{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. (inspired by Amanda Soule of  SouleMama)

The F-R-I-E-N-D-S Swap

I am happy to say that I will be part of the 2011 F-R-I-E-N-D-S Swap with
www.sewprimkhris.blogspot.com. This is my first swap and I am super excited to be part of such a fun and creative event. As I craft I will be sharing all of the wonderful gifts that I am making for my swap partner. Let's see how unique I can get while still staying true to her likes and joys. Having a great day here have a beautiful one there!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. (Inspired by Amanda Soule of SouleMama)





My World::In Flux

I have been away for a while. Life has been swirling with changes in a wonderful way. I had to unplug for a few days...technical difficulties. But being unplugged felt good so I took some "quiet" reflection time. You see, after only 10 months at our present address, we are soon to be moving. Don't worry this is a great turn of events. In all of the constant movement of packing and organizing and keeping restless little ones happy I have come to realize two things. One is that I haven't folded or put away laundry in days. I can live with this; honestly I have no dressers (they're at the new house already) so I have no choice. Two is that since I sent my boxspring ahead to the new place and put my bed on the floor I have found that I like having my mattress on the floor.

It used to be on the floor when my oldest was a little one. Sometime between then and now it came off of the floor. Moving has returned it to its origins and in this return to the floor my 1 year old has found new happiness. It gives him the sudden and instant freedom to get on the bed when he wants to not when we want him to. It is like a large soft jungle gym where his climbing skills are growing by the second. I think that when we move the beds to the new house mine will remain on the floor. It's a super easy way to bring joy and independence to the littlest one in our family. And since his joy brings me joy it is the least I can do.

All Together

 This beautiful rock writing caught my sons eye immediately. He was so excited to see his middle name out in nature like this (we found these rocks arranged like this in the creek at the festival) that we just had to get Gaia in front of Gaia on top of Gaia in a picture!

 Banana check, cereal check, primal yell when mom tries to help me eat during a camping trip check!

 My men love to drum. These drums were so lovingly left available for all to share in Kidlandia (isn't that a great name for the kids safe zone) and my guys couldn't help but have a jam session.

These two were super sweet and their product was so original I had to tell you all about it. They are the creators of Duende Hats; which means gnome or elf. These are hats made from 100% organic palm fiber and natural dyes that feel lighter than air and look amazing. They bring out the inner woodland creature in who ever wears them. You can find them at http://www.etsy.com/listing/77984463/duende-hats

This gorgeous pixie of a woman reminded me so much of my girlfriend Kelsey that I had to include her. Doesn't she just make you want to hug her!

 GALACTIC!!!

They were awesome and held it down for the whole night. I went back to camp with the baby half way through the set. My 7 year old and his papa stayed until their set was done; sometime around midnite. I tried to convince my son to come with me but he just kept saying, "Mom, I can't miss the music!"

 The kids parade was a fantastical event with all of the children marching with handmade signs and puppets that they had crafted, drumming, hoola hooping, and the grownups rocking out with them. Such a beautiful moment in time.

Too cute for words!

Can you guess what his name is?! The other side says Gaia becasuse he was so proud to share a name with the festival that he wanted  everyone to know!

Beautiful Belles, Bellies, and Babies!

These gals were awesome keeping the beat with the kids as they marched by!

We had such a beautiful and unifying weekend at The Gaia Festival (http://www.thegaiafestival.com/) it was hard to leave. To all of you we met thank you for the love and connections shared. For those of you we didn't meet, there's always next year. Be loved!

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ( Inspired by Amanda Soule of SouleMama)

World Breastfeeding Week

This week is a wonderful fantastic week for many reasons. One of those reasons is that it is World Breastfeeding Week! As a full time nurser 3 times running (so far 4.5 years of my life) I am a huge advocate for breastfeeding and the many wondrous gifts it gives to mama and baby. The breast is a place our wee ones not only seek nourishment but also comfort, closeness, reassurance, safety, love. How perfect a gift to be offered to a precious baby. What a gift for a mommy to experience. I know that there are many mama's out there who may not have been able to nurse and I just want to say that we are all amazing mothers no matter what choices we have made about nourishing our children. Love is Love!!! For those who have nursed, those who wanted to but couldn't, those who plan on doing so in the future, or those who never thought about it until today, I wish you all a wonderful World Breastfeeding Week!

Join the many women who will be attempting to set a record for the most simultaneously nursing mamas! Go to Big Latch On (http://www.biglatchon.org/index.html); you can find official locations near you or even create a site for counting the women in your area!
Do you have any beautiful nursing pics? Share them with us and let the world know how proud you are to nurse your little ones.

Blacberry Yumminess

 My kitchen crew. Aren't they adorable?!

With such an abundance of berry goodness I couldn't pass up the chance to make a delicious cobbler! I am using the Fresh Fruit Cobbler from the Bread Bible by Beth Hensperger because I am in love with this not so little cook book and it's many wonderful bread (and bread-esque) recipes.

 You will need the following:
~4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
~1/2 cup sugar
~1 large egg
~1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
~1 teaspoon baking powder
~1/4 teaspoon salt
~1/2 cup milk
~1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract (I like to use the alcohol free)
~About 3 cups of pitted, halved, sliced fruit (insert your cobbler dream fruit here)
~juice of 1/2 a lemon
~1/4 cup sugar mixed with 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees farenheit. Grease and flour an 8 inch springform pan, two 6 inch springform pans, or an 8 inch square pan. In a bowl using a wooden spoon, cream the butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the egg and beat well.

 In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt.

 In a measuring cup, combine the milk and vanilla extract.
Alternately beat the dry ingredients and the milk into the creamed mixture in 2 additions. Beat until just smooth and fluffy. 

 Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared pan.

 Cover with all of the fruit to create a thick layer (for these blackberries that meant about 4 cups not the suggested 3), and drizzle with lemon juice (as i'm not able to eat citrus I omitted the lemon juice).
 Sprinkle the cinnamon and sugar mixture evenly over the fruit.

 Place the pan on the center rack and bake until the fruit is bubble and a cake tester comes out clean, 40-45 minutes for an 8 inch pan or 25-30 minutes for 6 inch pans. Serve from the pan or by slipping off the springform sides. A must in my house, homemade whipped cream. Enjoy!!!

(Please forgive the dates on the photos. My camera and I are in negotiations for behavior and the camera was feeling snarky this day.)

Natures Bounty

Such beautiful and bountiful parts we live in. A hike that becomes a berry picking extravaganza. Amazing views from every side. Happy, healthy children...Today was good!