Roots and Wings

Yarn Along 1.2.12

2012-02-01T13:35:00.000-08:00

As i finished my hat I am working on a new project. It is The Hudson Hat and I am quite excited to see what it will look like on my little boy! I have only just begun so the photo is not very exciting!

I am using a variety of yarns including some yummy Rowan/Amy Butler Organic stuff in an orangey brown, Debbie Bliss Rialto and Cashmerino Aran.

I have a few SARK books which I have flicked through and read bits of, but after listening to an audio of her talking to Goddess Leonie I decided I wanted to read one properly. I later had a chat with one of my soul sisters about wanting to write more and she spurred me on to do it, so I think this book is the perfect place for me right now.

A little art

2012-01-30T13:33:00.000-08:00

Phoebe's canvas - first she drew out her plan for her painting.

Then painted it onto a pre-prepared canvas. The slide is blue on the left and the ladder up is dark red on the right. We'll do a bit more work on this tomorrow I think.

She was very proud though and loved the feel of the paint.

This is Ezra's canvas. :)

Window art by Ezra...

...and Phoebe.

And lastly some invitations for a belated mini fairy princess party (Phoebe's three BFFs). <3

Finished Project ::: My Hat of Choice

2012-01-30T03:04:00.000-08:00

Last night Russ and I watched a movie and I was able to finish my hat. I'm really pleased with the way it came out and the delicious bluey greeny colour. It's so soft and I love the pattern.
It represents something quite big for me - making something for myself. I have made many things over the years but never for myself. Lately knitting time has been hard to come by so it's quite amazing that I knit it so quickly and that it's actually for me. Looking forward to having a warmer head from now on when we venture out!

{this moment} ::: Making Lemonade

2012-01-27T11:42:00.000-08:00

Joining in with Soulemama again this week for {this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Yarn Along

2012-01-25T12:42:00.000-08:00

I'm still knitting the red dress from last week but as it's quite a big task I decided to start something new as well! Ooh get me, knitting more prolifically all of a sudden... well, prolific for me anyway. I so love to knit but often it feels like there is not the right moment for it. Things are just too busy. I am now making an effort to pick up my needles even if only for a few minutes a day. This afternoon I did a few rows whilst reading books aloud to my little ones and whilst we listened to the telling of The Emperor's New Clothes from the Hans Christian Anderson soundtrack. You know the one "The king is in the altogether, he's altogether, he's altogether, he's altogether as naked as the day that he was born!". I'd totally forgotten that song from my childhood until I was reading the book and went... hmm, there's a song about this!

So anyway, on to my knitting. Its is Soulemama's Hat of Choice and I am knitting it in Manos del Uruguay Maxima, which is the most soft and gorgeous aran weight wool. The shade is Ultramarine. Its just so beautiful. I got this from Russ for Christmas and am pleased to be starting something with it so soon rather than just sitting and stroking it like I usually do with pretty gifted yarn. I just hope I can do it justice with the finished project. it might be my favourite yarn yet! I will try to get a better picture of the finished object to show off the colourway.

The book is Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy by Sarah Ban Breathnach. It has a small article, a page or so, for every day of the year. So I will be reading it all year long. But I wanted to remember to share it. Its very much focussed on where I am at - chosing joy and nurturing ourselves on a daily basis, with the little things. I am really enjoying it.

Lastly here are a souple of other pictures from our day today...

Phoebe reading to Ezra

Phoebe was very proud of herself for drawing her first ever heart.And i was quietly a wee bit proud too.

And that's today's Yarn Along. :)

Some things we are liking right now

2012-01-24T11:53:00.000-08:00

This video is just amazing and makes me want to learn to Lindy hop!

As yesterday was Chinese New Year we wantched some traditional (and not so traditional) dragon dancing and lion dancing. This was our favourite. Its so impressive when you realise they are jumping around on poles in the air and one guy is sat on the other ones head!

and lastly I have just seen the video to Ed Sheeran's Lego House and love it. Made me laugh out loud when I realised what was going on. But then I am a Potter fan so maybe I'm biased? ;)
Video aside, its also a beautiful song. :)

Monday's magic

2012-01-23T15:15:00.000-08:00

Today we were joined by "Catty Ezra" for a while, and also by our fairy godmother.
We coloured, painted, and glittered. We played shops. We watched some Chinese new year celebrations via YouTube - dragon dancing and lion dancing. And a spot of lindyhopping and ballet. Will post my favourite video when I get a chance.
We went to the shops to buy chicken food and bird feed for our garden friends. I also got some beetroot and aubergine from our local shop that I'm pondering what to do with.
This evening I have sat and crocheted Phoebe a little flower, the start of many I hope, to decorate the bunkbeds. I have also been pondering a few things. You know, the usual sudden aha moments, followed by the typical "thanks brain, but what do I do with this information?".
For now though I am off to bed, to dream of Catty Ezra probably. He was, after all, awfully cute!

Love

2012-01-22T05:22:00.001-08:00

Stash busting?

2012-01-22T05:11:00.000-08:00

I have a room full of craft supplies I have accumulated over the years. Much has been given to me or picked up very cheaply during sales. Some of it was bought with my children in mind. But my yarn... well, I have many skeins sat there and I am barely knitting right now. I love it, but am somehow not prioritising it, despite the effect it has on my day (and my sanity). So I plan to make 2012 the year I sort out all those craft supplies, and the year that I buy no yarn. When I saw this challenge over at Creating a Family Home I knew it was a good motivator for getting through my stash and making some beautiful things this year! I have also decided to try and join in with Ginny's Yarn Along on Wednesday's to spur me on. After all, it won't be much good if I am taking photos of the same tired old project week after week! So I'll look forward to sharing my knitting progress this year and seeing what others are making too. Please shout if you are also taking part in the challenge! :)

Where to blog?

2012-01-22T04:19:00.000-08:00

Blogging in two places started out really simple but this week I have ended up posting Yarn Along and {This Moment} on my other blog at www.honouringthewild.blogspot.com and then feeling they would be best posted here on our family blog. After thinking about it, and feeling the edges of the division, I have realised that I want to do most posting here. I think I will keep my other blog for special musings, my writing when I get the chance to do any and, well, more of a journal for me. You are welcome to follow me over at Honouring the Wild too, if you will excuse the sporadic posting.

We are in the midst of family illness at the moment - nothing major but Ezra has a sick bug - so we are having a very quiet weekend. He is coping with it very well, and is pretty much his normal self most of the time, apart from the odd sicky moment. My poor boy. He is sleeping now so I am grabbing this quick moment to myself to fiddle around with my blog banner and get a few bits and pieces done.

Wishing you all a relaxing Sunday. x

This Thursday's Best Bits

2012-01-19T15:18:00.000-08:00

The painting is a picture of a dog by Ezra and he was most particular about pointing out that it had legs (painted in yellow). Not pictured - Roald Dahl's Matilda (thank you for the box set Grandma and Grandpa), The Wiggles, Wallace and Gromit and tomato & lentil soup with hedgehog rolls for lunch.

Chilled family time

2012-01-16T07:46:00.000-08:00

No need for words. Just enjoying each others company. :)

Introducing "FIVE"!

2012-01-16T07:45:00.001-08:00

Here she is on the morning of her fifth birthday. Confident, passionate, inspiring. Phoebe has grown so much this past year and these photos captured her perfectly right at that moment. She is rockin' her dance costume, which was one of her birthday presents from us.

I made a princess cake using her dolly. I'm quite pleased with how it came out. It was huge so we shared it a lot and still have quite a bit left. It was chocolate with pink icing (of course).

The biggest surprise for us all was on our swimming trip. Phoebe and Ezra were surprised by Auntie Lynsey and Uncle Andy turning up, and Russ and I were surprised by the sudden huge leap in Phoebe's confidence in the water! She has gone from paddling feet last time to full on doggy paddle with arm bands this time! She loved it! Ezra started out very unsure but was playing in the water by the end. A truly lovely morning.

Happy fifth birthday to my beautiful Phoebe Dot. Watching you grow and learn and laugh and love is an honour. Parenthood is like having the best seat in the house for the greatest show on earth, and watching you shine is such a blessing. We love you sweetheart xxx

Last day of "four"

2012-01-16T07:33:00.000-08:00

Phoebe kissed herself at bedtime on Thursday "to say goodbye to four". She was very excited about magically turning five overnight. Goodbye sweet four year old Phoebe. It has been a pleasure to be your Mother this year (as always). We are blessed to have you as our daughter. xxx

Wednesday was...

2012-01-11T23:50:00.001-08:00

Telling stories to little brother in a secret den.
Wearing mummy's cardi and sitting in her favourite spot. "Cheese!" (Wonder how long we'll have this photo face?)
Chalk pastels : rainbow fairy by Phoebe, tunnel by Ezra. This is his first picture that is of something. When Phoebe asked what was in the tunnel he said "train". :)
And so much more...

Monday was...

2012-01-09T08:29:00.001-08:00

Green smoothie
Painting (a gold angel by Phoebe)
Funny faces
Drawing
Real tea brewing (thank you mum and dad)

Not pictured: playing pairs and snap and playmobil, reading fairy tales over and over again, story telling puzzles, dressing up, singing songs (about Jesus for some reason), serving play food, making their own snacks, screwball scramble, playing spot the fairies using a current favourite book, printing with paint, more stories, making mini pies for dinner! A fun day at home.

A few more pics

2012-01-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

Our new space

2012-01-06T06:35:00.001-08:00

My Dad has just asked if we have any pictures on the blog of our new kitchen and dining room. I'm not sure if I've posted any so am quickly putting some up to show my Auntie Sandra. It's a work in progress, and quite messy as I just took the photos now, right after lunch, but you get the idea. :)
So here, finally after all the work is our new space.

Artsy shots by Phoebe

2012-01-05T05:37:00.001-08:00

I just discovered these! Love them! :)

Solstice Handwarmies

2012-01-05T05:36:00.001-08:00

I don't think I blogged these. I made the children a pair each for solstice. The wool was incawool (all the way from Denmark - thank you Louise! ;) and I used the idea from the attic 24 pattern. Really pleased with how they turned out!

"bee pea game"

2012-01-05T05:31:00.001-08:00

That's what Ezra calls this. Lots of fun and he asks for it daily. :)

Face painting!

2012-01-05T05:28:00.001-08:00

At Auntie Nicola's. Surprisingly few photos of Christmas but I just found these.

Our week : part three

2012-01-05T05:24:00.001-08:00

More busyness.

Thank you to everyone for our lovely gifts this year. The beautiful pebbles here are from my sister. Playdough and dress up dolls set were from my cousin Liz. Thank you :) really appreciated xx

This week : part two

2012-01-05T05:19:00.000-08:00

More of our week.

This week: part one.

2012-01-05T05:17:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone!

Here are a few pictures of how we are spending this first week!

Something I want to write so I don't forget these little things!

2011-12-16T01:36:00.001-08:00

Some Phoebe Talk!

Luana, why so glum?

Mummy, don't touch anything! I'm making it all spic and span!

Do you know what you have to do to live in peace and harmony? Use your talents!

I am rubbing in your kiss mummy so it doesn't disappear.

You have to take care mummy. It's all about balance! (on cleaning)

Mummy! I'm excusing you mummy, please can you do my dress up.

This is made from finest silk. It's from China!

Some Ezra talk:

Doggy. There. (points to ceiling) Doggy. There. Up. (laughing)
Doggy. Blue. There.
(his little joke)

Actually, substitute the word doggy with the word poo and you get another of his jokes! Don't worry, no actual poo involved, purely imaginary from the mind of a two year old!

Right now...

2011-12-14T03:29:00.000-08:00

I am taking a little break from blogging to recharge after a stressful year. I am hoping to start afresh in January both here (blogging our home ed adventures and family life) and over at my new blog (writing about my own stuff). My new blog can be found at honouringthewild.blogspot.com.

I may post pictures from time to time during the festive season but want to take the chance now to wish you a Merry Christmas, Happy Solstice and best wishes for the season to you all!

Laura x

Us

2011-11-19T11:45:00.001-08:00

Christmas has come to the garden centre!

2011-11-19T11:44:00.001-08:00

Playing with Charlie and Nate

2011-11-15T01:30:00.001-08:00

Thank you for having us xx

Our weekend

2011-11-14T01:50:00.000-08:00

We are staying away from home whilst some of the work on our house is done. So I am with my children at my parents' house. This weekend my sister and her husband came down. We had a lovely weekend, including watching a parade with Father Christmas in town. Ezra finally got his autumn/winter shoes and also a long awaited hair cut.
I feel a bit out of sync with everything being away from home, but letting it all slide. Looking forward to having a working kitchen at last! :)

Making Volcanoes

2011-11-07T08:30:00.000-08:00

Play dough volcano + bicarbonate of soda + vinegar and food colouring = fun erupting volcanoes

Bonfire Night

2011-11-07T08:28:00.000-08:00

Eating lunch and admiring the lights

2011-11-05T10:15:00.001-07:00

It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas in the city centre.

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T06:55:00.001-07:00

Picture 1: Ezra's pumpkin
Picture 2: Phoebe's pumpkin
Picture 3: The best picture I got of witch Phoebe
Picture 4: witch Ezra is under there somewhere!

Nanny, Grandad and Jonny Visit

2011-11-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

This week

2011-10-30T06:11:00.000-07:00

A quick random assortment.
Picture 1: melting crayon art
Picture 2: Phoebe's mummy styled hair
Picture 3: Russ and Ezra at Pumpkin Day on Riverford Farm. So much fun with friends.
Pictures 4 & 5: Phoebe being very excited on a vintage London open top bus. Though we chose the enclosed bit upstairs for the actual journey.

Such a happy week.

Spider art

2011-10-28T05:43:00.000-07:00

Mummy's

PC Ezra

2011-10-26T06:56:00.000-07:00

He's just whole heaps of gorgeousness!

A day with friends

2011-10-26T06:55:00.001-07:00

Calamity Phoebs - My beautiful free spirited cowgirl! Her future career plan at the moment is to marry Ezra and drive a stagecoach with Calamity Jane.

We had a great time yesterday playing with friends, and their mummies. A much needed diversion from yucky colds and the jobs that need to be done at home. Thank you so much to my lovely friends 'mummybear' (slugandsnail.Blogspot.com) and 'barefootmummy' (barefootbirthpools.co.uk). The lunch was gorgeous veggie chilli and roasted sweet potatoes with salad. We lit a fire and toasted marshmallows. We shared winter spiced punch outside, and talked of family life and of soul nourishment. Our kids ran around and played with a stomp rocket, which was the greatest invention ever to Ezra and the funniest thing ever to little Sonny!
Such a lovely day, and I am so grateful for it!

Time

2011-10-26T06:43:00.001-07:00

Just giving myself some time and space still right now. We have all come down with colds, coughs and sore throats. Ezra has been waking frequently and i was up til past 3am with him last night. This afternoon I need to clear out a whole room in preparation for our new kitchen which is arriving Friday morning. And so pretty much all else but preparation and recovery is on the backburner. Our new kitchen and building work is starting on 11th November so we will have an odd couple of weeks of topsy turvy house and slowly clearing out the kitchen before work begins. This feels like a real time of change for all of us. I have some thoughts and plans and dreams that I will share at a later date and I am starting (another) new blog too. Details to follow. But for now I am remembering to rest and make home my priority. Love, love, love, and breathe.

Grampy and Little Dot

2011-10-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we said goodbye to our Grandad, or Grampy as he was known to our children.

It was a lovely service and a very emotional day. I still can't decide if the peace I feel around it is genuine or if I am still in denial. Either way, I don't feel he is really gone. I am certain he is watching over us all and reunited with the love of his life, my Nana.

I wanted to share this poem he wrote for Phoebe back in 2009, when she was just two. It brought tears to my eyes yesterday, but they were happy ones. I am so grateful to have had my Grandad in my life, and my children's lives, and I can still feel his love now. I feel honoured to be his grandchild.

Without further ado here is his poem for Phoebe.

some days i sit &pass the time,,,,,& think of words that maybe rhyme,, sometimes the words are left till later ,but these are some i put to paper,, all about my pheobe dot ,a little girl i love a lot i,ll try again , but think i,ll wait,august seems a likely date ,,,,,,,,,Pheobe ,, You came into my life,& brought back a smile, made me forget all my sorrow,, if just for a while, if only My dot had seen your,e sweet face,so full of love,such beauty & grace but you have the love that comes from our hearts,i cant watch you full grow, for just like my dot i will depart, but the memory of us both, you,ll keep in your heart, & when youre full grown,,,you wont have forgot,the joy that you gave & the love that you got, from a grateful old grampy, to his little dot ,

xXx

Twenty-Three Hour Giveaway for TWO Seats in the Lodge - Pink Coyote

2011-10-18T13:26:00.001-07:00

The beautiful Pixie Campbell is giving away two spaces on her amazing SouLodge. Oh my goodness, this is so exactly what i need! If you are interested please go check it out:

http://pixiecampbell.typepad.com/pink_coyote/

Quiet time

2011-10-16T03:34:00.001-07:00

We are just having some family time over the next week or so, as we have been doing since my Grandad became very ill. Which means lots of time at home, and a visit to my parents' house in the week. His funeral is on Friday and it will feel better to see my extended family and talk about him. I think I will begin blogging again afterwards when I feel more at peace and able to write clearly. Thank you so much for all your kind words, which have been a soothing balm to my soul. xxx

Goodbye Grandad

2011-10-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

This is a really hard post for me to write. I have composed it over and over again in my head the past two or three days and now its time to put it down here.

Last week we lost our beloved Grandad. He had been admitted to hospital the week before and things did not look good, but he had had a small operation and was told afterwards when he had healed from that he could go home. I even spoke to him on the phone. We thought the emergency was over, and we could breathe again. It was a real shock to hear how he became so unwell so quickly over the next couple of days. I do not want to go into detail here but the trauma, grief and upset of the past two weeks have been a heavy burden for our hearts to bear.

Last Wednesday I heard the news of his passing, broken to me so kindly and gently. I wept with the pain of losing someone I love so much and knowing that my children would most certainly miss their dear Grampy. Telling Phoebe was one of the hardest things I have ever done, and she was so upset. But also, thankfully, she is strong and still... well, a child, so she was soon asking questions and talking about him without getting upset. She thought it very important that she was still able to show him pictures she had done and talk to him sometimes so I told her to talk to the starts and he would most certainly hear. That is what my Nana had said to me before she left us all those years ago.

Grandad (Grampy) and Ezra

So things are a little quiet and subdued around here. We are grieving and well, I think it will be a while before i come to terms with it. It is hard to let go. My Grandad feels like the last tie to my childhood and the true patriach of the family. The Grandfather. He is loved so much by so many.

I am helped somewhat by imagining what is waititng for him on the other side. I am a spiritual person and am still defining my beliefs, but I like to think of Nana waiting for him so they can be together once again - to sing and dance and hold each other tight, just as they used to do. The love they showed for each other has been an inspiration to me in my marriage.

Grandad (Grampy) and Phoebe

I am going to go now, can't have too many tears on the keyboard, but I would like to say this. My Grandad was this blog's biggest fan. He was my number one reader and the main reason for all the hundreds of pictures I have posted here over the years. In honour of him I am making a promise to myself to keep this blog going, and to try and write more regularly. I hope to make this a true picture of our family's path as we journey together through this life.

So goodnight and God bless Grandad. You are so loved and will be missed greatly. We will hold onto those memories of the good times we had together and cherish them always. You will forever be in our hearts. I love you. xxx

Doodles

2011-09-29T10:39:00.001-07:00

A snail, a baby and a sheep. :)

Number line

2011-09-27T11:14:00.001-07:00

Phoebe enjoyed playing with a number line this morning. Thank you to my friend Sam of no-matter-how-small.Blogspot.com for the link to Sparklebox to get the printables!

Mowing the lawn with Mona

2011-09-27T11:12:00.001-07:00

Picnic on the bottom bunk

2011-09-27T11:11:00.001-07:00

New room

2011-09-27T11:10:00.001-07:00

We are working on the children's new room and they are spending the first part of the night in there. They are very pleased with their new bunkbeds!

Phoebe swings high

2011-09-27T11:08:00.001-07:00

To touch the top of the pergola to be precise!

New book

2011-09-27T11:07:00.001-07:00

I'm really enjoying this! Worth a look mamas!

My boy

2011-09-20T12:21:00.001-07:00

Phoebe Treasure Hunting

2011-09-20T12:20:00.001-07:00

... At Autumn's party. Happy Birthday Autumn! xxx

Phoebe with bunches

2011-09-20T12:19:00.001-07:00

Mama make ::: granny mandala prayer flags

2011-09-20T10:49:00.001-07:00

So pleased with how these came out!

Mama make ::: cute snail

2011-09-20T10:48:00.001-07:00

For a special girl's fifth birthday.

All tired out

2011-09-20T10:47:00.001-07:00

Witchlet

2011-09-20T10:46:00.001-07:00

New art corner

2011-09-20T10:43:00.001-07:00

Having a rearrange here, and loving it!

Mummy and Ez

2011-09-20T10:42:00.001-07:00

"I made these!"

2011-09-20T10:41:00.001-07:00

Crafting time

2011-09-20T10:40:00.002-07:00

Phoebe makes

2011-09-20T10:40:00.001-07:00

Patterns

2011-09-20T10:39:00.001-07:00

Phoebe has been having lots of fun playing with blocks lately, arranging them in a variety of patterns. This is one of them. She enjoys telling me about what she put where and why.

Phoebe's tower

2011-09-20T10:38:00.001-07:00

Mama love swap

2011-09-20T10:37:00.001-07:00

Here are the lovely goodies I got from the mama love swap on the GP forum. Thank you so much to LoveArwen who gifted them to me! My parcel is ready to be posted tomorrow.

Nurse Phoebe

2011-09-20T10:35:00.002-07:00

Mama make ::: calm cowl

2011-09-20T10:35:00.001-07:00

It's so cozy! I love how this turned out. :) Just in time for autumn.

Sorry, you do what?

2011-09-11T13:30:00.000-07:00

I hope this is big enough to be readable. A friend posted it on her facebook wall and I knew I had to share here. Love it!

Edited to add: I don't know the original source as I copied it from facebook (Thanks V) and when i tracked it back to source no one was credited, but it was shared on the Radical Unschoolers' Network. :)

Continuing the journey

2011-09-11T13:14:00.000-07:00

This week just passed marked our first official week of Home Education. It was a fairly ordinary week. Nothing amazing happened (although i went to a great workshop on Saturday - more on that another time) and for the most part the days slipped by us, uneventful.

For Phoebe, the fact that her peers have started school is irrelevant. She is fortunate to be in a position where most of her friends are also home educated. She also is friends with children of varying ages, from ten down to three. So the importance of the moment escaped her, and that is as it should be for us really. I had kind of forgotten that this was the week until a good friend reminded me. I listened to her lovely plans for her sweet daughter, whose friends were going off to school, and the way she was going to make the week just as special so there would be no feeling of being left out. I thought it sounded so special (and it is) but failed to take into account the differences in our children's situations and temperaments. So on Monday when I spoke to Phoebe about it any mention at all of the words 'education' or 'special day/week' were met with a resounding "No!". But you know what, thats just fine and as it should be. We really don't need to mark what is a natural continuation of our life and learning experiences so far. Not when Phoebe is not even aware she is 'school age' or any different to the majority of her peers.

So we had a nice week, just as we always do, but I did have a moment, just a moment, of going "Wow! We are actually doing it!". Not because i didn't think we would, or think we could, but just because now, when we are asked, I will no longer be saying "We are planning on Home Educating." but actually "We are Home Educating.". And we are so proud and pleased with our decision. It is so right for our family.

I am going to post more soon about our thoughts on the subject, and what Home Ed looks like for us, but for now I thought I would post a list of some of the things we have got up to in this, our (arbitrary and far too young) official first week.

Building train tracks and playing games with them and the dolls house and lego people.
Jumping on the bed, singing and being a 'rock star' with a tennis raquet.
Phoebe read books to Ezra on the sofa - Topsy and Tim and the Builders.
Reading stories together from a book bought by Grandad - A Children's Treasury of Literature.
Played with the children next door.
Tap Tap Art.
Playing in the garden - swinging, sliding, running, jumping, riding bikes and trikes, hula hooping, feeding the chickens, playing in the sand pit.
Making a mini book - Phoebe dictated the words to me and drew the pictures.
Building towers with blocks.
We started our first ever chapter book - The Folk of the Faraway Tree - and Phoebe loves it.
Played with our friends who came over to visit for the day.
Chose five cuddly toys to donate to an orphanage.
Played Poisson Rouge and Peep and the big wide world.
Made popcorn.
Made a birthday cake for an imaginary birthday and blew the candles out.
Did splatter painting and print making.
Played in the bath.
Had family drawing time.
Went shopping
Played with our new playtable and some vehicles.
Made patterns with bricks
Watched new playhouse being delivered and new front door being installed.
Had pancakes for breakfast.
Played chasing and tickling games.
Made a big indoor tunnnel to crawl through.
Used window crayons.
Took the dolls house dolls to their toy park.
Played imaginary games about going on holiday on a boat.
Blew bubbles
Started making a 'busy list' of fun things to do this autumn.
Made indoor slides.
Watched a few programs.
Made up jokes and magic tricks.
Made a finger print piggy photo frame.
Started making a cat bookmark.
Played on hammocks made from slings over the table.

These are just some snapshots from our week. It was a very enjoyable one - as they nearly always are. I want to end with a quote from Phoebe this week which just sums up the myriad of ways to learn and things to learn...

"Mummy, there are so many ways for everything! Aren't there? Like swinging on tightropes... and sliding. Just everything! It's all so clever!"

Working on a little something special

2011-09-11T05:37:00.001-07:00

And loving it!

Ezra got himself ready to go out...

2011-09-11T05:35:00.002-07:00

Do you think he's missing something?

Mama make ::: short sleeved top

2011-09-11T05:35:00.001-07:00

I'm really pleased with how this came out. I used a yarn called smoothie and it is certainly very smooth, silky and stretchy. My plan is for this to be worn over long sleeved tops for winter, kind of like a tank top. The colours aren't what I would usually pick but the ball looked so different I thought I'd go with it. Phoebe really likes it so hopefully it will get a lot of wear. The pattern is cap sleeved spring top by Shelley Flloyd (I think!). I'll be posting it up on ravelry soon!

Edited to add: The pattern is Girl's cap sleeved spring shirt by shellee floyd.

Phoebe's mama made pencil case

2011-09-05T11:11:00.000-07:00

To mark our first official day of home education! Hooray!

A little man and a pony

2011-09-05T10:46:00.001-07:00

About Bunny Rabbits

2011-09-05T10:44:00.000-07:00

"I know what they need. I am a very good person. You'll be proud of me
now. Bunny rabbits need sleep and some water and food. And as well
they can't play with anything and can only hop. They need more sleep
than ever before and that's all about bunny rabbits."

More from Phoebe's book.
The picture is a lop eared rabbit.

A pony by Phoebe

2011-09-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

"I know all about ponies and what is wrong with your pony is it needs
to eat and drink, get some sleep and that is all about ponies."

Extract from Phoebe's self produced zigzag book about animals.

Phoebe's tower

2011-09-05T09:51:00.000-07:00

Lots of fun block play this afternoon. This was Phoebe's favourite
tower in her favourite colour.

Thoughts

2011-09-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

As I lie, still,
the words come.
They come from the deep.
The depths of my being.

They flow through me,
emerging fully formed
and perfect
in the darkness.

The things I can't name
when I think about it.
The things I don't even know I know.
My soul speaking.
The wise woman talks.

She speaks words for me to share.
Things to tell,
Things I need to hear,
quietly, and only in the stillness.

All is calm. I can tiptoe away
and as I get up
my thoughts scatter,
shattered by the light of day,
fading like shadows
as I step out of the darkness.

The clarity I had disappears.
The words hide
in the corners of my mind.
Authentic expression of who I am
right now... gone.

Always, it seems like this.
Always, except this time.
Except for now.

How do I trap the words
so I can hold then up and
examine them in the light of day?

Write Mama, write.
Spill them out on paper
before you forget.
As soon as you have the chance
write.

Some of it will stick.
Bring the fragments together.
Sew them and bind them
like a quilt.

Write and you will remember
what the wise woman said,
What your soul needs you to hear,
and to share.
Write, and hear the song of
the true voice within.

More tap tap

2011-09-05T06:34:00.000-07:00

Tap tap art

2011-09-05T06:33:00.002-07:00

Ezra and Grandad

2011-09-05T06:33:00.000-07:00

Dani and Isabella

2011-09-05T06:32:00.001-07:00

The beautiful bride and her lovely daughter

2011-09-05T06:32:00.000-07:00

Congratulations Mr and Mrs Gannon!

2011-09-05T06:31:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we went to a friend's party in the afternoon and in the
evening we celebrated with out friends Dani and John as they tied the
knot. The ceremony was an intimate one the day before and we went
along to their reception which was in a lovely village hall. It was
beautifully decorated and Dani looked stunning. I felt so proud and
happy for them all. Dani is mum to almost one year old Isabella, and
now also step mum to a sweet teen boy, George. John is so perfect for
her. We wish them all heaps and heaps of happiness!

Ha ha!

2011-09-05T06:22:00.005-07:00

Teasing

2011-09-05T06:22:00.003-07:00

My boy

2011-09-05T06:22:00.001-07:00

Sibling love

2011-09-05T06:22:00.000-07:00

Sharing a book

2011-09-05T06:21:00.003-07:00

Easter Bonnet

2011-09-05T06:21:00.001-07:00

Our Wild Garden

2011-09-05T06:21:00.000-07:00

Dinner at the Harleywood Diner

2011-09-05T06:20:00.002-07:00

With Lynsey and Andy

2011-09-05T06:20:00.000-07:00

Pebbles

2011-09-05T06:19:00.002-07:00

Auntie Lynsey

2011-09-05T06:19:00.000-07:00

Splosh

2011-09-05T06:18:00.002-07:00

Feeling the shingle

2011-09-05T06:18:00.000-07:00

On the beach

2011-09-05T06:17:00.001-07:00