confessions

I have to get a few things off my chest.

Number one.  Ever since opening my etsy shop, I haven't seen our dining room table.  I actually have a pretty large studio area available to me.  But only when it's the perfect temperature outside because it's in our sunroom.  Which has no heating or a/c.  So it's basically unusable roughly 95% of the year.  My options are generally a literal sweat shop OR walk in freezer.  Here's a glimpse of our table.  We have a table in our kitchen that we use, don't worry.

p.s. Mail and school papers also gets dumped on this table.  So... you know.  I'm an organizational nightmare.

Number two.  Speaking of my shop, my husband talked me into adding a Dr. Who themed hoop to my shop last week.  Confession: I haven't sold one yet!  

Number three.  Last week another mother from the kid's school asked me, "Aren't you expecting?" In her defense I hadn't seen her in a while.  But I've been in a bit of a funk ever since.

Number four.  But!  Despite said funk, I took photos of a friend's new baby and DID NOT sob all over the baby!  I even held and snuggled on him, and felt nothing but happiness and love for them all.  High five.

 Number five.  We had a 78 degree day here yesterday, and a 40 degree day today.  I really wish that we could have something in between for a couple months.  What's that called?  Spring?  Confession: I don't want summer yet.  I want Spring.  I'll even take a 50 something day over a 70 something day because I feel so strongly about the appropriate temperatures of the season.  That's right, I just went on about the appropriateness of seasonal temperatures.  I can feel you all rolling your eyes.  Luckily, I'm finished!

Thanks for listening.

comfort

Finding comfort in the day to day is just what is getting me through right now.  We've had an unfortunate series of events including a burst pipe in our basement and kiddos covered in scary rashes and hours spent in the ER.  It's not been easy, but everything seems to be settling down a little.  I hope. And so I've just been trying to tick off the blessings in my life that vastly outnumber the hardships.  Those blessings include the everyday comforts that I usually take for granted.  Like a good cup of coffee.  Or a sweet, sweet boy playing in creative ways.  Or a cheeky girl that can't go long without donning a dress or "ballerina skirt."  Or a stack of firewood, ready to warm our home.  Or a beautiful ruby colored orange.  Or even a breathtaking sunrise on a beautiful, albeit cold, morning.  It's all a blessing.  And I have to remind myself daily that I AM blessed.  This life is beautiful; heartbreak and joy combined.

buried

This picture has nothing to do with this post.  But it sure is sweet, am I right?

I haven't been here much this week.  Or at all, really.  I've just barely checked in with my favorite blogs, I haven't even glanced at my big girl camera, and as I write this I have about 5 loads of laundry calling my name.  I am buried in it all.  The little's school schedule, trying to squeeze in workout time, making meals, racing to the finish of project make something, and trying to get the kiddos in bed at a reasonable hour.  It's been a little... hectic.

I have so much to share here, and I will soon.  I have recipes, projects, thrifted treasure (all the way back from Colorado) and just stories I need to get down here.  So what I am saying is:  I'll see you tomorrow.  Or maybe next week.  I just need to find my rhythm as the seasons change.

middle of nowhere

When anyone asks where I live, I generally like to give the very true answer of, "the middle of nowhere."  I actually live in a "city," but it is not a city by any of my own definitions.  My definition includes (but is not limited to) museums, a lot more stores than just Walmart, and a movie theater that shows more than 4 movies at a time.  I know, I'm hard to please.  I've just never had to confront how much I need a Target in my life before I moved to the middle of nowhere.

But the bonus of living in the middle of nowhere is that it can be beautiful.  And we can see the stars at night.  And we can have seriously gorgeous views along side the road to get to somewhere.  Over the weekend we explored new roads to get to somewhere, and we took our time.  We got out at scenic overviews, farms with longhorn cattle, and we got out for sudden intense needs to go potty on the side of the road (Rowan, not me).  And we got out to look at the very big, full moon as she was on the rise.

 Sometimes it pays to live in the middle of nowhere.  Sometimes.

in like a lion

That's what they say about March, right?  Well, forgive me, forgive me all of you who are sick of snow, but I am loving it.  It has been snowing off and on all week here in Mid-Missouri, and I am excited for the prospect of another sledding weekend!

I can get a bit cabin feverish during winter, but this winter in Missouri has been mild (compared to where I am from) so we've been out and playing quite a bit.  That being said, I also love to snuggle in front of a fire with a warm cup of coffee sprinkled with cinnamon.  I love sinking into a bed piled high with feather blankets.  I love my little's pink cheeks from the winter wind.  I love that my make something project is ticking right along because of all the indoor time lately.  And by ticking right along, I mean I'm about 5% through the list.

I love the snow!  There, I said it.  I know that everyone North of me right now is ready to wring my neck.  Well, you'll have to stand in line while I go grab my sled.

If your winter has been a bit too much of a lion for your liking, then my wish for you is a Spring like a lamb.  But not before I get one more romp in the snow, ok?  Thanks.

first snow

Guys, I love snow.  I know I'm in the minority, but I love it.  I think there is something so magical and beautiful about it, and the way it can blanket sharp corners into soft curves is just lovely.  And this time of year, I am as anxious as a kid with a new sled for the first snow.  And finally, FINALLY, it snowed today!  Just a scant amount, barely covering the grass, but it completely counts in my book.  Growing up on Lake Michigan, I got my fair share of snow as a child.  Snow forts, snowmen, sledding, cross country skiing all took up our time all winter long.  But it seems that Missouri (at least my neck of the woods) gets a lot less.  In fact, I've been told by the Missourians that it does snow a bit during the winter, but rarely sticks.  I'm hoping for enough for the kiddos to sled at least a couple times this winter.  After a winter last year without snow in South Carolina, I'm ready for some snow!

So yes, I got so excited for the snow today that I ran out the door with my camera and snapped a few pictures.  Rowan joined me, and got to see the first snow that she will perhaps remember.  She loved it. catching flakes on her hands, sticking out her tongue for snow to land, and shuffling her feet around in it.  The wind was wicked, so we didn't stay out long.  But we reveled in the white stuff for a while, watching the wind whip our bamboo forest around like a field of wheat instead of 20 feet of strong bamboo.  If you live anywhere north of my latitude, I'm sure these pictures are quite less than impressive.  But I'm going to share anyway, so enjoy!

Do you love or dread the snow?  Or both?

unexpected break

Hi friends. Well, my computer is dead. The verdict is that I probably killed it with static from my own finger tips! Yikes. Who knew? Computer murdered by excessive winter dryness. File this one under "things that only happen to Ruthie."

So the good news is that I just ordered a very very awesome computer that I have lusted after for forever. The bad news is that it will take a week to get here. The good news is that I can still post from my phone or iPad. The bad news is that I can't use any real pictures. The good news is that this will give me extra time to prepare for Christmas. The bad news is that my advent wreath tutorial is stuck in my camera until AFTER advent begins.

So hang in there with me. My postings will be sporadic and probably lacking in pictures.

As a consolation prize, please enjoy a couple pictures of our friend's French Bulldog, Gigi. She's been spending Thanksgiving break with us. She leaves us tuesday and the littles will be so sad. I think I'll be ready, though!

tree tunnel

Disclaimer: the colors of the leaves peaked here last week, so there are lots of pictures of fall foliage I'll be sharing this week.  You're welcome.

Rowan and I spent a sunny morning at the park recently.  Rowan called this part of the park the "tree tunnel."  The colors were perfect.  Now the wind and rain has taken down many of the leaves, and the trees are starting to look like bare bones.  Just in time for Halloween. 

I feel like Fall is slipping through my fingers.  Halloween is in a week, and I'm still getting costumes together.  I blinked and October is coming to a close.  I thought I had the whole month to fit in pumpkin patch visits, hay rides, and Halloween parties.  And now it's going to have to be crammed into this one week.  Let's do this thing. 

Do you have plans for Fall activities before the end of October? 

it rained

Last weekend, we went on a few adventures.  On Saturday, we went to a festival in a nearby town.  It was a gorgeous day, bright, cool, and breezy.  The colors of the trees were just amazing.  The littles smiled a lot, had fun, and I of course forgot my camera.  Oh, Ruthie.  We had fun anyway.  On Sunday, Brian decided we'd go to a nearby park to capture some of the fall colors.  On the way there, it started raining.  Pretty hard.  So the park was out.  But a drive in the country was in!  So we went exploring, and found more rainy countryside.  That's what you get in this neck of the woods.  A lot of countryside, and very little civilization.  Oh, and a snapping turtle in the middle of the road.