Posted in: in nature & outdoors
Welcome, autumn! Words cannot express how much I love you.
This week it's cold, rainy (I've even seen a few snowflakes today -- but not enough to accumulate), and there is that crispness in the air. I'm so very happy to be coming into my favorite time of year.
More photos of the sundresses (oh, yes, there is more than one!) are on hold until a sunnier day!
But for now, I'm back to my tea, my comfort foods in the oven, and revelling in autumn.
Happy autumn to you all!
We spent a lovely few days camping this weekend. A lot of our friends have commented on our "bravery" for taking new babies camping, but it's something we've always done and enjoy doing. Over the years, we've discovered what kinds of camping situations work well for our family -- where we like to go, for how long, what we need to bring to make it comfortable and fun for everyone, etc. We have it down to a system at this point.
So we spent a lovely few days playing, enjoying one another's company without other requirements or pulls at our attention, just focusing on one another. It was perfect.
We did a little knitting,
and a lot of lying around nursing in the tent,
played many games of picture bingo,
jumped off rocks,
made our campsite beautiful,
listened to the sounds of our feet walking on a soft bed of pine needles,
read some of our favorite books,
snuggled by the campfire,
ate just a few marshmallows,
listened to the rain falling on our tent,
and then saw a rainbow,
found a new favorite walking stick,
and so many other favorite things.
This year my husband is working on his dissertation and I'm single-parenting most of the time. So this dedicated family time was welcomed (and needed) by all of us.
Like anything out of the ordinary, it's hard to say goodbye and come home, and a little hard to adjust back into "regular" life, even after only a few days. But I also think that happy family times like these are what carry us when things get a little tedious or stressful on a daily basis. I feel like every positive thing we do with our children, no matter how small, helps to create that family "culture" that we really long for. That's why something as small as a weekend camping trip is such a special thing, and gives me so much to think about. It takes us a step out of the ordinary, and refreshes my parenting, reminds me of the small things that help to make a day special, helps me to recommit to things that had perhaps slipped a little in my daily interactions with my children.
Now the camping gear has been stowed on a shelf in the garage, and I don't think we'll get out to the woods again this year. But what a good time it was!
{I promised some shop news this week, and the news I have is a little disappointing -- I'm not ready to put it up yet. I don't know how I always think things are going to happen so much faster than they actually do! Anyway, I still have a lot of sewing left to do, but I really would like to get it all up and ready soon! I will be sure to announce it here in plenty of time. I'm thinking early next week. Thank you all again for your enthusiastic support!}
Pink is my favorite color. I really love a lot of colors, and I love the way colors play with one another. But I am devoted to pink. And there have been such a lot of good reasons to love pink around here over the last few weeks.
Peonies in our yard! (Now faded, but I'm still reveling in their memory.)
This amazing sweater gifted to us by Kyrie. If you're one of the more than 400 people who have viewed it (or the more than 80 who have faved it!) over on her Ravelry page, or if you've been following along at near:far almost from the beginning, you'll certainly recognize it. She knitted it during her pregnancy for her own baby, and I loved it so much that she sent it to me. I am so, so grateful for this gift for so many reasons.
Roses from our garden.
Washcloths. I've knitted four of these (in pink) recently and love them for wiping little hands and faces.
And most especially, this wee pink girl.
First the "funny but true", and then the "what's been going on":
Last night I dreamt that I was taking some sort of class with a priest. I got the feeling that it was a cello lesson of some kind. But I was paying for the class with a little bit of cash and a lot of very nice yarn! I remember thinking that there was no way I'd be able to keep it up with the yarn because it was too expensive.
Then when I woke up, I realized that the priest was actually Jared Flood.
The priest of knitting.
I finally cast on my February Lady this week after a lot of hemming and hawing about what yarn to use, and lots of yarn lusting on Jared's Ravelry page. (By the way, I'm on Ravelry and I think it's about the best thing in the universe. You ravelers can find me under the user name "uncommongrace".) Anyway, I think that explains my dream, which I'm definitely filing under "funny but true".
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And as to what's been going on, well, it seems that there have been lots of things happening around here, and I have about seven posts waiting in the wings, but I haven't had (or wanted to have, honestly) much computer time lately. I've been wanting to focus on finding our footing in our new summer rhythm, and all that it is:
::swimming lessons
::the new bike-riding prowess of a certain seven-year-old girl (and, oh my goodness, the tears that I cried tonight when I realized that we'd somehow deleted 30 photos from the day she learned to ride!)
::new knitting projects
::dreams of sewing
::rainy days
::a baby shower and blessingway to be planned for my sister (and the arrival of my first baby niece this fall!)
::some projects around the house (like, um, finally unpacking -- remember, my long, long, long pregnancy followed right on the heels of our move last year)
::peonies!
::birthday parties
::a bit of gardening
::several new cello students
::and, wow, just basking in the still-new babyness that's happening around here.
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So, it's been good. Exhausting, but good. I still have so much to learn. So much! But I am -- we are -- finding the way.
(And thank you to all who have written to check in during my two weeks of silence here in this space. I am constantly both uplifted and humbled by this community. Really and truly.)
Here's a branch of snowy May, a branch the fairies gave me.
-English May song
Right now, I'm loving the opportunity to experience this springtime as though it were my first. Living in our house, with its yard and gardens, has opened my senses to spring in so many new ways.
So many things to be thankful for this lovely May:
::Gifts of posies from my children almost every day
::The slow warmth of the spring sun on my back and face
::Fragrant wafts from our neighbor's spicy-sweet linden tree
::The pleasure of having spent a morning working in the yard
What about you? What are you enjoying and feeling thankful for this mid-May?
...I'm loving:
Little signs of spring in our lawn.
Mama-made woolies on the babe. (Proper photoshoot still needed....)
Seedlings in our kitchen window.
Tulips. So close.
Snow-melt. Aaah.
Surprise gifts. Always.
A bit of springtime sewing.
Our little Cupcake.
Hoping that your springtime is promising as much beauty and joy as mine is!
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My firstborn has a big (seven-year-old) birthday tomorrow, and I've never missed a birthday post yet, so I hope to pop in later tomorrow. Two posts in two days?! Crazy, I know. ;)
Onesie printed by Emily.
Hi, friends! I'm trying to be gentle with myself about my lack of posting around here, but of course I'm feeling guilty about being so absent. I'm still having more yucky days than not, but when I feel well, we're busy trying to take advantage of autumn -- my favorite season -- by:
~Making multiple batches of popcorn balls.
~Visiting a pumpkin patch.
~Costume making.
~Baking some apples. (Recipe here.)
~Basking in the autumn sunshine.
~Spending a day with homeschooling friends at a small local living history museum.
~Climbing trees.
~Preparing for tonight's revelry! (I promise photos!)
Happy Halloween, everyone!
Smiling, and noticing some of the signs of autumn. Oh, autumn, how I love you!
Today was a good day. I got a call from a lovely friend who made me laugh hysterically with her attempts to convince me to go for the minivan. Thank you, sweet friend. You made me smile all day.
And that autumn sun! It couldn't be any more glorious, especially on these chilly days we've been having.
Here's looking forward to a week as sweet as today was.
...from the new house this week.
Moving could be going better. ;)
But we're all so very happy to have a huge backyard.
With flowers and trees and swings and all the important things.
My little one spent the evening (normal bedtimes are suspended while all the grownups are working) making this tent with small branches the other night.
As we laid in it and looked up at the sky, the moon, and the trees swaying in the breeze, I was never so grateful. In the midst of chaos (maybe more on that later), I have been blessed with the gift of a child and her real sense of perspective.
Last weekend we visited our CSA farm and picked asparagus. It was a sunny, warm (but not hot) morning.
It didn't take too long to finish our row, with a laundry basket nearly full of the long stalks.
Afterwards, we visited with some chickens, cows, a goat, and the cutest little piglets.
The piglets ate right out of my children's hands -- they were so gentle and playful. It was great fun!
When we got home with our 8 (or so) pounds of asparagus, determined not to let it go to waste, Elisabeth and I cleaned and trimmed all of it. We blanched it in batches -- 2 minutes each -- and then submerged it in ice water until it was cool.
Then we dried it and divided it (what you see above is not all of it, either!).
Elisabeth commented several times that this work reminded her of the olden days. I knew just what she meant: working to gather our food, and then spending time preparing it in large batches to be used over a long period of time. It's so important, I believe, for children to experience this. It can be so easy to assume that all food comes from the grocery store, and to become disconnected from the source. I'm so glad that we have these opportunities through our CSA.
So, now we have about 8 meals' worth of asparagus, which is wonderful, since we are an asparagus-loving family. {For many years, I declared that it was my least favorite food. I claimed that it looked appetizing, but tasted bad. Then one time, about 3 years ago or so, we were staying with some friends and were served a meal with asparagus in it. Not wanting to be the only person not eating it (all of the children were), I went ahead and tried it. And, to my surprise, I loved it.}
And in just a couple of weeks, it'll be time to pick (and preserve) strawberries!
It kind of sneaks up on you, you know? Especially after a cooler-than-usual spring. But it's here, and we're oh-so glad around here.
Enjoying the first fruits of our little garden.
First flowers, too!
A bag constantly at the ready.
Feeling awe at the beauty of summer storms -- and knowing that they sometimes bring hail and cyclones with them.
Bits of green everywhere.
Fresh braids every morning before swimming lessons.
New joys discovered as our boy is big enough to play in the water on his own -- under his mama's hawk-like watch, of course.
Hoping that your season -- whether summer or winter -- is shaping up as beautifully as ours is!
Just a few photos from the weekend to share on this Monday.
Special treat: a trip to a 50's diner in the middle of a very long weekend without Daddy.
My girl. In my favorite dress on her. Wishing her face were more in focus, but it was pretty dark out when I took it. Wondering how I got so lucky to be the mama of this amazing child.
Other bits from my thoughts tonight:
~We've been doing some packing and lots and lots of looking at houses, so that's been occupying much of our time and energies. Looking for a rental can be kind of depressing, especially when you want to live here, which is of course not an option as it's some thousands of miles from here.
~In seven days I will be 30 years old! My husband, who turned 40 in December, thinks it's the teeniest bit amusing that I'm getting all excited about this. But I am. :)
~We had a pretty fantastic sunset tonight. I'll leave you with some photos of that.
Today (and yes, it's still today ... it's "only" 11pm as I type this!) we enjoyed a lovely little respite from the cold days of winter. It was 65 and sunny (tomorrow we're expecting a high of 25 and several inches of snow, though).
My children spent hours playing outdoors, while I finished piecing Jennifer's block for the Bee.
Ah, spring. I could get used to you.
I meant to post yesterday. But after awakening from a night filled with bad dreams (unusual for me) with a screaming headache (even more unusual), I ended up with a "nothing is going to happen today" sort of day.
We did get out of the house to make tracks in the falling snow for a while in the afternoon, though, and that really helped to turn the day around. I love James's little tracks, especially.
A fire in the fireplace, some hot chocolate, an early bedtime for Mama, and things were good again.
Friday: An evening out with two friends. Wonderful, and just what I needed!
Saturday: Pumpkin patch with my husband and wee ones. Perfect weather, perfect day! Later, some sewing and movie watching with another friend.
Sunday: Woke up to snow. Cozy day at home with those I love most.
I hope your weekend was just as sweet!
More photos of my weekend on flickr.
My friend Laura has the most beautiful backyard. While she definitely has a talent for gardening, I love the small details in her yard even more. A little fairy peeking out here, some fun little stump mushrooms there.
As much as I moan and complain about not having a yard (we've only lived in a free-standing house with a yard for 10 months of our 8 year marriage), the one good thing is that when we finally do move to a place with a yard, no matter how big or small, I have a friend whose established yard greatly inspires me. Oh, and who has already agreed to help me plan and execute mine when the time comes. (Right, Laura?)
Oh, and look at the photo on the bottom right corner. It's one of Erin's twirly skirts, which Laura made beautifully for her daughter. Who is, might I add, in first grade this year. Where does the time go?
We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame, she dances
~from "Tripping Billies" by Dave Matthews Band
We are back from our camping trip! We had a lovely time, and I'll share more photos soon. First ... must wash a lot of laundry and get the dirt out from under our fingernails.
I realized that this week's posts had a "four elements" theme (sort of), so I thought I'd share some photos of our campfire.
Dancing flames have a way of evoking so many memories for me: of spending Thanksgivings in my grandparents' mountain condo, of my first camping trips with my husband (heavily influenced by Dave Matthews), of cozy evenings spent with Elisabeth before our fire at home -- and looking forward to many spent with both of my wee ones.
Who couldn't just sit and watch a fire? It's really endlessly entertaining, if you think about it. Plus, anything cooked over an open flame just tastes better, doesn't it?
Sunrise by Elisabeth ~ July 2, 2007
"The top is where the spaceships go
The next is heaven
The next is the sky
The next is the clouds turning pink in the sun
The rest is the beauty of the Earth."
How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain!
How it clatters along the roofs,
Like the tramp of hoofs!
How it gushes and struggles out
From the throat of the overflowing spout!
Across the window pane
It pours and pours;
And swift and wide,
With a muddy tide,
Like a river down the gutter roars
The rain, the welcome rain!
In the country, on every side,
Where far and wide,
Like a leopard's tawny and spotted hide,
Stretches the plain,
To the dry grass and the drier grain
How welcome is the rain!
~"Rain in Summer" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
