Five Little Things: The Father's Day Edition

Five Little Things is a sometimes-series of posts in which I mention five little things about myself. In celebration of Father's Day, I'm dedicating today's installment to the man of the house, my sweet husband Lo.

Thing 1: When Lo wears out his plaid cotton shirts, he gives them to me to make stuff with. I love getting these old shirts, and he knows it. It's very like Christmas when it happens, I think.

Thing 2: Lo is the cook at our house, and a really great one at that. His bubbling enthusiasm over culinary discoveries naturally means that, while he is in the getting-to-know-you phase of a new ingredient, we will eat many many many consecutive meals involving it. His latest discoveries include fennel and halloumi cheese. Yum-oh!

Thing 3: Lo really dislikes being bossed around. But bossing people around is one of my very best and most developed talents so we may be at an impasse on this front.

Thing 4: I've recently heard myself saying: "Daddy stop sticking food in your ears. We have to eat those."

Thing 5: Lo and I made the small soap stone "ruin" together (see picture below) in the early days of our courtship over 15 years ago. It's one of my favourite things in the world.

To Lo, and to all the beautiful fathers out in the world, Happy Father's Day!

♥M

Fabric Spot Scrap Challenge at Stitched in Color

Nervous and scared, I am...

Rachel over at Stitched in Color and Karen of Fabric Spot have joined forces on an all-Canadian Fabric Spot Scrap Challenge and I am one of the four Canadians picked to play-along! Are you nervous? Are you scared?... You're neither nervous nor scared, are ya? Well you SHOULD be. Because see here. The challenge involves taking this...

sweet bundle of 8 summer-flavoured fat-eighths, and sewing something... ridiculously glorious.

I have to use some portion of each piece but not necessarily the whole thing, they say. And I can add one fabric of my choice to the bundle if I wish, they stipulate. But I have to have my ridiculously glorious thing completed by Sunday, June 30th, they stress.

My intrepid competitors/compatriots are Laura from Waffle Kisses, Carla from My 1/2 Dozen Daily, and Patti from Retired to Quilt. I wonder what they're gonna make? Hmm... I think some reconnaissance is in order. I'll be spying with my two beady little eyes on them to try and figure it out. The winner will be featured over at Stitched in Color on July 1st. That's Canada Day man. I bet now you're just as nervous and scared as I am, eh?

Thought so.

But I'm also ready to kick some serious Canadian butt and do this country of mine proud. Go me, and go Canada!

♥M

A Pioneer Home

Ever think of going back in time? Imagine if that were possible? I'd go back to pioneer times I think. Before electricity. Before the industrial age when machines took everything over. I think life would be brutal and hard but you wouldn't have time to dwell on that because you'd be too busy just trying to survive. And anyone who lived near you would be in the exact same boat and you'd support each other because you'd have no other choice but to do so. Your survival would depend on knowing your neighbour and caring for them and vice-versa.

Your life would be full. To the brim. Working your land. Maintaining your land. Making your home. Growing food. Hunting. Gathering. Preparing the food. Preserving it. Caring for your animals. Repairing the few items of clothing you have. Keeping your home warm. Caring for your family.

Imagine having to go out to the well for water? Every time you needed to bathe or cook or clean, out to the well you would go and you'd have to carry that load of water back with you every time. Your body would be so strong. And your mind would follow, I think. Can you even imagine that kind of life? I can't. Not really.

But I'd like to try it, you know, just for a few days? If only to be reminded of what is important in life. But also to know how truly lucky I am to be living where I do right now.

Can I even begin to understand how lucky I am?

♥M

The above "Pioneer Home" was a family effort that all three of us worked on as a team with The Boy as lead designer and maker. It was made with stuff we had around the house.