My 70's Sidewalk Cafe

The thing about a "domestic" blog is that one has to find the time to stop being domestic in order to write about it. And, something about the weather getting colder and the holidays setting in that gives me urge to craft! I've been in the middle of many craft projects, and not all will be revealed in this post, but suffice it to say that the surface of my dining room table hasn't been seen for weeks!

The first project, was one long overdue, but I had to wait for inspiration to hit. Well, truth be told I was waiting for funds to hit, when that didn't happen I began looking for alternate inspiration. So, burrowing deep into the depths of my fabric rubbermaid, I found the answer and, lo and behold, my kitchen curtains are finally hung! I've always wanted a very retro 70's kitchen, but without the drab quality. To avoid this I painted the walls a deep teal. I may have over-compensated, but it does provide a nice, up-beat back drop for my beloved oranges, mustard yellows and alvacado greens that I love so much. All that to say, that the curtains finally bring it all together with a very mod 70's print that showcases all those fabulous shades.


I now feel like we're dining at a sidewalk cafe during our meals. This illusion is due in part to the sidewalk that is, in fact, right outside the window...but I like to think that the curtains play a part as well.


The mug is one I inherited from my mom's mom with whom I share a special and unexplainable connection (but that's another story). It seemed a shame to have my favorite mug hidden in a cabinet, so it's now being re-purposed into a safe haven for flower refugees, escaping this morning's snow flurry.







And now, with my kitchen finally complete, a fire in the fire place and the weather blustery outside, I end this post to go make a giant pot of chili. Hope you all are staying as warm and cozy as a socks fresh out of the dryer!

Our First Annual Fall-i-day!

For some time now I've been trying to devise the perfect Autumn holiday for me and my family to celebrate. Thanksgiving is too borderline Christmas, Halloween is too evil and Church sponsored Harvest Parties are too much like a bunch of Christians with fingers in their ears trying to pretend that Trick or Treating isn't going on only blocks away. What I wanted is something that is cozy, yummy and involves plenty of the outdoors. So, this year, we invented Falliday! We had such a brilliant time that I'm already beginning to plan next year's festivities. Here's how it went down:

First, we had pumpkin bread and coffee for breakfast.
I threw in some whole, fresh cranberries into the batter on a
whim, and I hafta tell, they made the bread a jillion times yummier! I should also mention, that the pumpkin bread came from our very own pumpkin whom we carved up the night before while watching "The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown". Here's the picture of our pumpkin, Melvin, in his former glory...when we was a friend, not food.


We spent the morning lounging around and watching cartoons, as is proper and fitting for a Saturday morning. Then, after a lunch of Pumpkin and Carrot soup, salad with fresh herb dressing and rolls, we headed to the park for the leaf tromping!

The leaf tromping commenced with vigor! We collected specimens of curiosity, the most beautiful leaves in the forest, and lots of pinecones and acorns for crafts! It was such a delight to introduce Lucy to the marvels of Fall. She would find a pretty leaf and carry it around with her until she found one that seemed more beautiful. She stomped her feet, exulting in the crunching sound they made. She even threw a handful of leaves on her daddy so he could enjoy them too.

By the time we returned home, Lucy was in need of a nap, so while she napped, Chris and I crafted with some of the wondrous things we found on our walk. The results of our craft are still pending, but if it turned out well, I'll post about it later. When Lucy woke up, she got to participate in the crafting by trying her hand at leaf-rubbings. For a 15 month old, she did pretty darn good. But even if she didn't, she's cute, so who cares?


















After all of this, I was glad I had put dinner in the crockpot and it was waiting for us! I was inspired by my friend, Sarah, to have a German dinner, to celebrate Reformation Day (the day Martin Luther nailed his theses to the door. In so doing, Luther broke the spell catholicism had the people under, ending Europe's Dark Ages). So yummy, cozy German food it was! We had sauerbraten, hot potato salad and sauerkraut. And, as our own personal touch, we added a hat's off to Oktoberfest and drank some delicious beer!

After dinner, we were planning to go to my in-law's house for s'mores over their firepit and watch "Arsenic and Old Lace"...this didn't happen, so we snuggled up and played games instead.


It was a lovely Falliday, and I highly recommend you institute one for your own family!

The reason

When I was a student, I loved the rhythmic influx of feedback. Knowing that when I got grades back from a professor, I was able to see the value of my work represented in the letter written in the top corner and the scribbled notes left in the margins. As a professional, there were always incentives to motivate my work: evaluations, promotions, long term goals of my career. I was never without a constant barometer measuring how good my work was, who valued me and how much. Until I left the work place to become a stay-at-home mom.

Society doesn't value the labor of home makers. There are no trophies in our line of work. No bonuses, no special parking privileges, no monuments. In fact, some of our greatest achievements are instantly devoured, worn and wrinkled and, often, unnoticed.

Because of society's lack of enthusiasm for what it is I do all day, I noticed that I've fallen into that as well. This is obvious when friends would ask me what I'm up to these days, my answer would be "Oh, nothing much" or "not a whole lot" or "you know, the mom thing". I have recently become aware, however, that this attitude is askew. Much of what I do is noteworthy! And I don't say that in effort to prove myself to society, the world or my friends in the workplace. I say that because I know that God values what I do and He says it is noteworthy.

The Bible spends a better part of the 31st chapter of Proverbs describing and applauding how the excellent wife spends her day. In Titus 2 Paul encourages the older women to teach the younger women to "be busy at home." Clearly, God values my work. Therefore, I should value it too.

I don't need employee of the month awards or articles published in Better Homes and Gardens, my goal is to be transparent, serving in my home for His approval only. Yet, I need to retrain my thinking; I think that we, stay at home moms in general, need to renew our minds on this topic. We need to value and celebrate the success of that one meal that turned our simply fabulous, that paint color that brightened the room perfectly, or the craft project that sparked our kid's creativity. We need to esteem what we do so that we remember that God esteems it. We also need to bear in mind that our children will value what we value.


It's in light of these musings that I'm launching this blog.

This will be a domestic blog where I can share some of what fills my days. Recipes for meals, my sewing projects, activities with my daughter, Lucy and the like. My hope is that it will serve to remind me of the noble work God has called me to in making a home and training a child, as well as to energize and inspire other moms who may read it.

Hope you enjoy!