This Cosy Life

Lately

2012-02-08T17:24:00.000-08:00

I've taken exactly two pictures this week. Here they are.. the girls with their heads bent together, pouring over their coloring books. Some days they color all day long. No exaggeration. It' s kick they're on, I suppose.
There's not a whole lot to update you on. I'm off this week. Really can't find my rhythm. I have lots of plans on my mind and I'm kind of absorbed by them. I haven't knit in days (gasp!), just have been thinking lots about where I want to go from here.
I am preparing to make a seed order order. So much fun to sit and dream of a warm spring garden, brimming with greens and herbs! I came upon a few pins yesterday... salves, tinctures, teas, that type of thing and ended up finding a whole bunch and stuck them in my Kitchen Apothecary. I was so inspired by Amanda Soule's apothecary cupboard. I really want to set something like that up. All the little things I need in there to heal and soothe my family. I ordered this book, too.
By the way, Kaiya's doctor wants her on a daily steroid in her nubulizer and an antihistamine daily, for gosh knows who when, for her asthma. I've not been doing it daily. I don't like pumping her little body full of that garbage, it really affects her adversely and I really want to find a more natural way of dealing with it. Please know, I will do what it takes to care for my daughter. I won't sit by and do nothing while she suffers and I do give her what she needs when she needs it. But as far as preventive medicine I just feel there must be a better way. Now, I have found a few things that I would like to start trying but I was hoping that perhaps one of my dear readers would have some advice/experience on treating and preventing asthma naturally. I just so happen to run across the book 'Natural Remedies for Your Child's Asthma' and the Goodwill the other day. I'm hoping it will be chock full of great ideas!

Well, the girls are up. Here's to a new day. Have beautiful one, friends!

Sunday

2012-02-05T10:15:00.000-08:00

I hope you all (who celebrate) enjoyed a nice Candlemas this past week. Here, it was such lovely week and truly felt as though Mother Earth and her root children were busily preparing, down below, for Spring. And though the groundhog did see he shadow I can't imagine North Carolina is in for anymore winter to speak of . I could be wrong, we shall see. Snow would still be very nice...

We made our first dip candles, well, Kaiya and I. This was an exercise in patience for her. She actually had to scrap and redo one because she was letting it flop and the wax broke.

We used a small milk bottle that I cut the top off of and, as you can see, I had to place it in water in a pot on the stove a couple of times to remelt it.
She did two and I did two and the I made some votives using toilet paper rolls.

Our sun bread was made using this recipe. It turned out really good!

I have a winner for the Love Bunny giveaway.....

Tanya M

Congrats, Tanya! I will email you in just a bit and you will have 48 hours to get back with me.

Today

2012-02-03T19:17:00.000-08:00

We took the girls to the science center and the park today, my Waldorf mama friend and I. There was a dinosaur exhibit at the science center and Zoe loves dinosaurs. But the second we walked through the door she was terrified and begged to leave. So we saw the permanent exhibits instead, which never get too old for them. Afterward, we headed to the park with our lunch, since it was such a warm and beautiful day. We ate, the girls played and then we walk along the bridge that trails through woods, overlooking the duck pond.

I love our time with these friends and the girls really do, too. The mama and I have so much in common and share much the same goals for what we want for our children. So far, we haven't found any other Waldorf inspired homeschoolers nearby to join us, but to us, the quality of the connection we do have is much more valuable than a large group of families with not much in common and dissimilar goals and values.
By the way, some of you say that you wish you could find other Waldorf inspired families in your area. So I wanted to tell you, I found her by posting in the Mothering forums, under 'Finding Your Tribe'. You may not find gobs of like minded folks but perhaps one or two families like we did, and, really, that means the world to find someone you can really connect with.

River fell asleep in the car on the way home. As soon as I unbuckled her car seat she opened her eyes and said "Quack quack! Quack quack!".

Well, Hello There!

2012-01-31T18:54:00.000-08:00

Look what I found today. We went out in search of early signs of spring and yes, we found it! Very strange indeed.
I was very tired this evening and needed a break from the twice weekly trips to ballet class with Kaiya. So Tait took her and I stayed home with the two littles. It was nice. I made lentil soup for our supper and a loaf of this bread. We went outside while it cooked, which is when we found the daffodils. Just the three of us, which meant no bickering, thank goodness. Perhaps all the bickering that's been going on was what I really needed a break from.

No sooner had I finished photographing the flowers and turned my back, River plucked the heads off!

This soup is really delicious, by the way. My friend made it for one of our Friday Waldorf get togethers a few weeks ago and I had to have it again. It makes a bunch so we'll be having it for lunch tomorrow, too.

Are you cooking anything good lately?

Meltdown Monday Giveaway

2012-01-30T03:06:00.000-08:00

I present to you, for your Monday consideration... Love Bunnies. Two blushing bunnies (who happen to be madly in love so you should never split them up) that would love to make a home with someone special. Might that be you?
Each bunny stands about 2.5" tall to the very tip of their ears. Their base is wooden and they wear 100% wool, knitted suits and tail.

OK, so to enter leave me a comment. You can let me know how your Monday is going or, better yet, tell me how you beat the dreadful Meltdown Monday or just say hi. Whatever.

For additional entries;
(leave a separate comment for each entry, if you don't, they count as one)
Tweet this (include @thiscosylife in your tweet)
Share on Facebook
Blog this giveaway
Like me on Facebook

I will randomly pick a winner on Sunday February 5th and announce here, on my blog. (Please, make sure I have a way to contact you!)

PS: If anyone is interested in participating in a Monday Meltdown giveaway, here on my blog, contact me here. Whether an item from your Etsy shop or just a little something you would like to give away to brighten someone's Monday, it's all good!

It's Nearly Here

2012-01-29T15:51:00.000-08:00

Hello. How has your weekend been? For us, Friday and Saturday was filled with friends and Tait and I went childless to dinner on Friday evening. A late birthday gift to him from my parents. That was nice. Since he's moved back in I think it was the first time we'd had any alone time, out of the house.

Today started off very lazy, then I became inspired as I was reading through various posts around the web on Candlemas. We've not observed it before, never even gave a a second thought to Groundhog Day. So I dug through the links I've been collecting on Pinterest, and I think Candlemas may be exactly what I need right now. The unseasonably warm winter may not have made for a very cosy season but the early signs of spring are rather comforting. I'm still pouring over my seed catalogues and I'm so eager to get started on the garden! I ran across this site on Pinterest. You put your zip code in and get exact dates for planting what, when for your area. This week I'm supposed to start broccoli indoors and leeks next week. Planting!
Have I shown you this? A play garden.. it's my plan to keep River occupied so that I can actually get some work done in the garden this year.

So, the plan this week is; get my broccoli started, tidy up the greenhouse, make candles and spring cleaning. I'm really excited about the spring cleaning. I love pulling everything out and putting things in order and purging, of course. I also read in one of those Pinterest links that this is a good time to make some goals, resolutions, if you will and decide what you want to see birthed in you this year. I like that. I never did face that pile of discontent and sort it out, but I'm ready to now.

P

I made these Lemon Cranberry Scones last week and they we so good. I cut small triangles and ended up with 16. The girls ate so many! I thought there would be enough for two breakfasts... not a chance. Maye you would like to try them this week. And if you're making plans for Candlemas, would you mind sharing them with me?

Some Finished Gifts

2012-01-26T10:24:00.000-08:00

A birthday was had, cake (and batter) was eaten, gifts were opened and the birthday girl felt a lot better than the day before. Thank you so much for your 'get wells' and birthday wishes for my River!

And for the handmade gifts...
I didn't get the man gnome finished (or started) but I love how this the lady gnome turned out. My goodness, all that seaming up was maddening! But well worth it. You can find my Rav notes here. I will be making the man soon to go along with her.

And here is the most excellent set of picture puzzle blocks that Tait painted. So cute! He added a couple of different characters than Lori had done. The fox is my favorite.

Anyway, a lovely day was had by all and my heart was so full of love by the end of the day. I just love birthdays!

Almost 2

2012-01-24T16:57:00.000-08:00

Well, here we are. Just hours away from a certain little one's birthday. She's obviously not feeling very well at the moment but you can't tell very much in the daylight hours. Really, the telling signs are a constantly oozing nose and fitful sleeping. Fitful.. that's a nice word for it. Let's just say I'm praying for sleep tonight. I do hope it passes during the night.

I don't think I've mentioned it but River's speech has just taken off in the past month or two. She went from saying just a few random words to sentences and attempting to say just about everything in a short period of time. And let me tell you, it was the breakthrough I've waiting for since she took her first steps at 7.5 months. I know I've mentioned what a wild child she is. But this new speech development seems to have been the equalizer she needed. As though all that frustration of not being able to properly communicate has eased and she has a newfound peacefulness. She's just more easy going and, dare I say, a wee bit mellow. That's probably a stretch but it certainly has eased her mama's daily frustration.

Anyhoo, I'm not quite finished with the birthday stuff so I'm gonna go knit. Goodnight, all!

Light and Space

2012-01-23T14:31:00.000-08:00

Lighting candles in the evening, inviting warmth and light in.

Every Tuesday and Thursday evening (from 5-6) I have dinner with my mom in the little restaurant just next door to Kaiya's ballet class. This past Thursday, as we sat waiting for our check to come, I realized that something was very different from just the week before at the same time. It was still daylight! Yes, friends, this means that the promise of the Winter Solstice is true, spring is coming and our dear sun is growing strong once more.
I take serious solace in that this year. Usually I don't begin yearning for spring til the end of February. But this year... I believe it's the unseasonably warm weather, the complete lack of snow here. Winter just isn't holding it's same appeal to me this year. I'm already eager for the bright, sunny days, things growing, everything growing.

Today, while I was supposed to be doing my weekly cleaning, I did some more purging. We really don't have too much stuff, I don't think. It's just that we have a very small house and everything is very visible. And I find the older I get, the more I am willing to and want to let go of things. I do this in steps. I go through at least a couple of rooms at a time, looking for what I can let go of. Sometimes I come up with just a few things, other times I have boxes and boxes. It's not that we have a lot of stuff... it's that I'm very willing to let go of much of what we do have. And the more I go over an area (once every month or two) I realize I can let this stuff go. But I don't do it all at once, I think I would end up with regret. Time passes and I can let it go.
I've been eyeing what's hanging on the walls for the past couple of months. Many things I love, photos, random art pieces, shelves. But after some time I decided I would love it even more if there was just nothing hanging there, just space. So, today most of it came down. I kept what I truly love and joyfully put the rest in a box and took it to the Salvation Army.
Right now, looking out over my uncluttered walls, knowing that behind my craft cupboard door it's just a little more emptied... it feels really good. Really clean and fresh.

Sunday

2012-01-22T12:09:00.000-08:00

This Sunday finds me still sick, blah! But up and working just a bit after a very restful couple of days (thank you, Tait!). After a pretty rough start this morning I'm finally beginning to feel that good health is just around the bend.
So, today I am working on new Valentine's toys, destined for the shop.

And Tait is working on a set of picture puzzle blocks for a certain one, about to be two year old. Her birthday is on Wednesday. Oh, my goodness, she's not a baby anymore! I can still call her 'the baby', though, can't I? He's modeling these sweet blocks after a set I saw on Lori's blog. She made them for her own little ones twenty five years ago. I hope this set holds up just as long.

And I'm about to begin working on a set of gnomes for my little River. This free pattern can be found here.

My camera is on the fritz and I'm so bummed out about it! I'm not certain what happened. I know several days ago it was half on/half off a dish towel in the kitchen (my bad) and Kaiya came along and jerked the towel off the counter and the camera went flying. But after that it worked completely fine for another day or so. But then the shutter stopped working and I can't figure it out. So off to the repair shop it goes, I guess. Fortunately I passed my old camera down to my husband when I go the new one over the spring or summer and I'm using it right now. It's just not at all the same, though. Oh, well.
Hope your weekend is warm and happy!

Some Randomness

2012-01-19T18:45:00.000-08:00

I'm sick again! Really, this is like some kind of record for me. I know I just said on Sunday that I had been sick and was all better, then I turned around on Tuesday and woke up sick again. I actually thought I would just cry this morning when I opened my eyes and realized I was still sick, thoroughly convinced the night before I would be better. Well, tonight I'm thoroughly convinced I am going to wake up tomorrow feeling much worse than I currently do. Maybe I'm just being a sour puss but I really can't tell you how many times (back to back) I've been sick this winter. The girls, too. They were looking rather droopy tonight and I'm afraid I'm going to have to cancel our Friday date with our friends tomorrow.

Sooo, I've been kinda hiding out, feeling sorry for myself and darn grumpy to boot. I've made some pretty lame attempts at school this week but it's doubtful we'll have anything to write home about at the end of the week. And that's OK, I guess.
These photos are completely unrelated to anything. I've just not been in the mood to pick up my camera at all this week. These were some I took back in the fall, I think. They've just been sitting in the folder saying, 'Pick us! We're pretty and pink!'. I do hope to finally have a shop update tomorrow. I've told one reader some bunnies were headed to the shop in a day or two (five or six days ago) along with some other friends. Well, the friends were giving me a hard time and I got a little stuck. You can't win them all, right? But they're on their way!

I think the best thing for me to do is is hide out in bed this weekend and hand the mama reigns over to Tait. I may walk out to a complete disaster but hopefully I'll be fully recuperated, with a sunnier disposition and Monday is cleaning day anyway.
What's going on your way this week?

Waldorf Inspired Home School Themes-Animals In Winter

2012-01-16T16:12:00.000-08:00

We are Waldorf-inspired homeschoolers, just starting out in kindergarten. Each week follows a theme, inspiring our work and play and learning. This theme is chosen based on the season and what's on our minds. Each week I will share what we've been up to and some links and resources that will hopefully inspire you. There is a link-up at the end of this post... I hope you will share what your home school has been up to. You can find previous weeks here.

'Mr. Bear says all he wants to do is sleep
Now that winters here and snow is very deep
He is curled up in his den
And we probably won't see him
Till the spring when all he want to do is eat!'

Our theme last week (sorry I didn't post this yesterday, Kaiya and I were both sick again, better now) was animals in winter. I shared this project over on the Natural Kids blog last week. It was inspired by Jan Brett's 'The Mitten' and her printable activity page.

Zoe worked on the coloring for us...

while Kaiya practiced her hand sewing.

We also made a paper mache bear cave like this one. We did the paper mache on Wednesday, it wasn't completely dry on Thursday so we took it with us on our Friday meetup with our other Waldorf friends. So instead of cutting an opening as in the tutorial we cut it in half so we could share with our friends. We let the girls paint the cave and a piece of cardboard to sit it on and Sunday the girls finished it up with their dad, cutting construction paper leaves. They've had so much fun putting their animals in there.
We weren't able to get everything done that I would have liked, as Saturday was my husband's birthday and we were pretty busy crafting for that. But if you check out my Pinterest boards you can find more 'animals in winter' inspiration. I also printed some coloring pages from Jan Brett's site and let the girls color them on Monday. Monday is my cleaning day so I like to keep it light that day, generally coloring, drawing or painting.

Songs
Where Is Bear?
Mr. bear
Little Bear
Winter Is Cold
The Mitten

Story
Winter Story
and a couple of books we have
Animals In Winter
When Winter Comes (They're both good but we especially like this one, very informative but not over their heads, even mama learned new stuff! )

Facts
Snug In the Snow

My Pinterest Home Schooling page is here, Verses and Stories here.

A Birthday

2012-01-14T19:35:00.000-08:00

Today is my husband's 30th birthday. What a wonderful moment he woke up to. I awoke to the smell of toast and the sound of little feet scurrying about in the kitchen. I could hear plates being pulled down from the shelf and stacked on top of one another. I heard something scrap along a wooden shelf, a sound I knew to be the big serving tray being taken off the shelf. Light clinks and thunks and much scurrying of those little feet. I lay still as Kaiya quietly dashed passed our room and went to the room she shares with her sisters. 'Wake up, Zoe. Zoe, wake up! It's Daddy's birthday! Come on!" Urgently whispering to her sister. They both head back to the kitchen and Kaiya asks Zoe to help her with the tray because it's heavy and tells her to sing 'Happy birthday to you, Daddy!'.
In they come, singing their own version of 'Happy Birthday' and carrying a heavy tray full of toast, jam, apples and homemade presents. Happy birthday, indeed!

I spent the day in the kitchen. Pretty much the whole day. I've been on a bit of a baking frenzy lately, taking much pleasure in trying new recipes, especially bread recipes. Money is really tight right now but I wanted to make Tait something special. Well, simple/special, which is what I do/like best.
Hummus. With extra garlic.

Naan. My first time making it. Love it and will make more. I baked it in the oven.

Cranberry walnut Swirl Bread, sans walnuts. Was supposed to be for breakfast but I was feeling lazy this morning so it's will be tomorrow's breakfast.

Carrot cupcakes.... from a mix! I asked him what kind of cake he wanted and he said carrot cake... 'Just buy a box.' I thought I'd take a break and just do it the easy way. Then I spent the whole day in the kitchen kneading 2 different types of bread and making hummus. Oh, well.

They were well received.

I'll be back tomorrow with some homeschooling inspiration.

A Winter Craft Inspired by Jan Brett's 'The Mitten'

2012-01-12T04:30:00.000-08:00

We're learning about animals in winter this week. I shared a little project inspired by Jan Brett's book 'The Mitten' over on the Natural Kids blog. Kaiya loves a chance to work on her hand sewing skills. She really does enjoy it. I think I'm going to give her more sewing projects.

It feels really good to get out homeschooling back on track. We just have so much fun together. And this Saturday I will have a new homeschooling theme post for you. Till then, come on over and visit me at Natural Kids.

Warm

2012-01-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

It's not really cold here, not much at all. We've had extremely mild days lately (nearly 70 on Saturday!), 50s and 40s this week. But something about winter, even a mild one, just makes me crave a certain warmth.

Hot beans, soups and breads. Cosy blankets and lying directly in front of the sunny window. Cuddling, knitting, hot tea and candles. It's not really what the thermometer says (for me, maybe it is for you), it's a state of mind. As nature goes into hibernation my spirit seeks warmth and comfort elsewhere. You know, I resisted beans and cornbread as a child, but I crave them often these days. Simple goodness in a bowl.

I finished knitting this hat. It was intended for a friend but felt rather snuggish and just wasn't as slouchy as I would have liked. I think I'll knit another for the friend, this one I handed along to the girls.

Kyrie shares some beautiful reflections on warmth here, that are so inspiring. How are you keeping warm?

Happy Monday

2012-01-09T04:18:00.000-08:00

We had a lovely day of cookie baking, popcorn making and movie watching yesterday. A very cuddly way of spending our family day together. However, River and I finished it off with a rather fitful night of constant nursing and tossing and turning. I suppose those molars are back to working their way in. Molars just take forever to come in, don't they?

Needless to say, Mama's feeling beat and I'm thinking that cup of tea just isn't going to cut it. I'm trying to make the switch from coffee.
I'm feeling prepared to jump back into home schooling this week, though, after taking an extended Christmas break. I have some fun projects lined up for us. I know the girls have really missed it. We all appreciate the more structured days and focused creativity.

And I just wanted to say, even though I have not had the chance to respond to everyone who commented on my last post individually, thank you so much for your understanding and supportive words. I just had to smile reading them all. What a blessing to be able to reach out, say what is heavy on your heart or perhaps joyful or just thoughtful, and be heard and hear in return, 'I'm right there with you!'. What an amazing bunch of ladies you are. Have a beautiful week!

Right Now

2012-01-05T17:04:00.000-08:00

I uploaded these photos yesterday, got no further and have no idea where I was going with them. I am having some difficulty getting back into my blogging groove and my homeschooling groove and getting up before the kids and... my groove, in general. The holiday break has really thrown me off. But if I'm to be totally honest I think I'm really just in a slump. I'm feeling kind of negative and dissatisfied.
Just right upfront, it's not my marriage, it's not my children or homeschooling and not my work. It's just me, things and people I've allowed into my life, my own attitude and things I hold onto. I really don't feel up to just spelling it all out here but I guess I could sum it up just saying that I need a new outlook, a new attitude and I think I just need to clean house a bit, emotionally and relationship speaking. I actually have put off making any New Year's resolutions simply because I feel overwhelmed , a little, by all the areas of my life I'd like to see change in. It's a little scary to think of all the dissatisfaction piled up on paper like that. But I should. I can't change things if I won't face them.
That's just where I am right now. I wish I had something cheerier to share with you. But maybe you're not feeling 100% OK with everything in your life right now either. And maybe it's nice to know you're not alone there. I know I feel that way often. Either way, peace, friends, and goodnight.

Making Plans

2012-01-03T09:56:00.000-08:00

Stepping out my door this afternoon and feeling the icy air whip across my face it's really hard to imagine making plans for spring. But the first of the seed catalogs has made it's way to my mailbox and dreaming of spring I am.
Last year I thought about a garden, I started a garden but, in the end, it was just not in the cards. Not with a wild toddler running to and fro, anyway. But this year I have plans. This year I'm not in it alone and will rely on my husband to tame that wild toddler while I dig and plant away. Gardening is not his thing, not even a little bit, but I love it and am happy to play in the dirt while he plays with the girls. Now, what to plant...?

I also have plans for a new set of toys that I'm terribly eager to work up. Just need to decide on yarns. Oh yes, there are visions of bunnies dancing through my head!

What kinds of plans are you making?

Back On Track

2012-01-01T15:31:00.000-08:00

First things first, the winners of the Tomten and the Fox Giveaway are

Amy

and

Lynnette

Congratulations! I've contacted you both already.

Now how about a slice of Blackberry and Lemon Curd Loaf? The first went too fast (after we shared with my parents) so another was in order. Tomorrow my husband goes back to work after having the whole week off for Christmas and I must say, as much as I love having him here I'm very ready for him to go back and the girls and I to get on with our regular rhythm. Rhythm... ha! Christmas orders started with full force just after Halloween and all semblance of a normal rhythm was thrown out the window. Daddy being home certainly hasn't helped that any. Not that there is anything wrong with that. We all enjoyed the extended holiday very much but I need rhythm and normalcy just as much as the girls. I'm looking forward to getting the house keeping back on track and I think I'll even do a bit of new year cleaning this week.
I think rhythm is something we're going to have to have a total redo on anyway. Don't forget, in all that Christmas order frenzy my husband moved back in and that threw us way off right there. Yes, it will take time and patience for us to find what works for our new family unit. But we'll get there.

What Are You Doing...

2011-12-31T16:50:00.000-08:00

New Year's Eve? I spent the day sleeping late, thanks to my husband, knitting lots and topped it off by baking a Blackberry and Lemon Curd Loaf (which I'm about to go have another slice of with coffee).

At some point in the evening I plan to make some New Year's resolutions, watch The Best SNL Sketches of 2011 and knit some more. I'll probably turn in at 10 (as that's a resolution and I might as well get a jump on it) so I'd better get to it. Have a happy New Year, my friends!

The Brink of the New Year Finds Me....

2011-12-30T09:07:00.000-08:00

... refining plans for the shop in my mind. It was very reassuring to know that I am not alone in hating working made-to-order. I've wrestled with it and finally decided that I am finished with that business, once and for all. Now, the stark reality is that my shop is fairly empty, compared to it's previously full and fat state and it's a wee bit discouraging to think how long it's going to take me to fatten it up again. But on the bright side, selling will be way less stressful and I'm feeling my creative juices flowing more than ever. See case and point below.

Just before Christmas I had made up a set of three little kittens and very briefly put them in the shop before pulling them to give to my own wee ones on Saint Nicholas Day ("Does St. Nicholas knit, mommy?"). So now, post-holiday rush, I have expanded on that a bit and bring you a full set; mama cat, three kittens, a crochet basket, perfect for snuggling up in mama's tail, a crochet blanket and a little wooden bowl for milk.

Swish, swish, little tails!

Two little winter gnomes, Icicle and Snowflake. This set was first made for my River for Christmas. Her's were tucked into a little snowflake embellished pouch with a strap for carrying. Perhaps I'll make a set in a pouch for the shop sometime, too.

And the pattern and one set of the Tomtem and the Fox have been added as well. I wanted to share a new picture of this duo to show off the curvy, wurvy tail of the fox. If you scroll down to the giveaway post (have you entered?) you'll see it was previously straight (P.S. I've updated the 'Pattern Shop' above and you can now find this one and several others I'd previously neglected adding there.).

So I am pretty much brimming over with ideas and inspiration at this point. And you would think that all the mad rushing to get to the order knitting finish line and the follow up of making last minute things for my own children would have me burnt out on knitting, but not in the slightest. Well, I guess my dry, cracked, eczema riddled right hand would tell you otherwise but it doesn't get a say in the matter. I love what I do and when things slow down and I'm able to bring all the ideas and pictures floating around in my head to life, well, that's a happy time for me.
I'm also taking the time to do some knitting for me and mine. Well, mine anyway. I almost never knit for me. I should probably amend that sometime. But right now, a dear friend of mine had a baby (new baby girl!) just before Christmas and I'm eager to make something tiny! And then there are several January birthdays around these parts (River will be two!). Look at all those exclamation points, exciting things!

So, the brink of the new year finds ma making plans and indulging my creativity. How about you?

Meltdown Monday Giveaway

2011-12-26T12:17:00.000-08:00

Comments on this post are now closed.

How is everyone post-Christmas? I hope yours was very merry. Ours was but I really don't have very many photos to attest to that. We were all just very in the moment, enjoying one another and the camera was brought out very little. Perhaps I'll share what few I do have tomorrow or some time later this week.
For now I want to have a little giveaway, since I've not have one in a few weeks. This week I'm working on a new pattern, maybe more but this pair for share. May I introduce, the Tomten and the Fox. This particular set I've photographed has already sold but I'll have to make up another set as I work out the pattern.

So today I am offering this complete set, the Tomten, Fox and the wee bowl and another winner will receive the pattern. Please let me know in your comment whether you are a knitter so I know whether or not to enter your name for the pattern.

OK, so to enter leave me a comment. You can let me know how your Monday is going or, better yet, tell me how you beat the dreadful Meltdown Monday or just say hi. Whatever.

For additional entries;
(leave a separate comment for each entry, if you don't, they count as one)
Tweet this (include @thiscosylife in your tweet)
Share on Facebook
Blog this giveaway
Like me on Facebook

I will randomly pick a winner on Sunday January 1st and announce here, on my blog. (Please, make sure I have a way to contact you!)

PS: If anyone is interested in participating in a Monday Meltdown giveaway, here on my blog, contact me here. Whether an item from your Etsy shop or just a little something you would like to give away to brighten someone's Monday, it's all good!

Greeting the Solstice

2011-12-22T09:06:00.000-08:00

Winter has come at last. No snow here, not even a chance. But a stillness has settled in, a peace and I love that. This morning we slept late. My last package was mailed yesterday and I started dozing off at 9:30 last night. I'm so grateful for this time off.

Winter books were pulled out just a while ago and two read on the spot. A couple of new ones I had purchased over the year joined our old favorites.

Our Thanks Giving tree was transformed into a snowy winter tree with the help of the beeswax snowflakes I made last year. And we've been joined by a little sun gnome, here to greet the Solstice.

Happy Solstice to you, friends!

Christmas Dreaming

2011-12-15T07:00:00.000-08:00

December 15th... five days and every last order will be out the door and on their way to fill stockings and rest under someone's tree til Christmas morning. Til then I work and make plans on what few things I will make before our own Christmas morning. I have very little time to make very little and I am OK with that.

I found a little nightstand that my husband will fashion into a kitchen for all three girls and I've acquired a few things to go with it from second hand stores. A couple of tiny pots, a small broom, a little cream and red bowl that makes me dreamy of a Scandinavian kitchen, wooden spoons and a few wooden bowls from my own kitchen, an enamelware camping coffee set my parents were throwing out... sweet things but not dumbed down. It will have a place of honor in our front room and I'm making place for a little table and chair set I hope to find in time.

For Kaiya I have a sweet dolly that I won from Little Jenny Wren back over the summer and I'm really looking forward to giving it to her. For Zoe I am going to make a very simple doll. Zoe loves animals. I have asked her many times if she wants a dolly or animals and it's always a new animal, stuffed, figurines, etc. But this time she surprised me by asking for a doll. So I think I will do a simple baby style doll for cuddling and caring for. And for River... well, to be honest I'm not sure yet. Yes, it's so very close and I don't even know what I'm making for her! But I'm not worried.

I had planned to open gifts on Solstice and save small stocking things for Christmas, but I won't be ready then and that's OK, too. Still going slowly, letting go of the things that really don't matter so much. I think we'll take our Christmas past the 25th and keep our lights burning through the 12 Days of Christmas, feeling inspired to do so by Grace. Little thoughts that have bloomed in me. We are staying here as much as possible, trying to stay out of the rush and the desperation that comes out in so many this time of year. Many, many times I have heard others lament that they just hate the commercialism and indulgence of Christmas. My reply has always been the same, like everything, it is what you make of it. Here in our home we can choose what we allow in and how we celebrate and the things we do and have. We stay out of stores as much as possible. I prefer not to grocery shop with the girls in tow this time of year. We stay home and we go to friends and celebrate at our own pace, in our own way. We choose. As my girls grow and go out into the world more and more on their own they will see that it's not always as we've done things, they we see there are many choices to be made and many ways to do things. And that's OK. I'm laying their foundation now, and that's all I can do. I give them what I can now, an environment and experiences and a way of life, and I don't believe that all of that will be lost just because other things are later introduced.

It's a foundation. It's something to lean on, something to come to expect, a rhythm, tradition. Something that is unique to our family even if they can't find it out in the world later on. It's something they can always return to and, if they so choose, carry out in their own families later on.

So here we are. Making preparations in our own way and at our own pace. I think we will go ahead get our tree this Sunday, so we can do it with Daddy and have it up by Solstice. How is your holiday coming along?

Many Hands Make St. Lucia Bread

2011-12-14T15:35:00.000-08:00

Our Saint Lucia day was made possible by many little hands, eager to help. In lieu of the traditional saffron buns we made a beautiful braided bread. I found the recipe here.

It was so yummy! Just sweet enough with a hint of orange. My little helpers zested oranges and cracked eggs...

Mixing and kneading....

And then we all rolled the candles to adorn our bread.

Perfect! We do nothing too much for this particular day. We make our light and celebrate with an ease. There's no need to overdo.

Hope your light is shining brightly through these darkened days!