Poem-A-Day

Did you know April is Poetry Month?

I thought I'd share Knopf's annual Poem-A-Day offering.

Thought I'd also share a poem by my all time favorite poet, William Stafford. It's also the poem that inspired this here blog.

What's your favorite poem?

Allegiances
It is time for all the heroes to go home
if they have any, time for all of us common ones
to locate ourselves by the real things
we live by.

Far to the north, or indeed in any direction,
strange mountains and creatures have always lurked-
elves, goblins, trolls, and spiders:-we
encounter them in dread and wonder,

But once we have tasted far streams, touched the gold,
found some limit beyond the waterfall,
a season changes, and we come back, changed
but safe, quiet, grateful.

Suppose an insane wind holds all the hills
while strange beliefs whine at the traveler's ears,
we ordinary beings can cling to the earth and love
where we are, sturdy for common things.

-William Stafford

Seedsitting

While I was in Texas last a week, my husband dutifully took care of the seeds I started.

They made great progress in seven days don't you think?

Big Hair, Big Teeth

LBD and I flew back home from Texas on Sunday. A break from the snow to warm our toes and warm our souls was just what the doctor ordered. Springtime Lone Star-style is my favorite time of year there, especially when the bluebonnets start to show their petal brims. By mid-April, the land turns wild with blue wherever the earth remains untouched by man.

Upon arriving in Texas, my baby's already unruly hair took on a whole other life. Atop her little head sprouted thick, buoyant banana curls that I didn't even attempt to tame. She certainly pulled off the "big hair" look effortlessly. The not-so-adorable part of the trip was the nightly showdown between LBD, myself, and the two teeth on each side of her already visible front teeth duo. Those two teeth tried to make a break for it all week. Those two teeth caused a string of long, sleepless nights. Thankfully, the right tooth came in yesterday. Now we're just waiting (and praying!) for that left side to stop being a coward and show itself so our house can have a night of peace.

Despite the tooth trouble yielding sleepyheadness during the trip, we were able to make it out to the the zoo, do a bit of shopping, visit family, and walk around Grapevine's Main Street.

Reading Together: An Awesome Book

Regardless of age, I think everyone should read An Awesome Book by Dallas Clayton. I believe it is an important book and believe in Dallas Clayton's An Awesome World Foundation, where every book he sells, he gives one away to promote literacy.

Awesome Book Tour from Dallas Clayton on Vimeo.

Whenever you have a free moment today or over the weekend, take a moment to read An Awesome Book in it's entirety here. Read it by yourself, read it to your kids, read it to your nephew, read it to your dog. Read and share. Dream. Believe.

It's awesome.

At the Zoo

Yesterday, we took a trip to the Fort Worth Zoo.

It was a Texas blue skies sorta day.

We wore our sun hats. We wore our smiles.

After the day was done, we wore out one little girl.

Seed Start

Ever since I decided to create a traveling garden, I've been eager to get started, but after I read here that I needed to plant my seeds indoors 6 WEEKS IN ADVANCE, I freaked out. It hadn't even occurred to be to start early. I ran into the kitchen to count the aluminum cans, baby food jars, yogurt containers and egg cartons I had been saving for my seedlings. Then, I sifted through the recycling for containers for MORE containers that would also fit the bill.  I poured potting soil in what I had to work with and planted the seeds that afternoon.  Of course, it wasn't until after my minor panic attack that I did a quick search of the last frost date for my area and was relieved to find Ludington's isn't until May 6th. I'm starting my plant buddies right on time.

And so the growing begins...

How To Write A Sentence

When I first heard this interview on NPR, I was intrigued by author Stanley Fish's take on what he calls "the art of the sentence". I will be the first to admit I'm not the most proficient writer, but I love to read and was quite taken by his concepts. While at work the same day, my husband also heard the article and ordered  two copies of the book, How To Write A Sentence and How To Read One by Stanley Fish, one for his best friend Mike and one for our house.

Good As New: Cowboy Up

Hey ya'll!

LBD and I are in Texas this week visiting my family and soaking up some glorious, warm sunshine.

Bare toes and tan shoulders.

Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson on repeat.

Thought it would only be appropriate to feature a lil' hill country vintage wear....

PhatDog

digvintageclothing

xoUda

The Traveling Garden

Since my family is on the move this May, creating a garden like the one I did last year is out of the question. Instead, this year I will attempt to create a traveling garden. Not entirely sure how I'm going to pull this off. My container gardening skills are zilch (not that I'm proficient in gardening in the first place). All I know is to live the life of a nomad this summer, my traveling garden has to be extremely portable and adaptable.

What to plant, what to plant? During LBD's naptime a few days ago I did a little research on what types of vegetables and cutting flowers I could grow in containers and  I came across this Community Container Garden, a carefully chosen selection of plants of which people all over the world, in their unique locations, grow together or "grow along". Does that make sense? From first time gardeners to experienced pros hailing from California, Iowa, Sweden, France, Australia.... all over the place, growing the same plants from seeds, sharing the experience.  This year's plant selection includes the sunspot sunflower, better bush tomato, garlic chives, spacemaster cucumber, and purple petra basil.

They had me at sunflower.

Now that I have an idea of what I'm going to plant, I just have to figure out: A) How to start seeds indoors and B)What I'm going to put them in once they're grown. Transportable for our summer wandering tour...

Suggestions are welcome.


Image 1

Reading Together: Moon Plane

This week we're reading Moon Plane by Peter McCarty. LBD's Uncle Mike recently received his pilot's license and when I saw Moon Plane at the library, I thought it would be a good story to read with her as we are all incredibly proud of his accomplishment.

The second reason I was drawn to this book was the illustrations. The illustrations are illuminating. They are simple and muted and absolutely alluring. Here are a few of my favorites...

So I Sew: Round 2

For Round 2 in my adventures of learning to sew, Jolene (the sewing machine) and I got into a fight. But don't worry, we made up after working out our differences.

After a little research online I found what appeared to be a simple sewing project on Prudent Baby of turning a baby onesie into a dress and decided to try it out. I went to the children's consignment shop in town and bought a handful of $.99 onsies in LBD's size.

But I liked my finds too much to practice on them, so I dug around for a couple hand-me-downs my sister-in-law gave me and paired those as best as I could with the fabric I had purchased at Goodwill a couple weeks ago.

Perfect springtime color combo, right?

Jolene didn't think so. She didn't agree one bit.

For Japan With Love

It seems that every time I begin to type a sentence about the crisis in Japan, I hold down the delete key and try again. I can't accurately put into words the empathy I feel towards the people of Japan. The rising death toll, the missing, the displaced, the trauma and fear, the darkness and the cold, a devastating nightmare. What I could offer, I did For Japan With Love.

Lucky Day

Lesson in Growing

After we moved from New York City to Ludington last year, I had a hard time adapting to our new environment .  I was incredibly homesick for the familiar tall buildings, the city streets, for the energy, and for my friends. One afternoon, I was on the phone with a friend, in a melancholy mood lamenting over my city nostalgia and he told me something I'll never forget. He said, "Only you can create your own happiness."

Later that evening, while I was doing the dishes, thinking about nothing, thinking about everything, looking out the window,  I narrowed in on a patch of dry dirt in our yard. An eyesore a few yards in length from what I assumed was too much sun exposure and a lack of maintenance.  It needed tending to and I had the time. So, the next day in effort to keep busy and stop moping I started digging in the dirt, manifesting some optimism.

So I Sew: Round 1

This week, I start my journey in sewing.

Why sewing?

Well, here: 1) My mom can sew and her mom could sew and her mom's mom could sew and so on and so on. Now, I want to sew. I want to be able to teach my daughter how to sew. Even if it's just a button. I don't even know how to sew a button. Yet. 2) I've recently become more and more interested in making clothing for my family. 3) It's an inexpensive way to keep my ever growing baby clothed. 4) I like projects. 5) I need something constructive to occupy my time with while the baby takes her nap. Eating salt and vinegar potato chips while scrolling through my rss feed isn't one of those things.

When I was eight months pregnant, I decided I'd take a stab at learning how to sew and a skilled family friend so graciously and patiently gave me an introduction. She also loaned me a sewing machine that she no longer used. I named her Jolene.  Jolene the sewing machine. Jolene is a Bernina 930 electric. She's a dinosaur of a lass. I worked on a couple projects, but after LBD arrived on the scene I've pretty much have forgotten everything she taught me. So, over the weekend, I started to brush up on some informational reading.

Fort Family

We're big fans of forts.

It's in our blood.

LBD's mama is a fort builder, her daddy is a fort builder, her aunt and uncle are fort builders, so it's only natural that she would follow in her family's footsteps and become a fort enthusiast at such a young age.

Four Eyes

I have four eye envy.

Let me explain....

Back when I was 7 years old, I would often pretend I couldn't see very well. Whenever I'd have to  read with my mom, I would squint my eyes and press the book close to my face so my nose almost brushed the pages. This act became routine all because I so very, very badly wanted to wear a pair of eye glasses. A desire that had nothing to do with a colossal crush on the blond haired, glasses-wearing boy who sat next to me in Mrs. Head's third grade class. Must have been a coincidence, right? Eventually, my mom took me to the optometrists of which after a brief examination, the only prescription I left with was a prescription to go to my room.

A few weeks went by, and my crush on blond haired boy rapidly dissolved, as crushes tend to do at that age. But at 27 years old, I still harbor a crush on eye wear. For some fun this afternoon,  I did a some browsing online and found a handful of old school frames to my liking.

Even if they are merely for make believe...

Reading Together: Growing Vegetable Soup

The book LBD and I have been reading this week is Lois Elhert's Growing Vegetable Soup. Lois Ehlert is another wonderful author and illustrator. The story is short with dramatic colors and pictures,  perfect for a quick read before bedtime. (You know those nights when bedtime is done in light speed? When you already have a glass of wine poured, waiting for you until the little one is fast asleep... The shorter the story, the better.)

Hello Spring

Wait a minute...

Spring?

Hello?

Was it something I said?

Thrifting

This weekend, I'm starting my quest in sewing and need some fabrics to practice on, so I went over to the Goodwill to see if they had anything I could work with.

8 Months

Miss Goober McGee is eight months old today. When I didn't think it was possible to love someone so much, I wake up at dawn, go to her crib and look into those sleepy eyes starring up at me, and my heart swells so much I'm surprised I can still breathe.

We don't celebrate each month she ages but I was looking through photos of her today and thought I'd share a few and say:

Happy Birthday Baby

Good As New: Suitcases

I never know what to do with some of the stuff I have laying around the house. Magazines a couple issues old, photocopied recipes, TO DO lists (the never ending TO DO lists!).  I don't use some of these items enough to be left out, so when I found a variety of retro suitcases used as storage I thought it was extremely cleaver . They're inexpensive when bought at a local thrift store, but can also be found for sale on Etsy and Ebay. I'm thinking of doing this with LBD's toys eventually, but here are a few other ideas that caught my eye:

An craft organizer or sewing kit...

In Love With Love

I'm in love with love.

Always have been.

And I'm lovin this video...



Postcards From Italy from ForYouLoveMe on Vimeo.

Reading Freedom

After our move from New York City to Ludington when I was pregnant I read quite frequently. During that time, I read Franzen's famed novel The Corrections which I enjoyed, but it left me... for lack of a better word.. sad. He's an incredible writer. I would go back and re-read paragraphs and pages I was awestruck by this guy's talent. After all the hype including his Time Magazine cover feature as I was eager to read his latest production, Freedom.

Day To Myself

Well, a whole 4 hours to myself this afternoon. Not an entire day per-say, but a solid allowance of time. The most time I've had to myself in one day since before LBD came into the picture. Usually when Grandma watches her it gives me the chance to go to my weekly 30 minute guitar lesson, or the dentist, or run errands, or go on the occasional date with my husband. This time wasn't for any of those reasons other than purely selfish alone time.

I went to the fairly new coffee house in town, Redolencia. And since it was a special occasion I ordered a cappuccino. Fancy, I know!

It  gave me the chance to think about things like...

Reading Together: Toot & Puddle

I use to read Toot & Puddle by Holly Hobbie to my stortytime kids back in the day. This week, I decided to check it out at the library for LBD.  The book is about Toot, who is compelled to travel, and his friend Puddle, who prefers the comforts of home. Toot decides to leave their home in Woodcock Pocket to see the world, and the reader follows both Toot and Puddle through a year of their friendship, together and apart, at home and afar.

Good As New: Wine Bottles

Not that you ever *need* an excuse to drink wine, but here are a few ideas I came across for re-purposing empty wine bottles into light fixtures. Will and I use to have quite the collection of empty wine bottles laying around the house pre-LBD. Love me a glass of chilled Sancerre in the park on a warm summer day.

We don't go through wine as quickly anymore, except on those rare occations, with a little help from visiting friends (you know who you are), we're back in the empty bottle business in no time.

Click the image for the "How To"....

I Like You Like This

I like you like this, Sweetheart.

Playing with your toys, babbling to your teddy bear, and chasing your kitty cat. Happy baby.

Today was rough. I made you eat broccoli. You hate broccoli. Not as much as peas, but still. And teething is the pits. That right front tooth was making you work for it this afternoon. Oh, you cried and cried. Later, you took a snooze while I was driving, but when you woke up at home that snowsuit was way too warm. You're clothes damp with sweat. Boy, were you upset.

Crunchy Tofu Stir Fry

Yeah, that's right. Tofu. Comes with the vegetarian territory.

And you have to believe me when I say it does taste good! The taste factor all depends on how you cook it. (swearsies!) The best part about tofu is that it's a chameleon of sorts,  as it adapts and reflects whatever flavor environment you put it in. Will likes it because he can fry it  and put it in a stir fry. Because what doesn't Will like to fry? Man is like the male Paula Dean. Not the most healthy of alternatives, but that's what the vegetables in this dish are for, right?

Here's a ginger stir fry recipe and a sesame stir fry recipe. Both are great options for including crunchy tofu in the mix.

Will's recipe for Crunchy Tofu:

-Press the liquid out of the tofu (See directions on the container)

-Cut the tofu into 1 inch x 1.2 inch pieces

-Coat in corn starch

-Dropped into oil heated to approx. 350 degrees

-Fried until just starting to take a golden color (still looking predominantly white)

-Set aside on paper towels. Add to stir fry dish.

The Benevolent Library

Don't be fooled... this picture of our town library is from September. (Oh, glorious blue skies!) The Ludington Library is a teeny, tiny library, BUT they order books that will travel from all over western Michigan to visit me AND I love that they have these nifty Reader Review slips in each book...

Good As New: Tea Dresses

Naughty Shorts dresses are one of my many inspirations behind wanting to learn how to sew. Rebecca, the fabulous designer of Naughty Shorts, upcycles vintage fabrics, bedsheets, etc. to make one-of-a-kind, custom order tea dresses.

Look at all them perrdy colors!

Reminder

Last night was "one of those nights". A universal term among parents, the new and the mature.

An overtired, teething baby doesn't make for a cheery morning. Neither does an overtired mom. Morning naptime was a struggle. Eye rubbing, wailing, LBD wouldn't submit to her creeping slumber. It took three rounds of Iron and Wine's lengthy "The Trapeze Swinger" (3 x 9:32 minute rotation). Not the longest of the nap fight we've seen, but definitely not the shortest. She finally caved.

I sat down at my laptop and found an email from my husband.

He sent me this reminder...

Victorians

Unfortunately, there are a lot of derelict houses in Ludington, a result of Michigan's crippling economic state, but there are also handful of handsome homes that continue to endure the times. When Ludington was booming harbor town, these Victorian dwellings were constructed by affluent lumber barons at the turn of the 19th century.