This moment....

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Soule Mama

Snuggles with a my fellow Snuffle-ufagus.

Gifting...Part two

Being born so close to Christmas, I have always had trouble remembering what was given for which occasion.  Birthday, Christmas, Birthday/Christmas, Birthday/Christmas/joint gift with my twin.


You get the idea.

Now for the rest of the gifting as promised, a mixture of birthday and Christmas together.

A stunning and thoughtful bell from my parents.  The deer, the twine, the delicate chime.  It is so perfectly precious.

And another snow globe to add to my collection.  This one might just be my most favorite yet.  My mom has such an eye for details.

The first thing that I noticed was the little deer bedded down in the snow.

I was extra touched when I found an envelope full of fabric from my friend Bernadette.  Bernadette is the co-creator of Rhythm of The Home and sent me this lovely package of turquoise yumminess.   I have just the project in mind for it.

After a year of not wearing earrings due to having a SERIOUS allergic reaction to any pair that I put on I decided to try a pair of Sterling Silver ones by Jody Coyote.  I am happy to report that they are not causing any inflammation and that they are still in my ears!

And keeping with the turquoise theme, I finally got around to getting one of the Honey Pots that I have coveted ever since seeing the first one made my friend Melissa Bridgman.  She gave me a choice of four of them and I was smitten with this one from first glance when I first saw it's predecessor 4 months ago.  This one was MINE though.

All mine.

Now all I need is one of her berry bowls and my wishes will be fulfilled.

What was the BEST gift you ever got for your Birthday?  Let me know in the comments!

Gifting...Part one

Christmas is never about grand gifts at our house.  We are very modest in terms of gifting and have very much instilled the point of giving rather than receiving in our boy.  It was how that I was raised and even though Fran's Christmases were pretty elaborate, it is what we have agreed upon when raising our own. We buy things through the year that he shows an interest in and that way, we are able to keep Christmas morning pretty low key in the gifting department.


This year was no exception. For our boy at least.

After setting out the milk, cookies, and carrots for Santa, Eben went right to bed and slept until the ripe hour of
5:15 am

At which point he rolled over on top of me (YES, I DO still sleep with my boy) and whispered..."Mommy, it's time for you and Daddy to open your present.  I spent a lot of money on it and I really really really really want you to open it"(His school holds a gifting day every year where local stores bring in goods at super-discounted prices and allow the kids to shop in secret for their loved ones.)  He has been BEGGING Fran and I to open them since he brought them home from school a week ago.

And so he ran into the living room and grabbed two tissue paper packages from under the tree.  He placed one each in Fran and my hands and then stood there with his little hands clasped in anticipation.  With a HUGE grin on his face, he watched our faces intently for our reactions to his gift giving.

And we were oh so touched at the gesture.  Two delicate glass animal figures to go with the tiny penguin that he gave us last year.  A little collection that I have a feeling he is going to make a tradition of in years to come.

Only then...after Fran and I had opened our gifts and were happily sitting in our respective chairs sipping on fresh coffee did Eben concede to open his own gifts...three from Santa and four from us...A budget of $50 successfully stayed within, not including the stocking stuffers.

There was a whole lot of  "How did he know" and "I've always wanted one of these" and "Thank you so much Mommy and Daddy!"

After every gift was opened and Eben was playing in his room,  Fran came upstairs holding a box and placed it in my lap.  He sat down in the chair opposite me, hands clasped in front of him... and I couldn't help but laugh to myself at the resemblance he had to our boy.  The look of anticipation at my reaction in his eyes.

And so I opened it.

And let out a "Oh my GOD."

He started telling me all about it, using terms like Depth of field, ISO, mega zoom, LCD, megapixels and Aperture.  And even though in my head, I wanted to ask... "Ummmmm, did you take a photography class while I was in Vermont with your Dad?!?!?!?!"

I just sat there... half drooling-half panting at the thought of getting the battery charged up and using it.

He did good.  So, so, so very good.

And so I went downstairs and got out my I-know-we-said-we-weren't-getting-gifts-for-each-other-but-in-case-he-does-I-don't-want-to-be-the-Shmuck-of-a-wife-caught-without-a-gift-for-Fran-but-if-he-doesn't-I-can-always-return-them stash of gifts. I brought the boxes upstairs and sat in my chair watching him open a pair of OR(outdoor research) mittens and gaiters to use for cross country/back country skiing, two pairs of wool socks, a hunter's cookbook, and a pair of fleece pajama pants.  All of which were a hit as well.

Even though this Christmas was a lot more extravagant for Fran and I than we are used to, we are so happy that Eben continues to be inspired by the magic of Christmas.  Like he told my dad yesterday at lunch.  "Christmas isn't about getting presents it's about being with family....AND SANTA!"

:::::::::::::::

Turning 31 was as uneventful day as I dreamed that it would be.
I spent the whole day with my Father in law at his house and we had a grand old time just lounging around and visiting while being warmed by the two wood stoves.  He is doing very well.  Thank you all for not only my birthday wishes, but also for your wishes for him as well.


It will be a week or so until we are able to return to some semblance of normalcy in a rhythm of life, but we are oh so close to that point.

I will be back tomorrow to share some of my birthday gifts.

Shots of a week that went by in a blur...

Tomorrow I turn 31.

I can only hope that the next year of my life goes by slower than this past week.  It was a complete whirlwind.

A visit from a certain man in a red suit.

Paperwhites blooming just in time.

Handmade ornaments by my boy.

Wishes that it could always be Christmas so that I can keep my decorations up all year round.

One last gift left under the tree just waiting for it's recipient to get home from the hospital.

(Today!)

I will be spending time with my Father-in-law over the next week or so at his house.  Helping him with whatever he needs and making sure that he isn't doing anything that he shouldn't.  I won't have internet there, but if I don't get back into this space until next week, I wish you all a Happy New Year.

Lots of love.

Jules

This Moment...

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Soule Mama

Way better than my last This Moment.

Lots of sitting at the bedside, holding a hand, and dragging an IV pole as I push him to walk a bit further than the last jaunt in the hallway.
Lots of driving from state to state and riding across the lake on the Ferry.
His head is still jumbled with thoughts of present, past, and irrational.
But that will clear over time.

Physically...he is a rockstar.

Home to my boys and family tonight for the weekend.  To celebrate Christmas Eve, wrap a few last minute gifts, and get ready for Santa.

Life is good.

So very good.

Merry Christmas to you all.

Seasonal Exchange

A few weeks ago, my friend Mary contacted me about participating in a Winter Exchange with some other girls in our community.   With all that I have had going on, I was a bit hesitant to take on anything else.  I ended up saying yes.

And I am so happy that I did.

I was paired with another Mama in my circle.  Nicole Spring of Frontier Dreams.

Nicole is a wonderful friend and she has the most adorable little girls with a new little bundle on the way.  I was so excited to be her partner in this exchange.  Yesterday I received her package and was so thrilled when I opened the small box and saw it's contents.  Her attention to detail is spectacular.

 An adorable winter scene postcard and a gorgeous handmade angel in the softest roving.  I added both of them to our Winter Table.

 Two lovely beeswax ornaments that smell heavenly hung on our Christmas tree.

And Eben's most favorite part...A star lantern that we will be lighting and placing on a windowsill for Christmas Eve.

"So that Santa can find our house."

 ::::::::::::

A huge thanks to Nicole for her wonderful gift.  I can only hope that she enjoys my handcrafting as much as I am enjoying hers.  

And thanks to Mary and Cindy for orchestrating this wonderful exchange.

Knitting along...and a baby mitten pattern

The lovely Ginny of Small Things has come up with a weekly Yarn Along and I have been playing along.

Any excuse to knit and read, I tell ya.

Reading~

Thrifted Better Homes and Gardens Treasury of Christmas Ideas from 1966 (out of print).  It is one of my favorites and I have found so many wonderful ideas to decorate during the holidays.

On the needles~
 Lamb's Pride Worsted in Rosy Velvet.

Some little thumbless mittens on a string for my new niece or nephew.  Although I am pretty convinced that it is a girl...hence the rosy hue.

12 weeks cooked on Friday.

I am so excited, I can't even tell you.

There are many patterns for baby mittens and I have tried a bunch of them in the last week or so, with a so many winter babies due in the next few months, I am getting my gifts in order now while I have time.
After having some trouble with a few of them and finding them a bit too wide in the hand area, I decided to try my hand at making my own pattern that was a bit snugger in the hand area. Also, I like a quicker decrease at the top, it has a twirling effect that I love.

Pattern~ Newborn SUPER EASY Mittens

Needles: Size 5 double points

CO 24 stitches divided on 4 needles
Join in the round and k1 p1 for 9 rounds for a ribbed wrist cuff.
knit 14 rounds
Decreasing:
Round 15: knit 4 k2tog around
Round 16: knit 3 k2tog around
Round 17: knit 2 k2tog around
Round 18: knit 1 k2tog around
Round 19: k2tog around
Cast off and weave in ends.

For the string to keep them in place, I simply crocheted a two foot chain in the same yarn and knotted it to the top of the cuff of the mittens.

And there you have it, a quick little knitted gift to warm even the tiniest of hands.

PS... I added it to Ravelry as a pattern in case that you would like to cast them on or add them to your que.

An update and Christmas baby in a bunting...

First off, I wanted to update you all with news of my Father in Law.

He pulled through the surgery very well and still has more tubes and IV's than he has rightful orifices, but he is doing well and a trooper.  The doctors keep walking into the room and just staring at him.  Amazed that he is doing so well after what he has been through.  He is still in the ICU and will be there until he further improves, but for now we are just so impressed with not only him, but his phenomenal doctors and care that he is receiving. 
I am home and working at the hospital, but I will be going to see him for the next 4 days.

Thank you all for your wishes and prayers, I am convinced that they were instrumental in his condition.

Now for the baby in a bunting....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I made this doll for the Winter Edition of Rhythm of the Home, but with so many wonderful contributors to the issue, we didn't end up using it.

I have decided to share it with you here, rather thank save it for the next year's edition.  Maybe it will be the answer to some last minute gift crafting.

What better holiday gift for a little one than something cuddly, soft and made entirely by hand. This felt baby is just the right size to fit in a stocking or in the arms of a happy child. Bundled up in an easily embellished bunting, this little one is sure to bring a smile to any child’s face.

Materials

2 pieces of desired felt with dimensions 9 inches x 12 inches for the front and back of the body
2 small pieces of desired skin tone felt for face and for liner of embellishment
Small piece of felt for hair
Small piece of cotton fabric
Embroidery floss
Stuffing

Instructions

To print out the pattern templates simply right click one of the images below (which each has all of the template pattern components in one image) and click “print picture”. Once you have printed it you can use a copier machine to increase or decrease the size of the pattern as desired. You will base your sizing for the doll solely on the body dimensions of the doll pattern.

As long as you increase the size of each of these two images by the same percentage, all of the separate components in the images will fit together perfectly.

Print out and cut the embellishments out of desired felt.

Cut out two body pieces.

To make the belly embellishment, cut out the circle pattern out of felt. Cut out a slightly larger circle from the desired cotton print fabric, so that you can envelop the felt with cotton.

Fold the cotton fabric over the edge of the felt and use a running stitch to sew the two layers together. This will leave a clean edge on the perimeter of the embellishment.

The front side will look like this.

Add the circle embellishment to the rest of your cut out felt and get ready for assembly.

Place the hair over the top of the face applique and the circle at the center of the doll’s belly.

Stitch the face, hair and circle into place using desired stitches. For added detail, you can mix up the stitches that you use. I used a mixture of a running stitch and blanket stitch. Once the embellishments are attached, you will do the final construction of the doll. Place the front body felt piece over the back body felt piece and use a blanket stitch all the way around the doll body, leaving the top of the head open for stuffing.

Stuff the doll, making sure not to overstuff, and that you fill the spaces at the tips of the hands and feet.

Once the doll is stuffed, close the opening used for stuffing with the blanket stitch.

For the eyes, simply stitch two straight stitches where the eyes will be and create lashes by making straight stitches vertically over the horizontal stitches.

Knot and trim your thread.

The mouth is also a personal preference. You can make a smile, a straight line, a little dot, or no mouth at all…whatever you like, just make sure that it is secured with a tight knot to prevent unraveling.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Again, I am so very thankful for you all and your sweet comments. 

I am beyond lucky to have you all.

This F-ing Moment....

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Soule Mama 

 
Knitting bag.
Check.

Second Diet Mountain Dew of the day and it's only 8am.
Check.

Butterflies in stomach.
Check.

Large suitcases instead of my usual carry-on under-eyes-bags.
Check.

Hair tie on wrist for emergency.
Check.

Favorite hoodie.
Check.


Deep Breaths.
Check.

Double dose of Celexa.
Check.

He went in at 7:30 on the nose.  His surgeons are amazing.  I am full of hope and good thoughts and love.


I popped-a-squat in the cafeteria of this gorgeous hospital, but they have the most hideous walls and I feel all jaundice and stuff just sitting here.


But here I am and here I will be today.

Hope...

From We Deserve This...

She was wrapped in tissue paper at the bottom of the ornament bin, almost a full year since I had held her last.

Made with love… many, many years ago by my wonderful Mama.

I held her to my chest, tears stinging my eyes and I said a little prayer.

A prayer for health and happiness to all that I love.

This week is going to be tough.

I am thankful for moments like these that give me hope.

:::::::::::: 

Every year growing up, my mom would pick an ornament to make.  A homemade gift for people who were important to us. She would make them in the weeks leading up to Christmas and then she would give it away along with a a tin of bon-bon cookies, and a loaf of the yummiest homemade oatmeal bread that you could ever imagine.

When Fran and I moved in together, my mom gave me a box of all of my ornaments that meant so much to me.  (You can read a bit about my affinity for that box and it's contents here.) In that box was my angel and I loved her very much.  Unfortunately, the first place where Fran and I lived together was lacking in ventilation and after one year in storage...moisture ruined her past the point of repair.

I was very upset over losing her and it took a long time for me to admit to my mom that I didn't have her anymore.  All of that hard work.  All of the precious details that she had paid in making her.

The doily dress.
The muslin body.
The wings.
The face.
The hair.

All of it. 

All of it was gone.

Last year around this time I went up to my Grandparents for a visit.  My Gram had gotten one of the angels all that time ago and since they had their own tradition of putting a snowman on top of their Christmas tree, they did not use their angel that my mom had given them.  My mom had apparently told my Gram about how mine had been ruined and when I got to my Grams she surprised me by giving me her angel.

For keeps.

And I surprised her by bursting into tears.

Crying not only at the gesture, but at the second chance to take care with something so special to me.

I have named her Hope. 

She is representing of something so necessary to me this year.  Something out of my control, but something so strong that I am overtaken by it's power.

And she sits, perched at the top of our gorgeous Christmas tree and looks over us all.

 :::::::::::::::

I thank you all for your wishes for my Father in law tomorrow.   

You have no idea, the strength that I gain from you all.  

Knitting along...

The lovely Ginny of Small Things has come up with a weekly Yarn Along and I have been playing along.

Any excuse to knit and read, I tell ya.

Reading~

Lots and lots of Christmas stories.  Eben has been having some trouble in reading at school and so we are taking time to share reading of books at all times of the day.  Taking a bath is a favorite spot, but bed is always the most popular and comfortable.  His reading is coming along.

On the needles~

Stitch Nation Full O' Sheep yarn in the color aptly called Little Lamb.

Another pair of booties.  This time with my own pattern.  I felted the first one, this one is on the agenda for tomorrow. 

SO many babies, so little time.

**************************

In non knitting related news....

The paperwhites are growing inches by the day. 

The little babies of bloom sitting in their little cocoon of green until the time is just right to burst open.  I have a feeling it will be just in time for Christmas morning.

Last night, Eben and I erected and decorated our gingerbread house. Not in the mood to struggle with the graham cracker houses of last year, we bought a kit.  A kit complete with candy goodness and super sticky frosting "glue" to piece it together with.

It was a complete success and I am happy to report that it is still standing this morning.  Which is more than I can say for the ones last year.

We leave tomorrow afternoon for Vermont. 

If you are looking for me on Friday, I will be sitting in a surgical waiting room with my nails chewed to the quick. 


Either that....or there will be a stack of booties knitted up at my side.

A 6 to 8 hour surgery.  The near final step in his battle with the cancer.

I'll let you know which busy work option that I choose.