This morning I woke up and could not get it out of my mind to make cocoa angelfood cake. So, while Nathan was making eggs for breakfast, I was cracking 13 eggs for my sweet fix. Below are a few shots of my productive morning…
Look at that meringue! Yikes, looks like a perfect cloud to rest my head!
Simon and his friend “Ted” (he obsessively dresses daily) creeping up on the temptation.
Fresh flowers in a home is the ultimate comfort. I love the act of cutting the flowers down, finding vases and bottles and filling surfaces all around. While living in California, I had the luxury of going in my backyard and choosing from several rose bushes. The roses had amazing colors (red, orange, pink) and I enjoyed the weekly ritual. I also enjoyed visiting the local farmers market and picking from their beautiful selection…all fresh from Santa Barbara.
So yesterday, while at the store I couldn’t stop filling my basket with carnations. Typically this is not my favorite flower, but when I see them all in one place…alone, they are so pretty and fresh. It’s funny, because I had this notion that carnations were just “fillers” and I resented the fact (well, not really) this was the flower for January. My birthday is in January and I would hope not to get a bouquet of carnations. Now I love them! They are so sweet …
I enjoyed my morning recreating my once Friday ritual.
A shot from where I write…
This space is a place I have created for myself, but rarely use it. I think this discovery decribes my life right now…not taking time to relax. Not just by myself, but with my children and husband too! So I am putting myself up to the challenge to sit in this super comfortable stuffed chair every day. Whether it’s spinnng around with Simon or writing a letter- I will use it!
I love this little room right off our bedroom. It has been a room for my newborn Penny, a studio, and now my place. I have all of our family’s photos in here (organized and otherwise), books I like to reference (homeschooling, parenting, etc.), and odds and ends of things I have found at thrift stores. It’s bright, cheerful and perfect to relax!
After chatting with my sister in Ohio over the weekend, it was decided we needed to hang out and have a play date (heh!). I’ve never really be one to actually call a time my kid plays with another kid a play date, but I guess when you drive 6 hours or so you can officially title the event.
So Monday morning I packed the van with minimal luggage and lots of fun music and we fled Chicago gloom to Ohio gloom and mist. I actually really enjoyed my drive. It’s a perfect time of the year to reflect on goals, motivate yourself and just meditate on the road before you…My kids are great travelers so being in the car together is actually something that is a good memory for me! Nathan had to stay home to go back to work and I just had Ellie skip school today so that we could make our “date” work!
We didn’t leave the house yesterday and just let the kids make forts, play games, and just have fun. Penny totally bonded with Lulu and really dug all of her cousin’s toys too! Below are some shots of the girls having fun with Jane’s ultra cool walker from the 1960s. Of course Penny wanted to experience a walker and was found often sneaking into this slick yellow machine.
Ellie and I still plan on visiting China this March. There are some issues that still need to be sorted out, but I do hope that we can make the trip. I think I will make about 100 dolls (see previous post) for some of the girls we will be visiting. So, if there is anyone out there that would like to make a few…I will mail the already cut out fabric with instructions.
If you recently started reading my blog, My 7 year old daughter and I are going to China. We will be travelling with my sister and her 2 boys to work in a few of the orphanages (private and government). Our kids will play with the children there while my sister and I will have some tasks (unknown right now).
All the kids…try to imagine my sister and I behind the camera trying to get everyone to smile. Pretty cooky…our kids look way too subdued for what was REALLY going on during this shot!
By the way, it wasn’t all about the kids. Susan and I had a chance to sneak out the first night to see “Memoirs of a Geisha” and get some dinner. The movie was great. I read the book some time ago so I had forgotten much of the story, but loved the movie. I felt like such a frump leaving the theatre with my matted hair (from the seats) and grey skin…if you have seen the movie, you will know what I mean!
This little guy had some early 2006 celebrating at out finch feeder. We really haven’t had any feathered friends visit (I put it up this summer, probably too close to the house). Anyway, this daring squirrel made a big laugh for us all!
I’ll be leaving tomorrow for a spontaneous visit with my sister in Ohio. Just the kids and I…and a bunch of “tootsie pops” for the 7 hour ride! See you on Thursday.
