Encircling

A week in review

So this past week flew by in a dizzy blur. Zoe had day camp for 3 days with our church at a camp in Oregon- which meant early morning drives across Portland to the bus and back again at night. This was after a weekend in Seattle with shopping and doting great aunties for mine and Siah's birthday. Yes, we share. It was a fun-packed, adventure filled week and I am happy to say that at the end of it, after a day home I have caught up on sleep and defeated a tummy bug passed around the camp kids. Friday is here and I can finally say my morning sickness is GONE!!!! My due date is official now at January 7th, 2010 and I am now 12 weeks and a day today.

Hopefully this new-found freedom from constant nausea will prove productive for knitting and sewing- which I tend to not handle quite so well lately. The knitting would make me dizzy and I haven't had the energy to even look at my sewing machine. I still have scraps of fabric on the floor in the craft room from the last thing I sewed. So a little more cleaning and organizing is in order now that I am feeling energetic again. 

But for today there will be painting in the bathroom and odd jobs around the house. Building a robot pinata is in order as well, as is planning a menu for Siah's birthday party this weekend. And in my spare time I will continue to teach Gavin the difference between trash and treasure, as he loves to "help" and throw things away! And of course scrubbing the floor, putting laundry away and sweeping the floor swould be good too. 

 

So I really need to find an answer....

to a very pressing problem. I seem to do my best blogging in my head- while out and about, on long car rides, or any place that just ahppens to not be my own home with acsess to a computer. I think I may need some sort of recording device.

Most of my time this past few weeks has been spent barely functioning. I take frequent rests in a large comfy chair...and try to forget the fact that I need to throw up. I am still nursing, so my body sends clear and strong signals when it needs food- which is often. Luckily for me, I never really throw up. So all is good as far as that goes. I really can't wait until this stage passes though. So that I can get more accomplished. Being able to think clearly would be nice as well.

When I can, I've been cutting fabric for diapers, knitting myself a new sweater(the February Lady Sweater), and gardeing with the kids. The weather has been just lovely lately. We also moved our chickens outside, so that has been fun. The kids love to find the girls worms and give them grass seeds to munch. I've also been painting a second coat of paint in our bathroom wall whenever I get a few moments - which has been a long time coming....And we are getting new windows installed throughout the house. I am super-excited about the new windows because, well, the ones here now pretty much suck.They are single pane, and ancient with storm windows attached and screens lost. Which translates into = large contained space where hornets and wasps and spiders have nests. 

Steady progress.

I have to apologize in advance for the continued talk of moving in. It is such a process with small children and occurs in such small measures of time when it happens. So when I get things moved in and arranged I really feel as though I have accomplished something big , similar to when I finish a project I guess. And since finishing hasn't been happening in other areas as quickly as I would like lately, my project is "the house". 

I have been moving a ton of our stuff that isn't needed here down into our basement. Thank heavens for a basement! I am not even worried about cleaning that either. My focus is the house - inside. If I can wrangle that beast I will feel better. So I am currently setting up and arranging rooms and worrying about finishing painting when that is done. I think that way I may get it finished by Thanksgiving. The frustrating part has been where to put things that get used in everyday life. The clothes, the toys,pictures, lights,  all of it has to have a home. I cannot stand it when things can't be easily put away! The house needs to be able to be cleaned up quickly,because I just do not have that kind of time- to wade through clutter. I am busy enough keeping 3 small people fed and clean.  And the rest of the painting can come later. And this would all be much, much easier if we did not have to take most of our furniture apart before the move!

There was also lots of playing with clay this weekend. Lots of ornaments were cut out, pinch pots made, and a good time had by all. Adams mom has a low-fire kiln we will be using. Hopefully all the ornaments we set out to make will turn out. We may actually have to get a bigger tree this year to fit them all. 

There wasn't much time spent on crafting, but the time I did get to spend I was able to just mend and sew with fury. I got through an entire mend basket and even worked on a wall pocket for Siah's room. I actually plowed through so much this weekend that it is a bit weird. Sometimes things just pan out so well. Maybe I am getting better at this?

I even made a few batches of cranberry jam. YUM!

 

We're not in California anymore...

I think maybe you already knew that. But let me clue you in on how clueless some of our household still is on the matter. Zoe, for instance, still wants to dress for summer, I occasionally still wear flip-flops when it is 50-60 degrees and I have to remind myself I can't keep passing up all the great deals on cardigans and sweaters that I am seeing. Because I will need them. I already do. But I have been good and keep quite warm most of the time. I was already used to the seasons a bit, living in The Bay Area, but it was a hard transition for me since I grew up in Florida. I still love flip-flops most of all.  So we have been having loads of discussions lately about dressing appropriately for the weather. I think if it were up to the kids they would freeze their behinds off before they put on a sweater or a jacket! 

Did I mention we also need to rake up the bright yellow leaves from the cherry tree in our front yard? Yeah, you pretty much can't tell that we even have a yard anymore. But we have an excuse. See, we are from the land of leaf-blowers. We haven't had to rake one solitary leaf the entire time we were renters. We have been spoiled completely (well, that is only half true since we had no say in the matter, it being in our rental agreement and all). 

I think it is time to rake some leaves. Or should we wait until the last ones fall?

 

  

Multitasking

I have to say I feel like a multitasking machine lately. I am getting quite good at the juggling act that is 3 children, one bird and an ongoing house project. I dart through my day with agility and speed...usually! I do have off days but they seem to be few and far between lately. It is nice to get things done. Not often in motherhood do you have intense moments of instant gratification, so it is nice to feel the satisfaction of finishing simple daily chores. I know, I am weird. But sometimes my days are actually really smooth and everyone listens beautifully, we have tea parties, kids take naps *together* we play at parks, and nobody cries and there are no cloth-diaper blowouts! And on those days I sort of pretend I am just playing house. That seems to take the sting out of reality just a bit. Not that I don't love my life for all that it is, but on sometimes I wish I could go back and be 5 again

There has been much going on in the way of crafting, cooking good meals, baking and play. Also painting, cutting fingernails, repeated bathing for babies who want to eat too much big people food, sweeping messes up all day long, and lots of errands. Washing dishes, sorting laundry,moving in. Cleaning my car, thinking about upcoming birthdays, fixing random objects that have broken. Resting with a cup of coffee brewed in my moka pot while listening to my favorite new worship cd(mp3 download) over and over and over again. Yes, life is good. All of it. Every moment. And I love to play house.

 I am also doing a trade with a mama for another Gypsymama wrap sling. I have one I bought used(though barely) from another mama and it has become my favorite sling ever. Gavin loves to be wrapped up. Not at all like my other two children who would cry and squirm if in a pouch sling for too long. (wrap slings were unthinkable) So I have entered the world of wrap slings and I am loving it! Yet I still use my gazillion pouches! So I am knitting some scrap yarn longie(knit pants for cloth diapering) in girly colorways in exchange for another bali baby breeze gauze wrap sling. I cannot wait. This will be my new sling. 

 

no camera = no posting.

That is the sum of it. And a day without my camera is a bit like a day without sunshine here for me. I had the camera, just no power to use it, as the charger pack was lost. And since Adam has a ton of computer wires and cables and thinga ma bobs it took me a very long time to find it!  So unfortunately I can't sow you pictures of awesome park trips, nature walks, swimming, baking, cooking and other random awesomeness that transpired over these past 2 weeks. 

My little artist.

Zoe comes up with some pretty amazing drawings, I have to say. here are some of the latest pictures I am loving.

And I love to listen as the kids play in the next room while I get things done. I hear all sorts of imaginative talk and reenactments of activities. My kids are definitely not lacking in creativity when it comes to play. I think moving in and getting bored enough to play with random things they find on the floor is a perfect way for them to spend countless hours, as they have been. You just never know what they will come up with next! Yes,I am a firm believer in letting kids get bored. You know, so that they actually have a chance to think for themselves.

In other news- we had a deer run into our car last night. Yeah, that was fun. I saw it coming out of the corner of my eye and as soon as I had time to think "oh, look at that , a deer is jumping straight toward our car..." it hit us. Took the mirror and the backing of my driver side rear-view mirror so that all was left was the guts(of the mirror), slid across the car, and ran off. All of this happened within a split second. It was pretty scary. The kids were sort of stunned, and didn't really say anything. The deer was huge and hit our car really really hard.  See, Adams parents live a little ways from our house, and have 2 acres, so their neighbors have a bit of land as well and they are surrounded by wildlife.  Well, on the move up here, 2 birds hit my windshield. The second week we were here we ran over a coyote coming back from their house late at night(he just kept running in front of our car and wouldn't stop). And now, the deer incident. I think I need to get a deer whistle for my car. Otherwise, at the rate I am going, I just may wipe out any wildlife in my path at an alarming rate.:( The really strange part is that I have never ever hit anything with my car until now... I guess it doesn't help that my car is black.

I've been tagged!

By Julie!  Before we delve into some random things about me, here are the rules.

1. Link to the person who tagged you (i.e. me)
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger (me) know when your entry is posted.

Ok, 6 random things about me.:)

1. This one you may already know or suspect. I am terrible at journaling. Really, I am. I was always embarrassed by my thoughts, to reread them, or afraid to reveal deeper things in case good old mom read them!:) So blogging is  part of my attempt to get over this fear. I think all art involves some fear. For me, it is more the fear of whether what I have to say would ever be note-worthy. My first protective instinct is to hide behind photographs or crafting. But having a blog that talks about crafting and children is sort of safe. I can step into it at a slower pace. Baby steps!
2.  I was in a band pre-kid days. We never got to the critical name picking stage- we could never quite decide on one. We sang worship music, and even travelled to El Salvador and sang. Worship and singing is one of my great passions. We recorded a bit even, and got to use equipment at Stanford University  that the Beatles used! But alas, it wasn't my time yet for that. Soon, soon. Adam plays guitar as well, and is a master composer when it comes to recording and making sounds for music in his video games(yes, he programs games on the side).
3. With all the hurricane talk lately I am reminded of how, while growing up in Florida, I would sit on my front porch during hurricanes.It was usually very very early in the morning when they hit us hard and I loved feeling the sheer energy of it all. 
4.  The Olympics reminded me of a few things I used to love as well. I used to want to be a synchronized swimmer. We would practice long hours in the backyard pool nearly everyday. 
5. I always imagine myself with a great recording career- for myself and the children- and doing commissioned art for the super-rich. I guess you could say those are some life goals. I want to write or illustrate books as well.
6.  I am named after an Eric Clapton song. Guess which one! Although my name is a different spelling. Back in my high school and college days just about every "suitor" thought it ideal to learn the song and serenade me. Only one caught my heart. He had learned the song way back when, when he learned to play guitar. It was his favorite song to practice to at 13.   

  
So there you have it. I tag: Mary Beth, Olya, and resurrectionfern! I would do  few more, but I have diapers to wash.;)

Testing...

Testing out a new city. Or several, really, to see which we like best. In a trial run, Zoe and Gavin and I slipped out this evening to pick up some locally grown produce from Dee Creek Farm. While there we saw a gorgeous mural on the side of a day spa downtown. If I come out feeling like the lady in the painting, sign me up!

Dee Creek Farm has a pickup on Thursdays in the downtown area now- which is  lose to where we live. I have tried their goat milk when visiting Adam's parents previously and it was fabulous so I was overjoyed to be getting some raw aged goat feta. YUM. unfortunately, no more selling milk for them due to some legalities. It was seriously some good goat milk, but with this cheese I am not complaining! Anyway- so we also got some onions and I got a free kombucha scoby (since we left ours in CA). I was really happy to find a local CSA here so soon, and have several other prospects as well already. I guess you could say I am a locavore at heart. After being spoiled rotten with our last CSA in California, I can't stomach store bought veggies for long. Even the better ones wreak of chlorine and the lettuce tastes like sandpaper. I also heard there is a great farmers market on saturday here.  

One caveat of living here is the distance between me and any health food stores or even a Trader Joes. I am used to going across the street to one anytime I need to. Now the stores I frequent are 20 minutes away. Since this is an in-between place for us, I don't have much choice in the matter. So today at Whole Foods I bulked up on raw milk. It is really a different mentailty, shopping a full week or two ahead. With three kids it seems to better  though. I can manage several different co-ops and CSA's ok, but planning menus and such and grocery shopping in advance just seem to mess me up.

We plan to check out Portland tomorrow and go to some favorite and new spots. We have been painting a lot here, and have a few rooms finished already so we  need a break for a day or so. Did I mention it was 99 degrees today? Yeah. That was fun. At least we have a dinky little AC box in the addition, which is the sitting room just off the kitchen space(pictures to come!) so if we sit in there it's not so bad. 

Ripples

I guess life seems to come at us in ripples sometimes. Tiny waves of insight maybe. Splashing up at us to refresh us. At other times it comes in huge waves, crashing and covering and taking us under. 

I think we need both. I think we need the times of quiet reflection and the times of involuntary learning. I feel like I have had a healthy share of both lately. This upcoming move seems to be the crashing wave bit but in between I am left with many moments of pondering. Moments of quiet introspection, and prayer. Wondering what our immediate future holds and becoming excited at the possibilities ahead. I try to look at this all (new job, move, etc) as another chance to learn and change and grow- not just as a headache!

And of course, I love that I can do even the simplest of crafting in times like this because later on I can reflect back with fond memories.  I love this idea as much as using scraps from my bins to create, or taking old clothes and remaking them into things. It's like etching memories into something completely tangible, and at the rate handmade things get used in our house I am sure the enjoyment will last.

Some of the things I have been pondering:

1. What colors to paint the walls. Adam says we should keep the colors we have now again for the new place. I agree, somewhat.
2. What new furniture to buy. I dream of estate sales.
3. daydreaming of how I can secretly bump into some of my fav blogging celebs in our new city.;) I know- what a nerd, you say. I love to pick smart peoples brains.
4. How the heck I will survive transporting us all and nurse all day, on the long trip there in my car. 12+ hours quickly turns into, well, way more hours when you add in newborn nursing sessions.   
5. How much  I hate saying goodbye. I'd just rather not even mention it really.

And you know I wouldn't mention ripples without giving another look at my ripple blanket! Slowly but surely it is coming along and crochet is taking over my world!

 

Also worth mentioning, I won an award! Yah me! And thanks so much Mary Beth.

I just want to say a big thanks to all the little people, all the big people and all the people in between who make my life so meaningful! And to all the people who read my neglected blog in hopes I get my act together;) You all know who you are, so thank you! 

Here are a few sites I recently found, and some I have been keeping up with for a while now. 

sweet and crunchy

julie alvarez

freckle wonder

little turtle knits

geninne's art blog

leililaloo

white bird blue sky

And now the rules.

Here are the rules of the award (copied from Lisa's Blog):

1. The winner can put the logo on their blog.

2. Link to the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.

6. Write an acceptance speech in the style of the Academy Awards, thanking every body's mother, father, sister, brother, aunties and uncles and the kitchen staff at your favorite restaurant!