a journal of sorts

like I need to spend anymore time on the web, but I've decided to keep an online journal about the half-marathon.
maybe it will keep me more accountable, maybe.
Have a good evening!

dishcloths and orchids

I was asked to be a volunteer driver and parent assistant for a field trip today. Grades K-5 of the girls school went to see a play at the local community college.
Just as we were rushing out of the door I grabbed some yarn (the colorway is fiesta) and some size nine double pointed knitting needles and stuffed them into my purse. I just wanted to knit something, something that was not going to need any attention to detail. Since the theater was dark I knew that I was going to make something super simple and do whatever stitches that came to my head. Now mind you the dishcloth came out wonky (increasing and decreasing stitches with no rhyme or reason will do this to a project) but a little crochet edging decreased the wonkiness factor a bit-plus it's just going to be a rag to wash the dishes! It was nice to have something small to work on during the play.

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For Valentines day I received an orchid-truly to make me happy for any occasion just give me a plant of some kind. I'm so excited that my collection is now up to four orchids.

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I am going to try to attend a community garden meeting tonight that is being held at the library. A big pot of beans are cooking on the stove and to tell the truth I'm here blogging to avoid making dinner-but soon my ears will be met with famous "I'm hungry", so for me (after I push publish post) it's back to the "chopping board".
Happy Tuesday!

kindness

When I started blogging I did so mostly to have a creative outlet, a space to show just some of the little things that we do daily (really I say a little 'cause I'm a bit of a private person in many ways). Yet as time progressed I realized that there is a whole lot of us that are sharing, using the internet, as a place of community. Yesterday I received a package from Libby (her crochet and photography are pure awesome). What really blew me away was that the contents of the package were so me~

~pretty yarn


~plantain chips

(I was tempted to eat these chips all by myself, but I shared some with the family)


~curry powder

(now I have to get my curry on)

All I can say is thank you Libby for your kindness and thoughtfulness, and isn't it something that I received your package exactly a year after starting this blog-how cool is that :)

Thanks again, Libby!

crafting out

Today I met some friends downtown at the yarn shop to do a little knitting (in my case I did do a little knitting, I mostly talked and enjoyed my coffee).
I had a fun time, in fact I know I need to do this more often (plus it's one of my crafting goals for this year). Hopefully I'll make the time for knitting, friends, coffee -all together- at least a a couple of times each month. It's so nice to get support and to admire the handiwork of others as well.

~hot drinks

~busy hands


~in the lap

a really nice way to spend a Sunday.



(just a little note~January was both a busy and emotionally tough month on the personal front, so for February I'm looking for new inspiration. I'm going to do a picture a day blogging-"photo February" -just taking a snapshot and then posting a few words about the picture or just about the day, I'm looking forward to this.)

Advent-day 4 and day 5

~amaryllis just planted

For the last two evenings of Advent, we ended up reading the same passage. The passage is Philippians 2:1-11. This passage talks about how we should try to have a more Christ-like nature. My favorite verse from this passage is~He took on the very nature of a servant. He was made in human form ~verse 7. What does that exactly mean, taking on the nature of a servant? More specifically what does that me for in my life journey. I know for myself that at times I can be selfish, concerned about myself, my rights, my needs, and my wants. Really I have to get out of my comfort zone to have the "nature of a servant". Getting out of my comfort zone, yes-is something I struggle with as well (I'm definitely a work in progress :). I make excuses, I get lazy, I think "well someone else can do a better job helping out than I" and so on and so on. Breaking out of this mindset is something I have to do-because a servants heart is a heart close to God, and that is exactly where I want my heart to be.
After Friday night's Advent the girls received a gel pen and a piece of candy. Saturday night they got bowls of ice cream with peppermint sprinkles (: We then looked at some movies.
I know in this space that I share a tad of my domestic life. I have realized to some that talking about spiritual issues on a blog may not be a particularly "popular" thing to do. But for me my everyday-domestic life is strongly influenced by my spiritual life, and to avoid talking about how important my relationship with Christ here would only make me a fraud. I am human, a broken one at that-I know I need Him, I know.

still enjoying summer

~tomatoes, flowers from the garden


~tea (made the lazy way) just add tea bags to water


~and enjoying these zebra tomatoes especially

I appreciate the comments given for the giveaway, thank you so much!
At first I thought I would let the kids draw a name, but they fell asleep (my mommy quiet time is after they fall asleep :) so I used random.org and got the #3, which is Glo from Hooked on Yarn, One Stitch at a Time.
Glo just send me an email and I'll get your package on its way.
Thanks again everyone and have a happy weekend!

pancakes and a 50th post giveaway!

For the last couple of mornings the girls have been asking for pancakes. Usually I have been able to make them happy by offering bread and peanut butter for breakfast, but today guess what? All the bread was gone! So I obliged and pancakes were made~


~making pancakes


~the pancake pile

The pancakes turned out great. The girls and I used the recipe from the book Cooking is Fun. This book is totally great for kids and parents who want to make simple homemade delicious food. I love the vintage look of the book, which only adds to its charm. Actually the pancakes happen to be the second recipe that we have tried from this book. Just on Monday we made the Heirloom brownies (these were also totally good, especially with a cold cup of milk).



This is the 50th post on my little blog here, so I've decide to do something a little special. For a while now I been trying to organize my craft stuff- I have found some things that I think will do well in a new home, this includes:

~3 skeins of novelty yarn (purchased from Hobby Lobby)
~2 iron-on appliques (one floral, one an owl)
~1 needlepoint kit
~1 small bag of colorful tiny clothes pins
~1 card of vintage buttons
~1 small bag of vintage trim (purchased from thrift stores)

just leave a comment by Thursday evening (tomorrow night) and I'll draw a name by Friday lunchtime.

Have a good Wednesday!

the blogging thing

I'm a reader of blogs-quite a few actually. I tend to read blogs that deal with mothering, creativity, food making (and sometimes politics) because this is what is most pertinent to me and my everyday life. I have alot to chose from, blogs are everywhere-so why I wonder have I chosen to start a blog (about 2 weeks ago) when there are so many out here in the big universe of the world wide web? Well I think I may have a few reasons-

1) I think blogging may give me a better perspective, by this I mean that it can serve as a diary of sorts. Allowing me to see our days in a different way, and not totally just relying on my memory (which is a little sketchy at times, but I have the nagging tendency to remember the less than stellar moments of a day-yes I'm working on this). If I can just capture some of the regular low key life moments in words/pictures- perhaps everything won't seem to just happen in a blur (seriously it seems like each day goes so fast-see its already Wednesday!)

2) An outlet-blogging is an outlet. As a mom at home sometimes I have limited adult interaction during the days, so it is nice to see the voices of other moms out there just talking (rather typing) out thoughts, ideas, and questions. I have seen alot of positive support in the blogging community, and I think this such an important result of sharing one's own story, one's own ideas, even though we may have varying circumstances/situations.

3) It will help with my writing skills (I can hope right:)

4) I can share-so I think I should (like I was taught in kindergarten). I have received alot of inspiration from the blogging community so I think I shouldn't just be getting inspiration without giving any.

I guess thats about it with my list (I'm a total list person). So lets all continue to tell our stories, always remembering compassion along the way.