No Time Like the Present, Right?

I’ve wanted to make a granny square afghan for years. I’m not exactly sure why. Something about them feels so… homey. So, cozy and grandma-y, I guess. So, I’ve decided -- now’s the time to learn how! As with all projects here, I don’t expect it to be done anytime soon. But, that’s okay. It’s the getting started -- or the not getting started, I should say -- that bothers me.

Check out this great tutorial on The Purl Bee, even if you already know how to make a granny square. This blog is beautiful!

I’m learning not to let projects get buried; keep them on a tabletop (or where I can see them) alongside all the needed materials and tools -- this is key (which includes any instructions that I will forget while it’s not being worked on and the actual crochet hook I am using, even though this means owning multiples -- that’s ok!). This way, even if I have just a few minutes, it’s all time spent working and not on gathering and prepping. Because, guess what -- time’s up!

Here's my start.  I'm not wild about this shade of green though.  My thought was that the blanket would be a garden of flowers, full of different colors.  We'll see.  It's a work in progress!  I have a feeling these will end up as tiny doll blankets in the dollhouse (and around the house), and my "blanket" idea will morph into something else with granny squares.  That's great, too!


It’s fun to teach Sela to crochet, too. My favorite beginning crochet book is Kid’s Crochet: Projects for Kids of All Ages by Ronci and Corwin. It’s good for kids as well as for adults like me who don’t have time to do complicated projects but want to create a little something. I’m even going to try making their simple sweater sometime! I think I can, I think I can…

Linus is happy playing with the yarn. He likes to be included. Wonder what he’ll come up with…

Valentine’s Day + Math = Fun

We belong to a math co-op where our children enjoy math in such fun ways. No worksheets or flashcards here! They play, they fold, they craft, they discover.
I thought of our math friends when I found these fun Valentine-making instructions. I liked the magic message cards, folding hearts, heart-in-the-fold Valentine, bonbon-filled hearts, and origami hearts.
 

Sela decided to make Gnome Sweet Gnome Valentines. There’s math here, too: fractions, multiplication, measuring, addition, subtraction. It’s all good stuff!


And what Valentine’s Day would be complete without sweets? Cooking is a great way to do math -- wouldn’t you agree? I can’t decide whether we’ll make whoopie pies, cupcakes for Cupid, window pane hearts, conversation heart fudge, or sweet fortune cookies. Hmmm… Or should I say, “Mmmm!”?

 

Gung Hay Fat Choy!

Today marks the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year -- this is the Year of the Rabbit.

My friend tells me that the easy-going rabbit will bring more peace and tranquility than the aggressive and eventful Year of the Tiger.

Noodles are customarily served to symbolize long life -- we made these Easy Chinese Noodles to jump start our family time!

Easy Chinese Noodles (from Family Fun)

3 Tbsp sesame oil
3 Tbsp soy sauce
2 Tbsp salt
2 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
4 Tbsp chopped scallions
1 pkg thin spaghetti or noodle of your choice

Cook pasta according to package directions. Mix sauce ingredients in separate bowl and toss with cooked pasta. You could easily add vegetables and the protein of your choice, but this is the version that gets happily slurped up by the sheep in my family.

And I can never resist a good book : ) We love the first and will be looking at the library for the second!

Lion Dancer: Ernie Wan's Chinese New Year by Kate Waters & Madeline Sklovenz-Low
The Rooster's Antlers: A Story of the Chinese Zodiac by Eric Kimmel

Peace, happiness and prosperity to all!

Cupid's Arrows

It's February 1st, and, boy, do I have Cupid and his arrows on my mind.
Sela was playing with pipe cleaners and brought these to me.  (If you haven't taken out the pipe cleaners lately, you really should!  For silly fun for the whole family try these just to get you started.  Or maybe these funny guys.)

Then I found this cute and quirky Valentine's Day decoration on my new favorite blog, Smile and Wave -- I love it and can't wait to make it!

(The picture would not be complete if I left out the giggling I did last night when Michael Scott called them "Cupid's Sparrows.")

I was not giggling later when Linus woke up all night long because he has a cold.  I was exhausted.  By the wee hours of the morning I decided it was Daddy's turn to try out rocking --rather than nursing -- back to sleep so that I could get a little rest.
Linus: "Mama."
Mama: "Yes, baby?" lovingly & patiently because, although I've been up all night, I am about to get a little sleep.
Linus: "Saaaaaaad."
Mama: "You're sad?  Why are you sad?"
Linus: "Nose.  Nurse."
Thwak.  Shot through the heart again.  I'm his.  We nursed & we both felt better.

Lights and Display Contest

S and I set out to make our gingerbread houses for the Camellia Waldorf Winter Faire, organized by my amazing friend.  Charged to make something "different from the box," I was inspired by my children.  After all, L's name was suggested by big sis after watching "A Charlie Brown Christmas" during a queasy first few months of pregnancy.  He's a very sweet guy & there are others with the name, too... it stuck.

I was hopeful about my beginning...

Feeling good after light mist from

spray bottle left over from scorching 1st birthday party helped my "roof" to stick.

Phew.

Ok...  This looks like Snoopy's doghouse.  Now for the show.

Feeling good!

Ta-daaaa!

View from behind - I had to include because

I just love the lights!

S's gingerbread cottage is the third from the left, on the cake stand.

You really should come check out the show and silent auction next year.

Really, you should enter a gingerbread creation!

Sky's the limit...

Kids create their own at the gingerbread workshop at the Faire.

S's sweet (hee-hee) cottage.

What fun!

Forgot these...

No, this time I really packed up the fall decor... really. I even remembered there was a fall

wreath on the front door!

I considered not putting up these pictures, but decided they just brought me so much

happiness this fall that they had to be included, too!

Did you make these when you were a kid?

Turkey 2009 & 2010

Well, these are tiny & feel wintery. They can stay : )

Out with the old (holiday)

Finally putting away the Halloween decorations.
Sad to see these guys go...



and these guys...

and I'll miss her encouraging words every morning when I brush my teeth!

But we'll leave as much fall as we can --

... until it's engulfed by Christmas decorations!

Now these fall cuties -- they're keepers!

Happy Fall!