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.

A few Delaneyisms

"Mens don't carry purses." It's so you can still be tough and carry your stuff. (thank you Madagascar 2)

"Why is there a guy on the potty?" As we walked by a handicapped parking sign.

Delaney's preschool teacher mentioned that she was referring to Ameran as "my Beast." I suggested that Daddy probably wouldn't like to be called a beast. "I'm going to make him a gentleman," was her reply.

I worked on D's kitty quilt today. All I want to do is sew, but we can't be inside in such beautiful weather. I have to make the quilt longer by about 15 inches. I'll post pics soon. We enjoyed our early morning hours outside today. D drove her imaginary guinea pig in her mini coupe around. I just nursed, held the baby, and sipped my coffee enjoying the sun's rays and bird songs.

Do you guys send your quilts out to get quilted? Part of me feels like this is cheating since I am not doing all the hand made part. On the other hand, I am sure it will look WAY more professional.

I am formulating Einin's birdie quilt in my head with much inspiration from Ashley's blog. I think that I will do a log cabinish design. Exploring birdie fabric has been fun. Many of the ones I am attracted to are out of print. I have found a few online stores that look pretty cool. Does anyone have a favorite bird fabric?

What we've been up to.

Delaney had another banner day yesterday. Her school had a field trip to the local airport; she had the opportunity to sit in the pilot's seat. Afterwards, LIFESTAR just happened to be down the street at our hospital and D got to sit in the passenger seat!

Then off to the park to fly a kite for the first time. :o)

Look who's smiling and rolling over!

I love this action shot.


I've been working on some wedding gifts...


This one just needs a haiku. Then off to be matted and framed.

Bakerwoods

Today we went to Bakerwoods in Ashford, CT. http://www.visitbakerwoodsfarm.com/

After I parked, I was getting the baby carrier situated while the girls were in the car seats.
"Mommy, There's a chicken in the car!"
"No, Honey; There is a chicken next to the car."
"No, Mommy; There's a chicken IN the car!"
"Holy shit! There IS a chicken in the car!"

So, right off the bat, Delaney's life long dream to hold a bird (inspired by Snow White) was checked off the list.

The turkey was very vocal and pecky, so D didn't like him.

We did the "I spy" Gnome trail. Very fun and so cute.



Afterwards, we were able to visit with Nancy, the owner. She is an amazing lady (read the history on the website). We told Nancy how one of the chickens tried to come home with us. She told us a hilarious story about how she got all dressed up for a function and went to get into her car, only to sit on an egg. Apparently, this chicken has a habit of laying eggs in cars. Delaney followed Nancy around and helped feed the turtles. Then, Oatmeal, a chicken let Delaney pick her up.

Bakerwoods donation admission - $4.
Fowl feed - 75 cents.

Living the dream - pricless.

Outside Today

Thought I'd share the pics of the girls with my man. :o)

It was nice to get outside today.
While Am took the girls to gymnastics, I cleared out more space where I hope to make my garden. I enjoy gardening because it helps me clear my head. I was feeling rejuvinated until my child decided to write/scratch on all sides of my new car with a rock. I really want to rip my hair out.

Made this cute little summer dress for Delaney. Got this fabric from http://www.purlsoho.com/purl. Did all the smocking with the help of http://houseonhillroad.typepad.com/

A landmark event in a little girl's life

We were at the mall on Friday doing our holiday photos, and we decided to ask Delaney if she wanted to get her ears pierced. She enthusiastically answered, "Yes!" and we walked to Claire's Boutique. She sat right in the chair and started to ask the girl a bunch of questions. She chose the studs for December, a nice teal blue. The girl asked her if Delaney wanted her to count to 3 or to just do it. Delaney replied, "Just do it." She recoiled a little and said, "That hurt." We told her that she still had one to go. The girl asked Delaney if she wanted to count to three or if she wanted to just do it. Again, Delaney bravely said, "Just do it." She shed 2 maybe 3 tears and then was showing those sparkly earrings off. "I got my ears paired."

Baby Surprise! and the imagination of a 3 year old

Done in 48 hours. And I can tell you that every baby I know will be getting one of these. I loved knitting it and I couldn't put it down. Ellyn Cooper's yarn in this colorway(almond blush) was perfect. Girly, but it has the blues and greens to round it out. The yarn was nice and springy too.
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/delaneysduds/baby-surprise-jacket

I started the bonnet to match today too. I hope I have enough of the yarn left over... If not, I will rip it out and make booties or another hat of some sort. :o)
http://www.ravelry.com/projects/delaneysduds/bonnet


Today we got to take our man, Baxter out to the field to run. Delaney brought a panda named "Lasky" with us. She had her on a leash and kept growing tall, but then shrinking when it was convienient for D. She told me that she puts makeup on Lasky all of the time. She has another panda named BoBo that is still at the castle (aka home). I need to write all of these things down in her journal for her to look back on. She comes up with the funniest names.

Martha Stewart should fire the intern

I just wasted 3 hours of my life last night trying to figure out the reversible purse from Martha Stewart online. http://www.marthastewart.com/article/reversible-purse?lnc=13fbf423088ee010VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&rsc=taxonomylist_crafts_sewing I cut out the fabric, followed the directions and it didn't work. I ripped seams out, tried it a different way and it didn't work. I tried to stay positive and say that was just a prototype, I can salvadge that later and make a mini one for myself. I cut out new pattern pieces and tried again yet another way, and it still didn't work. I finally gave up. I thought about writing Martha and telling her to fire the intern that wrote the directions. But then I thought that wouldn't be nice. I decided to read the comments of others about the project...

I watched the video and it totally helped decypher written directions. It was like one of those barn puzzles to get the ring off of the thing, but you just can't figure it out.

Take one. Take two.

Not only did I waste 3 hours of time, I wasted about 1.5 yards of nice Amy Butler fabric. Blah.

Finished the Shell Tank!!!!

And finally, some fun from Delaney's birthday.

Delaney's Birthday

Saturday was Delaney's 3rd birthday. I can't believe that she is 3 already. She says she is "This many" (holding up 3 fingers). We had a great time. Wonderful friends, family and food! We are lucky we had the 10x10 canopy tent to stay under during the thunderstorms! Delaney loved all of her generous gifts. She expecially loved a hand-knit sweater from my mom and demanded to put it right on, the ballerina princess costume that plays its own music, and a treasure box from http://pylones.com/. (Such a great store for fun, cute, funky things.)

We scheduled our ultrasound for Thursday the 14th. I will be halfway through!

Got my match for the Guilty Pleasures/Good Karma Yarn Swap http://jenraymond.blogspot.com/. We have so much in common! I can't wait to start getting stuff for her!

I got to go to my LYS today to do some knitting. I am halfway done with the shell detail of the Shell Tank by Norah. The yarn rep for Berroco and a bunch of other companies was there. It was fun to see all of the exciting things coming out.

I want to queue 2 pairs of mittens from the new Vogue Knitting. Christmas will be here before you know it....

Spinning and more press for Delaney

I had my first spinning lesson today! How awesome! And yes, I think that I have found my new addiction. Peggy is a super teacher. So patient and knew exactly when I needed a break. She showed me all of the cool tools that spinners use to prepare the wool like viking combs and carders. She started me on a single treadle Ashford and then I got to graduate to a double treadle Lendrum. I was surprised to discover that thinner yarn is easier to spin that thicker, bulky yarn. My goal is to try as many different wheels as possible to figure out which to get. Mom and I may take a Monday morning someday soon to go up to the mecca Webs and try out all their wheels.

In other news, Delaney made the paper twice in one week!

The first is at a concert on the green in Glastonbury and the second is her enjoying some fruit at our hospital's ribbon cutting for our green energy system.

We also had her first gymnastics class. She had a great time. Both teachers were like, "Um, she has a lot of energy, doesn't she?" Yeah, why do you think I am here letting her run around your place?

Vacation and A Little Something

We went to Vermont to visit a very close friend for a few days. Em just graduated with her masters in enviornmental policy making in Seattle and will now be moving in with her fiance in Boulder, CO. It was great to just get away. We picked raspberries and made jam from scratch, went to a concert on the green in Burlington and also did a little dipping and kayaking in Lake Champlain. It was so nice to have family dinners with Em, her mom and her two brothers. Delaney just looooved her brothers! Joe was excited that he got to see the Red Sox win at Fenway. When he got home, she entertained him by pretending to be Scooter, the dog. But once Andrew got home, she ditched Joe and turned on the charm for him. Delaney didn't care that Andrew just won some kind of mountain biking race and his goal is to compete at nationals next year. She told him her favorite jokes from http://www.stevesongs.com/music.html

The vacation was not complete until we made a trip to a neighboring town to pick up steri-strips to repair Delaney's head.

Em picked out her wedding dress and wedding date for the middle of June next year. That is very exciting. I might make her the Swan Lake Stole http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/swan-lake---mystery-stole-3 for the wedding.

Check out Em's talented aunt http://www.terriestudio.com/home.htm

We have been going to the concerts on the green in Glastonbury. We got to meet Deb in person http://www.livnletlrn.blogspot.com/ and her daughter and son there. We are sending good wishes her way so her daughter won't have headaches anymore. Check out her site and see an awesome picture of Delaney dancing to the music.

Made a baby kimono for my friend Beth. I make the 6 month size and it might already be too small for a baby that was born 10 pounds 12 ounces this May. I might have to just save this one and make a new one. The pattern can be found at http://www.habitual.wordpress.com/. I finished it in under one hour. Quick, satisfying and VERY cute.

I have also been working on a quilt for Delaney. I am winging it, but I think that it will combine a flower garden theme and the kittys I have been sewing. You can see the petals under the kimono.

I also finished A Little Something http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/little-something today. I just need to get beads for the ties.

This Saturday morning, I got a call at work from our neighbor. "Um, your daughter is welcoming the neighborhood all by herself on your porch swing." OOOOOOOOh boy. Our neighbor was great and she put Delaney back inside and made sure Am was awake. That could have turned out to be a dangerous situation, so thank you, Diane.

Finally, Yeah Summer!

Just a little trim

I should know better than to leave my knitting bag within reach of a 2.5 year old.
I noticed that the cat's whiskers got trimmed.
"Kitty needed a haircut." um hm.
Photos to follow.

Broken Laptop

Somehow, our computer got wet. hmmm.... Delaney denied giving it a drink. hmmm...
Now, it's broken. :o(