Sew Inspiring

this moment ::

2012-02-10T05:53:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

okay, let's catch up

2012-02-03T05:05:00.000-08:00

The last three Fridays came and went. I had all intentions of posting my normal "this moment:: " post, but something would always come up and inevitably the weekend would continue to unfold without me posting. These are some images I would have shared:

So that was a little glimpse in our past couple of weeks, yes Rosemary has been very sick and is on the mend a little each day. Can't wait for her to be back to her perky cheerful self!

Happy Weekend!!

this moment ::

2012-01-13T06:23:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

this moment ::

2012-01-06T14:02:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

Christmas Day News ::

2012-01-02T13:48:00.000-08:00

This was perhaps the most wonderful Christmas we have ever shared together. For a few short days, everyone was well, and we really enjoyed being together, all-together as a family. Saying that, we got a bit of news on Christmas Day. News that everyone close to us has been waiting months to hear.

Some of our family and friends already know, but for those who don’t we are expecting our next baby in May. We found out we were pregnant with Rosemary on Christmas Day three years ago, so this is a special “baby knowing” day for me. This will mark our 5th child. We’ve only found out the gender with one other child, Elise – our 3rd child. A few weeks ago, Daniel and I went in for an 18 week Level 2 ultrasound. Upon getting the word that our child was healthy and apparently happy in the womb, they gladly made a special note for us all, yes even me, of the gender for us to open on Christmas Day. So early on Christmas morning, 6:30am to be exact, I opened this letter that Santa so promptly placed in my stocking the night before. With my heart racing as I opened the sealed envelope, it revealed our fate that there would be a new baby boy coming in May. A boy! We’ve had 3 girls in a row so to have a 2nd boy as the youngest thrilled us all to no end. A boy! We are so, so , very excited!! What a wonderful day it was indeed!!!

Days/Nights of Christmas Part 5

2011-12-24T05:52:00.001-08:00

This week we have played new games, seen our paperwhites come and go, brought new greenery into the house, admired 1,000's of lights, baked, enjoyed an amazing Nutcracker performance. We are so grateful for each of our days and nights through this holiday season. They are each so different yet filled with much excitement and anticipation, yes, much anticipation from us all!

Days/Nights of Christmas Part 4

2011-12-23T05:52:00.000-08:00

We've gone through 4 weeks of advent, celebrated a birthday, decorated, crafted & there are more festivities to come! Really looking forward to the big day!

this moment ::

2011-12-16T13:21:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. A want to pause and savor this moment.

Days/Nights of Christmas Part 3

2011-12-14T04:41:00.000-08:00

"Days/Nights of Christmas" has been a fun series for me, documenting all the Christmas happenings around here. Everything and everyone just glows with delight. I have been enjoying the evenings, how the sky looks turning from day to night, the sun sets are so beautiful peering through the bare trees. Something I've really never paid much attention to before, just loving all that nature provides us all year around.

Another week gone by, another candle lit, we are loving these days and nights!

Days/Nights of Christmas Part 2

2011-12-08T06:43:00.000-08:00

We are celebrating this Christmas season every chance we get. There has been lots of hugs, laughs, and fun for all and we're only on day 8!

Days/Nights of Christmas Part 1

2011-12-07T05:54:00.000-08:00

From hanging decorations, to lighting our first advent candle for the season, our days/nights have been quite full. We are enjoying all our celebrations and look forward to many more on the way.

this moment ::

2011-12-02T12:12:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

this moment ::

2011-11-25T09:01:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

From the kitchen to the table ::

2011-11-21T17:26:00.000-08:00

I hope your Thanksgiving, in whichever way you celebrate it and with whomever you celebrate it with this week, is full of memories made.

this moment ::

2011-11-18T12:59:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

this little corner

2011-11-17T12:35:00.001-08:00

In this simple little corner of our dining room sits a chair, side table, and season book basket. In the basket are a good bit of our autumn books along with the books the children have been creating.

They each love to sit and read over their books aloud to me, or quietly to themselves.

As this is our third new reader in the house, it's been quite an exciting last few months as she familiarizes herself with new words. I still do most of the reading with her in the larger picture books, but I know it won't be long before she will be called on to read to her little sister.

{Speaking of her little sister Rosemary, she is recovering well. This has been her most painful surgery yet, as her incision is in the back of her neck, and her bones and muscles are healing from being cut through. Saying all that, she is slowing getting around by crawling and makes more progress each day.}

our evening

2011-11-16T16:15:00.001-08:00

This evening, within one small family room of our house there began an escalation of chaos between music practice, homework assignments, and just wanting to be near mommy. It seems that no matter how large our space is, everyone would rather congregate together through all the chaos. I'm not complaining, I am enjoying these days, and evenings, immensely!

savoring fall

2011-11-15T16:19:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I took the kids out to our local boat landing nature park to soak in the last few days of our beautiful trees. Once we got back into town on Sunday from last week's trip out to Dallas, I realized quickly that I had missed our "peak week" where the majority of the trees are in full color and full of their magic. So I decided to quickly enjoy and be grateful for what was left and make the best of it.

As we walked around the park, around the river, and through the woods, I savored every spot of color I could take in, knowing only days were left of our fall colors.

home

2011-11-14T12:09:00.000-08:00

Last night, I found myself open to new possibilities, new chores being added to our evening rhythm. I will openly confess that I highly dislike unloading a dishwasher once sometimes twice a day. There is just something about it and looms over me all day until I absolutely “must” empty it in order to cook dinner and have somewhere to place the dirty dishes. What a vicious cycle. So last night I thought I would give our evening rhythm a taste of something new and different and involve a little helper {Elise} who has always had an affinity for house work.

She washed while I dried, and loved every single second of it. It cured several things. 1. I don’t have a clean dishwasher to empty tomorrow morning. 2. The dishes are already put away for the evening. 3. There was great conversation and time well spent between us. 4. It was an activity that kept her busy and happy. What more can a mother ask for.

Yes, I think this new nightly rhythm will treat us well.

recovering in Hotel

2011-11-12T14:46:00.001-08:00

What does one do with a wiggly toddler in a hotel room 3 days post op? Whatever she can to keep her from bumping her head and getting injured! In a 5 minute break from the action, I grabbed Rosie who had been hanging out in front of these closet mirrors for a quick portrait together.

Of course, that's me, she won the battle and has wandered off to play. I'm enjoying each last moment we are here, I know once we get home, there will be so much more demanded of me. Enjoying this day!

by day . . . by night

2011-11-11T19:47:00.000-08:00

Does this look like a toddler who's had major brain surgery 2 days ago??

That was this morning . . . tonight she's back at the hotel with us, sound asleep. No kidding, she was released from the hospital late this afternoon. It's so good to have her back in a pseudo-normal environment without all the wires and bells and constant interruptions in the night.

She's really doing great!!

a Rosemary update

2011-11-10T08:06:00.001-08:00

On Monday, we flew with Rosemary back to Dallas for her Chiari Decompression surgery that was scheduled for Wednesday morning. This surgery had been on the calendar since our last June Dallas visit. She did great on the flight, enjoyed it even.

After a long day of appointments on Tuesday, we headed out to the hospital on an unusually cold Texas morning before 6am. Rosemary was less than thrilled to be up that early.

The incision for this surgery was perpendicular to the back of her neck, so there won't be any of the usual facial swelling she has had with her previous surgeries. That is so nice! What a relief to be able to see her eyes after a long afternoon nap after waking up off the meds.

This morning there is talk of taking her out of the PICU (which is also new to us, we've always stayed in the PICU and driven straight to the airport on previous trips) and taking her to the floor this afternoon where they will be more parental hands on involvement with her care until we leave.

The doctors are really pleased with how everything looks since the surgery and so are we. No more surgeries for "years" now, did you catch that, "years!" One big "YEAH" from me!

Our halloween

2011-11-01T14:36:00.000-07:00

It ended up being a cold wet halloween for us. Rosie and I stayed inside. The others came home cold, wet, but happy!

Our weekend :: start to finish

2011-10-30T16:13:00.000-07:00

{dancing to this song}

Our weekend :: start to finish

:: Costuming in dance classes

:: family gathering

:: teeth lost (both Jonmichael and Elise lost a tooth on Saturday)

:: cookie baking

:: jack-o-lantern making

Hope you all had a super weekend!!

this moment ::

2011-10-28T18:30:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

a children's garden

2011-10-26T15:30:00.000-07:00

Before the weather turns cold, I was reminded that it's time to get our bulbs in the ground. I always forget to plant bulbs this time of year, busy with school routines, extracurricular activities, and birthdays. With all that said, we decided to get our bulbs in the ground yesterday afternoon.

So I did the initial digging, and Elise did the planting. She caught on pretty quick which end to plant "down", she's our little gardener in this family, always has been.

So what did she plant? Tete a tete's and grape hyacinths. We decided to alternate everyone other hole, hopefully they'll come up the same time.

That's the beauty of this "children's garden" I've had in my head for so long. It will grow as the children grow, adding to it each year.

Some Spring day in the future, I envision the children playing outside and "color" will be spotted in this new garden we created. The beauty and awe of "their" garden will surprise them, reminding them of this spot that has been long forgotten during the late Fall and Winter seasons and lure them into the new season as it begins to awaken. See you in the Spring little garden!

Lena's Birthday Quilt

2011-10-12T05:56:00.000-07:00

I did manage to make a little handmade for Lena's Birthday which followed close behind Rosemary's last month. I had my eye on this 30 square log cabin quilt from Patchwork Style for over a year now and wasn't going to let another birthday pass by without making it for her. I gave myself a good year to get it completed, but didn't get good and movitated to start it until July. That gave me a good two months to complete it.

And complete it I did, right in the nick of time - I finished up the binding, which took hours (!) the morning of her birthday.

She loves it, we all love it! It's full of the most amazing colors, all from my favorite fabrics I've been hoarding away for four years now. Each square really is a work of art! What a brilliant concept for quilting as you go. My hope is that this quilt will be with Lena for a very long time and that she will always feel the love that I poured into it for her.

this moment ::

2011-09-30T16:49:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

this moment ::

2011-09-23T09:45:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

Our Birthday Rhythm

2011-09-12T16:07:00.001-07:00

I was inspired after writing last week’s post to share our Birthday Rhythm with you all today. It has developed over the past several years into something that each child remembers and looks forward to on their birthday morning. In fact, last week on the morning of Rosemary’s birthday, Elise who is 5, walked into the kitchen for breakfast immediately asking if I had decorated for Rosemary’s birthday the night before. Then each came down one by one peering into the dining/art room as I heard several “wow’s” pronounced from them. That makes a mama feel proud, and was very helpful in healing some of those emotions I had been going through all week before her birthday.

When they were younger, I would go out to the party store, buy a bunch of plates, cups, and napkins in whatever character they were in to at the time, with also matching crepe paper to stream up all over the dining room ceiling in whatever configuration I could come up with. As I began to sew more, this evolved into making two cloth banners, one with pink tones and one with blue. So the night before the birthday, the appropriate banner is hung.

Next comes out the birthday ring, which inevitably becomes a mad dash early in the week to either order the correct number for the child's ring that year or another brass ring is needed. These are usually ordered from either Nova Natural or The Wooden Wagon when needed.

Lena's 6th birthday - 2009

Jonmichael's 7th birthday - 2008

Elise's 3rd birthday - 2008

In the past several years my sewing has evolved to more knitting, and I usually do my best to have something handmade for the child’s birthday. They haven’t always been the most treasured gift, but as they have gotten older, they do take extra time to appreciate the handmades and thank their mama appropriately!

Lena's 7th birthday - 2010

Lena's 5th birthday - 2008

Elise's 3rd birthday - 2008

Rosemary's 1st birthday - 2010

I always try to put something on the table that is special for that child. Either something that was made for them in the past that represents them as I have here on Rosemary’s birthday table this year – her one year old book and minky/taggie that I made last year that I chose to hold her cards in – I also collect their cards as they come in the mail that week for their birthday which are opened the same time as the presents. Birthday crowns are also brought out and special pictures.

We also have done a special presentation at the birthdays which requires a little bit of time writing down special milestones of the year. A lit candle, representing the Sun, is placed in the center of a circle laid out with string. The child walks slowly around the string circle holding a globe, which represents them living on Earth, one “year” at a time as I read the description from notes I’ve written on cards of things they did each year. At the end of their “journey” up to that year, the child blows out the candle in the center of the circle. They love this birthday ceremony!

Lena's 5th birthday - 2008

Lena's 4th birthday - 2007

There will surely be more birthday celebrations to share as we have two more birthdays to celebrate this month!

Rosemary is 2!

2011-09-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

I wasn’t sure how this birthday would go honestly. On Sunday I started to feel sad just thinking about it. She wouldn’t be able to eat the cake, she wouldn’t be interested in opening any presents, the party would really be for us. Then my husband gently reminded me how important it would be for the rest of the family to celebrate Rosemary's day just like we do for everyone else. The others would be able to experience celebrating Rosemary and be just as excited to blow out her candles on her cake, and open her presents for her, most of which two year olds can typically do themselves. Her dinner and dessert would be her normal formula given through her G-tube instead of our birthday dinner of spaghetti and cake. And that's okay.

Yesterday, I started to get more in the mood as I went to Fresh Market to order her cake. By the evening of setting up the dining/art room table for her birthday, that excitement began to build and return in which I was all familiar with for each of our other my kids' birthdays.

As I woke up this morning on her big day, I was happy again, excited, and full of joy to celebrate Rosemary for just who she is and where she is at this moment. The evening was a joy, with soda pop in glass bottles, spaghetti, & cake I kept it simple for our family but fun . . . and there were definitely some memorable moments made that I will never forget!

So this is the journey of a mama in search of what normal feels like for this dear one's particular milestones in this life. I'm learning that while her normal may appear differently then ours, it doesn't necessarily mean that we're the normal ones. She teaches us so much! I'm loving it!

That sweetie, cutie pie of mine! Happy 2nd Birthday Rosie!!!

Reminiscing

2011-09-01T07:00:00.001-07:00

I've been reminiscing a little this week, and rightly so, our little Rosemary will be 2 next week . . . I know, 2! I can hardly believe it! I made her this book last year and never got around to blogging about it. Our family loves it so much. It sits on a table in our family room for us to read over and over with her and each other.

Here are a few pages from the book:

So with a birthday just around the corner there has been:

fabric bought
sewing patterns picked out
knitting to finish up
cake to bake
and so much love and reminiscing to do.

Reminiscing - that's what birthdays are for!

this moment ::

2011-08-05T17:54:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

Summer is :: 10

2011-08-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

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summer is :: a full clothesline

I've gotten into a great morning rhythm of washing clothes first thing each day, then having them ready to hang out to dry by lunch time in the sun all afternoon. I love taking my time feeling the earth beneath my feet and the sun on my head and back as I hang up each item on the line, then heading back outdoors late afternoon with empty basket in hand ready to take down, smell, and fold the clothes before heading inside for the evening. This is one of the details of summer I love so much.

this moment ::

2011-07-29T05:27:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. A want to pause and savor this moment.

Summer is :: 9

2011-07-28T17:16:00.000-07:00

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Summer is :: the promise of jam making

Everyone's favorite - Blueberry Jam. With a second trip out to the local blueberry farm, I had just enough to make jam. Mmm it's so good. We've been enjoying it at night for dessert on toast. What a great excuse to make some homemade bread this weekend with this book.

Summer is :: 8

2011-07-27T19:30:00.000-07:00

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Summer is :: Early morning art making

This morning I got to experience a little bit of bliss watching my two girls sit outside on the ground while it was cool and "make" for an hour. I was busy inside, but the quiet allowed me to take a breath before my day got rolling at normal "top" speed. It was an amazing way to start our day.

Summer is :: 7

2011-07-26T16:41:00.000-07:00

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summer is :: late afternoon harvesting

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Summer is :: 6

2011-07-25T15:14:00.000-07:00

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Summer is :: growing corn right in our backyard

On the end of our garden that gets the most sun, we planted 2 rows of corn - organic silver queen. We watched as they came up, careful to replant any seeds that didn't germinate, fascinated by how big the stalks grew while we were away in Dallas earlier this summer, thankful for how well our corn has grown in our ground, in our very first garden, new to all of this but very excited about what we're learning. Tonight we picked our first couple of mature corns and we were delighted at what we found inside, beautiful white plump kernels. We are already talking of expanding our garden for this fall and next year and excited at what is to come! Feeding our family has become my passion, we are starting out small, but hopeful our return will be big in years to come!

Summer is :: 5

2011-07-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

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Summer is :: frying squash

As I was planning dinner late this afternoon it hit me how much I love to fry up seasonal squash, which is pretty plentiful around where we are these days. So tonight as I was enjoying making our dinner feast, I grabbed my camera to capture some of what we ate tonight, fried squash. It's easy to cook up {quite therapeutic I think} and so tasty.

Seeing Green

2011-07-19T15:59:00.000-07:00

I'm seeing a little bit of familiar in everything I do these days. G R E E N. It's everywhere I look. It's in my garden, my drink, my meals, and in my quilting. I've started a long project that's due just around the time of Lena's birthday this fall. I fell in love with this concept of quilting last Fall when I made this table runner. For me the hardest part of getting started is completing the first square. I get stumped toward the end, but with one square now out of the way, it should be smooth sailing. It was interesting how the color I didn't realize was there all along turned out to be the most predominant color. As I kept looking through my stash of fabrics, I saw more and more of it. The color green. I love it so!

this moment ::

2011-07-15T06:33:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

We're back

2011-07-12T17:17:00.001-07:00

We're back, we've been back actually for almost two weeks, and I've been too busy to fill you all in on everything. We got released from the Dallas hospital Friday, July 1st, drove straight to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and waited over two hours for our plane to arrive that was late and thus changed the course of the rest of our trip. But we made it home, finally around 7:00pm that evening.

These pics were from the last couple of days we spent in the PICU when she still had a lot of swelling around her eyes.

It was amazing seeing her "look" transform right in front of our eyes a little each day. She still has a little swelling around her head, but she really looks great. More importantly, as much as we hated the fact that she got prescribed a trach, it really has been the best thing for her. She breathes so much better at night. Her daytime activity has really picked up and her development will be accellerating rapidly.

Yep, it does feel good to be at home doesn't it, Rosie!?

mama is happy!

2011-06-28T09:16:00.000-07:00

Happy and joy and relief were all the emotions I felt today as I walked into Rosemary's hospital room first thing this morning and peered into her crib and saw her "peering" right back at me. Not having seen her blue eyes since the day of her surgery, I was instantly talking and kissing and laughing with my little girl. She still has a ways to go, but with it now being 6 days post op, it was time to get back to some familiar normal with her. I think relief is such an amazing emotion, one that I look for often in our situation. There is always a search for hope, and relief that things aren't or may not be as bad as I think they are, sometimes they are worse, but I'll take all the relief I can get knowing and remembering that she is exactly as she has always meant to be and as my midwife said at her birth and even days later during visits and phonecalls, "Leslie, she is perfect." I hold on to her words especially during times as these.

update on Rosemary

2011-06-27T19:59:00.000-07:00

There's been a lot of:

sitting

knitting

swollen eyes

trach training

suctioning

walking

sleeping

holding

healing

loving

hoping

meeting lots of beautiful people

We are now 5 days post op. Her eyes are still swollen shut, hoping each day the swelling goes down enough for her to open her sweet little eyes. Today she sat up a lot in her crib, sat there with her eyes shut, I felt so bad for her. How confused she must feel, but doing whatever we can to help her have familiar things around her, sounds, mom and dad touches, textures. She had her first trach change today, her stoma sight needs to heal more than it has. We're hoping she is discharged by Thursday or Friday. Hoping, loving, holding, healing . . .

Yesterday and Today

2011-06-22T18:58:00.000-07:00

There is so much that goes into Rosemary's surgeries, especially the day before. Yesterday was that day for us. Appointments from 8:30 to 5:30 all day, but they are so enjoyable! The day never goes without meeting so many incredible families who are just like us, lucky enough to have born one of these incredible babies. The immediate bond I feel with these moms is undescribeable. The strangers we meet out around town that just stop us to say how beautiful or precious our child is helps me get through the tough days when I don't understand why this has happened. I especially love this appointment from the pictures above, its with an Anthropologist that takes a lot of measurements of her head. How confident I feel when such care is taken before she enters into surgery to move bone!

This morning we were up at 4am to get ready to have her at the hospital by 6am for registration. She was taken back to the OR around 7:30am and we got to see her around 2:0opm this afternoon.

Let me just say that when I first saw Rosemary in her PICU room, I was amazed at her brow. I don't know if you can really tell with these pictures, but Dr. Fearon really was able to bring out her forehead quite a bit which will make her look so different, give her brain more room to grow, and help protect those precious blue eyes. When we left the hospital tonight, she had still not opened her eyes, they have her pretty sedated so she doesn't try to pull our her trach. She may even be sedated most of tomorrow as well. I know getting the trach was one of the best things we did today given that her obstructive apnea has gotten really bad. I'm excited to once again get a little more sleep!

It's time . . . again.

2011-06-19T13:04:00.000-07:00

Our sweet little Rosemary has reached a point where she needs to have surgery. Two in fact. The first will be a frontal advancement which will advance her forehead and give her frontal lobe more room to grow, build orbits at her brow, and build a nasal bridge. We always knew this surgery was one of the ones she would have one day. Six months ago, her team didn't see the need, but at our last craniofacial clinic appointment it was starting to show that some of the bones in her face and forehead weren't growing as fast. After the clinic appointment, an overnight sleep study was ordered and she's been recommended to have a trach placed with this frontal advancement surgery because she has severe obstructive sleep apnea. It's not what we have wished for our little girl, but this little girl needs all the oxygen she can get. We leave tomorrow for Dallas and Wednesday will be the big surgery day. Thank you all for your love and support as we are still headed down a road we can't always predict with our little girl.

Summer is :: 4

2011-06-17T05:17:00.000-07:00

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Summer is :: growing food

Last night we had our first harvest from our garden to our table. It was momentus and delicious. I've always heard that food takes better when its local, and even better when local means your backyard. We had swiss chard, cilantro, basil, romaine salad last night for dinner. We loved every bite!

Summer is :: 3

2011-06-16T09:53:00.000-07:00

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Summer is :: Starting a second round of vegetables for the garden

Tomatoes in this case - such fun names - Big Rainbow and Mortgage Lifter!

Summer is :: 2

2011-06-14T15:37:00.000-07:00

Summer is :: writing about summer eats

this moment ::

2011-06-10T19:30:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

Summer is :: 1

2011-06-09T11:17:00.000-07:00

We have been busy!

For us, summer has already started. School is out, new activities have begun, our schedules have all been shuffled a bit and we are already feeling the intense heat of summer, even in the last weeks of Spring. I am starting a series for the upcoming weeks on what summer means for our family, the series is entitled “Summer is::”. Please join along and share your summer with us!

Summer is :: New outdoor toys and bike accessories

this moment ::

2011-06-03T06:02:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

:: Works in Progress ::

2011-06-02T05:33:00.000-07:00

Today, I thought I would share my works in progress.

First up, a set of booties for a friend who just had a baby boy.

Next, a very long time favored knitting pattern from Knitting with Peace and yarn from Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton that I finally got on the needles at the beginning of May. It will be a 2^nd year birthday present for Rosemary.

and lastly, a quilt I’ve had in mind for a while now using some leftover Heather Ross' Lightning Bugs and other Mysteries collection. I think it will be the perfect way to use up the small bits and pieces that are leftover from past projects.

So there you have it. I’d love to see what you all are working on, please share!

this moment ::

2011-05-27T11:09:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

making jam ::

2011-05-26T15:49:00.001-07:00

This year we made not one, but two rounds of jam. What else to do with 20 lbs of strawberries besides eating and juicing them, right?

First recipe was inspired by Meg's post from her jam making a few weeks back. It came from "Canning for a New Generation", what a great book, with lots of tips for new canners as well as seasoned canners. When I saw that there was a recipe for a Strawberry and Lavendar Jam, I was sold! I just so happened to have fresh lavendar blooms right outside my kitchen waiting for me to make this recipe. {I also love how the book is divided into seasons which is perfect for garden planning!}

Next up was my standby Strawberry Jam recipe which we've come to enjoy making and eating each year!

Somehow, our Strawberry Jam doesn't stay around long!

mornings ::

2011-05-23T07:28:00.000-07:00

My favorite way to start my morning isn't with coffee or tea, it's with juice, fresh from the raw fruits and vegetables in our fridge.

Today's juice was made from:

Cucumber

Celery

oranges

apple

ginger

parsley

cilantro

spinach

It is yummy! It you don't happen to have a juicer, which I didn't for a while, go by your local health food store, buy a "milk nut bag", use your blender by blending all these ingredients, and strain all the juice and pulp through the milk nut bag (a little at a time) into a bowl and you will have some fabulous nutritious juice!!! Save the leftover pump for your garden, it makes excellent compost! Enjoy!

Connecting ::

2011-05-22T13:00:00.000-07:00

There's been lots of connecting going on around this house this weekend! It's been absolutely fantastic to see.

Here's to making the most of your weekend with your family!

this moment ::

2011-05-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

Strawberry Picking ::

2011-05-18T11:44:00.001-07:00

May marks the beginning of one of our favorite family outings - Strawberry picking - right next to Blueberry picking in July, Peach picking in August, and Apple picking in October - so many great things to come!! Our family really looks forward to each of these seasonal adventures, which seems to always change somewhat each year, depending on the weather, crop, crowd, etc. This year, we really wanted to find a new farm, something not too far off the beaten path, not so commercial, with big yields of fruit. For you locals, this year we found this spot which met all our goals in mind.

20 pounds later, we headed home to start working of our strawberries, for more yummies to come!!

this moment ::

2011-05-13T14:02:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T09:11:00.000-07:00

This little girl is making my Mother's Day magical! Hope yours is too!

this moment ::

2011-05-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

Lessons learned ::

2011-05-04T15:32:00.001-07:00

I had high hopes of this being Rosemary’s Easter sweater. A nice cool, cotton, soft sweater - pattern is Garter Stitch Jacket by Debbie Bliss. Indeed I met my deadline, but oh did it turn out too big! First I messed up on the fronts and had to rip them out and start over, but that was the easy fix!

There is definitely something to be learned here. This sweater. Oh my is it big. What did I do wrong? I made a gauge swatch before starting this 9-12 month pattern, checked the Debbie Bliss errata website page, {yes there are some mistakes in this original pattern, be sure to check it out before making this sweater!}, but it still turned out way too big, and she’s 19 months old! Luckily, it too is an easy fix, she just needs to grow!

What I learned is gauge is everything. I’ve gotten by the last two years of my knitting career not having to worry too much about gauge. But this last project was the crusher. From now on (and I have started two other knitting projects since this sweater was cast-off the needles) I make a swatch and have it checked by someone more experienced than me because obviously I made my swatch and thought it was correct when it wasn't!! If only I had known.

I did want to say quickly that I really love the color and feel of this yarn. I haven't particularly liked knitting with cotton yarns before because they feel stiff to me, but this was good, and cool to knit with. It's Cotton Supreme by Universal Yarn in lavender. I’ll definitely be using this brand again.

this moment ::

2011-04-29T12:15:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

our easter ::

2011-04-26T16:14:00.000-07:00

We had a fabulous Easter weekend, lots of great family time spent together!!

Hope your Easter Celebration was memorable!!

Planting Day ::

2011-04-19T07:57:00.000-07:00

Today we decided to get started with planting our seedlings into our garden. First up is Squash Zucchini. Its big enough and healthy enough to "leave the nest", so out it goes!

There's lots more to come and work to do, it will go in stages, but let the fun and work begin, I'm ready! I have big plans for this garden!

For Brody ::

2011-04-14T04:54:00.001-07:00

We have a new baby coming in the family!

A new little nephew/cousin and we are so excited! I decided a perfect little gift was this set: Five Hour Baby Sweater and Aviatrix hat.

He's coming soon, can't wait to meet the little guy!! We love him already!!!

capturing what I see...

2011-04-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

One of more fun and challenging parts of being a mom is capturing what I see in a day. In my camera are glimpes of moments that I want to remember and stamp permanently into my memory. I can get frustrated when there is a picture I see in my mind, and getting my camera to work at just the right time, and having a cooperative and still baby most certainly takes a miracle. I tried really hard tonight to capture that, I came close, I’ll blame it on the poor lighting, I waited too late in the day. I dream of having walls and walls of amazing photographs of each of our children, and maybe one day . . . for now, I’ll take the challenge along with the extra hundred baby kisses it took to try to get the moment just right. I’m sure she didn’t mind!

this moment ::

2011-04-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

this moment ::

2011-03-25T17:09:00.000-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

seeds!

2011-03-19T10:38:00.000-07:00

Today is all about seeds!

Tomato, Cilantro, Canteloup, Cucumber, Zucchini, and Basil seeds!!

this moment ::

2011-03-18T05:53:00.001-07:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

from January ::

2011-03-14T06:48:00.000-07:00

I recently uploaded these pics from my smaller digital camera and thought I would share them with you all. This was back in January when Rosemary was in the hospital for another round of seizures that we were trying to get under control. She had 2 EEG’s during that stay and she came home with new meds. I hesitate most times to share moments like these, but feel it’s appropriate to share, even most people appreciate the vulnerability and honesty that comes with sharing glimpses such as these when there is a child with such special needs as Rosemary has. When Rosemary was first born, we thought she had Crouzons Syndrome, but later we found out that they are calling it Pfeiffer’s Syndrome, and I realize that I never clarified that here on the blog.

Interestingly from glancing over these photos, I can see a nice progression that occurs during the course of a hospital stay. We get in - not feeling well at all, tests are run, then over the course of the next few days, there are fewer and fewer "attachments" (i.e. monitor cords, IV ports), and then she gets really spry! For today though, we're good and we're home! We're always grateful for that!!

this moment ::

2011-03-11T06:47:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

18 months

2011-03-10T12:32:00.001-08:00

18 months . . . 18 months! So hard to believe little Rosie is 18 months this week. She's doing amazing, that little girl. She not walking yet, but she's doing lots of cruising along coffee tables and sofas, and pulls up every chance she gets. Her most famous moves so far are backing up to sit on laps, toys (as on this day), chairs and will back up against anything sturdy enough to get into a standing position. Its so cute to watch, we all love her so.

Happy 18 months sweet little girl!!!

some randomness ~

2011-03-03T18:21:00.000-08:00

I feel like some randomness is in order today. Its been a while since I've posted more than just the Friday {this moment} shots, so let's catch up a bit, shall we?

A little glimpse of what we've been up to:

this moment ::

2011-02-25T06:52:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. A want to pause and savor this moment.

this moment ::

2011-02-18T06:48:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

For Monday :: shhh!

2011-02-13T13:00:00.000-08:00

Still a few more tasks to complete for tomorrow!

children's play :: new to her camera

2011-02-09T18:15:00.000-08:00

I have this box . . . one that I probably picked up from a pile 20 years ago or so at my parents. Inside went random items leftover from what I still kept from my childhood. From time to time, the box is opened and I pear inside, always somewhat surprised again at what I had packed away . . . this week it was opened again.

This was what came out and given to Elise, who like her mother, has a love for cameras. Her first question was “does it take real pictures?” “no it doesn’t, its just a toy” Then she runs off with it, and I stand there remembering how much I played with this particular toy. I am so grateful for the few items I kept, but it really warms my heart to see them get passed down to my next generation to be enjoyed and loved.

Going through her room today, I found another box. This one was full of random items she has collected around the house. She told me, “this is a box I’ve packed for college”. The apple doesn’t fall far . . . I secretly want to take the box, right now, tape it up to show it to her when she’s older.

I think she's told everyone who will listen this week about this camera. That girl is something else!

this moment ::

2011-01-28T06:51:00.001-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

this moment ::

2011-01-21T10:19:00.001-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

this moment ::

2011-01-07T04:16:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

. . . and Christmas Day ::

2011-01-02T10:00:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas was spectacular - full of holiday and handmade cheerfulness. Hope yours was too!

this moment ::

2010-12-31T05:46:00.001-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment.

The Night (and day) Before ::

2010-12-27T19:17:00.000-08:00

It went late, late into the night to finish this doll. But it was worth it!! Lots of memories made making this Christmas!!

this moment ::

2010-12-24T08:12:00.001-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

Shhhh!

2010-12-23T15:57:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun sharing this sneak peek two years ago, I wanted to do the same today. So here goes!

I’ll share more when I can . . . the workshop is still going strong!

Side note::

I’m so encouraged that so many families are chosing to make gifts for their children at Christmas. Just today, I met a lady at Michael’s who was buying a lot of random scrapbook paper. Whenever I can, I like to ask the person what they are making when I see someone buying supplies. She shared that she was using the paper as wallpaper for the dollhouse she is building for her girls. I was so proud of her and didn’t even know her! That’s the spirit. I love the creativity that comes out sometimes with necessity. I know for me, when I’m not able to purchase something already made, the creative juices seem to flow even better. I feel like I need to start planning for next year, because it seems like I always run out of time . . .

So if you feel inclined, please share what you are making this year in your gift giving. I know we would all be inspired!

Merry Christmas. I’ll be back after the merriment!

Warmth ::

2010-12-21T17:37:00.000-08:00

Today is the Winter Solstice. Happy Winter Solstice! Along side each child at the dinner table this evening was a wrapped package of what I love giving most, something hand knit with wool. I little warmth for each of them. {ball pattern from Knitting for Baby}.

And for the bedtime story tonight {because I couldn’t get to it this morning} we will be reading “The Shortest Day of the Year” by Wendy Pfeffer. We love that book!

{I had to share this winter shadow that appeared on my floor today! I love Rosemary's puffball shadow.}

Have a great night everyone!

this weekend we ::

2010-12-19T19:22:00.000-08:00

This weekend we did more baking and celebrating. It was indeed a full weekend, full of fun and late night preparations. Preparations which will continue into this next week, a few sewing projects I must finish up, and one knitting project that must get felted before Tuesday morning. Hope your week gets off to a great start!

this moment ::

2010-12-17T07:06:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

Elise is 5 ::

2010-12-16T17:49:00.001-08:00

This week Elise turned 5. It was a birthday that we have been waiting months, and months, and months for. Hearing about birthdays since September, December is a long wait for young people. But it came and she really enjoyed her day.

Her big gift from me this year was this robe. I had cut out the patten for this last year in December but had to put it away since things got a little testy before Christmas with lots of Emergency Room visits. This year I was in the right place to get it back out in order to finish it for her birthday and before Elise would outgrow it. {Advice – buy patterns big so if it takes a few years to make it, it may still fit!} It’s been a fantastic and fun pattern to make, a little challenging at times – learning to use bias tape for its intended purpose of hemming sleeves, wow! You never know when you make something for a child - like a robe - if they will really love and appreciate it, but she did!! And I was so happy that she did. She really is a special little girl. Happy Birthday Elise!

This Week in five ::

2010-12-15T19:30:00.000-08:00

This week there has been lots of ::

:: Crafting ::

:: Wintering ::

:: Constructing ::

:: Playing ::

:: Celebrating ::

*** Hope your week has been filled with lots and lots of goodness!! ***

on the craft table :: wool

2010-12-11T12:59:00.000-08:00

On my craft table today you can find lots and lots of wool. Ahhh! Wool is so magical to work with. Here is the beginnings of lots of doll making going on this week.

I just know she'll be lovely.

this moment ::

2010-12-10T05:27:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!

right now ::

2010-12-07T07:00:00.000-08:00

Right now, I am loving ::

:: this puffball

:: making wreaths

:: knitting booties

:: sewing projects

:: nicknames : Ro-Ro & her newest "Tumbleweed" by her uncle at Thanksgiving

:: using my old 50mm manual lens on my digital camera body

:: celebrating advent - getting out our advent wreath and buying new candles this week.

********************************************

Hope your holiday making and sharing is what you're loving right now.

St. Nicholas Day

2010-12-06T07:10:00.000-08:00

In our home, the night before St. Nicholas' Day, the kids leave out their shoes by their bedroom doors in hopes that St. Nick will come in the night to fill them with goodies.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

and the stockings were hung ~

2010-12-01T10:14:00.000-08:00

24 stockings that is~! Mission completion. It feels so good to finish up projects that were started last year {more on that later!}.

I really enjoyed making every one of these. They got easier and easier the more I made. I definitely have my favorites, am really digging the blue ones! I hung these up before Thanksgiving to get them up and checked off my list! But this morning, I brought each of the kids in and explained what the stockings were for, Elise immediately asked which one was going to be on her birthday. She's so into that these days (and has been for months, its finally here!). So we counted down to 14, which seems like such a long wait doesn't it for an upcoming 5 year old?

Now off to finish up those other projects on my list!! Happy merry making to you all!!

this moment ::

2010-11-19T04:39:00.000-08:00

Inspired by Soulemama's {This Moment}

{this moment} - a friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from my week. I want to pause and savor this moment!