tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54153719165879992942012-02-01T18:36:45.240-05:00a thousand ten-cent wonders...who could ask for more?Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.comBlogger3401100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-3900623456604189572012-02-01T18:36:00.000-05:002012-02-01T18:36:45.246-05:00

Me, to crying baby: "I'll change your diaper and you'll feel like a new man." T, to me: "Uh, Mom? That's kinda what he IS..."

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-73318730630489047852012-01-25T23:31:00.001-05:002012-01-25T23:35:56.043-05:00

Of all of the DIY crafty playthings that the web has to offer, this is one that I highly suggest doing. SO much fun. It's nice if you start by reading Bartholomew and the Oobleck, but it's plenty fun even without the tie-in. mixing the ingredients starting to thicken... T is apprehensive, but intrigued C: "oh YEAH!" it's stretchy! (And food coloring stains your hands! LOL)

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-67802768140816615062011-12-08T00:16:00.000-05:002011-12-08T00:16:25.489-05:00

Okay, to be fair we *did* have snow alllllllll the way back in October. But that was a freak one-day thing for which we were not prepared. Now? It's December and the warm clothes have been moved into daily rotation and new snow boots have been procured and we were ready. So when it started snowing on Wednesday, C gathered his gear and went Outside to Play. What a great idea! He suggested making

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-28126587095679191452011-12-03T01:20:00.000-05:002011-12-03T01:20:02.048-05:00

{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. Join in at Soulemama

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-23444308205101883332011-11-08T01:08:00.000-05:002011-11-08T01:08:58.484-05:00

Whether you're a blogger, a homeschooling parent, or both, there's an ingrained tendency to never be far from a camera. Any activity--whether spontaneous or carefully planned--has potential as a good story or fodder for a portfolio. It's like your life is a constant documentary. Unfortunately, it's also a constant improv. Sometimes things go well and you end up with a terrific final product that

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-11214146339620206972011-11-07T00:33:00.000-05:002011-11-07T00:33:20.365-05:00

Oh my. Between some crazy weather (early snow!) and my tendency to be a slave to a certain very small person's napping and feeding whims, we don't get as much outdoor play these days as we're used to. It's starting to affect us; we're obviously a bit stir-crazy. T finally escaped to the woods over the weekend with Dad...a "just us two" moment. He came back excited, and demanded that C and I (heh

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-13909399016987763702011-11-07T00:00:00.001-05:002011-11-07T00:01:09.621-05:00

I found this recently. Yes. It's exactly what it looks like. A 9-volt battery mounted on the wall with poster-tac. No. I have no idea why.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-1559324357702358132011-10-24T00:56:00.000-04:002011-10-24T00:56:03.492-04:00

Although age and circumstance are conspiring to make me follow a more traditional schedule (being a mom kicks me in the butt!), I am a night owl by nature. Always have been. It's far easier for me to stay up late than to wake up early when extra time is required in my day. I'm more likely to be awake blogging at midnight than watching the sun rise. So it really has come as little surprise to me

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-26400851681882007302011-10-22T14:55:00.004-04:002011-10-23T16:06:59.647-04:00

OMG people, can I just rant for a moment here? Of course I can. It's my blog. I can do whatever I damn well please. Okay, I have an infant. A gorgeous, scrumptious, snuggly, smiley, wonderful infant. Who, like many of us, turns downright miserable if he's overtired. And yet, he fights naps. Well, who could blame him...there's some pretty novel stuff happening around him and who knows what he

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-7975300605492125652011-10-19T00:25:00.000-04:002011-10-19T00:25:28.647-04:00

T is smart. Smart, but stubborn. Throw in a little bit of perfectionism and a whole lot of self-doubt and you have...well, me. I could give this a positive spin and call him a skeptic (which he is, and it's a quality that can serve one quite well as far as intellectual inquiry goes, thankyouverymuch) but right now I'm going to just sigh and lament that he can be very frustrating to teach. He's

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-91324312369914425642011-10-07T19:32:00.002-04:002011-10-07T19:46:07.330-04:00

{this moment} - A soulemama 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.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-35764415729390803122011-09-23T19:02:00.000-04:002011-09-23T19:02:44.724-04:00

{this moment} - A soulemama 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.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-43407842438083806292011-09-16T00:27:00.000-04:002011-09-16T00:27:20.771-04:00

The nights are getting colder this week, so we put on some socks. Hand-knitted-by-Mom socks. J has a custom-made pair too, but it was past his bedtime when the rest of us be-cozied ourselves. ;)

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-12733331367526216312011-09-14T12:05:00.002-04:002011-09-14T12:14:52.664-04:00

There's an ongoing criticism of standardized testing that many of the questions are culturally biased...that children from less mainstream (Judeo-Christian, white, middle class?) backgrounds might not share the same frame of reference and therefore misinterpret the intended meaning of certain elements. I think the issue goes beyond testing, all the way to instruction...and it's based more on a

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-69098750137284843412011-09-13T07:53:00.000-04:002011-09-13T07:53:19.920-04:00

I drafted this post eons ago. Well, *months* ago. And then I forgot about it. I was reminded of it as I walked down the stairs this morning without a death-grip on the handrail, and dusted it off. It's still relevant, I think. ;) Here's a little peek into the inner workings of my overthinking...a few of the ways in which media has shaped me into the mildly crazy person I am today. Such as...

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-52816358074687835842011-09-07T13:49:00.000-04:002011-09-07T13:49:55.191-04:00

Sixteen days ago, my family welcomed its youngest member...a little boy, strong and healthy. And this change is changing everything else. Because I have a newborn (and because I have been recovering from surgery), I have not been as available to my other children. I have not been able (at first) or as willing (later) to go on impromptu outings. My desire to start some more structured homeschool

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-90326229135327237382011-08-26T09:57:00.000-04:002011-08-26T09:57:31.762-04:00

{this moment} - A soulemama 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.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-51839798864081439392011-08-19T10:18:00.001-04:002011-08-26T09:57:55.225-04:00

{this moment} - A soulemama 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.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-77735536720278805932011-08-15T08:48:00.001-04:002011-08-15T08:52:08.072-04:00

It's funny, the connections that one can make from seemingly unrelated discussions. I read an interesting article on the usually-sarcastic but sometimes-dead-on website Cracked.com this morning, about some extreme policies in place at various public schools. It's an entertaining read in its own right, and one might think that it would be an excellent springboard for a little homeschooling

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-50545129422382816692011-08-09T10:02:00.001-04:002011-08-09T10:07:05.012-04:00

I'm a treehugger. And I'm frugal. Both of these tendencies mean that I rarely throw anything away. I'm getting better at the actual purging...stuff *does* eventually leave my house. But even so, the collecting of things creates a number of problem areas in my house in the meantime. I know that this is preferable (to my, and my husband's, sensibilities and values) to the alternative of just

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-80003497952637986562011-08-01T08:02:00.000-04:002011-08-01T08:02:37.265-04:00

Hey! Who out there remembers Apron Monday? Where I show off my impressively, impractically large collection of aprons and expound on their various virtues and drawbacks? Yeah, it's been a while. I stopped around the first of the year, when I ran out of current examples. Since then, I *have* acquired a few, but I have neither created any nor blogged the ones that were given to me because I've been

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-83778486823777847222011-07-19T18:48:00.002-04:002011-07-19T18:48:56.356-04:00

An education is not just a technical training in the arcane knowledge of a discipline (whether that be history, politics or a science). It is a training in how to think and evaluate, how to marshal evidence for and against a position, how to approach a problem critically without falling prey to prejudice and preconception. Those are skills that everyone from bank manager to politician, journalist

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-73572573271531005982011-07-11T18:54:00.002-04:002011-07-11T19:48:02.140-04:00

I'm going to have a baby soon. Exactly six weeks from today, in fact. I know the date because I am having a scheduled C-section. After years of equal parts hope and stubbornness, fueled in no small part by a good dose of highly judgmental brainwashing ("Surgical deliveries are for the weak and fearful!" chanted our prenatal instructor), I have finally, finally come to peace with it. The details

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-48754690394803510902011-07-10T09:16:00.000-04:002011-07-10T09:16:55.940-04:00

If I have one defining quality, I would have to say that it is my lifelong tendency to overthink things. I have a hundred pieces of writing scattered amongst my papers and computer files which I started and then second-guessed myself out of finishing for any number of reasons. I have a million more that never made it out of my head because I wasn't sure where to take them or how. I do more

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-66966693510415206302011-07-07T10:56:00.001-04:002011-07-07T10:59:52.171-04:00

When the 5-year-old asks to make something "new" for breakfast, a mother may well be tempted to ask an eye-rolling, battle-experienced, sarcastic, "What could possibly go wrong?" Huh. Surprisingly little, actually. What can I say, the kid likes fruit. He *was* a little bummed when I reminded him that we (mostly he!) had eaten all of the cantaloupe last night. And he couldn't understand why I

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-45026552175370975282011-06-20T05:39:00.000-04:002011-06-20T05:39:23.235-04:00

While I busy myself with knitting, sewing, cooking, and other tangible creative endeavors, let's not forget that the children have their own artistic outlets. Here are a few of their more recent projects. C made a treat for us, all on his own. The inspiration, from one of our many kids' cookbooks. We don't buy technicolor, sugar-frosted cereal. Ever. I made an exception for this project.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-9522507554037052542011-06-13T20:40:00.002-04:002011-06-16T18:17:53.135-04:00

It was a mixed bag, for a Monday. We did some TV-watching (DVDs of Marty Stouffer's Wild America), the kids worked on their respective "clubhouses" (note to self: must photograph those!), Mom did some chores. It was late in the afternoon when I decided that we needed to Go Outside And Play in the gorgeous low 70s, light-breeze weather. So despite the fact that we were closing in on the Witching

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-43006033426443072872011-06-11T14:18:00.000-04:002011-06-11T14:18:36.208-04:00

"When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life." ~ John LennonI grabbed this quote from the Facebook feed of an unschooling group this morning, and my synapses have been

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-19942716052959441772011-06-05T09:03:00.000-04:002011-06-05T09:03:33.571-04:00

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-79493566983498742542011-06-03T08:57:00.002-04:002011-06-03T09:04:19.324-04:00

There are countless decisions in parenting about which people have a tendency to get very judgmental and/or defensive, and I'm about to discuss one of them. Please understand up front that I believe that everyone is entitled to their choices as long as they "do no harm". This wasn't written as a soapbox or a diss or any other blanket statement about what you and yours do. It's just about me. So.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-91440274032240661802011-06-01T10:51:00.001-04:002011-06-03T09:16:17.085-04:00

This one was a long time in coming. Other projects were quicker, and less emotionally taxing. This one? This one I had high hopes for. I didn't want another obviously homemade item...I wanted this thing to surprise the hell out of people when I said that I made it. I wanted a real live grownup button-down blouse with precise details. The challenge scared me a little. Since I've had such a roller

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-13750087237510964172011-05-30T10:14:00.000-04:002011-05-30T10:14:33.836-04:00

After my recent burst of self-imposed tension/worry/stress over how much I personally was "doing" with instruction and how much quantitative academic progress my son was (not) demonstrating, I listened to the advice of some wise friends, took a deep breath, and let go. I can't say that I even consciously decided to return to an unschooling frame of mind so much as I just committed to not

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-76015666381663587142011-05-29T16:07:00.005-04:002011-06-01T10:52:52.328-04:00

It's baaaaaaaack! The maternity shirt that wouldn't die! Oh yeah. That one. I couldn't let it beat me! I'm proud to say that after an afternoon of tweaking, it's much improved. Rather than recut it from scratch, I decided to maximize what I had and just alter the existing garment. This involved slitting the side seams (I had plenty of ease, so instead of picking out the stitches I went full-out

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-51574902632544907342011-05-24T10:47:00.002-04:002011-05-24T11:02:10.451-04:00

I don't drink coffee, but I'm definitely a coffee person. That is, I do not--cannot--seem to function gracefully without a peaceful, quiet, reflective period in which my brain slowly warms up to speed and I can ease into my day. Maybe I knit a little, or read a chapter of a book, or check my email. Sometimes I blog. Often, I take a deep breath, assess the disaster around me, and make a targeted "

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-60663050578869016892011-05-20T11:56:00.000-04:002011-05-20T11:56:31.167-04:00

I haven't posted in a while, and a structured format seems as good a way as any to catch up... In my life this week... (or more. More like a month...) I loaned out my beloved netbook. Yes, we have an iPad, a PC, and I have access to a computer at my part-time job, but it seems that the missing link of my ever-handy and portable netbook has seriously diminished my likelihood of blogging. I

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-42274775867663973022011-05-19T10:55:00.000-04:002011-05-19T10:55:56.514-04:00

...when I wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry. To scold or hug. I took a deep breath. Sometimes I am actually blessed enough to remember what it's like to be a child, and how their thought processes work differently from those of adults. No, they do not naturally consider consequences. That's a product of maturation and experience and, frankly, social training. When I saw this, although a part

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-31357986206096097602011-04-23T00:19:00.001-04:002011-04-23T00:20:40.826-04:00

How's it going with the learning? Let's see... In my life this week... Since my last update, I've been growing and making. Growing a baby belly and making, well...scroll back through recent posts. Lots of stuff. The funk of winter cabin-fever is starting to lift, and although the boys and I haven't been doing as much outdoors as is typical for us in nicer weather (between rain-rain-rain and

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-34677695675886559272011-04-20T16:28:00.001-04:002011-04-20T16:43:42.096-04:00

It seems that lately, this is more of a crafting showcase than a homeschooling journal. Ah well, it *is* my little catch-all for enjoying our lives. Right now I'm enjoying crafting. So bear with me while I "ta-da!" once more. I finished a few more things this week. Here is a maternity shirt I just finished. I'm very happy with it. It's roomy but not boxy or tent-like. I adore the color. The

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-34961679512668654602011-04-06T11:05:00.004-04:002011-04-06T11:10:15.817-04:00

I've been rather busy making things lately. Today I'll share some more recent completed projects...or FOs, if you are hip to the lingo. ;) First up, a sweet little newborn hat for my best friend's new daughter. Who seems to have missed the memo concerning her due date (Monday)...but we're confident she'll be joining the world of the breathing soon! This was knit top-down, in the round, using

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-43504040890656720842011-04-05T09:59:00.000-04:002011-04-05T09:59:19.056-04:00

...is a stethoscope which allows you to listen to two things at once. You're welcome.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-86893649487338047782011-03-28T11:35:00.000-04:002011-03-28T11:35:28.833-04:00

There's nothing like an immediate need (pregnant and growing) paired with a fortuitous event (new sewing machine) to really get the creative, and productive, impulses fired up. There's also nothing like trial and error, and deflated expectations, to inspire one to Do It Better. But after a while, those setbacks can kind of start wearing on you. I'm learning a lot about the do's and don'ts of

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-20452524740838014412011-03-27T14:49:00.001-04:002011-03-27T14:49:33.448-04:00

This was a fun crafty project for my friend Melissa, who is obsessed with all things Peep. A festive Easter bunting! I got the idea from the tutorial over at MADE, but modified with the following changes: 1. I drafted the bunnies to be actual size. A mini-banner! 2. I glued the layers together because hey, it's felt and you can do that. Also to avoid the topstitching (both fiddly on tiny

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-1214425210968767072011-03-21T03:42:00.000-04:002011-03-21T03:42:32.599-04:00

Okay, actually this item itself is new. New yarn, newly knit, just for her. But the pattern is old. 1945 old. Vintage! It's from this booklet: The pattern photo looks like this: and the final product looks like this: or like this, if you remove the neckline ribbon: There are, as always, a few flaws and "things I would have done differently", but overall I'm still very happy with how this

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-69620271044401398392011-03-16T08:48:00.000-04:002011-03-16T08:48:55.573-04:00

I've started accumulating baby clothes. I prewashed a load of them this week. I'd forgotten just how charming and wonderful and *squee* tiny little outfits can be. I am typically very sensitive to fragrances, and choose products for my home and body that are unscented. But the whiff of nostalgia from the Dreft detergent...OMG, it smells like *babies*... The next best laundry moment will come

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-42921869084780006362011-03-11T01:14:00.001-05:002011-03-11T01:15:25.505-05:00

C's brain works in a way which baffles and amazes me. He has a talent for manipulating objects and constructing things that seems far beyond his years. He has a wide variety of building toys (Tinkertoys, Lego, magnets, wooden blocks, etc.) with which to realize his ideas (and some of them are freakishly complicated, and have moving parts that work) but also uses found objects to achieve his means

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-47866132312843347952011-03-09T09:14:00.000-05:002011-03-09T09:14:34.236-05:00

T: "Mom, was I planned?" me: "Yes, honey, you were." T: "And was C planned?" me: "Yes..." T (to C): "See! Mom and Dad made you and me, but the new baby was made by God."

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-83437612804084112412011-03-05T10:55:00.001-05:002011-03-05T15:51:28.975-05:00

It's been a while, how about an update on our learning journey? In my life this week... What, me personally? Outside of homeschooling? I'm doing a lot of pattern alteration and drafting. I touched on this in a few recent posts but need to catch up on blogging my trials. Trying to sew properly-fitting clothing for oneself is a real ordeal anyway. Add a rapidly changing shape and little

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-79350521806950869122011-02-16T18:13:00.000-05:002011-02-16T18:13:55.352-05:00

Partly sunny, 55 degrees. Not bad for early February in Pennsylvania. First, we shook off a little cabin fever by hanging some laundry on the clothesline. Yes, I said "we". It started as just me...with the dog running high-speed laps around the yard...but I was soon joined by a 7-year-old boy with a stepladder and a desire to "spend some time talking". So he helped. His idea. How many times

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-33063134949187456912011-02-15T08:39:00.003-05:002011-02-15T08:47:36.004-05:00

Okay, now I'm starting to see why so many sewers (seriously, folks, is it safe to say "seamstresses" even if we aren't tailor-level skilled? I can't help seeing that word and thinking of a damp understreet lair...) give up on the idea of maternity patterns and just start altering off-the-rack items or drafting their own. Part of the problem, true, is both the dearth of maternity patterns, period

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-66268909366035049822011-02-14T09:34:00.002-05:002011-02-15T08:42:59.206-05:00

It was surreal, how fast it happened. Literally--I wore a pair of my favorite casual pants on Tuesday evening and they fit fine. Fine, I tell you. No pinching at the button, no pulling at the hips. On Saturday morning, I couldn't get the zipper pulled up. How does this happen, I ask you? HOW? Oh, well, the fact that I'm nearing the end of my first trimester might have something to do with it.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-63928577865497777342011-02-12T14:42:00.000-05:002011-02-12T14:42:38.791-05:00

I found this simple and graceful set of writing prompts on another homeschool mom's blog and am embracing it as a starting point for some guided musing on our journey. I'm not sure yet if I'll try to keep up with this weekly, or just "as needed", but we'll see. In my life this week... I've been doing some soul-searching and questioning. I'm not sure whether to embrace my current sense of "is

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-54913773449892478842011-02-09T07:29:00.000-05:002011-02-09T07:29:17.745-05:00

I need to keep reminding myself, on almost a daily basis these days, that I am doing something. Though I feel as though a lot has slipped (housekeeping, socializing, learning, crafting), the truth is that we are making it from one day to the next and I am making progress...even if it's less tangible in finished products than I might like. It seems natural to fall into kind of a slump this time

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-88576930257757958082011-01-27T14:02:00.005-05:002011-01-27T14:21:07.497-05:00

Rats, this would have made an excellent title for a post wherein I celebrate C's great love for, and great skill at, assembling jigsaw puzzles. Alas. Let's just let that sit as read and go on to something a little meatier. One of the neatest things about watching an emerging and developing intelligence is seeing your child apply knowledge in new ways, and follow a train of thought to their own

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-25347603774514499702011-01-21T04:54:00.002-05:002011-01-21T04:58:30.293-05:00

Have you ever played Monopoly? Okay, have you willingly played Monopoly since you reached adulthood? Really? Monopoly is a mind-numbingly LONG board game. You can start the process all full of enthusiasm. This is going to be great! You will strategically buy property and manage your money in such a way that you garner instant and immense financial reward. Yay! But it's never quick. It takes

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-6921269542843371092011-01-08T14:46:00.000-05:002011-01-08T14:46:26.666-05:00

Parenting is, among other things, a periodic and unapologetic teacher of smack-you-in-the-face humility. When your children embody your better self, whether by exhibiting your strengths or by echoing your good/moral/admirable qualities, that's validating for both You the Parent and You the Person. But when you hear something negative/ugly/unfortunate come out of their mouths in your words, or

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-64498913814095217742011-01-06T16:52:00.000-05:002011-01-06T16:52:49.072-05:00

...the dog learns to climb the ladder to the attic. Lord help me.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-9678628785051822252011-01-05T19:54:00.000-05:002011-01-05T19:54:05.881-05:00

A few months ago, one of my favorite bloggers posted a heart-rending entry discussing her emotional reaction to a bad experience her son had at the dentist. Last month, my own beautiful 4-year-old boy, C, started a series of visits for repair work on just a mouthful of decay. First off, let me just note for the record that I already feel like the world's worst mother because my very young child

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-42138227375731833992011-01-03T17:32:00.000-05:002011-01-03T17:32:03.461-05:00

I don't know what it is about this apron that reminds me of a turn-of-the-century domestic. It's probably a little too frilly to qualify. Maybe it's just the fact that it's large and white, equal parts feminine and serviceable. Also, I'm pretty sure that domestics are generally expected to wear shoes. This apron was made for my mother by a good friend of hers. The only time I remember seeing

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-56681377973494449462010-12-27T15:36:00.001-05:002010-12-27T15:37:02.119-05:00

Well, actually this would be Mrs. Claus, not Marion Cunningham. But if there's even a vague opportunity to throw a Fonz reference into my blog, I'm going to take it. That's just how I roll. Welcome to Apron Monday (only one more to go!), and my latest gift-to-me apron. This custom number was created by my mother. What touched me most was the fact that when she presented it, she described it

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-20458173480994233142010-12-20T19:58:00.004-05:002010-12-20T20:45:58.017-05:00

Just in time for the holidays: another double-duty post: crafts AND collections. Today is the second of two aprons that are not part of my permanent stock but were made by me as a gift to someone. A while back, I shared the Church Lady apron, created for my favorite church lady--my sister. This is the companion piece, a barbecue apron for her husband. I could have taken the easy way out. I

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-58150628427789047002010-12-14T14:04:00.000-05:002010-12-14T14:04:07.392-05:00

Okay. I admit it. I was catty and perhaps even a little bitchy about the workmanship on yesterday's apron post. In the interest of fairness, I feel compelled to tell the world that I have been working on Christmas gifts today. One has a potential major goof that may bring me to real and gut-wrenching tears (the goof is an unfixable thing, and the last in a long series of steps that it took to

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-55753124794206068102010-12-13T19:00:00.002-05:002010-12-13T19:03:51.132-05:00

Okay, it's Apron Monday and that seems to be the only thing that dragged me to blog-land today. I have tons to say, tons to share, but--ahem--the holiday season means I'm too dang busy "making Christmas" to be bothered with that pesky writing about it. Maybe soon. Anyway, it's time to share an apron and I'm feeling petty. So here is nothing nice to say. You know those iron-on transfers? The

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-84490943787379883072010-12-07T09:24:00.001-05:002010-12-07T09:32:18.241-05:00

Here it is. Belated, but as promised...a few (ha!) snapshots from Friday night's Christmas parade, with all of its hometown goodness. The Courthouse dome. Too bad the statue of George Washington isn't quite visible in this shot. It's really quite a lovely building. We stood opposite the courthouse; a great spot for viewing! C and my mom, who will likely curse when she sees her photo online.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-714518839112964202010-12-06T12:54:00.003-05:002010-12-06T16:21:41.818-05:00

I was raised Methodist. While Col. Sherman T. Potter was right on with his summation of the Methodist experience being largely about singing, there's another thing that we as a denomination do with enthusiasm: namely, pot-luck dinners. My childhood is filled with memories of spaghetti suppers in the church basement. The old ladies would fire up the slow cookers at the slightest provocation and

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-53120534519835552322010-12-05T21:58:00.002-05:002010-12-05T22:04:37.849-05:00

I've been meaning to blog for days, but as usual I have to rely on stolen moments. Right now, as a matter of fact, my children are lingering neglected in the bathtub. They sound pretty happy to have some free play time in the water. I usually manage to call off the festivities somewhere between "pruny toes" and "frigid water". It's all good... So, it was a busy week, and yet one in which I

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-18375223380725709172010-12-03T23:44:00.001-05:002010-12-03T23:47:46.150-05:00

{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.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-1830122168082917782010-11-29T15:56:00.000-05:002010-11-29T15:56:13.788-05:00

This week's apron is pretty basic. And objectively, there's nothing wrong with it. It's a classic butcher shape--plenty of protective coverage. Simple lines. Adjustable straps. And nice detailing, in the form of contrasting piping. It's just...quilted. And as a general rule, I try not to dress in things that add puffiness. That and the pocket is positioned too low. There, I said it.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-81733356365269780672010-11-28T11:33:00.001-05:002010-11-28T11:35:33.788-05:00

Mike and Molly. I made reference to this new sitcom a few posts back and claimed to have an opinion on it. Here it is. The early episodes left me very torn. Yes, it's a show about an obese couple who met at Overeaters Anonymous. We get it. They're fat. It's silly to pretend that the elephant isn't in the room; sometimes we're going to have to acknowledge that they're fat. It's also silly to

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-51551173452230766652010-11-27T10:27:00.001-05:002010-11-27T10:29:32.285-05:00

TodaysMama and GameStop are giving away a sleighful of gifts this holiday season and to enter I’m sharing this meme with you. 1. What is your holiday wish for your family? A minimum of drama and stress. 2. What is your Christmas morning tradition? My parents come over to watch the kids open gifts, and my husband and I prepare a big brunch. We're becoming "famous" for our Eggs Benedict.

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-63233522245820261072010-11-22T14:35:00.001-05:002010-11-22T14:36:41.446-05:00

I don't have anything against clashing colors per se. In fact, I love bright neon green paired with dark purple--the logo colors of my once-employer MediaSite, now absorbed by another company (alas). But orange and purple? Really? And yet, it kinda works. The fact that the shades are muted pastels keeps the garish factor down to manageable proportions. I haven't really had much call to wear

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-49384028029731990382010-11-20T10:49:00.001-05:002010-11-20T10:51:31.616-05:00

My name is Heather and I am a self-critical perfectionist. This can be good, as I constantly push myself to improve and excel. It's frequently bad, though, because I pressure myself, often unrealistically. I cripple myself from even tackling certain projects (ahem, writing) and frustrate myself over the minutia of the projects I do embrace (crafting). I've done a lot of growing with the whole

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-42021534055474172322010-11-16T16:26:00.001-05:002010-11-16T16:29:13.895-05:00

I knit. You've picked up on that by now, I trust. Last week I returned from Natural Stitches with several hanks of yarn. After petting them and gazing at them lovingly for a while, I got out the yarn swift and ball winder and got to work turning those loose hanks into portable "cakes". It's big fun, and the kids sometimes join in. (And I'm eternally grateful to my neighbor for her open-ended

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-46920418028884596652010-11-15T18:34:00.000-05:002010-11-15T18:34:37.264-05:00

I'll be honest; the sheer fabrics are not my thing. They're a little too "boudoir" for me, and while I'm all for kitsch, I prefer to keep things practical. I don't cook in the bedroom; let's keep the whore out of the kitchen, hm? Ahem. That aside, I still wish to applaud the creator of this week's apron for her (I'm assuming) patience and skill. What makes this item so delightful is the

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-89419096450570079572010-11-12T19:11:00.000-05:002010-11-12T19:11:52.747-05:00

{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. 

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-88605616569329226212010-11-10T17:31:00.000-05:002010-11-10T17:31:08.123-05:00

4yo: "Hey Mom? Two plus six is eight." Me: "That's nice honey" (suddenly paying attention) "Wait, what?" 4yo: "Two pus six is eight." Me: "Yes, that's right!" 4yo: "I know. I knew that because I did some math." Me: "Oh really?" 4yo: "Yeah. Hey Mom? I want to live in Hot Pocket land."

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-91951839268304291242010-11-08T09:27:00.000-05:002010-11-08T09:27:27.204-05:00

Today's apron is just wonderful. It has a number of appealing features. Let's start with the overall cut. It's my favorite basic style: fitted bib and skirt with a little fullness. And it has (not apparent from the photo, alas) crisscross straps. This is a fantastic invention for those of us (ahem) who have sloped shoulders. Halter necks are functional, too...but a crisscross strap allows for

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-89595650232879158592010-11-05T17:41:00.001-04:002010-11-05T17:42:24.404-04:00

{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. 

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-62507482616347205122010-11-02T15:24:00.001-04:002010-11-02T18:29:46.443-04:00

Many of you have asked why I flaked out on the apron post last week. And by "many", I mean "absolutely no one", but I thought it was a good opener. See? I'm so crafty I make stuff up! Ahem. Anyway. Last week was a whirlwind of activity, between preparations for Halloween and for--oh yeah, did I forget to mention?--T's seventh birthday. Woohoo! Celebrating with C, best bud cousin, and the

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-40199601476502465102010-11-01T15:56:00.000-04:002010-11-01T15:56:03.701-04:00

The idea of what it means to be patriotic, and how those feelings might be best expressed, seems to be rather fluid, especially lately. So I could be wrong. This could be exactly what I'm missing. But somehow I think it falls more under the heading of "You're Doing it Wrong". Sing with me now! "The only one who'll hang out with me / Is my dear old GrandDad..." True, this apron-slash-billboard

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-70155910934691070892010-10-29T09:46:00.000-04:002010-10-29T09:46:39.339-04:00

{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. 

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-80651947393560129862010-10-27T08:12:00.003-04:002010-10-27T12:33:50.922-04:00

That's a bit of an unfair post title, really, seeing as how our default state seems to be outdoors. But something about fall makes me want to drag the kids into the woods constantly. Some recent lovely photos of autumn adventuring: Squirrel drama. We're not sure if they were playing, fighting, or flirting, but these two chased each other for a long time. Big entertainment. Releasing

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-41128186856254063032010-10-18T22:32:00.000-04:002010-10-18T22:32:02.443-04:00

A passage in a recent blog post (someone else's) caught my attention and has been niggling at the edges of my consciousness. That is, the notion that providing your children with an alternative education creates an unfair advantage, and as such is amoral, or at the very least civically irresponsible. Kind of a "you may not enjoy your treat unless you brought enough to share with the rest of the

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-43717768682588052262010-10-18T22:07:00.000-04:002010-10-18T22:07:14.292-04:00

Those are two qualities, not one. See? Pretty! But oops, ratty. Alas, the drawer in which I keep most of my aprons is overstuffed, and this one had the misfortune to get wedged between a moving part and a stationary part, and when I opened the drawer...RIIIIIIIIP! I was pretty bummed. However, there is hope. The rip is straight, clean, and along a grainline. Also, the print of the fabric is

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-77740269131788972092010-10-15T17:52:00.001-04:002010-10-15T20:15:14.876-04:00

I've lived and learned with the sewing thing. Sometimes, no matter how well you take measurements, a garment sews together with a completely different fit than you expected. Although it's an extra investment in time and effort, it can save a world of heartache (and a small fortune in fabric) to make a practice "muslin". It's true for formal wear, and it's true for costumes. That's why I just

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-46238107684131490402010-10-11T16:28:00.001-04:002010-10-11T16:29:38.110-04:00

This is another apron which is in such a state of disrepair that it's no longer functional. I'm not sure why I keep holding onto it, but I suspect it's a combination of factors. I find the print appealing. I find the cut appealing and might get a wild hair and copy it someday. I feel too guilty to throw it away. This guilt is a BIG motivator for my pack-rat tendencies. I blame The Velveteen

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-17847981972608535722010-10-10T20:01:00.000-04:002010-10-10T20:01:03.458-04:00

This started as an email to a friend who asked for some getting-started advice. I've had so much fun thinking about this that I thought it might make a decent blog post as well. Please add your own advice in the comments--she'll be reading this! ;) First, it helps to know your learning style. Some do well with written instruction; others need images. Some can manage with static resources (books,

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-75365678347948394052010-10-08T10:50:00.001-04:002010-10-08T10:59:06.507-04:00

I live close--like, across the street close--to a spur of the Montour Trail, a lovely bit of once-private real estate that has been reclaimed for public use. Once the site of a railroad line, the land is now maintained by volunteers as a "linear park". I discovered this trail system back in the 90's when my best friend and I used a paved section a few miles south of here for inline skating, and I

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-44398606259280116412010-10-05T19:54:00.001-04:002010-10-07T16:46:56.812-04:00

Every knitter has a horror story, about an item with days...weeks...maybe months worth of loving, careful work ruined by a careless person putting wool (wool!!) in a washing machine. And maybe drying it. The tears! The drama! The tiny little sweater/hat/socks! It sucks, if you don't mean to do it. "It" is correctly called "fulling", although common usage insists on "felting" (which, I am told,

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-57612429109050008302010-10-05T18:20:00.000-04:002010-10-05T18:20:21.415-04:00

Whoops, I didn't blog an apron yesterday. Well, in my defense I had a lot more interesting things going on. ;) But here's a belated picture for those who are keeping score...the second of my two holiday-themed aprons. Which no, I did not bother to iron. (Shut up.) Its stats are as follows: Origin: I've forgotten Manufacture: unsure. It appears to be handmade. Style: gathered skirt, single

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-70220150879399036422010-10-02T21:17:00.002-04:002010-10-03T10:27:52.255-04:00

This week's primary craft project was crocheting a colony of beanbag rabbits, which are part of a birthday gift for a friend's 2yo (party tomorrow). I finished embroidering their faces today, and decided to turn the rest of the pink skein (bunny noses) into something lovely. So I started knitting a hat for another friend's daughter. The bunnies will find a home in a clever little carrot bag

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-9011719263767545032010-10-02T09:50:00.000-04:002010-10-02T09:50:40.812-04:00

Nothing new this week in the kitchen. At least, not from me. The Husband was home on staycation this week and embarked on a few delicious but nevertheless undocumented culinary adventures. Me? Same-old, same-old. But there's something to be said for comfort food. Mixing Baking. Or is this really grilling? Let's just say *cooking*, shall we? Eating Begging. Yes. The dog got some waffles

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-41863872959106653742010-09-30T19:15:00.001-04:002010-09-30T19:17:58.769-04:00

It’s been a busy week, and so much of it has been worthy of gorgeous photo documentation. Which, naturally, means that I was sans camera for most of it. Try to imagine the following scenes, if you will. These descriptions will have to stand in for the pictures that were apparently not meant to be. A family: Mom, Dad, two small children, digging potatoes in the garden. Dad turns over the loose,

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-59210184040445702562010-09-27T13:33:00.000-04:002010-09-27T13:33:55.513-04:00

This lovely lady has seen better days. She's stained. And faded. And there's a little tear at the pocket that is patiently awaiting repair. I've never worn her (she came to me via an estate sale lot), but I can't bear to part with her because she's simple and pretty all at once. If I *were* to wear this apron, it of course would be relegated to "hostess" duty...as the thin fabric and small

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-39238263128086730012010-09-23T19:27:00.001-04:002010-09-23T19:27:50.264-04:00

It's here! It's finally here! It's officially Fall! Well, on the calendar anyway. You'd hardly know otherwise. The trees aren't any less green than they were last week. And it's actually a little bit hotter than last week as well. But it's finally, officially FALL! Unlike all of those people who bemoaned the "end of summer" way back on Labor Day weekend, I look forward to the vernal equinox

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-17833647283317344982010-09-22T01:00:00.001-04:002010-09-22T10:29:58.180-04:00

I decided to sew this week. Mind you, this wasn't a new venture. I've sewn before. Quite a lot, actually. But in recent years, that hobby has fallen by the wayside. There are so many reasons; foremost amongst them being the double whammy of the fact that (for me, at least) sewing tends to require a lot of both time and space. For "time", see my children (and, ahem, the housework which I

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-16889565645662776202010-09-20T14:05:00.000-04:002010-09-20T14:05:20.090-04:00

Hm. I almost subtitled this post "without irony", to echo Craftster's tagline: No tea cozies without irony, but then I got my mind all tangled trying to determine what that literally means as opposed to what it sarcastically (and ironically) means and then...oh, forget it. This IS ironic, but in ways other than the maker most likely intended. This apron was a gift from a friend and neighbor. I

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-38513302738235825262010-09-19T19:35:00.001-04:002010-09-22T00:21:50.812-04:00

Yup. Second hat turned out much better. The changes? First, I changed the manner in which I did the increases. I don't really dislike the way I did the first hat (which was as written out for top-down, no-swatch hat knitting as "Knitty Kat's Ponytail Pi Hat")... X marks the spot. but I thought a spiral might be fun too, so I spaced out my increase points and changed the clunky KFB to a more

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-75689787333252595262010-09-17T10:15:00.000-04:002010-09-17T10:15:35.480-04:00

What? Chicken? I know, try not to fall over from shock. I realize that most of my cooking adventures involve baked goodies, but even I prepare a real meal every now and again. Although for the sake of fairness, this was baked too. It just didn't involve sugar or cinnamon or fresh fruit. Oh man, anyone else hungry for dessert? Ahem. We eat a lot of chicken around here, and frankly it can get

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-82189519973678164902010-09-16T18:49:00.002-04:002010-09-16T22:16:24.487-04:00

Ah, Pokemon. Is it me, or is this the Fad that Would Not Die? When I first met my darling husband, his eldest son and many nieces/nephews were into Pokemon. Now, more than a decade later, there are still kids in the family who have fallen under the spell. So I present, for our 7yo nephew...the PokeBall hat! (The pattern is free at Ravelry, courtesy of Sasha Stavsky.) modeled by T Now that

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5415371916587999294.post-18364283231860236952010-09-15T15:56:00.001-04:002010-09-15T15:59:45.274-04:00

Or...the process of a typical day. ;) I recently knit a pair of baby booties ("Baby Janes" from Wandering Cat Studio. Super easy and fast!) for a friend to give to her little God-daughter as a gift. I wanted them to look extra-nice (and to properly communicate the care instructions), so despite my lack of an Etsy storefront, I decided to go semi-pro and make a custom hang tag for them. I have

Heazhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16434223709237944695noreply@blogger.com1