A Wintery Evening

On Thursday the 2nd the kids got home from their first day back at school after the holidays and we were all a bit antsy. I was so glad that I had prepped dinner the night before: quinoa cooked in chicken broth and pan drippings after we baked a chicken.

After work and school, we came home and popped dinner into the oven, rushed into our snow gear and headed out for our favorite trail.

We caught the last few minutes of sunshine, watched the sunset and then fade into a deep winter blue.







Izzo meditatively drew circles like an organic labyrinth into the crunchy snow. As we walked along she asked if we could have our own time on the trail. So the "ladies" are going to take a winter picnic out to the trail sometime this weekend. Even if it just is a thermos of hot chocolate and a quiet walk for the two of us.



We arrived home to the most delicious smell our simple dinner was welcoming to our freezing hands--quinoa with chicken, mushrooms and peas. And we finished our night with a sweet treat, gluten free oven s'mores. A gooey ending to a perfect evening.

This Moment: On the Street Where You Live

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. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Joining Soulemama

Yarn Along: Litany

We were snuggled in on the couch reading before bath time and Isabel read the cover of my book and asked, "What is a Litany?" I said, "usually short prayers where the priest will pray and we will respond. It's a practice of prayer, but in a structured way."

And then I begun thinking about Keeping House -- and the truth that it brought to light. Meeting basic needs of a community is spiritual practice.  I know that warm food, warm clothes, clean sheets make us feel safe and whole.

Last night, I had all three kids (my two plus our beloved Olivia!) in the snow. The snow was so wet, they came and changed some article of clothing, pants, gloves, hats, just to run outside again for more. When they came inside for dinner, their cheeks were rosy, their hearts were full and they were hungry. We lit candles, added a few more chairs, shared dinner together. And I realized, keeping house is much more than folding laundry or changing beds, but it is those things. It's a heart cracked wide open to the people we love and the community we live with.

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This picture is the beginning of another pickles plain vest, it's off the needles, gotten a few wooden buttons and has been given to a sweet little man. It's knit in Plymouth Yarn- 553 Coffee Beans, colorway Gray 9389.

Joining Ginny for Yarn Along.

Finding Fall: Evening

If you live in the Midwest, you know each season has it's own distinct color scheme.

The sky can tell you the story of the passage of time and if you pay careful attention, can alert you to the rhythm of the seasons.  And so can the fields.

In the spring the grass grows in a matter of days, in the end of the summer the fields turn gold and red. And the light, it paints swaths of color.

So go out in the evening, find the color that is around you.

What is waiting to be seen? Chase the light before it disappears for the season.

It will change you.

Into the Woods

Sunday evening, we packed up our dinner and headed off to the woods. We were all craving a little out door time. We at our pork roast sandwiches and hardboiled eggs within sight of our favorite Royal Red Maple tree and marveled at her growth in the last years. 

After dinner, we took a short be steep trail up into the hills and where the woods were alive and glorious. Truman led us most of the way, he loves to 'be the leader.' When we were near the hill top, Truman exclaimed, "This is Terebithia." 

And I couldn't help remember when she actively lived in Terbithia for a while. We re-read the book this summer and it was still magical, melancholy and still had so much to teach us about friendship. 

We are soaking up the last few days of summer, school shopping starts this weekend for us. And then we all start back up in the school routine. I am so grateful for little blocks of time where we can journey into the woods-- running, laughing and playing. We come home happy, tired and thankful we have each other. 

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Weekending: Instagram Style

This weekend started early in the week. We've been soaking up the summer and visiting all of our favorite places. You can follow our summer adventures here.

Summery smile!

Front yard baseball season.

Quiet morning painting, reading, crafting, pbs watching.

Eric's breakfast creation.

Kite flying.

Kitchen table studio.

Sketchbook Saturday Morning

Dock jumping.

Sunset swimming.

After church brunch.

Visiting Bob's Drive Inn, playing old maid.

Quotable Sunday: small house, larger garden

Small house, large garden, friends, books-- quite a beautiful list, don't you agree?

I might add a worn quilt, a soulmate, two little people and a big black dog.... but that's just me.

Have a beautiful weekend, beloveds.

In a tradition started by Kyrie of Are So Happy and carried on with Kerry of Young Ones and Linnea of PeppermintAlley... you can add to the flickr group here. 

Yarn Along: Have Patience

Yesterday while getting dressed, Isabel was in the bathroom singing "Have patience, have patience" and I had forgotten we used to sing that song all the time. It has been on repeat in my head ever since.  Especially in regards to knitting.

A few years ago when my nephew came to visit from California he begged me to teach him how to knit. We sat down and I tried to explain how to hold your needle, how to cast on, how to make knit stitches. He did ok, but it was hard to explain in terms he'd understand. I don't think either of us had much patience.

So last year, I gave him a knitting book, needles and yarn for Christmas. Hoping that it would spark some creative exploring on his own. And it did, he had gotten pretty far on a project... but he abandoned it and forgot how to start again.

One night while the rest of the family watched TV, we sat a ways back in the room. And again, we worked together on knitting. He caught on quickly and since I started him out on size 15 needles, the project grew quickly. And he spent much of the end of the trip knitting!

It felt so beautiful to pass on one of my great loves to him.  In a patient and enjoyable way!

photo

Last week I finished the book, The Pillars of the Earth. So. Good. It took me 41 hours to listen to, so I'm not sure I'm ready for the sequel (or another audio book... to be perfectly honest). It followed a web of connected people for most of their adult life, completely interesting and a bit of a Medieval soap opera. But well crafted and well worth the time.

All is Calm, All is Bright

It's New Years day and the family started their journey home. I am sitting in a quiet kitchen with a cup of pumpkin spice coffee while the kids are at their own activities. I've already vacuumed the living room and I'm about to start a load of sheets. Folding up the blankets was a quiet reminder of the people who only a few hours ago, filled up this space with laughter. The house is markedly quieter--a bit empitier.

This trip was so lovely, I was amazed at how well the kids played together. They spent their afternoons crafting, playing in the snow and piling in the tent (set up in the playroom!) to watch movies together.

I was blessed by lots of crafting time with my sister in laws.

My heart was fulfilled by watercolor painting with the nephews and nieces and teaching my oldest nephew to knit. Pots of tea, carafes of coffee, jelly belly beans, homemade tamales, holiday meals... all of it shared with so much love.

This year our theme is going to be "All is Calm, All is Bright." I think we are already off to a great start.

From Our Family to Yours

Community Garden

We have a little allotment, a piece of land in our town's community garden. And it has been such an enriching experience.

I think the kids are more apt to help in this garden than at our home. As soon as we get to our garden plot they take their shoes off and stick their toes in the mud. Because what's the point of gardening if not barefoot?

They rake and hoe, they shovel and run around like crazy.

Truman likes to water plants and people (mostly his sister who HATES getting wet unexpectedly). Then runs off with my camera to say to our other gardening neighbors, "Hi! I'm a news man, I've come to take your picture" Snap a photo then run away (:

One of our 'neighbors' lives just beyond the garden, so she told the kids she had bugs for them and she would be right back. She came back with a handful gummy worms and gummy butterflies. The kids laughed so hard! Truman kept saying, "WOW. Mrs. Korver, I thought you were bringing us real bugs!" And Isabel chimed in with, "These taste much better than REAL bugs!"

Eric spends the most time here, I think it's soothing his soul. He has a natural grace for gardening.

Thanks for taking a peek in our second gardening home.

Have a lovely weekend!

Starting Summer: All Perfect and Imperfect

It feels like summer has begun. We wrote our Summer List we've made strawberry lemonade. We visited the local Farmers' Market and we've taken our time with our weekends.

On Friday night, in a bit of a rush we packed a picnic, grabbed some folding chairs and a few towels and headed out to our family's favorite summer haunt. And it was beautiful.

The landscape was beautiful, with the sun setting on the water. It was warm, really warm so cooling down in the water felt perfect. And I brought along a basket of goodies to keep me occupied on the beach.

But, the trip was imperfect as some outings are. I'm not here to sugar coat life. Truman got out to far-- I jumped in and swam out to him in my sundress. Isabel's bathing suit got lost before we left. We found it under the couch when we got home. (Whaaa?). And we were all tired from a long, long week.

But in the car ride home, when we all took a deep breath, I think this outing on a Friday set us up for a good weekend. A release valve. A way to let off some steam and to settle into our weekend routine.

How was your weekend?

What's in Store for the Weekend?

This weekend, I hope for:

A backyard bonfire, with s'mores
Kiddie pool time
Read Aloud books on a soft quilt in the grass
✓A trip to Paulina for a swim
Writing letters
✓Reading books and a Magazine
Sleeping in (a girl can dream?!)
✓Lattes
Gardening
✓Getting a good run in
✓Sketchbook Saturday Morning

Yarn Along: Making Pie

For the month of June I'm a guest contributor for The Rhythm of the Home blog. You should take some time to dive in to that space, so much great information and inspiring women. And if you happen to see my post about The Summer List, stop by and say hi! I'd love to see you there.  

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Last night, I stayed up a bit late reading a new book, Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie. I've decided to let the library pick new books for me, they have a low bookshelf filled with new or interesting books. And I always find a good one there, without much effort. In a quick sweep of the audio book section (psst, it's my secret for staying in my desk chair at work and staying focused), I grabbed this book on a whim as I stood in the check out line.

I settled down on the couch while Eric baked a cake and before I knew it, I was 50 pages in. The author just takes you right in to the heart of the story, the complicated grief, confusion and deep love.

And I love that she's living in Iowa (or did when this book was written), she has already mentioned Joan Didion and The Year of Magical Thinking. And seriously, she leaves a corporate job to make pie. My type of girl. And now I'm singing this song.

On the yarn front, I'm still making washcloths. I like that you can pick them up and do a few rows, not touch them for a few months and knit a few rows. That is how dedicated I am to knitting right now. So on Saturday, I picked up and punched out a few rows.

What are you reading and knitting?

You should join Ginny too!

Recalculating

Some times, you take a wrong turn. You go down a wrong path or you find your self lost even if you *thought* you followed the directions correctly.

Should you get mad? Should you pout?

No, sometimes that wrong path might just lead you to an old friend.

And you'll have a good reason to smile.


Just merely, recalculating.

Weekending: Tulip Festival

This weekend we were so lucky to host my parents for the annual Tulip Festival in town. Too bad the tulips had long bloomed. So we had a tulip-less festival.

But we had so much fun, watching the parade out front of our house, eating fair food, riding carnival rides and just loving our time with Grandmommy and Papa. Look at those faces, so much fun in one weekend!

My mom and I even snuck away for an ice tea and to a beautiful quilt show and our towns restored Century House.

How was your weekend?

Little Artists

I'm looking back on this evening and I am so grateful.

Grateful for an a set of listening ears and a good cup of coffee. A few minutes of sharing my heart, a few minutes of being listened to and my night was magically changed. Thank you, dear listener.

Grateful for four fabulous little people, two we borrowed, who smiles, giggles and hand prints warm my heart.

Grateful for a whole community of people who help our day to day life run smoothly. Teachers, grandparents, amazing caregivers and friends. I am blessed everyday. I am blessed with this day.

Loving my husband who works so hard to keep our garden plans for this year on track. Remember this table? It was too moldy to bring inside so there are now wild flowers planted in the drawer. And it's for starting seeds now, but (but!) soon it will be all kinds of gorgeous.

Even though I pulled out my wool coat and scarf. I love that our walk around the neighborhood in the drizzling evening was just what we all needed. Even in that gloomy weather, we looked at the spring that is facing us!
 
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Giggling that I have chalk pastel dust on my glasses. I guess I shouldn't have left the setting on the table during this type of art project but, it's a good reminder of a sweet afternoon.

We had two very special visitors stop by for a bit.
In addition to reading stories, playing cars, dressing up and stopping for a snack break, we broke out the chalk pastels. And our new favorite obsession, grocery bags. Everyone had a great time.

Isabel channels Rothko in chalk.

We put on aprons, and the dust was still covering hands and shirt sleeves.


There is so much to be grateful for.