The Colors Have Been Chosen!

Here are the interior colors of our new home. I guess I was in a very "Spring" and "Retro" mood when I picked them out.

Color names from top to bottom: Vintage Orange, Intense Jade, Sunflower, and Garden Medley. All from Behr.

I will let you guess which rooms these are for ... and then I will post photos of the painted rooms as I get them done (ugh). A hint: none of them are for the bathroom :)

Have a great Monday!

Love,

Jodi

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When Momma is Not Feeling Well.

When all I want to do is lie in bed with my humidifier, a bag of Halls, some Vapo-Rub and a good book ... I remember that I am a Mommy ... and staying in bed is not an option. I know that someday soon it will be an option, as I will be moving into my new house in just 2 weeks ... right behind my parents house. And soon, if and when I am not feeling well, Isaac can walk the twenty feet to Grandma's house and be endlessly entertained while I recover.

But this week, that was not an option. So, like many modern Mamas, I had to turn to the television. I am not proud of this. I have a love/hate relationship with television. However, we don't allow for commercial television. Just PBS & well thought out DVDs. I can live with that.


So, when I came down with one of the worst viruses I have had in a long time, I turned to Amazon.com and purchased as many DVDs as I thought would keep my son happily entertained while Momma recovered. I painstakingly read nearly every review of each DVD that I chose ... wanting to be sure that these videos were more than just entertainment, but that they also had some additional educational or social value. I think I did well in my choices ... so I am passing the list on to you Mamas of young ones ... in case you should ever need some recovery time of your own (click on titles for more info):

• Word World: Welcome to Word World
• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom ... and lots more learning fun.
• Little Bear: Halloween Stories
• Party Time With Max and Ruby
• A Big Big World ... The Sky Above
• Springtime for Max and Ruby
• Curious George: Zoo Night and Other Animal Stories
• The Land Before Time: The Wisdom of Friends
• The Very Hungry Caterpillar ... and other stories.

The biggest hits were Max & Ruby (Isaac identifies with Max's antics), A Big Big World, and Little Bear (as always).

All of the above videos are very gentle. They are not "in your face" fast-paced cartoons. They have a gentle rhythm and flow ... and that is important to me. So, if it is important to you as well, I would check them out.

Oh - and I am almost fully recovered now ... so no worries :) We even played outside for a while yesterday. 40 degrees! Spring is almost here!

Love,

Jodi

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The Miraculous.

When we come to it./

We must confess that

we are the possible/

We are the miraculous,

the true wonders

of this world/

That is when,

and only when/

We come to it.

~ Maya Angelou

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HAPPY EASTER!

Ahhh ... what a nice day we all shared today. We enjoyed a lovely and simple Easter with family & friends. We hope you did too :)

The Easter Bunny brought Isaac his own camera (along with a trail full of colorful eggs). Please click HERE to see some of his personal photography. He is so in love with taking pictures like Momma does. And I am so pleased :)

Also - Auntie taught Isaac some new painting tricks ... using hard-boiled eggs (she jokingly told me to write up a tutorial of their new art technique here on the blog. But I had a hard time figuring out what in the world they were doing. All I know is that they had fun) :

We even got a look at my parents' new place. It is coming along very nicely:

As soon as they move into their new house, we get to move into the house they are currently living in (on the same acreage) ... so we are VERY excited that their new house is almost finished! We are SO ready to finally move. Spring is a wonderful time for new beginnings :)

With Much Enthusiasm for Spring & All It's Blessings ...

Jodi

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Welcome Spring! (Sort of ...)

Welcome Spring!

Happy Birthday Mom! You are the greatest :)

Happy Birthday to the late Mister Rogers! (Are you wearing your sweater today?)

Now, Universe/God/Creator, it is officially "Spring" now so I am begging you to bring on the sun. I mean, down on my knees pleading. I am ready to negotiate. At least stop the snow - please. Or lift some of the clouds. Let the sun peak through a bit so we can be sure it is still there. I promise to appreciate it. I really do! I will bask in its warmth daily. Please consider my pleas. Oh - and the pleas of my Mom - who is begging you for the same. And its her birthday. Come on, be a sport.

FYI: The above photo was taken last year at this time. If I showed you the weather outside today, it might only make me cry ... snow, rain and lots of clouds. So, I am instead showing a hopeful photo.

I am hopeful ... forever hopeful.

I hope that the first day of Spring is lovely where you are. Truly. No hard feelings if you are enjoying the sun and lack of snow where you are ... just please send inspirational photos and maybe put in a good word for Maine in your prayers :)

Love,

Jodi

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Finally! They're Here!

I am so excited to debut some of my photography note cards on Etsy. It has been a not-so-secret passion of mine to take my photography to the next level --- retail sales. Though I consider myself a true novice in the field of photography, I am incredibly passionate about it ... and about my subjects. My hope is that others will find inspiration in some of my work, and will want to bring it into their lives or the lives of others. What better compliment or motivation ... though honestly, the joy photography brings to me is *almost* motivation enough.

So, here is the debut of my first note card collection " CELEBRATION of SPRING".

Thank you for looking!

Love,

Jodi

P.S. I am also quite willing to sell these at wholesale prices to those interested in buying in bulk to re-sell in their own shops. Thanks!

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An Egg is Quiet.

I have faith that spring is coming despite the seven-foot snow piles in my front yard. I have been here before ... in that limbo of a March in Maine ... where the sun shines but the snow continues to fall. I know that in just a couple of weeks, I will be "enjoying" mud puddles that are often twelve feet in diameter and at least six inches deep. I will be watching (and hearing) all my bird friends return to their spring/summer feeding and breeding grounds. My chickens will begin frolicking in the grass and laying fresh eggs. And Isaac and I will be outside WAY more than we are in.

With spring fever (and we DO get spring fever around here ... big time) fast approaching, I have been pulling out some of my recent "spring" book purchases for all to enjoy. And I SO have a favorite this year: An Egg is Quiet by Diana Aston and Sylvia Long. This book may go down as my favorite non-fiction picture book of all time. Perhaps it is because I am so enamored with eggs in general ... perhaps it is the amazing illustrations ... or perhaps it is the simple way that this book conveys so much knowledge and wonder. Any which way, it is a wonderful way to learn and appreciate the way that so much of life is created and nurtured through "eggs".

You can visit here to learn more about this book, but I wanted to share some of the incredible illustrations here as well:

This book inspires me in so many ways. Each time I look through it, I get especially excited about letting my hens hatch out some of their own chicks this year. It has been a while since we have done so. And I look forward to sharing the wonder and beauty of this experience with Isaac.

I hope you are all finding your own special ways to welcome (or summon) in spring this year.

Love,

Jodi

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Isaac's 3rd Birthday.

My baby is 3 today. Such a big boy already. So sweet, kind, curious, loving, strong, playful, and insightful. I am so very proud. I am so very thankful.

As is our tradition, Isaac put on Daddy's shirt today to see how much more space his body takes up in it. He has proven that which we were already well aware of --- he is no longer a "baby". He is a "3" now and very proud of that.

For comparision:

"2" :

"3" :

Thank you Marjorie, for giving birth to our son. Thank you for choosing life. And thank you for creating such a wonderful plan for him. He is the most amazing being Halis and I have ever known. We are forever thankful.

Love,

Jodi

P.S. Happy Birthday Isaac Watson! We Love You More Each Day :)

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Good Clean Fun ...

I am not one for "bells & whistles" type toys in our home. Give me some Goodwill or hand-me-down little "men", a storage container full of water & bubbling Ivory soap, a towel to put it all on ... and I will show you a happy little boy who is cheerfully occupied for hours. Yes, I have to change his outfit at least 3 times or more, but it is worth it to watch him create some amazing diving adventures in these waters. I guess it helped that Mr. Rogers talked about Scuba Diving this morning --- peaking Isaac's interest in water play today.

Gotta love simplicity. Gotta love Mr. Rogers. Gotta love the imaginings of an almost 3-year old.

Which, by the way, that almost 3-year old turns 3 TOMORROW! Amazing, eh? I want to both smile and cry. It is such sweet sorrow to watch your babies grow up. There is so much I miss about his younger years. But so much I look forward to as he grows. Either way, I am so glad to be a part of it all.

Enjoy your babies :)

~ Jodi

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Today's Etsy Update ...

... included several recycled journals. So darn cute (and useful!).

... but did not include the photographic notecards & photo journals that I have been so excited about showing you all. They are simply not ready yet. Ugh. But soon ... always soon...

I hope you enjoy today's update. There is also a very sweet cupcake banner there, too :) As always, there will be more to come. Thanks for looking.

Love,

Jodi

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An Artist ...

... Should Not Be Bogged Down by Housework ... It only Stunts Creativity.


The new house will have creative space, but for the next couple weeks, I am stuck with my kitchen table and counter. I almost cannot believe that I am sharing this photo with you all. Fabric and ribbons everywhere ... totes full of supplies strewn all over. But this is life. Real life. And we have been eating around the coffee table so as to accomodate Mommy's need to create (thank you Isaaac & Daddy). Soon, I hope to be settled into my new jolly, super-organized and bountiful creative space. But until then, the above photo pretty much depicts how we have been living these days.

Soon...soon... maybe if I click my heels .... and simply say... three times ... "There's No Place Like Home, There's No Place Like Home, There's No Place ....."

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In Honor of My Hero ...

Won't you participate?

Love,
Jodi

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Happy Birthday Maksu!!! :)

Alalalalalalalala....comelnyer Maksu I niiiiii hehehehe.... :D

HB015 (NOT AVAILABLE)

Today is my aunt's birthday! :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY MAKSU!!!!! She's 51 this year and yet she looks like she's in her 30s!!! How lucky to be able to look so young at that age....wonder if I will look that young when I reach 50! Yikes!! hehehe! We went out for lunch to celebrate...but I forgot to get her a cake!! Ooops! Maksu....jangan marah...I'll get you one when I come back from Alor Setar ok? hehehehe! She got presents too! Will not mention it here what they are hahahaha! Rahsiaaaaa.... :D

Made her a special dark red/marone colored card with cream and gold embellishments...I love the edges of the card where I used a scallop scissors to cut with...the flower petals are individually cut and pasted on the cards...same goes to the leaves...all cut by hand...they all look like they are dancing hehehe swaying from side to side and from up and down...I made a marone flower for the envelope...matches the card really nice. :) Happy that she loved it... :)

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Collage & Silhouette.

Thank you all so much for a great Etsy Shop Update. I sold several items, took in a few special orders, and enjoyed some lovely compliments. It always feels so good to have your work appreciated. And I sincerely thank you all for your support.

Lately, I have taken an interest in collage, paper, and silhouettes. I have found great inspiration in some of these books: here, here and here. And though I have been "testing the waters" of this art form, I have a long way to go before I feel comfortable in it. But boy is it fun! I mean, we are talking kindergarten, hey-Mom-look-what-I-made, instantly gratifying fun! Break out the paints, the scissors, the paper and the fabrics ... and give it a whirl :) It just feels so darn good.

The above piece was done with a silhouette I took of Isaac ( I made him pose like that - and he did - can you believe it?), some acrylic paints, some cardstock, some gel medium and leftover fabrics from a recent project. All put to canvas. Isaac loves it. He says, "Look Ma, Baby Isaac looking at a bird! He a good boy." When I sat down to create the piece, I was thinking of how much I couldn't wait to see the apple blossoms in my front yard - and Voila!, they appeared.

I do plan to sell a couple prints of this piece in my Etsy shop. Not sure of the interest, but thought I would give it a shot. They should be available by next Monday.

Meanwhile, I hope you sit down to do some cutting and pasting too :) I promise that it is therapeutic.

Love,
Jodi

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Buy Handmade (please). It's Good For All Of Us.

So, we all know that there are a million and one reasons why it is better for you, your community, the earth, your kids, the economy, etc. for you to buy handmade goods, right? Well, if you can't think of at least a couple good reasons let me remind you of the lead paint issues with Chinese imports and that Free Trade does not equal Fair Trade ... just for starters.

In recent years, I have become quite convinced that handmade is best. And on every occasion, I try to support local artisans by purchasing my gifts and home decor from Etsy (unless of course I can make it myself :)

And now, I invite you to take the handmade pledge as well:



And perhaps you can take that pledge JUST IN TIME to check out my Etsy shop ... JUST UPDATED TODAY (as promised). However, as I stated before, I plan to do another update next week as well (some goodies didn't quite get finished in time).

Thank you & Enjoy.

Love,
Jodi

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