heading outta town

Tomorrow we head north for a wedding and some visiting, followed by a little mini vacation for the three of us up in the beautiful Berkshire mountains of Western Massachusetts.  We will be away from home for nearly 2 weeks and I am trying not to think of the garden too much (will we miss all the peas? the lettuce? will it rain enough?)

I aim to spend little time online while we're away but am thinking I'll post a photo and a few words in this space at least every other day or so.  Postcards, if you will.  (and if you have any recommendations for things to do/see while we're up there please do send them my way!)

We will be bringing..........mama's new car!  Woohoo!  About 6 weeks with no vehicle to call my own and though we didn't really need one most of the time, it sure is nice to have some wheels.  All of the walking that we did during that time will hopefully serve as a reminder that I don't in fact need the car to take us into town most of the time.  We searched far and wide and found just what we were looking for~ another station wagon with good gas mileage, low miles, and plenty of room.  We ended up with a charcoal grey 2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring and despite the fact that up until about a month ago I hadn't really known of them or considered them, I'm really loving it so far.

Today was the third market day and it was our best yet!  I'm thrilled to be a part of this wonderful community event and already look forward to it 2 weeks from now once we're back in town.  I'll be needing to take a bit of sewing and card materials on the road with us to get ready for that market day, but that's alright..... there are plenty of willing arms waiting to scoop up the little lady and keep her occupied while mama gets some stuff prepared.



Some noteworthy bits and pieces from our week:

I am so very pleased to report that papa seems to be fully on the mend after over 3 weeks of fighting off some unknown illness that had us a bit scared at times.  (to the point where I almost forcefully took him to the ER)  Fever, chills, sweats, coughing, weakness..... it was bad news bears around here for quite some time so this recent change in wellness status has me feeling so very grateful and relieved.  There was actually a moment when he returned from a few doctor's visits with hardly a glance my way and then told me he "needed a minute" before telling me how everything was that I truly expected some very very terrible news.  As though that moment right there was to be the last normal moment for us before entering into a new reality of living with some terrible illness.  I was terrified.  That was yesterday.  And today.... well, today we are still in our "normal".  Better than normal actually.  So grateful.

Thanks to Wolfie Claire now howls when she hears sirens.  That's whether or not he has already started howling.  It's quite funny and I'm really loving it.

Alrighty.  Off to finish packing so the morning ahead isn't terribly frantic.

a creative space for mama

Recently I'd often find myself with thoughts of making and doing something, but unable to find the things I needed and not thrilled about taking over the dining table in order to work on whatever it was.  But now.... well, now I have a sweet little space that seems to be working so far.  I claimed a little space for myself in the computer/office/drum room.  A space to create, to plan, to organize.  I like it.  It's not incredibly spacious and it's not fancy.  (I love that word.  'Fancy')  But it's just what I needed.

some inspiring reads

a peek at my bulletin/inspiration board:

the fabulous woman pictured below is my grandmother, Willene~ at right, an old photo of her on her front porch with my uncle as a wee one and at left a beautiful photo of her taken on a camping trip in Western North Carolina last October

buttons awaiting grandeur

Feels mighty fine to have created this little nook for myself.  And I'm happy to report that last Friday night (the night before the 2nd market) I was in bed by 11PM as opposed to the nearly 3AM of the previous week.  I'm working on it, yes I am.  This week has been a bit hectic with papa being quite ill and lots to do before a somewhat lengthy trip away from home coming up this weekend, and so I've not gotten as much done in the "stock replenishing" category as I had by this time last week, but that's alright.  Life is about so much more than always having it together.

As if I know anything about that.  I aim for having it together, somewhat, at least the majority(ish) of the time, but my perception of what "having it together" means certainly changes with whatever life is throwing my way.  Far as I'm concerned, as long as I've got my two loves by my side and we're all happy and healthy and feeling good.... that's pretty damn together.

Here's to spaces that bring some welcome calm and order, and to happy and healthy loved ones!

Groundnut Stew

mmmmmmmmmmm.  yum.

Recently my friend Heather (the one who is hiking her way across the state of North Carolina and cataloging edible/medicinal/otherwise useful plants along the way) passed through the area and stayed with us for a night.  Knowing that she likes this dish and thinking she could use a decent meal, I was more than happy to cook up a big batch.  Turns out Claire is a big fan as well.

I loosely follow this recipe out of Sundays at the Moosewood Cafe, adding about a cup or so of black beans, a little extra cabbage, some extra stock or water, and vary between parsley, cilantro, or whatever fresh herbs I have on hand.  Basically, the base recipe gets you to a good place, and then from there I just see what I've got on hand and what kind of mood I'm in.  It's a bit on the sweet side and that can be easily tweaked by using less apple juice or adding some stock in addition to the juice.

I think it's wonderful served over brown rice.  Outside.  With a good friend.  And maybe a decent beer as well. 

Enjoy!

Groundnut Stew 

2 cups chopped onions

2 tablespoons oil

1/2 teaspoon cayenne or other ground dried chilies

1 teaspoon pressed garlic cloves

2 cups chopped cabbage

3 cups cubed sweet potatoes

3 cups tomato juice

1 cup apple or apricot juice

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger root

1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

2 chopped tomatoes

1 1/2 -2 cups chopped okra

1/2 cup peanut butter 

Saute the onions in the oil for about 10 minutes. Stir in the cayenne and garlic and saute for a couple more minutes. Add the cabbage and sweet potatoes and saute, covered, for a few minutes. Mix in the juices, salt, ginger, cilantro, and tomatoes. Cover and simmer for about 15, unti8l the sweet potatoes are tender.  Add the okra and simmer for 5 minutes more. Stir (whisk) in the peanut butter, place the pan on a heat diffuser, and simmer gently until ready to serve. Add more juice or water if the stew is too thick.

six dollar chair

About six dollars too many if you ask Mike.

I bought this chair at Goodwill a few days ago for six bucks but I couldn't fit it in the car with Claire and the groceries.  Mike kindly went back the next day to retrieve it for me.

He came home, threw me a funny little sideways glance and said "that's some chair you got there".

To which I replied "but did you sit in it? It's great!"

To which he replied "I didn't want to sit in it.... it's gross!"

hmph.  I think it's pretty great.  I like sitting cross-legged on the floor.  I appreciate this chair's low, squat stature.  This is the perfect chair for my kind of sitting.

Needs a cushion for the back, maybe some paint, maybe a new seat cushion cover.... but I see it's potential.

Taking suggestions on color schemes.... what color does this beauty want to be?

our little drummer girl

This girl knows her way around drums.  She will leave most anything she is doing to go listen when papa plays, and can hold her own with those two sticks as well.  She has a drum of her own and we have two larger hand drums but she has a strong preference for the drum set.  And can you blame her?  It's big, rather noisy, she's allowed (encouraged, even) to bang on it with big sticks..... what (inside) could possibly be more fun than that?

Here she is twirling into the office/drum room for one of her recent performances.  What flair.

watch out little drummer boy....

a toddler lives here

Yesterday Claire and I met up with several of the wonderful women and babies from our Mamatime group.  These women helped keep me sane and grounded during those early months of new mamahood and I will forever be grateful for having taken the leap and joined the group, unsure as I was of whether or not I'd get anything out of it or have anything to contribute.  Silly me.  Through this group I realized how powerful it can be when people (especially women, no offense to the fellas) gather intentionally to support each other through a shared experience.  Powerful indeed.  Big time.

And so, a little over a year after we first gathered, we visited and watched each other's amazing little ones and talked about anything and everything.  And nothing.  Sometimes it's the sitting and simply being and talking about nothing that somehow feels the most connecting....

We wondered whether or not we could still really call our little ones babies.  I mean, of course we can.... but we were wondering, not that we really cared, how accurate that was.  I know that I've taken to referring to Claire as "my daughter" way more often than I do "my baby".  At least when talking to other people.  (as opposed to when I talk to myself...)

And then I realized that seemingly overnight, our household went from one of 2 adults and a baby to one of 2 adults and a toddler.

And I was surprised to find that, bittersweet as it may be in many (many, many, many) ways.......

I took this little revelation in stride, with a big smile, an open heart and much anticipation for what's to come.  Because there are great things coming.  Oh yes there are.

And then I looked around and really, the signs were everywhere.  The signs that yes indeed, a toddler lives here now.

snacks. there are always, always, always snacks.

we own a ride-on toy

she is practicing the art of oral hygiene

there is an ever-expanding shoe collection (and yes, those are black water shoes for my girl..... what can I say? they were $2 at the thrift store and she needed some waterproof shoes and mama isn't ready to spend $40 on these just yet)

there is sidewalk (er, fence?) chalk being put to it's intended use (when not being eaten, that is)

peace is in the details

After writing the other day I realized that my pace while doing most things (aside, of course, from things that need to be completed by a certain time, like market preparations) actually is quite unhurried, mindful and deliberate. I suppose that is how I find my balance.  It is also where and how I find moments of peace when I need them.... not that we don't all need them on a regular basis.

I'm talking about things like weeding and tending the garden, sweeping, hanging clothes, washing dishes..... the things that need to happen on a daily basis to keep it all flowing as smoothly as possible.  I understand that many people (including the one I am married to) prefer to whiz through these chores, getting through them as quickly as possible so they can move on to something else.  I get it.  There are other things to do.  But for me, for the most part, I've a strong preference for slowing it down.

For me, hanging clothes isn't just about conserving electricity.  It's about the act itself and the way it is meditative for me.  I tend to give some thought to what goes where and how it looks.  I know that may sound a little strange~ who cares how it looks?  It's a clothesline.  But I enjoy catching sight of it all blowing in the breeze throughout the day and so the aesthetics of it bring me joy.  That, and maybe taking the time to hang them in a way that appeals to me is my way of spending a little more time doing it.

I said I wasn't going to try broccoli again, but we'll see... maybe this is the year

peas!

Mulching the raised beds is another thing that I recently caught myself doing very slowly, taking the time to check out each little plant as I nestled the straw around it.  Gardening is very much about self sufficiency, eating the freshest produce possible and saving a few bucks of course, but it is another place that I find myself paying a lot of attention to how it looks.  There is peace to be found in carefully stringing another layer for the peas to wind up, in weeding around and mulching the growing plants.... it's not so much about order and control (at least I don't think it is) as it is about enjoying growing these plants and creating a beautiful space for them, and for us.  Getting my hands in the dirt is most definitely one of my favorite kinds of therapy.  Grounding, free, and readily accessible with no appointments necessary.

sneak peek at our garlic 

the lettuce drawer in all it's glory

And sweeping?  Well, sweeping just kinda makes me feel good.  I don't really like the feeling of walking around on dirt and bits of food and cat hair, though those things do cover some part of the floor here at all times for sure, and so a good sweep does two things; makes my toes happier for not having to step on all kinds of nastiness, and makes me slow down and focus on just the task at hand.  It's not often that I can quiet my mind like that, so I've become a fan of some time with the broom.

Just so you don't go thinking I'm pretending to have mastered how to be all mindful and Zen about all chores, let me add that I almost never (really very, very close to never) mop the floor or clean the windows, and I really can't stand cleaning the bath tub.

Oh and I'm terrible about making piles.  Particularly of paper, but also of clean clothes waiting to be put away.  Usually when I start in on whittling away at a pile I get the itch to instead go outside and mess around in the garden.  Or maybe to sweep.  Or go for a walk.  Or anything else that doesn't really have to get done right then.

easy like Sunday morning (and noon and night)

With market preparations in full swing last week I found myself smack in the middle of the procrastinator's self-inflicted last minute scramble dance.  Not really a pretty thing.  There was much running around, many attempts at way too much multitasking, some (mmm... quite a few, actually) bad words flying out of my mouth, and some LATE nights.  But that's just kinda how I get it done.  I'd like to work on that a bit and learn how to pace myself and be one of those people who prepares for something slowly, easily.  One who, when faced with a giant term paper at the end of the semester, works on it in sections and completes it in a logical and orderly (and timely) fashion.  I was more the type who was always up the night before typing out 20 or 30 pages and crossing out my notes as I went in an effort to keep it all organized.  It worked.

Perhaps I'm just one of those people.  The procrastinators.

I'll probably keep saying I'd like to work on it and change my ways.  Because the other way (the calmly paced, orderly, drink a cup of tea and enjoy the moment way) sounds and feels quite a bit nicer.  It's nice to allow yourself extra breathing room.  Polite.  Self-respecting.  The least you could do for yourself, really.

And so, the opening day came and went and it's nice to find myself on this side of things~ the "after" side.  Where I only need to replenish things week to week and hope to do so in a not so hurried way.  With lots of tea and time to read and time to watch this girl of mine do her thing.


Today Papa was at work and we lazily passed away the hours in some of my favorite ways;

*french toast and coffee for breakfast
*pj's until noon
*lots of story time and singing
*played in the dirt (started some seeds, transplanted seedlings, ate the first peas out of the garden)
*cleaned out the chicken coop and yard (I know, not glamorous... gross really, but still something I enjoy)
*washed and hung diapers and laundry (I am well aware that it's starting to sound like I was born in the wrong century..... but to be honest I very often feel that way)
*took a walk, and picked some strawberries from a generous neighbor's yard

aahhhhhhh...... off to enjoy a cup of lavender-chamomile tea, a little reading and writing, and possibly just a smidge of 'replenishing'

to Market, to Market

Our local tailgate market opened for the season today.  Last year I rented space a few times to sell photo cards, handmade stuffed toys and a little bit of this and that and this year I signed on as a regular.

Committed.  For the entire 26 week season, minus a few weeks here and there when we'll be away.

I'm pretty thrilled about it all.  To be part of the market community (and oh what a great market we have!), to have motivation to play around a bit and create regularly (because I have to), to share the experience with Claire (which I'm sure will prove somewhat challenging from time to time but I'm alright with that), the connecting that takes place.... all of it.

We had fun today.  Sold a fair amount of stuff and learned ways to make the setting up and taking down of things go more smoothly next time.  Grandma and Papa were there.  Claire was there.  The rain held off.

I intended to take some lovely market pictures to post.  To try to capture that feeling, the pulse of the market......

But I forgot.  And I was using the camera to prop something up for display.

Maybe next time.

But here's what I saw.... smiling faces happy to be back, happy to return to this weekly community gathering, dogs (lots of dogs), flowers, plants, chocolate, honey, crafts, loads of produce (predominantly greens with some beautiful strawberries thrown in), quiches, pies, cheese, eggs, breads, baked goods, soaps, local meats, seafood brought in from the coast, children dancing, a light drizzle, and the best of all.... Claire taking it all in.

Of course once it was time to start packing up she was done, over it, take-me-home-NOW-mama, but that's how it goes.

Here's to the start of the market season, and to some learning ahead for this mama on how best to keep a babe happy and at least somewhat contained and occupied at market.

I'm open to suggestions on that front, for sure.

home

Every now and again I plan to simply post a photo, perhaps with a few words, showing a favorite place in or around our home..... a place that somehow defines home for me.

For now, the porch~ this corner of the porch in particular, with the hammock chair and plants, where Claire and I like to hang out.  It is perhaps her favorite vantage point for watching the trash truck drive around on Tuesdays..... how's that for an image of calming and peaceful, eh?  Yep, my girl loves her some trucks.  Big time.  The porch isn't entirely sunshine and roses though, as we still need to address some lead paint, but we are aware of where it is (and where it isn't) and keep a close eye on the little miss while she explores.  Soon, hopefully, we'll be able to address this last bit of worrisome lead paint and be able to embrace more of the charming characteristics of an almost 90 year old home instead of worrying about some of the less than endearing ones.

cheers from this homebody~

Mother's Day Haiku

we walk hand in hand

I step once then pause for her

she looks up and smiles

Walking with her this way I feel more like a mother than ever..... something about the slowing down of walking hand in hand with a toddler and the rhythm you naturally fall into..... it makes my heart swell and my eyes fill with tears.  And then I stop myself and think this, this right here, is what it is all about. It is what makes all the challenges and trying times seem so, so trivial and insignificant.  And I am reminded that these moments are fleeting, both the difficult and the overwhelmingly beautiful ones, and that I had better pay attention and immerse myself in the rhythm of slow toddler meandering as much as possible.

dear, sweet peonies~

How I love you so.

You, dearest of flowers, are so beautiful.  Just plain lovely.

I see you there, in neighbor's yards, and can't help but to go traipsing across their lawns for an opportunity to get a closer look and to deeply inhale with my face buried in your petals.

I breathe in your sweet (and not at all overpowering, thank you for that) perfume and am taken back to another life where surely I must have been a content old soul sitting on a warm lawn surrounded by some of your ancestors and watching the clouds roll by.  Surely, because that's how you make me feel.  Probably there was some tea involved as well, maybe an old blanket thrown down and a good friend or two sitting with me enjoying the day as it slowly rolled by.  The best way for a day to pass, of course.

Recently we pulled (gently) from the ground several of your delicate little shoots, hoping to get you settled in a new and more appropriate location where we hope you will be able to grow and thrive and bloom.

See you in our own yard next year, perhaps?  Oh, I hope so.  And if not, I'll keep waiting patiently and continue my jaunts across stranger's yards to get my fill of you in all your short lived blooming glory.

getting out there

This past weekend I brought 11 of my prints (and some cards) to a local bakery/cafe, Filo, to hang for 8 weeks.  It was fun choosing which photos to enlarge and framing them and deciding how to arrange them.  I feel a little naked having them "out there" on a wall somewhere, trying to find new homes..... but mostly I'm excited about it.


getting ready:

Under the photo at right is the little "about the artist" blurb, which honestly says something like "by purchasing the work here, you are keeping your money in our local economy and helping Amanda to stay at home with her daughter, Claire, for as long as possible."  Something like that.  I figured hey, why not just call it like it is and dish up some good ol' honesty.  That and I think people like knowing where their money is going.  I know I do.

some of the hung photos:

my lovely help:

 Now I just need to get ready for the market.  The one that starts in 9 days.

the many faces of Claire

A little breakfast time photo shoot of my girl, seeing as how it's been a while since I've posted recent pictures of her and her silly little self.

Today, we are working through the process of donating my car to Habitat for Humanity, baking bread, and enjoying the sunshine and relative stillness following last night's thunder, rain and high winds.  Claire was pretty unimpressed with the storm, and was much more interested in inhaling her broccoli at dinner (2 bowls full!) while Wolfie sat shaking under my legs.  I myself quite enjoy a loud thunderstorm from time to time, and particularly love the way it clears away some of the pollen in the air and the way the world seems a little more clean and still afterwards.

cheers

waiting for bees

After calling a few times since mid-April, (since that's when we were told to call and check in) tonight I finally got in touch with the man supplying our nuc of bees.  Lucky for us, it turned out he was heading our way later in the evening and he offered to pick up our hive box and call us when he had the bees in and ready to go.  I was more than happy to accept the offer since we had expected we'd be making the 45 minute drive back from his place with bees in a box in the back of the car and surely having to reference good old YouTube quite a bit once we were home and needed to get them in the hive.  I don't mind missing out on that first lesson in beekeeping.  There will certainly be more lessons coming.

Like bears.

He told me very matter-of-factly that we would absolutely need a bear fence around the hive.  Even though we have a fence.  And a dog.  I know we have neighborhood bears, though I've not yet seen one myself, but somehow I was thinking we'd get by with our fence and Wolfie.  Hmmmmm.  Maybe not.  Guess we need to start coming up with a solution.

So, we wait.  One day very soon he'll call and we'll go running to bring home our newest (and likely last, for a while anyway) addition.

an inspired breakfast

Breakfast for Claire and I was inspired in part by a friend of mine and her recent decision to thru hike North Carolina's Mountains-to-Sea trail, identifying and recording all of the edible/medicinal plants along the way.  She will essentially be seeing most all of North Carolina's plant life as the trail passes nearly 1,000 miles across the state from Clingman's Dome to Jockey's Ridge.  

We visited with her this weekend, chatting a little about plants and mostly just catching up before she heads out.  For breakfast this morning I decided to jazz up our eggs a bit with some wild goodness outside the back door.  Really I just glanced out to see what was readily available and into the eggs went some dandelion greens and violet leaves.  Pretty tasty.  I used to do this more often, throwing wild greens into our meals.....  thanks to Heather for inspiring me to start doing it again.  If you'd like to follow along on her journey a bit, she'll be writing regularly here.

cheers!

thrifty home decorating; for the walls

We stumbled upon a little rummage sale this weekend and with the $3 in cash we had in our pockets we purchased a set of cotton twin sheets for Claire's bed, 2 children's books from the early 60's with some fun pictures inside, and the 3 pieces of art below to be framed and hung low on the walls in her (soon to be) room.  Not bad, I'd say.  $1 for the sheets, .25 cents for each book, $1 for the big painting and .25 cents for each of the two botanical ones

I may have a little trouble actually cutting up the books for the pictures, raised with such a deep respect for books as I was (a good thing, for sure) but we'll see~

I also found this wonderful book at Goodwill for about $1.50 a while back and plan to frame some of the fun inside for our bare walls,

again, we'll see.