Rainy day plans

Oh, June.  You fool me every time.  I look forward to you for months and think June, June will bring warm sun and sandals and those long days of outside time.  And then June arrives and it rains and rains and rains.  The most I can hope for 7 days in is sun by the solstice.  The longest day sometimes brings some happier fluffy clouds.  In the meantime though I am still planning.  Planning to bake and prepare things in advance.  Changing over the entry closet from scarves and mittens to sunhats and sandals.  This year, as my kitchen time has certainly grown with each moon cycle (these boys can eat I tell you) I've come to really understand the importance of planning ahead.  Having food to pull out of the freezer; whether it be for smoothies, quick treats for guests, or even the "I don't feel like cooking" blues is a must.   And since those hot days are inevitable (they are coming right?) I don't want to be chained to my stove during the dog days of summer.
And so I've been hatching a plan.  I've been gathering advice and making lists in my head.  On my list is making jam, freezing produce in season and trying to ferment veggies too.  So the main gist of this is that if it's raining I'm paying attention to food.  Even if it is just one small batch of cookies or researching U-pick farms rainy days are the time for it.  Because if the sun is shining we are going to be enjoying it.  Period.
So here is my list of finds that are going to help me keep our summer as fun as possible.

Warmer Weather Batch Cooking - Simple Bites

More Warm Weather Batch Cooking - Simple Bites

10 Things to do Every Day to Stay Organized - Home Your Way

Preparing for preserving season - local kitchen

Camping with Kids - Real Simple

Keep your Summer Organized - Simple Mom

If you have any additions please add them to the comments.  You can never have too many ideas or tips when it comes to food prep and planning ahead.

Top Ten Holiday Albums 2011

I love the holidays and I especially love holiday music.  Since childhood the familiar tunes have rung through our home for baking, wrapping and caroling.  My tastes have changed since my spiritual leanings have but this list has something for everyone who loves Christmas music.  You can find my top ten holiday movies here.  Please feel free to add your own must haves in the comments.

10.  The Rat Pack Christmas Album.  These songs are classic renditions of many favorites.  Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. sing out White Christmas, Jingle Bells and Winter Wonderland along with one that I've come to love Let's Start the New Year Right.

9. Dolly Parton & Kenny Rogers' Once Upon A Christmas.   Growing up with country music meant that I perused several country holiday albums as a kid.  This one sticks with me because of the original songs like Christmas Without You and With Bells On.  The twang of Dolly and Kenny is homey and simple which makes for a good album.

                                                     

8.  Elvis Presley If Every Day Was Like Christmas.   Another album from my childhood although we listened to Blue Christmas on vinyl.  But when I was linking to these the reviews for the cd version were negative so this album has all the songs I loved plus some others that sound nice.  Blue Christmas has to be one of the best songs Elvis ever sang and Santa Bring My Baby Back to Me is pure fun.  

7.  Melissa Etheridge A New Thought for Christmas.  I mentioned this album last year and it is really a nice departure from the typical albums with the classic songs.  Her rendition of O Night Divine is refreshing and focuses on the solstice.  This album rocks the holidays.

6.  Loreena McKennit A Midwinter Night's Dream.  Besides the cover art this album has some lovely old time sounding songs.  Gloucestershire Wassail, Good King Wenceslas and Coventry Carol are great and I love her originals Snow and Seeds of Love as well.

5.  Canned Heat Christmas Album.  Are you looking for some bluesy songs to get you dancing and grooving...then this is your album.  Deck the Halls, Boogie Boy ( Little Drummer Boy) and more get you out of your seat and moving.  This is not your grandma's Christmas carols.

4.  Santa Baby!  Various Artists.  The above album is similar to the compilation I have but it isn't the exact same.  I wasn't able to find it to link to precisely.  But if you happen to find it it's good.  Eartha Kitt's Santa Baby, Patti Page's Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, Louis Armstrong's Zat You Santa Claus all terrific and not the repetitive songs that can grate on your nerves sometimes.

3.  John Denver & The Muppets A Christmas Together.  I just discovered this one this year...funny since it was originally released in the 1970's.  Sweet and funny it's a perfect album to share with kids and enjoy.  The Twelve Days of Christmas version here is charming.

2.   Michael Buble Christmas.  His voice is like butter I tell you.  Great arrangements on this album, I love the style of old meets modern in the way he sings.  Holly Jolly Christmas is a favorite and the guy version of Santa Baby, very meterosexual! 

1.  Aimee Mann One More Drifter in the Snow.  There is just something about Aimee Mann's low and moody voice that exemplifies the holiday season.  Firelight, snow gently falling, drinking something warm - just a few things this album conjures for me.  Her version of You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch is good for kids and adults (and really I'm impressed that she included it) and What Ever Happened to Christmas is contemplative and serene.  This album is a great way to pull some reflective quiet into a hectic time of year.

the best laid plans

Is it getting to be a bit of a typical story on here that I make plans and then they don't pan out?  Perhaps the issue is the amount of plans, or the unrealistic expectations of a mother of a seven month old and an almost four year old.  Today for instance, after a stressful night of a baby's upset stomach and fitful sleep I decided that if the four year old wants to play paper dolls in his pajamas rather than go to pre-school so be it.  There are a dozen cobs of corn in my fridge that need to be blanched and frozen, birthday gifts to be finished and purchased, halloween costumes, halloween decorating, dishes, laundry, milk to pump, papers to file - maybe I should just stop there.

This post resonated with me this week.  The chaos that my creative life lives in is overwhelming and yet it is all I have right now so I must make the best of it.  If I waited for a quiet autumn day to contemplate my projects while warming my hands on a cup of tea....it would be spring before I even got around to making tea.  So there are toys, a rolling baby, Thomas songs and Winnie the Pooh dialogue being recited in the background and tiny snippets of time in which to cut, stitch or embroider. 

 (photo by Kyan)

I have chosen this path and despite moments of panic and uncertainty (usually at 2 in the morning) I wouldn't change a thing.  While watching the creative journey of others I am inspired to enter that space; the solitary, internal workings of the mind and soul as they collaborate to make and do.  But even as a part of me longs for that the strongest part of my self says no, without this life, these boys, this level of commitment, you would not be fulfilled.  And I know without question that that is my truth.  So I do this and try to stand tall in that truth every day.

of books and lists

As I mentioned last week (how did a week go by between posts?  Goodness....) there are lists forming.  I'm trying to get a more dependable schedule happening.  I have not been a very scheduled mom in the past almost 4 years but I'm noticing that Kyan may need more predictability in his days.  I would certainly enjoy a bit less chaos, negotiating and whining as well.  After reading some more about the nature of kids, and finally bending to parenting reading that I've already done I've decided to make us a time line.
Since we have an almost 6 month old in our family the time line is done in 2 hour stretches and will of course be subject to change.  But as I said we've never tried this before and if it doesn't work we can bid it farewell, but if it does then great.

I also decided this week to add one morning of home pre-school to our week.  When I say morning I mean an hour Tuesday morning with a themed "lesson".  I'll share more on our adventures with this idea in the future.  So given the amount of lists and planning I've been fitting in here and there I noticed many books lying around the house.

Hopefully I'll be adding regular blogging time to the schedule as well.

There are even more piles that didn't make the photos.  Dave's, cookbooks, and Ky's.

Books and lists and books and lists.  I haven't been dreaming of them yet but they fill my waking hours for now.

A list of the books pictured here:

2012 Polestar Planner (I still have the 2011 for now)

Teaching Montessori in the Home: The Pre-School Years

Creative Play for Your Toddler: Steiner Waldorf Expertise and Toy Projects for 2 - 4s

Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood

The Pillow Book: Over 25 Simple-to-Sew Patterns for Every Room and Every Mood

The English Patient

teeth & tantrums

This week has been about a rhythm that is slowly forming around our little nest.  Elliott's first teeth are slowly pushing through the gums, we are learning just how important a reliable bedtime is for Kyan's 3 year old self (hence the second t word in the title).  Dave is jogging on a regular schedule and I am working in sewing time and yoga time.  Kyan starts pre-school in a couple of weeks so we are clinging to the last few days of official summer.  This time of year always brings a sense of balance to me.
This year it is a groggy and often exhausted balance but I want to savor it none-the-less.  As the busy season of autumn approaches I can't help but turn to list making to help me.  This season is full of birthdays, outings, celebrations, making and buying gifts, and oh, so many firsts for the little guy.  To top it all off this year we will also have a wedding to attend and a milestone birthday party all in the same two week period as Yule, Solstice and Ky's birthday.  Oh and of course I want to plan Elliott's naming ceremony and do something for the Equinox this month.
It is hard to believe that we have been living in this home now for over a year and while things are coming along nicely in the decor and organizing department there is still a list of things to do in that regard as well.
Let's face it, I'll always have lists of things to do.....but between the lines of the lists is where the magical moments happen.  Every day around 4 pm I've been stopping the daily work and just laying on the floor playing with my kids.  I think we are all getting some grounding out of it.  Some rest and connection time before Dada gets home from his day.
We are reading more, listening to music more, watching less t.v and in some blissful moments sleeping more (or trying to).  I've been rediscovering old loves: swimming, dancing in the kitchen, and wearing pretty clothes that fit.  And dreaming of future possibilities once I have more "me" time.
I welcome you September in all your orange spice glory.  The wheel keeps turning us through and teaching us too.

Sea Songs

My newest playlist to bring the salty sea air where ever I go.

The Ocean - Led Zeppelin
Born in the Water - The Tragically Hip
Ocean Breathes Salty - Modest Mouse
Wooden Ships - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Sailor's Eyes - Joel Plaskett
Ship out on the Sea - Be Good Tanyas
Oceans - Pearl Jam
Swallowed in the Sea - Coldplay
Down by the Seaside - Led Zeppelin
Sea and the Rhythm - Iron & Wine
Sea of Love - Cat Power
Sail to the Moon - Radiohead
Pirate of Penance - Joni Mitchell
Mark of the Mermaid - Matthew McCully
House by the Sea - Iron & Wine
Sea Lion Woman - Feist
Yer Not the Ocean - The Tragically Hip
Tahitian Moon - Jane's Addiction
Oh Sailor - Fiona Apple
Song to a Seagull - Joni Mitchell

As you can tell my taste is all over the map. What would be on your Sea Songs mix?

Getting lost in words and piles

Beside me is a pile of empty After Eight chocolate wrappers. On the floor around me are scattered toys new and old. Upstairs in the bedroom are piles of clothes that need to be put away and in my head are words....three weeks of words from my favorite blogs. Taking a break from reading was nice but has left me a bit overwhelmed with the wonder of the interesting people whose lives I am able to peak into. I am in quite a state of limbo here which is a frequent place that I tend to reside, where I have a list longer than my arm of things that I would like to get done but something inside me is taking too long to warm up and get pumping. I will work my way through this, I always do and I will get cracking on goal reviews from 2009 and flesh out the hints of interesting things to come that I have been dropping here for far too long.
Thanks for you patience friends. I'm just going to pick a pile and get through it.

Sunday Ramblings

November has flown by with fewer posts than normal for me. It seems that the desire has been there but not the drive. Part of that was an attempt at combating what I see as a recipe for a lower immune system, too much stress and too little sleep. As the little guy deals with his two year molars coming in and we wash those hands to avoid viruses I have tried to be mindful of the natural rhythm this time of year brings to slow.
So while my physical self has taken that literally my brain is full steam ahead. I have so many lists floating around in there, planning for our holiday trip, getting the house, finances and blog in order before we leave, developing some new materials for Chasing Domestic Bliss, Pagan Pages and some other web content, work as always coming in and out each week and the small detail of an overwhelming desire to re-organize my entire house. This desire has crept in as a little idea here, a hint there and then just a realization that as another birthday rolls around for the little guy new stuff will arrive with it. And that of course means that some of the older stuff needs to go or be put away. I also want to rethink his bedroom since he has had the same room placement now since his birth. I've changed a few things here and there but overall it is the same room. We will probably move him into the larger bedroom that is now a guest room/office in the next six months and with that will come the intimidating (probably more to me than him) big boy bed. His new stuff also needs better placement in our home. Art supplies, toys that require more space, books shifting with seasonal changes etc.
Today I put my sewing stuff away until after the holidays. I need to focus my energy in other creative areas and take some time to develop projects and time lines. Making plans is a fun part of the change of the calender. There seems to be infinite possibilities and potential. I do tend to over plan and bite off more than I can chew but it's nice to dream a little and let reality come calling later on. Here's to your holiday & new year dreams.

The View from Here

Well, I'm certainly not finding the time to post as much as I'd like to these days. With my outside work and mom work I am barely finding time to sleep. I've also been at a bit of a lull in my topic ideas, probably because my other creative endeavors are at the forefront of my thoughts. I hope you can all bare with me, I'm sure the juices will flow again soon. In the meantime I thought I'd just list the ever growing projects in my head. Most are in different stages of completion....

- Make Ky some bibs
- Finish Album cover for Matt
- Finish Winter Artful Pillows (hopefully before Spring Equinox)
- Finish "Memory Keeper" piece for 2009

Each project is listed in order of importance. I realized the other day that my bigger than average 14 month old was only being covered by a sliver of fabric in this 3-6 month bibs. Rather funny to behold really. Not to mention that he is covered in food after each meal....so I found a pattern online and have gone through my stash of fabrics and I hope to get 6 made. All I need to purchase is some bias tape. I will post some photos when they are done.
My best friend Matt is putting out his debut cd. Dave and I have been elected to make the cover art. I am gladly doing this project, even though the other day I felt that this was akin to deciding that it would be great to make my own wedding dress. The dress turned out in the end as I know the cover art will but I certainly had some melt downs in the process. Stay tuned for more info about Matt, his music and the cd. ( I smell give away! Very soon)
The challenge of course is to fit all of this in, amongst cleaning, child rearing and living.
I am going to do my best to get my posts back up to at least twice a week.
I am being paged at this very moment...mum mum...milk....duty calls

A quiet season

Take a little time to smell the rose hips...

Here I am after a birthday weekend of the flu. Not the best birthday gift I've ever received. One thing that being totally out of commission does for you is get you really motivated to get some work done. I have lists running for meals, gifts, & crafts I'd like to make. Not to mention lists for around the house tasks: move plants around, clean everything, baking, pillows to make, decorating for Yule. I'm already overwhelmed.
There is a stillness as well. Something that swept through me while I was sick; the thing that forced me to the couch and made me stay there for more than a day. It was obvious that I had not been listening to this force and so it had to take me over completely. The quite of this time of year, the darkness, the cold; it asks us to turn inward. Take the time to listen to your soul, watch the birds eat the last of the berries, feel the chill and the contrasting warmth under a blanket. I have a wish of stillness this season for us all. Peace & stillness to you.