Resolutions or something like that...

What is it about September that makes it feel like a new year?

Something in the air changed today, markedly different from yesterday.

Cooler, crisper. Like the changing winds.

I love September, it rivals October for my favorite month. It's a fresh start: newly sharpened pencils and a notebook. A new year. Let's not make New Year's resolutions in the middle of the cold, desolate winter.

Let's make them now, in the vibrancy of fall. When we may actually get them accomplished. And no resolutions like lose 10 lbs. But what about goals like find a perfect sweater or make the best pumpkin spice latte. Learn to embroider, be a better friend, ride a bike on a wooded path.

I know we'll have a few more weeks of summer heat, but for this few day break and the promise of fall. I'll think about my year, my resolutions and hear the wind change, calling my name.

Read Aloud: Hope for the Flowers

In my search for age-appropriate read aloud books for the kids, I came across Hope for the Flowers. I borrowed it from a friend who said, "YOU MUST READ THIS."

And I'm so glad we did. It is very much age-appropriate at any age. About risk-taking to make something beautiful. About not following just to follow. And the lead characters? Catapillars named Yellow and Stripe, no less. Though this novel was written in 1973, I feel like it was written for me, for them, right now.

I poked around the web and you can still get a copy here.

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So far we've read Sarah, Plain and Tall, Skylark, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

And on my last Read Aloud post, we got tons of great suggestions on what to read next.

Laural Ingalls Wilder

Roald Dahl-- Of which I've read everything by him that I could get my hands on. When I was a nanny, we read George's Marvelous Medicine-- and the girls still have it (one of them is a senior in college!).

Toy Go Out or Toy Dance Party

Beverly Cleary

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, by Kate DiCamillo

Stewart Little

Twig by Elizabeth Orton Jones (I would also recommend Big Susan)

"My Naughty Little Sister" series by Dorothy Edwards

The "Betsy" books by Carolyn Haywood

Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransome

Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindegren

Little Pear by Eleanor Frances Lattimore

Mr Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater

Fudge by Judy Blume

Such a great list! Anymore to add?

Ushering in Fall

It doesn't really feel like fall yet, but you know it's coming. Next week both kids will pack up their backpacks and head off to preschool. The fields are turning from green to a golden brown. And we are re-adjusting schedules-- finding a new fall rhythm. And this week has proven to be busy-- but fulfilling. We've taken a picnic to the 'beach' in Paullina, met our preschool teachers at an in-home visit and before dad left for work last night we all cleaned the playroom together.

And as we head into the new school year, I remind myself there are four things I know-- that make our house run smoothly. And I shared those four things with Rhythm of the Home in an article I called Finding Balance, Keeping Rhythm.

Take some time today to enjoy this collaborative work of Rhythm of the Home. It is a real treat!

Tell Me a Story: Hip Mountain Mama

Today we're starting a new series called Tell Me a Story, stories about gratitude. I want to examine with other women how they stay positive, keep balance and above all have daily gratitude.







Today's guest is Suzy from Hip Mountain Mama, she has a popular online store and blogs. She's the spear head behind the One Small Change movement. I got acquainted with Suzy though twitter and her advocacy for safe baby wearing. She's busy, but balanced, passionate and thoughtful-- with a beautiful family.



Welcome Suzy.








Where do you live?


At the base of the beautiful Rocky Mountains in Colorado



Tell me about your family?


I am married to my best friend and business partner Andy. My children are my sweet, shy, caring 6 year old daughter Magnolia and my crazy, excited, always laughing 3 year old daughter Sienna



What activity makes you feel most alive?


Anything that involves being in nature. Feeling the sun on my face, walking on leaves, putting my feet in a river...



What gratitude did you feel today? What gave you peace? Any ah-ha moments?

Today I feel gratitude for my family, friends, and environment. My daily meditation gave me much peace today and my ah ha moment was to learn to lighten up and let go of the baggage.







How do you see gratitude or mindfulness? Is this a daily practice?

I actually practice gratitude several times a day. For me, it is a thought like "oh wow, I am so glad I have such an amazing daughter" or "so and so is having a rough time with her husband, I feel so blessed to have such a great husband".


We also say out loud what we are thankful for each night at dinner.



As a work at home Mom you are required to balance a great deal of things. How do you run a creative business, participate in your community, make family time, spend time out doors and basically juggle it all? What are your tools? What are your compromises? How do you seek gratitude or slow time in your busy season?


After 2 years of being a work at home mom, it is all finally coming together. Since my husband is also working at home for the business it really works nicely. Such as right now, Andy took Sienna to the pool so I can get to my emails. Later I will play with the kids outside so Andy can get some work done. We just take things as they come and things always seem to work out and get accomplished. My main tool is to let things go. I had several loads of laundry that needed to get put away last night, but instead of doing this we played in the front yard, rode bikes, hung out with neighbors...and I got to the laundry today. Learning to let the laundry/dishes/beds slide for however long they need to slide for is what frees up time for fun! Andy and I also always make sure to set aside 10 minutes each (preferably in the morning) to meditate. This gets us in a great and relaxed mood to tackle the day ahead. Making time for ourselves is crucial in making this all work.









I know you meditate, does that help you have more daily gratitude?
Ahhh, yes. Absolutely!! I actually feel gratitude that I am allowing myself and that my situation allows me to meditate for 10-15 minutes each morning. It helps me be more mindful of everything and to really appreciate the beauty in everything around me!



How has the success of One Small Change made an impact on you? On your family? Does gratitude play a part in those One Small Change decisions?
One Small Change was such a little idea that has had such an amazing result. My family and I have made 7 small change in our lives that have impacted the environment in a positive way and this makes us all feel great. We feel like we are doing our part to create a beautiful earth to live on and to leave on to others. We are so grateful for our earth and all she does for us. I was just thinking this morning about how perfect nature is...it gives us all we need and we really need to give back!



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Suzy is a fun loving, 30 something, nature lover, dreamer, music fan, Mama, and Wife. She spends her days running Hip Mountain Mama, hanging out with her 2 children, and dreaming of ways to walk hand in hand with Mother Nature.

You can find Suzy on the web in a variety of places:

http://www.hipmountainmamablog.com/

http://1smallchangeblog.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/hipmountainmama

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hipmountainmama

Sign up for our newsletter* to the right for more exciting information!

A full heart...

Actually all of this weekend was jam packed with goodness.

On Friday night we had a caramel rolls and coffee with Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa John, it had been too long.

Farmers' Market and breakfast with my friend and sweet baby. Then Grandma Bonnie took the kids ALL DAY so that Eric and I could get our house back in order. So much furniture moving going on lately-- a yard sale to come! Isabel got a big girl bed (it was Grandma Bonnies!). And Truman got a 'new' bed (don't mention to him that it looks exactly like Izzo's old bed. Ok? wink.wink.)!

Then our beloveds, watched our kids over night so we could go away. Good night, good wine and full night's sleep was just what my heart needed. I finally 'took a deep breath,' dropped my shoulders and woke up back in my life. Sometimes we get all tied up in the have-to's that we forget about the musts (like must take care of myself to take care of others).

Then yesterday afternoon,  I was able to host my beloved group of girlfriends in a baby shower extravaganza. Complete with chocolate friands, made by Eric. They were soooo good. And hours of good conversation, reconnecting.

I am floored everyday by the amazing-ness of our little community. There is so much love here.

Last night, when I asked the kids "what was the best part of your day?" Isabel said, "Being with Bon-bon two days!" And Truman said, "I'm going to marry Margo, and playing the moon game with Bon-bon on her lap."

Hmmm, what was the best part of your day (or weekend)?


*PS the photo is from Crafty Nature. I tried to make some bunting yesterday, but it didn't look this good.

Well, I didn't think that the August Break would lead me to take a break for almost 8 days. But, it did.

Since we last spoke, about my pet peeves of the craft closet.... my twin sister and her partner came to visit. It was really amazing to see them and invite them into our little world. The kids just loved having their Aunties here!

As you can guess, we've had a lot of visitors lately and this weekend, Eric and I are taking an evening away. We are staying in a place fairly local, but we need to reconnect, retreat and rest before we get into the school year (after labor day!).

A few things I'm excited about: 
The new edition of Rhythm of the Home will be out Septemeber 1!

I have something up my sleeve and it'll be up next Tuesday! Stop by then.


The shed project. Eric and I are shedding belongings like crazy. A big yard sale soon. If you read the article we won't be going down to 3 backpacks of stuff. We are just actively getting a smaller footprint. Donating, recycling, selling, trashing the things we don't need. Which it turns out is quite a lot.

I will finally get to see this movie.

And some of you know, but I'm starting my last class for college. Lord willing, by early December I'll be a college graduate. So send good, focusing thoughts my way. It could be a crazy season for all of us. 

Well all, have a great weekend and I might just be back for [gasp] a post this weekend!

*Photo by Cuba Gallery

Quality Art Supplies

One of my biggest pet peeves is unorganized crayons. Seriously.

I don't think I partcularly cared until I had kids. But now, naked broken crayons are the bane of my exixtance.

SO, I've had this dream for years. Pack the crayons in a large plastic bag and DONATE THEM. And then buy crayons one 8 pack box for each kid and then make the kids put them away each time. Sharpened and in their paper. Unbroken.

Right, this is a total day dream. And when did I become such a Nazi about crayons?? Anywho.

I finally did it. We bought two boxes of these short but jumbo crayons. Easy to hold, hard to break. AND they come in 15 colors, easy to identify and they are pre-naked crayons! No paper-- Score! Plus they are draw smooth and true to color. Which makes the artist in me jump for joy.

Then I dove off the deep end and bought higher quality watercolor, with truely rich color. Plus the oval pans are refillable. (Another pet peeve half empty pans with only brown and black left-- ahhh another day).

Throw a couple inexpensive but perfectly-small-sized sketchbooks(4x6). And that makes for loads of fun. In the car, at the resturaunt and back home at the kitchen table (Crayons only in the car and at the restaurant, however).

Here, here for high-quality products to make high quality honest works of art!

Do you have any craft-closet pet peeves??

August Break: Farmers' Market

I haven't been doing good at taking a break this August.

Red is obviously the color my eye was drawn to! 

A lovely Monday Morning.

Usually, I'm not a fan of Mondays. And today is not  much different except we had such a beautiful day yesterday I'm just radiating from the goodness of it all.

We ended the weekend with a impromptu trip to the pond. There is a little one not too far from our house, so after dinner we packed up the swim suits, knitting and my camera and headed out for the quick drive.

We came home as the sunlight faded away. We made it home for bath, a snack and to be tucked in with the memory of a perfect evening.

Weekending and an Announcement...

Phew. Good Morning. Isn't this photo beautiful? It's the sky after a storm. The sun was setting, but there will still low-lying clouds.

How was your weekend? I'm listening to the sounds of a sleeping house, it's still quite dark outside and it feels so good to have this little place full to the gills of family.

My weekend? Fabulous. Thank you for asking. (:

While Eric had a mini-road trip, I had coffee, went to the bakery, shopped at the farmers’ market and had a visit with our Grandma Bonnie and Grandpa John, cleaned out a boat-load of closets and cupboards. And that was just Saturday!

My father-in-law and nephew are here for the week, we are all giddy with excitement. The my nephew who was here two winter’s ago. Has it really been that long? Well he’s 12 now. And such a fun ‘grown up’ playmate. Everything he does is awesome, ask my kids— they are excited to get up in the morning just to be with him!

And we’ve eating Mexican food. For lunch we went to our favorite, Los Tulipanes (in Sioux Center for all you locals) and it’s amazing. We had fajitas for two, like we always do because it feeds Eric and I plus kids and leftovers. Mmmm perhaps I’ll have it for breakfast.

And after a lovely trip to Sioux Falls (though we drove home in POURING rain. Scary.) we came home and had the handmade tamales, Carlos brought for us. Crumbled and scrambled with eggs, with bolios and Mexican hot chocolate.

My tummy is so happy right now.

And it will probably be happy all week...

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What’s not to love about summer herbs?

This year we have been blessed with basil and mint. So much so, I’ve been new and different ways to utilize them.

Last night, I made basil infused olive oil. It’s not as fancy than it sounds, but it is delicious. For sauces, pasta, salad dressing, brush on french bread slices and make crostini— a little surprise in about anything!

Basil Infused Olive Oil
You will need:
Good quality olive oil
Clean canning jars (pint or quart depending on how much you make)
Good handful of washed basil leaves
About a pint to a quart of olive oil
Blender or Coctail shaker. Or bowl and strainer...
Coffee filter

Two methods:
Blender— In a blender blend olive oil and basil. Strain through a coffee filter and store in canning jar. Will last about 11 days in the fridge. Freeze for longer keeping. The left over basil puree can be used for pesto.

Muddled(preferred)— In my cocktail shaker I muddled the basil and with a handle of a wooden spoon. Muddling releases the natural oils and aromas of the basil into the oil. Giving it a deep, rich flavor. And used the attached strainer to strain the oil into jars. Will last about 11 days in the fridge. Freeze for longer keeping. The muddled leaves can then be food processed for pesto.

And I’ll shut up about my cold soon. But it’s still hanging on. So I made Mint tea last night. And proceeded to drink the whole pot of it. With just a touch of organic sugar.



Then my husband made me some Mint tea with honey and lemon. It didn’t make my cold go away but it did make me feel warm and cozy inside. Which is good.

Mint Tea with Honey and Lemon
A generous handful of mint leaves
Tea pot
Boiling water
Honey to taste
Half a lemon’s juice

In a tea pot, place a bed of clean mint leaves. Pour over boiling water, steep for 3-10 minutes. The longer you steep the more flavour you’ll get. Add add the lemon juice to he pot. Pour into mug and use about a tsp of honey per cup of tea.

Ok, so mint tea is not inventive. But it’s refreshing and delicious.

Do you have any good ideas for herbs in excess?

*Basil photo by aaron_01m

*Mint photo by Trulybeautiful *Helen*

The August Break: Creative Life

Lately, I've been revisiting my first love. Painting. Nothing really to show for it, just a lighter heart.

The August Break: Eating Local

For lunch every day, Eric and I trek less than a mile from our office building (Yes! We work at the same place!) to our little house.

And usually we dig up something to eat, do some dishes, start a load of laundry. You know the normal things.

But I love it when we take a bit of extra time for a quick healthy, filling meal. Yesterday's lunch was locally raised ham with farmers'-market garlic, vine-ripe tomatoes, home-grown potatoes and friend-grown zucchini. A little balsamic and olive oil. And bam a delicious lunch.

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A quote to think about:

Every experience, every thought, every word, every person in your life is a part of a larger picture of your growth. That’s why I call them crumbs. They are not the whole loaf, but they can be nourishing if you give them your real presence.
- Macrina Wiederkehr, from her book A Tree Full of Angels

The August Break

This weekend our little house got 'da Colds'--if you ask Truman he'll look at you with his itchy watery eyes and stuffy nose and croak out.... "I need to sleep so I can get rid of Da Colds."

We spent most of Saturday with Grandpa John and Grandma Bonnie. And I feel like our life is falling back into place. I decided I'm not going to sell at farmers' market this season. It's become too overwhelming with how this summer has transpired so far. I'm going to miss selling, but whose to say I can't just take a cup of coffee and go sit with my beloved community. That's what I did this week-- making community sans 12 hours of baking the night before.

Most of Sunday we spent relaxing and taking care of each other. We had our weekly lunch date, this week with lots of people and such good food. Later, we put the kids to bed and watched What About Bob? I hadn't seen it in years and it was still as funny! I think laughter is a cure for 'da colds!'

How was your weekend?

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This August I'm partipating in the August Break through Susannah Conway's blog. There's not a lot of rules. But for me it will be a picture and a few word-- as much as I can do without feeling too overwhelmed. And that sounds just right to me.