Merry Making

Not to much to say, just some pictures to share. Hope yours was Merry, and full of cars, trains, books, food, and pets (if you're into that sort of thing)!

What was YOUR favorite part?

Getting ready

It looks like baked goods have fallen off of the list, but so so many fun things got done instead. Getting so close...

So looking forward to seeing everyone and revealing the making and doing!

Hello Winter

It snowed! Finally finally (not that I'm complaining about the gorgeous November we had) but we finally got a sticking snow and got out to play in it. O waddled around in his snow pants, Veda tromped like a puppy, and Cricket curled up on the radiator. On Saturday, we finally got a chance to get our tree from Green Garden, a tradition we started last year.

A new tradition for this year: knit hats. I've seen others doing the same and liked the idea and of course Brian was on board. So each year before Christmas, Brian will get a new hat. I think I'll have to include Oliver in the deal too. He is wearing a handknit hat on this trip. It is a hat that Kud knit for me, but it was too small. So I washed it and now it's Oliver's. Perfect. Brian's got his Botanic Hat and I've got on my Crochet Hat (details on Ravelry - so Join Join!). Hats and Trees. We like wool. And snow.

My studio: Take 4

The latest variation on a theme: my room. (Used to be my "sewing" room but I've decided that there's more that goes on in there than sewing - although mostly sewing to be honest - but anyway, "studio" sounds so much more creative. right?) When Grammy and Grandpa were visiting, I got a little art weekend. My version of bird camp. Sorta. Anyway, I got some terrible sewing done, and finally decided that I had had enough. In order to be effecient and sneak in some sewing time, I was going to need to clean and reorganize and get this place whipped back into shape. Viola.

I love this table! I've been wanting a funky chrome dinette table for a while, but never found the perfect one (except the one that got away...) until I stumbled across this at Vinnie's on Presque Isle. Trying to be rational, I walked away, a trick I learned from Kud. If I was still thinking about it the next day, I would go back. Well the next day was Applefest and I didn't get to go back to Vinnie's until the following Monday, where the table was gloriously still there and had been REDUCED to $30. Thrifting nirvana.

I have a thing for train cases. Lunch pails, train cases... maybe I just like boxes?

These are now filled with project stuff.

Oops - don't look at that last one. That's the white underbelly of my studio. My ungainly fabric piles. BUT it is an improvement over the floor and they are organized by fabric type (and then covered with upholstery fabric so they won't fade). Hey, it works.

So now, I suppose, it's time to get creative.

Ugh

No, I hadn't intended to make Oliver a set of flannel jammies resembling an off the shoulder shirt and skinny jeans. After 2 flannel failures, I'm clearly going to have to use a pattern, and one specifically intended for unstretchy flannel.

It's such a bummer to have a bummer project. Not only the wasted time and materials, but the bummer cloud that hangs over all other good and productive things that may follow. I am now 5 good projects past the bummer jammies and I am finally out from under the funk. Whew.

Thanks

Maybe Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday after all. Family, food, and fun times together! Oh yeah, and celebrating things we're all grateful for. What's not to love?

"catserole"

This year, we're feeling especially thankful for

:: Family and friends, as always

:: Good health!

:: Good meals that nourish us inside and out (Mum says I can't put "simple" meals)

:: Turkey, Peoples, Cricket, Veda (that's from Oliver, but I'll second it)

:: Minor obstacles that help us appreciate everything we can be grateful for

From the Bastone Kudejs to you, Happy Thanksgiving!

Mama, fetch me the paper

Eggs and more

I really like this food theme. I finished up the eggs and finally took a photo. Bought a couple wooden foods from Kangaroo Boo (a fun kids store), and have gotten heaps more ideas by perusing Etsy, as Jods suggested. I think I may get some Farfalle felt pasta from there, but otherwise, I'd like to make more and more stuff. This is what we've got so far:

[ veggie teethers by Under the Nile, wooden food by Haba and Estia, wool mushrooms by Jods, eggs (pre-serging) by me]

So I've got some big ideas and I've been working on play grocery sacks and collecting thrift store kitchen accoutrements but I really need to get to work on some more FOOD. I'm thinking mostly fruit and veggies but I think I could also do crackers, leafy greens, maybe fish... I want to stay away from sweets (people seem to be big on cupcakes, cookies, and cakes) and focus on healthy foods. Keep those suggestions coming! 

Luncsh

I'm not sure why he picked it up, but Oliver says "Luncsh". It's one of his favorite words and it means "meal" more than lunch specifically. But he also says "nack" and understands that a snack is sort of like a mini-Lunch.

We share an affinity for lunch, Oliver and I. Dad likes to tell stories about taking Kud and I to work and shortly after arriving we would (or was it just me?) ask, "is it lunch time yet?" I get to pick when I eat now, being a grown-up and all, but I still like lunch quite well. And, specifically, lunch pails. I just got Oliver a new lunch pail (ridiculous really - it's supposed to be for school age kids). But it's this super cool Obento style box made by Goodbyn. It's awesome! It's BPA-free, has little sealing compartments so you don't need baggies or other containers, it's made from recycled materials in Michigan, and owned by a Seattle group. Good stuff.

I wish I was a product tester. Kud is a product tester of cool and practical things like boots, tents, packs, performance clothes. I wish I was a lunch pail tester (and a cloth diaper tester, but that's another post and story, I think). I kinda collect lunch pails, see. And I'm definitely into the no- or low-waste lunch, but for some reason, lunch boxes just call to me. And this is my photo gallery of Lunch Love:

My Lil Oscar! I searched high and low until I found one in the Soo Goodwill

Good ole fashioned lunch pail and thermos. Just like Dad's. Snatched up at the Bank Building Antique Mall.

My Tiffin! A present from Darling.

My Obento box and sack - an Ebay find.

Ahh, Kud's and my lunch pails boxes from yesteryear. I actually sold mine at my parents' garage sale years ago and instantly wanted it back. So Darling found me another one in Aberdeen. It used to belong to Sherry Blondeau. Says so on the front. I need to have Mum write BASTONE across the inside. Like mine used to say. Like Kud's still does.

Oliver's lunch sack! A gift from Auntie Karleen.

By the way, there is a great website: Reusable Bags that has a fantastic selection of no- or low-waste lunch solutions. Pails, tiffins, boxes, bags, snack sacks, drink bottles... *sigh* a veritable lunch-pail-tester's heaven.

What are you toting your lunch in?