This Moment

Joining Soulemama for {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.

In the Garden

I haven't been visiting this space as much lately, not that I don't want to but other things in life are calling right now.  School, work, a pesky dishwasher that doesn't want to behave and a few upcoming craft fairs.  Here are some pictures of the very neglected fall gardens these days.

I'm always amazed at what the garden will do when left alone (as it tends to be in the fall).  Soon we will put the veggie gardens to bed for the winter, but for now I will just enjoy what nature has to offer.  Hope that you are well.

Owls Owls Everywhere

Things sure have been busy around here.  In the midst of the continuing celebration of Molly's birthday (She officially turned 11 yesterday), lots of work (both at the hospital and at home), homeschooling and a whole lot of crafting owls seem to be popping up everywhere.

Little wool owls I've been making to gift and sell at an upcoming craft fair.

This super gorgeous owl pillow (a birthday gift for the owl-obsessed girl) from Amerrysundayknight boy oh boy does this shop have some fun things.  And she's a good friend of ours which can only mean that more owl pillows may be in our future.

 Cute little Molly and Corey made owl jars as party favors.

Beautiful owl cowl birthday gifts from our sweet friend Sarah an amazingly talented crafts person we are so lucky to know!

I love the beads for eyes instead of buttons as the pattern calls for, adds a feminine quality.

sleepy owls that end up in the funniest places around here.

I feel a bit of an owl frenzy coming on....
this hat may be next on the list
How 'bout this snowy owl from purl bee, there is a girl in this house that will go nuts for him this holiday season.
a treat bag for the weekend?
or perhaps some holiday garland?

Trust me when I say that I could go on with these owl links but there is work to be done.  A certain birthday girl is expecting a pumpkin pie for her official family birthday dinner. 

This Moment

Joining Soulemama for {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. 

 Have a wonderful weekend!

School Right Now

It's hard to believe we are in the 7th week of school already!  I've spent a great deal of time feeling like we hadn't found our "rhythm" with schooling yet, but recently it has dawned on me that we have a great rhythm!  It seemed to happen without me even trying  (pesky kids, they find it all by themselves).  Honestly I'm still looking for that Waldorf preschool Monday is painting day, Tuesday is baking day, Wednesday etc, etc.  While that is great for some it seems that it just doesn't work for us any more.  Part of it may be that my work schedule changes weekly (pesky babies come when they are ready) or that we as a whole enjoy a bit of spontaneity.
Our mornings most days are similar, get up, eat breakfast and start some school work.  We don't follow a single curriculum but do a bit of many different things.  Math again this year is Math Mammoth, I am thrilled with this curriculum, it's easy to understand for the kids (and mom)  and we have a good time working on problems together.  The price is very reasonable and everything is down loadable (no waiting for the mail) so I can pick and choose what to print and not waste paper or ink on things I don't find necessary.  We've got some grammar workbooks that are a good fallback but they have much more fun with Rip The Page or homemade comics.

There is a weekly spelling list I get the words from here if anyone is interested.   I write the words at the beginning of the week and have the kids copy them 3 times, at some point they write sentences with the words.  This has actually become quite funny as they both try to make long sentences using as many words as possible.  At the end of the week they quiz the words.  Everyone is happy with this even I may becoming a better speller:)

 We are just starting a small botany block, fall seems like the perfect time with all the changes in the plants and trees around us.

Handwork is a bit of everything, Molly is starting a felted slipper pattern I found.  Socks are the typical 5th grade Waldorf handwork.  Molly would get very impatient with the small needles and the time involved with socks, this pattern on size 10 needles with bulky yarn is perfect!

Corey, my sweet little man still struggling with the 9 year change is not a fan of knitting, he finds it frustrating, so I try and find other things to keep his hands busy.  This bowl of wood is actually a chess set that we started in the late summer, he's going to finish this up before doing some needle felted snow men in anticipation of winter.  
Greg has been giving all of us a weekly art history lesson which has been super fun.  The rest of our history has been a bit sporadic and varied based on things we are finding interesting at the time.  As the weather cools we will probably start a block that is more cohesive.  I was originally planning on a traditional Waldorf Ancient Civilizations block but have found it to be rather vague for these intriguing little minds here.  I may fall back on What Your Fifth Grader Needs to Know for a starting point.  i enjoy these Core Knowledge books in that sense.  I have also found some useful lessons on their website.  

The most important thing in our little yellow schoolhouse is and will always be getting outside in nature.  I notice a shift in everyones personality if we haven't gotten outside enough. 

The kids are outside everyday playing (recess right)and then most days we go on some sort of nature walk or adventure.  I love how much these walks get turned into lessons and learning without even trying.  
School right now is great...
What's happening at your little schoolhouse?

A Weekend So Full

After a bunch of rain last week we were blessed with an amazing weekend to fill with beauty and love.
There was a slumber party with friends and lots of outside time.
A wedding so beautiful I wanted to do it again (same husband of course).
Another round of apple picking with more friends.
And a bit of a crafting frenzy yesterday as I realized it is nearing the holiday craft season and if I intend to make gifts AND make things for a few craft fairs I had better get going!

This Moment

Joining Soulemama for

{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. 

Preparing

Molly isn't turning 11 until October 24, but her birthday sleepover party is happening tomorrow.  Anyone who's every been an 11 year old girl knows that's the real excitement, so we are preparing.

She requested a banner that says Molly that she could hang in her room after the party...easy enough.

I used an old flannel sheet for the flags, and scraps of fabric and wool from my stash.  The owls are the same pattern I used for her felted vest last winter.  She's obsessed with owls right now, so that will for sure be a theme throughout.  For her family birthday celebration she'll have pumpkin pie as always, but I think for tomorrow we should make these fun cupcakes (now to decide which ones).

Autumn flowers are blooming and this little girl is chomping at the bit to head to the craft store for a few last minute supplies!  I'll be sure and post pictures of the final fun.
Enjoy your day.

Yarn Along

This week for the yarn along I've pulled out some unfinished objects that need to be dealt with.  This has nothing to do with my frustration for having to pull out that pesky vest again I assure you (wink wink).

First this is the gorgeous yet long forgotten sweater I started for Corey probably 3 years ago!  It's the Children's tunic from Knitting Pure and Simple.  If you haven't knit their patterns before they are "pure and simple", I love them and have knit this particular sweater several times.  Always in malabrigo which is one of the only wools that my sweet boy will wear without complaining.  Obviously when I started this sweater I went big because it's old and it fits!  He and I did decide this morning that we would make it into a vest so that he can wear it today:)  If anyone has thoughts on finishing the arms I'm open to suggestions, the neck also since I don't think I"ll make the hood.
Also I was trying to think of something quick for a friend at work about to have a new grandson when I remembered my "How many baby socks does one skein of opal sock yarn make" project.  I'll finish off this 4th sock and this little guy can have toasty toes for this cool autumn weather.
As far as reading this week, I've been looking at The Birthday Book a bunch due to the fact that my soon-to-be 11 year old daughter is having a birthday sleepover this weekend with 7 girls!  this book is full of great hand-made gift ideas as well as party favors and party games for different age groups, a wonderful resource that we have used for years.
Looking forward to seeing what others are up to  this week.
Thanks to Ginny for hosting.

Handmade Holidays

I'm hoping to join Tonya for Handmade Holidays 2011 pretty regularly.  I'd like to make as many of the gifts that we give to family and friends this year as possible.  What I don't/can't make we'll buy from local crafters and family businesses.
It is so important at this time in our children's lives when we are surrounded by so much consumerism to show them a simpler, more frugal and more meaningful way to give.  I have found myself to many times caught up in marketing and "needing" something that I really can live without just fine.  I try to do a bit every year, but this year I'd really like to make most of the gifts we give including the children and my dear husband...lets see how it goes.
Having a sudden change of plans with a boy not feeling so well this morning I sent Molly off to the beach with friends and I got a little creative.

 I pulled out the big ol' pile of felted sweaters, grabbed a cup of coffee and headed out to the picnic table (another gorgeous fall day).  I started thinking about all the friends and family we have who travel with their wee ones during the busy holiday season.  What could I come up with to help them bring along a little fun?  A little tote of sorts that also doubles as a gnome home....

 I cut a simple rectangle from the body of a sweater and cut it in half so I could make 2.

 For the bottom I simple traced the circle created after sewing the sides up. In case you are wondering; yes that is our crazy dog on the picnic table...

I did the bottom and side sewing on the machine, but you could easily do it by hand as well.

 Next I did a simple blanket stitch to attach the top flap/roof.

 A bit of decorative needle felting.

 All the while my sweet boy is reading one of the Harry Potter books for the millionth time.  These are his "mindless knitting" I'm pretty sure he could recite them all by now.

And voila!  The cutest little gnome home/ carry case one can find.  I'm not sure what exactly to call it, not a purse (though it could easily be that).  Originally I thought I would have the little door open and close, but the it occurred to me that little gnomes and fairies would be falling out everywhere if this were being carried around, so in the end it is a simple needle felted door.  I love it though, I'm thinking about a castle turret version, perhaps a red barn, so many possibilities. 

I know a few nieces, nephews and special friends who will be receiving these this holiday season!  If you can't find the time to make one I may even put one or two over in the etsy shop.

Out and About

 

The weather has been so crazy lately around here (as it always is in Northern New England who am I kidding).  We've had fires in the wood stove, wool hats on and really felt the chill of winter in the air.  We've also had 80 degree days that require shorts and lots of water.  But there has been no shortage of fun and beauty either way and we are grateful.

Grateful for hand-knit hats, old civil war forts, great music, long walks with the dogs, rivers and oceans at our doorstep, bonfires and the love and kindness of family and friends.  How lucky we are.

The kids and I are off to see friends in New Hampshire and will return Monday evening with more adventures to share I'm sure.  There will be laughter, good food, lots of mama crafting Oh I just can't wait to get there!

  I'm getting busy with the hand made holiday this year, big plans and hoping to join in with Tonya pretty regularly, see you there.