kids

Kids don't need much.  Really.  Just hand them a hose and some dirt and they're content for hours.  Simplicity Parenting is one of the best "parenting" books that I've read to date.  Kim John Payne's philosophy is simple.  Less is more.  "Using the extraordinary power of less to raise calmer, happier and more secure kids." The idea of less stuff and less screen time for kids is something that I'm very passionate about.  Why am I passionate about this?  As a former teacher turned mama, I hate the idea of children being exposed to too much too soon.

                     The good news is there are many that feel the same way, and they're using their creative talents to get the message out.

Elfin Trail is a beautiful shop filled with whimsical handmade toys for children.  My friend Amber at Mindfully Green is hosting a giveaway on her fantastic blog for a voucher to Elfin Trail. Here is part of Amber's recent interview with Ange from Elfin Trail.

2. I love how all of your items evoke imagination and keep the child deeply rooted to the earth, this makes your items so unique and individual. Was this your intention?

Absolutely! I’m passionate about childhood, protecting that fleetingly precious time of wonder, imagination and play. I find it heartbreaking - the current culture of rushing kids through childhood - educating them faster, filling their time with adult-directed, scheduled activities, bombarding them with marketing messages and adult concepts and facilitating hour after hour in front of a growing range of screens. In my own small way I’m trying to remind people that imaginative play is profoundly important to children.

Peg Doll Kit from Elfin Trail

In a world moving at great speeds, it is always refreshing when you find those people who take it slow and cherish the simplicity that comes with childhood.   I do hope you will jump over to see what these amazing women are up to!

quick combo

Golden Variegated Sweet Flag & Rhododendron "Karen" 

~both sun to part shade~

Linking....Fishtail Cottage & Rooted In Thyme

a new hobby

In an effort to get all of my work accomplished in the garden, I have taken on a new hobby....

night gardening! 

My neighbors just laugh when they drive by and see me out with my shovel!  But for a gardener with 3 beans under 4, I have to find creative ways to get it done.  All I need now is a headlamp!  With warm temps for the last several days the garden is FINALLY waking up!

Our fairy and gnome house is now settled in the rock garden.

My Lamium and Lungwort are starting to spread and stretch between the rocks in the shade garden.

The Hellebores are blooming.

And the beans were able to paint their bird house.  My little man is a bird lover!  As he was painting he said, "Mom, the birds are gonna love this!"

Here is to the new garden season and all the beauty it brings!

  

It feels good to get back in the dirt!

flood updates

I wanted to thank everyone for your kind comments about our flooding situation.  It has been so uplifting to receive such kind words throughout the day as we are trying to put our home back together.

We updated our 1967 split last spring after we decided that this was where we wanted to stay.  {More about tweaking our space here} It is the first and last house that we will ever have. The thought has always been to live small and travel big with the beans.

The two areas hit were our basement and the lower level family room.  The basement housed our playroom, laundry, and my temporary studio.  Down the stairs everything is out while in the family room all of our new floors will need to be replaced.  Darn water!

In staying positive, I have begun putting together design ideas for both spaces that will protect us in the future if any water dares to pay a visit again! The carpet in the basement was here when we moved in 6 years ago but new carpet will NOT be going back in.  I found flooring for both lower levels that should last a lifetime and is also cost effective.  It is tile that is created to look like wood.  

Some white washed inspiration

 vía Real Simple

via Gardener and Marks

vis Southern Living

As the ringing of fans and dehumidifiers sound throughout the house we are very close to being dry.  

Hmmm...what have I learned from this...

1~less is best

2~nothing is permanent

3~kids are resilient 

4~my hubs rocks

5~this is our home

Have a great week friends!!!!!!

looking for the silver lining

We woke up this morning to water pouring into our house.  It is a helpless feeling as you are scooping water up with buckets, just to watch more rush in.  Roads and schools are shut down around us due to the massive storms that have been tearing through our area since yesterday.  And with more on the way, we have had to jump into action to protect our home from further damage.

Yes it is hard to lose all of your stuff.  Hey, but that's all it is.  STUFF!  My kids are healthy and we are blessed.  Needless to say, I will be focusing on getting us cleaned up around here as we are probably going to have to take out some walls.  Who knows, maybe we will end up with something we like better when all is said and done!

I hope to be back with some serene garden photos and projects in a couple of weeks but until then, life is calling.  Peace

Praying for Boston

the little things...a trip to the flea

 A trip to our local flea market....


vintage mason jars

the beans picking out some garden art (they went with a turtle!)

some old spools for my yarn and ribbons

the little man in heaven on a giant tractor

taking in the animals at the farm

linking up here

Etsy Please...

Mindi is an inspiring person.  She is a busy mama to 6 kiddos (yes I said 6) and she finds time to make pieces for the home and garden using mainly recycled materials.  I read Mindi's post about her "no more crumbs toaster tray" and knew I had to have one!  When I received it I was so impressed with the craftsmanship and overall design of the toaster tray.  Her work is awesome!

Her stories of how she reuses materials to make her beautiful creations will warm your heart.   You can feel her love to create through each and every one of her projects.  So it is only fitting that the name of her blog is My Love 2 Create.

 I just wish she lived closer so that we could grab a coffee and then I could have her teach me a thing or two! 

In this day and age of mass produced goods, it is always wonderful to find artisans who are making conscientious decisions in their work!  You can check out Mindi's amazing Etsy shop here

I hope you will find the time to jump on over to her blog and see what she's up to!  I have no doubt that you too will be inspired!