life (in general)

broken

there's something about this that i love.

I was trying to figure out what it's called when you emerge from a blog break. Have you "breaked"? Are you "broken"? Either way, hello! I'm back. Sorry for the unannounced disappearance. I had been pondering a little blog break at the end of this summer and planned to make it more of a formal, announced kind of thing, but I suddenly found myself needing it sooner than later. And then of course the internet outages and storm-induced power outages made it all seem a little bit easier to slip away. So, I believe that I am back. Although you may find me a little quieter until we get back into the routines of Fall again.

I think it is good to take a break every now and then. To reevaluate why it is you blog, what exactly you want to blog about and to remember who it is you are blogging for. Next month will mark my fourth year of blogging, I still can't believe where it started and where I am now.

But while I was "breaking"…..

first.

**we ate the first watermelon and corn from our garden.

they. are. wacky.
**I celebrated my 33rd birthday and felt overwhelmed by the love and attention. I received gifts in all forms–hugs and kisses and handwritten notes left on my bed, sentimental things I'll cherish, and things I never would have gotten for myself–(like time in a recording studio, to put together a CD.)

auction haul

**I revisited an eastern shore auction with my mom and came home with a truckload of treasures and lots of funny stories.

emily. they're waiting for you.

**I started picking flowers from MY row in the garden.

**I discovered the *joys* of having house guests during a power outage.

still here, just summering.

**I took a daytrip to the beach and watched how each of my children experienced it differently–Emma: spent all her time mastering the waves. Mary: was done with sand and salt and ready to go home after 20 minutes. Elizabeth: didn't want to keep her bathing suit on and needed to go the bathroom every 10 minutes.

And today, I'm up to my ears in to-do lists. Why does one day without power feel like coming home after a week's vacation? And Emma and I are scrambling to get her fair entries ready for judging later this afternoon. There are photographs to print, cakes to bake and paintings to finish.

And while we spend the week doing all kinds of fair-type things, I'll be handing over the blogging reins to my cousin Katie Pertiet. She'll be doing a series the rest of this week on digital scrapbooking and basic photo editing. I even suspect she'll have some giveaways, too! I may be biased because she's my cousin, but Katie is one sweet, talented lady and she has so many wonderful ideas to share. I know you'll enjoy hearing what she has to share!

there's something about this that i love.

I was trying to figure out what it's called when you emerge from a blog break. Have you "breaked"? Are you "broken"? Either way, hello! I'm back. Sorry for the unannounced disappearance. I had been pondering a little blog break at the end of this summer and planned to make it more of a formal, announced kind of thing, but I suddenly found myself needing it sooner than later. And then of course the internet outages and storm-induced power outages made it all seem a little bit easier to slip away. So, I believe that I am back. Although you may find me a little quieter until we get back into the routines of Fall again.

I think it is good to take a break every now and then. To reevaluate why it is you blog, what exactly you want to blog about and to remember who it is you are blogging for. Next month will mark my fourth year of blogging, I still can't believe where it started and where I am now.

But while I was "breaking"…..

first.

**we ate the first watermelon and corn from our garden.

they. are. wacky.
**I celebrated my 33rd birthday and felt overwhelmed by the love and attention. I received gifts in all forms–hugs and kisses and handwritten notes left on my bed, sentimental things I'll cherish, and things I never would have gotten for myself–(like time in a recording studio, to put together a CD.)

auction haul

**I revisited an eastern shore auction with my mom and came home with a truckload of treasures and lots of funny stories.

emily. they're waiting for you.

**I started picking flowers from MY row in the garden.

**I discovered the *joys* of having house guests during a power outage.

still here, just summering.

**I took a daytrip to the beach and watched how each of my children experienced it differently–Emma: spent all her time mastering the waves. Mary: was done with sand and salt and ready to go home after 20 minutes. Elizabeth: didn't want to keep her bathing suit on and needed to go the bathroom every 10 minutes.

And today, I'm up to my ears in to-do lists. Why does one day without power feel like coming home after a week's vacation? And Emma and I are scrambling to get her fair entries ready for judging later this afternoon. There are photographs to print, cakes to bake and paintings to finish.

And while we spend the week doing all kinds of fair-type things, I'll be handing over the blogging reins to my cousin Katie Pertiet. She'll be doing a series the rest of this week on digital scrapbooking and basic photo editing. I even suspect she'll have some giveaways, too! I may be biased because she's my cousin, but Katie is one sweet, talented lady and she has so many wonderful ideas to share. I know you'll enjoy hearing what she has to share!

home

this weekend

the weekend

a good visit with old friends

laundry on the line

first blooms in the garden

a new read-aloud before naps

the weekend

dinners from our garden

shortbread

a gift of fresh goat cheese and marinated tomatoes

swimming

a bee sting

research

sunday dinner on the patio at the farm

a long walk up a dusty back road

the weekend

"plates" for the play kitchen from the tree

sandpaper and mineral oil

singing at the piano

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

winner of the Presto Bingo print:

Tammie:


oh gosh. its all adorable.
but that dandy lion is just out of this world.

Send me an email with your info and I'll pass it on! Congratulations!


the weekend

a good visit with old friends

laundry on the line

first blooms in the garden

a new read-aloud before naps

the weekend

dinners from our garden

shortbread

a gift of fresh goat cheese and marinated tomatoes

swimming

a bee sting

research

sunday dinner on the patio at the farm

a long walk up a dusty back road

the weekend

"plates" for the play kitchen from the tree

sandpaper and mineral oil

singing at the piano

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

winner of the Presto Bingo print:

Tammie:


oh gosh. its all adorable.

but that dandy lion is just out of this world.

Send me an email with your info and I'll pass it on! Congratulations!


Show & Tell

Show & Tell : Presto Bingo

Showandtell_updated

I am so excited to share today's Show & Tell with you because it comes from a local artist/blogger/design studio. I originally met Joyce when I stumbled upon her wonderful blog, KidBaltimore, which highlights her trips and travels around Baltimore with her children. She gives great insights into all kinds of activities, museums, events and points of interest in our area, as well as other fun and helpful projects and ideas. Right now her husband Dave is working plans for a treehouse and Joyce shares a recipe for a natural weed killer. Her blog also happens to have what is probably my favorite blog banner of all the blogs I read. 🙂

Not only does Joyce write at KidBaltimore, she and her husband run the Baltimore design studio SpurDesign . AND, they have a wonderful line of modern art prints for children in their shop Presto Bingo.

PBlogo2

I asked Joyce to share a bit about Presto Bingo :

My husband, Dave Plunkert, and I have co-owned Spur Design, a Baltimore based design studio, since 1995. We work in a renovated industrial building that gives us enough room for messy art projects. Our three kids (ages 10, 4 and 4) frequently accompany us to work, which can be a little challenging, but is always inspiring.

Dave and I have wanted to create more artwork for kids for a long time, and are currently pursuing some children's book ideas. PrestoBingo, our line of modern art prints, was inspired by our kids, and our love of modern design.  We wanted to create a line of artwork that both kids and grownups could enjoy. Dave's robots grew out of his childhood fascination with Japanese toy robots, and is mixed with his appreciation for Futurism. His alien series is more loose and whimsical and was drawn with bleach and black ink on colored paper. My animal series was no doubt influenced by our move out to the country, but I have always loved spending time outside playing in the dirt. They are digital collages, with hand painted and drawn elements mixed in. I also use snippets from nature, like leaf or bark textures to give them a more tactile quality.

All of the illustrations are reproduced on 100% cotton paper and are limited editions.

Wall-art-group


Joyce would like to offer one mommycoddle reader a matted, limited edition print from their PrestoBingo shop! So take a few moments to head over to Presto Bingo and look around. Let us know what catches your eye. Leave a comment, and I'll announce the random winner on Monday.

Thank you Joyce and Dave!

Happy Weekend, friends.

Showandtell_updated

I am so excited to share today's Show & Tell with you because it comes from a local artist/blogger/design studio. I originally met Joyce when I stumbled upon her wonderful blog, KidBaltimore, which highlights her trips and travels around Baltimore with her children. She gives great insights into all kinds of activities, museums, events and points of interest in our area, as well as other fun and helpful projects and ideas. Right now her husband Dave is working plans for a treehouse and Joyce shares a recipe for a natural weed killer. Her blog also happens to have what is probably my favorite blog banner of all the blogs I read. 🙂

Not only does Joyce write at KidBaltimore, she and her husband run the Baltimore design studio SpurDesign . AND, they have a wonderful line of modern art prints for children in their shop Presto Bingo.

PBlogo2

I asked Joyce to share a bit about Presto Bingo :

My husband, Dave Plunkert, and I have co-owned Spur Design, a Baltimore based design studio, since 1995. We work in a renovated industrial building that gives us enough room for messy art projects. Our three kids (ages 10, 4 and 4) frequently accompany us to work, which can be a little challenging, but is always inspiring.

Dave and I have wanted to create more artwork for kids for a long time, and are currently pursuing some children's book ideas. PrestoBingo, our line of modern art prints, was inspired by our kids, and our love of modern design.  We wanted to create a line of artwork that both kids and grownups could enjoy. Dave's robots grew out of his childhood fascination with Japanese toy robots, and is mixed with his appreciation for Futurism. His alien series is more loose and whimsical and was drawn with bleach and black ink on colored paper. My animal series was no doubt influenced by our move out to the country, but I have always loved spending time outside playing in the dirt. They are digital collages, with hand painted and drawn elements mixed in. I also use snippets from nature, like leaf or bark textures to give them a more tactile quality.

All of the illustrations are reproduced on 100% cotton paper and are limited editions.

Wall-art-group


Joyce would like to offer one mommycoddle reader a matted, limited edition print from their PrestoBingo shop! So take a few moments to head over to Presto Bingo and look around. Let us know what catches your eye. Leave a comment, and I'll announce the random winner on Monday.

Thank you Joyce and Dave!

Happy Weekend, friends.