Spinning in the Sun

This...

2011-09-08T22:01:00.000-07:00

Hmm, I think I may have written about this spot here...and oh yeah... here......oops, it looks like maybe one other time too.
Yes, you could say this trail is pretty special.

For some reason I've been skirting around this. Unsure of how to say it. Not wanting to say it aloud. Thinking it might change. Well, apparently is hasn't so here goes.

My cluster of 3 is in school.

There, I said it aloud so I guess that makes it real.

So, we don't do this trail every week like we used to when they were home. Sniff, sniff.
Remind me, change is a good thing, right?

This might be a temporary thing. It might be for the long haul. It may work for all of them or just one...maybe two. We will see. So they are in (since last February) and the littlest ones and I have our rhythm at home. Some days, it is nice...some days its a bit heartbreaking. We miss that cluster so.

So, why are they there then?

We moved. The school here is tiny, very community oriented and frankly - I needed help. Our days were not flowing as they once did. It was becoming a tangled mess most days so I went there, just to check it out.

(Note to self - if you're undecided , maybe don't bring the kids next time? Silly me.)

And the reactions ranged from intrigue to... "can I go right now?". Gee, thanks there, girly. Sheesh (she's my highly social, enthusiastic adventurer as you might guess). Funny thing is, we went with one child in mind. Just to see, just for some support and maybe some specials for the others. Homeschooling activities were null and void in our area so it required a lot of driving to do group things. Not wanting our life to become car schooling, I thought this might be a good option. These guys were itching for some regularity in seeing friends. And, truth be told, I think more structure than I was able to provide for them at the time.

It was a funny progression. The one we went there for - was not interested. The youngest one of the 3 - all for it (adventure girl) and the oldest of the 3? Intrigued, yet thoughtfully cautious. So it went something like this -
We thought about it for oh...3 months (first contact and visit)
Then after lots of ppllleeeasssee's from guess who - the ball got rolling.
Adventure girl dived in never looking back.
The middle one (the whole reason behind the whole shebang) was interested but, highly nervous. It took her about a week of her sister coming home and talking it up to give it a go. Now in, she hasn't wanted to miss a day.
That oldest one? He was home for about a month...then started classes 3 afternoons a week for one or 2 weeks then decided to give a full day a shot. He likes seeing friends regularly, he likes the specials. Some of the social stuff? - not so much and the academics - eh, he'd rather learn what we were exploring at home. So we do, squeezing it in when we can. He's into staying this year and doing some special things 5th graders get to do - awesome field trips and the like but so far, is thinking he'll be home next year. Frankly, most days, I think I'd like them all home next year (did I say that out loud) but will take what I can get ;)

Now, I'm not judging folks who homeschool, unschool, public school or any variation or combination thereof. Every family makes the best decision based on where they are at and what works for them at that time. I am so very grateful this support network was here when I sorely needed it. I can see there are pluses and minuses- just as there are with homeschooling (in our experience). This seems to work for now. We take it day by day, week by week.

And I reserve the right to pull their little butts right out of there if need be ;)

So... that's what's new in our neck of the woods!

Feeling nostalgic

2011-08-30T20:57:00.000-07:00

am I nuts here?

maybe someone should slap me out of my delirium.

quite possibly. but still, i'm feeling pretty nostalgic these days for the old house. of course, i am sure it doesn't help that we are back there often getting it ready to sell. still, i do love the quiet of it. the smell of the woods. the beauty of it.

this place that was my longest home. ever. this place that shaped so much of who i am as a mother. so much of what i appreciate (or try to anyway ;). this place that shaped our family.

i try to stay grounded in the reality. not so much the romanticizing. i mean, goodness, at this point, we are beyond even fitting in there (and yes, these past days i have played out plenty of scenarios in my head - crazy girl that i am).

my best guess is that its that fall feeling to blame. fall was always pretty awesome there.

now, we just need to make fall pretty awesome here and now. i think i can do that. yes, i believe i can.

and will.

Venturing

2011-08-27T19:17:00.000-07:00

Someone ventured outside the house today. Someone who has largely been in hiding since we moved months ago...someone was having fun hanging out while the little one painted in the loft.

It was a good day for kitty.

(and I think the newly three had some fun in there too ;)

Lately...

2011-08-16T19:38:00.000-07:00

feeling far too rushed ...where is the time going?
trying to know that i can create my own speed.

Echoes

2011-08-11T19:45:00.001-07:00

I saw a little boy in the water today.
Same skinny body.
Same blond hair.
He looked just like him from behind.

I saw a little girl at the water park today.
Same curly bond hair.
Same way of squatting on the ground.
She looked just like her from behind.

I saw a little girl walking through the woods today.
Same little sandals and sundress.
Same blond bobbed hair.
She looked just like her from behind.

Echoes

After those years go by. Visual echoes. Sometimes they take a while to come back...but they always do. In a flash; in an unexpected second; there they are.

New Adventures ~

2011-07-21T07:26:00.000-07:00

Hey folks,
I am starting a new project over here and hope to see some friendly faces to give me the occasional kick in the butt ;)
I'll still be poking around here a bit as well. I think once or twice a week maybe...like today!

Enjoy!

Summering

2011-07-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here, there and a little bit of everywhere...soaking it up while we can.

Peachy Beachy

2011-06-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

Loving our new little swimming digs...

In time

2011-06-09T08:28:00.000-07:00

"Mama, let's go to da garden." Sure baby, ...let's.

Garden update as of today? Well, some potatoes found their way into the soil and then we have those ever present raspberries that hopefully my black thumb will not entirely suck the life out of. Fingers crossed on that one. My water mantra doesn't quite work so well on those since I discovered that raspberries don't appreciate too much water - gives them root rot. That's okay though, I'll save that mantra for the tomatoes since they sure do seem to love a good drowning. The 15 little seedlings we have are super leggy and ready to be transplanted. We'll be popping those straight into the ground tomorrow.

When the weather cools a bit from its expected 90 degrees of today, the wee ones and I will venture to a seedling farm close by and pick up some peas and other yummy bits that are not too complicated to grow. Baby steps here; most assuredly.

Yet, the flowers in the garden? Well, they are just about to die for...

In a blink

2011-06-07T06:21:00.000-07:00

'Mumma' becomes 'Mom'. Legs elongate. Chub turns to muscle. The door opens and shuts more often as the years go by. We now just get snippets of time where once we wondered what to do with the long days of diapers, fevers, learning to read, tantrums, crafting and playing. And in the end, as we wonder how we might shape them and leave the best of ourselves in tiny cracks of their being, we finally see that as they have grown beside us, we've grown even more alongside them

Discovery

2011-06-02T08:55:00.000-07:00

Hers...Theirs...Mine.

Hers: She is loving the wonder of her hands lately. The grasp. The look. The taste especially.

Theirs: They sense each others' presence. A mere walk into the room and the wee one's senses are awakened to her big sister's energy. Tummy tickles. Foot kisses. Love.

Moments I try to capture. To remember for them. Someday, helping to guide them back to each other.

Mine: Marveling at how I can never tire of sweet feet. The lack of arch. Foot all chub. Little toes flexing and spreading. Endlessly kissable and fleetingly tiny.

Misty May Morning

2011-05-24T10:39:00.000-07:00

"don't worry about a thing...
'cause every little thing
is gonna be alright..."

These two...a study in tenderness

2011-05-20T08:23:00.000-07:00

There we were, mid sheet change on the bed when the two cuties started in to snuggle. Of course, a moment like this shouldn't be missed (and sadly sometimes is in the rush of the day) so I grabbed the camera and we had a mini photo shoot. An almost 3 months old's attention span and endurance being what it is...little Miss L. decided it was time for a little snack and nap. Big sister often likes to hang out, chat and sweeten up the picture with some affectionate rubbing on her baby "sissa" 's head.

Moments to keep forever...

Setting up house

2011-05-19T08:22:00.000-07:00

The process, most assuredly, has been a slow one. Last time I found myself delving into this kind of creativity and negotiation ...it was in a much smaller space, with far fewer things and just 2 kiddos underfoot. This time around I find myself much more unsure of myself. Taking tentative little steps...settling in with what I've done and seeing how it flows. Still, there have been a few spots that I have fallen in love with and glimpses of "us" that I can see emerging as the days roll on...

and, of course, joys in simple things like making new pillows...(its always the little things, really).

Then, there are parts that still need work and don't quite arouse a feeling of home....

The folks who had been here prior had been here for ages.They are 80+, and primarily used this place as a summer home. The fellow who lived here? Well, he was born here in this house (beautiful!) so, this home had been in his family quite a while. Hence, they had some clearing out and passing on to do (so we hear from them) but, left some treasures that we are ever so grateful for ....

( I had so wanted a sturdy pastry blender but never seemed to make it a priority to search out one.)

and others that didn't quite fit. The guilt (oh, the guilt!) of removing those things (it just felt, well, disrespectful on some level) has created a process slow in the making. There were curtains that went to homes more appreciative, carpeting that will eventually come up (covering a sub flooring that is - hopefully! - hiding a salvageable wood floor) and some wallpaper that is in awesome shape yet distracting so we'll be throwing a good dose of some low voc paint onto some of the walls (but not all) soon.

We do love this new space of ours that offers room to live a little more freely and individually yet, not so large that we find ourselves drifting away from each other. Of course, there are still squabbles (nothing can magically eradicate sibling dynamics...I try to remind myself that this is a good thing...daily). Not to mention that some of our old favorites have found some cozy homes in spots that seem made for them...

Rolling On

2011-05-17T11:17:00.000-07:00

I just couldn't do it.

Really, I tried.

Truly.

And, yet - here I am.

Leaving this space with all these sweet little glimpses pressed between the pages? It felt a little like abandonment, really. So, although we are not in the woods - (they cleared out almost all of the trees around this new house) ...and this is not a hollow by any means...we will stick to these old digs where the view is nice and the past and present all roll on together.

There is simply no way for me to write a reasonable post about where we have been and what we have been up to for these many months so rather than trying to play catch up...I will stick to the present. As in today...

Little Miss Sassypants was having a fun time strutting her stuff up to the garden. Speaking of - just way behind on that puppy. Other than some bleeding hearts, a couple of robust day lilies who didn't seem to mind the abundant shade and some vague and ultimately unsuccessful attempts at coaxing some seeds to grow here and there...this girl has never gardened. Suffice it to say, this will be a most interesting season for us here. The kids are off to a better start than myself though with their sweet little pots of sunflowers (a sunflower house was requested...I said we'd give it our best shot), morning glories and something that looks like daisies...but isn't.

Luckily, there are some raspberries, strawberries, grapes and I hear asparagus already happily thriving up there somewhere. The plan was to invite some peas, corn, potatoes, zucchini and tomatoes to live there too but , seeing how they must have missed the invitation since I don't seen any veggie party yet - looks like I had better get hustling and get those babies growing too...

An ongoing adventure for sure.

Transitions ~

2010-12-14T08:35:00.000-08:00

Moving!

Maybe if I do this again, I'll choose not to be pregnant...yes?

Not exactly one of those petite preggos (I tend to carry large ;) I'm waddling around at 6 months with a 9 month girth. Slowly...slowly moving along ;)

Loving our new place though. So very, very grateful and falling in love. This was not love at first sight so it's special in that kind of way. Rather than waning, this love just keeps waxing and growing....

Just as I feel fond, but a little odd going back to our old home to pack boxes and clear things out....it feels odd to come back to this blog space and try to write ...'we are not in the hollow anymore, Toto' and writing about happenings in our new home in this blog seems....awkward...

So we are transitioning... if you have followed along here, please feel free to join me with a cup of tea over at our new space where there will be plenty to share....recipes, crafting, and some surprises. Here's your invitation! :

Welcome!

Now the word "farm" is assuredly stretching it...still, there will be chickens, (eggs!), gardening and plans for a stand with handcrafted goodness and yummy treats. Along with the bits of homeschooling and other adventures along the way ~would love to see you stop by ~

The Search...

2010-11-15T08:05:00.000-08:00

It would be no exaggeration to say that our search led us to peek into possibilities (at different levels of depth, of course) from New Zealand to Alaska, to the most eastern point in the US, right down to houses a stones throw from us. We looked at towns where old friends are thriving, to communities where we didn't know a single soul. Planned communities and lots of land were appealing but alas, economically out of reach.

In the end, what we found was just outside our door.

Well, almost...7 miles to be exact in a favorite little town with some of things we love so much ~ water, a library, a cafe, a store, post office, farms ~ and all within walking distance. What we were looking for was under our noses the whole time.

Much like how we found this house years ago, the new house was discovered on a whim. Ten years ago our real estate agent handed us a piece of paper and said, 'you might want to just look at this one' (we had looked at many houses and were just not finding the right fit ). Later, I said "Oh, that one." to my husband in an obvious tone of disapproval (I had seen it online many times and was not moved in the least). Still, the water was appealing...so we came, checked it out , used some imagination (skylights to open up the dark space, a garage for some storage) and we made it work,... for 10 years.

This new house? I had seen it online many times, it was dated, less bedrooms than we were looking for and frankly more than we wanted to spend. Then? The price went down... well now, it started it look a little more attractive at that point. I called our agent and asked whether there might be a room that could be used for a bedroom but not listed as one. Her answer? Why yes it did.We scheduled an appointment (2 different ones in fact), used some of that imagination, saw how sound and well loved she had been, took a good look around at the location and that was it...and here we are...(in our old house...for now..)

Packing.

...and even unpacking with the "help" of some small hands...

One Week...

2010-11-12T18:50:00.000-08:00

.

..and the shift begins.

We will not leave this space in a flash of motion but, rather, more like a slow dance with a slight twirl out the door. Boxes are being packed, then will be moved, emptied and brought back to be filled again...it will be a slow, thoughtful process. A long goodbye so much deserved for this space that has been so very good to us and where we grew... and were shaped... to become the family we are now. We won't be keeping it (2 mortgages on one income is not something our finances gave a nod to ;) but, we'll be readying this space to become available for another family's joy next spring. A long, sweet goodbye indeed.

A few surprised messages have come my way along the lines of , "moving? why!?"..."what about the water, the simplicity...etc."

My answer would simply be," it is time...". We're not moving for the space to store one more bookcase, or to stack more vintage dishes or even to no longer wait in line for the bathroom (although I will admit, that will be a definite bonus ;)....it's really about space to simply breathe....

It sort of looks a little like this ~ For instance, my view on a 16 year old sharing a room with his 10 year old brother? Potentially not much for fun either (or for their mama ;). Or, a 10 year old sharing a room with his 2 younger sisters? They have done well, goodness knows they have...but it is time...time to breathe, create, dream a little more freely...Oh, I am sure I will wake to find a little boy sleeping on the floor of his sister's room many a morning but, as they get older a little breathing room is now in order...

Also? It's not simple anymore. During the last year or so, I found myself expending more energy trying to make this space work than actually enjoying being in it. That just didn't seem right. The balance was off. I tried downsizing the 'stuff'. That helped but, wasn't really the root of the problem. Organizing and processes? Indeed, that was and continues to be a point of growth ;) In the end, it was really about the space to Breathe and Be. When so much time is spent trying to keep clear one space that functions as 5 or more at once, then something has to give and I realized it was time. Time with my family, time to plan...time to breathe. So it was time.

Over the next week or so I will pop in and share some things ~ then? This space will begin anew, somewhere else, under a different name with some exciting (for us!) prospects...still, for now I'll enjoy this woodstove a bit and pack a few more boxes (hmmm,...maybe...).

Small joys...

2010-11-05T05:42:00.000-07:00

this week?

pigtails to start ,easily.

my 8 year's old declaration "i really love my new sassy shoes"..i do too baby. although, i have to admit, i would fall flat on my face in heels...

packed boxes...(oh, did I mention?)

More on that next week...

Anything bringing you a bit of joy lately?

Of late...

2010-11-04T07:42:00.000-07:00

Last minute costumes...

Early morning snow....

Learning the ropes of trick or treats...(with, or without a costume...)

This morning...

2010-10-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

My morning:: outiside
* signs of play.
* a deck full of freshly blown pine needles.
* damp, fall colors
* wood, standing at the ready (haven't used it yet though!)
* 2 little ladies eager to say hello.

Fall=Fair

2010-09-28T08:09:00.000-07:00

Folks who check out Maine blogs in the fall are likely to see loads of pics of the fair...there are always bound to be a few here as well.

For our family, we like our fair in a good 3 day dose (although I have to admit to skipping one day this year for some mama down time (had a date with some intense cleaning ;). There is so much to see and do that it takes about that long to take it all in. Especially with little ones in tow who do love that children's area...and of course the sliding hill....

Welcome back sweet autumn...

Around

2010-08-24T06:31:00.000-07:00

Where we have been ~

Sometimes I bring the camera, then just don't use it.
I sit and watch them on the beach, in the water, discovering a new playground, eating fish on a wharf - and just be.
Somedays, that's better than 'good enough'....

Still there are times when I snap and am so thankful I do (because my memory? it's just not what it used to be!...)

A little snippet of late:

lazy lakeside days with friends, impromptu trips to the coast, town hunting for the right spot, birthdays, family visits, more birthdays. life is, so very rich.

and i dropped my days ~ just going with the flow from here on out. i guess that's how i roll. whenever i try to organize myself like that? just doesn't work for me...i'm goofy like that.

Snippets :: Joy in the Stillness

2010-07-22T06:30:00.000-07:00

Fun with Karen at her inspiring workshop ~

Laying a little low and taking things slow...

I realized lately that I often move fast. Too fast when I think about it. It's hard to notice things at the speed of light..I think there's a blessing in this morning, noon and night nausea. Forces me to just sit. Now, not sit and read to them or myself, or sew, or do anything.

Just. Sit.

There is a beauty in stillness that I often forget to appreciate.

Sometimes I need a good kick in the rear to get the message. ;)

Snippets :: These Moments { while they last}

2010-07-15T04:49:00.000-07:00

Growing kids and marks that remind us

Excitement over homemade popsicles

Impromptu, late afternoon dips in the lake

Open hearts to new friends

Clean and organized rooms

First thrills of new independence

High chair naps

Capturing, savoring, trying to keep my eyes and heart open to fleeting moments that seem to last forever but, truly, pass all too quickly.

Exploring :: Keeping it Local

2010-07-13T05:39:00.000-07:00

Because that's about all this old girl can handle lately.

Just a week ago, I took the pup for a run around a looped trail - twice. in the humidity.
Yesterday? I made it 3/4 of the way up a small mountain and I was toast.

Now, I know there are many, many lovelies who glow with pregnancy (and you ladies rock) but, I need to say :: it totally kicks my ass. I used to joke that it was the influx of all of those feminine hormones in this quasi-tomboyish body of mine. That may not be such a joke. So I keep a lemon wedge close by for a good sniff, try to eat lots of protein and force myself to move (even if it means the ineviatble).Not that I am complaining now, no way. It's just, some of our up and coming exploring photos in the months to come may be more of a local nature - like our backyard. Good thing we can always find more rocks to turn over, time to check out the breeze in the trees and more bits to discover!

Here is a little of late::

Anything you've been exploring of late?

This House :: One More

2010-07-12T05:16:00.000-07:00

Can we fit one more?

A new adventure begins, next Feb/March!

Truly, the final chapter in our book of babies ~

BTW, aren't those new tests nifty?

Anything new in your neck of the woods?

Chaos::This Mess

2010-07-09T07:02:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned that organization is not my strong point?

It really isn't. Truly. That isn't to say that I can't learn though, or at least work my booty off trying.

The past month I have been struggling to see the corners of this home with new eyes. Purging, rearranging....rethinking . I've been quite happy with the results and the more I rethink, the more the energy seems to flow for new ideas. Funny how it works that way, huh?

With one loft, a bedroom and a bathroom down - now its time to tackle this kitchen. Ah yes, the kitchen.

My kitchen? Well, its floor space is "L" shaped and measures less than 6 feet long and 5 feet wide at its longest point and 3 feet at its shortest - yes, its basically a closet. (I should note that this is actual floor space that I walk on and does not count the space taken up by the fridge, stove and cabinets - these would add, maybe, an extra 4 feet to the length.). While this smaller floor space does make it quick to work in for meal prep - it also makes cooking or baking with more than one kiddo at a time a little tricky - and there is no way someone is doing dishes while I am at the stove. Just. Not. Happening.

It's also the first surface you greet upon entering so, as you can imagine - its become a catch all for, well, everything.

My goal in this next week is to get this counter space spruced up, organized - usable. For next Friday's chronicles, I will post a little looksee update.

Wish me luck ;)

Snippets:: Outside

2010-07-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

Hawwwtt. So very, very hot. Humid, sticky hot.

Feeling so grateful to these huge beauties and all of the shade they provide. Thank you sweet pines.

Bare feet most days - feeling that cool ground under the toes.

Water - and how we can't seem to get enough of it.

Building forts.

Being outside. Soaking up as much as we can, whenever we can. These woods, that water.

Reminding myself...

Exploring::Local

2010-06-29T06:13:00.000-07:00

Can a trip for a gallon of milk take 4 hours?

Why yes, it certainly can.

Little arms, a canoe, a kayak and

Oh yes, don't forget the milk.

But that was just an excuse anyway.

This House :: Rough Patch

2010-06-28T12:04:00.000-07:00

My days lately have oscillated between feeling really pretty frustrated with this cozy space of ours to giving myself a swift kick in the rear and thanking my lucky stars for all the goodness these walls hold.

On the days the pep talk wasn't cutting it (and once I managed get out of my own funky way), I took a good look around and decided what I could change, just small bits. You know, the details.

I think this little ditty may have helped (thanks Helen!):

If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.
- Maya Angelou

Oh, thank you sweet Maya, That was the boot I needed.

This bathroom here? Insert the "Ugghhh" right about now.. That's really all I could say. Well, that is, until, I took a look at that mess of a shelf... the one that holds the towels, the dipes, the cold care goodies, the electric razors and who knows what else (well, know I do know) and figured the only solution was to organize and hide. What's good for that? Baskets did you say?.
And matching baskets?
Well, that's even better - easy on the eyes I say. I'm finding that in an open, small space such as this ~ the more that things harmonize, the easier it is on the mind.

Hmmm, let's see..and a new mirror. Yes, that should do the trick. Take out that old toothbrush holder and hey- we practically have a new corner right here. The details. Small attainable bits. And now? I actually like my windowless, crowded little bathroom. I almost feel like I'm in someone else's house (that some one being organized and pretty lucky to have found that weathered barn wood mirror.).

Yes, organized and lucky. I like the sound of that.

Now, if we could find a new spot for that cat box....

Chronicles :: Mud

2010-06-25T05:16:00.000-07:00

It all started with a little bucket of water...then bigger buckets were added, then a tin tub. Slowly, the water moved out of those and onto the ground in

big. gloopy. pools.

It was messy. The cleanup was ....(fill in the blank.).

But they had a total blast.

Little gifts

2010-06-24T08:54:00.000-07:00

Snippets of joy ~

homebirth ~
friendship ~
wonder ~
love ~
joy ~
guidance ~
gifts ~
luna ~

I wanted to start a new series within the blog ~ " Little Gifts ~ Snippets of Joy", from our week, every Thursday ~

These. Two.

2010-06-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

Before his arrival she shivered at dogs 10 feet away from her, lets not even talk about the tension when they came close.

But, this love here? It started with some tentative pats, moved onto some lap ("yap") time aannndddd...

here. we. are.

2 months later. in love.

Well, at least that would explain this...

it would take some serious love to lick the mess you just pulled out of your diaper

right. off. your. fingers.

don't you think?

yes, he loves her that much.

Memorial

2010-05-31T20:03:00.000-07:00

Each year I try to be mindful of what this weekend means. Time with family, yes. But more, yes?

Some years I do better honoring it...some years I have wished I had done more.

Every year we watch soldiers march in a local parade and tears come to my eyes thinking of their sacrifice. Of what they have seen and felt and lived through. After, many paraders and onlookers walk to the cemetery, listen to taps played on horns and are silent...

While I am not a fan of our nation going to war, I do supprt the folks who choose military life and humbly thank them for their sacrifice. Yet, it wasn't always like this. When I was younger, I was more black and white on the subject....

At 18, I marched in San Luis Obispo with folks protesting the first Gulf War ~ weeks later I joined thousands of others in San Francisco for the same reason. Then, five months later in Tucson AZ , while waiting on the tarmac with a dear friend at the local army base for her brother in law to return home from that very same war, something changed in my thinking about soldiers -

They were humanized.

Watching them greeting their families after months of separation, the love, the devotion - the sacrifice... It changed everything.

Now I walk the line of supporting those who choose to go to the front lines for our country while, at the same time, I also work with organizations who are trying to create a future where that kind of sacrifice will (hopefully) not be an option on the table. Its one small way I feel I can give back to those families and individuals who have sacrificed so much...on both sides...everywhere.

Found

2010-05-28T13:43:00.000-07:00

The girls were riding their bikes on the dirt road in front of our house this morning when they stumbled upon this little guy (thankfully, not literally).

There he was, just hanging out on the side of the road...waiting.

Seeing he was a pretty small critter and unable to fly, we scooped him into a box with some nesting material (some cloth) and made plans to take him to this really cool place. Having just finished Owls in the Family, our nine year old really wanted to keep him and raise him for a pet. We chatted on how the bird would have a more full life being rehabilitated and set free than remaining our pet...even if we did just love his cute little birdy self.

So, we were off - and boy, were they hopping this morning. They even had a baby owl that someone had found on the side of the road and was too young to be on it's own. Such a wonderful little outfit they have there.

Oh! And did you guess what kind of a bird it is?....Our nine year old said woodpecker (that beak!) - Avian Haven said - a nuthatch! Or, as they put it - an honorary woodpecker.

As a sidenote...

On the trip there, I stopped a walker to ask if they knew where Avian Haven was (not that I was lost or anything ;) and they had never heard of it (it was about 5 miles away at that point). This got me to wondering, how many cool little organizations are in our local communities that we may not even know about? I think I know how we will be spending part of our summer...

anything "new" in your neck of the woods?

Critter Surprise

2010-05-27T05:18:00.000-07:00

We met this little fellow on one of our daily trips around our favorite hiking spot a while ago. The girls saw him first, right in the middle of the path ahead of us. As excited as we were to see him, I can't say he felt the same way about us. Quickly as his four feet could move him through the brush, he headed to a crevice between rocks and promptly stayed put. After a few pics he was settled into his safe spot and we were on our way again full of excitement and wonder.

Studio::1

2010-05-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

Coming along...slowly.....

When we bought this little house (10 years ago this fall, can that be?!) we added on a "garage" ~ this houses books not currently in rotation, holiday items (formerly even housed a drum set!), bio bricks and any manner of do dads that we can't squeeze in the 800 square feet.

I've spent the past few months gathering crafting supplies from every corner they were stashed in and, in small snippets of time, have been carving out a little creative space right around a lovely window that looks out on our backyard. I had a feeling that once I cleared our living space of the fabrics, thread and needles (remember those ambushing little devils?) we would have ...*space*. And we do!
.
Slowly...ever so slowly... fingers crossed that in a month or so, it will be ready to work in. And you know what? I can hardly wait.....

How about you? Have you carved out a little creative space anywhere?

Happenings

2010-05-24T08:35:00.000-07:00

Two months? Really? That is quite a break isn't it?

Let's see...in a nutshell?

Puppies - let me introduce you to the fabulous Jake. Our new love.

Checking stuff out. Towns. Houses. Our own home for new possibilities (hmmm, what's that saying...'grow where you're planted' ? Yes, I believe that's it.

Lakeside beach.
Water.
Digging around for some new ideas and inspiratons.
More water.

And finally, watching a boy become a man....how does that happen?! Too quickly, I tell you.

Far. Too. Quickly.

More snippets of what's been cookin' here this week ~ we've been shuffling things about.

Planning. Clearing.

Getting that energy flowing.

Anything new with you?

Taking A Break ~

2010-03-16T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hi Friends ~
Taking a break (not that I have been around much but, posts have been kicking around my head so...... I have been here in spirit at least!) while I reassess, rearrange, reevaluate and relax my brain for a bit.

I'll enjoy reading YOUR wonderful blog posts while I refresh :)
Lovliness to all!
xo
K

Parties ~

2010-03-05T17:55:00.000-08:00

Some friends have been gracious enough to let me use their parties as a little practice place for taking photos. While I still have so much to learn and it can be a challenge with a little one on my hip, I enjoy the fun of seeing what bits of magic I can capture (or try to!) .

Having mama'd a few parties myself, I know how tricky taking pics can be when also keeping the party rolling so I thought this would be a fun service to provide, not to mention just witnessing the fun!

Turning it around

2010-03-03T06:00:00.000-08:00

A curious little one who wants to try everything her big sibs are into...but, lacks the coordination to maneuver playsets and pattern blocks without causing a little frustration on their part. Distracting her doesn't always work (she seems to think she has too much to learn from them - and she does!).

So while there are still plenty of tears, a few hollers and the like there are also some moments of turning it around....rolling with it.

Stuffing those pattern blocks down their shirts. Who would have thought of the fun?

Note:: this may not be recommended...I did find a few of those blocks in a certain diaper soon after!

Spring Peepers

2010-03-02T05:40:00.000-08:00

Well, maybe not quite yet, but we do have mud! A sight unseen and unknown in early March (or, dare I say, February!) for the almost ten years we have been in the hollow.

So these little gals?

They would be would be my peepers heralding spring. My, what a crazy winter it has been...

How are things looking in your neck of the woods?

Toadstool Treasure

2010-02-19T14:15:00.000-08:00

A birthday party or even just for fun ~

Even comes with a suggestion list of party games and ideas.

Did someone say spring was around the corner? Sure feels like it in these parts!

Slowly, slowly stocking the shop.

In snippets ~

Happy Weekending!

Snippets

2010-02-11T07:21:00.000-08:00

Of thread and time.

Tiny little moments, taking what I can and turning into these little bundles.

Finish something, pop it in the box.

There's a little feeling of satisfaction that comes from seeing it fill up...regardless of how slowly that may be.

I have to laugh. I have seen people reading in waiting rooms, knitting...but sewing? That would be me, scissors, felt, wooden people.. Snip. Snip. Snip....

Auctioning ~

2010-02-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

For Haiti ~

The amazing Jodi over at This Handmade Life, *quickly* pulled together local artisans and writers from around the broad expanse of our state to create this night of opportunity.

Opportunities to get out, enjoy, give and ...enjoy some more when the winners take home their bundles of love.

Opportunities for the people of Haiti to have an education (since it really is a right) to rebuild their homes, their lives and communities and care for their orphans.

That little bundle above is a party for 10 ~ goody bags, wands, little lovelies, some flying flax and a crown to boot. I thought the theme of love would be not only for the upcoming holiday but, also, for the entire event in general.

Thank you Jodi for pulling everyone together and creating ALL of these soulful opportunities.

7::365 Day 3 - sweet release

2010-01-21T19:01:00.000-08:00

Aside from that one little time I had to reverse and start again up that hill at a speed I would rather not mention - the ride outta dodge was pretty smooth.

Might have helped that I was riding on the heals of the sanding truck too.

Sledding and swimming in the same day? Yessah.

Good weather and even better company. A mighty fine Maine day.

Day 2:: Holed up in the Hollow 6::365

2010-01-20T13:28:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, sweet surrender.
Or, depending upon your perspective,
another word might be:

stranded.

Or something like that.

Although it seems more fitting with this definition:
strand: the land bordering a body of water

Day 2 holed up with a hill from h&*%.

Have I mentioned that I didn't learn to drive til I was 30.

So, I may not be the best driver in the snow.

Well, not yet at least.

It's really not so bad though - not with these cute mugs to look at all day and a little paint to brighten things up.

And tomorrow?
That hill is mine.
Seriously.

In the deep 5::365

2010-01-19T21:10:00.000-08:00

Hollow:
a small, sheltered valley

That definition was taken from the web ~ yes, a sheltered valley is most definitely what we have here. Hills and mountains surround, water yards away, tall pines. We are sheltered.

And sometimes just plain stuck.

Getting up these hills, did I mention there are 3? Well, getting up even one of them on a wet snow day like we had today? Hah, good luck there with that.

We tried though - oh we did try. Got halfway up the first hill - and were stuck.

That's okay. Tomorrow is a new day.

And our plow guy ? He is our neighbor. He needs to use these roads too. That's a promising fact in itself.

Sending off ~

2010-01-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

2 Boxes of fabric fabulousness!

One to lovely Liza (I'll just hand that one to you gal ;) and the other to sweet Jayna :)

Thank You ladies for your loving hearts and crafty fingers - may the fabric bless you and those who benefit from its beautiful bounty! The world is a little brighter...

Peaceful tidings this Martin Luther King day friends....

xo

A Give Away! 4::365

2010-01-17T07:45:00.000-08:00

Taking a cue from the Yarn Harlot, and thinking of the bids I received here and the many emails I got from folks who wanted to play along but, were tapped out of funds at a certain point: I thought a giveaway for a donation of any amount your wallet can muster would be fine way to go:

So - here goes:

Since the Yarn Harlot is doing such a rocking job with Doctors Without Borders, I thought we could do a little more for a wonderful, smaller organization:

Lambi Fund

Here is the drill ~ head on over to Lambi, make a donation of whatever feels right for you ~ email me at writeus4@yahoo.com or leave a comment here with the donation amount so we can keep tally and see how much good we are doing by pooling our resources TOGETHER - it's amazing thing, really.

As soon as I get your info, I'll enter you into the drawing for a FRB (flat rate box) busting full of yummy fabric. Some of what you saw yesterday and some from my special stash.

Drawing ends tomorrow at 8pm EST, girls - good luck!

Love 3::365

2010-01-16T18:56:00.000-08:00

Goodness, you ladies just rock ~ Thank YOU so much ~

Drum roll please?

Winners are:

1. Denise Semanchin, Girls Just Want to Have Fun (Yele.org), with a bid of $50 ~ Thank YOU!
2. Vicki Carver, For the Boys (Doctors Without Borders), with a bid of $30 ~ Thank YOU!
3. Valerie, AB Beauties (Lambi Fund), with a bid of $20 ~ Thank YOU!
4. Apple Wrangler, Dewberry Dreams (Hearts With Haiti), with a bid of $25 ~ Thank YOU!
5. NYCvia PDX, Dynamic Duo (Lambi Fund)with a bid of $40 ~ Thank YOU!
6. TiziB, Kid Krazy! (Hearts With Haiti) With a bid of $75 ~ Thank YOU!

As our highest bidder, Tizi will have her flat rate envelope of yummy goodness magically transformed into a flat rate BOX of fabric love - thank you Tizi!

The winner of our drawing for a little bundle of fabric sweetness is ~
Jennifer Hogan LaFountaine!
Congrats Lady!

All winners, please shoot me an email at writeus4@yahoo.com and I can send you my address ~ please make checks or money orders out the organization next to your winning package :) As soon as I receive your donation, I will send out your goodies!

Together we raised $245 for these fabulous organizations - you ROCK!

Thank you ALL so much for your time, your generosity and your love.

Just beautiful.

Something 2::365

2010-01-15T09:41:00.000-08:00

Times like this, when our hearts feel like they can't take another glimpse of pain, when we may be about to turn away because we want to do something but, are overwhelmed by what that something is....Times like this seem a good starting point to begin right inside our own 4 walls...

Thank you Mika for the inspiration ~

So! Here We Go!

6 Packages:: Flate Rate Envelopes of designer cottons, home decor, Kokka linen, euro ribbon and vintage buttons.

How we'll roll::
Take a little gander at the goodies ~ see what strikes your fancy.
Please send a bid to me, writeus4@yahoo.com, $15 or higher, or you can post your bid right here on the blog. Every hour on the hour - starting at 2pm EST, I will post the highest bid right here on the blog so folks can keep track and see if they'd like to keep bidding (of course you do!!).

At 8pm EST, on Saturday, January 16th, I will close the bidding and announce the winners at 9pm EST. Please send a check or money order (no paypal please! I want transparency on these :) made out to the relief organization listed with your package....All payments must be received within one week or the package will go to the next highest bidder ~ sorry ~ orgs. just need this money *yesterday*.....thank you for understanding!

Please keep in mind these are Flat Rate Priority Envelopes - FULL! :)
These are also discontinued prints that will later be selling on Etsy and Ebay for some prretttay pennies ;)

Ready?
Get Set!
BID!!!

These are from the top to bottom ~

1. Girls Just Want to Have Fun, larger pieces, 1 yards and under, nothing scrappy or tiny :)
Proceeds to:
Yele.org

2. For The Boys ~ lots of Kokka, and some Kokka linen trim! Smaller pieces, 1/4 yard and under
Doctors Without Borders

3. Amy Butler Beauties, lots of home decor loveliness here, 1 yard and under pieces
Lambi Fund

4. Dewberry Dreams (Joel Dewberry home decors) ~ under one yard pieces, nothing scrappy or tiny
Hearts With Haiti

5. Dynamic Duo ~ Amy Butler and Joel Dewberry cottons and home decor under one yard pieces
Lambi Fund

6. Kid Krazy! Lots of Kokka linen and more ~ smaller pieces
Hearts With Haiti

Please post your bid with your package number/ name of package in your comment ~ thank YOU!

One Word 1::365

2010-01-12T19:34:00.000-08:00

Ahhh, so busy.
Aren't we all?
I think it's just that, well, some folks are just so good at being busy and organized.
My problem?
I get all excited and dive in.
Head first.
Sometimes in shallow water....
Or better yet.
Sometimes in very deep water.
Did I mention I wasn't a strong swimmer?
So now,
For a new project.
One I'm pretty sure I can actually stick with.
Not to mention inspire me.
And remind me to pause.
And be grateful.
And a good reminder
Of these 4 walls.
See, seems this small space living may atcually really be coming to its end within a year or so.
Really. (well, we'll see)
But, really - that's what it looks like from here.
So this project?
My 365
Right Here.

365:: Small Space:: One Word

Combining the Shutter Sisters One Word Project and a 365 theme of these 800 square feet.

January's Theme?
Create.
Where are the crayons? The fabric? The rubber stamps?
They'll be shown. All in good time.
For now, this is where it starts.
Sums it up so perfectly for me.
The inspiration to create.
These loves of mine.
Just
Plain
Love.

Bag it.

2010-01-04T19:49:00.000-08:00

Winter.

7 people. All their *stuff*.

Without a mudroom.

"Ummm", (she says as she bites the inside of her lip and drums her fingers)..."not again".

Oh yes :: Again.

So, instead of dread, I decided to do.

We tend to have a bit of a winter clothing issue here...you would think, "Now how many places can a mitten hide in 800 square feet?", but oh - they find a way. Then there is the "Mine" factor. As in that's not mine. Well, they look all the same size. Really.

That was it. So, now we're baggin' it. Where once we had a basket full of outer wear, now we each have a bag. Once your goods are dried, they go back in the bag - that is, if you ever hope to see them again.

These are even easier than those zippered doohickeys. Thin elastic drawn through and tied. They even close themselves! Now how much easier does it get? If only we can get those mittens in their bags - we''ll be golden.

6

2010-01-04T18:53:00.000-08:00

The little hand curled and upturned. Just like a baby.
Not so long ago.

Beginnings

2010-01-02T13:38:00.000-08:00

Of a New Year.

We rang in the New Year with some birthday cake for sweet Baby New Year (confetti sprinkles and all, courtesy of India Tree), a parade around the house (all 800 square feet of it) with some fun and funky instruments from Servv to awaken little Baby New Year, along with some reminders of what we loved about 2009 and what some goals may be for 2010.

A tradition we have had in our family is the New Year's Eve wish. Everyone lights a candle (occasionally, sung to This Little Light of Mine) then thinks about a special wish they have for the coming year. When they feel they have thought enough and have a picture in their mind of their special wish - they blow out the candle. We tell of how the smoke carries the wish out in the world where Baby New Year will find them (although, the Baby New Year story we told at bedtime this year..I think next year we will tell it with the candles).

Here is that story ~

The long winter was just beginning. Snow fell softly while Baby New Year slept soundly in his moon cradle. Mother Earth sang softly and Father Time geltly strummed his lyre. Amid all this peacefullness Baby New Year began to slowly stir. He dreamed he heard the voices of children calling him to wake up; "Wake up Baby New Year!!". He heard instruments sounding and the cries of happy children calling him to come and play. To awaken the new year and join their merriment.

This dream, it brought a smile to his sleeping face and Mother Earth gently stroked his soft hair back..."Time to wake up little one. The new year is waiting." . At this, Baby New Year yawned a sleepy yawn and slowly opened his clear eyes. "I dreamed of the children.", he said as Father Time gently lifted him from his moon cradle. "Yes, little one. They have been waiting for you to come with your net."

"My net, yes!" and he scampers to the corner where his net has been safely hung and waiting since last year. With a kiss from Mother Earth, a hug from Father Time and a bite of New Year cake he sets off into the world collecting all of the wishes of the world in his silvery net. Once the wishes have been gathered , Baby New Year brings them to his Wishing Pool where he gently blows into the small end of the net and all of the wishes softly drift down into the Wishing Pool where they wait for the right time to come true. He gazes into the pool for a time, says his Wish Blessing. As he turns to go he sees Mother Earth and Father Time smiling lovingly as he holds their hands and they head back home.

Baby New Year's Wish Blessing

For the New Year
Let all good
and light
fill the world
Tonight.
Amen.

******************************************************************************

My intention for the New Year is to continue to document our life inside these walls, only with a bit more candor and openness about life in these wooden walls, along with some love and, hopefully, a whole lot of grace. I'm also embarking on a couple of new projects ~ one can be seen here and another here.

Join me for the ride?

Water, water everywhere...

2009-11-15T18:14:00.000-08:00

I think you know how that old saying goes...

Thankfully, excessive extraction won't have us saying that anytime soon. Any why?

Thank you Wells for saying "No way!" to Poland Spring bottling company (parent company - Nestle). You make us proud :)

If you are hooked up with Netflix, and would like to know more on what the hullaboo is about, you can check out Blue Gold instantly right on your computer.

How lucky are we to be able to act and do something...

Happy hydrating!

Lovin' and Dreamin'

2009-11-04T20:05:00.000-08:00

Little note to self...

Now, I could spend a fair amount of time sharing how my stomach is still turning somersaults over the results of the same sex marriage initiative in our fair state. I could rant and roll and go on, on, on and yes...on.

But I won't.

I'm stuffing those rants, converting them into energy for round 3 where hopefully and - I am so lovingly, wholeheartedly hopeful - that the light of love will shine with such brightness that folks won't see if it's 2 men, 2 women or a man and woman standing hand in hand - but just 2 people; standing in love :: for love.

On another note. Thought I would share a little of the love happening in these parts.

A little bedtime story if you will.

Seems we have opened up a cozy Inn here in the hollow. Now, this isn't the first time our doors have opened and it surely won't be the last. We have some lovely, small guests who thoroughly enjoy using our teeth cleaning services, our pajama services and sometimes, even enjoy our carrying services which deliver them straight into their bed where they are tucked in and read an entertaining story. Livening things up is a little doll of a gal named Mrs. Foxworthy who has been known to flaunt her nakedness and generally be a disruptive, if not unintentionally hilariously funny, guest.

Welcome to our bedtime scenario of late.

Step in, enjoy our cozy accomodations. Meet our eccentric, longterm guest Mrs. Foxworthy, laugh a while, take a load off and rest up.

For tomorrow is a new day friends.

Autumn Surrender

2009-10-19T09:01:00.000-07:00

A little of what we have been up to...

Here, there and close to home.

Autumn Blessings!

HALO Foundation

2009-09-29T19:11:00.000-07:00

As part of our Action Tuesday posts, I wanted to sit a bit and invite you to check out an organization that combines fulfilling the basic needs of orphans with the beautiful and much needed work of art therapy....more on that here.

The HALO Foundation is currently raising funds for their orphanages in Kenya to provide, in their words, "...a safe haven from violence, starvation, and abuse...We are not just feeding these children. We are giving them a chance at a future. Our children attend good schools, have a metal box with a key that holds their few belongings, sleep in their own beds, have loving caretakers who care for them, and do art therapy projects to help them deal with their losses."

I bet everyone who reads this post has a dollar to spare, maybe $5, even $10...possibly more? Perhaps, we can put off a small indulgence we had planned and redirect it HALO's way? Trust me, I have my own vices too...

My indulgences come in the form of fabric, crazy huh? This being said, I am going to take some of that fabric and put it to good use. Hopefully by this weekend I will have a few things up for sale in my Etsy shop - 100% of the proceeds going to HALO. Anyone in? Maybe even a trading in of that latte or new shoes (that maybe you really don't need after all?) and mentally marking that cash for some kids who...goodness, may not even have shoes.

Blows the mind a bit doesn't it?

Don't get me wrong, I have been doubly guilty of spending money on things that later I think..."Now that could have been used better somewhere else, couldn't it?". So, how about we avoid that scenario and give a bit.

Just a brief note, I spend a fair amount of time checking out a slew of non-governmental organizations for integrity, effectiveness - the overall trustworthy factor and, as far as I can tell, without having been there on the ground myself, HALO checks out with double A+s. On that note, I have been in touch with someone who has done work with HALO and he gives a wholehearted thumbs up to this underfunded and heart driven organization. Remember, $5 US dollars may not go too far here but, in countries like Kenya and many others - it goes a much longer way in sending a child some love.

Soooo...You in?

Dirty Livin'

2009-09-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

These gals love dirt...and water...especially mixed together.

Lovin' the fall mud. No matter the season - anytime is a good time for some spontaneous, messy mud play.

Now, sometimes I wonder.."What must my neighbors think?". What, with our half painted and oh so tiny house, gaggle of children running about, home repair projects that never seem to end and, of course, my dirty, mud lovin' children in the yard.

One of which is just a babe.

Hmmm, what do they think? I am sure that some interesting classifications come up for folks who are inclined to do so. And God knows how many jokes about birth control I've heard over the years and how many sly winks I've caught out of the corner of my eye. So, yes... I may have an idea or two...

But then again, I also know that when people have talked to my husband and I, or our kids, or have witnessed our interactions with them or with each other...they've sometimes been a bit perplexed. Their classification system doesn't seem to apply. I think they try to squeeze us into one pigeonhole or another, but I think we manage to slip out of those tight spots sooner or later.

Then it totally slams me.

It. Doesn't. Matter.

Should I somehow be relieved one way or the other when we defy those social strata?

All the ideas we may have, those notions of being able to summarize someone by their parts. Such silly nonsense, really. How could any one attempt to summarize the entire existence of not just one individual but, even an entire family or group based on snippets? Still, this is often how our minds work. How we try to make sense of our environment, especially in our busy world.

Then there are the moments of hope that shine.

A simple exchange at the post office between 2 immigrants from vastly different countries and cultures, one young, one old - between them, a simple offer of a stamp so one would no longer need to wait in line. These are the snippets I choose to remember, that I try to collect. Snippets of the embracing spirit of love.

Fairies aflight!

2009-09-26T04:54:00.000-07:00

Just popping in for a bit to announce the winner of our fairy crown and she is....

Stacy from 4 Living Simply!

Congratulations!

For next week? Hmmm, we have been so super busy that I think I will send out a little more crown love - this time a surprise! Good Luck!

Fair weekend is upon us! Here are a few snippets of our day yesterday...

Bordie collie/sheep demo:

The sliding hill:

Timber framing (we found some great demos for our 3rd grade explorations of farming and shelter building)

Sliding hill fun:

Hope the weekend is fun where you are!

First Pick...

2009-09-24T19:20:00.000-07:00

Of the season.

We took to the hills today...

for some serious, season opening apple picking. Not to mention taste testing. Was there taste testing...

This is the same orchard we visit year after year so the kids are well acquainted with the layout and its hidden treasures... like the horses and llamas, the raspberries that "secretly" grow amid the trees, the rolling hill and, of course, the bakeshop.

These guys spent no less than an hour rolling down this hill...over...and over...and over again. Laughter. Giggles. And in the end, just a few ouches and minor altercations. Not bad at all, I'd say. Just way too cute really.

Oh, and that wispy baby hair blowing in the fall wind? Just a bit of heaven.

Expectations...

2009-09-22T13:48:00.000-07:00

Revised.

(We can call this Monday, right? Just for now? Tues doesn't start until tonight after the kids are in bed...really. Come back here then and you'll see. Tuesday for sure. Shhh...Til then...)

Little man and I started out baking with a bang, then along came friends ;) How can I say no to outside playtime? After all, winter is around the corner and I imagine we will have many days to cook up storms (amid the storms)...

Oh yes, and here are the fruits of our labor! Here is what a goal mixed with a little nervous energy can accomplish (ah, don't you love doc appt's?)...

Potato scallion and Harvest veggies soups::

Chocolate chip summer squash bread::

Cheesecake:: (ok, this wasn't in the CSA pick up but, we did have the fixins on hand)

Carrotcake::

Potato scallion soup and homemade rolls (grandma's recipe)

Maybe a little heavy on the baked goods side...must be that fall air ;)

Shippin' off to...

2009-09-19T20:34:00.000-07:00

Annie from Sensible Living!

Congratulations Annie! That Acorn crown is waiting for a sweet little head to sit atop :)

Send your address to woodspritemama@yahoo.com and I will get this right out :)

For now, until I can get that sewing room a bit
more in order ~ we have crowns ;)

Next week's giveaway? Merry meet, little fairies ~

Good luck!

Farming

2009-09-18T20:16:00.000-07:00

Organically.

Have I mentioned how totally lucky I feel that we are able to get some seriously delicious veggies from an awesome local farm? Just. So. Lucky. Seriously. Does it get much better than this? ...

As part of our 3rd year explorations we are delving into farming. This fall we'll focus on a variety of veggies and how they are grown. All of this is made that much sweeter with an upcoming event that is near and dear to many a Maine heart - the Common Ground Fair.

In the spring we will return to farming with seedlings and planting. For now, just being at the local farm is an amazing experience in itself. My guys get to play with the expert farmhands (ages 9 and 3) and poke around to see what a working farm actually looks, smells and feels like.

Every now and then they may even get to help out a bit. Good fun for sure.

Not to mention the playing...did I mention the playing?
I mean really, racing on antique trikes? Frankly, that is just about more cuteness than this mama can stand...

Tomorrow, our 9 year old and I have a challenge ~ to try to use all of the bounty of this week's CSA - in one day. Working in a ton of math, not to even mention the practical life skills of preparing your own food, it will be quite a day. Yes, whether it be muffins and breads, soups, casseroles - you name it; we will be cooking it. Some we'll freeze, some we'll share and yummiest yet - a bunch we will eat right on the spot. Yum. Bon appetite!

Coastal

2009-09-17T17:39:00.000-07:00

How we love our Atlantic...

Getting right into those tide pools, pulling back the seaweed and seeing what's creeping, scuttling or swimming about. We're doing it while we can too before that ocean air gets a little too icy for much exploring.

I have to give props to my sweet husband, with his background in environmental and experiential education, who has helped to give our children the precious gift of connectivity and a love of seeing what's in those little pools of wonder. Still, all that fancy background is by no means needed. Just a will to see what's there. To feel the life of the water, the critters and the air around you. Breathing in that salt air and feeling the sand underfoot is experience well beyond enough.

How we love the ocean...

Packages: WIP Wednesday

2009-09-16T19:04:00.000-07:00

For celebrating life...

I have a little problem with time. I always seem to think I have so much more of it than I actually do. Whenever I imagine a project, I have no doubt, "Sure, I can do that!".

Not. even. a. blink.

Fast forward to mid project time, "Where I am going to find the time????...". Hmmm...The trouble is, more ideas than hours in the day and the simple fact that I need to stick with just one of those ideas to its fruition before hopping onto the next.

Still, I have fun, plug away and figure, someday these will look kinda cute in a birthday package for some little sweetie somewhere. That's really what motivates me. A young heart finding a little extra speck of joy in their special day via some handmade goodness.

Ahh, until then..I present, my WIP Wednesday:
Birthday Packages
Crowns to be specific ~

Add banners, chair decorations, maybe some invites, goody bags and treats, some game ideas and viola!

I'll set a little goal...how about completing just one of these themes for next week? Maybe a little Peter Rabbit or the Rocket theme? I'll take a peek and see what is just screaming at me to be finished. Meet me back here next week and we'll have a little looksee, shall we?

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...

Nesting

2009-09-15T18:04:00.000-07:00

For Nest.

Have I mentioned I don't knit?

Oh, how I would love to though....just haven't made the time to teach myself. Whenever I have a snippet of crafting time I want to dive right in and get something done. Still, soon. Someday soon...

However, I do crochet! Albeit, its a very simple form of crochet, nothing too fancy but, that's o.k. I like simple. And while I feel like the last person on the planet to learn the fine art (or even a basic stitch) of knitting, this simple crochet ability has allowed me to make blankets for my babies, scarves for my loves and now some simple gifts for neighbors near and far. Sometimes simple is just right.

Sunday we took a little family drive out to Owl's Head which afforded me plenty of time to start and finish that wool scarf for Nest.

What a warmly wonderful and loving way to put useful hands to work. Just a bit of time and someone's body and soul are warmed.

Thank you Jean for such a beautiful gift for Maine's people and also for fellow crocheters and knitters alike. Our state is a little more blessed for your act of love...

Nine

2009-09-14T19:08:00.000-07:00

This boy. I tell you.

Bless. His. Sweet. Sweet. Heart.

This is the boy, who when playing with Legos' Power Miners, is baffled that the Rock Monsters are normally depicted as the bad guys."They're only defending themselves and their resources". I know. No &%%#. Like I say, This. Boy.

Since he could talk he's been about fairness and justice. Nothing I did, he just came this way. Seems they really do come with a core of who they are...

This boy who cheered for his little sisters today as they knocked pins down during our celebratory birthday bowling outing.

This boy who still likes to be my companion. Who still holds his dad's or his mama's hand when walking down the road or across the parking lot.

This boy who after 2 hours of hard pushing and was then c-sectioned...this boy who was gray and limp ... This boy decided to stay and let me be his mama. For this, I am daily and ever after honored & blessed. Thank you baby. Thank you for being born and sharing your beautiful, bright life with us.

ps. photos courtesy of my love, N.

Organized

2009-09-12T07:43:00.000-07:00

Or, trying my best to be.

The above is the view from what will be my new creative space once I settle in. Someday. Yes, someday soon...

In other news, I thought it might be fun to carry over a little of my new found organizational gusto to this space. It will give me an opportunity to share a little bit of quite a few things that I love ~
Inspired by Jodi, having h nature and our local community
Friday - Fieldtrip Friday, peek into designated days seems like a super swell idea - so here goes!
Monday - Mama Musings, snippets of mothering, the good, the bad and the beautiful
Tuesday - Action Tuesday, highlighting a fabulous awareness project or Tiny Space Tuesday where we'll share a little peek into how our home functions.
Wednesday ~ joining the gang over at the Fishbowl
Thursday - Take it outside - connecting with our environment and local community
Friday ~ Fieldtrip Friday ~ a peek into our homeschool journey
And Saturday? How about ship off Saturday where I post a winner for a little handmade goodness? For this week, here's a little Acorn love in the form of a crown - Good Luck!

Ah, I feel so organized already...;)

See ya summer

2009-09-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

Hopefully sooner rather than later - fingers crossed!

While I do love a change in the seasons...winter seems to creep up so fast and stay so long. A little too long in my opinion but, then again, I do choose to live in Maine.

Still, this change? You can feel it. That fall crispness. Coldness really but, we like to call it crispness for a little romantic effect. Tonight? Downright cold. Apparently not too cold for the bats though. After dinner I took a walk down to the dock and saw, right above my head, 2 little brown bats cavorting around for their dinner against a sweet pink blue sunset sky. That scene amidst the crazy call of a loon and the sound of the lake's waves lapping against some anchored boats made me so grateful to be right where I am. Chilly air and all.

Our day today? Still cleaning out. Getting a little tired of this clearing out business but, really, it must be done. Where did all of this stuff come from anyway? Goodness, I remember moving all we had in the back of a bike trailer (ummm, maybe just a few years ago). Maybe a dozen trips and it was a done deal. If I tried that now, I would be hauling this stuff til Christmas. At least.

We're getting there though. Soon. Any day now. Really.

You know, it will be soon though. 'Cause frankly, I miss my babies. They have been keeping busy though as you can see...

Little Miss and her paint exploration:

...she obviously thought it was a taste test of sorts...

And some seriously gloopy goop. I will spare you the after photos of the deck. And their clothes. And their hair. Yikes.

Feeling brave?

Magic Muck from this
3/4 cup cornstarch
1/3 cup water
5-7 drops food coloring

Mix water and coloring together in bowl.
Slowly add cornstarch to water/color mixture. Do not stir!
Let the mix stand for 2-3 minutes.

Get messy and have some fun!

Boxed In

2009-09-09T17:57:00.000-07:00

Outside.

Attempts to carve a little sewing space out of our garage (really just a built on space used for storage) yielded this find:

What a beauty 'eh?

I called over, "Hey girls, look what I found..." and like cats to a can of tuna (our cat actually could hear the sound of the opener on metal and would come running), they were by my side. In an instant, girls and box were outta here.

They set up house in the sun, box flap "porch" and all. Seems it got a little too toasty so they packed up and moved house to a shadier part of town - the backyard.

All day yesterday this was their thing... finding things in the woods and from inside to set up house. First thing this morning, the fun was on again.

Later in the day, they got a little hankerin' for some home improvements. It was time for a little construction (or deconstruction actually) and some windows were cut into place.

Nothing cuter than some little hands and faces peeking out of the "window" of a cardboard box.

Admittedly, I think some of their inspiration came from this book - one of our dearest faves around here. Until yesterday, they had never had the opportunity to have so much fun in such a big box. They've made trains, boats - all manner of transportation and exploration with smaller boxes we've had on hand; but a house box?

Now this was something new.

Swirl

2009-09-08T18:28:00.000-07:00

Cinnamon Swirl.

Over breakfast we started the dough. Throughout a day of semi-solo imagining, reading, organizing and exploring we were brought back together every now and then by this bread.

While it rose, we scattered a bit to our own projects and then came back to check its growth and give it a good punch. Later, we again returned to the bread to roll it out, add some butter and sugar, form it into loaves and let it rise a third time.

Touching base again, we popped it in the oven, scattered a bit and then finally, about 45 minutes later, we sat down to some sweet warm goodness - and called it dinner.

We use a recipe from my husband's grandmother for rolls ~ its perfect for this cinnamon bread. Slightly sweet and super moist. Give it a whirl!

Dissolve 1 Tblsp yeast in 1/3 cup warm water
Add 1 tsp sugar, let stand til foamy.

In a large bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tsp salt, 1 1/2 Tbsp shortening (we use Spectrum organic to avoid the hydrogenated oils) in 1 cup hot water. Cool this mixture then add 1 egg and yeast mixture. Beat in 2 cups flour. Then fold lightly 2 more cups flour. Cover and let rise a couple of hours.

From this point on you can make knotted rolls by rolling strands of dough and tying them in a knot or you can make toasting bread. If you are feeling especially ambitious, you can give the swirl a whirl by melting a stick of butter and mixing together about a cup of brown sugar with 2 tsp of cinnamon.

Labor

2009-09-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

Brilliantly gorgeous weekend. Bluest skies...fullest moon. Heaven.

Sick kiddos?

Not so much bliss.

Or so I thought...we stuck pretty close to home and actually had a sweet time of it - coodies and all. Even got some painting done on the house. Yeah, that's me on the ladder and the baby far below. Hmm, maybe this wasn't such a good idea...I figured it was better than having her strapped to my body while high on the ladder...No babies were harmed in the painting of this house. I don't even think any paint was ingested. Honest.

With my love working away all day Saturday I had a mind to get some things done. Nothing big, just paint the house, clear out the garage for a studio space, make a bunch of homemade magic from flour and fabric. The usual. Ahem. Maybe not. A girl can dream can't she?

So, aiming high, I set to work. We did a little painting then, as the kids needed, switched gears to the garage. These guys, well okay this one guy, has a hard time letting go of toys so we usually just move them to the garage. Now, the special ones we hang onto but this child has toys in there that are just dust collectors at this point. To remedy the situation, I had him create a little garage sale with me as his best customer. I told him I would pay him 25 cents (and not a penny more mind you) for each toy he got rid of. He's a clever one too I tell you because he starting deconstructing these toys and saying "OK, a quarter for his helmet, a quarter for these straps...". Uh uh. Hold it there little man. I didn't just roll off the potato truck, but nice try.

Happiness reigned in the end as he ended up with $6 (wait, didn't I already pay for these toys the first time around?) and I had a bit more wiggle room for a sweet little studio.

As for the flour and fabric goodness, does a store bought blueberry pie from the freezer count? It's organic...really - we hit an awesome sale a while back as our grocery store was phasing out their Vermont Pie Co. pies. $5. No lie. Just good pie.

Sweet little weekend.

Every moment is new

2009-09-01T20:21:00.000-07:00

It was bedtime and it was time.

Just time for these guys to be in bed. Time for the long day to end.

I was just about done with little miss and her selective hearing capabilities for the day. I needed her to please listen and just come on into bed for storytime. Yet, there she was... a foot from the doorway and staring at me. I motioned for her to come in and she just looked at me and reached for the door to close it. "No, we don't need to close the door...it's time...". Click. Or, maybe a bang would be more appropriate. She had shut the door. I marched on over, practically threw open the door to see her standing there - orchestrating an invisible symphony to U2's MLK with her small hands. See, she wanted the door shut so she could orchestrate in the darkness of the living room. I stood watching her, my eyes filled with tears, then closed the door again softly. A few minutes later, I opened the door again to see this big 7 year old girl, swaying in her daddy's arms to this.

Every moment is new. A gift. A chance to see things anew. Perhaps even providing a little redemption at the end of the day.

I've tried to keep this image with me as we have moved through our days since (not always successfully)...how appropriate too...

Orchestrating.

Conductors of our own lives...our own symphonies. Moment to moment.

Full

2009-08-31T06:57:00.000-07:00

of life...

Starting Sophmore year of highschool, 'not back to school parties', a 50th anniversary party (isn't that just amazing, really?)...and life rolls on.

For that anniversary party we were running late (I know, hard to believe isn't it? ;) and I left the camera...so many fleeting moments...a little girl running through the drench soaked parking lot in the rain with a dozen helium filled gold and white balloons trailing behind... the way our 8 year old joyfully looked into the face of one his grandmother's dearest friends while they danced, small stillfully watching children gazing as couples danced until only one couple, married 52 years, were left holding hands and swaying... lost in time.

Times like these I wish...oh that camera...so instead, I seared these images into my mind and perhaps, if we are lucky or blessed or both, I can recall these moments on our 50th wedding anniversary.

For now, here is a little of how we celebrated the start of a school year...

Oh! and if you're wondering who our winner of that one hour handbag is... Well, congratulations Scrapcindy! Please email me at woodspritemama@yahoo.com with your address... Enjoy :)

Forces of Nature

2009-08-24T06:14:00.000-07:00

Can send you reeling, knock you on your seat and simply just take your breath away...

This past week was so full of life's milestones and struggles.

First birthdays...going away parties, last minute grabs for more time, fundraisers for heartbreaking causes and the everyday and in between...so full.

Seems like she was only just born yet, our baby made her first full circle around the sun. How does that happen so quickly anyway? I mean, isn't the sun supposed to be huge?

Meanwhile, a niece (who actually feels more like one of our own brood here) is preparing to leave for college so we snagged as much of her precious last hours as she could graciously spare. With joy and a slight pinch in our hearts we said goodbye with some cheesecake and charades (which are really so hilarious when you get 3 teens and 3 under 8 together for a game, oh and one goofy adult, of course). Another goodbye came yesterday over Indian food after a day of marveling at nature's humbling power. Waves like this are something we don't see often on a sunny summer day in Maine.

We also did some party games for a teddy bear picnic that a sweet friend organized to benefit this organization; her life touched by an old friend's loss of her 8 year old daughter in March. I encourage you to donate even as little as $5 to this cause and potentially ease the struggle of families trying to manage life through the obstacles of this illness...

little note ~ last week's giveaway has been bumped to this week - good luck!

The Myth...

2009-08-17T06:43:00.000-07:00

I just loved, loved this sent to me by a wonderful mama friend. While this basically did a *perfect* job of summing up my life here, in the spirit of supporting the work of moms and keeping it real, I thought I would do a bit of myth busting myself. Forgive me this small indulgence and bare with me while I spill a bit ~ if you blog feel free to do the same and spread the word. Maybe we can start a movement ;)

...we eat just way too much sugar around here (sure its all homemade organic but, does that make it any healthier...really?) :: my kids do argue - daily :: although i am grateful for my home and make it work - i long for a bigger house with a front porch :: i get impatient with my kids :: large portions of our little home are overrun with my craft things - and that seems a little selfish :: i don't keep in touch with friends nearly as much as I should and want...

You can also flip this and make a little list of all the things you simply rock at or just feel good about. Play with it. Have some fun! Get together with some mama friends and write 5 things about them that you think is true then listen to how they see themselves regarding those aspects. Its truly supportive to be given an opportunity to let down one's guard and talk about the ups and downs of this parenting journey. In the end, we often find assistance through sharing stories and ideas. Tricks of the trade, if you will. My understanding is that this is how it was done a generation or two ago. Whether it was over the backyard fence or at the neighborhood playground, women seemed to share the realities of mothering much more openly than they do now. Our generation has placed upon it, so many pressures to be the perfect mother but, as stated in The Myth, for everything we do something else is sacrificed...

After all, there is no such thing as sustained perfection...and I think that's part of what makes life so preciously beautiful.

This week's gievaway!

2009-08-15T07:42:00.000-07:00

So, I switched the day we announce the winner of our weekly giveaways to Saturday, just to make it a little smoother ;)

And this week's winner of one of these:

Is Renee from Heirloom Seasons!
Congrats mama!

Shoot me your address, woodspritemama@yahoo.com and I will send this little blankie along :)

Next Saturday I will pull a name for a handmade one hour bag for mamas this time ...because we deserve something a little special too! I'll be using some Joel Dewberry's Ginseng in mulberry for that ~ good luck!

Wonderful weekending!

Keeping it local

2009-08-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

lakeside...at a different lake...

Lately, I've been thinking that although we are in small town central here, there are some pretty cool folks and businesses to be had just a relative stone's throw away.

With a little one who would much rather be held than strapped into carseat, we have stayed fairly close to home this summer. It may sound funny with the lake here and all but, we usually take lots of road trips in the summer so this has been a bit of a change for us; and a blessing in disguise. We've taken more opportunities to check out what's right in our own backyard, so to speak. Well, the backyards here and a town or two over.

Playgrounds have always been a huge hit with this crowd. Whether driving in this state or others, we have always made it a point to stop at any we see and check 'em out. We could literally write a book on the subject of playground comparisons at this point and the older ones of our crew can recall their faves from near and far. With that in mind, we have been enjoying our local places of constructed play - and lovin' it.

Then, of course, there is the ever present sleuthing of our local plant and wildlife. That handful of green being (we think) the pesky invasive milfoil that folks fear is starting to overrun our local lakes and the daddy long legs being the subject of a hot debate in the neighborhood on whether they are technically a spider or not. Jury's still out on that one.

To take it one step further, I started to think about all the local craftspeople and businesses, as well as other families we know that have talents to share. This summer our 8 year old took a 2 day pottery class with a fellow homeschooler's mama and totally loved it. Tonight, I decided to check out the town pages of a couple of nearby smallvilles around here and found loads of talent right here and some potentially interesting field trips if the folks are obliged:
timber framing
organic cheese making
metal sculpture
art quilts
wild mushrooms
local orchard for apples, pumpkins and honey (one I didn't know was around here)
organic greenhouse
moose bone carving
maple syrup shack
herbal teas and salves
rustic furniture artisans
weavers
horse farms
small bakery
local historical societies

All of this and then, not to mention, the good old local fire station and post office. The local post office here would have the added bonus of a mail boat run to the island residents. Way cool.

Have you discovered anything new in your local community?

Makin' butter

2009-08-12T07:49:00.000-07:00

Shake and Make Butter from The Ultimate Book of Kid Concoctions 2 to be exact.

Little man decided to take it one step further and add some maple syrup and cinnamon to dress up that toast a bit. So, we popped the ingredients into a mason jar, snapped on the lid and put on some music to shake by (everything from Raffi to Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder). For 15 minutes this boy danced with his mason jar around the living room, excitedly calling out, "I can feel the chunks in there!" as the whipping cream turned to butter.

In the end, we had something a little less solid than butter but, oh so tasty. Three slices of toast (for each) later (and 2 for baby), I would say they are pretty well satisfied all around. Not to mention, that a good part of the satisfaction came from seeing his family enjoying something he created...all with a little shake.

Shake and Make Butter:
You need-
1 container (zip bag or jar with lid)
1 pint heavy whipping cream
1 pinch of salt

How to concoct it-
1. our cream and salt into container
2. seal
3. after 15 minutes of shaking, chunks of butter will start to form
4. drain excess fluid the seal
5. store in fridge

Enjoy!

Wool felt....

2009-08-11T05:48:00.000-07:00

Is just so yummy, I mean...really...heavenly.

Before I discovered wool felt I used polar fleece - I loved that I could sew without worrying about those troublesome seams or hemming. I loved the softness, the versatility and the colors. Now, I have all of that with the felt with some added benefits as well.

Oh, and that posting at night is a good idea but, when you're cuddled up to a warm little nursing body; it gets pretty tough to drag yourself out of bed. So here we are with a post-breakfast quicky post :)

I wanted to share some of the little do- dads we make here with all that felt yumminess. Some great books for crafting your own fun are Toymaking with Children and The Nature Corner and one of my favorites, Feltcraft. Of course, its always fun to just play around and see what you come up with on your own (which is by and and large what we do here ;)...

Birthday Chair Decoration ~ We put these on the dining chair of the birthday child the night before along with their own crown. A gift is placed on the table in front them also. All this as a welcome to the new year ~ If your child is a summer baby, perhaps a garland of flowers or ocean themes would be fitting. Fall children may feel a connection to the changing leaves and this can be expressed in the colors and shapes chosen. I like to use cookie cutters to trace for patterns or make to my own.

Toying with some crown and party package ideas...

A view of the dining table while working...er, ahem, I mean my studio ;)...

This was the little picnic lunch prize from a bit ago ~ freeform pieces (no patterns)...

All handsewn goodness. I actually prefer handsewing for these smaller items. Makes me feel more connected to what I am making, nothing in between me and the wool but a little needle. Also, I feel more mindful when handsewing. Of ourse, for larger items or less creative ventures like standard pillow cases, the machine is much more practical. Still, I do love to do some quilt piecing by hand. Calms the nerves...

What are your crafty ways of winding down?

Some party fun and a winner!

2009-08-08T03:29:00.000-07:00

A funny little thing about birthday parties is that they don't always go as planned but, like those funny glitches in weddings, it almost always makes for a more interesting and memorable day!

The weather for yesterday's Baby Doll Party had a little curve ball up its sleeve for us. The clouds came in fast and oh so very dark. The kind of dark that brings rumbles and flashes of lightening - the kind of thing you don't want with almost 20 kids playing in or near the water. Funny thing is, I missed the mad scurry to save blankets, presents food, towels and oh yes the kids, of course, from the very large drops of rain beginning to fall from those nearly black clouds. While I was home putting together the lunch to bring on down and watching the trees being and whipped and bent around me, some wonderful ladies held down the fort at the beach (thank you friends!). Kids and parents hid out the storm in cars; with friends and a little food they waited for the clouds to pass while I checked the weather radar loop and wondered how fast I could whip this house into good enough shape(can you say pre-party mess?) to have folks over. What, with flour all over the kitchen floor from Little Miss Helper and her fistfuls of flying fun...

and all the other evidence of mishaps and daily life, it wasn't looking promising. Luckily, by the time I had the sandwiches ready the sun had made it's return. Thankfully ;)

Makes for a memorable party, doesn't it?

While we didn't play these games (getting kids out of the water on a sunny day in Maine is like trying to pull a cow out of a field of clover) these little variations on classic games are easy for moms to learn (always a plus for the busy birthday mom) while still being fun for kids. Many of these games require the kids to have a doll of their own to help act out the words.
1. Insert baby doll, baby doll for the Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear turn around (touch the ground, climb up the stairs etc) game.
2. Insert Baby, Baby DOLL! for the duck, duck, GOOSE game.
3. Play pin the diaper or the bib on the baby (while my oldest son thought this a little strange, the younger ones didn't blink ;)
4. Kids all sit in a circle while one child 'sleeps' in the middle. The non sleeping children all are handed instruments. Softly, they sing rock a baby on the treetop. At the end of the song, upon a cue from an adult they all play their instruments and the 'sleeping' child wakes up!
5. In this song, children use their dolls to act out the words. All this is done to the tune of London Bridge.
Little baby go to sleep
go to sleep, go to sleep,
Little baby go to sleep
Little baby (rock baby)
repeat using:
...learn to crawl
...start to walk
...start to run
...start to jump
...go to sleep (ends game, sing slowly to wind down game).
This one is from 101 Rhythm Instrument Activities for Young Children - a fantastic circle time and party resource.

For party favors, I made some simple doll quilts (one side cotton flannel, the other cotton) rolled up with a few pieces of salt water taffy inside. The siblings (mostly boys) received some Toss 'Ems (otherwise known as flying flax - these were filled with dried beans, improvising for our lack of flax ;) with a few taffies as well.

The new home for that soft little cuddle doll? Our 8 year pulled the name of Sweatpeas! Congrats mama! Email me at woodspritemama@yahoo.com with your address :)

Happy Celebrating!

This week's giveaway!

2009-08-06T17:36:00.000-07:00

Ok, so maybe Thursday isn't exactly Monday (when I had said pics would be coming of this week's drawing) but, it is close...sort of...isn't it?

Summer fun has surely been under way in these parts...just some snippets from the ocean and transportation museum visits we had this week...

my how I do love those old Packards...

Pictures are nothing like seeing these up close. I mean, some of these cars were just huge.

And yes, this is totally an authentic gypsy caravan - the craftsmanship was gorgeous. We learned that these were given to a couple upon marriage ~ now, wouldn't that be lovely! Sure, I bet we could squeeze all 5 kiddos in there!

Hmmm, I'm rambling aren't I...

Oh yes, the giveaway?! Here is it...the little darling, all ready to find itself into the chubby hands of a little one or as the pocket pal of someone a little older.

Or, of course, the playmate for someone's favorite doll...ahem....

I had plans for making bunches of these as party favors (oh, by the way, we had a birthday this week to boot and the Baby Doll Party is tomorrow) however, something about a nearly one year old taking her first steps is just a little distracting (can you hear the squeals of excitement? and, mind you, not just from me).

So, after making some sweet & simple doll quilts to wrap a few goodies in (salt water taffy and another goody...I have ummm, yet to decide on) I called it good and spent some good long floor time with my littlest sweet one while the gang hit the water park (have I mentioned that this lakeside wee one generally hates water...yes, oh. my.). So, we had a twosome day at home replete with picture books of babies (my how she does love to stare at those babies), open mouthed-diving forward baby kisses and opening my arms wide to catch those sweetest of first toddling steps.

Party pics to come tomorrow night along with some Baby Doll Party ideas! (Just a head's up ~ I will be posting at night from now on so I can be more focused while writing and, more importantly, while breakfasting with the gang ;) Saturday mornings we will draw the winner - good luck!

The Myth ...

2009-08-05T10:00:00.000-07:00

I just loved, loved this sent to me by a wonderful mama friend. While this basically did a *perfect* job of summing up my life here, I thought I would share a bit in my own words...

A blog works so much like a projection...we have this tiny pinhole through which we can glimpse the life of another. Its through that pinprick we can imagine our own hopes for our lives whether it be the perfect house, parenting or town. I honestly feel that while there are many moments of bliss there may also be spots of despair; worry of whether we are getting it right, feelings of inadequacy...basically that we want to do the very best but, are somehow missing the mark. My understanding is that many blogs are read with the intent of harnessing a bit of what seems to work and bringing it home. At the same time, it seems it may be easy to get down on ourselves when it seems everyone else has it so together in so many ways.

In the spirit of supporting the work of moms and keeping it real, I thought I would do a bit of potential myth busting myself. Forgive me this small indulgence and bare with me while I spill a bit ~ if you blog feel free to do the same and spread the word :)

So in addition to that list that really did encapsulate life here, I'll add some more...Here's to a little myth busting:

...we eat just way too much sugar around here (sure its all homemade organic but, does that make it any healthier...really?) :: my kids do argue - daily :: although i am grateful for my home and make it work - i long for a bigger house with a front porch :: i get impatient with my kids :: large portions of our little home are overrun with my craft things - and that seems a little selfish :: i don't keep in touch with friends nearly as much as I should and want...

You can also flip this and make a little list of all the things you simply rock at or just feel good about. Play with it. Have some fun! Get together with some mama friends and write 5 things about them that you think is true then listen to how they see themselves regarding those aspects. Its truly supportive to be given an opportunity to let down ones guard and talk about the ups but, also the downs of this parenting journey and in the end find assistance through sharing stories and ideas. Tricks of the trade if you will. Often, women can exchange ideas of what has worked for them. My understanding is that this is how it was done a generation or two ago. Whether it was over the backyard fence or at the neighborhood playground, women seemed to share the realities of mothering much more openly than they do now. Our generation has placed upon it, so many pressures to be the perfect mother, but as stated in The Myth, for everything we do, something else is sacrificed. None of us can do it all...

After all, there is no such thing as sustained perfection...and I think that's part of what makes life so preciously beautiful.

Hope you'll stop by this week as we have a little 'lean over the backyard fence' and chat a bit about weak spots and strengths and how we work them (or don't!) ;)

A Book Review and A winner!

2009-08-01T18:43:00.000-07:00

Well, more like a shameless promotion of a wonderful little book actually ~

One of our most favorite authors has recently had a new book released and, I'd say, its a darling...a little keeper...

Emily and Daisy by Elsa Beskow:

In this sweet little story that the under 7 crowd is sure to find charming, you'll be following the adventures of Emily as she sets off to mind the family cow. Our kiddos were delighted and a little surprised to see some helpful elves rounding out the story. All this dressed up in some of the sweetest vintage pictures out there. A little note to parents, this tale has a bit about responsibility as well as a little lesson on boastfulness.

If you get a chance, enjoy!

After years of having dozens upon dozens of books on hand, just in the last year or so, we have pared down our shelves quite a bit by keeping the best and most loved (McCloskey, a variety of fairy tales, Old Mother West Wind and other nature stories as well as some other faves we will share in the coming weeks) and borrowing any entertainment type of books from the library. After all, they really do enjoy the same stories over and again and it was more me who wanted the variety ;)

Oh, and our winner of that Little Miss Handbag?
Jill!
Although, I did notice that you have 2 little boys...hmmm, if you would like me to make this more of a satchel just let me know! ;)
My email?
woodspritemama@yahoo.com

Next Friday (we were a little late with the drawing this week, ahem...) we will have a little wool stuffed cuddle doll up for grabs ~ pics to come Monday!

Congrats and Happy Weekending!

Summer Reads & Friday Freebie!

2009-07-31T09:37:00.000-07:00

One of our favorite reads is the Faraway Tree Stories (along with The Wishing Chair, same author) ~ wonderful fantasy fun, just perfect for summer.

We also take advantage of the abundant wildlife opportunities. These Yesterday's Classics books by Clara Dillingham Pierson are fun for learning about the local ecology (we just happen to share much of the author's environmental splendor). Another nice series is Arabella Buckley's books... by Pond and River has a nifty little idea for making pond nets with natural materials. Some others in the series are Trees and Shrubs, Birds of the Air and Insect Life ~ all good summer fun for the 8+ crowd who are looking for a deeper understanding of ecology.

Oh, and our Friday Freebie? How about one of those sweet little bags from last week (or was it 2 weeks ago?). Either way, the little miss handbags - perfect name for them! Good Luck :)

Birthdays

2009-07-29T08:31:00.000-07:00

And some considerations...

Such as, would it be fun to be a birthday photographer?
I think so. Most definitely. Being around all that joy?
My, that would be good.

Then, considering the small fact that I have been known to make some non disposable, natural birthday packages for folks...how about combining the two?

Just considering, of course...

And, I would have a long way to go with learning more about photographing and this little camera in general (ahem, still haven't read the manual ;)

All in all, just some fun thoughts for a bit...

Happy celebrating!

Left Behind

2009-07-28T10:45:00.000-07:00

And found again...

No, this is not about children and the grocery store parking lot. It is however a bit about children and perhaps a lot more about motherhood. If the two can be separated...

This weekend I decided last minute to go to a reunion.
Highschool reunion?
Umm, no...
Family reunion?
Ummm, well, no again.
So....?

This was...a nightclub reunion.

Yes, you read that perfectly. This mama to 5 drive herself an hour and a half south at 10' at night to hang with some old friends for about the same amount of time and then turned around and drove back home for that same said hour and a half.

And, it was worth every second.

How amazing is it to see a room full of people in their 30's, 40's, 50's and even 60's completely in sync with music? Unspeakably.

In relation to motherhood. What did I take out of this? Connectivity for sure. How we (ourselves as mothers, our children, our communities) all benefit from mothers being connected to all aspects of themselves. The multifaceted balance of beauty and imperfection that we all are. Leaving any of those facets behind seems to possibly leave a little less of us to offer.

Here's to reconnecting...

(and thanks for the nudge friends, xo)

Time Alone...

2009-07-24T05:50:00.000-07:00

The other evening I had some time alone.

Without sewing.

Without running errands.

Without cleaning.

Just being.

It had been so long since I did, well nothing. It was only an hour and the majority of it was spent just feet away. Yet, that was all it took to be so restorative. The quiet. The calm. A minute or two to complete some thoughts that had been kicking around my head.

Only an hour and then I was ready to come back home. Before coming in, I stood in our driveway, leaning against our van for a bit listening to the pre-bedtime sounds drifting from the open window. Jazz music, organizing the tooth brushing ritual, the readying of pajamas... Simply put...I loved hearing it all. Such a different experience to hear it from the outside rather than being in the midst of the pre-bedtime frenzy. Somehow, it seemed so much calmer from that standpoint. Then I realized, it is that way (well, much of the time at least ;)..most of the frenzied feeling comes from me trying to get it all done and get them into bed. If I just placed myself in the moment and let go, I think I would feel that wash of gratitude I felt while leaning against our van. Gave me a little something to think about...

Like how our 5 year old gets super silly right before bedtime. It struck me, that's how she is choosing to connect with me, one last time before drifting off. This may not be the way I would choose for us, but it is the reality...and rather than trying to change it into something else (more calmer? more bedtime "appropriate"?) I could embrace it and connect. So on and so on for my other loves as well. I wonder how many moments I've slipped through, not seeing because I didn't recognize it. Just a little tweak in perspective I guess...

Oh! And our winner this week? Glad you asked!
Congrats mamak!
Send me a little note, writeus4@yahoo.com with your address and your picnic lunch will be on its way!
Thanks for playing along and I hope folks can come on over and play again next week as well!

Sprucing Up...

2009-07-22T05:35:00.000-07:00

Lest y'all think our days are mightily lazy...we have been sprucing up a bit - that is, between the favorite shirt finding, snack making, shoe tying moments of our life, of course ;)

About 8 years ago we moved in and, aside from ripping out the carpet and putting in new flooring,...we haven't done much really. You see, this was meant to be just be a temporary landing spot, not our home. We thought this would be a fun place to live for a bit, cozy, the water right here, quiet, great for the then 1 child and brand new baby to play...Then slowly, eventful day by non-eventful day, or really, moment by moment of first crawls, steps, words and all the loveliness in between of growing into a family... this did become home. Although we have flipped and flopped and had the "should we stay or should we go now" (hmm, I hear a tune in there somewhere) a thousand times, we have just decided that yes, we are staying. For an indefinite amount of time that we plan to make the absolute best of. So, we decided to actually move in. You know, make it our own. Oh, the plans we have...decisions, decisions.

One major point being - a mud room. You can imagine the mess in spring and winter, right? Boots, raincoats, snowsuits - oh my! Honestly, it can be a little overwhelming without a spot to keep all that contained in. So, we are thinking...

We will see where that leads.

For now, we are focusing on getting this house painted and maybe even some shrubbery along the side of the house. The little things...making it more our home.

Locally organic

2009-07-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

We spent mid morning with friends touring the lovely Winterberry Farm. Mary is one busy mama and her farm is truly a beautiful labor of love...

Summer...

2009-07-19T22:08:00.000-07:00

Is a good time to start some giveaways, don't you think?...Yes, I thought so too ;)

Every Friday we will pull a random name ~ just leave a comment sometime during the week and you're in the running!

This week?
How about some picnic goodness with some playfood all ready to go in it's own lunchbag?

Oh good, thought that might be a nice little way to start, glad you think so too ;)

Good luck and happy summering!

And just is...

Grubs

2009-07-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

Part of me really wants to love these little guys...
I mean how cool are they anyway, really.

These were found in some rotting logs we had out back. My guess is that they are wood boring beetle grubs but, I can't be sure. We have decided not to look them up and just be surprised. You know, like a holiday or birthday even.

Meanwhile, although I love the curiosity my little ones have about these guys - our 6 year old even touches them...actually picks up these 2-3 inch buggers, I am finding it hard to hide my revulsion, Yes, its a strong word but, when I almost gag when watching these things, I would say that word fits just about perfectly. Still, I say, "How cool are they!", even with a smile.

Just today I thought my waiting might be at an end and we could send them all on their merry way. We sat watching them squirm around in their rotting wood loveliness and I saw one end darken (you can almost see wings or the like inside some of them) and I excitedly thought they were hatching...or whatever it is that grubs do when they change. But no. That would have been...an excretion. Eeewwww. Of course, I understand the need for nature's decomposers and my 8 year old and I talk about that. That is all good and well and oh so necessary but, maybe behind closed doors...or inside rotting logs.

So we wait and watch and wait some more. Eager to see what splendor will unfold (fingers crossed on a quick change). The kids' awesome wonder of nature grows...now, if only I could get my stomach to see it the same way...

Thrifted

2009-07-14T06:16:00.000-07:00

Some lovely vintage...

These were rescued from an aged (1940's) children's picture book that was just too musty to read and whose binding was shot. The images were so lovely I decided to take the book home and reassign them. What I especially love about them (apart from those perfect tones of green, yellows and browns) is that these critters are all animals from our own backyard. Literally.
Frames were even thrifted also; it was a good day for revamping.

They have found a perfect home on the wood walls of the kid's bedroom...

Bag it

2009-07-13T07:09:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I had the chance to make a quick birthday gift for a special lady - and promptly my girls wanted their own.

The 1 Hour Bag sounded perfect to me (always looking for that quick fix ;)
Of course, my relationship with patterns and tutes (regardless of how fabulously they are written) being what it is...the 1 Hour Bag turned into the 3 hour bagtastic mess ;)

All ended well though and my girls have some nifty new bags and I have a gift for the birthday girl...

This bag making got me to thinking of how my girls like to carry things - given the right bag, of course. These two would drag an elephant down to the beach if it was popped into a cute tote.

So today, we are making some beach totes - one for each and they will now join the happy club of tote luggers next time we head to the water.

Now, just give me a few hours...

Drumbeats

2009-07-09T06:37:00.000-07:00

Dancing to our own...

With 5 kids one can imagine the variety of personalities, temperaments and general individualism that we are confronted with on a daily basis. Then add on accommodating all that humanity in 800 square feet and some challenges are bound to arise.

In reality though, I tend to think that even if we had 1800 square feet or (imagine!) 2800 square feet...we would still be accommodating. Maybe it would even be more challenging... Would they be less accustomed to each others little idiosyncrasies and possibly less tolerant of their differences if they could just go to their own rooms and not have to deal with each other? Conflict and its resolution is such a huge part of life...I like to think we are teaching our share here - daily ;)

Of course, when one does just need to be alone they can always take solace in the outdoors with a bike ride, running off steam in the yard or just sitting quietly and listening to the birds.

On the flip side, I like to think of how much they also learn from each other by watching, listening and interacting throughout the day. How our younger ones learn much about music from their oldest brother, how our girls learn about their natural environment from their littlest big brother, how both our boys learn so much about the process of learning by watching their younger sisters. Finally, how much we all learn about living and loving each other through the good days and more importantly even the not so good ones.

While we are all dancing along to our different drumbeats.

Story telling swap...

2009-07-08T06:11:00.000-07:00

and the degradation of a photo shoot...

Just finished up a little story telling goodness in the form of Eric Carle's Very Hungry Caterpillar. Looks like I will need to make our gang a few of these pretty soon - they loved this one.

after the silk and story bits are pulled from the chair...

last bit left...

A little reality of what goes into taking some pics with curious little hands sneaking about. This was too funny seeing that little hand sslloowwllyy reaching up onto the chair to snag a bit of story.

Hmmm, maybe she's trying to tell me something? Storytime?