Morning Coffee

I do love a quite morning cup of coffee, cream and sugar please.  

Preferably on the front porch swing, by myself listening to nothing but the birds sing their morning song.  There is something about this ritual that is so calming for me, sitting, sipping thinking about the day ahead.  It's not like a cup of coffee at work, in the wee hours of the morning, a quick attempt to wake up under the bright florecent lights of the hospital so that I can help a new mom with her first breast feeding experience.  This cup of coffee is for me and me alone.  Not the best habbit, but certainly not the worst.  I swing on the porch swing and try to figure out which bird is talking to which.  I try to capture pictures of them at the feeder...

I'm always too late.  But now I'm up off the swing so I look around, see how the flower beds look from the porch, try and remember what is going to bloom next, see if the pesky bindweed is causing trouble.

 I take a moment to be proud of the flower beds, we built them all, there was nothing but lawn here when we moved in to this house.  Now there are flower beds and vegetable beds and it is full of love. 
Often at this time of year the first person I have a conversation with is my sweet little 3 year old neighbor.  She is out on her porch as well, singing songs, talking to the birds, asking me what I'm doing, where the kids are ("still in bed" I say).  It doesn't get any cuter than this little thing!
Next Corey usually comes down, sleepy, crazy bed-head of red hair everywhere.  He's finished with his early morning thinking he tells me, I smile and kiss his forehead.  I love the smell of his hair, I squeeze him tight, almost too tight, trying a little maybe to squeeze him back to the little tiny baby he was just yesterday.  He squeezes back, looks up at me and smiles, "I love you mom" he says, and for a brief moment I see in his eyes that same baby. "Mom, can you let go now so I can get some breakfast" he asks still smiling.  I laugh and release.
I go inside for the laptop to begin a Monday morning blog post and soon Miss Molly is down.  She looks sleepy and tall, taller than even last night when she went to bed.  I gaze in awe of her beauty, just as I have been doing for the past 10 1/2 years, still amazed that I had something to do with the creation of the amazing being.  She snuggles up to me and I notice a sticker on her forehead, probably something left over from a bedtime game last night.  She's been (of her own free will) sleeping on the top bunk in Corey's bedroom lately, I think they have really been enjoying each others company and conversation at bedtime.

She's off the grab breakfast and while I'm looking for a picture of them to post I come across these photos they took of themselves the other day and then downloaded on to the computer themselves...when did they learn that? 
Our day has begun; typical and unique in so many ways.  I am at peace, and ready for another cup of coffee.
Do you have a morning ritual? 

This Moment

Joining Soulemama and her beautifully growing family again this week for {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.

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the yarn along again this week.  Getting back into  rhythm certainly feels good.

I have the same issue as Ginny mentioned in that I cannot focus on one knitting project at a time, instead I have several going.  I'm almost done sleeves on Tiny Tea Leaves for our little friend Theona.  The yarn is Romney Ridge Farm right up the road from me!  such a sweet little farm to visit, Kelly hand dyes the yarn from all her sheep right there.  The other knitting project you see is an altered version of the same sweater that Molly has invented/requested.  It will have cap sleeves and be shorter.  The yarn we found at a yarn shop on St Simon's Island.  It's Auracania Ruca 100% sugar cane!  We had to give it a try, I think it would make a lovely shawl, though I'm not sure how it will end up as this sweater, but Miss Molly was insistent so we'll see how it turns out. 
As far as reading, I've got a few things going right now, but something I'm really loving is Mini Farming: Self Sufficiency on 1/4 Acre by Brett L. Markham.  This is definitely a beginner book and probably wouldn't be useful to someone already living a farming lifestyle, but I'm enjoying it.  I've found some good info on soil balance and some in-depth info on my raised beds that is helpful.  There is some good info on raising meat birds including instructions to build a simple mechanical plucker.  I'm not there, but it was interesting to read. 
We are finally getting some sun here in Maine so I'm off to tend to my garden.
As always, thanks to Ginny for hosting.

Home

A quick post today as we get back into our rhythm of being at home.  Our trip was fantastic, sunny and relaxing...just what everyone needed.  It's still raining here in Maine and the lilacs patiently waited for me.   There is lots to do here at home so here are a few pictures of the trip.  We had nothing but sunshine, warmth and general happiness.

There were late night swims in the pool

Nightly bubbles baths in their grandmothers jacuzzi tub

Sometimes with a few too many bubbles

Visits to beautiful historic places

 This amazing driftwood beach on Jekyll Island

Even though I've seen it before I am always amazed by the difference in vegetation when we travel south.

But mostly just seeing my two amazing little ducks so happy to spend time with grandparents!  Truly a wonderful trip.
Now back to reality...

This Moment

Joining Soulemama for  {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.

The Sun Feels So Good

After all the rain in Maine the sun here has felt amazing!  The kids are having a great time playing, visiting with their grandparents, and playing some more.  They were in the pool as soon as we got in Tuesday night they were in the pool and first thing Wednesday morning again.  Greg and I started off with a lovely massage and some down time at the spa thanks to my mother-in-law.  After a very stressful day of travel it was just what we needed.  I'm excited to venture to Jekyll Island later today, the kids have been before but Greg and I have not.  Choosing my "this moment" this week is going to be tough!  

Hope that you are enjoying a bit of sunshine where ever you are, and if not I'll try and breath some in for you.

Some last Minute Sewing

We're off to find sunshine tomorrow morning!  Yay!  It's been so cold here that we actually fired up the wood stove yesterday and today.  I had many sewing projects planned last week, but the stomach bug I had the pleasure of spending many days with changed all of that.  I did manage to get the Mei tai baby carrier finished for my sister-in-law's baby shower.  It came out great, I modeled it for Greg with a doll (why I didn't take pictures is a mystery), I'll have to post pics later when it's on my brother holding my new little niece or nephew.
I've accepted the fact that I won't get everything done before the trip, but here is a little peak at what I have managed to get done.

This fabulous skirt Molly scored last weekend second hand when she was visiting friends in New Hampshire.  She's obsessed with the color turquoise right now and she loves wrap skirts so it was really perfect for her.

The Mexican sugar skull is my own handy work, I mentioned that I thought what the skirt could use was a little embroidery and this is what she requested.  I've really enjoyed doing some embroidery lately, it's a very slow mellow little project.

 

This skirt I made for myself, I didn't use a pattern just took some measurements and then tweaked it a little till I got what I was looking for.  I wore this to the baby shower on Saturday and got many compliments.

How bout these!  Can't wait to get a picture of them in use.  I found this blue pin striped seer sucker fabric and knew that Corey needed a little pair of beach pants from it.  I can see him collecting shells and fossils now.  Don't have a pattern here either, just did a quick trace of some sweatpants.
That's about it for now.  I'm off to finish packing, and maybe try to get one more project finished (I'm an addict what can I say).  I'll try to post picture of our trip through out the week.  Hope that you all are having fun and getting some sunshine!

This Moment (finally)

Joining Soulemama late as blogger was down...once again {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. 

Best Laid Plans

I went outside this morning for the first time since Monday.  I've been hit by the nastiest GI bug around and it hasn't been pretty.  No sewing, no cleaning, no thinking really (maybe a fantasy or two about IV fluids), it's been that bad.  While I am on the mend I am still quite ill and amazed at how long this is lasting.  I finally ate this morning and am hoping for energy from that.  Being outside was nice, it's always amazing to me that when our lives appear at a stand still for whatever reason, illness, work, chidbirth etc... anything that keeps us from noticing what is happening around us,  life still continues on.
Outside today that was obvious:

flowers are blooming and growing,

our peach tree is full of sweet pink blossoms,

There is columbine, lupine and clematis (that last shot is for you Rachel).

there is a patch of lettuce ready for eating, along side some grass ready for mowing...

The blueberries and raspberries are making hardy promises.

And finally, the lilacs are very close to bloom.  I'm actually a little nervous now that I will miss them in all their glory while we are away next week.  But none the less, it was lovely to step outside this morning and start to feel human again.  I'm off for a nap now, hope that your day is lovely and full of blooms.
A Huge thank you to my amazing husband here!  I couldn't have survived the last few days without him.  He worked from home as I couldn't really move.  He shuffled kids around, cooked them meals, and shuttled me back and forth in the middle of the night as needed.  I am so lucky...

The Calm Before the Storm

It's so peaceful and quite right now as I sit here browsing blogs.  The birds chirp softly outside, the children are still asleep in their beds after a long fun filled weekend away and I am savoring a cup of coffee before the storm begins.  This week will be hectic, there is much to do.  I need to finish a Mei Tai carrier for a baby shower this weekend, make this for Miss Molly as promised, not to mention about 6 other sewing projects I want to get finished before we fly to ST Simon's Island a week from today.  Of course there is school work to be done and a whole lot of cleaning (surprise surprise).  So for now I am enjoying the calm, breathing slow and deep and making that mental check off list for the days ahead. 
How's that for glorifying procrastination:)
Here are some wonderful pictures of our day yesterday in Tamworth NH with our favorite friends:

the girls checking out the swirl factor on the skirts I made them (should I post a tutorial?)

they all have too much fun on the zip line

a trail through the woods

a very cold river

dares to jump in

a helping hand through the strong spring current

really thinking about jumping in

he did it!  All the way under!

the gang

This silly group has known each other since Corey and Molly were 2 and 3 years old, before the twins were even born 6 years ago.  Their friendship is strong, imaginative and wonderful.  Mamas do much crafting together, dads play much guitar,  we are so lucky to have them in our lives.