My Weekend Was Spent In Mourning Due To The Horrifying News That A Friend And Beloved Teacher At My Daughter's

Hello! Apologies for the long period of silence! I have been a *bit* busy taking care of the farm, the Tiny Tyrant Terror (aka, Leocadia🙄) and... *drum roll, please* . . . finishing my mum's #quilt!!! I am so proud of this one😍, it fits over a twin size bed, and is soooo pretty! I used cotton fabric, thread, and batting from @joann_stores The batting is an organic cotton, sturdy, easy to lay out, and is thin enough for me to sew on my 8 year old #brothersewingmachine All that's left to do is wash it, iron it out, fold it up, wrap it, and gift it to my mum❤🎂 But keep this between you and me! Mum doesn't know about it!🦊🤫🤐

And here's the actual #monthlyspread with a #collage . There's not much going on this month, but I can always use this for writing #notestomyself #craftymama #makerdreamerdoer #bulletjournal #bujo #travel #antique #travel #vintage #coffeeislife #coffeegoals #coffee #coffeelove https://www.instagram.com/marcellafox/p/Btlt3Rzn0Pa/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1887r34wwrwyg

Yay! Book mail arrived today! I ordered The Sleeper and The Spindle, by Neil Gaiman, Stardust, also by Neil Gaiman (my first copy disappeared under mysterious circumstances several years ago when I was at University), and for a bit of fun I also ordered Doll Hangouts from @americangirlbrand American Girl Publishing. I read chapter books to Leocadia. She loves that she has to wait for each new chapter to find out where the story is going. Her favorite thus far has been Coraline, by Neil Gaiman, and once I'm finished reading that book, I shall read Stardust to her. After that, I'm going to introduce her to Madeline L'Engle and her Wrinkle in Time series. She doesn't mind if there are no pictures. She pays attention and asks questions when she doesn't understand something, and she always, always, wants me to read more. And that makes me a very happy mommy!❤

It's finally starting act like autumn in Tennessee. It's raining. Yesterday was a balmy 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Today is around 50 and soggy. So I have a good reason to stay inside, drink more coffee and hot cocoa, and work on the dollhouse 😄 Incidentally, I decided around midnight, last night, to add onto the kitchen. It will now have shelving and a rolling style barn door. Pics on the progress up soon! #rainydays #farmlife #nature #autumninthesouth #craftymama #makerdreamerdoer #coffeegoals #agig #altagig #joytoeverygirl #agdollhouse #craftymama #ogdolls #ourgenerationdolls

Breakfast @wafflehouseofficial with my awesome kid (and puppy) #cutekids #ogdolls #wafflehouse #coffeegoals

Today was "silly hat day" for Read Across America week at Leocadia's daycare! For lack of a funny hat, we decided to use a Turby Twist/hair towel for her silly hat. I think she looks fabulous!!!😍🦊 #readacrossamerica #sillyhat #girlpower #mykidisawesome

In 2011, I made a glorious queen-size quilt for my first apartment with my then-fiance. It was a big project for a first-time quilter, but it worked out and has made me very happy. And I made a small #lapquilt for my grandmother for Christmas two years ago. I have been promising my mum a handmade quilt for YEARS now, but life kept interrupting, so I put this big project on the back-burner five years ago. I had bought most the fabric I thought I would need to make a simple block quilt with red, white, and blue square repeating pattern, but it ended up in boxes as I moved. Flash forward to two weeks ago. I was rifling through my craft hoard *ahem* stash and found the bag that contained all the fabric!😄 I realized that just simple squares wasn't going to do my work justice or her justice, so I made a plan and decided to sew my first #piecedquilt for her. She served in the Army and was a Field Artillery Officer, back when very few women had any major roles in combat positions. I am proud of her service and wanted to make a "patriotic" quilt for her. So, using the red, white, and blue fabric, I've come up with this! The quilt will initially be sewn on my sewing machine, then #handquilted by me. It'll be perfect as a throw blanket and fits a twin-size bed. I have the first row finished for the #quiltblocks and have 5 more rows to sew. I'm hoping this will be finished in time for her birthday in June🦊❤🎂 #quilt #thirdtimesacharm #piecedquilts #craftymama #makerdreamerdoer #ilovemysewingmachine #sewcrafty #craftsupplyhoarder #fabric #cotton #redwhiteandblue #patrioticquilt #womeninthearmy #fieldartillery #fieldartilleryofficer #womanofficer #powerfulwomen #mymomwearscombatboots

I found some awesome yarn at a local farm co-op store over Thanksgiving break. I decided to teach myself how to finger weave it into a scarf. So far, I am thoroughly enjoying the process! 😁 🦊💖🧣 #craftymama #yarn #shoplocal #ombre #scarf #fingerweaving #diy #winterfashion #babyitscoldoutside #wip https://www.instagram.com/marcellafox/p/Bqs6wMyA41S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=irr22xywhpsl

My mum got my car stuck in mud up to the rims. And this was AFTER a huge rainstorm AND I had repeatedly told her the yard was flooded and to stay ON the gravel driveway, and NOT to go on the grass.😑 We're waiting on a tow truck to come get it out. While we're waiting, Leocadia decided to have some fun after all the rain we had this week. She loves jumping in muddy puddles!😄🌧 She's my personal rainbow every day🦊💖🌈 #muddypuddles #rain #rainbows #welliewishers #wellieboots #mykidisawesome #dontletmymomdriveacar #mycarisstuckinmud #thatfaceyoumakewhenyouresodone #farmlife

I started unpacking and took a #sneakpeek picture of goodies I found on my travels 🦊❤🗺🚅🚌🛣🚤🛫 ° Leocadia and I arrived home yesterday evening after a few weeks visiting family in #newengland ! We had #fun and #adventure and went on a couple #expeditions to #museums and areas of interest. ° We spent lots of time with family, especially with my Gran 💖, went #swimming, and got to ride in some boats on #lakewinnipesaukee . After all the hustle and bustle, I am so happy to be back in #tennessee despite the humidity and heat that is typical of #southernsummer ♨️🌡😅! ° A huge THANK YOU!!! goes to @joshpneal for giving us a ride to and from the #nashvilleairport ! ° I'll post more pictures of my #goodies later, after I manage to check the farm and animals, run errands, and pick up mail in town... #priorities ° Right now I need #tylenol 💊for the muscles I pulled in my back yesterday 😖 and #coffee ☕to help get me moving! #craftymama #makerdreamerdoer #bulletjournal #bujo #travel #antiques #vintage #massachusetts #newhampshire #shoppingspree #goodies #coffeelove #coffeeislife #backpain