a little inspiration

You: :Have four teeth coming in on the top, all out of order and you look a little snaggle toothed.  Cutie! :Are quite determined to be standing as much as you can.  I see you lift your hands and balance for a moment or two at a time.  Ack!! :Are exploring all the drawers and cabinets in the house. I am trying not to go crazy with child protection devices.  We'll see how long that lasts. :Clap for food, music, laughs, your brother, and anything else you find find fun. :Wave hello and bye-bye.  It is so cute I can hardly stand it. :Still have that lovely curvy profile that I adore.  When you sit the curve of your head into your neck and down to your bum is so irresistible.  I always want to kiss you. :Loved your first Christmas.  Opening presents was fun and eggnog french toast was a total hit! :Love to hold Nickie Blah doll and pat him on the head. :Always pull one sock off. :Really love to look at the big picture book  and flip ...

After all the things I've made over the years, all the time sewing and crocheting and pattern making and altering you'd think a Christmas stocking would be a walk in the park.  Not so this one.  It took three attempts, one broken needle (!) and a trip to my favorite local fabric store, Kitsch , to make this incredibly simple stocking. If I remember correctly, when I made E's it wasn't so easy either.  In fact, his came out backwards.  What is it that is so hard about this simple project for me?  I've no idea. But it is a good metaphor for all the simple things I make hard for myself each and every day.  I know that sometimes I am just making it harder for me (because really, if you are making it hard for those around you who suffers? You got it.)  I've been trying really, really, REALLY hard to stop it.  Just stop completely and back off.  With any luck, by the time I'm 85 I'll have the hang of it.  I already know I am better at i...

Well hello!  Look at these little lady bunnies!! Mable and Sable are twin sisters.  They like many of the same things but each have their own sense of style and character.  Mable likes pretending to be a mouse ( Mrs. Frisby to be exact), playing with dirty children (you can tell by her already dirty dress), and having her ears nibbled by teething tots.  Sable is a little more reserved with my children, she is ready for an adventure and has just gone off to make her way in the world. I felt one day that I had to make a little bunny doll for Anjali and when I said it Emerson suggested making a second one for our newest little friend in Baltimore.  I thought it was the perfect idea.  I'd like to make about a dozen more for the many little friends we know.  I can tell they are good toys because everyone in the house wants to play with them. Of course, once they were here I knew they needed dresses.  Crocheted sweater dresses to keep the c...

Part One: Walk a giant, sweet, furry llama. Part Two: Be in the band with Papa and have groupies. And now? Good night all.

In our house chapter books have just been started.  This is so exciting we all are jumping for joy.  Sure, Anjali is looking at the same books we've been seeing the last four years (which is oh so sweet), but E is on to something completely new.   We started with with Mrs Frisby and the Rats of Nimh .  He is obsessed.  None of us go by our right name anymore.  I alternate between Mrs Frisby and Isabella, John is Justin or Nicodemus, Anjali is Cynthia, and E is any of the characters depending on his mood.  He tells people when they ask his name, "Nicodemus" or "Mrs Frisby" or "Mr Ages" without a blink.  All our little stuffed friends get in on it too.  We've read through it twice.  When we got to the end the first time he wanted to start over right away.  I love reading this way too, a really good book just sometimes needs a second, closer reading.  John hates this and I don't think he'd ever watch the same movie or read th...