gather

If asked to choose my favorite spot in my home, it would be the middle of my kitchen. My harvest table, precisely. That table represents so much more than a piece of furniture. It is the center of family life. A place to gather and share a meal together. A place to have tea and talk with a friend. A place for me to prepare food to nourish a growing family.
Before we reworked the layout of our kitchen, we had a lovely corner banquet....that I hated to sit at. We ate our meals there, period. If company was over I would quickly usher them out of the kitchen, tea in hand, to a comfier spot in the livingroom. I hated it. I wanted my kitchen to be a place to linger, to enjoy, and to gather. The key to that for me? A big old table in the middle of my floor. I knew in my heart that when we made the changes to the kitchen, it would make a huge difference in how I felt about the room. It did.

The table we have might not be my dream table, but it is big and solid, and it is where I need it to be.
I try to keep it cleared off and ready for a meal, but through the course of a day it becomes many things. A bread kneading surface, a laundry table, a desk, a grocery staging area, and so on.
I was inspired to write about this, after reading what Soulemama wrote about her table. I hope that she makes it a regular feature. I just might join in.
Have a blessed day! Tami

beach = good

Just what we (I) needed.
A family trip to the beach. (with lots of friends of course!)
We finished the day off with fish & chips near the shore.
A truly wonderful and carefree day.

Have a blessed Monday, Tami

{this moment}

Joining Amanda.

slow

I am laying low the rest of the week. I am the unfortunate recipient of a little spot of skin cancer near my right eye.
All is well, and they were able to remove all of it and get me stitched up rather quickly. I have a humongous bandage nearly covering my eye and a few stitches to contend with.
All in all, quite a bother, but I am glad it is done.
So I am taking it easy for a few days, feeling a bit like someone punched me in the eye.
I will be feeling back to my old self soon.
There are a ton of raspberries to pick. Sounds like a good thing to do today. And knit, for sure.
Kane is home, and we are so glad.

Have a blessed day, Tami

messy monday

This morning I spent a good bit of time exercising my "mend and make-do" mantra. I woke up to tiny clumps of down feathers all over the place. When I took the duvet cover off the down comforter, it was just like in the movies, when the end of a pillow fight is a mass of feathers floating everywhere. What a mess. A great opportunity though to spend some time with thread and needle mending about 50 (thousand) little holes AND ONE BIG ONE.
All is well now, and I have freshly laundered bedding and a vacuumed carpet in the bedroom. Love that.

What a way to start the week.

The weather is gray and cold. I appreciate the rain, it means I don't have to water the garden, and I like that. My plants are exploding. They like the rain followed by a few days of heat and sun.

Kane gets home tomorrow night from New Orleans. I have missed that boy so much. I hear that he has been existing solely on Po'Boy sandwiches and Snowballs. Nice.
It has been really hot for them, but it sounds like he is having a great time.

My chickens are taking turns being broody. It's Henny's turn this time. Every time I open the nesting box door, she screams at me. Oh, she is a fun one.

I am almost finished knitting a sweater I started last week. The design is a simple raglan sleeve, top-down, v-neck cardigan. I used a bulky yarn in a beautiful peacock blue color. I am sure hoping that the yarn softens up when I wash it. It is pretty itchy right now. I will wear it anyway, the color is just too wonderful not to.

That's about all for today. We are taking it slow and easy. We have been doing too much running lately. I need a day at home to relax. Today would be a great baking day. Yes.

Have a blessed Monday, Tami

{this moment}

{from our yard}

Joining Amanda.

bits & bobs

{I love a spiffy kitchen}

{dust bath alley}

{kid-photo of some very exciting clothespins}

{the lego boy also loves dominoes}

{the raspberries are flying in everyday}

{anya playing with my hair, she was so excitoed to take a pic.....}

{more lego love around here}

Bits from our week.
The kids hijacked the camera, a few random photos from that fun.
We are off to swim, because summer seems to be sticking around. Yes.
I am looking forward to something easy for dinner.
Overall, a super relaxing week around here.

Have a blessed and sunshine filled day, Tami