Science Project: A Koo & Poppet Mobile

My very sweet friend Ainsley is less than one month away from giving birth to her first baby. She and her husband put in a special request for a Koo & Poppet mobile, and here is the result:

photo: Ainsley Roberts

A mobile, no problem, I thought. Well, remember learning about fulcrum points in eleventh grade physics? Apparently I don't either. I'm very much the type of person who goes "Yes, a mobile, no problem. Two birds, two bunnies, and bear hanging from strings on a wooden dowel. Easy." 

Enter the laws of balance.

Recall that bears, bunnies and birds all have different weights. Ohhhhhhh.......

Recall that husband is kind of adept at solving these types of issues........

Recall that a short while ago I scoffed at his offer to help......

Swallow pride and politely ask if, perhaps, I could have his assistance afterall?

Efficiency quotient suddenly skyrocketing......(not without a few sharply-toned words exchanged, however: "NO, THIS IS THE HEAVIER BUNNY!")

But really, I am so very lucky to have a husband whose problem-solving skills and general mental processings are drastically different from my own. I'd jump into a pile of leaves without hesitation, and deal with the dog poop I've landed in once I'm in there. Scott, on the other hand would draw up a site plan, mow the lawn, rake a tidy pile of clean leaves to a clear patch of grass, build a fence around it, put on rubber boots, and then and only then, would he consider traipsing through them. You should see the guy carve a pumpkin - it's like a laser cutter! Or just last week, when our dog chewed the corners of Sadie's favourite book, I Am a Bunny, Scott cleanly cut the corners off at 45 degree angles and, wouldn't you know, good as new. I'm fascinated with his effortless fix jobs. I would have been out buying a new copy. But that's just me.

Anyway, I hope Ainsley's little one enjoys looking up at this mobile while subtly learning about scientific principles, not to mention the value of a team effort.

Happy Halloween to all the little ghosties and goblins out there!

Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers

Has anyone read Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers? It is a simply beautiful children's book about a lonely penguin and a determined boy. The illustrations are stunning. 

Well, the book has been adapted into an animated film! First Where the Wild Things Are and now Lost and Found. I'm so happy that great children's literature is receiving the recognition and esteem that it deserves.

Thank you to tiny&little for originally posting about this!

Where there is yellow

As I've mentioned in previous posts, we've recently moved up-island, as they say in our little corner of the world. We now live in Shawnigan Lake which is about 45 minutes north of Victoria on Vancouver Island. We've been here for 3 weeks now and are getting to know our new surroundings. Scott and I have lived bits of our lives in both large cities and tiny towns. I really can't say which I prefer....although there are things I miss about each when I'm living in the other. Right this minute I miss live theatre at the Granville Island Stage in Vancouver, preceded by Indian food at Rangoli on 11th ave. And the Stanley Park ghost train! I've heard it's great this year.

But the stillness that surrounds us now is very much welcomed. There are no streetlights or traffic lights, just starry skies at night and mailboxes at the end of the road.

A few weekends ago, we explored scenic little Cowichan Bay (which is where all these photos were taken), a ten minute drive away. Would you believe I've lived on Vancouver Island nearly my entire life and I'd never been to this seaside community until this month? It's a summertime hotspot with an ice cream parlor, artisan cheese shop, art galleries and a maritime museum. 

We went back again last Saturday. The highlight of the trip was a sea otter on the pier. And all the yellow, too.

Sadie, who now speaks in alien tongues, seems to be digging her new neighbourhood as well.

Do you live in the city or the country? By the coast or inland? Mountains, forest, or prairie?

Where does your heart call home?

Remnant Bags from Repeat Studio!

The magnificent repeat studio offers small collections of their gorgeous fabrics. My favourite is the power lines, I can just see a Koo & Poppet bear with such a tummy patch:

"Zeus"

Likes: long distance calls

Dislikes: electric shocks

Anthropologie Pillows

I'm a little house-obsessed at the moment. We've been in our new home for three weeks now and some small-scale demolition has already begun.....and I sense the big stuff is just around the corner if I know my husband. While his mind is on re-wiring the bathroom fan, mine is daydreaming about paint colour, bamboo floors, and these sweet pillows from Anthropologie. Stick a bird on something and I'm in love.

Sully Sale!

Somewhere out there.....

.....is a home, just waiting for Sully. 

If you are the type of person who might go to an animal shelter and be told that one dog in particular is in desperate need of a loving family who will have patience with his bad behavior; that this dog "is not for just anyone, he is high maintenance but with a lot of obedience training will make the perfect family pet," and upon hearing all this, consider the dog yours - IF YOU ARE THIS PERSON, then Sully needs you.

You see, Sully is a wild thing in need of some TLC. He also cannot withstand one more bout of kennel cough.

And he is on sale in the shop. Plus free shipping!

Riley does The Big Apple

Could I be more excited about Riley's [mis]adventures in New York City? 

No.

How very Amelie-garden-knomish of you, Riley.

Thank you to Rubeena, Jesse, Kingman, Erin, and baby Brewster-Hunt!

Hello! and Bloesem Kids giveaway!

I'm feeling really horrible about the lack of activity on this blog as of late. We've just moved from the city to the country and you know how the packing/unpacking process can be - lets just say, lots of organizing bookshelves into the wee hours of dawn. So I've got lots to say in the coming days as I get myself acquainted with my new home and new Koo & Poppet headquarters! Please stay tuned...

In the meantime, please check out the Koo & Poppet giveaway at Bloesem Kids! Milly and Riley are up for grabs!

New Nursery Pillows

I'm pretty happy with the way the little car turned out!