All Moments

This moment contains all moments.
~C.S. Lewis

Note to Self

Dear Maria,

I know that it seems like these hot and sunny days will never end, but they will. Oh they will. They will be replaced by a short and beautiful fall and then a long, cold, windy (and still beautiful) winter.

So before summer is over please remember to spend every minute that you can outside. Drink plenty of pink lemonade from the big glasses. Don't forget to make some vegan coleslaw, because it is so goood!

• Take a couple more trips. More on those soon!
  
• Eat the tomatoes in the garden
  
• Take a hike along Bridal Trail
• Get a lesson plan in order for my fall classes
• Make some decisions about art shows
• Graduate, finally...August 12th!
  
• Go to the city band concert
• Go to a movie with Eric
• Visit the natural bridge
• Bake some cookies (always)
• Take evening walks with Bumblebee
• Drink more lemonade
• Spend as much time outside as possible
• Finish up summer craft/art/sewing projects
• Submit those writings to the contests
• Eat more watermelon

~Maria

Nothing Much Happened, but it was Nice

We started out looking for pelicans. Eric had seen them on his way to work. We grabbed the camera, the dog, the girl and hit the road. We talked as we drove, never finding the elusive Wyoming pelicans.

We did stop by the river. I suggested a walk, even though there were ominous clouds. "They don't look lightningy (I sometimes make up words)," I said. So we unloaded our crew and started to walk along the path. Eric took some photos, Bumblebee sniffed around. Cordelia and I checked out nature.

Then the rain started pouring down. So we took cover under some trees (I was right there was no lightning-don't worry mom) and waited for the rain to pass. We watched the rain fall around us. We watched an older gentleman in running shorts pressing on even though the wind had blasted the rain into one half of his body, soaking 50% of him.

The shower let up quickly and we continued on with our stroll. Eric still taking photos.



Cordelia was carrying a little purse. She started collecting rocks in it. (** bonus info: lately she has been insisting on stripping down to her undies, slinging her purse over her shoulder and saying,"Going to work Mommy."---not sure what that is about). So we ventured a bit off the trail and gathered rocks.



We walked some more. We talked some more. We got rained on a bit.



That was it, nothing much happened, but it was really nice.

Life as a Movie

Last night Eric and I were chatting at dinner and we got onto the subject of movies, particularly theoretical movies made about us. Here are the burning questions we came up with...


Who would play us in a movie. We decided that Eric would possibly be played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (something similar about their style) or Edward Norton (mostly because Eric has some eccentric mannerisms that Norton could pull off). For me we went to the usual Kirsten Dunst (***side note I was once mistaken for Kirsten Dunst by a very excited young woman...who may also have been legally blind), Claire Danes (I had an unfortunate nickname of My So Called Life at one point), Zooey Deschanel (style), or Kate Winslet (ummm not sure why I am occasionally compared to her).

I see your name in lights kid

What type of movie.
We decided that Eric's movie would be a dark comedy. He has a great sense of humor and he's also got a little bit of an edge. My movie would be a musical. I would at some point talk to animals...

So now I ask you the following:

1) Who would play you in a movie about you?

2)Who would play your significant other, family, friends, children, whatever?

3) What type of movie would it be?

4) Bonus: What would your movie be called?

After the Storm

We could see the storm coming, there was lightning in the distance, big looming clouds. We were driving in the car, headed home for some dinner. The first drops hit along with some gusty winds. We drove past two women and their dogs who were running home to avoid the full brunt of the storm. Then it slammed down on us, no little preliminary droplets, just a sudden cloudburst.

We pulled our car into the garage and left the door open for a moment so we could watch the rain fall in the street; slipping down from treetops and into the gutters which quickly became little rivers.

Eventually we set up by the window in the living room so Cordelia could say, "Its waining" about 9 zillion times.

Then it was over. The wind gusts stayed on, pushing the storm clouds away. The sun peaked out. Birds came out from their hideaways to hunt for (poor baby) worms. We opened all of the doors and windows to let in the fresh cool air. Perfect.


The passing storm


Stars and vines


Wet fence


Robin on the fence


Wet tree


Looking through the back door


Last drops

How was your night?

House Tour: Master Bedroom

Welcome back. If you have missed any of the previous house tour posts you can check out the last one here which has links to previous posts...

BEFORE
So when we first moved into our house the master bedroom needed some major cosmetic work.

The blue paint, while vibrant, wasn't really to our taste. The hardwood floors were already exposed (unlike several other rooms) but they needed some TLC.

There were some cracks in the plaster (not structural issues thank goodness) which were patched up by the previous homeowner for us which was so sweet!

AFTER
We chose a rich brown paint for the walls, which looks really sharp against the white trim and the white closet. The floors were spruced up a bit and then we brought in our stuff.

We like to keep our room clean and clutter free. No TV, no computer, no knick knack attacks.So we just put up a few items, like some of our camera collection.

We continued our rather unconventional decorating habit of mixing extreme prints, but it just suits us so well.

We decorated the walls with our Japanese print collection. The prints have such clean lines that they don't really compete with the pattern of the bedspread.

We love how the room is really bright, but it doesn't actually get much direct sunlight.

The darker paint keeps the room feeling calm, warm, and sophisticated.

So there you have it for the master bedroom. We still have more to come (kitchen, basement, bathrooms, etc.) Keep watching and I will post more house tour photos as we finish projects and move forward with our new (to us) home!

My New Obsession

Last week I was over visiting with my mother. She was working on an adorable crocheted hat for a friend. She put a crochet needle and some yarn in my hands (talk about an enabler). One thing led to another and before I knew it I had fallen into a crocheted vortex. I have been crocheting hats like a woman possessed----think mashed potato Devil's Tower from Close Encounters of the 4th Kind, but not really.



I have been crocheting on the couch, in bed, in the car, at the table, while baking, while entertaining company...it's kinda weird.



What do I have to show for this weird effort? A lot of hats...my mother and I are hoping to sell them here in town, online, and perhaps at a craft fair. There are big hats, little hats, boy hats, girl hats, hats with ears, faces, bows, flowers, etc.

What is your obsession?

Gratitude

Join me in the pure atmosphere of gratitude
For life.

~ Hafiz of Persia

Photographic Evidence of a July Day

Happy Birthday Sam

Sam is my youngest brother. He was born when I was 12. I remember the day he was born quite clearly. I remember eating in the hospital cafeteria, watching Monkey Shines ( a movie about a quadriplegic man and an evil monkey)in the waiting room---no adult supervision, I remember a blue bubblegum cigar, but most of all I remember Sam. He was so small and such a gift to our family.

Growing up he was so much younger than me that we had to get creative with how we connected, but we absolutely did it! Now that gap has narrowed significantly. Today he is 18. He is no longer a baby that I can carry around, instead he is like 11 feet tall. Can you believe that?! How did that happen?

Sam has turned into such an amazing guy. He is kind and thoughtful, witty and hilarious. He is intelligent and creative. I really feel there isn't anything he can't do if he sets his mind to it.

Sam, for your birthday I thought you might like to see what you look like if you were to get a neck tattoo of an octopus. Also, I love that you are wearing mom's sunglasses in this photo! Classic!

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!!!!

Music, Friends and Fountains

Yesterday evening I made some dinner (vegan white pizza with basil pesto, Daiya vegan cheese, artichoke hearts and sun dried tomatoes a salad and fresh cherries in case you were wondering) and then we hit the road as a family. We headed down to the art museum to watch an outdoor evening concert. My lovely new friend Ashley had invited us and we were game for a fun show.


John Kirlin and the High Plains Drifters

The band played a nice, crowd pleasing, set. The audience was very mixed, families, teens, adults, the elderly, dogs, etc. There were tons of characters and I looove characters!


Meet Ashley, she's also a yoga instructor


Feeling the music

Ashley is a local and she was happy to introduce us to several new and interesting people. We chatted as the sun lowered in the sky and the heat became less powerful; listening to the music, chasing Cordelia and people watching. Eric was busy taking tons of photos.


Ashley and I

We had to leave a bit early because Cordelia was starting to wear down. We are now knowledgeable enough to know that it is best to leave BEFORE she hits a wall.

We met several new people, listened to some good music and made plans for future events. A successful and fun time. I was even invited to the 30th wedding anniversary of Ashley's parents--whom I had just met.

We held hands family style (Cordelia between us) as we left the shindig. The music had that heavy distant feel of a party continuing on without us. The shadows were getting long and the sun had that delicious golden hue. I spotted a fountain ahead of us and we couldn't resist a quick visit. Cordelia and I kicked off our shoes and held hands as we stepped into the cool waters of the trio of spurting jets of water.


Exploring the fountain

Cordelia was nervous at first, but soon she was soaked and I was pretty wet too. The air was still warm enough that the cool waters didn't make us freeze.


Watching my girl play

We wrapped things up and headed for home. Satisfied and happy.


Thinking about drinking fountain water.

What did you do last night?
**All photos from today's post are by E.K. Wimmer check him out here.

On My Mind

Today I am thinking about

~Crocheting with my mom while Cordelia plays. We are working on hats this week. What projects are you working on?

~What book to read next. Do you have any recommendations? I could really use them!

~Yoga. I have really been loving yoga lately. Do you do yoga? How do you work out and unwind?

~Finishing the basement. Eric has started painting the paneling (have you painted panel before? YUCK) and we are now trying to figure out how to make it into a fun and functional space. What do you use your basement for?

~Pinterest. I have been using Pinterest and I really like it! You can check out my site by clicking the link on my sidebar under Follow Me (no pressure though). Do you have an account?

~What to do with all of the tomatoes that I am growing. Tomato sauce. Ketchup??? Sun dried tomatoes?

What is on your mind today?

Crafternoon : Garden Stars

Yesterday afternoon was pretty hot, but I just wanted to hang out in the back yard under the shade tree. Cordelia was all lathered up in sunscreen and ready to play in her pool and the sprinkler. I threw out a blanket and decided it was the perfect opportunity to do a little crafting. I decided to make some garden stars from sticks and string. I ended up making a ton of them I think they make lovely outdoor decorations that blend well with nature. They would also be beautiful strung on a garland or with some sparkling white lights.

Garden Star

Here is how I made them.


Assemble your supplies. You will need 5 sticks per star, some yarn (raffia, twine, wire, or whatever else will work fine too) and a pair of scissors for cutting the string.


Here I am, busy at work


Make sure your sticks are roughly the same length, cut some string for tying the star together. I used some sticks with curves and bends also, making for an interesting star! Get creative.


Lay out the star shape and then use the string to tie it together at all of the points and also in the center. I wrapped the string around several times for stability and then cut off the excess stands.


I made several stars in a variety of sizes. Added a piece of string to hang it from. You will find that your star has a definite top.


Then I hung them around the backyard. I love them!


In the Virginia Creeper (My Grandma Grace told me what it was, I just thought it was a crazy vine thing)

We are also finishing off the business of potty training with Cordelia. So, she spent much of the afternoon running around only partially clad and oh so pleased with herself!

Drenched

Running through the sprinklers with Uncle Sam