Plum Stitches

another Cisco

Pattern:  Cisco, from Berroco

Yarn:  Brooks Farm Riata

Needles:  Size 6 circular

Size:  Phoebe has a HUGE head, my guess is on a normal sized head this would fit up to 18 months

Notes:  I made modifications, more or less following Jared's lead.  One recommendation I would make is to mark the stitches for the shaping in the front of the hat.  I found it too confusing not to mark them and ended up frogging a few times.

After longing for the jewelry at  JCrew I decided it was time to bust out my surplus of beads.  A few years ago (well more than a few years ago now) a co-worker and I sold beaded necklaces at a few craft fairs and trunk shows.  We were enthusiastic at first and then it kind of fizzled. 

I still have two large boxes of beads along with necklaces that now need to be taken apart some day and the beads salvaged.

Off to pack - we're headed to the beach for the weekend.  I love going away, but feel like I spend most of my time packing and unpacking throughout the summer.  

Have a great weekend!

 

homerun

Although Old Navy often misses the mark with its children's clothing, this time it's a homerun with new dresses and tops for fall.  The dresses are reminiscent of Makie or Bonpoint for the pattern simplicity and floral prints, minus the cost.  Although, available on its Web site, the pictures don't do the dresses justice.  I'm not sure if they're available in all stores, I saw them in the Flat Iron Old Navy.

As an added incentive starting July 30th you can use the Friends & Family coupon for 30% off - I think the girls dresses were $12.50.  Here's the link to the coupon.

lobster rolls

Sadly, we didn't get a chance to sample one of these - the timing was never right.  Now I'm kicking myself for it.  I do love the fact that you can get a lobster roll at a traditional hot dog cart in NH and Maine.  I had a brief day dream of buying a hot dog cart and attempting to sell lobster rolls in downtown Jersey City.  You never know it could work.

We spent the week on a small lake north of Lake Sebago in Maine.   The lake was crystal clear and very sweet with a great dock.  The only downside was the number of mosquito bites we all accumulated througout the week.  Chloe got to sleep in the 'cousins' room with all the big kids, we she thought was just the coolest.

On the way up, we split up the trip making a brief stop in Portsmouth, NH a quaint little ocean side city loaded with shops and restaurants.  Although we spent most of the week at the house we rented, we did manage a side trip to Portland (another great city). 

gone to Maine

We've been off frolicking in Maine with family and our favorite black lab for the past week.  I'm trying to dig out, unpack and get back into the swing of things.  More later!

 

bizzy bizzy

I've had a crazy few days, but things have finally calmed down. 

Over the weekend we had Phoebe baptized and then hosted a party at my SIL's house with our extended family.  A few days before the baptism Phoebe came down with Roseola.  Figures, right?  Luckily the rash pretty much disappeared in time for the ceremony/party. 

To top it off my washing machine died last week.  It seems that no one believes in fixing appliances in this country anymore.  I can't get a repair person through Sears to come out for at least a week.  Of course if I wanted to buy a new machine I could march right over to the store this afternoon and they would deliver it tomorrow.

Anyway, the party was great, the weather was gorgeous and by the end of Saturday we were ready for a 24-hour nap. 

As a special treat Chloe had her nails and toes painted at the nail place around the corner.  And, as you can imagine she thought that was the best treat ever.  Of course painted nails and toes on a 3 1/2 year old chip quickly and they no longer look as nice as they did a few days ago.

I managed to enlist my mother to make these tissue paper balls from Martha Stewart.  They were pretty easy to make, just time consuming, but they did look festive hanging from the tree over my SIL's deck.   I brought them home because I couldn't just throw them out and I have nowhere to store them!

blooming

All that rain and now lots of sun are proving to be a good thing for my garden (thankfully!)

My friend Jody made a trip to Gilberties a few weeks ago and brought back several Cosican Mint plants for us.  They all seem to be thriving at the moment - rapidly creeping between the stones of our patio.  Hopefully that continues as this is my favorite addition to our garden this year.  It smells fabulous when you step on it and unlike the Creeping Thyme there's so fear of bees stinging small children.

 

A few new Web sites I've stumbled on in the past week that have quickly become new favorites:

Moolka - similar to Oompa Toys, but the seem to have a wider selection.

LMNOP - love it.  Especially the music that plays when you log in.  Chloe always comes running when she hears it.  Who wouldn't?  Check out their blog too.

Making it Lovely - the name says it all.

I can't seem to get enough of this airplane - it's popping up everywhere.  I think Chloe would love playing with it (or maybe me?)  I had the Fisher Price version as a kid, which she plays with whenever we visit Vermont.

We're off for some afternoon fun playing with the Elephants nearby.

a few more

photos from the weekend...

Yep, that's one of the outhouses from the races.

weekend escape

We're back from spending five days in Vermont.  The weather wasn't the best, except for yesterday - one of those gorgeous, breezy, no humidity, sunny summer days that we all dream of in the middle of winter. 

Despite the weather, we managed a trip to Shelburne Farms.  This is one of my favorite places to go when we head to Vermont.  The setting is gorgeous - right on Lake Champlain.

If you're not familiar with Shelburne Farms, it  was created in the late 1800's by Lila Vanderbilt Webb and her husband as a model agriculture estate. Frederick Law Olmsted was integral to its design.

We spent the morning at The children's farmyard.   Chloe loved the chicken parade (when they let them out of the coop) and she even got to milk the farm's Brown Swiss, Jamaica.

 

 

Unfortunately, our trip was cut a little short by a tremendous down pour just as we had ordered our lunch from the farm cart.  So instead of a leisurely lunch at one of the picnic tables, we ended up soggy and eating our lunch in the car.

On the 4th, we headed to Bristol for its annual 4th of July parade.  Somehow we lucked out and snagged and outside table at the Bristol Bakery - a great spot for viewing.  The best part of the parade is the pre-parade Outhouse Races.  The outhouse are on wheels, with one member of the team sitting on the seat inside.  A must see to really appreciate!