My mom celebrated a big birthday number this weekend, so this is a little gift I whipped up for her. Really, its not a family tree--maybe more like a "tree of life" or something--all the people who love her and are part of her life as she turns the big 6-5. 
My siblings and their spouses are on each of the branches. And each branch gets a leaf for the children in that family. If I'd thought of this idea earlier than the day before we celebrated, I would have liked to have done the names in embroidery--but the flu and lack of time, caused me to have to go with paper and my sewing machine for the initials.
And my oldest sister, who still lives at home with my mom, gets a little canary on her branch--just like the one she has at home....
And the tree still needs a suitable frame, but that is coming...
I also knit a turtleneck/neck gaiter kind of thing for my mom, too. Using a yummy, soft brown yarn. Of course, I used no pattern, eyed the size without measuring, and ended up with an overgrown piece that could have fit around my waist. So now the question is felt it? rip it out and start again? or cut and stitch it up? (would that even work?)
Even with all my homemade gift glitches it was still a fun day with family. My sister made a yummy mushroom and artichoke heart soup and killer chocolate cake, and I kicked in some bread bowls and homemade rolls.
And once again, its monday and I'm playing reclaim my house. Do I write about this every Monday? Probably. I'm always recovering from the weekend it seems. My homemaking skills usually shut down on the weekend--then (sometimes) Sunday night hits and I get this cleaning surge....today it didn't hit until this morning:
I'm on my fifth load of laundry. (yes, I'm THAT behind....)
