Curious Bird

:36:

Yesterday (yep, on Easter) I celebrated my 36th birthday. It was super low-key and sweet, just the way I wanted it to be. We spent the morning lazing around on blankets in the sunshine and sharing a tasty brunch with good friends. Then I took a long nap in the hammock in the afternoon. I live for naps like that.
Dustin cooked me a lovely dinner, complete with strawberry shortcake for dessert. We even introduced Felix to whipped cream out of the can. Not something we eat at our house very often, but birthdays are all about going for it. Extra whipped cream for me, please. Felix's mind was completely blown. I even caught him staring at the can in the refrigerator this morning!

35 was a wonderful year full of new adventures, new friends, and a new place to call home. I look forward to seeing what 36 has in store. The arrival of our summer baby is definitely going to be on top of the list.

Whatever happens, I hope to take time to be there for it. Really be there. Hello 36.

:keeping it simple:

As much as I wanted to try dyeing eggs with natural dyes we kept it very simple this year. Perhaps we can experiment with using beets and cabbage and blueberry juice as dyes once Felix is a little older? This year was all about the jeweltone colors produced when brown eggs are dropped into jars of water, food coloring and a little white vinegar. Easy in every way...except for the waiting part. Waiting is a big challenge around here these days.

:this moment:

A Friday ritual started by SouleMama. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.  

Have a lovely weekend!

 

fruit leather: take one

I have been dying to make my own fruit leather so today I followed this recipe and gave it a whirl. Despite being very keen on making and sharing some strawberry fruit leather with Felix as an afternoon snack,  it just wasn't in the cards. It came out crispy and overdone, which was completely my fault. But I'm won't give up that easy and plan to try making it again very soon. Next time I will spread it a little thicker, and more importantly, I will remember to set my kitchen timer instead of relying on my spacey pregnant lady brain to keep track. Fruit leather take two will definitely happen. I'm determined.  

:home:

Hello out there. I'm back from a trip to see family. It was nice to get away, but I'm sooo glad to be home where I can sleep in my own bed and putter around in the backyard witnessing all the new spring loveliness. And I learned something valuable. Flying across the country alone with a toddler while 18 weeks pregnant is not the easiest. It's good to learn new things...

Here are few photos I've taken lately. I hope to be back to say hello again soon.

:magic:

This morning my friend sent me this beautiful photo of more than 200, 000 galaxies captured by a European telescope! So many stars...so amazing.  

pleased as punch

Eons ago I did a wonderful photography swap with my friend Molly. She kindly asked if I would be open to her hanging a couple of my holga shots in Delancey, the restaurant she and her husband Brandon own in Seattle. It was such an honor to be asked and I of course said YES.

Now fast forward a couple of years...

I still haven't had the pleasure of going to Seattle to meet Molly in person and eat at Delancey, but I assure you I would love to do both of those things very much. However, I do get to have a couple of her beautiful photos hanging in my home, which makes me very happy. Thank you, Molly!

More soon,

Leya

 

our gang

Thanks for all the sweetness about our baby #2 announcement. It feels nice to finally allow the news out into the world. I/we have been holding it close for quite a while, just like when I was pregnant with Felix. I suppose it is the kind of secret that is fun to keep, but now that it's out in the open I'm certain I will be sharing more about our new adventure in the months to come. And just for the record, it is so wonderful to finally feel healthy again. Phew! That was a rough few months of total exhaustion, and saltines, and not being able to even look at a green vegetable. The vegetable thing didn't bode too well for me doing my part to eat our fall garden greens either. :)

For those of you who are curious, here are some answers to a couple of questions:

• As with our first pregnancy, we won't be finding out the gender until the baby arrives. We love surprises and feel like there are too few really good ones in this life, so we choose to wait. But we completely understand why people would find out; we just aren't those people. Plus, not knowing gives Dustin an excuse to create colorful graphs and geek out on statistics, something he honestly loves doing.
• I'm 17 weeks pregnant this week, making me due in late August. Yep, nine months pregnant in August in North Carolina. Anyone have a really cute muu-muu pattern they want to send my way? Pretty please.

Once again, thanks for all the kind comments and emails you have sent my way. It really means a lot to me.

Have fun!

L.

♥ My humble first attempt at video-making

*music by Jim O'Rourke

 

I hope you have a wonderful weekend out there, friends.

Besides Felix getting sick for about 24 hours, it has been a nice week around here. The weekend should be good, too. I'm looking forward to ordering our favorite pizza to share with friends this evening and a couple of nice days of working in the garden. There is also some serious lounging on my agenda-- I finally hung up the hammock I've been saving for 10 years!
Ahhh...spring, I adore you.

Have fun,
Leya