MommyCoddle

hello friends

oh, it's good to be back in this space this afternoon. It's like coming home from your first overnight at a friend's house...you had a good time, but you're tired and ready to get back to what's comfortable.

I'm still finding my voice over there on the babycenter website. My dad said to me at lunch yesterday--"after reading your posts over there, I just wanted to tell you to relax, molly. be yourself." I'm trying. It's a bit like starting over again, with those fumbling first posts I wrote more than two years ago.

In the meantime, I'm finding brain turn-off time when I'm in front of my knitting. I'm working on a quick, easy pair of booties for Elizabeth, who can't keep a pair of socks on to save her life. It doesn't help that she has a three year old big sister who enjoys pulling them off her feet as well--especially in stores, then dropping on the ground, whichever aisle we might be in, and silently walking away.

The pattern is from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. Seems like every book in this collection of 'last-minute gifts' is really good.

There's more to say, but a baby is crying and needs her mother. My agenda for tonight goes like this:

Make Dinner
Eat
Girls--Bath
             Finish Charlotte's Web (knit!)
             Bed
Me--Shower
Me--Knit
Me--Bed

Sounds good, doesn't it?

PS. Thanks for all the comment love over there on the new blog. It really helps a girl's heart.

**I almost forgot: Lori, over at the Camp Creek blog is dreaming up a kids mail-order club. Go check it out. I think a lot of you would LOVE it!**

living 05:: the weekend report

::a good bluegrass concert (moved to a dry location) ::

::a tuckered out girl::

::a wee bonnet finished (just in time for summer?!), a tired model::

Pumpin' Out The Presents...

Unlike most people, I have waited until the last minute to get all of my handmade Christmas projects completed. And I'm still not finished yet. But, I have scaled back my list to make it more do-able and enjoyable.
Here's a few that I finished last night: a library tote for my neice, Emily, and a small knitted bunny for Mary...

Off To A New Home

I think it was just a few days ago that I posted about wondering if anyone ever had success selling on etsy. The next day, I sold my first sutton hoo ! Heather from foursweetpeas  bought it for her daughter stella. It is off in the mail to its new home in california. thanks heather!

Cashmere from cows?

I got this forwarded in an email from some knitting friends. It completely cracked me up. A very good laugh for today:

Download Vid_BlondesLACountyFair_fk_1.mpg

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.

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!