Sometimes it’s the little things

I always find it hard to go through and put away the most recent set of clothes that the kids have outgrown. There is something a little sad about seeing the little piles of clothes that they won’t wear again, as if I am neatly folding pieces of their childhood away. There are many clothes which end up in the pile for the local consignment store, or for Goodwill, but there are always the ones that I can’t bear to part with. A set of pajamas that remind me of snuggly bedtime routines, or a summer t-shirt that still carries the faint odor of sunscreen. These clothes I put in storage boxes in the attic. I don’t know what I’ll do with them in the future. I really like the idea of making quilts out of them one day, but right now I know I would be unable to cut into the cloth.

I think I’ll miss “Hey Dude!” and “Ladies Man” the most. ~smile

Mama Bread

I made some Mama Bread the other day. The recipe is not officially called Mama Bread, but it’s what Marlena started calling this bread when I made it on a more regular basis a few years ago. I haven’t made it in a long time, mainly because after the last move I couldn’t find the issue of Cooking Light that it was in. But last week I found it in a stash of magazines that I was going through. Yay!

Making the bread took me back to our little house in Virginia, which was out in the country. We lived up on a hill with cows for neighbors. We lived there for only 3 years, and it was a very modest little house, but it was the first house that we ever owned and so it holds a very special place in my heart. It’s also a special place because it was just the three of us. None of us had any idea that we would be blessed with two more family members in the years to come. When I look back on those days, they almost seem… quiet. I know that it wasn’t that way, that it was full of the noise and bustle of our family life, but much in the same way that one tweaks a picture in the darkroom or photoshop until it becomes more pleasing to the eye, time has a funny way of blurring the edges, adding a layer sentiment, and turning up the glow of reminiscence.

I loved being out in the country. I did things that I loved. I had a flower garden that Marlena helped me plant and pick bouquets from, I composted on a regular basis ( I was quite a fanatic about it, even going so far as to regularly pick up used coffee grounds from the coffee shop in town, and in return, bring them flowers from the garden that their coffee grounds had helped to grow. I would even stop and pick up other people’s bagged leaves because we had very few trees on our hill and I needed a carbon source), I checked out books from the library on chickens (If we had stayed there, there would have been a hand built chicken coop out back. Barry didn’t want chickens because of the snakes that they would attract, but I was chicken smitten), and I cooked a lot more because we were so far away from town that there were no quick trips to the market, or restaurant choices for take out.

Here are some pictures of Marlena back then. I have had a really good time tonight going back through all of the pictures from 2003, 2004, and early 2005. It wasn’t that long ago that she was my little helper in the house and garden, but at the same time, given how different our lives today, it seems like another world, encased in a snow globe of sorts. I am surprised at how quickly the tears came to me eyes as I looked at pictures from that time. It’s kind of like seeing a post card of a foreign country that you once traveled to and knowing that you can never visit it again.

Oh my! This was supposed to be a rather simple post about a loaf of bread, and somehow I got lost in my thoughts. I guess that happens when you sit down to write at 11:30pm and find yourself getting very sentimental while the rest of the house sleeps.

So, on with the bread!

One of the things that I really wanted to learn how to do while we were in Virginia, was to bake bread. I checked out all kinds of books from the library and completely overwhelmed myself with information about oven bricks, wild yeast, and milling my own flour, that I sort of thought it was too much to live up to. Then the May 2005 issue of Cooking Light came out and there was a recipe for Simple White Bread. It looked harmless enough so I gave it a try. Turns out it is pretty hard to mess up, and I have found it to be a very reliable loaf of bread.

It’s still a big hit! I found the recipe on line here if you would like to try it out. I wonder how much the taste and smell trigger memories in Marlena that she might not be aware of. She says that she remembers the the house in Virginia, and she remembers Mama Bread very clearly. One thing is for certain, Mama Bread is back in heavy rotation around here.

Thanks, Kitty.

I totally scored at Goodwill the other day. Ever since I saw this idea (LOVE her blog!) and these (which I am determined to own one of her lovely creations some day), I have been on the lookout for the perfect vintage suitcases for the kids to put their dress up clothes in. I never could find any that I really, really liked, and now I think I know why. My mother had a set of  red, hard shell American Tourister luggage EXACTLY like these, and I have always carried a soft spot for them in my heart. I remember seeing pictures of her when she got that luggage as a graduation gift from high school. She still used them when I was a little girl. I can’t really pinpoint the time when she stopped using them for more updated luggage, or what happened to the old set. I should ask her. Opening these up sent me right back in time. I remember how much I loved the quilted satiny feel, the smell of my mother’s perfume, the pretend trips I would take with them.

The interiors are in near mint condition with only a slightly musty smell. Barry suggested putting some scented dryer sheets in the pockets, which I did. I would eventually like to get some lavender sachets to tuck away in those pockets. Speaking of pockets, there was a stash of old school, super sized tampons in one (and for some reason when I found them, I said to myself, “Well of course, isn’t that what all of us ladies leave behind in our luggage?), and a prescription pill bottle in another which had the name “Kitty” on it. I can’t tell you how much I love that a woman named Kitty owned this luggage.

Marlena directed this shot. We just had to get one of her in the suitcase “cause that’s just one of the silliest things ever!”

I took the opportunity to fool around in photoshop with some new actions that I downloaded from Pioneer Woman. One of her actions is called Seventies, and I love the touch of vintage that it gave to these pictures. I played with the opacity a bit until I got the feeling I was after. Those old pictures of my mother that were taken in the late 60’s must have been on my mind.

There was lots of dress up going on as we were organizing the clothes into their new home. I’m much happier with this solution than with the big plastic tub that the clothes were in before. I think Marlena is on the edges of outgrowing this game. I am, of course, not ready for her too be done with this stage of her childhood.

One thing is for certain, we need a lot more dress up clothes for boys in there. All poor Aidan has is his astronaut suit and some old man’s hat. Although, come to think of it, he is pretty much happy just being an astronaut.

I wonder what kind of woman Kitty was. She obviously valued the things that she owned, because these suitcases have been very well cared for. I wonder what kinds of trips she took. Did she take them on plane trips to far off destinations, or perhaps they were only ever placed in the trunks of cars for trips to visit beloved relatives. I wonder what she thought about as she packed. Did she have kids that bounced around her, asking a million questions? Or perhaps she was unmarried, a homebody that only traveled a few times. Whatever the case may be, I am so glad that I spotted them under the rack of comforters, and was able to bring them home for  new adventures with us.

psssst

are you still there? I miss you. My blogging mojo is out of kilter. I hope to get back into the swing of things here soon. As you can see, I have lots of help at the computer these days. Happy help too. I’ve got some things I want to show you. I’ll be back soon.

Jennifer

Revisiting April

I kind of let April get away from me as far as blogging goes, but I wanted to take a minute and share some of the big events in Hope’s world.

April was the month that Hope turned one. We had a small family celebration and Marlena helped me make the cake, which was an Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Icing. Both recipes were from a Betty Crocker cookbook. It was delish! After it was iced, I placed a paper doily on top and then dusted with cocoa powder. It was a little tricky removing the doily from the icing, but I was pleased with  the results.

Hope was a little unsure of the feeling of icing on her fingers and she kept wanting Barry to lick it off.

She eventually got the hang of eating the cake and a good time was had by all.

April was also the month in which Hope began taking her first independent steps.

I am still taken aback when I see her cross the room, or toddle off to play with her siblings. It doesn’t seem like she should be that old yet. I swear, it goes by faster with each kid. Sometimes that’s okay, and sometimes it’s a little heartbreaking.

Happy Mudder’s Day!

I woke to the sight of my 6 year old grinning and holding a big cup of coffee, which was dripping all over my all white goose down comforter, and I knew this was shaping up to be the best Mother’s Day I had ever had.

The kids have been bursting with excitement for days now; you would think it was their birthday. I’m gonna savor every bit of it too, ’cause one day they will be adults that forget to put Hallmark cards in the mail on time for their poor forgotten mothers….. just like us.

Aidan jumped up and down on my stomach and kept saying “Happy Mudder’s Day!”, sounding for all the world like he was a kid from New Jersey. He’s also doing this weird talking while breathing in thing that I need to get on film.

The kids opened all of my talking cards for me at the same time so I have no idea what each one says individually. Ah, the soundtrack to Mother’s Day.

They helped me eat the strawberries out of my fruit salad while Hope had some of my toast. All the while Barry and I just looked at each other and laughed. I love a good belly laugh in the morning.

Did I take my camera to bed with me the night before? You betcha! I didn’t want to miss a thing!

Did I rush right in the office after finishing my coffee to blog about it? You know it! This is my Mother’s Day, after all.

(Barry just informed me that I need to go downstairs and do the dishes and take care of the baby. In his best New Jersey accent, “Mudder’s Day is over.”) :~)

Before they were weeds

I’ve never minded the first batch of Spring dandelions. Something about them takes me back to my childhood. I remember the feeling of excitement as I would rush over to a dandelion; hearing the satisfying snap as I plucked it from the ground, and watching with delight as the downy tufts swirled around my head and floated off on a breeze.

And now I get to relive that excitement through my children. I love to hear them exclaim over the dandelions they find in our much neglected yard. I love the way they want to show me each and every time that they blow the seeds into the air, as if it is the most wonderful thing in the world that one could be doing at that moment.

Let the neighbors have their golf course lawns. We’re growing memories over here.

Ballet Mondays

Easter ‘09

I stayed up way too late the three nights before Easter, making these for the kids. They weren’t as big of a hit as I had hoped (it’s hard to compete with sugar first thing in the morning), but who are we kidding, I was making them for me anyway. I am hopeful though, because Marlena and Aidan asked to take their bunnies to bed with them tonight.

The pattern is available here as a free download. It looked easy enough for someone that has never made a softie before. Well, I take that back, I did make a large sea turtle for my best friend in high school (I think she still has it?) but that was years ago.

They are all a bit off in some way, but I will choose to call their imperfections… character.

I have also never embroidered a single stitch in my life (well except for the to and from bit on that sea turtle) so I’m sure that anyone looking closely might gasp in horror, but I kind of had fun winging it. I used 5 Perele cotton, which come to find out, is non-divisible and very thick.

I think the most thrilling part of making these things is when you sew the last stitch and turn them right side out. My heart would do a little skip as I saw each bunny start to look like, well, bunnies. I used bamboo fiber to stuff them, which was very nice to work with. I would have used cotton if I had been able to find it, but I’m glad that I had a chance to try the bamboo as I have been hearing so much about it lately.

When I have a bit more time (ha!) I would like to go back and embroider the kids’ names and the year on the bottom of the bunnies. This project was lots of fun. I really enjoyed being able to make a little something for my three little bunnies this year.

Mobile Swap Pt. 1

A few months ago I signed up for elsie marley’s mobile swap 2009. Each person that signed up was paired up with two partners; one to whom you would send a mobile, and one who would send you a mobile. Last week I had the honor and pleasure of receiving the mobile that was made for me by Jen of painted fish studio. Isn’t it gorgeous!?! I can’t tell you how much I love it and how much of a perfect fit it is. I had wanted something that was just for me, something that I could hand in my creative space as a source of beauty and inspiration. Boy did Jen deliver! She says, ” I was inspired by your love of fabric and sewing- I was hoping to recreate the beauty of fabulous fat quarters with paper.”  I think you did a superb job, Jen!

These pictures just can not do it justice. I kept reading about how hard it was for several people to take pictures of their mobiles, and by golly, they were right. I was unable to take decent pictures of it because I could not seem to find that moment when the sun was out and I didn’t have a child to tend to at the same time. Take a look at Jen’s picture on her blog  for a much more accurate picture of this gorgeous mobile. And the mobile wasn’t the only thing in the box!

Jen also included a delicious bar of chocolate (which did not live to see the end of the day), a darling notecard by Pink Bathtub Designs, and a pretty little coordinated package (I love coordinated packaging!) which contained…

this beautiful journal hand made by Jen herself! I love the pattern and colors. Be sure to stop by her shop on Etsy to see her other beautiful creations.

I am going to have a hard time deciding how I shall use this book because it is just so pretty! Thank you so very much, Jen, for all of the beautiful gifts, and for the beautifully made mobile. :~)

Now for the Pt. 2 part. I am so ashamed to say that I still have not finished my mobile for the person that I was assigned to, but it is on my sewing desk and I hope to have it out before too much more time passes. I hope that my partner will forgive my dreadful tardiness.

If you would like to see some other fabulous mobils, be sure to check out the flickr group for this year, and the group for the 2008 swap.