Flood 2011

We have had a very snowy winter, and now we have a very full river system as it all melts.
I trotted over to the High Bridge to take a few photos today and this is what I saw -
The waters ran high last year too.
I was just going through those photos and it seems worse this year, but not by too much.
When I was walking back to my car from the bridge I started chatting to a neighbor who seemed disappointed about the flood. She was expecting something a little more spectacular.
She grudgingly admitted that it was probably best for the folks with riverfront condos if the water didn't get any higher.

Also, as I was going along my favorite woodsy path, I saw these footprints all over.Here is my foot for reference -What do you think? Wild turkey? Heron? Big Bird?

Lots of Sewing

I have been making lots of models for Treadle lately, and I got a couple of them back this week.
Since I forgot to take photos of them when I made them, I thought I would put some up now.
This pink one is made from a linen/cotton blend, so it's really wrinkly, and I didn't iron it, because it will always be really wrinkly when the Elder wears it.
The fabric is an import from Japan, and it was such a charming, delicate border print, I just couldn't resist making up this jumper. Never mind that she already has too many dresses...
The pattern is McCalls M5692.
I liked it, but the straps are a little long, and the dress must be paired with a shirt of some kind.

This ensemble is made from a print and a solid from ModKid by Patty Young.
I love her prints, they're so joyful.
The pattern is also from McCalls - M5794.
The pants and the top came together pretty well, but the undershirt (which you can see peeking through) is a very odd shape.
Too wide and too short.
It looks OK on the Elder anyway, and it's tucked away inside the top so nobody knows about its wierdness but you and me.

What are you making this week?

Studio at 220

My amazing, talented neighbor (the same one who welcomed me and my friends into her welding studio a couple of years ago) is a beautiful photographer and we had a family portrait session at her studio last Sunday.We have lots and lots (and lots) of photos around here, but there aren't many of my husband and myself, and almost none of us as a family.
This is the first time we've gone to a real photographer and had our photos taken as a group, but I can see this being an annual thing.
Give Shelly a call. You'll be glad you did.

Signs of Spring

Walking in a zipper hoodie, instead of a heavy coat -
Buds on tree limbs -
Sprouts in black earth -
Despite the cool temperatures, I declare it Spring!

A Little Better

I rebuilt the table yesterday, and it's a little better.
Pretty wobbly, but I think if I replace the legs with IKEA ones it will be better.
I love having a counter-high table that I can move around the room.
The hubby doesn't like it, but hopefully he'll come around.
In other news, it's cold and I like pancakes.We've been having cooking lessons in the mornings, very informally, and the Elder made those pancakes herself.
Flipped them and everything!

What do I have to Show for Myself?

This week has been a little bit of a disappointment as far as the kitchen is concerned.
I did manage to paint the radiator, and I got a few coats of creamy paint on this wall, but the Hubby vetoed the green I had planned for above the wainscoting so I am at an impasse there.
Also, the counter top turned out to be too small to wrap around like I had planned, and then it was too warped to attach to the other piece that I had on hand, so this table turned out to be kind of a disaster.
Back to the drawing board. Ikea will have those counters back in stock at the end of April, and I'll try again then.
I have been able to work on some important secret knitting for my job, so that's encouraging.
Blocking and seaming are the order of the day for that project.
Otherwise, today will be a day of major clean-up, an end-of-camp performance for the kids, and probably some pizza.
How was your week?

Spring Break

It's Spring Break.
I have a long list of things to do.
Paramount among these has become - paint the kitchen.
Also still to do-
sewing and knitting (both for work)
finish my book (actually, I checked that one off this morning)
fold a mountain of laundry
bake some bread
sewing and knitting (just for me)
organize my sewing table (maybe that should happen before I start sewing)
and I only have 4 more days.
The kids will be living it up at day camp, learning to dance and sing and stuff. I am looking forward to the end of the week performance, but that also means that really I only have 3 3/4 days to do all of this and now I am starting to panic.
I may not be back to say hi until next Monday.
Have a great spring break!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

When I was in college I spent a month in Ireland, and in honor of St. Pat's Day I thought I would share some of my favorite photos from that trip (14 years ago!)



(This one is me, on the cliffs of Inishmore, wearing handmade overalls out of a herringbone coating-weight wool, and some doc martin mary janes that I bought on the trip.
That's as cool as I am.)

Such a beautiful place, someday I hope to return.

Children's Museum

If big decisions about how to be a grown-up are getting me down, I find the best remedy is to spend the afternoon at the Children's Museum.
Some parts of this place are certainly not built for the over 4-foot crowd, or the {ahem} over 150 pounds crowd, but it was still lots of fun and I got a great work out in the anthill tunnels.
I wish you joy on your Wednesday.

Thank You

This community is so wonderful.
I can't tell you how much I value your support, even if it only means sharing that you're searching too.
And let me tell you, Waverly, that scene you describe of crafting around the fire just sounds like heaven.
I was so glad to meet you and your lovely daughter too!

Direction

I am having a period of indecision in my life right now.
What is my purpose?
Should I find a focus in life? in work?
How shall I do that?

When I finished college, I asked myself these questions, and I haven't yet found a satisfactory answer almost 13 years later.

Have you out there figured it out? You know, all of it?

Have any tips?

Plants

Martha inspired me, and I went to get some indoor plants yesterday.
The idea of this group was to have a Victorian-inspired corner of the bookshelf.
It may also be the influence of Possession, which is chock-full of Victorian love of nature and collecting.
This planter is full of succulents, of which the Younger is particularly fond.
The Woodchuck, however, is for myself and the husband.
Have a lovely weekend!

It's Coming, Spring is Really Coming!

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny again in Yarning Along.

The big knitting news for Yarn Along this week is that I finished my sweater! Ravelry link here.
I am very excited.
It's awfully warm, the yarn is kinda thick, so it's more of a jacket than a sweater, but I have worn it and it does fit and I am really very happy with it.
It's still in need of blocking, but I have been wearing it anyway.

I started a new book this week.
That blurry thing up there is Possession by A. S. Byatt.
There was a movie of this book a couple of years ago with Gwyneth Paltrow and Aaron Eckert.
I watched it the other week, and then decided to read the book.
The book is full of poetry and the letters that the main characters send one another, and fairy stories.
It's really lovely to read.

A Little Later Than Usual

It's Mardi Gras today, and I celebrated by taking down my Christmas Village (and putting away the stockings)
In my defense, we were calling it a winter village, and since we have had more snow than there has been in a century, it seemed appropriate to keep it up.
I probably wouldn't have taken it down today if we hadn't needed to move it off the lid of our piano while it was being tuned.

So, Merry Christmas and a solemn and reflective Lent to you all.

Lemonade

I have always liked the adage "When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
That was going through my head yesterday when I was making a birthday present for a friend's little girl.
In this instance, however, "life" was me misreading the instructions on a pattern, "lemons" was the fact that these pigtails looked more like ears, and "lemonade" turned out to be a little fox doll instead of a little girl doll.
(I ended up pinking around the tail to make it look more furry.)
Have a great weekend!

Another Winter Walk

Winter - I have spent enough time hiding from you inside my house.
Yesterday I was out and about with the Younger, and we went for a perfectly lovely walk along Minnehaha Creek.



I guess I should stop whining about winter, it really has its moments.

Color!

It's a marshmallow world out here in Saint Paul, unfortunately that means that everything you see is varying shades of white, gray and deeper gray.
Here is an example- (underneath that giant pile of snow is my back flower garden)
The other day I was bringing the Elder Hug-a-Bug to school and I spied a shop window filled with a literal rainbow of glass, ceramic and enamel goodness.
I had to stop by yesterday and check it out.

I didn't buy anything. It was enough for me to be surrounded by color.
The kind shop owner let me take lots of photos and pet her cat, and it just what I was needing in my life.
If I could afford her prices, I would bring this colorful pile of wool throws home with me, however I wouldn't want to deprive others of their beauty.

Yarn Along

Last week I talked about getting a ball of yarn in the mail and it came!
This is the first cuff.
I finished Freedom last week, so I hope to resume Rebecca today.
Have a happy Wednesday!
See Ginny for more yarny fun.