Saturday, October 31, 2009

the cat and the pirate


the cat and the pirate, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

zoo man


zoo man, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

We joined Ella's class for a trip to the zoo today. It was perfect to be on top of the mountain. We touched a screech owl and learned the word "crepuscular". Does it get much better? The drive was beautiful, the fog nestling down in the hollows of the mountains and the orange, red, and brown leaves on the hillsides. There won't be many more days for wearing shorts.

Tonight the kids and I carved two pumpkins. Ella picked out every seed and we roasted them with a bit of olive oil and salt.

yellow room field trip


yellow room field trip, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

lovey


lovey, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

nutcracker


wooden nutcracker, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

I just made my first holiday purchases for the sweet potatoes. Remembering the stockings when I was little, I got John and Ella nutcrackers. They will have nuts and oranges in their socks this year. I found slates and slate pencils for both of them, twig colored pencils and Stockmar watercolors.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

ruby at the crayon


ruby at the crayon
Originally uploaded by ellajohn

in a tree


in a tree, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

leaf and stick


leaf and stick, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

fall


fall, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

play


play, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

yellow room quilt


yellow room quilt, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

I helped fifteen seven and eight year olds make a quilt for the school auction. For their next project I want to help them make individual panels with a family tree design.

Friday, October 23, 2009

dollmaking


dollmaking, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

doll with knitting bag


doll with knitting bag, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

I finished this doll for the school auction in the middle of the night last night, and now I'm putting together the yellow room quilt.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

i will not nap today


i will not nap today, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Sweet, sweet Ruby tried my very soul today. My mother is visiting, and I asked her to come so that I could get lots of housework done. The whole house needs cleaning. Things are piling up, wearing out, breaking off, and drifting in dust. Ella's birthday marks the beginning of the spinning towards Christmas, and I want to restore some sense of order. John is probably laughing. I know. What order? I want to get all the seashells in the seashell basket. I did get the mold off the bathroom ceiling tonight.

Ruby would not nap unless I held her. Zip. Zero. There was much weeping. She slept three minutes at midday and I held her for fifteen minutes while I was trying to make dinner. She ate heartily, had her bath, and then sobbed her head off when I put her to bed. She tried her best to dive headfirst off of my bed but finally gave in to sweet, sweet sleep.


the great pumpkin


haul, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Our whole family joined the whole school for a trip to the pumpkin patch on friday.

friends


friends, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

ahoy, I see a field to plow


ahoy, I see a field to plow, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

john loves a hayride


john loves a hayride, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

granny square slippers

I'm guessing that after Halloween I'll have time to start a new project, and I know just what I want to make. There is a cold wind in the air, and we are seeing how long we can go without turning on the heat.

For now I'm making dolls, making a quilt with fifteen second graders, and trying to keep Ruby off of the dining room table. Let's just say it is a full time job.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

gnome


gnome, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

hiking with granny


hiking with granny, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

red leaf:: yellow inchworm


red leaf:: yellow inchworm, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

john


john, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

saturday hike


saturday hike, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

8


8, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

Eight!!!!!!

rocking ruby


rocking ruby, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

sweater girl


sweater girl, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

littles


littles, originally uploaded by ellajohn.

buzzy bumblebee meets daisy head maisie