Quiet School Week

This week has been slightly more challenging trying to do our schoolwork. F seems to have gotten some gluten or casein into her system via cross-contamination somewhere. It could be as simple as a dusting of flour on a counter top, or a change of formula or handling in something that was previously "safe". At any rate, the allergic shiners and her lack of focus make it hard to deny that something toxic snuck in despite our best efforts. She adores school, but this week would be a struggle if we didn't allow ourselves the opportunity to take it easy and save the work for later. I think this relaxed schedule is going to be one of the many perks to homeschooling. We have so much more time available to us, so taking a break, when necessary, won't affect our schooling in the long run.

Yesterday we made it halfway through a fairytale, after beginning it twice, when we decided enough was enough and we headed outside to see what creatures were visiting our butterfly garden that day.

Today, we were going to learn a new matching game, Autumn Dominoes, but I could sense that her level of concentration wasn't quite up to the level necessary to introduce something new. Instead, we played one round of this Eric Carle matching game. It's a lovely game that works on developing mathematics and literacy skill for the over 3 crowd, though little J enjoys it as well.





Once we were through playing our game, we headed outside to play, rough-house, and discover the many gifts that the recent rains had left behind for us to find, like pretty white mushrooms, and moist earth for digging in.




Tomorrow we will attempt our Autumn Dominoes. I printed our set of dominoes from this website, and used an adhesive laminate to make them extra sturdy. I broke down and ordered a real laminator today and am really looking forward to its arrival!

Waldorf K5: The Letter B

Today was ABC Story Time at the library. We are on the letter B, and B is for baby. This worked out quite nicely as F and J have a baby sister on the way, and one of the little boys there just got twin brothers last night! We each received a "cookie" with a certain number of chips on top and a number printed on the bottom. Each child took their turn putting their cookie into the jar as we counted from 1 to 10. Poor F drew the "8" cookie and had no clue what that symbol meant, but we counted the chips instead and played along. Next we listened to a story about a new baby, and did a craft. Afterward there was a finger play relating to the craft we did, and we sang our alphabet phonics song up to B.

I'll admit it. This is all very out of line with the Waldorf style of Kindergarten, but that is the joy of homeschooling. F shows a strong interest in learning about the letters and their sounds. This 30 minutes a week seems to satisfy her and gives her an opportunity to learn from someone other than Mommy. They also passed out a sheet to trace and practice the letter B. She showed no interest in that, so little J used it to scribble on while we did our craft.

Waldorf K5: The Life of a Leaf

We started up with a Waldorf-inspired Kindergarten for F recently and so far we are enjoying ourselves very much. With everything else going on with J's physical therapy, we are taking it slow and just easing into our new school routine. We're currently doing one to two days of school each week, depending on our schedule, and plan to eventually find ourselves in a regular three day per week rhythm, in addition to attending our library's ABC story hour program.

Today we read a lovely little tale called "The Life of a Leaf" by Reg Down.

This tale and others from the Tiptoes Lightly collection can be found here: http://www.tiptoes-lightly.net/short-stories/

I started by having her go outside and collect her favorite leaves from off the ground. She came in with quite a collection to help us tell the story. Then we enjoyed reading "The Life of a Leaf" together and using the leaves that she collected as props for our storytelling.

Creating a leaf collage

Recalling "The Life of a Leaf" complete with Jack Frost on the right, the little leaf wearing all of his colorful jackets, and finally, a worm munching on the brown leaf and feeding the grateful tree.

Of course, no autumn craft project would be complete without some crayon rubbings of fallen leaves. We used our leaf collage to create our rubbing. I was surprised to find that this was not her favorite part of the leaf activity. Perhaps it was because we had reached the limits of her attention span by that time. She was careful to select the same colors that the little leaf wore in his many jackets.

Current WIP

All other UFOs and WIPs have been put on the back burner and I will be scarce around these parts. My only "Work In Progress" for the last two weeks and for the forseeable future is this amazing little spirit. He sustained deep 2nd degree burns on both hands two weeks ago, and after a 5 day hospital stay (that felt like 5 months...), we are home and working on his recovery. Nightly dressing changes and therapy sessions to keep his palms open, along with weekly trips back to the burn center are keeping us plenty busy for now.

WIP Wednesday

I've got a million projects on the needles this week (even more than usual). I have the makings of all of these great projects and just can't seem to pick one to work on.

First off is the Dogwood Blossoms sweater that I couldn't wait to get started on. Stranded color work, plus itty bitty fingering yarn, plus toothpicks for needles, equals a challenge that I just can't put down. This sweater is going to take forever but I imagine it will be one of those projects always running in the background, and never allowing me to lost interest. The constant color changes keep me going.



Next, is a scrappy wool onesie from this pattern: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/benjamin-s-growing-onesie-benjamins-voksebody
It really does fit as wide a range of sizes as it says. I'm making very few modifications to this onesie, adding some thigh cuffs so it will double as a soaker.

Also on the needles this week (finally) is a test knit for a girls' princess coat. It's got everything a little princess could want, including cables, a slight flare, and full cloak-style hood. I let the little miss pick out her yarn last week and we've been waiting on pins and needles for it to arrive. Yesterday afternoon we were elated to find it sitting on the porch, ready to knit. One gauge swatch and a quick you tube provisional cast-on refresher later, and we were well on our way to our very own princess coat.

And just to prove that I do occasionally finish a project with all of these WIPs going on, I give you another wool onesie. I made this one with short cap sleeves so it can be worn as an undershirt. Winter is holding on fiercely, and if the sun isn't able to fight through the snow clouds, we're just going to have to rely on some warm wool unders to do the job. All that's missing is a set of little wooden buttons.

Yarn Porn!!!!

Today is like the quiet after the storm. We are having a lazy Saturday after a fitful night of sleep on the part of our four year-old, and a [very minor, but bothersome] work-related injury on the hubby's part. We cancelled our plans for a wild, and exciting morning at a local museum, and opted to stay home and lounge like the exhausted night owls we are.

So why would a mama be so full of joy on a day like today? Why, because it's MAIL DAY! I recently placed an order at http://www.knitpicks.com/ for a whole slew of yummy yarn to complete a long list of projects I had in my queue for 2011. Today, our lovely mail carrier dropped a buldging package on our porch and I tore right into it.

Oh Knit Picks... how I love thee... *swoon*

All of the yarn is, of course, beautiful. Simply beautiful. Not to mention delightfully yummy, and soft to pet. The only trouble was deciding which project to begin with, but that dilema was quickly overcome as I eagerly clicked "begin project" under the "Dogwood Blossoms Sweater" in my Ravelry queue, and began filling in all of the project info. Now, all that's left to do is to knit a guage swatch and cast on! My needles await...

Sprouting Fun

Monday is baking and food prep day in our home. Every Monday I bake the bread and treats for the week and do any food prep that can be done in advance for the week's meals. It sounds silly, but one of my favorite parts of baking day, is sprouting my beans and grains for the week. Sprouting of beans and grains is not only fun to watch, but it's a much healthier way to eat these foods. By allowing the seeds to sprout before cooking and eating them, we make them easier to digest and greatly increase their nutritional value.

This week we have black beans sprouting for brownies, lentils for lentil chili, garbanzo beans sprouting for soup, and pinto beans sprouting for a mexican dish, along with rice and quinoa for sides.

I start them soaking in the morning and by evening, it's time to drain and rinse them. I replace the lid with cheesecloth and turn them upside down to allow the water to drain.


Sometimes I'll just sprout them in a colander next to the sink. It makes for easier rinsing and better drainage, but when I've got a batch as large as this week's, I stick to jars to save space on my shelves.

Why hello there little lentil sprout!

And hello to you too, little quinoa sprouts!

Stay tuned as I just brought home a grain mill and look forward to much sprouting, dehydrating, and grinding of grains in the near future...

{This Moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by soulemama A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

WIP Wednesday

I've been making slow but steady progress on the hubby's socks this week. It's been tricky trying to keep them a surprise, seeing as how my knitting time usually happens in the evening when he's home. They're coming very nicely though.





Also on the needles this week: mittens for the kidlets and a fuzzy, warm winter bonnet.

{This Moment} Warmth

Nothing says "Winter has arrived!" quite like diapers and woolies drying by the fire.



{this moment} - Inspired by soulemama A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

WIP Wednesday

I've got a couple of projects in the works this week, trying to finish up my Christmas crafting. First is something that my hubby has been requesting for years now:
A pair of handknit socks. I'm using a pattern that calls for aran weight yarn so I can speed through them and be sure to finish in time for Christmas. He spends a lot of time outdoors in the winter, chopping wood to heat the house. These wool socks ought to keep his feet toasty warm.


I'm also on my third pair of Action Fingers for my older nieces. They're fun and trendy, and they knit up quickly. An excellent Christmas gift for any age!

WIP Wednesday

This week feels like a dishrag kind of week. I've got a garterlac dishrag on my needles at the moment



and just need to weave in the ends of this Revenge of Dishrag Tag dishrag.

{This Moment} Halloween Parties

{this moment} - Inspired by soulemama A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

WIP Wednesday

Finally pulling these cabled longies out of hibernation. My poor little man is quickly growing right out of his woolies and desperately needs some new ones that actually reach down to his ankles.

These are made with Lion Brand Wool-ease. They'll be durable and easy to care for, which is great for toddler-wear.

{This Moment}

{this moment} - Inspired by soulemama A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

WIP Wednesday

Because sometimes there just aren't enough hours in the day for photographing and uploading, I give you WIP Thursday!

My WIP this week is an owlie sleep sack that I'm knitting for a baby gift. Hopefully I've got enough yarn to do an owlie hat as well. I'm making this using Buena Lana single-ply merino wool.

{This Moment} Autumn

Inspried by Soulemama - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

{This Moment} Last Beach Day of the Year

Inspried by Soulemama - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week.

WIP Wednesday

I figured with all of the WIPs that I've constantly got going at one time, it only made sense for me to participate in the weekly blog posts for "WIP Wednesday".

So without further ado, my WIP for this week:



Right now I'm working on a "Fiesta" Bloom tunic for Faith. The vibrant colors that make up this tunic were inspired, of course, by her loud and riotous personality. She already loves it, and it's so rewarding to knit something for someone who is so appreciative of my work.

30 seconds...

I have come to the conclusion that motherhood is mostly about living in controlled chaos. There are about 30 seconds out of every hour when a mother stands back, looks at her children in awe, admiration, and infatuation and everything just seems... right.



The rest of the time? Well that's spent pulling children off of ceiling fans, wiping runny noses, breaking up fights, and chasing defiant (and naked) toddlers through the house, diaper in hand.



But those 30 seconds... we live for those 30 seconds of beautiful calm, when we are able to watch the wonder fill their eyes as they delight in the fact that water and dirt combine to make mud puddles, or that kitties really do sit and purr quietly when you pet them gently. Those 30 seconds can put the rest of the chaos into perspective in an instant.

Embracing the crazy...