mamaAyanna

Gold

Has it really been this long? Over a month since my last post?  "Oh, dear!" Ayanna would say.

It has been a hectic, busy month and yet a beautiful and most precious month.

Both my parents have stayed and helped us out tremendously. After my father left, my mom stayed another two weeks. She helped us transition more smoothly into life with now two children (A big blessing, a huge responsibility.)

My mom worked so hard to give us as much rest and energy as she could possibly give us by taking away daily duties. SWEET sweet mama.

 

 

Fall, my favorite season.

The time of the year that inspires me,

makes me long for creative days,

has almost passed by without me noticing much of it.

My eyes were on my newborn mainly or closed trying to catch up on sleep.

But now my mom has left and I am some days on my own with both children.

I saw the golden leaves outside and realized my mom was GOLD for us as well.

 

 

 

Today my GOLDEN mama (our kids GOLDEN oma) turns 65! We are not there with her to celebrate, but will think of her throughout the day.

Mama, this fall inspired post is for you. You love flowers and outdoors, you love gold and photography.

Happy happy happy birthday filled with love and loved ones....

miss you

aFRIca FRIday 3

 
~These are all East African baskets/ dishes that are hanging on our kitchen wall~(except for the little one found at a local thrift shop)

Finally I scheduled some time for Africa friday again.

I love LOVE african baskets of any sort. They weave amazing baskets there that are very inspirational.

We have brought many back with us already. Most have been given away, but some stayed and are hanging on walls or are brightening up cupboards. Ayanna plays with them and some hold her toys.

Recently I found this website all about African Baskets. Looking through their website I decided I would not mind buying a few more!! My favorite there are the Ghana Bolga Market baskets,

they are cheerful and just seem super handy. It would take me forever to choose out of all these beauties.

What makes all these baskets so special is the fact that they are unique, handmade. They re-use old rice bags, packaging material, grass, plastic bags and more.

They RECYCLE! 

It shows the creativity of the people, the love color and shape.

(the above four pictures found in a Happinez magazine)  

(above photo found at create for a cause)  

My very personal favorite in our home is the Iringa basket. We bought it on the market in Kigoma, where one lady (Monica) now started a small store with handmade things. A very smart woman, as the town of Kigoma Tanzania has many expats coming in and out who like to buy some kind of souvenir.

The Iringa basket seems very durable and are almost foldable. Made out of milulu grass and natural dye. Iringa is a city about 300 miles from Dar es Salaam, home to the hehe people and near Ruaha national Park. To be honest I was very shocked to see for how much their baskets sell in shops online and in stores. They were ones featured in american vogue magazine and I guess became a "wanted item." I for sure would try and buy these fair trade  if not local, so that the money will go back to the artist/community. 

I could go on and on about the beauty of the baskets...

 

rustic little garden

Everyone has been working hard to make our outside a place to play, sit, live and enjoy...

Even Ayanna...

It is still in work in progress. We are fencing some, seeding, weeding and planting, but...

it is becoming a rustic peaceful place to rest...

On internet we see so many inspiring outside places. From rustic, patio gardens (GROW plants GROW!!), beloved african style (working on our outside here made us dream and think of one day working on an outside in Africa), safari at night  to spanish gardens. 

We are SO excited about our outside living extension, let the summer begin!!

  
  

blogging

 

 December 9 Challenge Something that really made you grow this year. That made you go to your edge and then some. What made it the best challenge of the year for you?  (The best of 2009 blog challenge)

If you would have asked me in 2007 it would have been emigrating to the USA, in 2008 it would have been adjusting to life in the USA and being a new mom.

But this year? I think it has been starting to blog. Where had I been? I did hardly know about blogging. It was a big challenge to start and figure out, it took courage, it was scary to write and make that writing go public. Yet, it has been three and a half months now and I love it. It has made me appreciate many little things that went unnoticed, it helps spark creativity and keeps me focused. Besides that I have found many inspiring souls out there and am amazed and surprised daily. I wish I did start blogging earlier, it would have helped me adjust more quickly to new life, I am pretty sure!

The image in my last post and the one down here would not have been captured if I was not blogging. I would have definately seen the image, been inspired by it, but would have most likely let the moment pass, thinking I would just remember

But now I can not only share it, I get to go back an see what inspired me days and weeks ago.