an announcement

Today I'm happy, and a little nervous, to announce something I've been working on in my spare hours: a new blog! Since I started writing here in 2009, sometimes skipping months in between and sometimes pouring out multiple posts in a day, I've found a bit of my voice, as well as an affection and a craving for writing about faith, doubt, spiritual seasons, and other fascinations. I've used this space to document precious family memories as well. For over a year, I've entertained the idea of creating a separate space that's more defined, where I can really focus writing out my faith, and having a bit more time on my hands lately has given me the opportunity to work on it. And so, at long last A Feast of Crumbs is born. 

If you'd be so kind, please click over, read the About page and let me know what you think! 

I plan to keep two separate blogs, but I imagine the topics will overlap. It's all spiritual, of course, but Noting Now will be where I mainly archive family happenings and updates, and A Feast of Crumbs will focus more on topics of faith and whatever else I'm itching to write about.

{This also makes it possible to make Noting Now private in the future, as the kids get older, if I see the need to do so.}

For most of my life, I've been scribbling in journals and tapping out ideas onto screens, working out my salvation. And so this beautiful community (online and elsewhere) of people with questions and ideas about God and how we relate to Him, what's happening in American Christianity as well as worldwide, church culture, and so much more: it feels like home. 

I've been blessed time and time again to stumble onto words that gave life to my tired spirit, and that blessing in turn directed my gaze to God. And so, if there's even the slightest chance that my words could do the same for someone else, then I want to pursue that chance. I've been feeling nudged, you know?

Thank you so much for reading here, and I hope to see you at the other blog too. Having a space to write it all out, document the journey, and gain clarity means so much to me, as does your presence.

play kitchen

This past week Ricky and I did this little project together. Honestly he did about 75% of the work, as I'm fairly terrified of all things involving saws. It was fun and frustrating, as projects tend to be. Inspired by Pinterest of course.

We used an old kitchen cart/tv stand that's been sitting in our garage for about a year, and attached a flat board to the back after painting both pieces. 

Ricky cut a circle for the sink, and attached another piece of flat board on hinges for the oven door, and added a door pull onto it. We used a craft cardboard "J" and wooden craft balls and wheels for the sink and oven knobs, and painted on the burners with chalkboard paint. Everything is screwed into place except for the cardboard J which will definitely need to be replaced. We used Gorilla glue for that, but Silas has already pulled it off twice. I'm on the lookout for a wooden J that doesn't contain curlicues and that's not too small. The bowl for the sink and the little shelf were thrift store finds. I have an empty picture frame for a window as well that needs to be put on. I made a simple curtain and hung it on a tension rod.

The boys were around while we were making it, so it wasn't a total surprise, but we did stay up late Saturday night to finish it and stocked it with some play food and dishes that they didn't know about. They were excited to see it all finished and ready to play with. Silas just likes that he gets to take stuff out and carry it around, and Nicky's had fun playing restaurant with it. I'm so glad they like it, and I'm also excited to have something that both girls and boys can enjoy, since we may have a little girl staying with us soon.

It feels really good to have this done. It sure looked a lot easier to make than it was! Thanks, Ricky, for innocently agreeing to "help" me with this project.

projects here and there

With Nicky in full-day kindergarten now I'm finding myself with more free moments while Silas naps. Also, the changing of the seasons always seems to give me fresh energy (or at least the idea in my mind that the seasons are changing). I had some serious fun with projects last week. It just feels so good to change little things sometimes. I really wish I came up with these ideas myself, but all credit goes to Pinterest. Have you tried it? It's like crack for crafty people. But look, it led to productivity!

The pantry before:

and after! Still messy, but I'll get to that. I think this is going to be quite useful.

Yay chalkboard paint! I'm resisting the urge to basically paint all my wall space with it.

Project # 2: frames for Nicky's art/treasures/masterpieces:

This was mostly from stuff I had lying around, but I did buy one cheap picture frame to hold bigger things. I just need to find some little clothespins or something like that to hold Nicky's handiwork.

5 Things

• coffee outside in the morning is my new favorite thing
• this poor blog's been pretty neglected lately. I actually have several unfinished posts that just need to be finished, once I find the motivation. I'm trying to not just throw things together, and that takes time, I'm finding. May was a very busy month, with graduations, family visits, and a high school reunion. It is nice, and needed, to be home, and have some space in my days for catching up.

• Speaking of space, I'm feeling the need to create more of it, in many ways. There's a rummage sale at my church coming up, and I want to do some major purging for that (all those things I've been holding onto just in case). I need to do a media fast of some sort. Less multitasking. Practicing the daily office-getting better at that. Yesterday morning at church our pastor led us through a time of silence, stillness and meditation that ended with a focus on the attributes of God we love, and the things we may need to let go of to create more space for Him. I loved it. It seems to be the theme of my life lately. Just the other night, having dinner with friends, one was talking about clearing out clutter, literally and figuratively, as a way to make room for God to bring new things into our lives-like relationships, opportunities, more quality time. I have to laugh- sometimes these messages are so clear, and it seems like everywhere I go the same words are being spoken. It's even in Nicky's complete enjoyment of a pile of dirt as I type this. Okay, I'm listening. 

• Our backyard landscaping project is so close to being done. The garden is flourishing, the patio is done, the grass is growing (still needs to fill in, but it looks better each week), and the dog run is in place. This week we need to fill the french drain with small rocks, then take a load of excess dirt to the green landfill, and pick up a load of free mulch from there, to cover the remaining dirt. We've also been thinking of making a raised melon patch but that may turn into a project for next year, since it's gettting late in the season. We'll see. Even though it's taken months, I'm glad we're doing it this way. I'm going to be so proud of this thing once it's done. I never realized how much work it was to make a patch of raw dirt look pretty!

• This year we're growing three kinds of tomatoes (cherry, beefsteak and yellow pear), basil, cilantro, red bell pepper, poblano pepper, jalapeno, butternut squash, and yellow squash in the garden, and rosemary, mint, and thai basil in pots. Lots of caprese salad, salsa, calabacitas, fresh marinara sauce, and maple roasted butternut squash in the near future....I love summer.

rest-full

Yesterday afternoon Ricky remarked that this had been the most restful weekend he's had in awhile. I would have to agree, and it's funny because we did so much. We both had the whole weekend off, which is rare since I usually work Friday or Saturday.

Friday was a major outdoor workday. We leveled the dirt area where we plan to lay sod, planted a tree, and dug out most of the old garden so we could level that properly and refill it. We has watered the ground so it was pretty soft-pretty important in this area since we have caliche right below the surface and it can be rock-hard. Silas spent a lot of time outside in his chair, just kicking his legs and looking around. He really seems to enjoy the fresh air.

 Saturday was my birthday. I had requested the day off, thinking how great it would be to have a Saturday with my family, no obligations or appointments-just a Saturday. That's really what I wanted for my birthday. And I got it! The day began with Starbucks in bed (Ricky knows me so well...), and gave me some lovely presents (from my list no less), then we got ready and went to the farmer's market.

We ate really good burgers (from the HotDogBurgerChicken guy), and bought organic plants for the garden-cherry and heirloom tomatoes, butternut squash, and yellow squash. Nicky bought a wooden car with his saved-up dollars.

squinty face

After a fun leisurely morning, we headed home to let the kiddos rest. I told Ricky I didn't mind continuing our outdoor projects on my birthday, so we kept working on the garden bed. He built a new frame for it, with much more sturdy wood than we used last year. It looks SO much better, and level! Yay. We finished up the day with Dion's pizza and brownies (my favorite).

Sunday morning we had Silas' dedication at church. It was so special, and there are so many babies right now! Many of our dear friends have had/adopted babies recently or are about to. We prayed for our little ones, and spoke things that are important to say out loud-You are special, and loved, and chosen. Your life matters. God knew you before you were born, before the foundation of the Earth, and has beautiful plans for you. I love our church community, and I love that our boys are growing up in such a loving, life-affirming place.

We had brunch afterwards and Nicky got to spend the afternoon at a little amusement park with his grandparents. He came back tired, smiling, and a little wet on a boat ride. Ricky finished up the garden while I stayed inside with Silas- it was super windy and even a little chilly outside.

It felt good to collapse into bed at the end of the day, with that great feeling of accomplishment. Funny how work can be more restful than a weekend filled with tv and naps. Those are okay sometimes too. This time, though, accomplishment really hit the spot.

Thankful for (64-70):

• twenty eight years on this planet
• what I told Ricky on my birthday- I can't think of something I'd rather do than just have a day with my family. Thankful that we don't just love each other, we like each other!
• love for these boys that just keeps growing
• possibility
• community that rejoices with us (and would weep with us too)
• sunscreen, floppy hats, sandals
• big brown eyes

a nursery for Silas

This room definitely took on the feel of the months while we waited for Silas to make his appearance. I wanted something cozy, autumnal and woodland creature-esque with a homespun feel. This is what I came up with!

crib: hand-me-down from big brother

blanket: crocheted by me

owl "lovie" (in the crib): picked up in a little shop on our Pacific Coast Highway trip

table: belonged to my grandparents, then my parents. It was in our kitchen growing up. I sanded and stained it a darker color to match the crib. There's also a futon on the other side of the room with wood that's about the same color (thank you Craigslist)

bedside table: my nightstand in college, spray-painted blue

lamp: from our bedroom (we finally got a matching set :)

quilt and sweet animal prints: Etsy

mobile: homemade. A few fun afternoons with felt, a needle and thread, and a glue gun. So fun to make!

print: Etsy

little blue shelves: from the Goodwill box, spray-painted blue

Yay for paint and hand-me-downs! I had a lot of fun putting this nursery together. Right now it's kind of just a dressing and diapering room since Silas co-sleeps, but he'll get some good use from it later I'm sure!

springing around

I love the energy of Spring. I've been organizing, clearing out clutter, getting my hands in the dirt, and getting so much more fresh air these past few weeks. Aside from a few windy days, it's been so beautiful outside.

We're working on our backyard, in phases. Phase I we're "hiring out", the rest is all us. The plan: a sprinkler system, sod, a peach tree, red mulch, doubling our garden space, expanding the side porch to the rock wall so it makes a nice big patio with space for a table and chairs and doubles as a dance floor, a sandbox, and last but not least a dog run for Penny. Our neighbor makes dog-houses, so that may be in the works as well. Penny's mostly an inside dog, but she loves being outside. I will love her not coating herself in dirt ten times a day.

It's a small space, but I think we have a good plan. I'm super excited to start that garden, but for now I'm just putting flowers and herbs in pots, to stave off the cravings...

This one rolled over while I was at work yesterday! Belly to back. Trying to get a repeat performance today.

the Supermoon

Nicky likes Angry Birds, Penny likes to perch

And I like baby leg-warmers. Not that we'll be needing them for long.

garage: before

When we moved into this house (exactly one year ago on February 19th) we put everything in the garage and slowly moved things in as we found the right places for them. We were much more particular about setting up the house then we have been in the past, since this was more permanent. Putting holes in the walls, even, was a little daunting for us, because they are our walls, and the house was just so clean and pretty and empty. So, it's taken this whole year to make it homey, and we still have some things to do. 

The garage pretty much stayed the same the whole year. It's been bugging me but certainly not enough to do anything about it....until now. Warmer weather gives me the itch to clean, purge, and organize. So, I'll be sneaking off to the garage during naptimes and in the early evening with the garage door open, when it's better for everyone's sanity to not be in the house (aka fussy, cranky, sun-downing, "happy hour" as my friend calls it). Something about getting out during those hours is so, so helpful. Even if the crankiness persists, at least we're getting some fresh air.

 My challenge awaits:

These pics are completely unrelated, just taken by Nicky yesterday. Look at those edible cheeks....

first garden

This is our first "real" garden. I've been growing tomatoes in planters for a few years, and we had an assortment of flowers, some basil and failed strawberries a few years ago, but this one is the real deal. Can't wait to see it in a few months....