I finally got around to taking pictures of the Christmas ornaments. I’ve been meaning to ever since we put up the tree, since I want to scrapbook them and the story of where they all came from. This one bugs me, as I can’t really remember where I got it. Pretty sure it was a gift from one of two people, so I guess I’ll just have to ask, however sheepish that will make me feel.
We tried using salt to de-slipper the porch, but it didn’t really work. Still, the lass was enthusiastic. She put her hat on herself. Can you tell? (It’s actually backwards, very hip-hop.)
…I am suddenly reading toy catalogues again. And I am increasingly frustrated by the pinkness, princessification and general gendering of toys. A post by Lauredhel at Hoyden About Town last year caught my eye, therefore, and I have been applying the Lauredhel’s Toy-catalogue Annex of the Bechdel Test ever since. With depressing results, I may add.
To play, try to find:
1. One or more girls, playing;
2. with no boys around; and
3. with something that is not related to domestic work, mothering, being sexy, or ponies.
Before Christmas I did a double take at an ad from Clas Ohlson in the paper. It contained about a dozen images of products, with only one person used for illustration. The person: A blonde girl of around 9 years with a skirt. The product she was advertising? This:
It’s not even a toy, as such, they’re real tools, kiddie-sized.
I meant to save the newspaper page, but forgot. However, I got the Christmas catalogue when I bought muffin tins at CO the other day, and lo and behold, the same picture is used.
Granted, on the catalogue page there is also a picture of some boys, but they are quite clearly advertising something else and not part of the same picture at all.
The sad thing is that this should be so unusual as to warrant comment, of course. Also, surely a denim skirt is not the most practical choice of apparel for a wannabe carpenter? But who am I to dictate what carpenters should wear?
And then it snowed some more.
The new year started with snow. Lots of it.
This afternoon I brought the lass to her grandmother’s for a sleepover and babysitting tomorrow, and though I meant to get the bus straight back I ended up walking quite a bit of the way as the snow was so pretty.
But then, we do love silly memes, don’t we? (First seen here.)
Directions:
1. Put your iPod, iTunes, Windows Media Player, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3.YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS
IF SOMEONE SAYS “IS THIS OKAY” YOU SAY?
You Suck (The Murmurs) – rather rude, really
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Scenes from an Italian Restaurant (Billy Joel) – sounds like there’s a lot going on, at least
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
Minibar (De derre) – a guy with a built in minibar would be useful, I admit
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Sleigh Ride (Johnny Mathis – seasonal) – uhm, better than a roller coaster ride, possibly
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?
I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing (Aerosmith) – that’s the best fit so far
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
A Winter’s Tale (David Essex – seasonal) – a very boring motto
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Whisky You’re the Devil (Robin Laing) – so, do they think I’m the devil, or do they simply think of whisky when they see me?
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Skip back a track and replay (Robin Laing) – I’m that good, am I?
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Forgiven (Alanis Morissette) – not very often
WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Kjell Opseths 9. (To Rustne Herrer/Jonas Fjeld) – good job getting one with a number in the title on this one, don’t you think?
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Me and My Shadow (Robbie Williams & Johnny Wilkes) – fitting
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Frosty the Snowman (The Jackson 5 – seasonal) – can’t possibly be complimental, can it?
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Den stora, stora skillnaden (Michael Wiehe) – I doubt I’ve made that much of a difference
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?
I Don’t Care (Shakespear’s Sister) – I am grown up. I think.
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Only the Good Die Young (Billy Joel) – feeling naughty, obviously
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Bad Medicine (Bon Jovi) – We didn’t, but I guess we could have. It’s a rather difficult one to waltz to, though.
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Slave (DumDum Boys) – ahem
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
A Bottle o’ the Best (Robin Laing) – or the opposite
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
God ain’t gonna getcha for that (Shania Twain) – he sure ain’t
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Tak’ a Dram; A Wee Deoch An (Robin Laing) – yes, please have one, if you like
SONG THEY WILL PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Underneath Your Clothes (Shakira) – unlikely
Two new friends moved in with us yesterday. First off: Nigel the Annihilator.
The lass promptly pronounced him a “løwe” (lion) and insisted on dressing him in the monster hat that I also bought. It didn’t really work as a hat for him as she couldn’t get it to cover his ears – very important – without also covering his nose, but she was quite happy when she found it could be used as “bosse” (trousers, though sleeping bag would be more descriptive of the effect).
I’ve been admiring the work of Happycloud Thunderhead (etsy and blog) for a while, and was thrilled to have actual specimens in my hands. I suppose it’s a little late for Christmas shopping now, but surely you can find an excuse to buy a monster in 2009? Go shop!
The second new member of the family is someone I’ve coveted quite shamefully for some time, namely Doyle the Bat from Soto Softies (I’ll snap his portrait later). He’s being kept well out of reach of the lass’ hands for the time being, but I’m smitten like a very smitten thing indeed. I did, in fact, consider bringing him to work with me.
They are both the results of a very limited shopping spree I indulged in as a sort of reward for landing myself a (fairly well paid) permanent job (and in the middle of the financial crisis to boot). In fact, this is pretty much the extent of the shopping spree, the only additional thing being a digiscrapping kit or two, amounting to less than 20 dollars, so I’m feeling very restrained.
I’ve finished block one of the Leanne’s House BOM, and received two more in the mail, so a bit behind, but not too much. I still haven’t purchased additional fabric, and that is the main reason why I haven’t started block two, as I really want to start introducing my additions as I go. In any case, there really isn’t much time for non Christmas-related creating in December, but I hope to be able to sew a bit over the holidays, so I need to go shopping at some point.
Here’s the completed block:
And some detail:
I had a short length of thread left in the needle when I’d finished the stars. It was too short to be worth keeping, but it seemed a pity to just throw it out, so I added a lazy daisy in one of the checkerboard squares. I rather like the effect, so I think I might add some more, and do the same in the other checkerboard sections.
I received my quilt from the Doll Quilt Swap on Thursday, but the first chance I got to photograph it in natural light was this morning (well, it is winter). Here it is:
Now, do you think any doll will ever get to come near this? Ha! It’s mine, all mine! Mine, I tell you. You dolls just keep your tiny little hands off!
I will have to find a scrap of wall to display it. This might prove difficult, but I have faith.
Here’s the back:
I could happily gaze on that for hours, too, how did my benefactor guess that I simply looooove these colours?
And look at the quilting:
I’m speechless with admiration. I need to get my sewing machine fixed and start practicing feathers. Oh, and the log cabins have nifty spirally quilting, which is even better than the feathers, if such a things is possible. Ok, let’s say they are equally brilliant, shall we.
And who is the master (mistress?) of this wonderful creation? Well, her name is Shelly Sutton, and she blogs here. She teaches classes. That figures.
‘Scuse me while I go gaze some more at this little work of art.
I’m not a big fan of rules in general, but these are my kind of rules “Let’s get some things straight before I get old and uncool”: 1001 rules for my unborn son.
I guess I should have started earlier if I wanted to write something similar for the lass (I’m old and uncool already, I suspect), though I will try to instill some of these, as most are applicable to girls as well – even the one about committing to the tie (should she chose to wear one).
I especially like 43, 132, 167, 168, 220, 224, 245, 257,
And this quote: “The hardest job kids face today is learning good manners without seeing any” (Fred Astaire). We were talking about this just the other day, because one of the words the lass pronounces most clearly is “Thanks” (that is: “takk” in Norwegian). Even though she uses t for k in most words, in this case it is a very clear and strong k. And she started saying it without being prompted, it seems to just come naturally when she is given something, like a glass of milk. Which is not so surprising, as the husband and I say it ourselves all the time. Children learn by example. Or, as the saying has it: Monkey see, monkey do.
And a lot of people should pay mind to this one, especially when posting pictures of others (including their own kids): 239. Never post a picture online you wouldn’t feel comfortable showing your mother, your boss, and the dean of admissions.