Spring

Spring is a special time for me. It always has been. Even when I lived in Arizona and spring wasn't a huge transition from winter, I still craved it. Craved the grass turning to shades of green and the exploding pink blossoms on the trees where my family attended church every Sunday. In fact I have very vivid dear memories, of climbing those trees and surrounding myself in warm spring sunshine and pink blossoms all around.

As a mother I find I crave spring even more. Winter means spending most of my time cooped up indoors with my son. Cooped up Calvin is a recipe for disaster. Sleep schedules are never as easy in the dark winter months as they are during the warm months in Indiana when I can insure that he is outside almost every day, running and jumping and being a happy little boy.

We went to a park today and walked around. My son helped me smell flowers and demanded that I help him climb a tree.

 (Sorry kid, your mom has short arms and couldn't lift you high enough, but thanks for the heart palpitations.) We looked at the water together and ducks and I got to look at the green world through his young eyes. This summer my son will be three years old. Watching the grass thrive in the first true wet and windy Indiana spring since the year he was born has made this year more dear to me somehow. Since before my son was born my small family is actually thriving along with the daffodils and tulips I so love to see bloom each year. And I realize I have a lot to be thankful for.

Every time my son runs ahead of me, which happens a lot since he is faster than I my heart skips into my throat. I worry every time he stands on a staircase or climbs up high on the perilous park play equipment. Usually I am rewarded with a very proud shout of 'I did it!' but sometimes still he falls. He still needs magical healing mommy kisses and huggles when the world turns out to be a little harsher than he thought it would be. I hope that I will always be there for him. I hope he will always want me there for him.

I did not ask for a child, we weren't planning on having one for several years if ever. But still every night when I pray before bed, I find myself thankful for a son like Calvin. No matter what he did that day. And usually there was at least one altercation, I find that I love him more than I thought it would be possible to love such a dirty little snot-faced kid.

Spring, like almost nothing else makes me incredibly sappy. So sorry if this was a little too rubbishly sentimental, but I felt like writing it and it feels good. It felt good to spend another day with my boys. And it felt good to feel the sun on my face again.

Fort Day

So yesterday I had a scare. My son almost fell out of our second story window because he didn't listen when I told him the first time he shouldn't hit the screen. Disaster was averted (obviously) but I still felt like today Calvin and I should have some bonding/creating time.

My son and I love creating stuff; especially when we are recycling. Or as Calvin says; 'fixing', Today we 'fixed' his old playpen.

From this

 to this

Super easy and fun project to do with a little toddler. Our playpen was a really cheap one from a store ending in 'mart' from when he was little. It had been used for sleepovers at grandma's before he slept in a real  bed. He's been sleeping in a real bed for a while now and this playpen has just been taking up room in our van. Calvin LOVES to hide and play in dark spaces. First we 'cleaned' up his room first. (Calvin cleaning still involves mostly mommy cleaning at this point, but he's getting better)

Then we pulled the playpen in from the car and set it up.
Here's Calvin ready to start helping.

The old mesh even had a big hole in one side to help us get started, but mesh is super easy to cut. Just stick your scissors in anywhere and get started cutting!

Either start a hole in the middle and cut up to the top or sides and cut along the inside of the mesh. Proper supervision is important!

Cut out all of the mesh and then vacuum (you will have fluff!!)

Set up as normal with the bottom in and as pillows/toys as desired and drape your new tent frame with blankets.

Now have fun playing peek a boo!!

Tie-On Beard

The tie on beard is great for the lumberjack in all of us! It provides instant warmth for cold cheeks and chins in the chilly weather; and shaving it off is easy! Simply untie the chords and remove the beard for later use! 

Pattern Notes: 

            Of course you can use whatever yarn you want for this beard, however I have found that boucle yarns work the best. The yarn almost felts with itself as you crochet to hide the stitch definition and gives the beard a much better look. Most of the sizing provided with this pattern involves moving your crochet hook size up or down but there is a smaller pattern at the end for the size of newborn to about 12 months. This beard works as a tie on beard; that is you will crochet ties onto the ends of your beard to pull the beard up past your ears and tie it on top of your head. This beard works well worn when under a hat or snowmobiling helmet, etc.

Notions;

            100 yds (usually less) of boucle yarn, Bernat Soft boucle works well

            Crochet Hook; I, J, K

            Scissors

Some Notes on Sizing;

            For an adult beard; use your K hook. For a young adult or a ladies beard use your J hook. For a child’s beard, 2 years old to about 10; use your I hook. For a baby beard see pattern addendum at end of this pattern.

Pattern;

            Ch 35, sc in second chain from hook and in each chain down. ( Take your time with boucle yarn, this is fuzzy and it is hard sometimes to see exactly where you should be placing your hook, also working with a lot of light will save you headaches and heartache.) Ch1 and turn, NOTE- at the end of every row you will Ch1 and turn.

Row 1- sc in each stitch across

Row 2- sc dec over first 2 stitches, sc in each stitch to last 2 stitches, sc dec

Row 3- repeat previous row

Row 4- sc in next 5 stitches, hdc in next stitch, dc in next 18 stitches, hdc in next stitch, sc in next 5 stitches

Row 5- Repeat previous row

Row 6- sc in next 8 stitches, sc dec over next 2 stitches, dc in next 10 stitch, sc dec over next 2 stitches, sc in next 8 stitches

Row 7- sc in next 7 stitches, sc dec over next 2 stitches, dc in next 10 stitches, sc dec over next 2 stitches, sc in next 7 stitches

Row 8- sc in next 8 stitches, hdc in next stitch, ch 8 and skip next 8 stitches, hdc in next stitch, sc in next 8 stitches

Row 9- sc dec over first 2 stitches, sc in next 5 stitches, 3 dc in next stitch, 8 hdc over chain, 3 dc in next stitch, sc in next 5 stitches, sc dec over last 2 stitches.

Slip stitch loosely around your beard and break your yarn. Weave in your co tail and your end tail loosely. On one side of your beard, join the yarn to one side of the beard and chain 35. In second chain from hook, sc. In the next 27 chains slip stitch. Chain six and join it to the side of your beard but lower down from your first chain. This forms a strong triangle beneath your beard tie. Repeat on other side of your beard and weave in any ends. Wear and enjoy! Your beard should be long enough on the sides that when tied on your head the sides of the beard cover all or most of your ears! Pull your favorite beanie down and enjoy the luxurious warmth of your tie on lumberjack beard!

Baby Addendum

            For a baby sized beard (about newborn to 12 months or so follow this miniature beard pattern with an I hook for a larger sized baby beard or a g or h hook for a smaller beard)

Ch 17, sc in second chain from hook and in each across. NOTE at the end of every row you will ch1 and turn.

Row 1- sc across

Row 2- sc dec over first two stitches, sc across to last two stitches, sc dec

Row 3- sc in next 3 stitches, hdc in next 8 stitches, sc in next 3 stitches

Row 4-sc in next 3 stitches, sc dec over next 2 stitches, hdc in next 4 stitches, sc dec over next 2 stitches

Row 5-sc in next 3 stitches, hdc in next stitch, ch 4, skip next 4 stitches, hdc in next stitch, sc in next 3 stitches.

Row 6- sc dec over first 2 stitches, sc in next stitch, 2 hdc in next stitch. 4 hdc over chain, 2 hdc in next stitch, sc in next stitch, sc dec over last 2 stitches.

            Slip stitch around your beard and add ties as in the larger beard but chain only 21, sc in second chain from hook and slip stitch in next 14 chains, chain 5 and secure to beard.

Ideas- while grays, browns and other ‘natural’ hair colored beards look great don’t be afraid to make a little pink or purple one for a little girl and accessorize it as much as you want with applique! It would be easy to transform this crochet pattern to knitting using short row shaping however I do not at this time have the intimate knowledge of short row shaping in order to design with it. If you would like to attempt a rewrite of the pattern for knitters please feel free to use this pattern as a general guideline. Selling finished products of this pattern is permitted. 

copyright @ Lora Browning 11/2012

Tutorial : Lunch Pal/Project Bag

This bag tutorial is for a friend of mine I hope everyone enjoys this latest creation!

Needed:

Material (I used old scrap material lying around that had a fairly stiff drape) about 1/4 yard of a main color for the outside and pockets. And 1/4 yard of fabric for the inside of the bag. 

Notions: Sewing Thread and measuring tape

To get started- 

You will need to decide on the size your bag is going to be. Find a circular object that is close to the size you want for your bottom. (I used a bowl)  Mark the circle on the fabric with either sewer's chalk or a crayon in a contrasting color.

You will need three pieces of fabric cut out of your inner color choice. The circle for the bottom, a rectangle for the sides of your bag and smaller rectangle for the bag handle. To find the length of your rectangle; measure across your circle (diameter) and multiply that number times 3.14(pi). This will be the length of your rectangle. To find the height of your rectangle decide how tall you want your bag and add a half an inch for seam allowances. (I used a knitting needle, since I knew I wanted my bag a little shorter than a tall straight needle.) 

Take your cut out pieces of fabric that you made for the inner bag and lay them on top of your outside fabric. Pin in place and cut. You can choose to have pockets on the inside of your bag in either the contrasting outside fabric or the inner fabric. To make a pocket row that runs along the innner bottom of the bag, cut a strip of fabric a few inches tall and as long as the bag body rectangle. Cut out the fabric pieces. 

You will have two circles (for the bottom)

two large rectangles (for the sides)

one long pocket rectangle (I have two because I ran out of fabric and needed to piece two lengths together)

two small rectangles for the strap

Next you should finish any edges that are likely to fray. Since I don't have a serger, I sew a zigzag stitch, along the border all the way around any edges. 

On to actual sewing!...

Prepare the pocket first, if you did not choose to include a pocket in your bag you should skip the next few steps. Turn under the edges of the pocket.

Sew the pocket to the right side of the body bag rectangle. Only sew along the sides and the bottom, leave the top open. Also at this point you should sew in any dividers you would like.

It's a good idea to pick out some things you think you will be carrying in your bag and make some of the pocket lengths to suit your particular needle needs. (or other 

things too, I suppose)

Set the inner rectangle aside for now. Take the outside body rectangle and sew the two sides together, to form a circle. Take the outside fabric circle and body rectangle, pin the bottom edge of the rectangle around the circle and sew. 

Repeat this step for the inner rectangle and circle too.

Turn the inner circle inside out (right side on the inside) and place inside the outter part of the bag. Line up the two side seams. 

.

 

At this time you need to get your strap finished up. Take the two rectangles and lay them with their right sides together. 

Seam around three sides. Turn inside out and top stitch around the outside edges. When you come to the side you left open, pin the seams under and top stitch.

When the strap looks all neat and pretty. Pin the strap inside the two halves of the bag. 

 Pin the sides of the bag together, turning the raw edges under as you go. 

At this point you can either pin the other side of the strap to the inside of the bag on the opposite side of the bag or you can leave it out and add a button and buttonhole to close the bag or a snap. For a nice finish add the button or snap before you close the bag up so that any raw bits or dangling strings can be hidden within the bag. 

Next top stitch around the top of the bag. Cut any extra strings that might have been missed and enjoy your awesome new bag!

 

Alice had a problem, and not just any problem that might have been solved with a little bit of hard work and a can-do attitude. The problem went back to one small simple problem that had quickly gotten out of hand. First her mother had started to cough, then sneeze, then hack and then it seemed like the very next moment Alice’s mother had fallen head first into the hydrangeas. Dead.

This left Alice with a problem, but not an insurmountable one. Certainly it could now be said that Alice was a penniless orphan whom no one in the whole world cared about, but Alice wasn’t one to let the little things interfere with her sunny disposition.

           

This is the part where the problem decided to grow. It grew right into a fairy godmother. Right there in the flower garden next to Alice’s dead mother. The fairy wasn’t very big certainly not bigger than two feet. The fairy was purple and ugly and Alice just didn’t know what to think.

          

To call it pretty would have been a lie, and Alice did not lie. The fairy was sneering up at Alice as she sat back and stared at the fairy in a rather befuddled manner. The fairy looked at Alice and didn’t like what she saw. “Here comes another little brat who is going to ask for the wrong thing and blame me when it blows up.” Thought the fairy to herself. No the fairy did not like Alice one little bit but the fairy had a job to do, and do it she would.

“Hello, I am your fairy godmother,” the fairy said to Alice in a surprisingly sweet toned voice. Alice smiled brilliantly and the fairy ground her pointy teeth at the pretty little orphan.

“Oh how wonderful, I didn’t know I was eligible for a fairy godmother.”

“Well you’ve only now become an orphan, you weren’t even in the system before,” the fairy said begrudgingly, really if there was one thing she couldn’t stand it was grubby little orphans who beamed at the side of dead relatives. The fairy noticed now that the little orphan was even a blond with perfect creamy skin. “All right what do you want?”

“I get three wishes right?” Alice asked with a pointed look at her newly deceased mother while an idea processed.

“I’m not a genie,” the fairy grumbled, “and before you ask, no I can’t bring your mum back to life. She’s very happy where she’s at. You and I are going to leave her alone.” At this the fairy realized that she might have sounded a little rude. Fairy godmothers were not allowed to be rude. The fairy closed her eyes and summoned up the memories of her training from long years past. She had the feeling she was going to need it. Now with a smile on her face, and it didn’t matter that it was forced only that it was there the fairy spoke to Alice. “I am here to make your happily ever after come true. Think hard and tell me what you need to make your happily ever after come true.”

Alice did think but not for very long and certainly not very hard. “Well, I’m a maiden. And what every maiden needs is a handsome prince.” The fairy blinked but managed to keep the sigh of disgust from exiting her mouth, it was going to give her heartburn later though. Instead she raised her stumpy wand and waved it at the garden gate. A handsome prince appeared.

“Excuse me, but I seem to have lost my way.” The fairy grumbled at this obvious pickup line but the prince wasn’t listening and neither was Alice.

“My name is Alice, and if you would like to rest a bit I could have you come and sit in my cool kitchen while I tell you the way to the village.” The prince wasn’t really listening though except to make certain the little maiden wasn’t a hag in disguise. Learning that she wasn’t, really it was quite clear that she wasn’t, he promptly swept her up onto his white charger and whisked her away to his castle.

The fairy went home. She did not try to stop Alice, that wasn’t in her job description although she did feel a small bit of remorse at leaving Alice to the cheating old prince. But Alice had asked for a handsome prince and that is exactly what the fairy had given to Alice. Just as she was settling down with a nice cup of tea and her favorite crossword puzzle though she felt her wand start to buzz. One of her cases was crying and it wouldn’t have taken a fairy Sherlock Holmes to deduce which one it might be. The fairy went off to the castle and Alice with a flick of her wand.

“Well what happened?” The fairy asked Alice bluntly who was sitting in a corner of the kitchens crying to herself.

“He’s horrible!” She gasped and sobbed out her little broken story, “he is mean and he pinches and he has a horrible little wife!” The fairy nodded in as much sympathy as she could muster.

“So you’ve decided you don’t need a prince for your happily ever after? What is it that you want then?” The fairy might have been a little blunt again, but in her defense she was thinking of the particularly difficult cross-word puzzle waiting at home.

“Aren’t you just supposed to give me my happily ever after?” Asked Alice and the fairy noticed that she didn’t look quite as pretty as she had earlier in the day. The fairy shook her head sadly and with a flick of her wand removed them back to Alice’s cottage.

“I can’t give you what you need for your happily ever after because I don’t know what it is that you need to make you happy.” The fairy explained, she didn’t know how many times she had explained just this fact in just this sort of run down hovel but she knew she was getting tired of it. “You need to sit and think hard about what it is that makes you happy, and if it is something I can help you with. When you’re ready let me know.” The fairy handed Alice one of her business cards. “The instructions are on the back.” And the fairy went home, again.

The fairy did not hear from Alice for days, and then months. But on the one year anniversary of Alice’s becoming one of her cases the fairy decided to check up on her. Alice was gardening in the hydrangeas. She looked a little fat to the fairy but the fairy shrugged it off and tapped her on the shoulder.

“It’s been a year and you never called for me, haven’t even cried. Did you ever decide what you need from me?”

“I don’t need anything from you. I’m making my own happily ever after.” She paused for a moment with her hand on her bulging stomach and looked wistfully at the house where a slender young man was making a cradle. “We’re making our own happily ever after.” Alice amended.

The fairy looked from the happy Alice to the happy young man. She nodded once and went home again. Alice wouldn’t need her and hopefully her child would never become a client. For the first time in many years the fairy was able to write a happily ever after success report. The silly humans never seemed to understand but the fairy was glad that Alice had figured it out. There were no happily ever after, only happily ever beginnings.

My new fashion statement

This is my new fashion statement. Apparently some bug that bit me in the past 46 hours or so is one I am slightly allergic to. I have broken out in hives. Me. Ugh. I have slathered on calamine lotion, the good stuff with extra anti-itch technology whatever that is and crafted a bandage.

My awesome bandage is actually a sock (don't tell my hubby cus I totally stole it from him) that I cut and then placed a strategic opening in to reduce the tight fit. I'm kind of in love with the elbow opening and would be even happier if my skin wasn't burning with itchiness. Oi.

Through a Child's Eyes

            I believe in my son. I believe in the lessons he teaches me every day. I believe that he has made me a better person. Every time I look into his smart little eyes I know that I am a better person because of him and that I will strive every day to become better for him and myself. I see him awake each morning eager to explore new things and sometimes even old things and I strive to catch his enthusiasm for the day. I see his willingness to learn new things and I am inspired to learn something new each and every day of my wonderful life with him

             

Before I had a child, I was a selfish and lazy person. I was not a morning person and rarely saw the sun at all in the winter because I would sleep all day. I have suffered for several years with a low balance of iron in my blood which makes it difficult to receive rest when I am sleeping. Because of this medical concern I can sleep for up to eighteen hours at a stretch and still feel tired. No matter how much or how little I sleep I am always tired.

             

 My father may have taught me the value of a clean home and hard work but I was unwilling to follow through on the lessons I knew to be true. Dishes would often pile up in the sink for weeks sometimes months before I got tired of eating on napkins before I would clean anything at all. My house was full of germs and mold and dust. It was an unhealthy place to live but since I was so lazy I didn’t care.

            

 In September of 2009 I became pregnant. Although the pregnancy was not planned and made life difficult for my husband and I, it was a happy time. I remember the very first time I felt my son move within me; it was late in December and I was lying in bed watching the Christmas lights sparkle on our tree. While I looked at the magical twinkling lights I felt something like a butterfly brushing around inside my stomach. Holding a hand to the feeling of movement I realized for the first time that I was responsible for creating a new human life and I was changed.

            

 Now I get up every morning at 7:30 because my son is awake. He expects to be fed in a timely manner and then I have the great opportunity to play with him for the whole morning. I used to not understand the meaning of the word morning, I had nothing to get up for. Now the word morning is sacred to me. Bob the Builder sings annoyingly in the background, mostly ignored by my son and I while my son teaches me about the world around us. Everything is interesting to him because it is all still so new. Everything must be explored and understood. I especially enjoy his speeches that he proclaims in loud baby talk from the middle of the living room. While I can’t understand what he is saying, the speeches are always powerful and given with a great deal of hand waving for added emphasis.

            

 He is always eager to see new things and meet new people. His curiosity gets him into everything, usually trouble no matter where he is. While this can cause problems it can also cause great learning opportunities for both of us. Yesterday on our bike ride my son became entranced with the spinning wheels of the bicycle. I stopped at the park and removed him from his little seat on the back of my bike to let him wander around the bike on his own. I lifted up the back of the bike so that he could spin the tire around. I spoke to him about centrifugal forces and how the invention of the wheel was perhaps the first great invention although its origins are greatly argued.

           

My son will turn one year old in fifteen days. I never know how much he listens to me but I enjoy talking to him and starting the habit of intelligent conversation with him early on. This past year has been full of many ups and downs. Like when my son was teething early in January with four teeth at once, he taught me patience and the true power of Tylenol. Or the moment when he learned to walk in March and the unbelievable surge of pride I was able to feel for someone else’s accomplishment.

             

The lessons my son has taught me are many but the very first lesson he taught me was compassion and understanding. Before I gave birth I knew that the only way to feed a baby was with breast milk, that women who chose not to breast feed were not good mothers or simply not trying hard enough. My son chose not to breast feed. While I was able to pump for a while I realized that feeding him and making sure he grew was the most important part of being a mother in those first few months, no matter what I was feeding him. My son taught me to be more understanding of others in the very first weeks of his life and I am very grateful to him.

I believe in learning something new each day because of my son. He has energy that far outlasts my own reserves and is always happy to meet new people. I am able to look at the world with eagerness and a sense of vigor that had been lacking before my son was born. While I still struggle with a low balance of iron in my blood I have been motivated enough to seek medical help. I am able to take an iron supplement and have a much better diet now.

I had to see my house through my son’s eyes before I became the great housekeeper that I am now. My house is almost always clean and if it is not spotless then there are never dishes in my sink and my house is as free of germs mold and dust as I can make it. My son deserves to live in a healthy environment and I enjoy working hard to provide him with what he does deserve.

Every smile and frown, every giggle and yell brings me purpose and happiness that I had not known could exist before my son existed. Being able to see the world through a child’s eyes has renewed my faith and hope in the world and in myself. I believe in my son.