Let The Festivities Begin

We started a day early.
I usually do not do any sort of Christmas crafting/decorating until it is actually December.
It seems every year the stores put stuff out earlier and that the carols are chiming in the background the day after Halloween.

There are times when inspiration strikes and I go with it.
This one has a story....well sort of.
I awoke this morning at 4:30 having a mammoth panic attack.
Not fun at all.
While calming myself down, I grabbed a empty toilet paper roll trying to distract myself.
I was struck with an idea for a Christmas tree.

Once I woke up for the second time this morning, we crafted these simply fun trees.

Trace out a tree shape leaving a ring at the bottom for it's base.
Once cut flatten the tree out a bit.

I had initially thought we would use paints, pastels, sequins and glitter.
The girls grabbed the felts and glitter glue and proved that the basic crafting supplies can create treasures.

I am starting to think that one day I may write a book...101 Uses for the Lowly Toilet Paper Roll.

The Day...Relaxing, Full and Fun

Rainbow of colour and love.
I simply adore my kids artwork.

Today I squeezed in a little sewing, making a hat.
My first attempt at one and it seemed simple enough.

That is until I started cutting out the pattern.
Now I know why the previous owner tossed it in the thrift store.
It was seriously flawed.

I persevered onwards.
Once appliqued I started to think it may make a nice gift for a friend.

It seemed to be going well enough....
until I started to sew the pieces all together.
Holy Hannah!!
This would fit a giant.
It looks nice but would never fit anyone I have ever met.

Now what?
Snowman attire?

Onwards...
We made a few simple bird feeders.
Peanut butter and bird seed on pine cones.


Hope they are enjoyed as much as E enjoyed making them.

K has had the sewing bug.

She is making gifts for her friends.

Sleep over drawstring bags which she has hand embroidered.

She is a crafty one.

K has also made a doll and outfits for each bag but I didn't get a picture before she wrapped them up.

With more snow falling all day the kids spent pretty much the whole day with friends outside building forts, throwing snowballs, sledding at the park and building a huge snowman.

Meet Stretch, the snowman at my front step.

Hopefully the fore casted rain will shorten him tonight.

Now for an early bedtime and a glass of wine with my hubby.

Robots Everywhere

I have broken my mold.
I have gotten out of the idea that I must only sew girly things...and boy is it fun.
I love robots.
I especially love retro robots in bright colours.


I am making some of the young boys in our lives robot pillows for Christmas.

They are a lot of tedious work but worth every minute/hour.

Do they need names?

If I name them I may be apt to keep them.

I can see a robot quilt in my future...maybe.

It was Quilt a Day

A few weeks ago I finally decided to make this quilt piece into a pillow instead of building a whole quilt around one square.
I love how it turned out, retro childish fun.
It makes me smile every time I look at it and it's bright colours.
I had the perfect chair in the school room and now it sits in the living room where I get to enjoy it every day.


My good friend M is, among a million wonderful things, an amazing thrifter.
There is nothing she doesn't find.
I am always envious of the treasures she finds.
She spotted this fabric and new that I could do "something" with it.
In exchange for the fabric I made her a throw quilt for her couch.
I made some pillows for myself but now think I may need a throw to match as well.
Tonight I finally got it done.
After 2 months I think she will be pleased to actually get it.

Tonight I also had the opportunity to finish 2 more quilts.
I have had 3 quilts and so many other things on my sewing table, it was becoming quite a burden mentally.
I started 2 quilts for my friends twins and had hope to get them to her when they were born. Well that has come and gone by 2 months so I gave myself leeway and promised them for Christmas.
What a relief, they are done.
I must say I do love them.

For Miss Ava

And Mr. Aden

Now I just have to mail them.........

Deep Freeze

I have absolutely no reason to whine, and whining I am not.
But darn is it ever Cold!!!
BBRRRR!!!
I have lived here for 30 years and I can't recall it being this cold but maybe once or twice.

We have chairs perched by the wood stove, snugly blankets strewn all about.
The house is a cozy little respit from this freezing weather.

The animals are having a tough time with it though.
Molly has on a new coat, and if you look closely you will notice that it is a horse blanket.
Kinda funny.
The cats burst into the house any chance they can and hide in a bed or the laundry pile.
All trying to find a warm spot out of the relentless wind that has knocked the temperatures down to -18.

The kids have to wear layers and that means lots of wet clothes.
They don't mind in any way.
Getting dressed and undressed 4-10 times a day for brief plays out in the elements.

What do you think of our newest addition to the living room?.....the clothes rack!!

I remember the one we had as a kid, perched above the fireplace, crisping our clothes toasty warm.

This has become our little pet icicle.

We can see it from the kitchen table, watching it daily to see just how long and gnarly it will become.

The birds, quiet and hiding, will be in for some treats tomorrow.

We have a few lovely snacks being made to place around the yard for our feathered friends.

The rake, my faithful friend and most useful garden tool.

Here it sits next to the post in which I retired it after raking most of the leaves from the side yard into a pile.

Now the pile is covered in snow, and rotting a messy hole into my lawn.

Not really being prepared for this cold snap, I hadn't got to the winter yard maintenance.

The hoses are all frozen solid and I can only imagine there will be a burst pipe somewhere.

Our poor chickens, hopping from one foot to the other.

I dreaded waking up this morning to find some frozen to their perch.

Lucky that was not the case.

I set up the heat lamp in their coup yet they still chose to stay outside.

What can I do?

We gathered a bunch of sweater, wool socks, long johns and jackets to bring to the local shelter, along with some blankets.

I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have to sleep outside on these nights.

My winter gardening is being put through the paces.

Kale...frozen kale? I wonder if it would still be good in a shake?

I'll let you know.

The driveway and road....just looks peaceful really.

We have had a few no drive days, something I try to accomplish at least once a week.

The weather sure helps promote that.

Happy winter everyone.

Seasons Change

It has been quite a week for me.
It started with E throwing up all over me in bed. Then it proceeded into 4 days of gastrointestinal mayhem for me. I lost 3 pounds and all my energy.
My body rejected all that I offered and wouldn't even stand the smell of Raw snacks, smoothies or a juice.
Consequently I had to break my Raw diet and eat some food...mainly some toast.
Can I just tell you how absolutely divine crunchy toast with melted butter is. My word I didn't realize just how much I missed it.
It wasn't the ideal way to discontinue 100% Raw.
I had envisioned a slow transition, starting with veggie broth and rice.
That has been blown apart with cheese, yogurt and bread.
Can I also say just how much my body is thanking me.
I love that I lasted 10.5 months eating 100% Raw. That I stuck to it, unwavering through out all these months is a powerful life lesson for me.
I feel cleansed. I feel enlightened in many foodie ways.
I feel grateful, and most importantly I feel healthy.
But as I licked my fork this evening after a fabulous grilled salmon dinner at our friends house, I am thankful for the return of variety, and return to "real" foods.
Foods with salt, crunch, and flavour.
I will still strive to be 75% Raw but I will no longer deprive myself of foods that my body craves or of foods lovingly prepared by family and friends.

This has been an emotional, and tiring week.
Changing a diet, especially off the heels of an illness is a lot.
I do realize though just how much effort and thought it went into maintaining my Raw diet.
Now I feel liberated and seem to have a bit more free time on my hands.
Not preparing 2 completely separate menus will do that.
I have many great recipes that I will enjoy and share and probably would never have found them if I hadn't been completely Raw for so long.
There are some new family favorites and I know some recipes will come in handy when camping and such.

I have found that in the past week, I have made my peace with food.

I know I can never rely or trust the industrial food system of today.
I can only do my best, and we try to. But I have to make allowance for life as it happens and not be so fanatical.
I know that as long as I try to put loving food on our plates, we will be happy and healthy.
Deciding to give up the exhaustively enormous tyred I have been keeping up while eating Raw is really going to ease my mind.
I am looking forward to a relaxingly pleasant winter full of warm soups, fresh baked breads and many of the festive desserts sure to be had.
I am also looking forward to ripple chips and a burst of energy from a carb loaded plate of pasta.
I may need to let out a notch in my belt by Christmas, but I believe it is all well worth it.
Food is life, and life is good.

Time for Me

It seems to be inevitable for all mothers, especially the stay at home, homeschooling, husbands work away kind.
I know it is a reoccurring theme in my life.

How do I find time for myself?
How do I carve out a moment (or 10) each day, week, or month to do something unabated, of my choosing, spontaneous and child free.
To turn off, remove the mommy hat and be carefree, if only for a short time.

I never want to escape or trade in what I have so strongly built, but I believe to be a better mom I need a bit of "me" time.
More than just a relaxing bath at the days end, when the house is quiet and no one is yelling at me.
Although that is definitely appreciated, I am talking about the kind of time where I get to reflect, possibly re-create the things that have slipped away since having kids, talk with adults maybe even stay out late.
Or maybe even have a date with my hubby, wow that would be something.

Over the years I have struggled, and have had anxiety over my inability to make plans, have anything scheduled for myself etc. This comes with J's job and has always been a part of our lives.
I have to have the kids in tow for every appointment, for every visit, for every trip to the store.
It is easy and fine most of the time, but lately I have had a carrot dangled in front of me and like a kid given an inch, I took a mile.

In the last year J has been working from home with his position change at work, it requires more time on the job but he is super flexible which allows me to get time in when I need.
I have taken full advantage.

The reality of this came on full force this week as J's job has taken him away and I have not been able to do what I have so suddenly gotten quite used too.

I have felt a bit of resentment and a tad angry, more at myself than anyone.
I got so comfortable with my away time I forgot how to reign it in.
I now feel guilty a bit!
Really!!?
I feel guilty for having so much me time?

So as this evening drew near and derby practice scheduled for 5:30, I knew I would have to accept that it wouldn't be possible tonight with 2 girls who are at their most difficult stage ever.

I had to suck it up and feel the guilt of letting the team down.

Then my dear neighbour stopped in.
Looking glum he said he was having trouble.

No joke...he says to me....
He couldn't find time for himself.

Really??
His wife is increasingly reliant on him as the years go by and he feels trapped.
I had to laugh, and thankfully he is good natured, because I said there's not much hope for me because I feel that way today too and if he is 78 and me 35, well....
We had a good chuckle.

Then he added his brother died today, and that he has had a dream about his own death last night.
He worries about his wife when he is gone.
Oh God!!! These are huge feelings.

I want to cry and hug him and tell him everything will be okay.
But I can't tell him that.
He is in that stage in life that we never really think about, we actually avoid at all costs.

He trusts me enough to wonder over and chat to me about all his thoughts.
This gives me some great insights and he says he loves my young spirit.
We chatted, we hugged and he left.

I had to think.
Decompress.

I grabbed my sewing kit and sat down with the girls and cherished the moment.
We found some fabric with Russian dolls on it and we made cheater stuffies.
The girls stuffed and sewed them up.

Sewn with love and quiet, by the fire time.
Time that I got to take off the mommy hat, sit back and reflect on the things that I love to do.
I got to teach, share and relax.
No one yelled at me and I still have my bath to look forward to later.
Plus we now have a handful of cute little dolls to play with.
Time well spent if you ask me.

I even finished up these cutie patooties I found over at moonstiches.
First try at winging the pattern, next batch I think will be worthy of little Christmas gifts.

National Geographic 1978

We received boxes upon boxes of old Nation Geographic from J's grandfather.
Ones he has saved since his kids were younger than us today.
It is like opening up treasure.

I love to see hwo the world has changed in the past decades.
Some stories seem so errelavent now, others are timeless.

I have been an avid reader for as long as I can remember.
The girls and I sometimes sit for hours just looking through the pages, reading, discussing, learning.

I recall many a school project researched and adorned from the pages of this iconic literature.

The other day while perusing the pages of a particularly musty issue I came across this advertisement.
What can I say, I had to share it.

MONSANTO.
I have no words to really explain how I loathe this ad, it's photo and it's text.
I actually have to laugh, while I cry, at how far they have come and how they single handedly have destroyed so much in this world.
How do we stop them?

Full Circle

My fathers beat up, red '68 ford would loudly struggle to find a gear, ready to drive down the quiet streets of our quaint village, heading on a cool morning mission to the beach for the annual seaweed grab.
I would sit in protest, disgruntled. Crossed arms and facial expression putting out the "I am not happy" vibe stinking up the truck, but nobody cared.
The four of us, including my wicked step mother and her useless son, crushed together on the vinyl bench seat sat in silence.
Not peaceful, but quiet none the less.

I, definitely not impressed to be drug out of bed early on a Sunday morning just because there was a great storm the night before. Not impressed because I knew that I would have to sit and watch as the folks bent over pitch forks and pails, one by one emptying them into the back of the pick up till it was brimming full. I would have to sit and entertain my brother and stay quietly close but out of the darn way

Unfathomably, above all I was somehow supposed to enjoy it.
I knew if I didn't complain out loud I was safe.
With furrowed eyes and loud huffs I would find a little spot by some rocks to nestle myself into, shelter me from the crisp sea breeze able to see the little monster but not have to actually talk to him.

It never occurred to me to enjoy this beach time.
We never had any reason too. Our family never took leisurely strolls to see what we could find on the shoreline. We never brought a snack and played.
I had never learned to enjoy it. Never learned to look around, smell , touch, listen, to take in the beauty and wonder that only a beach allows.
It never entered my mind to wonder off and free myself. I could have spent the hours miles away from the hell I was in by savouring my surroundings.
Let myself be transported to far off places.

Instead I would sit staring at the truck slowly, excruciatingly slowly, being filled.

I never understood what the seaweed was really for. I knew that the smelly, colourful strands would be spread on the garden that took up half of our tiny back yard.
It would make the dog stink worse than usual as she would roll euphorically in it.
I got that it was good for the garden but how?
I had tried to ask once, that was a mistake.

I always had questions but nobody to ask.

My parents were the kind of people who probably shouldn't have had kids.
As costly kids we often just got in the way of the many things they needed to get done. There was never a soothing, guiding hand to reassure us or teach us as they carried on with their ventures.
Never a gentle hand to show us the ways of the world, yearning to make us the best we could be, filling us with all the knowledge they could fit in at any moment.

I learned many things from my parents, most importantly what I would not do when I had kids.

I have spent many years since asking, learning and researching all the things I yearned to learn.

I now know why seaweed is good for a garden.

Today my life came fill circle.
This morning I piled my girls into our old jalopy and drove 20 minutes down the road to fill the truck with seaweed.
Today I remembered how I used to feel on these days.
Today I changed that.

I soothed my inner child and taught my girls about the ways of nature and the benefits of seaweed. They understood why we were going and they were excited to be a part of it.
Today I learned that I am a great parent.
Why?
Because I try.
I try with all my being to give my children all I missed.
I give them loving, learning and laughter at every moment.
I give them the ability to grow and spread their wings, to explore and venture forth into this grand amazing world.
Most importantly I give them strength and courage, to do all the things that they could ever dream of doing.

For that I am grateful.
For that they are happy.

Because of that, today my girls explored, played and enjoyed the beach while their mother shovelled seaweed into the truck.

One day I can only hope that they will bring their children and do the same, not only nurturing the garden but their souls.

While I worked, my budding photographer captured the essence of the beach on a chilly November morning.

Thank you K for keeping making these memories live.

Life has been full.
I manage to piece each day together but they all seem to run into each other, an endless stream of craziness.
I am trying to find a balance, a sense of peace but somehow it hasn't quite happened yet.
These are the days that I am grateful the little ladies sleep in till 9:00.

Life is great though, don't get me wrong.
I am healthy, my family is wonderful and within the chaos we still seem to find our happiness.
I am so blessed for such amazing friends and all the inspirational people that share their beauty and wisdom with me.
I have been simply enjoying life as it comes and enjoying my family and friends in all their glory.

I think I have found my secrets to a blissful content life.
A sliver of that secret is living in the moment, taking it as it comes.

Today was full of those lessons.
From the 2 litres of milk that landed on the kitchen floor, to the pasta plate that slid into the utensil drawer....every moment was an opportunity to reflect on what really is important and choose my reactions based on such.
It really doesn't matter, it stinks to clean up but no one was hurt and, well, it was kind of funny.

Believing that kids will be kids and that as a parent I should allow them the right to be just that....kids, I have taken a step back lately to just watch them grow.

Today E thought it was a fun idea to remove her clothes and dance in the rain and have a mud bath.
I actually envied her carefree sense of fun.
She was enjoying herself to no end and I just sat back with camera in hand and let it be.

Why can't I find the joy in a rainy day mud bath?

Have I gotten to old?

Or is it that I have just forgotten how?

I hope next time I will be sitting in there with her....even for just a moment.

On Children

Kahlil Gibran

Your children are not your children.

They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself.

They come through you but not from you,

And though they are with you yet they belong not to you.
You may give them your love but not your thoughts,

For they have their own thoughts.

You may house their bodies but not their souls,

For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow,

which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams.

You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you.

For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday.
You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite,

and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far.

Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness;

For even as He loves the arrow that flies,

so He loves also the bow that is stable.