Bluebirdbaby

Waldorf In the Kitchen

Something I've always struggled with the little one by my side is cooking and cleaning. Children and these two things just never mix; or so was my experience. I always tried to get her to help, but I was usually faced with a little one who just wanted undivided attention. There was a time when we settled into a good rhythm waaaay back when and she would gladly help me cook or sweep. But those days have been long gone.

The little one has required lots of attention lately. I found I was getting nothing done, but was mentally and physically exhausted at the end of the day. This week, after Sasa and I decided it was time for her to be engaged along side of us (which meant she was still getting lots of attention, but it was a structured activity), I rearranged the kitchen a bit to suit her smallness. This is our first step. Her cups, plates, bowls, place mats, napkins, cutting board and crinkle cutter (great for little hands), and silverware are all arranged in a cupboard she can get to easily. She helps set the table at each meal by getting whatever she will need. The brooms and dustpans are lined up along the wall within easy reach. We sweep after preparing the meals (she swept on her own tonight without us asking!) and I find a spontaneous "cleaning" song helps the jobs get done.

I set up a little table for her next to our baking corner. Our "baking day" is now officially on Thursday, so this Thursday morning I had everything set up for making skillet cornbread. I placed each ingredient in a separate bowl (all pre-measured) so she could just pour it in and stir. She did it without help and had the batter in the skillet in no time! I find this approach really works wonders with her. She had a smile on her face the entire time and just loved baking! By the way, this book is wonderful with easy recipes for the little ones.

We also made applesauce while our cornbread was baking. We made up an apple cutting song while we washed, peeled, and cut the apples. The little one sat for a good 45 minutes doing this, so content and happy. I've noticed that when she is having a hard time getting absorbed in an activity, making up a song about it always grabs her attention. Our enamel pots are great for washing. We use them for washing dishes, apples, napkins and place mats, and all kinds of other things!

The applesauce was delicious and guess what the little one started to do while I prepared dinner tonight? That's right...she got out her apple washing and cutting tools and went to work, all on her own!

Most of these ideas were inspired by the book Heaven on Earth, which is one of my favorite Waldorf parenting books. After spending some time in a parent/child Waldorf class this fall, I've discovered that with the use of song, having everything at their level, and involving them in all the household tasks makes the days flow smoother. Our rhythm is set, the little one is happy (so far!), we are getting things done, she's getting the attention she needs and mama is getting the chores done! Yay!

Rhythm to me equals peace. When we find our rhythm, everything is easier. Everyone is happier. What have you found helps your little ones? Do you have any songs that help with household tasks? What about seasonal activities? I'd love to hear!!

And now I'm off to finish up a Halloween costume. Yikes!!

Birthday Parties, Craftiness, and Something for You!

My mother celebrated a birthday over a week ago, although we really didn't get a chance to celebrate. So we had her up for a birthday dinner, party, and sleepover. The little one just adores her Baba. The two of them are so similar and just watching them is amazing. So everyone was super excited when Baba arrived at the door and was greeted with a handmade birthday banner and a table full of goodies!

I made her an eye pillow filled with flax seeds and lavender. I added a bottle of lavender essential oil too. It can be heated up or frozen for a cold pack. These things are so handy and so easy to make! I got the eye pillow pattern from here. I downsized it a tad because it was huge. It was a hit with the little one. I'm just waiting for the request to make a purple one...

We enjoyed a yummy dinner made by the amazing Sasa. It was followed by the most delicious apple pie ever! (Should I mention I'm eating another piece as I type this? Yum. He is just so crazy awesome.) And Sasa finally wrote down that gluten-free pie crust recipe and wanted to share it with all of you!

So here it is. Enjoy!...

Sasa's Famous Gluten-free Pie Crust

Sift together ::

• 1 1/4c white rice flour
• 4/3c potato starch
• 1/2 tapioca flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp xantham gum

Blend in until it resembles cornmeal::

• 1 1/2 sticks butter (cold)

Mix ::

• 1 large egg
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 3 tbs ice water

Mix liquid into dry with fingers until soft dough that can be formed into a ball. Chill 1 hour. Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Mom!! You deserve the best one ever. xoxo

Morning, Noon, and Night

It's been a hectic week here. The little one is still battling croup. I came down with my seventeenth flu since last September. And Sasa is beyond tired and a little sniffly too. So, my apologies for my absence. I do hope it won't be long until we're all back on our feet, well rested, and ready for fun! For now, here's a little glimpse of our day today...

:: Morning ::

:: Noon ::

:: Night ::

What have you all been up to this week? And what kinds of activities do you do to keep sick little ones (with tons of energy) still and entertained?!

Oh, and a big thank you to Juliana and Joel for the yummy soup! It really saved us these last two nights...!

Fall Breakfast :: Baked Apple Pancake

Because this week has been incredibly crazy and busy and tiring and exhausting and just plain nuts, and because I don't want to completely neglect this space here, and because I really, really love this recipe, and because apples are all over the place right now, and because I love all my readers and want to share a treat with you, I've decided to post one of my all-time favorite breakfast recipes: the baked apple pancake.

This would be from my mama's recipe box. It's been a favorite of mine since I was little. I hope you enjoy it!!

You'll need ::

For the apples:

• 2 tbs butter
• 2 med apples, sliced thinly
• 1/2 c brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon

For the pancake:

• 2 tbs butter
• 3/4 c flour (we used 1/4 cp white rice, 1/4 c brown rice, 1/4 c potato starch)
• 1/2 c milk
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp baking powder

Mix apple ingredients in bowl. Melt butter in 9" pie pan. Combine rest of pancake ingredients. Pour into hot pan on top of butter. Spread apple mix in center. Bake 30 minutes at 425 degrees. Enjoy!!

30 Days of Happiness :: Apples to Sauce

First there was this...

Then there was this...

And now we have this!

Apples to sauce. Delicious!!

30 Days of Happiness :: Fairy Parties

What can I say about today? It was amazing, wonderful, magical, and just sweet (and I took too many pictures!!). The little one will turn three years old on Wednesday, and since I will not see her until Wednesday night, we decided to honor her today instead. We started the day with a breakfast celebration, complete with her new birthday outfit, crown, a small gift, and her three year birthday ring. Sasa made a terrific breakfast, and Baba (my mother) was there to celebrate too.

The outfit fabrics were chosen by the little one and we worked on it together over the last three weeks. The shirt is an Oliver + S pattern, slightly modified. I was surprised she picked out these colors, but she was very excited about the Little Red Riding Hood fabric and somehow we made it all work. The best part was she was excited to wear it today!

The theme for our small celebration were fairies. Fairy houses, fairy tea, fairy dolls and books, and fairy snacks. We set up the little table in the yard with pumpkins and bags I had made for the children with fairy dolls inside. The little one helped me make each fairy doll: gluing on their hats, felting the wool, and picking a fairy name for each one. She also told me the colors her friends like the best, and we made bags and fairies to suit each child's favorites.

The little one received many loving gifts including a basket filled with embroidery goodies perfect for little hands, a hand-painted tea cup, a necklace made by a special friend, and so much more. Really, it could not have been a more magical party!

After tea, we set off to make our fairy houses around the yard. Sasa had collected many perfect fairy house building materials on a recent kayaking trip and we had a wagon full of things to choose from. The kids made beautiful houses and I think the fairies who live in our yard will be so excited!

Elisabeth has recently learned how to take pictures using my camera (gulp!) and she is quite good indeed. In the next week I will be setting up a flickr account for her and you can view all her photos there. Really, they are very good!! The above are just a sample...

Then it was cake, which was a gluten-free chocolate cake the little one requested with "stripes and polka-dots" on it. Sasa made up the recipe and it was absolutely delicious. The little one has been talking about this birthday cake for months now, and it was so special to finally see her with it. She had a "ginormous" piece and loved every bit of it.

And last but not least, her special present. Sasa's Pop has been working on it for a while now, and his mother has been busy furnishing it. The dollhouse was a big hit (with all the kids!!) and I'm sure you will see many more pictures of it in the future!

Sasa and I are completely wiped after a day full of fun, fairies, celebrating, and friends. It was so very magical and amazing. I'm glad we will have this memory for ever and always. Happy Birthday, my sweet little one. You bring so much magic to my life! I love you. xoxo

Fresh Squeezed

With the weather being in the 90's, we've been spending the majority of our days in the water. But today there is a slight breeze and the shade is rather lovely. We've been doing lots of crafts on the back porch in the bit of shade the trees provide. We wanted to surprise Sasa (who's no longer on the cleanse...thank goodness!) with some fresh squeezed lemonade.

The little one and I gathered all the lemons from the fridge, some ice cold water, and maple syrup. We sat on the back porch for a while, squeezing lemons and taking a taste now and then. Apparently the little one is quite the fan of sour things!

When the squeezing was done, it was time to stir. The little one is a master stirrer. She actually tells me how to stir now. So she stirred as I poured in the maple syrup.

Next we added some ice and waited for Sasa. He was pleasantly surprised to find some fresh squeezed lemonade to go with lunch. And looks like we have at least two days supply in the fridge. Yummy!

What's Been Going On

:: Barbeque's almost every night ::





:: Trying out the picnic blanket ::





:: Watching things grow ::

I have another tutorial in the works (a really exciting one!) and hope to have it up by this weekend or early next week. I have quite the list of things to sew, mend, and hem for other people and after I'm through with that, more items will be in the works for the shop. Thank you for all your previous suggestions. I'm hoping to add some items for the home as well as some summery things for the little ones. Maybe a few bags too!

I hope you're all enjoying the week!

The Farm and a Good Salad

As we start getting ready to dive into urban homesteading, it's always inspirational to visit a small farm for ideas. We spent this overcast, chilly morning at one of the many homesteads surrounding our little town. We were told there was just about every animal you could imagine there, and it was true!

There were the biggest turkeys you ever did see. I have never seen a turkey quite so big. This lovely gal followed us around the entire time we were there. So cute. I really wanted to bring her home.

There were rare baby goats from New Zealand who lived inside the house, but came out for a visit and a walk through the woods.

There was a "ginormous" (as the little one likes to say) tractor, complete with two buckets, all accessible for a small child to sit on and pretend to drive.

There were geese,

and bigger goats,

and pot-bellied pigs in the greatest little pig pen ever.

We got some gardening ideas, some chicken tractor ideas, some fencing ideas, and a whole lot of urges to just dive in right this second and get a little half-acre farm going in town. Should I mention I almost (almost...) bought a goat yesterday for ten dollars?! With the amount of goat milk the little one drinks, a goat in the backyard would sure be handy! It was ever so tempting...

And I came up with a chicken Waldorf salad recipe today. It's one of my favorite lunches, and after spending a fortune on them at the local co-op, I finally decided to make my own. I never measure ingredients, so you'll have to use your own judgment because I'm totally guessing here...

-chicken (I buy organic chicken breast strips and cook them in a shallow pan with water and olive oil. Put the lid on and in about 5 minutes they are nice and tender.)
-1/2 red onion diced
-1/2 apple chopped with skin on
-2 celery sticks chopped
-1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper (I love this stuff)
-1 teaspoon thyme
-1/2 to 3/4 cup of mayonnaise (I use too much of this stuff on everything. I think it's a food from the Gods...)
-2 cloves raw garlic chopped (or 6 cloves if you're garlic nuts like us)

Mix all together and serve over lettuce. It's really the perfect lunch (or dinner, or even breakfast!). Enjoy!
-

Makin' Stuff

Making a favorite dinner around here. One that's enjoyed by everyone. And yes, that platter will be consumed by three hungry bellies. I won't even mention the delicious dessert that followed...

And I've been busy making Easter goodies for the little one. She is so darn excited about an egg hunt, more "Easter" sushi, dying Easter eggs using foods and spices, and finding a special basket loaded with fun things on Easter morning. Gosh, it's so fun being a mama.

 I hope you all have a fabulous weekend! Stop by next week for a fantastic giveaway!!

From the Kitchen

Sasa is a terrific cook and usually would rather be in the kitchen, happily concocting recipes, than anywhere else. But tonight, the little one and I kicked him out and decided to make up our own delicious supper. This recipe is straight from my head, made up as I went. And it is so good that I decided to share it with all of you...

What You'll Need:

~bag of baby spinach
~half an onion, sliced in thin strips
~olive oil
~3 tbs. raisins
~2 tbs. toasted pine nuts
~4 tbs. soft goat cheese

For the sauce:

~1 tbs. olive oil
~2-3 tsp. dijon mustard (for your gluten-free readers, make sure there is no "grain vinegar" in yours)
~2 tsp. rice vinegar
~ a little lemon juice

Pour some oil in a big skillet. Cook thinly sliced onion on low heat until transparent. Add spinach and cover for a couple of minutes, stirring every once and a while. When spinach is done, turn heat off and add raisins, pine nuts, and goat cheese.
Now, get your sauce ready. Just mix all ingredients and pour over the spinach. Serve over rice and for some extra protein, add a side of grilled chicken. Yum!

We enjoyed it. I hope you will too!

Giving Thanks

I don't typically get that excited about holidays, and have never really focused on "giving thanks" for anything in a serious manner around Thanksgiving. But this year, I feel thankful for so many things. I woke up yesterday morning feeling like it was Christmas. I felt that same excitement I did as a little child as I ran to the Christmas tree. We woke up to a yard full of frost that almost looked like snow, and there was such a feeling of festivity in the air. I went the whole day thinking how lucky I was and how thankful I am for everything and everyone in my life. There is just so much to be thankful for...

The little one's first television viewing. I haven't had television in 6 years, so the little one has never seen a show on t.v. or a commercial for that matter. But there is cable where we are staying, and we turned it on for the first time to view the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade. The little one thoroughly enjoyed the dancing and singing before the parade started. She kept getting annoyed by the commercials and requested "more people!!!" every two minutes.

A Thanksgiving Day morning walk. We hiked over 3 miles with two friends while the little one stayed unusually content in her backpack. The weather was mild and the rain held off. We enjoyed some gorgeous views and it felt great to get some exercise.

Thanksgiving dinner at the sweetest little house ever, with some lovely company. It was a very low-key, relaxed day and we all had a lot of fun. One of the nicest parts was the fact that the pies, stuffing, and side dishes were gluten-free! So I had my first complete Thanksgiving meal without a lot of pain afterward!

An after dinner walk down to the ocean where the little one found a "choo-choo train". The walk seemed to finally tire her out, so she slept on the car ride home and remarkably fell asleep once placed in her bed at home.

And I am thankful for a new place to live, which will hopefully happen this coming week! The little one and I are so excited. We'll be sharing the house with a friend, and I promise to update you with all the renovations/redecorating that goes on. The little one has requested a "green and purple" room...any ideas on how I could make that work?! And you know...there will be a new sewing studio to put together and I am very excited about a new color/theme for that! And soon there will be some craftiness happening on this blog again. I am just itching to get back to sewing! There is just so much to be thankful for!

I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one. Enjoy the weekend!

A Visit to the Farm

My friend (and coworker) is building a house and invited the little one and I over to see the progress. Her parents live on a big farm with beautiful gardens, apple trees, four pigs, two horses, and chickens just down the road. So we spent some time at the farm exploring. I was sent home with a stalk of brussel sprouts, kale, and beets. Not to mention our weekly trade of duck eggs for garlic and potatoes. I think I'll have a happy belly all winter long!

The little one especially loved discovering the toys inside that were tucked away in a corner. I've noticed a huge difference in her play since she started preschool in September. She is more engaged and happily plays away for long stretches of time. I've also noticed that the less toys there are, the more she plays. I'm thinking about going through a lot of ours and dwindling them down to a few. Most just sit in the baskets or on the shelves unused. Blocks, her new ukulele, her wooden farm family, and her cars are the most played with. Everything else just seems to go unnoticed! Has anyone else found that having less toys encourages more play?

And we have been regularly putting on performances for anyone who will listen of this song. This is the very song I sang the other month with the guitarist at a local barn gig. The little one insists I play the ukulele while she bangs away on her mini piano. So far she's received some very enthusiastic clapping for her talents. Maybe she'll join me on stage next time!

She's Two! (and the winners...)

Boy, what a morning! We had a little, laid-back party at her favorite hang out (the bookshop) after toddler time at the library. We just announced that there would be yummy cake and had quite a few toddlers that came to check it out.

So we officially have a two year old on our hands. The last year went by so quickly. She woke up to a table full of goodies, her birthday banner, and her Papa and I went in to her room this morning to sing "happy birthday" which she loved.

Her party at the bookshop was much fun! She got some great gifts, including a handmade wooden chair (thanks Lisa!) that I'll have to snap a picture of later today. The cake was amazing. Thanks to a fabulous co-worker at the co-op, we had a delicious gluten/dairy/sugar/egg-free cake. And quite possibly the best chocolate cake I've ever had.

And because there isn't enough to announce, there is a cute pair of pants in the shop today. I made the above pair for her on Sunday and completed a second pair for the shop. You can find them here!

And the winners...

The random number generator picked numbers 27, 26, 20, 11, 38, 13, and 22. So that's Mary-sue, Michelle, Pam, Torie, Kate, Tara, and Lee-Ann. The first three numbers will get the full-length c.d.'s and the last four will get the shorter selections. Please e-mail me with your addresses and I will mail them out to you!

Harvest

I spent the afternoon in the garden, picking peas and beans and radishes and lettuce. I always feel overwhelmed when everything seems to need picking at once. But it's fun. Then I came inside to shell the peas, blanched them, and now they're in the freezer to be used this fall and winter. The little one helped by picking up the shells to bring to the ducks. We've also been enjoying raw peas on our salads. I love being able to serve a dinner that was grown in our own yard. There's nothing better than that!

green week~two

We love our veggies. Last night was a lentil soup from this recipe. Delicious! Sometimes I feel limited in our meal planning because I shop at the local natural food co-op and they stock a good variety of vegetables, but nothing like the big chain grocery stores. Regardless, we get our fare share of vegetables (albeit the same each week) and try to find new and interesting recipes to try.

Welcoming Home Friends

Our neighbors just returned from their yearly trip to Cambodia to do some amazing work with the foundation they started. I hope to interview them soon about their work for a future post. They truly are a very inspirational couple and we've been so lucky to have them as friends and neighbors. I decided to put aside my work in the green room for some baking while the little one was napping. I used my favorite gluten, sugar, soy, dairy, egg-free chocolate chip cookie recipe. It's amazing and always produces delicious results.

Can you read that recipe above? I hope so. I'm much too lazy to type it out. Basically you mix all the wet ingredients separately from the dry. Combine and stir well. DO NOT taste the batter. It is absolutely revolting and you will never believe the cookies will actually be edible. I use this mix which I think provides good results. I also use agave nectar or honey in place of sugar. Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes or so.

They look like real chocolate chip cookies, don't they?! They taste a lot like the real ones too.

So when the little one awoke, we packed up the cookies and a card I made (using a photo of Fred's lovely woodpile) in her favorite basket, grabbed a cookie for the road and bundled up.

We took a lovely walk down the road to drop off the "welcome home" basket. The little one insisted on her bike and not the stroller or carrier. Thank goodness it has a handle for me to push it. We had a great visit with Fred and Kitty and heard some fabulous stories about their trip. And to top it off, they loved the cookies and didn't have a clue they were gluten-free until I told them.

Stay tuned tomorrow for the winner of the Bluebird Bag giveaway!

Pancakes and Pianos

Pancakes and pianos? Yes, that's all I've got this Monday morning. It's that time when we're deep in mid-winter: the light is lacking, the photographs feel uninspired due to the lack of light, there isn't a whole lot of outdoor exploring, our daily routine is becoming a tad mundane, and well, it's cold and it's Maine in late January. But nevertheless, things have indeed been going on here. Perhaps I just feel they aren't "blog worthy." So if this post comes across as a bit of hodgepodge, let's just roll with it, okay?

You can bet that on at least one of the weekend mornings blueberry pancakes will make an appearance. The little one knows exactly what needs to be done to get these pancakes on the table and is always willing to help. She does the stirring, the blueberry eating, the batter testing, and always tries the first pancake. Since we are gluten/dairy/egg-free, we use this mix. It has cultured buttermilk in it, but the little one seems to tolerate it fine. It calls for eggs, so we use this egg replacer.

On Saturday we made a trip to our favorite local bookstore and found this fabulous wooden piano on sale. The little one has taken to climbing up on the real piano and stomping on the keyboard with her feet. So we thought this "Schroeder-sized" piano would keep her attention diverted. She adores it.

She either has to have that fancy black shoe on the top, or a book of music which she thumbs through until she finds just the right piece to "play." I really don't think I've ever mentioned her intense love of music. I would even go as far as saying it's in her soul. Anything that produces a beat will get her up and moving. She started conducting out of the blue when she was 10 months old. She'd never seen anyone do it before. Yesterday she successfully sang "Twinkle, twinkle" never missing a pitch. Of course, words were not included, just some cute humming. But boy, we were so proud. I wouldn't be surprised if she figured it out on this little piano before too long.

And I have to leave you with this gorgeous sunset from last night. Isn't it amazing?! The entire sky was a mass of pink and orange. So very beautiful.

Scenes from our day

~Post-breakfast vacuuming~

~Beds are made~

~Green snacks: Veggie Booty and sliced pears~

~Making mama tea~

~Latest favorite activity: jumping on mama's bed before bedtime~

Have a lovely weekend. See you on Monday.

A Weekend Trip

I've mentioned our love for the local bookstore plenty of times in the past. The Maine Coast Bookshop is a great little store with a terrific selection of books, and for a nice bonus there's a cafe attached. The little one and I usually head in there every day or so, mostly because it's the only place she just loves to be. We can spend a good two hours in there and I still have to chase her around to get her coat on before we leave. Yesterday we all took a trip in to get a hot chocolate and do some book browsing.

One of the best things about this great local store is the people who work there. Above is Lisa, one of Elisabeth's most favorite people. They have a special bond and Lisa is always the recipient of many hugs and kisses.

I really believe in supporting local businesses. Sure, I can browse Amazon and get plenty of books at a discounted price, but where's the fun? There's no real experience in doing that. I can't physically flip through the pages, read excerpts, or ask the staff what they thought of it. There's nobody to recommend a good book or a smiling face at the checkout. Who exactly am I supporting when I buy a book off of Amazon anyway?

So now I do only my browsing on Amazon or other blogs, then special order everything at this bookstore. Plus, there's the fact that the little one thinks nothing is better than running around in a store full of books all day. She browses, rearranges, interacts with the lovely staff, greets customers coming in from the cold, runs to the cafe to give Lisa a hug, plays with her favorite toys, and generally just has more fun than anywhere else. We've actually stopped going to playgroups because she likes the bookstore more.

Stephen enjoyed his mocha, chili, and a good book while I sipped my hot chocolate trying to keep an eye on the little one. After a good two hours of chasing her around a large store, I am usually in need of a rather filling lunch. She has certainly perfected the art of running.

One of her favorite things to do is push this cart around the store. She's usually pretty good about not running into anybody, but mama tends to help a bit turning the corners.

Another favorite would be the Folkmanis Puppets. I have a feeling we'll end up with one in the near future.

And, of course, there's the street watching where she points to every big truck going by and likes to wave to the people on foot.

After we said our goodbyes we went to Renys for a balloon. This provided about five minutes of entertainment in the car before she was out like a light.

A perfect Sunday morning, if you ask me.

We Love Orange

Favorite clock

Snack

Fresh squeezed

Thrifted chair

Empty lunch bowl (Rice pasta and goat cheese. It was good.)

Custom order crown (Of course I had to test it.)

And definitely not orange, but a little sneak peak at the "big project" that has been underway for the last two months. Hopefully within the next couple of days I can show you the completed project. I'm waiting for a few finishing touches to arrive in the mail...

Girls' Night Out

For a couple of months now, some local crafty ladies and I have been getting together for a girl's night out. I've always found it difficult to find people I can truly connect with, but since moving to this area I have found the greatest bunch of very talented, intelligent, and fun-loving women. We always have a blast and there's never a shortage of good food and laughter.

Saturday night was our holiday party. The boys were invited too, although they spent most of the time warming up by the bonfire outside. (Did you know you could buy a burn permit online with your debit card, just minutes before lighting the fire?! Very cool.) We exchanged gag gifts, the ladies did a holiday ornament swap, and we just hung out chatting and eating the night away.

We warmed ourselves by the wood stove. It was a particularly chilly winter night and a bad storm was expected to hit any hour. I kept peeking outside expecting to see snowflakes falling, but they held off until early morning.

We discussed sewing, life in general, babies, houses, and Maine winter gear. Above is the marvelous Rhea sporting her leg warmers. If I knew how to knit anything other than a scarf I'd make myself a pair. I can see these becoming a must-have accessory in my wardrobe this season.

And introducing our littlest member of the group. He's always sleeping and we joke about never seeing him actually awake. It's so calming to glance over and see a sleeping baby in the midst of all the talking and laughter.

I really feel honored to have found these wonderful ladies. The welcomed break from parenting and life's stresses is always much needed and much remedied by the fun we have together. I look forward to many more nights like these in the future. Thanks gals.

Movie Night

Stephen and I usually spend a special night or two a week curled up on the couch with a good movie, and of course a couple of these. This week's selection was a find at our local bookstore. I found it on the sale table and it looked rather intriguing so I picked it up. The movie's title "The Wooden Camera" caught my attention, being that I love anything "camera" and Stephen loves anything "wooden." I assumed it was a safe bet that at least one of us would like it.

The movie did not disappoint. Of course, wearing my favorite slippers (six years, three pairs), sweatpants (are they still technically sweatpants if there are no elastics around the ankles?), and eating my favorite chocolate always makes a movie more enjoyable. But the movie was enough to make our evening a good one; filled with beautiful shots that offset the harsh reality of life in South Africa, and seeing the view from a young film maker's eyes was very inspiring. We give it two thumbs up.

A few of you readers might be interested in a new book I picked up at the same store. Basic Stitches by Katie Ebben is a wonderfully inspiring book for anyone beginning embroidery. The pictures are lovely and the sketched instructions are easy to follow and very beginner friendly. In addition, there are some neat projects featured which don't require any sewing at all. Oh, the ideas spinning through my head now...

The Aftermath

Three stuffed bellies.
Lots of dishes.
One very sleepy and worn out babe.
More than enough leftovers.
Feeling pretty darn good about making a gluten-free Thanksgiving dinner.
Did I mention lots of dishes?!

 

I hope your Thanksgiving was wonderful and that your weekend be filled with fun!

Giving Thanks

I'm grateful for little moments of quiet play,

a package from a friend containing the most beautiful hat I've ever seen,

a cozy fire on a chilly night,

a gluten-free pumpkin pie,

and Stephen remembering dish soap (we've been out for two days!) so I could finally tackle all the dishes. Ah, there's nothing like baking in a clean kitchen.

And I'm most certainly grateful for all of you; for those of you who take the time out of your days to stop by and say hello. Here's wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving, from our family to yours.

Yum

As the weather gets colder and we end up spending more and more time inside, soup has been showing up for lunch more days than not. Our favorite? Butternut squash. The enthusiastic clapping as I light the burner is a sure sign this soup will be around for a while. This soup is so good that we actually don't want to waste precious time with spoons, so the bowl becomes a rather large cup. There's much slurping, lots of "mmmmm!"-ing, and of course, the traditional licking of the bowl at the end. Have a look for yourself...

And of course, there is more baking going on these days. Cookies and muffins being things the oven sees most.  The above were some delicious banana-quinoa muffins topped with raw honey and Earth Balance. Ah, delicious.

We Love to Eat

There are times I feel like it's quite unfair for a family who loves food to live with so many dietary restrictions. I mean dairy I could deal with, but add gluten, wheat, soy, eggs, citrus and other things to the mess and finding a meal we all like and can eat is so very challenging. However, after finishing Gluten-Free Girl I don't feel so bad anymore. I did love the book in many ways and it certainly inspired me to be a little more adventurous in the kitchen. The biggest thing we struggle with is the time it takes to cook those nice meals (with a little one climbing up your leg) and the money it costs to purchase the food.

All those years of passing on bagels, cinnamon rolls, bread fresh from the oven, cookie dough from the bowl and Flatbread pizza (okay, I really never passed on that...) makes me want to turn back time and eat them all when I had the chance. Now, I can't. Now I go into the cafe and stare longingly at the people biting into their chewy bagels and wish I could be them, just for one bite.

I am very glad I read Shauna's book. I have been beyond tired for months. When I stopped nursing Elisabeth because of her mulptiple allergies (she is now on a medical formula), I slowly started slipping gluten back into my diet. But I became so tired. I would have to lie on the couch in the afternoons, my eye lids drooping and feeling every last ounce of energy drain from my body. I didn't know what was wrong. I knew it was so much more than the normal motherhood induced exhaustion.

But Shauna explains this phenomenon as if I had called her up and told her my sleepiness woes. She put it all into words and even found the culprit: gluten. So the book did inspire me to take those oats and barley products back out of my diet and I was a whole new mama in two days. I feel terrific. Beyond terrific. In fact, I have so much energy that many nights I am lying awake until 1 a.m.

But sometimes that gluten slips back in. The other night Stephen made chicken with Dijon mustard and honey. The mustard was made using grain vinegar, which neither of us registered as "gluten." I was up all night with a bad flare up of eczema. I woke up the next morning and checked everything I had eaten the night before. It's things like this that make me a little crazy. I don't want to have to scrutinize everything that goes in my mouth, but I have no choice.

The little one has it much worse off than I. I struggle to find foods she can eat. More often than not, even the foods marked "allergen free" will cause a reaction and we're dealing with blistering rashes and a babe screaming in pain. It's not fun. And the fact that I was the one who handed her the food makes me feel horrible. But I'm confident that as she grows older, we will find new and better foods. Foods that will make her tummy happy, help her grow big and strong, and foods that will make her close her eyes and say "yum!" as she takes that first bite.

Well really, we have no choice because this girl just loves to eat. But with people like Shauna getting the word out about Celiac's, I really have the hope that one day Elisabeth and I will be able to walk into a cafe and have that bagel. Thanks Shauna.

Changes and Yoga Pants

The little one is still an hour ahead despite the time change, so we have been rising early. I kept the bedroom clock on the old time, so I wouldn't freak when I saw 4:30 a.m. glaring me in the face when I heard the first peep out of her mouth.

Getting used to the time change is hard for Mama too. The space between the end of her afternoon nap and when Papa arrives home was our outside time. We took a walk, played in the woods, threw the dog sticks and rode on her bike. Now it's dark. We went outside after her nap today to discover the sun setting. I almost cried.

We quickly got in a little exploration (and outdoors snacking) before it got too dark to find our way home.

We arranged some rocks we brought home with us from the beach on Papa's shop steps. Elisabeth took off with one, clearly deciding it was too worthy of sitting on a step outside. (I think she ended up bringing it in and placing it in the dog food bowl.)

She ran and giggled while I tried to snap pictures of her new yoga pants I made over the weekend. Two pairs  were created out of thrifted, thick jersey. I added some Superbuzzy patches to the front for fun. She likes them and the wee bit of flare at the bottom makes me smile.

She made funny faces I had never seen before and laughed when I did my best to copy her expression.

She perfected her running, so Mama needed extra cookies to make up for the energy loss of chasing after her.

And, on our way inside to warm up, we noticed the solar garden lights shining at an amazing 4:30 p.m. I think I may have shed a tear thinking of the long, dark winter ahead. We'll make it through, right?

Happiness

Before becoming a mother, I often did things that provided my life with a healthy dose of happiness: dinner with friends, a trip to Videoport in town for a movie, the ferry ride home, hiking, drinking Monte Antico with a side of Green and Blacks, and my favorite...performing in front of hundreds of people. But I never thought of these things as the moments in life that fill me with joy. I never really acknowledged that fact until I became a mother. Now there is no time for most of these. I certainly haven't performed in front of hundreds of people lately and Videoport is a long ways away now.

When you spend all day with a little person who can't communicate her needs very well, wakes up very early (yawn) and proceeds to drain every last ounce of energy from your body in the first two hours of the day, sometimes happiness seems a long way off. In the past I found it hard to think about anything positive when my life seemed so full of negatives. But now, the little things that would have gone unnoticed are getting attention and are filling that happiness hole left when this new motherhood adventure started.

A new sweater paired with my favorite orange shirt.

Watching the completely fearless little one climb on anything she can find.

A dreary October day that really makes you appreciate the amazing color of the trees.

A special order that just arrived at our local bookstore. I've already made it through a few chapters and feel like I could have written it myself.

An easy, but oh so tasty, supper. (Rice pasta, pesto, sheep's cheese and broccoli.)

Working on a gift for someone special.

May you find happiness in the little things today...

All About the Carbs...

'Tis the season for tea and carbs. My jeans are getting slightly snug because I'm putting on those extra pounds in anticipation of the cold season ahead. Regardless of the fact that yesterday reached 77 degrees according to the Subaru thermometer while in town, and the little one is running around in short sleeves while the stink bugs reign the house, I have simply decided to deal and do what I do best come October: bake.

You see, I used to bake all the time: cookies, muffins, bread, cakes...everything. Going gluten-free has put a slight damper on my baking joys. Most of the time the end result is disappointing and, more often than not, inedible. Trying to find recipes without dairy or eggs or sugar is even more challenging. But it can be done. And almost everything tastes better with a little Earth Balance on it.

Elisabeth is always very curious when it comes to mama baking. Her favorite thing to do is watching the oven. I have to leave the light on during the entire baking process so she can keep peeking in.

There have been many disasters in the past. Many. It's hard not to get frustrated and just give up. I'm always trying more because I know I will find a keeper someday.

And then, just like that, the gluten-free gods will look down and shine a ray of light on the perfect recipe. One that has been sitting in front of my face for months. So now, my friends, I share this recipe with you:

Tapioca Honey Cookie

1/2 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 large egg (egg replacer does not work in this recipe)
3/4 cup tapioca flour
1-1/4 cup rice flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Whip coconut oil, honey and brown sugar together until fluffy. Add egg and mix until creamy and fluffy. Add remaining ingredients and mix for about 1-1/2 minutes. Place on baking tray the size of 1 tablespoon. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

These are really yummy with a cup of tea. Enjoy!

Home

We returned home one day short because of some sniffles and a runny nose. This is the first time the little one has been sick, so I'm not sure what to expect. I'm also not certain that it's actually anything but teething. The drool fountain, which stopped around month seven, has returned with full force and will soak a shirt in about 30 seconds.

Regardless of the above, we had a marvelous time with Grammie. We tried to stay sane with a week full of rainy weather and an antsy toddler waiting to go outdoors and ride her bike. We played a lot, read a lot and ate a lot. That seemed to do the trick, but we were ever so pleased when the sun arrived on Saturday.

While in Portland, I ventured into Edith and Edna for some Sublime Stitching patterns. I am always amazed by the things in that store. Such talented artists and oh so inspiring. I wanted to fill a bag with goodies to take home, but our budget just won't allow it. So a stitching pattern was my only purchase and I enjoyed the time walking around Portland (in the pouring rain) without the little one on my hip.

On Saturday we had a joint celebration of three birthdays: my mother's, and the birthday that my brother and I share. I made a gluten and dairy free cake and I must say that it was delicious. Even the gluten eating among us enjoyed every bite. It was my first bit of sugar after a two week diet of only agave nectar and maple syrup, and the fact that I had three pieces in one day sent my body into sugar shock. So now I am on the hunt for baking recipes where natural sweeteners work well. Any ideas?

That project I showed you a sneak peak of the other day will have to be revealed at a later date. I actually forgot to take a picture of the entire thing, and I can only say that it was a bag I made for my mother. My own design and definitely something I will be making more of for the shop. I also included this little zippered pouch that I made with the help of Amy's book. I wish I could have gotten the embroidery hoop marks off the corduroy, but even with much ironing, they didn't budge. If you're familiar with the book, I obviously altered the pattern a bit. I was surprised that the lining had to be hand sewn inside along the zipper. There has to be an easier way! Overall, it was a simple, quick project and made a very practical and stylish gift.

Much more tomorrow. I hope you all enjoyed your weekend! 

Many Things

First off, I must apologize for the errors in the recipe of my last post. I need to remember not to post before going to bed, as I am usually too tired to think! The recipe calls for 1/4 cup maple syrup, which I had originally forgotten about. And quinoa FLAKES, not flour. The flakes can be found in the breakfast aisle of most natural food stores.

The little one is slowly transitioning from two naps to one. Some days she desperately needs two, some she acts as if she hardly needs one at all. For a mama who works only when she's asleep, finding time to get my things done has become quite challenging. At night I desperately want to sit down with Stephen and spend a quiet evening reading or watching a Netflix, but I always have this nagging voice telling me to "get to work!" So the work progress has been slow as of late and I've had to accept the fact that new things for the shop will be completed at a slower pace.

I'm working on designing children's clothes that are unique, as well as comfortable and practical. I am not using patterns, so the designing part can be frustrating sometimes. Tonight I started and finished these. They will be available soon I hope, with a matching shirt.

And remember that bit of embroidery I started awhile back? It occurred to me that the little one had absolutely no "dressy" clothes. Not even a skirt! So I designed this little skirt using the embroidery and some fun trim I purchased a few weeks ago. There will be more for the shop too.

I really can't get enough of those chubby little legs...

And, of course, the skirt had to come off as it got in the way of her exploring and climbing on large rocks.

Gluten-Free Goodness

This isn't a cooking blog and I certainly don't intend for it to become one, but many of you know about our struggles with food sensitivities. Elisabeth can't have gluten, wheat, soy, dairy, eggs, citrus, nuts, seeds, and a handful of veggies. It makes cooking for us as a family very challenging. I myself am mostly gluten, wheat, soy and dairy free. I am able to tolerate raw goat's milk and yogurt.

These cookies were a gift from my midwife, the day after Elisabeth's birth. She came toting these goodies along with her two kids for my 24-hour check up. The recipe is simple, but don't skimp on the oil. I often add way more than written, but olive oil is one of my staples anyhow. I love how these are sweetened naturally, and fit perfectly into my diet when I couldn't eat sugar.

Elisabeth actually can't have quinoa, and I haven't tried making these with another kind of flour, but I think any other nutty flour would do. 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

3/4 cup coconut flour
3/4 cup quinoa flakes
2/3 cold pressed olive oil or sunflower oil
1/4 cup maple syrup
*may need another tablespoon of liquid (water, rice milk, etc.)
1/4 teaspoon seasalt
3/4 cup nuts (walnuts or pecans or other seeds) coarsely chopped or ground

Form into 1" balls, drop onto cookie sheet.
Make depression in center.
Drop about 1/4 teaspoon organic fruit conserve into depression. (We use homemade blackberry jam.)
Bake at 350 for 12 minutes.

Enjoy!

Mishmash

mishmash |ˈmi sh ˌma sh; -ˌmä sh | noun:
a confused mixture : a mishmash of outmoded ideas.

This whole week has been spent catching up on things I neglected during my eight day illness. My posts feel as scattered as the days have been, so please forgive the "mishmash" quality of it all.

Yesterday morning I left to go on a fabric hunt for some special orders, alone! Along the way I picked up these. I seem to be drawn to earth-tones and vintage inspired material. So when I discovered that the majority of these were reproductions, I wasn't surprised. I haven't a clue what to use them for, but I'm sure it won't take long before they are on the cutting table.

Speaking of new material, I seem to be doing a lot of this lately. I had no idea that most of the time spent creating something was behind the ironing board or cutting table when I first began sewing. Now I iron all of my material as soon as it leaves the dryer, whether I plan on using it right away or not. When I start a new project, I really like to dive right in and don't have the patience to do all the ironing first.

The prints are framed! Tucked away in my little corner, I finally feel like this space is becoming my own. It's a temporary studio space (I hope anyway), but I still want it to be an inspiring space to sit down and create. These prints are certainly inspiring.

And the last of the mishmash ... the little one chomping away on an apple. It seems to be her favorite snack this season and I often find the discarded core tucked away with her books or next to her play kitchen. Thank goodness I've always found them the same day. It's hard to miss that apple smell!

Found

Found:
Stephen discovered this old teacup under the dried leaves and moss in our front yard. The old town road used to run across the front of our property, in between the two stone walls that still remain. Apparently when the new road was paved, the old one became a sort of "dump." The little one and I have had great fun digging up old bottles and other treasures.
I am absolutely smitten with this cup and the lovely sea-green color. If not for a chip in the back, it would be in my hands holding some tea this very moment. Instead, it will hold buttons on my work table.

Found:
The little one dragged out this necklace of mine. She found it in a jewelry box on my nightstand. It was a favorite, bought at a jewelry store I worked at long ago on Fore Street in Portland. I wore it almost daily. It's nice to feel it around my neck again and has provided Elisabeth much entertainment.

Found:
This was the scene in the pantry a couple of days ago when I went in to retrieve my daily morning snack. Now you know exactly how serious our Green & Black's addiction is. We started eating a bar a day four years ago. Now the chocolate world seems to have caught on. It's good stuff. Only the dark kind for us. Now go get yourself a bar.

The Weekend

On Friday I left a cranky baby, a husband who thankfully agreed to watch her, and messy house behind to join lovely Rhea over at Alewives for a little sewing fun. Or, I should say a lot of sewing fun.

With a pizza, some Green and Blacks, good music and a new project to work on, we chatted and sewed, and then did some more chatting and sewing. The only thing that didn't make me happy was the fact that my sewing machine broke. Off to the shop it goes.

Saturday we headed down to my mother-in-law's house to celebrate my birthday. She had a table full of delicious food and gave me the gift of a shopping "spree" in downtown Portland. So, so sweet and very fun! My mother joined us and made a heavenly chocolate gluten-free cake.

Then it was off shopping. We started on Exchange St. where I stopped into Awear and bought a gorgeous hemp and wool sweater. My favorite color too! This was just a slice of the goodness I came home with on Saturday. Mare is so very sweet and generous.

On the way home, we stopped at my mother's house where she surprised me with a new sewing machine! I couldn't believe it! Perfect timing, eh? It feels so great to have my very own sewing machine, instead of borrowing my mother's. I'm excited to get working tonight. I have so many new things for the shop, but that's all for a later post. Stay tuned!

The Little Things

It's been one of those challenging days of motherhood. It's on days like this where I have to step back for a moment and really center myself. I need to take time to notice the small things and forget about the big picture. I need to leave behind the dishes in the sink, the toys scattered across the floor, the dirty diapers waiting to be washed, the clothes needing to be put away, the baby who won't sleep and try to find the small things that make me happy. At first, this was hard. I didn't want to; it's almost as if I wanted to wallow in my own sorrow. But with practice, it has gotten easier. Much easier.

We walk past my favorite tree blooming and I smile.

On the way to the library I glance back and see the babe wearing her new linen pants I finished yesterday.

She finally sleeps.

I eat ice cream right out of the container at 1 p.m. in the afternoon. It was lunch and I have no guilt.

I wrap the presents I made for Elisabeth's birthday on Sunday and start thinking about the past year and how far we've come. Can she really be one already?

It's Friday and I am gearing up for some thrifting (alone!) tomorrow.

Happy Friday!