Back Again

The boxes are almost all unpacked. There are a few, tucked away in closets, that I plan on unpacking at some point...but not today. Probably not tomorrow either. But at some point, hopefully, I'll unpack them all.

For now, it's time to relax and explore...

...and see what our new state has for us to discover.

Garden Paths

It feels like you've stepped right into the middle of a fairytale or a book like "The Secret Garden." Paths meandering though untamed azaleas, rusted gates entrapped in heavy vines, stone staircases leading to hidden terraces, and the most beautiful peonies and irises of every color.

The kind of place you'd expect something magical to happen in.

I think the kids love the gardens just about as much as I do.

*The gardens are located at the Buttrick Mansion, now called the Old North Bridge Visitor Center. They are a part of Minuteman Park and are open to the public free of charge. They are located just a short distance from the Old North Bridge where the "shot heard round the world" was fired. If you are ever in the Lexington/Concord area, I would highly recommend visiting this portion of the park.*

Moving Blues

I know, I didn't follow through on that promise at all. Crafty things? Nope. An insane amount of cleaning, sorting, tossing, moving prep stuff. Yeah. Too much. Way too much. So much, that I finally cracked and realized that all this crazy work was really just me trying not to think about what's really bothering me.

I've been trying not to think about how hard it will be living far away from family, how much I'm going to miss all the neighbors (who are just about like family now), and how anxious I am about going to a part of the country I am totally unfamiliar with and where I know absolutely no one.

So I've thought about it all and have come to the obvious conclusion that 1. there is nothing I can do about what is going to happen and 2. while I'm worrying about tomorrow I'm not enjoying today. So that's what we're doing here (and why I've been a bit absent of late), trying to just enjoy today. Using these last couple of weeks to create more good memories like...

...spending a whole afternoon in the backyard painting. Bouncing on the neighbor's trampoline until everyone is hot, pink, and exhausted. Enjoying one too many cups of coffee (or juice boxes depending on your age) and lots of good conversation with family and friends.

Picking...

...wildflower bouquets for the girls' room and building sandcastles at the beach. Having a picnic for every lunch. Allowing the kids to play outdoors past their bedtime.

Letting this chapter of our lives end on a happy note and...hopefully realizing that the next chapter, though perhaps difficult at first, will probably be just as joyful.

Cakes and cleaning

The husband has had to work late most of this week. The kids are always disappointed when Daddy won't be home before bed time, so I try and find something to make those evenings special for them. A movie, a tea party, or...

a cake. There was just enough sugar left in the house to whip up some buttercream frosting. Some crushed frozen raspberries mixed in made it all just that much better.

I've spent the week doing an absurd amount of laundry, cleaning, decluttering and stressing about the upcoming move. In the process I've learned that I really need to take some breaks to do stuff I enjoy, otherwise not only am I exhausted, but I'm also in a horrible mood by the end of the day. So I'm making a commitment to updating the blog every day next week with something fun or creative that I'm doing so as to guarantee that I will take a break from the aforementioned tasks (if you can call stressing a task...) and do something that brings a little joy to my day.

Time for some fun!

We Return

We're back! I had only intended to stay away a few days on vacation (at my parents house), but when the meals kept magically appearing on the table and the suitcase was always miraculously full of clean laundry...well, the desire to return home quickly vanished. It was a great week full of sunny trips to the beach, coffee shops with oversized cookies, and unsuccessful, but awfully fun, antiquing.

But, the fun has to end at some point. So here we are, back at home, suitcases and contents still cluttering up the hallways. At some point I'll work up the energy to make the dinners, do the laundry, and put away the luggage. One more cup of coffee might help with that...

Butterflies

Well, here we go--first post of the week on the last day of the (work) week. Of course I fully intended to post sooner, but it's been an impossible week--the husband has had some long work days and I've been hit hard with seasonal allergies. This week has been mostly sneezing, wheezing, coughing, and sniffing with a few headaches and sleepless nights thrown in the mix. A grim week indeed.

There was one good thing about this week though...

...our visit to the butterfly atrium. My mom had discovered this place and, thinking that it would be something the girls would enjoy, she and my dad offered to take us there.

It was such a treat to go--the girls and I absolutely loved this place! I initially thought there was going to be some kind of barrier up between us and the butterflies--but no! You walk through this garden area with some butterflies busy fluttering from plant to plant, others diving in front of you (rather shocking at first!) and still others landing on you and happily staying put for some time.

Not only was it fascinating, but it was also very beautiful. My only regret is that I didn't think to have the girls bring any sketchbooks. I think they really would have loved drawing some of their favorites. Another time!

And so our week draws to end with the promise of better things to come. There is a book sale (which I have been anxiously anticipating for weeks), very warm weather, a little vacation for me, and hopefully some beach trips all coming up this week. And seeing as my allergies seem to be improving it looks like I'll be able to really enjoy all that!

A happy weekend to all of you!

Recovering...

Easter was beautiful (although a bit chilly) and, unfortunately, mostly picture-less. As usual there was just a bit too much going on (dying Easter eggs, making sure all the tights were washed, dresses were ironed, making a blackberry roulade for dessert, eating way too much chocolate etc., etc.) and consequently the thought of taking any pictures just never crossed my mind. Okay, well wait, actually I did think of pictures just once--the family Easter photo. Oh my, getting a decent picture of all five of us is almost impossible these days (and I say "almost" because I think one out of ten photos might be okay.)

So now we're halfway through our post holiday week. It's been a rough week. Up too late, up too early, too much travel, too much chocolate, too much post-holiday clean-up--we're having a tough time getting back into a comfortable routine and as a result crankiness levels are at an all time high.

To try and snap us out of our foul moods I suggested to the girls that we go birdwatching. This was met with much enthusiasm as it meant a real opportunity to use binoculars (something the girls have been dying to do.)

I had high hopes for this outing. Last time we'd taken this same walk we had spotted not only the usual birds (sparrows, chickadees), but had also seen a woodpecker and a cardinal. So I brought along my camera and told the girls we could start a bird book with the pictures we took.

Well, wouldn't you know it, but we couldn't spot a single bird. We heard a few (waaaaay far off somewhere), but didn't see a single one! Thankfully, though it is early spring, we spotted a few other things the girls enjoyed. For example this butterfly-

a Mourning Cloak. Which gave us the great opportunity to discuss camouflage. Now you see it...

now you don't.

And the girls thought these very tiny flowers...

...were pretty cool. They're the only flowers, besides dandelions, out at this time of year. They're called Whitlow Grass and are very, very, tiny. Size did not prevent the girls from trying to pick a whole boquet of them though!

And that was the extent of our nature walk . No birds and, much to Pookie's disappointment, no beetles or caterpillars either. I'm thinking I'll print off these pics and help the girls start a nature journal. Something we'll start....maybe next week when we are all (hopefully!) feeling a bit better!

Spring

Suddenly, after all that rain, cloudiness, and cold, it feels like spring again. Almost warm, partially sunny, a little bit more color every day--so nice! The girls are thrilled, especially as this means that shoes are now...

...optional.

Rethinking a dress

As Easter is fast approaching I thought I'd better try that smocked dress on Little P. again and see if the fit had improved any. Sadly, no. In fact, if anything, I'd say the dress was looking worse than before. Although we seem to have our very own little girl version of the Very Hungry Caterpillar living here (really, she eats all day), all that nutritious goodness must be going straight towards vertical growth and not horizontal. So yes, she's taller, but not fatter, and was seriously disappearing in all that fabric. Frustrating to say the least.

On a whim, I thought I'd see if the dress would fit Pookie. And what do you know...

...it actually looks alright on her. Pookie hated it, that is until I curled her hair and suggested she try singing "On the Good Ship Lollipop." Then of course it was a big hit--she thought she looked just like Shirley Temple and lot's of dancing and "Animal Crackers in my Soup" singing followed. So now I'm debating about exactly what to do. Should I put more time into trying to make it work for Little P. or just finish it up and let the older girls wear it?? Guess it will go back in the "almost finished" project pile for bit, while I think it over some more...

Rain and Things

We're indoors again, our noses firmly pressed against the windows watching the rain come down. Lots of rain. Lots and lots of rain.

And as we watch the girls talk about worms and rain and how worms don't like rain or mud. They're concerned about the worms. They're going to rescue them all from watery deaths just as soon as the rain stops. So we're watching and waiting for the rain to stop. It may be a rather long wait.

I've just started working on a doll quilt for Flossie (to be followed by one for Mimi) which was intended for Easter, but has quickly become a birthday (August) present instead and, you never know, may just show up in a Christmas post come December.

Something to help pass the time, while I too wait for the rain to stop.

Lots of Love

I love antiquing. And I really love it when I'm antiquing and I find something I love that is at a price I love. Which is why the girls now have a second lamp for their room......because, at only five dollars, you know they needed another lamp for their room. And really it was a great purchase--you wouldn't believe how excited the girls were about it. They actually screamed "Yeah Mommy! You bought us a lamp! We love it!" *happy sigh* Girls after my own heart. Love that.And at just $4.50 this large bowl (which I really need in order to put...something in) just had to come home with me. Love it.
Other good finds not pictured here--some bookends for my husband (which we have spent well over a year looking for) and, at long last, some art to put on our walls (which up until now have only featured mirrors.) Both were well worth the wait--they're exactly what we were looking for. Love them.
And loving this week which is currently perfectly spring like--a little sunny, a little rainy and a little bit greener every day. Perfect!

Mostly Good Muffins

On a cold day, I love nothing better than an oven warmed kitchen and the aroma of hot baked goods. So as it was quite cold and windy, the girls and I turned on the oven and mixed up some pear granola muffins.

The girls had a blast making these--partially because they love cooking, but mostly because it meant they could take turns using the sifter. (They're big fans of the sifter, not such big fans of taking turns...) They thoroughly enjoyed the muffin batter, greedily eating it by the spoonful, and were amazed at the sight of muffins "growing" in the oven. The finished product, however, was not such a hit.

After one bite, Pookie and Fig (unbeknownst to me) quickly disposed of their muffins by handing them off to Little P. who, it appears, thoroughly enjoyed one of her illicit muffins and smooshed the other into every puzzle, game, and stuffed animal in the playroom.

I enjoyed my muffin and took a picture of it on my retro tablecloth...which I just ironed, starched, and burnt.

We'll consider the day...half successful.

In the Kids' Room

Things I'm loving in the kids' room right now.

The addition of this bird (that I was unwilling to part with, but unsure what to do with) to the girls' mirror. A few more, added here and there, have given the room a much more lively appearance.

And this lamp...

from an antique store. The girls love it because the "princess" has such a beautiful dress--I think I love for it for the same exact reason!

Please, draw on the walls!

Like most girls, "Little Women" was one of my first and favorite novels. I wanted to be one of the March sisters (though of course Anne of Green Gables or Rebecca of Sunnybrook farm would been equally acceptable.) I read that book over and over again (always with a box of tissues ready for the part when Beth passes away.) I watched the movie over and over again too...also with a box of tissues handy. Despite living at least a hundred years before my time, those March sisters were just soooo cool.
Since moving to this area my one wish has been to visit the Louisa May Alcott house. Today, that wish finally came true. My mom and aunt watched the girls and, with a sister and cousin along for company, I was finally able to visit the "Orchard House."
It was beautiful, it was fascinating, and surprisingly I've walked away thinking not of Louisa, but of her sister, May. Really. Shocking, I know.
May, just like Amy in the book, loved art. Her parents, wishing to foster her love for art, but unable to afford much in the way of art supplies, allowed her to draw on her bedroom walls. Beautiful pencil drawings all over the room. It was incredible! She later became a successful artist (her still life painting was chosen over Mary Cassatt's for an exhibit in the Paris Salon!) and I think that, in may ways, her parents had a lot to do with that. It has given me a lot to think about--the girls freedom to pursue what they love, the opportunity for them to be creative and how I'll support them in all their endeavors. Something I'll think about during an afternoon tea party and some Little Women paper doll cutting. Fun and tasty!

Continue or Quit

Pookie's dress is giving me so much trouble. *sigh* With all the previous dresses I've always cut out the bodice the perfect size and then gathered and attached the bottom half of the dress to the bodice--easy. This time around I thought I'd try something different by keeping the shirt all in one piece and just pleat the bodice until it was down to the right size.

Why oh why did I do decide to do that??? I have no idea how it can possibly be but, after numerous fittings, this dress is still too big. And now that I've sewn on the binding and the straps I'm feeling a bit less than enthusiastic about pulling out the seam ripper and tearing everything to bits again. I'm thinking about scrapping it and starting fresh with a new shirt, but there's a big part of me that hates to be a quitter.

I think I'll give it the customary 24 hour wait period and then see how I feel. Maybe I'll be up to the challenge tomorrow. Maybe...

Little P. Helps Out

I'm working on a "recycled" outfit for Pookie. She picked out blue and I'm adding some white cotton trim for fun. While this dress is going to be entirely different from Fig's, I do want her outfit to have a matching headband like Fig's had.

After hitting a rough spot in dress construction today, I started playing around with some ideas for the headband. While I loved Fig's, the flower on it was just a bit too small. Oversized flowers seem to be the hair accessory of choice at the moment, so I thought I'd try my hand at making one for the headband.

Sadly both Pookie and Fig refused to model my first attempt. Apparently their Playmobil people were in the midst of some great adventure and could not be abandoned. Thankfully I still have one child left who is currently incapable of refusing to model for me.

And so we have Little P. modeling a headband with a flower that is about half the size of her head. Although it is seriously oversized on her, I actually kind of like the way it looks--very baby flapper, obviously requiring the pearl necklace accessory you see there. I think, that if there was anyway to guarantee that it would actually remain on her head, I would make one for her too.

Anyway, it is still very much a project in the works. It has the flat back (perfect for attaching to a headband) that I want, but is much, much, too messy looking for me. Hopefully it will only take a few more tries to get it right and then...we'll see, maybe I'll have Little P. model again.

Fig's Dress

Fig selected the discarded purple men's shirt for her dress. Her only request was that she be able to "twirly dance" in it. So, out came the scissors and the seam ripper and several hours later Fig had her dress...

...and a headband to match.

Fig is ecstatic about her dress and talks constantly about her "bootiful dancin' dress." Yes, thankfully it passed the twirl test!

I'm thrilled that it cost me nothing but some thread and a little time...

...and made Fig the happiest little twirly dancing girl in the world.

Disappointments and a Dress

Wondering whatever happened to Little Peach's dress? Well, it's still in the works. I was dreading having to sew on the collar (baby collars and I don't get along too well), so I put off working on the dress for awhile. I finally worked up the necessary courage to attempt it this morning, and thankfully everything went smoothly.

Now that the dress is almost complete I'm feeling a bit disappointed over a few elements. I really wish that I had used something other than yellow floss for the smocking. The yellow hardly shows up at all--all that hard work smocking and you can hardly make out the pattern. Next time I'll know better.
I'm also feeling a bit disappointed over the fit of the dress. Although the dress pattern said 1/2, the dress seems somewhat large and Little Peach's head looks a bit like it's disappearing between those two sleeves. Thankfully, it's way too cold for her to wear it yet, so I'm hoping that by the time it has warmed up some, Little Peach will have gotten a little taller and little fatter and consequently the dress will fit a little better. If it doesn't....I'll have to see what I can do.
So, I think I'm going to put the buttons and pockets on and then give this dress a little break again. I'll do the hemming and any necessary tailoring later when the time to actually wear the dress comes. And in the mean time I can start on that much asked for dress/skirt for Fig.

March came in like a lion... The ground is once again deeply covered in snow and the temperatures are well below freezing. I'm boycotting the outdoors until something more spring like makes an appearance (which is supposed to happen tomorrow, so this will be a rather short boycott.)
So we're back to doing indoor stuff. Somehow, despite one still sick baby and two sick again toddlers, everything has been going perfectly this week. At this moment, I could almost accept the title of "supermom." I baked cookies and muffins with the kids, folded and put away all the laundry (which hasn't happened since the birth of Little Peach), and the house is almost "neat, clean, and tidy"...almost. Of course, I'm quite sure that in no time everything will go back to crazy, chaotic, and messy and the "supermom" title will be revoked...but still, I'm gonna give myself a good ol' pat on the back and savor the moment while it lasts.
And while I'm doing that, the kids will probably keep devising new ways for "Jonah" to be injured. Jonah, that little fellow down there.
He came with their latest Playmobil acquisition, an ambulance. Since his arrival, the poor fellow has been bitten by a Spinosaurus, attacked by an alligator zoo escapee, and knocked over by a penguin (just to name a few). Of course, after each accident, my job is to strap the poor little guy to the stretcher and load it in the ambulance. Then off the kids go, ambulance in hand, only to come back a short while later and remind me that they do not have anywhere to drive Jonah to. I'm wondering if this subtle hinting/logical reasoning is their latest attempt at getting me to purchase the hospital for them. They just might succeed with this tactic....we'll see.

Carrying over our colds from last week into this week. Lots of coughing, sneezing, and using mommy's clothes as a handkerchief. Too much fighting and crying and too little sleep and quiet. There can't be too many days left to this cold...can there??

Noticing the spring flowers beginning to make an appearance outdoors and enjoying these spring flowers indoors.

I don't have the cold, so I can enjoy the scent of these--flowery with a hint of damp soil, love it!

Adding to our "wish spring was here" collection are these caterpillars, flowers, and butterflies decorating the playroom.

They remind me of the delightful Minuscule bugs (which we first learned about from her blog.) The girls and I have been watching way too many of the videos over at YouTube. This one...

...is very appropriate for how things currently are here. Here's hoping for a better tomorrow.

A few days ago, a Valentine's package from my aunt arrived for the girls. In among all the goodies were some cupcake liners and heart sprinkles, which meant we had noooo choice but to make some cupcakes.
So yesterday we mixed up the batter...
...using my favorite one bowl chocolate cupcake recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart.

And today we whipped up buttercream frosting with some pureed raspberries mixed in because 1. it makes the icing pink and 2. raspberries are so yummy! The icing is a bit too sweet for my taste, but the girls are loving it--they're licking all the cupcakes clean!

Now that the food is taken care of, it's time to finish the decorating. We have some hearts to hang up and then we should be all set to celebrate the patron saint of love and happy marriages--two things I am very thanksful for!

At long last, a vintage, blueish, flowery, and incredibly cute bedspread for Fig found at Sandi's etsy shop. (Fig's would be the bed on the right there.)

Other cuteness in the girls room...

...these pillow cases from a great aunt. What little girl wouldn't want to sleep on those?

Now that the linens are complete, it's time to get some art on those walls...

Couch jumping--one way to get the pent up winter time energy out...

...and a chance for me to try out the "action shot" feature on my camera. Fun for all.

Managed to squeeze in just a little bit of smocking time this morning. Wish I had realized before cutting the pattern and doing the iron transfer that little blue smocking dots would not show up well on a fabric with blue flowers. Lesson learned. I attempted to re-mark as many dots as possible, but soon gave up and just hoped I could wing it.
And the smocking part, I absolutely love! I'm loving the rhythm of the floss over needle, floss under needle and the sudden appearance of lots of very tiny little pleats. It's so relaxing and so sweet looking.
Of course, it's most certainly not perfect. I spent some time ripping out stitches I didn't think were "quite right" but then decided that it was okay--it is my first, if I can just finish it I should be happy.
Hopefully it will be done in time for Easter (why shouldn't it be...right??) and hopefully it will fit Little Peach. If not...well I guess I'll just have to have another baby girl, because somebody is going to wear this dress!

Generally one does "spring cleaning" but there is something about being stuck indoors for days at a time that brings on a need to do some winter cleaning as well. I've spent the last few days vacuuming, scrubbing, dusting, and washing--getting the house as clean as is possible (with two toddlers some mess is expected.) I've also spent the last few days sorting, tossing, storing and donating. We're moving this summer, the news of which has suddenly made me much more aware of how much...stuff we have around the house. Stuff I didn't remember we had (and obviously wasn't missing), stuff we didn't need (but I felt guilty parting with), stuff I've never used (but might, someday, maybe...probably not), lots and lots and lots of stuff. So, I'm letting go, I'm getting rid of it all and, most importantly, I'm being extra vigilant about what we do purchase from here on out!

The girls spent most of the week coloring, molding, cutting, pasting, and painting. And with the arrival of slightly sunnier days, the girls have discovered that the "turtle bugs" (some kind of small, black, beetle) have returned to the sun room. That also keeps them occupied--hunting down the bugs, capturing them, and finding their magnifying glasses to examine them. Pookie drew the bugs and informed me that we need a bug book so we can learn more about them. Guess that's one purchase I will have to make...

And now it's a new week. I've...taken a break from the cleaning for now. I think I've run out of energy and need about a week to recoup before I tackle the upstairs. That and I've really been wanting to try out the smocking on Little Peach's dress. I've never tried smocking before and I'm really, really, anxious to get started. The dress is all sewn up and ready for me to start so hopefully, should all people under the age of four go to sleep early tonight, I can get started this evening and have something to show you all tomorrow!

Yes, a rest week....exactly what I need!