5 + 2 does not equal 7

Combo spring birthday party!

It's birthday season again. My little lady, who has gotten quite serious lately, turned 5 in March and my little man, who is goofier by the minute, turns 2 tomorrow. It's been quite fabulous really. They play so much together and I love hearing them giggle together while I do chores around the house. They are both taking gymnastics at the same time, separate classes, and it's so sweet when Max looks over the mini wall to watch his sister or escapes his lesson to join his sister's class. Max will ask me after crawling into bed with me in the morning: "Sissy wake?" When Maggie wakes up, Max crawls in with her and they hug.

Max loves his summer flip flops and doesn't want to wear shoes and socks anymore. He calls them "flop flops" or something similar. His vocabulary is exploding and he's saying 2 or 3 word sentences. He is now sleeping in his big boy bed and it took about a week to train him (although recent nights haven't been so easy and he's wanting out or waking up in the middle of the night). He calls out lawn mowers (his favorite), buses, and choo-choo's on the road. He has been telling us thank you for the funniest things, like changing his diaper. And speaking of, he's using his potty more and more!

Maggie is completely infatuated with the movie Frozen and Elsa, the magical sister. She belts out the songs constantly. For Maggie's birthday, I took the kids on a spur of the moment trip to the beach in San Francisco. We enjoyed beach time, the spa, and riding the train through the city. I've also started a special present theme for her that I will continue as she gets older. I gave her an antique tea cup that she can use with supervision but it's something I want to collect and save for her once she's older and on her own. We've christened it with hot cocoa :-) One day she'll have quite the eclectic collection of little tea cups and it's something we can share over the years.

I'm 5!

How old are you? Five (said perfectly)
Who do you like to play with most? Kellen and Kelsey and all my friends at daycare
What is your favorite toy? Ede (sea turtle named after her cousin) and Howie (her little dog that goes everywhere with her) and Snowball (little white rabbit)
Where is your favorite place to go? Lita's zoo (the Sacramento Zoo which her grandma takes her to often)
Why? Because I like the animal hospital and I see "Doc" there (she makes sure I know she means          pretend)
Are you happy to have a brother? Kind of
What is your favorite show? Octonauts and Stella & Sam (and then lists other shows like Caillou, Doc McStuffins, and Frozen)
What do you like to wear most? Dresses and flip-flops
What is your favorite color? Pink and purple and red and turquoise and light blue...
What is your favorite song? Taylor Swift songs, Frozen songs, Tangled songs...
What is your favorite food? Grains and star or princess soup
What is your favorite animal? Turtle
What is your favorite book? Frozen
What is your favorite craft? Coloring ("in the lines" she adds - first child syndrome :-)

I'm 2! (I hadn't really planned asking him questions but he saw Maggie being asked and was giving me his answers too)

How old are you? One (said in his learning-to-talk voice)
Who do you like to play with most? Me
What is your favorite toy? "raarh"
Are you happy to have a sissy? (nodded yes)
What is your favorite show? na-nauts (after Maggie said it)
What do you like to wear most? Flop flops
What is your favorite color? (sounded like "black")
What is your favorite song? "oo-oo-ah-ah" (Matilda the Gorilla)
What is your favorite food? milky

On the Muni in San Francisco on Maggie's birthday

Holiday ramble

A lot has come and gone and I keep thinking "I need to write that down". Maggie's comments have been great lately, I want to bottle it all up. Oh wait, here's one:

I am fond of the old Rudolph animated movie and bought it last year to show to Maggie (she was 2). When the scene with the abominable snowman came on, it was too scary for her so we turned it off. This year, we tried it again. I built it up and she was back and forth about it. During a moment where she was for it, we turned it on. During the elf/misfit scene, I walk out of the room for a second and I hear wierd crying so I run back to see what was up and she was really crying, saying she'd seen a "claw!". I guess that was enough for her. She told me this week that we can watch it on Christmas day. Why? Because she'll be big enough then. LOL.

I discovered 4 new teeth popping through on Max Thanksgiving day. That makes 8 teeth on an 8 month old boy (as of tomorrow). He is now crawling, not just scooting everywhere and he likes to stand up holding onto things. Have I said how much he likes paper? He's like a goat. Present opening with him should be fun.

I am very much in the Christmas spirit. I've made my list of fun holiday things to do and I'm crossing them off one by one. Last weekend, when I started writing this post, we had crazy winter weather, we decorated our Charlie Brown tree (truly intentional this time), went to a Christmas party and birthday party, and I made some pumpkin bread and butternut squash soup with Christmas music playing in the background. Maggie watched the Caillou holiday movie and immediately asked for hot chocolate. I searched the cabinet and instead made her atole de pinole (like hot chocolate kind of but made with corn flour). It was "yummy mommy" until it tipped and spilled everywhere. This is our life. Something like that happens most days around here, I'm not sure we can escape it with 2 little ones running around.

I am in need of planning our next family getaway. The snow is calling me...but so is the wintery beach and family.

On my list for this month is taking Maggie to her first Nutcracker ballet! We both can't wait. She plans to wear her flower girl dress that she wore last month to a wedding. It's cleaned and ready for it's 2nd appearance :-)

{Christmas Holiday Fun Short List}

Nutcracker with the girls
Caroling
Have fun with Maggie's daily advent calendar
Listen to lots of Christmas music until we can't stand it anymore
Drink hot chocolate/warm drinks
Make a gingerbread house with Maggie
Watch the Dr. Seuss's Grinch cartoon
Make or get Maggie a scarf
Make cinnamon rolls
Have Maggie write her wish list to Santa
Pictures with Santa
Go ornament shopping
Get a couple new stockings
Go ice skating
Make holiday crafts

Two nights ago, I put Max to bed early and Maggie and I bundled up in her princess tent and read books, drank egg nog, and ate truffles with flashlights and candles until we fell asleep. She liked it so much she did it again last night. Creating good memories (especially for hubby when he sees me scrunched up in the tent) :-)

Two foot pig

Excuse the preggo top, it was hot during our backyard picnic!

I'd like to say it's new baby week but since that hasn't happened yet, it's Easter week. I'm loving the occasional rain and green everywhere. The spring garden is started and we're getting more plants for our front yard. Maggie loves to help garden so for Easter, since it's been back in the recesses of my mind until a few days ago, Maggie is going to enjoy some new gardening supplies with just a smidge of candy (jelly beans and a cadbury egg) in her Easter basket the morning of. She did all things Easter at her daycare this week and yesterday we hammered out the egg hunt with our mommy's group as I waddled around after her.

For the past few days, I've had small bouts of contractions/cramping but no real labor yet. I can't complain but I am getting anxious. This time off being home and free to do what I want has been amazing and I just keep checking things off the the big to-do list. I know all of our family and friends are so excited to meet the new baby, but he still seems snuggly in there despite all the rolling around and hiccupping. I don't think I have any more room in there though and I'm feeling pretty big and have quite the appetite when not feeling nauseous.


I finished Maggie's pig and while he is dang cute, I noticed as I was sewing his eyes on that I made a mistake. He's got two feet, not four! The instructions were vague and even though they said sew the legs up individually, I just proceeded on. To my 3-year old, she doesn't know the difference. All that matters, and it makes my heart sing, is that she loves her piggy and tells everyone that I made it for her. So two legs it is because for the life of me I can't find the end of the yarn to re-do them.

One Down...

I finished a knitting project! Now I need a tiny head to put it on. This little hat is called the tri-peak and I made it with Brooks Farm Four Play (50% wool/50% silk). Pretty soft and I like the variegated striping.

Just participated in a Busy Bag Swap with my mom's group and I now have 13 different busy bags for Maggie to enjoy and learn from. I might pull one or two out now, but the majority I'm saving for those moments after the birth when I really need them (I hear nursing and keeping a preschooler busy at the same time can be challenging).

Time

Maternity leave is a wonderful thing. Who doesn't like being paid to be home catching up on things, relaxing, knitting, and being with your family? This week I found a lilac for our front yard, which completes an area we planted last year, I got a snowcone on a warm afternoon with vanilla ice cream inside, hubby got me two more containers of rice pudding before they went off sale :-), I took my first epsom salt bath after a long day on my feet which gave me such soft skin and not so sore feet anymore, and I FINALLY ordered prints for our walls that was long overdue (including the bath photo idea Pat-you rock!).

Something about Maggie turning 3 last week and seeing a flyer for the Lorax at the library got me thinking that Maggie was probably ready to see a movie in the theater like a big girl. The result was a certified girl's night out with my sister and cousin Eden. Maggie went complete with new purse and lip gloss. We ate good thai food and enjoyed $5 movie night. The movie was a bit ridiculous and a little odd the way it was made (I'm not the biggest fan of new animation) but the message to not cut down all the trees in the land and be nice to animals seemed to cancel out the couple "scary" parts that were a little much for both girls. I had to hold down Maggie's seat the entire show so that it didn't fold her up like a taco.

I'm feeling creative and peaceful right now. Almost done knitting this hat for the baby and Maggie has requested this pig.

In need of good books

I love to read and my stack of yet-to-read books has left me uninspired. I was reading Raffi's biography which was an unexpected one to find (Raffi is a popular children's singer that generations have loved) but it was fizzling out toward the end and is still sitting on my nightstand. I enjoyed some of his insights, history about his Armenian background, and how he came to working with children, especially since he has no children of his own, but his lengthy commentary on environmentalism was a bit much. So then I picked up The Lace Reader but it's not hitting the spot. The Help is ready for pickup at the library and I've heard this is a good one. I saw the movie trailer and it looks like an inspiring yet sad story.

Recommendations for fall reading? Leave me a comment.

I spent time yesterday uncovering old knitting projects and organizing my craft area as part of re-organizing Maggie's room to make it more toddler-friendly and not just geared toward being a baby. I got my sewing repairs done and now I should tackle my gone-by-the-wayside craft projects before I start anything new.

Beach crafting

During our May vacation, I played around with my jewelry-making stash with my friend Erin, who took up making jewelry a few years prior when we were hanging at her beachhouse. I collect things here and there for my stash but don't make much in the end :-) Erin quickly surpassed me in this area and has a huge stash and lots of homemade jewelry. She can really pump out some cool pieces fast.

Anyways, this time around, I stuck with it and made myself a matching necklace and earrings from beads in my stash with a little piecing help from Erin. I also made a stretchy necklace for Maggie and she helped by yielding some of the tools. Her necklace is on a lightweight stretchy string and I used jewelry glue to secure the knot in place. This is a fun and easy craft to do with kids. There was no rhyme or reason to my bead selection. I just wanted Maggie's necklace to be fun with bright colors and chunky beads. 

Now for more crafting this summer. It feels like it is flying by.

10

Haven't sat down in awhile to post, but I've had a lot on my mind...

1) I've been spending some really good quality time with my family and trying to keep my schedule in check. Sleeping as much as I can since Maggie waking up at 4 am the past few weeks has made me a little more tired than usual.

2) I'm starting a few knitting projects and am looking forward to getting together with friends this weekend to re-create a retreat that we all once attended pre-kids :-) Now, mind-boggingly, between the 3 of us we have 5 kids in the matter of 3 years.

3) Cooking lots, trying new recipes. Will post about my new favorite cookie recipe soon.

4) Won a blog contest from one of my favorite bloggers! She is an inspiration to me and scrapbooks a lot (among so many other things). I've done a little scrapbooking, around the time of my wedding, but hopefully this will inspire me to do more or use the materials in a creative way.

5) Wanting to enter more contests/giveaways. Entered one a few weeks ago and have one ready to enter. I have a thing for these (and game shows where I can watch people win). Winning always helps motivate me!

6) Wanting to plan my 2011 vacation (or weekend getaway) to start, but not sure where that will be yet.

7) Entering a busy birthday season. 6 family members within weeks of eachother, all local, and friends to boot. Gonna be busy and in the middle of it I'm throwing Maggie a birthday party.

8) Tasted really good vegan Indian food. Didn't know it existed until last night. I'm always inspired by my sister, taking so many fun things away from the times I spend with her. What always suprises me is that she doesn't see how awesome she is!

9) Need to get out in my garden and do some tidying up and prepping for spring.

10) 3 craft goals that I want to accomplish this year: finish painting and hang my belly cast for Maggie; take a quilting class, and try embroidery.

Humbled Domestic Artist

Started reading my new book The Gentle Art of Domesticity: Stitching, Baking, Nature, Art & The Comforts of Home. Very good read, I feel inspired and would recommend this book to all my creative friends and family. The author writes in such a way to where I totally relate. I understand how she feels about being a modern women with domestic aspirations. She's a wife and mother and I feel grateful to read her thoughts about being creative while being a parent, especially because I'm in a stage where all of my creativity is going into my family, not into myself, and she writes about this happenening to her. Thank you to my mother in law who asked me before Christmas what I wanted. This is a book I've been eyeing for awhile but not something I could justify buying just for fun.

Ok, I can't believe I'm writing this but when I voiced this to friends last week and rehashed it with Michael (to reiterate that I was so sorry), now I want to share it here not only for a good laugh but so I can learn from my mistakes. Learning from my mistakes - added to my short list of 2011 New Year's resolutions.

Hubby and I decided to do only stockings as gifts to eachother this year. Throughout December, I would be shopping and pick up something fun and small for myself and tell Michael it was for my stocking (thinking this would help him along). Stockings have always been a big deal to me as my mom made them special each year for my sister and I growing up and she stuffed ours full with fun personalized gifts. I expected Michael to pick up where she left off once we started spending the holidays together but it's taken a few years to get there :-)

On Christmas Eve I stuffed Maggie and Michael's stockings and laid them near the fireplace. I went to bed and Michael stayed up. The next morning I made my way to the fireplace with tunnel vision. I was shocked to see only the two stockings I'd laid out the night before and no other. I also saw the three gifts I'd bought for myself still sitting on the table untouched. I felt heartbroken in the moment. I made up that Michael hadn't filled my stocking yet and that he missed the point after I had stressed how important this was to me. In a quick fit of anger, I picked up my gifts and threw them on the floor, the candy cane shattering. I said some words in anger, all the while Michael is standing behind me witnessing this. It's quiet for a moment and then he calmly tells me "Marin, your stocking is under the Christmas tree." I haven't felt like such a fool in a long time. I composed myself and went to the Christmas tree where Maggie and Michael were. Michael was the best husband I could have asked for in that moment. Turns out, my stocking was full of the best goodies - so heartfelt and personalized, it made me want to cry.

Michael is so patient with me. Lord only knows what he was thinking when I threw the fit (actually, he did mention later that his thought was to go on a bike ride when it happened :-) I am very thankful that he doesn't take me too seriously and that he is supportive and thoughtful throughout our marriage. It has been everything I have needed to counterbalance my personality and traits. I couldn't have asked for a better match in this lifetime.

Gold and Green

I've been caught up with the holiday season and it's been wonderful. When I find myself getting a little run down that's when I go to sleep early or take a nap.

Knitting has taken a backseat. I just don't feel that interested in it, even though I would love some new handknits for myself during these winter months. I don't have much time for my own crafts as a mom; now that time is devoted to other things including devising toddler crafts. When I'm not tending to Maggie, I'm at work, doing endless errands, spending quality time with hubby, or sleeping. I hope my desire to knit comes back but I'm liking this break and it felt good to finally give in to it.

We visited the snow for the first time this season. I always like to take the time to just check it out before we make a ski day committment. I know, funny. Went up to Hope Valley/Sorenson's, a special place for us-home to where we got married. 

Maggie had fun, but she wasn't as thrilled with the snow as I thought she'd be. I imagined her frolicking through the snow but it was more like "Mom, I'm cold, you have me in an oversized pink snowsuit and boots, I hate wearing hats, and I just don't like this!" Stomp, stomp. 

It was a very peaceful drive which I appreciated. Lost in my thoughts, taking in the perfect snowy scenery. One of those get-away perfect days.

Maggie has officially sat on Santa's lap and in her Scottish plaid jumper to boot. She was hesitant at first but after seeing candy canes, she was putty in his lap :-) Wish I could share a picture but I haven't seen them myself! They are in the mail or soon to be...we did the free church picture during a busy street faire. While in the hustle and bustle on the street, Maggie was running around and a guy took one look at her and said, "That's a lot of plaid." At least I think that's what he said. Maybe he was referring to my outfit and said "That's a lot of black." Anyways, I laughed to myself. I remember my niece wearing this jumper at Christmas and it seemed like the perfect outfit for such an occasion.

I'm scrambling to put together presents and get ready for next week's busyness. I've got my weekend carefully planned out in order to maximize my efficiency with shopping, baking, cooking, and socializing. My present giving this year is heartfelt and creative and I'm looking for "green" wrapping ideas. Please share if you have any tips!

Prayers in the mail

The past few weeks have been non-stop.

My husband's furloughs are ending this month and my MIL's one day a week with Maggie is coming to an end. We knew this was going to happen so I got on it. With a lead or two and a good referral up the street falling through, I have been dilligently talking with everyone that might have a referral, looking online for potentials, making lots of phone calls whenever I can sneak a break, and visiting lots of places. It has been exhausting.

I woke up today officially burndt out. Finding new childcare has been a really stressful process for me. I internalize everyone's feelings on the matter but I know what matters most is what feels right to us. I'm really trying to trust my instinct. This process has opened my eyes to a few things (mostly about myself), made my mama protectivness come out in full force as well as mama guilt, and has shown me what I really value, which is high quality caregiving for Maggie (whether from me, a family member, or a "stranger" that I can put trust in) and the pursuit of my career. It's a difficult balance no matter how good you have it. I have laid awake at night running different scenarios through my mind. I've gotten a cold and endured other physical manifestations of stress from this experience. However, I think last night was the turning point. I was dead exhausted waking up this morning but I trudged on and things seemed a little clearer today.

Friends and family have been praying for us (thank you!) and I've prayed myself. I often do this when something comes up that I don't know what the outcome will be. So I pray for the right outcome, whatever that may be, and it gives me peace of mind to put it out there. I know nothing is permanent and things could change, but for now, I just want to find a sweet situation for our sweet baby.

The crafty swap ended Monday. I finalized my package last weekend and mailed it off to Oregon.I made knitted cupcakes, notecards, and threw in some vintage prom dress fabric, my favorite granola bars, sewing patterns, kid recipes, stickers, and crafty reading material. The knitted cupcakes were a pattern from this book that I have wanted to knit for a long while. Not the best photo but they really turned out cute. Great stash buster. I hope my partner enjoys her box as much as I enjoyed putting it together. I also recieved my box, all the way from Wisconsin. Thank you Amber and Sarah for organizing this swap, it was a joy to participate in!

Swapiness

Lazy, tired, whatever...I haven't posted about crafts in awhile. But I have been somewhat busy!

I'm part of a swap this month and am working away with grand ideas. It's a fun one...use up stuff in your stash and tailor it to your partner. The person I've been matched with is super crafty, so I'm a little nervous about living up to her expectations! We have a lot in common and I've been following her blog for about a year now.

I finished my Mara this spring.

You can also see me wearing it here (3rd pic down). I love it! I used madelinetosh worsted yarn in a rusty red color. It's very bouncy and warm.

I'm now working on a citron (summer shawlette) as part of a knit-a-long in my knitting group and am using Malabrigo Lace in sky blue.

I'm waiting for a package of goodies to arrive from Jimmy Beans Wool. I used up a gift certificate I recieved from working their booth at Stitches West in February. Helping out at their booth was a great "behind the scenes" look at what it takes to have a yarn shop presence in the fiber world. It was non-stop work but totally fun if you love fiber and fiber freaks. I was still pumping at the time and it was my first weekend away sans hubby and baby. It made for a crazy weekend and was well worth it.

pumping in the hotel room

Frustrated

One of my crafty New Year's resolutions was to sell my spinning wheel...but truth be told, I'm having a hard time letting go of Lolita. I have been waffling on whether to sell her for over a year, maybe longer. I've owned her for a few years and have never fully spun a useable skein of yarn on the wheel, yet many of my friends have. Go figure.

My friend just returned the wheel to me so that I can sell it and I was looking at it last night, so quiet in the corner, and can't bring myself to be ok with getting rid of it. I keep thinking that I will take it up and join my friends but I know myself and I would probably just keep moving it around the house looking at it since it's cute but not do anything with it since I have knitting patterns coming out of my ears - so many that I want to knit in the months to come that with chasing after my mogly-crawling baby I will maybe get a few things knit and not much else done. I know I talk about this subject a lot (not having enough time) and many times I tell myself I sound like a broken record but its just how I feel a lot.

I love my knitting group and the same girls who go to spin nite but spinning just isn't for me. So I kind of feel like an outsider right now and it bothers me because I love being in the thick of things :-) The other thing that has been bothering me is how I haven't progressed in my knitting skills as fast as some of the other experienced knitters in our group. I know I'm being hard on myself because I have progressed but it's hard for me to see it when I've been moving so slowly. I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself with everything though - work, parenting, and in my craft projects - and I am constantly recognizing that and trying to give myself some slack.

I was thinking on a recent snow trip about a recurring dream of mine to live in the mountains, but hubby isn't fond of the idea. It occurred to me that if I can't live there, I could buy a cabin. Hubby was much fonder of that idea (actually excited) so then I made the resolution that I would sell my wheel (one dream passing) and put that money toward the new dream of owning a cabin in the woods. When I think about that becoming a reality for our family, it makes me really happy so I think I need to go with this. I like the idea of trading one thing in for another, something about it seems poetic.

Ok, I feel better now. Here is to everyone else's New Year's resolutions. Good luck!

Wooly wonder

Spent half a day at the Dixon Lambtown Festival a couple weekends ago. Lots of knitting and spinning going on. A few of the gals from my knitting group entered handspun skeins and knitted projects into a competition and two of them placed! Below is the sheep to shawl competition going on where they take raw wool, spin it into yarn, and then make a shawl from it all within a matter of hours.
My special treat of the day was a 300+ yard handspun superwash wool yarn. Other than that, I picked up some sale sock yarn made with crab shells of all things to make myself some plain socks for the winter. I've only made myself one set of kneesocks and that was in the beginning of my knitting "career" so I'm due to knit some more as well as learn how to knit them at the same time using the magic loop method.

I had so much stuff attached to me that day, as I was trying to avoid using the stroller. Turns out it was a bad idea but it ended well. I had brought a small knitting project with me in hopes I'd have a few minutes to knit but it fell out of the diaper bag within minutes of getting there and I didn't realize I was missing it until that night. Luckily, it was kicked against a wall and found by one of the organizers. I tracked her down and she shipped it to me no charge. I love knitters. Now I'll be paying it forward.

As the weather turns, I'm getting more and more inspired to knit and craft (I just need more time!). I am currently working on a set of plain white onesies that I scored new at a garage sale and am dressing them up with fabric designs and glued-on gems and buttons. Good timing because I have a couple baby showers to go to this weekend. A few of them will be for Maggie but I need to get my butt in gear because they are 6-9 months and she'll be out of this size very soon.

All in one

Been knitting (of course!) and I've finished Maggie's second pair of knickers. I've used this pattern both times. I love the elastic waistband and construction. I added ruffles to the legs and used swap yarn I got from a friend. They are for Maggie's next size up and after I was done, I realized they match the cutest little booties my mom got her that are turqoise with cherries on top. Both are a little big for her so in a month or two, they will be perfect.

I also just finished a little scarf for her. It was a fun, quick project with Debbie Bliss cashmerino aran. Inspiration to knit this was last weekend's camping trip but it will be great as the weather gets cooler.

As for projects I've ditched, I've had a friends hat on the needles for the past year but have frogged it. Love malabrigo yarn, not sure about the pattern. I've always admired this hat from afar since it came out in Interweave but after attempting the chart a few times, I became frustrated with the way the pattern was written. I figured it out, but got really annoyed in the process. The pattern is written by a guy and I'm not sure if this is because it's by a guy, but for me it leaves out essential details that I think should be there like "Hey, this is a cabling pattern" to start off or "follow the chart and then use the written instructions for the chart only at the end as you decrease for the crown". I'm not saying that this information isn't there, but it just wasn't that obvious.

My wheel is currently lent out to another friend and I went to spin group recently (girlfriends+brownies+chocolate chip cookies+wine=spinning good time) with my little spindlewood spindle and a colorful silk batt.

Had fun playing around with it. My craft friends know that I have a love/hate relationship with spinning, meaning I enjoy it at the group but outside of that I never touch it. On the positive side of things, I like to think of spinning as a craft to enjoy with friends and if it leads to a finished skein one day, great! but if not, no skin off my back. It's fun in itself just looking at all the yummy fiber and watching it be spun into yarn.

Lastly, an exciting find was a pair of knitted booties at a consignment shop. As a knitter, I could tell they were handknit and had never been used. Thank you to the special someone that invested time in these, we love them! They fit Maggie well and will probably last the next few months. The one change I made to them was swapping out the purple suede tie for a green ribbon. I swear I've seen the pattern on Ravelry somewhere but haven't found it yet. Looks like they were knit with koigu or another similar sock yarn and I love the colorway.

Maggie just woke up early from her nap, so off to play!

Special package

I'm doing a little give away of something crafty, so all you crafty folks out there, read on!

While in Oregon I visted a favorite art gallery in the strangest of places. It's a non-profit where local artists sell their goods and the profits go back into the local community center. The town is very rural and poor, but this art gallery is a shining star along an otherwise non-descript little main street.

Recently, I've fallen in love with handknit/crocheted dishclothes. I've made a few, recieved a few as gifts, and now I'm using them in the kitchen and with Maggie when she's eating in her high chair. I'm sure there are endless uses for them. I'm currently making one that is kind of snazzy from the Mason-Dixon knitting book. So, I've decided to give away a couple crocheted dishclothes from this art gallery with a little "Miso Pretty" hand soap, persimmon and wild orchid-scented. How can you resist? Maybe they will accent your own kitchen or bathroom. The dishclothes are bright and sunny and two different crochet patterns.
Leave me a comment if you'd like to be considered in the drawing and I'll pick a winner at random as soon as I hear from you all :-)

Deals and more deals

I've scored some great deals recently and wanted to show and tell. All on sale, marked waaay down and fitting for our budget.

I'll post more pics if I get the chance:
-a cute quilted halter dress and other cheap clothes for Maggie
-tons of kids books-the cheapest of them being 13 cents!
-Maggie's first dollie for $1 (it's kind of crazy looking, but at this stage they love bright colors, crinkling, and rattling)
-vintage buttons for her first knitted top (super pleased with how this turned out) -scrap fabrics, one a quilted top that is ready to be sewn into a simple baby quilt
-a ball of variegated soy/wool yarn for 50 cents
-vintage linens from a grab basket including a runner for our dining table, apron for me and play apron for Maggie to use for dress up down the road
-a beading book for 2 bucks, and
-a quilted wallet case that will probably serve some craft purpose eventually.

All told, I spent under $40 for sure.

That was last weekend and this week, we scored more used kids books, including a bunch of the Serendiptiy books. They are old school and I particularly remember my sister really being into them. They each have their own moral at the end of the story and the graphics are creative and cute. Maggie enjoyed Catundra this week.

Turns out my mom saved a bunch of our childhood stuff, including my sister's collection. She mentioned it the day I found these. Funny how things work like that.

Life is good

What a happy week. Maggie has been such fun to be with. She's talking more, crying less, and smiling for anyone that smiles at her. Her nana and lita just bought her lots of summer clothes so she is really stylin' these days. This morning we caught a cute moment.I cooked a ton. Some of the things I made were pork enchiladas, chili, cornbread, bbq chicken, morrocan veggi stew over rice, and peanut butter m&m cookie bars. Everything turned out really yummy. We took some of the chili and cornbread over to Ken's sister house. Ken was discharged from the hospital this week and looks so much better.

More swimming...once at a knitting friend's house and today on the 4th of July. Totally looking forward to it.

I also picked up some fun finds, mostly for Maggie and Eden. A Hello Kitty fairytales video, Mr. Potato Head, and jumper.I was offered informal quilting lessons from a new/old friend (an older woman who I took my wedding dress to for alterations a few years ago and then rediscovered her this year and now I live down the street from her). She had the cutest 9-patch baby quilt out for Maggie to lay on and as we talked, I found out that she also knits, spins, quilts, sews, gardens, bakes, etc. - all the stuff I love! I'm starting with a little applique, then moving on to hand quilting my own 9-patch baby quilt. Didn't think I would take this up but after seeing Regina's quilts and being offered this help, I'm gonna try it.

I just got my spinning wheel back after lending it to a friend, so I went to spin nite recently and I think my mojo is back. Feels good. I'm almost done with some purple mohair/merino (then I need to learn how to ply-eek!). This fiber was the only stuff I kept, aside from some silk bats, after destashing before Maggie was born. After this, I can move on to some new fiber. Either some natural wool that a friend just gave me or some beautiful hand-dyed wool that my friend Angela just gifted to me (wish I could say I helped, but I just watched her dye it :-)

Have a nice 4th of July!

Busy bees

Lots going on last weekend, involving a couple baby gatherings, one for our friends Erin and Eric at my sister's house. They were visiting from Idaho. Unfortunately that day I was a little under the weather but it was great to see them. Erin is 8 months pregnant and expecting her baby girl Ella in August.

The following nite was my knitting friend Ruth's baby party. Ruth is also due in August but with a boy. The party was hosted by our friends Sara and John. Sara and John are both extremely artsy and together they have created a pretty cool pad (they bought the house less than a year ago). John is building a real train yard in the back with a mini mountain garden...come on, what a cool dad! They also have chickens living in their backyard in a homemade coop, producing fresh eggs daily.

Next stop was Madera. It was a 3 hour drive to and from to attend Jenny and Greg's wedding. Waiting for us at the reception where little treats-homemade jars of jelly!
Maggie did great that day. It was her longest car ride yet and she was a hit at the wedding.

We finished off the weekend with the celebration of Father's Day for three significant men in my life: Michael, my dad, and Marco, my father-in-law. I'm cracking up because Maggie has a hard time being moved around/fussed with, so in both of these pics she's showing off her 'tude! Marco thinks she's a drama queen, but I think she's just sensitive like her mommy :-)We were so busy that day visiting with family that I decided I'd cook Michael his favorite dinner and dessert later.

Now at home, Maggie and I have been enjoying her new curtains. They turned out cute and match her crib bedding, which I had forgotten we had intentionally matched. Her room is a mish-mash of colors and decorations, but I like it and she is enjoying it more and more.