Birthday Yardwork

For my 28th Birthday last week, Adam and I and some friends fixed up our yard!
Before (actually, during):

After:

I was tired of looking at the giant yard debris heap built up from last year (below),

and wanted more flat, usable space in our slightly sloping backyard...so, I decided to use the logs and sticks as walls for terraces, supported by re-bar. It worked quite well. We used every scrap in the debris heap to build and shape the terraces. Now I just need to finish the top with plant-able soil/compost and we are in business!

In just 2 hours, we made 2 "terraces" on the right side (above); and then Adam and I spent the rest of the day making  one on the left side (below); making a compost area using a pallet; and washed the Argosy. It was amazing.

Thank you, friends! We could not have done it without you!

We (Cydney) also found a secret egg nest of 16 eggs! we water tested them and they were all good :)

 Elliott had the time of his life running around with our friend's daughter, digging in the mud with shovels, and eating jelly beans.

I love how it turned out; you wouldn't guess how drastically it has improved my quality of life...and the chickens'.

New Year's Snocation!

After Christmas, but before New Year's Eve, we took a 4 day ski trip in our Argosy (aluminum motor home). We woke up the day after Christmas and decided we needed a ski vacation, so we started packing and prepping the RV, but by the time we left, it was 2 am! We arrived at Steven's Pass RV lot at 3:30 am! We then had two full days of skiing and one day of snow shoeing before we drove home. We had planned to go for 5-6 days and ski at two different places (Steven's Pass and Mt. Baker), but our furnace broke, so we cancelled the second location because they had no electricity to run our space heater. 

The RV lot at Steven's Pass was so much fun! I totally recommend it to anyone - it had a friendly, neighborly atmosphere since everyone was on a ski vacation, as opposed to actually living in an RV as their primary home. At night, most of the RVs had Christmas lights on their dash and there were fire pits to roast mallows.

The RV lot is right next to the resort, so you could get to the ski lift in a few minutes walk. Here is Adam, rolling out of bed to get the first runs!

Elliott did not take to the snow very well. It was difficult for him to walk and his clothes weren't warm enough. I will be better prepared next time!

 At night, we ate dinner (duck feast leftovers), roasted marshmallows from my mom's s'mores kit, and watched "Legends of the Fall." I had never seen it before, and it had been many years since Adam had. We loved it! It is our dream movie, hahahah!

 20 feet of home sweet home!

 On our last day, Sunday, we snow shoed up to a lake - nothing too far, Elliott was not "happy and warm."

 It was a beautiful clear day, here it the gorgeous view on our trail.

Then, Adam got the Argosy revved up and we headed home:

Gingerbread Play House

A few days before Christmas, I stayed up late gluing and taping this house together and it has been worth every late night minute. Elliott plays in his "haus" every day (and every kid who comes over loves it) plus I think it is so cute. I was inspired by this gingerbread house project on my friend's blog. I love how the cardboard color makes the perfect gingerbread with white paint as frosting :)

Current Knitting

Chevron baby blanket in sock weight yarn.

"Haruni" shawl in robin's egg blue lace weight yarn.

Elliott's word for "toothpaste"

Elliott's word for toothpaste is "poo taste"

Elliott January 2013

Making New Year's Breakfast:

 Sword fighting with Dad:

 Dinner Time:

 Just woke up:

 Popcorn and movies!:

 Duck egg quiche at Dad's work:

Ski Day Feb 9th, 2013

We took a day trip to Steven's Pass and had a lovely, successful ski day.

Elliott on the way there:

 Getting geared up to ski with Dad:

 Elliott loved skiing, but would have preferred to ride his own snowboard:

I am improving my ski turns. I ski very gingerly and rarely fall, but Adam's about twice as fast as I am. Elliott had a new, improved snow outfit which made the day more pleasant for all. Snow boots, a puffy jacket with extra long sleeves that doubled as mittens, scarf for cheeks. Did you know babies cheeks can get frost bitten? It happened to Elliott last year! He was only 5 months old...so sad.

 Snacks in the lodge! Elliott takes after his mom and dad - he loves to eat!

 Snow kisses:

 Elliott on the way home:

Thanks Dad/Adam for a good ski day. I know I drag my heels the day before, but I always have fun :)

Clara Clementine's Baby Dress

A friend at church recently had her first baby - a girl, and they named her Clara Clementine!

 My friend always dresses so nicely and I wanted to make her something special, so I made a  lovely silk dress from an adaptation of this vintage pattern. I know a silk baby dress sounds like a disaster...but it's so cute! I envision it worn with black tights and black leather shoes. I think it is about 3-6 month size...?

 I used a beautiful striped silk material and antique lace from my mother-in-law's doll making stash.

 The front has three tiny mother of pearl buttons, and the back has one button to close the neck opening.

(I definitely should have ironed it...oops)

The Wandering Goose

Friday Night Southern Supper at The Wandering Goose in Seattle's Capitol Hill did not disappoint. Here is our menu:

We arrived a titch too early (6:30 pm) but the seating is first come, first serve, and I didn't know what to expect. I think you could arrive at 6:50 and get a seat, even if you are a large party. The restaurant is small and open - one wall is partially windows and looks into the neighboring restaurant/bar, but it's a pleasant feature. It is set up like a cafe, with small tables and a glass bakery counter where you order. The Wandering Goose serves breakfast and biscuit sandwiches daily from 7 am to 4 pm, however, on Friday nights there is a group supper starting at 7 pm. 

We loved the ambiance and the food and would definitely return with friends when we are in the mood for a belly busting meal...haha!, or we could exercise some restraint and eat normally, but that's not our style :)

Everything was delicious - it was wonderful home food, very rich and satisfying. 

Some (poorly lit) photos of the food:

biscuits, cornbread, raspberry jam, butter, honey butter

***Funny story*** While waiting for dinner, Adam read aloud the "Biscuit of the Day" sign: Biscuit, Andouille sausage, sauteed kale, fried duck egg. And, then, said "wait a minute...that's exactly what I had for breakfast this morning!" It's true, too! I guess my inner chef cooks Southern food :)

Here is a video of the cute outdoor sign: