I woke up quite early this morning, earlier than Don. I came downstairs and turned on our little lamps, turned up the heat, turned off the alarm, and then started the coffee. There’s something lovely about turning on the lights in the winter. Not the overhead lights in the kitchen – too jarring. Just the little lamp on the counter. I had a bit of quiet time before Don came downstairs.
As always when this happens, Don leaves the bedroom quietly, assuming I’m still asleep. He shuts the door quietly. Then he sees the lights on downstairs and realizes I’m up.
I read a big chunk of Cloud Cuckoo Land. Don made our second cup of coffee and we sat and watched the snow gently falling. We’re not in for any big accumulation – maybe an inch or less. But since all our snowfalls so far have occurred overnight, it’s nice to see it falling in the daylight.
I’ve ordered Don to take it easy today, as he spent the last three days shoveling heavy snow. I know he’ll play his guitar which will be the perfect accompaniment to the day.
And I’m appreciating our cozy home.
Two outfits for the girls arrived in the mail yesterday. One of them took a long time to get here and then it was in customs in Chicago for two weeks. I’d almost given up hope. The other came all the way from China. (I’ll show you that one another day.)
Two skirts from my friend Lena of LenaLittleDress. All the way from Russia. Aren’t they sweet?
One of them, along with a sweater that I believe was included in the box when I received Zoe in the mail, ended up on Olivia. I adore her.
I cannot cope with the cuteness.
Livvy kept me company throughout the rest of the afternoon.
I wonder what Scout would think of the girls? She was ever curious. I wish I could see that.
I’m thinking of knitting sweaters for my girls. I have to do some research and see if there are any patterns out there or do I just wing it (not a good idea) and what size needles to use. It might end up being a disaster, but what the heck?
Stay safe.
Happy Thursday.
I like the sound of your gentle day, it sounds very relaxing. There are Blythe doll sweater patterns on Ravelry, some free. They have other patterns too. I keep meaning to make one for my doll, Ivy.
Oh, thank you, Fiona! I’ll hop on over there!
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia,
I have been wondering why you haven’t tried your hand at making some outfits for those adorable girls of yours. You are such a gifted seamstress. I imagine that the very small prints are harder to find, and likely more expensive.
I can’t wait to see your sweaters. It can’t be much harder than the knitted egg cozies (cozys?), right? Good luck!
Right! Actually, as to being a seamstress, I can make quilts, which is just straight line stitching, but I’m not good at making clothes. I messed my projects up in Home Ec! So I’ll have someone else make the clothes!
Stay safe, Linda.
I know what I’d do. I’d ask Mere! She might even have the perfect leftovers from one of her fabulous sweaters! Just enough for a teeny, adorable sweater!
I know what you mean about seeing soft falling snow during the day. Now blowy blizzard stuff, but a gentle, easy snowfall, big puffy flakes. I’m glad Don is taking it easy today. And you, too. Yesterday I made myself do a half hour in my “awful” room (the office/art area got trashed with things dumped in there over the holidays!). I will do it again till I get it done! In between times, I’m reading and painting again, which feels very good indeed. Enjoy the day!
It’s a good idea to do just a bit at a time. Like you did yesterday – set a time limit. It’s surprising how much you can accomplish that way.
Glad to hear you’re painting again, Jeanie!
Stay safe.
Claudia…..remember paper dolls? Wouldn’t the girls be lovely in paper doll forms? Just thinking how much my grandchild would love them. I am going to tackle the bedroom catchall closet today. It is a gloomy day so will put on some music and start the purge. Husband is in his office practicing guitar (building up the callouses). He misses playing with his buddies. They used to get together once every week for a few hours at a local library and play and sing during the winter . So much has changed for all of us. Stay safe and warm.
What a nice morning you had. Those little skirts are adorable! I remember when you made your scarves and sold them on etsy. I tried to buy one but they sold too quickly. You are very talented and I can’t wait to see what you come up with! Enjoy your day!
Thanks so much, April! I don’t know if I can pull this off, but I’ll try.
Stay safe.
I’m surprised someone hasn’t come up with Blythe paper dolls! I loved my paper dolls. I was always so excited when I got new ones!
I sure hope your husband can soon reunite with his buddies for some music making.
Stay safe, Maria.
Maybe long nails (pointy ends filed so not so sharp) to knit tiny sweaters? :)
Your girls are adorable!
Stay well up there
Xo
Thanks so much, Naomi. I haven’t researched it yet, but I bet I’ll find some tips specific to Blythe dolls. Fingers crossed.
Stay safe.
That would be fun to knit some clothes for the dolls. My grandmother used to knit clothes for my Barbie dolls so I am sure that you could too.
Enjoy the snow.
Oh, to have our grandmothers nearby! My grandmother made clothes for all my dolls – by hand,
Stay safe, Kay!
Sounds like a lovely start to your morning.
From the picture I would say the yarn is a light weight…sock or fingering weight. You could use baby yarn or a sport weight which is a little heavier. I would use size US 2 or 3 needles for fingering. Do you know how to knit with double points? That is what I would use. It definitely would be a challenge to knit.
Take care
I know how knit with circular needles, so that’s probably what I’d do. I’m not about to learn how to use double points. It will be a miracle if I can pull off a sweater that fits. But I will probably make slouchy, big sweaters for them. Who knows? This might be a spectacular failure! I’ve used baby yarn before – in fact, I might have some in my closet. I’ll have to look.
Thanks so much, Marilyn.
Stay safe.
I am jealous of the girls clothes! I love the colors, look, fit and style. Let’s not talk about those darling shoes and boots! Can’t they make them in adult sizes? I’d never look as cute though, so I will dream.
I know they would’t look as good on me as they do on them. But I live vicariously through the girls. I love dressing them up!
Thanks, Sherry.
Stay safe.
My mom knitted outfits for my Barbies, they were beautiful and I’ve kept them all these years. She’s been gone many years but I still have these beauties!!
How lovely of your mom to do that! Treasures, for sure.
Stay safe, Jen.
Oh, I’d love to see how you progress with knitting; knitting intrigues me; I could never do it. All thumbs.
I’m glad your snowfall is gentle and nice instead of overwhelming and forbidding.
Not rubbing it in by any means, but just always such a diff with us out West … was a spectacular early morning at the beach today; the Pacific O (water temp) in the 50s, high tide, no surfers; just the gulls bobbing on the water. Beautiful blue, varying hues of sea; the shore cliffs are greening up since our rains which feels so ‘hopeful’ after looking at burn-scarred hills for four years since the terrible wildfires in our area. The tsunami surge hit various beach enclaves differently, and nothing was too awful, but there was a bigger surge than I’d first read about, at least at the harbor, with a six-foot surge and not just two feet, enough that it dislodged a few ramps/docks with boats still tethered, sunk one small boat and damaged some others at the marina; at least nobody got hurt and other than the one capsized boat, all the rest could be ‘rescued’ and repaired. Certainly, though, an interesting phenomenon.
Oh gosh did sun and light and beauty lift my mood today. I have to have the warmth; I have to get out of my house at least once a week. I’m the lizard who needs to sun himself on the flat rock. The shorebirds who line the beach wall, warming up against the wind off the water. The busy little beach squirrels who pause between the boulders, motionless for sometimes as long as a minute, trapped in the sunlight in a good way, momentarily transfixed.
Glad I had this on a weekday morning. I spoke to a friend yesterday who is very good at counting her blessings and she was ticking off mine when I was searching for them myself. She is always so positive; just naturally upbeat and not a complainer.
We’re 75 degrees at 11:30 am PST with only mild wind blowing, but it’s going to increase, so we are soon to batten down the hatches outdoors, AGAIN. As one meteorologist said this morning on a local news channel (TV), there really is no ‘Santa Ana’ season per se anymore in Southern Calif; we just have wind year ’round now. It’s supposed to be REALLY bad on Saturday, but we’ll be ready. Who I feel for are all the friends in the Upper Midwest, Northeast AND Southeast who are battling the severe weather; it was minus-9 degrees this morning where my sister-in-law lives in the Midwest. It’s a lot to cope with; I wish I could send everybody some of our blue sky and bright sun.
We’re going down to below zero tomorrow night. This month has been especially cold and windy. But the sunset tonight was glorious and it was mostly sunny today and sunlight reflected on snow is gorgeous.
Thanks, Vicki.
Stay safe.
See how you just turned a negative into a positive, from appreciating the sunset and also sunlight reflected on snow. Gosh, just something I can only imagine! Snow, up close and personal, is just something I don’t know. Haven’t yet made its acquaintance!
xo
glad if you and don both take it easy … sounds like a lovely start to your day. may the day(s) continue that way.
cute outfit! i, too, wish such was available in my size.
with all your talents, i bet you can easily make clothes for the girls! if you decide to do that, please let me know … i have some small prints in my fabric stash that have been sitting around for a long time and i am glad to share. i like nycgirl’s clever idea of knitting the girls some sweaters using nails. if you didn’t before, you now know someone who works in a hardware store who can send some nails your way, too. :)
cold here … -9 degrees. hope you are all staying comfy and well.
lunch break is over.
have a nice night!
xo
No, sewing clothes and piecing a quilt are two different things. I have no talent for making clothes. Thanks, though. I also have a lot of small prints from quilting stash – most of which has been donated – but I still have some left.
Very cold here, as well.
Stay safe, Kathy!
Glad you are reading.
Winter will be over quickly…my best friends text daily about the snow and cold…except for the five years in the 90’s when I taught in SC, I was used to it…Arthritis since age 20 so oh the pain…glad I am out of it…never thought in my life could be like this…love your puzzles…
I’m sure the warm weather must be very good for your arthritis, Brenda!
Stay safe!
P.S. did you read the Penny and Clinton book???
No. Though I’m interested, it’s not high on my priority list.
It was really good and obviously two voices
xo