What's a Girl To Do?

So, yesterday I am sitting at the computer and lurking on some blogs for a quick moment here and there and I stop in over at Silly Happy Sweet as I do upon occasion.  And, doesn't she have a picture of some fabric that she just bought from Fat Quarter Shop that CANNOT POSSIBLY BE TRUE.  Do you SEE this fabric????  Does anyone who has been around my house know the significance of this particular fabric?

American Jane for Moda Fabrics

There are my girls:  Judy, Jill and Jean!!!!!!

American Jane for Moda Fabrics

Oh, SWOON.  Now how do I resist making a quilt out of this... make that that TWO quilts as Ellie has a set of bunks waiting for her....  what's a girl to do?  I have absolutely no experience making a quilt, have no money to spend on this fabric and I am just DYING inside to make this for her room.  I mean... what are the chances that the EXACT paper dolls I choose to decorate her room end up as fabric????  It's got to be some kind of sign.

Right?

Oh, rats.

Done vs. To Do

Today I have started to make a list of the things I have actually DONE, as opposed to a "To Do" list.  That list would SERIOUSLY crush the the things accomplished.  Here's what I have so far:

1.  Picked up the LR and vac

2.  Ran dishwasher

3. Numerous loads of laundry (still not making a dent)

4.  Packed away snowsuits and the heaviest of coats (in spite of it SNOWING this morning, I am choosing to be an optimist here)

5.  Packed away heaviest of winter sweaters and boots (some boots still to go) and pulled out spring and summer stuff

6.  Finished Ellerie's birthday crown

Ta-Da!  She actually gets a little "outfit" as I came across some cheap stuff to go with it.  1.50 Fairy wand, 1.75 Target clearance glittery tutu skirt.  

A birdie for my little birdie:

More flowers and initial:

And, just to clarify (*ahem*  Meg), I've been working on this here and there for a couple weeks now.  Not just this afternoon.

And, to further clarify what it means when I work on ANYTHING except housework for any length of time, here is my sewing room/office:

Multiply that by every other room in my house (excepting the LR, which I did pick up and vac, see item 1) and you have my humble abode.  Please Child Services, don't take my kids away from me.  I do try to maintain some, albeit low, level of actual cleanliness.  

Love that Nicola has been finding this amusing lately as well!

Visiting Again

Off again this morning to see Korana and this darling little one she just popped out last week.  Hello Adalyn May; so good to meet you!

Adalyn was a sweet little doll as only a new sort of newborn can be and the older kids played very nicely upstairs so the mamas could have coffee and chat in peace.  Korana bestowed her discarded knitting things upon me (yea!) and let me sift through a huge pile of vintage buttons (double yea!).  I really think I could look through piles of vintage buttons all day.  My friend and I both agreed we could feel our blood pressure dropping, so we are pretty darn sure it actually has medical benefits.  I wonder if my insurance would cover some ebay button lots?

All in all, a lovely morning, although I have returned to a DISASTER of a house (this seems to be a recurring theme around here) and my stress levels are already back through the roof as I have also recently just figured out that I have less than two weeks until Ellie's birthday and our vacation!  EEEEEK!!!  (imagine this noise as both extremely excited and very, very wigged out)

But the baby fix was worth it, as there won't be anymore coming from me.  Yeah, as dear as she is, I don't miss the sleepless nights, the guessing what's wrong, the diapers every five minutes.  In fact, I am actually looking forward to a stage where I am DONE with diapers and nap schedules and cutting everyone's food for them.  Don't worry, I'm not trying to rush things.  I don't mind enjoying now, I'm just saying that it feels good to not be sad about leaving it ALL behind.  

Off to roll in a pile of buttons before I have an anxiety attack from all the piles of stuff all over the place here.  Kidding.  But I sort of wish I wasn't.....

Suburban Blues

Yesterday was lovely.  Going to Megan's is like going home to me.  But today I feeling bluesy about being in the 'burbs and not the country.  I know I need to focus on making THIS space as comfy for us as I can.... and I will.  But not today.  Today I am going to wallow just a bit in this darling family being too far from me and in my being too far from some acres and woods.

It was good to be outside, even in the cold.  We all loaded up on the Kubota and headed up the road to their camp.

Oh, a hike in the woods, even a short, cold, muddy one, is good for the soul. 

Heck, maybe it's good for the soul because it IS short and cold and muddy.  Anyway, it was perfect and I am itching to go back already.  Next time, with some boots ;-)

Quick Update

Just wanted to stop here quickly and tell everyone thank you for your prayers and get-well-soon wishes.  Yesterday, Tate was much better.... kept everything down (always a plus!) and was even playing.  By no small miracle, we the rest of us were all spared from this one.  Today he is back to preschool and we are off this afternoon for a visit to see my dearest friend, Meg.  Blessing to you all!

Back in the Ring

This little guy has gone and got himself another GI virus.

**DING**

There's the bell for Round #2.....

Honeymooners

A new relationship can be a tricky thing.  There is always so much worry and fuss over saying the wrong thing or making a bad impression, or the sinking feeling that you know the other party will do or say something soon that isn't going to sit well with you and it'll be done.  But along with the anxiety, comes a sweet fulfillment in the ones that go the right way.  And, once in awhile, comes along a real gem; one that you know will survive thick and thin and will always be worth the time and the care and the effort it takes to really cultivate love.  

Then you get the honeymoon.  That sweet phase where almost nothing can go wrong and, if it does, you work through it with a kind of thoughtfulness and bliss truly reserved for the most beautiful of relationships.

And that, my friends, is exactly how I feel about knitting.

This hat?  A complete obsession yesterday.  I could not put it down.  Every time I was forced to (darn kids ;-)  I was just itching to get at it again.  It is not really a thing of beauty.  I didn't know how to finish off the brim because I don't know how to crochet and don't own a crochet hook, so it is just a roll brim.  The back seam is not done that well and makes me wish I had forced myself to try it in the round (something I am currently a little scared of).  It has a sort of gnomish quality that is cute in a certain way, but makes me think entirely too much of a giant nipple.  But none of it matters, because I am still in love.

That is the beauty of the honeymoon.