Linden Tree

Linden Tree
Linden tree

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Winter Returns

Winter returned without a doubt on Friday...so we took the opportunity to do the perfect indoor project....painting!  The girls painted letters to spell out their names to soon adorn their bedrooms.




Hand palettes are a preferred tool.  Who thought of a paper palette anyway?



Mattie and I made a rag wreath (I couldn't take the Christmas ones any longer and spring flowers seemed a bit premature!)


Maybe better saved for the Fourth of July?




With the onslaught of snow Friday and Saturday we were left a wonderful medium for a serious snowball fight around the garden, culminating in "Cinderella" winning over the "Beast" and ultimately two wet girls burrying daddy in the snow.


Even Tory enjoyed the snowballs!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Catching UP

Well, it's been a few more days than I had intended.  Here are some pictures of a week ago or more...


The only time the birthday crown was worn ON her birthday. Since then, she has worn it about the house like a normal accessory. (whew!)


Who wants to hear the horse music box? Why all the horses in the land of course (and perhaps a few fairies)!


Shoveling is hard work...digging a pass (like the Rocky Mountain Pass) is even harder!



Guess who?


Surprise!  (Playing bucket-head was far more fun than digging a pass.)


On top of the snowy mountain! (What a pose, huh?)


And now on to this week's fun...


This was the morning our 4.5 year old got up on her own, woke not a soul, dressed herself in her big girl clothes (please note the purple belt and baseball cap, key items in being dressed as a big girl) and then announced to everyone that the sun was up, so what was our problem?  (Before and since she has never, ever, gotten up and afforded her mom an extra second of sleep!)


Proud of the tower built for animals and dollies alike (managed by dumping the basket of blocks down the stairs for more efficient hauling.)


50 degrees you say? Let's walk -- dogs and binnoculars are all I need!



Seed pods, everywhere. Please note the petticoat-like layers in Mathea's dress. Brand new velour dress, two layered skirt, pants, and a new to her spring coat (layered over another). All clean and pretty. I had to beg her to wear water-proof boots and not some pink item.  She swore she would walk around every puddle.



Hmmm.  I suspect the entire month of March's pictures will look something like this.


She was joyfully exclaiming "spring, it's spring!" Heartbreaking. February in western New York.  Not so much.  But beautiful while it lasts.  (Oh, and did you notice the mud? Almost lost the boots at the bottom of the block.  Imagine suction and cries of "hold my hand!"  Yes, March will be interesting.)


Thursday, February 10, 2011

Lulu the Traveling Emu visits Atlanta

Imagine my surprise when I opened up my Christmas present from Erica and the kids and found, staring up at me, a nice, fuzzy, bright blue emu (the head only, of course). While her primary function is to sneak into my suitcase and transport little notes and goodies while I'm traveling for business, it only seems appropriate that Lulu should have the opportunity to document her travels, obviously for the greater edification of emus everywhere. Toward that goal, I'm happy to announce that Lulu's first stop was to the National Archives Southeast Regional Center in Morrow, GA, tagging along while I was helping to present a two-day seminar. Unfortunately, Lulu wasn't able to bask in the normal comfortable temperatures of northern Georgia in February, as she apparently brought the snow with us from New York.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

The Spirit of a Week

So far, our week has been filled with lots of creating.  For fun, our bellies, and birthdays (with more birthday creations to come if we can squeeze it in...at the very least cake!)


Clay. It was fun while it lasted. Then we had to wash the girls, the horses, the table, the chairs, the floor, the sink...need I go on?


Mathea sewing Mairi a costume...impressive patience by both.


Mathea's masterpiece, a butterfly for all seasons (spring, summer, fall, winter).


Painting linseed oil on the great trucks Papa Doug made, the dog bowl stand too.


Homemade bread, whole wheat oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, chili...and veggies, which obviously were not homegrown this time of year, but pretty, and what the girls had for dinner.


Birthday garland, crown, and gift bag, all reuseable for many years, inspired by "the creative family: How to Encourage Imagination and Nurture Family Connections" by Amanda Blake Soule, http://www.soulemama.com/.  The fabric for the bag was a thrilling find at Goodwill, a beautiful linen with sparkly butterflies and flowers. Perfect. Both girls helped with the sewing of the crown, hence the perfectly imperfect embroidery.


Super Mathea...disappearing and reappearing the "horse chicken".  JR asked for a duck-goat, but apparently those are on back order.


Priceless.

Where in the world is Mairi?