Sun Grins

Today was the first super warm day of spring in chicago. Fitting as Spring is only two days away. It was Kyle's first day of spring break! One of our house mates suggested we take our two little munchkins on a trek to the park. My daughter, Cossette, cried just about the entire time. She has just recently come out of a long bout of stomache flu...I think she's still emotionally recovering. My son, Klaus, had a stick in hand before we were 10 feet away from the house. He was the quintessential picture of a little guy in Spring. Stick in hand, rhythmically pulling it across each fence...click, click, click...letting the stick graze on the top of every bush passed...digging in any exposed dirt patch peeking out of grass...joy.

The sights and sounds of Spring were evident everywhere. Chalk drawings and hot scotch outlines appeared under my chucks every 50 feet. Clusters of kid mobs kickin' around curbs, with bikes, and skateboards and a lot of noise. Cement mixers sweatin to the oldies. Sun grins...everywhere. I saw a couple of boys walking down the sidewalk...one saw a rock and he kicked it, then they both ran to kick it again. Kids...sometimes they just know how to be people in a way I wish I did. Simple. Carefree. Forgiving.

Kyle and I went to see a high-school production of Grease tonight. Fun! Two of our housemates watched our babies. After we got home about, we were all talking a how disinterested kids can be about the past. My son has an iron trap memory. He remembers EVERYTHING, but if you ask him what he did earlier in the day, he just continues on doing whatever it is he was doing. Not in a disrespectful way. It's more like, wait we're playing now, why would we talk about something we already did. As adults, we tend to dwell almost exclusively on the past. Case in point? I'm blogging. We ask each other, "how was your day?" "What did you do at work?" Why? Are we trying to make life interesting? Can we not think of anything else to do when we're together except talk about the past? We spend time talking about the mundane, and not creating new memories. This isn't bad, per-say. I like stories. I am especially interested in the "past" of those I love. But, could we learn something from kids about being present in the present? Playing and learning from anything and anyone around?

Discounts, Yo

First Five readers who mention Blog and PICNIC in an etsy convo recieve 10% off entire purchase:)

Dig it!

St. Patty's Day

My hottie of a husband and I are gonna have to wait till 10pm to enjoy the vitals that St. Patrick's has to offer. I have corned beef, small potatoes, baby carrots, irish soda bread, horseradish, mustard, cabbage and of course, GUINNESS! Kyle(my husband) is gonna be in school till nine (Dang you SAIC and your fake physics class)! Train + Bus = 10pm. 10 pm, here we come! The babies will dine on some early treats, sans the Guinness. Until then, more reading, sewing and cookin'.

Happy St. Pat's!

PICNIC

After weeks of cutting, sewing, buying, designing, making several messes, cleaning up several messes, hiring photographer, making business cards, identifying a theme etc...I am finally ready to release my Spring/Summer collection PICNIC on my etsy site. WOOT!

You should absolutely, positively, completely take a look. S much fun stuff! My speciality is skirts made out of vintage aprons!



My children are now doing there own "sewing," starring paper towel roles as needles, and blankies as fabric:) So cute.

Girl from the North Country

This is my favorite Dylan song. There is a line in the song, "remember me to one who lives there, for she once was a true love of mine."

The same line is used in a Simon and Garfunkle song, about three years later. I'm trying to figure out if it's part of some ol' english lore, or if it is really a borrowed line. I love both ideas. Either way, S&G knew Bob Dylan used it. Whenever artists offer homage to another, it makes me feel gooey in a lovely way...like we are brothers and sisters and cousins, mowing grass and spittin' in different places all over the globe...

Trees

My 3 year old son is very into trees. I read "The Giving Tree" to him this week for the first time. It's been years since I read it and I found myself frustrated with the boy in the story. The tree keeps giving, the boy keeps taking. I thought, I'd never do that to a tree. It's been warmer lately, and my son has gotten to enjoy the outdoors, especially trees. Today after a lot of climbing techinques, falling, climbing again and swinging, he discovered the joy of just being in the tree. He found that one sweet spot where your body just lets down and exists quietly, peacefully with the tree. The look on his face was absolute contentment. I wondered as I looked on him, why it had been so long since I climbed and played and fell and still climbed. I thought of the giving tree again. I am that boy. I work and clean and cook and DO and forget about the tree in my life. When did I become so cynical? When did I forget about contentment...quiet...activating peace...My three year old has a lot to teach me.

An Ohio Sleepy

I'm plum worn out. My baby girl has been sick for a couple of days and I've been visiting my folks. A lot of love and cuddling...not a lot of sleep. Tonight I printed my business cards. They are lovely! I'm very pleased with the theme of my upcoming etsy fun. Still need to take pictures...