I want you to meet someone...

Welcome
Harrison Starr Smith




It doesn't get better than this.

the treasure

$15 for a small scale love seat. It's old, worn, but has great bones. (I had to "dare" Dave to sit on it at the yard sale.) Right now I'm imagining it dressed in this fabric by Anna Maria Horner (have fun looking through all her fabrics).

It certainly isn't on the top of the to do list. Currently, said treasure is hiding under a sheet in the basement. Mom, you are an expert at these sorts of things, what do you think? Good?

a full day

Saturday was great:

*being together as a family, hurray for Dave's Day Off

*farmers market....strawberries

*treasure hunting at a yard sale...I found a treasure and a project for $15.


*Parade!


*WWKIP
I love how in this picture we are all wearing essentially the same hat. The green and yellow stripey that I'm working on was started for Malcolm when he was a baby. He grew faster than I knit. I should have it done before the one on the way arrives.

*naps

*BBQ (one in which we were invited, I did no cooking, just brought strawberries and enjoyed)

*movie night: Jane Austen's Persuasion, because I don't think I'll get the book read in time for book club this week. I'm sure it wasn't his first choice, but he still enjoyed it with me, Dave is the BEST.

wwkip

Hello knitters...

Tomorrow is World Wide Knit in Public Day. (Apparently it is also on the 20th this year.)

Anyway, to celebrate, find a group of knitters, or just take your yarn and needles with you where ever you go. Check out the years past on flicker.

I'll be with the knitters atNoble Library 1-4pm. After Parade the Circle of course. It will be a fun filled day.

Poppy

Dear Poppy,

Thank you for blooming. Last night you were still holding it all in and sometime between then and this morning you have opened, burst, shed your shell. Your happy shout of color marks two years here for me. The first morning I woke in this Ohio home I was greeted by poppies. Thank you for returning year after year and thanks to the someone who planted you. You make me happy.

Yours Truly,
Sarah

orange and purple vest

Malcolm has two favorite colors: orange and purple. So when I asked him what colors I should use for his (Easter) vest, orange and purple it was. I wondered, should I honor his request? I did ask didn't I? And concluded with, it is special when someone takes your favorite things seriously. This was something I wanted to do for this boy, while he's still a boy and takes my knitting creations seriously. I was a little intimidated by such a bold combination until I realized it could be snazzy done up with an argyle pattern. So, using the same pattern as last year I just replaced the cables with diamonds, which only took a little figuring. It was completed for wearing the Sunday after Easter and I feel really good about that. Even though it was so so so very close... It was a lesson learned in "letting go". Knitting on deadline can take the fun out of it. Yes, I was knitting Easter morning and sort of stressing over it. (Finishing always takes much longer than I realize with all the seams and weaving in ends, bah.) I don't need to let that happen again.
Back to the boy and his vest. He loves it. He is two, he can pull it off. And I think he should.

(vest details: modified cable vest pattern, Manos Del Uruguay Stria Cotton: Tangerine and Violet)

spelled: muumuu

That's right. I'm learning new things every day. Muumuu is spelled with double, double u's. Fascinating.

I realized that while I was working on this dress that I haven't sewn for myself since I was 13 years old. Growing up there were a few summers when I would spend a week with my Grandma Vera and she would teach my antsy body to slow down and sew. I wonder who had to learn more patience in those weeks? Anyway, I am so grateful for that time together, and the smell of a hot iron on fabric always takes me back to that place.

One thing I didn't realize then, but struck me now is that it takes a certain amount of courage to sew for yourself. AND, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to sew for yourself when pregnant (and then take a picture and post in on your blog). I'm feeling quite courageous.

I've got the whole summer to be pregnant and I want to be comfortable. I am starting to get the point where I have very little tolerance for anything around my waist, hips, or belly. When I was walking through the fabric store (only intending to buy elastic and a snap setter) this pattern nearly jumped off the shelf. It spoke to me: flowing, roomy, nonrestrictive, muumuu. Then the linen was on sale and that settled it. At home I began cutting, sewing, and thinking: "Am I going to look like a sack of potatoes in this thing?" (Enter courage.) I adjust a little here and there and kept going until it was finished. And then, I wore it. In public. Multiple times. I can pull weeds in it. I can dress it up or down with a cardigan, necklace, and shoes. If I want a little more shape I can add a sash empire style.

The back yoke is quite large and in all it's whiteness stands out quite a bit. It makes me think it should be embellished with a big rose or something. That would require more courage so we'll see.

I think it will do nicely, even though I have to admit it is a little "potato sackish".

preview

So I know it is a sorry way to end a week of non-blogging, but here is a sampling of what you'll want to tune in for next week. This is deep stuff my friends:

*Did I succeed in sewing a mu-mu for myself? (how do you spell mu-mu? do you know what I'm talking about?)

*Should orange and purple be knit together?

*A tale in which I attempt to sell books for yarn.

*Why I can't resist the baby kimono.

and,

*All about when I took a "sick day".



Have a good weekend. I think it will be a scrambled eggs and toast dinner tonight with a walk to the park.

Were you wondering?

I've been knitting little things. And yes, that's my bump.

(bootie details: pattern - Stay on Booties from Knitting for Baby, yarn - sport weight Blue Sky alpaca)

the month of May

Hello friends, hello blog. May. It's a good month. A good month to ease back into blogging. Sorry about the disappearance - I'm so magic. I had a case of blogging ambivalence which lead to blogging absence. But, since it's May - such a beautiful month - I'm back.

This is why I knit.

Lucky you!

Ammie made me do this, but it's because I can't wait to find out what that something could be. I think it's a great idea, play along if you'd like.

{Lucky you!
The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me! My choice. For you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It may be a story. It may be poetry or an article on properly cleaning your face before a masque. I may draw or paint something. I may bake you something and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must repost this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!}

I'll make one change, if you don't have a blog you can still enter, just promise you will make a surprise something for 5 special people in you life.




{a little surprise something for my mom's b-day awhile back, just to give you a teaser}

UPDATE:

Okay, I have my five. If I don't have your address please email me so I know where to send your surprise. sarahstarrsmith@gmail.com
1 - Tara (are you NY Tara or TX Tara or another Tara? email me your mailing address)
2 - Suzanne (email me your mailing address)
3 - Annie
4 - Lauren
5 - Sarah P.

love

cut paper
drippy glue
sticky glitter
a way to show a little love

Hi friends

This week started with squirrel and ended with accidentally washing (and drying - that's where it got icky) a yellow crayon in a full load of laundry. Today, Friday, I finally sat myself down to post a little of the "I've been meaning to posts". So enjoy.

I'm getting all razzle-dazzled about Valentines Day. My friend Becky came for a little visit a couple of weeks ago and she said she has a plan for getting through the rest of the winter. "Go all out for the holidays: Groundhog Day, Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day..." Not a bad idea. I'm pulling out all the pink, red, hearts, candles, love birds, cookie cutters... you get the idea. There is still a lot of winter to go.





Happy weekend to you.

Marmalade

Marmalade's her name. I finally put my Knitted Babes book to good use and knit up this sweet thing for my niece. The thing about making a doll is that the making NEVER ENDS. They must be clothed, oh yes, and have at least a few out-fit options. And then there are the ACCESSORIES!!!, oh my. And just when I thought I was done (enough anyway), I couldn't bear to send her away with out a pillow and blanket. You know, a little comfort and security for her travels. She is now in her new home and loved as much as ever.

jump ropes

Dave drew the name of my nephew, who, how cool is this... is really into jump rope. Dave did all the work here. My favorite thing about this gift was that is was made using things that we already had. Oh, and, it's also my favorite because it's a jump rope. They are getting put to good use, I hear he takes them to school.

barn

It didn't surprise me much to learn that my 2 year old nephew loves barns. He is, after all, the son of my brother (painter of barns). Lucky me, I drew his name for Christmas. Also lucky was finding this lovely barn/dollhouse tutorial. This barn was a lot of fun to put together. Malcolm played with it lots before I shipped it off. Knowing that I had better make a double batch, the pieces are cut out to sew one up for Malcolm. It's just that I haven't gotten out my sewing machine since Christmas. After all those bags and everything else, I needed a little space.

Squirrel follow up:

Here's the squirrel pic. I didn't want to get too close and possibly frighten the poor thing any more.

Yes, it was a sunny day when he left out home and I think he saw his shadow as he scampered up the tree. More winter, I know. But I kind of figured as much. I'm not too heart broken. I just keep telling myself "I love snow." Because really there is a part of me that does.

Yes, Natalie, I remember the mink farm, one got stuck in our window-well once.

Malcolm, he was mostly fine with the whole squirrel thing. I tried to play it really cool for him. Although, Dave made the mistake of telling him the squirrel was going to "eat mommy up". I made him take that back right away and assured Malcolm that squirrels only eat nuts and things like that - not people. (Dave.)

Yes, again, an "All the Way Home" moment.

And yes, I like squirrels. When they are outside, in trees, free.

The end. I hope.

Now we can have a happy Groundhog Day...

The squirrel has been caught and released.

Special thanks to Bruce (next door neighbor) for the squirrel consult, the Waites for lending their super-duper trap, Dave for setting up the trap, my mom for saying lots of squirrel out-of-house prayers, my across the street neighbor who helped release the poor thing, and Sarah G. for offering her home as a getaway this morning.

The sun is shining and it is a BEAUTIFUL day.

Help

There is a squirrel in our house. We he/she...it came in through the chimney yesterday and made quite a mess while we were at church. We borrowed a big trap from a neighbor. But I think the squirrel is hiding out in our dining room ceiling. I saw it scamper up there all in a fright through an easy access hole because "currently" we are "remodeling" our kitchen ceiling. I just hope it doesn't think it can hibernate here. I'll call animal control. The big trap is a little uninviting in the kitchen and I just want the squirrel to be FREE and NOT IN MY HOUSE!

Are we still having a happy new year?

It's a good question. And the answer, for me, is yes.








But really
I just wanted to show off
these great New Year party hats
and
my adorable family.














































Dave was on call overnight at the hospital so we had to deliver his hat. Can you tell he was sooo excited?

Making hats with the family. It doesn't get better than that. Trust me.

It's really not too late, have a Happy New Year.

And I hope you don't mind but next week will be my crafty Christmas catch up. There are many things to show and tell. And even though Christmas was sooooo long ago, this is my blog and I can do what I want.

a great poem about lousy pie

I meant to post this way back, but I disremembered. Listen to how cool this is. Little did we know, but around the same time I was having a pie and poetry evening in OH, my friend in NY was having a pie and poetry experience all her own. She has gracefully given permission for me to share her poem.


Of Lousy Pie and Cellulite
a poem by Charlotte Mountain



Diner waitress, she’s pigeon-toed

Offers pie, it’s a-la-mode

Tight-lipped and frost-nipped

It was December or November

I disremember



Although I am no connoisseur

The pie it tasted quite impure

I needed quick a water-cure

Perhaps liqueur

I am unsure



Of pie, of ice cream

I don’t blaspheme

The taste of both was so oppressive

Aggressive, depressive and in-digestive



Diner waitress you bedlamite

Of lousy pie and cellulite

birthday

Yesterday, I built myself a cake



and made a wish.

Happy New Year to me.

the book of 2009

My BOOK for 2009 arrived in the mail today.


{image from jill bliss website - there are lots of pretty things over there}

The year is still young. Time to get organized!

gray cloud Cleveland style

Because I drove my honey to work early this morning, and because I just finished off the last of his hot chocolate, and because I just read an email from Sara O. A. who "just wanted to say 'hi' and make sure [I] haven't morphed into a gray cloud Cleveland style", I am putting out a little ramshackle post instead of crawling back under my warm covers.
Merry Christmas.
Happy New Year!
Is it really January 8th?

If you've been wondering where I've been, I think Sara got it right. I morphed into a gray cloud Cleveland style. And now it's time to come back.

Our Christmas season was sweet. My favorite part, which should be no surprise here, was the music and the singing. Malcolm's renditions of "Angels we have heard of on high, each-ly singing o're the planes...", "Feliz Navidad", and "Deck the Halls" really had a way of ushering in the Christmas spirit. Christmas Eve, Dave and I burnt some midnight oil making our gifts for the boy. Malcolm woke to a little kitchen and some felt food. "A little kitchen! For me!" (It still has some finish work to be done, but in the mean time it is getting played with as is.) A few days later, my parents, Megan, Benny-boy, and Hillary Kate arrived with a sleigh (van) full of cheer. All the way from Utah, bless their hearts. We rang in the New Year together, I made cinnamon rolls for the 1st time, and before I knew it, the family was backing out of the driveway and Malcolm and I were waving goodbye. There was a lump and then there were tears. I tried to explain to the little two and a half year old that I was happy AND sad. He snuggled on my lap and let me rock him and that was just-the-thing.

The gray cloud is still hovering. But, here is my little bit of inspiration for 2009 - received, like all good things, while humming in the shower: "This little light of mine." 'Let it shine', I thought, that will be my theme for this year, and then I thought, that will be our family theme for this year (growing up we had such yearly themes, I'm trying to remember what they were, help me out family), and then I thought, we'll make it into a collage and hang it where we see it everyday and add to it throughout the year, 2009 Let it Shine, and then I thought, that rhymes, cool.

So there you go. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. 2009, Let it Shine. Catchy.

This post was brought to you today by cold toes on a cold morning, hot chocolaty liquid, and an email in which I am told "you're really cool."