Happy Thanksgiving

Sew happy

Elise made a cute crazy chickie pillow last week.  I love that design.  I plan to spring for Spoonflower and get it made into fabric.  She's got a whole pile of great pictures that will be absolutely fabulous.

I sewed some leggings this morning, using the pinprick method of making a pattern from a pair I already had.  And it worked.  Be still my beating heart.  Now I can make several more (from fabric in my stash) and wear them with skirts this winter.  It will be a sewing weekend!

But before that, there is Thanksgiving to attend to.  I had the 12-hour flu on Tuesday, but now I can think about food again.  (Karl had to take a sick day to drive the kids to all their classes.)  We were going to make the pies tonight, but instead reloaded books and music on my new nano ipod.  Apple replaced my old one under warranty, as the main button didn't function anymore.  We also brought up the TV from the basement so we can watch Thanksgiving things tomorrow (the parade, maybe some football, Snoopy, etc.).  Some of us watched Nature and Nova, and then we were too tired to make pies.  So tomorrow, the boys are off to the Berbee Derby, and Elise and I will clear the dining room to set a nice table, and throw the turkey in, too.  When they get home, we'll finish cooking together and have a nice meal.  We plan to make the pies in the afternoon, as we never have room for dessert right away, anyway.  Hope you all have a good Thanksgiving, too!

Quiet week

This week we did some science at the University.  The kids learned a few lab techniques for working with stem cells...and played with rubber gloves.  I sewed a lot of bags, and Elise made a pillow.  I keep losing that picture, but maybe I can get it back later.  Karl and Albin went to a friend's Chocolate Party, and brought some home for me and Elise--it tasted amazing!  Even though she was sick, Elise made it through half her rehearsal for the nutcracker, and last night Karl and I saw the last show of The Lamentable Tragedie of Scott Walker with a friend, as Elise was sick and couldn't go.  Today, Elise and I are both sick and on the couch, playing on computers, or reading.  And that's a quick recap of the week...

Mondayness

Karl bought a new work tool.  Actually, he got it last week, just to see how well it would work for him, but had to upgrade memory and whatnot.  Behold, Elise opening the new Ipad.  She is very excited to have one in the house, even if it is only evenings and weekends.  Karl is playing Cake Mania right now, while Elise patiently waits her turn.  Albin played a little bit of something yesterday.  I guess they all like it.  I looked up the weather on it a few days ago.  Touch screens are not quite my forte, but I'm glad they all have a good time with it.

We did some yard work this weekend, including raking the driveway, putting away the rain barrels, and covering the gardens.  We have some silly sugar snap peas growing in our garden.  Don't they look sweet and green?

This is supper tonight--walnut and feta quiche, and a turkey pot pie for the kids.  The quiche turned out to be really tasty, full of onions and cheesy yumminess.  I'll be having some for breakfast, too.  I was going to make apple pie with our last jar of apple pie filling, but didn't have enough crust for that.  Oh well, it'll keep.

our day, thus far

We have a silly package ready to go for Haley, and Elise is right now working on the contents for a similar silly package for Joy.  The post office is closed for Armistice Day today, so we'll have to mail them tomorrow.  (I know it's generally called Veteran's Day, but I like the old-fashioned name this holiday once had.  I chased the kids out of the house to see the flag-raising ceremony downtown by the veterans.  It only lasted a few minutes, but I'm glad we went.)

Most of the day was spent playing Monopoly, reading, and napping.  There are now houses on every property set, so things will start to get more interesting.  After supper, Elise and I will go to a friend's house tonight to start planning our holiday cards.  It's been a lovely, slow day at home together.

first snow of winter

What's that? I can't hear you; there's a banana in my ear.

I haven't had the camera out much lately, and never seem to have much to say without a picture or two. Here are some yellow things of fall. The leaves are gorgeous right now. This tree was one of the longest to hold onto them, though they are almost all gone now. The banana doesn't have much to do with fall, actually, but it is one of our few recent pictures.

Karl rearranged the office/sewing room this weekend, and now I have much more room to work. The office desk is more tidy, too. Karl is just a visionary at seeing things--the big picture, how all the pieces work, and how to make it more efficient.

I've started sewing our family Christmas presents already. I'd show you a peek, but one of them might see it, so you'll have to wait. All I can say is that there are no pajama pants this year (for which Albin is probably truly thankful).