Summer is approaching...

I can barely believe it's been two weeks (or so) since I last wrote...  Time has flown by.  I had four PTO events in those two weeks.  My husband was supposed to have a six-day plus two-day business trip (back-to-back), but fortunately that's been scaled down to the two-day (this Thursday and Friday).  There was Mother's Day (Happy Mother's Day if you didn't read my FB posts over the weekend!).  I had an opening on May 3rd at Markeim Arts Center for Birds and Blossoms the 2013 Power of the Flower Exhibit.  Then there was the other day-to-day activities, you know - parenting, housekeeping, chauffeuring, cooking, laundry, shopping for our bathroom renovation, and basic holding down the fort stuff.

Meanwhile, I am counting the days until summer arrives... I get summer fever really bad.  I was a special education teacher for five years before we started our family and I can totally relate to the daydreaming and "senioritis" and all of that springtime behavior that's annoying in the classroom, but a reality that we cannot deny - we all want OUT!

My little one has five days of preschool, plus a school picnic and then he's done, oh the glories of preschool - finished before Memorial Day!!!

My older son has school until June 20th.  It's always hard when school goes past Father's Day.  It was always a marker for me on the calendar that summer had started.  Not this year.  Oh, well.

In planning our summer, I love to have impromptu things that I can pull out of my hat at a moment's notice.  Now last year I didn't really do this.  I was tied to the recovery schedule after my four spring surgeries.  It was not the spring, summer, or autumn that I envisioned with my children.  I think that's why I'm looking forward to this summer even more than usual.

I've started pinning ideas to my Kid Stuff board on Pinterest.

I've also started a list of things that I'd like to do with the kids, things we missed out on last year for one reason or another, and things the kids have mentioned wanting to do...

Beach Day (well, many more than just one)

Sprinkler

Have a cook out with friends

Grow a garden (that's more for me)

Go on a Hayride

Pick fruit

Bake something yummy with the fruit

Make jam to enjoy over the winter

Go whale watching

Find praying mantis (my older son)

Visit Steamtown (my younger son)

Visit Washington D.C.

River Sharks game (local baseball)

Sleep over Nana and Papa’s house (during our bathroom renovation)

Camp out back with Daddy (missed this last year)

Make Popsicles

Make homemade ice cream

Vacation Bible School

Visit Uncle Jon, Aunt Stacy, and Vanessa (yay, they're in the states this year!)

Go fishing with Uncle Joe (missed this last year)

Catch frogs at Grandmom and Grandpa’s (my older son)

Catch fireflies

Play croquet

Play badminton

Learn some bird calls (my older son has the mourning dove down pat, perhaps a few more)

PJ day with movies on a rainy day

Blow bubbles

Watch the clouds (missed this last year)

Track moon phases

Wash mom’s car

Have a science project day (or two)

Make homemade pasta

Make homemade pizza dough (I usually buy frozen whole wheat dough, they make it with my mom, but really we can do this at home ... when the pace slows during the summer)

Play with water balloons

Build a sandcastle

Go on a hike

Go to the library (I've been really bad about this with the boys since we moved to this house)

Use the metal detector at the beach

Fly kites

Make trail mix

Make a fruit pizza

Read  books (have to dig out some classics; definitely continuing the Chronicles of Narnia)

Make slime

Build a tepee (on my husband's list)

Draw on the driveway with chalk

Play checkers

Make a sand cast at the beach

Go swimming

Go on rides at Gillian’s (shore amusements on the boardwalk in Ocean City, NJ)

Play mini golf

Do a scavenger hunt

Look through the telescope at the summer night sky

Ride bikes

I hope that we'll get to do all of these things and more.  I'm sure that some of these things will be repeated, some deleted, and we'll add a few more as the summer approaches.

I want to take lots of pictures - of the flowers, of my family, of our adventures.  I want to bring a bag of crochet with me to the shore and sit in the sand crocheting under the umbrella as the kids bury each other and then go jump in the waves with my husband.  I want to tend my garden, eat from it, can for the winter, and share when there's abundance.

I want to savor each moment because really the memories are what matter most.  My children's memories of their childhood will shape how they spend time with their children.  I want them to have magnificent and magical memories that make them want to create memories of their own with their children.

What are you planning to do this summer?  I would love to hear from you in the comments section - maybe I'll add to my list when I hear of the fantastic things you're planning!

I'm currently working on a dark olive large handled basket.  I will be posting progress photos on my Facebook page this week.  Stop by to see how it's going and when it's ready for purchase!

Have a blessed week and thank you for stopping in!

~Nicole

All Natural - Group Photography Exhibition

Sometimes going with your gut pays off.  It's not always comfortable, but the risk and discomfort of stepping out of our comfort zone is worth it!

Earlier this month I saw that there was a call for applications for an All Natural Photo Exhibit that would take place in February at a local gallery.  I am a novice photographer.  I am an avid nature photographer because I love plants and the outdoors, but I also have to so that I can study flower and foliage structure for my fiber arts.

So I decided to go for it and enter into this event.  The worst that could happen was that I'd get a rejection email.  I entered a series of five photographs.  Imagine my surprise when I received an email that one of my photographs was chosen to be a part of this exhibit.  Tomorrow morning I deliver my piece so that it can be arranged with the other 30+ photographs that were chosen.  I feel quite honored, very humbled.

My photograph is titled:  Peonies Series - Mingling with Mint 3

If you're local, I would love to have you stop by.  I'll be at the opening reception.

ALL NATURAL @ Markeim

OPENING RECEPTION
Friday, February 8, 2013 - 6:30-8:30

Free and open to the public

ALL Natural is this year's annual group photography show at the Markeim Arts Center curated by Norm Hinsey.  With more than 30 photographers represented, the show presents amazing, unretouched images of the natural world from every corner of the globe - from Crow's Woods to the Canary Islands.

Photographers:  Annalouise Coretti, Anne R. Jorgensen, Bill Apter, Bill Toffel, Jr., Cathie Morgan, Chuck Finnie, Ed Snyder, Ellie Wright, Erik James Montgomery, Glenroy Chapman, Harry Stainrook, Jamie Grill-Goodman, Joel B. Sheffield, Larry A. Lyons, Linda Hollinger, Lori Jo Jamieson, Lucy P. Sheffield, Madisyn Zadjeika, Marianna Kind, Marianne Leone, Marieteresa Clair, Matthew B. Horton, Melissa Fleming, Melissa Hellwig, Mimi Sullivan, Nicole C. Meyers, Norm Hinsey, Patricia E. Fitzgerald, Patricia S. Worley, Patrick J. Rodio, Rebecca Hilgen Bryan, Richard Heacock, Richard Montemurro, Riddhi Gangolli, Steve Doyle, Terika Andrea, Tonia Hsieh, Vera Hinsey, Vera Resnik, Whit McGinley

February 5 to March 1, 2-13
Gallery Hours:  Tue-Fri 10-2:30, Sat 1-3

Markeim Arts Center
104 Walnut Street, Haddonfield, NJ
MarkeimArtsCenter.org
856-429-8585

I plan to add the series of photographs Peonies - Mingling with Mint 1-5 to WoodstreamPapery in the form of note cards - both sets and individuals.  Prints up to 8x10s will also be available for purchase.  Look for these items in March.

Thank you so much for stopping by to catch up with my goings on.  Have a blessed weekend!
Nicole

Available now, available soon...

Good afternoon!

Starting today, WoodstreamDream is available for review on Angie's List.  I want to make sure that I keep valued customers like you, happy and satisfied with my work and customer service.  If you've purchased from me on Etsy or in person, please submit a review for WoodstreamDream using the link below, it's also available in the sidebar to the right.  Thank you!

angieslist.com/review/7670047

Now for the available soon!!!

I've been working on a new line of housewares - a limited edition of crochet baskets in a variety of sizes and colors.  Some are small enough to sit on your windowsill and hold your rings and watch while you do the dishes.  Others are big enough to hold your remotes or to sort the mail and drop your keys.  I'm having a fantastic time creating these items!  The weather's been rather gloomy for almost a week, so on Thursday when I have bright sunshine, I'll be taking photos and posting them on my facebook page ... so stop by and check them out!  Listings will go up on Etsy soon after!

Thanks for stopping by and have a blessed week!
Nicole

Enjoying...

I've been enjoying down time after the Give the Gift of Art 100s under $100 event at the Markeim Arts Center in Haddonfield.

Then the Sunshine Farm Girl Co-op that I am a member of launched our Cook's Lover Sampler Bags - get one while you can, they're full of awesome finds and for $24 {including shipping}, you can't go wrong!

Available here

Cook's Lover Sampler Bag - mention Nicole in the comments

Last week it was announced that the Sunshine Farm Girls Co-op also won a spot in Etsy's Top Ten Team Spirit 2012 Awards!!!  Let me tell you... this team is awesome to work with, such a supportive group and we're doing awesome with our advertising goals.

Currently I'm enjoying the Christmas holiday with my family and friends.  We're soaking in all of the cheer and blessings.

I'm also getting some work done, preparing to ship my items for the Co-op's next sampler bag - Pet Lovers - coming in January, Swag Bags (yes, for big celebrity events!!!), and product reviews by fellow bloggers.  It's a huge undertaking, but I'm so excited to be a part of this awesome team!

I look forward to creating beautiful items in 2013 for you!  I adore, get a thrill from, and really thrive on custom orders... designing for someone specific is one of my favorite things to do.  If you have a piece in mind that you would like me to create... please contact me and I will work with you to create something unique!

I'll be posting again in 2013, until then have a blessed holiday week and thank you so much for stopping by!
Nicole

Weekly Top 5

Here are some beautiful items by shops in the Sunshine Farm Girl Coop on Etsy.
This will be a weekly Top 5, so stop by often to see what lovely items I've found!

Take a moment to click, browse, and maybe even buy!

Remember the importance of buying from small businesses.

Small businesses help to boost the economy.

The revenue from your small business purchase is put right back into the local economy - buying necessities for their families - buying supplies for their next line of items - buying food from local farmers and merchants. 

Baby Girl Cotton Skirt

available at Kallie's Cotton

I can attest that this is an adorable skirt, perfect with ivory tights and onesie.

I gave one to my neice for her birthday recently.

Custom Handmade Decorative Cedar Flower Box

available at The Garden Garage

How pretty is this burned cedar?  It is so beautifully crafted!

Inspirational Decorative Pillow - Peace

available at Quilted With Prayer

And who doesn't need a little more peace in life?

Laura Anne - girl primitive doll

available at Murray Designs

Beautiful workmanship!  I wonder she has any ginger baby dolls in the works?

Go FISHing for men Printable Game

available at Printable Bible Games

This just might get bought today by me for my boys!

School is back in session and we're settling into a routine.  My postings will start to become more regular.
Thanks for stopping by today to read!
Have a blessed day!

Nicole