::these are a few of my favourite things ::

::swimsuit weather (but not too hot)::
::dog sitting our favorite pups::
::big sister reading to little sister::
::growing strawberries::
::garden ideas in the new issue of domino::
::listening to sarah polley talk about alice munro and julie christie::
::toothless grins::
::possibility::
::140 people working on our neighborhood school on sunday::

we brought in the most volunteers of any school in our area. for my friends and family who have helped me and stood by me while we realized bigsunday - thank you. especially to you d. it was an amazing day and in no small way that was because i had you by my side. anything is possible if you believe!

l o n g weekend coming

busy plans underway for bigsunday. (los angeles' day of community service.) just wanted to pop my nose in. or out. which way is it?

will be back soon.



(will be back sooner over here!)

i ♥

the sfv


i ♥ that you can go from here


to here


(on the orange line)

take good care of the earth. everyday.

a list of things we all can do.

Corners of My (Dream) Home(s) 2

when things move too quickly

when the world seems a bit too scary

when i crave some peace and some calm

i dream of this place



i know nothing about it. though have spent many days at the beach gazing at it. it is built on a tiny island off the coast of my favorite place on earth. off the grid. only accessible by boat. and perfect. to me. and my imagination. {can you see it?}

it has been a week where i am dreaming of this place. a lot.

up and down

full weekend. planting in the garden, birthday party in the park and preparations. (of the irs inclination.)

but at least a little time with my sewing machine.



(albeit not exactly what i wanted to sew...)

2006 was the year of the apron and cookbook.
2007 looks to be of the backpack and crayon roll.



how was your weekend?

Corners of Our Home 24

the wall of the patio off our bedroom where i want that vine to go

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!