Seaside

We skipped out of town a couple of Saturdays ago to take the kids to the beach. It had been a really long time and Sterling had started asking us everyday if we could go. Seaside is perhaps one of my least favorite coastal retreats, but it is probably the most fun for kids, so there we went.

It was cloudy when we arrived, so we took them into the little mall and let them ride the carousel.


This is about the time I think I'm going to toss my cookies. Curse motion sickness!


Evie chose a Bun-Bun for her ride, of course.


Then Doug Sterling wanted to ride the bumper cars and I was not quite clever enough with the camera, so they are resigned to the orange blur in the corner while the girl in yellow claims the glory.


When we were done with these amusements (and lunch, which I found surprisingly good, considering the exterior of the pub. Yes, pub. With flatscreens for every table.), the sun came out and we traipsed down to the sand.


This little guy reminded me so much....


of this little guy! Can't tell they're brothers, can you? The same jacket and jeans help add to the illusion, of course.

(Sterling, March 2006, Seaside)



Rescuing fearless baby (and one princess flip-flop) from impending dampness.




By the time the kids were done and thoroughly wet, the sun had retreated behind the clouds again and we went home. Truly; never had a better day at the beach.

A Fresh Start

Why the muddy feet and look of certain doom, you ask?


The backyard demolition might be responsible.


We all did our part...


Even the babies...




And the kiddos...


...until they didn't.


Evie happily sowing corn seeds from her pink bucket.




More corn sowing by Mark and Stephanie






And some temporary construction fencing to keep tiny marauders out

Famille Industrieuse

My mom forbade me buy anything for her birthday, so I had to get a little creative. I stole an old, gold picture frame from her house and spray painted it black. (Quelle surprise, I know...) It looked soooo much better already. I then recreated the image in my photo editing software. I printed it out onto a sheet of iron-on transfer paper and ironed it onto the burlap. VOILA! Yes, I know this phrase has been seriously overdone, but I don't care. I still love it and think it is such a good daily reminder in a crazy world.
I personally like the juxtaposition of burlap and delicate, traditional items. I have some serious ideas running through my mind for the use of the extra burlap I have left over, the foremost of which is silkscreen printing. I'll let you know how it goes...


I also remade a pillow I have been meaning to cover for a while. I took the zipper out of the old cover and made a new cover out of material I had lying around here. I can't figure out why I didn't do this years ago!


I had previously decided that I wasn't going to post any more updates on the kitchen until it is done, but I couldn't resist posting one more with the sink and faucet (installed) on a glorious morning. I can't tell you how freaking awesome it is to have running water the kitchen and a dishwasher! Oh, the things we take for granted, people!


Every time I wonder why we didn't just buy a newer, finished house in a regular neighborhood (which, let's be honest, is often), I have only to look at outside and I remember why we traded house for yard. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE hearing the myriad birds in the morning, seeing the sunlight filter through the trees across the dewy lawn, seeing the wide expanse of yard that will someday be a glorious sanctuary and (not least of all) I LOVE not looking directly into my neighbors' windows. GORGEOUS! (Plus, you should see how cute all of our old neighbors are, LOVE them!)


I'm really grateful for industrious parents who taught me that everything has the potential to be renewed and beautified. ....Yes, even this has potential!


So here we are renewing and beautifying.


Our landscaper friend, Mark, suggested a trade in which he brings over one of his tractors and re-slopes our yard (so we don't get this next winter:)

January 2010

and tills a garden space for us and in return we split the garden space with him & his family. Win, Win!


Here is the beginnings of the scraping process.


In case you've forgotten how it looked last summer:


Of course the kids are THRILLED with the tractor parked in their domain!


And this is Doug's worst fear: Dandelions. Where the bluebells meet the dandelions is the divider between our yard and the neighbor's yard. Since we realized that we are going to be getting new grass this season, Doug has been trying to devise a way to turn a 6' feet maximum fence into an impenetrable barrier against our poor neighbor's crop... The musings of the perfectionist...