::'~ a sisterly visit & pictures

Caleb's sweet sisters Ana and Leah came over for a visit yesterday, which unfortunately is something that doesn't happen very often despite the fact that we live within walking distance (busy schedules and whatnot). We had a lovely time. They were even able to stay for supper and the evening. Greta was charming (a good thing--she's such a mommie's girl that sometimes she's not so sure about company!) I got to use Ana's camera for the duration of the visit and so was able to quell some of my longing to take pictures. :)
(Auntie's skirt was bee-yew-tiful)

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~*~ . ~*~ . ~*~
My favorite subject for picturage is, as always, my little Rosebud. She is growing so fast. I know everyone said she would (and I believed them), but I cannot believe the difference from day-to-day. It’s not like she waits a week to learn another charming little thing to do. She has now found her tongue and works ever so hard to turn it around in her mouth when she talks to me in order to make different sounds. She spends a good deal of time on her tummy now when she plays on the floor and tries to scoot herself forward. Sewing scissors are not safe, even on the far side of the living room because she has shifted into ‘explore gear’ even if she can’t crawl yet. She rolls everywhere that she wants to go. Her thumb and her bunny are her favorite comfort things, after her mommie and daddy.

These mornings have been extra cool (this morning was 57 when I came downstairs to make breakfast), so Greta has been wearing her little pullover purpley polar fleece hoodie and socks in the morning. Even so, her toes were getting cold, so yesterday morning I made her a pair of reversible cloth slippers (using this tutorial and making the pattern bigger) and they turned out very well. The inside is a lovely blue polar fleece, so they should be cozy for her. I plan to make her a couple more pairs as time allows.
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(I stole your picture of them on her footsies, Ana!)

~*~ ~*~ ~*~

Other things around my home:

Next to my rocker ~'::

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
sage :: kombucha (fermenting on the left and to drink on the right) :: phlox, tomatoes and sunshine

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:: Mommie's girl ::

Precious

My little girl has fallen asleep for a good nap now for the first time since nine this morning. I have put her to sleep since then, but she’d always wake right back up again. A noise or a tummy-bubble or some such thing would interrupt. So a little bit ago I put her in the living room to play, since she was obviously tired and not liking her bouncy seat (she was making loud noises and fake coughing sounds to get my attention!) I gave her some toys to play with, and she had a nice time rolling around and exploring. Just now I looked over at her and saw that she had fallen asleep in the middle of playing with a little rag doll. She had rolled onto her side to play with the dolly. Her fingers are holding onto the little dolly’s braids, and her thumb is in her mouth. The little denim jumper she had on today is scrunched up from her exploring, and you can see her pink onesie over her little farm-animal-print diaper cover. Chubby legs are lying where they had been when they were trying to scoot her along, one knee bent, toes pushing into the carpet. Sound asleep.

And I don’t have a working camera. Aaahch.

a tour of the garden

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Greta Rosie's Auntie Ana took her to smell and feel the flowers in Grandma's garden. They were such a pretty picture! Auntie Leah took Greta for another tour today, letting her touch the leaves just as she loves to do. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a picture of Greta with Auntie Leah because our camera died. Very sad. So there may be fewer pictures around here until that problem is remedied.

Do you remember this sketching and this diaper bag project? Well, I was intending to finish it before my little one came (naturally!), and actually spent most of the day before she was born sewing on it. But since Jesus brought her to us a week before her due date, and I wasn't expecting her then (I was trying awfully hard to think late instead of early ... I was told first babies often are that way), I never finished it and have only just now felt like I had enough margin time to spend a couple of hours finishing projects that I had going last winter. So yesterday I finished the last little bits of this bag. I have been using various totes and large purses as a diaper bag, but I think this is going to be much more convenient. It turned out just like it was designed: huge, floppity, and, um ... huge & floppy. I am not sure I love all aspects of it. But it was a first try, right? I know a few things I will do differently next time if I ever have another let's-make-a-diaper-bag urge. But for now it will be very helpful. There's enough room for more than one diaper (hurrah!) as well as the necessary changes of clothes and spit-up cloths, plus a picture book, a book I'm reading, my latest knitting project, a load of laundry to fold ... ok, so maybe not the laundry. It even has a handy purse-like zippered pocket on the front. All in all, I am glad for it. :)

cut from the garden

::'~ from the farm

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folding

This Carl Larsson painting reminds me of my Greta!

Afternoon laundry

I am drying a load of light clothes on my porch this afternoon as usual. Greta is keeping me company and being very noisy in doing so. She's so silly sometimes! I never imagined that she would be so much fun. Seeing her ruffly dresses and sweetly printed jammies on the drying rack makes me happy. Do you see the little pink "fancy pants" with the brown polka dots and lacey edging? Yummy.

bean blossoms

Nearer

Oh Jesus, draw nearer,
And make Thyself dearer,
I yearn, I am yearning for Thee;
Come take for Thy dwelling,
The heart that is swelling
With longings Thy beauty to see!

How languid and weary,
How lonely and dreary,
The days when Thou hidest Thy face;
How sorrow and sadness
Are turned into gladness,
By a glimpse of its love and its grace.

Come nearer, come nearer,
And make Thyself dearer,
Thou joy, Thou delight of my heart.
Close, close to Thee pressing
I long for Thy blessing,
I cannot without it depart.

~From Golden Hours: Heart-Hymns of the Christian Life by Elizabeth Payson Prentiss~

My thoughts exactly

A quote that expresses my feelings on the matter very nicely:

"The Visual Embodiment of Femininity"

~'::

from last weekend

Drivin' the truck with her Daddy ~'::

a little ham with poochy lips

Someone notices whenever I get the camera out these days and wants it. She wants to grab it and eat it (same as with everything else that comes across her path).

rosebud treasures

Aren't these plates just lovely?

diaper bag mommie jewelry

hollyhocks

Echinacea

Echinacea angustifolia

"Parts used: Root. Properties: Alterative, antiseptic, lymphatic, parasiticide, sialagogue. What it affects: Blood, lymph, and kidneys.

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Echinacea is the most effective blood and lymphatic cleanser of all the herbs; and it is tolerated by the system in fairly large amounts. The plant is apparently nontoxic; although, in some people, it may cause mild dizziness and nausea for a time. But combining it with a small amount of licorice root, or making the tea with 2-3 dates, will reduce these symptoms.

Use echinacea internally and externally for acne, bad breath, boils, gangrene, infections, skin diseases, tonsillitis. It is said to be effective against all venomous bites from insects, snakes, other animals, and reactions to poison oak and ivy. It is used for open wounds and painful surface swellings.

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Echinacea is an excellent antibiotic, and ranks with goldenseal and red clover.

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Warning: It should be used with caution by those who are pregnant, or allergic to ragweed or plants in the sunflower family. ... Only take 1 week at a time."

~Excerpt from the Natural Remedies Encyclopedia by Vance Ferrell & Harold M. Cherne, M.D.~

It's glowing...

My wonderful man spent his afternoon and evening putting fresh wiring in my chandelier so it could glow for me. It is so warm and cozy there in my corner. I am thrilled.

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from my kitchen

~ a picture of a mama and her girl hanging out laundry
~ perfectly tarnished silver spoons ... just for pretty
~ little [real] Delft shoes that Daddy brought back from a trip to Holland years ago
~ my violet teapot that has held my hot tea for years (... a decade maybe?)
~ a healthy ivy plant

Rain

There is a lovely little thunderstorm outside my windows. I was able to successfully move Greta Rosie from our bed to her crib without her waking up this morning when I got up to make my man's and my coffee and toast. I heard a peep from her a short bit ago, but when I went to check her she had found her thumb and fallen asleep again. She's such a snuggly little girl in her soft cotton jammies. So I have some moments of quiet with my coffee. Heavy patterings of rain, thunder and lightning. Love it.

rosebud sheets

My favorites.

Too bad they don't fit my bed!

The one in the background was my Great-Grandma's.

Next Size Up

~*~ 3 dozen brand new diapers for Her Royal Sweetitude, which my mama has washed, shrunk and fluffed for me--all ready to use ~*~

Love Bug