Intentional Stones

Why did we wait so long?

We love our house and our yard.  And I've been wanting to get patio furniture for ages.  I'd walk through the stores and art fairs looking for the perfect table and chairs.  I'd marvel at the prices of the things that caught my eye, and walk past.

Last week, I cut that out.  I found one that was big enough and sturdy enough looking.  Not perfect.  No stone inlay.  No hand cut wood specially treated to endure a life outdoors.  Just metal frame, glass top, hole for an umbrella.  I didn't need to install paving stones in the back yard, I just cleaned off the deck next to the house and removed the old lounge furniture I never used.

And it's like I added a room onto my home.  One that people feel free to say "Hi!" and join us in at any time.  It's fantastic.

We've been at the table together a million times a day ever since.  Playing, drawing, eating, chatting, relaxing, writing, you name it.

And having spent the smaller amount of money, I'm far more motivated to put away those pennies for the perfect table, should we ever find it.

I love sharing our summer.

-Simbelmynë

Full Time Family

Havoc is pleased to have earned his yellow belt. 

It's been a busy semester, with his first tournament and a new dedication.  This school, Steve DeMasco's Shaolin Studios, has been a great environment for Havoc.  He'd been reluctant to try it out, but with the right timing, he's excited to go and even asks to make up classes if the studio is closed for a holiday.  Adam, Hawthorne and I would also like to start studying.  We need to look at the schedules and see if we can manage without disappearing from the social world entirely!

Not a lot of posting means lots has been going on with us.  

School is not met with enthusiasm, but it's produced results.  We'll be sticking with it next fall.  I've reconsidered cyber-school, but for now, there are distinct advantages to brick and mortar.  Yes, the public school isn't perfect, but I want to see how starting fresh in the new year changes things.  Dropping three unseasoned kids directly into the classroom had a few bumps and ripples.  We're excited to have summer vacation very soon.

That strange thing I posted last week will be a giant squid prop for the spring play and I'm crocheting octopus hats for the littlest boys in dance.  They're almost done, I'll post pictures when they're finished.  I  just wish I was better at sewing.  (not enough to take it up more than I already do.  If this were the Matrix, I would upload the skill happily)

Drawing class is going well, Last week's homework was value, and that will be a separate post.  This week we were privileged to have nude models in class.  I'm still struggling and still seeing improvement.  As I said, boot camp.

My garden is going in very slowly.  The herbs and strawberries are in their containers and I have tomato and pepper seedlings waiting eagerly to get into the ground.  The garden bed needs weeding, again, lazy-busy gardeners lose.  With CSA vegetables arriving fast and furious, and a total lack of time, I may cut back on my gardening plans.  I'm sure there will be squee-ing about the fresh herbs and veggies I do plant though. 

We've also done a little travel in the past week, lots of pictures forthcoming. 

-Simbelmynë

Wordless Wednseday

Earthy Riches

It's the time of year for green growing things.  Mine got a bit stunted this year.  I don't know if it was unfortunate placement of seedlings between a drafty door and a heat vent, or contaminated watering.  Either way, I only have 6 puny seedlings from the many many I started. 

So far, all the work of this season has lead to this beautiful starting point.

This week I'll be working when I can to get these plants into the boxes. 

If you're wondering why raised beds?  these rocks all came from smoothing the earth underneath.  There's not much dirt and then there's clay too.  Yay!

Our family eats a lot of fruit.  So, I thought I'd try a grape vine.  It wasn't until I was unloading everything yesterday that I realized that this little trellis will probably be overwhelmed by one plant.  Ah well.  Another problem to be solved.  I'll put serious thought into it as long as the plant survives and thrives.  I worry.

Here's my arch enemy.  One thing that's important about all this house and yard beautification is making people welcome and happy to play in my space.  Mr. Poison Ivy here is the obnoxious, drunk relative who offends the guests every time.  And when I go to eliminate him, I'm always finding more of his little children.

I still have plenty of work to do.

And Yes, we're still talking about going to Australia long before growing season is over.  And Yes the plans are still up in the air.  And Yes we are being superstitious and continuing with the garden project despite this.  If we don't do it, we won't end up going to Australia.

I feel that the home projects fit in with the crafting blog because they represent me transforming my ordinary home into something a little big extraordinary.  They take up a lot of my creative time and energy.  And in the end, hopefully, the produce something beautiful.

-Simbelmyne

It's Spreading

The creativity-  it's spreading to other members of my family.

Problem                                                    Problem Solved

But I'm not sure it's a good thing in this case.

Watch the video to see how this was managed. My husband is a little scary. 

But, hey, our wheel barrow is working again.

Birds were circling.

          

Invigorating weekend

I've been a little lackluster lately. 

But this weekend changed all that.  Between getting the bathroom more functional (using that shower feels like being in a spa with two shower heads and a tub so deep I can float in it) and the beautiful weather, I felt like I could do anything!

The outdoors is guaranteed to have more of a part of my life for the next several months.  And I promise lots of photos will be on Flickr soon.  Yesterday, the first day out, I was worried about losing track of my camera and forgetting it outside.  Very bad in the spring with wind, rain and cold happening all the time.

The next major home project will be doing it all ourselves:  Landscaping our backyard.  My main focus this year is building a vegetable garden.  And we got a start, going to the home improvement store and getting planks and metal to stake it all together.  And the planks are a green building material! 

I have teeny little plants growing in my living room, hoping for a spot in the raised beds.  And once the weather is a teeny bit warmer, they'll get to spend more time outside.

I think we will be working more on beautifying the yard next year, once we've imposed a little bit of order on the general mayhem.  We'll start in the fall.  (If we're not in Australia, which is another story, and one I won't get into until word comes down from on high that we are definitely going)

-Simbelmyne