The slouchy hat...

When I saw this slouchy hat, I thought it was so cute, especially in yellow, but I had some nice green wool yarn already...now that I'm done with it, I can tell you that it was pretty easy, so I'll be making another one!Give it a try...if you go to the link above, you'll see there's a FREE pattern! You can see we have a little snow right now. And the outdoor color is realistic, but I had to share a picture of me wearing it, just so you can see how it looks on... very comfy!!!Last week I read Heaven is For Real by Todd Burpo, the story of his 3 year old son, Colton, and his experience in heaven - he died for 3 minutes while suffering from appendicitis. What a touching story. I especially loved the part when he met his sister, who his mother miscarried. The little boy was so eager to go to heaven again. We all should aim for heaven...I mean really work on it everyday!!!

I'm reading Snow Falling on Cedars right now. Apparently it was made into a movie, too, so hopefully I'll find that and watch it after I've read the book!

Simple sewing...

Nothing fancy, simply a curtain to cover the window in our back door (in our kitchen)...I used Amy Butler fabric that I got on sale at Sewn, a cool shop, I could've spent LOTS of money there. I got the pom pom fringe at another shop...isn't it so cute? I think it would be nice on an apron, too.When we moved into our house 5 1/2 year ago, there was an awkward space under the counter in the kitchen, I think the previous owners had 2 barstools there, but it's a galley kitchen, small, so it really doesn't make sense...so we use it to store stuff (all my stones and pans for baking are under there...recycling bin, etc.) and I covered it with this Michael Miller polka-dot fabric...and just added the same pom pom fringe to it, too.
Lately, my more adventurous sewing involved pennant banners, a pin cushion, circle skirts for my daughters and an alligator with a zipper for a mouth. I'm currently working on a prairie bonnet.

Yarn along...crochet lessons with a 6 year old

My 6 year old niece broke her arm and is taking a break from karate class, so while her 4 year old sister is in class, she is coming to my house to learn how to crochet.
As for me, I'm making this slouchy hat....which is turning out really cute so far, don't you think? i love a free pattern. And I'm reading this book Heaven is for Real that someone in church gave to my 10 year old daughter, she read it in one day (she loved it), so now it's my turn!

Joyous feast of the Nativity

(I sewed circle skirts for my daughters...here is Olivia with her friend Sasha after church on Nativity)

I greet you all with the feast of the Nativity of Christ, which we celebrated 2 days ago, December 25, 2011 (old calendar) or January 7, 2012 (new calendar)!My sister and her husband came down from Canada (a 13 hour drive in the car for them, they headed back early this morning, so are probably getting home just now).My 1 year old niece giving my dad a homemade present...
Today, my dad read prayers over my youngest sister's baby boy, Theodore. He is 8 days old now, and the naming-prayers are usually done on this day. I am going to be his Godmother! Hopefully, his baptism will be in about a month.

Isaac and Theodore

Well, the little hat fits Theodore. I made it with a 13 inch circumference but it will stretch. I know he'll grow quickly...so it will only fit him for a little while. The yellow ocher blanket he's wrapped in is one that was Wally's when he was a baby! So it's about 29 years old.
Isaac wanted to share his car with Theodore...

Before you watch the video, you may want to scroll down on the right hand side and turn off the music. We went to the park with Isaac...and here's a video I took while at the "fishing hole:"

I love all my family...looking forward to celebrating Orthodox Nativity with all of them tonight and tomorrow! We're hoping to take a photo of everyone at my parent's house tomorrow...that will be 17 of us.

Yarn along...a tiny hat!

It's the first yarn along of 2012...and what am I making? A hat for my newest nephew! He was born Monday January 2nd. I hope it's not itchy...it feels like a nice soft wool.I got this wool yarn while on a trip to Kentucky in May. Honestly I haven't been yarning too much lately...I've been sewing. I am working on Christmas skirts for Hannah & Olivia, using this free pattern: http://www.dana-made-it.com/2008/07/tutorial-circle-skirt.html. Twirly skirts...we celebrate the Nativity of Christ this coming Saturday!

I'm sipping some ginseng peppermint tea and eating marzipan stollen (just got it for $1.99 at Trader Joe's and it's vegan) this morning.

Home-birth

My little sister, Andrea, and her husband welcomed a new little boy today...in their home. I wish I'd had a home-birth, as it seems so much more peaceful and relaxing. I remember being happy, yet so exhausted when I had my girls in the hospital. Nurses would come and take my vitals just as soon as I would fall asleep. I thank God for healthy babies, and eventually I caught up on my sleep...Speaking of health...I wish my dad had better health. He didn't get to see the baby, yet...he has had a very difficult day, my mom said when I called them up. Hopefully they will go tomorrow. Dyskinesia is getting worse...so much so that Dad is balding because he moves his head back and forth so much. Parkinson's is really horrible. I think of it as the demons attacking him, because his soul is close to God...he loves the church so much and is very humble, not proud, of course he's not perfect, but compassionate, understanding and thinks of salvation . I will never forget when I was having the most trouble in my own life and he was so kind and positive, helped me more than he will ever know. This is the big brother, Isaac, who came over to our house for lunch and to play in the snow...and give his parents a little time to rest. The snow was lovely and great for making snowballs! We made vegetable soup and focaccia bread. I have renewed artisan breads every day by Peter Reinhart 3 times already...I love our library. Rob, Hannah and I are becoming expert bread bakers. Olivia loves to eat it.

I brought some of the focaccia over to Andrea and Wally, too. I am preparing another batch right now.