the shadows on the wall

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The shadow fear has hit like a ton of bricks and out of no where, it seems.  My little one first pointed to a shadow in her room the other night.  She pointed and shrieked to the shadow of the lamp on the ceiling.  When my husband told me about the incident, I dismissed it as a one-time occurrence and thought nothing more of it.  Early one morning this week, I was awakened long before the sun by the same high-pitched cry...the cry of fear and desperation.  As I dashed to her room to see what could be wrong,  I never thought a shadow could be the culprit.  After changing the position of her night-light and rearranging things in her room that could create potential shadow problems, I thought everything would be fine.  

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Driving the car this morning, I had to pull over to the side of the road when uncontrollable crying and screaming came from my little one in the backseat.  I couldn't imagine what the problem might be.  Maybe her little finger got caught in some part of the car-seat?  Maybe she dropped her little lovey?  Nope, it was her shadow on the side of the car door that was scaring her.  Every time she moved, the shadow moved and she screamed harder.  Finally we placed Elmo between her and the door to block the shadows.  The poor child held onto that Elmo until we got home and I could "rescue" her from the backseat.  

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All day, we practiced waving at our shadows.  We practiced waving outside and inside and when I explained that WE make the shadows, she seemed indifferent.  

Tonight, when I went in to check on her before going to bed, I noticed that the rocking chair was oddly shoved to the far corner of the room.  I guess it was moved because it was making too many shadows.  

Poor kid.

puffed sleeves

When done correctly, I don't think there is anything more feminine than puffed sleeves.  They are so timeless and classic on little girls.  When I was little, I enjoyed puffed sleeves in the rompers my mother made me.  I also was quite intrigued with Anne's fascination with puffed sleeves in the movie and books, Anne of Green Gables.  My daughter now seems to be overjoyed with sleeves that are puffy.  Of course, it helps when there is a bright frilly flower on the shirt too. 

that sweet friend

"We are friends and I do like to pass the day with you in serious and inconsequential chatter.  I wouldn't mind washing up beside you, dusting beside you, reading the back half of the paper while you read the front.  We are friends and I would miss you, do miss you and think of you very often."

-Jeanette Winterson

We are working on some real friends too but for now this little guy goes with us everywhere.  He plays with her, sleeps with her, rides in the car and even has a voice of his own in the mornings when I hear {in a super squeaky high-pitched voice} "hi mommy, hi daddy."  Yes, Raffi, you are a true friend.

train ride

Finally, after many many months, the Little People invited our lovey on a train ride.  The back car was cleaned out and room was made for the excited giraffe.  The drummer boy was kind enough to ride in the smoke-stack so that there was plenty of room for the giraffe to fit without dragging a foot or a tail. 

The fire truck led the way for the joyful occasion.  It sounded it's horn over and over to signal the excitement that was had by all.

At the end of the ride, the giraffe was greeted by his excited Momma.  The Little People were happy to share their train {after months of coaxing by the Momma} and they have agreed to do it more often.

Time for something sweet: cranberry oatmeal chocolate spice cookies

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With the change of season last week, I felt the need to start baking.  There is something about baking and making the house smell good that make it feel like Autumn is here {even though the cooler weather hasn't quite made it to our part of the woods}.  

This is a favorite cookie recipe of mine from this fun baking blog.  These are an immediate hit whenever I bake them.  Beware, they won't stick around long!

To make the cookies you will need:

                                                                                                  1 1/2 cups flour 

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp allspice

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

3/4 cup shortening

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup white sugar*

1 1/2 cups whole oats*

1 1/2 cups dried cranberries

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips*

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In medium bowl sift flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon,  and all spice.  In separate large bowl, cream together shortening, brown sugar, and white sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Combine well.

Add flour mixture to wet ingredients and stir until just combined.  Then add oats, cranberries, and chocolate if you so desire.

Use 1/4 cup and scoop onto cookie sheet... you should get about 6 per sheet.

Bake for at least 8 minutes, but most likely will bake for 12 depending on your stove.

If you chose to not add the chocolate chips directly to the dough, you can melt chips in the microwave and drizzle or dip the cookies after they have cooled.

Wait!  The fun isn't over yet!  You can make this cookie one of 3 ways!

1. Put the semi-sweet chocolate chips right into the batter.

2. Dip the cookies in melted semi-sweet chocolate chips.

2. Drizzle the cookies with melted semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Enjoy whatever way you choose to make your cookie delectable!  My girl loves to make them with me.

 

Autumn's Arrival

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I cannot endure to waste anything so precious

as autumnal sunshine by staying

in the house. 

N. Hawthorne (1804-1864)

Soft wale corduroy pants, fresh apples, cool winds from the north, cider, that favorite pair of jeans, piles of leaves, clear blue skies, days spent outside, and bountiful Fall harvests await us this season!  Enjoy your sweet autumn days.

rain

The skies turned dark against the setting sun and gave us a glimpse of the rain we've needed all summer.  The drops that fell were oversized and fell heavy from the dark sky.  Unfortunately, like so many times before, the rain seemed to just tease us with these infrequent drops, thunder and dramatic skies.  We are so hopeful that we might be in the rain's path soon.