Measuring Up

Although this is the month where all the kids have a check-up with the pediatrician (Max and Otto for 5 yrs and 3 yrs, respectively. Wren for 15 months), and we find out their heights, weights and percentiles (among plenty of other more important health metrics), that is not what prompted me to provide this quick update on how they're all measuring up.  

It was their jeans.  Specifically Otto and Wren's jeans.  

They're in the same size!  And they're generally a little looser on Otto than they are on Wren.

While doing laundry the other day it dawned on me that I was folding a bunch of 2T's.  And that some were in the pile to go to Otto's room.  And some were in the pile to go to Wren's room.  When did this happen?  It was a couple months ago when I bumped Wren up to a 2T in jeans to ensure they weren't too restricting around her belly and fully covered her ankles given the wind chills we've been having.

Wren wearing Otto's 2T's and Otto wearing Wren's 2T's

Here are the stats for the kids right now.  


Wren @ 15 months
25lbs (88%) & 33" (99%)


Otto @ 3 years
34lbs (73%) & 39.75" (92%)  
@ 3 yrs Max was 36lbs (87%) & 37.75" (53%)...2 lbs heavier and 2 inches shorter.  


Max @ 5 years
46lbs (82%) & 44" (74%)

Play-Dohn't

One of mine and Joe's commitments for 2013 was to find a babysitter, and then hire her at least monthly.

In late 2012 we were connected with a babysitter and did a "trial run," having her babysit for just Wren while Joe and I took the boys on a fun date.  The true test, we knew, would come when she watched all three kids.  

Last Saturday we put it - us, them, her - to the test.  I was already on edge about having a 13 year old watch all three of the kids together.  Add to the mix that her Dad is one of my superior's at work, and I was downright nervous.  Although he's not my direct boss, he's on that level.  Higher than me on the totem pole, which means not only can he evaluate me as an employee, but he'll now be able to gleam first hand, unedited knowledge of my kids, which can result in evaluating me as a parent, too.  

As I've shared repeatedly, my kids are beautiful and caring and so sweet.  And they can also be wild and argumentative and fight with each other.  

Our new babysitter is incredibly conscientious and mature for 13.  I feel very confident in her abilities to care for the kids and have fun with them.  I just don't want to scare her away if the boys would get too wild when she was watching them.  

Taking all things into consideration, we decided to have her sit from 4:30-8pm.  That way, all kids were fresh off their naps and if Wren didn't go to bed easily for her at 7pm, at least it wouldn't be the end of the world getting home at 8pm.  I worried that if we had her come at a normal babysitting hour (6-10pm or something), and it was a bust, Joe and I would return home to three kids all up WAY past bedtime and misbehaving.  We thought we'd improve everyone's odds of success this first time and have a "senior citizen" hour date night.

After reviewing all the details of dinner and bedtime and do's/don'ts with the kids we rushed off to a movie.  I reinforced how she could call us with ANY questions or if the kids were out of hand.  And she did call.  

After about an hour and a half my phone rang at the movie theatre.  My heart sank.  I ran out of the theatre to talk with her. She was calling because as much as she thought she understood how to work our TV/computer to get a movie to play, she couldn't quite figure it out now (I had suggested starting a movie to keep the boys entertained when it was time to put Wren to bed).  Of course I have no idea to get a movie working on our TV myself, so I had to run and get Joe to talk to her.  But before I got off the phone with her I asked how everything was going.  She was totally cool, calm, collected.  There was no yelling in the background.  She assured me all was really great.  

I got Joe.  He walked her through the movie start-up process.  And I relaxed so much better the back-half of our date.  I think her calling was the best thing she could have done, as it eased my nerves.  If she was courageous enough to call about turning a movie on, I feel confident she'll call in the future if anything serious needed our attention.  

When Joe and I returned home all was well.  The boys were watching the movie.  She did say, although Wren went down easily to bed, she woke up just 20 minutes after falling asleep because IPA barked (UGH! Hate that).  I'll have to tell her next time to shut Wren's door and turn the fan on for background noise.  Anyway, Wren cried a bit, but she was able to get her back to bed...she was asleep when we got home and slept the night through.  After the boys finished their movie we had fun asking them about their time with the sitter.  I could tell Otto enjoyed having her, but couldn't get a good read from Max.

When driving the sitter home I pressed a bit more...  Are you sure they were good for you?  I know how loud they can get.  I know how they can fight with each other.  You can always tell me if they were not well-behaved because I want you to want to babysit again (soon).  

She insisted they were really good.  A little wild right when we left, but they settled down quickly.  After I asked one more time, she did say "Well....there was just one thing."  Oh dear.

She said when she came out of Wren's room from putting her down they had mixed some of the Play-Doh colors together.  She asked them if Mom gets upset when they mix the Play-Doh and Max said "Sometimes she doesn't really like it."

Really?  First, that's awesome that that is the worst thing that happened.  HUGE relief.  Her sharing this story makes me think they really were well behaved and that she really will tell me if they aren't in the future.  

Second, we don't have too many Play-Dohn'ts in our house.  Keep it on the table.  And as with everything, eat it in moderation.  I can't say that I've ever asked the boys not to mix colors (and here I am thinking I'm way too relaxed as a parent), but interesting that Max thinks I don't want him mixing Play-Doh colors. 

And just this afternoon I called our babysitter to confirm a date in February.  While on the phone with her Mom, she told me how she had enjoyed babysitting.  How all the kids were really cute and sweet.  But she was truly enchanted with Max.  She loved the conversations she had with him, the questions he asked.  That he was a neat kid.  

Speaking of the babysitter being enchanted with Max and his conversations...  It reminded me of the first question I heard the sitter ask Max as Joe and I were leaving.  While they were settling in to play with Play-Doh, she asked Max "Do you like Play-Doh?"

His response:  "Yeah.  It's kind of salty, so it tastes pretty good."

Enchanting and neat-o, my Max.

So glad all went well. I've got the sitter lined up for February.  Next commitment for 2013 - we must get a photo of me and Joe together on every month's play date.  Dear lord.  I did just write that.  And I'm not editing it out.  You all get what I meant.  

Happy Third Birthday, Otto

Oh, Otto.  He's 3 years old now!  And he continues to be our silly sweetheart.

After I had many of my memories from this year captured, I took a stroll down memory lane by re-reading my post from Otto's 2nd Birthday. Many of the observations I made last year rose to the top again this year, and his voice and singing were a couple of them. 

Over the past year Otto has grown so incredibly much.  A year ago he was still learning words and short phrases.  Now he talks a lot.  A year ago I referred to Otto's voice as "bubbly."  More recently I've been describing it as "staccato."  Very brief and abrupt between words and thoughts.  For awhile now, when Otto talks, "staccato signals of constant information" (from Paul Simon's Graceland) has started playing in my head.  I think the song makes reference to military intel via SOS signals, and I actually feel like I'm listening to SOS (and sometimes trying to decipher it) when Otto talks his voice is so staccato.  

But mostly Otto sings.  

For the past couple months Otto has been creating little music studios throughout our house.  He'll set up shop - which includes the Ukelele and all of my curling irons and flat irons (which, of course, are his microphones).  But for this birthday, Auntie Jamie got him a real guitar. And now he is playing his guitar all day long.  Literally.  When I was home with him and Wren last week he sang all day and "tuned" his guitar and plugged in cords for all his microphones.  He shut himself in the bathroom and every time I'd check on him he was busy singing and practicing his music, five curling iron microphones lined up, planning his next jam session.  

  

Otto with his new guitar from Auntie Jamie

Getting ready to sing

Playing a song (microphone not too far away, ready for when he needs it)

And here's a little of his singing.  While he was in the bathroom I just had to capture a soundbite from outside the closed door.  I have no idea what he's singing...possibly made up, possibly Hebrew.

Perhaps fitting with his singer/musician kick, he also loves his long hair.  Particularly his ponies (& piggies sometimes).  He insists he doesn't want his hair cut.  He wants his pony tail.  Sometimes I put them in his hair, but usually his teacher Amy at school does his hair for him (as well as the rest of the kids in his class:).  

Speaking of school, his teachers adore him. And we adore them. They are three of the best teachers we've had for the kids.  Incredibly observant and always sharing detailed stories about Otto.  Awhile ago, shortly after Otto started in their classroom and without knowledge of how Joe and I describe Otto's personality and strengths, they began observing similar things as us. 

Most frequently are their stories of how innovative Otto is. That he mixes and matches toys, using them for things they are not intended.  He'll create amazing things and then lead (through example rather than verbally persuading) most of his class to this new use of the toys that he's dreamt up and implemented.   

Over the past year Otto has physically grown a ton, too.  I cannot wait for his three year check-up next week.  He seems so tall and has feet the size of skis - I'm curious if he's off the charts or if it just feels like it!  He's totally leaned out, too.  A year ago he had a bit of meat on his bones, but he's pretty much skin, bones and muscle these days.  In fact, when I switched Wren from formula to whole milk, I decided to switch Otto from skim to whole (or at least 1% or 2%) because he was too frequently waking up at 5am saying he was hungry.  He doesn't drink any more milk than he did before, but I swear he's less hungry (and hangry) now that he's getting a little more fat in his diet.  

And as much as I say he's so tall, when I hold him he seems so tiny because his body structure is so different than Max's was/is. Just the other day for his nap Otto insisted on sleeping inside his pillow case instead of using his blankets.  He was like a tiny little mouse curled up in a matchbox.  

For Otto's Birthday celebration last week I hung balloons in a couple of the doorways by our kitchen.  Otto is so kind-hearted.  When he woke up and saw the balloons, right away he said "Oh look!  A little one for Wren (it had deflated a bit and was tiny)."  Then he counted each of the balloons... 1 - 2 - 3 - 4...!  WOW! They're a LOT of balloons.  I'll take one to Wren and Max (who were still in bed sleeping so I begged Otto not to go running into their rooms with balloons!)

After he saw the first set of balloons hanging in one doorway, he went to another archway and saw "MORE" (which still sounds like "moy" when he says it because Otto's "R's" are pronounced like "oy") hanging!!! 

Next week I will celebrate belated with his class by reading some of his favorite books and sharing a bit about his baby memory quilt with his school friends.  


Oohhh, I love our Otto.  He is so kind and sweet and silly.  I love his sincerity when he says "Thank You" or "I love you too so much" or asks Max "I have a turn when you're done?" or he tells Auntie Jamie "Thank you for celebrating my Birthday."

Otto and his frozen "dirt" cake

Licking candles

Licking fingers

A perfect capture of Otto!  

I'm pretty sure he was singing while "running silly" (what I call it when he runs while wiggling his arms and legs and head)

Dream Vacation In The Dells

Growing up we were not a "Dells" or arcade type family. I think I went to Noah's Arc Waterpark once through a school field trip. I don't have stories, or memories even, of splashing in the wave pools and turning in fistfuls of tickets for cheap, made in China arcade prizes. But by golly, I'm not going to let the novelty of all that be lost on me. Not any longer, anyway. 

Last summer Joe's parents and my sister teamed up to bring Max and his three older cousins to The Dells for a few days. Max had the time of his life and I got a wake up call...  Joe and I can't only be good at celebrating the mundane everyday things with our kids. We've got to get over the "hullabaloo" and hype of some of the special things and do them ourselves. We realized that if we didn't want the Grandmas and Papas and Aunties to have ALL the fun, we'd better take a page out of their book!

So as we were tossing around ideas of how we could celebrate Otto's 3rd birthday and Max's 5th birthday we floated the idea of a Dells trip out to the boys. Max was so excited and started jumping up and down and hooting and hollering. Otto wasn't sure what the Dells was, but joined in the ruckus.  Max didn't stop talking about the possible Birthday trip and how he'd show Otto the games and the pirate ship and the water slides and all the really cool stuff in the Dells. 

It was clear.  The boys were growing another year older.  And we'd grown a year wiser - we'd learned to have a ton of fun with the kids, do what they want to do!  We knew The Dells with Max and Otto would be a lot more fun if we left little sister at home. There is just such a huge difference between 3 and 5 years and a 1-year old. We wanted their birthday trip to be a mostly 'Yes!' trip for Max and Otto, and bringing Wren with would result in a lot of trade-offs on what would be best for her and most celebratory for the boys. 

Very lucky for us, Jamie was willing to watch Wren in Minneapolis during one of her rotations off of work so we could take just the boys on vacation for a couple days.

And so Thursday morning we set off down Hwy 94 for our dream vacation in the Dells (if you don't know this song, I've linked to a YouTube video of it and pasted the lyrics below...the week leading up to our trip I couldn't get it out of my head). 


The Waterpark
My friend Greta, who's been going to the Dells every year for quite some time, recommended The Wilderness as a great waterpark for kids.  I found some good rates, signed the boys up for their Birthday Club and we were all set.  

When we went into the resort to check-in upon our arrival, the boys were bowled over with excitement.  The enthusiasm and dancing and smiles in the below picture were a very common site for us while there.  So much fun watching their happiness over all the treats and experiences that were in store for them over the weekend.  

Wearing sandals and swimsuits in the snow was just.too.much for them!  They couldn't contain themselves - so happy!

The little kid waterpark was the park we all liked the best.  We tried out all four of the indoor water parks that were open at The Wilderness, but this definitely suited us.  It was the warmest, least crowded (until Saturday when it got busier, I think there were only 2-3 other families even in this park at any given time), quietest and manageable.  The two other larger parks were somewhat cold (air and water), loud and had enormous buckets dumping 1,000's of gallons of water every couple minutes (Otto wasn't a fan). We were all perfectly happy at this little using the water sprayers, going down all the slides, using the indoor/outdoor hot tub, etc.  

Max under the water mushroom. 

Otto did have a blast in the giant wave pool.  He was full of squeals of delight.

The Arcade

I'm thankful Max had gone to the Dells once before so that I was a bit better prepared about what to expect.  For instance, the Arcade.  I would have shunned the idea of going to the arcade.  I would have fought it badly.  Would have tried to talk the boys out of their request to go.  Throwing money away.  But because he had been there before I was forewarned that the Arcade is a HUGE part of the Dells experience.  To budget time, money and expectations accordingly.  So we did.  We withdrew $20's from our bank accounts in singles.  Even Grandma and Papa delivered Birthday $20's for the boys for the arcade!

The thing is, at the Arcade they've done away with tokens for the machines and tickets for prizes. Nowadays everything is an e-credit on plastic. I handed over my wad of dollars and got a plastic credit card in return.  A little confusing for all of us the 1st day, but I quickly found my flow. However, I think Max thought he had no tickets to cash in for prizes until late into our second day. When I said he and Otto could go get a couple prizes he said he didn't have any tickets to get anything. I explained the new credit approach and they shrugged it off while selecting a small candy treat and an airplane glider.  They saved the rest of the tickets hoping to win enough to get a Froggy Bubble Gum Machine. 

The GamesThe Claw. An evergreen arcade game. Highly addictive. Watching prizes s.l.i.p. through the metal grabbers over and over. And over and over. Knowing it should not be that hard to grab a prize and get it to the drop box mere inches away. 

Our resort knows this game is the pinnacle in arcades and had a great mix of Claw games...

The standard one, a medium sized claw to try and grab stuffed animals and the like. After a couple failed attempts our interest waned with this Claw.  

They also had the "Everyone's a Winner" claw game filled with little rubber duckies. For every game played (at $1 a pop) you were guaranteed a rubber duck. If you didn't get one the first try, you could try again and again until you got one! The thing is, for this claw they used a bigger gripped so it was much easier. Personally, I wish they'd use the same slender claw of the standard game to make our $1 bills and my kid's play time last a little longer. Regardless, the boys loved that it was the claw game and that they walked away with a prize every time they played. 

The "winner every time" rubber duckie claw game was Max's favorite. Our first night he got a few ducks and put them in a baggie.  He carried that baggie wherever we went and enjoyed adding more ducks each day.

The claw game I was obsessed with was called "The Giant." It was a huge 15' square glass house filled with giant inflated balls. The claw easily had a radius 3 feet wide to try and grab one of the huge balls. 

We tried a few times our first night there but had no success. Yet we saw people everywhere holding the huge inflated balls around the arcade and resort. What was I doing wrong that I couldn't win one!? I told the boys I'd try again tomorrow.

So our second night we saw a group of people around "The Giant," holding six balls they had just won. We watched them win another one. Then went to try for yet another - twice - with no success.

However, all their attempts left a green (Max's favorite color) ball jostled up on top and seemingly easier to get at with the claw. Max reminded me I said we could try again today. I needed no reminder. I remembered. And I wanted that ball. 

We wasted no time. In fact I don't think Joe and Otto were nearby to see us begin our attempt. I swiped my card, slid the claw over to the green ball, dropped it down and in a swift movement the claw grabbed the ball, carried it over and dropped it in the box for us to retrieve it! 

We showed Joe and Otto that we finally got one. And now, rightfully so, Otto wanted one too. And he knew exactly which one he wanted. 

A purple one. The purple one Wedged in a corner, partially buried by not one, but two other balls. I tried to get Otto to be OK with a different purple ball - one that was on top of the purple ball he wanted - and seemed easier to get. He wasn't having it. He wanted THAT purple ball. The buried one, wedged in the corner. 

No sense wasting time. I had just won a giant ball! I was on a roll! And Otto isn't my kid to settle for the easy way out. I best get working on the challenge of the buried ball.

With a small audience watching - they had heard Otto's challenging request and my failed attempt to tempt him with a ball within easier reach.  I went into "fight" mode (as much as one can when playing an arcade game) and swiped my card so I could try and win Otto his ball.

I tried my best to operate The Giant as swiftly as I had when winning Max's prize. The claw dropped down on top of the jumble that Otto's purple ball was buried under. And, almost as in slow motion (with Chariots of Fire playing in my mind), the claw opened, tipped onto its side, and got each of it's three prongs out of the way of the other balls and wrapped around Otto's purple ball. It closed tightly around Otto's purple ball! As the claw lifted up and carried Otto's purple ball over to the drop box the whole arcade went wild at the valiant, successful grab. Maybe not everyone, but me and my Otto did! Seriously, it didn't look like there was a chance in hell that I was getting that ball for Otto. He's got this quiet, unwavering knowledge about him - he knows when he knows, I guess! 

The Giant claw game and the balls I won for Max & Otto!

Our work there was done. It was off to conquer skeeball. 

With only a few thrown (instead of rolled) balls and near shattered window guards, the boys got more comfortable with the skill and speed needed to get the balls from their palms, and into the targets behind said window guards. 

Very quickly Max was earning loads of points. Maybe we do have a shot at raising a left handed pitcher or catcher! 

Treats, Treats, Treats

We let the boys indulge in treats while in the Dells.  Gum balls from giant gum ball machines and those little wax soda bottles filled with sugar water - just to name a few :)

3-D Black Light Mini Golf
Another novelty for all of us.  Joe and I needed to remove our 3-D glasses after just a few moments as we felt migranes coming on.  

A perfect vacation with Max & Otto, and a great jump-start to their Birthdays.  They had such a fun time, and so did we.  It was so great getting to have a 1:1 ratio with the boys.  Each one of them always had mine or Joe's undivided attention and we can tell they like that.

Heading home.  Tuckered out.  Wearing a hat from lunch.  Holding the Froggy Gum Ball Machine that we earned just enough points to get (thanks to a great last minute arcade play by Joe).

Dream Vacation In The Dells (Gear Daddies)

Been saving now for over a year

Let's pack the kids get outta here

We'll leave behind our troubles for a week

We'll borrow the pop-up from Phyllis and Steve

Just tell the boss I gotta leave

Be the best week of our lives as I can tell

We'll take our dream vacation in the Dells

We'll see the robot world and the water show

Go anywhere you wanna go

Circus world Museum in Baraboo

We'll play mini-golf at the Jellystone

And we'll finally see that house of foam

And if the kids wanna buy a t-shirt what the hell

It's our dream vacation in the Dells

And at night when the kids is all asleep

Then off to the lounge for a nightcap we can sneak

I know our lives they ain't the stuff of dreams

But for one full week we can live like kings and queens

So let's board the dogs lock the door

We'll roll down Interstate 94

Be the best week of our lives as I can tell

We'll take our dream vacation in the Dells

Gonna take our dream vacation in the Dells

Open Sesame

While I was walking down the hallway, Otto, who was in front of me, stopped abruptly.  He spread his arms wide, hands touching each of the walls, and blocked my way.

He looked at me and said "Sesame Street!"

As my questioning words of "Sesame Street???" were being formed and tumbling out of my mouth, my brain clicked in and I got it.

"Say 'Open Sesame Street!'" he exclaimed.  

SOHO

Faribault Woolen Mills "SoHo Throw"

On the verge of closing down, the leaders of Faribault Woolen Mills gave their designers the task of creating a new blanket design using "stuff on hand only" - or SOHO.

The blanket that Joe got me for Christmas is Faribault's SOHO throw. Using scraps and existing supplies, they created a beautiful new blanket design. 

Stuff On Hand Only.

I love this idea!  Joe really loves this idea!!  

For 2013 I am committing to think really long and hard before I buy any new stuff to do any crafting or DIYing.  I have so many materials here at home that there are easily hundreds of crafts that I can start and finish without having to buy any new stuff.  

From sewing to printing to felting to knitting to tens of other things...all I need to do is look through my bins of craft supplies to be inspired.  Or, search for ideas in new craft books I received for Christmas, on Pinterest or the web using materials I have on hand.  In fact, I've started a Pinterest board for SOHO inspiration and already have a handful of ideas I can tackle just by using things I already own.  It's great.  I'm ready to delete any Jo-Ann emails I get...even their Free Shipping.No Minimum. ones!

Saving myself time by not having to shop for new materials.

Saving myself money by not buying new unnecessary materials.

De-cluttering by turning my "stuff" into useful (or at least beautiful) creations.

Reducing my carbon footprint by not driving to Jo-Ann or having them ship me things (OK. Bit of a stretch.)

Pinterest parties?  So 2012.

2013 will be the year of the SOHO party.  My house, you're all invited, and I can even supply the stuff if needed!

Minnesota Craftsman

I think I mentioned in my Christmas post that Joe got me a blanket from Faribault Woolen Mills.  As I work to make our living room more cozy, I've been adding blankets and pillows a plenty on the couch and in baskets.  The blanket Joe picked out was a beautiful neutral beige and cream striped one...but I had my eye on a more "Christmas" one to go with all our Holiday pillows.  Funny thing, when I showed Joe the blanket I had been eyeing, he said that was the style he was going to get me, but then second guessed himself.  

So last week when the kids were in daycare and Joe and I were on vacation, we decided to take a road trip to the Faribault Woolen Mills factory and retail store and make a blanket exchange.  It's just 50 miles outside Minneapolis and was a great jaunt to a super small town.

After fueling up and catching up over a cup of coffee at a little coffee shop in town, we headed to the Mills.  As we approached the factory I could tell our visit was going to be right up mine and Joe's ally.  The company has been making wool blankets in Faribault for nearly one hundred and fifty years.  Other than raising the sheep for wool, they are vertically integrated.  They get the raw wool and manage every other step in the process to turn the wool into blankets and sell them.  They are masters of their craft and I could not wait to see their wares!

It was fitting that we were about to learn about a new craft, because one of the things I admire most about Joe is his craftsmanship and all that comes with being a craftsman.  He works so hard and with so much love to make things for us, our house, our kids.  He is incredibly creative and resourceful - and uses his resources to the fullest. 

The Thanksgiving turkey carcass?  Joe gets it to turn it into stock.  

Wood scraps left over from a piece of furniture Joe made?  The boys get to turn them into new toys. 

Old curtains and a hula hoop?  They become a kid's canopy corner.

So my craftsmanly hubby and I walk into the Faribault retail store and I love it.  Rustic, cozy, yet still bright.  Industrial and warm.   Repurposed factory items as decor.  I'll let you take a look at their Facebook page or website to see all the photos, but here are some to give you an idea.  

Blankets on display.  The one I got is the 5th from left/4th from right.  It's grey with red and cream plaid.

One of the conference rooms (in Faribault there is the actual Mill, retail store and corporate offices).  Very cool use of the yarn on spindles to create the wall display.

After exchanging my blanket we learned that there would be a factory tour later that afternoon where they would tell us the story of the Mill, show us the machines, let us touch the wool, etc.  Couldn't wait!  We grabbed lunch and then headed back for the tour.

I'll try not to go into too much detail, but it was so cool to learn about the company, its history and the process of making their blankets.  I'm sure much of this is on their website, so I'll share just a few photos and comments.  

First, I learned that around 2009 the original owners of the Mill, who had owned it since the 1800's, went into bankruptcy (or just shut their doors - I forget).  A couple years later the ex CEO of the DQ, who lives in Edina, MN, made an offer to buy the Mill because he was "looking for a project."  In the matter of days the sale went through, and just months after the sale they were opened for business...making blankets again, selling them at their retail store and creating thriving partnerships with customers of the likes of Hudson Hotel, JC Penny and more.  It's a really exciting turnaround story for this brand and company.     Additionally, the new owner hired back many of the previous Mill workers and is hopeful future growth of the company will allow him to continue to hire more. 

Bundles of wool from one of their suppliers.  Majority of their wool is grown on sheep farms in the Western USA.  Merino is sourced from New Zealand.  

One of the machines.  I forget exactly what this one does.  But many of them were from the 1930's & 40's.  Plenty of open places near the gears and things where you could lose an arm or get injured.  And the factory has dust and dirt everywhere.  Joe and I were commenting how different this factory is from his plant for medical devices and General Mills' plants...you could eat a meal off the floor of our factories they are so spotless.

The gears, loaded with grease and covered in wool.  Surprising to me how they are still working with all this debris and being so old.

Spools upon spools of remnant yarn.  These have been sitting here for 5+ years (since when Faribault Mills shut down).  Since the dye lots are different they can't use them to make their current blankets. They offer this yarn up for custom orders/limited runs for their customers. Of course my mind took off dreaming about the blankets I could design and how I could work directly with them to have them created...

Close up of the inch of dust accumulated on the spools of yarn!  They could just take an air hose and spray it clean before putting in the loom.  

This is the manager of the retail store in Faribault.  She was so cute and trendy that I immediately judged her thinking that she was a girlfriend of the new owner's son or something and just got this cool job handed to her.  I was totally wrong and jumping to conclusions.  She was born and raised in Faribault.  Her dad worked at the Mill from the time she was 4 years old.  She grew up at the Mill.  She had such fun knowledge to share and stories to tell.  

Behind her is one of their main looms.  It is enormous.  The yarn is still HAND looped, one string at a time, onto hundreds (maybe thousands) of little loom hooks.  In fact, one of the company's main loomers (the lady who is the master of the looms) is 83 years old and been with the company for over 50 years.  She has been looming for so long that she doesn't look when she hooks the yarn, but rather just does it by feel.  

Of Note:  If the machine is threaded incorrectly, or a piece of yarn were to come off one of the hooks while being woven, this machine has an automatic stop.  Chances are, however, that there will be a minor mis-weave in the blanket being milled.  And this means that it will be for sale at a major discount at their retail store!  The deals were really quite good on the mis-weaves and the mistakes were very, very subtle.  Plus it makes it one of a kind.  I have my eye out for a soft merino wool mis-weave...

One of their buffalo check blankets being made.

A scale used to weigh bundles of wool, baskets of blankets, etc.  The face of the scale is blue because years ago one of their dyeing machines spilled and everything on their lower level was dyed blue.

Bins full of the trimmings from blanket edges.  My mind was swirling with ideas of how to re-purpose these trimmings for decorations and crafts.  I didn't ask if they use these scraps for anything.  I may need to make another trip there for another tour and ask.

Stacks of the SoHo blanket (the one I got).  SoHo stands for "stuff on hand only" and there is a story to why this blanket is called the SoHo.  I'll save it, along with how I am taking the idea of SoHo to heart in 2013, for a future post.