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There are finally some new veggies at the market (cucumbers! zucchini! snap peas!) but mostly it's still roots and cruciferous stuff. Makes for some cool photos anyway.
And then we had a taste test--can you identify this food (while blindfolded) by smell? What about taste?
Mr. H got 100% (although not 100% by smell). Apparently dried pears smell like poop. Just FYI.
This Christmas popcorn tin seemed the perfect size for a trash can. And (when emptied more regularly) it is.
And finally I covered it in a piece of old wallpaper. I had wanted to cover it in art by Biscuit but this was a lot quicker and easier (and done). And here it is back in its natural habitat (surrounded by trash).
I finally Springified the mason jars filled with candles seen here with some succulents.
Not sure about the glass beads but whatever. Teensy succulents was a fun way to spend my Easter money. Thanks, Easter bunny!
All this before Easter Bunny has hidden a single egg.
Marble run
Backyard camping complete with our new "fire pit."
Easter eggs (including an attempt of a faux Ukranian tie dye technique)
Happy Easter!
Every kid in Biscuit's class made a ceramic couch with their family seated on it. Could it be any cuter?
I love how Oscar is a fully formed baby in our family.
Definitely a kid art project to treasure.
Every day at work I end up walking from my building (which is technically a horticulture building even though I don't work in horticulture) to other buildings for meetings.
I am very lucky to have such a pretty walk.
For the past two days I've kept my phone out to snap photos between phone calls.
I'm getting better at phone photos--gotta center the main object or it's bound to be out of focus.
Which can be cool if you're okay with it.
Lots in bloom around here. In purplish news: The start of the irises. The end of the wisteria.
Nice, huh?
And weird how the camera phone gives a photoshopped effect when I use the zoom function. I kinda like it.
I don't tend to redecorate often except for one wall outside my kitchen. Version 1 (leaf heart). Version 2 (painting I didn't like). And now, version 3 (an easy to change photo wall).
Those are each blank envelopes and I cut a shape out of the front. And a few Biscuit or I decorated. The back is open so I can slip a new photo in with no trouble.
It started because in helping Biscuit with her poster I ran across a pile of snapshots I loved too much to keep hidden in a pile. But I didn't want to commit to frames. I was tempted to just tack them to a wall but wanted something a teensy bit more (formal isn't the word). More something.
Not sure I LOVE this solution but I do love having the photos on display and the random blue tape doesn't bother me. I mean really, if you had photos that cute of your hubby and kid wouldn't you want them up on the wall?
And I really must thank Biscuit for the inspiration on this. She asked me to come do her craft the other day (decorating and cutting up envelopes) and it totally inspired this temporary frame concept. Thanks, Biscuit!
My dad gave me a boxed set of Keri Smith's books for my birthday. And ever since they've been waiting, still in plastic, for inspiration to strike.
Today was just the right day. Mr. H is out of town, I was tired and grumpy and Biscuit was full of enthusiasm.
Turns out journal wrecking is an activity just made for five year olds.
After the morning bath we went to two different parks and worked on journal destruction! (among other activities)
"Results"
Biscuit jumped up and down on the book on the lawn to fully smash in the found objects. "Lucky we're supposed to wreck this, huh?" she said as the cover got bent and crushed. Now the book smells nicely of lavender.
We just jumped around and completed activities as the mood struck. The entire process was very fun and liberating. And Keri's mentality of experimentation fed into another project we worked on this evening.
Where we started (very boring but inspired by this activity)
Our new "process" inspired by the fact that the damp paper towel I was using to clean up looked better than our deliberately painted cloth.
The "results"
Even more interestingly, the colors continued to run and bleed as the fabric dried so the final result (which is in the dryer now--hopefully not turning my dryer blue) is different than the image above.
Fun times!
Oh, and a super pretty flower on a tree. It's a dogwood, right? I had no idea these grew in California.
I always love Picnic Day.
This year was even better by the addition of friends from afar.
Watching liquid nitrogen ice cream get made.
Making Silly Putty--it was a big hit!
All that and weather so perfect you wouldn't believe it. Hooray!
In traditional lazy blog format--a list of things in my brain.
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The other day Biscuit asked us, "do you know what a soul is?"
Mr. H and I exchanged glances of "do you want to handle this conversation?" and he quickly replied, "it's the bottom of your shoe."
After which I quickly added, "what do you think it is?"
"It's Spanish," she confidently replied, "it means sun."
Both of us, "oh yes, of course it does." (Phew)
The parent volunteer who teaches Spanish once a week at kindergarten got a kick out of that one.
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Did I mention that Biscuit is on the swim team? The first day was rough (I cried more than she did--hormones--but suffice it to say tears were shed all around). She made a complete recovery after learning that practice ends with a cannonball off the diving board. I needed a post practice ice cream to recover. But wow, I am so proud her.
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This week we finally had Biscuit's teacher over for Teacher's Dessert. Had all the best intentions to make it a Fall tradition but Spring works too. I still stuck with the Fall themed dessert. Apple Caramel Walnut Cake (aka the new and improved Teacher's Dessert)
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As if Teacher's Dessert (and tomorrow's field trip and Open House) weren't enough excitement at school this week, Biscuit is also the VIP. Each kid gets one week during the year to share a poster of photos from home, bring something for show and tell, be the line leader, hold the flag for the pledge and untold other kindergarten privleges.
Biscuit worked VERY hard on her poster. I'm pretty sure it's the only entirely kid-done poster I've seen for a VIP week and it shows but she was very pleased with the result.
Were you aware that her favorite toy is a Jack in the Box? Me either. And where did that come from?
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To give Oscar some air time I'd like to note that he is kicking up a storm lately. He is also measuring right on schedule and appears to be in fine health and humor.
Only one month of work left and about 7ish weeks till baby. Yikes!
Hope Biscuit is getting her desire for tons of attention out of her system 'cause it isn't gonna last. Poor kid. At least she'll get a brother.
Just did the math. 130 stitches/row x 42 rows/color x 7 colors = 38,220 stitches. No wonder it took so long. Although looking at it I think I shorted the last teal color a row or two. So maybe a few less stitches.
All spread out it's really wonky but I'm just pleased it got done before Oscar did. He'll be a summer baby without much need for a wool blanket but whatever. It was fun. And I got a lot of knitting out of my system.
Maybe I should figure out about blocking...Hmmm.
