Arrival of Spring

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The Easter break brought beautiful weather. My winter coat has had it’s three winters and I’m not going to use it anymore now, so I dropped it off at a second-hand store the other day. The buds are coming out in the garden – the yellow flowers of spring are all over our garden at the moment.

Forsythia

We had a wonderful holiday. Really down to earth, with only a few things planned. Mads has been pruning the trees in the garden and building a fence out back, Ronja has been playing our little garden aid, and Frida has had time to totally find herself again, and she soooo enjoys the garden. Only problem is to get her back inside when it’s time for dinner.

On the ladder

Frida’s palate is healing up really well, and it looks quite nice now – much better than it did a week ago. Mads has started to visit the nursery with her on a daily basis, because next Thursday he is going back to work, and she will be spending her days there. It’s such a nice place, though, the same one Ronja went to, we know the teachers, and we are at total ease with leaving her in their custody! Besides, it’s right next to Ronja’s kindergarten, and they will be able to have a daily chat through the playground fence. Frida still goes “Ooonja, Ooonja” whenever Ronja is out of sight, which is so sweet! Or whenever Ronja comes into sight, actually. :)

I made the fabric covered buttons for the tunic yesterday evening, so I just might be able to show you later.

Daffodil

Easter Holiday

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Easter eggs on Easter branches 

We are so enjoying our Easter break here. It totally popped up at the right time! Yesterday, the first day off, was a day of painting Easter eggs and spending time in the garden. The weather is awesome, and for a few days now, Frida has been almost completely back to being the happy girl we had before her surgery, and it’s just a joy to see. She manages the arm splints brilliantly, and does just about everything she normally does – they really don’t seem to bother her much during the day. They only mess up her sleep a bit, but still, everything is so much better now, and we can only be happy about the way she’s coming round.

Ronja and I painted Easter eggs yesterday. Mads and I blew out the eggs, washed them, and left them to dry – and Ronja just couldn’t wait to get started with the paint! So check it out – before:

Ready for some paint 

During:

Ronja and Mom at work 

And after:

Colourful 

We had a lot of fun, and Ronja was actually a more patient painter, than I would have expected. I love the eggs she made! Afterwards we fetched some branches from the garden to for them to hang on, and I added some of the Easter stuff I have already.

Easter eggs on Easter branches 

We spent the afternoon outside – we still have to keep Frida from colds, but the weather was really warm and not too windy, and she absolutely loves being in the garden – as does Ronja!

 No room for Dad on this motorcycle!

I haven’t been getting around to do any sewing since I made nightgowns for the girls, but yesterday evening, shile Mads was playing with his motorcycle in the garage, I got around to cutting the fabric for a tunic – for me, myself, MOI! Yep, that’s right – it’s kind of a test drive really. The fabric for it comes from my stash, and I really want to check if the pattern is good, before I move on to possibly purchasing fabric for the next version of it. I hope I’ll be able to do some sewing tomorrow.

Tomorrow

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Flowers in the window 

Tomorrow we’ll find out whether they are going to do Frida’s cleft palate operation Tuesday or not. It’s kind of silent in my head at the moment… She has been having a cold for the past 5 days, and it’s still there, though not as bad as it has been, and we just don’t know what to expect.

I went with Ronja to her gymnastics show this afternoon. It’s the end of season for her gym class so I was looking forward to seeing what they have been up to all year. Mads stayed at home with Frida – even though it has had no effect at all, we have pretty much been isolating her this last couple of weeks. Ronja and the rest of the children did a great show, and it’s always nice to go somewhere with her on my own – I’m not sure which one of us enjoys it the most.

Ronja at gymnastics show

I did actually sew a bit as well this weekend - identical night gowns for the girls - and I think they turned out so sweet. I haven’t been able to take pictures yet, but hopefully I’ll get around to it soon.

Oh, by the way – Mads brought home his new baby this evening. He has bought an old motorcycle – a Honda CB650, that he’s going to restore, and he’s so enthusiastic about it. He used to ride a motorcycle when he was younger, and I do believe this is a small dream come true for him. Check it out – do you think there’s room for me? :)

Mads with his new baby 

Now, in the morning we’re dropping off Ronja at the kindergarten, and Mads, Frida, and I are going on to the hospital in Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet. I’m packing for several days of course, but trying to prepare myself for the possibility, that we may just be told to go home, and get rid of the cold. We’ll see.

What a Girl Wants

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One happy Floral Fantasma girl 

Ronja picked it out. I’m not too good at letting her choose the fabric (it’ll all end up pink), but this time she got to. I gave her the opportunity to pick the fairy fabric, and she did at first, but dropped it when she realized there wasn’t enough for this blouse as well as a summer dress in a few months. Good thing I had the “Floral Fantasma” from Alexander Henry as well. She went with some red dots from Moda for the neck line casing and sleeve edges. It’s girly, that’s for sure – and she loves it!

Floral Fantasma Blouse 

Today I made a blouse from the same pattern (Onion 20022) for Frida. It’s finished but I haven’t got pictures yet, so you’ll have to wait a bit for that one.

Reading 

In the meantime, we had a wonderful weekend. Nice and slow – we’re not getting out much at the moment, because we really, really don’t want Frida to catch a cold or something before her surgery next week. Her odds health-wise are pretty bad at the moment too – Mads has been having a severe cold this past week, and Ronja has just had a fever for a few days. Frida is still in the clear, and I am as well, so we’re keeping our fingers crossed. Of course, if she’s sick in any way when it’s time for the operation, they won’t operate, and they may push it a few months. Anyway, there’s no way we can keep the girls away from each other – above you see Ronja reading to Frida.

Mads finished building the small fence out front today – all it needs now is some paint.

Finished - all it needs now is paint

The Date

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We received the date for having Frida’s cleft palate closed in surgery a few days ago. For those of you who are new here, this post and this post tells you a bit more about Frida and her cleft palate.

  Hey Mom - I'm reading

March 30th is the date when we will be admitted to hospital with her, and the following day she will have the operation. I’m not the worrying kind, but receiving the letter did really bring it to the front of my awareness. Our beautiful little girl under anaesthesia, in the operating room – that does yield a few thoughts. Everything will be fine I’m sure, but I think it’s going to be a tough few days in the hospital.

 Hug

Right now we’re making a few preparations. At the time of the operation, she’s not allowed to be using either a dummy or a baby bottle – both of which we have been using this far. She loved her bottle of warm milk before bedtime up until a week ago – now we have replaced it with a little bit of warm milk in a cup. We dreaded getting her off the bottle, but it has been no problem at all – she still goes to sleep like a baby! Next up is getting her off the dummy – which I dread even more. Who knows – she may just surprise us. Does it all the time! :)

Impressions from a Saturday

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First, remember there’s still time for you to have your name in the draw for my Valentine’s Give-Away that ends Monday night – so go check it out and let others know as well!

Yesterday we went for a walk in the park by Vallø Castle, which is not far from here. The sun was shining and – well, look for yourself.

Valentine's card... 

My Valentine’s card from Mads

Ronja's snow angel 

Ronja made snow angels

Walking in the snow 

Frida was suspicisous of the snow

Trees 

And the park looked as pittoresque as ever.

What a nice way to spend a Saturday afternoon!

Light and shadow

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The snow is falling. Trucks go by to salt the roads every now and then, and the weather forecasts predict more snow in the days to come. Don’t get me wrong, I like snow – really! In December, when it provides the Christmas decorations and lights with a certain atmosphere that reaches beyond commercialization from the tradespeople and hectic Christmas preparations. And in January, because that’s really one of the few things that the dark month has working in its favour. I love the sound of my boots in the crunchy snow, and to go sled riding with the kids.

But hey – I was ready for spring! It’s almost light when I leave for work in the morning now, and it’s not yet dark when I come home. The birds have started singing several times a day, and I want to sew stuff for spring.

Light and shadow 

This picture was taken Sunday in the afternoon after Fastelavn. I should mention that we – almost literally – haven’t seen the sun for weeks. And the few times that we have, it has been a glimpse through the grey, grey clouds, and then gone again… However, Sunday the sun was shining from a blue sky most of the day, and it was wonderful and much needed. It just has that incredible effect on your state of mind. Ronja was playing with shadows, and I grabbed my camera to catch it. I love this picture.

Now we go back to looking forward to the next sunbeam. In the meantime, if the snow stays, I’m sure Ronja will be thrilled – and Frida just might as well!

Clowns and Angels

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Yesterday, we all went to Fastelavn – you know, the thing I told you about the other day. And Ronja was indeed an angel – here she is on the wings.

On the wings 

On the wings  

Saturday I had been making an outfit for Frida as well – a clown costume to be exact. I based the costume on the Onion pattern 10009 that includes a pair of basic loose pants, and a blouse that buttons on one shoulder. I modified them a bit – the pants are meant for rib at the lining and at the ancles, but I decided that elastics in dotted casings would work better for my tiny clown. The blouse pattern is meant for a knit, and has a rib at the neckline – I switched it and went with wovens and a clown collar at the neckline. I covered the collar edge with bias tape, made from the same fabric as the collar. Then I embellished it with a tiny pocket and two flower-buttons.

A colourful clown 

I threw all kinds of colourful fabric in the pool; Michael Miller, Amy Butler, Kaffe Fassett, and a bunch of other stuff - and above you can see how it all turned out. Below, you can see the caring big sister holding hands with the little clown, while they’re having their picture taken together with Ronja’s friends Emma and Ida.

Fastelavn 

The Fastelavn-party took place in a gym, and all the kids lined up in different lines according to their age, to beat the cat out of the barrel (this very traditional event at Fastelavn has got to make no sense to many of you – read more about it here - about halfway down). Ronja had fun with her friends, and although I think the experience was a little overwhelming to Frida, she found it exciting as well.

Afterwards, Frida and I went to meet with my mothers group. It has been quite a while since the last time, because we’re all working now – but we had such a nice time, and the kids are just growing up so quickly. It was great to see them all again, and to watch the children play! Frida was exceptionally tired when we went home, so she had herself a good long afternoon nap.