May 26, 2009

Breathing Room, If Only For a Day

We were only home for a few days between our vacation to California and our Memorial Day weekend at Zac's sister's property. Which meant a lot of laundry and unpack and repacking. Our weekend was a little too 'roughing it' for Piper and I. I much prefer camping with water and toilet facilities. But it was an adventure. Piper, we found, is loved by mosquitoes. She must be one tasty lady.

We went to a flea market on Sunday where Piper asked for popcorn, which she's never had before. I asked her if she even liked popcorn, to which she looked at me and said, 'yea, yea.' She tried popcorn, and she was right she did like it. So much so that when I asked what she wanted for breakfast this morning she replied, 'pop.' Great we created a monster.

Zac got to go fishing, his typical once a summer excursion. Piper had fun playing with her cousin and their dogs. We all came home exhausted, dirty and happy to be home. Sorry no pictures to post, we left our camera at home.

Last week while we were working on California laundry Piper found that one rag, her version of a blanket, is never enough. When given the opportunity, take a whole arm full.

Since we're home for one full day and the laundry/clean up is not on the top of my to-do list, since I'm pretty sure I just did that, I've decided to work on some projects for Piper and cure my sewing jones. After our homebirther's group this last Friday Piper and I went to Gayfeather Fabrics on Willy St. I was searching for fabric for Piper's and my dress for my brothers wedding. Only requirement is the color brown. Simple enough task you'd think, but I found nothing that I couldn't live without. Not to worry, I didn't come away empty handed. There were too many other gorgeous choices. I got this, which I promptly washed and cut into today.

The results are yet to come. As well as a second project I started today. These of course in the midst of other projects that must be done at a certain time but have yet to come to fruition for me....ah what to do.

Hope everyone had a beautiful long weekend! We leave again tomorrow for Minneapolis, yet another conference for Zac that Piper and I will be tagging along to.


:: UPDATE :: Here is what came of my day of sewing...

A bag for my budding bag lady, so she doesn't have to carry around my far-too-large-for-her knitting bag.

And a Simple Sundress. It's a prototype of the one I'm making her for my brother's wedding.

May 19, 2009

Start of the Growing Season

As Piper is growing before our eyes, so soon will our garden. Yes, my love now tells me what she wants to wear (or lack there of.) Today it was her swim suit. No, we didn't do any real swimming, just pretend. And when and where she wants to have her snack, today it was a snack-inic. She wants to use the big kid swing. Grows out of her sandals just weeks after they were bought.

Although many of our perennials are already alive for the year, not many of our veggies are. Namely because only a few items return each year. I spent two days of the last three planting. In past years we haven't planted until Memorial Day weekend or shortly after. We're trying some new things this year, planting a week earlier. Potatoes. We've never planted them before. The small stock pile of kennebecks we went through from my parents made us reconsider our veggie choices this year. Less hot peppers in lieu of potatoes. We're going to stagger the salad greens so as to not have an insurmountable mountain of them all at once this year.

I love the dirt! There is something calming in rooting your hands around in the earth. Something so organic. I get a little thrill when I see a bed of loose dark soil. Each year as I turn over the beds, in much the same manner I learned from my papa when I was growing up, I marvel at how we get anything to grow in this humble little garden of ours. Each year I pull out piles of rocks and at least half a dozen old nails. With all the nails in the ground it's no wonder the summer kitchen that used to hold the place of the garden was in disrepair. But it works, Mother Nature has this down pat. We always end up with more than we need and freeze, dry and/or give away the the extra.

Now we wait, in eager anticipation of those little seeds to pop their heads above the earth. On to replacing that one last bush Binger couldn't help but kill.

May 18, 2009

Where We've Been

Things we learned in CA:
  • It's not any easier, nor does it require less gear, to travel with a 16 month old than with an 8 month old.
  • Eight days is a long time to live in a hotel room with a toddler.
  • Having a sister travel with you is a wonderful help.
  • We love the beach!
  • Piper loves swimming...in the hot tub.
  • Piper can drink through a straw!
Some pictures from our trip...

:: South Beach ::

:: Huntington Beach ::


:: Napping; Huntington Beach ::


:: Lounging; Huntington Beach ::

:: Santa Monica Pier ::


:: Farris wheel; Santa Monica Pier ::


:: Santa Monica Pier ::


:: Santa Monica Pier ::


:: Playground; Venice Beach ::

:: Venice Beach ::

:: Venice Beach ::

:: Zimmer Children's Museum ::

:: It's a Piper airplane at the museum!! ::

:: Misting fan at the LA Zoo ::

May 07, 2009

This and That

This week Zac has had two exciting events, well three if you count The Dead show. One for him and one about him.

Over the weekend Zac laid sod in our front 'yard', if you can even call it that. He plants grass every year and still its patchy at best. This year he wasn't holding back and went for instant gratification. Now, sorry for those of you sticking around town, we hope that it rains like crazy while we're gone so as to not come home to dead grass.

Also, dum da da dum... Zac has once again donated his luscious locks to Locks of Love. Oh sexy is the man that donates to charity!

This pile-o-hair should make a bunch of little children ample wigs.

As you can see, we have a new look for the blog. Any of you that really know me, should have seen this coming... long ago.

We're off to California for our vacation and Zac's computer conference. Signing off till we're back. Hope everyone enjoys their next week plus.

May 01, 2009

A May Day

Our week had been mellow. Just the standard routine around here. Sometimes a week like this is nice, and much needed. Time to just let the constant list of things you want to get done circulate in your head. A little bit of sewing, a lot of knitting, and some time spent out of doors.


I've worked on this project for Piper for the last few days. Each day Zac lovingly reminded me how I hate birds. There is something irresistibly cute about stuffed birds made of fabric. Zac will need to help me rig up some fishing wire to hang this upstairs for Piper. It's a completely *free* project. All the fabrics are from my scrap basket, left over thread, stuffing repurposed from a pillow I grew tired of years ago, and a fallen branch from the willow tree in the back yard. Found a random Binger hair here and there in the stuffing. Now there's a little bit of Binger in this project. The bird pattern came from here.


: : And of course we couldn't head into the weekend without some random monkey love from Piper : :

Happy May Day to all!