the farm

the farm, or as we call it 'ferma', is in all essence a member of the family. one would not be able to guess that it is the largest csa in the country, so understated in appearance, simple in operation and lovely in spirit the honey brook organic farm is. http://www.honeybrookorganicfarm.com/ we go once a week to pick our share in the farm stand and sometimes spend 2-3 hours in the field picking 'pick your own' crops. the kids love it and i cannot think of a better way to spend an afternoon. something so natural about a 4-year old recognizing different herbs, tomato and tomatillo plants, carefully pulling eggplant off the stalk and holding back his 2-year old sister from putting a hot pepper in her mouth. they both love to pick green beans and sample the different varieties, the dragons being the favorite, i suspect having much to do with the name. we have met at least two very large grasshoppers this summer, countless worms and caterpillars and have brought many a stink-bug home on the flower stems. at home we take the bounty out and sort. tomatoes stay on the table and sauce tomatoes sometimes get washed and cut right away for pasta sauce for the winter. one day this autumn fedia stood at the kitchen counter for over an hour, helping me cut plump plum tomatoes that he picked. and while the sauce turned out a little lumpy, it was nonetheless delicious.

spring crown wreath with ribbon streamers

i've made a couple of these. the idea came from the yarn itself. the softest llama unspun roving from a farm in massachussets. this is
a handweave that one of my grandmothers' taught me. i use it for

belts, bracelets, necklaces, etc. it seemed the right thing to try a headband as halloween and costume time approaches. it worked out perfectly. takes 15 minutes and offers hours of delight and playtime. i added a few beads in the front, ribbons in the back and spring crown princess look was complete.

adding to our family of hats

as the weather cools down my fingers crave once again for the crochet hook and the tender sweet yarns from the wooly lamb http://www.thewoolylamb.com/. i start these from the center with three-four stitches and work my way outward, deciding on the shape as i go along. someone might remember fedia's hat from last year in blue italian wool with the dr seuss accent at the
top - scroll down to may 25th to see. (he still loves it and has been wearing it these cool mornings and after the pool). hence i've been working on the girly ones. everything i make for sonia ends up selling before she gets a chance to wear it. this aqua one on the right went to fedia's friend mei. i cannot wait to get that picture. sonia is reluctantly modeling here. she happens to look serene, but i had to chase her before she ripped it off her head. the striped knitted sweater is paulina's brilliant present for sonia's birthday. it fits perfectly. and i think she is keeping the pink ribbon hat below.