Spring. We tasted it this week and it was delicious.

Annabelle now has daily swing time outside. Here, for the first time without her hat, she shows off her swinging abilities. "Watch this trick!" she says for the hundredth time...

I have been working diligently to clear space for a garden this year. Previously nothing but a bunch of overgrown weeds and hard packed dirt, I hope for this space to yield me a bounty of beans, tomatoes, herbs, flowers, soybeans, peppers, and squash this summer! It was new to be shoveling with the sun in my eyes this day...

Wild violets are blooming everywhere across our half acre...

New medicines

The whole family has been sick this week!! Yuck.

My understanding, acceptance, and use of "natural" medicines has been a gradual process.

There is a need to move Annabelle away from conventional medicines that are taxing her already overworked liver... overworked due to her medications for her GERD. I have a newish understanding that masking symptoms can contribute to longer or more acute illness, and am learning that something as simple as a fever or a cough can be helpful, both physically and developmentally. So, with lots of encouragement from some very knowledgeable friends, we have entered the field of some pretty serious homeopathic treatments.

While I like and prefer herbal remedies, they are inevitably spurned by Annabelle's body, ending in another allergic reaction. This has happened even with something as seemingly mild as echinacea. Besides, I am developing a keen interest in Anthroposophical Medicine these days and learning, little by little, how important it is to view illness simply as an imbalance (not something wrong) and how homeopathic medicines work by bringing balance to the human body and spirit. Our first doctor visit warranted a handful of prescription homeopathic medicines that were ordered from a pharmacy in Wisconsin. We received them today.

It's exciting to me, to think in terms of bringing balance to my life. So much seems off balance too often :: scheduling, cooking, finances, even the weather. While I've spent time thinking about happiness, comfort, and abundance, I haven't really ever considered whether my life is harmonious or balanced. Have you?

We'll see what these new treatments do for us. I've had so many doctors promise me that their way will get Annabelle off her GERD medication and bring an end to her crazy cycle of allergies, but over the last two and a half years, none of those promises have materialized. My skepticism has clouded my hopefulness. This isn't good for me, let alone good for Annabelle. I need to uncover that hope, realize that I need to let go of my skepticism and fill that space with patience. Maybe this new way WILL help! Maybe, maybe...

My love

I gave my valentine a crafted gift this year, as inspired by a book he gave me for Christmas. He always seems to have one or more notebooks that hold thoughts for whatever creative project he is preoccupied about in that moment :: games, screenplays, characters, writing ideas, life goals, etc. So a true moleskin notebook seemed perfect. I just gave it a little color, that's all.

Winter Crafting

Usually I craft in one of two extremes: either I work passionately to get something done as quickly as possible, or I start project after project, working until I get bored (usually an hour) and leave it unfinished for another time. But this month I have adopted the strategy of having three or four projects going at once, working on each a little bit at a time. It might seem inefficient, but is proving to be a great way to accomplish a lot with limited time.

My latest efforts have been inspired by two books that I got for Christmas, both sewing books. The pencil case is adapted from a pattern in Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson... a really wonderful book with lots of interesting and lovely new ideas. I've been wanting a pencil case exactly like this one forever. (In fact, I bought these pencils five years ago with the intention of sewing up a case for them that same week. Didn't really think about the fact that I didn't have a sewing machine at the time...) But finally (!) I can recycle the flimsy cardboard box and my sweet colored pencils can enjoy their new cozy, colorful, little home.

The bag is in Amy Karol's Bend The Rules Sewing book that I love, love, love! I can't wait to craft every idea in it! I made this bag (my new school bag) over the weekend... It came together SO easily, I couldn't believe it. The intructions in her book are so clear and simple. I know I'll have and love this bag for a very long time.

Under shorts

As Annabelle (very sllllllooooowwwlllyyy) approaches toilet learning, her interest in underwear is growing. We have daily dress up time that generally involves trying on a rotating selection of unders. I bought this pair of unders (actually a vintage diaper cover I think) on ebay a long time ago, even prior to dating Dave. I thought they were so hilarious that I stashed them away for over nine years... waiting for the day my daughter would put them on and I could take this exact picture. How's that for planning ahead?