Mixed

to live inside this world...

2012-01-27T15:20:00.000-08:00

I guess everyone probably knows about Kinfolk by now, and how awesome it is. I haven't gotten a chance to look through the actual magazine but I am loving their videos. Here are two of my favorites.

Honey Harvest from Kinfolk on Vimeo.

The Oregon Coast from Kinfolk on Vimeo.

Happy weekend!

P.S. This is my 300th post!

bread and jam kind of weekend

2012-01-24T08:53:00.000-08:00

Bagel breakfast on Sunday morning. I feel that every Sunday should start like this.

snow day!!!

2012-01-21T08:37:00.000-08:00

There's white in the air and the roads are covered, which means no work for me today! Instead I will curl up next to the stove and drink tea. Days like this are perfect for browsing so I thought I'd share some links to things I've been enjoying.

My brother showed me this website and I've had airstreams on the brain ever since.

I want a sip of this... ok, more than a sip. Citrus is such a blessing this time of year.

I've been baking more bread lately. We have another person in the house to help finish it now, and the days have been cold so I've been feeling much more inspired to experiment with baking. These are a few recipes that I am looking forward to trying. 1 2 3 4

Speaking of baking, I want this book.

I'm planning on watching this documentary very soon. Tea is an obsession for me. I always want to know/try more.

This mix makes me happy.

That's all for now. Time to enjoy the snow.

daily food

2012-01-10T10:23:00.001-08:00

Sunday we had a random fit of culinary creativity. Since then we've been consuming fresh bread and apple butter at an amazing rate. I think more bread baking will need to happen today.

monday music: caveman

2012-01-09T08:44:00.000-08:00

A new favorite song that I am listening to this Monday morning...

one week in

2012-01-08T08:06:00.000-08:00

We rang in the new year with sparklers and homemade ginger beer and board games and smores roasted in the fireplace. It was nice. I like staying in on New Year's Eve, all safe and cozy with friends and good food. It's hard to believe that was a whole week ago, or maybe it's hard to believe that it was only a week ago. Time moves in funny ways.

Now my thoughts are turning to the year ahead. I'm not making any resolutions exactly, but I do love making lists, so here is a list of things I would like to do in the coming year.

1. Visit Acadia

I've wanted to go here for a looong time, but it got lost somehow amidst traveling to other places and getting older and having a job. Last week the boy sent me a link to the park's website, saying we should go and take pictures there this summer. I could not agree more. I want to visit new places this year.

2. Read 100 Books

I said I would do this in 2011 but I didn't make it. I don't feel like I failed at all though because the goal was really just to read more, and I did finish more books than in 2010. I've rediscovered how much I love going to the library on a weekly basis and I spend a lot of time on Goodreads adding more books onto my "to read" shelf. To further inspire myself I started a book blog as a place to write down my thoughts after I finish a book. I'm not very good at writing reviews, but I like that this makes me ponder on what I did and didn't like about a story even after it's over.

3. Garden

We're already pouring over seed catalogs trying to decide what varieties to plant this year. This year's garden is going to be even better than the last.

4. Take a Yoga Class

I need to move around more. In the past I've been really bad about going to yoga. I tend to go to one class and avoid going back, but I want to really give it a try. I think if I can just stick it out it will get easier and it will make me feel good instead of just feeling like a sweaty weakling. That would be nice.

5. Get the Etsy Shop Going

This one is pretty self explanatory. I have some new ideas for the Mixed shop and a whole other crazy idea for a brand new shop.

There are more things to do that I haven't even thought of yet. Little things and big things. But all that will just have to reveal itself over time.

trees and carols

2011-12-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

Our sunroom is looking decidedly festive.

This little beauty ended up finding its way home with us last week. It was one of the misfits. We found it hidden in a little group of scrappy discounted trees and knew it was perfect. It's all dressed up now and brings a bit of Christmas cheer to the house. Now that it's finally gotten really cold we've spent the past few nights hanging out in this room with the stove on, admiring the sparkling lights. That one lonely present is going to have some friends pretty soon.

If that isn't enough cheer for you, how about this version of Carol of the Bells? I don't care if the Windham Hill Samplers can be a little cheesy sometimes, I like them and this song's my favorite. Gotta love those steel drums.

monday music: ella fitzgerald

2011-12-05T11:39:00.000-08:00

Oh hey, it's December! Look at that. I still have photos from October that I keep meaning to put up here, but that will have to wait because today is Monday and I am all about the music.

Lately the boy has been thrifting some really great old records. We now have a pretty impressive collection of big band and jazz albums. I like to put on the livelier ones to dance around to when I'm hanging out at the house by myself. One of our latest acquisitions is this Ella Fitzgerald album. It's in great shape and really nice to have playing in the background at just about any time.

first snow

2011-11-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

Back before we got all that snow dumped on us, we got a little preview of what mother nature had in store. The first snow was very mild and pretty to look at, though strange to wake up to on an October morning. The flowers were still out...

monday music: fleet foxes

2011-11-21T19:05:00.000-08:00

I couldn't not post this video today. It's a bit darker and weirder than the music videos I usually post, but it's also beautiful, just as the song is.

I seem to remember posting about my love of Fleet Foxes ages ago, and I like them even more now after seeing them live twice. They sound absolutely amazing live, and I highly recommend going to see a show if you ever get the chance. This song was one of my favorites when I saw them back in September.

The Shrine / An Argument from Sean Pecknold on Vimeo.

adventures in color

2011-11-17T15:14:00.000-08:00

A few shots of the tie-dye class I took last month. It was lots of fun and very inspiring.

the illustrated word

2011-11-15T08:57:00.000-08:00

Sometimes words are made better when there are pictures to go along. Perhaps that's why these books below are some of my very favorites.

The Leviathan Trilogy by Scott Westerfeld. Illustrated by Keith Thompson. Intricate and sharp depictions of metal and gears with victorian flair. Hidden identities and fantastical animal species.

The Hobbit. Written and Illustrated by J.R.R. Tolkien. Maps and quests, mountain ranges and a fearsome dragon.

The Little House Books. Written by Laura Ingalls Wilder, illustrated by Garth Williams. Black and white drawings of covered wagons and life on the prairie. These classics wouldn't be the same without the charming illustrations.

Wildwood by Colin Meloy. Illustrated by Carson Ellis. Dark magic in a mysterious wood, talking animals, giant birds and brave bandits. Quirky and colorful.

Swallows and Amazons, written and illustrated by Arthur Ransome. Sailboats, an island, Robinson Crusoe and summer adventure.

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2011-11-10T16:53:00.001-08:00

Sometimes I am very much a creature of habit. When I am used to something, that is what I do, and then when patterns shift and that thing drops out of my routine, it takes a very concerted effort to bring certain activities back into my daily life.

Like blogging.

Also exercise.

All of this is a very roundabout way of saying that we lost power in the freak October snowstorm. I could barely believe my eyes when we woke up to this.

It felt even stranger the night before, watching the whole sky light up with bright green flashes as power lines were taken out. Very eerie indeed.

Things have been a bit simpler lately. More candles, more reading, earlier to bed. It's not terribly exciting but it's nice in its own way. But I have film from pre-snow days that I hope to share here soon, and more pictures to take as the holidays draw near. It's nice to return to my own little corner of the internet as the days get shorter.

another rainy day

2011-10-19T18:38:00.000-07:00

Today looked like this outside.

But that was alright, because I had all of this inside.

Most of the time I find myself busy or working on days like these, when all I want to do is settle down with a good movie and a cup of tea, but this afternoon I was able to do just that. Lazy days are nice.

daily food

2011-10-11T15:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes simple is best. Breakfast this morning was toast with almond butter and homemade ginger-peach jam. I sprinkled chia seeds over the top because they're supposed to be some kind of miracle food or something....

the return of summer

2011-10-10T18:12:00.000-07:00

Over the weekend the weather shifted from cool back to summer heat! Today we decided to take full advantage of this last taste of warm weather by going to the beach. I half expected things to be cooler by the shore, but the sun and sand were hot and it felt almost like August except for the changing leaves. The water on the other hand seemed to know exactly what month we were in. It was quite brisk, but I was determined to get one last swim in and, once my body adjusted, it felt surprisingly good to splash around in the cold... especially knowing I could run back to my warm towel and take a nap in the sun.

color riot

2011-10-05T12:41:00.000-07:00

I've been having fun with fabric dyes again.

monday music: caesars

2011-10-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

Well, now it's October. While the weather is still pretty mild, there's a definite chill in the air and the night seems to creep in earlier each day. I was pretty resistant to this happening but I think I'm finally starting to remember all the wonderful things fall has to offer. I've been snacking on crisp apples, going on hikes and looking up root vegetable recipes. So fall is okay, I guess. As long as we don't talk about winter yet.

Fall is such a terribly nostalgic time for me. I think of the summer that's past, but also of all the autumns that went before. I have memories of very distinct moments in this season. This song by the Caesars has always captured my feelings about this time of year very well. Partially because of the lyrics ("Like September's coming on, summer won't be back for long."), and partially because I feel the music itself captures this season very well. When I listen I can't help but think of cold coming with dusk, changing leaves and so many other little signs that mean it's truly autumn.

summer film

2011-09-30T08:07:00.000-07:00

Just a few end of summer shots...

monday music: gotye

2011-09-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

I think it's time we returned to Monday Music, don't you?

Last week I heard this song on the radio. Then I saw the music video posted. Twice. It's one of those songs where each time I heard it it meant a little bit more to me, and the video seems to convey the emotion so perfectly that I can't stop watching. I keep showing it to people. Maybe you've seen it too, but in case you hadn't, I just wanted to share.

◊

2011-09-21T18:00:00.001-07:00

I've been soaking up the inspiration lately. I try not to surf too mindlessly, especially when I have so much to get done, but sometimes every link I follow seems to bring something new to love.

Gala's Radical Self Love Manifesto. Sometimes everyone needs to be reminded of these things.

Wolf Eyebrows is a wonderful blog with a wonderful name. And it led me to the beautiful photos on Threading In The Choirs.

David Lebovitz's posts about the Queen Mary 2 have me dreaming about crossing the Atlantic the old fashioned way.

I think I have to make this plum crumble. Just as soon as I'm done eating the cookies I baked from this recipe.

◊

2011-09-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

Things have been keeping me away from blogging lately. Things like these last warm days and painting the living room (finally!) and canning lots of jam. And baking. But baking is one of those things that always makes me want to post here, so it's bagels that bring me here today. After all, homemade bagels are entirely worthy of a post all to themselves.

I got the recipe from Peter Reinhart's The Bread Baker's Apprentice (also our source for amazing pizza dough) and followed it closely. I think the bagel recipe was actually what prompted me to buy the book ages ago, but it's kind of a lengthy process and I got intimidated. But, as I discovered, it's really not terribly difficult once you find the time to get going. And the reward is hot, chewy, golden bagels with your choice of toppings.

The recipe makes a dozen so I thought we'd set aside a weeks worth and freeze the rest. HA. The first half dozen were gone in two days. We ate them with jam, with eggs, with butter, and with afternoon tea. And of course I took pictures.

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2011-09-08T18:22:00.000-07:00

I have a hard time saying goodbye to summer. I took this picture on one of the last August afternoons. We were sitting by a lake and I lay back and tried to soak up every bit of sun and heat I could. I needed those reserves on this chilly, rainy first week of September.

The brightest thing around these past few days has been the batches of golden peach jam the boy and I have been canning. I like to think of jars of sun-soaked fruit sitting in our cupboards this winter.

◊

2011-08-29T05:30:00.000-07:00

This weekend we baked cookies and put down our storm windows and then watched the wind blow.

No power outage for us, and no downed trees. Just a day indoors watching a bit of mindless TV and indulging in a lazy Sunday. We were lucky.

Last weekend, though, we were wandering around New York City.

Relics from another time, making our way to Governors Island for the Jazz Age Lawn Party.

Our dresses were long and lacy, with a few worn spots since they're actually from the era.

The boy wore a bow tie.

We are already making plans for next year.

P.S. For a better view of my dress, check out this photo.

◊

2011-08-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

I have many pictures from our vacation.

Pretty pictures of food and flowers and ocean.

But these silly photos of cartwheels on the sand might be my favorites.

◊

2011-08-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

A week ago, we came home from the vineyard.

Vacations are funny things. During our stay on the island we lost track of all time. We had to keep asking each other, "What day is it? What time?" Because of that our week felt beautifully long while we were there and seemed altogether too short once we were gone.

So now we are home, and I am missing the sand and sun and riding my bike everywhere, though we have a remarkable stack of polaroids to remember our time there. Above are just a few of my favorites. I'll share more slowly.

On a blogging note... lately I feel I have less to say here. I'm not feeling especially wordy, but I still have images I'd like to share. For now this may become more of a photo blog. A bit of change is in order for this space, but I'm still working out in my head how that will look and feel. We shall see.

24

2011-07-22T17:26:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was my birthday! I celebrated with presents, a pretty pink smoothie, a day spent in Northhampton, and birthday pie on our newly decorated porch.

Age and time are such funny things. This year I kept forgetting how old I was turning. Birthdays are still fun, but the age itself just doesn't seem as... noteworthy.

Now it's the boy's turn. His birthday is on Sunday so we're having a little party tomorrow night to celebrate. Then it's time for us to escape for a week of blissful vacation! So much excitement all at once leaves little time for blogging, but I hope to have some nice beach polaroids and such to share when we return.

the perfect pancake

2011-07-19T11:33:00.000-07:00

I can't resist a good pancake recipe. This became very clear when I recently counted exactly how many pancake recipes I have bookmarked: 31. That's thirty-one DIFFERENT recipes, all for pancakes!

But testing those recipes will have to be put on hold for a little while, because I have a new favorite. To be honest, I didn't really expect much from this recipe. It seemed pretty basic and I worried it might be a bit bland. Since I had some fresh blueberries I decided to throw those in too.

Oh my.

These turned out to be the most fluffy, golden, delicious pancakes I've had in a while. The cornmeal added texture and there was enough baking powder to really let them puff up, even though I used almond milk instead of real dairy. And I'd forgotten how much better blueberry pancakes are with fresh berries versus frozen.

Next time I make these I'll probably use more whole wheat flour, but they were lovely just like this too. Yum.

sunday pieces

2011-07-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

We were up and about early this Sunday, ready to head off to Brimfield. We actually came away with a few things we've been searching for, success!

At home the garden has been a major focus. Tomatoes and green beans are growing, peppers are starting to ripen, and our black hollyhock is in full bloom. We harvested our garlic today and have laid it out to cure.

The boy got crafty this evening and set up a polaroid wall for us to display our many instant photos. We've talked about doing this for quite some time now and it's really great to be able have them out where we can see them, instead of in a box. It's a nice splash of color in our sun room.

film friday

2011-07-15T17:59:00.000-07:00

I love film. This week was polaroid week over on flickr and the boy and I have been thinking of little but taking, looking at, and coming up with ideas for polaroids. Looking through everyone's pictures is so very inspiring.

Sometimes I feel like my experience with taking photos has been a little bit backwards. I started off with a digital SLR because that's what made the most sense. And I loved that camera and still do. It helped me get a feel for taking pictures because I could see my results immediately. But when I saw other people's photos, the ones I felt drawn to were not from digital cameras. So I started using film... then I started taking polaroids.... then I got a land camera and started taking polaroids with peel apart film! It involves lugging around multiple cameras and film and equipment, but the results make me happy. I love the scratches, fuzziness, vivid colors and unpredicability of it all.

Some of my favorite pictures to look at are old. Really old. I love looking through the old black and white family photos my mom has, so I thought I'd start featuring some of them here. These are the sorts of images that inspire me.

Starting things off...

These are two images of my great grandfather. I love the tilt of his hat and severe expression in the first picture. He looks like a bit of a dandy in these pictures, but he was actually a farmer. My mom grew up visiting the farm and I have plenty of beautiful pictures of that place to share at some point.

reading list

2011-07-12T17:06:00.000-07:00

Is there anything better to do in summer than read in the sun? I started this year off with rather lofty reading goals that I may or may not be able to achieve, but it has definitely prompted me to get back in the reading groove. Here are some of the pages I've had my nose buried in lately, plus a few that I'm setting aside for my upcoming vacation!

The Lymond Chronicles by Dorothy Dunnett

I hesitate to mention this series here, because I'm not sure how to describe it. These books rank very high on my list of favorites so this was actually a re-read for me. The first book in the series takes place in 1547 Scotland and introduces us to Francis Crawford of Lymond, an antihero of epic proportions. Dunnett masterfully weaves her characters into the middle of historical events with great detail. Her language is beautiful but very dense and hard to follow at times, so it can be a struggle until you give up on understanding and just enjoy the ride. These books have delighted me, made me laugh, given me a better appreciation of poetry and language, and kept me up until dawn. Some crying may have happened along the way as well. I wish I could say more about the plot, but it's all so intricate that I'm afraid I couldn't do it justice. This review I stumbled across says it much better. Suffice to say I love this series and I'm very happy to have had a chance to revisit the world of Francis Crawford.

The Mary Russell Novels - Laurie R. King

Honestly, when I first heard the premise for these books, I was a little skeptical. A young girl, taken on as an apprentice to Sherlock Homes? It seemed like it could get a bit cheesy. And now, here I am, about to dive into the ninth book in the series. These are the sorts of mysteries I really enjoy. Very engaging and with enough suspense to keep me glued to the page, but not scary or dark in a way that will keep me up at night. There is so much talk of tea that I had to keep interrupting my reading to go put the kettle on.

Summer Reading List

A Clash of Kings by George R. R. Martin - Yeah, ok, I totally got hooked on the show. I can't wait for it to come back on. Must. Know. What. Happens.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett - I hear this is good and I always like to read books before seeing their movies.

A Moveable Feast - Ernest Hemingway - Paris in the 20's, how is it I haven't read this already?

I am, of course, always looking for good recommendations.

distracted by the real world

2011-07-01T18:57:00.000-07:00

My internet connection has been quite moody this past week, which accounts for the lack of posts around here... at least in part. There are other reasons too. Things like fireworks... lemonade... picking the last of the strawberries... drinking the most delicious iced coffee... and reading good books. All of these summer things. It truly seems like summer to me now, I think because of how the nights feel. More of the day's heat is left over and all the night noises sound like July.

So, I'm happy to be away from the computer these days, but when I'm around, these are the things I've noticed.

I want to make this and this and then create amazing veggie sandwiches.

Since July is my birth month, I couldn't resist checking out my horoscope. (via Gala Darling)

This mug is seven different kinds of awesome. Seriously.

I have been drooling over this tumblr page for a while now. Not surprising given my extreme love of breakfast.

You know those strawberries I mentioned? I had plans to freeze all of them to be enjoyed in smoothies, but then I spotted this. Gorgeous!

sunday pieces

2011-06-26T19:02:00.000-07:00

It's time for raspberries! Our crazy, overgrown patch of raspberry brambles is finally bearing fruit. They need some major pruning, but for this year we'll just enjoy what we've got.

Other highlights from today include fresh focaccia bread from Farm to Hearth, a trip to the library book sale, spotting a scarily large bug in the garden, and going to see Midnight in Paris. A day well spent.

solstice

2011-06-22T17:05:00.000-07:00

We spent the summer solstice lazing about on the beach and then finished the day with homemade calzones and a card game. It was beautiful and warm and relaxing... I think if I could, I would follow summer all over the world.

sunday pieces

2011-06-20T08:51:00.000-07:00

How was your Sunday? Around here it was beautiful, a perfect Father's Day. Deb is in town for a visit so we took her to the farmer's market yesterday morning and then ended to day over at my parent's house. We played a game of Would You Rather and I laughed harder than I can remember laughing in a very long time. So here are some of the sights I saw yesterday...

(I must point out that the lovely image above was taken by the boy. He's been taking some great shots with black & white polaroid film lately. It makes me want my own pack very badly.)

camera love

2011-06-18T17:16:00.000-07:00

This is a rare Saturday post for the purpose of gushing over my new favorite camera.

A while back I finally got my hands on a Pentax K1000, a camera I'd been wanting to add to my collection for quite some time. I finally got my first two rolls from it developed and I'm definitely happy with the results. I feel like the colors pop a bit more than with my Minolta, and the focus is great. Most of all, it has my favorite quality in a camera, something unknowable and hard to describe. When I look at these pictures I see my framing work and choice of focus and subject, but it's like when I click the shutter the camera takes over and adds it's own special quality into the mix. It's a specific look or feel.... it's the sort of thing that happens with polaroids and makes me love them so much.

So yes, this is the camera I see myself carrying around this summer. I'm hoping to capture a lot of fun moments through this lens.

monday music: the irrepressibles

2011-06-13T19:46:00.000-07:00

It's the end of a long day spent making strawberry jam, but I heard a song last week that gave me such shivers I had to share it this Monday.

In This Shirt is the first and only song I've heard so far from The Irrepressibles, but I'm eager to listen to more. It's slow and sweeping, carried along by beautiful orchestral instruments and haunting vocals. It reminds me quite a bit of Patrick Wolf at times. Perfectly angsty and dramatic... right up my alley.

wanderlust

2011-06-10T15:57:00.001-07:00

I've been thinking about Paris a lot lately. Somehow I've ended up spending far too much time drooling over the apartments on this site, and reading this blog. For seemingly no reason at all, this city has been popping up in my thoughts consistently over the past few weeks. And then I realized.... it was six years ago this month that I went there for the first time. I only spent a week there on that visit, but every June I'm reminded of my time there and wanderlust strikes.

So for right now I am going to indulge in my dream return trip. It involves a little apartment with a sweet rooftop view.... croissants for breakfast every morning.... walking in the dusk that comes so late this time of year.... introducing my polaroid camera to Paris.... drinking hot chocolate at night while the eiffel tower glows.... showing the boy all these things and places for the first time.

Here are some pictures from favorite moments of past Paris trips.

daily food

2011-06-07T10:53:00.000-07:00

Hello, pesto. Nice to see you again.

monday music: queen

2011-06-06T12:09:00.000-07:00

Hello and happy Monday! I hope your weekend was beautiful. I had a wonderful Sunday that I captured on film, so expect to see some images from that soon.

Today's music post delves into classic rock. Most of the time I only listen to older rock on the radio while driving, but there are some exceptions and Queen is one of them. I've always been a fan, but I love their music even more since we started playing the greatest hits album at work. Something about Freddy Mercury's voice really breaks up the work day. It's become a bit of a tradition to throw this cd on when we close the store up on Saturday. I Want to Break Free is (fittingly) the last song on the album, and I couldn't resist posting the video for you today, plus another of my favorites, Don't Stop Me Now.

short short short

2011-06-01T14:29:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I think about chopping all my hair off again. Especially when I look at Emma Watson's new haircut. Then I remind myself that I am not Emma Watson, and when I cut my hair that short years ago it looked nothing like that. But still, when the days turn hot and my hair becomes a frizzy, uncooperative mass, I like to daydream about being a bit daring.

*Alas, these photos have been sitting in my inspiration folder and I have no sources, except for this last one, which is via Hooray's similarly themed post.

june

2011-05-31T07:01:00.000-07:00

I'm celebrating the first of the month by escaping to the beach for the day. It's something I hope to do quite a lot of this summer. I have a book, sunglasses, three different cameras, and three different bottles of sunscreen. What else could I possibly need?

Edit: On the way to the beach I realized I may have jumped the gun a bit in my eagerness for June to begin. How does that old poem go? 30 days hath September....

daily food

2011-05-26T05:52:00.000-07:00

life on film

2011-05-24T13:37:00.000-07:00

Little bits of everyday life, captured on film.

monday music: sarah jorosz

2011-05-23T09:42:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday! Today's music post has a bluegrass twist, just to keep things interesting around here. I've been really enjoying Sarah Jorosz's new album Follow Me Down this past week. The whole thing is very well done, but the track that really caught my attention was her cover of Radiohead's The Tourist. Bluegrass and Radiohead aren't necessarily two things you'd think would go together, but it's an absolutely beautiful reinterpretation of the song. So give a listen to that song and the other's I've posted below. Sometimes you just need to hear a little banjo.

sunday pieces

2011-05-22T16:15:00.001-07:00

We were up bright and early this morning, ready for the flea market. I spotted some fabric and a 350 Polaroid camera. We have so many, and yet I couldn't resist this one. Very good condition and only $3!

Cats are not good polaroid subjects seeing as they tend to turn suddenly coy around cameras, or move around too much to get the focus right. However, I chanced a shot on Jakey today because I loved how his orange fur looked against the purple door. He was sweet enough to stand still for this moment.

Not our yard, although it could be. I know lots of people tend to view dandelions as the "enemy", but I'm rather fond of them.

Snapdragons!

Purple basil.

These little guys sprung up in our garden.

Our poppy is just about ready to bloom.

Cari enjoys helping out in the garden. She tends to stick to the path while Lola prefers to walk across our lettuce.

I'm trying to take full advantage of Lily of the Valley before the blooms fade away. The little blossoms smell so sweet in the house.

So many plants made their way into the garden today! We got our tomatoes and basil in the ground and got most of the late seeds planted. Almost done with the planting now, and then we will just have to wait and see how everything does.

Yet another strawberry-rhubarb crisp is in the oven to be enjoyed for desert. I think our next project will be cleaning off the porch and setting up a table and some chairs. I'm imagining meals being eaten out there on summer evenings.

first efforts

2011-05-19T19:00:00.000-07:00

I'm not a particularly patient person, so having to wait 24 hours to see what my fabric looked like was really hard! I must say, I'm pretty pleased with the results. I can't wait to get more fabric and try again. There will be some experimenting to do before I achieve the colors I'm envisioning, but the whole process is lots of fun.

I keep changing my mind about which piece I like best! I love the way your eyes can get lost in the shades of color and different patterns. For right now whichever one I'm holding at the moment seems to be my favorite.

daily food

2011-05-18T11:49:00.000-07:00

The combination of waffles and the orange bunny mug made for a cheerful breakfast.

something new

2011-05-17T10:55:00.000-07:00

Today I finally got to work on a project I've been thinking about for quite some time: fabric dyeing! I've been itching to create my own colors and combinations for sewing with. After ordering some materials to get started with I was ready to go.

I tried three different methods to give me an idea of what worked best and would give me the effect I was going for. Right now these sodden pieces of fabric are sitting in my bathtub, waiting until the dye is fully absorbed and can be washed out tomorrow. I'm very eager to see the results. I don't really expect to get it exactly right on the first go, but it was fun to work with color and get my hands dirty, no matter how they come out. Hopefully I'll have pictures of the finished product later this week!

monday music: edward sharpe and the magnetic zeros

2011-05-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

It's an awfully grey Monday around these parts, with more rain said to be on the way. It's a bit of a downer, so I decided to search for something cheerful for this weeks music. I think this tune from Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros fits the bill. It may have something to do with all that whistling.

etsy love

2011-05-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

I just love finding a beautiful new Etsy shop to explore! Of course, with so many sellers on Etsy it can be a bit overwhelming at times, which is why I love how their blog features new and notable sellers. Today's find is Folkspirit.

Folkspirit incorporates mysticism and creativity with herbal wellness, producing salves, tinctures and teas. The beautiful descriptions and labels make me want to place an order right away!

monday music: gruff rhys

2011-05-09T10:19:00.001-07:00

I'm lucky to be surrounded by people who love music just as much as I do were I work. Now that I don't have a radio show, that's were I get a nice dose of new tunes and music talk. This past week I was introduced to Gruff Rhys and his new album, Hotel Shampoo. I'm quite a fan, so I thought I'd share the discovery here.

sunday pieces

2011-05-09T06:02:00.001-07:00

Sunday was:

Watercolors in the morning.

Mother's Day cards and flowers.

Local, brilliant green and purple asparagus.

The first strawberry-rhubarb crisp of the season.

My apple tree in full bloom.

Herb plants given a home in the garden.

The day was absolutely beautiful, but I woke up with a cold so I wasn't up for much excitement. I spent a good portion of the day laying on a blanket in the field over at my parent's house, book in hand. I felt a bit like a cat, finding the warmest spot possible and soaking up enough sun to make me sleepy with the heat. I like these days of spring.

strawberry dreams

2011-05-05T06:15:00.000-07:00

After such a long winter, the spring air makes me positively giddy. My mind is full of warm weather planning and I can't stop marveling at all the green that has suddenly sprung up around me. The maple leaves are unfurling around our house and I just ordered some materials for the perfect warm weather activity (more on that soon). And now my thoughts turn to strawberries. They're not here yet, but they will be soon and I can already taste the jam. We made a batch last year and it was the best I've ever eaten. It barely lasted into winter, but every time I opened a jar the fresh strawberry taste brought me back to June in my mom's kitchen.

here and now

2011-05-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I'd do a post about a few things that I'm really liking right now. Nothing fancy, just simple pleasures.

Assam Breakfast Tea - This has recently become my favorite morning tea. A bit smoother than English Breakfast with a bit more flavor than Irish. It's a bit pricey so I try and save it for slow mornings when I can really savor sitting down with a hot mug.

Weekend Cabin - These pictures make me with a had a little cabin to escape to on the weekend. * found via Where the Lovely Things Are

Honest Fare - My favorite food blog of the moment is this one. Beautiful pictures of healthy food that make my mouth water. Doesn't that collard wrap look amazing?

TOMS Shoes - I've wanted a pair of my own ever since I bought them for the boy's birthday last year, so yesterday I finally ordered my very own. They're kind of a hipster basic at this point, but I don't care. These olive beauties are going to be part of my summer uniform.

Tend - I have gardening thoughts running through my mind quite often these days, so it's no surprise that I like this blog. Musings and pictures from five different gardeners. It's a daily read for me.

Maluku Plates - I am wishing this plate set would appear in my table. In truth, I think they might be too pretty to eat off of. I would be very tempted to hang them on the wall.

sunday pieces

2011-05-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

This Sunday was quite busy and productive, causing me to post a bit late. Yesterday was a perfect spring day (Happy 1st of May!) so we spent as much time out in the garden as we could. It's nice to see our efforts finally coming together. The peas are up, the spinach is leafing out, the onions are in the ground and now everything is covered with a layer of mulching hay. Our seedlings are still pretty tiny, but I think the growing will speed up now that it's actually getting warm. The cats oversaw our gardening efforts as they roamed.

Saturday was a fun day as well, but proof of that is entirely on film so it's a post for another time.

the explorers

2011-04-27T19:19:00.000-07:00

Today we let the cats outside for the first time. Every time we went out to work in the garden they would sit in the window and make sad noises. Now that we live on a quiet street we decided they'd be much happier if they were allowed outside to explore.

After so much time spent trying to sneak past us whenever we opened the door, they hardly knew what to do when we invited them out. Soon they were sniffing their way around our yard. Kari was more cautious, staying close to us and the house, but Lola was quick to find a bit of dirt to roll around in and a few plants to nibble on. Now they are curled up and sleeping after their adventure.

monday music: jenny o

2011-04-25T05:57:00.000-07:00

Hello Monday! It's been a little quiet around here lately, hasn't it? I think I've been distracted by spring and all the green that's slowly emerging. Yesterday was a beautifully warm Easter day and I can't wait to share some pictures once they're developed. For right now, here's a fun little song to start your week off with.

sunday pieces

2011-04-17T18:40:00.000-07:00

Some Sundays are exciting... and some Sundays you spend doing your taxes because you've procrastinated. Such is life. I wish I had a picture of the pancakes we ate for breakfast, but we were in such a hurry to get to the restaurant I forgot to grab the camera. Instead I have these pieces: A new plant. A moment of rest. A perfect avocado. Not a terribly exciting day, but not a bad one either. Things are getting greener...

monday music: o'death

2011-04-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

I've been searching for new music this past week and now I have a whole new playlist of songs to listen to! One of my favorites so far is this little tune called Bugs from the band O'Death. It's the only thing I've heard from them but I can't stop listening to it.

searching for the sun

2011-04-11T07:44:00.000-07:00

I certainly don't want to complain about the warmer weather we've been having, but I can't help but wish the sun would show up so we could really enjoy it. While searching for a bit of light, I stumbled upon these images of Hilda Grahnat's apartment in Sweden. Her blog is full of bright and sunny pictures that are inspiring me to bring some color into my own home. Check out the tour of her space over on Apartment Therapy.

oh friday, here we are again

2011-04-08T16:28:00.000-07:00

This Friday:

My toes are a bright and happy pink, and I am wishing for sandal weather to match.

I am thinking about how Wednesday was National Start Walking Day. It's one of my goals this year to find a few nice trails to walk on.

I am drinking in the tale of warmth and sight of green in this post.

The Handbook of Natural Plant Dyes has been my go-to book this week. I can't wait to try out a few dye recipes!

Have you taken a look at the Spring Colours pool? There's so many pretty images to choose from that I couldn't resist selecting a few of my favorites to show.

1. sphinx , 2. blue to purple color palette, 3. Untitled, 4. pink poppies., 5. hapy bday to me, 6. Don't forget to hug your loved ones., 7. Lavender Threads, 8. Untitled, 9. Happy Birthday Angela!, 10. prep, 11. Untitled, 12. easter eggs

Happy Weekend!

monday music: laura marling

2011-04-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

Today I am listening to the beautiful music of English songwriter Laura Marling. Poetic and moody songs about love and death and life. Slightly folky, intimate and relatable... perfect for a grey and introspective Monday.

P.S. I must apologize for any ads that pop up in these videos. It's getting awfully hard to find them without these days!

daily food

2011-03-31T15:04:00.000-07:00

Springtime is the time for citrus fruit. I can't get enough lately.

sunday pieces (on a wednesday)

2011-03-30T18:29:00.001-07:00

We were out and about this past weekend, but I only had my film camera with me so Sunday's usual post had to be delayed until today. We took a little trip to Providence for a little change of scene. Our first stop was at Seven Stars Bakery.

There were so many beautiful baked goods to choose from that I had a very hard time deciding, though it would be hard to go wrong. From there we peeked into a used bookstore, wandered along Thayer St, and then stopped for a delicious meal at the Garden Grille.

I swapped out my 35 mm lens for the 50 mm on this last roll, and I quite like the results. Especially with all the food pictures I've been taking lately!

monday music: dance party

2011-03-28T08:13:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, you just gotta have yourself a little spontaneous dance party. Here are some videos to help you get your groove on and liven up your Monday.

thursday likes

2011-03-24T16:42:00.000-07:00

This salad.

Thursday is food tasting day at the co-op, and this salad was featured today. Spinach is by far my favorite green so this was like the salad of my dreams.

This book.

I've had my eye on this printing book by Christine Schmidt since before it came out, so I can't believe it's taken me this long to buy it. But now it's here and I'm free to pour over the beautiful images and ideas inside.

This photo.

I'm a little bit in love with the photography of Nanako Koyama right now. Especially the series Every Morning. There's something so magical and intimate about seeing how people start their days. It makes me think more about the way I start my own and what I want to surround myself with when I first wake.

This mug.

Everyone seems to be going crazy for Clam Lab's amazing pottery lately, and I am no exception. I love the unique shape her pieces have. Have a peek into the Clam Lab studio over on The Makers.

crumpet french toast

2011-03-22T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sometimes I take a whole bunch of pictures for a blog post, and go through them and pick out the ones I like and everything... and then completely forget to post them. Case in point, a few weeks back the I made french toast OUT OF CRUMPETS! Yeah, that's right, two delicious things combined to make an explosion of sweet, cinnamon filled goodness. Obviously I had to share with the world. So here is the documentation now. Better late than never, yes?

These were so yummy we ate a whole package of crumpets in one morning. Oops.

monday music: peter, bjorn and john

2011-03-21T13:11:00.000-07:00

This morning I woke up, saw that it was snowing, and rather wanted to stay in bed amidst a nest of blankets and cats. However, I overcame that urge and got to work on a few projects I've been putting off. Fortunately I was able to distract myself from the wintery conditions with Peter, Bjorn & John's new album, Gimme Some. It's streaming here until the album's release on March 29th. Gotta love NPR. I'm quite a fan of these new tunes and was inspired to listen to a few of my older favorites as well. Armed with tea and good music, I am making the best of this snowy spring day.

sunday pieces

2011-03-20T19:22:00.001-07:00

What a busy Sunday it's been! We gave up a lazy weekend morning to wake early and head to the first flea market of the season. It was nice to be up and about and sorting through junk on a Sunday morning again. We had some very nice finds. The rest of the day was filled up with errands and work in the garden and then a pizza dinner extravaganza. My stomach still hasn't recovered, but it was delicious.

Happy Spring!

a little bit irish

2011-03-17T16:19:00.000-07:00

This year for St. Patty's Day I wanted to do something. Wear green, buy some carnations, find a pub... silly little things to somehow get in touch with my Irish roots. But the day snuck up on me and none of those things really happened. Fortunately it was sunny and warm so I found plenty of green things springing up in the garden to keep me happy. I also found this recipe for homemade Irish cream on 52 Kitchen Adventures to try out... some other night. Preferably when I don't have to get up and go to work in the morning!

Photo: 52 Kitchen Adventures

daily food

2011-03-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

Delicious millet muffin from this recipe.

monday music: the thermals

2011-03-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

It's Monday and it's snowing, so I thought I'd fall back on some old favorites for todays music post. I never get tired of listening to The Thermals and the two videos below are for two of my favorite songs, both off of their album Personal Life. Very good stuff. Listen and enjoy and pretend spring is already here with me.

sunday pieces

2011-03-13T17:54:00.001-07:00

Sunday. Coffee in a little blue mug and bagels and a walk in the cold. Our sunroom has turned into a plant nursery. We run there every morning to see what's come up overnight. So far only the lettuce has shown its little green shoots above the soil. Maybe tomorrow...

daily food

2011-03-09T19:03:00.000-08:00

planning ahead

2011-03-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

So maybe there's still some snow on the ground, and maybe the sunshine only looks warm, I still can't help but plan ahead. March makes me think of summer plans, however premature they may be. So while hot tea and scarves are my main staples right now, my head is full of summer wardrobe dreams.

This is the year I will buy a decent pair of gladiator sandals. This pair from J. Crew is top on my list at the moment.

The trouble with sunglasses is you never know if they'll suit your face until you try them on... that doesn't stop me wanting this pair.

I'm ever so fond of this striped linen tank top.

I wouldn't normally be drawn to so many bright colors (indeed, my wardrobe abounds in neutrals), but these stripes are so cheerful! I see this top and imagine eating ice cream cones in July. It's a very welcome image.

monday music: lykke li

2011-03-07T11:33:00.001-08:00

I've really been enjoying Lykke Li's new album Wounded Rhymes this past week. Upbeat, electro inspired tunes with fun drum beats, blended with heartsick lyrics. I find it impossible not to dance to! It's streaming here if you want to check it out. My favorites songs are Youth Knows No Pain, I Follow Rivers and Rich Kids Blues.

sunday pieces

2011-03-06T16:39:00.000-08:00

Rainy but warm. Snow melting and mud everywhere. We've placed a seed order and are now gathering materials for starting them.

Today was overly full of cookies, muffins and coffee perhaps... but I think we made up for it with dinner. Salad, eggs, and potatoes with rosemary and garlic.

spring countdown

2011-03-01T08:06:00.000-08:00

March is here! Twenty more days and it will officially be spring. These images from Toast's spring catalog have me feeling mighty impatient.

monday music: josh ritter

2011-02-28T12:57:00.000-08:00

Here's some music for your Monday! I hear that Josh Ritter puts on an amazing live show... another one for the list of shows I'd like to see someday.

daily food

2011-02-23T11:08:00.000-08:00

* avocado, cucumber, roasted red pepper and greens on fresh bread with basil mayo. yum.

downton abbey

2011-02-22T07:49:00.000-08:00

Given my love for period drama, it's hardly surprising that I've fallen hard for Downton Abbey. It's thrilling in ways only a British mini-series can be, full of secrets, intrigue, and upstairs/downstairs dynamics. And you can't forget about the beautiful props and settings! It makes me want to buy a silver tea set and start dressing like Mary Crawley.

monday music: plants and animals

2011-02-21T09:19:00.000-08:00

I love rediscovering a song after you haven't heard it for a long time. I first listened to Plants and Animals' song Bye Bye Bye about a year ago and played it quite a bit during the spring. But somehow it got forgotten about, until I saw this unofficial music video made by the band. It's simple and fun and reminded me of just how much I love this song. I'm not always such a big fan of music videos (I'd rather just listen to the song and form my own images), but I really like this one. They're just chilling with the trees, singing their song. And yeah, I really want those sunglasses.

sunday pieces

2011-02-20T17:23:00.001-08:00

A few pictures of our Sunday. We spent the day in Northampton, always a fun place to visit. We tried out a new cafe while we were there. I'm loving the polaroid that the boy took of me holding my cup of tea.

friday

2011-02-18T15:36:00.000-08:00

Recently I got a roll of film developed that went all the way back to summer months, before I moved. Everything looks so green and warm! Sometimes I don't realize the importance of small moments and scenes until they are forgotten and then brought back on film. It's strange and a bit wistful to see these views of another time and place because they feel so far away right now.

Today I:

Rolled my windows down in the car for the first time in ages.

Shoveled melting snow.

Wore my yellow sunglasses.

Felt some heartache.

Saw green things popping up in the garden and was glad.

Got excited about new music.

Picked through seed packets.

Enjoyed some sun and spring-like weather.

What did you do this Friday?

Happy weekend!

daily food

2011-02-17T17:06:00.001-08:00

Breakfast and polaroids... what a perfect combination. These two are some favorites of mine that the boy took recently.

a place under the stars

2011-02-15T07:40:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, as a little surprise for Valentine's Day, I decided to build a fort in our living room for us to curl up in and watch movies. The living room is a bit of an unused space for us at the moment, so it's something I've thought about doing for a while now. Then I saw this post and was inspired enough to actually go for it. So, while the boy was at work, I collected a bunch of bedspreads and clothespins and got busy.

It was meant to be a present of sorts, but I had so much fun with the building side of things that it turned into a gift for myself too. I decorated with lights and feathers, and hung a silk scarf with stars and moons inside so it would be like looking up at the sky.

monday music: valentine's day mix

2011-02-14T14:35:00.001-08:00

Valentine's Day mixes are my favorite. How could they not be? With so many love songs to choose from, it's easy to come up with a very long list of songs that are perfect for this day. Eight songs seems like such a small number when you have so much to choose from, but I decided that these were the right tunes for today. Some happy, some sad, all dear favorites of mine. Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! I hope it's a sweet one for you.

sunday pieces

2011-02-13T19:32:00.000-08:00

Happy Sunday! This morning got off to a very good start when the boy gave me an early Valentine's present; truffles! Not only did he make them himself, he got creative and topped them with a bit of sea salt as a finishing touch. They're pretty amazing.

When your day starts out with chocolate, how can the rest of it go anything but well? I did a bit of shopping for the first time in a long while, and then we went out and had a lovely dinner. We finished off the weekend with something that seems to be turning into a yearly tradition.

Casablanca never gets old. I can't think of a better movie to watch around Valentine's Day.

the great escape

2011-02-08T08:12:00.000-08:00

On the last day of January, we escaped once again to the magical greenhouse. It was such a pleasure to step through the door and be transported to a tropical, blooming environment. Quite different from the cold snowy world we've gotten used to lately. This time we came home with an orange tree, a little lemon tree, and a geranium to bring some green into our own space.

a glimpse

2011-02-07T08:05:00.000-08:00

I don't think of myself as an overly frilly sort of girl. In fact, though I have a number of pretty dresses handing in my closet, they get passed over in favor of jeans and a t-shirt 9 times out of 10. And yet, there's nothing that brings out my girlish, frilly side like wedding fashion. Ever since it was announced that Anthropologie would be launching a wedding line I've been dying to get a peek of what's in store, and now I finally have! The official launch date is next Monday, but these pictures give us a glimpse of what's to come from BHLDN.

I can't wait to see more.

aftermath

2011-02-04T19:05:00.001-08:00

(top photo by the boy. bottom photo by me.)

Ice storms can be scary, messy things, but the aftermath is something entirely different. My ride in to work the past two mornings has been stunning. Every branch and twig is covered in a layer of ice, and when the sun shines... oh. All the forests have become silver and magical. I wished that my rides were taking me someplace different, where I could walk in the woods and listen to the trees bend inside their casings. All this may sound silly and overly poetic, but it's nice to find something beautiful and exciting about this time of year, when winter is wearing thin.

So here we are at Friday, and these are the things I'm thinking about.

The two new albums I just bought on vinyl. So excited to give them both a listen.

These pictures have me dreaming of far off places and dream vacations.

I have almonds soaking in the kitchen so that tomorrow I can make homemade almond milk for the first time. Since I've been trying lately to go mostly-kinda-sometimes-almost-vegan, almond milk is my favorite thing to put in tea. Here's hoping the homemade version tastes good too.

I really like this dress.

The cookbook I just added to my collection is full of delicious recipes and I can't wait to try them.

The big question of the night in our house is what sort of weather tomorrow will bring. Snow? A wintry mix? More ice? We shall see.

Happy weekend!

daily food

2011-02-02T13:41:00.000-08:00

Breakfast today...

film

2011-02-01T14:50:00.000-08:00

I've had a bunch of film developed lately. Mostly the pictures are from the winter months, but before we got all these crazy snowstorms. We're due for another round tonight, and then ice tomorrow. Sheesh! It's funny to see these photos and remember what the ground looks like.

monday music: fleet foxes

2011-01-31T10:41:00.001-08:00

With the title track from Fleet Foxes new album available to listen to, is there really anything else I could post about this Monday? I think not. I so closely associate Fleet Foxes' soaring harmonies with warm days, picnics, and sunshine that it's the perfect thing to see me through this last day of January. This song made me happy and I hope it does the same for you.

eat. your. greens.

2011-01-26T13:06:00.000-08:00

Do you crave bright green in the dead of winter? Lately it's all I can think of. Rather than getting my greens in boring old salads, I much prefer to hide them in smoothies. Spinach is my favorite since the mild flavor blends especially well with fruit. I love starting my morning with a glass full of green.

Yes, I realize it looks like something out of a swamp monster movie, but it tastes delicious. Here's my recipe of choice at the moment.

Spinach (I use roughly 2 cups)

1 Banana

1 TBS ground flax seed

Frozen strawberries

Frozen raspberries

Almond milk (I don't use a precise measurement, just use a bit at a time until the consistency is right.)

Combine in blender and enjoy!

Sadly, my stash of strawberries from the summer is all used up as of this morning, but there are so many other combos to try! Some of my fast favorites included blueberries and melons. For more ideas check out this site.

monday music (on a tuesday): hercules and love affair

2011-01-25T07:49:00.000-08:00

I'm running a bit late with the music post, but I thought I'd go ahead and share this one instead of waiting until next week. The new album from Hercules & Love Affair is being streamed HERE and I've been having a blast listening to it. "Blue Songs" is an awesome blend of disco infused beats with a whole lot of soul thrown in. Fun, funky and undeniably danceable, I highly recommend giving it a listen. I'm finding it a lovely way of distracting myself from the latest snow storm!

snowbound

2011-01-21T20:06:00.000-08:00

(Check out our monster icicle!)

This morning we awoke to yet more snow. Light and fluffy stuff this time, but when I tried to go to work the roads were filled with so much slush that I had to turn around and come home. So I found myself snowbound... again. I'm started to feel a bit cooped up, spending all my days indoors. It's far too cold to actually enjoy being outside, but I miss the fresh air. I'm pouring over seed catalogs and dreaming of warm places. Yes, it's that time of year. Winter has started to grow old.

Here are some things that brightened my day.

These pictures made me want to run to the nearest greenhouse and buy a bouquet of freesia.

This show is keeping me entertained.

I am hoping that someday I'll be able to crochet this blanket.

Today's tea of choice.

These pictures remind me of how much I want to visit New Zealand (via Gala Darling).

Happy weekend!

makings

2011-01-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

I have been busy with paper, thread and glue, making new cards to sell at the Co-op. I thought of February drawing near and decided hearts were quite appropriate for this shipment. I'm thinking of putting a few in the Etsy shop, but haven't quite decided yet...

the long weekend

2011-01-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

The boy had yesterday off, which meant we got to enjoy a long weekend. I feel that I've been spoiled lately. With all the holidays and snow days we've been able to spend more time together instead of heading off to work. We didn't have that many plans, but it ended up being a busy and fun few days.

On Sunday morning we headed off to the Farmer's Market for the first time since before Christmas. Can you imagine what we found there?

Fresh tomatoes! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw these bright spots of red at one of the tables. They're grown inside a greenhouse, of course, but they are tasty as can be. It made me happy to know that these tomatoes came from close by, carefully tended by the very person we bought them from.

Yesterday we went to the movies for the first time in ages. I have a long list of films I'd like to catch before they leave theaters, but we decided on True Grit. I definitely enjoyed it, despite the bloody bits. The storyline and acting are just as good as every one's saying, but I was also struck by how beautiful the scenery and props were.

On Sunday a friend and I took a beginners crochet class! It's something I've wanted to learn for a while and now I am practicing the three stitches we were taught over and over. It's confusing, but I find it to be a bit more relaxing than knitting and can't wait to try out a pattern.

As the sun peeked out, we watched the icicles hanging from our roof grow longer and longer. This picture is of a spot near our gutter where the ice comes all the way down past our window. I know it's not good for the house... but it's magical to look at.

The highlight of our weekend was taking a trip with to Northampton to see John McCauley and Ian O'Neil of Deer Tick play at the Iron Horse. It was a late show so we made a night of it, stopping here first to get dinner and coffee. And then it was off to stand in line in the cold. Fortunately we had brought Joe and Matt with us and they kept us entertained while we waited. It was an amazing show, one of my favorites I've seen lately. Lot's of Deer Tick songs and also a bunch of tunes that were brand new to me. John McCauley played a few from a new band he's in called Middle Brother. You can listen to a song and read a bit about them here. It's definitely one I'm looking forward to hearing when it comes out.

So, in summary, long weekends are fun and there should be more of them.