Under Construction

Toddlerish

Over a month ago I dutifully documented Oscar's first steps. And then he resumed life as an avid crawler. A prarie dog of sorts--stand up to see stuff or reach things he shouldn't--then back to hands and knees to go anywhere.

Until yesterday at a friend's house when he decided to test out walking just a teensy bit. And I took several spectacularly bad videos of the four grown ups and three big kids cheering him on.

 

But do I USE it?

So Oscar is in what I might generously call an "exploratory" phase. This was him exploring the cabinet where we keep tea. Little did I know this cabinet also held some plastic utensils about 15 miniature spatulas and several duplicate boxes of tea. So I just let him go at it and used the complete disaster as motivation to see what I have on hand and clear out the stuff I won't miss (ancient, gross, green tea--good riddance).

And since Friday we've had a pretend Japanese Tea Ceremony and a big pitcher of iced tea.

Mostly though, this "exploratory" phase is incredibly annoying and made 1000 times more so by the fact that we have a great deal of stuff. So here's the (latest) plan. I've got a garage sale scheduled with the best garage saler in the Western Hemisphere (my mom) on September 8. I've got till then to clear out.

I'm also reading the 100 Things Challenge right now. I find the author (and the book) a bit annoying and a lot repetitive but it is helping me think about stuff in a different way. I used to keep things because I loved them (for aesthetic or sentimential reasons) or because they might be useful (someday). This run through the house I'm trying to keep stuff I use or enjoy on a regular basis. Yes, the gravy boat only gets used once a year but I know I have it and I do use it. Couldn't say that for the food mill or weird juicer. They're in the garage sale pile now.

I'm still going to have 4 million tea towels (I use a lot of tea towels) but I'm giving away a few aprons and some underutilized dishes. I'm reminding myself that I'm not obligated to keep a gift I don't love just because I love who gave it to me.

So we're not going to have one of those stark, modern homes anytime soon (ever) but I'm hoping we'll have a lot less stuff (at least between ground level and about 3 feet).

Wish me luck.

 

Cut away

This is how the top of the Gray, Mustard and Peacock Quilt looked right before I put it in a box and shipped it to Susan in Seattle last month. She got right back to me with snapshots and I've been remiss in not posting the results sooner.

Cool, right? I love how she chose to cut some and not others. Thanks so much for playing along, Susan! And the dog is a cutie too :)

This is the back. I realized at the last minute I didn't have a piece of fabric for the back so pulled out the fat quarters. It works.

::

I'm trying to get back in some good grooves over here. School for Biscuit. School for Mr. H. Sleeping for Oscar (ya, right) Running for me. Routines for everyone. After a summer of vacations it's all taking some adjustment. But it's all good.

Second grader!

Biscuit started Second Grade on Thursday.

It's kind of impossible to believe but there you go. Second Grade. And so far, so good.

Adventure!

So we just got back from 11 days in Alaska on a private yacht. Yes, I hate me too. How many awesome vacations should one girl get in a summer? (answer: 3). We are so, so lucky (especially lucky to have generous family friends with a yacht! in Alaska!).

The trip was pretty much as awesome as it sounds and despite there being 6 adults, 2 kids and 1 dog the boat was roomy enough that it didn't feel claustrophobic.

The weather was very gray and rainy most days but the views we did have were amazing.

Ok, so this post just deleted itself for the THIRD time (after two times I started saving but not often enough). Typepad, I am annoyed! So, without further commentary and with frequent saving, here are some more photos including: wildlife we saw and wildlife we caught and ate. Enjoy!

Humpback whale:

Orcas

Grizzly bears

Humans

dead salmon

luckily, the wine was "salmon safe" (!)

Prawn

And this is where I could go on and on with photos and stories of stuff we did and stuff we saw but it's 11:15, I have work in the morning, Typepad is sucking etc etc. Suffice it to say it was awesome!

  '

But one final, funny quote. After a week at sea in a very nice yacht with three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a kitchen with granite counters, Biscuit was incredulous about the bread warming device they pulled out of the cupboard, "you have a TOASTER on this boat?!" Funny kid.