saying goodbye

this has been a bad week for keeping up with my resolution to blog more.

we've been under construction over here.

i'm headed over to our apartment for a last go-over... spackling nail holes, paint touch ups and a final goodbye.

i cannot believe we spent over 4 years in that great little place; getting engaged in our kitchen, house-breaking a puppy 3 floors up...

i snapped a few pictures of my favorite spots before we started packing up.

my favorite, was my heart rock collection on our bathroom windowsill.

back later today with more of the goings on...

winter wishes

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no, sadly, these are not my legs.

but, oh, how i wish they were.

and that penelope was still this small.

and that we were at the beach.

back to packing, packing, packing...

(not that i'm complaining!)

busy, busy!

for a gray, mid-january in new england, it has certainly NOT been hoo-hum around here!

last friday morning, i received a very early (1:30am) phone call from my dear friend, deb, who was in labor... i was on-call to watch her daughter beatrice when the time came.

max charles was born at 7am!

photo by amanda... blanket by rikshaw!

friday night i headed downtown to craftland for a screening of handmade nation.

i had goosebumps 15 seconds into the introductory credits. i am so inspired by the craft-revolution of our generation... i've been filling pages in my moleskin ever since!

later that night, our landlords threw us a lovely little potluck "going away" party. i can't believe we've been in this quaint little apartment for over FOUR years! wow.

saturday was our re-inspection- SO good to get one last look at our soon-to-be home!

then, a quick trip to the farmer's market with a girlfriend to dish on prospective dates from the night before. the rest of the day was spent with my new best friends: packing tape + corrugated cardboard. at least we're seeing progress!

sunday i spent the morning with bea, who anxiously waited for dad to bring mom and brother max home!

then, i got busy making good on my new year's resolutions... cooking up a storm! on this week's menu:

* coq au vin (for the new parents, not for us!)

* yummy vegetarian chili with local, seasonal veggies

* 2 meatloaves- one for the week and one to freeze for some hungry uncles who are coming in to town to help with home improvements

* chicken chilaquiles

since then, this week has been full of lovely little surprises and get-togethers... a quick visit and lunch with amanda, who came into town to photograph max, impromptu dinner party with girlfriends and the hubbies, studio time...

tomorrow is our closing! i SERIOUSLY can't believe the day is almost here and that it seems as though it will be drama-free. wooo hooo!! i'll post pics ASAP and the before and afters will begin!

dream

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

help for haiti

richard arduengo, AP via nytimes

PLEASE do what you can to help...

The news is devastating and the situation dire.

Take a few seconds and donate via text (your donation will be added to your cell phone bill):

Text "HAITI" to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross for Haiti earthquake relief.

home

sorry for the light posting lately, but it's for good reason...

after years of looking, months of negotiations and mortgage drama, my husband and i are finally going to be home-owners!

we are thrilled (and slightly exhausted)... but if all goes well, we will be moving in at the end of the month.

i am so excited for all of the potential these four little walls hold; so stay tuned over the coming months (and years!) for plenty of room make-overs, DIY construction projects and renovations.

ahhhhh.

puppies and progress

ahhhh... and, i'm back.

probably the LAST time i will be able to HOLD her for a photo!

my weekend in the snowy woods was heavenly.

even though we were set up like a little sewing sweatshop (saturday we sat at our machines from 7:30am nearly straight through until 8pm, and went back to it after dinner...) we all loved every minute of it.

of course, the crafting was broken up with insane amounts of carbs to keep us going (fresh baked cinnamon bread, scones, baquette with brie, fresh pappardelle)... didn't i say heaven?

and the amount of work we all completed was truly amazing. i managed to pump out an entire quilt top (using my fat quarter set from heather ross' far far away collection) and a baby-to-be gift.

the crafting crew... with our completed projects

i brought nellie along to play with amanda's two labbies- wise strider and the new little bimbo, sage. the dogs were beyond adorable together and the little girls gave strider some much needed time off from puppy play!

penelope and sage... all tuckered out

we loved it when they all zonked out together... small, medium and large all snuggled by the wood stove.

too. sweet.

sage, penelope + strider

thank you ladies for a wonderful weekend... hopefully we can put one of these together once a season!

a parting shot of my sister and me (and nellie!)

all photos: orchard cove photography

weekend in the woods

i'm taking off...

after months of trying to get our schedules to all jive together and with a very last minute change of plans, the winter girl's sewing weekend is finally here.

we are headed to a cabin in the woods.

with a wood stove, a slow-cooker, a long table lined with sewing machines, freshly fallen snow, my sister, great girlfriends and time.

uninterrupted time, away from children and husbands and cell phones... to sew.

i could not be more thrilled.

the past few weeks have sucked me dry.

i've never felt so at the end of my rope and i am in desperate need of a recharge.

i cannot wait to get my creative juices flowing, to eat yummy comfort food, have good girl talk, take long walks with the dogs, drink yummy wine, and just maybe, end the night with a showing of the sex and the city movie.

sounds heavenly, no?

images via here and here

sleepy heads

found in my inbox this morning from reid:

providence

10:18 pm

out of service.

ugh.

i've got another cold.

i'm neti-ing like crazy and nothing is helping.

i think i need...

the sun

warm water

a massage

clean sheets and a huge billowy pouf

but... i am feeling good about the fact that i finally finished a HUGE interior design proposal that i've been working on for a few months. woo-hoo!

that deserves... tulips and a tub?

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so far, so good....

Sunday, January 3rd:

* tub of egg salad

* 2 chicken pot pies

* lasagna w/ homemade sauce

* (extra) meat sauce

* ribollita

that should last us a week, no?

reid also requested clam pasta to be on the week's menu, but that will be made the night-of and break up the left-overs.

off to a good start, i'd say!

and to be honest, i loved my day in the kitchen.

with my apron tied, i chopped onions in bulk, put all my burners to use and didn't even mind the 20+ times i did the dishes. i had my joni mitchell blaring and a cup of warm tea- it was wonderful.

as was my long walk in the snowy woods, with the dogs frolicking off-leash, while the lasagna was in the oven!

ringing in the new year...

a fresh snow

family

food

and

waterfire

Happy 2010!

ten for twenty-ten

1. sunday soups

i'd like to make sunday my day in the kitchen. each week, make a big vat of soup that will last me a week worth of lunches. while i'm in there, make up the week's batch of yogurts and a few meals that i can throw in the oven when i get home from work. when we plan ahead for meals, and stick to it, we save so. much. money. not to mention, needless, daily grocery store trips, gas and time!

2. blog 5x a week

i really DID get a bit better about this since last year, but i am aiming even higher... more projects, crafts, food, DIY, renovations, decorating, fashion.

i've got to chart it all out in my head, but i know i can get all my passions in there!

and, hopefully, this year will be FULL of inspiration!

3. train penelope!

she is becoming QUITE the little teen... very defiant!

4. catch. more. waves.

get out in the water more! on cape. in little compton. somewhere warm? please?

and be brave about it.

5. read

growing up in a home without a tv, i have always adored reading. nothing, NOTHING is better than curling up in front of the fire on a winter evening with a good book, a cozy blanket and a steaming cup of tea. but, i haven't done it in AGES. and i crave it. that getting lost in a world outside of what we can imagine on our own? finding new places to love, getting deep inside another person's head, even learning new strategies for running my small business. by the time i tuck myself in at night, i am asleep before my head hits the pillow- literally.

so, i need to find another time to do it... maybe i give myself an hour in the morning, after my husband leaves for work and before i need to be out the door. or maybe it's in the afternoon to unwind... now, if i can stick to my sunday meal-making plan, THIS could work!

6. make a quilt a season

for our home, to give away... start trying all these bookmarked patterns and digging deep into my stash!

7. write letters

honestly, is there anything better than receiving a hand-written letter in the mail?

a birthday card that arrives ON your birthday?

thank you notes within 24 hours...

this year, i strive to do my part to keep my local post office branch in business.

and put smiles on friend's faces.

8. dress up

i work for myself.

and babysit for friends.

it is all TOO easy to live day after day in yoga pants...

this year, even if only for myself, i will look "put together" when i go to the studio.

and "do it up" when i go out to dinner (for girls night and/or date night).

9. be prompt

i WILL return all calls and/ or emails within 24 hours.

even the ones that i know will take 3 hours.

and the ones that make my stomach go all woozie.

10. it's personal

this last one, is just for me.

perhaps someday, i'll let it be known.

but for now.... no.

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