little messes

The spaces in between

June 23rd, 2011

There’s something about painting projects that always help clear the air for me. The last week has been filled with great joy and excitement as we explore our new city and also quite a bit of loneliness and longing for dear friends back east. It’s also easy to get down when you’re life is still so dependent on boxes. We are lacking in the storage department and until we find the right (aesthetic and well priced) pieces we’ll be making nice with cardboard.

All this means that rather than focus on the unpacking bit, I have some time to focus on painting some corners of the house we’ve rented to make it more like home.

First up is a rather strange space that lies between the kitchen, bathroom and basement. That means there are three doors in this little space and it was a hodge-podge of colors and woods. Of course I forgot to take a before picture. Dang it.

I fell back to my beloved coronado OW152 from our kitchen redux in Baltimore for all the doors and moldings and then recycled some recycled paint (seriously, it’s recycled from other paint here in portland)from the basement for a charcoal gray flat back wall.

Just need to find some art to finish it off… then it might just be one of my favorite little spots in the house. At least for now…

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seattle

June 15th, 2011

we took a short trip up to seattle to visit old friends this past weekend. Between the chickens, bunny, hammocks and amazing food and friends, I think it’s safe to say we enjoyed ourselves and will be definitely heading back for more soon enough.

Observation deck (and Miles’ finally growing hair). This baby’s been bald for so very long.

Miles and Olimpia.

Pepper in motion… always. love it.

M & V weren’t quite ready to give up the carrots to the bunny…

hen house

hammocks for all!

even a night out sans babes!

and finally, back at home, just in time for a good pig pile on daddio.

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coasting: a first sight of the ocean

June 14th, 2011

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Did i mention we arrived?

June 8th, 2011

We’re here in Portland! Arrived way back on Memorial Day weekend and got so quickly wound up in setting up home that I forgot to post the good word.

Not that that last statement should give you the idea that we have finalized this setting up… rather we hurriedly and madly set up for two or so days and then… well, we relaxed and enjoyed the last week here in Portland exploring our new little home and yard and wandering the streets that surround us. It’s been really a nice homecoming for the most part and I do believe the kiddos were relieved to not be spending 6-8 hours in the car each day.

There’s so much to say about the first few days here in Portland… but I think I’ll save that for a bit. Rather, I wanted to talk for a minute about what these first few days and this move have made me realize.

Change is good and necessary. And I don’t mean the change of town really…. the long and short of it are that in packing up and moving all of my ~~crap~~ stuff across the entire country, I came to realize that I have entirely too much of it. Over the last few years as work got busier and kids came into the picture, I began to lose my connection to making and thrifting and just kind of gave up and went shopping. I didn’t fully lose control of anything like that. I just lost touch with what ‘things’ can and do mean to me.

I want to let go. And this seems like the exact right time to do it. Yesterday I came across Jessi Arrington’s TED talk (via swissmiss). And it just woke me up even more.

I have let go of the fun of the, as Jessi says, “treasure hunt” and gained more impatience with my purchases. And I’ve simply acquired too much stuff. So. I’m starting over. I’m letting go. And in the next few months I’m going to clean house even more than we already did to fit our lives into a small trailer. In order to keep myself on track I’ve created a little competition with myself. How little can I spend each day, week, month and still have a great time. And not just spend, but spend creatively. Recycled, reuse, remake into what I need. From the stashes of things we already have here in the house and from what I can find beyond my front door. Somewhere along the way I’ve forgotten how to be creative in my home. And I’m taking it back.

Perhaps I’ll take a lesson from my favorite freeloaders…

Here we go!

What about you? How little do you think you can live on?

Posted in east to west, portland | 1 Comment »

Halfway Home

May 26th, 2011

Some folks think we are crazy. Others say we are brave. Most people could think of a hundred things they’d rather do than be trapped in a car with two babies and a dog for 7 straight days on a cross country road trip. But me, I’m pretty much enjoying every minute of it.

We’ve had our moments of strife and screaming, don’t get me wrong. But overall it’s just been a big, fat, beautiful string of days and miles. And we’re only halfway there.

I’d always wanted to do a cross country trip. It’s been on my list since I was a teen but for some reason the opportunity never arose and I never found the open time necessary to coordinate it from scratch.

We made our way out of the grips of New England slowly. Through the thick green of western Massachusetts and then New York.

Stopping for a night in the ridiculously charming town of East Aurora, NY. Then onward through Cleveland.

Then on into Western Illinois and kicking off our Iowa romp.

We’ve eaten some oddball meals here in the Midwest. Today opting for a picnic lunch at a truly lovely park in Grand Island, NE with some homemade bread we picked up in NY. Henry preferred this mealtime as our others have left him locked in the car. Sorry pup!

And we are still a few hours from Cheyenne. An hour from once again turning our clocks back. It’s like a bonus hour to enjoy more of the plains before we begin with the mountains.

Until then, I’ll just watch the cows and their lazy legs.

Posted in east to west | 1 Comment »

the lead up

May 22nd, 2011

It’s been a nice slow start to our big trek west. We took the rather untraditional northeast route to the west and have been visiting with family and friends over the last four days. It’s been a welcome respite despite the additional mileage. The craze of packing, loading, reloading, strapping, cleaning, and watching our stuff and ourselves leave our home that we love, a place filled with the most amazing people…well, it was hard.

Then came the quiet. A few days with Jeff’s father and step mom in NJ.

And perhaps quiet, is not the right word exactly. Anywhere these kiddos go, things get a little kooky.

A nice stop over at our favorite roadside pizza joint in Katonah, NY.

A few days with my folks, sister and her husband, my adorable nephew and many friends that I’ve known since I was a wee thing.

I even caught a quick moment of sweetness between my father and his squirmy grandson. love.

And now, we’ve had a few days to relax, restore and look forward. I couldn’t be more excited. Tomorrow we leave the east. First stop, Buffalo, NY where some lovely neighbors from our dear Baltimore have set up their new home. Here we go…

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Starting off

May 18th, 2011

Today marked our last day in Baltimore. It was a whirlwind week of packing, loading and cleaning. And now, we drive on. First to NJ, then NH to see our east coast families, then further. Far across this whole big country of ours to our new home in Portland, OR.

We’ve lived here for nearly 7 years and I love this damn city and the friends we have made have not made it an easy home to leave. But it is time.

And so, our belongings were picked up today and we shall meet them again in June. As for the five of us… we are now all piled in the car. Kids, dog and Jeff and myself and well, a lot of stuff to sustain us on our travels.

Goodby dear Baltimore. Your kindness will not be forgotten.

Day 1: 4 hours to Hawthorne, NJ.

Here we go!

Posted in charm city, family, home sweet home, travels | 4 Comments »

big

February 3rd, 2011

yep. that’s what they are. big.

and i, a little ragged to be sure. but no worse for the wear. but happy in the chaos. and because i can’t leave you without a small glimpse into life with these wee folk. there is this, a few clicks from our new year’s day on the farm. life can be very, very, good.

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one

September 26th, 2010

this past Friday m and v turned one. I couldn’t be more thankful for my little family.

and I’m pretty sure they couldn’t be more thankful for their first taste of cupcake!

Posted in wee ones | 1 Comment »

my goodness… where have i been.

September 20th, 2010

well. i guess i’ve been busy. not as busy as one might imagine. twin wrangling is pretty manageable for the most part. sure there are logistical trip ups but all in all i’d say we’ve got this down pat. and since i’ve been gone for hmmm… too many months. i figured i’d pop back in with a photo for each month we’ve been hiding out. cheating perhaps, but even though i’ve found my way back into this back-end panel, i might still need some time to find my words.

January
vera and jeff