We are FoxGlove Gardening, INC !

FoxGlove Gardening Truck and Tools

FoxGlove Gardening Truck and Tools

Over lunch on Aspen Street on April 6, 2016 Joan Abbott of FoxGlove Gardening sold her beloved garden maintenance and landscaping business to Jason and I.  This is a start of a new chapter for us.  We are business owners in Flagstaff, Arizona doing what we are passionate about… gardens, plants, flowers, color, design, the outdoors, beautifying the community, stewarding the land!

Jason and I are co-owners of the company, but I have been trying to think of what my title is beyond that.  Jason is clearly the gardener! and I would like to not be thought of as the bookkeeper, as that will not be my focus this time around.  I am excited about creating the branding and marketing for our new business, providing fine customer service, and ensuring that the company continues to offer exceptional service and high aesthetic quality as it did under Joan.

I love the fleet of toyota trucks with painted tool handles, the FoxGlove name and what it stands for, the magical plant itself, and most importantly appreciate the beautiful gardens that FoxGlove tends around town that are uniquely verdant, vibrant, and thoughtfully designed.  I believe that FoxGlove will be a great launching pad for my creative services and pursuits in the months and years to come.

In the meantime, it is a great honor to work along side Joan Abbott (she will be sharing her knowledge and helping with the transition for the first year) as we learn everything there is to know about this special business that has enriched Flagstaff season to season over the past 37+ years!

Thank you Joan for believing in us and being so patient with the process…

…many thanks go out to our family members, friends & colleagues in Austin, and new found advisors and connections (and now friends!) in Flagstaff!!

FoxGlove in a Garden on Black

FoxGlove in a Garden on Black

‘Inch by inch, row by row, going make this garden grow, all it takes is a rake and how ’till the rain comes tumbin’ down…’

 

The Two Month Mark

Last day in Austin together

Last day in Austin together

Two months ago (01/29/2016) today, a Friday, Jason and I rolled down I-40 West in a 26′ long Penske pulling a U-Haul trailer, arriving in Flagstaff, Arizona at the Little America Truck Stop. Prior to that we packed for days while sharing tears with friends.  Then we bravely  pulled onto 290 West for the long 18 hour drive to Arizona. Leaving an amazing community of friends, a sweet house of 12 years, chickens, majestic Live Oak Trees, dear neighbors, and a spirited city.

Penske Heading to Arizona

Penske Heading to Arizona

Getting a fresh start, setting forth on a new adventure, changing it up… that was the catalyst and that is what we are doing in Northern Arizona.  I have been thinking about the last two months and how it feels a bit like the two month mark with a new baby.  Mama and baby are definitely out and about, feeling sturdy, a little less raw, ready to venture out in the world, reconnect with friends and dig in to resuming a normal life.  ‘Homesick tears’ come and go and there is still the lingering feeling if one will feel ever return to their normal selves.

Paperwhites & Skull on Clawson

Paperwhites & Skull on Clawson

Of course I had a real sense of urgency to create normalcy for the kids and the family  at large by creating a tidy and organized home, happy school situation, and revolving around our Flagstaff family, but it has taken some time and required patience and gentleness with all involved. My family (Dallas, Tucson, Flagstaff)  and friends’ (Austin & Flagstaff) support has been infused with such energy and love along the way it still brings me to spontaneous tears just thinking about all that they have done for us.

Hearth and Home on Terrace

Hearth and Home on Terrace

We now have  the amazing fortune to be embraced by the neat folks up at NACET and their extended network of Local First Arizona & Womens Innovation Network of Flagstaff.  I need to take this opportunity to thank Heather Malloy for being a guardian angel and connecting Jason and I to some key people that have really made our transition to Flagstaff in the  professional realm dynamic.  These folks have made a big difference in our confidence and sense of empowerment with the business ventures we are undertaking.

Library of Dreams & Ideas

Library of Dreams & Ideas

Annie’s Omnium has come home to roost!  Stay tuned for more posts and announcements about upcoming services (Fresh Configurations), events (Business grand openings), and daily observations (Instagram)!

Coming Together for the Elkhorn Ranch

Elkhorn Ranch, Tucson shirt design by Sarah Presson and Annie Taylor for Eye Like Design

Elkhorn Ranch 2015 shirt design.

I always think about the Elkhorn Ranch in Tucson  this time of year.  Growing up it was a family tradition to spend our Thanksgivings there and connect with relatives and dear friends.  It continues to be a place to be with family, as my sister and her husband Charley Miller own and operate the Elkhorn.

The above art work started a year ago, when Mary gave me a collection of brands that the ranch has been gathering for a few generations.  Families that have become part of the Elkhorn Ranch community are encouraged to create a brand of their own. Last year I re-drew the brands and  Jenna Foster, a talented artist and designer in Austin cleverly put all the brands (over a hundred I would say) into a repeat pattern for new table runners (printed by Spoon Flower).  My mom,  Nancy Taylor cut and hemmed them for new table runners just in time for last year’s holiday feast!  Fast forward 12 months and this time Sarah Presson of Eye Like Design selected a few brands to make this cheerful new t-shirt design that will be hitting the Elkhorn Shop shelves by Christmas!

Just another example of how fun and dynamic it is to collaborate with others.

 

Mr. Gabe

IMG_0552 IMG_0639

Today is Mr. Gabe’s Birthday.  Who is Mr. Gabe?  Mr. Gabe has been a prominent figure in both of my boys life since they were babies.  He turned 41 today and has dedicated his career to teaching pre-schoolers.  Mr. Gabe has been a friend to our family over the years and we have enjoyed a family friendship with him as well.  Oliver had the great fortune to study under Mr. Gabe at Athena Montessori Academy down the street from our house for 3 years.  This was a formidable chapter in Oliver’s life~ being exposed to social dynamics, reading, writing, staying still in circle time, singing, and of course all the tactile montessori basics.  While Oliver was at Athena as a kindergartner, his little brother Theodore was born.  Going to and from school twice a day, Theo grew up seeing Mr. Gabe day in and day out.  With great pleasure Theo was part of the original crew of kids to attend Homegrown, Gabe and his wife Cristen‘s home based Montessori school in South Austin.  It has been a real pleasure seeing how Gabe has embraced designing his own, intimate school.  He and the children have grown and developed together, he following their lead and they following his.  Balance Bike rides through the neighborhood, song, campfires during the winter, and fixing things, healthy meals, cozy naps, and wild animals (box turtle, porcupine, hawk, lizard, snake, banana spider) passing through are all part of a day at Homegrown.  Gabe wears many hats… today a birthday hat! but other times it is a classic fedora on the stage singing his heart out with his band Lost Soul Review… anyway, what a gift it has been for our family and our boys to have him in their lives.  Oh! man! I totally didn’t even mention Boys Camp and the urban adventures that take place with a pack of 6-12 year olds in the heat of Austin summer!  Well, the list goes on!  Thanks Gabe for all that you do for our community~ you are always there for the kids in a gentle, humorous, loving way… and we celebrate that so!  Happy Birthday Friend!

 

Amelia

My friend Amelia turned seven on June 23rd, 2013.  I vividly remember my seventh birthday and receiving a beautiful doll named Amy along with a collection of ‘doll clothes’ that once belonged to me (and my sister), probably about 6 months size, laundered and pressed (by my amazing Mom) in a sweet and sturdy basket with a pink baby blanket.  I so cherished this gift and played and played with Amy and adored putting her in the little smocked dresses!  My friend Amelia wears sweet frocks, has long golden hair and sparkly brown eyes. I admire how curious, capable, and strong Amelia is… she loves to try new things and approaches what ever it is with grace, style, and a joyful spirit!
student

swimmer

equestrian

gymnast

dancer

crafter, stitcher, and sewer

artist

sweet friend
(especially to baby theodore)

…thank you Amelia for your friendship~
Happy BIRTHDAY!

Feast for Love

Our dear friend Heather Love was in a terrible accident this spring.  A group of friends are having a fund raiser to money for her rehabilitation and on going needs.  I created the artwork for this poster~ The original is about 12″x18″ and is a paper collage.

Baking Bread- bunnies, robots, and the sun

a bunny bread at easter time!

a robot bread for Ollie’s 4th birthday!
…and a Sun Bread as instructed in the recipe…

BAKING BREAD~ SUN BREAD!

My good friends know that I am not the most talented cook in the kitchen! but I am trying to be better about that. I suppose I enjoy baking, in that most often one is required to follow a recipe, thus less room for error! Ollie’s school puts out an annual cook book and I decided to share this recipe and while I was at it I decided to post it on Annie’s OMNIUM.
The recipe is taken from Elisa Kleven’s beautifully illustrated children’s book SUN BREAD. I recommend that you buy the book and enjoy it with your little ones and have fun making this bread with them.
SUN BREAD
1. Mix well: 3 eggs 3 tablespoons sugar (annie’s note: you can also add some citrus zest for added flavor)
2. Combine: 2 cups sifted all-purpose flour 1 stick butter, melted
3. Add the egg mixture to the flour mixture and beat well.
4. In a small bowl combine: 2 packages active dry yeast 3 tablespoons milk Let stand until mixture is foamy, at least 5 minutes. (annie’s note: I also found following the instructions on the yeast packet helpful)
5. Add the yeast mixture to the batter and stir. Knead dough on greased, floured surface for 8 to 10 minutes.
6. Place dough in greased bowl, cover with a cloth, and let rise in a warm place for about an hour (until doubled in size).
7. Punch down dough, knead for a few minutes, then separate into two portions.
8. To form the sun’s face, shape one portion of dough into a round, somewhat flattened ball, then place on a large greased baking sheet. With the greased end of a wooden spoon, or with your finger, punch two ‘eyes’ in the sun; draw a mouth for your sun in the same way. (Make sure you make deep lines and holes in the dough so they won’t close up while the bread bakes.) Make a nose for your sun by securely attaching a small ball of dough to its face. (annie’s note: you can also use currents or raisins for face or other features.)
9. To make a corona for your sun, roll one half of the remainder of the dough into four or five long ‘snakes’. Then curl the snakes into puffy ‘snail’ shapes. Shape the rest of the dough into puffy triangles. Firmly attach the snails and triangles to your sun’s face. (Use a little water if the dough is too dry.)
10. Cover the sun and let it rise again in a warm place for about an hour.
11. Preheat oven to 400*F. Bake the sun bread for about 20 minutes. Test for doneness by inserting a toothpick into center of bread. (It should come out clean.)
12. Enjoy! Your sun bread is delicious plain or with butter, honey, or jam.
…again! check out Elisa Kleven’s books… they are all wonderful!

Tea Rose & Eggs

Feeling lucky to have a husband who is a gardener! Feeling lucky to have chickens in the backyard! Our family owned business JBIRD & COMPANY offers a variety of services… design, construction, maintenance. Installing vegetable gardens, planting fruit trees, building chicken coops, and helping people have an urban farm~ no matter how small… in their backyard (or front yard) are some of the services that we provide. Stay tuned for a new and improved www site for JBIRD & COMPANY with lovely photographs by our talented friend Jody Horton.