to make a list of 25 Christmas/Holiday Songs. Find some way to package each song for the countdown. I'm thinking this could be as easy as a paper chain. But here I go making ornaments... (I really am trying to keep things simple this year.) I'm looking forward to looking up songs I don't usually remember or songs where I don't know all the words. It will be good motivation for me to practice the piano and guitar.

Here's the list of songs I put together for this year's Caroling Advent.

1 - Away in a Manger
2 - Go, Tell it on the Mountain
3 - God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
4 - Deck the Hall
5 - The First Noel
6 - Frosty the Snowman
7 - Angels We Have Heard on High
8 - Little Drummer Boy
9 - O Little Town of Bethlehem
10- Up on the Housetop
11- Once in Royal David's City
12- Twelve Days of Christmas
13- Sleigh Ride
14- It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
15- With Wondering Awe
16- Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
17- Far, Far Away on Judea's Plains
18- Feliz Navidad
19- Jingle Bells
20- Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree
21- Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful
22- Hark! the Herald Angels Sing
23- O Christmas Tree
24- Silent Night
25- Joy to the World

I really, really love Sleigh Ride. What song are you most excited to start singing?

Be Safe

2008-11-19T14:54:00.000-08:00

My local yarn shop sent me this email (I don't have the source for the image):

==============================
Can’t wait ‘till you get home to knit?

Be Safe
and
Bring a designated driver!
==============================

(Dear Dave,
Thanks for being my designated driver.
I LOVE YOU.)

Yesterday it snowed...

2008-11-18T13:56:00.000-08:00

The night before we had read The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Somethings just work out perfectly like that. Later that evening when Malcolm was at the chalk board as I fixed dinner I heard him say "Dear Daddy-o, I like snow." (A smile just came across your face, did it not?)

{Malcolm is having a one to one with his Smiling Snowman.}

(By the way, I get lost in the beautiful pages of The Snowy Day, I just stare and stare. My favorite page is the red snowsuit and footprints.)

from my morning paper

2008-11-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

something to read:
We got through the election; now, let's get back to getting along -Connie Schultz

2008-11-04T20:39:00.000-08:00

OBAMA! Yeah!
Celebrating with TALL Ovaltine shakes.

{Saturday, early voting at the Board of Elections. Malcolm was a trooper - we made lots of friends in line(2 hours).}

Halloween: when less is more...

2008-11-03T04:08:00.000-08:00

BeeBee Bo Bee never did get a body. I stuck his head in a flower pot. He didn't seem to mind. The pumpkin never got carved. I put out some little jack o' lantern candles instead.

I managed to pull on my witch stockings and shoes. We ate scrambled eggs wrapped in toast on the porch as trick-or-treaters arrived. Dave took our little koala around, but I think he had the most fun back at home passing out candy.

The weather was perfect for the night's festivities, for the last big neighborlly hello before winter sets in. Essentially, we hung out as a family on the candle lit porch and drank hot chocolate.

It was just right.

Happy Halloween

2008-10-31T06:37:00.001-07:00

BeeBee Bo Bee needs a body. (Can you guess who did the naming?)

(Camera found in the GARAGE! No wonder I couldn't find it.)

tomatoes and stand

2008-10-30T11:19:00.001-07:00

Now do you know what I mean about the tomato stand? So wonderful. Annie took the pictures with her sweet camera. Speaking of cameras - I can't find mine.

of paint-chips, poetry, and pie

2008-10-29T12:18:00.000-07:00

If you hoard paint-chips like I do, here's something to do with friends. It's a Poetry Night, but don't tell them that. Bribe them with pie, they will come for the pie even if it is on very short notice.

Set out a cup full of scissors, a cup full of glue sticks, a cup full of pens, a dictionary, a basket full of paint-chips, and another basket full of blank or pretty paper. When friends come, invite them to create a poem (for pie won't be sliced until they do).

In no time there will be cutting, gluing, shouting out of words like "Silence", "Periwinkle Bud", "Cheerful Hue", "Crispy Gingersnap", "Theatre Lights", and "Serene Journey". There will also be the prettiest mess you ever did see.

Once the poetry is alive and underway, take a moment to present the pies.

After all that rolling, filling, pealing, whipping, and baking, pies should be presented before they are sliced. Now everyone is invited to dish up at their convenience. There will be lots of "mmm-hum-mms".

Believe it our not, but everyone will want to share their poem.

The poems are to be read to a captive pie-eating/enjoying audience. Provide a candle and matches at the designated reading spot so that the candle can be lit during the reading and blown out at the conclusion of each poem. Instead of clapping, snap fingers. There will be much gladness.

Annie was here

2008-10-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hello again.

I excused myself for one week. I guess I should have made that four. Has that much time really passed? (The HUGE and heavy stack of knitting library books that Annie and I checked out are due back, so it must be true.)

So, do you want to hear about the most perfect week spent with my dear friend? Unfortunately words can't describe and pictures can only catch a glimpse of what time spent with a friend really means. You know. You all know what I mean by that.

Annie said it:
"...create a nurturing environment among women".
We were in the car, I was driving and I stopped her mid-conversation. "Write that down - what you just said." Her words are now sticky-noted to my dashboard. (Side note: my dad's dash board is full of index cards and sticky-notes, I couldn't help but think of him as I stuck the note at the base of the speedometer.)

"Create nurturing environment among women", the conversation was essentially that women nurture, and that nurturing for women is going to come from women. So take from it what you will, but for me it means women need women.

Dave and I were setting up the attic, getting the room ready for Annie's stay. I had to leave to pick her up from the airport and while Dave finished up. As I left I said "that (a small built-in desk in the corner) is going to be a writing desk - so leave it open and bring up a chair". He gave me a look, "is she going to be needing a writing desk?". I gave him a look, "trust me, if I were going away from it all I would want a writing desk". For Annie, I wanted to make that space (her space) feel special, welcoming, nurturing. As her friend, it was easy, I knew just how to do it: extra pillows, scented candle, flowers, hooks, baskets, select books, and a writing desk supplied with pencils, pens, and paper - a nurturing environment.

{Some of my favorite photos of that week. They remind me to open up to the good, take it in, and send it out. Enjoy.}

{I love this picture. The cookie was from Presti's Bakery (in Cleveland's Little Italy) we went there 4 times in one week. Intense. Annie may someday own a bakery - I would not even be surprised - so it was market research.}

{Evening herbal tea with cheese, crackers, and pie crust cookies. Recognize those fingers?}

{There...

...was

...pie

...SIX in all, don't worry, we shared.}

{Check out this AMAZING yarn Annie picked out for knitting her 1st scarf. The prettiest green - like a golden green apple - and beautiful in a seed stitch.}

{Pumpkin patch. Pumpkins are so wonderful.}

{Glad you came.}

Read about Annie's visit in her own whirling words here.

there will be pie

2008-09-30T12:13:00.000-07:00

{Sept. '07, OH}

Annie is coming. Here. In six days. For one week. Sans kids. A birthday gift to her from her husband. There will be pie.

In case you are wondering, here's a brief history of our friendship: co-workers (BYU, 1999), turned roommates (BYU, 2000), (husbands & moves: NY, SC, OH, UT) turned pen palls (2003-present). Annie & Sarah, writers of letters; stamps, envelopes and all.

I'm going to excuse myself from this blog for the rest of the week in order to properly prepare for her arrival.

Take care & bye for now.

Don't get blogged down.

Send someone a letter; stamp, envelope and all.

purple collages

2008-09-26T12:46:00.000-07:00

- "What color should we do for art today?" I ask.

- "Purple." He states.

- Simple as that.

watch for scarecrows

2008-09-26T12:38:00.000-07:00

{scarecrow AND a saxophone, Cleveland, OH}

down right awesome

(send me scarecrow pictures sarahstarrsmith@gmail.com)

little sack of sugar

2008-09-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

"little sack of sugar I could eat you up"

(wearing the vest, it made it into Fall, I'm considering picking up some stitches at the bottom to lengthen the ribbing so it can get a bit more wear)

undoing

2008-09-23T20:22:00.000-07:00

It's a good thing that I picked up this staple remover at a yard sale.

Because,

sometimes,

you want to undo what you've done so that you can redo.

bringing out the Color Kid in me

2008-09-22T11:54:00.000-07:00

{Rainbow Bright Meet the Color Kids coloring book with a RAINBOW PENCIL!}
This came in the mail Saturday sent from my sweet sister-in-law Sara O. A. in far-away Richmond, Utah. It was completely unexpected and has had me grinning since. After opening the package, I sat right down on my doorstep with Malcolm showing him the wonders of the rainbow pencil, and colored. It was a perfect surprise, and, when I was wondering about such things, a good reason to keep blogging. In small ways this blog keeps me connected to my far-away-family&friends. (I love you all.)

I had to include Sara's hand written note. Isn't it amazing? This is her everyday hand writing - for reals. It is so put-together, peaceful, and pretty - very fitting. (Thanks Sara, I'll color a picture just for YOU.)

(And if you are wondering this is "Happy Man".

Thanks to Malcolm I have it memorized to my core.)

Here is a Rainbow Bright refresher course, and, because I'm curious about such things, what Color Kid are you?
"The Color Kids help me [Rainbow Bright] keep the world colorful and happy! We live in Rainbow Land in the Color Castle. We gather Star Sprinkles and use them to color the world!"
_Red Butler
_LaLa Orange
_Canary Yellow
_Patty O'Green
_Buddy Blue
_Indigo
_Shy Violet

2008-09-16T12:32:00.000-07:00

Power's back.
I won't be posting this week though.

I'm thinking about compost.

What are you thinking about?

*be*back*monday*

2008-09-12T12:34:00.001-07:00

[Friday Family]

My family of the past week:

{Who will help me grind the wheat?}
Is this an idealized blog moment or what? Oh well, it happened, it was simple and wonderful and lucky for me Dave took a picture so I can always remember. I love Malcolm in his apron - not to be mistaken for a dress.

{building blocks}
-"Malcolm, I have to make dinner."
-"Mommm, PLAY! Mom, play."
-"Okay."

{Dave & his demolition, making the most of a day off}
He calls it "dustless". (See how he is holding the vacuum attachment?) Hmmm. At least he seems to know what he's doing.

{drum set}
This boy has a hero, Harry Belafonte.

porch revisited

2008-09-12T12:22:00.000-07:00

{charmed by my own wet foot prints}

None too sunny around these parts today! But we are getting a nice rain. It really is nice. I was even lulled out to the porch - with bare feet - to watch, listen, and smell the storm.

{drip}

2008-09-11T16:14:00.000-07:00

[Thursday This Season]

It's days like today where every waking moment should be lived on the porch. I love autumn for days like these.

I Write

2008-09-11T11:19:00.000-07:00

Well, I wouldn't call this a morning post, but, it is afternoon, and I've decided to "show up" here today. That's the thing with writing. Sometimes I don't want to do it. My insides kick and scream. I get tired, wiggly, and uncomfortable - not because I am, but because these feelings have proved to be successful techniques of avoidance in the past. Not today, I'm going to write anyway, even though I wonder if I have anything of interest to share. So, why put up the fight with myself? Why write, especially when I don't want to? Here are some thoughts I will spill out for you. I think it takes a great amount of courage and perspective to love yourself. And, I think you must love yourself in order to be yourself, to be open and truthful from moment to moment, and to allow yourself to take an idea all the way. That's why writing can feel so daunting and scary. Perhaps it's because I'm afraid I wont be true. So, I'm finding ways to practice writing, not because it will be towards some great end, but because it will just be a way of life. I use spiral bound, single subject notebooks for my free and often times sloppy writing. I write my more put together ideas in my pretty journal. And, this blog? Well, I think I'm still trying to figure that one out even though I'm on my 100+ post. It's been a fun show-and-tell, but I'm wondering how things might evolve. I'm letting myself play, experiment, try new things, it's practice after all. I write for peace. I write for sorting, sifting, processing, venting, wanting, releasing, celebrating, questioning, and naming. I write to pay attention, to take note of the details that make up the texture of life. I write to let go and empty out. I write to remember, to see where I am, to imagine where I might be going. It seems to me that it might be worth the fight, and with practice I wonder if the fight might fade. I write for courage, perspective, and love.

2008-09-10T12:27:00.000-07:00

[Wednesday Write Along]

topic: I write

Write along with me.
Take this any way you like: why, how, what, for, who, when, where...
If you post on your blog, leave a comment so we can link over. My I write post will be here in the morning.

(Cleaning out, I found that glass pen. My mom and sister brought it to me from Italy. So pretty. I have yet to use it. I'll have to get some ink and give it a try. It is resting on my 15 yr. old journal that was also unearthed. Very uncomfortable to read. Yikes!)

2008-09-09T06:27:00.000-07:00

[Tuesday TO DO]

It is dark this morning. Gray. It started with some rain, which I don't mind, but, now the clouds are just hanging around. Will the sun come out today? I just don't know. You get days like that here in the Cleve. And, it can get sort of, um, depressing. (Although, I must say that yesterday was gorgeous, sunny, just right, perfect, I want to seal in a jar and store for days like to day kind of weather.) SO here's a sampling of today's TO DO:

_ settle on a shade of yellow for the living room walls, (Yellow, it turns out, can be a very complex color.), (Is this an over reaction to the gray days?), (I don't know.)
_ take the boy out for lunch & milk shake
_ light a yummy candle
_ put on some sunny tunes
_ order this

---update 3:30 p.m.:
Sun's out!
_ get out and enjoy it

2008-09-08T11:51:00.000-07:00

[Monday Muse]

Creativity
is less about being born
with a friendly muse
& more about putting
time & effort into developing know-how.

Pam Allen, Knitting for Dummies

write along: I Love My Life

2008-09-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

Thanks for writing along friends. Each one made me smile.

Sarah G.
Hatsuho
Annie

You can still write along. Just let me know and I'll add a link to your post here.
Get ready, there will be more write alongs to come.

mess & order

2008-09-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

Things are a little messy again round these parts.

That's what happens when you start pulling things out of an attempt to put them in order. I've regrouped to the point where you can see the floor, but every other surface is covered. It's called clean out. It is nothing like the exciting task of placing color in cubbies. This is all the extra, things with out home, useful things mixed in with not-so-useful things. You know what it's like, I know I'm not alone in this. But look - my metal chairs are now grape leaf green (Behr). There is progress. That was a nice distraction from the clean out. (Just like the few minutes I'm spending typing this all out for you - distraction, procrastination, call it what you like). But. Remember this, it always gets messier before it gets better. That's why follow through is key. Don't stop in the mess. (Notes to self.)

The calling out for order in this house is catching. Yesterday I pulled out everything from the dining room cabinets and made them pretty with dishes. ONLY dishes, no CD player, no CDs, no office supplies in the mix. Oh, and I color coded again. I can't help myself, I am a Punky Brewster-Rainbow Bright girl at heart.

While we're on the subject of creating a little order... I'm going to be ship-shaping this blog too. Don't worry, nothing too fancy, just some labels and some structure built in (kind of like "days of the week" undies - I'm trying to remember if I ever owned a set of those).
Good luck with your own mess & order, I'd better get back to mine.

SSAS

(Oh, did you catch the zebra? It was on our porch when we got back from our summer UT/ID trip. We were like "what the - -?" Turns out, neighbors across the street were throwing it out and the neighbor down the street saw it, thought of us, and rescued it. A zebra on our porch, a nice welcome home, it was. It is usually hanging out in Malcolm's room, but sometimes he likes to ride it - only he pretends he's driving a garbage truck - and it ended up in my room.)

tomatoes

2008-09-02T12:22:00.000-07:00

There was serious neglect of the garden for a few months. We even started referring to it as the secret garden. Secret as in, we - the supposed gardeners - didn't even know it was there. Do you catch my drift? We had some casualties, but I like to refer to them as learning experiences: pumpkin, radish, spinach, broccoli, and cucumber. (That poor cucumber plant. It tried so hard. It was holding on, it even produced one cucumber, but it was a sad cucumber, sad, sad, sad. We left it there for awhile, but one day I made it disappear, it was just too sad. The next time I was out there with Malcolm he said "Where's the sad cucumber? Did it run away?" Later at the dinner table he brought it up again with a confused, adult look on his face, "sad cucumber".) But look what pulled through, trusty, tasty tomatoes. The main reason I grow a garden - for the tomatoes!!! The cherry tomatoes never make it to the table, Malcolm makes sure of that as he picks and gobbles them up right in the garden.

{vine}

{basket}

{plate}

Honoring the tomatoes on the cake plate is dramatic, but it is nothing compared to the dreamy, white, cast iron, tomato stand that they set up on the corner of La Dolce Vita in Little Italy. I want it to disappear and then reappear in my dining room. I promise to share a picture when I take one. I won't steal the tomato stand, but I will take a picture. Thanks tomates for growing! We love you, then we eat you.

2008-08-29T05:48:00.001-07:00

In honor of nie nie let's gather some "I love my life" posts. Simple, post on your blog under the title "I love my life" and fill in the rest. Let me know about your post via email sarahstarrsmith@gmail.com or in the comments. I'll gather up all Love Life Links for a big juicy post next Thursday. We are all in this together, we should never forget that. Good? Good.

I Love My Life

2008-08-29T05:02:00.000-07:00

There are some mornings that Malcolm wakes singing. Singing! Lately it has been "Day-O". In the 1st private moments of his day he wastes no time. He wakes, he feels joy, and he sings. Mornings can be gifts that way, a fresh start, new air, another day for feeling, thinking, doing, singing. I think Raffi sings to adults as much as to children: "All I really need is a song in my heart, food in my belly, and love in my family."

Everyday I am stretched. There are days when I resist. Those are painful times.
There are days when I stretch, release, open, breathe, listen, & share. On those days I can feel love, on those days I can give love.

We all get to taste different fruit. I still have a bitter-sweet taste lingering in my mouth from a summer that began with a pregnancy and wound down with a miscarriage. Summer? Where did summer go? It feels like it was a blur of expectations and excitement, and then grounding reality.

This is what I've been telling myself, this is what I've been doing: Take a breath, stretch, clean out the refrigerator. Cook some good food, turn on some good music, take good naps. Rub your husband's shoulders, paint rooms, watch some Olympics, read a good book together. Set up your space, organize your energies, make your work and your play welcoming. Call your mom, change the laundry, pot some plants. Change the laundry again, clean up breakfast, fold the laundry, try to put it all away before it's time to wash again. Write letters, be with friends, go on a date and hold hands. And what about that sweet boy! Smell his forehead, read a story, sing a song, build with the blocks, watch for garbage trucks, take a walk, pick up sticks, listen for birds, get out the drums, make a little music. Oh, and pray, don't forget to pray. Sleep at night, rest, reset, and wake - singing - in the morning.

Sometimes I jump rope in my kitchen. My neighbors probably can see me through the window, probably think I'm a little strange. I'm just trying to keep a song in my heart.

I love my life.

nie nie day

2008-08-28T12:56:00.000-07:00

I've been out bid already, isn't that wonderful? But, I did buy some of this fabulous balloon fabric from a little goodness where all proceeds go to the Nielson Fund. Awesome.
I've also got a little card that I'm sending their way.
If you'd like to send your well wishes here is the address:

c/o Stephanie & Christian Nielson
Mari Copa County Hospital
2601 East Roosevelt St.
Phoenix, AZ 85008

nie nie day & "I love my life" posts

2008-08-28T04:22:00.000-07:00

It's Nie Nie Day. Spread the word and celebrate with all the amazing auctions up plus 3 more hosted by Design Mom. Reading Nie Nie Dialogues you can tell she is someone who truly loves life and adores her family. Presently she and her husband are in a long recovery from a plane crash. How wonderful that all the money from the auctions will go straight to a fund for their family. Sweet. The support out there is swelling. So in the spirit of Nie Nie, love your life, love your family, and celebrate.
I think all the silent auctions go through the weekend, so you'll want to check back often.

In honor of nie nie let's gather some "I love my life" posts. Simple, post on your blog under the title "I love my life" and fill in the rest. Let me know about your post via email sarahstarrsmith@gmail.com or in the comments. I'll gather up all Love Life Links for a big juicy post next Thursday. We are all in this together, we should never forget that. Good? Good.

metal objects

2008-08-25T13:31:00.000-07:00

(1)

{metal wall mount organizer $3.00 at the Greek Festival Flea Market}

Dave and I got out on a real date Saturday. The weekend before Malcolm joined us at The Feast in Little Italy, but, the Greek Festival was just for the two of us, hand in hand, sharing a Baklava Sunday - how romantic. We found some great treasures at the extensive flea market in the basement of the Greek church. We had some good laughs in the "electronic room" where they were selling HUGE VCR players (with dials & all) and packs of the old school floppy disks along with out-dated computers and heavy "portable" lights (like for camping). That's where I spotted the metal wall mount, I instantly saw potential. My guess is that it was used for time cards? It weighs a ton. I wish we had a scale so I could tell you how much. Built to last, right? Anyway, I think it will be perfect for sorting/filing a few things that I want to have out but not stacked on my desk. Because it's metal I'll be able to play around with some magnets, oh the fun! I'm going to have Dave hang it for me because he has special skills like that. I love how it looks paired with the small etching and gray mat, a Joseph Alleman original.

(2)

{metal mini planters, lost in the garage, now found, my beginner's attempt at an herb window sill}

it could be my all seasons trick-or-treat bag...

2008-08-22T14:00:00.000-07:00

Ta-da! The tote is finished. You may remember it from a post way back, almost a year ago. It sure feels good to finish. I got to be a little bit of a perfectionist on this project, I pulled it out and started over at least seven times before I was familiar enough with the stitch pattern to only go back to my mistake. Mistakes, of course, that would only bother me. The way I could see if the vertical zig-zags had lost their zig, I couldn't have that. But it is for me so why not make it to please me? I used it today with my grocery shopping - it got quite stretchy with apples in it but it held up under the pressure. I'll be experimenting with it to find my favorite use. Taking a decent picture was tricky. I took a bunch, but I still feel the color isn't true. If you could hold it, you would see that it is a perfect autumnal shade. Knit with Mission Falls cotton in a color that has been discontinued (it's a good thing I had enough).

paint chip bookmark how to:

2008-08-21T05:17:00.000-07:00

1) Gather paint chips of all colors (free at your local hardware/paint shop).
2) Cut, embellish, and stick in a book of your choosing.
{I like to leave some of the paint color names showing: morning sun, refresh, cloudless, splashy.}

It's that time again, time to start up the book clubs after a little summer break. The air is changing to that magical mix of summer heat and autumnal cool. I'm not one for huge summer reading lists. I just don't seem to get much reading done in the summer. But now, now that it is all sharpen your pencils and get back to school time, I am so in the mood. Our little neighborhood book club met last night. We talked books way past bed time and put together our monthly reads for the coming 10 months. It was so much fun, I really am a sucker for such gatherings. For me book club nurtures both my introvert self, the one who wants to curl up with a good read, and my extrovert self, the one who wants to connect with other women and share ideas that go beyond child care, home repairs, work, or weather.

Our book for September is The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, a book that I have read and wouldn't mind picking up again. It is a memoir but reads like fiction. The other book club I read with is doing a little Harry Potter marathon. We'll discuss books 1-4 for September and 5-7 for October. My one summer read was one Dave and I read aloud together. All the Way Home: Building a Family in a Falling-Down House by David Giffels. Within the 1st paragraphs Dave was moved to tears of laughter. To say the book really struck a chord with us is almost an understatement. It felt like everything we have been going through just on a much larger, falling down scale. It made me grateful for things that I hadn't thought of before, like the fact that our house isn't infused with the smell of cat urine.

I think I'll be adding a side bar of books that I currently reading for myself, for book clubs, with Dave, and to the Boy. That way this blog doesn't turn into book review, but you can get a peek at what might be stacked around the house, waiting on my night stand, slipped in my bag, or rocking in a chair. Does that interest anyone?

Stashio

2008-08-20T12:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, "Kaystar", my roomie from college, sent me this email and said I could share. "Stashio" is apparently the name that stuck to the bear because I made sure Kaystar knew I knit him up with Manos del Uruguay cotton colored: "pistachio". You see she had (and apparently still has) a BIG thing for pistachio ice cream. So way back in 2005 I worked up this little pistachio bear for her new, sweet, baby boy and sent it away.

So Sarah,
I am not sure if I have told you how much Anson LOVES his "Stashio" you made him, he sleeps with it, he takes it to church, it is his best friend... Well a few months ago.... Anson LOST his Stashio. It was horrible! We looked all over for it! I tore the house APART!! I even got online to try and find somewhere to buy them, or where I could learn how to make them my self!! It was stressful! Soon we found him a little dog, and it seemed to do the trick... YEA.... but last weekend Drew took Anson camping and in his camping back pack, there was STASHIO!!!! Anson was so happy, he would not let it go! He even did a happy dance! So I thought I would share that with you, and let you know that you gave my little boy a HUGE piece of joy! Thanks Sarah! I love you! I hope all is well, I love looking at your blog and seeing you cute family! Love you so much.
Kay

The boy is big now and doing a little happy dance. I would love to see that. To bad we live so far away. Anyway, thanks for the update on "Stashio" Kaystar, it made me smile.

If you're wondering, the bear pattern is from Knitting for Baby by Melanie Falick and Kristen Nicholas. It knits up pretty quick. Now that I've de-stashed I might make some more bear friends.

I bet you want to touch. This yarn is soooo soft.

More Jump Rope Inspired...

2008-08-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Katie Jump Rope Fabric Collection from Denyse Schmidt. Very happy, wouldn't you say? Let's jump.

jump rope

2008-08-18T13:23:00.000-07:00

Did you know I've taken up jump roping? I like it both outdoors in the fresh air or indoors (yes I can pull it off in my kitchen) with a little music. So imagine my happiness when I came across this joyful jump rope fabric from sproutdesign. I LOVE it! I want to hold it. I want to sew it. I'm already imagining the many ways I could put a bit of it to good use. Don't we need a jump rope pillow in this house? M'boy, would you like me to sew some jump ropers in a quilt for you? I thought so.

thanks

2008-08-18T11:30:00.000-07:00

Where has this summer gone? Really, it feels like a blur. Now that I can feel the air changing from Summer into Fall, this little thank you post is way over due. Way back in JUNE I won this wonderful Design Mom Random Giveaway featuring a Binth Baby Book from Tiny McSmall AND a handmade doll (I went for the cat-doll) of my picking from Persimmon & Pink. I feel like the word "won" is a little out of place here. I did nothing put place a little comment. Now, those Olympians I've been watching, they have to really work for their wins. It makes me feel like I should put on some running shoes or something. My happy packages arrived at my doorstep and I did a little dance for each one. I know, I know, I am a lucky one.

Thank You Tiny McSmall, the book is beautiful. Thank You Persimmon & Pink, my cat is full of charm & character. THANK YOU Design Mom, did I mention... you rock!

color

2008-08-14T03:28:00.000-07:00

(I had plans to post this earlier this week, but I've been sucked in by more wallpaper take down and hung over by late night Olympic watching. Since I started it up again, the wallpaper take down has become a bit of an addiction, and there is always more...)

Little did I know, but, I have a small fortune of yarn. Slowly gathered over the past 5 years of my knitting life. Shades of wool, cotton, silk, and linen. It was all stashed away, some of it tangled in a horrible nest, in a large plastic storage bin. Every time I opened the bin in search of the right yarn it was like I was feeding the yarn-ness-monster. It was neither accessible nor pretty and I had no firm idea of what or how much was in my possession. As I was working through The Tangle (I'll spare you the picture of that, let's keep things pretty here), the revelation was "How can you possibly make anything if you don't know what you already have?" Ah, yes, true, true.

Can I tell you how FUN it was to fill this wall of 30 boxes? It wasn't just fun, it was thrilling. I worked on it in little blocks of time throughout the day. In the morning I began with the yarn and as I picked up the soft red flaxen wool, remnant of my first (hmm, I guess only) knitted sweater for myself, it just seemed right that it should belong top left. The rainbow of yarn and odds and ends naturally followed. Color coding the rows allowed for a certain dynamic of organized randomness, giving homes to things that would otherwise be floating around the house or else in a stash. I'm coming to dislike that word "stash".
{*Stash: a collection of materials: yarn, fabric, etc., piled in big plastic storage bins, sometimes mistaken as trash.
*Not a stash (there has got to be a word for this, help me out): a collection of materials: yarn, fabric, etc.; wound, folded, stacked, and placed on shelves where you know what you have, pieces can easily be retrieved and put away = accessible, and is pleasing and inspiring to look at.}
Stashes for me always turn into horrible messes, blocked energy, blocked possibility. So yes, the dissolving of my stashes and filling these cubbies was my idea of fun. The kind of fun had by a young child setting up a doll house. "Let's see, this bit of ribbon, it is blue, I shall place it on this bit of blue fabric. And these orange paint chips? (I'm kind of a klepto when it comes to paint chips, it's a good thing they're free.) They now belong in this orange cubby with this orange brick." Very satisfying.

My newly filled shelf reminds me of my love affair with color. I think that's why I took up knitting. That's why I filled my teenage years with FIMO clay. I want to hold, I want to touch, I want to shape color.

plans for tonight

2008-08-11T16:18:00.000-07:00

pay bills
watch some Olympics
knit

"let's play!"

2008-08-08T14:29:00.000-07:00

When Boy is ready to make some music he energetically proclaims "let's play!" And, did you know that Ovaltine canisters make excellent drums?
We'll be out for more summer music tonight. Happy weekend everyone!

ready to fill

2008-08-07T13:15:00.000-07:00

I may not have known it till now, but I think I have always wanted, deep in my soul to fill a wall full of cubbies with things that make me smile: yarn, stationary, small books, notebooks, fabric squares, pretty boxes, pincushions... Thirty little spaces to fill. It's from and old school and I bought it from my neighbor before her garage sale. Dave figured a genius way to mount it to the wall. I just cleaned it. I'm giddy about it. What does that say about me I wonder. By the way, I LOVE my white room. It fills with light just like I had imagined.

So I'm curious, how would you fill it?

the cook book that makes me happy about food

2008-08-01T13:15:00.000-07:00

Way back, May 1st to be exact, how lucky I was - and all that eat from my hands - that I was in the car listening to the Diane Rehm Show. Her guests for that hour were Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Sally Swift talking about their new book "The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper". These lovely ladies and their radio show, The Splendid Table, were new to me. That has all been rectified. Listening to that radio conversation all about food, from women who LOVE to eat and cook (you could hear it just in the way they shaped their words, how they said "extra virgin olive oil" and "Parmigiano-Reggiano") and who made it sound so enjoyable and easy, I knew their book would be my Mother's Day gift to myself. With excitement and a little uncertainty I delved into the recipes with weekly meal plans and grocery list. The results have been delicious. Dave has never been so happy about a gift I bought for myself. The quality of our meals has taken off in leaps and bounds and our spice cupboard is expanding to include turmeric and coriander. Thanks to podcasts of their show I can now play catch up and I listen while making dinner or painting walls. Very entertaining, full of flavor, curiosity, inspiration, and creativity. Have you ever heard about a skirted cheese burger? or how to build your own oven?? Well, then you must start listening. Your mouth with water.

live music, outside

2008-07-29T14:22:00.000-07:00

{bagpipers. 4th of July flag ceremony. South Jordan, UT.}

{some jazzy band. the lady was a little much for me. Legacy Live, OH.}

For me, summer and outdoor music are perfectly paired, weather permitting of course. In our area we've been lucky to enjoy free, fresh air, musical entertainment at least once a week - sometimes two. Wade Oval Wednesday's and Legacy Live (weekends) have been regulars for us this summer. They other night as I listened to the live band and this woman singing "so glad we've made it!" and "I feel good! So good! I've got you!". I was somewhere between the need to dance or cry. Since only little kids were dancing at that point and I didn't want to make a scene, I found I could balance my composure with a little toe tapping and eye watering. Is that hormones or the profound effect of live music? (Probably a little of both for me on that particular night.) I love the way kids just move up close and dance to the music - it is so natural, not much thought goes into it, they just feel the beat. In this setting it is clear to see how much we "adults" tend to hold back. Only some of us start to dance after much encouragement from the band. But once we are up and moving aren't we so glad? We realize (or maybe it's just me) "I've been holding back, I want to really live." There is one senior couple, with clear ballroom background, who frequent L.L. just for the chance to dance. I love watching them. They seem so serious as they dance, but then I realize that they are just as uninhibited as the kids, they just mask it behind "technique". Malcolm who has been into all things "making music", namely drums, soaks it all in. He knows a saxophone from trombone and a base violin from a guitar, and he always has his eye on the drummer. I keep meaning to bring his shakers or rhythm sticks for him when we go out for the music. I'm sure he would like to play along. So, here's to summer, fresh air, music, and dancing. Go find some for yourself before summer's end.

paint it white

2008-07-28T12:15:00.000-07:00

Although I have big plans to paint the family/entry room a lovely yellow, the dining room a dashing orange, and the home office/computer nook a vibrant green,... I have been feeling very white. We got around to some painting this weekend and now my studio is ready for it's second coat of brilliant white. Bye, bye blah beige. (Can you tell I'm ready for it to go?) Why white? I think more than anything right now I am craving an open, clean canvas; an ordered and clear space for creating. Creating that includes sewing, drawing, printing, writing, knitting, painting, reading, and dreaming. My feeling is that white walls will allow color and imagination to freely play.

Maybe that is also why I chose to repaint this writing desk white. The only problem: it is going to disappear against my white wall. Hmmm. So, I am considering a light shade of something for that one wall. Any suggestions? We'll see.

Down in the entryway we have some new white too. This is an old typewriter desk I picked up from a yard sale last year. I refinished the top and gave it some fresh white legs. Nice, huh? The sides can fold out and I especially like the wheels. Inspired by reading The Creative Family, I think this will be our family nature table. For now though it holds my lovely fabric bowl and a cross-stitch by my sister-in-law Sara O. A.

More white:

We white washed these toy crates with watered down paint. I even let the boy get in on the action. They slide under a bench in the entry and give a crisp feel while keeping toys accessible and easy to stow.

Presently, white gives my mind a pleasant place to rest. We have more painting projects ahead and Dave gives me that smile when I say "let's paint it white".

2008-07-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

Putting the FINISH in the refinishing today.
Remember this? A year later, I think it will be ready to move out of the garage today. Also a $10 garage sale writing desk is nearly done with it's new look.

June 14th

2008-06-24T04:50:00.000-07:00

here's to planning...

_ parade ...check

_ wwkip ...check

malcolm's helping. here's his message to you

mbx+-1m

m,mmmnnnnnnnv vvv ,/
vvvvbvvvvwvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvbbbbbbvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvbbbn000

How to wear a wool sweater vest, in June...

2008-06-24T04:17:00.000-07:00

1. Live in Cleveland
2. Wait for a cold snap
3. Have sweater on hand, especially mornings and evenings when you have a chance that it might be cool

We got our cold snap, lucky for me, and the boy got to wear his sweater vest a few times last week. I did not knit it vain. I'm not sure that it will fit come fall weather, we'll see. It is especially adorable with his white collar shirt. He likes it. He proclaims "handsome" every time I pull it over his head. It would have been nice to have finished it back in April, but sometimes life isn't like that. I finished, hurray. He wore it more than once, hurray. Life is like that and I am happy.

I used the cable vest pattern you can download from lionbrand.

2008-06-19T13:39:00.000-07:00

I'm back, well, sort of, soon...
Just trying to create some order out of disorder. I need some good tunes wouldn't you say?

BUT

GOOD NEWS...
it nearly did me in, BUT,
the floors are finished!
good job Dave & friends, what were we thinking???, it's been nearly a year long process, they look amazing though, AND no more walking on plastic!!!

We will be moving the furniture back in soon. I'm excited, and a little overwhelmed at putting our home*sweet*home back together again - could someone please send over all the king's horses and all the king's men?

Things are looking up...
- our car is back and fixed
- I am sleeping in my own bed again (We've been all around while the floors got their finishing treatments - a Bed and Breakfast, the neighbor on the corner's guest room, and the Holiday Inn Express. We are still eating takeout in the attic.)
- my sister Hillary is here

trying to plan my June 14th

2008-06-04T12:34:00.000-07:00

Did you know that June 14th is World Wide Knit in Public (WWKiP) Day? I just found this out because I happened to check in with my former local yarn shop. My sister will be in town and the big plan for that day is Parade the Circle - which - is not to be missed, so my brain is spinning of ways that I still be part of the WWKiP action. There isn't anyone hosting nearby, and since I have parade plans, I may just have wear one of these pins, carry around my knitting to the festivities, and maybe host a small KiP with my sister on my front porch or park in the afternoon/early evening. If you are in the Cleveland area and this sounds fun, let me know, I'm game. For everyone else, go to wwkip and find a host near you.

{last year's Parade the Circle: stilts, big bobble heads, masks... you get the idea}

Go Slow

2008-06-03T10:35:00.000-07:00

Note to self:

*Watch for that hydrant on the end of the driveway. Go slow, go slow. The car is in the shop waiting to get a new front bumper. Let that be your lesson. Go slow, go slow.

*Also, careful to not be carried away by all the inspiration at the newly discovered MyCrafty.com ... Here are two things that caught my eye.

I'm in love with this piece, and truthfully most of her pieces, by Sarah Faulkner.

This heart pin looks very doable and is also free downloadable from the book Closely Knit by Hannah Fettig.

---
In other thoughts, I am amazed that it is already JUNE! What? How can this be? I'm still finishing Malcolm's sweater vest! Can he wear a wool sweater vest in June? Well, maybe in Cleveland. Here's hoping for a chilly spell for a least a few days. Today is on the cooler/cloudier side. It really is sooo close to being done, I just have to do the edging. Maybe if I pick up the needles now while he is napping I can wrap it up.

wood you be my friend?

2008-05-29T18:22:00.000-07:00

I painted these wooden doll pins to be play people for Malcolm about a month ago. They have eventually evolved faces, but otherwise they remain very simple in nature.

When I first conceived the idea to make these my thoughts were going all out: hair, clothes, personality. But when I finally sat down one afternoon with the paints and pins, I gave myself some guidelines: keep it simple, and finish before M'boy wakes from nap. Because, I knew if I didn't they might never happen. Keep it doable. I didn't worry too much about perfection - partly because the sponge brush I was working with wouldn't have allowed for it and partly because perfection was not the point.

We are having some fun playing with them. This morning Malcolm was feeding them "eggs for breakfast". Some times he uses them as drum sticks, sometimes he covers their heads with a singe red mega block (this probably needs a picture for you to get the idea), and sometimes he puts them to bed and then says "wakeup".

Side note, one week ago today Dave and I celebrated 5 years. Just as marvelous and mysterious as witnessing a fern unfurl. Love you Dave.

meditations on a peel of wallpaper

2008-05-28T18:38:00.000-07:00

I'm getting back in the grove of posting here again, so even though it is 9:40 and I feel I could crawl into bed right now I'm going to put out a few words just for practice sake. Today I spent Malcolm's nap time peeling, scraping, and stripping down wallpaper in the side entry. There's more to come down there, and in the kitchen, and in the nook, and in the bathroom, but at least I gathered up the courage to start it up again. Entering the house greeted by partially peeled light house wallpaper is not feng shui. In fact it is like walking head on into a wall of blocked energy. Even though it is still in the partially peeled state as I write, at least I gave part of that wall a nudge towards a new direction. I put on some music and as I started peeling away, shedding the layer, my mind went to that relaxing place where it can wander where ever it will. Do you know that feeling? Don't you love it? When the task at hand is so mindless that it actually can become mindful meditation? Could it be called productive zoning? Although I can't recall them now, it sure felt like I was having some deep thought at the time. Funny, right? Can you see me now in sneakers on my step-stool, scraper in hand, humming along, tapping my toe, wallpaper falling to the ground, thinking "deep thoughts"? That was me. What do you want to bet that future wallpapering sessions will have lost some of that magic? That's okay, I picked up this month's book club read on CD from the library today so that should help me get through. And speaking of feng shui, there was a Feng Shui for Beginners CD on display at the library that I threw in the basket, why not?, I'm mustering up all the help I can get. So now I ask you for your deep thoughts, what's your favorite kind of productive zoning?

{See the light houses?}

(About the ferns last posted, if you want to hear Oliver Sacks thoughts on ferns and time and all sorts of other interesting things give this a listen from Radio Lab's 1st season. Become a Radio Lab fan today, you won't be sorry.)

fern

2008-05-27T12:44:00.000-07:00

{unfurl - May 1}

{unfurl - May 27}

cookie dough

2008-04-23T13:30:00.000-07:00

Just cause I feel all springy, I just mixed up some cookie dough this afternoon. Instead of trying to cook it all now and miss out on some of the beautiful sunshine outside, I wrapped up two logs to freeze and have balls in the fridge ready to through in the oven at dinner time.

I was inspired by the yummy grocery pick up from Sarah G. She gave me a package of THE BEST store bought cookie dough EVER that cooked up into amazing cookies. I don't know the name - I'll have to get back to you on that. Help Sarah G.

In other news, yesterday I broke out in hives. Go figure. That happens to me occasionally - and I can't trace it to any food allergy. Feeling great today though. Also, today, I picked up some wood and manure - or maybe "soil" is a better word - for the garden.

Happy Earth Day

2008-04-22T11:08:00.000-07:00

{felted earth ball} from cosycottagecreations

This morning it was so h-h-hard to get out of bed, but I suppose that is to be expected on the 2nd day of this early bird schedule. Malcolm is sleeping so I'll treat myself to a little nap now too.

peas & beans

2008-04-21T10:35:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday everyone.
Here are two pictures from Friday that I wanted to share.

{planting beans and peas}
Malcolm helps me water them with his little .25 cent watering can when he wakes from nap.

{Oh, this boy makes me so happy.}

We are hoping to make room for some more gardening this week. I picked up this book which has been helpful. I'll keep you posted on how it goes.

Our family had a little of "this and a little of that" over the weekend. (If you know what I mean.) I've decided I am going to be waking up with Dave in the mornings. Since he has to leave for the hospital at 5:25AM I wrote out a schedule working back from that time and figured our alarms need to ring at 4:40AM. We gave it a shot this morning and as early as it was it worked beautifully. Dave was able to get ready while I fixed him some oatmeal (my specialty) and packed some lunch. I had some peach tea and we were able to visit a little. We worked in 10 minutes for him to get geared up for the bike ride and he left with a kiss right on time. I then had a few hours before Malcolm woke which I filled with some writing, a little cleaning, some yoga, and a hot bath. With these early early bird mornings (that are new to me, not to Dave) we are going to do better about getting to bed sooner. The target is Dave and Sarah in pj's by 8:30, bed by 9:00PM. That's our plan for the standard work weekday. I will allow myself to stay up late for special nights such as book club, but only because I can catch a power nap during the day while Malcolm sleeps. Wish us luck.

cheese and books - life is good

2008-04-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

I went to my 1st cheese tasting gathering. A rich an intoxicating world of cheese is beginning to open up for me. It was such a great idea, a few friends with everyone bringing a different cheese. {Photo's taken by the talented Sarah P.} Made us think, what other kinds of tasting gatherings could you have?

The Respite Book Club met and was fantastic as always. We read Born on a Blue Day by Daniel Tammet. My favorite line of the night was when someone said, after a long explanation of something, "I don't know where I started with this but I sure had fun talking about it!"

2008-04-18T11:42:00.000-07:00

{open}

spring drawstring pouch

2008-04-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

This was a quickie to put together. I had some fun with the round and round stitching. I like the way the doubled up stitches over lap for some visual pull. The floral patch makes me think of looking out a window. I think it will be good for all the out and about we are doing in this nice weather. Easily holds my camera, wallet, tissues, lip balm, and a treat or two - all the things that other wise rattle around in the bottom of my bigger bag.

out

2008-04-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

We're becoming regular porch dwellers.

{boy, pail, basket}
And,

welcome to the Robin family that has moved in next door.

Pom Poms are happy

2008-04-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

Why don't I just stop everything and make a pair of these?
I think I have pom poms on the brain because yesterday at toddler gym time at the community center they had to fantastic balls to play with that were essentially HUGE pom poms. Orange and purple. I think I'll make some for myself to share with Malcolm.

patches

2008-04-15T06:34:00.001-07:00

These jeans have been good to me. I wore them so much, my knee had started to peek through. I'm not ready to say goodbye to them yet. This morning I patched them with fabric that sings of spring. I used an iron on adhesive and then went around with a zig-zag stitch. The trickiest part was getting the fabric through the sewing machine with out sewing my pants together. (I had to do a little unpicking.) A little Punky Brewster?, okay, yes. Perfect for working in the garden, cleaning, painting, playing with Malcolm?, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

SO yesterday I realized I may be a chocoholic. Starting off the day with chocolate, chocolate throughout, a headache brought on by too much chocolate, eating a little chocolate to help take the edge off... I need help. Chocolate should be enjoyable, not like this.

2008-04-14T14:16:00.000-07:00

Okay, now it feels like spring.

magazine bowls

2008-04-11T10:48:00.001-07:00

Looking for something to do with your old magazines? Try these bowls.

Thanks for the link AC.

things to knit

2008-04-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

Last night was fun. I met up with my friend Delta, a fellow knitter. We pulled out what was currently on our needles along with all our knitting books, magazines, and patterns. I'm nearly finished with the back of Malcolm's vest and she is in the middle of crocheting a beautiful cream throw.
Looking through Delta's knitting library I got excited about the possibilities of Jean Greenhowe's patterns.

I know Malcolm would love playing with these little color people.

Even though I'm very much in the spring mindset, I was quite taken with the Christmas Nativity. Not shown here, but there is also a donkey that is quite charming.

And then there are these fun patterns that you can download for free.

I'm planing to put together some play people together for Malcolm and I think I'll have to include some of these egg heads.

I like that these rainbow babies come with their own pouches.

Tea party treats, anyone?

ALSO...

last night I was captured by the cute and classic things I saw in Itty Bitty Hats by Susan B. Anderson.
And good news, I just checked out Susan's blog and she is doing her 1st giveaway of this dear little elefante. You have until 12pm Friday, April 11th to enter.

I love my fabric bowl

2008-04-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

I bought this fabric coil bowl, way back when, at an art and gift show on my last trip to Utah. I love the colors, the stitching, the fabric edges, the shape. The maker of this happy thing is Jen of Sparrow Originals. Right now it is my nest for left over Easter chocolate and jelly beans. Looking back through past photos and I remembered that I had wanted to share this find.
I also came across this photo.

It's a snap shot I took on that trip of a BIG spool of cording sitting in my mother's work space. I love this image for several reasons.
- It reminds me that my mom tends to buy good things in BULK.
- I love that it was the perfect resting spot for her shoes that day.
- It is evidence of my mom being a doer, a maker, a creater.
- And I wonder, "What will be made of all that cording?" Maybe piping for pillows or an upholstered cushion/chair/couch. Maybe she will make bowls. (Maybe this will be my inheritance.)
- This photo says it all. (I love you mom.)

doorstep breakfast

2008-04-08T13:26:00.000-07:00

It was a blueberry muffin morning. Malcolm was my super helper and eater.
We've had some mighty beautiful days here in Ohio. Warmth, sunshine, a slight breeze. We are spending as much time as we can outside and getting better acquainted with neighbors while we're at it.

Make Way for Spring

2008-04-07T13:36:00.000-07:00

Today in warm sunshine my quest was to clear out dead leaves and such from this little strip of earth. Out with the old and up with the new. The previous owner planted all sorts of wonderful things. I am looking forward to discovering the life that is here as it unveils itself. Welcome spring! My favorite tool of the day is my rake. My favorite accessory, my straw hat.

Check out the big pile I cleaned out. The compost heap will be so happy. Yes, I'm getting some serious excitement over this.