monday monday

something is wrong with the hard-drive on my laptop. it sounds salvageable, but for now it is with my favourite computer doctor. leaving me without an easy way to upload pictures. and i have pictures.

we made it to the artemide sidewalk sale. much to the disappointment of my eldest daughter, we purchased three more of these.

on our return home she wrote me a letter:

Mom, The lamps you bought are horendisly (sic) normal. I hate them. You said we were getting new lights and we already have five lights like that.

needless to say i was very impressed by her passion for design. and told her i loved her. and that i was so proud that she was not interested in the "horendisly" normal.



laptop back! thanks gary! yes yes - i will be better at backing up. and yes, i will start looking for a new machine. promise.

::

it feels like fall. at least a socal fall. it makes me happy.

we had an amazing violin concert in the school garden this morning. i am in one of those states where all the hard work we put into that place seems worth it. must learn how to hold onto that feeling. the look on those 400 faces while watching elizabeth pitcairn play a selection from bizet's carmen is unforgettable. it makes me happy.

killed time at the nursery yesterday. and have a bunch of plants to get in the ground to prove it. that makes me happy too.

happy friday.

a peek inside

a tour of our home over at cafemom! (thanks sheri!)

::Hallowe'en 09::

Inspired by Charley Harper I went for handmade masks this year for David and I. (When I told D I wanted to be a "fox" he had something completely different in mind involving satin shorts and rollerskates. But I think in the end he was happy how these turned out.) They were so much fun to construct. (I miss my sewing machine!)

We had a fabulous Hallowe'en! Biggest neighbourhood parade turn-out to date :: Fantastic Dios de los Muertos neighbourhood party with dear friends :: E's first visit to a "real" haunted house with her Papa, and her bff :: K and I watching Kiki's Delivery Service (I love this movie!) and handing out treats

And can you believe its November?

More Hallowe'en pics here.

boo (almost)

preparations have been made. i think we are ready!

full-on "boo!" tomorrow...

right now.

all good. too busy to catch-up right now. but had to tell you i have fallen in love. Banana Nut Bread. pg.32.

crewel weather

things are getting checked off the list! hopefully things to share by week's end.

i picked this little owl up at that out-of-the-way thrift yesterday. i thought it would end up in the shop, but the girls found a place for it on their wall, so for now anyway, it is staying here



i am almost finished a crewel project, and looking for something with a wider variety of stitches. i love the eyes on this one. and am feeling inspired by a recent visit with this piece. (a true love of mine.)

it is cold and rainy and i'm happy. and i am feeling productive. i certainly am siding with the turtles (and not the chickens) on the wet stuff coming down. good stuff.

this week

i am going to sew.
i am going to move more files where they are supposed to go.
i am going to visit that somewhat out of the way thrift shop.
i am going to bake healthier cookies than the ones we made today.
i am not going to stress over the small stuff.
i am going to check things off the list.

happy monday!

tipsy

a nevelashka, or "chime doll"

d found this at a community white elephant sale and we all gasped when she was opened to reveal some sort of metal armature. further research lead us to find that instead of hiding her family inside, she is designed to play a tinkly tune. i think originally something would have hung from the tallest metal bar, i think on a string, so that when she wobbled the "chimes" would be struck. for now we have placed a couple of pichinko balls inside that roll around when she is tipped.

have a lovely weekend!

and thanks jan for reminding me! for my friends and family back home - happy thanksgiving! xo

could it be?

fall?



pic taken on my phone during my walk the other morning.

i am constantly searching for a connection to the seasons in this city. great article about angelenos and their relationship to the outdoors (their swimming pools) in Los Angeles magazine this month. You can read it here

we are recovering from a round of head and chest colds.

oh yes. fall.

autumn colour week

lots more here.

darn it.

cute shoes i bought k are a 1/2 size too small. she wore them for approximately 20 minutes then couldn't take it any more! any chance you want them?

(you can find them retail here.)


Morgan and Milo
Kids Avril Metallic (Gold)
size 11.5
$25

(payments accepted through paypal)

lemmeknow...

and the book. well, since reading this biography, i have been watching the thrift for this one. and yay! finally found it.

sometimes you win sometimes you lose...

planting ideas

i always know that there will be good finds at the goodwill when i find a stack of vintage sunset books ... got me thinking about our garden.



it is cooler (only in the 90s!) and a holiday from school, so we have spent the day working in the yard. thinking about fall - and all the goodness it brings to our garden.



i took a bunch of succulent cuttings from a neighbor in exchange for tending her garden while she went on elderhostel to san francisco. i let them dry out and have stuck them in the ground - safely away from the chickens. (still want to go for a succulent wall. found the perfect foundation for it.)

thanks for all the bday wishes. it was well spent visiting theodore payne with two of my favourite people. then with those i love most eating at a new favourite restaurant. (love finding spots like this close to home.) then on to cake with my freighbours. i am a lucky girl.

happy fall!

counting to 39

39 pencils in our "junk drawer"
39 steps down the sidewalk
39 sips from the water glass
39 inches around my hips
39 minutes to the hour
39 dollars (and change)in my wallet
39 blueberries with our waffles
39 chapters in the book
39 th parallel through California
39 degrees the high today
39 multiplied by 1 (me) is 39

39 years since i was born


(this is harder than i thought. i'm stopping now to enjoy my day.)

clucking

part II of my piece on (sub)urban chicken keeping over at sewgreen!

my mom would be so proud

my first macrame project.



a rope for our bell. (our signal to the kids that its time to come home and get ready for bed!)

makes me recall all those great macrame items from my 70s childhood. (like this, this and even this.)

i have told my neighbours that macrame is hot right now. really. but they don't seem to believe me. maybe its over and i missed it? (i do see a wall hanging in my future though. sorry d.)

loving this book. (found via lena corwin)

hello fall

hard to believe with temperatures still in the triple digits. but the calendar tells me you have arrived. i thought i noticed you last night in the shadows. i am glad you are here.

please put away yours swimsuit soon - and bring out those sweaters. (don't tell the kids i said so - they are still happy playing in the pool.)

getting our sea-legs

we are slowly adjusting to our 'back-to-school' routine. it has been hard - especially on the littlest bug. but she loves school, coming home to tell me that 'today was the best day ever mama, and i think tomorrow will be even best-er!'







we spent yesterday with dear friends, on their boat. the plan was to travel to santa cruz island and spend the day exploring, but the waves were too rough to go ashore so we spent an amazing day gazing at the beauty of the island while hanging on deck - and swimming in the deep blue sea. perfect.

trying something new

find it over at the twogreenchickens shop

2,4,6...8

I'm told is great.

It just keeps getting better and better. I love you big girl. Happy Birthday!