Loves :: Pumpkin Style

So many good things are cropping up this week. I am loving on the cool weather, the lull in demanding work, the time I am carving out to play with Halloween costume ideas and sewing projects.

Here are a few on my weekly loves...the pumpkin edition...

Roasted pumpkin which became a chunky sauce over pasta. Sweet and smokey and Fall all over it.


Silly bumpy warty gourds that have the potential to be very cute Halloween people. But will likey just hang out on the mantel until Christmas.


The boys' new favorite about a witch and a giant pumpkin. It has spurred much conversation about making a pumpkin pie, something that has become a daily request. Made even sweeter by the fact that it cost a quarter at a local yard sale.


Not pumpkin-y, but damn cute. Tomorrow is their first school picture day. The weather is warming up enough to sport short sleeves, so they get to take these for a spin.


And what would a pumpkin post be without our first trip this year? The park up the street holds the best event, this will be the third year for the boys. Here is year one, year two and now...

They hold the chickies.


They sit by big pumpkins.


And we find a few old treasures to capture.


(photos courtesy of Tim)

More pictures here.

And while I am sharing good things, I thought I would mention a few new blogs that I loving a lot ::

Sasikirana Handmade :: Delicious projects and she loves Heather Ross, maybe more than I.

Rambling Roses :: Beautiful photography and knitting projects and now she is in Canada, B.C. to be exact. Heaven, to be even more accurate.

Tangerine and Turquoise :: Great name, lovely sewing, lots of Alabama Chanin and a happy one year blogging.

They have infused me with new inspiration and lots of good reads. Check them out if you need a crafting kick.

Me Do It!

I alluded to the current stage we are going through in my previous post. It is the “Me Do It!” phrase/phase when independence is not merely an assertion but a matter of life or death. Well, maybe just tantrum or no tantrum. The need for independence manifests in various ways, from trying to get in and out of the car (including the opening and closing of the car door) to attempts to make Mama coffee in the morning (resulting in some chewy and very hearty brew. Mmmmm). We have learned to not interfere too much with the chosen activities because it usually takes more time to calm the hysterical child. So we guide them through the steps and try not to impatiently tap a foot as we wait (and wait and wait for Owen to go through his rituals).

The perks to independence has been some “Me Do It” time for Mama as the boys explore play scenarios and reading “Meself” books. I took advantage of the energy generated by our fall weather and finished and blocked the Damson.


I found the knit fairly simple, it was a whole lot of knit stitches on both sides until the border, the pattern was easy to follow and gave very lovely results. Blocking lace never fails to amaze me, the bloom and opening that occurs with a good soak makes all the ticky ticky effort of lace so rewarding. In this case the end really justifies the means. I did find the merino/silk blend from Karabella to be splitty at times but the silky texture of the yarn just about made up for the splitting. It has been given over to our bride, she graciously modeled it for me this week.






We spent an evening up at the wedding site to get a feel for the light and space.



I doubt I have many master carpenter readers, but I am gonna’ drop a name here that might excite them (if they read). My brother and J are getting married at the home of Sam Maloof, a renowned carpenter. My Mama has worked for him and his wife for many years and they have a fabulous foundation home with native Californian gardens.



Sam passed away this year and he is missed, we are all so happy that the place will be home to such a special event as it holds so much created and natural beauty. It sits lightly at the top of our Foothill community and the way the light bounces around up there is nothing short of magical. Taking a few test shots made me beyond excited for the quickly approaching day. I have always loved walking the garden paths and finding the art treasures revealed at every bend and curve. 2 more weeks. So excited.





The whole family will be in town for the wedding, so I had to use some of the energy I discovered to make up something for my delicious niece. This is the Girly Dress from Jennifer at JCasa.


It is free and simple and so much fun. You basically draft your own pattern.


I used one of the boys 24 month t shirts just to make sure it would fit her for a bit. I had a great time picking out my colors and used mainly pieces from my stash. (Hey, Lori Z, recognize the fabric at all?) The only new fabric is the lining, a sweet school day ‘print’ I found at our local quilt shop.



I had this dress done within one school day session for the boys. The boys were nice enough to hold it for me while I took some shots. And yes, I did make Mason try it on as a test subject….he is the smaller of the two and I was trying to gauge my success.




It felt a little tight at the armholes, so I would recommend that if you try the pattern you give ample room in your draft pattern for the armhole opening. I plan on trying to wrangle the niece and my two boys into a photo shoot in their home sewn clothing. I also plan on making more of these simple dresses. Thanks, Jennifer, for yet another wonderful pattern. You have to check out her newly redesigned site with easy links to her patterns. This woman cranks out the creativity…with twin girls and a hugely busy schedule. I love her work and you will too.

Now onward to a weekend full of family and more Fall weather. I am excited to see what else I can do with the “Me Do It” time on my hands.

Next up :: a scintillating post on potty training and the success and failures of boys in underwear.

At Night

I lean in, the convex of his forehead meets the curve of my nose, a perfect fit, and I rest for a moment in the pre-dawn light, breathing in the sleep silence of my small children.



They were crying out all night, random phrases like "Truck!" and "Boat!" then it just became "Mommy mommy mommy mommy..." until I came into their darkness and laid down with them under their blanket. My legs folded up in the too small pushed together toddler beds, a boy on each side.



Owen starts and shifts, saying "Me (garble) me (garble) me flower". Quiet. Then "No Daddy me do it, me do it." They must dream now, living in that other world of make believe and circumstance when eyes close. Maybe that is why they cry out.



I once yearned for the night when they would no longer need me, when sleep would be mine. And most nights it does belong to me, in my bed with my husband. I sometimes feel bereft when I wake from a full night sleep, unsure of where I am.



Now, in those rare hours when we lay warm and tangled in blankies, foreheads touching for a moment, I feel our souls meet. The knowing of them is beyond precious, beyond privilege. It extends into Pure Love.

Oh, the Possibilities

The cool air has settled over our little piece of land and it is breathing energy and dreams and ideas deep into my soul. Summer burned out some of that energy, these gentle temperatures hovering just below 70 are bringing it all back. I feel excited and happy and I cannot stop thinking about all the things I want to do, all the projects and plans and secrets that just might happen.


So, what is in the pool of my mind right now? New yarn projects...the Damson came off the needles during the relatively mild bachelorette party and she is not blocked yet, but she is done. Casting off 500 or so stitches is daunting, especially when I was on the third beer, but she made it out the other side and now a good soak and stretch are in order.

The only thing I am knitting right now is the ever increasing circle of stitches for my aptly named Pinwheel Sweater (free pattern). It is mindless but not mind numbing, and the 100% wool is knitting up to be light enough to guarantee use if the temps stay low. There us just not much to show except a blob-ish shape.

I did take it off the needles to check the fit and I think I will like it. Katie has her finished version blogged here and I loved it so that I cast on immediately, even though a few weeks ago it was in the 100s round here.

This has left me with idle needles begging for something, maybe another owl vest to give the other boy. Maybe a soft and stripey hat. Maybe an Ishbel in an icy blue to wrap gently around the neck of a friend who will need warming soon.


I have all this blue yarn gathered, it is a color I am learning to embrace and love. And with so much to use, the possibilities seem endless.

And then there are these buttons. Oh, I had a fun time during our trip away, digging through dusty tins of buttons, snatching special finds


and some run-of-the-mill strands.

I came away with quite a steal when the kind shop owner dumped them all in a bag for 2 dollars for the lot. A score. I glanced through this book once and found some sweet ideas, but part of me just wants to keep them for fingering through and counting.


These will eventually end up on something special... maybe a little girly dress like this one....hmmmm.

No pictures of this one, but I am the garden keeper at the school and it required some attention last week. I ripped out three huge tomatoes plants and found half a dozen giant horned tomato worms. Ugh. They were so gross, but the kids loved them and kept asking me to touch them. Anyway, the raised beds are just waiting on some amended soil and grubby little seed planting hands. I am thinking lettuce and cabbages, brussel sprouts and sweet peas and chard (always the chard, right?). I like the idea of the kids pulling potatoes out of their hidden depths, but I am not sure if those will grow in the beds. I guess it cannot hurt to try.


Let us hope that the fickle fall here gives me a few more days to revel before it slams us back with the inevitable triple digit Indian Summer. Until then I will be making away at whatever I can get my hands on. I hope fall is inspiring and activating you too. And thank you for all the words of encouragement on the picture taking....you gave me the boost I needed, lovely reading friends.