oh, my mama

I had a couple different things I wanted to post about.

But I was recently in a conversation about mothers.

So I want to post this song instead. It's been one of my favorites for several months now.

Whenever I hear it come on, I stop what I'm doing and just listen.

One Pretty Thing

No, not the site (though if you haven't checked it out - do! One Pretty Thing)

That's a promise I'm making to myself for the month of May.

Every week, I will find the time to create at least one pretty thing.

That is all.

Ok, that and a spring picture from last week

Sunshiney Weekend

This weekend flew by. And I did a whole lot of nothing.

No pictures.

No hiking.

I spent the weekend having a garage sale. It so wasn't worth it. A lot of sitting around for only 100 dollars. I mean, I got some stuff cleaned out of my house. But it was soooo gorgeous this weekend. I should have spent the days hiking, playing, planting.

It's gorgeous today too, but I'm at work 12 hours.

At least I had an excuse to do nothing but sit in the sunshine all weekend though, right?

It's been a month, no - over a month, since we planted our seeds and just this weekend we finally got a couple little itty bitty sprouts. I might replant some and see what happens. It's another 3 weeks here before I would feel good about putting anything in the ground, so I have some time before I go and buy seedlings. Though after this weekend, I want nothing more than to dig in the dirt.

We did make it to the market yesterday morning. Kev even came with me. We didn't get much. Some buffalo ribs, eggs, potatoes and asparagus. But then we hit the homebrew supply store and Kev got stuff to try beer again - and I got a few things to start our next batch of wine. We'll be moving what's in the carboy now over to another glass carboy on Thursday. So this week we can start a new batch. We're not doing a from-scratch recipe this time. We're doing a concentrate wine, only because it's quick - 6 weeks from start to bottling. We're out of the last of our bottled wine. So this will give us a fast 30 bottles, plus the 30 of strawberry wine that we can bottle at the end of June.

I'm in need of a vacation. I still have some time to use up before July, and I think I might take a few days soon. Sometimes I just need a little extra time to recenter myself, you know? Right now I'm just feeling a little out of sorts, and an extra day or two off would be soooo good.

Crafting

I've been crafting for as long as I can remember. I've always liked creating things. Over the years I've found and used different mediums and as a result I have quite a few 'hobbies' and supplies.

Until we moved last year, I didn't really have a designated crafting space. I used the living room floor. Or the kitchen table. And often spent more time pulling things out and putting them away then actually crafting.

I've scrapbooked. Repainted and re-crafted items and furniture. About 4 years ago I taught myself how to sew.

But I haven't really done any of that in months. I mean, almost a year. Not since we got married.

And I miss it, I do.

I finally have a space. We moved, and I have a wall in our small bedroom set up with a table and my supplies. But I haven't organized it. Not since we moved here. Almost a year ago.

So I haven't crafted. And I haven't done any sewing. The last thing I had made was my wedding dress (with the assistance of a friend 2 weeks before the wedding, but that's another story).

Photograph by Andrea Casey

And there has always been a reason excuse. There isn't time. The crafting area still hasn't been cleaned/organized. I have to do laundry/clean/dinner/anything else.

About a month ago I started embroidering. It's peaceful, enjoyable and best of all portable. I tried knitting, again. It makes me angry. It should be fun but I just.don't.get.it.

But, I'm done with excuses. Yesterday, I stayed home sick (I really was sick) and I was tempted to start cleaning (does anyone else get like that when they should be resting? It doesn't make sense. If my husband was home sick he would not be doing laundry) Anyway, I got up in the afternoon and decided I was going to sew.

Normally, I would get to my sewing stuff and decide it had to all be cleaned and organized before I could possibly do anything. Then 5 hours later I would find myself painting my bedroom walls or something equally ridiculous (because cleaning the crafting area would mean I had to clean my room then while I was doing that I would realize how I don't like the wall colors and then . . . ) So I cleared my table, without cleaning (luckily I had cleaned my machines a couple weeks ago) found some fabric and decided to do a quick project. And ignore the mess around me.

I took my inspiration from this post over at soule mama I figured it would take a half hour or so, right?

Right, except I haven't sewn in a year. And while it felt (so) good to be sewing again, I was a little rusty. I made some mistakes. For the most part, I ignored the mistakes. This was for ME. I wasn't selling this. It didn't need to be perfect. It's going on my floor. Just do it. Push through it. Let the mistakes happen, eventually I'll fall into the rhythm. And I did.

So, it has it's imperfections. But I love it. And it matches the orange countertops (that I can't believe I ever hated) and it was quick (about an hour) and I will so be making more of these (mostly because soon those imperfections will drive me craaaaazy!):

Please pretend my floor is clean

So I made a promise to myself, to make time. Even if it's 15 minutes here, a half hour there. Because I love this. I love creating. No more excuses. I deserve the time.

Weekend Scenes

We had a beautiful weekend. And a busy one!

Some weekend scenes:




We did some more hiking. Again at Clarks (the "rock place")








This time we also explored the caves. Just a little bit though, cause mama is a tiny bit of a wuss.






We also did Beaver Lake another day, which is not so much a hike and more of a nice stroll. We did the 3 mile lake loop.






A little campfire in the backyard.







Kev's band Boots N Shorts played at Kellish Farms. I wasn't feeling great and the kids were getting picked up by grandpa, so we didn't make it, but here's a photo anyway :)




We also celebrated a friends 30th birthday. Most of the guys are hitting the big 30 this year, Kevin is next on the list in just 2 weeks!




Somehow the weekend managed to be both busy and lazy. It was wonderful. I hit up the market on Saturday morning and a rummage sale and estate sale. Nothing really wonderful at either place, but I did find a 3rd Holly Hobbie plate for my little collection.

There are a couple more rummage sales next weekend that I want to go to, but won't - since I need to have my own garage sale! Our house is getting full, but my tastes are refining (can you call thrift store finds a refined taste?!) So it's out with the old and in with the new - uh - old?! Speaking of thrifting, I'm planning on sharing some of my favorite finds later this week.

We did a bit of grilling - one of my favorite summer standbys - grilled veggie quesadillas and a new favorite - bison burgers. yuuuum. We topped them with some cheddar slices, caramelized onions on mine - bacon on his - and a horseradish bbq sauce. They were simply delicious. Both nights we did grilled asparagus and roasted onion potatoes. Yes, I like asparagus and potatoes that much!

For the past couple of weekends, I've been hoping to squeeze in some sewing time, and so far haven't. The weather has just been too nice. I need to finish getting my craft/sewing table cleared off so I can steal a couple minutes here and there.

So, that's it. I'm still working Sundays for the next month, so my weekend is already over. The kids spring break also ends this week, which means back to normal tomorrow.





Oh - and, I'm having a ridiculous time trying to get pictures on here, even through the uploader, I still have to go in and resize them all, otherwise half the picture is missing. There has to be an easier way, yes?

Patience.

Hiking in the Spring

:How can you explain that you need to know that the trees are still there, and the hills and the sky?
Anyone knows they are.
How can you say it is time your pulse responded to another rhythm, the rhythm of the day and the season instead of the hour and the minute?
No, you cannot explain. So you walk.:

~Author unknown, from New York Times editorial, "The Walk," 25 October 1967

The snow is almost gone.




The days are warming up. Which means doing a lot more 'hiking'. Last week we took our littlest one and some friends.







This trail is one of our boys favorites. It's his 'rock place'. This was the first time the other two boys came with us, and they all did great! We walked for well over an hour and at a really steady pace.




They all carried hiking sticks with them for the second half of the walk and I love how perfectly little boy they look







This was near the end and one by far their favorite part. They spent a long time playing in the top of the water fall. They created leaf boats and sailed them under the bridge and over the edge. One by one they all put their hands in and commented on the feel and temperature of the water.






And just before we left they found a volleyball court and sandbox. They built sand castles in the damp sand.

Winter is over.







In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks. ~John Muir