i have nothing to say

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perhaps i should not have set forth the royal proclamation that i would write more, & babble less. since doing so i have been struck mute. even now, in just telling you that i cannot write, the words do not come.

i do want to share this play-mat with you, so until i have become unmutificated (real word), i shall indulge in a bit of babble.

elfling was given a set of cars squinkies for christmas. watching him play with them, i remembered this wee map on pinterest. the original source can be found on spoonflower. in their words: a scale(ish) map of paris sized to use with toy cars. you can purchase the fabric by the yard, or a small test swatch.  i hope to by some later this year, to make elfling a blanket. i digress.

how i made this play-mat:

*print the spoonflower image onto card stock.
*cut away the excess paper.
*cover both sides of the map with clear contact paper.
*smooth away bubbles & round the corners. (leave an edge all the way around)
*add one toddler & a handful of squinkies.

elfling loves his new map, & has played with it many times since i made it. this play-mat would make an excellent toy for restaurants & other places you want to enjoy a bit of quiet toddler time. not for my toddler, however, as he tends to announce the end of squinky play by throwing them across the room. sigh.

said squinky-thrower is currently running amok, so i am bringing today's babble to a close. hopefully i shall have something to say soon. have a lovely day, do!

~peace.

ps. i also printed this radiator springs set, which is too cute for words.

notes of note :: i do not own the rights to the map image, so please, do not make play-mats from it to sell. i doubt you would do such a thing, but it had to be said. i know you understand. also, please buy the fabric, if you are able. spoonflower rocks!

of photos, cars, & rules

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photo :: property of thehobbit

it used to be that i could rely on thehobbit for blog photos. not only does he have a good eye (here), he is rarely without his camera (unlike his mama). in fact, now that he has an itouch he is never without a camera. 

so if he is never without his camera; & has not yet had his good eye poked out in a duel with zorro; why am i saying that he can no longer be relied upon for blog photos? do you not see the above photo? does it look katish to you? it does not. in fact, i imagine you thought you'd landed on the wrong blog when you saw it.

the fact of the matter is this: my sweet hobbity one is now only interested in photographing cars. sure, he'll  get a wild hair, & snap a few photos of some fabulous random thing, or his freakycute little brother. mostly though? cars. this one was taken for his his orange-loving uncle.

i suppose it is time for me to literally dust off my camera, & take my own photos. i feel like an edwardian countess whose staff has just been greatly depleted by the onset of ww1. what? i must put on my own shoes? pour my own tea? take my own digital photos? why cannot things just stay the same?!

i am with you, imaginary edwardian lady, i am with you. 

in theory, i am thrilled that thehobbit has discovered a passion - in reality, not so much. i want him to be forever my dragon-loving, faery-hunting, hogwarty boy. cars are just not my thing. he broke the rules. he was supposed to never get angsty, never to stop loving the things that i love, & never to become interested in things that bore me. broken, broken, & broken. dreadful boy.

to recap: 

cars are boring

i have to take my own photos

ww1 was inconvenient

puberty changes things

hobbits are rule-breakers

awesome.

~peace.