Getting Ready for Easter!

So far we've made bunnies, frogs, and birds out of plastic eggs, and today we worked on edible birds' nests!

My little helper is a great crafter and future baker--this is definitely one of the good things about my boy getting older!

Stuck at home=beaded mitts?

Lincoln was sick and Mark was working nights, so I knit a pair of fingerless mitts in four days. I loved doing the beading--it kept me moving! The mitts are named for Lucy from the Narnia books, who was always my favorite. The colors of this deep stash yarn really felt like Narnia to be--especially when they returned to the overgrown Narnia of Prince Caspian.

Edited to add: This is how long ago I bought this yarn--it appears in a post from my first year of blogging! ( Darn--mobile version is fussy with links. Next time.)

More finished objects!

I knit Sarah a Magrethea shawl in Tosh Merino Light in Edwardian Velvet for her birthday! She loved it!

I knit myself a Zuzu's Petals in Shepherds' Worsted in a denim color and I love it! Yay for happy FOs--I have a few I'm not wowed about that I haven't even bothered to share!

Happy Birthday, Sister Cool!

I wasn't too sure about you 30 years ago, but I can't imagine life without you. Thank you for loving, challenging, and encouraging me. You are definitely a sharpening iron--and I am beyond grateful for you. Love, your bossy older sister

Prairie Rose Socks

I knit these in two weeks! A sock a week, Mr. Cool pointed out--although in reality the first sock took three days and the second 1 1/2 weeks. Still, not a bad average! I was fast because of making a shorter sock, and some fast karbonz needles.

Pattern: Simple free ankle socks
Yarn: Mountain Colors Crazyfoot in Prairie Rose

Mr. Cool's Trailer: Snow Day and Teardrops

Snow-day and teardrops:
What is one to do on a snowy home bound day?

Shovel! And track a favorite obsession.
Awhile back the Cool family went to the local RV dealer to see about renting a motorhome for a National Parks road trip - but they are prohibitively expensive. So hey let's look at renting a trailer. My online escapades led me to the idea of building a teardrop travel trailer (search teardrop trailer on google images) for about the same price as renting an RV for a week ($1500).

After about six weeks of research and design in have decided on a less aerodynamic shape that is both more cost and time efficient and could sleep a family of three (snugly - the point of camping is to be outside anyway - not playing your wii sitting on the foldout couch out your condo on wheels).

I spent the aforementioned snow day building a 1/12 scale model of my design (foam board, hot glue, and a little duct tape). My actual build will sit on a 4x8 trailer and be built out of 8 sheets of plywood and basic building materials and cabinetry techniques.
Foam doesn't do it justice but it did prove a few working concepts of my design. I expect a build time of approximately 40-60 hours and am looking for investors and/ financiers. If you are interested in taking this trailer on a weekend getaway or just curious about the concept of crowd source fundraising and would like to support this project please let me know.

Photos:
1. Full Model
2. It includes a living space with internal cabinets.
3. A gear loft / child sleeping quarters (48x54x18).
4. And a galley kitchen with sink and stovetop.
5. Foam pieces for build

Sledding in our yard

Finally, we got some snow worth playing in--and a clearance sled! And it all led to a nap.