Curious Bird

grateful

Some of my favorite images from the day.

 

 

 

Hope your Thanksgiving was full to the brim. We had a wonderful day of cooking, eating, cooing over a sweet baby boy (Marco!), and more eating. We're driving south to the Chesapeake Bay for part two this weekend...and I'm pretty thrilled about getting to spend a few days with people I love doing more, well,  cooking and eating. Can't get enough of pretty much everything that is traditionally found on a Thanksgiving menu.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Cheers,
Leya

some bits

Togetherness.

Breakfast before.

After.

More togetherness. 

Here's to another lovely weekend. 

oh, clementine

Just like that, another week has flown by. Overall, it has been a pretty nice one. The end of semester crunch is upon me, but I'm hanging in there and somehow keeping my stress level down. For now.
I think all the clementines I've been consuming may be helping things stay relatively cheery (and healthy). Not that I haven't been called out for my clementine consumption, because I have, and it was by a three-year -old at one of the schools I visit for work. This particular three-year-old did not think I should be eating three in a row. She was probably right, but still. After all, I am the boss of me (to use three-year-old lingo) and I sometimes eat four.

For those of you who are going to cook, have you started planning your Thanksgiving menu yet? This year, we are having not one but two Thanksgiving dinners, so I have plenty to do.
Funny thing is, all I can think about are creamed brussels sprouts. I know the other stuff will come together -- it always does -- but creamed brussels sprouts are a definite. If you haven't tried them yet, please do yourself a favor and give this recipe a try. There's heavy cream and butter involved...

Before I go, here are a few links I wanted to share from the "I really need to learn how to knit" series.  

Stem and Leaf Cowl

Cozy Bolero

Pasha

Silver Coline

Have a great weekend,

Leya

new discovery

Loving these wonderful drawings of  some of my favorite cameras by Jordis. Would make a great gift for any camera geek, if I do say so myself.

 

I'm not a knitter -- hopefully one day I will be -- but my friend Mary Beth is and on top of that she is an excellent producer involved in all sorts of cool projects. Her production company, which she co-owns with her partner Leslie is Junk Drawer Media. They just completed ten videos called "Two-Minute Inspirations" for Lion Brand Yarn.

Very well done, Mary Beth. Perhaps I will become a knitter sooner than I thought...

turning that frown upside down

Happy Friday.

This week has been so dreary and grey, and the 5pm darkness is taking a little getting used to.
I'm trying to remain focused on all the great things I enjoy about Winter. For instance, I know I love big pots of soup on the stove and soft flannel sheets on my bed. There's also something really great about layering up and wearing cozy sweaters and scarves every day. Slippers are pretty fantastic and I am certainly digging my second box of delicious clementines. However, since I'm still in adjustment mode, I have had to look around for cheerful things to brighten my days. Here are a few.

Jen's Pop Up Shop is delightful. I especially love the photos by Laina Briedis -- I had never seen her work before now. 

Niki Jones is new to me too. I love just about everything available. I know it's a little early, but these papier mache Christmas ornaments are definitely making me look forward to decorating for the holidays. And I adore these Suzani cushion covers. So bright and pretty. 

And talk about the opposite of grey and dreary, this amazing wedding shot by Feather Love Photography (found via Oh Joy!) is fantastic.

And lastly, check out Kelly Rae's house tour on Apartment Therapy. No dreariness found there.

Have a great weekend,

Leya

Finally...

after months and months of procrastination. I got new glasses.  Now I can actually see when my hair is totally windblown in the photo above.  I'm not saying I'm going to do anything about it, but I can see it loud and clear. And I get to clearly see the beauty of the leaves outside my front door. Love those colors.

 

And lastly, I get to see The Fantastic Mr. Fox as soon as it opens. Can't wait.

Have fun,
L.

daily light

 

 

 

it might have been a little chilly outside today but the house was full of lovely light.
perfect for granola making
plant growing
kitty snuggling
catching up on some much needed cleaning
music listening
and holiday list making

not bad. not bad at all.

slowly but surely

 

Finally getting some new prints framed and up on the wall. Not sure why this sort of thing always takes so long. Is it just me or is this a common occurrence? 

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I'm so looking forward to a relaxing weekend. The idea of reading (I have a lot to do for school) while snuggled up under a quilt with my kitties sounds pretty nice. It has been freezing here today. Also feeling like doing some baking. Maybe something simple like biscuits or a little more involved like those amazing fruit galettes. from way back when.

There may even be time to start scheming about holiday projects on my mind lately. It will be here before we know it.

Hope you have yourself a lovely weekend.

-L

Hello out there. I'm still here, just feeling a bit quiet lately. The change of seasons is making we want to hibernate a little. Although as I type this I see the most amazing leaves outside my window -- I think the red and deep orange are my favorite -- must get my camera and go for a walk before they all disappear.

I've been perusing Etsy lately and here are some recent favorites I wanted to share.

Lovely Lotus Gold jewelry is something new for me. Always been a pretty strict silver girl until lately.

This simple and pretty crocheted accessory in one of my favorite colors.

I really need to learn how to knit. This scarf pattern might just give me the kick in the pants I need.

Lovely and comfy Lirola handmade dresses. Like this one, and this one. Perfect with tights and boots.

Also, did you see that Blair is in the chocolate business? So cool.

And one last thing. Urban Weeds. I'm sold...although it makes me want to live in Portland again. I miss that city and my little house on Yamhill Street.  Maybe one day we'll make our way back there...

Be well,
L

happy (belated) halloween.

after supplying sugary treats to three spidermen, one wall-e, two dragons, about twelve princesses, an amazing peacock, and countless witches, ghouls and goblins, I am ready for november. 

have fun,
l.

 

I don't know about you, but I don't find sleeping on a remote control all that comfortable. Motown is one funny boy.  He seems to be  feeling okay lately. We sure dislike giving him the fluid injections -- they take too long and he really hates being swaddled like a newborn -- but they seem to make him feel quite a bit better, so onward we go. He doesn't know it yet, but tonight is treatment night...

I can't believe it's almost Halloween. We carved a pumpkin with the biggest mustache, but this nasty rain we're having is keeping me from snapping a photo. Hoping to take one before Mr. Mustache starts to take a turn for the worse. Ewww.
Dustin and I are looking forward to tricker-treaters this year. For the first time in Philly, we now live on a little street that seems pretty perfect for some good tricker-treating action. Can't wait to see what comes a' knockin'.

More soon,
l.

We'd take it

 

 

 

Dustin and I both agree that we'd be pleased as punch (he didn't say that, I did) to live in the fantastic a-frame house featured in the most recent ReadyMade magazine. We love the windows and all the lovely wood.  Very cozy.

pretty things

Look at this lovely handcrafted piece of jewelry I get to be the temporary owner of. Isn't it a pretty little thing? It will eventually make its way to a new home -- as a gift to someone with an "A" name -- but for now I get to hold it up close and admire it. I am considering ordering this necklace for a few other people in my life, and maybe even myself. I am really pleased with how it turned out -- so simple and pretty.  In case you're curious, it was created by Lisa from Lisa Leonard Designs who happens to be one talented lady with a lovely shop and an equally lovely blog. 

Stay warm out there (can't believe I'm saying this so early in the year),

Leya

 

gifted

 

If you stop by very often, you probably know how wacky I am for pickled veggies (and grapes). This past summer was definitely the Summer of the Pickle. I pickled everything I could think of: cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, okra, and of course multiple batches of Molly's wonderful pickled grapes. I think cauliflower was probably my favorite, although that was before I was gifted a jar of the most amazing pickled green beans made by my fellow pickling fiends/friends, Atticus and Christine.  They are spicy and crisp and perfect. Now the tricky part is recreating them because according to Atticus, they didn't measure, they just whipped them up using white vinegar, salt, sugar, mustard seed, black peppercorns, and garlic. I'm going to give it a try but until I get it just right I may be taking trains to Brooklyn to say hi and pick up jars of pickled green beans.

Loving this fall weather.

Also loving this photo and this one
too.

This blouse is super cute. 

Perfect for dessert.

Say no to plastic. These are nifty.

Take care,

Leya

p.s. If you happen to live in Philly. This week is Neighborhood Food Week. There are tons of restaurants in various neighborhoods with special prix fixe menus. We're looking forward to getting to know some of our new neighbors while eating a tasty dinner later this week.