my sweet Liv - some August pictures

I love this little girl.

Even if she cuts her hair. Because she cuts her hair.

She is going through a rough transition right now -

not a toddler but not a little girl.

Fearless, at any rate.

The funny pictures she takes make me smile.

And give me perspective on her perspective.

Tumble....

Twirl.....

Tumble.....

Suddenly feeling the wind blow over her. Closing her eyes, swaying, enjoying it.

Now this is something that makes a Momma cry.

Still hold me Momma

meeting another new friend

Last Friday, my good college friend and her husband brought their baby daughter* to meet everyone.




She was just precious - she was about 8 weeks in these pictures.





She was very interested in everything that was going on. I love the look of concern on her face in this picture. "You're letting this kid hold me?"




She is a lucky little girl indeed - she has two wonderful parents!

*This is the baby referenced at the bottom of this insanely long post - I was so sad when her birth candle was drowned in the monsoon of that camping trip, but taking it inside the tent would have been a bad idea. That night, it was so damp that my phone stopped working, so I couldn't even keep up with how the birth was progressing. I did send an message to my friend Erin, asking her to light a candle for me. It was a long night in that tent, listening to the pounding rain, knowing that a special new life was entering this world.

flower girl dress: second generation

Finally found my cardreader!

It was exactly where I should have looked first - in one of Laurel's little "stash bags", along with my old cell phone that I needed, a little duck, some stale popcorn and two pair of underwear. Well, at least she was prepared for anything. She, like I, has many "bags of confusion" and loves tucking little things in little bags or baskets.

I have so many pictures to share, including some from last weekend's visit with Gran and Pop. But here are a few cute ones of Lela wearing the flower girl dress that I wore 25 odd years ago at my Aunt Lorraine and Uncle George's wedding.

Doesn't that baby blue satin ribbon look so pretty? She really wanted to tie it in the front.

I love all the little eyelets.

And the sweet cap sleeves.

I love that Lela enjoys tucking flowers anywhere she can.

And just to bring it full circle - here is Lela as one of the flower girls at Georgia (their daughter) and Ryan's wedding in December. This isn't from the actual wedding, but just before it in the beginning of December 2008.

Georgia, would you like to share a picture with me?

Twirling is only natural!

some pictures while the card reader is still MIA

Lela and Liv at the sprayground - Laurel was in my lap the whole time!

Sweet picture of the girls traipsing through the kitchen garden at the Schiele's Backcountry Farm.

Decidedly un-Waldolf : listening to the iPod

Ahhh, much better.

Liv sweeping up the copious amounts of dirt in the kitchen, a favorite activity for her.

A very sweet picture that Lela took of Laurel in my lap while I'm knitting. I hope that they all have memories of this one day.

Perhaps Gran will recognize this? A washrag I made for her.

Please direct your Energies to me in hopes of finding this card reader! I have some beautiful pictures to share!

photography by lela

from her early august sessions:

liv with bandana

loofa goard that refuses to fruit

laurel

momma knitting

washrag

Someone has sweetly put my card reader in an undisclosed location. I hope to have some recent pictures up soon!

Waldorf co-op planning

Sunday, the mommas in our Waldorf co-op, plus a new momma (yay!) met to discuss the upcoming year. We decided to start the second Monday in September. We also are going to change the format a bit, after Erin told us about another co-op group she read about.


We're going to try to incorporate more singing/verses for transitional periods, and a game that the kids play upon arrival to co-op.


The new momma does yoga with kids, so she is going to bring the Energy in by having the kids do some different yoga poses. My girls love doing them already, so this will be a welcome addition to our co-op.


We're going to expand our Circle as well:


Have a gathering verse. I found this one from here:

Rinka ranka rosy ray.

Welcome, welcome, golden day.

I can skip and I can hop.

I can turn and I can stop.

I can dance and I can sing,

With my friends we form a ring.

I don't know if we'll be using it, but it will be something like this. The mommas will start singing it to draw the kids into the Circle.

Then we'll sing our Circle Round song were the kids can get out there last few stomps and shouts. After that we'll light the candle. Tanya said she had a good "candle lighting, candle extinguishing" verse for us to use.

Then we'll do some fingerplays - we talked about doing a couple seasonal fingerplays, then a couple of fingerplays that will change from month-to-month.

Per Erin's suggestion, one of the mommas will tell a story. Last ("school") year we read a different story each week, but this year we're going to be telling the same story for 4 weeks, but a different momma each time. I think hearing the same story (not word-for-word to be sure) from different adults, each with her own style and inflection and expression, will be a benefit for the kids. It will certainly help me with my storytelling abilities. Right now, all the stories I tell are mainly nature tales ("how the tadpole became a frog") and faery tales (the adventures of Oakie Twinkletoes the Faery), so this is going to be very exciting for me.

After the Circle, we'll move on to craft time. This year we're going to try having a different craft every week, rotating from watercolor painting, wet felting, carpentry and crayon drawing. However, we could also do the same craft for several weeks in a row. It is really just a wait-and-see sort of thing. I can see the children really getting into the carpentry projects and wanting to work in that area for a while.

Then we'll move on to lunch. Kids are always hungry, so it is easy for lunch to be inhaled and the mommas left standing holding the crumbs. So to bring more mindfulness and peace to lunch, we're going to try making it a sit-down lunch like we would do in our own homes. I'm going to make a small placemat and maybe napkin for each child, and we're going to add a small candle or other decoration to the picnic tables. We may say a small blessing over the food as well. So even though the food will still be the same sandwich, veggies, crackers, fruit, etc, it will hopefully be more relaxing for everyone.

After lunch we'll close co-op and move on to free play. We meet beside the creek, and the kids are used to being here. They have lots of fun here, finding creatures, "fishing", and having adventures. Usually at some point we go for a walk. There is a short paved loop trail as well as a couple of longer trails that we have access to there.

We discussed more "momma modelling" of things - just seeing the mommas sing and do handwork, outside of the actual "lesson". In my experience, these are the times when my children are even more impressionable than usual.

In the past we have done co-op on Monday morning and then had Creek Day on Thursday afternoon for just playgroup. We all agreed that we would drop the Creek Day on a regular basis when co-op starts in mid-September, and only do that playgroup on occasion. We'll also add a monthly field trip throughout the year and continue to get together for seasonal celebrations.

After talking with Erin about her plans to do a true Waldorf kindergarten for her nearly 6yo boys, I've decided that we will be starting something similar in the fall. We're finally at a point where I can actually have a Circle here without Laurel asking me to hold or nurse her constantly. I tried to do a Circle with the kids last year each morning, but I couldn't give it my full attention with Laurel and Olivia crying to be held and nursed.

I'm sure I'll have more musings on this soon, as there are only a couple weeks to prepare. I imagine, right now, that we'll do some sort of themed week, around a story and a library book. We'll continue our regular visits to the Schiele Museum and Backcountry Farm, too. The regular planning will help me prepare for when we declare to the school system our intent to educate Lela ourselves. That will be in the fall of 2012, I believe. They don't want to hear from you until your child is 7.

This group of mommas and kids is great - I'm really looking forward to the upcoming co-op year!

two new knitters in our neighborhood

The second comes first - I taught a little girl, one of our neighborhood friends, to knit tonight. She is 7, and has been wanting to knit for some time now. Finally we were able to get together.

When she saw the needles sticking out of my basket, she just beamed! We finger knitted outside for a minute before going inside where there weren't 5 other children running around. (Between our two families we have 7 girls!) We cast on only 5 stitches, and then she began to knit.

She was concentrating so hard that she couldn't possibly say the rhyme along with me:

In through the front door,
Run around back,
Peep through the window
and off jumps Jack!

But once she had gone through 2 rows, she was into her own rhythm and finding her own way. Even though I cross my needles, she found that holding her parallel, a la my friend Apple, worked better for her. After 3 rows, she was saying the rhyme herself and I was barely making any comments (other than positive reinforcement). Her 4yo sister came over and picked up finger knitting quickly as well.

After about 6 rows, she was up to 12 stitches on the needles. Haha - she inadvertendly learned yarn-overs!

My favorite part was how proud she was of herself and kept showing her parents. She did such a great job!

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Also, Lela is now knitting. As in really knitting with needles. She will only do a handful of stitches at a time before putting down the work, but she is doing it beautifully and without aid.

She begged me to show her, and I did, thinking she would not be interested. Really, I don't want her knitting right now. I don't discourage her from knitting - her needles and ball of yarn are accessible to her - I also don't encourage it either.

Don't get me wrong, I give her the quiet praise that she deserves. I am very proud and continuously amazed at her skills. It's just that the finger knitting is fine for her, and I honestly worry that the needles are too mind-oriented for her at this point.

However, children are very wise creatures. And I strongly suspect that if she is not ready for this new skill, she will give it up. Sure, she will come back to it eventually, but I guess I have to have faith that in these matters, she knows best.

Short but Sweet

Oh dear, I hope Gran and Pop visit us soon. They *said* they were going to bring us a pool.

Look how pitiful I look swimming in this mop bucket!

Oh dear.......

Yay! They are here! Thank goodness - it was getting crowded in that mop bucket when the other girls tried to get in.....

Last weekend (I know, I have been so bad with blogging recently!) we had a quick visit from Gran and Pop. They kindly picked up some items from my grandparents (GG and GP). We got a cute little blue chair, a NEW BED (!) and their beautiful upright piano. But more about that later - it deserves its own post.

Thanks for restringing my guitar! I hope to see what the old ones do on your turning.

They also came bearing gifts - lots of carb-goodness from their local bakery, underclothes and hair ties for the girls, and some sweet dresses that belonged to me and my sister as kids. There was also one adorable dress that belonged to my mom as a little girl. Have to get a picture of that - it also deserves its own post.

And my dad helped Mike fix the gas lawnmover - thanks!


Oops! Liv, are you okay?

Whew!

Thanks for visiting us Gran and Pop! We love you!

Unfortunately either I lost some pictures (that did happen today) or I didn't take any of my mom with the girls on our front porch. Hopefully my parents (ahem - Daddy?) will upload some of their pictures and then I can share a few more.

Finger Knitting

Sunday, my oldest little girl learned how to finger knit. Lela been watching me knit for some time now and gets into my needles, sometimes to the peril of whatever project is on there.

Given her propensity for knot tying - slip knots, bows and half-hitches to infinity - I knew that she would pick up finger knitting quickly. And she is the age - four - when finger knitting is typically taught in Waldorf. The rhythmic activity appeals to them, and it allows appeals to the will and to the physical body. A young child is said to be awake in the body, and only dreaming in feelings, while the mind is still asleep.

Her character is such that she is literally offended at being instructed. This is one of the reasons we decided to educate Lela ourselves. Yes, there may be a time to be instructed, but certainly it is not when a child is young. They learn by doing - engaging the physical.

Saturday night I sat knitting, thinking about how to approach finger knitting with Lela. We already had one "failed" attempt months ago. I tried to teach her, she balked and that was the end of it. I decided to finger knit myself - I knitted a long chain in creamy white wool, and put it around the candle on the kitchen table for her to find.

Sunday morning, sitting down to breakfast, she found it. She knew what it was:

"Momma, did you finger knit this?"

"Yes, I did it last night."

"Why?" she asked, fingering the looped chain and putting it around her neck.

"Because I thought it would make a beautiful decoration."

Now, I knew what was coming next - she was going to ask me if she could finger knit too. And sure enough, she did. I had decided on Saturday night to not overthink it, just to go with the conversation and let my heart take over. Therefore, it was only natural that I would come up with the perfect response to her question:

"Yes, let's do it together. Just the two of us."

I was instantly rewarded with a huge hug and kiss.

And so we did - sat and finger knitted together. I used the knitting rhyme:

In through the front door

And run around back

Peep through the window

And off jumps Jack!

She has taken to calling the loops on her fingers "Jack"s. She loves to use rainbow yarn so she can have a different colored Jack each time. There are now finger knitted chains all over the house - made into necklaces and bracelets for friends, herself and family. The dolls have necklaces too. Daddy received a special ring tonight as well. She even finger knitted something for a special surprise for someone......hmmmmm.....

In hindsight, saying "Let's do it together" was the real key. Not, "Yes, I'll teach you." It became a experience for us to share in together.

I'm so proud of you Lela!

Saturday

This Saturday I let Mike sleep in and took the girls to the Farmers' Market early. It was so nice to see all the friendly farmers and to take in the harvest. We bought a yellow watermelon from Mr. Pasour and his twin girls, some peppers from Jenny at Creekside, DELICIOUS bicolor corn from Mr. Hoyle, snaps from Mr. Avery, as well as peaches, honey and a few other things. All weekend we were enjoying the foods and we are hoping that the harvest will continue for as long as possible.

After a leisurely breakfast of oatmeal with peaches and honey, we decided to go to the Schiele's Backcountry Farm. Most of the buildings there are actual historic structures. They tore down a barn and are bringing in a historic barn in the Fall. Bessie the Cow is at a "barn and breakfast" in the meantime!

first view of the house as you walk around the corner from the parking lot

A world away!

It is so beautiful there! It is one of my favorite places to take the girls.

corn crib

View of the blacksmith shop and kitchen garden from the main house porch

Mike and the girls listening to the reenactress talk about bundling and drying lavender




She showed me a neat trick for aging metal boxes, like Altoid or candle tins. Just throw them in the fire, and the paint is burned away and a nice patina is created. Then hammer down any raised lettering and you have an antique. I'm going to try it with the tins of Burt's Bees lip balm.

playing with a doll

My simply raised girls were practically fighting over the stick-and-rag doll! They offered proof that a faceless doll with sticks for legs and arms and a torn bed sheet for a dress would have been a welcome plaything!

herbs and peppers drying in the house

main house and garden

I love this picture. I hope to play with the cropping on Photoshop, but I just loved the lines of it.

Lords-and-Ladies flower

Lela instantly found and identified this flower from her Flower Fairies of the Autumn book. And she remembered the advice of the faeries to not eat the berries!

Catawba Indian replica domicile

In two years of visiting the Schiele, this was the first time we have been in the Catawba Indian village. It was beautiful and they were well made structures. Mike would know, since he orchestrated the Nansemond Indian village at First Landing when we lived there.

turtle and fish pond

always time for creek play!

After all that walking and adventuring, the girls needed to cool down in the creek! It is a very different creek from McDowell where we usually play. In the picture it looks like a large sandbar but it is actually a large slab of rock with beautiful quartz veins running through it.

After getting wet, going back to the car and donning new clothes, and a few tantrums, and a vile of arnica spilled in the parking lot, and one pair of underwear too few, we decided to go into the museum.

Catawba woman tending corn - beautiful baskets in front

We capped off a great day with some fun and games after a locally harvested dinner. A favorite after Erin's co-op lesson about toads, we played hop toad.

Lela hopping high

Laurel takes a turn

Laurel hasn't reached the stage where she is able to hop with both feet off the ground, so she was more skipping over the stick.

My favorite picture of Liv hopping