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.

{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. 

(Photo by Martin)

Rhythm

I have been thinking a lot about rhythm. When this summer started it lay wide open before us, and I was excited to get out with my curious and newly mobile little fellow, and do things. We have been very successful so far, from visits with grandparents, to multiple trips to our outdoor children's theater, to camping, to the Brickfair, to visiting friends.

But on a down day after a particularly busy weekend, I realized that not only did I not know when B's nap time was, but he didn't know any more. We struggled for a few days, tuning in again to what it means to be tired, and what to do about that (sleep!). And there were moments when I was wondering, should I have struggled against the breezy freedom of this season's nature? Should I have stuck more rigidly to a schedule?

I very much believe that rhythm fosters health, especially for little ones. And when I usually think about "rhythm", especially for little ones, I think about the daily rhythm, and sometimes the weekly rhythm. But I think what we've been experiencing is a surprising and yet very natural tension between the many different rhythms of our world. Because what we've been experiencing is the rhythm of the seasons.

Summertime has a very well known and breathlessly anticipated nature. There is a relaxing that comes with Summertime; school is out, schedules are eased, bedtimes are later, mealtimes are less formal, foods are sweeter. So, while I could have developed a schedule for the summer, marking out times for every activity and every moment of rest, I think, following that schedule, we would have missed the summer. We would not have known the summer's true nature and it would have passed us by.

That being said, the daily and weekly rhythms still exist, and they must be attended to.The trick I think, is to find the balance between the daily, weekly, yearly rhythms. Or maybe it is to learn to understand how the yearly rhythms color the other rhythms of our life. We are still working on that.

I have found myself thinking forward to the structure and steadiness of "when school starts". It dawned on me that no one in this household actually goes to school any more (how long has it been? 30 years? : p ). But it really seems to me that seasons have characters unto themselves, and I fully expect that when the days grow short enough and the air cools, I will find myself falling into step and slowing down. I am excited to see how the Autumn colors our daily rhythms. But we have a few more weeks of airy Summertime left!

{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. 
 

Sewing For My Boy

My hands have been busy these past few week with little projects for my boy. There are moments when an idea pops into my head and I think, "what child doesn't need one of those!?" They are all simple little household things. B doesn't really understand how to use them yet, at least the way I was imagining them being used. But he does like playing around with them.

The first is a little satchel that I made to be used for collecting treasures while we are out for a walk. I realized that pockets are difficult for toddler hands, and so I made this little pouch instead. The aspect I really like is that the fabric is quilted so it is very stiff. The stiffness keeps the pouch open even when it is resting against B's side. That way, he can just drop things in without fiddling with the opening. The little doll is from Under the Nile.

Then, B's love of our stroller prompted me to search out one in his size. I tried two different Targets before finding this one at the thrift store. The original seat was torn and stained, so I cut it up to make a pattern for this new, less pink seat. I love this fabric! I got it several years ago when I worked at a fabric shop, and have been saving it for, what, 12 years? And this was the perfect project for it!

B loves pushing around our big stroller. That's why I got the little one, for him to push. The thing is, now all he wants to do is sit in the little stroller! : )

Lastly, B has gotten very good at noticing when things are hot ("Ha! Ha!"), and very interested in our pot holders. I thought he could use a pair of his own.

 Sometimes they end up in the soup. Ah, well. : )