CLOTHESLINE CHRONICLES

you capture::still life

2012-02-03T08:47:00.001-05:00

When I think of still life I think of a bowl of fruit, maybe a vase full of flowers. Well, I have a bowl of citrus fruit on my table, but it just felt too easy, too expected. Don't get me wrong, the grapefruits, lemons, and oranges are beautiful and bright...perfect pops of color during the winter, but recently here in Virginia we have had some of the warmest winter days I can remember. Oh sure, we usually have a warm winter day here and there, but they are usually sandwiched between weeks of frigid temperatures. But this winter we have been blessed with long stretches of spring-like weather. I love warm weather. Love.It. The girls and I have spent much more time outside than we normally would this time of year. I have been staking out my garden spots, choosing seeds to start, finalizing chicken coop/yard plans, and pruning the fruit trees. I have read a half dozen books on how and when to prune them so they will be healthier and produce more fruit - any fruit. The poor things look like they haven't been pruned in 20 years. They didn't produce much last year when we first moved in, so I'm on it. I am the crazy neighbor with super-cute pink Liberty of London gardening gloves, a ladder, bow saw, and long handled loppers. Yep, that's me. Oh, and what's that thing on the ground I keep looking at...well, that would be my most favorite pruning book, Storey's Pruning Made Easy, that has great tips from master gardeners and the oh, so helpful illustrations. I laid my sweatshirt across the top of it to hold the pages open because the nice tropical feeling breeze kept making me loose my place. That's right, it was that warm. I was pruning a fruit tree on the last day of January in a short-sleeved t-shirt! Go ahead, snicker a little...or a lot. I know I'm a big nerd, but if I do it right my trees will thrive and I'll have apples and pears this summer. What better way to spend a 71 degree day at the end of January than playing in the yard with my girls counting the daffodils that are popping up and working on my trees. So as the sun started dipping back down in the sky and I set my tools down to clean up the pile of branches I saw it...my still life. Hmm, still life. We have been anything but still.

see more you capture still life photos

you capture::colorful

2012-01-26T11:04:00.001-05:00

I haven't joined in on You Capture for quite a while and when I popped in over there yesterday to see the new challenge I just had to be a part of it. The challenge this week was colorful. I had hoped to capture a new flock of Cedar Waxwings that have been foraging in the cedar tree right outside the schoolroom window, but no such luck. I guess it was too late in the day. Then, as the day, the crazy, exhausting, fun day that we had was winding down I noticed a pinkish hue being cast on the wall through the curtains. I looked out the living room window...a prime sunset watching spot...and saw the most beautiful pink sky. And yes, I captured it. After two or three days of rain and gray, overcast skies, it was quite the special treat to see this last bit of a beautiful sunset.

This picture is straight out of the camera (SOOC). I didn't doctor it up at all. I didn't even crop it. Now, I could have probably intensified the color or cropped it a little, but I didn't want to. I usually do edit my photos, but this one, it was just right for me. I love the tree silhouettes and the pink billowy clouds. xoANG

you did what?

2012-01-23T19:24:00.000-05:00

Oh, that. This is the fun my girls had with Dad while I was out. Thanks to Dad it was all documented. And yes, they're in their pajamas. I thought my bed felt kind of lumpy last night.

Oh, and ignore the awful wallpaper border and miserable paint you see. We haven't touched our room since we moved into this house. We are focusing on the rooms that we spend the most time in right now. My bedroom will be the last to get a face lift. All in due time, all in due time. It's going to take me some time to pick a color and new bedding anyway. No rush. No rush at all.
But, oh, those girls had so much fun. I'll have to catch Dad in the air next time. xoANG

Luau is in the house!

2012-01-18T16:02:00.000-05:00

I thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures from the most recent birthday party. Well, I know my grandma is waiting to see some pictures anyway. But if you're here, I hope you enjoy what you see. The theme that was chosen this year was Hawaii. Nothing specific other than wanting palm trees on the cake. Everything else just came together. The awesome paper lanterns were actually a house warming gift from our mortgage broker. Awesome, yes she was. Grandma took the birthday girl shopping for her party gear...cups, plates, table cloth and some other goodies. Then Daddy took her out to get a few more things to really get us in the Hawaiian mood. With Pandora playing hula music in the background and a warm sunny day outside in January, it really was a nice party day.

The fabric bunting I made a couple of years ago and they come out for every single birthday. I love them. They make me feel happy because they're so cheery. Truth be told, they're still up. No one has said a word so I think I'll leave them up as long as I can. he!he! You can see above the birthday outfit...a dress this year, with fabric I bought when I lived in Hawaii and have been hording, I mean holding onto, for a good 10 years.I was saving it for just the right time and that time finally arrived. I could only find the pattern pieces for this dress, no instructions. Thankfully it came out just right. Instead of a zipper though, which I have in no way mastered, I made a matching covered button and loop for the closure. I do love me some covered buttons! I also sewed the grosgrain ribbon sash right to the dress on the front side. My girl is slim so I knew she'd need a pretty sash to make it fit just right, but I also knew she would not want it being mobile, sliding up or down or twisting, and sewing it did the trick.

Then there's the cake. I used the Hawaiian Cupcake recipe from the Cake Mix Doctor Bakes Gluten Free cookbook and doubled it to make a nice big cake instead of a bazillion cupcakes. The cake was muy delicioso! Although I made it too late in the day to ice it the night before. So, a mistake never to be made again, I iced the cake the day of the party. It's not my best work, but the birthday girl squealed with delight when she saw it and that's all that matters.

Oh yes, I made a cute fabric flower out of fabric scraps left over from the dress. I just sewed it right to a nice knit headband. Comfy, cute, makes me want one, too.

I love this shot of my girl, her hair flying. I believe she was twirling or doing a hula. Something fun, I'm sure. Yes, I do love that Hawaiian fabric. I have a little bit left...I may have to hide, I mean save, that for another special occasion.

Here's a shot Tim took of the action. Not everyone is in the room, but it was time for cake and ice cream so about 2 seconds later everyone was in one room. See my beautiful art on the wall? I owe you a post about that...soon. Regina painted those, well, they're prints, but I love them. I fully intend on making a wanty list for my summer birthday. And there up on top of the fridge is our thankful tree. For the month of November, whenever someone came to our house, they got to write something they were thankful for on a leaf and add it to the tree. We added our own almost every day. I think some have fallen off, perhaps because of a cat paw, hence the reason for such a high place of display. I think I'll save those leaves and then start anew. We don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to be thankful.

Ah, the morning after the party. The girls were enjoying the horses for their American Girl dolls. And there, stack in the chair behind them, more gifts. Among the favs...Battleship, who doesn't love that game? As a math teacher, I love the fact that they learn how to use the x and y axis to find points on a graph, I mean in the ocean to blow up your ship. Yea, I'm a nerd. You gotta problem with that? I didn't think so. Also, a game my sister bestowed upon the birthday girl...Blokus. She told me it was the best game ever. And she may be right. Well, after Scrabble, of course. Blokus is like fighting the urge to play Tetris, and well, it's pretty mathematical, too. Yes, I see the pattern emerging in my style of games. I also love Boggle and Scrabble Flash and Scattergories and Dominos. Math and reading, math and reading. Giant nerd...that's me. And I really hope and pray that my girls follow right along in my footsteps.
So there you have it...and actual lengthy post with pictures. Thanks so much for stopping by. Now, go play a fun game or something! xoANG

last single digit year

2012-01-16T16:13:00.000-05:00

The years have passed by so quickly. Nine of them, to be precise. It's hard to believe that the little baby born two weeks late is now in the last of her single digit years. She is a girl that is a wonderful big sister, a loyal friend, a lover of animals, an unstoppable reader, a budding artist, an outdoor explorer, a hilarious comedian, a constant dancer, and a gift from God.

Q:What do you want to be when you grow up?

A: A cartoon artist or a veterinarian.

Q:What is your favorite color?

A: Pink, hot pink.

Q:What was your favorite birthday gift?

A: I liked them all.

Q:What is your favorite song?

A:Amazing Grace

Q:What do you like to do when you play outside?

A:Go pretend-hunting in the woods.

Q:What do hunt for in the woods?

A:Wild turkeys, we saw some back there.

Q:When you get married, how many children do you want to have?

A:Three, not too much, just the right amount.

Q:Do you have names picked out already?

A:Ruby, Pearl, and Diamond.

Q:What if you have boys?

A:I have no idea then.

Q:What is your favorite animal? at home and at the zoo?

A:a cat, panda

Q:What is your favorite meal?

A:pizza, cheese only

Q:What is the thing you like to the least?

A:spinach

Q:What is your least favorite thing to do?

A:Walking trails for a long time, it makes my legs hurt.

Q:What is your favorite part of school?

A: History.

Q: What is your most favorite thing you like to play with your sister?

A:A game we made up called Mom and Kid.

Q:Do you think any of your answers will change by the time you're 10?

A:only a few

Q:Which ones do you think will change?

A:Maybe the answer about what I want to be when I grow up and the names I chose for kids.

catching up in five words or less

2011-12-22T08:16:00.001-05:00

Big Grandma's broken leg

Loving on the Samoyeds

Girls, Grandmas, and Aunt Mel

Four Generations

Cute sisters = me and mine

Fun on warm December days

Ready for Caroling

Elf in various hiding spots

Lost front tooth

Beautiful and meaningful art

Works in progress

From my family to yours...Merry Christmas! xoANG

girly

2011-12-07T14:38:00.007-05:00

Since we moved into our new house we have been enjoying the space we have. A laundry/sewing room, a school room/office, a family room...all wonderful. None of them finished...there is still lots of painting and stuff to do, but we are thoroughly enjoying every square inch of space. We are also enjoying the yard. There is so much space to run and play and garden and work. We didn't get any gardening done this year because we missed the planting season, but we have high hopes for next year. Behind our house at the back of our yard there are woods. Acres and acres of woods. We don't own the acres and acres, but we do own a nice little piece of it. Just enough of it, in fact, to make it mysterious and exciting. During the summer months we did not go back in the woods. There were lots of poison ivy, thorny bushes, and ticks. Oh, so many ticks. But once the weather turned cooler, the vegetation died off, and the ticks were gone we began to explore in the woods. We made paths, cleared out some downed trees, and the girls (with the help of Daddy) built some nice little stick forts. They found so many big branches to make the walls. They also found a couple of old plastic chairs to add to their forts. You never know when you may need to sit and whittle for a while. We also found some old, sun bleached, deer bones deeper in the woods, and believe it or not the girls weren't grossed out. Instead they gathered up as many as they could carry and used them as decorations. The large leg bones and the vertebrae pieces were the most coveted. I know. Bizarre. It's been raining here for a few days now and we haven't seen the sun, but I thought you might enjoy seeing the girls' forts. I whipped up few girly buntings while they were watching cartoons one day and sneaked down to the woods to hang them up. It's always more fun to do outdoorsy type things if they are a little girly!

for the love of art

2011-11-11T16:50:00.000-05:00

all of today's pictures are courtesy of Creative Kismet

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be artistically talented? If you're like me you have. Oh sure, I can doodle a stick person here and scratch out a semi-recognizable animal there, but to really have that vision, that finished piece of art already mapped out in my head and then to also have the talent to get from blank canvas to completed work of art...uh, no.

I don't have that. Is it something you're born with? Maybe you can be born with incredible talent and it just lies dormant in your brain until by some miracle it's awakened.

Maybe it's something that can be learned, or trained into your creative brain. I don't know. What I do know is that Regina of Creative Kismet is crazy talented. And super nice, by the way. We've emailed back and forth a few times and she has been nothing but sweet and generous. My girls actually think I'm famous now because she's my blogland friend...and after all she was on TV with Martha Stewart. So by default, that makes me famous...right? Anyway, I have loved her artwork since I found her blog a couple of years ago.

I'd love to have her art all over my house. Her mixed media art, her color palette, her style. I love it all. Here are a few of my favorite pieces that she has for sale in her shop.

Now, if you want to see something that I found completely fascinating and inspiring you've got to check this out.

I am Home from Regina Lord on Vimeo.

It's a video that Regina made called "I Am Home"...starting with a blank canvas and ending up with a wonderful work of art so we can see what she does and how she does it. It's like peeking in the window of her studio and catching a glimpse of how she navigates through the creative process. One of my favorite parts is how you can see that she changes her mind several times throughout the process so that it comes out just right.

A couple of weeks ago I was blessed enough to win a giveaway of one of her prints from Jennifer on the blog JCasa Handmade. I got to choose a print and this is what I chose.

I'm so excited! It should be here any day now. If you love this print, you can enter for a chance to win one too by going on over to Regina's blog Creative Kismet. Just leave her a comment and you'll be entered to win. And if you want...and I know you will...check out her shop and see everything else she has created. You won't regret it. Your wallet might, but not you.Hmmm, makes me want to pick up a canvas and give it a whirl. How about you? xoANG

you capture::fall

2011-11-10T14:13:00.006-05:00

I've only got a couple of minutes today between homeschool and after-school tutoring, but I knew this week's theme was fall and I couldn't not share. Just the other day I took some pictures of the maple tree in our front yard. It's gorgeous. The bright yellows and oranges against the clear, bright, blue sky of autumn was breathtaking.

Then as my girls and I played in the woods behind our house, woods where most of the leaves have fallen and left a crunchy path for us to travel, I looked up to see the most beautiful maple tree. The leaves so red they were screaming to be noticed in the cozy browns and greys of season.

It's amazing what you can notice if you just stop for a moment and look up. xoANG

See more pictures at I Should Be Folding Laundry.

fall traditions

2011-11-05T11:18:00.001-04:00

The weather is changing. The maple trees are fringed with red. The evening sun shines through the window and casts a golden glow throughout the house. That's when we know it's time for some of our fall traditions.

The first one is like stepping back in time. A day where we get to experience and learn about life long ago. It's always a great reminder of how blessed we are to have so many conveniences.

There were people making candles and butter. There were men and women dressed in period clothing. Layers and layers of clothing. One man showed us a very cool compass-sundial. I'd never seen anything like it. He let me try it out...and it was very accurate. Now I want to make a sun dial. You know, one in the yard made of pretty stones with flowers growing all around it. Hmmm, maybe in the spring.

The next fun thing we always enjoy is a trip to the pumpkin patch. We pass by the pumpkin patch several times before we actually make the trip which inevitably brings about the question...when are we going to the pumpkin patch? Every year we meet our friends there, my mom comes and brings my cousin so he can play with the girls, and we all have a great time. It's always really fun. There's nothing more fun than getting covered in hay, ruining a couple of pairs of socks, playing in the teepee, sliding down slides, jumping in castles, and painting cute little pumpkins while enjoying the company of friends and family.

Before I knew it, it was Halloween. The day before Halloween we went to Grandma and Pop's church for a hay ride and some serious trunk or treat fun which led to more candy then will ever be necessary. Then on Monday we met our friends at the library for the annual costume parade. All of the librarians were dressed up this year and all of the kids were adorable. I saw more of the parents dressed up this year, too. Right after the costume parade we went to the mall to show off the costumes where it was warm.

Some of the mall employees oohed and aahed over our group of kids. There were also a few elderly women who thought the kids were adorable, too. I mean seriously, look at them. How can you not think they're adorable? October was a very busy month and it flew by in a flash. I can hardly believe that it's November already. There are special birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas gift making, and so much more on the horizon for this month. Hold on to your hats this is going to be a fast one, too. xoANG

meeting sara and helping IJM

2011-10-28T16:25:00.001-04:00

Last week I had the wonderful privilege to go to a concert.. It was a big day for me. No, not for meeting the singer/songwriter whose music I love, but for actually going. Away. Passed bedtime. In all my years as a mom I have never missed a bedtime. I know, my kids are 8 and 6 years old, it's crazy. But it was time. So here's what happened. My friend Theresa, who has a wonderfully generous husband, purchased 2 tickets for her to not only go see Sara Groves in concert but to also eat dinner with her and her family, as well as the other artists that were going to be performing with her. Now, I don't know anyone who loves Sara Groves' music more than Theresa so I knew it was an awesome gift. Then....she invited me to go with her! Me. The one who has never missed a bedtime. The one who loves Sara Groves music too but lacks the nerve or the want to be out...away. It was something that I could have happily lived without, but I knew that I would really enjoy it and have fun going on a road trip with my friend, sans our total of 7 children. So I went. Tim was with our girls so my mind was at ease. They all survived dinner and bedtime without me and I without them. Of course I called when we arrived at our destination and during the intermission of the concert...which was right at bedtime, so I did get to say goodnight.

But oh, the concert was so great. From her songs, her lyrics, I figured Sara to be normal and down to earth. So many of her lyrics sound as if she spent a week with me, like she was living my life. And you know what? She is normal, and nice, and funny, and relaxed. Her children were funny and polite and adorable. Her husband was wonderful to meet and had a nice dry sense of humor which I have grown to appreciate of the years because of Tim's sense of humor. The other artists were also so laid back and normal. They were gracious with their time and stories. The concert was wonderful. We had front row seats. It was more like a time of praise and worship than a concert. The other artists were Audrey Assad and Jenny&Tyler. Both amazing singers and songwriters. They were all oozing with talent.

The concert itself was a benefit to raise money for the local pregnancy center and IJM, the International Justice Mission. Read more about IJM here.

All in all, I had a great time. Time spent with a friend, time having fun, time enjoying some really, really good music. Oh, I wish I had some talent in that area. Well, maybe my children will some day. Now, go listen to some great music. xoANG

mawwage is what bwings us togwether today

2011-10-21T08:03:00.008-04:00

Today is my anniversary.

Seventeen years.

That's almost half of my life.

The time has flown.

God's chosen one for me, wonderful father, best friend, funny, loving, understanding, playful, hard worker, provider, encouraging, skillful, intelligent, thoughtful, leader, loyal, supportive, oh we can't forget handsome.

Yep, that's 17 things. The list goes on and on but I don't want to gag you with all the lovey-dovey mushy stuff that makes him so great. I am blessed beyond measure to be married to Tim. And seriously, the 24 year old Tim in that picture is pretty darn cute if I do say so myself.

natural, just the way we like it

2011-10-07T13:37:00.000-04:00

Another day trip we ventured to take while on our staycation carried us down many a winding road, up and over mountains, and across a couple of beautiful rivers. We visited Natural Bridge, Virginia. We have taken the kids to the Natural Bridge Zoo a few times over the past 5 years, but since we just went to the mother of all zoos (on the east coast, at least) we opted out of that one. We did, however, enjoy all of the other attractions at Natural Bridge. We got a crazy-good deal on the tickets because they were collecting food for a local food bank. So if we donated a can of food per person, we could get the combo ticket for a whopping $2.00!!! Two dollars, people, two dollars...instead of $28 for adults and $16 for children. Our total could have been $88 for the four of us, but instead we paid only $8! woot!woot! Now that's a great deal and totally worth every last cent. We started off in the Natural Bridge Cavern. The girls had never been in a cavern before so they were super excited. It's a small cavern but fascinating and amazing and slippery and cold. It was great! Our guide was funny and very sweet. She shared a lot of interesting facts and pointed out some very cool formations. She even found a couple of sleeping bats for us to see...from a distance. We then headed to the actual bridge. Can I just say that the bridge is so grand and beautiful. It's stunning to see it up close and to see George Washington's initials carved in the stone when he surveyed the area. Oh yeah, the homeschool juices were flowing, baby.

The weather, once again, was slightly overcast and in the low 70's...perfect for some trail hiking and outdoor fun. Once we soaked up the awesomeness of the bridge we headed down the Cedar Creek Trail to the Monacan Indian Village where the girls got to try their hand at grinding corn.

We also got to see inside a tepee, really more of a thatched hut, feel different animal skins, see someone making rope, and of course, more grinding of the corn. All of this was beside a beautiful creek that beckoned us to it's edge on more than one occasion as we made our way down the trail further into the woods. While at Natural Bridge we also enjoyed the indoor butterfly garden. I have never seen so many butterflies before in all my life. The girls really enjoyed being able to hold the butterflies and see some hatch right out of their cocoons. We also made our way through the toy museum. I must add here that a toy museum with lots and lots of toys out in the open with one grumpy woman reminding everyone not to touch anything was a little less than great. The toys were neat and my girls don't have a problem keeping their hands to themselves, but I suppose that normally isn't the case. We then went over to the wax museum. I had never been to the wax museum and neither had the girls. It was interesting to see so many different people made of wax. I probably wouldn't go back to the wax museum...there's just something a little creepy about the whole thing, but it was worth going. Overall, we had a great time.

Our favorite parts were probably the actual Natural Bridge and the Cedar Creek Trail. We had perfect weather and enjoyed our time together as a family. And after a nice long day of having fun together and having their picture taken a hundred times this is what you end up with. xo ANG

it's a zoo

2011-09-27T17:06:00.008-04:00

Wow! Where has the time gone? Once we started our school year the days have been filled. Filled to the brim with books and learning and writing and memorizing and loving every minute. You know things are going well when there are squeals of excitement when it's time for history. Then to top it off when the school day is done and there is time to play they quickly build a city and citadel of blocks and reenact what they so eagerly learned. But where does the zoo part come in? you ask. Well, we just finished a nice rainy staycation. A week of cloudy, cool, overcast days that beckoned us to relax and enjoy just being home. together. We did manage to squeeze in two very excellent day trips. Days where the clouds kept us shaded from the sun and very kindly held on to their droplets until we had packed in every ounce of fun we could manage. So yes, our first trip was to the zoo. Not any old zoo, mind you, but the North Carolina Zoo. My personal fav. If you've never been there and live within 3 hours of it...it is well worth it. It's a natural habitat zoo so there is a lot of walking. Five miles...give or take. But I tell you, with the beautiful grounds and abundance of animals the miles go by with hardly a second thought.

So, you wanna see some pictures? You know I took like a million, right? Okay, maybe it was closer to 300, but who's counting?Well, hello gorgeous! Lions, always my favorite.
Yes dear, you look fine in stripes.
Such a showoff!

A trio of amazing creations.

She turned to face the sun while it shone for few minutes.

Busy bees, those girls of mine. Also, I learned a lot from the apiarist volunteer.

This grizzly was such a poser.

A stunning pair...one with a bad hair cut, it seems.

Soaking up the warmth on the rocks.

This is just the tip of the ice berg, so to speak. We had such a wonderful day at the zoo. xoANG

tools of the trade

2011-08-26T13:54:00.001-04:00

Yes, new neighbors, I fully intend on having a winter garden. I also have every intention on owning a nice flock of chickens in the spring. And soon we'll have a small orchard and some berry patches. Herbs and such as edible landscaping are also very likely. So please, if you don't mind, get used to me daydreaming about my little homestead as I pause and look around while hanging laundry. Also, you should probably get used to me standing in the yard with a compass and a book or two while I think and plan and dream about which things to plant and where to plant them so they get the best lighting. Oh, and those kids, yes, the ones with insect books and jars to catch them in, or sticks and little bottles of sap, or yarn and dolls and fallen pears, or magnifying glasses and binoculars, those girls are mine. They'll be outside with me a lot. More often than not they'll be singing or pretending to be pirates or explorers while they search for new and interesting insects, woodland creatures, and flowers and weeds. No, they won't be getting on a bus in the morning. They'll be learning in our new (not at all finished) school room...learning, studying, exploring, and loving every minute of it.

And while you're at it, try to find my use of yarn and clothespins endearing instead of just plain crazy. When planning sections of yard to turn into garden space I like to use what is close at hand and for me it was clothespins for stakes, yarn for rope, and a softball for a hammer. Those are my tools of the trade. What? You never used a softball to hammer clothespins into the ground before? Surely it's not just me. Anyway, it worked great.

Oh, and see that cute little shed there in the background? Well, this winter we'll be turning that into a most fabulous chicken coop. There is a lot of brush and junk behind there (left by the previous owner) that we'll be clearing out so that the hens can have a nice open (but fenced in) chicken run. And further behind that is where the orchard will be. Oh, well here's a shot of the space we'll be using for some lovely little dwarf fruit trees.

The little shed for my chickens is just to the left out of the shot. This little homestead of ours has so much potential. Our library bag is overflowing with books about edible landscaping, winter gardening, orcharding (is that a word?), and raising chickens. Our brains are overflowing with lists, ideas, plans, and dreams. God has certainly blessed us with more that we would ever need. Our goal and our desire is to be good stewards of all that He has blessed us with and to teach our children to do the same.

xoANG

when the earth quakes

2011-08-24T08:06:00.006-04:00

Yesterday around 2 pm we, here in Virginia, had an earthquake. An earthquake that measured 5.9. This was my third earthquake experience. The first two were so small that it only felt like a big truck driving by the house. But yesterday, as I sat in the chair tying my shoes and as the girls gathered some books before we headed out the door, the house began to shake. At first I thought again that it was a big truck driving down our street, but as the shaking intensified I was frozen. Not really in fear, but in amazement. Is this really happening? Is it going to get worse? The girls were terrified. Not just from the odd sensation of our immovable house moving right under our feet but also from the noise. Hearing the sound of our house shaking (an unforgettable and indescribable sound), hearing the dishes rattle, seeing the lamp fall off the table, watching the shoes fall from the shelf by the door, seeing the chandelier sway...all within a few seconds. Scared...yes they were. I must say it did make me a little tense but God gave me grace to remain calm. Voice soft and steady I told them to leave what they had so we could go outside until it was over. The quaking sensation was considerably less in the warm grass but as I put my hand on the bricks of my house I could still feel it moving. Then it was over. Just like that. No more shaking, no more sounds, just the quiet stillness that we had forever taken for granted. Then the phone rang...people checking in on us...then I made calls checking in on others. Thankfully everyone was safe...just a little shaken. (sorry for the pun, it was irresistible)
As the conversations throughout the remainder of the day were centered around the earthquake I reminded my girls that yes, God is in control. I explained how earthquakes happen so they would understand what makes the earth shake all the way from Canada to Georgia. (I feel a homeschool science lesson coming on) God is powerful and mighty and sovereign. Then I remembered the story from Acts 16 when Paul and Silas were imprisoned yet they were singing hymns of praise to God. The other prisoners were listening to them praise God even though sharing about Him is what landed them in jail. Then an earthquake happened...well here, read the passage from Acts 16....
Paul and Silas Imprisoned
22 The crowd rose up together against them, and the chief magistrates tore their [j]robes off them and proceeded to order [k]them to be beaten with rods. 23 When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; 24 [l]and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the [m]stocks.
25 But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; 26 and suddenly there came a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison house were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. 27 When the jailer awoke and saw the prison doors opened, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. 28 But Paul cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here!” 29 And he called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas, 30 and after he brought them out, he said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”
The Jailer Converted
31 They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” 32 And they spoke the word of [n]the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. 33 And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. 34 And he brought them into his house and set [o]food before them, and rejoiced [p]greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

It's amazing how God used that earthquake. I wonder how it felt to them, how it sounded. What they thought. After looking up that passage I looked for other occasions when, in the Bible, other earthquakes happened. Matthew 27:50-54...When Jesus died on the cross, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom and the earth shook and rocks split. Matthew 28:1-7 When Jesus rose from the dead three days later an earthquake happened and an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven, rolled away the stone from the tomb.

So, as I think again about the earthquake I realize just how small I am. How, no matter how much I try to have control over my life, my circumstances, our daily lives, I really have no control at all. I am reminded that I was created to glorify God, to obey God, and to do what He commands. Not out of fear, but out of love and respect and awe. He is an awesome God, powerful and sovereign, full of grace and mercy.
Safely His, xoANG

those aren't jr. mints...and other observations

2011-08-22T14:26:00.002-04:00

Having been a homeowner for the past six years I, mistakenly, thought I had learned a lot. Sure, I can unclog a drain, tighten a doorknob, paint a wall, and even manage to grow some veggies in a tiny urban garden. But now, in our new abode, I am learning something new about being a homeowner every day. And being a homeowner with almost an acre is so fabulous and overwhelming all at the same time. It's a huge adjustment, one I've been craving mind you, to go from 1/10th of an acre to nearly an acre. There's a lot of grass to cut. There are a lot of bushes to trim, there are a lot of weeds to pull. And next year when we have our first spring in this house I am sure, or at least I'm hoping, there will be many flowers popping up everywhere. But now, right now, this wonderful summer, we are enjoying the many mornings and evenings when we can gather around the dining room window or the family room door and watch in awe as a family of deer enjoy the coolness of the shade in our back yard. First we saw a single fawn, then another...twin fawns I believe.

I could not resist taking pictures but I needed to get closer. I slowly and very quietly walked through our back yard with camera at the ready and my own two little ones right beside me. The fawns noticed us but didn't run. In fact, when the second fawn saw us from behind the butterfly bush he made his way closer to us. It seemed as though he was just as interested in us as we were in him. I got a few great shots then we slowly made our way back to the patio. Soon after we were safely away a doe made her way into the yard. They enjoyed munching on the grass and the fallen pears from our tree. Then to our surprise a buck came out of the woods and joined them. Oh, what a sight to see! They grazed happily together checking on our location periodically.

The fawns stayed close together the whole time while the adults meandered into the neighbors yard. Then the fawns took off running toward the back of our yard. Their little while tails were not up in fear, they were running for fun. Then I saw her. Another doe. Their mom.

They ran to her and she nudged them with her nose then they both stood and nursed at the same time. It was really quite amazing. The five deer continued to enjoy the early evening shade...then in an instant they were gone. They ran straight for the woods. Hmmmm...the other neighbor let her dog outside and they didn't want to have anything to do with him.

We have even discovered a visiting groundhog. He's quite large...probably from the pears he's been eating. It is fun to watch him hold a pear with his little ~~hands~~ ~~paws~~ front feet and eat it like corn on the cob. We did notice him find an opening in our neighbors garden fence. Oh, he's a sneaky one.

So yes, this summer we have been enjoying the wildlife that has made our back yard their evening haven. And yes, when we make our way around the yard we need to be careful where we step because once you get close to the pear tree...well, let's just say, those aren't jr. mints on the ground. And although the animals are beautiful and wonderful to observe, I must say that next year when I have a garden of my own and more fruit trees and some berry bushes, I might not be so excited to see our woodland friends every evening. For now though, we'll soak it in, capture it on film, learn about it in books, and love every minute of it.

xoANG

this moment

2011-08-12T08:27:00.001-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. happy friday xoANG

you capture: fruit

2011-07-28T07:27:00.001-04:00

It's early. Tim just left for work, I put my girls in the tub for a much needed bath, I fed the cat so he would behave, I finished my coffee, and I found just a few minutes as the sun continues to rise along with the mercury to sit at the computer. I haven't checked out the You Capture theme for a while, but today I did. The theme is fruit. Perfect. We do have two fruit trees in our back yard which we will eventually make into a small orchard. We have an apple tree, which seems to be having some production issues, and a pear tree that is due for a much needed pruning. Pears though, they are one of my most favorite fruits when perfectly ripe and juicy. I snapped a few shots of the pear abundance just the other day when I was down at the butterfly bush. Yesterday we watched a doe and a ground hog enjoy the fallen fruits. They were fascinating to watch but I need to stay on top of that because I'd like for those pears to be ours. Maybe I'll get to make some pear butter this fall. My sister made some a few years back and she said it was easy and super delicious. Anyway, here is one fully loaded branch.

And here's a shot of the whole, unruly tree. (note to self: find out when to prune fruit trees) See that opening in the woods behind the tree? That is the doorway through which the wildlife enters our yard. We spotted a fawn back there yesterday...no pun intended...but really a tiny fawn with white spots, it really doesn't get any cuter than that.

So there you have it. An early morning post with a side of fruit. xoANG

the place to be

2011-07-24T20:59:00.003-04:00

At any given time throughout the day, whether it's stifling hot and humid or breezy and cool, if you need to find us we'll be down by the butterfly bush.

As soon as the back door opens the girls are drawn to the butterflies. On some days there seems to be hundreds of them all beautiful and graceful floating from flower to flower.

They sit still long enough sometimes for us to watch them find nectar with their curly proboscis. They sit still long enough sometimes to be caught, too. Gently, of course and nearly immediately set free.

We've seen quite the variety of butterflies and moths. We have also seen a few hummingbird bumblebees. They are quite stunning little creatures. I tried...in vain...to clearly capture one in flight, but they are so quick, and their wings are barely visible since they beat so fast. I did manage to capture a half blurry shot of one and just had to share it.

Sometimes the butterflies land on the lower flowers right in front of us so we can admire the details of their wings, but as soon as we get too close they fly to the higher blooms just out of reach.

Just for fun, the next picture is a shot of the back of our house from the butterfly bush. Yes, there is a glorious clothesline there on the right. What a treat to have one in place already here at the new house.

We've been doing a lot of work here and there. Painting, cleaning, counter top refinishing, unpacking, living out of boxes...then at the old house, much of the same...cleaning, moving stuff, putting things in boxes. The work fills our days but it is work with great reward. We are loving our new home. It's like it was made for us. And as we clean out our old home we can appreciate how special our first little house is to us and we hope it will be just as special to the new owner...whomever that may be.
I will be showing our old home on Thursday to a prospective buyer. Please pray that she will fall in love with it just as we did 6 years ago. Stay cool in this wonderful summer heat! xoANG

busy as a...

2011-07-06T13:37:00.003-04:00

well, ya know.

Packing, hauling, cleaning, spackling,

sanding, cabinet removing, ripping out carpet,

cleaning some more, sweating like a dog in this humidity and heat....

but moving!

Yep, we've been busy here, moving from this adorable, best ever first home of ours...

to this spacious home that has waited to be ours for six long months. She's got a big yard that aches to be home to a huge garden, a small orchard, and a gorgeous flock of chickens. Oh yes, new home, we've got big plans for you!

So I've been away from this space for a good reason. Life has been happening. Father's Day was a wonderful celebration, we took care of our friends chickens, the girls took swimming lessons which advanced their skills to swimming in deep water and gaining the bravery to jump off the diving board, the 4th was great and we enjoyed some spectacular fireworks. So between carloads of boxes we have managed to squeeze in some great fun all while the computer, the sewing machine, the crochet hooks and yarn, and good summer reads have all been left to fend for themselves. I'll try to be more present here. Until next time please enjoy the pictures that I took of the many different types of bees that are enjoying the lavender and clover in our yard. xoANG

6

2011-06-04T15:48:00.004-04:00

Since I've been gone from this space many things have happened. One of the most important things is that my baby turned six. Six! How did that happen?

Here she is on the day she entered the world screaming her head off...all 7 pounds 5 ounces of her. So tiny and so cute...and so, so loud. My mom says it's payback.

Here she is at one. Look at those cheeks...don't you just want to squeeze 'em?

And at two years old the cheeks are still squeezable. Her loud personality was coming out more.

Three years old, no longer a baby. She has no fear of the camera or anything else.

Four years old and getting so big. The genetically frizzy hair is beginning to arrive.

Five years old, long hair, big smile...bigger personality.

And now she's six. A lover of reading and drawing and baby dolls. She'll eat just about anything and she loves spicy food just like her Dad.

She requested a mermaid themed party this year. Boy, oh boy, did she get a lot of mermaids. Oh, and here's this year's cake. And did I mention that this grown-up girl with maturing taste buds wanted a gluten-free red velvet cake? No? Well, she did and I found a great recipe....easy to follow and delicious! The recipe is really for cupcakes, but I just doubled everything (except the red food coloring, I used 3 Tbs instead of 4) and baked it in my 13X9 dish.

And this year's birthday outfit. There are capris under that mermaid tail made of cute mermaid fabric trimmed with fringe to match the shirt and headscarf.

And lastly, here she is with her most favorite gift of all...a new pair of sparkly shoes.

I promise to share some beach pictures with you soon. Happy summer! xoANG

what a day

2011-05-20T21:28:00.004-04:00

Okay, it's Friday night and yes, I posted this morning, but today's events need to be shared. The original plan for today was to relax in the morning then make our way down to the beach and enjoy our final day at the beach. That's exactly how it all began. The day was nice and warm with almost no wind. We walked on the beach, we played in the surf, we ate a snack, we looked for and found some seashells and shark teeth. Then we decided to build in the sand. The girls worked on some sandcastles while I started working on my annual sand sea turtle. That's when things changed. As I was digging in the sand I looked up and saw a little boy walking by along the edge of the beach nearest to the dunes. I thought nothing of it because there were many people around. About ten minutes later I looked up again and the same little boy was walking by again going in the opposite direction, crying. I knew he was lost. I got up to catch up to him to see if I could help or call his mom on the phone or the police but as I got closer he started running toward some people so I thought he found his family. I watched him to see, but then I realized he was still alone. Tim and I took off after him, caught up to him and asked him if he was lost. He was. He didn't know the name of the condo he was staying in, he didn't know his parents cell phone number, he didn't know. He was little, maybe five. We took him with us back to our spot on the beach, another mom near our stuff was on the phone with police when we got back. The police talked to the boy and then we waited for his mom to come. She was already with the police fearing that he had been abducted and so grateful that he had been found. At that moment the sky opened up and poured down a torrential downpour. We waited under our tent and watched as the lights of the police truck came closer and closer. Then finally the truck stopped, his mom jumped out, and was completely relieved. The boy, Jason, had walked about a mile from where his family was staying. A mile! He must have passed hundreds of people on the beach as he searched for his family. Hundreds. I am so thankful that he was protected while he was alone and vulnerable to abduction or worse. Needless to say, I kept an even closer watch over my girls for the rest of the day, and so did the parents near us on the beach. Our neighbors this week have 3 kids, 10, 8, and 7. The seven year old is a girl and very sweet. My girls played with her for the rest of the afternoon. I chatted with the parents as we stood in the pouring rain, yes it kept raining, while we watched the kids playing in the surf. They are homeschoolers, too. The kids had so much fun and called each other BBF...best beach friends. I talked with the mom and we thought it would be fun for the the kids to be pen pals. They are from Georgia and because they became fast friends it was hard to say goodbye when it was time to leave the beach. While we were preparing for dinner the girls made cards for their new friend and I added a note with our address and we slipped it under their door when they were out for dinner. When we finished dinner in the condo the doorbell rang and the new friend had spent some time making cards and pictures for my girls and her mom added a note with their address. It was all very exciting. They can't wait to send their first letter to Georgia.
So the rest of the night included one last load of laundry so I don't have to wash anything when we get home, packing up all of our things, showering, waiting for the rain to stop, and relaxing while reliving today's events and sharing them with you. Now I need to go. Tomorrow is going to be a long day and I need to get some sleep.
Keep an eye on your kids. Give them some extra hugs and kisses. Make sure they know your cell number.
xo ANG

beach brain overload

2011-05-20T08:52:00.002-04:00

This week has been pretty nice. The temperatures have been a little cooler than normal here at the beach, but at home in Virginia it's been cold and raining. The grass in my yard should be nice and tall by now. I am hoping that my garden is growing nicely. Yes, I know we'll be moving soon, but with all of the unknowns of the house buying process I didn't want to miss this gardening season. I did plant some things in containers in the event that we would be moving so I could take them with me.
Anyway, my brain is full so I'm just going to unload here.
*we have found some shark teeth, not as many as last year, but still, we found some
*there haven't been as many shells this time around, not such a bad thing I suppose...how many shells do we really need anyway?
*we have found some live creatures this time on the beach...a blue crab-that didn't want to let go of the sand shovel and pinched Tim's finger...two starfish-both beautiful and amazing, one with a regenerating leg...a sea urchin-small and spiny....a whelk-like a beautiful giant snail
*I've been a bad blogger...I didn't take nearly as many pictures as I normally do. Sometimes I just completely forgot to take my camera and sometimes it was more fun to be in the moment that to just watch it all through the lens of a camera
*the work that is waiting for me at home tends to overwhelm my thoughts at times
*the house we are moving into needs some work...cleaning and painting mostly, which I am actually looking forward to
*paint colors fill my thoughts when I try to go to sleep at night...it will be so nice to have something besides white walls
*we did see dolphins one morning...one had a baby swimming with her..very cool
*today the ocean looks like glass and sounds heavenly. it's been pretty choppy all week
*we must have walked a hundred miles this week, no one is sunburned, but our legs are tired
*the full moon on Tuesday night was huge and orange as it rose in the sky
*Tim took me on a date, the dinner was good, the time was relaxing, the computers at the restaurant crashed so we got a free dessert while we waited for the check...homemade key lime pie...eventually they had to actually use their brains to manually add taxes to find a total.
*the water in the condo doesn't stink like it normally does but it's doing a number on my curly hair...the frizz is almost unbearable
*the girls have a tv in their room this time and they have loved watching cartoons
*I brought my yarn and knitting needles...I'm trying to relearn what my librarian taught me last year so that I can expand my knitting skills
*today I have to pack again so that tomorrow morning's departure will be quick and painless.
I promise to share pictures with you next week. I've got some good ones.
xoANG

because my toes are in the sand

2011-05-16T08:40:00.002-04:00

We're at the beach. A much needed vacation. The school year for us is just about over. Maybe one more week when we get home to finish up and get end of the year testing done. Then we'll be enjoying summer vacation. It'll be a busy summer. We'll be moving! I haven't really mentioned the possibility of moving here on the ol' blog because it has been a crazy roller coaster of unknowns and maybes and yeses and nos. Then finally, as I was packing for this trip, I got the call and the confirmation email that the house we have waited for since January is finally going to be ours. I will soak up every ounce of relaxation, every minute with my feet up, every drop of sun, every seashell hunt, every long walk on the beach, every moment of coloring with my girls, every moment of down time while we are here at the beach because I know, oh yes, I know, that as soon as we get home we'll be kicking it in to high gear to clean, pack, and prepare to move.
Now I must go. The beach is calling and it would be down right rude not to answer.
xoANG

on lunch meat and lying

2011-05-02T20:50:00.014-04:00

...and being a mom.

Just when you think you know your children, what they think, how they behave, things they like, things they don't like, things they continually do, and things they would never do...they make a change. Sometimes that is a wonderful thing. A change for the better. A change that shows independent thinking. A change simply because they are growing and maturing. A change in preferences like clothes, hairstyles, or toenail polish. What a joy it is to be a mom. It's the most rewarding part of life and sometimes the most difficult.

I'm not gonna lie. Sometimes it's really tough but often times that's when I learn the most about how to be the mom that God wants me to be. It's definitely a lifelong journey and there is always something new just around the bend. There is never a dull moment. Busy moments, yes. Frustrating moments, oh yes. Fun moments, absolutely. Rewarding, amazing, wonderful moments, more than I deserve. Dull moments...never. Which brings me to a recent event in the Clothesline household. An event I was not prepared for, but met head-on.

It was lunch time. We ate together as a family. The girls had lunch meat as part of their meal. Because we are gluten free the lunch meat (which was the requested turkey...because there has been a new aversion to ham and roast beef) was rolled up with a toothpick. Fun, I know. Anyway, when the girls were finished eating it was time to use the bathroom and wash up for rest time. Yes, my girls still have rest time. Okay, mostly it's for me so I can let my ears and my brain have a rest, but they need rest, too. Then to their room they went. Tim was heading back to work and saw something strange in the toilet. Hmmm...could that be turkey? Why yes, it is turkey..floating in the toilet. What?! and Eeewww! One little kiddo had some 'splainin' to do. Now this particular kiddo is notorious for being a hard nut to crack. And way back when she was four-ish we had an issue or two with a lying tongue and a hard heart. Surely we're not going down that road again. We shall see, I thought.

After rest time was over I asked the ~~suspect~~ kiddo if she ate all of her lunch.

Yes.

All of it?

Yes.

Even your turkey?

Yes, I finished swallowing it in the bathroom when I washed my hands.

The responses from said ~~suspect~~ kiddo quickly turned to tears when reminded about how God hates a lying tongue and how He knows our actions and thoughts even before we do. More tears.

So, did you eat all of your lunch.

No.

What did you do with your turkey?

I threw it away.

Where?

In the...

Where?

In the....

Choose to tell the truth. We are always given a opportunity to make the right choice.

In the toilet....but I flushed it.

There were more tears, an apology (first for lying, second for wasting food, third for potentially clogging our toilet), some discipline, and lots of hugs. It's tough being a mom, especially when there is a piece of lunch meat floating in the toilet. But you know what? I wouldn't change a thing. It's the most wonderful blessing, gift, and responsibility that I could have ever been given. So, Happy Mother's Day Mama. Oh, and Mama, sorry for feeding my liver and onions to the dog. At least I didn't try to flush them down the toilet. :-)

craft book challenge - april

2011-04-28T13:58:00.014-04:00

I did it! I actually got some sewing done for the Craft Book Challenge...just in time for Easter. I made the cutest, quickest, easiest pair of shorts you have ever seen. Well, I made two pairs of shorts. One pink and one purple. The instructions are in my Craft Hope book, which has so many inspirational projects. All you need to make a pair of shorts, besides a sewing machine, is two bandannas ($1 each at walmart)and a piece of elastic long enough to encompass the girth of the recipient of the shorts.

Are they not the cutest shorts? The girls loved them and wore them after we went to church on Easter Sunday. They're long and colorful, but thin and cool.

I'd love to make more, and I probably will. However, I'll stick with the darker colors because your can see right through them if the sun shines on them just right.

I think the bandannas would make a super cute, simple, gathered skirt as well. Hmmm, maybe I'll try that next.

It was super warm on Easter so we took our eggs outside to dye them. It was so much fun and they turned out beautiful...and delicious. Oh, and that row of orange buckets lining the edge of my driveway are my $2.57 five gallon paint buckets turned brightly colored planters. I've got seeds germinating in there and soon we'll have some cucumbers climbing up my bamboo trellis. I also got adventurous and planted some purple tomatillo seeds. I've never grown tomatillos before..but I had to try.

And because I can't mention Easter and not show you the dresses....here they are.

I hope your Easter was wonderful and I hope you are all safe. We've had several days of really severe weather but today the sun shines warm on us again. xoANG

it's time

2011-04-16T09:25:00.003-04:00

...to make time...for sewing. I've been staring at a pile of very colorful bandannas to make some adorable summery shorts for my girls and for a special little cousin. I've got the instructions to make the shorts in my Craft Hope book. I just need to do it. It'll be a good warm up project for me and my sewing machine. Also, they'd make a lovely addition to the Easter basket. Then I'll be ready for the more exciting project for Spring Top Week! I bought a pattern back in January that I've been waiting to use. The time has finally come. Now I just need to choose the fabric.

It's rainy and windy here today. Perfect for staying in and getting some sewing done. First though, I need to make a loaf of bread, make a fresh batch of chicken broth, put away the clean, folded laundry that's been staring at me for two days, and paint my toenails. Okay, the last thing isn't really necessary, but I love painted toenails. It just feels more summery. And if I feel more summery, maybe one day the sun will come out and stay out. The question is, which color? summer sky blue, sparkly royal purple, bubble gum pink, big money green, or juicy tangerine...decisions, decisions. happy weekend. xoANG

spring things

2011-04-08T15:42:00.008-04:00

Since I last stopped in to give you an update more things have transpired. First, my baby lost her first tooth. Seriously...adorable, right? Second, a friend of mine, that lets me enjoy her chickens, got six new chicks. They're fluffy and chirpy and adorable.

We held them and watched them as they pecked and scurried around in the warmth of the heat lamp.

Third, my flowers are blooming!

Tulips, grape hyacinth, daffodils...gorgeous, colorful signs of spring in every spot in the yard I could plant a bulb.

The azaleas have buds and will be blooming soon.

Forth, we have been enjoying the warm, sunny days that are sandwiched between cold, rainy, wintry days. The confounded dandelions have made a serious comeback this spring. I love their cheerful, sunny color...but I don't want them to take over my yard. The clover has dibs on the yard evidently, but the dandelions are giving them a run for their money.

Fifth, we've had a few play dates that were spontaneous and fun.

Spending time with friends is such a treat. That just about sums up the last couple of weeks. The next few days look very promising. There will be lots of yard ~~work~~ ~~fun~~ work and gardening and playing! enjoy, my friends, enjoy! xoANG

still here

2011-03-26T18:36:00.004-04:00

March has been a crazy month. Homeschool is going great. We're making a lot of progress. We've got a fresh, new, confident reader. Listening to a new reader read every book she can get her hands on takes a while. And it's a long while that I certainly enjoy. It's also a long while that is away from this computer. My very part-time after-school tutoring job has become more time consuming this month, and will continue next month, because my boss/friend had spinal surgery and I've taken over a lot of her responsibilities. (Pray for her as she recovers. It will be a long road for her, but hopefully a successful road that will lead to a pain free life.) Which means that any time I spend on the computer is usually working on progress report related documents or sifting through and managing emails from a multitude of teachers that have questions and need support. Also, and most notably, keeping me from this screen is the fact that my dear 90 year old grandfather passed away last Sunday.Please keep my family in your prayers...my Grandma and my Mom mostly, but the whole family. It is a loss that was not a surprise, yet deeply saddening as there will be a void that used to be filled with a wonderful, hardworking farmer, extremely talented bluegrass banjo player, man of few words but spoke volumes through his example for anyone who had the pleasure of knowing him. I will try to peek in here to say hi, and maybe share a picture or two as often as I can. xoANG

tie one on:: paris apron

2011-03-02T14:16:00.003-05:00

The newest Tie One On apron theme is Paris. It's been a while since I've made an apron so I thought this would be a fun challenge.

I pondered over what to do. I'm no expert on anything French and since the theme was Paris I decided to stick with the obvious...Eiffel Tower. I knew that I wanted to embroider it on whatever style apron I decided to make. Deciding on the style of apron was where I stalled. After thinking about it and drawing a few ideas I decided to go with a cheeky French maid style of apron. I mean, come on, that would be cute, right? My original plan was to go all white with only black embroidery. Sometimes things just don't work out like you plan, so I improvised and I am very pleased with the result. I wanted this apron, although cute, to be sturdy and wearable while cooking so I bought 100% cotton duck cloth from the local fabric shop. I love the thickness and sturdiness of duck cloth. I decided to line the apron with pink and black fabric from my stash. (left over from the detective cape) Perfect. So I found a great graphic of the Eiffel Tower and traced it on my fabric with a water erasable marker and embroidered away. It turned out just as I had hoped. Then on to the pocket. I've got to have a pocket and I wanted it to say bon appetit. I found the perfect font and again traced it and embroidered that, too. That wasn't enough so I embroidered a tiny little coffee mug on there as well.

Then it came time to assemble the whole shebang. Well, let me just say that trying to make a ruffle for a French maid style apron out of duck cloth...not gonna happen. Not at all. The wonderful thickness that drew me to the material in the first place was the very thing that put a kink in my plans. Then I remembered that in a box of fabric from my Grandma there was a big long piece of premade ruffle...black with white dots...PERFECT! Oops...sorry for yelling, I was a little excited. Then came the assembling of the pocket. I thought I'd try a fancier stitch on my machine and it worked great. Love it. So then I thought I'd use the same stitch all the way around the edge of the apron. Well, wouldn't you know that I ran out of black thread. Grrr. Well, since I decided to line the apron with the pink and I had plenty of pink thread I decided to just use that and it would help bring it all together. Add a couple of buttons at the top for extra cuteness and you've got an apron. Oh, then I tried to add the apron ties.

Again with the thick duck cloth. I broke my needle when I was only inches from being finished. Thankfully I had extra needles already. So by carefully sewing through the thick layers my Paris apron is finally complete.

Now, I suppose I should go wash the dishes or start working on dinner...wearing my new apron.
Sorry, for the picture heavy post, but my mom needed to see lots of pictures. Happy Wednesday. xoANG

echo

2011-02-25T09:02:00.004-05:00

This morning's Bible lesson was based on Matthew 12:34-37. The story that I read to the girls was about echoes. It is always fun to hear an echo, to say different, silly things then wait to hear it repeated back to you. You know you've hollered in a valley or in a tunnel and heard your own voice coming back at you. It's fun! But when we apply what we know about echoes to our words and actions it becomes an issue of the heart. The verses we read today were very clear. The words we say and the things we do are the echo of what is in our hearts. Are they good? encouraging? kind? patient? loving? glorifying to God? Ouch! Not always. As a wife, a mom, a friend...what is my echo? Often how my children behave and what they say is an echo of me, my heart. The last verse we read, verse 37, says "For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned."

What a way to start the weekend. I will be focusing on my words and actions. I want my echo to be of a pure heart. I want my echo to be something that should be repeated.

you capture::things that start with "L"

2011-02-24T07:50:00.005-05:00

Proverbs 31:13b She works with her hands in delight.

Over the past week we have been blessed with some very warm days. Days that soak us in sunlight and a warmth that awakens our anticipation for spring. It spurred me on to start digging up my tiny garden spot. Shoveling down deep in the soil and turning it over, the smell of fresh earth, the sight of hard working worms, the promise of new life as the sun continues to warm us all. My girls, even in a feverish state, loved being outside in our little garden with boots on and rakes in hand to smooth out the soil and find the worms. The worms wiggle and wonder how they reached the surface. After a few minutes they are place back on the dirt and we watch them work their way back down below. Working with my hands in delight? Oh, yes. It delights me to work, to plan, to cultivate, to sow. And while I'm doing all of that work I get to wear my beautiful, girly girl gardening gloves. They are soft from use, they are sturdy in their construction, and they are pretty. They are Liberty of London. A girl can be cute while she works with her hands in delight, right? It makes it even more fun! If only I had some cute boots to match. Happy Thursday. xoANG

craft book challenge - february

2011-02-23T08:36:00.005-05:00

For this month's Craft Book Challenge I chose to try something new.

Something I've never done before...hand smocking. The project came from One Yard Wonders and it was called Smocked Pillow in the Round. The directions and illustrations were very clear which made it easier than I had anticipated.

The problem...well, the problem was me. The fabric I used was from my stash and wasn't the correct width. Being too narrow made the pillow too small. The smocking part was tedious, but it was a good, quiet thing to work on in the evening after my girls were in bed. It would also make a good on-the-go project. The smocking part actually turned out quite nice and on a tiny scale it would be stunningly beautiful. My favorite part, and also something new to me, was making my own covered buttons.

It's such a quick and easy thing to do but with wonderful results. I want to make more things that require buttons or at least embellishments just so I can make more covered buttons. Yes, they're that great. I may try this project again in future but only on one condition...that I have the correct size material to make it look as fabulous as the finished product in the book. Aim high, right? Striped fabric probably wasn't the best choice for this project so maybe I'll go with a small print next time.
Now for a sneak peek at something else that has been keeping my hands busy during ballet and art this month.

I'm just about ready for the reveal, but you'll have to wait for one more day. I'm hoping for some sunshine to get a proper picture of the finished product. Happy Wednesday. xoANG

a bend in the road

2011-02-22T11:33:00.009-05:00

Well, it seems as though we've made it through. The girls have a lingering, and mildly annoying cough, but fevers are gone and appetites are back. Beds are made, hair is brushed, they are fully dressed in regular clothes...they've been in pajamas almost every day...except for the warmer days when we went outside to soak up the sun. They are working their way through the first school day in a week right now. With renewed energy everything is moving along just fine, even the bickering over who gets which colored pencils for our Bible lesson. Ahhhhh, the sounds of being well again.
Today, as I round the curve on this road of reality that I have been traveling, the temperatures have gone from a balmy 75 degrees yesterday to a bone-chilling 31 degrees today. An extra layer is needed for the toasty warm feeling that I like to maintain. I did manage to take some pictures around the yard over the past few days. Pictures that prove spring is near. In spite of this cold, rainy, windy day I know that warmer days will return...soon. And when they do return I will plant seeds and pick flowers and hang laundry on the line. Until then I will enjoy the warmth of my cozy house while pouring over seed catalogues and reading about companion planting.Oh yes, also while inside, I will be de-germing my house...changing all sheets, switching out toothbrushes, mopping floors, scrubbing bathrooms, santizing surfaces, well, you get the idea. Happy Tuesday. xoANG

snap out of it

2011-02-18T13:34:00.004-05:00

Well, I am here to inform you today that the road of denial is now closed. There is a detour, however, and I believe it will lead me straight to a place I like to call reality. Yep. Just as kid number one was getting better, fever subsiding, appetite returning, energy renewed...kid number two has grabbed hold of that fever with both hands and wouldn't let it leave the house. She is tired and wimpy and coughing. I have been checking temperatures at regular intervals for days with high hopes that it really would stop with one. Ha. Being obsessive about taking temperatures does have its benefits though. I know that checking for fevers won't change a darn thing, but in my crazy mind it gives me time to mentally prepare for round two. Her fever climbed ever so slowly this morning as she curled up on the couch - not wiggling. We did go outside for a while this morning because it is amazingly 74 degrees! In February! Kid number one played in the yard while kid number two, wrapped in a blanket, sat in the sun and dozed. To feel the warmth of the sun on my face and the slightest of breezes blowing through my ~~frizz~~ hair while I hung the laundry on the clothesline...it was the most wonderful of reminders that I am not in control..that I should be anxious for nothing..that I will be given grace enough for today..that I will gain patience through waiting..that if I quiet my heart I will hear His wisdom..that I am His.
I do hope your weekend is wonderful, no matter what road you're traveling. Happy Friday. xoANG

here and there. but mostly here.

2011-02-15T13:41:00.005-05:00

The cold weather seems to have given in for a few days and has decided to let us enjoy the sun and a little warmth. Although it's been so windy that enjoying the warmth has taken some extra effort. But I do see an end in sight. An end of the frigid winter that we have endured. And wouldn't you know it, as soon as I feel like maybe we made it through yet another season with out any illness in our house that one of my girls gets sick. It hasn't been too terribly bad aside from an extra trip to the bathroom and a tolerable fever. There has been much lying around and reading, watching movies, playing games, and sleeping. Now I wait. Wait for my other girl to get it. With honey and cinnamon in their bellies, warm peppermint tea in the cups, and a nice cloud of disinfectant spray in the air and on all surfaces we'll pray for it to stop with one. There's always hope. Now, those of you with more than 2 kids can stop laughing at me and rolling your eyes. You know who you are.
Since my last post we have had some fun. We've been geocaching again. Once we found nothing. We searched and searched, even for the tiniest of caches, but were unsuccessful. The second time we found one, a tiny magnet capsule the size of a bolt. I was glad we found it even thought it was so small. It makes me want to go back to the other spot with fresh eyes and look again. Perhaps on the next warm day...post fever, of course.
We have also enjoyed Valentine's Day. The girls gave their friends some homemade lollipops, solved clues to find their own valentines at home, and the Mr. took me out to a very nice dinner...pre-fever. So all in all, we have been enjoying some lovely family time, enjoying some sunshine, and enjoying a very relaxed schedule. Homeschoolers get sick days, too.
I hope to have pictures up to show you some pre and post fever fun, but blogger isn't cooperating today. Maybe blogger has a fever, too. Happy Wednesday to you all. Stay healthy! xoANG

monumental milestone

2011-01-30T09:20:00.000-05:00

In the Clothesline household getting your very own library card is a HUGE deal. My big kid got her own library card a couple of years ago and now my little kid finally has hers. Going to the library is a special part of our weekly routine. We've been going nearly every week since the girls were infants. So when the time comes to get a library card it is very exciting. I'm excited, they're excited, the librarians are excited. The writing practice involved is taken very seriously. We have a long last name, eleven letters, so practicing spelling it correctly without any help and writing it very tiny so it will fit on the back of the card is key. When the big day finally arrived we got to the library when it opened, got our papers to fill out and got the card signed. Yippee! Another special thing we do is purchase the new card holder their very own library bag. Remember when the big kid got hers? Pretty exciting stuff! Well, I know you want to see the newest card holder, right?

Here she is with our most favorite librarian. Mrs. L is so awesome that she even came to our house to teach me to knit one day. Like I said, awesome. Happy with card in hand and new purple library bag, she could hardly wait to fill it up. Do you notice anything wrong with the picture? (besides the non-matching ensemble my girl is wearing) Yeah, even holding up the straps of her new bag, it drags the ground. When my big girl got her bag they had drawstring backpacks. Not anymore. Only tote bags now and they are made of the material like reusable shopping bags. Great for the fact that they are made of recycled material, but not great in the sturdy department. Throw in a half dozen books and a couple of dvd's, add to that the fact that it's too long to keep off the ground and the probability that there will be a hole punctured through the corner before we get home goes through the roof.
Hmmm, I feel a makeover tutorial coming on. Do come back soon.

craft book challenge - january

2011-01-26T08:15:00.006-05:00

At the beginning of the month I came across a blog called Liesl Made. She makes some beautiful things and takes equally beautiful pictures of her creations. What I found there was a challenge called Craft Book Challenge.

Liesl pointed out that we sewing people have a tendency to collect books full of ideas, inspiration, and patterns but then just put them on a shelf and admire their beauty. Well, the challenge is to actually use those books. Create something from those books...one thing each month, to be precise. That's a great challenge. One thing a month, I can do that. I'd enjoy that. It will motivate me to be creative even when I feel too busy or uninspired. The problem for me is that I don't have an extensive collection of craft/sewing books...yet. I have a couple of books with plenty of things that I can and will make over the course of this year. However, my library has lots of craft/sewing books that I check out all the time so I'll include those books in my own personal challenge. One book that I continually check out, and should probably just buy, is Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. Oh, the things in this book are beautiful. Her fabric designs are beautiful. I've got lots of plans for this book. So to start off my Craft Book Challenge I made some lounge pants for Tim. In the book, the pattern is called Pajamas for Everyone. The pattern has sizes for children as well as for adults.
They are easy to make and super comfy. I made the girls matching owl lounge pants at the beginning of the month and those gray and black ones pictured above, I made for Tim. Ideally the pattern would be vertical but I didn't quite have enough yardage for that, so horizontal it is. Men don't care about horizontal patterns and stripes so it works out great. They are made of super soft flannel, perfect for lounging in after a long, cold day at work.
One of these days I'll make a pair for myself...she says with a smile and a fabric store coupon.

So, are you up for the challenge?

rudi's gluten free bakery

2011-01-25T14:24:00.000-05:00

About a week ago I received a lovely package from the UPS man. When I opened the box this is what I found. An adorably packaged gift from Rudi's Gluten-Free Bakery. Perhaps you have heard of Rudi's Bakery before. Well, recently they started baking gluten-free sandwich breads. They have original, multi-grain, and cinnamon raisin. Now, I have tried many gluten-free breads since we began our new lifestyle without wheat, rye, or barley and I must say each of those experiences left us all wanting something better. Something more like "real" bread. So when I received this package with a loaf of gluten-free multi-grain bread I wasn't sure what to expect. I had visited Rudi's site and blog. I had read the ingredients and the customer reviews. They were glowing reviews, but still I was a little unsure. I mean, how good can a loaf of gluten-free bread really be? Well, hopefully you can tell by the above picture that it was good. The loaf was almost entirely consumed by eager and happy gluten free sandwich eaters before I could get a picture of the bread. It was good. They really captured the texture of regular bread....light and airy, soft and flavorful. I've made my own gluten-free breads. They're good, soft, and flavorful, but light and airy like regular bread...not so much. Rudi's Gluten-Free Bread is delightful. The whole Clothesline family agrees.

In the cute box, along with the yummy bread, I also received some other goodies...a fridge magnet, sticky notes, several coupons, and a nice little sandwich box perfect for lunch on the go or a play date. So if you need to be gluten-free or just want to reduce the amount of gluten in your diet but you don't want to give up having a good ol' sandwich, then I highly recommend trying Rudi's Gluten -Free Bread.

birthday post...super late

2011-01-22T13:32:00.001-05:00

I've been meaning to write a post about the recent birthday celebration and share pictures. It was super fun. The chosen theme, as I mentioned before, was a detective party. For the annual birthday outfit, I made a detective cloak of gray and black hounds tooth check that is lined with some adorable, tiny pink floral cotton and trimmed it all with black bias tape. I also made a matching a-line skirt, which was also trimmed with black bias tape. I found the pattern for the cloak over at Martha Stewart. Really, though, I only used the pattern for the collar. I kinda just winged it with the skirt and thankfully it fit just right.

I made the cake per request. Thankfully the birthday girl knew exactly what she wanted...a magnifying glass. No problem. She still wanted the final product to be a surprise so I made it after she went to bed. It's not my best cake work, but she was thrilled and that's really all that mattered.

There were many wonderful detective themed gifts. She also received some adorable clothes and toys and girly lip gloss. Besides wearing her cloak often, the gift that has gotten the most use is Scrabble Flash. Everyone that enters the house can't help but play it for a few minutes. If you love playing regular Scrabble, you'll love Scrabble Flash. Seriously. Oh, her most favorite gift, much to the cat's dismay, was a cat training kit.Oh yes, she's been training the cat. Although, as time goes by and I hear the excitement about him learning new things and being rewarded with treats, it occurred to me that our little fur ball is quite clever as it seems, from where I'm sitting at least, that he is the one training her to give him more and more treats. Either way, they're both happy.
Also, to make the day even better, my mom, my sister, and my niece all came to the party as well. It was really fun to have them here.

So there you have it. Finally, some photographic proof that someone special in the Clothesline house turned 8 years old!

you capture::doorways

2011-01-13T09:33:00.001-05:00

I haven't participated in You Capture for several months. Just busy, I guess. The theme for this week was doorways. Perfect. I chose to capture our new daily ritual of reading a chapter from the Chronicles of Narnia. Well, sometimes it's two chapters because it's just so interesting the girls don't want me to stop reading. We are on chapter 9 of book two already. The girls are loving it, so am I, so is Tim. He reads chapters to them as well. In fact, he started the ritual while on Christmas break. The best part about all of this is not the family time we have together enjoying this story. The best part is not the excitement that is evoked when I reach for the book. The best part is not the anticipation I hear in their voices when they talk about what might happen next. The best part isn't even how much they are loving a wonderful piece of classic literature...the teacher in me really loves that part.

The best part is, however, the unintentional learning, the endless enjoyment, the creative imagination, the intense interest, the earnest listening, and the growing love of literature that all comes through the doorway of an open book.
See more captures here. Happy Thursday xoANG

one year ago...

2011-01-12T15:05:00.004-05:00

Haiti was in the news for the massive earthquake that destroyed almost everything. Now Haiti is in the news because of the widespread devastation caused by cholera. I just wanted to share with you again the organization that I support because I have dear friends that are missionaries there. It's called Baptist Haiti Mission. There's a button there on the left that will take you directly to their website if you'd like to learn more, make a donation, or sponsor a child. We, here at the Clothesline, sponsor a child, a little girl, named Ferlandie. She is 9 years old now and is so beautiful. Through our financial support she is guaranteed that she can go to school, have a school uniform, a couple of nutritious meals every day, medical care, and financial relief for her family. She is blessed to have both parents and all of her many siblings even after all of the devistation that they have been through. So as you go about your day today, please remember the people of Haiti. They need prayer. They need support. They need hope. They need to know that they are not forgotten.

inspiration

2011-01-08T09:28:00.000-05:00

It's a new year. I always seem to get a desire to create things at the beginning of every year. This year I would like to try some new things and I have just the place to start. Ellen over at The Long Thread has recently posted the Top 100 Tutorials of 2010! Here's a photo sample I snagged from her blog.

(photo from The Long Thread)

Just from the picture I see five things I want to make...and there are 91 other things on the list. Oh my! Of course if you can't find anything to inspire you from the 2010 collection you can always check out The Long Thread's Top 100 Tutorials from 2009 or the Top 100 Tutorials from 2008. I know. It's a lot, right? Make sure you have time to peruse the lists because you will get sucked in and spend many hours in front of your computer. There are some amazing tutorials out there. Lots of inspiration...I promise.

I feel like I can breathe now and spend some time sewing or something just because it's fun, not because I have a deadline. I love the holiday season...celebrating with family and friends, decorating, baking and eating and eating and eating, taking a break from the regular schedule, having fun...but all of that can be exhausting. I am a creature of habit. So this week we got back into our school routine. It started off a little rocky, as is to be expected. I mean, I taught middle school, so believe me I know how hard it can be to go back to school after a vacation. But by Friday the girls and I were in the school groove. Learning is happening...learning with joy, in fact. After their lessons were over yesterday they played dress-up. I could hear them deciding which things to wear and giggling at the outfits they had created. Which reminds me, I still need to share a birthday post so you can see the cake and the outfit to go with the detective theme. That will be coming soon. Happy weekend xoANG

the last of 2010

2011-01-06T09:20:00.005-05:00

On the very last day of 2010 the weather warmed up a little...to the low 50's...so we decided to head for the trails. Our very much anticipated goal was to go geocaching. I'd read several magazine articles and blog posts about geocaching and we've got some friends that have done some geocaching as well. The more I heard about it the more fun it sounded. Tim was very excited about it because he loves hiking and the girls were thrilled because there is nothing more fun than going on a treasure hunt. I mean, come on, getting exercise and fresh air and not even realizing it. How great is that? For Christmas, we got the girls a geomate jr. It's a very affordable, kid-friendly, handheld GPS. They couldn't wait to use it. So, like I said, we headed for the trails. We followed the GPS, did a little off-trail hill climbing, some searching around for the cache and we found it! Our first find!

Since we were already on the trail we decided to find the next one. The second one took us much farther down the main path then off into the woods on a bike trail. We went down some hills, crossed the creek a couple of times, climbed back up the hill then off the trail we went. Through the woods we searched and finally found our second cache. It was very well hidden, which made it even more exciting to find.

We all had a great time. We got some great hiking in and had a blast. Since then the temperatures have dropped to down-right freezing. We'll have to wait for a more tolerable hiking temperature for the next geocaching day. In the meantime though, I have been commissioned by the girls to create a satchel of some sort in which to carry our geomate, our trinkets for putting in the cache, our geocaching journal and pen, and possibly some snacks for the more treacherous of hikes. Since the temps are creeping lower and lower this week it seems that I may have some sewing time really soon. A birthday update will be coming soon. Happy Thursday. xoANG

eight

2011-01-02T20:22:00.001-05:00

Eight years ago, eight days after Christmas she arrived. She was over due and I was huge. Huge, I tell you. January first came and went and still no baby. But before the end of January second we finally welcomed our first baby into the world. The best gift in the world, my new baby, me - becoming a mom, our family growing. It's hard to believe that it all began eight years ago. My, how time flies.

As you can see from the following pictures, she loves to dress up still...and in the same purple dress she got when she was just two years old. Now it's more like a tutu. When I told her to strike a pose for the newest picture in that dress she posed very much like a favorite Degas sculpture of mine.

Today we celebrated! It's been a whirlwind of a day. This year's chosen birthday theme was a detective party. There were cloaks and magnifying glasses and clues to follow in order to find the birthday gifts. She had a blast! Tomorrow I have a feeling we'll be spied on and probably get fingerprinted. I'll share more after we all come down off of our sugar high. Until then...I hope your new year has had a wonderful beginning, much like ours. xoANG

a creative year in review

2010-12-31T09:42:00.003-05:00

Today is the last day of 2010! Can you believe that? This year seemed to fly by so fast. It was a good year. A year of good health. A year of not-so-good gardening...but we had fun trying. A year of wonderful beach vacations. A year of teaching, learning, and growing. A year of sewing, crocheting, and gluten free baking. A year of baby steps in the direction of a more natural lifestyle. So, without further ado, here is a recap of this years accomplishments in the creative department.

homemade laundry detergent; crocheted hat; crocheted hat and scarf for charity; another crocheted hat; gluten free cake iced using the ways of the cake genius; birthday skirt and appliqued shirt; mini homemade valentines; crocheted St. Patrick's Day headband

pile of fuzzy, flannel scarves; easiest, cheapest, and cutes Easter shoes, a-line skirt; wall decor; owl lounge pants for upcoming birthday; two more a-line skirts

Christmas gift bags; reading pillows, two sets of sewn Christmas gift wrapping

empire waist apron; crocheted baby hat and sweater; gluten free molasses cookies; homemade elder berry syrup; gluten free chocolate birthday cake; halloween costumes with some homemade parts; reading pillow; crocheted Pikachu

gluten free seashell cake iced in the cake genius way; crocheted washcloth set; a-line skirt; seashell birthday dress; gluten free cardinal cake-again using the cake genius method of icing; spring skirts; parmesan rosemary gluten free chicken nuggets; summer shirt; gluten free bread

Not too bad for one year. I know there are things I forgot to include, but it's nice to see how much I really did accomplish in one year. And I know 2011 will start off with a bang! I've got several things half sewm, but they are for the January 2nd birthday so those things will have to be included in next year's list. I hope your 2010 was all you had hoped it would be. May your 2011 be even better! Happy New Year! xoANG

a white Christmas

2010-12-27T21:51:00.007-05:00

I do hope that your Christmas was wonderful. Christmas day was nice and relaxing here at the Clothesline. We had a nice big (gf) pancake breakfast, read the story of Jesus' birth in Luke 2, spent the entire morning in our pajamas, opened gifts, and did some last-minute, family-gathering baking. It snowed,too. A beautiful white Christmas. We wore cozy robes and fuzzy slippers.Well, the girls wore their new princess snuggies and fuzzy slippers. I know, I caved. The snuggies were swooned over every time they were seen so I got them. After taking a closer look at them, the construction is so simple...I could have made them. Hmmm, maybe that'll go on my list of easy gifts to make.
The girls were thrilled and very thankful for every single gift. It was so great to see them appreciate their gifts. It didn't matter if it was a simple pair of gloves, a pack of gum, a bed tent (pictures to come) or an electronic game. The genuine excitement and the quickly following gratitude was enough to make my heart overflow.

After lunch and rest time the girls put on their fancy dresses so we could go to Grandma and Pop's house for the family gathering. Naturally we ate ourselves silly, then enjoyed dessert and coffee. Not too long after that everyone was showered with more gifts. The girls got Baby Alive dolls that drink and wet. Many, many diapers have been soaked and changed.
Now, it's time for me to switch gears. I've got to prepare for a birthday party for a certain someone who will be turning eight years old. I've got some sewing planned for the annual birthday outfit, plus some extras. Oh, speaking of sewing, I decided to sew some of my gift wrap this year. I dashed out to the fabric store for a fabulous sale and snagged some lovely fabric.

These lovely grosgrain ribbon tied bags were a snap to make. The girls even made the bags for Tim's gifts. I controlled the pedal, but they chose the material, helped thread the machine and took care of the rest. They were surprised at how easy and quick it was to sew a whole bag!

Not only did the bags turn out cute, but I can use them again next Christmas, and the next, and the...you get the idea. I made the family gift bags this year, too, so they could be used for other things like holding yarn, or groceries, or other gifts. You can see them here. Oh sure, I used some wrapping paper as well this year, but only because I already had it. I usually buy new paper every year the day after Christmas, but not this year. I did look at it, and some of it was very pretty, but I think I'll go with more sewn bags. Besides, it gives me yet one more ~~excuse~~ reason to go to the fabric store.

Okay, I need to go. Birthday plans and ideas are taking over my brain and if I don't start measuring and cutting fabric soon, I might just explode. xoANG

Merry Christmas

2010-12-24T14:59:00.004-05:00

From our home to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas.

a gift

2010-12-22T15:00:00.004-05:00

So there are only a couple of days before Christmas. I don't really feel stressed about it. I hope you're not stressed either. Things are getting accomplished. What I have enjoyed spending time doing is thinking and talking with my girls about what Christmas is really about. Sure present making and giving is fun. Baking is fun. Cleaning clutter...also fun when I can enjoy the results. But Christmas, it's a time to really remember that God sent His Son down to this earth, to live His life as a man, only to give it up for us. I can only imagine what those shepherds were feeling when the angel came to them in the field that night. Oh, to hear their conversation as they made their way to Bethlehem to see the Child. The thrill of knowing that they witnessed the fulfillment of the prophesy of the Messiah. Yes, that's what Christmas is about...grace, mercy, and love given to us as a gift. Now here's a little gift for you. Enjoy!

my (feed) dogs are barkin'

2010-12-21T14:24:00.007-05:00

After months of neglect, my little sewing machine is getting a much needed workout. I have been working on Christmas gifts for family and friends. It's so fun. I always forget how much I enjoy seeing something come together.Oh, there are still times when my seam ripper gets more use than my sewing machine, but the end result, the gift, wonderful. I'm having a difficult time keeping all of my sewing stuff (fabric, thread, measuring tapes, ribbon, bobbins, ...) in one area though. Well, technically speaking it is all in one area...the dining room. It's all spread hither and yon on the table and on my desk as I work through a few projects. Putting it all away each time I have to stop sewing to function as a wife and mom is crazy, but it must be done lest the cat eat an entire bobbin full of thread and gag and hurl for days on end. Yes, that has happened, and yes, it's disgusting.Oh yeah, which leads to the ironing board being set up in the kitchen to press seams and the like. I must add here the plus side to all of this mess... having fabric out, measuring devices on the table, thread and pins close by but out of reach of the cat, has perhaps inspired my little ones. Oh joy! Can it be? They are eager to sew? Well, here, take a look. Not only did they build a makeshift dress form from tinker toys, but they assemble an entire outfit out of fabric and accessories. A dress form! Visionaries, those girls of mine. I've always wanted a dress form but with limited room and limited skills I've never given it a second thought, but they knew that creating clothes is easier with a headless and armless mannequin. No, they didn't call it a dress form, but clearly that's what they meant. I've got a few little, quick and easy, instant gratification projects on the sewing list for them to create. It's just fuel for the fire, baby, fuel for the fire. Oh, and did I mention my crochet bag is full of yarn and small projects? In spite of the sewing and crocheting frenzy and the fear that my head may explode if the clutter is not reduced, I do still feel pretty calm. Here's the thing though, not only do I need to make room for the coming Christmas present overload, but I also need to make room to breathe. Sewing is pretty relaxing for me...it's the clutter that messes me up. Okay, inhale through the nose, out through the mouth. I can do this. Maybe I just need another cup of coffee to give me that boost of clutter-clearing-energy that I need. Happy Wednesday xoANG

snowy day...inside and out

2010-12-16T18:14:00.003-05:00

Our day started off with snow. We watched it come down and slowly cover everything in sight. Eager to get out there in it to play, the girls completed their school work very quickly. Even the cat, trying to stay extra warm, quietly sat at the table with the girls.

As soon as school work was complete I suited up the girls and we headed out the door with Dad. He had the day off because of the snow...what a treat it was to have him home all day. The snow was fluffy and light. Perfect for skiing and shoveling and snow angeling(that's a word..right?)...not so great for snowman building or snowball making. It was still beautiful and cold and fun. Despite snow up the sleeves and down the boots the girls had a great time. They warmed up quickly with a cup of hot chocolate.

And because there is no such thing as too much snow, the girls worked on making paper snowflakes before dinner. There were little bits of paper everywhere, but we have some beautiful snowflakes as a result.

Enjoy your time together whether it's wintry white or sunny and warm. Happy Friday! xoANG

because we're nearly frozen

2010-12-14T14:21:00.004-05:00

...we've been keeping busy inside. Well, mostly inside. I did wash the laundry today, which not only means that I don't get to use my clothesline because it's 21 degrees...or 5 degrees with the mighty gusts of windchill factored in...but it also means that I get to go outside to go down in my basement to deposit and retrieve the laundry. It. Is. Freezing. I am super thankful, though, that I do have a washing machine and a dryer that both work. I am immensely thankful that I have a warm house to spend this frigid day in...with slippers and scarves and cuddly blankets.
Let me just say that Christmas is nearly upon us and I ~~do not feel~~ am not prepared. Nor do I feel stressed about being unprepared. I've been sewing things here and there when time allows and in the evenings I've been crocheting. The crocheting is not gifts though. I am crocheting hats for my girls. Hats with ear flaps to be more precise. I have crocheted and recrocheted the same hat about 4 times because my girls have evidently inherited the normal sized head gene. I, in case you didn't know, have a small head. Fluffy, frizzy, curly hair...but small head. Hence the hair, I suppose.So hat one is almost complete...it only needs the ear flaps (which are in progress). Hat two is about 1/2 complete and larger than the first to accommodate an almost 8 year old sized head. Almost eight. Yikes! How did that happen?
Other indoor happenings....early morning, pajama clad girls making a music stand and mic stand for the singing of Christmas carols.

Also, lots and lots of playing fetch with the cat. He's got a new favorite mouse toy...a squishy little fake mouse from our halloween candy bowl. I had to snip the tail off because he kept trying to eat it. But chase and fetch that mouse he does many times each day. He'll chase and fetch until he collapses from exhaustion. It's quite entertaining.
Also, after reading on Regina's blog that elder berry syrup was so simple to make I had to make some of my own.

We've been a huge fan of elder berry syrup (sambucus) for over a year now. It's great for boosting the immune system and for fighting colds and flu. Read about it's benefits here. We've been buying it, but making my own is so much cheaper, and the recipe I followed made an entire pint.

There's a great video and recipe to follow here.
So, that's what we have been up to here at the Clothesline. More sewing, crafting, baking, and cuddling under fuzzy blankets sure to come. Oh, I also made a pumpkin pie...just because. Mmmmm. Stay warm. xoANG

catching up in ten

2010-12-07T09:42:00.005-05:00

It's been a little busy at the Clothesline lately. I thought I'd take a few minutes and ten pictures to share the last couple of weeks with you.

1. Birthday time! Even before breakfast the girls wanted Dad to open his gifts.

2. We enjoyed a delicious gluten free chocolate cake (mix by 'Cause You're Special) with the best ever chocolate cream cheese frosting.

3. We put up and decorated our Christmas tree. The girls enjoyed putting the ornaments on the tree...so far, the cat has not knocked anything off the tree.

4. Ahhhh, the Thanksgiving turkey...all 24 delicious, juicy pounds. Hooray for the invention of the cooking bags! They work great every single time.

5. Perfecting the pas de chat in the last class of the semester.

6. Practicing an arabesque during free dance time.

7. Another pumpkin roll in time for a visit from my mom. It's not a proper holiday season without a slice or two of this dessert. Yes, it's gluten free...and delicious!

8. Busy crocheting by the tree making a gift for a very special boy.

9. Our first snow of the season. A light snow, maybe an inch or so...but on the day of the Christmas parade. It was frigid but wonderful.

10. Because of the snow I was able to finish up that birthday gift...a crocheted Pikachu. Free, wonderfully written pattern found here.

So, now we're all caught up. Time to finish the laundry, get some homeschooling done, measure-cut-sew Christmas gifts, and enjoy this time in my warm house with my healthy family while dinner simmers in the crock pot. Happy Tuesday. xoANG

book 'em danno

2010-12-01T12:53:00.000-05:00

Can I just say, I am glad that Hawaii 5-0 is back on tv. I'm glad they kept the same music, it makes me want to dig my toes in the sand and listen to the ocean while eating li hing mango. The acting on the show, well, it isn't all that great from what I've seen so far, but I guess sometimes it takes a while.

It has been nice to hear some people on the show (locals, no doubt) speaking pidgin. When I was teaching on Moloka'i it bugged me for a while because I was trying to teach English grammar and it just didn't mesh well at all with pidgin. But now, hearing it on the show, I like it. I also learned to love it while on Moloka'i.

The local words, the inflection, the laid back tone of it all. I miss that. Now the scenery...oh, the beautiful scenery, it is probably the only reason I even catch the show every once in a while. It is fun to see places that I've been to many times. Places that I captured on film. Aaaahhhhhh, Hawaii. It is beautiful...and warm.

Anyway, that's not what I meant to talk about. We went on a field trip before Thanksgiving to the local sheriff's office. It was fun and informative. After meeting a couple of very nice deputies we all headed in for fingerprinting. My girls were a little apprehensive since they thought that was only for criminals, but they were quickly reassured that it was for safety reasons...and they wouldn't be carted off to jail.

A few lessons about stranger danger, gun safety, and dialing 911 and we were good to go. And no one got booked or tased. All of the kids had a fun time.
Now it's December and I can't figure out what happened to the rest of November. Not to worry though. I've got lists and fabric and gluten free flour. All I need is some time to get into the Christmas-present-making&baking groove. It's super windy and frigid outside today so this afternoon looks promising. xo ANG

{this moment}

2010-11-19T16:47:00.002-05:00

Inspired by Amanda, I share with you this moment from our day.

On a cold, fall afternoon the girls designed wrapping paper to wrap gifts for a very special birthday. Sunday looks to be a day filled with gifts and chocolate cake for the most wonderful Daddy in the world. I wish you a wonderful weekend. xo ANG

a quick note

2010-11-16T14:48:00.003-05:00

just to say that Christmas music is playing on the radio! Yippee! Now, I am holding true to my earlier statement that I won't bust out the Christmas cd's until Thanksgiving Day. However, what the radio plays from now until Christmas is completely out of my control. Just this morning I heard my girls singing White Christmas while they worked on their morning chores. And there was quite a bit of ballet dancing when Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy came on the radio before lunch. So, if you love Christmas music as much as we do here at the Clothesline, do a quick scan through your radio stations. You may get a wonderful surprise that will warm you to the soul--even if it's cold outside. happy tuesday xoANG

warming up

2010-11-14T20:34:00.004-05:00

...my sewing machine, that is. She's been sitting around, unused, for a while now. Christmas is coming and much sewing will be done. I've got bags, and shoe totes, and pillows, and lounge pants all on my to-make list. There may also be some soft, flannel scarves on that list, too. But my sewing machine needs to be eased into the holiday making season instead of overwhelmed all at once. Yes, she's funny that way. And yes, I'm a little kooky for talking about my machine like she's a person. Your point? Anyway, thankfully I had the perfect reason to get my sewing machine warmed up...an apron. Yes, my dear friend, the cake genius, had a birthday and much to my delight she wears aprons as much as I do. As I pondered and searched for a new style of apron to make I came across this super cute tutorial via One Pretty Thing and I knew it was the one. Simple, but with lots of little details...gathers, contrasting top stitches, sparkly fabric, unexpected, yet very flattering, empire waist. Yes, that's the one for her.

It just so happens that the Tie One On apron theme this season is Apple Cider and since I had in my hands a freshly sewn apron I just had to enter it. The calico trim is very fallish and apple-y, the off white trim has the tiniest bit of golden sparkles and reminds me of a freshly cut apple, and the top stitching, although difficult to see in the photos, is a delicious red. So yes, I think it's Tie One On worthy. And just for extra apple-y goodness I am holding a scrumptiously crisp granny smith. Oh, yes, that's me wearing the apron. I like to have photographic proof of each sewing project I complete. And man, oh man, when the Christmas to-make list is complete I will be making one of these beauties for myself. So what's on your to-make list this season? happy weekend xoANG

tiny sweater

2010-11-07T14:25:00.007-05:00

A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine had a baby. A sweet little boy. I tried my hand at crocheting a sweater and a tiny hat for him. I used Rima's free, and oh so easy to follow, pattern for the sweater. Pretend that you don't see the unfinished sleeve there...and I didn't add buttons like Rima did on hers. For the hat I used this free pattern. Both patterns can be found on Ravelry. I used Lily's Sugar 'n Cream 100% cotton yarn...a favorite of mine. It's so soft and only gets softer after each wash.

So now that it's so stinkin' cold at night I need to keep the yarn projects flowing. I've got some ideas to keep me busy when the sun goes down. Maybe I'll get some things marked off my list.

sneak peek

2010-11-06T16:20:00.004-04:00

I wasn't kidding when I said I was getting a head start on the Christmas to-do list. After a few days of looking at all of the card choices on Shutterfly.com, then choosing and editing pictures, we finally made our decision. So, you, my dear friends, get the first peek at the finished product. I'm hoping by the time this card actually arrives in your mailbox you will have forgotten what it looks like and therefore, be pleasantly surprised. Oh, and I did hear Christmas music in a store today...I promise to resist playing my Christmas CD's at least until the week of Thanksgiving. Happy Weekend. xo ANG

Faith Hope Family Religious Christmas Card

Make a statement with custom Christmas cards at Shutterfly.

View the entire collection of cards.

{this moment}

2010-11-05T12:24:00.002-04:00

Inspired by Amanda's Friday ritual, I offer you this moment.

Have a wonderful weekend. xo ANG

halloween

2010-11-02T08:36:00.002-04:00

This year the girls decided on their costume choices long before I could sway their decision. E chose to be a cowgirl and O chose to be an indian. The Friday before Halloween our library hosted the annual costume parade. We met our friends there and paraded through the library. It was a short burst of fun on a busy day and all of the costumes were adorable. Our favorite librarian couldn't resist a photo with the girls.

Then on Halloween, my in-laws church had a trunk-or-treat event. We saw many wonderful costumes and decorated cars. My personal favorite was the Pirates of the Carribean car. Seriously, how cool is that? We invited our friends to join in the fun. They all got tons of candy, had a great time on the hay ride, and enjoyed each other's company. The weather was nice and warm...until the sun went down.

It's amazing to me how much fun my girls have dressing up. They dress up all the time...but I guess throwing some candy into the mix really kicks it up a notch! happy tuesday xoANG

it's not too early

2010-10-28T08:30:00.012-04:00

As the weather cools, warms, storms, then cools again, all the while bringing down a multitude of leaves, my mind tends to skip from Labor Day all the way to Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've got lists made, supplies are being gathered, and plans are being formulated.
One thing I always try to plan ahead is my Christmas cards. Since having children I have found that sending a photo Christmas card is more fun. The recipients of the photo card enjoy seeing how much the girls have grown and changed throughout the year. Choosing the right photo isn't always easy. I used to dress the girls up, have them sit in front of the Christmas tree, smile, wiggle, whine, cry, fake smile, scowl...you name it...they've made the face. All of which sucked the joy out of creating one wonderful shot of girls. And, in addition to the fiasco that capturing a great Christmas card photo became, it also often got lost in the shuffle or forgotten because I had to wait until the Christmas tree was up, but then it was already after Thanksgiving and the busyness of life took over and the cards got sent out super late (like after Christmas) or not sent at all. Not any more. Last year I chose a great picture of the girls taken on our beach vacation. But still, it was just a picture...not really a Christmas card greeting. Well, things are achanging here at the Clothesline. This year I will create a wonderful photo Christmas card greeting the likes of which my friends and family have never seen (from me)! I will use Shutterfly. The variety of Christmas photo cards that they have available is astounding. There are cards where you can have just one photo or you can have several photos. I'm leaning towards several photos this year just because I can. The cards vary from whimsical to modern to traditional. It won't be easy to choose. See for yourself. I really like the square photo cards but still there are so many to choose from. Thankfully your choices can be narrowed down by the size of the card and the colorway that you prefer. It really does make things easy.
And while I was checking out the Shutterfly site I also found that they can make personalized gift tags. In my house we call them From & To's...it's just more fun to say. But what beautiful gift tags they have with your family name and lovely designs. Click here to see them...they're pretty much irrisistible. Seriously.

So, marking things off the list, creating a Christmas photo card, making my life easier...nope, it's not too early. So what card design will you choose? Don't you want to mark something off of your list? Come on...join me. And this year I may just win the annual contest to see who sends out their Christmas card first (Mama & Mel---I may very well win it this year!)

(all pictures from Shutterfly.com)

pumpkin patch

2010-10-23T09:36:00.005-04:00

Well, there's no denying that it's fall when we make our annual trip to the pumpkin patch. We enjoyed the company of our dear friends and also my Mom with my second cousin. The kids had so much fun and the weather was beautiful. Here are a few pictures.

Happy Saturday! xoANG

16

2010-10-21T07:59:00.004-04:00

Today is my wedding anniversary. Sixteen years.

I can't believe that 16 years have gone by already. It really doesn't feel like it. I mean, when I was a kid it seemed like it took forever to turn 16. Then it took forever to turn 20. But these 16 years were fast. It is amazing to me that Tim and I were married 8 years before we had our girls and now we've been married 8 years with our girls. The first 8 years are a blur and it's difficult to remember how we spent our time. Sure we finished college, worked constantly, moved around a lot, and worked some more, but time seemed to fly. However, those first 8 years were life-changing. Three of those years we spent far away from all friends and family. God placed us in an amazing church with an amazing pastor. We were blessed to be surrounded by some great people that helped shape us as individuals, as a married couple, and as the parents we are now. I wouldn't change a thing. Not one thing. What a wonderful blessing it is to have a husband who is loyal, loving, God-fearing, honoring, funny, understanding, encouraging, supportive, a wonderful provider, an extraordinary father, the leader of our home, and it doesn't hurt that he's downright handsome. Happy Anniversary!

lingering

2010-10-08T13:53:00.005-04:00

Just as I was mentally and physically prepared for full-on fall weather there has been a reprieve. Yesterday the temps reached 80 degrees. I donned flip flops with freshly painted hot-pink piggies. And today? Well, today is just as warm. Short sleeves, flip flops, and shorts...oh my! I am always, always, always grateful for warm days. And I do love it when the warm days linger well into the fall. A bit of advice though for you clothesline users out there...even on the warmest of days in the fall, even when there's a great breeze to fully dry every article of clothing...remember that fall means spiders, and there has been an abundance of stink bugs, so shake every single thing you take down off the clothesline. And if you want to be doubly sure that you're not carrying any stowaways into your house it's a good idea to give each load a 5-10 minute ride in the dryer. You can never be too safe. Trust me on this one, I speak from experience.
Enjoy the lingering warmth, my friends. Soak it up. happy friday xoANG

(and because you should see a pictures with every post...my girls with every cat toy in the house...the only live cat in the house didn't make it into the picture)

embracing

2010-10-07T08:45:00.009-04:00

Fall is upon us. There is no turning back. So, this year, instead of living in denial and continually hoping for one more week of summery weather, I have decided to embrace it. Embrace the clear, blue skies. Embrace the cooler air that beckons a warm, snugly sweater. Embrace the smell of molasses cookies baking. Embrace the planning of baking all things pumpkin. Oh yes, I am embracing. So I'm wearing socks instead of flip flops and I'm layering my shirts, but I am embracing fall. On Tuesday, a beautiful, sunny yet cool fall day, we went to a nearby apple orchard with our friends for a fun field trip. We had a great time together. The kids were so well behaved...all 7 of them...they enjoyed the animals, and the apple picking, and each others company. Here ~~is a ridiculous amount~~ are a few pictures from our day.

I know, I know, that was a lot of pictures. Believe me, I narrowed it down to save you from about 40 more pictures. How are you embracing fall?

Happy Thursday xoANG

in pictures::day six and the final sunrise

2010-09-28T14:26:00.004-04:00

Well, I have finally reached the end of reliving my beach vacation. It was nice to spend the week looking through the pictures and remembering all of the fun we had. Here, at home, it's been raining pretty much since last Sunday. No, make that Saturday night. We had a short reprieve on Tuesday afternoon and it was lovely and fall-ish and perfect for an impromptu playdate. Then Wednesday it rained hard all day long and all night. This morning...it was still raining, then finally around lunch time it stopped. The birds started singing and the sky lightened up a little. It's still very cloudy but not raining. I promise I'm not complaining about the rain...we needed it. It hasn't rained in over a month. I just like to ease into things instead of being bombarded for a the better part of a week. Anyway, here are the pictures from our last day at the beach.

I did not change the coloring in this sunrise picture. It really was a beautiful purplish blue with a pink stripe...awesome!

After breakfast we went down to the farmer's market and the boardwalk.

Here's a family shot from Saturday night as the sun was setting. Everything was packed up and we were enjoying the evening on the balcony.

On Sunday morning we got to see one more gorgeous sunrise.

this one taken from the balcony

this one taken from beach level

Ah yes, and before we left I had to get one more shot of the girls.

To read more about our last day on vacation you can click here.

Summer is over. I know this. I hung on to it as long as I could. But now it's time for me to embrace fall. I cannot deny that it is upon us...it's almost October, for crying out loud! Time for sweatshirts, apple orchards, pumpkin patches, and yarn. Hmmm, yarn. I need a new project.
Happy Thursday xoANG

in pictures::day five

2010-09-27T12:08:00.002-04:00

Day five. I am almost finished reliving my vacation. It already feels like we were at the beach months ago, but it was only a week ago. Today it's 59 degrees and rainy...not at all beach like. If you want to read more on day five click here.

We took the ferry across to South Port. A fun ride with beautiful views.

We strolled around South Port and saw lots of butterflies.

We drove down the road to Oak Island. It was beautiful. We love it there.

Happy Monday xo ANG

in pictures::day four

2010-09-26T14:28:00.003-04:00

Ah, day four. To read what we did on day four just click here and here.

This is the morning I went for a jog on the beach before everyone woke up. The sunrise was breathtaking. Thankfully, Tim captured this one for me.

Before lunch we went for a walk around Lake Park. We enjoyed the feathered friends.

The girls under a willow tree at Lake Park.

After a relaxed morning of rest we made sure to hit the beach in the afternoon.

As you can tell, the girls absolutely love it!

The waves were big and fun to play in all afternoon.

It was a good day. Happy Sunday xo ANG

in pictures::day three

2010-09-24T13:28:00.005-04:00

If you would like to read what I posted at the end of day three just click here. Now, here some pictures from that day.

the magnificent sunrise

me and my girls at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher...the stickers on their shirts are of the albino alligator, Luna...very cool

This alligator was staring Tim down. I thought he was going to yawn or something but what he did was snap his jaws loudly and quickly...and it was a little scary!

the amazing octopus that seemed to be showing off for the camera

on the walkway outside of the aquarium...a palm, a turtle family, a butterfly, and some Venus flytraps

a few more fascinating creatures at the aquarium

the girls enjoying the afternoon surf, some dolphins , and a pretty shell

And this might just be my favorite shot of the entire vacation...my family jumping the waves together having a great time!

happy friday...xo ANG

in pictures::day two

2010-09-21T15:05:00.002-04:00

Here are a few highlights from day two of our vacation...Monday the 14th.

the sunrise

the digging and building

the warming up after wave jumping

the late afternoon walk at Fort Fisher beach

discovering a new playground

enjoying the warm sun

the more standard beach pictures...sea oats, sandpipers, and a lovely white feather in the sand...probably from a seagull.
If you want to read about day two, click here.

in pictures::day one

2010-09-20T14:58:00.003-04:00

Now that we are back at home I can share some vacation pictures with you. I took an ~~inexcusable~~ ~~excessive~~ ~~record-breaking~~ extraordinary amount of pictures so I will just choose some highlights from each day. These photos are from the day we arrived. If you'd like to read about day one, click here.

No vacation is complete without a picture of my feet in the sand, a beautiful, little shell, a little fish found in the surf, and some sort of bee. Bee? Yes, I almost stepped on that thing. It was alive and the stinger was quite large. Lucky for me the next wave took him out to sea!

if only i could bottle it

2010-09-18T20:13:00.002-04:00

and enjoy the smell of the beachy air all year. Today was our last day at the beach. We went to the community/farmer's market this morning down at lake park. It was nice to see all the fresh veggies and talk with some of the local crafters. I met lady who made jewelry...the girls bought their first dangle earrings, I met a lady who made handmade soap, she was nice but her soap was pricey, I also met a painter. She had a dog with her and the girls really enjoyed petting him and feeding him treats. Then we headed to the boardwalk, got a fresh homemade doughnut from Britt's, the best local doughnut joint. I had to wait in line and I ordered one doughnut. The girl said, "dozen?". Nope, just one. The people in line in front of me and behind me ordered by the dozen and looked at me like I was crazy. Oh sure, I'm a little crazy, but I'm crazy with fewer calories. Let me tell you it would have been easy to eat at least six with one cup of coffee, but one was just fine. I shared it with the my girls. We savored it and it put krispy kreme to shame. We enjoyed a nice stroll on the boardwalk then headed to the beach. The 'no swimming' flag was flying today. The surfers were out in force. The waves were huge, the current was strong, but we had a great time playing on the beach. Some huge, dark storm clouds rolled in, the wind picked up, and the temperature dropped. The girls knew this was the last day and they wanted to go to the pool one more time, so we went to the pool. The clouds blew over, the sun reappeared, the temperature got warmer, and the pool water was nice and warm. We had a great time swimming. Then showers, a late lunch, and rest time. We hit a few beach shops before dinner, cleaned up the condo, packed up everything, and had time to spare for playing and soaking up the last of the ocean view. Tomorrow we'll be heading home in the morning. We are ready for home, but it sure would be nice if I could bottle that wonderful salty air so when it's cold and dreary this winter I could breathe in the ocean air. happy saturday. xoANG

if she had seen it coming

2010-09-17T20:25:00.002-04:00

she wouldn't have wiped out in the waves. Yep, my newly brave, ocean loving big girl got tossed around by the waves today.(my little ocean lover wiped out several times over the course of our vacation...and loved every second of it) After rest time we headed down to the beach. The waves were big, the undertow was strong, but the fun was irresistible. The normal water play is jump the incoming wave, sit down, let the wave push you up the beach...jump up to get to the next wave in time to jump it and repeat the whole thing. All was going fine until she didn't get to her feet fast enough and the wave that pushed her up on the beach started sucking her back down toward the ocean where a rather large wave was coming in. Tim was right there beside her so she was fine...shocked, covered in sand, but fine. There was no crying or fear...maybe just a little extra caution and diligent awareness of the incoming waves. The tide was coming in and the surfers were everywhere. The girls stayed with me playing in the waves while Tim went out into the water. We watched him get covered by wave after wave. At one point there was a swell coming up behind him and in it I saw a rather large fin..just as I was about to freak out thinking it was a shark three or four more appeared and I realized it was a bunch of dolphins. They frolicked and played in the water about 10 feet behind him. It was very exciting to see.
Now, this morning bright and early we caught the ferry to Southport. The ferry ride was nice and relaxing. The scenery was beautiful and the girls really enjoyed the ride. We spent the morning walking around the quaint little town of Southport, then we drove over to Oak Island and visited the lighthouse then drove up and down the island. I really love Oak Island, it's such a simple, non-touristy island with beautiful beaches. Then we caught the ferry back to Pleasure Island which has Carolina Beach, where we have been, Kure Beach, and Fort Fisher. We had some lunch and rest time...and well, you know the beach story. After our time on the beach we headed to the pool for a little while before dinner. The pool water was nice and warm because it was hot today. Then it was showers and dinner and time admiring and cleaning our collection of shells. Now everyone is tucked into bed to get some much needed sleep. Tomorrow is our last full day of vacation. We don't have any plans...just soak up as much beach as we can, then Sunday we'll be heading home. My brain is tired today so I feel like this post is very incoherent. I'm not going to reread it before I post it, I'll just do a spell check and I hope it makes sense. happy Friday. xo ANG

if i could have guessed

2010-09-16T20:28:00.004-04:00

how today was going to turn out...I would have been so wrong. Today was wonderful in it's own way. The weather was absolutely gorgeous again today. Every day has been sunny and warm with a slight breeze. It's like an everlasting summer. Miss O woke this morning feeling, well, like she had a cold. A very mild cold. Her nose was not longer runny and she looked so much better. She was tired but cheerful. We had planned on taking the ferry to Southport today, but we opted for a morning of complete lounging. We colored and read books and watched the ocean and found PBS so the girls could watch some cartoons. Then before lunch we went to lake park for some fresh air and sunshine. We just took a leisurely stroll around the lake and enjoyed the ducks with all of their waddling and quacking. We saw some pretty flowers and a snake slithering around. No alligators though. As we walked O's head cleared and she perked up quite a bit. After a nice lunch and rest time where much napping was enjoyed we headed down to the beach. It was high tide, the waves were getting quite large, the surfers were out in force, the girls played, and jumped, and were pushed around by the waves for a solid two hours. Then up to the condo for showers and dinner on the balcony. O felt so much better. Her head was clearing up, her eyes were no longer watery, she had her energy back. The girls played nicely together until it was time for bed. All is quiet now. The plan for tomorrow, Lord willing, is that we will ride the ferry. Sleep tight friends. Happy Thursday. xo ANG

if everything was perfect

2010-09-16T08:00:00.005-04:00

we would have missed out on some wonderful family time. Ah yes, yesterday was not perfect, not part of my plan, not what I had envisioned, not what I would have chosen...but God knows better. The day started beautifully. I got up before the sunrise and went for a run on the beach. First of all, I haven't gone for a run for quite a while. It went pretty well...being at sea level is great. Oh, it was difficult, but good. Then on the way back I got to watch to sun rise. Oh, beautiful sunrise. The shrimp boats were right off the beach, lights on, nets out. They were surrounded by seagulls and pelicans, and oh yes, some dolphins . There were a few people on the beach, many of whom stopped in their tracks to watch the sun come up. I kept on running...keeping my eye on the sky, but being sure not to burn a hole in my retinas from staring at the rising sun. When I got back to the condo it was very apparent that my big girl woke up with a cold. Yes, a cold. Seriously? We haven't had colds in over a year...probably close to 2 years. It started off pretty mild though and she said she felt fine. We headed down to the beach for a few hours and the girls spent nearly the whole time jumping the waves. Oh, they have been having so much fun. I just love that they love the beach. After choosing a few shells and digging a few holes in the sand we headed to the pool. Exhausted and fully clogged miss O didn't last in the pool very long. She wrapped up in a towel and sunned herself like a lizard. After showers and lunch there was rest time. Not much napping happened but at least there was rest. We had planned on heading to the boardwalk or lake park after rest time but the cold was making O feel pretty bad so we just hung out and enjoyed the view. We colored, built with legos, listened to music, and played battleship. A new game for the girls and boy was it fun. Can I just say...I lost...both times. She sank my battleship, my aircraft carrier, my patrol boat, my weapons platform, and my submarine! She even rescued her captured man (a new addition) on the first try. It was such a nice time to chat and play and have fun together. Had we kept our original plans we would not have had such a sweet time together. So I guess the day ended up perfect anyway. Yep, even with a cold and piles of tissues we enjoyed the day just as God had designed it for us.

if you have ever doubted

2010-09-14T21:28:00.006-04:00

that God is the all-knowing, all-powerful, Creator of everything then you really should take a family vacation. Go to an aquarium and see some of the creatures that exist below the surface of the ocean. Oh, and take a look at a sunrise. I know the rotation of the earth is not something we think about very often, but when I'm at the beach and see where sky meets ocean and then I see the sun come up, it's nothing short of majestic. Then there are sea shells. Little, beautiful, colorful shells. The design, perfect habitats for bizarre creatures in the sea. Then there's the guy getting ready to tow our car. Yes, that's right. After rest time today we suited up and headed down to the beach for some playing in the waves and when we reached the bottom of the stairs there was a man hooking up his truck to our car. Our parking pass wasn't visible but we were the only car parked under our building and we are the only occupants in the whole building right now. Really? Didn't think to check if we were really staying here and not parking illegally. God's sovereignty was evident to me in the timing of our going down to the beach. On a normal day we would have gone down a good 30 minutes later, but today...today two minutes would have made a huge difference. Two minutes later our car would have been gone. We would have had some panic and anger. We would have paid who knows how much to get our car back. But I sit here thankful, mindful, and more aware of God's hand in every aspect of our lives...no matter how small. So if you ever doubt God's greatness go on a vacation and really look around. Better yet, where you sit right now, look around, think about your day, see God's hand at work....from the butterflies lighting on your flowers to the way your children play together, from the crescent moon lighting up the night sky to the way water flows from your spigot when you need it to wash the dishes or fill a glass. Be mindful, be aware, be thankful, and be glorifying to the One who created us and all things. All is quiet now after an eventful day. happy tuesday. xo ANG

if you like that kinda thing

2010-09-13T20:07:00.003-04:00

sand between your toes. Do you like that? That first walk on the beach when the sand is warm and soft. Or maybe that smooshy sand that lets you sink down a little more each time the waves crash on your feet and splash you up to your knees. Yes, I like that kinda thing and we did a lot of that today. Then to the pool we went for lots of swimming, jumping in, racing, and reaching for the dive sticks. Too soon it was time for showers, lunch, and rest time. Hmmm...maybe not enough rest today. The grumbling, whining, and fretting surfaced this afternoon...nothing a good heart check and an attitude check can't fix. Then off to a newly discovered playground, a little more beach, dinner on the balcony and it was time to call it a night. A little quiet coloring rounded out the day quite nicely. All is quiet now.
Okay, if you don't like that kinda thing, the sand that is, it's probably because sand sticks to you even after hours in the pool, or the pockets full of sand, the sand in the car, sand stuck to the beach chairs. Oh, or maybe it's that powdery feeling left behind after a day at the beach. Me, I don't mind those things at all. It's part of the deal, the vacation experience. And you know, months from now when it's 20 degrees and I need to find my ice scraper in the trunk of my car but instead I find little forgotten piles of sand, I'll remember the warmth of the sun, the feeling of the sand between my toes, and the treasured time with my family at the beach. Maybe it'll take the sting out of winter, maybe not. But, yea, I like that kinda thing.

if only you could smell the air

2010-09-12T20:39:00.002-04:00

We made it. We are officially on vacation. Yesterday was a day of packing, list checking, gluten free bread baking, and more packing. This morning we arose before the crack of dawn, piled into the car, and hit the road. To my dismay, the coffee shop that is a road trip tradition, was not open yet. Yikes! No coffee at 6am as we drove down the road. We'll stop somewhere else and grab a cup, he said. That statement was not a reassuring one since it was coming from the person that likes to reach the vacation destination with as few stops as possible....none would be preferred, but today we made it with just one pit stop....and that wasn't for coffee. We arrived here around 11am, stopped by the grocery store to grab some essentials, and finally reached the condo. The car was unloaded, the things were mostly unpacked, and it hit me. Why in the world did I feel so tired, lethargic, wiped out. Oh, right, no morning coffee. A problem easily solved...two cups later and I felt much better. Lunch was consumed, the sun came out, rest time was enjoyed and then down to the beach we went. The water was like glass with nice little waves coming in for the girls to play in. The temperature was nice a warm, the ocean was like bath water, the sand filled the girls' bathing suits. After an hour or so frolicking on the beach we headed for the pool showers to rinse off the sand, then since we were there we decided to spend some time in the pool. The girls swam and jumped and splashed and squealed. Pure delight. Showers, dinner on the balcony, a little playing and it was time for bed. I'm beat. The girls haven't made a peep since I tucked them in...they're pretty beat, too. Off to bed for me as well. I look forward to enjoying a cup of coffee first thing in the morning...on the balcony...breathing in the glorious salty air...before we head down to the beach. Happy Sunday. xoANG

you capture::signs

2010-09-09T14:23:00.007-04:00

I stopped to take notice of a few things this week. Signs of things to come.

a tiny crocheted sweater (yarn-sugar&cream white and warm brown/free pattern-"Everyday is a New Sweater Day" from Rima of Yarny Days...also on Ravelry) and hat in the works -the sign of a fall baby...no, not mine

(f/5 - iso200 - 1/5sec.)

beautiful fabric - the sign of a new skirt or dress to be made soon

(f/5-iso200-1sec.)

beach chairs drying in the sun after a good cleaning - the sign of our much anticipated vacation

(f/8-iso400-1/1250sec.)

Oh, then there was this sign that I found quite humorous. My kids?...not so much.

There are more signs over at I Should Be Folding Laundry. Happy Thursday. xoANG

flashback

2010-09-07T08:24:00.004-04:00

Here is a picture from three years ago when we were at Carolina Beach, NC.While we were at the beach we went over to the state park to look for venus fly traps. We didn't find any, but we had so much fun on the trails seeing a lot of new plants and flowers, as well as some big spiders and shiny beetles.

We are preparing for another trip to the same great place, but this time instead of having those tiny little turkeys with us, we'll be accompanied by these two fabulous big kids.

Yikes! Where has the time gone? They have grown and changed so much over the past three years. Must focus. Must enjoy today. Must savor every moment. Happy Tuesday. xoANG

{this moment}

2010-09-03T08:06:00.005-04:00

Inspired by Amanda, I share this moment from our day at the sprayground with you.

happy weekend. xo ANG

tomatoes and those who eat them

2010-09-02T14:37:00.005-04:00

Speaking of tomatoes, my grape, cherry, and lemon tomatoes have made a comeback. That super hot summer put everything on hold, and well, the deer feast didn't help either. But now, we've been getting tons of rain as well as copious amounts of dew every night so my tomatoes are thriving. So much so that it's like a jungle. We can pick a nice bowl full of tomatoes every day now and usually while picking I eat one or two. Delicious. This one, however, will eat as many as she can pick. So that lovely line of tomatoes you see at the top of this post didn't make it into the house. I'm not complaining. She loves her veggies, and fresh from the garden, too. Then, there's this guy...several of them actually. I am thankful it's late in the season and we've enjoyed lots of our homegrowns before the tomato hornworms found our yard. He enjoyed several tomatoes much like he enjoyed this one. But he got his. Take a look at him now. They all kind of look like this now. Gross, yet fascinating. A fly or parasitic wasp has decided to use him as a growing and feeding station for their larvae. Ah, the cycle of life...a beautiful thing...and a great science lesson! Happy Thursday. xoANG

learn with joy

2010-08-31T15:03:00.004-04:00

Today was our first day of school. Yes indeed, we completed a very successful first day. I am not really sure how my babies have grown into a first grader and a third grader, but somehow the time flew. It is nice to have a routine again. The new chore chart was implemented and eagerly worked through. New school supplies were oohed over and quickly broken in. Lessons were completed with much excitement and ease. Our theme for the year is LEARN WITH JOY. I like it. It was easy today to learn with joy...we began with decorating our work boxes and much of what we covered in math and language was review. The thing is, our goal is to learn with joy even when it's not easy, when it's downright difficult. That's the great thing about homeschooling. When it's easy we can celebrate and when it's challenging we can take our time and make sure new and unfamiliar things are understood. A school bus drove by this morning, the girls did their morning chores while I made fresh laundry detergent. Some kids had a moment of silence this morning, the girls and I read a Bible story and studied Proverbs 15, then focused on verse 15b "a cheerful heart has a continual feast." Some kids had recess today, my girls had a healthy snack and a bit of recess while I hung the laundry on the clothesline. Some kids sat in desks in a beautiful classroom while they learned, my girls sat at the table to write, laid on the floor to read, and lounged on the deck outside to have a science lesson on magnets that somehow meandered into a lesson on germs, tomato worms, moths, and the purple tongues of giraffes. I'd say today was a success. Now, I must retrieve the laundry off the clothesline, start dinner prep, and take my girls for a walk.
xo ANG choose joy

{this moment}

2010-08-27T10:36:00.004-04:00

Inspired by Amanda, I share this picture. It's not great. The dusk lighting and poor camera settings captured my children as a mere blur. A perfect representation of how quickly summer has passed us by and how quickly my little girls are growing into big kids.

I need to focus more on today, every day. Clear, intentional focus so when they're grown it's not all a blur. Happy Weekend. xoANG

water::proof

2010-08-24T08:10:00.005-04:00

Here is a quick video of the progress made in the swimming department this summer. At the beginning of swimming lessons they didn't want to jump in...they didn't want to get water in their ears...they insisted on holding their noses...they were too rigid to float. Now look at them! Two weeks of swimming lessons plus one long day at the pool with friends each week after lessons were over (friends that can swim and are fearless) and I've got two kids that can swim. It's just the beginning, my friends. The beginning of swimming. There is so much more to learn and enjoy. Summer days are winding down as we prepare for a new year of school. But, what a wonderful summer it has been. Happy Tuesday! xo ANG

gluten free parmesan rosemary nuggets

2010-08-18T16:01:00.006-04:00

This week's You Capture theme was perfect...in the kitchen. I made something for dinner that my gluten free kiddos haven't had in a really long time...chicken nuggets! I know, not too exciting for most and probably avoided by many, but for kids that haven't had nuggets in years, this was a big deal. First of all, have you ever tasted a prepackaged gluten free chicken nugget? Um, not so good, so I decided to make my own. And, of course, I used real chicken breast cut into pieces, not some weird, minced, mutilated, chicken-tasting substance pressed into a nugget shape. Anyway, here's what I used. Glutino cheddar crackers (kind of like Ritz but not), parmesan cheese, and fresh rosemary right out of my yard. My little helper did the crushing of the crackers with a rolling pin in a zipper bag. Next, we added the parmesan (a 1/4 cup or so) and gave it a good shake. I finely chopped the rosemary and added that, too. After I cut the chicken breast into nugget sized pieces we added them to the bag and shook it all up. Shaking is the fun part so the kiddos did that for me. I did not add salt or pepper because the crackers and parmesan were plenty salty. Oh, I added a smidge of garlic powder as well. Everything is better with some garlic, right? Then we just dumped the entire contents of the bag into a baking dish and ~~threw~~ very gently put it in the oven which, by the way, was preheated to 425 degrees. 18-20 minutes later and it was done.

The smell was heavenly and the sight? Well, the sight of these nuggets and all of their golden brown goodness was just wonderful. Add a side of steamed broccoli and oven-roasted potatoes and you've got a meal that everyone will love. And the leftover nuggets were fabulous chopped up and added to a salad the next day for lunch.

So there you have it...in the kitchen. I should have taken a picture of the girls enjoying the meal, but it was all devoured very quickly so there was nothing left but crumbs. Happy Thursday xoANG

and then it was time for school

2010-08-18T13:54:00.002-04:00

We have been enjoying every ounce of summer.

Every hot, humid day. Every play date. Every rain shower. Every read-aloud book. Every bike ride. Every morning walk. Every squirt gun fight. Every dip in the pool. Everything...even house and yard work.

There hasn't been a dull moment. No time to sew. No time to crochet. No time to blog. We have been absorbing summer, every wonderful day of it.

I know the time is coming. Time for school. I'm excited. I'm prepared. All books have been purchased. Planning has been done. School supplies have been collected. Things have been organized. A regular morning routine is being established so as not to shock the system when it's time to start. The girls are excited and ready. Ready for a new school year, a routine. But, wonderfully, there is still a little bit of summer left to enjoy . A few more trips to the pool, a few more play dates, a few more spontaneous days. We will absorb it all...every last drop.

fun versus fear

2010-07-23T14:24:00.007-04:00

waiting in line - observing others - working up the nerve

enjoying the ride - making a big splash - conquering fear

fun wins!

happy weekend xoANG

you capture::black&white

2010-07-22T13:40:00.002-04:00

This week's challenge for You Capture is Black & White. Simple enough, right? I love black and white photos of people and landscapes. However, when I edit my own pictures to be black and white I'm never too thrilled. I tend to like vibrant color and crisp photos. I guess since I'm trying to learn how to use my camera really well it seems to defeat the purpose of capturing the perfect shot. Then I chose these photos and I really like them.

I do. The eyelashes, the frizzy hair, the tiny earrings, all stand out because my eyes are not distracted by the vibrant colors of such a sunny day.

Then in this last picture, I was practicing with macro and depth of field and I captured a new found skill of stick bending.

It takes a gentle hand and lots of patience to break a stick without actually breaking it all the way through. I love the result in black and white. To see more captures go visit I Should Be Folding Laundry. Happy Thursday. xo ANG

clothesline cool down

2010-07-21T08:08:00.001-04:00

When the temperatures are soaring into the 90's and the humidity fills the air like the warm breath of a little kid whispering in your ear there is really no way to cool off unless you set up camp by the a/c vent. Not here, baby. When it's laundry day at the Clothesline and you ~~are forced~~ get to play outside all morning there is one sure fire way to stay cool...play amongst the freshly washed and hung laundry. The coolness of the damp sheets provides a little relief from the heat. And if you're lucky, the fitted sheets will be turned the right way and will make a perfect little hammock bed for your dolls and stuffed animals.Ah yes, a lovely cool down at the Clothesline, indeed.

Keep cool. Happy Wednesday. xoANG

swim sisters

2010-07-17T08:46:00.003-04:00

The girls have enjoyed their first week of swimming lessons this summer. It's been fun for them to be in the same class. Every summer it's almost like starting from scratch because we only go to the pool on vacation. So that's not very much reinforcement of their new water skills. I have found though, that they are encouraging each other to do more and to be more brave. I caught this sweet moment the other day when they were practicing back floats. They have a difficult time letting their little bodies relax enough to see that they can actually float unassisted...but holding your sister's hand sure does help.
happy hot weekend! xo ANG

last week...

2010-07-13T15:43:00.004-04:00

before the deer came, the girls were playing with the tomatoes that were ripe. So, I guess playing with your food is okay sometimes.

I must say that this small bounty made quite the delightful gluten free bruschetta chicken dinner. I used this recipe but baked it in the oven instead of grilling. Also, during the non-tomato-growing months I use canned, diced tomatoes and it works just fine. What are you making from your garden this summer? Happy Tuesday! xo ANG

survivor::my quest...

2010-07-12T08:18:00.000-04:00

...to outwit any and all four legged creatures and possibly a neighbor with tomato envy.
That's right, you heard me. Let me explain though so you won't think I've gone completely insane. As you know already, the deer had their fill in my garden. I've also found evidence in the form of muddy footprints that a raccoon or two helped themselves as well. However, the neighbor, half-joking, said he didn't realize I had so many tomatoes growing and he would just come and get some of mine since the deer were eating his. Hmmm. Okay, okay, so it probably wasn't my odd neighbor, I'm just saying it's a possibility. Anyway, upon closer inspection of my already-producing tomato plants (celebrity, better boy, roma, and jet star) there is not a single tomato to be seen. Not one! *sigh* Several branches of the cherry tomato and lemon pear have survived and are still producing and the smaller plants that just began flowering are in survival mode. So how do I plan to outwit the four-legged creatures? Well, here, see for yourself.

This lovely green garden fencing is my outwit plan. So far it's working against the deer. The raccoons, well, they could pull that fencing right off if they wanted more tomatoes. I hope they don't. Ah, yes, those orange 5 gallon buckets are my planters. They're only $2, and compared to the $15-$25 planters that were smaller, well, $2 wins. Plus, orange is my favorite color so I don't mind the brightness lining my driveway. My mature,already producing tomatoes are planted in the yard along the back porch. They stand unprotected. At this point I'm just trying to keep my younger plants in the survivor category.
Now, I've got a question for you. Do you know what this plant is? My girls had a packet of wildflower seeds that they planted beside the house. This quickly growing plant is the only survivor. Right now it's about 4 feet tall, but I have no idea what it is. It could be a crazy weed for all I know.

It just started getting some tiny buds so it should be flowering soon. I just thought I'd ask because I hate not knowing.

Happy Monday folks. We're off to swimming lessons. It's been blazing hot for a couple of weeks now and today...now that the girls have to get in the pool, it's only 70 degrees and it's cloudy. I sure hope it heats up soon so the water won't be so cold. xoANG

survivor:the gardening edition

2010-07-09T08:47:00.003-04:00

Last night we got rain. A lot of rain. A lot of much needed rain. It was nice. When I got up this morning the grass was already turning green again and my garden plants looked happy. Well, most of them did. While we ate our breakfast we saw a deer in the yard across the street. A happy, fat deer. I jokingly said that she's probably the neighborhood tomato thief. Then I saw them. My tomatoes. The young ones that I planted late were just starting to get baby tomatoes and lots of blooms. Perfect for a nice morning snack, fresh rain droplets still covering them and making them look extra juicy and delicious. Let me remind you that I live in the city, a mere two blocks from a major road, and I have a fenced in back yard with a gate that was closed!

Victim #1-chewed down and yanked off with only a string of evidence remaining

Victim #2 - chewed down to the stump with only a few leaves of hope left behind

Victim #3 - chewed all the way down to about 4 inches from the dirt then yanked completely out of the ground and left in the grass to mock me. (Ha Ha city girl! I will eat your tomatoes so that you have to buy tomatoes that were picked green and left to ripen in a crate on a truck on the way to the grocery store...said the deer)

Then I saw them...the survivors. A few stems were missed by the hungry deer and these little gems were hidden amongst the leaves. Or, she probably ate so much of my other tomato plants that she just couldn't take another bite. Either way I've still got tomatoes...now if I can just outwit and outlast the deer this summer I'll be good to go!

Any tips on how to keep deer away from my tomatoes? Do tell. I don't want to spray them with chemicals or anything and I don't have a problem with insects...just deer and maybe a raccoon or two. Any tips or tried and true concoctions are welcome.
Happy Friday xoANG

wordless wednesday

2010-07-07T16:26:00.001-04:00

...well, almost.

Today I'm 37. That's me with my girls. We're all a little silly looking and have frizzy hair. But hey, it's 98 degrees here, we have an excuse. xo ANG

one yard wonder...i'm a little biased

2010-07-06T11:56:00.001-04:00

I have decided that I want to wear more skirts. Actually, I decided that last summer but I never did anything about it. They're certainly cooler in this heat. They're absolutely cuter than shorts. They're incredibly comfy with a t-shirt or a tank. They're casual but can be dressed up in a jiffy with a cute pair of shoes and a nice top. But man, go into a store and you'll see they're not cheap. Even the simplest of skirts are kind of costly. I mean, it's only two pieces of fabric, two seams, some thread....shoot, I can do that.

Solution :: One Yard Wonders....Bias Skirt! So simple, so quick, so perfect. Here's the first one I made. My grandma gave me this fabulous fabric, a light, airy cotton, and I've been holding on to it, wanting to make something for me with it. I was thinking a nice little dress, but that's time consuming and if I messed up then I'd be out of some great fabric. Then I remembered the Bias Skirt and I had to make it. Just so you know, if it's only going to take one yard of fabric it needs to be 60" wide...for this pattern anyway. I've got quite a bit of fabric in my stash but it's all the standard 45" width. No big deal, it'll just take about 1 1/2 yards instead. So, after washing the dinner dishes one night I got right to it and within an hour I had a new skirt! Normally it would not take that long but I wanted this skirt to be well made so I made french seams, which takes a little longer (and oh, so worth it), and the ironing and pinning of the hem took a little time because I was eyeballing it instead of measuring.

Here's the whole thing. Yep, that's me at the end of a very long, hot, summery day. Frizzy hair ponytail, no make-up (as usual), and a smirk on my face...pretty accurate self portrait there. I was getting my girls to bed...late, as you can see by the clock on their wall and I asked Mr. Clothesline to take a picture of my new skirt. I probably should have asked him to take the picture earlier in the day, in the sunlight, before my hair got so frizzy..oh, who am I kidding, my hair is always frizzy, but natural lighting would have been nice. Anyway, I've already made a second skirt with another fabric I was hording, and I've got a third just about done. I did add a couple of inches to the length because I like a nice sturdy hem. However, I forgot to add the 2 inches to the third skirt I cut out so if I hem it the way I like it'll be too short for me. My plan is to buy or make some bias tape to sew over the raw edge that way it'll be long enough still, and it'll have that extra detail. When it's done I"ll share more pictures.

Next, I'm working my way through Weekend Sewing by Heather Ross. I checked it out from the library and there a few things I'd like to make before I have to return it. Since it's going to be nearly 100 degrees for the rest of the week it seems like the perfect time to stay inside where it's cool and do a little sewing. Well, between watering the garden and playing in the sprinkler with my girls, that is.

you capture::green

2010-07-01T14:05:00.005-04:00

There were choices for the You Capture theme this week. I chose green. I had grandiose ideas of being clever and capturing moments of being environmentally green, being green with envy, being green as in inexperienced at something...but alas, life took over and my ideas went out the window. I did manage to capture a couple of things are a actually just green in color. Not clever or exciting, but still....green.
First up my lovely and very fruitful cherry tomato plant. That red one seems to be showing off a bit, but at least it will motivate those green ones to get with the program.

(f/7.1, 1/200, ISO 800)

Next up, a beautiful Brown Eyed Susan. Yes, I know its yellow and brown. And no, I'm not trying to cheat and just say the leaves are green. If you look closely at the petal on the right you'll notice a tiny green insect. I didn't notice the little bug at first, but when I did see it I just had to include him in the theme this week.

(f/5, 1/2500, ISO 800)

We have been really enjoying the past few days here at the Clothesline. The weather has felt like fall and the sky has been unbelievably blue. The plants are thriving, the birds are singing, and the kiddos are soaking it up. Oh hey! Today is my sister's birthday. She's on her way down to Florida to enjoy the holiday weekend and scuba dive in her new wet suit. Yes, I know, she's cool. I'm the nerd...and I'm okay with that. Happy Birthday Mel! Watch out for sharks!!

Go to I Should Be Folding Laundry for more captures. happy thursday xo ANG