Double Dog Dare

Recently, my sister mentioned that she missed reading the blog. For awhile, I was happy not to blog. I was happy not to record my days in a permanent way. Facebook became my outlet. The connection to others was immediate and conversations were fleeting - what is said is there, and then it's gone (or at least it used to be that way.) At the same time that I stopped blogging, I stooped taking photos. I still snapped pictures but it's not the same.

That conversation with my sister made me think not about what I didn't want to remember but rather about the things I wish I had recorded over the past few years. So having been issued a challenge (a dare, perhaps !?) I'm going to dust things off and see what happens. I'm not sure what direction this will go but I am excited to find out!

Living a Beautiful Life

I have stared and deleted this post more times than I can count. Each time, I've found that I was revealing much more personal information than I am really comfortable with. I've decided that for now, it is better to just keep it simple. So... you'll notice that the name of the blog has changed. "Our Home on the Hill" was no longer fitting.

A beautiful life is a life with purpose.

Molly and Emily at habit have created a flickr group and are inviting everyone to join this month. Habit is a "a place to capture and celebrate the bits of our daily lives" and that is exactly what I need right now. I need to find my focus ... to find the beauty in the every day ... to celebrate the moments and not just the events.

All month I will be finding those moments and sharing them here with a few words that sum up the day. I'm looking forward to seeing where this journey will bring me.

"I kept looking for happiness, and then I realized: This is it. It's a moment, and it comes, and it goes, and it'll come back again." ~ Nicole Kidman

Goodbye July, Hello August

I can't believe it's August already! The Summer is whizzing by just a little too fast.

I had hoped to post every day during the month of July but, well, other things happened. I did, however, manage to take a self portrait every day. After seeing so many wonderful and creative self portraits, I decided to join the 365 Days challenge. (a self portrait a day for 365 days) I am hoping that it will help me learn a little more about photography and my camera. I am planning to document the everyday moments in my every day life which should be interesting since many of my days look like the day before!

I'm not sure what August will be like here on the blog. School starts at the end of the month so we need to get back in to some sort of a routine. We also are expecting some out of town guests this month (Grandmom and Grandpa are coming!) I DO have some recipes to share so watch for those. Other than that, I'll be here when I can!

Hello!

I didn't mean to take a little break. I had plenty to talk about and photos to share but I got busy with so many other things that needed to come first.

I've been doing some research and making some plans. There have been trips to the library and the farmer's market. There was a small local festival and one of us went camping. My sewing machine has become a prominent feature at the dining room table (I really need to find a better place for it). My kitchen has been full of hustle and bustle and lots of good food. Projects have been worked on. List have been made and things are being crossed off.



The boys have had field trips and projects. There have been TAKS tests and fitness tests. We've made paper chains to count down the last days of school. They've been preparing for class parties and field day. There was a Mother's Day tea and Cub Scout and Boy Scout awards. We are getting ready for a graduation!

Life has been moving at full steam. We've been busy but we've been happy -- just as it should be.

February Photos

I haven't really been feeling that inspired lately to take any pictures. I've really enjoyed looking at other "everyday photos" but my camera still sits unused. I think part of it is that I am just not used to the light we have in this house and I have had a little trouble getting used to it.

I really love going back and looking at these. What better way to get used to my new surroundings than a little photo project! (It should also help to get me out and about a little more, too). So I will be repeating last year's February Photo Project - a photo a day of the everyday during the month of February.

I'm really looking forward to it! (and I'll be reading this birthday gift for a little help.)


Check out these everyday photos:

Mom's World
Six One Way and the corresponding Flickr pool
3191
Simply Breakfast
SouleMama's - 30 Days of Everyday

Grrr... Blogger Glitch!

UGH! UGH! UGH! My blog header suddenly just dissapeared! I can't figure out how to get it back - nothing I do seems to work. If there is anyone that might be able to offer up some words of wisdom, I would really really appreciate it!

In the mean time, I'm very very frustrated!

February Photos

I've really been enjoying so many of the daily photos being posted on various blogs - especially here and some of here. So beautiful and so inspiring.

I've decided that I need to do something with that inspiration. I am challenging myself to take a photo everyday this month. Not just the big events but the little everyday stuff. I am hoping that this will help me develop my photography skills, I am hoping it will encourage me to see my home with fresh eyes, and I am hoping it will get more of my creative juices flowing again. (that is a lot to ask of a picture!)

Now I must go charge the camera battery!

Starting Again

My old sourdough starter went rancid and had to be tossed. At the time, life was busy and we were travelling so I chose not to continue with it. Now, however, is the perfect time for starting again.

I've found a new recipe. Something a little less fussy and easier to maintain. I think it will be a good fit for me. I'm really looking forward to all the exciting possibilities! I hope you'll be here to share them with me.

Edited to add the new recipe:

Sourdough Starter

2 c bread flour
2 c warm water
1 envelope yeast
1 Tbls honey

Dissolve honey in water and add yeast. Slowly stir in flour. Put in to a jar and leave uncovered for 5 days. Some separation is normal. Stir the liquid back in daily. If the liquid turns pink or black or someother "odd" color, discard and start again.

Store starter in the refridgerator. Once a week, pour off approximately half to use or share. Feed the remainder.

1 1/2 c bread flour
1 1/2 c water

Stir in to starter. Leave on counter overnight and then refridgerate.

*Make sure you store your starter in a glass jar with some headroom and stir with a wooded spoon. Never metal.

Why?

Why do I blog?

This is a question that was making the blog circuit a while ago. A lot of bloggers had a lot of interesting things to say. However, at that time, I really didn't give much thought as to why I blog.

Recently the question has crept forward in my mind slowly making it's presence known. The less I blogged, the more I've thought about it. Now, my mind is reeling!

I started this blog when I decided to join a Secret Pal swap. Having a blog was a requirement. I had been reading just a few blogs already and was pretty fascinated with the idea of them. I had contemplated starting one and joining the swap was the last little 'push' I needed.

I knew that I didn't want to make my blog topic specific. I wanted it to be an online journal of sorts. Little slices of my life. (It's a good thing too - I would make for a pretty boring knit blogger! I haven't knit a stitch since mid-Feb.) I was blogging for me.

Something happened along the way. People found me and started commenting. It was very exciting! I discovered so many more blogs to read, too. It was great - I've 'met' some great people and made some good friends. There has been a real sharing of ideas and I've been so inspired.

With all this growth and change, however, I think that my little blog started to suffer. I started looking at blogging in a different way. Suddenly there was some sort of unspoken criteria that I had to live up to. I stopped blogging about those little things that go on that I wanted to preserve because the picture wasn't quite right, or my words didn't flow just so, or I was wondering who might be reading. I was no longer blogging for me, instead I was (not) blogging for those that may be reading.

Don't get me wrong, I love having, as Chris calls you, a "fan club". It means so much to me that you are interested in what is going on in my life and I especially appreciate the concern when I am missing for awhile. It helps me to know that I am not alone. I am never going to have a blog that wins awards. I will never have 100 (or even 20!) comments on any given post and I will never be the blog that everyone is talking about. That is ok with me. I don't need the pressure.

I'm going back to blogging about my life, for me - with or without perfect pictures and eloquent prose. You are still welcome to come by and peek through my windows. When you do, leave a comment - they still thrill me!

Word Cloud

These word clouds have been "floating" around the blogs all week and I had to catch one for myself. What fun!

Go here to get your own. (click on "Custom" at the bottom)

A book thing

I got this from Knit Happens

1. Grab the nearest book

2. Open the book to page 123

3. Find the 5th sentence

4. Post the sentence to your blog

5. Don't search for the "coolest" book. Just use the one that is next to you

So here is my sentence.

"Vacations can be difficult, but try to exert the same control in your choices that you would at home."

(from The Ultimate Weight Solution by Dr Phil McGraw)

Is it profound?

Blog Ettiquete

Are there some sort of "rules of blogging" that I need to know about? Is it acceptable to reply to comments in the comments on your own blog? Well no matter, I have done it. If you never hear from me again, it is because the Blog Police have come and hauled me off to the detention center.

Thank You!

Thank you everyone for your good thoughts. We are all feeling much better. It looks like I was lucky enough to avoid getting too sick. Just as I it felt it was hitting, it went away. A little "drive by" sickness I suppose.

Look what else brightened my day! Nothing like a little package in the mailbox to make a girl feel better! (and so Springy too!)

The fabulous Yarngirl was very sweet and made a little lacy cap for me. I LOVE it! I wore it out yesterday and got quite a few compliments on it. The hubby says (in a good way) that I look like a gypsy! ha! Silly man! The boys love it too. They said "Wow it's great mom and so YOU!"

Pictures of me wearing it to come soon! In the meantime, run right over to the Yarngirl's blog and tell her how great she is!

Easter Greetings

In need of a hat

Today as I was struggling with a bit of a "Bad Hair Day" (and the icky weather didn't help too much), I realized that I could use a hat. I've thought about this and I don't really want just any hat. I want something cute. I have a lot - I mean A LOT - of hair so I don't really need a hat that will keep me warm. I also have high hopes that we are seeing the end of the wintery weather so I won't need a winter hat! Anyway, I want an open work, kid of a lacy looking hat I think. Unfortunately for me, all the hat patterns that I see that fit the bill are crochet and I don't crochet. But that is what I want. Something open and airy, and something that will be cute and feminine with my curls peeking out from underneath when the rest of my hair doesn't want to cooperate. Maybe even a cute little flower on the side. I like those.

So if anyone out there in Blog-land would like to help me out, I would be forever grateful to you! Perhaps point me in the direction of a knitted pattern for said hat, or maybe teach me to crochet this hat? Oh hell who am I kidding! I would be MORE than happy to have someone make a hat for me! I would wear it proudly and let everyone know who made it!

(now that was just shameless wasn't it!)

Emily

This is so much fun!

Top O' the Mornin'

Blog Housekeeping

It was brought to my attention that comments could not be left unless the poster was a registered user (?) That has been fixed. Now anyone and everyone that wants to tell me how great I am, can! Just kidding, but really anyone that wants to comment will now be able.

You may also notice that over there on the side where is says "Reading" nothing is listed. My book has just been sitting on the night table - unopened. I had to take it off my blog because it was just staring at me, mocking me. I really love to read. I just haven't been lately. I WILL rectify that very soon. I promise. After all, I need to keep my mind active!

I have also joined the Secret Pal 4 Web Ring. I have been having lots of fun hitting the "next" button and the "random" button and seeing all the other blogs. There are a lot of creative ladies out there!

Speaking of SP4, I neglected to mention that I got a lovely e-card from mine this week. (I did email her to thank her so I am not completely ungracious!) We've exchanged several emails and I'm really enjoying getting to know her. She seems like such a sweet person. I am happily anticipating my first package which she has told me is in the mail. (Such a tease!) Of course that means I am stalking the postman again! And my package to my SP recipient has been mailed off to an undisclosed location. I hope she likes it!

The last bit of blog upkeep will have wait. The picture at the top of my home is no longer my home. The picture stays for now though. I don't have a nice picture to replace it with and I need to decide what to do about my blog name. I'm not really living on a hill anymore. I'm open to suggestions on the matter.

Now I need to attend to the regular housekeeping. I have a sink full of dishes calling to me!

A New Journey

Welcome to the launch of my new BLOG. My first post and I am at a loss for words!

After exploring so many other Blogs, I thought it would be fun to create one of my own. I hope to come here to talk about the good, the bad and the zany things that go on in our little house on the hill.