Enchanted Mama

Glimpse::

A wee glimpse of our week via Instagram. 

Over the Rainbow::

Even though my guy asked me, for a year, for a rainbow sweater I can't say he was over the moon about this one.  He smiled slightly when opening it on his birthday...though not as broad a smile as when he opened his elephant or the puzzle.  

That's okay I suppose.  It is the risk we take as knitters.  Never quite knowing if the recipient will love or not love the item.  Whether it will fit or whether you have to re-do the neck three times like I did.  

It's a gamble.  One I'm usually willing to take.  Although with this recent sweater, the "Rainbow Sweater", I may have started to think differently.  First of all I finished on time.  No late night, before the birthday knitting like some other years.  In fact, this sweater had time to block as well as dry!  

The moment that changed me came after he opened it.  Yes, I was disappointed not to have received the full chandelier smile for a job well done on the long awaited rainbow sweater.  Of course, I would have loved that.  It really wasn't when the big daddy had to convince him to look at the sweater for longer than two seconds.  The moment happened when we went to have him try it on.  You knitters out there, I know, can see this coming a mile away.  We put it over his head and wait!...It didn't even come close to making it over his head.  NOT.EVEN.CLOSE.

Deep breathing at that point wasn't really helping.  After weeks of gleefully planning and scheming and knitting this was NOT what I had expected to have happen.  I believe I took the sweater gently from his aching head, as I will admit that I did tug a bit thinking that somehow this couldn't, shouldn't be happening, and set it on the table behind me.  A small time out for the sweater.  

A week later after feeling sick to my stomach about what to do I just buckled down and did it.  I ripped it out. The whole neck. Then commenced on a different type of neck and voila...it fit!  Well almost.  It's not as roomy as I would like.  I've decided though that seeing it on him finally made me ignore that little fact.  

So, that's it.  The rainbow sweater.  The good and bad of it.  Though at this point I can almost forgive the sweater when I see my little guy swinging in the front yard, rainbow flying in the air.  

I've decided that there will be no more secret knitting...at least that is what I say now.  Time will tell.  I'm serious though.  I'm pretty sure....

Ravelry notes here. 

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.  

 

Simple Joys::

My littlest guy reminded me of something this past weekend.  Something it seems I'd forgotten.  

Play dough.

Yes, simple homemade play dough.  The easiest thing in the world to make.  Simple Joys.  

I'd made play dough many times before this.  I even spoke of it here.  You would think I'd remember this bit of fun. 

So, my guy had been asking for new play dough, blueberry colored play dough, to be made since Saturday. I suspect the prompt came because the other yellow play dough we had was way past it's prime.  As in, completely caked and dried to every play dough utensil we own.  

My excuses were running wild.  I kept saying things like, "Okay honey, tomorrow."  Or "I'm not sure I have enough salt, I'll have to check."  Or  "Not now it's bedtime!"  

Truthfully, I'd forgotten how easy it is. really easy.  Yet, the happiness yield is GREAT!  

 

After lunch today he cornered me next to the apples and the onions.  He kept saying, "Mommy, PLEEEAASSSSEEEEEEEEE."  You know subtle hints.  If I'm honest, I may have considered another excuse to sling his way but the scene was too hilarious.

Since you're looking at the pictures you know how this story turns out.  Though the scene in the kitchen included an energetic four year old and his little sister the parrot jumping up and down yelling, "Mommy, please.  Mommy please.  Mommy, please!"  Pretty funny.    

Two hours they played.  Two hours.  They owned a bakery sold delicious treats like cookies and muffins and pasta and pizza.  I know because I sampled a few.  

At one point my little guy said, "Mommy you're fun."  Enough said little man.  High praise indeed!  I'll make you play dough anytime.  

 

Here is a tried and true recipe from my childhood...oh, and I doubled the recipe.

Homemade Play Dough::

1 cup of flour

1/2 cup salt

1 cups of water

2 tablespoons of cream of tartar

1 tablespoon of oil

Food coloring

Essential oil...we used lavender.

Put the top five ingredients in a pot on the stove on medium heat.  Stir until it forms into a ball.  Throw it onto the counter and add the coloring and essential oil.  I kneaded the dough a bit before handing it off to the little ones.  They loved kneading the warm dough that smelled of lavender. yum.  

Then, play for hours.  

Store in an airtight container when finished playing otherwise you end up with a hard ball of dough and that's not fun to play with at all.    

 

Here's to another week.  Fall must be on it's way right?  It simply must be.  It is October 1st for goodness sake.    

What are you working on today?  

 

 

 

The starting line::

I've started a race...in case you didn't know it.  Yes, if you were here you would see me panting a bit and occasionally wiping my brow.  Water is laid out nearby and all calls are being held.  

This is a picture of a sweater.  A sweater you say?  But it's only a few rows of knitting.  Yes, that may be true.  Well, that's totally true.  Hence the race.  

My boy, who has been asking for a rainbow sweater for over a year, has his birthday at the beginning of October.  Since the stripey guy debacle I thought it high time he have one.  Nothing like planning ahead I say.  

A delightful trip to a local yarn shop with my two dear friends last week resulted in a rainbow of colors inside my bag.  I'm making the sweater up as I go.  It shouldn't be too hard since it just needs to include a few colors--"rainbow-like" and a lovely gray to tone it down from "clown-like".  

This is what I've been knitting.  Other projects soooo close to being done have been dropped momentarily.  I mean really how long does a guy have to ask his mama, a knitter, to make him a rainbow sweater??!!!??  

Apparently that would be about...one year.

On your mark, get set, GO!!! 

 

Any races of your own?

 

 

An artist was here...::

A moment in our home that made me stop, look and smile.  

Any moments in your life?  

 

*linking up with soulemama for this moment*

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.