Elisa Loves

Nature Walk

2012-05-25T05:00:00.000-05:00

After a long day, I steal a few minutes outside with my camera. All alone. Even though I don't live in a cabin in the woods on a lake, I can find peace in nature right here, in the middle of the city, in the neighborhood, in the garden, barefoot on the grass, among the daisies and the bumblebees. I love the colors this time of year. Where have you found beauty in nature? If you'd like to...

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My New Little Curtains

2012-05-24T09:21:00.001-05:00

I live in a basement this year. My room has two little windows that let in an amazing amount of light during the daytime. I wanted to hang some curtains, just for decoration. I found this pretty fabric. I bought some extra to make some pillow covers that have a fold in the back, like these. I haven't gotten around to those yet though. These curtains took me forever to make. Mainly because I spent...

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Cherry Pickin' Time

2012-05-22T21:21:00.000-05:00

Actually, it's more like "cherry eatin' time". We didn't pick too many today. My parents have this adorable little cherry tree out front. The cherries are a bit tart, but they are still good. You gotta be quick, or the birds will get them first. The boys and I had a fun time trying to get some good ones. It's too bad that tree is so small. The branches are too thin to climb, and the good branches...

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Inspirational Doodles

2012-05-22T08:45:00.000-05:00

**Ok, sorry for the changes, but I've moved the Nature Walk link up to Fridays. There are just too many other great link ups on Thursdays, especially the sewing one that I really want to join this week. =) I've also added a Nature Walk page in the hopes of keeping my blog somewhat organized.** So, back to the regular program...I bet you are so tired of hearing me go and on about Matthew...

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A Tour of Boys Town Village in Omaha

2012-05-21T09:26:00.000-05:00

We visited Boys Town Village on Ascension Thursday. When I was in grade school, we drove past Boys Town every day, to get to our school. I even had a track meet there once. Then, when I became Catholic, I'd attend Mass every now and then at the beautiful chapel. I had never studied the life of Fr. Flanagan, and knew little about him. I'm so happy I went on this tour, because Fr. Flanagan was an...

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Nature Walk Garden Party

2012-05-17T04:04:00.000-05:00

After a long day, I steal a few minutes outside with my camera. All alone. Even though I don't live in a cabin in the woods on a lake, I can find peace in nature right here, in the middle of the city, in the neighborhood, in the garden, barefoot on the grass, among the daisies and the bumblebees. Time for another Nature Walk! Yay! I have been looking forward to this blog post all week and it's...

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Weekending And Thoughts on Things

2012-05-14T22:03:00.001-05:00

A few random notes about the weekend, shared with Amanda, at Habit of Being. ~Been craving more veggies lately. A salad on Saturday. On Sunday, grilled veggies and other delicious things, made with love, by my world-traveling chef bros who are back in the country. It's good to be with family. And I love it when people feed me. ~Had root beer floats today. ~Discovered a new (old) ice...

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How to Use and Stuff the Tinkle Time Trainer Cloth Pull Up

2012-05-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

I wanted to take some time to show you how I stuff my Tinkle Time Trainers (TTTs). Long ago, I searched high and low for a cloth pull up. I found this one, by Ladder Hill Designs, and instead of buying one, I thought I'd sew my own. I did alright, but I had some trouble with leaks. I sewed the pull up without a serger, and it was a bit of pain, although I must say, if you have a serger, even if...

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The Very First Nature Walk Garden Party

2012-05-10T01:17:00.001-05:00

After a long day, I steal a few minutes outside with my camera. All alone. Even though I don't live in a cabin in the woods on a lake, I can find peace in nature right here, in the middle of the city, in the neighborhood, in the garden, barefoot on the grass, among the daisies and the bumblebees. Yay! Time for our very first Nature Walk "Garden Party". Take a stroll with me around the...

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Save the Date this Thursday: A Garden Party of Sorts

2012-05-08T00:05:00.000-05:00

Okay, it's official. I'm hosting a garden party this every Thursday FRIDAY, right here, on Elisa Loves. I am so addicted to taking pictures of the wonderful flowers, plants, and fruits, unfurling all around this magical garden that the loving hands of my parents have tended over the years. I love watching everything come to life. It is not so much an addiction, as it is...

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Omaha Farmer's Market

2012-05-06T14:59:00.001-05:00

Today was opening day of the Omaha Farmer's Market. I adore farmer's markets. I have been to the ones in Monterey, CA, Rochester, NY, Austin, TX, and Madrid, Spain. El Rastro, how I miss you. That one is my favorite, but to be fair, it isn't really a farmer's market, more like an awesome-homemade-artisan-things-market. The Monterey comes in as a close second, mostly because they have...

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Nature Walk

2012-05-03T15:29:00.000-05:00

Hey! Another stroll around the house. I never tire of these. How would you all like to join me if I post a Nature Walk link up next Thursday? I'd love to see what you are discovering on your walks around the garden, the park, the woods. Something I long for, once we are out of the military: a garden. It doesn't become a masterpiece in two springs. I cannot wait to have my very own, permanent,...

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We Are All Called to Be Holy

2012-05-02T11:32:00.002-05:00

Good morning, friends. I just wanted to thank you all for your words of encouragement last week. You lifted my spirits so much. I feel like I have given myself permission to acknowledge the situation, accept it, and move on, and perhaps, even grow through it. I've been reading a lot this past week. Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly. It should really be entitled Guide to Happiness...

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I Can't Fix It

2012-04-25T23:37:00.000-05:00

Today was a bad day. I knew it was going to be bad. I tried to avoid it. I tried to fix the day, to take it easy, to make it a good day. But it doesn't matter. No matter what I try to do, I can't fix it. No matter how many new toys I buy the kids, no matter how many fun places we visit, no matter how many sports the kids are enrolled in, no matter how many other distractions I come...

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Spring Vegetable Transplanting

2012-04-24T23:02:00.000-05:00

Remember those little seeds I planted in March? They are still alive! Most of them, anyways. I've just been mostly neglecting them, while they sit in the sun room. Occasionally, I'd remember, all of a sudden, to water the little things. I think my mother has been watering them too. Today was a warm day, and I transplanted the tomatoes, basil, rosemary, and thyme to larger containers, which will...

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Food, Fun, & Flowers

2012-04-22T22:40:00.002-05:00

Hey People! Just in case you were wondering...yes, I'm still alive. No, I'm not super depressed or anything and I haven't had bad headaches. I have just been...slightly distracted. My husband read the Hunger Games trilogy over in Afghanistan. Somebody's wife sent book one and before you knew it, the book was making the rounds and they were all reading it, along with all the sequels. This is quite...

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Painting

2012-04-13T16:24:00.000-05:00

See that pretty painting? It is a mural done at a 4-H campgrounds. It is about three feet tall and maybe six feet long. I made it more than a decade ago, with the help of my Starry Night print. I have never taken a painting class in my life. But I really want to now. I'm a little conflicted about it though. On one hand, I want to learn the correct techniques to paint, and on the other hand, I...

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Kid Quotes

2012-04-12T07:30:00.000-05:00

Sometime they make me laugh. Sometimes they make me cry. Either way, I know I'll forget these moments if I don't write them down. ~ February ~ Luke has been carrying around my old backpack. It goes down to the bottom of the back of his knees. He came into the room and almost fell over backwards. Mommy: "Whoa, Lukey! What do you have all there in your backpack?" Luke:...

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Easter Egg Hunt

2012-04-11T09:21:00.001-05:00

I actually cancelled Easter egg hunt on Sunday. They were that bad in Mass. Hard core, I know, but I said I would if they weren't good in Mass, so they made me. It is still Easter, so we had it yesterday. Isaiah and Luke went searching first because Jacob was still napping. Then Jacob went searching later. I color code their eggs so they don't pick up ones that are for someone else....

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Garden Walk

2012-04-10T14:51:00.000-05:00

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Baby Art

2012-04-09T11:36:00.000-05:00

This past Thursday afternoon the boys left he art easel out back. Little Jacob discovered it. He was so proud of himself. He started painting. Mostly with water. I just loved watching his expressions as he played with the paintbrushes, the jars, and the water. Yes, I let my baby play with glass jars. They are old, thick, jam jars. He never dropped them once. I put this navy...

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He's Alive!

2012-04-08T14:21:00.001-05:00

I grew up listening to this song on tape, and when I heard the gospel in Mass today I had to listen to it again. You have to listen to the end. You'll love it. "He's Alive" by Don Francisco.

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Good Friday

2012-04-06T23:00:00.000-05:00

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Under the Sea

2012-04-05T13:52:00.000-05:00

I could stare at these colors all day long. Upside down jellyfish.

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Reading

2012-04-04T21:37:00.000-05:00

Spiritual Reading: So, I wanted to fill you in on what I've been reading lately. I just finished Our Lady of Kibeho on the Kindle. I really enjoyed it. I will, however, not be reading Immaculee's first book, Left to Tell. I only watched a short interview of her experience of hiding for her life, and I had nightmares about it. I didn't even see any bad images, my...

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