pipoDoll!

brothers

2012-01-31T11:09:00.000-08:00

snow walk

2012-01-30T14:23:00.000-08:00

Jude, Ollie and I went out for a late-morning stroll today...It was lovely and snowy, but not too cold at all. We bundled up and I brought my camera. We played in the yard and then walked up the road and back again. We saw chickadees, woodpeckers and squirrels, plus some dog-like pawprints in the snow (coyote?)..We are far from any major road or town so it is absolutely quiet when you step outside. No sounds at all, until the saucy red squirrels spot you and start chattering away (: As we walked down our forest road, I surveyed our land and imagined what the pasture would look like with the fences mended and a horse peacefully munching on the grass within...
Recently I almost adopted a retired racehorse. The timing was crazy and it would have been an insane scramble to get everything ready, but still I was up for the challenge - and the joy - it would have brought me. I have wanted my own horse since I was a little girl. I was one of those ridiculously 'horse crazy' girls; I have hundreds of horse drawings that I created, I went to horse camp in the summer, rode at a little stable throughout the school year and (for fun) studied the horse's anatomy as if my life depended on it, painstakingly drawing diagram after diagram and testing myself on the names of the parts of the horse, tack and breeds. I was a total horse geek!
So, when my Mom called and said my Dad's buddy was giving away his horse and Dad already talked to him to secure the deal I was shocked, excited, scared, and completely disbelieving. I mean, I have waited my whole life to get a horse so it was hard to wrap my mind around the whole thing. Well, to make a long story short, it did indeed seem like things weren't in place well enough for it to happen. The barn isn't ready, it's the middle of winter, the fencing is open in spots, and I just had a baby...My Dad's buddy gave his horse to someone else who could take him in right away and I felt both sad and relieved at the same time. I will get a horse though. I'm glad this happened because it woke up the little, horse-crazy girl inside of me; I never thought I would see her again (-;
I certainly am going off on a tangent! Well, here are the snow-walk pictures then (: I can't believe how pretty it is here! We moved here in mid-October so I have seen the land's changes from autumn to winter. I cannot wait to experience the awakening of spring and the fullness of summer!

^__^

cheetah girl, dessert and bread!

2012-01-28T14:17:00.000-08:00

Bella was the narrator in a play her french class was performing last week, and so she needed to dress up to suit the theme. It was based in Africa so we went with cheetah face paint, an orange shirt, black pants and a black hoodie, plus the ears (: I had less than 45 minutes to paint her before she ran off to catch the bus but I managed to complete my task withiut it looking too rushed. This is the first "painting" I have done in ages! I was so inspired by the act of creating with my hands that I made Dutch apple streusel bread. So yummy (: The next day I made a loaf of french-style bread and a lovely rice and veggie dish, with some tart lemon squares for dessert (: There are no pictures of those; they dissapeared before I got a chance to photograph them! They are as yummy as can be, taken from a recipe my Mom has been using for years which comes from one of her cookbooks, although I cannot remember which one..

^__^

bread

2012-01-24T13:02:00.000-08:00

I could never go on a carb-free diet. I loooove bread. I recently started making it again...For some unknown reason I didn't make bread for years and years and years. I suppose I forgot about it, forgot about how fun and satusfying the whole process is, and how proud and absolutely filled with joy you feel when you take it out of the oven and it really is....bread! (:

I made this one yesterday but I'm a dolt and forgot to add the salt. Blechy! But it sure looks pretty (:

Jude and I made another two loaves early this afternoon. I have not seen him so peacefully enthralled with any activity for quite some time.

He squished and poked and stamped and then painted the top with butter before I popped it into the oven.

Yay!

^__^

things that happen

2012-01-22T11:39:00.000-08:00

...more recent moments:

A rare moment of absolute peace. What you cannot see is Jude being reprimanded by Jason in the next room for spitting on the floor (an act of supreme jealousy!) Ah, toddlers..Isabella was kind enough to take a picture of Ollie and I. She takes many photos of us (:

Haha, funny. Poor Ollie has some serious baby acne and cradle cap. Neither of my other babies got cradle cap, although they both had a bit of the acne but nothing too major. This picture is from last week. His forehead has cleared up nicely now, but his cheek is really inflamed. It's such hard work having a body and being on the earth! I do have to mention how lovely and chubby this little guy is! Two months old now and close to 14 pounds! Ollie loves to nurse and sleep and grow...I am happy to see that he is so content and healthy, but slow down my little one! Stay small ~ Fit in my arms forever! They really do grow much too fast ):

We had a doozy of a snowstorm! You couldn't see a thing! Remarkable (:

It happened at precisely the time in the afternoon when Isabella arrives home from the bus, and I sent Jason in the car to 'rescue' her, as she has to walk a long way down our forest path and long driveway to get home. She was most appreciative.

An owl with a diaper. Enough said (:

But also, some paint chips! I am pretty excited ~ Jason is painting one of the upstairs bedrooms so that I might transform the space into a sewing/creating studio room! I'll be making three of the walls a gorgeous robin's egg sort of blue. The fourth wall sports wooden panels so I'll be leaving that the way it is. The floor is horrid; large wooden slabs carved with furniture scrapes and even a large burn-mark. For the time being we'll settle for a beautiful rug, and I may paint the floor just to clean it up a bit where you'll see it around the edges. We'll see. This house is old and steeped in lore..it's creaky and squeaky and I love it (:

happy is my heart

2012-01-17T12:25:00.000-08:00

Every so often I happen upon an image or quote that really, truly inspires me and wakes me up; Reminding me about the beauty that is life...(: We are so lucky to be here, to have this experience of living and loving. We are so blessed to feel and think and breathe. Yes. I quite like this photo.

Both my little ones are asleep and Bella is at school. My mom has come up for an impromptu visit, which delights everyone, and she has just popped out to the local post to mail something for me and to pick up a few food staples as well. It is so darned hard to get everyone organized and out the door ~ I save such trips for things that are really important or exceedingly necessary because frankly, it is much easier to keep everyone at home and in-tune with hungry stomachs and naptimes (:

Yes, just random thoughts..there is a chance of freezing rain so I am glad our fridge and pantry are filled (: One thinks much more differently about such things when living in the woods!

Grouse!

2012-01-14T10:21:00.000-08:00

I am constantly amazed ~ and humbled, and grateful ~ for the gift of this new life we live, for our beautiful dwelling in the forest, and the gorgeous wildlife that I am lucky enough to glimpse!

I saw this grouse land in the tree directly outside the kitchen window as I strolled to the fridge, arms full of baby. Had I not seen its flapping wings, I quite possibly would have missed it sitting there, the plumage blending in so sneakily to the wintery surroundings. It makes my heart happy that it thought a perch so close to our house was a safe place to rest awhile (:

In the time since I have lived here (three months!) I have seen an owl, fox, moose, chickadees, grouse, wild turkeys, porcupine, woodpeckers, three different kinds of squirrels, chipmunks, and a variety of birds that I cannot recall right now. I have heard the coyotes yipping at dusk and seen the prints of deer, raccoon and rabbit in the snow near our home. Wow (:

^__^

busy month (or so..) ! I'm not even sure what day it is (-;

2012-01-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

In the weeks since sweet Ollie's birth, there has been quite a lot happening. A birthday, some holiday preparations and celebrations, lots of cooking and playing, the falling (and melting) and again falling ~ snow, much baby goodness in the form of snuggles and full-bodied smiles, lovely visits from forest - dwelling friends, treats and tea and (hmm..) toddler jealousy, tantrums and the like...We even acquired a new cat (that makes four!) ~ she was abandoned but now has a safe home with us (:

Great change and newness, tons of laundry, lots of snow, lots of growth for this family of mine (:

Happy new year ♥

wow.

2011-12-23T13:23:00.000-08:00

This magical fellow gave me the honor of sitting in my backyard yesterday afternoon. I was blown away. Jude and I rushed outside after I took a few pictures through the kitchen window but of course he was gone. Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. What a wonder! I am so grateful to live in such a magical place (:

!!!

2011-12-12T13:05:00.000-08:00

I have been so, so busy...! But here is a picture of my back yard (: I'm living in Christmas~land! So pretty (:

^__^

life stuff

2011-11-23T17:48:00.000-08:00

Some of our newest regular visitors ~ They have come right up to the house in groups of ten or more!

..reminding me to be grateful..to give thanks for my blessings ~ which are so many!

Christmas is coming! Bliss (:

Frosty mornings

Happy visits with Grandma~Jude

Balancing

My most wondrous creations in all the world (:

love love love

Ollie napping beneath pretty crocheted flowers made by Jenny (:

Sweet wonderful Ollie ~ the most peaceful baby I have ever met (:

My birthday happened amidst the new baby celebrations

Blissed-out napping in Ollie's hammock-bed

Life is indeed beautiful

To my American friends, a most wonderful Thanksgiving to you (:

(:

2011-11-22T18:37:00.000-08:00

my three lovelies (:

Here at last! (:

2011-11-19T17:40:00.000-08:00

~~ Oliver Moss ~~

Born Friday morning at 1:08 am after a short ~ but intense ~ labour (-;

9 pounds, 5 ounces

Yay!

^__^

snippets of our new home (:

2011-11-15T10:54:00.000-08:00

Trinkets

Something I brought from Oakland (:

My favourite place to sit when the fire is going

Our ceiling (and the absolutely awesome baby hammock gifted to me off freecycle)

Jason's birthday present ~ a wooden owl mask (:

Blessing above all blessings

Happy fridge art

What I look at while eating breakfast

woven newspaper baskets I made years ago

Glorious maple wood ~ ready for the woodstove this coming winter

Hanging in wait of chilly weather

Jude's 'inside' tricycle

Cutie pie (:

I try to put just about everthing in a basket. I love baskets, probably too much (-;

I love our new home so much. We have been here a month now and yet it feels like we have always been here in some deep-rooted way. Even the land speaks to me of my belonging here, of my connection to this place. I cannot wait to make the outdoors pretty, as it has been basically sitting in wait for about 10 years. Renters have come and gone but no one has tended it in the way it deserves. A treasure. A hidden one, as my Mom declared upon first visiting. For now, as I gently ready for the birth of my third babe, I am in bliss.

^__^

first snow

2011-11-12T14:17:00.000-08:00

first snow -
breathtaking moments
melting away

~ Hatsu Yuki ~

Last night it snowed and it was so pretty; It was late, but I alerted Isabella who was already tucked into bed because I knew she would appreciate such a sacred seasonal miracle as 'the very first snow'. Jude was bundled up and we all went out into the night to feel the chill and watch the falling whiteness.

recent good things..

2011-11-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Jude and I on our driveway (:

Gathering kindling! Jude is a very willing helper if pulling the wagon is part of the plan (:

We are still finding caterpillars! Here in the woods there are sweet fat brown and black ones that Jude adores (:

Our living room at night ~ it is so pretty (: I love it (:

Isabella was a dead dancer for Halloween..

Pretty (:

Jason painted Jude's face with leaves (always an easy, quick favourite for Halloween!)

And then he dressed in a pumpkin costume! Same as last year..and just as cute!

Jack-o-lanterns on the mantle above our glorious woodstove (:

Jude loved scooping out the pumpkins and then filling them again. He did this last year also, the activity showing itself to be very cathartic and engaging for him (: He doesn't usually stay with a task for an extended period of time, so it was a lovely thing to watch him work happily at scooping for 45 minutes or so!

Isabella's proud stash.

Jason has been busy gathering wood and kindling..

Piled up outside the front door, they are beautiful indeed.

And yes, a beautiful bark dress of mine (:

^__^

39 weeks pregnant!

2011-11-08T09:01:00.000-08:00

As I sit to write this little blog post, I am actually three days away from my due date.

I know that due dates are inconsequential, having gone a week over with both of my other pregnancies, but still, it is very sobering, and shocking, and exciting to be so close to the end! And the beginning! (: I am so glad we are settled into our new home already; my heart pours out with gratitude for the gifts of flow and support that I have been floating around in this past month (:

where we live

2011-10-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind. What change. We are still adjusting and there is so much newness, it is really very overwhelming. The move was pretty crazy and stressful but it got done, and I have worked like a madwoman to get settled in, unpacked and organized before this wee one arrives. He has been very obliging, staying put while I haul, clean, sort, lift, carry and push furniture around (; The house is nearly ready. In just five days almost everything has been unpacked and put where it's supposed to be..Now we are starting to really settle in, to light fires in the evening and remember where the spoons are.. We literally live in the forest; It is SO quiet here. No cars. What an amazing thing.

moving

2011-10-09T07:21:00.000-07:00

our California apartment on moving day

We are moving! To a beautiful house in the north! I cannot tell you just how happy my heart is right now, and how full of gratitude I am for all the wonderful earthly/spirit gifts I have been given and continue to receive. Our move will take place in just one week, and at the same time I am readying for the arrival of my littlest babe. I hit the 35 week mark in my pregnancy today so really, it could be any day..but I do hope he waits until after we get settled in our new home! So much to do, so much on my plate, but so much joy (: It was only in June of 2010 that we made the big, cross-country (and continent) move from northern California to Ontario, and now, just a year and 4 months later, we are doing it again. I have to say, I very much abhor moving, especially with a baby or toddler in tow. Packing is going at a snail's pace and I am slow anyways with this big belly o' mine (-; But yes, it is SO worth it! Jason has not even seen the house yet, isn't that crazy? I have been up there twice already, and brought with me my Mom and Jude the first visit and my sis, Jude and Bella the second time. Jason is just so busy-busy (he has four jobs, for goodness' sake) ~ there hasn't been any time. So I have made all the decisions and arrangements, and for him this is all a big surprise (:

My right~now list:

finish sewing cloth diapers
pack pack pack pack pack
wash all the newborn clothes, blankets and baby carriers
buy socks for everyone (we all have holey socks!)
plan meals for the first few days in our new home, and make sure we have food there!
buy paint
buy brushes and rollers
lots more packing
give away more stuff on freecycle
wash pillows, blankets and mattress covers
pick a second name for the baby
reserve a moving truck
find out our new mailing address
stock up on necessities so we won't have to do that at the last minute
finalize birth plan
find a good supplier of firewood
remember to breathe

pure joy

2011-10-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

This photo has been circulating around facebook and it is just so awesome, I thought I would share it here (:

^__^

Day of the Dead banner!

2011-10-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

I just added this awesome banner to my shop! Nine Day of the Dead sugar skulls all hanging pretty on an orange ribbon (: The banner is 52 inches wide (four and 1/3 feet across) so it fits nicely just about anywhere; On a mantle, above a doorway, from the ceiling, on a wall or as a table swag... I love love love it (:

The sugar skulls are my own original illustrations ~ I made three designs and created three colour variations. They are printed onto heavy cardstock and sewn to the ribbon. $12 for the set!

Here are the designs a bit more close-up:

Zip on over to the PipoDoll shop to see them there!

^__^

zucchini noodles and pregnancy blathering (-;

2011-09-28T16:03:00.000-07:00

It has been forever since I did a post ~ or put any conscious thought into ~ raw food.
I am really tired with this pregnancy, but I try not to gripe...But really, it's hard work, and I'll tell you why:

1. Jude still wakes up at night and so I don't get any straight sleep.

2. He sometimes wakes up at 3 or 4 am and wants to play for two or three hours, and then he (thankfully) goes back to sleep, but at that point I need to get Isabella up for school. I usually go and lay back down for a couple hours but after such an insane night, I sleep badly and wake feeling like a truck ran over me.

3. This baby is big. I can tell. The midwives can tell. The cashier at the grocery store could tell this afternoon. And after all, it makes sense as Jude was 9 lbs, 12 oz. I have hardly any 'inside room' and so I can only eat little bits of food, which I imagine are not enough to fuel all the tasks my body has to accomplish.

4. I have no energy, ever. I suppose because of the lack of sleep, and then the pregnancy demands on top of that. I find it hard to be fun for Jude, spend any quality time with Bella or Jason, get stuff done, or feel optimistic. I don't know about you, but if I don't get decent sleep for three nights in a row, I start to feel crazy. Seriously, totally crazy, depressed, ornery in the worst way with no patience and I feel like I'm going to die. I know that sounds a bit dramatic but that's the way of it (-;
5. I have a very painful thing called diastasis symphysis pubis that makes it absolutely excruciatingly painful to do just about anything, like stand or sit or walk or lye down or move in any way. I am in pain ALL the time. It sucks. But it goes away once the baby is born, so that's good. I had it with Jude's pregnancy too although it started much earlier this time around. Apparently this baby is in a posterior position, so his head is bonking against my spine and wedged down in my pelvis more than normal, which doesn't help. I have been encouraging him to flip over the right way with a few simple movements and positions and I do hope he will be obliging (-;

Ok, so on to the raw food zucchini noodles...Jason and I share a car, so when he needs to teach at the college I drop him off and visit my sis because she lives really close to there. Last week we hung out and chatted and ate veggies and hummus while Jude played with the remote control jeep that just happens to be at her house. He really loves that thing, probably because he only plays with it when we go over there, which isn't very often at all.

Yesterday we did something infinitely more exciting! We broke out her new spiral - twirley type food cutter and made some raw zucchini noodles! Jude actually did all the work; it was such an easy thing to use. It took like two seconds and they were so yummy! Tash put a mixture of marinara and pesto sauce on top and garnished with grape tomatoes. Awesomeness. And the part that amazed me more than anything else was that Jude LOVED it. He ate more than half of my plate and he is a very picky eater. It's hard to get him to eat vegetables at all. Yay for raw food!

We also treated Jude to a bath, as we only have a shower here, and of course he played with the remote control jeep. He had a pretty fun time.

^__^

sleep thoughts

2011-09-25T21:23:00.000-07:00

In this final stretch of pregnancy, I am finding it very hard to sleep ~ Like right now for example. I am tired, and when I am finished monologuing on the subject I will attempt to sleep, but as soon as the lights are off and I am lying down, my legs get jittery and my hips ache in the worst way, my mind seems to come alive with uncontrollable, pointless thought and I lay there, usually listening to Jason's snoring and Jude's sleepy breathing and wonder how it is that I manage to make it through the daylight hours at all. I will nap with Jude if I absolutely have to (usually I need to be completely dilerious and feel like I'm going to melt away into nothingness from lack of sleep to break down and do so) ~ I cherish my alone time and need that bit of free (often times creative) time to balance out my soul and return me to my light, cheerier mama-self. It makes sense.

Well, good night then (:

^__^

(: love love love this..

2011-09-24T11:01:00.000-07:00

There was a child went forth every day;

And the first object he look’d upon, that object he became;
And that object became part of him for the day, or a certain part of the day, or for many years, or stretching cycles of years.
The early lilacs became part of this child,

And grass, and white and red morning-glories, and white and red clover, and the song of the phoebe-bird,
And the Third-month lambs, and the sow’s pink-faint litter, and the mare’s foal, and the cow’s calf,
And the noisy brood of the barn-yard, or by the mire of the pond-side,
And the fish suspending themselves so curiously below there—and the beautiful curious liquid,
And the water-plants with their graceful flat heads—all became part of him.
The field-sprouts of Fourth-month and Fifth-month became part of him;

Winter-grain sprouts, and those of the light-yellow corn, and the esculent roots of the garden,
And the apple-trees cover’d with blossoms, and the fruit afterward, and wood-berries, and the commonest weeds by the road;
His own parents,
He that had father’d him, and she that had conceiv’d him in her womb, and birth’d him,
They gave this child more of themselves than that;
They gave him afterward every day—they became part of him.

~Walt Whitman, Leaves of Grass

'tis the first day of autumn!

2011-09-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

How did that happen? Somewhere in between all that playing, cleaning, nursing, floor-sweeping, snuggling, diaper-washing, pregnancy and major life decision thinking, autumn appeared! I do love this season, SO so much (: With it comes all the most joyous things for me: apples in bushels, cider, the glorious smell of burning leaves, gorgeous leaves, chilly air, and the opportunity to put my knitted wares to good use! Jude loves his pilot cap, by the way. I have almost finished a second one for him, blue like the one I made for the baby. Which reminds me, I am now 33 weeks pregnant (: Time is indeed flying. Change is imminent. I am excited, hopeful, and thoroughly terrified. I am not speaking of the birth of this wee one or the life that will unfold with his arrival into our family, but the proposed change of dwelling. We have been looking for a lovely farmhouse/house in the woods for a bit now and just yesterday I think I found it. Within a matter of weeks, all could be very different for my family and I am just trying to keep calm but this is hard for me to do. Breathe breathe breathe. It is true, the saying that you'de better be careful what you wish for! I put in a tall order and by geez, the universe is delivering! Here is what I asked for: a gorgeous house, preferably in the woods with lots of room and light that was affordable to rent, something that has the potential to become a forever-home, a place to grow and laugh and blossom with my family but not too far from my parents and sister and Jason's places of employment. I also put in the (prayer) order for a fireplace, a possible homebirth, and I wanted to get settled there before this wee babe arrives. So far, all these things are present. We just have to make the bold leap, trust that beauty comes from sacrifice and a willingness to accept change, and always always try to stay positive (a hard task when worrying about all the little aspects of major life changes, things that need to be done, children's happiness and during periods of extreme sleep-deprivation). So there you have it, on the day of the fall equinox, a seasonal change for both the natural world and my own little cultivated world. Blessed, blessed life.

is off!

2011-09-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

to look at a farm house! Ooh, I do hope it is the one (: We have seen a few houses but none were the perfect place..not yet. Have a blessed, joyful day! The sun shines and the blackbirds chatter in the trees (:

harvested herbs at night

2011-09-19T07:53:00.000-07:00

I love this picture of our bedroom at night on the evening I harvested all the garden herbs and hung them above the bed to dry. Lemon verbena, lemon balm, spearmint, apple mint and peppermint (: When I make the bed in the morning, the glorious verbena smell wafts into my nose and makes me oh-so happy!

Moonface

2011-09-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

The last full moon was so beautiful and enchanting that the kids had to go out into the night to experience it properly. They have done the same thing for a few night storms too (:

Jude's pilot cap

2011-09-13T11:11:00.000-07:00

I am not actually done this hat yet ~ you can see the loose end poking out and I haven't attached the ties, but isn't it cute?? I convinced Jude to wear it by telling him that it's a pilot cap and therefore that would make him a faster driver! (-; Knitting is so much fun! Yay!

beep bleep boop!

2011-09-11T12:36:00.000-07:00

Update:

Matilda the duck ran away days ago. She had been doing so already but we always managed to find her, usually sitting on the bank of the creek behind our property. This time we haven't been able to locate her. I hope she is safe and happy.

Jude knocked my teacup over, dowsing my laptop, the modem and router with a generous helping of green tea. That happened one week ago and I was slightly traumatized thinking that my computer may be dead (All of my art files, photos and such are on here and it would really suck, to say the least, if they dissapeared from my life. Yes, I know I should backup my files. I keep meaning to but I am so busy all the time..Needless to say, I have learned my lesson. And fortunately for me, I have some prior experience with laptops and water and I immediately put it on it's side, turned it off and set a fan blowing on it for three days straight. It's working now. Whew! We did have to get a new modem..

Isabella on the first day of school

Isabella started grade six on Tuesday; I am truly shocked at the age of my girl~child, by her big feet and lengthening body. What a short time childhood is! How sacred are the moments of youth! I have always known this and tried to live in such a way that her beginnings were creative, open and free...but still, it passes by so fast.
She very much dislikes her teacher and she has come home each day consecutively more intense and emotional. Bella has always been a sensitive child, and I can see that the stress of school life is much for her to adjust to. I so want to homeschool her, but she isn't willing to go back to that way of life now that she has formed friendships with the girls in her class. I will never force her to homeschool, but I know with the wisdom of a hundred mothers that she would be happier, smarter, more grounded and confident if she were educated in this manner. I keep asking for help from the powers that be, That our life circumstances shift around to support positive growth and change for all of us, That she come to certain conclusions on her own. It's hard; we never intended to stay here at my parent's home as long as we have. I want to nurture a home environment for my littles and feel like we are heading in our own unique forward direction, not just biding time in someone else's reality. Random thoughts. Mind chatter. Breathe..

Knitted pilot cap for Jude

I am nearly finished my second knitted pilot cap and I'm delighted (: I'll definitely make a third!

I saw this photo on this blog post and totally wanted my own piano to paint (: A weird pregnancy-induced notion perhaps, but still.

So, I found a free piano on kijiji (Canadian online classifieds) the very day my inspiration came upon me! I emailed the fellow offering it, he said it was mine, and voila! Well, not exactly voila! I still had to figure out to get it to my parent's garage for the time being ~ I ended up having to pay a mover to do it, but that's all fine and good (: This piano was meant for me and I am so excited that I made it happen (:

I made my sister a plush elephant for her birthday and she wept over it; she loved it that much. I am still shocked by her reaction and so so glad I finished the project, even though I nearly abandoned it a few times due to tired and grumpy toddler antics and lack of time. I think I will make some more! Jude and Isabella made lovely birthday cards for her too. How I love handmade!

We enjoyed the celebration of my sister's birthday at her house with cake and pizza and a good ole' scrunched-up-tissue-ball fight that had everyone in histerics for some time. Good times (:

I spotted a sweet vintage dresser on the side of the road on the way home from the party and insisted that we bring it home, even though we have a tiny car and all four of us were in it at the time. Jason was awesome and managed to fasten it onto the roof with only two bungee cords! It took a bit of time and everyone had to learn a good lesson about patience (it was late and everyone was cake~weary!), but in the end the happy dresser moved into the garage beside my piano, and they will both one day make me even happier with their presence in our new home, wherever that may be (:

Jude thinks a really great name for the baby is Ketchup. We'll see about that one (-;

We have been spending as much time outside as we can, soaking up these sacred days of warmth and sunshine where you can frolic barefoot in the grass, drinking tea on the deck and playing under the shade of a tree (:

Also, Jude has been completely smitten with the caterpillars. Luckily, we have lots. He loves to hold them and is very gentle, and he knows to put them onto a leaf when he's done petting them and saying "Awww, cute" so that they can eat (: We have read The Hungry Caterpillar oh, maybe a gazillion times so he knows that a leaf is the yummiest thing for the little fellows (:

Here's my baby belly this week. 31 weeks now (:

Oh, and I am reading this book right now. I was in 3 pages and already loved it!

Alright, I am off to knit (:

more photos by Bella

2011-09-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

I just came across these pictures that Isabella took in February (:

I like 'em.

^__^

Jude in the grass

2011-09-04T01:41:00.000-07:00

(taken by my sis on her iphone)

I'm not nearly cool enough to have an iphone (-; In fact, I don't even have a cell phone!

At any rate, Jude loves the out-of-doors. He rolls in the grass giggling and tries to fall down on purpose. He's a funny little lad (: I'm so glad he is a nature-lover.

At this very moment it's past 4:30 am and I have not yet gone to sleep for the night. Jude had initially gone to bed at 9 but woke up at midnight and decided to stay up and party all night, mostly with his toy motorcycle. I am not at all pleased. Especially since he woke up at 4 am yesterday morning after getting insufficient sleep and then refused to nap all day. I have no idea what is going on with him but I am pretty sure I am going to go crazy. I can make it for three nights without enough sleep but once that fourth night comes I am a wreck, grouchily zombie-ish and utterly miserable. I have actually been awake for 24 hours now.

Oh well. That's motherhood for you (:

On a positive note, I'm nearly finished Jude's knitted pilot cap. In a moment lacking wisdom I pulled it out and started knitting like a madwoman (I do believe it was about 3 am this morning). I thought to myself, "If I haveto be awake at this dreadful hour, then I may as well treat myself to some knitting." That was a bad idea. I messed up somehow in my exhausted stupor and will haveto pull out a bunch and start over halfway through the project. I don't really mind so much. Just the act of knitting is so cathartic that it made it worth it. sort of.

Well, I'll be darned. The little angel has finally passed out and it's only a quarter to five in the morning! I guess I'll get us tucked into bed before the sun makes it's appearance after all.

^__^

30 weeks pregnant (:

2011-09-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

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little helper

2011-09-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

Jude helped me with the laundry, hanging up his diaper inserts to dry in the sun (:

What a good boy!

^__^

one grand ole' sunflower

2011-09-01T04:15:00.000-07:00

Our garden ~ with it's tallest sunflower fellow! (:

Happy first day of September! Bring on the gloriousness of autumn!

update on baby hats

2011-08-31T07:33:00.000-07:00

Here are the baby hats I have been working on! I took these photos a few days ago so the knitted pilot cap is actually finished now with ties attached (: I saw the same hat at at Melanie's blog, Our Ash Grove (one of my very favourite blogs) and I had to make it for the baby. I have only ever knitted scarves before and basically knew nothing at all about knitting, so the project was both exciting, frustrating, and a profound learning experience! Knitting from a pattern, doing things I have never done before and then seeing the finished result has been very good for me. I am completely obsessed actually and have started dreaming about knitting (-: I have already started on a second pilot cap in the next size up, which will hopefully fit Jude. My little loves can both have matching melons when the cold autumn winds start to blow...although I am using a different coloured yarn this time around. The top picture bonnets are adorable and I cannot wait to see them on a baby head. I lined all three with some green flowery flannel that I purchased way back before Isabella was born and I was sewing lots of baby nighties for her. Not the most 'masculine' fabric but does it really matter when they are that small? I don't think so. Jude wears a light yellow t-shirt with mushrooms on it all the time and while someone else might deem it sort of girly, I think he looks adorable (:

I also wanted to say thank you to Susana Tavares for featuring one of my designs on her blog post; a tribute to trees (: Yay!

oh, and I'm featured here too ~ at the fancy house road blog (:

tea and book party (:

2011-08-29T11:34:00.000-07:00

Isabella and I used to have book parties quite regularly when she was little. We prepared a picnic blanket with snacks and tons of books, parked ourselves outside (or at the kitchen table when the weather turned cold) and read, read, read those books. I am delighted that Jude has now graduated to the book~party age (: There are fewer things I love more than children's books. I collected a whole bookcase full of them when I discovered I was pregnant with Jude! They travelled all the way from California to Ontario and now, finally, we are enjoying them together (:

As of late..

2011-08-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

We have been baking, which is lots of fun for everyone..

and making diapers for robots and motorcycles (:

We took place in an outdoor art show

and got some new paints!

Lots of beautiful paintings are piling up! This makes my heart happy (:

Matilda is still with us. She likes to spend her days in the garden..

and we have also visited our friends at Willowtree market, which is only a hop, skip and a jump from our house!

Jude's love of tractors is really intense (;

We have been playing a lot..

and of course, picking mushrooms. Jude really loves to pick mushrooms!

The diapers and their wash~dry routine are pretty much endless in my little world. I can't believe I'll be diapering a second in November! Crossing my fingers that Jude will make the switch before then! (Not likely..but that's ok) I'm a big fan of not rushing things because I trust that they will unfold effortlessly in their own natural timing (:

Toddler naps are when Mama can do her new favourite thing...

Knitting! I am truly obsessed (: It is SO much fun, even more than crocheting I think!

The lovely Bella has been making bracelets for everyone. She wove the friendship bracelet and beaded the others (They are actually for the members of a certain secret spy club but that's all I can say about that)

Our fridge doth blossom with youthful creativity (:

A beautiful lunch:

Jason has been crazy~busy making origami, which has been selling like hotcakes in my shop. Yay! I make it too, but he's much faster and Jude never lets me out of his sight long enough to really make a dent in our orders. Night and nap time are this mama's magical moments for productivity (:

We have spent lots of time in the car driving to midwife appointments, the grocery store, the bakery, to weekend art shows and new destinations to pick up wonderful free finds off of freecycle (which is so fun by the way! I love meeting like-minded people!), to Staples, the post office, the library, swimming lessons and Native Focus (the shop where I occasionally work) Whew! It has been a busy month..

I am so proud of Bella. She is swimming beautifully!

And in between all of these crazy summer moments, Jason is madly preparing for his autumn teaching position at the college, I am seeking out local farmhouses for rent in the coming months and of course, growing a new baby boy to welcome into our family (: My belly is very, very round and the coming birth of this new soul is uppermost in my thoughts! Hence the knitting, and sewing of baby hats, crocheting of little toys and chronic floor-sweeping (:

^__^

2011-08-19T06:56:00.000-07:00

{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. ~ inspired by Soule Mama

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more lovely garden moments!

2011-08-18T07:09:00.000-07:00

1. the 'secret spot for sitting'. Jason spotted this wicker bench on the side of the road and brought it home for the garden (: It instantly created the most lovely sitting spot, being used by all of us, even the duck.

2. Sunflowers! My favourite! They are growing all around the bench, in the sunflower house I attempted to grow. It unfortunately did not turn out the way I had anticipated, there being very little light at the back of the house 'wall' and so only very short, straggly sunflowers grow back there. Still, it makes the most lovely place in the entire garden that much more lovely (:

3. Morning glory vines amassed around sunflower stalks!

4. Cosmos flowers grown taller than myself, some cabbages, echinacea and a few cucumber vines.

5. Tea party with picked mushrooms (non-edible, purely aesthetic)

6. Jude's mushroom arrangement. He LOVES to pick mushrooms and gift them to me like flowers (: The more he picks, the more they grow, and some I have noticed have started forming into rings! Very magical (: He must be friends with the faeries (:

rainy days and creativity

2011-08-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

We've had a great many rainy days here lately (: I personally love the rain and feel super-creative when the days are blessed in this way. Growing up, I used the opportunity of a cozy day spent indoors to let my imagination flourish, to make things, sew and draw... Well, after shucking a big bunch of corn I made two cornhusk dolls! I've always wanted to do this and yet somehow never got around to it until just now! Jude LOVED them and took them on a journey outside immediately after they were done. He picked some mushrooms for them too (: Isabella made a doll too but put it in her room before I had a chance to take a photo...It turned out quite lovely of course (:

A friend of Bella's came over to play for the day and we spent a great deal of time drawing at the kitchen table..

And this is her drawing on printed sheet fabric. She did it with my fabric markers and promptly gifted it to her Grandma~Jude (:

I made one too! A bird (: I do plan on ironing it (-;

Here's Jude's! This little impromptu project actually came about because Isabella was inspired to make a quilt, so we started tracing/cutting out squares of fabric. Jude got rather excited and adamant that he wanted to help, so I gave him his own piece to work on. You can see that he worked very hard at tracing around the edge of the square, and then doodled all over the paper in behind!

These photos totally do NOT do this cool garland justice. I took them at night and the light is blech. Still, I wanted to share because I thought it was such an awesome idea~! Isabella knotted together a bunch of my fabric scraps, many of which were bound tp be thrown away because they really were too small to be put to much use, creating a banner.

We hung the banner up in her room, creating three swags across the ceiling and it is just so lovely (: The origami orbs were made by Jason years ago and hung in her bedroom in both California and now here in Ontario (:

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27 weeks pregnant

2011-08-15T16:06:00.000-07:00

( Bella took these at our local 'Willowtree farm' a few days ago. She chose the head adornment too! )

Matilda the duck (:

2011-08-14T18:33:00.000-07:00

Well...now we have, in our home and in our lives: five cats, one husky-dog, one rabbit, and a duck!

Jason found this pretty little lady on the side of the highway yesterday morning as he was driving to the college for an orientation seminar day for incoming professors. He saw a couple ducks squished on the road and then this lady sitting near them. He drove by and then turned back to rescue her; she would likely have been killed too if left there. He brought her home to me wrapped in his sweatshirt, quickly threw on some new clothes (yes, she pooped on him!) and then raced back to the college. I woke Isabella up (it was early!) and we set to finding her a safe place to rest. Mabel's crate from our cross-country plane journey was just perfect so we cleaned it up, threw some newspaper and grass in there and Matilda (that is the name Isabella has chosen for the duck) stayed in there for much of the morning and afternoon, until we took her out to the garden. She seems much happier out there. At first I thought she was a mallard but as it turns out, she is a domesticated farm duck that looks like a really small mallard. I clearly know very little about ducks but I have learned a lot in a very short time! I hope she is ok ~ we think that she was probably hit by a car too and suffering some internal trauma as she had a bit of blood coming out of her nostril this afternoon. We are doing our best to keep her hydrated, calm and safe while she heals, the poor thing. I hope she pulls through.

2011-08-12T06:46:00.000-07:00

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New Origami sets!

2011-08-10T08:10:00.000-07:00

I have added a few new origami sets to my shop!

Gorgeous cranes made from maps! These are offered in a set of 20..

Origami lanterns made from maps... These beauties come in a set of 25!

Lovely, aren't they? And they look so pretty when they're lit up (:

Lastly, there are these gorgeous multi-colored patterned cranes (:

They come in sets of 14... I love to make them into beautiful mobiles (:

Click here to see them all in the PipoDoll shop!

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rain and other good things

2011-08-09T07:22:00.000-07:00

We had some serious, all-day rain a few days ago. The kind that pounds into the ground and changes your world...I love that sort of rain (: Jude cannot go a whole day without some feet-on-the-earth time, so we hurried outside when the rain relented just a bit. He loved it.

Today it is sunny (: We have been in the garden a few times, sitting on the newly added garden bench that Jason spotted on the side of the road (Thank you to the kind spirits of free treasures!) that is nestled in the growing sunflower/morning glory house. It is my new favourite place in all the world. Truly magical. I will post some pictures soon (:

We also shared some licorice allsorts and tea on the picnic table outside. I have always liked those. It must be the dutch blood running thought my veins..! Apparently Jude also likes them. He tried to eat all of them. A bit greedy...hmm. Now, if I am lucky I may finish one of my in-progress baby pilot caps! Jude has blessed me with a nap (:

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Bella and the frogs

2011-08-08T11:50:00.000-07:00

When we lived in California, it seemed that there was an unlimited supply of wild creatures for Isabella to hold. Frogs and toads, chickens, doves, pigeons, lizards, snakes, sea stars and cucumbers, crabs and anemones, giant beetles, butterflies, dragonflies and banana slugs...What an amazing place that was! Now that we are living in Ontario, we do have a creek out behind the property which, before the huge heat wave that affected much of Canada and the US, served as a home to many lovely frog~people. Sadly, it has since completely dried up. That seems to happen every year now...When I was little the creek was much larger and stayed flowing throughout the summers. I used to spend time with neighbourhood friends catching tadpoles, frogs, snails, minnows and crayfish...I hate that things have to change.

At any rate, Jason caught these two frogs for Isabella to pose with at the end of June when the water was still there. She's rather silly! (-;

simple joy (:

2011-08-06T10:47:00.000-07:00

(I took this lovely picture at La Purisima Mission in California. Oh, how I wish I could visit there again!)

I Have Found Such Joy

I have found such joy in simple things;
A plain, clean room, a nut-brown loaf of bread,
A cup of milk, a kettle as it sings,
The shelter of a roof above my head.
And in a leaf-laced square along the floor,
Where yellow sunlight glimmers through the door.
I have found such joy in things that fill
My quiet days: a curtain's blowing grace,
A potted plant upon my windowsill,
A rose, fresh-cut and placed within a vase;
A table cleared, a lamp beside a chair,
And books I long have loved beside me there.
Oh, I have found such joys I wish I might
Tell every woman who goes seeking far
For some elusive, feverish delight,
That very close to home the great joys are:
The elemental things--old as the race,
Yet never, through the ages, commonplace.

~ Grace Noll Crowell

art from the past

2011-08-04T09:27:00.000-07:00

My dear friend Jenny just posted a piece of artwork on her blog that I had made for her in 2002. The funny thing is that when I looked at it, I didn't recognize it at all! I assume that I made it just for her ~ and as soon as it was finished I probably popped it into her letter and sent it off without another thought. What an interesting concept that is - to make something and then send it off into the world never to think of it again.

But then, it didn't dissapear for good now, did it?

^__^

Breakfast thoughts

2011-08-02T07:31:00.000-07:00

I'm just finishing up my breakfast of oatmeal with apples, sliced almonds and honey and a big glass of water as I write this. It is a bit of a miracle that I am doing this at all ~ Jude is still cozied in bed dreaming away his toddler-boy dreams. I have indulged in my morning shower, swept the floor (twice, mind you, Thanks to three mischievious cats who insist on leaping out of the litter box in turn without shaking off their paws beforehand, leaving trails of kitty litter all over the newly-swept floor and then leaping onto the table to further their naughtiness). The day is a hot one, I can already tell. I have put on the air conditioner for a bit to cool the kitchen. Poor Mabel-bunny does not handle the heat at all and until the really immense heatwave we didn't even install the air conditioner; she basically flopped on the floor all day looking miserable and shedding like crazy. Now she is much more chipper (:

My belly is huge. Truly. When I'm out and about people have taken to asking me when I am due and when I tell them 'November' their eyes widen with shock. They were expecting to hear 'Any day now' I'm sure! Jude was a big baby (9 lbs, 12 ounces when born) and this next baby boy is following the same path apparently. The heat has really knocked me over. Being this pregnant in this immense heat leaves me feeling like a lifeless jellyfish, and that's no fun at all. I find myself excited at the thought of cool, brisk, fresh autumn but at the same time I know that that will signal the end of our lovely garden season and the onset of another brutal, seemingly endless Canadian winter. Ah, such is life. I am spoiled after my life in sunny, never-too-hot northern California!

Isabella has started her swimming lessons, which will continue until the end of August. They are just a half an hour each day, which is really such a short time but definitely worth it, and she does love to swim. I hope we land in a place with a nearby lake one day so that she can enjoy this favourite activity of hers on a daily basis and it can become a major part of her life, not just an occasional happening. Water is so healing. So is tending the garden, although mainly it is Jason who partakes of that. I am feeling so drained and tired and hot and working in the garden while the sun beats down on me is the last thing my body wants right now. I feel a bit embarrassed and saddened to admit this, but at the same time I am doing a much better job of listening to my body with this pregnancy and just 'going with it' than I did with any of my other pregnancies. Really, it's just a short time and the task is so immensely important, the last thing I want to do is plow through and end up completely wasted. That has always been my pattern and I'm quite sure most mothers are the same. To listen, breathe, and not take everything so seriously ~ These are the lessons I am most trying to embrace right now. This third babe of mine will arrive in just three months! What an amazing thing!

^__^

crocheted mouse family (:

2011-08-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

I have found a new obsession ~ crocheting mice!

They are so satisfying to make because they are super-simple and come together really fast! So far I have made five; one to represent each member of the family ~ Jason, Bella, Jude, myself and little baby fellow who as yet has no name (: I haven't made the grandparent mice yet!

Jude intercepted my mouse photo shoot, as you can see. He played with them really nicely, putting them into his litttle teacup, driving them around the table and giving them kisses. Usually he is much more torturous with soft toys, but we're working on that one (-;

I have started crocheting a baby bonnet now, a purple one for my coming little one. He will be born in the winter and heaven knows the winters here are harsh..I'm also sewing some flannel-lined bonnets and they are turning out so lovely! I will take pictures when they're done. I'm making a bunch of them (: How I love to create with my hands! My heart is a happy one (:

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gifts from the tended earth

2011-07-31T09:03:00.000-07:00

In the center of the evolving sunflower house, I planted lots of red leafy lettuce. I wanted to utilize the space until the time came for it to merely be a floor (: We have had an abundant supply of lovely, yummy lettuce in that space and have made more salad than we are used to eating, which is a great thing. The garden is also surprising ~ and delighting us ~ with gifts of yellow beans and pickling cucumbers, which we all eat straight off the vine while playing outside. The yellow tomatoes are almost ready to be harvested too! How I love the garden!

^__^

the little gardener

2011-07-30T06:26:00.000-07:00

Jude really seems to love the garden. This makes my heart happy (:

2011-07-29T09:56:00.000-07:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~ inspired by Soule Mama

^__^

Mandalas made by children

2011-07-28T06:17:00.000-07:00

Jason has been teaching children's summer art classes through Meta4 gallery in Port Perry and doing some really great projects with the kids! This is a collection of some awesome mandalas that they made this week (: I love the way they all look when tiled together! So pretty! I am envious of the ease with which children create...They just do whatever comes to them and inevitably it turns out great because art is meant to be enjoyed as an outlet for unhindered expression. As adults we spend so much time on the intellectual pursuit of creativity which is not nearly as productive or fulfilling. Well, I do anyways ~ always too much thinking! Bah!

New Art Cards in the shop!

2011-07-27T08:09:00.000-07:00

Illustrated Bird Art Cards ~ a set of four diffferent designs!

All of these lovely bird cards feature my original illustrations!

I'll be offering them as art prints in the near future as well (:

I love birds so much, especially at this time of year when they greet me upon waking with their gorgeous, happy morning chorus..

I thought it would be fun to print these brush & ink bird illustrations onto some brown recycled paper my Dad collected for me... I love the simplicity of the black line-work mixed with the intricate patterning (:

These are now offered in sets of four in my etsy shop!

morning garden moments

2011-07-26T06:12:00.000-07:00

Each day brings to us a completely new garden. How it changes with each new sunrise!

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Plush Owls!

2011-07-25T04:18:00.000-07:00

I just added these two lovelies to my shop! Plush owls that have been created from my original illustrations ~ printed onto unbleached muslin and stuffed to perfection! Very cute! ^__^

Plush Lady Owl (:

Plush Brown Owl

I love the two of them together (: They are a jolly pair!

Pop over to my etsy shop to see them there!

^__^

a walk on the land

2011-07-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

outside tea

diapers drying in the sun

clothespins are beautiful

my baby and my baby belly

yet another campfire

Mom's husky-dog, Amarook

As I stroll just about anywhere, my creative eye spots an infinitesimal number of beautiful things. Simple things. Things that represent life, or what I think life is really all about. I carry my camera with me quite a lot, for there are many beauties to capture (:

new pants for Jude!

2011-07-23T07:51:00.000-07:00

I just finished these lovely loose, light pants for Jude! I actually constructed them ages ago..over a year ago I recall, when we still lived in California. I had sewed up a bunch of pants suitable for his big, cloth-diapered bottom but then realized I had no elastic to finish the waistbands. Into my fabric stash they all went, waiting patiently...I don't think they were really that disheartened. They wouldn't have fit him back then anyway!

I made them from an old shirt of mine, a cottony black and white striped one. I was thinking he perhaps had a Parisian flair while donning them, but Jason thought Venetian was more the look (-; I do love to sew. There cannot be anything more immediately gratifying than making baby & toddler clothing too, for they stitch up so quickly and from a small amount of fabric. And then there is the immense satisfaction of watching your little one dance and run and play whilst wearing your creation (:

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2011-07-22T06:46:00.000-07:00

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this week's flowers

2011-07-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Poke, poke! One of our first beautiful morning glories (:

Echinacea, soon to be cut and dried for cold~weather teas

Lilies that transplanted here from my sister's garden earlier in the season

Gorgeous, gorgeous morning glory!

Pink morning glory has done it's duty to the garden and is now ready for a sleep (:

music box music

2011-07-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

pretty!

a bunting~!

2011-07-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

I have never made a bunting/garland/banner before. I have always loved them, and how can you not, they being so simple and fun and delightful a way to decorate a wall and a room? With a new baby on the way I thought I should certainly make one finally, and so I have cut out many many triangles in anticipation of some sewing machine action (: Yay!

more lovely garden moments

2011-07-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

Our garden just gets more lush and beautiful every day (:

One of the most lovely surprises is that some sneaky chamomile has commenced growing all throughout the garden: along pathways and in between beds of flowers and vegetables ~ I had grown a lovely garden in this very same spot more than 11 years ago and the chamomile that I so lovingly tended at that time has made a repeat appearance! What a gift! Jude readily identifies it now and picks handfuls, along with bunches of lemon balm, to drop into our teapot! It's funny that no one realized that the chamomile was still growing there, but I suppose the garden had been forgotten; it grew in with grass and weeds and then became repeatedly mowed with the rest of the grass on the lawn. I'm glad it waited so patiently for me to return (:

we love handmade gifts!

2011-07-17T07:47:00.000-07:00

Aren't these beautiful? Even before you know what they are?

We visited with a good friend of mine this afternoon and she and her four-year old son had made for Jude a very special (and slightly belated!) birthday present; homemade play dough! In five different colours and one even had sparkles! They squished the dough into cool little jars and stuck unique labels onto the front that said the names of the play dough colours: Strawberry, Blue Side, Zorange, Pesto Pasta and Dark Side. Very fun, definitely four-year old names (-; I love love love and appreciate handmade gifts like no others!

^__^

Stuffed magazine!!!

2011-07-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

Yay! The Stuffed magazine summer 2011 edition is out! Check it out to read a three-page spread on my 'Keepers of the Forest' plush gnomes! Woo hoo! I just got mine in the mail and it was so much fun to look through all the lovely creations (:

Along with having my gnomes featured in a three-page spread with lots of happy pictures, Stuffed has included a nearly 1000-word article written by me as well! It includes information on making a gnome of your own: creation tips and a list of materials, plus a big write-up all about the gnomes themselves; their way of life, history, diet, favourite activities and so on (:

How very lovely to be featured alongside so many other talented artists in such a fun magazine! Here is a link to the site so you can order your own copy ~ **Stuffed magazine**

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2011-07-15T06:37:00.000-07:00

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Self-portrait in the garage door: 22 weeks pregnant

2011-07-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

girl child art

2011-07-13T06:52:00.000-07:00

I have mentioned how talented Isabella is a few times lately but I don't know that I've shown off these awesome little mouse-printed min-pillows/ornaments that she made for everyone at Christmas-time. I gave her a brief lesson on linoblock carving and she went to work, creating the sweetest little mouse fellow. She drew directly onto the linoleum, carved out the pattern and then printed the image onto sagey green fabric with red acrylic paint. When dry, she also sewed and stuffed them. She is just so talented! If I saw these somewhere 'out in the world' I would assume that an adult artist had made them!

And then, of course, are these gorgeous handmade collage cards that she has been making. The one of the little girl is partially hand-drawn, which I love. Here is a picture of her whole card collection (so far) at the last show we participated in, wrapped in cellophane and marked. I have already posted it before but it definitely needs to be shown again:

Some of Isabella's most brilliant works are actually from the span of time when she was five to seven years old, in my opinion. She was in this amazing space of free expression where whatever was floating around in her imagination/subconscious/thoughts would come out onto paper and she'd spend hours in her room each morning drawing and then colouring with pencils the complex image. I was always floored when she presented her finished piece to me and I still marvel at the genious way in which a child's pure imagination soars. Now that she is older (ten and a half) things are much different, as they should be. Of course she is still amazingly talented but she is more aware of the world around her, the various 'cool' styles of clothing that the kids are wearing, pop-culture influence and music, etc... and yes, these have affected her childlike sense of creation. It does sadden me to watch it happen but I know that it is inevitable, and all part of the beautiful earthly process of growth. I know that she will find her way as she evolves as I did, and continue to do, and I really get quite excited (and teary in the way only a mother does) to see what else she creates as she walks through life, my talented, wonderful girl (:

photo shoot by ten-year old Bella (:

2011-07-12T16:07:00.000-07:00

Isabella followed me around with the camera on the weekend and took these! I love her photography. I could never see things or capture images the way she does. (:

The days here have been very, very hot. There has been a lot of low-key loafing going on in order to stay cool. Not Jude though! He's his usual energetic self, bombing around squealing and chatting and running while the rest of us sit panting in the shade (-; He was basically miserable all last summer, made ornery by the extreme humidity and heat. This year he seems to be faring a bit better. The garden hose certainly helps him to keep cheery. He will aim it at anyone unlucky enough to pass by! I am eager to get Isabella involved in swimming lessons again, and we are thinking it may be fun for her to attend an arts/drama/dance day camp that is taking place here in town. Fun! When I was little I went to tennis camp every summer and one year I attended horse camp. I was a horse crazy girl (-: Isabella has let me know that she would love to have that same experience too. I suppose certain things run through the veins: creativity, horse-love and chocolate adoration for sure (-;

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Four new paintings!

2011-07-11T05:17:00.000-07:00

It's always a great feeling to list new items in my etsy shop (-:

I actually created these paintings during the winter~time but sort of forgot about them with the hustle and bustle of my general life happenings. Now that they have been unearthed, scanned and listed in my shop, I can enjoy them much better (: This first one, the Owl with a beret, was painted with watercolours, a bit of acrylic paint, brush and ink, and drawing pen:

I loved my first Big Bunny lost in the woods illustration so much, I decided to create another one (Big Bunny ink and watercolour), only this time I used watercolours and ink rather than illustration markers and coloured pencils:

And then there is this sweet watercolour, Little Lady in the flowers:

Another bird totem! This one is black ink on blue acrylic (-: I love this one!

All can be found in my etsy shop!

The Potter's Studio and Gallery (:

2011-07-10T09:38:00.000-07:00

While we were staying in Maple Leaf, we made two trips into this lovely potter's studio in Maynooth. I have always loved pottery and desperately want to learn the art myself, so when we popped into Karen Gray's 'The Potter's Studio and Gallery', which is a delightful little house+studio+shop on the side of the highway, filled with her own lovely creations plus a bunch of handmade treasures made by local artists, I was happy (-: I love to peruse collections of truly handmade items. The second time we stopped in, Karen was busy working away on her wheel and was kind enough to let me take a few pictures (-: If you are ever in the Bancroft area, definitely stop in and see her. She is right on Highway 62 in Maynooth.

^__^

Little room undernieth the stairs

2011-07-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

While in Ormsby, Jude happened upon this magical little space; the little room undernieth the stairs in The Old Hastings Gallery. Decked out with antique toys and doll/baby-sized furniture, Jude was quite taken with it. Unfortunately, I had to usher him out rather abruptly when he started grabbing at the porcelain trinkets! He was none too pleased about that (-;

2011-07-08T10:20:00.000-07:00

^__^

in the garden

2011-07-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

I would like to say that our lovely garden has been tended as it deserves. I would love to say that I spend countless hours weeding and tending and enjoying it's nature offerings. I would also like to say that I think of it often and fantasize about all the things I would love to do in there, the way I used to when I gardened before having children. I think it is pretty obvious where this is going...(-; Jason has done a wonderful job of weeding and watering and tending. I pop out to our special garden space every couple days to witness the miracle of growth and blossoming that is taking place..Actually, that is not true. As of a week ago, when I realized that my herbs and lettuce had grown to remarkable sizes, I have started visiting a few times a day to collect for salads and pots of tea (: It really is an amazing feeling to throw together your dinner from vegetables that are growing right in the back yard. I love love love motherhood but I also anticipate the day when I can tend a garden as much as I please (: Jude has an amazing amount of energy and constantly runs off, me running off after him after only two minutes spent in the green solace of the plants! He does love to pick radishes though (-;

outdoor art show (:

2011-07-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

On Canada day, Jason and I set up our booth o' wares in Palmer Park. While the day turned out to be less bustling as we had hoped, we met some really lovely people and then enjoyed pizza at home with some family and friends, and then ended the day by returning to the same park at dusk to enjoy the firework show (: I thought Jude would love them but truly, he was not at all amazed. Funny boy (:

By the way, these collaged cards were made by 10-year old Isabella! She is one seriously talented girl (: One of the most prominent art figures in the town was floored when we told her who made them. I cannot wait to see what else Isabella creates as she grows (:

Now we are gearing up for another art in the park that will take place in August (: I do like taking part in shows but wow, is it ever chaotic setting up with a toddler there! Jude certainly adds an element of total craziness to the mix! All the other vendors were set up in less than an hour whereas we took three hours! Basically, he was constantly running off or taking the items from our table and putting them back in their strorage boxes...Hmm...Fun times!

Jude's birthday recap (:

2011-07-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post a few pictures from Jude's second birthday party, which was pretty low-key and suited to a very active, overtired (not a whole lot of sleep the night before), slightly grumpy two year old (poor Jude was having a mean reflux flare up for the three days and nights prior). I had hoped to invite some friends of mine who have two small boys that Jude loves to play with; I imagined a jolly early evening campfire and lots of outdoor activities to keep the boys happy and entertained but realized two nights before the slope we were headed down, having experienced many, many severe reflux flareups during Jude's lifetime.
Grandma-Jude and I took little Jude out with us during the day and had him pick out the cupcakes he fancied the best as well as a balloon. I got him the treat of his choosing at a small organic cafe in town and we sat there while he enjoyed it (: On the way home we picked up a pizza to satisfy the other party-goers and then held a small birthday party, Jude-style, at the kitchen table. He was delighted with his gifts; a wooden transport truck holding four little cars, a handmade wooden tractor, police car, vintage wooden fire engine, and a small basket ball with a basket. We relit his candles while he repeatedly blew them out, and then he ate a few mouthfuls of ice cream but didn't eat his cupcake.
Two years old!

^__^

Jude is 2!!

2011-06-28T11:13:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to my little one! I do love you so (:

^__^

How do two years go by so fast? My heart is gladdened and saddened at the very same time (:

Art show on Friday!

2011-06-26T16:59:00.000-07:00

I am delighted to be participating in an outdoor art show this Friday!
It is Canada day, so I am hoping the turnout will be a good one, with families 'camping out' in the park and along the Port Perry waterfront, awaiting the evening firework show (:
I am busy busy printing out greeting cards and art prints, labeling and adding tags..Yay!
The whole week is going to be an exciting one truly, with this show on Friday, Jude's SECOND birthday on Tuesday and Isabella's last day of grade five on Wednesday (: Fun times!

It's a boy!

2011-06-24T09:03:00.000-07:00

Jason and I just returned from my 20 week ultrasound and we have discovered that we are going to have another boy! Wow. I was so sure it was a girl, I don't know why..But I thought the same thing when I was pregnant with Jude.

His due date is 11-11-11

He smiled twice during the ultrasound! Here is one of those smiles (:

I love how you can see the spine. So awesome.

Baby feet!

So, I had all these totally awesome girl names picked out but not so many for-sure boy ones. I suppose I will be busy with this new task ~ picking out names is fun (: Any suggestions are most welcome!

^__^

Random photographs and musings from our time in Maple Leaf

2011-06-23T20:25:00.000-07:00

Kisses through mosquito netting (:

Gifts from the meadow

Fun on the ATV

My favourite window (:

Bella playing the drum

We saved this little turtle fellow from being squished on the highway

Hoola hooping!

Nature spirit in the grass

The pretty view at 'Eagles Nest' lookout, peering at Bancroft from high, high up

Pretty rapids

Parading wild grouse

Wild rabbit!

Isabella doing one of her favourite things in all the world

Blessed by a dragonfly (:

Jason reading in the yoga swing

A nap and some tea

Isabella took this neat photo through the window

She also took this beautiful picture of my Mom (:

Jude playing the blues

More napping

Jude the eager helper (:

Mom in her element (:

Jude and his #1 favourite toy in the whole world (:

^__^

Tea House!

2011-06-22T07:20:00.000-07:00

In the little town of Ormsby we happened upon 'The Old Schoolhouse Tea Room'. Once a turn-of-the-century schoolhouse, the building showcases antique furniture, desks, teapots, school books and teacher materials. Entering into this place is like taking a step backwards in time. We thought it especially fun that your order is to be written on a chalkboard slate! If ever you find yourself in the Bancroft area, definitely pop in. It's absolutely lovely (:

swimming in the wild

2011-06-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

While vacationing in Maple Leaf we found this gorgeous, remote spot to do a bit of swimming. The day was warm, the chomping bugs were minimal, and we were alone there nearly the entire time. Lovely lovely (: This was Jude's first real introduction to 'big water' as he doesn't remember his California days. He loved it. A free spirit (: Isabella has always been a genuine water spirit and she was so so happy to be in the water after our long winter! I love happening upon magical nature spots that are off the beaten path (:

19 weeks pregnant (:

2011-06-17T08:29:00.000-07:00

It's true. We will be welcoming baby # 3 into our lives in late autumn (: I am already 19 weeks along, which is halfway through my pregnancy. I have always felt innately that three was the perfect number of children to have (: I have the 'feeling' that this wee one is a girl, but I could be wrong! I had thought Jude was going to be a girl, and he turned out to be a boy - a truck, motorcycle and tractor-loving boy! Last night I felt the baby move. I have been feeling the flutterings for a week or two but they were so subtle and only happened once each time so I couldn't know for sure. But last night, that was really something. I cannot say just how feeling the movement of your growing baby in utero makes everything real, in the mind. I have been feeling separate from the experience of this pregnancy because of the other babies I have lost I am sure. On some deep level I am protecting myself, which is silly, but feeling the movement of my newest little one helps to relax my fears, and to embrace this glorious time, for indeed it is a magical time. I am blessed (:

^__^

A walk around the farm

2011-06-16T08:43:00.000-07:00

Today is a hot one, but many of the days we have been staying at Maple Leaf Farm have been deliciously cool and autumn~like, my favourite (: We have taken walks through the forest and fields and enjoyed many loaves of banana bread with chocolate chips, the recipe of which I have perfected since being here.

Today we will look for a fun place to swim and visit a ghost town nearby. Apparently the schoolhouse has been converted into a tearoom!

at the farm 2

2011-06-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

The days here have been wonderfully cool and breezy, which allows us to layer out clothes without discomfort. We need to do this to save ourselves from the very hungry blackflies and mosquitos! Who would have thought that I would actually appreciate wearing a piece of tulle on my face?

Jude looking longingly at the vintage tractor while wearing his mosquito netting mask.

Marta's lovely Maypole amidst a gorgeous country backdrop (:

Jude's cloth diapers drying between two trees on a windy afternoon.

The red barn.

Rustic beauty. One of my favourite things (:

Another of the lovely Maypole.

Gorgeous old rustic doors.

Jude hanging out inside the barn.

^__^

at the farm

2011-06-09T09:55:00.000-07:00

Jason, Jude and I are farm/house/garden/cat/puppy-sitting for two weeks at Maple Leaf Farm while our friends attend a healing seminar in the US (: We have been here for a little under 48 hours and we have already experienced a 12-hour power outage and swarming attacks of mosquitos and blackflies that you would never encounter just a few hours away! Ah, good times (: We welcomed the opportunity to be out in nature, away from the noisiness of our regular life and in that regard I am very happy. The only sounds I hear upon waking are crickets, birdsong, and the wind whooshing through the trees and the long grass of the surrounding fields. The breeze coming in our bedroom window is divine and smells so fresh and earthy. I love to watch the curtain gently blowing in the morning, taking that time to breathe slowly and nurture my inner awareness and appreciation of simple beauty. It's lovely. Walking outside donning a mosquito net headcovering is equally as amusing! Luckily, Jude will consent to wearing one. They are probably the most neccessary clothing item out here (:

Jude and I have unfortunately had a bit of a bug since arriving here which has left me feeling tired and achy and he EXTREMELY ornery and with a sensitive tummy. On the flipside, his naps have been longer and his night sleeps less interrupted. Good ole' country air! I am feeling better already, much improved since yesterday so I am guessing that he will soon be back to his cheerier self as well.

Yesterday we happened over to a local organic farm to buy some of their offerings and we ended up hanging out for over an hour chatting with the farmer and his wife, touring through the place and visiting their animals: chickens, turkeys, cows, horses, and one duck (: By the end of the visit, Jude had mastered the sound of a rooster and was quite amused by the antics of the various animals. A lovely experience (: There is nothing more pleasant and grounding than the laid-back, welcoming ways of country folk, especially those who love what they do and exude that peace and contentment, reminding others that life is indeed something to be enjoyed..

Here are a few pictures I have taken in the past few days. More to come! I look forward to roaming outside more with my camera. There are fields and forests, plus a barn that I am excited to explore (: Isabella will be arriving tomorrow with my Mom and sister and will get a healthy dose of this slower pace. Being ten years old, she will likely be traumatized, but hopefully that will pass within a couple days (-; I am brainstorming some fun activities for us to do. I know there are some beaches with swimming nearby (always good), movie nights with popcorn, hikes with the puppies (Bella loves animals), trips into town and the weekend farmer's market, baking yummy things, and perhaps another trip to the organic farm.

Jude doing his favourite thing

Jude apparently likes power outages (:

No electricity = lots of snuggles in candlelight

Teatime (:

Hello June!

2011-06-04T08:43:00.000-07:00

Ah, summer (: I am NOT a fan of the sweltering heat or bloodthirsty blackflies and mosquitos that we have to contend with here in Ontario, but I do appreciate the warmth and birdsong after such a loooooonnnngggg winter (: Our garden is blossoming, we have lots of campfires and spend lots of time playing outside, I feel healthier and much more cheery...Here we have a few pictures of Jude's favourite summertime experiences ~ the marshmallow, of course (:

2011-06-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

^__^

proust quotes, just because.

2011-06-02T17:28:00.000-07:00

"If a little dreaming is dangerous, the cure for it is not to dream less, but to dream more, to dream all the time."

"Love is a striking example of how little reality means to us."

"If we are to make reality endurable, we must all nourish a fantasy or two."

"Reality is never more than a first step towards an unknown on the road to which one can never progress very far."

"There are people whose faces assume an unaccustomed beauty and majesty the moment they cease to look out of their eyes."

~ Marcel Proust

healthy snack!

2011-05-29T08:11:00.000-07:00

Definitely worthy of a blog post! (-;

I've been doodling..

2011-05-28T16:09:00.000-07:00

...It seems that I never have enough time to do creative things, especially things that have no 'distinct' purpose, such as doodling. I generally torture myself into thinking that if it's for no actual reason, then I should not spend my time in such a way, and try to do something productive. Pretty silly, right? Yeah, I know. It sort of leaves no room for 'nurturing the creative spirit'. But for some reason, when I started gardening something happened to me; something broke loose. just a little, that let a sparkle into my mind and told me that I should start doing things for myself, things that I want to do, even if that un-fun part of me puts up a fuss. So, long story short ~ I doodled, and it was fun. I also took part in a blog swap for handmade creations that I will report on later (: And made rice pudding (:

Our garden thus far

2011-05-26T12:41:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I dug up my sister's garden and helped myself to a bunch of echinacea plants, hollyhocks, flowering vines of which name I don't know yet, and a couple other unidentified plants which, upon blooming will more than likely tickle me pink. I helped my sis plan to her garden and pick out the plants and flowers almost ten years ago, so I am sure I will approve of them! I do hope they make it. I have never transplanted such established plants before and tried my best to be gentle and respectful of their root systems and to replant them as soon as possible. We shall see! I do love gardening, so much, and my heart is singing once again after a long absence from this particular joy.

The pictures below were taken before the new (old) arrivals but they are still lovely and give one a sense of the lush garden to come.

^__^

Campfire!

2011-05-24T08:22:00.000-07:00

One of my favourite things in all the world (-:

This is what we did last weekend; a family campfire, complete with hot dogs and roasted marshmallows (: Isabella had gone to a friend's house for a sleepover so she missed out but Jude enjoyed every moment of the festivities, especially the marshmallows (-:

I'm real dirty

2011-05-21T15:44:00.000-07:00

Today we did the most of our planting in the garden! A glorious afternoon spent (: We've got, so far:

four kinds of sunflowers (I'm growing a sunflower house!)
morning glories
a mix of different greens
green beans
pink pampas grass
tomatoes - a few different varieties
cucumbers
watermelon
orange pumpkins + white pumpkins
basil
rosemary
lavender
apple mint
spearmint
lemon balm
lemon verbena (I LOVE anything lemon. It makes me so happy)
cosmos flowers

We still have a few little spots that are unspoken for. My sis is tired of her garden and so I'll zip to her place this week and dig up her hollyhocks, foxgloves and whatever else happens to be growing in her wild and untamed garden, and hope that they transplant well (: She is eager to adopt an easier-to-maintain garden look whereas I would love to amass hundreds of veggies, plants and flowers in our one garden plot (-;

Honestly, this garden is going to be absolutely unbelievably beautiful! Jason built a twig fence around the entirety of its circumference and constructed a gate to match. Mom donated her pretty garden globe for the center of the herb garden and we're adding touches of rocks and obsidian for borders and wooden slabs for pathways. And did I mention the sunflower house I've planted? That will indeed be magical when it blooms: four kinds of sunflowers for the walls ~ morning glories for the roof ~ I can't wait!

Getting my hands dirty, it brings me so much joy!

bottoms up!

2011-05-20T15:17:00.000-07:00

Mother's day (:

2011-05-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

Isabella, my Mom, my sis Tash and I went to Parkwood for a Mother's day tea. The estate has some lovely grounds to walk, gardens and a small greenhouse, which is where the tea was had. Afterwards, we popped over to a cafe for lunch and when we arrived home, Jason suggested a campfire with the customary hot dogs and roasted marshmallows for dinner. Fun!

pipoDoll!

brothers

snow walk

cheetah girl, dessert and bread!

bread

things that happen

happy is my heart

Grouse!

busy month (or so..) ! I'm not even sure what day it is (-;

wow.

!!!

life stuff

(:

Here at last! (:

snippets of our new home (:

first snow

recent good things..

39 weeks pregnant!

where we live

moving

pure joy

Day of the Dead banner!

zucchini noodles and pregnancy blathering (-;

sleep thoughts

(: love love love this..

'tis the first day of autumn!

is off!

harvested herbs at night

Moonface

Jude's pilot cap

beep bleep boop!

more photos by Bella

Jude in the grass

30 weeks pregnant (:

little helper

one grand ole' sunflower

update on baby hats

tea and book party (:

As of late..

{{ this moment }}

more lovely garden moments!

rainy days and creativity

27 weeks pregnant

Matilda the duck (:

{{ this moment }}

New Origami sets!

rain and other good things

Bella and the frogs

simple joy (:

art from the past

Breakfast thoughts

crocheted mouse family (:

gifts from the tended earth

the little gardener

{{ this moment }}

Mandalas made by children

New Art Cards in the shop!

morning garden moments

Plush Owls!

a walk on the land

new pants for Jude!

{{ this moment }}

this week's flowers

music box music

a bunting~!

more lovely garden moments

we love handmade gifts!

Stuffed magazine!!!

{{ this moment }}

Self-portrait in the garage door: 22 weeks pregnant

girl child art

photo shoot by ten-year old Bella (:

Four new paintings!

The Potter's Studio and Gallery (:

Little room undernieth the stairs

{{ this moment }}

in the garden

outdoor art show (:

Jude's birthday recap (:

Jude is 2!!