apples and clay

I changed my blog around a bit. I felt like I really needed it in order to feel inspired.  What I like about this format is that I can really see my pictures from the last few years in minutes.  I may not keep it this way but for now the change feels good, you know?  Have you ever just sat for an hour going down memory lane on your blog?  You can also view my blog in other ways by using the tabs on the top left of the homepage.

So, what have we been up to lately?  Two words could sum it all up. Apples and clay.  Or if I wanted to expand on that a bit it would include tomatoes and daily art.  Oh yeah and soccer and homeschooling too. I've been busy in a good way.  Just like every fall is for me, trying to wrap up the garden and starting a new school year can be chaos.

Our tomatoes.  They were abundant this year.  I've spent many a day roasting tomatoes two trays at a time, cooking them down, seasoning and canning them.  It's become second nature to me, this canning thing.  Two days ago, when the weather started turning, I pulled the rest of the tomatoes and our last volunteer cantaloupe in anticipation of our first frost which never happened.  But, it will soon.  We got our first snow in the mountains.

Oh, my apples.  Our trees were so full this summer that we had to prop them up so the branches wouldn't break off.  The lack of late frost was a bonanza this year all around town.  We have Pippin and Jonathan apples in our yard but these red beauties, came from a 75 year old tree in town.  The owner said that they probably didn't taste that good because the tree was so old and we could pick them.  They are the most crispy, sweet apples and a nice change from what we have coming out of our ears already.  Why is it that  I can go crazy over more apples when I have ten bags sitting all over the kitchen?  It's totally irrational but I think we'll be enjoying apple crisp for dinner this winter.  We will be gorging on apple sauce and apple rings like nobody's business too.  Joy.

 Daily art.  We've discovered the big, heavy weight paper is the best for everyday art.  First, it can be taken anywhere and the pencils won't poke through.  Second, it's big enough to draw large dragons, ninjas or castles.  Eli asked the other day to bring out the fermented pickles so he could draw them.  The two boys drew the jar of pickles (while Amelia was reading of course) and then ate them.

We've been tinkering with clay lately.  It's strange how we know certain things about ourselves.  For instance, I knew from a young age that when I grew up I wanted to drive a VW Bug.  I did and I also married a guy who drove a VW bug.  Funny how that is.  Well, I've also known that I wanted to work with clay.  A few years ago someone just gave us an old kiln.  I didn't even tell them how much I loved hand thrown ceramics.  My husband just recently got some work done on the kiln and we did a test run.  I'm so excited.

  Happy Fall to you and yours!

life is messy but colorful

I've collected a bag of things I've wanted to tie dye for a year.  It's been in the garage and then moved to the laundry room and finally to the kitchen in an attempt to jump start this project already!  This whole tie dying thing is messy.  I let my kitchen table be the tie station for about a week before I got up the nerve to start mixing the dyes.

My hands are still blue and pink and my fingernails remind me of those plague disclosing tablets you get from the dentist.  You can see the outline of my fingernails in deep red which shows all my hangnails and cuticles that need attending. I think the next thing on my to-do list is a manicure!

But, the end result is pretty beautiful and colorful which is the whole point.  My kids have hidden under their stained and worn play clothes a rainbow of colors that make me happy.  I definitely think they're better than plain tighty whities.

I found these linen napkins on sale and decided that I needed some color in my kitchen too.

Now, even the most simplest of meals will be special.

sunny winter

It's been a while, I know.  There's been so much to say and not much at all really.  When I'm asked what I've been up to, most days it's just nothing really but the every day stuff, you know?  Our computer died back a few weeks ago though and we replaced it with a used job.  That's the main reason I've taken a break. But, it's taken us this much time to put all our programs back on the computer.  And still more time again to sit down and want to upload pictures and write something down.  So, here I am again.  At least for today.

I'm pretty sure I love taking pictures of the kids doing art.  Some in their pajamas and some not.  We homeschool after all.  It's quiet in the house.  The only sounds I can hear are the washing machine and dryer clanking and swishing down the hall and the kids intently working with paint.  The chairs creak and the paint brushes flow from paint to paper to water and back again quietly.....peacefully.  Our kitchen table is the hub for so much of our activities.  It's really the heart of our home.  But our home is pretty small.  Just the way I like it.  If I had a million bucks, I would still have a little place, all cozy and intimate.

The glob paint we're using today smells delicious:  berries, pomegranate and lemon verbena.  The colors are pretty awesome too.

Happy sunny, I think it's winter day to you!

inside ~ outside

~Inside ~

~ outside ~

I needed to be outside yesterday.  Of course, one little person in my family thought he just wanted to be inside all day.  But as I explained, sometimes a family has to do things that's for the good of all it's members.  Even if one person doesn't want to do it.  I also tried to convince him that he would enjoy the place I was taking him to.

When we got to our destination, after listening to crying the whole trip, he held my hand tight and walked with me along the path.  Shortly thereafter, he forgot about his previously strong opinion and had fun.  I'm talking very strong opinion.  We saw hawks and falcons.  The sun was shining and I soaked up all that warmth on my skin.  We heard the chirps of birds.  At one point far off, there was a loud uprising in the sea of cattails and we heard the birds sounding their alarm that came toward us like a wave.  It was a beautiful day.  Then I was ready to come home.

Happy Solstice!

in the eye of the storm, i am calm

Around this time of year (and all other times),  I avoid shopping malls and all the people gorging themselves on huge pieces of chocolate shopping cake.  It feels like I'm in the eye of the storm.  It's calm and everyone is losing their mind around me.

Although, at times, I'm losing my mind a little with all this sewing.  If I said I totally got this holiday stress under control,  that would be a complete lie.  I just need to keep my focus.  Remember what this season is all about.  And not worry at all that our handmades will arrive once again after Christmas.  Just know two things about me.  I'm almost always a week late with holiday or birthday gifts and if you leave a message on my cell phone, I may not get it for a week because it usually lives under a seat in my car and I don't check it often.

I have realized over the years that I have absolutely no control over the tree decorating.  I've completely surrendered to that.  Lego airplanes dominate the lower branches.  Sweet, I love it.

 
 

One more thing about me.  I love simple meals.  I found this recipe in one of those magazines at the health food store (Delicious Living December 2011).  It's really good.

Cauliflower, Celery, and Leek Soup

Saute one medium leek thinly sliced and 7 celery stalks thinly sliced in 3 TB of olive oil for 4 minutes.  Add one pound of cauliflower and 4 cups of broth.  Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered until veggies are tender.  I added my favorite seasoning blend.  Once cooked, I blended in blender and put back in the pot with a little cream.  Added salt and pepper to taste.

Oh and one more thing...I deleted intense debate because every month or so it would completely lose my comments.  The down side of that is that any comment that you ever left on my blog through intense debate has been deleted.   sigh... 

lazy summer days

It's funny but when the seasons change I still feel like I'm holding on to the previous one a little bit.  Like for instance, I thought summer would be a great time for math lessons and a routine that kind of looked like school for us.  But as we head on into August I really feel lazy.  Maybe it's just the heat or staying up late with the long days but I just feel lazy.  I think summer has finally arrived.  It just kind of happened without realizing it until now.

The kids got back from camp and I've been inspired by all the fun things they did there.  They really liked doing lanyards so, we got some supplies and spent a good portion of the day just getting comfy and weaving.