Why God Gave Me a Twin

35 years ago in September my mother went into labor in the evening.
Upon her arrival at the Hospital, they decided to take an x-ray of her belly.  My parents assumed they were having an October boy, or at least that's how the story goes.
When Doctor Gray reported the news to my parents, that there were two babies in her belly, my mother's labor stopped.  The wisdom of the world gave her a little break, a small moment in time to take in the news and adjust.
At some point in the night my twin gave me a few nudges and I was born by late morning, she 3 minutes after.  We used to joke that I did all the work and she was able to just slide out.  Thus was my previous view of things.  I felt like I did so much work and yet in the end did not have what I wanted.  And she seemed to so effortlessly go and get it done.

When I forgot to write down the homework assignment, she always had it.
When we were in a new environment, like summer camp, she made new friends for us effortlessly.
When I was far away seeking my adventures, she grounded me.

I tend to go back in time and long for a time when things seemed simpler and more natural.
She picks up technology with ease and understands all that is new in the world.
Some things still seem to come a little easier for her, and others easier for me.

But now I see it through different eyes: A karmic one, you could say.

We were meant to be together, best of friends, to complement each others journey.
When we create together we succeed.  When we reflect together, we can be sincere.

Then she became a mother, once again, I felt I was not alone.
She understood what I was going through, and understood the small acheivements.
I love her child like my own and she mine.

Thank you God for blessing me with this beautiful woman who has guided, shaped, helped me to reflect, and loved me always.

 I love you Dawn!
Thank you for being you!

For your birthday: 
A tunic for you!

Good Night my Little Ones

Our bedtime routine has changed a few times in 4 years.  Beds and rooms have changed, our family expanded, nursing stopped and sometimes Papa takes over.
The things we keep consistent are the songs and verses.
They are a sweet transition into sleep.
Often, on a day that was too full or an evening a little off track, I find myself singing the songs several times.  But each time I sing them I hear a yawn and a calmness come to their hearts.

My favorite Lullaby:
Good night my little ones,
May you sleep with the sun,
And arise in the morning light,
With your hearts warm and bright.

to a tune I created.

Recently, My little guys decided they wanted to sleep in the same room.  They begged me to bring the toddler bed up from basement so little brother could sleep in big brothers room.  They were both so thrilled they "went to bed" after dinner, to pretend sleep in their new setting.  I could not believe it. That night they both slept happily in the same room for most of the night!

We read 2-3 books, say good night to our little friends (Pendy Bear, Dolls, and a Dog), tuck them in, tuck boys in, then say verse, sing songs, and I usually rub one back with my right hand and two feet with my left until quiet sleep drifts over them.

Last night, Big brother had things on his mind.  He needed to share some important things.  He had a plan for fishing and a fishing spot he needed to try.  I tried to encourage his imagination without promising to go fishing tomorrow. He also told me a change in his imaginary friend.  Anka Danka has been a part of his play for 2 years.  She is who he calls on the phone, who he plans adventures with, and who's house he dreams about when he needs to dream a bit or travel a bit in a pretend car.
He said," Anka Danka has died Mama,"
I said, "Oh sweetie, I am so sorry to hear. What happened?"
He said," She got a snake bite and died. I am sad about that".
I said," Yes, that is sad, I will say a prayer for her."
He said, "Yes, and I am going to pretend I have a new friend now. His name is Sandy- Dandy".
And then the conversation was finished. His wheels were still turning, but we were finished discussing it. He had a whole new friend to imagine and I did not want to influence it.

I then sung lullabies once again...

Later as I sat knitting I realized I needed to leave space for reflection.
We all need to reflect at the end of the day.  It is one of the reasons I write this blog.  We often review the day, but to reflect is altogether different.

This evening, I made room for reflection and somewhere it went haywire.
The boys were contemplating God!
First day of intentional reflection and they pick a doozy.
Little brother said, "What is God?" "Is he an animal?", "Is he a cloud?"
Big brother said, "No silly!  He is a human being!"
Then they giggled and continued the discussion a bit, completely stalling sleep.
Eventually they needed separated to calm down.

I am asking my angels tonight to help me with this one...
Past midnight tonight, I'll contemplate tomorrow...

Under the Oaks

Under the Oaks

Garden Playschool

by Andrea Zeno

zenoandrea@yahoo.com

Under the Oak Offerings:

Woodworking and Sculpting Blocks:

Starting soon: 3 week blocks for age 3-5.

$10 per child for block.

They will go home at end of block with a finished project.

3:30 to 5 pm weekday to be announced.

 

Nursery Child Care / Playschool: age 2-5

class size: up to 6 children

 T, F 9:00-12 with snack and lunch $25/day

aftercare 12:30-3:00 $15.

Parent Child Nursery Group:

1^st Monday of the month

Free- 9:30- 11:30 age 1-5

Daily Rhythms:

Nursery Play Group and Child Care

wash hands 

morning activity (baking, craft,painting)

play

circle

snack

outside

story 

lunch

goodbye

Aftercare:

story and rest

snack

outside play

Homemade Shampoo

Oh Shampoo, silly shampoo.
Something we use so frequently and yet think so little of.
Well my husband and I have been thinking about it a lot lately. 
We can't seem to find one that we like, that smells good, that we would like to smell like, and that is less than $8.00 a bottle.  Really why is good smelling shampoo so expensive?

I decided to try and make some, scent it the way I like, and see how is works.
I spent some time at the Co-op to see if I could buy a small amount of Jojoba oil and Aloe Vera. The smallest bottles were $5.00-$8.00. Still in the experimental stage, I wasn't willing to pay what I would for a bottle of shampoo, yet.

And sometimes the universe sends me a sign:
That evening I pulled a 400 degree pan from the oven and pulled it back in a way that singed my bicep.  I remembered my unattended Aloe plant.  It was happily growing in front of the sunny basement window. I pulled off one leaf to treat my burn and noticed the size of the plant.  Why buy aloe when my plant is big enough to extract some. About 3 large leaves gave me 2 tablespoons of aloe.

Recipe:
2oz castile soap (half lavender half peppermint scented)
2 tbs Aloe Vera
1 tsp olive oil
10 drops essential oil (I used Pillow Talk)
6 oz boiled and cooled to warm water

Combine and add to a previously used pump bottle.

As I shampooed my hair the first time, my husband opened the door and said "What is that, that smells so good?" "Oh, just the shampoo I made" was my answer.

Hamburger for 3 meals

First evening: Burritos
I sauteed one onion and then placed in a glass container.
Then I browned one pound of grass fed ground chuck. adding salt and pepper.
I took 2/3 of the meat out of the pan and put it to one side of the glass container and removed half of the onions to put back in the pan.
In short 1/2 of onions and 1/3 of the hamburger in skillet. half onion and 2/3 hamburger in the glass lidded container to refrigerate.

I then made a 1/2 cup of quinoa in a separate pan.
I added paprika, cumin, 1 tbls. of ketchup, and a tbls of water to the meat and let it cook on low while quinoa cooked (15 minutes).
I then added the quinoa to the meat and assembled burritos with cheese (lettuce and tomato for mama and papa).

Second Evening Dinner:  Sheperd's Pie:
Filling:
2tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon flour
1/2 cup water
1/4 to 1/2 cup milk
Salt and Pepper
1/3 lb. cooked hamburger
1/2 cup green beans, 1small potato cubed and 1/2 cup carrots, 1/2 cup peas cooked

Topping:
1 sweet potato
2 turnips
3 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup plain yogurt
S&P

1. Boil cubed sweet potatoes and turnips for 15 minutes.
2. Remove with a slotted spoon to reuse water for veggies, or in another pan boil potatoes and carrots for 12 minutes then add green beans and peas for 3 minutes.  Strain.
3. Make white sauce: melt butter in pan.  Add flour and whisk with butter until smooth. Slowly add water then milk until thickens.  Add more water or milk for right consistency to coat filling.  Add hamburger and veggies. Mix. Place in a deep dish pie pan.
4. With a hand mixer mix up topping and whip.  Then add to top of Filling.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-35 minutes, until hot all the way through.

Lunch the next day:  Hamburger Quesadillas

A little bit of hamburger left.
Add some S&P. ketchup, cumin.
Tortilla and grated sharp cheddar.
Serve with avocado.