I woke up around 2am this morning, which is normally a problem but I had work to do so I was just as glad to be up.  I got my bills paid and out of the way and spent the rest of the wee hours making cashmere baby hats out of thrifted sweaters -- this is such a simple and satisfying project that it overwhelms me with good feelings of soft fuzzy ( Read more... )

I'm having trouble coming up with a name for my newest quilt, so I'm sponsoring a contest on my other blog to generate ideas, and maybe to beef up readership as well.  If you're interested, the quilt top is viewable here, and the relevant blog post is here.  Win a miniature quilt designed and made especially for you!

Poor Katie has never been quite so sick before.  She's got everything wrong with her tummy that could possibly go wrong with it.  Her head hurts.  Her fever goes up and down since she can't keep Tylenol in her for very long.  Gross things are coming out of every part of her body.  She keeps getting pins and needles in her hands and feet -- why?  ( Read more... )

Thanks to everyone who answered my call last night.  It is so comforting to know I'm not alone.  The memories are flying fast and thick and including some things that nobody wants to hear about, so I'm not going to mention them here, but knowing that you all care is making it possible for me to get up and face another day.  So thank you.

I've been ( Read more... )

This favorite game of Katie's is pretty self-explanatory.  It would be really obnoxious if it were not so endearing; she manages to be so careful and considerate about how she knocks me down so I never get kicked in the stomach or elbowed in the cheek, just temporarily pinned to the floor with a great big smooch from my jubilant daughter.  It's so ( Read more... )

I made a felt caddy to hold Katie's colored pencils while she's coloring in church so they don't go clattering all over the stone floor, and a friend saw it and asked me to make some for her niece and nephews.  Specifically, she offered to pay me to make them.  I'm not generally comfortable selling my crafts, but the more I make and the better I ( Read more... )

"Santa Claus is the BEST!"
"It's just what I wanted!"
"And it's in my FAVORITE color!"
"You guys are the GREATEST!"
"Thank you, Mama and Daddy!!!"

All in all, a pretty rousing success, I would say.  Merry Christmas, everyone!

I've spent the better part of the late afternoon wrapping presents for K..  And now I find myself in distress, with worries about how she'll react on Christmas morning:  Are there enough toys?  Will she mind getting mostly handmade gifts?  Will the clothes fit her?  Will she like them?  Will there be enough presents for her to open?  Will her ( Read more... )

Is it too late to cancel Christmas?

Katherine has completed her first embroidery project:


( Read more... )