plant{ing} community

ahhhh. stretch. good to be back. the break was much needed. went too quickly. so enjoyed being with my mum. {can't wait for a trip home in june!}

we finally made the trip to the Theodore Payne Foundation over the weekend. i had never been, but had heard mention of it, and had been urged to visit after my post on sew green about our gardening plans. it was well worth it. they were founded in 1960 with the mission to "promote and restore California landscapes, and habitats", "propagate and make available California native plants and wildflowers", and "educate and acquire knowledge about California flora and natural history". {it was also their annual "poppy day" with plants priced 10% off!} what we thought would be an hour visit turned into a morning. the big bug was fascinated by the variety of plants. and walked around searching for tags with "dry", "full sun", "clay soil".

we are trying to plant by community. with the notion that plants which would grow together in nature, should grow well together in our yard. their similar needs will also ease maintenance. and they will attract more native critters {birds, lizards, and small mammals} to our yard as well. {we are also basing our plan on the concept of the national wildlife federation's backyard wildlife habitat program.}

we settled on a range of ceanothus {california lilacs} - some that will serve as low ground cover on what was our front lawn, others that will grow to be small trees around our pool; a largish variety of sage for drama; some toyon ground cover; a couple of native succulents that i couldn't resist; california fuschia for the butterflies and hummingbirds; and for good measure - a california bush sunflower {which isn't a member of "our community" but i thought i'd throw an outsider in the mix - plus they are a favorite of mine and a reminder of my prairie home.}

we are also going outside the box with a little meadow for our breezeway, which will also house a new pond for giselle. it is also an area which will be easy to give a little extra attention {"semi-dry" choices here instead of "dry"} to due to its small size. the girls chose most of the plants for this area, their favorite the dainty coral bells hybrids {as pictured above} and various grasses.

next trip - a few monkeyflower plants; some yarrow; manzanita; buckwheat; and a vine to cover the wall of the new sitting area off our bedroom.

it's great. neighbors passing by are all very curious about where our {albeit dead} grass has gone - and once they hear the virtues of native planting, they seem to be joining in. it will be curious to see the transformation {if any} along our little street.



i am madly preparing for our big sunday event for the school at month's end. so far it all sounds pretty on track. with a few bumps i hope to have resolved this week. we will be planting a native garden on the campus, touching up a faded mural and doing some general "sparkling". my mission "to promote and restore" our neighborhood, with our school being the heart of it all. {hopefully attracting new families, and birds and butterflies too!}

happy wednesday!

have a lovely weekend

so my meeting with the mayor went very well i think. i of course spoke of my interest in the role public schools play (or at least should play) in strengthening our communities. (you have heard it from me before!) of my desire for our little neighborhood school to build on that premise. to start a community/parent center on campus. to draw on our community for more enriching after-school programs. to investigate how beautifying our campus with a native garden, more trees, shade, murals, and a re-thought asphalt yard, will work to maximize our visibility in the community. he was receptive. encouraging. and seemed to be listening.

i had read about mayor villaraigosa's plan for school reform. the schoolhouse. but had not read the entire document myself. in preparation for my meeting i did. and i must say it all looks so very good. i am no expert in this area by a long shot. but i do know as a parent what i want for my kids. i am an expert there.

so we will see what happens. the hope is to have the mayor come visit our school. to stir the community. he expressed interest, but as with all things political you never know until it happens. he is a busy man. but his passion for education is evident. and that means a lot to me. (to give you an idea of the scope of our school system here, there are 658 schools in the Los Angeles Unified School Division, and in 2005 over 741,000 students. the number is growing. that doesn't include all of the charter and private schools in the city either.)

to back up a bit, my meeting with him came out of my involvement with big sunday. a city-wide day of community service. it is a great event. our little school is one of over 300 projects that will be taking place over the weekend of april 28 and 29. if you live in los angeles - get involved. you can find a project in your neighborhood at bigsunday.org.

i am going to take a bit of time off. lots going on. (mundane and otherwise.) hopefully good things will come of all of it. you can usually find me at flickr.

wishing you all a wonderful passover/easter/spring!

my date with Antonio

i have been handed the gift of 10 minutes one-on-one tomorrow with the Mayor of Los Angeles. i am floored. need to compose myself. and some thoughts.

and what to wear??

have a great weekend.

more on monday to be sure!

a little bit of coffee {and a little bit of rice}

the above are miniature housewares i picked up for the girls at a japanese gift shop. (we are very into little bits right now. and always into our rice cooker! so these seemed a natural pick. there was also a very cute turntable and telephone. next time.) the little bug is always asking me if i'd like "a little bit of coffee" - then passes on this carafe. a little bit indeed. (bring it on!)

and feeling a little bit busy. my mom arrives tomorrow. (can't wait!) need to get a little bit done before she arrives... back to it.

happy tuesday!

dear rock,

thanks for the cd hon. i so wish that i could pick up and join you guys in vancouver. the show is going to be amazing! and for your note. as i sit in my bright rooms i often think of you. as i am picking sticky cheerios off of the floor, i think of you transcribing your interviews and all the thrill i used to get out of research. as i am being beckoned to wipe a bottom i think of you going to see o perform and how long it has been since d and i went to anything "live" that didn't involve someone dressed in a furry costume. things are so different for us right now. yet the connection remains strong. i am so grateful. i can't wait 'til june!

and because you asked
7 songs that i* am listening to at the moment:
spike jones :: i'm a lonely little petunia
the police :: peanuts
joanna newsom :: cosmia
blossom dearie :: they say its spring
hawksley workman :: goodbye to radio
great lakes swimmers :: see you on the moon
meat coaster :: it was a very good year

most of these come off cds i have been generously sent. (thank you!) the last one is a song d and his "band" will be playing at an upcoming fundraiser/party friends of ours are organizing in support of down syndrome research

i guess that is it for now...

so much love, ant

p.s. *i here means me and the bugs! e even went as far to explain to her father the other day that "the police" was also a name of a band that auntie c loved when she was girl; not just "cops".

p.p.s. the little bug has me read this to her at least once a week!

p.p.s.s. oh - and a pic of the bath and the girls - because i know you want another! have a great weekend.




i have just posted on sew green. {i am so enjoying what is happening over there.} have a good one!

::inside::out::

::inside::
gazing at daffodils
watching the rain
making granola
reading miss rumphius
planning gardens

::out::
retracing d's childhood walks
imagining fewer mcmansions
and more orange groves
splashing in puddles
sprinkling seeds
looking for blue sky

happy spring!

and a big thank you to beth over at sew, mama, sew! for the shout out. i am flattered.

567 minus 1

the detritus of two birthday parties over the weekend.

the big bug won the jar of gumballs. for having the closest guess to how many were in it. 567. (she guessed 594.)

i don't think she had ever had a gumball before. at least not to my knowledge.

i told her that this jar would likely last her until she was 12. and no, she can't have one everyday.

how was your weekend?

stepping out

feeling like this week just began, is over, and i missed all in between.

hoping for a weekend of r & r puncuated by a couple of bday parties...

and i just posted my first on sew green... {and a big thank you for the great outpouring of support to this endeavour!}

have a great weekend!

oh - and look what kristina just posted!

weekend in review

so no "smockets" were made. the temps soared into the 90s. (this scares me. it really does.) and my time "making" ended up being limited to an "artist's apron" for a birthday girl. and plans for our yard to go"native". goodbye sprinkler system and traditional lawn (which is dead anyway), hello ceanothus and yarrow. much time was spent chasing after these two - who we were puppy sitting for our neighbours. oh. my. they. are. cute. and yes, now all talk has turned to how we "neeeeedddd" a puppy of our own. (and that was just me!)

in the midst of all this, fried chicken from Dinah's was eaten. (yes, a guilty pleasure.) and a much coveted turtle arrived. (the image above.) both courtesy of sam. (thank you thank you!)

and so it is monday. children were dragged out of bed to make it to school on time. i absolutely detest having to wake my kids. it is a rare occasion as they are usually up with the sun, but this time change thing... there is nothing worse to me than trying to rouse those beautiful warm and cozy dreamy bodies. i just want to watch them doze on. but alas, the school bell rings at 7:55 for us...

and lastly, i am thrilled to be part of Sew Green, a collaborative effort concerning our environment/consumerism/consumption/sustainability... instigated by "a rave and a rant". thank you shash for the inspiration and getting me thinking. (and thank you lisa, for bringing me in.) go check it out!

happy monday!

super.buzzed

i am so looking forward to the weekend. this fabric (and the placemat below) just arrived from superbuzzy and i am set to make another "smocket" or 2.

i am also very excited to be a part of a new collaborative endeavour. with an amazing group of women. but that will have to wait until monday...

have a great weekend.

since you asked...

the lunchbag is based on some written instructions in a magazine. sorry i don't remember where exactly. I have been using oil cloth ordered from sewmamasew for these. (they came on recommendation from sally, so i knew it would be good!)

i made a cardboard template that is a little ragged but still works. the bag is a very simple 6 pieces:
back / flap - about 61/2 by 14 inches
front - 6 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches
sides - 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 inches
bottom - 6 1/2 by 5 1/2 inches
it is stitched wrong sides together. starting with attaching the front and back pieces to the bottom piece; then the sides to the bottom; then joining these to the front and back, starting the stitching at the bottom.
i put a strip of velcro (hook) horizontal, about 2 inches from the top edge of the back piece, on the wrong side
i put two shorter strips (loop) vertically on the right side of the front piece (to attach to the piece on the back, which folds over to the front when the bag is "closed".
i also add a little pocket to one side, which you can kind of see here with the bag on the far left. i also add a strap at the top.

it is not insultated. though i have been investigating how this might be done. i also have some pieces cut in a canvas that i have been meaning to try. (i am all for machine washable lunchbags and haven't been brave enough to run the oilcloth ones through the machine.)

does this make sense? i hope so. please feel free to email me if it doesn't. i tend to cut the oil cloth with my rotary cutter and just piece it together as i go along, to make sure it will fit.

thanks for your interest.

and happy international women's day. to all the women in my life (that includes you!) thank you.

in the bag {and off the list}

another lunchbag (the same pattern as before). another project checked-off my list. i am way behind in correspondence, promises and obligations. but spring has seemingly sprung(or at least my allergies think so) and i am feeling somewhat renewed. if i owe you something... it is on the table. be patient please. and accept my apologies for the delay!

gobsmocked

a request was recently submitted for a pocket (we have checked this book out of the library). a pocket where hands could be clasped together, no less.

then i happened upon alicia's "smocket"

aha

here we are...



she loves it. filled the pocket with little treasures right away. and walks around with her hands in it.

i love it. it is the back that gets me. the cross-over and tie at the shoulder approach. timeless. and i made it reversible (to the green and pink print, sans pocket) so she can wear it twice as much.

a request has been submitted for another. in this print. (for the love of superbuzzy) with a larger pocket. for a larger kid.

and perhaps i'll try a mom-sized one as well...

thanks alicia for the inspiration, and for sharing the pattern. and thanks back to amy for originally passing the vintage pattern on to alicia!

and thanks to my bugs... well, for just being you. we had an awesome weekend we three girls. the sewing machine busily humming on the kitchen table while they quietly played together. (together! all! weekend!) i couldn't ask for more.

happy monday.

googled

some recent searches that brought google-ers here

::beautiful blue bathroom::
::tracy + cork::
::jumilla houses for rent::

and my favorite

::little bugs that live on squirrels::

and speaking of little bugs. her fever is still high, as is her energy level. yesterday it was home with daddy and today she is at work with me.

the last day of february? really?

happy wednesday.

the grin she wore

all day at legoland. i had my doubts. but was proven wrong.

we are down with a flubug. fever, pain and runny noses.

back soon

what i see as i walk out the door from the studio today...

the storm has passed. spring is in the air. look up!

have a lovely weekend. (we are off to legoland! see you monday.)

the more things change

the more they stay the same. (Rousseau?)

anyway. you know what i mean.

melissa's post reminded me.


me 1979 barbados

i seem to go in cycles. long hair prevails in photos from 1979, 1989, 1999... a pattern i never noticed until i tried to find a photo of my "look" my first yr in college to share with melissa. (that would be, ahem, 1989, if you are wondering. i failed to come up with an '89 shot i was willing to share so you are stuck with me at age 9. perhaps, c, you have one of my 19 yr old self that isn't too embarrassing? oh and for age 29 you'll have to check out a wedding pic.)

a boyfriend once told me that he always knew when something was up with his ex-wife because she would cut off her hair. it was indicative of her entering a stressful turn, and perhaps, he thought, a way of her to gain control, while instigating change. ever since then, haircuts have taken on new meaning. when the urge to "cut it off" dawns, i sit back and begin to question "why?".

not sure what i am getting at. i guess lately, as the people who are closest to me grow and spread their own wings i feel less and less control. over their lives. as well as my own. it is quite liberating on the one hand. quite frightening to me on the other. (alright. yes. it is only kindergarten, but this year has been a big step for me!)

oh yeah. and i have been thinking about getting a haircut.

this just in...

turtle found
elation felt
the little bug was pretty much spot-on

thanks for all your good wishes. they helped, alot!

and see what sam created in celebration of finding our miss turtle. you are so sweet my friend...

rain and orange squirrels make me happy

holiday monday and the kids are busy painting each others faces. (it is a little too quiet but i am trying not to let it worry me!)

thank you so much for all your kind words and thoughts.

it is cooler and rainy and i am feeling a bit better. the rain does that to me! but to add to my blues our dear turtle giselle has gone missing. we are not sure how she managed to get out of her enclosure on saturday. we have posted signs around the neighborhood and the little bug keeps telling me that she is in the yard under the grass searching for her lunch. but my heart isn't feeling very optimistic.



on a happier note a dear little friend and neighbor is turning 4. we fashioned together a drawstring backpack and crayon roll out of this squirrel-ly old ikea crib set, the big bug made her a paperbag sketchbook and we threw in some beads and string for a rainy-day kit. now the big bug insists we need to include an orange squirrel. "like stephanie makes". a pretty tough call i told her. but we will see what we can come up with...

the littlest birds (sing the prettiest songs)

while it is unseasonably hot and sunny down here it feels a little grey. the arrival of these from the north made it a little brighter...

thanks jan. they are perfect. as is your timing.

in memoriam

she has your eyes. she has your wisdom. she has your gentle touch. she has your kindness. she has your long legs. she has your love for life.

i am so grateful that i have them. and in turn. you remain.

i miss you dad.


september 27, 1941 - febuary 17, 2002

Corners of Our Home 23 {new light love}

i have a thing for white lighting fixtures...

this one was recently acquired when dear neighbors moved. made by a family member for them. it is on loan i believe. when they arrive where they are going i will miss it... a beauty to me.

happy ♥ day

thanks for all of your garden suggestions. i am very excited by the possibilities. {amy s, i would love to hear more about your time at the school. email me if you wish...}

i have bittersweet feelings about this day. d proposed to me - with a "conversation heart" - on valentine's day {what was it, 8 yrs ago?}. 5 yrs ago my dad entered the hospital on valentine's day. the last time i spoke with him was february 13, 2002. he loved this day. loved surprising us with flowers and chocolates. and i try and carry that on. the girls woke to these "tokens of my affection" {inspired by carol's}waiting by their breakfast this morning. and some conversation hearts too, of course.



{great sequence on the production of the candy hearts here}

hope you have a wonderful day.
hug those you love tightly. keep them close in your heart.

it really was that good

whew. good weekend. it is rare that i wake monday morning in such high spirits. but today i feel good.

thanks in no small part to a lovely weekend.

yesterday. we hosted a baby shower for dear friends. a co-worker of d's and his wife, who are also the little bug's godparents. i am not a social person. but do enjoy the hostess thing. i guess being busy in the kitchen gets me out of small talk (which i am terrible at!). it was a lot of fun and we are so very excited for the growing family. i had hoped to make something but that will have to wait. instead i ordered one of uniform studio's lovely hat and bootie sets. (gorgeous). and some oh so soft organic cotton, soy fiber and bamboo baby clothes from green and greener, a local e-commerce site. (they hope to open a brick and mortar shop soon. yay!)

saturday. dinner with sam and her family at a favorite spot. then, a trip down the boulevard to reform school, and lisa's show. i have to say she is just as lovely as i expected. and the work too. total inspiration. we are lucky to have a lot of artist friends and have established a nice little collection of work. but we hadn't bought anything together. this is our valentine to each other. thank you so much lisa. can't wait to have this gem on our wall.

friday. i had an inspirational walk around the big bug's school with a new friend. there is a house a few short blocks for us that is a regular stop on our walks. the yard is magical. filled with birds, squirrels and butterflies. and it proudly displays a nwf backyard wildlife habitat plaque. i have often been tempted to knock on the door (the sign invites you to learn more) but have not. until very recently. when the sad state of our neighborhood school's grounds, and a looming grant application deadline drove me there for some guidance. i am so glad i did. our neighbor specializes in california native plant gardens and is very excited to help us. (pro bono i might add!) he will be working with me drawing up some plans that we hope will get the funding we need to get them realized. i have started a flickr set with the hope that it will document the transformation. we have identified five areas around the campus that would be perfect for garden environments. a reading garden. a vegetable garden. and perhaps (oh i hope) even a garden with a pond. (i would love to see pics and hear stories of any school gardens in your communities...inspire me please!)

now back to that grant application.

happy monday

{a little} stuck

blame it on this cold that keeps on giving. and very little sleep.

and a terrible case of homesickness to boot. (why would i be missing manitoba in february?) so i have booked tickets to take the girls home in june. it is my little hometown's 125th birthday for goodness sake - how could we miss that party?

hope the weekend proves to be more productive. it will certainly be inspiring as we plan on taking in lisa's opening on saturday.

hope you enjoy your weekend

bloom +

our attempt to force paperwhites and amaryllis was inspired by kristina back in december. i thought it would bring in a little bit of spring. my teacher mom naturally led me to all sorts of other things the big bug and i could do as we watched nature at work. i captured the plants with the camera (here) while e "journal-ed", measured and drew on a fairly regular basis in a (made by melissa very special) little notebook she carries with her wherever she goes. i'll try and get it away from her to capture some of her images. it has been a fun project. but i fear it is coming to an end as this morning the blooms were beginning to droop... (a little like me today.)

i feel a math theme at work. (mommmm!) happy wednesday.

simple arithmetic

plus



equals



i am finally feeling better after battling a terrible head cold for the last three days. i started making these oh-so-easy crayon hearts with the big bug one day after school last week. she got really into it with her dad and sister over the weekend (while i lay on the couch), and i think now we have enough for both her and the little bug's classes for valentine's day. (you can find the instructions here. i believe that the 150 degrees stated is celsius, as we found we had to go to 300 degrees fahrenheit for about 10 minutes to get the desired results.)

for those of you interested in giving this a go, we used a wilton silicone tray from target... after the crayons had melted, we slid it into the fridge to cool. an hour or so later the big bug was able to pop the new heart-shaped crayons out. have fun!

thanks for all the bathroom love. i have to repeat that d did this all on his own. it hasn't been easy. but it is definitely worth the pain. when the house is done. it will truly be ours!

have a wonderful weekend

Corners of Our Home 22

where you get to see the result of a year's worth of work. yes, this do-it-yourself project is taking that long. and hear that we are almost, yes almost!, finished. (see Corners of Our Home 7. looks alot like the inspiration pic, don't it?)

enter from our bedroom through the custom made pocket door. custom made by d.

and step onto my favorite flooring. cork. and look over for a view of our "baby blue bathroom" (as the bugs refer to it).



left on the list: shelving; drawer faces; counter top; mirror; sinks and fixtures; lighting over vanity... oh and baseboards. (someday.)

d. i am in awe of your craftsmanship. and perseverance. it is all worth it my dear.

for linens. i am thinking an unbleached hemp for the shower curtain and towels. what do you think?

sunshine on a cloudy day

it is cloudy and cold and looks like it will rain any minute now. this kind of weather puts me in a fabulous mood. socal is almost season-less. and this feels like something!

we got the new floor finished in the bathroom. you can not imagine the joy this brings me. (ok, d, i know you can imagine!) you can check it out here. it is glass tile and cork and it smells so good and feels so good and. well. i am in love with my floor. it is true. i think a thursday "corner of our home" post is a must...

the above pictured poncho was precured this past weekend while on a treasure hunt with sam. {thanks sam for your sharp eye once again!} the trip also yielded three new dresses for miss e and a fabulous hand-knit vest for miss k. the poncho appears to be handmade. and is a bit of sunshine on this otherwise cloudy day.

we are busy getting our miniswap package together. and working on aprons and bonnets for the bugs. all perfect for a day like today.

"c" is for cupcake

and for today's birthday girl.

a last minute bookbag inspired by this. {i cheated a little. the bag premade. and the "c" an iron-on from a fantastic local source for iron-on transfers embellished a little by hand.}

and then we got carried away...



it is overcast. and cold. {for l.a.} and not-so-good for taking photos.
but i love it anyway. feels like a touch of winter. hope you are having a lovely saturday.

late to the party

i know this is old news. (but sam this one is for you...)

so while attending my aforementioned niece's birthday fete. which happened to take place at a mall not too far from us. i spotted forever21. the little one was a bit fussy and needed a break from all the celebrating. and then alicia's post came back to me. and in i went. little bug and i spent most of the remainder of the party in the forever21 changing room.

wow.

yes, i have read about the proselytizing. (which has never stopped me from going to in and out so didn't stop me here.) and about the sweatshop watch. (which is now apparently settled.)

the colors. the styles. and the prices. yes. the prices.

care to hit the mall my friend?


happy weekend!

to do

* gift for a wee cousin
* gift for a wee friend
* prepare for baby shower
* prepare for pta sponsored walk-a-thon
* visit school gardens
* visit the dentist
* watch my girls bloom
* watch the flowers grow

(so much so quickly! we think we could see them growing yesterday...)



hope you are having a wonderful week...

i'm not very good at this game

justine just tagged me.

i have been pretty good at avoiding these kinds of things over the last year of blogging. now two in one week. i don't at all want to sound bitchy. i always enjoy what others answer when put in this place. and i am a big fan of the 2 who tagged me. but i am not very good at this. it makes me feel slightly awkward. don't really know why. that same feeling i used to have in gym class when the ball was headed my way. my answer then was to duck. i have gotten much better at catching balls in recent years. i even own "athletic shoes" (as my husband calls them). so for you justine. here i go. (you can read the rules etc. on this here.)

5 random things i don't think you know about me

1. i was accepted into a graduate program at the bard center for curatorial studies and art in contemporary culture. i deferred. then declined. every so often i wish i had said yes. but if i had i wouldn't have had the opportunities to meet some really amazing artists. (i love working with artists.) go to some really amazing places. or likely have married d. who i am very very happy i said yes to. and had the joys that are my kids.

2. yesterday my church nominated me to join the vestry. i deferred. next year i may decline.

3. i am thinking that a family of 5 sounds really really nice. but i am not yet completely convinced it would be right for us.

4. i have spoken to my mom on the telephone almost everyday since my dad died 5 years ago this february.

5. my mentor is a truly amazing woman named mildred "connie" constantine. she turned 92 in june. i am so blessed to have her in my life. someday i hope to write a book about her. the big bug's middle name is constance.

whew.

project found

so sam and i have decided this is what we will start our project with. forgoing the gingerbread motif. (but hoping to revisit it during our "christmas in july" crafting blitz.) i am going to try and make a matching bonnet a la angry chicken. we are all "little house" over here right now. to the point where the big bug will only answer to "mary", and insists that d (or should i say "charles") call me "caroline".

now what fabric should i go with? sam's ideas here...

at zoe's request

6 weird things about me. sounds easy enough...

the rules as from zoe are as follows:

People who get tagged need to write a blog post of 6 weird things about them as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don't forget to leave a comment that says "you are tagged" in their comments and tell them to read your blog.
right, here goes...

1. i must make sure that the ikea plastic dishes, bowls and cups used by the girls are always stacked in the following order: orange orange blue blue green green yellow yellow.
2. i get quite excited when a letter arrives in the post and the stamp has not been cancelled. i carefully cut it out and save it to reuse. (if it is from canada i mail it to my mom - who i picked up this habit from.)
3. we don't have cable. or tivo. just our local channels that we pick-up via a cumbersome set of rabbit ears d purchased when he realized we received no channels without them. this may not be that weird. people in l.a. are generally pretty shocked by it though. i do miss pbs.
4. i can't stand the taste of ketchup. except on fish sticks. and i love old dutch ketchup flavoured chips. but don't eat them anymore because they contain msg...
5. i love tomato aspic
6. whenever anyone in our little family says "hey" someone else inevitably replies "you've got to hide your love away." we are all weird in that way.

this was more difficult than i thought.

instead of tagging, i'll leave it up to you. any takers?

have a lovely weekend.

crazy weather

this was the sky looking east this morning. the new banner, the same flock of {canadian} geese, looking west.

finally watched an inconvenient truth all the way through. {it was a holiday gift from my conspiracy theory loving husband.}

thinking about moving to higher land. d suggests the top of mt. galiano.

i'm thinking higher.

any suggestions?

birthday.bird.bag

one of my nieces celebrated her 7th birthday in style today. my girls were primped and preened and turned into fairy princesses in celebration.

i made a little bag for the birthday princess. based on a free pattern found here. but with some liberal adaptations. i didn't do the batting. nor a closure. i admit i was in a bit of a rush this time {ahem, late last night} and was looking to cut corners. but i am happy with how it turned out. i added the contrast to the beak. and i love the little wing/pocket with the ruffle. next go i would include the trim as it is called for. and do a button closure, i think. i used some long long ago thrifted corduroy. and some calico from sam. and a little bit from shannon too. thanks ladies.

we are all in a bit of a holiday monday fog... and it is cold. so cold i had to break the ice on the turtle pond. {giselle is ok - no worries} and windy. i think a nap is in order.

818 to 310

when i moved here 10 yrs ago, i was so lucky to meet this lady. we moved here from different countries to attend the same program. we ended up staying here. meeting our husbands. getting married within a week of each other. having kids . . . sewing, blogging (she's the one who got me going) . . .

while we are still in los angeles per se. we live quite a distance apart. at opposite ends of it all. sometimes with a 30 degree temperature difference. sometimes 20 minutes apart. sometimes 120 minutes apart. (god bless the 405 freeway.) in different area codes (me - 818 / she - 310)

for me she is the queen of thrifted fabric. she has a keen eye and impeccable timing. and i am often the lucky recipient of her finds. (as the package i just received above attests to.)

so we have a new deal going. an on-line sewing support group. trying to keep each other motivated this year. and a "christmas in july" holiday crafting blitz.

so what should we start with sam? something from here? or should we try starting with the same fabric and see where it takes each of us? let me know...

a bit more nothing - and a little something

so to clarify - i am lousy at meditating. the closest i come, like gwen, is when i am knitting. i am also a pretty lousy knitter. must concentrate on each and every move i make. i like it this way. makes me completely clear my mind for the task at hand.

and i am not any good at doing nothing either. i worry that if i start doing nothing it will be too difficult for me to return to something.

in further conversation i was told that one should not attempt to discover the nothingness behind you (ayin) without a guide as if it is reached, you may be lost. so there we go.

anyway, enough...

here is a little something i added to the top of a package for my dear dear friend to wear in her hair.



have a lovely weekend, doing something. or nothing. as you please...

a post about nothing

where has the week gone?

we are settling into the groove of it all. first week back to school for the big bug and of course it was riddled with the unexpected. but we are marching forward.

a friend asked me last night if i was good at doing nothing. it caught me off guard. i had never really thought about it. at work, we have been talking a lot about the kabbalistic practice of trying to focus on what is directly behind you as a form of meditation. the nothingness that you can never see. (the artist i work for is developing a series of pieces based on this idea.)

nothing. behind us.

i tend to dwell on the past. worry too much about what didn't happen/get done/go the way i had hoped.

everything. before us.

{un}forced

forcing amaryllis and paperwhites
drinking chai
reviewing 2006 magazines and tearing out inspiration

listening to the sisters at play (its all about having babies this morning)

perfect s l o w morning

a new hotpad

sorry about yesterday. {i could feel your eyes {lovingly} roll sam!} no real excuse. and hannah was bang on. less time worrying about it is in order! the little bug has been diagnosed with esotropia and is experiencing some discomfort while she wears a patch to try and strengthen her weak eye. we think she is experiencing some discomfort from the strain. and in turn so are we! and she will start wearing glasses next monday. (she seems quite excited by that prospect.)i think this got me thinking about hometime vs. worktime a bit more than usual.

the bugs and i pulled out some scraps of fabric sent recently from stephanie and pulled this together. our house is full of blues and oranges. and it makes me smile.

and i feel better already.

a new day

2007 feels so far so good.

though i fear that the rush and anxiety that i felt during the last half of 2006 is just around the corner as the big bug looks toward returning to school next monday and our day-to-day routine shifts from vacation mode back to "normal".

i read this last week and felt my head swirl. lisa spoke of an interview i had missed on charlie rose with cate blanchett. in answer to his question (to paraphrase) "how do you do it all?" she replied, "i don't know anyone who has managed it all.... something always atrophies". isn't that the way it is? something has to give a little. i know this conversation over balance (motherhood / friendships / career / creativity / marriage / spirituality / physical well-being...)has been gone over again and again. but this year. 2007. i fear something in our household will have to give. atrophy. i am battling with how balance can be found. how i can organize my priorities and find the solution that works for everyone under our roof.

i love stephanie's idea of a slow life movement. but how do i attain it right now? what can i say "no" to? i look forward to hearing more from others on a similar journey. i feel i have been able to formulate a slower pace for the girls, but in turn find that mine has accelerated.

where to let it give a little.

i am working on it.

such reflection began and the reshuffling of priorities was strengthened with the news of the kim family tragedy. how could it not? bid it you can and show your support.

happy new year!

may your feet dance and your heart sing throughout 2007!