Doing

Over the course of this month I have seen several bloggers picking out a word by which to guide their lives for the coming year. I had never heard of this practice, but some folks were retiring last year's word which means that it's a tradition that is at least a year old (and probably longer). :p

I didn't sit down right then and there to figure out what my word would be, or even if I would have a word. But in the past few days I have felt a grasping at something, a need to identify an underlying course. And it clicked, just now, with the word "doing".

I am very good at dreaming. And with a little baby and a toddler it is difficult to really get involved in anything for any meaningful length of time, or make any progress, or get anything done that isn't immediately undone. And so I have been dreaming. Daydreaming. Novel dreaming. Planning dreaming. Pinterest dreaming. Even very necessary restructuring-my-own-ideals dreaming.

But all of that is invisible to little children. And it is worse than meaningless because it takes me away from them and into my own head. And when I see B being a gardener, or a worker or a "cooker" I see what does have meaning for them: "doing".

So, my word for this year is "doing". Not necessarily "accomplishing". Or "finishing". But "doing".

This Moment

{this moment} inspired by soulemama - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. 

Snow Day

Outside.....

........and in.

Ps. The mittens worked well yesterday!  My mitten was equivalent to my polyester lined leather glove, and B's hands stayed relatively warm even though his mittens got snowy and wet. Win!

Mittens!

I worked with children for many years in a school that seriously values outdoor time and we always struggled with gloves and mittens. Mittens that were warm were completely constricting, and impeded all motion and use of a child's hand. Mittens that would actually allow movement provided no warmth at all. And we would spend all our time putting mittens back on, and collecting them around the yard when they were discarded so that a child could actually do something. 

Now, having children of my own, I have been thrown back into the dilemma. Living in the Mid-Atlantic region we can kind of get away with not having proper outdoor gear (especially if you are a homebody. Ahem.) But this year we have been put to the test. With days in the low 20's, an active little boy, and a regular outdoor playgroup, I have been forced to seek out real winter gear. But the solution to useful gloves/mittens completely eluded me.

Luckily, I was a bit obsessed with "Nordic Christmas" Pinterest boards this holiday season. It dawned on me that the reason Nordic peoples developed such beautiful, multi-colored knitting is because you can achieve an extremely tight, double yarn woolen fabric that is both warm and flexible, and not too thick.

Well, I had to try, didn't I?

I have made three mittens so far. The first was intended to be for B, but it grew, of its own accord, until it fit me. I have gloves that I like, so I didn't make a second one yet. I moved right on.

 

The next two are actually really nice with only a few glitches here and there. And they actually ended up being the same size! I have to measure the thumb size when B gets up from his nap, but the goal is to try them out tomorrow in real winter temps.

And then, because I never posted a finished picture here although they showed up in many of my photos, here are the mitts I made last winter!

17 Months!?

Apparently, when the going gets tough, the tough get going I pull my head in like a turtle and try to hide (what feel like) my failings from the world. It has been a long 17 month. Not all of it bad by any means, but much of it hard. And I simply have not known how to talk about it. To myself or anyone else. Perhaps bits and pieces of the last year and a half will make their way into this space. Perhaps not. But I have once again found myself wanting to record our days and share them with anyone who happens by.

First and foremost, I will introduce my dear, sweet "M":

Born in March 2013, she is now going on ten months old and is trying her hardest to do everything B can do.

We had a lovely Christmas up in the north with family, and it is now time, once again, to strive for rhythm and meaningful work.

Happy New Year!

This Moment

{this moment} inspired by soulemama - a Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.