June 11, 2011

(photo taken by Suze)

Yes.

It is true.

Breathe Owl Breathe DID play a concert in my backyard on our outdoor stage AND they stayed the night AND they played for us in the morning AND it was the best ever!

we got to have Breathe Owl Breathe play in our backyard because we supported a kickstarter project they are doing to make a children's book and record.

here we are with Micah, Andréa and Trevor

before b.o.b. got here, we prepared.

we fancied up our vintage Fireball so they'd have a place to sleep.

(although jasper requested Trevor sleep in his room on the bunk bed and Trevor obliged, even while jasper slept in our bed with us!)

jasper made sure the honey bucket was ready.

we got the lawn and gardens ready.

we had a stage built at the edge of the woods

we put up the zipline

(and it was a BIG hit, for kids and adults alike!)

(photo by Kirsten)

and then we had a party!

and boy oh boy, what a party it was! 

SO. FUN. !!!

trevor eating pre-show donuts

giggles!

Chad in one of the capes we were given, sewn by Micah's mom, with an image of the mole that Micah created for the book project.

Jasper in same cape.

Jasper and his friends playing their fiddles post concert with Andréa as back up!

morning after

pure bliss!

after all that fun we were sad to see our friends leave but we knew we would see them all again at Pickathon so we were happy about that.  We had such a fantastic time having our friends experience this party with us and listening to Breathe Owl Breathe on the back yard woods stage.  Thank you friends!  Thanks for celebrating with us and making memories!  We had a hoot and a blast and a magical weekend! 

until next time,

xoxox,

jennette

la la land

hello my friends!

thanks for staying around while i wade thru the trials and tribulations of la la land, otherwise known as the new unfounded territory of business owner land of the lost hope to return one day and become somewhat normal again but not too normal cuz that would be really boring land of omg, working full time, never a dull moment land, so so so so much to do, family transitioning, roles shifting land, always wound up, hard to calm down, must breathe, need to meditate land.

la la land.

yes.

thanks for being here.

somebody get the cold champagne!

i've been feeling a bit like this dog with two broken legs. slow going, limping, whining..... everything takes so. much. time. to do, accomplish, and perfect. oh the patience. patience is a skill i have yet to hone and perfect. patience. please be my friend.

And yet.

Some days i feel like Grover here. like life is all good, not a single hard thing can touch me, i am indefatigable, a warrior, a lover, a champion, and full. full. full. full. of patience. i behave. my kids are angels. chad and i respect and honor one another. and i am channeling Grover. Gettin my Grover on!

I just want YOU to be happy! 

So I will stop my kvetching and moaning and get along little doggie!

please hang in here with me, friends, while things shift, change and transpire.  the new shop is open and customers are coming in.  items are getting displayed and priced.  new items come in every day and soon i will have time to make new bags, new pillows, new treasures and whatnots. i will be carrying Tatine candles, Saipua soap and some local letterpress stationary, soon.  the record album sketch pads are coming in and also, fingers crossed, a gorgeous line of local handmade sterling and gemstone jewelry that you will love!

the Smashing Rubbish website, twitter and facebook page are in the works.  each will allow me to connect with y'all in different ways and for me to offer different specials and info on each. so if you prefer to stay informed of all Smashing Rubbish has to offer, join me on each platform.  look for my class and events schedule on the website when it goes live.  cigar box ukulele making class, anyone?! 

I have so much to share with you so i hope to return to regular blogging from here on out.  i still haven't shared the revamped Fireball with you, or our Breathe Owl Breathe backyard concert, or the amazing treasures and finds i am uncovering daily. the focus will shift a bit, toward the goings on, ins and outs, of the studio and shop, but i will continue to share my finds, projects, ideas, life and creativity here too.

come see me at Smashing Rubbish World Headquarters!

15922 Main St. Duvall, WA

thur.-sat. 12-6

sun. 12:30-5:30

mon.-wed. by chance or appointment

thanks for all your support, kind words, help and love friends!

i couldn't do it without YOU!

going for a run in the warm Chelan rain,

xoxoxox

jennette

Brick and Mortar

it is true.

and it is official.

i am in the process of opening my own studio and shop.

near my home.

and close to my kids' schools.

it's kinda a big deal.

(doing a bit of demolition to an old dressing room)

i now own a business.

(demo half done.  almost.)

and i have a j.o.b.

(second dressing room.  gone.  now putting up wall to make last one into fabric storage)

i am terrified and giddy, all at once.

(starting to move in)

i'm in the eye of a storm: the cleaning, moving, organizing, preparing, website building, logo designing, bank account opening, sign securing, lease signing, etc.  i know this is the grinding work of getting to opening day and that it wont continue to be this intense and daunting 24/7. 

and i am trying to enjoy a bit of it as i go.

(sooooo much to do!)

after the first whole day of moving and cleaning i sat in a comfy chair, in the almost dark, twilight, quiet shop, by myself, and cracked a cold beer(there was no Sophia on hand, Erin and Natasha!), and sat back and thought:

i think this will be ok.

i think i can handle the emotional roller coaster.

i think i can handle how vulnerable this makes me feel.

i think i can manage to let go a bit, just a bit, of the perfectionism and control-freakness that binds me up.

i think it's alright that, in this moment, i can switch from deep deep gratitude, peaceful serenity and utter enoughness, to big wet salty tears, deep doubt and unworthiness and stone cold fear.

i think all this means i am alive.

and i do believe it's a privilege to get to feel it all.  all of it. hard and easy. light and heavy.  rough and smooth.

(lots to sort, sift, dust, organize and display)

ohmygawd!  I FINALLY have MY OWN studio and shop!!!

you people out there who know me:  how long have i been talking about the "eventual shop," my "one day store, my "someday studio"?  like....   forever!

it's happening.

a dream is coming true one day at a time in little ol' Duvall, WA.

well, exactly at 15922 Main St!

items are arriving, car load by car load.

i hope you'll come visit and see what's new down here!

it's amazing what you can do with a little rope, some bungee cords and an open sun roof!

i am trying to open by july 2 and i hope to be open

thursday-saturday noon-6 and sunday 12:30-5.

wish me luck friends!  and don't be shy about stopping by!

12:41 AM.   must. go. to. bed. :)

xoxox

jennette



Hello Out There!

doesn't that look like a picture of trees in the Fireball?!  it was the actual scene outside my door over memorial day weekend!

heeeellllloooooo friends!!!

long time no see!

well, i don't have much to report other than BREATHE OWL BREATHE will be playing on my backyard stage on saturday AND staying the night!!!

no, not much.  just a little little thing.

NOT!

woohoooooo!!

yes, it is true!  we supported a Kickstarter project; kids book and record project that b.o.b. is creating and so we get to have them stay overnight and play for all our friends and family!  yep!  pretty cool, huh?!

so needless to say i have been running around, breathless, with my head spinning in circles, readying like a bat out of hell!  it's all good!  I just like to have things a certain way; beautiful, preferably with a theme, well organized, and, ya know, like, all put together!  and if its not that way, i kinda panic :)  It'll all work out, right?  No one is going to fire me for having weeds in my garden and serving donuts instead of cake.  right?!

i have also had some REALLY BIG plans underway that will make for some major huge changes around here.  I will share this all with you soon but in the meantime think: brick. and. mortar (!!!)

so, i've been a tad busy and i am glad you are still here checking in on me!  thanks!

ok then friends.  i gotta go to bed.  right after i sew another Fireball cushion cover and glue another fake mustache to a stick!

smooches,

xox

jennette



PDX with the Boys

on our way to Portland

waiting in the train station

a nice person saw us trying to take a group photo of ourselves so she offered to help!

on the train

havin a good time

in his own world

daydreaming

sightseeing

chillin on our room

August's plate after breakfast at Kenny and Zukes

contemplating his next move

drawing a jasper portrait

getting new boots at Johnny Sole

shopping

jasper with camera

the sign in Cargo

goofin off

being silly

Gus and his carp

you just saw a photo montage of our weekend in Portland, Oregon.

we took the boys, for the first time, on the train, to see a concert and stay at the Ace Hotel.

we saw The Head and The Heart on sunday night.

and chad and i slipped away saturday night to see The Hackensaw Boys.

we went to Cargo, ate good food, got chad new boots at Johhny Sole and wandered the warm sunny streets. 

will show you my pdx finds in another post soon :)

xoxox

jennette

Becoming 16

Gus longboarding in Chelan last summer.

this one.  this kid o' mine.  August.  he is turning 16 today.  big day, i tell ya.  those of you who know him.....can you believe it?!  because i can hardly believe it. and i gave birth to him!

how did this happen, that he is 16??!!

us in Chelan last summer during a storm.

it kills me that he is turning 16, that i only "have" him for two more years. 

akkk!  i hate that! 

but it gets me thinking about what a fantastic gift it is to be his mom.

catching fish on lake roesigner, at jeremy and kirsten's, 4th of july.

it's a pleasure to help guide this child o' mine as he finds his way through the big, big world. 

waiting for the ferry to Lopez Island to hang out with the Kvistad's.

even though it can be an intimidating and messy task, this raising kids business.

listening to music at the woods stage, Pickathon 2010

the figuring out when to offer counsel, direction, assistance, and advice

dinner at Six Arms before the Head and the Heart and Vampire Weekend concert.

the knowing when to dive in and advocate for them without being in defensive mama bear mode,

trying on a full length fur coat at the thrift store to crack me up!

and when to put on the brakes, back off, trust in all you have offered and exposed them too, and let them discover their own path,

stylin in a vintage plaid jacket, denim shirt and silk tie

even, and foremost, when it means allowing them to flail, falter and find their own two feet.

carving pumpkins with the family.

but really this boy of mine has transformed me, changed me,

nudged me gently and willingly into motherhood,

August with his cousin Jack at Thanksgiving.

altered me,

cracking me up, being a total goof ball!

made my world more deep and meaningful than i ever thought it could be.

trying on an awesome vintage sweater that his great grandma knit for his uncle almost 40 years ago!

he is amazing.  August, you are awesome!

whale and bird watching near Sayulita, Mexico

you are more than worth the worry, stress and sleeplessness!

after a day of surfing, la lancha, mexico.

you are my sunshine.

playing nightly guitar.

you are an amazing artist and musician.

massive comic collection (self portrait!)

you are smart, silly, and thoughtful.

asleep in the car from Tombstone to Tucson.

you are a loving and influential big brother!

new vintage shirt, tucson

you can do anything.

birding in Sabino Canyon

you are golden, my son.

my boy-man.

my love.

Happy 16th Birthday August!

I love you to the universe and back!

xoxoxox

mom

Mom

i recently found this photo of my mom.

it was taken when i was 12.

so she was 34.

i just adore it.

she looks so happy.

she had just met my other dad, Greg.

married now for more than 20 years.

and still so happy together.

i love you mom.

thank you for choosing dad.

thank you for showing us how to make it work.

thanks for always sending a card.

and thank you for taking the "deep dive" with me even when it's uncomfortable.

i love love love you!

Happy Mother's Day!

xoxox

jennette



Ledger

i LOVE old ephemera!

i found this ancient ledger in Bisbee, AZ.

look at the gorgeous marbled paper

and the beautiful, elegant, careful hand writing

nibs dipped in an ink bottle

dating from 1881

it appears to be lists of names with credits and charges

who sent money where, to whom and when?

could not find and identifying city, company or author to investigate.  was hoping, but no luck. 

i have a lot of ephemera in worse shape than this that i use in art projects but i am not sure if i can bring myself to take this one apart. 

perhaps i will make copies of the pages i want to use and leave the ledger in tact.

if you ever find or have old ephemera you need to be rid of, i'm your girl!

drinking unsweetened iced green tea with my usual two scoops of matcha,

xoxox

jennette



The Gift of an Ordinary Day

hey friends!

here is a short review and pitch for Katrina Kenison's book The Gift of an Ordinary Day.

ok, be forewarned. this book will make you cry, weep, sob and laugh, smile & chuckle. i highly recommend it if you have kids, are a mother, have a mother, or know a mother, and all parents world wide, far and near!!!

my sweet friend Tiffany turned me on to this book. as many of you know, i spend a LOT of time in my car and i listen to a LOT of books on cd. of course i listened to this book and after Tiff shared the video with me:

how could i not?!

did you watch the video?!  are you crying yet?!

i am just in awe of the universe putting these much needed experiences in my path when i can really use them. this book is about a mom who has two teen sons and how she is maneuvering through all the changes that come with our kids getting ready to fly the coop.

i have been lamenting to friends, and really, to anyone who will listen, about how hard it is getting and staying centered in the here and now and enjoying the gifts of an ordinary day. i find myself complaining about the speed of life, the time lost or past that was not knowingly appreciated, and the unfairness of only "having" my oldest son for just two more years.

Kenison speaks to all of this and more. she writes about finding peace and balance and quiet. she writes about finding new adventures, new friends, and centering.  and about how all the hard stuff, the choices, the decisions, how it's all transient, fleeting, short lived. how all we have control of is ourselves and our next step. how the past is in the past and that we don't need to "future-trip" so much about the future.

So much of what Kenison shared, her insights and her opinions, were like crystal clear gifts of love to me. i listened with my kids in the car and they just silently watched me weep and wipe my eyes. it was nice having my teenager hear some of what i have tried to tell him about why i do and say what i do and say! it is such a gift to be reminded of how i want to live and interact with my boys, what i want them to take away when they go and what it is that is important to me that they "get." Kenison nailed it, spot on, and i am so thankful and appreciate to have had the opportunity to hear this from her now while i am in the thick of it. earlier would have been nice too but at least i got it now. for that i am grateful.

here is a quote from kenison's website:

“Watching my sons growing and changing so visibly, almost from one day to the next, I sensed something in me breaking loose and changing as well, something no less powerful for being invisible. It was almost as if, having strived for years for predictable comforts, urban conveniences, and security of our well-established routines, I was suddenly haunted by all the things I hadn’t done, the dreams that might never be realized, the sense that the tidy, civilized life we’d worked so hard to create didn’t quite fit the person I really was, or, rather, still thought I might be.”–from The Gift of an Ordinary Day

if you have young children, tweens or teens, i would love for you to get your hands on this book. Dads too!  the small bit Chad has listened to so far has given us so much good stuff to talk about.  and i dare the dads to not be moved to tears as well! 

even though Kenison has two boys i think all of us parents, with 1 or 4 kids, girls or boys, who parent thoughtfully and with much care, can learn from her experiences. the earlier the better, i'd say. and i will definitely be revisiting this one over and over again. it's a keeper and i am thankful!

listening to Aimee Bender's, The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake,

a little escape after the serious,

xoxo

jennette

New Bees!

we picked up our package of italian bees last saturday from beez neez apiary in snohomish.  We hived them on the same perfect northwest spring sunshiney day.

i had my 8 year old helper with me and it's a good thing i did.  you can never have enough hands during hiving.

in this three pound package the bees are clustered all around their queen.

 

here are some hive parts in our field

 

jasper is spraying the bees with sugar water to keep them calm while we prepare to hive them.  the jars full of sugar water will feed them when they are hived and until they are ready to forage on their own.

one more spray before we pull the queens cage out.

the sugar water can, inside the box, has to be taken out to slide the queen cage out.

here is the queen in her cage

here i am pulling out the tiny cork that holds her in so we can direct release her.

the feeding can had been replaced while we released the queen.  so now i am prying it out again to dump the bees in their new home.

the bees are calm from the sugar syrup and they don't just all swarm out at once.  you actually have to shake them out.

dumping the bees

the top box is just hiding the jars of sugar syrup the bees will be feeding on.  soon the top box will be full of frames that have foundation wax for the bees to build their comb on and fill up with honey and brood.

happy bees coming and going on a lovely northwest afternoon.

all the shipments of bees and queens were delayed this year because of the bad weather in california, where they come from.  so our carniolan bees wont be here for a couple more weeks. 

i had enough equipment to start two hives this year.  excited about that.  maybe, finally, i'll get some honey to make my elderberry mead in the fall.  yum!

off to portland, oregon on the train to stay at the ace hotel and see the head and the heart,

xoxox

jennette



Vintage Sewing Cards

by Hazel

what do y'all know about these sewing cards?

the back

how old do you think they are?

bear

i have had some before that seemed just as old.

bear, back

I found these on Etsy but they are very cutesy...

mine seem older...

fish

are they mid-century?

fish, back

could they be turn of the last century?

crown

could they be Edwardian?

crown, back

could they be Victorian?

candle

i wonder how old Hazel was when she did these.

candle, back

did her mom help her?

bird house

or her big sister?

birdhouse, back

did she make them in school?

fishing

or by a cozy fire at home?

fishing, back

did you ever have sewing cards?

fish bucket

i don't remember having sewing cards.

fish bucket, back

i'm just curious.

girl

i just wonder.

girl, back

*****

working on some vintage tapestry bags when i have time to sew.  but mostly working in the yard to get it ready for our big music-fest birthday party in June.  we had a stage built!  and the gardens are starting to look fabulous.  finally.

xoxoxox

jennette

Painted Bus

saw this cool painted bus at the grocery store the other day

love seeing artistic expression like this in the rural suburbs

looked like someone could be living in it

what a fun adventure you could have going across country in this!

plenty of space to bring your friends and collect your junk!

this section offers me inspiration for the '61 vintage Fireball, which will be getting a new creative paint job soon.  can't wait!

and i will have updates on the interior progress as well.

you'll be amazed!

xoxox

trying to stop being sick

jennette



Peacock Bag

hi friends!  long time, no post! 

sorry for the bad photos here.  bad lighting.

this is a short, squat, square bag i made from an embroidered peacock runner.

close-up of the peacock embroidery.  there was on one on each end of the runner so i intended to make them into pockets on a bag.

this is the table runner

here is a photo of the inside of the bag.  i used a vintage floral to line the bag and a linen napkin for the inside pocket.

silly self-portrait of me sewing the bag

inside view

i placed the pockets on the end of the bag.  one on each end.  and used some of the left over fringe from the runner to go across the top of each pocket.  i just used some old canvas for the main bag body.

i used a woven fabric strap for the handle.  for some reason i always seem to find these at sales and now have quite a collection to keep using for straps.  you might remember i used one here for the oil painting tote bag.  anywho, this will be for sale soon.  either in my Etsy or down at the shop.  have at it!

off to a dear friends moving away party and trying not to cry,

xoxox

jennette



Suspender Overalls

i found this awesome pair of overalls at the thrift last month.  they had some old stretched out elastic material attached to the strap.  someone did a home job on these.  here is the old elastic strap material:

the blue and white stripes match the overalls but i like the contrast of the straps i used to replace the old ones.  blue and green.  the new straps were born from an old pair of suspenders i had in my stash.  these ones still had some good elastic to them.

i've been wearing my overalls all over town!  they are super comfy and good for working on my bee hives or in the studio.  i can dress them up or dress them down.  i love me a good pair of vintage overalls!

back to work,

xox

jennette



Spring Break 2011

                            

self portrait near the pool at the Copper Queen in Bisbee

the kids and i are back in Arizona for spring break again, staying in my dad's condo.  and we are so excited to be here because our dear friends Jeremy, Kirsten and Clary are visiting Tucson too.  so we get to explore together in other cities besides Seattle!  Kirsten's dad also has a condo here and although we have both been coming to Tucson, to our dads' condos, for many spring breaks now, it has never fallen on the same week.  but this time it did, so yeah for us!

here are jeremy, kirsten and clary as we prepare to leave an incredible outdoor antique show/flea market that i found.  Jer, Kirsten and i live for stuff like this!  this sale happens the first sunday of every month except may-sept since its TOO HOT.  more on the market later.  it was near 90 degrees by the time we left.  jeremy stayed behind and the five of us: kirsten, clary, gus, jasper and i headed to Bisbee and Tombstone.

It's easy to hang out with friends you've known for close to 20 years.  Clary and August have grown up together, and now goof-off like polite cousins or annoying siblings, thanks to Jeremy and Chad being good friends since high school.  Kirsten and i were instant friends when we met 16 years ago, young moms with an artistic bent and a passion for interesting junk!

k and i with big toothy grins.  when i get home i will scan our western outlaw photo we had done.  good times!

Kirsten is super talented and i am honored to be BFF with her.  she is an amazing actress.  she has her own theatre/production company.  he is a fantastic photographer.  she's a genius with writing.  she's the calm, cool, collected mom of a teenage girl.  and she's authentic and inspiring.  yeah, basically she rocks!  So i am always happy and thrilled to spend time with her.

kirsten and i both love odd, unusual, peculiar, strange, different, weird, interesting "things" so it was a no-brainer that we would want to explore an old mining town and stay in a haunted hotel. 

it's not everyones cup of tea but we were wishing and hoping for ghosts and spirits, at the Copper Queen in Bisbee, in a major way. 

Jasper swears we were visited by Billy the 8 year old ghost on floor 4.  well.  how else do you explain the room door opening up, over and over again, and his dimes and nickles being spread out on the bedside table in a different configuration than how he had left it before passing out the night before?  huh?!  how do you?! 

after shopping, eating, wandering and sleeping in Bisbee, we headed to tombstone.  yes.  THE Tombstone.  it was hot, dry and dusty, just like you'd expect.  it was for real!  the real deal!

it's a trough silly, not a coffin

love the peel-y-ness

the horses looked too hot.  and so were we.

ok.  who does this to a baby girl?

or this?  well.  kinda funny

bandits

enter at your own risk

inside bird cage theatre

dusty old books.  the best kind.

teenagers swingin in the desert

love old font and typography

and some more

and more

plumb tuckered out

the southwest is pretty rad!  if you ever get a chance to check it out, go for it!  there is so much to do and see.  i still have plenty on my list to get to and we have been coming down here for a while now.  have fun friends!  explore.  travel.  be well and live adventurously!

adios!

xoxox

jennette



Becoming 8

sayulita, mexico, new years 2011

today my little boy turned 8.  my baby.  he's 8 now. 

how did this happen?  where does time go?  why does it seem to go faster now?  i want so desperately to slow time down.  to make it go at my pace.  to hold on to this boy for as long as possible. 

it doesn't help that his big brother is turning 16.  and i feel like i only really "have him", the 16 year old, August, for two more years. i can only "control him" and "bend him" and "influence him" for just two more years.  i hate this.  i don't like it. at. all.  where does time go?  the passing of the days needs to be controlled, bent, and influenced.  to my will.  my way.  stop.  slow down already.  just go a little slower.  please.

picasso exhibit, SAM, 1/11

skiing, stevens pass, 3/11

eating cupcakes waiting to get into KEXP dance party, Halloween, 10/10

amassing energy to carve pumpkins 10/10

carving 10/10

w/ gma and gpa, chelan, 9/10

soccer 9/10

chelan summer 2010

farm to table dinner, our csa, willie greens, summer 2010

showing me his sit spot, between the weeping willows and high bush blueberries, in our yard, summer 2010

handmade wool felt owl costume, from new orleans, fall 2010

on the ferry, on our way to family reunion in port angeles, 8/10

playing fiddle for family at reunion 8/10

salt creek sea monster 8/10

silly putty on the way to pickathon, 8/10

at the blueberry farm, after picking and pig petting, summer 2010

fishing lake roesigner 4th of july 2010

summer knitting 2010

hard day swimming at the lake, summer 2010

freckles, sayulita, mexico 1/11

leaving sayulita, 1/11

cup cafe, hotel congress, tucson, spring break, 4/2011

94 degrees, spring break, tucson, 4/11

when august was this age, becoming 8, jasper was born.  jasper was born on a spring day, at home, in a cozy dark room, with birds singing outside the window.  he was born in the caul and and it was magical.  i will never forget the feeling of empowerment that i got from birthing jasper naturally, at home, with chad and august there too.  this little creature came into the world as fiery, demanding and strong as he is today.  he quickly acquired the names jazzmanian devil and sassparilla gorilla because he was sassy and snarffuley and full of "tude." 

but he was cute and lovable and curious. 

and today he rocks my world. 

today he still thinks i am the bees knees, the cream of the crop, the cherry on top and the one he will marry!

he still likes to cuddle, hug and kiss on the lips.

i LOVE 7, turning 8.  it's glorious.  even in it's dark moments, which don't last long, because this kid is Hilarious with a capitol H!  not a day goes by that i don't almost pee my pants from something this kid, says, does, sings, makes up, tells, yells, acts out, teases, jokes, or reports.  it's non stop with this one and its the best. 

the. best. i tell ya.

he's a keeper.

and he's mine.

xoxox

jennette



Bisbee Street Art

there is a lot of cool street art in Bisbee, Arizona.

there are also more art galleries here than where i live.

pretty awesome. yes.

all above photos by August williams

xoxox

jennette



Hotel Congress Cafe (kinda)

Hi Friends!

the boys and i are in Tucson for spring break again and i have a couple posts i am working on to show you our adventures and discoveries.  the posts will be out of order but i wanted to show you what it's like these days when i take my boys out in public.  it's a real blast, let me tell ya!  Here we are at the Hotel Congress, Cup Cafe, where we visit and eat every time we are here. and just look:

good times, friends.  good times.  oh yeah.  see.  see what i'm dealin with. 

these two are about to be half as old and twice as old as each other, for the first, last, and only time in their lives. 8 and 16.  in less than a month.  wish me luck my friends.  wish me luck.

xoxoxox

jennette.  in tucson.  alone.  with two boys.

Blood, Bones, Butter

i am determined to start showing y'all some of the things i read, listen to and come across in the literary/media world, on this blog.  many of you know that i spend a crazy amount of time in the car chauffeuring my kids around and generally getting out and about so i end up listening to a LOT of books on CD.  (I also watch a LOT of movies in the evenings so they will be revealed here too)

 

it should be noted here that i do belong to a book club wherein we read historical fiction and i have been known to "read" the book by "listening" to it!  i cheat.  and i digress.

recently i came across a review of this book, Blood, Bones and Butter: the Inadvertent Education of a Reluctant Chef by Gabrielle Hamilton. 

OK.  lots of you know i consider myself a "foodie".  totally amateur, for sure, but a foodie non-the-less.  i have much, much, much to learn about food, ingredients, methods, etc.  but boy do i love me some good beautiful delicious food.  and almost more than food, well not more than, but a close tie, i love books (or CDs!) about food.  i could go on and on about my favorite books being the ones about food, memoirs about cooking, details of what someone ate, and most especially any book that has recipes included. 

i got started in that particular genre by reading (yes, actually reading!) When French Women Cook by Madeleine Kamman.  then i read The Tenth Muse by Judith Jones (who published Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking).  then i read Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.  then i read a Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. 

well. life just wasn't the same.

(it kinda freaks me out to think that there are likely hundreds of more books out there, like this, that i don't yet know about.  i want to read them all and i can't wait!)

So Blood, Bones and Butter does not have recipes.  but i am telling you, it does not matter.

I LOVED THIS MEMOIR!

Gabrielle Hamilton writes from a place of poetry, honesty and pure brilliance.  all about food and life.  a magical life.  you will laugh, be shocked, cringe, and cry.  yes.  it's that good!

you know how when you are reading/watching/listening/seeing/witnessing something SO GOOD you don't want it to end and if you have the power or the will, you slow it down so it won't end?  ok.  that's this book.

it's about eating.  and cooking.  and finding your way.  and the ups and downs of life.  it's funny.  and it's ordinary in an extraordinary way. it's about her 30 seat restaurant Prune, in New York.  and a lot more.

Mario Batali says: "she has raised the bar for all books about eating and cooking"

Anthony Bourdain says: "Simply the best memoir by a chef ever.  EVER."

but don't take their word for it.  or mine.  run as fast as you can to your local book store or library and grab this book (or CD).  you won't be sorry.

and since i did listen to it on CD, and Gabrielle reads it herself, (which i love when the author reads their own book,) i think you should listen to it.  i'll just say that.  listen to it if you can.  and know that it is not completely "clean" if there are little ears around.  not clean, but oh so worth it!

Enjoy!

xoxo

jennette 



Ribbon

i finally put up a dowel/rod in my studio to hang all my favorite ribbon on.  those of you who know me well know i have a package wrapping and ribbon addiction!

i hung this right above my sewing machine area so it is easy to access.  no more rummaging thru plastic bins in the garage since

i use a lot of ribbon, a lot of the time!

all my ribbon that was not on spools now fits in one smaller container right under my sewing machine desk.  yeah!  all my ribbon is out of the garage!

looking for something to wrap and ribbon-ify,

xoxoxox

jennette