Onward & Upward

September already! It's an exciting time for us with our oldest, Griffin, starting kindergarten and our little guy Noah attending his new preschool. So far so good; a bit of minor anxiety here and there but we are all adjusting. I got this idea on Pinterest to do an annual first day of school photo and they turned out pretty darn well, I think!

 

 

 

 I am starting to get excited about the things I will be able to finish once our routines are sorted out (this week schedules are wonky as the boys are "phased in" gradually). I want to finish their bedroom, for which I have been collecting stuff for a while. I have beds to paint, a reading nook to buy chairs for, and a play table with some awesome stools going in. I also scored an old school map from the 1960's or thereabouts to put up, a small collection of globes started which I plan to hang in a cluster from the ceiling, and a huge banner from a show of  my late grandfather's journals and drawings of his time as a POW. We also have some great duvet covers with a vintage airplane blueprint pattern, which ties in nicely with the banner. It's going to have a pretty "old school" feel. I am excited to get it completed, and my husband is nervous, to say the least, because my love of thrift store finds frightens his "nicey-nice" taste (that's what I call it. When I'm being nicey-nice). Anyway, it will be fun.

 

That's just one thing I have to do, but I will post process on all of my projects. Tonight I made a fantastic salad from the "Whitewater Cooks With Friends" book; a gift from my sister in-law. It's the quinoa and chickpea salad with roasted yams. I added a bit of diced tofu for extra protein and omitted the cheese, because my pants are a little snug after a summer of company, noshing and sipping. I also reduced the oil in the dressing by half and it still tasted great. I LOVE this cookbook, and there are two others in the series I will have to get my hands on as well. Also made some curried fig & onion compote from a lovely gift of a flat of figs from one of my husband's clients. And then, blackberry syrup with nutmeg and vanilla from our crop right here at home. Can't wait to give them away with other goodies as hostess and Christmas gifts.

 

That's it for tonight. Early mornings now with packing snacks and lunches for school and trying to get my boys out the door on time, which is exhausting enough that on their first full days in this coming week (Noah only goes for two and a half hours in the morning, but that's a nice chunk of time), I may have to succumb and take a bloody nap for once!

I still have to sort out my complete techno-challenged self and figure out how to get this blog to show up on a Google search. Once I know that's working I will be posting more frequently. Promise.

Welcome to Sparrow Hill

Here I begin the chronicle of our homestead, which we have just built from the ground up. With our two boys onside and the help of our spectacular natural setting, we endeavour to create a retreat like no other.
As my husband focuses on his work as a contractor, I will take on the development of a bed and breakfast. I am also the at-home parent for our boys and responsible for keeping them smiling - fed, exercised and ready to learn. We also have a large, hilarious, loving extended family (both blood-relatives and adopted), which makes our new space an additional blessing as we have room to accommodate many of them at once. Next Christmas will be a veritable gong show!

Five years ago I had our first son, Griffin. Two years later, Noah arrived. A lot had to go on the back burner for me, creatively speaking. This fall they will both attend school programs and suddenly, I will have bits of time to myself. I will get things done.

Sparrow Hill is in a lush woodland overlooking a lake. There will be a treehouse for the kids. Birdhouses and binoculars. Whimsical signs everywhere. Meandering paths, hiking trails, stargazing hammocks and firepits and sparkling lights strung from the trees. Gardens with things to eat, smell and feast your eyes upon. Guest suites where you can exhale; where it's all been wonderfully left behind. Quiet places to read, nap, paint, write or think. Local foods and those grown onsite - for breakfast, of course! Access to the best wine tastings, mushroom foraging expeditions, art studio tours, cuisine, regional sights and entertainment. To your left is a great horned owl, out for an early evening waddle on our yet-unhardscaped driveway. The wildlife here is awe-inspiring.

Home decor, painting, sewing, crafting, cooking, preserving, bird-watching and writing are all on my list. I am so looking forward to sharing my projects and our lovely place with you. Thanks for reading. If you like what you see, you will have to come and stay with us one day at our bed and breakfast. We hope to be open by summer 2013. Be happy, be kind and remember to pay it forward.