Fields of Gold

There is nothing quite like jumping into fresh week after having spent a wonderful weekend with those you love. After being away for a few days to visit my parents in the Annapolis Valley, I enjoyed a bustling morning in the kitchen, organizing and preparing food for the week ahead. With a fresh batch of yogurt out of the pot and straining, I set to work on a double batch of homemade crackers. Crackers are always a quick and easy snack for the boys, so they are convenient to have on hand when Mama is tired (or feeling lazy). A recent Bulk Barn shopping spree has my pantry cupboard overflowing with a fabulous selection of grains and seeds. I'm taking a baby step approach to eliminating as many pre-packaged foods from our lives as possible. Last week was the yogurt experiment, this week I'm "cracking down" on boxed crackers! Muffy served as the taste-taster this morning and the results of my efforts received glowing reviews. The crackers were gobbled up in an instant the the yogurt bowl was licked clean. I always get a warm, cozy feeling of satisfaction when I witness my children truly enjoying wholesome, healthy foods.

Here is the cracker recipe that I compiled from a few sources, one being an old photocopy from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada.

1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/2 cup bulger
1 cup white flour
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup buttermilk (I used the left over whey from the yogurt making)

Combine dry ingredients and cut in butter. Add buttermilk and stir well.
Shape into 6 balls and roll out on a floured surface as thin as you can.
Transfer to a baking sheet.
Bake at 350 for 10 minutes
Let cool on wire rack until crips. Break into smaller pieces.
Hide from your husband and children and ration out carefully so they last more than one day.

Since I found myself working in the kitchen, I figured it would be rather efficient of me to get a bit of wool dyeing done! I came home with a bushel of dandelion blooms from my trip to the Valley. The fields last week were a breathtaking and brilliant yellow. Isn't it funny how these flowers get such a bad reputation? I was so taken by the stunning beauty of these fields. I'm not so sure the results from the dyepot will be as vibrant or awe-inspiring! My experience with the nettles was a tad drab and disappointing. I suppose it is more about the process of slowing down, gathering, preparing, creating.....and the fact I feel just the tiniest bit like Laura Ingalls while I'm out foraging!

Yes You Can...Yogurt!

Last Saturday evening I settled down with a nice cup of tea and my laptop to take a leisurely stroll though some of my favorite blogs. After having completed a fair amount of sewing projects the previous week, I felt a little down time was in order. My first click lead me to Sherrie over at Twenty Two Pleasant. She pointed me over here for instructions on do-it-yourself homemade yogurt. So much for some down time! Before I could even empty my teacup I was on my way back to the kitchen to give this recipe a whirl. It seemed so simple and too good to be true.

The next morning I was up with Rocky the Rooster (he serves as the alarm clock around here....but I can't seem to change the setting to something more reasonable!!). I must say, I was pretty impressed when I opened the lid and discovered a yummy, tangy batch of homemade yogurt. In no time I found myself throwing together a batch of homemade granola to pair up with my yogurt. Though our Sunday mornings usually call for pancakes, we strayed from tradition and served homemade yogurt and granola topped with maple syrup and strawberries. Absolutely divine! I'm hooked and so excited to add another little do-it-yourself trick to my limited repertoire. I made another batch mid week as the first was gobbled up in no time, and success once again. Give it a try! I swear it is fool proof!

Yes, my stove top has seen lots of action over the last few days. The dye pot has been going non-stop. The fresh spring air and sunshine always get me in the mood to hang freshly dyed skeins on the line. I just recently started tinkering with natural dyes. I treated myself to an early Mother's Day gift - The Craft of Natural Dyeing by Jenny Dean. Ironically I opened this week's CSA box from Taproot Farms and discovered a bag of stinging nettle calling out to me. What a dilemma - feed these amazing nutrient packed greens to my family, or sacrifice them to the dye pot. I guess I'm a selfish person. I chose the later. I'm dreaming of a pair of nettle mittens for myself next winter! Perhaps we'll get more nettles next week and I promise, we will eat every single one....or maybe the whole family should have nettle mittens. What's a Wool Fairy to do?

I received another early Mother's Day gift this week from my sweet little boy, Muffy. He presented this gorgeous arrangement to me that he created at preschool yesterday. Honestly, I'm in awe of the work of this little three year old boy. It is sitting proudly at the centre of our dining room table, bringing joy to me at each glance. The children have been doing Ikebana arrangements at their Montessori preschool for the last couple of months. It is amazing to see what these small children are capable of when given the opportunity and tools. It's just a reminder to me of why I have always been so drawn to Montessori.

So of course I've got a Montessori inspired activity going on today with Chi-Chi and Muffy working away on the latest task - gathering dandelion blooms for the dye pot. Why am I not feeling that guilty about this dye job?

Celebrate Good Times!

Wahoo! It is a cause for celebration in our house. Yesterday marked the official end of tax season. Yipee! Yay! Yipee! (Did I mention I was excited). Although I wasn't the one who was burning the midnight oil, we've all missed Hubby during this busy time. Now that the deadline is behind us, I'm looking forward to a more regular and normal routine.

Hats off to Daddy for making a solid effort this year to get home for as many bedtimes as possible. Meals were a bit more tricky, especially with two hungry and growing boys who start hounding for supper earlier and earlier each day. Meal planning has definitely been a lot simpler during this busy time. I'm looking forward to getting back on track, trying out new recipes and enjoying the bountiful selection of fresh food from Taproot Farms- as a family. I've got a cabbage the size of a basketball in my fridge that I've been nibbling away at. I need that big strong man of mine to eat a good chunk of it for me!!

In anticipation of the return to normalcy around here, I spent a couple of evenings last week stitching up a fresh new set of place mats to add some fun and beauty to our family dinner hour. This has been on my to-do list for quite some time. Our faithful old set of mats has gotten pretty darn grungy over the last while. Quite frankly, they are really quite digusting and not very appetizing. Something clean and fresh was in order. I had been stewing over possible color and fabric combinations when I came across a few yards of a basic red and white checker pattern at Value Village the other day. I snatched it up for $1.99 and had enough to complete a set of eight place mats. I think they have a fun summer picnic feel to them. I appliqued a gnome friend on two of the mats to add a twist for the boys. This fabric was left over from Chi-Chi's quilt and both boys were quite tickled about their new mats. Chi-Chi exclaimed, "Mommy, the table looks so beautiful tonight!" I noticed that he, in particular, sat up a little straighter in his chair tonight and was on his best behaviour. He even gobbled up his full serving of nutrient-packed fiddle heads! A few simple touches including the candles and a vase of spring branches seemed to added to the warm and cozy atmosphere of our time together as a family.

I was so inspired by the mere thought of summer that I dug into my stash of frozen strawberries and baked up some stawberry short cake as a celebratory dessert. Yum! So much to look forward to in the months ahead!

Patience is a Virtue

If patience is a virtue, than I guess I’m not much of a virtuous person! I do love gardening, but sometimes I find the waiting game a little hard to swallow. I’m anxiously awaiting the tender taste of home grown spinach, peas and lettuce from the rich brown soil. Since I just planted these rows a couple of weeks ago, I realize I’ve got a fair wait ahead of me. In light of this fact, and my rather impatient nature, I've been participating in a bit of instant gratification gardening. Ok, the word instant is a slight exaggeration! In gardening terms however, 36 hours from seed to plate is pretty darn instant.

Last year I purchased a little counter top sprouting system. I picked mine up at Eos Fine Foods in Wolfville, but no doubt many other natural food stores carry them. This no fail system is super simple and the results are fast and delicious! For lunch I munched on a tasty salad topped with healthy handful of organic alfalfa and red clover sprouts. My home sprouter proved to be a great source of fresh organic greenery during those bleak and cold winter months. If you share both my love of gardening and my impatient nature, a countertop sprouter may just be what you need! I’m certainly enjoying the daily harvest around here......though I'm still dreaming of my sugar snap peas.

You can see from the photograph, that other creatures have their eyes and hearts set on those peas. The chickens and I are in the midts of a battle of the wits. I'm ashamed to admit that I am losing this fight miserably. We erected a 6 foot high fence around their designated "area" to deter critters from getting in and critters from getting out. Being birds, my feathered friends just fly over my fence. It appears they too love fresh sprouts as they scratch away in my garden plots. I spent a good chunk of time this week erecting various nets and other chicken scare systems. The winner of this battle will earn the prize of the harvest. Who are you betting on?

A Break...Literally!

It has been many moons since I've taken time to visit this space. A much needed break I suppose with the busyness that the month of April brings to our household each spring. With Hubby being a tax accountant, this time of year is always crunch time, the effects of which trickle through to all members of the family. The craziness is soon coming to an end with April 30th fast approaching!

To add a twist to our already hectic month, Chi-Chi took a break of his own, literally. My sweet boy broke his leg a couple of weeks ago. Quite frankly, I'm surprised this has not happened sooner in my house full of gravity-defying, fearless boys (Hubby included in this category). All is well and the fracture is quite minor. The first week was rough, on my aching back in particular. Since he received a walking cast, life is almost back to normal. He's back to playing hockey, tramping around the yard and engaging in other general boy like behavior.

For a short period of time in our house, there was a focus inward. I sought out quiet activities for Chi-Chi to focus on while his movement was very limited. Our quiet days together were filled with the beloved Laura Ingalls Wilder and the wonderful world of Lego. Luckily, he's a very focused little guy and seemed to have no problem shifting gears and sitting still for extended periods of time. With so much time spent indoors, I had a chance to dig into and complete something I've been picking away at for a few months - Chi's-Chi's quilt. Chi-Chi himself was a great little helper, returning the pins carefully to my pincushion while I whirred away on the sewing machine. Both of us are very pleased with the final result. Since I'm new to quilting and had absolutely no idea what I was doing, I decided to go with the tied quilt method. I chose some fun fabrics that my little guy would enjoy examining in detail. It's a bit of a mish-mash, but I like the vibrant, playful effect the combination of colors and prints produced. It was fabricated using both new and re-purposed fabrics from various sources.

I simply must spread word of my new favorite fabric shop where I picked up some great supplies for this project. Many of the prints I chose were 1930's reproduction feed sack prints. I found these at Avonport Discount Fabrics located just off the 101 Highway in Avonport. Has anyone else ever been to this hidden gem? I was literally squealing when I stumbled on them. Some of the antique and vintage quilts in my collection include a few of these prints. The chicken print is my favorite and how appropriate for our family. My squealing continued when the kind ladies introduced me to a lusciously soft wool batting. I wasn't even aware this product existed. How could the Wool Fairy use anything but this for batting?!! I bought enough for three quilts then and there. The highlight of this shop you ask? The playhouse located smack in the middle of the store. The boys were completely occupied while I leisurely browsed through the bolts. During our most recent trip to the Valley, Chi-Chi and Muffy enthusiastically requested a trip to the "Playhouse Fabric Shop". Twist my arm!

Now that Chi-Chi's quilt is complete, my mind is dreaming of a quilt to keep my little Muffy warm and snug. With spring in the air and a fresh load of manure and garden soil in my yard, it's time to take a break from sewing. With his walking cast wrapped in duct tape and plastic bags, Chi-Chi's right at my side these days in the garden. We must take in the sunshine and fresh air while we can and save the sewing for the foggy, rainy days, which are an inevitable part of Spring in our neck of the woods.

Freewheeling and Cosmic Adventures

There is a definite shift taking place. Spring IS in the air. Hubby chuckled this morning when I declared I had begun my spring cleaning. I spent most of yesterday washing curtains, quilts and sheets, hanging them to dry in the fresh spring air. He reminded me that it is still winter. Yes, Old Man Winter is sure to make a few more appearances in Nova Scotia, but on days like today, I will revel in the blue sky and sunshine.

I made an executive decision to skip our regular gymnastics class and hit the skate park. Any guilt I was feeling for shirking on our commitment evaporated the moment the boys sped away on their bicycles, wind and sun rosying their cheeks. I am fortunate to have access to this skate park with a glorious ocean view. We usually schedule our visits in the morning when the "big kids" are in school. It does sadden me, however, to see this community park scarred by vandalism and graffiti. On the bright side, it opened up a conversation on the matter......always something to learn with little ones around.

We also took our crafting and learning activities al fresco today. Sheltered by the cool ocean breeze, we tucked ourselves into a cozy corner of the deck and dug out the wool. There has been a great deal of interest in the solar system these days. Chi-Chi's upcoming space-themed birthday party is likely the root of it. While Chi-Chi set to work on his personal wet felting projects, Muffy assisted me with our latest science project while eating snack #3 (he's a growing boy!) I grabbed a felting needle and set to work creating a simple set of felted planets. An old piece of driftwood I had on hand served as a frame for our solar system mobile. Muffy helped me organize the cosmic creations using our reference book, a 69 cent thrift store find. Though far from scientifically accurate, the new mobile is a fun addition to our play space. If nothing else, it serves as inspiration for my dreamy boys as they contemplate space voyages and scientific discoveries of their own.

With the sun warming up his back, Chi-Chi could not resist a quick dip in the felting bucket! He invited me to give it a try and how good it felt. The grass tickling my toes, the warm sun on my face....yes, Spring IS here (almost!).

G is for Goalie!

Bedtime with my sweet boys is a time of day that I cherish. OK, I admit that I look forward to a calm and quiet house once the little ones are nestled all snug in their beds. It is the bedtime rituals themselves, however, that make this time of day so special. Once Daddy has the boys scrubbed from top to bottom, the two little monkeys are separated for a calm wind down to the busy day. Hubby and I alternate each night, ensuring we each have valuable one-on-one time with Chi-Chi and Muffy. I cherish this alone time with each of them. It is a very relaxing time as we settle into a stack of books without distraction. Chi-Chi and I are currently working our way through the Little House on the Prairie series and I look forward to diving back into these childhood favorites from my past. Story time with Muffy is full of cuddles and consistency as he's hooked on a few favorite titles at the moment. There is comfort in the routine for him.

Chi-Chi recently began to express an interest in learning how to sound out words. Pointing to words in his book, he asked for assistance in sounding them out. Little House on the Prairie was certainly not the place to start for this little guy who always seems to choose the most complicated of words to read! I knew we had to start somewhere simple, so I asked for help!

I consulted with the boys' Montessori teacher and she pointed me in the right direction. Not wanting to confuse Chi-Chi,it was important that our work at home be consistent and complimentary to the methods they were using at preschool. A big thank you to dear Ms. M who answered my many, many questions very patiently. I decided to set up a series of object sound baskets as an interesting and inviting way for Chi-Chi to work on his phonetic sounds. Each basket is dedicated to a set of sounds and includes a collection of beginning letter sound objects. I spent a good week digging through junk drawers and scanning dollar and craft stores for miniature sized objects. The tiny trinkets add an element of interest to the learning process and help reinforce the learning of sounds. I made a point of seeking out objects I knew Chi-Chi would find intriguing such as dragons, insects and our dear friend Santa. For anyone interested in setting this up at home, I encourage you to check out the language posts on My Montessori Journey.

I am following Chi-Chi's lead on our sound and reading work. A self-proclaimed book lover, he is quite tickled to be working through the pages of some very simple and basic readers. It's almost as if he has a sense of the magic he can unlock when he learns how to read. The boy who loves to spend "private time" flipping through the pages of books will most certainly marvel at the ability to read the words on his own.

As we snuggle under the quilts and crack open another chapter of Laura Ingall's life, I am transported back to my own childhood. I am once again that young girl with long brown braids (just like Laura!), cuddled up in the bottom cottage bunk. Flashlight in hand, up way past bedtime, I soak up every word of these tales from long ago. The next morning, I insist on cornbread for breakfast (just like Laura!). In a flash, I find myself back in the present, close to thirty years later. Once again, I find myself up past bedtime as my sweet boy begs for just one more chapter. I cannot resist those dark brown eyes. His head on my chest, he listens attentively to each word, soaking up the rich and beautifully descriptive text. He is captivated by stories of bears and guns and the enchanting tunes of Pa's fiddle.

Yes my dear Chi-Chi, let the magic unfold!

Going for Gold!

Like so many people around the world, we are all coming back to earth after much Olympic excitement over the last few weeks. As Canadians and citizens of the host country, the level of enthusiasm was certainly running on high in these parts. Chi-Chi and Muffy have been hockey lovers for quite some time, but the Team Canada gold medal win has sparked an even deeper interest in the game. The fact that we spend our Friday mornings skating on the very rink that Sidney Crosby grew up on, well that is just the icing on the cake for these two! Oh how I love Muffy's play silk goalie mask! Although Mommy is proud of his creativity, she won't be allowing this one on the ice.

The games also sparked some new found patriotism in the boys, perhaps something they had not experienced before. I discovered this great flag project on one of my favorite sites, My Montessori Journey. This blog has become one of my favorite resources for both Montessori specific work, as well as great crafts and activities. The flag templates were easy to print and in no time we had a huge collection of Canadian flags for our cheering efforts. This would be a wonderful project for wee ones any time of the year. There is definitely something alluring about flags in general and the children are simply captivated by them. We used wooden dowels instead of straws as Chi-Chi wanted to make larger flags. This would be a great activity to pair up with learning on other countries and cultures.

No Olympics would be complete without the Olympic torch and a few medals. These were quickie projects that I pulled together during one very wild storm and a power outage. They certainly filled the gap on one very cold and dreary day. The torch is a simple roll of white card stock stuffed with a little bundle of orange, red and yellow wool fleece. Is there nothing wool can't do?? The boys spent hours performing the relay, doing snowboarding stunts off the couch (eek!) and accepting their multicolored medals. After singing Oh Canada for an entire day, sweet Chi-Chi mastered the lyrics in no time. I love the way one activity leads to another, how one moment of learning opens the door to another. The curious and enthusiastic nature of children makes the process feel so natural and organic.

So much activity and excitement around here has left little time for blogging these days. I've been working on some fun projects behind the scenes that I hope to share in the near future. One certain little boy is turning 5 in a few weeks and we are all having fun planning and preparing for the big day!

Pretty in Pink

We've been seeing a lot of pink around here lately. Pink hearts, pink valentines and, sadly, pink eyes! Chi-Chi and Muffy both came down with eye infections this week. As a result, we've been forced to stick pretty close to home. It feels like I've gone through about two weeks of craft ideas and activities in a mere forty eight hours!

The Valentine preparations are in full swing! Chi-Chi and Muffy have come to the conclusion that a beautifully decorated tree is a prerequisite to any holiday celebration. Yesterday afternoon, we errected the highly anticipated Valentine Tree and dove right into decoration making. That same red wool blanket that supplied the materials for my Advent calendar was pulled from the basement and I set to work cutting out little heart shapes. The boys kept busy stringing my hearts on red yarn using plastic darning needles from their sewing basket. After throwing some pink hearts into the mix, we were all very pleased with how the garlands turned out.

I'd like to thank my good friend April at Nurtured for the next great idea! She made a lovely set of fabric Valetines for her children to give to their friends. What a great alternative to those disposable, highly commercialized store-bought varieties! I borrowed her sweet idea and created a set of cloth hearts for our tree trimming efforts. With all the quilting activity taking place around here, I've managed to collect a rather large pile of scraps, absolutely perfect for these types of projects.

Though I'm not a fan of the commercialism that seems to go hand-in-hand with any and every holiday, I do see the importance of celebrating Valentines Day on a small scale. It is not a huge gift giving event in our family. Each of the boys will receive a couple of small treats and perhaps tiny mama-made item if time permits. It is much more about an expression of love. I recently pulled out our family Valentine mailbox. During the time leading up to February 14th, we will all take the time to make a few special love notes for the box - some more than others. My little cupids have been busy, busy, busy writing love letters so the box is almost bursting. During a cozy family dinner we will open and deliver the "mail". A chocolate heart shaped cake will likely top off our day.

Ah, there's nothing like a holiday tree in the house to add a festive feel to the air. Happy February everyone!

Dream Big

The backyard has been the centre of much activity, anticipation and excitement this past week. The big buzz in these parts is the new outdoor "rink", formerly the family sandbox. Chi-Chi was the visionary on this project. Once he set his sights on his own personal hockey rink, my sweet boy worked diligently flooding, smoothing, painting, flooding and clearing. He has big dreams of being a goal tender some day and has been working on his puck saving skills. With Mommy and Muffy watching from the kitchen window, huddled up with warm cocoa and sweaters, Chi-Chi is content to brave the wind and cold in quiet contemplation. I see his lips moving as he positions his little body into various "moves", losing himself in his dream. He his perfectly content with his personal 6'X6' rink. It seems just right (for now!!)

Chi-Chi is not the only one dreaming big around here. My recent dabbling in the world patchwork "quilts" has my mind working up some grand plans for more cozy coverings. Now that my bed is dressed, I think both boys could use something a little heavier to cuddle up with during the cold months ahead. I've been busy digging through my stash, as well as the aisles of my favorite thrift shop, developing a plan and color schemes. Here is a wee glimpse of what's in store for Muffy's bed. My favorite one is the vintage kitchen, hen print that I cut from a thrifted apron. I also love the golden sunflower hues from a great old bed sheet. Since this is a new domain for me, I'm opting to use the tied approach as opposed to traditional quilting. It seems like a good place for a beginner to start. Though I used 12' squares for my queen sized project, I'm using 6" squares this time around (gulp).

Funny how both Chi-Chi and I are starting our new adventures with baby steps - one tiny square at a time!

This Little Piggy...

It seems my efforts to take a breather from crafty endeavours have been futile. The wool, the wood, the ideas, the inspiration are all too tempting and irresistible. I've reworked my master plan to allow for a bit of crafty indulgence, as long as I keep up with the meal planning, workout schedule and financial budget! Moderation is my new mantra!

Now that the gift-giving holiday season is behind us, my creative efforts this month will be somewhat selfish in nature. Since I'm planning on spending more time in the kitchen, I thought I'd treat myself to touch of fun and practicality to spice up my culinary adventures. With my weekly CSA basket overflowing with veggies, I figured a new cutting board would serve as motivator to get me slicing and dicing. This whimsical little piggy was cut on my scroll saw from one very wide maple board. My father actually served as the inspiration for this project as I made him an identical piggy for Christmas. Handmade gift ideas are particularly difficult to come up with when it comes to both of my parents. I had a eureka moment over lunch one day during on of my visits to their house. As strange as this sounds, my father often eats his lunch on a cutting board. A can of sardines, a few slices of cheese and some fresh bread are often brought right to the table on a board. I always chalked it up to general male laziness (sorry Dad!) until I came across this breakfast board. Hmmmm, maybe Dad has been onto something all these years!

Of course, my little piggies needed to be sealed and protected. I was so thrilled when I stumbled upon this recipe on Plain and Joyful Living. Not only is this polish great for the cutting boards, but we can use it on all our wooden toys! I purchased a block of beeswax from Cosman Whidden and in no time had several sweet smelling jars of homemade polish. I tucked a tiny jar in with Dad's board so he could keep it well-waxed and protected. We've even used this polish on our kitchen table with great success.

Inspired by this beautiful quilt posted on Soule Mama's blog this week, I came up with another self-indulging project for myself (and Hubby). After rummaging through my fabric stash for awhile, I emerged with enough material to create a new queen sized duvet cover for our bed. Once I started cutting squares and laying them out, I could not believe how quickly the color scheme fell into place. With the exception of the Heather Ross mermaid fabric, the entire quilt, including the flannel backing, was made using re-purposed vintage bed linens I'd thrifted over the past year. The most self-indulging part of the project was the fact I took a day to myself to focus on it. With the wee ones in preschool yesterday, I put the house cleaning and grocery shopping on the back burner while I indulged in some me time. Ok, I also stayed up past midnight last night because I was just "so close" and could not stop myself. I plan to create a cozy wool duvet to sandwich between the cover. I thought a removable, easily washable cover would be the best option. Chi-Chi put this theory to test at 3am this morning when he came to snuggle in and proceeded to empty his bladder on my lovely new quilt!

Don't Count Your Chickens...

A few months ago, we realized a dream of raising backyard chickens. After a long year of planning, building, waiting and dreaming, we finally welcomed eight little chicks to Seaside Farms.

Since that time, we've been on a bit of a roller coaster ride with a few ups and lots of downs! When chick #1 perished, we held a small family funeral for our fluffy little friend. The death of chick #2 was just as shocking, but we all swallowed the news a little easier. By the time chicks #4 and #5 passed on, we were starting to get just a little paranoid and suspicious! With #5 packed in the trunk on ice, I headed to the Nova Scotia Agricultural College for help. For $52.50 they performed a detailed autopsy on our chicken and provided me with the grim news - a disease called Marek's (and a few other minor parasites to boot). Wow! Dreams of hens scratching around the backyard and farm fresh eggs were dashed in an instant. We were advised to prepare ourselves for further deaths. Time passed and just before the holidays we lost #6. That left us with two ladies in the hen house. The first six to perish were all Black Australorps. Our two remaining hens had been obtained from a different breeder and were Ameraucanas - also known as Easter Egg Chickens for their green shelled eggs. We certainly weren't holding out much hope for these two. We continued to care for them but remained emotionally detached in fear of getting hurt!

On one of the coldest days of the year, December 30th, I found my husband pounding on the kitchen door with a huge grin on his face. An egg, a beautiful GREEN egg was in his hand! We all rejoiced and celebrated the egg and hoped it was a sign our chicken woes were behind us, a sign of a new beginning. Convinced our two hens were going to survive, I opened up my heart a little and grew attached to our friends. Yesterday we decided the ladies needed company to keep them warm this winter and headed out to pick up a little Barred Rock rooster we lovingly named "Rocky". After a three hour round trip, we arrived home with Rocky and were eager to introduce him to his girlfriends. We called and called but my favorite hen Spec was nowhere to be found. I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach. Our friends usually greet us eagerly when we pull up the driveway. Hubby went searching and followed her footsteps into the woods......soon emerging with the sad news that Spec had been killed by a hawk. What timing! We were all very, very sad to say the least. Hubby turned around, hopped in the car and headed back on that three hour trip to fetch me three new hens! He's a good man I tell you. Exhausted, he arrived home last night with a new flock for us. We spent today getting to know our friends and quietly observing them as they settled into their new surroundings.

Today for lunch we dined on homemade toast and the last of Spec's green eggs. I'm saving a couple to blow out and keep as a reminder of our feathered friend and the first egg. Spec is the darker hen in this photo. This was taken about an hour before she perished. Muffy is playing peekaboo with them at the kitchen door, a favorite hang out spot of theirs.

Lessons learned - don't count your chickens, even if they have hatched! I will admire and like my new friends, but I won't fall in love again!

The Procrastination Game

It seems I've been practising the fine art of procrastination over the past month. The holiday season found me scrambling to complete a long list of handmade gifts and Christmas crafts. The procrastination game was played right up to the eleventh hour. Hubby and I spent Christmas Eve in Santa's workshop, making a dollhouse for the boys. I considered bailing on the project, but I had worked so hard on the look-a-like family dolls that I didn't want to leave them homeless. I'd also slaved away at a Santa play set for each of the boys including a Santa bendy doll, wooden sleigh, sack and reindeer. Where would the poor guy land his sleigh? The dollhouse simply had to be completed!

I have to admit I've been feeling a little zapped of creative energy following this flurry of activity. My New Year's Resolutions this year are pretty standard - exercise more, eat a more healthy diet and be more frugal. Boosting time spent in the kitchen and pounding pavement in my running shoes means less time for obsessive crafting. Frugality also puts a bit of a dent in that wool budget! Completely drained by all the crafting and creating, I vowed to put such efforts aside for at least the month of January. My creative writing on this blog was also included this category. So much for resolutions. We have not yet made it through the first week of January and I have already knit myself a hat and started a Valentine banner, and of course, here I am stringing words together.

On the bright side, I've been trying out some great new recipes and cooking up a storm this past week. I'm enjoying the opportunity to take full advantage of the beautiful food we receive each week in our CSA food basket with Taproot Farms. Who knew cabbage and kale could taste so darn good? I've also been exercising quite faithfully, fitting in my runs around the winter Nor'easter storms - no small feat! So you may see a little less of me in this space over the next while as I take a breather from my creative efforts and focus on a wee bit more balance!

Ok, I'll take the break AFTER I finish the Valentine banner.....

The Stockings Were Hung...

Yes, it is most definitely too early to be hanging one's stocking! That being said, I hung a whopping twenty four of them this morning. I've been eagerly awaiting December 1st which marks the beginning of Advent. For the past month and a half I've been chipping away at an Advent calendar for our family. This is not something we had in my home growing up, but I am anticipating it will be a fun and warm tradition in the years to come.

Anyone who knows Chi-Chi and Muffy personally might be chuckling a little. Hubby actually laughed out loud when he saw I had hung it within reach of the wee ones. My own dear mother also had a good laugh at the thought of my two little co-conspirators patiently waiting to discover each treasure day by day. I'm hoping they will be able to restrain themselves and demonstrate respect for our special calendar. I'm also fully aware that the temptation might just be too much for my 3 and 4 year old monkeys to bear. As a result, I will stuff the pockets one day at a time. We are getting things rolling with a set of new toothbrushes, a rather appropriate item for the treats this month will bring!

The idea for this project came from various sources including Martha Stewart and Uncommon Grace. It didn't take me long to gather the supplies as most of them were on hand. The stockings were cut from recycled wool cloth compliments of my rug hooking stash and a great old thrifted wool blanket. Embellishments included everything from vintage buttons to ribbon scraps to wool felt. The most intimidating aspect of the project was the embroidery work it entailed. A quick demo from my mom and a book loaned from a friend got me started. Since this was my first attempt at embroidery, it is far from perfect. Even Chi-Chi got in on the creative action. His sweet little hands sewed together two of the stockings in a lovely whip stitch. Those two stockings are by far my favorite and the most meaningful. I think it is wonderful that he left his personal mark on this special family tradition.

I've been both gathering and creating little treasures to include in the pockets each day. I've made an effort to include some "non material" items such as coupons for "Family Cookie Baking Day" and "Nighttime Ride to See Christmas Lights". I don't want it to focus too heavily on "getting something". There will definitely be the odd chocolate or candy cane in there as well as some handmade trinkets and ornaments. I'm a little short of twenty four so any good ideas would be welcome!

The little monkeys will be home in less than an hour. Any bets on how long it stays hung? (:

A Quick Knit Hit

I spent a good chunk of this past weekend as a couch potato. Poor little Chi-Chi came down with a nasty tummy bug on Saturday night. As a result, he was flaked out on the couch for the day, dozing, resting, nibbling Popsicles and watching a couple of movies (a very special treat!). With my boy feeling miserable, I parked myself next to him for the majority of the day to keep him company and provide a dose of comfort when needed. Thank goodness it was the weekend and Daddy was around to keep high-energy Muffy occupied and content.

I found myself with idle hands in desperate need of a project! After a quick Internet pattern search and a rummage through my wool stash, I came up with the perfect pick-me-up for my Chi-Chi. Every Santa-loving boy needs his own custom made Santa hat! I chose this free pattern from Lion Brand and made a few adjustments based on the wool and needles I had selected. By the end of the day the hat was complete and put into action by a perked up little boy.

So, just 30 days and counting until Christmas! We are in full blown holiday mode in these parts. I turned my back for a minute this morning and discovered my little monkey had dug this out of the basement. What, might you ask, is this bedraggled looking thing? It's Chi-Chi's personal Christmas tree from last year of course (minus the needles). Recycling at it's best! That's my boy (:

My Anti-Aging Solution

Despite the fact I've got a holiday crafting list that might even give "Martha" a fright, I simply can't stop myself these days. It's often the spontaneous "in the moment" ideas that are the most fun and rewarding. As the boys grow older, it is fascinating to sit back and quietly observe the creative play scenarios as they evolve and take shape.

On a chilly afternoon last week I found my two very rambunctious monkeys quietly cuddled up with all the "babies" they could get their hands on, playing the game of family. Well, my heart melted of course! With a ball of yarn and crochet hook in hand, I found myself fiddling away until I came up with this simple little set of itty bitty babies to add to the clan. I dug out these tiny baskets I had picked up at the thrift store to provide the new babies with a spot to nap. It always amazes me that a few plain and simple items can unlock their imaginations. What fun the babies had that day, travelling by boat to Singapore, as well as participating in some serious potty training.

Another recent project was inspired by Muffy. Ever since my birthday a few weeks ago, the little guy has been throwing elaborate parties for me several times a day. While doing some on-line Xmas browsing, I stumbled on this wooden cake set and immediately knew Muffy would adore it. A bit of tinkering in the workshop lead to the creation of a festive little wooden cake for the play kitchen. I realize I probably should have waited until Christmas to give this gift, but I couldn't resist. Besides, it always seems these special handmade items are most appreciated when the distractions of a holiday are not present. It seemed the perfect gift for an ordinary Saturday morning with the family.

Although it is very rewarding to witness the enjoyment my children experience with my hand-made creations, it is more satisfying to see the skills I'm handing down to them. Last week I heard some squealing going on and discovered two very excited little boys digging through our kindling box. What I had considered woodworking scraps were apparently undiscovered treasures. Who knew there was a leaf blower and a power drill hiding among the sawdust and wood chips? Some glue, sequins and a bit of sandpaper quickly transformed some bits of wood into some of the best homemade toys around here. Hubby will soon be getting in on the action. He signed up for a very ambitious Christmas project...though I'm not sure he knows what he's in for!

The most brilliant aspect of the birthday cake? It possesses an anit-aging agent! It has a four year age restriction designed into it...how perfect is that?

Fun with Felt

We've been so blessed with a streak of gorgeous, sun-filled fall days this past week. As I enjoy my morning cup of peppermint tea at the picnic table, the boys are enjoying a chance to stretch their limbs and voices in the warm sun. It's so wonderful to witness lots of creative action unfolding in our much-loved sandbox.

In preparation for the much cooler weather that awaits us, my brainstorming sessions these days have focused on indoor activities for the wee ones. A recent crafting adventure lead me to the creation of a felt "story board". This was a simple twenty minute project which involved glueing a large piece of craft felt to a prepared blank canvas from the art-supply store. The real fun began, of course, once I started creating felt pieces to stick to the board. Wow! The possibilities are endless! I started out with the "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and quickly moved on to "The Gruffulo" and "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". The kids are having a ball telling their own verions of these tales with lots of interesting and quirky twists. Armed with a good pair of scissors and my felt stash, Chi-Chi went to work creating his very own characters and objects. It certainly adds a touch of visual fun to story time and it also serves as a useful interactive learning tool.

For anyone interested in trying this out, I purchased acrylic felt from my local craft store. The Wool Fariy desparately wanted to use wool felt for the project, but sadly it seemed too heavy to stick to the board. I was, however, able to find some eco-felt made from post-consumer plastic bottles and was very pleased with the results.

My blogging these days has fallen down a few rungs on my list of priorities. With the holiday season fast approaching, I've got a project wish list that seems to be growing by the hour. I've been rotating my precious free time between the scroll saw, sewing machine and knitting needles. It looks like this Christmas elf has some serious overtime hours ahead of her over the next month!