Little obsessions

I am beginning to see a pattern in my life and can not decide if it is a good trait to keep.
The pattern, my obsessions consume me until I have fully lived, breathed, eaten, and experienced this new treasure. This may take one week or one year, but I truly love to fully experience a season's bounty and a new food.

Four weeks ago: It was strawberries.  I needed to find the best place to pick them, pick as many as I could, and make as many strawberry dishes as time allowed. The rest went into the freezer.

Strawberry Muffins

Mixed Berry Gallette

Three weeks ago: I was anxiously awaiting the Elderberry bush in my front yard to bloom: When I saw the roadside bushes in bloom I created strategies of how to pick them, but each time it was highly inconvenient or on a path covered with poison ivy.  And yet, when my bush finally bloomed, there was plenty to pick and leave some for berries.  I picked twelve heads and made a double batch of Elderberry fizz that sat on the counter for its time to "fizz" for two weeks.  I have enjoyed sipping the lovely aroma and shared some with friends.  Recipe in another post soon.

Two weeks ago: Fermentation.  I have an array of fermenting beverages on the counter and lacto-fermented vegetables in the fridge with plans to make more.
The jars with white flowers are filled with the Elderflower fizz, then water kefir and Kombucha.




 

Lacto fermented Scapes, ginger carrots, and Kimchi.

 This week:

I am anxiously awaiting the growth of my garden cucumbers to pickle them!

Nurtured by wool

I had the opportunity to go to the Kent Farmer's Market as an artist and sell my wares this past weekend.
It was wonderful to talk with people in the community and to hear praise of my creations.

I also made great new connections and had many meaningful conversations.
Following is one connection that became a true treat:
We were invited by a sheep farmer and his wife, to their farm to feed a lamb its 3 pm bottle.
Our new friend remembered my boys when he was selling his wool the weeks before at the market.
He said, "They were so interested in the wool",  I said, "Yes, I could give them a basket of wool and they are happy to play with it for some time".  I can talk about my love of wool and theirs for some time and we did.  After perusing the market they came back and asked if I would like to bring the boys to the farm to feed the lamb.  I said, "Yes, Please!"
The offer turned into a lovely visit, where we fed the lamb, gathered eggs, looked for the cats, and conversed over refreshments with new friends.

I also had a conversation with a friend at the market that made me ponder some things.
We were talking about how we change and try new things with each child. Such as cloth diapering, baby wearing, nursing longer...
There was a 7 day old baby at the market, without a hat or socks, her tiny feet were sticking out of a carrier. I wanted to grab a blanket, swaddle the baby and place her back in
Later, I was thinking of how well we did in the beginning of our boys life, but as the boys get older, I tend to let go of some of my original intentions. I observed that most people go into parenting with less information on how to nurture a newborn but slowly come to the nurturing aspects of childhood.  Sometimes due to guilt, I wish I was ignorant to the importance of nurturing and protecting the senses.

I began parenthood with strict ideals.
Always wear a hat, even in summer.
Keep them warm and wrapped in wool.
Protect the senses, and enrich them
Breast milk is best.
Keep them close.
Plenty of sleep
Natural fibers on skin
Natural toys for play
No media

When my second son came around I let in disposable diapers, limited media for my eldest, and occasional plastic toys.
I may have kept them sheltered a little too long.  Playing with others was difficult at first.
We are working on this now with playgroups and outings.

But lately, several people have told me my boys are unique.
They are inquisitive, talkative, and engaged.
They say Please and Thank you unprompted, and ask interesting questions that adults enjoy answering.
They are beautiful, Healthy, innocent, and intelligent.
This reminds me of how important the job of nurturing is and to continue to protect their senses while presenting them with natural sensory experiences like feeding a lamb and playing with wool.

I slowly take back the landscape

I remember looking at the landscaping of this house before we bought it.  It was fall. The trees were beautiful.  The landscape all around the house was a mess.  My husband and I looked at each other and said, "We can handle that!"

Then Spring came and we had a beautiful display of lily of the valley, wild violets and crocuses.  Everything else was grass, invasive perennials, over grown shrubs, and creeping charlie.

Little projects at a time over 3 years, and I finally feel like we are taking back the landscape.

Our Front bed: Great sun exposure, poor soil, and invasive plants.  Finally some pretty plants survive.

This plant invaded the entire front bed. So much that there was no soil left.  We put down cardboard and mulch and I pulled and pulled.  I actually used Round-up for the one and only time in my life on this stuff.

This is the same invasive plant that I moved to an outer bed, which it has engulfed and  tries to creep into the lawn.

My well-loved Elderberry Bush that I planted as a 24" stick 3 years ago.

Last years vegetable beds = This years flower beds
Creeping Charlie threatens the edges

Some zucchini in a rare sunny spot

wildflowers where once there was a forsythia monstrosity

Last years summer and fall project- Take down the Forsythia Monstrosity.
Little bushes arose this year, but still need some cutting back.

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!