Oscar and I made a few great finds today.  While Axel was peacefully resting, I cleared out unfinished projects and Oscar found a spot to bask in the south-facing window.

This afternoon I planned to pile up yarn to sell in "scrap packs."  I began by collecting the remnants from last years knits and extracting random skeins from here and there.  While reaching into a seemingly bottomless tote, I pulled out, completely by surprise, one hand-knit, scalloped cowl.  It is super gorgeous and I had completely forgotten about it as we packed up and moved last spring. 

Haha!  Score!  This decreases my Christmas knitting by one article.  A lucky recipient will be receiving this cowl come December...but it may just be me.  We'll see how soon those snowflakes begin to fly!

For your visual pleasure I've included a picture of the cowl you could be receiving, and also a pic of my earnest, old dog.  Love this guy.

It's been a Halloween weekend in our house.  As mentioned before, Axel wanted to be a Groom this year, and a groom he was (for 3 out of 4 dress-up occasions).  For the actual trick-or-treating, I forced him into a dragon costume, figuring warmth was more important than fashion.

Here are some of the highlights from Axel's 3-year-old Halloween.

Bringing one groom to preschool.

Pumpkin guts.

Trick-or-Treat!

When you're child is an exception to nearly every rule, he may want to be a "groom" for Halloween.

Forget the popular Disney characters, even something spooky, my little Axel has insisted on being a groom for months now.  I've had little success in convincing him otherwise.

Savers provided a sweet little suit for my groom and only one detail was left to my creative devices.  The boutonniere.

Here is a quick tutorial of how to make Axel's Daisy Boutonniere.

Materials:
2 - 2"x2" squares of yellow fabric
1 - cotton ball
2 - 5" pieces of wire
1 - roll of floral tape (you'll only need about 2 yards
1 - sheet of tissue paper

To make the stamen of each flower: Take the fabric, half of the cotton ball and one end of the piece of wire and make a little "package."  Seal the fabric bundle to the wire and continue to wrap the wire in floral tape.

Fold your piece of tissue paper accordion style (back and forth like you're making paper-dolls).  Cut a piece about 3" high.  Scallop the top (no need to measure, just make the scallops as small as you can with your scissors) and cut 3/4 of the way to the bottom, at the base of each scallop.

Begin wrapping your loooong strip of petals around your stamen.  You will need to pinch the base of the petals in, but just keep rolling it.  When you're finished winding it, secure with floral tape, again wrapping the wire stem.

Make two of these.  Wrap them together with the floral tape.  Trip the wire stems and wrap the tape around the bottom of them.  Arrange petals so they look pretty.

Last night we were the lucky recipients of one very cute "ding-dong-ditch."  We opened the door to find the most adorable pumpkin bucket, inside was a lighted ghost and lots of Halloween treats!  The idea of the bucket is to pass it on!  Who knows where it will head next!!!

I thought this would be such a cute picture...Axel climbing to get at his ghosts, made fresh for our new yard.  I didn't take into account that he may be terrified clinging to a limb with only his tiny hands.  Bummer.

Here's a close-up of a ghost.  Muslin, stuffed with plastic shopping bags, felt eyes.  Total cost of these babies, $0.  I did have all of the materials already, but if I had to purchase the fabric, I would guess about $2 each.

Trees, pumpkins, what's the difference?  This kid will hug anything that grows.

Axel saw a pair of witch legs in a store and thought it was such a funny idea he couldn't stop laughing.  Not wanting to spend $20 on them, we stitched up a pair of our own today. Although I again had the materials necessary, if I had to purchase them, 1/4 yard each of two felt colors, the total price would have been about $1 plus a piece of scrap ribbon.

With autumn on the horizon and the days getting shorter, we spent our Saturday cramming all we could into the dwindling daylight.

Two art fairs, one playground, a pumpkin patch/petting zoo and one busy apple orchard.  Capping off our day was the most gorgeous hot air balloon, about to set sail before our eyes.  Axel was intrigued to say the least.

Thought I would post a few links to some of my new favorite artists, discovered along the St.Croix river, showcasing their talents.
Tru-Leigh Yours Designs
Sue Rowe
Jeff Boutin

Lots of Minnesota and Wisconsin talent out there.  Just getting some ideas for x-mas, which is right around the corner.

I snapped this picture from my kitchen.  I like it.  These cool nights were just what I needed for the boys to build a fire pit in the backyard.  Last night we toasted a few "shmoes" - watch out, that's a Disney movie reference - for the first time.

With just over 30 trees on our little square lot, we'll be raking until spring.  That's just fine by me.

A beautiful Minnesota wedding.  One flawless bride, one happy groom, one sweet ring bearer and lots of love.  The sun shared it's rays with us in between puffy clouds.  The bride was glowing in pink . . . lipstick that is . . . the only accessory that matters on a day full of kisses.

Just so we're clear, I always look like I do in the above photo.  Throughout the summer I was able to effortlessly get rid of the sports-bra tan lines and the extra baby weight (three years later).  No, truthfully, the only thing that came without struggle for my "wedding look" was my hair, which is hopelessly straight and I have finally reached a place of acceptance with that.

So I've got a weed to pick with a local florist.  Last Valentine's day, Jahred surprised me with flowers...truly a surprise (applause here).  Although I'm not the typical "flowers and chocolate" gal, I'm also not the "drab apartment for a year" kind of gal.  He really had few options this year; the flowers were a welcome edition.  So I took their picture.

As the week passed, so did many of the blooms.  I weened them down until only a sprig of green and two Calla Lilly remained.  When we left two weeks ago for Florida, they still looked lively so I left them where they stood.  

Walking in the door Tuesday night, I was shocked to see that my flowers were still living?!  I had expected Jahred to dispose of their rotting selves at least a week ago.  So, yesterday I continued to enjoy them when a sneaky though came to mind...what if these aren't REAL?  Asking Jahred for his opinion, he removed one Lilly from the water filled vase and twisted the stem into a perfect corkscrew...and it stayed.  OMG, they're FAKE!

Ok, maybe it's just me...in the dark about mixing live and artificial flowers in arrangements?  Needless to say, they're still pretty and remain right were they were...hmmmmm....makes you think.

I write today in the usual post-vacation state of mind "did that vacation really happen?"  "Did I ever really leave?"  

Yes, fly away we did, to Florida for 2 weeks and it was fabulous.  I had two requests before I left...
1. That Jahred would find a dreamy job.
2. For the mounds of Minnesota snow to be a distant memory.
...stay tuned to the end of this post to find out which request my personal genie granted.

If you haven't recently travelled with a "barely-3-year-old", you might be curious to know whats important for two weeks at "Nana's Floridian Paradise".  Here's a pic of what Axel packed in his suitcase (actually was my suitcase when I was a little girl).  Tucked in the upper flap are not one, but two Super Capes (never know when you'll need a spare).  A sack of cars sits below a bedtime friend, and of course you need a good beverage (sipped, of course, from your favorite mug/tippy cup).

*Not Pictured:  Axel added his police badge, procured from a State Patrolman at Kwik Trip a few weeks ago, at 5:30am the morning of our departure.  

**Lesson:  In case the authority of your Super Cape (and backup Super Cape) is questioned, it's best to have your law enforcement identification along as well.

"Where are we going?"

First (and frequent) stop the POOL!

Perhaps our best vacation moments were spent right here...New Smyrna Beach.  Heaven must exist somewhere between children and the ocean, the combination is truly breathtaking. 

We managed to catch (literally almost colliding to get this picture...which isn't zoomed by the way) Tyler in a triathlon in Clermont, FL.

Here is Axel's interpretation of a "Pencil Dive".  To all you diving enthusiasts...focusing on "pencils" with little splash...maybe you could send a pointer for him.

Making two stops to our favorite flea market this year, Axel fell in LOVE.  My moral compass was spinning wildly when I imagined the breeding conditions of these dogs...but the wonderful thing about children is...they see, they love, and their hearts aren't yet bitter enough to ask questions.

It was a beautiful trip.  Nana, you made it happen.

As promised, I would reveal the answer to my genie riddle.  While I was away, as midwesterners know, the snow kept right on coming.  However...I was not going to be totally shut out on wishes...Jahred accepted an AMAZING job, right exactly were he was meant to find one.

More details on the job and another impending move to come.

Happy spring break to all to are "va- and stay-cationing".