Eckenrode Family

9

We braved the cold and the crowds to continue our tradition of cutting our own tree down at the tree farm just up the street from our house. There wasn't as much complaining and wandering as last year so that was an improvement. We ended up with a great tree so there's that too.

After watching Miles hockey game where he scored a hat trick we went to Ben's art show. It was such a great day to be their mom and I love that their interests are as varied as their personalities.
I love this photo because in the background you will see an amazing artist on the far right, Paul Hamilton. He subs for Ben's art class occasionally and it really is an honor to have him teach Ben. The kids LOVE him. On one day that he was subbing for the class Miles and I were leaving after dropping Ben off to class. Ben was the first student to arrive and sat down with his sketch book to doodle with Paul. Miles and I paused just as we were walking out the door and heard Paul ask Ben, "What should I draw?" Ben doesn't even pause before he replies, "A turd." Except that he pronounces it "tud." Paul seems puzzled and asks him to repeat himself and just as Miles and I leave I hear Ben perfectly pronouce, "A turd." Miles and I look at each other with mortification.

I love the palpable pride on his face.

Most days are great to be their mom but this one ranks up there with the best of them.

Each year I find myself saying the same thing about Halloween - it is a great indicator of the changes your children are making. This year the kids were able to do more of the actual carving of the pumpkin than they were just last year. Ben was so involved in it that he was sad when it was over.

This year we had Wolfman and Frankenstein.

This year trick or treating was pushed back by a few days and so it fell just after we moved our clocks back. So, because of this we found ourselves going door to door after dark. The streets were packed with kids and parents, making it very difficult to stay together and to keep track of the kids. Wolfman decided to move as quickly as possible, so amidst the crowds we were forced to split up.

Have you ever seen a sweeter pair of scary guys?

Her name was Bitsy. Now it's also Lucky. Good story. You should ask me about it sometime.

Lost his first tooth. He has been wanting to loose one for so long. When it finally happened he ran in from outside to take a drink of water and he almost swallowed it. He spit it out in his hand not knowing what it was. He was horrified until I identified it as his tooth and then he was happier than I've ever seen him. So excited. Waiting so long made it that much sweeter.



His love of friendship bracelets was short lived. He now makes all of those rubber band bracelets from the rainbow loom.
Ben stole my camera and took this picture of the hand we have as decoration in the mulch bed.I love this stinky old man.Miles and Ben on the the morning of Ben's 7th birthday.

My Instagram Photos: Best Of

The Benches

We now have the benches to complete our harvest table. I. love. them. My father-in-law picked out the wood from the same friend that had the old barn wood for the table and made them for us. We can now comfortably sit about 12 around our table. So, guess we better get busy in the kitchen.

Idea Man

The Staple Dress

I was so excited to learn that April Rhodes was coming out with a dress pattern. I met April several years ago through the fabric shop that opened up in my old neighborhood. April is such a kind and creative spirit and I knew her dress pattern would be great. However, I wasn't prepared to love it as much as I do. I love to wear dresses anyway, but a dress with pockets is just about perfection to me. I had made lots of baby and toddler clothes in the past and shirts for myself, but never a dress. The Staple Dress is such an easy pattern to sew up and I was so happy to learn a few new skills. I had never sewn a french seam before and it makes the garmet feel so much more professional and well made. I think this dress works well with so many different body types and it so comfortable to wear. And did I mention it has pockets?


The pattern was written with a straight hemline or an optional dropped hemline. I love the look of the dropped and think it will look especially good when paired with tall boots.

I had seen someone else post pictures of their dress made with contrasting pockets. I think it's such a fun detail that I couldn't resist adding them to mine.

I love this pattern so much that I already have fabric to make another. Great job April! I look forward to seeing what you come up with next.

Back in The Sewing Groove

Lately I've been back in the craft room and doing some actual sewing. It feels great. It all started with wanting a new table runner to celebrate the arrival of my long awaited harvest table. On Pinterest I saw a simple burlap table runner that I loved and so I bought the burlap. I washed and dried it and then shook it out as much as I could but it just never stopped shedding. I powered through, measuring, cutting and unraveling the ends. I sat outside and was covered in burlap sheddings. I then knotted the ends and put it on the table. It just wasn't right for my 8 foot long harvest table as it wasn't long enough to hang over the ends, so I moved it onto the table in my entryway. I love it there and I also don't have to worry about it shedding as much. This site gives easy to follow, step by step instructions, including pictures.

My second project were these great polka dot napkins I found on Sew Mama Sew. Some of the napkins we were using were from my first sewing project 7 years ago. They needed to go into retirement (the trash can). So finding myself in Target and seeing the napkins that were used in the tutorial, I snatched up all ten colors. Before sewing the circles to the napkins you fuse them on with Wonder Under. Although this project was a bit tedious, I did love grouping the fabrics by color.


Eventually when these new napkins become stained, I guess I can just keep adding polka dots.

Garden Update and Harvest Table

Volunteer sunflower.Sky high sunflowers.

 

This volunteer sunflower is one of my favorites. Just today I noticed it's blooming and the sunflower is orange and yellow and beautiful. I love it's incredible height but I may have to get a ladder to appreciate the bloom's beauty.

Scout is always right there. Wherever I am. Even when I go into the bathroom, he pushes the door open to find me.

We tasted our first black blackberries of the season. Oh wow.One of my favorite blossoms, this comes from a leek. This table. I've been waiting for this table for a year and it's so worth the wait. It was made from the floor of a barn from 1800's threshing barn. I't's 8 foot long and made from heavy, solid oak, birch and chestnut. I can't imagine the size of the tree the center plank came from. 
I really am in love with it. We are planning on having some benches made but for now we will grab any chair in the house we can find.