etsy shop update!

I finally updated my poor, neglected etsy shop this afternoon. I have more to add, but at least I got 7 listings up. I did this amongst waiting on pins and needles to see if Indiana would pass the midwifery licensure bill out of the House. Still waiting on that. I hope so, if it doesn't get passed out of the House there are going to be a LOT of hopping mad MW supporters out here!!

buttons and almond cake

The whole world is covered with buttons,

and not one of them is mine!

by Frog (or was it Toad?)

I've re-organized some of my crafting things. I sorted out my fabric stash and folded it neatly (yay!) and organized some of my bits and bobs on top of Lily's dresser (formerly Calvin's changing table). I don't have a dedicated craft room so things are here and in the coat closet and in the craft cabinet, and..everywhere really!

I love this big old fishbowl! I just got it at a yard sale for 50 cents. I can envision it full of buttons, so that's my goal! I will scour rummage sales, yard sales, and antique shops for buttons! So fun.

Over the weekend I read on angry chicken's blog about a dairy free almond cake! Since I have been dairy free for over a month, I haven't been doing much baking, boo. So when I saw this, I knew I had to try it (unfortunately, I am apparently link impaired and can't hyperlink, so it doesn't look pretty): http://angrychicken.typepad.com/angry_chicken/2009/04/friday-cake.html I made it Sunday night (making my own almond paste, too!) and it was gooood. I could eat it every day I think, which is why I will limit myself to a once-in-awhile treat of it.

I'm working on re-stocking my etsy shop, finally! I've made a cute little item that no crafter can live without, times ten. I will post it here soon.

Spring cleaning, morning sky, papier mache dragons, and knit cuffs

So I got an itch to do something about some corners of my home that weren't working too well. Here's a 'before' shot of the chalkboard table and chairs that resided in our kitchen...a spot which always became a catchall for a basket of laundry.
And here's another corner...this is the living room and those are the couch cushions tossed on the chair there. On the floor is a basket of Plan City toys for the Parking Garage, which usually resides in the living room.And here's Lily's room. This was a bad, bad arrangement for many reasons. There just isn't a great place for these in her room and because of the placement they also were a catchall for laundry and toys, as you can plainly see. Ahem. Then, when they did get played with, all the toy food and dishes would somehow end up scattered everywhere in the room.
So! I moved the kitchen set *into* the kitchen! It works well there--the kids can cook while I cook (and they've already served me some yummy food!), there are already hooks there for their aprons, and my rule is that all the food and implements must stay on the green rug, so it keeps the mess contained. Yay!

And here's the living room--the chalk board table is now a blank canvas for artwork (chalk and eraser is in the bucket) and it's in close proximity to the bookshelf and library book basket for sitting down to read.And Lily's room is much more clutter-free. The ledge is now a perfect place to store a basket of her baby brother's toys. I love finding new ways to re-arrange and make our home and things work better for us.

I took this one morning last week--I think it was around 7 am. That blurred light above the neighbor's house across the street is the moon. The other blurred light is the porch light, I moved the camera too soon (um, there was a car coming and I still had my pj's on). But I still like this pic, the color of the sky is so pretty and there's the century old house across the street and the bare branches of the old maple...it's kinda neat.

Grace made this papier mache dragon from 'eragon' for a school project. I think it's 'Sapphira'. (I should know this). It turned out really cool.

Eric likes to knit! Here he is using his knitting spool while watching TV. That's a good use of TV time! He also has his own needles, but we haven't done that yet.

Here he is with his Superhero cuffs. "I can block lasers with them, just like Wonder Woman!" he says. I love that.

knitting (or not) in the park

One day last week we walked over to the park, it was so glorious out. It's March. In Indiana. Usually that consists of brown grass, frosts, even snow. And if not snow, then rain. This has been a March like no other though! The grass is green, my 'mini daffodils' (not sure of the correct term) are blooming, lilacs are budding. All way early! It's amazing. So this was a warm, almost 70 degree day and we packed down the stroller with drinks, snacks, toys, a blanket and my knitting. Then we walked downtown, across the river on the pedestrian bridge, and on the winding trails up to the park playground. I spread out the blanket and got out Calvin's toys and got out my knitting. What was Calvin most interested in? Mama's knitting. So sweet.

we came whirling

we came whirling

out of nothingness

scattering stars

like dust

the stars made a circle

and in the middle

we dance

~Rumi

Today I'm grateful for friends that love us and forgive hurts and welcome us back. For learning to hear the music and to dance to it unashamed. For continuing to learn who I am. For the determination to get back up when I fall and to show my children my own fraility and shortcomings...and to ask them for a fresh start, which they so freely give. For more love, more kindness, more of everything that's really important. For dancing on this earth with such amazing people that are in my life.