Ha-pea-ness...

It is the simplest of tasks that are bringing the most joy to me.

Planting, weeding, and dead heading the pea-tunias.. it is in these tasks that I am finding ha-pea-ness.

There are pea-ctures and stories to share, perhaps with the coming of summer I'll find some pea-ce and quiet to post here more often.

Right now, family is visiting from a far, the sun is shining, and I have to pick up my son from summer camp.

You never know what will make you ha-pea. For me, today, it was poppin' peas with my little girls.

Oh, my. I can not believe how long it has been since I have posted! Let's catch up.. hmmm.. sick. Yep. A brutal spring cold has worked its way through the house and is now settled soundly into my mother in law and me. so, as I type I am panting through my mouth as I hate having my nose plugged. Ok, enough whinning. It is as if that is all there is to do right now. Spring has finally arrived and it is wonderful! (even through my Sudafed fog..) I spent atleast an hour outside yesterday and today cleaning, raking, and enjoying. Alas, we are suppose to get more snow tonight or tomorrow. I have plans to take the kids to an Easter Egg Hunt and also to meet 'The Bunny'. I don't know what I'm going to use as a bribe for good behavior once Easter has past.

"You better listen to Mommy or the Easter Bunny won't come!"


My almost four year old told me today, "Where is the Easter Bunny? He can't
see me."


My response, "Well, I'll call him and tell him not to come."


My daughter, "Bunnies can't talk Mom..."

Oh, good grief. It works with Santa! But I suppose he is a person and can speak.

I hope that everyone out there is having a lovely weekend, enjoy your family, health and the weather! (whatever it may be..) I'll be back once my creativity strikes again.

In case you weren't with me last year, you can click Click Here for a free fabric egg pattern that I created last spring. It is a fun and easy weekend project!

xoxo~

Abbie

Images of Reality

I thought I'd share with you my 'reality'. So often in Bloglandia we sugarcoat, crop and edit until our worlds are lovely, picture perfect illusions. You get glimpses into my home, when it's clean, organized and unfettered by my children's rampage. The truth is that my house rarely exists in perfect harmony and most often it is a chaotic mish mash of Disney Princess toys, tents and Matchbox cars. With the occasional leaky sippy cup or barking dog dressed up as Tinkerbell. So, for all of you who love before and afters, here is one of my Red Room. Strategically hidden behind the large leather couch are all of the toys... isn't it serene and tidy? Note the very intentional photography so that none of the toys behind the couch are visible.

After the hurricane of my 1 1/2 and 3 1/2 year old hit. This is the way it looks most of the day.

Now you know why I take pictures when it's neat. Because it rarely is!

So, here is my reality. :) Bright chaos, in shades of pink and princess plastic. In all honesty, I do love this room. It is bright, full of sunshine and it takes only five minutes to throw all the toys over the couch to 'clean it up'. You can get a peek of my PC in the hutch in the corner. the sun is shining and the snow is melting. What could be better?

xoxo~

Abbie

Digital Journal Page 12

It has been awhile since I created a journal page. This one is in regard to having another child. After every child I have had thus far, I have said, quite emphatically, 'this is my last!'. Again, my maternal clock is shifting into over drive. As my daughters get older and closer to going to school, I am struggling with what do with myself. Should I go back to school? Volunteer? Start a business? As I really have no clue and almost daily, it seems, my ideas and dreams change, there is one thing I know, I am a mother. A good mother. It is something I can't quit and will never regret doing. The one job I have always been on time for and the one I will never regret devoting my life to. So, perhaps, I'll have another. Someday. No, I am not pregnant. :)

Damn it. Spring better get here soon, cause I really think I'm starting to loose my mind.. another kid??? What am I thinking???

We are getting more snow today.. more!

A Christmas Treat

Oh! The delight of it all! Bright colors, sweets stuck to candies, chocolates and treats! Sticky frosting, that tickles your tongue,
and a large jolly man who lets you eat lots, but only if your young! Young at heart I say, only for those who enjoy the day. The sparkle, the glitter the shimmery sheen.
For those who think that candy is keen!
Ginger breads, gumdrops and kisses galore!
When he calls we come running, hungry for more!
He jiggles his belly with a "Ho Ho Ho!"
While tall gumdrop spires are lined up in a row.

Come one! Come all! Enjoy this fine season! Come on, have a nibble! Try it!
For when it is over, beware, for it'll be time for a diet!

Merry Christmas!

xoxo~

Abbie

The gingerbread house was made by my very talented children. It sits on a cake stand surrounded by cotton fluff in our kitchen. The Baking Santa is my favorite. Sorry about the very poor poetry. :P I am punch drunk from baking, wrapping, making and photographing.

Wow. White Fluffy Puffy Stuffy. Wow. I tell ya, wow.

We had a foot of snow fall on Friday and into Saturday.

Now, we are having another 12" to 18" fall today. We are precariously balancing our sanity with the thankfulness that we still have power. 25 thousand in NH have been without it for over a week now.

I'm thinking that perhaps I'll BBQ. Burgers on the grill anyone?

As I type, the wind and snow is swirling around the house so quickly that I can't see the grill on the deck anymore. Maybe I'll skip the burgers tonight.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep. I went and hid there yesterday for a moment to get away from the two housebound, stir crazy, wild eyed monsters that were once my sweet little girls.

Hope everyone else is surviving!

The first day..

Well, this morning I shipped my three year old off to preschool for the entire day! My 15 month old is sleeping and the house is completely still. Not something that happens very often.. even the dogs sense the peace and quiet and dare not disturb it. (they love to bark at the passing vehicles on the road) So, for now, Mondays and Wednesdays are my 'quiet, regroup, find my sanity' days. Something I found that was missing from my day was music. I LOVE music. I'll listen to anything but prefer bands like Depeche Mode, the Killers, etc.. We have a rediculous number of music channels with our cable so I have been putting it on my favorite (turning the TV off it plays through our stereo system) and letting it run all day. It helps. I have been happier and the girls have been playing, eating, and interacting better without the TV in the background. It is the small changes that seem to be helping my days. It will be nice when my wee one starts walking. 15 months and still nothing. She can stand by herself so it's coming, but it is quite exhausting hauling her all over the place. I am working on a giveaway over at Button Floozies and still posting images daily (or trying) to The Vintage Moth. I'd love to reopen my Etsy shop someday but not exactly sure what I'd offer. The antique papers, etc are all over Etsy and I'd like to do something a little different. Not sure what yet. Something handmade perhaps.. We'll see.

Off to enjoy more quiet time..
xoxo~
Abbie

These little piggies...

These little piggies went to the momma salon.
These little piggies had fun!
These little piggies chose red polish,
These little piggies said "I want some!"
and these little piggies went "see! see! see!" all the way home!

The lee of the stone..

One of my most favorite movies as a child was The Secret of NIHM. In the movie the momma mouse needed to move her home to the 'lee of the stone' to protect her sick child. I have not heard that word before or since - 'lee'.

This morning my children and I built our first (but most definitely not our last) fairy house. We put it on the lee side of a stone that resides on the edge of our vegetable garden. It was determined that the fairies would like that best, and they would be protected from the rain and wind.

My son padded the back with cut grass clippings, to help keep out the wind. Also tucked in there is a laundry line, (everyone has dirty laundry) bed and cradle.

The acorn cap is filled with 'salad'. Basil and radishes from our garden were diced so very tiny and carefully. The half a sunflower seed found in the lawn made the cradle. Such huge wonders in a tiny world.
xoxo~
Abbie

Summer...

My nephew 7.15.08

I have been enjoying the simplier things and quiet moments. OK, I am lying. My husband would have snorted loudly when he read that. Actually, as much as I would love to settle down and just breathe, my family stresses me out. To the point of an ocular migraine yesterday morning. Mind you, I do love my family, but for some reason, I get quite flustered when everyone is around. Take dinner the other evening. I had my brothers over with their families and my mom. There were only 13 of us, not that many considering there are usually 6 at our table every night. It ended with my 9 year old son projectile vomiting all over my 'clean for the moment' kitchen. Uuuhh??? Why? It was a difficult evening anyway, but why? Why must it end so? Are anyone else's 'perfect' family moments and summer get together's foolishly ridiculous too?? Anyone? Or are all the photos I see on your blogs the 'true' story? Romantic, fabulous, and sans vomit?

Oh well. Our pack is going to my aunt's house later, I'll try to sneak some pictures for you. Her gardens are to die for and the house, oh the house. The barn, the buildings, just about the most perfect 200+ year old New England farm you have ever seen.

Hope you are relaxing and breathing.

Local goodies that my daughters eat by the fistful.

Pink

Here are some pink images for Sara's Shades of Inspiration. All of these are older images that I found shuffling through my files.. hope you like!

Blooms from my SIL's garden last summer.

Blooms from last fall.

My daughter's closet shelf. I used to sell the lace paper in my shop, if you would like some for yourself, here is the LINK to my source. the vintage kitty was mine as a child.

A birthday present from my mother two years ago (the tea cup and flowers).

Bits and pieces I sold in my shop last year.

Have a lovely, pink day!

A Rose Will Bloom

'She Dreams' Digital Collage 6.18.08

'A Rose Will Bloom' Digital Collage 6.17.08

I have been playing with some tools on Photoshop. I love the borders (distressed, etc..) that you can put around your images, but 1.) didn't want to pay for them and 2.) wanted to possibly incorporate them in designs to sell. To do that I needed to generate my own, so as to not worry about copyright infringement, etc. I really enjoy trying to figure things out, and at some point I'd love to take more PC design courses. But, for right now, I can self teach on my own time and again, it's free! I'm desperately trying to save up enough for a new fancy, schmancy laptop so I can work anywhere in the house and not have to worry about file size. Right now I'm close to collapsing our PC. Sometimes it takes forever to crunch the numbers on some of the files I'm using. hope everyone is enjoying their almost-summer months! Today is my son's last day of school and then the fun begins! Trips to the lake (about 2 minutes away), picnics, slip and slide,

soccer camp, etc. Enjoy!

Brake for Moose..

I'll be taking a brake from blogging for awhile. My father in law's burial is just around the corner and we have family coming from far and wide, (can't wait to see you guys!!) Z has started baseball but also still has Scouts. T has completely regressed on her potty training and baby A is a very whinny little girl lately! (I think she is teething..) The house needs a good cleaning and organizing (as usual) and I have a swap project to work on. (Hi Rhonda! I'm workin' on it!) Just life is happening and when the weather allows, we are outside soaking up the sun. (Soon we'll be soaking up the rain, as it's on it's way!)

I hope everyone is fabulous out there in the great wide world, I read your comments and love them all! I'll try to also catch up on my blog readin' as that has gone by the wayside and I really need to visit you all.

The pic above is a peek at the page I am working on for Rhonda's Book Swap!

Enjoy spring!

xoxo~

Abbie

Don't Count Your Eggs..

Well, we made it. The children were amazing in the car, but my little one wouldn't let me put her down the entire time we were gone. So, needless to say, it was not a 'vacation' by the essence of the word, but it was a good time and the kids enjoyed seeing their grandpa.

Before I left with the kids, as a family we walked our field and cleaned out the bird boxes. So many treasures and also pain. We found a wasps nest, an unhatched sparrows egg. A dead sparrow. New, probably arrived alittle too early this spring and froze. In the blue bird's box we found two tiny pale blue eggs, one intact unhatched, and the other broken, but not a successful fertilization. Now I know where the phrase 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch.' comes from.

Yesterday morning, before the house was up, I received a phone call that one of my classmates from high school had passed away suddenly. The phone rang for quite awhile and there was a lot of hashing through old memories and many ghosts came flying from the closets. My mother came over and I went to a funeral for a 33 year old woman. Probably the saddest funeral I have been too, as it didn't make much sense and there was no relief in sight for the family. I left quickly, not wanted to go back to that place of adolescence. It was not an overly happy time in my life and I'm trying very hard to make the shift of mind to the 'now' and to the 'tomorrow'.

I have lost some very good friends and have found others. I have also lost some not so good friends and found people to replace those as well. When I left the funeral, it was OK. It is hard to explain, but I was OK. I am happy with my life and where it is at. I am at peace with my family, those close to me and there are no regrets. I saw a lot of regrets yesterday. That was probably the hardest part for most, they weren't as sad about the passing of a friend, but were angry at themselves for all the 'should have's' and 'if only's'. To this point in my life, I can honestly say that the decisions I have made have been the right ones and I am at peace. Do you have any regrets? Any unspoken words of love, pain or angst? Any unreturned phone calls? Speak them now, for you never know which eggs aren't going to hatch in the morning..

So, this post isn't about my vacation, although my few days away helped my hubby and I see each other through new eyes. It was about death and a rebirth. The rebirth of my confidence. My understanding and comprehension that, in the words of Martha, my life is a 'good thing'.

Road Trip!

Bright and early tomorrow morn I am packin' up the three kiddos and my grandmother. Our destination is my father's in Ottawa, about 7 hours away if the Travel Gods smile upon us gently.

When I was a child we traveled constantly. The top photo is of my eldest brother, my mom and myself (the wee one..) in Paris.. circa 1978-ish... at that time we lived in Naples, Italy and my parents owned the finest of travel accommodations. A green VW bus, custom outfitted with a pop-up sleeper. We used it well and whenever the chance happened we were off and cruisin' Europe.
Don't ya just love the pink sleepy PJ's with the feet? I can remember those so well! The toes were way too long and the white felted plastic tips flopped as I walked. Anyway, I think every person in my family has very fond memories of our adventures. I don't remember most, as I was so young, but I have the pictures to prove it!

So, anyway, off I go, to make a few memories for my children and for myself. Wish me luck! Honest, wish me luck, cause I'm really not so sure about the 7 hours thing with a 10 month old, a two and half yr old, a nine yr old and my grandmother of all people! I will return sometime on Tuesday, hopefully with all my hair.

Have a fabulous weekend dear friends!!
xoxo~
Abbie

Planting Seeds...

Yesterday T and I planted some seeds. I would have used the fabulous newspaper seed pockets, but I had these left over and we are still trying to 'reuse' and 'recycle'. So, I am using plastic because we have it. Although, we didn't plant nearly enough, so once we start more, I will make the newspaper cups. T is almost three, and she did such a nice job. There is a reverence in small children for delicate things. There is also a complete lack of respect and ability to listen! So the two combined into a very even balance and we were able to get the job done together. It will be nice to some green sprouts start to shoot up, and I know T will just think it's amazing!

Today I am on the hunt. There was a pair of Simple Eco Sneaks in the current catalog from Eddie Bauer. I just think they are neatest thing! I am really making an attempt at buying organic, green or made in the USA. A combination of all three is the ultimate find. These are not made in the USA, but they are about as earth friendly as you can get in a pair of sneakers. The Eddie Bauer catalog had a 20% off coupon, but if I buy through the catalog, the entire discount gets eaten up in the shipping charges! ($7.95 for a pair of sneakers!!) We have an outlet store not too far from here so I am going to check them out. The coupon is good there too.




Above is a high res scan I made from a 1887 book on etiquette for you. The forms are fun to use in collage work or for scrapbooking backgrounds.. (jsut right click and save it..)

I don't think Blogger comments are working very well.. I have found on other blogs I have to click on the time of the post, then click to leave a comment.. is anyone else having a problem?


xoxo~
Abbie

Desperately Seeking Balance

A few people have posted lately about life, balance, and finding their creative energy. Mary and Kathy have been searching and, from my understanding, have finally found a peace with themselves and the direction their life/craft/art is taking. I am currently a stay at home who has put most personal endeavors (school, art, career) on the back burner to raise my children and take care of my family and home. This shift is a very hard struggle for me. I am trying to find creative outlets in my kitchen, but I truly feel as if I am in a form of hibernation or cryostasis.

Waiting.

Waiting for what?

I was in a local quilt shop the other day and I was having a pleasant adult conversation with the owner. (Adult conversations don't come by that often so when they do I jump on the opportunity to use some three syllable words) I mentioned that it would fabulous (and my dream) to open a scrapbooking/craft shop in the same plaza. (it is a new plaza, with some empty store fronts) She said that a local woman was considering opening a yarn shop and that it could be a great 'one stop shop' area for crafters and artisans. In return, I replied that I needed to wait a few years yet, until my children were at least school age before I could start a retail business venture. Then she gave me some advise.. the only words of wisdom she had were 'Don't Wait.' Starting her business at 49, she said that the days were long and the work was hard and she could really use youth on her side.

How long is too long? What am I giving up? Or am I not 'giving up', but receiving instead? Do I need to be at home, and focus solely on the 'mother/wife/caregiver me', for me to appreciate the 'business, artist, creative me' later in life? Is experience, appreciation, and peace something that comes in time, or does it come when you reach out and grab for it? I suppose there is no right or wrong answer here. It would be nice to look back when I am 50 or 60 and not have regrets. Not wonder about all the 'what ifs'. Now is the time in my life that I need to make the choices that will steer my future, to avoid the malaise of 'the things never done', or the 'it would have been nice to ____'s.

Ok. I am done. I am confused. So here I sit, typing on my PC, a choice, instead of researching a business venture, or working on an art piece. Perhaps is is time to rethink my direction right now...

Apologies...

I'm sorry for not visiting you as often as I should. Time is so tight right now and although I visit and read so many blogs, I have little time to comment. Baby A is pluggin' through the Flu like a trooper! As of yet, no one else has gotten it. Lysol, you are my hero! Here are some pretty pics to brighten your day and mine. The flowers were a gift to my MIL from her daughter and the other is a package of goodies that is almost on it's way to my dear friend, Anke.