sunday

saturday

This Moment. A Second Helping.

this Moment.

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

-Amanda Soule (SouleMama)

*NOTE- The yard and that bike is covered with snow now!

We love it.

Have a fun weekend!

The Pink That Keeps On Giving.

Here's the last of the crochet projects that happened during the move.

It isn't the last of the pink yarn though. It seems never ending. Minna picked out two very pink balls of yarn off the shelves that ended up coming home with us. It was inexpensive and it's the yarn she practices her own crochet with and what she picks when a little something must be made for her or a certain doll named Fwa. (Yes, Fwa. More on her back story later:)

First up-headband/ear warmer. Worked on a bunch of these cuddled up on an easy chair in the little cabin we stayed in for a month when we first got here.

Minna loves this thing! It actually keeps her teeny ears warm too! Just double crochet. Easy!

I taught myself flowers in that cabin too. Any pattern I saw I tried it. Many times in different sizes and yarns. They are really cute on the headbands.

The headband needed a matching scarf. I tied on funny little purple fringe here and there and a bow that holds the scarf on a wiggly little neck. I won't do random, contrasting fringe again. Minna looks bored with it in this shot but she still wears it a bunch.

And Fwa has a hat. Much more of a success than the bottle nipple hat. I think I am very good at mini-hats so I will stick to those for a bit. A matching doll sweater is in the works which is good because Fwa never seems to be appropriately clothed.

Phew. My eyes are tired from the bright pink as I am sure yours are too. Different colors next time.

I promise.

The Short On Short Day.

School lets out early on Wednesdays. I like it. We call it "short day" instead of Wednesday.

It's pretty out here right now. Like that too.

Happy "short day" folks!

New Vocab Series-KUSPUK

Here's another neat new word! KUSPUK. (Are you taking notes?)

Here is what the online Alaska Almanac says, you will find the entry for KODIAK on the same page...

"A KUSPUK is an Eskimo woman’s parka, often made with a loosely cut back so that an infant may be carried piggy-back style. Parkas are made from seal, marmot, ground squirrel, rabbit or fox skins; traditionally, the fur lining faced inward. The ruffs are generally made of wolverine or wolf fur. A cloth outer shell, the qaspeg, was worn over a fur parka to keep it clean and reduce wear. This outer shell was usually made of brightly colored corduroy, cotton print or velveteen-like material trimmed with rickrack. In warmer months, many women wear a cotton kuspuk with long pants as daily, informal wear."

Minna has her own kuspuk! I couldn't believe my luck when I met Ms. L., a sweet mom at school with a daughter the same age as Minna who sews and does some other very beautiful crafting. The first time we got our girls together her little one was wearing the cutest dress and I complimented it. Yes, it was a kuspuk! She has several because Ms. L. makes them! Without a pattern! And details them in the sweetest ways!

Gosh, I am excited about this aren't I?

Anyway, Ms. L. said she would bring me one to borrow so I could make my own little pattern from it and sew one myself. The next time I saw her she brought Minna her own handmade kuspuk instead! I was so touched that I grabbed her and hugged her like a crazy woman. (Sorry about that:)

Minna loves it and struts her stuff with her hands in her pockets. It is roomy enough that I can put it over her coat so she can wear it for longer periods of time outside and not just for 5 minute photo shoot. I love that brown trimmed hood.

I am still going to try and sew one myself. Ms. L says it's easy, but she is a pro. So we will see how easy it is for this non-pro out here.

For now...

...welcome March!