hurrayic

{this moment}**

rubberband game at carnival

 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~ Soule Mama

{this moment}** a single photo with a few accompanying words ~ hurrayic

 

Have a fun weekend!

Sewing: A little bit

My sewing has seen very little action.  I began this bag two weeks ago then put it aside knowing that I had to visit the fabric store for some buttons (and a zipper for another project).  Still haven't gotten there.  Now I have a few family members down for the count with a stomach bug (our first in 5 years believe it or not!) so the fabric store run will have to wait another few days.  That's okay.  A little rest and gingerale should do the trick. 

Next week, I'm guessing my 2nd soon-to-be finished 241 tote will receive a little more attention.

Are you sewing anything?

Yarn Along: Lace Ribbon Scarf

Joining in with Ginny's Yarn Along after a too-long hiatus.  Funny, how only a week away feels sooooo much longer.  I should really call this yarn along 'beginnings' since neither my knitting or reading has actually begun! 

On the knitting front, you'd think that since I have 4 (no, 5!) projects that need finishing, that I'd work on those any chance I get.  Call it spring fever, but I decided to pull out something new, something with a bit more color to it.  I found Malabrigo Silky Merino in my stash (a birthday present from my husband 4 years ago?) in a lovely purple called nocturnal and matched it with a pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronika Avery.  No, I haven't begun this yet, but I'm hoping it works.  Then...I'll have to return to all those ufos.  Have you used this yarn or made this pattern?

Reading also is just beginning...our homeschooling book called The Bronze Bow.  My older two read it and forgot what it's about.  I never read it with them, just checked their reading progress along the way.  This time, my two younger boys will be reading it for our Ancient study.  I have 3 copies of it so that all 3 of us can now take turns reading.  But I figured that I should try to pre-read it before they do.  We'll see.  Maybe this time around I'll find out what this book is all about?  Have you read it?

What are you knitting and reading this week?

Recovering

Just a quick checking in this afternoon.  Can you tell from my lack of posts that our normal schedule has been greatly altered?  The speech and debate tournament I spoke of last week took all - and I mean all (as in 6:30 am to 12-1am each night for three nights in a row) of our time.  We were exhausted but a happy kind of exhausted!  The kids performed well, the judges were pleasantly stuffed with tasty food and despite my aching feet, I am grateful for a sense of accomplishment. I had a great team to work with which is always a plus.  Slowly but surely, we are recovering.  You could tell I was tired even yesterday though...as I sat in the dentist's chair having a temporary crown placed in my mouth, I found myself fighting to stay awake!

This is the state of our livingroom since Friday evening.  Mayhem!  There's lots of sorting and reorganizing to do.  I better squeeze in a few extra winks soon before the next tournament.

Have you been busy with something out of the ordinary too?

 

Enjoying a Week Off

Good Morning, Monday!
I'm enjoying...

Loving the oil pastel creations by my youngest (totally his idea)...

Grateful for the small progress (finally) on that water damaged wall.  Just need to paint and reaattach the mantle... my kids are calling this the 'monster wall with broken teeth'.  Do you see it?...

Listening to my daughter practice her speech (complete with photographic boards)...

Finding it amazing that spring is arriving all around us and how unprepared I am for its arrival...

Spotting all kinds of Lego creations scattered about the house...

Observing 3 birds sitting on the tippy top of a tree...

Saying farewell to one of the birds and thinking how wonderful its dark shape is against the blue sky...

Being thankful for thumbtacks that can hold a curtain in place until it can get fixed...

Enjoying that my youngest still likes to make birthday cards...

Licking clean the last-minute homemade slushies (frozen fruit, honey & milk) since there was no ice cream to be found in the house...

Readying for a new & very busy week...

 

What are you enjoying this week?

Speaking of this week and the title for this post (a week off) ...several of you asked what I will be doing to feed 200 people 3 meals for 3 days.  I'm organizing/making/buying the food for serving community judges for an upcoming speech and debate tournament.  And...since it involves so much time, I decided (with reluctance) to take a few days off from this blog.

See you NEXT Monday!

 

 

{this moment}**

what are they shooting at? do they need a reason?

 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~ Soule Mama

{this moment}** a single photo with a few accompanying words ~ hurrayic

 

Have a restful weekend!

Sewing: Little of this and that

Sewing this month has been sort of like a see-saw.  Up and down.  I'm just about done sewing a purse using this fabric, and the two top photos are another purse I'm trying out for my daughter.  I'm not using a pattern but copying something I purchased from a thrift store two years ago.  It's a bit tough going since I also have to make my own faux chenille for it.  We'll see. I don't have that handy gadget seen in the video.  Hope a small pairs of sharp scissors will do the trick. 

And remember the previous purse idea that she had wanted?  It's gone by the wayside for now.  We'll probably return to it during the summertime when she has more time.

Can't wait for Randi's new sew-along to start next week.  (of course, I will be busy serving and making food for lots of people and will have no time to even think straight!)

And of course, I couldn't help showing some new fabrics that arrived in the mail yesterday... now if only my washer and dryer would arrive so that I can wash this stack of fabrics as well as our mountains of laundry...

I'm still dreaming of starting my first quilt like this one or this one or this one (patterns not necessarily colors).  But it'll probably just stay in the dream stage for now.  That's okay.

And then there's some clothing that I'd like to make.  A few skirts for the summer or a top that's similar to this dress.  I love all the pintucks and split collar. 

Are you working on any sewing projects?

Yarn Along: Puppy is raring to go!

Glad to be joining in with Ginny again for her Yarn Along.  I really didn't think that I'd have anything to show this week since it's been a very busy week.  Next week is even worse...feeding 200 people 3 meals each day for 3 days?  Ack!  I love it and hate it at the same time... 

Anyway, back to the yarn along.  I had finished this little guy 2 weeks ago, but he sat without a face all that time.  Last night, I embroidered his features: just some simple stitches and a lopsided smile. 

Wasn't really sure how to add a knot without having it show, so I simply buried the embroidery thread in the stuffing of the body.  I'm guessing that with a few good tugs, it could come loose?  My 11-yo won't pull on it, but if I were to give this to a younger child, I would want to make sure the thread wouldn't come loose. 

If the thread were wool, it would probably just felt with friction.  Or if it had been sewn on a felted piece of wool and then attached like I had done here and here, then I'd have a place to tie the thread. 

Anyone have suggestions for future sewing on of embellishments with embroidery thread?  What have you done?

For reading this week, I've been browsing some of my sewing books.  Yes, they look too new.  Yes, they've been sitting on my shelf making the shelf look pretty for much too long and haven't been seeing much action at all.  Presently, I'm working on two bags/purses and hope to finish them up soon.  Why is it that when I have so much to do, my urge to sit down with knitting needle or sewing machine or a good book only increases?  Does that happen to you too? 

More photos of the puppy and Ravelry info here.

Gotta go!  Puppy wants a walk...

Enjoying

 


Good morning, Monday!

I've been enjoying the little hints of springtime...

the beginnings of asparagus season
a visit at the feeder from Mr Woodpecker
the fuzzy buds and wrinkles on the pear tree
the soft golden light lasting just awhile longer each evening
summer pesto from the freezer for dinner
daffodils blooming in our front yard

 

Have you noticed too?

{this moment}**

Always the ham! 

 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~ Soule Mama

{this moment}** a single photo with a few accompanying words ~ hurrayic

 

Enjoy your weekend!