Setting the Stage...

Lance and I have settled into the idea of living at least one more year in our house. One more year before we can seriously start looking for our country home. With our surrendering, came Lance breaking out his shovel to build more garden space. A way of coping perhaps. We both long to live in the country with our children. To give them the life we feel is crucial for humankind's positive progress into the future...my children's future.

Funny how these simple actions -shovel work and seed planting, can set the stage as a reminder...a reminder to be grateful for what space we do have, to be content, to be here now...

Bringing in Spring '09...

Just as we brought in the Autumn Equinox...we gathered together to bring in spring. With no apples in sight, we switched gears to root beer making. What fun!

Admitting We're Human...And Then Moving Forward

Saying you're Sorry is never easy. It means you must swallow your pride, admit you were wrong and simply...face the music. But, the way I see it, being sorry for actions said or done, is an opportunity for positive growth. Taking what has been learned, from both sides of the apology, and then moving forward. Forward towards more open and flowing communication, towards stronger bonds and healthier friendships.

The photo posted is of Roxie writing her big sister, Kaziah, a sorry note. You see, Kaziah had "bought"(with fake money earned at school) a butterfly and cage at the school auction. While she was at dance class, Roxie decided it needed attention of some sort. This, of course, ended with the butterfly getting away and a very sorry, teary-eyed four year old. Now, these weren't the tears of a child whose only thoughts were of getting into trouble, oh no. Hers were big tears of true sorriness. She knew how excited her big sister had been about the butterfly. And now, because of her, it was gone.

As a way to comfort both her and Kaziah, I suggested she write an apology. Needless to say, Kaziah was heartbroken when she came home, went straight to her new pet and found it gone. She hollered out from her bedroom, "Where is my butterfly...Roxie!" My Roxie was brave, she did not hesitate. I watched as she told her sister what had happened and then hand her the sorry note, all the while knowing how upset Ziah would be. Although Kaziah did have a hard time hiding her disappointment, she gave Roxie a big hug and told her thank you for the card. She now uses it as a bookmark. A few times since, as I'm making my goodnight-lights-out bedtime bit, Kaziah has shown me the card and remarked on how special it is. She says this in such a sweet, big sister kinda way, my heart just melts...melts into a big puddle of pride.

Oracle of Sorts...

Marjory the Trash Heap is a large, matronly, sentient compost heap from Fraggle Rock. According to her rat-like companions Philo and Gunge, who serve as her shills, the Trash Heap knows all and sees all. In fact Marjory is all: "I'm orange peel, I'm coffee grounds, I'm wisdom!" She serves as an oracle to the Fraggles, dispensing advice and wise sayings, and the Fraggles stand in awe and reverence of her.

That is who I thought of as I photographed our progress in the garden. We were adding our compost to the garden beds, wishing we had done a bit more chopping before we threw our food refuse in the pile, when it dawned on me...we have our own Marjory the Trash Heap! Our own all-knowing oracle, who just is...just happens. I love to think of our backyard compost pile in this way, makes me grateful. More importantly, let's not forget the wonderful benefits of composting...from pumping up the garden, to lessening the load in our landfills, to making a person think a bit more about how wasteful humans can be...

How 'bout you, do you have your own Marjory the Trash Heap residing in your garden space as well?

Rambling On...and On

Color Your World Pink started as a way to stay connected with friends and family. I was inspired to do so by my Mom and Aunt Lisa who blogged their journey across the Southern States. I wasn't completely new to the blogosphere world, the idea of me actually having one just never occurred. Color Your World Pink was first open to invite reads only. But, as I started searching and reading other blogs, I decided I wanted in on the blogging action. I really feel people underestimate the power blogging carries. The opportunity it provides to connect people across the world is quite mind boggling.

I started with Color Your World Pink, then as my brother, Sam, was restoring a 356 Porsche and had me documenting I thought, "A blog would be perfect for this!" and that become My 356 Restoration. If you haven't yet, go check it out. The blog is completely photo only and you would never know by looking at them that the shop photographed is the very one I grew up hanging out in. A VW shop that sits on Main Street in our Old Downtown district. My brothers and I had the run of Main St. Sure, we got into trouble, but we knew the shop keepers that were friendly and the ones we stayed away from...like the grumpy old jeweler in a little, musty closet of a shop. Looking back now, he was probably a cool old guy. Anyway, these photos hold dear to me on many levels. Provokes thoughts of childhood, simpler times and also gratefulness for what we had and now hold. A family business that has kept and sustained us. Yep, the smell of carb cleaner will always take me back.

Shortly after, another "Myshell" blog was born, Craft-Crazy-Thrift-Spinner. I find it funny the blog I frequent the most, was the last thought of. I have always loved handcraft, my first blog reads were craft dedicated ones. Sewing, in particular, has always been an element in my life. I turn to it when I am happy or sad, overflowing with inspiration or lacking of. My happy space -full of light, color and the smell of starch. An open notebook, colored pencils and cup of coffee is an excellent way to spend an afternoon. Especially if you have young ones next to you with pencil in hand. Just a fountain of inspiration there. At Craft-Crazy you'll find old and new projects of mine. I'm not a tutorial writer, more of a show and teller. It's a showcase of my crafty skills...from cake baking to knitting (I'm a lousy knitter!) to Thrift-Spinning.

Where am I going with all this you might ask...I would too.

At times I feel much more inclined to hang out at Craft-Crazy and neglect my writing here, which is something I also enjoy but must make time for, where sewing/crafting just happens. I have thought of combining the two blogs, Pink and Craft-Crazy, but dismissed the idea immediately. Instead, I have enlisted help. Help from my amazing, yet reluctant, husband who says blogging is too open. He's not a very social guy at all...which is kinda funny cause he married me! And if you know me at all, you know I love to connect and be social. You could say we balance each other pretty well. So, after stating my point of view: "What if by blogging what we're doing to lighten our footprint, we inspire others to look more closely at their footprint. Sharing how we built our cold frame or rain barrel could very well connect you to someone who has good advise or questions to help them on their way. You just never know." Finally, I got what every woman loves to hear, "Yah, I guess you're right" ...YES!

So now...I am happy to announce that my awesomely amazing husband will be here with me at times, to help me keep our blog more green minded and not so fluffy. I'm not saying it's the end of my fluff...I like fluff, fluff is good. It's just, Lance's presence will give me the balance and inspirational guidance to keep Color Your World Pink rolling where I would like it to go. That's all.

What can I say, Lance ROCKS! and I want to share more of him with you.

Until next ramble...

As it Goes...

Loving... the green (native) grasses reaching up to the sun, the garden planning and seed planting, the fresh paint and organized spaces within our home. The games we play outside and the birds we feed and count. New discoveries to be made, lessons to learn and songs to sing. The warm breeze that speaks of spring and the summer to follow. Spring carries such wonderful potential...

The Small Stuff...RRR

Small ways to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle...
Buying in bulk and not "needing" fancy jars to keep it in. Just give me an old pickle jar. New/hardly used -good- candles from the 2nd hand store...spent $5 on the whole set...four candles and the wooden banana tray. Now, that's find. I get my candles and am still Reducing my impact/demand, Reusing what's already out there, BYOBing (bring your own bag) and in turn cutting out the plastic bag recycling...always a good thing.

Vocab Poetry...

Our nine year old is a vocab poet...and she doesn't even know it! This homework assignment's objective, which she did on the back of an old school paper -another way to RRR, was to write each vocab/spelling word in a sentence. Perhaps it's just us...but we were impressed at the content of her sentences. Hope you enjoy...

Vocab/spelling sentences by Kaziah:

I will collide when I go the the moon.
I will follow you.
I used that money.
There are millions of stars in the sky.
Some people litter.
Do you think you're beautiful?
Does it matter?
Do you know the future?
What year is it?
Will you go across me?
What is your usual schedule?
What did you cause?

And a Good Morning To You...

Making a Change...

A change in paint color, that is. When in need of some change to motivate me and push me to meet my challenges, I find myself with paintbrush in hand. A calming sort of chore that I always love. I can change my perspective and feel by simply changing the color I live in. When at home, my family lives together in the dining room. Meals, art, home work, game night, sewing...it all happens in this one room. It had been a cranberry red for four years and the white trim showed the battle scars of the five years it endured daycare. Moving forward was sure to be jump-started by changing the color of this one room.

A fresh and motivating start...simple as changing the way we view the sun as it enters the space we call home.

Breathe...

Trying to find my groove after a spell of un-grooviness. Trying to breathe slowly and meaningfully. Trying to move forward and not lose focus. Trying to be strong when I really just want to head back to the beach.

I think I can...I think I can...I think I can...Breathe

Thrift-Spinner Magic...

More Thrift-Spinner magic happening over at Craft-Crazy-Thrift-Spinner...

Simple Goodness...

Christmas should be simple. Full of family time and warm wishes. When so much of this Holiday has gone commercial, I felt the need to simplify our Christmas holiday as much as possible. Yes, we still had many a festive time, but all was based on the idea of quality time spent with ones we hold close to our hearts. Not the gift giving and silly obligations society has attached to this once sacred of holidays.

Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we didn't exchange gifts at all, just simplified in a big way. And as a mom who loves to sew, it was super easy. The tradition of Mama-Made jammies gift to open on Christmas eve...flannel bottoms and a custom t-shirt. When I needed to finish the gift with a top, I gave Ausha a piece of the flannel and asked her to replicate it on the computer (I must tell you, Ausha does amazing artwork on the computer). After printing her work on fabric transfer print paper and simply ironing it on, I had a Mama-Made gift my girls now love. Not to mention the surprise and satisfaction on Ausha's face when she saw her artwork on a T-shirt.

That's what Christmas is about...the heart felt, simple goodness we all possess.

You Like Oysters?

My family enjoyed a seafood Christmas, complete with a yummy seafood bisque and Oysters Kilpatrick. Now I am not a oyster fan, never have been, but the rest of my family...oyster lovers to an almost insane level. I may not like to eat them, but oysters done Kilpatrick style smell good and look pretty all dressed up...You like oysters?

Oysters Kilpatrick:

Ingredients (serves 4)
2 cups rock salt
24 oysters, shucked
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
175g thin rashers rindless bacon, diced
2 tablespoons flat-leaf parsley leaves, chopped
lemon wedges, to serve
Method
Preheat grill on medium-high heat. Place rock salt, in a thick layer, on a baking tray or heatproof plate. Arrange oysters (in their half-shells) on rock salt.
Sprinkle Worcestershire sauce over oysters. Top with bacon. Grill, on the salt, for 5 to 8 minutes or until bacon is crisp. Sprinkle with parsley. Serve with lemon.

Better Late Than Never They Say...

Yes, better late than never...A Happy Solstice, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanuka, Happy New Year and all that Jazz. Whichever it was for you, I hope it was enjoyed to the fullest.

As for me, I am still in vaca-mode and am trying to get my brain around the idea of going back to work next week. This is proving difficult. The house is a disaster, there are chores to be done, rooms to organize...but all I want to do is sew. And now that Christmas is over, I can't use the excuse of Holiday deadlines to get my sewing fix in. Guess I better get busy with my chores so I can sew again. Hey wait! The kids need warm Levi coverlets for their winter bedding...Guess I found my new excuse. I gotta keep that thermostat set to 60 Ya know. OK, complete honesty. Sometimes I push it to 64, but only when nobody is looking...