warmer things

The soap is warmer, now that it has a bity apron dress to wear! I’m kind of ridiculously infatuated with these little dishcloth dresses.

(I absolutely love the tiny little bath off our bedroom upstairs, it’s old porcelain and crazy crooked and wonderfully perfect.)

My neck is warmer (for the moment completely Swallowed up in gorgeousness) I am only modeling this, it is actually a purpley snuggley infinty hug I made for my mom.

I am so romanced by all things Cabernet.

My mouth is warmer with hot cider and crisp salted apple slices ..no mini cider doughnuts, no buttery popcorn, no handmade caramel dip, not even any crab apples (well we would have gotten these if they had any!) it was not normal for us to be leaving the orchard with only our 2 sacks of apples, we must still be sorting out the offness of just being a cute couple again. We did grab one hand dipped taffy apple to be boxed up and shipped out to Lex (we didn’t forget you!)

Warmer hands and more leaves, acorns and walnuts than ever (go go squirrles!) I love making cute mittens but totally hate raking leaves!

Atwater Mittens in candy colored malabrigo ..oh my goodness the pretty cuffery and beautifully romantic thumb increases these have.

I should have kept these warmer (we actually had our first few snowflakes on Tuesday!) beautiful mums from my beautiful sister, sadly I may have already killed them, I tired not to, really I did.

My heart is warmer knowing our lovely girl is doing everything we could have ever wished for her to do with her life, adjusting fearlessly to a big bustling city (low flying fighter jets rumbling overhead on their way to Fenway Park to commence the opening of the world series just a few blocks away!) loving her first job working with children in Boston’s jumpstart program, busy school filled days & heavy homework filled nights, dive-in-theatres (late night swims in the school pool, while they project a movie on the wall, they watched JAWS!) spending a lazy Saturday in Salem walking in some of our nations oldest cemeteries, enjoying street fairs, witch trials, wax figures and deep-fried veggies!

Saturday (2 weeks in)

Taking long pauses with lots of cuddles, we are still trying to find our usefulness, and slowly get into the grove of life with one less  ..but in reality nothing is the same, the room is dark, the door is closed (because we all know bijou kitty is never sorry for barfing on your bed :) our girl of 18 years is off making her own way, having a whole bunch of amazing firsts, far away from our quite little house. We get peeks into her new world through video chat, texts and phone calls, it makes it less heartbreaky all around when we know we can talk anytime.

This was our first stop after leaving Lex on campus. Jason and I had never been to a Dunkin’ Doughnuts and out east they seem to be on every corner, so we had our very own first! The counter girl seemed slightly annoyed with our giddy indecision when ordering.

Doughnuts not pictured, boston cream and coconut!

Cheers Lex (XOXO)

I didn’t do any knitting or crocheting on the trip and not even that much complaining about the tolls, road food or my swollen ankles from the long car ride! I think I was just focused on the 3 of us having a fantastic time together, spending these last few days of Alexa’s childhood as a family trio. ♥

It wasn’t until we were back home and several days later that I even had the desire to pick up a hook. Obviously winter (wooly hat!) and Lex coming back are filling my mind, she is my main hat & cowl recipient. The La Mar Hat pattern by Yuliya Tkacheva (aka Ms. Weaver) brought me back, with its unique beauty, sturdy structure and it should be absolutely perfect for those harsh nor’easters!

I’m still working on not being so somber, I will admit I got a little emotional at seeing only 2 toothbrushes in the stand, but she’ll be back in no time, taking the train home for Christmas. What a beautiful snowy scenic postcard trip by rail that will be!

making me happy

As we sift through 18 years of life, and try to fit a futures worth into a few suitcases, our hearts are excited at her possibilities, happy with her choices and saddened with her absence. It’s becoming more real by the day, that she will begin to explore and create her own new life on the east coast in just a couple of weeks. The supply lists are checked off, class schedules are set (she is taking Mandarin!), the take and leave piles are sorted (and ever-changing), the hints about LOTS of care packages are duly noted, and the bank account is much lighter. There is also just a smidge of attitude, topped off with ramblings of happiness, this tells us she is ready!

Old Mill Pond Mural

(Old Mill Pond Mural)

Alexa has been filling her last weeks at home volunteering as a mural painters apprentice! Several other local art students are also working with the artist, who was commissioned by the Historical Society to create 2 large murals depicting images from historic photographs of our quaint little mill town.

Harvest Mural

(Harvest Mural)

Her name is even on it, in tiny letters right up there, actually painted on by Alexa!

While she has been away getting painty, bruised and sunburned, I decided to spend a dedicated amount of time making something wonderful to tag along with her to Boston. We’ll miss you silly girl, please don’t get too annoyed at receiving boxes filled with momish things, cereal, bulk snacks and dad’s funny newspaper clippings!

Could you tell why making this hippopotamus I was completely inspired by porcelain lace, pale plasterwork ceilings, lincrusta panels and anaglyptic papers.


Pattern: Happypotamus The Happy Hippo Crochet Pattern from Heidi Bears.


(psst she has loads of other beautiful animals in this lovely style of crochet!)