Stop Looking Out My Window!

Love from Oregon

2012-02-07T14:48:00.000-08:00

After the kids went to bed last night I got a bug to knit a hat - with hearts for Valentine's Day. I don't know why - never had that need before - but one doesn't argue with the Gods of Knit so a hat was made. It's based on the super easy, super cute Love From Norway pattern from Pickles. One row of hearts was good enough for me, though the multiple rows on the example are hella cute. So, done and dusted - and just in time as the weather has gone from glorious warm sun to frickin' freezing winds. Blah. I now return you to your regularly scheduled knits.

Scenes from the day (old school film style)

2012-02-02T13:34:00.001-08:00

Absolutely Fabulous

2012-01-31T09:46:00.000-08:00

Aidan looks like he's just back from a stint in Vegas as an Elton John impersonator. Either that or he's Big Bird in drag - not sure, actually... whichever it is, he's maahvelous, dahling. Simply mahvelous.

Tea Party

2012-01-29T17:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Ma! Hope you had a pinky-lifting, cup rattling,

silver spoon, tea straining good time!

Spring green

2012-01-27T10:08:00.000-08:00

I've been feeling a distinct need to hibernate this month, but maybe that's obvious considering the number of blankets I've finished so far? The days lately are rainy, cold, windy - all very good reasons for hiding beneath a pile of afghans and cats on the couch. Until yesterday, that is! Yesterday we had SUN! And I remembered that, despite it being January, spring really isn't that far away. The snowdrops are up and blooming, little dainty heralds of more flowers to come. I planted them years ago and still get a small handful each new year. I love their dear green and white petals, delicate and hardy all at the same time. As you can also see, the moss is out in full force atop the stone wall - but who could complain about that beautiful chartreuse color?? Even on the foggiest chilliest day (today, anyone?) it glows there in the front yard in a long unbroken curve. A bright ribbon of spring on a gray January day.

Sweater blanket

2012-01-23T13:11:00.001-08:00

You may well ask, "Why is there a pile of sweaters laid out on her bed?" I would tell you, "That's no pile of sweaters - that's my new blanket!"

The squares with pockets might be my favorite part of the whole shebang.

I've been saving my moth-eaten, pilled-beyond-belief wool and cashmere sweaters for years and finally had enough to implement my Big Sweater Blanket plan. Dark gray fleece at half off from the fabric store completed said plan and here it is! Good lord, it's warm and soft and snuzzley.

Why only use the back when the front of a cardigan is so cute?

Couldn't you just crawl in? I full expect the cats to call dibs, though the kids have already been wallowing in it. 2012 seems to be the Year of Blankets around here, doesn't it? This makes three so far - and it's still January! Well, I haven't heard any complaints yet.

I think maybe I need a nap now...

Around the house

2012-01-18T20:49:00.000-08:00

From baking, to cooling, to gone - all in under an hour. I had three kinders in the house after school so we made snickerdoodles. And it wasn't as bad as you might imagine - we learned a little bit about measuring and reading recipes and taking turns.

Myla-Mae only leaves this spot to eat, drink, potty and occasionally changes things up by sleeping on the couch. I can't really say I blame her. There are many cozy places in the house, but she seems to have found the best one.

Joy of Joys, my new yarn arrived today! This is earmarked for a Guernsey Wrap (a Jared Flood pattern). That's Wool of the Andes in Cobblestone Heather - gotta love inexpensive yet reliable yarn.

I tried to bake a loaf of bread to go with the potato-leek soup I made for dinner. Epic fail. I even called JJ to rant about it. He said we should all have such problems. Oh well, that's what New Seasons is for, right? Challah bread it is!

As you can see, it didn't take long to dive into the pile of yarn. I love this pattern - easy to remember but changes up often enough to stay interesting. So that was my day - how was yours?

Snow

2012-01-15T19:41:00.000-08:00

For once the weathermen didn't lie - they promised snow, and snow we got! So nice to see some of the white stuff coming down. We all come out of our houses, still in our flannels with cardigans thrown hastily on, to stand on our front porches, watching the flakes rush down, waving at each other with goofy grins. The kids rush out in boots and no coats until Mom calls them back, woolens in hand. Then, bacon and cinnamon rolls for breakfast followed by hours of quiet on the couch with knitting in hand and movies on the laptop. How good can a snow day get?

From the quote wall

2012-01-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it within us or we will not find it.

-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

East meets West

2012-01-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

We were lucky to get into the Chinese Gardens early last Saturday before the hoards of people showed up to take advantage of the free admission. If you ever get the opportunity, the Chinese Gardens in downtown's China Town is not to be missed. Even on a chilly gray January day there was much to admire, from the early blossoms of the forsythia to the enormous koi swimming ponderously in the still pools. We took the MAX train down and gave Aidan the thrill of a lifetime - he who is in love with trains, but had never been on one - and I think that was just as enjoyable, really, as the destination. Sometimes it really is about the journey. Still, I went camera happy once we got into the gardens and snapped at every curved roof line, every sculpted rock and every potted tree (are they still called Bonsai if they're not Japanese??) in sight. Next time I'm going to go by myself, by train, and sit in the tea house, contemplating the stillness of a persimmon tree in winter, or listening for the sound of one hand clapping, that sort of thing, you know?

Shooting Stars

2012-01-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

It's almost embarrassing to think this little quilt took nearly four years to make. You can see one reason for the delay in the bottom right corner of the second photo (what a cheeky little delay he was!). But at last JJ has his very own quilt. As soon as my trashed craft room is put back together I'm all ready to start putting another one together, this one made from recycled cashmere and wool sweaters - maybe I'll get it done a little sooner? Four years is an awfully long time to wait.

On the cover

2012-01-07T10:30:00.000-08:00

My Favorite Sister (aka my only sister, aka Sarah) has HUGE news: Lost Lander is on Rollingstone.com! (Cue screaming crowds). Check it out immediately so you can run around typing in all caps, too!

First FO of the year

2012-01-04T15:35:00.000-08:00

The Mitered Crosses Blanket - For Japan by Kay Gardiner

If it's possible to be in love with a blanket, I have surely found true love! I present it here, in all it's rippled, unblocked glory. I'm not sure I have enough of the Type A gene to block a blanket. It will get a light bath here soon, but I simply don't have the heart to pin it out and wait days for it to dry - I want to snuggle under it now!!! I started this project last March and it was a joy the whole way through. Those mitered crosses are soooo much fun to knit! And the Noro Silk Garden yarn? So much fun to watch the colors change. I pretty much did the pattern as specified, but I substituted Berroco Blackstone Tweed for the neutral Noro background (this was already an expensive blanket - I just couldn't justify doing the whole thing in Noro - not that I didn't consider it, mind you). I also did a crochet border around the whole thing, using up bits of leftover Noro for a fabulous color changed all the way around the perimeter. An applied i cord edge would have taken more time and yarn than I was willing to deal with, while the single crochet only took one episode of Star Trek! I cannot recommend this pattern enough - a great knit for a great charity. It's nice to have that feeling of taking-part, you know? So Go Forth and Knit! You won't be sorry.

Christmas FO rundown

2012-01-01T13:42:00.000-08:00

Quickie Cowl by Fawn Pea

Clockwork by Stephen West

One Night Sweater by Anna & Heidi Pickles

Really Warm hat by Melissa LaBarre

For someone who said she wasn't going to knit a lot for people this Christmas... I kind of knit a lot. I actually made two of the Quickie cowls (one in cream for Owen's adorable kindergarten teacher, the one in purple for my MIL), and that was my second Clockwork (the first one, in black and gray, was for JJ's brother last Christmas). Then there was also the Twenty Ten sweater thrown into the mix. The hat was my final FO of the season - about the only thing I could concentrate on while suffering from this darn cold. Now I'm itching to cast on...something. I have many bold plans, but not much energy to implement them yet (curse you offending germs!), and yet I can't bear to just sit around on my - ahem - laurels. Wouldn't a set of natural colored felted bowls look lovely for the new year? Or some winter gnomes in shades of white and gray? What are you beginning the new year with?

Auld Lang Syne (and stuff)

2011-12-31T21:20:00.000-08:00

This is it - last post of the year! So Happy New Year everyone! A new year to make, create, organize, socialize, learn, grow, travel, move, be still, laugh and cry. I've just uploaded the last photos for the 365 project and you can bet I'll be back in that space again tomorrow - to do it all over again. I hope you'll join me - I look forward to sharing this great virtual living room with all of you in the year to come!

Many Happy Returns!

Twenty Eleven

2011-12-28T14:33:00.000-08:00

Twenty Ten Cardigan by Veera Valimaki

Forgive the lousy photos, but check it out! The Twenty Ten Cardigan is finished! Sort of more of a Twenty-Eleven cardigan, really, but whatever the year I'm happy to have a new sweater to wear! I've decided it needs one more button at the top, but otherwise it's awesome. The pattern was fun to knit and I learned some new things - that pocket? The short-row reverse stockinette sleeves? The diagonal button placket? So fun. I knit this in cotton instead of wool (gotta mix it up sometimes) and the result is nice and weighty without being too heavy. Perfect for layering. Combine this with the One Night Sweater for my sister and my Banded Cardigan and that's three grown-up sweaters this year! And I have big plans for 2012, just you wait and see!

Merry and happy

2011-12-26T11:17:00.000-08:00

Another Christmas success. Owen has barely taken his new headphones off, Aidan hasn't quit playing with his trains. All the handknits were completed on time (whew). Today, the day after, we are spending our time relaxing, gearing up to go to Mom's tonight where we'll do it all over again! Hope your holiday was merry and bright!

Christmas came early!

2011-12-17T11:45:00.000-08:00

Last night was Date Night in the Lynch household - not something we have very often! The kids went off to a craft night at preschool - pizza, stories, games, hide and seek in the dark with flashlights - and we treated ourselves to Mexican food at our favorite place. Afterward we drove over to Cost Plus and picked up my Christmas present! The Cute-As-A-Button Erin chair! Can you imagine? They named a chair after me. Hee hee. Obviously it had to be mine. Good thing I have a fabulous husband, huh?

Then as I was sitting in the fabulous new chair the post arrived - and look what was in it! The most beautiful shawl pin ever, straight from Australia. I guess I must have the best friend in the whole world down there - you do know me well, Lynda! There's an engraving all around the ring:

"May you always have walls for the winds, a roof for the rain, tea beside the fire, laughter to cheer you, those you love near you and all your heart may desire."

The same to you, my friend, always!

Tonight I'm...

2011-12-15T19:54:00.000-08:00

loving the dough ornaments, finally dry and ready to hang on the tree (that's a dog up in the left hand corner, in case you couldn't tell)...

enjoying the feeling of a belly full of chicken and dumplings...

admiring my gold fingernails (Gold Coin by Revlon for fellow polish addicts)...

feeling cozy on the couch with sweaters and quilts and knitting close at hand.

Cozy corners

2011-12-13T22:16:00.000-08:00

There's been a lot of movement around these parts - as in one piece of furniture goes out and two arrive in its place, then another and (hopefully) one more will soon be on its way (hint hint). I swapped dining tables with Mom and inherited her china hutch. How thrilling to sit at my childhood table again! Every time he sits down, Owen says, "Huh, I feel like I'm at Nana's house." I know just what he means, except I'm remembering a different house... Today I also got her couch - it isn't very old and is in better shape than our old one - let's just say ours was very comfy and looked it. This one is comfy and has a lovely shape - win-win. I love how warm and cozy everything looks now - it's like having a new room! I haven't managed to take any good photos of the hutch yet - but rest assured, I will! Oh, and did you see the gingerbread man? Mom crocheted him some thirty years ago! I hope my knitted Christmas trees will someday grace one of the boys' houses - those are the kinds of things you keep, you know?

Of an evening

2011-12-12T21:35:00.000-08:00

There's nothing like the warm rosy glow of an evening filled with lights, candles and Christmas music, is there?

I'm dreaming

2011-12-07T16:14:00.001-08:00

Nearly every morning we're waking up to this. The frosty leaves on the ground make for slippery walking to school every morning, but the frosty leaves in the garden are quite lovely - especially close up. A little snow would be nice... We're up to our ears in holidaying (I swear it's verb now) so I'm relieved to finally have the house decorated and the tree lit. It's positively heavy with ornaments - next year we're going to need two. Our crafting ideas are beginning to take shape, but considering the secret nature of those ideas I guess sharing will have to wait for January when we can have a December retrospective! I can say, however, that said plans involved wood, paint and lots of glue. I have a preschooler and kindergartener - makes that LOTS of glue. I'm thinking about warm yummy treats to make (homemade pop tarts anyone?) and warm cozy knits to start (two hats down, one to go). This time of year is a little crazy, but the spirit is alive in our house - how about yours?

PS: Shameless self promotion

2011-11-30T18:59:00.001-08:00

I made it on to the Habit website! Whoo! They opened it up to anyone wanting to post on their flicker page, and while I didn't manage to post everyday, I did enjoy participating. Then selected photos were chosen for the website itself. So, go on and check it out! (It's on the November 29th posting.) It's so great to be part of such a terrific community - all the photos have been stunners. I could wallow around for days...

Triptych

2011-11-30T11:03:00.001-08:00

Today just feels like a great day. I don't know if it's the coffee talking, or the sunshine and balmy air, or the quiet morning I had (both kids in school - YES!) - or maybe all of the above - but I feel kind of like Maria spinning on her mountain top today. You know how it is when everything just works out? I love when that happens. If I could just get past the writer's block I've had lately, life would be perfect, but for now I'll take this day as it comes - it's been so good already, after all, who could ask for more, really?

Right now

2011-11-28T20:23:00.001-08:00

We're full of chicken pot pie.

The fridge is humming.

There is a warm black kitty beside me.

There is another warm body sitting beside the kitty (eating leftover yams, despite being full of said pot pie).

The kids are watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer.

It's quiet.

There is a pile of knitting on the coffee table.

Not a bad Monday, really!

Knitters, start your engines

2011-11-26T14:38:00.001-08:00

Hello, there. My first Christmas present is done: the Butterfly Stitch hat by Sofiya Cremin. Gramma Joy can wear it this winter with the red scarf I made her last year.

I keep saying I'm going to scale back this year - my fingers only go so fast, after all - but I just don't think I can help myself! The sewing machine is so cheerful and inviting, the yarn so soft between my fingers. There is just so much goodness out there to work with. And after the flurry of sewing I just experienced, I kind of feel invincible.

Uh oh. The craft gods heard that, didn't they? Quick - someone squeeze some Malabrigo before I'm doomed!

Sarah's turn

2011-11-25T13:12:00.001-08:00

It was Sarah's first time to host Thanksgiving yesterday! She's now officially part of the club. Naturally, she did a terrific job (no one thought it could ever be otherwise) - just look at that beautiful turkey!

There were many great moments throughout the evening (Ryan wincing as he popped the turkey leg out of joint; making turkey handprints on the chalk board; the fun of gathering friends and family together)...

...but it was these two who really made it truly great. Happy Thanksgiving, guys! I'll always be thankful to know such awesome people.

Breather

2011-11-20T20:24:00.001-08:00

These guys are wearing me out! This week is supposed to be nothing but rain, and no kindergarten. Oh, the humanity! The horror! Thank heaven for preschool - two days, at least, there will be something like peace for three hours at a time. We will definitely be hitting up the library this week. I know it's a short week, but the anticipation of Thanksgiving (at least on my end) will make the days draaaag by, I'm afraid. Sarah is hosting this year so I'm just in it for the fun, family and food! Whoo hoo! (I guess that means I'll get out of the annual "cleaning-behind-the-microwave" ritual this year! Gosh, what will it look like next year? Hmmmm... better not take the chance...)

Afternoon walk

2011-11-16T13:19:00.001-08:00

If the morning was a soggy walk to school, the afternoon proved to be a sunny walk in the woods! No one expected the sun to make an appearance, but we were sure glad it did. The woods near our house are lush and quiet, but autumn makes them seem even quieter somehow. It isn't a huge space, but just the right size for small people to exercise their imaginations and explore. The light filtered through the lemon yellow leaves, illuminating our path ahead. There were hollow trees to explore, fallen logs to walk across, treasures to share. And when we were done, our feet tired and our bellies hungry, there was one last giant green field to cross to our car (and two rather large mud puddles to splash in first). That night, as soon as the sun went down, the fog rolled back in and the rain started. Looks like our November reprieve came just in time!

Morning walk

2011-11-15T10:07:00.001-08:00

It's hard not to appreciate the muted tones and intense textures of a drippy November morning. I didn't realize how much I would enjoy the walk to and from kindergarten each morning, how the daily walk is so different despite being the same twice a day, five days a week. Today we walked through fog and dew-spangled spiderwebs. Tomorrow, who knows?

You say it's your birthday?

2011-11-13T17:30:00.001-08:00

Happy Birthday, Lynda! The falling leaves are gold and orange and crimson, the grass and firs are emerald and the sky is a rich blue. It's like living in a rainbow - perfect for celebrating a birthday as special as yours! Hope your day is a good one, my excellent friend! We'll be toasting you at dinner tonight!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Out of the mouths...

2011-11-09T12:30:00.000-08:00

"I'm not saying we should misbehave. But we should look as though we could."

--Oscar Wilde

Yesterday Owen came over and coversationally said, "Mom, I'm feeling downtrodden."
"Really?" I asked. "Do you know what 'downtrodden' means?"
"Yes, it means glum."

Kids today, I tell ya.

New one for the wall

2011-11-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

"I may not lead the most dramatic life, but in my brain it's War and Peace everyday."

- Rufus Wainwright

That's all folks

2011-11-06T14:22:00.000-08:00

Three quilts - one month - personal record...

Motherhood milestone

2011-11-01T18:33:00.000-07:00

It finally happened: I told him to quit running through the house with his scissors...

Trick Or Treat!

2011-10-31T21:09:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween!

We carved eight pumpkins this year - possibly a new record. Four of them were mine. I guess it's obviously my favorite part. Other than the skeleton shirt and the cool make up. What, you've never heard of the Green Eyed Monster? And man, what a haul they brought home! Holy crow - I can feel their sugar levels rising from here! In case you're wondering, that's Phil as a towel rack, Owen as a Transformer and Aidan as Thomas the Train. Natch. Excuse me, I think I hear a Twix calling my name...

Foggy morn

2011-10-28T14:08:00.000-07:00

Photographs like these make me rethink my morning-person aversion. Now that I'm actually up early, that is. What was that you said, Lindsay, about a leopard and its spots? We could totally go plaid, you know - or even argyle! Sky's the limit. Every morning I step out the door and find something new to admire - the subtle colors of a foggy sunrise, the hushed winging vees of geese flying south, or frost evaporating on the house as the furnace clicks on. It's getting colder and frostier every day, but inside everything is warm and cozy. Every morning we put on our woolens and walk to kindergarten and admire the beauty of a cold autumn morning.

Two down, one to go...

2011-10-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

Here is Quilt #2 for the upcoming preschool auction! This one took the longest - what with the windowpanes around each square and the hand-sewn felt letters. A labor of love - I feel a lot of affection for this one. The two year olds are responsible for the great drawings (with fabric markers) so I can't take all the credit. Still, I confess a certain pride fills me up when I see these finished quilts and I hope the families that take them home will love them as much as I do!

High drama

2011-10-25T09:28:00.000-07:00

The dramatic skies of autumn drew me out of the house yesterday, camera in tow. Who can stay in when there are such gorgeous contrasts to observe? The light vs dark, the blue sky vs gray cloud, the lemon leaves vs black branches - I just can't resist!

Field Trip

2011-10-24T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today is Owen's first big field trip - on a school bus! With Auntie in tow! Wow, does it get any better than that? They are headed off to the apple orchard to see where the cider is made and how the apples grow on the trees. Big stuff, I tell you. They've been studying seeds and nuts and how trees grow - think they'll cut an apple to find out what's inside? I remember doing that in elementary school and discovering that if the apple is cut just so, there is a star inside. Even in small things there is magic.

Take two of these and call me in the morning

2011-10-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

Proof positive that I married the right man - after a particularly lousy Thursday he brought Voodoo Doughnuts home. Yes, those are Coco Puffs...and Cap'n Crunch...and crushed Oreos...and Butterfinger dust. Hell yeah. Now THAT'S a donut.

To and from

2011-10-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

On the way to school - nearly there!

And now we head back - wait at the stop sign, please!

It rained A LOT last week. This week promises sunshine, thank goodness.

"Mom, I bet our neighbors don't even know they have a pet spider!"

Just around the bend and we're home!

I don't mind telling you I'm just the teensiest bit tired of sewing right now. I'm nearly ready to do the binding on Auction Quilt #2 and my fingers are getting sore! I haven't knit anything in ages - it kind of feels like cheating on someone. "No, I swear, it's just for the auction! You know I love you, right?" On the bright side (knitting-wise) I have a whole pile of yarn waiting to be turned into a sweater for a certain sister. And yesterday I spent the whole day writing which felt so good. I love sitting at my little desk, occasionally looking out the front door as the world passes by. This certainly has been a productive month!

One down

2011-10-12T16:49:00.000-07:00

The first of three quilts for our preschool auction is done! This one shows the artwork done by the kids in the 3s class at Tigard Playschool. There's Aidan's, see it? This was accomplished using the "glue-batik" method - basically you "draw" with the glue, then paint over it when it's dry. When you dissolve the glue the white fabric beneath shows through! Cool, right? Easy and fun and hopefully it (and the others) will attract a lot of bidding. I mean, you'd bid on it, wouldn't you??

Loaf

2011-10-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

A little dark, but I'll take it. I made challah bread yesterday, just because it seemed like the thing to do. I like the crunchiness of the crust, actually. I think my favorite part is thumping the bottom of the loaf to see if it's done - sounds just like a drum. For anyone afraid to try their hand at baking bread, try this one - it's so easy, from the Joy of Cooking, no changes, no fancy ingredients. I kneaded it twice (once in the bowl, once on an oiled cutting board), let it rise three times (first in the oven which I had warmed slightly, then in the fridge, then on top of the stove while I made dinner). I didn't use any machinery - just a bowl, a wooden spoon and my hands. You can do this! Next on my list of things to try: pop-overs. I'll keep you posted.

Autumn baking

2011-10-06T15:45:00.000-07:00

What do we do when there is more dirty laundry than clean? When the dishwasher seems to be constantly running and there is still a pile of stuff on the counter? Why, bake, of course! Yesterday Owen and I made these zucchini-banana-flaxseed muffins*. Wow - slice 'em in half and slather a little butter on one side and you've got yourself a winner. I'd never used ground flaxseeds before - just the whole kind which my kids flat out won't eat if they see telltale signs. (You don't even want to know what they think they look like, though I bet you're trying to guess right now!) The muffins are dense but moist and chewy and just slightly sweet. Perfect for breakfast or an afterschool snack. The fact that there are only two left and we made them yesterday afternoon would seem to substantiate my claim.

Yesterday morning Owen walked out in his camo underpants and said, "I wish we could go someplace where I could blend in in my underwear." I offered to drop him in a jungle somewhere, but he decided to get dressed instead.

*Recipe from the September 2011 edition of Everyday Food

Checking in

2011-10-05T18:57:00.000-07:00

It's been such a long and busy week... and it's only Wednesday! Some weeks are just overwhelming, you know? Mostly it's self-imposed, so I have no one to blame, really. The thing to do, I think, is to stop thinking about everything I have to do and just get down to the business of doing it (I hear a shoe company cheering somewhere). I have three quilts to make for preschool (more on that soon, I hope) and I'm so excited about how they will come together - I want to do justice to the terrific artwork the kids have produced. It'll be a whole post all by itself. I also have been thinking a lot about organization as the days get shorter and we spend more time inside. How can we be more harmonious in our little house? Not having mountains of laundry on the bed, heaps of dirty dishes on the counter and piles of detritus in the garage would help. I think I'm gearing up for a big end-of-year purge. The very idea fills me with peace and exhaustion at the same time. Can she do it? Yes, she can!

Hard-knock life

2011-09-28T13:30:00.000-07:00

Preschool really wears a guy out. Nice to know a nap can be just around the corner.

Getting closer

2011-09-25T14:24:00.000-07:00

That's two rows down, two rows to go... the I-cord edging might just kill me. We'll see.

Domestic prescription

2011-09-21T10:59:00.000-07:00

When I was in college I always joked that the only time I ever took out the garbage or vacuumed the floor was when I had a big paper due. Since I had roughly five papers due every week (one for each assigned book) my room was probably the tidiest one in the whole dorm. Then I graduated and suddenly there were no more essays, no tests, no homework at all in fact (is it weird that I miss it sometimes?) - and therefore my housekeeping skills are, let's say, less than stellar (ahem). Then I agreed to chair the fundraising committee at preschool and suddenly there is work to do again! Meetings to attend, notes to take, emails to write, reams of paperwork to shuffle through, and my brain is awake again - awake and buzzing with that old familiar fear-of-failure adrenaline that kept me from flunking out of algebra in high school.

So yesterday I found myself staring outside at the sunny afternoon with a brain still stuck on information overload at the prospect of all the emails I still needed to write. I couldn't quite bring myself to sit down again and wandered into the kitchen instead. A stack of dirty dishes had been waiting patiently for some attention for about a week (told you) so instead of going back to the laptop I threw on an apron and filled up the chili encrusted crock pot with soapy water and got down to business. As the counter filled up with colorful clean dishes my mind grew quiet, and as my hands turned pruny from hot water and dishsoap and baking soda the kinks in my shoulders gradually smoothed out. When the dishes were done I kept going, wiping down the microwave, scouring the sink and polishing up the counters. Today the work is mostly done (for now) - and I have a clean(ish) kitchen. Dishes as occupational therapy - who knew? I wonder if it applies to laundry...

And now he is three

2011-09-17T16:16:00.000-07:00

Wow - the "baby" isn't a baby anymore! He's a real little boy. He was so small, just a six pounder (plus a little) when he was born; so small and sweet and sleepy. He slept a lot and ate a lot - and from that perspective things haven't changed much! But today he turned three and proved that he can party with the big kids, as well as ride a bike (who knew?). There was cake (not too shabby if I do say so myself), presents, bubbles and balloons. It rained, but we stayed dry and snug. It was a great day - for a great kid, in part because we have such awesome friends and a terrific family. Thanks for helping us celebrate!

Happy birthday, Aidan!

A place of my own

2011-09-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

After ten years it was time to do a little rearranging. The rooms in this house don't leave a lot of room for change (mostly our furniture fits where it does because it won't fit anywhere else), but there is a wee bit of leeway - hence the new writing spot just for me! This wall is where the grandfather clock and a little "telephone" table resided. It was a kind of throw-away spot, really, with no usefulness at all except as a place to rest a pretty basket full of yarn (which simply moved across the room, don't worry). This was my great-grandmother's writing desk and pretty much the main thing I wanted when she passed away. She was a very no-nonsense kind of woman and I imagine her paying bills here and writing in her travel journals. It sat upstairs in our family room, used mainly for storage of random bits and bobs until I came up with the brilliant idea of "rearranging" - consider that sweet little lamp an illustration of the ah-ha moment. Now I have the perfect place in which to store notebooks, camera cords, stationary and my laptop. I love to sit here and gaze out the front door at the treetops across the street, listening to the birds at the feeders, surrounded by the house around me instead of being stuck upstairs trying to concentrate amidst the chaos of toys and tv. Like a little island of peace and happiness. I think Nana would be pleased. Next up: the new family room...

Feathered friends

2011-09-14T09:05:00.000-07:00

Many friends have come to call. Suddenly it is autumn in the Willamette Valley and the wee chickadees and finches are flocking to the bird feeders to bicker and chat and preen. The little black-capped chickadees are so sweet, darting to and fro with seeds in their beaks while the bossy house finches hang out and posture at each other. They witter about in the trees like tiny old ladies all talking over the top of one another. I could sit and watch them all morning!

Something to wear on a "starry starry night"

2011-09-13T09:46:00.000-07:00

Textured Shawl Recipe by Orlane

This is the souvenir yarn I brought back from Idaho - Shibui Knits Baby Alpaca DK. It was my first time using it, and I have to say I will be using this again! It's fabulous. The shawl is sumptuous and warm and begs to be petted (or you could just stick your face in it and have a good snarfle like I did). I pretty much followed the recipe, but added a bit of butterfly stitch near the hem for fun. I mostly listened to Simon & Garfunkel, Don McLean, Jeff Buckley and Joni Mitchell while I knit this - I think all that mellow calming music made its way into the stitches and I can't wear it without thinking of the song "Vincent" now. It's nothing but good, really.

First day of preschool

2011-09-12T15:58:00.000-07:00

(Pretty sure this was the best part of his day...)

The Firsts just keep coming! Today was Aidan's first day of preschool! He breezed through like a champ (as I knew he would). The parents stay for the first day - just in case - but after awhile the kids acted like they'd been there all along. Aidan was unfazed. He saw friends from childcare, friends from summer camp, and has already started making friends with the others. I love that look on his face - ready to go with his brother's hand-me-down preschool shirt and his brand new backpack with brand new lunch box inside. He looks ready to me!

(Yes, that's granola bar around his mouth in the first photos and a whole peeled egg in the last, and, no, I didn't comb his hair - oh, the life of a neglected second child...)

What's important

2011-09-10T16:37:00.000-07:00

Hug your kids. Kiss your partner and tell them you love them. Take a moment to appreciate your life and all its wonders. Be kind to people you don't know. Keep those who are gone alive in your thoughts and deeds. Peace.

Another milestone

2011-09-07T08:58:00.000-07:00

Someone else is coming into his own around here. Aidan got his Big Boy furniture and bed over the weekend. He's a total pro already. I have to say I had a twinge of nostalgia as I put his clothes into his new dresser and watched JJ put together the bookcase - where does the time go? There are days when you're pretty sure time has stopped and you're never going to stop changing diapers or walking the floor with a screaming baby, but a few years later those aren't the moments you really remember. I remember sitting in the darkened room nursing Owen in the early hours of the morning, listening to the sounds of the neighborhood coming awake. I remember how tiny Aidan looked in his wee footie pajamas when we first brought him home and how much I loved just carrying him around, snoozing in the crook of my arm (even then he was a good sleeper). Now one is off at kindergarten and the other is starting preschool next week. Me? I'm peering into the top drawer of Aidan's dresser to finger all the hand knits he wore and remembering.

(On a side note: the quilt is the first one I ever made, before Owen was born; the little critters on the wall mark the place where the changing table was - I painted them just over the pad so the babies would have something to look at while they got their diapers changed - I just didn't have the heart to cover them up!)

And now he's in kindergarten...

2011-09-06T09:34:00.000-07:00

Wow, who is this Big Kid? We got up this morning, full of excitement for the First Day of School. The outfit was carefully chosen - a collared shirt (just like Daddy wears), skinny jeans and new Nikes - lunch was packed, breakfast was inhaled, teeth brushed and hair combed, then it was out the door almost twenty minutes early. Hey, you can never be too early on the first day. We found his place and he got right down to business decorating his name tag. Parents began trickling out and I asked if he was ready for me to go. "Can you stay for just one more minute, Mom?" Sure, kid. As many minutes as you need.

Solo

2011-09-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

When I get a day off - a day wholly to myself - it feels just like this photo: like a deep wonderful breath. Don't get me wrong, I love my family, but it sure feels good to be alone once in awhile.

Is there such a thing as too many vacation photos?

2011-08-30T10:08:00.000-07:00

We went camping last weekend at Rockaway, near the jetty. On the edge of our campsite was a driftwood field. To get across you have to jump from log to log (and hope the one you leap upon doesn't roll beneath your feet!). They also made excellent perches from which to stargaze.

The driftwood has been laying out in the sun for years turning it soft and white.

We climbed down a precarious path along the cliffs and found a small rocky paradise. There was no one but us around, free to explore, build impromptu forts, eat snacks and fish.

I love this photo - he looks so serious!

Oh, that water is so blue. I could stare at it forever. Seriously, I wish I never had to leave.

We caught about eight of these big perch, filleted them, fried them up and ate them for dinner. Delicious! This was one of the best camping trips ever. Oh, and I wore my sweater every morning and every night and it was PERFECT - warm and snuggly and I was enormously pleased with its performance!

Baby sweater #2

2011-08-29T09:38:00.000-07:00

Camilla Babe by Carrie Bostick Hoge

This was something of an eleventh-hour knit. I started the Camilla Babe way back at the beginning of August, but ran out of yarn (my gauge was pretty much on, but I was still short of what they suggested) and couldn't buy more until later. You can see the color change where the two skeins meet - a problem with hand-painted yarn since these were considered part of the same dye lot - but really, I'm not much bothered by it, or by the fact that the shoulders look too big. The scalloped pattern down the front looks so sweet and the yarn was lovely to work with (when isn't Madelinetosh worsted?). It was fun to knit with such a perky color (again with the pink - these photos really don't do it justice) and the mother-to-be was very pleased with her two little sweaters when she opened the bag at the baby shower Sunday. If she's happy, then I'm happy.

Baby sweater #1

2011-08-26T09:45:00.000-07:00

Cascade by Raya Budrevich

First of two baby sweaters for a friend who's due in December. This one gave me some trouble at the beginning (entirely my fault - I have to learn to read instructions rather than try to anticipate what will happen next...) but I'm glad I stuck with it. The Madelinetosh superwash is nice stuff, not luxurious, but soft and good to knit with. The color struck me as a different sort of shade - something fun rather than the usual pink/yellow/green/blue that is usually used for baby stuff. Pink buttons, though, had to have those! Stay tuned for sweater number two...

Thanks for taking me on

2011-08-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

This one's for you, dear. Happy 10th! Love you!

Quote for the day

2011-08-24T20:37:00.000-07:00

"The Measure of Love is Love without Measure." - Saint Augustine

Vacation::Wrap-up

2011-08-21T10:02:00.000-07:00

Nothing like a week away to make you appreciate your own good bed (soft sheets! old squashy pillows!). We stopped on our way home to check out a sunflower field, to admire the yellow beauties against the blue sky and watch the crickets and grasshoppers leap madly away as we pushed forward through the weeds. This was not the most restful vacation I have ever taken (one kid got the stomach flu and the beginning of the week, the other at the end, I had a small case of DVT which seems better now, not to mention multiple meltdowns along the way), but it was still a good one. Now we're back and happy to be home and ready to tackle school supply shopping, meetings, and the general hustle and bustle that is back-to-school time. Bring it on - we're ready!

Vacation::Part Two

2011-08-19T09:19:00.000-07:00

Big skies, even bigger mountain ranges, lake water, sunburns, old movies in the afternoon. We leave for home tomorrow, but my thoughts will be with Redfish Lake for quite awhile...

Vacation::Part One

2011-08-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

Scenery, games, fishing, knitting. What else do you need?

Happy Birthday, Katie! (Greetings from Idaho)

2011-08-15T20:51:00.000-07:00

Hope your day was full of birthday goodness! Lots of love coming your way from the hills of Idaho.

xoxoxoxo

Again with the vacations

2011-08-11T10:20:00.000-07:00

We're off for the mountains of Idaho tomorrow. Hopefully when I return I will be bursting with new stuff: new FOs, photographic accomplishments (I'm loving playing with this camera), and stories of high adventure and intrigue. Until then, enjoy this beauty currently brightening up our kitchen table. Happy trails!

Just your usual Saturday three-way birthday extravaganza

2011-08-07T01:06:00.000-07:00

We will use any excuse to get together and eat. Saturday we all congregated at Grandma's house for barbequed ribs and a potluck spread like you wouldn't believe. I'm still full. The sun was glorious (finally we've been getting some temperatures around 80 degrees instead of 60 - I was beginning to think summer had passed us by this year) and the kids were happy to have multiple people to play with. The rest of us were just happy to be together and relax. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon?

It's done!

2011-08-05T09:33:00.000-07:00

And it only took two years.

(Indigo Banded Cardigan by Cecily Glowik)

Happy Birthday, dear!

2011-07-28T22:56:00.000-07:00

For JJ's birthday I decided to make him a slogan t-shirt with his favorite Darth Vader quote on it. Ever since he bought Owen a Darth Vader helmet that talks, he's been stopping the kids in the hallways and saying this. So. Obviously a t-shirt was in order. We're big fans of slogan t-shirts anyway. Cheesy, but fun. For this I used a t-shirt (100% cotton) purchased at the craft store, black and white fabric paint, a black fabric pen and freezer paper. I chose the font I liked best from the never-ending list available on my word doc program, printed it off, then traced the outline onto freezer paper (which I bought at the grocery store - Safeway, actually - and which is made by Reynolds - I know it isn't always easy to find, but it works great). I cut the letters out with an x-acto knife, then ironed the waxy/plastic side to the shirt (no steam). With a stiff bristled craft brush I applied three coats of white fabric paint and let it dry between each coat. When the last coat was dry I peeled the paper off and touched up any bleeding with black fabric paint. When that was dry I noticed a few places that needed some exacting touch ups so I used a black fabric marker for the detailing. All told it only took an afternoon to do and the result is terrific! I will definitely use this method again.

And JJ seems happy - and that makes me happy! Hurray for birthdays!

Garden Tour::Part 2

2011-07-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

Can you have too many photos of flowers? Nah. After this last weekend's wedding I'm still in a flowery sort of mood. Being a bridesmaid was "hard work" (well, the four inch heels were) but it was a lot of fun also and I was so happy I could be there for a wonderful friend's special moment. Laying out on the beach in Ventura wasn't bad, either. But now we're home after an excruciating drive (seven a.m. to three a.m.) and all I really want to do is lounge in the weak sunlight and fool around with the camera, some new yarn and the kids (I missed them a lot!). This won't be the last garden tour of the summer - not with the gladies out in their ruffled glory!

Garden Tour

2011-07-21T10:44:00.000-07:00

Another gray and cool day, but not bad for a quick wander around the garden. The gladies are getting ready to bust out; I guess this one above just couldn't hold back anymore. The succulents are all flowering and the lavender that I pruned to within an inch of its life has come back with reliable purplish-blue spikes.

We're off to California for a weekend wedding - crossing my fingers we'll actually see some sun while we're there! I'll keep my fingers crossed for all you Oregonians, too, wondering when summer is actually going to start...I'm thinking September, at this rate.

It's been so chilly I've already worn it...

2011-07-18T20:33:00.000-07:00

The latest little bit of loveliness to grace the handknit drawer: the knitted neckwarmer (108-53) by DROPS, knit with two strands of Malabrigo lace (colorway: alpine pearl).

Oh, hello you in the mirror in your fabulous new cowl.

Smile! Why so serious? Oh yeah, 'cuz this camera takes concentration.

Self portraits are hard but I was impatient to get it on film for Ravelry (sorry to those of you for whom this is all old news). All I can say is I LOVE this thing. It's light, it's warm, it's oh-so soft - I mean, we're talking the bees' knees here. I'd had this pattern in my Rav queue for ages, just gathering proverbial dust. When I unearthed two skeins of the same colorway Malabrigo I knew what I had to do.

But what to do with the leftovers?

Shameless promotion

2011-07-14T09:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I was remiss in putting this up - but you guys have to check it out. Lost Lander's Matt Sheehy asked Sarah to be in his band earlier this year doing keyboard and vocals (and probably because she kicks ass in a denim onesie). Aren't they amazing??? Not sure when the cd comes out (Sarah? What's the scoop?) but you can check out some of their stuff on Youtube or at Lost Lander's website.

Oh, and while you're at it, check out Blind Pilot's sneak-peak video for We Are The Tide (coming to you this September - yes, you NEED this album - it's so good it makes me want to be a better person). That's an awesome scarf Ryan has on, btw.

Summer is

2011-07-13T14:20:00.000-07:00

Mud and goggles. It's like I have all the ingredients for a great steam-punk novel here... (do swim goggles count?). And after three days of summer camp they are starting to resemble zombies just the tiniest bit so maybe we can work with that. Do they make combat boots with buckles in toddler size 7? I call shotgun in the dirigible!

On the menu

2011-07-11T18:37:00.000-07:00

Brown sugar glazed carrots with rosemary
White cheddar roasted cauliflower
Chicken and roasted potato hand pies

Well, the kids liked the carrots, anyway.

Someone else is excited too

2011-07-10T11:12:00.000-07:00

Because when I got my new camera, he got my old one. Let the family photo shoots begin!

Photo tour: Mom's house

2011-07-09T11:09:00.000-07:00

So, like I said, I'm loving this camera. It's a Nikon D5100 which came with two different lenses (both of which I am just figuring out though I believe one is for general purposes and the other for distance shots). I feel the way I did when I went from driving an '86 T-bird to a Prius - like this thing is smarter than I am. It's a little daunting, but I learned to drive the car so I think I can master a camera... right?

Mom's house is full of interesting and pretty things to photograph so I brought my new toy over to her house and snapped away - mostly using the auto setting, but occasionally trying out manual (my goal is to really get the manual setting, to understand the process and be able to consciously decide how I want my photos to turn out). So enjoy snippets of her happy house and garden (hope you don't mind, Mom!).

Snap-happy

2011-07-08T23:02:00.000-07:00

It's late and I'm super tired, but I couldn't resist posting at least one photo taken with the new camera. I mean, who could resist this face? Of course, I've been taking a million photos - mostly of absolutely nothing - just to get a sense of the thing. I am so in love. Full update soon (along with many random pictures just because!).

FO: Saroyan scarf

2011-07-06T07:56:00.000-07:00

Saroyan by Liz Abinante

I'd been wanting to actually finish something around here for ages, but between the Mitered Cross blanket and a sweater the probability of binding one of them off was grim. So I put them aside and made a scarf! Hey-presto, it's already done. The Saroyan scarf was a pattern I'd wanted to make for a long time, had even bought the yarn waaaaay back in March, but for whatever reason just hadn't gotten around to it. But it's a fabulous pattern, a quick knit and now that it's finished, a delight to wear (you know, if it wasn't in the eighties right now). For this I used some really scrumptious yarn: Road to China light in Peridot. It's a sport weight yarn with a subtle sheen and luxurious fiber content (baby alpaca, cashmere, camel and silk). Out of two skeins I barely touched the second so I have a ton left to do something else with (hat maybe?) so I could have made this longer (I did five increase/decrease sections instead of six) but it fits perfectly so no complaints here. Gorgeous light weight yarn, quick and easy pattern, eighty degree temperatures - I'd say we have a recipe for perfect summer knitting here.

Why do they only sleep on my side?

2011-07-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Three little kittens, too fat for mittens, couldn't care less about pie...

But give them a bed, upon which they'll shed, then listen to "mother" sigh...

Summer eats

2011-07-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

Crab cakes for dinner the other night - it must be summertime! I didn't really use a recipe, just sort of winged it, but they turned out really good and conjured up images of dinner at the beach, of deckchairs and the cries of seagulls, of hot weather and sand between the toes. The aioli sauce I whipped up to go with wasn't half bad either. And for dessert?

Chocolate marshmallow cookies from a back issue of Everyday Food. OMG - these things are sick. In a good way (unless you ate too many, than it would be in a literal way). A light, almost spongy cookie topped with marshmallow and drenched in semi-sweet chocolate. Um... whoa. They're like pinwheels (remember those?) but amped up to epic levels of richness. I can barely get through one without feeling twitchy. Yum. :)

Playing with black and white

2011-06-30T13:14:00.000-07:00

Mad decorating skills

2011-06-26T10:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I didn't make the cake, but I did do the decorations. That has to count for something, right? I was really pleased with the way Owen's Spiderman-themed birthday cake turned out. Even though his birthday was in early June we had his party Saturday at a local pool. The pool part was great - the party afterwards? Well, let's just say Owen doesn't always do well as the center of attention. I guess five-year-olds aren't famous for their emotional stability. Still, I think his friends had fun and I think he did too so I'm going to call it good (and thank heavens it's all done!).

Country BBQ

2011-06-20T07:46:00.000-07:00

For Father's Day we set out Sunday afternoon for a barbeque at Dad's house in the tulies. He has a great house that he's redone himself, full of beautiful garden spaces, a trout pond, pathways, rushing creeks, chicken coops to explore and rocks piles to shift - in short, a kid paradise. Owen and Aidan ran around and around and around playing, yelling, golfing and begging for rides on the golf cart (and Grampa was only too happy to oblige, naturally).

I was happy to sit on the porch swing and listen to the neighbor's donkey Hee Haw Hee Haw at odd intervals.

As usual it was a bang-up time. Next time Dad throws a flank steak on the grill, I'm there.

Day tripping

2011-06-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

On Friday Auntie Sarah and I packed up the kids for a trip to Multnomah Falls in the Columbia River Gorge. Auntie and Owen had been wanting to go hiking again after the success they had last time so it was decided they would climb to the top of the falls while Aidan napped in the car. When he woke up he and I hiked as far as the bridge and met our intrepid explorers.

It was the first warm sunny day we'd had in weeks so of course the place was packed - and being such a big attraction, we weren't surprised, but it's still fun to go and mingle and listen to the kids squeal in the spray from the falls, to hear the roar of the water as it tumbles down its two tiers into the pool at the base.

Even the view from the parking lot is nice.

Snacks with Auntie is always good times. Apples, dried nuts and fruit, graham cracker bunnies - what could be better? It was a perfect day.

Lazy knitting Saturday

2011-06-11T16:56:00.000-07:00

There hasn't been much knitting lately on the blog - but that doesn't mean I haven't been busy! It's Saturday afternoon. The kids are with JJ at a friend's birthday party. It's a beautiful warm early summer day. My feet are up on the coffee table. I'm knitting my last full mitered cross square and have the yarn for the half squares waiting in the wings. There's a chocolate almond biscotti nearby, cheese and crackers, and "Rock Me Amadeus" is playing on Pandora...now it's The Cure. Life pretty much doesn't get much better than this.

Over-sharing is fun!

2011-06-09T19:42:00.000-07:00

A. Age: 33

B. Bed size: California Queen - yeah, baby!
C. Chore that you hate: Laundry, dishes, scraping weird stuff off the edge of the table
D. Dogs: The bigger the better, but for now I'll stick with cats.

E. Essential start to your day: a message on Ravelry from Lynda
F. Favourite color: Too many to choose from - or is that a cop-out? It used to be purple, but these days I'm partial to orange.

G. Gold or Silver: Jewelry is good in all forms.

H. Height: 5'4"
I. Instruments you play: I can whistle - does that count?
J. Job title: Mom, Wife, Sister, Daughter, Writer, Knitter... not to mention Maid, Chauffeur, Cook and Kid-Wrangler... pick one.
K. Kids: Two.
L. Live: Willamette Valley
M. Mother's name: Dana (that's Dana like banana)

N. Nicknames: Erin-Joy.
O. Overnight hospital stays: 2, one for each kid
P. Pet peeve: brushing teeth in public - ewwwwww.
Q. Quote from a movie: "Today I have the map. And the day after tomorrow - the world!" (Time Bandits)
R. Right or left handed: Right
S. Siblings: One cool Seestor.
T. Time you wake up: The cell phone makes me get up at eight, but wait until school starts again!
U. Underwear: Costco - yeah, that's right, I said Costco. You gotta problem with that? Better than Bi-Mart.
V. Vegetable you hate: So not into okra.
W. What makes you run late: One...More...Row!
X. X-Rays you've had: Fingers and teeth.

Y. Yummy food that you make: Chicken and Dumplings, Chicken and Cashews, Flank Steak (why am I suddenly salivating?)
Z. Zoo animal: I've always been partial to the penguins myself.

(Playing along with knitxcore - why not join in?)

Big Boy

2011-06-08T22:19:00.000-07:00

(3 months old)

Self Portrait (5 years old)

Happy Birthday, Owen! Five years old and ready for anything.

Why I keep them around

2011-06-06T14:59:00.001-07:00

Sitting in the car:

Aidan: Mama, can I feel your hair?

Me: Sure, when we get home. Why do you want to feel my hair?

Aidan: Because I love you.

June

2011-06-01T08:36:00.000-07:00

It's June! It's still raining and the heat is still on, but it's June. The water is high enough in the Willamette river that the Esplanade's floating bridge was closed. There are hardly any roses in the Test Gardens for Rose Festival. The grass in our backyard is two feet tall in places. Everything is a shade of green or gray or wet (anyone living in the Pacific Northwest knows "wet" is indeed a color). And yet... it's June! Month of birthdays, start of summer (?) vacation and summer (?) camp. Wet or not, there is a lot to look forward to in June!

And just like that

2011-05-31T09:26:00.000-07:00

Nearly all the trees are gone. There is a big patch of sky visible that I had never seen before. This new view is both liberating and uncomfortable - as change so often is.

When life hands you lemons and strawberries

2011-05-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

This Memorial Weekend has seen a lot of action so far. Our poor old plum tree was riddled with termites so when our neighbors cut their termite-eaten trees down they offered to cut ours down as well, plus their enormous pine that dumped needles and cones on four different properties (no one was sad to see IT go). So the backyard is a mess, but everyone pitched in yesterday to clean up the front and side yards and haul old debris off to the bark chip place where it will all be turned into useful sawdust. The back yard seems very exposed, very naked, but I already see possibilities for the space - a soaring eucalyptus, perhaps a few lilacs...sunflowers blooming against the fence. But things are happening and that's a good thing! Sometimes it takes a big deal like this to stir the creative juices.

This afternoon is BBQ time so we'll all gather together again, but to eat instead of work this time! (Well, eating all that food might be work, too!) So I'm making strawberry lemonade to contribute. The sun may not be shining today (fifty degrees and cloudy - boo) but we'll have sunshine in our glasses. Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Hurray for playdoh

2011-05-23T21:40:00.000-07:00

Sorry to have been absent for so long, but I was out of sorts last week and really just wanted to hibernate a bit. It's been a typical spring in the Willamette Valley: rain, rain, more rain, then when you think you might go bananas the sun shines through the doldrums and bathes everything in its warm glow. It's just enough to keep a person sane - but only just.

So anyway, today (after preschool and grocery shopping) we made playdoh! If you've never made it at home you really should. Super easy, fun to do and messy but in an easy-to-clean-up sort of way. Owen and I made it at preschool last week and thought it would be fun to try at home. It totally was.

Little hands can do almost everything (except pour the hot water). I couldn't find the recommended Kool-Aid at the grocery store (not in the juice aisle, not in the candy aisle, not in the chips/pop aisle - so what the frick?) so we used some blue ink instead. Used sparingly it made the playdoh a pleasant denim color.

Homemade Playdoh

2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup salt
1 tbl cream of tartar
3 tbl cooking oil
2 cups hot water
coloring of your choice (I was told 3 packets of Kool-Aid powder works great, but we used bio-paint at school and ink worked just fine, maybe plain ol' food coloring would work too)

Mix dry ingredients, add oil, water and coloring. Stir to incorporate adding flour or coloring as necessary. Dump onto wax paper (we used freezer paper) and knead. Ours came out a little oily so we added flour and it worked great. Be sure to store in an air-tight container for use later on!

Our House

2011-05-14T19:31:00.000-07:00

Owen's version: Watch out, for the middle of the street, watch out...

Work work work

2011-05-13T11:12:00.000-07:00

This is the mess that sits on the coffee table in the living room. Part one of the Two Way Ruffle Scarf is done and the outer, lacier portion is in the initial stages. I'd never used Kidsilk Haze before, but I think I might be in love. Gosh, but this stuff is soft - and so light, it's like knitting with a really strong cobweb. Cool. Owen thinks I should make him a blanket out if it - kid's got taste, obviously. The black yarn is a big ball of kitchen cotton that will very soon be a little puppy for an almost-three year old friend's birthday. And there are some babies on their way throughout the year, some worthy friends in need of a few special hand knits, and oh, I don't know - lots of reasons to keep this girl busy with sticks and string all year long.

Don't hear me complaining, do you??

Mom

2011-05-08T15:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Mother's Day, Mom! Every day with you is a good day, then and now!

xoxoxoxo

No time to say Hello, Goodbye!

2011-04-28T17:48:00.000-07:00

Gosh, but the end of this week is simply fraught with over-scheduling! I cannot believe how much there is to do before we can leave Sunday for our week long vacation in Bend. When I get there (after getting everything squared away - and you know how much time that takes!) I'm going to find a quiet chair, a cup of hot chocolate and just SIT.

But until then I must:
*do copious loads of laundry so we have enough to wear on said vacation
*pack all that stuff up
*decide what knitting to pack (um, all of it??)
*make banana bread because there are some very black-looking specimens in the fruit basket
*clean out the fridge so we don't come home to a revolting smell
*plan a lunch menu for friends who are visiting from out of town (one as far away as Boston!) on Saturday
*work at preschool all day tomorrow, first volunteering in the classroom for three hours, then at the rummage sale for two
*work at the rummage sale for two more hours on Saturday, just before our guests are to arrive
*try to stay awake for all of it

Man, I'm earning this vacation!

Scenes from the hunt

2011-04-20T20:51:00.000-07:00

Grampa's annual Easter egg hunt with his pals from Sulzer Pump was last weekend - and is that the scariest Easter Bunny ever?? I don't know who dredged up that costume, but whoa. This year Aidan wasn't scared of him, though, and consented to having his photo taken (though you'll notice no one volunteered to sit on his lap). Easter baskets? Who needs Easter baskets when you've got Thomas and Spiderman buckets left over from Halloween that you still carry around almost every day? As usual the event was a hit, and though the weather wasn't as nice as it usually is, the day cooperated and the rain held off. By the way, that's Owen's balloon motorcycle up there in Mom's hand. Big hit, the balloon motorcycle. As was the face painting.

Instead of a visit from the Easter Bunny, I think Owen would rather get a visit from Spiderman...