An Apron and Hair-bow

Katya is picky about what goes in her hair, and understandably so. I try to be obliging, so I made this alligator style hair-clip for her.

So long as we’re careful to not snag her sutures, she’s mostly fine with it.

And I made this cobbler-style apron.

It was cute.

I made it cuter.  Look, look!

See?? See??

It’s so boutique I can hardly believe myself!  Usually my projects come out nice, but plain. Not looking like something the trendy bloggers have up.

I can’t wait to make pie!

The Ducks. And Fish.

There is a use for moldy and dried out bread. It involves ducks.

We all felt safe, excepting this one.

Ducks are on the list of “Ferocious Carnivorous Animals That Eat Katyas”, apparently.

It was a lovely grey and brown day.

Everything was so photogenic.

Aren’t they so sweet together?

The *real* way to throw bread.

His technique attracted some goslings.

And a mysterious blob.

Despite our protestations to the contrary, fish do indeed eat Katyas.

She thought it time to leave.

 

 

Dress for Sale

A sweet size five little girl’s dress, brand new, in the peasant style.

I can customize the skirt length. Right now the total unfinished length from the waist is almost 21 inches. I can make it shorter than that, based on your measurements! Otherwise, it will end up about one inch shorter if I finish it at full length. The waist measures around 26 inches around.  There are sweet little ties to take an in any extra fullness in the back. The ends of the sleeves and the neckline are neatly cased for their elastic. And the sleeve opening is a 9 inch circumference without stretching the elastic.

Detail of rosette on the front of the dress.

Detail of the rick-rack that runs all the way around the waist of the dress, and the tie.

This dress is made from all brand new fabrics and notions, and is from a light and airy cotton plisse fabric, sure to please a little girl on warm summer days!

Asking $17.00 and that includes shipping to all lower 48 states. Shipping elsewhere is additional. Please email phdfam@gmail.com if you are interested in this one of a kind item!

Yardsales (summer)

Tags

Garage sales, Ice-Cream, Summer, Yard sales

It is suddenly hot.

Rather summery, in fact.

Summer = Yard-sales.   Like a second hand shop spread out over the town, usually on Saturdays and Sundays. Sometimes the stuff is really good, Sometimes really bad.    It’s best when there are a  lot are within walking distance of each other, so you don’t even have to use any fuel running your car from sale to sale. Whole blocks and streets will get together and do yard-sales, and children will sometimes set up lemonade stands.  A few people will spend an entire weekend doing nothing but going from garage sale to yard-sale.  If you’re careful, you can get really good bargains.

Last summer we didn’t go to many, if any. Maybe one or two.  This year, we determined to do better. So yesterday, Mum took me out for the morning.

I got a new purse in excellent condition for two dollars.  No spilled makeup to clean out, yay! And it’s a shade of eggplant.

And a *lovely* set of ice-cream dishes. (Thrift-Store, actually, but what matter?)

Six of them. In pastels.

Most probably vintage.

Can’t you see them with vanilla ice-cream with sprinkles?

I can.

It’s hard to believe that summer is just around the corner. Then we’ll need that ice-cream.

Lilacs and Pie

Tags

lilacs, peasant dress, pie, spring

I’ve been sewing a lilac coloured dress, in the peasant style, originally intended for Katya.

Upon trying it on her, we discovered that it’s too small.  It’s those long, bony arms. >sigh<    It’ll probably end up for sale.

Usually I am very fond of lilacs, but this year they smell much too saccharine.  I feel rather miffed at this surprising turn. Why must one of my favorite spring flowers suddenly be emitting an aroma reminiscent of cheap eau de toilette? 

At least they *look* nice. Even if I won’t be putting any near my face.  Maybe their scent will improve as the season wears on.  One can hope.

I’ve made a pie for supper. I’m not a great pie baker. I don’t like most fillings–they run and ooze, and are much, much too sweet. And my crusts–not so good.  But after being inspired by pictures in a magazine (Good Housekeeping in Baltimore, I believe?) I have decided to give pie-making another try.

A Pulled Pork with Mashed Potatoes and Peas Pie.

We were getting tired of pulled pork sandwiches, you see.

I’m trying a new dough recipe.  Without having completely tested the recipe, (haven’t eaten the pie yet)  I will say that the dough did handle very, very well, esp. considering that spelt is sticker than durum wheat.

And now, for your delectation:  Spring!

(Update: The pie came out very well! We all enjoyed it. The crust was excellent. But than, what would you expect from a recipe titled “Never, Never Fail”?)

Easter Away from Home

Tags

Easter, Turning blue

Our Easter began early: The dear folks who brought supper in also brought in an easter basket. Sadly, they didn’t get to see much of the fruit of their efforts: We were the only family eating supper at the Childrens House, and we had friends bring supper for us.The night before, supper had been very, very skimpy: almost everyone ended up raiding fridges or ordering in Chinese. I guess no-one wanted to risk two skimpy meals in a row, and went out.

But the people trickeling back at nine and ten at night from the hospitals were touchingly grateful to have good leftovers in the fridges.  So all was not lost.

It was a fun evening, even though Katya evidently is suffering from sharp and shooting pains.

We came down this morning to a fruit and rolls breakfast kindly provided by a family here.

Katya chose to eat in the glowing sunshine, which had a pretty effect upon her hair, sadly not captured in the pictures.

It was very good.

We than went to church. The service sensibly began at 11.

And than a friends house for lunch (also good.)

Chad had fun with her dog, a friendly, soft thing.

Chad loves dogs.

Katya had fun too! Because she wasn’t scared, as long as the dog didn’t sniff her.

Sadly, going home, her lips began turning blue, so she’s back on the couch to rest.

We all are following her example, in our various ways.

Happy Easter!

Katya, and A Walk

The view out Katya’s PICU window is very nice.

Domes, Cupulas, Widows-Walks.

We’ve really been having nice weather of late…..

I know: Most of you are here to read about Katya, not the weather.  So you’ll be intrested to know that

I went to visit her yesterday.

She was in a pretty good mood.

We took her for a walk after a while. She was excited, trying to help unhook herself from the monitors. By now she knows how to do it almost as well as the nurses.

She marched-at a fairly brisk pace- all the way down to CT scaning, while carefully making notes of elevators and stairways.

If she was in a good mood before her walk, afterwards her mood was fantastic. We think she was plotting her escape.

A Walk, and Katya

Tags

John Hopkins, Katya

These pictures, untill I tell you otherwise, are from Sunday.

I don’t know if this is seriously funny or seriously disturbing. It all depends what the hat says.

Okay, otherwise. These are from Thursday, I think. I went for a walk around the hospital block, which, by the way, is huge.

These are the therapy flowers. They sit in pots around the main entrance, and smell wonderful. We jokingly call it scent therapy.

More flowers.

This is some of the intresting architecture around John Hopkins. You’ll see more later; These pictures are in the order I took them.

Trees along one street.                    This bit of street reminds me of Ukraine.

Names written on the Pathology Building.

Okay, I really need to stop talking. This reminds me of the books by Bill Peet.

This one is sad. Katya going for Labs. Blow it up, and look.

Play room afterwards.

Now these pictures are from today.

Taking Katya’s braids out. Some of them look like they have been coiled down and glued. The nurses say that Neorology is the *worst* when it comes to hair. They say, and I quote-That it’s just a bunch of men playing with long hair. Yikes!

She thought we were going to go for the scissors.

Clown Hair.

See how nice and relaxed she looks?

P.S. Sorry about the cat. It got thrown out.

Unusual Circumstances

Due to the above mentioned circumstances (see the side button to Katya’s blog) no crafting has been done. Wait, no. Does painting a cat count? Of course. But pictures of that will have to wait. So here.

Very cool, yes?

I really like how the black and white alternate, down to the lit-up lights.

Like a gum-ball machine, only better.

No Worries! It’s only card-board.

Bottle rocket, upper left corner.

I don’t think my photography has been very good lately, little things are found wanting. I put it down to the increased mental stress.

A totally self-confessed “Groovy” car. Those letters are magnetic, I think. What a bummer they must be to clean!  The decorations even extended to the roof!

Peace? Sure.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. ” John 14:27

Spring is Coiled

Tags

pond, spring

Spring hasn’t sprung quite yet. But it’s coiled tight, ready to go.

This is what the finished product should look like:

(btw, that’s my birthday gift above)

But this, above, is as far as spring has got, so right now this (below) is what my piece of earth looks like. By the way, there’s a funny story about this picture, taken last year.  Watch.

Yeah. I think so too. Lesson: learned. Don’t drop the stick and confidently run back across the pond. Esp. when your big sister has a camera. Or not only will you get full boots, you’ll get your fail on her blog.  :)  Wish I would have caught her in mid tumble. What fun that would have been. Ah well, there’s always next time.