Finally Fall

Fall has finally come to California.  Arkansas woke up to snow this morning.  We on the other hand had a beautiful, brisk fall day.  After lunch, the girls and I walked to our little neighborhood playground.  I laid out a picnic blanket for Baby M and me to snuggle on while the girls played.  Only she wasn't having any of it.  I'd set her down and immediately she'd start heading across the grass and into the sand to play with her sisters.  She's getting so big.

Although I am still busy unpacking, fixing and organizing things at our new place, the bulk of my crafting attention is now focused on M's Christmas stocking.  I want to finish it by the beginning of December.  It is all stitched, except for her name, a few missed stitches, and the backstitched outlines.  Then I have to sew it all together of course.  I have been working on it since July 2013 and should have it done some time before her first Christmas. 

 

We're off to See the Wizard

Well, this is take two of this post since all those times I pushed save did not apparently save the last version. 

 

We carved the twin's pumpkins the day before Halloween.  I used the girls' shape toys as a template for some neat star and cross eyes. The little saws in those carving kits are cheap and easy to bend but they do a great job maneuvering around corners.  The girls were very proud to help carve this year. 

 



The Halloween costumes turned out great.  Oma was a trooper.  She made little H's Dorothy jumper, Big H's tinman tunic and helped me out a enormous amount.  They all look so adorable together.  We mommas also got to dress up this year.  I found some witch's hats at Target for my sister and me, and I wore striped socks like the Wicked Witch of the East.

 

M's onesie, that I dyed, didn't look great and it was a little chilly, so she ended up in a brown First Thanksgiving bodysuit turned inside out.  She didn't really want to cooperate with wearing the lion's mane I had knitted around her face (and I don't really blame her), but she did keep it on when I set it on top of her head while trick or treating so that was something at least.  I drew a cat's nose and whiskers on her and she looked absolutely adorable.  But then she does even when she is not dressed up as the Cowardly Lion. 

 

Miss D loved being Glinda the Good Witch of the North (and yes, she says the whole title every time someone asks her what she was for Halloween).  The costume turned out really well, but if I had had more time I would have tried to make some big puffy sleeves out of tulle like Glinda had in the movie.  I did get a little bit of pouf in the peasant top but much less than I was hoping for. 

I made the peasant top of the dress using this tutorial.  Oma came for a visit the weekend before Halloween and by the time she left, all that was left to do was sew the body of D's dress together and hem it.  I cut out the material and pinned them, she sewed it together and made the casing for the elastic while I took care of the kids.  Then while she held the baby, I threaded the elastic through the casing, gathered the skirt and sewed it to the top and made a tutu.  Oma checked the length on T and hemmed hers while I nursed Baby M.  It was a great tag team approach that made it go by so fast. I am so thankful I wasn't stressing about these costumes trying to finish them at last minute.  Thank you, Oma!

I had hoped to sew the tulle material into the dress seam so it was all one piece but it would have taken more time and planning to figure out how to do that.  So instead I made a separate tutu to wear over the dress and pinned it in place with safety pins.  It is nice now because they can play in their costumes at home and take off the tutu when it gets in the way.

 

For the crown, I (for some strange reason) thought that two paper sized sheets of pink felt would be enough, silly me.  Luckily, I was able to find a little more from previous craft project and was able to sew together a sturdy and pretty decent looking crown.  First, I sewed all the pieces into a cylinder that fit her head.  Then I folded that in half, wrong sides together and top stitched along the fold to make it sturdy.  I used the handy star shape toy that I had also used on the pumpkins to trace stars on the felt and then I sewed just inside the line I had made.  I trimmed everything from the line out to complete the shape. I had bought some spray on glitter but the can jammed almost immediately, so sadly only a small part got any glitter.  If I had not waited til last minute, I could have gotten more glitter or something else shiny to glue on it. 

Oma and I made T's dress the same way as D's with orange cotton.  The only difference being that I didn't gather the sleeves with elastic.  I love all the colors in her tutu and the sunflower clip I bought to go with it.  Oma also sewed a few fall leaves on the top.

 

Her hat was an interesting mess but it looked great.  I also only had two sheets of tan felt.  I used their current sun hats, that are a little snug, for sizing since they were asleep when I made it and it turned out a little too small.  I just sewed all the scraps together after cutting out the brim, which made an interesting shape but turned out pretty flat due to lack of materials.  I twisted some yellow tulle leftover from the tutu and sewed it to cover the seam and sewed a few puffs on with fall leaves to look like straw.  Then I made cuts on the brim about an inch an a half in and a centimeter wide so it would look more ragged. It was too small and also too short but looked good perched up on top of her head anyway.


 

 

The costumes all looked so great together.  We only made it to about four houses in my sister's neighborhood because of tripping, falling into a rose bush to avoid a little sniffing dog, trying to eat the candy--wrapper and all--and anything else you could think of that would slow a group of pre school/toddler/babies down.  But they enjoyed it and got to watch Wizard of Oz afterward.  So all of the pink for Glinda's dress and the slippers being red instead of silver like in the book finally made sense.

Next year we'll have to come up with another great theme and hopefully I'll have my act together a bit more and get everything done ahead of time.

 

Halloween is Coming up Fast!

I have made very little progress on the Halloween costumes because we have been busy painting, cleaning and moving.  I have managed to pull my sewing machine out of the box it has been in the last 6-8 months.  However, I don't have a table to set it up on unless I put it on the dining table.  I really want to avoid that, but it may come to it if I don't find a good table at a yard sale soon.

I had started resizing a boys long sleeve shirt I got at a thrift store for T's scarecrow costume but she didn't like the color and it took so much effort to get her to try it on to size it that I gave up and scraped it.  Instead I will do a dress in fall colors and forget trying to make it look like on the movie.  It just isn't worth the effort to make something she doesn't want to wear anyway.

I finished dying baby M's onesie and it didn't turn out as well as I had dreamed, though it was pretty close to what I expected.  I'm thinking of buying pants and a long sleeve shirt anyway since it might be chilly enough.  She also yanks her lions mane off at first chance so that will be fun to deal with too.

I have bought all of the material to make D and T's dresses and have started cutting out T's.  I'm hoping to start sewing them in the next couple nights.  I definitely need to start by the weekend.  I'll probably have to put in some late nights to get it done without interruptions.   

So I am a bit sad and stressed about these costumes.  At least I got a couple pumpkins and some pumpkin butter at Trader Joe's this morning, so thing aren't all that bad.

My Father, the Published Author

My father past away a decade ago.  It is strange to realize it has been that long.  A decade brings so many changes: a handful of adorable grandchildren, gaining new friends while losing old, and new projects around the house that he built.  It makes me sad that he is not here to experience it.

He had spent time writing a book before his death.  Gun collecting was a hobby of his and he became an expert on German hunting rifles over the years. 

It makes me so proud that 10 years later it is finally being published.  It could not have been done without dedication on my mother's part and with the computer expertise of his good friend, Bruce Hamilton.  Other gun enthusiasts that knew my father, helped my mother with content editing, for which we are all grateful.

I wish it was a more accessible price.  At $75, it is a bit steep for anyone who is not a gun enthusiast or family member.  Since it is a small printing on a specialized subject and has lots of color photos, I suppose the price can't be helped.

From Safari Press' website:

GERMAN HUNTING GUNS OF THE GOLDEN ERA
1840-1940
by Hans Pfingsten

2014 Long Beach, 208pp, profuse color and b&w photos, illus., 8.5x11, hardcover, dj
ISBN: 978-1-57157-443-5

In this book you will find the history of break-open shotguns, rifles, drillings, and other combination guns produced in Germany during the period of 1840-1940.
 
German guns built before 1939 exhibit a high level of quality and finish. Collectors marvel at the subtle lines and superb craftsmanship of a Rasch or a Springer. Others find satisfaction using a beautiful Sauer shotgun made well before World War I. Many people have had the thrill of picking up a fine old gun from Germany or Austria and are in awe of the level of engraving, fit, and finish. Hunters delight in carrying a drilling in the field, for they know that they can take any game that presents itself.
 
In the devastation following two world wars, the records of the origins and the production of fine German sporting arms were mostly lost, so this book documents as much as possible the existing knowledge of these guns. Research material was gathered from old catalogs and ads, factory records, books, periodicals, individuals, and, of course, surviving firearms of the period covered by this book.
The book is divided into three sections: "Hunting," "Gunmakers," and "The Gun Itself." These three sections capture the essence of the topics through the use of photos and illustrations. Long, explanatory captions make the pictures understandable even to the novice. Moreover, all the famous makers of the day are included: J. P. Sauer, Brenneke, Lindner, Sempert & Krieghoff, and others. Everything to do with break-open shotguns, rifles, drillings, and combination guns is discussed: the Frank drilling, the barrel, the action, the development and history of these guns, fences, triggers, and so on.
 
This must-have book for the German gun enthusiast will have you marvel at the geniuses of a bygone day that invented and built such guns.

Costume Ideas

It amazes me how fast October got here this year.  I have not had much time to craft, except for a handful of bows and Baby M's cross stitch Christmas stocking.  But now it is October and that means costume time!  I am currently behind schedule in that I have thought about the costumes but haven't really done anything for them yet.  Today is the day though where I get cracking.

I bought yarn to knit a lion's mane for Baby M a couple weeks ago and actually got most of it knitted today.  I'm just making a headband so it is a quick knit.  A few more rows and a fitting tomorrow to make sure it isn't too big and it will be finished.  I also need to finish dyeing her onesie.  I had a spare white one around and couldn't find a yellow/tan colored one without huge logos or prints on them.  So now I'm trying out some turmeric and coffee grounds to see what color I end up with.  I may throw in some onion skin too depending on what color it turns out.  Baby M is going to be the Cowardly Lion, in case you didn't guess.

Finished and fitted!

 



Miss D, lover of pink that she is, will be Glinda the good witch.  From the book, she prefers the gentle good witch of the north, who I believe is named Locasta, to Glinda of the south.  Since they are condensed into one role in the movie, she gets to be Glinda of the north.  It is more recognizable and she also loves pink so I'm sure she won't mind the change.  I have to figure out how to make the dress and crown still.  I really need to go shopping to see what materials are available that will be easy to make.

Miss T chose to be the Scarecrow.  I'll make a tutu for her so she won't be jealous of her sister's costume.  Hmm . . . I will probably have to make a tutu for Baby M as well so people realize she is a girl, now that I think of it.  I don't know if it is the minimal amount of hair on her head or that seeing two girls already in the family everyone expects there to be a boy, but everyone that meets her thinks she is a boy unless she is wearing a bow.  For T's outfit I will have to find blues, dark grays or browns for clothes of which we have none.  I will also have to make her a cute hat that can compete with Glinda's crown. 

My sister's daughter, little H, will be Dorothy.  Her costume will be easy if we can find the blue and white checked material, and I already have the white top to go underneath from the twins.  I found a pattern for an adorable knit wig that has pigtails like Dorothy's but I don't think I'll have time to knit it, unfortunately.  Plus there is a high probability that she wouldn't keep it on anyway.  It would look cute though.

Her brother, big H, will be the Tinman.  We are hoping to find some shiny fabric to put on a gray shirt for him and he can wear his gray shorts.  If all else fails we can utilize some tin foil.  He can wear a funnel on his head that is spray painted silver.  And with a little heart, he should be set.

We are dressing all of them in short sleeves because of how hot Halloween usually is out here (watch it be cold this year).  I plan to buy witch hats for my sister and I so we can be the wicked witches.  We will trick or treat in my sister's neighborhood and maybe we'll watch The Wizard of Oz with the kiddos before we head out.

Retirement Party

Last Saturday we celebrated Oma's retirement from 34 years of teaching with a family party.  Oma is technically still teaching.  She goes to school for one Latin class everyday.  She loves not having to wake up early in the morning to get ready for school and instead does yard work.  She loves not having the stress of tons of grading.  She is enjoying the semi-retired life.  

We already had some small celebrations at the end of the school year in June, but waited until now to have the family party because my brother and his wife are visiting from Japan.  Although the focus of the party was her retirement, it also happened to fall on her birthday and there were other family birthdays around that time.  So we gave a nod to all the September birthdays with some singing and a cake at the end of the day.

To celebrate her retirement, at her special request, we hired a photographer to capture our family.  It was hard to do with the five kids.  There were times where one or more of them were not cooperating.  But I think we ended up with some really good shots of everyone.  We haven't seen them yet.  The photos here were taken by my father-in-law.  Some of his turned out beautifully as well.

 

I love the one of the five grandchildren.  I really hope that our photographer was able to get a good one with all them looking without funny faces. 

 

The rest of the day we spent eating, swimming, and spending time with one another.  The day went by quickly.  The kids cooperated with the strange nap time and place.  We had fun as a family, celebrating Oma. 

 

 

Gardening

 

We have a very sad, pathetic garden at my mother's house.  My brother, the girls and I take care of it.  My brother is busy with work and other engagements elsewhere most of the time.  Although he had an awesome, abundant garden two years ago, he just doesn't have time for it these days.  

The girls and I are always here, but we don't get a lot done.  Most of the time the girls aren't interested in checking on it every evening.  When we do go down to check on it, I am always holding Baby M, which limits what I can do.  I often spend some time admonishing the girls not to step on the plants, or directing them were to plant new seeds.  Sometimes the girls will dig up a weed or two.  Most of the time though, we wait for the automatic sprinklers to come on so the girls can get wet.  That is what gardening is with two 3 year olds and an 8 month old. 

The yellow squash is doing pretty well now that the critters have started to leave them alone.  No fruit is growing yet though, just flowers for now.

The tomato plants, which were looking beautiful for awhile there, were attacked by tomato bugs (tomato hornworms) while the girls and I were out of town.  The picture below is of the aftermath where I found 7 fatty ones chomping away.  For next year's garden, I need to plant marigolds or dill with the tomatoes and get some wasps according to the farmer's almanac. 

 

Currently, there are only two things growing that we can actually eat.  One pepper plant has a single pepper on it, although the plant itself has been devoured by something (a rabbit possibly or pack rat).  I also stuck a leek cutting from the kitchen into the ground a week or two ago and it is doing beautifully.  I did the same with a celery cutting and hope it will also be a success.

 

Although not much is happening in the garden, I am still glad that we have it.  It is a good activity for the girls to learn about where food comes from and for them to get dirty.  Hopefully as they all grow older, we will be able to have a large and productive garden together.