Sometimes I don't have words and that is okay.

A blanket

A whole year ago I set out to make Bea a blanket with this vintage flannel floral and that cream colored soft stuff. Sarah, thank you for the gifts of cloth. I am so happy I finally got around to making this thing real for Bea, just in time for a few weeks after her birthday. I ran down to Bolt one day and was ready to grab any ol' batting for the middle but, stop right there, they sell 100% beautiful, lofty, warm, water repellent wool. It's even double layered for extra winter coziness for our winter born. That's what her birthday banner says, by the way. I love that picture Kenny took. 

Wait, okay, one of my favorite things about this blanket was that I learned something new while doing it. Just a few days prior to construction, a customer at the yarn shop came in looking for yarn to tie their quilt together with. "Melissa, what does that mean?" I asked. You see, after you piece your quilt together or sew your front and back pieces together, you have to somehow stop the batting from moving around. You sew yarn or embroidery thread through all three layers. It might be visible in one of the photos above. Instead of researching it online, I turned to my trusty old friend:

There you have it. Thanks for reading, ya'll.   

Camellia

Happy birthday beautiful girl.

I am loving this, this getting to know you. I love this, this watching you do everything for the first time, over and over again. I love sitting back, behind the scenes, still near you almost every day as you remember how to put the cap on the bottle perfectly and recognize that hardy rosemary and freak out by yelping because you can tell we're almost at the park where you swing and slide and bounce on the plastic bunny and scream at the dogs, I mean scream.

Today, on our way to the park, we saw a most beautiful camellia.

In honor of you, they are now my favorite anticipated blossom.

Your daddy named you. Did you know that?

I love you, sweet Bea.

A promise of chai

Rooibos black chai

1 c loose rooibos tea

1 c black tea 

1/2 c cardamom pods

1/2 c cloves

1/2 c peppercorns

Simmer 1 T of tea mixture per cup of chai desired for approximately five minutes. I like to use cloth tea bags for loose tea. Many groceries stores sell them in sets of three or four and they're washable, which is nice and environmentally friendly. Oh, don't forget for each cup of chai add to the pot:

1 generous cut of fresh ginger

1 shake of ground cinnamon

1 long pour of favorite milk

For each cup, after it's been served in favorite cup add a splash of maple syrup or however many sugars one needs for that particular day. I like two sugars, usually. Some days I'll admit to three or four. I'll always admit to that.

How are things going? The west coast has been getting some serious sun. It is very nurturing to my soul and so I bring the baby out as much as possible. Lucky for us, we were handed down a suit of purple kitty armor for cold and wind protection. Now mom and dad need not worry about chills for little Bea. We can just frolic and play until she's fast asleep in the January sun, our little winter born, I love you.

Crafting

We had a little family visit. It was a big family visit, actually. The sisters, my brother, and mother came out to see us and mostly Bea. I miss their big smiles as I think of them on the east coast now. Why are the coasts so far apart?

I'm off to buy chai ingredients and will soon post my favorite recipe along with pictures. We made a giant pot for the whole family and it was a huge hit! Boy, it was fun ladling out more than just two cups. I ladled six cups and poured a bunch of love in with it. Man, I miss them.

Here, right now, I want to show you the beautiful crafting that took place while we played and lazed in our living room. 

Isn't that crafting beautiful?

January

I've got a chai recipe to share soon. Until then, let me show you one of my favorite knits for the littles, especially the very littles.

This hat. Really fast, really simple, and so darn adorable on a newborn to about six months. I've made three in my life so far. The last two were for twins! What an honor, I thought, as I purled and ribbed away thinking of the two due to arrive in May. Not us, of course. No no no, not us. We are well and busy with one almost one year old.

Miss Camellia Bea is officially walking, signing bird, singing on cue, and uniquely saying kitty (tikky). We love her rosy magenta cheeks and her wide toothy smile. Sometimes she sleeps better than she has the day before. Sometimes not. I'm enjoying tips from the Sear's book, "The Baby Sleep Book-The Complete Guide to a Good Nights Rest for the Whole Family", especially after the "not" nights. And I find great comfort thinking of our fellow parent comrades down the street or even across the states, perhaps struggling with the same thing, on the same night. This sometimes brings me comfort. Hey, and if it doesn't, waking up to that silly finger pointing baby is pretty great. She's always up for helping mom and dad make coffee, their special drink.

Enjoy your Januarys people!


One chai recipe coming up next.

Presents

Here are two things.

One

 

Two

http://8tracks.com/obiwankentucky/concordia-christmas-2013

Presents for you. Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice, winter winter wonderful land!