Summer Break: Week Nine

Mostly spent cleaning up and recovering from Twistapalooza, but also spent up to my neck in a rather large and somewhat complicated club order (which I will blog about in the near future). But there were some photograph-able highlights as well, including a visit from a family of Bobwhite Quail, haircuts for the Girl and I, and trying to watch the Perseid Meteor Shower with cousins (we saw TWO! : the clouds rolled in and blocked the rest).

Also: I managed to revisit an old talent from the past and in the process made my children think I was pretty much the coolest Mom ever...

The Rest of February

February was as always, a wet and cold respite. It's hard for me to put into words just how much I love the months of January and February. All is still and quiet and waiting. I adore the peacefulness of the calendar. It is an introvert's dream to not have so many social engagements, no bright sunshine drawing people out of their houses. There is the hope of Spring on the horizon, the watching for early signs of the end of Winter, but it is slow, still, peaceful. The rain hasn't yet become tiresome, the dreary days are comforted by a crackling fire in the woodstove.

And yet... since I started traveling for work, February is also the month of last-minute, of hurry-up-and-finish, of have-I-remembered-everything? Prepping for the Needlework Wholesale Market in Nashville is both fun and challenging. Every year is different. What will people love? What will they pass over in favor of another design? I don't worry about it too much, because the designs I create are purely from inspiration and intuition, with very little thought for trends or past successes. If I don't feel the design in my bones, if it doesn't get me excited in some way, then it gets trashed.

So my February was a strange juxtaposition of busy and still. And it was all good in the end.

Lately

Sun Blaze :: New-Old Sampler :: Forage :: New-Old Pillows (made from antique kilim rugs) :: Cousins, all in a Row :: Summer Rain :: Seed :: First Fan Club :: Did I Break Child Labor Laws? :: After the Braid

Bangs!

For most of her life, my baby has had one-length hippy-child hair. She has never been a big fan of wearing any kind of decoration in her hair, and pony tails and braids only last an hour or two before they are torn out and her hair is once again liberated.

But lately she has been wanting a change, so I begged my hairstylist and bribed her with blueberries to come visit us and work her magic.

A little backstory... I have curly hair. I was born with waves which turned into curls when I was in my early teens. Up until two years ago when I found Mychal through an extensive online search, I had never had a haircut that didn't result in tears and/or frustration. It is apparently difficult for most hairstylists to compensate for the temperamental nature of my individualistic hairs. So most of my adult life I have had long frumpy hair styles that didn't really feel like "me". She not only rescued my head from years of boredom, but has become my friend.

So it really didn't take that much convincing to get her out here with her adorable son and equally adorable baby bump.

And the results made my sweetie so very happy.

"Now our hair matches, Mama!"

Lately

Not much new around here these days. The season continues to swell with flowers and downpours. But the sun always manages to make an appearance or two each day, and I have to keep the woodstove at a low simmer or we get cooked out of the house.

We are all counting down school days until Summer vacation starts - 31 including today (can I hear a loud Hallelujah from the crowd!). I'm working extra hard with the kids I tutor at the school on sight words and counting money and working pages of subtraction... we're trying so very hard to get up to level before they move on to the next grade. But even if they don't quite make it this year, I know I'll get to jump back in and continue the journey next year.

Our Easter weekend celebrations were meaningful and happy, adding memories to our family album that will be cherished.

I now have at least 5 individual hummingbirds that visit my kitchen window feeder; I'm thinking of giving them names.

And that's about it. What's going on in your world?

Rainy Window :: Chocolate Buttercream :: Romeos :: Hidden :: Braided :: Flowering Currant and Kerria Japonica :: Orchard View :: Tire Swing :: Unmade Wishes :: Cream Cloud :: Laundry Day :: Water Pump :: The Old Birdbath :: Flowering Cherry :: Mrs. Rufous :: Drippy :: Easter Finery