Rainy Day Excursions

Rainy days and art museums make splendid companions. An impulse this afternoon turned into a most satisfactory outing. My five companions were quite cooperative on the whole (insert sigh of relief), and we managed to tour some of my favorite galleries. Iridescent Art Nouveau glass is one of said favorites, and Laddie was excited to see a Cassatt painting in person after learning about her in school lately. Nearby was a favorite impressionist painting with a profusion of blooms -- I love the vagueness of the scene contrasted with the meticulous detail of the faces. But the piece de resistance is that French portrait of the woman in the magnificent dress. While I wouldn't consider the artist a favorite (in fact, I'm not really fond of his other work at all!), I think it might be my favorite portrait of all time. It's stunning. The pearls appear three dimensional, and you can make out the veins in her hands. Just look at the lace and brocade! And her eyes... It's been years since I've seen it, and it still captivates me. As we wandered the galleries, I couldn't help feeling grateful that we could enjoy such a feast for the eyes (and the soul, I would argue). What a gift! 

Once we'd reached the limits of patience and attention spans (and completed the museum's scavenger hunt), we decamped to a nearby coffee shop. We had to cross a footbridge, thereby fulfilling a lifelong dream for my 8-year-old, apparently. This was arguably the preferred destination for most of our "tour group!" Especially since we sampled several pastries (the peaches and cream cupcake pictured was my favorite of the lot -- superb!). And that may have been my first candied orange mocha, but it will not be my last... 

And then home again, and off with the rain boots (but keeping the cozy woolly socks). I bought a boot jack a while back, because trying to get my wellies off when I was pregnant with Kit proved to be quite the ordeal! Even now that my calves have returned to normal size, it makes boot removal so much simpler. And it's identical to the one my parents got in England, so I enjoy the nostalgia.

Life has been so full, what with one thing and another. Somehow sweet, chubby little Kit is well on his way to his first birthday, and today is supposedly the first day of summer (but I think that must be a mistake? Last week was January, wasn't it?). I'm hoping to return to this space more regularly, but after the year we've had I know better than to make any promises. But I'm glad you could come along on today's excursion. 

 

Endings and Beginnings

We're in such an in-between stage right now -- we've finished school, we're waiting to move, we're halfway (plus!) through this pregnancy. So many things coming to an end, so many things about to begin. In the midst of such limbo, I've done the only sensible thing: sew voraciously. My sewing machine has been whirring away for the past few weeks, with a threefold mission. First, catch up on all the sewing I didn't have time for during the school year. Second, satisfy my nesting instincts by stitching little things for Kit and "big" things for mama. Third, distract myself from all of the pre-move prep I probably should be doing... Though, to be fair, I've done a good bit of decluttering already and very little of the packing is my responsibility (they'll literally pack your trash!).

While we wait, we're soaking up our last memories in this wild place. We've made some new friends in our last weeks here, like this tiny killdeer nestled into Rosa's little brown hands:

 

Some boys at church found this quail mama nestled deep within a bush:

Or this sweet little goldfinch that nested in the tree by our house: 

She was always on the nest when I checked, and then one day she was gone. My suspicions were correct...

Our last week of school was relaxing, mostly finishing up projects we never got around to during the school year. While I do struggle to find motivation for hands-on projects and experiments, this year I graciously grew a baby to augment our study of human anatomy and growth. *wink* I hope the littles enjoyed learning about the body as much as I did -- such an amazing masterpiece of God's design!

I'm sure doctors wish they could just velcro organs in place...

To my relief, the littles have been thriving, even without the normal school schedule. I had envisioned boredom causing all kinds of problems, but they've been playing together much better than I'd anticipated and spend a great deal of time working on various Lego creations.

It's no surprise that helicopters are a favorite build!

Flowers are a welcome sight in the desert, and every spring I'm surprised by how many roses there are:

Meanwhile, I get to try to eat my lunch without feeling guilty...

Back to sewing... here's my list of projects from the past four weeks, assuming I haven't missed anything:

• 9 pairs of boxers for Laddie and Scout
• Maternity/nursing friendly swimsuit for Mama (briefs, skirted leggings, and top)
• Maternity/nursing nightgown and shorts for Mama
• 3 upcycled skirts for Rosa
• Upcycled dress for Rosa
• 2 pairs of upcycled denim shorts for Scout
• 3 sleepers/rompers for Kit
• Newborn gown and hat for Kit
• Tiny sweatshirt and pants for Kit
• Upcycled denim shorts for Kit
• Upcycled linen trousers for Kit
• Altering a homemade skirt for maternity
• Changing several of Scout's long sleeve tees to short sleeve (my favorite hack to extend the life of winter shirts not worth passing down to the next child!)
• Various mends (mostly turning Rosa's holes-in-the-knees leggings into "shorties")

Some of those projects were much-needed, others were just for fun. I think it's probably time to retire the sewing shears until we move, but I'm grateful for a most satisfying spree -- it's rare for spare time and motivation coincide so nicely.

Some of those projects will get their own posts (eventually!), but I'll share a few smaller ones here.

My poor little boys were running quite low on undies after trashing a few pairs recently that had shocking holes. I'm trying to purchase more thoughtfully/ethically, but it's hard to justify spending a lot on underwear, however organic or fairly traded! Fortunately, I'd tried the Stitch Upon a Time Boxerwear pattern for Little Man, and it worked great for the little boys, too. I might have to redo a few waistbands at some point, as the yellow knit on these pairs for Scout just isn't very stretchy. But I spent less than two dollars on thrifted knit shirts (combined with a few scraps from my stash), so it was well worth the "investment."

I recently found a women's 3X maxi skirt at the charity shop, which was basically just yardage waiting to be upcycled. It was made of that "traveler" fabric that doesn't wrinkle, I think it might be called ITY in the fabric world? Anyway, I tucked it into my basket (on basket day, everything you can fit inside is only $7, which brings the cost per item on a full basket to about $0.30), thinking it would make a great maternity skirt. But as I mulled it over, I realized two things. First, I have a black polka dot skirt out of virtually identical fabric that actually works well for maternity. Second, the skirt was so large that I could probably get an entire dress for Rosa out of it. And so I did! I used a free tee pattern as a basis for the bodice, but ended up changing it significantly (less at the waist, rounded cap sleeves). The skirt was an easy draft -- it's probably a 2/3 to 3/4 circle skirt, since I flared it as much as my fabric would allow. A few facings later, and all was ready to assemble! The fabric turned out to be a beast to sew -- my machine wanted to eat it at the beginning of each seam, and it also made my needle skip stitches. So much of it was sewn twice! It's a "plain Jane" style, but it looks so sweet on Rosa and I think it will last her a while.

Here a few more upcycled projects -- two pairs of shorts for Scout on the left, both made from the same skirt (and I fit a pair of shorts for Kit on the leftovers! Love those 90's denim skirts...). The upper pair is from the Olli shorts by Misusu, which I got for free by joining their Facebook group. I omitted the pockets this time, to conserve fabric. The lower pair is a free shorts pattern from Tiana's Closet, generously offered in sizes 1-8. I made the 4 (Scout's age), and they turned out great! I did add a little faux fly detail, just for fun. 

Rosa got three new skirts, too, as many of hers were worn out or outgrown. These were all simple to put together, since they're variations on a rectangle with an elasticated waist. From top to bottom:

1. Gathered denim skirt upcycled from a thrifted skirt. I salvaged the existing buttonholes and hem, and cut down the length. The leftover fabric was used for the new waistband -- the fabric is gathered into a solid waistband in front, but the back is elasticated. I topstitched the front waistband, but only had to do one new buttonhole. New coconut shell buttons to replace the hideous plastic "faux metal" buttons! 
2. The bottom half of a Wiksten Tova tunic that I made in 2018 and was no longer wearing. I wanted to keep as much length as possible, so I stitched a white cotton facing to the waistband and flipped it to the inside to form the elastic casing.
3. Tiered skirt made from a luscious tencel fabric, which I salvaged from a favorite dress -- the seams were fraying on the outside, but the skirt fabric was still in great shape. I cut strips out of the skirt, reassembled them, and did a simple elastic waist (with a row of eyelet at the bottom!).

With summer well on its way (and feeling like it's already here), I'm eager for all that's coming -- we're going home and moving forward at the same time, and I'm ready for familiar faces and places as well as new adventures (I'm trying not to think too much about the dear people we're leaving behind here...). And summer is the last full season before we meet little Kit in person, Lord willing, as he'll hopefully be joining us early in the fall. 

Endings and beginnings. 
 

Wild Side

It's been a while since we've been to a zoo, so we took advantage of a beautiful spring day to visit a local wildlife refuge. 

I could not get over how huge the cheetahs' eyes were -- huge, luminous, mesmerizing orbs. Pictures do not do them justice!

This prickly fellow was ensconced in his log, and barely opened his eyes! But we admired him, nonetheless:

The zookeeper spent a good 15 minutes just setting out the brown bear's snack! Fruit stuffed in every cavity and crevice -- it was quite amusing to watch her sniff out every last piece.

Magnificent creature:

Um, pardon me, but there's a little salad on your chin...

Not the most exotic of critters, but the raccoon was quite amusing and very active!

This fellow was sleepy, but he did open his eyes a few times:

As a bonus, we saw a bison ranch on our way to the refuge and this little one was having his (or her?) lunch:

Such a stunning day! Happily, we were able to spot most of the animals, with only a few shy (or sleepy) residents. 

The littles enjoyed themselves immensely -- Scout kept asking if we could go home, and then the next day asked if we could go back...  We did eventually make it home, though sometimes I think our "zoo" is a little more wild than the animal refuge! *wink* 

Last Spring

 Somehow, we're on our fourth and final spring out west. We moved here in the midst of winter just over three years ago, and watched our little valley slowly unfold under the warm, western sun for the first time. And now here we are, three springs later and preparing to move back east.

I haven't had a good ramble in a while, so this will probably be a bit-of-this, a bit-of-that sort of post.

Disclaimer: all the cow photos are from January -- there's far more green now!

More and more rainbows have been finding their way into my life (this mug was my first faith purchase after we found out about this little one), and I'm treasuring the growing bump that signifies life within. I feel such relief in the first few days after my weekly doppler checks, and then as the week wears on I start to wonder... I'm fifteen weeks today, and counting down every day. We're finally past the gestation where we lost Baby J -- that's the one that's been weighing most on my mind from the start. It doesn't mean we're safe from loss now, but it's a relief to pass that particular milestone.

Obviously a few weeks ago! I'm trying to take more bump
pictures with this pregnancy.

I'm currently going through Spurgeon's commentary on the Psalms as my daily devotional. The two volumes of commentary cost less than a dollar at a charity shop, a small price to pay for such spiritual riches! It's slow going, both due to my time limitations and his eloquence. But perhaps that's for the better. It's also giving me the chance to "mark up" my illuminated Psalms journal, which I am very much enjoying. My Bible has room for notes, but not nearly this much! I'm hoping this is something I can come back to repeatedly over the years (though same pages are already quite full...) -- I'm adding dates to my entries, so I have some time reference for my comments and the (many) quotations from Spurgeon. He's so quotable! I think I'll break this study up into three 50-psalm units, and pause between them for some of the other studies that are waiting for me.

I'm also going to be starting a new prayer journal soon, as this one's nearly full! This journal was a gift from my women's Bible study when I moved out west. It seems appropriate that I'll just be finishing it when I move back. I highly recommend a prayer journal if, like me, you've always struggled to be consistent in prayer (and especially intercessory prayer -- it's so easy to forget who you've promised to pray for!). Inspired to start a journal by a friend from that same Bible study, I chose a "monthly" format. Rewriting my requests every month allows me to see what prayers have been answered, keep my list updated with the "latest" for each person/request, and even functions as a journal of sorts. It's evolved over the past few years, but now I have a structure that works for me and it's proven to be such a blessing.

One of the things we'll miss most about our town is the little Indian food truck! My lands, those folks can cook! The lady who runs the truck knows our order now, because we're creatures of habit. I always, always order the Lamb Rogan Josh -- because if local lamb is an option, why not? It's one of the best things I've ever put in my mouth. We're trying out some Indian recipes (mild!), and this Tikka Masala was our best effort so far:

There are so many calves in the neighboring fields just now! Two itty bitty calves were butting heads in a field as we drove by the other day. It's going to feel odd not to see hundreds of cows on my way to the grocery store after we move.

I happened to plan chicken pot pie on "Pi Day" (3/14), so I had to make a circular pie instead of the rectangular casserole I'd anticipated! Which also meant I had to make two pies, because my children eat like strongmen. Interestingly, I made a gluten-free pie crust for the second pie, and that was more of a hit than my faithful Betty Crocker crust on the "normal" pie. Go figure.

Rosa left me the sweetest message on my pincushion -- the downside being, that I can't bring myself to use those pins now...

I also had a massive knitting fail recently! My Ivy cowl, despite some modifications intended to avoid this issue, was a decided flop! Ah, well, I can reuse the yarn -- and I did learn some interesting stitch designs. I may give this another shot with a lighter yarn (mine was held double to get the weight, and I think it would be better with a yarn that has some drape).

I suppose this might have made an effective face covering two
years ago! Haha!

Some naughty little boy decimated a clump of daffodils at our church -- so we recued a few stems, and brought them home for our own enjoyment. I can't wait to have my garden back next spring! Bulbs are perfect for these black thumbs of mine; they're so easy and reliable. I am a little anxious to see what our house/garden is like after three years of renters, but I'm also just eager to be home.

We're finishing up our last few weeks of home school, and I'll feel relieved when that's done -- much as I love educating my children (and myself!), both the pregnancy and the upcoming move are taking up quite a bit of my energy -- mostly mentally, at this point. We'll all be ready for a break, and I'd like to take some final "field trips" while the weather's nice. I suspect we'll be taking some field trips back East, too, since much of what we've studied about early American history will be right around the corner. How I've missed Williamsburg! Perhaps that will be a good break from all the unpacking.

I've actually made it into my sewing room recently, so hopefully I'll have some stitchy projects to share soon. And I cast off a pair of socks, which means I need another "travel" project! It will probably be -- you guessed it -- more socks. *wink* What I really want to knit are little baby things, but I'm waiting to find out the gender before I go too crazy. I'm excited by the prospect of an October baby; lots of cozy knitting potential there. And what I ought to be doing is preparing for this move (it's shocking how much clutter can accumulate in three years when you have four littles!), as we'll quickly be entering single digits in our weekly countdown -- a thought that's simultaneously exhilarating and a bit alarming! Hmm, what to tackle first...