Really enjoyed your post. Your little girl looks like she is concentrating so hard cutting out her chicken. I am a little jealous of the view out your sewing room window. I bet it is beautiful any time of year.
And then there is the drawback of crocheting in poor lighting - can really relate! I like to hunker down on a corner of the couch with just twinkle lights on, or meet knitting friends at a local, dimly lit restaurant - and I have the dismantled and redone knitting to prove it!