Complete

 Dun....

 Dun...

 Dun...

Dun-NA...

 

 buhm-buhm, buhm-buhm, buhm-buhm....

So happy that it's done.  Of course it stills need to be washed and blocked and eventually frame for the holidays, but for now it's complete!  I hate doing the backstitch detail on these and I'm rather proud that I pushed myself to get it done quickly instead of letting it sit almost completed for months.

The little devil on my shoulder wants to take it to work to show my co-worker who claims there's no way you can craft with small children around (hence the x-stitch that's been in her closet for 17 years) and say something akin to

"Bo-yah".

Of course it's on the next thing on the list - I'm about half done with my 2nd Hermione sock and plotting my next crafting spree.  Along with holiday knitting plans (it's never too early right?) I've got another x-stitch for my parents 30th wedding anniversary to order and start, a pile of fabric that needs to become a quilt and a freezer of yarn that I really should do something about.

Linked up to Frontier Dreams Keep Calm, Craft On

Bibliophile

Henry Loves Books

I mean he really....

really...

loves books.

And I just can't figure out where he gets it from...

Line of Clothes

The Clothesline is up.

I really have been dreaming about this moment.

Both Ben and I have great memories of hanging out the laundry.

Mine is of my grandmothers long double line that was always, and is still, just a little too tall for me to reach without have to jump to grab the line (I have really grown since 7th grade).

What memories does a clothesline evoke for you?

The Home Front

{Hardening off tomatoes, lettuces and few other things}

{Radishes, Carrots and Green Onions}

{Potatoes Popping Out}

{Future Pears}

{First of the Seasons Strawberries}

{Onions and Spinach}

*Rather proud of the straw.  My mother trimmed away last years decorative tall grass from a plot in her yard and I realized it was perfect for free straw, so far so good.*

and last, but not least a new use for a chest freezer.

I opened my "air tight" yarn box a few days ago to find a few alive wool moths, so everything is going in the deep freeze for a few days to hopefully kill anything leftover.  Luckily (I guess) a lot of my yarn right now isn't 100% natural fibers (I prefer to give baby knitting that is easily washed and cared for) so I didn't find too much damage.

The Magic Door

There's a large tree in our back yard.  It twists and turns in fantastic ways.  As much as I want more sunlight for veggies in the yard, this tree has me captivated.  I look at it quite a lot from my kitchen and just yesterday I looked out at it and I swear there is something there that I've never seen before - a knot, dead center of the tree that looks like a doorknob and it beckons the "Lucy the Valiant" in me to reach out and see if it just might turn. 

Perhaps we could see Mr. Tumnus or have tea with a delightful chap in an over-sized hat or fly away to mermaid coves and Indian teepees or perhaps on day a little sign will appear "Here, there be dragons."

Oh, the wonderful possibilities of a door in a tree.

It's wonderful to have a little reminder of just how wonderfully magical the world can be.

The Great Cloth Diaper Change

Henry and I were proud to participate in the Great Cloth Diaper Change - a Guinness Records Challenge - this weekend.  We gathered with 28 pairs of cloth diapering moms and one cloth diapering dad this weekend to set a new record and raise awareness for CD.  After Henry figured out it wasn't daycare (it took awhile for him to leave my lap) he was just happy to strut his stuff once he became pants-less.

 

It was great fun - there were even goodie bags (the best was the small wet bag it came in!) and door prizes (I won the very last one, which was 10 flannel wipes!) and it was great to feel like I wasn't in the minority.  Though I will admit, and maybe I'm too much of a snob, but it kind of reminded me why I don't do a lot of (read "any") mommy groups - when I walked in there were a couple of moms trying to one up each other on their Easter celebration - "We kept the toys to minimum" was interrupted with "Well my kids don't even know what an Easter basket is" ... sigh...

A few hours later the store had a bi-yearly consignment sale.  I left with exactly what I was looking for.  A large wet bag and a GroVia shell and two liners to try out over night (I hear they work well).  I'm so glad there's a store like this in my area, but I wish it wasn't 30 minutes away.  I know my town would welcome a real, down to earth "birth and baby" store that supports things like cloth diapers, breastfeeding and baby wearing (both retail and education!).

And just to share - my little guy snoozing from the ride to the store that the GCDC took place in.

Outings

Just a little peak at our recent adventure at the Children's Museum.  In just two months we're able to do so much more than before!

Back to Normal

Oy, that was a crazy week or so.  My internet has been wonky for the last week-ish so there's been nothing productive going on here, blogwise, but we've been keeping very busy.  I've got garden and crafting pics to share, little life things to catch up on and some really fun things coming up!

But for now a little fun - Carla over at Half Dozen Daily was kind enough to tag me in a little blog game, so I'd thought I'd take a few moments while the dinosaur chase is happening during tonight's episode of Primeval to catch up on this.  Here we go!

1. What is your favourite colour?

• Green - it's pretty much the go to color for any red-head.

2. What is your favourite animal? 

•  Well I do love my cat, but other than that do dinosaurs count?  I've been a dinosaur lover my whole life - I even have a autographed copy of "The Dinosaur Heresies" by Robert T. Bakker .

3. What is your favourite number? 

• Zero - seriously it's the best number, and arguably the most important number as there are so many advances in math and science that are impossible without an understanding of "0".

4. What is your favourite non-alcoholic drink?

• Dr. Pepper hands down, I wish I didn't drink it though.

5. Which do you prefer - Facebook or Twitter? 

• I'm new to twitter, and am preferring it mainly because I don't know as many people on it and am enjoying posting and following things that I would choose not to on FB because I'm very tired of endless FB arguments.

6. What is your passion?

• Motherhood definitely tops the list - really anything that allows me to create something - sewing, crafting, cooking, gardening.  Even though I've chosen not to go into an education field I still love being able to find teachable moments in everyday life whether the student is 5 or 55, it's never to late to inspire a new interest in another person.

7. Do you prefer giving or receiving presents?

• Can I admit to both.  I love receiving meaningful, thoughtful gifts and I love the feeling of finding just the right thing for others.

8. What's your favourite pattern? 

• Anything that feels like it came from the 30's and 40's - whether it's fabric patterns (small florals and geometric patterns) or clothing patterns, those are my favorites!

9. What is your favourite day of the week?

• At the moment I'll have to say Monday - it's my only consistent day off, but I'm a fan of Saturdays too.

10. What is your favourite flower?

•  Blue Hydrangeas - they were my wedding flowers, what more can I say?

Easter Weekending

Easter here was a low key event.  Since we knew he'd be getting little Easter presents from all the Grandparents we skipped giving one, except for adding a new movie to our collection.  We did Church, a lunch out at the Amana Colonies (thank you all the great folks who worked the holiday for us) and we threw around some Easter eggs for Henry and his cousin to find - they did great and were even give each other the eggs they were finding (only a few more years and they'll be throwing elbows and complaining that someone has more!).  We filled the eggs with Teddy Grahams, "All Natural" Fruit Snacks and little plastic animals (luckily the cousin got most of these since they're still technically a bit of hazard for a one year old) and Henry is a few Easter books and a mini-kite richer.

We had a few opportunities to discuss how we'll try to "handle" the holiday in the future and it sounds like we'll be skipping Easter baskets (from Mom and Dad) and sticking to the Easter Egg hunt to fill them up on goodies, with eventual plans to turn it into a scavenger hunt along with Easter Egg dying and a few other things.  I'm hoping that next year we can break out some of the beautiful "natural" dye recipes I'm seeing everywhere!  But, that's just a plan and we'll have to see what it turns into.

Overall it was a great holiday and of course Easter is usually the signal to us Iowans that it's officially time to get in the garden!  I think  I'm going to risk a late frost and put out a few non-transplant items this week and test my luck (mainly beans) and my first carrots, etc. and then it's only a few more weeks before full-tilt gardening season is upon us!  I have to say I'm rather jealous of a few new blog friends who live in warm climates who are already doing some harvesting, but I guess good things come to those who wait.  Right?

I apologize ahead of time if things get left behind here - even though we live in town we're not too far removed from our rural roots which means spring is ridiculously busy!  With the job, the kids, the house, relatives and a farm I'm supposed to be helping with/learning to run somehow (apparently I get to de-rock a field sometime this year.  Yippee!) time can get a little tight.

I hope every one's Easter or Passover or awesome Spring weekend was fantastic!  See you later this week with some craft updates I believe!

The Mother and Alleluia

I have always considered myself a Christian, but I have to admit I've always had a rough time with feeling and experience the life of Christ the way others seem to.  I've never been moved to tears of joy or sorrow contemplating His life though I've been moved by His teachings.  It's just not how I've experienced my faith and it's just different, not bad in the same way that I've come to accept that I'll never be canonized (though I think there should be a catch-all for committed, loving mothers who try their best) and I'll probably never be visited by an angel or other such apparition.

But motherhood is starting to change that for me.

It's strange that even on my road to Catholicism I'm wary of Mary - growing up Protestant makes me tread lightly on the subject and on any devotion to this woman, but now since becoming a mother it's thinking of the life of Christ thru her eyes that allows me to feel tangible emotions when trying to reflect on Christs' life.

I can understand the joy of bringing a baby into this world and being able to forget your troubles and your uncertain surroundings out of the joy that little body brings.

I can understand the worry when you're out in public and suddenly that little one is out of your sight, just for a moment.

And on the most basic level, on the level of fear and the desire of never having to live through such a moment I can understand the sorrow of watching your only child give his life whether it's as a young child who has no control over an illness or a grown man choosing to give himself completely for another.  I can understand that pain just a little better now.

It's because I'm a mother now that I can understand why Easter is not to be celebrating as a funeral, but as a celebration because every mother can imagine the worst and every mother who's lived thru that can only dream of the sheer joy of seeing that loved one again if only for a moment.  I can understand the joy so much more now because it is so real to me now.

I understand why we say "Alleluia" so often in Mass today, it is exactly what I would say over and over again if my little one I had lost was returned to me if only for a moment.

A Good Day

We went outside after lunch and didn't come in until dinner.

Kids should get messy.

So much dirt.

My helper.  

Still plugging away at those Hermione socks and my helper only pulled out the needles once!

We've been eating up this strange warm April weather here.  I hope it sticks around.

Just a quick

... my oh my spring is a busy time.  The time of year I wish more of you could just pop by unannounced so we could keep in contact better between all the spring clean, yard work, and gardening!  This was my weekend to work the "real" job as well as put in sometime at the family garden beds up at my parents.  Tomorrow will be some work around our little homestead and I'm hoping to get some pictures for a proper post!  But for now ...

à bientôt!