The Winemakers Wife's blog

Christmas in August

Since having Baby E, Mom and I have been overwhelmed by our fellow blogger's kindness.

For example, Pam of 1StitchOff sent me a lovely charm necklace just days after I gave birth. The necklace pictured above is not the one I received but a beautiful example of her work. My necklace has Baby E's birthstone (July = Ruby), her name, a birdie, and a few other charms that make the necklace really fun. Best of all? She made a miniature version for Baby E to wear when she's a little older.

But wait, there is more... Mom called me and said something to the extent of "... I went to the mail box and I got all these packages, and one of them is from Carrie Nelson, and they are all address to you, and individually wrapped, oh my gosh, you just have to come over right away!"

Woo! Would you look at that! And wrapped with fabric ribbons no less. Carrie sent a lovely card and a selection of board books (none of which I had!) so Baby E can get a jump start on reading. I am so touched by her thoughtfulness and look forward to curling up in a chair with Baby and reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

Someone has been going a little crazy buying Baby Genius toys, which arrived today, too. I'll let her blog about that, but I could not resist posting the photo below. It's like a eye spy picture. Bonus points if you can spot Remy.

 

 

2 weeks old

Just checking in to ley you know all is well. Not much to report, just spending my days with baby, learning to communicate. Loving every moment!

 

Baby Evangeline!

 

I've been a tad busy this past week and couldn't post. I'm sure you have read my mom's blog and know that my daughter was born one week ago today! I had a very difficult labor, but she arrived without complications. The Winemaker and I are settling into our new life with baby, and she brings so much joy to us every day. My friends and family have been so supportive and we've had a ton of visitors allready.

In other news, mom and I have come to the conclusion that we need to re-make our Farmer's Wife blocks. We purchased Marti Mitchell templates to help us with our block construction. I took the news quite well, coming to terms with the idea that we need everything to be 6.5 inches square and not 6.25, I decided to make mug rugs out of the small blocks. Four have been constructed and they are darling! I want to make mug rugs for everyone I know. Ha ha ha! They are just so easy and satisfying to make.

I've decided to join Weight Watchers, as they have a program for nursing mothers. Just by giving birth I have lost 15 pounds in a week (hey, not bad!!) but I'm still very overweight. I'm not concerened with getting into shape quickly, as I have enough things to worry about, but I miss looking and feeling good in my clothes. Wish me luck!

Kung Fu baby punch!

 

FWQA catching up, first blocks

Block #1, Attic Window

We tucked ourselves into the sewing studio this weekend and began our Farmer's Wife blocks! I have mine laid out on my mini design board. I'm sure mom will go into this is greater detail, but we are having a really hard time with the templates. Our blocks seem to turn out at about 6 1/4 inches square. I believe the blocks should be 6 1/2 inches...; and they do turn out that size if we do the math on the shapes and don't use the templates. I'm really on the fence about what to do, I don't want to have to square up all my "math" blocks to be the 6 1/4 size. It seems that a bad idea to just hope that everything will work out when we add the lattice borders in on the final quilt layout.  I just feel like we are missing something, or at least missing the best way to go about this. I've come to not like using the templates what-so-ever.

 

Block #2, Autumn Tints

 

Block #4, Basket Weave

 

Block #16, Farmers Wife

Block #9, Box

Regardless, the blocks are quick to make, and so addictive! They are challenging me to branch out and try "harder" blocks then I would normally attempt to make if they were repeating in an over all quilt pattern. I have always struggled to make my flying geese points turn out properly, and with a weekends worth of practice, they have become a snap. As an "intermediate beginning" quilter I must say, I am very proud of this project so far and happy to be a part of it.

 

 

 

And no, no baby yet. *sigh* 2 days till due date.

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midnight in paris

 

I highly recommend catching Midnight in Paris while you still can. Yes. It is a Woody Allen Movie, and no it doesn't suck. The plot in a nut shell is about a writer who is transported to Paris in the 1920s every night at midnight and meets a slough of fabulous and timely famous people.

Seriously. It was charming, gorgeous and parts of the film were hysterical. (To me anyway, wait till you get a load of Hemingway. I was rolling in the aisles, talk about an alpha male. Woo!) Plus the costumes and beauty of Paris will leave you wanting more.

Oh look, it's the Fitzgerlands! Scott and Zelda.

Adrian Brody is in this for about 5 seconds as Salvador Dali. I adore Adrian, but I couldn't tell you why. Just do, and he's so ridiculous as Dali.

summer reading

I can't deny a children's book that takes you into the world of siblings, a dog, a  rambling old house, mysterious neighbors who peek at you from behind curtains, and maybe a row boat. For example, I just finished reading The Saturdays by Elizabeth Enright. Ms. Enright wrote four novels about the Melendy children who reside in downtown New York during the 1940s. They have a nanny, a dog and a house keeper and a ton of imagination. These books are geared toward 8-9 year olds, are illustrated by the author, and are written with a sprinkling of fantastic vocabulary words. A few I had to have the Wine Maker look up for me on his iPad while we read in bed. "What exactly does lugubrious mean?"

However, Ms. Enright doesn't quite scratch my itch for the Boxcar Children books, or the Penderwick sisters. These are still my favorites. Any suggestions for books in this genre?

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And if you are keeping score, my doctors visit was rather uneventful. Poor Dr. Maynard had to assist with a C-Section at the hospital and was a bit flustered (late) by the time he saw me. I don't need to be induced, we can let Baby E come on her own, and I have not made any progress what so ever. Meaning, I am not really dilated... bother!! To induce me now would mean an over night stay at the hospital just to get things going, and then it probably wouldn't take and we'd end up doing a c-section, so we'll just wait another week and see what happens. TMI- my membranes have been swept, which is one baby step way of induction. It's meant to get things going. Some folks go into labor hours or a day later. But not me. Baby E is locked up tight like Fort Knox. *sigh*

 

peas & oats

 

 

The Wine Maker and I spent a relaxing Sunday afternoon in the kitchen cooking up two Ina Garten recipes. The first was her chilled Pea Soup, served with jumbo parmesan croutons. We can proudly say that the entire dish was organic: leeks, onions, garlic, thyme and mint from the garden and the other ingredients purchased were too, sour cream, butter, and peas. It was the perfect light summer meal for when you just can't fathom eating anything heavy. Plus, can you get over the color? Gorgeous bright green! So good for you!

 

Then I bastardized Ina's recipe for Raisin Oatmeal cookies by adding in chocolate chips. I never have good luck with summer baking, and I knew my butter was a tad too soft. I'll post a picture of her cookies rather then mine, as they flattened out. But, they were delish! This was a food I've been craving for about 2 weeks now. I baked a third of the recipe and froze the rest for another day.

 

39 weeks tomorrow

Baby E's nursery

As promised, here are the glamour shots of Baby E's room. The chair isn't a rocker, but an IKEA Poang in the Tuna light gray fabric. The image behind the chair is Sweet Pig from etsy shop The Wheat Field.

Paint color is Martha Stewart's Valspar line in Vintage Map. Which I don't think you can get anymore... I wanted the room to be super calming to Baby and me.  The quilt above the crib is my Mendocino fabric from FreeSpirit and I used Carrie Nelson's American Pie pattern.

Diaper station and dresser are from Target's South Shore line. The bookcase was unfinished and purchased ten years ago. On top of the bookcase, on the right, is a nightlight carved from a Rhea egg (like an ostrich but smaller) that my friend Lynne made.

Gorgeous quilt made by Mom in Kate Spain's Central Park fabric collection.