…must be comfy.  That’s the prerequisite for my next pair of shoes. I’ve got a red shoe thang and think that I should go for some new color, or a neutral, but I know that I should go for comfort.  With 3 more months to go and warm weather ahead, I’ve got to plan for tired and dare I say swollen feet.

{Dansko “Thea” sandal. There are other colors, including red, though green catches my eye.}

{Earthies “Cardonna” sandal.  Got to love a comfy wedge.}

{Pikolinos “Trinidad” t-strap sandal.  Definitely a contender.}

{Swedish Hasbeens sandal.  Very much a contender.}

I’m hoping that a heel will be ok given they’re all considered ‘comfort’ shoes. I think any of the above will add some ooomph to my full panel maternity leggings and dresses.  Besides, who couldn’t use a new pair of shoes?!!

My heart is full and swelling with joy–so is my growing baby bump!  Luke and I are expecting a little one in July!  I’ve lately been feeling my sweet one move around in utero and it has me beaming:)

{How cute is this hot air balloon mobile? Oh Pinterest! }

Friends of mine are expecting, too, (you know who you are!) and it’s been great sharing the experience.  One is about to have her baby any minute! I’ve been daydreaming about what’s to come, pulling together a registry, and watching my body grow! All very occupying:)

Have a happy weekend!

Well, hellooooo there. The blizzard is in motion! This is supposed to be a big one, so big that the Weather Channel has named it “Nemo” like the tiny, lost little fish of Disney fame.  Makes sense. Will the storm live up to the hype?  All I can assume is if the snowfall keeps up at this pace it will. The view from inside is blustery:

Wishing you a safe blizzard weekend–and hoping there is shelter and warmth enough for everyone.

Merry Christmas! Wishing you all peace and love. Here in Maine we are beginning to have a white Christmas with the snow falling fast– stay cozy!

Holidays are for tradition. We carry on the the traditions we loved as children and we make new ones, too. One thing I do every Christmas is bake Italian Anise cookies from my grandmother’s recipe. This year I made a batch with my mother, which was a treat. They’re a labor of love {prepare the dough, chill, roll into balls with oiled hands, bake, ice each one with glaze and sprinkle it with confetti dots before glaze hardens, repeat}. This year we skipped the tree {I figured poinsettias and a wreath would suffice} but I wouldn’t even consider skipping the cookies!

Cheers to holiday traditions and celebrating the joys of the season!

A couple of weeks ago our rooster Ruby lost his voice. Then his breathing became very labored and he wheezed like a serious asthmatic.  It was kind of scary and also kind of nice and quiet! The guy at the farm store suggested a few things.  What we tried first did the trick–adding some Gatorade to the water source {and a good cleaning of their coop}.  Within a couple of days he was back in business, feisty and loud. Who’d have guessed some electrolites would bring a chicken back to glory?!

p.s. I recently went to the Wild & Scenic Film Festival hosted by Friends of Casco Bay. {The festival is making its way around the country, so check for dates near you.} 15 environmental films were selected from about 55 for viewing.  The films are short, between 4 and 18 minutes each.  Seeing people who are passionate about the world around us, who creatively deal with things like plastic litter, or lack of resources, and the respect they have for nature was very inspiring.  Here is one of my favorites:

Another film that will put a smile on your face can be found here. {It’s short & sweet and involves a genius solution for old plastic liter bottles as a source of lighting in villages without power!}

The bluebirds have left their nests. They’re still around {sitings are rare}, but the boxes are no longer in use. We like to clear those out for them so in April when they return, moving back in will be easy work. {It’s always a good feeling to open it up and find only the remains of a nest, not of a bird.} We have about half a dozen boxes around our yard and it’s not only the bluebirds that lay their eggs in there, but they are by far our favorite!

Next spring they’ll completely rebuild their nests. They live in open fields like ours for several reasons; as insect-eaters they like to have a long view of an area for bug catching. Posts and small trees are ideal for keeping lookout. They nest in boxes, {which are in essence a man-made solution} but they prefer holes in trees on the edges of woods made by other animals {like woodpeckers and squirrels} but a bluebird can’t create that themselves so naturally they look for abandoned holes in trees and when those are scarce a box like ours does the trick. It’s fun to watch them flit around from box to box checking out the space– when they do move in it’s cause for celebration. Oh the little joys!

Recognize this? Did you see Salmon Fishing in the Yemen? I really liked it! The plot was slightly out there, but it all managed to become something wonderful. A wealthy sheik has a vision of bringing the authentic salmon fishing experience that he loves so much to his native Yemen. Emily Blunt’s character Harriet is charged with organizing those who can make it happen, like fisheries expert Fred, played by Ewan McGregor. Overall it’s a story about faith and love and possibilities. And there is romance. It is all so sweet. Just see it.

As an aside, I’m obsessed with the pants that Harriet wore while in Yemen. They were smart looking outdoor pants with a bit of style and she wore them gathered up at the calf {obsessed all right}.  That is my struggle– finding a great pant to hike and hang out in that isn’t my current ugly pair that I want to burn. By the time I was finished raving about them Luke said he thought he needed a pair!  I’m telling you…Yemen pants need to happen. {This is the only pic I could find.}