yes, a mouse.

I had a lot of my fabric in a dresser in the garage. And I can't remember if I thought to myself when we moved in, boy, you should really bring it in, but I might have thought that. I wish I had thought that. Although the pictures reveal that not too much damage was done and that mouse was really cute especially when she made her little squeeeeeky squeek. And, Finn really liked the whole experience, too.

So, here's the story. I noticed little mice poo all around the garage and for weeks thought I should bring my fabric dresser in. Last weekend I finally got the guts (and the time!) to get out there and explore what was up. I opened the top drawer which was relatively inhospitable, fulln drawer 2, the quilting fabrics drawer. And what you see above is what I found. A mouse and a little ball of stuff that was full of babies. I ran into the house because I really don't have what it takes to deal with rodents and Tyler helped move the mouse lair into a box. The worst is that I had totally been opening that drawer to look for things for quite a while and I am SURE those mice have been there all along. And they were soooo cozy in their next.

But, it turns out maybe we should have killed the mice? It's sort of like you are letting the pesting continue if you don't get rid of them. But oh man, I don't have the heart to kill those mice even though I am creaped out by it all. On the other hand, I eat meat and that is a dead animal so what's the difference? It's a silly double standard. I think of myself as someone who would be able to kill a chicken if I want to eat it, but that would actually be REALLY hard for me. The killing part.

what's better? a smoothie or mama's camera?

Well, the evidence is right before you that despite a delicious berry smoothie that i left Finn actually drink himself with his own two hands (and by that I mean, he not only held his own glass but put his hands inside the glass along with a bunch of cheerios), an iPhone is more interesting that food! This slightly cruel series depicts, through Finn's facial gestures, the joy of the smoothie, then the rapid decline in Finn's mood as I took his picture. The more I snapped, the madder he got and wanted my camera!! I guess I'll have to get more sly with my device.

And, by the way, this weekend there will be a flurry of posts. Tyler is out of town (a tear falls) and so I will finally be posting about tons of things I have let go to the wayside. For one, I am getting some serious haul out of the vegetable garden now so I really want to show it off!!

Singin' with Whiting again!

Hi All. I am going to sing back-up with Whiting Tennis tomorrow at the Olympic Sculpture Park from 5:30-7:30. Annie is standing this one out, but she may be back soon. Come and enjoy!!
Here is a link to the event.

Waitin' for the bus.

If he could twiddle his thumbs, I think he would!

Naughty

On two fronts. He climbed up and is standing on the arm of the couch AND he is messing with the light switch. He even looks like a little baby jailbird!

LA just gets better and better

I mean, everyone is saying that LA is the new New York (which is redundant!). I don't think we'll be moving there anytime soon, but if we did, we could use this amazing interactive map of LA's districts, neighborhoods and census-style stats to decide which neighborhood had the best and most bahn mi. And go LA Times for doing this project and publishing their first attempt, taking comments from readers and revising it all to reflect how people in LA really draw lines around their neighborhoods!

Finn is 1! (well, almost)

We celebrated Finn's birthday a little early with his cousin Bridget who turned 3 on Saturday. He went straight for the flame and then actually blew out his own candle! What a genius. I think we are going to do a mini birthday on the actual day, so I guess this was sort of a practice round. Good performance, Finn! Oh, and notice the shark fin(n) on his cupcake!

And Bridget did a number on her candles, too!

Happy birthday twice!

I think of having a birthday week as something that adults do in order to drag out the last moments of the passing year or a somewhat princessy act of self indulgence, a chance to be wished happy birthday over and over, milking every ounce of sugar (or alcohol) out of what is really only one day. But we just, in Finn's first year of life, introduced him to the joys of the birthday week. You saw him eating cake last weekend and now you'll see him again. But this time Tyler and I primed him with a 3 hour nap so he could fully enjoy attacking his tender birthday treat. Note half the cupcake stuck to his bib.

A package from France!

If Finn isn't a model in the making, then it doesn't rain in seattle. I'm not always the best at capturing his good looks AND making sure to center the photo, but I do my best. And honestly, I think the clothes that Morgan sent would make any kid look like handsome devil even while stuffing a petit beurre cookie from LU in his petite bouche. These are a recent selection of pics featuring the new additions Morgan sent (including a single sock which I will explain later).



Finn has mastered saying wow and is moving on to tooth brushing and whistling.






A view I get a lot of, sometimes accompanied by a loud noise, a crash or bang.












Martin takes his bath!!!! Cute!






Amazing book pages. Too bad his mama hogs this book!















Cookies! These led to this discovery that doesn't cry during his diaper change if he has a cookie in his mouth. Just like his mom and dad!

Thanks Morgan! We love all the treats!

Cheerio!

I wonder if there are any snacks hidden away down here...






Oops! A cheerio!

Pillow for Annie and Kevin

Annie and Kevin got a really pretty new couch and I am going to make them a cushion to go on it. This is what I've got so far. AND, the fabric was free! I love that. It came from a stack of sample/swatches from one the firms we share an office with at work. Hassle free, free fabric.



And, here's finn with the kitchen he is borrowing from Liam and Sarah. You were right on, Sarah. Finn is loving it!

The Haul

I'm a little sleepy to pull out a bunch of sewing puns, but that's the kind if mood I'm in. My mom, Annie and I went through the fabric we got last weekend and it was like Christmas all over again. One thing in particular puts me in a holiday mood and that's candy. And though there was no candy in the Brown & Haley's Almond Roca tin, there were plenty of other goodies like fur buttons and ricrac and tons of twill tape and grosgrain ribbon. The tin itself is pretty special, too.

Bright Future

Tyler put up a basketball hoop which has provided quite a bit entertainment for our family. As part of Finn's personal training, which includes trying to get on the stairs, opening drawers, banging on our steel beams, and roaring like a lion, we are working with him on his slam dunk. This is Jeff giving Finn an up and celebrating his 2-points.

Christmas in March

Chance is such a slippery variable. When things, by chance, work out in your favor there is a special feeling that is unlike the gratification of a job well done. It's more like some instant karmic pay-off and, at least for me, I can't help feeling like I deserved that good luck just a little.

In this case, I don't know what the source of my good fortune was, but it is certainly linked to my mother. One of her coworkers bought a home that was left behind by a former seamstress. A fire had ruined much of the house, but the attic, full of fabric (we're talking boxes and bolts--enough to start a small store) remained intact. The new owner, an artist / doctor, saw the value of all of this and generously offered to let my mom come over and pick through it. So, as a good mother does, she got her kids in on the action and we piled into the station wagon, Finn in tow, and checked the place over. It was pretty messy but we came out with a carload of great stuff and I can't help feeling like I just got a second Christmas!

Thanks Mom! (and Lisa!)

This will certainly be spurring many more sewing projects that I will share here.