New Traditions and Ambitions

Joe and I decided to institute a family night.  We started this week by creating a sign to hang outside.

It's not complete yet, it needs to dry, and I plan on adding something to it, to punch it up.

We picked green and white thinking it would look great with the garden we plan on planting and the bench we plan on putting in.

 Something like this, but with a back, perhaps?

The garden brings me to the next part of this blog, the ambitions-

Joe and I plan on planting an herb garden with tomatoes, carrots, and possibly peppers.  I also plan on planting roses, all red, and variations of red, snap dragons, and other flowers.  

We came to this decision after watching Food Inc., a documentary about the food industry, and the truth about the food we eat and where it comes from.  It is a powerful movie.  I recommend that everyone watch it, and think carefully about the choices they make regarding food. After watching it, Joe and I decided we would only eat organic foods-life without pesticides, artificial and genetically engineered produce and meats, and locally grown the old fashioned way-we also decided we would grow our own vegetables, and join Fairy Godmother's Garden, which provides local people with fresh produce through the harvest for a small fee.  Finally, we decided we would try to shop at the Farmer's Market when it begins in April.  We also thought, how amazing would it be for Ella to never eat foods that were ripened by chemicals or eat meat that contained ammonia in order to kill e-coli and other bacteria.  She hasn't so far.  She eats organic baby food and cereal.  We've eaten only organic for the last three days and I feel great about it.  I feel like I am getting more in touch with mother earth, which has always been important to me. 

Here is the trailer for Food Inc. for anyone interested.

My next endeavor, is creating Ella's baby book.  I thought it would be great to personalize it with my own creativity rather than give her a store bought one.  I started a few days ago.

I am very excited to continue.  I love creating beautiful things.  I can't believe how much of a girl I really am; i love lots of glitter, fairy tales, and anything shiny.

I have also started my spring cleaning project.  Today I did all the laundry in the house and cleaned out the pantry. I can't believe how much crap we had stocked up.

That's only half of it.  It feels so good to get rid of stuff.  We are 

donating a bunch to the local food drive. 

Our good deed for the day.

Finally, Ella is the cutest baby in the world.  Here is the proof.

I put it on myself and she gave me the most puzzled look.  So I put it on her and this was the result.

Live List

“To be able to look back upon ones life in satisfaction, is to live twice” 
 Kahlil Gibran 


Alright...so here we go.  I've tried this already once, last summer, when I was nine months pregnant and it didn't go so well; now that I'm not, I think I have a better chance at success.

1. Go to the zoo.  I love the zoo and I think Joe and I will go tomorrow (we already talked about it).
2. Take dear Cosmo to the dog park at least three times a week.  The exercise saves my life!
3. See an opera or a symphony, LIVE.
4. Show Ella the ocean.
5. Go to the Oregon Coast Aquarium.
6. Visit the Halle Ford Art Museum.
7. See "Alice in Wonderland," at the IMAX theater. 
8. Finally go to Joe's favorite German restaurant. 
9. Play a Beethoven piece on the piano.
10. Hike Multnomah falls on a sunny day.
11. Run barefoot in the sand.
12. Have a picnic in the park, wearing a dress, with Joe in a suit and top hat-straight out of the early 1900's.
13. Read the Anne of Green Gables novels: the movies have been my favorite since I was a kid.
14. Go to a local poetry reading.
15. Find and join a book club.
16. Fall asleep in the sun (if Ella permits).
17. Take Ella on her first ride down a slide.
18. Walk around downtown in the early morning with the family and eat breakfast at a sidewalk cafe.
19. Take Ella to a field of flowers and take pictures of her with fairy wings.
20. Spend a day in bed with Joe (hah!)
21. Listen to live music in the park.
22. Go to a carnival and ride the rides.
23. Visit a petting zoo so Ella can ride the ponies.
24. Introduce Ella to as many animals as possible.
25. Read poetry every night.
26. Wake up early every morning so I can enjoy coffee and a cigarette with the bright morning sun.
27. Lay in the grass and stare up at the clouds.
28. Hug, kiss, and say I love you to Ella, Joe, and Cosmo every chance I get.
29. Take lots of walks with Ella and point out all the interesting sights.
30. Turn off the tv.
31. Take Ella to her first movie.
32. Pick wildflowers and make my own perfume.
33. Cook or experience a different authentic, ethnic meal every week.
34. Take Ella to a music store so she can hear lots of different instruments.
35. Fill the house with candle light and spend a whole night pretending we don't have power.
36. Start my fairy wand project.
37. Drive up into the mountains and show Ella the snow.
38. Laugh
39. Be ridiculously philosophical.
40. Cry at sappy, romantic movies.
41. Learn about my daughter.
42. Take Ella to a baby music class.
43. Spend a day with my mom, doing all the things she loves to do.
44. Spend a day with Joe, doing all the things he loves to do.
45. Let Cosmo take me on an adventure.
46. Give a card to my dad expressing how much he means to me.
47. Jam with Matt.
48. Sing silly songs.
49. Spend a whole hour talking only in rhymes.
50. Get my hands in the mud.

This is, of course, a live list for now until the end of summer.  There are so many other things I'd love to do but it is important to be spontaneous, so I'll let them come naturally.

But most importantly: be with the ones I love.

A Second Honeymoon

If Joe and I were to have a second honeymoon, this is what I would wish it to look like.

Two nights at Thornewood Castle Inn, in the Anna's Suite.

A night at the Opera

 

Production: The Magic Flute, Mozart

Wearing this dress:

and these shoes:

with a matching shawl and earrings.

Dinner out on the town here:
Chez Shea
that brags entries like this:

The second day, I would want to just lay in bed, have a quick bite at a cute cafe, and spend the evening in front of the fire. 

Of course, this won't be happening anytime soon, but one day, I'll have my romantic, elegant, second honeymoon.