Went to the Market...

I had never used African Black Soap before, but am now in love with it! A soap maker at the farmers market gets this great stuff, adds her own goodness to it, like tea tree oil, and sells the bars along side her own. My only dilemma is it is not a completely local buy. But I had to try it out, just this once...

We also picked up a batch of seasoned pretzels to go along with some wonderful homemade mustard. We especially liked the Raspberry and Red Wine Dill mustard. The Red Wine Dill mustard had a surprisingly rich, soft flavor. We will most definitely be visiting the mustard maker again. Dried plums, cinnamon rolls and even homemade doggy treats were purchased that sunny, farmers market day.

Our farmers market may be small, but it is big on good vibes. Looking forward to more of the fresh veggies, yummy homemade bread and noodles, soap and even just the great conversation we find at our weekly farmers market.

Just Say No...to Grass

It's amazing to me how much water people pour on their lawns. Just look at the contrast between the green lawns and our dirt. Yah...the dirt isn't that appealing...but it won't be like this for long. Seriously, have you seen my backyard? No grass there either.

To be completely honest...I am tired of being the "white trash" of the neighborhood, but not enough to lay sod or any other water guzzling species. We have plans for a native-scape. Rocks, native grasses and bushes, perhaps even a tree. Word on the block is the city is going to ban lawns anyhow...'bout time we say!

Besides living in a desert and trying to conserve our precious resources, we're also saving lots of money...if you were to see our water bill this year compared to last, you would be going this route as well.

In our small way, we're saving the planet...one choice at a time.

Birthday Girl...

My baby has turned 4 years old! I put together a little garden party, complete with garden bunting and pinata. A bit of sewing from mama gave Roxie her wanted garden hat and matching top. Happy Birthday to my little girl...your smile brightens my day.

Yard Sale Find...

.25 for Solar Tea...gotta love the yard sale!

Garden Love...

Summer is here...I can say that now that all of our costumes have been made and recitals have been danced. Phew!

Besides sewing costumes like a crazy woman, I have been called such, I have been enjoying my garden. Last night we ate our first big salad from the garden!

Also, when Lance returned home after his long trip away, he rebuilt the pond/bird bath. We had used what we already had in our yard to begin with. Not really being our style of pond, we purchased a pallet of rock to redo it. Much better. The fish are loving the rock ledges and the tadpoles are already getting bigger. We have many birds frequenting the pond now, they are even getting use to us and stick around when we walk by.

Oh, summer...looking forward to you even more. Next on the schedule (besides playing catch-up with house work) is to get our camping gear stocked for next weekend and then again for our big 4th of July trip, Yippie!!!

Click here for more of our updated garden photos...and more dance prop photos.

Ink Up...

Playing a tattoo game with Sunshine and friends...can you guess the bloggers behind the tats? It was a lot harder then I thought it would be. I could only really guess at one. I am looking forward to meeting these other tattooed bloggers...

The story behind my tat...I never really wanted a tattoo. That is, before my brother, Sam, started with his body ink. You could say we have brother-sister tattoos.

To me, my tattoo means strength and fortitude. The water, rock, Koi and cherry blossoms pull all four elements together, with each blossom representing one of my daughters and the Koi, love and affection.

Check out my inking photos here. Although I need to update this photo file (my brother has more ink to share) you can still get an idea of how my four hour sitting went...

My Man...

Mother's Day is always enjoyable for me. I have just one request: to watch my man work in our yard, with his shirt off and a shovel in his hand. At least, I wrap it up under one request. And, I know I am not the only one who loves to see men at work.

This year I asked for a garden and a bird bath in our "bird garden". Let me tell ya, My Man delivered...He is truly going to have a hard time topping it!

My garden turned into lovely raised beds surrounded by pavers, which includes my clothesline. My bird bath became a little pond, fenced from the kiddos, big enough for a few large fish and some tadpoles. All of this happened over Mother's Day weekend AND we didn't buy anything for the hard scape! Everything you see in these pictures came from our yard. We scavenged for extra rock and pavers, used old fence pickets for the veggie beds and had an old pond liner from another pond we once had.

I spent this past weekend planting. When the sun began to go down, the moon rose and I continued along my merry way; plopping seeds and envisioning a garden where I snip here for my herbs and cut there for my peppers. This garden represents so many things for me...

Did I mention that Lance had been out of town, working in WY for 11 days, when he came home and plunged deep into this project? He spent his entire four days off working in our garden and then took off for another ten day tour in WY. I expect him home this weekend. I can't wait for him to see the garden planted and the fish comfortable in their new home. Yes, my man delivered. Every time I water the seeds and feed the fish, I am reminded of how much he loves me and how special our love is.

More photos of our weekend together.

Game Love...

My creative worlds mingle as I bring work home with me. A BackGammon board for a beautiful game table made by the talented craftsmen at Tribes Interiors. You can see in the picture here, I just pushed my sewing gear across the table and set up my paint.

I had so much fun with this project. My family loves to play BackGammon. Especially so while vacationing on the Oregon Coast with a storm raging outside my ocean view window. Nothing beats listening to the waves crash and having my family close to me...looking forward to our next trip to the beach, I'll be sure to pack our own 'Gammon Game.


Beach photo from our Thanksgiving Trip '06.

Sew, Shovel Work...

Yep, I'm still here...just been enjoying time with my sewing machine and looking forward to Lance coming home today (after working in WY for 11 days). This weekend we are digging and planting our garden, my Mother's Day gift. Of course if you know me well, you will know that Mother's Day is not complete without a good show. You see, every year Lance must work in the yard on some project, there always is one, with his shirt off. I get to watch and drink my margaritas. Lots of shovel work to be done, and let me tell you, Lance can work a shovel! I can't think of a better Mother's Day gift...

Here are some photos of the sewing projects I have been working on lately...Memory Match Games and tote bags headed to Chicago for Shannon's library Summer Reading Challenge awards, very excited about this project. Also, my new "Receive and ReGift Bag", another great way to reduce, reuse and recycle. And, as Roxie is having a hard time at night keeping dry, I made cloth pull-ups with liners. Very cool and earth friendly...

Deep Breath...

After a long and hectic last few weeks, I can breathe easier now. We had a wonderful weekend full of dance competition and the Earth Day Celebration. The kids did fantastic at competition, grabbing a "Superior" in the ballet production and an "Excellent" in their Jazz and Tap team dances. A good experience for all the girls.

After the Saturday dance competition, we headed downtown for the Earth Day Fair. Fun booths for all, every year it gets better. The live band started around 7pm and jammed into the night. I was impressed with Buckskin Bible Revue. They did an awesome job covering some of my favorite Dead songs. My feet couldn't stop dancing...I woke Sunday morning to the sun shining and The Grateful Dead on my mind. Inspired me to dig out my favorite old tie-dye (which I have not worn in 5-8 years!) crank up some Fire on the Mountain, and play in the dirt that is soon to be my garden. Yah! Talk about a lovely Sunday.

As the sun is just as beautiful today as was yesterday, I am not going to spend much time here and head outside for more yard play. Hope your day is as sunny as mine!

Photos of my girls before the Ballet production and Kaziah's dance team "waiting in the wings".
The last few photos of Earth Day are a skit put on by the Forest Service. All who volunteered were either an invasive plant or an animal who cannot eat it and has to move on to better feeding grounds. Lance was the "Weed Warrior", very fitting part for him if I do say so myself.

Photos of the Canyon Rim Dance Classic, and The Earth Day Celebration.

Rogue Bear...

I have been "sew" busy this week with costumes and other life happenings, I forgot to share Rogue's first birthday. April 16th our big guy turned one. He is a big, slobbery fur ball that must always be at my feet, which is a problem at times due to his heft...Pay no attention to what Lance says, I wouldn't trade him for another. He is a member of our family.

Sharing a few of my favorite photos here.

BARACKY...

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is our children's future we're talking about. I say, "Change...Yes, we can!"

Dilemma and Decision....

First, I have mentioned that our family was putting together a "Bennett Family Recycling" booth for the Earth Day Celebration this year. We have high hopes for meeting other people with same likes/dislikes and awareness to our responsibility as stewards of this beautiful Earth. So many ideas floating through the family. From a Lorax skit with the kids to exploring more ways we can reduce, #1 in the three R's. We are so excited about Earth Day, the challenge of bringing our ideas to the table and also communicating to others our family's goals and how they can do the same. It really is quite simple. Getting a flow of conversation going, that's where it starts.

Second on the agenda, the Dancers Fight Cancer, Canyon Rim Dance Classic. This dance competition is one that kids work hard for, at least -my girls do. It is a chance to earn money for the American Cancer Society and also a great learning tool in improving team and individual dance performance. Sometimes a long weekend, but fun for us as a family of dancers.

Normally these two events happen with no scheduling interference...but not this year. And I will tell you, I was in tears when I realised I could not be at both places completely. Completely meaning, how could I reach out to people on Earth Day, share my concerns and how we as a family are doing our part and "You can too"? This event was our avenue to sharing our awareness and also, showing our children what it really means to be involved. Talking to people, asking questions and hopefully influencing others to think twice when they are consuming, turning on the faucet or even something as simple as saying "I don't need a bag, I brought my own". Small things really do make a difference. How could I throw myself completely into this event when I am also huge on being a "dance helper" at the Dance Competition. I am not one to blow off responsibility, and when you are working with a team, what does it teach your kids if you back down when the pressure thickens. To be quitters? Not in my family. The kids have been working for this dance competition for months.

So, a decision had to made. And, although I love to watch the kids dance and see what other dancers are doing, I am sad to report that we have canceled our booth at the Earth Day Celebration. A heart breaker for sure. Again, we are trying to teach our kids to be responsible. Leaving our dance teams high and dry wasn't an option.

I can only hope next year's events will schedule more kindly to our family and we can do both, we have so many fun ideas for Earth Day! And, rest assured, I will be in and out of the Earth Day Celebration. Being there when I can and most definitely dancing it up to the live music (The Clumsy Lovers and Buckskin Bible Revue always a good time!) in the evening.

Now, I am off to sew the rest of the dance costumes for Kaziah's dance class. Finished three yesterday, four to go.

More photos of '06/'07 Dance Classic.

America's Stooge...

Good for a Sunday morning laugh...kinda.