pictures from earth day (-:

Our visit to the gardens yesterday was quite lovely (-: As it so happened, Jason was coming home early from work just as we were strolling down the street towards said destination, and so we all went together, which was even better. Here are some of the pictures I took. Jason took some really beautiful photographs; Mostly of the flora and fauna, and when he posts them on his blog, you should take a peek...

Mabel is insisting that I visit with her and so I will go..
Taking my cashews and pomegranite tea with me. Have a beautiful, happy day ^__^

earth day (-:

Yes, it has been a while...I have been rather busy this past week but it's all good ^__^

On the weekend, we went here (which happens to be a Medieval fantasy fair, to the Berkeley rose garden, and our favourite Oakland public garden, just across the street from where we live.

Jason and I have been cleaning, sorting, redecorating and rearranging, And attempting to discard as many material items as we can. So far, we have made great progress and the apartment looks much more happy (-: I love to let things go, To thoughtfully give away and toss away, making room for newness. Jason has also hung up new faerie lights (for the muggles who know not what I speak of, I am referring to Christmas tree lights) The white variety. When we first set up this home, over three years ago, the three of us got busy and created over 150 origami waterbombs to decorate the lights. The first set of faerie lights lasted all this time, and half of them are still working, but it is indeed time for change, and I think the result is absolutely enchanting. Photos to come soon!

In our particular situation, we need to reorganize our living space to accomodate our sweet baby when he is born. Not that a baby takes up a lot of room, But of course they do need the odd thing (like a laundry basket to sleep in perhaps.. (-: Isabella slept in a beautiful cradle hand-fashioned from a large piece of driftwood by a local Ontario artist by day, on a big, squishy pillow I made for her at night, and when she learned how to roll off that pillow, she slept with me (-: I am not going to over-plan the way things will be done when our baby boy arrives, and instead be open to whatever works, much like I did the first time around. I know that each child is different. But... like I mentioned earlier, a basket would be good. I think babies look adorable in baskets (-: And when that doesn't work for him any longer, one of the three cats is sure to take over!

I am not at all a fan of buying loads of trendy baby gear, especially (what I consider) unnecessary things that you don't really use at all or that last only a few months. Such a waste of space and money! And of course these types of things will end up going into a landfill somewhere which is always so unfortunate, and at this point in the history of the world, very irresponsible. At any rate, making things yourself or finding them for free is so much more fun, and satisfying, and better for everyone involved! I must say, between the generosity and random kindness of strangers on freecycle and the creativity of Jason and I, we're almost set!

What have we made so far?

baby pants (lots!) ~size newborn to 12 months

a quilted blanket

wooden decoupaged blocks

a felt embroidered softie

felt booties

onesies and t-shirts printed with Jason's and my artwork

Jason decorated an antique wooden high chair with vintage children's illustrations and it is absolutely wonderful

What have we gotten for free?

baby swing

baby doorway jumper

crib

baby glider/napper

toys

piles of newborn clothes

blankets (some of which are handmade, Such a warm gift!)

20+ board books

wash cloths

cloth diapers (10 of which are bran-new, All-in-one, high quality ones that would probably cost over 100 dollars for the lot!)

soaps, shampoos, moisturizer, diaper creams and such

pacifiers

baby lullabye CD's

Yes, It would seem that we have indeed accumulated quite a bit if baby gear (-: The generosity of many people has landed us with many a baby item! I look forward to benefitting from the things that we can use and then passing them on again to another expectant family. I love the thought of keeping energy open considering possessions; using them with love and then passing them along for someone else to use and love, inviting that same openness back into your life over and over again; Never becoming hoardish or selfish, always knowing that the frills of life on earth are temporary and cannot be possessed. Being willing to share and give and help..

Our next project is to make some mobiles. Fun! And find/make the perfect baby carrier(s). I have three picked out (-: I have a fascination for various styles, and would love to get a sling, a baby-wrap and a mei-tei. If I don't make them myself, I will most likely support another WAHM on etsy with my purchases...When Isabella was a baby I looked high and low for a decent sling but there just weren't any out there! Thank goodness for the revival, and etsy, and natural mothers everywhere creating a market! In the end, I just carried her sweet self everywhere, and when she got too big to carry, she walked beside me holding my hand. I have always had an issue with strollers; I do not like to cart around awkward, cumbersome things and prefer to enjoy my daily activities with ease and simplicity. Hence, the love of babywearing.

And maybe, just maybe, I will find the perfect rocking chair on freecycle. Cross your fingers! A rocking chair is a beautiful gift to give yourself as a mother. I never had one when Isabella came to me, but we often enjoyed using the one at the public library in the small town where we lived. A pleasant memory.

I have been contemplating making my own cloth diapers but since I have wonderfully acquired 15 from freecycle already, I don't think I will be needing to do that quite yet.

Isabella is wearing a Carnivale mask to do her homework. Just thought I would throw that in there ^__^

Oh, it's earth day! Of course I didn't forget that (-: Isabella is just about done her homework and then we'll be walking down to our special gardens to have a lovely picnic in the palms collection. There is a palm tree there that creates a magical umbrella/tent and we have planned to sit under there and make that spot our very own, if only for an hour..

Happy earth day! We're off!

the shape of a mother

Ooh! Ok, I just found another great link to a site called The Shape of a Mother. Very empowering,, especially for 'real women' which indeed, most of us are (-;

http://theshapeofamother.com/

You know it will be a good day if...

when cutting up an apple for your morning oatmeal, the end dons a lovely heart...

Have a beautiful, happy day!

Belly-bump shadow

Voila! One very bumpy shadow...

fun (:

etsy front page treasury

My 'Pretty Bird on Blue' art print happened to land a spot on the March 25th front page, which was a nice surprise. Here is a screen shot of it here. I like this one; Very happy and spring-like..

^__^

Easter Sunday

On Easter Sunday, we took a walk through our neighbourhood rose garden.

Isabella was a very happy girl, having woken up to a basket full of toys and treats,

and of course an egg hunt! Here she is, full of chocolate eggs, twirling on the garden path...

Skipping,

and swirling...

and jumping...

"^__^"

"Awake, thou wintry earth -

Fling off thy sadness!

Fair vernal flowers, laugh forth

Your ancient gladness!"

~Thomas Blackburn, 'An Easter Hymn'

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not

sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."

~Anne Bradstreet

"Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors,

there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night."

~Rainer Maria Rilke, 'Letters of Rainer Maria Rilke'

"And Spring arose on the garden fair,
Like the Spirit of Love felt everywhere;
And each flower and herb on Earth's dark breast
rose from the dreams of its wintry rest."
~Percy Bysshe Shelley, 'The Sensitive Plant'

"The naked earth is warm with Spring,
And with green grass and bursting trees
Leans to the sun's kiss glorying,
And quivers in the sunny breeze."
~Julian Grenfell

"Every spring is the only spring - a perpetual astonishment."
~Ellis Peters

"April hath put a spirit of youth in everything."
~William Shakespeare

"If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring
and stay that way later in the fall."
~Nadine Stair

"First a howling blizzard woke us,

Then the rain came down to soak us,

And now before the eye can focus -

Crocus."

~Lilja Rogers

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

~Margaret Atwood

I am watching three birds eat from the feeders on our patio.

The day is pretty gloomy. Grey and overcast, bits of rain off and on. Tash left yesterday to catch the 12:05 flight back home to Canada. I tried to be strong but we both ended up crying at the airport. Isabella thought we were hilarious, probably because she has never witnessed either one of us crying before.

We tried to make the most of the day after her departure but I have to admit that I was a wreck. I'm pretty much still a wreck. Two weeks is not nearly long enough and it seemed to blast by at incredible speed.

At least I have a ton of prints to look through. We took her camera to Walgreens when there were just over 5oo photos and I printed a bunch. The next 5oo she'll throw onto a disc and send to me, and I can print those as well. She took some awesome pregnancy photos of me, which she did for my pregnancy with Isabella as well, and which I am so grateful for. I hope to post some on here soon.

Yes, I'm pretty sad. I'm not quite knowing what to do with myself, and I have had a ton of crying spells but hopefully by tomorrow I'll feel a bit more centered.

(-: