fresh air

It seems as though the spring cold that has entered our house has found it's way to me!  I want nothing more than to stay in bed, but it's simply gorgeous outside so I'm thinking fresh air is what I need today.
I let the kids have at it with some seeds, we're not starting many seeds this year, these are just a few flowers and herbs.

  We just don't have the space or luck when it comes to starting tomato or peppers.  Luckily I've got a friend (you know who you are) who's got some lovely seedlings started, not sure what my tactic will be but some buttering up will be commencing when the time comes:) Of course she does all the same kinds of crafts I do so a trade may prove tough, but I'll find a way. 
I've got the windows open and did manage to bring some more branches in to get that spring feeling. This is the third round of forsythia we've done, they are so lovely and bloom so fast.  I also brought in some lilacs which I've never done before but I saw Melanie over at Our Ash Grove had clipped some and thought "why have I never done that"!

We have plenty of lilacs and I'm beyond excited waiting for that smell. It never lasts long but for a week or so in May sitting on my front porch (or backyard for that matter) is simply intoxicating. 
Now that I'm back inside and the kids have moved on to making mud-pies:

Gotta love that they don't ever seem to outgrow the fun of mud.  Now I've decided it's time to give in to this spring cold.  I've done as much as I can do, these two are content, the windows are open and I must just rest.  Here's to fresh air and feeling better soon.

yarn Along

I'm joining Ginny over at smallthings for another yarn along.  It's such fun and I haven't been joining in because I've got so many different things going on in the craft world.  But here it is.  I've been reading this hysterical handyman's book I picked up at the hospital booksale for $1.  It's copywrited 1962 and it actually has some useful info (though honestly I just love the pictures).

I mean the way the woman is looking up at her hard working pipe smoking man is enough to keep me laughing for hours!
As for the needles, I've started on what I THINK will be a little cardigan for Molly, I got this Araucania yarn that she is in love with.  It's alpaca, merino and silk (so yummy).  The best news is that I got it on closeout at Halcyon yarn.  I'm so lucky to have this place in the same town I live in!  walking in the front door just makes you smile.  I've been playing with knitting patterns recently so I'm sure there will be more posts about this sweater as it progresses. 
Behind the book is another one of the sweet little crochet jacket that works up in a few hours (love that instant gratification!) It's a lovely yarn that was handspun by one of the flower girls from my wedding!  How cool is that?  It's a gift for a friend who knows she's having a girl.
thanks to Ginny for hosting this fun little knitting group.

The Shift

Right now Greg and the kids are off with the dogs and I am alone in the house.  It is quiet except for the the birds that are chirping like crazy as spring is in full swing.  As I sit here reading through some of my favorite blogs and enjoying a little mama time I can't help but smile as I know that "the shift" has happened.  The shift that happens every year when the weather gets warmer and we spend more and more time outside.  Not that we aren't outside in the winter, but it's different, there is much effort involved with going out in the winter.  In the warm weather the door is open and people and dogs come and go throughout the day. 
There was a walk with our oh-so-sweet friends that involved some playing  Three Billy Goats Gruff:

"who's that stomping across my bridge"

Clearly this little goat was not scared of the Molly Troll.  There was also a fairy house to be built.  It seems only yesterday that my two were the wee little ones looking up to the "big kids", turns out now they ARE the big kids...

building plans

hard working little helper

looking good

 

 There was much frolicking about:

There was also time today to start getting the beds ready for planting and the kids were eager to help, though as I was snapping photos Molly asked "can you please not take picture of me gardening and post them all over your blog?" I had to respect that, the boy of course...he doesn't seem to mind:

Of course there is always time for a swim no matter what the weather when you are Tucker:

So there you have it.  The shift, when we start spending more time outside than in...I personally am looking forward to some knitting on the porch swing.  How's the weather in your area?

Signs of Spring

I feel like I can finally start letting myself get excited, spring has sprung!  Even the down pour we had last night and through much of this morning was warm and felt good and new.  I cherish the emotional sense of change that comes with the seasons living in New England.   However, as winter comes to an end it's easy to get discouraged and down.  We are teased with lovely warm days only to be then reminded that winter is not over as we get another foot of snow.  I do think that now I can safely say the warmer weather is beginning.  As I walk around the outside of the house inspecting all that needs to be done I see it all.

Crocuses are popping up everywhere, I do love these little guys...

especially the purple ones.

These tulips were planted on Molly's 4th birthday, it was a bulb planting party, what a great way to celebrate a fall birthday!

I found these out back a few years ago in an overgrown little area and transplanted them.  They've  done amazing in their new spot and I think this year I may need to divide them!

Buds on the lilacs always make me smile...the painfully obvious fact that it's time to re-paint, not so much.

A happy pup who can't get enough ball in the sun.
And finally, one of these:

What spring in Maine wouldn't be complete without a good spring cold!  We've gone through lot's of tissues this weekend, but the warmer weather is here, soon the ground will be ready to work, and we are happy!

This Moment

Joining Soulemama as always 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.

Making our House a Home

When Greg and I bought our first house in Vermont in 1999 it was love at first sight.  As soon as I walked through the front door I saw us living in the house.  "This is it"  I said to Greg.  "I love it, we have to have it".  We are both suckers for old houses and this 200 year old colonial had such a sweet charm from the get-go.
When we bought our current house in Maine in 2005, though it is a 125 year old colonial there was no love at first sight for me at all.  We were eager to get into another house and Greg was drawn to the house so we kept going back for another look.  We stayed up late talking about it, what we could do, what we would change,  and before long I was in love with a "vison" of what the house could be.  This wasn't a forever house, the plan was 3-5 years, make some improvements, sell and move into our dream house wherever that may be. We had 6 weeks before we moved into the house and we spent every spare moment at the house doing lot's of this:

We usually brought the kids with us and kept their sweet little hands busy with anything that was safe, and tried to give them one little spot that was theirs in the mess:

kids table in the chaos

Yes we tested for lead, and they were never in any danger, but they were here to see transformation and for sleepy rides home:

Then, we moved in with grand plans to finish all of our projects, but life happens, families are busy, husband's bands get more and more gigs and sheet rock becomes a normal wall. 
This whole time I've thought of our house as "not our forever house" and recently it has occured to me that I treat it as such.  I live in this house like it is a hotel, I think about what i'd do if it was my "forever house" and dreaming about said house.  What has become so apparent is that I am teaching our children the same thing.   When in reality this is our home...not forever, but for right now.  I haven't been on the computer or in blogland much this week because I have been very busy with this realization and trying to make our house our home.  In the process I have made huge messes (Greg has been very supportive reminding me that "you have to break an egg to make an omlet"), but the end result is positive, refreshing and a valuble lesson to myself and my children.  There is much to do and I'm sure there will be many posts to come, but I chose to start with my own creative space.  A space that until now was referred to as the "craffice", a room to store all my crafting and office supplies.  I wanted a space to spend time in, to be inspired and create.

This room has historically been very messy and unorganized, my fabric has been in plastic tubs that needed to be dug through every time I wanted something.

These shelves had an assortment of books for crafting, homeschooling and yes organization, as well as yarn and projects of any sort.  I've turned it all into this (and saved you from photos of the rest of the mess):

All of my fabric in these lovely "fabric cupboards" as I'm calling them.  No need to dig through bins, I can just open the doors for inspiration.  Notice the thread all at my disposal as well as knitting needles, scissors and a few other supplies (the felt board hides wires for the internet and printer).

A permanent sewing station!  This might be the coolest thing ever for me!  My sewing machine is old and heavy so lugging it around can be a bit of a drag.  Not any more, both the machine and the serger have a home when ever I (or Molly) get the urge to sew!

The bookshelves are organized in a way that makes sense and I've got a spot to keep the ironing board up all the time. I will admit that I have no delusions of grandure, I'm sure this ironing board will from time to time become a holding station, but it's there and I am thrilled.

This gorgeous birch hook is from The Vermont Branch Company , if you aren't familiar with these guys you should be.  Tonya blogs over at Plainandjoyfulliving and they also have another etsy shop full of sweet homemade toys that I love.  What a wonderful way to store and display some embroidery hoops.  Now instead of digging around in some box, there they are, who wouldn't feel a little creative.
This has been an important step for me both as an occupant of this house and as a parent.  Children follow our example and learn from everything that we model.  This is our home, and until our home is a different house I will love this home and continue to make it beautiful and warm and full of goodness for them to see and feel.  I'm sure there will be more posts as I continue this transformation, hope you enjoy.
Angie

This Moment

Joining Soulemama as always 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.