noses in books are happy noses

Even mouths need to join in on the party sometimes, too.

1, 2, 3

We’re learning to count around here lately.  Of course, Mama Wolfe has a book for that, too…

Thanks to Baby S’s tia, Ivy Mae, the Wolfepack is now the proud owner of a super cute set of Chez Beeper Bebe’s counting bean bags.  Crafty tias are the best kind of tia.

The love bug really likes to learn.  She’s a good student.  When I sit down and show her something new and start to explain, she becomes so focused and thinks about the new subject so intently.  She waits to hear all about it and then goes and experiences it for herself.  I mean, she’s really thinking about it.  Hard.

So far she’s got “2″ down.  And in case you were wondering, it is pronounced “DOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!“

delicious

Ivy Mae and I are on a mission to craft the perfect granola recipe.  Here’s one of our first tests from katie did.

It was lovely.  I’m convinced that the whole wheat flour and wheat germ are what made the clumps so lovely.  For me that’s the hardest thing about granola – getting it to actually clump uniformly.  (Is that a verb, btw?)   Another benefit was the low heat and long baking time.  I think we’ll be incorporating these two elements in our recipe for sure.  Thanks, Katie!

yes.

“We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image.”
-2 Corinthians 3:18

a must read

Even if I don’t win this giveaway, I’m buying the book.  The byline sold me: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood.  May it be a help to me as I try to raise my little love bug to the glory of God.

busy, busy, busy

Sometimes she’s just a fuzzy blur making its way around the house.

to all of us “bloggers”

“If you want to write about life, you gotta have a life to write about…” -Jeffrey Steele (via)

Some encouragement – a reminder to live authentically, passionately, and boldly in the face of your imperfections.  Write from the belly of your inspiration, not out of a sense of duty.  This post by Alisa Burke is a great encouragement as well.  Here’s to authentic creativity and living real life!

mama-daughter moments :: story time

a yummy, cozy morning

Some mornings I wake up with enough inspiration to up the cozy factor in our home.  What did it for us this morning – homemade sourdough English muffins from National Grange Bicentennial Cookbook via Ivy Mae via Throwback at Trapper Creek.

This inspiration actually started two days in advance with the sourdough starter, then another overnight rise with all the ingredients but the soda and salt.  The morning of, just knead and roll out the dough, stamp out your muffins, sprinkle with cornmeal and plop them into a warm skillet and watch them rise.

I even got the nooks and crannies!

Give it a whirl.  Totally worth the process.

Christmas pajamas

Take a look at Baby S’s 2009 Christmas pajamas a la Mama’s sewing machine!  Made complete with a matching headband and flowery flannel embellishments.  I wanted hers to match the red flannel pajamas we got from my mom a few years back, so I repurposed my pajama top since it was too big and just used one of her shirts and a pair of her sweat pants to trace out a pattern.  The green and red polka dot flannel flowers are just different sized circles layered on top of one another.  (Er, never mind the milk stain on the pants that I just noticed.  Laundry, anyone?)

I added a a tuxedo-inspired ruffle down the center of the shirt and dotted it with four flowers to resemble buttons.  Instead of hemming the bottom of the shirt I wove a white yarn drawstring through the bottom edge to give the tunic style top a gathered effect.

I added one flower to the left front ankle for some balance.  And because it’s cute.

My favorite part was the headband.  I needed this to a be a zippy little project, so I saved myself some time and just cut off the bottom seam of my old shirt and voila – automatic casing for the headband!  I just slipped some elastic through the casing and sewed it up, embellishing with an over-sized flannel flower to match.  I think I’ll be turning lots of old t-shirt seams into headbands now.  Fabric headbands are so great for kids – no discomfort.

It’s a definite Wolfepack tradition now – Mama-made Christmas pajamas to open on Christmas Eve.  Doesn’t she wear them well?