Another one of Abigail's snacks

Evidently, she must have thought I'd been having a rough day, since this was the snack I found waiting for me

To be fair, she said she thought it was root beer...

A quick catwalk

Where has the time gone? I've been meaning to put these pictures up for a while now...

First up, a skirt for the Abs. Serged the bottom, cut the waist too small. Doh! Throw a quick placket fastening at it (and thanks to Jennie Chancey for introducing me to the idea!); problem solved.

Next, a skirt for Anna. Serged the bottom again, but this time experimented with some fold-over elastic. Worked okay, but I'm not completely sure I'm using it correctly. Still, first time and all.

Next, the cutest little dress for Ellie-ellie-pink-belly. Love the fabric, love the pattern, love the girl. So sweet, had to make two.

Next, a crochet baby blanket I'm in the midst of, for one of many new little girls. Still working on the Lady Sweater, but a girl needs a new view once in a while, you know?

And finally, the Book Sausage. While really just a weight for keeping Toby's book pages steady, he coined this wonderful phrase that cannot be rejected. Never did I think I would sew something that would feature the word "sausage" anywhere in the title. Of course, it wouldn't be for my husband if it wasn't in Batman fabric (thanks, Zo) and weren't being used for his building-a-treehouse book.

A legacy of creativity

It turns out that I have inherited something from my late grandmother, Virginia. I've inherited the almost compulsive desire to make things. I remember as a kid going into her basement and being overwhelmed at all the ceramics and pottery there. She would paint and fire her own pottery - for years I had a wonderful lamp that she's made for me, Little Bo Peep and the sheep she (eventually) found. I am now the new mistress to her beloved African violets, complete with clever little pots she made herself.

I suspect she also crocheted the runner herself, too

She also seemed to be a wonderful knitter and crocheter. My mother has introduced me to the stash of yarn and needles and hooks she had been hording. Oh. My. Goodness. My grandmom had a small yarn shop in her attic, no joke. Now it's mine. Since there's no way I'll be able to get through all of it in my lifetime, anyone who's in need: please come and see if I have something you'd like first. I have several of almost every size knitting needle and crocheting hook! I'm willing to ship yarn to my dear UK people! Please, help me, I'm drowning in it!

I must confess to being a little sad that I was never able to share these joys with her while she was alive, but I'm thankful to know that we had this in common. This love to create things. It's a legacy I am blessed to have, and am hopeful to pass on.

"Life's too short"

Warning: Prepare for a rant

We keep getting these fliers from a company saying, "Life's too short to clean your own home."

For one thing, I don't appreciate a mailbox-full of junk mail. But the big problem with this sort of thinking is what they don't say: "Life's too short to clean your own home, but it's all right if you clean someone else's." Don't get me wrong - I understand that there is a lot of value to having some extra help around the house, and there is certainly nothing wrong with paying for that help. It's the mindset that's the trouble. The mindset that says, "I'm going to take the easiest route, regardless of the cost." It says, "I have better things to do with my time than care for my home and family."

Why is life too short to clean your own home? Because it's work? So what? Do the work together, as a family. Sing songs together as you sweep. Laugh together as you do the dishes. Train your children to do these chores, to be your helpers, to prepare for caring for their own homes one day.

I'm aware that my thoughts are not exactly popular, and I may have stepped on some toes. If so, I'm sorry, but I refuse to be told that life is too short to care for my blessings. As far as I can tell, life is too short to continually abdicate responsibility to "the professionals". No one else is going to treasure my treasures like I will, no matter how well they're paid.

Going to the fair

A week or so ago, Toby and I made our first foray into homeschool curriculum fairs, our maiden voyage, if you will. It was, I must say, rather exciting. So many books and cool stuff in one place!

One thing was a must - sign up with HSLDA. If you homeschool, you should seriously consider it.

Next we took a little tour. I was determined not to come in with the wild-eyed look of someone ready to buy everything pushed in my direction, so I tried to do a little advanced prep. I made a plan the week before of what I was thinking of doing for next year. Then I made a list of things I wanted to check out as possibilities. We worked our way around with military precision, making notes and comparing this writing material with that, what grammar is more age-appropriate, etc.

Then we reached Queen Homeschool Supply. And stopped. And dwadled. And dithered. And quite unexpectedly, fell in love. It hadn't featured on my list of things to check out, but I have no idea why not. I'd heard of them before, and thought their stuff looked great, but it went no further. But when Toby saw it - and thank goodness for the direction and perception of my dear husband - the search was over.

So, for the homeschoolers or wanna-bes or anyone else vaguely interested, Queen is worth a look. Believeing family, committed homeschoolers with plenty of experience, and the most beautiful picture studies I've seen.

Looking forward to next year already.

Where to begin?

There's been a lot going on the past week or so.

First up, The (Un)offical Little House on the Prairie Dress. I don't really know what I was thinking with this one. The pattern is great. Fits perfectly. Highly recommended to any nursing mama. Fabric is cute. Simple. Understated. The two things together? I put it on and wonder Mary and Laura are while I distantly hear Charles calling from the wagon "Caroline!". Not good. So if anyone needs a colonial-period dress, you know who to come to.

Next, the eggs have hatched! Our little mama robin has 2 or 3 little hatchlings that we've been keeping a keen eye on. Not much to see yet but fluff and skin, but they're growing!

Toby's mum and her partner Peter have been with us for about a week now, and have left this morning to go to Florida for a few weeks. We've had a couple of pleasant outings with them, namely to Eden Mill and Longwood Gardens. Both wonderful days out.

A pair of billy goats, these two are

A very impressive tree house, one of three at Longwood. Rest assured, Toby took notes on all three

We should have taken some photos of the Children's Garden, which was awesome. But with all the water, it's probably best we didn't.

Sadly, we received the news that on Saturday morning, my maternal grandmother went home to Jesus. She's been suffering from Alzheimer's and dementia for sometime, and had recently suffered a series of miniature strokes, so it comes as no surprise. My mother was blessed to be with her, holding her hand as she died. Please keep my family in your prayers while we all adjust to the loss of such a beloved woman.

Made and Unmade

Made:

Toby's neck collar (from here), for his birthday. Sewed the seam as instructed and it was too tight. Panic. Try to cut the seam to fix, end up cutting into the body. Despair. Gnashing of teeth. Mend pretty well. Sew on buttons and realize it's still pretty snug. Hope he looses inches off the neck before next winter...

I used a beautiful 100% Baby Alpaca from Ewenique Yarns in Bel Air. I love those ladies - they're helpful, kind, and let my kids use the swift. Sweet.

A pillowcase for Zoanna, to bless a soldier. Needed to match stripey sheets. Went for plain with a few spots to cover the stitching. Got to employ the serger. Happiness ensues.

Unmade:

My calculator, after Noah had "played" with it for a few minutes. I'd like to think that this is the great engineering brain at work, but honestly, any monkey can break something. I'll definitely let you know if he manages to fix it, though...

The Big Day

Today is Toby's birthday, an occasion also shared by HM Queen Elizabeth, he once was pleased to share.

When I was in high school, I first heard of Anne Bradstreet, Puritan poet. I read the poem she addressed to her husband and thought, "One day, I'm going to marry a man I can say these things to." Low and behold, I did just that very thing on August 16, 1997.

We've been married 11 years now, and I can honestly say that I love him more now than the day we married - each passing year has only sweetened the deal.

If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee. If ever wife was happy in a man, compare with me, ye women, if you can. I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold or all the riches that the east doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench, nor ought but love from thee give recompetence. Thy love is such I can no way repay. The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. Then while we live, in love let's so persevere that when we live no more, we may live ever. Anne Bradstreet

Happy Birthday, Babe

Nap time

Toby and I were enjoying our post-Sunday-lunch nap (while the big girls were playing outside and the little two were asleep) when we became aware of some clinking and scuffling. Cracked an eyelid to see this:

My first born not only brought me a snack, picked me flowers, and straightened my nightstand, but she did the same for Toby as well. Never mind that she picked my beloved peonies that haven't yet bloomed, or that a pile of books she had neatly stacked crashed to the ground and nearly gave us a heart attack. My sweet girl wanted to bless her mommy and daddy for the sheer joy of doing so. What a blessing she is, too.

Phase 1 - Complete

On Friday, our friends sailed off into the Wild Blue Yonder. Actually, they flew home to Birmingham. But we had a marvellous time with them.

On their last full day with us, we took the children to Port Discovery. The kids had a great time, the adults just kept doing head counts all day. (We got a number of looks that said "One man + two women + 8 kids = Mormon family.)

The most hair-raising part of the day wasn't the city driving or getting a touch lost on the way out, or even when Noah wandered off for a few minutes (though Toby and I apologize afresh to our parents for doing the same!). No, it was when the woman who is afraid of heights decided to climb up this...

...and down this...
...with this view below...

...so that her Anna wouldn't be scared. And not only did it not work, but I had to work very

hard to not completely flip out while in the net-tube. Nearly shamed myself, though...