On Sunday Papa Chris brought the digital camera along for our nature walk.
photo nature walk
30 Wednesday Sep 2009
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in30 Wednesday Sep 2009
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inOn Sunday Papa Chris brought the digital camera along for our nature walk.
29 Tuesday Sep 2009
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inYesterday I took the attachlings to the nearby children’s/science museum.Β The museum is very small. (For friends in Indiana…imagine the whole place could probably fit inside PlayScape. π )
Each time the children seem to find a different thing to focus on, a different way to play. And since it is now the school year, the place tends to be fairly empty.
When we got there we had the place all to ourselves. We usually stay two hours, btw, which is exactly how long the parking meter will stay filled.
After we’d been there for about one hour a school group arrived.Β This group was obviously from a private school, as attested to by their identical uniforms and the name of the school embroidered on their shirts. (Yes, I do know that some public schools do that now as well, but this school had ‘Christian Academy’ in its name.)
I was quite pleasantly surprised, though. The group had a good ratio of students to adults and the children seemed to explore and play well…not wildly. My attachlings mostly went on about their exploring as if the other children were not there…they were busy. π
We all had a good time. Eventually the school children were called away from their exploration time to attend the ‘program’ part of their visit, which, apparently, involved sitting still and listening to someone telling them something about what they were going to be learning or doing at the museum. {snort}
Here’s the ‘odd encounter’ part of the visit.
At dinner last night Nic told me that the girl that came to do artwork near him, asked him if he believed in god. Okay. Hmmm….
Nic said that he told her he believed in Mother Earth.
Then the girl told him that he was going to H-E-L-L unless he believed in god.
(When Nic related this he said ‘hell’ but told me that the girl spelled it out like that.)
I asked what he said when she told him that, and he said, ‘well, we all have our own beliefs.’ And the girl proceeded to say, ‘no really, you have to believe in god or you will go to H-E-L-L.’
Nic reported that he just shrugged his shoulders at this and kept cutting with the scissors.
Nic said that she kept saying these things to him to the point where he was beginning to feel angry with her…not because of her beliefs but because he just wanted to work on his artwork. So he just walked away and came to play with Whinnie and Theo.
I saw the girl in question, btw, she looked to be about 8 years old.
How odd…and sad.
And yet, I am proud of Nic. Just a few months ago he probably would have gotten into an ugly yelling match with her.
After he told me about the whole encounter, I asked him what he thought. He said, ‘I thought it was weird and annoying. But I remembered what you said about differences of opinions about god and religion. I remembered that wars start over stuff like that. I didn’t want a war, so I walked away from her.’
So totally rockin’ cool. π
28 Monday Sep 2009
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inOutside my window…well, I’m outside, but if I were inside looking out I’d see three children playing kickball in the yard whilst shades-of-grey clouds tumble overhead.
I am thinking…that I am very, very blessed.
I am thankful for…such a long list of things, but topping all of it is Chris. None of this wonderful life would be what it is without him.
I am wearing…a black turtleneck shirt, navy slacks, birkenstocks and my Eeyore watch. π
I am remembering…dearest dear friends in Indiana.
I am going…inside as soon as the rain starts.
I am reading…several books about knitting and/or crocheting and Spiral Dance.
I am hoping…that Chris’ convention is very successful (and not too exhausting.)
On my mind…Chris (who is in Florida as I type) and Anna.
From the learning rooms…the whole house is our ‘learning room’ and right no one is in there. From the ‘learning yard’ are three children making the noises of happy children playing.
Noticing that…I live in the most beautiful place I ever have.
Pondering these words…”my pleasure”
I love it when people say ‘my pleasure’ when you say ‘thank you’ — if heartfelt it means so much more than ‘you’re welcome.’ I am trying to remind myself to say that, and mean it, all the time. π
From the kitchen…a crafty clutter awaits the children.
Around the house…I need to declutter, neaten-up and sweep.
One of my favorite things….being able to check in online without neglecting anyone π .
And finally, a photo…
The first photo I took of our first sunrise in our new home (on April 18, 2009.)
blessings,
Mary
25 Friday Sep 2009
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inYesterday started with an awesome-long nature walk. We drove to the other side of the development to walk near the lake. Having a van at our disposal is so very nice…as the walk back from the lake is a weary one.
We explored, found fungus, found toads, explored newly-fallen trees, collected leaves and quartz-looking rocks. And played with the neighbor’s two dogs also our on a morning walk.
Once back home there was a dizzying blur of cleaning up, gathering snacks, and getting on with the work of the day. Nic completed his schoolwork before lunch and we were ready for freeplay time.
The boys read, read, read and read more. They stop and build with Whinnie, and then read more. They read together or apart. They are readers. I am a happy mama. π
Whinnie refused a nap yesterday. Ugh.
She tends to be a shrill dictator when she refuses to nap.
She played more with the boys and didn’t become truly shrill until dinnertime.
And while all this life-living occurred and they buzzed all about me, I did this:
It doesn’t look like much…but I am all puffed up with pride over it. π
I have practiced over and over and over again since Sunday evening to learn the essential skills to crochet. Sandi and Kelley showed me the basics and that gave me a great foundation.
I looked online for more information and watched a few how-to videos, but I am not a visual learner, so kept missing something. But on Wednesday we went to the library and I got this book:
Her descriptions of the various steps needed to accomplish each type of stitch are just what I needed.
So in that photo above, after vast amounts of trying and pulling it out and trying again, I have accomplished several rows of single crochet, two rows of double crochet and one row of treble crochet. π
Squeee!
Today I tackle making circular forms.
I still absolutely crochet like a knitter. I can’t rotate my crochet hook to grab the yarn, I have to throw it over the hook like I would when knitting. And I crochet left-handed, as my right hand is accustomed to controlling thread tension.
But I learned something really important when teaching myself how to knit last winter: form doesn’t matter right now — work on function, work on getting the stitches looking right and uniform now — the rest will come with practice.
Now I am in such a good rhythm with knitting that I don’t even think about the process, I just pick up the needles and knit. I know that with practice I will get to that point with crocheting as well. It is only a matter of time.
And the cooler weather is heading in and I will spend more time inside and (hopefully) spend some of that time creating wonderful things with my needles and hooks.
peace,
Mary
24 Thursday Sep 2009
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inThe birth of a friend’s baby in the wee hours of the night early this morning.
From what I’ve read this could have been (and seemed to be moving towards) a very traumatic birth and seems to have become just a blessed event instead.
I am so proud of Jenny even without knowing all the details.
I have never heard of anyone who suffered so much, for the entire duration of the pregnancy, to bring a blessed baby to the world.
And this is the first in a long line of mama-pregnancies from my mama’s group back in Indiana.
I can’t be there to rub the bellies or smell the little newborn heads…but all of you are in my thoughts and prayers…in my very spirit…everyday.
peace,
Mary
23 Wednesday Sep 2009
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inFirst, I’ll spare you a photo of the two large trash bags we filled along our morning nature walk. In fact I’m sparing myself…since I’m not trudging out to the end of the driveway to take said photo. Suffice it to say, there was a lot. We almost had to leave the bags by the side of the road they were so heavy. I was thinking that it would be far better to drive back up the hill with the van later than to risk breaking the bags and having our hard work re-strewn about the mountainside.
However we found the strength to get the bags home and unceremoniously drop them at the street. There they will stay until the recycling truck trundles by on Friday.
We live in a pretty isolated place, btw. It is astonishing to me the number of probable drinking parties we were cleaning up after. I didn’t even know that beer bottles came in sizes that big. And from our estimation Bud Light is the beer of choice of people who have no intention of cleaning up after themselves.
Giving back to the Earth was the theme for our day. Ancient peoples — you know back before the wars when people grew more of their own food π — would have given a portion of their harvest to the gods as thanks for enough food to survive another winter.
We don’t grow our own food (yet) so I set out to find another way to give back to Mother Earth. And this was a very tangible way for the attachlings to get involved. Though we were helping the Earth, we were also helping ourselves, because now we don’t have to see that litter as we walk each morning.
After lunch I brought out pages that I had printed out from Earth’s Child Handbook: crafts and inspiration for the spiritual child.
These are self-published and can be purchased chapter-by-chapter at the above link. I bought the first two chapters the day I learned of this resource. I see that there is another one available now as well.
The pages I printed out for use yesterday were all about the Earth and had several pages devoted to recycling (a word find and a maze.)
My favorite was this image of Mother Earth (or whatever anyone wants to call it) that each of us colored in (Whinnie colored one but promptly crinkled it up as she does everything she creates.)
Nic’s:
Theo’s:
Mama’s:
Theo’s animal totems for making an Earth Mobile:
Nic’s:
The time while we were coloring (it took me about 90 minutes to do my Mother Earth…I like detail work) we talked about the Earth and taking care of her and about native peoples and animal totems. Nic is now very intrigued by animal totems and wants to learn more. Lovely. Especially when you consider that this all started because I sat down at the table with the Mother Earth sheet and a set of (sharpened) coloring pencils. Within minutes they were gathered about me saying, “that’s beautiful,” and, “I wish I had one of those sheets to color.” π Of course I was ready with printouts aplenty.
After we were spent on this project it was time for Whinnie’s nap and the boys to get some time together.
When Papa Chris got home he had many wonderful pieces of art to look at and many hugs to give out to his Β ‘planet heroes.’
peace,
Mary
22 Tuesday Sep 2009
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inPeople like to use the phrase, ‘as easy as herding cats’ to describe chaotic situations, right?
Well, I gotta say, our freecat, Solstice, is way easier to herd than is our two-year-old daughter.
Here’s what I got when I asked her to pose for a photo in her well-loved cow costume:
21 Monday Sep 2009
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inPapa Chris finally has a pickup truck. π
We’ve been talking about getting a second vehicle for months. Chris has been watching craigslist and stalking local car lots.
Finally last week his constant check of craigslist paid off. We found this used Dodge Ram, in good shape (far from perfect) and for a price we could afford (hence the far from perfect.)
We bought it Friday and went to the DMV on Saturday to get it titled and plated. No matter what anyone says about DMVs, I gotta say, all my interactions with the ones here have left me quite impressed. They are so darn efficient that I have no time to read or knit as is my plan while waiting.
I drove the truck yesterday to meet up with some mama friends for knitting and crocheting time. It is a cute truck but I prefer my van. π
And that’s the awesome thing. Now that Chris has a truck to drive to the train station, the attachlings and I have our own transportation for getting out and enjoying this beautiful, beautiful corner of the world…and during Autumn!
peace all,
Mary
16 Wednesday Sep 2009
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inWe have a basement. A big basement. And there’s a room that is separate from the rest that would be perfect as a root cellar. Yes, these are the types of things I think about all the time.
I have been thinking alot about next spring and what to plant and where for our garden. We moved here in late April and I was not ready for gardening. I didn’t know anything about they yard (where water pools, where there’s direct sun and partial shade) or the local deer population.
Now I am itching to be canning and freezing and dehydrating in preparation for winter. Except that I’ve not done most of that since I was a child watching my mother, grandmother and aunt working.
I think I have an overly romaticized vision of gardening and putting up the harvest…which has consistently kept me from digging in, literally, and putting my ideas to work.
So here I sit, just before the beginning of fall thinking about a year from now and how I want to be spending my time and what I need to do between now and then to be ready.
And that root cellar is part of the whole plan…I just know it.
peacefully,
Mary
15 Tuesday Sep 2009
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inAlways in the past we have noted and sometimes celebrated the various equinox and solstice occurences of the year. Whinnie was due on the winter solstice, though she decided to come 1 week early…fine by me. π
This year, though, starting with Lammas (August 1st) we are learning about age-old holiday traditions related to these calendar events.
Mabon is coming next week. It’s known by other names of course, as I learned in this excellent article at Witch Vox.
The article has helped me to bring a focus to my thinking about Mabon, about the harvest, about how I wish to express my spirituality and about the seasons and festivals to come.
Within the Waldorf tradition we are encouraged to do ‘inner work’ and to dig into and better understand our own spirituality. This is not a religious thing. Religion needn’t be involved at all, unless that is the path the speaks to you spiritually. This is about acknowledging that we are spiritual beings, and that we come from spirit and will some day return to spirit. There are quite differing opinions about what happens in that netherworld of ‘return to spirit’ but that needn’t prevent us from acknowledging one another as spiritual entities.
This is one of the reasons I felt the Waldorf path was right for our homeschool. By encouraging me to dig in and know myself and care for my own spirituality, it encourages me to understand the celebrations and festivals that resonate, those that don’t and then to share those things with my young ones.
Yes, I understand that this is what religions do for their followers as well. But I’ve never felt comfortable within any religion — nor with following someone else’s ideas. (And I wonder where the children get it. π )
So my thought about Mabon have me thinking about sacrifice and harvest. The idea of a sacrifice being both thanks for the harvest past and offering for harvests future appeals to me. So does the idea of balance the the equinoxes represent. I’m especially taken with the idea of giving back to Mother Earth in thanksgiving for all that she has given us.
Yes, we live in a world where we can go to the grocery store any day and buy almost anything. Fruits that should not be in-season can be shipped from all over the world. Ok, so they might be tasteless, but they are there. So we aren’t tied to the harvest the way our ancestors were. But thanksgiving should still be in our hearts.
What can/should I sacrifice as a token of thanksgiving for the blessing of continuing good health, beautiful views, local food and the caring people in my life….all of which is possible because of Mother Earth?
Additionally, what can I model for the children during this time of harvest and thanksgiving? I think one idea is to do something tangibly-caring of the Earth on the day of the Autumnal Equinox. As the wee ones and I take nature walks each morning, we see trash strewn about. It is heartbreaking to me that someone would be so thoughtless.
So when the equinox comes around next week, the attachlings and I will head out on our nature walk with a mission. We will have bags in hand to clean up the litter we find along our way. Much of it is recycleable, and will find its way directly into our recycling bin. The rest we will put in the trash.
And maybe we’ll work on tangible plans for making things for the animals for winter. Our ‘free cat’ Solstice needs a safe, warm place to hide from the elements and predators on the porch (assuming he doesn’t want to come inside) and the birds could use some feeders. And the deer, hmmmm, not sure what to put out for them.
See where I’m going? We need to do things, tangible things, that show the attachlings that our love of Mother Earth is more than lip service to make two liberal-minded parents feel good about themselves.
Ah, spirituality. Sometimes I think that’s a word that embodies equal parts serenity and ‘a kick in the rear’ motivation. π
blessed be,
Mary