tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-176615012024-03-23T11:03:13.484-07:00YarnnationLiving Life at the End of a RowMeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.comBlogger405125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-81402316493421716902011-02-11T21:16:00.000-08:002011-02-11T21:16:58.890-08:00MarleyThe Lion Baby has nearly gown out of his winter hat. With still two months of winter here left to go, I needed to make sure his adorable head was going to be covered.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqVK2_2VVT6XYYhxA4ZI8vOXlPdXtVL1vB4ezGqV8s3hol-xBnvQTS1DK9HuEdFc37lrTILaoi6vPyUmCZJsgn0ljctmO9Lk0Xxfl8wRSMQe2q_ikG0c4K2pgLjsPHvOI_hKWdg/s1600/IMG_0783.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJqVK2_2VVT6XYYhxA4ZI8vOXlPdXtVL1vB4ezGqV8s3hol-xBnvQTS1DK9HuEdFc37lrTILaoi6vPyUmCZJsgn0ljctmO9Lk0Xxfl8wRSMQe2q_ikG0c4K2pgLjsPHvOI_hKWdg/s320/IMG_0783.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rainbow-marley">Rainbow Marley</a> from<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/sources/itty-bitty-hats"> Itty-Bitty Hats</a> by Susan B. Anderson<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJXYsySnI20HrqXoVuNrEn93fhRUZewmhxWEznu-BE4K5acewl3jvGrOzVtBW7qyP3l_bDgZ1Nrnanbq8ZqE6HFy0x9Vjq8bwUzBoT9VnJ6cZxf3nAXFsfn7JN4T7z4GHo7j6hQ/s1600/IMG_0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwJXYsySnI20HrqXoVuNrEn93fhRUZewmhxWEznu-BE4K5acewl3jvGrOzVtBW7qyP3l_bDgZ1Nrnanbq8ZqE6HFy0x9Vjq8bwUzBoT9VnJ6cZxf3nAXFsfn7JN4T7z4GHo7j6hQ/s320/IMG_0785.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> The Yarn is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/cascade-yarns-220-superwash">Cascade 220 Superwash</a> (Blue) and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/yarns/library/lion-brand-natures-choice-organic-cotton">Nature's Choice Organic Cotton.</a> I know it's a strange choice to mix wool and cotton in color work, and I may regret it, but it's just stripes, and honestly, I've never machine washed any of the kids hats, only spot treated them, so I'm not too worried about it.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJO-G3QzrVXEPbT1nzu5bDhtYUXg3KqWor8dwiW4WZJbHzfwvoFnR43R6sbLt5P62EZyENMpY-8xt6Hb8tHaJ2E-94oN0bsuVlwPbrthBVrijl5mJJudKCViT3hpmv2_g7igzlCg/s1600/IMG_0787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJO-G3QzrVXEPbT1nzu5bDhtYUXg3KqWor8dwiW4WZJbHzfwvoFnR43R6sbLt5P62EZyENMpY-8xt6Hb8tHaJ2E-94oN0bsuVlwPbrthBVrijl5mJJudKCViT3hpmv2_g7igzlCg/s320/IMG_0787.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Modifications: The pattern calls for every other (in this case) green stripe to be in seed stitch instead of garter stitch. I liked the cohesive look of garter each time, though. I also did more of the curly toppers than the pattern calls for and varied their lengths.<br />
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Super cute on my chubby baby, and it's big enough that it should (fingers crossed) fit him next winter as well!Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-55939211066874891972010-12-06T13:30:00.000-08:002010-12-06T13:30:54.213-08:00The Duke's Quilt - at long lastIt took me nearly two years, but last night I finally finished the <a href="http://yarnnation.blogspot.com/2009/09/time-to-get-quilts-out-or-finished.html">quilt for the Duke. </a><br />
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The pattern is from Tricia Cribbs' <a href="http://www.friendfolks.com/store-detail.php?cat=2&ID=6"><u>Turning Twenty Just Got Better</u>. </a><br />
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I love this idea. You can make a twin quilt (70" x 86") with only 20 fat quarters and fabric for the back. You use almost every bit of the fabric.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqvJjmoG1MfXcd_RVKjBeUXf3RKjRI7hLD2zYDzmeF7om9U5WwZriuAH8S12N7oirptDcX-rpdP0JMbAuviQ0_E1Wu-ug4TpwjSD7fvlbAwIahUB4MQ9twVJdOn6c2uIbNZH2lw/s1600/IMG_0239.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpqvJjmoG1MfXcd_RVKjBeUXf3RKjRI7hLD2zYDzmeF7om9U5WwZriuAH8S12N7oirptDcX-rpdP0JMbAuviQ0_E1Wu-ug4TpwjSD7fvlbAwIahUB4MQ9twVJdOn6c2uIbNZH2lw/s400/IMG_0239.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-6995931064841222902010-12-02T15:47:00.000-08:002010-12-02T15:48:52.240-08:00Featured on RemodelaholicWow, WoW, WOW!!!<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_924119317"><br />
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<a href="http://yarnnation.blogspot.com/2010/08/sarahs-stone-soup-garden.html">Sarah's Stone Soup Garden</a> has been featured on one of my favorite blogs, <a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/2010/12/stone-soup-garden.html">Remodelaholic!</a><br />
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<center><a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab229/remodelaholic/RemodelaholicFeaturebutton.jpg" /></a></center>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-29267762326835523872010-12-01T16:23:00.000-08:002010-12-01T16:25:13.799-08:00Where is Yarnnation?Well, friends, this my first blog and my baby has been neglected for some time now. I even missed her birthday. In October my little blog turned five. Yes, I have been blogging for five years. A lot has changed in my life over the course of those five year.<br />
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I became increasingly passionate about knitting and my obsessive nature kicked into overdrive. Over the course of about three years I knit hundreds of pieces and became quite an advanced knitter. I also learned to spin my own yarn and dye my own fiber.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVukejlTVgGbev7ivVs4sgc_1YaysG93-73kvrHGFozQdfvHsO6eKs5Q-Tn-JVcd0b6NWXg5tEyNhO4i8KNqQ_boz3GhGw29LwdhXvXidc5Zx7xfzCtbOyW3vIVWzxJ2zjOSLgNQ/s1600/IMG_0140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVukejlTVgGbev7ivVs4sgc_1YaysG93-73kvrHGFozQdfvHsO6eKs5Q-Tn-JVcd0b6NWXg5tEyNhO4i8KNqQ_boz3GhGw29LwdhXvXidc5Zx7xfzCtbOyW3vIVWzxJ2zjOSLgNQ/s320/IMG_0140.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My current WIP, a doubled headband in wool/cashmere/silk.</td></tr>
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I went back to school to get my <a href="http://yarnnation.blogspot.com/2006/08/duchess-llc-inside-mba-students-head.html">masters degree.</a> Knitting got me through that. I knit in class. I knit to keep myself sane. I knit to relax and to challenge my mind in a way other than business.<br />
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I got <a href="http://yarnnation.blogspot.com/2007/09/difficult-days.html">pregnant</a> and had my <a href="http://yarnnation.blogspot.com/2007/10/coming-up-for-air-our-birth-story.html">first child</a>. Now, we can really talk about knitting to maintain sanity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j312/Duchess_of_Yarnnation/10-17-07019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j312/Duchess_of_Yarnnation/10-17-07019.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Sir, a few days after birth.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>My knitting time decreased as I navigated the parenting learning curve and embarked on a new adventure,<a href="http://adoptionfyi.blogspot.com/"> adoption</a>. Another passion to add to my all ready overwhelmed life. It's just how I do things. I live and love with passion. I became a mother for the second time through the <a href="http://adoptionfyi.blogspot.com/2010/03/leo-james-wright.html">miracle of adoption.</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_2849.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_2849.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lion Baby a few days after birth.</td></tr>
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My knitting time dwindled a little bit more with the demands of two children.<br />
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There was one constant through all of this change. Our home. Our bright beautiful townhouse in Seattle. The first house and home that the Duke and I purchased together, loved and lived in. The house that, pre-blogging and pre-children we completely renovated. It is where I knit, where I learned to spin, where I brought my children home. I love that house.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_4988.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_4988.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The dining area of our eat in kitchen in our Seattle home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Now my life is big mess of boys, a log house remodel, and adjusting to a new place and a new way of life. Only my yarn and my spinning wheels (which fit in so well here) remain to remind me of the physical growth of Yarnnation.<br />
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My life does not revolve around yarn anymore. While I would love more time to knit and spin, I go days between knitting time, and I am fine. Previously I felt I had been cheated if I didn't get to knit at least a little bit each day. I know that as my children grow, as my house comes together, and as I adjust to rural living I will find more time for my woolly love.<br />
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However, over the past month I have realized that while this blog has remained my home base and my personal blog for all things other than <span id="goog_121698991"></span>ado<span id="goog_121698994"></span><span id="goog_121698995"></span>ption<span id="goog_121698992"></span> <span style="font-size: x-small;">(which would have taken over everything else had I hosted that obsession here)</span> that along with our physical move to the country, I need to make a virtual move. Our home in Seattle was also the home of Yarnnation, and while the heart of Yarnnation is within me, I no longer live in the physical place we called Yarnnation. Much of what made our house Yarnnation was the vast amount of yarn that lived there with us in such a small place. Here, in this big log house, all of the yarn happily lives in one room. There is no need for it to be stuffed into strange places.<br />
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Now, lest anyone think I am going to let Yarnnation die, <span style="font-size: x-small;">(heaven forbid!)</span> stick with me here. I am simply moving my personal musings, my children, my cooking, my photography, the non-fiber aspects of my life to my new virtual home that matched my new physical home.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="80" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQF4hEskVUjWroEEto41C_7E_-mmgzjeBOXyn85IBPXpeFH0VMs3ad3rmgZQY85rX43YX9PBfFSfOwifsWZAh2MfjVswVZyoH9f2tlHk5y4Md_8DMsQOgNjt8JthOlgs5I_4vxvQ/s320/applehouse2010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://applehouserevival.blogspot.com/">applehouserevival.blogspot.com</a></td></tr>
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<a href="http://applehouserevival/">Apple House Revival</a> I have all ready started posting there about life in the midst of an apple orchard in rural Washington. I will continue to post my knitting, spinning, dying, sewing, quilting, weaving and other fiber related posts here. I just hope that you will also join me in my move to the Apple House as well.<br />
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I hope that one day in the perhaps near and perhaps distant future to have a real home base where all of my passions can live happily together (ala <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/">Pioneer Woma</a>n.)<br />
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until then. . .<br />
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Much love and thanks to everyone who takes the time to journey with me through my blogs.<br />
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Megan - DuchessMeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-10673082047911950102010-10-08T03:33:00.000-07:002010-10-08T03:34:06.894-07:00Yarn and Fiber and Dyes<div style="text-align: center;">Yes, they do still exist here in Yarnnation!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHA7Zh1yqm1Jb2UIfFZSSLL2-PCXwkAKBb_5PojgtJAffY2ZjXwFmadWDN0iSJwvgKnknaQt2Eoka0av0Zf2KAciii4qbNJiSMl7lIjQrQimbpHkSN8bKnBZVUpPIctMaVEPG7AA/s1600/IMG_8455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHA7Zh1yqm1Jb2UIfFZSSLL2-PCXwkAKBb_5PojgtJAffY2ZjXwFmadWDN0iSJwvgKnknaQt2Eoka0av0Zf2KAciii4qbNJiSMl7lIjQrQimbpHkSN8bKnBZVUpPIctMaVEPG7AA/s400/IMG_8455.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv4qjV-7N8MrFjI9c7Ubj1fMHDR3W2pPzM_1o8BFlU4xI4TQ7nxhHUYPf84Xhmi_GvlBC3i16nxZ7mz4u3vQUGGiIkPEDhNTUKO7ryQH7eO_sWe7qFpExjxkCZWiMcZZUFqj18Q/s1600/IMG_8457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrv4qjV-7N8MrFjI9c7Ubj1fMHDR3W2pPzM_1o8BFlU4xI4TQ7nxhHUYPf84Xhmi_GvlBC3i16nxZ7mz4u3vQUGGiIkPEDhNTUKO7ryQH7eO_sWe7qFpExjxkCZWiMcZZUFqj18Q/s400/IMG_8457.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">This was over dyed from yarn that was left over from yarn I dyed a couple of years ago that my Mom knit into a Wonderfy Wallaby for Little Sir.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVmL-IFNCqZsoTurSCCyERsQlIS0Cd0Ti6GRscWmzD3U-2zYVuxNp08m3xuktYjvg8yFRK8u7A9twqaotI1-RSQUwgyMfQb8MNjfPzJ8-nsvggY-eyahaR0TosFnCZpg1yFNpbQ/s1600/IMG_8023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEVmL-IFNCqZsoTurSCCyERsQlIS0Cd0Ti6GRscWmzD3U-2zYVuxNp08m3xuktYjvg8yFRK8u7A9twqaotI1-RSQUwgyMfQb8MNjfPzJ8-nsvggY-eyahaR0TosFnCZpg1yFNpbQ/s400/IMG_8023.JPG" width="266" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Now the Lion Baby wear that Wonderful Wallaby, but I thought that he should have his own as well. What do you say, Grandma? You up for knitting another one? Actually I think i may take this one, as I am needing some simple, just follow the pattern and don't think, type of knitting.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBODkNBrrQLjMSx4JiDMZXmHqE-ibLkt0cdql3Ipj-MPrzC8n71Kcggjuolsa1KUtVR2rFW6RMqcaur6ffcC09FQZoDh6Zw40VeI3WovUlzud7Pr4e87PYp8pGuEbzqqPds917A/s1600/IMG_8459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnBODkNBrrQLjMSx4JiDMZXmHqE-ibLkt0cdql3Ipj-MPrzC8n71Kcggjuolsa1KUtVR2rFW6RMqcaur6ffcC09FQZoDh6Zw40VeI3WovUlzud7Pr4e87PYp8pGuEbzqqPds917A/s400/IMG_8459.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiM-ljyCWKoYu4ZnZhAo4V9Phx5S249Rrf8KTGcg2oUDI-Ts5PsKN8ZPOheHWhoEujESFEln65coadQQyiW2qmZdtvn1njkh-dJoqrOv1mkZap92hkmw3mqhLg2k2ZrV_oGMRuQ/s1600/IMG_8462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiM-ljyCWKoYu4ZnZhAo4V9Phx5S249Rrf8KTGcg2oUDI-Ts5PsKN8ZPOheHWhoEujESFEln65coadQQyiW2qmZdtvn1njkh-dJoqrOv1mkZap92hkmw3mqhLg2k2ZrV_oGMRuQ/s400/IMG_8462.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Some Superwash Merino that I though I'd throw in while I was at it. I love how it turned out. I don't really have a project in mind for it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6suZSjtx3t6FHJv7UM6-zEC3CpbP4m0yu8g5Y2b0gJBNx9DMT_M2erfYvCJ4BFmT5WVab_4vXn8qUlSvcF06SJSuIvxKik9KCDAbubXpAiCMYSzAu9WVQqPJo58_cc5-52t3_fw/s1600/IMG_8463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6suZSjtx3t6FHJv7UM6-zEC3CpbP4m0yu8g5Y2b0gJBNx9DMT_M2erfYvCJ4BFmT5WVab_4vXn8qUlSvcF06SJSuIvxKik9KCDAbubXpAiCMYSzAu9WVQqPJo58_cc5-52t3_fw/s320/IMG_8463.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This is kind of a strange one. I've never dyed anything black before, but it was a very dark purple color that I didn't care for. I was hoping for a "raven" like look, but you can hardly see the purple at all. It really just looks black. Oh well, it will be useful for a hat or something.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRX5NRnqbFNyrbJJ6XkeOIJ_XrcfDh8v-7JoC0BmASoE7LfoWJzArdXeBmDqtV9f1vreH2G7fXZ-U2QNVgbIeau4kZVTuXNJ2j3TVQ3dEiWqs6eYxw3j0eBodM3y4nANsBB6IR2Q/s1600/IMG_8468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRX5NRnqbFNyrbJJ6XkeOIJ_XrcfDh8v-7JoC0BmASoE7LfoWJzArdXeBmDqtV9f1vreH2G7fXZ-U2QNVgbIeau4kZVTuXNJ2j3TVQ3dEiWqs6eYxw3j0eBodM3y4nANsBB6IR2Q/s400/IMG_8468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And last, this was a big bundle of Cooriadale that I half submerged in order to exhaust the dye. You can see there was still a lot of dye left in the pat. I love spinning fibers that have a lot of white in them along side a dark color. I can't wait to see how it spins up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And there you go. Proof that, despite a creative recession, fiber is still of great importance in our house. (Just ask the poor guys/gals that end up having to move my yarn stash. - Although, probably better that than all of our books.)</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-67391890472877558242010-10-05T00:17:00.000-07:002010-10-05T00:29:04.681-07:00Pumpkins<div style="text-align: center;">We won't be in our current house for Halloween. Hopefully we'll still find something fun for Little Sir to do on the other side of the state (hopefully we aren't so exhausted from the move that we don't feign a complete lack of knowledge of the holiday.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before we knew we were going to be moving so soon I had started a makeover on my small nod to fall. I finished it up today (as I'm trying to finish all of my in-progress projects before we pack up our lives.)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Little Sir LOVES pumpkins. In fact his very first outing ever was to a pumpkin patch. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j312/Duchess_of_Yarnnation/11-03-07023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j312/Duchess_of_Yarnnation/11-03-07023.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This is him at just over a year.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7NKTTYiEgvarHtNxP8TQW8_QrkFRcU2Qo-scv6pkcz0zgRmw5dmQ-opB0hxybJg7lqb3Ww3lUGA6TgPLAOJ-V-KbBAR7kbnpQDkBjKkRQcxb-8o4gFUfl3mUo0wBb_8TgnwBQQ/s1600/IMG_2976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7NKTTYiEgvarHtNxP8TQW8_QrkFRcU2Qo-scv6pkcz0zgRmw5dmQ-opB0hxybJg7lqb3Ww3lUGA6TgPLAOJ-V-KbBAR7kbnpQDkBjKkRQcxb-8o4gFUfl3mUo0wBb_8TgnwBQQ/s400/IMG_2976.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> And last year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjF6zmNHYEkldfZm52_uNsHRDktQ-28xedJdGVBQB8adXg6tnjFjTFj0dqa9tsiRae5s4TDcvyW9zPSMqc4m1P0ntJWhyEt3lRjt1vcmn7Vz-_Of_QNvUp39qbs0fEcuzhQKmqg/s1600/IMG_1390.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmjF6zmNHYEkldfZm52_uNsHRDktQ-28xedJdGVBQB8adXg6tnjFjTFj0dqa9tsiRae5s4TDcvyW9zPSMqc4m1P0ntJWhyEt3lRjt1vcmn7Vz-_Of_QNvUp39qbs0fEcuzhQKmqg/s320/IMG_1390.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
I'm betting that there will be a fun place near Omak to find pumpkins this year, but in the mean time, we can enjoy some that won't spoil if I forget to unpack them!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">The biggest one was at Target, must have been left over from last year, as it was in their clearance section for a dollar. I just dusted it with a little gold spray paint.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifK_XV0G0FBnPP62lOoKvu4yGLjDA8yr-DIYawrH_lXWrKQ3MsGyTSlw-H7Lkkn41E3kr31RhuGNrxewcahYCbhLsrCCt5szVC8FLQvApyLAZ0vJfgQju-T9EEFhv4Q2e3iigyKA/s1600/IMG_8451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifK_XV0G0FBnPP62lOoKvu4yGLjDA8yr-DIYawrH_lXWrKQ3MsGyTSlw-H7Lkkn41E3kr31RhuGNrxewcahYCbhLsrCCt5szVC8FLQvApyLAZ0vJfgQju-T9EEFhv4Q2e3iigyKA/s320/IMG_8451.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> The middle one I found at Ross. It was kind of country-ish colors so I spray painted it copper and then dusted it with gold as well.<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdItDKt-gOTsE8tgUUINDiOCGGQFQ2CuDNLpw5lhKPumoFrghMlywgVQCmxK39Lr6eYExXiOPVa5wmEgBcqKChVxXYjOq9gvGxMOIgQmkYDeWBZ1V8znS_gInWptMiy3J_smTfg/s1600/IMG_8449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEdItDKt-gOTsE8tgUUINDiOCGGQFQ2CuDNLpw5lhKPumoFrghMlywgVQCmxK39Lr6eYExXiOPVa5wmEgBcqKChVxXYjOq9gvGxMOIgQmkYDeWBZ1V8znS_gInWptMiy3J_smTfg/s400/IMG_8449.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The small one came from Joanne's. It was your typical orange resin decorative pumpkin. Not my style, so it got a couple of coats of cream paint, then a dusting of copper, and finally some glaze. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXHrjcyvQI9TfDQxt5emx1P57yaVu-nZAEcVqdKTQqGfjLQ8SE26gD_mBn4OPur811af5h8iClnffcJgd4BqxFABS8DtZ3oCIHQyJ439X9r2lu3t9c0wtRavJ-mWPA463JPAoWA/s1600/IMG_8447.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXHrjcyvQI9TfDQxt5emx1P57yaVu-nZAEcVqdKTQqGfjLQ8SE26gD_mBn4OPur811af5h8iClnffcJgd4BqxFABS8DtZ3oCIHQyJ439X9r2lu3t9c0wtRavJ-mWPA463JPAoWA/s1600/IMG_8447.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">With the delightful enthusiasm of a three year old, Little Sir thinks they are wonderful. I kind of like them myself.</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-86713046574248008462010-10-02T21:43:00.000-07:002010-10-02T21:43:55.658-07:00Seattle to OmakYesterday the Duke officially accepted a job offer in Omak, WA.<br />
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I've known for several months that this move was coming. As I go about my day to day life I find myself thinking about all the things in Seattle that I am going to miss.<br />
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Target (how will I live without a target down the street?)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIqh0aDd1oCKk-HRviaI8jT47U6iIfF-ULJz9wVlajqaTbkfVIuO49HDmJi0Z7UGytorgkcr8RIjsJjyy4fyrZeOqYiSZNw0sueZi1Y7yMdfzQJvAs1LrCrf7fcwC2hjnTyxXOA/s1600/IMG_6857.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIqh0aDd1oCKk-HRviaI8jT47U6iIfF-ULJz9wVlajqaTbkfVIuO49HDmJi0Z7UGytorgkcr8RIjsJjyy4fyrZeOqYiSZNw0sueZi1Y7yMdfzQJvAs1LrCrf7fcwC2hjnTyxXOA/s320/IMG_6857.JPG" width="212" /></a></div>I am a city girl, and I happen to love this city in particular.<br />
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I could write an entire and LENGTHY post about all of the things I am going to miss miss miss about my beloved Seattle. Tonight, however, the Duke and I were talking about a few things that I am looking forward too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tz2HeDv4RJxhYRJcynohZqAma70HJi1DM2njruNiH9LH9mrA29jqZ0MLyEx4Ikk375VpAB5W7KO7_-Qwhj_2jZka82Erw33WGORIpldiRFtL1PJ5wQ-YWtV_K_jw9dcG4sUU9g/s1600/IMG_7560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_tz2HeDv4RJxhYRJcynohZqAma70HJi1DM2njruNiH9LH9mrA29jqZ0MLyEx4Ikk375VpAB5W7KO7_-Qwhj_2jZka82Erw33WGORIpldiRFtL1PJ5wQ-YWtV_K_jw9dcG4sUU9g/s320/IMG_7560.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I've never been to a rodeo. How did I grow up in rural Utah and have never attended a rodeo? I don't know. I look forward to small town parades and raising my own chickens. I am looking forward to having a place for my boys to run to their hearts content without worrying about cars. I'm looking forward to having more time with the Duke. I miss him.<br />
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AND. . . I am looking forward to having my friends come visit me OFTEN!!!Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-58571412092940588572010-09-22T03:00:00.000-07:002010-09-22T03:00:29.620-07:00Speechless. . .<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlGsTE4dtIJG3WmZmvL5SSRZ9x0U2cbF4fFWeFM1mWR9p-x0ha2N5qXyCFKQGADok_NrTdKCoghu0Q0qz2_3fe59zzOBkkDGcwFNcn7sl3uzMqhH89d_bCXYapg4gwfRgLirjQw/s400/IMG_8281.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My best friend, Sarah, has been working on what she called the "Big Secret Knitting Project" for almost 9 months now.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTlGsTE4dtIJG3WmZmvL5SSRZ9x0U2cbF4fFWeFM1mWR9p-x0ha2N5qXyCFKQGADok_NrTdKCoghu0Q0qz2_3fe59zzOBkkDGcwFNcn7sl3uzMqhH89d_bCXYapg4gwfRgLirjQw/s1600/IMG_8281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSozYWBA0pXVfCPRv_tTC0Bvg60jNz80vfY9IjnYieVDPJQb6MhPdIkYwKDC2s-x_9Dnc9slE-JA-WMAMXckb_cRoRs_QciGWsJg7haj8uSfK7dJ9DIV4PJMImZf30VgpeEmRBGw/s400/IMG_8312.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Saturday at a BBQ that we held to celebrate the final stage in the adoption of our son she handed me a small yellow gift bag.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSozYWBA0pXVfCPRv_tTC0Bvg60jNz80vfY9IjnYieVDPJQb6MhPdIkYwKDC2s-x_9Dnc9slE-JA-WMAMXckb_cRoRs_QciGWsJg7haj8uSfK7dJ9DIV4PJMImZf30VgpeEmRBGw/s1600/IMG_8312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3uva1Fag54q4C5oNENMfvi6DuCTuIVbtXrNNL1ETJKh6ACO9oqWfSux3JjQE8CepcHYvYZYzlbp0mclilvpXRfueuAPXSdlO8pkazFc-mHqbTnmOuStV5wNXzpRLsBTzXmXiIA/s400/IMG_8319.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Inside that gift bag is one of the most beautiful pieces of knitting I have ever seen.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3uva1Fag54q4C5oNENMfvi6DuCTuIVbtXrNNL1ETJKh6ACO9oqWfSux3JjQE8CepcHYvYZYzlbp0mclilvpXRfueuAPXSdlO8pkazFc-mHqbTnmOuStV5wNXzpRLsBTzXmXiIA/s1600/IMG_8319.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapqKdNZWueDyU1pFsUxPiaK4uoTgr5rjL7nTl0xX2oRd6_ziLPY2szOLD2_PadZz1xkeRG7EHxHwq0RNTf5qQCUwn6dI4kU3Txwkn9uTdC0w27yXnWxcZUs-F2QntLV1INEWUIA/s400/IMG_8321.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">It is <a href="http://www.knitspot.com/knitting_pattern/snowflakes-in-cedarwoods-lace-shawl-p-95.html">Snowflakes in Cedarwoods</a> Shawl, in honor of my little Alaska Baby.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgapqKdNZWueDyU1pFsUxPiaK4uoTgr5rjL7nTl0xX2oRd6_ziLPY2szOLD2_PadZz1xkeRG7EHxHwq0RNTf5qQCUwn6dI4kU3Txwkn9uTdC0w27yXnWxcZUs-F2QntLV1INEWUIA/s1600/IMG_8321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVl9pNPr82diLR3qJ7rEFQIwzbAbipQdO0eeO06lGoo85scLUq7Q3QFg-LrZbSiVw97hDi1gyfmOp4ynZm4UdVxptBFoXeTh5V0SNJbFIXYnPJRJkjbodExN0WXZ1L8oDEh1q7g/s400/IMG_8322.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">On Sunday the Lion Baby was wrapped in it as the Duke gave him his baby blessing. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVl9pNPr82diLR3qJ7rEFQIwzbAbipQdO0eeO06lGoo85scLUq7Q3QFg-LrZbSiVw97hDi1gyfmOp4ynZm4UdVxptBFoXeTh5V0SNJbFIXYnPJRJkjbodExN0WXZ1L8oDEh1q7g/s1600/IMG_8322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgri1UaB70Dg4vyIxNllC1B4FHPCYetM4SghtPI8vf0znB8pU5_LqGUlaNkNpnghqKQDriAzyy-p4U0yMwppCovBszrlVZ8l-EudNeySnKi2tNv1jyBl-rhc6OtOgSt5YLa-nOTAg/s320/IMG_8328.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Then I wrapped myself in it as I spoke in church</span> (our church has only lay clergy and members of the congregation are asked to give the sermons.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgri1UaB70Dg4vyIxNllC1B4FHPCYetM4SghtPI8vf0znB8pU5_LqGUlaNkNpnghqKQDriAzyy-p4U0yMwppCovBszrlVZ8l-EudNeySnKi2tNv1jyBl-rhc6OtOgSt5YLa-nOTAg/s1600/IMG_8328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0eemvpq8ukzI5DbISCLauZNz2_ISbnngVa-DG_wpYou-71YeLBRdXfJG5K6PJSIiecGyQzA3l846YMFu6Xp_RDly6WPoVEh-6EIGJ0YyV0ptMTUYSZth7i1FKsl6-Zg2l7YGdw/s320/IMG_8334.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I didn't know that a shawl could not only keep you warm, but also let you feel loved.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt0eemvpq8ukzI5DbISCLauZNz2_ISbnngVa-DG_wpYou-71YeLBRdXfJG5K6PJSIiecGyQzA3l846YMFu6Xp_RDly6WPoVEh-6EIGJ0YyV0ptMTUYSZth7i1FKsl6-Zg2l7YGdw/s1600/IMG_8334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOonI-uVgj6eq8AKi41EhsRnSYqyPVB4kVoypRY2Emq6hyphenhyphenhZ6s_OWXa5Yjer73TPqKvcZWwXXbJEQ5OMEMzlcSA1GM_4JUgghLEM0ve1gmIfJFVANxuV4Qs6S6SzlVYQIvyP2PQ/s320/IMG_8335.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">One day I hope the Lion Baby's bride will wear it on their wedding day.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOonI-uVgj6eq8AKi41EhsRnSYqyPVB4kVoypRY2Emq6hyphenhyphenhZ6s_OWXa5Yjer73TPqKvcZWwXXbJEQ5OMEMzlcSA1GM_4JUgghLEM0ve1gmIfJFVANxuV4Qs6S6SzlVYQIvyP2PQ/s1600/IMG_8335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfTIzGAo-5SnAwrr33giYMEkytr9zgwQXHfL02CbPXLPLCwkfUCUy2bLA1vX12ulxYE66Xjok_UgvdXp94UfRDH-srgdpytIsUg5zsAEtJ2fIJET7IB5T5tzZDu-u_6YwgKFyLg/s320/IMG_8337.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">And I hope that Sarah is right there with me as we both bawl our eyes out just like we did in church on Sunday.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisfTIzGAo-5SnAwrr33giYMEkytr9zgwQXHfL02CbPXLPLCwkfUCUy2bLA1vX12ulxYE66Xjok_UgvdXp94UfRDH-srgdpytIsUg5zsAEtJ2fIJET7IB5T5tzZDu-u_6YwgKFyLg/s1600/IMG_8337.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimX81dumEEPtRtNPGAWbyWy_DMm6Nde6pG9RXXf1f11OohF3yJWtiF_CTsWkBCZofMgRsH3PPnkhfrrv6tfpcVMkqWVloV65g1N86wmeGmynG_4SvXwM64_4h0Cxgoqt_pnLoRtA/s400/IMG_8357.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="266" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Thank you, Sarah. It is stunning, and you are the best friend a girl (especially a knitter girl) could ever ask for, and the best auntie a Lion Baby could ever want!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimX81dumEEPtRtNPGAWbyWy_DMm6Nde6pG9RXXf1f11OohF3yJWtiF_CTsWkBCZofMgRsH3PPnkhfrrv6tfpcVMkqWVloV65g1N86wmeGmynG_4SvXwM64_4h0Cxgoqt_pnLoRtA/s1600/IMG_8357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-91409201839909303882010-09-17T00:54:00.000-07:002010-09-17T00:57:24.342-07:00A Wreath Commitment (for the children!)I'm not really a person who decorates for the different holidays and seasons. It's not that I don't like seasonal decorations, my Mom always had cute decorations for the holidays. I just have a hard enough time keeping my house dusted and vacuumed. I don't want my valentines decorations still up at Easter, and I know that is what would happen, so my holiday/ seasonal decorations are minimal, very minimal. <br />
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Little Sir is a very passionate and excited child, though. Last year after he went to bed on "his" Christmas Eve I felt a little guilty so I threw up a garland, a strand of lights and a few ornaments. (We celebrate early because we usually spend Christmas in Utah with family.) He was in awe, I think it is the only time I've ever seen him (even briefly) demonstrate reverence. He also LOVES pumpkins because of Halloween, and last year we didn't even carve them, we just put them out on our front porch.<br />
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So, I decided that I didn't need to make myself crazy, but I could still brighten things up a bit by at least changing out my wreath. This means I either have to buy or make a wreath for every season except Christmas. We always have an evergreen wreath at Christmas. I LOVE the smell of the branches, and it is easy, so it's a tradition I embrace.<br />
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OK, so fall/ autumn/ harvest. . .<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_8060.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_8060.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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I do love fall leaves, but I wanted something different than the usual fall leaves on a grapevine wreath. The wreath is a simple willow wreath from the dollar store which I spray painted a glossy black.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_8064.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_8064.jpg" width="400" /> </a><br />
I chose a wreath garland from<a href="http://www.joann.com/joann/home/home.jsp"> Joann's</a> that was very neutral, no bright oranges and yellows. I wanted something a little more subdued. I dusted the garland with a gold spray paint, lighter in some areas, heavier in others.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_8062.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_8062.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
The pumpkins are foam pumpkins that I Modge Podged aluminum foil to and then glazed. (This took WAY longer than I should have let it, but I just love how those little pumpkins turned out!<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_8061.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_8061.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
They are simply hot glued to the willow wreath after the leaf garland was carelessly wrapped around and secured.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_8064.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_8064.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
The little nests are made from corn husks.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_8065.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_8065.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
Which got lightly dusted with a cooper color.<br />
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So happy and fallish, it even inspired me to buy a small fall decoration for my home. Details coming soon. . . .Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-36437499813023220322010-09-12T22:47:00.000-07:002010-09-12T22:47:35.281-07:00Buying a SweaterDo any other knitters out there have problems buying sweaters? I know I can knit anything that I find with very few exceptions, so I feel like it is silly for me to buy a sweater. However, the reality is that I've completed a grand total of ONE sweater for myself since Little Sir was born nearly three years ago. My knitting time and my ability to think about complex knitting patterns have both been drastically reduced since my two little guys have joined our family.<br />
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My second problem with buying sweaters is that I am (like most knitters) very particular about the fiber that I will wear. I hate the feeling of acrylic yarn and I also hate that acrylic and cotton sweaters begin to look much worse for wear after only one season of wearing them.<br />
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My third issue is that I don't have a lot of money to spend on clothes. I buy nearly all of my clothes second hand, both for financial reasons and personal reasons. I have found a few lovely second hand sweaters, but they are very few and far between. Wool sweaters are also dated by the time they find their way to a thrift store, because people who wear wool sweaters know their value and keep them around.<br />
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OK, now that I've written way too much about how hard I find buying a nice wool sweater for myself, I thought I'd show you a few that I am considering purchasing, as I have a special event coming up that I would like to wear a nice sweater too.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Kdl9sTvEIosOi2PbJd3JrvTkET1fpMmW2D5BTd87_bbWNzQzpENn5Ug32KBk9zH0yv8c4fZgIPLe88lrj0X1whB5cCOhtDChf9LIgpw5X998GenS6OmgeCWwSPZcYB9ixc8Ow/s1600/sierratradingpost-erez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio5Kdl9sTvEIosOi2PbJd3JrvTkET1fpMmW2D5BTd87_bbWNzQzpENn5Ug32KBk9zH0yv8c4fZgIPLe88lrj0X1whB5cCOhtDChf9LIgpw5X998GenS6OmgeCWwSPZcYB9ixc8Ow/s320/sierratradingpost-erez.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2 id="productname"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span id="lblProductName">Peregrine by J.G. Glover Merino Wool Cardigan Sweater- Shawl Collar</span></span></h2><h2 id="productname"><span id="lblProductName"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sierratradingpost.com/i/2394C,01,_Peregrine-by-JG-Glover-Merino-Wool-Cardigan-Sweater-Shawl-Collar-For-Women.html">sierratradingpost.com </a></span></span></h2></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Simple, classic design. I love the collar.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FOS_kyeFEkmVzTX1407yHx-QS0WuDOjdbxfqYn6T_RdcGdQIfVMri22Sb9SVG82ngXRP-E2t5kFBYEAD7l-7EwpwPU325p468Fsub9L1qN34lj56o2JEGCJuzLLA46EIALtGrQ/s1600/sierratradingpost2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_FOS_kyeFEkmVzTX1407yHx-QS0WuDOjdbxfqYn6T_RdcGdQIfVMri22Sb9SVG82ngXRP-E2t5kFBYEAD7l-7EwpwPU325p468Fsub9L1qN34lj56o2JEGCJuzLLA46EIALtGrQ/s320/sierratradingpost2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h2 id="productname"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span id="lblProductName">J.G. Glover Merino Wool Turtleneck Cardigan Sweater </span></span></h2><h2 id="productname"><span id="lblProductName"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.sierratradingpost.com/i/84531,25,_JG-Glover-Merino-Wool-Turtleneck-Cardigan-Sweater-For-Women.html">sierratradingpost.com </a></span></span></h2></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Similar, simpler cables, less fitted body. This one obviously looks good open, which is important to me.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDKOR_t2AzDfPkyB_QaA5MzqUMHoNbfu7CjNlNJKXZDZ3dhxNQ3KBVb7-wz4dtcTMRKQHYJvfgJFPOAavXX9O33_1e5YI9sO8hemzcEL1qZ_VbJDe2pus_dScVi0lrWiLGrKCWQ/s1600/NeveDesignsPiaRetroSnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMDKOR_t2AzDfPkyB_QaA5MzqUMHoNbfu7CjNlNJKXZDZ3dhxNQ3KBVb7-wz4dtcTMRKQHYJvfgJFPOAavXX9O33_1e5YI9sO8hemzcEL1qZ_VbJDe2pus_dScVi0lrWiLGrKCWQ/s320/NeveDesignsPiaRetroSnow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="bodyTextBold">Neve Designs Sweaters - Pia Retro Snowflake Zip Cardigan</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.moosemtntradingco.com/browse.cfm/neve-designs-sweaters-pia-retro-snowflake-zip-cardigan-sweater-sk018i-merino-/4,2817.html?message=fadded">moosemtntradingco.com</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Isn't this pretty. I love the color and the simple bold color work. I am also a huge fan of zippers in cardies, but NOT a fan of actually putting them in.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAUpU1kJjLkjics3JRy6RFEt7SECUwlQWXSbDdPT0qZZ-XSKqAwtByodvIPpfVKY9xJmaroK-CQypJ59_gMeIBJVxIlhGfhmcPdZAUPUGgqPvnuIKiezMkQHYE5VtFouaYjTvMg/s1600/amira_blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKAUpU1kJjLkjics3JRy6RFEt7SECUwlQWXSbDdPT0qZZ-XSKqAwtByodvIPpfVKY9xJmaroK-CQypJ59_gMeIBJVxIlhGfhmcPdZAUPUGgqPvnuIKiezMkQHYE5VtFouaYjTvMg/s320/amira_blue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With a Twist Amiar Warp Cardigan </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.moosemtntradingco.com/browse.cfm/neve-designs-sweaters-pia-retro-snowflake-zip-cardigan-sweater-sk018i-merino-/4,2817.html?message=fadded">moosemtntraadingco.com</a><span id="goog_463449662"></span><span id="goog_463449663"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Gosh, isn't this pretty? I love the smocking, the length, the collar. . . I'm not in love with the price, though. $144.00. It's one of the very few over $100 I would eve consider. (I'm pretty sure I've never spent $100 on a single article of clothing ever.)</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqyiXtXSdXkNN8jatx317tg1rH4SDEayRNqZc55BBohLi2wiztF9X0hJWOmrAsv1KtoeXPeRTAztmGBbcmAboFlzPt_QcWkqJli4wMdagfkiKyJl-OmtG9Cg6K1nmwMEAzPuuRA/s1600/grayrufflesapli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqyiXtXSdXkNN8jatx317tg1rH4SDEayRNqZc55BBohLi2wiztF9X0hJWOmrAsv1KtoeXPeRTAztmGBbcmAboFlzPt_QcWkqJli4wMdagfkiKyJl-OmtG9Cg6K1nmwMEAzPuuRA/s320/grayrufflesapli.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="productnamecolorLARGE colors_productname">Icelandic Design Knightsbridge Jacket</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.apparelvalley.com/Knightsbridge_Boiled_Wool_Jacket_p/id-09f1830gy.htm">apparelvalley.com</a></div>Isn't the neck on this one incredible? And the vine detail just dresses up this simple sweater.<br />
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Have any of you purchased a wool or cashmere sweater? Where from? Was it worth the cost?<br />
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</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-44310528759283508472010-09-07T11:26:00.000-07:002014-02-15T21:01:53.842-08:00Some YarnI know, there hasn't been a lot of yarn or spinning or knitting showing up on this blog as of late. I have been knitting and spinning, but in short spurts and with long breaks in between. A three year old who makes the Tasmanian Devil look lazy and an adorable six month old that I can't stop looking at make for scarce knitting time. And that doesn't speak to the lack of brain power or the fact that I often fall asleep if I sit still for too long.<br />
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Anyway, someday soon I'll show you what little I've been up too. In the mean time, I've been wanting to show you this beautiful afghan that my grandmother gave me a while ago.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0PxYRzjlitFTmWsRMa_kuBKSyvFwVkI7LAhELZCB2H7IYKt-XaPmNukw6EgXvmsTlbEyY17hM-sH4ynZlwmqV6mtdSj-ZYRFjYm0z_35SNeUrauCZfARv95Lvu3qr7zenkE5aQ/s1600/IMG_8004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl0PxYRzjlitFTmWsRMa_kuBKSyvFwVkI7LAhELZCB2H7IYKt-XaPmNukw6EgXvmsTlbEyY17hM-sH4ynZlwmqV6mtdSj-ZYRFjYm0z_35SNeUrauCZfARv95Lvu3qr7zenkE5aQ/s400/IMG_8004.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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It was made by my great grand mother using a technique called Hair Pin Lace, which is actually a crochet stitch, not a knitting stitch. I absolutely love it and may be tempted to try it myself some day. If any of you with a greater capacity to think and fewer small creatures relying on you want to give it a try, here is a great looking <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AOGTn0irac">tutorial.</a>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-54900293301394662752010-08-19T12:31:00.000-07:002010-08-19T12:32:10.759-07:00Spoonflower Contest of the WeekWindows and Doors this week over at <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/contests">Spoonflower.</a> There were a lot I liked this week! The next two weeks are tractors and carousels<b>. </b>I think I'll be spending a little time at my computer this week! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMv95HZeNcOo_lYIfKpN6oUUxdQUmJjps7KxQ6RgX_FpJhgTV7YBDMDXTQztjzKC873wxF_6t4AYCbuTRxxqyqUtNn8Thsyn2ZuxdELJ9_quDgKRGxoKPKj2ogjBe7wmMx27xHBQ/s1600/spoonflower1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMv95HZeNcOo_lYIfKpN6oUUxdQUmJjps7KxQ6RgX_FpJhgTV7YBDMDXTQztjzKC873wxF_6t4AYCbuTRxxqyqUtNn8Thsyn2ZuxdELJ9_quDgKRGxoKPKj2ogjBe7wmMx27xHBQ/s400/spoonflower1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5QSmugtIfacKRGPav3SGDMY_CfZQuORyFON0dlW5vUPvJ2taNVYzKFlxOVytbUv8j29QQbDGYbvP7zpOGiG_yAXBxyB7OoFn2scmEsyehmfZvY8EmNNE83V2Vlhw-4cdAWYzMw/s1600/spoonflower2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5QSmugtIfacKRGPav3SGDMY_CfZQuORyFON0dlW5vUPvJ2taNVYzKFlxOVytbUv8j29QQbDGYbvP7zpOGiG_yAXBxyB7OoFn2scmEsyehmfZvY8EmNNE83V2Vlhw-4cdAWYzMw/s400/spoonflower2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-50380453370252099822010-08-17T22:33:00.000-07:002010-08-17T22:45:44.421-07:00Drain Pipe PlantersI want to share some of my favorite projects from Sarah's garden individually. That last post was a lot to take in all at once, and there were some really fun projects that got skimmed over.<br />
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On one of my trips to pick up broken concrete I also found five old concrete drain pipes. I thought they were very structural and cool, I knew just what I wanted to do with them. I think a few of my friends though I was a little off my rocker, but I had a vision ****ahhhhhhhhh*****<br />
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I'm not even sure who painted them, it was on the list of things to do, that just always got done while I was away running errands. (Did I mention how awesome these woman are?) I left a can of spray paint and came back to bright red cement cylinders. So cool.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_7440-2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_7440-2.jpg" width="269" /></a> <br />
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Sonya and I spent over a hour moving them around the garden and arranging and re-arranging them before we found the perfect spot and the perfect tableau.<br />
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Then they were filled with rocks, a bit of potting soil, and each was planted with a different sedum or succulent, each of which came from a friend or neighbor's yard. Again, so cool. I'll be on the lookout for more pipes to do something like this in my own yard.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">I'm sharing this project with friends at the linking parties listed on my linking page.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://thecsiproject.com/" target="_blank"><img ="" alt="Visit thecsiproject.com" class="aligncenter" src="http://thecsiproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/thecsiproject.com-logo-150.png" /></a> </span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-69696698711838084762010-08-16T01:31:00.000-07:002010-12-02T15:47:27.813-08:00Sarah's Stone Soup Garden<center><a href="http://www.remodelaholic.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i866.photobucket.com/albums/ab229/remodelaholic/RemodelaholicFeaturebutton.jpg" /></a></center> <br />
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One of my best friends turned 30 this week. She had decided to flee the country for this momentous birthday, depriving me of the opportunity to throw her a big party. She only made one mistake. She gave me the key to her house. . . (insert slightly evil giggle here.)<br />
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Sarah is one of the most giving and generous people I know. She "is the gooey, <i>sticky</i>... <i>stuff that holds</i>" our group of friends together. (name that movie. . .) She often spends so much time doing things for other people that she is left with very little time to do anything for herself.<br />
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When Sarah and her husband Jon bought their house a few years ago, along with a slew of things to fix on the inside of the house, they also inherited what Sarah has called the "Northwest Living Encyclopedia of Noxious Weeds." Sarah has spent hours nursing the nearly dead rose garden in her front yard back to health. Her huge back yard, however, sat relatively unchanged, a giant intimidating jungle.<br />
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Until we <span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Tabitha, Kristin, Kristen, Sonya, Denise, Amanda, Melanie, Rachel, Elle, Meghan, myself, and our 17 children, all under the age of 5) </span> </span>showed up. . .<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/C7ILDYJTHvLPdYI-LVYvUqTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw4-NUgIvRDI2A5DYvgy9pvrVx7nk9LiBmQhqnBwonmNUPj38qYW8c6glZvA3EJ4lmE1gzBC8D1K7XBSXy282RMH39edPykwUXZp2PzPdClwncIRxzrTp-gvQ7hyYVyLnbv1ecAQ/s400/IMG_7192.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Never underestimate what a group of women (and the occasional help from a husband) can do.<br />
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At the end of the day, Sarah's yard looked like this.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/BrZg6_vWlke3_GPBTDRmQaTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Q2Ztr653l78Hi1gF4Xw7UMqMnCC2oLja-NnIepzelO7cXlZQZgrItiVYl85WAdJjBLRdoJgTQ8Ighlv7opn1RFsgKuMWIi9SmLv4JK5CdI1Y_1vMUptDcCJu6prvhs1s-bWRaA/s400/IMG_7224.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>For several months I had been compiling materials on Sarah's back lot<span style="font-size: xx-small;"> (and lying through my teeth to her about what I was planning on doing with them - no, there are no Jews in my attic!)</span> Nearly all of the materials were recycled and came off of <a href="http://craigslist.org/">craigslist.org</a>, <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/">freecycle</a>, one our our houses, or one of our neighbors' houses. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/siRMRnQiG_-VaWOUU-7jVaTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJemyilWFSq3zdqfg5Q5l7NuqssRNgHKBwqv5COSYs_72AsJ9ccmXkTtoTUc9fjbXhHvl6ECkedkad_PvqoU6PsHAmTaWCCG5QnpDM8JmG1TbisxCQ-22JAGB5FrxynqZ6oYdjZA/s400/IMG_7230.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>We did what ever it took to keep the kids out of trouble and out of the way. Movies, water tables, snacks, and even getting them to help with the work were all strategies we employed.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/G1InLlmEmNddCJ5_1awNc6TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xskaoanvDAWtoNC4FCHasFLaIe0jC9yvU-ZtD2Pts1S31UCxa5i-5yK3RbIA9TupF0kRY1X8mKwcLsC5vlQFOGA46Xk4NtsUxArsIfRVortqaOioWNXgAxG4LjC1Y88AfY-scQ/s400/IMG_7237.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KdEqjAbkkwh0lQ2mun0SR6TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDszVhp1qYC1ekAfsCbjzXz8a-tAG5xw-ZPuQ_tI-PZb4gI291unIRHtaq7rqzZ9IxCz5jd71gMl2IrvboiHKUb2_-rDhsNSBfhG6_Cq0zxmijnEu1tsj1PlmOTkWYmVnQYfJNBA/s400/IMG_7268.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">Never get in the way of a mama with a sawsall. . . </span></div><table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/fnZI0OpQtfwM3xW8xvfAUaTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wEQG25FllQrFz5RTdmNK2b5e4cP9Z0zxqmXrBuBJsoVvtPG6dwJeJHImRMhUF9X7pkkQP3t9eBrZTbi0qut5IQC5ovHFUW0o2hEefa_qoVpSJAHMWY_WA_EgEG2ZqfcuKTCHAg/s400/IMG_7256.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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<table style="width: auto;"><tbody>
<tr><td>or hedge trimmers. . . just some sound advise. We may or may not be releasing pent up agitation that accumulates during the child rearing process!</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/K5gVeeVwGqz_CmdGndkN26TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmJgHcqoLVwzXTFttGa88Jd7EoyRVjphUKojGQ8tiK6fQiEekeNJp1DYbsHcR9n8sJ4rQwIRgA7y9HdnJaNEuMPLT54h79bEUR_6TxkXKkb1YtXHDMyZ52mmMP19l2A_Rd2mM5aA/s400/IMG_7273.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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The end of day three.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9YD6z_eBcltoB4JsFG57mKTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIabQ3FkwPvCw-zD4EP-Y-i_Jmxc21g0zBdWCNhrO1SqNf472qYdKin5LisYg9sYSypKOuiW33rzK-SV77urUNk_RJdhoMsQWGBQserHSjPM_OrUGqsomgbFpJILEqUUvZL6gosw/s400/IMG_7290.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a> </td></tr>
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Yes, working with babies around may slow you down a little bit, but look what you get in return! Aren't they adorable? <br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/wQw0lSVuCSdzpnxtHU-6S6TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFCKyBVww3E93gjmvPdU7XKe10lOuFSDIt-bMzX692KrtmJwDoEIU2rqkp6AxraVo8DXH8zqRFh-2y0Sm8Bclqs_HOZmM_wFBNrEUFIGd1yQSjklLM4VfTAc4J2vbuV7ZTvVsfow/s400/IMG_7313.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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And, when they are feeling up to it, the preschools were actually pretty helpful.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EZlTEevBXkzKVe2-ravwWaTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMo0njHyLoP5ZMGD0tSFkhIoDrJfvH_wpfbErsOXDOnh9ynPD0Kjqk2VGFyRbv9E_rWSTUfiqRIpoJOMjrg-WtlTKNlfEw6fuGAAQtpIgKeLVk_s6srFqiHVdffoA1VeNCG3Qb1g/s400/IMG_7333.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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The end of day four.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/yVQRaJub6x1mSYfqEiSoZ6TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2dMkwMbEgqzrZ9sBCJhJ4l1ErLCXdVCd0Y3X8vjKcJmx6i0nEXNnn5DzqCXK-MX65mDhVWgmin7cLgzlh8ZDtSefxnupvcluvVUfwZ6cssMyEgmftH55hZIjSLPCa6iIB4kJbgw/s400/IMG_7336.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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By day five the yard was beginning to take shape.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/Xagx7yu4mCgVYdTU32k4xKTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFy0Ce6jifmQk1X9wUN7IaZrqj27EIX9H0kDVACDEn0oJ9cawK7s1ZQi3zu6jftn53rT1Rx-cTVpq_kJwcMb63lF6WEQ2-n6CjH1I08bHJouNNmJBrKUvG4YKgjAXhHC68Pz6oZg/s400/IMG_7355.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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And some of the kids were starting to fall apart. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QAB30lOZflMml-oKVRs6PaTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoYDrF7E4GZ7zfC5n11Q2YGjOpbjLxUn2o-wyyJ6kvlKcunPRVaagbHq9Iqk7_rwEldQ8aKmOEbmjX93Fxl5ULLLOrI_OUNTs6wPwNQijN93JT3HoqYmxxjV3GAyZ2mPXw-0GPCw/s400/IMG_7363.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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By the end of day six the patio is complete, the raised beds are installed, and the potting bench is in place (if not yet secure.)<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/_A61ptQ112_-ZR7zkfAqCKTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8jNqGj7o4MvWnuc6mNW61QxDMEjEgiMAtgOIUUtp5sHaH4FrIyvakpipnmJTvzuDVWxrso_lJBwLvDhR30D7nc1SSj8wUld5pivHfgRe8HH2swtOqsKuLn5UYOrM2p8_ppMr3w/s400/IMG_7382.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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On day seven the lot of us earth loving North-westerners showed up with plants and more plants, all from our own well loved gardens. It amazed me that we easily filled up most of Sarah's garden.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/u2XLu7nVoKtB3lGBhl89EKTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQI4f3Ymlyb9xKs_p-fEIfA3kTZo2aSsTlwRPQslUzp-Hb98XCGatQSilWAk9yDM0GceIbR9NDITxeq_99LfK2Rt-GYCs1OX_-hVAGIiVK8miYZxerhyA9Co_qogUB3GOhJNMmVw/s400/IMG_7432.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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The end of day seven with just some clean up and a few finishing touches before Sarah returns the next day.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/ptef07IV-glFx5PKj2SXVKTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOC3jGcNwr7h7QH16J61MRfUkRbLVjBw8pFgk-r3QwIY1YBC7Spv7kcEp46qxI8QketfNvg9-dIf9KSwqtaShE8tNnT2NxpLCz0ffDPhyphenhypheny9ypsUXlKs7BZSUdeXCSS815pDfvgeQ/s400/IMG_7437.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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THE FINAL REVEAL. . .<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/8BSrrToo9jnqiAqKS1MUFKTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1nu7MjyLZTAQ_zxums4dhw04rnWoQU88qilx8Y501MF5bEqUO07Xy_mQ-rWpoR0yv50h70lm3GMefcp7jutq5uY-3_T8MKjmV8IPfL4KElo02xhTD9lEqlaXYA5X5r4nFw-Hs6Q/s400/IMG_7445.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Do you recognize the chairs? Yep, they were for Sarah all along!<br />
The fire pit is some kind of old metal planter or bowl. I got them off of Craitslist and even the man who had them didn't know what they were for sure. I painted this one with a high heat epoxy paint to make it safe to build a fire in. The bricks are from my neighbor's chimney he recently tore down. The little table was a roadside rescue by Kristin and I made the top out of left over materials. <br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/VdjgdpcVfc8oaHZ_0LAsZKTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC9HREsLJWz10fERpQsYi_3pkOIZYQaco3SYL00d9X5FF8n-t7V0FLH1Bq1ZcecAyb3epCsxgEYiM7Zi2T51-f_kGfvVovlz1lJzTpS-ZBXHOmqzMCFeXTn1h0xcFXyWdO1NpKpw/s400/IMG_7448.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The white panels are an old school garage door that one of Amanda's neighbors was getting rid of. This window was in the free section at the the <a href="http://www.re-store.org/index.php">ReStore.</a> The wreath I found at Goodwill. It was tightly bound and I released it from it's ties after painting it to get that look.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/DjcU-X60Ov2l_3bXtiaUvaTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVA5aPcj7lptNutZ0x47j_NMS28XizIfUduv_IbnVLH1U-TVHc86XEy8RxAF_UhnutJ9PA0oOut4UBVX5DdB7likjJZpjO7qm0P55AJH7ONj6GafJ9uGrMJM-87mLVNb2PlBrG5g/s400/IMG_7450.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>The ladder came out of Sarah's basement. I made the shelves, which are easily removed and replaced so the ladder is still functional, from reclaimed wood that was s cedar fence in its previous life. The items on the shelf <span style="font-size: x-small;">(which look better from a front angle, but were purposely left somewhat sparse so Sarah had room to add her own favorite things)</span> all came out of our attics, basements, and gardening sheds.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/5uHfAkE_VC_aE7BMet7e4aTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkhI3USJ4ZV-bp9kjU6a5Y4t5Lf4uvaULL7Z5rWxpnJuVCUoPhzwXe1nvFQvB6y4QPVVlpwld1PNWAk3Sw5vS1R5jCVch2DPPrvdHN139nqAms6Bh3GRM-qLOQu3v6rF4ggrFRqQ/s400/IMG_7451.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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The super cool glass jugs also came out of Sarah's basement, a relic of her beer brewing days. The pieces of metal that they are resting on are vintage gas stove burners from the ReStore, painted to match the color scheme. <br />
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The table, the beautiful, beautiful table, was another roadside rescue of Kristin's (the woman is amazing, I tell ya.) It was in sad shape, but the cedar had aged to the most beautiful color. We tightened up the rusted old bolts as best we could (which was pretty good, if I say so myself) and then sanded and sanded and sanded and sanded the top. I applied tung oil to the top after that to protect it and bring out it's color and detail. The legs were painted to match the chairs and then distressed to match the age and style of the table. The bench was given the same treatment.<br />
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Tabitha came up with the "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stone_soup">Stone Soup Garden</a>" and it just fit so perfectly. We created this "birthday card" to hang in the garden, each of us signed the back of it.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2W7mAEOUBzsQlrlqdekeCaTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLjeYLH1QNhf_nFQ79V2xQRG9W8VwKcBfu0WblbsVnx6EyJHus2n1oE4qfjd_DX_oQGk9iiap5RRuY8TgQwl57lgPl-Fled44oWnfZlTUodYIUMKoLjRVJGruOaeUfVkeisUao_A/s400/IMG_7456.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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There are five raised beds. They were made from the same reclaimed cedar fence. The trellis is the frame to an old daybed that had lost its hardware long ago. The photos in this picture are of each of our kids holding letters that together read "Happy Birthday Auntie Sarah."<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/LtRO2RQ6tNhlJ_NzTdvTB6TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaO7Vp5aMSHUcP_jp6OAy3_PsSmEWb_e5u4i8VXfrKmnFR6BEtef5FH_THDJGepSdu7gJzI5uV1_Ud_7DAECpM1WugAMB85AqTdtE5zOMH1AdEuuY46-fyT3uZQ81iViFkMszZzw/s400/IMG_7458.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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One of my favorite parts are the old painted storm pipes planted with succulents.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/7LE9Cjx3rIQLh77yHi5AG6TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQKNKajO8PjMHwwiAW7FxjmguefB0PphGQBTNHUwYXnyM4_bhuZWz0Hwk8PYwSG_Z4T_KnJ6nstYX8d6H4NlN7MkHjocrTQRuBIMC6BEtQvC4doKllBCNisb8Y5G-pqsLLJsDAlQ/s400/IMG_7462.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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These very cool wreaths were also discovered hiding in Sarah's basement. The frames came from Kristin's house. We spray painted them and they add just a perfect little pop of color to the wreaths.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/s0nuKj8nm5f2Sg4yqrFD56TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV1dHt3ZMYjmXRAO1ON97gXuK7nKip90J1q75nkG6ZCVljNDDwVnOjmSwOGbP9PyOuqgGM3t-OatGXw8r1XIcjK8JvLS2AaZgCa2y06iZOnZwZPdsKmt4G1EUklZ_cMe_Hf1rQ8w/s400/IMG_7464.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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These windows were pulled out of a house in North Seattle that is currently under renovation. I saw the post on craigslist about 9:00pm one night. I knew where the house was because I had also picked up some broken concrete a few weeks earlier from the same house. I knew they would be gone in the morning so I pulled myself off of my couch and drove over there right then to pick them up. The bunches of herbs hanging from each window came from Meghan's yard.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/2woh5Q7qLsAH4x9UU5xOZaTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQLFHY2Zqq9gpxEN1iknoyIRhGn6aKN4xiP0ZaAJv6W0drCDRLrVRTlZjDDgNtcKpA-Wy0ijnbytbFgS9uT3SQR-_4Dr9tShY6xo5ZZIRpPguHrtoBDYcd8ByD8j2XzWGUi_Xmlg/s400/IMG_7438.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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The patio was made using <a href="http://www.terranovalandscaping.com/blog/2007/02/07/90/">"urbanite"</a> or broken up concrete. We stained the concrete to give it more of a stone like look. After filling in the spaces between with gravel and sand we put a layer of dirt on top of everything, and planted steppable ground covers. As our lovely Seattle rain works its magic the pavers will emerge and the ground covers will fill in to create a beautiful natural looking patio.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/kLybFE2MQXy_jLrs797MJKTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTI1Z1uHUXyOHr32tTe8gE3QJG0yy9giIHyBdx-xem0j1MNcCz2kGAByF3hwxxx-TdSBCjtAwIJ9_1N9x78LsyECy6uZbyi8hNZi2RCqssgSWBp3YQSDsB3LliiF7XHZOpJsCjQ/s400/IMG_7478.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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Yes, Sarah, your friends are crazy, but in a good way! We love you to pieces. Happy Birthday, dear friend.<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MZHPIEhgpVbTZGHkpMfsu6TbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXu-RtphV6gOFTpUGUWDCXk1qaI9Bg2F7FTVaOHZTRJ2EnRM6P9AupU5Ajc6579mVWmBpINaYeUdbBii8A2h9dv0VcZ2K9FMiV96sxi8SI6D0aESWDOF3rWvRbAxFryRRcGaDQgQ/s400/IMG_7493.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/9-I6ZThDBMyz89onO0QkYqTbmoraC4Vk-tcrbjLE5zc?feat=embedwebsite"><img height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzxxPrUGbVgurZ790uABwdJVfWoiplpe3z8c4tWRC-hB4V1hCq3gBIAt5fbnybvk3Jrg96JHqEiR_fjO_cTW21rCu7fujyV5m4SFFF-iJMVznuDv0yX-N2RReLyWaG6ZyQe2Lcw/s400/IMG_7495.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=embedwebsite">SSS</a></td></tr>
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For more photos of the entire process, visit my Picasa album, <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/meganpenny/SSS02?authkey=Gv1sRgCIb-3I-qg--BwAE&feat=directlink">SSS</a>.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ydn4kd0aaEY/SvO1EQ53tuI/AAAAAAAABt0/h5tFf_uXQiY/S990-R/DIY+Blog+button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Ydn4kd0aaEY/SvO1EQ53tuI/AAAAAAAABt0/h5tFf_uXQiY/S990-R/DIY+Blog+button.jpg" width="168" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing this project <a href="http://thediyshowoff.blogspot.com/2010/08/decorative-spheres.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FpuSM+%28The+DIY+Show+Off%29&utm_content=Bloglines">here.</a></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-20121143059179072462010-08-05T14:17:00.000-07:002010-08-05T14:18:08.921-07:00Spoonflower Contest of the WeekHave you all been voting in the <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/contests">Spoonflower</a> contest of the week?<br />
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This week the theme is "camouflage" Here is my entry. It is called Butterfly Battle. <br />
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=butterflycamoplaid.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/butterflycamoplaid.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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And here are all of my votes for this week.<br />
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=spoonflowercamopics.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="265" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/spoonflowercamopics.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Go over to vote and while you are there look at all the adorable fabrics that are for sale. SO FUN!Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-44942049000639167022010-08-04T01:10:00.000-07:002010-08-17T22:48:51.478-07:00Lost: The mind of one DuchessThat is for sure what the Duke and my neighbors thought when I showed up with these chair I picked up on the side of the road. (We live in a set of six townhouses that all share a driveway, and so my neighbors see what I am working on and chat, and generally shake their heads at the craziness I create.)<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6926.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6926.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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Yes, they were in bad shape, but I do love a challenge and look at this charming detail!<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6936.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6936.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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So, I tore the old wicker off of them, sanded them, and primed them.<br />
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6939.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6939.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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They drank up the paint like nothing else I have ever painted. I put three coat of primer on them. Then three more coats of a deep, cool teal, and we are ready for new seats.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6952.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6952.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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I considered a few options, but eventually decided that a regular cushion would be the easiest route.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6957.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6957.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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I taped a piece of poster board to the bottom of the chair and made myself a pattern in the shape of the hole in the chair. Letting your preschooler color on your plywood while you are getting out your jig saw is optional, but encouraged.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6959.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="213" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6959.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6961.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="320" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6961.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6958.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="320" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6958.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
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Then I banished said preschooler to "way over there!" and cut out the seat, about a 1/2 inch out from my pattern line. Little Sir was appropriately impressed that his Mama knows how to use a jig saw.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6965.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6965.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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Next, using the same pattern, Sunbrella fabric (these chairs will be living outside) is cut out leaving a 1.5 inch allowance. I also cut some ripstop the same way to protect the batting a little better from the elements.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6967.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6967.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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Don't use the paper pattern when cutting out your foam, use the actual piece of wood you will be using for the cushion w/ no extra allowance.<br />
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I was a little worried about using batting over the foam on a chair that was going to go outside, so I actually stapled the fabric down directly over the foam. It looked horrible and after pulling out some 8 billion staples I decided to add the rip stop to protect the batting and also try to remember to bring the cushions in when winter arrives.<br />
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Layer the foam, batting and fabric on top of your wood, then staple down the fabric, pulling it tight as you go, starting in the middle of each side and working toward each corner.<br />
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A little more paint, a little glaze, some "re-stressing" and one episode of Dr. Who later. . .<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_7174.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_7174.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_7171.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_7171.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_7168.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_7168.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Oh yeah!!! Who's crazy now??? (OK, I still am, but it results in pretty things, so I'm OK with that!)<br />
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<a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/jmrammell/shabbynestbutton.png" width="100" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://thecsiproject.com/" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Visit thecsiproject.com" class="aligncenter" src="http://thecsiproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/thecsiproject.com-logo-150.png" /></a>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-49139131185089608262010-07-27T23:49:00.000-07:002010-07-27T23:52:46.560-07:00A Frugal FixLittle Sir it getting bigger and as his body grows so does his will. He has officially given up sitting in his awesome <a href="http://yarnnation.blogspot.com/2007/07/problem-solved.html">high chair</a> (scroll to the bottom of that post.) We have agreed that he can sit on a regular chair either on him bum or on his knees. Well, he can't really reach yet when sitting on his bottom, so it's usually his knees. . . or I should say, it's sometimes his knees because meal times at our house sound something like this. . .<br />
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"Little Sir, on your knees!"<br />
"On your knees!"<br />
"LS, on your knees RIGHT NOW!"<br />
"You are going to fall off that chair and crack open your head- it will hurt- now sit on your knees!"<br />
"LS, if you don't sit on your knees RIGHT NOW you are going to go back into your high chair!"<br />
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Monday evening, after a fun day at the part with friend we were having a particularly difficult time. In complete exasperation I groaned "Little Sir, why can't you JUST. SIT. ON. YOUR. KNEES?" The funny thing is, he answered. He told me it hurt to sit on his knees and showed me the scraped up knees he had acquired earlier at the park. Well, what do you know, I'm a horrible mother sometimes.<br />
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So I asked him if he would like a pillow to kneel on and he said "YES!"<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6950.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6950.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
I went to the family room and retrieved one of these horrible throw pillows that we have been throwing around our living room for years and years. I keep meaning to get rid of, but always forget when I'm going to Goodwill because they are still in the living room being used as toys, dog beds, laptop desks, kneeling cushions. . . you get the idea.<br />
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Little Sir was thrilled and stayed kneeling the entire rest of the meal.<br />
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I had also just received a package in the mail from the Duke's grandmother with some boyish fabric in it that had been in her stash and she was hoping I could use. It was sitting on my stairs waiting to be put away and there was one piece of fabric that Little Sir just would not leave alone. He wanted it as a cape, as a blanket, as a tent, he just wanted it!<br />
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I had an idea, and tonight while the Duke was eating a late dinner, I sat at my sewing machine and worked out a boyish solution to our meal time mayhem. <br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6944.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6944.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
Cute, don't you think?<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6949.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6949.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
It's a simple pocket pillow cover with two ties sewn into the back seam.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6945.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6945.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
The ties were even free, some bias tape a woman threw in at a garage sale when I bought a sewing pattern from her! I zigzagged down each side of them in red to for a bit of detail.<br />
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I'm so happy with this. Not only do we have a solution to the kneeling problem, I don't have to look at my ugly and unwanted throw pillows anymore. Well, at least one of them. I think there may be another little boy or girl in the near future who will need a seat cushion to kneel on.<br />
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<div style="text-align: right;"><br />
<span style="font-size: 85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm sharing this project:</span></span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: right;"><br />
<a href="http://thecsiproject.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Visit thecsiproject.com" class="aligncenter" src="http://thecsiproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/thecsiproject.com-logo-150.png" style="height: 100px; width: 105px;" /></a></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-15509098296655796322010-07-25T00:48:00.000-07:002010-07-25T00:54:50.669-07:00Genius in my HeadYou know that day when you were a child. . . that day that it finally clicked and you had learned to ride a bike. Do you remember that feeling? Millions of other kids have learned to ride a bike, your dumb older sister could ride a bike, but still, you felt like a genius for having master the art of two wheeled locomotion.<br /><br />That is how I felt about this project.<br /><br />I have seen them all over blogland. Like <a href="http://www.tidymom.net/2009/05/camera-strap-cover-tutorial.html">here</a>, <a href="http://www.designspongeonline.com/2009/06/diy-wednesdays-camera-strap-cover.html">here</a>, <a href="http://content.photojojo.com/diy/reversible-camera-strap-cover/">here</a>, and a bunch of them<a href="http://www.u-createcrafts.com/2010/06/june-project-gallery-ruffle-camera.html"> here</a>. A zillion and one people have done it before me, but it was so easy, I made it a little different than any others that I have seen, and I absolutely love it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6924.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6924.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Now my camera has a pretty little dress to wear. I also made mine removable so that I can change it if I want to. Oh, and I didn't use any of the tutorials, I thought they were all a little too much for basically a tube of fabric. I just laid my camera strap on my fabric, ripped the fabric in the appropriate places, sewed it together and put it on. No pattern, no measuring, just fast. It only took about 20 minutes to make it.Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-22363839259300707552010-07-22T13:45:00.000-07:002010-07-24T08:43:19.005-07:00I Heart SpoonflowerYou all know about <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/">Spoonflower</a>, I'm sure. But did you know that they hold <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/contests">weekly contests</a>. I just love seeing what this community of designers comes up with each week. Sometimes I even enter. (In fact, look for me next week, the theme is "desert" and I do know a little something about the beauty of the desert.<br />
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I didn't enter this week's contest, but I thought some of the entries were very interesting. This week's challenge was "paper collage." The fabric had to start out as a paper collage and then be scanned in to create the fabric.<br />
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It was interesting to me that some of them just looked like more digitally created fabrics. All of my designs, to date, are digitally created. I have no problems w/ that, just would have liked to see some more creativity around the medium.<br />
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Here are the ones that I loved this week. You will notice that I really was drawn, particularly to ones that are layered and have that lovely semi transparency you can get with tissue paper. So pretty.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=etsycontest.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="268" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/etsycontest.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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If you are interested in seeing my novice designs, you can check them out <a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/profiles/duchess">here</a>. And you will notice that no, I do not sell my designs, but you will find many incredible designers that do<a href="http://www.spoonflower.com/market_browse?from_nav=true"> here.</a>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-45909404733720315562010-07-22T01:01:00.000-07:002010-07-22T22:36:24.927-07:00The Dragon Dresser<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=38064_1535890718079_1259181961_1467820_2987585_n.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/38064_1535890718079_1259181961_1467820_2987585_n.jpg" border="0" height="299" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I found this "treasure" at a thrift store (DI for you Mormons out there, the one here in Seattle is fabulous) for $40. It is mostly solid wood, including the drawers. Only the decorative fronts are a thick veneer mounted on some particle board, but are still dovetailed. It was in nearly perfect condition.<br /><br />When I brought it home the Duke nearly fainted and dubbed it the horrid-grandma-dragon-dresser. He could not believe I would bring home something so ugly. I reminded him that in 9.5 years I have never disappointed him in the home decor department. He just shuttered.<br /><br />Little Sir seemed to like it quite well, mostly because he saw the paint brushes come out!<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=38792_1535890398071_1259181961_1467819_5215370_n.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/38792_1535890398071_1259181961_1467819_5215370_n.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="300" /></a><br /><br />Primed<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=37896_1535890038062_1259181961_1467818_7397552_n.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/37896_1535890038062_1259181961_1467818_7397552_n.jpg" border="0" height="300" width="400" /></a><br /><br />In process, with all the necessary tools, including a sippy, of course. Little Sir and the Lion Baby were excellent assistants. Little Sir even removed all of the hardware with almost no help from me (the kid's not even three yet, he's clearly a genius!)<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6882.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6882.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Well, my Duke, eat your heart out. We now have more storage in our bedroom than you could ever wish for, and it's beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6895.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6895.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />The paint is Behr's Magnolia Blossom in High Gloss. I LOVE this color. It is a beautiful creamy white. I have it on several of my walls. I chose this white and the high gloss finish mostly because I had a gallon of it in my garage left over from when we painted our window seals and banisters. I rolled the smooth parts, but the drawers had to be done with a brush. My experience in painting zillions of feet of molding came in handy here. My tips: plenty of paint on your brush, brush quickly, and in the same direction as the line of the molding. Don't go back over it while it's wet, if you miss a spot, get it on the next coat. Sand between coats if needed.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6897.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6897.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The glaze is Ralph Lauren's tinted a dark brownish black. I put it on with a brush to get it down in all the cracks then wiped it off with a damp rag.<br /><br />Here's a question for those of you who have done this a lot. Do you glaze the flat surfaces if you are just looking to use the glaze to bring out the details? I decided too because the flat portions of the middle drawers got glazed and I wanted then to match in case you could tell the difference after everything was dry. I'm not sure it made any difference.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/?action=view&current=IMG_6892.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/IMG_6892.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />The handles were spray painted with everyone's favorite oil rubbed bronze. Having never seen it in person, only in blogland, I really didn't know why everyone loved it so much. NOW I get it. It really is a beautiful finish for the hardware.<br /><br />I'm working on a large piece of art that is to go over the dresser but it is not coming together how I was hoping. I may have to start again, but look for that soon.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I'm sharing this project:</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://thecsiproject.com/" target="_blank"><img style="width: 105px; height: 100px;" class="aligncenter" src="http://thecsiproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/thecsiproject.com-logo-150.png" alt="Visit thecsiproject.com" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a href="http://shabbynest.blogspot.com/"><img style="width: 107px; height: 107px;" src="http://i226.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/jmrammell/shabbynestbutton.png" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: right;"><a border="0" href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/" target="_blank"><img style="width: 102px; height: 96px;" src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb119/tightwadtips/blog%20design/button.png" /></a></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-9873453189004674472010-07-19T01:15:00.000-07:002010-07-19T01:15:52.953-07:00The Great Binky Give Up - The End of the MimiThank you to my dear friend, Tabitha, for this idea. It was a lot of fun and has been so helpful over the last 2 days as Little Sir continues his adjustment.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6531.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6531.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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He wasn't sure about the floppy, lifeless puppy we handed him after he had chosen a fluffy fun doggie, but trusted us as we assured him that we were going to "build" him.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6536.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6536.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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Getting ready, this is a big step and he knows it.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6539.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6539.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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Fill 'im up!<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6546.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6546.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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He's ready.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6547.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="263" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6547.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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In goes the Mimi! (Oh that face!)<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6561.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6561.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
He very carefully followed the lady's instructions on how to prepare the doggy's heart.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6569.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6569.jpg" width="400" /> </a><br />
Blurry photo, but he was so happy to have brought his puppy to life.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6576.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6576.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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He gave Mimi Doggy a very thorough air bath.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6608.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="266" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6608.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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And he chose a bandanna in his favorite color to tie around his neck. Daddy helped him.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6619.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6619.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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Lastly Mimi Doggy got a birth certificate.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6645.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6645.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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We had one very happy little boy on our hands.<br />
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<a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6681.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="400" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6681.jpg" width="266" /></a><br />
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We also took him to have a special dinner and Mimi Doggy was his constant companion.<br />
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It has now been 2 full days without the Mimi. He did have a little bit of trouble getting to sleep the first two nights. Tonight he was able to get to sleep with almost no trouble. There has been very little crying throughout the entire week. Even though I know it was a difficult week for him, I think doing all of these fun things made the transition for him a lot easier.<br />
<br />
Saturday he found a long lost Binky in the garage. He didn't put it in his mouth, he brought it to me and showed me (with much excitement.) I told he that he didn't use Mimies anymore and that he could either throw it in the garbage or give it to the Lion Baby. He accepted that without trouble, said he wanted to give it to the Lion Baby and since Little Lion was sleeping he gave it to me to wash off and give to him later.<br />
<br />
He loves Mimi Doggy very much except for when he is struggling and asks for his Mimi, then we give him his doggy and remind him that his Mimi is inside the doggy now. He will then throw the Mimi Doggy to the floor in frustration. It is a good outlet for him and it is a good way for the Duke and I to be consistent in helping him through those difficult moments. It isn't long before he is picking Mimi Doggy up and hugging him tight.<br />
<br />
The Great Binky Give Up was a great success. It was still hard, but it made a week that could have been horrible and instead turned it into a fun and memorable experience.Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-65858261853064101782010-07-15T14:59:00.000-07:002010-07-19T01:33:07.339-07:00The Great Binky Give Up - Phase FourToday was the easiest day of the project so far. We tackled it in the morning before Little Sir left for preschool and I think he actually enjoyed it! There were no tears, no sad phases, no problems.<br />As we were talking last week about how Little Sir wanted to give up his Mimi's he remembered a time that we tried before, several months ago when I let him use scissors to cut the silicone portion of his Mimi off. For some strange reason he finds this activity highly appealing. (We won't discuss the fact that I find that disturbing.)<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6471.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6471.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />So, after breakfast he held onto is Mimi while I got everything ready.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6489.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6489.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He was excited to get right to work when the scissors showed up.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6480.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6480.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="267" /></a><br /><br />Sending it up in the sky or out to sea, very traumatic, destroying it, great fun. The kid is strange.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6499.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6499.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />Then he put it in a special bag that we made for the garbage man so he would know what it was and how special it was. (that is a giant Mimi attached to it.)<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6508.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6508.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He was very proud of himself (and so am I.)<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6514.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6514.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />Then outside on our way to preschool.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6515.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6515.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="267" /></a><br /><br />He throws it in the garbage with no ceremony what-so-ever.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6527.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6527.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He replaces the lid and runs happily off to the car so he can get to school.<br /><br /><br />Today was so easy and painless. We'll see how he does at preschool and what tonight will bring. Tomorrow is Phase 5, the final phase. Wish us luck!Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-23728034522325315872010-07-15T00:40:00.000-07:002010-07-19T01:39:56.743-07:00The Great Binky Give Up - Phase ThreeToday we packed up half the house and moved this circus to <a href="http://www.seattle.gov/parks/park_detail.asp?ID=243">Golden Gardens Park</a>, which is as beachy as Seattle gets. Little Sir was torn, he was excited to go to the beach (sand and water are his two favorite forms of matter) but he knew why we were going, and he wasn't very excited about that.<br />I knew that we had to get the Mimi business out of the way first thing so we could enjoy the rest of the day. Little Sir was not as ready to get down to business.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6325.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6325.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />This was his reaction very soon after arrival when I told him it was time. He recovered quickly, though.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6326.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6326.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He "held his Mimi in his mouth" for a few moments while holding onto the little boat that would carry it away to the new baby who lived far away.<br /><br /><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6335.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /><br /><br />He placed the Mimi in the boat along with some special pretty rocks we picked out on our way down to the water as a present for the baby. (Rocks are his third favorite form of matter, and more readily available than sand and water, which is a major bonus.)<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6337.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6337.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />He held the boat for a few moments to say goodbye,<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6340.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6340.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />Then he place the boat on the ground near the water and told me that the water would come to take it away. (Yes, my child understands tides, he is brilliant.)<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6342.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6342.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He turned<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6343.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6343.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />and walked away.<br /><br /><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6347.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /><br /><br />His understanding of tides is still limited and it was clear that the tide was going out, so I offered to walk it out into the water for him.<br /><br /> <a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6358.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6358.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He agreed and stood on the beach to watch me as I walked it out about 20 feet. (I did NOT want it to come back!)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6348.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6348.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Away it sailed.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6356.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6356.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />If you look close (or click through to photobucket and look at the full size photo) you can see an orange speck floating out to sea.<br /><br /><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" src="http://w300.photobucket.com/pbwidget.swf?pbwurl=http%3A%2F%2Fw300.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fnn16%2Fyarnnation%2FGreat+Binky+Give+Up%2F29bb2e9f.pbw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="360" width="480"></embed><br /><br />When I came back I didn't ask him how he felt, it was heartbrakingly clear. I just snapped a series of photos as he watched the boat sail away.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6382.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6382.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />We quietly ate lunch and after a while I told him I was very proud of him. He said "Yeah, I'm a big boy, but I'm still sad." And then I shoved a hand full of sand down my throat to make myself feel better.<br />The seagulls helped lighten the mood. I started throwing the remains of Little Sir's sandwich up in the air and they would catch them in mid air while putting on the Seagull version of an ultimate fighting match. It was very impressive, especially for the boy.<br /><br /><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6411.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /><br /><br />Little Sir decided to get in on the action and spent some quality time chasing seagulls.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6403.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6403.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He was much happier when he returned.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6419.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6419.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />Then we built a sand castle together.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6457.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6457.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />He dutifully destroyed it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=34382_1527290903089_1259181961_1443.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/34382_1527290903089_1259181961_1443.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="300" /></a><br /><br />Later I took him for an ice cream cone and for awhile all was right with the world.<br /><br />He fell asleep in the car without the assistance of a Mimi but was rudely awoken by a hungry little brother who screamed half of the way home from Golden Gardens. There were some tantrums and tears over the Mimi and after some time I decided to skip the nap.<br /><br />Tonight I put tomorrow's Mimi on his pillow for him to use when he went to sleep. However, I told him that he could only use it while he was actually in bed. He could also choose to come sit with me in the big red rocking chair and I would rock him and sing him songs, but the Mimi could not come. He held the Mimi in his mouth for just a few seconds, then threw it back on the bed and joined me on the rocking chair. He fell asleep not long after as I rocked him and sang to him, no fuss, no tears, and no Mimi! I am so proud of him and I think we are both going to be OK.Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-24746660027281990942010-07-13T22:03:00.000-07:002010-07-13T22:18:54.950-07:00The Great Binky Give Up - Phase TwoPhase Two was much easier on the little dude. While he was at pre-school today the Binky Fairy paid a visit to our home to take away one beloved Mimi and leave a very special present.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6294.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6294.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Little Sir was a little sad when I came to pick him up from preschool and we talked about how the Binky fairy had been to our house, but all of that sadness disappeared when he walked into the family room.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6296.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6296.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />Along with the new "VERY BIG!!!" digger was a note from the Binky Fairy with her picture on it (it's a photograph of a toy I got off Google images.)<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6297.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6297.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />And a photograph of the new digger with the Mimi it was trade for.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6298.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6298.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />I tied yesterday's balloon to the digger to help tie the two events together. It helped, he made a comment about the balloon and the Mimi that went away in the sky on the balloons.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6299.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6299.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />This was his initial reaction (dampened slightly by the fact that he had just spilled water down the front of him - and no I did not intend that pun, that's just how it came out.)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6312.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6312.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />He happily spent the rest of the evening playing with is new digger, never asking once about his Mimi.<br /><br /><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6315.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /><br /><br />The Binky Fairy (who must only be a distant relative of the Tooth Fairy) also left him some of his favorite candy, Smarties.<br /><br />The only trouble we had revolved around a parental mistake. I made something he had never had for dinner tonight and we struggled over dinner for far too long. This left the poor little guy too tired for our scheduled "practice" night of going to bed without his Mimi. We had talked about it several times over the last two days and he had agreed to it, but when the time came, he was exhausted and bedtime was a series of tantrums and crying until our "practice" was over and he got to have his Mimi while he was actually in bed.<br /><br />I will be more careful the rest of the week to make things he likes for dinner and to get him to bed early enough to (hopefully) prevent a repeat of tonight.<br /><br />Wish us luck!<br /><br />(oh, and less anyone think I've gone off the deep end spending a ton of money to wean my little dude of his Mimi, the balloons were from the dollar store and the digger was a $3.00 find at Goodwill. No need to spend a ton of money where a small amount will do. I do have something a little more expensive planned for the last day, but the whole affair will be under $30.00)Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17661501.post-76651295171099926012010-07-12T23:21:00.000-07:002010-07-12T23:24:39.451-07:00The Great Binky Give Up - Phase OneLittle Sir has been a Binky (he calls it his Mimi) baby from day ONE! One of his first words was Mimi (we didn't know what it meant for several frustrating days.) He has been known to proclaim his very sincere love for his Mimi. Once I asked him who he loved more Mama or Mimi. He actually had to stop and consider it for a moment. He did say Mama with a little pang in his voice. Then I said, "But you love your Mimi too, don't you?" He then smiled and happily told me "Yes!"<br /><br />We have tried getting rid of the Mimi before, but I just didn't have it in me to follow through. Once he cried for 4 hours straight. Once he was just so sad he couldn't sleep and told me his heart hurt a little bit. How is a Mama supposed to stand up to that?<br /><br />Well, with his third birthday approaching, and his continual (and disgusting) habit of rubbing his Mimi on various things, including me, him, the pillow, blankets, furniture, dogs, floors, ect. I have finally decided that this is the week.<br /><br />Last week we talked about it every day. We talked about how he would like to send away his Mimies and we came up with a 5 day plan. Today was PHASE ONE!<br /><b><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">The Special Balloon Send-off</span></b><br /><br />Little Sir got to go to the store and pick out 5 balloons (it actually takes 4 to carry a binky away.) He got to keep one of them and the other four were to send the mimi that he chose to nap with today off to the new baby who needed it.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5906.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5906.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I helped him write a note to the new baby,<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5906.jpg" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5904.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5904.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />and he drew a picture for the baby.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5908.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5908.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />Then we attached the Mimi and the note to the balloons and took the to a park near our house. He "held Mimi in his mouth" one last time.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5910.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5910.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He was concerned, but still willing to smile for a picture.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5913.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5913.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He took some time to contemplate what was about to happen.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5916.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5916.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />Then he let go.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5941.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5941.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />He watched the balloons float away for a bit (doesn't this face just make you want to die? I nearly did.)<br /><br /><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5946.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /><br /><br />When I asked him how he felt he didn't answer, he just looked at me like this. (And then a little part of me actually did die. Hurry, someone please tell me I'm not a horrible person and heartless mother.)<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_5988.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_5988.jpg" border="0" height="266" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Then we quietly watched the ducks together for a while and before long. . .<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6010.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6010.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />my sweet silly boy was back to his wonderful self.<br /><br /><a href="http://s300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/?action=view&current=IMG_6045.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" src="http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn16/yarnnation/Great%20Binky%20Give%20Up/IMG_6045.jpg" border="0" height="400" width="266" /></a><br /><br />Wish us luck this week. Phase two starts tomorrow.Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07429515503572093034noreply@blogger.com9