FEBRUARY 2008
02.28.08 | A CROCHETED HAT
Of course, I actually made three hats. Can't make just one of anything around here. Obviously I don't mind. These whipped up so fast! I probably still prefer the look of knit, but you really can't beat how quickly crochet goes. Three hats in three days — during MCT week! I think these are pretty darn cute too, especially on my pretty darn cute girls.
02.27.08 | LIGHT THROUGH YONDER WINDOW
Spider plant leaves.
A cactus.
A dead basil plant.
Another cactus.
Nanny's watering can.
Through a striped curtain.
Lit by God.
02.26.08 | A TAGGIE BLANKIE FOR BABY ALYSSA
On Sunday, while decompressing from our busy Missoula Children's Theatre week, I made this taggie blankie for a brand new baby in our lives. Eric's office-mate Matt and his family welcomed Baby Alyssa Lauren recently. She is so sweet! (Of course.) I hope she enjoys this snuggly taggie blankie. And I hope you enjoy this little tutorial!
Perhaps you've never seen a taggie blankie before. The idea is that, well, babies love tags! So, the blankie is surrounded with them to keep those little fingers busy!
First, I selected my fabrics. I chose a snuggly light green fleece and a soft cotton calico. I cut them about 18 inches square. (This is meant to be “nummy” size, not a full-size blankie.) Then I cut several types of ribbon and lace. I wanted some of them to be soft and silky, and some of them to have interesting, and even rough, textures for Baby Alyssa to explore.
Then, I laid the fabrics down with right sides together. I then folded the ribbons in half vertically and sandwiched them in between the fabrics with the edges of the ribbon lined up with the edges of the fabric. Then I pinned the layers together. (This picture doesn't show this very well, but you can see a little of the lace sticking out the bottom on the right side.)
Then I stitched all the layers together, leaving a small space through which I could turn the whole thing right side out.
Then I top-stitched around the perimeter, starting with the spot that was open for turning. The final picture shows a close-up of the edge of the blankie. That's all folks!
02.25.08 | FROM FIRST HELLO TO LAST GOODBYE
From the audition and the rehearsals...
...to the two amazing performances.
From elated exhaustion...
...to the post-show celebration — what a wonderful week we had with Kepler and Erin from Missoula Children's Theatre. Thank you Kepler and Erin, thank you MCT, and thank you to everyone who helped make the residency happen. It was, “spectacularly perfect.”
02.21.08 | BEFORE WINTER SLIPS AWAY
A walk, inspired by Anna Maria's outing, and the sunshine, and the relative warmth, and the energy of my little twins.
As we strolled along the trail, grasses became wands, pebbles treasures, and I fielded questions like, “Why does deer poop look like black beans?”
At the start of the trail, a downed fence, no longer performing its original job, now employed by God to look cool.
Dappled light on snow through pines. A wonderland of shadow.
Clockwise from top left: A really cute hiker. Signs of spring. A pinecone nestled in her winter bed.The path of a creature.
Clockwise from top left: Deer poop, just sitting there looking like black beans. Brilliance. The skin of a stalwart tree. Nature's pipe cleaner.
02.20.08 | IN ALL ITS GLORY
Here it is — my first granny square blanket! I hope you like it as much as I do. Inspired by Lynn at Molly Chicken, I followed this tutorial at Purl Bee to make the squares, and joined them using the decorative ridge method found here.
Clockwise from top left: The decorative ridge up close. Snuggly girls. My last few stitches with my feet up and the TV on. Snuggly, giggly girls.
02.17.08 | ACCUMULATION
Piles.
Laundry, dishes, bills, work, snow.
I could break under the pressure of piles upon piles.
Or I could brush away a little.
Just enough.
Having faith that it will matter.
Waiting patiently for the warm, soft sun.
Watching the piles slowly melt away.
02.14.08 | HE LOVES ME
My valentine is...
sweet
funny
handsome
smart
loving
mine.
02.13.08 | PUMPKIN MUFFINS
Don't have much to say today, except that we made pumpkin muffins Monday night to go with leftover chili.
Yum.
02.12.08 | TO KEEP THEM FROM GETTING TOO SMART
My children aren't total movie addicts. Sometimes we do other things. Really we do. For instance, we often play SORRY for some good old-fashioned family competition. Not bad, not bad.
At the beginning of a recent game, Bryni said, “I want to go first! Every time I go first, I win!...or lose.”
True enough.
02.11.08 | MAKING MY HOME: A TOUCH OF WHIMSY
I admit it, I used to be an HGTV junkie. I watched all their shows, all the time. Why even have more than one channel? All I wanted was my HGTV.
During this phase, Eric and I used to laugh at how almost every single HGTV episode would use the phrase, “a touch of whimsy.” There were touches of whimsy everywhere — in the kitchen, in the bathroom, in the great room, in the garage for goodness sake.
Then, not too long ago while shopping at Lowe's, Eric and I found this door pull. We were in love. It was perfect for our laundry chute, and the perfect “touch of whimsy” for our home. We are nerds.
By the way, does the fact that I keep wanting to type “laundry shoot” tell you anything about how much I hate doing laundry? I do love my laundry chute, though. It makes all the dirty laundry magically disappear...for awhile at least.
02.09.08 | LET MOMMY TAKE A PICTURE!
Okay girls, stand together now. I can't see Ani. Stand next to each other. Sonja, don't push her!
Okay, now look at Mommy. Say cheese! Ani...
Beautiful.
(Yes, those are Barbies in the background. Ken doesn't really look dressed for the weather...)
02.08.08 | A FRUITFUL WEEK
It's been a busy week here at el Rancho Sevo. We've got about a hundred and seventy-three balls in the air right now and sometimes I feel like an un-qualified juggler in an insane circus.
We've worked hard this week, but it's been fruitful and it feels great. This weekend, we plan to work hard, play hard and, on Sunday, to rest hard.
02.07.08 | HOPE
Super Tuesday is over. I'm coming out for Obama. I know I have soooo much political influence, but there you go.
Fat Tuesday is also over (I love that Heather Bailey called it Super Fat Tuesday), and I've decided to give up chocolate for Lent. Don't gasp or guffaw, Internet. I can do it. Please pray for me. Seriously.
02.06.08 | LITTLE BY LITTLE
I haven't had much time to work on my Granny Square blanket these days. I've been inundated with freelance work from the IR, MCT and some new projects as well. This is a good thing, of course, but it leaves little time for un-profitable pursuits like crocheting. Oh well, little by little, right?
Every evening I dial up American Idol or Biggest Loser on the DVR and crochet for while. Bedtime always comes too soon. *Sigh* Why can't there be a huge demand in the world marketplace for Granny Squares?
By the way, I decided to add another ring (all the same color) around each square so that when I join them, it will look a little neater, just like Molly Chicken did. I think it will end up a lot better in the end, but it might take awhile to complete and join 88 squares. Oh my. That's a lot of American Idol.
02.05.08 | A BAD PATH
I got on a bad path last weekend. Headed right toward a mid-life crisis.
35. 35? What the heck? When did that happen?
I cried my eyes out, grieving for lost youth and unfulfilled potential. Ended up with deep gray bags of sadness hanging under my eyes, which doesn't help one bit when you're already feeling old.
But then, do you know what happened? My tears dried up and I went on with it. On with finding out where my trail will lead. On with being a writer, on with being a wife, on with being a mother, on with being me.
02.03.08 | A VIOLIN RECITAL
Sonja had a violin recital yesterday. She played Bach's Minuet I beautifully and we marveled at how far she has come in just one year. It's been a joy to watch her grow as a musician, and to form a bond with her wonderful teacher.
This was Sonja at her recital last year. Oh my goodness, look how she's grown.
(Sorry that this year's picture is so grainy. I didn't shamelessly run to the front and snap a dozen photos this time like I did last year!)
02.02.08 | FROM THE FILES (AUGUST 2007)
I took these photos last summer while on a really fun camping trip with my niece Ruth and her husband Layne at Lake McDonald in Glacier Park. There were forest fires nearby and the smoke, while difficult to breathe, made the sky look beautiful. When we attended the Ranger's Talk one evening, ash was falling from the sky.
Ani is basically in love with cousin Layne and wishes she could marry him but, as she says, “Rufie got him first.” It's very cute and very sweet and a little sad.
02.01.08 | EVEN MORE SNOW
I'm *loving* all of the snow we're getting this winter! We got about six more inches last night. I can deal with a white winter much better than a grayish-brownish one, I tell ya.
Non-eloquent change of subject: I've decided to combine my life and craft blogs into one super-awesome blog. After all, crafting is just another part of my life, right? It'll all be here — crafts, essays, stories, Sevo Family Adventures, cute kids, nature photos, all of it!
Thanks for reading, and Happy February. I hope it's snowy where you are today...or super-hot, or mild, or rainy, or however you like it.
