Frontier Dreams

Shaping her future

2012-01-26T21:36:00.000-08:00

*semi-related photos from Martin Luther King,Jr day at school last week. I love that we celebrate him by having a day of organized community service for the children (and us adults!) instead of a day off.*

When I opened our latest school newsletter my eyes instantly fell on a certain article. I saw the name of one of the most amazing individuals I have the pleasure of knowing, the man who taught Kevin's friend growing up (back in upstate NY - where I am from), our favorite neighbor, and (most importantly) the person who will be teaching K for the next 8 years of her life. (In Waldorf schools the children have the same teacher and class from 1st-8th grade) That's an awful lot to say about one person, huh? Well, now you can imagine why my heart skipped beats and tears fell down my cheeks as I read this. I instantly felt that I had to share these sentimental words with all of you.

Goodbye, Grade 8....Welcome
Grade 1
By Susan Lake, 8th grade parent

I believe Mr. Conlon won the hearts and respect of our
children when early in their first grade year, he introduced
them to the Wild and Wooly Waterman. He would bring
them out onto the school field and from a distance, shout
out "I Am the Wild and Wooly Waterman...Catch Me If You
Can!" That's all a spirited class of first graders needed as
they charged forth trying hard to catch the swift and agile
Mr. Conlon.
Bringing learning while in motion became his signature....
going out and gathering thousands of acorns to be used as
counting tools for math, tossing beanbags while in a circle
reciting the multiplication tables, or the many mornings
spent in the gym playing "cat & mouse" and other favorite
games. Mr. Conlon's numerous field trips are legendary.
They have ranged from a simple walk to Elk Rock Island in
Milwaukie, to a grand sixth grade adventurous geology field
trip to central Oregon exploring Newbury Crater and the
lava fields and the more recent trip downtown to Occupy
Portland on the city bus.
Mr. Conlon has a tremendous awareness that children
thrive when they can move around. Their minds and
bodies are challenged, enhancing their confidence, their
respect for each other, a love of learning and the pure joy
of the teacher child relationship. Mr. Conlon is a master
teacher and a dear human being. He has often said, "your
kids are great....they are amazing! I can take them
anywhere." A child, who has gone through the grades with
Mr. Conlon, will be deeply rewarded for a lifetime.

How could my heart not help but soar above the clouds after reading this?! I feel like we are the most blessed family in the world right now, and I know we are not the only ones.

In other news - The Dandelion Dream giveaway winner will be announced shortly in the original post. Also, I wanted to say thanks to all of you for your responses to Keep Calm Craft On. Wow!! It seems that most of you are ok with pretty much any day of the week but there was a slight lean towards Tuesdays so let's go with that day. Of course you are always welcome to post your WIPs on your blog any day of the week and then just link it up in the KCCO post for that week. Did that make sense?
So, starting next week I will be posting all Keep Calm Craft On posts on Tuesdays. My Rhythm In Our Home posts will be a bit more sporadic now but they will still happen. I'll go more into that later.

Have a most wonder full weekend!

Keep Calm Craft On {crafting on}

2012-01-24T20:46:00.000-08:00

Welcome back for our second installment of Keep Calm Crafting On {crafting on}. I am sorry that I have been a bit random wit the day and time of these posts. I'll get more into that in a minute. For now. Here is what I currently have in the works...

I finished up Baby L's birthday sweater and just need to be block it now. I started a couple other little projects for him as well.

I have had this yarn sitting out since I finished our friend's birthday Milo last summer. I think it may have even been on my rav projects page since around then. It was meant to become a fall/winter vest for Baby L. Well, fall is over and I am just now picking it up and knitting with it. I guess it will be his winter/spring vest instead. Keeping his core warm is so very important, so vests really work year round, at least they do here in Oregon.

Another birthday gift on the needles is cute little bear hat. I am quite pleased with the yarn color I chose for this. It's brown enough to be 'bear like' but not so dark that I can't handle it. I have issues with my babies wearing dark colors, I am all about the light and bright colors on them. That's just me and my silliness, though.

I have a finished project to share, too. A golden crown fit for a princess. (or prince) Isn't that yarn perfect for it? It looks very regal to me. I actually made this in September/October but then I hid it up on my top shelf and forgot about it (didn't I just mention that I need to clean off that shelf?!) it stayed hidden for a couple of months before I remembered it was there. I had a reason to make it but why that was, I do not remember now. So I just gave it to my children. It's funny because I modified the pattern a bit (rav notes here), and it fits K's 6 year old head, C's 3 1/2 year old head and almost fit's Baby L's 11 month old head...

but he isn't so sure about it just yet. Oh well. I have a feeling this will be my official dress-up crown pattern. I forgot to say that the yarn was just leftovers from K's slippers. I was happy to use it up. I am thankful for my friend Tricia hosting her weekly Stash Bash to help me continue to use up my stash and leftover bits. Won't you join us?

I really need to buckle down and make some definite birthday decisions. It's all so up in the air and 'making by the seat of my pants' right now.
Not only is Baby L's birthday quickly approaching but C's will be here in no time. I need to pick out her birthday sweater pattern, a dress pattern and also make her the doll papoose from this book (like I made for K) and fix up her C baby. If I want to accomplish all of these things I need to get a good schedule going and fast!

I have been meditating quite a bit on the day to host this link up. There are a few other crafting link-ups on Wednesdays, and I don't want to be redundant. I honestly picked Wednesdays because for the past few years I have posted my craft progress on Wednesdays (or late Tuesday nights) with or with out a group to follow or link-up with. It's just part of my posting rhythm. K's kindergarten class even holds a crafting circle on Wednesdays, it just seems to be the day of the week to create and share! That said, I could (make myself - ahem) handle change. Perhaps I should host it on Tuesday or Thursday, instead? What are your thoughts? Any strong preference for either of those days? I'll update you all later this week with the final decision.

If you would like to join me and share your current works in progress please leave your link below. There are no rules, only that your link is current and something about a craft project (of any kind) you are working on. Please remember to link back here for all of us to see. It's as simple as that. Now please share and inspire us all!

What are you working on? Happy creating!
----------------------------------------
There's still time to enter for your chance to win a $25 credit to Dandelion Dream here. Don't miss this great giveaway!

Waldorf Inspired Angel Mobile Tutorial

2012-01-24T06:14:00.000-08:00

Please come join me over at Bamboo magazine (once again) for their newly released Winter issue. This time I am sharing instructions on making a Waldorf inspired angel mobile - just like the one my girls' have in their bedroom. Let me know what you think.
I'll be back in this space tomorrow with my Keep Calm Craft On post. I hope you'll join me!

Rhythm In Our Home : Creative Spaces (mine)

2012-01-22T20:13:00.000-08:00

Since I shared one of the girls' creative spaces for Rhythm In Our Home before, I thought I would continue on with my creative space. Everyone needs their own special place in their home to get away, wouldn't you agree? Well, this is mine - In it's full unorganized and messy glory. It's nothing pretty, but it serves it's purpose. Knitting, sewing and creating are a huge outlet of mine and help me hang on to my sanity. A space dedicated to these things seemed only proper.

My corner is located in the bottom level/basement of our split level home. It's dark and dingy down here and the 70's wood walls don't help much. If we had more time and/or money I would do something about all of that but that's just not a possibility. Even so, I am grateful and rather content with it. My sewing machine (Betty) sits out in her space on my desk all year round which is a blessing to me. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I had sewing projects I wanted to work on but never got to, due to having to dig out my sewing machine and set up at the kitchen table. I didn't have any kind of crafting space back in our Virginia home. Kevin, however, did have an office space (for the record label he was running at the time),and the dogs had their own bedroom - Hmmmm.... Anyways, this is where I spend my nights, right next to the warm cozy fire with the baby monitor humming, my husband in the chair next to me (if I am lucky and he's home at a decent hour), and a dog sleeping at my feet.

Because this space is basically in a cave, it is really hard to photograph it. I apologize for the lack of pictures and the pictures that I did post. I had a rough time just getting these ones.

I have a long thin Ikea desk that is just perfect for holding my sewing machine at one end and Kevin's computer at the other. Above it are some shelves Kevin installed for me. The top shelf holds secret surprise projects, my yarn swift and winder, things that need mending and a couple of other random things. (the fact that I am unsure of those things means that I need to clean that shelf!)The shelf below that holds all of my fabric, sewing notions and wool felting supplies. The next shelf holds my yarn stash and my drop spindle and then finally, the bottom shelf holds my knitting needles, embroidery supplies, current WIPs and my craft books.(most of which can be seen here)

One of my favorite pieces of K art hangs by my sewing machine. She drew this in school last year the day after her 5th birthday celebration. Things made by my children really inspire me.

I have an old, beat up filing cabinet we found on craigslist to hold all of my knitting and sewing patterns, wool felt, tissue paper and other things of that nature. On top of the cabinet sits my knitting WIP basket.

Kevin's cup from childhood holds some regularly used notions, and it just plain old makes me smile!

Well, there you go. I hope you enjoyed the tour!

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. I am by no means an expert of any kind. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

There's still time to enter for your chance to win a $25 credit to Dandelion Dream here. Don't miss this great giveaway!

Sponsor Giveaway : Dandelion Dream

2012-01-20T19:59:00.000-08:00

Today I would like to introduce you to one of my wonderful sponsors. She is an amazing mama, kind-hearted friend, as well as the owner of Dandelion Dream - Erin. You may remember the super cute squirrel shirt Erin made for Baby L, and you can see K's much loved Love Birds shirt by Erin above.

Erin and I have quite a few things in common, one of them being that we are both married to military men. In fact, due to our husbands jobs - my family moved from the east coast to the west coast (our big Oregon Trail adventure) around the same time that Erin's family moved from the west coast to the east coast. They are stationed where we were last. Funny how that works, don't you think?

We just love her shop. Baby L has been wearing his squirrel shirt at least twice a week since Thanksgiving and it still looks brand new. You can hardly even tell it has been worn. I may have to get one for myself, soon! Erin's talent, workmanship and textile choices are above and beyond. Also,when you purchase one of her beautiful and fun to wear designs, you are helping her family on their journey to adopt a baby girl.

Why don't I let her tell you a little more before I ramble on. So without further ado, let me present Erin from Dandelion Dream.

Hi, I'm Erin. A mama of two wee ones, wife to one sweet guy and the creator behind my new shop Dandelion Dream. My shop offers eco-friendly shirts lovingly printed with handcarved images. Currently, our family is on a wonderful journey of adopting from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. My husband, Chris and I truly enjoy parenting and the idea of adoption is so exciting to us. We believe that every child without family is tragic, and in the Congo the need is so great: hundreds of thousands of children have been orphaned because of the civil war (the deadliest war since World War II, claiming an estimated 5 million lives, half of which are children under the age of 5), the Congo is the second worst country in the world where sexual violence to women occurs and the death rate of Congolese children ages 0 - 5 is one of the highest on the planet. Our hearts are set on a baby girl. Currently, all profit made from Dandelion Dream is going towards our adoption.

A bit about me and my shop...

I graduated from college as a graphic designer and freelanced for several years. While I enjoy design, I found much more enjoyment in the tactility of holding a carving tool and creating with my hands. The prints are something I've been working through over time. Most of them have a little story behind them (small memories that I savor)... the VW, was our big road trip from the west to east coast, the bike... when my little one was learning to ride, the squirrel ... our new yard filled with little squirrels and acorn tops.

What I treasure about handmades...

I've always loved handmade. I love the time and effort poured out by the artist, crafter, knitter, sewist. My kitchen is filled with handmade plates, serving dishes, mugs and bowls, that I've collected here and there. I love that none of them are exactly alike. I love that the plate Chris eats off of, is slightly different from my own. I love that personal touch. It makes each meal a bit more special, each cup of coffee a bit tastier, each time I look at a print and soak in with appreciation the handiwork, the individual effort, and the artist behind that specific piece. I love being part of that, and meeting other amazing people that share that same love of art and handmade beauty.

Thank you, Erin.
Today Erin would like to offer one of you very lucky readers a $25.00 credit to her shop!

For a chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post!
If you would like additional chances to win:

-Follow Danelion Dream on facebook with updates: www.facebook.com/ilovedandeliondream
-Follow Dandelion Dream on twitter: twitter.com/tinytwists
-Subscribe to Dandelion Dream's newsletter: www.dandeliondream.com/subscribe
-Post this giveaway to Facebook, Twitter, or your blog
-Let me know you are a dear follower of Frontier Dreams

and please make sure to come back and leave separate comments letting me know you've done so!
I will close comments on Thursday January 26th at 9pm PST and announce the winner within this post that night.

Thank you so much, Erin for this wonderful opportunity.
Good luck, everyone!

Comments closed!

The winner by random number generator is:

moogielight
Thanks for the opportunity. Lovely pieces - especially the clothes!

Congrats! Please e-mail me at farmergopi (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Crafting on : Red Light Knitting

2012-01-17T06:01:00.000-08:00

Baby L's elf hat (from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts) took a few days to knit up, unlike his sisters' hats that only took a couple of hours. This is due to me knitting his hat almost exclusively at red lights and while walking in the hallways at school. Did you know the hood on an Ergo baby carrier works great as a yarn holder so you can knit and walk all while holding your baby? Don't laugh, that's exciting news for me. I discovered it shortly after Baby L was born. It seems I get most of my knitting done while I am wearing Baby L, nowadays. But back to his hat... I followed the same mods I made for the girls' hats, knitting Baby L's in the adult small size. It should fit him for quite awhile. I really like the way this lumpy bumpy yarn knit up, and it is so smooshy on the inside. I bet it feels nice against his baby fuzz head. Did you see the adorable shirt Baby L is wearing in these pics? It's my favorite shirt of his, hands down. He has had it since Thanksgiving but I only got around to getting a picture of him in it now. (I blame the lack of sunlight) My wonderful and talented friend Erin made it for him. You can see more of her creations here.

I am now working on Baby L's first birthday sweater.(Our family tradition) It's killing me as I knit it up knowing that he will be a whole year so very soon.

His upcoming birthday also has me working on his birthday crown and planning a trip to Rose's for felt. I am thinking of changing up my usual design a bit and maybe needle felting the pictures on his crown instead of sewing on pieces of wool felt. What do you think?

Lastly, I thought I would share K's current works in progress, a star child and a felted needle book.

So after I mentioned Keep calm craft on - a new crafting link up, I ended up posting more knitting than anything else. Go figure! Anyways, if you would like to join me and share your current works in progress please leave your link below. There are no rules, only that your link is current and something about a craft project (of any kind) you are working on, and that you link back here so that we can all share. I didn't want to steal 'WIP Wednesday' from it's creator Shellyfish (always must give credit where it's due!) so I am starting a new work in progress link up all together. I was thinking of just calling it Crafting on for short... what are your thoughts on the name? More on the link up later...

What are you working on? Happy creating!

All over the place

2012-01-15T20:47:00.000-08:00

I'm not being artsy here, our driveway is steep!

Blue skies and ice wherever we go,
slipping and sliding deep in the snow.

Uphill and downhill, neither leaf nor green:
the sun bright and clear, no grass to be seen.

Woollies and hoods, on toboggans all day.
Gloves on our hands and spring far away.

Back home Mama's baking big loaves and small.
How hungry we are - we'll soon eat them all!

From Around the Year by Elsa Beskow

King Winter visited us for the day today and what a beautiful day it was. I had to giggle when I awoke to the snow this morning. You see, my friend informed me that she would be going up to Mount Hood with her family over the weekend. She then told me that every time they go there, it snows in Portland afterwards. Well, I guess I owe a big thank you to her for bringing King Winter to us!

The girls spent most of the day back and forth between playing outside and warming back up by the fire inside while cutting out paper snowflakes and reading Snowflake Bentley. They couldn't believe snow was finally here. The last time we saw it was when Baby L was born. That's a long time! We moved to Portland thinking it would snow all the time, we should have researched that a bit more first. We were in serious withdrawal of those white crystals falling from the sky during the four years we lived in Virginia. It was much too hot there for snow to fall, (I am so glad I no longer have to endure that heat!) but of course after we moved it started snowing. Go figure! Someday we'll move back to the Northeast,(I am from New York and Kevin from Pennsylvania so we are used to the never ending snow and bitter cold) and be back to the weather we love. Until then, we will soak up every snow gift we are given.

I thought it was the perfect day to try out Amanda Soule's recipe for Everyday Oat Bread from The Rhythm of Family. I altered the recipe slightly by replacing the brown sugar with honey and the butter with coconut oil. It's quite delicious, and just what we needed on such a day.

Remember those mittens? They still fit!

On Saturday Kevin took K to work with him leaving C, baby L and I alone in the house. It was a nice treat for K and a nice unexpected break for me. C and I made some delicious Paleo friendly pumpkin muffins (thank you, Molly) while Baby L took his nap. Only 3 hours into the day C wanted to call K at work to talk to her. It's so funny because I thought for sure she would really like her time alone with me, (those two have really been at each others throats lately, it's been quite intense) but they obviously can't live without one another. Such sweetness! They talked for a good 45 minutes before K had to go.

Baby L had quite the weekend, too. He played in the snow for the first time (Ok, really he just sat there unsure of it) and did his first baby sign. It was the sign for dog, much to Daddy's delight. Looks like we have another animal lover in our home.

How's that for a post that's all over the place?!

A la Tim Burton

2012-01-12T19:30:00.000-08:00

When I saw this tree, the first thing that came to mind was 'Tim Burton'. It's beautiful, and creepy all at the same time. Can you see it? Tim Burton has such an intriguing and unique artistic style that stands out from anything else I have ever seen. During my young 'artsy days', while living in Los Angeles - one of the movie capitals of the US, I had a bit of an obsession with his films and art. Oh and Jane's Addiction, too. They were my LA soundtrack. I used to have his book The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy, and Other Storieson my nightstand at all times. It's quite funny to think about that now, seeing as how I hardly ever watch movies anymore. Wow, it makes me feel old... Anyways, back to this crazy tree.

K and I saw it on our family walk Christmas day and literally stopped in our tracks. I think we both did a double take. We had to go and explore it up close. It's as if the tree has armor on it - the whole thing, every single branch is covered. Or as if it is a gigantic tree sized pine cone. I don't know, but I have never seen anything like it. I was half expecting it to come to life and reach out for us. I swear it looks like it's reaching for K in the one picture above. Hmmm, I think I may know where K's crazy imagination comes from...

I couldn't get a picture of the entire tree as it was late in the day and my natural light was fading fast, not to mention I only have a 50mm 1.8 lens (my 1.4 is still boxed up waiting for me to ship it off for repair), which makes it pretty tricky to take photographs of big trees amongst other things. In all of our walks through this area I don't ever remember seeing such a peculiar tree, and believe me this would have stuck out in my head. I wonder if perhaps it only looks like this in the winter? Or maybe it's diseased? I honestly have no clue. Have any of you ever seen such a thing before? We joke that Oregon is home to fairytale forests with it's large amounts of moss, big toadstools and constant greenery. It just looks like what I have always pictured the land of fairies to look like while growing up. This tree seems as though it would belong in a dark forest ruled by a cruel king... or something of that nature. Wow, I do believe my imagination is just running away with me right now!

Keep calm craft on

2012-01-10T21:02:00.000-08:00

Can I just start out by saying I miss Work In Progress Wednesday. I so enjoyed doing those posts but when I missed almost a year of posting on here it seemed to have vanished. I probably wouldn't be able to revive it now but I am thinking of maybe starting up something else. Not all of us knit and I know I am working more on other crafts than knitting as of late. Would any of you be interested in joining me?Knitting, of course is welcome!

I finished the girls' Phoebes just in the nick of time for Epiphany. Once I finished them I thought I would pick my Papoosa back up but looking at it just made my head spin. I thought perhaps an instant gratification project was in order to get me back on track.

Remember this beautiful yarn that was given to me on my birthday? Well, I though it would be perfect for the fast knit pointy elf hat from More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. I didn't have an intended recipient when I started it, as I didn't know how many yards I had or how big I could make it. Since the yarn was a lighter weight than the pattern called for I used smaller needles (size 11 to be exact) and knit the large adult size. With those modifications the hat ended up fitting K perfectly. It was such a quick knit, too. I had it done in less than two hours. Just what I needed! I had yarn leftover and C decided she wanted a matching one so I got back to work on one for her. I started out making it the same size as K's but ran out of yarn so I ripped it out and cast on the small adult size, instead. I had just enough yarn for that and it fits C great. Rav notes are here.

I thought I was done with that pattern but the girls had other plans. The yarn pictured above is for Baby L's own pointy elf hat. The girls informed me that it was only fair if he had one, too. I bought that yarn a couple of years ago and had no plans for it so why not? I love the lumpy, bumpiness of it. (yep, making up words, again) I am happy to say I am actually reading my library books right now! I borrowed this onea few months ago (you may have seen it on my sidebar) and loved it so I requested it again. Anything with 'simplicity' in the title grabs my attention. Something has to give with my home/life organization!! Joining my friend Ginny here for knitting fun. (HA! And trying to overcome disorganization, too)

Oh how I love instant gratification projects!
What are you working on? Happy creating!

P.S. Did you guys see the Doodlebug Yarn badge in the sponsors section? They are such a great yarn shop to buy from (I just recently ordered through them for Baby L's birthday makings yarn) and they have an ongoing discount for all of you. $5 off your $25 purchase! Just use code 'Frontier' at checkout.

Rhythm In Our Home : Unintentional Traditions

2012-01-09T18:10:00.000-08:00

A few Christmas day photos - yes, C is wearing a snow suit in the pictures. It was a Christmas gift and she just had to wear it right away. Baby L and I were/are very excited that Nana got him Freddie's Blanket. I see new knitting projects on the horizon.

Sometimes the best family traditions are the ones that you never even intended to become traditions in the first place. The ones started on a whim, that you didn't think you would do again. For us, our yearly Christmas walk/hike is one of those traditions. We started it last year, when the girls received a canopyfor their red wagon and needed to test it out.

Then when this Christmas came it was such a beautiful day that we all felt that we had to be outside. It didn't seem like Christmas if we didn't take that walk. This time, instead of our usual neighborhood/cemetery walk we hiked an unexplored (by us) area in our woods.

K and C both walked Nara. C got upset when Nara took off on her, though. We then thought it best that Daddy walk Nara.

Every time we pass through the cemetery by our house, K collects wild flowers or flower petals she finds on the ground and places them at the graves that do not have any. I love that she does this.

Hows that for unexpected??

Arms filled with treasures, as always.

Oh yes, this is a family favorite tradition we will continue year after year, no matter the weather or where we live.

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Please don't forget to link back here in your post. How else will we all be able to share and be inspired? I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

P.S. - Is my header blurry to anyone else, or is it just me? I edited it on Picnik and it's clear in my files but then blurry on the blog - how can I fix this?

The three R's

2012-01-03T20:06:00.000-08:00

K's needle felted nativity. She made this a few days before Christmas to place under the tree. She even made a second set for C because she noticed how much C was admiring them. (Sister love!) She set it all up with Mary,Joseph, an angel and the pine branch/pipe cleaner manger waiting on Baby Jesus. Then after mass on Christmas Eve she led us in a procession from downstairs to our living room upstairs singing 'O Come Emmanuel' with C in the very back carrying Baby Jesus to place in the manger. If you could have only seen the pride in both of their faces. That was a moment I will always hold in my heart.

Taking a break from cookie making to watch our neighbor's Christmas lights come on. Such magic for little ones!

Hello there! While my absence probably wasn't noticed, I still feel the need to check in quick and let you all know I am still around. With my current slump I felt the need to relax and let go for a bit. I have been practicing the three R's: Reading, Relaxing and (Real) knitting, ok I am stretching it with that third R. I really needed this - my family really needed this. I have been happily spending my nights alternating between reading and knitting K's Phoebe sweater. My knitting is still feeling like a chore to me and going rather slowly but I only have the hood left and should have it done to give her on Epiphany. No pictures to prove it, my camera is on a well deserved break, as well.

I am very happy that I decided to read Story of a Soul after all. This book is true inspiration and encouragement. I almost feel as if some of it was written to/for me, her words echoing in my soul. Thank you, again dear Ginny, for your kindness. (This time I got your link right!)

We are still in the midst of celebrating the twelve days of Christmas with Epiphany coming up this Friday. For us that means Christmas crafts are still being made, cookies being baked, Christmas music being played - such a wonderful time. I have been doing a lot of thinking these past days and have had quite a few epiphanies of my own. I'll be back to share more on that later. I really just wanted to say 'Hi'. All is truly well over here! I hope you are all having a wonderful, wonderful week. I'll be back later in the week wit more posts (and responses to past posts), if not before then.

Welcome January Sponsors

2012-01-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

Please join me in welcoming my January sponsors.

The Cloverdilly - One of a kind handmade rosebud earrings. As unique as the person who wears them. Alex is a professional photographer and she started The Cloverdilly to share the creative side of her.

Simply Playing - Carries Waldorf inspired all natural plant dyed wool toys that bring out your child's imagination. Since dress up is the heart of a young child's imaginative play, crowns, garlands, and wands are created to assist in their journey.

Natural Kids - A group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting eco friendly & all-natural toys, clothing, decor and more for kids, and kids at heart.

Slates Falls Press - Independent publisher of knitting picture books Phoebe's Sweater and Freddie's Blanket.

Meadowsweet Naturals - Offering a wonderful collection of Waldorf Inspired Art Supplies, books & music at discount prices.

Frost Lane - Bret and Nadja Van der Stroom raise a few animals and six children on a couple of acres in Tennessee. Their Etsy shop, Frost Lane, features an eclectic mix of handmade items they enjoy making and using themselves.

Sacred Waters Soap Co. - Artisan soaps, perfumes, lavender, lotions & scrubs made using natural oils, herbs and spices.

Dandelion Dream - Organic, fair-trade, and eco-friendly shirts lovingly printed with hand carved images.

Dovie Moon Photography - Beautiful nature inspired photographs plus great vintage finds.

Sweet Basil Fibre Works - A small home based business that creates high quality, hand dyed yarn. There are no chemicals used in the dye process & all dyes are Eco-friendly.

Spring Creek Store - Located in the Portland Waldorf School, the Spring Creek Store carries all your Waldorf needs from books and school/art supplies to handmade gifts and gently used consignment.

Please take the time to visit these wonderful small shops, you won't be disappointed.
I am so humbled and grateful for their continued support. THANK YOU!

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Drawing the (sugar) line

2011-12-22T20:01:00.000-08:00

You may already know that our children don't intake sugar. I'm not saying that this is how every family should live. It was a decision we came to as a family when K was young. We would see such a dramatic change in her if she had anything with sugar in it.(And not for the better!) There are studies out there that will tell you that sugar has no effect on children and then there are studies that say it's bad for them. I'm not certain I believe either one of those studies completely (and who funded them???), but my own study of just seeing it's effect on my children brought me to this decision. Am I militant about it? No. If we are at a friends house I am not going to quiz them about the sugar content of each food item they so kindly offer my children. I am just grateful for their generosity. I do suppose we would politely turn down pop tarts or something along that line if it ever came up.
Now, don't get me wrong I run into issues with this when I am out buying groceries - if the pasta sauce that has sugar in it is cheaper than the one that doesn't my budget will sometimes force me to buy the sugar one. Am I happy about that? No, but some days it feels like there just isn't much of a choice with our budget. The girls also get sugar every now and then for special occasions. Usually holidays and extended family visits bring this on. That probably explains why it is on my mind right now.

Now that we are in the midst of the Christmas holiday season with sugar goodies going around our home I am beginning to question our 'special occasion' decision. Do they really need to have any sugar in their bodies, ever? I think I am creating memories and doing something good by sharing it with them during these times but how good is it, really?

It all adds up, and FAST! Candy canes and hot cocoa at the tree farm, sugar cookie at the winter faire, Christmas cookies made at home, Santa Lucia buns, scraps of peppermint bark as we package it up for Daddy...

Where do I draw the line? Should I even have a line to draw? I have mentioned before I can tend to take things to the extreme sometimes.

I know I can replace sugar in most of my baking recipes with maple sugar/maple syrup/honey/agave nectar (well, not the peppermint bark recipe) and I actually do most of the time but there is just something about this time of the year that seems to require sugar. Is it just me?

I think part of it might be that I have such good memories of baking growing up. My Grandma loved to bake. I can still see her coconut covered Easter cakes (yum!) in my head. She passed away when I was really young (from cancer) but my family kept up her baking tradition of making Christmas cookies. Every year we would all get together and cut out our cookies using my Grandma's recipe and then frost them. Frosting them was always my favorite part. I would spend nearly an hour on each cookie. They were little mini works of art for me. I would have to have lots of brown frosting made to decorate my horse cookies, as I felt they needed to be realistic... I was in love with horses - well, that is until I discovered boys (Darn boys, if it wasn't for them perhaps I would still be showing horses now). Anyways, I am getting way off track here.

I am having quite a few debates in my head on the sugar issue. Kevin and I eat it,(Boy, does Kevin eat it! I have never seen such a sweet tooth in my life) and the girls see us using it in our coffee or sneaking a bite of our hidden stash of homemade Bob's cookies. All of this said in a playful, joking manner! I forget sometimes that you can't see the look on my voice or the sound in my voice when I type this. It was a joke. I think it's safe to say Kevin and I are addicted. I wonder if I could ever kick the habit for good. I would love to. I have been researching the vegetarian version of the Paleo diet recently thanks to Molly and that really interests me and seems like a healthy way to go but no sugar or grains? *Insert a distraught whiny voice here* How could I ever survive?

On a slightly related topic. After seeing this video and doing some of my own online research we have decided to omit orange juice from our diet. We didn't drink any other juice to begin with (we actually really enjoy drinking water), but we would have a glass of orange juice every morning as our source of vitamin C. Now we are having a kiwi or an orange with breakfast for our daily dose but I would love to hear some other suggestions of what you all may do. I don't want my family to get burnt out on the kiwis and oranges.

p.s. I feel like I am taunting you and that it is some what inappropriate to have pics of homemade peppermint bark with this post. So here is a random picture of K eating soup, that makes it all better, right? If looking at these peppermint bark pictures is making you hungry, too (as they did for me) the recipe can be found here. Geesh, now I am enabling all of you to become as addicted as I am. Hanging my head in shame now.

Last minute crafts & traditions

2011-12-21T23:19:00.000-08:00

Our manger grass is growing!

Apologies for the pictures. We have moved into the basement of our home for the winter which has weird lighting and it's been nothing but dark grey skies here in Oregon.

Today C was inspired by Laura and Mary(when are we not?!), and made Baby L a Christmas gift - a simple toy with some of my old wooden spools and some wool yarn. Once it was finished she decided it was much too pretty to give to her little brother and it should be a necklace for herself instead. K and I talked her back into giving it to Baby L, eventually.

While C was threading spools, K wanted to sew. I am not sure who this is for just yet but she told me it was a tree. I haven't seen her actually sew/embroider like this before and I love it so I secretly hope it's for me!

The girls both painted some ornaments I picked up at Jo-Ann's earlier this month to hang on our tree, while I finished up some cards to mail out.

K's Advent wreath creation, still in progress and her playsilk Advent wreath in our living room.

I never did get around to sharing our new Jesse tree tradition with you. The girls are really enjoying it. I want to make a nice wooden tree with ornaments for us to use every year but I didn't have the means nor the time to attempt that. Instead we bought some poster board, cut out a tree shape and hung it on the wall. We used this free packet to make the ornaments. It includes readings and references and is specific to this year.

I was a bit curious as to how the coloring of the ornaments would go. The girls aren't really used to coloring in things as they are usually given blank paper to draw and color whatever they desire on, but they seemed to have a good time with it.

Baby L is having a rough time sleeping tonight (hence the later than usual post) and I am falling asleep typing this so I think that's my cue to get off the computer and go to bed.

Knitting Mojo

2011-12-20T19:58:00.000-08:00

Hallelujah! I am knitting again. (Don't you hear the choir singing?!) I am not back to where I used to be with it but I am getting my mojo back. I finished C's Phoebe sweater over the weekend and have since cast on K's sweater. I am not even going to try to get these done by Christmas, though. I think they will receive them on Epiphany instead. I'm won't push myself. The doll versions of the sweaters might wait until a bit later in the year. We'll see.

I only now noticed that I am unintentionally knitting the girls' sweaters in Baby L's colors. How funny! I spent forever picking out just the right colors for them - but I guess I must have really been on auto-pilot during the process!

Once I finish K's sweater I may treat myself to a fast instant gratification type project to help me fully recover from my knitting fatigue. Then maybe I'll try to get back to work on my and Baby L's papoosa. Oh but wait, Baby L's first birthday is coming up in February...

I really want to get some reading in, too. I feel like it has been forever since I sat down to read a book - I don't mean a parenting, Waldorf education or childrens reading book but a real good read... know what I mean? I have a copy of Story of a Soul that was ever so kindly given to me (from someone special) sitting here next to my computer waiting for me to pick it up. I have been feeling even more drawn to it lately so maybe my knitting might go back on hold afterall. I wish I could knit and read at the same time so I didn't have to choose between the two.

Rhythm In Our Home : Santa Lucia

2011-12-19T22:02:00.000-08:00

AKA: Saint Lucia, Saint Lucy... she goes by many names, depending on your culture. You can learn more about her here. This is by far one of my absolute favorite days of the year.

I learned about this special day a few years ago when I was first researching Waldorf education. Saint Lucia was a strong and inspirational girl. The meaning and the beauty behind the day really resonated with me. In fact, so much so that Baby L is named after Saint Lucia. (Lucian) As beautiful as the traditions around this day are - Saint Lucia was a martyr and went through quite a lot. Our children are much too young to know about that, so for now we keep her history very simple. There is a beautiful book Lucia, Saint of Light, that I have been told is great to have. I hope to someday own it and read bits of it as part of our celebration.

Santa Lucia, Thy light is glowing,
Through darkest winter night, Comfort bestowing,
Dreams float on wings of night, Comes then the morning light,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia

Through silent winter gloom, Thy song comes winging to
Waken the earth anew, Glad carols bringing,
Come thou, oh Queen of Night,
Wearing thy crown so bright,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia

Santa Lucia, Christmas fore-telling,
Fill hearts with hope and cheer, Dark fear dispelling,
Bring to the world's call,
Peace and good will to all,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia

- Traditional Italian

I tried to find a you tube video of the song being sung in Italy (instead of Sweden)with star boys in the choir, too but I couldn't remember how I found it the first time. Should have bookmarked it, oh well. If you do a search for 'Santa Lucia' quite a few videos will come up. I sing this song to Baby L year round but on this special day we sang it a lot more.

Since Santa Lucia day is also Baby L's namesake day, I knew that we had to really celebrate this year. In the past K has worn her needle felted crown, and we would make the Lussekatter (Saffron buns) and that was our little celebration. This year a decided to do a bit more...
Traditionally the oldest daughter in the family wears the special crown with candles and delivers the buns and coffee to the parents but I thought that C needed to be in on the fun, too. I pulled out an old issue of Living Crafts, the one my knitted fruit basket was in for the Ornament Swap article, and decided I would make her the simple wool felt Lucia crown. Once I finished her crown I knew my girls needed Lucia dresses, too. Those were a bit of a pain in the butt. I searched every pattern book at the fabric store and I could not find any simple long sleeved dresses, so I had to just make it up as I went. I used this pattern that I already had, as my base and altered the neck, sleeves and length of the dress to make it just right, thanks to all your help! I really wanted to make real Santa Lucia dresses (there is an actual specific pattern), but in the slump I have been in, I just needed something fast and simple. Once I added the red sash, these dresses were just right.
Baby L needed something special to wear, too, so I made him a simple star boy hat out of felt.

We made our Lussekatter the night before using the recipe in one of our favorite books Bread Baking with Children(I was up at 11 pm waiting on them in the oven) with the hope of delivering some to our neighbors after school. Unfortunately that didn't happen because our completely insane cats ran off with part of the dough as it was rising and there was no way I was going to offer up anyone dough that our cats were near, plus I was out of time (and saffron) to make another batch.

I woke the girls up by singing it as I came in their room that morning. They didn't know about their dresses or C's new crown. Normally their clothes for the day are out and waiting for them when they wake up but this day I had them hanging in the van as a surprise. The girls got out of bed and did their usual morning preparations, while I got Baby L dresses in all white. We ate breakfast and then I brought them down to the van in their pjs. Once we got in the van to drive to school they saw their new dresses and squealed with excitement. They knew exactly what they were. Baby L's star boy hat was waiting in his car seat, too. We drove to school and got dressed there. K and C decided to switch crowns for the day, really K decided she wanted to new crown and C went along with it.

We brought K to class and then C, Baby L and I ~~stalked~~ stayed in the hallway all morning long. This day is celebrated in most Waldorf schools, ours included. We watched the highschoolers as they proceeded down the hall entering each classroom singing and delivering buns. C and I were even given some buns to share, which we happily accepted, especially after the cat incident.

Well, this was more of a description of our day this year than a rhythm post, but I hope it will do!

Some Santa Lucia resources:

The ultimate resource (in my opinion)

Paper Dolls (my girls received theirs on St. Nicholas day)

Celebrating Saint Lucia

The Parenting Passageway

Handwork

Santa Lucia day site

Paper Star boy hat

Paper Santa Lucia crown

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Please don't forget to link back here in your post. How else will we all be able to share and be inspired? I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

Coming Around

2011-12-18T20:53:00.000-08:00

Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe (the girls woke up to this set up at their table including this book:Talking Eagle and the Lady of Roses: The Story of Juan Diego and Our Lady of Guadalupe )

Not the best pic but I swear it looks like she is watching over them, doesn't it?

(What happens when your little ones decorate your tree - all the ornaments are in one area)

Just popping in quick as I address Christmas cards by the fire. I think I am starting to come back around, thank you for your words of encouragment. I filled up a trash bag and a box yesterday of things to donate and get out of our home. My desire to knit is slowly coming back and I want to take advantage of it while I can. I have to ~~finish up~~ start an ornament for our yearly Living Crafts swap that was due back on Saint Nicholas day, so that I may mail it with my Christmas cards tomorrow. For tonight I thought I would just share glimpses of a few things going on in our lives. I'll be back tomorrow night with my weekly Rhythm In Our Home post, if not sooner. See you then!

Shriek of Joy

2011-12-16T05:30:00.000-08:00

After waiting more than a year for this news, our dream for K came true and we couldn't be happier!! (Don't mind my Microsoft paint alterations of this photo. I don't own photo editing software but I thought they might want me to blur out the names on there for privacy.)

Playing along with Amanda today.
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Slump

2011-12-14T20:33:00.000-08:00

I am the textbook definition of a creature of habit. I need rhythm, routine, and ritual to flourish. Without it I am lost.

I am in quite possibly the biggest slump ever. Ho-hum. It's not due to the holiday rush, although I am sure that isn't helping. Every year around this time I am grateful that we don't shop at malls or need to go anywhere outside of our home for gifts, yet every year I forget that even though we don't do those things we still have to deal with them via traffic, insanity at the grocery store, etc. But no, this slump isn't from all of that. It began in September shortly after school started. I lost all rhythm, everything just seemed off. I wrote it off as just being the awkward time period of adjusting back into the school rhythm but it just keeps lingering. K is even in school an extra half hour this year but it feels like I just don't have enough time to do anything during the day. My time seems so chopped up - as soon as I get started with something it's time to get back in the van and drive to school, again. Baby L barely gets a nap in anymore. Every time he wants to fall asleep we are either driving to drop K off at school or pick her up from school so he can't fall asleep or he only gets a fifteen minute nap.

I honestly have no clue what I am doing with my time, as of late. Normally if I am busy cleaning or organizing then my crafting time falls behind and vice versa but right now none of the above is getting done...I am getting nothing done. Seriously, nothing! This is in every aspect of my daily life, too. No cleaning, knitting, sewing, crafting, correspondence... I feel like I am not spending enough time with my little ones, too. I mean, it's not like I have ever been very efficient with these things but, I would have some sense of accomplishment by the end of each day. Now, I just feel like I am digging myself into a deeper hole at at the end of the day. Knitting is my usual sanity saver, but somehow in the slump I am in, I have lost my knitting rhythm. It takes an effort for me to pick it up. I just don't enjoy it right now. Blasphemy, I know!

I have lost all desire and motivation to do anything at all and if I somehow do manage to motivate myself to start something, I end up not finishing it. It is as if I am not present in my own life right now. It's so absurd, it's silly. I mean, for the past few months I have been checking out book after book at our local library only to bring them home and have them sit on my desk for three weeks and then I need to bring them back without ever even looking at them.
As far as cleaning goes, our house is in such a disastrous state I can't even begin. I have threatened to get rid of all of our animals on more than one occasion the past month or two. (that would never really happen, though) We have too much stuff, again. My head feels cluttered and I can't think straight. I get rid of things and try not to bring anything into our home yet they still appear, either by me replacing them with more stuff or others doing the same.

Ack! What is wrong with me? I feel the need to say it's not my sweet little ones at all, it's just something within me. I know that being a Mama is work and I may whine about it from time to time but I LOVE it and wouldn't give it up for the world. If it was up to me I would always have tiny ones around in my home. I don't know, I am at a loss. I just need to figure out how to snap out of it and get back to living in the moment. Now, how does one do that??

Baby Booty Blues

2011-12-13T19:58:00.000-08:00

These booties (rav notes) were originally made in August for my (then) 6 month old, but I didn't take any pictures of them-insert whining here of all the issues I had. I made them the biggest size as he was outgrowing the original booties (rav notes) I knit inspired by Amanda - I think everyone was inspired to knit them by her! He wore them a lot but his feet were always freezing in them. I felted them just enough in the washer last week and now they are nice and snug and warmer, too. He needs some more booties but I think I'll try out some other patterns or stick with my tried and true patterns (type 'booties' into search box)

What are you working on? Happy creating!

Taking a break from C's Phoebe sweater updates this week but if you have some updates on your Phoebe sweater for the KAL, please add them below, and don't forget to link back here.

Happy namesake day my sweet Baby L and Happy Saint Lucia day everyone!!

Rhythm In Our Home : St. Nicholas, amongst other things

2011-12-12T21:26:00.000-08:00

Well, I have to say this feels a bit ridiculous (and is a tiny bit frustrating) posting this a week later. It seems the celebrations lately fall on the day of, or the day after my Rhythm In Our Home posts, and I wasn't really sure how to get around that so here we are.

Kind old man Saint Nicholas dear,
Come to my house this year,
Here's some straw and here's some hay,
To help your horse along his way.
Kind old man Saint Nicholas dear,
Come to my house this year.

Kind old man Saint Nicholas dear,
Come to my house this year,
Pray put something in my shoe,
For I've been good the whole year through.
Kind old man Saint Nicholas dear,
Come to my house this year.
- Traditional German

Pictures taken late at night and early in the morning, so I apologize for them.

St. Nicholas is known as the patron Saint of children. December 6th is his celebration day. On the eve of St. Nicholas day our little ones place a shoe (usually a boot just because it fits the clementines better) on the inside of the front door and fill it with carrots, and sometimes hay if we can get some, for the good Saint's horse. Then they (try to) go to bed and dream of his visit.
When they wake up in the morning they run to their shoes and find a few small gifts.
I should mention here that we have simplified St. Nicholas day more and more each year. When we first began celebrating it we didn't celebrate Christmas so St. Nicholas day was the day to get gifts. I am quite happy with where we are at with it this year.

Every year they receive honey sticks, a clementine and a golden walnut from him and then the other small gifts vary. This year he brought the girls the Nativity Sticker BooksI mentioned before, and Santa Lucia paper dolls. (freebies found here, I printed them at Fed-Ex Office on thick cardstock) He brought Baby L a clementine (that the girls shared), a golden walnut and a beautiful handmade wooden spoon to celebrate his new eating adventures (thanks to Nadja!). He also brought this book that we love,love, LOVE, for the three of them to share - I think that may become an every year thing, too.

St. Nicholas also visits K's class in school. Well, when they come to school that day they find a golden walnut and clementine in their slippers.

You can see some of our past St. Nicholas celebrations here, which include the celebrations at my dear friend Tiffeni's.

While we are at it I'll add the third week of Advent info. It seems like all of my posts are about Advent and Christmas things right now but our lives are pretty centered around that. I can tell some of you may be getting sick of those topics, though, so I am trying to put them all together in one post so I don't drive you all crazy!

The third week of Advent is the light of beasts,
Light of hope that shines in the greatest and the least

We added the animals to our nativities and out up our couple of Santa Lucia decorations around the house. Speaking of Santa Lucia, I need to run off and iron the girls' dresses for tomorrow.

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Please don't forget to link back here in your post. How else will we all be able to share and be inspired? I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

Deceptive

2011-12-11T20:07:00.000-08:00

She still fits into her neighborly!

These pictures were from a couple weekends ago. I didn't think I would post them but then I saw something in them I felt the need to share.

Sometimes pictures can be deceiving. They can make the day seem better (or worse) than it really was. At first glance these particular pictures seem to show a day of magic. But look again, I am always trying to find the beauty in every situation... do you see how many of the pictures are of the ceiling? Or of art/decorations high up? Look at poor K's little face a bit more intently... can you see the distress written all over it? (Minus the picture of her doing eurythmy - she is at her happiest doing that, always) There was, indeed, beauty in this day - the calmness and therapeutic effects of watching and participating in an eurythmy performance, catching up with friends we haven't seen in ages (as well as friends we see on an almost daily basis) but most of it was chaos crammed into small spaces and panic attacks (on my end) mixed with little ones overwhelmed and overstimulated while on sugar highs.
Kevin and I came to the conclusion, after this long day, that we are no longer 'city folk' by any means, and much prefer the quietness of home life. These pictures will forever remind me of that.

About That Adventure...

2011-12-08T20:28:00.000-08:00

We took a little trip back to Oregon City recently to get our Christmas tree. I am so happy that my friend Stephanie let me know about this little farm. It's a sweet little 'homey' place run by four generations of their family together. Such a perfect experience.

This was our first time ever even going to a tree farm and cutting our own tree. I am glad we did it this way. In the future I would really like to have a potted tree (like we did the first year, but the poor tree didn't survive the Oregon Trail trip), however, until we stop moving permanently - I just don't see that happening.

Kitty love. I swear animals just know when we are coming!

Our tree

What's wrong with this picture?

Next year we are bringing our sled dogs and a wagon

Kevin just can't resist any kind of dog love

Oh yeah - Baby L and I were there, too. I made Kevin take a picture since this is Baby L's first Christmas. (Poor guy is still teething - thus the runny nose)

C and her hot cocoa on the way home.

Let the decorating commence! Yeah, this photo was taken before we put up K's garland and our angel tree topper.

In a Nutshell

2011-12-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

K 'playing Advent' complete with pipe cleaner candles! Oh how I love the creativity of that sweet girl o' mine!

'St. Lucy' cake

{semi-related photos from the Advent Fair I mentioned last week}

More random musings from me - thoughts on how my own family celebrates. Absolutely no judgement on how anyone else celebrates! In fact, I would love it if you helped me out and shared yours.

Have you seen this? Please go check it out, what beautiful inspiration it is! It really made me stop and think as I panicked over C's sweater tonight. I have thought about going gift less but didn't know how/if I could do it. Could you? K has brought this up before, herself (in her own way), and I never really knew how to respond. I'd say that our gifts to each other are symbolic gestures of gifts to Baby Jesus, but really now, would He really want a hand knit sweater or a Mama-made warm blanket for his bed? Well, perhaps those creature comforts would be nice but that's not the point. What more can we/should we be doing? Would my children be able to give up the gift giving tradition... or would I be the one who has the hardest time? These thoughts weight heavy on my heart right now.

Our Christmas gifts are a small part of the day itself. I like to limit our children's gifts to three each (one for each wise man) handmade by myself or others, and we are very grateful that our families usually ask what our little ones really need, and then get them that. This helps to keep the focus on the day itself, and it also helps to control what comes in the house limiting clutter (and helping out our planet and everyone on it - have you watched The Story Of Stuff? It's an eye opener) I thought we were doing pretty good but after reading the post I mentioned above, I am feeling quite different. Our Christmas no longer seems simplistic to me, but the very opposite.

We actually only started celebrating Christmas a few years ago. Well, I mean as a family. Kevin and I both grew up celebrating it. We both didn't want to do the Santa Claus thing (nothing against it, we just didn't want to do it for our own family) and we didn't really know of any other way to do Christmas so we just didn't. Then when K was 6 months old I discovered Steiner's teachings and Waldorf education. As I read every little thing I could get my hands on I discovered the festivals celebrated in Waldorf schools as well as the importance of rhythm - specifically yearly rhythm like the seasons, birthdays and holidays. That's when I learned about the real Saint Nicholas and also when we decided to start celebrating Christmas. Huh, hows that for our Christmas history in a nutshell?!

I don't know. I am just thinking out loud here. What do you all think? How do you celebrate whichever meaningful holiday you may have coming up? Speaking of that, I would love to see/hear what all of you celebrate and the traditions you follow for those celebrations. I love the diversity of them all, and that we all celebrate everything in our own way.
This I do know - Christmas will stay the same this year, but I think I foresee transformations ahead!

Phew, well I planned on just posting pictures of a recent adventure tonight but that didn't happen now did it? I decided to carry on and on about myself and thoughts in my head. Sorry about that. Sometimes just getting things out there really helps me to sort through my thoughts, though. Pictures tomorrow!

Last chance to enter to win a pocket gnome from Bright Life Toys here!

Christmas by Children

2011-12-06T19:14:00.000-08:00

Remember K's Christmas tree garland? Well, she started it a long time ago so some of you probably have no clue what I am talking about. I just checked the notes for it on ravelry and she started it back in June of 2009, right before we moved here. It was one of her Oregon Trail projects. Wow! Talk about patience. This Christmas decoration was almost 2 1/2 years in the making. I realize now that giving a 3 1/2 year old a huge ball of yarn to finger knit with is just too much and overwhelming for such a little one. When C really takes up finger knitting I will have to remember this.
Anyways, I think this garland was very much worth the wait, as it is the perfect touch from K to our family Christmas decorating.

Of course, it seems that it could really use another skein of yarn added to it, we really had to stretch and play with it to get it to fit the tree, but I wouldn't tell her that. Maybe C could knit one, too when she is a little older and add on to this one.

I am really enjoying reading Behold that Star - A Christmas Anthology with the girls each night. We borrowed it from our school library but we like it so much and there are copies of it available for .97 cents online, so I went ahead and bought us one for Christmas.

As for my knitting and reading:
Still reading Phoebe's Sweater, as I knit.
C's Phoebe's sweater is very slowly coming along. I just don't have any time to knit anymore. I am still doubtful about finishing up both of them by Christmas but I won't give up hope, yet! I just ordered the yarn for K's sweater today. It's back ordered and should be here in about 2 weeks. I had to have them ship it via UPS because the mail service has slowed down a lot since they made cut backs. I didn't even know about this until the seller mentioned it to me. Then I thought about it - our regular mail lady that we love (we call her Cindy-Lou-Who) hasn't been to our home in weeks now... I fear she was let go.

Boy, am I pushing it!! How are those of you that are participating in the Phoebe's Sweater KAL doing? If you're not participating in the KAL, what are you working on?
Happy creating!

If you are participating in the Phoebe's Sweater Knit Along, please add your link below. Also, please remember to link back here. Thanks!

Don't forget to enter for you chance to win a pocket gnome from Bright Life Toys here.

P.S. - Since she shared it publicly, I have to say how absolutely thrilled I am for my friend Marina and her family! Her husband is going to Sweden to accept his Nobel Peace prize(CONGRATS!) AND he'll be there during Santa Lucia time!! Ahem, I still want pics...

Rhythm In Our Home : The Light of Plants

2011-12-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

Didn't I just say that I wouldn't forget about autumn? The second week of Advent is helping me with that...

The second light of Advent is the light of plants,
plants that reach up to the sun and in the breezes dance

This is the time we usually get our Christmas tree and bring it home to slowly decorate. Before the children wake on this second Sunday in Advent I tip toe around the house adding things here and there. I add a tree to our manger scene and some more greenery to our wreath. I also add some fresh holly and pine branches from our forest around the home and usually to the manger scene, as well, but this year we are doing something different. Inspired by this post, and a set up at the church we have been attending, the girls each have their own pot of soil so that they may grow straw to make Baby Jesus cozy in his manger.

A Family Advent Activity: Plant Straw for the Manger

1. Fill containers with dirt. Label each container with each child/person's name.
2. Fill a bowl with grass seeds/wheat seeds
3. All Advent, look for ways to do small acts of kindness: a hot cup of coffee, a sticky note on a mirror, a treat left on a seat. And for every small act, plant one seed.
4. Water throughout Advent.
5. On Christmas Eve, gather the sprouts of grass. Lay the grass in the manger for the Christ Child.

- from Ann Voskamp's post

We are using the same wheat grass seeds we use for spring, in the hope that they will grow fast enough. I love that my children are literally planting a seed of compassion by doing this and that this is about acts of kindness and not about 'being good'. We don't use 'good child' or 'bad child' in our home. To me, all children are good (perhaps not the behavior at times, though). It's also great because it has them actively participating in welcoming Him. This may be a new tradition for us.

It was K's turn to the light the Advent wreath candles this week.

Since the second week of Advent usually occurs at the beginning of December, the Advent spiral comes out and is placed on our nature table. This one counts down the days to Christmas Eve by placing a candle on the spiral and moving Mary and her donkey to it each day starting December 1st. This year, I placed the brass candle holders on the beeswax candles ahead of time and put them in a bowl for the girls to easily access. (Hoping that was a good idea...)

The Saint Nicholas books and decorations come out around this time, too, in preparation for Saint Nicholas day on December 6th.

I have a strong desire to clean like crazy around this time every year, but it seems that I am the only one in my family that feels this way. Then K and I got this bulletin on Sunday. Granted it is referring to having an open heart and being hospitable and charitable to those around us, but when I read the title to K, she read it as 'we need to clean and decorate out home while we wait for Christmas day'. Hey, I won't stop her from wanting to do that. When I picked her up from school today she told me she wanted to come straight home and clean - and we did!

We also got out a couple more decorations, like our wool felt Advent wreath to hang above the girls' table. The poor candles are in need of repair after being played with by Baby L, but for now they hang.

Our Advent/Christmas book basket is out, too. You can see all the books we read around this time (some old and some new favorites) listed on the left hand side bar of the blog. Most of them are from our local libraries so we don't have to store them during the year but we also own quite a few.

Happy Saint Nicholas Day (if you are reading this on Tuesday), I'll be back with a post and pictures of how we celebrate it. Right now this helper of the good Saint needs to get upstairs and remove carrots from some eager children's boots and replace them with small gifts. The glue is still drying on one of those gifts. Nothing like waiting until the last minute, right?!

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Please don't forget to link back here in your post. How else will we all be able to share and be inspired? I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

Don't forget to enter for you chance to win a pocket gnome from Bright Life Toys here.

Dare Not Forget

2011-12-04T20:41:00.000-08:00

We so easily get caught up in this beautiful time... so much to do to prepare and celebrate. I tend to jump right in.

The leaves dancing outside of my kitchen windows remind me to slow down a bit more and not forget the autumn splendor around us.

With napping and loving by the cozy fire,

Stopping to observe the gigantic mushroom by the parking lot at school (we thought it was fake!). C's hand is in the bottom picture to give you an idea of just how big it was.

Playing in the warm water,

getting giddy over a sweet package in the mail (that actually came before Thanksgiving but I forgot to share this picture and it seemed fitting in this post),

Autumn wool crafting of felted leaves and acorns using cookie cutters and wool. C did the wet felting method and K did the needle felting method.

This is such a full time.

No, we dare not forget.

In other news, I thought I would check in with all of you to see what you think of the bigger pictures. I love that the size shows more detail (although these pics aren't a good example... the Spiral of Lights ones were a better idea), but I was wondering what you think. Perhaps they are too big? I wouldn't want to slow down your computers or anything of that nature. Bigger isn't always better. How very American of me to think that way, eh?

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Don't forget there is still time to enter for you chance to win a pocket gnome from Bright Life Toys here.

Sponsor Giveaway : Bright Life Toys

2011-12-01T20:12:00.000-08:00

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to one of my wonderful sponsors Bright Life Toys

At Bright Life Toys, you can find a wide variety of spectacular handmade fabric toys your children can enjoy for years. Many of the toys offered are original designs that are a hit with kids across the world. Most recently, customers are enjoying an increased offering of products made with luxurious Organic Bamboo Velour, hand-dyed in a variety of colors/patterns ... and softer than a baby's kiss.

Gail, the owner of Bright Life Toys began sewing at her mother's knee 22 years ago, and has loved it ever since.

I really admire Gail's commitment to children's safety. She started sewing toys for her own children after all the children's toys recalls a couple of years ago. She then began offering her toy making services to online communities such as Diaper Swappers shortly after that.

Today, Gail has offered to giveaway one of her adorable pocket gnomes. Winner can choose boyish, girlie or gender neutral.

The pocket gnome is the Waldorf version of a worry doll. Dolls are the perfect toy for imaginative play. They become the child's friend and confidant. Your child will love toting these tiny little dolls around. All pocket gnomes are crafted from hand dyed organic bamboo velour and are stuffed with clean carded wool.

The bamboo was dyed using Procion dyes for color longevity and durability.

The gnome's expressionless face is crafted from high quality cotton interlock and allows your child to truly imagine its facial features and expressions.

They love being tucked into pockets and carried off into adventures.

Each gnome measures 4" high and is approximately 3" wide at its widest point. For this reason, these dolls are intended for the 3+ crowd or those that no longer mouth their toys.

The gnomes hat is securely attached to its head. Pocket gnomes make great stocking stuffers!

For a chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post!
If you would like additional chances to win:

-Like Bright Life Toys on Facebook. You'll also get exclusive discount codes and sneak peeks of new products there!
-Let me know you are a dear follower
-Post this giveaway to Facebook, Twitter, or your blog

and please make sure to come back and leave me another comment letting me know you did so!

I will close comments on Thursday December 8th at 9pm PST and announce the winner within this post that night.

Comments closed!

The winner is: Lucy

'Oh I would love to win one for my little girl who is struggling with life and a burden of worries too big for her 4 year old heart at the moment. Lucy x'

Congrats Lucy. Please e-mail me at farmergopi (at) yahoo (dot) com.

Thank you, Gail. Good luck everyone!!

Spiral of Lights

2011-11-30T20:07:00.000-08:00

"As the children walk the spiral, one can truly get a sense of the incredible loving light each individual brings into our world." - K's teacher.

Today was K's Spiral of Lights at school. This is truly one of my favorite festivals of the year. It's so simple and pure and filled with such reverence. There is just nothing else like it. We enter a room that is pitch black minus one candle in the very center of an evergreen spiral. A harp is beautifully played as the children walk the spiral. Each child is given an apple with a candle in it and will walk to the center to light it. Then he or she will find a star on which to place his/her particular light. As each child walks the spiral the path is illuminated more and more. If you are unfamiliar with the festival you can learn a bit more here.

This year's spiral was quite a bit different than the one from last year for me. The meaning and beauty of it all was still the same but Kevin wasn't able to attend and I had a cranky teething baby doing gymnastics in my lap during the whole thing. You've seen this/been there before, right? The baby who's poor gums hurt so much that he wants to nurse for comfort but then doesn't really want to nurse so he stops, sits up, and then arches his back and cries to nurse again. This went on pretty much the whole half hour we were in there. That explains the one and only (blurry) photo I got of K as she lit her candle.

Here she is last year. Yep, she's wearing the same dress and everything. I think it became a tradition for her.

May the beauty of this season be with you always!

P.S - I am so late posting this but if you are in the area please consider helping out Share Your Warmth. We are knitting and crocheting warm, natural fiber outerwear to warm the hearts and bodies of our neighbors in need.
Details can be found here or on their Facebook page.

Knitting Through Tears

2011-11-29T19:18:00.000-08:00

Preparing for Saint Nicholas day!

Here we are, already at this week's Phoebe Sweater KAL and yarn along update. I have nothing to say on my Phoebe's sweater for C. No, that's not true. I have a lot to say but I am still just too bummed out about the whole thing to go in to it, so here's a recap:

I was nearly finished with C's sweater (just had to do one sleeve and the hood) and it appeared to be small looking rather small. I did check my gauge this time around but something still went wrong. Fearing the worst I brought her into the bathroom so no one else could see and told her to close her eyes. I then tried the sweater on her. The length was perfect but I severely underestimated the size of sweet C's Buddha belly. It was barely able to wrap around her.

I tried my hardest not to cry but it was hitting me hard, all my work and no margin for error on this Christmas gift making timeline... Ughhh! I tried to devise a plan where I wouldn't have to rip out the whole sweater. I came close but couldn't find a way to avoid it entirely. So I sat and shed a few tears while I ripped out the entire upper body, just until I got to the decreasing section, then I stopped. I should have taken a picture of the many little balls of yarn I had from ripping it out. It was such a sad sight. I picked up the stitches on one side of the bottom half of the sweater and knit 3 rows in seed stitch then cast off. I did the same to the other side of the bottom half of the sweater. This added 6 stitches of width to the entire sweater. I then changed my needles from size 10 to size 10 1/2 and followed the decrease instructions but this time for the size 6 sweater instead of the size 4. Now I am knitting the entire upper body in size 6 with the bigger needles. It looks much bigger, now lets just hope it's not too big! I do want it to be a bit big and loose, though, so she can wear many layers underneath it.

This mistake of mine set me back big time, so now I am not sure what I will finish up in time for Christmas. The plan was just the Phoebe sweaters and the doll versions for the girls along with a patchwork quilt for their bed. Not sure about working on that quilt now. I am thinking if all else fails, I may have to drop making Baby L's gift and give it to him later. He has gifts coming from our families so I doubt he'll notice...

I was still sulking a bit when I took these pictures today. As you can see I choose to focus on our cute little Scandinavian Christmas angel chimes instead of my actual project. Ahem.

I suppose I better get back to work on that sweater!
What are you working on? I hope you are having better luck than me! Happy creating!!

P.S - Blogger wouldn't let me upload pictures tonight so I had a lot of hoops to jump through to figure it out. Thanks to my dear (birthday girl) friend Marina I think I have it set now.

Rhythm In Our Home : The First Sunday in Advent

2011-11-28T21:45:00.000-08:00

We light one candle shining bright
Upon this Holy Advent night
Fill our hearts with loving might
Lead us to Christmas Day's brilliant light!

There is so much to say on this topic but I have to admit that exhaustion is getting the best of me tonight so more details will have to wait for another time. You can see some of my previous Advent posts here. Most are from 2009 as I didn't have a working computer to post during the 2010 Advent season. 2009 was the first year we celebrated Advent and I can not get over how much deeper we dive into it each year. Our Advent wreath is a small example of our changes - in 2009 we bought a wreath and added our beeswax candles to it, in 2010 we made our own wreath around our Advent wreath ring using branches and holly from the forest behind us, now in 2011 K and I attended Church on this special day and made our wreath there afterwards. More on that later in the week. We also rolled our own beeswax candles, instead of buying them. On a side note, my beeswax sheets made two candles each so I am set for next year, too - woo hoo! You can see one of the pink candles is different from the rest, C got a hold of one of them and broke it so I had to replace it with one of her own beeswax sheets.

Since the season of Advent reminds us of patience, we slowly bring out our decorations a little at a time. For the First Sunday we simply have our handmade Advent wreath at our dining room table, the empty manger in our living room, our Advent calender (with the first window opened), and a few Advent/Christmas books out. We actually don't even have a full nativity set. Each year I save up and buy one more piece for it.

This year the girls have their own beeswax manger on the windowsill in their bedroom. I look forward to adding to it each week.

Steiner corresponds the four kingdoms with the four weeks of Advent starting with the mineral kingdom.

The first light of Advent is the light of stones,
Light that lives in seashells, in crystals and in bones

The second light of Advent is the light of plants,
Plants that reach up to the sun and in the breezes dance

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts,
Light of hope that shines in the greatest and the least

The fourth light of Advent is the light of you and I,
The light of love, of thought, to give and understand
-Rudolf Steiner

Even though we are now imersing ourselves into the deeper aspects of Advent, we still honor Steiner's tradition (after all, his teachings are what brought us to this new place in life) by placing a wooden bowl in the center of our wreath. Each Sunday in Advent something is added to it in representation of that week's kingdom.

Last year we enjoyed reading stories out of this book for each night in Advent. Some of the stories were long so we would stretch them out over a few days to equal the amount of days in Advent (like this year it is 28 days long). We are doing this again this year along with some other reading.

We follow the custom of youngest to oldest in lighting the Advent candles. For this first Sunday in Advent, C had the privilege of doing it (with Daddy's help and supervision, of course).

Next week it will be K's turn then my turn the following week and lastly Kevin's turn. I haven't figured out how we will work it when Baby L is older yet, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now he is content just watching the flame dance as he snacks on his squash.

We have a couple new Advent traditions I will be sharing in a bit with you, too!

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Then please link back here in your post. I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

Growing

2011-11-27T21:40:00.000-08:00

Happy first Sunday of Advent! My head is spinning from all that we did today. Oh my sweet K, I am forever in your debt for all that you bring into my life. More on that tomorrow, though :)

We had the entire week off of school for parent/teacher conferences and Thanksgiving, but before that break began, C and I stopped by our school's annual shield benefit. I had to see my friend's shield in person (the knitted one in the first photograph), as well as check out all the other beauties. C and I both fell in love with the one in the third photograph down. The talent in our school community is unsurpassable.

Kevin came to the realization that if our children and I are to make it through the winter, I need to learn how to chop wood. It's getting cold here now (either I have acclimated to the climate here after spending four way too hot and humid years in Virginia, or this fall/winter is just warmer than the last couple of years), and since our heater can't get the temperature in our home past 59 degrees, we need a constant fire going.

Our cord of wood arrived a couple of weeks ago but it is all in big pieces that need to be split. Kevin isn't home enough to chop it himself, and when he is home it's when the children are sleeping so, of course, he can't cut it then.
He reminded me of my desire to be like the frontier women before me, and how they (may have) had to cut their own wood. Yes, yes, I hear that. This is a skill I want to have, and I understand how important it is but ughhh - I have no muscles whatsoever and my 'to do' list is already so long to begin with. No amount of whining or complaining can get me out of this one, though, so I stood by to watch and learn from the master. (with a baby on his back, even!)

He informed me that in order to cut the wood, I had to become one with the wood and showed me the 'miyagi focus'...

Which slightly frightened the girls who were outside in their nightgowns playing. Don't get me started on them out in the mud wearing their nightgowns, rules fall to the wayside when Daddy is home - not by my choice!

I got the hang of it enough to make kindling at least but that took me hours. Hey, maybe I'll get some muscles after all. Boy, do I have a long lesson ahead of me. Kevin joked that I have to 'wear the pants in the family' while he's working so much. See? I did. They may be my running pants but they are pants!

We enjoyed our Thanksgiving dinner on our crowded coffee table in front of the fire. (dining room is much too cold to use now) Someone else joined us at the table...

Baby L!!! We let him play with a quarter of a plain baked acorn squash and he loved it. I normally like to wait until closer to a year in age to start solid food but this little guy was determined to eat much sooner than that. Both of the girls weren't all that into eating solids but Baby L just can't get enough. I wish you could watch him and listen to his cute little excited noises he makes when he sees the spoon coming his way. His little legs kick in anticipation and his hands clap like crazy. Cutest thing ever. I realize these pictures look a bit gross with him having squash up his nose and all over himself (not to mention the indoor lighting) but I still couldn't help myself. His first top tooth came in this weekend, to boot! A lot of growing going on in our home lately, inner growth, too.

We even enjoyed some family drawing time over the week, much to K's delight. It has been months since our last session. Yep, this week was pretty full.

Tradition

2011-11-23T20:12:00.000-08:00

Every year Nana (my Mom) sends us an edible arrangement for Thanksgiving.
Every year it arrives with much fanfare to our home the day before Thanksgiving.
And every year it doesn't make it to our Thanksgiving day table because of two fruit loving cherubs in our home.

Happy Thanksgiving (and thanks Mom)!

Stars, Candles & Phoebe

2011-11-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

More Santa Lucia makings... this one is for my special Baby L. I finished up C's crown minus sewing on the elastic on one side.

The girls and I took a trip to our local Bee supply store the other day (Thank you Dionne and Yvonne for letting me in on one of Portland's best kept secrets!) to stock up on some advent necessities.
Can you guess what I'll be doing the next few days?

Although, I started one and it separated because it's too cold in our house (as you can see in the picture), so I have to wait until we get a good fire going and then try again.

Yarning along and knitting along - on to actual knitting. Forgive the photo, I was out all day getting groceries (seriously... three stores = all day grocery shopping) and unable to get a picture until the sun was setting on a cloudy, rainy Oregon day (hence, the sweater thrown on the table alongside my groceries to put away). C's Phoebe sweater is coming along nicely. I finished up one front side and am now working on the other. I might be able to finish it in the next week or so, that is if I can stop myself from sewing. I did have a minor setback over the weekend, though. I have been copying the pattern out of the book onto post it notes, (so that the girls don't see me knitting with the book and figure out what I am making) and I somehow managed to copy part of it down wrong (probably in a sleepy state). I ended up having to rip out quite a few inches of knitting due to that mistake, but now I am back on track. I am on skein number four now and I have to admit I am a bit anxious about my yarn calculations. I was hoping to have enough for the sweater and to make one for C's doll. Not sure if that will happen or not.

Speaking of sewing I have a question for you: Now that K's first winter dress is done I am moving on to the girls' Santa Lucia dresses. More details on that later, anyways, since I want them to be fast and easy dresses I am using this simple pattern. I am hoping to alter it by making the length longer, the neck higher and the sleeves long. How do you go about making a short sleeved pattern into a long sleeved one? To alter the neck area I am thinking I should just add an inch or two to the pattern piece??? Does that seem right? This all seems so silly to me. I remember back when I made my own patterns and now look at me, I have forgotten everything. Oh well, it will all come back to me, eventually... right?

What are you working on? Happy creating!

P.S. I am hoping to talk to our school store owner this week about those pocket people kits from the Heart of Advent post but if you can find the supplies locally (or online) my friend Dionne just posted the tutorial for the ones she made (that were displayed at Heart of Advent). More details about the treasure candles coming, too!

Rhythm In Our Home : Creative Spaces (theirs)

2011-11-21T20:59:00.000-08:00

I admit that sharing my girls' craft cabinet may seem a bit odd for a rhythm post but stay with me here. Creating is a huge part of our rhythm, it is something that happens in an organized manner once a day as well as spontaneously several times a day. To facilitate this, we have a few creative spaces around the house.

I thought I would share the girls' main creative space with you today. It is the cabinet which holds our nature table display, located in our dining room. The cabinet itself is actually a kitchen island that was given to us for our home in Louisiana (back when we first got married), but it works perfectly for holding some of the girls things.

The (very shallow) drawers contains just a few items. The one to the left holds our travel crayon roll-up, a basket of popsicle sticks and our special 'family drawing night' sketchbooks.

The drawer to the right contains our bird watching supplies: binoculars, book of North American birds and Oregon specific bird literature.

You'll notice that the main doors have a child safety lock on them. There is a good reason for this. You might remember how my little C likes to view the world as her canvas, well, we found that keeping the crayons locked up helps her with her urges to color the floor, walls, table, fridge, dogs, what have you...K knows how to open it if she wants to get something out and she(for the most part) remembers to lock it back up afterwards.

When you open up the main doors you'll find on the top shelf: our crayon caddy filled with Stockmar beeswax crayons in both block and stick form, a branch pencil holder made by my blog friend Nicola, with twig pencils from Marina, and a tin filled with LYRA colored pencils .

On the shelf below you'll find drawing paper, stamps and stamp pads and a jar of stickers not pictured because we were out when I took these pics.

The door to the left of the main doors opens up to reveal more handwork type crafts. On the top shelf we keep our homemade playdough, fabric and wool scraps, burlap for sewing, embroidery hoops (to hold the burlap while sewing), and a jar with buttons, needles, and embroidery floss.

The bottom shelf hold assorted pom poms and pipe cleaners as well as a bowl of colorful wool yarn and K's knitting tower

And then over to the right hand side of the main doors is more creative goodness.
We keep the girls painting supplies on the top shelf, which include appropriate sized paint brushes, empty paint jars and holders, and painting rags. You'll notice that the watercolor paint itself is not in there. It's kept in the refrigerator to keep it fresh.

The shelf below holds their modeling beeswax, slate boards, travel chalkboard and chalk.

We keep their painting/coloring/creating boards behind one side of the cabinet for easy access, and their smocks hang on the other side.

There you, a tour of one of their creative spaces. Hope you enjoyed it. If you have any questions about anything, don't hesitate to ask!

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Then please link back here in your post. I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

The Princess & The Wolf (A Small Sewing Tale)

2011-11-20T22:07:00.000-08:00

One fine autumn day a young princess was playing with her kitties inside when her Mama told her that Father Sun would soon be departing her beloved land and she best get outside and bid him a fond farewell until next Summertime. The princess took heed to her Mama's advice and decided to play with Father Sun while she still could. The princess wanted to dress in her finest clothes to see Father Sun one last time and bid him farewell but it was quite cold outside, as Jack Frost had already visited, so what was she to wear? Her Mama understood her predicament and disappeared into her sewing room, remembering her promise to the princess that she would make her warm dresses this winter. She came back carrying a new winter dress, fresh off the sewing machine. This dress was very warm as it sewn with a heavy cotton/linen fabric and then lined with flannel. To make it even cozier, it had long flannel bloomers to keep the princess' legs warm.

The princess squealed with delight and quickly put her new dress and bloomers on over her woolen under layers. She grabbed her warm wool headband and shoes and was out the door.

She came out and danced and played in Father Sun's rays. This brought much joy to Father Sun so he sent down beautiful yellow leaves dancing off the trees around her and on to the ground.

Her singing and dancing caught the attention of a nearby ~~rascal~~ wolf and he came by to see what was going on. When he saw the princess' dancing he became entranced and joined her. The princess was frightened at first but then realized this was a friendly wolf. They danced and played with Father Sun for hours on end along with some of their other forest friends - including a little lost snow child. No matter how cold it grew outside, the princess stayed warm in her new clothing.

Finally, Father Sun had to leave and the princess heard her Mama in the distance calling her in for dinner. She waved good-bye to her friends, wishing them well and then made her way back home for a warm meal.

Goodnight my dear friends.

Notes:
The dress pattern is Big Sprout by Make it Perfect. I made the size 7 but with the length of the size 8 for my tall skinny 6 year old. I wanted the sleeves to be a bit long for her to grow in to but also so that you would see the contrasting blue flannel.

The fabric is from the Heather Ross Far, Far Away line. I actually pre-ordered it through a co-op years ago (during my crazy 'I think I have more money than I really do' credit card spending days), and then it sat and sat waiting for me to do something with it. I ordered quite a bunch of the line in many different prints (you saw Baby L wearing some of it before) with the intention to make a couple of dresses for the girls out of it and coordinating fabric. Well, I took so long to get to it, I could only make one dress and a doll papoose out of this Rapunzel fabric. I still have quite a bit of the sleeping beauty fabric, though, so I may be able to get two dresses out of that.

K's knit headband can be found here with modifications.

Remember my wish to make K some winter dresses this year and my desperate plea for help with a warm dress pattern? Well, many of you responded to that plea and really helped me out. Kelly, directed me to the smaller version of the pattern I mentioned above, and I am so glad she did.(It's funny how her source was my friend's website and that I was holding on to almost the same fabric for warm dresses, too. Oh how often we think alike, gotta love that. Thank you for the further inspiration! It's so important to give credit where it's due!) It is absolutely perfect.

I think this is her new favorite dress. She asks me if she can wear it every day to school. One of her teachers asked if I could make her one (I wish I could!) However, the big clue to me that she loves it was when she wore it last Wednesday night and I told her dinner was ready - she ran into her room instead of the dining room and closed the door behind her. She then came out in her pjs and sat down at the table. I guess I had a puzzled look on my face because she told me that was afraid she'd get her dress dirty. That never happens, she normally wouldn't care if she got food on her clothes, and we always say that we gauge how much fun our little ones had outside by how much dirt they are wearing when they come back in. They know that getting dirty and having fun is always ok with us. My silly little girl!

L-O-V-E

Embarrassed to ask...

2011-11-17T19:50:00.000-08:00

I feel a bit embarrassed to mention this and to ask your help - but here goes:

I was nominated for 7th Annual Homeschool Blog Awards : Best Crafts, Plans & Projects Blog!! Thank you Cordial Chaos for letting me know :)
ETA - I didn't notice but I was nominated in a couple other categories, too. Here, and here
I am completely floored and so very honored. Just to be nominated is so huge to me but could I ask a favor of you? If you enjoy stopping by here, would you mind voting for me? It's totally not about winning (believe me, I know this little space of mine doesn't stand a chance against these big name blogs) but I have never been nominated for anything like this before, and it really brightened my day. It would be nice to know someone, somewhere out there picked me, know what I mean?
I know it's a long shot, all of the blogs on there are incredible and I have to say how shocked I am to be among them. I would be jumping for joy just to make it in the top 20.

The kicker is that I just found out I was nominated and the voting ends tomorrow night (Friday the 18th) at midnight PST. Eeeeeek! Completely last minute but still worth a try, right?

Here's the info -
Vote here. The list is in alphabetical order so go a little ways down to F for Frontier Dreams. You can only vote once, and it doesn't require you to sign up or do anything else (nice, right?!). Thank you so much to whoever nominated me - WOW! And a big Thank you to all of you for taking the time to vote for me!

Heart of Advent

2011-11-16T20:05:00.000-08:00

I just realized this whole week has been nothing but craft posts! Well, in my defense I had the pleasure of spending last Saturday at our school's Heart of Advent and that really got me going.

Kevin thankfully had the day off (after much fretting, on my end, that he wouldn't), and he and the little ones came to the school with me but to play outside instead.

This years Heart of Advent was even cozier and warmer than the last two years that I attended. I wish I could have stayed there for days on end. Friends, crafting and hot apple cider...what more could anyone ask for? Something new, and really one of my favorite things there, was a display where we all shared our family holiday traditions. It was so much fun to see what everyone celebrated and how they did it.

I only had two hours to get my craft on so I didn't take too many pictures. (well, that and I was having issues with the lighting, hence the dark pictures) I decided I would expand my horizons and try new things this year (ahem, or really just
dabble?). One thing I was really surprised at was the needle felted ornaments. I had never tried to needle felt a scene or picture before, only three dimensional objects.(and those take me hours to do, do I don't make them often) I have had this book for quite awhile to try one but just hadn't gotten around to it. I have to say I wish I did long ago because it was so fast and fun! Granted, I need to finish up my ornament and it looks like a child made it but I loved the process. Oh boy, another hobby...
I bounced from table to table like a madwoman catching up with old friends and making new ones all the while making as many things as I could. Of course with such good company, the two hours flew by like two minutes. I ended up only finishing one project - the treasure candles. (one for both of my girls. Each candle has dragon tears hidden inside. As the candle burns they will appear in the melted wax.)
I brought my other started projects home. Maybe I'll actually get around to finishing them before Christmas...

But I wouldn't quote me on that!

KAL & Sporadic Makings

2011-11-15T19:09:00.000-08:00

I got a nice early start tonight, it feels quite good.
It's Tuesday already and time for our weekly Phoebe's Sweater Knit Along check-in!

I am very thankful for a weekend in front of the fire with my family and my knitting needles. I am not quite as far as I would like to be on my first sweater but it is moving along rather quickly. I ended up going with size 10 needles instead of the 10 1/2", just because I prefer the look. I did my gauge swatch (for once) and I am only a tiny bit off. I am pretty happy with my yarn decision too, now that I am seeing it knit up. It feels really soft which is very important when it comes to knitting for my sensitive C.

I am at the point where you do stockinette stitching for 10" (size 4). I went through my first skein of yarn and I am about to finish up this second one. Rav update here.
How are all of you doing? Did you see Joanna's Phoebe sweater she is knitting for her little boy? I am keeping my eye on that one - I may have to make one in the future for Baby L. What about Paula's? The yarn she choose looks so cheery! Oh and sorry, Paula, for the late start :)

Let's see your progress! How are you doing? Need a little inspiration? Check out Joanna's video:

As I sat down to work on making a Phoebe's Sweater KAL button to share with all of you, I realized, I don't know how to! Do any of you know how to do this?

I also came to the realization that I don't have any thing really planned for Baby L for Christmas. I was thinking of knitting him the Snug baby hoodie but as time is running short I may switch that plan. Maybe another Milo, or pullover sweater? I have been meaning to knit another Small Things sweater, so maybe I'll just go with that. Didn't I say I was going to do that last March?! Yikes! Grace's recent knit reminded me. It should be relatively fast and easy as I knit the romper version of it last winter. Remember that cuteness?! I may even use the same buttons and yarn... maybe, oh and the matching bonnet... We'll wait and see, I need to finish up the girls' sweaters first.

Yes, that is a ridiculously large suction cup!

I finished up the nativity beeswax impressions I mentioned last week to sell in the store. Now let's see if anyone wants to buy them. I have now moved on to some other nativity beeswax projects using these.

C strikes again! She got to my freshly sanded and bees waxed desk with a crayon again.

There has been some sporadic late night sewing happening here. I finished up a winter dress with flannel bloomers for K. It looks so snug and warm. I just need to trim the threads and put it on her now. I am also trying to finish up/start my Santa Lucia crafting. St. Lucia is baby L's namesake so it seems even more important this year.

What are you working on? Happy creating!

If you are participating in the Phoebe's Sweater Knit Along please add your link below:

P.S. I apologize for being late (Baby L had a hard time sleeping last night) but the winner was announced in the Phoebe's Sweater giveaway. Please go check it out in the original post.

Rhythm In Our Home : Martinmas

2011-11-14T20:17:00.000-08:00

November 11th is Saint Martin's day or Martinmas. Martinmas celebrates the selfless giving impulse exemplified by St. Martin of Tours, a soldier in the Roman army.

One day in November he rose early in the morning and rode from his simple room into the city of Amiens, Gaul. Frigid rain pelted against his face and it was so dark a lantern barely lit his path. Suddenly, his horse stopped at the city gates. A poorly-clad beggar stood beside the path with his hands stretched out asking for help. But St. Martin had nothing to give the beggar. In spite of his high position in the army, he lived in poverty, only serving the poor, the sick and those in need of consolation. But St. Martin's compassionate heart was inventive. Swinging his warm red soldiers' cloak off his back, he cut it in half and gave one half to the beggar.
That night he had a dream in which Christ appeared dressed in the half cloak and said, "Today you have shared your cloak with me, from now on you are to be called St. Martin." After leaving the Roman army, St. Martin became a monk and founded several monasteries that served the sick and poor.

In honor of St. Martin people everywhere gather at night and carry candle filled lanterns on a walk, singing lantern songs and sharing light and warmth of the community. The festival calls on us to remember the light within our lives that we can share to light the way for others. Such a beautiful celebration.

We celebrate Martinmas by donating warm clothes to our local homeless shelters, making lanterns and going on our own little family lantern walk. I try to knit my children sweaters for Martinmas in honor of the warmth he shared, but that's hit or miss. This year it didn't happen. It's amazing how much more three is compared to two when it comes to knitting things! I was lucky to pull off three matching hats in time for our Harvest Festival this year. Anyways... Thanks to Grace, I am thinking of incorporating a special feast/meal, as well, in the future.

I openly admit that I dropped the ball this year on Martinmas, not just with the sweaters, either. We just ran out of time this year to make our lanterns. Instead we used the lanterns the girls made for their lantern walk in school (C's was started at school and finished at home), and I borrowed one from C's teacher. I think I was more upset over not making our lanterns than the girls, but it's all ok.

K's lantern was another watercolor paper one. This year a little window was added to it with a leaf glued in between two piece of kite paper. C's lantern was a 'stained glass' one with tissue paper glued to a small jar. C picked up a new skill while making her lantern - finger knitting! She is too young for it to really stick yet but the little handle on her lantern was just the right amount of finger knitting for her. She was pretty proud of herself.

I like to light lanterns all over our home on this special day. There are lanterns waiting, lighting up the table for the girls come to for breakfast, lanterns at our dinner table and we read the story of St. Martin before bed by lantern light.

We eat an early dinner so that we may go out on our lantern walk as soon as father sun sets. We get bundled up in our warmest coats, light our lanterns and head out. This year it was pouring outside so we only walked to the end of our street and back but that was just right for us to honor the day.

As we walk we sing these three songs:

Glimmer lantern glimmer,
Little stars a shimmer.
Over meadow moor and dale,
flitter, flutter elf in veil.
Pee-witt, pee-witt, tick a tick a tick,
rou-cou, rou-cou.
Glimmer lantern glimmer,
Little stars a shimmer.
Over rock and stock and stone,
Wander, tripping little gnome.
Pee-witt, pee-witt, tick a tick a tick,
rou-cou, rou-cou.

The daylight fast is dwindling
My little lamp needs kindling
Let your beams shine far
Into the dark night
Little lantern guard me
With your precious light

I go outside with my lantern,
my lantern goes outside with me.
Above the stars shine so brightly,
down here on the earth shine we.
So shine my light,
in the still dark night,
a bim a la ba ma la boom!

K sang a fourth lantern song that she learned at school but I don't know all the words to it. I do have a feeling it will be added to our lantern walk song list, though.

You can find our past Martinmas adventures here.

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Then please link back here in your post. I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

Last chance to enter for your chance to win Phoebe's Sweater & stationary. I will be picking the winner tomorrow night!

Dabble

2011-11-13T20:17:00.000-08:00

I have a tendency to pick up new hobbies at the drop of a hat. All it takes is one look and I am hooked. I love to dabble in anything and everything I can get my hands on (which can be both good and bad. Good - I get to experiment a lot and find what thrills me. Bad - I am always doing so many different things at once, not one of the things I am working on get my 100%.) It's really quite the odd obsession I have, but I suppose it could be worse.

The evidence of this obsession of mine is seen throughout my home - half finished poncho in one corner, camera manual with dog eared pages in another, drop spindle with roving gathering dust, recipes scattered in my kitchen, beeswax impressions hardening in our kitchen cupboard (because the cats will destroy them or get fur in them otherwise)... it's never ending everywhere I look. I know it would be best to pick one hobby and stick with it but I just can't. The creative part of my brain seems to always be in overdrive and I need to appease it with whatever outlet I can. I think it's just part of my nature and one of my ways of dealing with stress. (partly by avoiding whatever it is that's stressing me out and starting over with something brand new) I see this in my girls, too, especially K. She gets an idea in her head and she needs to create it right then and there. The whole process really feeds her soul and is inspiring to watch. There are also quite a few of her creative endeavors half finished around our home, too.

I secretly like that I dive right into new things head first but it might be best if I could control myself enough to finish up old projects first, or perhaps even just wait to start after I have swept the floor for the second time of the day. (Yes - four cats, three dogs and three children under the age of seven makes for lots of sweeping - that picture was taken just a couple of hours after my first sweeping of the day.)

Eh, why bother? I think we are doing just fine the way we are. Those fur tumbleweeds and piles of laundry will still be there waiting for us when we are done.

I picked up quite a few new projects at the Heart Of Advent last weekend, too. I'll share those later this week. I think that may have been what started this whole thought process on my constant dabbling :)

P.S. Don't forget you have just a couple of days left to enter for a chance to win Phoebe's Sweater (book & stationary) here.

Rivalry

2011-11-10T19:57:00.000-08:00

I know the breathtaking beauty of autumn in New York first hand as I grew up there, and no other place that I have lived (in this country or otherwise) has ever compared to it. That is until we moved to Oregon. The splendor of this landscape rivals every other - including my beloved upstate New York.

We recently tagged along with Kevin (again) to play and explore at Old Maid Flat while he and Nara did some SAR training. I thought I'd share our adventures in pictures. (of course!)

Trying to capture him while he's up on me in my old Ergo Baby Carrier

Trying to fit all their treasures in their bags

Laughing at Nara's antics

Hand knits don't mix well with moss, mud and pine needles - just in case you ever wondered about that

Happy Martinmas, everyone! We'll be going out for our family lantern walk Friday night.

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win a copy of Phoebe's Sweater along with stationary here

Blank

2011-11-09T20:27:00.000-08:00

I sit here staring at this blank computer screen trying to think of something to say but words just won't come. I am too distracted and distraught. It's just pointless. All I want to do right now is just go upstairs and cuddle in bed with my Baby L - to feel his warmth, listen to his sweet (sniffly, stuffed up) breathing and watch his chest slowly go up and down with every breath he takes. Does this sound strange? It's all I can think about; to be with him and make sure he is ok...
Out of respect for the family who's world was just ripped apart I won't say much - but a beautiful angel who touched our whole community, has returned to Heaven after only being on earth a few short months. My heart breaks for them and my arms ache to go hold my own baby and cherish every. single. second. I feel so selfish for thinking this way.

Phoebe's Sweater Knit Along & Giveaway!

2011-11-08T20:08:00.000-08:00

Hmm, is it a bit much with these pics?

Alright everyone, Halloween is over and November is here - time to get going on that Phoebe's Sweater Knit Along! My yarn arrived yesterday and I am going to wind it and hopefully start knitting tonight. I am starting out with C's sweater first. I ended up going with this yarn, as I got a great deal on it and the colorway is pretty close to what I was envisioning for C. I am still undecided on what yarn I'll use for K's but no need to worry about that until I finish C's, first. Did you all make a decision on your yarn?

I also wanted to check in with all of you to see if you had a preference as to how I host this KAL. I was thinking we could all work at our own pace (Do I really have four sweaters to finish by Christmas?? Maybe we should exchange gifts on Epiphany instead...), but would you rather we establish starting and stopping points as a group?

Photo courtesy Slate Falls Press

For pattern issues/questions I think the Slate Falls Press group on Ravelry is an invaluable resource, and of course our fellow KAL knitters. We are in such good company, wouldn't you agree?!

If you are joining us in this fabulous knit along please add your name/blog to the linkies list to the bottom of this post. If you happen to have a knit along post this week then, by all means, please add it! Otherwise I figured we'd start that next week.

>
Photo courtesy Slate Falls Press

Speaking of joining us,it's not too late! Need to find a copy of the book and pattern? You can order it from Slate Falls shop or Amazon.

I am hoping to make a button for the KAL and have it available for all of you next week. I figured I should make some progress on my sweater, first.
Oh, here's my rav page for C's sweater. What's yours?

Photo courtesy Slate Falls Press

Now for the really exciting news! To kick off our Phoebe's Sweater KAL Joanna Johnson, the author of Phoebe's Sweater has generously offered one of you lucky readers not only a copy of her book, but also a set of the knitting mouse stationary featuring an illustration by Eric Johnson of Phoebe's mother, from Phoebe's Sweater! I have been so excited over the sweater pattern I have failed to mention just what a great book this is! The illustrations are absolutely beautiful and the story is one that you'll want to read again and again to your children. My Mom actually got it for C on her birthday this year and it was the perfect gift, especially since C was (and still is) a brand new big sister. She likes to pretend that she is Phoebe and that Baby L is Phoebe's new sibling. While I am at it, Joanna's latest book Freddie's Blanket is another treasure. My Mom, again, (Thank you, Mom!) bought a copy of it for Baby L to receive this Christmas. I see some knitted gifts for Baby L from that book in the future.

Photo courtesy Slate Falls Press

There I go blabbering on and on again. I tend to do that when I get really excited over something, but let's get back to that giveaway.
For a chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post!
If you would like an additional chance to win:
-let me know you are a dear follower
-post this giveaway to Facebook, Twitter, or your blog
and please make sure to come back and leave me another comment letting me know you did so!

I will close comments on Tuesday November 15th at 9pm PST and announce the winner within this post that night.

Comments closed!
The winner by random number generator is:
Elizabeth - Oh I have been wanting this book for my daughter and to make her her own Pheobe sweater. What a sweet giveaway. Thank you for the chance.

Congrats Elizabeth! Please contact me at farmergopi(at) yahoo(dot) com.

Thank you Joanna for such a generous giveaway. Good luck everyone!

Photo courtesy Slate Falls Press

There's still time to enter to win the Organic Seasons patterns, too!

Rhythm In Our Home : A Fairy Tradition

2011-11-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

I realize this post is a bit bizarre (wasn't I just posting about Advent yesterday?), but I am a bit behind (what's new?!). If it makes it any better I did plan on posting this Halloween night...

Halloween is a holiday that our family started celebrating rather on accident. We didn't have any plans to make it a yearly celebration, (although we didn't have any plans the other way, either) but it's one of those holidays that once you start celebrating it with children, it's hard to stop. One of the reasons we were originally not so interested in celebrating it is because of the candy/sugar. We couldn't think of a way to get around it. Then the perfect solution for our family came to us - the Halloween Fairy. I would love to give credit where it's due for the idea but, for the life of me, I just can not remember who/where we got it from . It's so simple and sweet. It works really well, too...at least for now while they are still in early childhood. (Halloween from the past here, here, and here) This is what our family does:

Since trick or treating begins after the girls bedtime we keep it short. We have an early dinner, the girls get in their costumes and we go out for about a half hour. That is just the right amount of time for them. (and for the rest of us!) This year we did something a bit more fun. After our half hour, we stopped at our special neighbor's house (remember the ones I gushed about a few times before? The one who might end up being K's first grade teacher???) to end the night. That was more exciting to the girls than all the trick or treating they previously did. We chatted with them for a bit and the girls even received something they could actually eat from them (honey straws), then we went home.

There was a bowl on the kitchen table waiting for the girls' candy. The girls looked through it for something they could keep, but, alas there was nothing. Then one by one they placed their candy pieces in to the bowl. Once every last piece was in there, we put the bowl in the center of the table for the Halloween Fairy to find.
We then did our usual bedtime rhythm and the girls went to bed. While they slept the Halloween Fairy, ahem - Kevin and I, gathered up the candy and brought it downstairs for Kevin to hide in his bag until he could bring it to work. Of course we both ate a few pieces. I always need to eat a bit of candy this time of year to remind myself that I really just don't like the taste of it anymore.

When the girls woke up the next morning (always earlier than usual, out of pure excitement) the bowl once filled with candy was now filled with treasures for them, instead. We try not to overdue it and give them too much, instead we want it to be just enough handmade goodness that's worth giving up their candy for. This year the Halloween Fairy was very grateful for handmade help from others. The girls received some honey straws, stickers, the sweetest sheep set from Little Wool (oh my goodness are they sweet! Even cuter than the pictures could show), and beautiful handmade notebooks from Frost Lane. The girls really enjoyed their gifts and they really inspired them, as you can see!

We enjoy this tradition, and I hope it can last quite a while.K seems to be the most excited over the Halloween Fairy. She even dressed as her for Halloween this year. Every year, the day after Halloween she likes to leave a note on our nature table for the Halloween Fairy. She asks the fairies that visit our house to bring it to her. It is just a small, simple note saying thanks, but oh how huge that gratitude is to this ~~Halloween Fairy~~ Mama!

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Then please link back here in your post. I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

Don't forget to enter for your chance to win the Organic Seasons patterns here!

Notes

2011-11-06T20:51:00.000-08:00

Display at school last week.

Thank you everyone for your sincere words last week. They were deeply felt and I am very grateful for them, thank you! I have spent the past couple of days sewing and I must confess, that was just what I needed to help me at least start to get out of my funk. Food for my soul. *ahem* Now would you mind sharing some of those thoughts with my husband and a couple of other people, for me? Hee,hee.

Our school's annual Heart of Advent event is next weekend and I am counting down the minutes until I can go. It's a truly beautiful adults only seasonal event. It recognizes the many festivals and holy days of this time of year by gathering friends to create together and share their inspirations for handmade crafts and family traditions. I wouldn't miss it for the world! This will be my third year going, (my first year and last year) that is as long as Kevin isn't forced to work again this Saturday. Fingers crossed it all works out.
For my locals: The Heart of Advent takes place Saturday, November 12th from 11am to 4pm at the Portland Waldorf School.

Speaking of crafting, I am hoping to make a little bit of money this holiday season with out taking too much time away from my family. I am planning to create some simple crafts like beeswax impressions to sell in the Spring Creek Store. I am finishing one up tonight to bring in tomorrow and see what they think. It's a beautiful nativity impression/medallion. I'll get some pics of it and post them soon. K already wants one for the window in her bedroom but I have some other secret plans for that window this Advent season...
Hey, while we are at it, I know it may seem early but Advent is just around the corner. I am trying to think of some different things to do with the girls this year. Does anyone have any suggestions for advent activities/crafts for children?

I have to make sure my eyes are not bigger than my capabilities this year. I just found this book Magic Wool Fairies, and wow, talk about inspiring! I want to just dive in and make a bunch of them. I mean, seriously, look at these ones currently on display at the Spring Creek Store:

Aren't they beautiful? I would love to make one or two, perhaps after I finish up the girls' Phoebe sweaters. I got an e-mail letting me know my yarn is on it's way for C's sweater so I will be getting started on that this week. Oh - make sure you stop in here Tuesday night for a great Phoebe's Sweater giveaway! I really need to sit down and make a list of what I would like to accomplish this holiday season so I can figure out what is doable and realistic and what is just too much...

after all, I do have these three crazy ones to chase after and love every minute I can!

I may as well end this very random post with a bit more randomness.
I am head over heels in love with the two prints you see above (especially the second one) and I am hoping to get prints of my own to hang in our home. Does anyone happen to know they names of either of these prints? I don't know how to begin looking for them without knowing what they are called. I tried googling 'Madonna' and I only came up with images of the pop artist.

I hope you all had a relaxing weekend! I need to get back to my beeswaxing endeavors. See you again tomorrow.

Don't forget to enter the Organic Seasons giveaway here!

Sponsor Giveaway : Organic Seasons ~ Megan Grewal

2011-11-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

Today I want to welcome back the wonderfully talented Megan Grewal. You may remember Megan from her lovely Union Suit pattern I tested a couple of months back, but I thought you might like to know a bit more about this talented designer.

Megan is a Canadian girl that is thankful for the long & snowy winters that provide her with lots of time to knit warm things for her family. She has spent many years quilting & sewing women's apparel which has helped her take her knitting to a whole new level, however, nothing beats two needles and some yarn! She is currently teaching her 8 children at home and knitting in her "spare" time. You can catch up on her knitting life at: thewitknit.

Megan has just recently released another set of beautiful patterns: the Organic Seasons Jacket and the Organic Seasons Blanket. See, I am not the only one in love with the seasons! I have been eyeing these patterns since I first saw her working on them. (on her ravelry projects page that I tend to stalk...) I can just see K in an autumn jacket, C in a spring and Baby L in a winter one. Couldn't you?! It works out great because the jacket pattern goes from size 3 months up to 10 years old. I think the blanket would be a great throw for my rocking chair, too.

Here's some more information on the patterns:

“The Organic Seasons Jacket is the complimentary piece for the Organic Seasons
Blanket. This hooded jacket is worked seamlessly & flat from the bottom up, sleeves in the round & then body and sleeves are attached and worked together with raglan shaping. Hood is knit seamlessly from the neck up with shaping at the back and then grafted at the top. This sweet jacket features an asymmetrical front closure with button holes & buttons or toggles. The wave pattern is worked throughout with a border on the bottom featuring the seasonal motif of your choice. Borders are worked by picking up stitches along the front and hood edges. There is 2-5” (5-12.5cm) positive ease for comfort & a generous fit.
The Organic Seasons Jacket is practical & sweet and perfect for any little one.”
Rating:Advanced Beginner to Intermediate

“The Organic Seasons Blanket is the complimentary piece to the Organic Seasons Jacket. This quintessential blanket is worked seamlessly, in the round, from the center out. It begins with a wave pattern representing waves/wind/years and has 5 border options; Spring, Summer, Autumn & Winter, or, a season per side (shown in photos). Inner & outer borders are worked to separate the wave pattern from the motif border. The blanket comes in 3 sizes: lovie, stroller and crib.”
Rating: Advanced Beginner

Today, Megan is kindly offering one lucky winner a copy of both of the Organic Seasons patterns.

For a chance to win, simply leave a comment on this post!
If you would like an additional chance to win:
-let me know you are a dear follower
-let me know you are a follower of Megan's blog
-post this giveaway to Facebook, Twitter, or your blog
and please make sure to come back and leave me another comment letting me know you did so!

I will close comments on Thursday November 10th at 9pm PST and announce the winner within this post that night.

Comments Closed!

The winner via random number generator is:

Aimee B.
Oh, I really want this pattern! Please, pick me!

Congrats Aimee! Please contact me at farmergopi@yahoo.com.

Thank you Megan for such a fun giveaway. Good luck everyone!

Running to Stand Still : An Open Letter to All of You

2011-11-02T20:47:00.000-07:00

There is something I feel I need to get off my chest. An apology, of sorts, to all I know. I hope it comes across the right way. I tend to not put my emotions into words very well. (as some of you noticed in my words post. The response to that post makes me a bit hesitant to share this but here goes!) You see, I tend to take many things in my life for granted, and unfortunately, a lot of those things are the people that are dearest to me. Believe me, it's not in any way on purpose! I don't want to seem thoughtless or careless, because nothing could be further from the truth. I don't want to be this way - I know how much it hurts me and how neglected I feel when it's done to me...

I know it is no ones fault but my own, that said - I feel the need to find out why I am this way. Could it partly be from my absolutely horrible time management skills? I always seem to have the best of intentions: bring fresh baked cookies over to our neighbors that helped jump our van last month, respond in a timely manner to e-mails, write thank you notes that are long overdue, knit a hat for one of our school teachers - 'just because', leave a comment on a blog I just read letting the writer know how much I value what s/he said, or call my brother's family to catch up... so many things I want to, no, need to do but I just never seem to find the time. As good as my intentions may be, I know they are no where near enough.

Then of course there is the utter lack of organization in my house and in my mind, too. So on the off chance I do have a few spare moments I can't remember all that it is that I wanted to do. I keep lists but then I lose the lists or the list is so long I don't even want to look at it because I know I could never do it all. Oh I could go off on a tangent about the organization issue, but that's not the point right now.

It pains me to know just how much I let you (yes, you! If you take the time to read my thoughts and words, you are one of the kind people this open letter is to!) my dear ones - fall to the side as I am running to stand still in this life of mine. I don't see it as I do it, but I notice it afterwards. What is wrong with me?! In my head I have shared my deepest gratitude with all of you and have said all the things I feel. It's as if I expect you to be able to read my mind and just know how dear you are to me and just how deeply you touch my soul. But really now, how will you ever know if I do not take the time to tell you or show you?!
When I am in the thick of things, you need to know that it's your words and kindness that get me through. Even if I am too horrible to say it or show it to you, please just know that you are in my mind and prayers - always.

Please allow me to make this right, help me change starting right here, right now (Goodness, I would beg you for advice on how to be better about this but you already help me so much, I couldn't ask for more!). Let me say I AM SO SORRY, I LOVE YOU (to my family & friends that are like family), AND THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART to anyone and everyone who may read this. If you know it or not, you have touched me in one way or another and I am forever grateful for it.

Thank you!

P.S. Remember these sweaters being worn by two other loves back in 2008/2009???

Autumn Sheep

2011-11-01T20:23:00.000-07:00

Well, Halloween came and went. I planned on knitting up three sheep costumes for my three little ones but plans changed. K decided she wanted to be a fairy and I just didn't have the time to do anything for Baby L so our flock shrank to just one sheep. Oh, but she was a joyful sheep!

Forgive the dark,grainy pictures. The sun was just about gone and I had to use a high ISO setting on my camera. Blech.
The pattern was a free one on Ravelry and you can find my rav notes here. My only modifications were to make the straps to go over her shoulders. She is really sensitive to a lot of fabrics and wool so I didn't want it to be too close to her face. It was supposed to be a size 3-4 but it came out quite bigger than that. It is even big on K at age 6! This ended up being perfect for Halloween night, though, as we needed to wear jackets. Her lamb 'fleece' fit right over her big winter coat with no problems. See, I meant to make it that big! Since it runs so large maybe we can try for our sheep flock again next year. I know our german shepherd would like that. She was a bit disappointed she wasn't able to guard the whole flock of sheep.

As I briefly mentioned (and you could see) in my pumpkin post last week, I finished Baby L's autumn leggings. You can find my rav notes here. It was about time. I started them late last spring! The pattern is the February Baby Leggings from Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac. I purchased this book last year to knit C's (2nd) birthday sweater, after getting past my fear of knitting a Zimmermann pattern. I am not sure exactly what it is, but there is something a bit daunting to me about following her patterns. I tend to over think them and that's where my issues arise. I have now knit two of her patterns and survived so you'd think I would be over it, right? I'm not. I want to knit her baby surprise jacket but I am shaking a bit over the thought of it...
Anyways, I was inspired to knit these by Amanda's gorgeous pair (knit with some yummy Sweet Basil Fibre Works yarn!) after a couple of false starts on the baby leggings with adjustments to needle size and running out of yarn, I finished them up just in time for the autumn cold to hit. I have to say, I am in L-O-V-E. I do believe this may replace the picky pants as my new all time favorite longies pattern. They have quite a tall rise on them but that is just perfect for keeping a baby's core warm during those cold fall/winter months. I am really happy with how the leggings decrease right before the ankle ribbing, making them snug and tight to prevent drafts from giving Baby L a chill.
They are overall the perfect pattern, in my little old humble opinion.

I realized I didn't have any close up pictures of them on Baby L so I took him outside tonight for some last minute ones...again the sun was pretty much gone so they are dark and grainy...and I am just always finding the faults in everything, huh? Geesh.

In other news, my babywearer project is sitting in the corner gathering dust. I'll get back to it, really - I will! Now that the Halloween knitting is done, I am gearing up for Christmas. I ordered my Phoebe's Sweater yarn and I'm just waiting for it to arrive. I plan on kicking off the Phoebe's Sweater KAL next week (with or without my yarn) with an amazing giveaway so keep your eyes open for that. Also, later this week my talented friend and designer Megan Grewal will be offering up something extra special to help inspire your wintertime/holiday knitting.

What are you working on? Happy creating!

Welcome November Sponsors!

2011-10-31T21:49:00.000-07:00

Warmest welcome to my November sponsors. Without you, I wouldn't be here in this space. Thank you.

Natural Kids - A group of artisans from around the world who share a love for handcrafting eco friendly & all-natural toys, clothing, decor and more for kids, and kids at heart.

Woolies - Home of heirloom quality knitted and sewn stuffed animals and dolls. Using all natural materials, always.

Slates Falls Press - Independent publisher of knitting picture books Phoebe's Sweater and Freddie's Blanket.

Meadowsweet Naturals - Offering a wonderful collection of Waldorf Inspired Art Supplies, books & music at discount prices.

Frost Lane - Bret and Nadja Van der Stroom raise a few animals and six children on a couple of acres in Tennessee. Their Etsy shop, Frost Lane, features an eclectic mix of handmade items they enjoy making and using themselves.

Sacred Waters Soap Co. - Artisan soaps, perfumes, lavender, lotions & scrubs made using natural oils, herbs and spices.

The Cocoon - From beautiful hand dyed playsilks to wooden hand painted games, Cocoon specializes in Waldorf-inspired natural toys to nurture creative, open-ended play.

Dandelion Dream - Organic, fair-trade, and eco-friendly shirts lovingly printed with hand carved images.

Little Lamby Knits - Fabulous knitting designs by the talented Megan Grewel, including the oh so cute Union Suit pattern and her latest releases: the Organic Seasons Blanket & Jacket.

Brightlife Toys - At Bright Life Toys, you can find a wide variety of spectacular handmade fabric toys your children can enjoy for years. Most recently, my fantastic customers are enjoying an increased offering of products made with luxurious Organic Bamboo Velour, hand-dyed in a variety of colors/patterns ... and softer than a baby's kiss.

Sweet Basil Fibre Works - A small home based business that creates high quality, hand dyed yarn. There are no chemicals used in the dye process & all dyes are Eco-friendly.

Spring Creek Store - Located in the Portland Waldorf School, the Spring Creek Store carries all your Waldorf needs from books and school/art supplies to handmade gifts and gently used consignment.

Dovie Moon Photography - Beautiful nature inspired photographs plus great vintage finds.

Little Sprouts Diapers - Offering the finest quality natural & organic diapers and products for mother & child since 2001. Psst...They have a sale happening right now!

Made by Alejandro - Beautiful leather work including swords, shields and toys.

Please take the time to visit these wonderful small shops, you won't be disappointed.
You know, the holidays are right around the corner ;)

I am so humbled and grateful for their continued support. THANK YOU!

For affordable sponsorship information please reach me at: FarmerGOPI@yahoo.com

Stay tuned for many incredible giveaways ahead!

On another note, I am fighting a cold and tuckered out from Halloween fun so I am taking the night off from my weekly Rhythm In Our Home post. I hope you understand! Happy Halloween!

Magic

2011-10-30T20:54:00.000-07:00

Our eurythmy ~~teacher~~ angel dancing with her lantern in the darkness. So beautiful!

We had a magical beginning to our weekend with our school's lantern walk on Friday night. The children all had their lanterns they made in class as well as gnome hats lovingly made by their teachers or parents. It was a perfect Oregon night - full of rain. C gave up on her lantern before the walk even began (as brother rain kept putting out the candle) and K tried her hardest to keep her flame going but it just wasn't happening.

I was a bit disappointed that I wasn't able to get any pictures (due to the rain and the squirmy baby on my chest shaking my camera), but that's ok. We have our family lantern walk on Martinmas coming up in just a couple of weeks. Maybe I'll have better luck then. You can see last year's school lantern walk here and our family lantern walks from previous years here.

Kevin had to work on Saturday so we were unable to have our family day, but we made up for it on Sunday. This was to be our pumpkin carving day.
Our day started out with K and I getting some much needed time alone together, while Kevin had some time with C and Baby L. We ran out to buy K some fairy wings for Halloween and ended up also picking up a little ~~cheap~~ special nativity scene she fell in love with. We knew we couldn't come back home without something for C, too, so K picked out a balloon for her. It was a big hit, let me tell you! They both loved it so much they decided they wanted their pumpkin to be carved just like it.I think that may have been a bit of a relief to Kevin who fulfilled their kitty and Stellaluna requests in the past.
K and I were greeted with a warm fire and fresh baked cookies. I could get used to this sort of homecoming!

Kevin requested some time alone with his girls so Baby L and I disappeared into the kitchen to make dinner while they carved the pumpkin. I did have to sneak in a couple of times for pictures, though.

My little chef! We just started putting him in the high chair as he is beginning to sit up a bit on his own. It feels so funny, though. Now we need to go shopping for a chair for C. (Hopefully we can find it at a thrift store.) I don't know what to call them though - it's like a high chair but without the tray... anyone know what those are called? Anyways, back to the pumpkin magic.

The girls came to see Baby L and I in the kitchen to show me that Daddy had started cutting their pumpkin, so I followed with my camera. By the time their jack-o-lantern was finished, so was dinner. We ate a picnic style dinner on the living room staying warm by the fire. It was the perfect way to bring the day to a close.

After dinner we lit the candle in our pumpkin and read one of our favorite fall time books: Pumpkin Moonshine,by the fire. Then it was time for all the little ones to be asleep in their beds. That part of the day was a bit rough, as to be expected. The girls know today is Sunday and that means that it's back to work for Daddy tomorrow, leaving us without him, again, until next weekend. I don't blame them for getting anxious and cranky. I feel the same way!

I hope we can have more magical days like this in the future. I realize I did not convey just how magical these days were for us. It's something I am feeling but yet can not seem to put into words. Today, especially, reminded me of those fun family days from my own childhood. I know I will be holding on to it in my heart for a long time to come.

Now, please excuse me as I go back to relax and knit by that cozy fire!

P.S. I have been working on some much needed re-organizing here. If you are looking for the tutorial links, they all have their own page now located underneath my header. More organizing to come. I am just feeling a bit cluttered lately.

Re-do

2011-10-27T19:12:00.000-07:00

This week we seized the opportunity to make up for our failed pumpkin picking attempt last Friday. I am so glad we were able to. Of course with it being so late in the pumpkin picking season, there wasn't much left for us. The girls loved it either way and that's really what matters.
I'm exhausted so I think I'll let the pictures do most of the talking...

First we stopped at the grocery store by school and I snapped a pic of the three of them in a pile of pumpkins. As you can see that didn't work out.

Where did my girls go?

I usually don't go for posed photos and prefer to just get the images that truly capture the moment but I felt the need to try to get a picture of all three of my children together. I hadn't really tried until then.
As I am sure you can imagine (especially if you have more than one kid), it was an interesting experience trying to get all three of them to look at me at the same time...

One silly face led to another...

and before you knew it, the silliness took over everyone.

It was all worth the wait!

Baby L caught on to what all the giggles were about back at the pumpkin patch by the time we arrived back home.

Then he needed to nurse before I could change him into warmer clothes (it's colder in our house than it is outside so we actually put on more layers at home- weird, I know). K asked if she could take a picture with my camera. I do believe this is the one and only picture of Baby L and I together (minus the couple of photos my midwife took right after he was born). I will always treasure it, with my crazy hair and all.

P.S. - Rav notes for pumpkin hats here and Baby L's longies (more info on them soon) here.

Be it ever so humble

2011-10-26T20:21:00.000-07:00

Hello there! Please let me welcome you to our little, messy home. Take a little peek at how Autumn's beauty is taking over our home, starting with our family nature table:

Remember that felted pumpkin K and I made so many years ago?

K's beeswax pumpkins

One of our wet felted acorns (tutorial here)

Our family nature table has it's own Halloween/lantern walk/Martinmas thing going on right now. My children and I do two lantern walks. Our family lantern walk around the neighborhood on Martinmas and then our school's lantern walk at a local garden. The school's lantern walk is done near Halloween.

The girls' nature table (located in their bedroom) is much simpler. I love to see how they decorate it. Let's ignore the non existent molding at the bottom of the walls. If only we knew fixing up a house was so much money/work before we bought it!

Living room seasonal pictures and the girls' bookcase with their autumn books(beautiful needle felted bird by The Singing Bird).

See, all that bees waxing eventually paid off! More garlands to come in the rest of our house.

Apple tree over the girl's table (and felted pumpkin at their doll highchair)

Autumn tree in the girls' bathroom

Lastly, the nature table at our home away from home (K's classroom at school). I had this great plan to get a picture of K's classroom nature table every time it changed this year. I have already failed at that plan as this is the first time I took pictures of it. Ov vey!

Be it ever so humble, theres no place like home!

Preoccupied

2011-10-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

Well, not a lot of knitting going on around these parts. Although there are plenty of pictures of knitting...Poor Baby L is just too miserable with teething to let me even think about knitting. So, I haven't made much progress on my babywearer. Then again, my heart hasn't been in knitting that project lately. I am preoccupied with thoughts of the Phoebe's Sweater KAL.
I still do not have yarn picked out yet. I can't seem to find just what I want. I am going to start with knitting C's sweater first. She has such big baby blue eyes that I want to make them stand out even more with a robin's egg blue or pale aqua sweater. I can't find bulky yarn in that color though. So now I am debating if I should just give up my baby blue dreams and get something else or find some undyed bulky yarn and dye it myself. Oh decisions. And November is less than a week away!
For those of you participating in the KAL, what yarn are you using?

I finished up and presented the doll that K's teacher requested at our parent meeting last weekend. I used the pattern and fabric from C's first doll. Her teacher approved, phew, now I can breathe again. I had a rough time with her eyes and it got to the point that I could no longer rip out the stitches for risk of making holes in the doll's skin. Her left eye came out much better than then her right eye. Making the almond shape was a bit harder than I though it would be. The doll is missing her pink cheeks in these pictures. K's teacher has the nice doll blush so I thought I would let her take care of that part.

K found her on my desk before I could pack her away. She fell in love and kept asking if the baby was for her. I apologized and said it wasn't for her but that she would see her every day. Monday she discovered what I meant by that when she walked into her classroom and saw her in the cradle with another baby doll. She told me that she played with her the entire play time that day. Now hopefully the rest of the children will get a chance to play with her the rest of the week!

What are you working on?
Happy creating!

Rhythm In Our Home : What This Mama Needs

2011-10-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, I am hoping this post will be less controversial than my last post...

As much as I love being a Mama to my three little ones, and everything about this role I have in life - it is exhausting! K's teacher once asked me in all seriousness - what am I doing for myself every day? She reminded me that I need that balance. I put all of myself into my children and I wouldn't have it any other way but in order to be able to do this I need something of my own to keep me going. Actually, some things...

There is, of course, my nightly rhythm of posting on the blog and knitting (sometimes sewing). My blog posts help me to digest and reflect upon our days. It's therapeutic, like journaling. Knitting helps to keep me calm and focused, not to mention sane. I will occasionally knit during the day, as well, but since Baby L started teething that hasn't been happening quite as often as I would like. Um, I do however knit while walking into school to pick K up, and in the van at the gas station...any free moment I can find (obsessed much?). I try to at least do a few stitches every night before bed to prepare my mind for the transition to sleep.

The biggest thing I need to keep myself going is my morning run. I have been into running on and off since my early twenties. My best memories of running are from when I lived in California. I used to run the trails in the mountains (often times with the little boy I nannied on my back) or along side the ocean. I trained for triathlons with my friends Wilson and Maloose. Such great, great times. I never did enter a triathlon, but I do still have that dream. My goal was to complete an Ironman race (Ha!), but as my body is getting older, I will be happy finishing any triathlon.

It wasn't until last summer that I really started to take running more seriously. My friend Marina helped with that motivation, she is always such an inspiration. I started out doing it to lose my baby weight and to get back in enough shape to keep up with my little ones but then I noticed a change in me. I was different. My spirits we lifted and I would feel at peace and optimistic no matter what the day threw at me. The days I would run were the days I was able to allow myself to be more present with my children. They were the days I could make lists and actually complete the things on those lists. Oh yes, the simple act of waking up and putting on my running shoes changed everything for me (and I am not even a morning person!).

It is a form of meditation. I no longer run for weight loss or for my physical health (although those things are a big plus!), but for the rhythm of it and my mental well being. My morning run is like a morning cup of coffee. It's what I need to start my day. If I do not get that start, I just can not function throughout the day. I become irritable, have little patience, can't think straight nor function properly.

This may sound strange but I run in a cemetery by our house. It's the only area within walking distance that has semi-flat roads on our mountain. I felt uneasy about it at first (and my childhood fears will probably keep me from running there Halloween morning), but now I am grateful for it. It makes my mind slow down as I run and reminds me to savor every breathe I take while I am on this earth. Some days I am deep in thought as I run and then other days I am motivated by music (I had to break out some Smashing Pumpkins this week thanks to my friend sending me this picture).

I have mentioned before that I can be a bit of an extremist and that includes my running, too. I am only at about 3 miles a day but I have to do it 6 days a week. If I take days off I fall back into my slump and actually have a hard time getting back into running the next day I try to. On the other hand, if I don't take one day off a week I feel my body become tired and sore and then I start to make excuses in my head to not run, resulting in me missing days at a time. It's all about balance and what I personally need.

During the summer keeping up with my running rhythm was easy. Kevin would wake me up at about 6:30 every day and I would run while the children slept and come back just before he left for work. When school began my rhythm was thrown off. The girls wake up at 6:30 on school days and I have a busy morning preparing us all to get out the door. Not to mention that autumn was on it's way and father sun was waking up later and later each morning. I missed many, many days of running in September, October too. Missing those runs caused my days to be off. I was late getting K to school pretty much every single day, and I needed at least two cups of coffee to keep myself going. You can imagine how quickly I wore myself down.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, Kevin and I adjusted our morning schedules and I got my morning run back. I am as happy as can be and so ready to take on my days. It is a bit of an adjustment waking at 5:30 and running in pitch blackness but it's worth it. (I do need to look into some reflection gear, though.) My faithful running partner Nara is by my side to keep me going and for my protection, so I feel safe. It does take me a lap or so to let my eyes adjust and not fear tripping but then after that it's smooth sailing.

I run my laps and come back home to shower. I feel full and ready for the day. I enter my girls' room and, for a moment, observe their sweet, blissful sleep before waking them. They open their sleepy eyes and smile at me. I melt and feel such comfort in knowing that the rest of the day I am theirs.

Please remember - this is just our family rhythm and what works for us at the moment. This isn't meant to be hard and fast rules on how rhythm should go in every one or any one's homes. I just thought to share it because I receive quite a few e-mails asking about our home rhythm, and I also just wanted it documented for myself so that I may remember these times when they are older and/or on to another rhythm.

Thank you, again, for joining me in the rhythm fun! Here is the linky list. If you have a (new or old) link you would like to share about your family rhythm, please enter it below so that we all may see. Then please link back here in your post. I look forward to seeing your inspiration!
Thanks friends!

Words

2011-10-23T20:45:00.000-07:00

There are many words I do not particularly care for nor allow in my home, but two really top that list - hate and stupid. These words really strike a chord in me. They become even more painful if I hear them being said to or by children. I removed them from my vocabulary and have spent the past six years or my life protecting my children from them. Do I sound a bit extreme over these words? Perhaps. I do have a tendency to take things to extremes. Yet, for myself and my family I feel the need to be a bit extreme over some things.

The power of the word hate was first brought to my attention back in high school by one of my dearest friends (Hi Beck!). She pointed out to me just how intense and strong that word is. Take just a minute and let yourself soak in this word and really think about it - it means the opposite of love, the most powerful and beautiful thing there is in this world. Knowing this - could we ever truly feel such an emotion as hate? Also, I think about how much this word is overused in our culture "I hate broccoli", for example. Really? Maybe someone might dislike broccoli, but hate it?! That is quite a strong stance. I don't know, am I making sense here?

After hearing my friend's thoughts on the word and then doing some of my own pondering on it I decided to no longer use it. That was easier said than done. I had used that word all my life, it was just a force of habit. It wasn't until I became pregnant with K that I finally was able to fully move away from using it.

Then there is the word stupid. I don't think I need to go into details as to why I choose to keep this word out of our home but I will share a reason why it is a bit more personal for me. I spent a few years of my young adult life in an unhealthy relationship (to put it as nicely as I can). The person I was with wanted to/tried to control me. He didn't like me being with my friends or family and even told me once that he didn't want me to attend college because he was afraid it would open my eyes too much to what this world has to offer and I would leave him (funny thing is, at the end of our relationship that is exactly what happened). Ughhh, enough on that - but he would always, always put me down and call me stupid. To me, cruel words almost hurt worse than physical pain.

Ever since having K, I was shocked over how common this word is in children's things (from clothes to books to music...). I even found it in one of our beloved Elsa Beskow books - The Sun Egg. I truly believe this was a translation issue, I can't imagine she would have used that word back in her time. I ended up using white out over the sentence "You are so stupid", to change it to "You are not nice".

With all of this said (and a short post turning into a long one), I think you may be able to imagine the shock I went through last week when the word stupid passed my sweet K's lips. She was having a rough time as soon as we arrived at the pumpkin patch and I decided we just needed to leave and try again another day (there is so much more to that story but seriously, that would take up a whole nother post... Kevin had to work on our family day and I had it planned too perfectly with C and I making pumpkin scones while K was at school and getting Baby L dressed in his new longies with his pumpkin shirt and hat... oh my. You know how it is when you plan days too perfectly - they always fall apart.). As we walked back to our car she said "Stupid Mama". It was like a knife to the gut for me. I froze and didn't know how to react. I asked her what she said but she caught on to what I was doing and refused to repeat it. I did not raise my voice at all (which to me was a real test - I try not to raise my voice to my children ever, but I am only human and sometimes my emotions get the best of me) but I just did not know what to say or do. I asked her where she heard this word. She instantly said "NOT from school!", which of course means she did pick it up there. I did my best to explain very simply how unkind and hurtful that word was, but that was all I could do. The pain of hearing her little voice say that word still stings me. I have been trying to connect with her teacher to help me through this. This is something K and I need to work through together. I knew it was coming some day but just not this early.

It feels like, in this day and age, it is just becoming harder and harder to protect our children and their innocence. I know I can't keep them in a bubble forever - but please, please just let me at least preserve their early childhood years! Is that too much to ask?!

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I'll be back in a minute to announce the winner of The Organic Family Cookbook in the original giveaway post. Make sure to check back there!

Procrastination

2011-10-20T20:21:00.000-07:00

So a Phoebe's Sweater KAL, it is! I am so glad to have such good company. I'll get working on it ASAP.

Advent has been on my mind a lot lately. No, I didn't put up a decoration at my desk months early...it's actually always there. It reminds me of such a special time and the meaning behind that special time. I am hoping it will help to keep me grounded and humble as I try to finish up those last minute gifts at Christmas time (which always happens, even if I am only making one gift for each child!)

Last month I showed K baby to K's kindergarten teacher. She then asked me if I would be willing to make a doll for the classroom. Gasp. I think my jaw may have hit the floor. That's such a huge deal to me and, oh my, what an honor! There was no way I could turn that down.

I have been procrastinating on making the doll, though, because I am so nervous to mess her up. I mean, I am making a Waldorf doll for Waldorf teachers in a Waldorf school. I just feel unqualified and/or inadequate to do so! Eeeek!! But I said I would have her done in time for our parent meeting this weekend so now I really have to get to work. Oh, but before I get too far on her... anyone have any tips for making almond shaped eyes?

Speaking of the meeting, this one will be about education and the four births, and caring for the life forces of the young child. Oh, and I almost forgot - the upcoming lantern walk! I am such a dork but I absolutely love parent meetings and our 'homework' we get. It's one of the highlights of every month for me.

After the meeting Kevin and I are hoping to take the little ones pumpkin pucking. I am secretly hoping to get some pictures of the three of them in their pumpkin hats then. We'll see if it works out.

The girls have been having fun knitting with me lately. They want to knit with needles but I know they are not ready for that yet (K will learn next year in first grade). So I let them pick out some needles (only when I am seated with them) and some yarn and then they 'knit'. I don't tell them or show them how to knit but just knit with them. They watch me pretty intently. K learned how to cast on from just observing me.

C just enjoys wrapping the yarn around the needles.

Of course this all happened on our bed where there is no light, and the walls are dark to add insult in injury (the last owners painted 2 of the bedroom walls white and the other two this icky shade of dark red). Seriously, we joke our bedroom is a cave. I rarely take photos in there because I know it's a lost cause. Oh well, these photos are about the moment, right?

I thought I would leave you with a little link love.
First is an interesting link (which has even more interesting links at the bottom of it) about the purpose and importance of fairy tales.

And then this is my dream costume...if only I had more time to make it!

Happy reading!

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Last chance to enter the Organic Family Cookbook giveaway. Comments close this Sunday.