sweet spring

One week into spring.  The days are noticeably longer.  The sun shines over the hill behind our house.  The farmer's market begins this weekend.  We found organic strawberries - ripe ones from California (not too far away right?).

Fully enjoying all the goodness spring brings. 

lettuce, lettuce, and more lettuce

Okay, and some flowers and herbs too.  But, mostly we are growing lettuce this year.  Since this is a temporary home for us, there is no reason to spend a bunch of time building elaborate garden beds or investing time in a perennial garden.  Rowan and I have spent a good amount of time in this little garden of ours.  Charlies contribution involved licking the shovel and eating mass quantities of dirt...maybe better luck next year.

Here are a couple words from Rowan about the garden:

Our garden is pretty.  It's really really really nice to have because there are lots of plants that we can eat.  I like my garden.  If the deer can open the gate, they will eat our food so we make sure they can't open the gate.  It's a fairy garden which means whenever fairies decide to come, they take care of it.

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. - via soulemama]

cars & bunnies

I made a few things for my boy for his birthday.  First is the cozy car caddy.  I saw this and knew I had to make one.  I plan for it to live in the diaper bag.  You know, something that we take with us and can whip out when he gets bored at the restaurant or won't stop eating dirt at the beach.  It's made out of a pair of Eric's old pants and a pillowcase we had lying around.  I didn't have enough cars to put in it so I improvised and put some toys inside too.  In all honestly, he could care less about the caddy - all he cares about are the toys inside.

The other gift...new pants.  The pattern comes from a pair of existing pants that I traced.  I made two pair - one out of the bunny fabric shown below (cute, no?) and then a pair out of some linen I had been wanting to use.  Both pairs are borderline too small for his big ole cloth diaper butt (who wants the "hand-me-downs?") so next time I'll be sure to make a bigger pattern.

it's a first...or a second first

One year ago this very moment, I had a 3 hour old baby.  He hadn't even had his newborn exam yet.  The four of us were cuddled up in our bed seeing him for the first time.  I was unbelievably happy, thankful, excited, relived.  So many emotions and feelings.  I'll never forget those moments.  On days like this, I wish that I could jump back in time for a few minutes just to feel it all again.  The intensity...the excitement...the miracle.  I don't want to go back there and re-live the past year, but I do want to stop in and visit.  Wouldn't that be nice?  I will always have the memories and those are good...oh so good. 

The truth is, I dread the first birthday.  While I like celebrating the first year of his life, I find it to be bittersweet.  How has a year already gone by?  I feel like there are things that I have already forgotten and I try desperately to hold to tight to right now - how he smells, the feel of the sweet little fingers grabbing mine, the beautiful sounds he makes.  I have tears in my eyes...happy tears, yes...but tears. And yes, watching them grow up is the point of it all - and it does keep getting better.  But, there is nothing like a sweet newborn little baby - it only lasts a moment.  So, I'm taking this day to remember all those sweet little moments of his life...and to enjoy the sweet moments of this day.

Oh little Charlie, my birthday boy, what an amazing addition to my life.  It's your first birthday my little guy! Some of the things we love about you:

• your cuddles - how you snuggle into my arms
• your inquisitive nature - always exploring quietly
• those amazing blue eyes
• how you start moving your hands the minute you hear music
• the love you have for you sister
• your beautiful laugh
• watching you become aware of the world around you in such a serene way
• how you love to eat dirt by the handful 
• the way you still fall asleep on my chest 
• your "crawl - scoot"
• your love of the stairs - up and down all day long...but, my favorite part is how you'll go up to the first stair and call for us to come and "spot" you.
• the way you light up and laugh when I push you high on the swing 
• how, when you see something new, you'll reach for it very slowly - as if you aren't so sure its a good idea to touch it or pick it up.
• how you live entirely in the present moment

And with that, my friends, I leave you - I'm off spend the day with my boy.  How lucky I am...

heads up!

Why do we think babies are cute?  I don't mean just human babies but babies of all types - puppies, kittens, fawns, piglets, lambs, cubs.  Turns out, it's because of their head size.  Big heads make babies cute.  Who knew?!?!  For babies of all types, the ratio head size to body size is larger than it is for their adult counterparts.  I didn't notice this until a friend (an artist who studies form and function) pointed it out years ago.  He went on to explain that this is all about biology - it has something to do with keeping the species alive...how we naturally want to protect and care for cute things. 

Here are a couple of photos to prove it.  Just take a look at the size of the head compared to the length of the arms.  Wow.

And, for the record, I happen to find both of these beings quite cute.  It's just that almost everyone would agree with the first while the second is a matter of personal preference. 

introducing fiona

I actually made something from Martha Stewart.  Yup, it's true.  And I love it.

It's called the Black Apple Doll and was both easy and quick.  Rowan and I made her together.  She picked out the fabrics and I sewed - then we both stuffed her.  When we were stuffing, Rowan kept saying "she being born mama!" She was so excited to see her new baby come to life.  She named her Fiona and has been carrying her around ever since.

sweet, spicy, and simple

I have a new addiction.  I've always liked chai but this is something different.  Inadvertently, this particular chai recipe has stolen the role of favorite morning beverage.  If you know me well, then you'll realize how huge this is.  I never willingly take a break from coffee.  This is perfect timing for a little coffee hiatus - the days are longer, spring is almost here, and my body will certainly benefit from a love buzz break.

I got this recipe from my friend Ali when she was visiting last weekend.  I like how simple it is...just a few ingredients.  I like making a pot fresh in the morning and leaving it on the stove to drink throughout the day.  If I happen to have any leftovers (which is pretty rare), I put it in a glass jar in the fridge and heat it up the next day.  I'm going to name it "peaceful place chai" because that is how it makes me feel...not that the recipe is mine to name.  I just couldn't call it "chai" because it is so much better than that!

Peaceful Place Chai
3-4 slices fresh ginger
10 cardamom pods (slightly crushed)
10 black peppercorns (ground)
3-4 teaspoons black tea
4-5 teaspoons sugar (or a bit less honey)
1 cup milk

Bring 4 cups of water, ginger, cardamom pods & black peppercorns to a boil. Let boil for a few minutes. Add in black tea, sugar, and milk. When it froths up its done. Strain and serve.

when flapjacks aren't pancakes

I saw a recipe for "British flapjacks" in a magazine a couple weeks ago.  I had never heard of British flapjacks before - in fact, I had only heard the word flapjacks in reference to pancakes.  Let me tell you, these are NOT pancakes...nor are they even similar to pancakes.  These are amazingly tasty, super simple treats that are just asking for fun additions like raisins, coconut, almonds, or pumpkin seeds.  They sure don't look like much...at most, like a boring granola bar.  But, just taste them - chewy in the center, crisp around the edges, hearty oat flavor, rich yet subtle.  Yum.  I will point out that there is a whole stick of butter in them...along with a good amount of sugar so perhaps they are better suited for dessert than a mid day snack.  That said, they would be a perfect thing to take along on that back country ski day (sure, a girl can dream right?).

After making a batch, I left a few out on the butcher block for Eric and took the rest to a potluck.  When he got home from work, I got a text from him asking "what are these AMAZING things that I found in the kitchen?"  Yup, they are that good.

The original recipe calls for golden syrup.  Apparently, this is something that people use often in Britain.  I didn't have any, didn't want to search for it, and had better stuff on hand so I changed the recipe a bit.  

British Flapjacks
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup golden brown sugar
3T honey
2T brown rice syrup
2 2/3 cup quick cooking oats
pinch of salt

Take the first 4 ingredients and put them into a saucepan.  Stir continuously over medium-low heat until the ingredients are combined (butter melts, sugar dissolves, and mixture is smooth).  Add oats and salt, stir till coated.  Transfer the mixture to a buttered 8x8x2 inch baking pan and spread out in an even layer.

Bake at 350 F until top is golden (edges will be a bit darker) - about 25 minutes.  Cool in pan on rack for 5 minutes.  Cute into 4 squares; cut each square into 4 triangles.  DO NOT remove them from the pan - they will still be too soft.  Cool completely before serving (or removing from the pan).

Millworks Art Installation

This past weekend, we planted 500 trees in the wetlands on our property.  About 25% of the property is wetlands and we are required to restore them in order to build homes on the remaining 3/4 of the land.  Wetlands restoration involves, among other things, riding the land of invasive species (like the dreaded blackberry) and planting native species.  The restoration will be monitored by a consultant for the next 10 years.  Basically, someone will come and count plants every so often to make sure the wetlands are being properly restored. 

The actual planting of 500 trees took us much less time than we expected.  That said, there were 10 of out there working hard for 5 hours.  We planted all sorts of different trees & bushes: aspens, snowberry, dogwood, roses, the list goes on.  I can't say that the trees even look like trees - they are basically these tiny little sticks with roots.  But, they will grow!  Right now, it looks a bit like some sort of art project.  I'm curious to see what it will look like 10 years from now.

signs of spring...

...are all around us.

 

I took these photos the other day when I was on a walk with Charlie.  I love how spring comes so early here in the pacific northwest.  Very different from spring in Vermont where I grew up.  I am really looking forward to spring this year - Charlie will celebrate his first birthday, we will break ground on our new house, climbing season begins, and the sun will shine upon us more.  I am starting to awaken and gosh, it feels nice.

birthday purse

Rowan has a new friend who just turned 4.  I asked her what she wanted to give her friend for her birthday and she decided on a purse.   

I made one of these for Rowan when Charlie was born so I knew exactly what to do.  I don't have a pattern for this one - last time there was a bit of trial and error but this time it was seemless.  It took me about 20 minutes and cost me nothing.  She picked out the fabrics and the button.  Because I love rick rack so much, I decided to add some at the last minute. I imagine there will be more of these made for future birthday friends.  Fun, easy, and a sweet gift.

The funny (embarrassing) part about this, however, is what happened the day of the party. I email the mom that morning to ask her the time & place of the party.  Just for the record, I felt awful that I had to email her to ask her this.  I don't know the woman at all and can imagine what she was thinking when she got my email (it gets better so keep reading).  But, I had left the invitation in the Subaru which Eric had driven to work that day so there was nothing else I could do.  Apparently, I forgot to write down another key item in my calendar as well - she emailed back: "Oh no!  The party was on Tuesday!  We missed Rowan but figured someone was sick.  I'll be sure to get the party favors to her."  It was Thursday.  Nice work mama Jill!  All I could do was to laugh at myself and hope that Rowan didn't get too upset.  When I told Rowan she said "It's fine mama.  I didn't want to go to that party and I already told you that."  (which, she had and I had been working on convincing her to go anyway).  C'est la vie...and yes, we did still give the birthday girl her purse.

Oh - and did I mention I love rick rack?  Where did the name "rick rack" come from anyway?  I now have a huge stash of vintage rick rack thanks to the bargain bag I found for $0.99 at Value Village a few weeks ago.  What a treasure!  Doesn't get much better than that.