Busyness

I think that's how that's spelled....

Anyway.

The Hawk turned one!  We had a party, it was awesome.  Homemade decorations, except balloons.  Don't know how to make those.  I used classic paper chains and Dana's tutorial on paper ball chains over at MADE.  Everyone loved them.  Unsolicited comments and everything.  Since Hawk is a Pi day baby, I made apple pie cakes.  Pie crust in a pan, fill with applesauce cake, bake.  Top with pureed apple pie filling and frost with brownish frosting in a lattice pattern.  Hawk had a separate smash cake, and everyone else had cupcakes (small rounds of pie crust on the bottom of the cupcake, fill, top and frost).

I did not manage to get his birthday suit finished.  Unexpected events earlier in the week put me off schedule.    Finished it today, and it is as cute as I'd hoped, especially for a self drafted pattern.

My Covert Robin's package came half an hour before everyone showed up, so it got opened, squealed over with my bestie, and carefully set aside so as not to get caked on (there was a blast radius).  I love it!  How she knew my couch is brown, I'll never know but it is completely amazing!  Also managed to get the pouches I was working on finished and mailed out for my swap recipient.  My beloved had to squeak in the door just before closing time for me.  Whew!  Since today is the first day I've had to get on the big computer (I've tried and cannot post from my smartphone), I need to go make the appropriate noises in the appropriate places about these.

My beloved's terrific mother texted me from the store, all the way from Hawaii and through the miracle of technology, sent a bunch of pictures of fun local kawaii fabric and let me pick out a few yards.  So I'm expecting that bit of nifty in the mail.  His family is so awesome, I love them.  Picked up a new purse pattern, and hope to make her something for Mother's Day.

As soon as he finishes the current section of God of War, we'll be watching some more Dr. Who.  The universe seems to have sent several signals out about this, so....  I have no idea why watching a British television show could be important, but.... alright.  We're enjoying it, in any case.

One down, some to go

One goal finished!

I managed to get the great experimental portfolio project for my beloved's dad finished!  Whew.  That thing was a pain the rear, but I think can I do it again, bigger, better, and certainly faster.  Since beginning the idea, I've learned a handful of tricks I sincerely wish I'd known during the planning phases, at least.  BUT.  It's done!  Hurray!  Pictures up later, since it's large enough to take two people to get good images.

Now, on to the postage stamp patchwork.  That'll be for another gift.  I might take a bit of a detour and make my mom some hot/cold packs.  There's also a purse in the works with some wonderful vintage kimono fabric, and a fun skirt for my niece.  But the patchwork project must get done this week or next, and shipped this month; in the spirit of stretching comfort zones, I'm participating in a Covert Robin swap.  Check it out here.  Also, I like the person chosen for me.  Always fun to find new blogs to follow!

This week, the Hawk turns one.  We'll have his favorite meatloaf and macaroni and cheese on Thursday, and celebrate with a party next weekend, the 23rd.  Experiments with making decorations this weekend.

And... now back to party planning.  And lunch.  And Toy Story.

Whew....

So, back from Louisiana.  Saw some family, buried a grandparent, discovered that the Mazda thing we rented was absolutely the most uncomfortable little car for a road trip, and that I missed Spanish moss.

There is also a recipe for teacakes sitting on my desk that I'm itching to try.  Ms. Chapman has been making these for weddings, funerals, births, and other family and community events for decades.  Decades.  DECADES.  And she is now famous for them.  She'll freely hand out the recipe, but no one has been able to replicate them, not even my Momoo.  So I'll try my hand at it.  I doubt it'll be quite the same, but I'm willing to try!

If that fails, strawberry banana oatmeal or pear n candied ginger muffins are a pale substitute.  But probably healthier for me.  Heh.

This week, I'm going to finish a portfolio for my beloved's father, and try my hand at postage stamp patchwork.  Those are the goals!

Some good, some bad

Some good: an example of my terrible photography.  I managed a skirt and a shirt recently.  The skirt was made using a general tutorial on yoga waistbands that I've made a handful of times now (Sew Mama Sew, I think), and the shirt was made using Melly Sew's Rose T Shirt pattern, sleeveless version.








Some bad.  My dad called this morning to tell me my grandfather passed at 0330 this morning.  If my beloved can manage to get the time off from work, we'll be renting a car and heading to Mansfield in Louisiana for funeral and other arrangements.  If he can't, I'll be going with my brother and father.

In other random news, hemp milk is not as good as oat milk for drinking straight.  Save that for baking, blech.

Wee, first post!

*first post dance*

Okay, that's done.  I truly have intended to start a blog, for no readily discernible reason.  Perhaps I think it will push me to learn new skills.  My photography in particular sucks... yeah. Some examples of how not to take pictures coming soon.

So, I'm 28, mother of two boys, my little punks, and I love making a house a home.  Pretty much my whole life, I knew I'd want kids and to stay home to raise them.  This involves more dishes and laundry than I'd like, but also the cooking, baking, and sewing that I was hoping for.

My children are my life.  (While I like talking about them, I also believe in preserving their anonymity, so they are given a pseudonym according to the meaning of his name.)  Chaos is two and a half, and Hawk turns one on March 14th!  Exciting!  My beloved is in the elevator trade.  It has its ups and downs.

Yes, we're punny like that, please excuse.

I enjoy cooking for almost anyone, and it is one of the activities my beloved and I share as a couple.  It drew us to each other, and keeps us laughing and trying new things.  I learned to cook in the South, and he learned to cook in Hawaii.  This means he puts soy sauce on rice.  I think butter goes on rice.  We keep both on the lazy susan.  More and more I try to get organic, natural, and fresh whole foods.  We are not vegetarian - we like bacon too much.

Baking is my bit, especially breads and desserts, but my beloved makes a terrific cheesecake.  Too bad I can't have any of those until Hawk either quits nursing or outgrows his dairy sensitivity.  We're due to check again in a few months, so here's hoping!  Lately, we've been going through loaves and loaves of black pepper prosciutto bread, so I'll be making more of that this week.

My favorite things to sew are for my boys, but my beloved is getting jealous.  Perhaps it is time to try the cargo kilt he's asked for?  I also greatly enjoy sewing utility items like storage baskets and bowls, handbags and clutches, purses and totes, zipper pouches and tablet sleeves.  Crocheting is on my list to learn, just as soon as we can manage a trip to see my grandmother in Arkansas.  My sewing to do list this year includes completing a quilt top of any size and design.  The actual quilting might wait until next year, and another visit to my grandmother.  Hey, I've got two kids under three, and I'm pleased just to get the breakfast dishes done by dinner!

Other random things of note:  I have a cat.  I like fairies (but not Tinkerbell), rabbits, mermaids and hedgehogs.  I am short.  I served in the US Navy as a Mineman, and never left the continental US - what the heck?!  I used to dance, jazz and modern.  I like Legos, especially the big Creator sets and the Architecture series.  I am creative, but have the artistic skill of the infamous stick figure himself.  I wear my baby with a wrap covered in skulls.  Fluttershy is best pony.  You heard me.