Encircling

My space

Siah needed his own room badly...I needed a change of pace. So the solution seemd obvious- I needed to give up an entire room of craft space to accomodate this change. It worked out beautifully and I couldn't be happier. Even if my craft space does take up half of our already small bedroom.For one, I love the lighting in our bedroom much more. The middle room(now Siahs bedroom) has wood paneling and peg board on the walls, which makes for a woodsy darkness that just wasn't compatible with taking pictures or having adequate light for art or sewing. Granted, my closet space in that room will remain unchanged, and the treadmill really has nowhere else to live, but the rest of the room is his....and Gavins, eventually. Luckily we have enough toys and storage containers and bookshelves to be able to rearrange things easily enough. 

So my room is pretty much complete, minus a much wanted painting I plan to buy. Siah will be getting a new quilt soon and some wallhangings to cover the wood as soon as we find something we like.

A week in review

So this past week flew by in a dizzy blur. Zoe had day camp for 3 days with our church at a camp in Oregon- which meant early morning drives across Portland to the bus and back again at night. This was after a weekend in Seattle with shopping and doting great aunties for mine and Siah's birthday. Yes, we share. It was a fun-packed, adventure filled week and I am happy to say that at the end of it, after a day home I have caught up on sleep and defeated a tummy bug passed around the camp kids. Friday is here and I can finally say my morning sickness is GONE!!!! My due date is official now at January 7th, 2010 and I am now 12 weeks and a day today.

Hopefully this new-found freedom from constant nausea will prove productive for knitting and sewing- which I tend to not handle quite so well lately. The knitting would make me dizzy and I haven't had the energy to even look at my sewing machine. I still have scraps of fabric on the floor in the craft room from the last thing I sewed. So a little more cleaning and organizing is in order now that I am feeling energetic again. 

But for today there will be painting in the bathroom and odd jobs around the house. Building a robot pinata is in order as well, as is planning a menu for Siah's birthday party this weekend. And in my spare time I will continue to teach Gavin the difference between trash and treasure, as he loves to "help" and throw things away! And of course scrubbing the floor, putting laundry away and sweeping the floor swould be good too. 

 

Our garden

So we have been spending a great deal of time in our garden. This yard is enough work for at least 2 people- working full time since it has been years since it was tended to in entirety. We do a little here and there, when we can.Adams parents and aunt have even done a great deal. I have been making intentional effort to garden on days when I feel particularly good, since the kids like to be outside anyway. Gavin usually walks around , says hi to the neighbor dog and plays on his slide. He even likes to help mulch. I have even been giving the kids money to help me mulch from a giant pile we have on the side yard- from all the tree cutting that took place earlier this year. Our garden is definitely a joint effort. Some plants we raised from seedlings, others were given us by granny. I have tilled large garden beds and ripped out more bulb plants than I want to remember. I have even mowed with a push mower- for the first time in my entire life I have mowed a lawn. Push mowers are not easy to push either. I also recently used a weed-wacker.  And did I mention our compost pile? Or the chickens? I have definitely been doing my share of dirty work lately. But it's nice. I know that it will all pay off soon as we are lounging on a summer night eating fresh picked raspberries, or maybe a blackberry crumble. I am already enjoying all the lettuce for salads and I remember how much Zoe has enjoyed shelling fava beans. There will be many sugar snap peas, pole beans, and lush tomatoes as well. And pretty soon our pears and plums will be ripe. Yes, it is all worth it.

Although many mornings I have been coaxed by the kids outside way to early, and with a giant mug of coffee in hand I look around intimidated by what I see...I scratch my head and wonder how in the world this yard will ever be completely cleaned up and who is actually going to do it...

Lets talk diapers

It is after all, one of my favorite subjects. Cloth diapers, that is. 

The way I figure it, if I am going to be washing diapers, folding them, looking at them - they need to be cute. I am down with good quality prefolds, and plain covers, but I love cute hyena type diapers. I alays have, and now that I am fully equiped and able to sew my own I can proudly say I have not really bought anything for Gavin except prefolds and a few snappis. I have made his diaper stash myself. There were the Very Baby newborn AIO's, the Very Baby fitteds in newborn size, and a few self-designed covers and one or two Very Baby PUL covers. The rest of his pants and covers were knit. I used Little Turtle Knits, Curly Purly, and Fern and Faerie patterns.  I also made his size small stash and am currently(too slowly) working on his medium stash, which is half done. Medium is the size all of my kids so far grew into and stayed at.We never progressed beyond it to a large. 

The latest pattern I purchased was the Cuddlebuns pattern. As I worked away at cutting fabric for Gavins diapers a few weeks ago I decided that one-size was the way to go for the next child. Sure, I will make newborn size still(included in the pattern- bonus!)because all of my large babies start out smallish in the diapering area. I will also be making sized knits. I may even make a few Very Baby AIO's. But I can tell you very certainly that I will not be making any sized fitteds besides nb. I am done as far as that goes. 

I am hoping for a girl, and I figured I would try out my new pattern with some leftover fabric and an old t-shirt of mine. A stretchy cotton jersey. I even had snaps to match!

I am also working away at a few covers. Because I just couldn't resist the thought that I have a 50% chance of having a girl..so why not? If I'm right, I will have saved time. If I am wrong, I will get a good laugh and have gifts to give later on.

And I am super excited to think that I may be able to use some beautiful striped knits and t-shirts I don't wear anymore to make some of the diapers. I am totally into repurposing.

To blog or not to blog...

So I have been wrestling for some time with my blog. Trying to find the time here and there. Trying to colect my thoughts enough to actually say something worth hearing in my free moments. I think the problem has been routine. I haven't made it routine. I think my life could definitely use more structure in this way. I want so badly for blogging to become second nature. I have always started journals with high hopes. But then the writing turned into doodles and then I eventually lost interest. So I am going to attempt yet again to make it a part of my daily life. I would hate to miss out on recording any more of the fun we have or the things the kids say or the things that make me happy. 

I have been way to out of it these past few weeks to put 2 thoughts together when the silent moments in my day came around. That should get better soon....I am hopeful!  If I can just make it a habit...

So I really need to find an answer....

to a very pressing problem. I seem to do my best blogging in my head- while out and about, on long car rides, or any place that just ahppens to not be my own home with acsess to a computer. I think I may need some sort of recording device.

Most of my time this past few weeks has been spent barely functioning. I take frequent rests in a large comfy chair...and try to forget the fact that I need to throw up. I am still nursing, so my body sends clear and strong signals when it needs food- which is often. Luckily for me, I never really throw up. So all is good as far as that goes. I really can't wait until this stage passes though. So that I can get more accomplished. Being able to think clearly would be nice as well.

When I can, I've been cutting fabric for diapers, knitting myself a new sweater(the February Lady Sweater), and gardeing with the kids. The weather has been just lovely lately. We also moved our chickens outside, so that has been fun. The kids love to find the girls worms and give them grass seeds to munch. I've also been painting a second coat of paint in our bathroom wall whenever I get a few moments - which has been a long time coming....And we are getting new windows installed throughout the house. I am super-excited about the new windows because, well, the ones here now pretty much suck.They are single pane, and ancient with storm windows attached and screens lost. Which translates into = large contained space where hornets and wasps and spiders have nests. 

A very happy weekend

So we had a great Mother's Day weekend, and I hope everybody else can say the same. We went to Multnomah Falls on Saturday and had just a perfect day. It wasn't too hot, not cold and it was sunny. On Sunday we helped out in the church nursery, then Adam made a wonderful hot pastrami sandwich lunch(with hoimemade sauerkraut) and we went to his parents for dinner. Besides Saturday, it was pretty restful. And although I am not feeling as symptomatic as with other pregnancies so far it was nice to rest. I did have a crazy hot flash or two though. Yuck.

Not much crafting went down, though I did get to mend a few things, and finish up the ties on Zoe's baby clothes quilt. Boring, long-drive-to-the-waterfalls type stuff. I did organize things once again, which helps immensely during those short intervals of time (otherwise wasted) during the week when I want to craft. 

Adam also got me some yummy expensive peach blossom tea from a tea shop he discovered in Portland during work breaks. And I got to shop with only one child for an hour and Gavin sat perfectly quiet in the stroller the entire time.The kids drew me cards, and I got lots of fresh picked flowers from the yard. We even picked the great-grandma some flowers from her yard, just in case she missed them.

A week of making.

So last week was a whirlwind full of making and getting things finished. My ever-growing pile of projects and ideas now has a considerable dent knocked out of it. I was able to take 5 minutes here, 15 minutes there, and create. Or mend...or cut fabric. It was nice. I think I am finally finding a rhythm to this. It also helps that Gavin slept a lot this weekend due to teething/growth spurts/early waking.  And who cares if I was over-caffienated for a few days? 

 The goods:

(There is actually more to be shown, but due to the nasty weather today, I will have to snap pics tomorrow...)

A pair of size small pants I knit Gavin in a pear-green cascade wool got lost in the wash. They emerged the perfect newborn size. So naturally, since I just found out I am pregnant(!) I decided to stitch a few wool hearts on, and give the pants a drawstring with leftover sock yarn in a matching colorway. 

 

Yes, we actually decided about a month ago that another baby might be a good idea. It just happened very quickly. I am hoping for another girl, and am afraid Zoe might be mad at me if I dissapoint. You can put hearts on a newborn boy, right?

I am due sometime early Jan, 2010.

Up next there was the fast and furious sewing of the baby clothes quilt. Idea from Alicia Paulsons book Stitched In Time. It was really a fun and quick project. I used *some* of Zoes old baby clothes, and even a few squares of coordinating fabric we had lying around that tied the colors together. The back is an Indian cloth that a friend brought back for us before Zoe was born. I made the bias tape(so fun!I love making bias) and I think the backing of the quilt just matches so nicely- bringing out the little bits of violet. Don't mind the wrinkles in the picture, or the warped lines. It really is sewn straight, I assure you. I just took pictures hastily.

Then there was the re-purposed fabric tote bag. I used an old smock of Martha's, torn up and pockets off. As well as some bright green coordinating fabric she had. (It was sort of scary how well they matched)

I added the pocket inside the tote and made one handle short, and one long for ease of carrying.

I can always use more shopping bags.

I even re-worked a pair o ffrogged longies in a different gauge. hopefully this time the colors will pool in a good way.

That's so ten minutes ago...

This is what I often feel like, given the speed of the events of our days. I feel as if I sometimes can't keep up. I really love to sit and savor precious moments, yet if I wait to long the kids are already on to something else- leaving me in a trail of dust. 

I have been trying to keep ahead of the game lately. I have been keenly listening in on conversations trying to follow the kids interests. We get books, we do experiments, we share what we already know about any given subject. I especially love it when I know the answers to what they are asking me. Like, completely. Without having to google for it. I just need to find the best way to record it. To mark their learning. ...Or maybe this is partly unessecary?I mean the real test is what actually sticks with them, right?

Most of our days now are spent reading library books and gardening outside.After all, we are doing the unschool thing. The world is our classroom. I love it that I can feel so relaxed as we are learning. The sunshine seems to help and can easily turn a gloomy day around, given that sun is a rare commodity here. Even when we are outside and it starts to rain, the sun peaking out just a little seems to encourage the kids to stay out longer.The kids also do better on days when we need to do lots of shopping, having had their fill of outdoor time.

There has been lots of knitting of soaker shorts for Gavin, who is *so* growing out of his size small diapers and pants. I really need to get on the ball thsi week and start cranking out size medium diapers. He has serious plumber now and it's starting to bother me that he is one snap row away from diaper malfunction. So I am knitting every chance I get, and trying to carve out time at night for sewing. I feel some very long nights ahead of me. 

There has also been lots of pattern research, and fabric collectiong. I am gearing up for some nice new things for all of us- like spring pajama bottoms, skirts, quilts, bags, and the like. Oh, and uber- long lines at a certain chain fabric store that bears no mentioning. You all know which store I am talking about. I am sure. I thought I went on a non-holiday sale time, but the line still got me.

I wish I could stop time just for a few days and catch my breath.

For now I'll just make another cup of coffee in the mokka pot and think motivating thoughts...and edit my typos, and upload pictures. I should probably toss those flowers on the mantle that were so pretty last week as well.

Maybe I will eat some of the yummy sorghum sweetened strawberry rhubarb freezer jam we made too.

  

We love chickens.

Yes, we absolutely adore our new baby chickens. We got them about 2 weeks ago. We have since been learning how to care for them, holding them a lot(which they love) and soothing one of them to sleep occasionally at first because she was high needs or somethig. We picked up 4 Golden Sex-link chicks at a local feed store early one morning on a first-come first-serve basis. Then we picked up some organic, low soy, non-arsenic feed at another shop. I cannot begin to tell you the trouble I had finding a decent chick starter! I wanted soy free, but the man who sold it to us said he tried all fish protein and the eggs tasted like fish. Not good. So for the adult hen feed I will most likely mix my own. That way I know exactly how much soy(and other ingredients) are in the feed. I also chose to go the non-medicated feed route. Instead, we set a bowl of kefir in the cage. 

We have the chicks in a large cage used for our bunnies last year, and inside with a heat lamp so we can monitor them. The are not the smartest animals(though very sweet) and they tend to muck up their water with shavings as well as their food dish. So we constantly have to clean it out so they can find food and water.  

Their names are Barbie(the high-needs chicken who would cry herself to sleep for the first week), Ginger, Gretchen and Molly. Molly sadly passed away this weekend due to Zoe being too rough with her. She has since expressed deep remorse and knows better next time... And then we decided to go pick up 3 more chicks at a different feed store. They were Australorps I think, but only one of them has since survived. For some reason they were sort of sickly. One even kept standing in the water until she got too cold. So in total, I buried 3 chickens under some tomato starts in the garden this week. Too many dead chickens if you ask me. Sure, it's great fertilizer seeing as how I ran out of fish heads to bury, but it's very distrurbing to bury your own pets.

Hopefully they will be good layers. In the meantime while they grow I am awaiting the moveable run from Adams parents which they no longer use, and plotting which area in the backyard to move them around in. I also cannot tell you how excited I am that I will be able to feed my chickens food scraps. I am absolutely giddy that I will no longer have to compost or waste my kids uneaten food. And while these 4 chickens most likely will not produce enough eggs for our total monthly consumption, they will make a considerable dent. I think I may need many more birds to fit the 14 dozen + egg bill.  Will having our own chickens be cost effective? Maybe, maybe not. I can assure you I will be picky about what my chickens eat. Is it an awesome way to connect with nature in your own backyard? Definitely! Will it enrich my childrens abilities to act responsibly? Yes. Does it make for one great homeschool experience? Sure. Will it help my kids to appreciate where that plate of eggs at breakfast comes from? I hope so.