New Resolve

I'm wondering why everything in my life begins with a good house scrubbing. But, it does.

I think I put my excuses to bed here yesterday and I went home thinking. I can do this. So I did. I threw open the windows and doors. I tied on my Grandma's apron. And I set about to cook dinner, do laundry, vacuum and dust. Scrub and wash.

We had a peaceful, simple family meal. And Isabel says, in her impromptu like fashion, "Let's do our 'Mostly I love about yous." which means we say what we love about each individual person in the house--  Lucy-dog included. And we had extra time to read library books and snuggle before bed.

I finished up all my tasks, post-bed time. 

And as the dishwasher hummed--  I sat down at the end of the night, listening to music across the kitchen table from Eric, I penned a few letters while he paid bills. A tiny date in the midst of the week.

I'm content. I just needed to realign myself, my home, my priorities.

I can't think of a better evening. Scrubbed house, gleaming heart? I think so.



*This is a little painting I made for a friend, remind me to tell you about my project!

the summer we sent letters:: photo projects

I've been working hard a writing little love notes to my friends and family. Not just because, I'm trying to write letters this summer. But because I want to remind them how much I appreciate them.

I came up with two fun photo mini-projects that could help you get on your way to writing more letters.

Turning Lemons into Lemonade: 

I had ordered a few new photos from snapfish and for some reason, about five of them were blank or like this beautiful picture of the little man, just a half photo.

Some creative thrills with Sharpie and save this bum photo from a life in the garbage.

A Postcard for Papa:

The second mini-project was just a way to send this lovely little memory to Papa, by way of homemade postcard.

Here's a simple step by step.

You'll need: 
Photo (make sure it's not the *only* one you have. If it is an original, make a copy to use.)
Water color paper (or thick card stock)
Acrylic gloss medium (mod-podge or glue will work too)
Old paint brush (for applying the gloss/glue)
Fine point permanent markers for drawing

Gather materials!

Brush a thin film of glue onto the water color paper.

Carefully place photo on top of wet glue. And press down firmly.
If you are worried about finger prints, use a washcloth to help you.

Let set a few minutes for the glue to adhere but not quite dry, then
trim the watercolor paper to photo size.

Place between two books and scratch paper to dry for 20 minutes or so.

Draw on you little love note.

I used a label cut in half for the address portion.

Address and stamp your postcard is ready to mail!

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Have you been sending letters too? Do you have a project or a great idea you'd like to share for the summer we sent letters?

Next week Thursday, we'll all link up and show what we've created!

Welcome Back!

Hello friends,
I've been on an unintended blogging break. But for very good reasons! So many NEW GOOD! things coming up.

But for now I'll give you a quick update to our spring/summer manifesto!

Read with the kids everyday-- We're reading Ramona the Pest (with Auntie Jayme!), Five Little Peppers and How They Grew  

Read something for myself, everyday-- I'm reading Anam Cara: A Book of Celtic Wisdom

Grow! Cook! Eat! Invite!-- The garden is growing, pies have been baked, meals have been shared! 

Dry herbs for winter-- I first dried chives in the oven. Tutorial soon.

Use fresh herbs now-- Mint for mojitos, chives in herb dip, bits of basil on eggs, cilantro in salad...

Sing-- We've been singing as we work, as we drive and as we play. 

Plant flowers-- Hydrangas, peonies and lilacs...

Be gracious to my children, slow to anger and abounding in love. I am diligently working on this, it makes for a much happier household. I heard Sylvia Boorstein's interview on On Being with Krista Tippet.  She told a story about watching a family on an airplane. Their kindness to their upset child was just gracious, attentive and productive-- the child settled on her own. "Do not ask am I pleased?... {but} in this moment am I able to care for the child and myself in a kindly way?" Because getting upset and flying off the handle is not kind to me and it is not kind to my children.

Eat outside-- We went camping so we had lots of eating outside! And we've been taking picnics with Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa John plus this week Grandmommy, Papa, Megan and Jayme.

Get into the sunshine-- next time I'll go easy on this... I'm a bit sunburned today!

Let worry go-- When my heart is full of gratitude, there is no room for worry.

Farmer's Market, every Saturday-- Orange City, Sioux City and Omaha.

Coffee and tea with girlfriends-- A few impromtu coffee dates with some special girls, hopefully more!

Do you have a manifesto-- written or unwritten?! Have you been slowly bringing beauty in your life this spring/summer?

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I've been writing letters for The Summer We Sent Letters! Have you? It's been wonderful to get a bit of mail and to send a bit of mail (plus a few boxes)!

Gardening

Yesterday we spent about five glorious hours in the sun planting our garden. It's a few weeks late but it'll have to do!

This largest section is our main garden. We have herbs, wildflowers and hot peppers in another section. And then cucumbers, pumpkins and yellow squash in a third bed. A full back yard it is!

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Thank you for such a great response to The Summer We Sent Letters. Some clarification: post cards, cards anything you send in the mail with a handwritten note is just perfect. Email me theyellowdoorpaperie[at]gmail[dot]com for a button. This is not a call for stringent rules-- just a challenge of connection-- to write in our own handwriting to those we love.

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A few things to start you off for the week:

Kerry is meal planning at What Am I Cooking?

Couldn't you just live in her weekend pictures?

Everyday journaling prompts.

This trip to Italy.

This family's adventure beginning.

Quick homemade pizza crust.

the summer we sent letters: on letter writing

In the last year, I've tried to be a better letter writer. But if trying means, say I'm trying... but not really doing anything then... I'm trying hard.

But as I've been reading the Anne books, I notice how important the handwritten word was. They were thoughtful, news-filled and thrilling to receive. The type-type-type and one line emails that we receive today, though still thoughtful, news-filled and thrilling lack that personality--the recognition of handwriting when the mail box is opened. And the hand-held personal-ness of an object sent from one set of hands to another far far away.

I have a few friends who live so far away and though my heart is always with them. I'm really bad at communicating. I even said I would write.

So in the last week, I've penned some letters. And I put a few things together for my far-away friends.
I've actually received a few cards that make my heart soar, why? Because they were filled with words just for me. And stories only written to me.

This art is so important, and it will be lost unless we make a habit of sending notes to one another.

Join me if you will... here's a little button. Let's write letters this summer. Sending out little rays of sunshine to the ones we love, whether they are close or very far away.

Email me at theyellowdoorpaperie[at]gmail[dot]com if you want to join and I'll send you this shiny button!


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