Hello Spring

Spring has been ushered in by some beautiful blooms in our yard this year.


Oh, and here's the most beautiful one!


Before this week's gorgeous weather, it was dumping buckets and frigid for about a week and a half. This is what Ella did to pass time.

Watching more Yo Gabba Gabba on the sofa.


And Karaoke!



She also fed some birds at Golden Gate Park, but decided it's a better idea to just eat the bread herself.

Inspirations from Half Moon Bay

We went to Half Moon Bay this afternoon to get some chicks at the Half Moon Bay Feed and Fuel. Sadly we didn't come home with chicks this time cause the more docile Black Sex Link chicks won't be in until next week, but we didn't come home empty handed. I did some shopping, found some inspirations, while Ella and Daddy found a new friend on the bench.


There was a great little yarn shop called Fengari Fiber Arts. They have a fantastic collection of books on knitting and crocheting. I forgot to see if they had any on felting... I shall be back! Tim found this beautifully illustrated series by Lucinda Guy.


I couldn't bear putting such CUTE books back on the shelf, so I had to pick up a few :) And how can you leave a shop filled top to bottom with skeins of tempting yarns!! And of course, these temptations were strategically placed at the register. Knitting needles with "toppers?"

The family that makes these birch needles rely on the Blind to QC each needle for imperfections. I wasn't sure if that info was supposed to reassure me of the quality of the needles or if I should be offended by the fact that disabled people were sort of exploited during the making of my needles? Whatever it was, it was an inspiration for me to create my own needle "toppers."

Then another great inspiration came from a children's clothting store. Check out these felt and button hair clips! I can do this! No need to pay $12.

Sunnyside Conservatory

We did a little bit of discover SF again this weekend. The Sunnyside Conservatory on Monterey Blvd had been restored a couple of years ago. It used to be pretty dilapidated and just overgrown. It was the kind of place only homeless squatters would frequent. Now's it's become the beautiful neighborhood gathering place for just about anything! I would love to host a luncheon there!


The garden has a few of these whimsical little creatures scattered around and hiding amongst the beautiful and water-friendly new plantings.


Here's Ella running around rocking it in the new Mien Ao Mommy sewed. I think this would be the last one I will ever make. It's too much work and I just am not very good at making patterns from existing clothes...


Always the HAM! CHEESE.

And the Oscar goes to...

Spring is near

You know spring is upon us whenever daffodils and paper whites arrive at the florist! I love the clean scent of paper whites and they really are a must have for Chinese New Year besides plum blossoms.


We cleaned up the back yard to get the space ready for our new pets. While going through the stack of pots, I found this little surprise!

Hospitalization

Poor little girl has been sick as a dog since Sunday. Just when we thought she was getting better, she took a turn for the worse. We rushed her to the Pediatric ER when her fever returned this morning. She was so lethargic, but still put up a good fight everytime the nurses came to perform more tests on her to find out what was wrong. Finally, we got a diagnosis of an RSV infection. Just glad it's not pneumonia! There is really no cure, but just supportive treatments to ease her symptoms. So they got her in a little toddler hospital gown and decked her out in full hospital regalia.


She has a breathing tube that delivers oxygen, a few stick-on sensors for her vital signs, and an IV port just in case she needs more fluids. The IV port is right on the inside of her elbow, so to prevent her from bending it too much they put a piece of board there. She looks like she's got a broken arm too, but it's the IV.

After a couple doses of Tylenol, Motrin, and Albuterol treatments in the ER, we got a room in the pediatric ward. Looks like we're staying here for a couple of days...

Little fighter definitely got better in the afternoon cause she's EATING again! She hasn't had much of an appetite which is very abnormal for her. We just have to get her lungs to sound smoother and we'll be able to go home. Hopefully that'll come tomorrow.

Projects from DIY friends

Sherry has been a member of my little Crafter's Guild for a year now, and she's recently completed a couple of baby quilts.

Here she is, proudly posing with the 1st one she's ever made! Turned out beautiful too!

She got so good, this 2nd one was made in merely 2 days. Super cute!

Hope to be posting many more from out monthly gatherings!

My friend Dave harvested some black bamboo stalks from our backyard a few months ago. Now that bamboo is on his custom made self by his woodworking friend, Eric.

I love the details and our bamboo looks fantastic!


Dave also has a beautiful handmade quilt from his grandmother hanging in his living room. I LOVE it! Only if I can create something so beautiful. It must have taken her ages to hand sew everything.