A Find

So, I happened to be in Machias a couple of days ago visiting my sister-in-law, my niece, and my nephew. I rarely get to see them, so it was a real treat. At one point we decided to check out one of the local thrift shops, Sue's Thrift Store & More (oh yes, so much more!). It was here that I discovered this absolutely divine skirt.

 

 

Yes, that's right, my friends. I am staying up till all hours, wasting time and energy to write about this skirt. Why? Because I pretty much pee myself with delight each and every time I look at this thing! Unfortunately, my pictures cannot do it justice. Let me just assure you all that the colors and patterns are simply sumptuous. A feast for my eyes. Red, blue, turquoise, salmon, coral, soft greens, hints of yellow. I don't want to stop looking at i! If I thought my body could handle it, I think I would eat this thing up. Does this not convey to you my intense love for this skirt? Are you getting the idea here, folks? I shelled out six dollars for this thing. Now, I'm used to my hometown thrift shop where most days you can stuff a plastic bag full of clothes for the bargain basement price of two dollars! I'm a thrifty girl! So I knew I had truly fallen in love when I came to the conclusion that I would happily trade three whole bags of used clothing for this one gorgeous skirt.

I wish I were a great photographer so I could do justice to my sweet skirt. I really do. But you get the idea, right? You can tell that this is a great skirt. And tonight, I decided I just couldn't keep a love like this all to myself. I needed to share. And maybe, someday, you'll see me and my skirt strolling down the street together. Slowly. Just enjoying one another's company.  And then you'll know what I'm talking about.

Here's one last  look.

What do you think? Isn't she a beauty?

Stopping Time

Today my son Kieran turns five. And I have really mixed feelings about this.

Let me back up a little bit. When I first held my child in my arms, I knew I was in big trouble. I realized I loved this little boy so intensely that I would have to learn to live with the fear that something might happen to him. I was now truly and utterly vulnerable.

Last week, as Heron, Kieran and I were slowly making our way on the Schooner Trail at Shackford Head, the fact that my little boy was turning five hit me like a ton of bricks. Now, I do realize what year it is. I do remember the date of my child's birth. But somehow the idea that five years had passed, and what that meant, was a revelation to me. Time is moving too fast. And the kicker is that I've been with this kid since day one, literally! We have been constant companions for five years. And instead of wanting to boot this kid out the door to school, I'm frantic that I don't have enough time with my son, things are going to change, and poof! It's over! He's gone!

Maybe it was the fact that I could actually send Kieran to school next year (we aren't) that kind of spooked me. The fear of our lives changing. The fear of me being without him and him without me. The fear of letting him go. But really, what choice do I have? Every day as parents we have to let them go a little.  I know, intellectually, that this needs to happen. And it should. I don't want Kieran to stay five forever. But in my heart, honestly, (as I shared with my husband this evening through another snotty crying jag ) sometimes I'd be happy to stay right where we are.

But I'm a big girl. I know how things are supposed to work. And besides, this isn't just about me (although that would make my life so much easier sometimes). I can't stop time, nor do I really want to. I guess I just need to go through my own stages, too, as a parent. As happy as I am about Kieran being five, and all he's accomplished, I'm definitely grieving a little, too.

With all of this, there is such sweetness. I feel like I'm falling in love with Kieran again and again, each time I look at him. Drinking him in. Reading him extra books at bedtime. Walking home from art class slowly, hand in hand. This exquisite love. I am so thankful to him for it. It is absolutely worth any pain or sadness I will, or would ever, have to endure.

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy.

The View from Here

It is absolutely, blissfully, fantastically beautiful here in my neck of the woods. Here are a few shots of what we are lucky enough to be seeing and experiencing today.

Kieran against the backdrop of Passamaquoddy Bay and Deer Island, New Brunswick.

My rubber wellies ( I scored them for 50 cents at the local thrift shop awhile ago and hardly ever take them off) against the backdrop of Passamaqouddy Bay and Deer Island, New Brunswick. And there's Patrick to the left.

My bare-bottomed boy in his rubber boots. He rarely takes his off either, though we just scored a pair of summer crocs (the real ones) at Marden's.

My sweet, furry (or not quite so furry since we had him sheared!) dog son. He totally digs the beach!

Lindy by the Sea herself in very large shades she scored at Marden's yesterday. I love them! The combination of my clothing choices and these sunglasses are making me feel very hippie housewife today. I kinda like it.

Aren't we lucky to live here? I think so. I sorta feel like I'm on vacation every day. Of course, I don't have to get up and go to "work," in the most technical sense of the word. Kieran and I are free to wander around this beautiful island we live on. And we sure do!

I hope you are enjoying the view from wherever you are today! And if you are so moved, show me!

New Summer Skirt and Some Weekend Fun

This past weekend was a fun one. My very oldest (we first met in kindergarten) and one of my very dearest friends, Becky, came to spend a night with us.One of her three boys, Justin, kept her company on her journey Downeast, as well as her sweet little Havanese puppy, Zeke. Zeke is actually largely responsible for me being the happy mom of my dog son, Patrick. I took one look at a picture of Zeke, fell in deep love, and decided I must have a little fuzzy pup, too!

Now, just like Becky and me, Patrick and Zeke are the best of friends. And although one would assume Zeke would grow tired of Patrick trying to "have his way with him" (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) all of the time, he never seems to mind much. He realizes that Patrick is just going through a faze, and he cheerfully humors Patrick his rather exuberant humping and pumping ways. Friendship at its best!

Kieran poses with  Zeke and Patrick (he's the one with his tongue stuck out) while they take a break from mauling each other. Aren't they the cutest?

While Becky and I caught up,  Kieran enjoyed the company of Justin, who is eight. They spent the bulk of their time creating castles and practicing musical numbers to perform for us. The themes of their songs covered subjects such as ice cream and aliens taking over the earth. Heron, always happy to host,  treated us to a delicious meal of Indian food. I believe it was chicken tikka, but honestly, I don't remember. I do remember, however, that it was absolutely yummy!

On Sunday, after Becky, Justin, and Zeke departed, Kieran spied Heron watering some broccoli seedlings he had just planted in the garden. He decided he wanted daddy to sprinkle him with the hose. His dad agreed, and he ran off to put on his shorts. It was truly one of the hottest days we have enjoyed this spring, and Kieran was really embracing it in his little short shorts!

Kieran patiently waits for Heron to finish watering his seedlings.

Kieran in his little gray shorts.

 
I took the opportunity to finish up a skirt I had been working on. I basically followed the easy A-line type skirt pattern in One-Yard Wonders, but made it a bit longer and added a little pocket.

I added a little blue bias tape detail on the pocket. I think the pocket was a nice addition that I will actually use.

The pattern was pretty straight forward and easy. However, it called for the pattern to be cut on the bias, which is great. But I'd never cut a pattern on the bias before, so I cut out the front piece of the skirt wrong. And as I didn't have enough material to start over, I actually had to sew the fabric back together and place the pattern on the material properly and cut it out again. This means that there are a couple of interesting seams across the front of the skirt, but that's okay. I think it looks pretty cool that way!

I think I would definitely whip up some more skirts from this pattern. It sewed up incredibly quickly and has a simple elastic waist band.  And isn't the fabric pretty? Another Marden's find. What do you think? Like it?