Sharonnz

"Let's just call it summer!"

2011-11-12T23:48:00.000-08:00

Thus declared Miss Nine this afternoon. First BBQ of the season. Done.

Best thing I bought this week? An EGG SLICER. A must for the hard-boiled eggs atop my summer salads;-)

SweetPea

2011-11-12T22:56:00.000-08:00

I had a blissful weekend, hosting my Mind Twin. We hit Petone for a wander and found SweetPea for a wee bite to eat. I grabbed half a dozen of their scrummy cupcakes for afternoon tea. I did share them;-) Delicious! We saw another cupcake place, The Cupcakery, is going to open too! So Petone is clearly now a cupcake lovers mecca.

Sewing It

2011-11-08T18:35:00.001-08:00

My parents have joined the e-reader revolution and bought themselves Kindles. This was a super easy, fun project. It just about took more time to select the fabrics than do the sewing.

Sustaining It

2011-11-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

Wendell Berry:

How can a sustainable local community (which is to say a sustainable local economy) function? I am going to suggest a set of rules that I think such a community would have to follow. I hasten to say that I do not understand these rules as predictions; I am not interested in foretelling the future. If these rules have any validity, it is because they apply now.

Supposing that the members of a local community wanted their community to cohere, to flourish, and to last, they would:

1. Always ask of any proposed change or innovation: What will this do to our community? How will this affect our common wealth.

2. Always include local nature – the land, the water, the air, the native creatures – within the membership of the community.

3. Always ask how local needs might be supplied from local sources, including the mutual help of neighbors.

4. Always supply local needs first (and only then think of exporting products – first to nearby cities, then to others).

5. Understand the ultimate unsoundness of the industrial doctrine of ‘labor saving’ if that implies poor work, unemployment, or any kind of pollution or contamination.

6. Develop properly scaled value-adding industries for local products to ensure that the community does not become merely a colony of national or global economy.

7. Develop small-scale industries and businesses to support the local farm and/or forest economy.

8. Strive to supply as much of the community’s own energy as possible.

9. Strive to increase earnings (in whatever form) within the community for as long as possible before they are paid out.

10. Make sure that money paid into the local economy circulates within the community and decrease expenditures outside the community.

11. Make the community able to invest in itself by maintaining its properties, keeping itself clean (without dirtying some other place), caring for its old people, and teaching its children.

12. See that the old and young take care of one another. The young must learn from the old, not necessarily, and not always in school. There must be no institutionalised childcare and no homes for the aged. The community knows and remembers itself by the association of old and young.

13. Account for costs now conventionally hidden or externalised. Whenever possible, these must be debited against monetary income.

14. Look into the possible uses of local currency, community-funded loan programs, systems of barter, and the like.

15. Always be aware of the economic value of neighborly acts. In our time, the costs of living are greatly increased by the loss of neighborhood, which leaves people to face their calamities alone.

16. A rural community should always be acquainted and interconnected with community-minded people in nearby towns and cities.

17. A sustainable rural economy will depend on urban consumers loyal to local products. Therefore, we are talking about an economy that will always be more cooperative than competitive.

(From a speech delivered by ‘mad’ farmer, author, and cultural critic Wendell Berry November 11, 1994 at the 23rd annual meeting of the Northern Plains Resource Council. Sourced here.)

Quilting It

2011-10-23T16:25:00.001-07:00

I finished a very simple lap quilt for the young man of the house last week. Very simple but it still produced a satisfying sense of achievement - of a completed project and of using stash fabrics.

Wearing It

2011-09-04T19:49:00.001-07:00

I'm working hard on improving my sewing from the slap-happy beginner I am. My main struggle is with getting the fit right. I finished this dress back in June - just when it got too cold to wear it. Next time I'll downsize the top even more and attempt a proper Small Bust Adjustment. It's a forgiving fit being a wrap dress.

I bought Pip's Sew La Tea Do purely on the basis of the wrap around skirt pattern. The fabric screamed Holly Hobbie to me. Just the thing I was right into last time I wore wrap around skirts! Yeah, t-shirt doesn't match - will sort that out before summer.

And the Tunic dress from Sew La Tea Do. Again, I started out making it in the wrong size, then realised that women of a certain age and figure can't really wear tunics without looking like they're wearing a paper bag. So a bit of hacking and sewing makes this more wearable. Just.

Winning It

2011-08-07T13:55:00.000-07:00

I was blessed to win a giveaway SweetP had on her blog a while ago. I scored this fun Tri'Coterie self-striping sock yarn which I whipped up into a pair of plain toe-up socks for ME (despite begging from other residents). It's Maylin's Red Queen colourway and I love the FUN of the stripes. SweetP also sent a sweet project bag, cute owl stickers and sweeties! It was such a lovely parcel to receive. Mwah!

Making It

2011-08-04T17:15:00.001-07:00

Sewing It: Schoolhouse Tunic - turned into a dress with front closures.

Knitting It: Leaflet Cardigan - great layering piece.

Quilting It

2011-08-03T16:45:00.001-07:00

I read The Happiness Project recently, and Gretchen's Personal Commandment to Spend Out challenged me. So I opened the fabric stash and grabbed my Ginger Blossom that I've had for an embarrassing three years. Ugh. I hacked into it and whipped up this lap quilt (50" x 60") in one week. It's my second ever quilt, and the first one I've sandwiched, machine quilted and bound myself. I'm feeling very proud and satisfied seeing the kids using it every day on the couch.

Next target - that Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric in the same three year old post and some Michael Millar retro cowboy stuff I've also had sitting for far too long!

Baking It

2011-08-02T21:15:00.001-07:00

For the birds: Bird Seed Treats - to hang in our wintery trees.

For the monkeys: Honeycomb Popcorn Clusters - no, I don't style my food like Donna Hay before taking a pic. These were made with our allotment grown miniature black popping corn.

Wearing It

2011-06-28T22:18:00.000-07:00

Winter Wardrobe Wednesday

Cardy: House of G
Knit for Tattoos T-shirt: Natalie Dee
Yoga Pants: Bamboo Body (bought yonks ago at Organic Baby in Petone)
Manky Slippers complete with toe air-holes: Egmont Tanneries
Accessories: Mister Six
Blurry Photo: Hubby not wearing his glasses

We're reading one of our favourite books - the illustrations of Seasons give me the warm fuzzies.

Learning It

2011-06-26T21:43:00.000-07:00

Pirates learn French.

Pirate Cowgirls learn maths. Relaxed on the couch. Cuz you can do that at home.

Boys learn fine motor skills. Good for the handwriting.

I was able to flick through Rip the Page while visiting a Soul Sister in Auckland recently, after seeing it around the home-learning blogosphere. Looks worth a crack for ALL of us to try some creative writing this year. It's good for the Mum to keep Learning It too!

Twitching It

2011-06-25T20:10:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again! The Annual Garden Bird Survey! Join me for an hour this week, sitting and counting the birds in my garden. We get a wee bit cheatie and lure them in with lard and seed treats.

Fridaying It

2011-06-23T19:02:00.000-07:00

It's been a funny old week. I had a minor op which will hopefully sort out, once and for all, an annoying problem. I'm feeling very grateful that we've been able to maintain a level of insurance that meant I could have this done when I needed it done, not when the public health system thought I needed it done.

Some needed distractions:

Making It...a Stripe Study Shawl which won't be stripey since I'm using a variegated yarn throughout. I couldn't resist it when I visited The Little Craft Store in Auckland recently.

Reading It...Inside Stories. It wasn't going to cut it waiting at 21st on our library's reserve list. Thankfully, my mother-in-law had gifted me a Parsons book voucher earlier in the year so I could get my grubby little housewifely mitts on this. (Despite being in love with my Kindle I haven't given up my true love of a real book in the hands, especially NZ ones!)

Growing It

2011-06-20T18:27:00.000-07:00

Family circumstances this year have left me feeling a little frustrated with where our gardening is at. I've had my garlic and tree onions ready to be planted for a couple of months now, and even prepped the beds properly. I was hoping to get a bit of a jump on cooling soil temperatures. Now, it's Winter Solstice already and the garlic are still sitting there unlikely to be planted any time soon. As much as the Solstice is about a return to light and longer (colder!) days, for me it will also be about letting go and rolling with what life throws at us.

Making It

2011-06-19T21:38:00.001-07:00

I feel I need a little positive encouragement in some of our lifestyle choices at the moment so bought myself Making It. I enjoy reading Kelly & Erik's blog - because they sound so, um, normal, and their efforts look like things we can actually do here and now. Sure enough...Project 1: Olive Oil Lamps. I had the licorice tin, the wick (doesn't everyone have wick just laying around?) and of course, the olive oil. Voila! The kids are thrilled with it. We're all looking forward to going slowly through the book and ticking a few more things off...some we're already doing, some very achievable.

And again...

2011-06-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Recurring theme...

I'm not so into the hipster, smart, modern looking e-reader accessories so whipped up this "granny chic" Kindle Cozy. Instead of (sensibly) using stash fabric and going all matchy matchy with my Laptop Cozy I was hooked on using some home decor weight linen. Unfortunately it's ended up a bit more granny than chic but was lovely to sew with and has given me a nice, thick, safe result.

And again...

2011-06-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

Recurring theme...

Love, love, LOVE English paper piecing. This will be a lap quilt for the couch. They're 2" hexagons so it's not too daunting for me. Some of the repro' fabrics were gifted to me by one of my Soul Sisters so it's a very special, mindful project for me.

And again...

2011-06-15T17:59:00.001-07:00

Recurring theme...

Winter Wardrobe Wednesday

2011-06-14T18:40:00.001-07:00

I've been a little horrified at how quickly Winter Wardrobe Wednesday comes around each week on other people's blogs!

Much needed new haircut: James at Wildelocks on Cuba.

Cardy: House of G.

Dress: Thrifted. 50 cents! Go Levin!

Pants: Moa - my new winter wardrobe staple.

Shoes: Simple leather High Tops

More Autumn Knits

2011-05-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

I have finished a variety of knitted objects while I've been somewhat inactive. Yes, that unusually shaped jersey IS for a dog - my sister's daschund, Lottie. Crazy, I've gone crazy. Knitting for a dog. Golly.

Baby knitting to use up stash yarn. This wee cardy is a lovely new pattern from Kelly. I've cast on another one already.

More socks for ME. These are modeled by my big girl who is trying to tell me that she fits my socks and shoes. Not quite yet!
More stashing busting - a felted tote.
I knitted Master Six this vest which fits his nearly 12 year old sister better - oops.
Plenty more knitting planned for the winter months ahead.

Winter Slipper Factory

2011-05-09T16:44:00.001-07:00

Pair of felted slippers for each child. DONE.

John Barleycorn

2011-05-05T22:49:00.001-07:00

We've been enjoying a CD of Celtic Songs for Children alongside our learning this term. One of the songs is a traditional English folk tune called John Barleycorn - about turning barley into beer - a subject close to the heart of Man of the House. In yet another moment of home learning serendipity I discovered this awesome book at the library this week.

The farmer would have a corn doll in a place of honour over the mantle. We made some corn/wool dollies today and I've put one on my mantle. Maybe it will ensure a better barley harvest for Hubby. Sadly, the birds got all of his last one.

We did have a good self-sown pumpkin harvest this year. I'm seeing soup and pie in my future.

We found this lovely mushroom specimen in our garden this morning too.

Autumn Knits

2011-04-24T21:46:00.001-07:00

A gorgeous group of girlfriends gifted me (howzat for alliteration?) this stunning yarn as a pick me up after a recent bout of ill health. See, I'm smiling - it worked! They even matched it perfectly to my current WIP (Work in Progress) ink;-) Of course I had to use a pattern designed by one of them. Scrummy, scrummy, scrummy scarf for winter.

I'm trying to perfect my "gazing thoughtfully into the distance" look but am really thinking about how badly I need a haircut after being housebound for a weeny while. My Finished Object is a jubbly winter cardy. I am such the cardy gal so am super pleased with how this turned out. Not too big, not too small - JUST right!

The weather has turned and so have my thoughts, to planning my Winter Knits.

Procrastination

2011-04-24T20:18:00.001-07:00

Um, yes. It's amazing what urgent and important knitting projects you can find when you have other jobs you should be doing around the house. I have named him Procrastinatowl.

First Stitches of Last Child

2011-04-23T19:37:00.000-07:00

The girls and I made a field trip to Craft 2.0 yesterday. We were tasked with choosing a little something for Mr Six. I quickly realised that six year old boys are not the target demographic of many of the stall holders. We were rescued by SuperVery who sold us a very cute Sock Owl kit. Easter Sunday is damp and dull here - perfect conditions for parking the kids on Mum's bed for some stitching, fueled by Easter chocolate.

Didn't he do well on his first stitching!

Crafty boys need their very own needle case for their supplies so Mum had to oblige.

Easter

2011-04-22T14:39:00.001-07:00

With life as it is at the moment, my Easter crafting has been done FOR the kids, not WITH the kids.

Tiger, Tiger

2011-04-20T02:45:00.000-07:00

My son's hair out-tigers the tiger.

School's Back!

2011-02-05T17:31:00.001-08:00

Back into it for another year. We started as we mean to go on during our "first week back". European Masters exhibition at the museum, beach picnic, Foxton Fizz 'spiders' at a cafe by another beach, scoping out a new bike for Mum, big city library, then local library, a horse riding field trip, another beach picnic, coffee with friends, swimming. I'm not convinced I can maintain the high standard for fun and outings I set this week! It was interspersed with lashings of read alouds, cracking open brand spanking new workbooks (yes, we use them!) and stationery.

It's true!

2010-12-26T20:22:00.001-08:00

Yes, it's true. I will knit for tattoos. Must send this to my artist to see if we can strike a deal;-)

A joyful Christmas spent with my wider family has been and gone. Now to focus on stuff for 2011. Mainly knitting plans at this stage of the year, with a cosmopolitan in hand.

Happy St Nicholas Day

2010-12-05T13:39:00.000-08:00

I'm all about appropriating practices from other cultures to make Advent time a more intentional, reflective and considered time for my children. And who can complain about chocolate and spicy dutch biscuits to commemorate the Patron Saint of Children!

Weekend

2010-12-03T20:52:00.001-08:00

Time to get all Christmassy up in here. The resident young man had requested some red and green socks for a while. Turns out they look like Christmas socks. All good. Except our weather is decidedly UN sock-like. So I've made them a bit longer for when it turns on us again.

Preps for Christmas are slowly underway. I'm trying to keep it all relaxed with many Margaritas, much hooping and a bit of ukuleleing.

Weekend

2010-11-30T11:55:00.000-08:00

Um yeah. I might have got another tattoo in the weekend. Apparently I am actually smiling here. The arm is now a splendid shade of bluey-green and yellow. Ewwww - monster bruise.

My hometown put on an awesome weekend of HOT sunshine. Something we don't get down here near the Capital very often. I even got to have a lunch date with my hubby. Thanks Mum & Dad for minding the grandies!

Toffee Magazine

2010-11-07T22:56:00.000-08:00

LOVE this! Check out the new digital Toffee Magazine! It's a weeny bit of a sneaky way for me to indulge my magazine obsession without people seeing it;-)

You can't beat it!

2010-11-07T14:14:00.001-08:00

'It's true you can't live here by chance, you have to do and be, not simply watch or even describe. This is the city of action, the world headquarters of the verb.'

Lauris Edmond

The Arts

Urban Playground

Waterfront

Wellington! On a good day!

Summer of Frocks

2010-10-10T19:45:00.001-07:00

I declared it (to myself) the Summer of Frocks LAST summer but the dismal weather put paid to that idea. I'm just putting it out there now, to the weather gods, that it would be nice to wear something other than jeans and t-shirts soon. Not sure what the idea of the snow today is, by crikey!

I hit my favourite thrift store in my home town over the holidays and limited myself to four vintage patterns with great plans for the girls and I. I've already hit two snags. One of the girls patterns is missing 1/2 the pieces and I'm not sure how clever a seamstress I really am to forge ahead. The second one is something I can't do much about - my bust, waist and hip measurements! Oh golly goodness those gals sure had TINY waists! Mum had a chuckle when she saw the patterns as she remembers wearing Jiffy dresses in the 1960s.

So. We'll see how we go. I have plans to buy a couple of modern vintage-style patterns that may have more realistic measurements for this pear-shaped kiwi gal. I also scored a 50 cent 1970s polyester shirtwaister that I've altered and will start wearing as soon as this dastardly weather improves.

Wardrobe Wednesday

2010-09-28T12:48:00.001-07:00

So. Not a complete outfit. Just the start of one. I grabbed this dress at an opshop in the city last week because it screamed Olivia Walton to me. And we love our Waltons around here. Much to Big Girl's disappointment it fits me. I had to let the sleeves out a wee bit though. I think it needs a wide belt. White? Red? What do you think? (And I'm not really wearing this today. Again, the weather is horrible.)

Achievement

2010-09-27T20:32:00.000-07:00

Finished. One Sampler Quilt top! Phew. I started back here and have thoroughly enjoyed working on this project over the winter months.

Next step: piece the back, and learn how to sandwich, machine quilt and bind this wee beastie. Hopefully then I can take some better photos of it.

My clever hubby suggested I use this baby wrist rattle for a much-needed wrist pincushion;-) Needs must.

This is my second quilt ever and the first since finishing my big girl's cot quilt ten years ago. Achievement!! I'm already plotting the next one.

Celebrations and Sewing

2010-09-16T16:51:00.001-07:00

This week in September is always a big one for our family. Miss Moo turned 11 on Monday - does that mean she's officially a "tweenie" now? Man of the House baked her a FANTABULOUS Black Forest Gateau at her request. I wish you could hear her say "gateau" - her accent is delightful. Those French lessons are paying off;-)

I churned out this quick, cute knit for a wee friend because she looks just like the girl on the cover of the book.
Then there was sewing. I'm on a bit of a stash-busting sewing bender.

A cell phone cozy

Another pillowcase dress

A sweatshirt from some gifted fabric plus my first of many Reinvention skirts. (Um yes, wrinkles - no, my children do not fold their clothing.)
Another skirt and a hoodie - also from gifted fabric. I'm not convinced about them being worn together but don't have much say anymore;-) Can't complain about almost free clothing though!
On Wednesday, my lovely hubby had a Big Birthday - made easier by a lovely afternoon with friends, a few whiskys and fish'n'chip dinner with this view.

Wardrobe Wednesday

2010-09-07T21:28:00.001-07:00

I really didn't want to trot out the usual Wednesday outfit, but it appears to be a uniform around here! I took a quick pic once I'd finished my latest stash-busting reversible apron. But yeah, skinny-ish jeans plus Glassons top plus homemade apron.

Here's the pinky side. 'Cuse the face - she was eating crystallised ginger;-)

Apron leftovers were turned into table napkins - slowly building up our stash of these.

Bonnet, Take Two

2010-09-05T20:27:00.001-07:00

Bigger bonnet, better fit.

And one for the other girl.

Heidi Headbands: Amy Karol's Bend-the-Rules Sewing.

Reversible Apron: Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing.

Letter Satchels: Amanda Blake Soule's Handmade Home.

Five year old boy's need a Little Wallet too!
We've had a wet and wild Spring storm at our place over the last two days. Nothing to do but stay inside sewing;-)

Bonnet

2010-09-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

This is a very sweet bonnet pattern that I will make more of. The child size ran a weeny bit small for an older child so Miss 8 has decided to give hers away to her four year old cousin.

I'm still dipping into the $1/metre fabric stash. I'm most pleased that I actually made all the intended projects from that pile and still have stuff left to fiddle around with.

While sewing, I listened to Radio NZ's brilliant coverage of the awful earthquake in Canterbury this morning. (I would hate to lose this national treasure!) My prayers go out to everyone affected. Cuts close to home living a few hundred metres away from a major faultline. Emergency supplies have been checked!

Colour

2010-09-02T21:14:00.000-07:00

I've continued to spot colour around our house this week.

An Hawaiian applique cushion my parents gave me recently.

My first attempt at freezer paper applique. The obligatory pony for my client's quilt;-)

I'm particularly pleased with this one. The design is from the "Someone to watch over you" quilt out of Last-Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts.

The results of a mini-production line this afternoon. Two are for birthday gifts and two for either the gift box or two resident girlies.

It's the Little Wallet pattern, and great for stash busting.

Sarah's post will taunt me all weekend. We had that colour sky here this morning and it is distinctly not that now. Snow is even expected on the road north of town.

Winter Hope, Part Two

2010-08-30T23:42:00.001-07:00

Last official day of Winter. Relief. Regret. I really wanted to BE in the moment this Winter and not overwhelmed with the grey and gloom and dread of the thing. I wanted to hibernate and craft and read with my babies. But I was busy, much too busy, to focus on the good of Winter. I regret that. But today I'm filled with relief that there will soon be, I HOPE, some more colour in my life. Some snapshots of colour I found today. In our home. In one of our favourite places.

I HOPE that next year, Winter and I can come to a more comfortable accommodation with one another. Thank you, Blog and those who've kept me company, for getting me through.

Winter Wardrobe Wednesday

2010-08-24T21:51:00.001-07:00

This was Outfit Number Two today. Outfit Number One was almost a rehash of last Wednesday, except I had a Schoolhouse Tunic over a Glassons top;-)

This was too rumpty to reveal in full glory. Max long sleeve tee, homemade yoga pants, gumboots. Yes, my gumboots DO match the kids ones;-)

And yes, that IS a nice spot to have a glass of wine while popping seeds into trays!

Winter Hope

2010-08-23T16:53:00.000-07:00

It's that time of year. Slightly longer days. More sunshine. A little bit warmer. Spring gardening inspiration is bubbling away. The kids and I have started weeding a couple of the garden beds we have here.

Hubby's pruned A5's little apple tree and I've popped some new herbs around the base. M10 is planning her own mini-medieval style herb garden too.

I've started to sort through our "seed bank" and peruse catalogues. I missed planting the seeds by the moon calendar this month but we'll forge ahead.

I bought some seedlings for a bit of instant satisfaction.

We've put in a bit of prettiness at the front of the house. Allysum, lobelia, geranium, chamomile and lavender are there to keep the bees and Mummy happy too.

We've prepped our small plot at the Community Garden on our street. We discovered wee strawberry plants dotted around so we've popped them together so they're easier to protect from the birds. Some calendula has gone in there too. We still have our two larger allotment plots, and are deciding what to put in them.

So what's happening at your place?

Winter Reading

2010-08-19T19:38:00.001-07:00

I love my reading. Latest obsession? 19th Century British "chick lit". I hadn't even heard of these books till I read around the blogosphere that peeps were watching the Beeb series based on them. So I've joined the cool kids and watched Cranford. LOVE. I mean, how can you go wrong with Judi Dench?

This weekend it'll be Lark Rise to Candleford - most excited.

I anticipate it to be far less personally confronting than my other Winter Reading;-) I've stalled on Radical Homemakers while I turn back the clock a century or two!

Winter Craft, Part Two

2010-08-18T19:24:00.001-07:00

I don't feel that I can really call this gigantor-style project knitting! I'm making rag rugs for the kids out of t-shirt yarn I found at the garden centre for tying plants to stakes. It is very awkward but hopefully will look cool;-) I'll try a crochet one too. I'm avoiding the braiding plus sewing method as it seems like too much hard work.

Winter Wardrobe Wednesday

2010-08-17T21:02:00.000-07:00

I'm gonna try this idea of Wardrobe Wednesday, inspired by Rhiannon and Clare. I'm not a huge fan of photos of myself, but since I freely pop photos of other family members here I'll bite the bullet. In the middle of Winter, I'm still feeling bitter and twisted that my Summer Of Frocks didn't eventuate because we had such shocking weather here. So maybe this process will bring me some much-needed oomph to build towards that again!

This is definitely my Mumsy Uniform. I wear a variation on this every day. Toes to Head: Simple shoes - so well loved I need a new pair. Handknit socks. Max jeans, somewhat skinny (although they haven't made me skinny, what the?). Max stripe sweatie. Moa furry hoodie - this is ancient but still going strong. The whole jeans'n'sneakers'n'sweatie vibe is why I want to bust out into some frock action come fine weather!

This is my Tuareg cross. I wear it to remind me that although I lead a very full, mostly-contented life in my own little universe, there IS a world outside. I bought this in Mali many years ago and it reminds me of the mothers and children I have met.

I expect you'll see me in the same thing next Wednesday.

Winter Sun, Part Four

2010-08-16T00:14:00.001-07:00

Again, we're making the most of the rare sunshine! (Again, today's weather does NOT look like this at all!) Mum's cold has been great for reading confidence as the girl's take turns to do our daily reading. Look at that white skin!

Some sunny philosophising: If you could change one thing about the world what would it be?

M10: I'd make horses cheaper.

I8: I'd be able to fly.

A5: Everything would be Lego.

Winter Pinks

2010-08-15T15:26:00.000-07:00

MORE finished objects...

Socks for I8 using Sheryl's Epicene pattern. Lovely, straight forward toe-up construction. Perfect fit. I now have only three skeins of sock yarn to use in my stash!

Winter Blues

2010-08-12T21:23:00.001-07:00

More finished objects...

Socks. Done. Within one week. That's more like it.

I'm not a huge fan of self patterning sock yarn at the moment. But this particular yarn is comfortable and very hard wearing, especially needed for kid's socks! I have another pair on the needles for Next Daughter in queue in the same yarn, different colour. Then I'm embarking on a stint of NZ only sock yarn.

Winter Sun, Part Three

2010-08-12T13:09:00.001-07:00

From my bed

Out my bedroom window

This is NOT what I am seeing out of my bedroom window this morning - actually the complete opposite. I don't mind a little bit of opposite weather if I don't have to go out in it. But today I do. I'm doing a training course, one where I have to actively listen and take notes. That means NO knitting. I finished Big Girl's socks yesterday and started Next Girl's and I can't take them with me. After being a bit germy this week I really do hope I can sit outside and catch some glorious winter rays and knit during the upcoming weekend.

Winter Knits, Part Four

2010-08-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

Finished Objects...

Socks. Done. Within one year. Phew.

Hand towel. Done. Within a couple of days. Squishy prettiness in my Winter Kitchen.

Next pair of socks on needles ARE being done Two at a Time;-)

Winter. War.

2010-08-08T22:54:00.000-07:00

My son was killed while laughing at some jest. I would

I knew

What it was, and it might serve me in a time when jests

are few.

Rudyard Kipling

Winter W.I.P

2010-08-04T19:28:00.000-07:00

I forgot.

I forgot how much I love knitting socks. I started these nearly a year ago! They have suffered badly under Second Sock Syndrome until I dragged them out of hibernation this week and cracked on with them. What makes a knitter leave a lone sock in a bag with its half completed mate for nearly a year?

Winter Inside

2010-08-01T19:20:00.000-07:00

I have a corner in my lounge that belongs to me. Here is what I can see from my corner inside on a dull Winter day...

Yes, coffee...and chocolate - dark peppermint.

New sock yarn bought from James at the Frank Kitts Market on Saturday.

My Manu. Cardigan has been frogged and sent to the Naughty Corner.

Meal planning for the week.

Girl across the room. Engrossed. Getting through her Newberry Medal list.

Winter Sun, Part Two

2010-07-28T15:34:00.001-07:00

We're getting a few glimpses of Winter Sun this week...

Roasting our coffee beans

Transplanted rhubarb waiting to put feet in the soil

Sneaky sneaky opening the packet of Pebbles (shock, horror - yes, food colouring)

Sewing in the ends on a brainless knitting project - a new dishcloth

Library book basket - full of books on Shakespeare and Van Gogh this term

Our lounge carpet - zany

A teeny peek of my brand new nephew sunbathing

Winter Kitchen, Part Four

2010-07-26T15:11:00.001-07:00

We eat a lot of Mexican styles at our place. We never used to, but cutting down our meat intake meant incorporating more beans into our lives. We bought a tortilla press because we make a lot of tortillas and various Indian breads from scratch. We've discovered the kids prefer tortillas made of half corn masa and half wheat flour. My favourite vegetarian chili recipe is the Red Bean and Quinoa chili from Feeding the Whole Family.

So, I usually cook our beans (kidney, borlotti, haricot, etc) in my slow cooker then freeze them to use later. But I could not resist the kitschy orange labels of these tins of refried beans, chipotle and jalapeño peppers. A bit of brightness in our Winter Kitchen.

Winter Wellington, Part Two

2010-07-25T13:25:00.001-07:00

A stunning Winter Wellington morning taking my visiting parents to see the City and Harbourside markets. Brilliant. Coffee, French Baker, Roquefort cheese, old-fashioned lollies, fantastic foot-tapping live music, super fresh fish, Vitamin D, the buzz of the city.

Winter Wellington

2010-07-23T21:38:00.001-07:00

We are so pleased the lovely Maranui Cafe has reopened in Lyall Bay, Wellington. We love it for family get-togethers. The kite boarders were spectacular in the winter sunshine this morning.

M10 is wearing the kilt my grandmother brought me back from Scotland when I was 10;-) Both girls are wearing brand new Grandma knitting. My cunning plan has been to get her to do the kid's knitting leaving my needles free for me.

Winter Kitchen, Part Three

2010-07-22T16:47:00.001-07:00

The Twins. A very important part of my daily routine. More so, when I need a good kick in the pants during the Winter Mooches. We roast our own Fair Trade Organic coffee beans in a popcorn maker ("we" = hubby, with occasional child labour). We grind them in a Bialetti coffee grinder and use a Bialetti stovetop espresso maker. Three times a day. Hmmmmm...coffeeeeeeeeee.

Winter Kitchen, Part Two

2010-07-21T15:51:00.000-07:00

Organisation. I need to be organised. I don't do well in mess and clutter. It gets into my head and paralyses me. This winter I continue to make small steps in the kitchen to make it a space I can function well in. Bigger house (new rental) = less kitchen storage - go figure. This week I've made a start sorting our first aid and medicines on top of the fridge. I'd coveted these tins in a design store in Cuba Mall then fell over when I found them for MUCH cheaper elsewhere - they came home with me. We have a real mix of conventional and herbal/homeopathic medicines in them.

I've replaced the stinky old icecream containers with a sealed, non-stinky tin. It's also bigger meaning less visits out to the compost heap in the rain for whiney children;-)

There is much thinking about life in my kitchen at the moment. There is also much fruitful discussion with two soul sisters about weeny changes we are all trying to make in our lives. More soon hopefully.

Winter Knits, Part Three

2010-07-20T01:46:00.001-07:00

Lies reminded me today that I, too, have whipped up a Lacy Baktus for myself. Perfect mindless knitting.

You must, must, MUST check out this foodie blog, knife loves spoon. I'll lay this out there especially for my veggie buddies after foisting oxtails on you this week;-)

Winter Kitchen

2010-07-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

My Winter Triumvirate - Onion, Carrot and Celery. This threesome goes into a LOT of my winter cooking - soups, stews, ricie things, noodley things, etc. And my slow cooker? LOVE this especially in winter. I find my energy levels really sag at the end of the day and the last thing I want to do is cook dinner. Voila - it's already done!

And strange cuts of meat. Strange to me, at least. Oxtails. Never had them before. But they are now happily stewing away in the slow cooker nestled in amongst the onion, carrot and celery. I think the most respectful thing we can do for both animal and farmer, as meat-eaters, is to try all the strange cuts so we're not just growing and slaughtering them for their luscious flank parts. Tongue and tripe though? Not quite there yet!

Winter Washing

2010-07-17T18:30:00.001-07:00

I've always been mildly obsessed with doing laundry. It's ridiculously satisfying getting a sunny, breezy day in the middle of winter and having a load swing around on the line. We've made the move to using homemade laundry powder recently, partly inspired by the book Make Your Place, which has all sorts of wicked recipes for natural first aid, cleaning and body care. I love it so much I'm giving away copies as wee gifts now.

There are a lot of free recipes for natural cleaners on the interwebs but here's one for laundry powder.

HOMEMADE LAUNDRY POWDER

1/c cup baking soda

1/2 cup powdered castile soap (I use Dr Bronners, or a NZ handmade laundry soap but Sunlight may do the trick as well)

1/4 cup washing soda

1/4 cup borax

Mix ingredients well, and you can add your favourite essential oils. Mine is lavender;-)

I buy my baking soda in bulk from Moore Wilsons as we don't have a local Binn Inn. I've been getting my washing soda and borax off a seller on Trademe. The washing soda is finely powdered unlike the box at the supermarket and the borax is cheaper than from your local chemist.

We've also made our own laundry whitener with Prussian Blue pigment and baking soda.

I just need to get some pretty labels for my jars now. Give it a go!

Winter Knits, Part Two

2010-07-16T16:34:00.000-07:00

I taught I8 how to knit yesterday afternoon in the sun. She's just had an orthodontic plate put in so it's taking her mind off her sore mouth. I was a bit nervous as she's a leftie and I've decided to just teach her rightie knitting. But she's a real natural. M10 is knitting her brother a scarf. How cool was it to have the three ladies of the house knitting while watching The Waltons;-) The young man has to wait a few more years before his lessons.

Winter Knits

2010-07-15T18:57:00.001-07:00

Nothing like a bit of selfish knitting in winter! This is the Tea Leaves cardy, and is the third knit for me I've done this winter. I undid my too-big Hourglass Sweater and recycled the yarn into this, which I've hardly taken off since. More selfish knitting planned;-) (I find it odd looking at photos of myself. The older I get the more like my father I am!)

Winter Craft

2010-07-13T13:40:00.001-07:00

My major crafting this winter is the sampler quilt I'm making for M10. How exciting to read Pip's piece over at ever-inspirational Meet Me at Mikes about an English paper pieced quilt made by female prisoners of war in Changi prison in Singapore in World War Two. I'd just learned English paper piecing last week and completed the above block which I'll applique onto a 12" block. (Yes, my tacking threads are still in.)

Hubby and I also rewatched Tenko last year. I have such strong memories of the Stephanie Cole and Stephanie Beacham characters.

Mrs Olga Henderson pointing out the block she made for the 'Tenko' quilt as a 13 year old Girl Guide and POW in Changi, 1943.

[Image from the Victoria and Albert Museum. Oh how I wish I could have seen this exhibition! May have to invest in the book eventually;-)]

Winter Frost

2010-07-12T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm glad I finished these for the girls in the weekend. It is crisp, cool and clear here. -3 as I type this.

(Ravelry details.)

Winter Star

2010-07-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

We hope that popping a few of these on our windows will brighten things up on gloomy winter days. It's not necessary today because we have sun, glorious, sun again! We're all making the most and are outside hooping, biking, skipping and drawing. Thanks for the star tutorial link, Nova.

Winter Sun

2010-07-10T17:03:00.001-07:00

Some much needed winter sun on a Sunday morning meant I could sit outside and finish taping my homemade hula hoop! I got onto this idea from reading Sara Janssen's hooping site. I can actually hoop too! This is going to work miracles for my mummy puku;-)

All of us, bar Daddy, have our own hoop now. There was Happy Skipping thrown in for good measure.

The kids undertook a bit of chalk art a la Bert.

The Dadda is doing some much-needed bike maintenance.

All in all, a lot of contented sighing in the sunshine.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-08T00:01:00.001-07:00

The Power of the Sun

2010-04-18T19:05:00.000-07:00

Resident Eco-Geek and his red-headed sidekick made a solar oven from the instructions at Sunny Cooker. Autumn in the Hutt Valley is perhaps not the best time to experiment with this form of appropriate technology but they're having fun. The most exciting thing we've done is boil water in my cast iron fondue pot. I think we'll move on to actually cooking something in it next;-)

Memento

2010-04-15T18:31:00.000-07:00

Hubby and I waited 21 years to see our very favourite rock band eva! They were the seminal sound of our getting together and growing up into adult years. I don't think I've ever been to another concert where all the other people were the same age and looked/dressed like us;-) And everyone knew all the lyrics and sung them loudly the whole way through. Brilliant! I guess they'd had 21 years to learn them well. So of course we had to shell out a zillion dollars for the CD of the concert so we can inflict the memory (except for the songs with the very obvious rude words) on our kids.

Laptop Cozy

2010-04-14T21:32:00.000-07:00

After 11 years of huckery, slow, old PC, we finally gave in and bought a zippy new laptop. Fun! Today I made it a pretty cozy using this tutorial. The fabric is Sandi Henderson's Ginger Blossom. I'm still learning how to use the walking foot to actually quilt things on my machine.

I made a matching drawstring bag for the cords. If you've never done French seams for a tidy finish then check out this simple tutorial. Gotta love the interwebs for improving ones crafting.

(Confession: Somehow I've ended up with the exterior of the cozy about 1" longer than the quilted interior. I'm not sure if it's my dud measuring or something to do with quilting the inside. Anyhooo...not gonna change it.)

Homework

2010-04-10T18:37:00.001-07:00

I haven't had dead-line "homework" since I did post-grad study over 11 years ago (oh, how I miss using the brain I once had!). This year I decided to finally do a beginners patchwork course at my local quilting store. I have an evening class once a month then actual sewing homework to finish before the next one.

The big girl is impatiently awaiting her finished sampler quilt. She will be waiting a wee while. I'm using Amy Butler's new Love range in Soul.

Knitted Critters

2010-04-10T14:17:00.000-07:00

The love my children have for knitted critters bemuses me. I'm happy to run with it as I enjoy producing these little guys;-)

Dinosaurs for Mr Five. They even get snuggled into bed with him at night.

Mummy and Baby Hedgehog for our autumn nature display. I was tempted to snuggle these in bed with me!

Easter in Lego

2010-04-05T00:56:00.001-07:00

Yup - that is Lego Jesus on a Lego cross complete with a hinge at the bottom for ease of Roman hoisting.

I also got given a Lego basket of Lego Easter eggs in bed this morning but it was reclaimed for parts before I could grab a photo.

This wee man can spend a full adult work day building his Lego creations. If only he got paid for it!

(Disclaimer: We rent this house, so no, I did not choose the attractive curtains in the background.)

Blue and White

2010-03-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

My love for blue and white floral burns strong and fierce. I need it in the place I rest at night...

...in my kitchen where I nourish my family...

...on my clothing to display a little of who I am...

(Schoolhouse Tunic that cost me $2 in fabric)

(Voon sundress that I haven't quite been able to fit since 3 months pregnant with my now five year old. Oh woe that I was skinnier while pregnant than now!)

(Moa blouse that I've been wearing for over seven years.)

...above where I rest...

(Burleigh plate my kids gave me for my birthday.)

...on my china for when I take time out to refresh myself...

...and permanently marked onto my body to represent my babies...

Ngā mihi o te Kirihimete

2009-12-23T14:08:00.000-08:00

My sister can never have too many bags

2009-11-11T19:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, little sister! Couldn't resist whipping you up a Charming Handbag with some Amy Butler August Fields fabric. I love the home decor weight fabric for bags and wish it was more readily available. Yes, yet another grey day for taking photos. Ugh - this spring weather is seriously doing my head in.

In other thrilling news:
* I fed my family lard. It won't happen again. I could barely stomach the smell of it cooking. And doh - it hadn't occured to me that it was most definitely not happy-pig fatty goodness.
* I'm decluttering children's wardrobes for Food Storage Friday tomorrow;-) I'm re-inspired by reading Independence Days so will be digging around in our probably expired emergency food supplies and reorganising everything.
* Two weeks and three days till I see Eddie, Ben and Liam. Psyched. (Although feeling slightly guilty for digging into house deposit funds for this!)

Obsess much?

2009-10-31T23:42:00.000-07:00

The latest obsession at our house...

Hubby and I have been completely captivated by the story of Christopher McCandless after Aunty Claire recommended we watch the movie. We've rewatched the movie (and will again), both read the book AND have the soundtrack on an almost continuous loop. (Eddie Vedder - how I love you - see you later this month!) We have at least one conversation each day about the story too;-) Maybe it's a bit cliche for a couple of almost middle-aged people to become engrossed in such an adventure (foolhardy) story as we feel shackled by our comfort and settledness but it's well worth the watch/read.

Sun's Out Photoshoot

2009-10-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

The sun came out, so the camera came out;-)

My gorgeous big girl in some of her mama-made summer fashions;-)

I had started to make myself a sunhat from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing but it became very clear it was going to be too small despite the fact I have a pinhead! So Big Girl scored and loves it!
Sew Liberated's Flora Tunic - using the rest of a thrifted sheet.

A Pillowcase dress from Handmade Home. It's the perfect length for a Big Girl Tunic without chopping any length off it. And yes, from the thrifted sheet set;-) We've got our money's worth.

Another Flora Tunic from leftover Prairie Dress fabric.

A Little House on the Prairie dress with $1/metre fabric from stash.

The full Holly Hobbie look again;-)

Mama's Schoolhouse Tunic in the shirt length - with some cheapy old fabric from deep in the stash. I put hook and eyes across the front of mine so I can close it if I don't want the top underneath to show.
My Retro Redux Shrug in Cascade 220 from South Seas Knitting.

Frilly Angora-Merino booties from Luxury One Skein Wonders. These are truely teeny. They never would have fitted my babbies' clodhoppers!

It was fun firing up the sewing machine yesterday after a bit of a hiatus - inspired by Meg's patterns arriving in the post this week. So I was able to churn out the three tunics for me and my lil' ladies. It's a good feeling watching the fabric stash decrease too (gotta quickly create some space for more fabric that is arriving in a month or so - eek).

Friday Ramblings

2009-10-29T19:34:00.000-07:00

Spring sprung right back into winter weather in recent weeks which has not a happy Sharon made.

Some things which have made me happy:

Sabbath Chocolate Cake - and sneaking milk kefir into my suspicious family.

Diwali - including a rocking Rajastani puppet show.

Labour Day - enjoying a chilly, windblasted Wellington beach picnic.

My new piercing.

The best thing this week has been watching The Waltons with the kids. I cannot tell you how ridiculously enjoyable this extremely wholesome television has been.

My crafting mojo has left the building but I'm hoping for a return with some sunshine and warmer weather.

Goodnight John Boy!

No, I can never have too many bags!

2009-10-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

I LOVE bags. I love the Mama's Bag out of Handmade Home. I used a couple of fat quarters from my stash - perfect size. I'm now not allowing myself to buy random fat quarters unless I have a project in mind but I was thankful that these were hiding away waiting for this very project. The bag would have more structure if I used heavier upholstery-weight fabric as Amanda recommends.

I added a snapable inside pocket for my Dr Bronner's lip balm which I compulsively carry everywhere. I was able to take the bag on a mama-only outing to lunch with some lovely friends just after I'd finished it this morning;-)

(Again, pics taken in horrid yucky spring weather light.)

I made my own sunshine

2009-10-02T15:45:00.000-07:00

Beach Blanket To Go. Done.

The combination of pink and yellow? I is lovin' it, innit!

O Sunshine, Where Art Thou?

2009-10-01T18:44:00.000-07:00

Seriously Spring, where are you? We are now into our sixth month of having a fire going. Not cool. I give up waiting for some decent lighting to take pics of my finished objects.

One of my long term goals is to get into patchwork quilting. I made M10 a cot quilt as a first birthday present with the idea to do one for each child but I stalled there. I even bought a walking foot for my sewing machine a couple of years ago which has sat languishing. I dragged it out recently, and grabbed my Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts book for a bit of how-to and whipped up some quilted coasters to pop into my gift box. Fun. I quilted!

My couch is in serious need of reupholstering, but until funds allow I thought a few cushions would obscure some of the worn-out-ness. I tried Log Cabin for the first time and used up some scraps and fat quarters that had been lurking in the stash.

Next step is to get brave enough to cut into the Very Hungry Caterpillar fabric I've got to make a lap quilt with.

I've also made another Gratitude Wrap and a matching letter satchel for a cousin's birthday next week but that's been posted sans photos.

Now, I'm just waiting for some cute patterns to arrive to cut into the Ginger Blossom stash for the girl's summer wardrobes. I really hope I can be disciplined enough to make quite a bit of their stuff. (Please excuse the link fest in this post. I know, I know - not an original idea to be found! Works for me though.)

Pioneering

2009-09-25T17:07:00.000-07:00

The subject of pioneering continues to be big for our family - initially encouraged by my interest in it and enthusiastically grasped by kids who have heard Little House on the Prairie and other stories.

We haven't learned much about our local history, I think because neither Hubby nor I have a personal connection to this place. On a day this week when winter decided to have a last go at us, we visited our local settler cottage museum.

The kids were fascinated that the very swing used by children over a hundred years ago is still in the tree.

This amazingly detailed dollshouse with working lights was gifted to the museum. We could have stood there for ages looking at the intricate details.

A slate, like the very one Anne bonked Gilbert on the head with! This thing is heavy - poor Gilbert.

A4 in front of one of Mum's favourite things - a Singer treadle machine. I want.

Pumping water would be fun for a while, but good, hard tedious work every day.

After our visit I was inspired to finish the girl's Little House costumes. I7 is having a lot of fun in her Laura regalia.

This photo screams Holly Hobbie to this '70s girl;-)

Some other thoughts on Pioneering:
* I bought Hubby a book on Handy Farm Devices in the hope we'll have a little handy farm for him to utilise it on one day.
* I had huge fun last weekend at a cheese-making course with a homesteading buddy (she's a real homesteader while I'm still just a wannabe).
* Thank you, Aunty Claire, for introducing me to the writings of Wendell Berry. I am getting so much soul nourishment from his descriptions of people connected to place, and his honouring of those who work and love the land.

(Eek - I should update here more to avoid long, disjointed ramblings.)

Spring Has Sprung

2009-09-07T18:33:00.001-07:00

Spring has definitely sprung at my place. The winter knitting has been put aside and the sewing machine fired up as inspiration hit with Soulemama's new book, Handmade Home arriving. Did anyone else have the Reader's Digest Needlecraft book growing up? Mum had "disposed" of our old copy so I was super excited to find a copy for M (gonna be 10 in the weekend).

I put to use some Amy Butler decor weight scraps I'd scored and whipped up a pretty new mousepad for my ugly puter desk. Playing around with a bit of patchwork encouraged me to sign up for a beginners quilting class at my local fabric store for next year. Hubby and I are always keen to pick up new skills, particularly those we can pass onto the kids.

I replenished my supply of mama pads with some thrifted sheet remnants and gifted bamboo fleece. I'd already made my little sister and I matching "sheet pants" from the sheets. We were able to wear our pants and share a bed in a fancy schmancy hotel during a girl's weekend away recently.

The kids and I discovered a summer coloured candlewick bedspread and matching pink'n'yellow sheet to be turned into a Beach Blanket to Go.

I'm nagged by the thought that some of this creative energy would be better spent in a much needed spring-clean of our house. Oh well.

Selfish Knitting

2009-08-18T21:49:00.000-07:00

I love that I have a Mummy who happily (apparently) knits for my kids so I can focus my knitting on MYSELF. I'm pretty sure noone else is gonna do it for me;-) I finally sewed on all sixteen buttons to my Sixteen-Button Cardy. You'd think the name would have warned me that there would be a bit of button sewing required. Doh. I should also have been put off by the wide neckline knowing that I am somewhat narrow of shoulder. So although the yarn is completely scrummy and it fits well I think the continual yanking back onto my shoulder may cause this item to not be worn much.

True Words

2009-08-18T20:37:00.000-07:00

What I really miss is someone able to string an intelligent sentence together (that I agree with) and enunciate it properly;-)

Bread Matters

2009-08-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

I'm not huge on posting food pics here because I'm not that good a photographer or food stylist. However, lately I've been making the BEST bread that I feel like boasting about. I got Bread Matters on Sandra's recommendation and apart from being an enjoyable, revelationary and revolutionary read it's opened new doors in my bread making. I cranked up a rye flour sourdough starter and use that with our home-ground wheat flour and usually some soaked grains to make a tasty, filling, long-lasting Vogels-like loaf. I do feel revolutionary making bread using no commercial yeast, just the wild beasties I've cultivated in my kitchen;-)

Nothing better than topping it with M(nearly)10's homemade grapefruit marmalade!

I use a fancy schmancy French loaf tin. It's double walled which helps give a nice evenly cooked, lovely crusted loaf. The finish is polished for non-stick-ness rather than the gross teflon non-stick stuff that eventually chips off into your food to poison you;-) I need to get a couple more so I can cook a weeks worth of bread on one day. One major benefit of the bread is its long-lastingness.

I love how our children's literature reflects stuff in our family life - as it should. The Giant Jam Sandwich baker doesn't add any strange preservatives to his huge loaf.

The only filler the In the Night Kitchen dudes try to add is Mickey;-)

Baker's Dozen Socks

2009-08-11T13:06:00.001-07:00

I love knitting socks! Last week I finished my lucky thirteenth pair. They're comfortable, much prettier than bought ones, and wear really well. I've invested in a decent darning mushroom to keep them all in good working order. (Suppose I better learn to darn now.)

Now I'm just waiting for my new Socks from the Toe Up book to hit my letterbox so I can use the lovely yarn I've bought from the Joy of Yarn and Needlefood.

(Hey Judy and Christine - are my mismatching stripes making you twitch? Every time I see that happening I chuckle imagining you rewinding the yarn to make sure it wouldn't happen on yours.)

Our Play Garden in Winter

2009-07-24T19:33:00.001-07:00

Our little play garden has pretty much been lying fallow over winter. We'd meant to put a green compost crop in but time rolled on and it hasn't happened yet.

The rhubarb is doing well. It's in the first year so we haven't been able to harvest any yet.

We transplanted some of last seasons strawberries and have put another ten crowns in the same bed - all snuggled under a layer of peastraw as winter hasn't finished with us yet.

We're probably a bit late with our garlic but we always think it's worth a crack trying new things. We put some shallots in as well.

Hubby built me a weeny poly house for my seedlings out of bits and pieces we have lying around. He'll pop a shelf or two in there next.

In the meantime I've started my spring seedlings: broad beans, roquefort beans, sugar snap peas, purple broccoli, rainbow beets, spinach, thyme, sage, borage and allysum. I'd like to try capsicum and chilli in the "hot house" as we've never had any luck with them here.

We're going to put a quick mustard crop in the community allotment, then "The Three Sisters" - corn, beans and squash. The whole venture is a great learning curve about soil quality, crop rotation and what our local seasons support.

Not My Knitting

2009-07-23T15:30:00.000-07:00

Look at my Dino Boy!!

I'd love to take credit for this handwork, especially as I had determined that colourwork would be my skill to learn this winter. But this is the cleverness of my Mummy! The colours are making me very happy in this gloomy, extremely wet weather. The boy is buzzing and has christened himself "King of the Dinosaurs".

Handwork

2009-07-04T17:06:00.000-07:00

My love for Sharon Astyk seems to know no bounds at the moment. I loved, loved, loved her recent commentary on Handwork. My handwork doesn't make me feel particularly virtuous but I felt a terrific sense of validation after reading this;-)

A brief excerpt:

"My grandmother told me that when I was a grown woman, I would live my life in a sea of labor that was done each morning, and undone before I went to bed. I would wash the dishes and cook meals, only to see them eaten and the dishes dirtied again. I would wash clothes, dry them, and see them back in the hamper. She observed to me that it was necessary that I learn to do something that “stayed done at the end of the day.” She was telling me how important this was to her, and she wanted very much to pass on the knowledge.

I was 10 or so, and I truly did not understand what she was saying to me. The life she portrayed seemed alien, distant and unimaginable. Of course I would end each day with some great accomplishment. Of course my work would stay done. I wasn’t going to be concerning myself with dishes and laundry (I think I thought magic fairies might do these for me), but with great events and great deeds - dishes didn’t figure into it. So why on earth did I need to know how to knit or crochet? How could such small things ever matter? I would never, I thought, be the sort of woman who needs, at the end of the day, to rest quietly and work on that one thing that will not be undone. I assumed that my grandmother was simply being fusty."

My latest piece of Handwork, finished last night while sitting companionably next to The Hubby, is a tea cozy for I7. She doesn't own a teapot yet so Mama gets to use it;-)

Pink breaks through the grey

2009-06-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

This winter is proving to be rough going for my headspace. How many more grey, wet and freezing days can one endure? The troops have cabin fever and the mummy just wants to crawl into a cave with a pile of good books, coffee, needles and gorgeous yarn.

What is bringing cheer to my grumpy heart is my new Pretty Pink Noro socks. So, so pretty and very pink and snuggly too;-)

What is working to get YOU through the gloom? Or are you a rare beastie who doesn't mind this season?

(Miss Christine - if you're reading this you need to invoice me, chicky!)

Creamy Milo

2009-06-22T18:57:00.001-07:00

Love, love, love this quick, cute, funky, smart knit, Milo from Georgie Hallam - what a clever clogs she is (see her side bar for where you can purchase the pattern)!

I whipped this up in my current favourite Treliske Organic 8ply. I'm in a weeny bit of a knitting funk at the moment juggling ideas for winter knits for ME so it's nice to be able to churn out some simply baby stuff.

Ukulele Lady

2009-06-15T17:14:00.000-07:00

What better way to celebrate your 15th wedding anniversary than to buy yourself a ukulele (plus it was waaaaaay cheaper than the piano accordion I wanted).

It's the perfect size for the kids to tinkle with (gently cuz it's Mummy's Precious).

A bit of funny, well-written tuition...

A bit of inspiration...

(I'm still hankering after the piano accordion - a family can never have too many instruments, right?)