Top O' the Morning to you my friends

I hope you are all wearin' o' the green this lucky Saturday. Today we are celebrating with my parents over some corned beef and cabbage, beer and baily's cake (something my dad picked up at a local bakery). I hope to finish up a knitting project between Etsy orders and I hope I can bribe my daughters with enough quarters and chocolate coins to clean up the entire container of crayons Kieran dropped on the floor.

A few weeks ago, I finished this cute French Press Cozy to keep my coffee hot while it is brewing. I found the pattern here. I am thinking of appliqueing something cute on it. I have been thinking squirrels drinking coffee would be ADORABLE but maybe a little extensive for applique. My cozy turned out a little loose, and I changed the buttons up a bit and looks pretty wonky under the handle (which I cleverly didn't show in the picture!).

So the other night Kieran didn't sleep much. He fussed all. night. long. At 5:30 am my very sweet husband volunteered to stay home and help out because I felt ill with lack of sleep. Later I had water, coffee and breakfast and was feeling much better. So instead of painting the kitchen (which we NEED to do) we went hiking. The drive was BEAUTIFUL... rolling hills, cozy homes, farms and creeks winding about.

We stopped for BBQ and had a little "taste of the South in our mouth"! We went to lower White Oak Canyon, a very, very beautiful trail that might just be our favorite. We didn't arrive to the trail until around 6pm and it began to grow dark before we made it to the lower falls. I did scope out some pretty pools in the creek that will make splendid wading pools and therefore we must go back this summer!

This may have been the most intense hike we have taken the kids on, and they did so well! I ended up carrying Isabel back in the beco. Nick had Kieran in the kelty, and he got soooooo freaked out when it got dark and screamed most of the way back. Anastasia hiked the entire rocky path, and didn't compain one bit! What a perfect hike!

Yesterday during Kieran's nap I did a bit of binge sewing while the girls played outside. I was able to finish more Quick Change Trousers which ended up being a disaster! I seriously tried to size them up a bit, and they ended up being like a 5t! Anastasia could have worn them and he looked like a clown! Since they are lined and reversible, it was a major pain deconstructing them and taking them in several inches. YES I SAID INCHES!! It was a nightmare. But they turned out as cute as ever, though the patch isn't as bit as normal. I also made the raglan shirt in the picture above. It is from a book I recently aquired called, Sewing For Boys and it took me less than an hour to make this shirt from start to finish!! It again, isn't perfect, I shortened it a little because I was being lazy and cheap and now it is a little too short. I tried to make the sleeves 3/4 length, but instead they look like long sleeves that are too short. Basically he looks like he is wearing his sister's giant pants all rolled up and a shirt that is waaaay to small. But he is adorable none the less and he will wear my creations. Always. Here is the reverse side and bottom patch that melts my heart:

I found all the pretty fabrics at Joanns of all places. I feel like most times I go in there and find nothing and then I found these pretty fresh quilting fabrics. And our Joann's employees let us use their bathroom now (with an escort.) No more gross Big Lots bathroom of doom!

And so I leave you with this, an Irish Blessing for St. Patricks Day and a picture of my shamrock that is 1 year old! It must have the luck o' the Irish to have survived from a pathetic $1 clearance plant to a happy, blooming shamrock on my windowsill.

May the road rise up to meet
you.May the wind always be at your back.May the sun shine warm upon your
face,and rains fall soft upon your fields.And until we meet
again,May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all! :)

Kieran's pebble vest

A couple of warm, sunny weekends ago, I finished Kieran's pebble vest that I have been working on since September! I used the bulky Lamb's Pride yarn, and added a few stitches here and there. This is my favorite knitting pattern EVER because it is soooo easy, and so rewarding by how cute it looks on my little boy:

It is very warm and thick and turned out a little snug, meaning he might not wear it much because it will probably be to small by next fall. Ah well, I guess I will be making yet another one! This is the 2nd one I have made, but I lost the first one! It is NOWHERE to be found and I am sad indeed.

And it goes amazingly well with the Quick Change Trousers from Anna Maria Horner's Handmade Beginnings book (which is my OTHER favorite pattern for boys.) I am starting to feel like I am majorly copying Soulemama because she makes the same pants, and same vests all the time! They are just so cute though, and every baby should have several of each for sure.

Too bad I am not perfect at photographing a very active toddler. Notice he is sitting next to the ashes, his favorite sensory medium! The Quick Change Trousers are easy and quick, and this pair I made him last year. I also have 2 more pairs cut out, 1 sewn, and fabric on the way for more. I might be a little obsessed...

But when you find something you like, why change it? :) Anyway, I am hoping to get some sewing done this afternoon and I have yarn on the way for more projects... if only my little ones would cooperate all the time! From the time I started this post, until now, my two littlests found a tub of Christmas balls and threw them all over the porch. And they were the breakable ones I have been saving for when my kids are older. So as you can imagine, I had to spend a good deal of time sweeping tiny shards of glass. Oh well. As a teenager I used to complain about being sooooooo booooooooored. Now I never have that problem. Its almost like revenge on myself for being so obnoxious at one time in my life. Knitting and sewing keeps me sane.

Spring, How do I love thee?

Let me count the ways. With daffodils, and crocuses, free-range hens in the sunshine, open windows and singing birds. Barefeet, mud, and garden dreaming. Budding trees, blue skies, gentle breezes, Easter on the horizon. My friends Spring has come to Virginia. And I do not miss winter one tiny bit! The best part of this Spring is how early it has arrived!! We have been to the park sooo many times already! I am beyond excited that my hibernation is over!!!

We have all been enjoying the sunshine, and mud. Even Kieran has been walking in grass for the first time! What a sight as he runs as fast as he can in the wide open space that is our yard, and trips, falls, and gets right back up and runs again. I love everything about Spring. Even the muddy shoes that has me mopping the wood floors twice a week (which honestly, still isn't enough.) I am a little behind in starting seeds, but I think I usually am, and that is okay. I am contimplating just ordering squash and cucumber seeds and buying tomato and pepper plants. Despite my efforts, I am just not THAT organized.

I love hanging diapers and clothes on the line, while the hens peck around and the kids play in the yard. Its so picturesque until they fight over the swing and Kieran falls off the playset. And we are going to get a fence here soon so the girls will be allowed out more even if I can't physically accompany them. And we can bring our dog home from her paradise... my parents house.

We have been busy with parks, spending our tax refund, and making little easter gnomes. Kieran has mastered the slide, which is good and frightening at times. Especially because he often goes head first!

This weekend Nick started working on the final corner of our kitchen that needs paint, and it was so perfect outside, we took a hike. We found a new little spot with a pretty creek that the kids played in for a good while.

I love finding these little pockets of beauty in our own neighborhood.

I think Kieran would have gladly spent all afternoon sitting on the creek's edge tossing pebbles into the water.

What is it with boys and rocks and BIG STICKS:

Spring is good for the soul, and makes me love my little family a little more, because I can send them outside to play. And ultimately, to be kids. :) Old King Winter, you may stay away until Christmas comes again.

Cozies

So before Isabel was born, I ended up on a blog (that I don't remember now) written by a mother of 8 children. I remember her posting about secrets that make life easier when you have a large family. One of her secrets was buying those over-packaged, over-priced tubes of yogurt and keeping them in the freezer. She claimed it was a mess-free way to get toddlers something healthy, and keep them occupied for a while. Supposedly it relieves teething pain, and can be thrown in the diaper bag frozen to thaw for a healthy, snack on the run. I was sceptical, but I had no idea how true her claims were. Frozen tubes of yogurt are the best snack in the world, trumped only by ice cream in my household. I was wrapping them up in a cloth napkin for the girls to keep their hands from freezing which worked perfectly. Then Kieran caught on to the trendy yogurt snack and he couldn't keep the napkin on, would throw a fit and then throw the yogurt tube on the floor. So I invented the frozen-yogurt-tube cozy:

Yes, it is the absolute silliest thing in the entire world, I will admit, but it is one of my most brilliantly simple inventions EVER. I am glad to know my countless hours doing mensa puzzles has not completely been wasted. haha. Then one day, my invention became even more crazy-useful! They double as cast-iron skillet handle cozies:

These silly upcycled sweaters have changed my life, almost as much as frozen tubes of yogurt. Now I can hold the skillet steady, grab the handle to stir, or carry a skillet of eggs to the kitchen table. To make, I just used the sleeve or bottom of a slightly-felted, fairly-thick wool sweater and cut a 3 1/2 by 4inch square along the finished edge of the sweater. I folded it in half length-wise and sewed it, leaving the finished sweater edge open. Easy, 2 minute project that is sure to change the world of cast-iron cooking.

And, it is gets 5 stars from the cute crowd. :)

So go make some today, stock your fridge with frozen tubes of yogurt (we like the stonyfield farm organic!) and enjoy the perfect snack with warm hands.

Cozy, snow and dusty, ashes.

I do not like winter in general, but the weather this winter has been very nice! We have had so few cold days this year and I am very grateful. And even though they were fleeting, we had a couple small snows as well. We unfortunately were not able to build snowmen or go sledding, but we still enjoyed the beauty before it melted into a new round of mud.

Sadly, Isabel, Kieran and Nick were all sick with a yucky cold on Valentines Day. My long list of crafts and decorating ideas were shot because of the cranky baby and the whiny 3-year old. And Nick stayed home from work, sniffling and coughing. We didn't even drink our bottle of prosseco that we bought with a gift card I won. I did however wake up before the sun (which is a miracle in itself) and baked my family some tastey cinnamon rolls, eggs and local bacon. The girls made valentines from doilies and stickers and random paper I had laying around. And I made coffee in my new french press that Nick gave me as a Valentine's gift. I must say, I LOVE my french press and will never brew coffee any other way again!

We also had popcorn and m&m's while watching Charlie Brown's Valentine's Day movie on Hulu. Simple, sweet, and tasty. Like Valentines Day should be. :) And Anastasia drew us a family portrait that melts my heart a hundred times over:

Over the weekend we took a pretty hike near my parents house... before we got snowed in at their house. It was such a pretty day and we ever saw a couple of adorable beavers and some deer!

And now it is Ash Wednesday. Speaking of ashes, Kieran is still obsessed with playing in ashes! It really drives me a little crazy, but this too shall pass. Perhaps he just likes to remember that we all are but made of dust, and to dust we shall return. Somehow covering himself in ashes must make it seem more real. Lent is beginning again and I can't believe it at all. I really feel like last lent was only a few months ago. I am contemplating Easter dresses, my vegetable garden and basket goodies already while remembering the sorrows endured for our redemption. And it is BEAUTIFUL and spring-like outdoors so we will be taking advantage of God's kindness and creation this afternoon. Hope you all have a reflective, beautiful lent.

"To all who mourn in Israel, He will give them a crown of beauty for ashes. a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory." Isaiah 61:3

Nature's playground

Last week my mom and I took the girls to the Virginia Arboretum on a pretty day. Its amazing how you find a new spot of beauty each time you visit.

Anastasia chose visiting the arboretum over the park. Good choice my dear.Children climbed trees long before playgrounds were invented.

And what an odd winter it has been, warm and sunny and 50-60 degrees one day, and today it is snowing and a bit on the chillier side. Cozying up with some coffee and this FANTASTIC gluten free almond cake! The best thing in the world is a Saturday free of plans and commitments. :) Happy weekend to you all.

Handmade Birthday Part 2: Paintable houses

So the other part of Anastasia's gift this year was a little dollhouse from Michael's to paint. They were labeled as "CD house" or something, so we are using them for the wrong purpose I guess. They were really fun for the girls to paint:

This was Anastasia's. They took a couple hours to do. Perfect for a cold January afternoon (which we haven't had much of this year). Oh, and I ended up having to finish the painting inside the houses because they got a little tired of painting.

I also added scrapbook paper to the back walls to give them a little pop. I made some couches for each house, and pillows and beds which I didn't get pictured.

And this is Isabel's:

I am very happy with how they turned out! I think they would make spectacular gifts for little friends too. :)

Are you sick of Lalaloopsy taking over my blog? Yeah... its getting a little out of hand over here. Annnnnd its snowing today, so I hope to get out the watercolors and come up with some Valentine crafts! :)