Playtime.

Auntie Jenny hosted a playdate yesterday. Spending time with other Moms and their little chicks makes me feel more normal, and not as crazy as I sometimes feel.
Thanks Jenny.

Lissa and Hudson

This photo says it all. Just a boy and his ball,
wistfully wishing to play outside.
Will, what a charmer. His sweet and loving nature,
his hugs and conversation, those lashes!
Jeni, you are doing an amazing job. He is perfect.

Cousins.
I can't get enough of these boys...

Art, Defined.

By the way...

...if you haven't walked, biked or run the Placerville Walking Trail you are missing out.
The trails were built on the old railroad line.
It is a peaceful and serene stroll with beautiful scenery.
Thanks Shannon, for a great walk yesterday. You are so helpful with the girls!

Eureka!

One of my New Year's goals is to appreciate my hometown more than I have in the past. I know there is treasure in this small town, just as there was during the gold rush. I am determined to find these treasures and in some cases, keep them in business. There is a candy shop in downtown Placerville between the Placerville News Company (operating since 1856 and the fifth oldest business in California) and the Placerville Hardware Store (continuously operating since 1852, the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi).
I took the little girls to Memory Lane Old Tyme Candy yesterday to share with them the complete childish delight of sweets.

I love, love, LOVE all the glass jar candy.

The owner makes the fudge on sight.

If you can't find your favorite childhood candy here, it no longer exists.

Comfort.

Two weeks before my Mom died she took a "Quilt in a Day!" class. She then went to a local quilting store and bought each of her four children fabric for a quilt. The quilts were to be our birthday presents for the upcoming year. Shannon's was all cut out and ready for sewing, a loving and talented friend Bonnie finished hers for her. I kept my fabric these last six years earnestly hoping to finish the project my Mom so lovingly started. Last fall Dee Dee told me about her friend from work who makes amazing quilts, Julianne Keeler. I sent my fabric with Deeds and Julianne finished it in time for Christmas. When Dee Dee/Tim gave it to me, I couldn't help but cry. Savannah said, " Mommy what's wrong? Oh, you miss your Mommy."

Dear Julianne,
You didn't just give me a beautiful quilt.
You gave me the tangible gift of my Mom.
There is a void when you loose someone you love, someone who gave you life. They do not create anymore and their clothes and treasures no longer are worn, used or multiplied.
There is a very limited quantity of "tangible Mom".
There are very few surprises left.
It is knowing this that I have only been able to find her inside me in memories and in love. But you gave me my Mom, in a soft and comforting way. You fulfilled her desire to wrap me in her love. I don't know you well, so I can only imagine that you are a beautiful person to have made and given such a gift of love.
The quilt is perfect. Thank you. I love it to pieces.
Love,
Dusty

Another form of comfort...

The BEST pancake recipe ever!
I add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and substitute 2 Tablespoons of ground Flaxseed for the butter.

And...

Savannah found this at the Thrift Store yesterday. I think she was just as excited to play with this Fisher Price Little People's set as I had been when I played with one back in the 1980's.
$4.50 including the furniture and people.

Snow Bunnies.

Here are photos of our 15 minute frolic in last Friday's snow.

And...
...the best invention ever!

A Change of Scenery.

I woke up to silence this morning which meant two things:

1. The little girls were still sleeping.
2. Overnight, it snowed.

It didn't take long for #1 to unravel but I knew the snow was here to stay for awhile.

Today we will be sledding and playing in the snow.
Undoubtedly the girls will need to go potty as soon as all their snow gear is on.
After that, I'll be baking bread. It's a perfect day to be snowed in.

Speaking of a change of scenery...Thank you Jeni and Will for hosting a fun play date.
You are both sweet as can be.

Compassion.

Savannah asks a lot of tough questions. And so far, there hasn't been one I haven't tried to answer in a way that her 4 year old mind can process. I had no idea I'd be answering the hardest question, "Mommy, how did Huntson get inside Lissa's tummy?" and "how did he come out of Lissa? Through her belly button?", when she was four and based on my answer I'm sure to readdress this question a few years from now. She often asks this one, "Mommy, why did God made us?" or this one, "Mommy why did God make rough boys?".

Last night we were in Midtown, she was very curious about a man in front of us
on the sidewalk seemingly having difficulty zipping up his jacket.
He stumbled a few times and carried on.

Savannah: "Mommy, why does that guy not have a home?"
Me: "A house costs money, and sometimes there are people who have hard times and can't afford to live in a house."
Savannah: "But if he doesn't have a home, he is going to look for a place to live all day and all night and all day again! But if he can't find a home, he will die on the street. Well I hope I don't have to sleep on the street because I will get hit by a car. But I have a nice home. And Angela has a home, and Scott and Erin and Ava have a home, and Shannon Whiknack too. I hope that guy finds a home soon. A real cozy one like mine."

Revenge.

The Injury.

In March of 2003 the whole Sattler family took a roadtrippin' vacation to Mulege, Mexico. On one of our rest stops, I spotted a barrel cactus so round and happy. Feeling inclined to give it a home, I asked my Dad to help me dig it up, place it in a bucket and hide the contraband in a safe place for our return drive over the border.

Through the years my cactus has stayed the same in size, it's spines deepened into a red color and it's presence providing me memories of that last family trip. Little did I know how it might be exacting it's revenge...
On December 27th, I was standing too close to said cactus while putting a sweater over my head. My left hand came down sharply on top of the cactus shoving stinging spines into the tips of my fingers. I removed all the spines save one. Over the last few weeks my finger has continued to fester until this morning when I finally coaxed the lone spine out of it's resting place. Instant relief.
This compels me to write a letter...

Dear Aggravated Barrel Cactus,
Your message came through loud and clear.
I now realize that besides the agricultural reasons why cactus plants should stay across the border, there is also a vengeful understanding amongst captive cacti species that surely the Mexican people and lawmakers understand. I didn't realize the laws of cactus removal and smuggling were in fact for my benefit. I promise you that if I ever go on another road trip to Mulege, I will stop at the Bouldering Rocks and return you to your original home.
That is...if you remain living until then, Bandito!
Very Sincerely,
Dusty

Spine Specimen.

Winter Warmth.

It was a bad storm, but a western wind brought us friendship and warmth in the form of Leilani and Julian. We all snuggled on the couch and watched out the living room window as the bare branches found strength against the cold windy rain. It was the perfect stormy day.

Dear Leilani,
I hope our little ones are friends as long as we have been.
It looks like they are off to a good start.
Thank you for making the trip to see us.
Love,
Mud.

Fickle.

Addie came to stay with us.

She loved the Rody...
She hated the Rody...

She ate the Rody.

Sweet Friends.

This Morning at 6:00...
Tim: "You know what would make this weekend perfect?"
Me: "No."
Tim: "To spend it with Tom and Jen."
Me: "Yeah, it is just so easy to have a great time with them."
Tim: "I miss them."
Tim is a man of few words. But those few words convey truth and deep meaning.
This compels me to write a letter...

Dear Tom and Jen,
We miss you.
We realize now that we took your Seattle days for granted.
If you lived there now,
we'd ask to meet you in Oregon for the weekend.
Love, D & T
P.S. We should arrange for these kids (and us kids) to play together as soon as possible!

In other obvious news, Hudson is yummy-cute! I can't get enough of him.
Yesterday he put a spell on me...and Savannah.

Treasure.

This last Sunday I found this vintage cotton candy pink jewelry box at the
Sacramento Antique Fair.

$5.00

While I was bejeweling it, Savannah took this video.

Proof.

Like I was saying...

A walking-trail date with Antsy Shanzy.

Random Quotes from Savannah...

" I feel like someone is watching me on T.V."

"I found my manners Momma! They were on a trip to Hawaii. And for dessert they played in the kiddie pool all day and all night."

As a side note, I went back to Junior High today-substitute teaching of course. I miss that part of my life sometimes. Remembering what it feels like to be out in the workforce was fulfilling, but I was happy to get home to my little girls and know that I made the right decision for me.
They are so happy and secure, I'm thrilled to put all my energy into my own kids while I can.

Playmates.

Something has shifted in our household. Something magical. I have hoped and prayed this would happen and then come to terms that it might not be, but the little girls are best friends, soul sisters, joined at the hip, partners in crime, a perfect match. Tim and I hoped our children would be close in age, we wanted them to share life closely together. We even gave them the same middle names. And while at first when Ivy was born the depth of difficulty in having two children so close in age almost buried me, it is now all worth it.