by hand at home

birthday party

2012-02-12T13:10:00.000-08:00

happy four years old!

2012-02-07T07:43:00.000-08:00

colden turns four years old today!

this moment

2012-01-13T11:59:00.001-08:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

this moment

2011-12-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

happy birthday hannukah

2011-12-25T09:52:00.000-08:00

as azie celebrates her one year birthday, happy celebrations of the season to you and yours!

yarn along - knitted animals

2011-12-14T11:14:00.000-08:00

i have the knitted animals book from the library again and i've made two creatures for little christmas gifts. a big squirrel and a little piglet!

this moment

2011-12-09T06:34:00.000-08:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

staged halloween

2011-12-06T14:24:00.000-08:00

yes, i am still lingering in october now that it is december. please excuse my tardiness, and appreciate the cute halloween photos. when colden requested to be a tiger, we thought we needed some help with costume-making. the tiger mask was an etsy purchase by kathleen.

azalia didn't dress up for halloween itself, but she posed for some pictures in colden's old sweater costume (sheep turned bear/cat). hope you all had a very merry halloween and a happy thanksgiving!

tricky treats

2011-10-27T19:23:00.000-07:00

my former housemate, christine choi, used to do this to our clementines. i think this year the kids might get mandarins.

little zippered pouches

2011-10-20T13:49:00.000-07:00

this fabric waited a long time to become zippered bags! i got this wonderful embroidery pattern of st. francis from a garage sale, and i've been using the wool thread for various projects. i was inspired to use the linen with the pattern on it for the outside of the bag, and there is a sweet woodsy mushroomed fabric inside. i love using fabric i've kept for so long! it is such a great feeling. do you tend to keep special materials squirreled away for extra special projects as-yet-to-be-seen?

a pixie for azie

2011-10-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

i used the lyalya pattern for this pixie hat. it is almost the same exact pattern as the stella pixie hat. the only difference is the neck bit.

i used some of heather's beautiful yarn for this. such a joy! the question remains: will she keep it on? what have you been knitting this fall?

waldorf doll - reconsidered

2011-10-04T20:27:00.000-07:00

remember this doll?

i made this doll for colden while i was pregnant with him. i rolled the wool of the head with painstaking precision, and each bit of the doll was sewn by hand. i made the hair long thinking it could be a girl or a boy....

but i finally cut his hair afterall. the pristine doll i made before i had children? not the doll that actually lives with children. and for azalia?

a little recycled pajama pants doll. (and i used the machine).

moments

2011-07-18T19:59:00.000-07:00

i would like to let this space rest for the moment. we are seeing friends and family new and old. summer is so busy!

this moment

2011-06-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

life is precious.

yarn along - snug

2011-06-15T20:26:00.000-07:00

oh hello there! please forgive my absence. i have been thinking a lot lately - down rabbit-holes and 'meaning-of-life' questions and such. for instance: i think i've finished this sweater. although you can probably tell that it is small, even without the buttons. so i am considering adding a band to the edge (though how would i do that, i wonder? and would i like that?). or perhaps it would be best to pass it on to a little one who can actually wear it in the here and now? or i should pack it in a box to store if i should ever be so lucky as to have another child? grandchild? great-grandchild? what do you think? meaning of life? sweater?

posing baby

2011-05-27T05:44:00.000-07:00

azalia is now five months old, and has recently grown her first two teeth! she can also roll from her back to her belly.

and she enjoys being photographed on this quilt. what can i say? i can't help myself! the baby! the quilt! (handmade by stephinie - excited best wishes to you for squam!)

i have an entire set of these, and there will surely be more. hope you enjoy them as much as i do.

belated birthday love

2011-05-25T21:19:00.000-07:00

we celebrated marc's birthday last week, and colden and i worked together on this lovely party banner. (thanks to marc's mother for the sewing time! - and for bringing marc into the world and all.)

colden and i worked together on these papa props too. the facial expression is key. hot glue + recycled wool + sticks = mustaches! several styles, of course! we love you, papa!!!

the fox diaries

2011-05-18T00:11:00.000-07:00

i am very excited to share 'The Fox Diaries' here with you today. yes, it merits capitalization. so does Valarie Budayr. perhaps you already know that she is a magical story weaver? her piece in the rhythm of the home, 'the fairy loom', truly captivated me. it also had me asking her when she would be publishing her own books. (i would be remiss to omit her other contributions, but there are so many!)

thanks to the little fox family that took up residence in her garden last year, that day has come to pass. i love how Valarie has created both a playful and factual account of the foxes. she both captures their spirit, and gives insight into their world. thanks to her generosity, i am pleased to offer a giveaway copy here. (you may also purchase a copy here with 15% off, by entering the coupon code: foxes.) please leave a comment for a chance to win! (comments accepted through 5/22).

"Throughout the year The Fox Diaries will be making it's way across the country and around the world. The whole idea is for people to feel connected not only to each other but to our magnificent planet as well. These little foxes did that for me. Gone were the barriers between myself and the natural world. It was through them that I realized that we all share this planet and no separation exists except for the division and thoughts in my mind. During this very magical and enchanted time, our worlds melded together. It is a sincere wish that the foxes continue their daily life lessons by connecting all of us." - Valarie Budayr

edited to add: the random number generator selected #11. congratulations to mary! i will send your e-mail address along to valarie right away! thanks to everyone who commented!

trajectory of a clover bouquet

2011-05-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

colden picked a bouquet of crimson clover yesterday, and asked me to put them in water. i did. then he spread them out all over the table, took a sprig to the front window, and removed its leaves.

he also dissected some on the couch (and in the bedroom on the bed). and he put a flower in azalia's pocket too. i mostly stayed out of it.

at the end of the day, he returned the flowers to the table and arranged them in their jar again. lovely. have you visited erin's imagination in action flickr pool? erin created this as a way of looking at messes differently and appreciating our children's creativity. i have been enjoying capturing images to contribute, and seeing other imaginative creations!

p.s. be sure to come back tomorrow for an exciting giveaway!

mind games: loving life

2011-05-13T14:38:00.000-07:00

more thinking on messiness...

i am enjoying erin's 'a year of choice.' (let's make it a lifetime, shall we?) and yes, i choose to see the beauty of the messes - life, fully lived and loved.

ever since reading meg's post here about setting up a water station and striving for neutral reactions to our children's “mistakes”, i have had a heightened awareness of my own reactions. but i have not been able to change my own responses as well as i would like.

do you know louise hay? i knew i could turn to her for an endless supply of positive affirmations, and sure enough, she provides them here daily.

and you know what i found? what it all comes down to? me. so. i make mistakes. i make messes. i am not perfect. how human of me. despite that, here is my new mantra:

“i love and accept myself.” (thank you, louise.)

yes, mothering messes and all.

p.s. other strategies (besides radical, adamant self-acceptance) to include these mind tricks: seeing messes as a political act (reducing unrealistic expectations of homemakers - example: from 'spiritual tasks of the homemaker': "...her bad conscience plagues her, for her ideal is unachievable."), and also, asking the magical people (house-elves and whatnot) for assistance. love to you, mamas.

yarn along - still snug

2011-05-11T18:41:00.000-07:00

still not quite done, but i think it will still fit! - there's always the cool summer nights, right? oh, and the oregon beach! i just had to try it on azie (rhymes with daisy) to give me that extra adorable encouragement.

we are so enjoying 'the fox diaries' by valarie budayr. i've noticed fox names popping up in colden's stories, and he wants to know how we can 'get foxes'. please come by next wednesday, may 18th, when i will be hosting a giveaway for a copy! thanks, ginny, for the yarn along inspiration! now i am wanting to pick up that baby surprise jacket too!

p.s. thanks for the thoughtful comments on my last post - more thoughts on this to come...

mandalas, mess, mothering

2011-05-10T18:48:00.000-07:00

i almost always want to apologize when someone enters my house. i see all the things that need doing; the dog hair, the piles, the unfinished business...but when i enter your house? i see beauty. even in the dirty dishes, i swear.

sometimes i fancy myself a tibetan monk; creating exquisite sand mandalas that are to be purposefully swept away. perhaps i could adopt a similar healing rite for when my work is undone? photographing a clean sink or a floury boy helps my perspective and gives me validation. but i'd love to replace "i just cleaned that!" with something a little more profound. bless this mess doesn't really cut it. any ideas?

happy mother's day!

2011-05-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

the best mother's day post.

this moment

2011-05-06T07:05:00.001-07:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

you are beautiful

2011-05-05T14:17:00.000-07:00

when we lived in chicago, there were various 'you are beautiful' art installations around the city. they always always made me smile. a true and good reminder. our big front picture window afforded me the opportunity of seeing neighbors walk by and read. i also drew a hopscotch there. i felt such delight and joy when i saw people jump. i can never resist jumping, how about you?

namaste.

yarn along - horsing around

2011-05-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

we finished the blue horse! (actually, i still haven't sewed his belly up completely...). incidentally, there is an excellent album of the same name.

since he is a little under-stuffed, he sits up quite nicely...we also cut up some felted sweaters to make a little pasture for him. complete with pond and hay bales. (joining the yarn along, minus the books today.)

first harvest - radishes

2011-05-03T14:01:00.000-07:00

for some reason it hadn't occurred to me to wash our veggies outside - of course! we harvested (and replanted) some radishes this morning, and washed them up right in the grass. colden enjoys the hose so much. lola enjoyed some radish-infused water.

we like to cook them up in various meals, or grate them for salad. i've been thinking of making some radishy krauts this year too. what's your favorite way to eat radishes?

happy may day!

2011-05-02T14:19:00.000-07:00

this moment

2011-04-29T22:07:00.000-07:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

egg hunt

2011-04-25T20:38:00.000-07:00

our birds have been keeping a secret nest.

we finally found it in the yucca plant.

since there were 25 eggs in there, all of unknown age;

marc and colden did some experimental natural dying.

and then i hid them. twice.

and then colden hid them. twice.

this moment

2011-04-22T11:09:00.001-07:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

simple, natural egg dying

2011-04-20T11:21:00.000-07:00

i have been seeing naturally dyed eggs of different varieties all over. i wanted to do some, but i needed it to be super easy! these onion-skin-wrapped eggs were incredibly simple, and a great morning snack!

wrap eggs in onion skin with rubber bands.

place in pot and boil. (i know everyone's got their own method for boiling eggs! i wait til the water boils, then turn it off and let them sit 10 minutes before running them under cold water to cool.)

unwrap to reveal your treasures!

aren't they lovely? i am amazed at how wonderfully quick and easy and gorgeous these came out! the one that is more yellow was less well-wrapped i think. we might try it again, if our white-egg-laying chicken cooperates.

simplicity: reduce v. recycle

2011-04-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

at present, as the title implies, reduce and recycle seem to be at odds for me. it doesn't have to be this way, i know. but since i began using recycled materials for crafting, i have acquired a significant "stash" of materials - wool sweaters and scrap both. not only this, in my effort to do good by the planet, i have saved every last little yarn clipping - for stuffing and whatnot.

recycled ornament - on etsy

then there's the old sock pile. i can make recycled sock dolls, but i have more holey socks than i can make dolls of in a lifetime. i just can't bear to throw them away. they do have potential. they could be recycled... (i am reminded of this article on japan from 2005. i wish we had 44 categories of recycling.)

profits from this sale will go to aid in japan

but most of it? well, i am just plain not using it. (and it might not even be of a nice enough quality to use.) after reading simplicity parenting, andrea really hit the nail on the head here: i have to declutter my clutter for the rest of the house to follow. i made the decision recently to let a lot of it go. back to goodwill, and even *gulp* to the garbage. i found organized simplicity helpful for this as well: "is it beautiful? useful?" and "can i easily acquire it again if i need it?" moreover, if i don't love it... do i want it in my life?

p.s. those of you with a waldorf leaning might also find this article of interest: http://www.waldorflibrary.org/Journal_Articles/GW4503.pdf

p.p.s. this post has been inspired by the simplicity parenting book club over at clean.

p.p.p.s. more links: this one on how too much information stresses your brain and decision-making ability. this one on being well read v. the impossibility of such. ironically, both linked through facebook.

open shop

2011-04-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

sooo, in order to remain a member of pdx etsy, i need to have at least eight items listed in my shop by april 30th. i can do that.

but they may be a little out of season. (don't worry, i've got a few other ideas in the works too!)

natural teething remedies

2011-04-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

i often see mamas asking around for natural teething remedies, and frankly, nothing is a complete solution. however, i have gathered some useful pieces of advice from the mothering communities and my herbalist. here they are:

teething tea : i use equal parts lemon balm, chamomile and catnip. these herbs help soothe the nerves and the tummy discomfort that can occur from additional acidic saliva. 1 tbsp of this blend per 8 oz. water, steeped 5-10 min. (be sure to take the herbs out after steeping because chamomile tastes icky after sitting in water for a while.) my first born preferred this tea warm on a washcloth, but you can also cool it or make it into ice cubes. see what your baby likes best. breastfeeding mamas: all the herbal constituents will pass through your breastmilk, so drink copious amounts!

teething oil : castor oil blended with essential oils of roman chamomile, myrrh, and clove. to be used externally only, rubbed along the jawline and neck. these are all very potent oils, so use only a drop of each in a large amount of oil. test on yourself before using on baby, and try a small patch test the first time.

other things to try include: baltic amber teething necklaces (avaliable on etsy and other natural parenting sites), homeopathic chamomilia (these come in liquid form or tablets, but note that they usually do contain dairy), and time. this too shall pass!

any other natural teething remedies you would recommend? i forgot to mention, our friend and natural rubber toy/chewing aid sophie la girafe! (our poor dogs still love her squeak!)

eta (edited to add): i wrote this post quickly after signing up for bamboo magazine and seeing the question posed in the community there. looks like an exciting new resource!

hand to heart

2011-04-07T13:46:00.000-07:00

a little handwork by colden here. he called it 'fishes'. when he showed it to papa he said, "it's a heARTwork." papa and i were both so filled with love. and then, remembering, he said "by hand to heart." i taught him earlier to measure his thread. like this:

see? this is how we showed the children to measure their yarn and thread in handwork. one hand on your heart, the other extended out. "hand to heart." i had never learned it myself until waldorf school introduced me. inevitably, i would use too much or too little, but hand to heart is usually the perfect length. plus by using your own body, you get a sense of when deviation might be necessary, i think. nice, huh?

this moment

2011-04-01T09:01:00.001-07:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

yarn along - horse

2011-03-29T14:27:00.000-07:00

i finished twelve by twelve (loved it!) and passed it on to marc. i've barely cracked tolle, and moved into the continuum concept. this morning we began knitting a horse together from scraps. i intended to use a hodge podge of colors and make a rainbow horse (as teaching handwork suggested). i was also inspired by elizabeth zimmermann - who would pull a yarn color at random when making baby surprise jackets and go with the flow. but apparently, i am not quite there yet. this one will be variations on blue. i have checked knitted animals out from the library many, many times, and i requested better late than early after rachel's recommendation.

on blogging

2011-03-27T19:45:00.000-07:00

sometimes this seems like tricky business. how much to share here in the big world wide web? in truth, the connections i've made have been incredibly powerful. i really appreciate how much others have shared, and reading other mamas' experiences has enriched me so. finding my way (as a parent especially) continues to be an amazing journey, and i am grateful to have so many positive places to turn for inspiration.

double rainbow over portland this weekend, photo by marc

when i connected with kimberly online, i was drawn to her blog's simple style. as i read more, i found we had much in common. not least of which: we both live in portland. i kept thinking, shouldn't we meet? and then i read this. and i read molly's posts about her friendship sparked online. and after i saw among comments that kimberly was looking to check out a book i have on my shelves, and then she mentioned wanting to try our pear cake... it only made sense. come on over!

bib from kimberly, colden has worn for every meal since gifted

i sent kimberly an e-mail, would she and her boy be up for a play date? yes! we didn't have the ingredients to bake another cake afterall, but we did pop some popcorn and make some herbal tea. we revealed a bit of the messiness i generally edit out of most posts, and kimberly graciously complimented our home. it was so very lovely to meet in person. to find even more connection. to shake some of the invisible world wide web walls up a bit.to be vulnerable.

this moment

2011-03-25T06:50:00.000-07:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

yarn along - springiness

2011-03-23T13:24:00.000-07:00

it seems i do best on assignment - yarn along being a good bet. there's always yarn and books around. even when not much progress is being made in either. i just started twelve by twelve last night and love it already. the homemaking books i also wish to pull some quotes from, but time being of the essence... colden is napping some days, some days not. on days he does not, he has a bath instead. miraculously, this is one of those times and azalia is also sleeping. i am still knitting away at that sweater. pictured here are some promised (and overdue) woolly eggs.

this moment

2011-03-18T08:03:00.000-07:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

baking day

2011-03-14T14:40:00.000-07:00

we've made julia's pear cake twice now, with heavy modifications. both times it has been extremely forgiving and extremely delicious. thanks, julia! i used a full can of coconut milk for both the milk and yogurt, melted coconut oil for the butter, and 1/2 c. honey instead of sugar.

i ran off to nurse azalia mid-baking, and a flour-y little boy found me. this is what i found in the kitchen. behold, the wonder of youth.

yarn along - this and last

2011-03-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

this is last week's yarn along photo technically. and i wrote this yesterday, but it's almost tomorrow now that i'm posting. regardless - i am still working on the same thing.

as far as books: i have really appreciated book recommendations around the internets. i love looking at those sidebars of books and i've been thinking about putting one up here too. do you like them?

as far as this particular stack: i was waiting for, and looking forward to - 'the help' for a long time after andrea recommended it. i think i was hold 157 of 400 copies initially? it was fantastic. i picked up 'carrots love tomatoes' from ginny's post. and now on my stack is 'the sweetness at the bottom of the pie' thanks to stephanie. oh, and 'trucks go' may be colden's favorite book thus far (i like it too - that helps!).

rhythm of the home - spring!

2011-03-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

i love this photo. taken by colden (age 3!). (isn't that a nice sweater?) and there are a few more lovely photos i've been wanting to share over on flickr, including this one:

two months old! can you believe it? if you have more time for lovely-looking, please visit the newest edition of rhythm of the home. i'm so pleased to be included. and i would so love to see any woolly nests or woolly eggs you make!

this moment

2011-02-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

the promised fox

2011-02-24T06:21:00.000-08:00

i mentioned a while back that colden had requested a fox friend. well, i finally made good. he was finished the day after colden's birthday (which i think counts since we were still doing the happy-birthday-singing, candle-lighting, cake-eating thing).

he was a little trickier to sew than the otter, since he has more parts. like a head. i hand sewed his head on from the inside of his body before it was sewn up, and that took the most engineering. the tail is so fun, and makes it so he can actually sit up!

he was made from a recycled pendleton wool jacket, and in a stroke of last-minute quick thinking i used the corners of the collar for the ears. i really love how he turned out, and i think he got colden's otter of approval. i'm linking up with julia's sewing bee today! go see what others are up too!

yarn along

2011-02-23T07:03:00.000-08:00

i'm still working on that little baby sweater. i've been reading bits and pieces of all of these, but none of them in their entirety. they all are worthy of fuller attention (knitting included)! so what are you knitting? join ginny's yarn along, or see what everyone else is up to!

back to the clothesline!

2011-02-21T14:34:00.000-08:00

bedsheet on the line

and inside the bedsheet

a secret hideout

we make it sail

now back to tractoring

happy president's day + monday from our little urban homestead!

how to sew a magnetic fishing set

2011-02-17T06:59:00.000-08:00

or at least how i did it... you can also buy washer shaped magnets (with a hole in the center). those could be sewn onto the inside body of the fish with a few stitches. or you could even use a large washer in the fish's nose (and just have a magnet in the worm). i put round magnets in both the fish and the worm. and i wanted them to stay in the fish's nose so i sewed them into little pockets.

magnet completely stitched into two layers of thin recycled wool.

i put the encased magnet in between the nose of my blanket-stitched fish.

...and continued stitching around nose through all four layers of wool

(inner covered magnet and outer pieces of wool).

then, finish stitching all the way around leaving a small opening to stuff with wool. use a small dowel to move wool into ends. and stitch closed!

same thing for the worm. all important: finding the perfect fishing pole (i.e. stick).

more to share too! it's just taken me over two weeks to write this post! i'm belated-ly linking up with julia's sewing bee thursdays.

yarn eating book reading baby

2011-02-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

my cute sleeping baby awoke mid-photo! yarning along today...

three years old

2011-02-07T13:38:00.000-08:00

i can never get enough of his smile,

his pure-bliss energy,

and his fine appreciation for the littlest things.

today colden is three years old, and we have been celebrating all weekend. (i'll share more on birthday crafts later!)

this moment

2011-02-04T09:03:00.000-08:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

blanket stitch magnetic fish

2011-02-03T08:51:00.000-08:00

here's a peek at my birthday gift for colden. he'll be three(!) on monday, and we'll be celebrating this weekend! (since julia's collecting sewing inspiration on thurdays, i thought i'd share.)

drool-worthy

2011-02-01T20:37:00.000-08:00

i just had to share these gorgeous bibs that andrea sent us. and speaking of gorgeous...

p.s. typing one-handed! forgive my relative quiet-ness here and in comments!

stay-on baby booties and bonnets

2011-01-27T06:15:00.000-08:00

i hope you will indulge a bit of a story with these booties. i'd finished just about every little thing in preparation for our new arrival, but she hadn't come yet... so, i knitted *just one more* pair of booties. my mother posited that i could bring labor on by making plans i was really excited about (and would have to cancel). so, i told marc i was going to go get more of this yarn for a hat at the yarn shop the next day. luckily, they were open on christmas eve...but azalia actually arrived before the store even opened!

the idea of the bonnet grew on me. i had knitted the same one for my friend's little girl (whose birth i attended) before marc and i had children. it turned out that i had just enough yarn left over to make it! also - it turned out huge! colden graciously agreed to model it.

along with some other treasured baby hand-me-downs, the original bonnet i knitted for my friend was passed on to azalia. with room to grow.

sling baby

2011-01-23T22:53:00.000-08:00

thank you, sweet baby, for settling into slinging. look! now i can craft and take self-portraits too, all the while keeping that little one close.

this moment

2011-01-21T06:39:00.000-08:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

gratitude and good things

2011-01-16T08:00:00.000-08:00

thank you so very much, heather, for the utterly gorgeous yarn! i am already enjoying dreaming up what it might become... for more good things, check out stephinie's 365 flickr pool and this affirming post from sarah.

p.s. i am working on changing over my flickr account - from byhandathome to by hand at home.

this moment

2011-01-14T08:06:00.000-08:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

yarn along - finished projects!

2011-01-05T07:33:00.000-08:00

i almost posted this in-progress picture two wednesdays ago for the yarn along, but i was feeling too disconnected. i had truly expected our baby to come on the 21st, or even the 20th. so - i tried to channel my energies into knitting. after all, i wouldn't have too much time for such pursuits once the little one arrived, right?

turns out, the past week has been a lovely holiday. having papa home after azalia's arrival gave me time to read and knit while resting and snuggling on the couch.

i was even able to finish up these gorgeous mittens! however, i am not ready to venture outside in the freezing weather just yet...

baby-mooning

2010-12-31T12:28:00.000-08:00

thank you a million times over for all of the lovely and sweet comments on our new baby girl!!! we have seriously been eating them up, and genuinely appreciate each and every one. hope you all are experiencing multitudes of joy - now, and into the new year!

happy christmas!

2010-12-25T11:14:00.000-08:00

born at home on christmas eve

azalia sparrow

happy solstice

2010-12-22T17:03:00.000-08:00

more happiness to come - hopefully in the very near future. apparently our solstice babe has another date in mind.

weekend fun

2010-12-19T18:52:00.000-08:00

rainbow window stars

cinnamon applesauce ornaments

above and below - photos by marc

hope you had a lovely weekend!

more merry-making

2010-12-17T13:39:00.000-08:00

i still have lots of things on my to-do lists, but i recognize that the baby could come whenever it so chooses. this means i have to be okay with letting the lists slide. packages are either mailed, wrapped, or left to the fates as to whether or not they will be finished. i have been able to eek out a few more things though...

these have now been through the wash once - a few more times, and then i am hoping to sew a little leather on the bottoms.

and this came together overnight! i have some better shots of colden modeling it, but isn't this photo festive? on the list for this weekend: a 'practice' filling of the birth tub, and maybe some last belly pictures? i am really hoping the baby will be born on the solstice (yet i am trying to remain open to the mystery). all *positive* wishes and thoughts welcomed and appreciated!

toolbox

2010-12-16T10:46:00.000-08:00

in my craft showing, i finally got it together and put all my tools in this handy basket. i'd had them scattered around the house according to project type: sewing things together, knitting/crochet things together, and then the inevitable - scissors in every high up and forgettable spot all over. the handy bandanna tie allows me to leave it on the floor safe from little hands too.

i tidied up this top tray before taking a picture. in working, it sort of becomes a jumble. but, at least it is all together where i need it! and it sure does look pretty now. i tagged it all up in flickr if you're curious about the details of what's here.

i did not make this underbelly area look pretty for a photo, but usually i would try to have it organized with pieces of felt, yarn, recycled wool stuffing, and other projects-in-progress. then i'd add in anything else i might need: pens, hole puncher, extra paper for signs, etc. it has really helped my tendency to craft all over the place! and it gives the illusion that i am organized. do you have any tricks to keep it together?

cuckoo

2010-12-15T21:11:00.000-08:00

i had forgotten how gorgeous this cuckoo clock is. after colden was taken with my parents' cuckoo clock on our visit to iowa this fall, they promised to send me 'the old one'. i thought it would be fun to save for one of our holiday-type gifts, and i'm completely taken with it.

pillowcases for solstice

2010-12-13T21:29:00.000-08:00

i love the tradition of solstice pajamas, but this year we really needed pillows. long, long ago, i saw tara mention that she had gotten a toddler pillow for her daughter on etsy. i knew we wanted non-foam pillows, and i found these amazing handmade pillows filled with buckwheat hulls. (totally brilliant - including a zipper to remove hulls for comfort/washing.) when grammy asked what was on our list, i asked for these, pretty please. when papa asked what was on my list, i asked for a solo date to the fabric store. i was also inspired by lisa's daughter kayla and her pillowcase making. (she made it look so easy! i actually found these instructions very helpful.) these will be a solstice eve gift for all of us, and i hope more pillow case making is in my future. maybe even pajamas. if you are feeling the handmade holiday crunch, don't forget to rely on other makers out there!

beeswax candle winner!

2010-12-10T07:16:00.000-08:00

congrats to meryl! funnily enough, random.org chose #1 as the giveaway winner! thank you to everyone who entered. i especially loved reading the myriad of ways you all enjoy beeswax in your homes! thanks for taking the time to leave such thoughtful messages. and meryl, please e-mail me your address {byhandathome - at - gmail.com} so you can receive your candles! we're off to the forest this weekend in search of a tree! hope you enjoy similarly festive outings and merry-making!

yarn along - tentative projects

2010-12-08T11:49:00.000-08:00

i am almost done with the tam i mentioned in my last yarn along way back when. and i have cast-on half-heartedly for a couple other things. the brown yarn is intended to be for these elf slippers, and the purple a baby surprise jacket. but what i'm really yearning for is a gorgeous little skein of something new for some tiny baby booties. there's nothing like baby toes for motivation!

p.s. don't forget to enter my giveaway!

beeswax candle giveaway!

2010-12-06T09:03:00.000-08:00

i'm so happy to share a special giveaway here today! if you've seen our yule log, you may be wondering just where i found those sweet little beeswax candles! when we were married, i searched for all natural beeswax candles for our ceremony, and found them at bluecorn naturals. with their perfect honeyed aroma, and fantastic staying power, i've been hooked ever since.

not only did they burn all night long at our wedding, they've been the only candles we've used in our home ever since. we light one every night for bedtime stories, and we even use the ceremony lights for birthday candles too!

bluecorn naturals has graciously offered a set of ceremony lights to one of my readers (within the u.s. only). just leave a comment here before thursday evening, and i will announce the winner on friday! i'd love to know what special uses your family has for beeswax! wood polish? leaf dipping? modeling? do tell!

p.s. for an extra entry, become a fan of by hand at home and leave another comment here telling me! if you already are a fan, thank you! just leave two separate comments!

weekend catch-up!

2010-12-05T12:05:00.000-08:00

thanks for sticking with me despite my week-long absence! i was completely consumed by preparations for the winter faire all week! (and for that little baby on-the-way too!)

the faire had me smiling all day long. it was so wonderful to be in the presence of such amazing people and glorious art! i happily bid all my bearded gnomes adieu! (which means i will need to make a few more for my boy!) i will update my etsy with a few items, but i imagine i will be closing up shop pretty soon...

i've unpacked and hand washed all of colden's woolies; hand knits, sweater pant longies, and diaper covers! i am excited to add these long-ago knits to my ravelry page too. all are lanolin-ized and ready to go. wool on its own is naturally anti-bacterial and can absorb a ton of wetness without feeling wet. soaking with lanolin gives an added layer of warmth and dampness protection. plus, it creates a natural soap when leaks occur, so it doesn't need to be laundered after every time it's worn. perfect for babes.

half of these recycled longies are newly sewn, and the other half were worn by colden as a wee little one. they will look much better on a babe than in the bathwater, so you'll be able to see them in all their splendor then too! i've also been meaning to share a new belly picture. this morning i scrambled around for something to wear to a wedding this afternoon... who knew i'd still be able to fit into that prom dress?

if you haven't already done so, be sure to check out the winter edition of rhythm of the home (here's my piece!)! they are also hosting an incredible giveaway on their blog which ends today! i am giving away one of my woolly mistletoe there, and tomorrow, i will share a special giveaway here!

pixies and fairs

2010-11-29T20:20:00.000-08:00

i finished up that baby sweater i've been showing off! (ravelry link here, and lots more ravelry links to follow). and i will show you a finer picture of it modeled in not too long. in the meantime, i also knit this little newborn pixie hat, modeled by the rocking horse.

this reminded me that i wanted to knit colden that stella pixie hat. but even more, i remembered all of waldorf mama's gorgeous gnomey hats. i love this even more - it is a scarf and hat in one. plus, it is easy for him to put on himself, with no ties to mess with. the pattern was not too far off the newborn version i just made. i used blue sky alpaca's silk/alpaca blend, which was a dream. it is perfectly soft for a child and such a close fitting hat. it is terribly cute with the knit hoodie.

i had a wonderful time at the craft fair, and sold two of everything, just about. isn't that funny? i also made (and sold) a last minute otter. i've made another one of those and i'm crafting away for the upcoming cedarwood faire this weekend. saturday, december 4th, 10 am - 4 pm, cedarwood waldorf school 3030 sw 2nd avenue, portland oregon 97201.

cinnamon bread

2010-11-21T15:38:00.000-08:00

my gramma and my mom are big bakers. this isn't a thanksgiving recipe per se, but if my gramma was in town for thanksgiving, this bread would probably be there too. my grandmother copied her favorite recipes into a small binder as a gift to me for my wedding. well, her favorites, and her mother's and my mother's, so a whole traditional little cookbook.

gramma's original

cinnamon bread

ingredients:

1/2 c. oil

2 c. sugar

2 eggs + 1 yolk

2 c. buttermilk

2 tsp. soda

4c. flour

mix in separate small bowl:

3/4 c. sugar

3 tbsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

blend first six ingredients. divide batter between two loaf pans. sprinkle generous sugar mixture over batter. cut in with a knife. if you run out of sugar mixture, make more.

bake at 350, 50 minutes

adapted:

1/2 c. coconut oil

3/4 c. honey

1/2 c. sucanat

3 eggs

1 banana

1 can coconut milk

2 tbsp lemon juice

3 tsp. soda*

4 c. flour mix**

topping:

3 tbsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

3/4 c. sucanat

(i baked for closer to 80 min, but my oven runs a little cool i think.)

*i used extra soda because of the honey, i've read you should use 1 tsp. extra per cup of honey.

**we've been mixing an 'all-purpose' blend according to shauna's instructions here that say to make a blend of 60:40 - starch:whole grains, by weight. i used a mix of tapioca, arrowroot, and corn starch for starches. plus some white rice flour. then i used an equal mix of sorghum and brown rice flour for the 'grain portion'. then i used 20 oz. of this mixture (@ 5 oz./cup flour). i hope that makes sense! you can just as easily substitute your favorite blend.

a little craft fairing

2010-11-19T13:41:00.000-08:00

i almost literally have six of each: mice, mistletoe, jingle balls, gnomes and trees. okay, seven on those last two. i'm scootching in on some table space of a friend tomorrow at the village school craft fair from 10-3 (7654 n. delaware avenue for locals!). i'll put my etsy shop on vacation mode while i'm there and those four little birds will come along too. maybe i'll even have six by this evening.

zippers and woolly worms

2010-11-18T07:54:00.000-08:00

after i asked about wool sources in portland, i got a lovely e-mail suggesting i check out the mill end store annex. they didn't have any wool, but they are located very close to the pendleton woolen mill store. now this, this was literally a kid in a candy store scenario. they had a huge rolling bin full of zippers for $1/bag! colden played in the bin and helped me pick out some good ones.

like, a hundred good ones. i inquired about wool for stuffing and they brought out some tufted, cloud-like, gorgeous wool for $3/oz. (yipes!). i balked at the price, and was led to their favorite stuffing material: woolly worms. 50 cents/lb. i bought almost 5 pounds.

colden didn't play in that bin, but i did! as you may have guessed from seeing my last post, these woolly worms were not destined for stuffing. something took hold of me, and i had to crochet them immediately. and now we have the perfect rug for in front of the sink! so, i guess i have to go back to the pendleton store for more! oh, twist my arm!

yarn along - crochet

2010-11-17T15:12:00.000-08:00

i hope to share more about this project later, maybe even tomorrow! but for today, i wanted to make sure i actually joined in the yarn along properly!

naturally dyed playsilks and a woolly gnome

2010-11-15T19:20:00.000-08:00

i've been wanting to make my own naturally dyed playsilks for a long while, and i finally seized the moment this weekend! marc helped me too, and he took these play silk photos. i used alum as a mordant and weighed the five playsilks i bought, plus some felted wool balls for another project. it was around 8 oz., so i used 2 oz. of alum (i read here to use a 25% ratio). after dissolving in hot water, i put my materials in the pot and left it to soak overnight. for the dyes, marc helped, and we didn't keep track of measurements. the dyestuffs simmered for probably around half an hour each, and then the silks soaked in the pots for a long while too. from left to right in the above photo are: beet (homegrown), onion skins (collected from many months of eating), marigold (homegrown), turmeric (purchased), and oregon grape berry (harvested this summer and frozen). i put them in these jars of vinegar to soak overnight.

i just love how they turned out! left to right: oregon grape berries, beet, onion skins, turmeric, and marigold. i am very excited to get our indigo pot going again and try some overdying for blue + yellow = green combinations! (it's probably not a huge deal, but indigo isn't really suited to pregnancy, and since our pot fizzled, we're just waiting til later to get one going again.)

so, what became of those felted balls you ask? a light dip in the beet dye juices, and some recycled sweater adornment, plus a little beard. this little guy is a finger puppet...

and he can stand on his own too! more of these to come! our handmade holidays are underway! what are you working on?

belated yarn along

2010-11-11T18:54:00.000-08:00

almost finished with the baby sweater! nothing like a yarn along, to keep me at it! of course the finishing always takes the longest...

p.s. a very big thank you to amy of magpie patterns for the giveaway of handmade home!

pricing rainbows

2010-11-09T13:06:00.000-08:00

still sewing away, and finishing all sorts of little projects. i'm excited about selling some of my crafts at the annual winter faire held at cedarwood. just one hurdle. pricing.

here are some formulas i've seen lately:

labor + materials + overhead + profit = wholesale price

wholesale price x 2 (at a minimum) = retail price

and

Cost Price (Labor + Materials Cost) x 2 = Your Wholesale Price

Wholesale Price x 2 = Retail Price

i timed myself making these rainbow jingle ball and it took 40 minutes per ball. using $12.75 as an hourly wage based on the guidelines for trillium artisans, i'd charge $8.50 for labor. then, i used .50 worth of yarn (but i guess i didn't include the cost of jingles or wool - maybe another .50?). so, for just labor + materials, the ball would be $9.50. that's without, um, "overhead" and "profit". one of these formulas suggests my wholesale price should be $19.00. or the other, perhaps $38.00 "retail"? i can't see anyone paying that much for a jingle ball! i'd love outside input, if you have any thoughts. they'll be in my etsy shop and on my craft show table, as soon as i can figure out what to charge.

currently sewing

2010-11-05T10:42:00.000-07:00

i've been sewing this week - here's a peek: trees and an otter.

here's a closer look at a couple finished trees. i blanket-stitched the bottoms on, after stuffing them with wool scrap. i think these would be adorable perched on little 'trunk' building blocks to create a forest playscape.

i've promised to make colden a stuffed friend, and he has requested a fox. i'm still working on that one. but i got the sudden inspiration for an otter.

here you can see his legs a bit better. now i just need to find a good source for cheap wool or cotton stuffing. any ideas?

p.s. some pages changes for those of you on readers: i added a list of links i've recently starred in my google reader in the sidebar. and i've added some bird ornaments to my etsy shop, also seen on the sidebar.

books to welcome baby

2010-10-27T15:20:00.000-07:00

a work-in-progress for the babe within - this sweater (seen here). we checked out some children's books from the midwives today. these were my favorites, especially the top one: we have a baby. it is very simple and positive, and colden loves it. i've been waiting for hello baby (also known as welcome with love) from the library for months now, ever since i saw it recommended by another mama for its home birth story. all the places to love is just so so so beautiful - both the pictures and the story. it brought tears to my eyes. runa's birth and our water baby are also about home births and give some great details about process and how things happen. i thought some other expectant mamas might appreciate these, and i couldn't resist joining works-in-progress wednesday in light of ginny's post today.

wee wallaby

2010-10-25T14:20:00.000-07:00

i had lots of knitting time in our recent travels, and i've proudly finished this wee wallaby! i tried it on colden a few times in the making, and ended up adding an inch on the body and the hood to stretch it a bit. it's quite snug!

i already have yarn for the next size up, but i also haven't really knit a thing for the babe-to-be! and i am updating my shop for winter time craft fairs. i'll have some recycled wool ornaments in there by the end of the week if we can find a spot of sun for photographs. are you feeling the fullness of the season too?

hiking hats

2010-10-20T23:14:00.000-07:00

we took to the trails this past weekend, and hiked to falls creek falls with family... providing a great opportunity to document some quick crocheted caps i've made! in the migrating hat tradition; this one was for me, but has adopted marc.

and this one was for marc! he requested a cozy fireside cap while we were on orcas island this summer. there just so happened to be a yarn store...and this bulky wool... sooo, after an afternoon's hooking- voila! (the hat also just so happened to prefer my head.)

i do love seeing belly photos, so here's mine - 31 weeks! and i am especially proud that i hiked (1.7 m and back) with that 30 lb. boy on my back. surely, just as impressive as the waterfall, yes?

twinsies!

2010-10-15T09:49:00.000-07:00

home again! i got to give these baby gifts to my friend anne when we were in iowa. her twin boys were just born yesterday! fingers crossed for cuter photos - including babies!!! but plenty of understanding if that doesn't happen with two brand new little ones! i was so excited to see if i could get both the aviatrix hat (ravelry link) and the pebble vest (rav. again) out of one skein, i whipped through the darker one. then i procrastinated the completion of the second - and the sewing on of buttons for...well, months and months.

i had a little leftover yarn to spare and couldn't resist eeking out some petites chaussons mignons on our voyage. i barely had enough yarn to sew them up! they are so wee, i don't know if they will fit even tiny baby feet, but i figured they would make adorable christmas tree ornaments.

i also intended to make an etsy-inspired double baby pumpkin sleepsack + hats (rav.), but anne's mom beat me to it! that means i will either put these up in my etsy shop, or in a shop around town. let me know if you're interested in one or both!

off

2010-10-04T14:37:00.000-07:00

i wanted to share all about the *sleepover* i had this past weekend... there was applesauce, flowers, hours of watercolor painting, and time together to talk at length. it was oh-so-lovely. my first night away since colden's arrival. but now we are off for some midwest sleepovers, to visit family and friends in iowa. til then!

this moment

2010-10-01T00:28:00.001-07:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

p.s. photo (and applesauce) by marc

woolly bear caterpillar friend - tutorial

2010-09-30T15:46:00.001-07:00

are you familiar with the woolly bear caterpillar? (aka isabella tiger moth) as a kid growing up in missouri, i remember seeing these little guys everywhere. i loved them (still do), and their fall colors are just perfect. i was absolutely thrilled to find one on our hike last weekend. (thank you for the birthday love!) there is a myth that they are little predictors of the coming winter. more orange than black means a mild one, and the other way around means harsh weather. i think i see more orange, how bout you?

this morning, inspiration struck. i took a small length of pipe cleaner and curled the ends in (so they wouldn't be poke-y) - to do this really well, i'd recommend pliers.

then i cut some felted sweater into a fuzzy textured yarn. i've seen lots of people using felted sweater and turning it into yarn in this matter, but i haven't seen anyone texturing it like this. try it for knitting and crochet too!

i actually planned on crocheting it on, but wrapping and tying worked better. i just made many loops and pulled the end through. i also tied the black to the orange to the black. (and then, after it had been played with for a while, i discovered the need for some sewn reinforcement. the 'textured' sweater 'yarn' has weak points that will break with love, so running some thread up and down the body close to the pipe cleaner helps hold it together and keep it safe.)

here he is! a little bendy autumn friend. you could also buy wool to make this guy if you don't have the proper sweater colors on hand. enjoy! please let me know if you make one!

p.s. i wanted to pass along this coupon code for diane's upcoming 'craft blog tune-up' course. i loved taking the course, and it's helped me provide better content here. with that in mind, i'd love to know why you visit - is it the craft? the curls? do tell! and the coupon: type IKNOWPEOPLE in the box at checkout for the course and get $5 off. cheers!

birthday weekend

2010-09-26T07:55:00.000-07:00

today is my 30th birthday, and we have been celebrating!

marc special-ordered a gluten-free dairy-free cake from dessert labs. it tastes exactly like fudge.

we spent saturday morning at cannon beach, digging a bunny hole. and lots of good times knitting in the car.

the afternoon took us for a hike along elk creek. and we spent lots of time playing with my new camera (thanks to marc's folks and mine for the gift)!

equinox: balance

2010-09-21T14:31:00.000-07:00

i saw meg's post this morning, and after reading that link to rhythm of the home, i knew it was time to dig up our potatoes. it's our first potato harvest - yukon golds and purples, so thrilling!

i'll be updating my banner for equinox, but not quite yet. i loved reading sheryl's article above and thinking about what i might like to do to mark the 'season of letting go'. i love the ritual she describes. another bit i read on the equinox said now is a good time to note what is out of balance, and think about how to bring it into balance. i recently dug out this hourglass sweater i began long ago, but really i never had enough yarn for it anyway. i'm letting go. i would like to commit to making myself a sweater though. that is out of balance.

the yarn is already moving on. i splurged on a pattern i saw a while ago over at the purl bee (although i bought it from paradise fibers, shipping was so much less!) that's a step in the right direction, actually. i've been thinking about that pattern for months now, and i finally got it.

colden is connecting a circular knitting needle to the piano keys and into another wooden musical instrument. very innovative.

this moment

2010-09-17T07:53:00.000-07:00

inspired by soulemama's this moment

p.s. a couple other moments on my flickr stream...

four years

2010-09-09T06:00:00.001-07:00

happy anniversary, my love.

labor day -> more jamming

2010-09-08T13:58:00.000-07:00

we took full advantage of sunny labor day and got out blackberry picking again. we wondered if there would still be berries, but boy, were there! (i'd even love to go again...)

photo by marc

colden's mini-basket was accidentally left on the way out the door. we made an impromptu one using his finger-knitted bracelet and a bowl i had found at the goodwill for his play kitchen.

i also managed to make a whole load of apricot jam when we purchased a case through our buying club. back in my college days i spent a summer abroad in france, and my french host mother made enough 'abricot' jam for the whole year. she even sent a jar home with me. i am nostalgic every time i eat apricot jam, and even more so making it. i used the vitamix to make the texture more homogeneous and measured batches as i mixed. eventually i couldn't fit any more in the pot, so i dehydrated the rest. dehydrating is fairly new to us too, but we also dehydrated blueberries and cherries this year.

avert your eyes if you think you might be receiving a gift from us for the holidays or any time in the near future. i have yet to make more rose petal jelly, but thanks to an online tip somewhere, i've been freezing the petals as they come to bloom.

i still have lots of empty jars. the forecast is up in the air for tomatoes around here, but i have hope.

embroidering perspective

2010-09-06T13:23:00.000-07:00

these past few days have left me in tears more often than not. marc is rehearsing a show, and i missed some faraway friends i was hoping to see. - both leaving me feeling extra lonesome. i remember feeling this way when i was pregnant with colden too. strange how you could be lonely with another little person inside you, isn't it? brightening my days: i finally picked up a copy of buddhism for mothers from the library (heather recommended it, several times i think). and finally, i picked up needle and thread and made this little mantra. i washed out the disappearing ink, and hung it to dry on the towel rack. but then, i got a good laugh out of it being in the bathroom too.

gluten free sourdough

2010-09-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

i discovered nourishing traditions and wild fermentation shortly before i discovered i was reacting to gluten. so, i had to scrap my rye-based sourdough, and hadn't really gotten into bread baking since. maybe it's that coolness in the air, or perhaps it stemmed from a desire to find an organic gluten-free loaf. it may have even been another mama's mention that homemade sourdough would be her 'one small change'. in any case, i've started. i ground some organic brown rice in our vita-mix, and i've been feeding it like a regular sourdough starter. then i poured off four cups a few days ago, and mixed it with two cups of organic millet flour (also vitamixed). i left it out over night, covered with a towel, but it didn't do too much rising with the cool outdoor air coming in. so i mixed up a guestimate combination of these two recipes: a la gluten free girl, and our local cook awakening. here's my first version:

4 c. starter (organic brown rice)

2 c. organic millet flour

left out overnight under a towel, then added:

1 c. organic coconut 'water' (this was what had separated in a can of coconut milk)

2 c. organic tapioca starch

3 tbsp. chia seeds

3 eggs

1 c. organic sorghum flour

1/2 tsp. salt

2 tbsp. honey

1/3 c. organic coconut oil

it was more of a 'thick cake-like batter' (as shauna describes) than a traditional bread dough. at this point i turned our oven to it's lowest setting (170 F), and popped the bread in there with the door ajar. had i the patience, or the warm kitchen to leave it to rise unaided, that may have been better. but in an hour, it was ready and i turned the oven up to 375 F and baked for one hour. and it's totally yummy!!! more iterations to come!

garage sale season

2010-08-28T13:35:00.000-07:00

besides our garden, another reason i've been lamenting summer's end has been my failure to attend any estate sales or garage sales. i think i may have made up for it today! some of these fabrics were actually free! and the rest of the lot was ridiculously cheap. colden is especially thrilled with the nesting lidded baskets, and the hand-carved wooden spoons (which we're thinking of mounting in his play kitchen). he would also like to play with the gnome and the pitcher, but i want to be sure to test them both for lead paint. it's just better to be safe on that one. i also like to wave around a little sage incense before welcoming used things into our homes. the fabrics of course, also get washed and out in the sunshine to dry. have you been sale-ing this summer? do you perform any sage-ing or paint-testing or sun-purification with your thrifted treasures?

another 'un-toy': play ropes

2010-08-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

in the waldorf nursery (aka preschool, 3-5 year olds) where i worked, we had several "play ropes". they were simple long knitted lengths that we kept coiled up in a basket for imaginative play. sometimes the children would ask us to make them a 'knight', by crossing the rope across their chest and then around the waist.

alternatively: a tail! a dog tail, a kitty tail, a tiger tail - any type of tail, really! my rope here needed to be doubled to prevent tail-trippage.

colden's favorite: a leash. he pretends to be a kitty and wants to be taken for a walk. this really confuses the dogs.

note: no matter how much they beg, do not tie the play rope to your dog.

to make: i used my extra short needles (seen here) to cast one on. i did 6 or 7 stitches on a size 8 or so. then i kept it in my purse - that way i was never without a knitting project (nor did i need a pattern)! play ropes are also great for making play silk scenes, where they can be used as roads, rivers, or trails. you may want to make one in blue or green for these purposes. the clean up task of coiling the rope is also a really great skill for little ones!

another note: i intend to primarily high light the brightness of our days, but i must confess... lately i haven't found much joy in photography (what with the broken camera). luckily, i found these photos about our play ropes (from june!) to share with you.

now laying...

2010-08-16T10:42:00.000-07:00

look! our very first egg! the white chicken has graced us with our very first homegrown egg. we thought it might be another month or two, but we're ever so pleased to have eggs laid in our own backyard already! yum!

and this morning, just look! a double yolk! those other eggs are store-bought 'organic' brown eggs. i can't help but complain about picture quality here, because the color is so wonky you can't really see how dark the yolks are compared to the others. and don't worry, the whites are actually white (as is the shell in the first photo), but all the color-correction in the world wouldn't whiten them. you'll have to take my word for it. we had received an egg every day up until yesterday, then boom - a double yolk the next day. we've taken to calling them 'magic' eggs. it is very thrilling indeed.

edited to add (monday morning): huzzah! the other hen is a-laying now too! a brown egg this morning!

p.s. both photos by marc.

this moment

2010-08-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

omiza river (click here to listen)

inspired by soulemama's this moment

p.s. photo by marc