Poetry and Art

I often wonder why we adults are so limited in our creative ability and then I look to my four and seven year olds and know the answer. Children have no filter. They breathe in and soak up all that is around them from the largest to the smallest of things without prioritizing or placing emphasis on any one item. A tree or a worm is just as interesting as a rock. They touch, and sometimes taste {to my chagrin}, the things that capture their attention and then log what they’ve found into memory – that rock is smooth, that dirt taste gross, that bark is bumpy, that worm is slimy. It all goes into the memory bank for them to use whenever the mood strikes them. Children are buoyed by the possibility of what's next. Adults are somewhat deflated in their exuberance for revisiting the mundane.

When Jon and I arrived home from our weekend away we were welcomed back into the fold with magnificent handmade paper flowers and two large quilt-like posters containing art and poetry.

Samantha cracks me up. She always manages to include pizza in her art and I love that she equates pizza with our family. We do keep Boboli in the fridge for those nights when there just isn’t time to make a proper dinner, and we go out for pizza quite often too. Yes, she’s got it right. Pizza = our family. It’s actually a turn-around fact, our family = pizza.

My mother said that Alex began making up a poem. She said the poem unraveled so beautifully that she decided to right it down as Alex was reciting it. I’m convinced that Alex’s heart led her to these words and that she, with her infinite cache of memory captured so eloquently the things that she noticed around her. The hot tub... well, I think that was thrown in for effect. HA! Please know that we do not own a hot tub and we’ve never been camping. It just goes to show you that children are very creative. 

Here's the entire poem...

Violets are red.

Pine cones are brown.

The trees are brown.

All around the trees

are very pretty.

When I walk around the trees

all the animals come to see me.

And when I touch the soft,

soft grass it feels so good.

When I hop in the hot tub

in front of the trees

it feels so good.
I am so happy that I am

next to the trees.

Apples are red.

The leaves on the trees change

different colors when they bloom.

The moon is bright when I go

camping and settle in my bed.

I sit around the sandbox close

to the trees and see the birdies fly by.

Birthday Streamer

Alex has a birthday coming up and I can't believe she'll be four so soon. Yesterday and today she rode her big girl bike all the way up to the elementary school to pick-up Sammy. I pushed her up the big hills and then held on to her when we went down hill, but once we got on the playground she zoomed all around, just as fast as her little legs could go, with very little help from me

At preschool the other day she made this beautiful streamer. She was reluctant to start the project until I whispered in her ear that if she made one, we could use it as decoration for her birthday. She loved the idea and soon got to work spray painting the streams of delicate white paper. I love it so much that I'll probably keep it on display even after her birthday. 

Alex seems to be doing so much on her own now -- riding her bike, making her very own birthday decorations. . .  pretty soon I won't be needed at all {sigh}. I do get to make the birthday cake though, so that's something.

It's For The Birds

Bird Feeder: Pipe cleaner and Cheerios. A clever craft project from Teacher Tom.

Enjoy the weekend!!

Spring in February

Saturday was so much fun. The sun was shining and the sky was blue. We played outside all morning and afternoon taking just a short break after lunch to make Valentines.

Alex tried roller skating and practiced riding a big girl bike with dad. I have a feeling Alex will be on skates a lot this spring -- she totally digs it. 

Sammy started on a fairy garden using materials she found in yard like rocks, twigs and dried leaves.

Spring in February, in Seattle, is wonderful.

Stained Glass Hearts

Ahhhhh. Love is in the air, or at least it's in our windows. Sammy and Alex crafted these stained glass pieces with Nanny and they had so much fun.

They simply tore pieces of decorative tissue paper. Cutout large hearts from craft paper. Adhered the craft paper hearts to a clear piece of peel and stick waxed paper. The heart opening is where they stuck all the bits of tissue. Then to hold it all together, another piece of the clear, peel and stick paper was placed over the tissue. Not a bad art project in that there was no glue or paint. And it was easy enough for 3-year old Alex to do too.

Then the girls went about hanging their hearts in every window of every room.

Then they made more. . .

More hanging. . .

. . . and even more hanging.

They placed one in their bedroom window. . .

. . . and in our bedroom. Are you feeling the love?

Hearts on a String

I'm thinking about Valentine's Day all because of this. Mine certainly isn't as creative as hers but then again, Marta is a little nuts when it comes to designing fabulous crafts. She simply oozes creativity. I love her blog.

 

I just hope Alex doesn't pull at my heart strings too much.

K2

This is my K2. I've been using my knitting needles like a pickaxe, stabbing my way to completion and I'm sad to say that my oxygen tank is empty. I haven't any energy left to continue this project. My climbing buddy {a.k.a. sister-in-law Charlie is such motivation to me but I'm afraid that she may even cut me loose}. Oh woe is me.

This yarn is lusciously soft and would wrap nicely around my shoulders if only I had the drive.

Who am I kidding, I'm no knitter, only a willing participant. This used to be a scarf that turned into a blanket that I now need to turn back into a scarf {a blanket is too ambitious}.

Maybe I'll be back later with a completed scarf to show you. Until then, this unfinished expedition will sit at base camp {knitting bag} until I feel a strong desire to journey upward toward the summit.

Stories That Moved Me and A Craft Project

Thank you Teacher Tom!

Yesterday my daughter's preschool teacher wrote a blog post about my daughter Alex. He wrote the post in response to the post I wrote {here}. I read Teacher Tom's Blog while sitting at Starbucks and was so moved by his words that tears instantly began trickling down my cheeks. Since I was sobbign in a very public place, I had to compose myself lickity split. Please visit Teacher Tom's Blog {here} to read the article. My children are incredibly fortunate to have him in their lives.

Another blog post that moved me is this one from Julie Howe Gwinn's Blog. Julie is an amazing writer who wrote this sweet post called, Neighborhood Characters. We all have interesting and sometimes quirky characters in our neighborhoods but rarely do you hear anyone talk about them in the way that Julie has so eloquently done on her blog. She's described these odd characters endearingly and points out that these are the folks that make the community. These are the ones that make the lasting impressions and are the ones that we remember years down the road. During this season of giving, think about giving someone a smile as you walk past them. Or giving a tip of your hat to someone passing by. These are the gifts that last an eternity. Please travel over to Julie's blog {here}. I"ve already read the article three times.

Changing Subjects - Christmas Wreath

I made a wreath on Saturday. It's not much, in fact my husband thought it was a pillow for tender bottoms. I had to explain to him that the donut shaped, cushiony craft I was working on was in fact a wreath.

First we used a large bowl to cutout the wreath shape.

Then I cutout the decorations and hot glued the embellishments onto the decorations. Then I hot glued the decorations onto the wreath. I stuffed the wreath with batting and then hand sewed it all together.

There. Now I don't have to worry about buying one for awhile.

Reflections on Turkey Day 2009

Every Thanksgiving I display the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade snow globe. This is the first year that I placed it where little fingers could reach it, pick it up and smash it to the ground. But that didn't happen. The girls were thrilled to see it, marveled at the little scene inside and then went about their business doing more important things like, playing with Littlest Pets and beads {those darn beads are everywhere. I'm thankful for them because they keep my girls very busy. I just wish they weren't everywhere I step foot.}.

I think watching the parade gave them a greater respect for the delicate ornamate and so they decided to leave it be. Alex exclaimed, "Hey, that's what we're watching on TV!" I couldn't get them to watch the entire parade {I thought the parade might be a good distraction to keep them out of my hair while I cleaned house and tended to last minute dinner preparations but it was not to be} so I left the TV on and every now and again the girls would run past it and glance at the massive balloons floating above the city.

I let the turkey breast stay in the oven just a wee bit longer than I should have. It wasn't the thermometer's fault, I just wasn't paying attention -- too busy drinking wine and chatting.

I am thankful that the turkey came out fairly well.

Each plate was adorned with handmade name cards. On the outside, a hand-turkey and on the inside, the guest's name. I didn't even ask for this, Sammy just did it on her own. I am a proud mother.

I'm not sure why the turkey is saying, "boo." I suspect it's just a leftover Halloween reference that Sammy decided to incorporate. Works for me.

Getting Ready for a Joyous Evening

It's Thanksgiving Day and I'm sitting at my computer typing this blog entry which may seem like a crazy thing to do since I'm expecting to feed 8 adults and 4 children tonight. No worries. I finished all the side dishes last night and the turkey breasts are trussed, seasoned and ready to roast. I'm all done as far as I'm concerned save for a little housecleaning that shouldn't take too much time.

The other day my girls and I found these lovely fall burnt sienna, rust and gold leaves on the sidewalk in front of a coffee shop. We couldn't resist bringing a bushel of them home. Here's what we did with them. . .

. . . an autumn garland for the fireplace. We just strung these beauties onto fishing line {Alisha, thanks for the fishing line, I know I said I'd return it and haven't. It's come in handy for so many projects. I'll buy you a new spool, I promise. You're the best next door neighbor ever, and I'm not just saying that becuase you let me borrow the fishing line!}

I also finished getting the table ready for tonight's feast. I can't wait to see the food on the plates and the candles flickering. It's going to be a joyous evening!!

Here are some images from my table setting. I washed the tablecloth last night. I removed it promptly from the dryer and placed it on the table in hopes it would keep from wrinkling. Well, that didn't work. But who cares right? Oh who am I kidding, I may just get out the iron afterall. I don't know if the crinkle look is in this year.

And you should also know that this isn't my dining room. It's actually the formal living room that we transformed into a dining room. We do this every year. Our "regular" dining room space is quite snug making it difficult to seat 8 adults.

We swap the furniture from our living room with the furniture from the dining room. The dining room space becomes a cozy sitting area and then the living room, becomes the dining room. I love it because it means we get to dine in front of a roaring fire. {roaring may be stretching the truth a bit, but it is a fire nonetheless.}

Happy Thanksgiving!

Knitted Hat/Scarf Combo

My mother has been at it again, klick klack'n away with her beloved knitting needles. Here you see Sammy sporting the new hat/scarf combination.

I asked my mom if she could make a hat with the scarf attached and she did it. No pattern to follow, just an idea for what was needed. I love it. Isn't the color perfect?

Even though the hat was made for Alex, Sammy was the willing model. The tassel adds just the right amount of whimsy. I hope my mom has enough yarn to make one for me too. Hear that mom? Your one and only daughter needs a hat too.

Starbucks Pumpkin Scones and Crafts

The Pumpkin Scones at Starbucks are so delicious. On Halloween, we went to the University District Farmer's Market where I picked up a pumpkin just for baking. I found the scone recipe here.

You can use canned pumpkin, but instead I used fresh pumpkin. It's easy, just cut the pumpkin in half, then scrape out the seeds and stringy middle.

Try to get out as much of the fibrous middle as you can. As you can see, I managed to get most of it out of one side, and the other, not so much.

Then rub olive oil on the pumpkin flesh, turn upside down on a roasting pan lined with foil, cover with foil, then bake at 425 for 1 hour.

The roasted pumpkin will be very tender and will pull away from the skin easily.

I pureed the cooked pumpkin with orange juice to thin it out a bit. The color and consistency is wonderful.

You'll see that the recipe shows two types of icing. I used just the plain powdered sugar and milk rather than the one with all the added spices. The scone itself has lots of flavor and to add more spices to the icing would be overkill. In my opinion.

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Changing subjects.

My mom made these adorable Halloween treat bags for my girls. They're recycled Starbucks bags. My mom got this idea from Martha Stewart and ran with it.

These bags are so cute and my girls were delighted to see them. They both exclaimed, "Grammy made these? WOW!"

Wow is right. What a great idea for making something old, new again.