MARCH 2008
03.31.08 | THREE BIBS AND A BABY
When you make Chickpea Bibs, do you ever wonder if there is something crafty you can do with the little scraps that come out of the middle?
Well, I did. And here is the result!
A tiny baby doll for a tiny baby. I was inspired by the Lavender Baby by Lynn at Molly Chicken. I didn't have any dried lavender on hand to put inside this doll (go figure), but hopefully it will help to lull a baby into sweet slumber just the same.
And I didn't take photos as I made it because I was very tired and it was 11:00 p.m. and there was no light anyway. But it's very simple. I just embroidered the face, sewed the right sides together leaving a space for turning, turned it right-side-out, stuffed it will polyfil, sewed up the end, and added the hair. That's it!
This is a fun little project for late at night when you should be in bed because you have to get up early to take your daughter to school because she can't ride the bus because she has to take an edible version of the planet Uranus to school. (More on that tomorrow.)
03.29.08 | PART ONE: A SELF-PORTRAIT
The paradox of spring: If the sun weren't shining, the spots on the window wouldn't show.
PART TWO: BREAD
Believe it or not, I was recently inspired by Amanda at Soule Mama to buy something. Amanda is so wonderfully organic, re-purposey and back-to-nature-ish, you wouldn't think she would encourage the purchase of a trendy kitchen gadget. She usually inspires me to do things like “take a walk,” or “allow my children to bring pinecones into the house.”
But this time she inspired me to buy a bread machine, so I did. Her recipe for WHO bread just sounded awesome. Now because Amanda is, as aforementioned, wonderfully organic, re-purposey and back-to-nature-ish, she got her bread machine for $2 at a garage sale. I, on the other hand, sent my husband to Wal-Mart (gasp, I know) where he paid $42 for it.
We really like it though, and it's been fun to try new recipes. One of our favorites is this Raisin Bran Bread. The only problem with this bread is that we devour it before it has even cooled. And just like that, it's time to make bread again. But that's okay because it's so easy. And fun. And I think I'll go make some now.
PART THREE: MOVIES — GOOD, BAD AND UGLY
We've rented several movies this Spring Break from redbox. Have you tried this? It's quite affordable and kind of fun. So, from our recent redbox rentals, we've fallen in love with one movie and gotten confused and disturbed by another. There's no “ugly” movie. I just used that for the title. Sorry. I hope you're not terribly disappointed.
We are completely enchanted by Enchanted! We all liked it — even Eric. Don't be fooled by the PG rating. It's fine for little kids. I think it's PG because of some grown-up innuendo, but it goes right over the kids' heads. The music is awesome and the love story is quite romantic.
No Country for Old Men, on the other hand, was quite strange and very disturbing. I kept saying, “This must be based on a true story. No one could make up something this sick.” (That doesn't really make sense, does it? ) But alas, someone did.
Now, I love the Cohen Brothers, but let's just say, this is much more Fargo-ish than O Brother Where Art Thou-ish. Anyway, I didn't like it and Eric didn't seem overly-excited by it either. The ending left us both confused. I feel so “non-deep” when I don't get movies that everyone else seems to get. Oh well.
My recommendation: Watch Enchanted to feel great and No Country for Old Men to feel disturbed and confused and you will have a well-balanced weekend. {wink}
03.28.08 | PART ONE: A BABY GIFT
I made this sweater and hat over the Easter weekend. It's called Mandarin Sweater Set and looks a tiny bit Asian I think. I'm not a huge fan of this particular shade of pink, but I'm sure it will look cute on the precious baby girl to whom I plan to give it.
PART TWO: SPRING BREAK
We're continuing to enjoy Spring Break around here. Our friends were planning to visit from Eureka this weekend, but they didn't come. Major bummer.
But we're making the most of our now free time. Eric is hanging out in his shop despite the freezing cold weather. The kids are doing all kinds of things, from riding bikes to playing computer games to watching a couple of movies. I'm doing this and that. Trying to keep up with our burgeoning container garden, putting out food for the birds, finishing up some freelance work, reading blogs. (Have you seen Pioneer Woman's new site? So pretty.)
I also re-decorated our half bathroom, and it looks really nice! Actually, I decorated it. It wasn't exactly decorated before. Unless you consider a stack of dingy washcloths a decoration. I haven't tried to get photos, but don't have much hope for good ones as the bathroom is fairly dark due to the lack of windows (imagine that). Maybe when my new little toy arrives, I'll be able to document our new cute bathroom! I know — you just can't wait, can you? Which brings me to another subject...
PART THREE: A BLOG ABOUT BLOGGING
A woman I love and respect recently told me that she doesn't “get” blogging. Why would you want to tell the universe every little detail of your private life? she asked. It got me to thinking. Why the heck do I?
This blog started out with a couple of purposes. For one, I wanted to write more often. I know that good writing takes practice, practice, practice, just like everything else, and Eric suggested that a blog would be a good place for me to put some words down on a regular basis.
I also wanted to share our experiences and pictures of the kids with faraway family and friends. At this point I wasn't reading very many other blogs. I was just using my own space to be expressive and creative, and it was really fun.
Then I discovered the blog world for real. I fell in love with so many beautiful, hilarious, creative, inspirational blogs. I loved hearing about the minutia of people's lives: the charming things they had created, the funny things that had happened to them, the tender moments they had shared with their kids. I wanted to join in.
I really don't know why I care what you had for lunch, but I do. I really do. And I want to tell you what I had for lunch. Is that weird? A little I guess. Musical interlude: You may saaaaay I'm a weird blogger, but I'm not the only one.
Fast-forward to today. I love this space so much. I like sharing my crafty adventures, the funny things my kids say, the good and bad photos I take (did I mention that I'm getting a new camera?) and yes, even what I had for lunch. Scrambled eggs, in case you were wondering. See? I just had to tell you!
I'm not sure I really “get” it either. But I love it. And if loving to blog is wrong, I don't want to be right.
03.27.08 | MUSEUM OF THE ROCKIES
On the way home last weekend we visited Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman. Wow, was it cool! The kids were actually a little scared at first, but in the end we all really loved it (despite how Ani looks in the photo below).
It's really neat that so many dinosaur bones were found right here in Montana. We are also separated by just two degrees from the brilliant paleontologist Jack Horner, who was the inspiration for Sam Neill's character in Jurassic Park. Horner grew up in Shelby with our friend Jim Smith.
The visit was especially cool because it was free! Our membership at ExplorationWorks in Helena gets us in to the museum as well. It will be a frequent stop for us I'm sure.
Can you imagine running into this guy in a dark alley? Of the sea?
03.26.08 | DYEING EGGS
We had fun dyeing eggs at Grandma and Grandpa's house on Saturday. It was a nice weekend all around with lots of good times, good conversation and way too much good food. I hope you had a nice Easter as well.
All weekend I worked away like a busy bunny on a cute little crocheted sweater. I'll be ready to share pictures soon!
I also have this little baby coming soon (thank you Income Tax Return)...
03.21.08 | RENEWAL
As Spring begins and Easter approaches, I wish you a sense of renewal. May you feel refreshed and energized to experience your life in new and exciting ways, and may God bless you deeply.
We're heading to Billings to spend the holiday weekend with Eric's parents. See you next week!
03.20.08 | SPRINGTIME IN MONTANA
This is springtime in Montana, folks. The girls were riding their bikes just yesterday, and this morning the bikes are covered with wet, fluffy flakes. Sure is pretty though.
Speaking of pretty, here is my little Bryn in her Easter dress! That I made! These dresses are the first things I've made from an actual pattern. I made a lot of mistakes, but I learned a ton and I think they turned out okay.
I'll post more pictures when they're all done. Sonja's is purple and Ani's is yellow. My three little Easter eggs!
Left to right, top to bottom: The bow on the shoulder. The zipper. The rickrack on the waist. Even beautiful models pick their noses sometimes.
03.19.08 | WELCOME FRIENDS
I feel like a rock star today! Juliette over at Chickpea Sewing Studio posted the bibs I made from her pattern. If you are visiting for the first time via Chickpea — welcome! I'm so glad you're here.
03.18.08 | AN EMERGING SEASON
In my heart and all around me, there's a sense that something is about to happen.
Chartreuse leaves are about to unfurl. Seeds are about to throw off their winter coats and press upward toward the edge of the earth. The beauty of Spring is about to emerge.
All of us — leaf, seed and hopeful heart — are teetering on the precipice of a fresh, new season and there's no turning back now.
03.17.08 | SPRING SPRUCING
Eric and I did some organizing and sprucing up this weekend, he in his “shop” and I in my “studio.” No, this isn't a picture of Eric and me, although we are both cute and cuddly like this. These are my beloved gnomes working away in our little garden. Aren't they adorable? Would you think I was a nerd if you saw me holding one of these in each hand and you were a hunky young professional man and/or his hot lady-friend?
Anyway, on to more important matters, like pegboards. Eric and I just recently discovered these little gems of organization and we were like, Pegboards! Where have you been all our lives? We love them so much. Notice how mine is petite and sweet and feminine...
...and Eric's is large and tough and manly (the pegboard I mean). We are cracking ourselves up with how utterly typical we are. My pegboard does have the gun, however. It's a glue gun, but still.
These are my knitting needles, photographed for no other reason than their inherent beauty, kind of like me.
And this is my new ironing board cover! I love this fabric. I thought its retro-coolness went well with my retro iron.
I used this tutorial and the project went pretty well, except that I didn't make it quite wide enough, which is dumb because it really can't be too wide because it ties underneath, but it can be too narrow, which mine is. Oh well.
I also whipped up this curtain in about five hours, making almost every error you can humanly make on such a small project. I like how it turned out though!
And, notice how the circle motif of the fabric is echoed in the nearby spherically-shaped lampshade, enhancing the visual interest of the space, each object complimenting the other in terms of texture, color and form.
Okay, it's clear that I've been watching too much HGTV. Time to detox by flipping back to the Food Network...
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Despite the fact that we were all still recovering from being sick last week, and I got yet another stiff neck on Sunday, our weekend was productive and relaxing. It's really a joy spending time with Eric and my girls, making our home, enjoying each other, living our lives.
03.16.08 | MOORE BIBS
I made these for my soon-to-be-born great-nephew. You guessed it, his last name is Moore. Cute huh? His parents are probably sick of Moore jokes, but I'm not.
Here is the pattern I used. These are fun and easy to make. I hadn't embroidered anything for a long, long time. It was fun to pull the chain stitch out of the old memory banks.
I'm excited to make more of these soon, but in a pink motif for a baby girl I know.
03.15.08 | GNOME-ENCLATURE
Hello. I hope you're having a good weekend. Did you have a really embarrassing moment today by any chance? Oh well, I did. Sure I'll tell you about it. Thanks for asking.
It all started when I bought a couple of ceramic garden gnomes at JoAnn's. Yes, gnomes. I love gnomes. Doesn't everyone? I suppose it's the mixture of their cheery attitude and their rascally impishness that charms me most. Or maybe it's those hats. Anyway...
When I got home from JoAnn's, I wanted to put my new little friends right to work. So I went out back to place them lovingly in our flower garden. As un-luck would have it, at the exact same moment, our hunky neighbor came out of his place with his gorgeous lady-friend, looking like they were on their way to the gym, most likely for a spinning class followed by some hard-core Pilates and a wheat grass smoothie.
There I was, standing by my garden with a small ceramic gnome in each hand, looking for all the world like a crazy person. “Hello,” I muttered, awkwardly dumping my gnomes in the dirt and rushing inside, humiliated by my nerdiness.
I know. They probably didn't even notice the gnomes, right? And if they did, they probably didn't care. But if they did, I'm surely now the “gnome lady” and the whole Pilates class is probably laughing at me.
03.14.08 | A SPRING HIKE
We started out yesterday afternoon in the warm-ish spring air for a little hike.
We took an early rest. I had one happy hiker and one who was ummm, not-so-happy. At one point Ani said, “I wish we had a coconut... and a straw.” I can't believe I didn't pack those.
To distract the unhappy hiker, we took stock of the infinite variety of lichen along the trail.
Lichen is so cool. Too bad the girls' biology-degreed mother can't remember whether, “moss took a likin' to fungi” or “algae took a likin' to moss” or “fungi took a likin' to algae.” I'm thinking it's moss and fungi, but whatever.
We made it to the top! Bryni as Rocky.
Like horses who can smell the barn, their pace increased significantly as soon as we started downhill toward home.
I love those little buggers.
03.13.08 | MAMA WALDINI'S VEGGIE QUESADILLAS
A few disclaimers, provisos and notes before we begin cooking: When you read the title of this post, you must pronounce “quesadilla” the way it's pronounced in the classic 2004 film, “Napoleon Dynamite.” And once you've taught your children how to make them, you must shout, “Make yourself a dang quesadilla!” on your way out the door to visit some friends with your sister.
Also, Waldini is not the last name of my dear sister-in-law who created these yummy treats, but she calls herself Mama Waldini when she's cooking, and I think it's awesome. But I think everything she does is awesome because she runs marathons and lives in Switzerland.
Anyway, on to the food. I made these yesterday when we were all feeling under-the-weather and — well — grumpy. Now, come on, I know that these aren't too complicated, but I for one had never thought of doing quesadillas this way until I saw Tina make them last summer. She used a fantastical cornucopia of fresh veggies from her local Farmer's Market because she is super-cool. I used veggies that we had laying around in the fridge. The result was still delicious.
First, saute any and all veggies that you have in the house in olive oil. I used onion, carrot, red pepper, garlic and celery. As they were cooking I seasoned them with salt, pepper, basil and a little ground ginger. You may add any herbs or spices you like. You're welcome.
Next, rinse and drain your choice of canned beans. Our favorites are black and garbanzo. Actually Eric doesn't even really like garbanzos that much, but he has to eat them because they are one of my top five favorite foods on Earth. And I'm in charge.
Then, arrange the goodies on half of a tortilla.To the veggies and beans, I added cheese and olives. I'm too lazy to cut olives, so they're whole. Adding rice is also delicious.
Watching me post right now, Bryni is screaming, “Make me a quesadilla!”
“Mommy's blogging! You'll have to wait,” I reply sweetly.
Fold your little creations in half and put them in the oven under a 425 degree broiler for about 3-4 minutes. While you're waiting, prepare your plates with salsa and sour cream. No, Tina didn't use sour cream because she's an awesome marathoner.
Obviously I burned mine a little because I was busy taking photos for YOU! Maybe the internet IS as dangerous as they say it is after all. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this little treat and have a great day. I gotsta go make some more dang quesadillas.
03.12.08 | DRIED BANANAS & CHANGING MOODS
We dried these bananas last week in our dehydrator and they were all eaten within about 12 hours. My niece Ruth inspired me to dry fruit when she brought dried cherries to our camping trip last summer. Yum yum, as Eric would say.
I was also inspired by a group of ladies from my MOMS Club who picked a ton! of cherries last summer in the Flathead Valley and preserved them in various ways. It's funny how when you grow up somewhere, you don't appreciate its beauty until you see it through the eyes of a newcomer.
I'm appreciative of any bit of inspiration I can get this week. Each of us (except Ani) has felt under the weather in the last few days. I've alternately felt like a black cloud of gloom and a yellow sunshine of hope are hovering above my head. Like the weather, I suppose. Or perhaps because of it.
Today Sonja stayed home from school. She says she feels like her, “head is being dangled on a rope about a hundred feet up.” What in the world does that mean? I think she has a sinus infection, but whatever she has, that description seemed to warrant a sick day.
Outside the sun is shining and birds are chirping. Birds! Chirping! Merrily! After I write this post I'm going out into the warm light to survey the progress of my little flower garden. And if one of our resident deer has taken even one bite, I will hunt it down, kill it with my bare hands, and throw it directly onto my barbeque grill. Just kidding. But see what I mean about my changing moods?
03.10.08 | AN EMBELLISHMENT
I added these flowers to these crocheted hats the other day. I really think it makes them even cuter and the flowers were fun and easy to make.
03.09.08 | A BIG DAY
Today is my 35th birthday. It hardly seems possible, yet here it is. I've made peace with 35, welcomed it, embraced it, made it “me.” This will be a big year for me. With my littlest ones off to school, I will begin a whole new chapter in my life. Ready or not, here I come.
03.07.08 | GREEN WEEK: DAY 5
A few more slices of green from around my home. Still not much green outside, but lots and lots to be found inside. I've really enjoyed this photography project. Thank you so much for taking this green journey with me during this first week of March!
03.06.08 | GREEN WEEK: DAY 4
More green...
03.05.08 | GREEN WEEK: DAY 3
I decided to turn to my trusty houseplants for some green inspiration this morning, since there's still not much green outside. This cactus is a feisty little gal. You can't approach her from any angle without getting punished with a poke. Try transplanting this sucker — uh, succulent — I dare you.
Be sure to check out the links to more “greenery” at Shining Egg. What a great project!
03.04.08 | GREEN WEEK: DAY 2
This is seriously the only green I could find around here besides the conifers. In north central Montana, spring has not arrived by early March.
But I love this brave little sentry. She's hope of more to come. I planted these daffodil bulbs last fall and have waited these oh-so-many winter months, and now here she is, her beautiful chartreuse head emerging from the earth, even amid the remnants of last night's snowfall.
These are the skies that threaten in the distance, but my brave daffodil lady pokes her head up anyway, believing, hoping, knowing that spring will come.
03.03.08 | A SPEEDY RECOVERY AND GREEN WEEK: DAY 1
First and foremost, I'm happy to report that Sonja came through her surgery just fine today! She had her adenoids removed and ear tubes put in. She was such a trooper, and she could hear better immediately after surgery. It was so exciting. She is recovering very quickly, and we are all happy not to have to shout anymore!
Now to crafty news: I've decided to take part in Green Week over at Shining Egg. First up is my new green dishcloth, crocheted while Sonja was in surgery! By the way, have you seen this video about knitting vs. crocheting? I think it's hilarious (especially the repeated use of the inherently funny word “dishcloth”). Thanks, Magalie!
I can relate to the video as I come from a family of knitters. A few of us have branched out into crocheting, but it's not been fully accepted. (Just kidding Mom!)
More green to come, hopefully in the form of actual foliage. That would be nice.
03.01.08 | A MUSICAL PARODY BORN OF FATIGUE
Our little Sonja is sick today, which is a real bummer because she was all set to play Minuet II at a music festival this afternoon for a really great adjudicator.
Last night she barfed twice, and woke me up several more times, thinking she was going to barf. (Sorry, but we use the word “barf” around here quite often. I know it's gross). So the night wasn't a lot of fun. But something good did come of it.
This morning in bed, while trying to wake up after the fitful night's sleep, Eric and I composed this short musical parody — something we enjoy doing disturbingly often.
Please sing it in your head to the tune of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," from the perspective of Sonja, in the key of D of course.
“Momma!! Oo-oo-oo-oooooh.”
“I think I'm gonna barf.”
“I don't know if I can play violin tomorrow.”
“Hold my hair! Hold my hair!”
“I hope it doesn't splatter.”
Eric and I really have a great musical parody collaboration — especially when we're exhausted.
