Cottage Industry

The girls have been into finding things to make and then having a shop stand in our front yard. Not a lot of shoppers to lure in the mid afternoon of a week day, but they still have fun. Here are the fun finger knitted yarn belts that are the lastest trend in the house. They also work great for all sorts of imaginative play.

I love the color combinations.

Vivienne working on her head warmer/scarves for the next sale

Sweet Day!

I love Valentines day for the pure sweetness of expressing love. Luscious desserts and frou frou handmade cards show the goodness of the heart's gratitude. It was a sweet day, indeed. First, I made yummy cranberry heart shaped scones for breakfast. Later in the day, I got to share a meal with my book club, and the desserts were incredible! I made a beautiful Italian fresh fruit tart from the joyof baking.com. It was really fun to try a new recipe.

                                  

the family breakfast table

fresh fruit tart- the last piece!

In celebration of love~

In Harmony

As most parents know, it can be a rare and beautiful treat to observe joyful harmony and cooperation between siblings. Certainly, this is not always the case! Today, they have been greatly inspired to share cooperative games and songs. My girls have absolutely loved their Friday program, which is currently being taught by a Waldorf trained teacher, Mr. Crowe.

Give and Take,

Take and Give.

Each to the Other,

as Long as We Live.

The beanbags that we adore are made my Sonya at A Toy Garden, and are filled with beans and wonderful, aromatic herbs.

Here is the wonderful product of Mia's woodworking class, also taught by Mr. Crowe. Mia is so proud of her beautiful black walnut ladle  that she painstakingly made over many weeks. I am so grateful for the influence of Waldorf education that inspires creativity, joy and harmony in our home schooling life.

~with special gratitude to Mr. Crowe~

Waltzing With Fairies

Every so often, there is an event of great splendor that happens right here, in our home. The children gather in their finery, and we have a Grande Ball. It is delightful to witness. I sit in the living room and watch the parade of costume,  bows and curtsies, twirls and graceful steps to classical music. Oh, to be a child and live in the imagination!

And here you will find a fairy waltz(also known a Weber's Last Waltz)!

Birthday Boy!

Oh, my sweet little guy. How I love thee! What a joy and a blessing it is to celebrate my boy's fourth birthday. Still generous with hugs and snuggles, loves silly jokes (What is a hat? A HAT!....), and reading books, telling tales, inventing, creating, sewing, building, running, playing and singing songs...Full of wonder, light, and LOVE! Hurray for my little pirate boy!

the cutest invitations made by Bella and Boo

Georgian Hummingbird cupcakes

Jasper's party was so much fun because the girls helped create the activities. Mia and Vivienne created a puppet show, based on a cute book called "The Dog Who Cried Wolf" by Keiko Kasza. David even helped to narrate, and friends from the party joined in. We set up the playstand in the living room to make a stage.

Pappa Pirate introducing the Puppet Show

Vivienne made a treasure hunt, with her own written clues leading to the pirate treasure.I prepared several chocolate coins wrapped in a bandana for each child. The girls also helped to create a pirate cove, with a basin of water, decorated and filled with seashells, coins and little walnut boats floating about.

The kids sneaked upstairs to eat their chocolate coins

Jasper was very fortunate to get many special handmade gifts for his birthday. I will share more etsy artists in future posts! It was so lovely to celebrate his birthday with friends.

Mia got inspired by a cute puppy pattern from Sewing Green.

Vivienne's felt owl

A beautiful lavender pillow made by Ines

My sweet boy ~ I am one grateful mama. xoxo

 

Candlemas

This year, we got together with friends to enjoy celebrating Candlemas. This is the midway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox. We made crepes for lunch, and then dipped beeswax candles. It was a  lovely way to spend a chilly winter's day. Our Little Nature Nest blog has some nice suggestions for the holiday.The Parenting Passageway also has wonderful information. I enjoy celebrating the progression through the darkness of winter, onward toward the longer days of spring and summer!

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright,

Winter will have another flight;

But if it be dark with clouds and rain,

    Winter is gone, and will not come again.

Weekend Bliss

One nice thing about having to get up at the crack of dawn and walk the puppy, is to see the early light of sunrise on the fresh snow. And to see the quiet full moon hovering above the horizon, then slowly sinking from view. That couple of minutes fed my spirit for the whole day ahead.

Another  thing that I am grateful for on a snowy weekend, is the slowing down of time. Instead of busying around town, trying to run errands and do grocery shopping, I stayed home and reconnected with my family, my piles of laundry, and my to-do lists. This was an all together good thing for me. David made a nice breakfast this morning, the kids spent hours sledding and playing in the snow with friends, and I got plenty done in a quiet house. Just me and the sink of dishes. Luxurious, perhaps not... but wonderful, peaceful and productive, yes indeed! I even had some time visiting with a friend, catching up on conversation while the kids played. Now this is a treat.

Tomorrow, Mia and I start a new unit block with the Finnish epic, Tales from the Kalevala. I have started reading ahead and feel very excited to get started. It has a mysteriousness about it, and I look forward to unveiling the language and finding meaning inside. The words are forming images in my mind already, it should be an interesting study.   I also had time to read my book club selection for the month, Clash of Civilizations over an Elevator in Piazza Vitorrio. Loved it. Such a rare treat to read for pleasure.

David's salmon and bagel breakfast

A sweet surprise that arrived just in time for our big snow, was a gift of hats from our dear neighbors and friends. A new winter's hat was knitted for each child by Heather and her daughter, Sadie. The kids love them and feel so pleased to be adorned with beautiful handmade gifts. Such love!

And I share a song that inspires me on this Winter's day here. Enjoy!