My Bliss: Walks Made New

It was absolutely amazing weather in upstate NY this past weekend.  Laundry was flapping in the breeze on the line, the sun was shining, and we took to the woods.  On Saturday we headed out to one of our favorite walking places, Big Field, only to find it quite crowded.  It seems many of us [...]

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The Bright Side of Life

Before this look came into our house , the kids enjoyed their dress-up for Halloween.

L3 was thrilled beyond belief when we found his Star Wars garb whilst thrifting. And L4–for those of you who don’t recognize, she is Bubbles from the Powerpuff Girls (we don’t have cable, btw, but L4 saw an episode from [...]

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Down for the Count

L3 is the last healthy one in the house. I’m huddled on the couch with a cat to keep me warm and L4 is watching far too much TV.  I hope to be back, feeling better soon.
*edited to add*
L3 awoke with a fever this morning.  Now I am home sick with two sick kids who [...]

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A Little Worry Sack

I had an itch to embroider recently. It started out making a little embroidered mini-sachet to send with a custom order from my shop as a thank you. Then I liked it so much I wanted to make one for myself. And now I’m in the process of making one for L4, [...]

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Proud Moment

This past Sunday was the Youth Kata Challenge, a karate tournament that doubles as a fundraising event. It was an event only for children, and there was not sparring (“fighting”) involved, only kata, or moves that demonstrate what one would do if defending one’s self.

L3 competed in the Team Kata event (pictured [...]

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The Last Time These Feet Were Together. . .

We took a whirlwind trip to NH this past weekend, and the gathered feet (minus the children, whose can’t keep still) looked like this:

The last time they were together, the weather allowed for this:

Instead of playing badminton in the sun, toasting marshmallows by the fire and having “refreshing” drinks in the heat of the afternoon, [...]

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Signs of the Season: Leaf Raking

It was a perfect autumn day on Sunday.
While I snuck a few minutes for sewing the kids burst into the crisp morning air ready for adventure. Without any prompting from me they found it with rakes and laundry bucket.
As time went on I slipped hats, hand covers and long sleeves onto [...]

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Outside the Nest

My babes, right before school began this fall.
The first time I ever sent my boy on the bus all by himself I felt a tremor of trepidation. Every time he or his sister have gone off into the world, into social situations which I couldn’t monitor in me there was an undercurrent of tension [...]

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My Bliss: Japanese Pattern Books

And when I get to make things for that little face, how could I not? Really and truly, I love the patterns/clothes in these books.  I’ve learned so much from following patterns where I couldn’t read the directions.  I feel much more comfortable in my knowledge of how garments are constructed and how to [...]

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More Freecycle Love

We’re still happy with the chairs with which we were graced from Freecycle.  They’re practical and have been put to good use since they came into our home.  Now we’ve added something a bit more fun and a wee bit frivolous: a vintage typewriter.

It came in a suitcase and is sitting on a freecycle chair!

We [...]

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