comfrey green

i'm the happiest girl....in the whole u.s.a........

2006-09-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

My daughter started kindergarten and rides the bus with her older brothers.
A new chapter in all our lives. I'm ready.

37 Things.

2006-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Whew!....................It's been a long time since I've blogged.
I have, although, been keeping up on my daily early morning coffee and inspiration by reading other blogs. Can't give that up.
Here's my 37 Things.
1. Peaches.
2. lately, have been really drawn to fashion. More so than when I was a teenager. I guess it's my interest in sewing and fabric that is directing my eye to the details of clothing, vs. just the trend.
3. Vanilla Ice Cream.
4. Favorite all-time movie is A Room with a View.
5. Next week I am taking swimming lessons. (yes, level one.)
6. My youngest enters Kindergarten in a few weeks.
7. I am on the quest for the Perfect Part-time job.
8. I have been plucking my eyebrows since 7th grade.
9. I like the smell of skunks.
10. Chocolate.
11. Love going to a movie all by myself.
12. I really like butterflies.
13. cucumbers.
14. I'm trying hard not to gossip anymore.
15. I love the early, early morning.
16. I Back- packed through Europe when I was 21.
17. Love the song The Dog and the Butterfly by Heart - ya don't hear it much on the radio
18. I always read the Back-to-School issues of Seventeen. It's not the same now.....I just read the Sept. issue and the library the other day......It's not at all as it was in the 80's.
19. Gin and tonic is my current drink of choice.
20. Limes.
21. I have a "thing" for sheets.
22. Love being a Leo....although, I don't believe all of the Leo traits suit me. I was born premature....perhaps I'm technically not a Leo.
23. Can't stand Duran Duran.
24. Love trees.
25. Reeses Peanut Butter Cups.......and I'm lovin' the more mature, healthy version that belongs to Paul Newman
26. J.Crew
27. This is the year to fitness!
28. I'm not a horse girl
29. love cement as a building material. So much you can do with it.
30. Lemons.
31. Rick Springfield.
32. Right now my jewlry of choice are necklaces. I used to be a bracelet- only girl. Then a dangly earing- only girl. Now a delicate necklace around my neck is a must-have daily. I can't wear all three (earrings, bracelets, necklaces) at one time....it's too much for me. 2 out of 3 is the most I can handle.
33. I can't stand clutter. I like simple.
34. daisys and poppies are my favorite flowers right now
35. I will learn to make a chair out of sticks and twigs.
36. I want to take a belly dancing class........perhaps during my 38th year.
37. and finially................ART...... I start my day with it and it's a huge part of my day, in every little way...from my dishes, to my clothing, to my home, to my gardens. It's my passion.

Happy Birthday to me. I'm pleased to by 37 and I look forward to my new transition as all my children will be in school and life takes a slightly different course. Alright sewing machine....get ready.......I will be introducing myself to you in exactly 3 weeks!!!

2006-06-06T10:07:00.000-07:00

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What Would Caroline Ingalls Do?

2006-05-21T06:10:00.000-07:00

So many bloggers out there are talking about it.
Wise Craft, Little Birds, Molly Coddle, Jumilla Bugs, and many more are feeling it.
Whenever I feel rushed, stressed, pressed for time.....in a hurry, overwhelmed, etc. I really do ask myself, "What would Caroline Ingalls do?" Well, I don't ask myself EVERY time, but often enough. I wonder all the time why I get myself all in a tizzy over what...doing the dishes?....the laundry?....projects that are not finished?.....does it really matter?
Living our best life - as Oprah says, Doing the Zen thing, Following the ways of the Jedi (my boys are way into StarWars), Deep Breathing like my yoga teachers says, Just be patient as my flower gardens tell me, and so on.
I know what to do.....I read inspirational quotes all the time...I'm not dumb - but it's very strange how hard it is to really slow down. I'm practicing. Deep breath. Out through the nose. Now.....what to do with this darling fabric?? (Come on....look at those BLUE strawberries!)

Vera, Welcome.

2006-05-03T04:07:00.000-07:00

I love Vera textiles. Love them. I look at them on eBay but have never won a bid. That's o.k. I knew that if I was patient, I would stumble upon her. I stumbled!
I found 3 dishtowels. Two are the same, the basic apple. And the third has a recipe printed on it...very clever...must try it. I really like them all... and am thrilled to have begun my collection.

A bit of stitching.

2006-05-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

Here's a project I've been working on here-n-there.
What will it be?
When will I finish it?
Not sure.....but I'm having fun with it....and I'm able to use bits-n-pieces of fabrics that I really like.
I will post it again down the road so that I can note the progress.
....at the moment, I am not happy with that tall "mail box" looking tree. I need to play around with the shapes & fabrics more....... so off I go...

soon to be corner of my home. 001

2006-04-28T13:27:00.000-07:00

soon to be corner of my home. 001
Originally uploaded by tuscanycastlegirl.

O.k. I had my first sewing machine lesson yesterday. Of course, I forgot to bring my foot pedal. I still learned a few tips as far as threading the machine and tension.
It's a good thing I'm learning to sew.....I can't quit looking at great fabric. Look at this from Ikea. I just had to buy a few yards....I do have plans for it!

Corner of my home.

2006-04-27T13:36:00.000-07:00

Here's one of our unfinished rooms. It originally was a "den" with dark brown paneling, dark green carpet, and a popcorn/glittery ceiling. The paneling has been painted a nice, crisp white. The carpet has been ripped up. Now to tackle the ceiling. And decide on flooring.
This room has big windows that lookout over the river. We are thinking seriously of turning this room into our "master" bedroom. Come on now.... we deserve it.
And yes.... the piano will end up staying in the room forever. It's not going anywhere!
And that's alright with me :)

Why I blog.

2006-04-25T06:35:00.000-07:00

this represents why I blog. First....please...excuse me. I really am just learning how to use the functions on my computer. I do not know how to link, or to "cut-n-paste", or to even post a gosh darn "badge" for my flickr page onto my blog page. So....please bear (or bare) with me as I write this post. I have been an artist my entire life. My degree is in Elementary Education & Art. I have been a stay-at-home Mother for 10 years. Now that my youngest is about to begin Kindergarten in the Fall......I have this situation... Should-I-go-back-to-work?-just-part-time?-but-who-wants-to-hire-me-when-I-have-to-have-time-off-when-ever-my-children-are-sick?-and-I-must-have-the-summers-off-and-I-forgot-how-to-write-a-resume'-where-is-my-resume'?-how-much-do-people-make-an-hour-these-days?-and-who-in-the-world-do-I-put-down-as-references??????? This ranting leads to my point I'd like to make. Somehow it does connect to my ranting...really...I think it does.
The photo above is of a card I made a few months ago. I was inspired by someone in this blogland. Soulemama, angrychicken, littlebirds, greenkitchen, a bird in the hand, weewonderfuls, .............................and so many, many, many, many more of you..... are totally my inspiration & motivation to keep plugging away with my creative side. Thank You! Making that card is caused a domino effect for me & I am making lots & lots of Art. I am using my creativity in new ways and I am very happy about that.
Port2Port has been discussing " why we blog..." & I think it's very smart to stop & really think about it. Many of us have children that are very savvy with technology & these days we live with a real fear of exposing our children to the internet. Rightly so. The internet scares me. This is one area of parenting that our parents did not have to worry about. With all the stuff that is out there in the internet world that is frightening.................it is such a true pleasure, such a nice thing to stumble upon a real group of bloggers who are using the internet for such a positive purpose. Sewing, baking, cooking, reading great books, gardening, tending to babes, thrifting, designing, .... it is all so healthy and good and all part of creating a home.
I like blogging because it is good for me. It helps me to be a better me. And in turn - am being- I like to think-a better Mother.
Hey.... and here's a little fact..... I was actually standing & staring at our large school-room United States map that is hanging on our wall in our entryway and thinking "hmmmm - that's where Portland, Maine is.... oh, that's where Portland, Oregon is.... and Australia is way over there...... wow, and I look at these people's blogs..... and I'm way over in little ol' Wisconsin.....Crazy!" That is why I blog.

thrifted.

2006-04-23T06:35:00.000-07:00

So sorry for
such poor
photos.
Yesterday
I hit upon
an excellent
garage sale.
These are samples of a box of vintage wrapping
papers that I scored.
I really didn't need these....oh yes I did...

Listen to those birds.

2006-04-22T07:53:00.000-07:00

These are the "I spy" steps my husband made last summer. They are made with timbers and concrete. The kids found trinkets & treasures to place into the concrete.
The steps go up (& down) our hill that leads to the backyard. I am so in love with the tiny purples that are creeping & growing all around the steps.
** Happy Earth Day **
oh.... & the birds outside are having wild conversations at the moment. I enjoy imagining what they are saying to each other as I am...still....painting....the...brick...on....our....house...................

Book Club.

2006-04-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand is my book club's selection for May & June.
I started this book 4 times in the last 15 years. This will be my 5th & I'm determined to complete it this time. I read The Fountainhead many years ago & really enjoyed it.
What I need to do is slooooow down & not think about how big the book is or how tiny the print is & just enjoy the sentences. So far I am on page 20 & I am very interested in Dagny Taggart. I can tell she's a snappy dresser.

Corner of my home.

2006-04-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

Here is one of my favorite corners of
my home. I love the river flowing
and the sounds it makes.
Instantly calming.
As far as making stuff, I have not
done too much lately.
Many, many ideas are in my head though.......but for now....I have
to get back to outside.

Here we go.....

2006-04-17T06:38:00.000-07:00

**A yummy, and I do mean YUMMY Bunny cake. Lemon creamcheese frosting, white cake & lemon curd filling. Very much a spring cake. (Yea, we ate the ears right away.)
**My boys. Coloring Easter eggs, can't you tell??

A Book I love.

2006-04-13T06:03:00.000-07:00

I love books. I have some that I drag out and look at over and over every few months - or I suppose with the changes of the seasons.
This one...Tricia Guild's Country Color .... is one of my all-time favs.
Maybe in a previous life I lived as a peasant in the country of Italy. I don't know why exactly, but I'm soooo drawn to the photographs in this book. I love the simplicity. I love the timelessness. I love the gardens. I love the simple curtains & the bare tile floors. It all speaks of strength and history. I have said it before and I'll say it again... I love old things. This book is perfect for sitting in the lazy Adirondack chair, watching the river, and the new flowers come up.... it is perfect for getting ideas for flower gardens. It is perfect for spring.

Wednesday Already?

2006-04-12T18:15:00.000-07:00

Where does the time go??
This is some of my fabric find from my thrift score the other day.

I'm not sure exactly what I will do with this, but I know it will get used. Especially once my sewing machine and I are on friendly terms. We can not go on too much longer without working through our problems. Which I know has to do with the tension. Tension, now there is a good word - It just dawned on my how my sewing machine's tension is really the cause of our tension. O.k., I really need to stop thinking we actually have a relationship. Well, I suppose we do.....or not?? Ugh!

A bit of Thrift.

2006-04-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

I am thrilled to have stumbled upon a load at the thrift store! Lots & lots of wool yardage. Lots of great sheeting. Lots of mis-matchy fabric remnants. All in the wash.
Soon, soon, soon - I must organize my fabrics. Not now though, it's spring & the outdoors is calling.
** I was very happy to pay 25 cents for this great box of sewing cards. Look @ those animals!

Friday - Orange.

2006-04-07T04:27:00.000-07:00

I choose.........White - Thursday.

2006-04-06T04:45:00.000-07:00

Green Wednesday.

2006-04-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

A bit more blue.

2006-04-04T06:46:00.000-07:00

I can't resist posting more blue.

Blue Tuesday.

2006-04-04T06:28:00.000-07:00

Now BLUE is a color that I gravitate towards.
Here are some photos of things around my home.
My kitchen cupboards are 43 years old. When we moved
into this house a year ago I knew that a bit of paint and new hardware was
all that those cabinets needed. You know, a little TLC.
Most people probably would have ripped them out, but why?
They are in perfect condition, and truly, are better made than
some of the products that are out in the home improvement stores today.
The top cabinets are a shade lighter than the bottom. We removed all the
doors of the very top cabinets for open storage. Some chalkboard paint for easy messaging & impromptu drawing. I like my rustic kitchen very much.

Belated Yellow-Monday

2006-04-04T04:44:00.002-07:00

These are dishes (serving bowls & dessert plates) that I've collected. I love the images. Each contains a bit of yellow - a color that I usually don't gravitate towards......but... these spoke to me .

ellen

2006-04-03T05:00:00.000-07:00

ellen
Originally uploaded by angry chicken.

This is one of the submissions over at "Tie One On". I love it!
I'd like to give credit to the person who submitted this clever photo - who ever you are..... you made my morning!

Together.

2006-04-02T16:43:00.001-07:00

softies. 004
Originally uploaded by tuscanycastlegirl.

These three bunnies have met, and are getting along very well.