finally finished

The afghan that I was supposed to have finished for Lily's birthday at the beginning of the month is finally finished. And the only reason that happened is because I had to break down and tell her that I was making it. Unfortunately, it became very evident that it was going to be impossible for her to receive it anytime soon if I stuck to working on it in secret when she was asleep.

Since then, I have been working on it in all of my free minutes. It's made using the crochet linen stitch which is extremely easy but also extremely time-sapping since it's just single crochets alternating with chain stitches. Makes for a slow go. 

But it's done! Yay! And she loves it! Yay! And it's huge, which I'm very much pleased with. The first few photos are of it laying across our queen sized bed. (As a side note: this little dog tried to claim the afghan before I could even give it to Lily. She loves soft, fluffy things.) 

I love making my kids handmade things. In my mind, I see them treasuring them forever, although that may not happen in reality. However, I feel like I give them a little piece of myself (and my life) when I make them something with my own hands. And for me, that's a wonderful feeling, and my whole tribe really seems to love and appreciate the things I make for them. 

Some project notes:

The pattern ~ Beach Stripe Surf Blanket
The yarn ~ Bernat Super Value (Although I would definitely consider myself a yarn snob and reach for the natural fibers for most projects, I have used mainly acrylic yarns for large projects like afghans. They hold up well, I don't have to worry about laundering them in any special way, and they are more economical. This blanket cost about $60 in yarn using the super value yarn. It would have been at least triple that if I had used a wool blend.)

everyday things and some very last minute birthday making

I don't know how I manage to do this for every single holiday that I have planned handmade gifts (which is pretty close to every holiday that there is gift-giving involved.) I always seem to wait until crunch time, until the week before (sometimes less) to start the making. I am a natural born procrastinator in many ways. I have always found myself to work at peak performance when I'm crunched for time (although, mentally, I usually find myself quite stressed and cranky.) 

Well, Lily's birthday crafting this year was, of course, no different. Why should I expect anything else from myself? 

I just started making her Miss Dandelion Doe yesterday. Actually, I haven't even traced nor cut out the pieces for the actual doll herself. Yesterday, I found myself sitting at my sewing machine all afternoon working on a little wardrobe for Miss Dandelion Doe as well as another dress for Miss Maggie Rabbit. Lily was spending the day with my mom, so it worked out quite nicely. 

And I have already decided that if I don't finish this little project up by this Saturday (which is her birthday) then I can always give it to her for Easter. We don't traditionally give the kids gifts on Easter, but I was thinking it would be nice to fill little baskets with some healthy treats and perhaps a little handmade gift or two. 

And even though the crocheted afghan surprise has been blown and Miss Dandelion Doe may not be completed for her birthday, we still have another gift for her that she will really love. I will take a picture of it after she receives it. Right now it is being stored in my parents' basement, but it is an antique vanity dresser that I found at a local shop earlier in the year. I know she's going to love it because she was with me at the shop, and she sat at that vanity for a long time, and I could see all of the little girl dreams floating before her eyes. 

And here are some of the ordinary things going on in our home...

 This is what the kids and Brad came home to. Curled up under the covers in Ian's bed. Somebody's just a bit spoiled. 

 Lily took this picture. Our cheese grater has a happy face.

 Homemade tomato soup using tomatoes and herbs I had preserved in the fall.

 A few of my favorite cookbooks.

 Brad is the smoothie king. He is the official smoothie maker in our home. 

 Lily's homemade blueberry jam and blueberry juice. Breakfast over the weekend. 

 Ian has been enjoying photographing his Lego figures using materials around the house. All inspired by this book.

 A book on Michelangelo and weights, of course. Why wouldn't these two things be side by side on our coffee table?

nine

Lily turned nine over the weekend. We enjoyed a festive couple of days. Pancakes and bacon for her birthday breakfast, theater popcorn (and a movie) for lunch, and pizza and glazed lemon poppy seed bread for her birthday dessert.

Last year, I was in bed with the flu for her birthday and we had to cancel all plans and enjoy a stack of Krispy Kreme donuts instead. So this year, we made the most of the birthday moments and had some friends over for a little crafting party and fun. The girls made felt hair barrettes and pom-pom seals from this book.

All but one gift from Brad and I were handmade by me this year. Her favorite (as you can tell from the pictures) was the Miss Maggie Rabbit, a pattern by Alicia Paulson. I also made her crocheted boot slippers and a crocheted hooded wolf cowl. We had also bought a cute little felted zippered case at a cute little shop not too far from home.

Mothers, hold fast to your little ones and breathe in those moments when they're yet babes. I remember yearning for the days that would be easier. The days that I would get more sleep and have more free time. And those days have come, and I do appreciate them, but my kids seem to be growing up so much more quickly than I thought they would. I'm afraid that with my next blink, they will be grown and heading off to live lives of their own.