Afternoon Play

Freshly Ground

Behold my new coffee bean grinder!

Now I can grind "Eight O'Clock" beans for my morning brew. Yummy.

piano

::'~
Meet the newest addition to our little home—a piano!
The three of us are so pleased to have it. It has a beautiful sound and has been in Caleb's family (which makes it feel at home with us). Greta loves music and knew right away what it was when she woke up to it in our living room—she was so excited! I am thrilled.
I don't play but would like to be able to one of these days. :)
* * * *

A snow storm is swirling outside today, and inside Greta and I are enjoying sweet homeyness. The laundry needs looking after today. Greta Rose is working on teeth again, and so is a bit more snuggly. She gives the nicest hugs now, and periodically will come up to me and give me an affectionate one (I suppose I do it often to her!) She wraps her arms around my neck tightly and lays her cheek against mine or on my shoulder. “Nah-nah”, she says (“nah” is her word for nice).
We’re glad to be back into our daily routine, to have Daddy back from his business trip and to go about our days in our own dear home. Greta and I missed our guy a good deal. I was glad for a chance to spend several days at Mama and Papa’s house, though. It was such a treat!
* * *
I had a comfortable bit of hemming to finish on a skirt this morning--a lovely skirt out of a cut of brown suiting with perfect drape. I am pleased to have it finished so I can wear it. Last Wednesday Mama, Greta and I went on a little expotition to a fabric store and we picked out enough yardage for three new skirts for me for the spring (my Christmas present from Mama and Papa). We found three lovely patterns: a brown suiting, a lovely cream with soft little pink and gold mini-roses, and a spring green with cream polka dots—just the sort I always look for! Since I was at the farm for a couple of days I took advantage of the vacationary mood and got all three sewn (all but the hem on the last one). I used the same favorite pattern of mine as before.

Greta on a fabric shopping expedition...and other skirt-making photos:


















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::'~ ~'::
Greta Rose has her very own new skirt!
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* * *

Drinking a cup of Good Earth tea. So yummy, and without sweetener too. Listening to the most beautiful song right now: "Revelation Song" by Kari Jobe, my new favorite-est—a brief interlude to our audiobook listening. Today it’s Prince Caspian, for the who-knows-how-manyeth time—it never gets old!

~'::
While visiting my family, I went a-looking through the family picture boxes (a favorite pastime of mine) and found some gems from Central America. I brought a few home with me, and some of them I put up in my kitchen to keep me company. I think Papa took them. The little chubby blonde girl making the silly face is me.

Comfort Food

Going back to Mama and Papa's home is always partly about eating Mama's cooking again.
Making nourishing food is a great part of Mama's life. It's her thing. She spends most of her days in the kitchen making meals, frugal and delicious meals, from scratch. There's almost always a pot of homemade stock bubbling away on the back of the stove--like a Jewish mama. When Greta and I walked into the kitchen on Wednesday morning there was a stockpot with a couple of chickens in it cooking away for stock, and dough rising for five loaves of toast bread.
I take pictures of food because it makes me happy. Mama's food (to me) equals happy taste-buds, comfort, conversation, togetherness, artistry. And usually a few extra loved ones around the table.

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chicken stock to simmer ::'~ baby greens with Mama's entirely fabulous vinaigrette ::'~ freshly toasted granola ::'~ grilled cheese (provolone on Mama's toast bread) ::'~ homemade tomato soup ::'~ pancakes ::'~ Greta's morning oatmeal

Noodle Making

Ben's New Radio

Retro deliciousity...and it actually works!

morning

Man has gone to work

I hear wakeful noises, calling

Mama comes in the dark

little face squints at the light

back down creaking stairs with snuggles

a dry diaper

early noonies in the cozy rocker by the fire

Cookies

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Making festive cookies with my friend this afternoon. Charity did all of the actual work of mixing, cutting and baking these sweet little hearts, but we did frost them together. The beautiful pink ones are the ones that she did (I don't have quite the knack like she does!) They taste super yummy. :)
Our guys are working together again this weekend so we have a good excuse to get together. The babies love playing together as well. :)

eat your peas

Greta has a new-found appreciation for little baby sweet peas as a snack. :)

A New Dress ~'::

One good reason not to wear too much eye makeup:

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You wouldn't want to have to think twice about playing peekaboo with pink squishy toes!

::'~ * ~'::

One of the great joys of crawling out of the weekend's kitchen mess:
renewed inspiration and zeal for culinary pursuits!
(It's amazing what a shiny sink and clean stovetop can do for a person's emotional well-being. Mama always told me so.)

Brown Rice, steaming away

Today I heard the sound of rain on my roof!

(37°F)

{another from Ann}

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Daze of Grace

a post from Holy Experience

If I posted all of the ones that I loved from Ann's blog...well, let's just say my blog would be full of these such links! I was in the mood tonight to pass my encouragement on...

::'~

Pixie Hood

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Greta's winter hats were getting much too small for her, so I made her a warm little pixie hood this morning. The fabric is from two sweaters, one of mine and one of Mimi's, the yo-yo is made from fabric for her new jumper and the yarn is leftover from my new saffron-colored shawl. :)

Greta was ready for a nap when I took these pictures. She really didn't want to model her new hood during dinner.