simplesparrow

awakening

cellphone at sunset

heart

hannah's desk

i know i will love germany

We leave tomorrow for Germany. It all feels sort of surreal until I get on the plane, then it will sink in. It's just Mark and me this time--part work for Mark but not without several days of free time for us. The kids get to go to grandma's house in Washington where they will see their much loved brother Micah and be spoiled silly by my parents.

This trip worked out so that we will be celebrating our 25th wedding anniversary while we're there. How's that for a second honeymoon? What a score! (I know some of you are wondering, I got married at 18 and have never looked back!)

I have some photos scheduled to share with you while I'm gone. Just some of my summer images so far. I'm starting with this one above.  For my last post before I return I want to give away one of my photos from Germany--so be sure to leave a comment there if you would like your name to go into the drawing!

Bye for now friends! I can't wait to share with you when I get back.

xo,
T.

strap love

Turning something mundane and so very ordinary into lovely and colorful strappy goodness is what the good people over at HighKey are all about. I came across them a little while back via a link that a young friend of mine sent me (thanks Kasey!) I was quickly swept into their world of strap fashion for cameras. So many to choose from! So many cool designs!

I love that they also donate a portion of every sale to charity, you choose one of four options when you check out. I also love the no-slip backing of the strap. This alone is gold, I can't tell you how many times my camera met with near disaster because I bent over and it came crashing down before I saved it. I really love that the straps are handmade right here in California and all materials are purchased within the US.

But most of all, I love just how darn cute it is.

For the next 2 weeks HighKey is offering simple sparrow readers a 10% discount!  Enter the code sparrow09 in the code box when checking out. Thank you Tom and Andie!

3 new ones

I had the time yesterday to make 3 new journals in the horizontal format I've been wanting to try out. I like them! It is so, so fun to see one my photos become a journal. I feel like a proud, new mama each time I finish one. I'll be putting these into my shop soon, maybe even today.

Don't forget, my  buy-one-print-get-one-free is going on now through the 30th of June!

Hoping good things are coming your way today...

T.

coaster art part 2

I finished the coaster project for Noah's room. It's feels so good to finally see this small vision to the end! I can't believe I actually held onto those coasters for so long.

This project went so quick and I would say if you had an hour you could make all six easy. As I mentioned in my previous post I found the frames at the dollar store surprisingly. I discarded the glass, it had some ugly writing on it and besides it wouldn't fit over the coasters anyway. I used the paper insert as a template for cutting my background papers.

The stack of paper scraps I had came in so handy for the block of color I put behind each coaster. They were from our 'one pound scrap pack', pre-cut paper pieces in a variety of colors. The kids have used these so much over the years for many things. You can find them at Michael's. side note: I'm not a scrapbooker (although I have made baby books for my kids) but that does not keep me from stocking up on beautiful papers! They come in handy for so many projects.

After I put the papers in place (using the paper insert as a guide for the background paper meant I didn't have to glue it in place, it fit just inside the edge and the frame backing held it in) I glued the coasters on with Aleene's Tacky Glue, it drys quick and holds strong. And...because I'm infatuated with my new label maker (got it at half off, woot!) I printed out the names of each animal as the final touch. Not sure I like that idea now so much, but they're on there and can't come off without ripping--which means there they will stay.

So, a quick and fun project that spruced up his room a bit. And it was so cheap to make!

Coasters: $2 at the thrift store
Frames: $6 total from the Dollar Store
Papers: pennies

Not too bad eh?

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Random news:

*I am so excited, I won this month's photo contest over at Greeble Monkey!

*I've decided to merge my photography prints with my simple sparrow shop on Etsy. For a few different reasons I'm going to see how this set-up works out.

*Mark and I leave for Germany on July 5th (!!!)

*In celebration of our trip, and because I'll be adding lots of new photos to my shop when I get back (I hope!), I'm offering a BOGO FREE special on all prints (journals excluded) Simply state the title of the free print when you pay with PayPal in the message box. I'll offer this through the 30th of this month. Shop away!!

coaster art

This is a project I've been waiting to do for almost 3 years! Waiting for what I'm not sure, but I held onto this set of wildlife coasters that I found at the thrift store with just this project in mind. I was sure they would make adorable art for Noah's room and so far I'm quite happy with what I've come up with!

What jumped started me was Noah asking to go to the dollar store. Every now and then he gets a hankering to waste a couple of bucks on some cheap-o toy that will break in about 31 hrs. after purchase. We've discussed this and he understands thoroughly the consequences of such a shopping trip. And yet he is unmoved. So we go. Anyway....while he is deciding on exactly which squirt-gun to buy, I mosey on over to the the frame isle. Low and behold they actually have something decent. In fact I like what I see, and for a buck each? Oh yeah. I figure since they will be just hanging on the wall and therefore not being handled they should hold up fine? I think yes.

So we both happily sauntered up to the check out, me with my 6 frames and he with his squirt-gun and pirates eye patch. I have 4 more to make and I'll be back with the details of what I did if your interested. (but maybe its already obvious?) Oh, oh! I got a label maker too!! (see item no. 4 of this post) Now that thing is F.U.N.

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Thank you to all who voted for my picture in the Greeble Monkey contest! As of right now the winner is yet to announced, so fingers crossed :)

come vote!

Just popping in to say head on over to Greeble Monkey's monthly photo contest and cast your vote. The theme was 'cell phone, iphone, or in-the-moment'. My photo, 'look up', was chosen as one of the finalists. So excited about that. I would love it if you voted for me (see me now with a large, humble grin :) but truly, vote for your favorite. Voting ends Thursday the 18th at midnight mountain time.

Back soon....

weekend pictures

I've got some crafting to show you soon, but for now I'll share a few photos from our weekend. And on a random note, today is our first official day of summer and I can't tell you how excited I am. VERY.

The top two photos were taken while we were driving up to the San Francisco area for the weekend. I took them through the car windows--there's something sort of romantic about that, clicking away while driving (I should clarify while Mark was driving, not me!) I bet there is a flickr group for this sort of thing, hmmm....

The bottom two are of our hike to the top of Black Hill last night. We live about 5 min. away and the hike is short. Perfect for a spontaneous hurry-lets-go-for-a-walk-before-the-sun-goes-down kind of thing.

Anyway, happy Monday to you!

T.

random bits

Random bit #1:

This book has me fantasizing about running a neighborhood bakery that would bring me all the praise and glory that a flour covered, dough wrangler could ever want. Her "pink cake" in particular has captured the heart and soul of my sweet tooth and I will not rest until I make this dreamy confection my own. (please excuse my corny dramatics but they are completely necessary in this case and couldn't be helped.)

2. More rediscoveries: a pile of aprons I made quite some time ago. Just in time for the glorious baking I plan to do (see random bit #1)

3. Sitting in my reading chair from across the room I see that Otter's current food and water bowl match the table and fruit bowl above. I swear I didn't plan this.

4. I'm getting excited about the new sewing/craft space that Hannah and I are creating. The act of putting a pink sticky note on organized bins has me especially satisfied these days. But owning one of these would definitely send me to label-making heaven, that glorious destination in the sky where everything has a place and everything is in its place---with a custom label. 

Happy Wednesday!

xo,

T.

big changes, little changes

It's a season of change around here for us, as you well know from my previous posts. We said goodbye to Micah last night. We watched his car leave the driveway and then listened for it as it made the two turns onto the main road, caught sight of it again and watched until his tail lights were out of view. He gave a few beeps on his horn that seemed to linger just a bit in the night air. And then we just stood there for the longest time, in the dark, in the silent. Somehow I felt if I just stayed on the walkway, then Micah hadn't really left yet. These powerful emotions are hard to face. What's even harder is watching my other children face the emotions of watching a very beloved brother move away.

Well, here I am again, pouring my heart out. I didn't really want to go there right now, but I've always said that I write this blog from my heart, whether it's tiny chit-chat, the satisfaction of being creative or the more serious things of life. Today, this is my heart. Again.

With one less person living here we've done some rearranging in the house. Nathan and Noah are trading rooms with Hannah. The boys had the larger room, and it fit the 3 of them great. It even had 4 of them in there at one point before Seth got married and still it was comfortable. Our plan was to give Hannah and I a sewing/craft area at the far end. We are still in the middle of organizing and shifting but I think I'll post about it when it's all done.

So, little changes. In the midst of shuffling the kids rooms around, I was reunited with this adorable paint by number that Hannah did 5 years ago. It inspired the new arrangement in the photo above. That's the top of our TV cabinet and until now, the main eye-catcher up there was a poor houseplant constantly on the verge of death until I gave it a life saving (barely) drink of water to prolong it's misery. Now it's a pretty, happy spot and the sad plant can rest in peace.

Is anyone else going through lots of change right now? Big or small, let's here it. It's time for me to let someone else do the talking ;)

coming up for air

It's been party central over here--so much to celebrate! Over the weekend we had a graduation party for Nathan. Graduations are special to us because more then celebrating academic achievement, we are acknowledging are children's whole life up to this point and the beautiful young adults they have become. Most of you know that we home school and I absolutely love how we can plan our graduation celebrations to be very personal for us and our kids. I printed two large photos that I took of Nathan and mounted them on foam board for people to sign (I'm loving where Noah signed his name on Nate's shoulder, complete with happy face!) Of course we had lots of food and cake and, after we gathered around him and shared special words and blessings, we rocked the house with a dance party--complete with 2 disco balls! Fun times, very fun times.

We also came together to say goodbye to Micah, my second born who will be moving back to Washington at the end of the week. All of us were shedding big tears (you might of thought we were at a funeral!) because we will miss him SO VERY MUCH. Micah has met the girl he will marry and so is moving to live closer to her before their wedding next summer. As much as it hurts to see him go--we truly are very, very happy that he is about to embark on his own life's journey. And as one friend said--we're not losing a son, we are gaining a daughter. I will hang on to that.

And last but absolutely not least, we celebrated Hannah's 15th birthday last night (and last week--the girl got 2 parties! one with family and one with friends) Every time her birthday rolls around I remember the day she was born at home. After the midwife had left and Mark and the kids went back to bed--there I was alone with my tiny bundle held close, watching the sunrise from my window. It was one of the most peaceful and beautiful moments of my life.

I'm pretty sure there are not any parties coming up for this month, and good thing! I need a break from all this emotion and cake. But come July, my wedding anniversary and 2 more birthdays! Like I said, party central.

xo,
T.

on letting go (again)

Nathan drove off by himself 2 days ago, for the first time. So far all of our boys have gotten their licenses at age 18. They didn't need them before that and this time frame just worked well for our family. Still, being older hasn't made the tug on my heart any less. That tug that reminds me my little birds aren't so little any more and that soon another one will be leaving the nest. As mommies we experience those heart-tugs all throughout our children's lives.

If I'm remembering right, they start even days after they're born. You are constantly aware of growth and change and independence.Those tugs pull harder and harder the closer they get to adulthood. This is the part of parenting that I want to put my fingers in my ears and close my eyes and sing a little tune something to the affect of, "I'm not listening, la la la, I'm not watching..la la la..."

Micah documenting his maiden voyage with Noah following.

Because as right as it is that they grow up and lead their own lives, as much as we want--more then anything--to see them live their dreams, it still hurts to let go. There is just no way around that. And as if Nathan getting his license wasn't enough for my mommy heart to ponder, we'll also be celebrating his high school graduation this Saturday. And then at the end of next week Micah will be moving back to Washington to live closer to the girl he will marry next summer. This time he's leaving for real. Just how much can a mother take in one week? I've broken down crying not just once.


There he goes. We stood there watching until he was out of sight.

After he drove off I walked with the kids to where Mark was standing. We shared a glance and I showed him the pictures I took. We laughed. We pondered a minute. Then we all went inside and got about our business. Secretly I know we were all waiting for him to come home.

looking for the light

This lovely, serene image was taken in my bathroom on top of the.....toilet seat.

Photographers: never say never. Sometimes that's where the light is.

:)

saturday morning happiness

Noah and Otter listening to The Story of Dr. Dolittle on CD.

Fresh from the 3rd St. bakery: raisin walnut bread, blackberry cheese danishes. (a tiny in-home bakery that's only open Sat. mornings. I love living in a small town!)

New succulents to plant = *love*

Happy Saturday!

xo,
T.

succulents are the bomb

Being a California girl--a southern CA girl for all of my growing up years--succulents were very much a part of my flora world. Most of the yards, landscaping, potted plants etc... had succulents growing in them. I remember one time as a young almost-teenager I took the leaves of a particularly juicy succulent that was growing in our front yard and used them to write all over the side of the house! I thought it was a harmless art lesson, my parents...um...not so much. It was hell trying to clean that stuff off. Some art experiences, no matter how enticing, are not worth it. I know. Anyway...

Now that I'm older and wiser and not so inclined to deface the sides of houses--I really do appreciate these special plants for all their glorious qualities. Like, they are so super easy to care for. You would have to basically be in a coma to kill one. They take little water--and not often, many are happy indoors with bright light and you can root lots of them by just sticking a clipping into the ground. This is my kind of plant. Some of them get the most gorgeous blooms too.

I just made up these two mini gardens. I was looking at pretty pottery but didn't want to spend that much. So I painted my own! The stones are from our beach walks. Aren't they so cute!? Love these little guys. Mini gardens are so dang charming. Something like this was what I was thinking of when I opened up my new etsy shop, the garden part in home.garden.you. At any rate, these two are staying with me, I've become quite attached.

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There's still time to vote for your favorite image over at greeblemonkey. Some of my favorites: Emerging and Serious Worker. Go take a look!

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Public techno announcement:

Oh gosh. Just realized that I had the comments on my last post not turned on right. Well, I've fixed it. So please comment away! I'm dying to reply to someone with this new fancy system :)

meet my sponsors + special offers

I just adore the special, handmade items that these girls make. Let me introduce you to each one!

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You can get to these fantastic little shops by clicking their link in my sidebar to the right.

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I just enabled Typepad Connect for my comment section. No doubt you've been noticing this new feature on other blogs. I thought it was a great idea for helping people following conversations with each other and I'm hoping it might make it a little easier for ME to stay connected to you, my readers. Look for me in the comments section!

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edited to add:

Oh goodness! Just found out that I'm a finalist in greeblemonkey's photo contest! I'm honored to be among so many amazing images--every one entered was just beautiful. You can go there now and vote for your favorite one.

holding on

Mama, could you read me this book? As he stood there looking blurry-eyed and still not quite awake, he sips the last of my tea. This was not an unusual request, nor is finishing off my ritual cup of morning tea. But as we went out to the patio to read in the sun, I saw our reflection in the slider and I sat there a moment just taking *us* in.

He still fits on my lap--kind of--and he still always, always wraps his arm in mine when I read to him.

He got a little impatient, "read mom, mom?" Look Noah, look at us in the window--I say. Let me take a picture, just really quick, ok? He sighs, but cooperates. He even gave a little smile because I think he understood--in the tiny way that a 7 yr. old can.

One day, I'll have to let go. But right now it's my time to hold on. I'm not going to miss it.