Weekend Warriors

Hubby is a tax accountant, so this time of year is particularly hectic for our family. The month of April always seems to come and go in a blur. He’ll be putting in some crazy hours at the office for the next six weeks. (Don’t feel too bad for the guy! Soon after his big deadline, he’ll be heading on his annual surf trip with his buddies to a very warm and exotic location!)

Although it is a busy time of year, we try to make the most of family time when the four of us are together. With all the sunshine we've been having, the boys and I started a little “project” in the backyard. The entire family collaborated efforts this weekend to put the finishing touches on what we refer to as “The Home of the Early People”.

It all began with a trip to the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History a month or so ago to view the featured exhibit – Ice Age Mammals. Chi-Chi was awestruck by the huge skeletal replica of a mastodon. Ever since our museum visit, he has displayed a hunger and enthusiasm to learn absolutely everything about the amazing creatures that roamed our planet so long ago. His genuine interest and curiosity are actually quite inspiring. Would you believe he recently dropped the Gruffalo birthday cake request in exchange for a mastodon variety? (I’m doing some last minute scrambling trying to figure out how I’m going to fill this tall order)

On a recent trip to the thrift shop, I stumbled on a copy of Who Were The First People from Usborne. It was perfect timing for this great find. Not surprisingly, Chi-Chi latched onto it immediately and our learning path is now taking us into the lives of the first hunter/gatherer humans who roamed the earth. He and Muffy have been re-enacting the lives of their early ancestors, setting up tent homes in the living room and gathering play food to feed the family!

We decided to take advantage of the spring sunshine and took our role playing activities outside. Before we knew it, we were huddling under the branches of a backyard spruce tree as we sought refuge from a ferocious saber tooth cat. With a little elbow grease, our cozy hideaway was soon transformed into a lovely primitive home. We cleaned and raked the spruce needle floor and cleared a few low branches to allow for headroom. Protective walls were constructed using sticks and fieldstones. I will admit, Mr. Neanderthal certainly would not have had a picnic table in his dining room! It’s a great little place to hide out, daydream and enjoy an afternoon snack al fresco. Once the leaves come out on the alder bushes, it will be quite a cozy little spot. I imagine it will serve as a special place for the little ones in the years to come- a place to live out their daydream adventures, a place to spend a quiet moment alone in nature…

I am starting to think, however, that Chi-Chi might be taking things a little too far. Before I could object, I discovered the “three boys” of the family sitting in the camp, fashioning “spears for the early people”. Yikes!! I’m not sure it is a good idea to offer spears to two and four year olds! Once again, I can only explain this strange behaviour as male bonding. I saw a pheasant meandering his way into the camp this evening while I was washing the dishes. I’m guessing Mommy will be confiscating those spears very shortly (in the interest of the safety of my children AND our wildlife friends!!!!)

Art Appreciation

Every now and then you come across an artist whose work really speaks to you. I am certainly not a connoisseur of fine art in any sense of the word. I follow my heart when purchasing art. I only purchase pieces that I truly love and that “speak” to me. Of course, I’m not able to buy every piece of art I love! Many a time I’ve walked away from a painting because the price tag was simply beyond anything my budget would allow!

Several years ago Hubby and I toured the Gaspe Peninsula in Quebec. We discovered the work of Gilles Cote and fell in love. His folksy, whimsical works are absolutely breathtaking in person. Sadly, the price tags on his originals are just a "tad" out of my price range. The one I just "had to have" was $55,000!!!!!

Because I grew up not far from the Gaspe, the characters, architecture and landscape depicted in Cote’s paintings touch me deeply. I’m feel a sense of being drawn into the scene and can almost feel the ocean wind whirling my hair. I felt this same connection the first time I held a piece of pottery created by my cousin, Sarah Branch of Branch Designs. (Sarah is actually my mother’s cousin’s daughter – but that is way too complicated for me!) She too grew up on the Bay of Chaleur in Northern New Brunswick. I’m magnetically drawn to her work, which often depicts some of my favorite nature treasures – moon snail shells, starfish...etc. My collection of her work is growing! What I love most is that one can interact with pottery on such a personal level. I sip my morning tea from one of her mugs. Our family munches on Friday night popcorn from one of her beautiful bowls. When I first spotted this silver fiddle head pendant she created, I knew instantly it was meant for me. Hey, I grew up in Tide Head, the unofficial fiddle head capital of the world! As a knitter, I’m absolutely in love with her pottery buttons. I have a list a mile long of projects to complete that incorporate her unique, earthy creations.

I was back to my hooking this past week with Sarah on my mind. I completed this little rug - “The Stars and the Moon Snail”. Since we both share a love of sea treasures, I thought it made sense to incorporate them into the design. Sarah’s parents live next door to our family’s summer cottage. Her father tends a beautiful flower garden and I’ve always admired his beach roses in particular. After a few final touches, this little rug will soon be on its way to the sweet and talented Sarah! I’m glad to see it headed to a good home (:

The Setup

It’s Spring Break in Nova Scotia this week. Ironically, it’s not feeling like much of a break for Mommy! With preschool classes cancelled, we are sticking pretty close to home for the next few days. We are taking a rain check on our weekly public skating and trips to the library. The rink is ridiculously crowded on days the schools are closed. The fast-paced, borderline chaotic atmosphere is a tad intimidating for my two little guys.

The sunny weather is certainly helping our situation and we are spending as much time outdoors as possible. After our yummy lunch, we usually head out to spend the bulk of the afternoon digging, exploring, feeding birds, sweeping the garage, woodworking, baking mud pies, gardening, running and puddle jumping. There never seems to be a shortage of activities in our own backyard to keep Chi-Chi and Muffy captivated and happy.

The mornings are still rather chilly so we’ve also been spending time indoors. I’ve been investing a little time and effort in the evening hours to help make the mornings a little more peaceful and enjoyable for all of us. With the wee ones in dreamland, I’ve been pulling out the toys and indulging a bit in my own desire to relive my childhood! Last night I dug out the farm play set and set up a fun and interesting scene with our collection of props. My intention was to spark a little interest and imagination inside Chi-Chi and Muffy. Henny and Penny were tucked safely and snuggly in the chicken coop with Mr. Fox slinking around outside. I added a shampoo bottles to our plain wooden trucks and created a fleet of tanker trucks, pulling up to the farmyard to collect the fresh morning milk. The family of ducks was swimming happily in the pond. Mr. and Mrs. Owl were nestled in the hayloft, waiting to be brought to life by eager little hands and voices.

My plan worked perfectly. As soon as my little guys set sight on the magical scene before them, they became immediately engrossed in a world of make-believe. They were most pleased with the shampoo bottle tanker trucks! Somehow I wasn't surprised as I knew they would be a huge hit. I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast and morning tea while perusing the newspaper. The children took breaks for breakfast and a diaper change, but played happily for well over an hour. They continued to go back to the scene periodically throughout the day.

As I start chopping veggies for supper, I overhear that Rudolph just arrived on the scene to celebrate Christmas with the farm animals…. Pretty soon the requests will start pouring in for those dreaded Christmas tunes. Ah, the peace and quiet was certainly lovely while it lasted!! (;

Function Over Form

Long before Hubby and I built our home on Seaside Farms, we started collecting antiques. We spent many a weekend driving back roads, sifting through dusty barns and antique shops. We were able to accumulate a nice selection of antique furnishings in those years before we moved into our home. As a result, we were able to design our home with specific key pieces in mind. Our kitchen was designed around an antique pine cabinet that we picked up for a great deal in Quebec. Our main bathroom houses a lovely dry sink and matching cabinet, which serve as a medicine chest and toilet paper storage area! (A huge thank you should be extended to my parents, by the way, for graciously offering their storage services during those years!)

Our knowledge of antiques started out rather limited, but we learned along the way. We are both inherently drawn to primitive pieces from the Maritime Provinces in particular. Our approach has focused on buying what we like and what we can use. Function has always been as much as a priority as form! As the corners of our home filled up with furniture, we’ve focused on smaller acquisitions in recent years. Although I enjoy the decorative aspects of these pieces, I definitely find a useful purpose for each item, no matter how small it may be. An old milk bottle serves as a vase. An apple basket serves as a beautiful display vessel for my wool roving. A vintage stepladder helps the wee ones reach the bathroom sink!

I’m therefore not sure what I was thinking when I purchased an antique washboard a few years ago. It looked rather cute hanging in my laundry room, but I didn’t have much “use” for this item….until my washing machine went on the blink. It came in pretty handy washing some key items for the boys while I waited for the repairman to make his visit. If anything, it gave me an appreciation for the arduous task that laundry was for my ancestors! Let’s just say I was definitely using disposal diapers during that two week period!

I’ve been re-reading my copy of "Heaven on Earth - A Handbook for Parents of Young Children" by Sharifa Oppenheimer. In particular, I’ve been perusing the chapter on “The World of Rhythm” in our lives. The author makes the point that so many of our daily routine tasks have been relegated to machines – vacuuming, laundry, dish washing, coffee grinding, bread baking…etc! She suggested we pull out certain of these tasks and do them by hand with our children, in order to give them a sense of purposeful work. Immediately I thought of my dear little washboard, the perfect size for little hands. I believe it must have been the kind used to wash socks in its day. Once a week, the boys help with laundry day (who are we fooling, every day is laundry day). They are in charge of washing the family’s set of cloth napkins by hand. They complete this task from beginning to end – washing, rinsing and hanging the items out to dry.

So, it seems after all these years, my little washboard, as cute as it is, does indeed have a function around here!

Buy the Book!

I found myself in desperate need of some new reading material this week. The straw that broke the camel’s back was likely the 1000th reading of ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas on Wednesday evening. Wide-eyed and attentive, Chi-Chi and Muffy are captivated by this classic holiday tale and request it most days. Maybe I’m just not in a festive mood, but with spring on my mind, the last thing I want to think about is dear old St. Nick.

The boys and I have been visiting the local library on a weekly basis so we do indeed have some fresh reading material on hand. Every now and then, however, I get the urge to add a few books to the family’s “permanent collection”. I found myself dangerously perusing and drooling over the Usborne books catalogue one evening. With a few clicks of the button, my “wish list” quickly surpassed $100. Sigh… I reminded myself to “question every purchase” and hit the delete button before I could change my mind.

The next day I hit our Value Village Thrift Store to do some treasure hunting in the used book isle. It was my lucky day! All children’s books were 69 cents with an added option to buy 4 get 1 free. “Question every purchase” flew out the window as I filled my cart. I justified that I could not lose at that price.

With warmer weather on my mind, I was able to compile a rather lovely collection of spring-themed reading material for the coming months. I even did a little shopping for the Easter Bunny! Chi-Chi will be receiving a copy of “The Tale of Peter Rabbit”. Little Muffy will be the proud owner of a vintage copy of “I Am A Bunny” by Ole Risom, illustrated by my favorite, Richard Scarry. It’s in mint condition I might add (which I fully realize it won’t be for long). Not surprisingly, the nostalgic in me is drawn to vintage books. The sweet illustrations just make me feel warm and fuzzy inside!

As an offset to all the lovey-dovey fuzziness, I snatched up some great dinosaur books for my monster lovers. To top it all off, I actually stumbled on a copy of one of the Usborne books on my wish list!

I bargained with myself, and do admit to ordering one special Usborne book for Chi-Chi’s upcoming birthday – the Animal Picture Atlas. He’s fascinated with a similar book at preschool and has taken a keen interest in geography lately. Purchase justified! I see no harm in fuelling his desire to learn.

I will not deny that these books are for my personal reading pleasure. Chi-Chi and Muffy will likely never tire of their faithful old favorites. Used books are a great way to keep things fresh for all members of the family and they are a lot kinder on the pocketbook!

Through the Eyes of a Child

She was certainly a beauty in her day I imagine. In my teen years, I used to thumb through the old black and white photographs of her, longing to have inherited a hint of her handsome traits. She had an exotic beauty about her that I admired – raven hair, tanned skin, strong facial features framed by her widow’s peak. I look in the mirror today and try to catch a glimpse of her. The dark hair perhaps? We definitely share a passion for strawberries, that is certain!

A photograph of my grandmother rests faithfully on my bedroom dresser. From the moment I first saw this photo of her, I fell in love with it. I believe she was a youthful twenty-three years old when it was snapped. Beside it I’ve placed a few moon snail shells and beach glass treasures from Youghall Beach – the place in the world closest to her heart.

Although I walk past that photograph several times a day, the other day I took a moment to pick it up and reflect. Hubby was away on a business trip for the better part of last week so there wasn’t much quiet reflection going on while I was on 24/7 monkey duty! Memories of Nanny flooded my mind. Memories of strawberry jam, walks on the sandbars, her frumpy grandmother bathing suits and her screeching and hollering at the Saturday night hockey game on TV. I suddenly longed so desperately to know the woman behind Nanny on a different level – an adult level. I came to the realization that I only ever knew her through the eyes of a child. She passed away when I was in my early twenties, but had suffered from the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s’ Disease in the years leading up to her death. I focus my thoughts on her healthy years, but feel restricted by a child’s memory and point of view. I would love so much to sit down with her over tea today and see this woman for who she really was. She raised three sons so no doubt she could offer some useful advice in that department! She would have gotten such a kick out of Chi-Chi’s and Muffy’s antics!

Though it is early March, and winter is far from over in my neck of the woods, I find myself dreaming of my trip to Youghall Beach this summer. It’s a place where the past meets the present in our family. My own children delight in the magic of this special place, just as the generations before them did. As I walk those bars, the firm sand under my feet is a direct link to my past and my grandmother. Long before cottages dotted the shoreline, Nanny walked those same bars. She must have done so a thousand times.

So I sit and wonder about what impressions and memories are being ingrained in my children’s minds. What image of their mother will they carry with them from their childhood? Certainly something to ponder…

Bunny Love

Chi-Chi was born in early April four years ago. I remember this time in my life so vividly, as if it were just last week. It was the “year of the bunnies” around these parts. As I sat in my bed nursing my newborn son, I would count bunnies on the front lawn. At any given moment, one might spot five or six of these furry little friends, munching happily on tender green grass. Every time I come across a bunny, I think of this special time in my life and the birth of my firstborn “bunny”.

So, needless to say, I’ve got a soft spot in my heart for bunnies. With Chi-Chi’s birthday and Easter coming up in a month or so, I’ve got bunnies on the brain. I’ve been working on a couple of cuddly felted rabbits on behalf of the Easter Bunny himself. Call me traditional, but there is just something appropriate about giving the gift of a stuffed bunny at Easter. This Fiber Trends pattern was incredibly easy to follow, but it did require a certain level of concentration to keep track of where I was. I'm a novice knitter so I was new to "short rows". It was a great “after hours” project with the kiddies in bed. This suited me just fine as I was working in secrecy anyway! I used Lamb’s Pride worsted yarn for both bunnies and stuffed them with soft wool fleece. I considered tucking a sachet of lavender in their bellies to enhance the calming effect of these cuddly creatures, but decided against it at the last minute. I’ve encountered one too many cases of the stomach flu recently and decided it would be best to keep these little guys as “wash friendly” as possible!

I always witness the felting process with such amazement. The before and after shots of our friend Peter Rabbit are quite shocking. The pre-felted, pre-stuffed bunny was actually somewhat disturbing to me, eerily resembling road kill, as opposed to the soft cuddly companion I had envisioned!

And they call it "Bunny Love"...

A Spring Preview

Although we are in the midst of yet another dousing of snow and freezing rain, spring made a brief and much-appreciated appearance yesterday. We jumped at the opportunity to participate in a few “fair weather” activities including bike riding and puddle jumping. I was pretty tickled to see the mercury rise enough above freezing to hang a batch of freshly dyed wool on the line. A brisk sea breeze and a good dose of sun does the job in record time. I’m just itching to start working on a new project for someone very special, so the faster this wool dried the better!

As the sap starts to run in the trees, so do the ideas in my head. This limbo period between our farewell to winter and the arrival of spring is a time for thinking, planning, dreaming and anticipating.

Though our glimpse of spring was short-lived to say the least, it was just what we needed to get the enthusiasm flowing through our veins. I think we all caught a mild case of spring fever yesterday. Daydreaming of:

...spring chickens...


...and tasty garden beans...


...and a life free of hats, mittens, zippers, buckles and bulky snow suits! Thanks for the preview spring. We all look forward to the upcoming release of the full version!

Like Father, Like Sons

It seems our frequent trips to the beach over the last few weeks have reignited an interest in surfing around here. For the time being, the monkeys will have to be satisfied with the makeshift waves I made for them. It’s just a little too icy to send these two wee ones frolicking in the ocean waters!

They come by their passion for surfing honestly I suppose. Perhaps it is simply ingrained in their DNA codes. Anybody who knows Hubby is well aware that he is a dedicated surfer. Many people (myself included) would argue that another word for dedicated in this case might be a tad “crazy”. I’m not sure what kind of metabolism rate he’s churning out, but he must have one hot set of coals inside his belly if he can brave those frigid wind and water temperatures during these winter months. Of course, I realize he’s wearing a wet suit, but I actually begin to develop hypothermia at the mere thought of venturing into the fierce Atlantic Ocean in sub-zero temperatures. I’ve witnessed him out there in minus 20 wind chill, paddling his way through slush in an attempt to catch that perfect wave. The size and strength of the waves themselves also sends a shiver down my spine. It may have something to do with the fact that my repertoire of swimming strokes is limited to the dog paddle, but he braves some seriously scary situations. As his darling wife, I honestly try not to think about it!

Somehow this month, I caught an extremely mild case of the surfing bug myself. Sitting at my rug hooking frame with blank burlap canvass before me, I found myself sketching waves. I guess the boys have been playing a lot of basement hockey because it didn’t seem to take me that long to create this little rug. I suppose it is inspired by the amount of time my husband spends analyzing, observing, checking and re-checking the surf conditions around here. I guess I can’t be too critical. His obsession with the sport of surfing likely rivals my wool obsession! I’ll give him the first right of refusal on this rug, but perhaps it will be a nice submission to this year’s Surf Art Show.

So for the time being, we’ll continue to crank the Beach Boys (painful, painful, painful) and surf our way around the living room while we anxiously await those summer sunny days!

My Rose Colored Glasses

Last week, my good friend April and I took our crew to the beach for a dose of fresh air and a chance to burn off some energy. Despite the frigid air and water temperatures, Chi-Chi and Bananamuffin splashed shin deep in the surf as if it were July. Thankfully, I learned my lesson on our last beach excursion and outfitted Chi-Chi in a set of knee-high rubber boots this time around!

After our jaunt at the beach, we all made our way back to Seaside Farms to warm up, catch up and play! Standing in my kitchen, sipping hot tea, our conversation drifted to the enjoyment we’ve both discovered from blogging. We had a bit of a chuckle as we reflected on the aspects of our lives that are purposefully omitted from our postings. We both acknowledged that our writing most often focuses on the positive, the joy, the beauty and magic moments in our day-to-day lives. In my case, my blog originated as a personal creative outlet and a fun way to keep family and close friends up to speed on the daily events in our family’s life. It has evolved and shifted over time, but still remains as a means to highlight and remind myself of the “good” in my life. As I read through past entries, I often pause to smile and appreciate all that I have. It’s a sure fire way to give myself a little pick-me-up when I’m feeling down or having a cranky day!

So, feel free to read between the lines for a reality check! Know that it’s not rosy around here every day! This photo is a glimpse of what my house looks like today. This is what happens when I’m distracted with my crafts and the wee ones are busy and happy entertaining themselves. While I was lost in my “art”, crocheting yummy woolen strawberries and sipping tea, Chi-Chi and Muffy were hard at work for the city's waste removal department. The garbage trucks were hauling trash to “the dump” all morning long. I believe this pile includes every single last toy in the house!

Someone please remind me of the words to that catchy toddler tune. "Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere.....".

In the Company of Crafts

Nothing quite warms the body and soul on a cold winter day than crafting by the warmth of my woodstove. These days, most of my creative endeavors take place after the sun goes down. A perfect winter evening in my books includes a ball of wool, a cup of tea (of course) and a quilt on my lap. I cherish these peaceful dark hours at the end of a busy day. With the little ones tucked in bed, I am free to let my mind wander and think as I work on my project in uninterrupted luxury!

I’ve got quite a number of creative efforts on my plate at the moment. For one reason or another, spring is an eventful time in our family. Holidays and birthdays fill the pages of the calendar during April and May. My handmade Christmas was so rewarding and successful that I have plans to continue the tradition during other gift-giving events throughout the year. In order to keep it light and fun, it’s important for me to stay ahead of the game. As long as the pressure is off, I enjoy the making of the gift just as much as the giving. Last minute scrambling and I just don’t jive. I would hate to offer a handcrafted gift that was created with a negative, stressed and rushed mindset.

Winter weather and woolly crafts just seem to go hand in hand for all members of the family (except Hubby it seems). Little Chi-Chi has been working diligently on his share of woolen creations. Both of the little ones display such a curiosity and interest in everything that goes on around here and a genuine enthusiasm to participate. He’s been sewing “hooked rugs” on burlap this past week – an idea I borrowed from his Montessori preschool. My colorful basket of yarn sits between us as we work quietly beside one another - sharing wool, good company and a love for handicrafts.

With Hubby being a tax accountant, he’s heading into a hectic couple of months! At least I’ll have my crafts to keep me company while the poor guy burns the midnight oil at the office!

The Story Unfolds...

In just over a month, my “baby” Chi-Chi will be turning four years old! At the very top of his birthday wish list is a goalie stick. It’s going to be a long wait for this poor little guy, who begs and pleads for this coveted item every day. A month is no doubt an eternity to a four-year-old. No, I won’t be attempting to a “Wood Fairy” version of a goalie stick! I’m sure the Canadian Tire version will do just fine.

As one would expect, I feel a need to make something special for my sweet little boy – an offering of my love for him on this memorable occasion. I’ve been racking my brain for ideas, but was starting to experience a mild case of “toy makers block”. I’ve done some serious toy making the last two years so the idea bank is starting to dry up!

Just when I least expected it, a light bulb went off in my head! I’m sure all parents of young children find themselves in this position. It’s bedtime and you are completely exhausted and zapped from the activities of the day. You are snuggled in bed with your little one, nodding off as you try hopelessly to get through the arguably painful text of Green Eggs and Ham. On such occasions, when I simply cannot keep my eyes open, I shut off the lights and pull out my repertoire of homemade stories. These stories are great as the little ones don’t know the words (and therefore can’t correct you when you fall asleep mid sentence). Since there is no book, they can be told with eyes closed! Chi-Chi is quite fond of my series of stories depicting the adventures and antics of my childhood dog, the infamous Barney Beagle. Anyone who has ever known a beagle will be well aware of the trouble these softhearted little characters can get into!

Despite my love of “no book” stories, I decided it would be fun to write and illustrate a homemade treasury of the Adventures of Barney Beagle. It will be a sure hit with Chi-Chi as he absolutely loves these tales. It will also serve as a keepsake for all members of our family who hold fond (and not so fond) memories of this special little dog. When I first informed Hubby of my plans, he reminded me of a report issued by my Grade 10 art class teacher, “You are attempting to draw all sides of the object at the same time”. Ok, I will admit, I’m no artist! Despite this constructive criticism, I pulled out my watercolor pencils and some paper and set to work on the first set of illustrations. (Thanks to Robyn for a little inspiration here) I did a test run and scanned a painting into the computer, pairing it up with the accompanying text. I’m not yet sure how I will print and bind the final product. Any suggestions would be welcome!!

These sample drawings give a sneak peek of what’s to come. I apologize for the graphic nature of some of the subject matter. Yes, that is a picture of someone pulling a pair of stockings out of Barney’s behind. All I can say is that it is based on actual people, animals and events. Family members out there, I’m taking submissions of stories to be included so drop me a note if you think of any!

No doubt in thirty years or so I'll be hard at work on the sequel to this book for my grandchildren...... "The Antics and Adventures of the Infamous Chi-Chi and Muffy". Oh, the stories I'll have to tell!!

A Day at the Beach

My little explorers are always getting into something around the house. In the very literal sense, no stone remains unturned around here! This week they were rooting around in the hall closet and gleefully discovered a bin of summer clothing. Who wouldn’t get an itch to hit the beach once decked out in sandals, swimsuits and sunhats?

Anxious to take advantage of the blue skies and sunshine, our family decided to visit one of our favorite summertime destinations – Rainbow Haven Beach. It took a fair amount of convincing, but we finally managed to get Chi-Chi to trade in his sandals for a more reasonable pair of warm winter boots. We compromised by allowing the swimsuit to remain, as long as he wore his snowsuit over top of it!

Despite the fact this beautiful sandy beach is a mere two-minute drive from our home, I’m ashamed to admit we have not been there in months. I must remind myself to visit more frequently as it is the perfect place for an afternoon walk with the kiddies. It turns out that winter may actually be a preferred time of year for a beach walk since you are free of the summer crowds. The kids ran, stretched their legs and splashed about on the edge of the shore. There was lots of exploring and beachcombing to be done as we sifted through the debris and seaweed resulting from the recent winter storm. The little explorers discovered two skate egg cases as well as the shell of a green crab. Now this is the type of exploring I like to encourage! These are much more interesting discoveries than the things they pull out from under the bathroom sink!

With our treasures in tow we headed home to warm up and guzzle down some much needed hot chocolate. Curious little Chi-Chi was quick to pull out his copy of Canada's Atlantic Seashore and look up his discoveries. I was happy to learn something new myself! Though my sister and I collected skate egg cases as children, I never knew they were referred to as “mermaid purses”. A family stroll on the beach opened the door to a lesson in the life cycle of the skate fish for all of us!

Ah, another great day at the beach!

A Matter of Perspective

We find ourselves once again enveloped by a fierce winter storm. I spent the morning gathering reinforcements (i.e. groceries!) to prepare for bunkering down with the family. With the knowledge that yet another wallop of wintry weather would soon descend upon us, I made an effort to get out with Chi-Chi and Muffy as much as possible these last few days.

This past summer, I spent endless hours sitting on my back deck, playing with wool as the wee ones played in the sandbox. I likely spent $120 on sand to fill the generously sized box, but it was well worth the investment! Little did I know it would serve recreational purposes year-round. Yes, Mother Nature recently converted the beloved sandbox into a backyard rink! In my adult opinion, it’s a bit skimpy as far as rinks go, measuring a mere six by six feet. Chi-Chi and Muffy, however, could care less about these meager dimensions. They are eager to get their skates laced up and glide (as much as that’s possible) around the tiny ice surface. It’s all a matter of perspective I suppose. When you are little, your surroundings must seem somewhat magnified.

Hey, if the monkeys are happy, I’m happy. I’ve been enjoying a chance to sit on my deck and relax once again, despite the fact I’m freezing my behind off in the sub zero temperatures! I’m a bit of a “busy-body” so sitting in the frigid cold with idle hands is hard for me to do. Reminiscent of those warm summer days, I brought along a set of rainbow bowls I'm currently working on. I thought the sunny colored yarn would brighten up the somewhat drab white, grey and brown landscape. Surprisingly, I was able to accomplish a fair amount, despite the fact that my fingers nearly froze off and I lost my favorite crochet hook in the snow. Sigh....With the newest dousing of snow, my poor hook is not likely to be recovered any time soon! Alas, this is definitely not the last we'll see of Old Man Winter.

Once again, a lesson to be learned from the little ones. While I'm shivering and dreaming of Spring, Chi-Chi and Muffy are marvelling at the magic of the season and the fun to be had. It's all a matter of perspective!

Oh Deer!

The boys and I have been working with numbers a fair bit lately. Chi-Chi in particular has been counting everything in sight. For the past couple of weeks, a mama deer and her three young ones have been frequent visitors on our property. In fact, they are with us so often the novelty has worn off for all of us. Needless to say, when Chi-Chi started counting deer the other day, I didn’t exactly set down my tea and jump from my chair. I did, however, become a tad skeptical when his tally reached the number seven. Wow! That classifies as a herd in my books! I was lucky enough to snap a shot of all seven of our visitors. Of course, I’m all “lovey dovey” about our little friends while the snow is on the ground. Come spring, I’ll be out there in my gardening boots, trying desperately to outsmart them with some crazy “Deer Defense System”. I’ve yet to find a solution to the annual massacre of my tulips!

In keeping with the counting theme, I came up with a fun activity for the wee ones that also benefited Mommy. How I love “win, win” activities as I like to refer to them. I’m sure I’m not the only one out there with a bucket of pennies gathering dust in the closet. To be honest, it’s a bucket of pennies, nickels and dimes. I’m not sure when nickels and dimes were demoted to the “worthless pot” but sadly that is the attitude around here. It appears that quarters are still considered “valuable” as I could not find one in the whole bunch! I pulled out the coin rolling tubes and put the monkeys to work rolling money. Not only was this a great counting exercise, but it also tied in a bit of Montessori work through the sorting aspect. Chi-Chi and Muffy were paid for all their hard work and will be making a trip to the bank tomorrow to deposit their pennies into their savings accounts.

Now if I could only get that little Muffy to count sheep at night.....we could all get some sleep around here!!

Nest Eggs

With all the drab grey weather this past week, I felt all of us could use a healthy dose of color around here. What better place to look than my wool stash! Chi-Chi and Muffy are always keen to get their sticky little hands into my basket of multi-colored unspun fleece. I often find these two monkeys at the bathroom sink, up to their elbows in warm soapy water as they swish and squeeze their latest “felting” project. Today we pulled out the basket and created a couple of fun felted balls for their indoor hockey games. No pucks in the house please!!!

The Wool Fairy has been having her share of fun with the wool stash as well. I’ve been working on some woolly Easter eggs to add to our collection from last year. These eggs were originally intended to be Easter decorations, but were quickly snatched up by Chi-Chi and put to better use. They are a favorite in our household and never left the toy box, despite the passing of the Easter holiday. With all the backyard chicken talk and preparations around here, these eggs have served as the inspiration for a variety of interesting games and play scenarios. No word of a lie, Chi-Chi spent four long hours sitting on those eggs one day. He refused to eat, pee or move as he faithfully served out his nesting mother hen responsibilities. Thankfully, that game ended, despite the fact I secretly enjoyed a rare few hours of peace and serenity around here! Both little guys enjoy incorporating these fun woolly eggs into their counting games. With their numerical skills improving by the day, I figured we needed a few more in the basket.

These little eggies are so much fun to make, I may do up a few extra, so look out for them in my Etsy shop.

Some Bunny Loves You...

Due to a scheduling conflict, our family celebrated Valentine’s Day a little early this year. Our low-key festivities included a yummy spaghetti dinner and some crafty homemade Valentines. Chi-Chi and Muffy were busy all week creating their Valentine offerings. Borrowing tradition from my own childhood, our family has a “Valentine mailbox”. A week or so before the special day, our mailbox is placed on the dining room table. All love notes and small tokens are placed in the box, which is opened at the family Valentine dinner. The anticipation builds all week as deliveries are made to this decorated shoebox. Needless to say, the box was filled to the brim with colorful notes and clippings from our two little love bugs!

As a parent, I struggle with the holidays and the excess that seems to go hand-in-hand with these celebrations. A recent stroll by the “holiday” section of my local grocery store definitely confirms that Valentine's Day is certainly not immune to the trend towards excessiveness. Yikes! We steer our cart clear of those isles! Hubby and I have been making a conscious effort to keep gift giving “reasonable”. Our children are still so young so it is a good opportunity to set expectations low! I did, however, want to give the little ones a small token of love. Despite the commercialism behind Valentines’ Day, I do think it is a nice opportunity to express love for those special people in our lives. Chi-Chi and Muffy each received a little chocolate treat and a special wooden bunny made by Mommy. The boys were pretty smitten with their new little friends (and the chocolate treat of course). Though small, simple and inexpensive, these little Valentines were given with tons of love and the message that “some bunny” loves them very very much!

Happy Valentines Day!

The Great Outdoors

Today was one of those days I had to absolutely force myself to get all three of us bundled up and out into the fresh winter air. Despite the blue skies and sunshine, I was feeling chilled to the bone. Somehow, snuggling on my quilt covered couch with my fingers wrapped around a warm mug of tea seemed more appealing!

With two energetic boys bouncing off my walls (literally), it was imperative for this lazy mama to get off her bottom and out the door. As a bonus, I figured I would get a little wear out of my much loved “lifestyle hat”. As usual, once outside, my energy was renewed. The little ones and I went on a nature walk and scavenger hunt to gather supplies for afternoon crafting activities. These little guys never cease to amaze me with their remarkable memories and their ability to retain mountains of information. As Chi-Chi meandered through the brush, he readily identified alder catkins, wild rose hips and spruce cones. We all had a ball following the deer track trails and the boys absolutely delighted in identifying the plentiful amount of bunny and deer poop. Boys will be boys is all I can say! Luckily they agreed that bunny poop was probably not appropriate for our collage box.

Just over a year ago I read Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. I really connected with the message in this book and keep it in the back of my mind on these lazy winter days when I would much rather hibernate than venture out into the great outdoors. Louv emphasizes the importance of teaching our children about the natural world in their own backyards. I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about the trees, plants and animals that share our land with us. I have my parents to thank for this. My sister and I grew up in a home where nature was a focus. At an early age, we learned to identify the beautiful wildflowers on our walks down the “country road”. We took a keen interest in the sea creatures that lived on the shores nearby. The family’s plentiful supply of nature books was always on hand when we were stumped by a new discovery. Needless to say, I won’t be relying on the public school system to educate my children in this area. I’m hoping that by allowing the little ones to explore our property freely, they take an interest in their plant and animal friends and will learn to appreciate and respect the natural world. Our nature walks have also served as a great “refresher” course for Mommy!

After warming our toes by the woodstove with a creamy cup of hot chocolate, we whipped up a batch of flour and water paste and sorted through our “treasures”. Chi-Chi was most proud of a special seedpod he discovered that appeared to have been pecked or nibbled by a hungry critter.

So, our outing was definitely worth the effort. I am, however, back on the couch, quilts tucked around me, tea in hand!

Self Indulgence

A few weeks ago, my good friend April and I embarked on a “Girls Only” road trip. Ok, so roundtrip, I was only away for six hours…. It actually felt like an eternity to be away from the wee ones for that long. I guess I don’t get out much!

Our destination was the picturesque town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to pick up a ten-foot antique store counter. This beauty will serve as the focal point in Nurtured's new retail location which will be opening its doors this spring. Luckily for me, April was happy to mix business with pleasure! We enjoyed a leisurely drive down and took the time to stop for a yummy relaxing lunch as well as a browse through the local wool shop, Have A Yarn in Mahone Bay (of course!!)

Despite my yearning and drooling, I managed to resist temptation (at least this time around). One of my new year’s resolutions was to use up at least a bit of my yarn stash before adding to the ever-growing pile. April, on the other hand, picked up a beautiful multi-colored skein of hand-dyed Fleece Artist wool along with a hat and fingerless glove pattern by Perl Grey. She claimed she was “buying the lifestyle” depicted in the accompanying photo of a beautiful girl looking cozy and relaxed on a cobble Nova Scotia beach. I started thinking I could use a slice of that “lifestyle” myself. As Chi-Chi likes to preach to Muffy, “Sharing is caring!”. I guess April cares because she lent her pattern to me.

I’ve been so busy the last few months making Christmas gifts and items for the kiddies, that I’ve not done any “self indulgence" crafting. So, over the past couple of weeks, I’ve focused on me!! I'm long overdue for my own set of warm woolies to keep me toasty in the winter weather. Here’s a photo of Muffy modeling my new “lifestyle hat” as I like to refer to it. I stuck to my guns about limiting my yarn acquisitions and actually used recycled yarn for this project. I sourced the yarn by unraveling a scarf that was gathering dust in my closet. The gorgeous grass green color by the Fleece Artist reminds me of spring….wishful thinking. I also got around to knitting an adorable pair of “Easy Cotswold Mittens”. I picked up this pattern at Gaspereau Valley Fibres last summer. Their homegrown Cotswold yarn is very likely my favorite yarn of all time. Brenda hand-dyes the most amazing colors and I’m happy to finally have my own set of these cozy mittens.

Of course, I could not resist knitting up a couple of too cute felted mittens for the kids while I was in the mitten mood. It’s just my maternal nature I suppose!

Me Do It!

It’s yet another snow day in these parts. We passed on preschool this morning as it simply wasn’t worth risking slippery roads with two little ones in tow.

With just one monkey underfoot on preschool mornings, I usually reserve this time to get the house in a state of acceptable order and cleanliness. I’m certain that one of these days, a health and safety inspector is going to show up at my door to measure the amount of food caked to my dining room floor! It drives me batty but my attempts to keep up with it have all ended in complete failure. Muffy ensures a steady stream of oatmeal, yogurt and scrambled eggs hits the floor at regular intervals throughout the day. All hope was lost until Chi-Chi became the self-titled “Scrubber”. With his scrubby sponge in hand, this little guy can work wonders on those hardwood floors.

I’ve been doing a lot of reading and thinking and reorganizing these past couple of weeks. I borrowed Positive Discipline from the lending library at Chi-Chi’s preschool and it has prompted me to make an adjustment in my approach and attitude. Inspired by this book, as well as the Montessori approach I’m witnessing first hand at preschool, I’m making a concerted effort to get the little ones to take on more responsibility around our household. As Muffy would say, I’m promoting and supporting the concept of “Me do it!”

I’ve approached my efforts with an easy access attitude. If the kids can access their belongings easily, then they can put them away easily (in theory!!). The walk-in closet in our mudroom houses the kids’ wardrobes and has recently been named the “Hockey Dressing Room”. Chi-Chi was asked to review his bulging stack of clothes and to pick out his three favorite pants and shirts. The rest were put away in storage. He is now happily choosing his outfit and dressing himself. I think he feels a sense of pride that he was able to make the decision. He’s definitely not making a fashion statement, but he’s comfy and that’s what matters I suppose! Chi-Chi also chose more easily accessible storage locations for his apron and cleaning supplies. They no longer have to request access to the broom closet to retrieve these items. Once again, the pride he is exhibiting in making these choices means they are more often being put away properly.

I’ve also assigned a few small daily “chores”. They are responsible for setting the dinner table and clearing the plates. Instead of loading the lunch dishes in the dishwasher, I’ve been setting them aside for Chi-Chi and Muffy to wash by hand.

Don’t get me wrong, my house is still a complete disaster zone most days! These new efforts are not running 100% smoothly and I have found that perhaps I’m creating a make work project for myself. Greater involvement in meal preparation leads to even more food on the floor. Greater involvement in the cleaning efforts leads to occasional minor flooding! Seconds after that photo of the vacuuming was taken, the brush attachment was melted on the wood stove by a curious three and a half year old. I guess I’m banking on some long term benefits from this “investment” including strong self-esteem, independence and self-sufficiency (and maybe a cleaner house!)