a big day at our house

Eli asked at the door to go out and then peed outside! While Rebecca was out with him Sophie made this sign.

hangin' out at home

The weather has taken a turn for the cold and I twisted my ankle and well, I already mentioned the puppy, all of which are conspiring to keep us at home. I've been reading The Heretic's Daughter, which is excellent, historical fiction about the Salem witch trials written by a descendant of some of the accused and The Magic of Fire, a beautiful book about hearth cooking, with lots of recipes and folk lore. We made cookies and bean stew with beans I ordered from Rancho Gordo.

Rebecca sewed a skirt using the free pattern at http://www.oliverands.com/.

I made 2 pairs of mittens and one pair of fingerless gloves out of felted sweaters. The mitten pattern is from Warm Fuzzies by Betz White.

Sophie woke up one morning recently and said "I want to sew a pair of pajama pants!" And competent kid that she is--here they are.

the girls fiddle at a halloween party for twins and the puppy comes along

Eli was so good and calm in all the noise and chaos of two hundred small children in costume and their families.

Some of the kids were in matching costumes--so adorable!