Muffin Morning

Phew! May was a crazy month full of ups and downs and June has been just as crazy, although with fewer ups and more downs.  It's been an incredibly fast paced, stressful, chaotic month so far, which has been making me irritable and worn out.  *sigh*
The other day, despite everything going on, I managed to whip up some rhubarb muffins and pop them in the oven just before Baby Boy awoke from his nap.  I thought about those muffins all night and...

...the next morning I poured myself a cup of coffee, helped myself to a muffin, and forced myself to do nothing but enjoy that moment.  A nice quiet half hour, no distractions, no rush, no hurry, just eating, drinking and  pondering over just exactly how one would describe the flavor of rhubarb.
The rest of the day was crazy as usual, but that morning, it was a good morning.
Sometimes we just have to create our own calm amidst all the chaos...

Intruder

We had a mild winter and an early start to spring and so the garden, normally just showing green this time of year, is already awash with color.  The coreopsis, crazy daisy, and blue flax are all blooming, the delphinium, nicotiana, and coneflower are all budding, and the hydrangea is cascading over the sidewalk in all different shades of pink, purple, and blue.

I've been walking along the flower beds daily, enjoying the flowers already in bloom and keeping an eye out for the seed leaves of perennials that have not yet made their appearance.  A few weeks ago, amongst the alyssum, I spotted the seed leaves of a plant that I had not planted, but that was obviously not a weed.  Curious I allowed it to grow and grow into...

what I believe is a pumpkin plant.  I suppose, when we carved pumpkins last fall, some seed slipped into the flower bed and...well...there we are.  It most certainly does not belong in the flower bed, but I haven't the heart to pull it out and so it stays.  And should this plant actually produce some pumpkins, it will be a very welcome intruder indeed!

Butterflies

Paper butterflies are decorating our schoolroom wall.

The butterflies are from a kids craft magazine that Pookie bought awhile back, but the instructions can still be found online here.

Real butterflies are also in the schoolroom--a part of our ongoing bug collection and nature studies.

Sketches by Pookie, Fig and self.

And butterflies returning to the garden outside.

Always a welcome sight!

New

There was a reason for not being in this space.  A very exciting little reason, that quickly grew and grew, but that unfortunately came with all kinds of exhaustion, nausea, and discomfort.

But since his arrival (just over three months ago now!), all those things have been forgotten and our life is now overflowing with smiles, giggles, and coos.  We're settling into a new kind of routine, one that revolves around feedings, nap times, and play time with the sisters.
We are all so overjoyed to have this new little one in our lives!

Christmas Crafting

We've already started the Christmas crafting here.  I know, I know, Thanksgiving hasn't even arrived yet, but when it comes to handmade items, one cannot start soon enough!!
I haven't made any of my little birds in a long time (scrolling back through the archives I see the last one I made was back in 2007!) and I can honestly say, I haven't really missed making them.  While rummaging around in closets, I've come across a few old unfinished ones and haven't felt the least bit of interest in completing them, so there they have sat.

But recently the girls discovered these incomplete birds and...started playing with them.  So I've pulled out the felt, my old pattern pieces, and some embroidery floss and have started sewing again.  And, I have to say, it has been really enjoyable!
These little birdies will be for the Doll's Christmas that the girls and I are planning.  Each of their dolls will receive presents under their own little Christmas tree on December 24th.  There will mostly be new clothes and cradle blankets under the tree, but there will also be a few of these little guys.  I think the dolls and their "mothers" are going to like them!

Flowers

A few months back, I started a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  I needed to greatly reduce the amount of scraps spilling out of the craft closet and this seemed like the perfect quilt to use them up in.  I started full of gusto, but after finishing my fourth "flower" I quickly realized that the vast majority of my scraps were of only two colors--red and blue.  There were a few pinks and even fewer greens and just a handful of purples and  yellows...but that was it.  I could have made just a red and blue quilt, but I really wanted a full range of color.  The problem with more colors meant that I would have to buy new fabric in order to make a scrap quilt and that just seemed terribly, terribly wrong.  Unable to solve this little problem, I finally gave up and packed the project away for another time.

Just a little while ago, while browsing an antique store, I stumbled across a candy box full of little fabric hexagons, all ready to be made into flowers!  Of course I bought it and without any guilt!  I mean, yes, it is "new" fabric, but it feels okay, because I'm helping to finish someone's unfinished project and in the process I'm completing mine.
And besides, how could I really pass up those adorable vintage prints!

Long Summer

It was a long summer--a really long, ridiculously hot, summer.  It was one of those summers where it really was too hot to do anything.  Yes, it was even too hot for swimming at the pool!  For once, I can't say I'm sorry to see summer go.  No, the only thing about summer that I will be sorry to see go is...
...this little gal, who has become so accustomed to me, that she will now happily hover at my elbow while I weed the flowerbeds.
Yes, fall means that she will be taking off soon, but that's alright--I'm sure she'll be back next year and, well, I'm really, really ready for some cool nights, hot cider, and sweaters!  Come on fall, hurry up!

Colors of Spring: Red

The first spot of color this spring was, not green, but...

...red.

Green was only a couple of days behind though.

Nature Walks

It's been too nice to stay indoors much and so, we've happily welcomed "nature walks" back into our school days.  When lessons are over, the girls grab their pencils and sketchbooks, I get my camera and the water bottle, and we all head outdoors for a stroll.  This week we headed to the lake in search of something new and exciting for our nature journals.

Sadly, although it's been warm, it's still a bit too early for much of anything to be out--the wildflowers are just barely budding, the turtles are still residing at the bottom of the lake, and the bugs are practically nonexistent.  But, thankfully, the ducks were there.  They're certainly not new and I'm not sure they're very exciting, but the kids were thrilled to have something to draw.

Hopefully, we'll have better luck next week!

Violet Valentines

We had a little tea party for Valentines.  I made up some chocolate macarons with purple buttercream frosting for the occasion.  The buttercream frosting was delicious, but sadly the macarons weren't.  They came out hard and flat and were a challenge for Pookie (who is missing two front teeth) to eat.  I think the lack of clear instructions concerning the egg whites might have been part of the problem.  Another time perhaps...

And really, the food wasn't all that important--the kids and I just wanted an excuse to use our new (to us) tidbit tray.  Little hand-painted purple violets--we're all head over heels in love with them!

The Dollhouse

This year, there was one Christmas gift that I just couldn't wait for the girls to see... 

...the dollhouse!

This is the Vermont Farmhouse Jr. kit by Real Good Toys.   I wish I could take some credit for this one, but my husband did all the hard work--painting, assembling, and (my favorite part!) wiring it for lights.

I love the lights--they makes it all seem so real and the whole house glows so beautifully at night!

The girls love it and are constantly playing with it--rearranging the furniture and creating new little scenes.  We talk about what things need to be added (curtains and some kitchen shelving being tops on the list) and what things we could possibly make for it (some towels for the bathroom and quilts for the bed will be made shortly.)

I'm looking forward to seeing how this little home changes as the girls age.  I remember, as a girl,  attempting to create all kinds of miniature items for my dollhouse.  I can't wait to see what my girls come up with!

2011

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!  Ours was full of lots of excitement and glee, as well as plenty of much needed peace and quiet.

And now, the Christmas decorations are all packed away, the house is mostly back in order, and we are all slowly falling back into our regular day to day activities.

As sad as I am to have the holidays already behind us, I must say, I'm excited about what lies ahead.  I think 2011 is going to be a good year!

Pepper

There are only a few handmade gifts this year--one per girl to be exact.

This little Waldorf inspired doll is for The Littlest.  She's made entirely of items I already had around the house--some mismatched socks, an outgrown (and too stained to save) toddler dress, and some yarn and stuffing from the stash.

Pookie and Fig have already named her Pepper, but we'll see what The Littlest thinks of that!

Dormant

We had our first hard frost about a week ago.  The hydrangeas immediately became a mass of limp green leaves, but the roses bush wasn't as easily conquered and continued budding and blooming awhile longer.

Just the other day, the rose bush produced two more flowers and then gave in to winter and went dormant.  Though this bush normally produces bright pink roses, these last two came out decidedly pale, looking a bit tired and worn out.

I'm feeling just a bit like these roses right now--pale, tired, worn out.  Two weeks ago, I came down with a horrible head and chest cold and the recovery process has been frustratingly slow.

But, at long last, I think I am finally getting better.  And just in time, Christmas is right around the corner!

A Little Big Bed

The Littlest moved into a "big girl" bed a little while ago.  Getting the mattress was easy, but finding the bedspread and headboard hasn't been so simple.  I'm still searching for the right headboard, but the search for the perfect bedspread is now over.

This one turned up at my favorite antique store and I am just so in love with the pattern and all those lovely colors!  It makes me happy just looking at it!

Now if only the perfect headboard would show up in time for Christmas...

Time Away

We just returned from an incredibly relaxing vacation--ten days in New England, visiting family and friends, eating and drinking at our favorite coffee shops, walking the beaches, and getting a whole lot of rest.  It was a much needed vacation!

The only downside to vacationing--all those suitcases you have to unpack when you return home.  Not my favorite task...

Into the Wild Blue Yonder!

I was sick for just about week there, a horrible stomach bug that left me too tired to do much of anything.  The only thing I managed to do, was make it out to the airshow with the family.

Some of my favorite moments:

Seeing a sky full of paratroopers.

Really cool to watch, but so glad this is not my job!

The Thunderbirds--definitely the best part of the show.

Although this pass made me so nervous every time!

All in all, a really great time.  If there's one in your area be sure to check it out!

BTW--Halloween costumes are coming up soon.  What with that illness and all, I'm way far behind schedule on the costumes!  But soon--promise!

More Butterflies

Butterfly specimens are always so hard to find, but luckily for us, they've been cropping up everywhere lately.  Or rather, they've been cropping up in parking lots lately.

We've recently stumbled across quite a number of butterflies, deceased or dying, in store parking lots.  Most are injured (probably hit by a car), but some appear to have just reached their end naturally.

I could never collect and kill (that's just not me, I just couldn't do it) so it's always such a thrill to find a butterfly that is already deceased and in perfect condition.  These recent finds have been making me happy:

One we haven't identified yet.  I'm thinking I might try relaxing this one in order to spread it's wings.  I've never tried doing that before!

A Buckeye.  We only found the wings.  I'm assuming that the ants took off with the rest of it.

A Red Spotted Purple.  They're really quite blue and very beautiful.  But as much as I love the top of them...

...the underside is even more beautiful if you ask me.

And a Spicebush Swallowtail.  I love the colors on this one as well--it looks like someone sprinkled blue glitter all over the wings!

I recently looked at a butterfly checklist for our area and discovered that there are at least 100 different species here.  In looking at our "bug book" photos and our specimen collection--I think the girls and I have "collected" about ten species.  Obviously, we have a long ways to go before we've spotted them all!

Fig's Dress

A few weeks ago I started shopping for some fall patterns for the girls.   There are so many adorable, cute patterns out there--I'm having a hard time whittling my wish list down to just a few items!

But, before I started in on the fall wardrobe, I figured I'd better finish up the last of the summer dresses...

And so, at long last, Fig's pink dress (the same as Pookie's blue dress, just pink) is done.  It's still plenty warm here, so she'll probably have a good couple of weeks in which to wear it.  And hopefully, if I'm lucky, it will fit next year too.  In fact, I really hope these fit everyone next year, because I've already bought the material to make a third one with...

Anyway, now that that's done, it's time to make those fall purchases and get sewing!

Oh...and make some Halloween costumes...

Hi

I've been away from this space for a bit, just savoring those last few moments of summer--those final days of carefree nothingness and relaxation.
But now, despite the still warm weather, summer has passed and autumn is undeniably here.  The pool has closed, the schools have opened, the migratory birds and butterflies have been hastily flying by, and the leaves have just begun to change color and fall.
And just as the outside world has been gradually changing, so has the inside of our home.  After a busy August spent decision making, online shopping, and assembling furniture, we now have our very own schoolroom and two very excited little pupils--Pookie and Fig!

We are now three weeks into our homeschooling adventure and we're happily settling into this new routine. 
And now that all of the changes are behind us, I think I'm ready to return to blogging.  More soon!