This is my latest project...



Clearly this did not involve, yarn, needles or wool.  (OK, you in the back, stop the feigned surprise.)  What this does represent is the accumulation of kids' souvenirs from our family vacations over the last 3 years.  After some ill-fated searches for appropriate souvenirs, we finally settled on patches.  Previous attempts included:

Post cards: Pluses:  Light.  Inexpensive.  Minus: Largely ended up in a box under the bed.

Tourist brochures: Pluses: Free. Light.  Minus: Again,ended up in a box under the bed.  Only so much room under bed.

T-shirts:  Pluses:  Practical.  Minuses:  Can be expensive when dealing with 3 kids. Kids out grown them, then I save them. Again ending up in box under the bed.  (If you visit my house, please do not look under beds.)

Rocks from various sites:  Pluses:  Free.  Fun for kids to look for unique specimens at each location:  Minuses:   Truthfully, we should have seen the major flaw in this scheme coming.  Um, rocks are really, really heavy.   Even if each kid only picks up 8oz of rocks a day.  With 3 kids, that's a 1 1/2 pounds of rocks total per day.  If we're gone for 10 days, we're coming home with 15 pounds of rocks! 

Patches:  Pluses:  Light.  Inexpensive. Flat and easy to pack. Appeals to our kids' wide age range. Pretty much the perfect souvenir. 

So the plan is, now that the patches are sewn to denim squares, to back each square with flannel, sew the square together and make blankets for each of the kids.   (Denim and flannel have the plus that you don't have to finish seams as the fabric doesn't unravel.)

Here's my favorite square  from last year's trip to San Fransisco and Monterey, California. 



OK, there may be a couple of draw back to patches.  Despite the claims that patches are "iron-on": They are most definitely not.  They must be sewn on if they're going to stay put more than 3 seconds.  And, due to plastic backing,  you do need to use a machine unless you have finger tips made of galvanized steel.  (And it would be tough to hold a needle with finger tips of galvanized steel.)    Also some patches are shaped -- well, they're not round or square.  They have legs or their designers opted for an irregular shape.  This square shows the full gamut of patches from easy to not.


"Cool as a moose" patch is nicely round -- easy to sew.  "Mount Desert Island" -- not so easy.  Too many coves.  And the moose -- legs and antlers!  If I drank beer, it would have been beer o'clock from that one.  Though I do believe there was some chocolate rummaged out the pantry as a reward.  So I guess, I found my threshold for chocolate o'clock.

And because it's winter is western NY, I'm obligated to talk about the weather.  DH has another chore that creeps up this time of year -- shoveling the roof.  Although DH has a special tool for the task -- gotta love "special tools". (Oy!)



(Sorry Sweetie, your face was blotted out by a rather large snowflake.) Our house is about 120 years old and prone to icicles.  The playroom (in picture) is the prime spot for large icicles. Years ago it morphed into being when someone closed in a porch, so the roof is poorly pitched, not insulated and there's only a crawl space underneath.  Although the snow has been fluffy, pretty  and a nice change from early December gray.

And because it's winter in western NY, we also have to talk about ....Hockey!  In addition to following the Buffalo Sabers (Go Sabers!), we make trips to DH's and my alma matter of RIT (that'sRochester Institute of Technology 'case you're interested).  Both the women's and men's teams are nationally ranked, so we get to see some fast, well played games.



Hi, DD#1 and go Lady Tigers!  (The Lady Tigers (ranked #4) ended up in a 3-3 tie with Elmira Golden Eagles (ranked #3).)  Great game.  Oh, and did you ever come across a word that just causes happiness with its saying?  A word that just feels good as it trips off the tongue?  One that makes you giggle when recited rapid fire? 



Zamboni!  Zamboni!  Zamboni! Zamboni!  Zamboni!