It’s Been Awhile

I think it’s been awhile since I’ve rambled.  It’s one of those mornings where I need to stay with the discipline of writing, even though I have no adorable pictures to show you, and have no profound news.

I’ve been working on the “Jane” dress.  I got the prototype done, and am now working on a version of the doll for Silje’s faux American Girl doll, Jenny.  Don’t tell her, but she’s getting a real American Girl doll for her birthday this summer.  She’s getting the “Felicity” doll, which is soon to be discontinued.  Just to be sure she got it in case it was discontinued before her birthday, we got it, and it’s sitting in the laundry room right now, and she has no idea.  I though if I left the big brown box in plain view she wouldn’t notice it.  So far she hasn’t.

I’ll show you some pictures of the “Jane” dress tomorrow for the yarn along.

In the mean time, “Jenny” is serving as a great dress form for making doll patterns.  I think the dress that I’m making now, as well as a few others, will have to be made out of her sight so that she can get some new doll clothes to go with her new doll for her birthday…this summer.  I’m telling you, if you like to give handmade gifts, you need to think months ahead of time.  At least in my case.  I have to plan.

Everyone seems to be feeling fine in our house, although everything is not back to normal.  Solveig has a bit of a stuffy nose, which makes eating a bit frustrating for her.  She got so messed up in her routine when we went to Wisconsin, and as our trip to visit my family is just around the corner, I figured it wasn’t worth much effort to get her back on a routine if she’s just going to get screwed up again.  So life is crazy that way right now.  She’s getting held more, and I’m not feeling bad about it, but I do need to get things done before we go, so I’m just getting a bit tired doing all my chores with a baby hanging on me.  I don’t mind, but the work is going slower than I would like.

So that’s our boring life these days.  I’m doing laundry day and night in the attempt to get enough clean clothes at the same time to pack for our upcoming trip, and the kids are running around the house in their swimsuits in excited anticipation for our trip. 

Silje’s swimsuit was getting small last summer, so I picked up a new one for her last time I was in town.  (I’m not sure that the chain stores up here realize that people here aren’t wearing swimsuits and sandals yet, as the stores are full of them.  There’s still snow everywhere!)  Oy, she’s no longer in the baby section.  This is the first time I’ve been swimsuit shopping for her in the “big girl section” where it’s size 5-14.  It’s like she’s only 6, but is wearing the same style clothes as tweens.  Ugh.  I hate that term: tween.  So long Disney Princess swimsuits and hello bikinis.  We are so not ready for that.  I was able to find a one piece that I thought she would like.  Fortunately she wasn’t with me so I didn’t have to hear her take on which one to get.  At least she’s still young enough for me to get away with that.

What else is going on?  We ordered our chickens.  They should be here end of May?  Early June?  I forgot.  We ordered with a friend of ours, and I forget which day he told us.  Also, Knut finished the rock on the fireplace.  Now the rocks need to be scrubbed, and the mantle needs to be done.  Also Knut needs to frame out the woodbox.  So we’re not totally done yet. I’m very happy to not have a pile of rocks in the middle of the living room anymore!  Hmmm…maybe this post will get a picture after all.

Like I said, it still needs to be cleaned, but it is done, and we’re very pleased with it.  I wish that the mantle could be lower, but we’re following the safety guidelines to a “T” and I would rather do that!  I’m sure we’ll find a way to make it look nice.  I’m trying to figure out what should go on the mantle.  Maybe a mirror?  Any ideas are welcome!  I also like the wall color the way it is, but wonder if I should suggest to Knut that we paint it a bit warmer.  Some taupe or something out of one of the rock colors.  What do you think?  Yes, let’s all think of more projects for Knut to do.  😉  I’m sure he would like that.  We’ve already decided that the new built in bookshelves for the den will have to be done sooner rather than later as soon we’ll be ordering Silje’s second grade school books and we have no place to put them.  This summer maybe?  After the chicken coop remodel of course…;)