gifts

I almost forgot to show you my one and only handmade gift from Christmas! I made the Emmeline Apron (again) for the coolest hot lunch lady around- my Mother-in-law.

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I've made this one before, it's such a great pattern. It took me one evening to cut it out, and two afternoons to sew. I love how it's reversible!

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I'm taking the Little Boy, and we're headed out the door for a little overnighter in my hometown. Last week it was my brother's birthday. Tomorrow is my dad's. We're going to celebrate both tonight. I'm bringing the cake. Cheesecake that is- a lemon one. Recipe here. I can't wait for dessert!

Cherrio!

Whoa Mama

Just keeping my head above water. It's good stuff these summer days- but we are going, going, going. From one thing to the next. Time for a little iphone dump. Here's a peek into our week:

Swinging at the park.

Picture of the sunrise (through my buggy windshield) as I drove home from a birth on Tuesday morning.

Ice-cream pick-me-up after two nights without sleep.

Hannah made the swim team. Her first meet is tonight. She's gonna kill it in backstroke.

She practices at 7:40am. Oy.

Laurel and I take our seats on the sidelines and soak up the morning sun.

Golf comes next. You're actually looking at The Birthday Girl. As of 1:09am this morning she is now 9. Can you believe it?

We celebrated early! Canteloupe + mint, cinny rolls, and oj.

Oh! and I made a new strap for my new camera (loving it). The leather was hard to work with. Don't look too close. My machine wasn't happy about sewing through it and the nylon strap. I wanted camel colored leather to match my purse, and I always wear silver jewlery so I wanted silver buckles. You can find supplies here. Otherwise, it's just grey heavyweight fabric with a little frayed linen ruffle sewed down the middle. 

Okay, I'm off again. xxoo

saying thank you

I'm grateful for the time and encouragement the teachers have given my girls this year.  I wanted to put together some sort of little gift to say "thank you". 

I started with aprons...because who doesn't need a new apron?  The pattern from Lotta's book is simple and quick and has sort of become my go to pattern for apron making.

I love the little gathers at the top.  The apron is reversible which, for messy cooks like me, allows for more time between washings. Spaghetti sauce splatter? Strawberry jam dribble? Flip it! The girls helped a bit with the pattern cutting and aprong string sewing. I finished up both of them after all the kids had gone to bed one night. I miss sewing. I need to do more sewing. Sometimes it feels like such a waste to take up a whole corner in our school room/office/family room downstairs. Space is at a premium.  But...I keep telling myself that this season with my busy boy is short, and that it won't be long before that machine is humming away again.

I added a little potted geranium, a tall mug with straws, and some cold brew ice tea bags. Teacher aides and the bus driver are getting a loaves of artisan bread.

The 4th graders took a rainy trip to the waterslides today. Poor Emma, it was 80+ degrees on Monday. Figures. She's on her way home and I'm off to draw a warm bath and get a hearty snack prepared.