MommyCoddle

Tie One On, Tear One Down...

Here is my submission for september's Tie One On challenge--the dishtowel apron.

I kept putting it off because I knew this was a pretty easy sewing project. So here I am on the last day, finally getting mine finished. I used some martha stewart towels that I found on sale at KMart. I also added this wide sash to get some extra length otherwise it would have been a mini-skirt apron. The sash is folded down in half, and I realized when I put it on, that it will make a great maternity apron, too. (whenever that joyous time comes around again in my life--by the way, i'm not pregnant). So, I love it, and it may possibly have moved into the position of my favorite apron.  Handmade things always have more meaning.

Other than tie one on projects I have been up to my elbows in wallpaper.

Several months ago Dan and I ripped the glittery butterfly wallpaper down from our bedroom walls. It was the kind of wallpaper that if you caught it in the right light, you could pick up a whole new silver,  hollographic pattern hidden in the background of the paper.
In the meantime, we've been living in what we affectionately refer to as our cardboard box bedroom, since the walls are still covered in the manilla-colored wall paper backing. So, now that we're finally getting some visitors to our house... who will actually spend the night... which means someone will actually be coming upstairs...we are doing a mad dash to get the wall paper down and the walls primed and painted. It is a sticky, wet, messy job. My shoulders, wrists and arms are sore from scraping--even a little spot on my thumb. (what a wimp!)
But I have to admit, that peeling the wallpaper off is somewhat therapeutic. Like peeling sunburn or pulling back overgrown grass to reveal a whole new section of sidewalk you never knew was there....
So now we are down to the "brown board", which is apparently the old-fashioned version of drywall.  Our visitors come sunday. I'll keep you updated on the progress. 

Now I'm A Believer...

Most of you don't know that before children I used to be an elementary school teacher. All of the  mad organizational skills in my classroom, color-coding, discipline schemes, schedules, charts, lists, graphs,  have not shown up in any part of my homemaking or parenting practices. Until yesterday.
After much struggle with Emma over small tasks  and behaviors like dropping shoes where they fall off her feet when she walks in the door, leaving a trail of toys ALL OVER the house, and sometimes no inherent desire to be helpful or kind to family--I reverted back to my professional training. I have created a STAR CHART!
Before I go on, let me say that I KNOW the things that I described about Emma are typical, to be expected,normal, etc, etc...but I am simply trying to bring some order to her life (and mine) and establish some of what I believe to be important life skills. I mean, just think of the chaos if we all dropped our shoes midway into the house. Not to mention the cost of lost shoes (she has somehow, beyond my comprehension, lost two pairs in two weeks!)
So yesterday I broke out the posterboard, markers, stars, ruler and sticky-stac, and a star chart was born. I printed small clip art images to help her read her chart and added boxes for stars beside each item. And yesterday, the first day of implementation of my little plan, was a great day. She got stars in every box and even cleaned up her toys without my encouragment. This is great. I think this may work. And to be able to ask her to do something with the motivation of getting a star, versus my nagging, makes for a much happier three year old and mother.
I never thought I'd be the type to have a star chart hanging in my kitchen. But I've been converted.
Some of you more experienced moms may be snickering. Maybe next week I'll be blogging about how the star chart has lost its intrigue or that we haven't added stars since the first day. But only time will tell. For now, I'm enjoying it and I THINK she is too.
Oh, and the motivation to fill the chart--a trip to the dreaded toy store where grandma works. This time with a strict two-dollar limit.

Shopping Spree

I finally opened shop on etsy. As of right now, there are two hats for sale . I hope to get a few more finished in smaller sizes this week. They have officially been named Sutton Hoo's by my husband. You'll have to check out the item description for an explanation of the name.

My mother-in-law just picked up a part time job at a cute little toy store down in the harbor. I'm not sure I'm going to be able to afford her working there.  We visited the shop last week and came home with a ball, paper dolls, and a train whistle for mary.  I'm such a sucker for my kids, sometimes. But after watching Emma, I have decided that every child needs one of these:
(I had to make her put underwear on for these pix. I don't recommend bouncing without them.)

So Touched...

Today, I got my vintage swap goods in the mail. I think that I may possibly have the best swap partner out there. Tomorrow I will photograph all of my loot, after I find the battery charger for my camera. But today, I just had to share one special thing that Gina included in my package. I loved everything that was  in the box, but this gift touched me beyond all the others. It was this sketch that Gina did herself:

If you have been reading my blog, you will recognize this picture as Gertie--one of our baby finches that had become quite a family pet. I hadn't posted about this yet, and little did Gina know, but Gertie died four days ago. It was time for the babies to be put in their own cage--they were eating and drinking on their own, and the parents were picking on them. (probably getting annoyed from having three full-grown babies in their cage). The morning after we moved the babies out, we found Gertie, dead on the bottom of the cage.  It was sad and shocking to lose her. I enjoy my birds, but our family had never really gotten attached to them like we had to Gertie.
I told Emma that Gertie is in heaven with Jesus. We talk about how happy she is there--eating as much millet spray as she wants, taking baths everyday, and flying free with all the other birds.

Opening up my box full of vintage goodies, not expecting such a touching, personal gift tucked inside was overwhelming. Emma clutched the sketch against her breast and declared, "My Gertie!!". I think we'll frame it.

Thank you, thank you, Gina.

Trouble with a capital T

Mary masters going DOWN the stairs.






This new skill set could mean many potential problems for me. Before today, she would stand dramatically close to the edge of the top step, holding on to the small L-shaped bracket, that used to hold the railing, (which we removed for a quick paint job a year and a half ago), and dangle some toes in the air over the first drop of the top stair. It was enough to bring me sprinting-- sweeping her into my arms with visions of toddler, toppling down the steps.
However our public library conveniently has a child's play structure including three small steps, and child-size railings on both sides. Today, she mastered the art of going down these steps and while I sat and read through books on taking care of bunny rabbits, she practiced and practiced and practiced. I'm only praying that this new knowledge doesn't translate into her attempting the steep, railing-less steps in our house, that also include a few of those fancy, triangle shaped steps that form a slight turn at the bottom. We could be in for some major trouble. Might have to dig out that railing from the basement. I don't even think it's been painted.  Better yet, might have to dig out the baby gates...

Hot off the Needles

I just finished this hat last night. I love the colors and the style. I'm thinking of putting it on etsy or possibly taking a few of them over to my local favorite shop that sells a lot of local artists' wares. She carries a few knitted items, but not much. Maybe the owner will  add my hats and mittens to her consignment inventory.
I  started another one this afternoon in the same pattern, but this time the main color will be the deep plum from this hat.  I'm trying to think of a good name for the hats...I've seen them called pixie hats, Dan calls them "beowulf" hats, and I keep calling them "scandi' hats" as in scandinavian...maybe the long icords remind me of long blonde braids.  Any great ideas out there?
I just finished a little vintage shopping for my swap partner at my favorite thrifty shops. I found a few items to add to my stash. I can't wait to put it all together.

Tonight is my first stoneware class over at the art museum. I can't tell you how excited I am to finally be taking a pottery class. I have wanted to do this for a long time--probably since my older sister took a class when she was in college. When I went to visit her she took me to the pottery studio and even let me try my hand at the wheel.  I was so jealous of all the things she brought home.  I'll give a full report tomorrow...maybe even pictures if I'm brave enough to pull out my camera!

Birthday Wishes, Art Work, and SPT

Today we're celebrating Dan's birthday. Since Dan leaves for work so early in the morning, the girls have yet to see him today. The anticipation of the looming dinner/birthday celebration is killing Emma. She always, ALWAYS loves a party. She wandered into my bedroom today, way too early, wanting to know when Daddy's birthday started. So we've spent the day preparing for our low-budget celebration and presents--artwork, trailmix,  granola bars ( the ones that go in his lunch, that we're out of, that I just happened to pick up at the grocery store today), painted banners, balloons, and a cheesecake.
Around here anything and everything is fair game for gift-giving. Emma has wrapped up some napkins (?!) and a few of her toys to add to the birthday loot.  My husband is a man that wants little, if anything at all. A good dinner, some homemade gifts and a few smooches from his favorite girls will do the trick. He reminds me a lot of my father who only accepts "consumable gifts" at holidays.
So happy birthday to my precious husband whom I adore. I cherish every day spent together.

Today was also another session of art class. The big project was drawing with oil pastels and painting watercolor over top. It was a very cool effect. Emma is enthralled with her teacher and very distracted by all toddler paraphernalia in the room--musical instruments, dress up clothes, seashells, dolls...Here's a picture of some of the work from last week as well as a little parachute time at the end of class. Emma made sure she got the spot right next to miss keeley. I know that if this is not your child/niece/cousin/granddaughter this may be a tad boring, but bear with me as I share her work each week!

Finally, here is my SPT submission.  I like this picture, not because of my glamorous manicure (ha!) but for the fact that with just my thumb, I could cover up a mountain of laundry in my hallway, waiting to be thrown down the steps and carried to the laundry room.  If only it were that easy to make it disappear!

 

 

All Things Vintage

I am still feeling pretty pathetic today from this cold. And I think I have succesfully passed it on to Emma. She is congested and lethargic, like me. I was feeling deceptively better this morning, so I ran an errand. On the way home I stopped at an estate sale in my neighborhood and picked up two vintage aprons for one dollar!

The aprons were in the bottom of a box of old clothes marked for a dollar. As I was digging through, I think the lady was regretting that she quoted me such a low price. I love the embriodered details on this brown and white checked one.

Emma is wearing the other apron as her nightgown for naps, so I will have to photograph that one later.

I am also participating in the vintage swap that Toni, at Creative Ma began. My partner is Gina from My Vintage Days. She has been a great partner and has asked me all kinds of interesting questions about my taste and style. I am hoping to slip away to my two favorite antique/thrift stores tomorrow to do a little shopping for her and get my package into the mail asap...

crummy...

Just checking in today because I am feeling very crummy. It was strange, but as the storm was hitting two days ago, I started getting an earache. That earache has now turned into the full-blown flu. My body hurts, it is painful to talk and my nose is constantly dripping. I didn't get much sleep the night the power went out, so maybe that was what did me in. But, I am pounding my herbs and drinking lots of water. (although when I'm done here, I"m heading downstairs for a popcorn- diet coke - martha-laundry folding party. My mom always told me caffeine strips your body of all its vitamins?) Anyway, hopefully I will be back to normal operation conditions soon. I think the girls may be dragging a bit too.
Lots of hand washing to keep those germs away!

Bangles, Blackouts and Balance

Emma had her first day of Toddler Art class on tuesday. It is a nine week class that our local art museum has each season. This is emma's last year for it, next year she'll be too old. It is basically toddler dream-land--painting smocks, easels, clay they actually glaze and fire, painting stations, beading, blocks, mirrors, mats, window seats with fluffy pillows. Her teacher, Keeley, is a funky late 40ish woman who wears a spattered and stained painting coat, and has chunky square glasses. She was so excited to go this year that she woke up squealing, washed her face (something she copied from this great book by Charlotte Zolotow and Garth Williams), and got herself dressed.  So the paintings are drying, but we came home with a few toddler bangles. Mary came too, and sat in the stroller for the first half, but I spent the second half of the class chasing her around this "dreamland" and fishing plastic beads out of her mouth. I think next time she'llhave a playdate with her aunt. Her turn is coming...Oh, and this was a great painting tool we used in class this week. It made the greatest prints. So check your utensil drawers!

Life has been a series of blackouts these last several days, which is part of the reason for my blogging absence. I have also had a case of feeling like nothing in life is "blog worthy", so I've been lurking on other's blogs, but not much writing here.  But back to blackouts--we had our electrical updated a few days ago--our house was built in the 1890s and the lights were beginning to sizzle, brown down and flicker...not very comforting. So changing out the electric meant no power. Then last night we were hit with big thunderstorms which blacked out power for 24 hours. I sat in the storm, looking out the window with my famliy, and I couldn't begin to imagine what a hurricane must be like. The wind, the duration. A storm comes quickly, leaves quickly. But I imagine a hurricane to be persistent, constant and obviously, so much more destructive.  At first it was exciting to have no power--camping on the living room floor, candles, knitting by candlelight, listening to all the sounds I miss, that get drowned out by traffic and fans and airconditioners and closed windows. But as night became morning and lunch, and afternoon naps and dinner, and I saw the sagging eyes of my children, who just wanted a nap in a room ironically quieted by the hum of an electric fan.  And as I wanted to turn on my own electric breeze to bring some of the cool into my stuffy house, or flick on the radio for a check of the weather, the blackout began to drag me down. But my thoughts always were taken back to the hurricane and the displaced families and children...missing the comforts and the familiarty of home. I tried to fend off my attitude and grumpiness with thoughts of those less fortunate, but so often my flesh is weak, and my own momentary despair swallows up sympathy and concern and neighborlyness. 
So here I am-- lights on, fan blowing, computer powered up, music on, children slumbering in humming rooms, and I regain perspective easily. Someday I will learn to have more grace in the moment.

SPT 09.13 September Theme: Body Parts

HOT FEET.

It's Tough...

I just got both children into bed for afternoon naps. Emma is sleeping, Mary is still chatting. And I was sitting down to vent about how tough it is to be the mother of a three and a half year old. But, I'm feeling pressure to get downstairs and deal with the mess--lunch dishes, laundry piles to be folded, mail spilled on the floor, toys, emma's half-finished glue projects...Instead I'll post a picture of a monarch butterfly that I found on a bush at my mother-in-law's house yesterday. I was out there beating off the bees, crouched in the bush,  waiting for it to open its wings for a good shot. I got one shot of open wings, but in the end liked this one the best.
                                             
I will save my vent for my husband when he comes home, but will just say now, for my own mental relief, that being a mother of a three and a half year old is hard. I love her. I adore her. I think she is creative and funny and intriguing. But, today is just one of those days--on the floor-screaming temper-tantrum in the grocery store, complete defiance at nap time, unnecessary messes at lunch, lack of kindness to her little sister. Everything must be on her terms, no does not mean no, but "well, can I LATER?", dramatic sighing and displays of temper....I wonder sometimes who is having the bad day--me or her? Do I just lack my usual level of patience or is she having an unusually disobedient day?
Well, my downstairs is calling, so I will give my own version of a dramatic sigh now," ahhhhh" and move on with a better attitude. A little cleaning is good for the soul. (Oh, and both children napping is good too...)

SPT 09.06

Emma, Molly, Dan, Mary

thanks emma!
(oh--not scanned in backwards, that is how she's been writing her name lately, interesting...)

meet gertie

Meet Gertie, the smallest of our three baby finches, and by far my favorite one. She has a special look of determination in her eye that strikes me. Maybe because she is the smallest and has to work extra hard to get to the front of the nest to be fed, fighting over her large, clumsy brothers and sisters. All the babies are out of the nest now, moving comfortably around the cage. Except for Gertie. In my human opinion, she is not ready to be out of the nest, but I think she feels pressure from her siblings who hop from branch to branch in the cage. I have put Gertie back into the nest so many times, that now she opens her mouth to be fed when my hand comes searching into the cage for her tiny frame. During our "photo shoot" this morning, she sat quietly in my hand and even closed her eyes and snoozed for a little while.
Emma named her. She was verballing scrolling through a list of names that rhymed with "birdy" and when she hit "Gertie", I jumped on it. In fact, I anticipated her eventually arriving at this name as she passed through the list: sertie, mertie, fertie, kertie....So when she arrived at Gertie, I jumped, "Gertie!! I love it! Emma, you did such a great job of coming up with a name for the baby bird!" She was quite proud of herself for coming up with the name. Oh, the manipulation a mother must stoop to at times.

In the meantime, Emma was outside jumping in the sprinkler while I watered the garden. At the point when I asked her to turn off the hose, she was only wet from the waist down. When she arrived inside, she was soaked head to toe, and mysteriously was carrying all of her shower paraphernalia with her, including powder and my hair brush. She proclaimed proudly that she had taken her shower outside. "How??" I asked..."I showered in the puddles." That would explain the bits of dead leaves , grass and mud caked to her scalp.