gnome houses

I finished a little gnomey hat for Ari yesterday. He was in need of a warm wintry hat, and it feels so good to complete something while surrounded in endless unfinished projects that are outside of my control. I got the wool from the new wool shop opening up in town- such a beautiful new shop filled with delicious goodies, a treat after the mostly cheap acrylic options that have been available till now. The pattern (that I love!) knitted in this yarn makes me think of the ocean- merfolk or little ocean gnomes- the kind that eat sea foam icing on their berry desserts and row around on tide pools in cedar bark canoes.
My little gnome is such fun these days, picking up words faster than I can keep track. Today he said under ("unie",) butter, pineapple ("p-apple") and sticky ("tickietickietickie") to list a few. Hearing his little voice trying out words is so sweet, and I feel a funny mix of celebration and sadness as my little babe becomes a little boy.
And the house is coming along, but there is still such a long way to go. I can't seem to keep up with the photos, there is currently a second story and a roof here, and the front door is on. Next is electrical, then us putting in insulation and vapour barrier. After that the drywallers come, we paint, the floor installer fellow puts down the floor, we sand and finish it, and t h e n we can think about moving back in. This weekend I will be sanding and finishing the stairs so all the workers don't mess up the lovely beetle-wood pine we have down. It is exciting though, to stand in the upstairs (we've never had an upstairs before!) and see the views and know that this is going to be our home. For a good long time if we have our way.