Little Greenhouse

A couple of years ago Evan and I were out doing some shopping and we saw this little greenhouse.   As soon as I saw it, my eyes glazed over and I began drooling over everything.  I needed to have it.  Never mind that we were poor students living on a tight budget.  I needed it anyway.

And so my sweet Evan got it for me.  And I loved him for it.

But the problem was, we had no money to fill it with plants.

And so it sat empty until we graduated.  And then because we have been moving around like gypsies ever since, I felt like I should wait until we were 'settled' before filling it with little plants (I have found out the hard way that plants don't handle moving very well).

And then a couple of weeks ago I got tired of waiting.

So I filled it up with some little plants, a few lichen-covered sticks, and some special  Moki Marbles.

And I'm still a little bit drooling.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' over at Soulemama for all to find and see.

Castle Peeps for a little Prince

My friend Allison is having a baby this month.  A little boy.   As I was pondering what to make for baby boy, I stumbled upon this fabric, and this tutorial.  Perfect!

And so I made it.  I realize that this isn't a traditional newborn gift (Evan is really very worried about the choking hazard the little chickens might pose), but I think it will be nice to have a gift that the baby can grow in to (rather than quickly grow out of).

I made a few minor changes to the tutorial:  I used flannel instead of felt for the background, and instead of a button/handle combo, I attached some Velcro (which is hidden behind the castles), and made a little bag for holding the peeps.  Instead of using cardboard, I used some heavy interfacing.  I did this because I thought it might be more flexible and convenient to roll up the board like a burrito and stick it in a bag for playtime emergencies.

And it's really fun to play with.  Like, really really fun.

Pipsissewa

"It-breaks-into-small-pieces" is what the Cree name pipsisikweu means, because the Pipsissewa's leathery evergreen leaves contain a substance that was supposed to dissolve kidney stones. (It does not, in fact.)

Another small fact:  Pipsissewa is also sometimes referred to as "Ground Holly".  I know!  I love it.  Dear Parents, thank you for naming me after a plant.

 And it's much easier to pronounce.  So that's what I'm gonna call it.

Holly the Hack strikes again

It has been quite snowy around here lately.  And our weekend excursions to the mountains were being cut short by a little problem.  Gesso kept getting ice-balls stuck between the pads of his paws and then he would have to sit down and lick/melt them out.  We felt like pretty bad parents.  And so we took Gesso shoe shopping (have you ever taken your dog shoe shopping?  It was quite furry, sniffy, and funny), and found these booties.  After asking/reading around we weren't quite sure they were the solution.  Expensive and easily lost, they seemed like a bad idea.  What to do??

Make some?  Okay.  I made two sets, one with fleece and one with nylon.  It was very simple construction and we just measured his paws and made some alterations after the first wear.

We tested them out in a foot race (Gesso won).

And then skiing the next day.  They worked great!  We ended up losing two booties (which was pretty amazing actually--we were up a steep snowy mountain, after all.), but I just came home and made some more.  Easy!  Cheap!  Gesso looks like he's a little embarrassed in this picture, don't ya think?

And while we're on the subject, I feel like I need to address Gesso's other problem.  He eats everything.  I mean everything.  Did you want to see a list?

-one bunch of bananas (peels included)

-one half loaf of bread (bag included)

-four chocolate cupcakes covered in ganache and sprinkles (cupcake liners included)

-five rising rolls (still partially frozen)

-half a box of dry linguine noodles

And those are just the things I know about.  I promise I'm a very tidy person!  I just leave the kitchen for one second and he moves in and attacks.

Me + the vet = best friends.  He's on my speed dial.

Playing the Elf

Did you have a nice Christmas?  I hope that you did.

 We stayed home (our first Christmas alone!), and it was actually quite wonderful.  Lots of jammies, skiing, and fires.  Evan is back at work for a few more days, but I'm off for the week.  So I am officially extending my Christmas vacation (i.e. pajama dress code), and hope to get lots of fun things done.  Stay tuned.

I couldn't wait another day more to share a top secret project that I've been working on for the past few months.  Earlier this past fall, I was contacted by the husband of Kim (her wonderful blog can be found here), to do some flowers for a Christmas gift.  I was very excited to work on a surprise for someone as special as Kim.  She was my first regular visitor who I hadn't met before (which, as any blogger will tell you, is quite exciting).  I had so much fun working with Wayne (who is unbelievably thoughtful), and learning more about Kim's garden and favorite flowers.  She is a flower junkie too!  So without further ado, let me share Kim's flowers...

Purple Cone Flower

Gaillardia

 

Verbena on a Stick

p.s. Kim blogged about her present today too!  Check it out  here. 

{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' over at Soulemama for all to find and see.

Advent at Last

Day 21:  a cozy cup of cocoa

Day 22:  a piece of citrus (did anyone else get an orange in their stocking every Christmas morning?)  I realize this looks a little bit like a planet... but if you think about it, oranges look a lot like planets... so I'm just being accurate.

Day 23:  mistletoe  *smooch*

Day 24:  A star, a star, dancing in the night!

I decided not to have a Day 25.  Because it's Christmas, and it doesn't really seem like you need a reminder on Christmas day that it's Christmas.  Right?   Also, I couldn't think of anything else to embroider. 

 Evan is terribly worried that the advent would be incomplete without a Day 25.  

What do you guys think?  Since my sewing machine is broken (quiet sobbing), and at the shop, it will remain Day 25less this year.  But are you at all offended/confused that there is no Day 25?  Now I feel weird about it.

The tree herself.  Thanks for playing along!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' over at Soulemama for all to find and see.

Advent without Apology

Day 16:  Present

Day 17:  Silver (okay, yellow) bells!

Day 18:  Snowflake

Day 19:  Ski please

Day 20:  Peace Dove

Deep thoughts tied up with string

While 'sprucing up' some cardboard to use for mailing prints (commonly referred to as a 'wildflower sandwich'), I got to thinking...

About how one year ago I was nervously deciding on a blog name and figuring out how to upload pictures.   I was a little scared.  What if nobody visited or left comments, or worse...visited and left mean comments!  What if I was bad at blogging?

And then today, a year later, about how much this little space has come to mean to me.  And how I needn't have worried about those things. 

So I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you for dropping by this past year.  And for all the enthusiasm, support, and interest you bring to this little space.  I am continually inspired and encouraged by the kind things you say (both written and verbal) and I really do love it here.

Happy first Birthday, little blog!

Decking the Halls

Again with the Advent

Day 11:  all you need is love!

Day 12:  Candy cane

Day 13:  Mitten

Day 14:  Sleigh bells ring



Day 15:  Frosty the snowman

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' over at Soulemama for all to find and see.

Nativity Surprise

Last Christmas, Evan's sister gave us this Nativity set.  And I loved it.  So much.  It was from a fair trade shop and I really liked the different take on the traditional manger scene.

My favorite part was the musicians.  I'd like to think that there was some good music happening the night that Christ was born.

Or maybe my favorite part is that it came with two baby Jesus'.  Twins!  Surprise!

I'm pretty sure it was an accidental inclusion, but I think it's pretty handy!  I've heard that kids are good at losing things, so once there are some little ones around here, I'll have a back-up.  And in the meantime, I have placed a baby Jesus in our Christmas tree.  Because it seems really wrong (though a little bit funny) to have twin baby Jesus' in the Nativity.  Hope you are all having a wonderful Christmas season!

Advent Installment

Round two!  Here we go...

Day 6:  a reindeer that sorta looks like a dog (big antlers wouldn't fit!).

Day 7:  a poinsettia

Day 8:  Santa! (I know him!)

Day 9:  gingerbread man with googly eyes.  It's all the sugar--makes him a little crazy.

Day 10:  Holly (capitalized, because ahem... it's a very special plant)

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' over at  Soulemama for all to find and see.

December at last

I am usually a very quick crafter--no procastinating or dilly-dallying. Once I get an idea I am un-distractible until it's finished. It's a gift and a curse.

But this advent calender, it was with me all year long. And so that's why I am happy it's December. Because I get to finally enjoy the fruits of my labor. And I am excited to share it with you (five days at a time as to not overwhelm you with Christmas cheer).

First, there was the issue of what to hang the little ornaments on. I had settled on snipping a branch from our neighbors tree that I snag my hair on every dang time I get in the car, but I never felt like that was the right thing to do. So I had been searching for a more permanent tree for a while now, and the week before Thanksgiving I found this little number at Pier 1. Yay!

Day 1: a cheerful wreath

Day 2: candle

Day 3: a chilly snowflake

Day 4: stocking

Day 5: O Christmas tree!