What Summer?

Wow. It's August 31st and the summer seems to have ended. It's been raining sideways all day and it looks like it may stay this way for the foreseeable future. I guess God 86'd summer. Lame. It's days like this that make me wonder why I moved away from the Homeland (California) to the great dreary Northwest. What was I thinking? 

What seems to happen every autumn is that I become wrapped up in the pleasurable pumpkin carving / leaf changing/ woolly sweater magic just enough to forget that a long, dark, miserable winter is quivering right there on the horizon. But today winter is in my face. It's an aggressive, surly winter that doesn't want to wait for it's moment on stage, dammit. It's ready NOW. 

It also just occurred to me that woolly sweater magic won't be mine this autumn either, not until I get baby X out of my womb and into the world. All I have is one eggplant colored maternity sweater and an old, giant blue hoody to fit over my girth. No way am I going to spend more money on maternity clothes with only 8 weeks to go. Double dammit. 

On a happier note, isn't this the cutest baby mobile ever? Our friend Karie Jane made it for us and she may be the most talented person in the galaxy. She started a site here on blogger but hasn't started posting yet.  If you like this mobile as much as I do then maybe send her an encouraging message and she'll start posting some of her art stuff. Peace out. 

People That Do Neat Stuff

Hey! This fella over at the awesome blog Pacing the Panic Room has put together an amazing project/ fundraiser for his stepson who suffers from a genetic condition called Smith Magenis Syndrome. Do Fun Stuff is an itunes album of "kid's music for parents", and it's good stuff. The money raised goes towards a grant that will find studies for SMS. Check it out!

Not Your Grandmother's Tea Tray

I can't decide if I love this dessert tray from Supermarket or I hate it. I'd love to have it for parties, but when not in use it would have to be hidden in the back of the china cabinet so I didn't have to look at that kewpie head all day. 

In other news, I'm feeling a million times better today. I really needed the day off. I'm just getting too pregnant to be on my feet all day, and this sprained ankle has really thrown a monkey wrench into my life. I realize more and more over the years that there is a direct relationship between the amount of exercise I get and my tolerance for frustration. Spending the week with a bag of ice on my ankle has brought me down to a bad place. On that note, I'm off to get a massage and then to the pool to swim laps! Happy Friday. 

Feeling Crabby

Hi folks, I'm not going to lie, it's been a rough week. I sprained my ankle, I'm hugely pregnant, it's hotter than Hades, the job is a shitshow, and I've got baby anxiety big time. 

My Type A tendencies have emerged full force and I'm suddenly losing my mind trying to pull together a nursery. I'm looking around my house and everything that always looked so sweet and quirky and "vintage" suddenly looks old and shabby. I'm terrified that baby X will resent living with Ma and Pa Joad. 

True to my Cancer nature I'm going to pull into my shell for a few days, and the next time I peek out I'm thinking things will look a little brighter. 

Porch Envy

I've been walking around my neighborhood a lot with Vivian. I'm noticing a theme I really like. A few of my neighbors are rocking some pretty sweet chrome porch furniture. 

On D. Street

Near Cornwall Park

How are they all on the chrome chair bandwagon? Why didn't I get the memo? I just love the old school diner style. I'm so in and now have chrome chairs on the brain. I'm thinking this would be the best thrift store score ever. For now here's some good etsy finds.

L + J industries

Recovered

Lord of the Hoop

We went to a beautiful wedding in Sumas last night and rediscovered hula hooping.

Turns out pregnant hula hooping is really fun. According to this lady, it also improves balance and coordination. Considering that I took a scary fall in the backyard last week, I think a little balance and coordination in my life would be a good thing. I never want to fall down pregnant again. I spent the rest of the afternoon feeling overwhelmed with frustration and fear. It's just a terrible feeling to have your body change so much that you feel like a clumsy lumbering beast. And of course I was convinced baby X was toast until I felt her squirming around a few hours later.

Pregnant Laurilee hula hooping. 

Congratulations Morgan and Andrew!

The bride's father read this amazing poem.

On Children

 Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.

You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them,

but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.

You are the bows from which your children

as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might

that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies,

so He loves also the bow that is stable.

Happy Sunday.

Curry Spiced Tomato Gratin

I've been meaning to try this recipe since I spotted it on 101 cookbooks, but I was put off by the repeated warnings that it was a long, tedious one that would suck up most of your afternoon or evening.
Turns out this recipe wasn't so tedious after all. It does bake for quite some time, but if you have a mandolin the prep and assembling are a snap. I imagine cutting all the veggies by hand would take forever.

This didn't turn out as pretty as I imagined (they never do) but it was absolutely delicious. I also love that it's a good way to use up the bruised or ugly tomatoes from the garden. Ugly tomatoes need love too. 

We scarfed down the whole thing. Next time I'll make two so we can have leftovers for lunch. 

In other news, I'm dog sitting for the lovely Vivian again. She lays in her bed and stares at me nonstop just like this-

See how she scowls at me?

I'm developing dog owner guilt. If we're not on a walk or playing with the ball every minute I worry that she's miserable. Is this what parenting is like? Scary. At least baby X won't be able to chase the cat for at least a year or so. Every time I turn around Vivian is either drooling over the kitty or trying to get her nose into kitty's butt. The cat seems pretty put out.

August 15

Today is our one year wedding anniversary. I'm also suddenly 30 weeks pregnant. What a trip. Sometimes it feels like someone poured fertilizer all over my life and everything's blooming at once.
I never thought of myself as the marriage/ babies type. Now I know that I was just maturing and waiting for him. I'm so glad that we decided to go for it and learn as we go. I guess there's really no other way to do it- you just have to hold hands and jump in.
Here we are. Building one unshakable life a day at a time.

Gaston Delittle

Ninon

I'm developing a tremendous fondness for quirky children's toys. Blame it on the hormones. This fantastic monster bears my Maiden name as well. What's not to like?

This very crafty lady lives in Berlin and makes all her monsters by hand. I'm thinking baby X might need one for her nursery. 

Dog Day Afternoon

This is Vivian. Matthew and and I hung out with her today. 

Dogsitting and hiking go together well, so we drove to Mt. Baker and hiked Ptarmigan Ridge.

Thankfully, Vivian is not one of those dogs that tries to drag you to a certain death down steep embankments. 

Her hiking manners are better than some people on the trails. She also likes to hike slowly and take lots of water breaks. 

So it's easier to remember to stop and smell the flowers.

Thanks for helping us slow down Vivian! 

Pretty Happy Things

Mary Kate McDevitt

I'm really digging this wood sliver painting. I want to see it hanging in a mud room with the rain boots. It's reminiscent of (but such a welcome departure from) the tacky wood sliver junk you see all over Humboldt county. 

Dreams Really Do Come True

I would not want to imply that happiness is found in the aquisition of long- coveted objects. But sometimes getting what you want just makes for a great day.
Today I came home and found a shoebox on the dining room table with my husband's name on it. It also had a few postcards and a Pez dispenser tied to the top with ribbon. Because I am nosy, I opened this box.
Guess what was inside?

It's true. It's the bird planter that I have been admiring for the last few weeks in the window of an apartment downtown. Some of you may be familiar with my bird planter obsession. The bird planter belonged to this man-

He's the local guy who wears a Mr. Peanut suit when the mood strikes. 

He came into the restaurant where my husband works today, and Matthew told him that I was in love with his bird planter. This very kind man went home, wrapped up the bird planter, and gifted it to my husband. 

What an awesome guy. I can't even remember the last time a total stranger did something so nice for me. All my happy buttons have been pushed. It makes me want to go out and love on a perfect stranger myself. Kindness begets kindness.

Also in the theme of fulfilling obsessions is the stegosaurus gifted to me by Laurilee at our baby shower. 

I've been lusting after this dinosaur for weeks. It's supposed to be a gift for baby X, but I'm so infatuated with it I'm not sure I can let her have it. Maybe if she's a really GOOD baby. Maybe.

Happy Monday. 

On the Hunt

The hunt for the bird planter of my dreams continues. Matthew tells me he knows the owner of the bird planter I covet, and that he'll ask him if it's for sale. Bellinghamsters, this is apparently the same man who wanders the streets in the "Mr. Peanut" costume.
Anyway, in the meantime I haunt the antique mall like a ghost. No decent bird planters today, but a few worth noting (and photographing).

I bought the lamb planter. It was too creepily cute to pass up. 

What can you say about the "Asian person on a swing" planter? Weird.

What a gorgeous blender! It makes me want to whip up a few Margaritas and call it a day. 

Wishful Thinking

Really, who does she think she is? $300 a month but you can't even hallucinate in the comfort of your own home.

What's for dinner

Lentil "bolognese" lasagne
I finally got around to making this lasagne and it was delish. I make lasagne regularly but I've always boiled the noodles first. This is a "no boil" recipe and despite my fears the noodles were fully cooked into the sauce with only a few little crunchy bits at the top corners. Nothing major.
This is a nice healthy recipe that is surprisingly light despite the layers of lentil "meat" sauce. The white sauce on the top and few parmesan shavings add some fat to the dish, but it's still a good protein/ fiber punch for me and baby X.
Thanks to my kiwi friend for putting this dish onto my radar- she didn't fool me with her tricky metric measurements either! Ha.
To make your own click here.

Tree Coozy

Moment of Zen

Wednesday's a wash

My plan for today was to work, do my pregnancy workout DVD, and make a nice lasagne for dinner. Accomplishing those three things would have been enough to leave me feeling satisfied that I am a well adjusted, functioning individual and an above par wife and person in general.
Unfortunately, at the end of my work day I developed one of the screwy migraines I've been struggling with since the third month of my pregnancy. I've never been one for migraines before, so it surprised me when these crept into my life and that they manifested as tunnel vision instead of the splitting headache I imagined a migraine would be. Today was the third time I've left work with one and had to go lay down in the back of the car and call my husband to come get me.
So instead of accomplishing the self-actualized behavior outlined above I've spent the evening being horizontal in the bedroom clutching a sweaty pillow. Lame.
Anyway, these pictures of the Beautiful Cervix Project cheered me up, and maybe you'll like them too.

Who knew the cervix had such a tender, dorky look to it? It makes me want to put my arm around a cervix and assure it that this akward stage will soon be over. Some of the cervixes, especially those that recently gave birth, really look like they could use a pep talk.