symptoms of inner peace

1. Tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than from fears based on past experiences.
2. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment.
3. Loss of interest in judging self.
4. Loss of interest in judging other people.
5. Loss of interest in conflict.
6. Loss of interest in interpreting actions of others.
7. Loss of ability to worry (this is a very serious symptom).
8. Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation.
9. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature.
10. Frequent attacks of smiling through the eyes of the heart.
11. Increasing susceptibility to love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
12. Increasing tendency to let things happen rather than to make them happen.

-Dr. Jeff Rockwell

**Sorry for not posting lately. I've been watching THIS and you should too.

summer rocks!

When you're a star, you're a shining star!

It's been a long, sometimes hot, always interesting summer. I have spent the day first at court, then at school. Both places were hopping and unpredictable. I have a new principal this year, and I couldn't be more tickled. He seems great.

P. #2 starts her new school next Thursday. It's a Montessori preschool and it is wonderful. She is sooooo ready. My observation last week was one of incredibly controlled cayous: 24 preschoolers, noone doing the same thing, yet each one totally absorbed in there activitiy and engaged in active, hands-on learning. I think she'll love it.

The court mess seems to be winding down. Luckily I have angels all around me. Money, kids and living situation will stay intact....for now. And isn't now all we really have?

The fair in Monterey last week was sweet and lovely. Here the Princess talks oh so gently to the cow. "How you doing cow? Do you want to come to my house? OK, I'll ask my Dad."
Mom of course would prefer this specimen. Llamas are fascinating. Calm, cool and nonchalant, they are highly sensitive beings who shun affection while at the same time look so squeezable. When I asked this one to pose, she slowly closed her eyes...."if I can't see you, you aren't really there."
The baby zebra was adorable, sucking like a vacuum with her tail spinning 90 miles an hour. Sil just returned from Africa and has much better pictures than this one...
Another hungry baby shot. Synchronized nursing! All you moms with twins can relate I guess! Like my midwife says, "All women are equipped for twins!"

At this point, the fatal fish incident occured. Therefore I have no evidence of the knitting, spinning, quilting, vegetable and feasting (everything fried!) part of the fair. But I guess there's always next year.

The camera has been sent out for repairs. ETA: three looooong weeks. Meanwhile I'll be posting all those OLD pictures that didn't make the cut before....stay tuned!

the culprit

Miracles do happen! No, I haven't replaced the camera... yet. But this morning I wondered if I could download the pictures I took this weekend, even though I can't see them on the camera's little screen. And, wa la!

Don't let that innocent looking rubber fish fool you. Four tablespoons of water can do a LOT of damage. But he was fun while he lasted. More fair pictures to come another day.
This is way more important. My Happy Birthday Pal sent me the most wonderful package of goodies. Clockwise from the upper left: A Greetings from Chicago card (Tamara's from there); a gorgeous skein of Hand Maiden's 2 Ply Silk Cashmere (socks? fingerless gloves?); green glass buttons from Moving Mud, next to their cute packaging; a handmade tassel; a package of cool gift tags; and the perfect card with matching bookmark: "Longevity noodles: eat long noodles, live long life." Ramen of eternal youth!

I can't say thank you enough, Tamara! You're the best!
And finally, a Finished Object! The completed cross stitch, badly in need of ironing. The plan is to make this part of the outside pocket on a tote bag, somehow. I have so much fabric, so many ideas.... and all I really want to do is cast on for some socks! (Ssshhhh!)

I guess it's good news on the knitting front that I feel ready to move on from dishcloth land.

Now I'm off to a hot bath, since I'm still recovering from a marathon birthday!

I hate posts like this

First of all, there's no pictures. Whenever I read blogs that make excuses for not posting for so long, or how they broke / lost / can't figure out the camera, my eyes glaze over. So, my apologies for inducing eye glazing - I have water logged the camera and it refuses to work. It started at the fair yesterday. We had a wonderful time, I took wonderful pictures. Then I stuck the camera into the same pocket that was holding P. #2's goldfish in a plastic baggie. Well, you know the rest of the story.

On a happier note, I had a wonderful, wonderful birthday. Got a massage, went to a party for some school friends, and on the way home found Tamara's birthday surprise in the mailbox. Woot! It contained the most beautiful, thoughtful cards and gifts (hint: I'll be knitting soon!) Thank you so much, Tamara, I love it all, and hopefully will be able to retrieve the memory card from the puddle and transfer it to the new camera I'll be picking up tomorrow (thank the goddess for warranties!) Then you can see my finished cross stitch, some cute farm animals, and the delicious birthday presents I got....

It'll be worth the wait. OK!

dishing up love

Dh got me a gift certificate to a fancy kitchen shop for our anniversary. What did I buy? Japanese dishes, bien sur. I just love the colors and shapes of these; I never find them in thrift stores, and would not normally be able to justify the price ($$$!). It's so fun to arrange food on them, too; they turn the humblest offerings into works of art. I am happy with this serene and lovely display on our big old table.

The tomatoes are from the garden; I found the little glass heart at a yard sale.
Another yummy dish - my lunch. Panzanella salad made with stale sourdough, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and basil, olive oil and balsamic vinegar. I find myself making this over and over this summer. It's the perfect hot weather meal served with cheese, melon, canned dolmas, and good wine.

Served in a big shallow bowl on top of a fat quarter napkin. And speaking of napkins...
Aren't these the cutest?! And notice the price. Well, it's almost my birthday, and I thought I'd be prepared.

Love the little bear holding flowers on that cute wrapping paper, too. In case anybody needs some.

here ya go

Ah, my favorite little interuption. Weeds pulled from the dusty yard are more precious than orchids, no? (I always kill orchids anyway.)

P. #2 wears a sweet dress my mil made a few months ago. Such the girlie girl, it's fun to watch her jostle around in the dirt with the dogs wearing her cute country dresses.

And yes, that is my laundry, again. Gotta keep up my reputation, ya know.
I sewed this dress last week (Blogger has been acting weird again, *sigh*) I really like how it turned out, so cool and comfortable. Horsey Girl observed, "It's a real garden dress, Mom." The fabric was $2, it's a cotton / linen blend that's light and smooth, printed all over with flowers and bee skeps. I've entered this in the Fair, though I doubt I'll do that well, since I used several different colors of thread throughout, and the buttonholes are well, less than perfect.
I also used four different buttons, though you can't tell here; they are all shell, with different designs carved in.

I wish I could wear it! But it must wait until September... now to keep it clean until then!

lughnasad

Lughnasad, or Lammas, marks the first harvest. Usually we celebrate it on the first of August, but it was only this morning I was finally able to get out into the garden. I was greeted by this bounty: yellow crooknecks; brandywine, Italian paste, and green zebra tomatoes; banana pepper; roses, cosmos and daisies. The Goddess is smiling!
And I am smiling too, with this big stack of library books to peruse, and several projects brewing like sweet tea on the burners of my brain. I have bought every ingrediant I need to cook up a veritable Asian feast, and I drool over the pictures in these glossy tomes stuffed with delicious dreams. We had such fun yesterday, zipping from one Japanese market to the next, buying exotic things like dashi, umeboshi, furekaki, and the like.

And the projects? Well, I've entered several things in my county fair as impetus to work on them. I think it will all play out beautifully... the quilt will come last. Yes, I've entered that too (Thanks Laura! You were right) and inspiration is starting to dawn. I just need to start.... cutting.
Because really, as they say, big quilts are nice, but Tiny Patchworks make my life happy every day.

**Japanese craft book stuffed with amazing ideas for wonderful projects and inspiration.

Happy Lammas, y'all.

I love this man

Dear, dear dh. I love him so much. He is the very best dad, superior partner, patient beyond belief. He puts up with more than any guy should, and does it with panache. Handsome, creative, talented, snappy dresser, great taste, loves animals. Kind, considerate, thoughtful, and FUNNY! He really makes me laugh.

I almost added thrifty to that list, but he's no Boy Scout, believe me. he he

Four years ago today, we were married. Under the redwoods, in the dripping fog, me fairly pregnant (OK, quite pregnant). A traditional pagan fete complete with the broom jumping - yes Christine, the same broom that hangs over the door now. We made some promises and, I believe, we've kept them all... and then some.

I love you more each and every day, deer. Let's grow old together like we always said. Stay with me and be my Love. More majick to come.

I love you!!!!

when did this happen?

My little girl is getting SO BIG. She can reach the sink without a chair. She can go on the train ride without an adult. And you should see her climb OVER the gate to play with her goat friends. When did she get so fearless?

She can make her bed, and fetch things from the refrigerator. She helps feed the animals. But she still makes messes faster than I can clean them up! Yesterday we made homemade playdough. It looks, smells and feels so much nicer than the store bought kind.
She spent the rest of the day in the kitchen, cooking up playdough treats and offering them to me. I thrifted the little kitchen for $3 - it makes realistic boiling noises when you turn the stove handles. This girl has more kitchen equipment than Chez Panisse.

Warning: closer examination of this picture may reveal my laundry in the background. Eckg!
And speaking of piles, I have a few going next the sewing machine. I spent a goodly amount of time hemming fat quarters into napkins recently. I think it's fun to have mismatched cute napkins - everyone can choose theirs for the week. I have moved my studio downstairs; even after tidying up the mess in the girls' room, it just wasn't really feeling, well, inspiring up there. Downstairs is cooler, the light is better, and I can multitask - cook AND sew!

Summer bliss. Until dinner time and I have to move it all off the table...