The pj challenge

So, no kimono top, as it took me a couple months to get these simple pants made, but I have to admit that they are pretty cute.  As usual, Amos's pants don't stay up, although he doesn't seem that skinny.... who knows?  And, is it okay for babies to be dressed in a silly way?  I think so.  Jess doesn't mind, and Damien doesn't seem too, either.

These are the pj pants and Ruby bloomers from Heather Ross's weekend sewing.  (Thanks, Sara.)

The fabric is by Kokka Japanese.  Lego :)

Okay, now I really have to sew that skirt.  

The painting of my son that my brother owns...

Online communities...

I posted on Soule Mama's "this moment" a link to my blog, after Kirstin piqued my interest in experimenting with getting hits.  And I got 56 hits that day, and I was 98th in the comments or something like that.  Crazy the power a mamablogger can have.  Wierd.  And someone from Portland looked at it.  And, perhaps I'm being stuck up, but have you viewed SouleMama today?

Whether or not I have inspired her (I can safely say that she inspires me), I was talking to a close Michigander girlfriend last night and she was saying how much she loved my photos and blog... that feels nice.  I guess I know I have a lot of lurkers on my blog.

So, the gist of what I'm going to say is, I lurk on y'alls blogs a lot and am very inspired by y'alls capabilities.  And I'm thankful to have the computer for connecting with people, whatever anyone may say about technology and disconnection...

when we were young

so, in search of an awkward family photo (which I KNOW there are plenty of...) I came across this pic of the kiddos when they were your kiddos ages... 4 and 2
I also realized (once again) the power in the art of taking photographs. The complete and utter joy in "re-seeing" moments from the past. Thank you camera!

spawn

My offering to the awkward family photo archives. So happy to get a pic with ALL of their grandsons.




Christmas 2008

does my knitting pattern count?

Not really much reading going on over here. Walking around the house I was able to gather this sad collection. I would call them the books I touch the most? As you can see the instructional/reference type book dominates. I think I'm giving up on Twilight. Now that I've seen the movie, I've lost all motivation to finish. The only other fiction is a book of short stories which allows for short spurts of digestible and satisfying reading, in the rare instance I have a few minutes and feel like a book instead of sitting and staring at the wall.

And wow, only two parenting books. All time low I think.

As far as recommendations, I think half of these books have been suggested or borrowed from one of you. Who needs a library?! But if any of you aren't familiar with Mark Helprin , he is a lovely writer. Old fave. His language is gorgeous, which unfortunately in my mother of two brain, can now seem a bit heavy.

Man, can't drink or read like I used to.

Reading?!

So, here's the side of my bed and what we are reading... and, of course, that doesn't include my heavy photography books that don't make good "before bed" reading.  I sure wish I could get to all this.  I figure in a few years.  A couple of the periodicals are pure poetry, literally, and thats kinda nice.

And, I certainly do love the Little House books.  And then the "house" periodicals on how to make everything pretty and nice inside and out, if you've got the cash.  And, don't forget our good friends Dr. Sears, Dr. Spock, and Dr. Brazelton.  And, then there are the books my mom gives me that are always about a journalist, missionary or some other bleeding heart getting kidnapped while trying to save the world, and make it through their harrowing journey to write a great book.  I don't read those last ones, to be honest.  Something about being a mom makes it extremely hard for me to stomach anything heavy besides the esoteric heaviness of poetry (or, of course, Harry Potter).

On another note... here is the fabric for the Yard Sale skirt.  One of these days, I may actually start on it.

show and tell

Okay gals. It's show and tell time. Here are a few of the books I am currently reading. Um... well.. which is to say these are the books I am skimming through harried lunches while a 2 yr. old screams at me that she needs a nap. And then I am reading them in bed at night while a 2 yr. old lovingly caresses/scratches/pinches my still flabby tummy. So I guess these are some of the books I would LIKE to be reading right now. How about you? Any good books to recommend?



On another note, I had a nice "browse the thrift store" day today and thought I would report back. I finally found a typewriter at recycle north. yay! And I browsed through "Upstairs Antiques" and "Whistle Stop Antiques". The report - I liked "upstairs" a lot. Lots of furniture, books, mirrors (which I am totally going back for - for the new stairwell) all at reasonable prices, I thought. Good for when you need a cute little end table - cuter than what recycle north is gonna getcha. Whistle Stop was a bit different - more knick knacky and a bit higher priced. (sure, salt shaker vases are cute - but for $3 a pop? Not so cute anymore) Still, some interesting stuff if you really slow down and look (-think- baby sleeping in the car - shhhhh)
So that's the news from me. Now on to find some typewriter ribbon...

yet again.

Perhaps I missed the part of the conversation that said she was making this too. Or is this just another crazy, somewhat annoying, coincidence?

Yours will look better

-K

speaking of spinning

for some reason, this pic reminded me of our conversation about spinning animal hair...hmmmm...

When you're a stay-at-home mom of young children, Mothers Day is more about NOT being with your children than spending time with them. Well, at least for me it is. I spend all day, every day with my boys. Oh, and I love them. A TON. But give me a day where I have a complicit cohort to take them off my hands... WHOOPEE!

So, tomorrow, I can only hope my day will look like Carin's Day-BEFORE-Mother's Day.



Damn, and the dog too? I can only assume bribery is involved.

And of course I know bribery was NOT involved, as this is a regular scene in our hood. And now that I think of it, I believe I see each of your husbands out and about with your entire broods in tow on occasion.

What am I doing wrong?

Battlestar Gallactica is good and real

So, I'm finally ready to admit that I am a wannabe sci-fi fanatic.  All it took was years and years of reading and rereading Tolkien, Harry Potter, Narnia, Percy Jackson for me to realize this.  I love fantasy.  Really.  When I was a kid, my nickname from my big sister was Space Cadet because I was in my own little world most of the time.  Whether that was reading or pretending to be a horse (can't believe I just wrote that, damn blogging tell all) or dressing up my Barbies or sitting in the oak in my front yard.  I had vampire teeth and hair that parted in the middle, which was so unbecoming for my slim face, and I wore sweat pants.  For some reason I was one of those kids that was not found endearing by teachers or my schoolmates, at least not until sixth grade when I moved to Africa, but that's another story.

So, this addiction to Battlestar Gallactica and how we are just about finished watching it.  We will soon find out the fate of the human race and the cylon race, whether they are intertwined, and if there is one God or many, who the final cylon is and what it means to be human... whatever happens, I love this series.  And I think its more than just my sci-fi love, but rather this alternate created reality so mirrors our own and just gets me thinking.  It's not so much losing myself in something other world, tuning out, but instead making me ask questions about what is real and good and right in my own world and life.  I love that.  And it is a good story.

What's real and good in my life.  Dirt and my kids.  Amos and I made some fairyhouses today, which is so much more fun than "superbatman kitties," or whatever pretend game he wants to play.  I may have outgrown some forms of fantasy, but his fantasy life excites me because I see myself mirrored in him.  Everything that has happened will happen again.  Thats from Battlestar.  And it could be construed in a bad way, but there is something about cycles and circles and interconnectedness that makes it good and real.

I can't wait to watch another episode tonight.

Welcome

So, hi.  Someday, I'd like to write a book.  Because I've got so much smartness to share with the world.  Or not.  Maybe I'm just narcissistic.  Or maybe jealousy motivates me.  All those bloggers publishing their cute little craft it up, great momness books.  Oh, I'm not bitter.  I actually own a bunch of those books, and read their blogs religiously.

Seems like you need a blog to publish a book.  And lots of energy.  So, I started this blog.  And dragged my girls along for the ride.  We knit Monday nights.  And sometimes sew and felt or just drink pometinis and beer.  And we talk.  About our lives, our kids, our husbands, our pets, our jobs (or the jobs we want). Green smoothies.  Demi Moore.  Elizabeth Zimmermann (yes, two of my ladies knit the February Ladies sweater and the Tomten before Soule Mama did, although we love her and copy her a lot).

We probably don't have anything new to say or share.  I mean there's nothing new under the sun, right?  Didn't Solomon say that a couple thousand years ago?  But, we have a voice.  And it's nice to be heard.  And, damn, my lady friends are smart and witty and fun.

So listen and read.  Or not.