Laowai

She's 18 now!

Here are some smiling (or mostly smiling) snapshots. You'll notice that she smiles most when she is standing next to a fish or traveling or sitting across from her father while traveling.

Happy Birthday Bea!

She requested a coffee flavored cake so I ended up making tirimisu – a Claire Saffitz recipe that turned out good.

And I also made her some new pajama pants.

This is the Isola blouse from Liesl + Co. It has fun full sleeves that are gathered at the wrist and a ruffled neckline. Whenever I've made peasant shaped blouses in the past they never fit quite right but his one has princess seams and I love the fit. The fabric is a quilting weight from Rifle Paper Company

So even though another shirt with a busy print is the last thing I NEED – I love it. It feels nice to do some sewing in this cold brown time of year. Hiding away in my sewing room and just concentrating on ironing (ahhh – warmth) and reading the pattern and carefully stitching is a good thing. In a way this shirt has already given to me even before I've worn it.

I did some sewing over the weekend. I made a new pattern from Liesl + Co. called the Laureles Square Neck Dress. I'm a broken record when I talk about Liesl's patterns but they are so reliable and pleasant to sew. This one is a simple, casual dress with no fasteners and princess seams. I used a new fabric called perfect points by Whistler Studios and Windham Fabrics – it's big and bold and I couldn't resist ordering some.

If you make this pattern be sure you check the web site and read about the errata having to do with the front lining. I did not discover it until everything was cut out and half sewn. I had to improvise by sewing a chunk of fabric to the edge of my lining piece.

I spent a few minutes making outfits with the dress and dreaming of spring.

I think a version in a darker fabric would be nice for winter – I'd pair it with tights and sweaters.

Brian and I went for a Sunday walk and we saw all the variations of brown.

I knit a little pink hat with yarn leftover from my cardigan project.

And I just finished knitting sweater-vest number two. I wish it was a tad smaller in all dimensions. Same as this one that turned out too big.

But mostly I'm happy with it. It's knit out of some free wool and it's very warm.

I'm pleased with myself because I'm no longer afraid of picking up stitches to add a collar or sleeves.

I made Grandma Dice's molasses cookies – Claire's favorite.

What should I make next?

I've spent this week painting my living room ceiling. 

There were a few spots of peeling paint on our ceiling that I've been meaning to take care of. You know how little house projects can nag at you every time you pass by them – so annoying.

Also, when I originally painted this room I did not paint the ceiling so it was still a creamy white that didn't match anything. 

I like the idea of using the 5th wall (the ceiling) to make a room more interesting. So I decided to paint it the same gray as my trim color. And I also added a stripe of white around the edge. Nothing too crazy color-wise but I think it's exactly what the room needed.

Here's the view looking straight up.

I'm glad to have this project done – no more nagging peeling paint and I think the color gives the room some more dimension and richness. The stripe goes with the formality of the room without adding too much busyness. 

We've had a long stretch of cold weather lately. I don't mind it really – I like it when the pretty white snow stays put – but I do find myself wanting a hot drink all the time. So lots of tee and coffee and hot chocolate. And here are some photos of other inconsequential highlights of late.

With all the cold weather our park district was able to make the local outdoor rinks. Bea and I did some night skating.

And then over the weekend we all went down to the city to the skating ribbon. It was busy! 

I went for a very cold walk at the Chicago Botanic Garden.

Aforementioned hot drink.

Took a walk to the high school and this is the train overpass area on the way.

I pretended it was summer one day. I made a skirt out of a linen tablecloth that Jennifer gave me for Christmas.

Love the graphics!

I patched Brian's jeans and was pleased with the round and round rectangle.

Tried a new snowflake bread recipe this morning. It's pretty, but will it be tasty?

And lastly, just a close up of my knitting project. A cozy brown sweater vest that is almost done.

Stay warm.

Bilbao, Spain is an interesting city. It was an industrial powerhouse for a long time and today it's being reinvented and it's known for modern art and architecture. 

Bilbao has lot of bridges over it's river – The Nerviónit. It flows about 16 km to the ocean and it's affected by the tides. 

This bridge has a fun Basque name – Zubizuri – meaning white bridge. It was designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava who we've gotten to know because we used to go through a train station he designed in Zurich. And also he designed the Milwaukee Art Museum. It's easy to pick out his buildings after you have seen a few with their unique design details.

This was our hotel room New Year's Eve feast that we gathered from the grocery store (and the cheesecake store).

After our feast we went out to celebrate the New Year and watch fireworks. I had to wear four hats because nobody would wear theirs. I ended up unintentionally looking like the statue of liberty.

We ate our 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight – a Spanish tradition that Claire turned us onto after we went to Barcelona last year. 

The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year's Eve is a Spanish custom that symbolizes good fortune and prosperity. The grapes are eaten one by one with each chime of the clock, representing each month of the new year.

It's fun.

On New Year's day we traveled closer to the ocean where there is a strange and famous bridge.

Here's the bridge – it's called the Puente Colgante or the hanging bridge.

In the photo below you can see the hanging part where cars drive on and are carried to the other side. You can also walk across the upper part of the bridge but we didn't do it because it was closed and I'm not sure Brian would have enjoyed it.

We went for a walk up a big hill to see a great view of the area. I think the river was lined with lots of heavy industry in the past but it seems to be changing. Now housing is being built where the industrial areas are shuttered. The bridge we visited is close to the ocean in the distance and Bilbao is up the river beyond what the photo shows to the left.

On one of the days Bea and Brian took a long hike to the top of the highest mountain in the area.

More beautiful views!

While they were hiking Claire and I went to an art museum and we checked out "The Puppy". The cutest living sculpture ever.

On our last day in Bilbao we visited its famous Guggenheim Museum. It's full of big modern art. Nothing is small or nuanced or twee. It's all bold and in your face art. As well as the Frank Gehry designed building itself – made up of curves and angles jutting out everywhere – shiny and smooth – complicated.

We went to the big indoor market for lunch and then did a bit more wandering in the rain.

And then it was time to leave friendly Bilbao. 

For our New Year's vacation this year we went to Spain – to two Basque cities – San Sebastian and Bilbao. The Basque region spans an area on the West side of Spain and France. We started in San Sebastian, a fishing village that turned into an early resort town. I have lots of photos.

The city hugs a round inlet lined with beautiful beaches. And beyond the city are hills that frame the views beautifully.

Bea found her spot at the Christmas Market – all the Rubik's Cubes!

And we discovered we are all fans of Basque style cheesecake. Mmmmmmm.

Brian and Claire and I visited The San Telmo history museum while Bea went to the local aquarium. We learned all about Basque history and culture at the museum. We learned that the Basque language is older than all the other European languages. 

The bright clear sunshine felt so good. 

On one of our days Brian went for a bike ride and Bea took a bus and went for a long hike. Below are some of Bea's photos from her hike.

Claire and I spent our time wandering the town and we did some shopping. We also met a traditional Basque man. And then we took a nap.

Brian enjoyed some Basque beers and Claire made a friend (named Nina).

They seem to take their food seriously and we had lots of quality bites. I even got out of my midwest comfort zone and ate some seafood.

Next up is Bilbao.