Two Red Doors

Snow Day

2012-01-16T10:44:00.000-08:00

This was our view this morning. 20 minutes south, and 20 minutes north of us, they only got a light dusting, but right here in this little pocket of a town we woke up to 6 inches of snow, easy. The light is amazing. The fire is cozy. Tomorrow we will probably have to think about going back to work, but for now, we are just rolling with it.

2011 Embroidery

2012-01-08T15:01:00.000-08:00

Here is the extent of my Christmas crafting. A bit of embroidery. These were really my first embroidery projects, and I was pretty pleased with how they turned out. The samplers are from this pattern by Alicia Paulson. She makes lovely patterns which include very detailed instructions including a really wonderful tutorial on framing your needlework.

I altered the color schemes form the original to coordinate with their new homes. The first is mostly rose shades and blues, and the second is in brighter cherries, coral, and greens to match an old-fashioned afghan that lays at the foot of my parents bed.

You should be able to click on each to see them larger.

These next little embroideries were inspired by something I found on pinterest, and made for a couple I happen to like a lot. I know that they are available on etsy.com if you are not inspired to make your own.

Cheers!

Dress Makeover or A Tim Burton Love Story

2011-10-31T17:30:00.000-07:00

After:

In a practically unprecedented display of social participation, my husband and I went a Halloween party on Saturday. In anticipation of this event, I set about altering an old wedding gown to be more Burtonesque. Also to fit.

It was meant to be black, but polyester does not take dye terribly well. I also extended the straps with black velvet, and added some vintage lace to the front to compensate. The back became lace-up corset style, with the help of some metal toggle loops found in the beading section, and painstakingly stitched up the back (24 in all.)

Before:

We won't be discussing how beautifully this dress fit me when I first wore it. I was twenty, so it doesn't count.

Lizzy's House of Cakes

2011-08-23T09:39:00.000-07:00

Liz is one of those people that you just fall in love with immediately. She is genuine and sweet and adorable, plus she makes amazing cakes. I was super excited to work with her on her new website, which I am happy to announce is up and running. Check it out, and then hurry and get yourself some cake as soon as possible.

Some Beach, Somewhere

2011-08-22T07:52:00.000-07:00

In an idyllic world, this is my summer. River banks with rocky beaches, straw hats, potato chips in the sun, Tom Petty playing on the radio from some dusty truck. This is not today, or even this weekend ; though I did spend several hours on Saturday lying in the shade on a blanket; but at some point this summer, I did spend an entire lovely afternoon at the river. The sun was perfectly hot on my skin, and the river was cold and clear. We had potato chips, and tuna sandwiches. I guess I can be ready for fall now.

Let Them Eat

2011-08-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

Just like me to wake up with a craving for cake on the hottest day of summer. Butter cake with almond whipped cream and candied walnuts to be specific.

Death by Stereo

2011-07-16T22:05:00.000-07:00

I guess that every generation has its vampire story. I like my Twilight as much as the next girl, but my heart will always belong to the Lost Boys. Every iconic line has me cheering, nineties fashion, classic soundtrack, surprisingly understated acting, and Jason Patrick still steals it every time with his heart stopping stare. Eat you heart out Cullens.

Evening Light

2011-07-03T19:45:00.000-07:00

Today we:

Painted.

Cleaned.

Chopped.

Decorated.

Tonight, if someone has an extra glass of wine, she might not feel guilty at all.

Stripey Bag Share

2011-06-12T10:29:00.001-07:00

For whatever reason, I have found myself not in the mood to share lately. It could be the lack of light we have been having around here or the past several months. It could be the thing where set Martha standards of gargantuan proportions for myself and fail to hire the crew of minions to do things for me. Whatever. Today I feel a bit lighter, and so to celebrate, I am sharing this stripey crocheted bag with you. It is no particular pattern, and is not a bag yet, but rather and large stripy loop with 5 balls of cotton yarn dangling from it. You may remember them from this. Or not. The colors, and the sunshine, and the green grass are happy, are they not?

Dilemma

2011-04-09T21:35:00.000-07:00

So, this is a new one. How do you deal with the fact that your ten year old is about to find out that Dumbledore DIES?

All that She had Learned

2011-03-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

A little project for your eyes to see. The quote is from the inestimable Leigh at Curly Girl Design via pinterest, of course. She beautifully works the English language to say just the right things, in just the right ways. Her work makes me happy, and inspired me to make this little painting for my girl Cas who has loads of potential AND cute shoes.

I started with this old canvas, pre-painted in my college days. Which is perfect because Cassi was probably jumping on my bed, talking my ear off as I painted it. Also, I like starting out with some texture.

The paint on the canvas is oil, so I layered on some tissue paper with layers of Arlene's tacky glue, and acrylic.

Added those perfect words.

et voila, instant Birthday present... if by instant I mean taking two weeks.

Best Parenting Moment Ever

2011-02-18T20:38:00.001-08:00

My daughter was reading a poll in her American Girl magazine, "What do you do to relieve stress?" She leaned her head on my shoulder. "Talk to my mom," she said.

Thin Line

2011-02-16T15:56:00.000-08:00

This photo makes my fingers positively vibrate with inspiration. That moment when the calligraphy pen scratches ink onto the creamy paper. Ack! This is a shot from the Arcano Type Project a font completely designed by hand, Chinese ink on Japanese calligraphy paper. It is one of the things driving me crazy lately.

Crazy. Like when I start to consider creatives who obsess to the point of social disruption, and I think how easy that would be. Ok, I am just going to shut myself up in my studio now. You know, the one with the cement floors, high ceilings, huge windows, and the soft couch in the corner? Yeah, that is where I will be. So don't bother me. Because when your head gets so full of ideas, that they come out your fingers; and simple tasks like fixing dinner, and driving, and answering the question, "What are you doing?" become monumental (What do you mean, what am I DOING? Can't you see that my head is about to explode?)

See, there is a reason that creatives get a reputation. That they are considered cantankerous and strange. You don't get to be Georgia O'Keefe by say, being a good mother. I don't know for sure, I could not find any record, but the fabulous Milton Glaser does not strike me as a family man. How could he possible find the time?

If this seems a bit stream of consciousness, it is. One of those chapters that flowed in my head on the drive home, but stutters when I sit down to write. It is not meant to be negative. I am not bemoaning my family life. It is simply the recurrent cogitation during my stretches of most inspiration, and continuing quest for balance.

The Pie Hole

2011-01-30T11:47:00.000-08:00

One thing you should know about me is that I don't make pie. I don't even like pie particularly. It is kind of boring. That being said, what I have to tell you may come as a shock. I made pie this weekend. Another thing is, I don't peel things. I don't peel carrots. I don't peel potatoes, not for soup, not for mashing.

I blame it on Pushing Daisies, a magical little show in which unrealistically delicious looking pies are made, served, and eaten with unnatural alacrity. We have been watching for a few weeks now so the craving has been building. Oh also, I am extremely susceptible to suggestion.

This particular apple pie recipe was quite delicious. Next time I would pour the caramel sauce just over the apples and not over the crust topping as it gets kind of hard on top. Minor point. We had apple pie with ice cream for elevenses, apple pie with ice cream for dessert, and apple pie for breakfast.

I think later I might make a lemon custard pie. We are just about to the finale of season 2. Don't ask for my crust recipe. Something you should know about me is, I don't make pie crust. A girl has her limits.

Random Quote of the Day

2011-01-13T15:28:00.000-08:00

"Winifred Burkle once told me after a sinful amount of Chinese food and apropos of absolutely nothing, 'I think a lot of people would choose to be green, your shade, if they had the choice.'"

-Lorne, the green demon

Second Project, Same day

2011-01-11T17:36:00.001-08:00

But well, posted a bit later. This first image is NOT from my home. This image is from James Braund Photography via pinterest. Have I mentioned pinterest? I have. Perhaps that is because I find it so damn inspiring that I can spend hours just soaking myself in gorgeous images. You know, 'til my fingers get all pruney.

I had to post this image because the idea is so good, and my own images are so bad. It is really difficult to take a good shot of a wall, especially one with a mirror on it, especially in Oregon winter lighting.

Here is a close up of the "jewelry rack." So that you can see the beautiful finish (black enamel paint, brushed on and then wiped off. Pretty and FAST) and the imaginative hangers (tiny wire nails.)

Here is the finished rack, all decked out. It looks very pretty in my room, but like I said, hard to tell from the picture.

Two projects, One Day

2011-01-09T15:31:00.000-08:00

Yep, you read that right. Two Projects. I am only going to show you one today, though. So don't get greedy.

This is my Spiderweb Cowl, so called because of this amazing yarn which fades from dark gray to light. The pattern is called Fayfay, and was found on Ravelry. It was intended to be a scarf, but this morning I suddenly decided that it would be great as a cowl, and behold it was the PERFECT LENGTH. All I had to do was cast off and sew it together. I flipped the edges and made it into a mobius, which gave it a great shape. The Fayfay pattern is full of drop stitches which are fidgety and I do not love. But, the look is very modern and fun.

Ptarmigan

2011-01-07T17:46:00.000-08:00

Don't you love how her gorgeous hazel eye peeps over the top. I didn't have time to get good pics of this cowl before it was wrapped, seeing as it blocked in front of the fire on Christmas Eve. Thankfully, Lizzy was kind enough to get me some good snaps.

This pattern is called Ptarmigan, and is by the incomparable Jared Flood who is talented and must be praised. It was a very fun knit, and doubly lovely in pale pink cashmerino.

More Gnomies

2011-01-03T17:17:00.000-08:00

Yes, but these gnomies are SPECIAL. One of these gnomies is a gingerbread guy, and the other, completely by accident is a tiny cat-in-the-hat.

And these little gnomies have HOUSES. Yes, special gnomie bag houses with velvet lining for a very special niece and nephew.

The photos are not great, but that is winter light for ya, practically nonexistent.

January

2011-01-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

The start of the New Year. It always seems just a bit anticlimactic to me. But here in this peaceful recovery of a weekend there is still a lot of hope for new beginnings, and starting fresh. 2010 was lovely and busy. The best parts involved family and friends that are near, and some that are very far. Too far. I am certain that the best bits of the New Year will include those same special people. If I could, I would gather them all up, and we would live in a fabulous creative commune somewhere with gorgeous little houses for everyone, and one great big barn of a place where there would be dinner and dancing every night. Just a little impossible dream to start the year off.

I am sure you are wondering about the Adorable calendar you see here. Design Sponge had this great little tutorial for the calendar that I just had to make for some special faraways. The inspiration for the images that I used was gathered from the far corners of the web. Some I snagged from creatives on Etsy, others were much more random. I drew out the images with my fancy computer program, and then used fabric and embroidery to embellish. I don't like iron on transfers so I laid the calendar out in said fancy program, and printed it directly onto the canvas from my little HP after backing each piece with freezer paper. My printer did not like this part. It complained that the canvas was too thick. Well, that is just too bad for it. The printing turned out so cute that I persisted. Please see below for image credit.

January: from Embroidery seen on Wood, Wool, and Stool flicker stream, Flopsy and Mopsy are from Badbirds etsy store, So many pots is SeaSprayBlue Etsy, I can't for the life of me find the sweet elephants again. The other images found inspiration in several places.

More Glitter

2010-12-19T09:21:00.000-08:00

New Addiction

2010-11-27T21:08:00.000-08:00

Because I needed another one.

http://pinterest.com/

I Love Glitter

2010-11-26T15:43:00.000-08:00

I do. Especially super-fine, extra-sparkly glitter in a bazillion different colors that I got on sale with a coupon, and did not have to go anywhere for because my mom braved the crowds and picked it up for me.

Taking a Piece

2010-11-13T18:05:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, dear, sweet, faraway Lynda! I never knew it was possible to miss someone you have never met. Here's wishing you cake, and other sweet things!

Quick Question

2010-10-30T20:35:00.001-07:00

Could I just live inside an Anthropologie catalog, please?

Things

2010-10-30T16:21:00.000-07:00

Things that are making me happy today.

Today is the day before Halloween. That is what is making my daughter happy, along with pumpkin carving, and volleyball practice. But these are the things that are making me happy:

My Anthropologie catalog that arrived in the mail today. The combination of intricately unique items in it, and the inspiring layout make me drool. It also makes me sad that I have not been receiving the catalog for ages. I can almost taste the shelf full of loving bookmarked catalogs sitting in a nice neat row. Le sigh. Life is full of such small regrets, I suppose.

Also, that skein of recycled silk with it's circus bright colors, and sheen. New today. Yippee!

This cover made from this crochet pattern is not new. I finished it a few weeks ago, but it is still making me smile.

Wedding Photos

2010-10-26T12:02:00.000-07:00

You know how you take pictures of an event and it's like, oh there is Aunt Susan, and here is Uncle Jim, and there we are dancing? And then some photographers take pictures of the same event, and it looks like something really interesting happened. Well, that is what these photos of Cassi and Cameron's wedding are like.

And here is Nicole Nichols Blog. She is amazing.

Oiyi Oiyi

2010-10-11T15:53:00.000-07:00

Pretty pretty shawl right his way! Check out Oiyi's Blog for a chance to win her beautiful first shawl, complete with pattern and some really super lovely extras!

Zero History

2010-10-07T09:12:00.001-07:00

Reading William Gibson is like slipping into a world that is ours, but is somehow smarter, edgier, and infinitely cooler. Each time I start a new Gibson book I want to chase after people on the street and beg them to read too. I try to explain the genius that is Gibson, and each time, fail utterly. Putting that genius into words only seems to belittle it somehow. If you have any insight, please, let me know.

Gibson always describes what people are wearing. And I love this. Instead of seeming light or shallow, he introduces fashion as a window into the person, as a way of telling who they are by what they wear, or refuse to wear. He tells about their hair, and describes in infinite detail what they do, and how that doing seems to the viewer. His books are about now, but are ever at the edge of, and seem closer to what will be happening, than what is.

I have mentioned before that William Gibson's Pattern Recognition is my all time favorite book whose logo allergic main character Cayce Pollard I took into my heart as soulmate and friend. The sequel, Spook Country though just as well written thrilled me less. Perhaps because the protagonist in this case Hollis Henry seemed to be one of those people to whom things happen rather than on who makes things happen. Hollis plays a leading role again in Zero History, surrounded by a cast of seriously quirky characters who do, in fact, make things happen.

If you have any interest in fashion, marketing, art, pop culture, language, the future, flea markets, design, history, corporate espionage, or military surplus, read these books. Start and the beginning, and when you get to the end, you may want to start all over. That is what I am doing.

It Only Took Me a Year and a Half

2010-09-05T14:18:00.000-07:00

I cannot believe it is finally done. Far from feeling anticlimactic, there is a great sense of accomplishment here.

To see progress pictures of this garter stitch fisherman's net scarf made of Aunt Lydias bamboo crochet THREAD click here and here.

This space is for the finished project only.

I Think We Have Another Addict

2010-09-04T17:36:00.000-07:00

My husband, Mr. Fabulous himself, had to take a required knitting class for work. No really, he works for a needlework supply company. Having tried to show him how to finish a stitch a while ago, I had my doubts about his abilities. This is the man who still eats Sushi with a fork. Apparently, he just needed incentive. Now, I walk into the bedroom, and find him "getting a few rows in" before work. My day dreams about growing old together just got that much better.

Sharing

2010-09-03T09:07:00.000-07:00

Dalton Ghetti, The guy everyone is talking about.

Can you blame them?

The Best Two Dollars I Ever Spent

2010-08-31T16:19:00.000-07:00

My fellow magazine Whore-ders will understand my delight at finding this fabulous little rack leaning against a white picket fence at a randomly struck upon yard sale. I literally feel inspired every time I look at this display. Tingles. Seriously. I know, I am very strange.

Sitting in my house filled with so many beautiful things that make life easier, richer, or just prettier; I think it is funny that just a few moments ago I had the unmitigated gall to feel poor because I will not be able to buy those great boots from Anthropologie.

Oregon Jamboree Merchandise 2010

2010-08-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

The Oregon Jamboree 2010 has been and gone. Keith Urban has packed up his guitars and is far away from Sweet Home by now. These photos, however are just now making their way into the spotlight for a special behind-the-scenes rundown.

I still think it is gorgeous the way the light shines through the image, and the metallic ink lays on the screen.

The ladies tanks got wrapped with silver barbed with this year. Very tough.

Don't ask me why there is a crow on this shirt. Crows are just cool, ok?

My favorite shirt got a damask print. It took us about 2 hours to get that copper penny shimmery verdigris just right, but it was so worth it.

The merchandise booth had record sales this year, despite the fact that overall ticket sales were down 10%. I think it was the crow, don't you?

Birthday Presents

2010-08-17T09:56:00.000-07:00

Lucky, lucky, lucky me.

I'm a lucky son-of-a-gun. I work eight hours, I sleep eight hours, that leaves eight hours for... Well, actually that leaves about 5 hours for housework, chores, and errands, and about 3 hours for anything resembling as fun. But it could be worse, right? After all, we have birthdays! And birthday treasures! And even if you don't like birthdays, you just have to love the treasures.

* The compact says, "Never underestimate the power of a woman." So true.

Some things

2010-08-11T16:00:00.000-07:00

Did I say free time? Did I set it down somewhere and forget where I put it? Did it escape out a window? At some point I will catch up.

Until then, a few things:

Greek Yogurt may be the best food ever invented. I am not kidding. It is better than ice cream. If I had a readily available supply of this stuff I would weight 500 pounds in roughly three days. It is second only to heirloom garden tomatoes. Which brings me to...
Heirloom tomatoes from the garden are the best food ever. Ours are not ready yet, but someone special brought some from California, and they made my week.
Water balloons, while extremely time consuming to fill, are BIG FUN for all involved, even if "involved" means "just watching."
You cannot make everyone happy all of the time, but you can make a ten year old very happy with a trampoline, a basketball hoop, and water balloons.
My daughter is spoiled, but it is not my fault.
Sitting in the shade, at a winery on a hill, sipping some good red is definitely on my list of top 10 places to be.
Steak Tartare is probably quite disgusting.

Home Stretch

2010-07-29T20:27:00.001-07:00

The Oregon Jamboree is this weekend. I can see the end in sight. Free time, here I come!

Counteracting the Mush

2010-06-27T14:23:00.001-07:00

So, I have been working pretty much around the clock, whether in my head, or on the computer, to finish two separate lines of retail t-shirts, tanks, and hoodies. My brain is feeling mushy. To counteract the mushiness, I cleaned the fridge. Does this make sense to anyone?

Raised Beds

2010-06-13T16:12:00.000-07:00

And here they are. The cause of much excitement around here. I watch the progress of the little beans, peas, and edamame with as much anticipation as Mary, Colin, and Dickon. My husband? He just likes to stand out in the yard, admire his handiwork, and talk about how great his raised beds look. I have to say, I agree.

***Progress***

Wine and Lakes

2010-06-08T17:54:00.001-07:00

This was meant to be a post about my new raised beds, but when I plugged in my camera, all I found were the finished pictures, and not the in-progress pictures. This is not what I had in mind.

I did come across these lovely photos of a perfectly lovely day my husband and I had just last weekend... or was it the weekend before? Anyway, a bit ago we went to the Chateau Lorane Winery for their art and wine festival. It was a warm day with just a bit of drizzle in the air. There were 25 different wines to try. We gave it our damndest, by skipping over the white entirely, savoring the reds, and finishing off with their extensive selection of meads and dessert wines. Then we were forced to sit by Lake Louise until our heads had cleared. This is Lake Louise. It was very strenuous.

An Exercise in Creativity

2010-05-24T17:06:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you just gotta get out the glitter and let the creative juices flow. Plus, we needed some coasters.

Studio Time

2010-05-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

Photo via the Daily Heller

So, undoubtedly I am late to the party, but have you seen Daniel Merriam's work? It is amazing, breathtaking, inspiring... and makes me want desperately to pick up a paintbrush. I don't think my family will mind if I take over the kitchen for my studio, do you?

The Only Terry Gilliam Movie I Have Ever Loved

2010-05-18T12:48:00.000-07:00

I want to love Terry Gilliam's films. They have everything: Quirky characters, witty bon mots, unique story lines, and interesting sets. Still, every time I sit down to watch, I find that I just... don't. Until now.

The truth is, of course, I am going to be biased towards anything with the word "imaginarium" in the title. Disregarding that for the moment, I have to tell you: The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnanssus is just gorgeous. It is everything that I have ever wanted in a Gilliam film, and have never been given. I may never forgive myself for missing it in Theaters. The set and costumes are so fantastic and multilayered that it is a small miracle that they don't overpower the characters. Plus, Heath Ledger, Johnny Depp, Jude Law, and Colin Farrell, all playing the same character. Can we just stop and think about that for a moment.

Ok, now that we are done with that. It is safe to say that even the 4 in 1 mysterious stranger did not diminish the other characters who were so mesmerizing as to appear larger than life even on my small screen.

This one is making the list.

Work Week

2010-05-17T19:04:00.000-07:00

I took some pictures at work to show you. Last week we were scrambling to finish a mini-line of firefighter tees for the Fire show in Portland. Here are a few of the works in progress.

A layer of white ink.

Add some color.

Voila! Fiery wings!

Walking

2010-05-13T17:11:00.001-07:00

A little bit of neglect can sometimes thrill me.

Corners of my Own

2010-05-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

I won't play catch up. Not today, though I have pictures from as far back as Easter that I took to show you, but then did not. Mildly ironic seeing how my first post ever was candy colored Easter eggs, 151 posts ago. Instead I will simply show you a few corners of my own. Little almost vignettes that have been making me smile lately. A few special 25 cent purchases from our morning yard sale foray. Yes, that is an aluminum needle gauge. Yes, I did plop down a quarter for that pamphlet of lacy crochet edgings because the cover is so perfectly lovely. Yes, I am very pleased with the color combination of my morning 75 cents well spent.

This last one is for Lynda, kindred spirit across miles of land and ocean. There are more in my collection, but I am only showing the most organized bit.

Most of All

2010-03-22T21:03:00.000-07:00

Spoiler alert. Kind of. If you are really sensitive about being told anything at all about a movie before you have seen it.

And these are the things I love Most of All about Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland:

#1 "You've lost your muchliness. You are not as... muchly, as you used to be"

#2 The clothes. Oh, Alice's clothes, and the way they seem to be effortlessly twisted from yards of lace, and ribbon, and cloth. If my own wardrobe could be similarly constructed, I should wear nothing but ribbons, satin, and chiffon all of the time.

#3 Anne Hathaway as the White Queen playing the White Queen. There are no words.

#4 Alice's hair. And I thought, if I actually got a haircut, and got up in time to style my hair, and by some miracle found just the right products, there is a remote possibility that my hair could actually look like that. This never happens. Usually, I just think, "Wow, they have great hair. My hair will never look like that."

Lucky

2010-02-28T15:46:00.000-08:00

You seriously have to love a man who cleans the kitchen AND makes coffee while you sleep in.

Showing Off

2010-02-26T17:39:00.001-08:00

This is just a little post for all of my non-ravelry readers (non-knitters) because I know they like a good reveal as much as the next person. These pictures are of a couple of projects that went of to a couple of favorite people in some little surprise packages. I know first hand the joy of opening up a package and thinking, " All of those stitches! For me?" and the joy of making each stitch just for someone special.

Silk Seed Stitch Cowl

Alpaca/Silk Ruffled Scarf

Wise Decisions

2010-02-15T13:14:00.001-08:00

Today dawned bright with promise and sunshine in the way that only a paid holiday really can. After a bit of cleaning and opening of the windows (I told you there was sunshine) I took a little walk around the yard. Even in the new light of early (very early) spring, the yard still looks very... wintery. The unwelcome mulch of leaves and brown plants covers mostly everything, and blackberries are slouching about all over the place. Windblown branches and bits of wood from the woodpile are strewn about in a most untidy way. The outdoors needs a bit of spring cleaning. I chose instead to enjoy the promising green buds pushing through the brown mulch. I chose to admire the way the sun (the sun!) made sparkles in the very green, albeit overgrown grass. Try not to judge me too harshly.

God, I love This Woman

2010-02-12T20:30:00.001-08:00

There are two bookstores in my little town. No small miracle considering the aforementioned lack of any decent grocery stores. However, both of these bookstores are really quite fabulous actually; one being full of stairs and nooks and attached to not only a really good bakery, but also to a pub. The other bookstore is neat and clean and extremely well organized, and it has a cat. Normally, I prefer my bookstores to be a bit more cluttered and filled with piles. You know, as if you never quite know what you might stumble upon. This bookstore has no clutter, but it has the redeeming feature of a wonderful proprietor. She is knowledgeable, and talkative, but not in an annoying way, and asks open ended questions that encourage you to talk, which may explain why she seems to know everything about every book, ever. I visited both stores today. I was looking for a cookbook, but as you might well imagine, Mastering the Art of French Cooking cannot be found for less than $40 anywhere. Go figure. I did however find The Big-Ass Cookbook (and Financial Planner)( It was filed in the cookbook section, and so was obviously not found at the well organized store) by Jill Connor Browne.

God, I love this woman. I do not think that I can begin to explain to you how this woman changed my life. Every time I read, or re-read one of her books I wonder how I lived without her. I am so, so relieved that when my best girl Cassi Mae said to me, "Go out tomorrow, and buy her book." I did it. And so should you. All of her books are perfect actually, but if you start out with, say, the Sweet Potato Queen's Book of Love, you will understand, for example, why everyone is called Tammy, which is kind of important. I always think that I will be able to explain why this woman has had such an impact on me, and thousands of other people, but I never can. You just have to read it for yourself. So go! Buy the Book of Love, or any other book you can get your hands on. You will not regret it.

What a Woman Wants

2010-02-06T15:29:00.000-08:00

So, not having seen the movie, I am reading Julie and Julia. I have heard that Amy Adams is saccharine sweet in the role of Julie, and I just want you all to know that the Julie in the book is not particularly sweet. She is in fact, very real, and dirty mouthed, and rather naughty. I like her a lot. She also has a fascination with Buffy the Vampire Slayer to which I can relate and as a result, all I want to do is sit and watch old Buffy episodes and knit. I have, at the moment exactly 5 projects that I want to be knitting. Simultaneously. And not for the first time it occurs to me how handy it would be to have eight arms like that goddess. Shiva, I looked it up. The Hindu goddess also called, "The Auspicious One." I'll take it.

Now we all know that what a woman wants is a supernaturally long life, unfading beauty, boundless funds, a beautiful man who is completely devoted to us, a loving family, and the ability to protect the ones we love from all harm, forever. Oh, and not having to sleep would be great too. We know this because of the seemingly infinite popularity of the Twilight series, not just with the screaming teen masses, but also with their mothers and aunties. Anyone who thinks this craze is all about that Pattinson kid is a moron. I dare them to read the last book of the series and tell me that Stephanie Myers didn't reach right into the female mind and dredge up her impossible dreams. But barring that, I'll take eight arms.

Sunny Day

2010-02-05T22:00:00.000-08:00

Today was a sunny day here in Oregon. It may not sound like much; but a sunny day in the middle of winter in Oregon is like a present all unwrapped, and we all walk around outside and smile at each other. So that is what we did. My sweet husband and I walked in the morning all over the town; drinking coffee, and talking. Then later, my little Maddie and I walked down for ice cream after school and I listened while she talked.

And we met a little girl in the park who was not really a little girl but instead was a mama, and she had two babies with her, one was 2 and the other only 1 year old. But she was so young. She was at that part where you are staying at home with your babies, and they are not in school yet, and all you do is just be a mom, and you don't really know how, and you can't remember how to do anything else, and it is precious and terrifying, and feels as if it will never end. But it does, too soon. She seemed lonely, and I wanted to be her friend, so that she would remember what it was like to be a person and a mama at the same time. And then I thought maybe she hadn't had much time to be a person yet anyway, being so young. Would that make it harder or easier? I am still not sure. But I have her number, and she has mine and we will see. Is that strange?

Overthinking

2010-01-31T14:52:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, I had a mocha after lunch and I wanted to post on Facebook how a mocha could make so many things better. Then I thought about how much suffering there is going on in there world at any given moment, and how a mocha could not make it all better. Then my mocha was just shallow. I did not post it.

On Thursday, I got a new office chair. It just about sent me through the roof. I was so excited. I wanted to post about my new office chair. But really, is that what I want people to know about me, and to think about when they see my face? An office chair? I didn't post it.

On Friday, I found the exact perfect outfit to wear that precisely fit my mood. Also, I sent off my subscription to Vogue knitting. Two small things. They made my day.

Today it was muffins. And sunshine. And muffins in the sunshine on the counter. Somehow, that didn't seem little, or silly, or shallow.

Moment

2010-01-24T15:26:00.000-08:00

My little girl climbed up on my lap today, all nine year old gangly legs, and put her arms around my neck, and just sat there. It was so sweet I almost over-cooked the steak in the oven because I just didn't want to move.

New Friends

2010-01-22T13:43:00.000-08:00

Gorgeous new yarn, meet new leather chair.

New leather chair was found at a junk shop and purchased for the price of a pillow. Gorgeous new yarn was purchased with with care at an online shop called knitpicks. I hope that you will become good friends, as we will all be spending a great deal of time together.

I just knew they would like each other.

I think that it is important when making introductions to include personal details. It shows consideration, and makes it cozier. Don't you think?

Blustery

2010-01-13T09:43:00.001-08:00

The view from my office window. I don't think it quite captures how very grey and blustery the day really is. I can hear the wind as if it were blowing through the building, and the light at 10 in the morning is twilight at best.

Can anyone else hear the word "Blustery" without singing Winnie the Pooh?

Belated

2010-01-12T20:15:00.001-08:00

Word of the Day*: Sanity

2010-01-11T21:26:00.001-08:00

*Life being what it is, sometimes we crave attainable challenges to keep us going. Last week we had the challenge of color. This week it is the word of the day, preferably with accompanying picture. The word being whatever you like, while the purpose of the picture may be to illustrate, illuminate, or it may be completely cryptic except in the mind of the author, causing us to draw our own conclusions, and therefore adding to the total quotient of creativity in our day. Don't forget to see Erin and Lynda for their word of the day, and feel free to join in. Just add your link in a comment box, and come play.

Silver

2010-01-10T12:26:00.001-08:00

Purple

2010-01-09T17:11:00.000-08:00

I went off to the 5th Street Market and forgot my camera. There were so many beautiful things there: purple and otherwise. Once at home again, I was forced to rush around the house looking for something purple. This is Prince, the purple frog.

Blue

2010-01-08T12:43:00.000-08:00

Green

2010-01-07T16:58:00.000-08:00

Yellow

2010-01-06T07:57:00.000-08:00

As far as the eye can see...

Orange

2010-01-05T18:07:00.001-08:00

New Year, new day planner.

Red

2010-01-04T17:50:00.000-08:00

Red. *A toast to the last evening of winter vacation, to the new year, and to the tiny, pretty bits that make a Sunday night at home as much as a Monday morning.

*Taken last night in preparation for the morning.

One More Day of Freedom

2010-01-02T16:00:00.001-08:00

A Good Start

2010-01-01T15:55:00.000-08:00

Sunshine in the morning! It has been a while. A morning walk (picture opportunities.) A haircut for my baby girl. A good workout in the afternoon. A blog post (!!!) and all before dinner.

Note to Self...

2009-12-31T16:23:00.000-08:00

...and anyone listening. Never grocery shop on New Year's Eve unless you can not possibly help it. Ever.

And Glitter

2009-12-28T19:47:00.001-08:00

Some more holiday crafting for Faraway Grandma who just adores crows (I know, but she does.)

A gratuitous glitter shot because everything would be prettier with more superfine glitter.

What it Looked Like

2009-12-27T15:24:00.000-08:00

You know what I like? I like that day after Christmas. But here is a little look at what happened before that. I will alternate between the cherry red lace, and the bottle green bulky, because that is what my days looked like leading up to Christmas.

Imagine just a hint of desperation and you will have it about right.

But I very much liked the part where they were blocked and wrapped, and handed off to their new owners. That part was very fun!

Soon to come: a sneak peek at some holiday crows and glitter.

And So it Goes

2009-12-20T23:46:00.000-08:00

My Weekend.

Christmas shopping. Frantic knitting. Sleep. Coffee. Frantic Knitting. Sleep. Coffee. Frantic Knitting. Sleep. Weekend over. Everyone ready for the work week?

Thank you! Thank you!

2009-12-16T18:01:00.000-08:00

Oh, oh oh! For me? For MEEeeeeee! Just for me, from Australia, just for me, for meee! I am SO lucky to have such a sweet and giving friend down under. Yes, yes I am. And I have this lovely string of hearts that now hangs in the living room in just the perfect spot, and every time I look at it I become giddy and I grin ear to ear, and I remember why I started blogging in the first place which is something that I have forgotten lately, because I have been busy and tired. But I cannot call her and tell her just how much I appreciate the reminder because it is 1 o'clock in the morning over there right now, and that would not be kind.

And oh, oh I have this beautifully knitted piece of art around my neck that this picture does no justice to because the lighting in my house is horrible everyplace except the kitchen right now, and how can the Little Colonnade be properly photographed in the Kitchen? I ask you. It cannot. But I must take a picture right now because it is is beautiful and lovely, and all of the stitches are perfect, and anyhow it does not belong in the kitchen, it belongs around my neck! So that is where it is, and where it will stay.

Question Posed

2009-12-12T12:57:00.001-08:00

Do you ever have those mornings where your life feels completely out of control in various minor, but personally significant ways; and you figure, "Maybe if I just clean something I will feel better?"

Day Off

2009-12-05T17:36:00.001-08:00

I won't say that I am back - after all, it is football season is not yet behind us. I will say however, that I am catching my breath. Our precious Ducks are Rose Bowl bound, and let's face it, if your own special design is not yet made, it is probably not gonna be.

Today is my one day off this week. But don't worry, I am making the utmost of it. I have slept in, worn pajamas in the daytime, caught up on my correspondence, blogs, and photo uploads; cleaned the house, and basked in the glow of the Christmas tree. (Side note: What a strange but essential tradition is paying to cut down a tree of the forest, to stick up in your living room and hang things from.)

I made Sugar Cookies, and had them for dinner. Yes, and last night was turkey and potato chips. That is how I roll right now. Next comes knitting up some more Christmas goodies... and maybe, I just thought of this one, maybe watching Love Actually.

Do I know how to spend a day off, or what?

Addendum: I just realized that I don't actually own Love Actually. Go rent it, you say? Did you not pay attention? I am wearing my pajamas!

Just a Peek

2009-11-24T20:43:00.000-08:00

I just got home from a very, very long day at work. I designed football shirts, I pulled football shirts off the dryer, I stacked shirts, and counted them. As thrilling as stacks of black and yellow t-shirts are, I did not get any pictures. Sorry. I ate dinner at 8:00, not my normal dinner time, I assure you, and I was starving. Tacos, if you are wondering. Posting, anything at all was the very last thing in my thoughts.

But my Knitpicks order arrived! It was right there waiting for me when I dragged myself through that door, and I knew that you needed just the tiniest peek. Beautiful stuff in alpaca, and silk, cotton, and wool; blues and greens, and purples; all squishy and cuddly, and just springing to be made into something lovely for Christmas. And it will be... just as soon as the football madness stops.

Swankity Cart Live!

2009-11-20T21:46:00.000-08:00

Ok, so not to completely eclipse my latest post, but the Swankity shopping cart just went live!!!

Check it out!

No Pictures. Just Words.

2009-11-20T21:07:00.000-08:00

So, football season.

I know. I have been silent for almost two weeks, and now I want to discuss football?! That is just so uncool. However, you will understand when I say that I am blaming football season for the absence. Or, maybe not.

Here is how it is. The life of a designer is not all fun and glamour. Sure, sometimes that elusive design suddenly works, and the world comes together in a moment of perfect harmony; but sometimes there is football season. In a college town. When that happens, and you are a designer at a screen print shop in said college town, there are helmets, and bowl logos, and trademarks, approvals from collegiate licensing; and all of this times ten before we have even won the game. And then we might not win, and none of the designs will be printed at all. Which is very anticlimactic. It makes me tired. And busy. So I have not been posting.

That is not to say that I have nothing to say. For example, I have very strong opinions about Robert Downey Jr. as Sherlock Holmes. It is wrong. For so many reasons. Don't even get me started on Jude Law as Watson. Did Guy Ritchie even read any of Sir Arthur Ignatius Conan Doyle's great works? Did he not read the basic descriptions of our heroes that was woven within each and every Holmes story?!

Or that I have not been doing anything worth posting. I have. I have been knitting. Where is the proof, you are probably asking. Here and there, sitting around, waiting patiently for the time to come when I am home during the daylight hours, and predisposed to take some pictures, and then load them onto the computer, and resize them, and wait for them upload. Now is not that time. I also spent several hours this evening shelling walnuts. No pictures of that either. Don't worry it was not very interesting, and only made my thumbs hurt. But now I have several nice bowls of shelled walnuts. I have also been working on some Swankity. There may be another post soon about that. Then again, there may not be. Football season is not over yet.

Treats

2009-11-13T08:27:00.001-08:00

We interrupt this regularly scheduled lack of broadcasting to bring you gnome babies in a bag, and pumpkin ice cream.

'Cause that's how we roll.

Luxury Part II

2009-11-07T14:52:00.000-08:00

Waking up late. Taking a walk with Mr. Husband in the last of the Autumn's leaves, and the last of the Autumn's sunshine. Coming home to a steak and eggs breakfast in a quiet house. Grocery shopping, carrying in the last bag as the raindrops begin to fall.

Making Lasagna in a warm house. Waiting. Waiting, for Erinjoy to arrive. Chattering through the jumbling piles of yarn for hours, culminating in gnomes and scarves. A brilliantly unforeseen phone call from overseas which had us turning somersaults.

Grown up hot chocolate. Why does cinnamon schnapps have gold flakes in it? Does anyone know? A mystery in the midst of so much perfection.

My Definition of Luxury

2009-11-06T18:37:00.000-08:00

My Day

Curling up in bed with my hubby at 8 in the morning, drinking coffee, and watching Dollhouse on Hulu. An empty house at 4 in the afternoon. Making pasta with asparagus and mushrooms just for me, then eating it on the couch while I read my Lucky magazine.

Denver Remix

2009-11-01T21:45:00.000-08:00

Having finished my self imposed project deadlines for the weekend at 9:30 this very night, I decided to finally have a look through my Denver pictures. Yes, Denver. An almost whole week there starting this last Thursday, and here you thought you knew everything about me. I have a few favorites!

Here is the view from the futon. Inconsequential perhaps, unless you know that this view is the view of my very own bestest friend as she sits talking to me on the phone when she is far, far away.

The view from the porch/balcony. Look, you can see the cash register building.

Some views of Denver's charms. One of these houses is built in a style called Vernacular Stick.

Everyone loves a sunburst, right?

No?

A few prerequisite pictures that you must take upon visiting Denver. It is in the rules.

As I See It

As I See It from below.

Lest you think I got blue skies the entire time, it does snow in Colorado.

Sometimes, a lot.

Let's Pretend

2009-10-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

Let's play pretend. Let's pretend that I did all of my work yesterday, and not this morning because yesterday I had no energy. And let's say that today was full of things like pumpkin cookies that were made in a leisurely manner, and had cream cheese frosting, and cat ears spiritedly put together on Halloween, instead of cat ears that were improvised at 7:00 last night because I almost forgot about dressing up for school. Though, we don't have to pretend about the turning out cute part, 'cause they really did, didn't they?

So, let's see... we have leisurely frosted cookies, and a relaxing morning with no work, let's throw in some knitting, and we won't even have to pretend about taking our adorable kitty on some neighborly trick or treating, or ending the evening with to hot soup and an old episode of Start Trek. That part was perfect just the way it was.

Blessed Oblivion

2009-10-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

What is it about a head cold, in any of its magnifications, that causes me to retreat into the relative oblivion of a book? I prefer a good book, a familiar book that I have visited before, and loved, and plan to visit again. There is something about being under the weather that allows me to experience a book in a particularity intense fashion. Last time it was Harry Potter... again. This time it is Pattern Recognition, definitely a step up the Literary Ladder, seeing as it ranks up there as perhaps my number one Favorite Book of all Time. Maybe it is simply that real life is so exhausting in this state, and unreal life can be properly appreciated.

Whatever it is, Pattern Recognition is where I will be until I snap out of it. There are pictures to be uploaded, and stories to tell of adventures in far off places with exotic people (Denver with friends) but they will just have to wait. This post took up all of my current energy supply.

Welcome Guest

2009-10-19T22:43:00.001-07:00

Oh, and this is Joe the class Hamster. He stayed at our house this weekend. I had a whole post about Joe, and running errands really quickly and returning just in time to pick him up at school. But I only wrote it in my head, and now it is gone, and it is too late anyway because that was Friday, and now it is Monday.

Not Plan A

2009-10-18T18:28:00.000-07:00

This weekend was all about Plan B. Plan A was to spend our special family Saturday at Lone Pine Farms with the pumpkins, and the goaties, and the tractors. Mid-freeway we were hit by a very wet downpour, and quickly announced Plan B. Now, before you start with the name calling and the "Oh you wussies!" please understand, that my sweet husband and I had already decided the previous evening, that Plan B was to be Where the Wild Things Are. You know, out of the rain, and in with the Wild Things. So, if part of me was maybe just looking for a really good excuse to skip the otherwise perfectly lovely pumpkin patch, you will just have to be understanding.

Where the Wild Things Are turned out to be quite perfect, according to me. Beautiful, and a little bit tragic in a life-is-like-that sort of a way. Loved. It.

Plus, it turns out that the grocery store has a really great selection of pumpkins, that are very authentic, and carve up beautifully. And apples for baking. Plan B ya know.

The Holy Grail

2009-10-15T21:01:00.000-07:00

Shopping for jeans is Hell. We all know this. You spend the entire day trying on every single pair of jeans in the entire mall, and you come home feeling tired, depressed, unsatisfied. Not a single pair looks as good on as the pair that you are actually wearing, which are threadbare, and have a hole in the crotch, and they don't make them anymore, or they changed the design and added SPANDEX. I swear there is not a pair of jeans in all 31 stores that does not have spandex, and if it does exist in the back of the women's department next to the granny panties, and the reason that it is there is because the waist of the jeans goes up to your nipples.

This being said, my primary shopping mode is thrifting, and while thrifting I have found many pairs of jeans, that I like and wear, a lot even... But! I have never found that perfect, that beautiful, that Holy Grail of favorite jeans.

The only place, that have ever found the perfect pair of jeans, is Buckle.com. I get a little quiver of relief just thinking about it. Buckle has roughly 1,000 separate styles of jeans for women alone. This may seem daunting. However, someone invented the most wonderful search engine and each category narrows your search, bringing you closer to possible perfection. Simply by choosing "non stretch" the choices jump from roughly 1,000, to exactly 131. I kid you not. Hit a button, and the jeans all flip over and show off their rear ends. That's right, so you can rule out all of the pants with those stupid flaps over the back pockets that will never again lie that flat, but will instead, curl up all over the place, and completely ruin your line.

My last pair of favorite jeans, succumbed last Thursday to a fatal hole, from which there is no return. Today, my new pair of favorite jeans arrived in the mail.

Unfortunately, I failed to realize that the 20 inch leg opening meant flare jeans, and I hate flare jeans. I have no one to blame but myself. Back they go, this time, remember to choose the 18" leg opening.

If this post seems shallow to you, slip into your favorite pair of jeans, or better yet, toss them out, and then you tell me.

Bonding and Stuff

2009-10-13T19:38:00.000-07:00

Possibly my favorite time of day is, "Mama and Baby Time." Me being "Mama," and my not so tiny fourth grader being "Baby." Mama and Baby Time was invented by me as a way to prevent my growing up too fast daughter from growing up without me. My "baby" being the social creature that she is, I oftentimes come home from the workaday, to find her on the phone. Let me tell you, if there is one thing my daughter likes to do, more than anything in the whole world, it is talk. She talks pretty much all of the time whether anyone is listening or not. You might be able to guess, that these phone conversations can go on indefinitely, and often do. This situation, and others (life being what it is) can get in the way of bonding moments. How are we ever going to develop a Gilmore like bond if I never even get to hear about her day?

Thus, the invention of M & B Time. It works like this: I walk in the door, and no matter what else is going on, we count to three and say, "Mama and Baby Time!" and then we run and cozy up on whatever bed happens to be made, and she gets to talk, and tell me about... whatever she wants. That is the deal. And I listen. For 5 minutes. Sometimes it goes longer, but I am guaranteed 5 whole minutes, and so is she.

This precious time of the day is important. It makes up for crazy schedules, and the moods of 9 year olds, which can make supposed to be precious moments like tuck-in time into well, that really sucked moments instead. But never mind about my night. How was yours?

Yes, the photo is a complete non-sequitur. Don't mind me.

Pretty, but Not So Eloquent

2009-10-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my friend Kala the Great was having an art show opening in Florence, at a little shop called Silver Linings. Seeing this as a brilliant excuse to drive the two hours to the coast we hopped in the car and drove. While we drove the windy roads through the glorious weather, with the blue skies, and the changing leaves, I remember thinking thoughts of what I would write about the day. I thought about how I really should have gotten my oil changed before we made the trip, and how I would have to do it today. I though many things, but anything that was really and truly interesting seems lost to me. Of course, when we arrived home from our lovely little adventure, when the words were still fresh in my head, I was far to tired to do much more than rinse off the sand, and crawl into bed.

But! I do know, that the show was great (Kala has that art show opening thing down ) it will be there all month, so stop by if you are in the neighborhood. The beach was perfect for kite flying, if only we had a kite. For some reason unknown to me there were jellyfish scattered here and yon on the beach. Why is that, does anyone know? At the very end there was an inky black evening, of twisting road to travel home, but before the end there was clam chowder. Clam Chowder is sort of a prerequisite to a good day on the beach, I think.

The Magic Word

2009-10-09T09:49:00.001-07:00

We have been having the most wonderful Fall weather; cold foggy nights, and crisp blue sky days like an apple cold off the tree. I have been fiercely craving carrot cake, and not just the eating, but the stirring and baking of it.

I have 5 or 6 projects on my knitting needles, or at least in my queue, and a Knitpicks order is brewing. Unfortunately, too few of these projects will become crafty posts as many are holiday surprises. Perhaps a post Christmas unveiling. I have the urge to carve a pumpkin, and scoop out one for Maddie too. I want to collect red leaves, and wear scarves. Of course, I always want to wear scarves, so that hardly counts, but still. There are a million little ideas and wishes brewing around and giving me butterflies in my tummy. I know I am not alone. I do truly love this time of year.

Website updates

2009-10-05T20:31:00.001-07:00

A few updates to the katielizabeth website. Specifically to the screen print section. (Slowly but surely) Please check it out, an tell me what you think.

View From the Couch

2009-10-04T13:50:00.001-07:00

Quite peacely according to me, which is quite important as I do spend a fair bit of time here.

This is Samantha the cat (aka Sammy) who is by all measures, a complete Scaredy Cat and would not last 2 minutes outside. In personality she is most like Jenny-Any-Dots, though I doubt if she would be brave enough to teach the rats to sew. As a house cat she is quite satisfactory, as she likes nothing more than a good lap sit. She has learned that I am not the most satisfactory candidate for such sitting as I am still only when knitting. She has not learned the term "no room" nor has she learned the value of feet-sitting where she would actually be useful. Unlike on my lap in the middle of my yarn.

In Recent News

2009-10-02T14:59:00.000-07:00

Today we started the first fireplace fire of the season, and while the house may be just a tad toasty, it is oh so cozy. I think cookie baking may be in order.

I walked to the school to pick up Maddie, and wore the scrumptious red hooded coat that you may remember from this post. It was sprinkling, so I got to walk jauntily along with the hood up, and the air smelled like rain on asphalt, and wool.

Do Ya?

2009-10-01T17:40:00.000-07:00

Do you ever just feel like,

Coloring outside the lines?

Portrait of a School Yard

2009-09-25T19:21:00.001-07:00

Late Summer nights.

The smell of cedar chips.

Lights in the dusk.

The crunch of asphalt.

Walks in the dark.

High Fashion

2009-09-24T18:39:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I don't normally do posts like this. I like to create content more than regurgitate it. However, in honor of Fashion week, and all of the fabulous blog postings, and photographs that have followed it, I just have to say:

This girl is so much cooler at 13, than I will ever be in my whole entire life. Ever.

STYLE ROOKIE

Guilty

2009-09-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

Ginny Branch Stelling cheekily posted a list of her own guilty pleasures, and dared us her readers to join her in confession. Gamely, I racked my brain, and even called in reinforcements. I discovered that I allow myself very little guilt for my simple pleasures. In fact, as I've read the multiple lists that followed the post, I found myself wanting to add many to my own list, and roll around in the guilt, "until my fingers get all pruney."* I've never actually had Prosecco, but I just know that I would enjoy drinking it while cleaning house.

Check out her list, catch a glimpse of mine, and and pretty please, show us yours too. I'm dying for some scandalous new ideas.

Pretend

2009-09-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Spending the morning watching I Put a Spell on You in Lula mag, put me in a frantically creative sort of mood. If summer could be the dreamy, couture fairy tale depicted in Spell I think I'd like summer all year long. So, while I tried to finish 3 knitting projects at once, my husband organized music on his computer, my sister did crosswords on the couch, and Maddie played some sort of imaginary game about Garfield which involved crawling around on the floor in a peach tank top, and little gloves with a scarf hanging out of the back of her pants.

I love that when she plays imaginary games, she often says, "I just wanted to know what it would be like," as if the whole pretending experience was a form of learning something completely. What would it be like to be, say, Garfield the cat... think I'll find out. Often she will say something to me that is completely out of character, and then she will laugh, and say, "I just wanted to know what it would be like to say that."

Note

2009-09-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

We did leave the house. However, I really don't think that a spontaneous family jaunt to the last chance dollar theater to finally catch Up could be considered a chore. Do you? It was lovely, and of course, I cried through the entire film.

Then, that scratchy feeling that had been tickling my throat for the past 24 hours went out, and brought back some friends. So now Achy Muscles, and Tired Body have joined Scratchy Throat, and I think that they are having a party. Apparently, they did not get the message that I was already intending to rest this weekend. They had to conspire together to make sure of it. Poo on them. I guess we will have to see if chicken soup, couch rest, and some old episodes of Star Trek Next Gen. can scare them off.

List-less

2009-09-18T17:28:00.000-07:00

Ahhh! The weekend. I have been waiting for this day since Monday! Sooo good. Today, I walked my little girl to school, and then I came home, got back in bed and did not open my eyes until noon. Sheer bliss. Shall I tell you what I have on my to-do list this weekend. Not a damn thing, that's what. It feels heavenly. I have stuck a few things on there, just in cases. I may get them done. I may not.

I have already done the grocery shopping. Something I hate. Have I mentioned that? This hatred may be made worse by the fact that our little town has boiled itself down to one grocery store. Safeway. I have nothing against Safeway, exactly, but a little heathy competition is good for the soul. Not only are the obvious things like selection and price affected, but can I just mention that the place is crowded ALL of the time? But that is done for the week... possibly for the next 2 weeks. We'll see. So, I may not have to leave the house at all.

Clean a little, craft a little, snuggle on the couch? Yes, please.