Hanging in...

We're still here...some of us with more energy than others. Nothing is going as planned and this season not flowing with ease, but I'm keeping on.  Making food. Planting seeds. Cleaning the kitchen. Doing laundry. Tending animals. Cutting brush. Reading to the littles. Braiding hair. Making more food. Cleaning the kitchen again (I spend my life cleaning this kitchen).  Reading to these littles. And keeping the faith because that's just what mamas do.

Recharging

Just a mama here, doing the best she can, but running on E. Thankful a wee big of a recharge is just a few miles away.
 

A new vest

 Someone noted he was a wee bit jealous of all the clothes the kids get that are handmade.  He was also expressing how everyone in the house had something warm in wool except him.  I said "If I made you something, you probably wouldn't even wear it."  He assured me he would. He picked out the wool for this vest and wears it all the time around the house. This is the second thing I've made him as of late (pic here). I guess I have someone else I'm stitching for, my self proclaimed 'Trophy husband'. 

15 years! Happy Anniversary to us!

 Happy 15th Anniversary to my husband!  15 years ago we eloped and got married in Antigua.  Pictures here. At our last milestone Anniversary, the hardest part of life was being married.  At our 15th, the easiest part of life is the marriage part! We have formed a solid team, combatting all obstacles together.  Cheers to another 15 years of kissing on the lips, grossing out the kids in the process. Happy Anniversary, Justin! 

Snippets of home

 When you're leading your 3 year old sister in a musical play along and she ditches her musical instruments, leaves the room and you keep on playing.  

Mama Made: Dress

 

I meant to make two base layers with these three overlays (below) for Anna-Kate for Christmas.  I only ended up making one of the base layers (the pinky one).  Now she has a new green base layer for her capsule wardrobe (above). It joins these others below, which are coordinating

Although the colors don't go, the patterns are the same for the one below too. I made this set below for Audra years ago.

Anna-Kate enjoys mixing and matching them. 

She just so happens to be wearing the pants I made her below. In the picture just happens to be the blanket I did with Swedish Weaving, the pillows I dyed and the chair cushion I made.  Plus on the wall is a punched tin I made. All the homemades bring me joy.

At play

 

Here they are, going to the market because their mother is sick (I'm fine! This is their play.). They have to go through the snow, there is no other way, so they say.

Here they are, they have obtained provisions. 

And here they are another day, orphans trying to peddle their (snow) eggs.  The have no place to live because their mother is dead. (Why am I always sick or dead in their play?!?!)

They have quite the pilgrimage, hoping to find the orphanage.

They are much obliged, they found an orphanage with room so they shall not have to spend the night out of doors.

This kid?  Try as they may, he's over it and decidedly not playing along with their ideas. 

Always an adventure!