Progressive Pioneer

Every Baby Needs a Quilt

I had been wanting to make Vivian a sweet, girly baby quilt, but for some reason was stuck being "sensible" and decided against it because we have a stack of perfectly nice, if rather boyish, baby quilts.  But I was feeling kind of bad about it.  I even made a large quilt (which I still need to show you!) telling myself it was "in Vivi's honor" because I used floral prints and a pink binding, but somehow it just didn't seem quite the same.

So, you can imagine how thrilled I was when this perfect gift arrived in the mail from a girlfriend in Maine!  How did she know this would be just the thing to send?  Oh, and the package came wrapped in brown paper that had pink polka dots; how fun is that to find waiting on your doorstep?  She got all inspired to make stuff with vintage sheets after reading about the girly skirts I made, and so sent me her first vintage sheet project.  Isn't it lovely?  And it's the perfect, light weight for a new, little baby.  And so perfectly girly and sweet.  She's right, every baby does need a quilt of her (or his) own, even if there are already stacks of blue baby quilts in the closet:)

This sweet image is a postcard she found while cleaning out her grandpa's house after he passed away.  She wrote that it made her think of how Sam will take care of Vivian.  I told that to Sam and he loves looking at it and pointing out which one is him and which one is Vivian.

Book Framing

Whenever I go to the thrift store I always scan the bookshelves for good, hardcover children's books.  I often find a beautiful Caldecott winner for a dollar or two.  Sam and I love digging into our latest treasure as soon as we get home.  This latest find was a bit of a disappointment though, as four of the pages were missing!  Now, I know the story of Puss in Boots well enough to fill in the gaps, but somehow I thought the pages could be put to better use...

I've been working on getting some art up on our walls.  Clay has stacks of beautiful work from art school, we have various pieces we've collected throughout the years and gifts from family and friends.  Yet somehow, our walls have remained depressingly bare.  But, I've been remedying that very fact these past few weeks!  I first gathered up all the art we want to display, then measured the pieces and wrote down the dimensions.  Now, whenever I'm in a thrift store I also sort through the frames, keeping my eyes out for the sizes we need (I keep a measuring tape in my purse too).  While measuring pieces of art, I decided Puss in Boots would be better served, framed and hanging over Sam's new reading nook. (I recently did an overhaul of Sam's new room and I promise I'll show more details soon!  It's been a really fun project.)

 

With three matching frames from the thrift store and an exacto knife, we had some wonderful new art for Sam's room in no time at all.  This was such a satisfying project and Sam seemed to appreciate the touch as it was the first thing he showed his dad when he got home. 

Down below, just for fun, is a picture of a wedding present from my parents.  It's one of my favorite pieces because of the mysterious story that goes with it.  My dad, who writes for the Maine Antique Digest and does a little bit of antique buying and selling, came across a guy with an impressive art collection, which the guy asked my dad to broker.  Long story short, the guy actually owned a bunch of fake art with a few real pieces sprinkled in.  This piece, allegedly a Chagall (lithograph, I think?), was a gift to my dad from the guy before his shadiness came to light.  We never had it checked out by anyone official, and I think I'd rather not know if it's real or a fake.  We love it either way, and I love a little mystery:)

Garden

These pictures are a couple weeks old, but I wanted to give you a little taste of what's growing around here.  My little baby, for one, is turning into a little boy right before my eyes!  There is nothing he loves more than working alongside his dad.  Dad is off to the side with a grownup shovel, turning over some soil. 

The garden has been interesting this year, or, I guess it's the weather that's been interesting.  That's one of the exciting things about gardens.  There are so many variables and you're constantly reminded that you're not really in charge.  It keeps you humble, and in awe of things bigger than yourself.

The abundant rain has been so good for the hardy plants that returned all on their own.  The sage bushes are huge and singing with bright purple blossoms and the cilantro has generously cropped up all over the garden where last year's plants dropped their seeds.  I love how gardens develop their own personality and character as they're cultivated year after year.  We even had some leftover greens that came back to life.  But our seedlings that we nurtured indoors were a bit more sensitive to the strange fluctuations in temperature.  The cold, wet days alternating with baking hot sun was rather shocking for the little cukes and basil; we almost thought they weren't going to make it.  But, as the weather has normalized, they've managed to stay on course and are looking healthy and strong now.

Sam and I planted some lettuce very early in the spring, most of which came up, with volunteer cilantro sprinkled throughout.  It's been lovely being able to step outside and pick a salad each night for dinner.  The crop I think we've enjoyed the most though is the peas.  Those were also planted in the wee days of spring and spent some of their earliest days under light snowfall.  Sam loves picking peas and is adept at spotting the fat ones, while leaving the skinny ones to ripen.  If he goes missing, I know I can likely find him hunkered down in the pea patch, munching away.  The peas are almost past their peak now and will soon be pulled up to make room for the tomatoes, which will likely inspire a whole new round of garden munching.

Giveaway: No Plastic!

They're at it again; No Plastic is giving away more stainless steel goodness!   

Just think, if you just bought one reusable glass or stainless steel container a week, but the end of the summer you could entirely get rid of that frustrating drawer of mismatched plastic containers and random lids!

   

The only trouble I've had with non-plastic containers in the past is leakiness.  However, lucky for you, No Plastic has completely air and water-tight containers!  Hooray, the best of both worlds!

To be entered to win an airtight, watertight, stainless steel food storage container, leave a comment.  You can gain SIX additional entries (there's a new one in there) 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, or 6) on facebook.  Good luck!

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Congratulations to Rebecca who said, "What a wonderful giveaway. :)"

The Friday Make and Do

Make friendship pins (Rae teaches you how in her new book, Homemade Fun, and here are a few more tips from Blair at Wisecraft).

Make some batik cloth, but with glue (clever!).
Dig up some local history.  Even my small town of 1,000 people that I grew up in had a town historical society (that's the lake near my house back in 1930!).  Our house was one of the first to be built and I loved looking at pictures of it 150+ years earlier, perched on the edge of a dusty, dirt road.  Do a little digging; I bet your town has a historical society too, or at least some records in the library that might lead you on a little adventure...

Take a date to your weekend Farmers' Market.  Ours just opened and Sam and I had a mama-son date last weekend.  We strolled through the stalls, sampling delicious cheeses, produce and jarred delicacies (spicy peach jam, yum!).  Then we split a ham and Swiss croissant under the shade of a tree and listed to some blues music. 
Take advantage of summer's bounty (and maybe some farmers' market finds!) and try out this yummy looking strawberry shortcake.  This makes me wish my mom wasn't 2,000+ miles away; she makes the best strawberry shortcake!

 

Have a delightful weekend!

Birth Stories: Lisa and Elisabeth

This is the story of Lisa's first birth.  You can read about her second birth here.
I delivered you on Monday, June 11 (your due date). I went to the dr. for my 39 week appt on Wednesday, and was 2 cm and 80% effaced. That weekend, I did a lot of walking, and I started having contractions 5-7 minutes apart starting Saturday evening, all day and night on Sunday, so we went to the dr. on Monday morning and I was 5 cm and in labor. We hurried home, got our hospital bags and cameras, and off we went! I remember standing in our kitchen and starting to cry, looking at your dad, knowing the next time we'd be in here we'd have our little girl. After a special hug and kiss (and a little reassurance from him that we WOULD be good parents-- like there's anything we can do about it at this point anyway!) we were off. 

At the hospital, they confirmed I was definitely in labor and my body was pretty much laboring too hard because my water hadn't broken. So they broke my water around 10:30 AM. By noon, I was having contractions every 3 minutes, and they were getting quite painful. I did a lot of laboring sitting on the exercise ball and also leaning on the ball with it resting on the bed. By 1:30 they were getting really bad, I was 7 cm, and they were quite painful, so we went to the tub. That felt AWESOME. It helped my back labor so much (you were facing the wrong way, but ended up turning at the last minute). I think I had my eyes closed for pretty much the entire labor. I was in my own little world. The contractions would last a while, and so I would just close my eyes and count back from 50 slowly (in my head-- it took too much energy to say it out loud), and I knew that by the time I got to 0, the contraction would be over. 

Then after about an hour in the tub, they really started to ramp up and I was getting so uncomfortable, and just could NOT find a comfortable position at all. I started getting the urge to push, and told your dad he needed to go get the nurse because I seriously needed to push. He was like, "no, Lis, just fight through it..." and I gave him "the look" and said, "go get the nurse." So he ran and grabbed the nurse (leaving me alone in the tub, which was like the ONE no no we learned in childbirth class) and we got out of the tub and checked me and I was ready! They had me do a practice push while the dr. got ready, but had to have me stop because you were on your way!! After a half an hour of pushing, you were here! I pushed out your head and shoulders and got to raise you onto my chest myself. It is amazing how right away I knew it was meant to be. Truly love at first sight. 

So we got to the hospital at 10 AM and you were in our arms by 4:30 that afternoon. You weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces, 20 1/2 inches long, and scored a TEN on the Apgar. You literally came into this world with your eyes WIDE open! I am convinced one of the reasons you were so alert right away and scored a ten was because I did not have any drugs in my system. 

For your dad and me as a couple, it was the best day of our lives. For me personally, I've never been more exhilarated, proud and happy. It was an AMAZING experience, and I am so proud of myself for going without pain meds... there is nothing like the feeling of delivering your little baby!! :) You would think that without any pain meds, pushing a baby out would be the most painful part, but for me, the contractions were much more painful than actually pushing. My doctor and the nurses were awesome and never once tried to push drugs on me... they were so supportive and the entire experience was way more enjoyable than I was prepared for. 

I love you, sweet baby, and hope that by writing this down I can always relive that day in my life. You've changed me forever.

Baby Girl Wishlist

I love making lists.  I've been making all sorts of lists in anticipation of Miss Vivian's arrival: homebirth supplies, tips for Sam's aunt who'll be watching him, freezer meals to make, things to get done before she arrives etc.  But this list is a little more fun, so I thought I'd share.  While the only thing we actually need is a second carseat, and maybe some new prefolds, there are certainly a few sweet and lovely things that would be fun to have.  Here's my list of pretty baby girl things that are fun to daydream about.

Stacks of Anna Maria Horner fabric for beautiful, luxurious receiving blankets, quilts, and even colorful outfits!

Anything white, frilly and feminine from Jottum.
Non-pink onesies and basic layering stuff from American Apparel.  It's nice to have a little variety in the color palette:)

 

We always just take the babies in the tub with us and hold them in our lap.  But this Puj tub or Spa Baby tub look like they might be pretty handy.  Has anyone used either of these?

Maybe some sweet soft toys too.  I know we don't really need them, but they're so cute!

Okay, and maybe some really darling handmade clothes, as long we're at it:)

Gardens and Belly Bliss

The other morning Sam and I met up with the rest of the learning co-op at Red Butte Garden for a field trip, wrapping up our month of nature lessons.  I was surprised at how long we were able to spend meandering through the paths with a gaggle of little ones.  They LOVED exploring the paths and plants.  At the end we spent some time in the children's garden where they were able to get thoroughly soaked in the fountain, climb on enormous lizard statues and crawl inside vine-covered houses.  It is a really magical place- for kids and grownups. Then, as if the day weren't lovely enough already, I dropped Sam off at his aunt's house and went and had the most blissful prenatal massage of my life!  Ooh, just thinking about it makes me go all squishy and relaxed again...  I had a few massages when I was pregnant with Sam, and they were good.  I mean, it's hard to go wrong with a massage, especially when you're pregnant and achy.  But this was in a whole separate category of its own.  Rebecca Overson (remember her beautiful birth story?) has a peaceful little office just around the corner from my house where she works muscle magic.  The thing that made her massage different is that I could just tell that she had been pregnant before.  She just knew exactly where the sore spots were and how to work them out.  Oh, and the coolest thing?  I got to lay on my stomach!  That alone was practically worth it.  I havn't laid on my stomach for months, and it's one of those random things you miss.  But she has these special adjustable pillows so you can lay all supported and face down. 
I'm such a believer in taking time for Mom.  I was so sweet to Sam and Clay after having a little pampering myself.  And it doesn't always have to be something like going out and getting a massage (but sometimes, it does!), a quiet walk, half an hour with a book or in a bubble bath, these go a long way to restoring balanace and sanity and making me feel human again.  But, if you're preggie right now, a few massages from someone who knows about pregnancy aches and pains, are just what the doctor ordered!  And seriously, if you have a pregnant friend, forget the cute baby clothes, toys etc.  Just get her a certificate for a prenatal massage.  You will be her best friend!  I think Rebecca even has a few specials going on right now, including a new client special.  You can also get credit toward your own massage if you refer friends (doesn't everyone know at least have a dozen pregnant ladies?).

Planet Jr., The Weeding Miracle

My parents got this new gardening tool and they're so excited about it.  Honestly, they can't stop talking about it.  Of course, I know all about how that goes; I totally geek out about handy gadgets, seeds, new knitting needles, you name it.  Now it's clear where I get that!

 

My dad emailed me these pictures and the following praise for the Planet Jr. Wheel Hoe.  "Our garden is about 3000 sq. ft., and I got out this morning around 6:45 and weeded the whole thing in about 1/2 hour with the Planet Junior.  It was invented back around 1870 or so.  I saw an old one in action when I went down to help a neighbor with his garden a week or two ago.  Our rototiller had broken down, and as soon as I saw this old thing, I wanted one.  Best thing since night baseball!"

So there you have it, the official endorsement from Mom and Pop!

8 Tips for Stress-Free Camping

The editor of Simple Mom has a new addition to her family, so a bunch of the Simple Media contributors (Simple Organic, Simple Homeschool, Simple Bites etc.) have pitched in to do some guest posts and give her a little break.  That's who I stole the idea from:)  Today I have a post up about making family camping more manageable, so you'll want to do it more often.  Check it out and start planning some trips!

June Sponsor Love

We have so many great sponsors this month, and quite a few are new, which is exciting.  Let me introduce you!

First, I have to show you two goodies that came in the mail, both from current sponsors.  I recently opened up the option of trades in exchange for sponsorship; I've been trying to make it as accessible as possible for smaller businesses.  And this has been so fun for me, because, of course, I only take on sponsors whose stuff I already adore anyway.  Below is a kit from Jessica at SeedPod Craft Studio.  She has this brilliant design for a baby carrier called the SweetPod and she sent me a kit to sew one myself!  I'm a little intimidated, but she assures me that beginning seamstresses have been able to turn out beautiful carriers.  And after looking over the pattern and the instructions, which are quite detailed and easy-to-follow, I feel quite a bit more encouraged.  Stay tuned to see how I do!

Another treat is this beautiful soft rabbit rattle from Dress Me Up.  I've often admired online the things she creates, but the pictures are nothing compared to holding one in my hands.  I was genuinely impressed with the craftsmanship and the quality of the materials.  Everything is organic and so soft, but sturdy.  And I love the simple, modern design that still remains rather classic and timeless.  I love picturing Vivian holding this in her chubby little hands:)

Euphoria Baby is another new sponsor (they also have a maternity store).  I recently got some Bummis covers from them that are SO sweet!  The reviews and explanations of the different diapers on their site are really helpful when trying to figure out which system and type meets your needs. I got a few infant covers because I remember that even with the BumGenius ones folded to the smallest size they were still quite bulky around Sam's little newborn bird legs (though they worked great after the first couple months).  I was going to go the practical route and only get green spotted or frog pattern covers in case we have a boy next.  But the flower print was too hard to resist!

I was introduced to Moon Over Maize by a birth educator and love their designs.  You can see lots of their beautiful jewelry in last week's giveaway or in their shop. And, of course, you know how nuts I am about my Aurora Shoes.  I'm so happy to have them as a sponsor this month.  If I'm going to spend my hard earned money, I love to see it going to companies like these where I know I'm supporting ethical practices and family-run businesses.  And, of course, knowing that I'm getting a quality item that will last and last is certainly worth something too!

I've been in the process of collecting picture frames whenever I'm at the thrift store to start displaying our collection of art, which has previously been decorating a dusty corner of the basement and not doing anyone any good.  I've got my eye on some prints from The Blue Egg, maybe for Sam's room, or the kitchen, or maybe my new craft room (I need to show you the craft room, it's so exciting!). The Vintage Pearl is another wonderful, family-run business that creates unique and customizable jewelry.  This is the kind of company I turn to when I need the perfect gift.

Eco Lunch Gear is a returning sponsor, and I'm so happy to have them back!  We're doing lots more out-of-doors dining and their wraps and bags are the perfect thing.  Of course, they're also perfect for school and work lunches, but who's thinking about that now that it's summer?!

No Plastic is another supplier of great, reusable food containers.  If you're looking for some quality, air/water-tight stainless steel, this is the place to get it.  It took us awhile to completely phase all the plastic containers out of our house, but a piece at a time we finally got all the plastic swapped out for stainless steel and glass and I feel so good about it.

Mamma4Earth is hosting a giveaway in the next week or two that you won't want to miss.  Her knitted creations are so darling and make the perfect gift that will be treasured and loved for years and years.  Handmade things just have a way of sticking around.  They're sturdier and there's just something about them that lets kids know that they're special.  Each one is unique, no assembly line manufacturing here.  Each little critter has love knit right into it!  You can even knit your own lion from one of her patterns (though her prices for already-knit creations are really reasonable).
Some delicious LuSa Organics soaps arrived in the mail last week.  I could smell them as soon as I picked up the box!  Oh, they are SO yummy!  In fact, they smell so good I might be tempted to use them even if they weren't full of natural, good-for-you ingredients.  But, of course they are; nothing but the purest goes into LuSa's products, from their lotion bars, to their baby products, to those good-enough-to-eat soaps.  Once you try them, you will seriously never go back.

Annie's creations at Bird and Little Bird just make me smile every time I see them.  Hers are exactly the kind of toys I want my kids playing with.  How can they not grow up into sensitive, thoughtful adults with good taste after spending a childhood among friends like the Semi-Fantastic Mr. Fox and the Mostly Marvelous Ms. Rabbit?  They're even more special when you make them yourself from one of her patterns or kits...

Please take a moment to visit our sponsors, and next time you're in the market for something they offer, consider supporting them, their values and their families. 

What to Do With All Those Scraps of Felted Wool

As you may or may not know, I have something of a love affair with felted wool. It's one of my very things to craft and sew with.  Consequently I have a (very) large basket overflowing with felted sweaters and scrap bits.  A few months ago, Sam stopped using diapers altogether.  We still had him in something absorbent at night though.  However, since he was waking up dry every morning, we decided to just go for it and make it baby boxers all the time.  Buuuut, not without a teeny little bit of back up, just in case.

I love the idea of those felted wool pads for toddlers' beds (or nursing and/or cosleeping parents), but they're kind of expensive.  That's when I realized I could put all those small and oddly shaped scraps of felted wool to work!  I gathered up a big pile and fit them together like a jigsaw puzzle, then pinned the seams together.  This required a bit of finagling and trimming, but wool is a forgiving fabric. 

Once it was all pinned I just zipped all those seams together on the sewing machine and that was that.  I had to go back over a few spots that turned out kind of wonky or lumpy.  It was a pretty imprecise project, but it didn't need to be perfect, just water resistant.  And, were I so inclined, I could have sewed a cute binding around the edge or something.  But, as it was, I just tossed it on his bed, where it's been ever since.  And I must add, where it's remained perfectly dry.  Have to give credit where credit is due!

 

Here's Sam modeling the comfiness of the pad.  This is how he normally looks in the morning, covers tossed off, hair a fuzzy halo, but with eyes closed:)  Now that it's gotten warmer I've just layered a light cotton over it so he's not right on the wool.  Although, wool actually stays pretty cool in the summer if you're just laying on it, not wrapping up in it, of course.  Unfortunately (or not...), this only made the slightest dent in my wool stash, which means there are more felted wool projects to come!

Giveaway: Moon Over Maize

Moon Over Maize offers a full line of beautiful, handmade sterling silver jewelry accented with semi-precious stones.  They also have a selection of customized mothering jewelry: homebirth necklaces, pregnancy necklaces, midwife/doula necklaces, and remembrance necklaces.

The necklaces are designed to represent the beautiful curves and strength of a woman's body and would make the perfect token for yourself, to celebrate your birthing, or a gift to honor a friend.  They also have a wide selection of everyday necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings.  You can view all the lovely things they offer in their etsy shop or on their website. 
This weekend Moon Over Maize is giving away one of their beautiful, custom Children's Names Necklace.  This could be a perfect keepsake for you or a lovely gift for mom or a dear friend.

To be entered to win, just 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, or 6) on facebook.  Good luck! 

Congratulations to Plain and Joyful Living who said, "Very beautiful jewelry."

The Friday Make and Do

Make a little etched tin for Grandpa or Dad for Father's Day.  He can store mints, business cards, and special treasures in it.  The project is part art, part science, pretty rad.

Blow some bubbles on your own homemade bubble wands.

Cook dinner over the fire.  I love backyard bonfires, and with foil dinners there's no clean up!  Here are two links for all sorts of various dinners you can wrap in foil and cook over the coals.

Make your own fruit leather.

Go Letterboxing!  Oh my word, this is so fun; you will love it.  I promise!  We made the stamps and printed out the directions and had a grand old time "treasure hunting."  It seriously is a blast.

Hope your weekend is filled with adventure and delicious food!

At Mother's Breast

A friend of mine has started a wonderful project, "Photographing the beauty and normalcy of breastfeeding."   She has her second little one arriving any day now, so won't be taking on new subjects in the immediate future.  However, she plans to continue the project, so feel free to contact her if you live nearby or will be in the area and would like to participate in a photo shoot.  She's also looking for out-of-state photographers that would like to contribute to the project by submitting photos.  Her long term vision is "to have this website showcase breastfeeding moms from around the country, or even the world, through beautiful photography."

Take a minute to scroll through the various photo shoots; there are some beautiful and sweet images; I think you'll love them.  And spread the word; the more people that see breastfeeding as normal and beautiful, the better!

Birth Stories: Hannah and Grace, at a Birth Center in London

I was a surprised the morning I awoke to my sac of water breaking.  It wasn’t necessarily early; our baby girl was due in two more weeks,  but for some reason it was a shock.   I sat up in bed and realized  I would finally meet our second baby girl that day.  My last birth involved an epidural and I had decided this time would be different.  After eating breakfast, showering and making sure our daughter was safe in the care of her grandmother, we got our things and headed to the birthing center. 

Rob and I left for the midwife-led birthing center knowing there were no free rooms.  We were told on the phone they were very busy and it might be possible that a birthing room would not available, in which case I would give birth in one of the exam rooms.  Obviously this was not an ideal situation, but I refused to let any negative thoughts creep in.   A week before we weren’t even sure if we would be able to go to the birthing center, as our baby had been in the breech position.  The doctors were able to turn her around with a cephalic inversion and luckily she stayed head down.  I felt blessed that we were able to have a natural birth after thinking that I might have to have a cesarean section.  We were prepared to deal with what the day would hold for us.
So far I had been breathing through my contractions very easily,  taking time to rest in between.  The midwives suggested we take a walk outside, but I preferred to stay close to the center and away from the busy streets of central London.  Rob and I sat  on a bench for about an hour, watching the hustle and bustle of the hospital outside the birthing center.  We decided to go back inside, as I was drinking lots of water and needed to use the bathroom frequently.  I sat in the waiting area, when my contractions came I stood up, faced the wall and put my arms up to support myself against it.  There were women, some with partners, coming in to the birthing center for last appointments and orientation.  Rob and I were scheduled to have ours that weekend.  I was acutely aware that these women,  most of whom were about to have their first baby, were watching me in order to glean some understanding of what their labor might be like.   I focused on remaining focused and calm.  As the contractions got stronger I used the wall to center and support myself. 

By the time my midwife, Ona, came to tell us that our room was free, I was feeling the urge to get down on my hands and knees. I knew it wouldn’t be long. Our room was calm, clean and dimly light.   Everything was there: a birthing stool, ropes to use as arm support, a birthing pool, a bed.   In my mind I had pictured myself using the birthing stool, but when we entered the room I decided to try using the ropes.  After one or two contractions I asked to have the pool filled up.  Within minutes it was full. I climbed in and didn’t leave until our baby was born. 

The contractions in the final stage were the most intense yet somehow beautiful pains I have ever felt.  With warm water enveloping me,  Rob and Ona wiping my brow with a cool cloth and giving me sips of cool water, I pushed for half an hour.   With each contraction I reached further inside myself for strength, knowing this  was what my body was designed to do.  Her head came out and I stayed in the water until  she was born at 1:30 p.m.  I took her in my arms and held her until the cord stopped pulsing.  She was beautiful.  Her name would be Grace. 

Chicken Wrangler (or, The Boy Needs a Dog)

Sam, having figured out how to undo the latch on the chickens' coop, lets them out on a regular basis, much to their grass-eating and garden-trampling joy.  But how can I say no?  They provide hours of entertainment and Sam is head-over-heels in love with them. 
Interestingly, they are the most patient with him.  Or perhaps it's his patience that's rewarded, as I certainly don't have the patience to follow them around the yard, waiting for them to pause so I can scoop them up or pat them.  Regardless, they allow themselves to be picked up and often held for a few minutes before they flap their wings in a fluttery protest, indicating that they must get back to the serious business of eating bugs and the tender young plants in my garden.

It probably doesn't help the garden-eating situation that Sam picks phlox and other delicacies from the flower garden and hand feeds them to the chickens.  No wonder they like him the best. 

One of these days we'll get him a dog, but it will have to wait until we have more land for both boy and dog to roam.  Until then, two patient chickens are a surprisingly good substitute.

This Chair Wants to Live in My House...

Clay's been working on this really beautiful set of chairs and table for a client and they were finally finished and delivered last week.  The problem is that a) they're the most comfortable thing I've ever sat in, and b) they're gorgeous.  Why is this problematic?  Because I want them!!  Doesn't it seem awfully unfair that he would make something so lovely, and even have one of the chairs lingering in my dining room (next to my benchless table) for several days and not let me keep at least a couple? 

It's hard to believe that something so sleek and lovely started out as these raw pieces of wood that needed to be shaped and coaxed into becoming a beautiful chair.  You can read more about the process on the Ivory Bill blog; there are some neat pictures of the chair in various stage, as well as of the table, which I also love.
 

See, doesn't it look right at home?  I tried to convince Clay that it wanted to stay here with me, but I guess the clients would've been grumpy about having an odd number of chairs...

Honey Hibiscus Lemonade

I've been drinking hibiscus tea every morning for the past couple months.  As the temperature's been climbing I've been thinking about how to turn my favorite morning habit into something suitable for hot, desert mornings.  I experimented with a half-and-half concoction of iced hibiscus tea and fresh-squeezed lemonade.  It was as delicious as I'd hoped it would be!

I started with about 6 cups of boiling water, poured over three tea bags.  I use the round Republic of Tea kind.  I let it sit in the pot for awhile before transferring it to the glass pitcher.  Then I squeezed about six lemons, adding the juice and about 1/4-1/2 cup of honey (I just eyeballed it).  From there I tasted and added water until it was the right balance of flavors.  The lemon and hibiscus make quite a concentrated tart flavor, so you definitely need to add extra water.

The color is such an outrageous pink that I almost felt guilty when I drank it, like it was some artificial kool-aid type drink.  But, nope, it's just pure and natural, sweet and simple.  Luckily for me, Sam wasn't wild about it, and Clay is on a "no sweet foods" thing, so I got the whole pitcher to myself.  Of course, it was still gone in a matter of days...

 

Double Giveaway: Bird and Little Bird, and Sewn Natural

I have two treats for you this weekend!  Annie, of Bird and Little Bird, creates the most charming animals; The Semi-Fantastic Mr. Fox, and the Mostly Marvelous Ms. Rabbit.  For the craftily-inclined she also sells kits (in all sorts of colors and patterns) to make them yourself; how fun is that?  I'm all about kits; you get the less fun part (the sourcing of materials) out of the way and just get to jump straight into the fun part.  Of course, if you want to provide your own material, she also sells easy to follow patterns that you could use to make a whole family of sweet animals. 
Annie also writes a charming blog where you can find crafting inspiration, book recommendations, recipes and fun activities for kids; check it out, I think you'll like it.  Today she's offering TWO kits, a Mr. Fox and a Ms. Rabbit!

Maybe you have a little someone special with a birthday coming up, or a friend about to have a baby, or maybe you'd just like to try your hand at making one of these charming critters.  I think one of these kits would make the best gift for a crafty friend too.  Sometimes it's so hard to find the perfect gift for someone who's so handy, but with a present like this you'd be saluting their overall talented greatness and providing them an awesome, unique gift.  I would be totally thrilled if someone got me a kit like this for my birthday.  I'm not exactly a master crafter, but with good instructions and all the pieces there for me, I think I just might be able to swing it.

The second treat is a set of these adorable felt acorns from Sewn Natural!  I'm so in love with them, I want a bowl of them sitting on my desk just to cheer me up whenever I look at them.  I love tactile, beautiful, natural objects like this.  It just seems like it's got to be so good for a little tike to roll these around in his chubby fingers, enjoying the colors and textures.  She also suggests using these as favors and decorations for weddings or showers, which I think is so clever and unique.  She makes sets in all one color so it would co-ordinate with your theme.  Jennifer also maintains a beautiful blog with lots of sewing projects and kid-friendly ideas.  Have a peek!  

And definitely check out the Sewn Natural shop; they have beautiful, classy children's clothing, and clever things like car seat organizers in charming fabric.  Take the time to browse through their pages, there's a lot there and I'm sure you'll love it all.

To be entered to win, just 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, or 6) on facebook.  Good luck!

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Congratulations to Jess, the winner of the rabbit kit, who said, "Mostly Marvelous Ms. Rabbit is adorable...My daughter would just love her! Jess"

And Amber, winner of the fox kit, who said, "I'm a FB fan too!"

And Cutelittlething, winner of the acorns, who said, "Wonderful Giveaway!!! Would be fun to try anothers pattern, and of course LOVE SewnNaturals rainbow acorns!!!!!"

Edible Wasatch

There's this amazing family of magazines all about local and sustainable food, published all over the country.  Because the focus is local, there's not one national magazine, but rather a family of magazines under the same name, but run locally.  Above are just a few examples of some of them.

The exciting news is that we now have an edible Magazine here in Utah!  I met with one of the editors a couple months ago and she explained the project and her vision.  She's so passionate about it, and just dug right in, working so hard up until the very last minute to make this publication a reality here in Utah.  And the first issue of edible Wasaatch is just hitting newsstands!!
It's chock full of wonderful stories, interviews and resources.  There are listings of local festivals happening this summer, and a directory of farmers' markets and CSAs, and a wonderful article about disappearing fruit orchards and the people who are trying to preserve them.
One of my favorite things about the magazine is that the editors have really focused on trying to accurately represent all the aspects of Utah food culture.  So, there's the article about the family fruit orchards, followed by an essay about the Word of Wisdom written by a local high school senior, then an article about my favorite Asian market, followed by a story about local breweries.  Representing all of Utah culture, not just the foodie, Whole Foods shopper set, is a high priority for the editors, and I think that's one of the things that really makes this magazine important.
Above is the article I wrote.  It's about incorporating the littlest members into caring for the family garden.  Clay did the illustrations.  I love it when we're able to collaborate like this; it's so fun seeing our creative work side by side. 

We also placed an ad for Ivory Bill in the first issue, which I really love.  Clay designed the ad and used a photo taken by our good friend Steve.  See anyone familiar in the picture?

If you're local (or anywhere from the Southern Idaho border down to St. George, really), keep your eyes out for an issue.  You can find them at Whole Foods, Harmons and farmers' markets across the state,as well as many locally owned shops.  And if you're not local, I bet your city has an edible magazine too!  Check out the website and see if your state is represented.  If not, maybe you just ought to start one...

The Friday Make and Do

Have a picnic!  This is the season for out of doors eating.  Here are a few more quick and delicious picnic food ideas.

Make some silverware roll ups to take on your picnic.

Mix up a big batch of homemade pancake mix for lazy, but healthy mornings.  I'd probably add fresh buttermilk at the end, rather than putting the powdered stuff in the mix.  But I love this idea for those bleary-eyed mornings when you can't tell the difference between the baking powder and the baking soda...

Grab your paints and paper and head outside for a little plein air painting.  Here are a few watercolor tips to get you started.
Make some felted balls; this has been on my project list for quite some time...  Here's a tutorial about how to do it in your washing machine, and another about doing it by hand (this is the fun way, especially for kids; I used to love doing this!).

Have a fun weekend!

Book Review: Homemade Fun (and a Giveaway!)

Remember Rae Grant's wonderful books Cooking Fun and Crafting Fun?  They're full of simple and sweet projects for kids, accompanied by vintage-style illustrations.  I love how reading her books just instantly lowers my blood pressure, makes me pause and smile.  Life suddenly becomes less complicated when you're reading about silhouette portraits and jump rope songs.  You can imagine how pleased I was to receive an advance copy of her newest book, Homemade Fun .  It should be in your local book shop now, waiting to inspire hours of projects and activities.  You can also try your luck at the giveaway she's generously offering here!  Check out her blog for updates, as I believe there's a little blog tour happening with more giveaways and reviews.

When I got the package in the mail, I immediately opened the book and started thumbing through the pages.  Clay peeked over my shoulder, and seeing the project I was looking at (the froggie wash cloth puppet), said, "I love it already!"  It really is hard not to love with the charming illustrations and clever and easy projects.  I wanted to do at least half a dozen right then and there.  The wash cloth puppets are definitely on my list.  Sam will be crazy about them.

The wonderful thing about her projects is that many would be fun for an adult to do, but all are simple enough for children.  She also includes very basic instruction about things like embroidery, threading a needle, baking etc.  It's a thoroughly inviting source of information and plain old fun.  Here's what some other folks have to say about her latest book:

"Rae Grant understands the modern family's desire to live a simpler life. This is a must have book on every family's shelves for years to come." Pardis Amirshahi, editor of Living Crafts magazine.

In a time when our children can be lost on the information highway, Rae Grant has found a way to stop and get off. Homemade Fun offers families a way back to the that delightful world called imagination."
Peggy Stern, Academy Award-winning documentary filmmaker; Moon and Son An Imagined Conversation, Chuck Jones: Memories of Childhood

To be entered to win a copy of Homemade Fun , just 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, or 6) on facebook.  Good luck!

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Congratulations to Megan, who said, "I just found your blog through "Feeding The Soil" and love it. Thanks for the giveaway. My kids love to have fun activities because they are reaching the stage where the most frequently heard phrase around my house is "I'm bored." Said more like "I'm boooooreeeed!""

Birth Stories: Rachel and Io, Unassisted at Home

39 weeks, 6 days
Active Labor: 1 hour 30 minutes (pre-labor on and off all day)
6 pounds, 14 ounces. 18 inches long.
Birth Lingo: 2nd HBAC, born unassisted. Posterior, water birth.

Our family's journey to a joyful birth was a full circle experience. 5 years prior our first daughter died in my arms on the operating table, born via c-section at 39 weeks. She had a genetic condition not compatible with life. The subsequent weeks, months, and years of our recovering from the events around her brief life and death were complicated by environment into which she was born: bright lights, rough handling, the nausea of being medicated, and a general feeling of disbelief and shock. Pregnant again 8 months later, we decided to leave the hospital behind and find a birthing environment where we felt safe and honored. Our son was born at home after an uncomplicated labor, although in hindsight it took months to even process what had happened in the last 18 months. We were still in shock over his sister's death. By the time our third child was ready to be born, I was finally in a place of peace and excitement. I felt completely supported by my team and extended family, our house was settled, and all the long lonely nights of visualizing the birth I wanted could come together in an event of utmost joy.

Wednesday morning was 1 day before the official due date. I was awoken around 7:00 AM with a mild contraction, then again about 10 minutes later…  It was gorgeous outside, I had slept fairly well, and it was my son Leif’s first day of preschool. I spent a few moments thinking that today might finally be the day, and decided to time some contractions and call my husband Britton after an hour if they seemed to be going anywhere.  The contractions came about every 10 or 15 minutes, but were fairly mild; they were not getting “longer, stronger, or closer together” as is expected from active labor.  But I decided to call Britton and have him come home just in case, since I felt like if my water broke or things decided to turn into active labor it could go quickly. I walked Leif to school, came home and cleaned, took a bath, and then a nap. I went and got a pedicure and then took a long slow walk on my favorite road.

Around 8:45 or 9:00 PM I felt anxious and irritated about everything… started pacing in the living room and noticed that I had a couple of contractions in a row. By 9:15 I needed to vocalize through them and was pacing back and forth in figure eights all around the house. I barked out some orders to Britton and Leif to call the midwife, doula, and other helpers and to get the tub ready.

Around 10:00 the tub had enough water for me to sit in (came maybe half way up my belly) and it was such a relief. I remember this with Leif’s birth – being so happy at the change in pace. It made the contractions noticeably less painful, spaced them out a bit, and I was able to be semi-social between them. Britton and Leif sat on the bed and watched; when I wasn’t yelling Leif would come over and talk to me. When one would start again he would scramble onto the bed and be still for me. At one point he went and got his fireman’s hat which made me laugh a little…the water had really helped slow the labor and improve my mood.

About 10:30 the doula arrived and she went upstairs to change her clothes and wash her hands. I noisily pushed through about 2 or 3 contractions during that time – since the doula was there I felt like I could really go for it and have some backup if the baby was born. She wasn’t crowning or even really descended so I felt like I had lots of time.  The next contraction I really pushed and felt her come all the way down (I was kneeling forward over the edge of the tub). Doula asked if I needed anything and I asked for some support from behind, she put her hands on my hips and I felt much more stable. Next contraction a minute later or so (seems like no time at all) and I pushed out her shoulders and she slipped into the water. Doula held her while I flipped over, then she handed her to me and called for Britton.

I sat with her and just stared, rubbed her back and cooed with her. She looked right at me then closed her eyes and took some gurgle breaths through her nose, but no crying. Britton and Leif came in. She was pinkish and I could feel her cord pulsing so I felt like she was doing just fine. We tried to stimulate her feet and back, tipped her up to drain some fluid, still no crying. But her color, tone, and breathing were good so we eventually stopped trying to have her really clear her lungs. She was perfect! Doula was on the phone with the assistant midwife through this time and I felt well supported. It was not in the least bit scary.  The midwife (and friend Hilary) showed up about 10 minutes after she was born. Then we transferred to the bed, cut the cord, took some pictures, and rejoiced. She was alert and perfect in every way and I felt really good.  My parents made me breakfast in bed  – one of the best meals of my life. Orange juice has never been so good! We finally all settled into bed around 3:00 AM and slept till the next morning.

Healthy Eats on the Road

My post at Simple Organic is up today.  One of this month's themes is staying healthy while traveling.  So, I put together a few ideas for avoiding eating out while traveling.  Packing and preparing healthy food for road trips is actually one of my favorite things; I think it's so fun.  And cooking while camping?  Love it!  So, pop over to Simple Organic and check out some of the ideas, and share some of your own.  They also have some neat posts about WWOOFing, baby wearing, CSAs and a fun DIY market bag tutorial if you scroll back a few days.