mother nature.

well. we all know. mother nature paid us a nasty visit the other day.
and since. well. today is a slow day. here are some visuals.

before.

during.

after.

good. inside and out.

so after the big storm...(hee hee). i went about making some dinner. an old family recipe apparently. that my dad loves. i got the recipe from my dear aunt tillie. who is a fabulous cook. i had a lot to live up to.

so the recipe? well. not fancy. but good. and especially good on a post-winter, early-spring after- it-snowed kind of day.

chicken and dumplings.

here you have it. in the pot...


and in the bowl. and they were good. despite me. forgetting the parsley. that i made a special trip to the store for....

out and about.

after the big storm. yesterday.

i had to get out and about. and where? well. to thrift of course. at my new favorite place.

and look what i found today. so perfect. an old framed picture.

i love finding just the right thing for just the right time. i just know it's right. just know.
and the best. the best thing. was this sign. just so right.

the storm?

or another reason to become a meteorologist. all week. it was all storm talk. all. week. and today all this am. all. storm talk. non-stop. "we've got people in the field (to report nothing)". but today it was. "we don't know what's going to happen. it could go either way...." and to think. they get paid for this nonsense. nonsense i tell you.

it started out cloudy. and windy. and then the rain finally started. and then it started sleeting. hard. but they were still saying. nothings happening. we don't know what's going to happen.
and then it turned to snow. big huge. colorado-type. snow flakes. and it kept on. about six inches here. which is a lot of snow for us. a lot. and a lot less.  than the 12" they were talking about.

but. they. the meteorologists. still didn't have a clue. and to think. they get paid for this. paid. i tell you. to go on the air and say. "we don't know what's going to happen." i get. that. they don't know mother nature. can't read her mind. but when people are losing their jobs right. and left. even though they're doing their job. maybe someone should look at these folks, too. and say. huh. really? "i don't know." isn't such a good answer.

so the bad news. the trees. laden with flowers. are bent over. to the ground. the daffodils and tulips. that were so happy. so happy. just yesterday. are buried in ice and snow. the green grass is gone. covered in white. and it's cold. cold i tell you. i must have jinxed this one. since i just cleaned and packed away all the winter gear.

a storm's a comin'.

apparently it's coming. a big. late spring storm. as they are calling it. i'm not clear on the late spring part. since spring just started last week. perhaps it should be an early spring storm.

but it is what it is. and we're not talking your typical severe thunderstorms that we get around here.

we're talking blizzard. 12+ inches of snow. hey. that's a lot of snow. for us.


and i don't think we even got 12" total all winter.

and i'll probably be in a frame of mind to discuss how this snow. snow. has made a mockery of the pretty spring we were having here and in my yard...but that will be tomorrow. it sounds like.

i went to the grocery today. with little 2. to pick up some things we needed. not because it's going to storm. but because we were out. of. pretty much. everything. the cupboards were bare...

well. this storm that's coming. apparently people are afraid. very afraid. the store was packed. people had huge carts. packed full. guess they're thinking they won't get out for days. no weeks. like it was back in the little house on the prairie days. items were picked over. i got the last gallon of milk. and it was at 10am. this morning. the storm isn't supposed to be here until tomorrow. tomorrow folks.

and since i seem to have developed a little problem. called etsy. i came home later. and got my fix and i saw this. and i think. it's a good. message for today. and tomorrow.


keep calm. people. keep calm.

once again.

i've had the bug. the adventuring/thrifting bug. for days now. and i couldn't go. couldn't find the time. by myself. because it's not so fun with the littles....

but finally. i went. and i found two. two. new places. good places. no. make that great places. i can't wait to get back. can't wait.

some retro tin cannisters from the 50's. $3.15. perfect for storing little treasures in my studio.


a bigger sized bowl to accompany. the one found last time. and the glass. how cute is that? i wish i could find more. $6.00 for both!


some more state plates. and a lemon-y yellow limoges. $.75 each...


a cool old ceiling tin. in a favorite shade. $9.00.


and then. lunch. i've been craving cereal and fruit lately. and how pretty is this? you just have to feel healthy looking at it....

madeleine peyroux.

we went to an amazing concert the other. night.

third row.

intimate setting.

madeleine peyroux. with steve poltz.

if you get the chance. and like blues-y/jazz. go. i say. go. it was amazing.

she has the most gorgeous voice. and he is funny. i say. funny.

but. while we were out. there was a dance party at home. a dance party. check it out. too.

kennedy half dollar

did you know. that in 1964. on this day (march 24). the kennedy half dollar was first issued?

back then. it would have bought a kid a bunch of cool stuff.

50 pieces of penny candy.

a box of kelloggs corn flakes - $.29

a mcdonald's hamburger - $.15

a package of oreos - $.39

10 first class stamps - $.5 each

a gallon of gas - $.30

but today. if you even have one. (they stopped minting them for circulation in 2002.) you couldn't buy much.

perhaps.

one stamp. $.42

five pieces of (penny candy) $.50

add a shot of syrup at starbucks $.30

one small drink at sonic (during happy hour) $.50

just some mindless thoughts today.

getting. stuff. done.

i'm a procrastinator.

definitely a procrastinator. i love to make lists. lists upon. lists. upon lists. of things i need. to. do.

but i don't always cross things off. i usually just add them to my next list.

but this weekend. i finally finished two things that were on my list. for weeks.

remember those plates i've been thrifting?

well. i finally got them hung. and i'm pretty pleased with the result.

my collection of kitchy - roadside - tourist collector plates. not worth much more than sentimental value. but i think they look kind of retro-cool. many. many. more to still search for. and a search is always good. perhaps later this week. the search will start again.

and then this. i've had this in my brain for a long. long. time. an idea i spied in pottery barn kids. but so simple. i couldn't bring myself to buy one there.

and since i seem to be all about birds lately. and green of course. and you. know. i love to cut and paste. always have.

"come visit me in my nest." they seem to be saying.

i think it's quite cute. it didn't take long to make. and the possibilities are endless. with a bit of imagination.

more of these to come. for sure. email me if you want instructions...

now it's back to making a new list.

a little pedal power.

today was just a good day.

a good day to haul out the bikes.

(and by the way. to my mom who says i never wear the same thing twice - those sunglasses? they're from 1993. yes. 1993).

and hop on.


and pedal 10 miles.


not too far. for. me. different if you're hauling 75 pounds of weight behind you.

but it was good. really good.

and some of us got more tired than others.

even though he got to ride in the trailer.

conspicuous consumption. day 7.

little one wanted a new outfit. and of course. i felt the need to indulge. so here. from baby gap.
she's so pleased. since she does think she's a big deal.
twirling all day long.
$22.00 and a top model pose.

saturday randomness.

so love this.


and you know? it was a good day to be happier than a bird...

a trip to the nursery.


and the petting zoo.


pansies.


and playing outside in cowboy boots.


sunshine. bright springy sunshine.

hope you were happier than a bird today, too...

conspicuous consumption. day 6.

grande decaf skinny latte. extra velvety foam. = $3.44
moments of pleasure.

welcome. back. spring.

did you balance an egg today in celebration of vernal equinox?


(wayne osborn)

conspicuous consumption. day 5.

donuts for the littles. $1.70.
sugar high for hours.

conspicuous consumption. day 3 & 4.

so i skipped this post yesterday. out of respect. i didn't think it was appropriate.

and besides. i didn't buy anything. all day. how boring is that?

i'm certainly not helping the recession.

but today. i tried. i shopped. i tried on. i wanted. i so wanted to buy something. but i couldn't. it didn't look right. they didn't have my size. or the color i wanted. the style of bag. the right heel. the brand. ugh. i came home. empty handed. empty.

it was a disappointment. a big. fat. disappointment. maybe tomorrow will be more successful.

lego

i don't know about you. but when i was a kid. we had a huge batch of legos. we kept them in an old trunk. and it was filled. filled. with legos of every shape. size. and color. my brother. of course. even had a couple of cool sets. but me? no. i just worked out of the trunk.

we'd build towns and villages and gas stations and parks and zoos and other non-sensical things. but we never. never. built these:

the taj mahal for only $299.99:


or the death star (though my brother probably would have sold me to the neighbors for this) only $399.99:


or the millennium falcon (i would be long gone for this one.) only $499.99:


i. though. would settle for this. a $29.99 beach house. complete with its own satellite dish, bbq grill and sky lights. i wonder if the beach view comes with it?



my parents still have that old trunk full of legos. maybe we should build something.

it's never a good day.

for a funeral.

there was a funeral today. for a boy that i nannied for long ago.

i was there when his mom found out she was pregnant. i was the first person to stay with him when his parents went out to celebrate.

i laughed. and giggled. and hugged. and was charmed by his sweet personality and his "it wasn't me" silly smile.

he was a charmer. a little doll. he adored his brother and his parents. he loved life. and everyone loved him.

and i was lucky to know him.

and sadly. he was taken away. this weekend. a tragic end to a beautiful. young life.

day 2. conspicuous consumption. and happy st. pat's day, too.

so. far.

one. happy hour. stop at sonic. who doesn't love sonic's happy hour?? = $2.35 for three drinks. for two hot and tired littles. after an afternoon at the park. treats are necessary. necessary for spring break. right?

a one trip to michael's for some martha stewart tweezers. had to have them. cheapo = $5.37. after my. 50% off coupon...



two hours at the gym.

three hours in the hot. sunshine. at the park. with friends.

$7.72. for the day.

and boy. is this boring. i need to do some fun shopping. maybe tomorrow. especially since spring is for certain. i hope. here. at last.

happy st. patty's day. everyone.

day 1. conspicuous. consumption.

so. far.

one. grande. decaf. latte. extra velvety foam. 3 new free. pick of the week songs. from starbucks. four hours in the sunshine. at the park.

$3.44

not bad.

for a gorgeous day. where an ice cream would have been. good.

conspicuous consumption.

after this weekend, and a lot of bad news, i need to take a break. be mindless. so i looked back at what went on in this space last week. and it seems that last week was all (or somewhat all) about what i have my eye on. maybe i'm just eye shopping. right now. not really buying. but it sure is fun to look at and have a list. (well. you know. just in case.)

so this week. in light of being mindless, i thought i'd try to capture on film. everything that i buy. it's a photo challenge for me. to use my camera daily (even though i do my noticing project, somedays it's a challenge), and i'm curious. to see. to see. where my money goes.

play along if you want. just let me know. so we can compare.

sadness.

“One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure it's worth watching."

words.

so we got an assignment at my creative group meeting the other day.

we drew a word. that we have to interpret.

they were handed out in an orderly fashion. but that made me nervous. i don't like a lot of controlled. order. so i had to go. and mess them up. because i couldn't decide which tag to pick.

and then. i picked. and look what i chose...


yes. that's right. it says goth. not me. at. all.

kim knew. she said. she. just. knew. that. that would be the word that i would pick.

so now. i'm stuck. trying to figure out how to interpret it. oh. mind you. i've got some ideas. i just have to figure out how to get my ideas to work.

i'll share pictures when i finish my assignment. i've got a week to wrap it up. a week. only a week. ugh. wish. me. luck.

dresses.

i guess i'm in the mood for a dress. and anthropologie has some cuties. if only the weather would cooperate, too.

oh. i love the pattern of tree branches and buds on this one. and the blue. to die for.


and this one. well the ruffle on the side. how cool is that?


and well. i like color. with some cute sandals. perfect for just running around...

sunshine.

we woke this morning to sunshine. bright. sunny. sunshine.

and it seemed appropriate. after all the gloom and black clouds that have been lingering around us this year.

sunshine. felt good. even though it was a bitterly cold am. and not much more than 33 degrees this afternoon. the sun felt good. and right. and maybe that things are moving in the right direction.

sunshine has a way. of just making everything seem better.

looking forward to a thrifting/adventuring outing and dinner with friends this weekend.

how about a little john denver to celebrate? everyone could use some good old john sometimes. (i know. what you're thinking. call me what you may, but i'm a fan. always have been. and anyway. this is a classic. a classic.)

relief.

webster's defines relief as: removal or lightening of something oppressive, painful, or distressing. and i have to agree...

and whew.

that's really all i've got to say today.

we've been under an incredible amount of stress around here. i don't like to talk about it. whine about it. let on. but we have been. and i am so grateful for our friends that have called. asked. prayed. chanted. meditated. inquired. your love and support has been a great blessing to us.

and today finally. we got some good news. some really, good news for a change.

and i am. we are relieved.

thanks.

i so love these.

today. and probably tomorrow. i'll still be loving these...a little random whimsy for monday.

gumdrop pillow poofs from amy butler. how cute are these? i'll have to make one. and a poofy gumdrop is better than a sugary gumdrop. right?


a love bird from anthropologie...


a happy spring skirt in light pewter - i prefer to call it robin's egg - from jcrew.


a sign for my laundry room. from feather your nest. where i seem to spend most of my time these days.


and. i think my kitchen is screaming. screaming. for a touch of yellow. from willie. s.

words.

i met with my group of creatives. yesterday. so talented. hmmm. so talented. writers. designers. thinkers. imaginers.

what am i. i thought?

good conversation. ideas. thoughts. inspiration. words. assignments. (more to come on that later.)

as i sat in my comfy chair in starbucks. i looked out the window. and i wished i had my camera.

because. cutting across the sky. underneath big curli-q-ish clouds was a flock of geese. flying. in perfect v-formation. perfect. flying east. i wondered. where they were going. if they knew? if they knew who should be in charge? who should be the leader? if they knew what to expect when they got to where ever it was they were going? just if they knew.


(photo courtesy of richard seaman)

and i thought. how nice it would be. and how it was a sign of our place in this world. and my place here. and with my group. and it reminded me of a poem. that i carry with me. to remember. sorry to wax a bit poetic. but i thought it was. a bit poetic. right then. it was just one of those moments.

it was a good day.

Wild Geese
by Mary Oliver

You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting —
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.

a sweet sound.

ahh. today daylight savings time ends. the days are getting longer. and warmer. and here at least. windier.

little one was all about wearing short sleeves today. as soon as she got up she insisted upon short sleeves.

and now. just now. i heard a sweet sound. no. it wasn't the birds chirping outside my window this morning. though that was sweet. too.

it was the sound of a lawn mower starting up. i know. it could be called a nuisance. but to me. it's the sound of summer. and warm days. and working outside. and the site of green after all these brown and tan winter days.

it's a sign i say. a sign.


and a little green inspiration. for green week.

green ones. are. the. best ones.


sometimes. i feel like we're leprechauns.


better.


good. toast.


i know. they're not real. but i like them.


in. the. grass.