girls and a lemonade stand

This was the latest in sidewalk sales out front of the old birthing center, my girl and her sweet best friend.
Quite the lovely sight, these two girls on a 85 degree day, enjoying each other and the momentary responsibility of retail life.

Red shoes and a smile.

and it's just like this.

Pool-side manner...

My children? Manners...? Well... (They are relatively polite...but crazy? Yes. We've got crazy here.)

findings.

so, links. Just because there are awesome things out there.

nikki.

ruche.

berries.
samosas...
ice cream!   Oh my!

ferments.

lesson

pink ninjas.

cookies.

grain free peanut butter cookies

All my life, well, thus far, I have been obsessed with cookies. I have, without giving it much thought, memorized simple straightforward recipes and tweeked them to my heart's content. Switched ingredients to fit the lifestyle currently living...(vegan, refined sugar free, wheat free, gluten free, dairy free, grain free... you name it.) Sometimes I write down what I come down with, other times not, and never to be recreated.

Thankfully, there are hundreds, if not thousands of people out there who are just as crazy about this dessert as me.
Phew.

coconut chocolate chip cookies by Paleo Parents

Here is my virtual cookie recipe book...sigh.

Yum.

two girls

This is my little one and her buddy. I get to spend a ton of time with these two, and boy, aren't they something else...

Farmer's market!

bunny and apple snack by the river.

what a ham.

exploring history

On the last day of February, my big girl decided that she would set up a picnic blanket in the ancient grave yard beside our house. I wasn't sure if it was a great idea, legalities and all,  but then again, I'm sure that all the children who passed and were buried here might appreciate the mayham of my silly children.
I've been wanting for years now to find out exactly what happened in our town during those years- so many children. I have guessed that it was a influenza epidemic or small pox. Asking around, people just generally don't know.  It may just require a trip to the library one of these days. (minus the children's room...)

And so. The picnic that the littlest one and I were not exactly invited to we crashed anyway. And someone explored the grounds...

And later on, someone is very much enjoying the stories of Jan Brett. (Not just the little one either...her papa LOVES them...)

and for the crown...

Yesterday I decided, after a wonderful inspiring conversation with my husband's best friend and one of the sweetest girls (mamas) I know, I decided to do something moderately crafty. I know,  I know, far fetched notion that it may be. So yeah, I purused Ravelry with craft-lust intent. And I came across a pattern I could just not refuse.  It was Pamela W. Allen's Waldorf crown, so simple and sweet... And completely perfect for two little sassy sprites that I know...

and now to make another one so they don't have to share!!

playing

with her Christmas stacker from Finns and Flowers,

Wooh!

moving on

So, many of you have recently asked (in person, mostly) how the house is coming along. It's been a long fall, and try as we might we can't move in yet. However, we have had some amazing progress due to some wonderful little helpers we had in October and November.

Brett...(where's my cute hammer?!)

coffee break.

Mean Mama Chapman.

And then, after they left, Travis got some work done.
(HA!) (LOVE you guys sooooo much and are truly grateful for you and all your help!!!...)

Starting to look like something, huh? The shingles (AKA: boards, right Brett?) make all the difference.

Flamanco Funk

This is what Aunties are for, right?

Totally.