a little crafty nest

a magical day

It was a beautiful morning here, with Papa home (for good!) and the feeling of magic in the air.  It was so very exciting for all three littles to delight in mama-made bunnies, a book for each of them, seeds to start, and a plant for their garden.  This year the Easter bunny generously left a single, mini chocolate egg and because it was such a treat, they savoured every lick...and tried so very hard to squirrel little morsels away in the coloured foil, only to be brought out again moments later and licked once more.  (I couldn't help but think of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory).  There have been many holidays when I have bought some chocolate to fill a stocking or a basket or a Halloween bag...and then decided that they didn't know what they were missing, so why ruin a good thing?  I was asked at an Easter party yesterday if we didn't do chocolate because Sunshine has Type 1 Diabetes and I explained that she can indeed eat anything everyone else eats (as long as we match the carbohydrates in the food with insulin)...but we have always avoided sugar, long before diabetes arrived.

The rest of our day was spent on the land, playing by the pond and digging in the garden.  All week long, the sun has shone warmly down on us and we have been outside all day, nearly every day.  Now with Papa home for the whole week, we will continue with our chicken coop and with building a few more raised beds. 

While the children planted their tulips this afternoon after our picnic, I had a nostalgic moment wondering if this is the last of our "magical" holidays as Forrest is on the cusp of leaving behind some parts of the fairy world.  Will he still believe in St. Nicholas in eight months or will this dreamy veil lift a little to see with eyes anew?  It is so very poignant to watch your child trying to leap ahead and be around the next corner, chasing after the next dream when, as a parent, you just want to hold onto them and have them linger a little longer in your safe, loving embrace. 

Those days are most assuredly on their way, and it will all indeed come to pass as it should...but today...well, today was just perfect.  I think I'll stick with today ~ for now.

 

three pairs of mittens, two knit cowls, and one Waldorf doll...

It is amazing how swiftly time flies, particularly during the holiday season!  I took an unexpected break from this here space which lasted nearly two weeks...but here I am, feeling a wee bit more relaxed now that the bulk of the holidays are behind us ~ though we are still putting the finishing touches on a few projects.  While they weren't completed for Christmas day, we will give them to the intended family members on Three King's Day in a week's time.

By far, this was our most productive elf-making year.  Between the two of us, we made most of our gifts and I am amazed at it all.  Each holiday season, we try and make a few gifts but this year, my husband and I aimed to spend as little money on storebought gifts as possible.  It was a wonderful challenge that we often spent discussing late at night, side by side on the couch beside the woodstove, as I was stitching or sewing or knitting, and my husband was dusting off the woodshavings after coming in from his shop. 

 made by Sunshine, age 4

I wish more people could appreciate that these treasures are coming from our hearts and minds and hands...that an expensive store-bought gift cannot replace the genuine love that is imbued in a hand-crafted item. 

invitations made by all three children for a neighbourhood party we hosted

Together, Josh and I managed to make :

~ three pairs of mittens,  two knit cowls, one Waldorf doll, a twin-sized quilt, one knit hat, a necklace, a night-time blessing wall hanging, three sets of pajama bottoms, a dozen jars of salve, half a dozen jars of facial cleanser, (not to mention all that canning from the fall), a guitar stool, an ironing board, a chair, a renovated dollhouse, and a hair stick (phewf!) 

(I estimate that if we had bought all these items for our loved ones from a store, we would have paid at least triple the amount we spent on supplies!)

But, really, it isn't so much about saving money as it is about creating the perfect gift(s) for the people we love.  And the fun we had was priceless, as was the expressions on our children's faces.

It gives me such pleasure to see my children appreciate the efforts that were made to bring them happiness on Christmas morning.  And even greater pleasure to read my oldest son's note to St. Nicholas that was left out with some cookies ~ a tradition from my childhood where we would list in detail all the things we hoped Santa would leave for us.  My seven year old only had this to write, "Dear St. Nick, I wish you happy travels tonight!  Love, Forrest". 

That little message to St. Nick tells me all I need to know about where the spirit of Christmas resides in the hearts of the ones I love.

o tannenbaum

Every year, we head into the mountains to get our tree that becomes the center of our holiday merry-making.  I have great memories from my childhood of doing this very thing with my family...following an saw-toting father into the forest, everyone spying the tree they loved best and then having to concede to just one (usually my mother's favourite).  As an adult, I have been open to different tree traditions, from growing my own to decorating a branch...even abstaining altogether in a very unremarkable and humbug early 20s anti-Christmas rebellion. 

And just like that, full circle, I find my own young family trudging into the woods, following my own mountain man of a husband with his own saw.  And just like that, my oldest jokingly points to a Charlie Brown twig as his choice, my daughter wants to saw away like her big brother, and my littlest gapes at the silliness unfolding.

This year, the three littles decorated the tree with Huckley hanging the unbreakables on the lower branches (ok, he really put them all on just one branch), Sunshine worked away in the middle, while Forrest took charge of the upper tree.  I hung a few blown glass treasures from friends, but they did the real work...if you can call it that!

I handspun a little merino wool for a fingerknit garland to adorn the tree.  Whoever feels like it can just sit down for a few moments and add to the chain.  I hope to add some red felted balls to it over the holidays, too.

And our own Christmas traditions unfold, year after year, as we bring in our tree from the woods to light up our home.

stringing it together

During this busy season, this mama welcomes any little crafty project for the littles that may occupy them for a short spell.  Using old Christmas cards that I've been hording for several years kept one little crafter busy for over an hour...

I simply drew lines with a ruler for Sunshine and Forrest to cut along and then Forrest hole-punched two places for red yarn to be strung through.  That's it!

Any craft that keeps my four year old that busy and creates a festive air is most welcome!

What are your ways of including little ones in crafting this holiday season?

seven

And just like that, in the blink of an eye and with the flutter of a heartbeat...my oldest turned seven yesterday. 

I am left without the right words to articulate the fullness of my heart right now...I am in awe of the beauty of this soul unfolding, of the depth of the relationship between my son and myself, and at the swiftness of Time.  I won the lottery with this lovely, artistic, rambunctious, imaginative, intelligent, hilarious, and sensitive young boy who entered our world with barely a cry, but really just one long inquisitive stare up into my eyes. 

Dear Forrest, you bring immense joy and sparkling life to everyone lucky enough to know you.  I am blessed.

 *        *        *        *        *        *        *

For the past many weeks, my adventure-seeking son has been wanting me to call our elderly neighbour to find out if she knew if there was any treasure buried around these parts.  Afterall, at nearly 90 years old, Molly is the oldest person around these parts.  And wasn't Forrest surprised to hear that she did, in fact, have a treasure map just waiting for a boy such as him!  And all on the day he turned seven, too!  (wink, wink)

I made a few trips to various junk stores and found wonderfully glittering "loot" that any pirate or knight might stash in these parts...yes, even pirates visit land-locked mountain valleys, I am told!

My boy was speechless at first, with a giant grin lighting up his face.  Finally, half an hour later, he let out a tremendous whoop! and declared this the best day of his whole life! 

I love you, Forrest.  Happy seventh birthday!

hello, mr. sun

We waited a long while today, and finally, Mr. Sun shone down on us towards the end of the day.  I guess he was feeling a little embarassed for not sharing more of his glory with us this Spring.  No matter, the Summer season is upon us and he can make it up to us for the next three months.  We won't hold it against him ~ honest.

So, we celebrated for him.  My three little ones are always willing to celebrate just about anything.  Even someone's birthday when they aren't even present themself.  (Although, it's not really the sun's birthday, is it?  More like his glory day.)

We looked around our home for signs of Mr. Sun.  He appears in the most unexpected places...my three little ones were quite surprised to see our carrots and beets popping up in the shape of a sun ~ thankfully, I weeded this bed yesterday!

And the centrepiece on our table was a delightful surprise.  I quickly made the fabric sun on a whim, yet it seemed incomplete.  The very next day, I saw the candleholder in the summer edition of Rhythm of the Home and it came together so well.

I always love the beginning of a season, full of promise and advevntures.  But summertime is an especially fun time, with garden bounty, beachside play, barbecues and camping.  Yes, we are ready to jump into the busy and lazy days of summer!

Happy Solstice, everyone!

 

easter day album

Hoping your weekend was full of all the joy that this new season brings.   Happy Easter!

mama earth's children

Mama Earth has begun to rouse her little children.  There are signs all about ~ finally! ~ that they are returning with Spring's arrival today.  Yesterday, we saw our very first snowdrop, peeking out from her cozy green cloak...

And inside, Spring is blooming, too.

And we had wee little visitors this morning...Mama Earth's babies decided to stay with us.  They delighted the children, promising little flowers outside...soon, we hope!

Happy Spring, dear friends!

love, sweet love

Thanks to my little ones, today was an eagerly anticipated event.  There has been such a flurry of card making, we literally have a mountain of Valentine's sitting by the door to hand out to anyone who drops by!  But don't think that means they were made with any less love...oh my, no!  Each card  was made with such care and intention...a good reminder that one can truly delight in the gift of making!

They inspire me, these three lovelies.  So, I jumped on board and stitched up a Valentine banner and made some heart-shaped pancakes, topped with our own raspberries and yogurt.  We brought out some treasures from Valentine's past...

...and some new treasures this year...

My sweet heart gave me the most beautiful flower bouquet this year...he knows my true heart's delight!

This day never held too much significance for me before I became a mama.  And now, thanks to my children, I see how wonderful and meaningful it really is.  For certainly, shouldn't everyday be a reminder that we are surrounded by the ones we love?  And isn't it everyday that we have the chance to show them how much we love them? 

Yes, I'm a very very wealthy woman...they remind me of this everyday.

May today be a reminder for you and your sweet little ones as to how much we are surrounded by Love!

to be remembered

These moments, so fleeting, are treasures in my heart.  It's been good. 

And it ain't over yet...

moments from the week

How can it be that Solstice is next week and Christmas is on the weekend?!  Time is indeed slipping past faster than I am comfortable with!  I suppose, though, for the little ones, it is crawling ever so slowly...Papa was away a lot this week training some of the team for his mountain work.  The four of us stayed close to home, though I definately felt the long days ~ it is such a transition from Josh's non-winter work when he often is home for lunch, or at least to help with getting dinner on the table.  I have to admit, it hasn't been as smooth as the last couple of weeks...for whatever reason(s). 

A few weeks ago I discovered that second-hand stores have a ridiculous amount of cast-off Christmas stuff!  One visit there and you can verily inhale the consumerism that is thick in the air in any North American town this time of year.  But one thing leaped out at me and, well, I just couldn't resist.  I forked over a whopping 50 cents for a seasonal addition to our tickle trunk...

Tacky?  Definately!  Necessary?  Nope.  Adored?  Absolutely!  (I'm a little sheepish now about my disdain for the holiday clutter and materialism, but really now...50 cents!)

Huckley, who some of you know, is quite the jokester.  I took this photo not too long ago and it wasn't until tonight that I realized he is holding up his sister's dolly bib and pretending to wear it...and laughing hysterically!

Ooops...so very out of focus!  One of these days I must read the manual to this camera.

Please meet St. Nicholas and his elf, wonderfully inspired by Jan Brett's rendition of The Night Before Christmas.  I'm not sure why Sunshine is wearing the sunglasses, but I'm assured it is a necessary part of the ensemble.

Outside, Huckley loves his snow trike...

And the neighbour's horses love our visits...

Inside, the boys imagine where Papa is in the mountains...

And Forrest's beloved Erla gets a bath and some Papa-sling love...

Indeed, there were many different moments this week, often with high emotions.  It was so wonderful to squeeze in two different sledding parties amongst the solitary days...our long driveway is like a luge run and we can nearly land on our doorstep with one crazy swooosh! down. 

This next week will be one of crafting and baking and get-togethers with family and friends.  Oh, it is a jolly time of year!  Enjoy your weekend, friends!

bringing it in

Every year at this time, my husband's work schedule becomes a little more demanding as he begins his season of mountain work.  Long days of work during the short days of winter.  He is at work before we even wake up and home again to tuck the children into bed.  Knowing he'd be gone for much of the pre-holiday merry-making, we hurried up and got our tree this past weekend.

We've done various things about this little holiday tradition over the years...from complete abstaining, to an itty bitty live tree that was really a Norfolk pine houseplant, to our new and ongoing tradition.  Every year we drive down the backroad to Opa's place.  Josh's dad lives ten minutes away on over 40 acres and ever since Forrest was born, we have driven our car up up up his steep and squirrely road in his back, ahem, 40.  We pile out and whoever's not asleep in their carseat (that would be Mr. Huckley this year) gets to tromp about in the woods searching for the perfect Christmas tree.

This year was especially exciting as Forrest was allowed to saw down the chosen tree all on his own!  After a few tips from Papa, he was fairly humming with anticipation ~ ahhh, the noble tasks given to a six year old!  Imagine this world if we all took such care, reverence, and determination with the simple tasks in life.

And he certainly sawed it down very nicely.  (Unfortunately, you'll have to take my word for it as after that last photo, my cheeky camera batteries decided to take a snooze.)

According to Sunshine and Forrest, the highlight of our outing, though, was to throw hundreds of maple helicopters over the bridge and watch them twirl down to the river below.  It always amazes me what the children find memorable about certain adventures...often, they have nothing to do with the task at hand!

We also made a wreath for our front door, (again lacking pictures), and I made a little indoor wreath that was inspired by Soulemama from a few years back.  This was so simple and so satisfying. 

Forrest got into the swing of wreath making and made this for the playhouse door beneath the stairs.  He never ceases to amaze me with his ability to manifest the ideas in his head. 

The halls are nearly decked...let the merriment take over!

moments from the week

A week of sunshine, and lots of outdoor play.  We can feel the energy increasing as holiday cards arrive in the mail, the amaryllis blooms, crafting is consuming most of our indoor activities, and of course, a specail visitor arrived on the 6th.

Thank goodness for buttons while Mama needs a little quiet time to make dinner.

And of course, there's beeswax, too!  This really and truly is a marvelous thing...and smells heavenly.

This week we added moss, pine cones, evergreen boughs, and rosehips to the crystals and stones adorning the path Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem.  I love that every year our advent garden grows in beauty and in meaning.  It is a delight as much for me as it is for the children.

Down below us on a little used road, Forrest road-boards.  I am so amazed at how effortlessly and naturally he is learning so many physical skills right now.  He is using this no-board like it is an extension of his body ~ a big difference from a year ago!  I absolutely love to watch him as he grows into his body, revelling in discovering what he can now do.  I sense he is beginning to soar...

Meanwhile, these two pixie gnomes stick with the snow racer...who knew my girl would love speed so much?  I do a lot of the grunt work, marching up the long driveway towing these two ~ though, Sunshine will walk if necessary.  At the top, I turn them around and run in front helping them steer.  If Sunshine chooses a solo ride, I send her off with a little push, giggling as I hear her squeals echo in the crisp afternoon air.  Oh, the freedom that being outside gives us is such a delight!

And here is our annual holiday card photo.  I've taken one every year since Forrest was just weeks old and we've gotten pretty good at distracting all three of them.  It takes Josh to divert their attention with ridiculous antics behind me while I click away.  Mission accomplished and now we have a weekend of stuffing envelopes with good tidings.

May you have a wonderful weekend filled with seasonal cheer!

handmade for the holidays (napkins and a fairy, too)

I always seem to have Big Plans for holiday making...and this year, especially, my follow-through is a little less than impressive.  Perhaps because there seems to be a lot of "help" of the most innocent, wide-eyed kind...

So while little Huckley got involved with this fabric pile, I got busy sewing...napkins.  I admit, I have a little napkin fetish going on this year, and the seasonal variety are oh so festive!  I have lots of fabric ends from making stockings and gift bags and pajamas, and with a simple snip here and there, many squares were cut.  The children had a fun time matching front and back squares for me to sew together.

We made enough to host my family's Boxing Day Dinner for twelve...though, there will surely be some more made for gift giving this season. 

And while these little hands were kept busy...

...a little Christmas Fairy came alive...

She has her place beside our homeschool hutch, overseeing all the busy-ness of our daily activities.  I also heard Sunshine mention to her brothers that she is making sure they are behaving...hmmm, works for me!

Happy (handmade) Holiday making, to all my crafty friends!

let it shine

'Tis a most wonderful time of the year...I just love the Festive Season, beginning today with Advent.  It wasn't always this way, I assure you.  In fact, I went through a phase of self-righteous disdain for anything to do with Christian holidays.  That is, until I became pregnant for the first time.  And then, while I had been dipping my toes into Anthroposophy and Steiner indications a wee bit as a teacher, it really came together for me when I became a mama.  Isn't that just so for many, many parents...our children inexplicably change the course of our belief systems all with one effortless in-breath. 

Needless to say, our family's traditions have grown and merged, embracing the beauty of the Waldorf festivals.  My children  are now able to remember special moments from Christmas' past, and it is so very endearing to hear questions about when these moments will occur.

This afternoon, as the light was beginning to fade, it was our intention to gather with some other homeschooling families to celebrate Advent with a candle-lit spiral.  Unfortunately, my friend who I was planning the event with had fevering children, so we cancelled.  My children were ok with the change of plans ~ thank goodness! However, after dinner, Forrest took it upon himself to declare that the Advent spiral would be happening momentarily!?!  Within a few minutes, cedar boughs were brought in, log rounds were uprighted, and candles stuck in apples.  After singing a few songs, I strummed on the kinder-harp while each of my children walked the spiral in the darkened room.  With the soft glow of three shining flames, my husband quietly took the three of them upstairs while I tidied up.

What an impromptu, special moment, filled with magic and reverence...even with the end-of-the-day clutter pushed off to the sides and a sink full of dinner dishes.  A humbling reminder that these little ones don't need pageantry and excessive details to transform the ordinary into the extraordinary...they do that all by themselves, every single day.

May you find your own spark within and let it shine for all the world to behold! 

handmade for the holiday (rustic tree ornaments)

Simple, easy, and full of charm, these little ornaments came together so quickly in all of half an hour.  I was inspired by some crafts in an old issue of Mary-Jane's Farm magazine, and I am loving how they turned out.

Tree ornaments or gift decorations, I like their rustic imperfections.  I think I will be making up a whole whack of these to give away.  I'm certain my six year old could sew these just as well ~ oh, and my three year old, because if big brother can do it, so can she! 

Ah, 'tis The Season approaching...

a little magic

We're in the midst of a festive season over here.  Halloween may have just ended but in a few days we are celebrating a birthday and then a lantern festival.  Despite the rapid succession of activities, I am soaking up the excitement my children are emanating.  It really is such a fun time for them!  They love to dress up, to try on a costume, an idea, a personality.  We have a few "tickle trunks" that are really overflowing baskets that I keep meaning to clean up.  But then out comes the Mexican poncho or the Viking helmet and I throw my hands up!  Let them dress up...it really is so much fun!  This Halloween, Sunshine wanted to be a gnome, Huckley declared himself a mushroom (!), and then...

...with Forrest's obsession with a bow and arrow, he really wanted to be Robin Hood for Halloween.  I made the hat (adult size so it was pinned to fit his head with a wool hat underneath it) and the tunic.  The rest of the costume was from the tickle trunk or borrowed from friends. 

I tried to find an age appropriate version of the Robin Hood story but it seems that the best version is straight from our mouths.  The true legends are so intertwined with the history of various kings, it loses a lot of the magic for a not quite six year old.  And magic is definately what Halloween is about! 

 Halloween for our family is not about the trick-or-treat thing.  We have a five year tradition of going to the local Waldorf school for an Enchanted Journey.  It is a beauitul, magical walk through the grounds of the school, stopping to visit various "scenes" along the way.  A few favourites are the pirate who doesn't realize he is sitting on his treasure, Jack Frost painting frost flowers in the gardens, the Fisher King hooking wishing stars upon the roof of the school, and a scarecrow who jumps alive after the children chant the magical verse.  There is very little candy involved, perhaps a lollipop at the end, but the children collect seed pods, feathers, acorns, hunks of "gold", little crystals, an apple.

This year, my personal favourite was in the Eurythmy room at the school with a silent dance by some older students dressed in silks as the four elements.  Quietly, they stopped at each child to give a different coloured magic bead.  The look of wonder on my children's small faces was breathtaking!

Driving home from town, there were some slash burnings going on up on the mountain tops.  Forrest wondered if they were the fires of gnomes visiting from underground on this magical night.  For just a moment, it was clear to me what he meant.  A little magic leaped from his heart into mine, and I believed he was right. 

Wishing you all the magic of the season! 

giving thanks

I've been away from this space for a while, partly because of internet issues, partly because of a happy, full belly from not just one, but two Canadian Thanksgiving feasts. 

I love this time of year when the daylight is shifting and a day's work well done is measured by litres of applesauce canned, cords of wood stacked, and piles of veggies stored.  When the woolens make a permanent addition to the wardrobe rather than an occasional guest appearance.  When the gardens are undressed, tidied up and put to bed.  When the crisp air carries hints of woodstoves, damp earth, and a pleasant scent of over-ripened fruit.  Yes, I do so love this time of year. 

And those two Thanksgiving dinners?  Mmmmmhmmmm, those were pretty wonderful, too!

I'm giving thanks for all that I have right now...loving family, good friends (both old and new), plenty of food for the winter, a cozy home, and a whole lotta love.  I'm pretty darn lucky, I'd say.  Happy Thanksgiving.

little boy knight

My oldest son is pretty much obsessed with knights, and anything knight-related ~ swords, chainmail, dragons, castles, and rescuing princesses (his sister fills in for this part quite happily)!  He is already planning his November birthday to be knight-themed, again...for the third time.

And today, well today is the day for knights.  Today, there were dragons to be slain.  Today, there were fires to be stoked.  And today, my little boy knight revelled in all his dressed-up glory.

There was his sturdy horse, of course...

 
And slaying of dragons hiding amidst the bracken...

 
And this was all before breakfast!  We had a quieter day of modeling beeswax dragons onto candles, crafting with pressed leaves and flowers, and a puppet show based on our fairytale of the week.  I've searched for a dragon story in which the dragon has a happier ending, and I found it with Suzanne Down's Little Boy Knight in her Autumn Tales.  It is a sweet story that is gentler for the under 7 age group.

When Papa returned home, our little boy knight led us over the bridge to light a campfire in the meadow.  Wishes of courage were written on paper and tossed into the flames while we sang songs.  We ate dinner and there was even some blacksmithing going on...

 
 
 
 
When darkness fell, these three little ones trudged back into their castle where they fell asleep pretty quickly.  It was a very simple celebration this year, and just exactly what we needed.  We had had plans for a larger get-together with some homeschooling friends across the river, but it didn't work out.  Instead, some neighbours strolled over to visit a while, bringing good tidings and easy laughter.

And our little boy knight?  Well, you can be sure he'll be dressed up again tomorrow morning, scouting for dragons in the bracken. 

 
Maybe with this littlest boy knight by his side.

a midsummer's eve

We have a secret to share...shhhh...it's a magical secret!  We have fairies living right here, outside our front door!  A few years ago, the morning after Midsummer's Eve, the children awoke and discovered a trail of flower petals winding through the garden, across the yard to our beloved oak tree. 

 
Their door is magic for if anyone tries open it (and it has been done!), suddenly the home becomes a mere tree trunk again.  What wonder and delight all of us had to wake up that morning!

Last year, I was awaiting the iminent arrival of Huckley and Midsummer's Eve sadly passed by without a whisper of fairy music to be heard.  However, this year, oh this year was different!  Forrest and Sunshine tidied up the Oak Tree Fairy House and made it festive with flowers from the garden.  Upon waking the next morning, there was some dressing up to do...

 
And some brothers to organize...

 
Once everyone was sufficiently adorned, the children tromped through the garden to see if there was any evidence of the fairie's party from the night before.

 
Would you believe that now the Oak Tree Fairies have some neighbours...the Brambly Fairies!?!  How exciting!

 
We called on our fairy friends from last year...

 
 
We asked them to tell our new neighbours that we are happy they moved in.  Though, things might get a little noisy around here in the evening!