25 notes for Advent calendar

November 30, 2010

For my fellow last-minute Advent calendar stuffers, I offer our annual tradition of centering each day around a seasonal activity. While I may drop the ball of promises made on ordinary days, the calendar keeps me at my mothering best during the month of December. Once it is written, I will follow through. The activities [...]

read more

{this moment} 11.26.10

November 26, 2010

From Soule Mama: {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soule Mama and leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for [...]

read more

{this moment} 11.19.10

November 19, 2010

From Soule Mama: {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soule Mama and leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for [...]

read more

Corn Garland Tutorial

November 17, 2010

Of crows and corn . . . Ariana’s glowing photography sang out from children’s craft collective, The Crafty Crow, thumbnails, and rang more beautiful still on her own site, Crow Roosters Crow. She probably could have sold me on a dung necklace with that light, but she really had me with the amber-like beauty of [...]

read more

{this moment} 11.12.10

November 12, 2010

From Soule Mama: {this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo -no words- capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, visit Soule Mama and leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for [...]

read more

creamy butternut squash soup

November 11, 2010

The first bite of this soup drew me in with cozy familiarity. It’s warm with baking spices, and soft and velvety, but a bit nubby with carrots, like a well-worn sweater that is just fine for wearing around the house. I scrawled the recipe onto a lime green card so long ago that I can’t [...]

read more

birthday bunting tutorial

November 8, 2010

The birthday garland tradition began with Goose. We held her party in a botanical garden cottage, so I used scrapbook paper in soft-hued patterns. It was the first birthday of my first child, my parents’ first grandchild, a child conceived only a few months after dropping the elopement bomb on everyone. My mother made it [...]

read more

A Child’s Introduction to the World

November 3, 2010

Geography, Cultures, and People–From the Grand Canyon to the Great Wall of China I came across this wonderful book and bought it as a gift, and I’m hoping to add a copy to our library as well. I love the sidebars highlighting explorers and fun facts that add color to the abstraction of basic geography. [...]

read more

last minute halloween costume

October 30, 2010

We love assembling costumes with items gathered from around the house. These looks were thrown together for an Alice in Wonderland themed party, and the idea is easily translated to complementary costumes for siblings. For the Queen of Hearts: Raid the closet and dress-up stash for all things red. Use a long dress or skirt [...]

read more

do what you love, on the town with kids

October 29, 2010

We talked about how to keep yourself entertained at home with the kids, and now, for the brave . . . do what you love, on the town: Just the thought of moving beyond errands and mommy and me can be exhausting. There are tantrums to consider, and all of the things they might destroy, [...]

read more