SouleMama

week's end

{her outside "work"}

Well, my goodness, y'all do love a giveaway, don't you? There was just one winner yesterday (announced at the end of yesterday's post), but I have a few more giveaways planned in coming weeks. And of course, do check out that book - purchased, or from your library, or maybe just the podcasts (such great listening -food!). Good stuff in there, I tell you.

I get a lot of questions about CSA's, especially yesterday. Check out this site for finding farmers markets and CSA's near you. I know in many areas, the demand for local and organic produce is higher than the availability. I know it can be discouraging to find a CSA you're excited about, only to find out they're at capacity. But keep at it, get on a waiting list, visit your farmer's market instead, talk to people about sharing in their family garden's work and bounty, and perhaps - do some planting on your own.

I was recently at a talk about local food, and our friend Farmer John (I  can't help it - that's what my kids call him) said something so simple and beautiful that has stayed with me ever since. He said, "Never let a season go by without planting something." Such simple advice, isn't it? And yet, it's so easy to get bogged down by the logistics of gardening, space and growing and time and "black thumbs" and all of that. But plant something - sprout some seeds in a paper towel, grow basil in a pot in your kitchen, toss some carrot seeds in the ground and see what happens. Never let a season go by without the opportunity to get a little bit closer to your food, and have reason to dig your hands into the Earth.

On that note, we are hoping to do some planting next week. I took last summer off from vegetable gardening (that whole book-writing thing), and we're eager to get back at it this year. There is so much excitement right now - every day brings a new change in the landscape, it seems - things opening up, the promise of blooming soon. A new color added to the spring palette each day. Next week, I'll be doing a Week of Spring photographs here, with the hope of celebrating some of that magic. Feel free to play along if it speaks to you.

Until then, have a lovely weekend! And maybe, if you can, plant something!

Sun Days

(top photo by Steve).
You'll have to forgive me for having nothing to share today besides the joy of the sun. But you see, I'm a little distracted by this sunshine. I love the time change in the spring, and the longer days it gives us. It comes at just the right time - just when I start to feel a little too Winter cave-like - now the days become longer, the sun shines brighter, and the temperatures are just a little bit warmer. I want to curl up like the cat chasing the sunbeams through the house; I want to jump off a snowbank and sit in the brightness of the sun reflected off the snow. I love this assuredeness that March brings. Spring will come. The sun says so.

And just to be sure? I'm painting it on, too.

inspiration :: sweet and savory

Oh my.The internet is a very good and dangerous place. Full of inspiration of all different kinds. This weekend, in just one quick Flickr browse of my contacts, I stumbled upon this photograph, which in one click led me to this recipe, which promptly got me up off my chair and into the kitchen - stopping only on the way to gather my loves....for a little donut making. It was the perfect antidote to the blizzard that was storming outside.

That recipe? SO easy and SO good. For some reason I was comforted so much by the baked-not-fried aspect that I totally skipped reading the sugar quantities. Oh my. And really, oh well....because they're donuts, right? We don't eat them everyday. Still, if you make them, be sure you have all 8 of your children, or a few neighbors around to share them with. Otherwise, you'll eat them all up and have crazy sick too-much-sugar head. That's no good. The donuts, however, are good. And they are best eaten warm and immediately. Of course. (My babes like the middles.) Thanks for the inspiration, Liz!

And in other kinds of inspiration, I'm honored to be on Inspiration Boards today. You can find that interview here. Thank you Lori, for the interview and all the work you do to keep us inspired on Inspiration Boards!

the first three years

Ah. Can you hear that? Imagine the longest (in my mind) email 'whooosh' you've ever heard - it's the echo of the manuscript being sent off early this morning. I always think there should be a more dramatic way to send off such a thing that's been so dear to me for so long – perhaps with a quill pen signature on the top of it's two hundred pages wrapped in twine and delivered by Johnny Depp on horseback - to my dear and lovely editor who will now manage to make some kind of sense and order out of my butchering of the English language and unclear ramblings and run on sentences (much like this one).

So that was today.

But I also want to tell you about yesterday. Because yesterday was my three year blogaversary, or blog birthday or whatever it is that we call these things. I've come to think of this near-daily writing here as a cup of coffee that we share each day in my 'living room' on the internet. If you will.

It's been three years full of many, many things in this area of my life - support, creative inspiration, friendships - some that have been lucky enough to grow beyond the computer, opportunity I never could have imagined, lots of learning, and of course a few challenges and frustrations along the way too. But one thing that happens for me in this space is something I never could have anticipated. (You can tell I'm going down the path of gushy now, can't you?)

You give me hope. (But it's true.)

Because, you see - though this was initially a surprise to me - I've come to learn how very different we all are. From your comments and emails and your blog links, I've discovered that some of us are parents and some are not; we are Christians and pagans and atheists; unschoolers and public school teachers; republican and Green; crafters and not so-into-the-crafting; in the US or clear halfway around the world from my home; women and men (yes!); some of you are in school, while there are others who are caring for their grandchildren. And so many more examples I've seen, and everywhere in between. We are as different as we can be. And yet. There is something. Something that brings you hear each day (or week....or even just 'once in a while'). And that 'something' may be defined very differently for each of you and may very well be a number of things. But I think it has something to do with our common goals to find a little bit of beauty in our days; to add a little more mindfulness to our lives; and perhaps give a little more respect to the little ones in our lives.

And this? This, my friends, on the best of blog days fills me with so much hope and beauty about the world and the children in it, that it often brings tears to my eyes. So, thank you…thank you for reading, and thank you for seeing past our differences, and thank you for finding what we share in common. Thank you for filling me with a little more hope about the world. And thank you for the ways in which you seek beauty in your life and just as importantly - the many ways in which I know you share it. You inspire me.

Happy three years to us!

February Ten

Oh, February. How you can give me the funk. But alas, there really is far too much to be joyful about to be February-funked-out for too long. This time of year, I find myself a little more mindful - a little more attentive to the things that bring me joy. They're extra-appreciated amidst the cold and the snow, and the sometimes dreary days. And so today, I bring you my February Ten - ten little joys that are making me smile this  week. Feel free to play along if you wish - in the comments, on your blog, on paper, in your head. It feels good.

1. the bursts of color that radiate from the kids' drawing table

2. a new (but more expensive - dang!) chocolate love

3. a battle of epic and now-comic proportions with Banjo over his admittance into my studio

4. the big toothless gap in my seven year olds' mouth

5. the sudden and beautiful appearance of arms, legs, and faces in my baby girls' drawings

6. a manuscript that's molding into just the right shape at just the right time

7. how in just the right light, the snow looks like a crisp and cozy down comforter - kinda

8. the sound of my honey's guitar and the ripple of delight that follows it through the house

9. the deliberate and determined sounding out of words by my newest reader

10. the sun - gracing us with its presence longer and longer each day

Wishing you many, many little February joys and a lovely weekend!

saturday night

working late tonight...

Enjoying:
"clean" paint (milk paint)
my apron (by Rectangle Design)
camera obscura
with a dash of cabernet.

wrapping it up

Thank you for all of your enthusiasm and generous words about the 30 day project! It was so lovely to hear your thoughts on the images each day, and lovely to hear from so many of you saying hello for the first time! Hello! I enjoyed the month of photography so very much - it was such a great way for me to reflect on the little moments in each day that are important to me, and to us. The little toes that I want to cherish, a book that I've read hundreds of times, a quiet moment at the end of the day.  Moments that are so important in our everyday, day-to-day life as a family - moments that seem as though they could never be forgotten...and yet, of course, with time, they do and will fade. I'm grateful for this little collection - this tiny little snippet into what our life looks like right now - without the faces, without the  posed shots. Just the everyday, ordinary bits of family life that I love. There's more to come of the 30 day project - I'll share how I've collected them as soon as it's ready. And in the meantime, I'll be incorporating "Everyday Photography" posts into the fold here from time to time.

The project also gave me a wonderful break to reflect on this blog space (which is nearing three years old. is that possible?) - time to think about what it means to me and what I'd like to do here. I'm excited about all of that, and look forward to jumping back in next week!

Before I go though, let me direct you to the wonderful blog Artful Parent, where Jean has written a review of The Creative Family (April 1st inches closer!). You'll find a little interview with me, and (you'll like this part!) a chance to win a free copy of the book. Thank you, Jean!

Oh, and I can't leave for the weekend (see, now I can't stop talking) without sharing a little bit of beach with you - from yesterday, containing a few of my favorite things:
new shoes
by camilla & converse
the ocean
on a date with my love.
breathe. 

Have a wonderful weekend!

 

So long, 2007

We woke up this morning to snow falling outside, and it looks like it will be coming down for a bit. It's perfect, as our New Years plan involves staying right put and cozying in. The kids have grand plans of 'staying up all night' to greet the new year. All manner of strategies are in place by these little ones - involving water bottles to spray in their (own) face when they're tired; a walk in the woods after dark; uncomfortable sitting positions; and so forth. Good fun, and fabulous entertainment for us. Who needs TV when you've got a full-on performance troupe in-house?

The coming year holds so many different and exciting things, and I'm sure there will be lots of talk tonight of all those plans and dreams for our little family. Tonight, we'll put aside the practicality of some of those fun kid - and adult - wild ideas and just let the dreams fly. I love the magic of a New Year - giving room to all the possibilities in the world. Because you never do know...

Thank you for sharing a bit of 2007 with me - your daily stops here to read, cheer, laugh and encourage have moved and amazed me and warmed my heart in more ways than I can say. I thank you for all of that.

May your own New Year be full of joy, creativity, and peace! Cheers to you and yours!

earlier tonight...

A photo shoot for The Shop had us on a little 'follow the moon' detour tonight, and this is where we landed - Portland Headlight. We nearly got locked in the park for the night - with Steve and I playing with cameras and the kids running around playing on the forts until well after dark. The boys were very disappointed we made it out - a sleepover at the park would have been much preferred (but COLD!).

saturday in the studio

Getting ready for Tuesday's Holiday Shop Update...

...with company from one of my helpers working on her favorite 'studio visiting' project - moving pins from one cushion to the other (No worries - she's perfectly safe - we learn these things early on around here);

...getting little pieces of magic like this one (Ezra's 'fancy letters') slipped under the door to me from my other helpers;

...dipping into my favorite basket of vintage bits and pieces in the sunniest spot I can find;

...with some new studio art inspiration from Samantha Lamb Photography - this photograph makes me so happy;

...and now, back to work!