afternoon out on a boat

Another short afternoon trip on a friend's boat. We all jumped in for a short swim, though most of the time we just floated on the boat.

more practice

Now that we are sorta back into the groove after our three-week holiday, I am getting back into some of my projects. I haven't produced much that is useful yet, but I am practicing with different techniques and styles. I have a stash of scrap fabrics and charm stacks that have allowed me to work on some patchwork style out of Practical Patchwork by Elizabeth Hartmann. The most recent was this applique pattern. I used an old sheet as the background, which needed a little whitening up so I put the squares out in the sun for a day and it did the trick.

I did two squares and totally botched the quilting on the first one. I should have used white thread and maybe tried a different quilt style but my machine (an patience with it) is only so good. The applique though came out great. Even on the machine.

out to the rocks

We love to take the kids to the rocks at Peterborg. The rocks are just challenging enough to be fun but safe for the kids. There are sections that are dangerous; dropping down several feet into the crashing waves. But we steer clear of those spots. In few months the whales will be transiting near this spot, which looks out onto the Atlantic Ocean.

a whole lot of nothing

A whole lot of nothing is what we did this weekend. And really it was kind of nice. Time outside, time inside, playing, projects, walks, paddle-boarding, cooking and books. The kids (read C) may not care for the pace much. When bored, he reverts to his favorite requests: (lets go play at/with or can we watch TV), and he's pretty persistent about it. But we prevailed (any question about that one?): no *playdates* and just a movie on Saturday, which is our usual routine. We needed the down time.

little house on the prairie

We finished the Little House in the Big Woods audio tape today and started the Little House on the Prairie. The opening chapters are about a river crossing in a covered wagon. So this is what was happening today after school. Under the stairs to our condo was the covered wagon.

A few things you might not think you need on a prairie crossing but should really have: umbrellas, boogie boards, Cinderella's stage coach and a backpack.

And a hammock for the wagon driver.

Breakfast made fresh by baby Carrie.

reinvention

A new linen skirt for me, made from an old, but hardly-worn shirt of E's. I just cut the shirt at the sleeves and it gave me enough fabric to make a short skirt (just above the knee). These are advantages of being nearly a foot shorter than your husband. I used some of the left over arm and back fabrics to make some big side pockets (not shown above because I got the idea after I took the shot. I tried it on and was automatically looking for pockets.) Anyway, pockets are a requirement for any sort of pants, shorts or skirts for me. I need them to carry; keys, rocks, shells, phone, coins...mermaids. kids noticed the skirt right off the bat when I picked them up from school...at first I thought it was a reflection on that it looked too handmade, wonky or was flying up in the breeze, but they clarified that it was the color that caught their eye. Pink, pretty.

This is the other shirt, pretty blue....waiting for the same fate...

I also thought this skirt would look nice with an eyelet extension at the bottom, lengthening the skirt from above the knee to just below or with a pretty scalloped pettiskirt underneath.

weekends are for recharging

A long weekend for us. Quiet and as restful as we could make it. Each day was different but the rhythm was the same:

:: breakfast: waffles, pancakes or french toast

:: inside play while we clean and get ready for the day

:: adventure: shell beach, secret harbour or magen's bay. Swim, build castles, look for shells, climb on rocks

:: afternoon home with naps or quiet time, maybe a movie or audiobook (currently Little House in the Big Woods and movie is Horton Hears a Who!)

:: Evening: leftovers and spare ribs on Monday, showers and books

We also did alot of creating this weekend...we made a stove for the the kids out of the cardboard box. The girls helped me paint it, but no pictures; M was a bit naked during the whole process. There was a kite and C had his Star Wars set ups, bows and arrows, a bolo, a top spinning competition (45 seconds is the time to beat). We all made (and ate) chocolate-chip cookies, drew and colored and played with a giant box of buttons, which this afternoon finally landed all over the floor (after about 50 previous times of play without incident....it was about time it happened) Anyway a restorative, long weekend and did I mention the weather was beautiful (and the water cold?).

afternoon at the beach

At the rocky beach near our place. Great for rockclimbing and shell hunting. This kind of outside time is important to us just as much as any afterschool activity might be. However limiting this play to the afternoons: after school, after a long day of classroom time it can also be an added "stress" to the day if not managed correctly. Its the perfect antidote to the structured school day but it also occurs when the kids are most tired, so the timing is important. Probably not the best idea to travel to this beach (15 minute walk both directions) at the end of the week. It better to stay closer to the home; walk the 90 steep steps down to the beach, or play in the pseudo-courtyard behind our condo. Sometimes the weekend is the best time to get out too....

But we got a new shell book in the mail over the holidays (thanks M) and B wanted to bring it to the shell beach. C found a rope, a water bottle and a sea sponge at the beach and he was determined to collect drinking water as his favorite survivor-man does.

what are you doing?

checking out the other kids on the beach from my beach chair. Where's my milkshake?

can you guess

What this is? It is always amazing what little ones see that we do not. C found this yesterday in the field near our condo. Placed with care near enough to the parking lot to be noticed as something out of place, but not near enough to know its identity without closer inspection. It is a tiny tropical Nativity. Jesus, Joseph and Mary are made of sea shells, the manger is made of cardboard covered with tree bark and moss. The donkey, sheep, and palm tree are plastic. I would love to know who made this small work of art. Will it be reclaimed, or left to wash away with the summer rains?

in one day

With in one day we have experienced the chill and coziness of home in the north, and the balmy tradewinds (and definitely not cozy) of life the south. Its a bit disorienting. Today was like the warmest, brightest spring day after a dark dreary week of rain or snow. Beautiful, uplifting, amazing. However, I consider the VI like I do most people: there is always something good about a person, something of interest to learn, something amazing under the surface...or something redeeming (if they at first sight seem irredeemable). But it is always a choice to go forward and engage that person in friendship, beyond the most casual of acquaintances. The VI has its qualities, its natural beauty and simplicity of life; but do I daresay call it home in the truest sense of the word. Hmm, it's complicated.

a walk before the snow

Into the school forest today. The snow had melted completely for a few days but it was due to snow again. In the meantime we wanted to walk; move our bodies which are quickly becoming heavier with all the holiday excess! This place is perfect to walk through with the kids. Flat, forested and full of lean-to shelters built by other kids who have been playing in the forest. We found several and then built our own at the end of the walk. I wished I could have just let the kids run loose (and watch them from the warm confines of a living room or kitchen) but no such luck. We were all driven inside by the cold and a need for lunch.

dark mornings

We are on the edge of a time zone which means dark, dark mornings. Kids are sleeping in well but its hard to get going with such darkness. So every morning we have been moving so slowly...one two or three cups of coffee or tea are not uncommon.

ringing in the new year

snw forts

chilly winds

sledding - that is M, covering her eyes on her first run.

and then with me after a few runs.