Three Years Ago Today....

I was just at the beginning of my labour with Jasper. We were living out in the country ( the year which we now refer to as the experiment...) , all of us nestled into a 850sq ft cottage on 25 acres of gorgeous land in the mountains. I had called my midwife and was just taking space to myself, trying to stay comfortable while my mom put the kids to bed, and David prepared the birthing tub. I don't know exactly how he managed to do it, but he filled it with our tiny water heater and then added hot kettle water, and covered it with blankets to keep the water warm. By the time I got in, it was still really warm, therapeutic level - it was divine! David and I had the most beautiful winter walk to the high meadow by moonlight, pausing here and there to allow waves of contraction to pass. I recall the air being cold, but enjoying it in my handmade legwarmers (recycled sweater) and night gown, layered with a coat and sheepskin boots. It was the most exquisite snowy white, clear, silent night. And by the time I returned, I was fully dilated and ready to ease into the tub. Within about 20 minutes and several pushes, little 6lb 12 oz Jasper Finn entered the world! He was born in the caul, which means his amniotic sac was intact, a rare occurrence which carries lore of good omen. It was my first home birth, and such a beautiful experience. Such a beautiful son, who I will wake up and wish a Happy Third Birthday to in the morning.



~Here I am full term, hours before labor began, with my little Vivi girl~

And minutes after his birth, my little Jasper and my dear, sweet midwife, Jan, who has caught two of my babies!

And here is what it looks like around here with Valentine season around the corner...

Our friend, Abby, taught the girls how to make these really cool origami valentines. We plan to practice making more together.

And Vivi made some sort of game that involves rolling dice and choosing a color of paper

I am signing off to prepare my little star's birthday table... pecan coffee cake for breakfast, a monkey balloon, three candles on the birthday ring and present to open. And Grammy and Grandaddy have arrived to celebrate with us!

~With love and gratitude to my beautiful midwifes, Jan and Molly~

Snow Day

Well, this was a day that we have been waiting for... it snowed! And though it wasn't much by most standards, it qualified as real snow for us. You may be wondering what qualifies snow as real, so allow me to explain! According to Vivienne, you have to be able to sled on it, it has to stay the whole day, and it has to make that nice crunchy sound under your feet.

One of the reasons that we have been waiting for a real snow is so that we could enjoy our family tradition of baking apples on the first real snow. We almost baked the apples a few flurries prior, but it was worth our wait. Our friend, Abby, joined us for warm apples and fireside stories. She is a children's librarian and the kids love when she visits!

We had a fun day of sledding and sipping cocoa with the neighborhood kids, and then came home to find ourselves locked out of the house. So, our lovely neighborhood friends welcomed us in and shared lunch while we waited for Papa to get home. Many thanks, Allison and Scott! It worked out to be a happy accident of sorts, the kind of day that kids love... spontaneous, full of friends and fun, and (hot) chocolate. That is my idea of a good day, too.

Can you believe that today it was in the teens with the wind chill and yet, in three days the forcast is calling for 60 degree (F) high? Crazy weather in these parts!


And as always my kids are impressing me with their busy hands. Vivi and Mia have both been working on presents for Jasper's birthday. They can't stand to wait, and so every day he has been showered with gifts. Today, Vivi made him a little stocking cap out of a fabric scrap. She appliqued a heart and wrote "I Love" on it...

We sure do love this little honey boy...I can't believe that he is soon to turn three!

(Im)patience with Winter

To have patience, I have decided is the inner lesson for today. Patience for Grandmother Winter to go and wake up those root children. I am ready for spring! We have not had much snow this year, and the dullness of this time before spring is getting to me. I am ready for spring cleaning, shaking all the dust bunnies out in the fresh air, wearing t-shirts and lightweight skirts, putting away the heavy wools and getting my hands in the dirt. There is so much I would like to be doing in the garden! Day by day I am noticing the little addition of sunlight, and I know that in good time, the season will shift! I just need to savour these days of sipping tea, knitting by the fireside, baking birthday cakes and cupcakes, and morning snuggles with my children under a big wool duvet. Hmmmm, I guess I like winter after all. I just needed to remind myself why.

my little gnome- this cozy sweater has been worn by each of my children!

Another good reason to love winter... you can wear awesome, cozy mismatched knitted socks !

You can get silly with static electricity:

And spend time building homesteads for the small folk

Or have fun drawing with family. The first picture is mine, a doodle that became a story in itself. And the second picture is Vivienne's version (which I like even better!)

Mia's puppy found a nice hang out in the weeping cherry tree

What are you doing with your winter days?

Cake, Anyone?

I have had the honor of celebrating several family birthdays this week. My Vivi girl turned six years old, and my sweet hubby also had a birthday (nope, not saying how old!) It has been a week of baking for me. First cupcakes for the school party. I found a yummy banana cake with cinnamon-honey frosting recipe here.

And then there was my classic party cake, which I have made several years in a row. It is called the Strawberry Basket Cake. It is very yummy. I don't bother to make the fancy basket weave design with the frosting, though. Here it is as I am adding the layers. yummy strawberries and preserves are nestled in the center. Despite the fact that I can't get local berries now, I found some beautiful organic ones at the market. It is a real decadence in mid-winter.

And then I made a Glazed Lime Cake. Not as pretty, but I wanted something simple and different. Mmmmmm. I love cakes of all sorts. I have two more birthdays in my family in the next month! So plenty more baking to do. Thank goodness I love making sweet things.

The girls amaze me with their industriousness. It puts me to shame! I am always thinking up an excuse of why it is not a good time, while they are joyfully plowing through project after project. I really do admire their fearless ambition to create! Vivi has been into sewing lately. She sneaks into my craft/mess zone in the playroom and emerges with a new creation every day. Here is the adorable bird she made from felted sweater scraps (and a silk velvet bit for the beak)

She also made her daddy a cute birthday crown, and a number of artful gifts. She repaired the first waldorf doll that I made for Mia many years ago. It had some stiches that came loose on the shoulder, and she patched it up ( with purple thread, to Mia's dismay!) That poor baby is well loved to say the least.

Both girls have been drawing like crazy. They are into making horses and unicorns, as well as picture-stories about people. I love to see their ideas and I actually feel so inspired by them!

Mia loves to needle felt. Here is the peace symbol she made. We are all so happy to know that Obama is now our president! I have never had such optimism for the direction of our country as I have today. Check out this link for some amazing photos of the inauguration. We had a grand day of celebration at our friends' house. Jen hosted a Barack Menu Open House with meals from all the places in his history. We got to enjoy an Indonesian lunch. Since we don't have television, It was fun to watch this amazing historical event taped live. Three Cheers for Obama!!!

Despite the fact that we have had a day and a half of snow-day, home from school, it has amounted to rather little. The kids are feeling bummed about the lack of white winter. It would be nice to get a real snow before the winter has ended. Certainly, there is still some time. Here is our little bit of snow. Vivi was hopeful...

Another inspiring event was a show we saw recently, The Mizero Children from Rwanda. They are on a fund-raising mission, called the Forgiveness Tour. It was amazing to see these young people, with lives so deeply touched by tragedy, and yet holding such peacefulness and joy in their smiles and soulful rhythms.

~May peace be with you~

The Dream

Okay, indulge me while I share something of a recent dream. I cannot recall the details but what stayed with me in my waking was a profound truth. Basically, it was the statement "Love is Everything." And I really felt it within me as I came out of my dream. It brought the thought, "whomever loves most lives best!" Sort of the bumper sticker version of the same idea. But I really think that if I were to gauge the real value of my existence, it has everything to do with loving , be it people, plants or animals... loving as a way of living. Just think of the human evolution potential if we could all completely embrace this concept. I think that there are so many ways to manifest one's love, and I can really recognize and appreciate it in the work of others. Just think of the love that goes into art, into service for others, into gardening, raising children, cooking, etc. As you can tell, I really embrace this idea. My wish is to manifest this reverence and inner focus in everything I do, as best that I can. I see it as a way to be truely present in the world.

~ In gratitude to the beauty of the rose~

A New Tradition

This is the first year that my family celebrated Three Kings Days. Really, this is the first time as an adult that I have taken closer notice of the twelve days of Christmas and really took them into my whole self, and learned more about what they represent. It is interesting how a holiday that I have celebrated all my life, can continue to deepen in meaning. We lit our Christmas candles and set the holiday table once more, enjoying the special, celebratory space. I roasted a chicken and vegetables for dinner, my mom made a fresh cranberry relish, and then I baked a Three Kings Cake. It was more of a sweet yeasted bread, really. It had citrus peel and currants in it, and was a satisfying treat. Inside the cake, I baked a fresh cranberry into the dough. Often it is traditionally a bean or a small trinket. The person to receive the piece of cake with the object becomes the King for the evening and wears a golden crown. My cranberry rose to the surface when it baked, so instead of crowning one king, I decided to crown all three children. After all, there are three kings! It was a nice opportunity to pull out their special birthday crowns, and they enjoyed the evening very much.

I read a tale from The Christmas Story Book, titled New Year's Eve by Dan Lindholm. It was a beautiful story about a boy named Hans who meets twelve men in white cloaks and crowns and wreathes ,"who rather looked like kings". He recognizes that they represent each of the months of the year, by their varied garb. He sees them gathered round a bonfire, as he travels through the dark night to his Grandparents' house for New Year's Eve. When Hans is asked if he recognizes the men, his reply comes in this verse that his Grandfather has taught him. Here it is ~ something nice to put to memory!

January send the ice and frost

In the snow-drifts don't get lost.

February's light is growing

Even though it is still snowing.

March is bringing in the thaw

And the wind is cold and raw.

April brings the rain and sun,

Sometimes both and sometimes one.

May brings in the cuckoo's call

And the sun light over all.

June is full of lovely posies

Fills the air with scent of roses.

July is bountiful and good,

Cool and leafy is the wood.

August bends down ears of corn,

Soon the fields will all be shorn.

September gives the ripening apple

While the leaves begin to dapple.

October makes the barn-yard full

Now the housewife spins her wool.

November's storms set trees a-shaking

While indoors we're present making.

December's days are short and cold,

Advent candles gleam with gold.

In the story, Hans' own Three Kings' candle lights the flame for the New Year, as the old flame wanes. It was a tale filled with lovely imagery, one we will likely revisit year after year.

May sweetness and noble thoughts be yours!