Most Alive Monday: Awareness

"I want you to fill your hands with the mud, like a blessing" - Mary Oliver

April is officially Children & Nature Awareness Month!

(It's also National Poetry month...so I will be sharing some of my favorites here all month)

We are exploring the woods off-trail before the poison ivy starts sprouting. Satch says we're"Doin' sum yookin' fo' worms and bugs"!

The sounds: only the singing of birds, the muffled crunch of our footsteps on fallen leaves and snapped twigs...the sound of the damp pebbles on the bank of the stream as they mingle beneath our feet...the plunk of stones tossed one by one into the pond and the squeal of joy at having achieved a respectable splash.

The smells: forsythia, layers of old fallen leaves atop the moist dark earth, dry powdery logs half eaten by woodlice...and a skunk sleeping somewhere nearby. "Mama, what's that smell", he asks, "is it a GUNK"?

The sights:

*About Most Alive Monday: I've decided to make at least one "most alive choice" each day and post my favorite each Monday. This, of course, is to motivate me to consciously "live juicy"! I hope you'll join me and share your "most alive moment" in the comments section so we may inspire each other.

You may also post photos of your "most alive moments" in my most alive flickr pool! (If you post a photo in pool, be sure to include your link in the comment)

Victorious

All I wanted was to go to the bathroom....alone (for a change) and in that brief moment, I heard him yell, "MAMA....I'M ON THE COUNTER, MAMA!" When I walked in the kitchen I found him dancing on the counter....NAKED!























And the cool thing is....I really needed a good laugh.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Nesty Nest Nest

Yesterday morning Satch yelled, "Mama Mama come see....Robins and Blue Jays, Mama!" (My heart leaped to know that the arrival of these birds made him happy too) The Robins have arrived and we couldn't be happier....Spring is on the way!

It's no secret that I love nests...the whole idea of nests....home, warmth...a place for singing, learning to fly, weathering a storm. Satch seems to like them too and he took a photo (below) with his camera of a nest we have on our kitchen table. (I made the felted Robin's Eggs inside)

I was thrilled to have this beautifully illustrated book entitled, "Burrows, Nests & Lairs: Animal Architects", handy so that he could explore some amazing homes built by our fellow creatures.

Buggin'

Here are some fun finds for bug-lovin' boys and girls...

Satchel loves BUGS and is thoroughly enjoying the GeoSafari Field Explorer Kit by Educational Insights a division of Learning Resources. It includes a bug magnifying jar, a handy little tool with all sorts of gadgets including a magnet to test soil for iron...

as well as a small pair of binoculars with built in compass.

The binoculars came in handy recently as Satch and his dad spied on an enormous Turkey Vulture from our third floor window.

This nifty toy indulges Satchel's interest in robots AND insects. The robotic Hexbug changes direction when it walks into something or when there is a loud noise.

We built a maze with his marble track and watched the critter find it's way through.

Honey: A Gift from Nature is a beautifully illustrated story about where honey comes from.


They're really crustaceans! I'm a Pill Bug is an amusing look at the life of the Pill Bug.

In Front of the Ant is a little book that gives the reader a bug's eye view of the word through extreme close up photography. (This one made me a little itchy)

Most Live Monday: Hooked

Satchel found a new use for the dough hook to his great grandmother's mixer....playing pirates!

(no worries, the hook isn't sharp)
Yesterday we took Satch to see his first film "Horton Hears a Who", and today we'll be making "WHO bread".
*About Most Alive Monday: I've decided to make at least one "most alive choice" each day and post my favorite each Monday. This, of course, is to motivate me to consciously "live juicy"! I hope you'll join me and share your "most alive moment" in the comments section so we may inspire each other.

You may also post photos of your "most alive moments" in my most alive flickr pool! (If you post a photo in pool, be sure to include your link in the comment)

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

I'm not a religious person, but I will celebrate any holiday that involves chocolate. And I just love the whole egg and bunny thing. For me it's the celebration of Spring.

I made a basketful of felted wool Easter eggs for Satch and all the wees in our life. We stuffed 'em with a bit of organic chocolate and some gifts: a bug magnifying box for the boys and some blossom barrettes for the girlie-girls.





































We made a Spring garland to replace our Valentines/Chinese New Year Combo. I downloaded the template from Martha's site...and Satch added the tails.















I made a Glove-Bunny (from this book) as an Easter gift for Satch, but it came out looking like a wallaby!





















And Satch made a beautiful new painting!





















Happy holiday, happy Spring....and have a good weekend!

Seasonal Book Basket: Spring Fever!

"from hop-scotch and jump-rope and
it's
spring" - e.e. cummings

(More wonders and beauty here!)

Tomorrow is the first day of Spring....I love Spring! And this season always makes me think of seedlings, and all the critters that start emerging...and puddles and little toy boats to sail in them. Here is a list of our MUCH loved spring reads....books that celebrate the season and nature.

One word can sum up the beauty of these two books - Exquisite! You'll be hearing from illustrator, Sylvia Long in November's Mom to Mom Interview! -

(Click on the book covers for more info)

We just love these endangered species books by Jonathan London. The illustrations by Jon Van Zyle truly capture the characteristics of the animals.


Toy Boat is a great book for when the world is puddle-wonderful. Beautifully written and beautifully illustrated! Make your own toy boat and head out to the nearest puddle. Instructions here, here, here and for the daring...here. You'll be hearing from the author mama, Randall de Seve, in September's Mom to Mom interview!

Frog Belly Rat Bone is one of Satchel's favorites. The textured cover lends itself to an altered art book. The illustrations are very imaginative. Give this books as a gift with a package of seed bombs (or make your own) and the message of this book will come to life. We forced daffodil bulbs on the windowsill!

Spring is mud-luscious... so there are bound to be some animal tracks. Wild Tracks! includes life size images of animal tracks so you and your wees can identify which animal found the mud before you.

We're learning lots about our feathered friends with this book and we're driving our cats bonkers with the enclosed cd. Satch can easily identify several birds, both by sound and sight!
Sing, Nightingale, Sing!

As the author of Kid's Easy-to-Create Wildlife Habitats, Emily Stetson, points out in this wonderful book...it's free, easy and fun and your small efforts can make a huge difference to a variety of creatures!

The Kids' Nature Book encourages children to explore nature with 365 activities and experiences for indoors or outdoors. There is literally something for every day of the year.


And now that things are looking a bit greener outside, perhaps you mamas are thinking about going a bit greener yourself. If so, Living the Good Life is a very entertaining account of one family's efforts towards 6 months of sustainable living.


Happy Spring!!!

Landbridge Toys

There's a brand new toy store on the cyber block called Landbridge Toys, owned and operated by the mom and dad of a boy named Graham! The Landbridge Toys mission is to connect parents to a variety of imaginative toys from around the world like Haba, Plan Toys, and Hape.

Tell me that this isn't one of the most clever games ever!

Stein Auf Stein or Block on Block from Haba is a game that can be played multiple ways. Young children can simply free play with the magnetic crane and blocks. Preschoolers can roll the colored die and use the crane to pick up the corresponding block to build a tower. Older children can take the game further by using the measuring stick provided to measure each player's tower.




This game was a big hit with Satch!

Later, we made a pot of vegetarian cornbeef & cabbage (in memory of his maternal great grandma) then decorated some cupcakes with emerald green sugar and put some scraps out for the deer.

Most Alive Monday: The "No" Alternative

Wherein Satch thinks that sipping a juice box directly from the refrigerator is the most alive choice of the day...."why not"!

My most alive choice, besides saying "Yes" to the scene above, was saying "NO" to Spring cleaning and, instead, making these snakes out of the vintage neckties that once belonged to my late father. I believe they like their new incarnation as snakes. They each have their own personality, but they are all gentle and kind. However, they WILL chase monsters away from your child's room...just put them under the bed at night and your home will be monster free!

 
(More photos HERE!)Satch picked three snakes that he will not part with, and the others are in my etsy shop to raise money for our Squam adventure in September. As one friend pointed out to me, it's as if my dad is helping me too! (and if he were alive, I know he would).

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

*About Most Alive Monday: I've decided to make at least one "most alive choice" each day and post my favorite each Monday. This, of course, is to motivate me to consciously "live juicy"! I hope you'll join me and share your "most alive moment" in the comments section so we may inspire each other.

You may also post photos of your "most alive moments" in my most alive flickr pool! (If you post a photo in pool, be sure to include your link in the comment)

Impersonation: Sarcastic Fringehead

No words needed...(sorry about the poor quality, blogger really mashed this one - the original is crystal)

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Satchel Stills

Here are some images that I found stored on Satchel's camera...



His piggy Bank.








My (now his) old Buddy-L filled with faux blooms...

and a photo of me in the studio.

Simply Beautiful

I was drawn to "When You Were Small" by the illustration on its cover. I was altogether thrilled to discover page after page of whimsical delights by artist Julie Morstad and a charming story by Sara O'Leary to boot! Satch giggles every time we get to the page about the tea pot.

Not just another counting book...."Count the Birdies" by Matthew Porter contains images so lovely, you'll want to hang them on your wall....and you can...you can purchase originals or prints at his website.

And here, Matthew has done it again with his ABC book...and with some nice surprises like..."V is for Vole"! I especially love that the paintings allow some of the wood to show through the paint...it kind of adds a little cheekiness to the term board book.

These three beauties are published by Simply Read Books...I think they should change their name to Simply Beautiful!

Most Alive Monday: First Bloom

 First bloom of the season from Satch...

and worn in my greying locks!



















 *About Most Alive Monday: I've decided to make at least one "most alive choice" each day and post my favorite each Monday. This, of course, is to motivate me to consciously "live juicy"! I hope you'll join me and share your "most alive moment" in the comments section so we may inspire each other.

You may also post photos of your "most alive moments" in my most alive flickr pool! (If you post a photo in pool, be sure to include your link in the comment)

Many Flowers and Many Winds

"Hold your breath and see the anemone, down by the high-tide pilings in the wharf, a flowerlike, ghostlike, windlike creature, anémos, jelly buttercup whirly and whorling. It behaves like flora in its fauna limbs, it floats like helium in its water world. Dulse and ribbonweeds sway with its sea leaps, mussels and whelks sit beside it when it rests. It has few enemies, the anemone; and melts when touched.

The oceans support so many ghosts, many flowers and many winds, but none is more vegetable than this air, none more dancing than this music, the music of the origami umbrella's name, anemone of the ways, translucent breeze.

Anemone, anemone.

Breathe" - Bradford Morrow (Anemone)
A few things that tickle me....

• These sea urchin skeletons from my uncle!

• These urchin pins sent to me by my mother, created by artist Keri Rounding....Satch calls them anemone pins. "Anemones sting, mama", Satch warns me whenever I wear them.

• Light as seen from within our urchin skeletons

And I am especially tickled about THIS! Have a good weekend, everyone!

Send Me to Squam!

I did not intend to post twice today, but I need to get this out of my head and heart and into my journal. When Robert returned from KC yesterday, we talked about my attending Squam-Art in September. My dream is to take Nina Bagley's class, whom I've studied with before and well...I just adore her and have been feeling her gravitational pull ever since we've moved to NoVa. I haven't been to an art retreat since before Satch was born and that was the last time that I basked in Nina's light. I need a creative fix...I long to be with my tribe. Imagine a swarm of beings congregating to create magic out of thin air...a room thick with imagination, vision, purpose, and passion. Oh and the conversations...the exchange of ideas over lunch, and dinner and walks in nature...the support, the laughter and mostly that sense of belonging. This is what it's like...THIS is why people come from all over the country (and other parts of the world) to commune together and create.

I want Satch to experience this...to see his mama do her THANG...to help me gather objects to incorporate into my work...to walk me to class and to arrive just before it ends to see the progress and feel the collective buzz of so many creative souls gathered in one place and the intense, palpable joy that envelopes you at an art retreat. I want to go with my family and stay off site because "mother" is a VERY big part of who I am right now and I want to include my family in my creative process and the creation of new work. I want my work to reflect who I am now.

Andrea (whose necklaces are often a fixture on my neck) will be there as, as will Jen Gray. Pixie and family will be flying in! Nina Beana will be there AND many other kindred spirits whom inspire me and whom I've been pining to connect with by the golden glow of the sun rather than the white flicker of pixels.

My dream is to find an inexpensive house to rent off site so that my family, the Campbells and the Gilberts (and others) can all stay together and children can run amok with their dadas whilst the mamas create. A place where our families can reconnect, where discussions about the day and our projects can commingle with the aroma of yummy food on the dinner table, filling our tummies and filling our souls....and morning whispers over hot mugs of coffee... and the crunch of leaves underfoot while walking beside a gentle lake reflecting the clear autumn sky and all the colors of the world. Did I mention that this gathering is being held at the very place where "On Golden Pond" was filmed?

Robert will have to work extra overtime in order for me to attend. I feel terribly guilty about this because he already works overtime every other Saturday so that by the end of this year we can be debt free, and be able to buy a home, and save for Satchel's education...AND be able to have family adventures like this one without taking time AWAY from our family in order to do something special TOGETHER.

And though my heart is dancing with excitement knowing that I will be going to Squam and doing something that fills my soul, my head is struggling with conflicted emotions of guilt. I never realized how much my sense of worth was defined by my own paycheck, my own bank account until I became a stay-at-home-mom. Has anyone else wrestled with this? Has anyone else felt uncomfortable being a "dependent" and not a "bread-winner"? How did you come to terms with this?

A wise woman by the name of Maya Angelou once said, "ask for what you want and be prepared to get it". So...why are we so afraid to ask for help? That said, I'm asking. Is there anyone out there who wants to help make my Squamalicious Wishes come true...and contribute to the "Send Me To Squam Fund (otherwise known as creative bliss)"?

And my friend Cooper of Hint Mint would like to say thank you to all those who support my creative dreaming by sending this tin of his delicious (vegan) mints. Hint Mint's slogan is "a gesture of kindness" and they truly walk their talk! Thanks Coop!

Learning To Fly

This morning I awoke to the sound of song birds and a pink sunrise! I crept up to the studio to peck out these words and recalled a vivid memory of grasping a pink crayon and cornflower blue crayon together in one small fist...this is how I colored my skies as a child. Yes! And THIS is exactly what the sky looks like this morning! And while I sit here with song and color swirling around me and making my heart leap, I must tell you this.....

I just made one of the sweetest little discoveries...this tiny book translated from German entitled, "Learning To Fly" by Sebastian Meschenmoser. It's a story about a penguin who was flying happily along when he happened upon a flock of birds who told him that penguins can't fly... and so he crashed. Luckily, he met a chap who was determined to help him back up. I love the message of this book, don't you?!

This book encourages readers (young and old alike) to have faith in themselves and it serves as a reminder to support the dreams of our children (even if we have our doubts) and find a way to help them soar.

Did anyone ever knock the wind out of your sail?
Were you a child or an adult?
Was it by a well meaning loved one?
Was it by a jealous doubter?
(I'm wondering how many people have had this experience)

Mom to Mom: Bobbi Conner

It's March and I'm pleased to introduce mother, author, AND producer/host of The Parent's Journal, Bobbi Conner.

Mom: Bobbi Conner
Of: Cassidy, Olivia and Peter (all in their early to mid 20's now)
Where: South Carolina
Sites: Unplugged Play and Parent's Journal




1. In what ways has becoming a mother changed you?

I immediately realized (after my son was born) that the simple moments of life together were a tremendous source of joy. I also learned how to be a master multi-tasker (juggling work and caring for my children.)

2. What is one tip you would like to share about mothering?

The daily routines you provide for your kids matter in a huge way. So, when you set aside time to read together, encourage creativity, active play, eating meals together as a family these simple routines are setting expectations and marvelous coping skills and habits in place for your kids (and nurturing you as a mom too).

3. What is your creative outlet/medium?

Now it is writing, and producing my public radio program. (In my younger years prior to children it was drawing, painting, sculpting, writing songs, poems and short stories at school and for fun.)

4. How do you find time for creativity?

Now that my children are grown, there is much time for pursuing whatever creative projects I choose. However, when I was busy raising my children there was not time nor money so all my creative energy went into our family routine (playtime, storytelling, making up songs together) AND also whatever creative projects I could initiate in my full-time work.

5. What inspired you to write "Unplugged Play"?

I saw how important creative, active, imaginative play was in my own childhood, my children's lives and also knew it to be essential to all children. (I also know that the pressures for all-things-electronic in our culture is robbing kids of the joys of free-style play. So, I wrote this book to say to parents, here are 710 games that will get your kids moving, creating, imagining, playing alone, with you and with other kids...without electronic gadgets and computers. Pick a few games and give them a try!

6. What inspired you to create "Parents Journal"?

I was a new parent with 10+ years of radio production experience under my belt in 1985 and thought: why is there not a public radio program where parents and child development experts share tips on raising kids ? So, I started my own business to produce The Parent s Journal. It s been on the air nationwide since 1986.

7. What is your vision for the radio program and for your book?

For the radio show: I d love for millions of new, first time parents to discover the huge assortment of A-Z parenting interviews on TPJ that might offer them some practical help with their child. (Our website has podcasts of our show and over 550 radio interviews on every imaginable parenting topic. It s a wealth of info, and it's free.

For my book, Unplugged Play: I hope to give parents some good playtime ideas so kids rediscover the joys of free-style play! (And I d love to re-energize a grass-roots movement where there is renewed interest in all-things-unplugged---when it comes to childhood play!)

8. On your radio show, you interview leading child psychologists, renowned authors and child development experts. In these discussions, what were some of the most important things you've learned about mothering?

I've learned that the seemingly mundane decisions we make as parents about what to include (and what to exclude) in our kids daily routines are a powerful way to encourage our child's social, emotional, intellectual and physical development. I've also learned that getting to know your individual child is critical to good parenting (and applying that wisdom to real-life challenges is essential)...and this knowing and understanding your individual child is a profoundly beautiful part of being a Mom or Dad.

*Most Alive Monday will resume next week!