Pumpkin Patch Kids

We had big plans for O to be a knight in shining armor this Halloween. Yeah, we even found a helmet and a breast plate at the dollar store for him to wear and if you remember the Pebble I knit for him this summer, it was a perfect addition to the get-up since it looked like a tunic that a knight would wear underneath his armor. Of course he will have nothing to do with it, NOTHING. He keeps telling me that the helmet is for a horse. hrrmph.



But this morning I decided to try Fifi in one of the costumes we have for her (hand me downs rock) and slipped her into the pumpkin costume. I pulled out the other pumpkin suit that we have to see if it might still fit O. When he saw his little sister in her get up he quickly wanted to join the party. I am pretty sure I have the cutest jack-o-lanterns on the block...

getting into the season

Doing a bit of Halloween crafting the past couple of days. This is an in progress shot of the garland I made to hang on the mantel. MrO has been coming home with witch's hats and tissue paper ghosts from school. It is fun this year to see him get a little more interested about the holiday.

I put up these old decorations that my mom gave me (I remember these in her class room back when) and O told me, "That guys is mad, mama?" I felt sort of bad that he was a little worried/scared of them. Thinking about pumpkin carving, though that always makes my arms itch, does this happen to anyone else? The pumpkin guts just irritate my skin like crazy.

I have also been doing some baking. Remember all of these I got the other week?



Well, the have been sitting because our oven decided to call it quits and all those mouth watering day dreams of apple pie, bread and crisps were put on hold.
That is, until last Saturday...



This is the scene Sunday morning as we tried out the new shiny oven. The rolls aren't homemade, but they were highly anticipated.



And I peeled and cored and made this yesterday morning.



Apple bread is a perfect match to a cold autumn morning cuppa-cuppa. I found the recipe here if you are interested.
I am going to get my apple on again and make this galette today. The dough is waiting patiently for me in the fridge. (and I so want to make those pot pies that are linked in the dough recipe! yum!)

I really do love this time of year!

generations

When I first found out we were pregnant I had my fingers crossed for a girl. I really didn't care either way, but wouldn't it be fun to have one of each? Although, I did have images in my mind of the crazy, boy filled house that could be should this new little one come out male. I am sure there would have been lots of fart jokes and black eyes along the way...

As I have said before, I am still getting over the shock of pink that has invaded the house since Fifi was born. I wouldn't call myself a girlie girl. I like to look good, but I don't think I ever wore skirts or dresses while growing up just because. (I have changed my tune these days, nothing like a cute skirt in the hot summer or paired with tights and boots during the winter) but all this frill that showed up in clothing and blankets and what not had me overwhelmed for a few weeks.

 

I don't know where I was going with this, other than to say that I am so excited to have a girl in the house. My mom and i have a very special relationship and I hope that my little girl and I can be as close. I love that my mom is so nearby that she can pop over to hold the baby for a few minutes in the afternoon and it isn't out of the way. It's pretty wonderful. Oh, and baby girl looks like her Jojo a bit too, wich is awfully sweet.

I voted (early)

In Nevada you can early vote. I headed to the grocery store and did my duty this morning.
Gotta love that you can get toilet paper, throw a few quarters in the slot machines and stand in line to vote all in the same place.
good stuff in the silver state, good stuff.

oh and since I took her brother when he was only 6 weeks old to the polls, I thought she should also come along and help me rock the vote.

As you can see, it was exhausting.

little green cardi

little green cardi, originally uploaded by NessieNoodle.

Fifi wearing a little green cardi made by my mom.
purdy cute.
So lucky to have a crafty lady as a grandma. We love you JoJo!

repetition is the heart of education

That little saying was one I heard many times while in the Geography Dept. at UNR. And isn't it true? the more you do something the better you get at it, the more you hear something the more you remember it, the more you are around someone the more you understand them and learn about them.

I have been thinking about taking a photography refresher class for awhile now, did I want to go up to the University and take a class? or maybe the Community College? These two options didn't really sinc with my schedule being mid-day and semester long commitments. One of the local photography stores has classes, maybe that would work? and when this came out I was trying to figure out just how I could get over the hill to take a class from the lovely Hula...

Over a month ago I had gotten to my prenatal yoga class a little early. On one of the tables in the waiting area there was a University of Nevada Extended Studies brochure. I flipped thru it and came across a "Using your Digital Camera Basics" class. hmmm, I though. Maybe that would be good for me. I thought about it, put it on the back burner, had a baby and then a couple of weeks ago remembered that they class was going to start soon- maybe I SHOULD sign up for it. I emailed the instructor for a bit more information on the class and decided to go for it.

Yesterday, I got up early- for the first time in over a month with an actual place to go, not just a baby to feed or change. I got in the shower, dressed, packed up my gear and headed to the campus. The class was full of basic information about photography, but basics that I needed to hear again. Things like adjusting the shutter speed will cause the aperture to adjust and compensate as well. It's all about painting with light, remember those days of film? And you know that little book that came with your camera, I think it's called the manual, keep it with you, ALL.the.TIME. because there is information in there that can actually help you know how to use your camera. No, really it can help you! (now I just have to find mine....)

We also discussed lenses and what types we should use for what type of photography we are shooting. I finally found out that a prime and a fix lens are the same thing, and that SURPRISE! my 50mm is exactly that. I go back for a second session next Saturday. I am hoping we dive further into the menu of the camera and learn more little tricks on how to use its inner workings of it all.

All this re-learning of my camera is really good. The other thing that I loved hearing again, besides f-stops and shutter speeds was to hear "If you want to take good pictures, you actually have to have your camera with you", "setting aside time once a week or even once a day to take pictures will only enforce your skills". This got me thinking, about people who I admire as artists or as yogi(ni)s. What makes them somebody that I look up to as an artist or as a practitioner? They MAKE time for their skill, there again, it's all about repetition.repetition.repetition. Cultivating time, cultivating creativity, cultivating a practice of one kind or another- giving yourself permission to make that time in your day or week is okay and wonderful. Setting an intention and sticking with it.

My bag might be full, but it's all about what I make of it (with the bag above I see pies, sauce and a crisp!)

family photobooth

Click on the image to see it bigger

Can I even tell you how much I LOVE this strip? nope, there are not words.

Taken 10-9-10 at St. James Infirmary, Reno NV
It's a real deal booth, none of this digital stuff.

We may have gotten kicked out because of the fact that it is a bar and we brought in the kids. Little J can proudly say she was booted from a bar at a month old. MrO has been in there before with us and we even had a beer afterwards, so I don't know what the big deal was. and if there is any state that probably doesn't have a law about kids in a bar with an adult it would be Nevada right? oh well.

snip-its

moments from our day

on the needles

I 've been working on a knitting project. A project for me! I am so excited about this knit, my very first adult sized sweater, Tea Leaves. A bit intimidating because of the amount of yarn involved and the possibility of wonky fit, but I am going for it. When I first saw Tea Leaves on a few other blogs I loved it. I kept thinking it would make a great cardigan for the fall/winter/spring months for a couple of reasons- It would be really easy for wearing while nursing the new baby and because I just love a nice cardigan for throwing on at work to keep me warm while at my desk.

I originally wanted to use grey but the yarn shop didn't have enough of the yarn/color I wanted. I spotted this brown just before I was about to give up and head home. I hesitated, thinking if I was going to knit my first sweater and hopefully do it again I should make it exactly as I had envisioned it, but am glad I went for it. I have perfect wooden buttons already in my stash and the more I knit the more I like the color choice, plus this yarn is SO soft!

So far I love the pattern- I am almost done with the yoke. I really like that the pattern is just interesting enough to hold my attention, but not so demanding that I can't set it down when a certain two year old needs help washing his hands after a yogurt or applesauce fest or another certain little person needs to be fed, burped or changed. The only thing I am finding is that I must hold the needles sort of funny because my right hand pinkie finger winds up carrying a lot of the weight and getting sore and tired. I had to put it down for a few days to let my hand feel better. Does anyone else find this happening?

If I have success with this cardi I might just go back and get the grey for the Shalom. I like this version or this version with the longer sleeves. Knitting for myself is fun, tee hee.

the colors

the reds

purples,

and the rainbow sparkle of a spider's web

All  of these, and more, spotted while taking a short walk on Saturday by the Truckee River. It sure is beautiful out this time of year.

One Month

Dear Baby Girl,

Today you are one month old and although the month seems to have flown by, it certainly didn't do so in the same manner as it did when I had your brother. So far with you I am getting more sleep. I am not as worried about every.little.thing I am doing as a mom, or hovering over your dad like a crazy helicopter pilot- I trust us both a lot more in our abilities to 'do this'. Don't get me wrong, we have had our rookie moments; the blow out diapers with only a short sleeve onsie to change into- when a winter jacket would surely be more appropriate, getting peed on mid diaper change, forgetting just how much of a bobble head a new born really is. Yep, definitely those moments. But I feel so much more at ease this go around.

You have already gained weight and grown. It is so amazing how fast babies change and you are no exception. Your body is filling out and so are your sweet little cheeks. We have some clothes that don't fit already and I am mixed with excitement and sadness as I fold those away into the bin for whoever will use them next.

Speaking of clothes, I am getting used to all the pink and purple that has taken over the house since you have arrived. I have been trying to mix up some of the clothes from your brother's early days (read blue, greenand  brown) just so I am not in such shock, but really it is pretty darn cute to see a one month old in a dress (sort of amusing more than anything!) I am reminded of how much time I actually spend sitting on the couch nursing and just staring at this little creature in my arms.  Wondering just who you will be, what surprises you will bring and what the laughter will sound like thru the house once you and your brother are a little bit older.

I am in love with your belly button that looks like a perfect little grin, with your long-long-long fingers and toes and that you already have eyelashes like your big brother's (I was going to feel really bad if you didn't get those too, really bad). While you nurse you squeak like a hamster's wheel and can toot louder than most grown men. You get the hic-ups at least once a day and make some of the best faces while you sleep and dream.

I am still in disbelieve that I have a little girl. I was hoping for a girl, but didn't want to get my hopes stuck on anything so I told myself that I was going to have two, crazy boys to keep me on my toes. But here you are, a girl and your daddy and I couldn't be more in love.

We are so glad you are here and are so excited to watch you grow!

october 4th

october4th, originally uploaded by NessieNoodle.

it's been raining in the high desert.
so it smells wonderful outside
makes for some good snuggling time,
this type of weather does
it also makes the oranges, reds and late summer pinks
stand out brightly against the silver gray sky
I am ready for this change in season,
thank you Mother Nature!

siblings

Moments like this make me so happy. Watching him interact with her is really special.

Seeing him share one of his favorite things right now (match box cars have taken over the house) swells my heart.

and look how interested she is in him- so sweet.

past is a present

yes, more baby pictures. but not of the kids- of me. Our house-mate's mom used to be my mom's house mate when I was first born. When K. moved in she brought with her a disc full of old photos that her mom had taken of us in Truckee. These are so fun to see, espcecially since some of them I had never seen before.

In the Wynda-matic
Looking so much like our new little girlie (or she looks like me I guess)

hiking with mom probably at the East end of Donner Lake, look how cute she is!

every kid has a photo like this, right?

Fourth of July in downtown Truckee. I am going to guess 1980 or so.