Knitting In The North

Not Interested

I did up these shirts for the boys the other night - super fast and easy.  Using plain white t-shirts, and a thifted men's shirt for the tie fabric, I followed this tutorial.  It worked wonderfully, and we've had lots of nice compliments when the boys wore them out (although I'm reminded, already, why I don't usually buy my children white shirts - messy, messy, messy). 

 

Liam, however, was clearly uninterested in a photo shoot yesterday morning - truly, he's uninterested in doing almost anything I suggest or ask these days...  See that sweet grumpy face?  Kissing Liam's face off when he's in a mood clearly is not the response he's looking for -  isn't a 2 year old fun? 
   

Trial Run

 

 

As preparation for the big road trip ahead, we took the kids out last weekend, meeting another family for a camping trial run.  You know, to find out what we're missing (dish washing stuff?  marshmallow roasting sticks?  facecloths?), and make sure everything is in good working order.

 

Like every year, I was struck again with the wonder of how much I love to camp with my little crew.  Really, I think the best part is the lack of electronics - no phone, no TV, no dishwasher, even.  Without all the distractions, we can all actually spend time together in a different way than is usual at home, and it's awesome.  

 

 

 

An essential part of the experience, obviously, is marshmallows over the fire, and here is my super duper tip for the season.  (I'm think I saw this somewhere on the internet last year, although where, I have no clue.)  S'mores are super fun, although messy, and I find assembling all the pieces a bit of a nuisance.  Enter chocolate covered cookies (these are store brand digestives).  You just squish that soft, gooey marshmallow right between two cookies, and you're good to go.  (Question - have the marshmallows and cookies gotten sweeter?  I couldn't even finish one this year; too much for this mama!)  Next time - maybe I'll make the marshmallows myself!

 

 

Hide and Seek

 

How To Make a Rainbow

Making Liam's rainbow birthday cake was something I've been longing to try since last year around this time.  I first saw the idea here, and then later came across this link at good ol' Martha's.

This is nothing new, obviously, but it sure was fun for us!  I used Martha's cake recipe for the batter.  I don't always have my camera at hand when I would like it, but I did on our baking day - here's how it looked at our place:

 

 

 

 

It's so nice to be proven right - you can never have too many thrifted bowls!

 

 

 

 

 

 You can also never have too many helping hands, when it comes to mixing.

 

 

 

 

 

Don't you just want to squish your hands into all that colourful goodness? 

(Hmmm, maybe that's just me?)

 

 

 

 

 

Like Meg said, even the dirty dishes are happy...

 

 

 

 

 

 

...although the finished cakes (and seeing them come out of the oven in one piece!) was happier for me.

 

 

 

 

 

It wasn't until this point that I could stop holding my breath,

 

 

 

 

 And the finished cake was a glorious surprise for the guests at the party!  Success!!  (Phew.)
  
 
 
 

Fresh

 

 

With the weather starting to warm up, I find that my baking needs to be done first thing in the morning.  Liam & I tend to be the first ones up around here (I wake to a little voice calling, "Moooommmy, Moooommmy, Mom!  Mom!  Mom!), so once I make a cup of tea and get him settled, I start thinking about what to get into the oven.

 

I read this post over at a Friend to knit with, and thought mini-scones sounded like a great idea.  I couldn't find cinnamon chips here, but butterscotch ones were found acceptable by the kids (with a little brown sugar sprinkled on top, instead of cinnamon/sugar mix).    

 

It's quite nice to have something fresh from the oven in the morning, and getting the baking done like this is guaranteed to make you feel productive.  (You know - "Wow, the kids haven't even left for school yet, and my baking is done for the day!"  or even better, "Here kids, take a fresh scone with you, to eat on the way to school" .  Definite 'Good Mom' brownie points there.)

 

 

Birthday Boy

Things to remember now that Liam is two:

 

• The answer to any question is a definite and very firm NO.

 

• All food must now be consumed in it's "big" form - no more 1/2 bananas, bits of toast, or sharesies.

 

 

 

 

• Having a birthday is all about the cake.

 

 

 

• However, lit candles are very disturbing (as is everyone's sudden undivided attention).

• Bob The Builder is a really big hit.

 

 

 

 

• But no matter how big "2" is, at the end of the day, a soother & a tiger are still absolutely necessary for a weary boy.

 

 

 

 

Beautiful and Useful

 

One of those quotes that so many of us love, and that I try to incorporate into our life here, is that old William Morris gem:

 

Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.

 

I've been working diligently to remove the need for plastic bags in our world, and have taken to carrying cloth bags in my purse, vehicle, etc.  Most of these bags have been aquired from various stores, however, and are not lovely.  These don't meet Mr. Morris' criteria, not even a bit. 

This cloth bag fits the bill in my book, though. - using this tutorial from Abi, all you need is a pillowcase (vintage is lovely, but not necessary), a sewing machine and a few spare minutes to stitch yourself up a handy, sturdy and pretty bag.  Mine has been used for everything from groceries to library books to work stuff, and I've been scouring the thrift stores for sweet linens to whip myself up some more!  Such a gratifying project - if there's one thing I truly love, it's being able to make something for myself, all by myself (having it turn out nicely is a huge bonus!).

 

Note:  If you're keeping track, yes, today is Liam's 2nd birthday.  We're pretending it's not until tomorrow, though, since Stuart & I both work today, and we have friends coming over tomorrow to help us celebrate the presence of this fabulous little guy in our lives.  Today's task - construction of a massive birthday cake, with many helpers.  What is that phrase about too many cooks?  This could get a little crazy...

Helping Out

One by one, each of the kids has learned to love helping out in the kitchen.  I suppose it's only natural that Liam would want his turn, too, even at his young age.  It's still a bit hard for me to accept that my sweet babe is becoming such a big boy - in a few short days, his 2nd birthday will be here!   How is that possible?

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love how serious he is at his work - the way he mimics his dad is so sweet.  It's a good reminder of how closely all of the kids watch us, and learn from the way we do things.  (In a bit of a rabbit trail, I just read last night that your teenager will fight with you the way you fight with your spouse - if that's not motivation to fight fair, what is?)

 

 

 

 

The kitchen window is a great place to keep an eye on what's going on outside.  But most important - guy bonding time + food + using big people tools = FUN!

 

 

 

 

Reincarnated

Gwenyth had this favourite little top.  I neglected to take a picture, (bad blogger that I am) but it was one of those girly tops with a fitted, button up bodice, and a full gathered empire waist.  Recently, Gwen has gone through a bit of a growth spurt, and the bodice started to get too tight.

 

One of Gwen's favourite books in the whole wide world right now is My Forever Dress, a story about a little girl who is given a dress for her 6th birthday, and then wears it in different incarnations until she's 10.  (It really is a fabulous book - if you like to sew, and have a little girl in your life, I'd call it just about perfect - I especially like how it addresses the idea of recycling while they take apart a dress and make a new one out of it.)

 

Anyway... we thought we'd make this special top last, by turning it into a dress.  A little short on time at the moment, I simply cut apart the shirt, just above the gathered skirt, and sewed the bottom portion to a t-shirt.  It worked wonderfully, and she loves it, which is the best result I could possibly hope for.

 

After finishing this, I noticed this great article in the latest issue of Rhythm of the Home - a new online magazine that I'm really loving - check it out! 

 

 

FO: Gabriel's Wings

Although I finished this scarf almost two months ago, getting photos of my finished work is sometimes a bigger challenge than actually completing it.  (Especially if I have to be in the picture.  Groan.)

 

 

Particulars:

 

Pattern -  Gabriel's Wings

Yarn -  Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, Pioneer, 2 skeins

Needles -  2.75mm

Notes/Modifications -   Because I didn't use a striping yarn, as called for in the pattern, I didn't bother alternating between skeins.  I very much wish that I had gone up one needle size, as I think the yarn/pattern combo would have benefited from a bit looser gauge.  Still, it's a nice cozy scarf, and the fabric has fairly good drape and movement.  This pattern was exactly what I needed at the time I knit it - alternating between garter and stocking stitch stripes, with an eyelet row in between, was about all I was up for at the time.  Working this project was the equivalent, for me, of a cup of warm mik with honey - sweet, warm, comforting, soothing.  Ahhh....