tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51715101871660841142024-02-02T05:25:20.595-04:00matcha and misoNicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-3599016039557045972010-04-05T21:03:00.003-03:002010-04-05T21:06:50.237-03:00Wonderful weekendI hope everyone has had a wonderful Easter. With the weather so warm, it was lovely here. We went downtown on Saturday for some last-minute Easter shopping. Then Sunday I took the kids to Church. They decorated (more) eggs and ate way too much candy. After lunch, we all drove to the park and walked along the waterfront and in the woods. Here are some pics:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbCDsAVeJqBk0fd3C0IBEhRDw16vFzonmIIAnVWS7hvaVhdD0xgQhwvh9dKAbIo232AniOc9MseyEz5lfKVS6e7ghw_aySdWFMgNZNexTp3De4vqxQt6yRwu38HD_07kgRQp1Fky_MgG4/s1600/eastersunday2010+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbCDsAVeJqBk0fd3C0IBEhRDw16vFzonmIIAnVWS7hvaVhdD0xgQhwvh9dKAbIo232AniOc9MseyEz5lfKVS6e7ghw_aySdWFMgNZNexTp3De4vqxQt6yRwu38HD_07kgRQp1Fky_MgG4/s400/eastersunday2010+007.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Emma and Rowan climbing one of the parks many rocks. On the other side of that bluff is the seaside! Not nice swimming water, though. I don't let my kids near that water--so very, very gross!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3TuDTifyC6hAwtkK-ijIxnAGkxBQuRXLsFvG__s5zXnoRSkf67vahp0wugdI-EZlIr-5oNbbFAaD8_z3via-oPcqCW0dU_0wbyBuMJZLzOAlFHDumJ0K2AIKcqKioW6JKBaKb2Qbhse0/s1600/eastersunday2010+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS3TuDTifyC6hAwtkK-ijIxnAGkxBQuRXLsFvG__s5zXnoRSkf67vahp0wugdI-EZlIr-5oNbbFAaD8_z3via-oPcqCW0dU_0wbyBuMJZLzOAlFHDumJ0K2AIKcqKioW6JKBaKb2Qbhse0/s400/eastersunday2010+013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I'm up on that bluff, now, and looking to one side. There are two beaches here. This is the second one, and is (obviously) rocky. The other side (behind the camera) is sandy. Again, yucky water. I don't let the kids pick up much beach debris. Last year the water was much cleaner.<br />
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All there is to find are mussel shells, sea urchins, and the odd crab leg. And yucky stuff (won't mention what, but this is a city beach, so you can use your imagination).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcMWMM9lyqKbxVA2DEwVG6i0EdZ6YzHCy6y0U5EwJXFN6XWDDHpyXXD7I7IShH5ccOg2luERWXbbJud7V7AarDYT8Q2PIismO__kTQkKR5ovlWCC6B3Pbgk7slpT-NmH5Fa8rp64Xf1-S/s1600/eastersunday2010+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIcMWMM9lyqKbxVA2DEwVG6i0EdZ6YzHCy6y0U5EwJXFN6XWDDHpyXXD7I7IShH5ccOg2luERWXbbJud7V7AarDYT8Q2PIismO__kTQkKR5ovlWCC6B3Pbgk7slpT-NmH5Fa8rp64Xf1-S/s400/eastersunday2010+019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
Even a yucky-water beach can still be very pretty. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-myyzU1OcuP4hxvIgajEUPOb9anoan8XCwlS4jqIXNCISHdomfnd5OJJHDxtdZUT2b_FL1nNN2rLX-wnA1wgKrvpIA1V6hih3VH6YS0OTMUUbxEcUUw1Z9RpPn25ZPNAAvBcxMRqFMxSr/s1600/eastersunday2010+042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZE3-YNOp9fpG7RfRquFMC1e2Fxx4HWoRWrxAVq5_Zd69k45X-_eoLrho56ZLFCjNc6OHv-BKTeQiJoDauxblCfWxp2IOcrns9us64UYfeGBwyWDCUt4Id7YaUwtVYfLjWbOESj2rfl3j/s1600/eastersunday2010+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDZE3-YNOp9fpG7RfRquFMC1e2Fxx4HWoRWrxAVq5_Zd69k45X-_eoLrho56ZLFCjNc6OHv-BKTeQiJoDauxblCfWxp2IOcrns9us64UYfeGBwyWDCUt4Id7YaUwtVYfLjWbOESj2rfl3j/s400/eastersunday2010+025.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><a name='more'></a><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-myyzU1OcuP4hxvIgajEUPOb9anoan8XCwlS4jqIXNCISHdomfnd5OJJHDxtdZUT2b_FL1nNN2rLX-wnA1wgKrvpIA1V6hih3VH6YS0OTMUUbxEcUUw1Z9RpPn25ZPNAAvBcxMRqFMxSr/s400/eastersunday2010+042.jpg" width="400" /><br />
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This picture reminds me of Elsa Beskow's <i>Children of the Forest. </i>On one of the last pages, spring has come and the streams are full of meltwater. The forest children are busy paddling and playing. But there is no risk of getting wet, cold, and sick, for "no child of the forest ever catches a cold" (or something like that). Rowan, on the other hand, is very susceptible to getting sick.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q8cBQUV4sP8405Kz_mSIiQ0d2AoCTRF229oNTHcaXLlJ5bh-y-VhZfnkIqLwEcCg6m_M0dGP7_x0Hqj_9WOmFvrySsS7-83kx1bwloCK2hz1M766PTjC6KV1nIwPvR0F812wno8EDwgL/s1600/eastersunday2010+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2q8cBQUV4sP8405Kz_mSIiQ0d2AoCTRF229oNTHcaXLlJ5bh-y-VhZfnkIqLwEcCg6m_M0dGP7_x0Hqj_9WOmFvrySsS7-83kx1bwloCK2hz1M766PTjC6KV1nIwPvR0F812wno8EDwgL/s400/eastersunday2010+032.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrelZ9eAS0LYSPmhPFL-R4M59PyVVJK3rc4XQpNfS0SdMhvV3XldDb61WRWESPfTOQ9zh1Fq9-9wht7dgQu4Pmla1JMdGQ-yQCEdITBUAtnorkr9mfzVrGQHHYtLlk10qEi1UyfDi5yC8i/s1600/eastersunday2010+050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrelZ9eAS0LYSPmhPFL-R4M59PyVVJK3rc4XQpNfS0SdMhvV3XldDb61WRWESPfTOQ9zh1Fq9-9wht7dgQu4Pmla1JMdGQ-yQCEdITBUAtnorkr9mfzVrGQHHYtLlk10qEi1UyfDi5yC8i/s400/eastersunday2010+050.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZozII5fArkOG0vJ3fqbteE6vPyUjwEVyuwfZw71Ti26NfGoRKZPBoaAg4eDz_NBCFA9LXShh6_4fVuKOKrNpG8fW_yh64jsyukBfSTVWOLBcFGazNFG_SddprGVfU6WU6Xz1yWDjxojfp/s1600/eastersunday2010+078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZozII5fArkOG0vJ3fqbteE6vPyUjwEVyuwfZw71Ti26NfGoRKZPBoaAg4eDz_NBCFA9LXShh6_4fVuKOKrNpG8fW_yh64jsyukBfSTVWOLBcFGazNFG_SddprGVfU6WU6Xz1yWDjxojfp/s400/eastersunday2010+078.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
And Rowan picking coltsfoot flowers and a red-squirrel.<br />
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Today we went to another beach, but my camera was dying so I left it at home (no pics, sorry!). It was so warm, there were children running about in their bathing suits! This beach is clean with white, imported sand. But there weren't any shells to collect. We'll have to take a trip to a beachcombing type beach this summer. I love collecting beach glass!Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-29028018750168524232010-04-02T18:46:00.002-03:002010-04-02T18:49:49.385-03:00Good Friday at the parkIt was a lovely day here. It was warm enough for the kids to run around the playground in thick sweaters, though I kept Ben's wool hat on him because he's still recovering from a nasty cold.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH35jseXrJcSsWYBYH8DJ91Fe7tOhFRXfr6arl8S37G_7kPnOHBAv4hLLzuddn4Vy0482VW46wDq9ojD5u4ok60epSN0GMCNWTHqYE3auCxMAK_O2gmDtdOqMK2uQzKKbJMTdlcqbcCrV3/s1600/goodfriday2010+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH35jseXrJcSsWYBYH8DJ91Fe7tOhFRXfr6arl8S37G_7kPnOHBAv4hLLzuddn4Vy0482VW46wDq9ojD5u4ok60epSN0GMCNWTHqYE3auCxMAK_O2gmDtdOqMK2uQzKKbJMTdlcqbcCrV3/s400/goodfriday2010+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The kids started off by kicking a soccer ball around the field. Then off to the playground:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFq5KVm9c-qmPR5QZHuTayuJFitf3cf8dgoEUFBf40eLYAjyEXgGwBDQYcEBuow8MSTvNvBEYVYFddTxPC9dmLV7HpNEI5SokfeMJ9BB1BdZHS59w7aVlD5LfGM1uKkG_t-1w-vZ7JF_kW/s1600/goodfriday2010+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFq5KVm9c-qmPR5QZHuTayuJFitf3cf8dgoEUFBf40eLYAjyEXgGwBDQYcEBuow8MSTvNvBEYVYFddTxPC9dmLV7HpNEI5SokfeMJ9BB1BdZHS59w7aVlD5LfGM1uKkG_t-1w-vZ7JF_kW/s400/goodfriday2010+008.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsP1ZTmoLK86s2Wf4tM8s6MfiLD8x37qzUOWuDFbuYsVLeRIj_G21QBHJvOXlSPDgtE2DXA2_VSgKe-Bb5WXL3Jn00X77IEf8VqLFiwyiBvfUpfN87OvQdsH-YBTDQZ9Oet6OYqut-3Th/s1600/goodfriday2010+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwsP1ZTmoLK86s2Wf4tM8s6MfiLD8x37qzUOWuDFbuYsVLeRIj_G21QBHJvOXlSPDgtE2DXA2_VSgKe-Bb5WXL3Jn00X77IEf8VqLFiwyiBvfUpfN87OvQdsH-YBTDQZ9Oet6OYqut-3Th/s400/goodfriday2010+019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Rowan is rarely without a found stick. Above he is using the playground structure as a xylophone.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgUTRsrO4cOeurR6q2TViVMVp5KPMvD26WvVJGfCA8e_Zn7enq6y1tAMSuA8UwKOl3fOiBTaziNEV5Q-Fcqw6OOkpQG-QJkgDXzh_4NyN_CgG8f8SOfhZEaFndWbcHrS-X_gk7YP-KgXS/s1600/goodfriday2010+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgUTRsrO4cOeurR6q2TViVMVp5KPMvD26WvVJGfCA8e_Zn7enq6y1tAMSuA8UwKOl3fOiBTaziNEV5Q-Fcqw6OOkpQG-QJkgDXzh_4NyN_CgG8f8SOfhZEaFndWbcHrS-X_gk7YP-KgXS/s400/goodfriday2010+029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Rowan found a piece of concrete. He was fascinated by all the rocks buried within it. He spent a good part of our time outside trying to get them out. He pounded the rock on the granite boulders until the concrete came apart.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eqwONqn3cuaS_NN129HMHWfKIO3llARs-4nHDJy01KsPhJiyACSQXxo6c8AxbHAIU3NOc5mO7qaFT3OirGRD0Ds5ddwHFY3mUC1n20Ewx36H3lIJLDP3LEKa6M3mw-gicmwOJOK-mwfc/s1600/goodfriday2010+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6eqwONqn3cuaS_NN129HMHWfKIO3llARs-4nHDJy01KsPhJiyACSQXxo6c8AxbHAIU3NOc5mO7qaFT3OirGRD0Ds5ddwHFY3mUC1n20Ewx36H3lIJLDP3LEKa6M3mw-gicmwOJOK-mwfc/s400/goodfriday2010+026.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This picture shows one of the treasures found inside. It was a rock. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1ilbUpjtk98TOAGb3HE4znOiWREpFy9Dx6o_7MsHbJ1FvJqGZYFBIS6VuGthW7MlKwRGgs_FZOdbWH3m9YTmdYIwcQZ8CbO_Up3WgBEArRr13jXN7tv4Ca4NMX3VEuq52vNVglLxofVJ/s1600/goodfriday2010+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1ilbUpjtk98TOAGb3HE4znOiWREpFy9Dx6o_7MsHbJ1FvJqGZYFBIS6VuGthW7MlKwRGgs_FZOdbWH3m9YTmdYIwcQZ8CbO_Up3WgBEArRr13jXN7tv4Ca4NMX3VEuq52vNVglLxofVJ/s400/goodfriday2010+037.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXm7Sn2np0a_OTw4kpAI1mXIdpltkpKrPkpTnyjjjfDVVp4QwPqI47SlmKAZUgAzdi7XoAr00TBJQwkDfx6f04M2XMVCSbPbGxFBHPsbN6AgXPR0Km4lhDfAlOvMSfGzy9hj9ed7HKxKk/s1600/goodfriday2010+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNXm7Sn2np0a_OTw4kpAI1mXIdpltkpKrPkpTnyjjjfDVVp4QwPqI47SlmKAZUgAzdi7XoAr00TBJQwkDfx6f04M2XMVCSbPbGxFBHPsbN6AgXPR0Km4lhDfAlOvMSfGzy9hj9ed7HKxKk/s400/goodfriday2010+066.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Tree climbing...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-RLvOU82QsAHcDlXZBXfG-r4R0AC9i4xq-P5Z4aMmLoSwPE2qUitjxd7bAVusns5nC5LYVV9i5-GX2lGi0HAsQuXGgbLR1UFVu99owknnxKrPDPupCPUjiwYDYgXBRjUN3R1x2LrGG4h/s1600/goodfriday2010+094.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-RLvOU82QsAHcDlXZBXfG-r4R0AC9i4xq-P5Z4aMmLoSwPE2qUitjxd7bAVusns5nC5LYVV9i5-GX2lGi0HAsQuXGgbLR1UFVu99owknnxKrPDPupCPUjiwYDYgXBRjUN3R1x2LrGG4h/s400/goodfriday2010+094.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTBWc1OFW57Afo0t-NDnSmVOwcYOufBzViSCu4ggH3QWHU67hJGtUW4H-W2SDDZ078YYuHq_4H330BYvcRRFonQBDTUJbzN4tMZMHWI0X6KUSIlOsdxGsHM0CI-TxyUKfrBCEFVeoZOHV/s1600/goodfriday2010+097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTTBWc1OFW57Afo0t-NDnSmVOwcYOufBzViSCu4ggH3QWHU67hJGtUW4H-W2SDDZ078YYuHq_4H330BYvcRRFonQBDTUJbzN4tMZMHWI0X6KUSIlOsdxGsHM0CI-TxyUKfrBCEFVeoZOHV/s400/goodfriday2010+097.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5CiRcmwpsCkz4yP35oGuf78Fgdc-7pv40x_l23me_UbutFAFE_MpczAZL1Z4vUmVKpXEK2BDQpm-9axsWLLAQyhydV5Qx8LyKz6Q7ovKDjewe9UesIg_XwXrSpIOKejixdfKqr3vLsr4/s1600/goodfriday2010+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr5CiRcmwpsCkz4yP35oGuf78Fgdc-7pv40x_l23me_UbutFAFE_MpczAZL1Z4vUmVKpXEK2BDQpm-9axsWLLAQyhydV5Qx8LyKz6Q7ovKDjewe9UesIg_XwXrSpIOKejixdfKqr3vLsr4/s400/goodfriday2010+095.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Then we checked to see what was growing in the community garden.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXwHYcSkrftQLE-XSGpy-5oOBkQUxVnBEYjt55aFUzV8BRFAAGWyjB9fTKmZOgfAToe3Mi_wa0mXfA2107c5uldA6YI5AbKNJUEnD0PKvG08chHrTj7MG5kRTmdmhrRfyzAz_gE0bLseN/s1600/goodfriday2010+105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXwHYcSkrftQLE-XSGpy-5oOBkQUxVnBEYjt55aFUzV8BRFAAGWyjB9fTKmZOgfAToe3Mi_wa0mXfA2107c5uldA6YI5AbKNJUEnD0PKvG08chHrTj7MG5kRTmdmhrRfyzAz_gE0bLseN/s400/goodfriday2010+105.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlfAguEgBhZy_vuQDRMfNWZkNaXwIgiBRM1oY_wk3F01Wg34UBTuFB6OES-OnPYKXTe6TNMG4f9TVso2-srm-eVOx6LWTOI8jcdORmpZu_vOnmVwQxw6Bvxei3mijxg62mSq4aWyEolz-/s1600/goodfriday2010+109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtlfAguEgBhZy_vuQDRMfNWZkNaXwIgiBRM1oY_wk3F01Wg34UBTuFB6OES-OnPYKXTe6TNMG4f9TVso2-srm-eVOx6LWTOI8jcdORmpZu_vOnmVwQxw6Bvxei3mijxg62mSq4aWyEolz-/s400/goodfriday2010+109.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3LYH0_PGvn-aoYhtk_LAXrmjQWVtCG9bM6qdQThwUHPaB4sxyLCnRfr_do1jFLvWv1sU9x3tCloeMJBlQuXvxfhbZP1HfnWwXU7EL8LN1LQflH4K-N4sRwXi3Csor6e00AibsWQwPYsa/s1600/goodfriday2010+111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ3LYH0_PGvn-aoYhtk_LAXrmjQWVtCG9bM6qdQThwUHPaB4sxyLCnRfr_do1jFLvWv1sU9x3tCloeMJBlQuXvxfhbZP1HfnWwXU7EL8LN1LQflH4K-N4sRwXi3Csor6e00AibsWQwPYsa/s400/goodfriday2010+111.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Then the walk back home led us past flowers and buds.<br />
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It was wonderful getting out after being nearly shut-ins during weeks of illness. I was happy every day it rained, because then I didn't feel I was missing out so much. But now we're almost all healed, spring is upon us and the days are warm. These are beautiful days and not to be missed!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-3673308746506043132010-03-29T15:02:00.000-03:002010-03-29T15:02:26.038-03:00new etsy finds!I'm wasting time again...<br />
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But look at these beautiful finds! Sorry, no photos--you'll just have to be surprised!<br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/matilou">beautiful prints and postcards</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/PopWall">wall decals</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/wickedlymodpendants">scrabble-tile pendants</a><br />
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So much more, too. But now I've got to build a box to ship some bunnies. Great fun.Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-40592668582513422082010-03-28T15:00:00.000-03:002010-03-28T15:00:44.224-03:00month's endI know I haven't posted in a while. Sorry...<br />
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We've been keeping busy. Today I took Emma and Rowan to church (Ben has the worst cold of his life, so he stayed at home with Daddy), and there were presenters from <a href="http://usc-canada.org/">USC Canada</a>. The presentation was about seed diversity in the various regions in which the group operates. It was very interesting, and I brought home a map--The Seed Map, which you can find in PDF form on their website. I've taped it up over our regular world map for now.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIvrTjTYOL8E7YjuhyetZWYVlULVDOuX_Qj8EMGMSljBYCQ9C1ObUYN4Vgm-egsKXlVDxVveZGl6NguinFmINnpsWRvWwT-jq1QtYgkqjHIVutrbB42Lb9W_6ZTZvfjMy-KAOPK6skkot/s1600/flowerleafball+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIvrTjTYOL8E7YjuhyetZWYVlULVDOuX_Qj8EMGMSljBYCQ9C1ObUYN4Vgm-egsKXlVDxVveZGl6NguinFmINnpsWRvWwT-jq1QtYgkqjHIVutrbB42Lb9W_6ZTZvfjMy-KAOPK6skkot/s320/flowerleafball+011.jpg" /></a></div>I've been felting a lot. I finished up some more bunnies for a friend in Ontario, and I just finished making a ball with pretty pink flowers. I've only just begun to realize the difficulties imposed by CPSIA's tagging regulations. For now, I am unable to send anything specifically for kids south of the border. For a little while I was seriously considering giving up my Etsy shop entirely.<br />
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We had our weekly Waldorf playgroup at my house this Friday. It didn't go well, but it has prompted my husband and me to do a thorough spring cleaning/de-cluttering, which is a positive result. So far we've eliminated 100 books and 4 garbage bags of clothing/toys/kitchen/craft supplies. And the purge is still underway! I am loathe to actually throw away the enormous amount of Playmobil we've accumulated. I actually like Playmobil. But it's a little embarassing having it strewn all over during a Waldorf playgroup. We do have other toys more appropriate, such as a Plan dollhouse and farm set, playsilks and hand-crafted creatures, dress-up clothes, a (very small) wooden kitchen. LOTS of wooden blocks. But when kids come over the plastic wins hands-down. So the Playmobil has been put away. We kept our Easter bunny set out for now (what with Easter next week!) and plan to rotate themes. Perhaps next week the Playmobil knights will come out for a visit.<br />
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What else have we been doing? Rowan and Emma had two homeschool art classes each this week at <a href="http://www.artgalleryofnovascotia.ca/en/landing.aspx">AGNS</a>. I love these classes because the gallery's cafe has wonderful coffee (with a free refill), and it's great to talk to the other homeschooling moms. Then they learned about vermiculture at the <a href="http://www.discoverycentre.ns.ca/?q=Bursary">Discovery Centre</a> homeschooling workshop.<br />
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So, sorry about lack of photos and posts. I hope you are all enjoying the sunny weather!Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-67709829621982038662010-03-21T16:09:00.000-03:002010-03-21T16:09:20.189-03:00SPRING!Yesterday was the first day of Spring, and it showed. 20 degrees celsius, and we were stuck inside because a) Rowan's still not the best and b) it was Emma's 8th birthday party.<br />
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Not only did I not have an outside party on such a beautiful day (for shame, but given our usual not-so-springy weather this time of year I can hardly be blamed), but I DIDN'T TAKE A SINGLE PHOTOGRAPH!!! It was a lovely party. Wonderful food, wonderful friends, wonderful gifts. I'm so sorry about the lack of pics. Really, I am.<br />
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Anyway, with the birthday prep and stress out of the way, it's time to make way from Easter planning. Eggs. Bunnies. Not that I haven't made enough bunnies...I'm actually making a new one, too, for Etsy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZccZ6QL1x1hR5ITIO28PDcZKGIM-kneQT5jyC8VVpSkCMaEntDhS4KWmnaigvp-l7SXtQHEUbOmzmi6HwVQ2SynEIo9lZ53jwtfAgdyWX8EDaytVlsqA96n6I5rTeItf_5djtnvpfFjpR/s1600-h/eggwarmers+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZccZ6QL1x1hR5ITIO28PDcZKGIM-kneQT5jyC8VVpSkCMaEntDhS4KWmnaigvp-l7SXtQHEUbOmzmi6HwVQ2SynEIo9lZ53jwtfAgdyWX8EDaytVlsqA96n6I5rTeItf_5djtnvpfFjpR/s400/eggwarmers+019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Here are some hen egg warmers I'm putting on Etsy. They're crafted from pure wool felt, with wool stuffing in the heads and bead eyes. In this photo I've included a way too big egg, and they're eyeing it in...discomfort. I will actually be selling the eggwarmers with three smaller needle felted eggs. Check out my Etsy shop to see!Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-37665341599209569842010-03-17T15:34:00.000-03:002010-03-17T15:34:16.526-03:00Wilderbeats at the Library<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.wilderbeats.com/slideshow/images/376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.wilderbeats.com/slideshow/images/376.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>We are very fortunate to have this wonderful local musical group for kids--<b style="color: blue;">The Wilderbeats!</b> We first heard them play on Emma's second birthday at Halifax's Museum of Natural History. They've changed a lot since then, but are still wonderful. They've been performing at local libraries during March Break, and we decided to take advantage of this and go listen. We own one of their CDs and they played almost all our favourite songs.<br />
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You can go to their <a href="http://www.wilderbeats.com/">website</a> and stream or download their best songs. They're songs about nature and are really very good.<br />
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The photo to the left is from their website--I forgot my camera today. They were dressed in green for St. Patricks's Day today and sang a rendition of "Whiskey in the Jar" they'd reworded themselves--"Cookies in the Jar." They also sang "Here come's the Sun" to celebrate the seemingly early beginning of spring!Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-57422927921742462862010-03-15T18:00:00.000-03:002010-03-15T18:00:16.804-03:00Goodbye GrandadThis isn't a long post. My grandfather passed away earlier today. I just wanted to post a photo of him from a far happier, healthier time. This is him celebrating his 60th wedding anniversary. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6qBegholQZTaf6Pbk-DwTZWg3x5zPbhgjmw1ycIJSumV9MOKzEs6Fr_bIs2kWKmsjrjAqGSYNyaPaV2Y1u_CiaHvEh9CMe_jMU8qTtfETae6OH8BoTZxrknHUpenNdrykxiNHRpmuH5Q/s1600-h/60th+anniversary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6qBegholQZTaf6Pbk-DwTZWg3x5zPbhgjmw1ycIJSumV9MOKzEs6Fr_bIs2kWKmsjrjAqGSYNyaPaV2Y1u_CiaHvEh9CMe_jMU8qTtfETae6OH8BoTZxrknHUpenNdrykxiNHRpmuH5Q/s320/60th+anniversary.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">Lots of love, Grandad. I'm going to miss you.</div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-11347941363938309732010-03-14T17:43:00.001-03:002010-03-14T17:44:12.352-03:00Homeschool time at the park<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSW9bChLKpyttxsRrWt6LpK2c4gvLdGuD4Ih3KHrm6lflEdt4R308bSK90CD1e0mQXG0EBbcIqgi_mjL8yjhuXQH_HCSVA9pg4MzDxhWPG9ZGHht44cz0QKzrsTnO8Tfc4qt531OnsfU0/s1600-h/DSC01803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQSW9bChLKpyttxsRrWt6LpK2c4gvLdGuD4Ih3KHrm6lflEdt4R308bSK90CD1e0mQXG0EBbcIqgi_mjL8yjhuXQH_HCSVA9pg4MzDxhWPG9ZGHht44cz0QKzrsTnO8Tfc4qt531OnsfU0/s400/DSC01803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>A friend of mine created a new playgroup this past Friday for us homeschoolers. It was a surprise, really. I'd been invited out to a local park for what I thought was a playdate. But no, it was the beginning of something really wonderful. A large group of homeschoolers (twelve or so children, all friends) had gathered with us for stories, crafts, and a good time!<br />
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Here are some pics from Friday morning. Thank you so much, Dulseigh--you are wonderful! <br />
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On the left are the birdfeeders that the kids made. They were made without peanut butter (Emma's allergic).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO8xiNqDKp1MDFNaP5zK1POhiVfC58rSkDPvzadM2HaZBDQwiKk3hyxayBKLRjuCKDFXDFLe246jkUSG_QeW2ey-JjBcf02v2X9S-Q2SCSU1SDvzH03qiiX2M0j0HNN6jEtQ6g5O5fo0H/s1600-h/DSC01795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsO8xiNqDKp1MDFNaP5zK1POhiVfC58rSkDPvzadM2HaZBDQwiKk3hyxayBKLRjuCKDFXDFLe246jkUSG_QeW2ey-JjBcf02v2X9S-Q2SCSU1SDvzH03qiiX2M0j0HNN6jEtQ6g5O5fo0H/s400/DSC01795.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Emma spreading margarine on a pinecone scavenged from the park.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqx07KrvS24GrGFbbVUWlTIth_aL-XLVsrs2VXVnOckXPFIMJWoD2ELZd7QwHfpiUBRNd82MpRKiQPZ-RR0JkiybfLNDjyFKuN9-6QhcUdKOCRqJZd7N9XBkOr0u_GyDSb6wyZFV5HqmU/s1600-h/DSC01784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqx07KrvS24GrGFbbVUWlTIth_aL-XLVsrs2VXVnOckXPFIMJWoD2ELZd7QwHfpiUBRNd82MpRKiQPZ-RR0JkiybfLNDjyFKuN9-6QhcUdKOCRqJZd7N9XBkOr0u_GyDSb6wyZFV5HqmU/s400/DSC01784.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Rowan dipping his pinecone in bird seed.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Q3ouex6Nlx35rTnB2zEW6WSF5_eoX7zqQUIvDHR_ue4Kvt0HBtf_U5o7JZkBWDDWcc-IKlOaeuXlhnSTb3b0iUaEdVRiXn955xxcKbkgzlWfmHyIyrXtSc6aH0bejdWVCtJ8aXbEZr_s/s1600-h/DSC01791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Q3ouex6Nlx35rTnB2zEW6WSF5_eoX7zqQUIvDHR_ue4Kvt0HBtf_U5o7JZkBWDDWcc-IKlOaeuXlhnSTb3b0iUaEdVRiXn955xxcKbkgzlWfmHyIyrXtSc6aH0bejdWVCtJ8aXbEZr_s/s400/DSC01791.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p7AGU_2brpeA5P3lk3TiThJXjzGT9VDR9LMjcvDIOg7PVxeYWcv8-ZdWB5aGAmTvTMknhTtSPk07QhEdoLMtfnmOpS5OwwJL_RMymQhYQy9AlHexT_CqQY4sMkcj4rB4wyV5tiKrg4Yv/s1600-h/DSC01807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_p7AGU_2brpeA5P3lk3TiThJXjzGT9VDR9LMjcvDIOg7PVxeYWcv8-ZdWB5aGAmTvTMknhTtSPk07QhEdoLMtfnmOpS5OwwJL_RMymQhYQy9AlHexT_CqQY4sMkcj4rB4wyV5tiKrg4Yv/s400/DSC01807.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Hanging up the finished feeder.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJhMJM8cGLB8ZOAL1NeO-PIUkqe-7DMkYjJnhC0vZJrgHtc_XR5sxg3M_R3NG3aj8vv5gUp7kaNb1CaK8wHgGFJdLTYTqlnW9yQpSskenEE6Q_x-hny3Uy3SsZbxgUcTYCEOnhq7yhXdC/s1600-h/DSC01806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJhMJM8cGLB8ZOAL1NeO-PIUkqe-7DMkYjJnhC0vZJrgHtc_XR5sxg3M_R3NG3aj8vv5gUp7kaNb1CaK8wHgGFJdLTYTqlnW9yQpSskenEE6Q_x-hny3Uy3SsZbxgUcTYCEOnhq7yhXdC/s400/DSC01806.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Storytime!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8x_kBiIYgUhIQLudqof4SgESF9jf9UyLrFPAe6mLnWVK2XS_AMUviizN4dLhBwtTaK_CI88h5tEu6EFZm28pI5AFtKcSXBx6ZN0NyLK91UJpwWYQnbM1zyL67Jm3rs5yMqCIbo3kbgKA/s1600-h/DSC01812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ8x_kBiIYgUhIQLudqof4SgESF9jf9UyLrFPAe6mLnWVK2XS_AMUviizN4dLhBwtTaK_CI88h5tEu6EFZm28pI5AFtKcSXBx6ZN0NyLK91UJpwWYQnbM1zyL67Jm3rs5yMqCIbo3kbgKA/s400/DSC01812.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Making a flying bird.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiufx9sOyKZsbO9yNJkFZnXxlnImxP1OZagmHdX7PTYZDtP2PlPNn4XbPWOiWPNYLc4fZGQp9L7OBiiDruQ1I1S_XxuuO1Tg_ovz-UTNCjyFhBFZGsUrc2tYran-Dv8BgF8AB79ZMVihp/s1600-h/DSC01813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiufx9sOyKZsbO9yNJkFZnXxlnImxP1OZagmHdX7PTYZDtP2PlPNn4XbPWOiWPNYLc4fZGQp9L7OBiiDruQ1I1S_XxuuO1Tg_ovz-UTNCjyFhBFZGsUrc2tYran-Dv8BgF8AB79ZMVihp/s400/DSC01813.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvj9Kp_a5DbqG2-Afpzgyq3ztwUsrkGkXEA7Q4nhUUGDmsSGKObh0mHR0MD6YAaa_SSr8TDJDkiUkBebsg4DfR7V0zBX3h-yrQ8_osY3OmGfmlXiapjwdHOqM3ZIsTyaVc_SL75UySNSW/s1600-h/DSC01821.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJvj9Kp_a5DbqG2-Afpzgyq3ztwUsrkGkXEA7Q4nhUUGDmsSGKObh0mHR0MD6YAaa_SSr8TDJDkiUkBebsg4DfR7V0zBX3h-yrQ8_osY3OmGfmlXiapjwdHOqM3ZIsTyaVc_SL75UySNSW/s400/DSC01821.JPG" width="400" /></a></div> Everyone had a wonderful time. And it is to become a regular (biweekly) homeschool event! We are very excited. This is exactly what I wanted homeschooling to be.<br />
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On a sad note, today was not so fun. We travelled to my grandparents' nursing home to say goodbye to my grandad. He is dying, and it was very hard to see him so weak and having such trouble breathing. I am really going to miss him. It was his birthday today, and there was cake and balloons, but it was a very un-cheerful day.Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-73221886744415647162010-03-10T21:14:00.004-04:002010-03-10T21:17:31.753-04:00Bedtime cleanupWe have way too many toys. Too much Playmobil and Lego. Too many books, wood blocks, toy cars, engines. You name it, we have too much of it. Especially for a two-bedroom apartment!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-ZGtj8NukCaQPxSzCJExw2v-taE54AAtZNYpmMxEUDujBbu7NIUYhVEaXQ4klIgK240UYTWF21d5o558ZEhus0f2Xm9xl5kUyjLfcciAfsMYpRJtYH35dVCBDbBv4nr6ipaG0NhfSYt7/s1600-h/evening+cleanup+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm-ZGtj8NukCaQPxSzCJExw2v-taE54AAtZNYpmMxEUDujBbu7NIUYhVEaXQ4klIgK240UYTWF21d5o558ZEhus0f2Xm9xl5kUyjLfcciAfsMYpRJtYH35dVCBDbBv4nr6ipaG0NhfSYt7/s320/evening+cleanup+004.jpg" /></a></div>Sure, toys can be great sources for imagination and creativity. Like these Lego people Rowan made this evening. Each one has a name to match his constructed 'personality.' <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_W8kKieVOrrVwlfAKOc2BUgidTbO8SF0UtoxMNbcF4ESohPO60kRmepnAiApMniUPZiaMU_rOq2wBKw5P-3khVkwekMz0y7CC_VIyzLDarfz0ZApMFmGmbP3MDzGb1z-EYyZlvTYp4k2/s1600-h/evening+cleanup+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt_W8kKieVOrrVwlfAKOc2BUgidTbO8SF0UtoxMNbcF4ESohPO60kRmepnAiApMniUPZiaMU_rOq2wBKw5P-3khVkwekMz0y7CC_VIyzLDarfz0ZApMFmGmbP3MDzGb1z-EYyZlvTYp4k2/s400/evening+cleanup+006.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The one on the far right, for example, is 'eye-y eye'. There is 'Mister Yes/No,' 'Mister Think-y think.' Etc. Rowan's in bed right now, but I'm sure he would still remember all their names.<br />
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But all that creativity comes at a cost. A GREAT BIG MESS!!!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4W1xcLj-ARlX8I1LpDnd6Ts8clGG7Yyq8ouJKY5fPf8bgEk0EbgtNos-EhBsVGlsbFUzEBnAax9ejUraaCsu2cPnjxaUjBQz4pGgP5YH5FxUNuMQ8AAKZdhqxrPTpE2z_exdWaDMxdAm/s1600-h/evening+cleanup+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4W1xcLj-ARlX8I1LpDnd6Ts8clGG7Yyq8ouJKY5fPf8bgEk0EbgtNos-EhBsVGlsbFUzEBnAax9ejUraaCsu2cPnjxaUjBQz4pGgP5YH5FxUNuMQ8AAKZdhqxrPTpE2z_exdWaDMxdAm/s400/evening+cleanup+008.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfYH-lZNx9TxG47cHeYBtDaUoU-hG9FoEvbwkXPs97pg3utPMEwSB6QphIWNjFnC1DcYxvGHsHwL99IIoCEZX5q-xH8nt7g_BUZyugyl2TRbEuJuKTIsg_-YN6CsMTbfmjhw00UilUyms/s1600-h/evening+cleanup+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfYH-lZNx9TxG47cHeYBtDaUoU-hG9FoEvbwkXPs97pg3utPMEwSB6QphIWNjFnC1DcYxvGHsHwL99IIoCEZX5q-xH8nt7g_BUZyugyl2TRbEuJuKTIsg_-YN6CsMTbfmjhw00UilUyms/s400/evening+cleanup+009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>And the mess extended well past the bedroom, I'm afraid. As usual, I tackled the kitchen while Robert helped the kids with the toys. Even with help and lots of time, the task is tiring. Rowan wanted to keep playing! Here he is, very very unhappy I'm afraid. Lots of tears.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_86i8s_nnnJa6qGnmozl_rtBv3HqPxTSUCMa9XlTBHxebQJjCx7NTHQ1Y8FcEQ190eCHNxHWQ-p26-TKbsM1Ih-I21HUZmXHtxJexrboRop2Jg-J0viSAUQ5zJ4y81z7BQSQvtOhlnbD/s1600-h/evening+cleanup+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3_86i8s_nnnJa6qGnmozl_rtBv3HqPxTSUCMa9XlTBHxebQJjCx7NTHQ1Y8FcEQ190eCHNxHWQ-p26-TKbsM1Ih-I21HUZmXHtxJexrboRop2Jg-J0viSAUQ5zJ4y81z7BQSQvtOhlnbD/s400/evening+cleanup+011.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>But don't worry--he went to bed happy. His daddy went in and played shadow puppets with him, and I read him "The Ugly Duckling" (his new favourite). Still, I have to think about how to make bedtimes more calm. Something isn't working. Perhaps toys shouldn't come out after dinner? I'd love to have routine clean-up times spread through the day, but I hate interrupting play to do this. I would love to hear any suggestions!<br />
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Sometimes I wish we had only a few toys...that would solve the problem rather quickly--"Come on, children. Put your <i>toy</i> away. It's bedtime." :-)Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-417723304190252452010-03-07T17:05:00.002-04:002010-03-07T17:30:52.772-04:00Playground!What a beautiful day. It is warm. It is sunny. Emma, Ben and I went to enjoy ourselves at the nearby playground. It's quite a wonderful playground, since it has many trees to clamber upon and around, rocks to climb, sand to dig in. There is a public field and sledding slopes (also good for rolling down). There is even a community garden.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Ben fell asleep on the way over, so I read a few chapters of <i>Momo </i>by Michael Ende while Emma found and played with a new friend. Ben eventually woke up and got to play, too. Here are a few photos documenting the day's fun!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4D3khga55VDJxSUfPPdcHOUlJmvGSJMi9Av6C9hBgCI97BZc9r7ZKoCqqh3DZwRMyImwcRt6he4FPrzbf9TzTD7_oUumMKSTDoSBrFIRCyd5BodKsMCUfoLbfhoXc17ce4lM1MA6xhhJ/s1600-h/playgroundmarch7+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4D3khga55VDJxSUfPPdcHOUlJmvGSJMi9Av6C9hBgCI97BZc9r7ZKoCqqh3DZwRMyImwcRt6he4FPrzbf9TzTD7_oUumMKSTDoSBrFIRCyd5BodKsMCUfoLbfhoXc17ce4lM1MA6xhhJ/s400/playgroundmarch7+031.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWMSwtYCrwLcMWbVaJDdxkgtvjc7XKKv4QR5Q4Q5EIQ1xhsy71VDlwPi7hJGJ3r9rn1PrcWDcCWGdaDj-mVKhBqhntE4RqjS_Ky5lGWV5e16ZLNF0apaSuF_ogbxEz7812Yt7yqHer8hl/s1600-h/playgroundmarch7+149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmWMSwtYCrwLcMWbVaJDdxkgtvjc7XKKv4QR5Q4Q5EIQ1xhsy71VDlwPi7hJGJ3r9rn1PrcWDcCWGdaDj-mVKhBqhntE4RqjS_Ky5lGWV5e16ZLNF0apaSuF_ogbxEz7812Yt7yqHer8hl/s400/playgroundmarch7+149.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jFNkSJmcoHOqVF5sE0_Rfhom0WuINo74SInDn6F-mvngAQKYHJGG8FyZ4cjsNnCf2M2cswBxhIT26emvrX8BAyTKA-zfgoE8UWyUuQ8PsLr8Td5WFJ6NKbqfGdx8LDFyRlTaTc-OL6Ad/s1600-h/playgroundmarch7+125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2jFNkSJmcoHOqVF5sE0_Rfhom0WuINo74SInDn6F-mvngAQKYHJGG8FyZ4cjsNnCf2M2cswBxhIT26emvrX8BAyTKA-zfgoE8UWyUuQ8PsLr8Td5WFJ6NKbqfGdx8LDFyRlTaTc-OL6Ad/s400/playgroundmarch7+125.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxc80SxvFirXYoCoXEC-E5vqB5pMOtmyZZ_9LQ7EHy85_GK6srLixzqgxNldFE7X27TAu_rikF4bybtGW3N7mUlyczcCvN-KTGku99Eg18zcBLn1KtTJFEtpS1nRCkNmV012-Yk8fKJmjk/s1600-h/playgroundmarch7+095.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxc80SxvFirXYoCoXEC-E5vqB5pMOtmyZZ_9LQ7EHy85_GK6srLixzqgxNldFE7X27TAu_rikF4bybtGW3N7mUlyczcCvN-KTGku99Eg18zcBLn1KtTJFEtpS1nRCkNmV012-Yk8fKJmjk/s400/playgroundmarch7+095.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rolling down hills </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgP5PRbsTf-klyyvuflQ7VlUUsd5L99v_46ZPgn-jQzYaVwIr8DPcdyGo7MjTyKhwkvNlRBlV_CG0FrZNci7TvmfIN20DE6dP8WsF19tTUFUY-erxEx9H5exQMVM-iphNl3WArc_Oh6ZD/s1600-h/playgroundmarch7+098.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgP5PRbsTf-klyyvuflQ7VlUUsd5L99v_46ZPgn-jQzYaVwIr8DPcdyGo7MjTyKhwkvNlRBlV_CG0FrZNci7TvmfIN20DE6dP8WsF19tTUFUY-erxEx9H5exQMVM-iphNl3WArc_Oh6ZD/s400/playgroundmarch7+098.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkJbld1qolu0XA0HTCTiVCm06M314e9eFSceEmToeTWMXRk2nPWSB9YFxOrZhbaMy4Xd-62VKXgRp416dpKy6denDSNrHsEt8de4-sa0WcZJOGc_aeFd2Yr5qWbprD9-lR38BzRWYndqL/s1600-h/playgroundmarch7+073.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPkJbld1qolu0XA0HTCTiVCm06M314e9eFSceEmToeTWMXRk2nPWSB9YFxOrZhbaMy4Xd-62VKXgRp416dpKy6denDSNrHsEt8de4-sa0WcZJOGc_aeFd2Yr5qWbprD9-lR38BzRWYndqL/s400/playgroundmarch7+073.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The community garden hasn't woken up yet. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AjSlEKFrWUjyxRK8waxKIeY-8w1P9soreXzZ_9j0sK_47Fq4QrCfwaG6wKuedkf2ErYKJPmdg9bPSP36PCT9HI2Z2HbnudS0dUPDgfOpRBHBwuF7eb20MMkWEvUp-CLTq2FPYNSgySTh/s1600-h/playgroundmarch7+084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7AjSlEKFrWUjyxRK8waxKIeY-8w1P9soreXzZ_9j0sK_47Fq4QrCfwaG6wKuedkf2ErYKJPmdg9bPSP36PCT9HI2Z2HbnudS0dUPDgfOpRBHBwuF7eb20MMkWEvUp-CLTq2FPYNSgySTh/s400/playgroundmarch7+084.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Ben's getting too almost too big to carry!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's too bad that Rowan still had a bad cough and couldn't join us. It was warm enough to remove hats and mitts for a short while (such promise of spring!), but he's only just recovering. The final chill of winter will be gone before too long, and then we'll forget what cold is for a time. I should read <i>The Tomten</i> one last time before retiring it until Winter '11. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Winters come and winters go,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Summers come and summers go,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Soon the swallows will be here" </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">--from <i>The Tomten</i> by Astrid Lindgren</div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-63315243776326559862010-03-05T18:52:00.001-04:002010-03-05T18:53:18.636-04:00SuppliesI needed more brown wool. My last supply was the remnants of my spinning Coopsworth (natural brown shade), and it is all but used up. I needed brown right away, too, because I've had another request on Etsy for a brown bunny.<br />
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It was so cold today, not so spring-like after all, but Ben and I made our way downtown to The Loop Craft Cafe to buy more. They didn't have any of the brown Coopsworth, which was okay because it didn't really felt all that well. I bought a grey/brown mix of (maybe) Shetland. I hope it needle felts! It's in roving form, rather than top. I'm learning more and more about fibres right now.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin37Ae7ouV-0tdk5lX3JyLwXdbqFtHCBxOmeiRtwgQUboJiig50q8YKiWPRcax0y0xlZm4mWDphHTQGLcMvY84yL3c5gRtjHFnCQT2u0zZy-zVO3g5aoMu5XyrGslPcL2glt5qhTgVQwEJ/s1600-h/DSCF0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin37Ae7ouV-0tdk5lX3JyLwXdbqFtHCBxOmeiRtwgQUboJiig50q8YKiWPRcax0y0xlZm4mWDphHTQGLcMvY84yL3c5gRtjHFnCQT2u0zZy-zVO3g5aoMu5XyrGslPcL2glt5qhTgVQwEJ/s400/DSCF0016.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
I also picked up two new fine felting needles. Then, I went to the tobacconist (!) and bought natural pipecleaners. These are for forming the inner frameworks for needlefelting figures. I normally sculpt my creatures without a framework, but am game to try something new.Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-56809969252131720262010-03-03T16:06:00.003-04:002010-03-03T16:12:47.555-04:00Crafts with the kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoFJ3LUuGcsHQIg-iv_7gZt7oHanjStcWoCZknAp6mKME79_rm3g-xnIlGrAGgPInf8-idWSnkfbnLJXXhyP302eFMnETfKQe7MC-OZ7YRkbpFKKjPcU365V81-XVbPZnYPEuEBKlH0b6/s1600-h/crowns+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqoFJ3LUuGcsHQIg-iv_7gZt7oHanjStcWoCZknAp6mKME79_rm3g-xnIlGrAGgPInf8-idWSnkfbnLJXXhyP302eFMnETfKQe7MC-OZ7YRkbpFKKjPcU365V81-XVbPZnYPEuEBKlH0b6/s320/crowns+021.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSM1xw5TK7jQaCbG1YjfBPGsB_fJczKHbO0WrKg-5ejlPqmEc5KVwZWD3mLhnu0FH4kEVhvEI7r60WN-tNOh2haByKSkX84Nk3RWxgXO6kU2x6Vcr_R2dhzu9T4LavwEeD1im6L1Tg25pI/s1600-h/crowns+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSM1xw5TK7jQaCbG1YjfBPGsB_fJczKHbO0WrKg-5ejlPqmEc5KVwZWD3mLhnu0FH4kEVhvEI7r60WN-tNOh2haByKSkX84Nk3RWxgXO6kU2x6Vcr_R2dhzu9T4LavwEeD1im6L1Tg25pI/s400/crowns+024.jpg" width="264" /></a><br />
We got out the glitter and glue today. Part of the incentive was a notice from "our friendly local library" that one of the books we have out--Usborne's <i>Things for Girls to Make and Do</i>--is due back soon. Here are the results of our crafty endeavors.<br />
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First we made a princess in a tower. After that, I made a crown for Rowan, inspired by the crowns in the book, but not following the instructions particularly. Emma was jealous, even though I'd helped her a great deal with making the princess tower. She stuck some feathers in her dress-up headband and refused all offers for me to make her a similar silver crown with sparkles, glitter, etc. I took a lovely picture of her angrily sticking her tongue out at Rowan, but I decided to leave that off the blog! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ol3cjsXKp2DUEQmIBUPphwy_S6QOxoJIvzoGVvW8SFun4e7ygnbdCUthEDQSe515gVLnZV5KiELiRRUDbGanJYhUfEriSCAlK_RRC7aIywVh1gXf9QGbwfbCYZ02XNQush-6cVTbe3jI/s1600-h/crowns+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Ol3cjsXKp2DUEQmIBUPphwy_S6QOxoJIvzoGVvW8SFun4e7ygnbdCUthEDQSe515gVLnZV5KiELiRRUDbGanJYhUfEriSCAlK_RRC7aIywVh1gXf9QGbwfbCYZ02XNQush-6cVTbe3jI/s400/crowns+026.jpg" width="346" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YGVY_Tt40nMBqy6G8CVEOrbVHBTX99Z3EQwZmvfDojlANw-oHmgLt_h8luPI_CNUbr4Ail9QfTaDYCU3P3zz4OAYeFHC3hI2_yQKnY9Q8q9FjHGxcHqJOQZrtdSqYesINyxQHJe-p7zv/s1600-h/crowns+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3YGVY_Tt40nMBqy6G8CVEOrbVHBTX99Z3EQwZmvfDojlANw-oHmgLt_h8luPI_CNUbr4Ail9QfTaDYCU3P3zz4OAYeFHC3hI2_yQKnY9Q8q9FjHGxcHqJOQZrtdSqYesINyxQHJe-p7zv/s400/crowns+013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-72360639805252641952010-02-28T16:51:00.004-04:002010-03-02T14:46:00.208-04:00Happy Birthday, Ben<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwbvu-Ao7hBHwqW8wkCuB1uLiw1FhzdWDH3Rr1qsTYD9aOvkqfBetNUPk0wgg8owjAyAIzg0BnLdx5vP5BvCIU_TVc1VYBiF9oANFjJXjcjy47hh4Uzhq7IZFIifCtQKHTYEjvaOi1hyL/s1600-h/Ben's+second+bday+046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHwbvu-Ao7hBHwqW8wkCuB1uLiw1FhzdWDH3Rr1qsTYD9aOvkqfBetNUPk0wgg8owjAyAIzg0BnLdx5vP5BvCIU_TVc1VYBiF9oANFjJXjcjy47hh4Uzhq7IZFIifCtQKHTYEjvaOi1hyL/s320/Ben's+second+bday+046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Our "Benjamin Bunny" celebrated his second birthday today. We had a Peter Rabbit party for him. Here are some photos from our day...<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWHAZRiYANYC0kUk8XUWgSYJ5oAyeYbXp7G6f-5bx_MquC5PWZ5ZPHF9PjNL4NV35Q0vN6CpHl4VKgnUVCTULZmEpJYuYMavDQdq374rGQ6D8qWZohnGMsH8_v9WGe4rSUHssBqzeh8Fg/s1600-h/DSCF0033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWHAZRiYANYC0kUk8XUWgSYJ5oAyeYbXp7G6f-5bx_MquC5PWZ5ZPHF9PjNL4NV35Q0vN6CpHl4VKgnUVCTULZmEpJYuYMavDQdq374rGQ6D8qWZohnGMsH8_v9WGe4rSUHssBqzeh8Fg/s400/DSCF0033.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Ben was given this beautiful stroller (from Nova Natural) for his doll, Ollie. Sorry Ben's out of focus...he was unable to stand still for this shot! He was given this a week before his birthday, when it arrived in the mail.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWG5dVaqX0Ax0IBGLrG2Nt0q9kIm5XA5FRLzcVcUWJqX5FjC5yOqEwE0g2cbwg_MLoVm7eFLltU-Xh2iAKUbwk4C4yvTBf9OIrbC0mqEm7bIYBnponywNP50CSarLSOJVsb78vi1brxjs/s1600-h/DSCF0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWG5dVaqX0Ax0IBGLrG2Nt0q9kIm5XA5FRLzcVcUWJqX5FjC5yOqEwE0g2cbwg_MLoVm7eFLltU-Xh2iAKUbwk4C4yvTBf9OIrbC0mqEm7bIYBnponywNP50CSarLSOJVsb78vi1brxjs/s400/DSCF0017.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwmXntFqVFv5jqQqi2LFWsc480JzNy1BBMfYKUcTnL8goi84f6RNVOeGkkRby6gn2xPauY2sIMViOQFictS3yL8mhXSe5vqty_EmVAnolZGWbISY-xAFBdBawbBr-PVckn7u5a25wxqeA/s1600-h/Ben's+second+bday+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwwmXntFqVFv5jqQqi2LFWsc480JzNy1BBMfYKUcTnL8goi84f6RNVOeGkkRby6gn2xPauY2sIMViOQFictS3yL8mhXSe5vqty_EmVAnolZGWbISY-xAFBdBawbBr-PVckn7u5a25wxqeA/s400/Ben's+second+bday+023.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">"Reading" his Peter Rabbit birthday card. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEkaOULaUORyWqHlG6khBdE406ZyaWMGAfMs-NBBGJc1efRhVwlpa4Ld0xhX-IzyzsB7EDE1XeTF_vpeUoIvE3DmnQ2fV9-0f2qc2BAqX99E_B5H_E0mM-GeNw8RMA_-c6bg6T5yjXkF5/s1600-h/DSCF0006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVEkaOULaUORyWqHlG6khBdE406ZyaWMGAfMs-NBBGJc1efRhVwlpa4Ld0xhX-IzyzsB7EDE1XeTF_vpeUoIvE3DmnQ2fV9-0f2qc2BAqX99E_B5H_E0mM-GeNw8RMA_-c6bg6T5yjXkF5/s400/DSCF0006.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A cutout Peter Rabbit set-up. </div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJRC7IxQexaWdwpFizFWQmneaKMm5NSWKlfaQMS4MQGwcPpX9I6oiP0RCPqQ6QrgBHO0tAJK_4wulGMFIDMKL81Y5FbVVxdez51t9p-WboRzTdF9uXjoLjuMHM_QszE_9ECjlvfrXjVNp/s1600-h/Ben's+second+bday+045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwJRC7IxQexaWdwpFizFWQmneaKMm5NSWKlfaQMS4MQGwcPpX9I6oiP0RCPqQ6QrgBHO0tAJK_4wulGMFIDMKL81Y5FbVVxdez51t9p-WboRzTdF9uXjoLjuMHM_QszE_9ECjlvfrXjVNp/s400/Ben's+second+bday+045.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vR6zAfpqGzpD7ofrXb2VHq4pXVkOe_9qL_HUnTAuFnnCFi2OWLVfWIgY8GDdFNwUOKS5avf_b1C3oPsEObIosJ2QnwyQp8Wp0g6QPhpIu3tNYH-gPoCYgYYrqsszxsLTE_Xd1stpUFWM/s1600-h/Ben's+second+bday+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1vR6zAfpqGzpD7ofrXb2VHq4pXVkOe_9qL_HUnTAuFnnCFi2OWLVfWIgY8GDdFNwUOKS5avf_b1C3oPsEObIosJ2QnwyQp8Wp0g6QPhpIu3tNYH-gPoCYgYYrqsszxsLTE_Xd1stpUFWM/s400/Ben's+second+bday+041.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTHE-yhUPOYT6w9uMKtTD_QDEVJXdkFhw66KdkOYLxEnodPthfZE6XzPb89wV5M1DTn8Dq8qZDvYcN6Z2nhDS4feBWTT3VLz3khO_CFDivFPlWrHVmaNQHf8LOCDreASTBj8sd7UwSxDP/s1600-h/Ben's+second+bday+059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyTHE-yhUPOYT6w9uMKtTD_QDEVJXdkFhw66KdkOYLxEnodPthfZE6XzPb89wV5M1DTn8Dq8qZDvYcN6Z2nhDS4feBWTT3VLz3khO_CFDivFPlWrHVmaNQHf8LOCDreASTBj8sd7UwSxDP/s400/Ben's+second+bday+059.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJiaC4d_lsbjmy7uJZDXMvh6tdG81D31tcTYJO6hfnbpts0LGYmtKs2yXQNNrzA7b2zfsyQqRJIqkfo_sPjV2I-PMAvQn7xM4KC9q8g7YBPpT2AL0ipCsKnACNmbD6I92Ip3wbSciMMTP/s1600-h/Ben's+second+bday+048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJiaC4d_lsbjmy7uJZDXMvh6tdG81D31tcTYJO6hfnbpts0LGYmtKs2yXQNNrzA7b2zfsyQqRJIqkfo_sPjV2I-PMAvQn7xM4KC9q8g7YBPpT2AL0ipCsKnACNmbD6I92Ip3wbSciMMTP/s400/Ben's+second+bday+048.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Blowing out the candles.Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-73930125055856651072010-02-27T17:35:00.006-04:002010-02-28T16:55:45.794-04:00First signs of springI'm so excited! On our way home from the library today we saw shoots of spring flowers poking up through the soil. And it's not even (quite) March!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJlOZIU2enHSH6L1aj6jxgp4Qkl890DDSGcikQPks-Dov7dkzRbMBE2TYUL-aoKEMhpFmCMZ1pCAMXn2UwzHB_cwUKjSPEwn0ycKFj3DElbCtcWkO-t7-SsiuQ_TndWVh1YqhrDDVg_7r/s1600-h/signs+of+spring+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHJlOZIU2enHSH6L1aj6jxgp4Qkl890DDSGcikQPks-Dov7dkzRbMBE2TYUL-aoKEMhpFmCMZ1pCAMXn2UwzHB_cwUKjSPEwn0ycKFj3DElbCtcWkO-t7-SsiuQ_TndWVh1YqhrDDVg_7r/s320/signs+of+spring+005.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Also, the buds are getting larger on bushes and trees.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLOMMNB2cZsgVlCbgREq6-T8_obmMzOoZKS-4B9adNAU8LoFdzQQSKb2OlMxu8VwKcw722sG1emvGDXlYAya4tdf-0Ir_D6EgbOzdt8nFRU1PRnII9K8l1A7bfJVYrqQbc7-bbPFlYwG8/s1600-h/signs+of+spring+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghLOMMNB2cZsgVlCbgREq6-T8_obmMzOoZKS-4B9adNAU8LoFdzQQSKb2OlMxu8VwKcw722sG1emvGDXlYAya4tdf-0Ir_D6EgbOzdt8nFRU1PRnII9K8l1A7bfJVYrqQbc7-bbPFlYwG8/s320/signs+of+spring+007.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Winter goodbye, </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Winter goodbye,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You may no longer stay,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Springtime is on its way;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Winter goodbye,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Winter goodbye.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">(traditional German)</div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-23057740773577195842010-02-26T11:58:00.002-04:002010-02-26T11:59:25.335-04:00Fit for a Queen<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2lYzavIfjmf4gcptLPKaW3cVb9PfjOHV01_j3va_tAaFU_2Hqz4ZGikRl6x543IDtZogYpU3dqLenhuspP1OewYPaGpmw0eM63jL9FAwMU9TUs8Sw3xUumBxiSlsWxWrrANGCgZOmVdm/s1600-h/DSCF0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG2lYzavIfjmf4gcptLPKaW3cVb9PfjOHV01_j3va_tAaFU_2Hqz4ZGikRl6x543IDtZogYpU3dqLenhuspP1OewYPaGpmw0eM63jL9FAwMU9TUs8Sw3xUumBxiSlsWxWrrANGCgZOmVdm/s320/DSCF0021.JPG" /></a> Emma and Ben were playing tea-party this morning. Also, Emma pretended I was a Queen and set up a 'high tea' for me, complete with throne.<br />
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I love how the table looks with the silks covering it, and with the natural light coming through the window. If you look carefully, you might see how much rain is on the glass. It seems as if our Spring rains have come a bit early.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WplCboNZuw5xmwcZPWbHaAqUsWQCmUsQ7dUI-ttkv5W1vhQmbGKd9U7kWef86wRQWay9hVct9sI3VPjuIsRzoG3BprWpoogTgXCefzg2HzFjMppeLu4CQLpd5rwvYRXzFhsG9UGrCuxL/s1600-h/DSCF0023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WplCboNZuw5xmwcZPWbHaAqUsWQCmUsQ7dUI-ttkv5W1vhQmbGKd9U7kWef86wRQWay9hVct9sI3VPjuIsRzoG3BprWpoogTgXCefzg2HzFjMppeLu4CQLpd5rwvYRXzFhsG9UGrCuxL/s400/DSCF0023.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLlXrvb7dLY7IbdDVQ5vlAmdTicDhXlhXV0QIqfxYEiCcK3v2AQK_S8CWzp1ZAdniRcO6XuCd3VGv88B9Bbp5rOnNOhSAuIr62qnBCaCsrJETqmVnkRRL6Z4x3gUMmhkT2a_wp4r01rbG/s1600-h/DSCF0024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="347" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLlXrvb7dLY7IbdDVQ5vlAmdTicDhXlhXV0QIqfxYEiCcK3v2AQK_S8CWzp1ZAdniRcO6XuCd3VGv88B9Bbp5rOnNOhSAuIr62qnBCaCsrJETqmVnkRRL6Z4x3gUMmhkT2a_wp4r01rbG/s400/DSCF0024.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-72050303801062807472010-02-25T19:38:00.002-04:002010-02-28T16:56:10.385-04:00Modelling after a long dayI'm tired. I had my parents-in-law over for lunch, took the kids to a homeschooling science program (wonderful), and then shopped a bit with some of the money I made selling my bunny!<br />
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Then we got locked out of our apartment. I called Robert at work and he said he'd walk to meet us half-way. Part way down the street, though, I found my keys in my pocket! I quickly called Robert back before he'd left work. All the while, Ben's diaper needed to be changed. He was very stinky!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWyppD1pWbCxSyfGCzEfIjy_Xhwt4TgMqZET0bSLI1rsojrvskJZ8LIN5qH2ptj53YITWILJXUJhYNkGR7mLv-Jg3XZlwSp6ZcIQM413C46NFtAM8b7sj9cq0mrktAloWyxVn-Y_FjZnF/s1600-h/Pancake+day+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWyppD1pWbCxSyfGCzEfIjy_Xhwt4TgMqZET0bSLI1rsojrvskJZ8LIN5qH2ptj53YITWILJXUJhYNkGR7mLv-Jg3XZlwSp6ZcIQM413C46NFtAM8b7sj9cq0mrktAloWyxVn-Y_FjZnF/s320/Pancake+day+001.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>After a hasty but yummy supper of sardines, berries, and homemade bread, I took out the plasticine I'd bought the children today. Modelling is such a great way of letting them get out their experiences from the day, and to help them make sense of what goes on around them. Here are a few pics of them at work and play. The one above is of Emma imprinting her ring onto the plasticine.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJikhGquoIB-GXnoCzzeFHLcCox4KEd4N2j1juDUidl1V9-mDvrRbxWNSAmv1Vw_srcbOOS_tLEv9O4LnT7vUFy-iuTrPr9OS6jFt_2q9uaMQPGhNe32WQfNF6Ef6Jpxr4B6lHx_g_c7Qd/s1600-h/Pancake+day+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJikhGquoIB-GXnoCzzeFHLcCox4KEd4N2j1juDUidl1V9-mDvrRbxWNSAmv1Vw_srcbOOS_tLEv9O4LnT7vUFy-iuTrPr9OS6jFt_2q9uaMQPGhNe32WQfNF6Ef6Jpxr4B6lHx_g_c7Qd/s320/Pancake+day+004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi1vmxejuLBzOcRXeLjYzlMc-f5L-q9wskYcS7PTHDL-Dc316C_02rQVh_nJzruR4Q0ilB_qLERkSF6BDVjMpDX6ggZMVbpluEo7zGiBZx9qIdQp2fczCCmiV5jU2Pn1PVkbo6MZS8ihK/s1600-h/Pancake+day+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPi1vmxejuLBzOcRXeLjYzlMc-f5L-q9wskYcS7PTHDL-Dc316C_02rQVh_nJzruR4Q0ilB_qLERkSF6BDVjMpDX6ggZMVbpluEo7zGiBZx9qIdQp2fczCCmiV5jU2Pn1PVkbo6MZS8ihK/s320/Pancake+day+005.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLu14QJZ-usGeVzTNps22j5c4A39CFK26H7Lqvdpakxr54kP_Y2fpE193Y5ZfcG4dFoQkVhxx0x-PxNCjgnF4a0cT60Pt0ujy1BqnNVMn0n4CDeoUnbCS84Oue_eBNlbqKOo59V8w5DIy/s1600-h/plasticine+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizLu14QJZ-usGeVzTNps22j5c4A39CFK26H7Lqvdpakxr54kP_Y2fpE193Y5ZfcG4dFoQkVhxx0x-PxNCjgnF4a0cT60Pt0ujy1BqnNVMn0n4CDeoUnbCS84Oue_eBNlbqKOo59V8w5DIy/s320/plasticine+004.jpg" /></a></div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-86041179536472120992010-02-24T10:27:00.001-04:002010-02-28T16:56:29.015-04:00Needle Felted Bunny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOiKxRnhiygIoysY9AAYyWU4IC1vfIil8qeCpQAdCQZn2CSNSvoTKjs_ruFaAQ8dJZNXTallt1ojTZUtT5l5SxEMclAi4_qdFoIN0KtOXcr6Djv2NF5i4wE0ERB5YMpULuPhGeqA8Ut17/s1600-h/bunny+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOiKxRnhiygIoysY9AAYyWU4IC1vfIil8qeCpQAdCQZn2CSNSvoTKjs_ruFaAQ8dJZNXTallt1ojTZUtT5l5SxEMclAi4_qdFoIN0KtOXcr6Djv2NF5i4wE0ERB5YMpULuPhGeqA8Ut17/s320/bunny+012.jpg" /></a></div>I'm loving needle-felting right now! After finishing King Winter, I made Ben a bunny for his birthday. But that's supposed to be a suprise, so you'll have to wait. THIS bunny is the last thing I made, and I finished it last night. I decided that more people are interested in spring themed things right now, and I have to put more things on my Etsy account. So, here is a little Easter bunny that I've put up for sale.Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-43519363260200018382010-02-22T16:35:00.004-04:002010-02-22T16:50:07.060-04:00EtsyMy Etsy account is now active, and King Winter is my first item for sale. Now I just have to get some traffic... If you would like to visit, the URL is <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/matchaandmiso">http://www.etsy.com/shop/matchaandmiso</a><br />
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Thanks!Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-78995970968970501532010-02-22T15:52:00.001-04:002010-02-28T16:56:45.683-04:00King Winter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddy5tDN7k6gSiRVBMXFxdTmPSJIZHq1kZTbYf2KTMB92_1QmBpv4Ht0CVwo2zD4N9VzIWqXJ1MOXdpsOzUhEe6tR2QQySYxVhpA2PbPlA4rsPjHP4L6ypdhF4LZcPYkZjTrqPo04lregO/s1600-h/Pancake+day+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiddy5tDN7k6gSiRVBMXFxdTmPSJIZHq1kZTbYf2KTMB92_1QmBpv4Ht0CVwo2zD4N9VzIWqXJ1MOXdpsOzUhEe6tR2QQySYxVhpA2PbPlA4rsPjHP4L6ypdhF4LZcPYkZjTrqPo04lregO/s400/Pancake+day+003.jpg" width="247" /></a></div>I finished my needlefelted King Winter yesterday, using some of the fleece that came in from Bear Dance Crafts. Making him took up almost all of my ice blue, but it was worth it. He's the reason I bought that colour, anyway. I did find he was too, well, blue. So I added other winter colours and to make almost a watercolour effect. I'm opening up an Etsy account and he'll be my first item. I'm not sure who's going to buy him, now that winter is almost over!Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-37756742078189938072010-02-20T11:18:00.001-04:002010-02-20T11:18:50.549-04:00Finger painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We had fun painting yesterday. Here are a few photos of the kids busy at work. <img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45cR2g8MTSV2BY15pjfr3HUgMpxHx7TYwOjsjgK74gcrdBjyKRDob2TXnHvWQ63TVuBcgB2jgH6WRX-U4hTEL_ZlbqOOk5MWUQgFIoBSruBI6nBCXUMA4OVEhtGgLyU_UJ9l2naS9FlaM/s400/Pancake+day+033.jpg" width="400" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHRygaJxXJVW8cOL8oz-o3Qzf2he7TOrDs2NHYf5sIX6AKKQhAuao90HWNSM3FIR_ak7x9pBfsExZu0GY1zCcewWgWuY0nT1tgln4yD_kHYU1fPpeDLB3nqeNqHKyKXFFWJeMg_QttvDh/s1600-h/Pancake+day+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSHRygaJxXJVW8cOL8oz-o3Qzf2he7TOrDs2NHYf5sIX6AKKQhAuao90HWNSM3FIR_ak7x9pBfsExZu0GY1zCcewWgWuY0nT1tgln4yD_kHYU1fPpeDLB3nqeNqHKyKXFFWJeMg_QttvDh/s400/Pancake+day+029.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQpvJehNimfioFGPGThBvdgMPmDlx8c_SRo0HoK3aUVke3EjYsBYLRzx7Mr5G6spbF8Yhs6Lvnr0pScKRH-hfTOModXMGPOWwBJJXllEUBDe2h0Dpg0EyUyDxQQk-KGhgH6jovqimBleZ/s1600-h/Pancake+day+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQpvJehNimfioFGPGThBvdgMPmDlx8c_SRo0HoK3aUVke3EjYsBYLRzx7Mr5G6spbF8Yhs6Lvnr0pScKRH-hfTOModXMGPOWwBJJXllEUBDe2h0Dpg0EyUyDxQQk-KGhgH6jovqimBleZ/s400/Pancake+day+030.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-64886816034120092662010-02-17T21:08:00.005-04:002010-02-17T21:14:48.019-04:00Snow!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">A snowstorm hit us in the night, and we woke up to a lot of fresh snow. Schools were all cancelled, so we called a homeschool cancellation, too. Not that learning stops when it snows...It just gets more fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I showed them how to build a snow shelter. Emma was amazed at how warm it was inside. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYaB9OIFIhPGxXkwYfK9B8ijYrRX0ZL2Pray_dRvRdccduGLoCT-KvxQL_SAdsfwF5nVwpFQ5705gAC3V8Gr5c02gExDnlaPohjrkx0ejCmsR8a76zE5wJ6U0iaLthk9QTaXL5ggutQn6/s1600-h/Pancake+day+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYaB9OIFIhPGxXkwYfK9B8ijYrRX0ZL2Pray_dRvRdccduGLoCT-KvxQL_SAdsfwF5nVwpFQ5705gAC3V8Gr5c02gExDnlaPohjrkx0ejCmsR8a76zE5wJ6U0iaLthk9QTaXL5ggutQn6/s320/Pancake+day+005.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXyVJXLy0ecnZKS1Ky44J5qYZSsyZSr1rLZBxroWXsRHCCKT1hJLPE7OiRIU6kNPGTxGTaVelNvZyX3G0SSPC4fTQkjLjE1y9JNFSYwenEXDQWRw4CHvu0uBaCWJLHzZFG5JwqiejErXX/s1600-h/Pancake+day+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVXyVJXLy0ecnZKS1Ky44J5qYZSsyZSr1rLZBxroWXsRHCCKT1hJLPE7OiRIU6kNPGTxGTaVelNvZyX3G0SSPC4fTQkjLjE1y9JNFSYwenEXDQWRw4CHvu0uBaCWJLHzZFG5JwqiejErXX/s400/Pancake+day+013.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Emma helping with her shovel.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHdEdrdw93PmyyXXhMW7LIHSYeWqr4Gku4ntEV1rptkx9yqeLfiUnQnYxnaS-w8zDQzJf9D5YakwfxB2VUb5QJeDXfEekeUHZ-fEdN2i7cvqeDeKvdWOCwyYgR1-IY995pu_I_DzvG4HG/s1600-h/Pancake+day+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCHdEdrdw93PmyyXXhMW7LIHSYeWqr4Gku4ntEV1rptkx9yqeLfiUnQnYxnaS-w8zDQzJf9D5YakwfxB2VUb5QJeDXfEekeUHZ-fEdN2i7cvqeDeKvdWOCwyYgR1-IY995pu_I_DzvG4HG/s320/Pancake+day+015.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Pouring hot syrup onto fresh snow.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSaBj5U2B26WnPKEPVtrES6MKcFvpLrIqOKv1_4uk6Ro6NmTnIiIgYUMrqqmaf8ByD4zp7V0-ehlErPL0rTdLed5oRhv7OmnIzKZxVfH3IjYih8mBRjnyXTNKyan_kLJCPehxoOlw6QwO/s1600-h/Pancake+day+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYSaBj5U2B26WnPKEPVtrES6MKcFvpLrIqOKv1_4uk6Ro6NmTnIiIgYUMrqqmaf8ByD4zp7V0-ehlErPL0rTdLed5oRhv7OmnIzKZxVfH3IjYih8mBRjnyXTNKyan_kLJCPehxoOlw6QwO/s320/Pancake+day+021.jpg" /></a></div> Next time I'll pat the snow down a little more before we pour the hot syrup onto it.Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-3832974432245405202010-02-16T19:43:00.003-04:002010-02-17T10:16:53.468-04:00Sewing again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Crepes for supper and sewing all day! I managed to flip a few of the crepes, too, all the while singing Christina Rosetti's "Pancake" poem (sung to Judy Collin's melody from <i>Baby's Morningtime</i>). My poor husband had to be away from the supper table, so he missed out. I've saved him two crepes, but it won't be the same. Hey, it wasn't the same without him, anyway.<br />
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Today I finished up the blouse I was sewing for Emma. The pattern comes from <i>Carefree Clothes for Girls</i> by Junko Okawa. These are beautiful outfits made from unbleached cotton or linen, thrifted lace and mismatched buttons. A lot of the edges are left unhemmed, in order to naturally unravel a little. I wish I could make more from this book, but the largest size is 7 and the clothes simply wouldn't look as cute on larger kids.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahglWcRq5ow1I9V1Jpep-iJWdWMyuTJ0MfWn_AX-8hD9Eze8v_yoQiUeNuj0mNyJwGF00kaGbRdAQ_ybrP64REiRFXX0IFmFuAqCFUcHAtkmfMSNNbCf8Cvwu7LAP-z8dY1tpqTdpUR30/s1600-h/Pancake+day+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhahglWcRq5ow1I9V1Jpep-iJWdWMyuTJ0MfWn_AX-8hD9Eze8v_yoQiUeNuj0mNyJwGF00kaGbRdAQ_ybrP64REiRFXX0IFmFuAqCFUcHAtkmfMSNNbCf8Cvwu7LAP-z8dY1tpqTdpUR30/s400/Pancake+day+020.jpg" width="273" /></a></div>I still need to make a button loop on this blouse, but I'll do that after the kids are in bed. Oh, and I played around with the sizing again, this time in the pattern stage. I made size 5 width, size 7 length. It worked perfectly. The cotton came from a second-hand bedskirt and the doily was found at Salvation Army.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLytgGoqVVn9fNGQSMTCBfDNW_1hiKh6maqyJRcIN9d35UDic_YTHpOif6-qnTKPXphBfMeVa1BET3faGt78378xHose0uCfQzpXDAlgqJO1tSzzNuaecYaKvh8-INpZsZ_VCvvvsmQ0A8/s1600-h/Pancake+day+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLytgGoqVVn9fNGQSMTCBfDNW_1hiKh6maqyJRcIN9d35UDic_YTHpOif6-qnTKPXphBfMeVa1BET3faGt78378xHose0uCfQzpXDAlgqJO1tSzzNuaecYaKvh8-INpZsZ_VCvvvsmQ0A8/s320/Pancake+day+023.jpg" /></a></div>Here's a close-up of the detailing around the collar. This was the first time I made my own bias-binding for the neck and arm-holes. The neck edge is embroidered with tiny gold stitches. I should have made them further apart, like in the book, and thus saved my arthritic thumb!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6hhUBOWsLwZJwE6N2sZN71M_ZRfg49E0jRX04u7OPFCTeuQWMu1wXUZ3xeawZ8RJ0VNyi7b762Iaiuxv9P6IjjciR6jvjNkqUaR-xPU6dqtrI2x-dNoX-9tjpVqKOWxPSCOkmhkvnYRZ/s1600-h/Pancake+day+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ6hhUBOWsLwZJwE6N2sZN71M_ZRfg49E0jRX04u7OPFCTeuQWMu1wXUZ3xeawZ8RJ0VNyi7b762Iaiuxv9P6IjjciR6jvjNkqUaR-xPU6dqtrI2x-dNoX-9tjpVqKOWxPSCOkmhkvnYRZ/s320/Pancake+day+010.jpg" /></a></div> And here are Emma and Ben with their dolls and makeshift baby-carriers. Rowan was wearing one, too, with a polar bear toy inside, but it didn't photograph well. I'll have to make him a doll very soon.Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-45283565413050563352010-02-14T17:01:00.003-04:002010-02-14T17:06:52.630-04:00Valentine's Day Walk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCgulMPFcB86DXNsO-tvKtvFyjJ4nq0br8EXbd-6qQTv_kxjZUzpE2ncrlIjNK904YoY_6fu5oxNIVc4ymdch34UIOyUd-7HO0kaiID6A4466x7PKMBL4tQ1YLbHjHZIsONwgbHQ12gBB/s1600-h/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYCgulMPFcB86DXNsO-tvKtvFyjJ4nq0br8EXbd-6qQTv_kxjZUzpE2ncrlIjNK904YoY_6fu5oxNIVc4ymdch34UIOyUd-7HO0kaiID6A4466x7PKMBL4tQ1YLbHjHZIsONwgbHQ12gBB/s320/2.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Happy Valentine's Day, everyone! We had our party last Wednesday, so today we relaxed by making a few extra crafts and by taking a short hike in the park. Enjoy the photos!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREBIClSRO5XzmsKN1r7hOm_FcFOy5fyMrsKc-_OJ0GeQ8eN6N9otiJtaPCOBdewEhuO3baGbaZ91S5CqLvVzUp-P9lCI8FlRH_bqzcXSmUEBQkJFSr2_-swXGrAurynztAzwIMVIi5kJO/s1600-h/drawing+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREBIClSRO5XzmsKN1r7hOm_FcFOy5fyMrsKc-_OJ0GeQ8eN6N9otiJtaPCOBdewEhuO3baGbaZ91S5CqLvVzUp-P9lCI8FlRH_bqzcXSmUEBQkJFSr2_-swXGrAurynztAzwIMVIi5kJO/s320/drawing+004.jpg" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is a little spring and waterfall. It was the only water not frozen (apart from the sea).<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yT2cYub8u1zPQoegOK94zZdx0Zs5vh6kexruV6Llf517NM8VtaphFlT3a1oOmsswuLwn3e9kZJpfZUbz2kymBLhzcNrQdTSYZoJK-MAKkr2We3jJ1UtYXGeSIPovtAehCKbTByejkD9a/s1600-h/drawing+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yT2cYub8u1zPQoegOK94zZdx0Zs5vh6kexruV6Llf517NM8VtaphFlT3a1oOmsswuLwn3e9kZJpfZUbz2kymBLhzcNrQdTSYZoJK-MAKkr2We3jJ1UtYXGeSIPovtAehCKbTByejkD9a/s320/drawing+017.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVwJ45it25l2FueNmzwDdmFyOsO37GODcO1zk6dyXxIFRrYWU5wjyXZKmmYh7AWIeCa3XInuyyGuYi6iMyucluVpstE-CLyw4w1jBcoctdcIo0na3LIACgs3t324M3zaRsIcOyX4OZTYE/s1600-h/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVwJ45it25l2FueNmzwDdmFyOsO37GODcO1zk6dyXxIFRrYWU5wjyXZKmmYh7AWIeCa3XInuyyGuYi6iMyucluVpstE-CLyw4w1jBcoctdcIo0na3LIACgs3t324M3zaRsIcOyX4OZTYE/s320/3.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIt8s1YRoRSgNtd-Tqwik_C6snQWx0svNn2sKlo4HK1QJBy7SaZkxU-WCf7ESgWctSlC5XgQVEJP-Oqn2MBF_s5-2h8Tprf33S3QLjDHhZbj-2hrgSpPs7tGT2QmOj5kCn_5m5YRE9kqO/s1600-h/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuIt8s1YRoRSgNtd-Tqwik_C6snQWx0svNn2sKlo4HK1QJBy7SaZkxU-WCf7ESgWctSlC5XgQVEJP-Oqn2MBF_s5-2h8Tprf33S3QLjDHhZbj-2hrgSpPs7tGT2QmOj5kCn_5m5YRE9kqO/s320/1.jpg" /></a></div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-8425637134390012182010-02-13T12:02:00.001-04:002010-02-13T12:04:20.218-04:00Finished arm-warmers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNergqorNGp1JKFwijOIg8PLTDdDtuVzhAXvMYL98_e7jwx-P10GxRw1jO6O47yIlfdbhpfNDW7qp7vRnrws7wiYnTOLb0AoiRgLDzVN7_2YTrQPx2lO97joHtvs3aG60LoyDYhjBdNsWK/s1600-h/drawing+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oG_im7NRLlO2sTDMpfsoEJg0bbhDufbBPpUDtzSsHPY-l6X-Qh7SQvRB_ct7E1B1vnMaYkajUnz5dmWT1dsCkOvq267fvahXbiNexgDBytO6yiIwXbr4yWGN1KM0iSDKYxvT7JaEaJwY/s1600-h/drawing+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_oG_im7NRLlO2sTDMpfsoEJg0bbhDufbBPpUDtzSsHPY-l6X-Qh7SQvRB_ct7E1B1vnMaYkajUnz5dmWT1dsCkOvq267fvahXbiNexgDBytO6yiIwXbr4yWGN1KM0iSDKYxvT7JaEaJwY/s400/drawing+019.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I finished knitting Emma's arm-warmers last Friday night. I worked on them during the car ride to my parents house and darned in the ends before bed. In the end, they only took one ball of Patons Kroy. I think I'll use my second ball to make either kids socks or knit a pair of 'babylegs.'<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNergqorNGp1JKFwijOIg8PLTDdDtuVzhAXvMYL98_e7jwx-P10GxRw1jO6O47yIlfdbhpfNDW7qp7vRnrws7wiYnTOLb0AoiRgLDzVN7_2YTrQPx2lO97joHtvs3aG60LoyDYhjBdNsWK/s1600-h/drawing+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNergqorNGp1JKFwijOIg8PLTDdDtuVzhAXvMYL98_e7jwx-P10GxRw1jO6O47yIlfdbhpfNDW7qp7vRnrws7wiYnTOLb0AoiRgLDzVN7_2YTrQPx2lO97joHtvs3aG60LoyDYhjBdNsWK/s320/drawing+022.jpg" /></a></div>Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5171510187166084114.post-68783460779087564332010-02-12T11:03:00.001-04:002010-02-12T23:54:04.198-04:00Old photos--1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3Pk0GQBtMwkIrHoUwA7LnzGY9HSwhlEMnCDRcmMUcqJ5vV0jQdYlzLlYtR9c9K-0JKl7d_DiuXLEBFkt0dPhrgB25LQgjhk32D2h8WOkLyxkE2M8966sA8AwZxWBmtshVBYNsJk3-2w6/s1600-h/JanFeb+2005+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX3Pk0GQBtMwkIrHoUwA7LnzGY9HSwhlEMnCDRcmMUcqJ5vV0jQdYlzLlYtR9c9K-0JKl7d_DiuXLEBFkt0dPhrgB25LQgjhk32D2h8WOkLyxkE2M8966sA8AwZxWBmtshVBYNsJk3-2w6/s400/JanFeb+2005+001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>I was looking through old photo files on my computer, and I found this picture from winter 2005. Back then, I was working and Rob was a stay-at-home father. Emma was three years old, and Rowan eighteen months.<br />
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Drawings on the window. You can see how Emma used to draw people. Her style stayed the same until she was about four and a half.<br />
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We no longer have the brass candleholders. I regret that, as they frame the window perfectly. They offer a promise of warmth, even with the candles unlit. Perhaps I gave them back to my parents. I'll have to ask...Nicolahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12473270341023023113noreply@blogger.com0