seriously?!!

  Time to breathe. FInd my center. Let go... so hard. It seems like, truly, when it rains, it pours. Or maybe negative energy invites more negative energy. We are having a few issues here in our home. We are renting and (on top of the dozen or so issues the owner has neglected) now we are having a big time problem. It began with some random scratching sounds, then a bad smell (I'm sure many of you know where this is going...), and now there are the flies. Dozens upon dozens of flies. oh the not so humble blowfly. ( I have realized that I have a near paralyzing fear of flying insects that are ugly- causing me some major anxiety these last few days.). The flies are only in the laundry/craft room and S. ripped through every square inch of it trying to find rat evidence and there is none so, so... There is a rotting rat or rodent in our wall or attic or vents SOMEWHERE and how do you even find that. The orkin man is coming today but will it even help? yep, I'm pretty much freaking out. And looking at rentals on craigslist.
  On top of all that, our downstairs neighbor has informed us that "the baby running laps and yelling" has to stop now. I'm not sure this guy has any way of comprehending that you can't really keep an 18 month old from walking and making noise... over it.
 ugh. back to craigslist...

button swap magic...

Goodness! I am one lucky lady... Seriously, my button swap partner is a dream. Laura sent me a box full of special treats and it was much a needed boost to my spirit. There's nothing quite like an actual package in the mail!! Makes me feel like a kid again (something that's been happening an awful lot lately... hmmm.) in the best possible way.

love love love this tin!! I do love a ladylike tin!!

Buttons! colorful and perfect for clothes making for my little miss!!

  I adore this linen tea towel. I may have to put it in the ladies bathroom so my family doesn't tarnish it with kitchen use, our kitchen towels sure do get used up....
  So much more than buttons and so suited to my taste. It made me smile to have such a box of sweetness  in my lab this afternoon. oh and the most divine lavender soap, it's already in my bathroom!
  Thank you ever so much Laura, so glad we were paired! Redhead power indeed!

WIP Wednesday!

  Busy makin Toast all day long for just about everyone on my list...  I am getting into making striped or two tones pieces of toast... toast toast toast...

i'm just a kid...

   Sometimes, something will happen and I am forced right back into the exact same state of being/feeling/mind as when I was 10 years old. I try to keep this space as positive as possible but... This was a rough last few days. So much drama with my mom. so so not good... I could have a whole other blog just about her but I'm afraid it would just bum me out. I need to burn some sage and sweetgrass in my soul to clear out the bad vibes...

  Baby was picking up on my drained energy today and kept dumping things and going on a destructo derby in the house...
  getting better...

quotable sunday...

Nobody has ever measured, not even poets, how much the heart can hold.
 
  Zelda Fitzgerald

hot water, lemon, honey, ginger & cayenne...

   The sickness is spreading through our house. At least baby seems to be feeling better and fever free...
I finished these little leg warmers the other day and they are so sweet. I just made up the pattern, pretty simple. These were made of Debbie Bliss "Rialto" yarn, I got it from little knits and it's crazy inexpensive.
little leg warmers: using sz 7 double pointed needles, cast on 32 stitches. work in 2x2 rib (k2 p2) for 1 inch then switch to knit stitch for 9 inches, then back to 2x2 rib for 1 inch. bind off loosely and weave in ends. done! Now if I can just get my gal to wear them. She has become increasingly sensitive to clothes.

working on some crazy toast for my sis, her computer is broken so she won't see...

  Tiny gal took this picture, pretty good for a 19 mo old!

it's coming for me through the trees...

  I am feeling so happy with our seasonal cleaning & donation organization. I used to have a real problem letting go of things. I feel much more able to let go and it is so much better having a few things that I treasure as opposed to a sea of junk. I have been reading about the Waldorf ways (and really loving the Waldorf posts over at Bluebirdbaby also) and think that minimizing all the possessions (for all of us, not just baby) will benefit our family.  On my list of books to read was You Are Your Child's First Teacher , I happened to be at a used bookstore and snagged it for $2.! It was the only title I could remember,  I looked up and it was directly in front of me. Such a lovely book.
 We've been having a few very challenging days of testing limits and learning together. We are figuring out our toddler rhythm which is so new and different from the baby rhythm. Now, it seems, the baby has come down with a cold (it was bound to happen, I've taken her to the gym daycare a few times so it was only a matter of time...) so add to our difficult days, some tough nights. thank goodness for coffee...

  I opened the last jar of peach jam today. Time to finish up my jam making and get to the last bit of summer fruit in the freezer. now back to my gift knitting-feeling the crunch already!