Enchanted Mama

November 6, 2013::

this morning the washer hums in the backround. the guest bed is now empty. two sets of lovely visitors have all headed home leaving only the lingering wafts of memories. the smiles that greeted me as I walked downstairs. the two friends knitting by the fire.  a brother who brought music into our lives. all good. full.  now the house settles into quiet. 

i've been reading. most recently, i'm late to the party on this one, is the history of love by nicole krauss. such amazing writing. the dialoge in this book just slays me. it's all the words that run through your head, in and out of conversations, written down.  i laughed. i cried. i can't say enough. 

sense and sensibility by the lovely jane austen.  i'm reading this along with my girl. 

the deep end of the ocean by neil gaiman. his way of bringing together fantasy and reality really shouldn't be missed.

finally the woodcutter by kate danley, sent to me by a friend who knew i'd love it, was such a joy to read for someone who loves a good grimm's fairytale.

the sun filters through the trees out front. the whole day in front of me. two little ones build a fort with chairs, pillows, silks, and kitchen items.  laughing and pretending together. i believe i will tackle those piles of unclaimed things that happen when one has moved. displaced items that have no official home. a latte in hand gives courage to greet what this day brings. may it be a lovely one. 

 

His day::

His day...was sweet. simple. The morning filled with fresh baked lemon zucchini muffins and a few gifts.  The afternoon held a small little "woodland" party for him.  Since his sister and brother had gnome and faerie parties years back it seemed only right that my five year old have a woodland animal gathering.  He loves animals. Loves being outside. My child who seems so at home in nature and is a master grasshopper catcher.  

The couple of friends he invited to his party were quiet and oh-so-agreeable.  They were happy to sew little capes and don acorn caps for their dolls. Play games. Eat snacks, especially the squirrel snack of nuts and berries.  They adored the cupcakes and were found outside in the yard playing when their parents came to fetch them.  It may have been one of the simplest parties we've given.  

They went home with a bulb to plant and a wee bear and notebook.  All were happy.  

My birthday boy spent time at the park biking his next favorite thing to do after catching grasshoppers. We ended the evening with a delicious-daddy-made cake with chocolate mushrooms.  A good day. 

Now my boy is five and it seems as though it were just the other day he was bundled up in my arms.  Oh how time does keep moving.  

 

Autumn Weekend::

There was spectacular snow. Planning, gathering, and decorating for a middle school dance.  My girlie's first.  There was much excitement, nervousness and hair being "done".  How is it possible that she is old enough to attend a middle school dance when I myself can remember in detail my first dance.  Boys on one side. Girls on the other. NO ONE dancing!  

There was surprise mail from a dear friend who made me lovely, cozy boot toppers as a birthday gift. Oh, and there was my birthday.  My "39"th, gulp.  Why does "40" sound so much younger than "39"?  

My day was so lovely.  Full of family and sweet, thoughtful gifts.  My honey helped make the day just fabulous.  Time to play, time to relax and knit, and time to have lunch outside in the sunshine while the snow melted all around us.  A delicious, really delicious, chocolate cake ala the big daddy.  A glorious sunset resting on the mountains. Followed by the Wonder walk at the children's school for Halloween.  

Such a delightful weekend.  I wouldn't change a minute.  It was all a gal could ask for.  

Our Autumn weekend via Instagram.

 

 

Autumn Color::

The snow arrived today.  Not too much.  Just enough to send us searching last night for snow boots, mittens, snow pants and warm hats.  So we were ready for the morning flurry.  We've grown used to the snow and the joys and extra work it brings yet it still requires more time in the morning.  Since that morning "time" seems to be more elusive than other times of the day it means planning.  

I wish I could say that I was happy the snow arrived.  I do love the snow.  I hope for more of it as the season progresses.  Yet today, I'd secretly hoped that Autumn would still be peering at me when I opened my windows.  Alas, the world was covered in white.  The colors were just getting warmed up too.  The yellows more yellow.  The reds more red.  The oranges, the color that takes the longest to arrive, looked more orange.  I was relishing this.  

The beginning of October flew by in the usual swoosh of two birthdays for my boys, two parties (we only do parties once in a while though we ended up with two in the same year...go figure), Michaelmas, and talk of Halloween costumes.  So maybe I'm sad because I'd just begun to notice.  Just started to take my morning coffee outside to enjoy the colors.  Just...just...

By the way, I still want to share the birthdays with you.  Even if they were weeks ago.  Fun was had by all.  Things I think you will enjoy or want to try or just get a little chuckle at.  So watch for that.  

The colorful sweater on my wee girlie is a new favorite.  Boy, that patten has been knit!  By lots of knitters.  I received my chance this past August on our trip to Canada.  When I entered Lettuce Knit knitting shop there it was on a shelf, in a kit no less, so I did what any sane knitter would do- I grabbed, hugged it tightly to my chest, barely let go long enough to show the shop owner, and cast on immediately upon jumping into the car.  The long drive that day was a dream...knit. knit. knit.  With a number of projects in between I finally finished it about two weeks ago. Though I wish it were a bit more roomy on her, I love it none the less.  

The shawl, the Color Affection, I started with the dream yarn I found at Squam in June.  There were many times when I wasn't sure I liked it.  I kept knitting.  Buoyed by what others had claimed about the miracles of blocking.  I finished three weeks ago and then blocked it.  Now?  I'm in love.  I may knit another.  Or three more.  I've even told my friends that they need to knit one themselves.  It's that lovely.  Do you want to knit one?  If so, I can tell you all the reasons you should have one for yourself.  Just in case.  Let me know. anyway...  

Even as I sit here writing this, there is still more snow predicted for tomorrow.  My children are elated.  I'm excited about the new wool to wrap around myself.  I'll come around about the snow again...soon.    

Until then, I wanted to share what the warm Autumn color looks like in my part of the world.  

What about you?   

 

 

As simple as::

Sometimes it's as simple as starting from the very place where you stand.  It's been, well, full in our life lately.  October always seems to bring the flurry and I still, no matter the planning, seem to be flung to and fro by the dancing winds.  Balancing on the line between inspiration of the season and overwhelm.  Nothing I haven't said before...  

I've been gathering, tending, watching, creating... Now, as we are in full swing of Fall, I'm noticing my surroundings.  I'm taking time to sit in the harvest sun in the afternoons, usually with a pile of wool in my lap.  Even if it's five minutes.  I'm in the moment.  I'm memorizing how the afternoon sun spills thorugh my windows.  I'm completing projects and starting new ones.

 

I have many colors to show you. Many thoughts for us to ponder.  Many ideas to cultivate inspiration.  Much warmth to share.

 

Here's to the magical slant of light in the Autumn.  

 

Shift::

The jeep roared to life under me.  I roll down the windows and shift into gear.  The memory of driving a jeep in the desert with my brothers as children, parallel parking between grease wood bushes, always makes me smile when I drive a stick shift.  

I turn in the direction of my girlie's volleyball practice and feel the wind flip through my hair, the warmth of the sun on my back as I shift again into second gear, then third. The weight of a sick boy at home, a day with a plumber ripping through my backyard and the lull of a cloudy Monday lifts quietly, slightly.  I shift into fourth and tackle the hill in front of me as I focus on my breath and the gears.  Down to first, second, third, second, first, stop.  Only five minutes from our home to her yet it feels like "my time".  The first of the day.  

The rhythmic shifts steer me out of my head and into the moment.  I pass a car on my right, the music blaring.  Van Morrison, so I smile.  The wind embraces me and I'm there.  Totally there.  The worries left behind.  

I'm breathing the moment.  

All day I'd wondered if I'm doing what I'm "supposed" to be doing.  Compared to what I "am" doing.  

Today I tended a cold, wrote a ridiculous check to the plumber and wondered.  I cleared up a room and made lunch. I laughed, read Mr. Putter and Tabby, lay on my belly doing a puzzle in the middle of the floor and watched my two little ones turn the couch into a jungle gym. So simple. So real. So grateful. 

I'm in the midst of life and it's amazing and grimy and breath-taking and some days just plain challenging. Though in the jeep, in the wind, shifting gears I realized that I was right where I needed to be. Doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing because that.is.what.I'm.doing.  

shift. 

Now that feels closer to my heart.

 

 

 

Fall 2012::

Savoring this first day of Fall with family.  What a glorious season, my favorite as you know.  

May it be everything we wish and more.  

Happy Fall!  

 

Today::

Today rain falls softly outside while a cool breeze wafts through the open windows.  The children donned rain boots and coats this morning on their way to school.  I've wrapped a shawl around my shoulders while my discarded rain boots dry in the mudroom.  There is music in the house, a girlie who finally feels better after our first and last? cold of the season, reads books to herself by my feet.  

I've been pondering the fine line between forward thinking/goal tending versus living in the moment.  There must be a balance somewhere right?  A place where they meet?  A connection between "being in the moment" and "planning ahead" amidst it all.  I hope there is...please say there is!

We've been warming meals in the kitchen.  Beans on the stove.  Zucchini muffins hot from the oven made from a huge zucchini brought from school. There's an assembly line of lunches made in the kitchen each morning. We are in it.  The midst of it.    

I'm attempting something new in my studio.  Clearing everything out and only keeping that which I LOVE.  It's a bit terrifying.  Disheartening as I realize all the waste.  Ultimately, this fits more with my current buying style.  Only bringing home what we need or LOVE.  Nothing else.  Yarn, of course, seems to be my downfall...I'm working on that.  Especially since bags of perfectly good yarn will head to the handwork teacher at the children's school.  pang goes my heart.  Letting go is tough but liberating none the less.  Already, in my studio, there is space.  Places for just what I LOVE.  More space to create without the excess.  The knitting, sewing, crafting books are next. watch out cuz I'm on fire-ah!  

The last of the tomatoes in our garden will need to be harvested.  The yard mulched and prepared for colder weather.  Today is luring us into Fall, I can feel it.  Though it may warm again,  I know that Fall is finally approaching.  I'm pretty happy about that.  

My girlie and I will push up our sleeves and get back to work when I press post.  I just didn't want another day to go by without checking in.  

What's on your mind today?  

 

 

The Wish::

The light shifted ever so slightly through the trees this afternoon.  Water droplets clung to the plants in the yard as I tended them. The breeze softens.  The birds more quiet in the branches.  The children playing beside me.  Slippers warm my toes on cool floors in the early morning.  She's there.  Whispering from behind the tomatoes.  Wafting through my hair.  Intirguing those who are on the lookout.  Teasing with the apple laden tree.  The evenings darken.  

The wish of Fall is close.  I can feel it.   

 

 

 

So close::

I realized today as I looked toward Fall how I had planned on having a multitude of finished knits in September.  Though, as I looked through my many bags and baskets of works in progress I realized that nothing was finished.  Nothing. 

Yes, many things were close.  The sweater above is almost done, but how helpful is a 3/4 finished sweater when you go to wear it?  The shawl, the baby sweater, the hood, the... all close to being finished but yet nothing was wearable.  How is that possible?  I've been knitting all summer.  

There may have been a moment when I was more excited to start the projects on a whim. So much great yarn and such. There were also a few knit gifts that were sent to new babes.  So, progress has been made.  mostly.    

This week I plan on finishing a few things that are in that category of "so close, yet so far".  A few items that if I finish now in a month will be quite lovely and wearable.  

 

There will be a few sleeves. a yoke. a row of kitchener stitch. a few repeats and a bottom hem.  buttons. a new needle size. And, a whole lot of moments in between the other running a home and caring for children things that I do in which I hope to use well, knitting. 

I felt that sharing them here would motivate me to finish already.  Shed some light into the bags of yarn.  So, in the moments between it all I will be adding the feeling of finishing a project...I love that feeling. Don't you?

I will also be looking into the fact that all I've been doing around here is knitting.  Knitting. Traveling. Knitting. It's summer's fault I suppose. Knitting is just really convenient to carry around.  Think Fall is the time to branch out a bit.  More on that later.  

Happy Monday to you all.  

What are you working on this week?