Fox in socks

These are funny, crazy, wonderful, 

maddening, exhausting, beautiful, 

grateful, bountiful times. 

It was Remembrance Day,

and I'm so grateful.

My Dad fought in WWII,

my uncle died in it. 

My other Uncle survived Korea.

I am so glad that someone else is protecting me

and hopefully making the world a better place,

especially for women and children in this world. 

And I am grateful
because someone else has put themselves in 

harms way on my behalf.

I have the luxury of not thinking about it too much. 

I do think about the privileges and luck I have.

I can vote. I can work. I can attend school, and teach.

I can walk in the streets freely and expect safety-

mostly.

I can hope for happiness for my 3 daughters. 

I can choose to partner with someone I love.

I can wish for them this same true partnership.

Out there, not far

are hundreds of thousands, millions of women

who fear, 

and who are forbidden from everything. 

From loving, from living with choice.

Thank you to those who stand up for the little one in all of us
and serve us, may compassion reign.  

Oh these wonderful, magical, funny, bonkers sisters.

This big one had a fever yesterday,

and making her this fox cowl

has made her so happy-

it makes me happy. 

I've been experiencing so much of her big girl lately,

that it's nice to have a few days at home,

where she is little.  

I so wonder who this young person will evolve into.

Wonderful for sure...but I wonder where her journey will take her.

So many possibilities for this person I love so.

She is so observant and loving. 

So lit from within.

She tells me she is not sure about this Santa character...

but absolutely believes in fairies. 

I hope she keeps telling me all these things...

and the other things too. 

She's also a worrier of the highest order. 

And in these impossible times where the world is so full 

of the tragedies in Paris and Beirut, 

climate change and...and...and

I so want to hold her close,

and keep her little. 

'Cause big girl times are coming,

the world in knocking hard on childhood. 

I'm glad she's smothered in sister love,

and I hope they all remember to hold onto 

each other, and these fleeting magical childhood times. 

T...is for Turtleneck

 More alphabet sewing inspired by nobigdill.com.

 

This post is dedicated to "T".

 

 

Pu is definitely one of those highly sensitive

little doodles.

I've mentioned it before here.

 

It's tricky for her to feel comfortable in clothes. 

 

 

Sometimes it's equally difficult

for her to feel comfortable in her own skin.

 

 

She thusly spends a LOT of time

trying things on, and off, and on.

It makes her Dad nuts.

 

Just wait until all 3 are doing it!

 

So to hit upon a Pu success

is a verrry unusual and wonderful thing

here in land stitch-a-lot.

 



 

Lately she's become obsessed with turtlenecks.

 

She wants to sleep in them and wear them to school.

 

And I can't believe,

this one made the cut.

Highest praise?

"Mom, can I sleep in it and wear it to school

and then sleep in it and then wear it to school?

and then sleep in it and then wear it to school?

 and then sleep in it and then wear it to school?"

 

No, ick

and YES!

 



"F" is for Fabulous Functional Flannel

I'm playing along with Katy from No Big Dill

as she Sews all 26

letters of the alphabet.

Today I'm posting on "F"

 Funky,

Fabulous

Fashion Forward

(ok I'm pushing it a little)

Functional

Flowered



Flannel!!!

The Blur

would not stop for snaps today.

We did a little gardening in the brand new poo.

2.7 cubic yards of fresh compost

that I shoveled into our new garden.

Apparently I smell bad enough to make

Nu's hair fly up.

But aren't these babies worth it?

Although I loved Nu's last pants for cuteness,

she has very sensitive skin

and the IKEA canvas fabric I used

was too rough for this wiggler.

I mean if she's not doing this:

she's definitely doing this:

So what could be softer than

sweet

sweet

flannel?

The fabric is LOU LOU

by Anna Maria Horner

and called "In The Clearing"

Since Tangles and I were clearing

out the garden,

and we continue to clear out the

neighbours with our

odoriferous compost,

it seemed apt.

Now back to twinkle toes,

and the next chase scene

called: With the Hope of  Brushing Teeth.



 

Dream on.

Pre Valentines Giveaway

With Valentines approaching I stitched up a few of these.

 

 

And then I started thinking...

 

 

 

Why not spread the love?

 

 

Maybe there is someone out there

feeling a litte blue,

and these little hoops will give them a little cheer?

 

Especially because...

Valentine's can be such a contrived-weird-fake holiday.

 

 

If miss interpreted it can be full of

Hallmark and million dollar roses.

 

But,

 at the end of the day it's all about the love man.

 

So I've decided to spread it around.

 

On V-Day

I'm going to attach these to the tree in front of our house.

 

With this sign.

 

 

 

It's my hope someone will take a little

crafty treasure and either keep it for themselves

if they need/ want the love.

 

Or, alternately they will pass it on to

someone they love,

who could use it.

 

I imagine someone getting out of the doghouse

because they brought a heart gifty
 for the sweetie,or the Grannie, or the mail carrier.

 

What I like about this most, is people can choose if they want some treats.

No catch, no rules, no need to reciprocate.

 

Free love.

Random act of kindness.

Silly or significant.

Or perhaps the best parts of both.

Maybe just a shot of hope into the ether.

 

Maybe it's a dog house of their own design.

Maybe this little idea will catch on.

 

So on V-Day look around.

Maybe you  and I are neighbours.

 

Maybe I'll stick some others up around the hood.

 

And in the spirit of spreading around some good:

 

If you faithful reader would like some love,

then who deserves it more than you for chiming
 in here every so often  ?

 

Leave a quick hello and any goodness you want to pass on

either by thought or action

in the comments at the end of this post

and I'll enter you in a giveaway.
I'll pick a name from a hat and

I'll send the winner a little heart shaped love in the post.

Giveaway ends Feb 12.

Maybe that will give me time to get it in the mail to you?

No guarantees, but I'll try and break a sweat.

 

 

I think this is a ritual I may want to repeat.

 

 

 



Red Sweet/Sweat Her

There is this little person I know.

She is growing bigger



in so many ways,

 every day,

every hour

with discoveries at every turn.

And though,

she is finding her way

with increasing happiness

 and success in the world,

she (like all of us)

 still has a very little person inside her.

Unlike all of us,

(but just like some of us)

her little person is often afraid.

 My oldest little person suffers from huge anxiety.

There is a genetic component,

and also a part that is informed by experience.

It can be so powerful

that every step she takes

is about potentially losing her balance

and a world that might not catch her.

 It breaks both our hearts.

It also drives us both nuts.

We work on getting to a place

 where it makes us laugh.

Thank goodness for sisters.

And in this family,

for a fearless sister,

that by her very existence reminds her older

example that life need not be feared.

At the top of life's stairs,

this one tries a different way each time.

 Sometimes the success varies,

but it never stops her from moving forward.

This is one of my many wishes for all my girls.

Keep going,

Don't

Stick together

and know you are loved for who you are,

even when you are encouraged to find,

and lose your balance.

Because,

those who love you,

big and small

in our own ways...

we will catch you.

Until you learn to catch yourself.

 There are benefits to both approaches to life.

When the oldest is older I'll say,

if it's not working for you

 tell it to kiss your...

But until then,

 I am reminded that inside us all

is a pudgy little self that is wee.

And hopefully,

 still a place where new can be written on old.

Where new experiences

can be tasted without fear

And little sisters (and Mommy's) will adore you,

with whatever you bring.

P.S. Finished the sweater :)