Our big boy

Today is a big day. Mr. O graduated from pre-K.



Lots of hugs and tears (mom's, of course).

O has had wonderful teachers this year. Our friend is the author of this beautiful and sweet story - Felicity Floo Visits the Zoo by E.S. Redmond. It's really darling.



She wrote his teacher a nice note, from O.



And one from her.



More tears (from mom).

Look out summer vacation! Here we come.

Summer knitting, please

Summer is here, not officially but with this humidity it is hot, hot, hot. My hope is to sew more lots and enjoy most minutes of it. We're working on re-doing on the cheap our office/sewing room to make it more inviting. We should be outside but rather, finding a project inside.

In the evenings, I find I am too tired to focus on sewing especially if it is starting a new project. So, I go to my knitting. I embarrassed to say that my current project has been on my needles for over a year. 1) it is wool and 2) fair isle technique. It is for my husband - that alone should be motivation enough. but, it's not.

I am craving some summery knitting. Since I'm on a craft buying freeze, I am off to the stash to see if I have some for: Que Sera from Knitty.

Remembering me

I'm reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and I LOVE it. Really love it. After a long day, sometimes it feels like a project to open this book, read and reflect. But it is helping, really helping.

As a working mom (inside and outside our lovely home) of two young, wild and innocent children, I sometimes lose sight of me. And it is scary. I crave the creative and am always dabbling in many half begun projects. I love sewing and knitting but sometimes find that I am in love with crafting than the 'doing'.

Blog-land has been great for inspiration and reference especially since I have a small number of friends who craft in town. As much as I love blogs, I find myself immersing myself in other blogs and getting completely lost and overwhelmed. The sum total of blogs I peek into intimidate me. It's almost like I've shown up to a contest and I am not qualified, just interested. Not always a positive experience. I since wonderful things people are creating and I get frustrated with myself for not figuring our how to balance, work, home, and craft. I have aspirations for creating pieces to sell on etsy. How do I act in confidence that I have good eye and I am full of passion? it's proving hard to verbalize. Maybe I should just start doing.

There are so many chapters to reference in the Happiness Project. I am starting with 'Being Elizabeth'. I need to be acceptable of who I am and my abilities. It is one thing to be inspired by others work, it is another thing to weigh me down and erase my confidence. I am finding that I am different and can't compare to anyone. I am trying, ever so hard, in every component of my life to be better and to be me.

*Be Elizabeth*

my colors

I love my color and depending on the day, it varies. I took the personality color test via How about Orange.

Based on my selections, I am: '49% extrovert and 51% introvert.' I cradle that line all the time. The top components of my personality: 'Well thought, Attuned to others, Decision-maker'.

I'll just hit pause for a bit.

Listening to food makes me happy

I love my podcasts. I listen in the car and at home, especially while I make and do in the kitchen.

Currently on my ipod:
KCRW's - Good Food
You Bet your Garden
Splendid Table

Painted rocks

Welcome summer weekend.

Camera is in the shop and counting days until it comes back home.

- Not ready for the 90 degree humid weather
- watching the evening thunderstorm from the porch was cool, although it woke the kiddies.
- made strawberry jam from our first batch of hand picked berries.

here's to days off.

Toy Story is in the house

O and now V are in love with Toy Story. We have big plans to go see Toy Story 3 when it comes out on my birthday next month. yeah!

We re-painted Oliver's room including a blackboard paint for writing notes and which Orioles' player we're cheering for. O wanted Toy Story in his room and we all agreed on cloud curtains.

These clouds have me daydreaming too.

Let's go O's...

Does it get better than a Sunday baseball game?

February Lady sweater

This sweater's been done for a bit but I am finally sharing.

To date, this February Lady sweater is being worn in spring. It's the first sweater I've made for myself that I have loved - from beginning to end. And now, I love wearing it. I need to remember what yarn I used. It was a pleasure making a sweater from top, down. I was cutting it close to my yarn allotment. I made a size S and lengthened the body some. Vintage buttons from stash.

YEAH to sweaters I love to wear and am proud, when complimented that I made it myself...really. Although we are suppose to be frost-free this Saturday, the weather has been chilly - more days to wear this sweater before putting it to bed for the summer.

A new mama right out our window

Looking out the window, we saw this robin cozy on her nest as the wind was horrendous. We saw a couple little beaks. what a mother's day it was.