Children are Nicer than Doodles

Here's the doodle I just finished to print on cards accompanying late gifts for babies. It's not entirely to my liking, and I was a Grumpy Bear while I finished it, which is why I should not doodle when the girls are awake.
That's all, folks.

As She Promised

Valerie and Cadie, a recipe for each of you now waits at buildabelly.
I've also added two bonus recipes for any lucky readers who snatch them first.

(Oops. And I just added the grape juice for you, Rebecca.)

Listless

Today's heat evaporated the words that I planned to write in this introductory post. Another day-- a cooler day-- keep a sharp eye out for them, and they'll come riding on an errant wind.

Through the Looking

I know this door features almost as predominantly on shotsnaps as do the girls themselves, but many of the sights I see in a day involve children looking out the window with longing or children impishly peering in from the opposite side of the glass.

Oh, Master, We are Seven

I took these pictures of Annie as she sat on the back step, talking to me about the big bug she was watching. I tried to delete some, I really did, but my motherly bias froze the ruthless part of me when I tried to cull even one. Here they are. (Have mercy.)


This is right before she noticed the bug.










Then she noticed it.




And she watched it




And talked about it




And then smiled.




The End.

Pet for a Day

Millie caught a cricket. She was fit to burst with excitement.




Peter Pan tried to gobble it.

The Great Blueness

Yesterday, it was hot, so I slipped into Becky's basement to pilfer the little pool my mom had brought down for the grandkids. Six of them are splashing in it today as I type, and I send out doubtful hopes for its health and long life.

Sts. Mildred & Annika Face the Dragon

The pool water wasn't nearly wet enough, so the girls traveled garden-ward, that they might fight the Water Dragon with their bare hands and only one metal shield between the two of them. (I remember doing the same with my brothers, only we would also arm ourselves with swords forged of garden stakes.)







You needn't think they lack foresight, though, because before the battle, they did provision themselves with snacks.

Torn No More

I delayed starting the other baby gifts I NEED TO FINISH SOON in order to mend a fierce rip in Millie's quilt. I was just going to patch it with a giant square of green, but just before doing so, I thought it would be more fun to give her quilt a name tag.

MRS. SHIZZO, DON'T LOOK!!!

These haven't arrived at her door yet, but I decorated a white onesie with thread and made some little booties for Anna. I'm hoping her mama is too busy to check my blog anymore, otherwise I just stuck my present-giving foot in my mouth. (...Or whatever the equivalent of a verbal slip-up would be in the electronic realm.) I used Heather Bailey's pattern for the felt booties and added my own embellishments to match those that I had embroidered on the onesie. Her mom says she looks good in fire-engine red, but I found that onesies in that shade are rare...

p.s. Those are lollipop flowers. Sweet-- get it?

Yes, We Like the Park

We went on a walk to the park. (Even though that pithy sentence about covers it, indulge me by permitting superfluous commentary...)

I wanted to take a picture of this barn, but Millie slipped into the picture, so now it's a picture of Millie and the barn.



Here she is in the field. Every time we go to the park, the five-minute walk stretches much longer with explorations into field and bush.