Enchanted Mama

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?     

 

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*

It's Official::

Yes.  It's official.  

I've figured out that by simplifying my life I might in fact be making it harder.  

I mean I'm sitting here sewing felt eggs...enough said.  Of course, they are felt eggs that have a secret little pouch inside for treasures so....

The intention was to move away from the plastic egg idea into something warmer and potentially more beneficial for mother earth.  Something we could use again and again.  Something fun and easy.  Easy.

Anyone going to step in here?  What I may need is an intervention.  Someone to pounce on my sewing machine and tell me to "slowly back away from the machine".  Alas, that has yet to happen.

 

And then, to make matters worse I decided on new bags.  

This seemingly innocent bag has been time consuming.  Yet, I continued.  I wanted something smaller to make the smaller gifts and treats seem bigger in the bag, you know.  Sitting next to the machine as we speak are three more bags cut out and ready to sew.  

Simple right?  Next year, it will seem easier/simpler.  At least that is what I say now....

So unless someone makes a move here I'm headed back to the studio to finish those other three bags.  

Yup...I am...I'm going now....I'm walking...I'm walking...  

Well, if you change your mind and have a moment in your day you know where to find me.  

I asked a friend of mine recently (A friend that I will NOT tell you is in the process of making the very same felt eggs) whether she ever felt that her life was harder because she was attempting to make it "more simplified"?  

Her response was...EVERYDAY.  

Anyone else out there? 

 

All You Need Is::

Happy Valentines Day to all of you lovely ones out there.  

As you read this I'm more than likely bustling excited children off to school to share homemade valentines and some giggles.  What other day can you eat heart shaped cookies, enjoy hand-written cards, eat chocolate before breakfast, and wear a shiny red ribbon in your hair?  

Well, most days I suppose....but today for sure!  

Let's all spread a little love around today shall we?   

Love, really is, all we need!

 

 

Warning::

Warning::  

These little creatures are habit forming even for the most focused of knitters.  

They are fun, easy and thrive on lots of friends.  You'll be convinced, quite easily, that there should be collections of them--Big collections--that promote gatherings of all types of critters.   Cupcakes with eyes.  Gnomes. Reindeer and mini cheeseburgers.  They aren't about appearances as they all enjoy each others company and only require that you keep knitting more friends.  

If you decide you need to knit some, keep in mind that I warned you.  

Anna Hrachovec has a great site with everything you'll need to get started including the book that I used.  If you are on Ravelry here's another great place to find her patterns.  

Bet you can't make just one....

 

 

Handmade Holiday 2011::

Our Handmade Holiday, which we began in earnest last year, was quite lovely.    

We drew names for one another so we could focus on creating a gift for each member of the family.  Last year this is where it started and this was along the way here and here and this is where it ended here and here.  

When I asked my children this year how they had wanted the holidays to be they enthusiastically said, "We want to draw names like last year and have a special date with you and Daddy."  

So that is what we did.

Our Holiday was full of secret projects, closed doors with signs that read, "Elves working...DO NOT OPEN!!!" and whispers about "how to" without telling who someone had drawn.  

There were loud noises coming from the garage as well as sewing machines whirring in the back round.  My knitting needles click clacking furiously in the end.  

Full and fun.  

 

The Big Daddy drew my name this year.  Lucky me.  

I love to have candles on the dining room table for all the seasons.  Big tall drippy candles and short fat handmade candles in a variety of holders.  Though I love all candles these holders may still be my favorite.    

What I don't love is "chipping off" wax from every surface.  The wax that gets stuck on the table, plates, and goodness knows the tablecloth.  So my request in October, I started early, was a slab of wood with feet to put in the middle of the table that would allow for the rolling, dripping wax.  Something that would make chipping the wax off optional.  

Do you know what?  The Big Daddy created this fantastic gift.  He even listened when I said, "I would love to have bark on it as well".  I have a fondness for bark on pretty much anything.  So he did it.  

The love that he put into this project is what makes me smile and the fact that this is so much better than I could have even imagined.  

 

One thing for sure is I felt like the luckiest mama on the block when I opened this.  We have used it every night since.  And I suspect, will continue to for years to come!  

 

My oldest girl took to the sewing machine for her brother.  She made a book cover for the guy who loves to carry around books at this point.  A pencil case to hold well pencils and various treasures.  He was quite proud of his presents.  There was even a bookmark tucked inside.  How simple.   

I loved seeing my girl do this project completely on her own.  All she wanted was the velcro for the pouch and she was off and running without any help from me.  Even I was surprised on Christmas morning to see what she had created.   

Oh, also in her spare time she decided to make gifts for ALL of us, ahem.  

There were hand-knit washcloths.  Stitch markers for this knitter.  And an assortment of other treasures she whipped up.  No wonder she had all those bags of things squirreled away in her room.

She has big plans this girl of mine.  Big plans and a big heart.   

 

My oldest boy, my woodworker, thought of this idea for his littlest sister.  

A wooden stacking ring from some of the candle holders he had in his workshop.  With a little help from the Big Daddy they spent a few days on this creation.  

Sounds of saws and sanders emanating from the garage.  We knew they were out there but had no idea what creation was being made.  

That is what I find so fun.  As the children get older there is less involvement and more surprise and wonder at what their little creative selves come up with.  

Once he cut the pieces he rubbed them all down with beeswax.  So, not only do they look so cool with the rings from the inside of the wood but they smell delicious. 

 

My girl loves it.  

She's taken to carrying it around the house with her for things to stack at a moments notice.  

 

My four year old LOVES to watercolor.  So for his gift that seemed a natural choice.  Plus, he drew his big sister who LOVES to write letters.  It seemed for this year to be the perfect match.  

He set right to work and created a unique set of cards and postcards.  What I enjoyed most was sitting with him after he had spent a few days painting and asking him to tell me about the paintings. 

He knew, of course, what every one of them was.  An angel on horseback.  A fire breathing dragon.  A swan.  A dragon's tail.  A smiling Turtle.  A woodpecker.  A person pushing a wheelbarrow.  And, the one that made me laugh the most was, A vacuum.  

I believe I had as much fun labeling them as he did painting.  They were bundled up with bakers twine and tucked in a bag to await Christmas morning.  

His excitement in giving this gift to his sister was the most beautiful part about it.  

 

The creative aftermath...

 

The next gift was for my sweet four year old from his littlest sister.  Who, no matter how much I pondered, I realized was a bit young to make anything herself.  So with some help from this mama we created a bag for her brother.  

He loves elephants after seeing them at the zoo last year.  He is even referred to, in our house, as the "elephant washer".  We being the elephants and him doing the washing.  When I found this fabric I knew it had to be used.  

He had been wanting a bag of his own to carry more books and toys around like his older brother and sister.

I also tucked a hand-sewn fish inside, as he loves to grill things up in the play kitchen, that I found at the local handmade holiday market.  Think rainbow trout with ribbons along the sides.  

He has since been seen loading the bag to capacity.  Which makes me glad I did the extra strong seams!  

 

The final gift was for the Big Daddy.  

I drew his name this year and of course I had to knit something.  Something Big.  Something scary and thrilling all at the same time.  Unfortunately, the light has been non-existent and with a few sick children we have yet to do a photo shoot but its on its way.  Hopefully this week.  

I hope your holidays were all that you wished them to be and that the New Year is off to a great start.

I myself feel a bit behind the ball already.  But, I'm hopeful that all the lingering pieces of 2011 can be finalized and let go so that we can focus on the Beautiful Year of 2012.     

I'll be checking in here more often I promise.  It's just been well, full.  You know?  

 

Let's chat soon, 

Kellen

 

New Years Eve::

The Disco Ball is hung... 
The Caramel Corn made... 
The Bubbly Chilling... 
The Disco Playlist at the ready...

Our family is ready to celebrate.

 

Have a Happy New Years!

 

So Easy::

That's what this recipe was supposed to be.  Easy.  

I tried.  I really did.

I didn't think it was possible to mess up---melt chocolate, pour, spread, etc.  

Yet, I did.  

With the three youngest children banging around the kitchen and the clock showing--late afternoon I should have seen that train coming from a mile away.

I didn't.  

It all started on twitter.  Mentions here and there about peppermint bark.  Small comments.  Others trying it.  

I had to have some-and-quick.  I would whip up a batch or two, or four, and give them as gifts and take them to see family and, and, and....

I pulled out the necessary pans.  The chocolate and peppermint. I loved the idea of this so much because we could use dark chocolate and the white chocolate without all the gross stuff.  Peppermint without the dyes and artificial flavoring.  These were going to be delicious.  

Then dodging two of the three children I filled the double boiler with chocolate and went to work.  I spread the melted chocolate on the pan and only when I had finished this did I remember that I was supposed to add the cream and peppermint extract to the dark chocolate.  

"Oh well, what's the difference?"  I thought.  

I proceeded to pour these items into the white chocolate and melt them together.  All was going well I assumed.  Until the white chocolate turned yellow.  I'm pretty sure it wasn't supposed to do that.  

More rambunctious children and now the littlest decided she wanted extra attention and I have a boiling mess of yellow chocolate fit for a laboratory.  

I pick up my girl poured the second batch of chocolate one-handed onto the cookie sheets.  Hoping for the best because really I had no other choice, and spread it out evenly-ish then dropped some peppermint on and shoved the whole thing into the fridge.  

I'll tell you that hot liquid chocolate may not be the best time to have the children bounding around the stove.  Nope.  It is not.  

Most of the time I have one to four children around whenever crafting or baking.  It just seems to work that way.  Unless they are in bed, they sense mama is up to something and they are magnetically drawn to me and whatever I'm doing.  Usually, I'm prepared for this.  This day, I was not.  

I tossed the dishes in the sink and sat down frustrated.  That was supposed to be easy.  Easy.  (The very word that I will now be on the lookout for---tricky trickster that it is).  No one else mentioned any difficulty.  Theirs came out perfectly.  And, delicious.      

An hour later we took a chance and tried some after dinner.  The surprise was that it tasted pretty good.  Almost edible.    The problem began two minutes later when it hit the air and it all turned gooey on top.  GOOEY.  That is no exaggeration.  

In fact, if you look at the above photo again I think you will see it.  

See?  

My family ate it of course.  We thought the "peppermint mess", as I have delightfully re-named it, could be stirred into some ice cream and wouldn't that be good?  If not a-bit-too-sweet.   

 

Note to Self::

*One might need to read the recipe, regardless of how easy it seems, at least the first time. 

*Working with Hot Liquid Chocolate may be better when the children are in school. Or the little one is napping.  Or it's not late afternoon when everyone here seems inherently grumpy.  Yeah, I'm talking to you mama.   

* Try this recipe again, because who knows, next time it might work.  

 

Any recipe mishaps for you this season? 

 

Over the Mountain::

Over the mountain and through the woods we went to find our Christmas Tree.  

It's become an annual adventure.  This year I was unsure if we would make it due to the "back situation" with the big daddy.  Mostly because he's the one who hikes, cuts and carries the tree down.  

With a bit of re-figuring and the help of the older children we found, cut and put the tree on a sled all the way down the mountain.  New tradition perhaps?   

We arrived at the site and found that we were the only ones there.  It's extremely quiet in the forest when there isn't a soul around.  So we hiked, hauled the sled, and wound our way up the mountain.  

The big daddy right away found what he thought would be our tree.  Think Dr. Seuss....Long trunk big bunch of pine needles on top.  It really did look like something Dr. Seuss would have drawn.  

Uuh-hum, it didn't come home with us though.

After hiking for about an hour we found two trees that we liked.  We all sat down in the snow to admire one and see if this was the one to come home with us.  

Now, I'll tell you our littlest one loves to shake her head "NO". The Big Daddy decided to ask her if this was our tree.  She looked from him to the tree and back to him and shook her head emphatically "YES".  

So we knew this was the tree for us.   

 

The big daddy commenced with the cutting and then the older children had a chance with the saw, cringe, which made them both very happy.  

Soon she was set on the sled and we headed down the hill.  Traversing tree stumps and rocks the whole way.  We made quite a merry party of six tromping down the hill through the snow with the tree happily bouncing on the sled, the four year old in the lead and the two older children guiding from behind.  Our littlest girl even had a small ride on the sled at the very bottom of the hill with this mama running along beside.  Fun. Fun.  

 

This site happened on the way back down the mountain and I just had to share.  A motor home painted like a log cabin?  Have you ever seen such a brilliant thing?  It did require that the big daddy double back and go all the way around so I could get a picture but it was worth it don't you think?  

 

Then, home to set the tree up and get the lights put on.

 This I can say I have "Tom Sawyered" my honey into doing.  I've done it for years but last year he "volunteered" and I loved that I didn't have to do it.  So, this year there was a lot of "oh my you did such a nice job on the lights last year" and "wow you make that look so easy it must be because you are so talented" and a few "You are a professional!" thrown in and he did it again!  yes.

I hope to have officially passed on that tradition.  After all he's now done it for two years why not three?!??  Right?

 

On to the decorations after bath time.  I've shown you in past years our trees and ornaments.  I love that eighty percent of them were made by the children.  It makes me smile to see over the years how we can now fill a tree with them.  

 

One of the highlights this year was our littlest girl and her fascination with the tree.  

She LOVED it.  

In fact, she was very interested in putting the ornaments on and pulling them off.  She would put one on and pull three off.  It made the decorating last just that much longer.  

Since last night the bottom of the tree is quite bare and I'm thinking that the ornaments may have to move up the tree a bit.  Though to tell you the truth I'm enjoying her excitement when she toddles over and brings me a handful of ornaments.  At least handmade ornaments means they are more durable.  

 

So there she is.  Our lovely, skinny, charlie brown tree.  One that has it's own pine cones growing on the branches and as of this morning has begun to drink water like a fish.  

It feels officially like the holidays now with the house spruced up with decorations.  This morning I'm off to knit and sew with all due haste as this week marks the final week before vacation.  And, this mama has a few things to do...

How are your projects going?  OR are you already done?  

 

 

What you didn't see::

What you didn't see were the smiles on the faces of all the cousins, most of the time.  You didn't see that the pool was freezing cold and the children swam anyway.  You didn't see the ants which almost took over the kitchen of the rental house where we were.  Or the tight parking space that added character to our rental car.  

You didn't see the game pieces and paper strewn throughout the house with giggling children running right through it.  Or the labels my brother applied to the drinking glasses finally when no one could find their water.  

You didn't see my four year old in deep conversation with his four year old cousin talking about their lives and the things they will do, after they have a restaurant and both become painters.  

 

You didn't hear the stomping from the second floor as the cousins put together a Thanksgiving Play.  You didn't see the fire in the fire place where we warmed our toes and talked about life.  You didn't see the flowers that our little lovelies brought to us by the handfuls from the potted plant out front.  Or the dirt from that same spot.

You didn't see the creative hairstyles by all the girl cousins, matching of course.  Or the mermaid colored nail polish they all wore. You didn't see how all the children played so well together.  Or the memories that they made with their cousins.     

You didn't see the shifts of makers and bakers throughout Thanksgiving Day gracefully moving from one to the next in the kitchen as though we planned it. 

You didn't see the golden turkey the big daddy pulled off the grill.  Or the dishes that each of the family members lovingly created. You didn't see the rolls that I got up early to mix and watch rise.  Or the rolling, cutting, and baking required only to burn them in the last two minutes before dinner.  Nope you didn't see that!  

 

You didn't see the rainy afternoon that I spent with a dear friend who drove north to see me.  Or the lunch we skipped to under a small umbrella while being pummeled with rain.  Or the conversation that lasted for three hours non-stop.  You didn't see the message once she arrived home that said she thought of ten other things we hadn't talked about.  Or the smile on my face as I think of that now.  

You didn't see my musical brother who turned 40.  Or my daughter playing cello for him in his studio.  You didn't see the long walks that I took with my sister-in-law through "the hood".  You didn't see us panting up a steep hill that almost curved back on itself.  Nor did you see us trying to walk afterwards.  You certainly didn't see us laughing and doing it again the next day.  

You didn't see the table for six that we tried to seat twenty family members around.  You didn't see the assembly line of cereal for all the children each morning. Or the grapes that seemed to evaporate.   

 

You didn't see the traffic we got caught in that made a thirty minute journey into an epic two hour adventure.  Or the hula hoops that we made.  You didn't see my niece hula hooping in the living room with all the adults watching as she learned how to lift the hula hoop over her head.  Or the huge smile that she wore afterwards.

You didn't see the numerous latte runs each day and the hopped up mama I was because of it.  

You didn't see the teeny tiny washer, in the kitchen, that ran for two hours or the dryer that needed three hours to dry anything.  

You didn't see the dog food and collar in the house of the landlord who said she didn't have a pet.  Or the dog hair covered towels that my brother wiped his face on the first morning we were there.  You didn't see the tears of laughter we all enjoyed when he retold that story later.  Or the framed pictures of cats and dogs all through the house.  No, even we were supposed to pretend not to see those.   

 

You didn't see the tears of my eight year old as we said our goodbyes. Or the flawless plane trip back home.  You didn't see that we all were in bed by 9:00 Saturday night.  Or the lazy pajama day that we had yesterday. 

You didn't see me haul my computer on this adventure thinking I would have moments to blog.  I didn't see the likelihood of that being so slim.  

No, you didn't see it but I know you understood it.  For you probably had a similar week.  Right?  

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you all.  

I know the time was spent well.  Memories were made and we have a great adventure to talk about in years to come, and not just because of the ants!  

 

Happy Monday to you all.