Mountain Bluebird Mama

The Birthday Boy

2012-02-08T14:28:00.000-08:00

This baby boy of mine has turned 2 years old. Highlights included a trip to the zoo (just like last year), a mama-made birthday shirt (just like last year), home made cupcakes and ice cream, the wearing of his new birthday crown, and falling asleep in the very same bed he was born in two years ago.

It was a magical birthday for all of us, but the look on my babys face as we sang happy birthday to him was the most magical part of my day. He was awestruck and overjoyed with those 2 lit up cupcakes and our birthday song, with clasped hands held close to his chest, and a tiny disbelieve grin, which turned into a huge smile and round of applause when the song was finished. He proudly blew out both candles and said "I eat cupcakes now!". Yes sweet Samson, you eat cupcakes now, happy second birthday.

This Moment :: This Little Light of Mine

2011-11-18T13:32:00.000-08:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Shenandoah Fiber Festival

2011-09-26T11:12:00.000-07:00

Highlights from the festival (via Instagram, my new love):

:: The sheep dog demonstration, and hearing Samson yell "Run sheep! Run dog! Ruuunn!".

:: Finding the most beautiful stitch marker. This was my first purchase of the day, found in a little cup labeled "Stitch Markers, $1".

:: Hanging with my boys and some sheep on a gorgeous fall day.

:: The shopping of course. I picked up mohair locks, BFL for spinning, superbulky yarn and undyed roving.

I cant wait to get to work and start playing with these new fibers. I've dreamed up some new items for the shop, some for babies and some for mamas....in fact, if you look closely you can see a sneak preview above.

Happy Monday!

Dying with Turmeric

2011-09-19T08:35:00.000-07:00

I was first introduced to dying with turmeric at our Waldorf groups summer solstice festival. We used turmeric to dye playsilks and the color turned out amazing. The brightest, happiest, sunniest, yellow ever.
Since then I have been wanting to experiment with turmeric for dying yarn and roving. This weekend I decided to give it a try.

The before:

Some merino roving from my stash, some wool yarn that I spun at my first spinning class a few years ago, and recycled wool/angora sweater yarn. As you can see, these fibers have already been dyed once, so I guess you would call this over-dying instead of dying.

Anyway. I added about a tablespoon of turmeric into a smallish pot of hot water, let the water cool some, and then added the fiber.

I let the fibers hang out for about 30 minutes, then rinsed them and hung them to dry.

The after:

Sunshiney yellow loveliness. I especially love how the roving turned out - fluffy, sheepy, sunshine!

For more detailed dyeing instructions, read here. As with most of my creative endeavors, Im not much in to following directions. I like to experiment, play, and learn organically through trial and error :)
Happy Monday!

This Moment :: Still Summer!

2011-09-02T14:00:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Vintage Floral Finds and a Blueberry Cake

2011-08-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

Two of my recent thrift store finds:

The most gorgeous floral watercolor painting. I absolutely love the colors in this painting. Its quickly moving up my list of " best finds ever!".

A vintage floral quilted comforter. The perfect new picnic blanket! My collection of vintage sheets, linens and blankets is rapidly growing out of control, but I couldn't resist....just...one...more.

And now for the recipe:

Best Damn Blueberry Ricotta Cake at Stacey Snacks. I made this cake yesterday and it was delicious. So delicious in fact that it was gone by this morning. Thats a lot of cake to eat in one day. I did have some help, but still, I just couldnt stop eating it. It was that good :) It was made with ricotta cheese, and speaking of ricotta, have you seen the cheese making kits at Etsy? I see cheese making in my future.

Spinning A Rainbow

2011-07-19T10:31:00.000-07:00

A little video clip of Samson helping me spin yarn....

The Vineyard

2011-07-14T13:38:00.000-07:00

The first night we slept inside and the second night we slept in our tent. I was a little hesitant to camp out as my imagination gets a bit over active thinking of all the nocturnal beasts that might stumble upon our tent in the middle of the night but we camped out anyhow. It is so worth it to wake up to birds chirping in the morning and to the beautiful fresh country air. It was unbelievably peaceful.

Samson didnt exactly get what we were doing - his first words upon entering the tent that night were "all done!", as in, get me out of here. He said the same thing when he woke up in the morning and promptly exited the tent. He wandered the gardens and the vineyard and was literally barefoot all weekend. He even got a tractor ride from the farmer next door.

I got lots of knitting done (new projects for the shop!), and we ate delicious food. It was like staying at a country bed and breakfast, (but cheaper!), and this one allows kids and dogs. Our dog is was less destructive than our kid anyway.

Spontaneous Getaway :: The Ranch

2011-07-13T14:31:00.000-07:00

A spontaneous getaway led us to the country this weekend, spending one day at my in-laws vinyard, and one (surprise) day visiting their friends ranch. It was immeasurable fun for my little animal lover(s) (Winston included), and super relaxing for J. and I. The ranch was like my dream property and since then I have been dreaming about our own little ranch full time. One day!

Hope you enjoyed the photo tour! Next up is the vineyard :)

Mountain Bluebird Yarn

2011-07-05T11:38:00.000-07:00

I've been spinning up lots of yarn lately, yay! My annual visit to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival always gets my spinning juices flowing again (read - spinning up my stash so I dont feel guilty about buying more at the festival). Then I took an art yarn class, and then there was that yarn naming contest at While Tangerine Dreams: If I were a skein of art yarn, what would I be called? Mountain bluebird (of course), a variegated skein of blue yarn with scrappy nesty earthy bits of this and that. But what would mountain bluebird yarn really look like? That got me thinking. I stood in my craft studio and looked around at all of my favorite craft materials: recycled cashmere, vintage fabric, vintage ribbon, recycled sweater yarn, roving in every shade of blue, mohair locks, scraps of turquoise shredded silk and more. My creative light bulb flickered, why not spin all of these things together into one yarn?
And so it was spun: Mountain Bluebird Yarn.

This Moment :: A Minute to Knit it

2011-07-01T12:01:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

The Lavender Farm

2011-06-30T10:27:00.000-07:00

I am over the top in love with my new work schedule that allows me 2 to 3 days off during the week to hang out with Samson (who I am even more totally-over-the-top-in-love-with). Yesterday we visited a lavender farm with our little waldorf play group and while looking through my pictures just now I realized how perfectly they capture his current 17 month old being.
He is learning new words every day. Words like lavender and butterfly and baby, which he said so clearly at the farm. He chases butterflies, and bees, and lightening bugs. He picks flowers...and then rips them apart.

He loves helping mama. "In the basket", I must have said one hundred times this day, and into the basket he put flowers and lavender. "In the dish" I say at home, when he tries filling up Winstons dog dish with food. This week he helped me unload the silverware from the dishwasher and I was so pleasantly surprised that it actually was helpful. Two pieces at at a time, he put them all in the drawer.

He has a new fascination with little houses, cars and trucks, and doesn't quite understand that he cant fit inside of them.

He loves animals, especially dogs, cats, cows, and snakes - which are his favorite animal noises to make. The snake ssss-ing is somewhat confusing since we are potty training as well, but that's ok. I'm sure he knows which one he is referring to at the time, even if I dont.

He is so big and so little all at the same time, and I seem to think this about him no matter what age or size he is. He is still amazing me by way of the simplest things, like saying "omm!" when we arrive home, and by carefully opening sugar snap peas to get to the peas. And now, what to do with that lavender?

This Moment :: Playsilk Peek-a-Boo

2011-06-24T12:38:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

This Moment :: Farm Visit

2011-06-10T11:44:00.001-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

This Moment :: Sunny Ride

2011-04-15T19:08:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Turquoise Tuesday :: A Curated Collection

2011-03-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Some of my Etsy favorites this week...

This Moment :: Hello Spring

2011-03-18T11:31:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

SS Wednesday - Little Leprechaun

2011-03-16T12:30:00.000-07:00

My little leprechaun at his second St. Patrick's Day parade.

The scarf :: made by Grandma
The sweater :: thrifted by me, before he was born
The kilt (which is on backwards!) :: made by Granny
The sweater pants :: knit by me, picky pants on Ravelry
The shoe covers :: made by great aunt Rosie

How cute are these two together in their matching kilts? Oh my.

Mama is wearing an SS outfit as well!
Scarf :: handspun and knit by me (close up here)
Dress :: old, old, old
Jacket :: thrifted Free People
Vest :: thrifted Land's End puffy down vest
Boots : Mukluk faux fur, so warm!

SS Wednesdays is brought to you by way of While Tangerine Dreams!

Turquoise Tuesday :: My Favorite Turquoise Ring

2011-03-15T07:06:00.001-07:00

Purchased on a day trip to Tijuana three years ago and worn just about every day since.

Stone Brewery, originally uploaded by valerina15.

Turquoise Tuesday :: A Curated Collection

2011-03-08T14:02:00.000-08:00

Sharing some turquoise love with you this Tuesday. Inspired by some of my favorites on Etsy and my love of aqua, turquoise, birdies, babies, and vintage.

This Moment :: Birthday Boy

2011-02-19T13:00:00.001-08:00

, originally uploaded by valerina15.

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

On the Ten Month Old

2010-12-03T20:33:00.000-08:00

He has two teeth.
He smiles and laughs a lot.
His favorite foods are apples, bananas, and cottage cheese.
He loves running around my office in his walker.

When asked "how big is Samson?", he raises one, and sometimes two hands in the air.
He can give high five and play peek a boo.
He has just learned to dance.
He is so.much.fun.

He can clap - but only in very slow motion.
He still sleeps in our bed.
He says "eh" (to communicate everything) and sometimes says "beh".

He can sign "milk", although now he just tries to help himself by pulling down my shirt.
He likes playing with my cell phone and I may have seen him put it to his ear yesterday.
He likes books and especially likes bedtime stories with daddy.

He loves to crawl around with Winston's dog bones in his mouth.
He continues to amaze me every single day.
He's still the sweetest, happiest, most spectacular person I have ever known.

This Moment :: {Office} Nap Time

2010-10-15T12:34:00.001-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Weekend Fun :: Pumpkin Picking

2010-10-11T13:16:00.000-07:00

It was hot! But despite the heat, Samson wore (another) vest that I knit for him - at least for one photo - because when I envisioned our little pumpkin picking adventure, I imagined a crisp sunny day, a chilly breeze, and Samson in this vest.

Instead we got a ridiculously hot day and sunburn. But it was awesome nonetheless. We took a hayride, picked pumpkins straight from the vine, drank apple cider, and ate apple cider donuts.

I so love fall. And I so love watching this baby boy explore the world around him - and right now that means taking at least a little bite of everything he touches. Pumpkins, hay, leaves, cell phones, and his new favorite, dog bones.

Weekend Fun :: Shenandoah Fiber Festival

2010-09-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Samson and Daddy pet the animals....

....while I shopped and shopped.

I picked up some silk/merino for spinning, some lilac handspun merino, some louet riverstone yarn, and some colorful needles (even though I prefer knitting on bamboo). When I come across those colorful vintage needles, I just cant pass them up!

This Moment :: Making Baby Food

2010-09-24T13:39:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

WIP :: My Milo

2010-09-20T11:58:00.000-07:00

This is the first knitting project that I have made for Samson since he was born. Its the Milo vest on Ravelry and I love it (its seamless and knit in the round)! Up until this project, I have been totally intimidated by cables and I have no idea why - they are super easy! As usual I didnt check my gague so this will be big on him but I am hoping it will fit him this winter. After all, its still 80 degrees here. I am dying to finish it, but I knit so much in the past 2 days that my right hand is actually sore. Knitting injuries? Who knew.

Weekend Fun :: Blueberry Picking

2010-09-20T11:56:00.000-07:00

I have always loved blueberry picking. As kids, my mom use to take my sister and I to the blueberry farm once each summer. This past weekend, my mom and I went picking and brought Samson with us. Even though he couldnt pick any, or eat any, and even though he slept thought most of the day, I so enjoyed having him there with us. Its so exciting being able to share my favorite childhood activities and traditions with him. Im looking forward to much much more of that.

This Moment :: Bath Time

2010-09-20T11:54:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Garden Journal

2010-09-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

I've been keeping notes on this years garden in this lovely little garden journal I picked up at Etsy. This week we picked our first yellow squash! For now Samson's job is to just look cute with our home grown vegetables but by the end of the summer he'll be ready to eat some. I am so looking forward to making his baby food.

Peace!

This Moment :: Nap Time

2010-09-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Pillowcase Pants

2010-09-20T11:43:00.000-07:00

These pants may just be my new favotite use for vintage pillowcases. Cut from this pattern, they were super easy to whip up.

I so love seeing this babe wearing something I've made for him.

Oh that little tiny face and belly....5 months later I still can hardly believe he's mine. Every day I watch him in absolute amazment as he grows - reaching for my cup of water, insisting on getting a lick of my apple at lunch, or sticking his foot in his mouth and laughing. He's the most spectacular little creature I have ever known.

Weekend Fun :: Little Bits

2010-09-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Learning coordination, and movement, and how to stand on his own two feet, a little bit at a time.

Getting ready for a summer of swimming, a little bit at a time.

Learning how to make music, a little bit at a time.

This Moment :: Babe in the Garden

2010-09-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

A Friday ritual (inspired by SouleMama). A single photo capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment to pause, savor and remember.

Samson's First Laugh.AVI

2010-09-20T11:19:00.000-07:00

Samson is 14 weeks old this week. In the past week he has gone from staring at his feet to actually grabbing them and holding onto them and from grasping at fabrics to holding on to them as well. Even better, he's laughing! And we actually caught his very first laugh on video.

So I had a baby...

2010-09-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

and thats where I've been for the past year! I didnt do any blogging while I was pregnant and instead I kept a hand written journal and focused on preparing myself and my home for a baby. And he's here! On February 2nd, in the peace and quite and comfort of my home, I gave birth to the sweetest, healthiest, most beautiful baby boy I could ever have hoped for.

My little Groundhog's Day baby, Samson, 9lbs, 6oz, 20 3/4 inches

More soon, I promise!

Outside My Window...

2010-09-20T11:02:00.001-07:00

Baby Robins 9 Days Old, Feeding Time, originally uploaded by valerina15.

fascinating things are happening! I found this little robins nest outside my window about 10 days ago and have been posting photos daily at flickr. Yesterday I was able to get this amazing video; the third time mother bird comes back, she feeds the little birdies a worm. I'm guessing these growing babies won't be outside my window much longer, but until then I will continue to peek in on them daily.