Yarn Along

I haven't taken a picture yet of what I am working on. I just cast on this yarn in the colorway Denim. What my plan is, is to make a Totoro for Rowan. I am going to knit a big tube and then felt it and try and sort of fashion the guy from that doing something like this . If the felting goes as planned then I can just sort of add a white belly with wool felt and do the same for his eyes and then just use embroidery floss for his nose... that is the plan anyways. LOL

We are reading a few books right now, still plugging away at The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, and since it is sort of becoming winter-ish here we are reading The Mitten and The Hat by Jan Brett. Those are such lovely, fun books.

I have to say, I am very happy with what I have created this last few weeks. I have never given the children any homemade gifts during the holidays, it is so much fun to knit all these hats and mitts. I dream/goal for next year... sweaters!

The Sweater vest

I have been really excited about this sweater vest for Fiona. I used this basic pattern, and tweaked it a bit. I Instead of two front panels and sleeves, I pretty much made two back panels and made straps to go over her shoulders. I also just did a boarder of garter stitch, and did the middle area in a stockinette stitch. On the back (which I thought was going to be the front) I knitted a heart (I got the idea from Stitch n' Bitch ). It turned out really well I think. I got the super cute hedgehog buttons from Bread and Buttons (another Soulemama suggestion). I am really liking this little project, makes me want to try something a bit more challenging.

Our Table

I was inspired by Soulemama today. She blogged about her new table that her husband made for them just in time for thanksgiving. I too have an amazingly beautiful table, mine was made for us by my daddy. He made it to fit just perfect in our little Tucson house, but it has made the trip across the country and back and fits perfect no matter where we are. It serves as our meal time gathering place, a place for arts and crafts, a place for family games, and a place for family talks.

There is just something about an awesome dinner table.

Over the weekend

We had a wonderful weekend. Friday we started decorating the house. I think it will be a process this year, usually it is sort of all done at once, but the tree situation is still being thought out so for now we have a garland hung in the living room, the hutch in the dining room is looking lovely and a few other fanciness are happening all over the house.

We took the younger children to the zoo on Saturday. Mike hadn't been since before Fiona was born. He has a less lazy approach to zoo visits then I do. I tend to just sort of meander through the place not really concerned with seeing the whole thing, but he is very much all about getting through it... all of it. LOL I think, in a way, it sort of symbolizes how different our day to day lives are. He has a much more goal oriented life with schedules, and dead lines and stuff that just MUST be done, were as I, being a homemaker and a homeschooling mama, well things are just a bit more laid back. I guess that is why we are so perfect for each other.

I was able to finish ALL the holiday hats this weekend and at this moment I am about 3/4 done with Fiona's sweater vest. I am very excited about that. Now I just have to knit up fingerless gloves (4 more sets), get three stockings finished (just adding the decorations, not actually knitting them), and I have two more gifts I need to get done... maybe three. LOL So much to do!

We also are going to sort of celebrate Advent this year. I have been very inspired by Waldorfmama's celebration of Advent over the last couple of years. I set up a place on the hutch for our Advent things, a bowl for the rock, a candle for each week, I have Gaia and the Greenman there also. As the next 4 weeks go by we will be adding plants, animals and then final mankind. I think it should be very inspiring. I am going to try and find a blessing for each week to say at dinner that sort of focuses on what each week is about. We shall see, it is all new to us.

Have a lovely week.

This Moment

This Moment, inspired by Soulemama and Waldorfmama, a single photo capturing a moment from the week, a moment to pause savor and remember.

This week, I am grateful for:

*short school weeks

*pie

*family

*knitting

*yarn

*moments to just BE

*a messy house

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving day at Grandma Flo and Papa Jim's house.

Yarn Along

Last week I had just started on a hat for one of the kids, but was so inspired by this blog and this hat pattern that I frogged the hat and started over. I was able to finish it all up over the weekend and I must say I love it. I actually finished the hat that is just started in this photograph, i finished it up Monday while we lazed about the house. Although I am happy with how the hat was knitted, I am really not liking the colorway of the yarn, it knitted up a bit camo, which I was not really going for. Still I think my son will like it. I am working on the last hat for the kids right now and I am really excited about this one too. I am going to try and close it off with a sort of pinwheel look on top with tassels on each corner.

While at the library the boys and I picked out a few books, on called "OK, Go!" We really like it, the art inside is very cool and although I didn't know it when I picked the book it is an environmental book too.

I am really enjoying being part of the Yarn Along started by Small Things. So many great ideas!

Moments from Monday

Monday was filled with puzzle assembly, more moon dough play and Fiona just crawling around and exploring things. I was able to knit a hat in between fixing meals, nursing the baby, clean up the amazingly HUGE mess that comes with moon dough and all the many other things I do all day, but that seem to get lost in my mind some place.

Bowling with our buddies

What a great way to end a busy week. The boys, Fiona and I went bowling with our homeschooling friends. There is nothing like bowling with children and friends. We had such a great time. I can't help but feel so blessed for having been welcomed into such an awesome and loving community.

It was so nice to have Logan come along, it has been awhile since he went out with me and the littles, I think he had a pretty good time he got 4 strikes! I even got in on the action, bowling with Fiona in the sling... but the only pictures of me are of my fanny and well that isn't gonna be posted on the blog. LOL