has it really been this long!?

I can't believe it's been over a year since I wrote anything here. That's what having a baby does I guess! So much has happened in the past year, mainly not on the good side, so I bid a respectful farewell to 2013 and I know 2014 will be a much better year for all of us. I started another blog about cooking, well mainly what I cook - I really wanted to have that be a separate entity from this but it makes more sense to me in these busy days to just go ahead and roll everything together. Being a mother of 5 has its challenges, mentally and physically, and right now I tell you I'm the most tired I've ever been! Our fifth munchkin was born on my birthday, December 27th 2012 and she has brought so much joy and happiness to our family I don't remember life without her. But you know I mentioned tired... well! You can imagine. I have a toddler that has started waking in the night again and insisting on sleeping with us, which in turn wakes the baby, and these past few months my others have started to be early risers, coming into the room at daybreak - exhausting! I'm still plodding on with my business - Bramble Boutique - we are on etsy - and while I find it a little financially rewarding at times, it can be a lot of work and not much return most of the time. I decided to stray away from my graphic design roots and swing into the animation field. SO that's what's next on the agenda. On that note my latest thing is bulk cooking.

Inspired by The Pioneer Woman cooking show, I've started making sure I cook double, sometimes triple every time I prepare something which can be frozen. So far this has included chicken pot pie, lasagne, meatballs, chicken breasts, pie crusts, pasta bakes and so forth! It's a really good feeling on a weeknight when I don't have a lot of time (or brain power!) to just grab something out of the freezer and stick it in the oven. 

A quick note before I get on with "laundry mountain" - is anyone else out there struggling with the nightmare that is Common Core in NY State? I'm not sure of the quality of the work they get to do at school but I can tell you the sheets they bring home for homework are consistently misspelled, miss-written, miscalculated miss everything really! So frustrating. More tomorrow!

Spring is in the air

Beautiful crocus, white, purple and yellow are popping up all over the place.  My Hydrangeas have little bud looking things on them and the twiggy bushes and trees are all covered with tiny leaf buds.  Spring is just about to spring and I can't wait! I made some more progress on clearing what will be the patio area, or courtyard to be fancy! I dug some more of my pond, and have decided to get a solar powered water feature to put on its upper ledge.. that way the water won't be still and hopefully that means no mosquitoes. 

I saw a pair of Robins in the garden yesterday evening, first time - very exciting! And had a tree cutting guy out to price up which ones are going.  He's coming tomorrow or Friday to do it, and will be leaving us with the firewood for next winter.  I'm looking forward to that being done, so we can go ahead and take down the smaller ones ourselves, then my picket can go up around my veg garden! And hopefully my hens can come, raised beds can be built, and the 250+ plants in my guest room can make their way to the great outdoors.  Bramble Boutique launched my Springtime In Paris hair flower range on etsy this morning, already have orders, so it's looking promising - hopefully I can fund all these grand schemes I'm thinking of!

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95268901/mauve-peony-bridal-hair-flower-clip