Monday, February 28, 2011

For those that have experienced loss....been thinking about you

“No, no, there is no going back.
Less and less you are
that possibility you were.
More and more you have become
those lives and deaths
that have belonged to you.
You have become a sort of grave
containing much that was
and is no more in time, beloved
then, now, and always.
And so you have become a sort of tree
standing over a grave.
Now more than ever you can be
generous toward each day
that comes, young, to disappear
forever, and yet remain
unaging in the mind.
Every day you have less reason
not to give yourself away.”
-Wendell Berry

Friday, February 25, 2011

Perfect

Blogging is an interesting thing.  You really can portray yourself in just about anyway possible you want.  When I started Faux Martha I had these glamorous dreams of doing crafts (HA!) and cooking a lot (HA!) but that all went to shit.  Then I realized, WHY am I trying so hard....time to Just Be....and really I just like taking pictures and writing and imagining.  I still do cook on occasion or dust off the sewing machine, but there is far less pressure to come up with something cool.  Who cares if I have 10 supporters (and thank you my 10 VERY LOYAL supporters). 

So I find it fascinating that when you read people's blogs everyone seems perfect.  Their photos look great, they are so collected, they have tons of time to blog, they go on vacations....ahhh the life.    Oh sure there is the occasional mention of baby poop or illness, but really most people portray themselves in a good light (but I mean really, who is going to have a blog about how they are obsessed with their kids getting lice or the fact that they secretly eat frosting late at night--one finger scoopful at a time).  So I wanted to go on record and point out how IMPERFECT I am.

1)Dust bunnies...they are alive and well in our house.  Josh and I are not neat freaks.  Not. Ever. Never. Ever. And we don't have a house keeper.  So, welcome to the family little buddies.

2)I bet I have a condiment in my refrigerator that is over a year past its expiration date. 

3)I have my kids watch movies so that I can get things done. 

4)I feed my kids Kraft Macaroni and Cheese about two times per month. 

5)I have been so frustrated by my children that I have walked into the other room and started crying.

6)I get jealous of skinny people.  Tall skinny people.

7)I would pretty much die if I had to give a ride to someone in my car.  It is nasty right now...dried on mud-dirt-slushiness all over. 

8)I like chick flicks and chick lit. 

9)I am lazy.  I hate de-weeding my garden. 

10)I absolutely cannot use the grill, I burn everything.

11)When I was a child I truly adored Whitney Houston.

12) I am a terrible singer and dancer.  TERRIBLE.  Some even have said I am tone deaf.   Some people have questioned whether I am having a stroke while dancing.....but let me tell you...DO I CARE?  Nope.

Now carry on all you people, dance and sing and eat Mac & Cheese and make lots of messes....we have a big weekend ahead.....pictures of the mayhem to come.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

I love coconut, I love bread

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipes/2253

Sounds like a good recipe.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Fun times here at the casa





A few random notes:

Those top two photos are of the beautiful barred owl that was sitting out in our backyard, in the exact same spot that every year the baby raccoons are born.  So as birdfeeder owners go, we are terrible.  Every few months we put seed in and then the squirrels try and eat it all and so we get annoyed with them and don't fill the feeder because the birds never get to eat any (oh and don't get me started about the time those squirrels ate all my gumball Christmas lights...stupid squirrels).  Well, Friday we filled up the feeder for the first time in months, so the crowds were heavy. And so yesterday we heard all this squawking going on and we looked out and there were a couple of crows (if you want to be technical, it was a murder of crows), the owl, a squirrel and a woodpecker, all sitting together in the same tree.  Some sort of forest congress.  Perhaps they were discussing that stupid groundhog in Pennsylvania that so wrongfully predicted the early end of winter, as 15 new inches of snow sat on the ground.   Not to discriminate against the other birds, but we were pretty excited about the owl.  We only see them a handful of times each year and they are just so wonderous.

Last year at a school cookie dough sale for school, I purchased this colored cookie dough.  I know you were thinking that was playdoh, but NO that is cookie dough with all those safe dyes (:/)  I am going to go out on a limb and say....ugliest cookies we have ever made.  They are in the trash as we speak.  But at least we had fun and NO they did not taste good either.  Note to self--stick with the chocolate cookies.

Lastly, today the kids and I pulled out the wedding video.  First off, hardly anyone that attended reads this blog but I wanted to say the following so that the universe felt more in balance, or something like that:

1) Dear Bridesmaids,  I am sorry I made you wear those backless dresses...I know the undergarment thing was difficult to manage.  I am sorry my "bargain" shopping mindset took over and you ended up having to wear them.  I do appreciate that you are such good friends and that you just went along with it.  I mean 6 Shelly Segal Nordstrom bridesmaid dresses for $15 each.....sorry ladies.....

2)OH MY...what a long ceremony it was....holy cow....seriously, it was at least an hour long.  I told Kendall,  the almost 5 year old that when she gets married to make it short.

Peace to you all on this blizzardly holiday. 

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh cabinnnnnnn FEVER HAS SET IN!!!!


A friend said this reminded him of a Fleetwood Mac picture. Not sure I get that but I do love the picture. 

Spring is coming....whooo hoooo!!

Saturday, February 12, 2011

Two of my valentines

I love that Kendall loves oranges.
I love that Mason is a snuggler.
I love that Kendall is so artsy craftsy....give that girl some markers/glue/scissors and she is in her happy place for hours.
I love that Mason has such an amazing memory.
I love that Kendall likes to dance. 
I love that Mason adores carrots.
I love that Kendall is learning to spell.
I love that Mason has the softest skin.
I love that Kendall has a birthmark.
I love that I am a mama.
I love Mason's eyelashes.
I love Kendall's eyebrows.
I love when Mason giggles out of control.
I love when Kendall tells me she is going to have a 100 children. 
I love when the kids shovel their food in and eat all of their dinner.
I love that Mason can't say S-words well.  Tar blanket (star blanket), nowmobile (snowmobile), noman (snowman). 
I love that Kendall has a mole above her right eye.
I love that Mason's favorite color is pink.
I love that Kendall says Hi to the janitor at her school.
I love that Mason has tons of make believe friends.  He is nice like that.
I love that they are best friends.
I love that someday soon that I will get to take them to the beach and pick seashells with them.
I love that they are good at blowing their noses (according to their teachers.)
I love that they both have the same color hair.
I love that everyday I learn something new from my children.

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Winter

Rocket

Buddies

Senior living for birds

Angel...ha ha

Beauty

My boys

Depth

Weed

Path

Brown

Lake

Calm

Normal

Rosy

Likeminded

Outline


Dock

Flight


Marmalade

Tangerine

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Oh and in case you are wondering....

1951,1963, 1975, 1987 or 1999.


Those are the years of the rabbits....

Year of the Rabbit

From ETSY, fleur NYhop



1975....I am a year of the rabbit gal.  They say this will be a kinder, gentler year because of the rabbits and that would be good.  I googled Year of the Rabbit and came up with this page....so I don't know how legit it is.  I am going to go out on limb introspectively and say.....this fits me to a tee.  Oh and apparently I need to travel EAST.....hum.....I am thinking Italy??


People born in the year of the rabbit often make ideal diplomats or politicians. Rabbit person has grace, culture and beautiful manners. Although rabbit people get on well with everyone, at heart they are basically reserved creatures, and are only really happy when they are engrossed in some sort of scholarly or intellectual activity. They are just too sensitive to the world around them. They are just not able to thrive in a competitive or aggressive environment, and it makes them anxious if someone forces them to take risks. Their inner world is simply too delicate for unsettled or unpredictable situations, and they tend to create a peaceful and comfortable atmosphere on a hunch. This character trait makes them very hospitable and attentive people, who take care of those around. The average rabbit person emphasizes the importance of small details. They pay attention to everything from colour, design and furniture to food and conversation. And only when they are sure that everything has been arranged as they wished, these people can relax and have fun. Person born in the year of rabbit often leads a conservative lifestyle, where one of the most important things is their security. This quality has a negative side also. Opting for safety over risk they may miss good opportunities. This does not imply that these people are frivolous or irresponsible, for when they truly believe in some thing they are serious, perseverant and capable.

Calm as they are, it is not easy to provoke rabbit people. They are sentimental and compassionate. Yes, and they cry easily too. They can be moved by personal problems you share with them. Therefore, if you work as a salesman for a living, you will have much better luck with rabbit people - Nine out of Ten Rabbit people will definitely buy your products!
 
 
Rabbit Love Affairs

People born in this year can be great partners in relationships. Romantic and sweet, faithful too, rabbit people never lack of suitors. They are in extreme need of trust, security and tenderness in a relationship and are really happy when they manage to create an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. When the rabbit person does the planning, he/she is happy calling the shots and will expect his beloved automatically be on the same wavelength. In case the partner's behaviour becomes erratic or hurtful he/she withdraws into your shell. Sometimes this person really believes that everything is fine and these relationships are strong and solid, but careless remark or impudent behaviour can suddenly place serious doubts in his/her mind. It is important to solve such problems appropriately. Partners may discuss these fears and express their points of view openly to avoid repetition of these problems in the future. Otherwise these relationships won't last too long.

In spite of his/her devotion to the loved one, it is important to remember that the rabbit person wants to have a secret side to his/her life, too. It is natural for him/her to demand solitude in order to get in touch with his/her inner self.

Sometimes it takes time for a rabbit person to find a partner, a real soul-mate, and he/she may seem to be fickle and insecure along the way, but when he/she has found that person his/her attachment is boundless.
 
 
Rabbit Career

Call them cautious or call them timid, rabbit people will undertake nothing before they have weighed the pros and cons from every angle. And that is probably why rabbit people are doing their work so well. They are balanced in outlook and cautious in approach, and like to be informed of all the facts before making a judgment. They usually can not bear the cut and thrust of business life preferring work that is more methodical and reliable. At times a rabbit person is a bit of a plotter and tends to be too conservative, but he/she is gifted with a positive yet practical outlook that few can fault. He/she has a talent to avoid the trouble and identify opportunity. But it is important to remember that his/her creative talents will come to the fore when he/she is allowed to work at your own pace. As a rule, colleagues value these people's tact and modesty and realize the fact that rabbit people are unlikely to step over others to achieve their goals.
 
 
counselor, barrister, judge, solicitor, adviser or secretary
 
Lucky Numbers: 1, 3, 5, 9, 15, 19, 35
Equivalent Western Sign: Pisces
Element WOOD
Color GREEN
Yin/Yang YIN and YANG
Direction EAST

Some Famous Rabbits: Harry Belafonte, Ingrid Bergman, Lewis Carroll, John Cleese, Peter Falk, Peter Fonda, James Fox, David Frost, Cary Grant, Oliver Hardy, Bob Hope, Whitney Houston, John Hurt, Michael Keaton, John Keats, Julian Lennon, Arthur Miller, Roger Moore, Tatum O'Neal, George Orwell, Neil Simon, Jane Seymour, Dusty Springfield, Sting, Orson Welles, Norman Wisdom.


 
 
 
 
Compatible with : Ram, Pig, Dog
Less Compatible with : Rat, Rabbit, Dragon, Ox, Tiger, Snake, Monkey
Least Compatible with : Rooster, Horse
 

Positive: The Rabbit can be sensitive, tactful. home-loving, refined, prudent, discreet, long-living, ambitious, cultured, well-mannered, artistic, considerate, scholarly, suave, graciously hospitable, modest and unimpeachably virtuous.

Negative: The Rabbit can also be snobbish, secretive, pedantic, complicated, haughtily indifferent, self-indulgent, hypochondriacal, punctilious, judgemental, self-righteous, deceptive, self-centred and terminally condescending.