around the house and into the holidays

things have been beyond busy around here. when there are small late night breaks i find myself a bit comatose in front of a movie, book, or the internets. it seems we have all managed to lift away the seasonal blanket of malaise after a series of coughs, fevers, heavy heads, and sore throats. and so we turn toward the holidays and think about food, gifts, crafts, and road trips. mostly i can't believe how quickly the days are passing!

autumn days around the house are cozy

there was indeed a halloween with my teenage viking and shy pirate

aunt sue visited

yia yia showed us a great trail behind her housing community

i saw abby epstein, co-producer of the business of being born speak at 

the birth matters virginia award celebration. she was fantastic. 

and it was a beautiful day at the lewis ginter botanical gardens.

i've been slowly making things for the holiday market. i am overwhelmed by 

ideas and inspiration but seem to just keep making the things i know how to make best.

i've also been working a busy couple of days weekly, helping with order processing and social media content at a local crafty business called cardboard safari. "like" their facebook page for fun posts and new product updates by me! here is tristan's billy the bison:

the trophy heads are packaged kits that you slot together. dan has a bull and tashi, a rhino. there are a number of creatures to behold - including a unicorn - as well as wreaths, trees, and even an end table. it's a been a fun (and busy) place to spend some time and works out well with my doula schedule. 

as i write this post, tristan is pulling down the winter solstice books from the seasonal book shelf. as we enter the time of darkness we make sure to embrace all sources of light. may a steady flame warm your days this season!

considering balance as autumn equinox approaches

as much as i was holding on to summer, i have to admit, the autumn season brings a satisfying order. we are much better at organizing our days and getting out of the house, at least most of the time. and i am far more prone to focusing on crafts and walks (rather than picnics and swimming) to enliven our days. yesterday we got ourselves into our woods. 

it had been a while, really. there were changes. areas of tall grass that arose after the abundant summer rains. large fallen branches that had been precariously propped up by surrounding trees lay shattered on the forest floor. and our little "beach" and wading area along the creek had taken on a new shape altogether.

it was temperate and dry with exquisite light falling and rolling back at repeat intervals. no humidity. no rumbles of an impending storm. a great sense of ease in the outdoor world.

we gathered pods and acorns and bark and bits of forest and returned to our deck to fashion a mobile. tristan was frustrated with the project and proclaimed it "stupid," but i knew he would be pleased with the end result.

it hangs in the middle of our living room, dancing through the days with us, seeking balance as autumn equinox approaches. seeking balance, as we all must.

it makes tristan jump with joy!

all the beautiful back lighting (and living room clutter) made it very difficult to photograph! 

inspiration was found here.

i really love how it is a constant reminder of the need for balance. i hope to bring my family relationships, home life, and creativity back into balance this autumn season. summer was full of distraction and distance, even though we were all very close together much of the time. autumn is the season to gather together, to collect the autumn harvest, to cook, create, feast, and celebrate. and my mother is moving here from michigan! i look forward to each of these days, the opening of the busy but productive field. 

what do you hope to bring in balance as the equinox approaches? 

as the light balances with the dark, it is an amazing opportunity to adjust your intentions! 

where we are

it's been one of those weeks where my mind reached a peak of mama madness and then climbed back down quickly. wasn't sure i was going to make it to level ground without falling, but i did. yes i did. and now i'm back on the path, one foot after another. breathe. breathe. 

here are some scenes from around the ranch.



happily, the antique singer is humming again. i'm very pleased, but wish my machine with fancy stitches worked as i've been inspired and want a little more stitching freedom. ah well. i'm beginning to prepare for the holiday market (oh i am so very behind on production) and am adding in these new reversible mug mandalas. many more to come, and what a great way to use up all those fabric scraps! i plan to add in cloth napkin rings as well.  hoping to expand the offerings for those who are not seeking baby gifts!





the blankets are off to a slow start. but there will be blankets. and bibs. yes indeed.

meet buck nekked. 

yea, that's how we roll some days. 
he harvested potatoes. just a few. 

they were delicious.

he washed off in the wading pool afterwards. wow was it hot this week.

but today it has dropped like 20 degrees. lovely autumn is approaching. the small garden is drying out. there is one tiny pumpkin turning orange. green tomatoes dangle among dying leaves, slowly turning red. small zucchinis and cucumbers continue.

and the acorns are beginning to rain down. i think we may need hard hats!

autumn light invigorates us before the darkness of winter settles in.

and this is our cat loki, who lives up to his name. he is a very, very naughty 11 year old cat. but isn't he ever so handsome? his sister luna is hiding somewhere.

the corgi is our neighbor dog, dorothy, who likes to visit us sometimes and clean our floor by snuffling around for crumbs. she and loki recently met. i was proud of my boy cat who is generally terrified of dogs. he hung out for a while, staring her down. she looks a little nervous. 

and now i am dreaming of having a dog!

thanks for visiting!