it's official

as if you couldn't have already guessed. . . 

I haven't been blogging as of late.  I have found that during the free time that I can manage to eek out occasionally, I much prefer to be sewing.  Or baking.  Or straightening up the madness that is so quickly created by a very clever three year old.  So, for now, at least through the holidays, I will not be blogging here.  Maybe once the new year has arrive and the craziness has calmed, I can get back into the swing of things here.  In the meantime, hope you have a safe and fabulous holiday!

the day after

You know that day when you wake up after the holidays and you're kind of let down?  There was so much build up and then, all in one quick moment, they're over and all you're left with is exhaustion and things to clean up?

Well, today is nothing like that!!!!!!

North Carolina, for the first time, elected a female governor!  And we even successfully elected that "godless woman" Kay Hagan to Senate!  And even though we are one of three states to still call the presidential race, Obama is still ahead!! **

 

So so proud of my fellow North Carolinians.  So proud of my fellow Americans.  And I'm oh so SO very happy.

(**It took until later in the week, but we're finally blue.  Not since 1976 have we been out of the red status.  Yay Obama!!!!)

eye candy

some things I am loving right now. . . 

The fact that we are full on into spider season around here.  Many many beautiful webs.

Building houses for dinosaurs. . . 

My new red shoes

I literally craved these during my entire pregnancy.  Doug gave them to me for my birthday in July.  They're Danskos and I really really love them.  So comfy.  And red!!

Art time with Charlie.  I think the picture says it all.

The way my husband serves up dinner occasionally. . . 

(If you're curious - asparagus, zucchini and yellow squash sauteed in butter, polenta with cheese melted on top, and slices of crusty bread. . . )

This fabric, which I just bought two yards of and have no idea what I'm going to do with it.  But isn't it fabulous?

It's Alexander Henry, "Sew Now!  Sew Wow!"  And for you locals, you can find it here.

This look on Theo's face. . . 

And this one too. . . 

He's very concerned about the mess that Charlie is making, I think.  

Of course, he can also ham it up with his big brother when showing off new sweaters that I recently purchased from our local consignment store.

And finally - I'm thankful for the very rare occasion of both boys napping at the same time, which is happening right at this moment.  How the heck else do you think I would have time to upload all these pictures?

Hope everyone is experiencing a day as beautiful as the one we're having here.  Now off to sew.

something i just saw

just a quick note because i have to share this with anyone who might happen by.  . . 

go here.  now.  freakin' amazing.

(for anyone who doesn't know - selvedge is the side of a piece of fabric that contains the manufacturer's name, color referencing codes, etc.  it is normally trimmed from the fabric before a creative endeavor.  selvedges are usually about a half inch in width)

so i say again - amazing.

I won!

As you may have noted on my sidebar, there is a short list of blogs that I would encourage you to check out.  Some of them, such as soulemama, posie gets cozy, and yarnstorm are particularly lovely, with beautiful photographs, well written words, and filled with inspiration.  These are the ones that I check in on daily, no matter what.  It only takes a moment and is always well worth it when there have been updates.

Which brings me to the ever talented Jane Brocket, the creator of yarnstorm.  She recently had a giveaway - 5 copies of the american version (she's British) of her first book, The Gentle Art of Domesticity - Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art and the Comforts of Home.  

She asked her readers what their favorite domestic activity is and then from all the responses, 5 commenters were chosen at random to win a copy of the book.  Out of over 2300 responses, I was one of the 5!  I received my copy yesterday and the book is just as lovely as her blog.  I've only just begun the reading (of course, browsing at all the wonderful pictures first), but I'm very inspired to begin a new quilt and make some chewy flapjacks. . .  

If you're at all curious, my favorite domestic activity is best described as boys napping, clothes dryer humming, and the smell of fresh baked sweet potato pie, all while working on a quilt.  Very rare, but absolute domestic bliss, I tell ya.

busy being busy

oh my goodness.  talk about not having any time.  

i seem to find time in my day to occasionally check up on facebook (yes, i succumbed to the trend of the masses) and to read some of my favorite blogs, check the local news and weather and keep up with the upcoming election (a bit; not as much as i should) and you may think that sounds like alot, but it can all be done in one or two minute increments throughout my day. . . sitting down to actually come up with and write a post to this blog, well that's another thing all together.  as you can see, i don't even feel like i have enough time to use capital letters. . . . 

but here we have a moment.  a moment that involves a baby with a belly full of mama's milk and a toddler enjoying his first cup of hot chocolate of the season.  that's what finally inspired me to sit down and attempt to get a few words in.  the thought of cooler weather coming makes me feel so. very. happy.  i know that many folks may consider this next statement a bit of blasphemy, but i just gotta say - i hate summer.  

i didn't use to hate summer.  when i was a kid, i thoroughly enjoyed the extended daylight, the evening games of kick the can, the chasing of fireflies and just soaking up the summer sun any way i could get it.  but things have changed.  the days have gotten hotter and, well, i reckon i've gotten older and a bit crankier about the discomfort that extreme humidity and heat can create.  even charlie doesn't much care to be outside all that often when it's 90 degrees with a heat index over 100.  i mean, who does, really?

but enough about that.  what i'm very excited about and looking forward to is fall - it's my favorite time of year.  the colors on the trees are amazing, and being that i'm fortunate enough to be living in the middle of the woods, i really get to relish in all the extremes in color of the foliage.  and with fall, comes fresh baked pies, snuggling up under quilts, gathering by bonfires and enjoying hot cider and hot chocolate.  and let us not forget the bourbon - bourbon and hot chocolate has definitely become one of my favorite drinks for a chilly night.  (thank you sugarmama for introducing me to this fantastic combo!)

so here i sit on this overcast day with all our windows open and a bit of a chill in the air, enough that i get to wear a cardigan.  theo is finally napping, though charlie is, of course, calling me away from the keyboard about every other minute.  (you would laugh if you knew how long it has taken me to write these few paragraphs).  i have finally talked charlie into going outside, assuring him that it's a great day to be out there, playing with trucks and adding to his collection of leaves and rocks.  he's just taken me up on the offer so i'm sure i'll need to break from this soon to go exploring with him a bit before theo awakens.

(now, of course, it is two hours later.  theo did indeed wake up, so i put him in the ergo carrier and we went out to see charlie dig a big hole and work his digger trucks.  we've eaten lunch, had a few fits - from both boys, of course - read stories and now both are down for naps. . . dare i hope that they both stay asleep for a while????)

it seems that the busier i am, the busier i get.  i realize that's somewhat of an obvious statement, but really - i am so busy just being mama that you would think that would suffice.  but no - it seems that the less time i have available, the more i find to fill it.  i keep starting new projects and thinking of even more things i'd like to get done, including painting some rooms in this house (that desperately need it!), rearranging furniture, etc.  i started a quilt recently that i like to think is just for mama.  but who knows -  maybe i'll end up selling it after all is said and done.  not sure yet. . .

and it just hit me the other day that it is indeed september.  with it being so hot, it just still seems like the middle of summer, but lo and behold, it's now the middle of september and just a few months from the season of gift giving.  i also realize that i completely missed my neice's birthday!  i looked up on the calendar (finally) and noticed that it was almost two weeks ago. (madalyn, if you're reading this, there will be something in the mail to you soon!!).  time is flying.  i all of a sudden feel like the rabbit in alice in wonderland, hurry hurry hurry. . . . 

funny how i thought i would perhaps be able to learn to live in the moment with a baby in the house.  just ain't happening that way.

and, of course, the child who never sleeps (theo) is awake again after his 10 minutes of napping, so i'm off once again. . . 

a day in the life

As I was working on some quilt blocks the other day. . .

Charlie:  Those are beautiful things you are making, mama.

Me:  Thank you Charlie!  I'm making a quilt.  I can teach you how to make a quilt one day too, if you want.

Charlie:  Yea, when I'm a girl.  

Me:  Charlie, you don't have to be a girl to make a quilt.  Boys make quilts too!  Just like girls can cut down trees, boys can make quilts.

Charlie:  Are you gonna go cut down a tree now mama?