Apple Time

It is fall! Well, almost. But the apples are starting to come in and to me that signals fall. Each year since before I had kids I have been making apple butter in the fall. After the first slightly scary leap-of-faith canning with my friend Sarah it has become a ritual. [...]

Hollyhocks and more firsts….

I just wanted to post quickly about two firsts this week- ok three.
The first I am so excited, and I dare say, proud about. My very first grown in my garden hollyhock is blooming! And it was worth the wait. I actually must admit I did not grow these from seed but [...]

last days of summer…and foster’s dipped cones

Summer for us is OFFICIALLY winding down. Today I start my first day of grad school-OFFICIALLY. I’ve been prepping for the last week, at various trainings, and working on my curriculm for the composition class I’ll be teaching, but TODAY IS THE DAY! I teach my first class this morning and my [...]

zero waste lunches and other things I do…

The kids and I are really revving up for school. We’ve previewed their classrooms, went shopping for school supplies and it’s time to start planning lunches and snacks. This has me thinking about what I really started thinking about last year- zero waste lunches.
In my many little “green living” things I do, this [...]

green living with kids

I have been thinking, well overthinking (as I tend to do) about green living. About even as I try to make good choices and changes in my house, I’m really not doing as much as I’d like to think. What got me thinking about this was a post by angry chicken about some alternative [...]

Overwhelmed is an understatement

Well I picked up some more of my books for this semester today. I am comparing them to the leaning tower of Pisa. The pile is a little daunting, as is my growing “to do” list and my rapidly filling calendar. Did I mention I still have to buy 3 books! [...]

On my bookshelf… and nightstand…and floor…

I always am curious to see what other people are reading.  And how they read.  Are you the type to check out one book at the library, read it, return it and then start your next?  Not I!  I am the multi-book, plan ahead (beacause a book drought is absolutely terrible!) reader.  I have stacks [...]

The Great Cape Caper

Each year my daughter’s school puts on a Nutcracker preformance by the kindergarten classes. Last year Thea participated in this charming event and even got to have a line!

I helped to make some costumes including the nightgown she wore in it (that we donated for future use) and the tin soldiers hats. I [...]

Ode to the Summer “Home” Tomato

After finally deciding that my children were old enough this year to give a little attention to a vegetable garden I spent a few cold winter nights last year poring over seed catalogs while bundled under my down comforter. My two favorite catalogs that I ended up ordering from this year were: Nichols Garden [...]

A hard night’s work!

 
Well all my creative juices must be flowing!  Blogging and sewing!  I can’t but help thank a fellow mom- Carolina- for getting me back into sewing and turning me onto blogging as well (and you too Sarah!).  She shared with me some fantastic Japanese craft books this month. (Check out more on them here or [...]