it's that time of year again

After a rather long afternoon yesterday, I am happy to say that taxes are filed, a return is to be had, and I can forget about this not so pleasant task for another year. Each year threatens to get more complicated but for now, I am holding my own. The cookies get me through.

The cookies. so good.  they're from Martha and everyone in the family is happy with them. Which is good. We needed a good chocolate chip cookie recipe and to make it even better, the husband likes to make these too. Maybe even more than me. It's the salt that has us hooked. Biting into the little bits of coarse salt, mmm... 

The best part is that you can add ANYTHING you want. Coconut, cranberries, sour cherries, nuts, white chocolate... I think the next batch will contain marshmallows if I have my way.

I know that these cookies don't even come close to following our new guidelines for eating, but it's tax time. I deserve it. And since the recipe yields a ridiculous amount of cookies it'd be rude not to share.

basement update

there is no update. there is no plan. we are waiting. not exactly what I was hoping for but at least something is decided.

basement

The basement has been looming over my head for weeks now. Decisions to be made. Tear down and start over? Pipe in a shower, a kitchen... make a suite for the brother? Paint over the wood panelling we started painting over months ago and never finished? I hate that the space is sitting bare and unused. To top it off, the husband isn't too keen on projects of any kind, so sit she will. For now. Maybe a project plan will be my goal for today.

tape

Doing is better than reading about doing. Why is this SO hard for me to remember? For days now, I've been in such a foul funk. Finally today, with only a little (ok, alot) of nudging from the husband, I set to work and lo! even my least favorite bit of the sling making process has changed my mood immensely. Things are looking up.

fig. 01

fig. 02

fig. 03

Many more yards of tape to go but progress.

we are in the make

things around here are looking up. while we are still on the mend from this persistent cold, I've been able to find abit of motivation and have set to work. The new fabric that has been sitting, forlorn and rejected, has finally been washed, pressed and cut.

Finished slings are still a far cry away but getting my hands on the linen never feels bad and I am relieved to taken some baby steps out of this end-of-winter funk. Next on my list: cut those pretty patterns up into bias tape and bake valentines treats for big E's preschool class (whose party isn't till tuesday so thank goodness for time to do this).

walker

we have a walker! our baby isn't a baby anymore and even though we've been willing her to walk for a number of months already this new development is making me more than a little sad. pregnancy is much too much for any of us to endure again so this is it for babies in the house. this year and some has gone by too quickly and I remember too little of it for little e to be walking her way into toddlerhood already.

Nonetheless, El we are so proud of you and watch eagerly to see where these feet will take you!

back to it

We are back. Back to normal... not quite. But back and ready to get things done around here. 

No one here anticipated what the last two weeks have brought. Way too many trips to the hospital to see people we love, lots of unexpected company, sick kids, too many hours worked, basement renos beginning which means moving, organizing, sorting, and trashing (we have WAY too much stuff!)... what we haven't seen is enough baking, cooking, playing, reading, sewing. All those things I started this blog to keep track of.  

This week though, a new leaf. 

fabric is heading to the washer to get ready for some new slings I've been imagining.

recipes are being sorted and a meal plan made.

In an effort to be realistic, I will leave it at that. Two kids dwell here with me. Enough said.