I have been wanting to use Jennie Chancey's Girls Regency dress pattern for quite some time. She put out a "Drawstring" appendix to the pattern not too long ago. It is perfect for M and T who like to dress themselves without help. The Drawstring is actually 1/4" elastic--I used a bunch of my stash--so they can just pull the dresses on over their heads.
This fabric was on the clearance rack at my favorite quilt shop. I have decided that the quality quilting fabric is much better for my children's play things because it wears so well. The less expensive cheap fabric form Wally World or even Jo Ann's just doesn't hold up to playing in the woods.
I loved the fabric so I bought a lot. since I was sewing and had lots of fabric I offered N a new dress. She of course jumped at the chance to get a new dress and match her sisters.
The Wal-Mart out by the mall was clearancing all their fabric (I have heard of many others around the country doing this) so I went to check it out. I found some of their nicer fabrics for 50% off. I bought lots of fabric for clothes for the next year and J bought fabric to make herself 4 or 5 new things also.
I told D he could learn how to use my sewing machine when I taught N last week. He bugged and bugged me until I actually did it. I believe it is a new machine for him to learn how to use. He is fascinated by all the Fancy stitches.
Last night he made a "tarp" for his Thomas trains.
The upstairs or loft o f the barn is still used for storage and sometimes the children play here. It is a MESS! but not a priority to clean up.
The next day I saw a bird land in the crook about 20 feet up in a tree. A robin had gathered the tinsel from our neighbor's Christmas tree that was lying in his burn pile. So we have a robin with fancy tastes to watch this summer.
We have a few small patches of grass that came back from last fall.
The second batch of lettuce I planted in the cold frames.
Spinach seedlings with Maple tree blooms. I think I am going to be constantly pulling baby maple trees out of my garden--like at our other house.
Sugar snap peas trying to come up.
Kale seedlings. We have never eaten Kale, but it is pretty and is really good for us so we will give it a try.
The Wal-Mart out by the mall was clearancing all their fabric (I have heard of many others around the country doing this) so I went to check it out. I found some of their nicer fabrics for 50% off. I bought lots of fabric for clothes for the next year and J bought fabric to make herself 4 or 5 new things also.
I told D he could learn how to use my sewing machine when I taught N last week. He bugged and bugged me until I actually did it. I believe it is a new machine for him to learn how to use. He is fascinated by all the Fancy stitches. 
G's new friend Taylor was there to enjoy freezing. J was inside working on a new dress that she got done for church.
Just your normal egg hunt--6 children, 12 eggs each, too much candy, and we found all of them.
Here is the outlet of the overflow pipe. This winter it froze. Todd took the elbow piece off so the level wouldn't get too high if it froze up again. He replaced it in March and had to cut a foot off so the pond level would not get too high. Our beach is kind of mushy because of the water level. We will probably add some of our excess sand to it some time.
Retaining walls on the main level are almost done. And my clothes line is up, now if it would just warm up so I could use it!
N's tea party in the pines
