Getting the garden in has always been a chore with little ones, but this year Otis entertained himself with digging earth worms...and to my surprise, hiding them...
He carried them around all day...and I planted 50 strawberry plants.
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Surprise. A business.
About 18 months ago I was asked to create a logo for a friend's business. I agreed and we bartered logo design for home cooked meals and she threw in a few gift cards. It turned out nice and I felt good about being creative beyond this blog.
A few months passed and another friend asked for help, then a business asked for an advertisement, then another friend asked for a logo, then a photo gig, then another logo, and most recently a wedding, cooperatively shot with a friend who has an established photography business.
A week ago I was asked to apply for an independent graphic design and photography contract job working with the MSU Jewish Studies program on a grant funded project about genealogy! Initially I thought the project was too big for me, but after speaking with one of the project coordinators, I decided to apply!
Low and behold, I decided (after much encouragement from Matt) to start a legitimate photography and graphic design business. It is a little scary, but mostly exciting.
The next step is registering my business with the county, a website, business cards.....
A few months passed and another friend asked for help, then a business asked for an advertisement, then another friend asked for a logo, then a photo gig, then another logo, and most recently a wedding, cooperatively shot with a friend who has an established photography business.
A week ago I was asked to apply for an independent graphic design and photography contract job working with the MSU Jewish Studies program on a grant funded project about genealogy! Initially I thought the project was too big for me, but after speaking with one of the project coordinators, I decided to apply!
Low and behold, I decided (after much encouragement from Matt) to start a legitimate photography and graphic design business. It is a little scary, but mostly exciting.
The next step is registering my business with the county, a website, business cards.....
Monday, May 9, 2011
Meet Milo!
After about 6 weeks of looking for a new canine companion, we met Milo!
He's an Australian Cattle Dog/Beagle/Coon Hound mix and we just love him.
Found as a stray in Mississippi, he was rescued and brought to the Capital Area Humane Society.
He's an Australian Cattle Dog/Beagle/Coon Hound mix and we just love him.
Found as a stray in Mississippi, he was rescued and brought to the Capital Area Humane Society.
He's about a year old, give or take a month, and about 65 pounds or so. He is house trained, knows how to sit, lay down and speak. His leash skills are lacking and he does not know his name, but he's a fast learner! One walk with a gentle leader training harness and he was responding incredibly.
Milo is definitely still a puppy, but is very calm and does not jump up or have any of that excessive puppy energy, though he loves water and chasing balls and toys.
The boys love him and boy, does Milo love them!
Our lives will be a bit more house bound for a while, as we get used to Milo and he gets used to us, but it is that time of year when farm work is in full swing.
We think he's going to be a fantastic companion for us all...even Cyrus seems a little bit happier.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
True Story
Today was a very strange day for me. I felt energy in the air; a sort of enlightenment occurred. I was surrounded by new life.
This morning, my dear friend Pam, gave birth to her second child, a daughter, Ruby Sue.
While she was laboring, birthing and cuddling her new daughter, I was visiting with her mother and father-in-law in her living room.
An hour later I was doing some graphic design work at a coffee shop and exchanged emails with another expecting friend. She had agreed to encapsulate Pam's placenta in exchange for a henna tattoo on her swollen belly, but in the last few days had been experiencing early signs of labor, despite her due date being nearly 2 weeks away. I offered to encapsulate Pam's placenta and stopped by her house to borrow some supplies. It was lovely to see her as I hadn't in a while. She mentioned watching Otis' birth video for inspiration. I was so moved, I didn't know what to say.
Within 30 minutes or so, I arrived at the birth center to retrieve Pam's placenta. My timing must have been right, because they were amazingly accepting and invited me in to meet their hours-old, sweet girl. I held her and immediately had an overwhelming desire to be with Otis. There is unexplainable energy surrounding new life.
On my drive home I remembered, vividly, Otis' birth and how I felt in the hours after. Today I felt similar things. It was very spiritual in a sense. Rare.
After preparing Pam's placenta to dry this evening, I learned that my friend who loaned me the materials to do so, gave birth to her fifth child, a son.
Wow. True story.
This morning, my dear friend Pam, gave birth to her second child, a daughter, Ruby Sue.
While she was laboring, birthing and cuddling her new daughter, I was visiting with her mother and father-in-law in her living room.
An hour later I was doing some graphic design work at a coffee shop and exchanged emails with another expecting friend. She had agreed to encapsulate Pam's placenta in exchange for a henna tattoo on her swollen belly, but in the last few days had been experiencing early signs of labor, despite her due date being nearly 2 weeks away. I offered to encapsulate Pam's placenta and stopped by her house to borrow some supplies. It was lovely to see her as I hadn't in a while. She mentioned watching Otis' birth video for inspiration. I was so moved, I didn't know what to say.
Within 30 minutes or so, I arrived at the birth center to retrieve Pam's placenta. My timing must have been right, because they were amazingly accepting and invited me in to meet their hours-old, sweet girl. I held her and immediately had an overwhelming desire to be with Otis. There is unexplainable energy surrounding new life.
On my drive home I remembered, vividly, Otis' birth and how I felt in the hours after. Today I felt similar things. It was very spiritual in a sense. Rare.
After preparing Pam's placenta to dry this evening, I learned that my friend who loaned me the materials to do so, gave birth to her fifth child, a son.
Wow. True story.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Spring Babies
Two Spring seasons have passed since I last held this:
Here's my baby on the moment of his birth in the place of his birth, two years later:
Otis is so cute! However, he is also two years old and he is intense. We've entered the tantrum stage and I just keep repeating my latest mantra, "This to shall pass". He is amazing talker with an extensive vocabulary and he is rarely quiet. When he stopped using the pacifier a few months ago, he began going to sleep at night on his own. Despite the challenging days we frequently have, most of our time together is very darling.
Spring is a good time to have a baby and I have about 5 friends with big, round, beautiful bellies right now! It is so much fun to be around women creating life.
I was hired by a friend to photograph her and her family in the weeks before the birth of her second baby. She looked amazing and it was such a joy.
Here are a few of my favorites:
I was also able to give my dear friend, Pam, a mother blessing.
It was a wonderful afternoon. She wrote about it in detail on her blog, with photos and all.
Pam is a true kindred spirit and I just love her.
Here's my baby on the moment of his birth in the place of his birth, two years later:
Otis is so cute! However, he is also two years old and he is intense. We've entered the tantrum stage and I just keep repeating my latest mantra, "This to shall pass". He is amazing talker with an extensive vocabulary and he is rarely quiet. When he stopped using the pacifier a few months ago, he began going to sleep at night on his own. Despite the challenging days we frequently have, most of our time together is very darling.Spring is a good time to have a baby and I have about 5 friends with big, round, beautiful bellies right now! It is so much fun to be around women creating life.
I was hired by a friend to photograph her and her family in the weeks before the birth of her second baby. She looked amazing and it was such a joy.
Here are a few of my favorites:
I was also able to give my dear friend, Pam, a mother blessing.
It was a wonderful afternoon. She wrote about it in detail on her blog, with photos and all.
Pam is a true kindred spirit and I just love her.Monday, March 21, 2011
You know Spring has arrived...
...when you find...
treasures hidden from the winter, reappear on the patio;
treasures hidden from the winter, reappear on the patio;
and little boys digging in the dirt;
peas being planted;
and cold frames created...
...and then planted (lettuce and spinach);
and little hands as dirty as this...
...we are a happy, happy family these days.
Friday, March 4, 2011
New Year Tree
We have had one hell of a winter here at the homestead. Cold temperatures, coupled with illness and buckets of snow have really kept us indoors. The real challenge falls on the mama, who has to plan snow days in such a way that everyone maintains sanity!
We've been making lots of art to help with this and trying to work some sort of education into the mix....thus, our "Tree of Thanks" evolved with the seasons and became our "New Year Tree".
Each of the boys made a snowman and we collaboratively collaged and helped our tree shed it's autumn leaves and grow a blanket of snow. All the while we talked about the new year and what we hoped it would bring. Sam spoke of playing with his friends; Arlo wished the new year to bring Legos, and Otis just whined as I kept pulling him away from the hot glue gun.
It was a very fun project for all of us. The boys posed for these pictures, dressed for the snow and all (Sam's idea). I think that our tree will continue to change with the seasons and Spring is just around the corner...
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