Phiddling with Photoshop

Photoshop is becoming my friend--well, sort of. I need a lot more time to play around with it, which doing an alumni directory allowed me to do a bit. More on that later.
I figured the banner could use a bit more than the boiler-plate text that blogger gave me, so I present a new one, featuring our latest pet, Snaily Grey. Rescued from our front yard more than two weeks ago, Snaily Grey is still going strong. He's not lonely, either, now that Ada found him a snail companion whom she named Sarah.

Snails are surprisingly fast. Now I know what a "snail's pace" really is. Let me tell you, it is fast enough that he can get out of tupperware container and up halfway down the kitchen cabinet in less than four hours. Not speedy, but alarming enough that we got them a terrarium today. Who wants to find Snaily and Sarah kicking around in the cat's bowl, or worse, stuck on the bottom of a sandal? Not me.
Ada and Esme both take good care of the snails, and they are getting as spoiled as our rabbit, who eats a great diet of fresh food and trimmings. Now the snails have meals of fresh herbs and leaves from our garden. I think we're going to draw the line at eating the new vegetable sprouts that are finally coming up.

A Tea Party

The girls love to have a party, and play dress up, too. Here they are having tea (real tea!, says Ada) and eating cookies. How happy Esme is to have a cup for herself.

I'm happy to report we had no spilling, falling, crying, or breaking. And we are busy planning our next one--this time with costumes and invitations to a select few bears and dolls.

We are busy as bees...

Who isn't busy these days? It seems everyone I know scrounges for just a bit of time to do even the smallest things for themselves. So one of my resolutions this year was to make a little bit of time to remember who I am amidst all the hurrying and doing, cleaning and cooking, teaching and changing diapers. And for me, being me has to do with either making things or enjoying art.

So, here are the latest projects of making things over the past 2 months:


A busy, buzzy, and happy bee on a "Boppy" for Ada and her baby. She can hold her baby and give her a bottle with ease now.


Some bracelets. One in shell and jasper.


One in moonstone and blue lace agate.



And an anklet with peacock pearls and silver.


Here are some little cloth shoes that I made with the stardust shoe pattern from Joanna, and fabrics from one of my favorite places, Superbuzzy.


All of these things are for other people, as most stuff I make. I love making something especially for someone in particular. Sometimes when I don't get to see a friend often, it's the next best thing to have them in my mind as I put together a little project for them. And now I do have some plans for some fun sewing for myself. An apron (for more housework! But at least it will look great). And better--a skirt--for me. I'll post once I get them done..

Now to get to all the other little projects that swim around in my head at night...

Sometimes I fold things other than clothes

A latest discovery: origami. Here is a sanbo, perfect for conversation hearts.

Home Sweet Home

As part of our many Advent treats, we decided to build a gingerbread house. And we had such fun!
The Fisher Price little people found it to be just their size, so they moved right in.

Ada designed the roof, landscaping, and ornament on the house. Here she is assembling the gumdrop shingles.

Esme made the M&M tree for the backyard. She discovered that it is hard not to lick your fingers when the "glue" is orange-flavored icing! But she did manage to get the candies stuck successfully to the tree.

It was so much fun to build, we are already thinking of designs for next year! The only downside was the extra "building materials" proved too tempting for all of us. It's a good thing we think the house is too cute to eat now.

Exploring the yard

The weather surprised us a few times during December, and allowed us to get out and enjoy some days on the new swingset.




We found that Esme loves walking through the grass and leaves, and Ada loves having a little companion to explore with.


When they aren't able to get outside to swing, Esme looks longingly out the window and pleads, "Swing! Swing!" Some parts of childhood never change, do they?

Time flies by our nest!

How the time has flown! Since November, we've had such lovely times at home, I just seemed to fall away from blogging. A much-needed rest, and we've started off the year with renewed energy for school, and cleaning closets, and making fun crafts together.



Here are some great shots of our Christmas at home. We watched Esme fall in love with all the elements of the season, from Santa, to cookies, to the tree, and, of course--presents! Both Ada and Esme had dreams of sugarplums. Esme talked in her sleep about "hohoho," and Ada's dreams included singing (loudly, at 2 am) snippets from "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." Though our sleep was disturbed, it was for the best reasons, don't you think?


Esme was amazed to find a Mrs. Potatohead under the tree! She ran around the family room exclaiming, "Wow! Wow! Presents!" And yes, we fortunately did get some of it on video.