beauty that moves

hand sewing :: new shelves :: food photos

The key ingredient to a successful day (for me) is a proper bedtime the night before. 

Now, if only I could remember this day in and day out. 

I've been drawn to the idea of hand sewing lately. A patchwork hot pad, pictured above, was made this weekend... a second to match is almost complete. They are each lined with two layers of cast aside bath towels and that seems to be the right thickness. Truly I'd like to make hand sewn clothing but thought starting small would be best. Nonetheless, I ordered a skirt, dress, apron, and two blouse patterns last night - none of which look like they should be worn in this century. I suppose the style will be quite fitting for a little hand sewing. I love to sew, but I do not love the noise of the machine and how it sets me apart from the activity of my family. I'm not the knitter I dream of someday being, but I imagine hand sewing a blouse will have the same heart investment and meditative quality that knitting a sweater does. And it can be done while we're all together, for the most part. 

 

Laundry folding, homeschool planning (and doing), new closet shelf organizing... makes me happy. All of it.

I should probably wash the wall near that light switch. Maybe tomorrow.

 

I'm quickly entering that place of having so many food photos from my day, but very few recipes to share here... mostly they are over there. 

 

 A rain filled evening with new music, a good conversation, a proper bedtime. 

(We've been enjoying this song a lot too. Prettiest tune ever.)

one fine day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

blueberry buttermilk pancakes :: a little hand sewing :: her first time behind the 'wheel' :: snow falling all day :: The 1940s House :: homeschool closet shelf building :: frozen brook crossing :: a simple dinner :: chocolate buttermilk zucchini cake ::  

Enjoying the weekend... hoping you are as well. xo

innermost house :: ordering seeds :: bath time

The arrival of snow this week has been just what I needed. Twice we woke to freshly fallen powder, and tomorrow's weather predicts snow falling all day. We are stocked, supplied, and ready. 

Last night Lisa shared with me the most intriguing website. I think I'll take some time to read more of it this weekend. (I'd also like to devote and hour or two to my inbox, so far behind on that - sorry!)

I found a brief video about Innermost House which left me inspired. 

 

Seems like a good day for a little garden planning and seed ordering. Our neighbors already created a pumpkin patch for us before we moved in. In one of the property's garden areas they piled six huge mounds of compost (thank you Dallas) and inside of each placed one of last year's pumpkins. This coming Spring... a pumpkin patch will be born! They've done this for themselves with great success in the past. 

We joined Project FeederWatch through The Cornell Lab of Ornithology, they even have a page for homeschoolers. What a fun framework for our new found hobby - and to help provide field data for researchers to use on a larger scale, very cool. 

I used to have this Friday afternoon rhythm, usually between the hours of 3-5pm, where I'd sink into a little homeschool planning/researching/grading, etc. Cruising homeschool blogs and websites that I don't get a chance to visit much during the week, seeing what people are doing, reading learning... I loved that time. I'd mentally and physically organize our own materials for the coming week, and find a sense of closure  for the week we left behind. This was such an inspiring window of time in my week, chosen because of how quiet our home feels at this time, on this day. The house is usually (fairly) clean, the fridge stocked, maybe even a weekend meal or two prepared. Anyway, I was much better at holding this space for myself last year... I'd like to try and return to this next week.

Stanley had a bath and a haircut, he's such a good sport about both. Now we're about to watch The Grapes of Wrath and wait patiently for the weekend snow to roll in.  

phone call :: making music :: snowy night

We talked for a few minutes this morning. I should call him more in the morning, later in the day we are all tired, I realized this today. It makes sense really, he and I are both morning people, always have been. My mom and sister the opposite.

A new semester of piano has started. I never have to ask her to practice, this must be a good sign. Making music everyday, just for the joy of it.

 

 

 

Birds have become such a big part of our life here. We never had much success with feeders at our old home. The city squirrels are fierce and were known to steal entire feeders. Here we just count and identify the species (one after the next, so many!), take note in our journal what they eat (if we can tell) and dream about saving up for a 300mm lens. Those Blue Jays sure are bossy by the way... 

 

 

I had a little trouble sitting down to menu plan this week, so much is going on. But eating well (especially when so much is going on) matters. More stress? More veggies! I'm very grateful to be working my way through the recipes submitted by my workshop contributors. What a perfect solution, thank you ladies!

Snow is coming down outside, we're all tucked in and enjoying the view. 

brooklyn :: salad :: applesauce

I've passed over this book a few times at the library. No reason. Before the holidays a friend was over and commented that she had to "get home soon, she was reading a really good book." Being the fantastic guy that he is, Adam took note and Brooklyn appeared under the Christmas tree. I'm almost ready to read it, hoping it's as good as I imagine it to be. 

 

 

And just like that, the snow is almost gone. More soon, please. We'd love to take our snowshoes out back one afteroon (or many).

More school books arrived! So much excitement about that and so many wishes for more hours in the day. 

Everyone is home now, they were gone for hours. I spent almost the whole time on various phone calls, something I'm not used to doing. As I type these last sentences they're mashing potatoes, carving roasted chicken, tossing salad, warming applesauce... wine is poured. Another day. I appreciate their help so much.