So anyway...

A Thousand Words

2012-01-25T08:55:00.000-08:00

self explanatory I think.
All questions left in comment will be answered forthwith!

A Thousand Words

2012-01-19T12:37:00.000-08:00

Dandelion in a jar edition

Winter hit and the water in the jar on our back porch froze.
Inside a star burst, firework, dandelion

Running Round In Circles and Then Into a Brick Wall

2012-01-18T13:34:00.000-08:00

is what my mind has been doing.

So I'm trying to take deep breaths and grounding myself so I can put the brakes on my high speed wobble. And I have been on high speed wobble for the last week; thinking straight has been nearly impossible except for when I'm going about day to day routine things. So why the wobble? The husband decided last week to apply to school, it's a good move or him, he's taking a path that he's passionate about and he's been so unhappy at his current job that a change is pretty much an absolute necessity. Then came an epically bad day following his application and he decided, to give his notice.

If only for his own mental health this step was also a necessity and if his demeanor since he gave notice says anything it's that he couldn't have made a better decision for himself. I support him 100% however I'm also a pragmatist I know that we have bills coming due and that rent has to be paid and that we need to put food in our bellies and into the bellies of the Peanut and the Bean. I'm not saying that he's not thinking about those things too but I'm not feeling the euphoria of getting out of a bad situation that he is; so I'm on wobble.

The trick is to get out of the tangle that is the repeating "We need to get some income we need to get some income we need to get some income we need to get some income we need to get some income we need to get some income" and get to the problem solving action part of the equation.

I need to make it very clear that I support his decision. I can't say that I'd want things to be done in the exact same way if they were to be done all over again but I understand why and I know at the time it was the only option that would allow him to remain sane and because of that he has my support.

In the meantime I'm going to be getting back out into the workforce, perhaps a little sooner than I thought. And I've been looking at some opportunities that have crossed my path over the last week or so. I've got my fingers crossed, hoping for more to come my way as well as for the husband once he starts on the next phase of his path.

A Thousand Words

2012-01-12T12:18:00.000-08:00

Birds on a wire

The "I'm getting excited about photography again!" edition

Books Books Books

2012-01-07T12:02:00.000-08:00

I may have mentioned before that I'm a reader.

Wiki pageBooks, books and more books, magazines, blogs the back of a cereal box.... if it's there I'll read it. Last year a friend sent out a challenge to read as many of the Orange Prize long list as possible before the short list was announced. I took up the challenge and read some very beautiful and heart wrenching and gut gnashing books; many that will stay in my mind and whose stories will become a part of my personal mythology (Jamrach's Menagerie I'm looking at you) . I'm thinking I may just have to have a go at this year's long list when they announce it in March.

I'm a little embarrassed to say this but up until last year I'd become stuck in a little rut of reading. I'd found a circle of writers who I read and re-read and then maybe read again. Adding an author here or there and then including them to my rotation. Tolkien, Pratchett, Gaiman, Gibson, Lackey, Tepper, Ondaatje, Atwood and Coupland are all well worn and traveled worlds in my private library as well as in my local public library and I know that I'll take their paths many more times to come. Last year I read so many new and new to me authors that some of them have melded together into a melange of plots characters and landscapes. My circle of authors grew with the additions of Miéville, Wynne Jones and a few others who are escaping my still addled Mommy Brain.

So what am I getting at? Where am I going with this? Well, I just thought that I'd like to share a few of the books I've got in my diaper bag, on the bedside table and sitting on the edge of the couch right now.

Starting with one of my Good To Go To Authors; Douglas Coupland's All Families Are Psychotic is in my diaper bag. I've been reading it when I wait for the Peanut to be done for school and the Bean has fallen asleep. It's a story about a very dysfunctional family who has come together to watch the daughter who is an astronaut be launched into space. So far it's told from the point of view of the Mother and the Eldest son who both suffer from AIDS. I find Coupland's books always make me think outside of the story.

On my Bedside table is Austin Grossman's Soon I Will Be Invincible a twist on the super hero comic book. It's a novel told from the point of view of the Super Villain Dr. Impossible and Fatale the newbie member of his defunct nemesis super hero group reformed after the disappearance of the worlds most powerful super hero Corefire. This is a re-read for me since I saw it on the shelf at the library and could remember reading it sometime in the last two years but couldn't remember anything about it other than I had enjoyed reading it.

Stacked on top of that is Heather B Armstrong, better known as Dooce' It Sucked and Then I Cried I'm laughing out loud and nearly peeing myself with this one. The episode in the first part of the book where she eats the Pizza to bring on labour springs to mind. I made the husband drop what he was doing and run to the bedroom to read it.

In addition I have books on deck to read including the Bio of GNR guitarist Slash (in between when the husband has it to read). What are you reading? What would you recommend? Want to read one that I'm currently in and compare thoughts when you're done?

Gonna cough a little, sneeze a little

2012-01-04T16:35:00.000-08:00

even blow my nose.... OK OK OK I'll be truthful it's not a little it's a lot. I'm up most of the night either coughing myself or dealing with a coughing Bean. So I'm tired and my nose is tender from all the blowing and I think I pulled something when I had that last coughing fit.

I'm hoping that I'm not deluding myself into thinking that I'm getting better, I don't feel quite so bad as two days ago perhaps this flu hit when my white count was nice and up instead of at a lull. Some day's I wonder if I'd be better off banking a little blood when it's up and transfusing it when I get sick. Really I don't even know if that's something that can be done or not but wouldn't that be great? Instead of a month long cough fest I could get over a bug in the 7 to 10 days other folk do it. Any positive healing thoughts and prayers out there will be so much appreciated I can't even tell you.

On another tangent all together. I'd like to include a short list of what I'm thankful for, things that made me smile or laugh over the last few days:

The Bean's big wet sloppy baby kisses
The Peanut and the Bean giggling together on the way home from a shopping trip
Having a newly reorganized and cleaned Living room
All the crow's perching on the wires outside our window this afternoon

Anything make you smile today?

What are you doing New Years Eve?

2011-12-31T20:04:00.000-08:00

If you're anything like me heading to bed soonish with a good thick application of vapo rub on your chest and a fresh box of tissues. It's not all about the hacking though, We enjoyed a butter chicken feast spicy enough to clear my sinus for a little while and watched Rango on Netflix together before banishing the girls to bed to cough and sneeze themselves to sleep. In case you're wondering yes, we are all a little sick. Any strong healing thoughts are welcome, appreciated and currently high on my wish list for the new calendar year.

To end the year on a good note I give you my girls this last month:

One of my favourite wishes for the coming year can be found here It's better said than I could ever say myself and speaks to me in all the right ways. To you and all of yours I wish you safe and happy celebrations tonight. I'll see you in 2012.

Handmade Holidays

2011-12-28T13:01:00.000-08:00

The only snow we've seen:

This holiday season I have managed to do a little hand made here and there. Our window decor for example. Also on that list hand painted lights on the tree (varying shades of turquoise and peridot green ranging from deep and rich to pale and delicate) sculpey wire and thread peacock ornaments (look for these in the shop sooner or later I had a lot of fun with them) and the barest minimum of baking.

How were your holidays?

Hand Made Holiday

2011-12-11T05:00:00.000-08:00

So, I have this friend on facebook; I went to art school with her and her husband way back when. Today she posted on her status about how her holiday shopping this year is mostly made up of handmade treasures making this year's trip to the mall less stressful and as a result more enjoyable. In the comments she went on to say that if everyone in the small town where she now lives in made the choice to give one gift that was locally hand made the change that would cause would be astronomical.

Think of it, one gift hand crafted by an artist or artisan who lives in your own back yard; a kind of 100 mile challenge of the holiday variety. In large city centers this is so easy to put into practice, even in smaller communities getting a lovingly handcrafted gift can be as simple as keeping an eye open for craft fairs and gift galleries that specialize in local artists. A quick visit to Etsy can locate local artists and their wares within specific search parameters, so if you're looking for an iPhone case that isn't the same as every other hipster's; a t-shirt for your in house baby paleontologist, an earth friendly coffee mug for the caffeine deprived loved one or a special bauble to adorn the throat of your significant other, you can find one in your country, state, province, city or town.

If everyone made the choice to purchase one gift from a local artist/artisan think of the change that could create!

For the artists in our communities making a living from designing and creating.

For the people who receive the gifts that had a little extra thought put into them.

For those doing the gifting dealing with a less stressful shopping experience...

the list could go on and on because like the long long list of handmade gifts that can be gifted the ripple effect from buying one single handmade gift locally would just spread out and out.

This is a movement I can really get behind because it's one small purchase, it's a baby step towards bigger change; not a call for a belly flop into the deep end. Would making the choice to make one of your gifts handmade be something that you could add to your holiday gift giving traditions? I'm not suggesting you drop the most wanted toy (in our house that would be an easy bake oven) from your kids list in favour of a hand made toy but I am suggesting that instead of buying an impersonal gift basket of pre-packaged teas and cookies you think about visiting a holiday craft fair and picking up some hand-made soaps or artisan toffees.

I couldn't write a post like this without (as I've been known to explain to the Peanut) putting actions to my words. Our gifts to grandparents, cousins and even a few gifts to the Peanut and the Bean have been (or are currently being) lovingly handcrafted. I'd love for this to become a wave of small change for the rest of the season and next year and the year after that too. Spread the word, it's going to be a thing.

This year is a little different

2011-12-07T12:21:00.001-08:00

Not least because the Bean's trying to pull down the tree at every opportunity. It may be because it's been less than a month since my Gran passed (on the 24th anniversary of my Dad's passing no less) and I'm just not feeling organized or like I have any grip on the holidays this year.

Don't get me wrong, we've had the tree trimmed and the lights out for a few weeks now. But the gifting, the baking, the planning to get out and do fun holiday themed things just seems beyond my reach. I need a kick in the butt.

Anyone else feel the same? how do you get the holiday fuse lit?

One Thing On Top Of Another

2011-11-23T10:08:00.001-08:00

When last I posted I had a fluish daughter. Since then we have sent the Peanut back to school for two whole days only to have her shivering and miserable at the end of the second day with a renewed fever, more puking and another week of elevated temperatures.

On top of the Peanut being ill, the Bean got her first cold and spent two weeks coughing and honking like an angry little goose.

On top of that, the husband caught his own flu (luckily not the stomach emptying kind). On top of that I contracted another bout of mastitis.

The Peanut and Great Grandma hanging
out on the garden swing two years ago

And just when I thought things were at their worst, after taking the Peanut in to the Doctor for the second time in two weeks the phone rang and it was my Mom. She'd called to tell me that my Grandma had passed away in her sleep. So... We're a still a little sick around here, no more fevers, but coughing galore and we're sad too. And amidst the sadness life travels on. We learn from the girls and life as we move along with it.

This isn't the first time we've introduced the concept of death with the Peanut. My cousin gave up his fight to a brain tumor a few years ago, and there have been a handful of family and friend's pets who have passed on over the years so the explanations have been built on over time. So what did I get out of our conversation? A tear filled conversation about how many apple trees are in the Summerlands (definitely more than 20) and a reminder that when we lose someone important in our lives that we are not mourning the death of our loved ones so much as we are mourning the loss of the chance to see, hear and talk to our loved ones again.

So, while we brush away the odd tear here and there; if you have lost dear loved ones how has explaining that loss to your kids (if you have them) changed how you look at that loss?

An evening Out

2011-11-08T10:12:00.000-08:00

So I'm still sans computer and because I've got me a sorry sad case of Mommy Brain keeping track of passwords is not my strong suit at the moment which means that I have a big rig-a-ma-roll to go through in order to sign in and upload a post here which is my long winded run on sentence way of letting you know that I'm still breathing and why it's been almost a month since my last post.

So anyway, Sunday night was my very first night out( that wasn't school related) since the Bean made her momentous debut last January. I went out for Dinner with one of my best friends and then out to An Evening with Neil Gaiman and Amanda Palmer. It was awesome. Sitting in the packed theater it felt as though all of us in the audience had been invited into home, the effect heightened by the random false starts and stumbles made during songs, it was as if we were a group of friends all there to celebrate with song some dance stories and laughter. As a couple they are charming and the affection that is between them is damned near romance personified, the kind that allows for wisecracks, silliness, liberal use of the F-bomb and love poems.

Before last night's outing I had not been very well acquainted with Amanda's music but the moment she opened her mouth before the festivities began and then to sing the duet Makin' Whoopee with her husband I knew that I'd found my new girl crush. If you need to know why just take moment to watch this youtube video of one of the songs performed while I escaped for an evening (warning: the song below does make use of questionable language, if you don't approve of the f-word I'd love you to go and find Amanda's version of Radiohead's Creep"

And once my evening was over I was sent back to mommy land where the Peanut had been busy puking all over the place in my absence and the Bean who had been sleeping soundly since 7 had woken promptly at 11 to have to fight for attention from Daddy who was awash in sick Peanut (and the laundry that comes with a sick peanut) so she began to scream/cry herself back to sleep until I managed to get home at 1am.

It is Tuesday and the Peanut is still home with a delicate stomach and the Bean is out of sorts because the time change and I've managed to steal a few minutes to write about my amazing night and all that followed behind it... I'm hoping to steal more time here and there to post again soon but until then how have you been? I've missed keeping in touch you know.

And that's why I've been gone

2011-10-11T11:54:00.000-07:00

So one day a few weeks back I went to sit at the computer to do something, it may have been to read a blog, check on facebook, read an article, look up a recipe or even to post here. I'm not even sure any more what it was I was sitting down to do, all I know is that I sat down, clicked on the space bar to wake it up, found it was fully charged but not on and tried to turn it with no response. None. My Macbook was done, finished, kaput. Logic board fried and ready to serve with some mushy peas and chips.

I'm still without access to my own computer as we try to locate finances for a replacement, at this moment I'm using the husband's which is not as me-friendly as I'd like what with the keys not quite where I think they should be and all the extra PC buttons and functions. So I've been laying low on the blog front with the hopes that we'd have a replacement sooner rather than later. So far it's been the latter with hopes still aimed at the former. (we like to think glass half full)

So while I've got a few seconds here's a little round up of what's been going on here:

The Peanut has had her first school pictures
The Bean started swimming lessons (which means Mama holds her in the pool while we sing songs and she tries to drink the pool water)
The Husband took the plunge and went in to get hisself all snipped up (for which I thank him for taking care of it and for putting up with the resulting uncomfortableness and pain involved in healing|)
I've been getting into a bit of a groove with school, swimming lessons, laundry, taking care of the family thing which finds me less on the computer than in the past which kind of ties into the death of the macbook thing.
We've had our first bout of colds and a second bout of Mastitis

We've had no major happenings, no earth shattering news and we're pretty much OK with that.I'll post again when I get another chance. Fingers crossed on that whole new computer thing

Osmosis

2011-09-22T22:44:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when I read a really well written book (and there have been a lot of those over the last six or so months) I get so caught up in the experiences of the characters that I will identify very strongly with the characters. Sometimes if the story is one that I can really identify with, there can be confusion about whether I'm remembering feeling something that I've read about, or something I've done. Not often, but sometimes.

One thing that I've noticed over the last year or so is that I'm a big old sponge for soaking up the residual emotions of the people around me. Anger, depression, anxiety... it all seems to flow right into my frame of mind like water into a cup.

The trick is to know when it's happening, separate myself from the outside emotions as much as possible and keep on keeping on.

It's not easy. Hell no, it is so not easy. It's not easy because on top of that, I need to be there to give my support to those people in my life whom I love. I've got to be there to listen to their bad days and hurts and frustrations. Not only do I have to be there, I want to be there, I need to be there. I love my husband and he deserves and needs my emotional support. I love my daughters and I need and want to give them my emotional support.

So where am I going with this? I needed to get it out, put it down so that it isn't so tied up inside me that I'm not sure where my anger, depression, anxiety starts (if it starts at all) and where the other begins. Things have been a bit (and when I say "a bit" I'm understating the case) tense around here lately and I've been writhing with the possibility that post partum depression is trying to set down some roots. And I'm breathing, deep deep breaths, reminding my self to eat, getting (well, as much as I can with an almost crawling teething baby) enough sleep and double checking with myself about how I'm feeling and how everyone around me is feeling.

And this is where I end this post.

She's Perfect

2011-09-15T08:36:00.001-07:00

of course.
Of course she is.

I should know, I've been there for almost every single moment of her 5+ years. She's smart, funny, full of imagination, she knows how to push my buttons and as of yesterday she's navigating whole days without me. I'm proud, I'm so happy for her (there is excitement in her eyes every morning when we get her up) and I worry.

Of course I worry. Who (besides the husband) knows her better than I do? I know she's going to have some bumpy days. I know that there are going to be tears (there already have been right where I expected them to happen) and I know that she's going to be fine. In my head I know she's going to be fine. With her personal quirks, her ready to please attitude and her belief that every kid out there is a friend waiting to be made. And then there's her inner loner.

And then I sit outside the school grounds waiting for her first 1/2 day to be over scanning the school yard for her glowing braided head. When I finally catch sight of her she's wondering around by herself. By her posture and the look on her face she's pretending to be a T-rex, alone. This isn't new by any means. The husband and I have noticed her go of by herself at play groups and play dates. Both the husband and I are a little reserved around new groups of people so we get it. We get that large groups can be overwhelming, that sometimes doing stuff by yourself is more comfortable, sometimes it's the best fun and sometimes it's lonely. And there's the rub.

Growing up and even right now, I've found social situations a challenge. I can't help but to want better for her (In some cases she is better than I am. As an example: inviting perfect strangers the next booth over, in a restaurant over to our house, address included, because she's been playing with their kids for five minutes is so not something I would ever have done at the age of 3.5). To make friends easily. To fit in. Watching her play alone in a crowd of laughing yelling kids her own age and over was a little heartbreaking and also a moment filled with resisting the urge to run onto the playground to help her make a friend. And then just as I was wiping away a stray little tear one, then two then three other children surrounded her and then they were all off and running.

I guess what I'm getting at is that this whole sending our first born off to school has really been much harder on me than her. She's going to be OK, she's perfect just the way she is and she'll be alright. I just worry. That's a Mama's job right?

Getting Schooled

2011-09-10T07:49:00.000-07:00

The Peanut has started school. We're not at the point where she's there full day yet since they work up to it in order to ease them into a brand new schedule. So far we've done an hour on the first day and three hours on the second. Starting Monday we go for a half day until Wednesday when she walks through that kindergarten door and I'm all alone with the Bean for six hours.

So how did she do? Well, she walked into her class and didn't look back. Her second day was the same (mainly because we were running late thanks to transit and she walked in the door at the stroke of barely on time). I'm loving getting to hear about what her day was like and getting a big hug as soon as she walks out the door.

Visual Diary

2011-09-02T21:01:00.001-07:00

I've got school on the brain. Between the Peanut's first day this coming week to the yearly desire to go back myself.

First Day Jitters

2011-09-01T08:31:00.001-07:00

I've decided to have them early so that we minimize the stress next Friday when the Peanut starts her first day of kindergarten. In fact in one week we go in for our first parent teacher conference where we'll find out which teacher we get and what her days are going to be like for the first few weeks before we dive right in to full days.

The Bean is going to be one lonely baby once that starts up, she adores the Peanut, beams rays of pure joy when she plays with her. We're looking around for some play groups we can join to pick up the slack.

We've got all our school supplies and new clothes and shoes compliments of Grandma's on either side and after a whirlwind trip made by my parents for my nieces baby shower last weekend the Peanut is also sporting a trimmed head of hair too.

I'll be posting pictures of her first day next week. Here's hoping that I keep the proud Mama tears to a minimum and that they happen after we've sent her off into class.

Visual Diary

2011-08-25T08:44:00.001-07:00

Every year I start to think about Hallowe'en a little earlier. When making our costumes over buying one off the rack is a priority this is actually key. Now that I have two to dress up it's even more of a time grab hence the hallowe'eny theme this week, click the image for a closer look. Are you planning your costume yet?

Visual Diary

2011-08-16T22:29:00.001-07:00

It's my birthday today. To celebrate, here's how I'd spoil myself given unlimited funds and a free hour on Etsy. What I did get was a lemon Meringue pie and a dozen roses from the Husband and a hand drawn card from the Peanut. The Bean let me take her for her 6 month shots. All in all one damn fine birthday, minus (you know) the part where the Bean got stuck with a needle.

A Visual Diary

2011-08-06T04:21:00.000-07:00

Since the Peanut's been in a dinosaur mood lately it's leaked into my indulgence in her passion has bled into my list creation

Click for a closer look

A Visual Diary

2011-08-04T04:44:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago today I tied the knot

and given the chance I'd run off to Tofino to do it all again just on the beach instead of in a hall. I'm thinking maybe we'll try for the 15 year mark for a little vow renewal.

Click the picture for a better look.

A Visual Diary

2011-08-03T04:17:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a running theme in my lists

a certain longing....

Click the image for a better look

A Visual Diary

2011-08-02T04:07:00.000-07:00

It's birthday season around here and there's been a whole lot of wishing going on:

A Visual Diary

2011-07-31T05:59:00.000-07:00

of what my imagination's been up to

A little visual magic seemed to be called for, but with a dash of edginess for good measure. If you'll notice I ended things on an optimistic note

Click on the image for a better look.

A Visual Diary

2011-07-30T21:37:00.000-07:00

of how I've been feeling lately:

I've been building treasuries a lot lately, especially when the Bean takes up a little more time with her teething and solid food eating ways. When I get a few moments here and there but not enough time to really get my make on; I put together a treasury of images that fit my mood as well as my need to make something.

So now I share.
Click on the collection above to get a super view of my curatorial activities

Just for me

2011-07-24T08:17:00.000-07:00

There are a few things I've been up to lately that are doing a wonderful job of (to put it all smooshy like) feeding my soul.

Picking raspberries is one. Harvesting the lavender is another. I love the intense blue violet of the tiny blossoms, the smell is divine and a big sniff can undo any amount of stress for even just a second which is so worth it. Also there's a soothing drone in my garden that comes from the bees who come to visit for the lavender and thyme flowers.

Also feeding my soul is the few minutes here and there that I've been able to be creative again. It started for the Peanut's birthday with a Chinese lantern chandelier, a stick a hat on Quack poster and a tiny tissue cake banner. Since then I've been playing around with image transfers.

I've been using images from the Vintage Moth blog which are fantastic by the way. I've almost perfected a transfer technique using liquid sculpey and my mind is whirling around ways to put it to good use. I recently bought some small cradled panels that I want to make into shadow box art pieces which would work well with a little translucent imagery.

So don't let me air out all my soul feeding ways alone; what's been feeding your soul lately?

A Thousand Words

2011-07-21T03:15:00.000-07:00

The Pictures that should have been in my last post

There should really be a photograph with this post

2011-07-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

but rather than taking my camera out in the morning when I head into the garden, I've been focused on the much more important task of berry picking.

There's something intensely satisfying about the juicy thud that a raspberry makes when it's dropped into a large yogurt container. Also the glow of the red berries when the morning sun touches them through the leaves... like poetry to my eyes. I love picking berries. It's my latest just for me thing to do. I head out before the husband leaves for work and fill a container with those enticing ruby red treasures.

I also annihilate a few slugs, pull up a few weeds, pick some pees and disturb the ants that have decided to make the strawberry plants their home base. It's satisfying and I get to feel like I've gotten something good done at the start of the day since the Bean is still a big time napper.

I'm keenly looking forward to the wild blackberries at the end of our street to ripen...

Fingers crossed I'll take the camera out and shoot a few of those berries before they fill up my bucket

Change of Plans

2011-07-07T07:43:00.000-07:00

So, since the number of entries for the Melissa and Doug giveaway was way below their requested number I decided to continue on with the draw and send the lucky winner a little something else.

Having made that decision I visited random.org and entered in the number of entries I had for the giveaway (including the extra ones I had promised to those who had commented on or before the original deadline) and out of the 74 qualified entrants number 37 was picked.

Congratulations to Seattlemom, who was the lucky name behind my random number! I'll post another day about what I'll be sending her.

It's Canada Day

2011-07-01T10:44:00.000-07:00

and I'm doing laundry, changing the beds (the ones that aren't being slept in anyway) and getting ready to spend some time with friends at a BBQ later this afternoon.

I wanted to say that I love my country, I love that I am Canadian and that I know full well that we have a long road ahead of us before we can become as great as the potential within us hints at. We are a country built on diversity and tolerance but there are some of us who still hold tight to intolerance towards the aboriginals whose land this was before it was taken from them.

I have a First Nations friend who puts it best. Sonny is an amazing political artist and although I don't get as much face time with him (or many of my other arty friends for that matter) I always enjoy seeing what he's working on and hearing what he has to say. I invite you to click on the link to Sonny's blog.

Five Years Ago today

2011-06-29T04:07:00.000-07:00

I woke up in the hospital (having spent the day before there on bed rest) and reminded the nurse that I wasn't able to eat the breakfast they had brought me what with the imminent c-section I had been emergency scheduled for two days before. Looking back I should have just eaten it, since the Peanut didn't make her grand entrance until after 9pm.

I had waddled on my extremely swollen feet with my super bloated belly, back, arms and hands) for my final maternity appointment and the high blood pressure (along with the extreme water retention) I had when she did the basic check up routine alarmed the Doctor enough that she took it again 10 minutes later (in the hopes that it had just been raised because of the physical activity of walking to the office) to make sure. When it was still high after the wait, she called the specialist who booked me an appointment for later that day where I was told that I had preclampsia, the baby was too big for me to safely deliver and I was headed to the hospital for a day of bed rest followed by an emergency C-section to take place some time the day after.

So I was told I could go in at 9 and then 10 and I had my fingers crossed that I wouldn't be going in until my Mom arrived. I needn't have worried since each slot I was put in throughout the day (5 times between noon and 7pm) was pushed back and my Mom and Grandma arrived in more than enough time.

When it was finally my turn, the husband was led off to change into scrubs and I was wheeled into the prenatal ward where I promptly threw up into a cardboard boat (you know, the kind french fries are served in at the high school cafeteria).

In the operating room I sat up on the table, hunched over while they tried and failed (what with the extra 25lb of water I'd been carrying around) a few excruciatingly painful times to give me the spinal. The Specialist (who was amazing) helped by holding me down while they jabbed the needle into my nerves a few more times before they hit the right spot and the lower half of my body went numb. Interesting side note: the room the Peanut was born in was in the Movie Look who's talking. To this day I will watch that show just to catch a glimpse of the dated pink flower wall paper that decorates that room in Lion's Gate Hospital.

The Husband came in and before I knew it they made the incision.
They dropped the curtain and I got my first look at the Peanut, "It's a girl! here's your baby!" the Dr said.

I took in her little old man face (I don't care what anyone says all new born babies have it; it's the scrunched up slightly bloated from swimming in fluid for 9 months about to cry from the indignity of being forced out of a nice warm safe place face), the shock of hair (there was so so so much of it) and tiny button nose and greeted her with the first thought that came to mind "Oh, there you are!"

She cried, I cried, the husband shed a few manly tears and they weighed her (8lb 5oz), measured her 20" and poked her in the heel to test her blood. Then I got to hold her as I was wheeled into a recovery room where the husband and I nixed all the names we'd short listed for her (River and Clara were the top two) all of which just didn't suit her; while we marveled at how perfect and beautiful our daughter was.

We finally landed on the perfect name when I suggested a name that just seemed to have been made for the Peanut and then, just like that 5 years just seemed to fly by.

She's grown into a simply beautiful little soul. She's smart and funny and creative and (along with her sister the Jelly Bean) the best thing I ever made. She makes me laugh, cry and sometimes so frustrated I wonder what I was thinking when we decided to start a family, but only sometimes. She also makes me bust with pride every single day.

So, five years ago today I stepped into motherhood; the Peanut was born and our lives changed, it's been one sweet ride.

Family, Owls and Kilns

2011-06-28T04:57:00.000-07:00

Our time spent with the Husband's Dad during on our trip had some pretty amazing highlights. The Peanut had a blast plying with her cousins, is still talking about it and asking for sleep overs. This time around we were able to get a little extra playtime in with them which included (those are gasps and squeals of joy you are hearing) not one but two orange kittens.

There was also a family BBQ with family that (in the nearly 20 years I've been with the husband) I hadn't met as well as family that we hadn't seen much of since the last family wedding. We had a great time and a fantastic visit.

On a play date visit with the husband's cousin's family we were introduced to the family of owls who had taken up residence in our cousin's yard. The young ones have been named Hoot and Holler and they put on a pretty good show for me when I brought out my camera.

One of the best parts of our stay with the Father in Law is that he lives just down the road from the Reids who were in the Fine Arts program with me at Red Deer College. If you've followed my 5 question series you may remember that I featured Auvery two years ago. It's still one of my favourite features not least because I love the eclectic quality of her work. Where Auvery's work is as fun and full of ideas as she is Joe's work has a quiet strength to it that also mirror's his personality. My current favourite series of his, are the ceramic thermos that is used as the profile picture on their studio's facebook page.

Joe and Auvery are currently in the process of building a wood fired kiln just outside of their converted barn studio. We slipped down the road for a little visit and a studio tour. I'll be honest and say that I have some pretty extreme studio envy; their space is amazing as is their work. They also have a website and blog that you should totally visit.

Since our set of dinnerware has been slowly breaking piece by piece over the last few years I'm planning on starting a new collection. I'm hoping to buy a setting or a piece of a setting here and there and since I'm not to bothered about getting matchy matchy I'll be buying from Joe and Auvery.

and in completely unrelated news: yesterday was the deadline for entering the Melissa and Doug draw. Since we obviously didn't hit the 200 facebook fan mark (I'm in the process of emailing my contact with them) I'd like to still do a draw from all the entries I did get; including the extra entries I promised those who entered before the original draw date and send one of my sun catcher's to the winner. I'll post a little about that in the next few days.

Not my Forte

2011-06-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

So when Melissa and Doug approached me about doing a giveaway I was thrilled. The sand toys they wanted to promote with the giveaway are; like all Melissa and Doug toys, awesome. I could totally see the Peanut putting all of them through their play paces. When they made receiving 200 new likes on their facebook page a requirement of the giveaway I thought I'd give it my best shot. So I wrote the post. I tweeted about it, and posted links on some social networks that I follow and I contacted some blogs that list giveaways in the hopes of driving the required number of entrants to my giveaway post and then; despite my footwork things kind of fizzled. So I rallied and tried again, I extended the deadline and tried corralling more entries but again; fizzle.

Right now the number of required entries is well below Melissa and Doug's required 200 which leads me to think that the whole giveaway thing isn't really one of my strengths. Either that or my readership doesn't quite fit with the Melissa and Doug target audience. I'll be doing a final little push for more entries today and I'll get in touch with my contact at Melissa and Doug with my entries on Tuesday. So if you haven't already entered please do so now, pass the link along, spread the word!

Dinos Galore

2011-06-24T04:31:00.000-07:00

Some of my favourite photos from the Royal Tyrell Museum.

Our second leg of the trip was spent with the Husband's Dad. The highlights from that portion to follow soon.

Now I really hate to harp on this but I'm still looking for entries on the Seaside Sidekick Giveaway If you know anyone who loves to play in the sand, send them over! Deadline for this fantastic contest is on Monday night.

A Thousand Words

2011-06-23T04:20:00.000-07:00

Air and Oil Edition:

First Stop

2011-06-21T15:28:00.000-07:00

Before I start: the Melissa and Doug Seaside Giveaway has been extended. If you haven't entered there's still time, if you know someone who loves playing in the sand tell them about it too! It's an awesome prize pack and I'd love to gift one of you with it!

Because our families all live in the same area our trips are always split into three separate parts: The husband's Mom (aka my other Mother), the husband's Dad and my parents. This trip was brought to us by the Husband's Mom's boss (still following?) The trip was originally supposed to be for her to fly out and see us but things didn't work out for many reasons and her boss offered to have us fly out instead. So, we started our trip with Grandma. Other than a chance to have some prime Ma time and introduce the Jelly Bean to her Grandma we shopped and ate and enjoyed a little side trip into the Bad Lands of Alberta for a little Dinosaur time for the Peanut.

The house my other Mother lives in is one of the oldest in the city she lives in. It's haunted, and chock full of paintings, woodcut prints, and plants. I love staying there. Of course every place the husband's Mom has ever lived in has had a similar feel to it. The woman knows how to create a homey atmosphere.

On the way to Drumheller we took a secondary highway that took us by a stretch of wind farm. The juxtaposition between the almost lazy spin of ll the windmills and the bobbing up and down of the oil pumps dotted along the fields on the way was too much to pass up and I took some photographs along the way. I'll post some of those later this week.

The Royal Tyrell Museum was a huge hit for the Peanut. She was in state of bliss for days afterwards and she still talks about the Dire Wolf and Mammoth exhibits as well as the T-Rex and Triceratops exhibit that we visited first.

All in all the first part of our trip couldn't have been better.

And it ends.

2011-06-19T22:49:00.001-07:00

The vacation. It never seems long enough.

We're unpacking, getting settled and starting some new routines and I'll be posting some recaps of our trip complete with extreme weather and prehistoric ocean creatures but not at the same time.

From the looks of things the giveaway that I posted about before we left isn't up to near enough entries to qualify for a prize from Melissa and Doug. I'm contemplating adding an extension on the deadline (I'll post an update to this tomorrow) to see if we can't add a few more entries because I'd very much love to be able to give one of those gift packs to one of you. If you haven't entered, please, please do! If you have, tell your friends and family about it and send them on over the more the merrier after all.

Amazing

2011-06-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

So I'm hanging out with the Jelly Bean, she's sitting in her exersaucer and making bird noises. Chirps, squeals, long drawn out groans. and every time I turn to look at her to say something, " Hello Baby" "Is that so?" "Oh! Really" I'm graced with twinkle eyed shoulder shrugging giggles and drools. The child is a charmer.

But no one, and I do mean no one, can get her to giggle like the Peanut. The best is when the Peanut tries out her beat boxing a la Electric Company. The Bean stops whatever it is she's doing and grins her gummy grin which gets bigger and bigger until she lets out a baby guffaw and a squeal.

I am amazed by my two little beauties. I just want to squeeze them I love them so...

Now that we've packed

2011-06-10T04:16:00.000-07:00

I realize that what we really really could use for the Peanut (and also the Bean when she gets big enough to carry her own luggage) is one of these:

Now if it seems like I'm on a Melissa & Doug kick I kind of am. Between the giveaway they've offered to sponsor (if they reach 200 likes on their facebook page from my giveaway post, you can click this link or the one their logo in the sidebar to go see what they're offering) to the fact that Birthday Party Season is fast approaching I've been visiting their site often.

So what about the Trunki appeals? Well it's red (the one pictured is red, there are other colour options) it has wheels and a handle and with all the stuff we bring for the Peanut when we go traveling, she could totally stand to have her own suitcase.

For Your Own Comfort and Safety:

2011-06-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

I say it every time

2011-06-08T04:58:00.000-07:00

and then I end up packing just as much as every other year.

This year I really tried and I think I managed to really cut down on what I've stacked in the suitcase. The problem seems to be that when I pack I get big ol' case of the what ifs. You know, the what if we decide to go out for dinner? What if it gets cold? What if we end up at a beach? Which reminds me I should make sure the bathing suits are packed....

See what I mean?

If you haven't had a chance to enter my latest giveaway there's still time. If you know anyone with kids, please pass on the link, I order to have a prize to giveaway we need 200 new fans for Melissa & Doug!

The things that run through my mind

2011-06-06T04:39:00.000-07:00

when I'm breastfeeding the Bean.... (but before we go any further make sure you enter into teh Melissa and Doug Seaside Sidekick giveaway )

Well, mostly I read. I'm nearly done the Orange Prize Short list with a handful of the long list already crossed off but tonight I finished Wendy Law-Yone's The Road to Wanting and found myself with no books within reach so my brain did a little wander and I found myself thinking about the first book I remember reading as a child which led to a short list of books that I remember from childhood.

On the top of that list is Dr Seuss' One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. I remember my Dad reading this book to me and my sister when we were little and giggling when we got to the part where the narrator says "I don't know go ask your Dad"

OK, if I'm going to be honest the first book that popped into my head was the Hobbit. I first picked up the Hobbit when I was eight or nine and I've read and re-read it over and over and over ever since.

The third book that popped into my head was a book that I didn't even read when I was a kid. In fact I've never read it at all. It was a book that was read out to us during a story time session in our school library and for some reason I never managed to get it out of the library to finish it but If I was ever to come across the book I would totally be reading it. So the name of this book that made such an impression on me? Roger Wolcott Drury's The Finches Fabulous Furnace. A book about a family who moves into a house that is heated by a tiny volcano.

We've been reading to the Peanut since she was the Bean's age and the books that have made an impression on her are Ted Dewan's Bing Bunny books and Eric Carle's The Very Hungry Caterpillar. The ones that have stayed with me are Sam Mc Bratney's Guess How Much I love You and Neil Gaiman's Blueberry Girl

So what books do you remember from your childhood? Which books do you read to your child (if you have one) that will always remind you of story time) that most lovely of moments in each day?

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

2011-06-05T06:37:00.000-07:00

We're on vacation, we packed up and left town yesterday and are now living and breathing vacation time. There are no "have to" and "I really should"s here.

So we're hanging with the Ma-in-law. in the haunted house she lives in. eating fried dough for breakfast with real maple syrup and the promise of strong roasty coffee in a while.

The Bean weathered her first cross province trip well; ending the day with a massive tummy upset that had us changing the bed and giving her a second bath where she splashed and kicked and gave us a few more grins and giggles to let us know that she was all better before promptly falling back asleep and staying that way (even at this moment)

I've set up a few scheduled posts to fit in here and there while we're busy doing vacay things. I'm hoping to add a post here and there while we are here but if now I'll be giving a full recount once we're home and settled.

If you have a moment, know some beach loving kids and want to try for a fantastic sand toy gift set be sure to click on the Melissa & Doug link in the left hand column there's plenty of time to enter!

New Starts

2011-06-01T04:00:00.000-07:00

On Thursday I get to have some much needed one on one time with the Peanut. It's her kindergarten orientation in the morning and the Bean is going to hang out with the husband while we head out to see the Peanut's classroom, meet her teacher and hopefully make a friend.

It's a big step for her and I'm getting a little misty thinking about my little Peanut headed off to school next September. It seems like just yesterday she was the size of the Bean and rolling over. Kindergarten has sneaked right up on us

Once that's done and we head home to make sure that the Bean hasn't decimated the husband; it's packing time so we can introduce the Bean to Grandma, Great Grandma and all her aunts uncles and cousins (not to mention a side trip to the Royal Tyrell so that the Peanut can exalt in all things prehistoric.)

And hey, have you entered into the Seaside Sidekick giveaway yet? If you've entered, thanks, link the post to your friends and family because once Melissa and Doug get 200 new fans on their page from my giveaway they'll send a prize pack including all the sets written about in the post to one lucky entrant.

Seaside Sidekicks Giveaway

2011-05-29T00:42:00.000-07:00

When I'm looking for toys for the Peanut and the Bean I go out of my way to find playthings that are well made, educational, affordable and (this is purely a personal preference) not awash in pink.

So it's not surprising that Melissa and Doug is one of our favourite go to places for play things. We're always excited to receive Mellisa and Doug toys and art supplies. Since imagination and creative play are practically built right into their toys it's no wonder that they are among the most played with at our house. The Peanut gets hours of fun out them and once the Bean gets to be big enough to play too, we know she'll be getting just as much fun as her big sister.

So the Peanut has been chomping at the bit for sandbox weather since sometime last November, and with a summer filled with beach outings on the horizon we're thinking about some new sand toys. Lucky for us Mellisa and Doug have just introduced some cute sand toys that could provide endless entertainment at either the sandbox in our back yard or the beach.

Now, I can totally picture any number of under the sea role playing opportunities with The Seaside Sidekicks Sand-Molding Set, "Hello Mr Sea Turtle, have you met my little friend Tiny Blue Seahorse? He's been simply frantic to meet you, he's a huge fan of your work in sand molding."

"Why, Tiny Blue Seahorse, I'm simply delighted to meet you! might I offer you some tea?" And now that I've got my lackluster try at writing gripping dialogue out of my system...

With each mold nesting inside the next, this set just screams to be packed up to the beach; compact toys are a must when you're headed to the sea side via public transit and you have to make sure you have plenty of diapers and wipes along with the other beach day must haves like lunch and a change of clothes.

The Seaside Sidekicks Sand Cupcake Set is a must have for any little baker and I have to say that the unique hinged cupcake molds are genius! The tropical colour scheme is lovely and the sea creature cake toppers are too sweet for words. The sea turtle, little crab, sea star and the gold fish toppers create the perfect set.

I can see the Peanut baking sand cupcakes, building mini castles and using the icing to create even more fun designs in the sand.

I am eternally amazed by the bottomless well of creativity that the Peanut and her friends delve into when they play. The Seaside Sidekicks Sand Baking Set is a fun set featuring everything needed to cook up some beach time fun; bowl, whisk, mixing spoon measuring cups and a sifter.

Not only can I see the Peanut keeping busy making sandcakes with this set but also some seaweed soup too. Plus I'm sure (little budding paleontologist and treasure hunter that the Peanut is proving herself to be) that she'd also use the set for digging up dinosaur bones and panning for gold.

If you're going old school and a pail and shovel are all you need to get your sand party started then the Clicker Crab Pail and Shovel is the combo to get. A bright red to stand out against the sand on the beach with a friendly infections face to bring a smile to your face. This sturdy pail is perfect for hauling water and filling with sand for sand castles and other sand sculptures. It's also a pretty cool place to hold all the shells and pebbles your little collector brings back to the blanket.

And about now I'm guessing you're wondering what is all this about a giveaway? Well, Melissa & Doug has generously offered to send a prize pack of all four of the sand play sets I've talked about here once they get 200 Facebook followers from this giveaway! Pretty exciting right?

To Enter:

Mandatory Entry

Jump over and “Like” Melissa & Doug on Facebook, then come back here and leave a comment telling me that you did.

You can leave it at that if you want but for all the eager beaver's out there, extra entries can be had by doing any or all of the following (just remember to leave a separate comment for each extra entry that you complete):

- Subscribe to Melissa & Doug’s Treasured Toy and Birthday Club e-mail list
- Visit PeanutButterPie on Etsy and tell me which item you like best.
- Blog about this giveaway and leave a link to your post in your comment
- Follow PeanutButterPie on Twitter and tweet the following (worth 2 extra entries) :

I entered to win a @MelissaAndDoug prize pack for some prime sand play this summer from @PeanutButterPie! http://bit.ly/jzBWCg

Rules

Contest ends just in time for the beginning of Summer on June 20th 2011 at 9:00 p.m. PST. Deadline for this giveaway has been extended! The cutoff for entries will be June 27th at 9pm PST. An extra entry will be given to all those who entered before the original deadline as special thank you. I will select a winner at random from all eligible entries. I'll email the winner before posting an announcement on here so please make sure that you have a way for me to contact you.

If the winner does not respond within 48 hrs of being notified, I'll pick a new winner. The prize will be mailed directly to the winner by Melissa and Doug.

Good luck!

Disclaimer: I have not received any monetary compensation for holding this giveaway. The giveaway is contingent on the giveaway sponsor receiving 200 new fans

Packing

2011-05-26T04:06:00.000-07:00

Every time we plan a trip it's a big production that includes hours of planning to keep the Peanut busy.

After four years I like to think we've got it down to the absolute basics:

A few new DVD's with a DVD player or laptop
(on an airplane this is less important for during the main legs but for longer trips to and from the airport this is invaluable especially if you want to be able to visit with the family members who have come to pick you up or take you back)

Crayons and a new colouring book or activity book
I say new because it's nice to have the gift of novelty on your side. This year we're picking up a kindergarten activity book for the Peanut to work through as well as a blank notebook for her to draw in. On our last trip she had a book of mazes and puzzles that kept her busy and made her already brilliant mind even shinier so we're hoping to replicate that.

Paint with water books
a few years ago we came across Water Wow books and they've been in our travel bag ever since. While I'm not a huge fan of licensed character products like Disney Princesses or Dora I every once in a while disregard my dislike of buying into the marketing machine and go for it.

Water Wow books are like colouring books that your child paints onto with water. The page fills in with colour when a wet brush is used and once the water dries the page is ready to be painted on again and again, and the Peanut does.

Snacks
because there is nothing and I mean nothing worse than an over hungry child strapped into and airplane seat. Once, when the Peanut was about 18 months we got on a plane around dinner time, we hadn't had a chance to stop and feed her and some how her snack bag was taken from me in the rush to get seated and ready for take off and placed in the overhead compartment. The crying, kicking and screaming was a stern teacher, Now the snack bag is never out of reach.

Random small toys
We've included Polly Pockets, matchbox cars and even a slinky at one time or another but hands down, the most bang for our buck has been a package of Bendaroos.
The Peanut has been known to play with these for hours.

For the Bean we'll be bringing her stuffed bunny and making sure that she's got full access to her food source aka Momma. For me I'll be bringing a good book or two.

So these are on my short list for the carry on bag, what types of things do you always carry on for the kidlets?

Wake Up Call

2011-05-24T07:02:00.000-07:00

It happens at least once every year; I get a big reminder about the importance of applying sunscreen. For my lack of planning and foresight I'm sporting nose worthy of Barnum & Bailey.

I went to bed with a cold magic bag draped over my forehead and liberally applied moisturizer

So how was our long weekend?
Chock full of Birthday celebrations for the Husband, garden activities and a play date for the The Peanut (which was where the reminder that summer is coming and sunscreen should be on the daily to do list).

The husband has been known to drag out my birthday celebrations so I was pleased to see that we could do the same thing for his. This year was a pretty big birthday for him, we celebrated his entering the new 30's with a few special dinners, a few nights out with his buddies and a family dinner with cake and fresh berries; not to mention our night out last weekend to see The Raveonettes.

In Garden news, Our Pumpkin seeds have sprouted; including the seeds from last year's jack-o-lantern and we've planted a new blueberry bush, some carrots, onion, lettuce seeds and put in some broccoli, pea and tomato seedlings. I've added some dill, mint, basil and rosemary to our herb patch and we started the Peanut's Butterfly garden. Now it's all about watering, watching for new sprouts and pulling weeds.

The play date was held at one of our old North Shore haunts, one of our favourite parks. The day started off cool and cloud covered and, in our defense the forecast didn't call for a lot of sunshine. Hence the should have known better talks last night. The only one of the four of us who didn't come home with a little bit of redness was the Bean. My face is red, the Husbands neck and arms are red and the Peanut had a little bit of red on her forearms which is faded today.

This week coming up is all about planning. Planning our upcoming trip to Alberta, planning the Peanut's birthday, planning next weeks meals and planning for PeanutButterPie's coming year. I'm going to sit down and write out a plan for the coming year, marketing, production, and updating the shop. I'm aiming big knowing that I probably won't be able to tackle it all but I'll be doing my best.

How was your weekend?

A Thousand Words

2011-05-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

It's a little late and I'd planned on sharing these photographs in my last post but these things happen with a couple of busy girls to look after...

Nest

2011-05-14T04:32:00.000-07:00

In our front yard there is a four foot tall tree stump. The people who lived here before us cut down a huge fir tree and left the tall stump there. It's an odd looking stump, it's slowly decomposing and now there's a pair of chickadees building a nest in it.

The best part other than the fact that the est is no where near my bedroom window? The fact that the kitchen window is. I love sitting at our table and watching birds light onto the lilac branches there. I don't get to do it often but I'll be enjoying the few moments that come my way.

In other news I'm getting my hair done. It's been a few months, well almost 6 but who's counting? My roots are though. After that the husband and I are going out on a date night. We're going to see one of our favourite bands. It's the husband's birthday next week and we're celebrating a week early.

anyway if your'e wondering how my mothers day was I'll let the pictures speak for themselves:

It's not that I'm trying

2011-05-13T17:52:00.000-07:00

I just keep tripping over new songs. Last time I blamed it on the husband this time blame falls squarely on Nissan's shoulders. Their new commercial with the super giant bubble blowing out from behind their latest model really hooked me. The artist's name is Jasmine Ash and the song is called Lulls and the melody combined with her ethereal voice was enough for me to go alooking for her.

Now, tell me this song doesn't do something for you?

Find more artists like jasmine ash at Myspace Music

Touch Faith

2011-05-09T15:04:00.000-07:00

It's all about me

2011-05-08T04:50:00.000-07:00

today. At least this is what I've been told. The thing is that I'm just not too bothered with it all. I'm tired, I mean sitting on the couch at 6:30 and wanting to sleep tired. Also I'm feeling a little on the sad side. The Peanut is being such an amazing sister. She's helping out, she's being as patient as an almost five year old can be and I can't help but feel like she's not getting enough from me.

On the positive side, the Bean isn't going to be so little much longer, in no time at all she'll be more interactive and less in need of so much of my time. For instance she's just fallen asleep with out being snuggled by me for the first time and I've managed to spend the last ten minutes typing. In the meantime the Peanut is growing up, overnight it seems she's started to gesture more when she tells her stories, her imagination is growing and her vocabulary is astronomical. I'm finding that she manages to amaze me more and more as time goes on.

So today it's all about me. I'll be enjoying a tasty breakfast and hopefully a kick butt handmade card followed by a trip over to my sister's place to have dinner. I hope that if you are a mother too that today was all about you and that it was and is a beautiful one.

The husband forced me to watch this

2011-05-06T08:03:00.000-07:00

well not really; he insisted and I'm hooked

And it reminds me

2011-05-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

So the other day I posted two version of a Kate Bush song. When I was in the seventh month with the Bean and the hormones were kicking y butt both versions were more than able to start the water works.

My sister warned me that being pregnant would really make our Dad not being here feel harder. Some how that song really brought missing him in general and being sad that he's not here with us to celebrate his grandchildren home. So of course I feel the need to balance that sadness with a song that reminds me of our Dad's quirky sense of humour.

Do you have a song that reminds you of someone?

learning and listening

2011-05-03T08:10:00.000-07:00

The Bean is starting to laugh. Mostly they are soft barely heard chuckles followed by delighted shrieks and always the smiles. Really it's her cheeks that make the smiles. The Bean has been gifted with the most delectable cheeks, cheeks that demand to be eaten up, that invite kisses and that glow when she smiles. I've managed one big loud laugh from her and just like with the Peanut those laughs are as addictive as cheese cake or butterscotch sundaes. I'm at the point where I'll do just about anything to get one.

I'm finding myself wondering if the little mannerisms that I remember from when the Peanut was itty and that I'm seeing the Bean make are something that the two of them share or if these are things that all babies do. The combination snuggle boob dive as she tries to recover the breast I've removed because she's almost asleep. The way she holds her hands just so on her chest and the way she lifts her left eyebrow ever so slightly when I'm talking to her.

And then there's the chest thumping she does when I'm reading while I feed her. The Peanut did this too; swinging her arms out and around so that the book I was holding was jostled before her little fist made connection with my chest. This is a big one for the Bean, especially if she's tired.

So I'm reading lots, and listening to music and I thought I'd share these two versions of one song that never fails to make me feel a little sad.

Kate Bush - This Womans Work by shyhonestjosh

Which version do you prefer?

enough said

2011-05-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

"I mourn the loss of thousands of precious lives, but I will not rejoice in the death of one, not even an enemy. Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that." - Author unknown

Garden time!

2011-04-30T07:44:00.000-07:00

We're hoping to head out into the back yard and start work in the dirt this weekend. Top of the list is to get the Peanut's butterfly garden started.

Last weekend the bunny brought her a little garden set and a packet of pumpkin and wildflower seeds suited to bring butterflies into our yard. she's pretty excited about it and I'm hoping that being able to dig into her own dirt will make her want to help out in the kitchen garden. She's nearly five and I'll be honest in my expectations of that. They are low, very low, but I'm not too worried about it. having her own space is a good start.

A Thousand Words

2011-04-21T07:45:00.001-07:00

It feels like a long time coming and going outside without a warm coat and a hat is still a risk here but spring is arriving, better late than never...

If you ask me, the light cast through new leaves is
the epitome of spring time heraldry

And of course nothing says, "I love you Mommy"
as much as fist full of dandelions

In other news; the Peanut, the Husband and I have managed between the three of us to make a pretty Mothers Day gift for the Grandma's and Great Grandma for next month. In the process I've learned that working around the Bean is going to require lots of Teamwork and patience.

Itching- in more ways than one

2011-04-09T10:06:00.000-07:00

if it wasn't that my last insect kerfuffle in this house happened two years ago; I'd start to worry that I'm some sort of bug magnet.

So what's the latest you ask?

Wolf Spider bites, while we sleep.

Thankfully not on the girls, unfortunately in the worst possible places on us, (ie. on the back of my ankle and on the husband's butt). On the positive side I think we found the little jerk and disposed of him/her outside. Also a plus is that my white blood count must be up because the welts are starting to go away much faster than bites usually do for me (two to three weeks is about an average time for me to get rid of a mosquito bite). So I've got some itchy bites but they are going away.

On a less literal note I'm also itching to write. Oh, to have the time to post regularily again. Don't get me wrong I'm taking full joy in the Bean and my Peanut. Right now my girls are playing together in the living room. The Bean has just treated us to her first laugh and the Peanut is going out of her way to get another one. But I wish to write about the way the Bean's lashes remind me of hoar frost, how they seem to lie on her cheeks like lacy black snowflakes, you know the kind, the big ones that envelope you in sense of awe in the silence of a winter night. I wish to write about how the quiet moments I get to spend with my Peanut are becoming even more special to me since they come so few and far between. I wish to write about how the Peanut has begun to sing loudly and with gusto as she runs around the house when the Bean naps.

The thing about taking joy in this time with my girls is that I have very little time for writing. Case in point: it's taken me three days to write this post up to this point. My spider bites are currently red welts with very little itch right now.

I'm also feeling an itch to make. I've been trying to grab a moment here and there to make more stamps, I've been trying to make notes of any ideas I have. Once the cycle of feeding, burping, change the diaper, slip in some time with the Peanut, have a nap and start all over again ends I'll be ready to go

Pouts and Drool

2011-04-05T08:49:00.000-07:00

make up a large part of my day to day. Well that and the diaper changing, burping and feeding but not necessarily in that order. Did I mention the drool? Because the Bean is drooling us a river.

And then there's the sleep. The last time I found falling asleep this easily was when the Peanut was keeping me up at all hours of the night and day. As soon as the lights go off I do too. I don't even remember my head hitting the pillow most nights.

Such are the joys of parenting an infant.

As for the preschooler (soon to be big kid); well, so far we don't have her asking to take the Bean back, and she hasn't tried to fob the Bean off on the neighbors or perfect strangers when we aren't looking. She hasn't taken it into her head to hit, pinch or harm the Bean. And we are so grateful for that. In fact she's incorporated the Bean into her play. Mostly by sitting directly in front of the Bean and loudly singing, "Hella sista Bean, hella sista Bean, Hella sista Bean, hella sista Bean, Hella sista Bean, hella sista Bean, Hella sista Bean, hella sista Bean, Hella sista Bean, hella sista Bean," or sitting beside the Bean and asking, "Hello sister Bean, what's heading today (patting her head), Hello sister Bean what's footing today (patting her foot) Hello sister Bean what's ..." I think you get the picture. The Peanut has also been a huge help with the Bean; happily doing diaper runs at bum changing time, making sure to bring at least 3 diapers in case the Bean poops all over me which is big time entertainment.

What we also have is a lot of little miss bossy pants behavior, complete with foot stomping, whining and full on bottom lip protrusions. Trying to steer the Peanut in the direction of positive attention is as much a full time job as feeding burping and changing the Bean. It helps that she's started to ask for attention when she's starting to feel left out. And it also helps that she's willing to be patient if the Bean is in the middle of a meal or bum change.

So that's what's been going on around here. I'll be continuing with the music meme when I get a chance, since the Bean's awake from her nap it's time to get going. Today we're headed to the Peanut's school to drop off some information for registration for kindergarten next year. Did I mention that the Peanut starts kindergarten next year? I'm only left to wonder what happened; where did the last four years go?

It Makes Me Happy

2011-03-26T08:06:00.000-07:00

Song number three on my list is a song that makes you happy.

So which song to choose? I've heard songs on the radio and immediately felt happier for hearing them, some of these songs are still able to lift my spirits up while others over time become tiresome to listen to. It may be because of over playing or just that the puzzle of the song has been figured out and I've moved on.

Over the years I've been made happy by hundreds of songs, songs by my favourite band, songs heard on a television show, on a commercials, on the radio, songs that my husband has played for me. I could list all of them here but instead I'm going to share one of the Peanuts favourite songs. It makes her happy; and since it's not Barney the Purple dinosaur it makes me happy too.

What song(s) make you happy? If you post about it leave a comment with a link to your post and I'll do my best to visit and comment.

A Song I Hate

2011-03-21T04:56:00.000-07:00

I dislike to use the word hate, although I'm sure that I probably do use it (and often) when I'm not paying attention.

The thing about this list I'm working through is that it asks for my choices in music that it asks me to share music that I hate, used to love but now hate, consider a guilty pleasure from a band I don't like and so on. My husband is a musician, he plays all manner of musical genres and both of our music tastes range from on end of the spectrum to another. For the most part I can't say that I hate any one song or band or artist because on a certain level I can look at the music and see what it is that others see in it, them, him or her.

That is with the exception of this song:

I'll be honest here, I despise this song. I have never liked this song and I go out of my way to steer the Peanut (and now the Bean) from crossing paths with the big purple dinosaur so that I won't have to listen to it or be forced to watch the big purple dinosaur over and over and over.

Thankfully there are a few artists out there that make their music pleasing to both adult and toddler/kid audiences. Bobs & Lolo leaps to mind as does They Might Be Giants. There are also some fantastic compilations of kids songs out there done by rock and pop artists that are like a nice thick milk shake on a summer day. Mary Had a Little Amp jumps to mind as does the benefit album Do Fun Stuff put together by the uber talented photographer and blogger Ryan of Pacing in the Panic Room. These albums are ones I can listen to on repeat for a good chunk of time which; if you are a parent you'll know this, is generally what happens to a song or album when someone under the age of 5 or so (and sometimes those of us older than that) becomes obsessed with it.

Your turn: Is your hated song sung by an animated Doodle Bop? or is it an overplayed pop ditty? Write about a song you don't like and leave a comment here with a link to your blog post and I'll do my best to get to your blog and leave a comment.

Music Music Music

2011-03-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

Now I don't know if you've noticed or not but I haven't been doing a lot of posting here; what with the Bean taking up a lot of my time and the Peanut taking up a lot of my other time. In fact writing this post has taken me about 3 hours so far.

So I'm following along on this facebook meme where I a song is posted each day that falls within a specific paradigm. (there now I've used a big ol' snazzy word I can feel like the Mommy brain isn't beating all the smarts out of my head). so I thought what a great way to keep up with posting than to transfer the meme to the blog?

Here's the thing about music; it's very subjective; it ties in strongly to our emotions; and while being very communal; (I think it safe to say that most people listen to music and in a lot of cases a lot of people listen to, and enjoy the same music) it's also very personal too (why one person may loves a certain song can be very different from why another person loves (or hates,) the same song).

Our lives are soundtracked with certain songs providing the key to events and moments in time. No matter where you are, a song can start to play and memories of the summer you were 16, the boy or girl you first kissed, the first big fight you had with your significant other, the moment you learned a bit of life changing news, will rise. See what I mean about music being personal?

So let's get started:

Depeche Mode - Enjoy The Silence by

A song that I love.

I know that I've said it here before but I'll say it again. I love Depeche Mode. Of all their songs there is a long list that would fit here. One of the reasons that I love this song is the lyrics
words like violence.... come crashing in to my little world
words are very unnecessary
words are meaningless and forgettable

Also on the list of reasons I love this song is the video. As well as being a fan of Depeche Mode I'm also a fan of Anton Corbijn's photography and videography and don't get me started on how much I loved Control, the rich blacks deep enough to get lost inside.....

And not least it's singable and danceable. Anytime I hear this song I am most likely singing along and possibly dancing around with my Peanut Butter and Jelly Beans.

So it's your turn, post on your blog about your favourite song include a video if you like. Tell us why that song and add a link in the comments below where we can find your post. I'll do my best to visit and make a comment too.

A Thousand Words: a little more than that edition

2011-03-10T09:10:00.000-08:00

My time is totally taken up by the ever tasty combination of the Peanut Butter Pie and the Jelly Bean. Tuesday and Wednesday of this week we had whole day excursions that orbited around seeing the Doctor.

Tuesday was the Peanut's 4-5 year shot. Needed to get her into school next year. Yesterday was the comb post partum and 6 week baby visit; our last at the maternity clinic. The Peanut was awesome with her needle, a small yelp and then happy to pick a sticker. The Bean is up to 12lb 12 oz from her birth weight of 9lb 2.5oz. I am back to wearing pre-pregnancy pants since yesterday's trip involved me yanking my pants up every few feet. If you look at this week's thousand word image you can see that it's all totally worth it.

she has us completely wrapped around her little fist (since her
hands stay in fisticuffs most of the time and fingers are
somewhat rare these days) with that smile

A Thousand Words: It's not what it looks like edition

2011-03-03T08:55:00.000-08:00

The Peanut was actually very pleased to be
hugging her Sister Bean

A study in colour

2011-03-01T09:02:00.000-08:00

While folding laundry this morning I started to consider how colour seems to be divided in our little family.

Blues & Greens
mostly me and the Peanut with a smattering of the Bean

Pinks/Purples
The Bean with a little bit of the Peanut

Reds
The Peanut and me

Greys, Blacks and other darks
The Husband and myself with a smattering of The Peanut

Whites
Neutral ground

of course we all have a little bit in each colour (with the exception of pink, the husband doesn't have anything pink at the moment in his wardrobe, he does however have red) but the bulk of each colour separation seems to go to at least one or two of us.

Are we the only family that seems to draw lines with colours?

Updates

2011-02-28T08:34:00.000-08:00

First thing: to your right is the visual that should have been added on the last post. I may just go back and add it still.

The Mastitis is getting a good ass kicking and is nearly mostly gone except for a tiny bit of tenderness that we're working on. I spent a couple of days resting as much as possible to get over the worst of it. Now I'm just finishing off my meds and keeping on top of emptying out those milk ducts.

This weekend was very busy for us. The husband's band played his first gig in over a year on Friday night and I was able to slip away from the Bean; leaving her in the care of my nephew for a little while and watch the husband's first set and the other band that played with them. The husband plays mostly covers and their set included songs by Oasis, The Cars, Billy Idol and Lenny Kravitz. At one point the Guitarist's wife Deb got up and belted out Pat Benatar's Heart Breaker too. Leaving the Bean was surprisingly easy considering that the Peanut's first time away from us was around the 4 month mark and that was with us still inside the same building. The other band who was playing is an originals band Ivan Vanagan. They did a short acoustic set that started with this song:

Not Afraid by Ivan Vanagan

It was a great night out for me. One I've been in need of. It was great seeing friends and hanging out with my sister and brother in law.

Saturday we went to help my sister move into her new home which was when the snow was falling and then it kept falling. When I say we helped I mean I emptied a few boxes in between feeding the Bean. I'm not quite all healed up from the C-section so I'm not doing any heavy lifting if I don't need to be. The Husband however was more than making up for my inability to lift and there were dressers, boxes, couches and other heavy items he had a hand in lifting. By the end of the night the roads were pretty bad and we decided to leave the Peanut for an over night sleep over and took the Bean home with us.

In case you're wondering there is still snow on the ground here and we are expecting some more. The Peanut is delighted. I'm hoping to be able to get her out to play today if errands will permit it. If not there's always next time; as I mentioned we're expecting more this week.

In reading news I started and finished Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book. I heartily recommend it. On deck is an art history book on Pop Art. I'll see how much interest it holds. Unfortunately right now I'm finding that a good story is more captivating than critical analysis, but I'll give it my best shot. I'm also working through Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh which I'm enjoying but also finding easy to put down. I've seen the movie and always wanted to read the book so when I saw it on the shelf in the library I grabbed it.

Today I'm headed out to the Photo lab to get them to reprint a photograph. Fortunately we have cleared off sidewalks and roads at the moment so the trek with both the Peanut and the Bean will be a nice and easy one. So what's on your plate today? How was your weekend? Share please I'd really like to know.

Of blizzard like proportions

2011-02-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

Snow! Snow! Snow! Snow!
Lovely snow! Wonderful snow!
Snow sno-o-o-o-o-ow snow sno-o-o-o-o-ow snow.
Lovely snow! Lovely snow! Lovely snow! Lovely snow!
Snow! snow snow snow!

ick

2011-02-24T15:56:00.001-08:00

is how I'm feeling, hence the lack of a thousand words this morning. I've caught myself a nice case of mastitis and I've been feeling like warmed over baby poop sine yesterday when it hit nice and hard.

I'm on antibiotics, expressing milk and trying to break up the plugs in my ducts and taking it nice and easy. The worst of it is the fever and the simultaneous chills, oh yeah and the pain. I'm hoping to be back in fine form soon and I'll post the latest a thousand words next week

Like a...

2011-02-20T07:46:00.001-08:00

I'm starting this post with the understanding that as soon as I start to get a good train of thought; the Bean is going to open her bright little eyes and start to make nursing pleas.

Already I can here her grunting and groaning in her bed as she works on passing her morning gas. Yup; that's right my 3 week and a few days old baby passes morning gas.

She also belches and farts like a trucker. We had compared her talents with those of a frat boy just last week but since she doesn't try to light her farts on fire or laugh uproariously after each explosive pfththththththtttttt and instead passes the gas like it's as normal as walking down the street, we figured the trucker reference was an apt one. Also it allows for superb hyperbole and gets a surprisingly gratuitous reactions for us so we're going to keep with that one.

Rather than continue on in this vein and go on to talk about her amazing skill of waiting until I have her diaper off so that she can shower me with baby poop, I'll change the subject and talk about something not body function related.... actually I've got nothing else at the moment...

books books books

2011-02-18T04:36:00.000-08:00

I'm on a bit of a new book binge. Not that I'm buying new books just borrowing them from the library. I mentioned before the Bean was out and about that I was planning on getting lots of reading in over the next little while. I was a tiny bit worried that I was being a little optimistic regarding how much I was going to be able to read after she made her entrance, but I've been pretty lucky so far.

I'm not reading as fast as I normally do but I have been able to finish off a healthy stack of books over the last three weeks. So far I've been keeping to authors who I'm familiar with; Nick Hornby, Terry Pratchet, Neil Gaiman, and a newer member of my must read if written by list China Mieville.

In the Hospital and during our first week home I was reading Good Omens by Pratchet and Gaiman. I also read Hornby's Juliet Naked, a handful of Gaiman's Graphic novels, and I'm now reading Mieville's Un Lun Dun and loving it.

What's on your reading list right now?

A Thousand Words

2011-02-17T04:17:00.000-08:00

Truly extravagant baby gear; what fairy Godmothers are made for.

Of Migrainle Like Proportions

2011-02-15T08:03:00.000-08:00

The Bean is currently snuggled in her bed grunting and groaning in that really adorable way that newborns do when they're trying to pass gas from the other end (or possibly a nice juicy baby poop) and the Peanut is only just now peeking out of her room.

Yesterday was a little tough on all of us. My patience was super short, the Peanut started the day in tears and continued a lot of it to the tune of mild whingeyness and the Bean was all about the milk, wanting to eat on the hour every hour ending last night at 9 with a large lap full of curdled milk when she coughed and then brought up what looked like a days worth of breast milk. That was when I went to bed, taking the Bean with me and after giving a little more milk and she fell asleep I promptly followed her lead.

And then this morning (at 3, when the Bean was looking for a little night time snack) I woke up with a massive headache which persisted and still persists even with the application of painkillers and an ice pack.

I'm placing full blame on the change in air pressure. There's nothing quite like the human barometer experience. I can't be the only one who feels the weather in headache form. Wanna share your human barometer tales?

It sure takes a lot of work

2011-02-11T08:22:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I posted about how hard breast feeding is. Having had to relearn how to get a proper latch once again I feel it bears repeating. Breast feeding is hard, it's painful to get the hang of and boy does it ever take up a lot of time.

The Bean was born weighing a whopping big 9lb 2.5oz and because she wasn't able to breastfeed for two hours after she joined us on the outside; the rest of our first day together was spent with her trying to catch up on those lost two hours when I was in recovery. The result was two very blistered nipples and very painful latches while in the hospital.

I have a theory about breast feeding in the hospital. The nurses are there to make sure that your baby is being fed and to get her latched on; not necessarily to sit with you for however long it takes for you to get the hang of holding the baby, bringing the baby to the breast, waiting until the baby's mouth is open wide enough and all the other little things that make up a good latch. These ladies have so many things to do that when they do come in to help it's to get it done fast and get back to whoever else is ringing them for help. Learning in that environment is near impossible. Since on top of the kamikaze breast feeding lessons you also have visitors coming in and out, nurses coming in to test vitals, and you're also trying to get acquainted with the little life you've been lugging around for the past nine months.

It wasn't until I was at home and the health nurse called to follow up and I asked for a home visit that I was able to get the whole latching thing down. Learning how to get that latch once I was at home was so much easier for many reasons not least of which is that it's a one on one experience and she's there to make sure that you get the latching thing down even if it means doing it over and over and over until you get it right and it feels like second nature.

When it's your first time around it's frustrating and difficult and disheartening. At least with the Bean I knew what to expect (I knew it would be frustrating and difficult and disheartening) because I'd been through the same thing with the Peanut. So when I started to get the the little nipple blisters I asked for help, again and again and again in the hospital; knowing that I very well might not get the hang of it there. When I got home I made sure to ask for a lactation consultant to come to me so that I would get back into fine breast feeding form.

Now if I can just get over how much time I'm spending feeding the Bean we'll be doing awesome.

* the photograph above of me and the Bean was taken by my Niece

A Thousand Words

2011-02-10T04:15:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite things about snuggling is
that cuddle thing they do into the neck.

2011-02-07T10:10:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to get it together enough to write about the coming of the Bean but between getting acquainted with the Jelly Bean, making sure that our Peanut Butter Pie is feeling the love and recovering I've been very side tracked.

The Bean's birth story isn't a usual one. There's no water breaking, or contractions starting. No having to frantically track down the Husband to get to the hospital. We were scheduled to go into surgery at 8:30 so we had to be at the hospital at 6:30. I had pre-registered but we still had to go through some administration. We went up to the maternity floor where I peed in a cup, got a shave, and had three different nurses try to hook me up to an IV. I walked from the pre-op room into the operating room where the anaesthesiologist finally got the IV in and then successfully performed a spinal in record time with only a little bit of pain.

I was given two doses of adrenalin so that I wouldn't be sick during the operation and before I knew it I was listening to the Bean making her first sounds. My first look at her was watching the Doctor place her in the warming bed and the Husband going over to take her first pictures and update his status on facebook. I held her briefly before she went downstairs with her Daddy and I went into post-op recovery. We had her named in those few moments; unlike the Peanut who did not seem to fit any of our favorite name picks, the Bean suited the one we liked the best and we chose a middle name that fits her nick name and fits her like a glove.

Hearing her little voice gurgle through the amniotic fluid and then come out clear and strong was surreal. With the Peanut we were given a quick peak at her face before they took her out. The Bean was born behind the curtain and I wasn't able to hold her and feed her properly until I'd been in recovery for two hours. There were of course tears of complete joy when I first saw her and the shock of recognition too; with the exception of black hair instead of dark reddish and much chubbier cheeks the Bean and the Peanut are most definitely sisters. They look very much alike.

I'll be trying to post more frequently as time goes on. This week the Husband goes back to work and we head into a somewhat regular routine. I'm hoping to be able to get back into the swing of things soon.

A Thousand Words: the new edition edition

2011-02-03T04:36:00.000-08:00

Three days old and dressing to
impress her sister; the dino lover

and Bean makes 4

2011-01-29T13:51:00.000-08:00

The Bean is home and my parents left us this morning. We're getting settled in and getting used to each other and new routines.

The Bean is a healthy 9lb 2.5oz who looks an awful lot like her sister did. I'll be posting a little bit more and catching up on everyone else too as days pass and we get more settled in. Next post will have pictures.

Two Days

2011-01-24T07:44:00.000-08:00

In two days at this time I will be getting ready to bring the Bean out. I'm not sure how sleep on Tuesday night is going to be, the adrenaline is probably going to be pounding all night long. We have my niece coming over to watch over the Peanut while we head into the hospital for pre-op and my parents are on their way as we speak.

We'll be bringing the Bean out via a c-section. I made the decision to go that route because with the Peanut I had one, and because it was an emergency procedure that took place even before a single real contraction was felt. Having the second child is supposed to be a little less daunting and the whole unknown involved with labour wasn't making this time around seem so. I felt that trying to go naturally combined with having the Peanut at home and having my parents here for only a few short days it was better to go the already trodden path.

The Bean has started to slow down a little bit, she's not kicking nearly as much and her movements seem to be focused to mostly at night. My belly has dropped down a little bit and I've got that waddle walk going on that happens when the baby's head is engaged and it feels like she's going to drop out with each step. The Peanut is a super help, running to pick things up for me when I drop them, helping to pic up after herself and just being a sweet heart.

This will be my last post for a while. As I mentioned I've got my parents on the way and I want to focus on the Peanut for the next two days. I'll post again once we're home and settled.

I may be deluding myself

2011-01-23T04:26:00.000-08:00

But I've got a big stack of books for reading over the next week or so. Of course I'm not taking into account the whole going to be taking care of a newborn in about 3 days or so.

The thing is, is that I can't not read. I read and re-read books just to have a story going at all times. The problem is that I get in author ruts and find it hard to pick up a new one without some sort of recommendation. To be honest my book reading practice has become very much like that of a finicky eater who is longing to break out of a rut. I read books that I've love and re-read them because the choices open to me when I step into the library are so vast that it's easier to pick the tried and true than it is to venture into uncharted territory. And then when I do taste something new and fresh and I enjoy it; it becomes an obsession and I collect the plots of a new author.

I'm fortunate in that I have this amazing friend who is as avid a reader as I am... OK if I'm going to be honest she's more avid a reader than I am, she devours books like chocolate, she always has something new in her bag to read. She's been tossing the odd suggestion my way over the last little for which I'm very grateful, after all, there's only so many times you can read the same book in one year...

So with the Bean on the verge of reality I'm piled high with some new reads and looking for more, What else should I be doing while I'm breastfeeding? Watching TV? What's on your night table? What book are you reading that you just can't put down, can't stop thinking about? Me? I've been reading China Miéville; courtesy of a suggestion by my above friend, I just finished Kraken, Looking for Jake and Iron Council and I'm looking forward reading Un Lun Dun.

On the positive side I'm too obstinate to give up

2011-01-21T07:40:00.000-08:00

I won't bother to mention that we have 5 more days to wait for the Bean. Time is just flying. The closer the day gets the more nervous I find myself getting about returning to breastfeeding. Starting out with the Peanut was easy; it was like she new instinctively how to latch on properly in the first few minutes of being on the outside and then things just went down hill.

Just like how all that talk about how exhausted you're going to be after the baby comes falls on deaf ears when you're pregnant for the first time; the whole breastfeeding thing doesn't seem to register as a difficult task until you're exhausted from the lack of sleep and frustrated because that little life you've just brought into the world is screaming and crying pitifully because she's hungry and you can't get the hang of getting her to latch on. Don't even get me started on the whole nursing through mastitis scenario...

I recently read this blog post about how hard it is to breastfeed and it struck a nerve or two. Mostly because I saw myself in her experience but also because I wholeheartedly agree that when it comes to motherhood we tend to gloss over the hard parts too much; and breastfeeding is one of the hardest. I refuse to make it sound like a walk in the park to those who are headed toward parenthood (partly because scaring the crap out of first time parents to be can be great entertainment for those of us who are seasoned practitioners).

I once went out for dinner with two good friends from art school who I had lost touch around the time we found out we were having the Peanut. It had been a good three years since I'd last seen them and there was a lot to catch up on; one was working in an exciting new job that had her traveling all the time doing something that she loves, the other had just gotten married and was basking in the glow that is being a newly wed while stressing about the fact that she was in her final year of school with finals and looking for a job ahead of her. We traded stories and pictures and when they asked me how much I liked being a Mommy (because I had been known to be very vocal about wanting to be one) I shocked them both by honestly telling them that sometimes I hated it. That having a baby was hard, breastfeeding: hard, adjusting to being a Mom: hard. That even though I adored my Peanut that I sometimes longed for the days when I was not tied down to a schedule. The whole conversation became a little uncomfortable about then. They weren't expecting so much honesty and I wasn't about to sugarcoat my feelings or my experiences so I changed the subject and we moved on.

And now I'm on the cusp of doing it all over again. I know how to breastfeed in theory but the last time the Peanut latched on she was a month shy of two and trying to multitask while eating by watching what her Daddy was doing and getting a little yoga in with a downward dog pose all at the same time. Breastfeeding a two year old is not the same as breastfeeding a new born and I'm planning on having the nurses into my room as much as possible while we're getting the hang of it because the whole wrestling with a hungry newborn is not high on my list of things I'm looking forward to the second time around. It's going to be hard and I'll probably have my Mom telling me to just feed her formula while she's here and I'll have to juggle the Peanut at the same time and I'll probably get frustrated but I will do it and I won't be telling anyone how easy and natural it is to do because the look on their faces when they see that I'm serious will make it all worth while. Well that, and the fact that the Bean will be getting exactly what she needs from me and I won't be paying through the nose for formula.

A Thousand Words

2011-01-20T04:14:00.000-08:00

One week left to be an only child

How To make a signature for a hand bound book

2011-01-19T05:38:00.000-08:00

Last time I showed you how to find the direction your paper grain runs in your paper to optimize for the best fold for a hand bound book. now that you have a stack of precut pages all ready for folding, with the grain of the paper parallel to where you are going to fold I'll show you how to fold your sheets and get them ready for sewing.

What you'll need:

Precut sheets (cut to the height of your book and double the width)
Ruler
Pencil
Bone Folder
paper clips or alligator clips
Awl or a Long needle or pin
Rubber Mallet

Measure for your score
The best way to fold a sheet of paper is to score along where your fold is going to be using a bone folder. A bone folder is generally made of pig bone and has a pointed end and a rounded end, the bone is smooth for burnishing down your paper once it's scored.

To start take your ruler and measure out where your fold is going to be. My book is going to be 5.5" x 7" so my precut sheets are 11"x 7". Measuring in from the edge along the 11" length of the page I will make small pencil marks at the 5.5" length on my ruler. Remember to measure down the sheet in at least three places so that you are in effect measuring twice (or more) and scoring only once. Because the edges of my paper are deckle edges measuring in more than one place is even more important since the edge of my paper isn't even.

Scoring for your fold
just as you would if you were cutting along your measure, take your straight edge and line it up along your pencil marks. Run your bone folder along the edge remembering to keep your other hand pressing down on the ruler and moving it so that your bone folder hand and your ruler hand are at approximately the same place. It helps to have some extra scrap papers under where you are scoring to act as a cushion. This will give you a deeper score in your page making folding even easier.

Making the fold
Now that you have a scored line in each sheet you can create your fold. Using your scored line as guide, fold your sheet along the scored line and press down using the flat of your bone folder to finish the fold.

Make your signature
A signature is a collection of folded sheets that make a booklet. one or more signatures can be sewn together to create the pages of a hand bound book. A signature should ideally be made up of no less than three folded sheets of paper or leaves and no more than ten. The paper I have used is fairly heavy; 200lb so I am opting to create two signatures of four leaves.

Collect your leaves together and make sure that they all line up. At this point you can make sure your leaves stay aligned by clipping them together with paper clips or alligator clips.

Since this a small book I plan on measuring for two bindings (the straps that will hold the signatures together when the book is being bound). I'll measure out and make a pencil mark on each signature starting 3/4" from the bottom of the signature and 1/2" from the top of the signature.

The next step involves some math. I apologize but sometimes a little arithmetic is necessary. take your ruler and measure the space between the top measurement and the bottom. Divide this by the number of bindings for your book. In my case four. Measure down from your 1/2" mark with the number you have just calculated and with your pencil make another mark and repeat for each number of bindings.

A second mark should be made under each of these measurements to match the width of your binding tape or ribbon. My binding tape is 1/2" wide, under each of my measurements I will make a second mark that is a distance of 1/2". These marks are where I will punch a hole using my awl.

Getting the signatures ready to sew
making sure the leaves in your signature are aligned, take your awl and place the point on each of your markings where your bindings will be placed. Gently hammer the awl into your signature on each point. It is helpful to have something underneath where you are hammering so that you don't damage your awl tip. I've used an old magazine but an old phonebook would work too.

Next time Sewing your bindings onto your signature

A primer post

2011-01-19T03:08:00.000-08:00

to get you ready for the one I hope to put up later today...

With luck and focus I'll be posting the second part of my book binding tutorial this morning.

Also on the agenda: laundry (of course) and perhaps a painting festival on the kitchen table.

An exact time

2011-01-18T04:06:00.000-08:00

or as close to it is what I'm hoping to get today at our last maternity appointment.

Afterwards I'm hoping to spend some extra quality time with the Peanut. With time ticking down I'm doing my best to take time and be in the moment. This will be the last time I will be pregnant so all the bladder bumping ovary smashing I've been experiencing over the last two weeks will one day be looked upon with fondness (or perhaps not). This will also be the last time that I am the Mamma of a single child. My main goal over the next 8 days, other than to take it as easy as I can; is to make some special time for the Peanut during these last days she has us all to herself.

There is a part of me that is almost dreading the moment when the Peanut realizes that she's going to have to share us with the Bean. It's almost as big as the anticipation of being able to finally take a look at the bean in the flesh.

2011-01-17T04:31:00.000-08:00

In case I haven't been blatant enough about it; the count down is on. Today marks 9 days until the Bean joins us on the outside. This weekend we made some special time for the Peanut, Her Daddy took her to the science center and out for lunch with a side trip to the toy store. Then she got to have a night in with her cousin; my niece while the husband and I went out for dinner.

On Sunday we rearranged our bedroom so that the co-sleeper the Bean will call bed would fit better. Other than that flurry of activity it was a lazy lazy day. Both the Peanut and I spent the day in our 'jamma's and read books (I'm in the midst of China Miéville's Iron Council) played computer games and drew pictures of panda bears.

Today I hope to finish up the second part of my book making tutorial for posting tomorrow. With a little more than a week to go before the Bean and Doctors appointments, family on the way and all the other stuff that comes along with bringing a new person into a family I'm hoping to keep up with the posts but I'm going to apologize now in case I just can't keep up. I'll be setting up notices over at PeanutButterPie and TMCphoto to let people know that I'll be away for the Bean as well over the course of the week with the hope that I'll be able to get things up and running again as soon as we're all settled.

How was your weekend?

There is a wall of water

2011-01-14T09:07:00.001-08:00

cascading down into the street outside.

Any small piles of snow left over from Tuesday nights blanket will be gone by this afternoon or gone enough that they won't count as snow piles any longer. If it's possible the rain has just started in even harder and there are abut 50 tiny birds in the lilac tree outside my window and perching on the wires beneath the eves of the house next door that I can't seem to stop watching them for longer than it
takes to type one or two words.

I'm antsy but I'm wanting to hibernate; it's the rain. My moods are swinging back and forth a little violently and I'm working on keeping my patience for the Peanut. I have some photographs to take for a post next week today or tomorrow. I have last minute shopping to do to get ready for the Beans arrival in 12 days. I need nursing friendly jammas, another nursing bra and probably a few other items that I can't even remember right now.

I started packing for the hospital this morning, the only things for me in the suitcase are a not quite full enough of the stuff I'll probably need toiletry bag, socks and underwear. The rest is sleepers for the Bean, and blankets receiving and the fuzzy pink and white I was given last weekend, a hat and the Bean's "Hello Big Sister" gift for the Peanut. Everything else will have to wait because my housecoat and slippers are in daily rotation right now and as I mentioned above there are some new things I need to pick up before we let loose with the Bean.

Did I mention that we're on day twelve of the Bean Count Down?
I did? Oops, must be pregnancy brain

A Thousand Words

2011-01-13T07:21:00.001-08:00

yesterday morning; this is all gone now

How To: getting paper ready to make signatures for a handbound book

2011-01-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

I may have mentioned that I'm getting ready to make a bedtime book for the Peanut last week. I've decided that while I'm doing that, I may as well create a tutorial (or more) during the process; mainly because It's been a while since I last made a hand bound book and talking through it is a fantastic way to learn yourself; or in my case refresh my knowledge.

With the Bean's debut just around the corner I'm not up to major projects at the moment so I may get a few tutorials done before she comes along and I may just get this one done and follow up once we're all sorted as a family of four instead of a family of three. We'll see how things go and I'll just ask for your patience now and get it out of the way.

The first step in making a hand bound book (outside of getting text together and breaking it up into page sized bits) is getting your signatures (or in my case; a signature) ready. A signature is a group of folded pages that make up a booklet which is then sewn together and attached to the hard cover of your book.

Today I'll show you how to find the grain in your sheet of paper so that you can cut your paper to make a signature for a hand bound book.

What you will need:
Paper
Ruler
Pencil
X-acto Knife
Soft Bristle Brush
Water

Paper Grain
When working with artist grade paper especially when you are going to be using artist grade paper for book making you should be aware of which way the paper grain is before you measure and cut your paper for signatures and for accordion folds. Paper grain refers to the direction that most of the fibers that make up the paper lie. During paper making the fibers that make up the paper tend to align themselves in one direction. Most artist grade papers are made using cotton fibers.

The best way to figure out which way the papers grain runs is to bend your sheet of paper. One side will roll easier than the other; the smaller the sheet of paper you are working with the more dramatic the difference will be. The side that bends the easiest is where the grain runs. You will be folding your signature parallel to the grain.

Measuring and Cutting
Now that you know which edge is parallel to your paper grain measure your paper for cutting. For my book I am making a 5.5"x7" book. I will be cutting sheets for my signature that are 11" x 7" with a fold made 5.5" in on the 11" length that runs running parallel to the grain of my paper.

I will be using two methods of cutting my paper for this book. the tops and bottoms of my pages will be cut using a blade for a straight edge and for the outside edges of my signatures I'll be making a deckle edge using water and a brush.

Straight Cut:
Using your ruler and a sharp pencil measure out where your cuts are going to be made. I measured down the length of my paper in 7" increments in three separate places along the page. This way I can line up my ruler along each mark and double check that my measurements are exact before I cut.

Laying your straight edged ruler along your measure line you can then take your x-acto blade and run it along the straight edge. It is best to use light even cuts and go over the cut more than once than to put a lot of pressure on a single cut. Keep your hand on the ruler to hold it down along where you are making your cut. This means that you will be moving your ruler hand along with your cutting hand as you make your cut. This gives your ruler edge support during the cut and also ensures that you are paying attention to what your blade is doing.

Deckle Edge:
Now that I've cut the straight edges on my sheets I have a tidy stack of four 7" x 22.5" sheets.

I want to make these into smaller 7" x 11" sheets with a deckle edge along the 7" edge of the sheet. I'm using Opus European Watercolour paper which has deckle edges already so I will be creating a deckle edge to match when I make the sheet smaller.

To illustrate paper grain a little more I've included two more images with these smaller sized sheets, you'll notice that the paper bends much more easily along the longer edge of the sheet. The paper grain then runs parallel to the 7" length of my sheet. This is the length that I will eventually score along for folding

To do this you need to measure where your tear is going to be made just as if you were going to cut the edge as before. Lay your ruler along the marks for your edge and run a wet paintbrush along the edge. I use a soft bristle brush so that I don't scuff my paper surface. Let the water soak into the paper. The paper I am using is 200lb paper which means that it is quite a heavy paper and needs a few moments for the water to soak in before I can start to tear. As with cutting with a blade keep your hand on the ruler along where you are tearing. Lift the edge of the paper where you want your tear to start and pull. Move your hand farther down the straight edge and tear further along your edge until you have reached the edge of your sheet.

Next time: scoring and folding to make your signature

count down

2011-01-11T05:42:00.000-08:00

We're headed into the final weeks, before we know it the Bean will be out and about and known by an actual name and I can't wait to meet her.

Today we're headed out to the hospital for our weekly appointment and then we'll be having lunch with the husband.

I'm hoping to get started on a multi-part tutorial at some point before the Bean comes along. I am however making no promises.

Piles and piles

2011-01-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

of clothes handed down from my friends. And this on top of a small pile of new sleepers, cloths, toys and other baby things that my friends have gifted me.

Yesterday was my baby shower. Since my family is so far away from us this is probably the only celebration type gathering the Bean will get and it was a lovely afternoon with my Mamma friends.

I should mention that I'm really not that comfortable with having a lot of attention on me so, opening gifts, while fun; is an act of self consciousness even when surrounded by the people that I love. So I opened my gifts as unobtrusively as possible and hope that I will be able to express my thanks properly with thank you cards. The big gift of the day was an Ergo Baby carrier. Since I plan on wearing the Bean as a fashion accessory/ body warming device over the next few months I couldn't have received a better gift. Topped off with the fact that the brand is one that some of my Momma friends have used and love I'm thrilled.

After the shower ended and the husband picked me up we went and picked up the Arms Reach Co-Sleeper that I've been eyeing up since the Peanut was sharing our bed instead of sleeping in her crib because that was the only way that I was getting enough sleep to function. This time around we're starting out by co-sleeping and I have high hopes that the co-sleeper will make that much easier. Now we have to do some bedroom rearranging so that we can all fit.

Now what was that I read somewhere about nesting?

5 Questions: LavenderAve; Thoughtfully Handmade

2011-01-07T04:56:00.000-08:00

The first Baby Shower Gift that I received from the Etsy Baby Shower was from this fantastic shop. Jenn, the proprietor and creative mastermind behind LavenderAve has been on vacation, I wanted to make sure that you were able to view all the adorable and super comfy looking 'jamma's in her shop so I've waited until she returned before sharing her answers to my 5 questions.

Jenn was kind enough to send me and the Bean a set of adorable giraffe jammies that I think we'll be dressing her up in at the hospital. LavenderAve features both nightdresses (which I've found are so difficult to come by these days without being plastered with the likes of Hanna Montana or Dora the Explorer) and cozy looking pajammas as well as lounge pants and vintage look pantalettes for a little added sweetness underneath skirts and dresses. LavenderAve is a must visit if you've got kids to clothe for bedtime.

You can follow Jenn on her blog where she's recently been posting about getting organized as well as some of her projects. To keep updated on what's happening in her shop you can also find LavenderAve on Facebook.

Do you have any influences that guide your work?
My kids have been a huge influence on my work. I have made them PJ's for a long time, and it was natural to start selling them on Etsy. The nightgown that I currently sell was inspired by a friend who was looking for a simple white nightgown for her daughters and couldn't find one anywhere.

Do you listen to music when you create? If yes, what's on your play list right now and why?
I usually listen to audio books. I have recently listened to Becoming Naomi Leon by Pam Munoz Ryan and am listening to American on Purpose by Craig Ferguson right now.
Sometimes I listen to music, my playlist is determined by my mood. Hooray for the ipod. I could be listening to ColdPlay, The Cars, White Stripes, Louis Armstrong or AC/DC depending on my stress level :). I like something in nearly every genre.

You have won a lottery, the prize is 3 items to furnish your dream studio space, what do you choose and why?
A brand new Bernina sewing machine so my old steady baby can rest sometimes, a serger because I really need one and a murphy bed to get the darn guest bed out of my way.

What was the last shop/ item you hearted on Etsy?
Yours, actually and CountryChicCottage and whimsyandspice. All of you on the same day.

Rock, Paper or Scissors?
Usually rock, sometimes scissors.

Library, Laundry (like I'd not have any to do) and starting something new

2011-01-05T08:28:00.000-08:00

As the title suggests I've got a library trip planned today, laundry and plans to start a new project.

What is this project you ask? Well it's one that I had on my list from last year and hopefully it's something that I can get done before the Bean makes her debut. Also it's going to allow me to brush up on my book binding since what I'm planning is to make a bedtime book for the Peanut of the Poem Wynken Blynken and Nod by Eugene Field.

It's a poem that my Dad used to recite to me when I was small and something that I want to pass on to the Peanut and the Bean. I've already done a painting for the Peanut's room but I wanted to also have a picture book that we could read and keep.

First on the list of things to get the book done is to decide the size of the book and decide how many pages so that I can cut the paper down to size. Not as simple as measuring and cutting since paper has a grain that makes folding along one side easier than the other, so I'll have to make sure that I keep that in mind when I pull out my paper. To decide on the number of pages for the book I'll be taking a copy of the poem and breaking it up into bite sized chunks, which will also break the poem up into illustrations for each page.

I'm excited about getting started on this in the new space and I'll be posting on my progress too.

What are you working on today?

5lbs

2011-01-04T04:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I spent some creative time carving a few new stamps while sitting at my new worktable. Today we're headed out to the Nutritionist for what could be my last appointment with them and the countdown to D-day continues.

I'll also be working on Friday's post; another 5 question feature which I'm very excited about.

And the 5lbs mentioned in the title of this post? How much extra weight that the Dr said I'm carrying around in retained water.

and the hormones, they keep raging

2011-01-03T05:31:00.000-08:00

Wow.

All the lovely comments on yesterday's post had my eyes welling up. Thank You.

Things are starting to come together in the workspace. The Husband spent a huge chunk of yesterday working on his stuff and I'm itching to get in and start doing some painting, even if the space isn't exactly how I want it to be it's set and ready for the creativity to flow.

That's one other side effect of being all with child, I'm feeling very creative and very much like I want to be exercising that creative muscle while I still have some wide awake brain cells. So today is all about getting my creativity on. Well that and having a nap...

OK, I'll be putting my feet up now

2011-01-02T05:26:00.000-08:00

Over the last week my feet or rather my ankles have been taking on a rather bloated state of being.

I've taken off my wedding and engagement rings and put them away (with the husband making a comment about not liking my fingers being bare which brings on the danger of some other man coming along and stealing me away from him; he's sweet right? either that or he's patronizing the hell out of me) and I am most decidedly waddling around instead of gracefully walking to point b from point a thanks to my legs feeling like they are about to come tumbling out of their sockets.

The count down to New Bean Eve is on, we are 24 days away from her much anticipated arrival and I would love to say that I'm loving every minute of these last few weeks but honestly I'm just wishing it were all over so that the real sleep deprivation can begin.

As it is, I'm up every hour on the hour most nights with Braxton-Hicks Contractions and Bathroom trips. Rolling over in bed to get comfortable involves waking fully up so that I can sit up, or heave myself up in order to reposition myself. Have I mentioned that there is a knee or possibly even a foot almost permanently lodged between against my ribcage and I'm just looking forward to getting to now this little wiggle worm.

And of course now that I've just spewed a waterfall of pregnancy related whining I'm now thinking about how these last few weeks are the last time I'll feel the quickening, the last time I'll be closer to this Bean than anyone else in the whole wide world and the last time I'll feel the anticipation of becoming a Mommy all over again.

You'll excuse me now as I take a moment to indulge in some pregnancy hormone related melancholy...

Compare and Contrast

2011-01-01T12:24:00.000-08:00

Just for fun I took a look at last year's New Years Post and surprisingly things aren't too different between how I'm feeling today and how I was feeling a year ago with the major difference being that my tiredness stems from the whole creating new life activity that I've been involved in since last Spring.

The Tree is down, all the lights are put away, the disco skelly is once more hanging in the kitchen/living room door and I'm feeling the need for a nap except I've got to test my blood sugars in about 30 minutes before I can comfortably rest my noggin.

I'm not much for new years resolutions, I try to steer clear of them since they tend to be a direct route to feeling bad about not following through. I like to spend some time during the solstice thinking about what changes I'd like to see in the coming year but pregnancy brain put a wrench in that practice so instead I've been taking the extra time to mull it all over.

Last year I wanted to start baking my own bread, to start a garden and make being creative a regular part of my routine. The garden was a success. Bread was as well until the first trimester of pregnancy made the process seem too overwhelming and I feel that I have definitely made creativity a regular part of my day to day.

In the coming year, with the Bean on the way in 25 days I want to ensure that I take time to take care of myself, take time to make the Peanut the center of my attention the rest, gardens, bread, art will all fall into place once the Bean is amongst us and we've all become acquainted with each other because this new phase in our family takes precedence and honestly all that other stuff will fall into place.

What changes would you like to bring into your life this year?

getting things organized

2010-12-31T05:01:00.000-08:00

or maybe it's just a little bit less of a mess, or perhaps a different kind of mess. Having the husband home for a few days over the last week has meant that we've been able to take giant strides towards getting our work space organized.

So far this week we have:
Purchased our new storage and work tables
Cleaned off the old work surface and emptied out the old storage
Assembled our new tables and storage
Things are starting to find permanent homes
Things are finding temporary homes
Decisions about which things are going into the garage and which can be kept out are being made
Shelves that we've had in storage since our move have been hung

It's not exactly as we want it, there are still things that need homes and for the most part it still looks pretty messy. But, BUT it's starting to come together and I can see in my minds eye how it could be once it's finished. Ideally what I want is for my studio space to be inspiring to me. Otherwise as a space it just won't work.

A Thousand Words

2010-12-30T07:35:00.000-08:00

Snuggling on the couch after opening our x-mas eve gifts

So anyway...

A Thousand Words

A Thousand Words

Running Round In Circles and Then Into a Brick Wall

A Thousand Words

Books Books Books

Gonna cough a little, sneeze a little

What are you doing New Years Eve?

Handmade Holidays

Hand Made Holiday

This year is a little different

One Thing On Top Of Another

An evening Out

And that's why I've been gone

Osmosis

She's Perfect

Getting Schooled

Visual Diary

First Day Jitters

Visual Diary

Visual Diary

A Visual Diary

A Visual Diary

A Visual Diary

A Visual Diary

A Visual Diary

A Visual Diary

Just for me

A Thousand Words

There should really be a photograph with this post

Change of Plans

It's Canada Day

Five Years Ago today

Family, Owls and Kilns

Not my Forte

Dinos Galore

A Thousand Words

First Stop

And it ends.

Amazing

Now that we've packed

For Your Own Comfort and Safety:

I say it every time

The things that run through my mind

Trains, Planes and Automobiles

New Starts

Seaside Sidekicks Giveaway

Packing

Wake Up Call

A Thousand Words

Nest

It's not that I'm trying

Touch Faith

It's all about me

The husband forced me to watch this

And it reminds me

learning and listening

enough said

Garden time!

A Thousand Words

Itching- in more ways than one

Pouts and Drool

It Makes Me Happy

A Song I Hate

Music Music Music

A Thousand Words: a little more than that edition

A Thousand Words: It's not what it looks like edition

A study in colour

Updates

Of blizzard like proportions

Snow! Snow! Snow! Snow!Lovely snow! Wonderful snow!Snow sno-o-o-o-o-ow snow sno-o-o-o-o-ow snow.Lovely snow! Lovely snow! Lovely snow! Lovely snow!Snow! snow snow snow!

ick

Like a...

books books books

A Thousand Words

Of Migrainle Like Proportions

It sure takes a lot of work

A Thousand Words

A Thousand Words: the new edition edition

and Bean makes 4

Snow! Snow! Snow! Snow!
Lovely snow! Wonderful snow!
Snow sno-o-o-o-o-ow snow sno-o-o-o-o-ow snow.
Lovely snow! Lovely snow! Lovely snow! Lovely snow!
Snow! snow snow snow!