golden yellow

Is it possible to crave a color? If it is, I'm definitely craving golden yellow. I think it has something to do with anticipating spring--golden sunshine, yellow flowers, and warmer air. It's just such a happy color.

Over the last three days or so, I've been enjoying doing all sorts of fun Etsy searches for things with "golden yellow" in them. It has been a nice (though not overly practical) way of spending quality time sitting with my heating pad trying to sooth a sore back. Here are few of the golden yellow things I found and loved.

1. citrine nugget necklace 2. hand painted letter C 3. genuine depression glass teacup 4. daffodil scarf 5. baby partridge beeswax candle 6. Daisy hairpins

1. vintage floral, linen, and wood purse 2. black-eyed-susan t-shirt 3. flower and honey chalcedony earrings 4. 1950's silk dress (oh, how I wish I had the money, occasion, and courage to wear this!) 5. wildflower watercolor 6. bow-decorated canvas tote

1. bird and bead earrings 2. vintage sweater 3. vintage bead necklace 4. over-the-top peony 5. golden skies 6. amber pressed glass bowl

waffle making

Little Man and I love making (and eating!) waffles. He's getting to be such a good kitchen helper that it actually saves me time when he works with me! Our favorite recipe is the Joy of Cooking's basic waffle recipe. Once our waffle batter is mixed up, I cook the waffles in my waffle maker--a vintage one that I inherited from my great-grandmother.

At first I was disappointed that I didn't have a new waffle maker. I'm sure this was partly due to the fact that it took me several tries to figure out how to make perfectly cooked, stick-free waffles. Multiple failures can be discouraging, you know.

However, once I leaned that 1/3 cup of batter (plus a little more for the edges) makes just the right size of waffle and that cooking it on the "dark" setting for 3 minutes toasts it a perfect, crispy brown I started loving my vintage maker. Now I'm not quite what I'll do when my trusty (though quirky) vintage waffle iron is no longer around to turn out those delicious golden stacks of waffles we all love.

Sweet Pea's sweater

Remember how I said I had gotten brave started a little sweater for Sweet Pea? Well, last week and weekend everything aligned for me to work on finishing it: a long wait while getting blood tests done, a cold which kept me confined at home, and the master's golf tournament, which happens to go quite nicely with crocheting. And finish it I did.

I used a free pattern from Ravelry for the sweater and made up the hat pattern all by myself. The yarn is TLC cotton plus yarn, and the buttons are vintage shell buttons from my stash.

There are some imperfections, but that's to be expected from my first ever attempt at sweater making. Overall I'm delighted with how it turned out, though, and am eager for more sweater-making adventures.

What do you think. Does she look cute in it? I'm sure it'll look much cuter when she is actually here are fits into in. : )

insomnia

the inability to sleep

while feeling ready to drop from exhaustion

when every cell cries for rest

has to be among the most uncomfortable sensations

in human history

fragments on song

flashes of image

incomplete thought

swirl in my brain

whirlwind speed

the aches

and sharp pains

that make themselves known

are an even louder phenomenon

i toss and turn

in a rest

that is not rest

Lord, give me peace

help me to sleep

and be nice

even if i can't

can't get enough

A few of the special things that as I parent I never seem to tire of:

~Sweet voices lifted in song.

~Peals of unreserved laughter.

~New words, carefully pronounced.

~Being called "Muver."

~"I love you Mama." "You're nice." And "I like you, Mama."

~"I'm glad you made it."

~Little toes, wrinkled from the bath, dirty from play, or thumping across the floor.

~Small yet sturdy hands nestled in mine.

~Complexity of color and depth of expression in blue and brown eyes.

~Curls and cowlicks.

~Lap-snuggles

~"I missed you!"

~Brothers playing sweetly together.

~Big hugs and sticky kisses.

~Sleeping boys, noise and motion for a moment stilled to relaxed forms, even breathing, peaceful faces.

~Sweet just-awakened smiles.

wedding gifts and custom order

I've been needing to make a couple more of my personalized I Corinthians 13 calligraphies for wedding gifts. Receiving an order for a third I Corinthians 13 piece from my shop gave me the motivation to get right on it and finish all three last week.

This one is for a dear friend who is getting married in June. I wanted to work ahead on this gift because I really won't have much spare time when the wedding comes around since Little Man is the ring bearer, and I'll be doing wedding photography. I love how the distressed frame and damask-like patterned paper came together with a look that I'm certain will suit them to a T. (Just wait until I show you some of their wedding photos, and you'll see what I mean!) Plus I know that they have taken I Corinthians 13 to heart and made it their theme passage as a couple, so I know they'll be blessed by the message.

While each of the three pieces that I made has subtle variations and takes on a "feel" of its own, it would be rather tedious to post many photos of all of them. That said, the names are all completely unique, so I thought I would post photos of each of them.

Their names fit so nicely together...

This was for my special order. My customer requested that I add their three children's names as well since (in her words) "they are just as much a part of our love as we are." Isn't that sweet? I also had to smile in delight when I realized that their daughters' names are Melody and Cadence, two musical names. I find myself praying that God will use my art to bless and encourage their family even though I don't know them.

This final one is for Benjamin's cousin and his new wife. Their wedding invitation came addressed in copperplate which made my heart beat a little faster and my whole day brighter. It was so lovely; I will certainly be saving that envelope! Anyway, it made me wonder if she is also a calligrapher. Whether or not she is, I hope they enjoy the beauty I'm sending their way like I enjoyed the beauty they sent to me.

Linking up to Jennifer's studio sneak peek even though I wrote this one Tuesday instead of Friday. Maybe one of these weeks I'll actually be more on the ball and time it correctly. ; )

Little Man's culinary creation

I am proud to present to you Little Man's very first culinary creation! He made up the recipe and then helped me implement it.

Applesauce-crowned Gingerbread

Ingredients:

~1 batch of your favorite gingerbread (We used The Joy of Cooking's Applesauce Gingerbread recipe. We also like their Old Fashioned Gingerbread recipe.)

~applesauce

~syrup

Cut cooled gingerbread into squares. Spoon applesauce to taste over each square. Drizzle with syrup. Enjoy!

monday menu

Well, our week of experimental ovo-lacto-vegetarianism went very well. We did cheat on the last day, though, because it was a cold, snowy day, and I really wanted meaty chili for dinner. Well, that plus I had taken the glucose test to check for gestational diabetes the day before, so my blood sugar levels were still acting a little crazy, and I wanted plenty of protein.

This week chicken is on sale, and we still have lots of beef in the freezer. I'm looking forward to planning a meaty menu again. : ) Here's what I'm cooking:

M-My mom is planning this meal. So far all I know is that we're having steaks.

T-barbecue chicken sandwiches

W-chicken cacciatore

Th-chicken lettuce wraps (I've been craving these like crazy!)

F-roast beef, rice and gravy, vegetable

What are you cooking this week?

i am commanded to

"Be still,

and know that I am God."

i am given the option to

"Cast your burden upon the LORD

and He will sustain you;
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken."

and Jesus pleads with me

"Come to Me,

all who are weary and heavy-laden,

and I will give you rest.

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,

for I am gentle and humble in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

so why

do i cling to my worries and fears

nourish my discontent

indulge anxiety

engage in frantic-paced days

allow myself to be upset

and distracted from what matters most

why?

it is not

so hard to let go

to offer empty hands

and peaceful heart

as i make myself believe

not when i have His help

i lift my voice in praise

"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears our burden,
The God who is our salvation."

psalm 46:10, psalm 55:22, matthew 11:28-30, psalm 68:19

for my niece

Ever since my first niece (the daughter of Benjamin's oldest brother) was born a few months after Little Man arrived, I've been enjoying making fun and girly projects for her. When we found out that Benjamin's second brother and his wife are also having a little girl who is due to arrive in June, I was thrilled to have another little niece for whom to make girly things. The fact that I'm having a little girl of my own hasn't diminished my crafty enthusiasm.

I have a couple more things I'd like to craft for this newest niece before I mail her package, but here are the things I have completed already.

When I saw a cute little sunflower-adorned baby hat on Etsy, I just knew I had to make one similar for this niece. Her mama can pull off a cute hat like no other plus she loves sunflowers, so the combination seemed like a match made in heaven.

I had so much fun finding the hat pattern, perfecting my alterations to make it just what I envisioned, and making up my own sunflowers pattern. It quite lives up to what my brain envisioned.

The second gift that I have already completed is a blanket very similar to the one I made for Brother. I love having the warmth from the two layers of flannel without the bulk that batting adds. Plus the simple construction (just ten pieces) makes for a blanket that goes together quickly.

I hope my new little niece will get lots of use from the things her Aunt Christina loves making and (perhaps more importantly) that my sister- and brother-in-law will enjoy them too.