The List...

Ginger and I are going to take you on a tour of our magical place...


This is my new favorite spot in the whole wide world...

Time stops, people matter and breezes move softly through trees...


Children suddenly seem a little angelic...

And hot dogs are a gourmet food...


Lots of hot-dogs..

Yum...



10. I had such a good day yesterday that I finally felt inspired to post something OTHER than self loathing misery..plus I'm sure you are all pretty much over my issues.

9. Let's talk a little about my day...started with a visit to the Craven Farm antique tailgate sale, chatted a bit with some pretty dang fabulous peeps..then stopped at a very large garage sale..then had a quick change of plans that resulted in myself and The Dish spending a very enjoyable afternoon at the Georgetown market in Seattle.

8. Georgetown Market..stinking fabulous!!! It was just the little shot in the arm that I needed to pull myself out of suburbia misery..I'm soo heading down there soon for a shoot...ancient buildings, AMAZING architecture, eccentric well dress people, Paris? No SEATTLE!!

7. Zach and I are headed out for a few days to The Coastal Nest in Pacific Beach WA. I will be taking some promo pic's of this lovely little hidden secret. It's been FOREVER since Zach and I had time away just the two of us sans Strehle kiddos..should be very nice!

6. So Zach cleared out this WONDERFUL little spot for us in the back of our property. (Pic's above!) The spot really feels a little bit magic to me. So far we have entertained over a bonfire and had a Strehle weeny roast..I'm in party planning mode now..I'm thinking (due to it's magical quality) a Mid Summer's Night Dream party..Do you think Zach will wear tights??

5. I'm pretty sure I have NEVER laughed as hard as I laughed when my 13 year old Twin B explained to me why he did NOT want to go to the end of the year hot-tub party he was invited to. Something along the lines of "why would I want to get into boiling hot water with a bunch of half naked unclean middle schoolers" I seriously almost wet myself.

4. Very interesting article here... This article makes a girl think.

3. I slept all week..I don't think I realized how sleep deprived I was.

2. Why is it when the sun shines in Washington state people feel the need to go practically naked?

1. Yes I might have to endure half naked people..but hey at least the SUN IS OUT!!

I'm drawing a blank here...

Creatively I'm a neurotic mess.

I feel a little like a junky..going from one creative high to the next..always searching for my next fix..always wondering where or how I will score.

I'm wondering if any other artist feel like this?

After a creative high, I'm constantly searching for that feeling again. Trying to recapture the moment, the thrill. Of course just like any other junky it will never again be as a good as the first time.

So I move to the next endeavor.

But this time I'm having a hard time moving on.

I'm a little fearful I've plateaued. It's not a matter of work. I have lots (yay!). For which of course I'm thankful and grateful for..it's just...

I HAVE TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.

Just like you need to breathe..

I NEED TO BE CHALLENGED...OFTEN.

Mundane does not sit well in my soul and when I feel it creeping in I panic.

So much of this has to do with the age old question of..

Direction

Or rather the lack there of, because really, truthfully..

I have no flipping clue.

Last night I told my husband, "thank you for putting up with me, I know I'm creatively bi-polar and can never sit still for long, our marriage has been a series of grand Amberish ideas and thoughts, all the while you go with me, push me, love me when I'm a mess. Thank You."

He replied, "Your welcome." smiled and walked (umm..quickly) away..cuz he knew that if he bit..I would cry and loath on about inspiration, challenge, blah, blah, vomit at the mouth..he has seen this before.

Oh the nasty cycle!

So let's pretend that I did not just write all that..let's look at pictures of members of the Strehle clan having fun..so much more delightful..no?











Isn't lavender calming?? It's ALL over the place here at Roosevelt House..so when does the calming part happen?


Hope you are enjoying your summer break..
and thank you for putting up with the bi-polar creative in the corner.

The List...Deep thoughts style.

A few pic's from the 2nd Saturday sale..a junkers paradise:)









Sorry for the delay in posting..not only have I been busy, but my mind has been in a bit of a jumble for a few weeks now. Lots of questions running through the noggin, so much so it's hard to sit down and write a post..so here is what you get instead...

10. Why is death a reminder? Why can't we remember to cherish those around us without the sting of death?

9. Why do we rush our children into adulthood, only to be sad about seeing them grow up?

8. Why do we compare ourselves to others when we know God never made two of the same person?

7. Why do we put unrealistic expectations on the important people in our lives, then be so put out when they do not meet those expectations?

6. Why do we believe we actually know any celebrity?

5. Why do we believe we have any right at all to sit in judgement of another human?

4. Why is forgiveness so hard?

3. Why do I question God?

2. Why are women so stinking insecure?

1. Why am I so afraid of failure?

Just asking...

Ahh Farm Chicks...

The first time I went to Farm Chicks I remember feeling like my gf's and I had stumbled upon this amazing sub-culture. It really was simply magical.
Fast forward a few years, while the show itself NEVER disappoints I now go looking for more than just stuff. Like many of us we go to meet new people, maybe a vendor or two that we just might blog stalk. Or maybe a new friend (TWIG!) that we have cyber met and bonded over our love of all things chippy, rusty and crafty. Even more so there are some relationships that you have that only have because of these types of shows..friends that you don't see often enough.

When I called home I told Zach the entire weekend was special to me because of 3 very memorable conversations. So I guess my post Farm Chick high just might be a little bit different from most..but hey..you all know I'M a little bit different that most..no? (ok don't really answer that)

This year I have once again walked away feeling energized and totally inspired. Inspired in my fellow junkers, inspired by the realness, vulnerability, kindness and honesty that at times I crave at such a deep level it almost pains me. I found it again this weekend..and I sure have been looking for a long time.

Thanks to you all and thanks Farm Chicks, you have once again hit your mark.

**Want to see more pic's??? Check out my photog blog here and I also wrote a guest spot for Vintage Indie (that should post today)..go!**

Yes I should be editing photos...

But instead I'm blogging..shhh don't tell my boss.
It will be short..I promise.

It's a little hard to explain the highly overstimulating experience that is the Farm Chicks show.

It really is a little like the Oscars (I mean if I had ever gone and all) except with a lot of rusty stuff.

This show was no different. But for me there was one major difference.

I had a little reminder. It was a good kind of reminder.

Sometimes I forget that people are nice, that really they just might not have an angle or pretense, they are just lovely, creative souls that crave goodness in humankind just as much as I do.

These really are my favorite kind of reminders.

Thank You.

**Lots of pic's and a longer post soon to follow**

Mommy Monday..on Wednesday..shh.

This week for Mommy Monday I’m pretty excited to introduce you to one of my very favorite ladies. Jill has four grown children, Jake, Josh, Jamie and Jeff. Jill and her hubby John are also the very proud grandparents to Nolan and Joey. They are currently enjoying some empty nest time..but it never seems to me like their nest is very empty:)

Jill!! First off I just wanted to say thanks for doing this interview, it is not a secret that you are not a very public kind of lady..so the fact that you responded “Yes!” with no hesitation really means a lot to me.

Glad too! No problem.

I’m smack in the middle of the busy years. We are constantly going, the kids are growing fast, life is not slow. Truthfully some days I LONG for the time when it is just Zach and I..does it really go by as fast as everyone says? And more importantly, here I long for the days of grown children..but are they really easier?

Yes and no. Yes the time really does go by very fast. However, you don't see it until your done navigating through raising your kids. When it's done you suddenly realize how quickly time went by. Sorry it's all hind sight. So, again yes and no. It's easier in that you don't feel responsible for where life takes them or guiding them. However, more difficult in that you cannot control where life takes them and guidance is very limited. You have to allow them to struggle and figure things out much more. The temptation to meddle is at times overwhelming. Unless advice is asked for it's hands off. When things are difficult for them it's truly heart breaking. On the other hand when they overcome and figure things out it's awesome!

You and John have a rock solid marriage. How did you make it work during the busy years?

Prayer and lots of it!! Also, we figured out early on that it was vital we take time for each other even if it was a few moments in a day and remembering we are in this together and each had something valuable to offer. It was important to listen to each other and understand each others struggles with parenting.

How much did your marriage change after the kids left the house?

At first it was really weird. The house was very quiet. We were very quiet. Parenting had defined so much of our marriage that it was like having to redefine what our marriage was about. It wasn't a bad thing just different. We truly have always loved being together so being able to spend more quality and quantity time together has been great. But the same applies that it is still important to listen to each other and understand each others struggles with life. Each of us has something valuable to offer.

I can’t talk to you about being a parent without mentioning prayer. You are a prayer warrior. At what point in parenting did you realize that prayer really does work?

When the kids became teenagers!! Up to that point you have so much more control over things that come up. Then you realize that you have to start letting go a little bit more and suddenly you have to put your faith where you mouth is so to speak. God answered so much prayer.

And what about adversity? It’s not like you raised all four of your children without bumps in the road..or at times more like HUGE boulders in the road..can you give us some advice on navigating the dark times of parenting?

Trust God!!! For us we went through some very dark times indeed. Earth shattering, faith shaking darkness. God saw us through. It wasn't easy and still isn't. Parenting is never easy. But I know now more than I ever that God has a plan for each one of us in this life including our children. Nothing will get in the way of that plan. Not mistakes, doubt, fear or uncertainty. God only asks us to trust Him. So trust Him with everything you have.

What about sending a son and son-in-law off to the war in Iraq simultaneously, not so much adversity but hard none the less.

Wow!! Scary, difficult but proud at the same time. I remember waking up in the middle of the night many times overwhelmed with the need to pray and not knowing why. Having people leave notes on our car thanking us for our kids service to our country because they saw our "proud parent of a soldier" bumper sticker. Getting news our boys where almost killed and their buddies were. Watching them struggle with PTSD(post traumatic stress disorder) and still waiting for Josh to come home for the second time. Keep trusting God!!

Ok happy subject time! Grandkids!! Are you and John soo loving that??

I can't even begin to tell you how much we are loving it!!! They have to be the cutest kids on the planet!!
We heard someone say once "If I knew grand parenting were this much fun, I would have done it first".

How differently do you see parenting now? Is it pretty neat to watch Jamie be a Mother now?

One I thing I realized is you really forget how hard it was to parent. Also, the things you thought were so important at the time really aren't and I wish I could have enjoyed the job more at the time. Jamie is an awesome mom. She makes us so proud. She tries so hard to do well at everything she does. What a girl!!