Tuesday, September 29, 2009

moooooooooo


moooooooooo, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Monday, September 28, 2009

hair cut


hair cut, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

old soul ruby


old soul ruby, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

kale slaw with peanut dressing

ten cups of kale finely chopped into ribbons
one red pepper, thinly sliced
2 carrots, thinly sliced

1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup salted peanuts
2 T dark brown sugar

Process the dressing and pour over the vegetables. I added a tablespoon of Thai fish sauce, and a handful of cilantro. I bet a chile would be grand. Garnish with chopped peanuts. This dressing would be great on almost any cold vegetable salad.

By the way, I've lost twelve pounds on Weight Watchers.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

cool

Lewes New School fundraiser.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

apple

We bought a half a bushel of apples this week, along with our usual share from our fruit CSA so it was time for some apple processing. I made a big pot of delicious applesauce today, and Ella wants it hot in her Thermos for lunch tomorrow.

She and I went to the fabric store today to buy the material for her Halloween costume. We bought two yards of leopard print, a black boa for a tail, and a black mask for her eyes. I carefully avoided buying any other fabric, although they had some really neat native american prints that would be perfect for John's tipi bed. I need to finish all the projects I've started or gathered supplies for. Last night I bought the materials for six more large Waldorf dolls. That makes seven for the season. I'm donating two for the school's auction in late October and would like to sell a few before Christmas.

I've got Christmas on the brain. I'm making my lists. With three little people I have to start early. I'm making a doll and a baby clothes quilt for Miss Ruby. For John I'm thinking about a shiny red bicycle with training wheels. Ella is a little harder, but I know that she wants some sparkly chuck taylors. Oh, slates. Little House on the Prairie style slates and slate pencils for John and Ella. They have been playing a lot of shool. Ella will get some Stockmar watercolors and a big slab of paper. I'm making her a wool felt organizer for her colored pencils and aquarelles. She may be needing a spellbook. And Little Women by Lousia May Alcott.

I bought both of Amanda Soule's books this week, The Creative Family and The Handmade Home. I've read her blog for so long that I thought I might recognize every project, but it was fresh and inspiring. We'll be drawing even more, designing our own recycled clothes, and learning to embroider. I'm even re-inspired to use cloth diaper exclusively.

I'm staying home all day tomorrow and continuing some house projects, making oatmeal molasses bread, roasting butternut squash, watching Dinosaur Train with John, and enjoying a rainy Monday.

After yesterday, it is good to be reinspired.

Saturday, September 19, 2009

from april 2006


blue, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

weekend, not

This weekend is apparently buried under a lot of laundry and horrid domestic projects. I went through all of the children's clothes today, and I have five boxes to take to the Goodwill. Every morning Ella attempts to put on something too small and then throws it on the floor, so I've weeded out every too tight t shirt and skort. I made a big box for Ruby, and tossed the rest. Size twelve. My seven year old. She was squeezing into size seven leggings. I threw alway all of her gross brownish socks. I don't know how she gets them so dirty, but we are starting fresh. I organized John a little better so that he may better serve his own obsessive compusive behavior with clothes. One little dresser is all pants; the other is all shirts. Underwear and socks share a big drawer, and there is a drawer for pajamas, softie pants, and sweatpants. Ruby is about to outgrow every single thing she owns when the weather turns cold. She will have some old baby pants of John's and a sparkly tutu. I passed her old Bobux on to Miss Madeline and ordered her a fresh pair for cold weather, and they are beautiful. Brown suede with a faux fur lining and a little suede rose.

I started my day with my first actual Weight Watcher's meeting. It was really nice, but I left it in a foul mood. Now I've really got to do this monstrous thing. I've been hungry for two weeks, and apparently I'm going to be hungry for a lot longer. I'm commited. I've lost eight pounds, and that feels really good. I do already have a lot more energy. This week I've got to get to the gym and walk.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

self portrait::ella


self portrait::ella, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

This small person gets more interesting everyday. Today before dinner she put on eye makeup, a brown crayola crayon, and announced that she is fairly sure that she is a witch. She is on chapter eleven of Harry Potter and is quite sure that pink polka dots look fabulous with red plaid.

chickadee


chickadee, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

I put up a little birdfeeder on the kitchen window next to Ruby's high chair, and John and I are going to chart our visitors.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

blueberry

I took the kids out to pick blueberries this afternoon to give John a chance to have some calm time. It was a gorgeous afternoon, and we picked ten pounds of berries in about an hour. Ruby wanted to be carried so I had her on one hip and my bucket tied around my neck. I made blueberry muffins and blueberry bread and still have quite a pile to freeze. Ruby ate so many that her belly was sticking out.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

moonflower


moonflower, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

grasshopper


grasshopper, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

picking and grinning


picking and grinning, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

im always househunting


im always househunting, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Wednesday, September 09, 2009

mama can see my eyes


mama can see my eyes, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Monday, September 07, 2009

a dude

When John is finished with his dinner he asks, "May I be a dude?" (Excused)

Sunday, September 06, 2009

afternoon on the back porch at school


porch, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

farming


farming, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Friday, September 04, 2009

action stations

That is what Ella and John shout when they have to get something done quickly.

Tonight I joined Weight Watchers.