Gift for a friend

We all have a cause.

Everyone has something that we need to share with the rest of the world in order to make it a better place.

One of the people I love most in the world moved away last year.

I admire so much about her.  Above all else, she is a caring mother to her babies.

The other thing, is that she has A LOT of causes.

And I love her for every one of them.

She just had a baby a few days ago and I wish with my whole heart that I could have been there for her.  I would've done laundry, cooked her and her family a meal, read her babies a bedtime story, and scrubbed the toilets- All so she could focus on bringing her sweet baby Earthside.

But, she's nearly a thousand miles away and Carl isn't ready for me to be away from him.  Actually none of the boys would be ready to be without me.  And I don't know that I could be without them.

So, I did what I could for my pal.

I knitted.

I used this pattern as my guide but I didn't want to do all those stripes and take away from the fabulous buttons I wanted to use.

Can you figure out all the causes?

Here's what the finished sweater looks like.

(Home Birthing, Co-Sleeping, Babywearing, Cloth Diapering, Breastfeeding)

At the time I made this, she didn't know if she was having a boy or girl (but I knew it was a boy). I would've added an INTACTIVISM button to it if I'd known for certain...

The buttons were custom made by Tessa Ann.  She is the best button maker on the planet.  She uses a special glaze that allows her buttons to be machine washable.  She is very fast with her communication.  Her buttons are amazingly cute and I can see how many people try to copy her.  But, in my experience- THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR REAL TESSA ANN BUTTONS!!  Her prices are more than fair. Check her out here or here. 

Our plan for Day 1 of Grade 1 (and kindy for Button)

No horrid Blackberry photos today.  Just text.  And lots of it!

Fall/2011

Day Plan

Week 1

Mama time:

Verse

            I place myself steadfastly into existence

            With certainty I tread the path of life

            Love I nurse in the core of my being

            Hope I lay into all my doing

            Confidence I impress into my thinking ~Steiner

Wash face, get dressed, put on Apron

Boys wake up verse

            The light opens up

            And I walk in

            The day invites me to begin.

            I ask the day “How shall I start?”

            It says, “With a wish upon your heart.”

MAKE A WISH TOGETHER

Breakfast: (ideas: eggs, cheese, fruit, yogurt, granola)

Clean Up Verse:

            I meet my work with strong limbs

            Open hands and warm heart

NATURE WALK Verse:

            From my little home I go

            To share love with all I know

Visit front trees, notice shapes, visit garden, weed, harvest as necessary, check hillside vines. Gather stones for Spiral Garden. Bring a stump for center. Engage the senses.

Autumn Song:

            Oats Peas Beans and Barley Grow x2

            Do you or I or anyone know how

            Oats Peas Beans and Barley Grow

Autumn Song:

            Blow wind blow,

            And go mill go

            That the miller may grind his corn,

            Then the baker will take it 

            And into bread bake it

            And bring us a loaf in the morn.

Squirrel Poem (do movements):

            Whisky, frisky hoppity hop,

            Up he goes to the tree top!

            Whirly, twirly round and round,

            Down he scampers to the ground.

            Furly curly what a tail!

            Tall as a feather, broad as a sail!

            Where is his supper? In the shell.

            Snappity crackity, out it fell!

                      

Prepare to go in verse:

            Birds in the air

            Stones on the land.

            Fishes in the water

            I’m in Earth’s hand.

Heading back inside verse:

            To my house, I find my way

            And with my blessed Angel stay.

Begin morning verse:

            Good morning dear Earth,

            Good morning dear Sun,

            Good morning dear trees,

            And flowers everyone.

            Good morning dear Beasts,

            And the birds in the Trees,

            Good morning to You.

            And good morning to Me.

Mulberry bush Circle song:

Clapping song:

            Clap your hands so quickly

As quickly as can be,

            Clap your hands so quickly

            And clap your hands like me

            Wave your hands so slowly

            As slowly as can be

            Wave your hands so slowly

            And wave your hands like me

            Snap your fingers quickly

            Quickly as can be

            Snap your fingers quickly

            And snap them just like me

            Roll your hands so slowly

            As slowly as can be

            Roll your hands so slowly

            And fold your arms like me.

Bean Bag game (give everyone a bean bag)

            Rainbow verse (tossing back and forth in rainbow arch, CURVE line form)):

            Red and orange and yellow and green

            The rainbow’s 7 colors have a bright shining sheen

            Light blue, indigo, violet all told

            At the end of rainbow is a pot of gold.

Circle Stomp:

            Brave and True will I be

            Each good deed sets me free

            Each kind word makes me strong

            I will fight for right, I will conquer wrong.

Standing Still verse:

            Golden in the garden

            Golden in the glen

            Golden, golden, golden,

            September’s here again.

Autumn Song:

            Yellow the bracken, Golden the leaves             

            Rosy the apples, Crimson the sheaves

            Mist on the hillside, clouds gray and white

            Autumn Good Morning, Summer Good Night.

Closing Verse:

            May I enter this day with clear thoughts

            Kind words,

            Open heart,

            And gentle hands.

Welcome the children each by name with a handshake and hug.

MAIN LESSON Day 1:
Discuss forms we saw outside, draw straight & curvy lines in the air, on eachother. Hop in a straight line, walk a curved line, tell a story of the 3 Scalene Brothers who guarded their garden against a predator. Make all lines different sizes form a triangle when the brothers all join hands around the garden and stand strong.

Invite Button to make snack from what has been prepared for him while #1 & I continue to work with straight and curved lines

SNACK TIME: (Button rings bell) cheese, crackers, fruit, juicy tea,

CLEAN UP:

            There was an old lady tossed up in a blanket seventeen times,

            As high as the moon,

            And where she was going no mortal could tell

            But under her arm she carried a broom

            “Old lady, old lady, old lady,” says I

“Wither, ah wither, ah wither so high?”

            “To sweep the cobwebs from the moon,

            But I’ll be with you by and by”

FREE PLAY TIME

Lesson A: Flute (feather, lit candle, wrapped flute)

Tell Pear tree story (by Marsha Johnson found in her e-book, buy it HERE)

Imagine gentleness,  light winds, breezes on Carl’s head, a baby lamb laying in the grass. Practice a tiny wind blow with mouth.

One at a time call each child up to blow at the candle to merely make it dance. Give a feather to take back to his seat.

Sing Thumbkin:

            Where is Thumbkin?

            Pointer?

            Long Man?

            Ringman?

            Baby?

GIVE FLUTE GIFT

Warm with breath blow open end, finger holes.

Tweedle Dee Tweedle Dum Is What We Play With Just Our Thumb (from David Darcy's book buy it HERE)                 

(D note is with thumb hole covered)

Clean flutes with a drop of oil in the mouth piece

Cleaning Rod in, spin, and out.

Reverently put flutes away.

NOON- LUNCH & REST

Clean up

Story time with Handwork Lesson: Wandering Henry

Closing verse:

            Warm our hearts, Oh Sun, and give

            Light that we may daily live.

            Growing as we ought to be

            True and good and strong and free.

END OF SCHOOL DAY

           

Fast post about Poppie

Poppie is a stick puppet that I made to teach German in Grade 1 this year.  The instructions were very roughly posted HERE.

Any time I have tried to speak German to the boys, they cover their ears in disgust. They say, "Mama.  We don't understand you.  Stop it. That's not how we talk!"

But Poppie.  Oh how they LOVE Poppie!! She speaks only German and gets very shy when she doesn't understand what you're saying.

So they boys have been excited to learn German so they can talk to her.  When they sing her Welcome Song, (to the tune of Frère Jacques):
Wo ist Poppie
Wo ist Poppie
Ich bin hier
Ich bin hier
Und wie geht es Ihnen
Ich bin schones danke
Gehen weg
Gehen weg

She pops out of hiding and is ready to tell a story, or sing more songs.

I am not at all fluent in German.  Thankfully, I have had many many patient German friends and teachers in my life who have helped me with my wretched grammar.  But, I love learning German. I love German people and I love speaking German.

I hope that my love and respect for all things German will carry me through any mistakes that I'm bound to teach the children.

I seem to hibernate in the Summer...

It's been a lovely boring Spring and Summer. Now I am gearing up for a wonderful Fall! I have never really been a hot weather person. Even when I was a young girl and could wear a bathing suit without any reservations- I still preferred Autumn and Winter.

For me, Autumn means a fresh start.
A new beginning.
An emerging from the Fire.
All cleansed and purged.
Ready for the crispness of a new pair of shoes, a starchy pair of jeans, a SWEATER with cozy sleeves!

As a homeschooling mama, this time is even more concentrated on the "resolutions" of a New Year. Less television, more vegetables, more rhythm.

My precious Fatty Arbuckle turned 7 on Tuesday the 30th, and I have been in a deep sentimental state for the last week. I look at his precious face and remember the first time I saw him. I can still see my baby when I look at him.

And a few words about him... I had no idea what that baby was going to do for me. I was a drinker. I liked to have outdoor bonfire parties and get a little stoned with my pals. I used words that would make hookers cringe in disgust. I had a wretched diet. And I didn't really like most children.

But- When I held his little 7 pound 14 ounce body up to my nose and inhaled the scent of New Life; I was cleansed. I was changed. I myself was reborn. Anyone who knew me on August 29th, 2004 did not know me 24 hours later.

I wanted to give my boy better than I ever had. I wanted him to know and feel my love for him. I wanted him to feel safe and have no thoughts of fear or uncertainty. I wanted him to always know that if he reached out his pudgy little hand, he would touch me.

My Precious Fatty Arbuckle. A clean innocent life. And he chose me as his Mama. I vowed in my soul that I would not let him down. I would sacrifice anything for him. I made bargains with God to keep him safe and healthy. I realized that I had never been afraid before in my life before him. And now I feared that at any time The Universe would realize that a mistake was made and take him from me because I was completely undeserving of such a perfect baby.

So here I am from where I was. I stumble sometimes. I have regrets sometimes in the decisions I've made for my Firstborn. But, I have remained true in doing everything out of Love.

I intended this post to be about our plans for our year of Grade 1 in homeschool.  But, that will wait. Soon. I swear.

Silk Tie Easter Eggs

There was a suggestion from one of the (many) Waldorf Homeschool groups to to this method for dyeing easter eggs. It is so simple and the eggs come out so elegant!

I'm crazy tired so I'm not going to waste a lot of time being witty and fabulous. I'll just cut to the chase and tell you what you need to know!

You will need:

Some silk ties (I scored some at Goodwill 1/2 off for $2)I bought 5 and had leftovers. NOTE ON TIES: AVOID YELLOW AND LIGHT PASTEL COLORS. They suck. Go for deep blues, blacks, purples, dark greens- those will give up the most pleasing colors. Red worked nicely, too!

White eggs (if you are using farm fresh wipe eggs down with vinegar before doing anything else) I used 18.

White cotton fabric (I used some flannel scraps and a ratty cut up tshirt).

Something to tie or secure your bundles with

1/4 Cup plain white vinegar

The yellow tie came out awful. It was just a white egg with faint dots on it.

If you've got all that stuff, you're ready to go!

First, cut out the felt strip from the tie. you only want to have the thin piece of silk.

Cut the tie in squares big enough to wrap your egg.

Cut the white cotton in squares to cover the silk wrapped egg.

I recommend cutting everything a day ahead of time. Give yourself a break so you don't feel too overwhelmed by such an easy fun project!

Wrap the egg up with the right side of the silk against the eggshell. This is important.

Wrap the silk-wrapped egg with the white cotton.

Secure with a tie.

Make sure that the egg is firmly wrapped and that it is securely tied.

Repeat the process until all the eggs are bundled.

Fill a pot with water about 2" high and 1/4 Cup white vinegar.

Place the eggs in the pot. Add more water if necessary to make sure the eggs are covered by about an inch.

Set the heat to medium.

When you hear it boiling, set your timer for 40 minutes.

After 40 minutes, use tongs to remove the eggs and place them on a safe surface to drain and cool COMPLETELY.

Wait about 30 minutes or more for the eggs to be cool to the touch.

Unwrap slowly. The boys LOVED this part! It was magical.

If you want some lovely shine, dip a cotton ball in some vegetable oil and rub the eggs.

You could blow out the eggs and dye the shells to keep year after year. But for us, it was so easy I'm not going to do the extra 12 steps of blowing out the eggs. We'll make more next year!

Enjoy!

Some notes in case you're wondering:


*We have no plans of eating these eggs.  I'm sure the dye is toxic.  Also, the eggs were not from a farm where we know the chickens.


*You can't reuse the ties. Once they have been boiled in vinegar, they are spent.  You could possibly wash them and dry them and reuse as something else though.


*I am not sure if you could keep the eggs year after year. I've seen conflicting info about how a boiled egg dries out or rots over time.  I don't plan on keeping these. 

Easy, healthful fudge

Fudge is awesome. It's like having cake icing without the delivery mechanism of the cake part.

I wondered what would happen if I mixed honey & cocoa. Would it give me a nice spreadable icing?

I still wonder because I couldn't stop myself with just honey & cocoa powder!

I figured if I added some coconut oil and put it in the fridge, the whole thing would turn into a nicely set fudge.

Oh sweet mercy- I was right.

So, in case you want to try for yourself, here's the recipe:

Stupidly Easy Crazy Good Fudge

1 Cup non-dutch process cocoa powder

1 Cup virgin cold pressed organic coconut oil softened at room temp (you could use cooled melted butter, but you wouldn't get the same good benefits that the coconut oil would give you)
3/4 Cup UNFILTERED, UNHEATED, RAW honey. The kind that is solid at room temp.
1/2tsp vanilla

Whisk everything together until a nice shiny smooth mixture forms. Pour into parchment lined square baking dish. Refridgerate for 30 minutes until set.

Don't blame me if you make yourself sick from eating the whole pan.

The photo was taken in bad light with my phone. Don't judge.

Tea Parties with Boys

Each week we go to a homeschool co-op. The boys have a lovely teacher for an Early Years class.

She sings with them, does fingerplays, engages them in lots of outdoor activies, and provides a beautiful organic setting for them to explore and play.

A few weeks ago Miss J had a Spring Tea Celebration with the children. They put fresh linens on the picnic table and used china cups and saucers.

My boys were so pleased! They loved the tea and they loved the experience of using fine dishes. We had to recreate their tea party that night at home.

Having tea has become a part of our daily rhythm now. We even went to Goodwill and they picked out their own teapot, cups and saucers.

The boys delight in pulling out a fresh tablecloth, spreading it out on the table, and setting out all of the lovely dishes to have tea together. We have even invited others over to have tea with us.

Most recently we had my nieces over. We baked biscuits, gingersnaps, star-shaped bread, and crackers. We made some lovely cheese spreads to go with our crackers and used the star bread to make tiny sandwiches.

The boys are really getting into tea time. Their table manners are becomming so pleasant. They are speaking so gently and kind during tea. "Button, will you please pass the ice?", and "So, Arbuckle- tell me what you would like to do today?". The lovliness warms my soul!

Our house isn't really conducive to entertaining, but I think it's better to just adapt and overcome instead of missing opportunities to have guests. We make sure our space is tidy and welcoming. That is good enough for me.

I love how the fellas set the table. Totally not perfect, and perhaps Emily Post would be outraged... But, for our family- it was just right.