Most Alive Monday: Strange Still Place

How shall I hold my soul so it does not
touch on yours. How shall I lift it
over you to other things?
Ah, willingly I’d store it away
with some lost thing in the dark,
in some strange still place, that
does not tremble when your depths tremble.
But all that touches us, you and me,
takes us, together, like the stroke of a bow,
that draws one chord out of the two strings.
On what instrument are we strung?
And what artist has us in their hand?
O sweet song. - Rainer Maria Rilke

Elvis stopped eating again and we're completely befuddled. The vet came by and took more blood tests and another 300 dollars. He's on a second round of antibiotics even though his previous labs came back normal. If this behavior continues they will need to do x-rays and a sono to check for a possible tumor.

I'm emotionally raw.

And if that's not shitty enough - my camera officially died! So I packaged it up and sent it to Nikon to see if it can be repaired.

It may seem silly to some, but to be without my camera makes me feel seriously wonky, anxious and edgy...because it has been a major creative outlet for me since I became a mom with less time for large and lengthy projects. With my camera I am able to validate the fleeting yet significant fragments of time...moments, gestures and prove to myself that, YES, these things, this magic really DID happen.

And then I lean towards you, gently offering a palm full of pixels and whisper, "Tell me, do you see it too?"

Now I feel as if my mouth has been taped shut and I'm flailing my arms in a feeble attempt to communicate something...and it's all muffled...and you're sitting beside me saying, "what...WHAT?"

When Satch fell asleep in the fort that he built beside the dining room table...I paced back and forth on the wood floor trying to burn the image into my memory...the way his little hand was tucked under his cheek. So precious! I grabbed his camera and slid it beneath the flap and clicked, but it was unable to focus in the dark, as blurry as a dream.

How we laughed when, while getting ready to go to the pool, he decided to draw all over his belly with a red marker! I reached for his camera again.

If you've been reading my diary long enough you probably know that I'm a very visual person...that I'm not a wordsmith. Yet somehow, with a mouthful of words and a picture, I can revisit the moments and take you there with me. And I like sharing that with you and hearing from you and knowing that you're riding this rock with me. I really do.

But, until I get my camera back, I will not be blogging. August's mom to mom interview will post as planned...and you're going to love her.

I will be back as soon as I can (and I hope with good news about my cat too).

6 Word Memoir...or Momoir

Coffee with sunrises before son rises.


I downloaded these days of the week cards by Jan Brett, then popped into photoshop and made them into a long strip to hang on the refrigerator door. Then I made a small magnet to mark the day. Satch is diggin' singing the days of the week to the tune of the Addams Fami

Have a good weekend, everyone!

Stillness

“Soft stillness, and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony.” - William Shakespeare

During the afternoon Satch-nap I found a few moments for relaxation with a Still Point Inducer by Upledger Institute. I was first introduced to still point via an amazing chiropractor back in NYC. She also did craniosacral therapy and when she rested my noggin in her hands to induce still point, I felt my body turn to "butta". This nifty little gadget will cradle your head in the same way and allow your body to relax. So simple, so wonderful.

When I'm not using it, Satch sticks it under his shirt and pretends to have "boobies".

Learning Toys We Love

Learning Resources is an award winning manufacturer of educational materials for the classroom, but they also make learning toys for the home. Satch is absolutely nuts over this skeleton floor puzzle. It's large and made of foam. On the reverse side are the names of all the bones. He likes holding up various bones next to his body to see how it all fits together.


He also loves the Teaching Cash Register. It has a scale for weighing, currency and savings cards. It works like a real cash register, but it also has pre-programmed learning games that older children will enjoy playing. And what really fascinates Satch is that when he puts the coins in the change slot the register says the names of the coins. It's wonderful for rainy day play and we alternate between playing market and bookstore.


And we are enjoying these Life Cycle Rubber Stamp Sets! They look like the actual animal and not a silly cartoon version. The wees can have fun stamping while learning about the lives of these creatures.


Meanwhile, our praying mantis babies are getting bigger. We found one in the house yesterday and had to go on a catch and release mission. Here are two new critters that Satch found during our walk. While Satch was napping, I put the bugs in the fridge for a few minutes to make them sleepy so I could get a decent photo. By the time these were taken...they were already on the go and I had to get them back in their observation station (an empty peanut butter jar with air holes in the top) rather quickly so that Satch could release them post nap.


A Green June Beetle...
and a Red Milkweed Beetle.

Most Alive Monday: Moments

"We do not remember days.
We remember moments."
- Cesare Pavese

Some moments that I want to remember forever....

Watching Satch and his friend R blowing bubbles while lunching alfresco...

And walking out of the chocolate shop together...the look of concentration on his face as he balanced on the low wall and the way R rubbed her weary eyes with her tiny dimpled fist...

And how he didn't take a bite, but instead shoved the entire piece of chocolate in his mouth. 














And the tenderness of the two wee friends holding hands at the lake.

And the smile induced by the purchase of a pirate headband, and a free spider tattoo and a lollipop at the festival last Saturday.

*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.

And the Winner Is.....

The process took much longer than you might expect....sort of like what happens to a short walk to the mailbox with a three year old. There was a whole lot of wild shaking of the names in the butterfly net and then he decided the winner should be picked with his teeth...

"Because I'm a SHARK, mama!"
Have a good weekend!

Feathered

It feels really good to be completely unpacked, to know where everything is (almost). It's beginning to feel like home and we can breath a little easier until we are ready for a permanent nest. If I were you to invite you over to our nest, this is what you would find though depending on the day, there might be the added bonus of dust bunnies, crumbs under the table, a sink full of dishes and a basket of laundry that needs folding. It's never this tidy...what you are about to see are photos are from the start of our day, not from the "post-dinner-pre-bedtime-pick-up".

(Click on the photos to enlarge them)

This is the path to our nest. It also leads to the playground if you walk in the opposite direction and turn right near the wild grape vines. The walk is lined with flower beds that are just now beginning to bloom due the timing of our move which gave me a late start planting.


This is the front deck as seen from the second story guest room.


Satchel's teepee is beginning to fill in. It's a mixture of morning glories, moon flower, scarlet vine, runner beans, and gourds.

In the entrance to our home there are low pegs for Satch to hang his gear and a rag rug where we can fling our shoes.

A wall for Satch-Art and the entrance to the kitchen.

The kitchen is very small so we had to create more space on the only free wall in the kitchen by adding a pot rack and an extra cabinet. The little red cabinet holds all of Satchel's eating utensils and snacks so he can help himself "like a big boy". The little picnic basket belonged to my great-great grandmother.


On the other side of the kitchen is the art studio as you can see, but you've already been in there.

On the dining room window hangs a bird feeder so we can mangia together with our feathered friends.

The dining room is open to the living room and is elevated by one step. Satch uses it as a stage.

(the old cornice used to be in my studio)

I placed a big stump outside the dining room (and living room) window and on it set a bowl from which to feed the chipmunks. On the sill is a basket of treasures that Satch finds outside...feathers stones, sticks etc. As you can see in the photo, we created a mulch path which leads to the backyard garden.

And this is the grown-up side of the living room. Behind the sofa is the play area.

On the wall between the above window and the other beside it, is this special spot. The lamp is very old and very heavy. I found it in the trash when I lived in NYC and rewired it. I was on my way to an art exhibit when I found it so I took it with me. I told anyone that gave me a weird look that I was merely shedding some light on the subject. (true story)

Such is the case with a lot of my things...they are found objects which I group into a category that I call "obtaineum".

The other side of the living room is the play area. One of the reasons we rented this home was because of the lofty living space which is more conducive to family living.

This is the wall beside Satchel's wee kitchen in the lower right hand corner of the above photo.

And this is what you can't see in that photo...baskets on the floor in front of the book case for storing toys.

The bedrooms are upstairs. They are carpeted which I detest....and beige and I don't know that I want to paint a rental. I think I'd rather save my creative energy for our own home.

That said, here is the master bedroom. We used the rear bedroom as the master because it's smaller and cozier and doesn't get too bright too early.

Atop the chest is a photo of my late cat, Sid; a small print by Josephine Mc Cormick entitled "sleeping lovers"; and an antique Whitman's chocolate tin designed, by Alphonse Mucha, to store my treasures like a whistle ring from childhood and one of my grandpa Gully's cuff links, this necklace, and some superhero necklaces, and urchin pins. Next to the branch is a small yellow chest of drawers that contains earrings that I rarely wear. They were made by Christopher Roule in the early 90's when he sold his wares at a flea market next to tower records - before he became all cha-de-cha-cha and expensive.

*In response to the talented, Steph in NZ...the enormous bird's nest on the wall was created by me and I explained a bit of the process here. The image itself resurfaces in my work from time to time though the number of eggs vary.

We took the rails off the bed and put the mattress on the floor to get Satch used to sleeping in a regular bed. This is Satchel's side of the bed though he often takes up the entire bed when he sleeps because he somehow ends up perpendicular.

My husband sleeps in another room because he snores like a bear. It's true and he'll admit to it. Satch does an amazing impersonation of him too. As soon as we are able to tame the beastly snore, our family will snuggle together again.

The old and creaky laundry basket which is missing one of it's handles remains out in the open in a constant state of ebb and flow.

Satchel's room (the one he doesn't sleep in) is funkadelic. The Tibetan Prayer Flags were blank of text so that my friends and family could write their own wishes upon them at our blessingway some 3 years ago. There is an Enlightened Firefly print from Satchel's aunt "Lola" and two Ashley G prints that I bartered for.

In a corner of the room is a small doll bed where his animals sleep and a tiny light that really works and projects stars on the wall. Like most things I own...I've had it so long that I cannot remember where I got it. I only remember that it wasn't from my childhood and it was not "obtaineum".

There are two other bedrooms. One is empty, the other is the guest room which I am still trying to "cozify".

And this is the entrance to the basement where we stow our mucking-about-shoes, but you've already heard enough about that.

The bathrooms are nothing special and not worth photographing. They're rather ugly, if you want to know the truth. There are no windows to look out over the tree tops, no magical milky light. Just a drab 1970's bathroom without a smidge of character. They are not rooms that you would want to take a soak in...conversely they make you want to take a quick shower and leave. Lets leave it at that.

Now, I would ordinarily take you to the back yard to smell the chocolate mint, but you would be eaten alive by skeeters and anyway...you've seen it. The only thing new there is that, at this very moment, the echinacea is blooming....so is the tall verbena....and cosmos!

It's looks vastly different than when we moved in. It was nothing more than mud, stumps and weeds. Now there are gardens and grass and we made use of the stumps. Amazing what a little seed can do! Thanks for stopping by...

Goodbye Vanzetti

"My heart has joined the Thousand - for my friend stopped running today." - Richard Adams (Watership Down)

Last evening my husband made the decision to have his cat, Vanzetti, euthanized. She was battling some health issues for several years and in the last several weeks had gone through a steady and rapid decline. She became a mere shadow of her former self -very thin, frail and had difficulty eating and walking. You could see suffering on her face and it was heart breaking to witness. Even though we know in our hearts that it was the most humane thing to do - to give her the opportunity to die peacefully, without prolonged suffering - it didn't make it any easier or less painful to say goodbye to her.

The procedure took place with our vet in our own home (not in an office). My cat, Elvis, was given the opportunity to say goodbye, but he already knew what was happening given his lack of appetite and hiding. He hissed and ran to the bedroom closet to hide. Some cats sniff and walk away solemnly while others hiss and retreat like Elivs. Satch wanted to see her and we allowed him. We explained in simple terms what death means and showed him that she was no longer breathing and that he could no longer feel her heart beating. We explained that all living things die, usually when they are very old, and that Zetti was very old and her body stopped working right. We explained that animals do not live as long as people. We explained that when animals and people die, their bodies go back to the earth. Then our little family buried her at the entrance of our garden between the foxglove and echinacea...and we said goodbye.

I have to confess that I complained a lot about this cat because, for the last year and a half, I never knew where or when she would poop, pee or barf. She pooped in Satchel's former tent twice. The second time, I'll spare you the details, I couldn't even bring myself to put it in the washer. We purchased a new tent for Satch and she pooped in it once, but I was able to run it through a wash cycle and it was fine. She pooped on our bed and on Satchel's bed too, so we started closing the doors to the bedrooms and to the bathroom because the throw rug became a poop target. She peed on my very old, thread worn quilt so we had to send it to be dry cleaned. I then had to make sure Satch picked up any quilts or play rugs when he was finished with them to prevent her from soiling them. Then there was the barfing. During her worst episodes, I was cleaning up cat barf several times a day, trying to out run a curious toddler who liked to touch everything in his world....and I DO mean everything. I'm ashamed to say it, but I was a begrudging caregiver, mumbling profanities under my breath with every wipe, scrub, sanitize or wash cycle. And yet, none of this would prevent a smidge of the sadness I would feel at her loss.

My biggest fear was that one of Satchel's friends would come over to play and find a big puddle of barf on the floor or poop on the rag rug. I worried that one of the moms would get so grossed out that it would prevent her from bringing her child over to play with my son. My fear was manifested about a month ago when Satch, my friend M and her son H returned to our house from a lunch at the pizza joint. My friend walked into the living room and stepped right smack into a puddle of slimy brown cat barf....IN HER SOCKS. I can tell you how gross this is first hand because it had happened to me a number of times in the last year and a half. I offered to wash her socks, but she graciously declined and put them in a plastic bag while I cleaned up the mess. What made this event even more profound, was that after I apologized profusely, M said something that touched me deeply. She said, "Wendy, just because I don't have pets does not mean that I don't like animals or that I do not understand. I understand that it is not your fault and I understand that it is not the cat's fault that she is old and sick".

Naturally I felt better about the situation than I had in a long while, but I also felt guilty about the resentment I had felt about cleaning up after Zetti all day. I kept wondering, and still do, how I could have such conflicted feelings. How is that I could both care about Vanzetti and yet resent all the messes? And I feel like such a rotten person for owning that bit of resentment. The only conclusion I can come up with is that it was because she was not my cat or perhaps it was a way to detach myself emotionally. I had gone through a similar situation with my cat Sid in 2002 who became terminally ill and after numerous trips to specialists, he eventually had to be euthanized. It was also performed in our home, our bed (his favorite place), with a combination of cuddling, love and many tears. It was heart wrenching and there was nothing I wouldn't do for that cat. I was devoted.

So yesterday I cried. And Satch tried to comfort me in his own way saying, "don't worry mama, I dry your tears...watch a beautiful movie". He was so tender and so sincere. I explained why I was sad and that sometimes even mommies and daddies get sad. I told him that I would miss Vanzetti and sometimes we get sad when we miss someone.

Vanzetti, also known as Zetti, Deetee, Deetala, and Deetareeno was 88 in human years. She had a deliberate walk...like someone trying to balance on very high heels. She had the loudest and raspiest meow I've ever heard and howled for no apparent reason, often in the middle of the night. She was spunky and very VERY sweet. Her absence is palpable. Above is a photo taken before she became ill. That is how I wish to remember her.

Most Alive Monday: The New Arrival (s)

Satchel's egg case has hatched and we now have a swarm of mantid babies hopping about in the garden. We are all very excited! They are approximately 1/2 inch long and we hope to see them fully grown near summer's end.

In celebration of human babies, Hawthorne Press has graciously allowed me to give away a copy of the new book "What Babies and Children Really Need" by Sally Goddard Blythe (director of INPP).

Please inspire me with your "Most Alive Moment" in the comment section of this post and Satch will pick a name from his butterfly net Wednesday eve. I will post the winner on Thursday morn.

Speaking of giveaways...a neighbor wanted me to tell you that she has one on her blog over here!

*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.

I Spied Down

A morning conversation with Satch...

"Mama, can you fix dis?"
How did the accordion break, Satch?

"I just play wiv it and play wiv it and it break"
Oh, it was a mistake.

"yesssss"

And how did all the water get on the bed, Satch?
"I drink it and I open my mowf and water spilled on da bed...it was a bidake!"

It was a mistake?
"yesssss.....now WATCH me go I spied down!"

Have a good weekend everyone!

Happy Little Things

I don't know why, but there are certain little things that make me happy...

You may already know that I'm wild about Shinzi Katoh . Shinzi makes me happy. We have two of his prints in our living/play room. I love how playful and childlike his illustrations are and how the sole purpose of them is to induce smiles and happiness. We hung his "Hide and Seek" print between two windows so that the woods outside become part of the scene inside.

In this little corner of our home there is a table upon which sits Satchel's toy house and garage. Beneath are baskets of musical instruments. The living room is sunk in by one step and Satch likes to use the elevation of the dining room as a stage.

The other Shinzi print sits atop our bookcase.
(By the way, I know how hard it is to get your hands on Shinzi. And the shipping costs more than the item if you try to buy directly from the site. So, if Shinzi makes you happy, you can now get some at Penelope's in Chicago at a VERY reasonable price!)
And do you know what else? Sukie makes me happy... the little whimsical woodland creatures and trees make me swoon!

Chronicle Books sells Sukie labels and sticky notes and even Sukie iron-ons for the wees so you can easily crank out some shirts that look very much like those pricey mini Boden garments.

Sukie was the inspiration behind these Freezer Paper stencil shirts that I made for Satch.

I won't bore you with the details. The tutorial for the process is all over blog land: here and here and here and here and here and here.

And there is a tutorial for using freezer paper with a silk screen to print multiples here!

And Lotta Jansdotter makes me happy! She's like the Martha Stewart of Sweden only she's an artist and WAY COOLER. Her sticky notes and labels are so sweet that I use them only for special things...the colors and the nature inspired illustrations are so SO lovely.

Lotta Prints is like the print making bible. Although I have done many forms of printmaking in my life, I still found this book incredibly inspiring and altogether beautiful to look at.

The instructions are simple and she even throws in some stencils from her personal designs.

I loved her little scissors shirt so much that I decided to transfer print my own scissors onto my pajama bottoms.

And more photos of the new nest soon...

Elvis, king of the Cats!

So over the long weekend, my cat Elvis (also seen here and here) suddenly decided to stop eating. We have no idea why. He wasn't sick. He seemed fine with the move and even appeared to like the new nest. The only thing I can think of is at the same time Robert's cat (who is 88 in human years and has health issues) started to decline. Perhaps this upset him. Elvis has never been sick. Though once he had an allergic reaction.

When Elvis was a kitten he developed a huge yucky open wound on his paw. At first I thought it was an animal bite, (possibly a squirrel) from playing on the roof of my NYC flat. Upon close inspection, I realized that it wasn't so I took him to see the cat doctor. Dr. Sullivan informed me that it was an eosinophilic granuloma caused by an allergic reaction. "Remove all fish from his diet and it will go away", he said, then handed us an antibiotic to clear the infection. "Fish...huh", I replied and he went on to explain that fish is not a natural part of a cat's diet. Come to think of it, I don't recall ever witnessing a cat hunting for fish, except for these at the National Zoo.

And that's when I began researching cat food companies for the optimal diet and let me tell you, it was a real eye opener. They put fish meal in everything! Apparently, it's a cheap source of protein and cats love it because it's stinky. Elvis has been eating fish free food ever since.

Years later, after I read an article about a cat diagnosed with mad cow's disease, I decided to do a little snooping into that arena and called a bunch of cat food companies to inquire about the source of their meat. Most wouldn't even talk to me - bad sign. Hill's Science Diet/Prescription Diet and Iams/Eukanuba gave me the run-around and would not divulge the source of their meat supply. Only PetGuard Organic, the brand that I was using since the fish incident during kittenhood, proudly revealed the source of their meat and even provided a link to their supplier. They use grass fed free range cattle from Coleman's beef...human grade meat. And while I know that beef would not be a part of a cat's natural diet since I've never seen a small cat take down a cow before, at least the meat is drug free and healthy. They also have rabbit, and venison which do not contain any fish oil either, but some of their poultry products do contain fish a/o fish oil.

So back to Elvis. We decided to call a mobile vet to come see both Elvis and Zetti because Elvis hates going to the vet so much that the last time he went which was for Rabies and Distemper vaccines, they needed to wear gloves. The doctor was lovely and she was able to see Elvis as the adorable and loving kitty he really is before he turned into the psycho-Steven-King-Cat. I swear he has the loudest growl you've ever heard and although he's a domestic cat, it's clear that there is still some wild in him. Both cats were given hydration and medication. Now we're awaiting the results of the blood tests.

I referred to my old cat care bible... this book (the author of which I've had the good fortune of meeting and think she may be a saint) and made Elvis a concoction of baby food chicken and raw organic egg yolk which I fed to him through a syringe - not fun for either of us. (Robert tended to Zetti) I am still torn about the whole raw food cat diet because even though it seems perfectly natural since a cat will catch a bird or a mouse and eat it raw, I worry about parasites. So in the past, for a boost of nutrition, I added HALO's Vita-mineral mix to his canned food. Still, there is a a company called Nature's Variety that manufactures organic raw meat pet food that I'm seriously considering trying.

As for now, Zetti continues to decline while Elvis is periodically taking a few bites of his food. He is no longer hiding inside the closet. He is sleeping on top of the kitchen cabinets near the ceiling. This is a very good sign because it is his favorite spot. He likes to be up high, like the king of the jungle.

Most Alive Monday: Bright Wings

"In the muddled mess of this world, in the confusion and boredom and amazement, we ought to be able to spot something...an event, a person, a memory, an act, a turning of the soul, the flash of bright wings, the surprise of sweet compassion...somewhere we ought to pick out a glory to celebrate" - Samuel H. Miller

At exactly 7:23 pm (Wednesday night) a tiny little hummingbird came to our feeder. I had attached the feeder to our living room window where it gets afternoon and evening light and planted flowers that hummers are attracted to nearby. Then in the eve while snuggling on the sofa with Satch, I saw something flutter to the side of us and there at the feeder was the tiniest little hummingbird. I could not believe my eyes and I gasped. Satch looked up quickly and I whispered, "shhhh it's a hummingbird". He did not know what to make of this tiny little creature. SO VERY TINY! We both sat there and watched silently and then in a flash it was gone. It came back the following morning and joined me as I sipped my coffee, but I haven't seen it since.

My brother-in-law flew in to visit for the long weekend. We went to the falls where we saw a mother and baby deer eating beside the trail. I found another set of Swallowtail wings, this one yellow, (photo above) in the grass and I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again....."I'm the luckiest person in the world"!

We ate some Boca Brats and corn on the cob and the boys watched Nathan's Hot Dog eating contest because what could be more American than honoring gluttony, right?!?! I was relieved when Satch fell asleep during the pre-game shenanigans because I really didn't want him to witness all the gorging. It was altogether repulsive. However, it was indeed amusing to hear the commentators use the terms, "sport" and "professional eater". The onlookers cheered as the winner ingested 55 fistfuls of meat byproducts and nitrates in 10 minutes!

*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.

Grand

I've been teaching myself to sew. My paternal grandmother, Mary Cook, was a seamstress and I really wish she had taught me a few of her tricks. She could make anything you could possibly dream up. In no time at all she would whip up a matching dress for me and my doll or a new set of curtains for my playhouse.

(Photo: Gram sewing)

My paternal grandfather, Lenny Cook (as luck would have it), fixed sewing machines for Singer. He could fix anything actually, and had other gigs too, but he was most known for his work with Singer. He was given a tiny silver screwdriver from Tiffany's. Can you imagine? I've never seen such a thing! And can I tell you that this little piece of the past means more to me than a diamond because it was his, and because it's useful. I don't own a diamond.

My beloved grands sprinkled my childhood with bits of magic that I'll never forget. Big Sunday family dinners, sleep-overs that included pillow fights that THEY started; snowmen; and baking cookies together. I still remember how the sun porch smelled of the wooden venetian blinds - it was wonderful!

The sun porch was the first location of my playhouse before they ran out of room and set up a cozy play nook in their basement next to my grandfather's workshop. His workshop was a place of mystery and wonder and tools that smelled of metal and oil. I loved watching him fix things - like magic! Sometimes I would purposely shake my music box so the leg of the little dancer would get stuck and I could watch him take it apart and fix it. I know now that he was hip to my scheme, but he never let on.

Anyway, I've been teaching myself to sew and reading Lotta Jansdotter's Simple Sewing and I really think I might be able to make a few things from this book. She makes it seem so, as the title suggests, simple! Since I actually made tote bags for Satchel's birthday flying by the seat of my pants without a pattern or anything - the first thing I will attempt is a Lotta styled tote bag. The cover of the book has a fold out envelope which contains all the patterns for the projects in her book. I just love it!

So I strung my old playhouse curtains on piece of cord for a makeshift house/fort for Satch in our a basement. I swear I could feel my grandmother's warmth sewn right into these curtains and I think she would have been quite pleased that her handiwork is being enjoyed by yet another generation. You see, after that tornado warning that drove us under ground, I knew that I needed to do something fun with that space so that if it should ever happen again it wouldn't seem so gloomy. I hung a giant paper lantern that looks like the moon that Satch is so fond of and below it I placed my little playhouse table and chairs. The tiny metal appliances are set upon a wood blanket box.

I made a parking lot for his ride-ons with painter's tape.

It's a bit trippy watching Satch play with my old toys. I still have my old playhouse packed in a box and one day I vow to put it together again. My grandmother saved special things. I'm a bit like her, except that I can't sew as well. I'm learning though, I really am!

Below is a photo of a wee me inside my playhouse. It was grand!










Have a good weekend, everyone!

Splendid

Now that the Farmer's Market is open I know I'm not the only one who can't stop thinking about food! All the beautiful, local, fresh produce has me wanting to try new recipes. I can't get enough of the fresh basil that is growing in a large pot on our deck. And even though I detest string beans (I re-taste them every year since I can remember), I think the scent of the pole beans growing around Satchel's garden teepee smell heavenly.

He has two new rituals...he always invites you to smell his food, "You want to smell dis?", he asks and he pops it beneath your nose before you have a chance to respond. The other thing he does is - he takes your hand at the table and says, "We are happy for dis food dat comes from da ERF - LETS EAT!". He does this even if we're at a restaurant. I introduced this custom to him months ago after reading, "Seven Times the Sun" and he loved it and has made it his own supper ritual.

I wanted to see what all the fuss was over Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper so I got a copy. NOW I know! I made both versions of the supper tart (one with tomato and goat cheese and the other with GRAPES and asiago cheese) and Satch said, "This is a good dinner you made mama". Score! I also made the "Luxury Eggs" that are folded with cream and bits of cream cheese and tarragon. Satch liked it...he LIKED eggs, people!!! (sorry Uncle Chip) I am reading this cook book cover to cover because there's all these really nifty tips like gilding your pasta with grated cheese BEFORE topping it with sauce to give it extra flavor...a trick they use in Naples. And using puff pastry dough for the tart crust...YES...why the heck didn't I think of that? You can check out the radio show here!

And I have another new favorite...Easy Indian Cookbook by Manju Malhi! We're big fans of Indian food and I thought I made a pretty good masala until I got this book. Now I make a DANG good masala, AND Matar Panir! It comes with a cd of traditional sitar music too. Food and music are a terrific way to share the culture with your children. There are other books in this series as well.

Food Play - Our trips to the Farmers Market will never be the same! Satch loves looking at all the creations and guessing what veggie or fruit they are made from in this chunky, imaginative book. Some of the faces give him a giggle and it certainly encourages little minds to look at the ordinary in refreshing new ways.

Oh and by the way, I tried Marie's recipe for Pop Up Pancakes and they were wonderful. The batter is thin like crepe batter and they bake all golden yellow... prettier than a pancake! They sink in the middle creating the perfect dimple to hold fresh berries. We liked the texture which was chewier than a traditional pancake. And the best part is they are all cooked at once so you don't have to stand by the stove. We also made her frozen grape pops. We bought 6" lollipop sticks at Michaels and they were just the right size. Satchel was completely tickled over the idea of grapes on a stick and they were a big hit with his friend R as well!

Mom to Mom: Josette Luvmour

Children love games, but can feel hurt, embarrassed or rejected when they lose and I wonder about the effects that losing has on a child's self-esteem. I remember reading a book many years ago that mentioned the non-competitive games of Aboriginal people of Australia and the Inuit people of the Arctic, and it left quite an impression on me. I remember thinking about how different our society has become, and how some games today are down right violent. What purpose does the "I'm better than you" message of winning truly serve? Does it nurture a sense of unity,equality, community or foster a sense of separateness and division? Recently some teachers have observed that the competition seen in win/lose games leads to aggressive behavior and have since begun instituting cooperative games into the class room. Cooperative games foster a sense of pride and teamwork, and have even been used as a tool to resolve conflict. I am interested in games that promote acceptance rather than rejection.
That said, you can imagine my delight when I discovered the book, "Everyone Wins! Cooperative Games and Activities" by Josette and Ba Luvmour.

I was so inspired after reading her book, I knew I needed to chat with her. I'm quite pleased to introduce Josette Luvmour.

Mom: Josette Luvmour, M.A.
Mother of: Amber (32)
Grandmother of: Ruby Ann (2 1/2)Where: Portland, OR
Site: Encompass Institute



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

Motherhood changed me in every way conceivable. In 1975 I gave birth to my daughter at the age of twenty-five. It was a home-birth. More precious and pure than anything I had ever seen, she was a manifestation of the sacred. Becoming a mother changed my purpose and meaning in life to one dedicated to optimal well-being in children and families. After the birth of my daughter, I went back to school to finish by Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, went on to receive my Master’s Degree in Human Development, and currently work toward my Ph.D. in Human Development and Family Systems. My dissertation research explores the dynamics of how the child affects adult development when the adult has learned about child development and follows through with nurturing the child’s developmental needs. More specifically, how the interrelationship of nurturing the child’s developmental needs leads to the emergence of new meaning, self-knowledge, and development in the adult. I will conduct my dissertation research in 2008 and hope to finish by the year end.


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

There are many tips I would like to share:

• Take the time in life to learn about child development
• Change with your child
• Dedicate yourself to nurturing your child’s developmental needs
• You will find that you grow and change as much as your child(ren)
• (e.g., nurturing the child’s development leads to the emergence of new meaning, self-knowledge, and adult development).

As one mother recently said to me, “I don't know, who got more out of raising my child with child development in my parenting practices, my daughter or I? We both got a lot out of it.”

3. What is your creative medium?
Writing, fabric arts, dancing, yoga, and time walking in nature. I have been creating fabric arts for over 30 years. As a medium of expression nothing can top the endless creations that can be made from fabrics and then gifted to those I love.

4. How do you juggle/orchestrate your creative life and motherhood?
I consider the whole endeavor of motherhood to be that of service (the highest offering).
Motherhood is the most important job there is. For it is nothing less than creating the appropriate for the formation of consciousness of another human being. Nothing compares.

5. What inspired you to write your book, "Cooperative Games"?
Children inspire me. The innocence of a child inspires love beyond compare. I am inspired by the delight of the child’s discovery of life. My dedication is to continue to offer children, and the family context in which children grow, the best opportunities for a healthy life.

6. What are some of the benefits of cooperative games?

The greatest benefit of cooperative games is the healthy emotional development of the child. Children want and need emotional connection and learn from the modeling of the adults around them. Trust is the key to the child assimilating new information in a positive way. When adults cooperate, children trust and learn by example. Knowledge of the world and of ourselves is formed from direct experience. The strength of direct experience of cooperation in play helps children learn to adapt and make better choices toward a more fulfilling life.

The social benefit of children learning about cooperation in the medium of play leads to social justice. Children who experience themselves as socially valuable throughout their childhood feel trust and have the greatest likelihood of facilitating the transition to a socially just world.

7. What is one surprising fact that you learned while doing the fieldwork for your book?

During each age of childhood connection, understanding, and appreciation of life deepens. Children begin the social process with bonding, play, and innocence. Around 9 years of age, children move to a new level with feeling empathy with the feelings of others that call forth the formation of ethics, justice, and fairness. Teenagers build on this by insisting on the right to choose and the importance of loyalty. This establishes individual liberty, a powerful addition to social membership. Young adults feel interconnected and are tolerant of diversity. During this age, the realization dawns that life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness must include all people. When these natural capacities are developed in childhood, it is not whether a person participates, but how.

8. Please tell us a little about the EnCompass Institute?

EnCompass Institute is where schools and families intersect to achieve optimal well-being.

Our Mission is to provide students and their families the opportunity to achieve optimal well-being through whole-family experiential learning, elementary and adult education, and research in the Pacific Northwest.

Our Vision is a nation of communities, families and children strengthened through the experience of optimal well-being and capable of changing the world.

EnCompass Institute is comprised of three interrelated parts:

• The Family and Professional Development Center will provide experiential learning and parent education for the parents of the children attending the Lab school and for families in the wider Portland and Northwest community. It will also provide well-being-based teacher training and professional development for those working with children.

• The Lab School will use curriculum based on Natural Learning Rhythms, multiple intelligences, and the best of current pedagogical research, to serve 100 children ages 6-12. It will also provide a learning environment for teacher training and professional development.

• The Research Unit will create and execute research projects, analyze and publish the results, and allow the Institute to continuously refine and improve its practices and curriculum. This dedication to best practices and objective research will greatly improve our ability to replicate our model in other places.

Our Business: We facilitate our mission and vision through fresh insights in parenting and child development based on 20 years of research and fieldwork, whole-family experiential learning and community support.

Natural Learning Rhythms, a powerful approach that combines the best of child development and family dynamics is the foundation of all our programs. It enables parents to understand the psychological, emotional and physical components to optimal well-being in children. When adults meet the developmental needs of a child, blocks to the adult’s own well-being can dissolve as well. The family system flourishes


9. Lastly, what grounds you, inspires you, fills your well?

In order of importance:

• Playing with my granddaughter
• Reflection in quiet solitude
• Inspirational reading
• Communication with my husband/partner/colleague/friend
• Quiet walks in Nature

One last word:

"Family is the heart of humanity. For over twenty-six years I have worked to design whole-family learning experiences for anyone with children in their lives—to discover the Natural Learning Rhythms in development for the benefit and well-being of future generations."

Enjoy the children!