A baby and his banana

Oh, how I love Halloween! And yes, that's me. I'm the banana.
Okay, I have to admit. One of the reasons I wanted to procreate was to have an excuse to have a big plastic bin labeled "dress up" in my garage and to use it often. Anyone in need of a banana suit?

Today was a total turning point in our monkey training. So, ever since we got this monkey his costume, the day Target put them on the shelves, we've gone through rigorous training. Really. Me, my husband, my mom,& my dad have been been jumping around like monkeys for way too long.

And today was a total turning point for us. All of our hard work paid off. Someone call Oprah. I have a gifted monkey on my hands here folks...



I know this picture is blurry, but I love his expression here. So, today when he put the monkey suit on he was so tickled with himself, he started running (running) around the house giggling, with his hands in his armpits like a chicken. Classic. Then I took him upstairs to get a good full length look at himself and he did his wholechicken/monkeyroutine again, just giggling. So pleased with himself.I can't even stand the cuteness...

Fun quotes to inspire art...

Fun quotes to inspire art sometime in the future... not any time soon, but eventually...

I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too? Then there's a pair of us - don't tell! They'd banish us, you know”
Emily Dickinson
We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.
George Bernard Shaw

Forget love, I'd rather fall in chocolate.”

That it will never come again is what makes life sweet. Emily Dickinson

It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

The soul should always stand ajar, ready to welcome the ecstatic experience.”
Emily Dickinson

“Be careful what you wear to bed at night, you never know who you'll meet in your dreams.”

But I don't want to go among mad people," said Alice. "Oh, you can't help that," said the cat. "We're all mad here."” Lewis Carroll quote

Begin at the beginning,", the King said, very gravely, "and go on till you come to the end: then stop” Lewis Carroll quote

The rule is, jam tomorrow and jam yesterday - but never jam today.” Lewis Carroll

One of the secrets of life is that all that is really worth the doing is what we do for others” Lewis Carroll

Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?” Lewis Carroll quote

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experiences of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired and success achieved.” Helen Keller quote

I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - only that it meets us where we are but does not leave us where it found us.” Anne Lamott

Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.” Lewis Carroll quote

That it will never come again is what makes life sweet. Emily Dickinson

A hundred years from now? All new people.
Anne Lamott

Thoughts on HOME...

“Every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.”
Matsuo Basho



As I'm madly getting ready for my 2nd Street Fair and trying not to completely neglect my family and get some amount of sleep... I'm so caught up and inspired by the possibilities of so many ideas...

Home is the idea that I keep coming back to...
Because I've been home full time, spending time with my 14 month old (my kindergarteners are on a 2 week vacation)I've been thinking about being intentional about what kind of home I want to create for my husband & my baby & myself & my friends & family...

I'm so thankful for our physical home. It's a gift from God. I really never expected or thought we would get a real home, here in Southern California, and it is a definite financial stretch, to say the least, but it really is a dream come true... it's where we want to be, and I wouldn't have it any other way. We've been here for a little over a year and it so feels like home to us. But even more than the paint & wood & pictures on the wall...

As I explore this idea of home I can't help but think...
What kind of home do I want to create?

love... but really, I mean what does that mean? what does that look like?
acceptance
patience
adventure
joy
faithfulness
prayer
peace
wisdom
generousity
communication
authenticity
belonging
contribution
laughter
stability
silliness
possibility
uniquely us
hot coffee & chocolate chip cookies
hand made stuffs
photos everywhere

We get to make our home whatever we want it to be...or at least try to make it what we want it to be...
Our own little nest.
Our place of possibility.
Our sanctuary from the world.
Our place of love & acceptance.
Our place of connection where we are intimately known & celebrated.

Really, anything is possible... we are the makers of our home... with a lot of wisdom and patience and help from Jesus...

I'm off to create... I'll be back very soon...

Little Treasures

“Develop an interest in life as you see it;

the people, things, literature, music-

the world is so rich,

simply throbbing with rich treasures,

beautiful souls and

interesting people.

Forget yourself.”

Henry Miller

I love the way this baby finds treasures everywhere. He could spend all day exploring our little backyard, creating new adventures all day long. A rock. A wood chip. A flower. I have a lot to learn from him...

My Lowly Worm dream come true! Here he is!

Now why didn't I think of this?!? I just found this and I had to share. Finding Lowly Worm on each page of Richard Scarry's Busy Town books was our nightly ritual, as a kid. He is my favorite. I've collected a bunch of Busy Town books for the baby, so we can start this game again. I know what we're doing for his 2nd birthday, but I better start sewing now... This is so fun.

Click here! I promise, you won't regret it.

Home Series

I have tons of thoughts flying through my mind as I explore this idea , but for now I'll show you what I'm working on...
Phase 2:Pretty paper & paint. Yum.