"My favorite ride"

11 times...yes, we went on this ride 11 times! Timed at 50 seconds....we kept going back....

she LOVES this ride...

Now I totally understand the excitement that my folks must have felt the first time they took us kids to Disneyland....we as a couple share the excitement as we watch and play through her 6 year old eyes....thank you, Popsie and Mama.....I get it now.....how I love being a mom....my baby's mom....how great it is to share this life with my husband.....

Mickey Mouse pancake...

More pancakes.....our first visit to Disneyland as a family!! So much FUN....she LOVED it and so did we....our inner child left the "park" happy....

I don't recall the food being what it is....one of the few unpleasant things there.....the rides, though.....were great!

We had a SUPER time... :) "I wish I live here...", our girl says...repeatedly....hahahahaaaa....not...

Spiders, anyone?

Can't believe it's been more than 2 months....missing in action....

So many sewing projects, knitting projects, play dates....so busy....work....home...now it's almost Christmas!

Don't know where to start...it must have started with her Halloween costume....one project led to another....missing one day of blogging led to another....hahahaaaa....

We had spider pancakes for breakfast on Halloween morning.....she was a mermaid....it was challenging sewing nude mesh for the first time! Somehow, the dress held together even after two parties.

Life is good...so much more to share.....enjoy every moment we share....life is short....living mindfully is the key...I try to remind myself...as one of the most inspirational "teacher" of mine has passed away......I must remember to live every moment to it's fullest.....I miss you, Shirley....

"I love to sew..."

Yo-yo making is still HOT, HOT, HOT in this house....

She's on her fourth yo-yo....planning her upcoming "show & tell" at school :) Yes, it will be ALL about sewing and yo-yo making....

Finally, here's one craft gadget we are REALLY using....hahahaaaaaa

Mama, look!

The weather has changed...it's grey, overcast....cold...

We decided to try something new this afternoon. Definitely took sewing to a different level!

"Mama, look!" YES. My baby made her first "yoyo" from this colourful liberty fabric! I helped her do a few little things. So confident after finishing her first sewing project at home, she asked to make a second one! *sigh* yes, I'm a proud Mama ;)

All of a sudden, she's got ten million reasons to make more...on a skirt, a headband....yes, "Can we get some pink fabric?"

Lucky me.....we can go fabric shopping together....maybe it's not too early for that little sewing machine?

life is good....

Happy toes....

"Bubble gum, bubble gum in the dish,

How many pieces do you wish?"

Our toes were having fun, playing this game in the Sun....

Ohh....it rhymes!

I love my girl....

We spent the afternoon relaxing on this bench at the Botanical Garden...drawing, sketching, knitting, lying around, listening to the birdies sing...

Watching the birdies take baths in the little "fountain", those lovely little colibri (humming birds) fluttering, feeding....

One of the best family day we've had....

Taking ownership...

I'm so grateful that my folks taught me what it means to be responsible, reliable and to do my best each day......yes, sounds funny, but I live by it. Thanks to a boss of mine (from the corporate world) a whole decade ago, I realized that it is really such a valuable asset in the working world....and that there is an actual "term" for it! Thank you, Ellen.

I've vowed to stay off the negative side of things...so no more grumblings....I'm teaching my child and showing all children who grace my space for any period of time :)

Thank you to ALL of my co-workers who have been AMAZING this past week....for all the listening, counseling and kindness....

XOXO

Poppies in the Botanical Garden

One of our favourite things to do with anyone who visits us....the Botanical Garden....

Look at these amazing poppies and the bright red! Those cute faces swaying un the gentle breeze...waiting for us to walk past and appreciate their beauty....

It's been a LONG time since I last posted....finally....my hubby "fixed" something....my laptop can once again connect to the WiFi at home :)

Thank you!

Lichen?

Being out in nature is definitely as inspiring as creating or enjoying art....

All these different kinds of lichen.....growing in on the trees....our girl got to hold this little lovely piece....little things that made her eyes grow SO big :)

Pressed pennies....

I can't believe that these machines are still around! I remember my first ones....not that I can locate it now, but it was so COOL....

Now it's my turn to share this cool thing with my girl....we got her 2 on one day :)

Our first lizard on the walk...

Our girl got to see this little friend up close! It was about 100 degrees that day....this little lizard was hiding in the shade when we arrived at the Petrified Forest....

We ended up spotting 3 more lizards on the walk.....we had such a great time! :)

Rattlesnakes or people?

It is refreshing to be able to connect to my sister's WiFi at her home!!

We enjoyed a HOT HOT HOT day trip to Calistoga...at the Petrified Forest, this sign was posted on a big beautiful tree...I read it and thought it is best posted at my desk where I work too :)

How lovely and magical nature is....how lucky we are to live within driving distance....

WiFi???

Something about my laptop....not connecting with our WiFi....it's been about, oh....a week? *sigh*

I thought at our household...it's no biggie....not a high-tech home....we'll be fine....yeah, right! this is my second blog post since that tragic day....I'm learning to use a little device to put this thru....*sigh*

I'll be rejoicing when we've figured out what's wrong with my laptop....c'est la vie....deep breath, there's a lesson to be learned.....life is still good.....

zeitgeist...

Time-ghost.....strange literal translation that....

This great word came up at work the other day.....I have fond memories of this word relating to my college days....what a name for an establishment that serves alcoholic beverages..........it's the perfect word for describing one's experience after a few.....definitely one of many ways to step out of one's physical self and study oneself from afar.......

Like walking away from a painting that one's working on.....to gain new light...as my favourite painting professor taught me.....Ralph, thank you....the theory applies to everything, from painting to knitting......to relationships...

I'm thankful for all who have crossed my path....for the lessons they have brought my way....namaste...

Sunday Dinner

Nice view....lovely cosmopolitan...deep fried panko scallops? Yes...what a way to share a nice dinner with loved ones...

How I enjoy the meals that we share....

Green for our heart chakra....

How lovely is the colour of green....the healing colour for our heart....

With this green scarf....I send my love to L....for the cold, dark winter days and nights that she will be encountering this winter.

How I love giving homemade gifts.....I will be making one for you too....Mii :)

My love around my mommy's shoulders

Here's a vest that I've started in February for my mom....the shawl collar ALWAYS gets me. I'm determined to finish it within the week. Almost there...

"The road to happiness has never been a straight one, and yet, it is the only one worth traveling, no matter how curvy or rocky it is!" - Mehmet Ildan

Tea Party...

We had a lovely time - having a tea party! Yes...the afternoon before my baby got sick....it was great. The tea, the yummy sanwiches, scones, clotted cream and all...with a sweet friend of mine...my baby wearing a dress I made from the book Moonstitches mentioned in her blog....thank you!

Connected!!

After a lengthy period of deliberation, we have splurged on a new phone.....one each........I have re-connected with friends on the East Coast.....I've finally moved away from flip phones for good :)

Life is good :P

The other sock

Yesterday was a "better" day....we stayed home nursing her little body from that wicked stomach flu....

While we were watching Sesame Street, I started the other sock...

I'm smitten with this yarn. Not only does it feel luxurious, the colours are simply alluring...the sheen of the silk....just pure knitting heaven..."Can you make me socks, mama?"

"Happiness is only real when shared" - Christopher McCandless

Keep Calm and Carry On

What a day....

I should have taken some photos of the "mess" that I had to clean up earlier....thank goodness for this older photo...Keep Calm and Carry On...

My girl got "sick" a few times in the car on our way home...poor baby.....she was hurling like there was no tomorrow......it was most unpleasant to witness my girl getting sick....

I chanted, "keep calm and carry on, keep calm and carry on, keep calm and carry on......."

Tomorrow will be a better day...

A friutful Sunday...

What a Sunday! Thanks to my friend Jan, my mom, my big sis and onii-san + some friends, I have raised more than $220 for the AIDSwalk today!!! The 10 K walk was invigorating - especially because I walked with two wonderful co-workers...actually, as a group, there were about 25 of us...but somehow, we got separated...

After I got home, we donated some clothing items that are no longer in use....feels so good....

Thanks, Dada (Onii-san) for little Brownie, see, I really like her! Arigato...

What a nice way to spend the day :)

Math is fun?

2 x 2 x 2 is? We had a little fun with these little cubes this afternoon...who says girls are not good at math? Ha!

Velvet vest...with red elephant ribbon...

Moonstitches has inspired me to sew...thank you, Moonstitches...

I was SO excited about sewing...I stayed up until 1 am to finish the first project from this book, "happy homemade vol.2, kids no fudangi"....that was last week? Hmm.....

Since then, I've made 2 more summer dresses for my girl....this one....unfortunately, looks more like something from my favourite movie, The Sound of Music. YIKES....

Show and tell...say it straight, simple and with a smile...

What's a 3 year-old homemade bunny doing sitting on a the sofa at this time of the night? Well, Chloe was not the lucky "winner" for tomorrow's show and tell at camp....so I thought I ought to give her a little love by putting her on the web :)

Happiness....

How lucky we are....to enjoy a nice, clear, warm afternoon today....watching the waves lapping the beach....with the ones we love over a meal....what more can one ask for...

My love around Nonna's shoulders

Are handmade gifts better than store-bought ones?

I cannot speak for others....but I must admit that I LOVE receiving handmade gifts...stitch by stitch, all that love is knitted, sewn, woven, embroidered.....into something that radiates love...

Back in May, I started this teal coloured shawl (free pattern through Ravelry.com or Madelinetosh.com) for myself....when my mother-in-law came to visit, I saw how she caressed it as I knitted and thought.....perhaps it will make a good early birthday gift.

Sure enough, she agreed. How great it feels to give something handmade.....enjoy, Mamma...

My love around your shoulders

My oh my.....how time flies...

Our daughter "graduated" from Kindergarten last month. I couldn't think of a better gift than knitting her a special cardigan in pink and lilac...finishing it with a hedgehog button made of ceramics (something that I've bought years ago...saved for a special project). I couldn't keep away from sewing her a quick simple dress for the ceremony.....

How it warms my heart when she picked them up early in the morning jumping with joy...."...you finished it, mama....yeah!! Thank you...."

My very first blog post

Yogi teabags are the best......with each teabag, comes an inspiring "quote".....

My big sis has been urging me to start a blog about knitting for years.....

Voila! Here I am, my first blog post....