Now is the month of Maying when Merry boys are playing...

Now is the month of Maying when Merry boys are playing.
Fa la la la la, fala la la la la la.
Each with his bonny lass upon the dewy grass.
Fa la la la la, fala la la la la la.

This was a favorite song we learned as a group in my Waldorf Teacher Training.
I have been singing it quite a bit lately.
It is so true. Of course their bonny lass is their Mama for now.
I love May!
I love that I can go each morning into the yard and find something new blooming or fading away.
The lilies of the valley still have a little scent.
The lilacs are gone for the year.
The dwarf iris are awakening.
But the peonies!  I have been watching the buds for weeks and this weekend two little pink blooms opened.
It is hard to pick a favorite flower, but if I had to, it would be the PEONY.

Oh, and my little guys feel the transition to.
Days of play outside.
Digging, chasing chickens, picking flowers, watering, tending their little garden, running in the grass and watering.
Watering is by far the most fun.  A reason I need to install a rain barrel so no water is wasted.

A previous years blooms, but you get the idea.

Ham and Cheese Pizza with God Dressing

It is a good food day today.  A cold day in May.  Warm oats for breakfast.  Hot pizza and cucumbers for lunch.  And some fruity muffins in the middle of the day to have the oven on a bit.  But my favorite part so far was our lunch conversation.

We sat down to Ham and Cheese Pizza and cucumbers with Goddess Dressing. We eat Goddess Dressing often. There are a couple different versions and the boys love them all. But today my little guys got to thinking about this Goddess dressing.

Henri said, "Mama, does this dressing come from God?".  He is two!  I said, "Well yes it kind of does.  God helps all of our food grow, so yes, God made this dressing...." Then Joel (3 1/2 years old) says, "And God is in our hearts too... Just like Meghan and Great Grandpa are in my heart."

I can't remember the rest of the conversation but they continued discussing God and how good the cucumbers were in the "God Dressing".  I kind of blurred out trying to remember their sweet words so I could write it down to reference when they are teenagers... Boy these boys are pulling on my heart strings today...

We will probably never repeat the meal exactly how it was today, but here is the pizza recipe.

Pizza Recipe:

Pizza Dough or bread recipe. This was really our Kindi Bread recipe. (another post, another time)

Placed thick in a greased pan

Toppings:

2 pieces thick ham cubed

2 pieces mozzarella

Sprinkle of Parmesan and olive oil

Bake 375 F for 25 minutes.

This morning at Towner Woods

Fridge Fritters

These get their name from a fantastic fridge cleaning which resulted in an excellent finger food dinner.

 A big bonus: They are gluten free.

Fridge Fritter Recipe:

1/2 cup cooked white rice (leftover)

1/2 cup black beans

1/2 medium onion

1/2 cup cooked broccoli and cauliflower

1/2 cup greens (we used tatsoi and spinach from our garden)

puree first ingredients in a food processor.  I needed to do one at a time in my little Cuisinart.

Then add the following in a large bowl.

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1/4 cup corn flour

2 eggs

Mix well.  Warm griddle with Sunflower oil or olive oil and cook for 3-5 minutes on each side.

We served with Goddess dressing and cucumber salad for a light dinner.

Dresses for Me

In a effort to expand my wardrobe and my reproitire, I am making dresses and tunics from vintage sheets.

Here are a few:

little guy took a picture of me happily sewing.

I saved the elastic from the fitted sheet for the sleeves.
It made for  a very  puffy  sleeve that doesn't fit into my style of throwing a cardigan over!

A Waldorf inspired home in a media entrenched world

In my opinion a Waldorf Inspired Home consists of:
Natural toys
Festivals
a nature table
Sensory experiences: water, sand, warmth
climbing trees
a garden
good nourishing food
pleasant sounds, beautiful music, and a singing mama
Daily rhythm
limited media

All of these come somewhat easy for me, but the last two on the list.
To be blatantly honest I feel I have failed because I allowed media to come into my home and now have a hard time getting it out. So, I have decided I must be very selective.

I remember sitting in one of the first parent meetings for my class of First graders at a Waldorf School.  I told the parents that the ideal was for their children to have no media exposure and listed so many reasons why.  One being that it could impact the development of their pictorial imaging.  More about that in a moment. Well when I said this to 20 parents sitting around me in a circle, one parent practically hooted with laughter, and said, "Well it is too late for that!".  I laughed too as well as the rest, but I wondered why was it so hard.  I did not have television in my home and only occasionally watched a movie or show on my laptop.  Children would rather play right?

Well, then I gave birth to my first son who for his first two years lived in the perfect "Mothering with Mindfulness" bubble.  We sat in the yard, gardened, only did errands when necessary, took long walks in the  pram....
Then when he was 19 months old, our lives changed and my second son was born.  With two, I did my best to shelter the senses from what is not so lovely in the world and give their senses all that blesses the soul.

Then nap time became difficult:
How do you put a 2 year old and a 5 month old down for a nap?
Well, I strapped one to my back and one to my front and walked around the house, to the mailbox, and into the dark bedroom for a 1/2 hour every day. Then gently placed them into their beds for a nice long 1 1/2- 2 hours nap.  I then sat down, ate a baked good with tea or coffee, composed myself, and either did some cooking, sewing, or computer work.  Occasionally, we would make a coffee run for Mama, and the boys would fall asleep on the way home, but the coffee run became exciting with all the interesting construction in our town.

And then, at 2 1/2 my big guy did not nap!!!!!
No nap!!  All day, play, play, play!!  And this meant that by dinner he was in pieces.
So one day I turned on a 1/2 hour of Mr. Rogers while I put his brother down for his nap.
He was much better composed afterwards, I watched his expressions while his brother nursed to sleep on the other side of the room.  He turned and said, "Mama, Mr. Rogers is being funny!", or "Mama, I want to watch how they make bread again."
This turned into his "rest time".  And when he gets it, he can go right back to his play in a more balanced state.  This is also the result if I spend a 1/2 hour reading to him, but I often spend his 30 minutes having my own 1/2 hour.

In light of all that:
Many of my friends say, "You do what you need to!"
Some of my family says, "He should know who Donald Duck is!"

So I go through the days giving him his daily dose of Mr. Rogers, but on the days he wants more or asks for animation, I feel guilty.
This is why:
Rudolf Steiner talks a great deal about the feeling life and the importance of stories on this feeling life.
I have tons of examples about the impact of stories on children, it was the topic of my Master's thesis.
But, also the pictorial imagery of a story effects the mind and the soul. I have tried to explain this many times to loved ones with no avail.  But essentially here it is:  If you show a child a cartoon (Or even a picture book) with a character in it, say a mean rabbit that chases a cat around the yard, the child has a mental image of that rabbit with that mean angry face.  Now we share with the child a story with a rabbit, if the story teller is not very elaborate with the description of the rabbit or it's temperament, the child may see in it's mind that ugly angry rabbit instead of a new picture he created on his own.  I don't know for sure about this, but I do know that I think a great deal of animation is not beautiful or even close to how I would like my child to imagine animals.....
I have watched plenty of images on a screen that stayed with me for a very long time. I have tried to get rid of the image but can not.  It is one of the reasons I can not watch violent movies, the news or those horrible CSI shows.  I don't want those images in my mind.  Some people are not like this.  I know there are people who watch a movie where people are shooting the entire time and they say they are unaffected. Really?

But, our children are very impressionable.  I think we need to be really aware of what we expose them too.
That being said, I watched my 3 1/2 year old's face as he watched an animated thunderstorm on Winnie the Pooh, and as a red snake ate a small turkey on the Nature Channel.   He had a very different experience.  The animated thunderstorm was intense, strange and not like a natural thunderstorm.  He looked frightened.  The snake was a surprise, but natural, and he looked concerned but calm.

So I am very selective of what he may watch.  I prefer no animation.  I see nothing wrong with watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood as long as the time is limited and he still has time for plenty of play.  I also think that an  occasional nature program is an interesting and a nice break and I watch these with him.  If you haven't experienced this, watch the Turkey documentary on the Nature channel. It is the most wonderful nature program I have ever seen.  The footage of animals in Nature is awe inspiring.

There are so many things I am doing for my boys to develop their senses and preserve the joy of childhood.
I must remember this and continue to be selective if they are going to have a "rest time" that includes programming.

Grandma's Fried Mush

Here is my version of Grandma's Fried Mush:

Makes enough for 4 for breakfast.
easy to double if you want more for later.

1 cup cornmeal (I use Breakneck Acres)
1/3 cup lard
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp salt
approx. 4-5 cups warm water.

Bring sugar, lard, salt, and 2 cups water to boil.
Whisk cornmeal with 1 cup warm water to remove lumps.
Add gradually to boiling water on stove.
Return to soft boil then turn heat to medium-low.
Continue to stir and cook adding more water as necessary.
Cook about 20 minutes.  A thin layer should stick to the spoon.
Grease a loaf pan. Pour mush into loaf pan.
Cool until set. I place in the fridge.
If you can do this a day before it will set up more for frying.

Frying:
Put 1-2 tablespoon of lard, butter, or bacon fat on non-stick skillet.
Cut rectangle slices from loaf pan and fry 3-5 minutes per side.

Serving:
Serve warm with a big dollop of butter and maple syrup.

My Mother's Mother

I was just reading an article about mothers and I began to cry.
I thought of my mother who no longer has her mother and my mother's friend who has lost her daughter.

I can't begin to say in words how wonderful, selfless, generous, and loving my mother is.  She is so many things to so many people.  She is a wonderful mother, a thoughtful mother-in-law, a sister, a friend to many, and a doting grandmother.

What else can I give you on Mother's Day but something from my heart...

For my mom on mother's day, (and for your sisters and brothers), I will share with you my special memories of your mother.

My Grandmother and my Aunt Mary

To feel:
My grandma was soft like the grandma's of fairy tales. To clamber into her lap was a climb to the coziest seat to be found.  Her hands were soft too.  All I need to do to remember them is look at my own, and my mothers. Grandma's were a little more plump and a wee bit crooked but I can see them and I can feel them in my mind. Here skin was soft too. Beautiful creamy skin that invited your cheek to linger when we kissed goodbye.
Most of my memories of grandma are of her sitting.  Her hips were not too strong and she would find a seat.  One was at the end of the dock at the lake.  She might sit there wrapped in a thick sweatshirt with a fishing pole in hand or in a bit of sunshine and watch her grandchildren swim off the dock. But here again, I can remember exactly what is was like to sit beside her and hold her soft hand.
She would also sit on the front porch in an old metal glider while we played crochet in the lawn or picked corn in the field.  I can remember the feel of the paint on the glider and the feel of her back as it pressed through the design on the seat back.
Grandma loved cookies, especially the thick soft melt in your mouth buttermilk cookies I continue to make today. Making cookies and pie crust at grandma's counter is a special memory.  We rolled, cut, and pinched with her guiding hands. I can feel the pressed dough that became stuck to the Formica counter. She loved having us with her, beside her, talking with her, and we loved her calm steady presence that I will cherish forever.

Dawn, my twin sister with Grandma

Dannette my big sister with Grandma at her counter

My Treasures:
Grandma gave me my first knitting needles along with one of her knitting bags when I was in college.  She was excited to pass them down to me and it gave me the inspiration to get started on a skill I continue to enjoy.  I remember showing her a pair of felt baby booties I had made before I had children.  She looked at them, then looked at me and said, "Are these for real babies?". It turns out they were too tiny to fit on any baby I have ever met....
She wrote out her Fried Mush and Boiled Mayonnaise Recipe for me. I rarely make the mush, due to the pound of lard and cup of sugar (no wonder her mush was wonderful!), but I am so glad I have them in her handwriting to make. As a matter of fact, I have lard, white sugar, and cornmeal all in my kitchen right now. Today may be the day for fried mush!
There are other things I have of hers, that Grandpa or Mom gave to me after she was gone, but those she gave me herself I hold the most dear.

Tut Tut and Tinkle Tinkle:
My boys ask for stories of when I was a little girl. Here are a few with Grandma:

If you were in trouble with grandma you knew pretty quickly.  The first warning: Her pointer finger would begin to rise and if you continued you would hear, "Tut, Tut" not too loud, but it got our attention.  We knew that if another "Tut, Tut " arose we would be in big trouble.  I never found out.  At least I don't recall finding out.  I don't remember ever getting in trouble, but I do remember hearing "Tut, Tut" enough that it makes me smile to think of it.  Why "Tut, Tut", I have no idea but somehow it works.  When I tell Joel that is what Great Grandma Bell would say, he giggles.

We also giggle over "Tinkle Tinkle":
One day in another desperate attempt to use the potty I told Joel what Grandma would say.
Before we needed to leave to get in the car she would ask, "Do you need to make a tinkle?" I elaborated on this for awhile and Joel sometimes giggles while saying, "Do you hear my tinkle tinkle?"

I remember the last kiss from my grandmother, 3 1/2  years ago when my first born was 10 weeks old. Still soft, lovely, and full of tenderness.

Chicken Coop Remodel

For the chickens we love, Sammy and Soma:

We were given our two chickens, the coop, and the run last fall. I am so grateful that our friends gave us these to get started.  There is nothing like just doing something to see if you can.  The financial investment can be very daunting.  My friends removed this problem and enabled me to see that I can add chicken keeping to my life.  We have been caring for these two girls for 5 months in a stationary pen, while letting them out to roam in the yard when we are out and about.  But roam, chickens do well.  Ours, love to venture over into our neighbor's bird feeding area.  My little herdsmen are very good at chasing them back home or just picking them up and carrying the chickens back where they belong, but it can not continue for good reasons. 1.The disease that could be passed from wild birds. 2. Good Neighborly conduct. 3. If they venture a little further in any direction there are many large dogs just steps behind an invisible fence.

I have been dreaming about this Coop remodel all Winter.

I love to see the beautiful coops in the Williams-Sonoma magazine. I wanted the tin roof from one and the beautiful green paint from another.

http://www.williams-sonoma.com/search/results.html?words=chicken%20coops

I am also an avid repurposer.  I believe that if you have something that works well, but doesn't look so good anymore, it is your responsibility to make it more beautiful and functional  So many things just get tossed after they no longer look new! (Hence, the chair in the yard, great frame but needs a new seat!)

Therefore, we took what we were so graciously given and improved upon it.

loving Sammy

Winter coop

 It was very difficult to give the chickens kitchen scraps and fresh water before.  I had to pull a piece of chicken wire back and then clip down and weight with glass.

Winter run

 We decided to paint one side before Grandma and Grandpa's arrival

 My father saved the wheels and axles from our childhood double stroller. We built a frame for them and placed them on the bottom.

Then I wanted to add more space for a taller roost and more chickens.
We cut three pieces of plywood for the roof expansion and added a window.  We then trimmed the edges of the roof frame to make it smaller and more lightweight.
A new door was cut in the center for the run door.  The old door will be for egg collection by my little helpers.  It is just there size.  Actually a little too perfect because they both crawled into the coop with the chickens when Sammy and Soma went inside to check it out!

 We then reinforced the run, added 2" x 4" welded wire to the bottom, and attached it to the house adding and old screen door as the roof of the run so that I can easily get inside.

 We still have more hardware (hinges and hooks) to add and a little more paint.

Cost:

Tin Roof: $25.00 (+ $14.00 for wire snips to cut roof in half on the floor of Lowes so that I could fit in car)

Green NO VOC paint: $30.00 (This will also be used to paint garden gate, trellis, and cold frame)

nylon rope: $1.00

Scrap Plywood from Dad: Free

4 wheels on axle with frame from Dad: Free

Coop base and run with chicken wire from friends: Free

hardware cloth for window and a piece on run: $12.00 (with a lot leftover for other purposes)

2" x 4" x 10' welded wire fencing: $6.00 (I took 10 ft off the roll before I put up my garden fence)

tie wraps, screws, electrical staples: free from my father's collection of hardware

Total Cost: $88.00

(Williams- Sonoma Coops $1500)