Oh Christmas Tree!

I just love our tree! It's an old fat artificial tree with lots of sturdy branches, and just the right amount of missing color coded bands to keep you on your toes during assembly. I rescued it from a curb on trash day, and to my surprise all that was missing was the base. We weren't in need of a tree, but I snatched it up anyway (which made for a very grumpy Thomas).

Anyway...

This year it was a lot harder to get our fat little tree up. What used to take a few hours took two carefully planned days, a daddy, and a mother-in-law (okay, and another day) to accomplish. But, I wouldn't want it any other way. Emmelia watched me from her bouncy seat, laughing at my renditions of holiday classics (I think Frosty the Snowman is her favorite), studying my branch fluffing technique, and dozing off for a few moments here and there. It was so great. Maybe next year she can break stuff help!

Autumn

"The time is always right to make a beginning of a way of life that will lead to salvation...however, if it were necessary to name the most appropriate season of all, and if, just as there is a time to sow and a time to reap, a time to plant and a time to harvest, and a time for everything else (cf. Eccl. 3:1-8), you are looking for a season especially suited for beginning a good work, then it is autumn, particularly this month, which is our first month and the start of our year, when our salvation had its origin, as we celebrate today." taken from a sermon on the Nativity of the Theotokos by Saint Gregory Palamas

 Back in August, I read these words and was so excited to be starting a new season of my life, something so new and so potentially beautiful for my soul. St. Gregory's words were reassuring and inspired me with the hope that I could change and start over in a sense, that I, with enough effort and prayer, could grow out of my old self and into something new and more pleasing to God.

I know that it's a month late, but happy Autumn, happy beginning of whatever newness this season is bringing to your life. I hope that it is beautiful.

To Etsy, or not to Etsy

I've been thinking a lot lately about starting up an etsy page...

 

but yesterday, 73 dollars and 7 1/2 hours later,  I realized the following:

 

A) I'm too slow and wouldn't make any money

 

 B) cute fabric is expensive and therefore, making items that are "for sale/profit" would be futile.

And C) it just wouldn't be worth it!

but gifts...

gifts are always worth it :) !

It's so much more fun to sew for a specific reason, or person anyway. 

I think that if I had to sew as a "job" I wouldn't enjoy it as much! 

So, no Etsy for me.

Coast:Day 3

day 3 notes

morning. Breakfast in the mission at this really great mexican place. So. Yummy.

Second times a charm. Got into the cathedral today and got to venerate Saint John. So humbling. Lit candles and said prayers for our godchildren and Baby Ham. Met up with Alana and Erin.

Drove to Santa Rosa to meet Alana at Russian River. Love Alana and pizza bites.

Had our first argument of the trip, about going to a fabric store. 

Dropped Thomas off at Lagunitas and went to awesome fabric store. 5,000 bolts of fabric. 

Picked up husband...glad to see he had a good time.

Drove to Oakland with happy husband. Laughed at his hiccups. Stopped to pee and get coffee. Laughed at Thomas trying to order "bamnnanma bread". Smiled at a little girl looking intently at my belly. Asked her if she was. Her response: "Well I'm wondering if there's a baby in there but I know it's rude to ask".  Laughed and told her there was. She asked when it would come out and I told her the 9th of September. Her birthday is the 5th. She thought that was pretty cool. Finally made it to Oakland to see Jessica and John. Shower at Jessicas. Yummy dinner.

Coast:Day 2

Day 2 notes

the scenic drive towards Monterey

(waved at Hearst Castle...I think) 

Drove through Los Padres national forest, 

listened to a piece on Summer Camp by This American Life.

Saw lots of cows grazing by the water...thought they were pretty lucky.

me and baby ham in Big Sur.

the park ranger horses. liked. me. 

golden hills and big green trees.

Craving salt water taffy. Stopped by the monterey fisherman's 

wharf for a visit to Kasa Karmelcorn. Got Chocolate bark, a caramel apple, turtles and taffy.
Taffy was a major let down.

On our way into San Francisco stopped by Anchor brewing and the cathedral. Went past alamo square...pretty houses. Stayed at brother-in-laws house (he got to feel baby hiccups) and visited with Zack. Ate at Pi Bar (yummy pizza) and met up with Erin for some beer and sausages, aka "tube meat". Nice to see missed friends.

Coast:Day 1

(Here are a few pictures and notes from our little trip up the coast)

Began our drive up the 101 to the 1, pretty nauseous, ate at Subway and saved the bag...just in case. 

Passed through the San Ynez valley and stopped to stretch at Lake Cachuma. So. Pretty!

Fueled up in Solvang.

Next stop, Paso Robles and Firestone brewery (had some yummy pretzels and almost went on a tour).

Passed through Carpinteria and  Santa Barbara. Told Thomas all of Fathers stories.

Saw lots of deer and cows.

On our way to Cambria...such a pretty drive out to the shore.

Saw a cute little sign for lavender, stopped and got a bundle.  Our car smelled great the whole trip.

Checked into the Fireside Inn, our room overlooked Moonstone Beach (and had a fireplace). 

Went for a walk out to the shore, met some very friendly (and fat) squirrels (one tried to run up my leg!) and some really cute seals too.

Walked to the Moonlight grill and bar and had some very tasty seafood and chicken. 

No room for dessert.

Walked off our dinner along the beach. Felt so pregnant. The air smelled so good. 

Slept with the sliding door open, listened to the ocean all night.

little helpers

Victoria

I watched this movie today during my three hour stay at Kaiser...and I loved every minute of it. It left me wishing that I lived in the 1800's, where women dressed so feminine and adorned themselves so beautifully (in dresses!). I jumped out of my seat a time or two and also had to try so hard not to cry in front of all of the other patients in the waiting room a few times! I was especially moved by the ending, when I read that after the death of her husband, the Queen honored his memory by laying his clothes out every day until her death! How beautiful! At any rate, I have a strong(er) desire to honor my husband everyday, in the little ways that I can, to read this book (It's been on my wish list for sometime now)...

and sew a beautiful nightgown or two (or three).

James!

I can do anything good! I love my hair!

I just had to steal this from Kaylyn!

Every morning when I wake up looking like this (thanks to rats, and baby hormones, and my super new haircut with "lots of layers" that don't fit in a ponytail, and bangs that don't behave)....

I will proudly exclaim,

"I like anything, I like my hair, I like my hair cuts, I can do anything good", including my hair.

Yummy

Mr. Pickles, AKA master grasshopper hunter and eater.

 p.s. I'm setting both of my blogs to private, so if you're not an "invited reader" you won't be able to see them. I know I have a few ghost readers so send me an email so I can set you up, if you like grasshopper torture of course :) 

almostamusing@gmail.com

So cute...

I've just found a pretty cool online fabric shop that I am totally in love with. I ordered a really cute print for baby hams diaper bag a few weeks ago and was really pleased with the quality (and the 50% off price). I love that they have tons of novelty prints and pretty good sales too! I wish I could buy the whole store and/or join their monthly quilting club! Too cute!!!!