Caitlyn

Blue Tutu

 

Caitlyn started this month with her second ballet performance. This time it was Spectrum‘s All-School Demonstration, with each class performing a stand-alone dance. There were performances in ballet, jazz, tap and contemporary dance styles, by students ages 5 to 22. (Photo by Grandpa Robert Gilman.) Caitlyn’s class danced to Somewhere Over the Rainbow as sung by Israel “IZ” Kamakawiwo’ole. It’s a lovely song, but after hearing it while they were learning and rehearsing their dance for the last five months, I’m tired of it, even if Caitlyn isn’t! (Photo by Grandpa Robert Gilman.) Her review: Performing is fun, although once …

quilts

A Moment of Sun

 

It’s all we get these days up here in Seattle. A moment when the clouds drift apart for just a bit, and there is a moment of sun. Quick! Pictures! ‘Cause it’ll start raining again soon. I love not needing to water the yard but, man, are my tomatoes sad. Anyway, I caught a moment of sun this morning and was finally able to photograph my two June blocks for Sew. Quilt. Give. This is a new virtual quilting bee (meaning that we don’t actually get together physically to work on quilt blocks, not that we’re making virtual quilts), and …

Caitlyn, sewing

Let’s go to the Hop!

Caitlyn has been looking forward to the next Sock Hop event at her school since before last Halloween. That might be my fault, since I was trying to help her decide on a Halloween costume and suggested a 50’s style skirt that she could wear for Halloween and for the Sock Hop. Somehow I ended up making a pioneer girl outfit for Halloween and promising a poodle skirt in time for the Sock Hop. What’s wrong with me??? Fortunately, it’s an easy skirt. And with felt, there’s no finishing: no hem, no fancy seam finishes. I used McCall’s 6101, including …

quilts

Blocks!

 

I’ve ignored my various quilting projects for the last month or so, while I was working on projects for Caitlyn and the siggy blocks. I’m now playing catch-up, chasing down the cool kids, waving my rulers, bits of fabric fluttering behind me: “Wait for me!” First up, the Bloggers’ Block of the Month blocks: Block 7 Block 8 Block 9 Block 9 is my favorite of this bunch. Note to self, though: don’t try to assemble this one at the very end or the very start of the day. I unpicked seams so many times on this one and still …

homesteading, in the kitchen

Pantry Inspection

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Once the farmers’ market starts up around here, it’s time to review the pantry. What’s left of the things I put up last summer? What did we run out of and what are we still eating? Do the storage goals for this year need to be adjusted? Will I be able to defrost the chest freezer before it’s time to start putting new things in it? I seem to recall that in previous years, this process usually produced a surprise or two. Dried carrots aren’t good for much more than soup, for instance, and that only grudgingly. Bing cherries are …