Refreshing

With all the snow and closed school days behind us, we are focusing on one thing this week, Spring, Summer, and gardening.  Our first step into that glorious manifestation was buying seeds, making plans and dreaming for warm sunshine.   Each year we make changes to the garden layout, decide what we're going to cut out of the plans or add.  This year we're adding more potatoes and have 6 rows already in the ground as of last week when the temps were in the 70's which is unlike this week where we're getting more snow and freezing participation even as I write this.  Such bi-polar weather we're getting this season, which has proven to really reveal and stretch my patience more than I'm willing to admit.  It's times such as these, that with this winter card we have all seemed to have drawn this year, that we grow, mature a little more and reflect that which nature has always been reflecting back to us, that we can be peaceful during a lot of chaos, we can grow during a lot of chaos, and we can have faith in the unknown and trust that all is well, even when it feels the times we're in are so tremultuous.   







So here's to the most sought after change in seasons I've ever experienced.  I honestly can't wait to feel the warmth and sunshine on my face that will stay with us for more than a day or two, and look forward to what's ahead, yet at the same time, trying desperately to enjoy the days we're in.





 

Elise is 8

{Taken at 3:30am Friday night.}

Elise turned 8 on Saturday.  What an exciting day for her.  On the simple side, there was no huge party to host or plan for, but a lot of love was exchanged that day.  Friday night I swooped the kids off to bed a little earlier than usual so I could finish her quilt.  I still had a little machine quilting to finish up and binding to sew on.  Hours later, it was complete around 3am.  Just so happened to be right around the time she was born eight years ago.  How synchronous was that!







She really loved her quilt.  I was so pleased with how it turned out.  It's a pattern that madebyrae published on her blog several years ago using Heather Ross' Far Far Away II fabric line.  It was one of those jaw dropping moments I had when I first eyed it and started making plans right away to make one for Elise, just turns out it took me awhile to get it completed.





So this morning I took it upon myself to take some photos of it on her bed where I think it looks lovely.  I'm sure as soon as she's home from school, it will be pulled off and carried around from room to room as it has been all weekend, it makes such a lovely warm companion.

Now she's got a quilt of her own.  She's such a special, sweet little girl.  Happy Birthday Elise!

sewing again

There is something special about a stack of fat quarters.   The potential; the soft loveliness.  The whole process of washing and ironing before any length is cut.  This is a special set I've been collecting for sometime, they are getting harder and harder to come by.   They are from Heather Ross' Far Far Away II collection.  The hardest to find is my favorite, the blue owl and the moon.  Totally makes the collection in my opinion.  Then there is the gray sleeping beauty, the green Rapunzel.  Hopefully, our little soon to be 8 year old will love them just as much, something tells me she will not be growing out of any fairy tale stories anytime soon.

Hopefully my last minute sewing/quilting will be done in time for her birthday two short days away.  Almost done.

this season

The season is here in our house.  Decorating for Christmas is a magical part of all our lives this season.  As much as I love looking at other's blogs and admiring their houses and their decorations, nothing compares to feeling our home in person.  The added warmth and love that comes with the season that clothes us like an extra layer to what we already "wear" each day is hard to put into words.  It has to be felt.  When the house gets quiet at night for a few short hours before I turn in, I may take a few moments to walk slowly around the tree admiring the memories and anticipating the next few weeks and wonders that will be waiting for us to open next year.

her birthday sweater in december :: Rosie's Thumbelina

This sweater stayed on the needles far longer than I intended.  It was a lovely pattern that I picked sometime earlier this year to knit in time for her 4th birthday as I have done in the years past. (here and here )  The pattern is Thumbelina, from the book More Knitting in the Sun by Kristi Porter.  As it got closer to her birthday in early September, I realized that my goal was not obtainable.  There was just not as much time as I've had in the past to devote to such projects, even when it was crunch time.  I just accepted it and continued to work on it when I could.



When Thanksgiving was approaching I found a little more time and made a new goal to get it completed by then, and I did!  It just wasn't the right weather for this sweater and again I held off giving it to her.





Turns out, today was the perfect day for Rosemary to wear her new sweater.  Who knew that on St. Nicholas' Day, it would be a balmy 65 degrees?  I was so happy to finally see it on her, I am very pleased with how it looks and I love the color of this yarn.

It feels so good to complete something, and to watch her wear and play in the sweater that mama made her.  It was definitely worth the wait.  

Braces and a haircut

Monday was a busy morning.  Lena got her braces put on and Nathaniel got his first haircut.

Both are monumental moments for a mom, and for a preteen, and baby for that matter.  I made her a promise that I'd share with her a picture from when I had braces.  Its pretty cool to see that cycle reoccur within our own family.  All of our kids are growing up.  It's exciting and scary all at the same time. 

We have two in braces now, and probably three to go, its funny how in some things we're not even halfway through yet in some respects, like paying for braces.  One day at a time, that's my mantra. 

I am here to enjoy today.  Kinda like this little guy!

Mending

Today was finally the day that I picked up that heavy torn bed skirt off my bedroom floor that had been lying there for months looking at me every time I came into the room.  It belongs on my oldest daughter's bed, and became torn after many climbs onto the bed by our sweet Rosemary who loves to play on her sister's bed.   Mending is not my favorite way to spend my creative time.  I'll put off sewing a button for months until I can't stand it anymore, or either I'm nagged to death about it - which is the more likely scenario.  I wish I was better at the quick jobs and the long jobs as this one is turning out to be.





Mending doesn't give me as much satisfaction, but it's a functional job isn't it?  So I spend this morning mending and appreciating my decision to get just one more lingering job done around the house today and knowing how much better I'll feel as Lena's bed looks more tidy and my room . . . has one less thing cluttering it up.

There are some jobs that require baby steps . . .