Friday, January 25, 2008

Learning to sew

For Christmas Charlotte got a simple Learn to Sew kit (from Aunt Nancy & Uncle Con). It had some pre-punched felt pieces, a plastic needle, and precut lengths of yarn for sewing. She wanted to open it RIGHT AWAY, but it just never seemed to be the right moment. One morning I promised her we would do it in the afternoon, but the day got away from us and soon it was time to pick George up from school and head off to the library for his very favorite, can't-be-skipped after school program. Charlotte was very upset until I said she could bring the kit with her.

Here she is sewing at the library:

[here you must imagine a charming picture which I can't figure out how to get off my camera phone]

After dinner she wanted to do the second piece in the kit. Her enthusiasm was contagious:





She really caught on quickly, and could spot and correct errors on her own. They didn't seem to frustrate her, either, which might be part of the reason why she learned so quickly; she wasn't wasting time and energy fussing or wailing.

Since then she has also made some Dora finger puppets from a similar kit. I think she's probably ready to move on to something more complicated. But what?


How about weaving?

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

A Christmas Mystery

We returned from our Colorado trip on Sunday evening (more about that later). The giant pile of branches by the street reminded us of how much work awaited us in the back yard ...

... or so we thought. Look what we saw in the morning:


The branches are gone! Including all the ones that were hanging down to the ground, but still attached to the trees. We really have no idea who did it, or whether we owe someone a huge thank you or if we should expect a bill in the mail. But it was a wonderful surprise.

I hope Santa left a few surprises under your tree(s), too.