Bliss

{Z-cakes + Uncle Kev-Bo via Grandpa Bill's camera}

Summer is...

Baby Shower Behind the Scenes

01. Jen was smart enough to know when the lilacs would be in bloom in Salmon and planned the shower accordingly. She also had a sweet hookup. We cut buckets full of lilacs and didn't even make a dent in these bushes. 02. The girls were happy/insistent about helping put the flowers in the water. 03. We were up late the night before the shower making the favor bags and tags. I painted a watercolor stripe on the bottom for a little extra detail. 04. We packed all of the cookies in cellophane bags before putting them in the paper bags so there wouldn't be any spots on the paper. That's problem solving, people. 05. To buy us a little "quiet time" during the day, Jen made the girls a "special treat" that involved ice cream. It reminded me of these pictures. 06. I wish I always had a beautiful stack of crepes sitting on my counter.

A glimpse

N8tr0n got home late last night after a quick business trip to Northern California. We only saw him for a few minutes this morning before he went to work but I can certainly tell we are happier when he is around. He brought Z-cakes a present; one of those pens with all of the different colors built into it. She played with it for a solid 45 minutes after he left.

My present was two loaves of sourdough bread. Yessssss! It went perfectly with our homemade strawberry jam (which, by the way, turned out perfect) and I shall be eating it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner until it is gone.

I've been contemplating learning to make my own sourdough bread and perusing this site more than is probably necessary. Do any of you make your own sourdough bread? If you have advice, do tell. I'm all ears.

And while we're on the subject of baking, I've decided that I need a wood fire oven in our back yard. Yes, yes...I should probably start saving for one of those yesterday.

I'll be back this evening with my 12 on the 12th grid. Right now we have lots of being outside that need's doing.

Spring day with Z-cakes

And on the 11th day of May the heavens parted, the sun came out, the temperature rose, and there was much rejoicing. And knocking on wood. And throwing salt over shoulders. And going for long walks in search of spring! Here's a glimpse of the perfect spring day that Z-cakes and I had yesterday.

(Starting from top, left to right, left to right. Get it?)
:: We got a stroller/bike trailer last week. I am completely in love. The last stroller I pushed Z in was an umbrella stroller.
:: Z patiently waited to get going on our "nature walk." It was so nice outside she didn't want the cover on the stroller.
:: We spotted lots of beautiful trees.
:: And one that had popcorn growing on it!
:: And the plant that my dad refers to as "the eyeball plant."
:: And monkeys! Z-cakes didn't want to get dressed when I was ready to go for a walk and I didn't feel like making her. So: monkeys.
:: After our walk we went to the library where Z painted a "river." Because that is what she paints/draws. I swear someday when she is an artist she will have a collection named "River." There will be no paintings of anything resembling a river.
:: FINALLY, Z-cakes got to play on the statue outside the library for as long as she wanted while I read a book. She calls this statue "the talking one." As far as I can tell the statue has nothing to to with talking but what do I know?

I hope you get a chance to get out and find spring today. And don't forget to bring your camera. It's the 12th! It sneaks up on you, I know.

Last Week

Sorry for the silence here last week. My friend was in town with her two little girls and naturally they had our undivided attention.

Somehow Jen and I never managed to take a picture with each other. What were we thinking?

How was your weekend? Are you as excited as I am that it is May?

Miss you already

Don't you just love this picture? I actually pumped my fist when I captured it. I think it is the perfect reflection of the end of the fair and the end of the summer tied up with a magic balloon, and a daddy who loves his daughter. I love documenting the little sweet moments between these two. There are so many of them.

I'm signing off for the week, friends. I've been feeling under the weather and haven't felt much like writing. I'm hoping that after the weekend getaway we have planned I'll be renewed and ready to talk your ear off once again.

Please don't forget to check in with Hannah's May I Suggest series tomorrow to read my final contribution—for reals this time. Hannah, thank you so much for letting my share my favorites with you and your readers. I had a fabulous time.

Miss you already. Have a wonderful weekend!

Happy Friday To You

:: A bowl of peaches with a little cream is the snack of choice in our house these days. Z-cakes likes her peach cut into chunks, I prefer mine in slices.

:: N8tr0n returned home yesterday from a four day work conference in Missoula, MT. Man alive are we glad to have him back. He's back at work today so I'm hoping to get the house cleaned so that he doesn't think all I did while he was gone was play in the kitchen and craft. Which I did.

:: I'm posting another picture of my roses. Are you getting sick of them? I just feel like we shouldn't be the only ones who get to enjoy them.

:: I absolutely love this and I want to add it to my growing collection of Halloween decor.

:: I just decided that Z-cakes and I are going thrift shopping today. We're going to check out a couple of stores that are new to us and I'm very excited about it. What exciting thing are you doing today?

:: My last contribution (That "last" part was a lie...there's one more week after this! Sheesh!) to Hannah's May I Suggest series is up today. I just realized this week's list is heavily influenced by my friends in Denver. And that the list may make me look like a couch potato. I'm 100% okay with that.

Happy Friday To You. Are you as glad as I am that it is here?

Hello Friday

I've been keeping a rotating bouquet of roses on my table for about a week now. Every time one wilts, I step outside and cut another. It is a nice reminder that all the attention and hard work I devoted to the roses in my yard actually paid off. Isn't it nice when that happens?

I also love the way it looks on our table.

Don't forget I'm over at Hannah's today as part of her "May I Suggest" series. Can you believe she only wanted to know my three favorite things from the kitchen? Three. I know, right? Anyway, check it out. It might not be what you expect. Or it might...I've never claimed to be that unpredictable.

Also. Be sure to enter the giveaway! You have until Sunday night to cross your fingers that those pretty little flowers will be perched atop your head. Go enter!

Happy Weekend. What will you be up to? Me? I'm going to the state fair. That's right...two fairs in one year. Don't you wish you were so lucky?

Girls, Summer, & Ice Cream

I've spent the last couple of evenings loading essentially all of our pictures from Summer onto Flickr. When I spotted these pics from June I couldn't resist sharing. My best friend, Jen, and I have daughters that are four months apart. Even though they live far away and have little chance of being BFF the way Jen and I are, it's nice to know that they both share one important trait with their mothers. An undying and deeply rooted love of ice cream.

Happy September! Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit!

A rare moment

The house we're renting has a room at the end of the hall with another funny little room attached to it. I say funny because it is more like a giant walk-in-closet with a window. The owners used it as a bedroom and we do too. The larger room connected to it is my craft room and Z-cakes' play room. I've had a heck of a time organizing it, and most days it is such a mess that neither one of us can step foot inside. But once in a while, there are days like this:

And on days like this I sit and think about how dreams really do come true.

What are you up to today? I'm going out of town to shop with my mom and Z-cakes. Number one on my list of things to do? Go to Target. Because my town doesn't have one. I know. No, it's okay, you can mourn for me. I welcome your pity.

Also, in case you're wondering, Z-cakes doesn't really ever wear pants. Unless we're going to a store. And then... grudgingly.

A Glimpse

A Glimpse

Pretty pretty craft supplies from my favorite craft shop in the whole wide world. Thanks, Rachel!

A Glimpse

A rainy day, popcorn, and Super Why.

{Inspired by Soule Mama}

10 Happy Things

I spent most of yesterday feeling like I needed an attitude adjustment. :) Soule mama's inspiration this morning is exactly what I needed. Here's 10 things that are making me oh so happy today.

01. Fresh raspberries on my granola. They go together perfectly.

02. Finding back issues of Bon Appetit all over my mom's house.

03. This little girl waking up waaaaaay on the right side of the bed.

04. A new book waiting in the wings while I finish up The Book Thief.

05. Brand new crayons and water-colors for Z-cakes.

06. Folded laundry.

07. Chasing the sun to the playground after days of drizzles and clouds.

08. A surplus of blogs in my head waiting to be written, FINALLY!

09. This cute, easy, and successful(!) skirt refashion from a $3.00 Goodwill skirt.

10. A new t-shirt coming in the mail to match the one Z-cakes got for Christmas.

Ahh...that's much better. It is always so nice to be thankful. What has been making you happy today?

A Glimpse

Of a recipe coming your way soon. And yes, I'll post the granola recipe too.

{Inspired by Soulemama}

Happy Weekend!

P.S. Don't forget that tomorrow is the 12th!