Kid pics

Because sometimes family wants to see them and can't figure out Flickr (seriously, just sign up with your Yahoo ID, let me know, and then I can make you a friend and then you can see all my Flickr pictures. Just saying.)


Retrieving a toy car from in the flower bed


Playing with aforementioned car


Climbing on the table to get hold of the good art pencils. (And no that is not a real Chagall on the piano LOL)

All by himself

Someone loves playing Lincoln Logs with his brother. He's getting pretty good at it too!

Bedding and Mending

First the new beds for Z and B



The side rails for the top bunk make the perfect toddler bed rails. Funny how much more comfortable the mattress is when it is on a decent bed.



And then Z's newest project - counted cross stitch. This all got started when he saw me sitting and mending a shirt of his and he wanted to get in on the sewing game. So he ran and got his sewing basket, but he didn't have any projects in progress.



He's been wanting to do embroidery but getting frustrated with me because I won't let him start sewing on whatever he picks up (washcloths, baby clothes, etc) So I got him started on a ladybug start-to-embroider kit that I bought a few months ago knowing that he would be asking soon to start. He took to it quickly and with much aptitude. He has always really enjoyed sewing, so I guess I shouldn't be surprised, but the kit says it is for ages 8 and up. I know an Aunt of his who will be pleased to share this hobby!

Garden Blog?

Apparently that is what this is morphing into. There really hasn't been much knitting the last few months, just sewing and gardening. Unless you count the sock I picked up and did a 20 row repeat on last Thursday for knit night. At the rate I'm going with it, I bet it will be ready for next winter. Maybe. Which reminds me, I actually made it to a knit night!!! Thanks hon!

In the meantime, look what popped up in the garden this morning - zucchini flowers!



And the tomato plant has been working steadily on these:



And last, but not least, as my children (and their friend) will attest, when you find a train climber at the park, crawl under it and find the best place in the whole park to play.



On the agenda today? New beds for the boys! We bought them over the weekend and they are slated to be delivered this afternoon. Woohoo!

Love Garden

I can't believe how much I am enjoying gardening this year. I loved working in the compost, and giving the blank canvas of soil water, I loved planting seeds inside, I loved buying seedlings, I loved watching everything find a new home and planting them in and I am really loving watching it all explode from the ground. Both the vegetables in the back bed and the roses and flowers in the front. And the pots surrounding the playhouse which I am hoping will be covered in morning glories and surrounded by sunflowers and calendula and zucchini and lamb's ear and Hopi red dye amaranth and sage and... Here is B next to the lamb's ear and half an empty planter which will not be empty for long (pole beans? more morning glories?)

I bought a giant half wine barrel and I am planning to plant something climbing (maybe fuschia?) and then some trumpet vine in the planter at the back near the Mexican Marigold.

And here is Z with scissors. He is a bit outdoors-ed out since he has had school every day for the last two school weeks at one park or another while the older grades are participating in STAR Testing. But we had a playdate this afternoon and he had a great time painting and putting on an "art show" with his friend (and little brother although that part wasn't planned)

Man in the Moon

And here he is. The Man in the Moon mobile that I made for Z's room. I ran out of stuffing, so it took awhile before I could finish it, but here he is in his recently hung glory! He is made from wool roving and the stars and moon are made from wool felt. B keeps pointing to him and saying "cool!" so I think he rates. LOL

In other news, we had dinner from the garden last night with a green salad and pasta with chard. So cool! (to borrow a phrase from my 2yo)



The garden is fairly well bursting from the ground. I even bought more planters yesterday because we are running out of room at a crazy rate. I forgot tomato cages, so I need to get back there today because the tomato plants are getting huge. The broccoli is huge too and I had to spray a garlic oil/clove oil combo on it yesterday because they had mealybugs. Ugh. The bugs are kind of embarrassing. The seamy underbelly of gardening I suppose. I took a picture, but I think I'll just keep it to myself. Trust me on that one. ::shudder::

Blur in Yellow and Blue

Here is the blur in a rare still moment.

And then I asked him to please hold still. This is the picture after that.

Star of the Week

This week Z was Star of the Week in his class at school, so we made up a poster of photos and packed up 5 of his favorite things to share and we went to celebrate him. And wow! was he amazing! He read, played chords on his guitar, showed off his trains, talked about his photos and shared his paper airplanes book. He then got to help me (and DH for a time) lead a center on making paper airplanes. He was interesting and excited to share and just seemed to blossom right there in front of all his friends. And the paper airplane center was fantastically popular. Kids kept "finishing" their other centers early to return to ours. So instead of 5 kids around the table we always had at least 10 and often more!



He had a really good time and, for once, when he was asked how was school today, he answered "Fun!" instead of "booooooring..." But they are off to a fantastic storytelling festival on a field trip today, so I expect we'll be back to boring by pickup time! LOL

Here we go round the Maypole high

Let Colored ribbons fly!

This is what the Nature Table looked like this morning to greet the day.

And even the little nature table in Z's room got some fresh flowers to celebrate.

And this is the chard we harvested from our garden and ate. Yum!