My new motto

Happy baby!

Thank you Universe

Thank you for giving me this blessing in disguise.
Thank you for challenging me.
Thank you for helping me see that I am strong.
Thank you for helping me grow.
Thank you for showing me all the love around me.
Thank you for helping me solidify the person I am.
Thank you for my supportive and loving friends and family.
Thank you for my girls.
Thank you for my life, whatever direction it takes.
Thank you for helping me keep my heart open, no matter how bad it is hurting.
Thank you for helping me act out of compassion and caring.

Leaf eating

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Halloween

I'm going to pin this on me somewhere. I vow to do
better next year.
Decided to borrow The Crafty Chica's book from the library, and found the dia de los muertos template. Perfect timing.
Happy Halloween everyone!

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Butterfly Place

We recently had to say "goodbye for now," to some very dear friends moving back to Australia. My girlfriend Vicki loves butterflies, so we went to the Magical Wings up in Greenfield, MA as one of our last visits together.

Recent Craftiness around our house

My New Baby

Yes, she's a Lendrum. And, yes, I do lay awake at night thinking, "I could be spinning right now!"
Now for all the specifics!

Have to think of a name for her... Any ideas?

I purchased her through our local spinning lady (LSL) who is also a licensed Lendrum dealer. I got her (the wheel) at a great price; since the LSL doesn't need to keep up a retail store, she pretty much sells them at cost plus tax.

Yes, I did go to Rhinebeck - I came home with a Romney lamb fleece at it's 6 month clip. It looks like shiny black silk and I put my hand in it every chance I get.
After talking with the LSL about what to do with it, I am not going to have it sent out to be processed, I am going to do everything by hand - wash, pick, comb and spin it. I am so very excited.

Savin' it for later

Eeeeeee!

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Ride from webs to green mtn spinnery

Is this long

Happy Hubby

Long Trail brewery

We're off

We've got one happy camper with sprinkles!
Headed to Vermont for a much needed getaway.

Faeries at the FloGriz

What a great morning!
The Florence Griswold Museum had the faery breakfast today. We had a great time.
Cupcakes and marshmallows for breakfast, getting a glimpse of the faery dwellings, wand making, beautiful fall day by the river... ahhh. The imagination of the artists, the detail, wonderful!
We definitely have to go again to get a closer look!

Test mobile blogging.

Test mobile blogging.

Pumpkin Patch

Home Warming

Princess Fiona

Random/rhetorical question? and rant

Why does it feel like I have less time than I did before? I thought I would have so much more free time with the schoolbus picking up Delaney. Peapod doing the shopping for me... I thought I was simplifying...
Rhetorical/random answer/s:
1. shit happens, examples: dog gets hit by car, take dog to vet, dog ok; clean up messy toy-strewn house, kid tornadoes hit it, repeat; 1.5 hour meeting actually lasts 6 !; dog pees in house, clean up, repeat; WTF!!
Also, I guess by simplifying, I am adding more activities in my "free time" space.
We have been going to the library every 3-4 days. I -heart- the Mansfield Library + the videos (especially the 1978-9 season of SNL) + the knitting and crochet books. I have been cooking a whole hell-of-a-lot-more in my gluten freedom! he he. cupcakes, brownies, bread, stuffing, it is so liberating.
ps. did I tell you I scored a kitchen aid icecream maker for $17!?!? Macy's - on sale $100 down to $80. Gift card left over from our wedding (3 years ago - no, I don't get out much), the sales associate scanned in an extra coupon - in the end I paid $17. Can you say excited. We all had peach icecream - peaches from the coventry farmer's market.
What I am thankful for:
My family, my friends, everyone's good health, the security of having employment with health benefits.
Excited that we will be going to VT for a few days to visit a great friend.

pot holder

We did some dying...

Um, I forgot to post about this... We did this well over a month ago. We had a 3 generational wool dye party!
We did the Martha's Vineyard undyed wool in 2 different colors - turquoise and cocheneal. I have an idea to do 2 different themed fairisle vests for the girls - one with crowns, one with birdies.
Delaney dyed the blank. Will be interesting to see how this works up.
We also turned her loose on this leftover bit of wool, it looks like easter eggs!

Other news:
The current haze of exhaustion from both kids not sleeping at all over the past 4 nights is really catching up
Delaney got sick from school in record time - a whole 4 days of class! Croup.
The baby is very close to crawling - she is doing a bit of rocking on all 4's. She is drooly and boogery - so I am unsure if the boogers and drool are from her immune system trying to fight what Delaney has or if she is teething or both.
Am is off in Massachusetts today doing some kind of crazy 100 mile bike ride.

Scores at Brimfield

Tuesday, Mom and I went antiquing at Brimfield. It was a rare chance for us to get together without kids, without schedules.
Mom and I not only enjoyed our leisure, but the sausage and peppers, lemonade, and a rootbeer float for dessert.
But, I did score some really cool stuff.
Lots of vintage linens and embroidered tablecloths.


This is what I did with one already...

MIL's Christmas present = DONE! Her kitchen window looks out under a wisteria pergola thing. Chopped a tablerunner in half and put already-in-stash matching ribbon.


I was thinking that this could be transformed into a Barbie fairy dress...

A dress for Delaney out of this...


Something for Einin from this... but, what? Any ideas anyone? It is about the size of a computer monitor.

And I got this for $1. Perfect to put my coffee in the fridge for an afternoon iced coffee.
It is so inspiring to walk around all of the Brimfield stuff. I love thinking of unconventional uses for everyday items.

School

Delaney's first day of school.

Bye Bye Baby.

Tinks (not the knitting kind)

Made one for a coworker's daughter. After asking 80 times if Delaney wanted one, and her refusing, she finally came around...

[behind the scenes note]: as I was backing up to take this photo, I stepped on a dead mouse that Kitty so graciously brought us. It was disgusting, the insides came out. YUCK!
These are Uncle B's birthday presents. When questioned, "What are they?"
The response was, "They kinda remind me of pimples."
Happy Birthday B! Hope you like your gift. he he.

Simplifying

this + this = HAPPINESS (more time for crafting!!!)

I went to JoAnn's fabrics today. Picked up material for a Tinkerbell and a Fiona costume. Maybe I should have gotten patterns for them, but I guess I like to do it the hard way. Or maybe I am too cheep to spend $10 a pattern. You can get a lot more craft stuff with $10.

Farmer's Market Flowers

I just couldn't resist. I know decorating my house isn't a necessity... However, to make my case, I am declaring these as an emotional necessity. Aren't they gorgeous?!?! The big blooms are as big as my head.