October Projects

my first knitted mitten (matching one still in progress)

I was so happy to have the time in the car and at the beach house to knit on our recent trip, it is something I enjoy but find so little time to do at home. Here are some little bits and pieces of what we have been working on around here. I would love to carve out a little more time for projects, I keep thinking that as soon as I get organized I can make room. Hmmm, I wonder if I will ever get there.

vivi's knitted hand warmer, in progress

jasper's new vest, same pattern as the one here

mia's teeny tiny doll

vivi' wearing her mask, (inspired by a Ladybug magazine cut-out, drawn free hand)
and her mama-made knitted vest

vivi's fairy and pony art, made just for jasper

my sweetie boy helped me make a yummy apple cake to share with friends

you can find the delicious recipe here at maya made

vivi's little bendy doll

herbal wreath inspired by tthe lovely 5 orange potatoes blog

with gratitude for all the inspirations that keep me striving

Week at the coast (in pictures)

Fairy tales, Ponies, Pirates and Kites

What a lot of adventure comes to children with a bit of free time and a their unleashed imagination! Such a gift it is to be able to dive into stories and myth, invent things and play act characters of all sorts. Some inspiration came from listening to C.S. Lewis's The Magician's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from The Chronicles of Narnia on the car ride. We have also been reading King Beetle Tamer and The Search for Delicious. The pirate lore local to the outer banks was another inspiration to their play. Blackbeard supposedly spent time at Teach's Hole, waiting for ships to conquer. And since we recently saw a local production of Peter Pan, the pirates are lively characters to the kids. Afternoons were spent on the three floors of beach house deck, mapping treasures, making strategies, and throwing anchor (a woolen yarn tied to a stick). A few favorite pirate books (nice for kids) are Richard Scarry's Pie Rats Ahoy, which Jasper thinks is the funniest book ever, and one we found by a local author/illustrator father and son called Captain Stumpy The Pirate Cat.




The wild horses which descended from those brought over by the Spanish colonial ships in the 1600's can still be found on Ocracoke Island, though now they are kept in a corralled area of 180 acres and cared for by the National Park Service. According to local author Pat Garber's Ocracoke Wild, the horses are no longer allowed to run free, for concern for their safety among vehicles and dwindling numbers in the herd. Another interesting read that I found for Mia is Pale as the Moon, a historical fiction tale of a Native American girl and a wild pony that she befriends.


I found a kite-making kit at the thrift shop, complete with bamboo sticks, kite paper and instructions. The kids delighted in making and flying them at the beach. They held up in the strong winds, I was impressed!

what can be better than kite flying in your pajamas?

Oceanside in October

We just returned from a week on the Outer Banks, the barrier islands of the North Carolina coast. It was no ordinary summer-time beach week, but rather a quieter, cool weather time. We had one glorious beach day when the sun shone brightly, and the kids swam in the ocean all afternoon. The water was still plenty warm and inviting, though I only ventured to knee-depth. Then the winds crept up and did not lay down for the rest of our stay. We had clouds and rain, as well. I was thankful for the hot tub that came with our beach rental. It made a world of difference when exploring the windy seashore, knowing that a steaming tub was waiting at the end of the day. I loved to watch the kids fill their time with adventures of their own making. The history of the islands and the lost colony, the mysteries of the native people and the little knowledge that we have of their cultures, the pirate lore, the wild horses (descendants of the horses of early Spanish explorations), the natural habitat and the island culture of fishermen and surfers... these were all elements that wove their way into the children's curiosity and play.

Riding the ferry to Ocracoke Island

Vacation time always makes me search for ways to bring more of that beautiful awareness of the present moment. When I am away from everyday life, I feel my thinking deepen and I can envision more clearly what I want, who I am. My challenge is finding a way to get to that deeper state of awareness, and yet maintain the busy life that we live with some amount of grace! I think meditation is one way to hold a space for contemplation, and I would like to carve a space for it in my day. And simplifying, is the ever-challenging task that I work towards. I think having and caring for too much material stuff can really waste time and energy, in a most unnecessary way. Rhythm, rituals (such as lighting a candle for a family meal) and spending time every day out in nature, these things all bring connection for me as well. I would love to hear others' thoughts on how to make life more nurturing on a daily basis, please feel free to post your comments!

Weekend retreat

What a lovely time to rejuvenate and enjoy the company of wise women. The Southeast Women's Herbal Conference was glorious as always. Some highlights include: listening to herbalist Susan Weed spin tales, she is a very talented storyteller! Eating fabulous local food, inspired by Sally Fallon's Nourishing Traditions cookbook. Attending a full harvest moon fire circle, full of magic and beauty! Waking up early each morning to join at least 50 other women doing moon salutations in Sierra's wonderful Kundalini yoga class. Enjoying the beauty and quiet, and gaining more appreciation for common plants (and weeds) for their healing and nourishing qualities. It was also wonderful meeting such inspiring women, mothers, artists, healers, educators and nature lovers. Many thanks to David and the Grandparents! My blessings are many.