Enchanted Mama

The good, the bad and the...::

I thought it might be nice to share a bit of this week and realized that there are many aspects to it.  Some rich and juicy.  Others not so shiny.  So, in an effort to show what is really happening in our lives as of today here you go...  

 

the bad and the ugly--

-I torqued my neck while swimming on Monday and have been askew since then. It seems to have gotten worse with spasms and I feel triple my age.  Plus, if anyone touches my neck I think I might scream. Oh, and did I mention the piercing headaches? Mostly, I'm upset because I've had to miss swimming the last few days.    

-My girlie got her ears pierced for her upcoming thirteenth birthday and the guy botched it.  One earring is too far toward her face and the other is too low AND too close to her face. The worst part is that she is disappointed.  Not what we were going for. 

-The big daddy's working hard to finalize preparations for the Friday Medieval Games.  He's been nicknamed "The Blur" by his family that love him so.  I'll be glad when I can see his face in focus again.

-And..pretty sure I killed the oven.  A shattered glass of water dripped down into the back of the stove.  It screamed at me for twenty minutes before I finally hit the circuit breaker.  So concerned about what "FO" meant that it didn't even occur to me to turn off the power. Plus, FO doesn't sound very nice if you ask me.  

 

the good--

-My neck isn't worse than three days ago.  So that's improvement.

-My girlie had her ears pierced for the first time.  That is a big day.  Lots of breathing in and out by this mama.  She's growing up.  Oh my.  Good stuff.  

-Once all the "stuff" is done the day of Medieval Games will be fabulous.  I will be able to share in the experience with my sixth grade girlie and the big daddy.  memory making stuff.  

-The baby is over her "whatever-pneumonia-ick" she had last week. Sleeping through the night again.  Wahoo!!!   

-I'm currently eating a lime popsicle.

-I plan to go to bed early tonight which makes me a bit giddy since it so rarely happens.

-I'm ready for my girlie to turn thirteen this weekend.  Gifts are wrapped in silks.  Cake is planned.  Memories of her birth story are surfacing and bringing a smile to remember my first baby born many years ago and yet it seems like yesterday. 

-It's almost summer. lazy mornings. time outside. flip flops. swimming. afternoon rainstorms.  laughter. reading. my youngest boy pouncing on grasshoppers and getting quite good at catching them, gently of course. love it all.

-The rain in the past few days has nestled in all the new seeds we planted over the weekend.  Even the secret ones that my little guy and I planted around our neighbors in the alley. ssshhhh.

What about you? 

 

 

***linking up with ink and chai*** 

 

 

Spring Dance:

We've been dancing around a few May Poles as of late. 

I love that part of the Waldorf school.  It calls in Spring and the end of the school year.  Brings out the fluffy dresses from older sisters and new pink sandals.  Everyone wears flower crowns (which really ought to be that way all the time).  There are boys who dress as Root Children that are awaken by the Spring Maidens.  There are little brothers and sisters dressed and dancing themselves as they watch all the laughing children bounce around with ribbons.  There are older sisters who end the orchestra serenade by informing me how many times they played the song.  27 times this year.  48 times last year.  She looks forward to graduating to Spring Maiden next year.  A group celebration ends the May Pole with the whole school holding hands and skipping serpentine style around the May Pole.  silly? maybe.  fun? Absolutely!  The whole thing is quite lovely.

Now... 

There is a big event happening for the sixth grade this week.  The Medieval games.  The favorite memory of most Waldorf students.  As the big daddy has a large role in arranging this, life has been full.  There will be costumes and correct medieval language.  A few "Fare thee well good sir" and "Let us go thither" and "Tis most splendid" and "Watch thy head dear sir" and " By my troth" and well, you get the point.  There will be floating platforms, ropes courses, obstacle courses and oh-so-much that I can't even say.  There will even be an opportunity for me to try my hand at "riddle master".  Just the thought of that makes me smile.  I love riddles. The "babysitter arranging" is really the last hurdle I have until we can be in the moment and watch the children have a fabulous day.  

I plan to pop in a few more times this week.  It seems I have some catch up to do.  I hope to see you all soon.

So, that's what we've been doing.  What about you?     

 

Knitting and Reading::

Knitting--  

Currently this sweater is in my basket.  Mainly because I started it two years ago and I really want to make this and I'm not sure if I have enough yarn and the only way I'll know is if I finish the sweater and see what is left over.  So, I'm racing to finish because I really, really want to see the shawl done.  

I've a few other projects in the works, a few, but we can chat about that on another day.

Reading--

An old classic, Little Women.  The March gals are a joy to read about again and again. Sharing this with my girlie as well.  Love that.   

The Grimm Legacy a young adult book. Four chapters in and I'm intrigued.  Anything about Grimm's Fairytales. Reading it before I hand it over to my girlie.  When it came down to deciding who would read it first, she wasn't fast enough.     

 The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I'm reading less ardently than the others.  It's well written and I know I'll end up loving it.  I just seem to have a touch of Spring fever and my attention span is waning or I continue to try and read it at the end of the day when I'm exhausted. I'm sure it will catch my attention again soon.

*linking up with ginny to share love for knitting and reading with yarn along*

 

Also...

**I'm over at Dixon Hill today for a fabulous new series called Changing Places.  Go for a visit and see all the beauty Helen has to share.** 

 

 

 

Mama's Day means...::

::Waking to the smell of vanilla wafting from the kitchen below a'la the big daddy and the chatter of all my children, in semi-hushed voices.

::Giggles and scuffling as I proceed downstairs.  

::A sweet little pile of presents wrapped in silks.   

::Four smiling children grasping my hands to lead me to the table for breakfast.

 

::A cherry wood spoon made by my twelve year old in wood working class.  Months she has been creating.  It's almost too beautiful to use.  

 

::Hand-dyed silk scarf from my four year old who had such a hard time keeping it secret.  He practically yelled what it was when I finally opened it.  

::A watercolor card with at least twelve "I Love You's" on it.  Plus, oh my, gift certificates for treasure.  I mean what can be better than that?  

::The big daddy showering me with love and appreciation AND a visit to the new, local sensory deprivation tank.  Oh yeah.

::Finally using the gift card from mama's day last year.  I now have neon pink toes and a "facialed" face. 

::Loads of little plants waiting to be planted outside.  A garden cleared for a non-rainy day. 

::Missing my mama tremendously.  Even after eight years it still feels like yesterday.

::Feeling grateful for my lovelies as that last wave crashes over me throughout the day. 

::Watching my children play and feeling loved in a soft way.  Honored. 

 

Happy Mother's Day to all of you mama's out there.  

Hope it was all you wished for.  Was it?

 

 *linking up with amanda for weekending*

Whoosh::

Whoosh went last week...

Yes, intentions must have been set too high.  I arrived back home late last Monday and I had photos of a weekend well spent with my brother and family. Time seemed to evaporate while I was there. 

You see my littlest brother turned thirty last Sunday.  Yup, littlest brother I said.  So, to honor who he is and show the love I have for him I swept down to his part of the world armed with cake pans and good chocolate.  

It actually felt ironic as I used to giggle when I watched my grandmother unpack her cooking supplies from her suitcase.  As though we didn't have a cake pan or rolling pin.  Yet, here I was back in my home town unloading my suitcase of the very same items.  Granted, my brother is a minimalist and doesn't believe in tons of kitchen items so...I justified it in my head.

 

The cake was made in his quiet kitchen while he leaned against the opposite wall reading and enjoying the hint of chocolate in the air.  The cake certainly wouldn't have won for any fancy fashion shows but man, it was DELISH!  The recipe is here.  You may want to add it to your list of sure things.  A chocolate and coffee combo--how bad can it be? 

 

My brother shared his tomato operation while I was there.  Do you remember these?  I realized that I LOVE photographing tomatoes.  They are such helpful subjects as they rarely move.  It allows for a great focus even when using a phone camera.  I took a few photos of those lovelies.  Yeah, just a few hundred. 

 

The trip a success all the way around.  

Once home I spent the time resting and catching up on all the things I needed to catch up on.  

My intention was to post about tomatoes and family and chocolate last week.  Oh well.  I'll apply the "better late than never rule" here.

The rest of the week included cello lessons and a new bow for my girlie.  A May Pole celebration.  A Spring assembly.  A Circus that my oldest girlie has been in training for since February.  Lots of circus practice.  I'm sure I shouldn't be so glad that it's over.  But, I am.  I think I'm going to like the single school pick-up today.  

There you go...a mini catch-up on the goings on over here.  

I'm working on making some changes to the 'ol blog.  Things that I've wanted to do for a while now and have not the "techie-ness" to figure out.  I'm okay with that.  There are so many other people out there who do know what they are doing.  God bless 'em.  Don't hold your breath though.  Just know they are on their way, sometime soon.  

I'd love to know what you all are doing today.  Anything good, fun, amazing, mundane, basic, boring.  I plan to live vicariously through you as my big plans include a trip to goodwill and hopefully clearing out more stuff.

That has almost become my mantra...sad but true.  

Happy Monday to you all and please do share...  

 

Celebrate::

I'm off to celebrate with one of the dear ones in my life.  He turns thirty and I wouldn't miss making him a cake and honoring him all day for a second.  I'll be back here on Tuesday.  

Have a lovely weekend!  Let's all play a bit shall we?    

Kellen

Around here::

Yesterday was a busy one.  

One where you run as soon as your feet hit the ground.  I wasn't rested.  Neither was the big daddy.  We attended to our littlest ALL NIGHT LONG.  

She's not sick, well maybe a small cold nothing more.  She was fed.  Changed.  Read to.  I wonder if there is such a thing as baby insomnia because that may be what she was afflicted with last night.

 Around 2:30 a.m. she was fed again...banana to the rescue.  Finally about 4:45 a.m. she fell asleep.  My other children up and ready for action around 6:30 a.m..  The whole "it's light at six o'clock" doesn't help.  

Tired? yes.    

Plus, I've been attempting to "BE" a morning person.  Not working for me a self proclaimed night owl.  A workout at 6:00 a.m. just isn't getting more fun the more I do it.  I thought you were supposed to feel more rested when you exercise!!???! right?  

It's about forming new habits, I suppose, and those are never very fun. It gets easier? Yes? Say, yes.  

I literally stumbled from bed toward a latte.  The likes of which I hoped would have miraculous qualities.  After the second latte...yes two is what it took.  I felt better.  If not a bit jumpy.  So, I put it to good use and finished flip flopping my children's rooms.  Two were already moved, mostly.

The big daddy carried the tools and moved the heavy things while I cleared shelves, bedding, toys, etc. etc. etc.  

By 5:00 we were finished.  Or rather we were done for the day.  Two more children in their new spaces.  The two of us on the couch sipping Kombucha.  Legs elevated.  Wondering when the dinner fairy would arrive to make a scrumptious meal.  

She never came!

 

Typically, around here, I don't attempt to completely rip the house apart each day.  Just yesterday.  Which is good.  Exciting.  Exhausting.  Full of adventure.  

I look forward to having a day of writing and laundry today for it will, no doubt, seem easier than yesterday.    

How is your day going?

 

 

Behind the Camera::

This past weekend I took an amazing photography class, with the ever talented Alessandra Cave, at The Makerie Retreat.  The goal of the class was to push your comfort zone with your camera.  Get the camera out of the auto setting and well, experiment.  

I'm a big fan of Alessandra's work creating photos with a mystical, magical feel--Lots of light, sun flare and bokeh.  All techniques I dream of becoming more proficient at.  I believe the light is what calls to me in photography.  Maybe that's universal, I don't know.  

What I do know is that I can be overwhelmed by the beauty of the afternoon light.  That must mean something. Right?   

 

Throughout the class we were encouraged to use each other as the subjects.  To shoot numerous photos using all types of different camera settings. And, to find images to photograph that represented our experience thoughout the weekend.  

Imagine for a moment though, a room full of people who are much more comfortable behind the camera than in front of it. Yeah... 

So, we ended up with alot of this.

 

And, this.

 

And photos of our shoes. And yarn, of course.  Oh, and hoopers!  

I brought my hula hoops to try some action shots with the super-secret-motive of getting more people hula hooping...my evil plan..ha.ha.ha.  

It worked!  

You should have seen all the hooping creatives twirling around the park.  Plus lots of laughing!  

All in the name of creating and learning and expanding and trying something new. 

 

So there you have it.  

The weekend itself was full of inspiring people, many intriguing classes and creative whim happening at all times.  If you've ever thought of doing something for yourself creatively, take a look at The Makerie.

Plus, you get to meet all types of incredible people and maybe, just maybe, you find someone who happens to love Xanadu as much as you.  

Just a thought.

Happy Monday to you all.  

May the light find you today.  

 

 

 

First of Many::

That's my friend Heidi.  Isn't she cute? She makes me cooler just by knowing her.  

I met Heidi awhile back when I owned a children's store called The Bee's Knees.  It was quite an adventure.  Maybe even a story for another day.  Anyway, this lovely lady came in and help transform, in many ways, the store as my manager.  Along with some other lovelies that I had working for me.  One of which now lives in New Zealand with her honey and triplet girls.  

We have been friends since then.  Almost thirteen years.  Maybe fourteen?  Let's just say its close to that.  She's the kind of friend that I know will be a part of my life always just because.  Plus, like I mentioned, I'm alittle bit cooler having her as my friend.  We laugh and talk and talk some more.  I don't even recall all the things we talk about.  We just never seem to run out of things to say.  Which, in and of itself, is cool.  

We recently spent time together camping at the beach over spring break.  She with her sweet boys and our little brood.  We had such a great time. 

And this lovely had her birthday recently and I thought it was the perfect opportunity to try out the Ribband bracelet by the festive Laura Nelkin.  She had gifted a kit for the bracelet to me when we hung out in New York last January.  I pulled it out again and got to work.  

I did chose some thicker yarn I had on hand and some beads left over from my other Ms. Laura project, which I love by the way, and started knitting.  

The best bit of fashion advice I received from Heidi... Where accessories are concerned the bigger the better.  

Okay, good.  

I like how the wrap bracelet turned out.  Funky, fun colors.  Not for everyone of course but she loved it.  Loved how it felt and loved that if she fell asleep cuddling one of her darling boys then she didn't have a hard bracelet poking her into her wrist at 2:00 a.m..  Kudos to Laura for that one.  I wonder if she even realized that cool factor of her bracelet.  

So there it is.  The first of many bracelets that I will knit.  And, they are fun.  Did I mention that?  I know Laura was up with her girlie stuffing bracelet kits a few days ago so you ought to go visit her shop and try one for yourself.  I know you will thank me later.  

 

Off to my day.  

Wish me luck because I think I might need to stretch time and use super human strength to clear my "to do" list.  I suppose, if I need a break, you will know what I'm knitting.  

Bye for now friends.  

 

 

Pause and Listen::

This was one of my favorite days on our recent vacation.  

The day spent, in the forest of Yosemite, frolicking through the rain.  Completely by ourselves as everyone else must have been tucked inside by the fires.  The sensible people.  But we, our family of six donned our rain gear and set out for a morning adventure.  

Puddles were splashed through.  Creeks were crossed.  Laughter heard in the otherwise quiet forest.  When we stepped gingerly through the pine needles not a sound was heard but the patter of rain.  

It was magical.  

A moment to remember.  

The quiet of the rain seemed to quiet the children as well. There were whispers of voices, heads tilted toward the tall trees and rain boots that found their way over rocks that lined the creek.  The big daddy and I watched in silence.  And smiled.

There's something so peaceful about nature if only we pause and listen.  

Thank goodness we did.