It is still so very cold outside, and we are still staying huddled by the wood stove as the cold winds howl outside. Inside we have been busy making things and dreaming and planning for spring. I have been sewing whenever I get a chance. I made the star shirt that Dorian is wearing from an adult's t-shirt I found at a thrift store for a dollar. I don't know how long it will hold out, the fabric is very stretchy and I had such a hard time sewing it. The seams inside are a bit of a mess, but it is working for now and Dorian is pleased. 
I sewed a shirt for Ari from the new sewing book I got for my birthday Sewing Clothes Kids Love. I had so much fun making this from two pre-loved shirts, and love the pirate-ish feel of the finished product. I am really happy with the pattern, though this is just one of two or three patterns in the whole book that are for boys. Still, I think I'll be using those three patterns a lot. I haven't given this shirt to Ari yet. I'm trying to decide if I should wait and give it to him for his birthday or not. I can't get over how fun and satisfying it is to make clothes for my kids. And now that I've figured out my machine a bit more and overcome my fear of sewing knits, I am totally hooked. What other old clothes can I cut up?
Both Ari and Dorian have been delving into their own projects too- lately it seems I just turn my back and there is some other creative endeavor going on. So much fun with art making and mess making and new games being created.
::Dorian set up a cake shop.::
And one day this weekend Perry and I were doing things around the house and the kids were playing contently and then I looked over and saw this culinary creation in process. Ari had gotten the lemons and oranges out of the fridge, the juicer and knife out and was making us lemon-orange juice. He was very pleased with himself. Dorian took a sip of his glass and had the cutest little sour-face shiver. Ari sipped his and said" Hmm, maybe it just needs a bit of maple syrup."
And we've all been taking turns reading the poultry catalogue and dreaming about spring when fluffy little chicks will arrive on our farm. The boys are both very excited about raising our new flock of layers and there are lots of heritage breeds offered this year. Dorian really wants some baby turkeys to (s)"nuggle. " It is exciting to dream about those days a coming, especially as the snow drifts pile higher and the wind whistles through our drafty little log home!
And now I'm off to 'nuggle under the covers- goodnight!
Both Ari and Dorian have been delving into their own projects too- lately it seems I just turn my back and there is some other creative endeavor going on. So much fun with art making and mess making and new games being created.::Dorian set up a cake shop.:: And one day this weekend Perry and I were doing things around the house and the kids were playing contently and then I looked over and saw this culinary creation in process. Ari had gotten the lemons and oranges out of the fridge, the juicer and knife out and was making us lemon-orange juice. He was very pleased with himself. Dorian took a sip of his glass and had the cutest little sour-face shiver. Ari sipped his and said" Hmm, maybe it just needs a bit of maple syrup."And we've all been taking turns reading the poultry catalogue and dreaming about spring when fluffy little chicks will arrive on our farm. The boys are both very excited about raising our new flock of layers and there are lots of heritage breeds offered this year. Dorian really wants some baby turkeys to (s)"nuggle. " It is exciting to dream about those days a coming, especially as the snow drifts pile higher and the wind whistles through our drafty little log home!And now I'm off to 'nuggle under the covers- goodnight!
Outside it is very cold again, and the wind has been sometimes fierce, but we are getting out when we can. The boys in their woolens and superduper snow suits stay warm much longer than I do. I've been walking spiral paths in the snow beside their favorite play spots so I can stay moving. Plus, there is something soothing about spiralling in and out through the snow while my children play happily beside me. And the sight of it outside my window makes me smile.
Inside there are many projects happening. This was a recent knitting session. Some knots to untangle, but they both enjoyed digging in my knitting basket and practicing their knitting. A superhero cape helps too.
:: not being the flower and chocolate types for Valentines, we still managed both and it was lovely. Homemade chocolates (and carob ones too- the boys actually preferred them,) using
As always there has been lots and lots and lots of playing. The boys have entered a new stage in their play now that is so terrific and engaged and totally great- but my goodness- the house at the end of the day is really an incredible disaster. I think I need to factor in more cleaning-as-we-go strategies. I haven't taken any pictures of the cyclone of cut up paper, books, toys, dress ups, art supplies, puzzle pieces... but it is a sight to behold! Above is a waterfall. Love it.
And we have two new resident superboys at our house. (I made costumes for Solstice and never got to sharing them,) They use their superpowers for all sort of magical adventures and rescue missions, but lucky for us they also use them for house chores. They loaded that wood box until it was quite literally overflowing. 
And in their off hours, when not hauling wood or saving orphaned animals or rescuing people from wicked thunderstorms, the superboys can often be found dancing to their favorite tunes. And I even get up from my mid-winter knitting and daydreaming to join them now and then. 
Feeling thankful for so much. For these boy's renewed love of skiing-especially Dorian who has just taken off on those little skis. They are so excited to get outside and make more tracks in the yard!
~For my little drummer boy (I don't know if I ever posted a picture of his "drum kit" here before. He first set this up when he was two, with all the tin canisters and noisy containers he could find, and he's been adding to it ever since- and constantly raiding the chopsticks from the drawer. He practices every day- loudly, exuberantly, and, lately, with actual real rhythms emerging. He makes up songs and sings at the top of his lungs. I love it.)
~For my two year old bundle of love who makes us all laugh and who makes sure we all kiss each other good night and good bye and who gives me "nuggles" (snuggles) when he sees my eyes watering from chopping onions.
~ For knitting. I am loving it so much these days. This is another LTK pilot cap on its way to a little sweet baby boy.
my birthday card from Dorian
a letter to me from Ari.
~for birds at the feeder, for my beautiful husband-love-of-my life, for CBC radio, for books read while snuggled under flannel sheets. And a whole lot more besides.
After the valentine project the boys made their own paper craft project that involved cutting up tiny pieces of paper and stirring them in the kitchen pots. I also heard the door open and close several time and found lots of paper bits outside in the snow- coloured hail apparently. At one point Ari held out the pot of paper and said "would you like any gloomy spectacles?" I'm not sure if that is something you wear or eat, but I was took some just the same and thankfully it didn't make me gloomy at all.
I finished a pair of fingerless mitts and this was the best I could do at photographing them myself with a 50mm lens. I like the final product, but didn't enjoy knitting them much- long ribbed tubes in thin sock yarn took forever and was pretty mindless. Looking for a more interesting next project. But it was fun to end up with something for myself! 
During the week of sick I spent some sewing time turning an old sweater into a dress and pair of pants for a birthday girl. I had such fun making this- figuring out a pattern for the dress and finding materials I had on hand to make it work. The purple trim is from a merino wool jersey top that I had used parts of, but I still had enough for this. I hope these will be some good warm layers for a little girl that has been having trouble staying warm in the cold weather.
I also worked on a project that I had to borrow the boys new paints for. More on that later.
And both Ari and Dorian have been building and creating elaborate scenes. They start with setting up a wooden train track and they they get to constructing buildings and barnyards and animal habitats around the tracks.
I especially liked this part of one of Ari's scenes- a robin wearing a "cape" playing electric guitar on a (literal) rock stage. The glasses came from my mom, and they come in handy when the small creatures need to rock out!
Dorian set up this scene on top of the toy shelf. I love listening to his little voice as he plays- he really sinks into his play with a lot of depth for such a little one, and the characters are always chatting away to each other, solving their problems and then getting tucked in to bed. Sounds good to me!
And also in need of lots of snuggles and love and attention. It has been a busy few days- cozy in its own way, but very busy.
I did manage to do a lot of knitting while sitting beside sick children, and even snuck up to the sewing nook a couple times. I'll try to share some more of that soon- right now we are in the post-sick-grumpy phase that seems to take a lot of patience and conflict management skills on my part. Best not to turn my attention to the computer for very long!