Finally Making the Family Passport Wallet

Two Christmases ago I gave Dave a paper gift bag. Inside it was a handful of fat quarters, half a yard of interfacing and a velcro strip. Also, the pattern for the Family Passport  Wallet.

For the past 23 years, we’ve been traveling with our passports and boarding passes in this:

Awful, right? I’d intended to make the new travel wallet and give it to Dave that Christmas, but that didn’t happen what with December being December … and also Christmas. So he got all the materials in a baggie, along with the promise that I would sew it as soon as I could.

Fast forward a year and a half and I’m visiting Kelli for the weekend. I know I can take one small sewing project with me, and the travel wallet it was!

With its clean lines and many pockets, this project is all about neat pinning, carefully ironing and precise stitching. It sewed up in an afternoon over a glass of wine and a bowl of guacamole and tortilla chips.

I am very happy with the result!

A Very Canadian Christmas

 

Except for the part where there was no snow, it was a very Canadian Christmas. We did all the things we love doing in Victoria—bundled up and went walking, took in an ice-hockey game, warmed up in good coffee shops, and visited with all of Dave’s family.

Perhaps because I was more concerned about cramming ALL OF CHRISTMAS (!) into our suitcases before leaving, I forgot to pack my Canon, so the pictures on Flickr are courtesy of my phone unfortunately. Still, I hope you enjoy them!

One Community: January!

 

I’m not even going to try to limit myself to four photos for this month’s One Community roundup! We spent Christmas and New Year in Canada with Dave’s extended family, and the pictures are just too rich to not share!

Treasure. The heart of our visits to Victoria, BC, is always the opportunity for our boys to get to know their grandparents and older cousins, and spend time playing with their younger cousins. Tau asks about Kai (9) and Tait (6) often and opportunities to see them are rare. So when they do get together, it makes for rich little-dude photo ops like these:

Cosy pub lunch after watching Kai’s ice-hockey game

Kai adores his baby cousin

Christmas cuzzies

Silver.  We were lucky enough to have two big feasts! One on Christmas day and a second a few days later when our oldest niece Kendra and her fiance Zack flew in from Australia where they live. 

At the first dinner, Dave’s sister Trisha placed a handmade cracker on each plate. Inside? A small gift for that person—holiday perfection.

What this picture doesn’t show is the certifiable CRAZY that defines Walsh get togethers. Twenty-five of us crammed into a home designed for four people, climbing over each other to move from room to room, hunting down your misplaced wine or beer glass, washing and drying dishes in between courses, straining to converse with an aunt or nephew that you haven’t seen in a year over the shouting din. The kids’ table looked like this at the first meal. Not exactly off the pages of Martha Stewart. Right after this, Maceo spilled someone’s juice all over that table.

Just a few of the kids!

Resolution. There is little room for me-time or reflection on our trips North. I did get out for a nice long walk around our old neighborhood of Oak Bay on Old Year’s Eve though.

Dave and I lived in Victoria for 12 years before moving to San Diego. We married there and put each other through college there. It’s the place where we forged our partnership, struggled to make ends meet, and aspired to live somewhere else. So, returning is bittersweet. Around every corner in this town shrouded in winter is a memory, a feeling, a sense—each one particular and loaded with emotion.

So my walk around the bay, up through the golf course, and back past our old apartment was poignant as I closed out 2013 and looked forward to the new year. Surrounded by our old community, I was very aware of the choices we made twelve years ago to go do something different, and the many blessings we have experienced doing so.

These days, as a working, older mom of small boys, I am beyond torturing myself with New Year’s resolutions. Looking into 2014 is more about focusing on gentle intensions. On small actions that I can give priority, that will lead me to be healthier and more capable. That is all.

Garden gate, Victoria, BC

Winter. We were fortunate to have moderate weather during our visit. Four years ago, we were in Victoria for Christmas and the cold was bitter! This year we packed warmer clothes, fleecy PJs and slippers, a hot water bottle and heating pad. And it made all the difference.

We are spoiled by San Diego winters—the sunshine, the balmy temperatures, the outdoor opportunities. Winter in Victoria reminded me that our sunshine and longer days are like gold!

Sunrise, Christmas morning

Mid-morning, overlooking Oak Bay

Happy New Year, friends!

See you next month!

One Community is a monthly photo project in which participants photograph their homes and communities with a theme in mind. The theme varies by month. The goal is to both showcase similarities and differences in our communities worldwide – and bring us all closer together in understanding through art.

Each month, one of the hosts picks four words for us to interpret through photographs of what we see around us in our daily lives. You can see my previous entries for July, August and September. Starting this month, we’re opening this project up to anyone who would like to participate! We would love to have you join us! The link-up will begin on October 5th and stay open for one week.

The Rules: Post one or more photos interpreting the words for the month, and add your blog post to the link-up. Please include a link back to the link-up post on your One Community post, and take a look at some of the other links and comment on them. This link-up is all about building community!

Instacamping

 

 
Saturday night we took the kids, plus two of Tau’s friends, to our local family “campout.” And I use “quotes” because it involved Dave and Tau pitching our new tent in the afternoon at Lake Poway, then going out for dinner at a local sushi restaurant, driving five minutes to the lake and sleeping the night in the tent, then packing up our gear in the morning and driving five minutes home.

Our city hosts this event a four or five times throughout the summer, and it’s a lot of fun. They offer evening hikes; camp songs and scary stories around the fire; glow necklaces for all the kids; graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate for s’mores; and coffee and danishes in the morning. And it gets us out camping without schlepping out to the mountains. No propane stoves or pit potties or long drives in the car.

Instacamping? Here are some Instagram shots:

Rocking this camping thing with my dad

Keeping up with the big boys

Roasting marshmallows for s’mores

Guess who thought sleeping in the tent was the best thing ever? 

Best. Dad. Ever.

 

Taken Hawaii, Nov. 2012.

Canada the Lovely

Earlier this month, we spent a week up north on Vancouver Island.

In addition to catching up with Dave’s cousins, aunts, parents and siblings, we spent a few days up at the family cottage, on the ocean at Saltair. Dave’s brother Stu and his boys joined us, which made for much fun beach combing, boating and crabbing for the kids.

Tau learned to solo kayak, Maceo became an honorary Canuck, we proved that siblings who drink beer together start to look awfully alike, and I got to savor and demolish a whole crab!

The rest of the pictures are here for your viewing pleasure. I’m reminded every time we visit just how gorgeous British Columbia is in its clean, natural beauty. Enjoy!

2011 in Pictures

Every year, Dave and I send our parents a calendar featuring photos from the year that has passed.

It’s always hard to choose just 12 pictures that represent the different seasons of the year.

As 2011 passes, I thought we’d share this year’s calendar shots with you all. Enjoy!

 

 

Shifting to Manual

 
One of my intentions for the year 2010 was to take a couple days to myself and go away somewhere quiet. Where I could think, sleep, read and rest.

Well into November, Dave reminded me that I still hadn’t done so. It wasn’t for lack of trying — I just hadn’t found the right spot. I finally decided on a nearby resort, somewhere secure enough that I could just relax and be.

The agenda included sleeping in, spending time in contemplation, doing some personal planning for the new year, lounging at the pool and reading, eating at least one luscious meal alone (yes, by myself, with no little hands knocking glasses off the table!), using the gym to offset said luscious meal, and getting to know my camera again!

I had a great couple days away. The time to rest and think and feel on my own has carried me lovingly into this year. I feel it under me, like a soft cloud, a gentle support.

And yes, I took my camera off Auto. I set it on Manual everything and I played around for a few hours with aperture and shutter speed and light. Unfortunately, it was a little too late in the morning — I was obliged to sleep in, remember? — so the light in many of the pictures is much harsher than I’d like. But here are a few I thought you’d enjoy!

 

A Little Piece of Perfect!

 
Today was Martin Luther King Day. Dave had to work but Tau and I took Nanny and Granddad down to Windansea beach. Clear skies, 78 degrees, sandy beach. It was perfect!

 


 


 


 

Lego Party: Party in the Park

 

And finally, a wrap-up post on the Lego party. For those searching the Internet for ideas for a Lego party, here are a few ideas:

• Our Lego invitations
• The Lego stick your head through photo cutout thingy
• Make a Lego piñata out of a box
• Lego head marshmallow pops
• Lego cupcake toppers
• Party decor and goodie bags
• Build and race your own Lego vehicle

 

Star Wars Days at Legoland

 
Tau and I spent a fantastic day at Legoland last week, a day marked by a number of firsts:

• First visit to Legoland, which he has been asking about for years now.
• Tau’s first-ever roller-coaster ride, on the Coastersaurus (and a very patient 45 min. wait in line for it, I might add).
• First sighting of real, live stormtroopers, weapons and all. Mom, it’s just a person dressed in a costume. Well, if that’s true, how come you refuse to stand next to one to let me get a picture, huh?

   
   
   

Yup. The reason we finally forked over the bucks to visit the land of little plastic bricks is that they were holding their Star Wars Days, and life for us right now is all about Lego Star Wars.

So there were stormstroopers (or are they snowtroopers or clonetroopers?) and Jedi knights, and droids of every conceivable shape and size, and a large Lego Darth Vader that small kids were gingerly circling and refusing to stand beside.

There was also a display of Star Wars models from local San Diego Lego aficionados, which Tau loved — some very advanced models on display, along with a model of Stitch (as in Lilo and Stitch) dressed up as Master Yoda, and Tau’s much-beloved AT-AT Walkers.

Apart from all of the Star Wars paraphernalia, Tau just loved being at the park. The animals made out of Lego, the build-your-own vehicle workshops, the fantastic Soak and Sail pirate ship.

He loved riding the Coastersaurus, “driving” Mom around in a jeep and seeing wild animals on the Safari Trek ride, and going up higher than he’s ever been under his own arm power.

We ended the day with an almost obligatory Lego purchase and a very tired little boy crashing a mile or two from home! Good times and we will definitely be visiting again!

The Bounty of the Internet

I keep telling myself that I’m going to start titling certain posts: “Reason No. xxx – Why I Love the Internet.”

Only, I’m not sure where to start after all this time. Reason No. 1? Reason No. 5982?

The Interwebs have been good to me over the years. I’ve won giveaways and contests; shared crafts, photos and valuable how-to’s; given and been granted much-needed support at times; and met some incredible and very talented, lovely people.

Case in point, this girl, Africankelli.

I don’t recall exactly when we met but I’m guessing it was around the time I hosted eLuckypacket, a now-defunct daily networking site for South-African women living away from home.

Kelli and I have a lot in common. We both love sewing, knitting and taking pictures; we both appreciate good food and wine; and we seem to have similar views on issues popular and political.

Kelli’s spent time doing aid work in Southern Africa and other parts of the globe, and whether she is living out of a backpack in Mozambique or whipping up a feast for friends at home in Arizona, I find her world familiar and rich, and I am grateful to the Internet for introducing us.

So when she was in San Diego for a wedding last week, I was thrilled to finally meet Kelli in person. We met briefly for breakfast, chatting as you do in a busy restaurant about this and that. Tau was with us and even though he was good as gold, working quietly at his Lego, talk is always stop-and-start when kids are around.

I found myself back at my computer a couple days later — I meant to ask you about your yoga studio, and your brother’s health, and what ever happened to the edible garden that your church planted last summer? The dialog continues.

I know another blogger who refers to the acquaintances that she makes on the Internet as her friends in the computer. And what makes me smile is how tactile and true the Internet can be. Writing a blog gives readers a very clear window into your world, so there are few surprises when you come to meet in person.

Things I knew about Kelli before seeing her: She’s as tall as I am, if not taller; she shoots with a Canon Rebel XT (a slightly older model than mine); and she has fine lines at the corner of her eyes, as I do, from smiling.

Things I learned? She likes Diet Coke and doesn’t care for bacon.

Kelli arrived for breakfast with a grocery bag of tomatoes for me from her garden. In return, I brought a little something I thought she might like, a hand-knitted coffee cozy and some mellow tunes for the long drive home.

And so, Internet, thank you. And let me pick a random number to begin:

Reason No. 379 — Why I Love the Internet: Meeting Africankelli and Cooking with Ripe Tomatoes!

Yebo SA 2010! Diski Dancing

Throughout World Cup 2010 I’m gonna post a photo or a video a day that gives you a sense of South Africa and its people.

And what better place to start than with the Diski Dance?

And related to this … from Where the Hell is Matt:

Ten Rainy Day Things to Do in SLO

We’re back from our week on the California Central Coast!

The weather was mostly stormy and overcast, and Dave and I managed to take turns getting a cold, but apart from that, we had a wonderful, very restful time as the few arbitrary pictures that I took show.

Tau and I came up with a list of the top ten things we did on vacation — the list leans a tad towards the fun kid stuff we did, you understand …

1. Saw How to Train Your Dragon at the Sunset Drive-in, just outside San Luis Obispo. We’d explained the concept of drive-ins to Tau but when we drove up and he saw the big screen, he broke out, “And you just DRIVE your car RIGHT IN THERE? THAT’S CRAZY!!” Oh, and the movie is super cute!
2. Took the boy to a drumming workshop at the San Luis Obispo Kids’ Museum’s Into Africa Exhibit. Did our son make is African parents proud by drumming his little heart out? Mmn, no. He carefully avoided the drum session and spent over an hour instead playing with a get-the-balls-through-the-maze toy, proving yet again that he is surely headed for a career in structural engineering. But I did get to show him pictures of the Durban beachfront and he wondered out loud who that big man was in the picture of the Nelson Mandela statue.
3. Went bowling for the first time as a family at Pismo Bowl, an eight-lane alley with retro decor, highly dicey automatic scoring (Dave and I scored straight strikes for the last three or four rounds), and even dicier looking rental shoes (but then aren’t all bowling alley shoes icky?). The smallest ball they had weighed seven lbs, so Tau had to take up an unorthodox bowling stance. And with bowling comes froyo of course!
4. Chilled out on the stormy days by knitting a baby ball for a friend, building exciting new Lego, and generally vegging out in front of TV.
5. The storm also afforded us beautiful rainbows! Double rainbows!
6. A walk after the rains in the neighborhood we were staying in to visit the horses two doors down. The wet brought out lots of snails (fun to poke gently and watch them retract into their shells!) and the beauty of succulents and flowers.
7. A fair bit of wine tasting and rock climbing. The two are not mutually exclusive. Tau managed to scale the decorative stone wall at a high-brow winery. Walking down main street San Luis Obispo on the third day, Tau spotted a sign with grapes and WINE TASTING written on it hanging from a storefront. “Dad. No more wine tasting. Please!”
8. Delicious lunches and dinners at the Natural Cafe in downtown SLO. Yummy healthy organic food and lots of it!
9. Making the most of the wonderful steam shower and mega tub where we were staying. Bath crayons and glow sticks in the tub made for a very clean little boy and the funnest bath times ever.
10. Oh — and don’t forget kisses. Lots of kisses.

Pretend Trip to Canada

Every year at Tau’s school, the kids take a make believe trip to an exotic destination.

Last year it was Hawaii — this year, Canada.

Vancouver to be specific.

In the middle of Winter. Bring me that Maple Syrup Mai Tai!