BUT NO FLAMINGOS by Kimara Wise We have many varieties of birds in our yard, Woodpeckers and swallows and blue-jays that guard. We have juncos and grackles and plenty of finch, And spotting a hawk is really a cinch. But no flamingos! We have blue-birds and orioles, and a titmouse is common. So is the …
NOTE: The direct links to all the individual photos can be found in this post. The other day someone asked me if I knew of a cute pattern for a knit mouse. Well, as you can well imagine, once I started looking I couldn’t stop! And, if hardly seems fitting to have a cat without …
What does an artist look like? She looks like this and this and this. Pixie sculpted her own bird after seeing my Paper Clay Totem. May we always endeavor to see the artist in all of our children and encourage their creative pursuits. Here is an excerpt from the classic novelette The Little Prince by Antoine de …
Working with the Miniature Mosaic Pattern When I went over my notes for this block the only thing I had written down was, “took forever.” LOL. I made this block back in May so I can’t remember why it took me so long to complete this block. This block knits up fairly square, lays flat, and …
In Michigan, kids do not go back to school until after Labor Day so we still have a full month of vacation left, although as homeschoolers we do start up a bit earlier so that we have extra time off at the holidays. For now though, we still have a few relaxed weeks ahead. This is …
Before beginning this project make sure you check out some real turtles. If you are lucky enough to spy one on a nature walk, make sure to get a photo if the wee creature is willing to stand still long enough. If you don’t happen upon a turtle share books about turtles so children can discover …
Better gardeners than I can get hardy hibiscus flowers to grow in Michigan. I have yet to have one successfully winter. Since I adore them, I tend to think of them as annuals and always have one of two plants in the garden. Perhaps I shouldn’t bother but few plants are as showy and beautiful as …
For years I have been promising our readers a tutorial for making our Gnome Home. Last Christmas Tim and I made two, and I’m finally getting around to writing up the directions. It’s not that I’m a slacker it is just that I knew this was going to be a monumental project. Really, making the …
Working with the Diagonal Chain Pattern The diagonal chain is another fun mosaic pattern. The main tip I want to share is be sure to slip as if to purl unless a pattern says otherwise. This is true for all the mosaic patterns. More Blocks in the Series Introductory Post Block Nine: Horizontal Chain Pattern Block Eleven: Miniature Mosaic …
I am a fan of rain. I can honestly say there have only been a handful of days in my life when I felt like rain ruined the day for me. I love the sound of rain. I love the smell of the earth after a rain. I love to be caught in a summer …
When my children were young, actually before I even had my third, my parents owned a condo in Florida and would spend several months there each winter. It was lovely going down there for a week each winter to soak up the sun and play on the beach. After I put the wee ones down …
To me August is the most “summery” month of the year. Traditionally, our temperatures are the highest, we get the least amount of rain, and we always try to get in a couple “long weekends” to fully enjoy the last lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. By the end of August I’ll be ready for …
