weekend wandering

My good friend from high school, Elise, and her husband Ari, were in town for the weekend, for a series of whirlwind visits with folks they know in the Seattle area (cousins, other friends, a high school science teacher, and us). At their request, I arranged for a group hike to Boulder River Wilderness Area* on Saturday. The hike was beautiful, and strengthened my resolve to do more hiking this summer.


enjoying the falls on the way out....


looking downstream from our mid-point, where warm feet were bathed in fresh snowmelt....


an as-yet unidentified plant, but I'm working on it.... ideas?


a close-up of the falls....

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It's been an incredibly warm weekend here in western Washington (mid-90s). The kind of heat that has you crossing your fingers that the next red light will have you stopped in a patch of shade and has you not really wanting to eat dinner, much less cook it (chips, salsa and beer was all we could handle). Both days saw us taking Finn to the off leash dog beach at Magnussen Park, and generally avoiding the indoors. I tried to sew a couple of hours ago, but had to give it up and head outside (strange how the house seems to hold heat so much better in the summer than it does in the winter, which is pretty darn well, actually), where we are now expecting thunderstorms... it just has that feel out there.

Now I am going to try to sleep.... I think I'll start by counting how many times I can say thankgoodnessweinstalledthatceilingfan....

* It started off as Mt Pilchuck, then Mt Rainier, but then I realized that those places are still reporting snowy conditions, I googled early summer seattle area hikes and got Boulder River on the Washington Trail Association's website.

Green leaves.

Today was an exceptionally beautiful day, and I spent some of it going for a walk with my dog in the forest.


Shirt and shorts from H&M, shoes from Benetton, earrings from Glitter.

How about a Trash Tie giveaway! It's over!

When I first started blogging almost three years ago, I ran across an amazing designer named Heather Bailey. I have lurked on her blog for ages. I downloaded her free pattern for headbands (although being lazy, I have yet to make them). I look to her for design trends and decorating ideas. In essence, I have been stalking her.

Then one day she cam out with these amazing little products called Trash Ties.

What a novel idea! It is a patented wire encased in satin. And they work so well. My kids love it when I use them because there is no cutting elastics out of their hair, they don't pull their hair, and who doesn't love saying "Trash-a-Ties"...the name my girls have so lovingly bestowed upon them.

I have taken some time to get to know my Trash Ties before I gushed about them on here. I am twisting them in and out of my daughters hair like a pro. Anytime I go to do a twisty style, they beg for them rather than my original way of doing things. If that isn't a testament to them, I don't know what is.

And these only get better with time. We have used them so much that the ends are starting to look like little puffs. SO CUTE!

So, in honor of my VERY FAVORITE NEW HAIR STUFF, I am having a little giveaway. One lucky reader and stylist will receive a 25" trash tie in gold. All you have to do is leave a little comment for me and you have to go and check out Heather's Trash Tie site to see the incredible things you can do with these.

Remember, you may only enter once and on Wednesday, July 2nd at 5:00, the contest will be over and the winner will be announced on Independence Day.

ETA: IF you already have Trash Ties, or to see MORE options...Visit THIS link.

Four Messy Piggies All In A Row

Divide the hair in the middle of the head

Part the hair right where the temple starts.


Pull the hair up into a little ponytail being careful to only pull the hair half way through the last time you pull it out.

Repeat until you have four messy ponies (I know I put piggies on the title, it flows much better than ponies)

Curl the ends of the hair.

Fluff hair and spray it.

Add pre-made bows or ribbons for a finishing touch.

Midnight

I'm in love - with my new Marc by Marc Jacobs Faridah bag. It's perfect. This is my first designer bag, and I couldn't be happier about it. It cost me a lot less than it would have buying it in a shop (hurray for a weak dollar), and I wasn't charged with customs duty either.

Oh, it's so beautiful. I'm just afraid of getting it scratched or something.

you know you're at the Fremont Solstice Parade when....

I went to the Fremont Solstice Parade last Saturday with some friends. It was easily the strangest parade I have ever seen, either in person or otherwise. There were no banners or other announcements of what group was coming next, and I am pretty sure that whoever wants to be in the parade, can be. You and your friends want to dress up in mardi gras beads and thongs and march down the street with finger cymbals? Go for it. There were a few (man-powered!) floats, a smattering of semi-organized musical ensembles who appeared to have practiced the same songs, and I tell you, there were absolutely no political statements whatsoever....





I perused the craft fair but I think I was missing a street or two, because I remember it being much larger and with more real crafts and fewer booths of sunglasses for $3.99. Oh well, next year.


these guys had a guitar case proclaiming them as the Old Time Jug Band or similar, but mostly I recognized two of the four as being from the Tall Boys.

WIP Wednesday

First, the garden, as an update was specifically requested by Dad.

We've started harvesting kale, lettuce and spinach, and a few strawberries have ripened up.

We've also got artichokes, zuchini, and a total of nine tomato plants, including five Amish Paste plants, specifically for canning.

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On to the crafties!

I know it may not look like much, but I am pretty darn excited about this washcloth: it was my first real time following a pattern, complete with slip-slip-knits, yarn overs and knitting-two-togethers. woo hoo! Next up, I have a date with Debbie Bliss' Baby Knits for Beginners, a whole mess of her baby cashmerino yarn and some size two needles....

I made a solid start on the stained glass window quilt when I found out that the recipients are making a sudden whirlwind trip to Seattle this weekend, but two things happened to stall it again: first, I thought this was going to be an impossible week at work, with physically (not to mention mentally) impossible deadlines, so I thought I would be at the office until midnight and later, but that didn't pan out (aw, shucks!) and secondly, I realized that if I pushed it and dropped some of the finer details I have in mind for this, my first art quilt, I wouldn't be nearly as happy with the finished product as I otherwise hope to be, and I want to do it right.

I got seriously stalled on Seamus' cicada pouch when I ran into an engineering problem. I think I've got it figured out, now I just have to put down the other projects to pick this one up again....

And my two Bend the Rules swap items are well underway....

I have been missing my beads lately... stay tuned for some bead work!

Tagged!

I was tagged by the lovely Mandy from Soir de fete

The Rules: "List 7 songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, wether they have words, or even if they're not any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now, shaping your spring. Post these instructions with your 7 songs, then tag 7 people to see what they're listening to.

Where do you go to my lovely - Peter Sarstedt. I've loved this song ever since I heard it in the movie 'The Darjeeling Limited'. It's so beautiful, and it's also the source for the name of my blog.

Every you and every me - Placebo. I recently rediscovered this song, and I love it. Especially the melody.

Je n'aime que toi - Ludivine Sagnier, Louis Garrel, Clotilde Hesme. It's French, and wonderful.



Poses - Rufus Wainwright. He's one of my favourite artists, and this is a beautiful song to listen to. It's so calm, and dream-like.

Almost Happy - K's Choice. This song is quite sad, but also makes you think, and ponder. And the melody is wonderful. I'm attracted to songs with pretty melodies.

You're gorgeous - Babybird. This is a song I like at the moment. It's basically a nice summer song.

Speeding Cars - Imogen Heap. This is just a song I've always liked a lot. Again, because of the dream like melody.

I'm tagging Carrie, Raquel, Marie, Sarah, Linda, Kirsty and Rissa.

Look what you have been up too!

Ladies! Wow! You have been SO busy! I use a lot of exclamation points!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I just have to say that I am super impressed at your skills. You all have some of the prettiest little girls out there and their hair is stunning to boot! I LOVE seeing these. And I have to just add that I am so flattered by all of the kind words that you have been sending me. Speaking of kind words, if you see me at the grocery store or Target...come say hi!!! I would love to chat!

Michelle sent these in of her daughters. The top picture is a DUAL lattice ponytail. She has some patience...and her daughter does as well. I will show you how to do those twists in another post. SO cute.

Marisa sent some adaptations of some of the styles here. I am LOVING the messy ponytails with the two braids. LOVE IT!!!

Kory sent me some shots of her daughters

Linnea has puffy braids crossing her head at a diagonal.

Mikayla has two French braids tucked up and under and tied them with a ribbon at the bottom and two flowers on the sides.

Lisa sent me these of her camera shy ;) daughter. It is the puffy braids with a zig-zag part.

Andrea sent me some adorable shots of her step-daughter Austin

My old locker partner from high school (how cool is that?!!?!), Gena, sent me this off-shoot of the upside down puffy braids/lattice ponytails

And she also sent me this super cute style that she found over on "Girly Do's"

Kimberly has two pretty princesses. Madison with the messy buns...

...and her daughter Sydney with the lattice ponytails

Karen has a darling variation of the smocking style. She makes it with "Knots". Isn't her Kate beautiful?!?!?!

Anna sent me this one of her little sister where she changed the ponytail part to messy buns! How darling!

THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! For all of your support. I am so excited to see all of these! Keep them coming ladies! Blackeyedsue2@gmail.com. YOU ARE THE BEST!!!