thank-full

I have such an insane amount to be thankful for that it makes it feels oddly tenuous...as if too many good things are pouring into a glass and it will soon tip over and empty. Can't tell if that is my realistic side or my skeptical side coming through. But, either way, I'm knocking on wood and in the meantime, enjoying how it feels to be filled to the brim with gratitude.
Everyone is healthy, our house is full of love, laughter and good food, dear friends are doing amazing and emotionally healing things, and I'm finally making some decisions about my own future that feel really good. It's a lot of good stuff.
We enjoyed a fantastic thanksgiving, to boot. Every year we try out new recipes thinking that perhaps this 'new' version is going to be the one that we stick with from here on out and becomes our 'tradition'. This year, while looking over the dog-eared recipes I marked as part of our 'tradition' I just wasn't inspired. Instead, I got hunting around to try something new. My dad send me to this life-changing interactive recipe website from the NYTimes. I'm seriously contemplating trying out every single recipe througout the winter, everything looks amazing and seasonal. For thanksgiving, we tried the brussel sprouts-grapes (!) and root vegetable recipes both of which stole the show. But, I love the look of all of it and might just have to print each recipe out for my recipe binder (which is splitting at the seems, literally.)

It also helped me realize that my traditional meal doesn't consist of making the same thing every year, it consists of experimenting with something new every year. And, why not? As we ride this wave of good things, we better eat well, too.

Something for Mom

Well, it has been awfully quiet here lately. I hate when that happens. I have been sewing a lot just feeling a bit...reflective...about it, I guess. There is lots going on and it has me a little topsy turvy.

I did manage the sew together an exciting collection of things as a gift to my mom, a deeply belated gift I should add. It's nearly all from Weekend Sewing, which I go on and on about, I know. These were somewhat adventurous sewing projects for me. My idea was to create a pampering kit for her. So, I made slippers, a washbag, my zipper pouch, and the face wash, lip balm, and face oil from here.

The slippers were very satisfying. Cute, not that hard, and so functional I nearly cried. The border is ric-rac and they even have a little elastic at the back to keep them from slipping. But, none of it is fussy to sew.

The washbag was more challenging, I must say. Inside are little pockets to keep small things...they are even a little elasticized so things stay put. The components are straightforward enough but sewing it all together is a pain and a half. I'm an idiot about these things anyway and this just left me completely befuddled. I even stuck a pin in my hand. I don't think it was a function of the directions but more my lack of experience, if truth be told.
But, completely worth it. If for nothing than the pure joy of taking on a challenge. I will have to make more of these now, or all that effort to scale the learning curve will have been lost. Good thing it is getting on holiday time.

Operating Sunrise to Sunset

I have so much respect for the many friends of mine that camp with wee ones but I haven't felt quite up to the tent experience with our two rascals. But, I was longing for the woods. I grew up in Northern Minnesota and camping and hiking is like breathing up there. So, I was thrilled to discover that Pennsylvania has a dozen or so state parks with cabins for rent. We just returned from a short week in the wild woods of PA...ours was Cabin 6.
I love the family rhythm that is found in tranquil places when all you have is each other. Nothing distracts you from just settling in and paying close attention. I always feel a small shift occurs after any family vacation...you have been through something new together and return home with a sense of appreciation for your place and your fellow travellers. But, being outdoors all day with no computer or TV or phone (!) brought us so much closer that returning home brought with it a feeling of loss. Suddenly, dishes are mounting and clothes must be laundered, rules have to be imposed about where dirt can and can't be. We can't decide on a whim to take dip in the swimming hole or just start walking and end up on a hike inspecting mushrooms or looking for elves. It feels so complicated and busy. I'm back to trying to get too many things done in the little bit of time I can find for myself. The baby isn't sleeping well, maybe he isn't getting enough fresh air?. I'm fighting a really strong instinct to simply pack up and drive back. Invite everyone I know, get another campfire started, and read books while we wait for sunset at Cabin 6.

It's Birthday Season Over Here

Birthday season hits hard and fast in this house as all three of the boys (including one Papa) have birthday's within a 6 week period. So, I usually have grand plans and accomplish about 2/3rds of it all if I am lucky. But, the birthday crown is essential and the baby joined the ranks of the crowned last weekend! It is crazy that he is one. Crazy, for real.

I also hung a birthday garland with month-by-month pictures to capture the year. Have done this for the first birthday of both of the boys and I love having them around the house.

We went from this sleepy, tiny man...

to this open, eager, curious, engaging one year old.

Time moves both painfully slow and dizzyingly fast in this whole parenting gig. It's beautiful and terribly ugly, too. I'm not nostalgic (too much) about being through our first year with two young kids, but I am feeling reflective. We are absolutely, positively done having children and so, suddenly, here we are...on the cusp of whatever adventure comes next.

Favorite Apron to date

My first 'full contact' apron, made using the pattern in Seams to Me. It is for Grandma, who makes the world's best jam, applesauce, sugar cookies, chocolate chip cookies, and banana bread in the world. And, this is exactly why the apron needed to be so sweet!

I really like this apron and the pattern is pretty great. I did do some shortcuts as Anna Maria's projects do tend to be meticulous and have lots of steps. That said, the apron has a pleat and a shaped waistband, all of which make the final product really nice. I decided against pleating the bottom half her style and did a quicker ruffle style, I also did not cut the head strap on the bias because I didn't have enough contrasting fabric. And, I skipped making a pocket for the same reason. Quick question: Why do aprons have pockets? I don't really use the pocket.

This was one of those projects where I spent the whole time thinking about my grandma and how much she was going to like this. At every step, picturing how much she would like the little details. And then, when it was all done, I had a quick little 'I kind of want to keep this for myself' moment. Somewhere in me a twelve year old still lives.

Papa Pants

Another crease in the pages of Weekend Sewing and here it is. Papa's pajama pants for Father's Day. Doesn't every Papa need a pair of pajama pants that don't come off until around noon on a Saturday? I think so. I know my new BFF Heather Ross would agree (just kidding she doesn't know me...yet.)

I added a faux tie to the front of the pants both for the relaxed feel of things and to identify the front from the back...a problem with the handmade goods. The fabric is from contemporarycloth.com a sometimes daunting website that always delivers the goods.

More Birthday Goodness

It's Papa's birthday! I decided that he also needed a birthday crown and added the ambulance more for the pleasure of our truck-obsessed two year old...who decided he also needed to wear his birthday crown if Papa was wearing his, though he knew it wasn't his birthday.

I also made this disasterous-looking cake that was truly gorgeous tasting. It's a cool whip frosting. Sounds awful but it is amazing. Truly amazing. Just make your own regular chocolate cake into two rounds. Then, the frosting is 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 package INSTANT pudding (my mistake was not using instant pudding mix and trying to correct for this mistake in various ways), and 8 ozs. cool whip. Mix together the pudding mix, called for milk according to pudding directions, and sugar. Then add the cool whip folding it in. It sounds odd but it is light and less sugary than regular frosting. Frost between the two rounds and on the top and sides like normal. I prefer it refrigerated a little bit. Fantastic!

Here is the crew enjoying it all. I also splurged on an odd but kind of great gift that I saw mentioned on Loobylu. It's a monthly subscription to funky t-shirts. It is pricy but I recently cancelled a credit card (you are upping the interest rate 100%, no thanks) and cashed in on my "points" that I didn't even know I had. Thanks American Express. Chumps.