This Moment:: Friends

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Amanda Soule

Outside Play...

Last night turned from a sweltery car wash party into an all out kids-are-naked water war.

We had a conversation on the way home from daycare , and the kids didn't know you could wash your own car. Boo for us always going to the carwash.  So after dinner and dishes,  I taught them how.

When the car was successfully cleaned, suddenly clothes were not as important. And they were thrown off with the disclaimer of, "But I'm too hot for a swim suit." Which was so true. I was too hot for my clothes too, but I was not about to... um... be that free. (: 

And they transferred their newly-acquired-skills toward two bikes, the two pools, children sized out door furniture. O and Bambi. Plus about another dozen things. This was the perfect summer evening-- as soon as I became too hot to stand it, Truman would come by with the hose. Offering to cool off my feet.

AND we had a blast. Too bad this is the only photo I can show you.

Land of 10,000 Lakes

Have you ever had a vacation that the glow of good feelings that you got from being on that vacation lasted into the next work week?

We traveled recently to a little cabin about 6 hours North of our home to beautiful Minnesota. We had a few things planned: Water time, good food, Eric's amazing coffee and to relax.

It was actually the perfect place for Isabel to rest and recuperate. But for her to discover her LOVE of water.



And it was the thing I needed, after two weeks of doctors visits, hospital sleepless nights and sick kiddos. It gave me a little time for my own thoughts. Cooking, swimming, floating away and sitting on the back deck cup of coffee in hand-- I am better for all of it.

For more photos look here.

this is very important

I thought today was in the distant future, that it would never materialize-- let's keep our arms stretched out and push it away.

But it arrived.

Emily Sweet starts her journey to a new place today. A new little house, a new landscape (warm! dry!).

Sad and beautiful and sweet day.

Corner View:: Me

Me.

I love the sound of the wind blowing,
The light of late fall,
Sangria and laughter on a warm night.
Camping in the rain.

I am a wife, a mother.
In love for as long as I can remember,
With three precious people.

A friend--
Community and connection,
Feeding and serving are my keys to happiness.

More of an artisan than an artist.
Creating is like breathing.
Little notes, little knits... The perfect cup of coffee.

*******

Who are you? What makes you 'me'?

For more corner views, visit jane.

Good Morning!

It feels so good to be back in this space. Isabel is doing better, it turned out to just be a nasty flu. But one that required a 4 day hospital stay, so this morning we're trying to embrace our regular routine. Dragging her little body out of bed was quite a feat. She was ready to stay in bed all day. But part of getting better is slowly reclaiming the little things and getting out of bed a bit more each day.

We are all deep-in-our-bones, weary-tired. So we are planning on nothing but the necessary this week.

***

In spite of the situation, Truman had an awesome third birthday. All bikes and helmets, sleeping bags and tools. Just what this little man needed.

Finally home

Hello friends, we were able to come home yesterday afternoon. And today is Truman's birthday. I'm trying to instill some sort of normalcy while we rest and recover but celebrate too.

Thank you for all of your well wishes. I'll be back to regular posting tomorrow.

A little update...

Isabel was admitted to the hospital on Wednesday. And we'll be here tonight too. She seems to just have a bad stomach flu. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers!

Another Day...

Well were going on day 6 of the stomach flu. And it isn't getting any better. We're off to the Dr.

I'll keep you posted.

Our real weekend::

This photo has nothing to do with this post but, I'm participating in habit flickr group for the month of July. So here are some of my photos.


Well, what's in store for the weekend turned out to not happen. At all.

Isabel came home on Friday with an awful case of the stomach flu and she's still sick today. I feel pretty helpless, just pushing fever reducer and cool drinks. And allowing the copious amounts of TV. However the snuggling has been amazing.

So, I'll be back tomorrow. And if I owe you an email. Hopefully I'll get back to you this evening.

What's in Store for the Weekend::

In the spirit of my Summer Manifesto, this weekend we will be:

• Eating outside.
• Baking for Farmers' Market
• Spending time with friends 
• Flea Marketing with Rebekah!
• Playing in the sprinklers
• Creating some time for myself in my space
• Taking a nap
• Go out for a walk... Thanks to my beautiful friend Ann for the idea. 
• habit
• Mow the lawn... so long overdue and a little yard clean up
• Finish this book

What are you doing? 

A place for me...

Before Truman was born and when he was a tiny baby, I had a little office/studio in his room. We shared it-- which at the time was awesome. We played and napped at the same time. I could feed him and put him down while Izzo napped and then design and coordinate until they woke up.  It was so  good for a work-at-home mom.

Then he got older, and I went back to full time work. My studio moved to the basement. But that has never been condusive to creating for me. Carving out large chunks of time to create in the cave-- no thank you. And most of the time I just camp out at the kitchen table. But that leaves a huge mess in the kitchen-- a big pet peeve I can't seem to overcome. 

I still have a studio in the basment, bookshelves of screen printing and block printing supplies, looming supplies, paintings from college, paper making and paper-art, old books... whenever something strikes me I have tools at my diposal.

I just needed a little space upstairs for the daily creating and a place to keep everything.

So move over nightstand! It's a bit like college, having a bed and desk right next to eachother (and that chair is from my desk at college). But I will be finishing my degree in the fall, and I need some place to study with a door that locks. And our room seemed like the perfect place.

For a creating space, I narrowed my focus to the three media I work with most often (ahem, right now--because that changes frequently).

Yarn-- I had three large bags of yarn in my room. Some of this acrylic yarn I've had since childhood. So I actually (gasp), cleaned out all my yarn and kept only what contained natural materials. And the rest I've donated. Except for a bag I have that has a blankets worth of yarn I was just given. That will become a blanket this winter.

Sewing and paper. I don't do much of either right now, and usually I sew onto my cards so they go together for me. I had kept my stamps, cards and address book in my purse-- but now it's in my desk. And I can sit down to finish up a few cards and addresses in no time. So much easier.

Photography-- this was in another bag. And now is tucked neatly in a drawer. All the specialty lenses in their place. Literature, manuals and cleaning kit.

 And I love that this is totally seperate from our computer desk. As my computer can be a time-suck.

So there you have it, a bit of a desk, a tiny studio. And a sigh of relief for me. 

Do you have a space of your own to create? Or a little corner you've taken over?

Corner View:: Saturday

On Saturday we spend lots of our time in serious play.

If you want to see more corner views visit Jane.

A Special Day.

Today, my dears, is Eric's birthday. We've celebrated here and there all weekend. He treated himself, (and us!) to a large batch of pulled pork with his homemade bar-b-que sauce. Ahh yummy. And tonight? Mexican Hot Chocolate cake. Yes please.

To the man that makes everything in my life make sense. Have a very blessed and Happy Birthday.

Love love.

What's in store for the weekend.

We are in rare form this weekend. We have nothing planned for the holiday.

And I am totally ok with that.

We’ve been running like crazy for a while here. And surprisingly enough we’ve been home three evenings in a row. And for the last two nights, bedtime has been a testament to the beauty of being home... I like when they drift off into sleep.

No crying.

Isabel still has to get a few extra hugs, soft friends and drinks of water before bed. But no crying. Ahhh heaven.

So this weekend, I’m hoping to continue on a quiet path. That doesn’t mean we won’t end up at some festivities... I’m just looking forward to the only thing we do have planned.

Rest.

*Photo

For Today::

Outside my window... grass growing, birds singing, sun shining early.
I am thinking... about my to-do lists
I am thankful for... a full nights sleep. And no children in bed with us, which is rare these days...
From the kitchen... last night, strawberry peach jam, homemade yogurt, chicken pot pie, garden salad, chocolate chip cookies
I am wearing... cotton dress, jeans and sandals. Contemplating a sweatshirt on my way out to work.
I am creating... some doodles and drawings, collecting thoughts and notes.
I am going... to sleep in this weekend.
I am reading... Radical Hospitality
I am hoping... for some time in our garden this weekend. And a long walk in nature.
I am hearing... the sounds of a house waking up, dog stretching, Isabel sighing, Truman starting to stir
Around the house... quietness that is rare, cluttered playroom, clean kitchen.
One of my favorite things... Movie night with my best
A few plans for the rest of the week: Day off on Monday. Fireworks. Popsicle.

http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/