Creating Cozy

It's that time of year. We spend a bit more time inside. While we are still outside a lot when we get in we are chilled. It's time to curl up together and what's better than some warm, fuzzy jammie pants to do that in. I really do hope my kids enjoy wearing them as much as I enjoy making them for them. I see them cozied up in their mama made jammies and I get warmed from the inside out.

Enjoying nature's bounty.

Apple picking on a rare 80 degree day in October in Maine. Those do not happen often. But the apples were lovely and the warm cider donuts were a wonderful treat for all.
Applesauce has been in lunchboxes and as an after school snack many times in the last week and always seconds are asked for and gladly given. Little bellies full of good food that they have a hand in making. It's a good life.

The Power of Scent

When my babies were tiny and brand new I remember being very conscious of any scents I used on my body. I didn't want any of their senses to be overwhelmed, including their sense of smell as we spent so much time in skin to skin contact with one another.

I have scent memories of my own mother. Camay soap and Tigress perfume. The very ideas of these make me think of clean snuggles and safety. The smell of Mr. Clean reminds me of my best friend's house. I often wonder what scent memories my own children would have of me.

One day a couple weeks ago my 6 year old son walked up to the clothes drying on the clothesline and grabbed a handful of a garment and put his nose in it. He then said to no one in particular, "smells like mama love". Guess that answered that question.

The Lazy Days of Summer

Okay, so summer hasn't been very lazy but so far it's been wonderful. The weather has been beautiful and we've had loads of perfect summer days at the beach, in the pool, playing with friends, lounging playing games in the yard. Life is good. Summer is wonderful.I feel so blessed to be able to be home with our children and be a part of every minute of their lives in these precious and fleeting years. Thank you to my husband from the bottom of my heart for that.

I am firmly of the belief that playtime is as important as school. Unstructured free play is where a child's mind explores and develops itself. It is my greatest pleasure in life to sit back and watch my kids and their friends play.
They have experienced nature and learn respect for it as they did when playing in the river rapids. They have played in the sand and stalked minnows and crabs and periwinkles.

and Joey found a heart shaped rock that now sits on my kitchen window sill that reminds me not only of our day at the beach but of a friend who has passed away this past winter. She saw hearts everywhere in Nature. When I find a heart I feel it was left by her for me.

I Am Not A Knitter

...but I really want to be. I have tried from time to time since I was a child and knitting needles and I just do not get along. We have a power struggle. We fight for control. I cannot relax and hold the yarn in a death grip. I am trying to relax. I am trying simply making small swatches in different patterns and trying to let go and let it happen. It is still a struggle.

I am in such awe of knitters that just work away seemingly not even paying attention to what their magical needles are doing. There's this little diddy that a friend, Michelle Heid, whipped up for my daughter.

Another friend posted a link to a cardigan she liked and it's in crochet. Crochet I can relax and do a bit better with but up until this point all I have ever made are washcloths. Let it be known that they are perfectly gorgeous washcloths. So, I jumped right into the deep end of the pool and ordered a cotton/linen blend yarn and the right size crochet hooks and I'm going to give this a go this summer. Sounds like something good to work on while I am outside with the kids.

Wish me luck. If you hear me weeping from my backyard you'll know it's gone horribly wrong. I may end up back at my comfort zone with my sewing machines.

Dealing With The Death of a Pet

We lost a pet this week, our rabbit, Bunbun. This is a first that Joey has been able to understand what was happening. Kate is still too young at 2 and a half, to really get it.

Bunbun was probably about 7.5 years old. I adopted him from a local animal shelter 6 and a half years ago and they estimated his age at right around a year old; someone's Easter bunny that was soon neglected once the novelty wore off. He was an English Lop that had a load of personality and a nibble taken out of one ear where a bunny in another cage at the shelter took a territorial chunk out of it. It gave him character.

As soon as I found him laying peacefully on his side I had to decide how to proceed with the kids. I called my husband and then pulled Joey over to talk to him. Kids will amaze you every day and this day was no different.

I told him Bunbun had died and watched as the words sunk in and the tears came up in his eyes. I held him as he cried. Then he stood up and looked at me and said he was glad that Bunbun was dead. Honestly, this statement took me aback. I asked why and he explained that now Bunbun got to be in heaven and it was better than here. Big stuff for a 6 year old. A friend of mine passed away a few months ago and he asked me if maybe Patti was taking care of Bunbun now and I said I thought that was very possible.

We are a family that will always have pets so death is something that will be dealt with time and time again with them. Death is part of life and I don't want to hide it from my children. I hope I was able to let Joey deal with the experience in his own way. I gave him the information and was here for comfort but he has to grieve and process in his own personal way.

We buried him out in the yard in a flower bed where we can plants some flowers for him soon and Joey can visit with him. He made him a grave marker and put a couple of his toys down in the dirt and mulch. I slept with Joey that night and held him and calmed him every time he woke up upset. It was most possibly the worst week for a pet rabbit to die - right before Easter with rabbits everywhere. The rawness of the wound getting picked at every time we see one in a flyer or decoration.

Bunbun may not be here in the house with us any more but he is in our hearts and this is the message I want my children to carry with them as we go through this loss and future losses. That being said, I have made the proclamation to the other animals that there will be no more dying for awhile. That's it. Foot down. It is so.

Rites of Spring

I love my clotheslines. I love the way the clothes smell. I love that it's better for my clothes. I love that it's better for the environment. I really love that it's free and I love the almost zen effect of actually hanging everything on the line. It can not be rushed. It is simply done one item, one clothespin at a time.
I may not have access to the full clotheslines yet but I will use what I can get to without snow gear. To me there is nothing sweeter than sliding into bed with fresh sheets dried on the line. It's a slice of heaven at the end of a busy day.