Midnight Sun Messin' With My Mind!

I love it though. Yesterday (and today) we got a lovely taste of some summery Kodiak days. We took advantage of it too. Not much got done around the house. I got some great advice to forget the laundry, dishes, carpets, etc when the sun is out. No problem here!

Instead I documented another fairy sighting.

We had soup and salad on the deck at 9:00pm.

We had a fire, hot chocolate and coffee (yes, coffee) around 10:00pm.

And I did some fireside embroidery and gazed into a still very lit sky after 11:00pm. We got the kids to bed somewhere in between everything. Who knows when. I can't keep track now. All I know is I put myself to bed after 1:00am and it was still not totally dark. Unbelievable.

More of the same today minus the fire, add a great hike and the beach and a super fun portrait session with a sweet family and we made the most of our long sunny day.

Still going strong in fact. I am squinting into the sun through my window. I shouldn't be surprised, it's only 9:30pm.

Have a great night!

sunday, anniversary day

We have 12 years together! Not too shabby!

Thanks to Jeff for taking pictures with me on our anniversary.

And for taking it so seriously too.

We got some nice romantic shots, just the two of us.

Looking our best, of course.

Just like I wanted. Just perfect.

friday and saturday

this moment.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

Just throwin' an FYI out there, this weekend marks a special anniversary. Oh, just a certain marriage of mine, is all. I may have to break my wordless weekend rule to chat about it a little. I mean, it's no big deal, only 12 years. (12 YEARS! tee hee.)

Not only that, it's Kodiak's legendary Crab Fest this weekend too. We are going, rain or shine and I can't wait to report back on what we think. Heard there is some sort of inside-out burger and other crazy must-sees. Gonna be fun!

Hope you have a fun weekend too!

Straight F's For Today.

Today we were just...

flying and flitting about.

And foolin' around.

And foraging in our little "forest".

And wearing fancy fairy wings with a little frizz to complete the look.

We love having friends visit us out here in the flats.

(It's almost Friday too!)

And We're Out!

Oh my! We have THREE WHOLE MONTHS of summer break ahead of us. It feels like forever but from past experience, I have learned that the time goes quickly. I really cherish having the boys home and all to myself. Well, I share with their Dad occasionally.

We had such great teachers this year. They were so enthusiastic and dedicated. We of course had to thank them in some way. I am happy to report that our teacher gifts turned out pretty good and I think they were well liked. They are little iPad envelopes! I need one now. I stole Jeff's net-book cover for mine and it is so boring. I need a little patchwork envelope to spice up my iPad for sure.

On our first day off we slept in after a late movie night, tried out some shiny new wood swords made in our reinvented workshop, (more to come on that transformation), had pizza for lunch and waded through our river. It sure is flowin'!

I must say the last day of school here in Kodiak felt (and looks) a lot different than the hot, flip-flops, straight to the beach with an ice cream cone, last days that we had in California. The weather may feel different but waking up each morning, on our own time and putting our heads together to answer the question, "What are we gonna do today?!"- that feels exactly the same.

Feels so very good.

Happy Summer Break to you!

sunday

friday and saturday

Two Years Ago, Out There...

Two years ago we lived on a cattle ranch and Minna was so beautifully, perfectly bald. We made a little door in our fence that the kids could sneak through into a "secret garden" that had strawberries and sunflowers and tall grass with stomped down paths running through it.

We lived close to the sea and played there often. We were obsessed with the perfect clam chowder there and made special trips when the cravings hit. Then of course we had to pick up salt-water taffy on the way home. We just had to.

Colyer wore a Spiderman suit every day. Everywhere we went. I really do mean, each and every day. He had two, one black-Spiderman and one red-good-guy-Spiderman. We knew what mood he was in depending on the suit he came out in the morning.

Black suit=mischief.

Red suit=a little less mischief.

(See? Plain ol' mischief.)

When I could get him to change, he wore shorts, and most of the time skipped the shoes. We all did. Jeff built us a swing. The boys didn't want to take turns so they always rode together. We had a freakishly huge, yellow rose spider named Rosie living in the back yard.

I became bonkers about making stuff and teaching myself how to embroider and crochet and sew. Started collecting beautiful craft books and dominating the dinning room table with projects. Plus I got a nice camera and REALLY became bonkers about taking pictures.

Even more so, than Colyer was about his Spidey suit.

***

Here we are, two years later, living by a different ocean and still making stuff. Minna has more hair. We wear warmer clothing and shoes when we play outside now and the Spidey suit has been retired. (It is missed terribly by this sappy mama.) Still on the hunt for a replacement in the clam chowder department. That will come.

Two years ago, I also started documenting how bonkers I am "Out Here". My goodness! Thanks for reading and following us this long! The Flats are a long way from Two Rock but it's all connected in this space. Shortens the distance a bit for me. That is such a good thing.

Again, thanks for reading and have a wonderful weekend!

(Go bonkers if you want to.)

Rainy Whirl Around The Yard.

Things are growing out here!

What a treat it is seeing the pretty things pop up that the previous owner planted and tended for years before we landed here. I will never grow a green-thumb like she had, but I sure can try to keep everything alive. I am trying to learn all I can and add some new plants to the mix. All of these are the little surprises we discover almost daily now.

We have been cheering for this gal that lives right outside our living room window. Leaves! I see leaves!

This guy has been sprouting for a few weeks but just over last night popped out those pretty little centers. (It's surrounded by little forget-me-nots too.)

Lots of little leaves across the driveway. Peeking out all over. High and low.

And these little ladies. Looking good huh? We have tulips all around us and again, seems like overnight, they have developed a bloom. Still tightly tucked inside themselves but so close to showing us what they got.

I keep telling everything to keep up the good work.

Plants like pep-talks don't they?

Well, I think all these guys are listening.

How's your flower-wooing and planting going?

PS-Sorry there are no names of the plants and trees above. It's because I don't know any of them. Except the tulips. I got tulips. At least I know those.

Unfinished Yet, Versatile.

I made another neat thing from "Oliver and S, Little Things To Sew". Had so much fun with the lop-eared bunny hat project and photos of the tutu in that book just sucked me right in!

As I mentioned, its not finished because of no other reason than I am lazy with measuring and I just don't seem to have a good working relationship with tulle. No matter how much I love it and want to get along with it.

Unfinished or not, Minna is living in it. It ties on like and apron so it's super easy to put on over any and everything. So good for any mood or moment.

The layers haven't been evened out yet. I kinda like that though. I may just trim up that lone longish piece a bit and call it good. I also considered ripping each layer along the bottom for a messy-tough look but Minna didn't like that idea.

The part I was most excited about was the pretty blue ribbon. It was also my biggest mistake prone/disappointment of the project. It is completely uneven because of the way I sewed the gathered waist on and it is rippled and bunchy. Could be-because I skipped trimming the tulle down after I sewed the first piece of ribbon on. That step was specifically for minimizing bulk. Good idea.

I also had an embroidery mistake with that ribbon. I wanted to stitch purple daisies across the front to tie in with the purple tulle. Don't worry, I only stitched about 10 before I noticed I measured wrong and stitched them completely off center. Pulled those out. Luckily I really like it plain too.

So, I am going to have to fiddle with the ties a bit to create an even closure back there. Really, the apron back is so genius. Again, a great, easy, fun pattern in that book. Probably would be easier for people actually following the directions. And perhaps making for an older or bigger child maybe? For Minna's teeny waist, that was a TON of tulle. I will make another and use a shorter width.

Minna will be asking me to tie it over her jams shortly. I can't wait. :)

Have a good day!

Sky Kids.

Looking skyward today I see some raindrops and low clouds.

But last week in the sky was the sun,

and my kids!

Jeff strapped up some webbing and a rope and somehow created a low zip-line!

I know!

The boys took turns for a while, then Jeff locked them in up there together. So funny. I was in the hammock laughing so, so hard. Especially when they were hammin' it up and holding each other like the ride was too scary and fast. Hilarious!

I think my flying girl had it the best though.

The line was the perfect height for a gal of her stature. She was also the perfect weight to really get zooming. Her hair blowing in the zippy wind.

Her brothers were always at the end waiting to catch her and pull her back to the beginning for another turn.

Playing in the sky is fun.

sunday-embroidery day

(Oh please, let there be a few more years of this with my lil' tough guys!)