Feeling more like Fall

The weather is finally turning.  I am so ready.  Summer was beginning to wear out its welcome.  Cooler temperatures and chilly breezes swooped in just in time.

 

Yesterday we fished out our sweatshirts (I say that as if it was a minor task- it wasn't.  Lots and lots of digging through a very disorganized even hazardous closet) and headed out for a little hike...

out behind our house to the wheat fields

 

I love the way these girls explore nature.  They are becoming so much more observant, so much more appreciative of God's creation.

 

We could see Fall emerging.  It was so subtle.

  

Thank you all for your sweet little notes about the new baby.  I will admit we were not planning this pregnancy. At first- the idea took some getting used to (it took me no less than 20 minutes to convince my husband that I wasn't joking!).  But, mothering these 3 girls has been such a joy-filled blessing and we are privileged to be shepherding their hearts.  I know that baby number 4 will be more of the same, in the best kind of way. 

sweet sweet sound

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This is a doptone.  Using ultrasound, it detects fetal heart tones.  I use it many many times at every birth I attend.  I've heard countless little beats from soon-to-be-born babies using this doppler.

And this is me-- today.  Hearing MY OWN baby's heartbeat for the first time. 170 beats strong. Yep, that's right...SURPRISE!  Baby #4 is due in late April.  Nothing compares to hearing that little heart fluttering away. A sweet sweet sound.

Camille's Annual September Birthday Bag

My friend Camille's birthday is September 7th.  Every year I make her a bag. The last bag I made her was from Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing Book.  It met her needs so well (she is a busy lady!!), that I thought I would use the same pattern this year, just changing the look of it.

I used a polka-dot denim for the outside, and a striped seer-sucker for the lining.  I made a few yo-yos for the front using my handy-dandy yo-yo maker.  The pattern doesn't call for bias trim on the side and back pocket, but I added it and liked the way it looked.

This bag whips up in an afternoon.  I had just enough time to cut it, sew it, iron it, photograph it, and wrap it in 4 hours!! As I was giving it to her, I worried that it looked a bit juvenile- what with all the polka-dots, yo-yos, and all. 

Thankfully she didn't agree. She loved it.  She then went on to totally annihilate all of us in a fierce round of bowling.  I was the BIG loser, setting a shameful record with a score 57!  What?!? Too bad we weren't golfing.  Lots of laughter (mostly at my expense).  Happy Birthday Friend!