Mommy Moments: Sharky

 4-Year-Old: (waving a stuffed animal shark around) Its name is Sharky!

Me, a nerd: Ah, Sharkey. From the orkish word sharkû meaning "old man".

Stuffed Sting Sword

As I was deciding how to dress Steven up as Bilbo Baggins for Halloween this year, I came across an interesting dilemma: How do you show that he is the hobbit, not just a hobbit?  Clearly the answer was that he needed to be carrying Bilbo's iconic sword, Sting.  I actually have a replica of Sting that I got when I was a teenager to use with my Frodo costume.  (We used to dress up as characters from Lord of the Rings and hike up mountains.  Yeah, we were pretty awesome.)  However, giving an energetic almost-two-year-old an actual metal sword to carry around seemed like a pretty bad idea.  So I wasn't sure what to do.

Then I came across this blog post that explained how to make a plush Sting.  That was my solution!  It seemed doubly fitting, since we still have a plush sonic screwdriver from Steven's 11th Doctor costume last year.  Naturally, I didn't follow the pattern I found on the internet - I wanted to make mine better!

The main trick was finding the supplies I needed at such short notice.  (I decided I wanted to make it only 3 days before Halloween!)  Thankfully, I found a silver fabric placemat at a local thrift store - that worked for me!  I got a dowel out of my craft box, and found some brown fabric in my box of random fabric in the attic.  And of course, I had my replica of Sting to use as my pattern.

The first thing to do was trace the pieces I would need to cut from the fabric.  I traced quite widely around the sword, since I knew a sword made out of fabric and stuffing would have to be quite a bit bulkier than the original.

I cut the blade and guard together out of the placemat (one for each side), cut the grip out of the brown fabric, and cut the pommel and decorations out of the placemat.

Then it was time to start sewing!  I excavated my sewing machine and table (I hadn't done any sewing projects in a really long time!) and decided to use off-white thread, since I didn't have any silver.  I also had to be really quiet about it, since it was right outside of Steven's room where he was sleeping!

I started by using a tight zigzag stitch to attach the silver pommel and decorations onto the grip.

Then I used the same stitch to make a line between the blade and the guard and to trace the blade's design.

Then I pinned the two pieces together (right sides in!) and sewed them to make each side of the sword.

The two halves of the sword!

Next I pinned and sewed the two sides of the sword together, right sides in, and sewed it, making sure to leave a gap so I could turn it right-side-out.

Evidently I did not leave a large enough hole for turning the sword right-side-out, because that was the hardest part of the whole process!  But finally I managed it after a lot of effort and some definitely-not-swearing.  Then I used a dowel to poke out all of the corners and edges.

Then it was time to stuff the sword!  I put a dowel in the middle so that it wouldn't be floppy, and I packed stuffing around it.  I used some of the stuffing from an old pillow that I use for projects like this.

And finally, I hand sewed the final gap closed.  I am so pleased with how my "Stuffed Sting" turned out!  And I love that I can pass my love of crafts and Lord of the Rings on to the next generation.

No Sew Hobbit Costume

Last year's Doctor Who costumes were so much fun that I really wanted to have themed costumes again this year for Halloween.  I thought that dressing up as characters from The Hobbit would be great - Jesse could be Gandalf, I could be Galadriel, Steven could be Bilbo, and Kenneth could be baby Smaug.  However, good intentions only get you so far, especially when you have two little kids to keep you busy!  Sadly I wasn't able to make costumes for Jesse and myself, but I did manage to dress up the kids!  I found a discounted little dragon costume for Kenneth, and then made a Bilbo costume for Steven.

Here is what I did to make a cheap and easy no-sew hobbit costume!

The nice thing about hobbit costumes is that you can find the clothes you need at thrift stores and then modify them.  For the Bilbo costume I needed a white button-up shirt, a green vest, brown pants, and a red jacket.

I couldn't find a green vest, but I did find a green shirt for fifty cents.  I didn't want to pull out the sewing machine, so to turn the shirt into a vest I cut the sleeves and collar off, cut it open in the front, and then used masking tape to make the "seams".

I sewed on some buttons from my button jar.

And then because I didn't want to make button holes I just used hot glue to attach some velcro to hold the vest closed.

When you attach the velcro together you can't even tell the buttons are just for decoration!  I guess sewing the buttons on means that this isn't completely "no-sew"... but if you really didn't want to sew the buttons on, you could probably hot glue those too.  I don't know how well the hot glue will hold up long-term, but I just wanted it to last for one day, so I didn't care.

I re-used the jacket from Steven's costume last year.  It was too big for him then, and I had to hem it.  It was still too big for him this year, but I didn't have to hem it as much.  Again because I was going for quick and easy, I used masking tape to hem the sleeves, and used safety pins to hem the sides and then covered the safety pins with masking tape to make sure they didn't come undone by accident.

Since we would be trick-or-treating at a local mall, our little hobbit clearly couldn't go barefoot, so I decided to make him furry hobbit feet to attach to his sandals.  I used some yarn that was left over from making this pony.

I cut several strands of similar lengths and then used another piece to tie them all together in the middle.

Then I brought the two sides together to make a pom-pom-like mass of yarn.  I also unraveled some of the yarn so it didn't look as tidy and yarn-like.

Hairy hobbit feet tied to the sandals.

One little hobbit, ready to go on an adventure!  Now all you need is a sleepy little baby Smaug.

Rainy Mood

We had some stormy weather last week.  Lots of rain, and some high winds too.  I like stormy weather.  Ever since I can remember, I've always said that "windy" was my favourite kind of weather.  I also don't mind rain, which is probably a good thing since I live on the wet west coast.

There is something very comforting about the sound of rain.  I can remember camping with my family as a kid, listening to the sound of the rain pattering on the roof of our tent trailer.  When I got older I loved to go for walks by myself, even in inclement weather.  There have been many times when I have been caught out in a downpour and taken shelter under a tree, listening to the sound of the rain and wind rustling the leaves.

A few years ago I was introduced to a website called "Rainy Mood", which plays the sound of a rain storm.  It's one of our favourite things to listen to.  If you haven't heard of it before - you're welcome!  You can use this link to check it out: Rainy Mood

Even more exciting, however, is that you can combine Rainy Mood with YouTube videos!  There are pre-made mixes on the website, or you can make your own by changing the URL from youtube.com to rainymood.com but leaving the rest of the video's URL the same.  I use this feature to listen to music and Rainy Mood at the same time. 

My personal favourite is two hours of Celtic music by Adrian Von Ziegler.  It fits with the sound of the rain so well, and makes me feel like I'm getting ready to go on an adventure.

Listen to it here!

What have you been listening to today?

Battle Speech for Mothers

We know the stories well: A small band of soldiers is outnumbered.  The odds are against them.  Everything seems hopeless.  But their brave leader stands and urges them on with a rousing speech.

Whether real or fictional, we know and love these speeches well. From Henry V's "St. Crispin's Day" to Winston Churchill's "We shall never surrender", their words awaken something in us and inspire us to greatness.

Some of my favourite battle speeches come from The Lord of the Rings. One particularly well known moment is Aragorn's speech before the Black Gate. The last army of Gondor and Rohan has walked knowingly into a trap in a desperate attempt to distract the Dark Lord Sauron long enough to allow Frodo to destroy the one ring. In the face of impossible odds, Aragorn urges his men to stand firm and fight.  If you're not familiar with it, give it a quick search on YouTube, it's pretty epic.

I think it's a shame that all these great speeches come in a context of war and fighting. What about other situations in which we need a rousing call to great deeds? For example, what about motherhood? Being a mom can be very challenging. There are days when nothing seems to go right. Diapers explode, food is dumped on the floor, dishes are broken, laundry piles high, tantrums and tears abound. Some days, we need inspiring " battle speeches " too.

So I have adapted one for us. It's based on Aragorn's speech at black gate.  Mothers, as we stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of overwhelming odds: an onslaught of diapers, dishes, laundry, and messes, may we never falter or give up hope.


Mothers of babies, of toddlers, my sisters,
I see in your eyes the same tiredness that would take the heart of me.
A day may come when the strength of mothers fails,
When we forsake the needs of our children
And break our promise of support to our husbands,
But it is not this day.
An hour of despair and shattered dreams,
When the homes we love come crashing down,
But it is not this day!
This day we press on!
By the families that you hold dear on this good earth,
I bid you stand, mothers of the young!

The Journey of the Ringbearer

Since it is September 22, which is known by all nerds as the birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, I thought I would share a poem I wrote many years ago on the story of the Lord of the Rings.  I based it on the movie adaption, since Sam loses Frodo more often in that version, compared to the book.

This poem is dedicated to those people who are true friends, who "stick with you through thick and thin to the bitter end".  May we all care about others more deeply and faithfully, even when it costs us everything.


The Journey of the Ringbearer (or The Trials of Master Samwise)

A birthday party starts it all            
     A ring that’s left behind
Two hobbits set out from their home    
     Who knows what they will find?
“Don’t you lose him” Gandalf’s warning    
     Once more ringing loud and low
But now the cornfield’s empty -       
     Where did Frodo go?

Fear and shadow in the memory        
     Light and laughter now drive out
They have made it - but no Gandalf    
     Pippin’s welcomed with a shout
Pippin’s “Sure I know a Baggins!”        
     Frodo knows he can’t allow
He runs to Pippin, trips, and falls -     
     Where is Frodo now?

Fear and horror now before them        
     Ringed around by ancient stones
The wraiths of doom have not gone far    
     In great pain Frodo groans
Elven light and hurried whispers        
     Strider looking very grim
Now Frodo has been rode away -     
     Where are they taking him?

    All united once again            
    The journey’s just begun
    A council to decide the way        
    They’re joined then, one by one:
    Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin,            
    Aragorn, Legolas,
    Gandalf, Gimli, Boromir            
    All gather to the task

And now the Fellowship sets out        
     O’er rock and stream and hill
But road is watched and mountain blocked  
     The mines with dangers fill
Trapped, fighting goblins, then much worse  
     A fell horror comes on
And finally they make it out -         
     But where has Gandalf gone?

The Elven woods now left behind        
     The mighty river flows
Past ancient kings to Rauros falls        
     Their watery path goes
But even here they don’t feel safe        
     Shadow one more draws near
Now Aragorn is wondering, where’s    
     Frodo and Boromir?

    Two there were who first began        
    And now just two go on
    To end the quest; the rest now to        
    Their own paths have been drawn
    And through the rocks of Emen Muil    
    Now Frodo and Sam go
    What now lies ahead of them?        
    The dangers, who can know?

Through bog and marshes dark and foul     
     The two now become three
The Black Gates, though, they can’t get through  
     An oliphaunt they see
Heneth Anun, Osgiliath,            
     Yet Faramir says “no”
Dread Nazgul wings beating the air -    
     Where did Frodo go?

Now finally upon their way            
     To Mordor Gollum leads
And through his mask of treachery     
     The watching Samwise heeds
Past Minas Morgul, then up stairs        
     So hard and high and long
“Go home” and Sam sits weeping        
      Where has Frodo gone?

With Gollum now Frodo goes on        
     In tunnel he is led
Sam comes and drives off spider foul    
     But thinks that Frodo’s dead
Now he must carry on the quest        
     He hears some orc talk grim
Frodo’s captured and is not dead!        
     Where have they taken him?

    Through gate and stairs and past orc guards  
    Now nothing makes Sam stop
    Nor hinder him from getting         
    To his master at the top
    Then they escape disguised as orcs    
    And into Mordor go
    Across the plains of Gorgoroth        
    They journey sad and slow

They struggle on and without hope    
     Of seeing home again
Sam carries Frodo up Mt. Doom        
     And Gollum shows up then
Frodo runs on, Sam follows him        
     Hears roar of fire below
But Sam sees Frodo disappear        
     Where did Frodo go?

    Gollum now has paid the price        
    The quest at last is done
    The eagles bear them swift away        
    The battle too is won
    All are united once again            
    Midst laughter, joy and tears
    Aragorn is crowned as king        
    Ended are all their fears

Now finally they return home        
     To tree and hole and field
But Frodo is still in much pain        
     Some wounds just can’t be healed
To havens grey they travel now        
     The wind blows sad and slow
Now far away the ship has sailed        
     Where did Frodo go?

My Top Ten Favourite Movies

It's time for your favourite game show: How well do you know what movies Leane likes?!!!

Just kidding.

(But actually, if you want to guess what my top ten are, go ahead!  I'm curious how many you would get right!)

It's pretty common knowledge that I'm not really a movie person.  I'd much prefer a book (for alone time) or a game (for social time), however I am slowly adding to the repertoire of movies that I have seen.  Today, just for fun, I thought I'd share my current top ten list.

Just for the record, I count series, trilogies and sequels as one movie.  Because they kind of are one story.  And then I can list more movies!

Here we go!  My top ten, in no particular order (but kind of in order):

10. The Penguins of Madagascar
This comical adventure of four penguins is full of laughs.  I thoroughly enjoyed it.

9. Singing in the Rain
An old classic with lots of great singing and dancing.

8. Pride and Prejudice
The long one.  With Colin Firth.  It is the best Pride and Prejudice.  Hands down.

7. The Croods
Ever wonder what the typical American family would be like as cave men?  Look no further.  Lots of humour and some touching moments.

6. Epic
As epic as a story about tiny people and forest critters can be.  I like this movie for its humour as well as its portrayal of relationship dynamics.

5. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty
A normal man's redemption story.  It makes me want to pack up and go traveling every time I watch it.

4. Narnia: The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
This movie never fails to make me feel young, brave, and confident that good will always win.

3. How to Train Your Dragon (1 & 2)
A powerful coming of age story.  With awesome dragons.  I want to ride a dragon so bad.

2. Inside Out
Welcome to the world of emotions that live inside your head.  This movie is absolutely brilliant, and if you haven't seen it yet you should go watch it.  Right now.

1. The Lord of the Rings
My preciousssss...

What are some of your favourite movies?  Were you able to guess any of mine?