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.

taking time to smell the flowers

I really am trying this year to notice spring. It seems like over the last few years I pause from the hecticness of life and realize I've completely missed spring and it's already full blown summer before I know it. So, even though it's back to freezing today, I stopped rushing around and took some pictures. I love springtime, especially the blossoms on the trees and I hope it doesn't snow today- like predicted.

in memorandum

Ivan, the cat has gone to kitty heaven. She was 13. She died in her sleep on Saturday. I must say I've been fine until I started writing this, now I'm crying. It just that she's been in our family most of our married life, and although she was a little stinker and would just as easily bite you as start to purr if you tried to pet her, we still loved her. We are happy she's reunited in dog/cat heaven with Enzo (the Siberian Husky, pictured above), her best friend most of her life who has been gone 3 years now. We will miss you Ivan, you little pill.
These pictures are from before we had children, once children are born you stop taking pictures of your pets, unless they are in the picture with the kids. Since the kids were all scared to pick Ivan up and would only chance the occasional petting, I couldn't find any recent pictures. Or maybe if we didn't have so many (thousands) pictures these days I could have hunted one down. I guess it's all good, you get the idea and she was looking good, (no weird aged kitty problems) until she finally shuffled off her mortal coil.



This whole thing has made me think about Rubin and Ed. Super wacky, you gotta love Crispin Glover in this cult classic.

Paradise

Yes, this is the actual Paradise Bakery sugar cookie recipe, and the cookies taste exactly the same delicious.

Paradise Bakery sugar cookie

1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup powdered sugar
2 cups shortening
3/4 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg, beaten
4 1/3 cups cake flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
Plain or colored sugar, for decorating

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
In a medium bowl, cream together sugars and shortening using an electric mixer. Mix on slow speed 30 seconds, then scrape down the bowl with a spatula. Increase speed to medium and mix for 3 minutes.
Slowly add vanilla and beaten egg while mixing.
In a separate bowl, combine cake flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture, mixing on slow speed until just blended. Do not overmix.
Scoop with an ice cream scoop and roll in sugar. Place on baking sheet. Flatten slightly with palm of hand.
Bake 9 to 10 minutes. Cookies are done when small cracks appear and are pale golden. Ideally, do not let edges brown.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

Dangerously delicious. I shouldn't have this recipe. Not because I came about it illegally- it was in the Salt Lake Tribune last week, but because I longer need to drive 40 minutes to get my fix. The cake flour is key, make sure you have some on hand.

took the words right out of my mouth

spring break wrap up

Oh... a week off of life was lovely. Spending a week at Grandma and Grandpa O's is always grand. You can learn all sorts of things that you can't learn at home in the suburbs (is that where we live?) This little garder snake got manhandled for a good solid 20 minutes, C. wanted to know what his name was and as you can see- was not too worried about getting close.


Here is the quilt my mother-in-law Jan is currently working on. Hello... gorgeous. It was propped up across the room from me as I sewed aprons in the cabin, quite a masterpiece to ponder.


Good times cooking hot dogs and marshmallows over the open fire, "another smore? oh I really shouldn't... OK, well- maybe just one more..."


Joe Bennion joined us for a few days, he had a rock laying class in Torrey. The kids loved making pots and little dog sculptures with the clay he brought. He impressed us all with tales of misfortune and fun at Lake Powell and the Grand Canyon.


These two little doggies were made and then buried in the ashes of the fire to cook. The kids dug them out the next morning, and have been very carefully taking care of them ever since.


Izzy on of the models for the clay dogs pictured above (see the resemblance?) the "wild dingo" doggie having the time of her life in doggie dreamland.

Jan and Owen a big huge thank you for your tremendous hospitality. You guys are the best, we love you!

running in sagebrush

Sometimes hiking with your grandpa takes a turn for the worst. After playing at the sand dunes, you take off running after your brother through the sagebrush and don't see the barbed wire fence strung across the path in front of your face. WARNING: Graphic image coming up!


The Wayne County Health Clinic doctor advises your mother that if it was his daughter he would have it stitched up by a plastic surgeon... in Utah County (a 3 hours drive). So you jump into the car in your sweaty, bloody hiking clothes and speed to the fancy plastic surgeons office (your mom spends most of the drive fighting with the insurance company about out of network coverage and anticipating a long appeal process). You get to the plastic surgeons office and the nurse questions your mom seriously on the topic of herbal medicines, but I think what she really wanted to ask is if my mom ever wears deodorant or makeup and if I attend public school.
Getting stitches right by your lip hurts really bad, but Dr. Jones was nice and he did a good job, but the V shaped cut is a tough one to stitch no matter what your credentials are. Now you just cross your fingers and hope that the drive/plastic surgeon visit was worth all the trouble and you don't end up with a puffy, weird scar on your cute little face anyway. Then you stop into your real not-on-vacation-any-more house, because you live in Utah County... to shower. (aahhh- finally) You climb back into the car for the 3 hour drive back to grandma and grandpas house because you are afraid you be missing out on some fun, and your mom might be tempted to clean the house if you stick around any longer. Whew... what a crazy day that would be.

spring break

We are spending a splendid but chilly spring break in Torrey with granny and grumpa O. We really hope it warms up so we can do a bit more hiking and mountain biking. Here is the view out the kitchen window.

Of course I am doing plenty of sewing. As a bit of a procrastinator I have lots of aprons, skirts, and purses to sew up for the Beehive Bazaar coming up here May 9th and 10th. Looking at the big picture- or as some call it- the calender, can really make me panic. Here is a stack of finished aprons (yeah!)

ladies night

Saturday night just the girls went to to see Annie at Kingsbury Hall, part of the Broadway on Tour series. It's such a perfect musical for kids. My 8 year old was very impressed when 'Sandy'- the real live dog ran out onto stage. I have seen the movie ohh maybe 100 times over the years- we used to sing "It's a Hard Knock Life" when we did our chores as children (I'm sure my Mom loved that.)
My kids have only seen the movie a few times- apparently too 'old school' for their generation... (whatever) and we even have it on DVD... Anyway, live on the stage we all enjoyed ourselves, how can you not- stage performances are always such a treat.
I think Wicked is coming to SLC soon...

Traveling Circus

From the travel section of the NY Times Style Magazine:
"Now that bureaux de change are doing brisk business in rubles and yuan, it’s clear there’s a new world order in travel. ‘‘People from everywhere are going everywhere,’’ says Ian Bremmer, the president of the consulting firm Eurasia Group. And with new wealth come fresh stereotypes — remember the Ugly American? Bremmer ascribes clichés to ‘‘pure economics. It’s who’s spending the most money and annoying the locals.’’ Here, a pop-anthropological look at the travel universe now." -ANNA LOUIE SUSSMAN

Click here to view the details on the Americans, British, Gulf Arabs, Russians, and Chinese. Extremely entertaining.

everyday art

the boys room

Oh boy, am I glad Ikea finally came to town. To be able to just pop in for some shelves on any given day is quite a luxury. This room looks about 100 times better and tidier than it did before. It's amazing what a difference some cupboards (with doors) and a few shelves can do for one's mental health.

felt treats are the only treats I need to have around

What is it about felt food that is so stinkin' hilarious?
I love this flickr group. Thanks Hailey for passing it along today. I didn't make this felt cake pinktoque did (instead, I made a real cake this weekend- chocolate with dark chocolate butter cream frosting... yummy).
Although, I would like to try my hand at felt food soon, and trick visiting neighbor kids. I have some candles that look like cupcakes in my kitchen. Every now and again a new small friend will come over and all of the sudden relate how hungry they are or just try and take a bite when no one is looking. Hey, what can I say?- I would probably have done the same as a child and... perhaps even now.

cozy chair

Something about Stefan Zwicky 's 1980's concrete chair "Grand confort, sans confort, dommage a Corbu"> speaks to me- as well as the other designs featured in the NY Times Jagged Edge article.

If I had grounds and not just a backyard I might need a couple of these for pausing and reflection.

Millicent

Today on Radio West: The Book Bizarre, "Tuesday, we're offering a list of bizarre books for this most foolish of holidays. From fake works like the book on silence - consisting of entirely blank pages - to serious tomes with titles like "Inquiry into the Medicinal Value of the Excreta of Reptiles," our team of local booksellers has seen it all."
I throughly enjoyed this episode, I found myself madly scribbling down titles authors and publishers, and reminiscing some I have read (Geek Love by Katherine Dunn) Then someone mentioned the publisher Harlin Quist and the children's books they published in the 70's. When they said "Millicent the Monster" it was like I suddenly stepped back in time. I have had pictures from this book in my head all my life but have never been able to put any words or a title to it. It was like all the stars lined up- finally putting it all together. I just found a copy online that will arrive on my doorstep in a few days. I sure I will embarrass my kids when I blubber through the first reading and a few more after that.

Now if I could just find some more info on Iris the Virus- a kids TV show from back in the day. Anyone recall it?

go ahead and try making your life more like this, your kids will squirm

This is a silly video-(its 3 minutes long, for those of you trying to be less busy and more productive today) it will make you smile AND most importantly it showcases my next Halloween costume. Ahhh yeah, the Hot Dog on a Stick uniform.

To my sisters: April- Hot Dog on a Stick uniform- brilliant, way to go! And Precia- the first to admit you'd wear the uniform in the first place, if I sew it, can we share the costume?

3 random things to share on a Friday afternoon...

1. Felt flowers- I've been making these babies for the Beehive Bazaar all week, I really like the way they are turning out, especially in a photograph and all lined up next to each other. (wow- really deep thoughts)

2. Making me smile and laugh out loud (albeit nervously) this week and not to be missed, stuff white people like.

3. Busy vs. Productive
Busy-ness is impressive. It puts you in the heat of the action. It gives you an elevated sense of importance. You’re always late for social engagements, barely have enough time for family get-togethers, and hardly get a moment’s sleep. […] Of course, it’s all just an illusion. -Brad Bollenbach

Are you productive or just acting busy?

What effects does missing ingredients have on cookies?

Who knew that such a science project could take one 6th grader to the Regional Science Fair at BYU? That is a total of three times we've had to re-bake these 6 batches of cookies. The first two times the cookies were part of the display- making it quite visually appealing (and nearly impossible to pass by without inquiring after samples).
The third time- Regional Science Fair- no human food (or animal) food was allowed to be displayed, or just about everything else you might want to include in a clever science fair display (embryos of any kind, plants, lab or household chemicals- including water, sharp items-and the list goes on and on) paper and cardboard were acceptable- thankfully. So we re-baked to take pictures, because we neglected to photograph sufficiently the first and second time around.
Needless to say the picture display didn't quite have quite the same impact in competition. But, it all good... who needs to win when you get to spend one whole day, excused from school, hanging out on college campus with a few other 6th grade friends? Sounds priceless to me.

Thank goodness we are done baking. Cookie dough is my weakness, I have probably eaten half my body weight in dough and cookies since the end of January, while overseeing this project. And no... not the wacky batches- come on... I'm not quite that hard up.

birthday cake

My little gal requested the dolly dress cake for her birthday, and I happily obliged. It seems like I have made this type of cake for my girls- throughout the years, at least twice before. I have found that Bratz dolls are easier to use than Barbies because their feet and shoes come off at the ankle making them shorter and easier to bake a dress that is not so extremely tall. No need to buy any fancy cake pans- it's all about the pyrex bowl when it comes to baking the dress, and then making another round cake to stack it on- making it just the right height. As you can see I accidentally grabbed a bag of peanut M&Ms instead of regular and had to make it work. The finished product was a big hit with all the party goers.