Springtime in Northampton

CL and I went to the Smith College Spring Bulb Show this afternoon.  Very nice.  

Springtime in Springfield

After checking out our crocuses (croci?),

We headed out for a walk in Forest Park,

where we saw turtles sunning themselves,

frisky Robins,

and competitive male Mallards.

Angstrom's Activity Book

When Jeremy was two and Jesse was a baby, I decided to make an activity book using a Vogue pattern.  I finished 6 of the pages before life got too busy and I never finished it.  After Angstrom was born, Jesse told me that Aurora's mother had made the same activity book and requested me to make one for Angstrom.  I actually found the box with all the pattern pieces, directions, and fabric!  I worked on it daily for at least 2 weeks and finished it up in time to take to Pittsburgh last week.  I definitely realized why the original book never got finished!  

The fish attach with hooks and eyes.

If you unsnap his shell

you will reveal his heart inside.

Unzip the alligator's mouth

to find his tongue.

Practice tying bows on the giraffe's neck.

Unbuckle the kangaroo's pouch

to find the little joey hidden inside.

Lace up the bear's glove.

Unfasten the elephant's skates that are held together with velcro.

Perfect your braiding skills on the lion's tail.

Unbutton the hippo's mouth

to find his tongue.

My next project is to complete the last 4 pages of the original book so Maggie will have a complete one.  Then I can wait a few months before starting one for Adeline.

(This post filed by CL.)

Sunday Morning with Angstrom

We hung around with Jesse, Aurora, and Angstrom for most of Sunday morning before finally loading our beef into Mr. Toad and heading east.  Angstrom's new favorite toys are airplanes, this one a hand-me-down from Aunt Jo.

CL spent most of the winter working on a book for Angstrom.  It's made of fabric, and each page features a different animal and has a different type of fastener for him to practice using.  She'll be posting more pictures of it either here, on Facebook, or both places soon.

Jesse sharing the Sunday paper with Angstrom.

Beef Draft Site

The Beef Draft was held in the community room of the Greenfield Presbyterian Church, and while I was waiting for it to start I wandered around and took a few shots of the sanctuary.

Beef Draft 2012

No pictures of Mr. Toad or the trip to get the beef; go to last year's post if you want to see them.

Here are Aurora sorting the beef and Jesse giving pre-draft instructions to the assembled throng, including a representative of the media (WESA, Essential Public Radio of Pittsburgh), and Aurora, again, tracking the selections on her MacBook.

And a couple kids (Angstrom the 2nd one) with their choices.

Cooking Lesson

Angstrom's Day