How did I become the "Hat Lady"?

So I'm perfecting the art of making hats, he-he :)
Here are some of my latest creations:

25% wool, should be warm enough :)

100% cotton w/ interchangeable ribbon for the summer

I gave him my heart ;)

It's been cold over here before Valentine's Day so we couldn't go for a walk to get something for husband/daddy. So I crocheted and gave him my heart :)

We'll be putting it on our Xmas tree this year (his suggestion)!

: )

Crocheted hats

Since I've been able to revive my knowledge of crocheting, I figured that making a baby hat for a gift is more personal and, hopefully, touching. So here are my two latest creations - a hat for baby M and a hat for baby J (with 3 little flowers):

Embellishments

 

Hats are ready for decorations

All done :)

Baby's first foods

 When my little Miss V turned 4 months old (2 weeks ago) I started contemplating whether I wanted to start giving her the first tastes of solid foods. I decided to start with homemade apple puree. It actually went well - although she made a face at her first "bite", she was grabbing my hand and is starting to realize that she has to open her mouth when the spoon come at her, he-he : )))

So since it's been almost 2 weeks, I figured she's ready for her next fruit/vegetable. My next choice? Carrots. But I choose baby carrots because I find them to be sweeter than "regular" carrots. I also decided to mix the carrot puree with the apple to make the mix sweeter and tastier (steamed, pureed and no sugar added!). Personally, I think it tastes GREAT! And look how much puree 1 apple and 80 g of carrots made! 2 weeks worth!

Besides the fact that it's natural and homemade (gives me control over the preparation method and I know that nothing else was added), it's also cheap. Love it!

80 g of baby carrots + 1 "Red & Delicious" apple

Made purees ready to be mixed

apple + carrots (about 1:1)

2-week supply!

Long ago...

I was 10 years old when I started Grade 5 in Belarus. One of the new subjects starting that year (and lasting for 4 years) included the so-called "Labours" or "Trades" (Труды). The basics of the course were rooted in the a bit stereotypical notion that girls would grow up to be good in feeding and clothing the family, while boys would be expected to be handy around the house.

So boys and girls were separated into two groups. I'm not particularly sure now what the boys were taught, but we girls started to learn how to cook, sew, knit, crochet, etc. (I think here, in North America, they call it "Home Economics"). The projects started out simple - a sandwich, a scarf... and finishing with something like a nightgown.

Anyhow, many years have passed since I've picked up a crochet hook, but turns out the fingers still remember how to crochet! :)