mommy in my pocket

mommy in my pocket is a library book we are currently borrowing, and suki cannot get enough of it. we have been reading it five times a day or more! i don't mind too much since it is a sweet story with darling japanese illustrations. japanese style can be so playful- like the little monster socks suki has on in these pictures. last summer when we were in san francisco, suki's UB introduced us to the most beautiful store called cotton sheep. he bought her two pairs of these socks and i was thrilled when i realized they are going to fit her again this winter.

new addition

yesterday, adam hung and organized a thread shelf for my studio. and i LOVE it!  it was once part of a lawn garden at UVa. 

preserving the harvest

round one of tomato canning was a success! with the help of pandora (loretta lynn radio and magnetic fields radio) plus visits from friends, we canned 22 pints and 4 quarts of heirloom tomatoes, and 1 pint of tomatillo salsa. wednesday, we are buying another flat of tomatoes so we will be back to preserving that evening. hopefully this gets us through the winter.

autumn stockings

we have recently been collecting items for suki's fall/winter wardrobe. we found some cute stockings, dresses, and long sleeves, but we are still searching for more pants and sweaters. suki is just as anxious for the cooler months to begin as i am. everyday she asks if she can wear a coat and boots! 

pillow forts

pillow forts make everything seem more fun and magical. we had to cut suki off for a while because it is too easy to spend the day lounging in the fort when many outdoor adventures are waiting for us. this winter, on the blizzardy days, i plan to perfect the art of pillow forting. perhaps this would be the best way to spend time avoiding the hurricane winds. thinking of all friends and family on the east coast, i hope you are safe! 

summer rainbow simmer

this bright soup is inspired by suki's love for noodles and the abundance of veggies we have on hand from our csa. it is a fast and easy recipe; plus, you can substitute any of the vegetables with whatever you have around the house. i do recommend keeping the tomatoes for they are a key player. this is a good one for getting a lot of veggie nutrients into little bellies- suki ate a full bowl and asked for more!

ingredients:

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 small onion diced

1 carrot diced

4 cloves of garlic minced

1 summer squash sliced

1 cup of cherry tomatoes halved

1 purple pepper sliced

1 cup of greens chopped

2 tablespoons lemon juice

5 cups of veggie broth

1/2 cup of pasta cooked

2 tablespoons of pesto

salt and pepper to taste

in your favorite soup pot cook the onions until soft, add the carrot, garlic, salt and pepper and cook for about five minutes before adding the squash. after the squash has cooked for about 5 minutes add the veggie broth and bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer. toss the cook pasta with the pesto and set aside. once the squash is tender add the pepper, tomatoes, greens and lemon juice. cook for a few more minutes  until the greens are wilty. serve into bowls and spoon the pasta pesto on top. 

enjoy!

for specks and keepings

i had a fun morning drinking coffee with denise from the rapidian. she interviewed me about the sweet coffee companions we have been making for rowster- a very exciting opportunity! i spent the rest of the day sewing snaps on the clock bracelets and packaging everything i am sending to hillery for the specks and keepings shop. i am excited to see everything hillery and the other makers will be contributing, and of course, the new matthew yake photographs.  

we need a horse

we recently started reading we need a horse written by sheila heti and illustrated by clare rojas. it is from the new mcmullens children's book series for mcsweeny's. if you buy this book, you not only get the beautiful book but the dust jacket unfolds into a large poster- ours is now hanging in suki's room as you may have noticed in the previous post. the story teaches children to ask significant questions and to know they are needed and loved. 

room tour

it feels like only yesterday that i was getting this room ready for suki- before i had even looked into her eyes. it looks quite different now that she has been living in it for almost two years! it's hard to believe it is almost time to remake this space into a toddler room- she already has no need for a changing table and soon she will be ready for a big kid bed. how will i know when she is ready for that? i guess we will just know. 

i have become more and more obsessed with living in the wilderness. today i found this video. iceland is among my top five choices- yes please!

blueberry lemon poppyseed muffins

LEMON POPPYSEED BLUEBERRY MUFFINS

2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons poppy seeds
6 tablespoons coconut oil
2.5 Tbs ground flaxseed soaked in 3 Tbs. water to make a paste
1 cup milk (used coconut milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons grated lemon rind
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 cup blueberries

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and poppy seeds in mixing bowl. With pastry blender drop in coconut oil by tablespoon full into dry mixture and blend until mixture resembles fine crumbs.
Lightly whisk milk, vanilla, lemon juice, lemon rind, and flaxseed paste in a small bowl. Add wet mixture to dry mixture, and mix until just blended.
Fold blueberries into batter.
Optional: Sprinkle tops with coarse sugar.
Grease or line 12 muffins cups.
Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

my friend kelly has been experimenting with vegan baking and shared this muffin recipe with me. it is by far the best recipe i have found- the outside is crispy and the inside is deliciously sweet and soft. way to go kelly! 

this was one of suki's first experiences eating sugar- a real treat for her!

the feeling's forever

we had a lovely weekend with UB, and we're so thankful he came to visit us in michigan. it is always a good thing to have the ones we love experience our place, meet to our friends, and soak up our surroundings. 

we had a full weekend with many many delicious meals, a few fun outings, and cosy evenings at home. we miss him already and there's excitement for our next trip to visit family in california. 

thank you, UB!

to suki from california

suki's san francisco uncles, who were not able to visit this time, sent along some gifts with UB. uncle marvin plays guitar and has recorded lullabys for suki that she adores. last summer she was in awe when she heard him play them live for her. he sent an ukelele and an instruction book- we will be learning together! uncle mushroom sent the moomin biscuits and the most beautiful cupcake papers. i will be saving the cupcake papers for suki's third birthday party, which will be moomin themed! the biscuit boxes are the perfect addition to her kitchenette. LOOK at mr. mushroom's impressive moomin collection on his flickr page. 

paikat kotoa

date night

movie night at home with somewhere and popcorn!

vacation in your own town

UB, suki, and adam went to the children's museum today while i enjoyed a long nap. she came home exhausted from an afternoon of hard play. we do not visit the children's museum often so when we do go, it feels like a brand new experience. when family is in town suki has a bit more attention and entertainment which allows for a bit more relaxation for adam and me, like we are on vacation without leaving town!

suki loves her UB!