Rock throwing

It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day. I decided to take us to the Botanical Gardens to throw rocks in the creek and enjoy being outside. Kelwyn loves to throw rocks in the creek more than anything. It will keep him busy for hours. He is very drawn to the water. Adeline and I enjoyed watching him from the shore as he picked up little rocks, and rocks that I was surprised he could lift, throwing them into the water and loving every splash. It was also very peaceful being next to the water and watching the ripples forming after Kelwyn's rock splashes. Oh, the little moments of quiet and inner solitude.

Dinner apron

I amazingly found the time this weekend, 30 minutes here, an hour there, to finish my dinner hostess apron. I found the pattern in one of my books, Weekend Sewing. My apron is far from perfect, but it was fun and I got some great practice. Slater said it needed a pocket, and I think he is right. Maybe after I learn how to sew pockets in my class I will add one to the apron to catch spoons or hold recipes.
Kelwyn helped me pick out the fabric he wanted for his little pants last week, so that will be my next at home project. Stripes!

Sewing dream

I have been dreaming of the day I could learn to sew for quite some time now. My dream finally has come true! I started taking some wonderful sewing classes about a month ago out of a dear woman's home. I am so excited and I wake up thinking about what to sew next and about fabric. Fabric! Oh how I love fabric. There are so many beautiful fabrics out there and I do not even know where to begin! I also have a nice collection of sewing books that have been keeping me dreaming for the past few years too. Now just to find the time.......My mother in law gifted my a wonderful Janome sewing machine and serger (which I do not know how to use yet) and my mom bought be a beautiful old sewing machine table to get started a few months ago. It still has the original Singer sewing machine inside. It makes me wonder who used to sit at the table and what she (or he) sewed. So much history and inspiration. It is so cool with little drawers on the side a hole to slide my machine on top, once I remove the old one. But, the old one folds down into the table, so I may just keep it there.
I have finished my first project, with the help of my mother in law, June. She is a wonderful and talented seamstress, thank you! I made Adeline a sweet little bonnet. It turned out just lovely and she looks adorable.Right now I am working on a dress for Adeline and a shirt for Kelwyn (in class). I am very excited to learn to make all kinds of pretty little dresses for Adeline. There are some beautiful patterns and fabric to match out there. I am also trying to find the time this weekend to wip up a cute little cooking dinner apron. I washed and dried the fabric yesterday. We will see what I get done!

Butter and more dandelion sweetness

We have been doing a wonderful nature based home learning program for the past couple of months, Little Acorn Learning. I download a new packet every month full of activities to do throughout the week, following a gentle rhythm during the day. We are doing the 3 day a week program (5 day a week is offered) and I just love it. It provides songs, stories, finger play, baking, arts and crafts and activities to do in the home and out in nature.
Today we made butter. I had now idea what went into making it. Much easier than I thought. I poured cream into a jar with a little salt. Kelwyn and I took turns shaking to our heart's content. How easy and fun!After our cream magically turned into butter we enjoyed a nice piece of bread. Kelwyn asked for seconds. I was so amazed at our butter making!I came outside this evening from my shower to see Kelwyn adorning Adeline with dandelion flowers. It was so precious and what a pretty little dandelion princess!

Dandelions in bloom

We spent most of the beautiful day running around outside. Adeline was full of giggles watching her big brother. Kelwyn was thrilled to find most of our dandelions glowing in the sun with their happy, golden rays. He ran around picking all he could find. He was also smelling them all, which left a little dandelion pollen around his nose. It was too cute! He was enjoying his dandelions so much, I made him a little crown.
He did not keep it on long, but pranced around a little before he took it off. We decided to put it on the elder tree for the fairies.
Oh, the joys of spring!

Spring Knitting

I finished Adeline's spring bonnet. It looks so cute on her and she was smiling brightly wearing it. It turned out a little big for her, I did check my gauge, but it will work and maybe it will fit her in the fall or next spring. I also recently finished a few knitted toys that Kelwyn and Adeline found in their Easter baskets. The flower meadow turned out really cute and Kelwyn knew what to do with it right away. He had his wooden lamb and cow head out to pasture. Mama duck and her ducklings turned out cute too. Kelwyn has had fun with them swimming and the baby ducks following their mama. I love knitting toys for my little ones.

Easter Day

We have had a day full of egg hunting, chocolate, gardening, baking, playing and cleaning. It has been such a beautiful spring day. We welcome more like this. Happy Easter!

Egg Hunt

We all went for an egg hunt and brunch at a friends house this morning. I brought some apricot scones and laid them out on a huge table full of delicious food. Kelwyn especially enjoyed the fresh strawberries and I went for all the yummy breads and muffins. Not long after we showed up a few parents took all the kids out of the yard so the rest of the parents could hide the eggs for the hunt. There were kids of all ages from a few weeks to 10+ years. The older kids ran, some falling over themselves, back into the yard after all the eggs were hidden to find their treasures. Kelwyn came in last, walking slowing, holding Slater's hand. It was so cute and the other toddlers were slowly walking around taking it all in and looking for a few eggs too.
Kelwyn looked very carefully in all the bushes and flowers and found his 10 eggs. (Each child gets at least 10 eggs filled with goodies). We was very determined and returned several times to make sure he did not miss an egg.
Adeline enjoyed all the excitement too and soon was fast asleep after some bouncing in arms and observation of all around her.It was a fun morning and Kelwyn will have our yard to himself tomorrow for Easter to get all the eggs he wants. Happy egg hunting!!