This Moment

Merry Christmas!

This Moment

This Moment

And then she was 3...

What a day!

There's been talk of snow coming for several days now. It's supposed to snow tomorrow--or possibly tonight. But this Colorado girl couldn't wait anymore, so today we packed up our mittens, hats, snowsuits, fleece, extra socks, extra hats, extra mittens (traveling with small childen--you get the idea) and went on a snow hunt! Our first stop was to take Paul some lunch and check out the farm he was working on today.


After visiting with Paul and meeting the the fine folk who live there, we met some of the animals--including quite a few donkeys who were getting shoed. This fuzzy fellow was awfully sweet!

We then piled back in the car and went off in search of snow. We were already out in Corbett, about twenty miles from Portland, so I decided we'd head up Larch Mountain, a mountain I hiked up years ago, hoping to find some flurries. I saw a little patch of melting snow near a driveway and took it as a good sign to keep going. Sure enough, the higher we got, the more snow there was, until suddenly the road was no longer clear and there was at least one foot of snow on the branches of the trees. After passing the "DANGER road no longer maintained sign," I figured I should probably turn around and find a safe place to park heading back down the mountain. And then it happened. As I was turning around, the car slid off the road and landed in a big snow drift. No problem, I thought, both girls were still asleep, I'd just pull out of there. Or not. After several failed attempts at digging my back wheel out, I began to assess. We had food. We had water. We had blankets and lots of warm clothes. We did not have cell reception. We did not see any other cars. I could hike down the mountain carrying two small children, right? Just as I was planning how this was all going to play out, a car came! We were saved! Or not. He didn't have any rope to pull me out. I didn't have any rope to pull me out. But then, when there were no cars for almost an hour, all of a sudden there were lots of cars. People with shovels and tow ropes and extra arms to push. Knowing we were safe, that I would not have to hike down a mountain with my babes in arm, or sleep in the car on top of a lonely mountain, I quickly grabbed my camera and tried to capture the beauty (because now it was beautiful again and no longer scary) and then we got the hell out of there!!
I'm still hoping it snows tomorrow--I'm not sure I'm ready for another snow hunt for awhile!

This Moment

Honoring Tuesday

We love you so much sweet Tuesday! Missing you today and everyday.

October Change

Happy October! Wow, October already? A new month is the perfect time to make a new change, I think. Inspired by my friend Taryn, who is doing One Thing, One Month to lighten her impact on the Earth, I will too. For the month of October, I will not buy anything new (except food and toiletries). Last year, we made a pact with friends that we would not buy anything new for one solid year. Well, that amount of time was just too long and I failed. However, I did significantly decrease the amount of stuff I bought. I also donated at least 5 things every time I bought something new, so I also got rid of a whole lot of stuff we didn't need.

What will you do?

The dreadful wind and rain

Every year Paul leads a kayaking trip for a group of grandmas and every year, we tag along for some fun on the Oregon coast. We stay in a yurt near Tillamook, OR and in years past, Aoife and I would play at the beach, explore small coastal towns and then meet the grandmas for big potluck dinners in the evenings. This year, the girls and I could only go for one night as we had to get back for school, but we were hoping this would be the year Paul could take Aoife out for a short paddle in the bay. Unfortunately, the wind was too strong for anyone to do any paddling, so we all headed out for some beach play and coastal town exploring. With this group, it's not possible to have a bad time!

Such a long time to be gone...

With this new blog, I'll post all the time. I will stay updated and write witty things and post amazing photographs. Or, I'll be realistic. I do have a few valid excuses--my computer was broken, family came to visit, oh, and I do have a newborn. How long do you get to call them a newborn, because my tiny little babe just turned two months old! It's true what they say--don't blink! And the other almost THREE!! So hard to believe, and yet it feels like they were always here.

Anyway, I'm back. The computer is fixed. The children are asleep. I'll try to post more.

In the San Juans

Paul and I packed up the kids and headed north to the San Juan Islands to celebrate our ninth wedding anniversary. The trip was perfect! So many great memories. Here are a few...

Silk and Sun

One of Aoife's favorite things to play with is a square piece of silk. Okay, several square pieces of silk. She wraps them around her and wears them as dresses, flies them behind her like wings or a cape, wraps her dolls and animals in them, etc., etc., etc. So, with my playschool about to open again, clearly we needed more. I ordered 10 silks (last time I ordered one long piece and cut and hemmed them myself--trying to hem them was definitely not worth the few dollars I saved ordering it uncut) and when they arrived, we decided we would dye them with food coloring. All the instructions I found online said to microwave the dyed silks to set the color. Not having a microwave, I pondered my other choices. Why, the solar cooker would do the trick! Here is what we did (should you ever find yourself in my very same predicament-on a sunny day):
First we soaked the silks in vinegar and water:

We then mixed some gel food coloring into the water and placed each colored silk in a plastic bag:

We placed these in the solar cooker for several hours. (Fast? No, but we were in no hurry):

And ta-da:

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This Moment

A Blanket of Love

I run a small preschool in my home and one of the many things I love about doing it, is getting to know and befriend all the parents. This past year, when Elizabeth, one of the moms, came to visit the school to check it out for her son, we instantly had a connection. You know those people you meet and within about one minute you know you will be friends? That's how it was with us. Over the school year I watched her cancer come back, and ultimately, take her away. Because of the birth of my new baby, I closed the school for the summer, so her son, Benjamin has not been back since she passed. I would like him and his sister to how much their mom meant to me and how loved they are. Thus, the blanket of love.

The blankets will be made from 56 knit (or crocheted) 6"x6" squares. I'd like to make Elizabeth's son, Benjamin's blanket in creams, blues, and greens and Nora's, Elizabeth's daughter, in creams, reds and pinks. It would be lovely to have the squares knit in natural fibers. If you would like to add a note with your squares, I will put them all together and give them to the children with their blankets.

If you would like to participate and knit a square or two (or as many as you like), please email me and I will send you my address so you can send me the squares.

Thank you for taking the time to help some sweet children feel loved.

Wandering Wednesdays

Crawling along at a snail's pace...

Passing on the love

I remember when cancer was something that happened to other people--something that never affected my family, or people I knew personally. I wish that was still the case. My heart has been broken over and over again by this devastating illness. Two years ago, we lost my two year old niece to Neuroblastoma, a rare form of childhood cancer. Then, last summer, we lost my father-in-law to brain cancer. This past week, I lost another friend to cancer. She was my age, and a mama to two young children. Yet another family that has to go through this heartbreak. And it seems to be so prevalent these days.

But, as my brother and sister-in-law have said, LOVE is bigger than cancer. They have started a website, whatchagonnado.org where they accept donations for families whose children are battling cancer. The donations go to helping the family with things like meals, gift cards for hospital cafeterias and massages--things to help families get by in the moment. Things that helped them during their endless hours in the hospital. Passing on the love.

Several months ago, I read about another little boy who lost his mama to cancer, and a few loving friends who asked people to help them knit squares to make a blanket for the little boy. This morning, I thought about that little boy and about my friend's two children who just lost their mom. I'd like to pass the love on to them. Would you like to help? If you knit or crochet, please consider making a 6 inch square and sending it to me. I will put all the squares together and sew them into blankets for Nora and Benjamin, and then, hopefully, they can feel our love, and in time, the pain might lessen a little bit.

What I am proposing is that anyone who would like could knit or crochet a six inch square. It would be wonderful it could be made of natural fibers - such as wool or cotton, but all squares are welcome.

One suggestion for knitting the square is to use size six needles and worsted weight yarn, the cast on is 31 stitches. Check out the Spring issue of Living Crafts, there is a wonderful piece showcasing many different patterns.

Please email me at wintry@me.com and I will email you back my mailing address. The deadline is September 10th for the squares. I will then sew them all together and give them to the family.

If you don't knit, or even if you do, please consider donating to whatchagonnado.org and helping another family going through the unimaginable.

Thank you!!

This Moment

Inspired by SouleMama

Wandering Wednesdays

Last Wednesday I wandered into labor. This Wednesday is a bit more mellow...

Just a bit of baby bliss...

This Moment

inspired by SouleMama

Welcome to the world, Fiona Josephine!!

This Moment

Inspired by SouleMama:

Wandering Wednesdays

While reading a few of my favorite blogs, I came across GardenMama's newest photo challenge: take a walk and photograph where you go! Since I'm not wandering too far these days, today's walk took us over to our friend Heidi's house, where she and her children were coloring their sidewalk with chalk.

Gone Fishin'

While waiting for labor to begin, I've gone a bit overboard crafting. Today, I finally finished the fishing game for Aoife. I sewed little felt fish with washers in their mouths, then made a fishing pole with a magnetic hook. The "pond" is a piece of silk I dyed with food coloring. I think I will make a longer "river" with more silk, then Aoife can practice fly fishing! Time to go finish the napping sign for the door and then stencil some onesies...

on getting things, and getting things going...

I finally got that glider I've been wanting. Yay for Craigslist! I finally started that knitting project for the baby I thought I'd start back in November. Yay for procrastination! Maybe now that baby will finally start labor? Yay for baby!!

One teeny-tiny carrot!

Our garden has had a rough time this year. The lack of sun, the slug-fest that was apparently held at our place this year, and then the heat wave did not help matters one bit. Truth be told, neither did the fact that I just didn't give the garden much TLC this year (hey, I'm about to give birth, I've got a few things on my mind). We have enjoyed a couple strawberries, plenty of peas, and now, finally, this itty-bitty carrot! Here's hoping for a better harvest next year and to growing a healthy baby this year!!

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inspired by Soulemama:

Berry Picking

We spent the afternoon on Sauvie Island, a beautiful area just outside of Portland, full of farms and rolling hills. We stopped off first at a lavender farm, and then on to another farm to pick raspberries and blueberries. It was too hot to pick the pounds and pounds of berries I had imagined, but it was a good start to berry picking season!

And while we wait...

Should we go? Will it be too hot? Will we regret it if we don't go? I've been going to the Oregon Country Fair for the last 15 years, why stop now? Especially when we were offered free passes for the day! OK, we'll go!

Despite the heat and the crowds and the swelling feet, it was another great year, and I am so glad we went!! I had my belly painted while there--the face is a little funny looking, but it sure was nice to put my feet up while they did the painting! A few photos from the event...