Lyra Woodland Fairie Photo

Lyra had some great face painting done at a friend's birthday party today.

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Will's Birthday : Crossing the Teen Threshold

Will turned thirteen today. Wow. In three years he will be eligible to drive. In five years he will (hopefully) be off to college. Right now he is still having a blast being a kid. He is loving his models, and wooden Japanese wooden sandals (geta). He enjoyed his birthday (combined with Easter) feast in his kimono and geta. Japanese has become one of his favorite course this year, and he has really become fascinated with the culture. He also received James Clavell's book Shogun, which apparently is recommended by his Japanese teacher.

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The van replacement!

How did I drive that thing for so long? I am trying to get all the required stickers and inspections etc. before I get a ticket.

Cathleen

www.phelpslore.wordpress.com
www.givingfullcircle.org
www.arlingtonchildrenschorus.org

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Will's Sakura Matsuri acquisition

Bill took Will to Sakura Matsuri, the Japan American Society's street festival. By all accounts it was GREAT. Bill bought Will a kimono as an early birthday present. He's wanted one for awhile. It is silk and beautiful and I hope he gives it to me when he outgrows it!

Cathleen

www.phelpslore.wordpress.com
www.givingfullcircle.org
www.arlingtonchildrenschorus.org

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Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

Voila! I will wear it tomorrow...

This is my first try at entrelac and definitely the finished end if the scarf is more even than the beginning where I didn't know what I was doing. What a great way to show off variegated yarn! And make the pattern look more complicated than it really is. This good nearly 4 balls of Mochi and is very soft. I will have to hide it from Eva.

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Sarah Jarosz at (yes, hard to believe) Reston Community Center

On of our favorite CDs from 2010 was "Song Up In Her Head" from Sarah Jarosz.  I would describe it as contemporary bluegrass, but it goes beyond that and Sarah's new stuff, which we heard tonight ventures further beyond a neat roots label. 

The concert was fabulous, with Sarah accompanied by Alex Hargreaves on fiddle and Nathaniel Smith on Cello.  All of these folks are young (Sarah won't be 20 until May), but they are truly amazing musicians.  

The band was playing to a sold out and very enthusiastic audience, and they were obviously enjoying themselves.  All the band members hung out after the show and Eva was able to get Sarah's autograph.

Sarah has a new album (or as she says, record, which sounds funny coming from a 19 year old) coming out May 17.  It is called Follow Me Down, and she played a lot of it tonight. The music is great.  

Sarah will be back in the DC area in late May with gigs at Rams Head and Jammin Java.  

April Fool!

The kids realized mid-day that it was April Fool's Day. Unfortunately for Eva, she had school so Will and Lyra had extra time during the day to work some mischief as you can see.  Will also short-sheeted Eva's and Lyra's beds.  And Will did that silly trick on Lyra where he talked her into letting him put a glass of water on the back of each hand while she had them resting flat on the table.  After 2 minutes, she realized she couldn't go anywhere! She was so mad that she wanted to get him back.  Being only 5 and completely unsophisticated (and also not knowing how to short-sheet a bed), Lyra snuck into Will's room and then dragged him in to proudly show Will her April Fool's prank which was......a perfectly made bed! Silly Lyra! I will have to help Eva get Will back later tonight when she is home from her friends' house.  And I told Will if he played any April Fool's joke on me involving a rodent, bug or other creepy crawlie that he'd never get an allowance ever AGAIN.  I think I am safe until he has a steady job.

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Finally finished my basket!

And I cannot believe I made this!  I almost hate to put bread or muffins or yarn or anything in it because the little ornament in the center is so cute.  May have to make one more teeny weeny one! Except I am behind on knitting.  Must. Finish. Scarf. Before winter is over.  Maybe that is why it is still cold and yucky here on April Fool's Day....because Mother Nature is waiting for me to hurry up and finish the @(&$)#( scarf!  Hope to have pictures of that soon.

Posted via email from Cathleen Phelps

@Starbucks inside @Safeway. No soul, no heart and bad coffee. No nearby alternative in Reston

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