Baby's Gown

I didn't feel like I had the time and I certainly didn't feel like I had the energy, but I just couldn't let the newest little baby be the only daughter without a handmade baptism gown.

I wanted to use some antique laces and trims and so an off-white brushed cotton seemed the perfect fabric for the gown.  The pattern is Simplicity 2457 with only a few modifications.  (For those interested, I used the sleeve pattern for the boy's outfit instead of the gathered girl's one and changed the bonnet pattern a bit so it would work with some lace trimmed antique fabric.)

Everything came together perfectly and I was so happy with how it turned out.  (I'm in love with those little pinch pleats on the bodice!)  I'm so glad I did manage to find the time and the energy to make this for her!

By the River

There are only two types of shells to be found on the banks of the river

and he collected as many as he could find

leaving them safe with baby and me

so he could catch minnows with his sisters.

New Beginnings

We were three years in our last house.  Not a long time, but long enough to get comfortable and familiar with everything.  I forgot how much moving, not only to a new house, but a new state, can take a really long time to adjust to.  I think I would dare to say we are finally settled in.  At least I can find my way around our house in the dark now and I can mostly drive from point A to point B without getting lost, so long as it's within a twenty mile radius anyway.

One thing I'm still learning, is what the seasons are like here.  I know that the last bit of summer is not quite so hot and that the falls turn cooler more quickly, particularly in the mornings.  The winters?  A bit cooler, a bit more snowy (much to everyone's delight!), but mostly very rainy.  It rains...and rains...and rains some more, flooding our whole yard and then it freezes.  And suddenly there is the most perfect imaginary ice skating rink to slip and slide across or frozen pond to chip holes in and fish from.  I think the kids like the winters here!
And me?  Well, I'm just busy browsing my seeds catalogs and wondering what the spring will be like!