this moment

one moment

no words

This Moment

{this moment}
one image
no words

we love books

Tuesday morning we took a jaunt into town to visit the local used bookstore and of course came away with some amazing beloved treasures. It is of course impossible to not find something wonderful in a bookstore. The smell of the paper and the thousands of titles to peruse and ponder, the lovely scripted letters and intriguing cover art. Books are like old friends, even new ones, turning pages and bending the page edge as a book-mark (a bad habit I know but one learned from my grandma-so I love it) lying in bed at night and catching up with friends old and new between the bindings of a book. I always have a kid's book and something i am reading in my bag so if ever we have to wait somewhere we can read, I take them to restaurants to read after ordering, and to the park for when someone needs a rest or perhaps a bit of alone time. The written word is a place of rest and relaxation and I don't think I will ever get enough.

We added to our Little Bear collection with a paperback copy of Little Bear, Father Bear Comes Home, Little Bear's Visit, and A Kiss for Little Bear. All of which have been read at least two times over by now.

I came across this tucked into a stack of children's books and practically jumped out of my skin! I so loved this book as a child, the story is so simple and wonderful, but the pictures are astounding! The detail is amazing and the colour oh my! I was so happy to add this book to our collection and it joined our basket of living room books, we have gleefully read it at least a few times a day discovering new details in the bathtub with each read.

We also bought this lovely copy of Higgelty Piggelty Pop by Maurice Sendak who so sadly passed away recently, but isn't it so comforting that we have all of these wonderful stories to keep him alive. This is one of my favourite books because the artwork is mostly line-drawings, so simple and pure.

 And one last photo of a bleary-eyed just woken child and her new doll Olivia, just can't get enough of them together, so sweet.

Monday

What a fabulous few days, the weather has changed completely here, it is in the 80s and officially summer. Plants have been planted, kids have been swim suited and my car was overhauled by my wonderful husband. Mother's Day has come and gone with hugs, kisses, and yes a few tears.

My son's pre-school class did a mother's day performance for the moms and dads and tears went all around especially their sweet as honey version of What A Wonderful World. Thinking how did we get here? How did my son get so big? Wasn't he breast-feeding with his little fist wrapped around my finger yesterday? Sigh-motherhood...

Finnley with newly acquired second-hand scooter in clothes she chose because she liked them together, zipping over the drive and down the road. She was such a cute baby so happy and smelling so yummy. I try to remember when she started speaking in full sentences or when she stopped needing my help to turn the water on in the bathroom and I can't, she is so big and growing so strong and sure of herself. Sigh, tears...

My wonderful husband who did some things to my car that I can't explain, I know he did something with air intake and put on new breaks and spark plugs and wires and other such things. I am sadly so ignorant about cars and their working parts, but I know he did all of this to keep us safe and to show us love and I couldn't be more grateful.

Mother's Day flowers from the Farmer's Market, so pretty and different, first roses this year.

My son received a fishing pole from his father and spent a very large part of the last few days casting and catching his floating fish. First thing in the morning, pajamas and all.

The most amazing and colourful and sweet quilt that arrived in the mail today. There is nothing quite like finding exactly the thing you wished for and waited on on the front steps when you come home.

Finnley's new friend came today in the post as well, her name is Olivia and she went to ballet and the supermarket with us this afternoon. Olivia's hair is now up in sweet messy buns in the Bamboletta style and I think many more pictures with her in are to be had.

I found these two amazing watercolours in an antique store in Puyallup today with my mom, and just thought I'd share, I've never seen anything like them and fell so in love with them. Finnley can't wait to have them up in her room.

I hope you all had a wonderful mother's day, a chance to remember and a chance to look forward, though I treasure every childhood memory of my children I am slightly excited at the prospect of seeing who they will become.

This moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Wednesday WIP

 There is just something about a boy, a sunny day, and the dirt. New mole holes are Iain's favorite, the earth all dark and soft, he looks out the back door first thing in the morning for new mole holes, because new holes mean new dirt, and new dirt means new adventure.

 The second favorite place to be in the summer, a big quilt on the grass in the sun, with everything their little arms can carry out of the house. The very favorite place is the pool of course, but it just isn't warm enough for mama to want to put it up yet.

 A purple cardigan with a bit of swing to it that I'm working for the first time, this is the practice and learn piece and will be gifted to a friend's little girl when it's finished.

 Yes, it's the same grey Fair Isle cardigan I have been working on, a few more rows in. I know it's probably a little silly to be looking this far ahead but I can't wait for Finnley to wear it to school in the fall.

 I started this one hour hat while I was watching Finnley swim at the birthday party she recently went to, it's almost done just the band and flower left to do. It's my favourite start from nothing pattern so easy to work while having conversations.

 Still knitting whenever I get the chance, practice, practice, practice...

There is something so wonderful about seeing her read, reading even when she has the choice to be doing something else. I love books and reading so much I hope she grows to love it as I do.

A completed project, yes it's a cupcake hat, and it looks delicious! Strawberry frosting, vanilla cake, and a cherry on top all worked in cotton and ready for the new baby it's headed to. I can't wait for it to be used, I set it up for pictures yesterday morning and left it up most of the day, it was so yummy looking sitting on the counter.

And last but not least! This is our new addition, her name is Olivia and she is a sweet creation by Bamboletta ( http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bamboletta-Dolls/8294523565) and we are so excited to bring her home! She is an unused re-home and she has a lot of love waiting for her with Finnley. I can't wait to start making her little cardigans and sewing dresses for her! Finnley knows I won the doll but she doesn't know it's for her yet...all so exciting!

Growing in Gratitude 4

 Grateful for children who have a strong imagination and can make a game of almost anything. See this? It's a sandcastle made from the drying mowed grass, love their creativity.

 Grateful for Saturday market flowers making my kitchen so pretty and bright.

 Grateful for the eggs from the Saturday market, especially the blue ones, they make me smile every time.

 Grateful for the break in the rain Sunday and the chance to read an old favorite in the sun. Pixie was taken out for three nice walks and the kids were able to ride their bikes and wash the car.

 Grateful for my place on the sofa, the place where I work and make things for friends and family, a lot of things happen here, a lot of yarning as Iain puts it.

 Grateful for the flowers on the coffee table that I get to see everytime I look through the living room.

 Grateful for the fullness of spring and the newness bursting all around us.

 Grateful for the colors, all of the colors, the way nature expresses itself before us in pink, and green, and purple, the feelings they evoke and the freshness of new life.

Eternally and endlessly grateful.

Under the Belt

This post is inspired by another project I managed to get under my belt. So today has been a good day. Finnley had been invited to a birthday party a few weeks ago, which of course gave me plenty of time to come up with a homemade present. Finn and I discussed what she would like to give and took a trip to the yarn store. Finn chose a colour called Deep Orchid in Patons Canadiana yarn and some buttons to go along with it, and I got to work-figuratively. I did mean to start the gift last week but ended up putting it off and not starting until Thursday morning. I finished it all up last night about 11pm and even with the late start I think it came out well.

 The sweater is a pattern called Roselette and looks gorgeous in this colour and I'm so glad I bought more of it to use in a future project.

The matching hat is what I call my "one hour hat" because no matter the size it takes about an hour to make and looks adorable on everyone.

Rachael's sign is a quote from Coco Chanel and a sweet sentiment. I do have to mention, I went looking for a swimming suit for Finnley yesterday because I was pretty certain she had outgrown the one from last summer, and was so disappointed. When did little girl's clothes become so overtly sexual? Finnley is going to be 7 in August and we have had pretty good luck finding appropriate clothes for her age supplemented with what I make for her, but looking for a swimming suit, oh my! Triangle bikinis and tube top bathing suits for 7 year olds? Really? Totally disgusted I picked from the 3 one piece suits they had and now having more time before she will want to wear one again I will order one from a reputable company like TYR.

The sweater and hat looked so lovely in the box, I hope Finnley's friend R gets tons of wear out of them.

This Moment

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Simple Woman's Daybook 5/3

linking back to Simple Woman's Daybook

Outside my window:: Today is a drizzly, wet day in the northwest. All of the grey can sometimes be overwhelming, I just keep having to remind myself that it is because of this rain that the berries will grow big and sweet, and the pumpkins round and fat, and the lettuce full and green, such is the compromise of living in the country.

I am thankful:: My husband comes home today, and I am in great need of his help. Child raising goes through it's ebbs and flows and right now I am running dry. I need a chance to refill my patience, creativity, and relaxation.

In the kitchen:: Today I will be making bread-I know, again, enough bread to carry us into next week. I had been buying the occasional loaf of bread from the store to supplement what I make at home but I have made the resolution to only make bread not buy it. It is so much more wholesome and doesn't contain all of the "extra" ingredients we don't need. It is also a lesson in correctly managing my time, making bread when it's needed, thinking ahead to drop off and pick up times and planning meals.

I am creating:: I am currently working on a sock monkey hat, a dark pink pull-over sweater for a gift, the grey Fair Isle cardigan for Finnley, and *gasp* started knitting a little purse.

I am going:: Finnley has school, and this evening we will be going to the airport to collect daddy.

I am wondering:: I am wondering how long it will take to get the knitting under my belt, I am very excited to expand my yarn abilities to another skill, and I love crochet it will always be my first love but learning to knit is fun!

I am reading:: The Chicks with Sticks Guide to Knitting by Nancy Queen and Mary Ellen O'Connell, Switched by Amanda Hocking

I am hoping:: Finnley is wearing her new daisy chain cardigan to school today, I am hoping it holds up well.

I am looking forward to:: I am looking forward to my husband being home and the change in pace around our house. When Robert is home though certain things become harder the extra pair of hands lighten a lot of loads.

I am learning:: Yesterday I started to knit again, I learned to knit stitch with two pencils and a shoelace 7 years ago and that was all I learned. I made a few scarves all with the knit stitch, but yesterday I learned to purl, yay!

I am pondering:: I bought a few new fabrics yesterday to make Finnley some skirts and possibly a dress, she picked them out and I am very pleased with her choices, they all work together beautifully.

A favorite quote for today:: You don't really understand human nature unless you know why a child on a merry-go-round will wave at his parents every time around - and why his parents will always wave back. ~William D. Tammeus

One of my favorite things:: Brushing my daughter's hair, yes sometimes she cries at the snarls, but I do love the few moments we get of quiet time every morning while we do her hair.

A peek into my day::

 yes I fixed the buttons after these pictures were taken...and Finn chose the buttons and they are so adorable, she is so clever.