denim star garland

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Our Little Nest UpNorth

Weeks and weeks ago I came up with this clever idea to use up some of the scrap denim (we have BOXES full) and make a new garland for Jackson’s room that would also serve as a nightlight. He’s my late-night reader and is currently using a flashlight to read by, saving him the trip to turn the light off before drifting into slumber. Smart, but inconvenient.

After tracing and cutting out six million or so tiny denim stars and pinning them on to a strand of blue LED lights, I could not settle on a way to permanently attach them so I set the project aside and moved on to other things. You know how that goes.

Fast forward to this week. All of the sudden I found myself in desperate need of a mindless project to just keep my hands as busy as my thoughts have been racing. There is far too much on my mind to be able to concentrate on anything complicated. I decided simple is the way to go, broke out the tacky glue and started pasting my heart out. It was a little therapeutic, I have to say.

We’ll hang it in his room tomorrow.

I am going to call this my first project of Stash-busting Summer. I already have a lengthy wish list of beautiful fall fabric but I have to make my way through our piles and piles of collected fabrics first! Here we go!

Just the three of us

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Our Little Nest UpNorth

We had a night to ourselves with Jacob this week.

Off to Elk Rapids again!

It feels very foreign to be out and about as a “small” family. When we took five children along everywhere, it felt as if we were moving in a herd; a loud, happy, conspicuous tribe of Moultons. But our troop’s public presence is diminishing. And it’s ok and it feels right, but it still takes a lot of getting used to. (And I’m not panicking because I have a plan that is going to result in me always having a child at home, but it cannot yet be revealed;)

Just one child is fun. And a lot less expensive! So we all tried new flavors of homemade ice cream at The Ice Cream Peddler. We checked out the Kid’s Pond, where there were large rainbow trout just a few feet below us. We walk down along the river and Jacob spotted the same group of sucker fish that the boys were attempting to catch last week!

He ran back to the car for his net, determined to “catch that thing” again. He tried and tried, but decided that this was a two or three man job and begged in his “you can’t resist this little baby face” way until we waded in, jeans and all, and attempted for a half hour or so to “catch that thing” to no avail.

We did, however, watch a porcupine come down to the side of the river for a few minutes and then waddle back up into the trees, but I could not get close enough (for fear of scaring him away) to get a very good picture.

As always, he brought home a favorite rock.

He is so right-in-between right now. Wanting to be able to do everything himself, but always wanting someone at his side. He is more physically and emotionally connected to each of us than any of his siblings have been. He is sleeping in his sister’s bed while she is out of town. He still needs to be held and comforted, reassured and encouraged. Or rather, he is my reminder that we all do. He has recently made great strides in communication, which is a challenge for him given his significant hearing loss and emotional challenges. He is just beginning to reach outside of this tight little circle of five, the only ones he really shares with, and search out friendships. And this completely melts my heart.

We’re getting there.

A big catch at Elk Rapids and a new park discovery

Posted on May 27, 2013 by Our Little Nest UpNorth

Northern Michigan is having the most spectacular spring. A little rain, a lot of sun, and perfect temperatures which, for me, means “skirt and t-shirt warm” during the day and sweatshirts at night. Perfect.

We enjoyed our first beach picnic of the year at Elk Rapids Veterans Memorial Park. The summer crowds are starting to descend, but I have more patience for the visitors this year. It’s something new after a quiet and secluded winter.

After lunch, Phil and I looked for a bit at the antique store in town (one of the best I’ve found) and I discovered three beautiful and perfect old treasures that I would love. I think we will be revisiting soon!

While we shopped, Emma, Jackson and Jacob played at the river. They returned with a great story to tell of the boys patiently trying, over and over again, to catch “giant sucker fish” that were swimming along the river.

Success!

On our way home we checked out Elk Rapids day park for the first time. This is a fantastic beach and playground park just out of the way of the large, busy beach. The kids loved it and asked if we could come back tomorrow.

Today you could feel summer just around the corner. Each spring brings a deeper appreciation for the warmth and bright colors, the birds, the insects, the new buds and leaves, the light. Complain as I do about the winter (just winter driving really), I am in love with this place and it’s four dramatically distinct seasons.

Yuba Creek Natural Area and Saylor Park

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Our Little Nest UpNorth

Thank you, boys.

(Jacob was sick the rest of the day…)

I hope you had a wonderful weekend, too!

Introductions

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Our Little Nest UpNorth

To say that our first experience with mail order chicks started off rocky would be a major understatement.

After a “shipping mistake” (on the part of the postal service, not the hatchery) resulting in an extra 24 hours en route, the brood suffered several losses. For three days Emma and I tried our best to keep the teeny tiniest babies fed and warm. It was a long, exhausting, heavy few days.

Two weeks later, our 17 survivors are growing quickly and we are having the greatest fun watching personalities emerge and distinguishing which breeds we are going to end up with. Here they are, with our best guesses as far as breed is concerned.

Aren’t they sweet?

Jacob’s Silver-Laced Wyandottes; Merry, Pippin, and Nashville

Jenny, the sweet Buff Orpington

Hattie Mae, Phil’s White Jersey Giant, who has beautiful angel wings!

The Barred Rocks, Shade and Shadow, are the friendliest and most curious.

We are unsure of the breed of this little bantam, but Jackson claimed her and named her Willow. She is quiet and reminds us of Marshmallow.

My favorite, Cinnamon, a bantam Rhode Island Red.

Rita is Emma’s White Crested Black Polish. Miss Rita is very fancy. And squawky.

What are these little guys? Maybe Americanas? The one sitting down on the left is Jeffricca. (Long, silly story.) She has fluffy cheeks that you can’t really see here.

We have here what we believe to be 3 Pearl Leghorns and a possible Delaware. Their names are Louise, Edith, Gladys, and Francis. Interchangeably.

Poppy has us baffled. She looks very similar to the Leghorns except that she is a bit larger, has a dark brownish-yellow spot on the top of her head, and has dark legs. Any ideas?

And this completes our backyard flock. We are excited to introduce the babies to the big girls, Sacagawea and Ninja, but for now they are being housed in the garage. Spring in Michigan being what it is, (we’ve had SNOW the past two days,) it will be a while before the chicks are ready to transition to the great outdoors.

off to the races

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Our Little Nest UpNorth

We needed some cheering up this weekend, therefore boats were constructed and we set off for the place Elk River flows into the Bay.

All three boats were off to a great start but unfortunately not one made it to the finish. We are going to work on design improvements and try again soon!