I’ve got a stack of barn construction pictures waiting to post.. and when we get more settled, I’ll post a full barn tour.

For now, here are the mason jar pictures I promised (ignore all the unfinished stuff… we’re kind of a work-in-progress over here):

There are loads of helpful tutorials out there (search google or pinterest). Essentially I purchased pendant kits (on sale at Lowe’s, around $15/each) that didn’t have the decorative shade. Then I (well, let’s be honest, my very handy father-in-law) drilled a hole in the lid of the mason jar for the light fixture part, and a few little holes to vent it. Then I put it all together..

But can I help it if a friend sends me a kind of cool link? Nope. That’s what friends are for, after all.. scouring pinterest for potentially useful/applicable links, and saving me all the trouble.

{via}

So I gave it a whirl..

Conclusions:

1) I did it too tight.

2) That girl must have crazy long hair.

3) I don’t know how to hide the rubber band. Maybe if it was looser.

4) My bedroom mirror has lots of spots.

5) I had to crop the first picture to hide the fact that my bed wasn’t made, and that there was (actually, is) a pile of laundry on the floor. Just keeping it real.

some details:

• bird mobile (mom sewed the birds while I was busy being pregnant/sick)
• cutout art
• gospel song (a sweet and simple melody we sing at bedtime)
• arthur’s quilt was designed/sewn by my mom, too
• penelope’s bedding

And just so we’re clear… while I was taking these pictures, I marveled at Arthur’s quiet independent play. Then I discovered him eating red chalk ferociously. Someone remind me not to call the pediatrician when I change that diaper?

Finally.

I started this a long time ago {months? years?}, and hid it away, unfinished, as soon as possible. It was a bit much for a brand new knitter. Recently I thought I’d give him another chance, and I’m so glad I did! It was actually much simpler than I had remembered {progress! hooray!}.

He is quite photogenic, and Penelope loves him. Arthur tasted a few of the legs, too, for good measure.

Free pattern found here.

I think so.

They’re a quick-knit, practical, and an opportunity to use whimsical colors. If you don’t know how to knit, this would be a great {way more interesting than a scarf} place to start. Pattern here.

getting regular haircuts takes time and money, neither of which we ever seem to have an excess of.  so i watched a couple of videos on youtube, borrowed beth‘s clippers (which may or may not have been recently used on a cat), and set to work. casey was able to study hebrew while i took my time.

i’m psyched.

it certainly isn’t the best haircut you’ll ever see, but it isn’t the worst either.

before (second one is just before. hesitation/doubt is palpable) :

the casualties:

after:

my  latest painting project has been our kitchen table and chairs…

sanded:

primed:

finished: