A Poncho

It is done!  Back in August I picked out this pattern for little V.  We headed to Michael's and she picked out the yarn and the colors.  It took a while to get started, but once I got going it was such an easy project.  I love the feeling of accomplishment when a project is done and she is happy.  So happy in fact, that her new poncho was worn to school today!  Also a bonus that I got it done just in time for what is forecasted to be the first cold snap of fall. (Love that!!)

I think it turned out pretty cute, she loves the colors.

Learned a few things on that hood (at 11 pm last night!)

Now to tackle some knitting for baby...

7 Weeks

Seven weeks to go!  It's really hard to believe that we are in the homestretch.  This pregnancy has gone by very fast, although somedays not fast enough!  I have to admit I have been very overwhelmed by the thought of having another baby.  Of course we will love this baby to pieces, and enjoy every minute with him, just like we have with little V, but I wonder, are we out of practice?  We have gotten very used to the rhythm of life with a 5 year old, a very independant and free spirited 5 year old.  Between the generosity of friends and family and 1 very intense trip to Babies R Us, the house is now filled with baby gear.  (WOW, babies need a lot of gear! How did I not remember all of the stuff we need? What else don't I remember? )  As I look at all of these baby items I am still overwhelmed, but it is changing.  Changing from "Oh my goodness, what are we doing?"  into "Wow, can you believe there is going to be another little person to love around here very soon?"  Yes, I am nervous, and a little apprehensive (How will little V handle all of this?)  but most of all I just can't wait to see his little face!  What is he going to look like?  What kind of little person will he be?  Seven more weeks and we are headed back to the land of diapers, nightime feedings, and best of all that new baby finger grip...

I guess I'm going to have to change the name of the blog!  It's no longer just me and two Vs, we are adding a little R... Any suggestions?

A rainy Monday

Today is rainy, not drizzly, rainy.  Constant and steady, with no end in sight.  It's the kind of day that makes you want to wear flannel jammies, drink a pumpkin spice latte, do a little online baby shopping, and finish up a knitting project.  Makes a dreary day sound pretty good, doesn't it?!?

How are you spending this Monday?  Hope you're staying dry!

A special friend

I have a very special friend.  She is the kind of friend who always seems to know when you need a little pick-me-up.  Out of the blue you will check your facebook and there is the nicest note you have ever received.  It can be the busiest time of your year and there she is with a little gift and a note.  Not just a note, the kind of note that ressures you that someone is noticing all your hardwork, not just noticing but appreciating. 

This friends also knows one of my favorite things to do is knit, so she surprised me last June with a gift certificate to my favorite neighborhood yarn shop. After much deliberation, I chose the perfect pattern, found the perfect yarn.  You see, I wanted this to be the kind of pattern that I would use all the time.  I needed the yarn to be soft enough for everyday, and bright enough to make me smile.  I knew that everytime I would wear this I would think of my friend and how wonderful she is.  There needed to be a little of her sunshine in this yarn and this project.

Here is what I ended up with...

It's beautiful isn't it?  I think the colors are perfect.  And soft, it's a blend of alpaca, silk, and cashmere.  (I don't really think it gets any softer!)

And here is what I made...

It's this pattern.  It's part scarf, part shawl, the weave is open enough to wear in the spring, and it can be wrapped up to keep me warm in the winter.

 



I think it's perfect (just like my friend.)  I am very lucky.

Autumn

We are not quite into the full swing of fall, but it's close.  You can smell it in the breeze, feel it in the morning air, and (the most official sign of autumn) the honey crisps are at the grocery stores, I could go on and on.  I love the fall, and I'm sure this post will be one of many devoted to all of the wonderful things I love about this time of year.

Yesterday, little V had her first half-day of the school year (seems awfully early, doesn't it?)  We took the oppurtunity of a few free hours and a beautiful fall day to make our first visit to the cider mill.  More things I love about autumn, cider, caramel apples, cinnamon-sugar donuts, and those honey crisps...

It was a beautiful afternoon!

Ballet Shoes

New ballet shoes.  Every ballerina needs a new pair in the fall, it's just like back-to-school clothes.  Little V is very excited to dance again this year, especially since she is in "big girl classes" now.  But look at that elastic, shouldn't the straps come sewn?  There is a part of me that really dreads sewing on the straps every fall, but this year I really enjoyed it.  It provided me with a little quite time in what has been a very chaotic couple of weeks and it got me thinking, how lucky I am that dance is something I can share with my daughter.  It has always been a part of my life and while I was sewing the ealstic on her little ballet shoes I thought about how much a part of Little V's life dance already is.  Of course, her mom owns a dance studio, but everything she does has a little bit of dance in it already.  She loves music, she loves to move, she has literally been dancing since she was in the womb, and her favorite thing to do is have "dance parties."    I hope she always dances through life...

There is the finished sewing job.  It's certainly not perfection, but it works.  Every year Little V picks a different color thread to use, it's our little secret, her ballet shoes look like everyone elses on the outside, but inside a little splash of purple!

And, thanks, Mom, for sewing hundreds of pairs of ballet shoes for me.



What a week!

Last week was one of those weeks that you don't really have so much as endure.  Kindergarten started great, then the landslide kicked in.  So by Sunday I was in desperate need of my favorite thing, Mom & Little V time.  Into the kitchen we went!

We made this granola, which is a household favorite.  (Have you made your own granola?  It's so hard to buy granola once you've made this super easy, super yummy granola. Check it out!)  We made these granola bars, this was a first timer in our house and WOW!  You've got to try them!  We started our very own clay fairy house, which I am hoping will get a roof sometime this upcoming weekend.  (I'll be sure to post pictures of the fairy house, Little V has made the coolest furniture for the inside.)  And we finished the night off with homemade chicken pot pie.  (Sorry no link here, it is my Dad's recipe and he swears it's top secret!)

It was a great end to a not-so-great week.  And because of it, there was no way this week was going to start poorly.  Yesterday was a pretty good day, as far as Mondays go!

Hope you all have a great week!

Kindergarten

Ok, I'll admit it, I cried.  It's just not easy sending your baby off for the whole day, to a new school, with new kids, and a new teacher.  I know I'm not the first one to cry at the first day of kindergarten.

Little V was so excited this morning.  Woke up before her alarm went off and everything.  She didn't even want us to walk her into school, but we had to, I needed just a few more minutes with her.  She was so confident going into her classroom and finding her desk, only a few more hours before I get to pick her up and hear all about it!

 I think the first day of school calls for cupcakes, these funfetti cupcakes are just the ticket!

Old Fashioned

About a year ago I started what has become almost an obsession with doing things from "scratch."  No more cake mixes, making my own jam, learning to sew, starting to knit again, I even made bread.  All of this led to what we named our "homemade Christmas" last year.  Now you know that sense of accomplishment you feel when you make a really good dinner for your family or the flowers that you planted in the spring are still thriving come fall?  Well all of this homemade goodness has led me to some pretty cool feelings of "heck yeah! Check out what I made!"
 
Today I took this to a new level (well, for me anyways!)  I canned.  Yep, I preserved food for the winter.  I know I have talked about how much I love making and eating homemade jam before, but this preserving food thing was new to me.  So why not jump in with both feet!  Yesterday we hit up the farmers market and today I canned peaches and homemade salsa.  Imagine my kitchen as one big sticky, steam filled, sweaty mess, and me an even bigger sticky and sweaty mess.  But I must say, the salsa tastes great and the peaches look beautiful.  I will have to let you know how everyhting tastes in the upcoming months because right now I can't bring myself to open any of the jars, all I can do is look at them with love in my eyes and that cool feeling of accomplishment. 

Why canning? Maybe it's the "earth-mother" side of me (as my great friend S would say) or maybe I'm just old fashioned.  Who knows, I know my mother never did it and I don't recall my Grandma's ever doing it, but I'm sure my Great-Grandmas canned a thing or two!  I can assure you, I will do it again. 

The salsa going in for a "bath."

My peaches, almost ready to go in.

Do you have any canning experience?  What should I try next?  I'm thinking about canning tomatoes, definitely some apple butter this fall or maybe jalapeno jelly...

Oregon

We just returned from a awesome trip to Oregon.  Why Oregon?  It is one of the few states both Big V and I have never visited, and thanks to the generosity of some great friends we said why not! 

We spent a very full 7 days in the cascade mountains, hiking, rock climbing, fishing, exploring, and enjoying the mountain air we love so much.  We also took a couple days and went out to the coast at Cannon Beach.  What a beautiful and picturesque place, I have never seen a shoreline like it, huge rocks and cliffs topped with lush green forest, so beautiful.  We had a great time, one that we won't soon forget. 

It has been an incredible summer, filled with lots of new places and great times.  Now we are preparing for our next big adventure, kindergarten...