{this moment}

{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.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

Christmas 2011

Christmas came and it was a great day for everyone.  Despite a stomache bug that was passed around like a tin of Christmas cookies, I think we all had a wonderful time. 

{this moment}

{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.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Good Morning Sunshine

Well, one of the thing we did while I was away from the blog is move.  We decided that we wanted to be closer to where we work, the kids go to school, and well live so that we didn't have to spend so much of our lives in the car everyday.  Plus with me working it would mean far less time spent white knuckling it when it snows and I can't just hide in my house for a few days. 
So we found a cute little  house on a lake, cut 10 miles off the commute each way, and signed a new lease. 
And now I get to wake up and walk the dogs every morning at sunrise...but oh what a sunrise it is.

This is the view from our porch, over the lake. 

The view really does make one feel rather blessed. 

And when you walk the dogs out to the road, you can see our little house waiting in the mist for us to come back again. 

Christmas Present Linky's

So I have been perusing the blogs lately trying to figure out what I'm going to make for Christmas Presents this year.  Christmas Presents with a capital "P".  This is a big deal to me.  I like to make as many of my gifts as possible.  And if there is someone I just can't make for, I try and stay local and small just because I love my community and I like the idea of my money staying local....and now I will get off my soap box and move on to the point of this post!

• If you are not aware of Oliver + S, and you have small children you sew for, you are missing out. I have big plans for clothes for my 2 kids and my Niece I am thinking maybe a Family Reunion Dress or the Sailboat Top and Skirt .   
• My  Mother has requested a Multi-Tasker Tote after seeing one that I had made right before she came to visit the last time. 
• And for my boys, I think I want to make them some new school bags for daycare.  I am thinking about using this tutorial at Salt Water Kids for the cutest little gym bag ever.  

And for a quick look at something I'm working on right now. While this is a work project, the move was not kind to my crafting life, it is really cute.  I am going to be teaching a Cathedral Windows Class at Alewives this January/February so here is my current Work In Progress.

All of the stitching is done with Embroidery Floss, I really wanted the Quilting to stand out, ya know.  I am not sure if it is going to be a Table Topper or a Wall-hanging when it is done....we shall see. 

Boston Cr eam Pie and Birthdays

Today my husband had a double whammy.  It is his Birthday and Father's Day.  So we had a yummy breakfast (egg sandwiches), went on an adventure (Thomas Point Beach), and I made him a fabulous dinner.  Steak, Creamed Spinach, and Tator Tots.  And for dessert, a Boston Cream Pie.

Boston Cream Pie

adapted from  

The New England Cookbook

Sponge Cake  350F oven

Wisk together:

1 C flour

1 t baking powder

1/4 t salt

Heat together over medium:

1/4 C milk 

2 T butter

When it steams remove from heat and add: 

1 t vanilla

Meanwhile in another bowl::

Beat together 

5 eggs

1 C sugar 

until light yellow (3-5 minutes)

Slowly beat the milk into the egg mixture.  Then add the flour mixture to the egg/milk mixture folding it in gradually.  

bake in 2 9" round cake pans lined with parchment.  15 minutes.  

Pastry Cream

Heat 1 C whole milk over medium heat  until bubbles form around the edges.  

Wisk together until light yellow:

1/4 C milk

4 egg yolks

3 T cornstarch 

1/2 C sugar

Mix about half the milk into the egg slowly to temper it then,  pour the egg mixture into the pan of milk.  

Cook the mixture until it thickens and basically turns to pudding.  Wisk constantly, it only takes a few minutes. 

Refrigerate the cream placing a piece of plastic wrap right on the surface so a skin doesn't form.  

Ganache

Heat 1/2 C of heavy cream and 2 T corn syrup over medium heat until just barely bubbling.  

Chop 3 oz of bittersweet chocolate and add to the pan of cream.  

Cover and let sit a few minutes to melt the chocolate. 

Stir.  

To assemble the cake.  

Take 1 layer of cake, place on a plate and spread the pastry cream over the top.  

Add the second layer of cake.  

Warm the ganache and pour over the top of the cake.  Spread to the edges and let drip artistically.  

Eat and profit!

New Job!

I have a new Job!!!!!!  This last week was my first week working at Alewives Fabrics.  I am so excited!  And don't worry about the kids, they are loving daycare.  Fynn has been making arts and crafts, playing in the sprinkler, and having a grand time with all the other kids at "school."

More later, when I don't have a cat on my chest....

Sunshine!

Finally, after over a week of gray, rainy weather we had some sun today!  It was glorious.  And we spent as much time as we could running around in it.  My boys should sleep well tonight!

Skill Builder !

IF you look to your right, you will see Rosie over there.  She is an awesome button, one I hope you will click on.  Or this link to Sewn.  It is a great blog I just found!  And they are having a great sew a long.  It is a skill builder sew along and after a year, you will have 12 basic quilting skills and a big, beautiful quilt all your own. 

I am so on this and I plan to play along!  I have been sewing and quilting for a while now, but who doesn't need a refresher?  I know, I do.  The sew along starts on June 17 and I can't wait.  This is going to be a fun year!

Fynn and the Worm

Fynn found a worm in the garden the other night.  He was very proud of it.  Very proud.  Enjoy the following photo essay.

I just want to let everyone know, the worm is now living happily in my bathtubs.  And no Fynn didn't really lick it. 

3 1/2 Months!!!

This is my little man. He is getting so big, right before my eyes.  He almost can't wear his newborn sized clothes anymore...And, despite the very serious look he is shooting above, he is such a smiley guy! 

Hats!

I have decided that I want to be albe to take that iconic picture of all my kids and my niece this summer in hats.  Homemade bucket hats, that are cute and perfect and all that.  So I have started making hats.  From this book!  Little Things to Sew, it is an awesome book.  So full of cute stuff I can't wait to sew for these three kids.  Yes, that's right, both the boys and the girls.
I know, a book that has stuff to make for boys too!!!  Thank you Liesl Gibson, Thank you!!!

So my first project from this book is this hat.  This one is for my niece, I haven't finished the boys yet...
I have so many plans for project from this book.  The patterns are great, I have always been a fan of Oliver & S patterns.  They go together like a dream. 

Slow Sewing

I have decided that I want Quality.  I want to make projects that I like looking at.  I mean, I like the things I have made in the past, I really do.  However, I don't necessarily like everything I have made as much as I like the idea of what I made...I don't know if I am making sense.
I have had a real "get it done" mentality with projects.  I wanted things done quickly so I could move on to the next project.  I didn't really fix little mistakes, thinking no one would notice one little problem.  But ya know what, those little mistakes add up.  And it makes the whole project look bad when there are lots of little problems.

So instead of working as fast as I can to finish project that I'm not really going to like or use.  I am going to start taking my time, working slower (not hard with 2 little kids) and actually LOVING the results. 

Bees are Buzzing!

I have discovered the joy of quilting bees.  Both online and at my local quilt shop. I love you Alewives!
Just yesterday I went to second quilting bee they held there to make some quilts for one of the neighbors who lost everything (including her quilts) in a fire.  It was so fun!  I loved sitting around talking and sewing with a big group of women.  I met so many people and I was invited to the next guild meeting.  I might actually start having a life again soon. 
The other bee I am in is a online quilting bee.  It is hosted over on Ravelry, believe it or not.  But we have our own little group of sewers who also knit.  And my quilt is going to be made up of the blocks I showed you last post.  I think it is going to be a great quilt for Fynn.  He is really into cars and trucks right now.  But I wanted to make him a quilt that can grow with him and maybe even go to college with him...if it lasts that long.  So I am going for a more grown up-little boy look with the linen centers and the wonky log cabin designs.
And now, because I have decided that I am going to do some craft fairs in the next few weeks and it is even harder to get sewing with a little baby around, I need to get back to my machine and get to work!
 

The Next Big Project

A Baby is a Busy Thing.

Where has the time gone?  I haven't been here since January and I have rather missed the old place.  But I do have an excuse, a rather cute excuse at that. 

Liam Patrick Arthur was born on Valentine's Day!  And he is just the sweetest baby ever, even if I do say so myself.  He is really rather laid back, and only fusses when he is hungry or when we are changing his diaper.  I have never seen a kid so laid back while taking a shower or just hanging out in general.  I can hardly believe it has been a month already! 
We are starting to get back into the swing of things around here.  I have even gotten my drop spindle out and am working on some bright blue alpaca that I'm going to ply with some pretty natural wool.  I think it will look really cool and tone down the brightness of the alpaca.  I haven't been sewing much because our living room has been taken over by baby, but that will change as it gets warmer out and the baby starts to sleep in the bedroom.  (the bedroom is not well heated) 
And with that I have just been informed that Liam is getting hungry and is ready to get his next diaper change over with. 

The baby countdown.

We have entered the baby countdown.  Less then a month to go before our little threesome adds a fourth!  And yes I am so ready.  Well sort off, because lets face it they are much easier to take care of before they are born.  And the feeding, changing, sleeping, crying cycle will begin.  And so will the smiling, cooing, feeding, laughing.  Oh and lets not forget that I haven't seen my feet in about 4 months and I sort of miss them. 

But to keep myself busy, and to relieve any Mom guilt I am having about Fynn and all the changes he will be facing in the coming months when he becomes a big brother, I have started some craft projects.  I made Fynn a little messenger bag that I will put some other surprises in just for him when he comes to visit me at the hospital. 

I figure a big brother might want a bag all his own to carry around his big boy stuff in. And made out of corduroy and lined with robot flannel, what could be more perfect?
It was really fun to make too, no stress, no deadline.  And I got to play with some of the fun stitches on my machine too. 

I may have to make some more of these and add them to the shop.  But for now, I am going to be looking for more fun things I can make to give to a new big brother to be when he comes to visit.  I would like to have something I can give him each of the 4 days he is going to be there to see me. 
I just need to come up with some ideas...and probably fast. 

A Big Boy Haircut!

My baby is growing up.  I can't believe it, but he is going to be a big brother soon.  So we had to get a big boy hair cut.  Can you believe he went from this adorable little mop head.

To this all in one afternoon.

He is such a little man now!  I can't believe it.  And he looks so much more like his father, it really is amazing. 
And I must say, I am surprised at how brave he was getting his hair cut.  He was a little nervous when the clippers came out and made a buzzing noise. But he just sat right there and held his Daddy's hand and was such a champ.

And of course after the brave haircut everyone needs a treat.  So off we tromped for special sandwiches at out favorite shop.   With the new car we got as a reward held tightly in hand. 

Oh and how did I do you might ask.  I was very brave and didn't cry at all.  But I did get a lock of hair in a zip lock bag for the baby book. 

A New Year!

Happy New Year Everybody!!!!  I hope everyone had a great celebrations and I hope you all have good things in the year to come. 

We had a great holiday week, we went to Cooperstown for Christmas, got a new kitten, drove home in the Blizzard, had a quiet New Year's Eve and saw my sister in law on New Year's Day!  I even did some crafting in all that craziness.  I made my sister in law, Kate, a new pair of fingerless gloves for Christmas this year.  I think she likes them.  She asked for another pair after I made her some last year, so I made her a different pattern this time.  Anyway, Picture time! 

Fynn and his little cousin playing Great Grandpa's piano in Cooperstown. 

Miss Moxie Kitty.  She is something else.  Can you believe no one adopted her from the shelter. 

And because I forgot to show them to you last time, Fynn's mittens.  That boy has some long fingers!  He has his Daddy's hands and feet, HUGE!


I have a lot of stuff planned to the new year, for this blog and for life in general.  I have updated my goals, kept some from last year that just didn't pan out and set some new ones.  And the big exciting thing for this year is the new baby!!!  It is getting so close now that it is January, not so long now at all.