In the past couple of years I've become a lot better acquainted with loss. Family members and friends-who-became-family-members, leaving spaces behind that can't be filled.

One of those gaping spaces belongs to my friend Lisa Heyman, who died in February 2008. Months before, our families had visited Plimoth Plantation, and Lisa and I had spent some happy time in the gift shop picking out a crochet hook for me and some yarn and knitting needles for her. The last few times I visited with her she was using those purchases to make a very long scarf for her husband, Larry.

A few weeks ago Larry, Roxy, and Fire came to our house, and brought along the almost-completed scarf so that I can finish it.


As I began to work on it, weaving in the loose ends, I found myself thinking about the loose ends that are inevitable in any life. In some ways, we don't get to choose what things will be left undone. But by carefully choosing and living our priorities, as Lisa did, we can be sure to leave the important ends tied up.

The craft room is coming together, evolving as we begin to use it. We still have some molding to hang and paint, and a bit of organizing to do, but already there's been lots of creating.

I didn't get pictures of everything, but here are some bits and pieces. Dagny and Andrew were working while I took pictures, and they were hot and sweaty and not feeling photogenic. There's also still a pile of paint and tools on the floor, not looking very pretty. I'll get some pictures of the rest another day, including the two tables my mom and I refinished.










The illustrations my mom gave us are perfect. We love them.



We ended up using seven out of the twelve, all along one wall. We don't have enough wall space for the rest, so we'll probably rotate them depending on the season.

This is my favorite.

I've been identifying some weeds that are growing in the spot where we throw our tree trimmings/pulled weeds/etc. Since cleaning up long-neglected sections of our property is a never-ending project around here, it's quite a big pile. An unbelievable variety of things grows around and over it each year. We like the wild blackberries best, but so do the birds and the bunnies and the chipmunks and the squirrels and whoever else is living over there.

Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), with its egg shape, spikes, and purple flowers, was easy to find with google. I'm having a harder time with this one, which I don't remember seeing in previous years.


Can anyone tell me what it is?

Been wishing you had some pretty pottery? Check out Brenna's etsy shop.



Dagny got this mug last week. On top of being so nice to look at, it's got that just right for wrapping your hand around feeling.

You can tell when a thing's been made by someone who's doing something they love, you know?

My favorite grilled veggie sandwich:

Get (or make) two nice loaves of rustic bread.

Slice relatively thickly:
1 eggplant
2 zucchini
2 summer squash
1 big vadalia onion
4-5 big tomatoes

Coat with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill.

Slice open loaves, layer veggies, and top with crumbled farmer's cheese. Cut into sandwich sized pieces. Eat up, or wrap in tinfoil and stick them in an insulated bag for a picnic lunch.

My old partner in crime, Lisa, was in town yesterday and I got to visit with her for the first time in 12 years. She's all kinds of good, but for the purposes of this post what you need to know is that she makes me laugh.


You can see more Peadoodles on her blog and in her zazzle shop. (Where 20% of her profits go to the United Nations World Food Progam. Told you she was all kinds of good.)