Monthly Archive

Today we met with a few other homeschooling families at the park for the first picnic of the season (for us, anyway). I thought the girls were unusually charming today, and couldn’t stop taking photos.

Kinsley thought the idea of sliding sounded really fun, but couldn’t actually bring herself to go down the slide. “Mama!” she called to me, “Do you think I will conk my head?”. As her Uncle Eric would say, so many phobias, so little time…

Sophie tried to play it cool.

In reality she reminded me of Mr. Wilson from Dennis the Menace.

Silas gave Kinsley some sort of weapon and instructed her on the art of sword fighting.

Which seemed to bore Sophie immensely.

The line down Kinsley’s face is the result of a run-in she had with Frances, involving the door frame. Oddly enough, that wound hasn’t been nearly the trauma as the skinned knee. I think it has to do with the fact that she can’t see the scratch on her face, where as she can look at the scratch on her knee whenever she feels like it. Poor little thing.

All in all, I think they had a great time. They both crashed as soon as we got home.

Swinging has rapidly become the activity of choice among the daughters. I think they could absolutely live on those swings if we let them. Even Sophie seems to hold on remarkably well for a one year old.

Speaking of Sophie, I’m really not sure what the problem is with her tongue. I think it may be actually too long for her mouth. It’s about four inches long, and she seems to have trouble containing it.

Over the weekend, I purchased a pair of shorts for Kinsley at a local yard sale. Kinsley lives in them now, even though the weather has turned cool again. She insists that these shorts are exactly what she needs to “catch frog legs with Uncle Jacob” and since you can never know when you might need to catch a frog leg, she wears them as much as she can get away with. She seems to feel light and springy in them.

On Saturday, Kinsley set off on a lone walk. Papa watched her from the yard as I hung laundry on the line. We thought that she would stop at a bench which is within easy walking distance of our house, and is usually the destination of the girls’ expotitions. Instead, she confidently strode past the bench, arms swinging carelessly at her sides, watching the birds along the creek. When she got near the bend in the pathway which leads to a bridge over the creek, Papa called to her, instructing her to turn and walk back toward our yard. She obeyed, in her dreamy Kinsley way. She was nearly home when she stumbled and fell. Both of her bare, bony knees were scraped, but I think the real injuries came from the shock of being jolted from her dreamy reverie.

Papa cleaned her wounds, explaining sadly that this was her first strawberry, and one of the first of many injuries which she would probably be inflicted with throughout her life.

On Monday, as Kinsley was going potty, she inspected her knee which has caused her much grief over the past few days. She looked up at me and said:

“We call this a strawberry. I don’t like strawberries. And anyway, I tasted it, and it’s not a strawberry - it’s just a scrape.”

“To live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else.”
~Emily Dickinson

This morning I took a rare moment when Sophie was down for a nap to curl up in Dan’s recliner chair with a cup of coffee and Sarah Ban Breathnach’s Simple Abundance, A Day Book of Comfort and Joy. As I read, I was aware of the sounds of the house: the dishwasher, the washing machine, the rise and fall of Sophie’s deep breathing over the baby monitor, and the faint dripping of rain on the tender new leaves of the trees outside. As always happens, something I read got me thinking, ideas ping-ponged around in my head, until I thought I’d try to chronicle them here.

“…Then, without missing a beat, you wipe a snotty nose, change a dirty diaper, defrost the hamburger in the microwave, start the spaghetti sauce, sew a button on a coat, help someone with her homework. You pause for a moment, wondering what they would do if you weren’t here and realize in the same breath that you’re awfully glad you are. Much to your astonishment it occurs to you that you must posses some aspect of allure because everybody in the house gravitates to you. In the middle of the night, they call your name.”

Somehow that exert summed up in my imagination what motherhood is. I want it to be all lace doilies and roses, and instead it seems to be snotty noses and dirty dishes. But that is exactly where the memories are to be made. While I desire that my children have a calm and orderly environment to learn and grow in, it may not come to fruition in the way that I imagine. The allure of motherhood actually lies in the acts of self sacrifice and denial. It lies in the cheerful giving of ourselves for our family.

“There is in the world no function more important than that of being charming, to shed joy around, to cast light upon dark days… is not this to render a service?”
~Victor Hugo

We find our daughters to be charming as they go about their lives being babies. When they are alert, and interested in the world around them, commenting on the things which they observe, we find them charming. When the daughter becomes obsessed with her hurt knee, or her desire to watch a certain movie, or play with a toy which her sister is enjoying at that moment, she looses her charm. The charm of childhood comes from forgetting herself and just living.

True charm and allure can only be attained by transparently being what God has made us to be. Charm and allure can be learned, in the sense that one can learn good manners or gracefulness, but it always comes from the root of self sacrifice. To sacrifice self is to esteem others as greater than ourselves, which is true Love. To truly Love, is to truly Live. As Emily Dickinson puts it, to Live is so startling it leaves little time for anything else, and that is allure.

I have been a long time reader of Alison’s blog, Brocante Home Chronicles. She is a big proponent of what she calls the Puttery Treat, an idea which I find very enticing.

Then, today I was glancing over Sense and Sensibility (a message forum geared toward historical sewing), an off-topic thread entitled: Taking Care of Yourself as a Mum… got me started thinking.

The train of thought went something like this:

I have a moment every now and then to relax, and when that time comes, I’m usually so overwhelmed that I don’t know what to do, and so waste that moment staring blankly at the computer screen (sad, but true). So, if I wrote down some of the great ideas which the lovely ladies at the S&S forum had given, as well as some of my favorite puttery treats, along with a few of my very own ideas, I could put them all in a pretty jar on my window sill and draw a slip of paper out when I had the time. But next I thought that I could also keep the list right here on Gentlewood Cottage, where I could refer back to it, and add or subtract to the master list as I see fit. Then, the thought struck me, that if I had a copy of the list online anyway, I could copy and paste it into Random.org’s list randomizer, and come up with a single treat that way as well.

So, that’s the long explanation for the list which you will find below.

:: Find a pretty water glass to help motivate me to drink plenty. Add mint leaf or a slice of lemon, lime, or orange in it for prettiness and taste.

:: Go for a walk. Attempt to indulge all five senses on the walk. Watch the clouds, keep an eye out for little critters, new wildflowers, and birds, stop and breathe in the smells, touch the various barks and leaves, listen to the music of the birds and insects, pluck some of the wild raspberries along the pathway.

:: Do a workout video

:: Listen to some classical music with the girls while stretching.

:: Fold a pretty tea towel in half and sew together. Make half inch hems either end and thread elastic through, before adding a ribbon loop and feeling virtuous because now you have a pretty place to store those plastic bags which seem to multiply in our home.

:: Demote a blanket to garden duty and leave it folded in a basket near the back door for chilly Spring evenings outside. Allocate a garden pinny and hang it from a ribbon tied laundry peg on your doorknob.

:: Chill fruit tea in the fridge as you do your housework, then sit down with a pretty little cup and the morning paper as reward for scrubbing the bath so wonderfully well you can see your reflection in it.

:: Make a drama out of lunchtime…select a beautiful tray and the bestest china you own, add a napkin and a tiny bud vase, and sit quietly, meditatively, as you eat…

:: Use white vinegar and a cotton bud to clean the crevices of your phone. (The blasted things get soooo grubby don’t they?) Then give the whole thing a gentle swipe with a cloth scented with lavender or orange blossom.

:: Clean out the girls dresser drawers and add a cotton ball soaked in lavender

:: Hunt out an old fashioned enamel coffee pot and use it to water your houseplants while you wait for the kettle to boil in the morning…

:: Dust your light bulbs with a cloth infused with aromatherapy oil for a gentle scent when you switch them on…

:: Choose a pretty teacup and use it to scoop washing powder into the machine.

Dan and I (with the company of my parents) have set of on a seven day juice fast. While we’re not buying all that alkalizing, enema, dry brush, cold shower stuff (which Dan is convinced the guy made up to see what odd things he could get people to do), we are doing the juicing part. And the fasting part. We’re in day two, and it’s not going too bad. Today I have more energy than I did yesterday, at least. Food still sounds really good though. The neighbor just invited us to dinner, describing in mouth watering detail the Chicago Dogs which they would be serving.

Yesterday we had carrot, strawberry and pear juice. It was pretty good. This morning we had apple, pear, lime and celery, which was also very good.

I made this veggie broth stuff, which, as it turns out, is also pretty good!

Think we’ll make it seven days?

Well, we made it to the big Non-Binkster party. Which also happened to be a birthday party for all the spring birthdays in our family, including:

Bethany

Kristina

Hannah (in the blue hat)

Mom

And Dan

Grandma Pat supplied the party hats, saying that it’s not a party without hats!

Aunt Anna gave Kinsley her very own Non-Binkster Party cake, with Winnie the Pooh.

The girls had a tea-party which for some reason seemed to involve swimwear.

After all the festivities have died down, Kinsley is still doing well as a Non-Binkster big girl. She asked Dan the other day “Is there a Non-Binkster Heaven?”

We headed out early Saturday morning for a whirlwind weekend trip which included acting as delegates to the 9th Congressional District in Missouri, a baby dedication for my sister’s youngest daughter, a multi-family spring birthday bash, and a Non-Binkster Party.

This tree was found blooming in my grandparent’s back yard. I’m ashamed to say that I have no idea what it is, but I did think it lovely!

In music study the same principles apply as do in picture study, nature study, and nature notebooks. That is the principle of attentiveness and good observation. The goal is not to have children who can give a lecture on music theory. It is to have children learn to enjoy classical music and tell one piece from another just as naturally as they learn the difference between, say, The Farmer in the Dell and When the Saints Go Marching In - because they are both familiar with and fond of what they are hearing. The more they are exposed to good literature, the better they get at reading the themes and language of literature. In art and music, the more they are simply exposed to pictures and music, the more they learn to ‘read’ the themes of the world’s classic compositions. ~Ambleside Online

Kinsley spent some time sitting quietly and listening to Vivaldi’s Spring today. I had prefaced the “lesson” by telling her that this music was written by a man named Vivaldi, and he wrote this particular song to express what Spring made him imagine.

We had already been discussing the different seasons, and she has become fascinated with the thought that spring is the time for birds, and bugs, rain, and bees, so that is what she was listening for in the music.

…Spring, with a profusion of birds, the breath of gentle breezes, a murmuring stream, swaying plants, a goatherd lulled to sleep and shepherds holding a celebratory bagpipe dance. ~Classical Notes

She was pretty sure she heard rain in the music, and then some bees, which she told me she doesn’t like “’cause they can sting your bommom” (bottom).

I found that her attention span for this sort of thing is roughly 60 seconds long, but she was able to stretch herself and sat to listen for about five minutes. All in all, I thought it wasn’t a bad first lesson in classical music.

Ah, evening. Undoubtedly my favorite time of the day. Yes, that clock in the background reads 12:46. Sometimes, evening begins a little later at our house. We were having a serious withdrawal episode last night, which lasted till a little after midnight, but we made it through unscathed.

Dan and I succeeded in getting both girls down, got the dishwasher loaded and started on it’s task, checked the email, then crept softly to our bedroom, feeling as if we were suffering from post traumatic stress syndrome. We had been looking forward to a bit of Wodehouse before bed, but after a whispered conversation, we decided we’d better snatch whatever sleep we could, instead. Settling into bed, Dan reached for the lamp switch, just as we heard Sophie’s tiny little trumpet voice call out in the darkness “Mama? Mama!”.

Sometimes, I don’t know how I would survive the girls if it weren’t for my husband in the foxhole with me. Of course, God is in it all with us, too.

Can you identify the subject of this photo?

Well, it’s Day Three of the Non Binkster Week. We’ve had two meltdowns today, but seem to be making it through the withdraws fairly well.

Today’s event (which Kinsley has taken to calling “The Small Non Binkster Parties” which are not to be confused with the “Big Non Binkster Party” to be held on Sunday) was a trip out Marme and Granddad’s, stopping by the office first to have lunch with Papa.

Marme’s garden is starting to bloom with all sorts of beautiful flowers. As it turned out, Sophie was more interested in meandering through Marme’s stone walkways with me then Kinsley was. Kinsley was interested in swinging.

Or “feenging” as Kinsley calls the sport.

Sophie would squat, study each flower intensely, touch it, and move onto the next.

After a while, she lost interest and wanted to “feeng” too.

Sophie made a very important discovery. Her shadow. She squealed at it with glee, at which point Kinsley announced “Mama, we are so excited!”

We’ve been attempting to get the girls outdoors, now that the weather is becoming more agreeable. Papa is planning to start beehives this spring, and has spent a good deal of time explaining what it is that bees do. Kinsley has apparently taken it all in, because she explained to our librarian (in great detail) how it all works.

This morning, she was reading an Usborne book of spring-ish things, and was commenting on how the flowers have to grow so that the bees can carry the pollen. It got my wheel turning about a little science lesson which she might be interested in, so we pulled on our crocs and set out to the back yard, armed with two pots, a spoon, some Larkspur seeds, the Usborne book, and of course, the camera.

After waving at the neighbor’s dog, sampling the various grasses, and searching for a good spot with soft dirt, we settled in. I read over the page about how a seed grows, and then helped the girls fill their pots with moist, sweet smelling soil.

Kinsley dreamily pressed her soil into her pot, commenting about Cardinals and Robins.

Sophie packed her soil into the pot with much intensity.

I gave them each several seeds to put in their pots…

…and then dug out a bit of soil to sprinkle over the top. At this point, we found an earthworm. The girls were delighted and terrified at the same time. In an odd way, it made me think of all the people throughout the Bible who found themselves face to face with an angel. Don’t you imagine that they would feel a mixture of terror and delight? Anyway, I tried to explain what a worm does, put I think I lost ‘em on that one. They were too busy squealing with laughter and jumping backwards to get away from the worm to listen.

Once inside, we carefully watered the pots, and placed them in the kitchen window sill to nap in the sunshine.

Kinsley is having an Anti-Binkster week. It began with the ceremony of driving out to Granddad’s office to leave the binkster in a pretty gift bag, tacked to his bulletin board. Granddad has been a great proponent of Binkster Weaning, and Kinsley knows that. She often makes commentary about this or that thing which Granddad will do “if I don’t have my binkster in my mouth” and she always point out to him when she doesn’t have her binkster in her mouth.

We agreed that we would have a Non-Binkster Party at the end of the week, Grandma has promised a few presents, and Papa and I have promised that Kinsley will be allowed to chose a (small) gift for herself, upon the completion of seven days without a binkster.

Papa and I have tried to bring small rewards into our daily activities, pointing out that each one is another milestone she has reached because now she’s a big girl and no longer needs her binkster.

On day one, we set up a “big bed” in Kinsley and Sophie’s room. Kinsley has been thrilled, and has drug every single relative who has stepped through our door. She announces that this is a Non-Binkster Big Girls Bed.

So, all that to explain these photos of the girls’ bedroom.

We’ve painted some old furniture, brought in a few new things, and rearranged everything. In a very Non-Binkster sort of way.

A game of “This Little Piggy”…

Some tickling…

A moment to admire the softness…

And then, back to the piggies…

Native to North America and Canada with cousins in Europe and Asia. First cultivated in 1811. The Spaniards noted Redbuds and made distinctions between the New World species and their cousins in the Mediterranean region in 1571. George Washington reported in his diary on many occasions about the beauty of the tree and spent many hours in his garden transplanting seedlings obtained from the nearby forest.

Spectacular spring blossoms. The seeds provide winter food for birds. An excellent tree for planting near utility lines. Provides good shade when planted near patios. Well known for its beauty, it is the state tree of Oklahoma. Rosy pink flowers appear in April. Reddish-purple leaves change to dark green, then to yellow. Forms a spreading, graceful crown

Northern bobwhite and a few songbirds, such as chickadees, will eat the seeds, and it can be used for nesting sites and nesting materials, it also provides shelter for birds and mammals.

Information from The Arbor Day Foundation

We also know how to entertain ourselves with them.

Yesterday was my mom’s birthday. She had invited us to dinner (which she prepared herself) and it only struck me that afternoon that is was her birthday. Thoughtful daughter, huh?

We sort of turned it into a last minute birthday party.

The girls and I drove out a little early to wrap gifts at Granddad’s office. We are often the designated gift wrappers for such events.

Mom had already baked a delicious farm raised ham (raised by my brother Zion), and purchased local wines.

Hannah had made scalloped potatoes and a Boston Cream Pie, Zion made a frozen chocolate pie, we threw together a salad and some fresh squeezed lemonade, and we had a first rate birthday dinner.

(Please notice that my daughter is eating spinach. This may be the only documented consumption of green matter in her life.)

The girls generously assisted with the gift opening.

Kinsley even offered to model the ring which her Uncle Jared gave to Marme.

Uncle Jacob gave Marme this lovely wire work necklace which he made in his art class.

Uncle Zion gave Marme a set of three CDs of worship music. I neglected to photograph that, because I was busy photographing the back of my daughter’s head.

Grandma gave Marme this weedwhacker. Anyone who knows my mom, knows she loves nothing more than some garden/yard related tool, plant or book.

She also scored a couple of gardening books from us, a huge bag of gladiola bulbs from Dad (along with a beautiful white leather refillable journal), which I also did not photograph. Partly because I was marveling at my daughter’s pot belly and bony ribs.

Other photos from that evening:

“The atmospheric conditions have been very unfavourable lately,” said Owl.
“The what?”
“It has been raining,” explained Owl.
“Yes,” said Christopher Robin. “It has.”
“The flood-level has reached an unprecedented height.”
“The who?”
“There’s a lot of water about,” explained Owl.

Rainy day things:

1. Read.

2. Work on one’s beauty routine. Don’t worry Papa, I watched over the whole activity, very carefully.

3. Plan and organize.

4. Snack on fruit in pretty vintage dishes.

5. Fluff bedding in the dryer, scented with April Fresh Bounty sheets, in preperation for a warm and cozy nap.

6. Snuggle with a heated rice bag to cure heartburn, real or imaginary.

7. Abandon heat bag for a romp in Papa’s recliner.

8. Allow Frances to snuggle with the rice bag.

9. Explore contents of toy box.

10. Nap.

11. Wrap Marme’s birthday presents.

12. Tackle Mount Laundry.

13. And, finally - snuggle up in my chair with coffee and Agatha Christie.

Last weekend, I made a spur the moment dash to the thrift shop. Kinsley stumbled upon a pair of very worn, and slightly too big pink crocs. But these are not your normal run-of-the-mill crocs. These crocs have little “jewels” decorating them. It was love at first sight.

I nearly told her she couldn’t have them. After all, there wasn’t much tread left, and they were pretty grungy. But, I decided to let her purchase them anyway, and I’m so glad I did. I had no idea that something so mundane could thrill her as thoroughly as it has. The purchase of the pink crocs has undoubtedly been the most exhilarating moment in Kinsley’s short life.

She shows them to everyone who will give her a second glance. She has talked non-stop about going to show them to Marme and Granddad, Uncle Eric and Aunt Paula, and her friend, Hosannah. She had a potty training mishap yesterday, and was in tears over the fact that now her crocs are dirty.

But wait, isn’t that Sophie wearing the crocs in all these photos? It is indeed. Kinsley asked Sophie to take care of the shoes while Kinsley napped, yesterday afternoon. Sophie was more than happy to oblige.

PS - As I type, Kinsley is asking “Where is my pink crocs? Where can they be? Mommy, have you seen my pink crocs?”

Yesterday, my grandma called to invite the girls to come over and play with her at the park. Bubbles were mentioned. And duck feeding. We went, of course.

Grandma has always been my special buddy, and I love seeing her carry on this tradition with my girls. Grandma is THE reason I sew. She taught me everything I know in this field. As a little girl, I thought Grandma could sew anything. Once, when I stayed at her house for a day or two, I wanted to go swimming, but I had left my swim suit at home. Many Grandmas would purchase a swimsuit for their granddaughters. Most would simply refuse to indulge. My Grandma simply took me downtown to the little fabric shop, allowed me to choose some Lycra fabric (mine had tropical fruit), drove us back home, whipped up a swim suit (complete with ruffles and all) and had me to the pool by the time it opened. After that, I knew she could sew anything.

Anyway, she’s as self sacrificing as ever. And my girls love her dearly.

When we got to Grandma’s house, she had already prepared the bread for the ducks, torn into small chunks and divided into two bags, one for each girl.

Sophie mostly ate hers.

Occasionally she launched a piece or two at a duck. The ducks weren’t all that hungry.

Kinsley tried pretty hard, in her own dreamy way.

Then once the bubble blowing began, the ducks were all but forgotten.

Except not by me. This is the very park where I came with Grandma when I was a little girl. This is the park where the city pool used to be. And this - this may well be the self same duck, that chased and bit me when I was a kid. I kept a close eye on him. Look at that evil glare. I think he’s onto me.

I was the only one concerned about it, too.

See that greedy “gimme” stance? That’s cause Grandma even thought to bring pretzels and apple juice.

The mere thought of food gets Sophie’s tongue working.

So, this is Grandma. I don’t think she’s changed a bit since I was two. That thrilled smile she gets when she watches the girls? She used to get that over me. That’s the way I’ll always remember her, even though you’ll never see that smile in any professional photo of Grandma.

After my brother left, my dad’s mother and step-dad joined the family party. Once again we cooked, we ate, and we enjoyed the girls.

At some point during all this visiting, Sophie discovered Marme’s marshmallow supply. She helped herself generously, taking one bight out of each marshmallow, setting it on the able, and returning to the pantry for more.

The sunset was absolutely beautiful one evening.

Marme and Granddad have recently gotten some baby chicks. The girls love them and were allowed to name a few. Kinsley named this one “Jeeves”, so my siblings named another one “Wooster”.

Will you check out the intensity of the Sophie?!

Another uncle (Seth) on their Papa’s side, calls Sophie “Oba”, and Kinsley “Dreamy One”. We weren’t sure where “Oba” came from (neither is Uncle Seth) but I can see the “Dreamy One”.

Okay, I just looked up “Oba” and the definition I found was “A hereditary chief or king among various peoples of Benin and Nigeria.” I can see that, too. Sophie’s pretty regal at time, and at other times, she’s pretty tyrannical.

PS - Jeeves has passed away, Kinsley tells me. She probably knows as she keeps up with these things. I wonder if it has anything to do with all the loving he has received in his short life.

When my sister Hannah was about three years old, my family was dining at a restaurant in a large city fairly near home. Eating out has always been something of a special event in my family. We would dress in Sunday best, and be on our best behavior. So, on this occasion, when the table next to us was filled with rowdy, noisy, and sloppily dressed children, Hannah watched then in shock and dismay.

When we left the restaurant, Hannah exclaimed “Did you guys see those orphelans sitting next to us?!”

We asked her how she knew that they were orphans, and she said “Orphelans are those kind of children that run around in the woods with no clothes on, and are wild!”

Sometimes, my own daughter reminds me of an orphelan. A demanding, wild little orphelan. Take this for example. At Marme and Granddad’s house, she removes her clothing “cause I am hot!” and demands that she be swung by an uncle. First she demands, then if that doesn’t work, she wheedles. Wheedling seems to be most effective on uncles. As she was heading out the door with Uncle Jacob, I heard her say “Awe, I love you Uncle Jacob!”

On this particular day. Granddad was out making a minor repair on his truck, and so dressed up for Kinsley’s viewing pleasure as she swung.

Last week we spent quite a bit of time at Marme and Granddad’s house. My brother Caleb was visiting from Maryland.

There was much cooking, eating and entertainment from my girls.

The girls love to dance, and Uncle Jared built this coffee table in my parent’s living room - partly as a dance floor for the girls, and partly as a birthday gift for my mom (Marme).

Kinsley explored alternative wardrobe options.

Sophie snuggled with Aunt Hannah (alternately known as Hi-oh according to Kinsley, and HYnah according to Sophie).

I think that Sophie looks so much like my side of the family.

*More photos if the week to come*

The first of two new spring nightgowns. Made from a thrifted vintage sheet which has the nicest feel to it. It’s the sort of thing which always feels cool against your skin. I have enough fabric in the two sheets ($.25) to make the girls each a nightie and shorts, and myself a nightgown, and lounge pants.

Kinsley has adopted this cloche. I actually crocheted it for myself, and it really does fit my head well. However, the head of our two year old is something to behold. Majestic, in fact. Surely disproportionate to her tiny frame.

Something about this photo reminds me of any one of the female cast of characters in the Jeeves and Wooster Series, which, by the way is wonderful. In fact, we’ve recently been enthralled by the stories written by P.G. Wodehouse. Dan reads them to me in the bathtub, and I often read them while putting some child or other to sleep at the computer. Did you know you can read the entire book online? This is a new and exciting development for me.

I think that white on white - on a one year old - may very well be the most difficult thing I’ve ever tried to photograph.

Kinsley also got a new white blouse, but I didn’t get it photographed at all. And it’s even slightly different, which is huge for me!

This dress set was inspired by a vintage pattern in a size much too large for my girls. I pieced some other patterns together and came up with this version.

I actually finished these in early march, and the fabric was a little too light for the snowy weather which we were enduring during the particular event for which these were made, so I re-did some flannel pantaloons which I made for the girls last fall, to coordinate with the outfit.

The fabric was a serendipitous find. I found the white print before I ever had children and stowed it away, influenced by my belief that all of my children would be of the male variety. After I had Kinsley, I had dreams of sewing a darling vintage dress out of it, but never got around to it. Then came Sophie, and I decided that I always had to make them matching dresses. When I got ready to use that fabric, I was saddened to see that there wasn’t enough for what I had in mind. I put the fabric back on the shelf with a sigh, thinking that someday I would have to make a cute little jumpsuit for some baby boy. That same afternoon, my Grandma brought by a bag of goodies from the thrift shop. In it was just enough of the blue version of that same print to make it work with creative cutting! I had only the smallest threads left, when I was done.

The button came from a family friend’s estate. The lady had passed away, and the husband gave much of her lifetime collection of sewing notions away. She had collected things from her mother, so I have no idea how old this button is, but I thought it very quaint and unusual.

Another version of the yellow ruffles.

With another side of belly button.

Kinsley really got into the posing for this one.

I made two (I make two of everything, these days).

The ham-y-ness just kept coming…

Even with snot encrusted on her face, it’s pretty darn charming, if you ask me.

I’ve made several sets of these ruffly skirts using the wonderful tutorial written by Tanya, of Grand Revival. This set wasn’t the first, it was just the first one photographed.

Check out that belly button! It’s Kinsley’s favorite feature.

Sophie also like hers, but we can all agree that it’s simply not quite as remarkable.

And, just to prove that the girls do own shirts (and even wear them on occasion) here’s a photo which was taken at the event for which the skirts were sewn: my siblings Awana games. They were the yellow team, and the girls had nothing yellow in their wardrobes.