purses

Today I finally got some purse up on Etsy. Holy crap it takes a long time.
This little purse is called Blue Lagoon and is dedicated to the last full day of school (today) for my kids. And now it's time for fun in the sun and the water- and getting used to being together all day everyday- yikes.


Here is a detail shot of the Polka Dot Ruffle purse.

fun weekend

A view of my parent's place Slot Canyons Inn, in Escalante Utah from the cliff tops on the other side of the Highway 12.

I love the desert in the springtime, it was the perfect temperature for hiking. This weekend was unseasonable cool- freezing, windy and hailing at times. I love to see the desert in bloom. There were little bits of color everywhere you turned.

This Anasazi indian dwelling is on my parents property, I can't believe that in 25 or so years coming to this place- this was the first time I have ever seen or hiked to them. Thanks to my brother Adam for showing us these dwellings, some great views and a downhill course and single track for mountain bikes that I can't wait to try. Thanks dude.


A view of Escalante and Wide Hollow Reservoir and perhaps Lake Powell in the distance there... from a very high peak we climbed (I have no idea what it's called).

an accidental picture

This is one of those oops I pushed the button pictures that you used to cuss when there were only film cameras. But somehow I ended up really loving this picture- I guess because I like looking at hands. They are so unique and individual, and say so much about someone. So even this fuzzy picture of my own hand is somehow intriguing to me.
Whatever.
It has been raining (almost) constantly for two days now. This is something that rarely happens in Utah. I really love the rain and the green that follows but it has become very clear to me that I would not do well mentally if I were to live somewhere it rained all the time. The weather is like a drug to me- very mood altering. So, on that note- I hope it clears up for the holiday weekend (I promise I do appreciate the moisture- really) so we can party in Escalante for my youngest brother's high graduation and the start of summer! Hopefully a little hikin' and bikin' and lots of fun with Arizona cousins.

mullet

Baby really needed a haircut- so we went with a mullet this time around.
For more mullet giggles look here.




I am trying to talk my 10 year old son into a sweet mullet for the last day of school next week. So far, even with a itunes gift certificate as bribe he won't even consider it. Wouldn't that be an awesome way to finish out 4th grade? I told him we would even get him a "business in the front- party in the back" t-shirt to complete the outfit- but still... he's not interested. He's loving his long hair. This is the first time in his life his hair has ever been long enough to put in pony tails much less french braids. But when it gets really hot in the coming months and he's begging me to cut it- it will be a mullet or mohawk first (for at least the time it takes for a sufficient photo shoot) before anything else. And 4 year old longish haired brother?... for sure a mullet for a day.

nothing short of a miracle

This isn't the real opening shot- before the weeding picture, when the weeds were covering this entire space- wall to wall, two feet tall, but you can imagine I'm sure. (I wasn't on the ball enough to get that shot) My lovely spouse and children worked their fingers to the bone all morning weeding (while I went on a mountain bike ride with my ladies) to clear out our garden space.


Here we have the usual garden fare- better boy, grape, cherry and roma tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, green peppers and spaghetti squash plants. I was so bummed when I couldn't find yellow pear tomatoes this year- the nursery that usually has the plants forgot to plant them this year.


A few essentials from seed- basil (enough for a giant patch, of course), dill, cilantro, beans, peas, pumpkins, zinnias and cosmos for cutting, sunflowers and nasturtiums.


I cannot believe that we accomplished the entire garden start to finish this weekend. It was all the peeps pitching in to help that made it happen. I am so proud of my kids for being such hard workers. Now I will have some vegetables to trade with all of the folks who are hoarding wheat and rice from Costco.

turning 4

My youngest just turned four, that makes me feel really old. I am no longer the cute young mom toting the chubby baby, but the old Mom getting harassed by preteens for their own cell phone. But, on the bright side I can usually go to the store alone and that is a definite plus.
My little fella is all about cars (especially the movie Cars) so when I saw this cake in Family Fun magazine I decided to give it a try. The scale on mine is a bit whacked- as you can see. The donut wheels were the real problem, I couldn't find the right size. All the chocolate donut hotspots (convenience stores) only had the tiny Donette chocolate donuts in the 6 pack, you know- the ones you eat only on a road trip- or these full-sized ones, conveniently also at the gas station. So the tractor ended up looking like a tough low rider, but the birthday boy and all the other small ones at the party were impressed and that's what matters.

Fluevog shoes

I really, really love Fluevogs. I have a couple of pairs for a few years now and I wear them all the time because they are so comfortable and fantastic. The drawback with the Fluevog of course is that they are so very expensive- but very cozy and extremely well made. (that comment right there tells you I usually wear cheap, buy them anywhere like Target shoes) I just took a peek at the Fluevog website today and found these little beauties (my three favorite ones pictured here). Don't cha think I need to stimulate the economy with a special little gift to myself?

some goods from the Beehive Bazaar

As you may have noticed- I'm all about the mosaic these days. I can't seem to settle on just one picture so I keep using this website that makes mosaics, that aren't too small to really see the pictures unlike the tiny mosaics flickr makes. Here are all the goods I picked up at the Bazaar last weekend. I fell in love with many groovy items for sale by all the amazing Utah artists that participated. I'm not going to map and label every item here, but they are all labeled by artist on my flickr page, so you can look there if you really have to know who made what.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Noelle
from guest blogger the Daddy O.

the view from where I sit

My crazy messy sewing room, where I spend many hours in the middle of the night because that seems to be the only time I can really get anything done. My favorite part of this first picture is the radio/cassette tape player that I got when I turned 14- on the windowsill, still working well, tuned to KUER and keeping me in touch with the real world. Things are coming along for the Bazaar this Friday and Saturday (I am making purses, aprons, felt flowers, and skirts), just a few more late nights to go...

By the way- if you want a good laugh, (especially when you're looking for some entertainment in the middle of the night) rent Footloose. I think I have only seen it once- in the theater, whenever it first came out. I was chuckling the whole way through- the clothes, the dance moves... the attitude.

come one, come all to the Beehive Bazaar After Party

This party is going to be so fun. I can't wait to hang out with some Utah arty folks and the artists and crafters participating in the Beehive Bazaar. With any luck we can all get better acquainted, share some crafty ideas and party down. I have been locked up in my sewing room so long it will be great to finally get out on the town and enjoy a sparkly and fantastic evening. You should definitely come if you can.