can you say, Æbleskiver?

Buy yourself an aebleskiver pan and make yourself and your family some aebleskivers today!

Kids love em!

for julien

Photographing quilts is very hard for me.  These pictures don't really do this quilt justice, but here they are just the same.  For the black and white pattern I used Japanese tenugui cloths from Tortoise in Venice.  Maybe one of my favorite and most inspirational shops I have ever walked into by the way.
I was happy with the way this turned out.  The long arm quilter put the icing on the cake.

Next quilt is for my Jasper.

sleepy tuesday

sorry, dora

I took Henry with me on a scout for vintage sheets and pretty wool at our local Goodwill.  Within 5 minutes of walking in the door he latches himself to this Dora the Explorer suitcase on wheels.  His little hands gripped on that handle so fast, before I could offer anything else as a distraction.  He had the biggest smile on his face wheeling it around the store.   I knew we'd be taking it home and then promptly returning it to Goodwill before anyone got too attached.  Once we got it home, I took a good look at it and thought maybe we could salvage this thing with a little paint, fabric, or how about that Tokyo map that I saved from our trip 4 years ago...has it been that long?

I broke out the Modge Podge and voila!

Greta and I studied the map.  I was able to show her where we stayed in Tokyo, the neighborhood where she napped on my back while we shopped.  She found all the hospitals.

soup and the poop

From a distance this afternoon I watched Greta on the swings at the park.  When the wind blows her bangs back I see myself when I was five. Same profile, same forehead, same nose.  I never had bangs, my hair always pulled back in a ponytail or braids.
I have few memories of when I was four, a couple vague memories of three, but I hold many memories of when I was five.  I remember playing in the orchards with Rosa, her sister telling me of how she tripped on her shoelaces and got a bloody nose. I recall  pretending to be Wonder Woman and loving Grizzly Adams ( I think partly because my dad also had a beard) and BJ and the Bear.  Sharing a bed with my mom, I remember being fidgety at bedtime and I can still hear her voice, "Rachel...sit still."
It almost seems that my life started at five.
Now that Greta is five I feel very aware of the fact that she's going to remember a lot of this.  While she's playing with friends or chatting with me in the kitchen, I wonder if this moment will be forever embedded into her memory.  I especially feel conscious of this when I get cranky, impatient, or overreact  because I haven't had enough sleep (only because I stay up way too late.)
Like yesterday when I had a large pot of soup in a bag ready to be delivered to an ill friend.  I had turned for 23 seconds to help Greta with something only to return to the living room to find Henry dragging the bag by the handles around the house with a proud grin on his face.  Soup filled the bag.  Or this morning when I spotted Daisy in the kitchen in ready position to poop, I yelled and had to swing into action, alas, I was too late.
I pretty much reacted with the same, "AHHHHHHH  NOOOO!!" both times.
The kids looked at me with wide eyes and concerned faces at first and then they laughed, not so much at me  but at the soup and the poop.  Then I laughed and we all had a good laugh together.
In our daily life we are fortunate to have lots of laughs, friends, discovery,and play,  but sometimes tears and hurt feelings.  I realize that the memories my kids hold won't always be rosy and sweet, but I feel determined not to sweat the small stuff and make the most of everyday we spend together.  I want for our family to remember this time as being one of the best times of our lives.
So this afternoon after a full day at the park, Greta was exhausted from biking, swinging, and climbing trees.  Me exhausted from lack of sleep.  We drove home and I looked back at her as she ravenously devoured the innards of a crusty baguette.  Crumbs were flying, covering her and the entire back seat.  Henry was staring at her.  I sighed, kept silent, and smiled to myself.  A quiet fleeting moment but I think I will remember it forever, or at least be reminded of it as I vacuum out my car...sometime in the near (distant) future.

5 years ago today

fourteen

it's time

Today the kids will have their first dental appointment.  Greta seems brave.  I feel a little worried for a few reasons.  You may remember this post one year ago.
Happy Monday.

what a long strange week it's been

So maybe the week hasn't been so strange but definitely long, and with a long car ride just about every day.
We headed out to see Grandma Lisa and saw the awesome vitas on Grimes Canyon Rd.

Yesterday morning I picked up my quilts.  Here is a sneak peak!

Julien's

Greta's

This week Zach's knee froze and has been unable to drive or even tie his shoe.  He had Osgood-Shlatter's Disease when he was a kid and now and then it will rear it's ugly head.   Needless to say he has been working from home.  The kids and I loved having him home, sitting on living room floor, knee outstretched with ice pack, working on coffee table.  Yesterday he was able to hobble into Greta's gymnastics class to watch for a bit.  This made her year.  Yeah for Osgood-Shlatter's Disease!  That's terrible...I know.

Here we are in Chipotle restroom while Zach was seeing the doc.

Today, we are off to see friends at Elysian Park.  Zach is off to work.  Tomorrow, Julien is here!!

Happy week end!

(Trying to convey there the way the English say "weekend".

Did it translate?)

gold!

Poppy and Greta, panning for gold at the Autry.

I appreciated this article.

Happy almost Friday!

gym class

Greta started a gymnastics class a few weeks ago.  The class is small, three students all together.  The other two kids are home schooled too.  They get a lot of personal attention from Coach Scott.  Greta couldn't be happier about this.  She loves this class and asks everyday, "How many more days till gymnastics?"

                      Before leaving the house Greta must prepare mind and body.

                                        

Henry takes advantage of the open mats.

My strong and balanced monkey girl.

I spied...

Some very cool boots at the coffee shop last week.

Trippen.

what's the time?

View the clock.

happy weekend

FWS quilt for my boy

Felted wool sweater quilt, that is.

To keep him warm and cozy in bed till I crawl in with him at a ridiculously late hour each night.

Cashmere and marino wools are so very soft.  For the back I found a heavy ultra soft charcoal jersey knit.  My only regret is that I couldn't make it bigger.  I refused to go out and search for more sweaters, I really wanted to use up what I had.  It should last him a few years anyway.

Progress on Julien's quilt.  Will finish this weekend then off to the long arm quilter on Monday.  I hear she has to custom make all her own shirts.  Weird.  Being that she has a really long arm and all...get it?

all tied up

I was tempted to make my own ties for Lil Hen because, well I'm picky OK!  Then I found these on Etsy.   Oh Etsy, how you always seem to pull through for me.

Recently, Henry has been striking this pose when I want to take his picture.  I wonder where he learned to do that?

Audrey's

Zach has a friend, Craig.  Craig has a lovely and creative girlfriend, Audrey.  She lives in San Francisco.  She recently opened up her Etsy shop.  This is a store I wish I could literally walk into.  It's fresh, earthy, and full of simple and elegant design.   Zach did a little shopping for me and here is what I received yesterday in the mail.

Love the box and card.  Zach says this is one of his favorite fonts.

These stones were collected from Baker Beach.  I love that for one, they were found, second, that the only polishing done was by the waves of the Great Sea, third, there's orange in there, and fourth, that they were found on Baker Beach.  For any who don't know...I was a Baker before I was a Fannin.  I love this necklace.
Then to my surprise and Greta's delight there was a little something for the kids.  A very thoughtful touch.

For Henry, a simple yarn bracelet.

For Greta, silk thread and found sea glass.

Next on my list from Audrey's General Store, this stunning cowl.  A unique design and cozy to boot.

Tomorrow, I have some other Etsy wonderfulness to share.  Stay tuned!