We've been working of a few things this week- I am still awaiting my wool order and so am puttering away on little baby knits- they are so fun and satisfying.

The boys worked on several projects, they painted butterflies and then the painting scraps were turned into egg shapes. Ari spent a lot of time cutting and decorating and hole punching these eggs which he wants the string as a garland. He has been decorating each one carefully.

And I have been gathering up wool from my stash to make fish hats with some other local knitters for an anti-pipeline event. I am excited about this project as it is something I can putter on at home and enjoy the process- unlike the other anti-pipeline activity I am taking part in- making an oral statement to the joint review panel- which just thinking of  makes me get jittery and feel nauseous. So I will just focus on this nice safe pile of wool to calm myself down. Deep breath. Phew- that's better. 
And the sun is shining and we are heading out the door to play in it. Happy Wednesday friends!

Woah. is it really January 10th already? I feel like we are just getting back into step after the holiday- finally catching our breath and getting back into our daily rhythms. I am going to do a quick catch up (or two- there are some photos yet to take,) of our handmades from the holidays and then get on with this new year! 

The kids were really serious about making things for each other this holiday- they had big plans- Ari especially- and just needed some help in making their ideas come to life. Ari really wanted to make Dorian a horse that he could play with. He needed some help with some of this, but mostly he made this lovely horse on his own. He is so proud of it and it is a favorite toy for them both now.

I don't have a photo of it yet, but there was a horse theme for the boy's gifts to each other. Dorian made (with a fair bit of help from mama) horse reigns for Ari that he can wear to be a horse. I sewed a simple tanktop sort of shape from an old blanket and sewed some reigns on the back. Dorian helped to cut the fabric and to decorate it with cut out felt pieces glued on. It is a hit, though it already needs some repairs. That horse can sure gallop at top speed, and the rider is often left tugging on the reigns to try and catch up! 

The boys had asked me some time ago if I would make them soft robots to snuggle. I found this pattern (Knit Picks lovebot pattern) with what I thought was plenty of time to spare, but these took me forever to finish! I spent many a night knitting like a mad woman. I don't usually watch many movies, but I watched a lot before solstice! I learned a lot making these- it was my first time using the magic loop method, and my first colour work attempt (with several froggings and still a bulky bulge of heart design on the front!) But they are are on constant bed-duty in both boys bed, so I think they are a success.

The boys made Perry some little pouches. The top one was Dorian's wallet for Papa, and the bottom is Ari's paint-brush-holder. Ari really wanted to make Papa a basket, but I have no basket-making experience and our attempts were a bit of a failure, so this was something easy to fall back on. The gift making was all rather last-minute (surprise surprise...) but it all worked out.

All, that is, except poor Perry's gift from me. That sweater I have been working on for him for awhile is still in 3 pieces, and he got an IOU for solstice. If those darned robots hadn't taken up so much of my knitting time... oh well, everyone needs a good mid-winter gift to lift up the spirits, right?



Santa brought these fairies to the boys on Christmas with a little tree-lodge. I'm guessing Santa's elves used something like the bendy-doll forms sold at Bear Dance Crafts to make them. They look like they were quite fun to make- I might give it a try sometime and make a few more of these little characters!

Pillows are rather hard to photograph, especially after they have been slept on and wrinkled up, but my other solstice gift to the boys was these castle themed pillow cases. The edging is from a dragon sheet I've had in the wings for awhile. The dragon itself is still waiting to be turned into something else- castle flag maybe?

There are still some unphotographed objects that I will add when I get the chance.
And in the meantime, there is some terrific snow outside for building- the mix of rain and snow we've had has frozen the snow so that you can cut out perfect snow bricks for building. There is an ever growing castle and courtyard in our front lawn. The boys played royalty for hours out there today. I did some building and the boys referred to me as "Queen Divine" the whole time. The name comes from a Rumpelstiltskin story they have, but who is going to argue with a title like that?

Inside and outside it is feeling very wintery and festive around here. We have been enjoying visiting with friends, crafting and making and whispering ideas about solstice gifts to each other, reading endless piles of books, playing and skiing and drinking eggnog together by the fire with a good book.

I hope you are all cozy and warm where you are, friends.

Today was a good day. A long one day, but a good one. The boys were busy this morning playing shop and mailman. I was given the role of "auntie", but luckily my job was to sit and drink tea and knit and get my letters delivered from Mexico right to the kitchen table which seemed like a good deal. We worked on making a garland from sweater scraps- this was our advent activity from yesterday, but it we didn't get to it until today. The boys enjoyed it for awhile and it was a satisfying use of all the felted bits I have been storing. 

Ari and Dorian wanted to work on shovelling off the pond today as they are really keen to get their skates on, but we found it a slushy mess with he warm weather we've had the past few days. The kids were content to shovel around the house instead and tired themselves out nicely.

I tried something different with circle today and it went really well. I had read about "adventure circles" which some Enki families use- where you tell a little story that ties the activities together and act out the story together. I made up a quick story about delivering presents to our friends in our horse-drawn sleigh using silks for props and the boys loved it. None of the verses or songs were new, but the story made it feel new and was fun for all of us.

We also attempted to make grain-free (sugar free, molasses-free) gingerbread cookies today and it was a bit of a failure. The kids were great about it and entertained themselves by playing a game with the cookie cutters while I wrestled with the dough. I find it discouraging sometimes, trying to adapt the foods we have enjoyed in the past to our new diets, but I'll keep trying.  Besides, I have this little goof ball to keep me laughing- he sure does know how to make us laugh!

Goodnight friends!

A craft fair and some town errands, simple meals and crafting together. Last night a date with my love. The holiday books and music came out-the boys were especially excited about the music. Ari requested more crafts tomorrow.

So far, this weekend has been grand. I hope your weekend's are swell dear friends.

that sort of day

The problem with saying I'll post everyday is that even on the tougher grumpy days I have to make it here- days I would usually just avoid this space, and probably not pick up the camera either. But I did pick up the camera, and there were some beautiful moments between the grumpies (nothing serious, just not enough sleep...) The boys had a terrific game set up with kapla plank houses for their animals and cars and Ari spent a bunch of of time on his own, cutting snowflakes for the small windows on the porch door and putting them up himself. We decorated our advent candle in the afternoon which we all enjoyed. The boys stayed in their pjs all day, throwing their snowsuits over them for a romp in the snow, and then wearing them to bed again tonight. It was that kind of day. Tomorrow is a new day. I'm off to bed- where we will all hopefully be getting a better sleep tonight!
Goodnight friends.

snowflakes

Today was a day for making snowflakes. Ari was unstoppable. I could hardly keep up with all the folding for him.

Tomorrow we will hang them in the windows and as a mobile over the nature table.

The great thing about cleaning up this sort of mess is that it it fun. The boys were "snow cleaners" and shovelled all the bits into a basket, and then we tossed them into the fire which is dramatic and exciting.

We also got the winter books out today. The books that have been put away for awhile are met like old friends. There is nothing cozier than sitting on the couch by the fire reading book after book to my sweet boys. Winter is good.

and I am going to aim to post a photo or two a day here this month- I'll see if I can record this busy, lovely season a little, there will be few words, but I'll be trying to post something that captures the day.

I hope you are all cozy and warm friends!

raining

It has been raining. Things are greening up and we head outside to the garden whenever there is a break in the weather. Out in the garden, digging and weeding and getting ready for planting. Rescuing worms and placing them ever-so-lovingly into the compost.

Feeding the chickens "chicken treats" - clover and dandelions.

Picking nettles (and eating nettles- soup and omelets and nettle pesto! yum.)

Getting out in the rain too- fun with friends at a local park.

And lots of inside time too. We've been making stuff- this is a "monster campsite" complete with a monster who can go in his sleeping bag and his tent, and can go fishing in his monster boat and roast his supper over the wood on his monster campfire. Playing with friends- "riding on a train."
Playing with the new castle set- this is the second time around with this pattern and it was Ari's birthday gift from me- the only thing he asked for. There is a horse too, but it is in the repair basket awaiting help with a lost tail.

And I've been knitting amongst all that too-much-inside-time chaos. It has been a good week. I hope your week has been good as well friends.