Oh Audra...

It was after 10pm when she stopped singing "With a knick knack paddywack, give a dog a bone" last night.  Or hollering "I love you so so so much, mama! You so spesh (special)!" Or telling me she's never going to close her eyes. Yawn.  Good thing she's cute.

New Ironing Board Cover (And giveaway).

 

It was really long overdue. If I showed you what was there for a cover before, you'd agree. I got this ironing board from the dumpster from my first apartment (true story).  All metal, screeches when you open it. I cleaned it up and bought a cheap cover, maybe from the dollar store?  Well, that was 13 years ago now? Time for an upgrade...a little vintage fabric perhaps? I think I paid fifty cents for the fabric.

 Sweet girl approved.

 

 

 In with some of the vintage scraps, I whipped up this zippered pouch. It's about the size that would fit a mini notebook and a few markers, or whatever else you choose that is about that size. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I thought I'd give it away to one of my readers. I'm humbled, thankful and blessed to have so many of you follow our journey.  You all say such kind things to me and are such an encouragement.  Even though I don't always get a chance to respond, I am thankful for your support. All you have to do to enter is either leave a comment here or a comment on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BornImaginative . That's it!  Best of luck and thanks for being so kind to me! :)

Tidying

Well, I guess tidying isn't the word. It's more like emptying.  I'm going room by room and just taking things away. Not that anyone is in trouble, but just to simplify.  Sometimes our stuff gets messy and no one wants to clean it up. I think that's because we have too much stuff out that it doesn't seem manageable.

So I've been going room by room. Boxing things up, putting things away. No more than 3 stuffed animals in the bedrooms. 90% of the toys away with just a few options out. Taking away 3/4 of the clothes.  Simplifying.

At first, Adrian was furious with me. He hates change.  But then he said "Mama, thank you for putting all my clothes away so I can always shut my dresser drawer now easy."  And he knows about trading: "Mama, I'm done with these, let's switch it up."

Although he was hesitant, he totally is starting to see the value of less.  And playing. They are playing so nicely now. Much deeper play. Behavior has been better.  It's really such a good switch.

Here's their art area. I took everything away except for crayons, a pencil, stencils and a few pieces of paper available. That's it.

Better play, more focused, beautiful art. 

I'm going to keep going, room by room. And by the time I'm done, I'll probably have to do it all over again.  It's hard work simplifying, but the results are well worth the effort.

Good morning, farmer.

Starting out the morning with oatmeal in his fave cow bowl, warmed juice (which is really just the water I boiled the pears in) in his fave mug as of late, and his favorite type of pleasure reading. 
When you start your day with all your favorites, how can it not be a fantastic day?

Thrifteds.

 

Random thrifteds.  Each kid had $5.00 Halloween money (thank you, Janey!). I just let them loose,  interested in what they might pick. And here's their loot. It all would have cost the full amount, but the fine ladies at the thrift shop always charge my kids something like 22 cents total for their items. 

  Melissa and Doug magnet dolls, tap shoes and sunglasses.  These are Miss Audra's pick

 Books, coloring book, a feed truck, a football for dad and an outfit in case we ever have another baby (no plans in the works now!).  Adrian is mighty generous.

And mine? Maybe $7.50. I just couldn't pass up wool hats and I am a wee bit addicted to books.

And you tell me now. What's your latest score?

 

Three Season Porch

So...this three season porch.  It's marvelous.  For warm weather living, there's floor to ceiling screens.  It's no longer warm weather living in Maine....so it's been on the to do list for some time to get the screens out and the walls and the windows in.

Now, this set up is likely a century old.  It's heavy, labor intensive and has to be just perfect to fit. Lots of shimmying, pushing and squeezing to get it to fit.  The first time we did it, my dad and husband spent the entire day on it. Last year, my husband and I did it and it took more than half the day (and I shall never forget that time...for I was climbing ladders, holding windows, fastening hooks, with a baby on my back).  This year, with the help of our farm truck, amazing husband/wife teamwork and shoving snacks at the kids to keep them back, we did the whole thing in just over 2 hours. 

I'd say that deserves cake. I may or may not have made cake to celebrate.  Totally justified, don't you think?

Anyway, I have so many ideas for out here and haven't taken the time or made the effort to complete my vision for the porch.

It's not done, there's more I want to do, but it's comfortable, a great space to play and used now the screens are gone. It's amazing, as on sunny days, the temperature is often warmer than in our house.  Perfect spot to get a little warmth in the winter and it will serve as our greenhouse to start our seedlings come spring. 

It's a huge area. Big enough for a living space...

And a dining space.

Oh this wooden tray! I was so excited when I found it.  It was this summer, I think it was $10.00. Thrifted, naturally. A little splurge for myself.

It's huge (as in my kids wanted to pretend it was their boat), wooden and even more important than collecting  miscellaneous things, it's a marvelous serving tray to carry the plates and such from the kitchen to the porch.

More than anything...this space is so great to play in.

(She doesn't mind living on the dangerous side. She was trying to hold onto the horse and jump with it up and down.)

So, in your travels, plan to meet us on this porch. It will keep us warm on sunny winter days and we can enjoy a spot of tea as our children try to give us heart attacks doing dangerous things on the trampoline. All in all, this really is a fab room.

White.

Just this weekend, we woke up to a white out.

 My kids couldn't wait to get out there.

 Particularly him. He's been asking for snow since April.

Having it come reminded me of my list entitled "Things to do before snow". There's still plenty on that list that hasn't been accomplished.  Anyway, the snow was beautiful. It's mostly gone now. 

 From what I understand, the town I grew up in and the town I went to college in have a plethora of snow right now.

 Given we live in Maine, snow is a certainty. 

 Thankful to have this little teaser of fun times to come and thankful it has melted so I can (hopefully)  accomplish those last few things that I meant to do before snow, but haven't.

How about you? How much snow is in your backyard now?