Beginning Sewing

Last month, we had a weekend that wasn't overscheduled. I pulled out my sewing machine to do some mending and to make some pillow covers. The girls were fascinated by what I was doing and wanted to participate. So I helped them make their own pillows. While we were searching for fabric, they were having trouble deciding, and I mentioned that we could make skirts, too. "You can sew SKIRTS?" Well, the challenge was on, and here are photos of the end products. We all had fun.

 

HB!

Two of the reasons why August is always so hectic. Hard to believe that they are 6 already!

A Chihuly pose at the Corning Museum of Glass (a most excellent museum for young and old alike).

My Nephews' Samplers

I can't believe I forgot to post the pictures of these framed. The pictures are horrible, but you can see the framing OK. All three use the same frame and same green mat. The undermat is light blue on two and yellow on one. The framer did a fantastic job making them all the same height, as there's about an 1 to 2 inch difference between all of the samplers. The widths are all different, but close enough that the casual observer isn't going to notice.

My sister was delighted with them, and my oldest niece started campaigning to get a matching one with bling. I don't have a picture of hers, but it's very country-kitchen sort of design (I bought the pattern in colonial Williamsburg in 1992) and done in bubble gum colors. It was my sister's style when my niece was born, but it's so much not my niece. Since her birthday is also in November, I'd either re-do the middle pattern or find something similar.

Winter Thanks

Happy New Year! The holidays were quiet for us. We stayed in town, and only took a few days off. The girls went to day camps most of the time, but we had a few days of Mommy Camp, too, which they loved.

One day, we went to the Smithsonian American History Museum. I asked the girls which museum they wanted to see, and they decided they wanted to see the "presidents' dresses". So, off we went to the First Ladies gallery. They really enjoyed viewing all the dresses and wanted to know which First Ladies were still living.

We also visited a "pirate ship", saw Kermit the Frog, and viewed a phonograph. Of the three, the last was the most perplexing to them. I had planned to go see Julia Child's kitchen, but the girls energy was running out by then, and we were distracted by the doll house. I think we spent 20 minutes checking it out. It is really, really cool. A book about the doll house came home with us. We ended our visit with ice cream and took the Metro home. I think riding the Metro excited them almost as much as visiting the Museum.

On another day, we went to see Frozen. The girls loved it. I thought it was cute, but I'm not as enamored with it as many parents seem to be.

While I've been stitching, I don't have enough to show you a progress picture. Sadly. I also ran out of thank you cards, so I made a set of these quickly one afternoon while I was home with the girls. The design was inspired by a foggy day here in DC.

All products Stampin' Up [mostly retired]: Bordering Blue paper; 

White, Basic Brown, Close to Cocoa, and Baroque Burgundy inks; 

Branch Out, Itty Bitty Backgrounds, and Artfully Asian stamps.

More finishing!

Just in time to go to the needlework store tomorrow, I finished the last of the samplers for my nephews. I'm so excited. In all its beaded glory, I give you the Bluebell Sampler.

Furlough Finishing Flury

It rained last week. A lot. Here are a few of the projects that I finished. I'm having others do the final finishing on all of them and will show you pictures when I have them back. I am >< this close to having a happy dance on my other nephew's sampler. I also have a few other projects almost ready to show you. 

Bent Creek, The Pumpkin Flower Sampler

WDW Chrysanthemum, Mulberry, and Bullfrog

Buttons from Just Another Button Company in Plum 

(instead of the Tarnished Gold)

North Star sampler from the Sweetheart Tree

 Stitched on 28 ct Platinum Cashel with the recommended threads.  

The charm is from ArtBeads.

 

Acorn Garden Sampler from Patricia Ann designs. 

Stitched on 28 ct Platinum Cashel with the recommended threads. 

I may add a couple of crystal paillettes to this, to help it coordinate 

with the other two samplers for my nephews.

Of Pumpkins and Furloughs

This fall, I've made a concentrated effort to start stitching again. I'm mostly trying to finish up some works in progress, although I have also started a freebie stitched in two colors of DMC. I'm finding with my schedule, it's hard to stitch on projects on linen or with specialty threads, so I like having a project with DMC on Aida that I know I can wash when someone spills something all over it.

Last week, I finished this project that I had started last fall. I love, love, love this design. I need to order the beads to finish it, but I'm very happy with it. I altered the colors of the threads to match some fabric that I want to use when I turn it into something.

Bent Creek, The Pumpkin Flower Sampler

WDW Chrysanthemum, Mulberry, and Bullfrog

The next is the never-ending birth sampler that I've had to restart. This is the last project I need to complete (minus beading) to have all my niephlets' birth samplers done. I stitched most of the last section yesterday and this morning. I'm one of the 800,000+ on furlough thanks to the government shutdown. DH is also furloughed, so we're praying that the shutdown doesn't last too long. We're making the best of it for now, but if this goes on long term, the consequences for us, while not as completely dire as they are for some folks, will not be pleasant. Remember, DC (the City) is a federal entity, too.

 

Sweetheart Tree, Bluebells

 

Flipping Fairies

Have you paid any attention to children's television lately? I'll admit, we watch too much of it. And it's starting to get under my skin. Anything that's not marketed to the 3 and under set is ... well... kind of outrageous when you think about it. And I do think about it, sometimes. I know a lot has been written about this topic; I've read some of it over the years. It's really hitting home now, though, as I see what my girls are absorbing.

For example, what is wrong with this picture?



It's worse when you realize that the mythology of these fairies says that a fairy is born when a baby laughs. Then why the impractical, overly sexual clothing, folks? And why is there a focus on pairing up with the boys in the latest movie? They don't need to pair up.

Lately, NickJr has been promoting Winx dolls, which seemed cute, so we watched an episode tonight.



Egads! These are worse bodies than Barbie has! This show is marketed to the 7-10 year old crowd. I told DH that we won't be putting this into the regular rotation.

Since I don't see us curing ourselves of our TV addition any time soon, I would like to find some shows or movies that present somewhat normal looking girls who aren't looking -- or dressed -- for a hook up. Suggestions?

Thank you cards from years past

Happy New Year!

I feel like I'm still catching up from the Christmas holidays. We travelled this year, going first to visit my BIL in Atlanta and then to see my sister in NC. A lot of time on the road, but it was worth it. The girls really liked seeing their relatives.

I'm slowly writing all the Thank You notes that need to be sent. I purchased the ones I'm sending this year, but here are a few I've made in years past, using all stamping up products.

I'm working on an exchange piece for stitching. It's been fun working on something small. I like the colors I'm using, but the number of thread changes is slowing me down. The back is a mess, sadly. Pictures once my partner receives the piece.

In other news, it snowed here yesterday enough for the girls to go out and make snow angels before school. They were delighted. We didn't get enough dry snow last year to do anything with it, so they're doubly excited.

20 Years Ago

20 years ago, in the aftermath of this nor'easter, and while the Bills were beating the Broncos on the way to their 3rd AFC Championship, this is what we were doing.

Apples! Apples! Apples!

Last weekend, we drove out to Homestead Farms to pick apples and pumpkins. We had a lot of fun, and it turned into quite the adventure. We came home via White's Ferry (yes, a real ferry) and stumbled across a carnival when we stopped for dinner.

We also came home with a half a bushel of apples and an assortment of decorative pumpkins. This week, I've been trying to use the apples in cooking.  Here are two recipes for things that I put together that are a bit different than the usual pies and such. I made the first one to go with our pancake supper tonight.

Pancake Apples (for spreading over pancakes or maybe ice cream)

1/2 stick of butter
1 medium apple, cored and sliced thinly; peel if you want
1/4 C. real maple syrup (substitute brown sugar if you don't have the real stuff)
water
cinnamon

Melt the butter in a small frying pan over medium heat. Place the sliced apple in a single layer in the butter. After 1-2 minutes, flip the apple. After another minute, continue to saute for about 5 minutes. Add the maple syrup and enough water to cover the apples about 2/3 of the way. Mix well. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Spread the apples back out into a single layer in the pan and give them a dusting of cinnamon (don't be skimpy on the cinnamon; you want it a bit strong here). Mix well, continue stirring, and cook until the sauce begins to bubble and carmelize. Remove from heat and let cool slightly. If it gets cold, reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds before serving.

Chicken Sausage with Apple Salsa

mild olive oil or canola oil
1/4 - 1/2 C. onion, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced (don't use green ones here; you want them to be sweet)
4-6 chicken sausages with good seasoning
1 apple, cored and thinly sliced

apple cider (or chicken broth)
1 Tbsp. corn starch

In a large frying pan or skillet with a lid, heat 2 glugs of olive oil over medium heat, making sure there's enough oil to lightly cover the bottom of the pan. Saute the onion in the olive oil. When the onion starts to be translucent, add the red pepper and continue cooking. After 5 minutes, add the sausage and try to brown on all sides. When browned, add the sliced apple. Mix thoroughly and then add enough apple cider to halfway cover the sausages. Cover and simmer until the apples and peppers are soft and the sausages are cooked, flipping the sausages and stirring the mix once or twice while it's cooking. Remove the lid and let the cider reduce a bit. Remove the sausages and keep warm. Mix the corn starch with a bit of cold water and then add to the pan. Continue stirring the mix and cook for a few more minutes. A gravy-like chunky apple salsa should form. Serve the salsa over the sausages (and rice or potatoes, if desired).

I served this with a side of broccoli, and then realized that I could have made this a one-pot dish by adding some shredded cabbage or broccoli slaw to cook with the onions.

Happy First Day of Fall

It's hard to believe this is what we were doing 4 years ago today. 

Can you believe how tiny they were?

San Diego

We spent our second big summer vacation in southern California. DH and I lived in San Diego in the mid-1990s, and we really love San Diego. The girls loved it too, especially since we celebrated their 4th birthdays there.

L., cousin C., and A. bubble rolling in Long Beach. 

C.'s dad helped construct this; you can just see him behind A.'s bubble.

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. They also went to the Zoo, 

on a different day while I attended a professional conference.

Birthday Princess A.

Birthday Princess L. (looking like the Paper Bag princess!)

Cake! (They goofed on L.'s name.)

Candle time 

J., L., A., and C. at SeaWorld. 

They went there 4 times during the week! The girls loved SW.

L. dancing with J., a friend from DC, whose dad also was in San Diego

 to attend the same professional conference.

A. dancing by herself.

C., L., and A. watching the whales. (I have dozens of whale photos.)

What I Did on My Summer Vacation

We spent last week avoiding the heat of DC by visiting the Bahamas. It was my first time to the Caribbean, and it was wonderful.

We had our own private beach.

The girls and their grandfather built a sandcastle.

The view from the back of the house.

A marvelous sunset.

It was a very, very relaxing vacation. I even managed to work on some stitching from my Wipocalypse list. This birth sampler I started from scratch while there.

This replaces the sheep PIF piece I had planned. I had the red star and blue waves on this one done before we left. There are white stars on either arm of the red star that don't show up well. Here's a link to the PDF of the pattern.

We followed our tradition of watching A Capitol Fourth on PBS. And we managed not to have to go to Urgent Care at all this trip, although we had a close call when A. decided to bite the end off of a glow stick. (Fortunately, they are non-toxic, but still taste awful.)

Last Day of School

It doesn't seem like it was so long ago that it was the first day of school for my girls.

Then it was Christmas.

And the Spring Concert.

 

Finally, the last day of school. 

 

Where did the time go?

 

Summertime

Our summer is off to a good start. We spent a weekend at Solomon's Island. The girls are enjoying Adventure Camp. I'm enjoying the reduced laundry load (less bulky summer clothes + no white uniform shirts). We're working on a plan for our front yard, so that it's no longer just weeds and mulch.

The girls' love of swimming continues. They've discovered the diving board at our local pool. It's pure joy for them. DDL is so funny - she walks to the end, hops 3-8 times, and then jumps off. She started doing this after watching the Olympic trials for springboard diving. Never mind that she isn't yet 4 and has to wear a life vest while using the diving board. She and DDA watched someone dive backwards last weekend and wanted to try that too. Um, no.

I've made some bruscetta with farm fresh tomatoes (yummmm!). We also had some farm stand watermelon. Today I baked a rhubarb tart. I started stitching a small patriotic piece to send to a friend. I love summer. Now, if only I didn't have to work so much.

Palm Sunday

L on left; A on right

A Shameful Finish (AMOT)

Dear Loyal Readers,

There I was, doing so well with A Month of Thanks, and then I crashed and burned. Still, I had more posts in November than I've had in quite awhile.

To finish up the series, I give you a week of thanks:

24: Thanksgiving Day: I am thankful that I live in a land of bounty and that we could share some of our bounty with others.

25: Black Friday: Ever so grateful that I didn't need to be anywhere near a store. We had an uneventful flight home. Thankful also for the chauffeur we hired (he drove our car to and from the airport for us), which made the ride home with tired, hungry children more manageable.

26-27: Thankful for days of rest and recuperation. Saturday, we took care of a bunch of errands (groceries, laundry). On Sunday, the weather was nice, so we went outside to do some long overdue yardwork. We accomplished a lot, but we didn't feel rushed, and it was nice to be home for the weekend after travelling.

28: Thankful for our cats. They're little dogs in cat bodies. They were delighted we were home and cuddly for days after our return. They remind me to slow down and enjoy some affection.

29: Thankful for family, immediate and extended. Mine's a real mixed bag of personalities and disfunctions, but they're mine, and they love me. And I love them.

30: Thankful for my spouse. We met 20 years ago, and it always surprises me that we're not completely sick of each other by now. There were times when I wasn't sure we were going to make it, but we found out how to be a team and have made it work. For this, I am truly and completely grateful.

Crafting Together

Today is my mom's birthday. Happy Birthday, Mom!

It is from my mom and my grandmothers that I learned to craft. I remember making stuff for as long as I can remember. Grandma S. used to knit and crochet. I still have 2 pairs of mittens she knit for me back in the 1980s. She taught me to crochet granny squares. Grandma A. was more into glitter and glue. Over the years, we made a lot of different Christmas ornaments out of all sorts of styrofoam and beads. Mom would sew and crochet mostly. She also did some embroidery.

While none of them were particularly into cross stitching or rubber stamping, it is from them that I learned my love of crafting. I've started doing easy projects with the girls, to get them interested too. To that end, the three of us made these cards. The girls helped stamp the leaves and acorns. L. at first didn't want to share her paper. She wanted to stamp only red leaves on her paper. We finally convinced here to pass the paper around, and so produced the following background paper.

Today, I am thankful for being able to craft, especially with my family.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!