...of laundry, even though there was a very sweet cat for company, I grabbed some yummy fabric I ordered from Banberry Place and sat myself on the floor.
...and I grabbed one of Sid's shirts...
...to use as a pattern...
...and made her a much-needed qaspaq...just in time for school pictures (if she chooses to wear it). Notice the mountain is still mighty. I'll soon cause it to tremble, but until then, there's more fabric staring me in the face and I'm staring back with a sly eye.
Joe came back from Unalakleet. It seems like every month someone comes back from Unalakleet to this house. But this time, Joe gets cake like it's his birthday or something. He's here and we're thrilled. And we wanted him to know. Even though we just saw him. Like two days ago.
So Sid and I got to work. It's so fun celebrating anything and everything.
Happy coming back Joe! We love you! And you get a cake with a banner...
And sprinkles...
Life is pretty dang good. Make it fun. Make it silly. Make it taste good. And colorful. And handmade. And chocolatey. And a celebration. Just because.
The blues are now squishy as ever from the multiple frosts we've had the past week. We've now moved onto blackberries...crunchy, juicy, tundra-tasty blackberries. They'll add the perfect contrast to creamy akuutaq this winter. And they're a blast to pick, NOW!
Why are they a blast to pick? Because they're tough. They hold their own...VERY unlike the blues. Blues get picked and they're a little pissed about it. They threaten to cry and smash and squish and make a purple mess. Blackberries head to the bucket with pride almost. Even making a proud noise when they hit the bottom of the pail. It's quite fun. I pretty much "right on!" the blackberries every time. It's quite satisfying.
Sid just asked me, "Are you talkin' bad about blueberries?" She has a point. Blueberries, while they're a little fragile, are the most versatile berry we've got. The tangiest and boy do they pack a punch when you pop 'em in your mouth.
But blackberries. Just look at 'em!
Sorry Sid, but they are more fun to pick.
I came home to this today. It makes a Mom very happy, seeing a kid read like this.
I walk in and he looks up and back down and asks, "What time is it? I don't want to get up, this book is so good." Great thing, right? Right.
Except here's the thing. Joe requested the Harry Potter series, so I bought the first three. On Sunday morning. He's nearly finished with Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban TODAY - the third book! How does a girl keep up? He officially reads faster, more and files information better than his Ma. It's CRAZY! Thank God today's payday 'cause 4,5,6 & 7 are on their way. Telling a kid to "SLOW DOWN on your READING!" doesn't seem right, so instead we're headed to town for his own library account. I can't keep buying books like this!
And something pops in my brain. And I picture it so tiny and it's so outnumbered that it's scared to even peek around the corner at all the other print loving brain matter, but it does. It DOES! The tiny, little question asks, "Should you join the dark side and get him a Kindle?" WHAT?!?! Brain matter in the majority is shocked. But this little question has a point and has everyone wondering.
When the world brings us snow and wind and a wonderful, blustery day, Sid crochets orange hats.
Upon getting frustrated with her first hat, she learned chubby yarn is a lot more fun to work with than skinny yarn. Chubby=fun and fast. Skinny=boring and tedious.
She found some fat, orange yarn and got to work.
And finished her hat.
Oh, you want to see more? OK.
She field tested it while making a snow cave and came back with great reviews.
I have another hat maker IN THE HOUSE! And I need to order some new yarn. Chubby kind, of course. "I love chubby kind," Sid said.
I learned how to crochet when I was about 12 years old from my Mom and Gram. I can still feel and see the bright yellow yarn making rows of lumpy stitches. I later learned how to crochet hats when I was in college and I learned from a guy. I know. How cool is that? My son, Joseph Campbell, is named after that guy. Campbell quickly told me the instructions at a barbeque or something and now I think about him every time I make a hat.
Well, my daughter Sidney has already one-upped me when it comes to crocheting and I'm not even going to try to be modest. I've been freaked out about it all night.
I showed her how to make rows of stitches a few weeks ago with Mom's old yarn. I came home to this today:
Get this. The girl didn't take instructions from me on how to make a hat. She didn't take instructions from Campbell. She figured it out all on her own while I was at work.
Here's how she did it:
"I made the starter stitches until they were about an inch long. Then I went to the start and hooked it. And then I just started stitching. And to make it flat, I made a regular stitch and added a starting stitch after and I kept on going and kept on doing that."
It makes total sense to me. It's not the way I was taught, but it works! And now we're giggling. It's real awesome. I'll post a photo of the finished masterpiece.
It's 20 below and the sun is just setting behind the base of King Mountain. The kids have been out for 20 minutes and I just put a pot of water on the stove in anticipation for their return to the wood-stove-warmth of home. When their excited voices, red cheeks and chilly fingers make their way inside they'll get hot chocolate with marshmallows, but first something from Ma.
Or rather, I will get something from them. And I can't wait. I can't wait to squeeze their little bodies and kiss them on the cheek, like I do most every time they come in from the cold. I love those warm-lips-meet-cold-cheek kisses. I love them most of all for this reason--I always get a good sniff in while I'm doing it. The kind of sniff grandpas give when they kiss you. Noisy. Close to the skin. Full of love. And full of one my favorite smells in the world--the smell of outside.
It always amazes me that the smell of outside can linger for a good few minutes after taking off the layers of clothing and cumbersome boots. I always try to capture it after the kids' arrival indoors. So now I'll hit "publish" and wait. It shouldn't be long.
Today was the day for me to write a final paper for a class I'm taking. I, instead, grabbed the quilted fabric I ordered last week and started making a light parki. I've never made a parki. I've written lots of papers and I know how those go. I guess I'd rather sew.
The parki's for Sid and I told her right away, "I probably won't finish it today, just so you know." She was fine with that.
And after a few hours and not a word typed, she put it on.
I think she likes it. And I did finish the paper just a bit ago. The paper's not quite as colorful.
The juicy fabric used is from Alewives Fabrics. I highly recommend that place. Their fabric selection is gorgeous and they wrap the bundles with scraps that looks so cute you want to hug the bundles. Attention to detail = very luscious.
While I'm talking parki, let me say I'm currently on the market for liner material. The quilted double-faced stuff I used on the inside of Sid's is fine, but not as warm as I'd like. I'd appreciate ideas.
