This moment

always learning.

A recurring theme.

Maybe it is the time of year....maybe it is the age of my girls....maybe it is me....who knows. All I know is that I find myself photographing the shadows on a fairly regular basis these days. I feel like I can't sit still, because most of the time I can't.
It feels like there is always so much swirling through my brain that if I stop for a minute I may forget something that I really shouldn't forget. Like, Abbey's got work or soccer tonite. Raine's babysitting or doing homework (yeah right) at Anna's. Who is home for dinner. I need to water the wilting garden. If we don't get rain soon I will need to hook up the hose and use processed water.
Up until this point I think I must have had it easy. I was on top of it all....precariously perched obviously. We have never been a family that has every moment occupied with different activities. I have tried to maintain time for quiet play while still meeting everyone's request for one extra activity. So, can someone please let me know how to maintain a simple life when there are 5 people covering a wide age range who all need such seemingly different things. Please don't tell me to read a book and buy a "mama's organizer" calendar.

Little girl

Cute little feet in ballet slippers....and the interpretive dance that followed.
Happy long weekend!

A few of my favorite things

Okay, now get ready as I unveil my most favorite thing that I have EVER made...well, except for the piece of furniture it is hanging on, and a few other pieces, and my wool blankets. Well, maybe it is my most favorite thing made this month. I made a dress for Hazel. A beautiful floral pattern dress in my favorite shade of red. And although it has some flaws, I am quite proud of it.






I do realize that it may have been more effective if I posted a picture of my girl wearing the dress, but she was unavailable for the photo shoot and I needed to make hay while the sun shone, so to speak. Next time though, I will be ready with camera in hand, because she really does look sweet in it.
Happy day to you all.

Shadows

Lately I have been really happy with the light shining into our home. It may sound silly, or like I am a mama with too much time on her hands, but actually it is quite the opposite. I firmly believe it is a result of having too much to do that my head is spinning and I need something that is simple to draw me out of the hamster wheel. Shadows are it....my respite.

This moment

This really fun to watch moment on a glorious day in the woods.

Washing line Wednesday

Hiding in the laundry that is waving in the breeze.
Our backyard is soooo small. On this day we needed a new hiding spot...enter laundry line and blanket and presto.
In participation of Garden Mama's Wednesday laundry line call to action.

Done and done

This here is my latest blanket, finished over the dreary indoor weather weekend that was.
Snow indeed!
It was actually a perfect weekend for sitting under a wool blanket and stitching. And thankfully, it was also Mother's Day...a day where everyone makes an effort to allow time for a mama to do whatever her heart desires. And my heart desired to finish this project. And I love it. And I find myself in the uncomfortable position of thinking about selling it.
I hope a lovely Mother's Day was had by all.
Karen

one picture says it all

A ghostly cat, the chubby wrists and the love.

Score!

Yesterday was one of those days....from pretty much the point of my feet hitting the floor until said feet were lifted off the floor. A tired mama battling a spring cold, a little girl still adjusting to different phases of light in her room, the two eldest being difficult about rain jackets of all things and the lone wolf preoccupied with work and thus not giving his best game.
Luckily I have been practicing trying to guide our day by adjusting my attitude. When something starts to feel like it is going off the rails I stop for a second and try to find the joy in it. Well, maybe joy is too strong a word. More like a positive spin. So, yesterday morning while out for a walk I decided to walk a different route. Yup, living on the edge is what I do. In doing so I came across this lovely piece of elderly furniture tossed away at the curb. Somehow I managed to carry it home while holding a cup of coffee and pushing a stroller....balance is key I realized. If all things went smoothly all the time there would be no appreciation for those good times.
Now, where is this going to hang in order to remind me of that the next time?

the mad dash

Mobiles, mobiles and more mobiles. It is a good thing that I love to make them. And am always happy with how they turn out. Needlefelting has become my project of choice while staying awake and waiting for the kids to return home late at night. A perfect choice..no?

May

"In many lands the children bring
May Baskets for the first of spring,
And hand them on a neighbour's door
To say that spring is here once more."
A. Wynne

This past weekend welcomed in the month of May. The plant and flower vendors appeared in the market, and this symbols to me more than anything, the entrance into a new season. A season of planting and growing and spending time outside. Of bugs and butterflies and birds.
Hoooray!