One of my neighbors has a row of roses along her front yard, and I always cross the street so I can smell them when I'm on my walk to pick up Thor from school.  Today the lady of the house came out while I was encouraging Thor to smell the different varieties, and she kindly offered that we could cut some anytime we like.  Wasn't that sweet?  Brightened our day. 

dream office

9.29.2010

A forest is just about my favorite place to be, so this is my dream office. 

{via swissmiss}

fall rain

9.27.2010

We visited my husband's aunt on her farm Sunday, and I took a walk in the wonderful fall rain.




made by mabel

9.17.2010



My grandma Mabel made quilts for all her children and for all of her grandchildren.  She had eleven children, so that adds up to a lot of quilts.  I remember picking out my quilt as a young girl.  It was black with geometric shapes.  Unfortunately, it was destroyed when my parents' house burned down in 1991.  My parents gave me this quilt in 2005.  I love it.  Not only do I love that I have something handmade by my grandma, I love the (now vintage) fabrics she used.  I wish I knew what year she made this quilt.  I also wish I had been of an age that I was interested in learning this art from her, as well as tatting, which she also did beautifully.  Here's to the skills of our grandmas!

year-round garden goodness

9.14.2010



This looks like a great collection of preserves.  Growing up, my dad planted a huge garden every year and we literally lived off of it in the summer, and all year long through freezing and canning.  My parents canned applesauce, pears, peaches, apricots, tomatoes, pickles, made tomato juice...you name it.  She also froze many things, which made for delicious corn and peaches all year long.  Friday morning breakfast was always peanut butter/applesauce/toast...on mom's homemade whole-wheat bread (she ground her own wheat) and her homemade applesauce - still one of my favorite things.  Friday night always included raspberries or raspberry pudding from our freezer stash.  Many meals were completely garden-sourced.  Being raised vegetarian, there was nothing better than a summer dinner from the garden.  I have grown yellow squash, zucchini, tomatoes, broccoli, eggplant, spinach, lettuce greens, and various herbs including mint, rosemary, thyme, and basil, and want to try so much more.  Someday...I will have a garden like my dad's, and I'll be able to preserve it like my mom.

{photo via design crush}

thrifted books

9.07.2010



A few books I've found thrifting.  Thrift stores usually have a large selection of books, and I never fail to find one or two I want.  Tourist In Denmark is one of my most recent finds, and it's a piece of 1960s goodness.  The 1955 British Railways Holiday Guide of Scotland was a great find in Portland many years ago.  I'm always on the lookout for art books, and these last two cost $1.25 each at my local St. Vincent de Paul, where there is an entire bookcase devoted to art and classic literature.  Love!

salem saturday market

9.06.2010

  
We were very happy to discover when we moved to Salem that there's a great farmers market here.  There are so many farms and nurseries in this area of Oregon.  We've been back in Salem for just over a week now, and at the top of my list this past weekend was to once again hit the market.  A lot of fall vegetables and flowers are here.  We brought home bread, corn, chard, and dahlias.  Some of the goodness to be found...

floaty angel

9.06.2010

The other morning my son came to my bedside and woke me up... "Mama, you are always in my dreams."  When I asked what I did in his dreams he said, "You are my floaty angel...you are love."  O my heart...it melts.
by mlekoshi