The Handmade Dress

This is what it says about us: Samantha loves children and is a stay at home mom who homeschools and runs a small homebased business. Samantha teaches the boy's Sunday school class at church. Samantha was a pediatric nurse at Children's Hospital before her first child was born and she decided to stay at home. Samantha enjoys sewing, knitting, crocheting, embroidery, crafting, and teaching children. Ben is the oldest of twelve children, he is a wonderful father and husband that enjoys spending time with his family. He is a firefighter that also works in the music ministry at church. Ben enjoys farming/gardening, fixing computers, and doing outdoor activities with his family. Ben and Samantha have been married for 11 years, and they have four birth children; Molly (10), Timothy (almost 8), Madeline (6), and Claire (almost 1 year). As a family they enjoy camping, bike riding, climbing, hiking, traveling, watching movies, learning new things, and spending time together. They l

It's done and has been taken. It was supposed to be for me, but my little Madeline started saying as I knit the last few rows...."Mama, I really like that." and "Mama, will you make me one just like that?" and "Mama, I know what would look cute with that thang." She did know what would look cute with it of course. Cause Maddie always knows what looks cute. :) I have no idea how a six year old, who is tiny for her age (still in 4/5 sized clothes), can look so grown up and stylish....but she pulls it off....somehow. Isn't it funny how these little ones just develop these amazing personalities with no help from us? I used a free pattern to make this shawlette, you can see all of my Ravelry notes HERE . It was fast, fun, mindless knit, knit, knitting! xo, Sam

Yesterday was a big day for Claire Louise (or Claire-bell, that's her nick name)! First I caught her in a chatty mood before church, where she was willing to talk on video! You know how babies are, as soon as you start the video they usually hush and just want to get at your camera, well yesterday I finally got footage of some of her cute words! I do hate my voice in there, ughhh , why must we sound so weird on video? Then just before bed last night she decided to walk! Aunt Mary had some fruit chews leading her along, it was too adorable. I can't believe my babe is walking. I've known it was coming for a month or more because she has been walking the 1 to 3 steps between the coffee table and the couch, but now it's the real deal. I can't believe my baby will be ONE in 8 days.....sigh. Where did it go? I hope you enjoy our little home movies. Watching I just can't help but remember " That's a little walking miracle baby !" xo, Sam P

Today I wanted to share one of my favorite recipes! My sweet friend Cami taught me to make it. Cami is from Romania and she says that it is a very common dish there. It's has a very savory flavor and is  great alone or as a side dish. Let's get started! You will need a head of cabbage, an onion, 4-5 slices of turkey bacon (or sausage, or whatever you like), salt, olive oil, dill, and sour cream (optional). Have your helper peel your onion, and then you dice it up and saute it in a little olive oil and a couple of tablespoons of water. While the onions are getting started cut up the turkey bacon into small pieces. Now throw those in. Now chop the cabbage up into 1-2" pieces. Throw it all in. I add in a teaspoon of salt (I really like salt) maybe you should start with half that and then see what you think. Then I sprinkle the top with the dill seasoning. My friend Cami also adds a seasoning called summer savory. I haven't been able t

Last evening after dinner, everyone was done with their jobs around the house except for Molly. Molly was still washing dishes (this child is as slow as Christmas people). We were all waiting on her to start a documentary and we couldn't wait! So I call "Molly! Just leave the rest I'll get them in a little bit!" She calls back desprately "Mama please can I just finish?! I've been telling myself a story and it's just getting interesting!" The first thought that flashed through my mind was "Oh Lord, this is what I get for raising these kids listening to Lucy Maud Montgomery stories since before they could walk." But I think some would say "You're payin' for your raising." I probably am, I remember doing almost the exact same thing as a young girl. I also remember the time I burst out laughing at the dinner table and my dad asked "What's so funny?" I answered "I just told myself a joke!" He of

 

   ...the hardest thing I've had to do all day is think about which button is the perfect button for this project.... ...I also did a little dreaming about the dress or dresses that I want to make to go under this cardigan. I'm thinking one floral and one soft white eyelet....hmm...maybe she needs three? Maybe one should be a skirt with leggings. I do so love those chubby legs in leggings. Or maybe a short dress with leggings...  It's Saturday, daddy is at the helm, and mama is knitting, planning, dreaming...Happy Saturday friends! xo, Sam

 Knitting, coffee, Dove chocolate (thank you hunny)...  ...a nice view, a warm fire, a pudgy baby playing music with kindling....  ...a big girl curled up under a quilt reading "Life in Ancient Mesopotamia" (they are loving the Tapestry of Grace )... ...and the playful noises filtering in from the porch. Now I could change my perspective and tell you that at this very moment that lovely wood bowl full of fossils and pine cones is all over the floor, that I bumped my coffee just after I took that picture and all three of those pretty doilies are now soaking in the sink, that by the time I got back to the coffee it was only luke warm but I drank it anyway, that I still haven't got a chance to eat that chocolate, that the playful noises quickly turned to screaming because Maddie busted her lip, that not one row has been knit or purled on that cardigan today, that my ears are aching again (I guess the antibiotic shot just didn't get all of the infecti

Tonight the kids were gathered around Ben for a little guitar playing and Molly proudly announced "I think I taught myself to play a song today! Dad, you want to hear it to see if I got it right?" She taught herself by EAR! To someone who can't play a radio (ME) that's HUGE! I grabbed my iPhone and caught this on video ( it's the 8mm App ). *LOVE* Afterwards she asked if she could watch it and she said "Aww man! I messed up!" I asked "Do you want me to take it over?" She shrugged and said "Nah! I don't mind." Confident. I love everything about you Molly Caffee.

(Ben brought me the flowers the day he left...*love*) Today my sis and I hit all of the local knit shops. Every shop within an hour of  home, two of them we have never been to before! Our sweet parents, Nanna and Papa, kept the eight monkeys for us. OH MY GOODNESS we had so much fun! This is what I came home with. First I'll tell you about the Berrocco Comfort DK yarn, oh my goodness this yarn is so soft and perfect for babies, it is self striping in the most adorable colors, AND with the purchase I got the hat pattern for FREE. They had a sample knit up in the shop and it was too cute. A handmade baby gift for $2 or less? Yes please! Then I got this knit magazine because it had loads of beautiful projects in it for a great price. I'm considering getting a subscription to a knit magazine, what's your favorite? I also bought my very first bottle of Eucalan in the lavender scent, I have heard very good things about this wool wash. Lastly, I got these 9" circula

I know what you are thinking....How many cardigans does one one year old need? And is that all that crazy lady does is knit? And my answers would be, a girl can never have enough, and maybe...I'll never tell! Ha! No, I needed to jump right into another project while the boys are gone. Ben and a few of his brothers, cousins, and friends have gone to the mountains to "rough it" for a few days, so Rae (my sis) and I are hunkered down with our eight kids "roughin' it" here at my house. Yesterday we sat on the porch, talked, let the kids play, and worked on projects until the skeeters ran us back in the house at dusk. Can you believe we still have skeeters? That's what happens when your winter is mostly just days in the upper 60's and low 70's, lots of bugs. Anyhow, on to the cardigan! I started this little cardigan with some cotton I had here. I decided I wanted a little color so I added these stripes of different stash yarns. I think I like it

 I did it! I finished it and even took pictures -instead of waiting to take "good" pictures when the weather is perfect, and then forgetting to take pictures altogether like I have been doing. I LOVE this cardigan! You know, I think this is the first knitting project that I am completely happy with. I'm usually slightly disappointed by the fit, or the yarn, the drape, or something like that. This time I'm really happy about the whole project. The yarn is Berrocco Vintage. This line has great colors, a great feel, AND a great price at under $8 a skein! I still have enough left over to make another sweater too. I bought mine at a local shop called In the Making . You can see my Ravelry notes HERE . The pattern was super easy and a free download. I was a little nervous about the ribbed button band that had to be picked up along the front, but like most things, when I just started it was much easier than I thought it would be. So now I get to start a new proj