APRIL 2008

04.30.08 | PART ONE: LAST DAY OF MACRO

Ani really “gets” blogging. Even better than many adults I know. When this odd ice formation showed up in our freezer they other day, she said,“You should take a picture of that and put it on your blog.”

So I totally did.

PART TWO: NOTICING PROJECT

If you're interested, check out the “Be Our Guest Week” over at the Noticing Project. One of my photos is on the day one page (scroll down, it's at the very bottom!), and I plan to submit more. It's been so neat to see what everyone is “noticing” this week.

Thanks again to Orange Flower for sponsoring the 30-Day Macro Challenge. It was really fun to see everyone's work.

04.29.08 | PART ONE: MACRO YARN

I can't believe that there is only one day left to the 30-Day Marco Challenge sponsored by Orange Flower. April, like all months since my hair started turning gray, has flown by. And so has the Macro Challenge. I've enjoyed it immensely.

PART TWO: APRIL SHOWERS

This morning, on the way to the bus stop, Sonja and I were soaked by a beautiful April shower. Fat, floppy raindrops sprinkled the sidewalk, leaving it glimmering in the morning light. Sonja worried that her library books would get wet and I knew my newly-shorn hair would spring up into a goofy, white-person afro. But despite these little worries, we loved our April shower. The air smelled of spring, fresh as the baby green buds that are ready to burst forth from the trees and bushes. Here's hoping this April shower brings lots and lots of May flowers!

April has already brought a few granny square flowers to my house. I can't believe I ever said I would sell this baby granny square blanket. There is no way I will be able to part with this blanket unless it is to wrap it around my newborn granddaughter. What was I thinking? Was I even thinking?

I continued to be inspired by flickr and all the granny goodness that exists there. And, one of my nieces wrote me a note last night saying she is going to make a granny square blanket too!

I'm so enamored with this art form right now. The humble granny square — so simple, yet such a capacity for complexity and artistic expression. I've always loved variations on a theme and the granny square is a perfect outlet for that energy.

Check out these glorious examples from flickr:

granny mosaic

1. Day 49/366, 2. Colcha terminada, 3. Candy colored granny squares, 4. Granny Square Baby Blanket, 5. new craft project, 6. For Jane, 7. granny squares, 8. Granny Square WIP, 9. granny square afghan

04.28.08 | THIS WEEKEND I...

Made biscuits from ~~scratch~~ Bisquick.

Continued work on my baby grannies, including this daisy baby granny.

Cut Sonja's hair, and helped her practice violin.

And marveled at the beauty of Bryni's eyelashes as she snoozed on the couch.

Oh, and spent way too much time on flickr. I'm a-flick-ted with a terrible flick-ness.

04.26.08 | I HEART FLICKR

It's official. I'm totally addicted to flickr. I'll admit that I didn't used to “get” flickr at all. But yeah, I finally caught on. I just told Eric that I could probably spend the rest of my life on flickr, uploading photos, organizing photos, browsing through other people's photos and staring at my own photos ad nauseam.

Alas, I don't think my “mouse-clicking” arm can take much more today. And since my “clicking” arm is also my “crocheting” arm, I'm going to need to pace myself.

04.25.08 | PART ONE: A CASH COW

Hopefully I'll have time to work on this project over the weekend. I'm planning to make a granny square baby blanket with these and a few other baby girl colors. I'm thinking that I can whip these up pretty quickly, and it seems like granny squares are kind of retro-trendy right now. I'm hoping to sell some of these at our Farmer's Market this summer. Probably make a million dollars.

PART TWO: FASHION RECYCLING

You won't get many fashion tips on this blog, but here's a hot one: Guess what the Sevo gals are doing with last summer's dresses this spring. Putting them over pants! This adorable orange camo number is actually Bryni's dress from a couple of summers ago, made by my wonderfully-talented mother.

Bryni and Ani both wore these dresses to church last Sunday and made Eric and me a little nervous sitting up front during Children's Time because of the ultra-shortness of the dresses. What is it, 1975? No.

So, we've converted some of their too-short dresses to over-the-pants smock-shirts. Cute I think.

PART THREE: NOW THAT LOOKS COMFORTABLE

And finally, because I'm sure you were wondering: THIS is how Ani watches television. Cirque du Soleil — here she comes.

04.24.08 | EVIDENCE

The seed level in our so-called “bird” feeder has been steadily decreasing. But oddly enough, we haven't seen any “birds” around.

A fortuitous spring snowstorm reveals animal tracks on the lawn.

Hmmmm. Clearly a hoof print. Near the feeder. And sprinkled suspiciously close to the hoof print? “Bird” feed.

Ah-hah! Leaving the scene of the crime!

And licking her lips no less! Just to taunt me!

The final proof was Eric's testimony. Apparently he watched them one morning trying to lick the seeds out of the feeder with their freaky-long tongues. He said it was quite a struggle and they didn't get much for their efforts, and that one even walked away in indignant frustration.

Nice try, Bambi.

04.23.08 | PART ONE: MYSTERIOUS MACRO

Here's a macro shot of some items Eric bought recently. I have no idea what they are or what they do. Even after he explained it to me. But they looked kind of like flowers to me, and goodness knows we have no blooms outside, so there you go.

PART TWO: THE SCARLET LETTER

Last night the girls were playing “store.” They had a bunch of dvds and books set up to “sell,” and it was Bryni's job to make sure no one stole anything from the store.

Well, when Eric and I heard that, we looked at each other like, oh yeah, we're gonna steal some stuff. So when Bryni wasn't looking Eric took a couple dvds. Then I ratted him out because I thought it would be funny. The girls were outraged. “I can't believe you stole, Daddy!”

At first the whole thing was just playful and funny. It turned fascinating when the girls literally made Eric a scarlet letter (“E” for Eric) and made him wear it around. “Why?” we asked. “Because he's a thief!” they replied.

Now, my kids are smart, but as far as I know none of them has read Nathaniel Hawthorne's novel, or delved into the history of seventeenth century Puritan society.

It was so obvious that it is ingrained in human nature to mark people once they've done wrong. To shame them. To brand them. To keep them from doing it again.

The girls didn't have much forgiveness for Eric at all. They were sure he would steal from their store again, no matter what he said. “You are a thief,” they kept saying, “and you must wear the letter!” Tough crowd.

PART THREE: SPEAKING OF TOUGH CROWD...

This was how my twins reacted when I told them they couldn't touch my new camera. That right there is intimidating when it comes toward you at Mach 5, I promise you.

04.21.08 | COMMENTS ON COMMENTING... AND CONTROL

A few of you wonderful readers have asked why I don't have commenting on my blog. The truth is simple: Eric is lazy.

I'm totally kidding about the “Eric is lazy” part, of course. But the truth IS simple: I'm a control freak.

You see, this website started out as just that — a website, and I discovered blogging long after I had gotten used to controlling every aspect of my site. Eric has taught me a little html and a little php and a little css — just enough to make me dangerous. To him.

Because after I'd been blogging for awhile I found I really wanted to have commenting, so I asked Eric if we could just add a little piece of “commenting code” to the bottom of each post. It can't be that hard, can it?

But he informed me that adding commenting to my blog would require moving my content to a Wordpress or Typepad or Blogger template. Where I wouldn't have COMPLETE CONTROL of how my site looked. Not that my site is the most beautiful in town. In fact it's quite simple. But it's mine. And I CONTROL IT.

But alas, even more than I love control, I love communication. So Eric and I have made a plan to move this puppy over to a Wordpress template soon. So please stay tuned. And if you really want to leave a comment, and you feel like taking the time, feel free to email me at mollysevertson(at)hotmail(dot)com.

By the way, can you believe that email has become snail mail in this age of IMs and Twitters? I guess handwritten letters sent at the post office are “glacial mail.” Did I make that up? Probably not.

And because I don't have commenting YET, I'll post this lovely note I got via email from a craft blogger whose work I love:

“...I wanted to tell you how much I laughed at the giant baking powder post, and also how much I'm enjoying your beautiful photography.”

Ah! That fills me with so much joy. Thanks Suse! And thank you all for your patience. With ~~Eric's laziness~~ my control issues.

04.20.08 | MACRO AND MEGA

My husband loves Costco. And I mean LOVES Costco. Let's just say that if Costco were a woman, I'd be insanely jealous of Costco.

But the other day, when I ran out of baking powder, even I did not expect him to go out and buy this. That right there is five pounds of baking powder people! And it expires on November 19, 2009. Will I be able to use it up by then? I have no idea. That's a lot of pressure!

Also, check out the fine print: “Resealable Cap.” Is there anyone on Earth who would use up five pounds of baking powder in one sitting? That would be a Guinness Book of World's Records batch of buttermilk flapjacks, I tell ya.

Now my husband isn't the type who has to have a big truck with big tires and huge headlights that blind oncoming traffic in the name of safety. But apparently he does feel the need to buy his wife a giant vat of baking powder. What does this say about him?

Ask anyone who knows Eric, and they'll tell you that he definitely likes finding a good deal. And I suppose that's what this tub o' baking powder is — as long as I don't let it expire.

04.19.08 | PART ONE: MOTHER NATURE HATES ME

Yeah I know, this snowstorm isn't totally all about me. It's just that last weekend I was sitting in these chairs with my sunglasses on, reading Martha and trying to keep cool.

No worries about keeping cool this weekend. There's that.

PART TWO: OTHER STUFF

For the Macro Challenge — proof that the birds have in fact found our feeder and have partook of the food offered there. Or, maybe the seed just settled. Or, perhaps the deer found a way to stick their disgusting tongues in there, and they're just taking a little at a time to keep me fooled. I'm not entirely sure.

To keep spring in our hearts — a picture filled with springy goodness. A little girl, in her sundress, flip-flops and pink bike helmet, examining a daffodil bud.

As an anecdote to a very gray day — a bit of indoor color.

And to ~~irritate~~ honor my ~~tormentor~~ husband — another photo of buds.

04.18.08 | A YOGA BAG

I cannot seem to get a very good picture of this yoga bag that I made, but oh well, here it is anyway.

I made this bag to carry my yoga mat awhile ago, but hesitated to post it. Why? Because of the guilt. Yes, that's right, yoga bag guilt.

You see, my mother had made me a perfectly good yoga bag, on my request. It had a nice drawstring top and a lovely handle. But then I found this fabric and well, I fell in love. This fabric just says yoga to me. Beautiful and peaceful, traditional yet modern, funky yet feminine.

So — and I can't believe I'm admitting to this — I ripped my mom's yoga bag apart and used it for a pattern for this one. So I can't tell you how to make it, because it was my mom's genius that figured it out. She even used pi at one point. Yeah that's right, 3.14159265... She's amazing and I'm a spoiled brat. I love you Mom!

04.16.08 | BACK TO MACRO AND CRAFT

Because of this, my pesky To Do list, I haven't been able to work on anything crafty lately. That is not okay with me. All work and no craft makes Molly a grumpy girl.

So last night, during American Idol, I picked up this pink yarn and started making Granny Squares. I think I will eventually join them together into a sweet baby girl blankie. Hey, it's something.

04.15.08 | PART ONE: WE'RE BUDS

The other day, Eric ~~mocked~~ teased me taking too many photos of budding plants and trees around here. I think ultimately he's nervous about the space my photos are taking up on the hard drive. A valid concern, I admit. But how am I supposed to become a world-famous photographer if I don't take lots and lots of photos?

Besides, I said, there is NOTHING ELSE ALIVE OUT HERE (besides the children, of course). I guess he would rather me post this lovely gem in my garden that I believe used to be a lavender bush.

Ahhh! Look away! It's hideous!

So ~~to spite him~~ to be funny, I changed my header to include one of the photos he's obviously become so fond of.

And because he really is my best bud in the whole world, and because we clearly make beautiful babies together, even if we don't always agree, I'll post these lovelies as well.

PART TWO: ANOTHER BLOG ON BLOGGING

If you're interested in the ethics of the phenomenon that is blogging, check out this article in the Wall Street Journal about dooce, one of my favorite bloggers. While dooce can certainly be rough around the edges at times (okay, most of the time), I think it is her honesty that makes her so compelling.

It's something I've been thinking about a lot lately. Sure I only have about 15 regular readers now — I love you guys so much! — but I would like my readership to grow. I would like to be a world-famous blogger like dooce someday. Or would I?

How much does one want to share with the world? Even dooce has her limits about what she shares on her blog, and I certainly have mine, but being open and honest is the only way to keep it interesting I think.

As far as photos go, I usually only post my best ones — those that are perfectly in focus and well-composed. (And you certainly don't see too many below-the-neck photos of Molly around here, do ya?) But when it comes to writing, I try to be honest and open — to keep it real, as the kids say. But is “keeping it real” a good idea? When you release your feelings out in to the big bad Internet, you really don't know where they're going or how they'll be received.

On the other hand, this blog is more than just a personal journal or scrapbook. It's nice to know that you're out there reading, and looking, and laughing, and smiling, and sharing this crazy ride that is life with me. I love how Wee Wonderfuls explained how much she appreciates her readers: “It helps diminish that whole 'someone walked in on me singing into a pretend microphone feeling' that you can get from blogging.”

I feel like that a lot when Eric walks down the basement stairs and I'm giggling or smiling to myself about something I wrote. “Eric! What are you doing here?” Sometimes I don't want him to look at what I'm writing, which is weird, because I'm about to make it available to anyone in the world with Internet access and a computer! Of course, once I post I'm annoyed if he hasn't checked my blog within five minutes. What a strange world we live in. And what a strange person am I.

I'm still debating the ethics of blogging in my head. There are many issues to be discussed and explored. But for me, today, it comes down to this: It's been therapeutic for me to blog. Good for my mental health. Great for my writing. Even better for my photography. I've enjoyed this journey so much that I think I would blog even if no one was listening, but I'm so glad you are.

04.14.08 | SUNSHINE ON OUR SHOULDERS

We've had a couple of warm, sunny days around here and — I tell you what — it has been good for my soul. Yesterday after church, Eric tinkered in his shop, I weeded my small flower garden and the girls actually RAN THROUGH THE SPRINKLER. Sure, they had to be treated for pneumonia afterward but... Just kidding, it was actually really, really warm. What a great day.

Today, the twins and I rode our bikes to Sonja's school. They were having book readings in the library for the Week of the Young Child. I'm trying to take advantage of events like this during the last few months that I have munchkins at home. I guess next year I won't have a “young child.”

Oh my gosh, that's so sad. And so happy. My daughters are no longer babies. They are lovely young ladies. Bright, funny, loving and sweet.

Here they are back in 2004, when they were babies. And I was so much worse at taking photos.

I'm so glad these girls are in my life. I'm so glad they're who they are. I'm so glad they're mine. And I'm so glad they're potty-trained. Mostly.

04.13.08 | A SERIES OF JOKES

Sonja: What do cows like to do on Saturday nights?

Rest of us: What?

Sonja: Watch mooooooovies!

Me: What do sheep like to do on Saturday nights?

Rest of them: What?

Me: Take baaaaaaaths!

Bryni: What do camels like to do on Saturday nights?

Sonja and Ani: What?

Me with trepidation: What?

Bryni: Eat bluuuuuuueberries!

I CAN'T BELIEVE I DELETED THE FIRST HALF OF APRIL

Yup that's right, I deleted the first half of my April blog. I'm so sad! But here are the photos, and I'm going to try to add in text as I get the urge. I could pay hostmysite.com $35 to get it back, but uh, no, I don't think so. *Sigh*