Lupine is officially four. Four! I sometimes still think of her as my baby, but looking at the photos below she is transforming rapidly from little into girl. Her birthday was a magical and simple day: a card from Nanny and Bumpie (my folks), a couple of lovingly made or chosen gifts, a fresh batch of playdough, fancy dresses, and a noodle kugel picnic in the sunshine.
The "cake" she requested was ginger-plum cupcakes with colorful sprinkles. We keep some natural colored sugars on hand that I discovered on-line. (We also use their food coloring when we don't want to mess with making our own.) As we decorated the cupcakes in the afternoon Sage groaned, "Please don't tell me there are greens in my sprinkles." "Spinach," I replied, with barely disguised delight. There is some deep and perhaps slightly demented satisfaction in spinach sprinkles for me. I know. It's freaky. But if I'm going to feed my kids sugar, make it spinach-laced sugar. (I blame my 1970's health-food-maniac mother for this gene.)
One of Lulu's handmade gifts was from me: the dress I've been working on since the beach. The yarn is a handspun I picked up on Etsy and the pattern was quick and ridiculously easy. I added a little heart pocket to it (a modification of this one) that might just be the deal-maker for her. I think it is the first article of clothing I have made for Lupine that she unequivocally loves.
This weekend we'll gather with four of her favorite little girls to continue the merriment. A fairy tea party with costumes, glitter, and plenty more spinach – and beet, and turmeric – sprinkles to be had.
LOVE the purple dress 🙂 xoxo
Thanks, Kel!
Rachel
Wow the yarn and the dress are divine.
so very sweet and I love sage’s groan about the sprinkles – so cute. Would love to be entered in your giveaway for the wooly baby (i think thats what it’s called) but i cant find the post – or it wont come up. Have an amazing rest of your day.
That one will be tomorrow, Lori! Watch in the AM for it.
xo
Rachel
What a sweet dress! Thanks for sharing the info about the natural sugars. I am having a giveaway on my blog too. Be sure to stop by.
It was a fun knit, Jacinda! Thanks for your note.
Rachel
I’ll admit, I came over to read this post (in part) just for the title. Spinach sprinkles definitely scream merriment to me — so you go girl. I love your style. And your way with spinach 😉 Lupine is a lovely & lucky little girl.
A little freaky, but mostly awesome. I wonder how many years it will be before we use up the jar of sprinkles in the cupboard so I can replace them with spinach-laced sprinkles? Hmm…. 🙂
I love the dress you made for Lupine!!!
too funny.
I bought the beet ones the other day, and didn’t even consider the veggies- just the lack of red dye #40…
Thanks for opening my eyes! Maybe we’ll have sprinkles on something sooner now. : )
Beautiful dress, and a lovely daughter. Such joy, aren’t they?
Happy Birthday, Lupine!
and Happy Birthing Day to you, Rachel.
Mary
I cannot believe that she is four! The dressed turned out so well. What a wonderful reminder of her big adventure.
What a sweet post. We’re honored to have been a spinach-laden part of your celebration.
–India Tree
Thanks for your note, Liz! I discovered your food coloring online and asked my small town food coop (The Viroqua Food Coop) to carry them. They have – along with your sugars – ever since. We use them often.
Blessings,
Rachel
Thank you for your note, Mary. Sometimes colored sprinkles make all the difference in food (not unlike glitter or sequins for crafting.) 🙂
And yes, such a joy indeed!
Rachel
Kelly,
Hmmm… maybe those sprinkles find their way into play dough projects, then you upgrade right away!
🙂
Rachel
Thanks for your comment, Lo. Made me smile a big spinach-mama smile.
~Rachel
I love the dress! So cute!!
mmm sprinkles….. i mean, spinach! thanks for the link for natural sprinkles, and happiest of happys to you and your girl!