Ice Cream

I haven't used the ice cream maker in years.  I think I may have even forgotten it existed.  It required quite a bit of dusting off and needed a few cobwebs removed as well, before it was ready for use.

I whipped up an old favorite, raspberry chocolate chip.  The kids were amazed--they couldn't believe how easy it was to make your own and they couldn't believe how good it tasted.

We spent the rest of the evening discussing all the possible flavors we could make next.

No more cobwebs for you little machine!

Ups and Downs

This spring weather has been a lot like a roller coaster ride. We race up to eighty-five degrees, sunny, and humid and then rapidly plummet down to forty-five degrees, cloudy, and windy. One day it's swimsuits and sprinklers, the next it's jackets and mittens. Almost all of the flowers are in full bloom, but the threat of a frost still lingers in the forecast.

Our life, over the last few weeks, has greatly resembled the weather. All kinds of ups and downs. Ups--Pookie's first communion, visits from family, an exciting new assignment (moving this summer!) and downs--stomach flu for everyone, one case of the seasonal flu, and one broken arm.

But summer, with its constant (and often monotonous) hot and sunny days, is just around the corner. And I expect that our days, much like the weather, will also stop fluctuating so drastically and will quickly return to normal. I'm ready for a little peace (and even a bit of monotony maybe) before the big move!

Spring

A collection of "treasures" acquired during our most recent walk.

The landscape is still mostly brown, there is no real green yet, but there are plenty of pinks, whites, purples, and blues scattered here and there.  I am so glad that spring is finally here!

Rock Village

We took the kids camping the other week, out to our usual campground.  It's a beautiful place to camp, with tent sites all lined up along the waters edge.  As an adult, it's nice to just sit there, breathe in the fresh air, enjoy the view, and relax.  For the kids, swimming is the main attraction and after that activity has been exhausted, boredom suddenly strikes, for (as they sullenly point out) there is nothing but rocks to play with.

"But," I pointed out "One of your favorite books involves nothing but kids and rocks."  The girls mulled this over for a bit and then realized I was talking about Roxaboxen.

And just like that, the rocks became the best thing ever.  We spent a long time building stone walls for little houses.   The Little Miss built a bank and collected seashells for money, Pookie built a shop, where she sold various pretty objects, and Fig built a museum wherein was displayed a few bird feathers and the jaw bone of a catfish.

Due to the arrival of bad weather, we had to pack up and leave early.  The girls sobbed over having to leave their houses, but were mildly comforted by the idea that maybe other kids would come and maybe they would build more homes and maybe next year, when we return, there will be a whole village.  That would be awesome.

On a side note, I had no idea that there is a Roxaboxen Park.  How neat is that?!  If we're ever out that way, we'll be sure to stop there!

Seven

Pookie turned seven.  Yes, seven!  Where does the time go?
She has become quite the little food critic lately and so I wasn't surprised at all when her birthday cake request went far beyond the normal flavor and color preference.

Yellow cake, with chocolate morsels mixed in, chocolate buttercream frosting, raspberries spaced evenly around the edge, one raspberry in the middle, and a mint leaf for every raspberry.  She planned it out, helped bake it, and decorated it.  It was beautiful and delicious!
I can't wait to see what plans she has for eight!

Quilts and Crawling

After many months, I finally managed to pick out fabrics for the girls' quilts.

After several weeks staring at said fabrics, I finally settled on a patchwork pattern.

After only a few days, I managed to finish almost one whole quilt top.

And then it happened.

The Little Guy started crawling!

Gone were the days of leaving him to play happily on a mat with toys, while I sewed away.  Now, if I put him down, he was gone!  And sewing during nap times was not an option as the sound of the sewing machine would immediately send him into screaming fits.

After a few weeks of hoping he would decide that sitting was preferable to crawling, or maybe learn to like the sound of a sewing machine, I finally gave up and figured out a system that works for the both of us--cutting, pinning, and ironing during naps and very, very, rapid sewing during the few brief moments when he is awake and happy and contained in his crib.  Phew!

I won't have these quilts done in time for birthday's like I had hoped (the last girl birthday is almost upon us), but they should be done before Christmas.  I've almost finished up two quilt tops,which means there is just one left to do.  And then, of course, there's all the backing and binding and hand sewing to do...  But I think I can get it all done, just as long as the little guy doesn't decide to do anything crazy.

...like learn how to walk or something.

Muffin Morning

Phew! May was a crazy month full of ups and downs and June has been just as crazy, although with fewer ups and more downs.  It's been an incredibly fast paced, stressful, chaotic month so far, which has been making me irritable and worn out.  *sigh*
The other day, despite everything going on, I managed to whip up some rhubarb muffins and pop them in the oven just before Baby Boy awoke from his nap.  I thought about those muffins all night and...

...the next morning I poured myself a cup of coffee, helped myself to a muffin, and forced myself to do nothing but enjoy that moment.  A nice quiet half hour, no distractions, no rush, no hurry, just eating, drinking and  pondering over just exactly how one would describe the flavor of rhubarb.
The rest of the day was crazy as usual, but that morning, it was a good morning.
Sometimes we just have to create our own calm amidst all the chaos...

Intruder

We had a mild winter and an early start to spring and so the garden, normally just showing green this time of year, is already awash with color.  The coreopsis, crazy daisy, and blue flax are all blooming, the delphinium, nicotiana, and coneflower are all budding, and the hydrangea is cascading over the sidewalk in all different shades of pink, purple, and blue.

I've been walking along the flower beds daily, enjoying the flowers already in bloom and keeping an eye out for the seed leaves of perennials that have not yet made their appearance.  A few weeks ago, amongst the alyssum, I spotted the seed leaves of a plant that I had not planted, but that was obviously not a weed.  Curious I allowed it to grow and grow into...

what I believe is a pumpkin plant.  I suppose, when we carved pumpkins last fall, some seed slipped into the flower bed and...well...there we are.  It most certainly does not belong in the flower bed, but I haven't the heart to pull it out and so it stays.  And should this plant actually produce some pumpkins, it will be a very welcome intruder indeed!

Butterflies

Paper butterflies are decorating our schoolroom wall.

The butterflies are from a kids craft magazine that Pookie bought awhile back, but the instructions can still be found online here.

Real butterflies are also in the schoolroom--a part of our ongoing bug collection and nature studies.

Sketches by Pookie, Fig and self.

And butterflies returning to the garden outside.

Always a welcome sight!

New

There was a reason for not being in this space.  A very exciting little reason, that quickly grew and grew, but that unfortunately came with all kinds of exhaustion, nausea, and discomfort.

But since his arrival (just over three months ago now!), all those things have been forgotten and our life is now overflowing with smiles, giggles, and coos.  We're settling into a new kind of routine, one that revolves around feedings, nap times, and play time with the sisters.
We are all so overjoyed to have this new little one in our lives!

Christmas Crafting

We've already started the Christmas crafting here.  I know, I know, Thanksgiving hasn't even arrived yet, but when it comes to handmade items, one cannot start soon enough!!
I haven't made any of my little birds in a long time (scrolling back through the archives I see the last one I made was back in 2007!) and I can honestly say, I haven't really missed making them.  While rummaging around in closets, I've come across a few old unfinished ones and haven't felt the least bit of interest in completing them, so there they have sat.

But recently the girls discovered these incomplete birds and...started playing with them.  So I've pulled out the felt, my old pattern pieces, and some embroidery floss and have started sewing again.  And, I have to say, it has been really enjoyable!
These little birdies will be for the Doll's Christmas that the girls and I are planning.  Each of their dolls will receive presents under their own little Christmas tree on December 24th.  There will mostly be new clothes and cradle blankets under the tree, but there will also be a few of these little guys.  I think the dolls and their "mothers" are going to like them!

Flowers

A few months back, I started a Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt.  I needed to greatly reduce the amount of scraps spilling out of the craft closet and this seemed like the perfect quilt to use them up in.  I started full of gusto, but after finishing my fourth "flower" I quickly realized that the vast majority of my scraps were of only two colors--red and blue.  There were a few pinks and even fewer greens and just a handful of purples and  yellows...but that was it.  I could have made just a red and blue quilt, but I really wanted a full range of color.  The problem with more colors meant that I would have to buy new fabric in order to make a scrap quilt and that just seemed terribly, terribly wrong.  Unable to solve this little problem, I finally gave up and packed the project away for another time.

Just a little while ago, while browsing an antique store, I stumbled across a candy box full of little fabric hexagons, all ready to be made into flowers!  Of course I bought it and without any guilt!  I mean, yes, it is "new" fabric, but it feels okay, because I'm helping to finish someone's unfinished project and in the process I'm completing mine.
And besides, how could I really pass up those adorable vintage prints!

Long Summer

It was a long summer--a really long, ridiculously hot, summer.  It was one of those summers where it really was too hot to do anything.  Yes, it was even too hot for swimming at the pool!  For once, I can't say I'm sorry to see summer go.  No, the only thing about summer that I will be sorry to see go is...
...this little gal, who has become so accustomed to me, that she will now happily hover at my elbow while I weed the flowerbeds.
Yes, fall means that she will be taking off soon, but that's alright--I'm sure she'll be back next year and, well, I'm really, really ready for some cool nights, hot cider, and sweaters!  Come on fall, hurry up!

Colors of Spring: Red

The first spot of color this spring was, not green, but...

...red.

Green was only a couple of days behind though.

Nature Walks

It's been too nice to stay indoors much and so, we've happily welcomed "nature walks" back into our school days.  When lessons are over, the girls grab their pencils and sketchbooks, I get my camera and the water bottle, and we all head outdoors for a stroll.  This week we headed to the lake in search of something new and exciting for our nature journals.

Sadly, although it's been warm, it's still a bit too early for much of anything to be out--the wildflowers are just barely budding, the turtles are still residing at the bottom of the lake, and the bugs are practically nonexistent.  But, thankfully, the ducks were there.  They're certainly not new and I'm not sure they're very exciting, but the kids were thrilled to have something to draw.

Hopefully, we'll have better luck next week!

Violet Valentines

We had a little tea party for Valentines.  I made up some chocolate macarons with purple buttercream frosting for the occasion.  The buttercream frosting was delicious, but sadly the macarons weren't.  They came out hard and flat and were a challenge for Pookie (who is missing two front teeth) to eat.  I think the lack of clear instructions concerning the egg whites might have been part of the problem.  Another time perhaps...

And really, the food wasn't all that important--the kids and I just wanted an excuse to use our new (to us) tidbit tray.  Little hand-painted purple violets--we're all head over heels in love with them!

The Dollhouse

This year, there was one Christmas gift that I just couldn't wait for the girls to see... 

...the dollhouse!

This is the Vermont Farmhouse Jr. kit by Real Good Toys.   I wish I could take some credit for this one, but my husband did all the hard work--painting, assembling, and (my favorite part!) wiring it for lights.

I love the lights--they makes it all seem so real and the whole house glows so beautifully at night!

The girls love it and are constantly playing with it--rearranging the furniture and creating new little scenes.  We talk about what things need to be added (curtains and some kitchen shelving being tops on the list) and what things we could possibly make for it (some towels for the bathroom and quilts for the bed will be made shortly.)

I'm looking forward to seeing how this little home changes as the girls age.  I remember, as a girl,  attempting to create all kinds of miniature items for my dollhouse.  I can't wait to see what my girls come up with!

2011

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year!  Ours was full of lots of excitement and glee, as well as plenty of much needed peace and quiet.

And now, the Christmas decorations are all packed away, the house is mostly back in order, and we are all slowly falling back into our regular day to day activities.

As sad as I am to have the holidays already behind us, I must say, I'm excited about what lies ahead.  I think 2011 is going to be a good year!

Pepper

There are only a few handmade gifts this year--one per girl to be exact.

This little Waldorf inspired doll is for The Littlest.  She's made entirely of items I already had around the house--some mismatched socks, an outgrown (and too stained to save) toddler dress, and some yarn and stuffing from the stash.

Pookie and Fig have already named her Pepper, but we'll see what The Littlest thinks of that!

Dormant

We had our first hard frost about a week ago.  The hydrangeas immediately became a mass of limp green leaves, but the roses bush wasn't as easily conquered and continued budding and blooming awhile longer.

Just the other day, the rose bush produced two more flowers and then gave in to winter and went dormant.  Though this bush normally produces bright pink roses, these last two came out decidedly pale, looking a bit tired and worn out.

I'm feeling just a bit like these roses right now--pale, tired, worn out.  Two weeks ago, I came down with a horrible head and chest cold and the recovery process has been frustratingly slow.

But, at long last, I think I am finally getting better.  And just in time, Christmas is right around the corner!