Beautiful Words

I have a friend who is a talented musician with a beautiful singing voice. I put her demo CD in our car a few weeks ago and we have listened to her songs on journeys here and there.  My boys starting asking what she looks like.
Does she have chubby cheeks?
Is her skin dark or light?
How old is she?
I relayed their questions to the musician and joked that maybe my boys have an image of Billy Holiday in their minds.  I think this was a compliment to the musical artist who is a young beautiful light skinned woman with a deep heart.
I'd like to surmise that the beauty and inquisition she has for life is reflected in her music and this is the energy we pick up on.  Children are so perceptive...

And then I started to think about words.
Positive words to write in a Valentine.  Beautiful words to inspire my space.
I wrote some down. I framed some.
It felt good.

Live, Laugh, Love

I need a lot of positive reminders. You can ask any of my family members. I can slide off the cliff pretty quickly to the realm of doom. Start me talking about modern day agriculture or education and you might think doomsday is near.  This is all the more reason I need to create reminders of beauty and love.

Many days my mind is filled with a list of things to accomplish.  Sometimes I notice my boys have been playing together for most of it only hearing my words when I need to be mediator. 

I must remind myself to take time for these two little people in my life.  To speak or sing to them with love, positivity, and to help transform our energy.

Positivity is so important and sometimes so hard to maintain.
Everyone wants to be in a positive space. Everyone wants to be loved unconditionally.

I am reminded of the work of Masaru Emoto.  He published the pictures of his work with water crystals.  He has frozen and observed water crystals from all over the world under a range of conditions.  He has taken "ugly water", said a prayer, and transformed it.

He recorded the effects of single words like: Love, Peace, Beautiful, Evil and the effects are seen in the frozen water crystal.  To see more check out the website.

http://www.masaru-emoto.net/english/water-crystal.html

Considering that our bodies are made up of mostly water we could surmise that we create beauty within, when we speak, write, and sing, kind words to each other.

It is amazing to me to see the effects of just one word.  Some of my favorite words are displayed around my house to remind me to say them to myself and to others.  It is so easy to do, but so underdone.

Feel free to use these ideas.  Copy the words, if you wish.  Display, say, and give them to your loved ones and friends. Share them, because we, the people and children of the world, continually need positive energy around and within us... 

I wrote this as a reminder to share with my little family.

Making bath bursts

A great Gift:

Recipe:

1/2 cup Citric Acid (I have found the best price at Mustard Seed in bulk)

1/2 cup Baking Soda

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/4 cup oil (almond, Castor, or olive)

6-12 drops essential oil. (my favorites are lavender and sweet orange)

1. Add dry ingredients. Mix.

2. Add oil and essential oil. Mix until you have a dough. Add food coloring if you wish.

3. Press into silicone molds. Dry over night.

4. Take out of molds carefully and store in an open container until ready to use.

Then fill bath and equally distribute to little ones.

Warning: 

Store out of bathroom.  Your children will love them so much that they will want to use all of them in one luxurious bath.

Valentine Immunity Lollipops

My first born did not have much sugar until he was three years old. And then I desperately needed to potty train and introduced M&M's.  Our pediatrician gave the boys their first lollipop, a dum dum at age 4 and 2. I have been trying to create a healthy replacement without artificial colors and flavors for 2 years. I am finally happy with the results.

Lessons I've learned from many batches:

*Use a wooden spoon

*Let the temperature rise gradually.  I tried making candy and lollipops without a candy thermometer and I burnt the batches each time. You can buy a candy thermometer for $2.00-$5.00 at most grocery stores.

* Take off of the heat right before candy thermomoter reaches 302 degrees. If it goes past 302 you will have a slightly burnt taste and they will easily crack.

* Molding is made easy with powdered sugar molds.  Use any flat shape and press it into the powdered sugar.  You will have a dusting of powdered sugar on your lollipops, but I think it is pretty.

* Sugar or Honey are essential to lollipops. I've tried to cook down Elderberry syrup, but too much makes a burnt fruit taste.

*I like to think that I am adding vitamin C and some of the benefits of Elderberry in the lollipops, but really there is only a minute amount of immunity without the essential oil.

*Pomegranite juice made a light orange lollipop, adding Elderberry to the pomegranite made pretty red hearts. Cherry juice alone makes a dark Cabernet.

Valentine Immunity Drops
Recipe:

3/4 cup white sugar
1 tbs. local honey
2 tbs. pomegranite juice, elderberry syrup, or cherry juice ( any combination for desired color)
3 drops Onguard essential oil (Doterra's immunity builder), optional

Combine all ingredients, except essential oil, in a heavy bottomed pot.

Stir constantly with a wooden spoon while watching thermometer.

Turn off heat at 300F. Add Onguard essential oil(optional). Stir. With wide spoon, fill molds. Work quickly.

One recipe makes about 15 lollipops.  I often make 8 lollipops and fill my ravioli maker (sprayed with coconut oil) with the rest for little lozenges.

Let cool at room temperature, if you have little people tripping over you to get one, place in freezer for 10 minutes.

Soak pan and utensils in hot soapy water. Wait until thermometer has cooled a bit before adding to soapy water or you may cause undue stress to the glass.

Enjoy lollipops made by you.

Montgomery in the Midst

Montgomery Day 3

The relationship line right under my pinky

About 15 years ago in New Hampshire my twin sister and I had a hand reading done by a friend.

She was excited to see the differences and similarities in the hands of twin sisters.

In a reading they often look at one hand, what you come into the world with, and another, what destiny you have created....

All of that is a bit foggy in my mind, but what is still crystal clear to both my twin sister and I is this: We each have a strong relationship line with two marks through the line and two marks that did not touch the same relationship line. The reader surmised that we may each have two children in our immediate family and that the two floating may be our twin sisters children.

As of January 24, 2015, the prophecy is complete. Montgomery William was born and he made the fourth line.  We each have two children with our husbands plus two more children that we love as our own.

As a labor support person I am used to meeting the laboring couple at the hospital and offer emotional and physical support through labor and delivery.

With my sister's labor I arrived 2 days before to be near her. Our 3 older children were two hours away in the loving hands of their grandparents (our parents). They experienced a pig barn filled with 500 piglets and rode their trikes in grandpa's basement for hours.

My sister and I did lovely things together that are nearly impossible with three little people in tow.  We went out to a slow dinner, with a tasting tray and courses, we cleaned and displayed heirloom china, and wandered through Michael's and Target choosing stickers and treats for our little valentines.

While walking the isles of Target my sisters breathing changed. We both knew it was time to go home and relax.  She turned on a chick flick and I made dinner for us and one for the freezer.  We relaxed, I stitched on the couch beside her, then retired to bed early, thinking we might be awoken in the night.

Labor:

I was awoken at 6 am Saturday morning.  She was pretty sure we would be going in soon.  We timed contractions, talked a lot about their intensity, and at about 9 am went to the hospital.

We were sent away after little progress. A little adventure followed, complete with a large meal in the hospital cafeteria, numb arms from carrying packed bags through many hallways, and several discussions of what we should do. We stayed close in case things progressed.  They did not, so we went home where everyone would be more comfortable.  We napped, chatted, repacked the hospital bag, stitched, and as evening came, labor resumed full force.  When my sisters sounds became guttural, we loaded into the car again.  This time arriving at the hospital within 1 1/2 hours of Montgomery's birth.

It was easy supporting my sister through labor.  We can communicate sometimes without words. I massaged the muscles that were aching, applied oils, and stepped away when she needed space.

Once labor was steady she had a quick, beautiful, unmedicated birth.

Mama and Baby

Labor support comes easy to me. I love doing it.

What I was not prepared for was the extreme emotion pouring from my heart and eyes when this little lad was born.

He was blue, the cord was wrapped once around his neck and intertwining around his body. He took his good old time to cry.

This is usually when a tear slips down my cheek and I hold the mother's hand while the father watches them weigh and assess the baby.

For little Montgomery I followed him, glancing over at my sister long enough to see if she was alright. She was in the care of the most gentle OB I have ever met.  My eyes were instantly back to my nephew. His Daddy and I were in an emotional trance.  The little guy was grunting instead of crying and they were pounding on his back and intentionally aggravating him to get the mucous out of him. His Oxygen and sugar levels were low. He overcame both and was finally placed back on his Mama's chest. The rosy color came to his skin, robust nursing was pursued, and peace came back into my heart.

I breathed again, deep lovely breaths filled with emotions.

Auntie Andrea with  Baby Montgomery

My sister was amazing.  After a very long labor, and an incredibly quick delivery, her body was in great shape for her recovery.

When the adrenaline wore off, I crashed on a cot close by. I awoke in the early hours to fall in love with my little nephew again. As I rocked him and gazed at his peaceful presence, I thought of how much I love this child. His big sister is dear to my heart. She can turn me to gush with a few words and test my patience just like my boys.  These two, my niece and nephew, will always be loved by me. I will treat them similar to my own.  My two boys will be blessed and loved by my sister in the same manner. 
It is imprinted on our hands.

We waited in Kentucky for Montgomery to come home from the hospital.  My boys were excited to meet their new cousin.  Joel and Aria have loved each other since their first meeting.  Henri is often the third wheel in their duo. We so hoped for Henri to have the same type of cousin bond. 

As soon as Montgomery was taken out of his car seat, my little guy Henri was on the couch ready to hold him and love him.  When Montgomery was placed in his arms, Henri said, " Hi buddy. Are you going to be my little friend?" Montgomery was peaceful and looked up at him and the bond of cousins began.

Henri and Montgomery

These two have loved each other since their first meeting

Cousins

What Andrea Creates

Hi. I'm Andrea, a mother, a wife, an educator, a maker, a gardener, and a birth support person.

My family enjoys discovering our local landscape and devouring delicious local food. I often cook and bake with alternative ingredients. 

I write about local experiences and recipe revelations on my blog.

I also create clothes, dolls, and wool animals that encourage imaginative play. I will be including some simple patterns here on my blog.

My background is in Horticulture, Waldorf Education (a type of education that's goal is to educate the whole child, head, heart and hands) Gardening, and Storytelling.

I have created and worked in a series of gardens over the country and many in my own back yard.

I enjoy incorporating my Waldorf training and teaching experience, my love of gardening, sewing, and baking, and my love for my children into our days.

Engaging children in meaningful activities can be rewarding and challenging. I like to share ideas that are enriching.

I would love for you to come along on our journey.

I write this blog for the same reason I create art, soft sculptures, and food. It enriches me. Doing something for myself is very important.  It is easy as a parent to go through the day's tasks of work obligations, feeding, transporting, and caring for others, without spending time for you.  When I create, be it a little knit chicken, a large crocheted rug, a blog post, or a simple lemon curd, good energy is created for myself.

Just the other morning I awoke early.  The house was quiet. I tiptoed over the creaky spot in the hall. I delicately reached for my coffee supplies to brew a pot undetected. After updating a few things, checking the weather, renewing an etsy listing, and peeking briefly at a favorite blog, the house remained quiet.

I looked below my desk.  There was a basket of items that did not sell at the Holiday Craft shows.  I intended to photograph them once the sunshine came in the window.  I picked up a kit of a rug hooked heart, found the right size embroidery hoop, and spent a half hour making a sweet little wool heart.

My boys awoke as I was pulling the last loops through to the surface.  I was happy, having created a little piece by myself in the early hours, alone.  I was able to greet my children, to be present with them, my time alone was done, but complete.

Doing things for myself helps me to be more present with others.

This is a little piece of who I am, why I continue to create whenever possible, and the juggle that must exist to do so.  

Thank you Dear Readers for coming along.

I welcome your comments, suggestions, and insight on this voyage.

Andrea's Education:

Associate degree in Horticulture.

BA in Education. Her Bachelor's thesis was titled “A Waldorf Garden Curriculum”.

M. Ed. in Waldorf Education.

Her Master's thesis was titled, “The Benefits of Teaching Mythology”.

Andrea has worked in two different Waldorf Schools, in gardens over the US, England and in her own backyard. She has no culinary training, but loves reading cookbooks and making nourishing home cooked food for her family.

I stole their bath.

Sometimes my husband needs to travel. We get into a bit of a different rhythm. Just a 3 year old, 5 year old, and their Mama. The transition to evening is a little different...

Tonight after dinner I set up a story silk with the Three Billy Goats Gruff.  They know the story well and asked to help act it out. They were the Billy goats. I was the troll. After the story they wanted to continue creating their own stories. We made their wood castle into a puppet theater and they created stories for some time.

I was able to pull them away  for a bedtime snack of applesauce and yogurt, but then they went right back to their play. I drew a bath and their play turned into a child going to school and saying goodbye to his mother. They traveled through bedroom doors sending each other off to school.
I said: "Your bath is ready! Please come to the back bath."
I was practically ignored.  The dialogue continued of sweet play between brothers (not always the case).

I remembered a post on Face book earlier by Elizabeth Gilbert. This quote was on her feed:

"and I said to my body, softly. 'I want to be your friend.' it took a long breath and replied, 'I have been waiting my whole life for this'" - Nyyirah Waheed

And as methodically as a wave crashes on the shore, I stole their bath!
I sunk into the water and let my whole body relax. I was kind to my body, to my friend.
About the time I choose to add steaming water to my bath I heard the blind go up and little guy exclaim,
"Good morning son! It is time to get ready for school".
Knowing my neighbors often take a nightly constitution directly out our bedroom window, I asked the boys to please close the bathroom door so I could get out of the bath.
The door was closed. My soak, my treat done.
I closed the blinds in my towel, put on my pjs and washed little boys faces and hands before crawling into bed.
They got ready quickly, because a new book from our favorite author was in my hands.

My Big Sister

There is no better friend than a sister.

My big sister and I have not always seen eye to eye.
It may have started at birth and been exacerbated when I shipped her things to the attic the moment she left for college to reside in my own room. It would be safe to say we spent some time stirring the pot.
My big sis said something very wise to me awhile back.
She said, "Andrea once I figured out that your going to do your thing and I'm going to do mine it was much easier just to accept each other for who we are". Or something to that effect.

Acceptance: Accepting who we are and accepting others. This may be the greatest task of siblings. The task of telling us when we are crass, full of ourselves, or when we need to take a risk.

A sibling can be your biggest cheerleader and your toughest critic at the same time.

My big sister has a unique power over me.
A simple joke from her lips can bring me to tears, as can a thoughtful gesture.

I care for her so fiercely that for a long time I hurt her by trying to change her point of view. I don't even remember about what we cared so much about. But that is not the point. The point is we were meant to be together on this path. Blessing each others journey.

Recently our childhood friends lost their sibling too young. The heartache reminds me not to take our time together for granted. I hold my sister longer when I see her and try to find time to check in with her more. Because she is a blessing.

My big sister has a big heart.
She loves fiercely. She reminds me so much of our stubborn grandmother at times.
Someone who will defend you no matter what and not care a spec of what others think.
She would also break through walls to protect an animal in need.
She is precise, on time, and meticulous about plans (something I am not).
She is a good friend to so many.

Thank you Dannette for being you!
Thank you for being a big sister to Dawn and I and all that it entails.

On your birthday, I wish you JOY!
Joy in your heart, in your space, in your understanding.
Blessings on your year!