One Stitch at a Time

I'm teaching myself to knit. It's requiring a lot of patience and a hefty dose of humility. Right when I get into a rhythm, and what I'm knitting actually starts to look like something, I drop a stitch, or twist something up. So I end up with random holes and wonky stitches. After a while, I decide I want to try again, and I unravel the whole thing. With the aspiration to get it right this time, I cast on again... And so it goes.

The life lesson here has not escaped me; I see the metaphor. At 35 years old, I finally feel like I'm having to grow up. Real life things are happening to and around me now. Life & death stuff. Safety & security stuff. Learning to balance these responsibilities is a lot like learning to knit. I don't always get it right. There are gaps in judgement. There are twists of fate. And my rhythms get broken again and again.

So I'm focusing on taking it one stitch - and one moment - at a time. Both knitting and this grown-up life.

Simple Delight :: Tea To Go

Selby was gifted her very own tea travel mug for Valentine's Day (thank you Nana). Mini-sized, it is perfect for little hands; she LOVES it. It is so cute watching her carry her tea out to the car, backpack on, ready to sip it on the way to school. "I look like you, Mommy," she says, beaming. And I smile too. My gal is experimenting with different teas and flavors... right now she likes Tension Tamer from Celestial Seasonings with a fair share of wildflower honey. Mmmm, simply delightful in every way.

What teas are you sipping right now? How about your little chicks?

Gardening Under Glass

My oldest chick has developed a real affinity for gardening. In fact, her only request from Santa this past Christmas was a gardening set. So when I saw this fairyland terrarium project, I knew we had to make one. It was so enchanting, we made another one for a birthday gift.

We covered the soil in our terrariums with moss from my yard. I've been watching a large patch of it spread across the side of my house this winter. It looks like bright green velvet, so inviting I want run my hands along top of it.

A small succulent is planted amidst the moss (a mini fern or orchid would also work well). The rest is up to your imagination... my gal decorated hers with jewels, shells, rocks and, finally, a sprinkling of 'fairy dust' (craft glitter).

Note: our project was a mix of the fairyland terrarium linked above and this mossy woodland terrarium, from Martha's magazine. I'm about to make another one of these easy mossariums for myself. (I've really got a case for that moss!)

Circles and Hearts

Come out of the circle of time, And into the circle of love. - Rumi

I know I've waxed poetic here many-a-time about my tribe, my village, my mamas. I've written about our new moon circles, our mother blessing ceremonies and all sorts of family gatherings. So it's only fitting I would spend Valentine's Day with this circle of friends, celebrating the love and friendship shared amongst our collective family.

We gathered out at the ranch to celebrate two Valentine's birthdays with a family campout. It was too cold - even here in Florida - to put up our tents, so we all cozied into the cabin in slumber-party fashion.

After the lights went out inside, the grown ups gathered outside around the campfire, under a new-moon sky. For the first time, on this Valentine's Eve, my sisters and I opened up the new moon circle to include our partners in an intimate ceremony under the stars.

My intention for the new lunar cycle was more of a mantra, adopted from one of the wise women of our clan: "I CAN TAKE IT!"

I CAN TAKE more good times and love...

I CAN TAKE more prosperity and peace...

I CAN TAKE whatever comes my way, for my circle is wide and my heart is deep. And anything that doesn't belong in these spaces will flow right out through my feet and into the earth below.

Back-In-Time Valentines

The smell of melted crayons filled my kitchen over the weekend, transporting me back 30 years to memories of my own Kindergarten crafts. For two days, I worked alongside my next-generation Kindergartner, peeling, sorting and melting crayons; then pouring them into a heart-shaped ice cube tray (Ikea) to cool. We layered colors, swirled hues together and added glitter. In the end, 38 unique, handmade, heart-shaped crayons were ready to be added to 19 goodie bags.

Working in rotation with the crayon hearts, my gal made old-school Valentines for each of her classmates. Construction paper, doilies, glitter and sequins... why does anyone forgo this time-honored ritual for character-printed, mass-produced little cards? It all took me back in time to those days of early childhood, where glue and glitter and the scent of melted crayons filled my world. It's so fun to get to do it all again!

Simple Delight :: Candlelit Bath

After a particularly bumpy day for my oldest chick, one of my all-time favorite remedies had her smiling from ear to ear. A simple candlelit bath, complete with classical music, brought her back to her senses. I wondered why we hadn't done this before, as she was absolutely swooning over the experience. And then I started to question why I myself haven't indulged in the same treatment lately. Sometimes just the simplest of things bring the greatest of pleasures. -- Have a delightful weekend!

The Magic Tree

Living in Florida, we come to recognize the seasons in different ways than most of the country. And one of the joys of winter here is the sweet goodness of grown-in-your-backyard citrus fruit. I'm blessed to have two fruit trees in my backyard. One is an orange tree that yielded me a full pitcher of aromatic fresh-squeezed juice this morning, with the promise of more to come.

The other tree, well it's magical. Growing low and close to the trunk, are the shiny yellow lemons this tree has produced every year. But this season, there is more... up higher among the branches hang big, round and notably orange-colored lemons. I think these are too big - and not sweet enough - to be the famed Meyer lemon, so they are mystery lemons right now. As an additional bonus this year, right in the middle of the tree, two small, bright green limes appeared. Just two. I told you it is a magic tree.

So what's a girl to do when life hands her magical lemons upon lemons? Lemonade doesn't quite feel right on cool, grey days. But I'm dreaming of ...

Pots de Creme au Citron (Lemon Custard)
Lemon Frittata with Leeks & Goat Cheese
Lemon Chicken with Artichoke Hearts
Lemon Ginger Muffins

What are your favorite lemon recipes? (And any input on the mystery lemons is welcome!)

Warm Play Dough

After the winter break, my littlest chick began attending a new preschool two mornings a week. I was sold on it the minute we walked into the classroom to check it out. It was a very cold morning, especially for us here in the south, and as we started peeling off our layers, the teacher pulled out a tub of homemade play dough. It was purple and sparkly and, best of all, warm! The perfect way to thaw out frozen, little fingers.

That first morning, as I looked around the room, I saw familiar play things... a wooden kitchen, kid-sized musical instruments, play silks and wooden blocks. We stayed for story time, music time and a group snack - which parents alternate bringing and should be whole food based. I knew we belonged there.

The gentle, nurturing Ms. Glenna has pulled out her magical warm play dough many more times. My gal loves how soft and manipulative it is. When I pick her up, she exclaims, "We had warm play dough again!" And she draws out the "again," her voice rising with delight.

I've never had much success with homemade play dough, so I asked for the recipe and we now have our own tub of pink, sparkly dough at home. Both my chicks are enchanted... and so is this Mama Bird.

Sparkly Play Dough

1 c. flour

1/2 c. salt

2 tsp cream of tartar

2 T oil

1 c. water

food coloring (or a natural dye) until desired shade

glitter until desired sparklyness

Mix all ingredients together, cook over medium heat until dough forms, stirring constantly. Dump onto wax paper and knead a bit. Store in an airtight container at room temperature. Warm in microwave before each use for a cozy treat.