Progressive Pioneer

Book Review: The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth

For understandable reasons, pregnancy and birth have been on my mind lately.  Somehow it seems like when you're pregnant, the whole world is pregnant; preggie ladies just come out of the woodwork!  At playgroup yesterday much of the conversation revolved around pregnancy and birth stories, most of them less than delightful.  The thing that strikes me about so many women's stories is the trust they put in one paradigm and how control of their birth quickly slips out their hands leaving them feeling powerless, frustrated and often wishing their birth had been somehow different.  I feel so defensive of these woman, upset that they didn't get the birth that they had hoped for, and sad that their trust was somehow violated.  And I get frustrated with a system that works great for emergencies, but more often than not ends up intervening when mother nature and the birthing woman should simply be allowed to do their thing. 

I think the answer lies in educating ourselves.  When a profit stands to be made from unnecessary interventions (keep in mind that I'm not talking about necessary interventions here!), we will be hard pressed to find advocates within the medical model for natural births.  However, by learning what constitutes a normal birth and safe, normal birthing conditions we can arm ourselves with the knowledge necessary to have the sort of birth we want!

I love this book because it gives you every angle, every argument for the various ways there are to birth.  It puts all the information at your fingertips and puts you in the driver's seat.  You can decide for yourself if a certain risk is high enough to warrant the inherent risks of interventions and treatments that some claim are necessary.  You get to make the choice because you are educated and it is, after all, your birth and your body.  I love feeling empowered and I love seeing other women empowered by knowledge; it's so exciting and liberating!  The Thinking Woman's Guide is just the book to help women calmly make decisions that are best for themselves and their babies.  And this is no hippie tome ignorant of current medical trends; it's got all the latest information on medical procedures, what they're about, why you might need them etc.  It looks objectively at both sides of the coin and gives you the information you needs to make the best choice for you.  I love it!

We're a Contributing House!

Last night we went to a town meeting of sorts.  I love town meetings!  We used to go to them when we lived in our tiny town in Maine and I always felt such a part of something, so included and optimistic.  I love gathering with my neighbors to discuss and make my voice heard, even if the only statement I make is merely by being present.  And often just being a warm body in a seat is plenty of statement, expressing solidarity, camaraderie and engagement. 
So, yesterday we got a flier on our door stating that there would be a Historic Preservation Open House the next night.  Our neighborhood was being considered for listing on the National Register of Historic Places!  Maybe I'm just a geek, but I think that's so exciting.  At the meeting we discovered that while a whole area could be designated, certain buildings would be listed as "contributing buildings," meaning you add to the historic significance rather than detract.  I was holding my breath until we could look at the map and see if we were one!  And we were!  I felt like I'd won a prize, like I should get some sort of present or something.  It was all very exciting. 
The funny thing is, being from New England, houses that are under 100 years old (ours is only 85) just seem like baby houses to me, practically new developments!  So, it's funny to see our little brick bungalow called "historic."  But they gave a great lecture about the development of the area and how the public transportation system, the war, and various periods and styles of development all affected it.  Even styles that don't look like much to me, like those plain, postwar ones or even ours, are still significant because of the time period and zeitgeist they represent.  All in all it was a fun evening, enjoyable to mingle with our neighbors (we saw plenty of friendly faces), learn about the history of our neighborhood and just to feel a part of something bigger than ourselves.  

PS We've recently been on an architecture kick.  If you're local, these tours are perfect for a lazy Sunday afternoon.  And if not, I bet you have a local historical society too, just waiting to be explored!

PPS These photos in no way represent our district, these were just so much more charming:)  Perhaps in another 85 years our neighborhood will elicit the same feelings as these do.  Photos from here and here.

MamaViews: Me!

The lovely girls over at Bloom interviewed me today and I thought I would share it for this week's MamaView:) 
You can read my thoughts on simplicty here, and definitely take a minute to explore the rest of their site; it's a wonderful spot to visit.

Something Growing on My Counter...

Seeds are amazing!  A little soil, water and light and that's all they need.  No complaining, they just push up through that soil, optimistically green and delightfully tasty.  The roquette from the seeds we saved last summer was the first to arrive in bright green rows.  The spinach and Swiss chard followed with their deep red stalks, just mere wisps at this point. 

I couldn't resist a little nibble of the roquette, my favorite.  And it didn't disappoint.  All that fresh, spicy taste packed into one tiny sprout instantly transported me to my summer garden.  I could practically feel the warm soil under my knees.  Oooh, I can't wait to get my hands in some good soil!

Hand Woven Fabric, Handmade Sling

I love my Moby and Clay swears by the Baby Bjorn, but I've been thinking about one of those simple, pea pod type slings for awhile.  You know the ones that are basically one big loop of fabric?  I found a great tutorial online and they really are as simple to make as they look. I've had this huge square of fabric that my Guatemalan mom wove for me when I spent a summer in Guatemala during college.  It was just like the ones all the women carried their babies in and she presented it to me, saying it was to carry my own babies in some day.  Unfortunately, I never could get the tying technique down, but I thought that turning it into a sling would be the perfect thing. The whole time I was sewing I kept thinking about Katarina's gnarled hands weaving the threads over and under, over and under.  The loom they use is called a back strap loom.  It's anchored to the wall at one end and wrapped around their back at the other such that they lean against it to keep it taut, sitting cross-legged on the dirt floor.  Katarina spoke little Spanish and I spoke only a few words of her indigenous Mayan language, but there was much communication in the simple acts of caring for each other; cooking, sharing our cultures' foods, she washed my clothes and I brought her back little treats from the market, and of course, much was said, if not in so many words, as she handed me this special cloth before I left at the end of the summer. You can read the tutorial for more details if you want to make your own, but the basic process was to fold a rectangle of cloth, trim one end so it's a bit rounded (this makes a cozier pocket for baby), sew the rounded ends together and hem off the raw edges.  Easy as pie! 

Even though this is really more to use with the new baby, I was pleased to see that it works so well for carrying Sam on my hip when I need both hands free.  It's surprisingly comfortable and he seems to like it as well.  Oh, and I couldn't help but make him a pair of matching stripey pants with the leftover material:)  The material is so sturdy, perfect for play pants.

Giveaway: Hypnobabies Home Study Course!

I'm so excited about today's giveaway!  This is the course I'm going to be doing in preparation for the upcoming birth, and one of you will get the entire home study set as well!  It's everything you need and is worth $140!

In their own words, "Our Hypnobabies Home Study Course for Expectant Mothers is for women who want to ENJOY their baby's natural birth by using hypnosis to eliminate pain and fear, and cannot attend a Hypnobabies Class, or simply want to study on their own. Hypnobabies Home Study Course is an *advanced* Hypnosis for Childbirth course, using CDs and our Hypnobabies Workbook to prepare for birthing with little or no discomfort."

In the kit you'll get the 195 page workbook, the partner's guide, the quick reference guide for labor, and 12 CDs with advanced hypnosis for childbirth scripts.  I know so many of you are already expecting or know someone who is or are planning to be soon.  What a wonderful gift this would be to yourself or a friend!

Leave a comment to be entered to win.  You can gain FIVE additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.  1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog.  Good luck!

 

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Congratulations to Janya who said, Thank you for putting this out there. I would love this course for my upcoming unmedicated VBAC in June. I would really enjoy having hypnobabies to meditate on while I walk through the woods on our property, giving myself and my baby a chance at a fantastic birth! Thank you!!

DIY Onesies

We have a friend who's due with her first baby next month.  Saturday was her baby shower and I wanted to have something handmade to give.  While I didn't have time for something really handmade, you know, stiched, knitted, quilted etc. I still wanted something personal and special.  One of my favorite baby gifts I've done in the past is painting onesies.  It's pretty straightforward and not too time consuming, but is still really satisfying to do.  It's fun to see all the colorful little onesies lined up together.  And then hopefully when the new mama dresses their little one they feel loved every time they reach for a onesie that you put your personal touch on. 
With all my fabric paints, brushes and crisp, new onesies laid out I set to work.  I tried making an apple stamp per the instructions in Crafting Fun, and it turned out pretty cute, though I think I might need to perfect my technique a bit.  It would definitely be a fun craft to do with kids on a rainy day. The ones I like the best are these animals that I made stencils for.  I found the images online and cut them out, leaving the outline.  Then it was simple to paint these clear, crisp silhouettes of rhinos, penguins and pelicans.  I think next time I do a gift like this (which will soon; it seems like everyone I know is having babies!) I'll do them all this way so they look unified. 
All wrapped up in a blue ribbon (they're having a boy) and tucked in a bag I think it looked pretty sweet.  I almost gave her just the three "matching" ones and left the lion and apple out, but I'm glad I didn't because the lion was her favorite:)  I put a little lion on one of Sam's night shirts awhile back and I have to admit, it is pretty cute.

Book Review: Dreamcatching

Full disclosure: I haven't actually finished the book yet.  It had to be put aside for a book club book that we're meeting about soon.  So, if the end isn't as good as the first part, my apologies.  However, what I've read so far is pretty great.

What I'm really enjoying about Dreamcatching is that the emphasis is on encouraging expression, creating a dialogue and simply enjoying exploring dreams with your children.  In fact, they encourage parents not too worry too much about interpreting dreams, and to mainly keep their ideas about the meanings to themselves.  The authors give an example of a little kid who dreams about scary monsters fighting and the dad says, "Oh, I think you might be concerned because you heard Mommy and I arguing about finances last night.  I think those monsters represented Mommy and I."  The little kid is like, "No way!  Those monsters were so scary and they were going to eat each other and me too!"  And after that the kid was much less eager to share his dreams.  They suggest acting on your impressions and addressing issues that arise, but to let the dream sharing remain creative and safe and let the child lead the discussions.

A whole glossary of sorts gives common themes and meanings of dreams and a Dream Catcher's Workbook gives parents and older children exercises to guide discussions and improve dream recall.  It also includes a worksheet of sorts that you can fill out to help jog your memory and recall more details.  Have you ever heard of lucid dreaming?  I have a girlfriend who really cultivated this and got to where she could guide events in her dreams and do all sorts of amazing things in her dreams.  I've always wanted to try this.  Although, where I'm at right now I'd really just settle for an uninterrupted night of sleep:)

Soup to Cure What Ails You

We've finally kicked the last of the flu and tummy bugs out of the house.  But we drank copious amounts of soup in the process.  I love soup; an easy, comforting, one-pot meal that gives new life to leftovers. When we're feeling under the weather I like to give the soup a little extra kick with three secret ingredients, all in large quantities: garlic, ginger and lemon!

One of the easiest soups I made recently consisted of leftover wild rice, some sauteed garlic and onion, chicken broth and a whole bag of frozen spinach.  Sprinkled with a little Parmesan it was so soothing and delicious, and all those good greens felt so nourishing. 

But to banish the flu, the ginger and lemon is really the ticket.  And surprisingly, the flavors work well with a lot of broth-based, root vegetable soups.  Carrots, potatoes and onions love a little garlicky kick and the heat from the ginger is a nice, round, warming flavor.  I love the extra layer of flavor some lemon gives it (Clay doesn't actually like the citrus, so I guess it's not for everyone...).  You'll be surprised at just how much ginger you can grate into it; keep on shredding that little root into the pot, stirring and tasting until you feel just enough heat to clear your sinuses; then it's perfect!

Indoor Winter Greens

We've had this sneaky plan to garden even in the dead of winter and have finally gotten around to setting it up.  The shelving we use to start seedlings on is now set up on the kitchen counter by a sunny window.  Trays filled with nutritious dirt and sprinkled with seeds will hopefully yield tender baby greens in a few weeks!  We'll see how they do with just the natural light, I have a feeling they might need a boost, in which case we'll hang up the fluorescents.Santa left these seeds in my stocking and I've been so excited to use them!  What a delightful mid-winter project, to start spring a little early with something lush and growing.  My mouth is already watering thinking about sweet, fresh greens.  There really is nothing like greens straight from the soil. The basic drill was; fill up the trays with soil, press in mini-furrows (cute!), spinkle in the seeds (one tray of spinach, half of Swiss chard and half of roquette; my favorite!), water, and wait.  It was probably done in less than half an hour.  That was the quick part, now we just have to wait for them to grow.  We'll probably cover them while they germinate and then set up the lights once they sprout.  I'll let you know if our little experiment yields tasty salads in a few weeks!

BIG News!!!

Okay, I have been keeping mum about this for three long months, but I have been just dying to share that... we're expecting!!!  We're so excited to grow our family.  Little Thompson number four will be arriving sometime in the middle of July.  The plan is to birth at home, attended by our lovely midwife Rebecca.

Because Sam was born via scheduled c-section due to his tummy troubles (all involved, midwives, surgeons and parents, knew this was the best and only option for him to arrive here safely), this next baby will be a VBAC.  I'm not too worried about it though; statistically there's an increased risk, but I'm strong and healthy and I think my body knows what to do. Initially I thought I would have the baby at Rebecca's birthing suite, but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that she brings all the necessary equipment with her; there's nothing that the birth center has that she can't bring along.  And the idea of going through the whole process, uninterrupted, in my own home just sounds infinitely more appealing.  We'll set up a pool ahead of time, and soon I'm going to start a Hypnobabies course.  I'm really excited about this.  I love the idea of being more in control of how I experience the birth, and I think that as someone who tends to take a more cerebral approach to things, it will be great to have some tools to help me just let me body do its thing.

Remember when I mentioned the pile of pretty fabric waiting to be made into something special?  I think I know just the little blanket to make...

images via here, and here.

MamaViews: Abi of Spider Woman Knits

I'm so excited to have Abi sharing some thoughts with us today as she is one of those "dreamers into doers" that I talked about.  Of course, I asked her share with us a bit about her dreams and that process of making them a reality, as well as other tidbits we'd like to know about, such things as knitting, her lovely house and becoming a mama.  I hope you enjoy getting to know her! I've been thinking a lot about turning dreams into realities lately.  And I noticed that you mentioned having some crazy events (job loss, health issues, financial stress etc.) last year that sound all too familiar to many of us (we experienced a jump (shove?) into our own business precipitated by the folding of the company Clay was previously working for!).  But you talk optimistically about taking risks and chasing dreams.  How have you managed to turn these obstacles into opportunities?  And tell us more about those big dreams!

Maya Angelou says, "Life takes care of those who dare to live it." I first heard her say that about 10 years ago. It resonated both with my husband and myself so much that it's been the Golden Rule of our life together ever since. We don't chase dreams per say but live them in each moment, presently, because the present is the only time that we can truly count on to secure our happiness. I know so many people who delay their dreams waiting for the perfect moment for things to align so they feel free to pursue them but to me that is allowing fear to have a part in your dreams and there is no space for fear in dreams! That's not to say that every moment you are living your dream is a happy one or that all dreams are blissful.

When my husband lost his job last November I was 4 months pregnant with my third child and had just had and an emergency appendectomy. It was a nightmarish time for us with two small children at home and the support of family hundreds of miles away. I was terribly worried about my unborn child and my husband was devastated by his inability in that moment to provide for us in the way that he had for so many years. But that nightmare only lasted as long as we allowed ourselves to dwell in it, which for us wasn't very long. As soon as I started feeling better I searched myself for a way in which I could contribute and still be home with my other two children. It didn't take me very long to realize that I had an awful lot of vintage goodies in my home and having an Etsy shop had always been an idea I toyed with. So I stayed up all night setting up the shop and the very next day I listed my first few items. Two of them sold right away! The next day a few more went, then I was lucky enough to have an item featured on the main page. The shop sort of took off and before I knew it I was shipping vintage Vermont treasures all over the world! As much fun as I was having and as busy as I was, the shop wasn't able to pay our bills though. So my husband and I turned to another shared passion. Chickens! Greg wrote up a progressive business plan for an Organic Egg Farm and we shopped it around but were unable to get any funding from banks. So we downsized the plan, took a small bit of the money from our sales in the Etsy shop and ordered 60 hens on our own. Not securing funding through banks reinforced what we already knew anyway. We have learned over the years that you can't put your dreams in someone else's control either.  While we weren't able to get as many hens as we wanted we didn't owe anyone any money, which relieves a great deal of stress. In late August we welcomed the first flock to Red Comb Farm. Since then we have added two alpacas as well, which I intend to shear and sell the yarn made from the fleece. Mind you though that our chickens are not laying golden eggs and feeding them organically costs quite a bit of money. We were lucky enough to partner with two local restaurants that only use local and organic produce. They are now saving all of their food scraps for our ladies and that offsets our grain cost tremendously. It's a lot of work but it's all very exciting and the kids are loving it of course.

Dreams are tricky little things. I think people often confuse their 'goals' with their dreams. If you make your only 'goal' happiness then you will find that your dreams grow organically out of that. That is why a huge element in living your dream successfully is not being too attached to any one thing or any one dream. It was not our dream to be chicken farmers and it was not my dream to be a shopkeeper but it is our collective dream to enjoy whatever it is we do as we are exchanging our time for money and that as a family we feel peaceful and happy in our work. So you can see that having that larger goal of happiness as a dream makes success almost inevitable if you are in touch with your heart and your soul.  With each thing you do ask yourself, 'Does this make me happy?' If you take all these little steps with happiness underfoot all of a sudden you will find yourself living a dream, albeit a dream you may not have even knew you had! The next step is learning to quiet the voices of fear that love to whisper 'no' into our dreams. That is a skill everyone should master and as children we had perfected, so it still lies within us. Our dreams may change, as we find that different things make us happy at different points in our lives, but each time we do something new we learn more and more. It's a snowball effect of ability and each experience gives you more of the tools you need to move on to the next dream or expand the one you are currently living.  

It was so fun to read about your Berroco photo shoot.  Tell us about how you became involved with Berroco and ended up in their pattern books!  

The Berroco Book! We're still on Cloud 9 about that! Like I mentioned on my blog, it's still a blurry dream come true to me that we were able to participate in such a wonderful project! If I didn't have the book beside me I might not believe it myself! Our photo shoot with Berroco was a case of opportunity knocking on our door and we answered very quickly, let it in, gave it dinner and then, of course, dessert too :) Kidding aside, when I first started blogging I came across a blog authored by Cirilia Rose called, Skrilla Knits. She has a very fresh style of knitting and one that I really related to so I ended up following her blog for years actually, right up until she started designing and blogging for Berroco.  Out of the blue she contacted me and asked if my family would be interested in modeling for two upcoming Berroco books featuring new designs using their Vintage and DK Baby yarn. Without a second thought I answered 'Yes!'.  Over the years Cirilia and I had stayed in touch through blogging and other sites like Ravelry. So I am sure both Cirilia and Norah had seen quite a bit of my photography and knitting there as well before they selected us for the Berroco books. I am familiar with quite a few crafty mamas who have had opportunities come to them through their blog. It's really a wonderful thing!  And speaking of knitting; you are clearly an avid, expert knitter (and I sit in awe after only my first lesson!).  But you mentioned not being able to learn when people tried to teach you the first few times, and then finally picking it up on your own.  What finally made it click?  And how has knitting and creating been a part of your life since?

Really? Thank you but I still feel like such a novice! That feeling stems from one of the things that I truly adore about knitting which is that there is always a new technique that can be learned, so I never feel like I completely know what I am doing. From very early childhood I was always drawn to knitting. As a small girl I used to go into the bottom drawer of my mothers dresser where she kept a few pairs of metal needles she used only once to make a sweater for our poodle! It was the only thing she ever knit but I was so proud of it and would wonder if I could use those needles one day. It wasn't until I had grown and went to college that I found some women willing to teach me from the local community.They kept trying, again and again, to teach me using the English method of knitting where you carry the yarn in your right hand but I just couldn't do it. Finally I just gave up! I didn't pick up needles again for a few years and then I came across Debbie Stoller's book Stitch 'N Bitch and decided to give it another try on my own. Since I didn't have anyone telling me how to hold the needles I naturally picked them up and felt comfortable carrying the yarn in my left hand instead. It clicked and I haven't stopped knitting since! It was a few more months before I even fully realized that I was knitting the 'Continental' or European way.  It was a few months after that when I was told by an experienced knitter that I had been knitting incorrectly though, through the back of my loops instead of the front, and twisting all of my stitches! I still have some sweaters that I knit for my son from the 'Twisted Stitches' period of my knitting and I treasure them! It took a good year to really get the technical side of knitting down for me but I was doing it all on my own.

My passion for knitting became consuming, like it does for so many, once I really started though. I found that it was the first time in my entire life that I was comfortable calling myself something, if that makes sense. I am a knitter, I would say.  Making things with my hands was always a huge part of my life, I did a lot of photography, had taught myself to weave primitively on a lap loom, made dolls, crocheted etc. all of which I enjoyed but it wasn't until I started knitting that I truly found my craft. Knitting is not my only craft, I still do all of the other things I mentioned but knitting occupies the largest space in my heart and inspires me in such a way that I can't not knit. It has taught me so much patience and given me so much confidence that has carried through to other parts of my life.  Knitting allows me moments of peace and focus too during the day that I might not otherwise carve out for myself. Even while I am busy with three children I can still squeeze in a few stitches or even a few rows, if I'm lucky, somewhere during the day and come away with my mind clearer and my soul refreshed. Knitting for me is a form of dynamic meditation.

Your home is beautiful, and clearly a home before a house.  What guides your decorating decisions?

Thank you so much! My house is really my passion and I adore being home more than being any other place in the world. So, I always strive to bring beauty inside when I look at things to add to our home. However, my father is an architect and designer, he taught me very early on to look at the efficiency of space or the useful design of an object. So right after beauty comes function. I ask myself, always, if an object is both beautiful and useful. If it passes those two criteria chances are it will make it into our home. Perhaps that is what attracts me so much to antique and vintage objects. Those two elements were merged in the past, and still are now by thoughtful designers of course, but they were the readily available, affordable and daily use items of the time back then. Art and function were one and there was still a great deal of pride in craftsmanship in the past, that is why it is still so easy to go into charity stores, flea markets or antique shops and become overwhelmed with choices of beautiful, useful old things to bring home.

It's taken me a long time to really get comfortable with the choices that I make and a huge part of that is allowing myself to change my mind and rearrange things a lot! I know so many people that are the same way. Moving furniture around, painting walls two or three times to get a color right etc and we all grew up in houses where a wall was painted a color and stayed that way for years or matching sets of large, bulky furniture were placed in a room and stayed there forever! That type of decorating is unthinkable to me. Houses should ebb, flow and grow with families! I think that is really what makes a dwelling come alive, when it's inhabitants have a direct relationship with it and to it rather than just existing in it. That is what breathes the 'home' into a house. 

What do you think your pre-mama self would be surprised to learn about your mama self of today?

Wow! That is such an interesting question. Becoming a mother was such a turning point in my life. Sitting here and thinking back I would say that my pre-mama self would be surprised with almost everthing about my mama self of today! You see, my pre-mama self was quite a 'quiet' person. I lived alone for years in my late teens through my early twenties, right up until I met my husband in fact, caretaking 160 acres of land in a very small cabin without any modern utilities or technology to speak of (picture above).  The rhythm of my day was tied directly to the sunrise and sunset. Of course, I didn't have a phone, computer or radio and my only communication with family and friends was through hand written letters! The cabin was heated by woodstove, lit by candles and I had to haul my water in from springs and a pond! It was a very quiet, a very tranquil and a very slow paced life. I had ample time for introspection and very little distraction. Technology was not an enemy to me, I just didn't have any need for it in my life at the time.

Now, as a mother to three small children my days are amazingly loud,  far from tranquil and run at a pace I almost can't keep up with at times (but in a really fun way)! I am up all hours of the day and night with a nursing baby and now my daily rhythm changes from day to day in such dramatic fashion. We use technology every single day to expand our world in such a way that I could never have imagined back in the 'Cabin Days'. To think that I would be maintaining a blog, an Etsy shop, using the internet to introduce my music loving son to Tuvan Throat singers, connect with other mothers, farmers and knitters, find recipes etc?! No way! Motherhood really ushered in technology for me through my desire to connect with and be inspired by other creative mothers who were parenting their children in a non-traditional manner and I haven't turned back since!

Thank you so much for having me Amy! This was truly a pleasure and an honor!

Well thanks so much for sharing, Abi!  Your words and photos are lovely.  Keep in touch!

Dreamers into Doers

Lately I've been thinking a lot about pursuing your dreams.  Then I came across this feature in Martha Stewart called Dreamers into Doers and latched onto the phrase.  The last two issues had articles about people who had jumped wholeheartedly into their dreams.  One was about a couple who lives on an island off the coast of Maine and makes amazing, artisan chocolate for a living, utilizing local ingredients.  And the other was a selection of cheese makers in Vermont that all lived on their farms making delicious, gourmet cheeses.

Both of these articles stirred my imagination and got me thinking about our dreams.  I think it's so important to nurture and cultivate your dreams, lest you get mired down in the simple day to day living, bill paying, meal making, house cleaning etc. and forget to raise your eyes up and look at what could be ahead.  Of course, there's certainly something to say for being content and happy with the present as well.   We're very happy and comfortable where we're at right now, but we also have SO many dreams and things we want to do!  We'd love to move out somewhere we could have some land and build a house of our own design, there are books to write and illustrate, sculptures and paintings to make, sheep to raise, wool to spin, countries to visit, furniture to design...

I've started a file of inspiring people who are passionately and fearlessly following their dreams, to inspire and remind me to nurture my own dreams, such that some day (soon!) I'll find myself smack dab in the middle of them, living those beautiful, crazy, exciting dreams!

What are you dreaming of???

Images from Black Dinah Chocolatiers, Consider Bardwell Farm, and Thistle Hill Farm.

Giveaway: Mama Merit Badges

Do you feel like you need a little pat on the back every now and again for all the mom heroics you perform day in and day out?  How about a full on parade?!  Or at least something involving party hats...  Well, Mama Merit Badges saw the need for some mama accolades and designed a whole line of badges you can award yourself, your friends, sister-in-laws or your own sweet mom.  In the spirit of girl scout badges, these clever patches give credit where credit is due!

In their own words, "Mama Merit Badges was started as a response to the dearth of authentic recognition for the very hard work of mothering. Overly sentimentalized depictions of motherhood belie the actual daily duties that alternately feel like drudgery, brave political acts, and absurd performance art. This irreverent award system invites public dialogue about and visual recognition for the unpaid and often ignored labor that is parenting." You can purchase them one at a time or get the whole bundle.  How perfect would these be at your next baby or bridal shower?  I can totally see these going home in gift bags.  Or how about popping some in the mail to a friend you know could use a laugh and a little appreciation?  Or better yet, fashion yourself a sash and proudly march these babies around while performing your own daily acts of maternal heroism!

Let me just share a few of the awards:

Diaper: Everyone has an episode of diapering significance! Have you experienced poop paintings on the wall, poop dripping from the Bjorn in the grocery store, poop in the tub, poop up the back and into your baby's hair? Have you ever performed gymnastics trying to keep other siblings from getting into poop? Has your baby ever peed into your mouth? Explosive poops, indecent exposure,or cloth diapering; this badge tells your story.

Shopping: This is for the first time you take your newborn to the grocery store and strangers come up and touch his face during flu season and you maintain control. Also, for when you stroll through Target nursing a fussy baby while pushing a cart full of those great end-cap deals while trying to mentally organize each upcoming birthday party you will attend or throw for the upcoming year. Have you ever taken a couple of toddlers to pick up plywood, balloons or a load of mulch? How about doing your monthly grocery shopping at super Wal-Mart with 3 in tow? If you have spent money with babies hanging off you, climbing in and out of the cart or running away from you because they had to have "real high heels NOW," then you may don this badge with pride.

Breastfeeding: This badge is to commemorate the nursing relationship, whether for a week or for years. Have you tandem nursed, nursed while pregnant or nursed twins? Breastfeeding is hard work and not as natural as it seems. If you produce milk for another human, you get this badge (and so much more). If you NIP you get a special nod of admiration.

Leave a comment to be entered to win the entire set of eleven badges!  You can gain SIX additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.  1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog.  Good luck!

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Congratulations Chelsey, who said, "I would love to give my mom these. They are so cute and creative."

Knitting Lessons

I've finally done it; I'm learning to knit!  And I'm so excited!  It's so very fun, no wonder so many people are head over heels in love with the craft.  I had some lovely sheep and alpaca blend wool from an old crochet project that I brought to my first lesson to use.  Isn't it pretty on the wooden needles?

I'm taking the lessons at the Pioneer Craft House, this wonderful place where they teach all sorts of skills and keep them from being lost; weaving, wool dying, book binding, silver smithing, storytelling, pinhole photography, hand spinning etc.  It's been around for ages; Clayton's grandma used to take art lessons there was she was a girl.

I have a wonderful teacher named Heidi who taught me the mystery of the stockinette stitch (that's what it's called, right?) and sent me home to practice (those are my very first knit stitches you're seeing there!).  And practice, I will!  Next week I start to purl and then it's on to making my very own scarf!  There are two more knitting classes offered, one where you learn all sorts of different patterns, making swatches which can later be put together into a baby blanket and another where you learn to make socks.  Maybe I can finally make Clay those hand knit socks he's been asking for every sine we've been married:)

Making Me Happy

The jarful of fresh, "healthy" cookies on the counter.

This great family portrait Clay did for some friends of ours.

His comment, "Have you noticed that my palette has become more colorful since we got married?"  That's the nicest compliment ever. 

Working out almost every day this week!

A pile of pretty fabric waiting to be turned into something special...

Three loads of laundry, folded and put away.

Knitting lessons starting tomorrow!

What's making you happy today?

Three Little Sewers

 

One of the things I do for my church is run an activity group for girls 8-12.  Twice a month, another mom and I take turns hosting them at our house and organizing various activities.  This month we're learning to sew!

Only three of the five girls came this week, which ended up being okay because, phew! it was busy!  Those little girls were so excited; picking out their skirt fabric, twirling around the room in it, running their hands over the shiny sewing machines.  It was all we could do to keep them focused on one step at a time!

But at each step they learned to slow down a bit and focus on the little things; spacing the needles carefully, threading the machine... Sewing was a little harder to slow down about; there's just something about the whirrrrrr of that motor that's just too exciting to go slow!  One little girl just could not resist and as soon as I'd gotten it all threaded there was a Stomp! and WHIRRRR! as the machine went wild and sewed a big snarl.  So, then we had a lesson on untangling the machine:)

 

It was really fun to see them so excited about learning to sew, enjoying the beautiful fabrics, planning their skirts, exploring the various sewing tools, bobbins and threads.  Sewing brings me so much joy (when it's not bringing on tears of frustration!) that it's a treat to pass along the skill, or at least to plant some seeds...

*We used the Lazy Days Skirt Pattern from Oliver + S (free on their blog).  Hopefully we'll have some twirly skirts to show you in two weeks!

Pajama Time

When my brother got home from his mission and was just kicking around at my parents' house for a few weeks, he spent some of those empty hours turning one of Sam's favorite books into a song.  He played the initial acoustic version for Sam, and as you can see by the blur in the foreground, Sam got his groove on.  He loves music and dancing AND his uncle Dan so the song was destined to be a hit.

When we returned to Utah and Dan was still in Maine he doctored the song up on the computer a bit and sent us a digital version.  Sam is so enamored with the song that I have to be prepared to play it at least a dozen times when he requests it.  Each time it ends he demands, "Again! Again!"

So here, for your listening pleasure is Pajama Time , lyrics by Sandra Boynton, music by Dan.  Enjoy!

MamaViews: Amy Karol from Angry Chicken

We're starting up the MamaViews series again and I'm so excited!  After a long, busy holiday season, it's time to sit down with some of my favorite ladies and learn what makes them tick.  I'm thrilled to be hearing from Amy Karol of Angry Chicken today.  I totally aspire to be as cool as her some day; she's a super creative DIY-er of all sorts, an author, creator, and mama and today she's telling us a little about how she juggles it all, involves the kids in projects and about some of her favorite comfort foods.  Enjoy!

Your claim to fame is being a crafter extraordinaire, but one of the reasons I love reading your blog is your rad, DIY approach to everything.  Where did this come from?  Raised by hippies?  Life-changing lecture?  Just makes sense to make stuff yourself (of course it does!)?  I'd love to hear the philosophy behind the making.

I think I was raised by hippies and that I also just love making stuff. My parents, both of them, were risk takers and questioned authority so I think I came by it naturally. I see this in my brother as well. To me, DIY is about trying to make stuff one would never think to make themselves. That's what I think is the most fun and gratifying.

I was thinking recently of a quote in my head that sums up why I make so much and I think it's " . . because I can." I also will admit right here to not trusting any big corporations to look after my health and this includes body products, food, medicine, and all that. I am not paranoid, but very questioning and also just love learning how to make things and I LOVE researching. So, if you add all this up, you get a a crazy lady who makes her own butter, her deodorant, and dresses. Something things are not really worth making from scratch, but often these are what I like to make most. Just because.

You involve your kids in much of your crafting and creating.  What advice do you have for moms who want to make a project kid-friendly?

A sense of humor, a back up plan, and for me—saving supplies so I can make it again alone. Often I am so excited by a project that I really want to do it MYSELF. If this is the case, I just save extra supplies for myself, so I don't get all weird with the girls and controlling. I let them go for it, but I also demonstrate a respect for time and supplies. They are very thoughtful crafters. I also try to break-up a craft project into parts as much as I can, so paint or glue can dry and attention spans aren't too taxed. I think it means more if it's a process, not if it's always a one-shot project. Although quick projects are great, too.

You're always posting about the yummiest, coziest foods.  What are some of your favorite food memories?

My Dad was our main cook in the house and I ate like him. Lots of steak! Which is funny because I have not had meat since I was 15. I think my favorite food memories are of breakfast on Sundays. My Dad made eggs, pancakes or waffles and there was always classical music playing and I think there was usually bacon. I loved bacon! Breakfast is still my favorite meal.

To me you seem like a progressive pioneer; do you think so too?  In what way?

Hmm. Am I? I see your definition and of couse, I shy away from any definition too much, because I always get hedgy about being defined in any way. I am a contradiction, really. I make so much from scratch you would think I am the biggest hippie in the world, and in a way, I really am and yet love make-up and black finger nail polish (of course, it's all cruelty free, ha!) and stylish clothes and high heels. I like to have fun and be silly with my friends, and especially my family—and yet I am very serious about my ethics and beliefs and what I feel is right for my family. What my family needs is always changing, but I really don't let any outside source tell me what's best for my family, so in that way I am quite the protective mama bear.

 

You have so many different incarnations of your creativity; sewing, knitting, cool labels, holiday decorations, cooking, kids' art projects etc. etc.  How do you find/make the time?  Any tips for the rest of us?

Oh, do less! That is my advice for 2010. And I am trying to follow it. For real. I love making, but really, I need to slow down. I am trying to look at what I really REALLY like to do and what gives me the most satisfaction and pleasure at any given moment. And that might change. So one year I want to make the girls their winter coats, but does that mean I have to every year? NO, it doesn't. There are 3 babybooks that are sorely neglected and getting a good start on those is on my to-do list. And working in our garden more this spring. I do think most of what drives me is the learning of new skills, but I need to let some go to make room for new ones. It's okay to only do something one time. 
 

Thanks so much for sharing!  I loved getting a peek into more of who you are and what you love.  Keep in touch!

*More Amy here: aprons, art, blog, goodness and books.  Happy browsing!

Giveaway: Natural Joy Beauty

Today's giveaway sponsor is a local company, Natural Joy, that specializes in natural, cruelty-free, make-you-look-fabulous makeup and skincare.  They carry all sorts of brands and all sorts of products, plenty to browse through; you're sure to find something perfect for your skin... especially if you have a $50 gift certificate!!  You can also save 15% online with the code "PIONEER" or in their store (662 E 9480 S Sandy, UT) by mentioning you saw the giveaway here.

Natural Joy does all the label reading and research for you, so all you have to do is pick out the perfect thing!  Everything they carry is free from:

• Formaldehyde, Phthalates
• Mineral Oil, Petroleum
• Parabens
• Propylene Glycol
• PVP/VA Copolymer
• Sodium Lauryl / Laureth Sulfate (SLS)
• Synthetic Colors or Fragrances

If you've been buying your skincare and makeup a piece here and a piece there, you can now find everything you need and want all in one place!  And if you're hesitant about trying new colors or products, all their cosmetic samples are only .99!  They also send a bunch of samples and goodies with every order.  So, check them out and be sure to enter the giveaway!

To enter leave a comment.  You can gain SIX additional entries in the following ways, but remember to leave an ADDITIONAL COMMENT FOR EACH ENTRY.  1) add PP to your blog roll (1st timers only) 2) become a fan on facebook (1st timers only) 3) become a friend (1st timers) 4) add a button (1st timers) 5) mention the giveaway on your blog.  Good luck!

Book Review: Pat the Bunny

Not an overly cerebral book choice this week, but a family favorite for sure.  Growing up there was a copy of Pat the Bunny at my grandma's house by the ocean.  It's one of the toys I remember most, along with a soft, worn rabbit that you could pull a string on to make it talk.   At Sam's baby shower some women got me a hand selected collection of their favorite children's books, which included Pat the Bunny.  It's been a favorite of Sam's from the beginning. Initially I would simply read it to him, brushing his hand over the pages to "feel Daddy's scratchy face" or the soft fur of the bunny.  Then he started doing it on his own, even jumping ahead of the words to the actions.  Now he sits on his own, turning the pages and commenting about the various pages and activities. This book has been so loved that it's required a little TLC with the book binding tape (not an easy task when the book is bound with a plastic spiral...).  There are strange food stains and worn edges.  And bunny's fur will never be the same since Sam went through a phase where he licked the fur.  But it's all the lovelier for it's visible signs of being loved and enjoyed.

I'm nuts about the vintage illustrations, Daddy's scratchy face is my favorite, along with Mummy's ring.  There's just something comforting about them.  And unlike Hop on Pop, Sam's new favorite book, I never get tired of reading Pat the Bunny.

Seven Pairs of Pants Later...

I wanted to make something extra special for my brother Dan for Christmas, kind of a combo Christmas and "welcome home from a two year mission in Brazil" kind of present.  A quilt seemed the perfect thing to create a warm reminder of his sister to wrap up in on chilly evenings and to help him remember how great I think he is.  To further the remembering, I decided to make it out of old clothes; my favorite pants from high school, a shirt bought at our favorite hippie store in Maine, the first pair of "expensive jeans" I bought in San Francisco, all with a story and a memory attached.

The preparation was really more work than the actually piecing together and sewing of the quilt.  All those pants were quartered and then cut into rectangles, which was quite the process!

Because I'm always looking for the quick way to a satisfying crafty finish I decided to sew all the rectangle strips together in one, large, quilt-sized block and then cut them up in horizontal strips to then rearrange.

 

After arranging and rearranging (and rescuing the strips from little feet and plastic dinosaur attacks) I settled on the color sequence and sewed those strips together.  Each strip that went in was so satisfying as the pieces began to look more and more like a quilt.  Once they were all together I was almost tempted to leave it that way, sort of a modern, large block Gee's Bend thing.  But I decided the end result would be nicer with small blocks and so I chopped up my newly formed quilt into small strips.


I got so wrapped up in the process I forgot to document the sewing together of the little strips.  And then Dan arrived for the holidays and I got so wrapped up in hanging out with him and doing other holiday preparations that the finished quilt top languished, backless and unstuffed until the day we were to leave for the cabin!

Luckily there is an old sewing machine up at the cabin, probably one of the first electric models.  It was actually quite a pleasure to work on that old machine; it was so solid and zipped right through the heaviest fabric.  Initially though it didn't work, but Clay worked some magic and got it humming again, only to discover there was no needle!  Luckily a trip into town and a small Christmas miracle produced three needles.  When Clay and his dad went into West Yellowstone for supplies, they asked if the grocery store carried sewing needles.  The answer was no, and neither did the other store... BUT, said the clerk, there's an old lady who lives over that way who buys sewing supplies in Bozeman and she might sell you a few.  Well, that sweet lady refused to take any money, but gave Clay three sewing needles to help me finish my last-minute Christmas project.  This was Christmas Eve.  She did swap a few stories with Clay and accept a Christmas hug though, and Clay decided that was better than money anyway.

In between organizing a Christmas Eve tamale-making assembly line, playing board games and eating Christmas treats I was able to sneak downstairs and finish up the present just in time.  Dan had been eagerly eyeing the lumpy, striped bag and was, I think, thrilled with the present when he finally got to open it.  I told him where all the pieces of fabric came from and he immediately wrapped up in it and has been sleeping under it every night since.  I'm glad he'll have a little piece of "home" with him when he heads up to college.

Snakes in the House

To combat the chilly, winter winds that creep under our door Clay made a new household pet; a door snake!

He sewed a long striped tube lined with batting.

And using a yardstick he flipped it inside out.  Then he and Sam took turns pouring rice in to fill up the snake.  Awhile ago I accidentally bought a huge bag of white Basmati, thinking it was brown, so this was the perfect way to use some of it up.

Sam just happened to be wearing his green pants, made from the same fabric as the snake.

All in all the project couldn't have taken much more than half an hour or so.  Once they had it filled up I tapered the end, sewed on some buttons for eyes and a little ribbon tongue.

Sam is in love with our new pet; I was worried we'd have trouble keeping it on "door duty," with Sam wanting to lug it around everywhere.  But he's gotten used to it and let's him lie there, doing his job of keeping us warm and draft-free.

Dreaming of Spring

It's that time of year when the sparkle of the holidays is behind and the short, cold days of winter are ahead.  Valentines' Day simply can't compare with the mid-winter holiday hoopla, so there's little to look forward to but the first blades of grass poking their tips through the snow and that subtle, but certain change in the air; the smell of soil, of melting snow, of life stirring under ground.  And so, how will I while away these days full of soup, snow and blazing fires?  With seed catalogs, of course!  There are few things I savor as much as the colorful pages of a good seed catalog when snow is falling outside and a cup of hot tea is warming my hands. 

I'm a planner; the copious lists, notes and catalog clippings will attest to this attribute.  I always make lists of seeds well beyond our space and budget constraints.  Those purple carrots and marbled beans are just too exciting not to entertain the idea of a garden chock full of them!  Eventually I will narrow it down, but the list-making, the contemplating, the rearranging, the sketching and dreaming, it's all part of the process.

Although we've been saving more and more seeds each year and get the rest at the swap, we will place a few catalog orders and visit the local plant sale for some special plants and seeds.  Mostly the catalogs serve as creative inspiration and a wintertime distraction. Here are a few of our favorites; happy dreaming!

The Seed Library

Territorial Seed Co.

St. Lawrence Nurseries

R.H. Shumway's

Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

Seed Savers Exchange

Under the Weather

In addition to warm memories and handmade presents, we brought a little stomach bug back from the cabin.  Sam picked something up from his little cousin and has been sick in bed with a fever all day.  As much as I wish him well as soon as possible, I can't help but savor the quiet snuggles and slow pace of the day.  "Do you want me to hold you?" I ask as he stirs and wakes, a pained look on his face.  "Hold you," he affirms, and I wrap him up and we rock quietly as he falls back asleep.  Sometimes he tells me "sick" or "boo boo," and other times he heartbreakingly asks me to kiss the boo boo.  If only mama kisses were as effective on viruses as on goose eggs and skinned knees.  But, I'm open to the idea of a certain amount of healing power in a mother's kiss and so I oblige him and kiss his feverish head and his upset tummy.

Mostly we just let illnesses run their course.  We bundle up and resign ourselves to a day or two in bed with some good books.  Even Sam understands the drill and will sit quietly on his bed, turning the pages of picture books.  We drink tea (lemon and ginger for upset tummies, Sleepy Time for comfort), and use various oils according to the symptoms.  Sometimes Sam will even ask for oil or for a "rub," and as I rub his little feet he drifts peacefully back to sleep.

A couple days into the illness, after Sam's numerous requests to be held had started to be felt in my back, I remembered the Moby.  With Sam becoming so independent these days it's sat idle in the back of my closet.  But it was the perfect thing for a tired, sick boy and his mama who has nervously watched the laundry and dishes pile up around her.  He instantly relaxed and laid his head on my chest while I made dinner, did the dishes and folded laundry.  These are good days; despite the sickness and the mounting household chores, I'm tucking away in my memory the many hours spent snuggled up, nursing, holding, rocking and loving my little one.