Active Imaginations

 At this time of year, we ship orchids in boxes surrounded with a thermal blanket to keep them warm.  These silver thermal blankets are huge, and are usually just tossed when they are done being used.  I saw the cool silver fabric as something to make space-suits out of or mermaid tales.


I brought it into the house and the boys had a blast with it! 

First we threw it over a card table and it made a huge silver tent / bear cave/ hide-out.

The next day, they pulled the fabric off and placed it on its side.  Now it was a dark tunnel / race track.  They crawled around under/through it pretending to get lost inside.

The next day, the box was tipped upside down and they crawled and pulled up the sides over their heads.  Now it was a boat / tent/ magic disappearing box.
 

I still might eventually use it for space-suits too...

We also had the marble tracks out lately.  Jude placed several of the pieces up to his mouth and pretended to have a trumpet!  He went around singing into his new plastic instrument. Tamlin got in on the action and made his own elaborate pipe.  I think they both made instruments that look like something out of a Dr. Seuss story.

Silly boys..
I had to follow up this day with reading them the Jabberwocky poem.

And we had a lively discussion on what Galumphing means :-)

Sewing projects

My aunt passed on a few of her dresses to me for possible re-use.  I tucked a few of the crinoline beauties away for a bit, perhaps for little Elizabeth when she gets older.  However, this silk number gave me a thoughtful pause.  I very much admired the simplicity and the handiwork ...a silk short gown with a lace overlay at the top with masterful little darts at waist and bust for fitting. 

Since I had been watching Downton Abbey's latest season, I was quite inspired by the turn of the centuries gowns.  With a bit of fringe....and a bit of tucks...and a bit of hemming....
And a willing little model...

 A flapper dress for my neice :-)  I'll hem the  bottom and throw in some elbow length gloves :-)
Not the same as a flouncy princess dress, but so fun to shimmy in!
(Yes, Tam was photo bombed by daddy and brother)

Tamlin's also holding my quick weekend project: A sock monster.  I had sewn a second monster for Jude some months ago when we thought we had lost is original brown monster. Brown monster was eventually found, but he still had "New monster" too.  Jude LOVES his monsters, and brown monster in particular is quite thread-bare from extra love. Tam then started asking for a second monster too.  Well, because of the snowstorm, we were home-bound and I was willing to sew.  Tamlin picked out the purple socks and the basic shape of the monster.  I even suffered through all the handsewing to finish this fun little guy by Sunday evening bed time.  Tam's very pleased.

And a final shot from our pre-bedtime photo shoot...

Finally we get some snow...and snow...and snow

 Our big snowstorm of the 2014-2015 winter has struck and we now have snow.  We have enough of the white fluff that we stayed in from church and from going to 'Bula to see the family today.  By late afternoon, the boy were going mad in the house so I geared them up and tossed them outside.  Brian followed them so that he could clear the driveway.  He was excited to finally use his new snowblower for only the 2nd time this season.

Man, that little snowblower is quiet  and Tam enjoyed the snow shower a couple of times.

All of them lasted outside only a short time before little fingers and noses got too cold.

The snow continued to fall into the evening, so we'll see if the littles have school in the morning.