Archive for the 'family' Category

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A Little Family Reunion

Published on July 13, 2008 in about me, family, food and Uncategorized. 7 Comments Tags: cousins, family, family reunion, food.

Since we’ve moved to our house in Western Ma 2.5 years ago, I’ve been daydreaming of having a big family party. And now that we are moving, everyone came to visit. Most of the visitors stayed for 10 days and over the weekend of July 4, we had 22 people! It was fantastic. Do you know that saying, something like, “Visitors are like fish, after 3 days, they go bad”. Well, my little family is proof that it’s not always that way. Everyone got along, was pleasant, quite appreciative, and a wonderful help.

Here are a few of the highlights:

I got to meet my brother’s youngest for the first time ever. He’s 5. (They live in South Korea.)

Dad chased his oldest grandson around and ripped up his knee, spent his entire visit on crutches, but was a good sport.

My brother gave up Diet Coke. This is a big deal. He drinks something like 3 cases of it a day. (Is Diet Coke bad for you? – you do the research.)

We went to the 61st Annual Chesterfield 4th of July parade. Animals pooped, and well, that was certainly the highlight for the cousins.

We ate SO MUCH FOOD. For our family picnic, we (I mean GREG Thanks Greg – you rock) grilled pizzas. If you haven’t tried this yet, you really, really must. They are SO DELISH! I used whole wheat dough from Trader Joe’s and for one pizza I carmelized fennel and red onion and added Feta cheese. The other pizzas were topped with mozzarella, basil pesto and tomatoes. YUM!!!

That very night, we had visitors. Bears came and toppled our compost. They must have played for a while, there were lots of paths created on the hill. Everyone got a little nervous, but they didn’t come back. Mom fell asleep watching TV, and woke up hearing growling the next night. She tried to wake her husband (he slept through the excitement), and after a few minutes of heart-in-throat, she realized it was the lion on the MGM bit of the movie she was watching.

My super wonderful sister-in-law made us “kimbop” (I am spelling this phonetically… but it’s Korean for hot dog – so I’m told). We call them sushi rolls, or California rolls. They were so AMAZING. We stopped at the Korean grocery store and I learned about a few new things that we’ll be adding to our Friday night roll making ritual. They were perfectly rolled and absolutely delicious.

Seeing my daughter and her cousins play together was just priceless. I only wish we could do it every weekend.

It was 10 days. It was wonderful. As everyone left I couldn’t stop thinking about the pictures, did I get enough? (ok, I took over 500…) Did I get the right ones? I don’t want to forget our wonderful time together, and I want Iz to be able to look through the photos and remember too.

35

Published on June 11, 2008 in birthdays and family. 2 Comments Tags: birthdays, family.

Somehow, my parents have a 37 year old daughter and a 35 year old son. I was looking through my photo album and found this picture. And while I don’t remember this birthday exactly, I do remember so many of our birthdays. We are 2 years apart, but our actual birthdays are 5 days apart, so we almost always had the same birthday party. We each got our own cake and probably presents too. We haven’t celebrated a birthday together for years, and I’m hoping we will in a few weeks when my brother and his family will be visiting from Korea for a spell.

It’s funny, I look at this photo and I can feel the tablecloth, remember the wall paper exactly, notice how much of the room has turned yellow from the light, feel the bench behind us, smell the marlboros, and taste the cake. I have lots of wonderful memories, all stored up and then I come across this picture and it’s like I’m standing there in the picture.

Happy Birthday Benny! You are 35 and that makes me 37, cousin Lynn is 45 and mom and dad are no longer in their 20s like when we were born. I still think of you as my little brother. Always will. Hope to see you soon. xxooZ

B.W.H

Published on March 26, 2008 in about me and family. 1 Comment

or…Bunny Was Here…

Bunny ate some carrots and left some loot.

Solid…Milk….Chocolate….Bunny…..

Looking for eggs in 2 feet of snow in full winter gear.

Cold hands, need mittens, can’t pick up eggs.

Later that day…stuck in the snow…

One Stitch At A Time

Published on March 11, 2008 in craft, Creating, embroidery, family, Iz, Iz Sewing, Learning To Sew, sewing and sewing with kids. 0 Comments

I wonder all the time what Iz will remember. What will she tell her kids, grandkids about her life and experiences? What will she cherish? Being a parent has really opened my eyes to things I wouldn’t have seen before. The wonderful little things that she might comment on, or want to hold or wear or read or listen too. I love these fresh experiences.

I gave Iz a canvas with a hoop attached, a tapestry needle with some floss (she picks the colors) and look what we’ve been doing:

I can’t tell you how excited I am. All three of us sitting together and working on stitches. We all have embroidery projects going and it’s been really, really fun. We share stitches, I taught Rob the French knot, Rob helps Iz tie a knot and she picks all the colors. She’s only 3 and already we can sit and sew together.

Sewing Time is Bonding Time

Published on March 4, 2008 in Bucket Hats, classes, craft, Creating, family, inspiration, Learning To Sew, LuckyStitches and projects. 0 Comments

Do you remember sewing with your mom or grandmother or aunt or a good friend? Or maybe it wasn’t sewing, but knitting or gardening or cooking? Doesn’t a smile just start to sneak up on you as you remember the embroidery sampler, the scarf, the doll clothes, the vegetable garden? I find that I remember these things with my mom (sewing, gardening crafting), my grandmothers (painting, fashion show lunches, needlepoint, cooking), aunts who stitched, crocheted, photographed, read books, listened to music: the loving people in my life that were so passionate about their craft it seeped through every aspect and into mine? Sifting through their “tool boxes” as they baked in the kitchen. Smelling the oil paint, trying on thimbles, reading the climate maps on seed packets, fingering the embroidery floss and loving the colors, staring at bookshelves, loving the wonderful art books they found inspiration in. Maybe that’s one of the wonderful reasons sewing and these other arts are so comforting to me? The act of focusing on all these activities is so zen like, but how much of it is due to the love in how I learned to do it?

Each month at LuckyStitches I offer a class for kids and their parents to come in and sew a project together. This month, we made bucket hats.

Perfect for Spring. Especially since we keep having storm after storm and more snow (although today it was rain).

Everyone learned how to adjust the pattern to their measurements.

Cutting always takes practice.

Sewing circles takes practice and some advice from mom.

Making sure tootsies can reach the pedal, make for a tear free sewing experience.

Ages 7 and 10 – these little LuckyStitchers, along with their mom, made their very own hats. Together.

**Don’t forget to sign up for the 200th Post-O-Rama Giveaway by leaving a comment on that post by Friday.

Winter Days

Published on February 26, 2008 in about me, birds, dollhouse, family, Feb Funk, food, Iz, nature and photos. 4 Comments

This is from our walk this weekend. It’s our usual walk, out the door, turn left down the road and walk to the bridge and look at the water. It’s quite beautiful, and all 3 of us just soak it up. At least this weekend we could go for a walk, it’s warming up a bit. We’ve all been sunk in Feb Funk these past few weeks. Eager for spring and ready to be outside all day long. Fresh air and sun is good for Feb Funk.

We’ve been talking since October about giving Iz her Great Aunt Carol’s doll house, first for Christmas and then for her birthday. Well, we finally did it. In celebration of February. There will be more pictures later as we paint the whole thing, redecorate and start furnishing. I’m quite excited about making rugs. And did you know that Ikea has doll furniture? Of course – we’ll have to update the phone (we won’t we’ll leave it there, it’s just too cool for school). Iz is thrilled with it. The cat loves it and has slept in all 8 rooms already.

I’m almost finished with another pair of PJs for Iz. She’s going to see Dan Zane’s Friday night for a Pajama concert. I’ll be popping in the buttons, holes and waistband. She loves them. Fresh PJs to beat that Feb Funk.

I’ve been thinking a lot about meal planning. It’s not coming to me too quickly. Slowly but surely. Saturday we made tacos. It was perfect. Fresh veggies, ground and browned veggie protein crumbles (doesn’t that sound delish?), yummy taco shells and taco sauce. Iz loved it, but decided she’d need another since the first crumbled in her hands. I love our sushi roll nights, and taco night will certainly be added to the monthly meal planning. Any tips on the meal planning?

Then, yesterday, I heard funny noises outside the kitchen. I thought there was a large critter in the new part of the house, but couldn’t find anything. I walked outside and found one of these calling loudly. It flew away as I took a step near it. I went inside to get the camera, and when I came back, there were 2. Sitting on the pool. Looking for food? water? I thought they were turkey vultures, but everything I find says the white head means they are from Africa. Anybody recognize them?

Sprinkles = LOVE

Published on February 14, 2008 in family and Iz. 6 Comments

She made us do it…

Yum, sweets for the sweet…(she’s only had 2 so far, and the begging just won’t stop – am I a mean mom?)

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sweet love from us all.

xxoo

ABC Cards and Dinosaur Scissors

Published on February 9, 2008 in about me, craft, Creating, Decorating, family, Iz and projects. 1 Comment

We took turns cutting – big squares and big letters. After gluing the big letters down, Iz got the cards so she could match up the little letters and glue them down.

While waiting for us…she ROARED with her dino “cuttings”.

We had so much fun taping these to the wall. You can see the big yellow tape that Iz used on some of the blocks. I LOVE gaffers tape.

I’ve really been wanting Alphabet Cards for her room, but just don’t want to shell out the cash-o-la. This was definitely more fun. (although the Art Director in me was trying hard to control letters, colors and placement, and thankfully, realized early on, that letting it just happen was the BEST.)

Happy Birthday Iz!

Published on February 4, 2008 in birthdays, cupcakes, family, friends and Iz. 5 Comments

Friday was Iz’s Birthday. Her 3rd Birthday. It goes so fast!

She woke early – and I was so excited to give her the present. I started making it over a year ago, and decided I would finish for this birthday.

I think she loves her!

I’m 3!

Later that day we made a cake. We went to the store the day before and picked it out. Is picked out a white cake with white frosting. I suggested chocolate, but she said no, the picture was ALL WHITE! AND MAMA – WHERE ARE THE SPRINKLES???

We finished icing the cake…

and out came the SPRINKLES!!!

For dinner we made California Rolls. We all participated – and made them together. It was SO MUCH FUN! We all loved them.

Saturday – We went to the library. We go every weekend after ballet. Iz usually plays, but this time, she sat down and read through every book on that bottom shelf! Whew! We were there for a long time. She loves books, we read all the time. But at the library, there’s just too much to do and usually friends are there too, but this time we spent time with the books.

Sunday – we made cupcakes for a little party. More SPRINKLES!

Fun with friends and some presents.

And singing and candle blowing! We had a lot fun. Great friends helping us celebrate.

Then, today, I found this. Makes me a little nauseous…who’s hair is this? Iz says it’s Summer’s. I called, Summer still has her hair. Last year, it was cupcakes in her bed. This year – they played Salon. What’s going to happen next year?

I am astonished that it’s been 3 years since Iz was born. As I was thinking about her birthday this year, her actual birth came back to me more vividly than ever before. Wow – 3 years of being a mom. A parent. Every day is pretty amazing. I cherish every moment. I wonder what this year will bring. Every day, Iz surprizes me wih something else. Her stories, her words, her reasoning. I love this being a mom thing.

We’re Going To Make A Gingerbread House

Published on December 8, 2007 in craft, Creating and family. 1 Comment

DSC01889, originally uploaded by artstarmarie.

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I love gingerbread houses. I’ve seen the display in Seattle 4 years in a row. I stop and look at the kits in the stores. I remember making them when I was a kid. Making the gingerbread, buying all the wonderful candy, cutting out the shapes, baking the gingerbread, WAITING for it to cool, then getting to work. Now, I watch Martha make them and I really want to do it, but think it is just too much for me to handle. Well, now that my friend Marie is having a GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP!!!! (scroll down) we are going to continue the tradition with Iz. I think it will be loads of fun, especially since Iz has just discovered CANDY (it’s the only thing Santa brings – she says). There are 3 different workshops planned, it’s sure to be a blast.

Archive for the 'family' Category

Page 2 of 6

A Little Family Reunion

35

B.W.H

One Stitch At A Time

Sewing Time is Bonding Time

Winter Days

Sprinkles = LOVE

ABC Cards and Dinosaur Scissors

Happy Birthday Iz!

We’re Going To Make A Gingerbread House

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