Ollie Heart Gramma Peggy

Keep close to Nature's heart...and break clear away, once in awhile, and climb a mountain or spend a week in the woods.  Wash your spirit clean.

- John Muir

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A House of Her Own

This is the house that Gramma Peggy built.  Well, the interior anyway.  It was an empty tool shed, dusty and full of webs, she cleaned it out and turned it into every 4 year old girls dream.

Complete with carpet, lanterns, chotchkies, colorful Indian block printed fabrics grace the walls, and not to mention the giant duck lamp.  Greta is in heaven.  

Found

                                                     

Lazy Day

Most of our day was spent around the house.  We did head into town for a bit to do some shopping.  I had to find a coat for Greta.  I packed everything but her coat!  

Redwoods and pines everywhere.  I'm in love and will be sending for our things.

Howard and Peggy gave Greta the sweetest doll and what is even sweeter is the time and thought that went into the wrapping.   

Slightly Exaggerated Analogy

I might describe our trip from Los Angeles to Mendocino was like pregnancy and birth.  It was long and difficult journey with a prize at the end.  There were tears, body aches, a lack of sleep, a serious bout of nausea.  Towards the very end it was extremely trying,  just wanted it to be over with!  A very long road it was,  but along the way despite the complaints and feelings of will this ever end?! we looked forward to what was ahead.   And when our two day journey finally came to fruition we did get our prize.  

We were greeted by Peggy and Howard with open arms and big smiles.  They had a delicious meal prepared and I will have to devote tomorrows post solely to the amazing play spaces and gifts that awaited Greta.  And it smells like trees here.  I only smell trees outside.  I never want to leave.  The last leg of the trip was very hard but the scenery was breathtaking.  

Big high five to Greta and Henry.  My little troopers.  We made it!  

 I have had about 4 hours of sleep in the last 36 hours, Zach less.  I am off to bed now.  Looking forward to a lazy and relaxing day tomorrow.

Floofernugens Loopy

Today was the Arroyo Artist Tour Thingy.  I sold this print and Kaya the Beluga Toter.  They were sold to a father with two kids.  I'm really glad they will be hanging in the rooms of children.  

Tomorrow we leave for Mendocino.  I have loads of laundry to do, lists to make, gifts to finish, dishes to wash.  I'm frozen and overwhelmed…and so very tired.  I should not be sitting on the couch right now doing anything but folding this huge pile of laundry next to me.  I can hear the wrinkles settling as I type.  *sigh*

Greta is so excited about our big trip.  Tonight as I put her to bed, we were snuggling, she was drifting off to me telling her all the things we need to take with us, putting her right to sleep.  Then I realized,  Greta needs new rain boots!   Even though she was almost asleep I told her that she needs new boots, a coat maybe, and what about an umbrella?  She perked up, snuggled closer and we chatted about what cute rain boots we might find.  

The house is asleep except for Daisy and I.  Maybe a cup of tea will wake me up.  Or I could just squeeze in bed right between Henry and Zach and forget about the dishes, laundry and lists, and just fall into a deep slumber.  Tempting, they look very cozy in there.

I'll have tea and a square of dark chocolate.  That should do the trick.  Ooooo, and an episode of This American Life.

Next post…MENDOCINO!!

Hi Happy Baby

Warm and Cozies

I have yet to step inside Intelligentsia, but Zach brings me home these crimson bags of heavenly goodness.  We ran out a couple of days ago and Zach, who is also mad for this coffee, went out in rush hour traffic to pick some up.  My hero. 

Speaking of things that keep us warm and happy, take a look at these beautiful hats.  

I want one of each and I will wear them as I traipse around Kyoto with Henry on my back, and he will wear one too.

Sunday Sunday Sunday

This Sunday is the Arroyo Arts Collective Re-Discovery Tour.  My friend Rebekah invited me to show some of my photos along with her fabulous paintings.  She is quite the accomplished artist and well…I'm not.  I feel a bit like an impostor.  My photos are far from being professional, but Rebekah assures me that this a very lighthearted event and not to worry about my lack of official artist credentials.

I was going to show some of my photos of Japan that I had on display for a while at a coffee house in Culver City.  That felt safe to me.  People seemed to like them; I sold a few and got some nice comments.  Zach was going through my photos and saw these shots that I have of Greta's dolls.  I have been taking them since I got my new camera, hoping to put together a storybook with her dolls as characters.  It's still in the works, also very hush-hush.  Anyway, Zach thinks they are great and talked me into showing them this Sunday.  Will they come off as fun and artsy or weird and creepy?  The photo above…maybe a little creepy.  I love it though.  

7 More Days, Well 6.5...

On Greta's window we have a piece of paper for every day before we leave to see Gramma Peggy and Howow (Howard) in Mendocino.  Greta and I are competing for who is the most excited about this trip.  Getting out of LA, walks in the redwood forest, collecting rocks on the beach, hanging out with the coolest and cutest couple in the world.  Can't wait!

Kaya the Beluga Toter

Grandma Lisa

This week we drove out to see Grandma Lisa.  She is the Queen of Homemade.  For lunch she whipped up some potato and leek soup, amazingly simple and delicious.  For dinner chicken cacciatore per Uncle David's request, and of course Greta had to twist her arm (not really) to make chocolate chip cookies.  We had fun and ate good....as always.

   

This Morning

 

Our day starts early around here.  Henry wakes at 5:30am.   With daylight savings time in effect that puts us at just before sunrise.   Waking at this early hour gives Henry and I a few minutes to ourselves in the still dark house.  The very first thing we do after changing him into a Freshie (clean diaper that is) is head to the kitchen for a cup of coffee and some warm cereal (coffee for me, cereal for Henry).   This morning we had the most beautiful warm light coming into our kitchen.  The sky was orange.  

Greta came in a few minutes later, eyes puffy and half asleep she sat in her chair next to the window.  I try not to talk to her too much as she first wakes up , unless of course she's feeling particularly chatty.  I like to give her a few minutes to wake up, to come out her dreamy self.  I made her a cup of hot chocolate.  She sat letting it cool and looked sleepy eyed out the window. Her posture at that moment with her fingers gently feeling her mug's handle, waiting for her morning pick-me-up to cool, she looked so grown up to me.  I could see her as a young woman. I could also see myself in her.   My kids will grow up so fast.  I want to cherish and hold on to these sweet moments with them.  So thats what I did.

  

Line Dry

For the Love of Elke

Many of you know Elke.   But many do not know of the astounding transformation that Elke has made over the past year and a half.  

Elke was given to us by my mom.  She picked her up at a yard sale, pristine and lovely as can be, still in her box.  Greta was maybe 6 months old so Elke went up on a closet shelf to be brought out when Greta would really be able to play with her and not just try to eat her.  We forgot about Elke for about 2 years until cleaning out the closet she was rediscovered.  I pulled her down for Greta.  It was love at first sight.  

She was the perfect model of the traditional Dutch girl. She wore a high peaked lace hat, brightly colored skirt with apron, wooden clogs,  and two of the  most beautiful long golden braids.  This doll was not meant to be played with but rather set up on a shelf to be admired.   This harsh truth was realized when Greta tried taking off the clothes.  Everything was glued on, even the clogs!  The horror!  I explained to her the type of doll she was and that it was ok that her clothes stay on and that we wouldn't want her to be naked and cold.   This worked for a while but it wasn't long before I was put in charge of removing those adorable itty bitty clogs.  I tried to talk her out of this especially since I knew that they wouldn't stay on on their own and would very likely be lost within the week.   The shoes came off.

Elke has come to be Greta's mostly companion.  She even was Elke for several days this spring spent with Grandma Peggy.   I have made her a few outfits, attached and reattached her arms and legs, and most recently we gave her new hair.  I am least proud of this make shift wig,  but Greta couldn't wait for me to get proper doll hair.  We had to make due with what we had at that moment.  But Elke needed new hair....bad!  Greta had cut off those pretty braids awhile back and she was sporting a sort of pixie cut.  It looked cute for awhile.  Elke looked like a hip and more modern Dutch girl,  straight out of Amsterdam.  But Elke had too many baths and this hair soon turned into a matted mess.  Now she wears white cotton dreads.

The last outfit I made for Elke was this cute kimono.  We thought it suited her because after all Elke is no longer that old fashioned Dutch girl with the high peaked lace hat,  but a cosmopolitan and worldly young lady.

She has been described to some as "scary" (you know who you are and shame on you) but we love her just the same.  She has inspired many conversations about Holland, the Dutch people, travel, maps, herring.   Most importantly Greta loves her and has given her life and personality that we all find endearing.  We love Elke around here and believe she is here to stay.  And you'll be happy to know Greta has managed not to lose those adorable wooden clogs. 

 

    

   I crocheted this hat for Henry a few weeks ago.  It took me all of 2 hours.  The thrill of actually finishing a project has keep me excited and determined to start  (and finish) the many quilts , hats, scarves, and baby carriers that I have put on the back burner for a while now.    I will blame the lack of craftiness on my part lately to the sweltering summer we had here in LA.  It had me listless, grumpy, and totally unmotivated.  With this cooler weather I feel alive again.   I love the autumn season.  I am working on something right now that I am very excited about.  It involves a love that I have had since I was a wee little girl....making something out of nothing....or rather, making something out of something else.  But it's very hush-hush!  I will only be able to share when it is completed,  for reasons I cannot tell.... you can't make me!

        This is my blog, and this is my very first entry.  I feel too much pressure to make it fabulous and witty.  So here is Henry,  looking the way I feel right now.... a little dazed.  Goodnight.