as we surface from all that wild snow, something has been emerging all around us…
(roving a friend found for .99 at goodwill, “new” red shoes found here, mama-made play food, a “new” red end table, tulips that survived the snow, current reading favorites)
it is time to reclaim!
“reclaim what?” you are wondering.
many things. with a search on craigslist and a $50 bill i am reclaiming my body, my love of exercise, and my desire to be outside. yes, my thighs are burning. yes, it feels like i sat on a rock, and yes, i will probably have helmet hair. but who cares? my kids are laughing, the wind is blowing in my face, and i am tearing down this hilly dirt road!
i am reclaiming my “garden” from the snow! this little cold frame cris built me will give us mixed greens for dinner tonight! even though i left it open in the snow storm, the warmth it has gathered from the sun has been enough to save it.
i am reclaiming my appreciation. for the sun, mostly. but also for cris’s ladies (don’t worry – i only mean his chickens!) and these beautiful old barns where mine are the 4th generation of children to grow up here.
together, cris and i reclaimed our living room! after being gifted bunkbeds, we rearranged the kids’ room and moved some of their toys in. now we have a living room instead of a play room.
the last thing i have reclaimed? personal time. not a whole lot, but i have finally come to realize that i don’t have to do everything. i can ask for help. and, when i ask, not only does cris step up to the challenge, but he appreciates both the communication and knowing that i need him. wow!
so i’ve gone straight from work to girls night and let cris put the kids to bed. i got to cut out my next sewing project and visit with girlfriends. (i went to a tag sale last weekend and swam through a sea of vintage fabric. i thought the garbage-bag-full i purchased was enough, but now i’m having second thoughts… anyway, i cut into some of that vintage love for my pillowcases!)
i’ve printed a bunch of cards to bring to local stores (scary!) and even printed some extras for a special friend’s birthday.
and much to my pleasure, i’ve rotated the fridge display.
yes, it feels good to recalim life!
(if you’re wondering…isabelle is 5 months old in that picture. i know, it looks like she swallowed the michelin man!)
listen up you scurvey crew! we’re ’bout to board ship and the scallawags need somethin’ to wear!
(okay, so we’re going to a pirate party, but what better excuse to update our pirate costumes in the dress up box?)
isabelle’s outfit was made from an old white shirt of mine, a patch from a thrifted sweatshirt, and pants (pattern from this book) from a box of fabric given to me. wyatt’s outfit is an old shirt with the skull made from the sleeves of the shirt i used for belle’s top. his pants are the same pattern and size as belle’s, so they’ll be more like shorts on him. i had some old iron-on letters, so i added “argh” to his bottom. a couple of bandanas and viola!
walk the plank!