Growing up

Little Fox is growing up!

Today, he took a shower... I went in with him, wearing my bathing suit (he's pretty aware of "the differences"...)  He's scared of the shower, for some reason, and I think it's about time that he learns that there isn't anything to be scared of. He "cried" for the first few minutes, (making the sounds, but no tears), and was very reluctant, but after a bit he calmed down. He let me wash and rinse his hair, and once he figured out that if he turns his back to the water, he won't get water in his eyes, he'd step into the water all on his own.

He also peeled carrots for supper tonight. After a quick lesson from me, he took over and did a great job.

And the biggest thing was that we got school mail today! We got a letter saying that they will be doing his early years evaluation in April.

This is the first time that I've ever been all teary over "my baby growing up". Other moms I know cried when baby started walking, or cry on each birthday... not me. But this... this is a big step. And it's not a sad feeling for me. It's... pride? excitement? I know he's ready for school. Really, the only thing he has trouble with is remembering the number 14 when counting to 20, and rhyming words. If I ask him what rhymes with something, he'll give me a word that starts with the same letter, instead of a word that ends with the same sound. Anyway, I know he's ready, and he's so adaptable and outgoing that I think he'll have no trouble with the pretty drastic life change. At least, I hope he won't.

In other (unimportant) news, we had roasted hotdogs for lunch today. We had a fire going, and the coals were so perfect for roasting that I couldn't pass it up!

I'll leave you with a picture of our pretty dog warming up beside the fire.

A Post of Ice and Fire

Sorry, George R. R. Martin. I don't mean to steal your series title, but this is actually what we did yesterday. Well, ok, it was fire and THEN ice.

(Side note... this is a non-sewing post. Yes I know, stop cheering.)

Yesterday, we went to Red Fox's dad's property because he was burning the brush he had cut, and he wanted someone there in case it got out of control. No worries there, everything was a bit wet, and things were hardly burning without a little... encouragement. Which both scared and amazed Little Fox! And worried me, since I am my father's daughter, and I know what can happen... (Dad was a week short of coming to our wedding with no eyebrows or eye lashes).

When we got home, Little Fox and I went to the beach just down the road from Foxfield. We had fun checking out the big hunks of ice on the beach, and collecting shells. We even tasted it to see if it was salty! (I try to be a science geek mommy when I can). Also, I'm a geologist... we are known for licking rocks and colouring.

(hey mom... remember those fossilized raindrop imprints....)

After the beach, we played cars. "Playing Cars" means just sitting with Little Fox while he picks up every car and says any of the following:
- Wanna hear this guys engine, Mommy? Vrooooooooom!!!
-  In the game, this guy and this this guy are in a crash-up, and get all jammed.
-  What does your kid think of THIS guy mommy? (um, well... you tell me!)
-  Look at this guy's engines! (While pointing at the exhaust pipes)

 "Vroooooooom!!"  I LOVE this face!

After saying (at least) one of the above things, the cars all get "parked-ed" in a very orderly line up. The typical scenario is that they are all going to visit at "my dude's house" or "my buddy's place" and they all park in Buddy's driveway, get out of the cars and say "Hey dude!"  

Now, this mornings excitement all began with Molly laying on the kitchen floor, scratching at something underneath the cupboard. You know that 3-inch gap between the bottom of the cupboard and the floor? Yeah, in there. We assumed that it was a tasty morsel* that we dropped and didn't notice... until Red Fox got down to check it out and SURPRISE it was a BAT. OMG. I'll admit I shuddered and gagged a little. We put Molly outside, cause we were worried that this bat had whatever bat disease is "goin' 'round" here on the Island. Of course, by this time, the poor bat was pretty roughed up, thanks to Big Bad Molly. Red Fox picked it up (with gloves on, of course) and it was about this moment that I seriously considered getting Little Fox and hiding in the bathroom in case it started flying around. But then I realized that I'd have to come out of the bathroom eventually, regardless of flying bats. Anyway, the little bat's nose was black and had no indication of "bat cancer". Threat neutralized (or will be shortly) and crisis averted.

*  Note to my brother - omg "tasty morsel"... why does that make me think of you, and why do I find it so funny?

Home made running gear

I made myself some running sleeves the other day. Basically, I cut the sleeves off of an old shirt and tightened them up. They are not technical fabric, but I'm going to get some (my favorite way of getting fabric is at used clothing stores. I buy things that are made of fabric that I like, and then cut it apart) and then use these sleeves as a pattern to make more.

I didn't add thumb holes for 3 reasons. One, because I don't really like them, and 2, because these weren't long enough. Also, because I was using sleeves from an existing shirt, the wrists were already hemmed, and I was going for "quick and easy".

So first, I turned my shirt inside out and I cut the sleeves off as close to the shoulder seam as I could get.

Then I slipped the sleeve over my arm and used pins to mark how tight I wanted the sleeve and how long.

I sewed that side hem and tried the sleeve on again a few times to get it "perfect". Once I had it as tight as I wanted it, I wrapped some non-slip elastic around my arm, cut it to length, and zig-zagged it on.  And then I was done. Ta-da!

I also made a running skirt. Again, I used a shirt I found at Frenchy's, and cut it up. I used the original hem, and the neckline happened to be the perfect size to fit my hips. I cut the shirt straight across under the arms, and tried it on at hip level. I pinned the sides to fit, and sewed. Then I cut the neck band off of the shirt, and pinned it to the top of my new skirt. I almost messed this step up... make sure you're pinning things the right way! Anyway, I caught my mistake, and it fit perfectly when I tried it on! It's a little longer than i wanted, so I'm going to add some "ruching" on the sides to shorten it up and add a little "prettiness". Yeah.. Erin and pretty clothes? That's something new! I couldn't wait until the warmer weather to try it out, so I wore it over my pants. LOL the skirt might be pretty, but that doesn't mean I'm fashionable!

Also, the yellow headband? I made that too. :) I used a shirt that I was going to throw away... I cut the bottom off and looped it around once to fit around my head. The first time I used it, it wouldn't stay flat to cover my ears (it's so windy here... even when it's warm, the wind hurts my ears... my mother would say I'm soooo delicate). After that, I twisted it twice to make the front a little different, with the seams lined up in the back. I stitched down the seams and then stitched a line down both sides, just in front of where my ear would be. That made it lay flat over my ears. 

Can you see that little line of stitching??

I've also been thinking about making some shorts... I downloaded the instructions for a pattern and using the little diagram and through trial and error I think I "made" a useful pattern. It'll be the first thing I've ever made using a "real" pattern. Usually I just wing it.

Other than the shorts, next on my running-gear-sewing list is "sweaty bands", which are velvet lined head bands. The velvet is non-slip. For these, I'm using fabric from my high-school prom dress... (hi mom!), and leftover fabric from whatever I'm making to wear so I can be matchy-matchy. Also, a few more skirt/shirt "makeovers" and a hydration belt.

Enough is enough.

When will this dizziness end? This is the 4th day. Also, why is it worse when I'm sitting than when I'm doing something?

Rivers

We have a serious river running down our property today! The land is sloped from the field behind us to the road. All the run-off from the field is rushing down our yard, past the swing set, through the trees and onto the road.

Oh, and it's supposed to rain for the next 3 days. (please don't freeze... please don't freeze)

I ran the river road twice today! I stopped at the golf course because their dog was trying to follow me when I went by the first time, and I didn't want to deal with that again, so it was "only" about 7 k. It took me 46 minutes. Next time, I'll do the full 8k. I can totally do it. I'm still running 10 and 1 (run 10 mins, walk 1 min), and walking up most of that giant hill, but I'm having no trouble doing the full 10 minutes, and I run further up that hill every time.

Also, I think I'm going to end up the "home made runner". I've made some sleeves already, and I have some sketches for turning some of my old shirts into running skirts, shorts and shirts. :)

The Fox and the... skunk?

Today's sewing project: 

From this pattern via Pinterest

I'm officially nervous about running along this road now. We saw one of the skunks today. He was just out for a stroll along our road, and then cut across a field, heading toward... our barn. I hope he's not in there!

Productive Sunday

I am SUPER dizzy today. Basically, any time I turn my head or shift my focus, my head spins. I was going to run this morning, but thought I might run myself into a ditch. Red Fox and I had our coffee in my sewing room today. Little Fox came in to play while we sipped and chatted. I decided I'd make a pillow for Little Fox using the fabric I bought the other day, and an old pillow. When I was little, I made this little latch hook butterfly that mom turned into a pillow. I used the batting out of that, and since I wanted to be able to wash the pillow cover, I took the batting out and made a case for it out of black cotton. Then I made the outer case with an overlapping back panel so it can be removed. I think it's the neatest sewing project I've ever done. Neat meaning non-messy. 

After that, Red Fox asked me to make a cushion for his workshop stool. I used foam from an old kitchen chair cushion, and cut it to shape. I made a cushion cover out of some thick navy fabric, and some Toronto Maple Leafs flannel I had. I even attached 4 ties. It turned out a little loose, but I'm pretty happy with it, considering it was trial and error, and my first attempt at something like that.

Red Fox went through some of his clothes today (he needs a much bigger closet than I do!) and I grabbed one of the shirts he was going to get rid of. I remade it into a skirt for me. I kinda love it!

After all the sewing, I was feeling pretty good, so decided to go for a short, slow, run with Molly Dog. I had a few dizzy moments, but over all I felt ok, as long as I focused on the road just in front of me. Just as I was by the golf course, a lady walked by and stopped me. Her name was Hughina, and she said that she had just seen a skunk "by the cottages down there". She meant OUR cottages. Awesome. She said that she's seen 3 or 4 in the area. I guess Molly won't be spending much time outside!

On that note, here's a Little Fox quote. (He calls skunks "stunks") "Mommy, in my game, the stunk was caught in a trap, and farted his stunk-ness everywhere!"

Just before supper time, our friends A and LA called and invited us for dinner. Little Fox played video games with J, and we all had a good visit.

All in all, a pretty good day!