Author Archives: kimberly
Lately {on the farm}
I feel like I’m not really posting as much as I have in the past and I am trying to figure out why. Part of it is that we are in a pretty major transition around here, Mr. Taylor is traveling a crazy amount lately, and we are trying to get our heads around it all. It promises to be exciting and wonderful but right now, it is just a bit like living in limbo.
I am trying to be okay with limbo, and it is a growing experience for me I think. I have spent a lot of time reassessing my priorities, how I spend my time and where I want to go from here. I have found that I am drawn lately to staying close to home and close to family. I am also dreaming of traveling far and wide- quite the opposites, no? I feel like right now my drive to “accomplish” to “be seen” to “go somewhere” has diminished and my desire to live in this moment right here, fully embrace the life right in front of me and make the most of it is at the top of my priority list. I am looking forward to summer on the farm with those I love doing the things I love. I have spent more time than I normally do in the gardens this spring, staying on top of the planting and the weeding and the maintenance and looking forward to my Dad’s visit a week from today, planning projects to work on with him. Where I once got excited about “working” on my photography I am now excited about simply documenting our wonderful simple life with my camera. Life is filled with unexpected and amazing changes, don’t you think?
I thought I would share a bit of what we have been doing this spring.
The hummingbirds have returned and I never tire of seeing them visit the feeder throughout the day. They seem to visit often while we are eating dinner and I’m sure the boys have already tired of finding me gazing out the window over the dining table during our meal… I believe our hummingbirds are Rufus hummingbirds and it seems we have three- one male and two females.
{the hive sits in the upper pasture by the blackberries}
We have also added a bee hive to the farm this spring! Bees are something I have wanted to add for quite some time, but was nervous about not knowing what I was doing, thus killing the bees. I took the plunge after seeing a few fabulous friends doing it and knowing that I have endless resources if I need help. I worked with the Beez Neez in Snohomish, WA and honestly they have been absolutely wonderful. They are so helpful and there whenever I have a question. I am surprised at how comfortable I am with the girls and how much I love just watching them come and go.
{I waxed the frames before putting them in the hive}
{the girls seem happy here}
{yes, I look a bit silly, but feel much safer- I like my eyes just as they are}
I also want to share a recipe with you- although calling it a recipe really doesn’t seem right, seeing that it was really just a throwing of things I had on-hand into a pot and slow cooking it for the day. That being said, it was really good and the boys loved it- so that should count for something, right?
The following is what I did- you can alter it to whatever you have on hand. While I don’t always have fresh tomatoes, I always have canned so those would work as well.
5-6 vine ripened tomatoes, coarsely chopped
5 cloves of garlic, diced
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup water
1 tsp salt
Put it all in a pot and simmer for the afternoon.
I fire-roasted a yellow and a red pepper on the stove (see this post) and then chopped them up and added them to the tomato mix.
If you want to add meat, which I did:
1 large onion, chopped
1 lb. ground beef
1 Tbsp dried oregano
1 Tbsp dried basil
1 Tbsp dried thyme
1 tsp garlic salt
salt and pepper
An hour before you want to serve it, brown one chopped onion with 1 lb ground beef. When the beef is partially cooked, add the spices and mix well. Finish browning the beef and then add it all to the simmering sauce.
Cook your pasta just before you want to eat, toss it together with your sauce, top with lots of freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve! We add a salad and a baguette and call it dinner~
{spinach & strawberry} salad
As spring arrives in the pacific northwest, so do the strawberries. We are fortunate to have them all through the summer and one of our favorite meals includes a spinach and strawberry salad. I’m pretty sure we have this salad once a week, and almost always when entertaining guests for lunch or dinner in the summer. It is easy and so delicious- all five of my men love it~ As with many of our salads, we like to add chevre if we have it.
strawberry & spinach salad
1/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. oil
1/4 c. white vinegar
2 TBSP sesame seeds
2 TBSP poppy seeds
1/4 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 tsp minced onion
enough spinach and strawberries for you and your guests
(this dressing makes enough for two nights of salad in our house- with six people. I occasionally half it if I’m only making one big salad but it can be easily stored in the refrigerator)
Mix dressing and toss with spinach and strawberries.
this week {on the farm}
This week on the farm I am feeling like I have died and gone to heaven. It truly is spectacular- the weather is absolutely stunning! The gardens are beginning to really bloom and it smells amazing all day long. I have been planting seeds (lima beans for the first time, peas, beans, radishes, tomatoes) and filling pots and barrels with color. I have added three new clematises- two different varieties and I am crossing everything that they are happy and thrive (because my track record in this arena is not a winning one…). There are buds everywhere- on the climbing rose on the chicken coop, the espalier asian pear tree, the grape vines and the peonies. Meanwhile the lilacs are in FULL BLOOM- and they are my very favorite spring flower. They are GORGEOUS this year and I am loving cutting baskets full and bringing them indoors. They have grown so much since last year and are filled with huge bunches of flowers. We have a number of different varieties and I love each and every one. The herb garden is coming along nicely with all of the older plants and new editions. I grow oregano, chives, thyme, mint, french tarragon, parsley, cilantro, rosemary and strawberries in the herb garden, as well as poppies, peonies, fairy roses and cosmos. That is one garden that really shines in the summertime. I have been pruning things that tend to get unruly this time of year and weeding in an attempt (most likely futile) to stay on top of the barrage of weeds that tend to be present come July.
One thing that I have been doing more of lately is stopping (even when I don’t want to) to sit in the gardens and enjoy something to eat and/or drink. I tend to eat lunch outdoors and I have been making sun tea to enjoy while I am outside as well. I have also been playing with simple syrups and right now I am absolutely loving rhubarb syrup! The rhubarb is still doing really well and I want to take advantage of it while it is here.
I would like to say that the one downfall to this glorious weather and productivity in the gardens is that I feel like I am completely and utterly neglecting those that I love but tend to communicate with online. I simply don’t spend much time at all on the computer, thus find that days go by before I realize I have talked to NO ONE outside of my family. I honestly feel badly about this and hope and pray that those dear friends whom I have not talked to for far too long will forgive me in my absence. I am secretly hoping they are as busy as I have been and haven’t even noticed!
Happy week mes amies.
x
time in the {country}
Sometimes you need to be spontaneous. You need to jump on a plane bound for people who have known you for your entire life. You need to rent a car and drive down country roads with the windows rolled down, music playing, warm spring air on your skin. There is something magical about starting each morning with a cup of coffee on the front porch as the sun rises and warms your face. Time in the country replenishes your soul.
This past weekend I was blessed to be surrounded by family that I grew up with. We spent time together, we ate wonderful food, we caught up for the past 25 years. I loved on old family, met new family whom I adored, and felt like a part of a family. I spent time with one of the most important and influential men in my life, a man who was a huge part of my childhood. He took me to all of the places that I love most- old historic cemeteries, farms that have been in the family for years and years, complete with the most amazing outbuildings and very old farms that have been more recently acquired. Beautiful old buildings, weathered barns, and fabulous old chicken coops. It was wonderful. Hours and hours of wonderful.
Those three days gave me something that I didn’t even know I needed. It reminded me how life can be uncomplicated and leisurely. It reminded me that gathering with those you love can be as easy as a few phone calls and a pot luck of really great food. Perfect is so overrated. Stressing about everything being “just so” takes so much more energy than looking at the people right in front of you and loving every moment with them.
I am grateful for a husband who supports my need for times like this. I hope that when I return home to my family I am a better person, a calmer person, a happier person.
a new {inspiration} sign
Not long ago I reconnected with a friend from high school. Facebook has a way of making that happen. It just so happens that this friend is incredibly talented and makes THE. BEST. SIGNS. ever. Our arrived yesterday and I can’t begin to tell you how much I love it. Now only do I love the look and feel of it, but I adore what it says. It really does define how life is lived here on the farm.
If you have a saying that you love and want to display in your own home, visit Janie at her shop- blue eyed girl.
x
wonderful napkins added to {tiggy & grace}
After living with a set of these darker linen napkins for a few months I am so excited to be able to share them with you! Available now~
https://tiggygrace.bigcartel.com
{risotto} on a rainy evening
I must admit, risotto is one of my very favorite things to make. I love that it is a slow process. I love that there is wine and homemade chicken stock involved. I love that the risotto itself is like a blank canvas and that pretty much anything goes once you have arborio rice, wine and stock. No matter the season, the day of the week or the state of the refrigerator, there is always something in the house that will go into risotto.
Today I had one of my easy, multiple use and oh so tasty favorites on hand- a rotisserie chicken from the grocery. Almost every grocery store offers them and they are so incredibly tender and juicy. I have at least half a dozen quick and easy options for meals using a rotisserie chicken and risotto is definitely one of them. Tonight, seeing as #2 is in Mexico for spring break, I gave each of the littles a leg and used the breast meat for the risotto. It left me the rest of the chicken for another meal in the next day or so. (most likely a salad with chicken for lunch tomorrow or Saturday)
If you haven’t made risotto I suggest you give it a try. It is the perfect comfort food, you can add summer vegetables soon and it works as a side dish or main course. I’m also guessing it’s gluten-free! (but make sure to verify that rather than taking my word for it…)
Risotto- the base recipe
4 cups stock- chicken or vegetable
1/4 cup butter
1 Tbsp olive oil
4 shallots or 1 small onion finely chopped
1 1/2 cups arborio rice (you can use other risotto rice such as carnaroli, vialone nano, baldo or Calriso)
1/2 cup white wine
1 cup grated parmesan cheese (I also use pecorino)
sea salt and pepper
Heat the broth in a sauce pan and then keep it at a simmer.
Heat the butter and oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the shallots or onion and cook until softened. Add the rice and stir with a wooden spoon until the grains of rice are coated. Pour in the wine and stir until it has been absorbed. Add one ladle of stock at a time, stirring until the stock has been absorbed. Continue to add the stock one ladle at a time, stirring continually. You may not use all of your stock as you want the rice to be firm (al dente) but creamy.
Once the rice is done, stir in your cheese. Voila! Risotto.
As far as adding vegetables is concerned, you can add things like peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, fresh peas, roasted root vegetables, spinach, kale, tomatoes, leeks, etc… My very favorite book- my go-to idea source is a little book called “risotto: 30 simply delicious vegetarian recipes from an Italian kitchen” by Ursula Ferrigno. I love all of the ideas and inspiration in it. You can find it here.
Now, on my list of things to try…
~friends RAVE about fava beans, and this recipe looks like the perfect first try!
~it’s rhubarb season and this sponge would be divine under a rhubarb compote!
~speaking of rhubarb (and I think I will be speaking about it a lot in the coming weeks) I am looking forward to trying these this weekend. Even the photo has my mouth watering!
~this looks like the absolutely perfect spring salad, don’t you think?
Have a wonderful weekend mes amies!
x
more {life on film}
I want to share some photos that I took recently on film. I have to say I am totally completely smitten with the results.
It is the only camera I took with me when spending three magical days with four amazing girls in the California sunshine~
{oh how this city captures my heart and imagination}
{this gorgeous girlfriend greeted us with blood orange mimosas upon arrival}
The images from the gardens make me love our little farm on the hill even more~
And capturing moments in our home in a way that brings me back to my own childhood~
{the light leak makes this photo even more dreamy}
this week {on the farm}
Good morning!
I would like to say that with spring upon us all sorts of things are getting done on the farm. Oh, you have no idea how much I would like to say that… However, with how wet it has been (read: frequent torrential downpours) it is difficult to get much done. And there is a LOT to get done. The weeds are winning the war, seeds should be in the ground, as should the beginning of the privacy hedge I want to add. Mabel needs a clean out and air out, benches need painting, not to mention the chicken coop and playhouse. Thank goodness my dad is coming next month and he pretty much rocks the to-do list. (can I get a round of applause for daddy? I’m pretty sure he is SO excited to come out!)
I have gotten a few things done in between cloud bursts- a bit of tidying up, a bit of herb planting, and at least the peas and kale are in the ground. While out there I have noticed signs that while it may not feel like spring, it is definitely coming. The rhubarb is nearly ready to be used, the espalier pear tree is completely filled with blooms and the earliest flowers are making an appearance. We have a gorgeous evergreen clematis that smells divine and fills one of the pasture fences with white this time of year. The peonies are up and bigger than ever this year, promising some beautiful flowers in the next few months. As they are one of my very favorite flowers I always get excited to see their red stems coming out of the ground.
spring, chili and a {sick pup}
Spring seems to be coming to the farm in fits and starts. One weekend is filled with sunshine, warmth and hours in the gardens, the next, a cold rain keeps us indoors. I am so ready for spring this year- excited to get the vegetable gardens planted, the lawns cleaned up and the hammock hung. I am looking forward to hanging laundry on the line and bringing it in at the end of the day smelling of sunshine and fresh air. I will tell you that I have been enjoying the longer days- waking to the sun rising, watching the sun set after dinner. The one saving grace on these rainy days is that the sun will occasionally make an appearance at the very end of the day- just in time to cast it’s warm rosy orange glow into our windows. It is such a beautiful way to wrap up a day~
Yesterday was one of those dark wet days that normally cause me to sigh when opening the windows in the morning. However yesterday it felt appropriate. M. Louis was admitted to the animal hospital two nights ago with an intestinal obstruction. He hadn’t been feeling well for the past week and had definitely lost his spunk these past few days. He took a notable turn two days ago and I felt that worry that a mama feels when her intuition knows something isn’t right. So yesterday they did surgery on him to remove the blockage, which turned out to be a dog toy that he had swallowed. Poor little buggy. He is still at the hospital enjoying his morphine drip and they are keeping a close eye on him. We are hoping that he may come home tonight and I have a feeling there is going to be a pretty spoiled little French Bulldog in this house. (and when I say little- I mean LITTLE! he lost a fair bit of weight and he was only 17 lbs to begin with)
So, with the cool weather I decided that chili sounded right. I didn’t have any peppers but always keep canned tomatoes and tomato paste as well as dry beans on hand, so I simply grabbed some ground beef, onions and garlic as well as some spices and chili it was! Topped with a dollop of greek yogurt (or sour cream) and you are golden~
Chili
2 Tbsp olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 lb ground beef (I use low fat content so I don’t have to drain it)
5 cloves of garlic, chopped
I large can of diced tomatoes
1 small can of fire roasted tomatoes
1 really small can of tomato paste
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa
3 cups kidney beans
In a soup pot saute onions and olive oil over medium high heat. When the onions are slightly translucent add ground beef and brown. When it is nearly brown add garlic, chili powder and red pepper flakes. Finish browning the beef, stirring occasionally. Once beef is completely browned add the three cans of tomatoes and mix well, reducing the heat to medium. Add cocoa powder and cook for about five minutes, stirring to completely incorporate cocoa. Add beans- I use dry and soak them the night before, then cook them the morning I plan to make chili. Canned work just fine as well.
Simmer chili for at least an hour on low heat. Serve with a dollop of greek yogurt or sour cream. Also divine with corn bread~
a {little boy’s} room
We have been in our home for ten years this coming autumn. In those years we have done a number of things that had to be done, and a few things that we chose to do. As we spend most of our time on our main floor in our kitchen, living room and dining room that is where we chose to do our biggest renovations. The other rooms- namely the bedrooms have received little attention to decor, paint or design. However, recently we moved boys around and it was the impetus to take time to work with the boys and decorate their rooms.
One thing you should know about me is that I don’t do “decorated”. I prefer to fill the room with things that the boys love- things that inspire them and ignite creativity and learning. I want them to walk into their room and feel like it is their space and they enjoy spending time there. With that in mind, we have begun the process of “doing the bedrooms”. Currently our home is in complete disarray. Read: total utter chaos. Rooms have been emptied to paint, furniture can be found in the workspace off the kitchen, in the living room and the hallway. Plastic covers pieces that can’t be moved and I have felt like it may never end. Until yesterday. Yesterday, I was able to put #4′s room- his first room on his own- back together again. I had such a good time hanging maps and shelves, making his bed and sticking the stars he had begged for on his ceiling. I waited anxiously for him to arrive after school and was thrilled to see him love it as much as I had hoped when he walked in. Room number one- SUCCESS.
shop call {oddfellows cafe}
There is something about a cozy coffee shop, don’t you think? A place where, when you walk through the door, you are welcomed with the sound of people visiting, espresso being made and the smell of glorious coffee mixed with something delicious to eat. One of my favorite places that fits the bill perfectly in Seattle is Oddfellows Cafe on Capitol Hill in Seattle.
The first thing I noticed about Oddfellows Cafe was the huge bank of windows covering the front which, on those beautiful sunny days here in Seattle, can be opened wide, blurring the boundaries of indoors and out. Upon entering you will find weathered brick walls, a long marble countertop at the bar and a huge collection of repurposed fixtures, tables and stools.
Housed in the historic Oddfellows building which was built in 1908 and restored in 2008, the cafe has maintained much of the original buildings character. While renovating the space a number of treasures were discovered in the basement of the building and incorporated into the decor of the cafe. The floors are original wood and the brick walls were also a part of the original structure.
The following is from their website:
“We source our food from predominantly local purveyors to produce beautiful, simple food using as many sustainable, organic, humane and environmentally friendly products as much as possible.”
“The interior, furnishings and fixtures at Oddfellows are 90% salvaged, recycled or repurposed.”
“All of our paper goods, paper menus, bar supplies, coffee supplies and takeout materials are between 90-100% recycled post-consumer goods and are 100% compostable.”
I love you Oddfellows…
Oddfellows Cafe + Bar
No. 1525 10th Avenue,
Seattle, WA
bringing clean water to {uganda}
Hello friends,
I am sitting here with the sun streaming through the windows having just spoken with Christian from Waves for Water. They are an amazing organization who’s goal is to spread clean water through distributing filters around the world. My gorgeous friend Alexis hooked me up with them, seeing as she has that whole “waves/cool surfer/southern california” thing mastered. (She and her husband know the man who began the project) So, here’s the deal- Waves for Water supplies filters that are light weight, easy to use and if taken care of, will filter up to 1,000,000 gallons. Can you imagine what the means to communities where there biggest challenge is staying healthy without clean water?? I read recently that something like (don’t quote me here) 80% of people in hospitals in developing countries are there due to lack of clean water and illnesses that result from consuming dirty water.
So, for the next three months I am attempting to raise enough money through their Clean Water Courier program to purchase 100 filters. They weight half a pound each and will fit in one of my suitcases. I love the idea that this isn’t a bandaid that will disappear soon after I leave Africa, but will last for five years providing water to these families. And in five years, maybe another more permanent solution will be found. But for now, that is one step closer to health for these people- something they desperately need.
So, I am asking you, please, go to this site and consider making a donation. Every dollar counts and the more funds we raise, the more people’s lives are impacted. The further we can spread this, the more people we can share it with, the more clean water we will provide. I am so excited about this friends- and I promise to document it all for you so that you too can see what it means to bring something that we take for granted to people who have rarely known clean water. We can do this- you and I. I know we can!
You can visit the page here - http://www.wavesforwater.org/courier/bringing-clean-water-to-uganda – and learn more about the program, the filters and what this amazing company is doing around the world.
Thank you, again.
this week {on the farm}
Happy Saturday friends!
I took a break from the internet this week, first to celebrate #1 turning 19 (#2 and I traveled to Vancouver to visit him and had a wonderful 24 hours together). The rest of the week was spent working on indoor projects as it has been really wet out, and then, yesterday we awoke to snow. This is fine however as we have some exciting things coming and there is a list of things I want to get done in the house before gardening season really kicks off~
We are working on two painting jobs right now- one in #4′s room and one in the “dorm room”- the lowest floor in the house where #s 2 & 3 are. I am still contemplating what we will do with the spaces but have all sorts of ideas. However I want to get the paint up first as we are making some pretty dramatic changes with regards to color and I want to see it first to make sure our ideas will work.
I have also been working on some little projects- rewiring an existing lamp and making a new table lamp from an old vase. It was my first foray into creating lighting and I anticipate doing more of it in the future as it is wonderful to think that I can create any look that I want with some wire and a socket! I am already eyeing a few fixtures I dislike quite a bit…
Mr. Taylor is away for the next 8 days so in that time I plan to keep busy working on projects and, if the weather report is correct, getting outside in the sunshine. These lawns are in desperate need of a mowing and I still have spring pruning and weeding to get to. And the roofs need to be cleaned off as there are the last remaining leaves that are wreaking havoc on the drains!
Have you ever made soda bread? I want to try this.
I love making ricotta and this recipe for scones looks divine~
This makes me impatient to do our patio extension before summer.
I love an inspiring farm visit!
Have a wonderful weekend~
x
farm to table photography workshop with {Clare Barboza}
Hello friends,
I was talking to my friend and mentor Clare Barboza recently and we were discussing workshops as that is how she and I met. Hers was the first photography workshop I had ever taken and it really influenced how I shoot and what I am drawn to. Clare has photographed many cookbooks- my favorites being local farm-based ones. I love that she too is passionate about capturing where food comes from as it really connects how we eat. So when she reminded me that she had a farm to table workshop coming up in May I wanted to share it with you. The group will be traveling to Whidbey Island just off the coast of western Washington. It is a fabulous island (I secretly dream of relocating to a farm there!) and the farms she is visiting promise to be filled with amazing photo opportunities.
I find that workshops are an amazing place to connect with people who are passionate about their craft just as I am. I love the “going to camp” feeling that binds the participants and I can promise you- Clare is a gem of a teacher. She is positive and warm and so encouraging. If you are looking to do a lifestyle workshop that is food related and in a wonderful venue, this is your chance. I am so envious that participants will be visiting Little Brown Farm and as it will be May, there will be baby goats!! What is cuter than photographing baby farm animals? Another farm they will be visiting is Willowood Farm on Eby’s Landing. What a gorgeous setting~ And if you do go, please tell me as I would love to see your images and hear all about it!
When: May 23-26, 2013
Where: Whidbey Island, WA
What: 3 days of photography, 2 (maybe 3) farm visits, a trip to the farmers market, delicious meals, lessons in natural light food photography and how to tell a story through images, ample time to play with lots of fun props, and last but not least, time to relax with like-minded people in a beautiful setting.
How much: $1350, which includes everything– all workshop instruction, 3 nights accommodations here, (please note that rooms are SHARED), all meals, beverages, and snacks.
Click HERE to register.
this week {on the farm}
Thanks to a wonderful suggestion by my friend Jeanne Oliver, I will be sharing what we are doing on the farm weekly. I should warn you however that this post will not contain pretty photos. I want this post to give you an actual glimpse into what life looks like on the farm right now. And let me tell you, there is very little that is pretty this time of year. The gardens are full of weeds that I have yet to clean out, due to the endless rain. There are leaves covering much of the gardens along the drive and I have so much to cut back that still sits where it grew last summer. Now, however it is brown and dead and needing to be removed. So, the photos below- they are what I see when I walk on the property these days. But not for long- that I promise you!
This week on the farm we are cleaning up the gardens and removing all of the remaining leaves and branches that came down through the winter. With bulbs coming up I want to make sure that nothing stops them from sharing their bright spring color with us. In the pacific northwest we have a lot of evergreen trees but we also have a number of deciduous trees such as maple, poplar, black locust and cottonwood. We try to remove as much of the leaves as possible each autumn but inevitably there are leaves that fall and are soaked by the winter rains which need to be cleaned up come springtime. We use the leaves to cover paths or to add to our compost which will in turn become soil for the gardens. Even the wine barrels that we fill with color in the summer are in need of a cut back and clean out.
I am also pruning back the old raspberry canes. I think that the raspberries are our favorite fruit that we grow. We use them for everything! They make wonderful desserts, jams and jellies, they are great on salads with chevre. The boys love to come out to the gardens to simply snack on them. We started with just a few canes in one row but now have two double rows in the lower garden pasture that we harvest from. The majority of them are red but we have a number of golden raspberry canes as well that a friend gave to me years ago. The grape vines which are just behind the raspberries also need to be pruned. I use them to make wreathes in the winter for the holidays but those that aren’t cut then will need it now.
There is nothing pretty about chez poulet this time of year. With the damp winter months everything is soggy. The door needs paint this summer, as do the windows, but for now we will be cleaning out the coop and filling it with fresh shavings and straw for the nesting boxes. Usually this time of year we are getting ready to add baby chicks, but as we had quite the massacre last Autumn, I added four chicks then, as we lost most of our layers. If I had waited until spring I wouldn’t have had many eggs until this coming Autumn and we really love our eggs. The four new girls should begin laying any time now~
As far as what we are seeing peek through the ground right now, there are the usual spring blooms- hellebores and daffodils. The rhubarb is beginning to show itself- and as that is one of my favorite spring things to harvest, I am coaxing it along at every opportunity. There are buds on the lilacs but no leaves yet. I am hoping to clean out the garden boxes in the garden pasture as they are a mess. As soon as they are clean and I have added some of our compost I will be getting the peas and greens planted. I can’t wait!
{spring cleaning}
This morning I read a post by Melanie from Inward Facing Girl about making lists. She pointed me in the direction of her friend and uber-inspiration Moorea Seal. This weeks list is about cleansing- not only of your body but of anything that needs a clean-up. This of course gets me very excited as I love a good purge! So, my list for this week~ Thanks ladies!
~ go through our closets and remove anything that is no longer worn.
~ go through our kitchen cabinets and remove anything that I don’t use (even if it’s pretty!)
~ clean out and organize the boys’ school work drawer. archive what I want to save, recycle the rest.
~ go through our dvd collection and sort out movies I can bring to the children’s home in Uganda.
~ have #4 sort through the lego collection and fill one bin that I can take to the children’s home.
~ clean out my cars!
~ clean out the refrigerator and restock with healthy options.
~ clean up my social media- only follow inspiring folks on twitter, instagram and pinterest.
~ clean out my bathroom cabinets, use up the odds and ends.
~ clean out the garden beds in anticipation for planting this summer’s gardens!
~ wash all of the curtains.
~ clean up my email, catch up on correspondence and delete anything that has no use.
loving {tap & dye}
Heading out of town tomorrow for a weekend of inspiration and laughter with four incredibly dear friends in Napa. I am so excited to see them, as well as to bring my new/old camera, who happens to shoot film. I can’t wait to capture the weekend through her lens! Thankfully my new wrist strap from Tap & Dye arrived. I can’t tell you how much I love it. I wanted something that looked old school and this little strap fits the bill. It would work with any camera but on my “yet to be named” newest friend, it is perfect. You can find their facebook page here.
Now I have to find a way to get them to donate one to the Africa auction… ;) Happy weekend mes amies!
x
{the first rolls}
Recently I became friends with an old film camera. I have to say, from the first click of the shutter I was hooked. While I should be doing other things on this sunny afternoon, I am instead sharing some of the first shots from her. The first really grainy shots were from the opening night at Ludlow in Seattle. (if you haven’t been, you must!)
She hasn’t got a name yet, but she will. She promises to be a wonderful companion~
x
{now living on the farm}
