January thaw

Every couple of years after weeks and weeks and weeks of freezing cold temperatures it warms up. Just like that. The thaw never lasts, it is only long enough to tempt us with its little spring-like-feel before dropping into sub-arctic weather again.

And right now we are having a thaw. It is downright balmy outside. Not super sunny, but quite warm (comparatively) at almost fifty degrees.

So today we went to the park. Not to sled or play in the snow but to walk the paths and pretend it was spring time. It was wonderful. James happily toddled along beside me until he saw a tree he wanted to visit and then he almost fell over in excitement making his way to their thick rough trunks.

I hope this thaw sticks around because park days with my boy makes me quite happy.

It seems like just yesterday that James was holding my hand wherever we went. Not anymore. Today he saw ducks off the bridge and pulled his hand away so he could have a better look.
He has missed his tree friends, but alas, they are reunited!

He is still all about airplanes and helicopters. Whenever we hear one he stops and looks for it until he's spotted it. Then he points excitedly.

My Printer's Drawer

One of the items I've collected for my entire life is miniature things. I have always loved miniatures, once owning a big beautiful Victorian doll house that I played with daily as a girl.

Growing up, the doll house was just too big to keep, but still, I've been drawn to small wonderful little toys and mementos.

As a teen an adult I've been drawn to tiny souvenirs, picking up something special on each of my travels. I'm not huge into buying souvenirs, but this is a collection that I just love.

About ten years ago while on a trip with my mom we saw a printer's drawer in an antique shop in Sanpete County. Printer's drawers were used at print shops when lead letters were stored in huge cabinets ready to be laid out for printing.

The drawer was perfect. Tiny cubies in lots of sizes that could hold my ever growing collection of tiny travel mementos. We bought it on the spot.

Since then the Printer's drawer has hung in a couple of locations, but it has always been a favorite thing of mine in the entire house. In this home it resides in the living room next to our Georgia O'Keeffe NYC Radiator Building print (you can see it in this photo). I love it. And look at it often.

I thought it was high time that I shared this on my blog. So, in all its beautiful glory, here is my Printer's Drawer.

And here are some of my favorite things:
1. The little owl is carved from a piece of wood. E picked it up in this incredible store in Japan the first time he visited. Later I visited the same store and just fell in love. The owl is one of a kind and is signed by the artist on the bottom.

2. The mother and child is also a wood carving. This is my favorite thing I got in Italy on my honeymoon. We visited these amazing towns in Northern Italy in the Italian Alps. It might be my favorite travel memory ever, it was just an amazing day. This area is known for wood carving and I was thrilled that many of the carvings were under two inches tall. I picked up the mother and child and have loved it ever since.

3. Delft Glass is everywhere in Holland. When we visited Amsterdam in 2005 I was so excited to see Delft glass even came in miniature. I picked up the bunny, the kissing boy and girl (top row, middle) and some little Dutch shoes that I hang on the Christmas tree. Love!

4. The cast iron polar bear is something that didn't come from a trip, instead it came from eBay. I have loved polar bears for quite some time, and found this charming little man on eBay. He had been part of an antique child's circus set and for some reason he was being sold alone. He is chipped and old and wonderful. I think I paid less that $5.00 and was so happy with the purchase.

5. One thing I like to look for when searching out a small souvenir is something that represents the area or a specific memory. The cast iron lamb is so tiny (only about a half an inch) and I just love it. I picked it up when I visited the Cotswolds England, which is known for their sheep and wool. The tiny little lamb has a hand painted collar of flowers. Perfect to represent the stunning English countryside.

6. The winter fairy is the only thing I got when E and I visited Austria for our Honeymoon. I remember the day so well. We were in Innsbrook enjoying the amazing Austrian city. Right on the main street there was this tiny fabric shop. Loving fabric I stopped in and saw a tiny basket of these little handmade girls. Picking a favorite I paid and left and have been so happy with her ever since.

That is only a small sample of what lies on my Printer's Drawer. I look forward to filling it slowly over a lifetime of travel.

See how sweet the tiny owl is? And the mother and child behind him.
Winter fairy and a ladybug climbing a daffodil, one of my favorite things from the Hamptons in New York .

Hanging out in the living room

I'm sure the increase in blog posts makes it apparent that I'm feeling better. But not well enough to cook dinner. No, instead I sit on my butt and blog while my husband works on smoking sausage outside (not sure why he decided the sausage must be smoked, since it is 22 degrees out...) but I digress.

Since I'm feeling better it means I've also been picking my camera up again. Today while the afternoon light slanted into our living room and James was playing puzzles, I grabbed my 50mm lens and got some shots of my boy.

This outfit? It is also from that old box, the one that Connie (E's mom) had saved all those years. This sweet vintage onsomble was E's when he was James's age. So so so dang cute if you ask me.

Puzzles have been one of James's favorite toys as of late. It seems like as soon as I put one back together he's happy to pull it apart again. And second photo? Juice break with a puzzle piece still in his hand, of course. I find pieces all over the house.

Two of James's silly faces. First one is one that he just figured out this week. He'll put his chin on his chest and look up at you very seriously. Second one, I was asking him where his mouth is, which of course included the tongue. Of course.

Drool balls rock, remember?

James is a smarty

I think he might be a scientist. Or an engineer. Or an artist. But I know he'll one day fulfill all of his dreams. He's just so darn smart.

Summer Lovn'

I really really need some summer lovn' right about now. I CANNOT wait for summer (and spring!) to arrive. Being sick and cooped up in the cold dark house really doesn't suit me. In the summer James and I are outside all the time. We go to the park at least four times a week. We take morning walks every day, without fail. We visit his best friend the tree multiple times a day.

Now? Not so much. Since the daytime highs have been in the low 20s, we've not been out much at all.

Bright side? I'm feeling better today and it seems that my little 32 inch helper is too. We are both on the up-swing.

And this weekend? It will be down-right balmy at 35 degrees and sunny! I want to go snowshoeing in my bikini it will be so warm. ;)

Last night, after feeling sick for the entire day I decided to defrost a little taste of summer. Remember when we made tomato soup on the grill? It is one of our favorite recipes. We made enough to freeze some and last night we defrosted it. It was perfect perfect perfect.


And I went through some old albums today and grabbed a few of my favorite summer photos.

How I do love hiking with my boys.
Love those baby legs.
It is hard to remember that we had to go up to the mountains because it was soooo hot in the valley. Isn't it weird how we almost forget?
Eating watermelon on the porch on an especially hot August day.
Wading in the river at Murray Park. We LOVE Murray Park and spend many a summer days there.

Waiting for Dada {Black and White Wednesday}

Last week I was struck down with a bad cold. What's worse than trying to get yourself healthy and having to take care of a toddler? Having the toddler sick? Yep. That's what we've got this week. He's miserable. I'm still yucky. I haven't picked up my camera much over the last week, last weekend was spent just trying to feel better.

Today is looking like it might be the worst of it. James is so sad and he doesn't understand why I keep wiping his poor little face (darn buggers).

However, I have hope that by this weekend we'll be back to our old selves (fingers crossed!)

So the only photo I took in a weeks time I snapped last night while James was looking out the window waiting for E to arrive home from work. I knew the moment he arrived because James started happily dancing and squealing. He loves is Dadada.

Black and White Wednesday {Snow Day at Wheeler Farm}

The week between Christmas and New Years flew past in a happy blur. Each day E and I planned a little outing to do with the baby. We went to the aquarium, to the zoo, swimming in the local indoor pool, to IKEA, Trolley Square, Children's Museum, etc. We stayed so busy!

On the last day of our vacation we bundled up and went to Wheeler Farm. It was soooo cold (weather said it was only 12 degrees). Brrrr.... We figured we'd stay warm enough because the sun was out, but as soon as we got there the sun faded behind a cloud, and stayed there.

So we played in the snow. We ran around with the sled. And then thirty minutes later we decided we were all too cold and went to Barnes and Noble for a hot drink. James tried hot chocolate for the first time and was not impressed.

This photo is a little overexposed, but I kind of like it. I cropped super skinny to add to the effect.
Down near the river. Can't wait to visit this spot in the summer. Bridge = way cool backdrop.

The ice house image was the first I wanted to tile. In reality, it should be the title of this post. It was so cold.

Playing in the curtains

The curtains in the living room are awesome, according to James. He does this game at least three times a day.

Books {Great reads!}

I am a slacker with blogging what I've been reading. The last time I did a reading post was way back on May 27th. (OMG! James looks so dang cute in that blog post, I had to re-post the photo. Such a cute big pumpkin head!)

So, what have I been reading since last May? In all honesty, a lot. I'm going to forget a ton, but I'll try to update this list when and if I remember.

Angela's Ashes - I've heard about this book forever. I quite like memoirs and this one was great. The ending was a little odd in my opinion, but I do quite like books about poverty and struggles. Three and a half stars.

The Help - Again, I've heard great things about this book. And it delivered. I quite liked it! Such an interesting read about the black help in Mississippi during the civil rights movement. Four stars.

The Hunger Games - Have you seen this book everywhere? So had I. Looked interesting and everyone that had read it loved it. So I gave it a try and I adored it! Oh my gosh! Such a good book. Fast moving and thought provoking. I told E a bit about it and he read it too and loved it. Five stars.

Catching Fire - This is the second in the trilogy of The Hunger Games. Another great read and I was so happy that the energy didn't peter out in the second book (as it often does). Four and a half stars.

Mockingjay - Final book in The Hunger Games trilogy. Loved it. Not as much as the first book, but I did really enjoy this read. So glad I piked up this trilogy. So interesting! Four and a half stars.

Harry Potter Film Wizardry - I got this book for Christmas and could not wait to read it. Oh my! It is jam packed with such awesomeness. Loved loved loved it. MUST for any Harry Potter fan. Five stars.

See? I can only remember six books and I know I've read more than that since May. Darn me for not updating this more often.

And isn't this picture just the best?

New Years Eve and New Years Day

I actually don't like New Years very much. Why? Well it always marks the end of a fantastic week with my husband and family. It is dark and cold outside, and I'm not one for these dark cold days of winter. And I don't like to stay up late. :)

So this year on NYE, I was feeling a bit down in the dumps. I just really hate that this fun week with my husband (who's had the entire week off of work) is coming to an end.

So instead of going out to dinner we decided to stay in. We didn't see friends or family, and in all honesty it was perfect. James went to bed and E and I decided to make a special dinner of fondue. Gah, I love fondue.

After eating the entire pot of cheesy goodness we relaxed and called it a night at 9:30. Yes, I was in bed with the light out my 9:45, and it was wonderful.


Today was also filled with wonderful nothing-ness. We woke up late (whoo! 7:30!), played in the living room, brewed coffee and ate biscotti for breakfast. Later today we visited my grandma and headed to E's family's house for dinner. Nothing-ness rocks. And not cooking dinner doesn't hurt either.

It was a cold New Years Day. Only in the low teens. Beautiful too.
I love how the sunlight streams into our living room. Even though it was cold outside, we stayed warm in the sunny house.
Photo of my green-eyed man.
Books with Dada.
E is clearly getting sick of me taking his photo, as you can see. And my blue eyed boy.

What is that? Under the tree? Rumpus! Snuggled up upside down with his kitty fangs showing.

And the view on the drive to E's family's house. Glorious I tell you.