ready to fill

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

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

{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

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".

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

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...

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.

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

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

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.