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*

Her Project::

Her project on Ecuador required a creative handwork piece.  

This is what she chose.  

Love it.  

 

 

A Gift::

We have a teacher that my son is convinced is an angel.  

I'm tempted to believe him, with her blond hair and blue-blue eyes she exudes that.  Of course, I know she would deny it and I know that none of us really want to be angels, at least all the time, as we are all here to work on things, but we like to pretend sometimes.  

And, when your sweet boy looks up at you and says "No mommy really, she's an angel".   Well, I'm tempted to just agree.  

So, her birthday happened recently.  She had been speaking with some of the moms about how to keep her legs warm in rain boots as they were always cold.  

Secretly I smiled a tricky smile and saw a perfect excuse to knit something.  The color, according to my son had to be "blue-blue like her eyes, mommy".  So, even though these legwarmers would not cooperate while being photographed, they are actually the most beautiful color of blue-blue if I've ever seen it.  

 

Fabulous thick yarn and big needles, these bad boys were done in no time.  

The woman who spins this yarn I met at a winter faire this past year.  Her yarn is solar dyed in vats of seawater.  Yes, even though I need no other yarn, some of this needed to come home with me.  You will be seeing more projects from this yarn soon.  It's so luxurious to knit with.  

My son watercolored a tag and gifted them to her with a, "Happy Birthday. They are the color of your eyes."

Um yeah.  Her heart melted.  My heart melted.  She started crying.  

It was good.  

 

Really it's the best kind of knitting.  Simple.  Straight-forward.  Bringing a smile to someones face.  

Yup, good stuff.  

 

Ravelry notes here.  

 

My little Artist::

 

Oh, how I love thee.  

 

note to self...remember his little blue fingers and the total concentration he has until we hear the out breath and, "It's done."  He loves creating with watercolor, there's something magical about it, something calming.  Please remember this, for his sake.   

 

 

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!

 

 

End of Week::

Valentines have officially been started.  There are many to be done and little time left to accomplish said task.  We will hope for good weekend Mojo and free time to create.  

My children are sniffling and snuffling.  Not a positive sign.  My plan includes a pot of soup and brewing up some tea.  Oh, and rest as I believe that would do us all a world of good.

The Big Daddy will be learning about fresh handmade pasta and sauces at chef school this weekend...and yes, we are happy about that.   

 

Various knitting projects are under way.  

My brilliant knitting buddy helped on Tuesday to puzzle through the "issue" with the Shimmer Sweater.  Yahoo!  I say brilliant because most knitters probably wouldn't have even noticed this glitch.  So, I will post information on Ravelry for those of you interested.  And, I will be giving full credit to my friend who figured it all out.  Thanks K!

There will be a Bach Cello performance on Sunday by my twelve year old which I'm sure will be lovely and quite an accomplishment for her.  Do you suppose it's normal for the parents to be more nervous than the children?  She performs so often in her Waldorf school with plays, music, public speaking, etc. so it nevers seems to bother her in the least.  Me? on the other hand?  Ner.Vous.  

 

The snow is still lovely yet, cold.  I've been a'shivering the last few days.  Needed to pull out a few more wool items which is honestly never a problem!  

We have the final performance of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight this evening and then all the parents and sixth graders will enjoy a wee party.  Ah, I look forward to that.  

My wish...a relaxing weekend after what proved to be a "flurry" of a week.  

What are your wishes for the weekend?  

 

 

So She did..::

"She Believed She Could So She Did".

My girlie had her first handmade market debut two weekends ago.  The annual holiday fair at school.  She's been determined to do this for over a year.  Absolutely set on pursuing this dream.  

It happened a few summers ago when we sat side by side in front of my mother's Elna sewing machine teaching her the basics and letting her press the pedal and send the machine whirling through the fabric she had chosen.

Freedom.  

The smile on her face and the learning she did in that first summer were immeasurable.  I, the teacher, wanted her to know the basics, the stitches, the way the machine worked.  How to thread the machine and how to finish it off when done.  She bore this beautifully, in fact she seemed to absorb everything I had to teach her about sewing on a machine.  

Then, she was on her own.  My fabric stash at her fingertips.  Yet another opportunity for me to let go.  To appreciate the thoughts running through my head. "Oh, I was going to use that fabric" or "That one is supposed to be a...." or "No.  That I'm saving for..".  To hear those thoughts and struggle to breathe and say, "Yes, you may use whatever you wish".  

To recognize the girl in me that loved when my own mother had said those same words to me.  To be less concerned about what all the fabric WAS going to be and more interested in what the fabric COULD BE now.  

 

She started slow, tentative.  Reluctant to push the machine very fast more comfortable to amble along stitch by stitch.  Today?  Well, that girl can fly is all I'm saying.  

So with the Winter Faire approaching she and another friend spent days together side by side sewing for their stand.  One sewing bracelets.  One sewing bags.  Both happy to be doing something on their own yet willing to ask questions when they were stuck.  

For me it was delightful. Freeing. Beautiful.  My girl sailing through the fabric stash, ever respectful and helping me breathe and let go...breathe and let go.  

My child as my teacher, again.  

 

And so she did.  She made 86 bracelets to be exact.  There may have been a few days at the end that required some reinforcements.  A late night "ribbon stitcher" along with the big daddy as head "button guy". 

There were looks across the room at one another with this daughter of ours, head down, sewing in the middle.  Smiles were passed and looks of awe.  Her tenacity.  Her drive to create something and follow through.

Her label---completely her design and idea.  Of course, this enchanted mama deemed it just the right name for her.   

 

Then, the big weekend happened.  She rose to the occasion.  She smiled.  She answered questions.  She stood on her feet for hours at a time experiencing "retail".  A challenge at best.  

The weekend flew by and then she packed up her bracelets.  Tired but excited about her first foray into the handmade world.  

She sold quite a few.  She still has some left.  She wants to do it again.    

I know as her mama that more than anything it was a success. She set the goal, pursued the goal and learned a few things in the process.  As much as I would have loved to tell her all about "my retail experience" I tried to let her learn in her own way. Knowing it's better that way.  

 

So I learn to let go of the very children I want to protect and hold so tight.  Recognizing that every time I do they are able to fly more freely.  

I believe that in the end I will have learned more from my children than I ever could have taught them myself.

For now I will smile at my own bracelet, that was made "just for me", from my girlie and love her even more than I did yesterday.  

 

 

Fall Festivals::

Fall Festivals.  Facing our Dragons.  Golden Knights.  

Going inward as the season darkens.  

Celebrating Fall and the bounty of the season.  

Yes, that is what we have been doing.  

 

What are you doing this Fall?

 

 

Celebration of Rainbows::

Quite a Celebration of Rainbows we had here last Friday.  

According to my four year old it was, "the best birthday ever!"  

I'm going to pretend that the statement had nothing to do with the new silly putty he had just opened.  No, I prefer to think it had to do with all the love that went into making it a day just for him.  

Full of "loads of rainbows" just like he requested.

Full of handmade lovelies from his brother and sister as well as the pair of mittens his mama barely finished in time.  

Full of our wishes for him and his next year.  

We celebrated our little one and that was best of all.