Despite the cold we have been trying to get outside as much as possible. Kevin's broken foot is on the mend. The snow is so dry and hardened on top Eliot can run around on top without sinking. Here he is with the snow shoes he got for Christmas.

I am trying out some new rug warp. It is a heavier linen that I have been using. I will report once I start using.

And, as I have been updating the sidebar with birds visiting our feeder, I am not sure if you noticed a more unusual visitor. A Red Tailed Hawk has been hanging out in the tall trees around our house. I was adding birdseed about two weeks ago when I noticed red spots on the snow. I though maybe a squirrel had injured itself on the wire that we have the bird feeder hanging from. I didn't think much about it until I was up in my sewing room that overlooks the backyard when all of a sudden the hawk comes diving out of the sky and nearly catches a squirrel dashing for the bushes. We have noticed a major decline in our squirrel population.

Today we saw it in the giant pine in our neighbors yard and I managed to get a few shots as it flew off and was chased by a crow.

Ease In

I am trying to ease back into my blogging habit. I have been easing back into my crafting habit. I picked back up where I left off on the rock rug (I think it will be the Crescent Beach Rug once it is done). I have my big table facing towards the back yard so I can watch the snow and birds. I am motivated to get this one done. I'm aiming for the end of February to have it completed.
I went to a fabric sale at a church a few days ago. I picked up some fantastic fabric for a steal. I think they will be used in the next quilt I have in mind.

Another project in the works. I love the boats of Ann Wood so I thought I would make one for Eliot with my own creative touches. Here is the start. I have a feeling this project will keep being pushed to the side but it is fun to think about none the less.

So - I will try not to disappear for so long again. I have lots of pictures of the past few months to catch up on.

Little Stitches and Little Surprises

Here is an updated progress on the little gift I am working on. Lot's of little stitches I have done. Lot's of little stitches to go. Along the way with this one I have another idea that should be in the works soon for another little one. So many little ones right now. I have more than one past due present that I haven't started yet!

A newish member to the tank. Actually there are two but this one is the feisty one. Two Gold Gouramis. They beg like dogs for food whenever you walk by. Kind of charming for a fish.

The last of the flowers are gone from the garden. Especially after the wild wind we had last night! I was so happy to see these blooming in our garden this fall. It was a nice little surprise, and they make such long lasting cut flowers! Having flowers in the house has been wonderful. I hadn't really thought about having a cut flower bed but I have been rehashing garden plans to include one.

Another Catch Up

It has been a while! We are still settling and enjoying our new space. I have been working on some projects again as I get my studio in order. I plan on taking a few snaps this weekend to show you what I have been up to. There are a lot of garden plans and chicken research that has been rattling around in my head for spring. For now a few catch up pictures:

Under the bridge at Cousins Island.
My Halloween lion and Kevin's fabulous pumpkin carving.

A little fall foraging. Eliot and I found some tea berry in the woods and made some tea. It doesn't taste like much, even after steeping for 10 minutes. It has a very mild minty flavor. I will try to find some this spring now that I know where to look to see if new shoots taste any better.

The birthday boy at 4 years old!

He was so excited about his balloons. He has a big fixation with them right now. He won't let me get rid of the deflated ones even after a month. This is a peek into his new room, too. I plan to take down the wall paper and spruce it up a bit at some point. He likes it right now so I figure it gives me time to plan.

October Update

It has been one BUSY month around here. We are still settling in with lots of visitors and Eliot's 4th birthday done and mine coming up. My father was in town for two weeks so we did a lot of site seeing and enjoying the countryside.

We took a lovely drive through the White Mountains.

Saw the geese flying south for the winter.

And have been celebrating the fall by tossing leaves into the sky. I am not sure when I will be updating again but I hope to get Internet at home in the next few weeks. I am nearly done with the feather quilt

Take Two

Last weekend we took a trip up to Boothbay to visit the Maine State Aquarium for the 2nd time. We made sure it was actually open this time! Eliot loved it. He was enamored with the shark touch tank. There was a Cat Shark and Spiny Dogfish. He touched and pet the sharks then took a spin around, then came back on and off for 2 hours. He wanted to jump in and swim with the sharks. He was certainly more brave than most of the adults there.

They have a very active volunteer program that involves kids starting at about 5-6 along with a parent. If Eliot keeps interested in under sea creatures I think it would be a place to learn.

Getting Settled

We are slowly settling into the new house. Day by day we are unpacking more boxes and finding spots for all of our things. I am sure it will be rearranged 100 times but that is fine by me. We aren't going anywhere for a while!

I feel lucky we were able to find a balance between my need for outdoor space and Kevin's need to be on a bus line or bikable route (he doesn't drive). We have about a quarter of an acre of South facing yard with access to tons of trails and yet only a few miles from downtown Portland.

It is an old house that was clearly loved and taken care of. The former owner was a cabinet maker so it has lots of tasteful updates and creative uses of space. We are quickly filling it up. Thankfully, we don't have much work to do to it either. I am looking forward to turning the yard into a productive little urban homestead. I am sure this blog will end up being a diary of the transformation.

Weekend

Here's to bread baking in the oven and fresh veggies in the belly. It has been a week of weeks around here. The weather has been amazing as the summer is winding down. Eliot and Kevin start back to school this week and we are closing on a new house on Tuesday if all goes as planned! I can't wait to share pictures and get settled.

In the mean time we are packing up and closing down shop here in our apartment. I suspect blogging will be slow over the next week and until we get Internet hooked up at our new residence. Wish us luck!


The quality of light is changing rapidly around here. The leaves have begun to change over, too.
We have had such perfect summer weather this year I can't feel too badly about fall approaching. Feels like our lives are changing along with the season.

Slow Cloth

I have been slowly working on the rock rug this week. It is coming together smoothly but slowly, piece by piece. I usually carry it around in a basket to bring here and there to work on it but it is finally outgrown it. I am happy with how the blanket has turned into 'sand' - there are some minor color variations that have given the white sections more depth. As we feel fall slowly approaching around here (some trees have already turned!) I will keep slowly working on this.

The feather project is coming along too - I worked on it a lot last weekend. I will take some pictures soon to share.

And of course - Happy Birthday to my crazy Husband.

A Brief Catch-Up

A quick catch up from our week. We visited Grey Animal Farm and were surprised to find that a Pow Wow was happening. There were lots of talented singers, drummers and dancers.

Eliot is a budding gardener. Or at least he doesn't mind getting dirty.

My niece's baptism was in a beautiful church in MA.

And turtles from the animal farm, all lined up on a log.

I am having some issues with my pictures uploading very grainy to blogger the past month or so. These pictures are really very crisp and nice - very annoying. I haven't figured out how to solve the problem yet but if anyone has any suggestions I'd love to hear it.

*ahh much better...you have to tweak the html a bit to remove the resizing done by Picassa Web. If any wants more details or how to let me know.

Sumac Lemonade

Eliot and I collected a bunch of Sumac and made Sumac Lemonade out of it. It was really good!
It would make great Popsicles, too.




Basic recipe:

10-12 heads of Sumac berries, either Staghorn (we used) or Smooth variety with RED berries. The white are poisonous.
2-3 quarts of water.
Let soak for 20 minutes in cool water. Do not rinse first or you will loose all of the flavor. I had read somewhere of people soaking them for a lot longer, I might try that next time to taste the difference.
Strain through cheese cloth to remove any fibers or bugs.
Sweeten to taste.
Enjoy over ice.

Vacation II

More vacation pictures....

The sunsets were so beautiful they lit up even the simplest things and turned them into photographic subjects.

Crafting with the kids. It was so rewarding to pass on the rug making techniques I have been working on to an enthusiastic listener. I am putting together a little kit for her and her mom to work on.

Can't beat this location for making things.

The kids did so well over the week. This sums up the energy and excitement of it all.

Wrapping up the week with a fire on the beach and as many s'mores as you could eat.

Vacation

We are back from our vacation. It was a wonderful, relaxing electronic free week. I will be posting some pictures over the next few days.

We were in Harpswell, Maine on the tip of a point with a sandy beach on one side and working docks on the other. There were hermit crabs galore and it was dripping with sea glass.
We had a belated birthday celebration for my mother after our big lobster feast.

Everyone 'helping' the kids open (and eat) their lobsters.

Eliot has his first trip in a kayak. We had an old dog named Lacey who tagged along with us all week. She was very sweet and loved the kids. She ended up being a great babysitter.