Our lazy, fruit-filled August days...

I forgot to post a whole bunch of photos and happenings last week.  Or maybe it was the week before.  Akh.  I've hit that magic number of something - whatever it is that makes you lose your mind.  Kids, years, who knows.  

We just came back from our spot in Michigan.  Our retreat, our oasis just outside of the world.  That monastery is a piece of heaven.  They all are.  But this time, I felt that our visit was too short.  I felt that there was more that needed digesting, more than needed to be said.  But just like that, we were back on the road coming home and I was left with more questions than when I came.  Perhaps that is the way of things.  There was something different about this visit.  Something more solemn to me.  I am still mulling it over.  Digesting.  

Apple picking season starts very very soon.  Not soon enough for my little ones.  But here were are almost at the end of August.  I am not ready to say goodbye to the summer just yet.  We have a few more things that need doing.  

Today I made yogurt for the first time in months.  Definitely since baby M came things have been different, routines dropped or changed, and disorder rampant.  It's not her, bless her little heart.  She's a darling; a ray of sunshine.  Even the older ones dote on her.  It's just that life has to be rearranged with babies.  :)  But now we have yogurt.  And labneh!  Dany is very happy.  I don't usually make labneh.  I never grew up with it, so it's hard to remember to make it!  (Not like I notice it's missing until I really want it...)  

Did ever mention that I thank God for good neighbours?  Well I do!  Last week, one of our neighbours down the hall dropped off some of their extra basil, chives and blueberries.  How sweet!  The kids just devoured the berries.  I thought maybe we'd make something - a blueberry lemon loaf cake, or even a pie.  Nope and nope.  They didn't have a chance those berries.  I can't say I was upset.  Fresh fruit just belongs to summer.  We've been enjoying lots of peaches.  In fact, tomorrow we'll pick up another basket at the market.  I love summer Wednesdays. 

I have been painting these past two weeks.  It is heaven to be back at the brushes.  Of course, I have other things pulling at my time.  Namely a sweet, drooling baby who's crawling!  :) Oh those teeth.  They are cute, but bought at a price.  Sleep is the price.  :)  

On that note, I'd best be off to bed.  Who knows how many times I'll be waking up to kiss those sweet cheeks tonight.  (Actually, to be completely honest, I am not always fully awake when I "wake up" with her...)  Sweet dreams world!

Quieter pursuits

Things have been a little quieter on the home front this past week as the kids started school.  Its always a little confusing for me.  Just as we finally get into a rhythm that feels good we have to up and change again.  More than that, I have mixed feeling about them starting school again.  On the one hand, I miss them and I miss all things we could be doing together - that we should be doing together!  On the other hand, I am thankful for a quieter and tidier space.  (I'd trade the latter for the former any day mind you.)

To calm my confused and somewhat low spirits, I have picked up my crochet hook and knitting needles.  Nothing like yarn to match a contemplative mood - and it really does bring me to my happy place!  That there above is going to be another hooded cowl.  Haven't decided between rabbit or wolf or perhaps another cat?  Speaking of wolf, there is a wolf hat I have in my unfinished project bag waiting for me to get to it.  Maybe I'll make this one a wolf too and we'll have a pack?  (Oh the possibilities!)  Also, when you're feeling off, chocolate cake can't hurt.  A sour cream chocolate bundt cake.  Preferably drizzled in a delicious chocolatey ganache.  

This is my 3rd in action.  (She is literally my Montessori poster baby... thrives on routines that one does.)  She is cutting up a banana for her morning snack.  I ended up eating it for her since she preferred to munch on carrot sticks and broccoli trees.  We're flexible like that.  :)

 I finished (I think?) a watercolour robin yesterday.  The kids all did watercolours alongside mama.  They are all marked as gifts.  I will ask them if I can share their work here for the next post.  I'm going to frame theirs either way.  I was so happy to break out the paints.  An impromptu art session.  I miss art.  

Here's to more art in 2016!  

Life is full right now!

While not always punctual, it seems that I have fallen into weekend blogging.  Meaning, I usually post after the weekend has passed, and often about the weekend too.  It seems to work for now.  We are busy enjoying each other during that time, and after all that connecting, I am only too happy to come here and unload all that joy.  :)  Of course, it's not all fun and games.  There are definitely rough patches in our lives.  I struggle often on what to share and what not to.  It's not just my my story to tell.  I want to respect the other members of my household, and those others who touch our lives as well.

So just for the record, there are many things that happen around here (as everywhere else I'm sure) that are not seen.  In all things though, I do try to focus on the positive because it is easy to get sucked into a negative "energy" vortex, and I personally tend to often veer towards the melodramatic.  (And pregnancy hormones do NOT help with that...)  So this is a place where I try to focus on and remember and celebrate the beauty and blessings around me.  And I am 100% sincere in what I write.  Every single word.

I mentioned I've been trying to sew that quilt a few strips at a time.  Well, I've finished piecing the squares together and now needs pin the strips together to sew up.  I am happy that this sewing rhythm is not eating into other important parts of our days.  My dear mama came by on Friday to help me make and freeze a batch of meat and cheese pies.  They are safely in the freezer (minus a dozen or so that the kids gobbled up) for when baby comes.  While I don't have a large freezer, I am trying to stock up on food for when things are especially crazy.  You just never know.  I am hoping I can squeeze at least one or two more such sessions before D-day arrives.  We'll see.

Just as we ran out of apples, D decided to take us apple-picking again.  If you haven't noticed, apple-picking is not just a once-a-season affair for us.  We are not tourists about it.  We love our apples.  And we love picking them ourselves as they come in season.  It is so satisfying to tune in to nature's timeline.  This time we got some Golden Delicious, Jonagold (duh!) and we had some Macintosh and Mutsu to round things out.  I think there will be at least one last run before the season is over.  Too bad we don't have an extra fridge.  I'm convinced it would be devoted to at least 90% apple storage if so.  And while I'm at it, I wish we had our OWN orchard!  Now THAT would be awesome!  Just mosey on out into your backyard and pick a few whenever you wanted...  A gal can dream.  

M made a poster in french for the letter "M" for school this past week.  He was so into it.  I mean, I got into it too, but he was hardcore.  (I did the drawings, and he did the colouring, writing and glueing.)  We had finished working on it the night before and that was that.  In the morning, M woke up at 6:30, came to me (thankfully I was already awake) and said very seriously, "Mom, we forgot something.  We forgot 'masque'."  And he proceeded to coach me on how to draw a mask for him to colour and glue it on a small empty patch right up near the corn.  Hilarious kid.  Although, I imagine how it would've been less hilarious had he actually woken me up.  

The school adventures don't stop there.  Aside from reading (boy is she getting speedy at spelling!), J is obsessed with pets.  Not the typical kind, mind you.  I mean snails, spiders and all things small.  She brought home a snail from school.  There is a wall outside the school apparently, that with the changing of seasons has had quite an array of snails stuck to it.   So my darling daughter put one in her backpack and brought it home.  Of course, she lost it for a while because it had climbed up the other side of the pocket she zipped it in, but once we found it again, all was well.  I do feel badly as the snail died a couple days later.  I told her he (or she?) needed to be outside and that was the best place for little critters.  So far she hasn't brought any more home, so perhaps the message resonated?  Although when she and M found a spider in the bedroom, they put it in a cup and kept it for a couple of days before D kindly let it outside.  Not before they accidentally crushed some of its legs with a small pebble they put inside the cup though...   (Apparently they wanted spidey to have a rock to rest on.)  I think we need to work on that before we look into getting any real pets.  :)

So yes.  It is Wednesday and we are halfway through the week.  My how time flies.  I don't feel any "nesting" instincts kicking in so far, which is a little disappointing.  It's nice to have all that energy to work.  Most days I'm practically forcing myself to go through the motions.  Thank God for D.  And for all these little hands who love to help out mama (well, most days...).  I suppose there's still time.

Wishing you a wonderful week! 

In the studio and around the home

Lately, we have been eating lots of greens.  Not just salad, I mean.  Spinach with meat and rice (that spinach is from our balcony garden), Mlukheye (wild leaves that we boil with chicken to make a soupy dish that the kids love with rice too), stuffed zucchini, okra with onions and tomato sauce... I love looking into my fridge and seeing all those vivid greens and reds and yellows. 

Last night D went on a bike ride with the little ones.  All three of them.  Doesn't sound like a big deal until you've tried to corral three energetic monkeys on bikes going helter-skelter up hills and around streets.  Nerve-wracking for a parent.  D is as cool as a cucumber.  He offers to take them all so I can have a breather.  Do the dishes in peace.  Finish freezing some extra herbs or berries.  Maybe sit down for a minute and play a tune on the new piano.

We got a new keyboard.  It's not a true piano, but I have a hunch that isn't far behind.  There's only so much you can do with a keyboard, and pedalling is not one.  :)  However, space is an issue here, so keyboard it is for now.  The kids love it and have been begging for "lessons".  Oh yes, little ones, you shall indeed have those!

We went to the petting zoo this past weekend.  The kids love animals, so of course they loved walking around.  Favourites were the deer, the ponies and the bunny rabbits.  And the ducks.  Can't forget the ducks.

There is something about summer work that is pleasant.  Perhaps I am finding it so because D is there to help out in the evenings often, which leaves me a bit of space to plan or execute tricky details.  Or perhaps it's just that time of year and it feels right for this kind of work.  Can't wait till we get in some cucumbers for the pickles!  Perhaps next week...

There are lots of projects happening around here.  Yarn, fabric, wood, food, and music.  Everything that makes life beautiful!  The quilt is almost done.  I stayed up late sewing last night and now I only have the binding left.  I love this simple, rustic style.  It's just a mishmash of old fabrics sewn together in strips - not particularly neatly either.  It just works though.  The kids keep begging me to finish it so they can use it.  I am not sure if I shall leave it for the kids, or keep it as a Christmas gift for a certain special someone, who shall remain nameless.  Perhaps I'll just have to do another one.  And that, my friends, is a happy thought to be sure.  :)

This is a photo of that pink baby sweater.  As you can see, it is now close to completion.  I picked out some sweet wooden buttons with carved flowers on them.  And I have some simple white ones also.  I will probably keep the wooden ones for the grey sweater and use the white for this pink one.  I think.  We'll see when all is said and done.  By the way, most of the progress on this sweater came during morning swimming lessons!  Despite having all the kids with me, even little S, I managed to get at least a couple of rows per day.  Not too shabby.  Now that lessons are finished for the summer, knitting progress may slow.  Especially with all the other projects.  

I am hoping to get back into some iconography before baby arrives, so I have been preparing a few boards these past couple of weeks.  Two of them didn't turn out so well being older, and the gesso wasn't sanding smoothly.  So when the kids asked for their own boards, I was only too happy to oblige.  And they were thrilled!  As you can see, they have their own artistic style.  :)  I am hoping they will agree to a project where we can write a beautiful quote on their boards together, maybe with stencils or something like that.  Then they can give them as gifts, or keep them should they be so inclined.  (Usually I find they like to give away the things they make.  Bless their little hearts!)  

Anyhow.  That's quite an update for me.  Life hasn't been all rosy and gay.  We all have struggles alongside the joys.  In fact, these past two weeks have been particularly trying for some reason.  I find though, that even just a little handiwork is the best medicine for the blues.  Truly.  So, I've been taking as much of that pill as possible.  As you can see!  Hopefully next week there will be some kitchen updates - I do love sharing what's happening in the kitchen!

Happy weekending to you!

Kitchenry, sketchbookery, and other tidbits.

The kitchen is the heartbeat of our home.  There is always something going on here.  Always a gathering of bodies.  Here are some of the things we've been up to during the week...

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Busy, busy, busy week.  And so I haven't had much time to pop in here for the most part.  A few interesting things of note have happened though that I'd like to jot down, aside from kitchen goings-on.  Bear with me - I'm not very organized in my thoughts.  By the way, since today and tomorrow are cleaning/cooking days I am running around a bit so I'll make it brief...  

:: My first tea kettle watercolour.  A herald of things to come... I hope.  

:: J started swimming all by herself.  Yes'm.  My 3.5 year old is now swimming around the pool with her face barely above the water.  So funny to watch.  The water lapping at her lips, her curls drenched, a half smile on her determined face, and her legs and arms treading, kicking, paddling with all their might.  

:: I got stung by a wasp.  On my tongue.  Don't ask.  It swelled up for a day, then mostly went away.  A bit of a scare on the whole.  Now I look back and shake my head.  You just never know.

:: Pickles.  Several jars of them.  Finally put up for colder months.  Actually, that's not true - we have one open right now in the fridge, so they're not just for colder times.  :)  I would love to try lacto-fermenting them.  Next year maybe.  

:: Stuffed cabbage.  My first attempt.  It was delicious.  You take parboiled cabbage leaves, roll them around a rice/ground beef stuffing.  Place in large pot and add: a sprinkle of mint, a tablespoon of butter, a generous amount of chopped garlic, juice from a lemon, and some water to finish the affair. Then you boil for an hour or two until leaves are translucent.  So tender and filling.  I could eat it all day!  :)  Honestly, it's one of my favourite meals.  Incidentally, I had empty lemon rinds sitting on the counter afterwards, so naturally, I had to make a lemon marble cake.  I love using up everything - even scraps.  Reminds me of olden days.  

:: J is now putting sounds together to make words.  She was so determined to learn those letters.  Amazing!  M went through the same process, but I'm just as awed watching my second baby blaze through this!  

:: S now has two upper molars poking through.  Praise the LORD!  That baby doesn't take molar teething very well.  Lots of sleepless nights and cranky days.  Hoping the bottom ones get it over with soon!   

:: I stayed up late last night trying to finish the Hello Kitty hat.  No dice.  But I did finish most of it.  :)  Just have the eyes, nose and whiskers left.  Then it's off to fabricland for some polar fleece lining. Ya, I had an epiphany: why am I making these hats for my babies if they're not warm enough for wintery days?  What's the point of having like 3 hats?  See?!  So all they need is something warm to line the inside and they should be perfect for the colder months.  

Joining Heather and friends for This Week In My Kitchen blog hop. 

Sketchbookery & kitchen updates

I haven't been around here for a bit.  Haven't really been online too much.  Unplugged is the word.  I've been unplugged.  The beginning of school does that to me.  I need to focus on the kids and myself and our time together.  

Also, I haven't been bringing my camera with me.  At all.  Lovely trip to Michigan last weekend?  No camera.  Beautiful walk around Port Credit the other day?  Nope.  Swimming with the monkeys?  Nope.  I am hopeful that this can only get better from here...  Anyhow, you'll have to take my work for it that we have been busy.  Lots of cuddles, deep conversations, connecting, and vacuuming.  You heard that right.  My son likes to vacuum.  Loves it.  What 5 year old doesn't love a machine he can push around that makes tons of noise?  (That is a rhetorical question... don't shatter my illusion!)

We have put by some peaches, finally.  First time I've canned them without processing them.  I actually did one with just water (ie: no sugar added).  Curious to see how it turns out.  Our peaches were slightly on the ripe side so, while  I'm sure most other photos of preserved peaches look less mushy, ours do not.  They are positively delicious though.  I don't know how long they'll last.  Might try to get in one more round before throwing in the towel.  It'd be nice to make a peach pie or something in the middle of January.  A little summer nostalgia served with a wedge of sunshine.  

While I mull it over, I've decided to try my hand at pickles.  My plan is to start with just one jar to see how it turns out.  If D is convinced, we'll be canning cucumbers for a bit.  We eat a lot of pickles... in fact I have the weirdest craving for them right now!  (No.  I'm not pregnant.)

Farmer's markets are still bustling around here.  We enjoy walking around admiring some of the offerings.  The kids are always given a slice of fruit, or a little taste of whatever.  The hardier crops are making more of an appearance - more varieties of potatoes, carrots, beets, lettuce, spinach.  

We made manacotti for the first time today.  We added chopped spinach and parsley from our garden.  That was special.  I didn't follow a recipe and I think I put too much cheddar.  It was very good though otherwise.  I'll tweak it a bit before I post it here.  Definitely a nice recipe to have on hand - not too time consuming, easily made the day before, and filling.  :) 

And now I come to the real reason for my post: a drawing!  Saving the best for last...

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Sketchbookery and early weekending

It's a bit of a blurry day as we rush around here getting things ready to leave tomorrow.  Also, since M starts school the day after we get back, I am desperately trying to finish the laundry, label his effects and make sure we're not missing anything (like markers for instance...).  And I need to get some grocery shopping done tonight.  Ah, the joys of travelling.  

On a brighter and happier side, the kids are finished washing the hall mirrors, one of the bathrooms is clean (hallelujah!), dinner is done simmering in the crockpot (chilli if you wondered) and I am popping in here to wish you a happy (early) long weekend!  

May your days be filled with many such cups.  And may your cups run over.

Art Attack

This is my very first weekly art attack post!  :)  

I've decided, rather ambitiously, to start a regular weekly post.  It will feature my artwork.  A rather loose definition, but purposely done.  It might be a traditional drawing, it might be food art.  Whatever.  The purpose is to motivate myself to pick up my pencil (or brush or whatever-other-tool) more often.  I am not a trained artist, but I love creating art.  For me, the process is more precious than the product.  (Ah, alliterations...)  

So.  I am choosing to swallow my pride and insecurities and share a page of my sketchbook each week.  Maybe someone else, coming across this post, will be inspired by simple mediocrity to embrace their own inner artist!   

Won't you join me?

A quick pencil and ink drawing of our (small!) condo living room.

some art & garden updates

We had an art day yesterday.  Art days usually occur when there is a mountain of work needing to be done.  Of course.  It was more like an art hour, mind you.  S was taking her morning siesta, so J and I decided to paint.  I love days like that.  :)  

Take a closer look at the painting and you'll find a sweet contribution from my darling J.  She is not only an artist in her own right, but she has strong sentiments on sharing.  Generally, she will leave me to my work and I to hers.  However, every now and then I think she mixes up which paper is hers.  Especially when we get around to sharing brushes and trading paints.  (She likes to use up the dregs of my pigment washes when I'm done with them.)  

Anyhow.  Our one of our cucumbers has bloomed.  A beautiful buttery yellow flower.  I love all the curly tendrils shooting out this way and that.  Such a beautiful plant.  

We've added mint to our little nursery.  (Courtesy of a dear cousin!)  We love fresh mint, so I can't wait to start using it with our breakfasts!  Also, I planted some parsley today in the old pot that the radishes were in.  A little late maybe.  But we already have a beautiful pot of parsley that probably can start being cut in another week.  

As for that tomato I was worried about, no need.  It has started growing again.  Oh happy day!  

The kids are starting to snack on lettuce, parsley and spinach leaves when they mosey on outside.  D and I bought two fold up chairs and put them on the balcony amidst the pots and planters.  It makes it more homey.  We have yet to sit outside (we're usually in bed shortly after the kids), but now we can and that is a very happy thought.

Watercolours

This little guy has been patiently waiting his turn to be immortalized by my brush.  Waiting in photograph form that is.  I don't know how old the photo is, but I can't remember printing it, which places it squarely at least during last winter or beyond.  His day finally came.  We are both happy.  (I haven't touched watercolours like this since before little S was born!)

We had a bit of a rainy morning today.  J and I brought out the watercolours and sat for a relaxing hour swirling brushes and wielding fingers.  I didn't realize how big a fan of finger painting my little girl would be.  For a three year old to sit still for an hour...  Yes, she loves it.

I couldn't resist snapping a picture of her engrossed in her work.  What this picture doesn't show is what happened at the other end of the table.  J was sitting there working on her art.  I was sitting a chair down working on mine.  By the end of the hour, she was sitting on my chair with me, putting the finishing touches on her second painting using my brush.  (Is it because whatever Mom uses is better?) 

Ah my sweet girl.  I can't imagine a more perfect morning.  Incidentally, I managed to fold the laundry between waiting for washes to dry.  Having my home clean is so satisfying.  Today I am happy.  So happy.  That is what painting does to me.

And S woke up happy from dreamland right on time.  Sometimes quiet time at home is sublime.  

Tidbits for the soul

 I came into the room this morning and this is what I saw.  J was playing dress-up with S.  (Oh ya, ya gotta love those two holes she's put in the toes of that sleeper, eh?)  Ya, they were having a ball together... no pun intended.  Adorable!

We've been having some pretty bad winter storms this past while.  It is beautiful though afterwards.  The trees are veritably enrobed in snow and there's a pristine quietness in the air.  Here's a view from our balcony of the last storm to hit.  

 This is the fox mask I made for M.  A little primitive and done on the fly - I had a dozen owl masks to finish people!  Thankfully, my son does not seem to mind.  He's now asking for a pirate patch and a wolf mask.  I can't win with that kid.  As much as I'd love to sit around all day making things (hello, dream come true!), there is work that needs attending.  For instance, dishes do not wash themselves.  And last I checked, dinner has never spontaneously made itself.  Don't even get me started on the laundry.  Laundry actually does move by itself.  It moves upwards that is, at an exponential rate.  

So, I think I'll put mask-making on the back burner for the time being.  

I was forced to make a couple peg people this evening though.  The kids wanted to make their own in fact.  So I let them.  They went to town and covered their pieces from top to bottom in paint.  Then Mom was solicited to "fix" them.  "Princess" and "soldier" were my orders.  So I spent my after-hours making these cuties.  I'm sure they'll both love theirs.  Too much so that I'm bound to be bombarded by orders for more.  Especially M.  He'll want a whole battalion of soldiers so they can have a war.  (Is it me, or are all boys like this?)

Anyhow, that's the story of why the stuffed grape leaves never got done.  *sigh*

I have been reading an excellent book that I just have to pass along.  It's called: Hold Onto Your Kids, by Gordon Neufeld.  Great read for parents, teachers, caregivers and basically anyone who works or deals with children.  Definitely changed my perspective on a few things for sure.  And I'm pretty sure most public libraries carry it.  At least that's what I hear.  (And that's where this baby came from too!)

So, that's me for now.  A bit of this and that in the goings on department.  

A few more tidbits to share...

• This shop is dangerous.  I especially love those seasonal craft boxes.  What a great idea!  I should make up a few for the kids... especially with all the spare time I have.  *sigh*
• I'm dying to get a hold of this book.  A sweet little story for kiddies, a lovely collection of patterns for mama.  
• M and J have been really into owls, amongst other things, this past little while.  I was trolling around etsy and found these little darlings.  I wish I knew how to felt.  One day...  (As if my to do list needs any lengthening.)    
• While I'm on the topic of animals, I've been wanting to crochet a hedgehog ever since I saw one on one of my favourite sites.  This little critter is by far the cutest I've seen, yes?  
• As if I'm not "hatted" out, my son has requested this furry friend.  Can't blame him, but yeesh!  
• These are the slippers my kids dream of.  Happily, this is a dream I can make come true!  Hurray for dreams and hurray for more yarn projects!