Stitch Rabbit

Find Me Here

 

 

When I need to breathe a little deeper, you'll find me here.

 

When I am looking for something, you'll find me here.

 

                            When I want to show them that there is so much more, you'll find me here.

 

When I want to look a little closer, you'll find me here.

 

When I need to move my legs and pump my arms and climb and jump and feel breathless again,

you'll find me here.

 

When I need understanding, you'll find me here.

 

When I need a new perspective you'll find me here.

 

When I need to remember, when I need to believe, when it all feels so small and I need it to all be so big, and beautiful, and perfect all on it's own,

You'll find me here.

 

Canyon Dreams

 

We spent some time in the canyon this weekend, visiting family and visiting possibilities... we dream often of finding the next step nestled in a small town in the mountains... a property that we could weekend on, a place where we can breathe a little deeper and see a little clearer. Maybe build a house on and move to one day.

We stopped at one of my favorite thrift stores in the valley and I found two great mugs, one with a sugar shack etched on it and another equally cabin-y one spelling out "Home Sweet Home". I decided this could only be a sign that the land we were going to check out was probably the one.

 

The property we looked at wasn't the one.. not by a long shot. It was an illegally built A-frame on about two acres... to me it seemed like the perfect adventure, but it was in such a state of disrepair, it would've been easier to knock the whole thing down and start again. I think I'd rather start at the beginning than go backwards first. We had some chuckles, my dreams for "the one" dwindled, and still the search continues.

 

 

 

Coming Home.

I'm a very lucky lady.

I had the luck and the loving support of my family to take a trip out east this last week to be at a friend's wedding. It was a chance for me to see friends I hadn't seen in five and ten years, a chance to witness two people I adore get married, get my arm marathon-tattooed in to the wee hours by my dear friend in Toronto, stay up late, eat whenever I wanted to, stay in hotels, travel alone, knit and read uninterrupted, do some actual writing (!!)  and generally get a good healthy dose of freedom and independence... something that doesn't come around too often when you are a parent of young children. It was a weekend of total indulgence, many hugs and tears, and a whole lot of love.

Getting the chance to get away and solo trip is something I would encourage any parent to do. That independence that comes along with choosing what you want to do and when you want to is something that we forget about when our lives are almost always about taking care of the needs of one, two, three or more lovelies in our lives. I cherish the moments that I can sit and knit or talk uninterrupted over a table with friends. And knowing that my three favorite people are back home doing a fantastic job of getting along without me, having fun and (somewhat) keeping the house in one piece gives me the confidence that I can go out and be my own person feeling loved and supported and encouraged by the ones who need me the most. I feel fantastic.

 

When I left the sun was shining and we were picking pumpkins in our tshirts... funny what five days in fall can do... the colors are truly autumn now that I'm back:

While I was away Gabe made me this awesome new coffee shelf over our espresso cabinet:

 

The kitchen table is still in the living room from Thanksgiving, but we kind of like it there:

 

My home feels cozy and ready for winter. Best of all, I'm home with my family...

Who make the best part of going away the part when you come home.

 

All By Myself.

I'm so nervous I threw up this morning. I've never been away from my kids for more than a night, two nights once and I've certainly never been a plane ride away. I'm not used to being alone. Six years of raising children and I haven't been alone like this in all that time. I'm excited and I'm terrified.

I'm visiting friends for a week in the east, a trip I have been looking forward to for a long time. I can't wait to see them. I can't believe I have the time to do what I'd like. Read a book on the plane, knit and sip tea. Go out for breakfast. Shop. I feel like I've earned this.

In the same breath, I miss my family already. I can't believe how much they are a part of me. I feel as though I am leaving behind my arms. I'm so proud of them for being so brave and so eager to support me in what I want in my life. I know they'll do just fine. Please, a week with Daddy? Sounds like non stop party.

I'm about to board a plane. I feel better now... Wish me luck! I'll wave and blow kisses from the sky.

Six Of One, Half A Dozen Of Another

I recently got to spend four days and three nights with my five closest friends and our ten children combined. I feel like I'm still basking in the love that makes up these ladies... it's amazing that we have known each other, held each others tiny babies, held each others hands, passed on clothes and wisdom, shared tears and many a bottle of wine... and here we all are, these many years later, still making it happen. Without these women I think I would be lost. I do believe they hold me, hold me safe and hold me to my word. I love them like no other.

 

We spent the weekend sleeping under the giant evergreens.

 

Amazed at the rate of our growing children, watching them run wild and free.

 

Saying anything and everything and hearing it all.

 

Late into the night...

 

Collaborating and creating, like we do...

 

And passing it on to the littlest ones.

 

We watch our collections grow.

 

A breath of fresh air, a sharp intake. Crashing bodies into frigid waters, the cool spring sun warming the still bare trees and our bare skin. Glass lake, full hearts, warm bellies of laughter. Bright eyes, kind words, running children through the woods, candlelight, thread and scissors, shared meals, shared lives. Another year has begun.

Six.

And Ten.

And growing still.

 

 

 

 

 

Away.

Road trip, from the inside and out.

Looking beyond the beach.

via instagram

I've been waiting for this moment. There is nothing like watching your daughter experience the freedom in wide open spaces and the possibilities held in the sea.

Bright Days , Bright Nights.

Sometimes you have to leave where you are and what you're doing and go searching. Searching for the "more" you want in life. This trip is that for us. A time to leave the work that busies out hands and spend time together with our heads up and our eyes focused on each other. It's the only way we're going to find it. The answers to the next great adventures in our lives. I'm not sure what we're looking for, but we're on our way.

While We Were Away

We've been away. I packed the kids, the trailer and the van late last week and took us all to one of my favorite places in the world. It was what I needed. After weeks and weeks of summer-hectic I needed a cool-down from the daily grind here at home.

We spent a couple of cozy days and nights in and around, by the fire, and with family. I got some really good down-time with my kids, without the call of the laundry, the yard work, the dirty floors. Coming home I feel refreshed and ready, and closer to my kids. Here are a few shots from our weekend.

 

 

If you've never been to Yale, British Columbia, you should. It's an amazing little town filled with gold rush history, mountain scenery and of course the beautiful Fraser Canyon. I spent many a summer there, at Fraser River Raft Expeditions, Gabriel and I got married there, and our daughter is named after an enormous rock in the river, named Lady Franklin. Now if only I could convince my husband to move to a town of two hundred...

http://historicyale.ca/

http://www.fraserraft.com/

http://www.teaguehouse.com/

 

Night Knitting And The Greatest Little Town

So what exactly do you do during a nine hour drive in the dark, in between shushing kids back to sleep and all those mountain curves? Well you knit, of course. With a headlamp. Sure, you'll get strange looks from passer-byers and everytime you swing your head around to check on sleeping babes you accidentally shine a glaring spotlight into their faces, but I'm telling you, it's worth it. And I'm sure I'm not the first. I know I'm not the first.

I got two cowls done. One on the way up and one on the way down. I'm using the Dobbs Ferry Cowl pattern by Lion Brand Wool, with their wool. I love their big wool. It's easy and soft and they have fantastic colors. I found this pattern on Ravelry, a website that I look at more often than I'm willing to admit. I love this site because you can fill in a form to give exactly what you're looking for, from knit to crochet pattern, needle size, yarn weights, etc and it will give you a list of patterns.  There are a few more cowl patterns on there that I'm going to try out next. Like this one and this one. It's going to be an experimental cowl kind of Christmas. For everyone. I might get sick of the word cowl though. I already think it's a weird word. Why cowl? Why not slouchy neckwarmer?

 

Our trip to Nelson was amazing. This town is incredible, so beautiful - and filled with heritage. The downtown is filled with local and unique shops and cafes and the surrounding neighborhoods are filled with heritage homes, giant oak trees and young families. No Starbucks, no big box stores, no condos. It's heavenly. Can't wait to go back!

 

 

Busting Out!!

We're on our way to Nelson tonight. It's a long drive, just over nine hours.. but we're going to do the drive while the kids are sleeping and I have a bag full of knitting so it can't be that bad, right?

Can't wait to be in such a beautiful, inspiring town! See you next week! (Uness we find the house of our dreams, which is possibly, maybe, very very likely...)