This Vintage Chica

The Colors of Coastal Maine

 
As we were driving North from Virginia toward Maine, each child had their own laminated map of the U.S.  As the boys followed along our route, Wyatt got a serious look on his face.  He had a question.  "Why was Deleware orange on the map, but was still green and brown outside the car window?"

But after arriving in Portland and upon visiting Mackworth Island we learned that in face, different areas of the country do in fact have different colors.

Even though our trip is just beginning, Maine will forever be brilliant colors of amethyst purple and brilliant cerulean yellow-green.

This has me thinking...I wonder if our house swap friends think our beach has "a color pallet"?  

What colors would a visitor notice in the natural areas of your hometown?

Interesting thoughts today.

valentine's day: the green and snowy edition

Hello friends...it is going to be a busy day around our house today.  We are preparing for some good friends to arrive this evening.  And we're quickly trying to finish up our Valentine's Day gifts.  Three different kinds of valentines for three different classrooms of kids  That's 68 handmade valentines folks!

* Did you know green is the new color of love?  At least that is what this M&Ms package told us.  Im guessing there is a story behind this marketing idea...like the factory made too many green m&ms from Christmas so some brilliant intern came up with the idea to push them for Valentine's Day by claiming "Green is the new color of love".  The green concept seems to be tacked onto everything, so why not chocolate?

* Zane spotted this video tutorial on how to make an origami yoda a few weeks back and has been dying to make some.  So he thought they would make good gifts for his friends at school.  We had fun coming up with "yoda" sayings. 

"Yoda best."

"Yoda man."  

"Yoda prettiest girl in school."  This one was submitted by Daddy and didn't actually make it onto a valentine.

* Ian chose to make these owls from the Family Fun website.  If you are down to the wire and need to make valentines tonight, they have some great quick and easy ideas.  Last year we made paper airplanes and those were a hit...especially with the boys.

  

*We got more snow yesterday!  What a winter!  When the boys and I changed our nature table for winter back in early December, S gave me a had time because we had "snow" underneath our pine tree and other collections.   And all I have to say to that is nah, nah, nah, nee, boo, boo!  We have had snow four times now!  People things like this just don't happen here at the beach.  And we have been enjoying every minute of it.

*Its still freezing.  The draft dodgers are working well.  And I've been putting our three "warmie, warmies"  (aka flax filled heating pads) in the microwave and then in the boys beds before they climb in for the night.  I think I need to make a few more for our bed.  Cratster has lots of other great diy ideas for staying warm.

Hope everyone is well.  Off to make home made macaroni and cheese for tonight.  That ought to warm us up!  Happy Thursday.

yellow week: wrap up

Sorry, I have not yet finished the list of resources you requested.  I'm a slacker, I know it.  But I'm working on it.  But you see...the books are here and there all over my house.  Some by the bed, others filed in the bookshelf for later referral, and a few in my car (Im not sure why there are that many books in my car, but there are).

So, until I can post the entire list, here is my yellow week wrap up...

We have a busy weekend planned.  Lots of coffee drinking, newspaper reading, tree climbing and general lounging are in store.  Have a lovely weekend everyone!

yellow week: 2 & 3

Thank you all for your kind comments and private emails regarding our educational decision making process.  You women have truly touched my heart in a big way.

And please, please keep them coming.  And if you read the post, but didn't read the comments, you must crab a cup of coffee and go back and do so.  There is lots of good information there.  And lots of support for the multitude of us who are in the same boat.

Several of you asked what books and articles I have been reading.  As I type this with one hand, Im putting together the list with links with the other, because I got mad multi-tasking skilz like that.  I hope to have it posted by tomorrow.

On a more colorful topic...

Yellow week continues...

If you are still fighting the February funk, pop on over to Erin's yellow week pool for a good dose of "make you smile" yellow.

Or grab your camera and your kids and find some signs of Spring...they are popping up everywhere.

yellow week: 1

 

for Erin's yellow week.

I have never had good luck with orchids.  I've tried. I can grow almost anything else.  But not these.  However, I've been doing some reading after Blair's flickr post and resulting conversation (see below the photo), Im trying again.

I have one in our bathroom, thinking it is warmer and steamier there.  And this lovely yellow orchid sitting in the middle of our kitchen table.  Its a little experiment...like everything else around here.

According to this group...my yellow orchid is a Phalaenopsis hybrid.  The boys have named her Phil for short.

ayoc: burnt sienna

a clay pot waiting to be planted sitting on a rusted metal tray :: the stain on our backyard fence

(love the mosaic maker on flickr toys, don't you?)

ayoc: green

ayoc: green, originally uploaded by thisvintagechica.

Yesterday it finally felt like Spring.  (Now today we are expecting freezing rain and possibly snow, but...) The boys and I spent almost all day outside mucking around in the muck.  We started our seeds indoors.  The Spring garden will be sporting lettuce, spinach, onions, and peas this year.  I like to use old egg cartons and plastic fruit containers which make great little greenhouses perfect for seedlings.  I also love how lettuce looks sprouting out of egg shells.  I did not get a photo of this yet, but you can see our version from last year.  For more inspiring green photos, visit  A Year Of Color where this week's color is of course GREEN.

I think the color was inspired by the upcoming St. Patty's day holiday, but for me it has been all about the garden.  Green is the color of new growth.  I should paint all three of my boys green, because the amount of new groth each of them is experiencing is simply amazing.  You know when you look at your child in the morning and have thoughts like "Now, I know when I put you to be last night you were not this tall."  Yep, new growth and short pants.

And how about a few other "green" links that I have noticed lately.

-I am dying (seriously rolling over with legs stretched to the sky) to see this movie
-Using Recycled Textiles
-A new collaboration of green crafters and artists: Sew Green
-This post and and this one from Every Little Thing has me thinking a lot

I will probably be back posting later today, I just happened to be up and thinking ... again.

Coffee anyone?

A Year Of Color: Tangerine

A Year Of Color: Tangerine, originally uploaded by erensanpedro.

Did a little thrifting with Abuelita Fia before she left yesterday and picked up the most wonderful platter with orange poppies and a nice orange rim around the edge. Love it even with the scratches and wear!  It is perfect for A Year of Color - Tangerine. 

Year of Color: Goldenrod

My submission for A Year Of Color.

We are squeaking this in by the skin of my teeth as Sunday Happy Things will announce a new color, but we've had a little trauma this week.  Z broke his arm.  Well to be completely honest, I accidentally broke his arm.  I dont want to talk about it really because all today people from school, neighbors, anyone we meet asks "What happened to your arm buddy?" and he replies "My mom broke it."  Maybe tomorrow Ill tell you what happened after I get over the overwhelming Mama guilt.

Oh, and for those of you who emailed me, the sunflower seeds are in the mail as of tomorrow.  So, Papaw (you all know my Papaw would be the first to email me), Vidya, Jill and Sara...watch your mailboxes for a little bit of sun.

A Year of Color: Turquoise Blue

When I saw that this week's color for A Year of Color was turquoise blue, I was so excited.  I love turquoise! Ive enjoyed it this summer in my kitchen paired with orange.  And Ive been participating in the aqua/red swap over at swap bot organized by Barbe.  (how did I get myself into a swap where my partner created such beautiful, amazing art yarns and I had to put together a package for her???  I hope she likes everything.)  When I wear my turquoise jewelry, I feel grounded and more connected to my Southern Texas roots.

   

But like Angela of Colorfool said in a recent post, "Crazy is the new normal".  It has been nuts...that is more nuts than usual around here.  I had grand plans of having lots of time to do lots of creative little things that have been on my crafty list for months.  But life happens.  You know?  S has been working extremely long hours the past few weeks.  This is their "busy" time of year.  We are changing servers over at Ms. Darla's site.  And it hasnt gone as smoothly as I had planned.  And then I think Scout has hit her toddler into everything puppy stage.  She is into everything and takes anything that is left on the floor outside to chew...including plastic bags, scraps of felt, yarn, leggos, stuffed animals, boxes from the pantry.  EVERYTHING!  It really is like having another baby.  Which has left me little time to take photos.

But also because turquoise blue has been a tough color for the boys to get into.  They dont love it near as much as I do, I think because it is hard to distinguish it from other blues.  But when Ian got up from his nap one day and was lounging on Scouts pillow and he exclaimed "Mama, get the camera quick!  Im laying on turquoise", what's a mama to do?  But take the photo with much praise and smiling and post it ASAP to show him how much I want to smooch him to death when he says things like that.  So here he is with his sleepy little eyes on a not so turquoise blue thrifted pillowcase turned dog bed.

Also I got lots of questions about the rag rug Im making.  Answers and more links will follow this post, but I hear Mr. Mooch waking up from his nap, so gotta run for now.