Monthly Archives: August 2014

Dear Poison Ivy: How Do I Hate Thee? Let Me Count The Ways

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Laura

I got into some poison ivy in our yard on Friday, 8/22.  Here’s my hate letter to it.  It references a few gross aspects of poison ivy, which you may or may not enjoy reading. Dear Poison Ivy: How do … Continue reading →

Posted in gardening | Tagged | 7 Comments

Classics Club, Book #7: Emma (from July 2014)

Posted on August 30, 2014 by Laura

This is my seventh post for The Classics Club (just a month late).  I’ll be reading one classic book a month for the next 4-5 years.  Track what I’m reading for the Classics Club here.  I’ll try not to include … Continue reading →

Posted in books, parenting | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

I’m So Patriotic, I Win Ribbons In Red, White, and Blue!

Posted on August 28, 2014 by Laura

I never write about politics on this blog but if you know me in person, you probably know that I’m a bit conflicted when it comes to patriotism (particularly in relation to what it means relative to being a follower … Continue reading →

Posted in Ellie, friends, Mark, sewing | 5 Comments

When Canning Goes Bad (literally)

Posted on August 25, 2014 by Laura

Last week, Nik went downstairs for another jar of strawberry jam and came up with this: That’s right, that’s a jar of strawberry jam, being consumed by mold.  Evidently, I didn’t notice that one of the jars hadn’t sealed when … Continue reading →

Posted in cooking | 4 Comments

Treehugger, Etc.

Posted on August 23, 2014 by Laura

Mark’s new obsession (and developmental milestone): building towers! so proud of himself! his preferred building location? definitely the window sill Ellie’s current obsession: making “salad”, i.e. cutting hundreds of tiny bits of fabric and paper.  She spent close to two … Continue reading →

Posted in Ellie, gardening, Mark | 4 Comments

July Sewing: Cute Fabric, Boring Project

Posted on August 21, 2014 by Laura

Now that we have two kids, we needed to have two car seat bags for checking the car seats.  I sewed one for Ellie’s new car seat in July, just before we left on our Alaska trip.  It was one … Continue reading →

Posted in sewing, travel | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

I’m an Official State Fair Exhibitor, Times Five!

Posted on August 20, 2014 by Laura

Our State Fair begins on Friday and this year I entered five items! It’s going to be hard to beat last year’s record of a blue ribbon for every entry (i.e. one blue ribbon for one entry) but I am … Continue reading →

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Speak Softly and Carry a [REALLY] Big Stick

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Laura

This morning, on our way home from our “catch the cool while we can” visit to the playground at our neighborhood park, Ellie found a gigantic stick to bring home.  At first I said “no” because, really, what’s the point?  … Continue reading →

Posted in Ellie | 4 Comments

July Sewing: Surprise! TWO Sundresses

Posted on August 19, 2014 by Laura

Back in July, I posted pictures of the sundress that I made for Ellie.  Sneaky me actually made two identical dresses at the same time, one for Ellie and one for her cousin Violet so that they could be matchy-matchy … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Ellie, family, sewing | Leave a comment

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jig!

Posted on August 18, 2014 by Laura

After a wonderful two-week vacation in Alaska, we’re home!  We got back Thursday afternoon after a surprising fast and easy flight back.  Ellie and Mark happily restarted their mulch excavations, a favorite pastime of this summer. And, like last year’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska, Ellie, Mark, travel | 4 Comments