summer studio time

{camping inspiration and a future project}

{inner pocket for phone, pen, and lip balm--"Yes to Carrots"}

{inner pocket for keys}

{a new summer bag}

{photo snapped by Rainer}

I had studio time today, and it was glorious. There is nothing like creative time alone in my studio to make me feel happier, more grounded, and more "coming into myself" (if that makes sense). I've been desperately needing some time like this, and am so so glad that I got it. A huge thank you to Ken for taking the boys today so I could sew and putter in my studio. Yea!

I've been wanting to make a summer bag in a bright print and with pockets for cell phone, keys and pens. Normally I spend so much time rummaging for my keys at the bottom of my bag that Faith estimates that by the end of my life I will have spent an entire day just searching for my keys (and I think she is not far off)! But no more. I've been wanting to try an elastic top pocket down low in the bag for keys, and now finally I have done it. I think this will work well. The pockets for pen and lip balm are a risk--I've ruined bags before with such things, but I will try to be mindful of not leaving pens uncapped or balms in the hot sun.

The pattern is the swing bag from Amy Butler. I've made it before (here, although that bag did not last long, due to the leaking pen I alluded to earlier). This time it sewed up even more easily than the first. It's a great pattern--I love the size and shape--so perfect for toting around all kinds of summer things for beach trips and trips to the swimming hole. The fabrics here (and the pattern) are all from my stash. It feels so good to get a new bag for "free."

I've been doing 30 minute morning walks for almost a week now (that's huge for me, I'm exercise-phobic), and I'm glad about them, but I'm not noticing the benefits (of improved mood or having ideas or being able to think more clearly or enhanced optimism) nearly as much as I do from a day spent creatively in my studio--sewing, working with color and fabrics, puttering, rearranging my inspiration boards. But Ken said he notices a spring in my step when I return from my walks, and I do believe in time spent outdoors, so maybe I will just stick with those walks too . . .

a happy birthday

Today was my birthday. For the last few summers, my birthday has fallen on one of Rainer's "clinic" days, and this year was no exception. This is his last chemo infusion into his central line--next month when he has his clinic visit he'll be officially off chemo and they'll have a little party for him with cake.


After clinic, we stopped at Crushcakes for lunch and a birthday cupcake. I chose coconut.


For my birthday, I wanted to go to the Santa Barbara Museum of Art; we even became members! The boys did great. Ken is a natural teacher and knew how to draw them in. I truly loved looking at all the beautiful works of art--so thrilling. The museum has a wonderful "Van Gogh to Munch" exhibit going on right now that was wonderful! (I couldn't take pictures in that gallery however. The above is from the "Drawn to Modernism" exhibit). I didn't get to linger as long as I would have liked (since the boys were getting antsy), but I'm hoping to go back next month when Carrie is here.


After the art, we stepped outside onto State Street in all its beauty. We loved watching the turtles in this fountain. It's so entertaining watching them compete for space on the sunniest rocks.


The boys also love all the bronze statues of people along this street. They are so realistic.


In the evening there was pizza at a local restaurant and lavendar lemonade.

{local pizza}

{me and Faith}

Thanks to all my sweet family for making my day special. I loved it!

summer solstice tea 2011

{tea things}

It has become a tradition to share my photos of every solstice and equinox tea on the blog, so here we go! We had our tea one day late--the timing just worked out better. We kept it simple with just cucumber sandwiches and cookies, both made by the kids, some fruit, and a plum tea cake (which sadly turned out underbaked--my oven temp seems a bit off lately).

My nephew and niece, William and Katherine, are visiting all the way from Colorado. Aren't they cute?


More cuteness here: Ben with Dieter.

{the family}

Jacob is home from college for the summer and we love having him!

The ice cream truck showed up, just as we were about to sit down for tea. We usually don't go in for ice cream truck ice cream, but this was a special occasion!

{at the ice cream truck}

We still had room for the tea items, though.


Afterwards, the kids had a blast playing Cranium and Cadoo. It was wonderful how all the ages interacted so beautifully. What are your favorite family board games??

on the summer solstice

Happy Summer Solstice, everyone! We've been having a whirlwind of a summer so far, with our vacation to San Diego, graduations, father's day, trips to the dentist, and today is our anniversary (later this week is a trip to Santa Barbara for chemo and my birthday!) Summers always start out busy this way and then we ease into a more regular routine, which is what I crave and need.

Yesterday the boys and I did a mantle freshen-up. We made a paper bag banner for the solstice and rearranged the art and the heart rocks. Dieter was inspired to draw a picture of Rainer and Ken working in the garden. Luckily I had an extra Ikea frame just waiting for such a sweet kid drawing, so onto the mantle in went.

May your solstice be clear and bright! We are just barely getting some sunshine and warmer weather around here.

happy father's day!

To my dad, who has always been warm and kind, generous, supportive, and who taught me to insist on warm syrup for my pancakes . . .



. . . and to Ken, such a wonderful and patient father to our little ones and an amazingly gifted teacher of many things --

Happy father's day!

rainer's "make-a-wish" trip

{petting the dolphin at Sea World}

{on the eel ride at Sea World}

{behind the scenes viewing of the sloth bear at the San Diego Zoo}

{behind the scenes at the San Diego Zoo}

{on the sky tram}

Rainer's is just about done with his last round of chemo (his last day of chemo is July 9th!). His "wish" was to go to Sea World and the San Diego Zoo. The whole family was included in the wish, so it was a truly special occasion. We have never gone on a vacation all together before. At both Sea World and the zoo, we got behind the scenes tours and got to touch and feed the animals. It was really fun and interesting. We had some unplanned time too. We went to Belmont Park and to the Fleet Science Center, both of which were also great. This was a very sweet family trip. Everyone was happy and got along and memories were made, which is the important thing.

Thank you Make-a-Wish foundation! Rainer loved his wish!

granola bar recipe review

After I posted these fruit and nut bars, Beth suggested this recipe for granola bars. I'd love to have 3 or 4 go-to bar recipes, so I tried it. I can give an honest and thorough review at this point because I've been taking them for my snack at work for the last couple of weeks. They are great! I love that they are no-bake, that they hold together very well in a thick bar shape, and that they keep at length. I pressed mini-chocolate chips into the top of mine, but you could easily omit that. These are dense, heavy, and filling. I really need that in my mid-morning snack because I don't eat lunch until after 1pm. These hold me. I wrapped mine individually in waxed paper and stored them in a tin in the refrigerator, but you could freeze them just as well. Just let them come to room temp before eating (otherwise they are a bit hard). Thank you Beth!

Next up: these. Maybe experimenting with homemade granola bars should be on my summer list!

lemon ice cubes

I've finally gotten around to trying this: frozen lemon juice ice cubes. Every year we have more lemons on the tree than we can use. Sometimes Ken gives away a bunch at his school, but I've also wanted to try squeezing them into juice and freezing it into cubes. I love one dropped into a glass of ice water or iced tea or an Arnold Palmer. Lemony goodness! Now only if some warm weather would follow!

a couple of new favorites from trader joe's

Okay, so we've tried and liked a couple of new items from Trader Joe's recently. One is their yummy frozen baked brie. It's the kind of brie encrusted in pastry. So yum! You maybe know about my love of pastry encrusted items if you follow my blog--meat pie items in particular, but this cheese encrusted item is supreme. Sorry I don't have a picture, but it was yummy. We spread it on apple slices and crusty bread.

Also, we discovered frozen chicken strips. Don't judge-- I know we are supposed to be moving away from processed foods, and I would never normally buy chicken strips, but I was inspired to do so by the above recipe in Time for Dinner. You can see from the graphic above that the adults are supposed to have grilled chicken for their portion while the children have the chicken strips. But I'm a busy working mom, so I did just the chicken strips and they were delicious! So there you go. I like them.

One more thing: raw almond butter. I eat this on toast for breakfast with a side of green smoothie when I feel the need to detox. I add a drizzle of honey and it's super yummy. No picture of this either. The raw almond butter looks sort of gray-ish compared with the roasted almond butter, but it's healthier so I don't mind the looks so much.

What are you loving from Trader Joe's recently??

dreaming of summer

I've been so busy at work this year that I've had less mental energy to think and plan for summer. I do have a short list, though . . .

:: make Barefoot Contessa's herbal iced tea (from her Family Style book--the little boys can drink this too)
:: plan a fun picnic in the park with hand pies (this one is on my list every year but I have yet to make hand pies as picnic food. Maybe this will be the year.)
:: I'm totally inspired by this to make snickerdoodles and eat them warm from the oven--with the boys' help of course!
:: paint wooden beads and beeswax polish them and string them to make bracelets (like here)
:: figure out the perfect salad "formula" and find a homemade dressing that I like
:: read actual novels and get lost in another place and time (suggestions are welcome!)
:: take knitting lessons
:: zucchini!
:: trampoline!
:: sew as much as possible
:: draw. Follow the ideas in the current issue of 3191--stock up on cereal boxes and Sharpies.
:: write something
:: go hiking
:: camp!

Hooray that summer is almost here!

make-a-wish send-off party

The Make-a-Wish foundation threw Rainer a wonderful "send off" party last night. Pretty soon we'll be going to San Diego for his "wish" trip (to see Sea World and the zoo!), and this little "party" was his send off. It was so sweet and beautiful! We were at a gorgeous inn and spa facility that we don't normally get to go into (it's very pricey). It was lovely, calm, low-key, and very private. We swam and sat in the "hot pool." We had our own little cabana with snacks and cupcakes. So sweet and fun!

PS--it is fun referring to Rainer as the "wish child."

scenes from the weekend

The weekend included taking the boys to a Renaissance themed birthday party, going out to brunch, visiting with family, and Ben's graduation. Congratuations, Ben!

I'm feeling pretty quiet over here right now, but I do have a question: we have a few vacations planned this summer. I'm a real homebody and don't do vacations well. Moving around in big groups stresses me out a lot, even when that "big group" is my own very sweet but rather large family. Anyone else out there have that problem? Any tips for enjoying a family vacation?? I'd love to hear.

Thanks to everyone who commented on my last post. You guys are very sweet!