thirty.seven

thirty.seven things to do:

1. join treepeople
2. clean off my desk
3. repaint the office
4. paint a mural
5. bake bread
6. keep chickens
7. re-read daniel deronda
8. get out my old slr
9. teach a class
10 take a class
11. pay bills while sitting on this
12. reduce our produce purchases by growing our own
13. attend the pta state convention
14. breath more deeply
15. sit up straighter
16. take more local hikes
17. frame {some of} our unframed artwork
18. knit some wristwarmers
19. knit a bonnet for a babe
20. try to never use another plastic bag!
21. ask for a mailbox to be installed within walking distance of our house
22. send mail on time
23. visit here more
24. see some live music
25. eat dim sum downtown
26. add some variety to our dinner menu while eating seasonally
27. watch more movies after the kids are asleep
28. go out just - d and i - to a movie {have r & j babysit!}
29. ride the orange line
30. sew more clothing for myself
31. organize a block party {shut down the street}
32. draw up a planting plan for the backyard
33. apply for a grant for a literacy garden
34. visit the l.a. county fair
35. grow where i am planted
36. slow down
37. enjoy being {thirty.seven}

that's 3.08 things per month to do before i turn 38. perhaps too much. the slow part. the enjoy part. the most important part.

happy birthday to me. {thinking of you mama!}

feeling autumnal

cooler temps (unseasonably cooler but much loved by me, and the girls) mean it is ok to go out with your tights, cap and scarf on.

we are revelling in the lower temperatures. a trip to disneyland in the rain. (choice of the birthday girl.) but all good for this family who only want to go on the carousel, small world, and eat gigantic pickles. it was a prefect day. (and when the rain cleared it was gorgeous.)

temps to rise up again tomorrow...

c'mon autumn - come back soon!

back{pack} to school

i had started this before e's return to school, but then ran into difficulties sewing through the many layers with my old machine. happy to report my new machine made it a breeze. so good! and ready to hold books and lunches. first grade has been a breeze so far too. so good! (she has an amazing teacher. which for me is so much what it is all about.)

the pattern by liesl. available through purl.

fabric left over from reupholstering an old chair and from superbuzzy.

off to a pta meeting! happy tuesday!

now we are six

When I was one I'd just begun,
When I was two I was nearly new,
When I was three I was hardly me,
When I was four I was not much more,
When I was five I was barely alive,
But now I am six! As clever as clever!
And I think I'll stay six now for ever and ever!



oh how i wish you would my love! it is all passing by so quickly. but it does keep getting better and better. my baby is six. she didn't want a birthday party this year. so we had an unbirthday party last night with our neighbourhood friends. she didn't want a cake. so i made brownies. she didn't want anyone to sing to her. so we hummed the tune as she smiled that marvellous smile that lights up my heart. happy birthday big bug. i do love you.

thank you a.a. milne

5768

i think that since meeting d, and marrying into his large, loud, loving family, rosh hashana has become one of my favourite holidays. i love the idea of possibility and new hopes that come with a new year. and there is something especially poignant about such ideas in the fall, with new beginnings in our lives and other things coming to an end.



wishing you a sweet new year.

looking at these apples reminded me of a great article in the l.a. times food section this week - on heirloom apples grown locally. you can find it here.

in stitches

thanks so much for all the early well wishes. keeping with the birthday season idea (thanks cloth.paper.string!)

i treated myself to a new machine. (it has been a long time coming!)



much to learn of my new toy.

so (hopefully soon) more to come!

happy day

celebrated birthdays (mine and e's) a little early over at sam's.

she spoiled me with this bag (made by hand, organic cotton lining and thrifted linen, filled with vintage sunset books - which she knows i have a weakness for - and the sweetest danish modern cream and sugar set.

and e with this.



(and you worried she might be too old - for this cuteness?? she loves it!)

thanks honey. you spoil us. xo

swapped

i have just completed partnering everyone up for the kids music swap -- please let me know if you signed up but didn't receive an email from me...

enjoy!

back 2 school

first day

first grade

looking forward



hope all went well for all who had new beginnings today

greetings from laguna beach