{Craft it forward}

Do you want to win a handmade ♥GIFT♥ from me? Be one of the first 3 to leave a comment on this post, entitling you to a handmade item from me. Winners must post this giveaway on your blog, meaning that you will {Craft it forward} too, creating a handmade gift for the first three bloggers who leave a comment on YOUR post about this giveaway! The gift that you send can be any price range and you have 30 days to make and ship your items. I read about this on Julie's blog!

I rarely buy cards, homemade ones are the best. Throughout my childhood and adult life, I've had so many sweet people say they like the cards I make for them! So I'm thinking I'll make a set of cards for each of the winners. Lent begins soon, and ends at the Lord's Resurrection (Pascha), so here are some festive I've made in the past:

This one I made 5 years ago:And this one I made 7 years ago, made lots of color copies of them to give to each person who gave us a gift at the baby shower or upon Hannah's arrival:I love using ink. I used india ink a lot and fell in love with this waterproof walnut ink, used a thin watercolor brush to "draw" and then added watercolours.

Now, my friend Deb "tagged" me. I'm supposed to share the 5th photo of my 5th folder, then tag 5 more people. My 5th folder contains scrapbook pages (that I scanned in for myself) I did for my parents:

Now, I'm going to tag:

Jessica

Emily

Kristina

Xenia

Sophia

Thinking...

Your move... We have been playing lots of games lately: chess, monopoly, scrabble, sorry, go-fish, jenga, et cetera. One day last week, I come home from work to see Rob and the girls in the midst of a game of monopoly. They finished it in about 3 hours (ate lunch in between). So much fun learning going on...this is homeschooling. To make $100, you can use 2 $50s, or 5 $20s... This morning before work, Olivia asked me to play a game of chess with her. She beat Hannah yesterday!

I found this photo on my camera. Hannah saw me take a self-portrait in the mirror (my small profile photo on the right)!

Hannah (wearing pink cowboy boots, too) and Dad playing the "other" guitar.

I like to see how the toys are used...that's a compact used for a round table & 2 My Little Pony pink shoes used for bowls.

Hairy armpits...

I am seriously considering never shaving again! I like the way God made me.

We went to the zoo and met Thane Maynard by the polar bears. He does a daily program on public radio called the 90-second Naturalist. He told us that his 3 daughters grew up and are now biologists, too.

I've enjoyed the Australian singer, Lenka's songs...especially Live like you're dying and The Show. Today, my dad came over and helped me tune a guitar I'm considering buying from a friend I work with...I am borrowing one from Fotina right now, but want to buy one. So, he began and then told us a story about his sister who has passed away (she was named Martha, and I was named after her). He remembers her playing Frieght Train. He couldn't remember all the words, but found this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMSYzFdloqY&feature=related Elizabeth Cotten (who must be left handed) playing with Pete Seeger. We thoroughly enjoyed it...

My Aunt Martha (top), Aunt Ellen (left) and Dad (isn't he cute?)...about 50 years ago!

18 more to go...

18 more to go..., originally uploaded by mama_marfa.

I took a photo of myself in the car, while my husband drove, girls in the back seat...
Then, wrote each state I've been to so far. I HOPE Alaska and Hawaii are NEXT!

Have you seen the 32 minute film The Red Balloon? I think the first time I saw it was in our public library in Brandon, Vermont when I was about 10 years old on the old reel to reel. Very few words, nothing needed, however, you understand the plot by the "body language"...or should I say "ballon language?" Hannah and Olivia loved it. 10 minutes into it Olivia started giggling aloud and Hannah started commentary!

Russian Winter's Night was the best way for us to spend our Friday evening! The dinner was scrumptious. Irina sang beautifully with such emotion. Here is a clip of a duet that she sang with Kurt, our wonderful choir director!

*If you check out my Flickr photostream, you'll see photos...the apricot napoleon...I ate every bit of it!

Those you love...

We love our family and friends very much. Although we may not have a lot of gifts to give, we enjoy spending time together and baking for everyone. For those who are far away, we've been creating valentines... Mail a REAL letter to someone you care about! It's so nice to get a personal letter in the mailbox when it's mostly full of junk mail.

Penpal...

Hannah got a letter from her penpal, Katherine, today! She was so happy, she even checked the mailbox yesterday and I reminded her that mail doesn't come on Sundays. Hannah is writing a bit of Chinese in the letter in return...

Saturday, we went to the library with my sister and her girls, plus a family who goes to the nursery school where I work part-time to celebrate Chinese New Year. It was really cool, see Susanna's blog, as I didn't bring my camera! There were a few exchange student-teachers who came from China....all very nice! Made me feel a bit guilty about my pledge against buying things "made in China."