My Pipsqueak

Dear Mom,

Brace yourself. There may be something wrong with me. I blinked and my Pipsqueak went from this:

(5 minutes old, with her broken little collar bone)! To this:

(13 months old and taking on the world)! To this:

I blinked. I just blinked. She was just my little baby bundle of joy. Now she is six. She is in kindergarten. She is reading. She wants her fingernails painted and plans to have slumber parties. But she is my baby.

Pipsqueak's favorite color is red so we are having Red Velvet Cake (Grammie's recipe) with Cream Cheese Frosting. We also dipped marshmallows in red chocolate and heart sprinkles for her class.

Daddy painted nails for the big day!I think she is ready to have a very happy birthday! We are going to celebrate her very important six years, but I'm going to try not to blink!
Love, Wendy

A Taste of Spring

Dear Mom,

Today, we were blessed with 70 degree weather. My garlic is coming up!

The frogs have made an appearance in our little pond.

We are planning our outdoor projects...like how to remove the tree that blew over in the winter wind storm. I even did some weeding, and started thinking about what to plant in the vegetable garden. The maple sap has stopped, which is another sign of spring on the horizon; the sap stops flowing when the trees are ready to bud! Rain is expected tonight and tomorrow, and the temperature will drop to the mid 40's again. The weather today was a blessing!

Love, Bonnie Jo

OUCH!

Dear Mom,

While knitting as fast as I could to finish this:

I did this:
The point sort of crunched off my needle. I kept right on knitting, though, and finished the sweater last night. A trip through the pencil sharpener may repair the damage.

I am making good progress on the Young Lady's "Tights are the Enemy" top. We had a fitting this morning and it fits just as I hoped it would. I am knitting it from the top down and have reached the point below the arms where I add increases for fullness. It is pretty much straight forward knitting for length from here, so I should make some speedy progress. The tea pot is full and my ipod is loaded!

Love,

Kim

Outdoor Outpost

Dear Mom,

My clothesline is one of my favorite things, the simplest of pleasures. And today it is just sunny enough, just warm enough and just breezy enough to hang sheets and comforters out on the clothesline. Nothing smells like sheets after they've dried in fresh air and sunshine. It is just the cleanest of smells. And tucking in with that fresh sunshine smell on your pillow? Re-lax-ing. Sweet dreams. Good sleeping.





Before all this sunshine, fresh air and clothesline drying started, I ran to the bookstore to pick up a knitting book I ordered. And as I typically do, I wandered back to the crafts and home decor/ home improvement section. Where I found this: (modeled by the cooperative Bumper Joseph)

Mary Jane's Outpost, by Mary Jane Butters. The Mary Jane of Mary Jane's Sewing Room. It is full of out door inspiration and decoration, and things I will never do (like bathing out doors and filleting a freshly caught fish) but is such a beautiful book with a healthy, refreshing perspective that I had to bring it home with me. It has recipes. It has instruction on Two-handed Whistling. Which being a whistling impaired person, I plan on studying. Out door picnic-y stuff. Plants. Pretty pictures to look at if you don't feel like reading. Camping and hunting. Okay, that is another part I will. not. do. And aprons, and bugs and inspiring quotes. Like this one-

"Alone, I am one drop of water, together we are blessed rain."

Love,

Kim

A Blanket For Alejandro . . . er, I mean Thomas

Dear Mom,

Pipsqueak has a friend named Diego. Diego came running to us one afternoon at the bus stop, "My baby brother is here! My baby brother is here!" Pipsqueak and I were very excited and asked the new big brother all about his baby!

"What is his name?"

"Alejandro"!

Pipsqueak and I gushed all over Diego for his vast and incredible knowledge of Alejandro and all things baby.

Alejandro was born 4 weeks early, though. I wasn't ready for Alejandro. I quickly went home and frantically cut strips, sewed strips together and fringed the strips. To make this. For the new baby, Alejandro.

This is loosely based on Fringe Frenzy by Little Red Hen Designs (loosely based because I still have that very bad habit of never reading patterns or instructions). I used baby boy flannels. Here is the back of the blanket.

Pipsqueak and I wrapped the blanket nicely in a ribbon, of course, before we officially wrapped it in darling baby paper.

When we were finally able to deliver our blanket to Alejandro (who was in the hospital for awhile because he was so early), Carla, my friend and Diego's mom, burst into fits of giggles. Fits. Of. Giggles. Couldn't. Stop. Laughing. I gave her a gift with a card addressed to Alejandro. What was so funny?!

"The baby's name is Thomas. Diego just REALLY wanted an Alejandro."

Love, Wendy

Another Family Trait??

Dear Mom,
I think that perhaps along with the genetic traits that have us loving to vacuum, getting holes in the big toe of our stockings and compulsively counting out the correct change, we may be compelled to collect and save ribbons. I didn't realize this until I saw Wendy's ribbons yesterday. Some of hers look very familiar. Very. Familiar.
I am unable to resist a bargain bin full of ribbons. One dollar for a spool of ribbon? Can't beat that! And searching through my ribbons for just the right one is as much fun as going through my button box. One of my favorite ribbon sources is LFN textiles . They have some of the most beautiful, interesting, and unusual ribbons.
Love,
Kim

Breaking News

Dear Mom,
My friend, Jeannie, has posted photos of the sweater she and another friend made from my design!
Love, Kim

Backyard Girlfriends

Dear Mom,
Meg and Marge are best friends. They have had a special bond from the moment they were introduced to each other. I think it is because Meg is the smallest hen and Marge is on the bottom of the "pecking order" of the three Buff Orpingtons. As a result, Meg and Marge pal around together and take care of each other. I love to watch their special relationship. I will see Marge cleaning off remnants of grass from Meg's beak, and Meg showing Marge the best patches of green grass to nibble on.

Here is my sweet little Meg. Her "Mille Fleur" D'uccle breed name means "millions of flowers" because of her many spots and speckles...

and here is Marge, with the crooked point on her comb, looking up at me. She is my social chicken...curious and interested in me and what I am doing. I knew she was special when she jumped up and sat on my knee one day in the coop...

and here they are, all together--Meg and the Buff Orpingtons (aka The Fat-Bottom Girls)--enjoying a rare afternoon of above-freezing temperatures to free-range in the backyard.
I am so looking forward to spring and summer, the first for these four ladies together in the backyard. I'm sure there will be many, many adventures and stories to tell!

Love, Bonnie Jo

Channeling my Inner Audrey Hepburn

Dear Mom,
I won't be sitting on the window sill, strumming my guitar and singing "Moon River" or anything, but I got my hair cut this morning and I am feeling very Audrey Hepburn-ish right now. The feeling carried me through the grocery store and I am hoping I can keep it up long enough to clean the bathrooms. Maybe I will do the housework with my sunglasses on.

My slightly out-of-focus self portrait is accidentally slightly out-of-focus, but goes a long way to "diminish fine lines and wrinkles" and makes the grays look like shimmering highlights. Which, of course, they are.
Love,
Kim

Ribbons

Dear Mom,

I love ribbons! My ribbons are a big jumbled mess which only adds to the excitment of digging into them.

I have a ribbon for every occasion. My BFF might need a gift wrapped in this argyle ribbon:After 40 years of knitting, Kim might suddenly forget how and she would need this: I have gift wrapped many baby gifts with these:

and birthday gifts, friend gifts, I-love-you-so-much gifts with these:

I have spools of ribbon that I have had for YEARS because there are yards and yards on the spool. I also have ribbon like this:

I can't bear to throw it away; I could use it on a handmade card or a handmade tag. Or in a hairbow. A gift for a fairy. Or something.

Someday I will be all Martha Stewart and organize my box of ribbons. But probably not because when my ribbons are all jumbled up, finding "new" ribbons is a treasure!

Love, Wendy

Job Security

Dear Mom,

Before you arrived to celebrate the Young Man's birthday with us, My Hero helped with some last minute dusting.

I am not worried about my position of Homemaker/Housewife, though, because I can do things no one else in this house can do.....

I have job security.

Love,

Kim

15

Dear Mom,

Today there are 15 candles on the Young Man's birthday cake.

It seems it was just 15 minutes ago that I put the candle on his first cake.

And in 15 minutes we went from this

to this.

In 15 minutes we went from diapers to driver's ed. From ABC's and 123's to Honors Math and Biology. From afternoon naps to "wake up! it is almost noon!" From Candy Land to video games. From sticky messes in the kitchen to....well, some things don't change.

He's an awesome kid. I couldn't be prouder to be his Mom and I love watching him grow into the gentleman he is becoming.

Love,

Kim

End of Trimester

Dear Mom,
To celebrate the End of 2nd Trimester/ Finals are Over/ Birthday Weekend, the Young Man had his Buddy spend the night. EASY!
All they need to be happy are:

Doritos and root beer,

Video games,

And breakfast.

Homestyle Omelet

1 lb bacon (or leftover ham, or sausage- I've tried them all and they are all good)

1 1-lb package frozen hash browns

6 eggs

2 T milk

salt and pepper to taste

8 oz shredded cheddar

Fry bacon until crisp. Remove to drain on paper towel and crumble when cool. Pour off all but 1 1/2 T bacon grease. Add frozen hash browns and cook over med heat until thawed. Press down into an even layer.

Beat eggs with milk, salt and pepper. Pour over potatoes. Top with cheese and crumbled bacon.

Cover and cook over med-lo until the eggs have set, about 15 minutes.

I use my electric skillet for this. You can also add chopped green onions or mushrooms- whatever sounds yummy. It also can be modified for health- you know- turkey bacon, egg beaters and 2% cheese. We actually have this for dinner more often than we do for breakfast.

Have a good weekend.

Love,

Kim

Pure Silver Maple Syrup

Dear Mom,
The sap has been pouring out of the trees. We produced and bottled a total of 48 jars of syrup...and this is just the beginning! All of the neighbors received a jar and were encouraged to return it for a refill. The men have done an excellent job of collecting sap, cooking, bottling and labeling each jar. Despite my grumbling over the mess, I am very proud of their efforts and hard work to make this "project" a truly meaningful and memorable one!
Love, Bonnie Jo

Twelve Years Ago

Dear Mom,

I became a Mom for the first time 12 years ago today. The teenager hasn't change a whole lot (technically, not a teenager but the teenager alarm has buzzed even though I want it to be in "sleep mode" for "a few more minutes")!! Still sleeps a lot, eats whenever and answers me in grunts but still some coos, too.

Thank you, Mumsie, and Kim and Bonnie, too, for teaching me how to be a great Mom (if I say so myself)!! This is the best rollercoaster ride I've ever been on. (Well, except maybe the first time I rode the Racer with you!!!)
Love, Wendy

Computer Conversation

Dear Mom,
Here is an actual conversation I had with Kim this morning:
Me: My freakin' internet is down.
Kim: That freakin' internet!
Me (getting a little whiney): I wanted to blog about the teenager's birthday today.
Kim: Okay, why don't you email me the picture you want and I can do a little post for you. Do you want me to do that for you?
Me: Really? . . . . okay, that sounds good!
Me again: Wait. I can't.
Kim: Why?
Me: My freakin' internet is down!!
Love, Wendy

Finals

Dear Mom,
The Young Man has finals today and tomorrow. Things are a bit tense. Lots of reassuring, pats on the back, quizzing off study guides and more reassuring. An intense moment yesterday when a study guide went missing. More reassurances. Thank goodness it was such a nice, warm day. He was able to go out and hit some tennis balls to relieve stress, clear his head and get some fresh air. He will do fine. He will do better than fine; he always does.
A Happy Birthday SHOUT to your youngest grandSON. Have a fun day!
Love, Kim

Cage Match

Dear Mom,
After a weekend of listening to fights, squeals of pain and "stop touching me" sorts of positioning, we have removed Lucy (aka Lucy Fur) from the guinea pig cage.
She is now sharing a cage with Smokey, the rabbit who lives. Henceforth, this shall be known as the geriatric cage. Actually, I don't think Smokey minds the company and Lucy seems happy. Maybe all along she has believed herself to be a rabbit and has finally achieved her goal.
The young pigs cannot believe their good fortune to be living Lucy-free. No more turf wars. They are both hopping around the cage, bravely scurrying in and out of the guinea pig hut and unable to believe they can do this without risk. Kind of like a classroom when the teacher steps out for a bit.

Knitting Update
While still under the spell of Startitis, I cast on the third project in 2 days. The Young Lady's Easter top, which is NOT A DRESS!!! is now on the needles. Actually, I think I started it about 5 times yesterday evening before finally getting it right. (Lots of interruptions.) It is a modification of the girls dress I designed. (Still haven't heard anything about that submission, I'll let you know.) Because this is NOT A DRESS!!!, I am calling the Young Lady's version "Tights are the Enemy".
Maybe because I had so many start overs last night, or maybe I am getting immune, but I no longer feel that Startitis has a grip on me. I imagine that it won't be long before I am feeling the inevitable Finishing Fever.
Love,
Kim

A sweater makes her Debut

Dear Mom,

I finished the February Lady Sweater as planned and wore her on Friday to my favorite local yarn shop, The Village Yarn Shop, in Zionsville. The owner purchased a couple of my

patterns to sell and I took them in to her.

I had also given her a sample of the Diagonal Surprise sweater for her to display ~ it looks nice up there, I think.

There were some strong knitterly vibes in the store that day. I stayed to knit awhile. Like pretty much until I had to be home to meet the bus. There were expert knitters enjoying the company of other knitters. There were two friends there; one teaching the other to knit. Knitters love to get new knitters addicted. We oozed support and encouragement. Because the New Knitter was trying to learn on hobby shop needles, one veteran knitter was compelled to step in with a needle intervention. Quality needles were provided in a flash, maybe even before the New Knitter knew what was happening!

So. Being at the shop on Friday wasn't enough. I went back on Saturday. Basically to spend all the money (and a little more) that I made selling the patterns. I got some yarn, a book and some knitting needles. And I must have knitters ADD right now, or this cold I am fighting has brought on a serious case of "Startitis", because I cast on 2 new projects on Sunday (a pair of socks and a sweater with the yarn I purchased on Saturday) and probably since I want the Young Lady to have something special to wear for Easter, I should get started on that, too. So, when I am not taking care of the housework, running to the orthodontist, doing laundry or cooking a meal, (which doesn't sound like there will be much time left over) I will be right here:

In my winter knitting nest, listening to books, and knitting.
Love, Kim