Back Again

How could it possibly be almost three weeks since I've popped in to say hello? Where, oh where, has the time gone?

Possibly, it has been spent in......cuddling a precious new baby who curls up so trustingly in your arms, cuddling a precious little two-year old who is not quite sure what happened but who's world has been turned a little sideways, hanging laundry, gardening, cooking, doing a bit of 'real' work, and last but not least, making those twice-daily forays down to the barn to once again ask Babette to share her creamy, rich milk. I'll have you know that I have indeed found a bit of time to sleep, albeit, probably not as much as I'd like (I really, really excel at sleeping!)

Our newest little grandbaby was indeed born on July 4th. We made it to the birthing clinic at 6:00 p.m., she was born in the water at 7:02, and all of us were back home by 10:40. The firework displays were filling the skies over our entire route home; it was a beautiful way to celebrate Lexie and Watson's littlest miracle. Little Pumpkin is a lovely baby girl, blond hair, blue eyes, and best of all - a really gentle, calm disposition. Yes, she can, and does, let Mama know when it is time to eat, but the inbetween times are filled with coos and contentment. She appears to have the 'typical' water-born baby attitude towards life.

It has been a wonderful few weeks and I remain basking in contentment myself.....

A Knock on the Door

I was slowly and peacefully starting my 4th of July day when the VVDH knocks at the bathroom door and informs me that our littlest grandbaby has let Mama Lexie know that today is her day to 'meet the world'! With just a few short words, the adrenaline starts to rush and my mind starts to race.

There is food to pack, special drinks to put in the cooler, and a final check with the people who need to take over milking duty. All of this done with a veerrrryyyy calm attitude, rather than the laughter and anxiousness just waiting to bubble over.

Lexie and her Watson have opted to have this baby at a birthing center as opposed to a hospital. Lexie had Peanut completely naturally and expects to do the same with this one. This is a hard feat to accomplish in a hospital where the typical staff feels that labor is a 'medical procedure' rather than a very normal and natural event, (other than the rare case when intervention is necessary and appropriate.)

I go along to act as a birthing coach; what a priviledge it is to be asked to share in this very special and private affair - aren't I a lucky mother! And for those of you wondering, yes, oh yes, it is incredibly difficult to see your own well-loved child in pain and is sometimes all one can do to stay calm and keep your own tears at bay.

And so to all of you - have a fun and Happy Independence Day! You already know that ours will be an especially exciting one....

Colors of the Season

I've continued to walk by those poppies, morning and night to milk, as well as a myriad of other reasons, to wander by and gaze upon these unbelievably luscious flowers. I truly think that this year is their best display ever; I suspect that it is proabably thanks to all of the rains that we've had up until now.

I'm so mesmerized that I had to bring them into the house and put them up on the mantle. I'm not sure how long they'll last, but OH, they are beautiful! And with the 4th of July holiday almost upon us, I think that the red, white and blue colors, (okay, yes, really it's a hot-pink, not red), are especially appropriate.

Poppies

Doesn't everyone grow hot-pink poppies in their vegetable gardens?

I keep thinking that we really need to move them, but then they re-seed themselves for the following year and we just don't have the heart to pull up what we know will be THE most spectaular blooms in the garden!!

Little Things

I finally feel that now I am ready for little Miss Kicky-Feet to arrive (not that I have any say in the matter!) I had one more tiny project to make, one of those things that only a very small, sweet baby can use. First the little project had to be sewn. I made it in swiss flannel, a lovely light weight twill-woven cotton cloth, perfect for these warm summer days and cool nights. Then, the finish work began....

Little sleeves were smocked (I always love the way smocking acts as 'elastic', lovely gathering but lots of stretch!)

and the neckline was smocked in gradiated shades of lavender.

Buttons were added, a wash in lavender water, a good pressing, and now we have a pretty little day gown for an already loved little grandbaby.

I can, just barely, wait to meet her!

On a side note, when my VVDH knew I was going to be doing smocking and heard me lamenting about having to hand-gather all of those little marks on the fabric, he suggested I just go ahead and buy a pleater. And so I did, a Super Amanda Smocking Pleater! It works beautifully and is so well-made that I know I will be able to enjoy it for a long, long time. I probably would have done more smocking when my own girls were little, if I'd had this machine back then....

The Sun Shines

I enjoy the whole process of hanging clothes on the line: handling and snapping the freshly washed laundry, pegging them on the line, and then folding the crispy, clean clothes into the basket. I even like to iron!!!

Normally, I don't use the clothes dryer from about the middle of April until well into October; my being home most of the time allows me to adapt to the weather here and there. However, this year there has been NO adapting. It has rained, rained, and then rained some more.

I know that people think that it rains a lot in Seattle, and it does in the fall and winter months, but the late spring into fall can be unbelieveably dry (and incredibly beautiful). So dry that it is weeks on end between sprinklings of rain. So, today, when the sun is finally out (but is due to be absent again starting tomorrow), I pegged the most important of the 'sun needed' laundry on the line - my kitchen towels, dishcloths, and still in the wash, our Hudson Bay wool blanket needing to be lovingly wrapped and stored for the winter (I sent it once to a dry cleaner as recommended, never again, but that is quite another post.)

And then, I stopped and smelled the roses!

A Ladies Tea

Lexie and her 'almost here' little girl were honored Saturday evening with a Ladies Tea! A number of Lexie's close friends attended and she had a wonderful time just sitting back and visiting the evening away, without the interruptions of the dear wee ones or the also dear husbands.

It was an evening for tables dripping with starched white linens overlayed with embroidered linens and flower arrangements at the center of each of the tables.

We served baskets of fresh croissants, cheese platters (including our Wild Rabbit Farm goat cheese!), meat platters, fresh fruit bowls, deviled eggs (thank you chicken girls for the luscious orange yolks!), Welsh currant scones, and of course, several delicious teas.

And not to be forgotten - a beautiful and delicious custom cake from the bakery (chocolate with a chocolate ganache layer - yum!!) Almost as beautiful as my girls!

It was such a girlie night!