science

 making a 'bridge' and diagramming the parts

This was her own idea of a project, and I did help get the hair ties all the way around all three of them - as that was a dexterity issue and she had tried a few times.  The plan was all hers,and we discussed ways to get the pencils in there without using glue, which was her idea and I said was too messy.

She spent the next half hour assembling similar little bits and bobs with lots of items on her desk until it was time for bed.  Mark says she is just about ready to have a family Knex night.  I've seen her digging in her Legos more, too - trying to make things and working out how they go together better.

honeybee pattern

I was asked to work this up a few weeks ago, made design drawings, but had not begun the construction phase until yesterday.  I was feeling physically better from the flu that hit us over the weekend... and needed to take my mind off Sunday's other events and the echoing thoughts about not going to the funeral tomorrow on Thursday.

I think it turned out quite cute.

Changes would be to narrow the neck, enlarge the wings, and Esme says the legs are in the wrong order but that will be a difficult thing to change.

My mom

On February 9th at 8 pm my mom died at the hospital in Minnesota after a long illness of complications from diabetes and dementia.  Last night, I dreamt of butterflies.  I can't go up there for the funeral, but her sister-in-law, friends since early school days, is there with my stepfather.

drummer girl and plastic twine bag

 A coffee can, some string and a pair of pencils and we have a little drummer girl.

It was her idea, Daddy made the holes in the can and helped her with the knot.

She was also very excited about snow, today.  But, there really wasn't enough to sled or do anything with.

In the very few spare minutes I get between everything else this week I've been adding rows onto this plastic twine bag.  I hope to have a full workshop day tomorrow - several toys to make.

mix

I've put half a new row on the pieced quilt I was working on about five, six months ago?  Maybe longer ago than that.  And I've discovered a new 'easier' way to make the blocks, so we'll give that a try on another day.  We start another long week of work here... been knitting on the blanket, trying to think what yarn I have would be right for fingerless mittens and taking in a lot of eye candy on quilts, fabric, yarns... not buying anything, but thinking.  I am on the lookout for, next time I am in the fabric section, another blue fabric with white dots.  I really do love the two dresses I have made for Esme (green, and light turquoise) that are this simple dotty fabric.  I saw some things over at TownMouse (link aside) and a few other places this week that just made me inspired to make MORE things than what I've been doing.  And that is what led to the quilt work yesterday and today, as well.

bits

It's Saturday again, and I feel like I've done a time warp.  I know I was at work... but it is all kind of fuzzy ;)  I am knitting a toy net for Esme's room, reading Hogfather, and am wondering what else I should get done during this rare weekend.

 the toy net hammock

pattern: with strong cotton yarn : knit 1 row, second row and all after: knit one, yarn over, *knit two together, yarn over* to end of row, bind off, attach long leader lines at five equal places along edges, tie over hooks and hang up on wall. 

bitty bits:  Made a little potholder/trivet cloth and put it in a letter to Mark's aunt.  Crocheted a band onto the bottom of my hat to cover my ears.  Delivered the robot to it's owner.  Made two of those scrubbing cloths for the bath and they worked pretty well (Esme thinks they are great, too).  Put another two inches on the orange striped blanket.  Mark says I could get some thin nylon rope and make us a grocery net for the back of the truck, as well - it is a pretty good idea but I need to research the nylon a bit.

Esme has a fascination with Iron Man at the moment, and superheroes in general.  She asked for a grilled egg sandwich the other day - which I translated as a grilled cheese sandwich with an omelet egg put in the middle before the toasting cycle.  She ate it all - although I had to urge on after halfway - and that was a first for her.  She has hated eggs and cheese both since she was tiny... we were making little steps with the cheese up until now but had not made much with the eggs.