Learning Lifecycles

It's spring and new life is popping up everywhere. It was the perfect time to start talking about life cycles. A is very interested in nature and biology so this grabbed her attention immediately. We frequently visit the butterfly gardens in town and observe chrysalis there. We also have chicks we are observing go through the changes to chicken. We have painted lady larvae we will be raising coming next month and we are hoping to raise a couple tadpoles to frogs as well. It's such a fascinating topic. There are so many processes of development in nature.

 We made sure to stop by the library and stock up on books to help us answer all our life cycle questions. While information books are really helpful, I was glad to find some story books that we could read a bedtime that tied into what we had been discussing. Hurry and the Monarch and Tale of a Tadpole were great stories for us and beautifully illustrated.

One more place we are observing life cycles is in the garden. Seeds are sprouting, bulbs we planted in the fall are blooming, trees are blossoming. I asked A to draw me a life cycle and she drew the life cycle of a tree. On the left under the dirt is a green seed (like the green acorns we find in September) that has sprouted, then it becomes a seedling before finally growing into a tree. She made sure to tell me about the sun and how the plants need the sun. I love when she shares her knowledge with me.

The Best Kind of Bubbles

It all started with kombucha. I love kombucha and I was drinking a couple bottles a week. Well, at $5 per bottle it was really adding to our grocery bill. I had researched kombucha making before but it made me nervous. To be honest, all fermentation made me nervous. I made a few batches of sauerkraut a couple summers ago and they all developed mold. I felt like fermenting was not something to be done in my home.

Before venturing into fermentation any further I decided I needed to know more. I ordered The Art of Fermentation. It has just about anything you could want to know about fermenting in it.  Kombucha seemed like a really good place to start. I didn't need a fancy jar, weights or any special equipment, just tea, sugar and SCOBY (symbiotic colony of bacteria and yeast). I was lucky to find a local pal willing to share a SCOBY so I jumped right in.

Kombucha making has been so easy and delicious. I've been experimenting with second ferments with my booch. So far, I'm head over heals for ginger lemon. Once I felt good about my kombucha I needed to explore this fermentation thing further. I got kefir grains from another local pal and started trying my hand at water kefir. I don't like it as much as kombucha but it's much faster. Again, second ferments are where I'm focusing right now. Pineapple water kefir was really tasty.

I had read in an issue of Taproot that many people ferment their condiments such as mustard and ketchup. I recently started sprouting seeds and with my starter kit I got a package of yellow mustard seeds. I decided to give grainy mustard a try. It's still not quite ready though I did add a couple tablespoons to our Sloppeh Joe mix the other night for some kick! I'm definitely making ketchup next. My kids love ketchup with everything so if they get a dose of probiotics with their ketchup all the better.

Early in my fermentation journey I started a sourdough starter. It seemed so simple; water and flour left out for several days to collect wild yeast. Needless to say, it was not nearly as simple as I imagined. It needed to be fed twice daily and mine just never seemed to have enough yeast for a good loaf of bread. Finally, I reached out for support and someone suggested using some kombucha in my start. That was exactly what it needed! Only two days later I was ready to make bread. I played around with the recipe a bit and found a long rising time made a lovely, light loaf. Oh boy it was tasty! Even the kids were reaching for more.

Next in my plan to add more probiotics to our diets is to ferment veggies. I think I will wait until summer though so I can use the vegetables from our garden. Fresh is key with pickling vegetables like cabbage, cucumbers and carrots. I tried pickling beets last month when they were on sale at the store but they did not turn out well. It's a learning process but it's fascinating and fun. I find myself very motivated to keep trying new things when I'm sitting sipping lemon water kefir and munching fresh sourdough.

More Making

Less than two weeks until Christmas and for the first time I don't feel rushed. I'm just working away at a steady pace, making things with love for the ones that mean the most to me. I'm making time to enjoy the season and I'm finding time every day to work on a special gift.

I finished F's Milo vest, made a pair of Quick Change Trousers to go with them (with the cutest Heather Ross Itsy Bitsy Spider fabric and lined with super soft flannel) and started a baby gingerbread boy knit to go with the Gingerbread Baby I got to in F's stocking.

For A I made a little wallet to go in her stocking (and a few for some craft swaps) and quickly made her a dress from some lovely Birch Organic fabric. I'm stumped on the buttons though. For some reason buttons are the hardest thing for me to make decisions about, the wrong buttons can just ruin a project for me. I will look at this again tomorrow with fresh eyes and keep on making.

What are you making?

Lucia and the Light

I must say I think Saint Lucia Day has become a family favorite. It might be only our second year celebrating the day of light but I know it's made an impact. For the past year A has been reminding me how much she's enjoyed it. "Mom, remember when I was that Lucia girl? And we made those buns? And I had that tray with candles? Remember Mom? I want to do that again!"

This year Lucia Day fell on a very busy weekend for us so I almost felt like I didn't get to really enjoy it. I had wanted to make A a Lucia dress and F a star boy hat but I just wasn't able to find the time. We made our Lussekatter (which turned out much better than last years) and read our favorite Lucia Day book on the night before. I set an alarm and went to bed myself but something woke me in the wee hours of the morning. It was still dark, as it is on Lucia morning, and I quietly went about setting things out for our celebration. It was peaceful and by the candle light I felt such warmth. I woke A and we prepared the tray together. It was really as I had hoped our Lucia morning would be.

We then took our Lussekatter buns to neighbours and family. I think sharing the light and the love is the best part. Miss A loves telling people about Lucia. She wears her crown with such joy and pride. Her own special light really shines through. I hope you all were able to find and embrace the light today.

Saint Nicholas

Tonight when it is dark
Saint Nicholas may come.
He loves to bring a big surprise.
He gives the children toys.

We thank you, good Saint Nicholas!
We thank you for the toys!
We thank you, good Saint Nicholas!
You bring us many joys.

—Ade Bethune

Saint Nicholas Day is such a lovely way to start our holiday season. It comes one week after we light our first advent candle. It's a much needed break from the busyness of the season. We take the time to polish our shoes, read stories and share our blessings. The children woke to find an orange, dark chocolate, and a toy each. A got a lovely wool fairy, which she has named Lilac, that I received in a craft swap and F got a wonderful knit hedgehog from the talented Nicole. They both had their oranges for breakfast and played with their sweet toys. 

Saint Nicholas reminds us that we should share our wealth and help those in need. Today we take the opportunity to give toys to children less fortunate than my own. We chose to donate to a local group called Santa's Anonymous. They collect toys and clothes for families in our city, wrap them and deliver them for Christmas. I had some toys we never even opened and they were the perfect way to spread some joy.

Michaelmas

 

Brave and true will I be

Each good deed sets me free

Each kind word makes me strong

I will fight for the right

I will conquer the wrong

Traditional Verse

This was our first year celebrating Michaelmas. As we did with Martinmas, we focused on the stories and the moral message of the holiday. I participated in a Michaelmas themed craft swap early in September which really got us in the mood. F got a sweet pair of dragon arm warmers, A got a dragon and St. George for story telling and we got a few other goodies for our table. 

We picked up this book from the library (Trina Schart Hyman is one of our favorite illustrators) and used our dragon and St. George to act it out. Miss A decided however that our dragon is a friendly dragon who gives rides.

We talked a little bit about of inner "dragon". I think it's hard for my children to identify that part of their personality. However, this year I decided my inner dragon is my mama guilt. Since F's birth I've been carrying around a lot of guilt. I tell myself I'm too hard on my children, I don't give them enough of my time, I'm not meeting all their needs, I don't give them enough opportunities, and so many other negative thoughts that do nothing but bring me down. So I'm going to tell myself some kind words about myself and be strong so I can conquer my inner dragon.

Did you all get a chance to see that amazing Harvest Moon eclipse? We thought we had missed it but we managed to catch a glimpse as we were driving home for bedtime. So magical.

Taking Care of Myself

 

I can't believe it is the end of January already! I must admit I'm disappointed I went a whole month without posting here. The day after Christmas however, I decided it was time to take care of myself. I really pushed myself to make Christmas just as I imagined it and I was burnt out. On Christmas day my dad showed me this TED talk. A plant based diet is something I've been toying with for a while. I read this book many years ago and then watched Forks Over Knives this summer and on Christmas day I decided it was time to commit to a plant-based diet.

A few weeks into my lifestyle change I got hit with the flu. It's been years since I've had the flu and this one really dragged on. My body has been struggling. For years I've battled crippling migraines, painful periods, skin conditions, allergies and asthma. My doctors have always told me it's simply a matter of losing weight. I don't see that as the solution. I was a size 8 when this all started. I was at a healthy weight and living an active lifestyle. There must be something else missing. My body needs more than just shedding a few pounds.

For the past month I have been working on nourishing my body. My goal is to get as much nutrient dense food in my diet as possible. I've been devouring leafy greens in almost every form, adding mushrooms to meals, eating sea vegetables, feeding my gut with probiotics and making to change to healthy fats. I have completely eliminated processed food from my diet. Sugar is also off the menu (which is sad because I have so much glorious honey that I'm just not eating). It's taking a fair bit of experimenting to find food that appeals to my palette and is completely nourishing. Thank goodness for my blender and food processor!

Of course caring for my body goes beyond just diet. I've begun a daily yoga practice. I also attend a core strength class once a week. One of my favorite things however has been going cycling with the kids. We recently purchased a Madsen bike so I can cycle with both children. I love leaving the car behind. I need to fashion a rain cover so that not even rainy days can keep us off the bike. Our weekly hike has also been a big part of my wellness. I try to push myself on the trails so I get the workout but when I'm among the trees, listening to the birds, feeling the coolness of the forest around me, it never feels like exercise. It feeds my soul as well.

As a mother, taking care of my mental well-being is essential. It is so easy to get burned out by the endless demands of such small people. Yoga has certainly helped clear my head but my goal is to make time for meditation as well. When I was in university I used to ride my bike to a local beach and meditate on the rocks. Listening to the waves and letting go healed me. If school burned me out, that was what I needed. For now I'm trying to remain mindful. Live in the moment. It's easy for me to get caught up in worrying about money, sleep, cleaning, appointments, kids, gardening, everything. I can easily spend a whole night worrying about things in the past. So I remind myself multiple times a day to be present. Listen, feel, breath.

As a final note on this post, I'd like to share a recipe with you. This smoothie is my favorite way to start my day. Tweek it of course. Make it right for you. I hope you enjoy it as I do.

Green Banana Smoothie

1 large ripe banana
2 large kale or chard leaves
1 heaping tbsp almond or hazelnut butter
1 tsp probiotic powder
2 tsp ground flax seed
1 tbsp hemp protein powder
1 tbsp spirulina powder
1- 1.5 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk

Add all ingredients to a high powered blender. Blend until liquified. Enjoy!

Lucia Morning

Saint Lucia day first caught my attention when I was a little girl and my aunt gave me a set of American Girl paper dolls. One of the girls came with a Saint Lucia dress and crown. Later I got the books (let me just say that American Girl was much different in the early 1990s and it was still owned by the Pleasant Company) and my interest in the Swedish tradition of Lucia morning continued. My mother and I saved those books for my children so it was with great excitement that I brought Kristen's Surprise in preparation for Saint Lucia day.

The book that turned out to be a hit however was Lucia Morning in Sweden. Just right for A's age and beautifully illustrated. We even used the recipe for Lucia buns from the back and attempted to learn the song. I was so excited to have real saffron for this recipe (thanks Mom!) however I really underestimated how much they would rise. They were huge! However a mandarin orange and a half of one of the buns made a lovely breakfast.

As we chose to celebrate Saint Lucia day as a cultural holiday, we decided to read books about how Swedish families honor the day and then replicate the experience in our home. Weeks before, I made a felt crown for A. I considered making F a little star boy hat but I knew he would pull it off and quickly outgrow it. I had a little white gown with red sash for A but when I woke her early on Lucia morning she was not interested in wearing it. She chose a different dress but still wanted her crown. In A's own words, Lucia "brings the light when you are in the dark" so we put a few candles on her tray and brought the light (and breakfast) to Daddy and F, who were still in the dark. We then lit a few more candles and shared the meal together (even F loved the saffron buns). What a lovely December celebration for our family.

Kind Old St. Nicholas

Kind old man Saint Nicholas dear,
Come to my house this year,
Here's some straw and here's some hay,
To help your horse along his way.
Kind old man Saint Nicholas dear,
Come to my house this year.

Kind old man Saint Nicholas dear,
Come to my house this year,
Pray put something in my shoe,
For I've been good the whole year through.
Kind old man Saint Nicholas dear,
Come to my house this year.

Traditional German

 Saint Nicholas Day is another holiday that we don't traditionally celebrate but as I read about it in the Waldorf community I thought it would be a fun day for my children. In the days leading up to Saint Nicholas day we started reading some books about Saint Nicholas. Our favorites were The Baker's Dozen, The Fiercest Little Animal in the Forest and The Gift from Saint Nicholas. We chose more secular tales about the bishop.

Finally it was Saint Nicholas day eve. We gave A a cloth to polish the shoe of her choice to lay out with a bundle of hay for his donkey (I apologize for the grainy pictures. I wanted to get some shots of her shoe but it was already very dark). We watched this little wordless story and went to bed. While my darling girl slept, Saint Nicholas filled her shoe with a little Saint Nicholas doll, an orange, chocolate coins (which we didn't eat but rather she was allowed to trade a coin for an extra bedtime story or extra bubbles in her bath or an extra cookie), a little Ostheimer cat for her farm (she named it Zooey) and some walnuts. I considered putting a shoe out for F but he doesn't need much from Saint Nicholas so we decided to spare him the work of bringing unnecessary gifts to our house.

It was a nice surprise for my girl. She spent the morning playing with her new doll and cat. Her dad helped her crack open her walnuts and she chose to juice her orange to go with her snack. I also set out a little Saint Nicholas snack for her that day. It turned out to be a great addition to our holiday celebrations.

It's Beginning...

We are bringing the holidays to life all over our home. Books, decorations, crafts, greenery, music; it is all coming out and being carefully put in place. We are starting to tell new stories and celebrate new traditions. This year we are introducing the nativity story and celebrating advent. This Sunday we lit the first candle in our advent wreath and read this story (a favorite already!). We are looking forward to visiting the living nativity in our city this year.

I seem to have forgotten though how busy the holiday season can be for us. I decided to sign up for some craft swaps. While they are fun to do, I'm finding myself very over-stretched. I just finished my last swap though so a bit of a weight has been lifted. I made sweet little cross stitched ornaments. I do enjoy cross stitch and I like the Scandinavian look of the snowflakes. I think I will make a couple more for our own tree.

This will be F's first Christmas on the outside so he needed a stocking. His stocking has been on my mind for a few months now. I had intended to knit him one but typical me, I left it until the last minute and just wasn't sure I could finish it in time. So I found a hand knit wool sweater at the thrift store and decided to give upcycling a go. I must admit I'm not thrilled with it. It seems lumpy. I lined it with quilting cotton and stitched a wool F and a berries and leaves to it but it still doesn't look as I dreamed. It will do for this year at least and I will decide whether I will make him a new one for next year. It doesn't seem to match the quality of A's stocking.

Saint Nicholas day is approaching so we are working on a few crafts and reading some special books in preparation. We also plan to make some gingerbread cookies for our baking day this week (just like in this book). Anyone have a stellar gingerbread recipe? I will share our Saint Nicholas traditions next week.