8.17.2013

shiny happy people.

swooooooon.

 Thanks to my friend Kiki for this darling shot.  We recently had her join in on my mama's 60th birthday fun to photograph the family (more to come here I'm sure).

She sent me this shot early though, and... I LOVE it.

Because, it shows my main man, my love, my heart... and he's even smiling!
Now that's my happiness right there.

Have a beautiful weekend friends.

Mel ;o)

8.12.2013

All the things...

Oh hey, right... I guess I do still have a blog don't I?

You kind souls will have to bear with me as I tend to go into hibernation mode while brewing a new baby.  More so, I drag my carcass to bed at a deliciously early hour most nights - which has erased that 'golden hour' of blogging from these parts.

Sleep.
My main pursuit lately.
 You know, trying to clock it in while I can again here...

Ok.  To be honest, another reason for my absence:
Depth.

I've loved blogging, loved meeting you wonderful readers (many now friends), and loved being inspired to stay creative here.
But, it's a double-edged sword.

The danger is to make the blog your puppet stage... living/performing your life in order to then post it for others to view.  Slightly narcissistic no matter how much I try to label it as simply 'creative expression'.  I've been liberating our family lately.. by not taking the camera along on every adventure.  (Hence, I don't even have much to post pictorially here today).
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Also, taking a step back from any thing in life gives a fresh perspective don't you think?

Sometimes you realise life doesn't even need to be so cluttered.

+ We've lived without T.V for years... and I don't miss it at all.
+ Movies are few and far between for us now... and again, it feels refreshing to be unplugged.

I don't really know how to explain it, but I feel freer to just live deeper here.
We're in a culture that promotes being so up-to-date on every.latest.fad and issue... and it just ends up making us spread thin.  Trying to click on every new thing.
All the things.
What's the point?

Distraction.

Not stopping to just breathe and know in your heart of hearts you were made for something deeper.
Deeper than what the latest fashion is.
Deeper than what the newest parenting approach is.
Deeper than who's the coolest blogger out there.
Deeper than who can crochet an afghan from recycled cat hair.
Deeper than the latest technology breakthrough to 'simplify' your life.
Deeper than how to be a better wife.

That's where I'm at friends,
I want to go deeper.

By God's grace I'm seeing afresh that ocean of beauty and truth waiting to be plunged into:

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.”  C.S.Lewis.

This isn't the end here friends,

but it may just be a change up of how things look around here.

 I'm growing (in more ways than one), hope you are too.

hugs,

Mel ;o) 




 

8.01.2013

poppin' in:


Annnnd, yes - we're still alive here!
Stuffing our faces with home-made kettle corn (recipe) while wandering the zoo today.

Those kids' faces crack me up, I think a monkey could be dancing an Irish jig while riding a parrot, and they'd still just be interested in that bag of popcorn!
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I just wanted to swoop in here and thank all of you for you sweet outpouring of congrats and kind words celebrating the wild news of our next wee progeny!  A new life is such a source of joy shared with others.  You guys are wonderful.  For real.

I hope the week is treating you well out there?
We're looking forward to a weekend of beauty weather, visiting family.. and eating my weight in fresh corn on the cob!
I think the seasons should be measured in food groups.. instead of weather.
There would be fresh berry season, corn season, maple syrup season... egg nog... you know, all those special treats you really only get to savour at one part of the year.

Gosh, it's tough being a 'foodie' when your baby belly says 'blech' to everything! Hah.

Have a tasty weekend friends!

Mel ;o)

 

7.28.2013

(M.M.25) oh, baby?!

Welcome back to an (exciting) edition of Monday Mamalogues:
'linking up to share the beauty and breakdowns of motherhood'.

Isn't it amazing how one simple (extra) blue line can change your entire world?!

I wonder how many of us have looked at these pregnancy tests with a mixture of fear + hope, excitement + panic, heartbreak + joy... to see what answer will appear there.
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Soooo.. remember a few weeks ago when I was all like 'wish I could blame my extra chubby feeling lately on being pregnant.. but I'm NOT!'... and how tired I've been lately, and how my iron must be low?
 Well the joke was on me... I was/am freakin' pregnant after all!!

I know, right?
Total craziness.
We really must have got into the crazy sauce here.. because that baker Ben snuck another bun in the oven.
I can't even begin to tell you how UNLIKELY this 'should' have been.
It's like being hit by lightning, three times in a row...
(Not that I'm comparing our kids to lightning, though they do have a way of lighting up our life!).

So yes, it was a real shock for us.
Especially since we were so convinced we were done at two.
In fact, when my family had recently asked us if we wanted more I had chuckled: "Pfffff, no, unless God has a sense of humour!"
Well, the heavens are laughing.. much like I was when I saw this test result (granted, mine was more of a maniacal nervous cackle).
Ben may still be rocking in a corner somewhere... I'm not too sure.

But don't get me wrong, this is not an accident .. I could never call a precious soul that.
This is a wild, happy, crazy surprise that's going to teach us afresh to depend on God for the grace to grow through each new moment!
 Granted, I may be looking a lil' green in the process.
You may recall that babies don't like me.. and try to destroy me from the inside out.
I keep trying to yell down at my tummy "SYMBIOTIC relationship, ok??!!  Not parasitic.. stop trying to wreck me here".  I still have the health card picture from my last pregnancy to show my zombie face with blood shot eyes!  Thankfully the little magic pill Diclectin has managed to keep me holding the food down each pregnancy.
Most days still feel like I've had one too many spins on the carnival tilt-a-whirl.
I also just want to sleep, all day, every day.
Not really an option of course.
But I must say that Ben is being an ACE husband around here!

Oh, did I mention I'm two months along?
I even got to hear the heartbeat already!.. and see the lil' bean with hands and feet waving at me (out of their armpits - picture this).
I am excited to have the same midwives back, they delivered both Azriel + Hudson!

 So here we are.
Two years between each child basically.
A full, wild house of blessing and breakdowns!

I probably won't be documenting this pregnancy with a walk down the produce aisle like I did with our 'womb-fruit' Hudson.  But I'll keep you updated along the way.

Now you know why I haven't had the energy to be extra creative lately...
I'm busy making a masterpiece! 

So, the secret is out!
(Although I did dream of just wearing this t-shirt around as an announcement).
Ha, now I want a unicorn.  But I'll settle for a healthy boy or girl.

In all seriousness though, our family would appreciate your prayers.
Heath for baby, energy for mama, real employment for daddy.
Yep, that would be awesome sauce.

Glowingly yours,
Mel ;o)

7.25.2013

SHOP: paint dipped, wood pendants!

I still have a few of these geometric + gold pendants left!
Thought I better throw them in the SHOP for you lovelies to get your hands on.
They are light-weight wooden 'coins' just over an inch wide.

Here's what's left:
Brown wire necklace:
2 - turquoise pendants.
1- orange pendant
1- pink pendant

Red wire necklace:
2 - red pendants
2 - cream pendants
1 - orange pendant 

Since these are the last of their kind.. I'll do a special of $20 PayPal . (FREE shipping).

I'll keep it updated here for availability too.
Holler: needleandnestdesign@live.com

Happy shopping friends!
Creatively yours,
Mel ;o)


7.24.2013

here + there.

sailboats + sunspots.
simpler days + pioneer ways.
little cuties + little chapels.
summer blue eyes.
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A few shots from our recent outing with friends to a Pioneer Village this past weekend.
I was hoping to throw in some other shots here too.. beauty sunsets of late, steeping tea, boring daily tid-bits... but yeah, my flash drive got all grumpy!

I believe it was about this time last week I was moaning on about that wretched heat wave.
Well, today I enjoyed a warm pair of socks, many delicious layers of clothing and a hot tea in my hand to welcome this refreshing cool snap of breezy goodness!  What's happening in your area this week?

Most days this summer we're still trying to find little adventures.
Parks, road trips, visiting friends.
Still working part-time too!

This wee blog feels rather neglected, but I'm ok with that for now.
Nothing 'personal' of course.... you guys rock!
For those of you who still check in and journey with us, I'm delighted to have you here.
I hope to feel a bit more *creative* again soon - and miss it's presence in my life/blog.

Lastly, I skipped Monday Mamalogues this week - for those who want to link up - I WILL be doing it this coming Monday... with a bit of wild news to share too.
Stay tuned friends. 

Happy days to you and yours,
Mel ;o)

7.22.2013

summer sewing flashback:

Hello there you lovelies,

In the spirit of 'summer reruns' I bring you this sweet summer sewing roundup.
A few simple projects to beat the heat, and you'll look real... neat.
(Now, if you're a die-hard follower for more than a year - you've already seen these, but feel free to click on any project you may want to be inspired by afresh!)

I bring you: shorts/shirts/skirts upcycling fun... with LACE of course.
Lace edged shorts.
Two Lace Scarves into shirt.
Lace curtain into maxi skirt.
Happy sewing friends,

Mel ;o)