the flower princess and our hope for peace

Kinetic part one

2011-10-11T21:05:00.000-05:00

happy half birthday, Cozy!

2011-08-25T16:47:00.004-05:00

just a few of the ways we got to celebrate today...

toppling over while multi-tasking...

eating dirt after the rain (and getting a bath)

working on perfecting our mobility...

not a bad day all in all :)

a different cup of tea...

2011-08-24T10:23:00.002-05:00

So very unlike her sister, Aza seems to be composed of caffeine and rubber bands. She woke up bright and early at 4am. Crept into bed with me and kept bugging me to get up so she could go to school today.

She helped me grind beans and make coffee, then before it was finished brewing she had gone to the restroom, gotten dressed and brushed her teeth. All this before 6am (her school doesn't start until 8:30am) silly girl.

So without further adieu; here are the little one's back to school pictures. As you can tell, she looks just a bit more chipper than her sister on her first day of school ;)

Xochi's first day of kindergarten

2011-08-22T09:30:00.003-05:00

She said to me first thing that it started too early; she has been a night owl from the moment she came to Earth, joining us after 9pm and not taking her first nap until the wee hours. She is still that way, school starting at 7:45 is going to be a BIG adjustment.

more adorableness

2011-08-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

where is the thermometer on the volvo?

2011-08-05T09:15:00.001-05:00

the true outside temp yesterday remained at a solid 106* for several hours yesterday afternoon, but my car told me some numbers that are a tad out of this world...

Tour de Fleece week one...

2011-07-08T21:38:00.000-05:00

two poems

2011-07-08T21:29:00.004-05:00

The San Marcos River

It's cold.

It's fun.

Other tubers.

Some people are Bar-B-Queing. Kids laughing,

birds singing.

And then it gets dark and we go home.

-Xochi Wight (age 6)

I love to swim in it.

Cold.

When I close my eyes in the river I feel like a princess.

Tastes like flowers.

-Aza Wright (age 3)

navajo ply bfl lace 244yards

2011-06-29T13:42:00.004-05:00

little big sister

2011-06-29T12:15:00.001-05:00

river village love

2011-06-25T23:03:00.000-05:00

Xochi was two once....

2011-06-24T02:08:00.004-05:00

and I hardly remember it!!! Thanks for reminding me, George...

and I'm sure my husband would love me publishing this one :-0

now that's a little Xochi indeed!

slave cabin favorites part 3

2011-06-24T01:53:00.001-05:00

slave cabin favorites part 2

2011-06-24T01:45:00.003-05:00

the slave cabin... some favorite photos part 1

2011-06-24T00:58:00.002-05:00

our little family today

2011-06-24T00:53:00.000-05:00

forget-me-knot shawlette

2011-06-24T00:41:00.001-05:00

ahhhh....

2011-06-23T22:26:00.003-05:00

Got to catch up today after a hearty summer cold took me down and rendered me a fairly useless homemaker during the early part of this week. What's better than a lovely stack of freshly folded clean towels?!?

ahhhh....

boobie beanies!

2011-06-23T00:50:00.000-05:00

2011-06-18T00:46:00.000-05:00

a set of custom crutches

2011-06-02T22:53:00.001-05:00

mother's day with my two mamas!

2011-05-08T22:42:00.000-05:00

navajo ply merino 49yds

2011-04-19T13:56:00.003-05:00

merino light and dark blue

2011-04-19T13:53:00.002-05:00

local alpaca

2011-04-19T13:48:00.001-05:00

big smiles

2011-04-15T17:11:00.002-05:00

crochet breastfeeding educational tool

2011-04-11T19:52:00.002-05:00

WHAT!

2011-04-10T14:16:00.000-05:00

another temperature dip...

2011-03-28T19:12:00.000-05:00

oh my goodness, yes the night briefly dipped into the 50's but ladies I think this is overkill!

yay, some cool weather

2011-03-27T12:03:00.002-05:00

Let's pimp those knits Cozy!

2011-03-15T09:46:00.001-05:00

father and son

2011-02-28T09:05:00.003-06:00

okay, today's post will make you weep. At least it makes me weepy. First, open another tab and then click on this link which takes you to the original Cat Steven's, father and son on you tube, then you come back here and look at Cozy and CJ snoozing last night.

Did it do it for ya?

Introducing Cozy Joseph, our little CJ

2011-02-27T17:42:00.002-06:00

2011-02-25T17:29:00.000-06:00

Wow, yet another amazing experience

2011-02-25T09:56:00.017-06:00

I have to precede this story with a warning: it's not sugar-coated or pretty. It's real, it's birth, it's raw, it's primal- it's life.

It looks like just the threat of castor oil did it for me. Last night CJ came home late after a rough day at work came home and after a shower collapsed into bed so exhausted he could hardly get himself up and out of bed to have dinner with the girls and I. I too was rather at my wits end with many months of sleepless nights, the long days with the girls and the weeks of prodromal labor. I was instructed to take the castor oil in the morning. I thought I would lie down and get a decent amount of rest and start the castor oil during one of my waking bouts so that I could get the unpleasantness behind me while the rest of the family slept and also so that I would know before CJ left for work if things were indeed going to kick into gear. I really didn't want to be stuck alone with the girls laboring and waiting both for CJ and the midwife to arrive.

Before I could even clear away dinner and clean the kitchen my own body began to clean itself out. I really didn't think much of it since I've been having such bouts since my first attack of prodromal labor several weeks ago. CJ and the girls fell asleep while I got back to tidying the kitchen and getting ready for what I thought might be a long day. I had CJ help me move the girls into their room and I felt so relieved to finally be able to be horizontal.

After the requisite several pre-sleep bathroom trips I finally settled in and shut my eyes. Within a moment the first contraction hit. The kind that you have to ride like a wave, takes you between planes, the kind of feeling that will bring you to meet your baby soon. You totally forget that feeling between children until it happens again. I let the sensation take me over and when it finally released me from it's grip I checked the time 11:12pm.

I thought it might just be a random isolated incident, so I settled back under the covers, closed my eyes and thought I'd best get some rest while I can because this could be a long day. Another struck and released me from it's grip six minutes later, then another six minutes after that one. I stopped timing them because they began to cascade one directly on top of another. I wanted to make sure CJ was up and ready to lend me a hand when I needed, and I wanted just a moments break to be able to place the call into my midwife. I finally got a break and called her 11:44pm. After a minute long conversation she was on her way.

CJ had a difficult time filling up the birth pool that was set up on the patio. Since Aza's birth we had to replace our hot water heater and this one no longer had a way to hook up a hose directly from it. CJ finally decided to unhook our washing machine and fill it that way. I couldn't find a place to get comfortable. I kept going to the restroom and dragging a towel around with me as I tried to find a spot to labor I could deal with while I was waiting on the tub. The ottoman was more comfortable than the big ball, as the ball we had was a little too low on air, but the ottoman was too far from the restroom. I ended up dragging a towel and the ball to directly outside the bathroom door, right at the foot of our bed.

I first felt pushy on one of the commode trips so I figured it was just more emptying bowels. I then ended up just outside the bathroom door and realized I really needed CJ by my side right then and there. I was on top of a towel leaning on the rather deflated ball I think asked CJ to put my hair up and turn on the ceiling fan, even with the screen door open just feet from me and no clothes I was HOT. I then wanted something to drink but by the time he got it for me I realized there was no way I could drink anything right then. I was still feeling really pushy and I remember saying to CJ that I just wanted the whole thing to be over to which my rational brain said good this means it will be over soon. I tried to put my hands down there to see if I could feel what was going on I think that's when my water broke. I could feel myself pooping when I pushed and I kept my hand on my anus because I was so worried about postpartum hemorrhoids and I had CJ fetch a batch of warm wet rags so I could remove the poo and try to keep things clean.

Poor CJ began to gag as he was trying to help me get things clean and I suddenly realized how stinking pushy I was being and I really began to feel something protruding. In a panic I thought what if I'm pushing my whole innards out, like I wasn't really dilated and began pushing this baby anyway? I told CJ he needed to look for me and tell me if he could see what was going on.

I was still wiping away waste and applying pressure to my backside so he said he couldn't see anything. At that point I stood up and stepped up to and leaned over the bathroom sink so he could see what was happening. When he said it was the baby coming out I felt so stinking relieved that it was not my entire uterus or other innards I knew all I had to do was just finish pushing, I told him to get ready to catch as I was standing right over a cold and hard tile floor.

Within a minute he caught the baby and with a little bit of panic in his voice said it was blue. I said that was totally normal and just rub it and it would pink up. I was sort of shocked at the amount of blood that began spilling out afterward and I can't remember who thought to get a new clean towel to wrap up the baby in, but I do know I said something about handing it to me and to check the time and fetch the camera as well as a bowl for the placenta. I sat on the commode again and that's when I thought to look at what we had- A BOY!!! He came with a bowl and said it was 12:33am.

I handed CJ our son still attached to me and announced that we did indeed have a boy. I tried to squat over the bowl, but the placenta just didn't want to slide out very easily so I sat back down on the commode as I was far to shaky to be squatting at that moment. CJ snapped the photo of himself that's at the end of this post and called our midwife to tell her to skip the oxygen tank etc and just give us a hand. He called her at 12:48am and she was right in our parking lot.

She and shortly thereafter her assistant arrived and helped us get the placenta out (which really is much easier to do without a baby attached to it). They helped get me up and into bed and clean up the mess in the bathroom while I got to snuggle and latch on our new son while they got ready to do the newborn exam, check weight, and check me for tears (only a little skid mark again- woohoo)! He weighed in at 9lbs 4oz and 21.5" One funny little thing to note was that while they were checking him out for the newborn exam the assistant needed a pen. Our midwife nonchalantly tossed it over her way and our boy snatched it right out of the air! We all got a good laugh out of that one!

There may very well be more to tell, but I think that's the gist of it all as we are all very, very tired and need to rest. I adore the first picture shared in this post as the midwife and her assistant are hugging goodbye in the background.

I really was happy to have two wonderful, experienced and doting nurses here so soon after the birth, but what an intimate and special situation to have shared with just my husband and children who somehow miraculously remained asleep through the entire thing in the next room.

WOW!

the last days...

2011-02-24T16:49:00.004-06:00

Well, with pregnancy and birth you can always expect to throw your expectations out the window. I've heard it been said again and again that baby number three is an odd one. Not that this pregnancy has felt so different from the other two, it's been this month leading up to the birth that has thrown me for a loop. Beginning with the full moon in January I began to feel much more powerful contractions, sometimes regular, some that took my breath away. I figured it was something about it being my third pregnancy that my body just knew how to gear up and getting ready. It was possible at that point to have a baby in the next couple weeks, so I didn't think too much about it and went about my business as usual.

A week or so later a flu-like illness had me dehydrated and stuck in bed. I ended up going to the hospital just to get checked out and had fluids and for the first time got on one of those monitors that they use to track the fetal heart rate and mom's contractions. There I was still a couple of weeks from my due date and the monitor would pick up powerful contractions that would go up to the top of the ledger tape every ten minutes or so with lesser ones in between.

Then, entering my due date week I was suddenly awakened at night with powerful and intense contractions that put me in a state of shock. It felt like waking up out of a dead sleep to find myself in transition. The very intense contractions were accompanied by all the other common full blown labor signs like loads of mucous, loose bowels, nausea. We called the midwife that night after timing contractions that were 4-6minutes apart for 20 minutes and they petered out before she arrived. She stayed the night thinking that things would likely pick up before morning and they never did.

Here I sit- still as two. Nearing the week after my latest possible due date. Never thinking I would make it much beyond mid-February we're knocking on March's door. At the last appointment my midwife suggested I begin a strong herbal regimen the following day to be repeated the day after (today). If and when strong contractions pick up as they tend to do in the wee hours I was given large ace bandages to bind my belly tightly the thought behind that being the way I carry out forward may not be placing enough pressure on my cervix to keep labor going. If nothing happens tonight I am ordered to take castor oil in the morning. She assures me this will work.

For some strange reason I am dreading the castor oil. It's not logical I know. It's just odd that after having two wonderful spontaneous and fast labors I'm looking at this type of induction, yes I know it's no chemical induction but it seems odd today as I clean my house one last time as a family of four that I will likely be welcoming our new little one sometime tomorrow or this weekend at the latest. I've got cold feet. I've purchased the castor oil, and some chocolate ice cream and I plan use both of which to make a 'get it going' smoothie along with some frozen bananas and raw milk. I am mentally ready but perhaps not 100% emotionally ready to say goodbye to what may likely be my last days of pregnancy.

Here the next journey begins...

or so I hope!

Dear Baby,

2011-02-21T10:47:00.004-06:00

I understand my womb is a quite hospitable place but you will love meeting your sisters and mother and father too! There is plenty of colostrom, here just leaking from my breasts ready to feed you and the weather outside has been fabulous this week come enjoy this Texas wintertime highs in the 70’s with lowes in the 60’s- we’ve been sleeping with all our screens wide open and the fresh air is just fabulous! What else could you ask for but a loving and ready family excited to meet and greet you?

I'm back to working on my exercise in patience...

happy due date to me

2011-02-15T12:49:00.003-06:00

At least I have some other homemade distractions

2011-02-14T18:54:00.004-06:00

Tonight's pizza pies on their second proof. Made with self ground and home spouted wheat.

feeling a little more settled

2011-02-14T09:40:00.003-06:00

The other night at 2am I had labor come on like a train right out of a dead sleep and then promptly stopped within the hour. No nice crescendo of contractions just one on top of the other six minutes apart tops. Never happened to me before and left me a bit freaked out. The intensity of it all almost threw me into shock and my sleep thereafter was fitful. The bowel clearing that often comes along with labor left me with other unpleasant pregnant after affects as well. Really made me feel like backing out. Midwife came and stayed the night and made me feel a little foolish that nothing was going on by the time she got here. My husband really didn't want it to be the two of us alone so I went ahead and made the call for her to come. She's never arrived more than 15-20minutes before one of my births the previous two times so it probably wasn't a 'bad call' to make.

I finally got a decent night's sleep and I think I'm a lot more level about having to go through something like labor all over again.

The saying about "be careful what you wish for... it may just come true" holds true once again. I simply wanted more than two hours warning before baby this time and I got it...

so keep on stalking my lovely friends and family.

as good a weeks as any...

2011-02-05T15:59:00.002-06:00

to have a baby!

Starting last night I noticed things are beginning to kick it up a notch. Doesn't mean labor is knocking at my door, but I don't think I have that long to go either. CJ really, really wants to go see a bloody absurd UFC fight tonight, so I sat down in a hot bath with a small glass of red wine to just see if things tame down a bit.

I sent him out with the girls (he's helping a friend with some auto repair) and I'm going to see if I can't rest a bit while a girlfriend is on her way to help me get my house and laundry in better order (still haven't washed a single baby outfit)!

Hopefully I can power nap and then get my house spic and span for whatever is to come!

snow day

2011-02-04T14:15:00.003-06:00

To give my northern friends a little chuckle, this dusting of snow just shut down our entire area of central Texas.

The girls had a blast and even managed to scrape up enough for a snowball or two!

When we woke up and showed the girls, CJ asked Aza if she knew what that was outside and she responded

"SAND!"

cinnamon buttons

2011-02-03T15:46:00.001-06:00

grape divine

2011-01-23T15:41:00.002-06:00

This is a picture of Xochi's dress post blocking. Pre-blocking it was a tunic, it probably grew 5"!

Aza weaving

2011-01-20T21:52:00.002-06:00

Xochi's first weaving project!

2011-01-20T17:07:00.001-06:00

She had just a little help from both her mama and her "sisty". Now Aza has picked out her colors... let's see how this goes!

she's finished! now what shall we name her?

2011-01-17T17:05:00.003-06:00

eight months and checking in

2010-12-28T22:08:00.003-06:00

So, wow we're already at eight months. The ticker I use and what I try to consider in my head is the edd I am using according to the thermal shift I got when charting the month we were trying to conceive. If this intrigues you check out the book Taking Charge of your Fertility. It has been one of the most effective birth control methods I have tried. I've gotten pregnant on the pill and with an IUD in place. Nothing beats just knowing your body. It also worked great for trying to get pregnant, but I've never really had a hard time with that thank goodness (my heart breaks for those that struggle with ttc).

Although we discussed my chart and I brought in a copy my midwife is still using a wheel that gives me an edd of the 15th of February; an entire week earlier than the date I'm using. When I had my comprehensive diagnostic ultrasound around the middle of my pregnancy, it gave an estimated due date of the 20th of February between the two of our dates just a wee bit closer to mine. It's safe to say that this baby is likely to come sometime in February, more than likely the mid-late part of the month.

Where am I? I'm feeling rather large and having a difficult time getting comfortable in bed. I wake at least once a night to use the restroom and unfortunately often have a difficult time returning to sleep. I've had a week long episode of some sciatic discomfort, the feeling of having a bruised tail bone and most like had a rib bruised from a swift kick to the ribcage. I'm probably up around 40lbs over my normal non-pregnant weight. I am feeling the effects gravity extra pull upon my normally slight frame.

I have had a sneaking suspicion over the last couple of days that baby may have flipped from vertex to transverse judging my the most intense vibration from hiccups. When I get lazy about taking my iron supplements I can feel the utter exhaustion that likely results from the anemia I tend to struggle with each pregnancy. Baby is quite active and even interactive when I put gentle pressure against the body parts trying to test the elasticity of my abdomen trying to return them to a more comfortable location.

...

(will edit in the remainder of my thoughts after a nights sleep- this mama is exhausted)

beware of the work at home dad

2010-12-23T19:50:00.007-06:00

Today was my day to work out at my favorite LYS ever, which was going to work out perfectly since CJ had to take a couple of extra days off to work on some commissioned furniture pieces for Christmas. While still at the ranch I returned a call to him in the early afternoon to check that all was well. He said the house was a wreck and I just didn't think much of it since I know how it is with two small ones and trying to get some things done at the same time.

I was NOT prepared for what I saw when I entered my home. I dropped my jaw and my knitting bag right at the front door and had to grab the camera... this is far too valuable blackmail for when my husband comes home from work to find dinner waiting for him but the house a "mess". It's so sad I know, I'm nearly ashamed to post it.

I am however happy to share here that in just about an hours time I had found the floor and my sense of peace and calm had been restored. Actually I can't say that I lost my calm at all... I was far to shocked and mortified to have been anything but completely focused on the task at hand. At least CJ made dinner after all that was said and done... men :0

I also had to snap a picture of my knitting bag waiting patiently right at the front door where it watched as I found my home from the mass chaos that we first walked into.

Christmas dresses!

2010-12-21T19:45:00.000-06:00

Had to try them on before giving them a good wash and dry. So sweet, our silly girls.

More home improvements this past weekend

2010-12-13T15:05:00.003-06:00

Feeling pretty homey now, I really look forward to having this baby here this time! Probably won't be on the patio this time (but who knows there have been some warm February days in the past)... but it sure is feeling good :) Especially happy to have uncovered the fireplace again!

I had to go back through the blog and check out this shot, same angle same condo from when we were moving in... so much has happened in a little over 4 years since we bought this place!

Xochi's Drawing

2010-12-12T18:58:00.000-06:00

I handed Xochi an old sketchbook of mine, and she immediately went to work. It's a drawing of "Daddy holding a hammer and a tape measure, and me and sister".

Aza just gave herself bangs!

2010-12-08T11:53:00.005-06:00

not sure what to do about her upcoming ballet recital. Don't you love the fashionable way she turned her dress into a strap over one shoulder only!

princesses camping

2010-12-08T09:38:00.000-06:00

nothing on hand

2010-12-07T21:34:00.004-06:00

I forgot how much I love food and cooking it. It's usually happens around the time our refrigerator is empty with the exception of eggs and condiments and I just REFUSE a trip to the store. That's when I begin digging into my dried goods and looking at my produce basket.

There was some asparagus and a bunch of turnips that were on the edge of compost material, but since our lovely HOA has banned me composting (don't get me started... that would be a novella) I had to come up with a way to use them. I had already sliced a butternut squash in two and was roasting the seeds as I was digging up other things to go along with the squash. I decided to roast the asparagus and the turnip greens. Just a little olive oil and salt and a stir here and there made delicious perfection. Xochi couldn't get enough of the green "chips" YAY!

I peeled and chopped up the turnips and a couple of sweet potatoes I found and set the both to boil. I set some quinoa on the stovetop to simmer and CJ exhausted from work where he has been lifting nearly 400lb beams said he felt like he really wanted some meat. I dug around until I found a link of local venison sausage- hooray!

Both children ate two or more servings of quinoa, what more could a mama ask for and earned some baked and buttered squash with a tidbit of sugar on it for dessert!

I just love having "nothing" on hand to eat!

The Christmas box comes out from under the bed...

2010-11-26T12:27:00.004-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T02:45:00.001-06:00

poor, poor knitting

2010-11-24T16:24:00.006-06:00

This is what happens when you take a walk and decide to make a pecan pie and all you have on you is your knitting basket.

I also decided to edit in the outcome (yum) A wonderful, corn syrup free pecan pie from pecans right outside our door!

feeding the ducks

2010-11-23T16:29:00.002-06:00

You know one thing that I really love about children? They are terrible posers. They are just naturally uncontrived and photograph best in their true state. I thought I would include the hokey shot because it helps highlight how much better the natural shots are.

finally a little selfish knitting and a surprise gift

2010-11-05T15:00:00.001-05:00

my first sweater.

February lady for the lady due in February. I am already planning Elizabeth Zimmermann's baby sweater on two needles (what the February lady is based upon) for Aza since I've also just finished blocking Swing thing and a hoodie for Xochi. In my defense I keep knitting for the oldest thinking that is how I will get the most use out of these garments allowing them to be handed down from child to child.

This ended up in the mail as a surprise on it's way to someone special.

to market to market...

2010-11-04T14:26:00.001-05:00

to market to market..., originally uploaded by echospiritwarrior.

early november

2010-11-02T18:33:00.001-05:00

early november, originally uploaded by echospiritwarrior.

festive from fiber to FO

2010-11-02T18:32:00.004-05:00

blue lagoon

2010-11-02T18:32:00.003-05:00

blue lagoon, originally uploaded by echospiritwarrior.

yarn crawl loot

2010-10-10T19:31:00.003-05:00

the freebies

and the purchases

and I still plan to hit up another couple LYS' tomorrow! WHOA!

the cake and the after cake

2010-10-09T15:15:00.005-05:00

the never ending project...

2010-10-09T00:28:00.001-05:00

step by step

2010-10-09T00:27:00.000-05:00

2010-09-09T00:34:00.000-05:00

rainy day

2010-09-07T11:29:00.002-05:00

Well thanks to tropical storm Hermine we decided to have proper tea. Or as proper as tea time can be here in the states where there is no proper tea. We're enjoying cinnamon chip scones with hot cocoa and whipped cream! Later we plan to go puddle splashing. The girls got new umbrellas and are excited to give them a whorl. I'll edit in pictures later :)

out of the mouthes of babes...

2010-09-05T15:39:00.000-05:00

Today is a mellow day. I'm a little low on energy and after a morning of housework and writing letters we all snuggled up in bed together after luch to watch a movie while I knit.

As the movie was loading and the Universal pictures logo came on the screen:

A: Look what that is...

X: It's a planet!

A: No, it's a jungle.

X: Yes, well it is but don't forget it's a planet too!

dancing in the sandwich shop

2010-09-05T00:34:00.001-05:00

How do you think the world would be different if we all felt free enough to dance around after a good sandwich?

Zooming in on the girls playing in the park

2010-09-04T19:29:00.000-05:00

wouldn't you love to nap on a bookshelf?

2010-09-04T16:23:00.000-05:00

Karate-a-tots relay races

2010-09-01T18:22:00.000-05:00

Adventures at the children's museum

2010-08-31T23:33:00.000-05:00

dancin' pretty

2010-08-31T23:15:00.001-05:00

children's museum continued

2010-08-31T23:04:00.001-05:00

Happy Birthday CJ!

2010-08-29T20:09:00.001-05:00

So, we're separated by 1800 miles. Sit around and mope on his birthday. I think not. We had a birthday party!

Since I am still solo I tried to keep the spread simple. Crackers and kefir 'cheese', grapes, olives, pickles, fried plantains, a salad with grapes, goat cheese, sweet and spicy pecans (turned out great even for winging it), and a very light dressing, and corn and clam chowder again... everyone seemed to like it as much as I did. I had a gluten sensitive person over so this time I used brown rice flour for the roux of the chowder and it turned out GREAT! I'm substituting rice flour in this recipe from here on out, it's a great thickener and delicious too! One thing I could have done better with was having some better food for the kiddos. Perhaps little weenies, or mini sandwiches next time.

The last picture with the candles lit are when we got CJ on speaker phone to sing him happy birthday. See the little mint leaves. Xochi wanted me to put them on there. The cake is a dark chocolate cake with peppermint cream cheese frosting.

ballet and lunch with Hunny!

2010-08-28T19:59:00.000-05:00

ferment therapy

2010-08-27T12:18:00.000-05:00

Ahh, This morning I have chopped two heads of cabbage for sauerkraut and set that aside in the ferment cabinet. I have some kefir straining into cheese (to get ready for the 'in honor of CJ's birthday' party). And I have also set aside a new batch of kombucha to ferment (this time I'm using a mixture of organic green/mango tea- the store was out of plain organic green tea- it sure smells delicious).

What are things that put you into that relaxed state of mind? For me it is taking care of my ferments, spinning (I need to find myself some more time for that) and knitting. Baking bread and cleaning house on Sundays does it too- I love knowing what my Sunday morning and early afternoon is going to be like each week. What are your 'free' therapies?

have you ever seen a kyaking goose?

2010-08-25T19:54:00.000-05:00

You have if you live in San Marcos!

little conversations

2010-08-25T13:02:00.001-05:00

A: what's your name?

X: Xochi!

A: No, what's your caterpillar name?

X: Oh! Alila! ... What's your caterpillar name?

A: Alana

our littlest ballerina

2010-08-25T11:03:00.001-05:00

Aza is so terribly excited about her dance class. The first picture is us getting ready at home, the next is at the studio getting ready to enter the class and the last one is just after the class when she was showing me what she learned "plie".

Just precious!

home made corn and clam chowder

2010-08-23T21:41:00.000-05:00

Brilliant! The best thing I've eaten in weeks. I love love love clam chowder, and I doubled the amount of clams- YUM! Wow, where have I been to have not thought of this sooner?

Even though it's reached a sweltering 102* just about every day this week, we have not been shy about keeping the air conditioning going at a cozy 80* which makes eating soup for dinner (and breakfast and lunch) bearable perhaps even brilliant!

I've made this again and got plenty of compliments so I thought I would share!

Slice onions and carrots and sauté in butter. Once the onions are translucent add some rice flour for the roux. Add broth or stock. Add finely diced potatoes and corn and milk/cream (our raw milk has so much cream on top I usually open a new gallon and pour off what's on top without shaking to make it super creamy). Add drained rinsed baby clams. Season with salt and pepper and top with chopped parsley.

I'm sorry if recipes without quantities bothers you. I vary the quantities so much and play so much by ear. I could give you starting amounts, but I never use the same quantities the next time I cook. I use 1-2 onions, 1-2 carrots, 3-6 Tblsp. rice flour, 1-1.5 lbs potatoes, 4-6 cups broth or stock, 1/2 to a whole bag of frozen organic corn, 2-3 10oz cans baby clams.

2010-08-20T08:12:00.001-05:00

"We are not born to judge each other; we are born to know each other, we are born to love each other"-Siri Singh Sahib

Celebrating the start of the second trimester!

2010-08-18T20:57:00.000-05:00

I haven't had a beer since our friend's wedding on May 30th. Tonight I decided enjoy the start of the second trimester with homemade pizza, a delicious arugula salad grown locally slathered in Gorgonzola and a little raw milk and a Heineken my husband left in the refrigerator after a golf tournament several weeks ago. Of course the Heineken didn't compare to the fabulous darkside home brew from the Parker union, but I doubt I would be able to enjoy anything that strong after a several month hiatus.

Ladies night In!

2010-08-17T20:33:00.001-05:00

The girls and I needed a quick and easy meal tonight so we picked up some sushi, tuna rolls, and seaweed salad from the sushi bar at the grocery store. Sure beats frozen pizza (my not so brilliant original idea). For dessert we each had a large square of 90% Cocao Lindt. I wasn't sure how the girls would like it but they ate their square and didn't ask for more, maybe I've stumbled upon something. Xochi even commented that this chocolate was healthy. I couldn't agree more. Because sometimes dessert even needs a dessert, I decided to crack open a fresh young coconut. We miss you dad but are making the best of a ladies only house!

Appointment with my midwife!

2010-08-17T12:47:00.002-05:00

Had a perfect appointment today. Everything seems to be growing nicely. We were able to hear a nice strong heartbeat with the doppler. Little squirt had a heartbeat of 156 bpm. I feel relieved to be out of the major danger zone. I'm still counting today as week 13 but she's saying 14... I remember the agony of feeling over 'due' so I'm quite content hanging here on the brink of the second trimester! I can't wait until CJ calls so I can play him the heartbeat. Next visit will be in another five weeks and then it's the anatomy scan! I'm already gearing up to be strong and not look! I know from having done it both ways that being surprised at birth is best, but it is SO difficult not to peek while you're there!

Dear Dance Conservatory

2010-08-16T17:33:00.001-05:00

You call me after 5pm less than four days before my daughters' dance classes begin to change the time from beginning at 9am to beginning at 2pm. Apparently you just realized the week classes begin that many possible participants in your kinderdance class will be going to school. Xochi's dance class would then begin at 4pm which conflicts with both my work schedule and Xochi's karate class. I'd never get to see my little dancers rehearse! Perhaps you are just trying to save us money. I am so irate now and the 101 degree Fahrenheit weather and my mother having been here for three days isn't helping either.

Right now I feel like you are biased against home schoolers, biased against people who have spent months planning their schedules around yours AND you just plain suck right now!

Good Morning!

2010-08-16T06:59:00.000-05:00

So I've been solo about a week now and I think we're settling in to a lovely routine. This morning however began with Aza falling out of bed around six am followed by discovering that Xoch wet the bed and that the congestion that the girls were fighting had crept into my throat. Then Aza insisted on pouring her own milk which meant a pool of milk on the floor and a sad looking two year old in wet pajamas.

Now however, the girls are both up and have attempted breakfast. The feather blanket is hanging to dry, the next load of sheets are in the wash and I even got the ceiling fan dusted since I was about to wash the sheets anyhow dust bunnies wouldn't make much of a difference. We should even be at the sitters on time which of course puts me to work on time as well. I feel like I have accomplished something. Not bad for a Monday morning!

Saturday in pictures

2010-08-14T13:12:00.001-05:00

2010-08-13T07:48:00.001-05:00

It's still shy of 8 am and the girls are quietly tucked into bed still. Aza began to sound congested last night so I'm getting ready to try the kefir pancake recipe that's in Wild Fermentation and I plan to top them with homemade self foraged elderberry syrup. Hopefully that will help fend off or at least shorten her cold. Off to brew some red raspberry leaf tea and grind some sprouted flour!

Smoothie heaven!

2010-08-09T13:17:00.000-05:00

My blender died a long time ago. Since the weather got hot and being pregnant I can't get smoothies off of my mind... so in a fit of desperation I marched into BB&B with broken blender in hand. I walked out the happiest woman in San Marcos! These pictures entail what came next!

Pure thought

2010-07-22T19:24:00.001-05:00

So tonight at dinner CJ was reading a new book on Japanese joinery. Yes he was reading at the dinner table, he had an upset stomach after some bad Mexican food he consumed this afternoon but I made him at least sit at the table with us while the girls and I ate. He noticed the book was printed in the USA which brought the conversation to goods made in China/what is China/people live in China, etc. I asked Xochi if she knew which country she lives in.

"I live in San Marcos" she said.

"Correct, you live in the city of San Marcos. Do you know what country we live in?" I responded. She shook her head. "We live in the United States of America" I tell her.

"Or you can just say the USA" CJ chimed in.

"That doesn't sound like such a good name" said Xochi.

Homeschooling

2010-07-21T19:40:00.000-05:00

So it's finally becoming more real to me. Many of Xochi's peers are enrolling in kindergarten this year. Were our local public schools to be my choice I would have chosen to hold her back for late entry but she is very excited to learn and I've decided to put together a rough schedule that we will begin this August.

Through my years of research I lean toward several styles, I like elements of many but I don't think I could follow any particular one style. Many aspects of Waldorf appeal to me as does the Reggio Emilia approach as well as do certain Montessori principles. I think deep down though I'm a radical autonomous edder (I love the Brit's term for unschooling). I still feel unsure of myself and a little frightened as I begin this journey but I do know with just a few years under my belt already I'll be a pro by the time our third is approaching school age.

I feel a little strange putting so much time into creating a schedule, but the girls love structure and we all probably need a little more in our life. Also now that both girls will be in ballet this year and Xochi is also still doing karate and the fact that we want to make the local homeschool group meetups and library storytimes, add in appointments with our midwife and whatever else comes up I do think we need some sort of structure on paper. CJ and I are also both quite the co-parents as we both work opposite one another and parent our children together I thought it would suit us well to have something on paper to follow so that we can both be on the same page.

I am still having issues on how to bring some of the subjects to life in a fun, lively and hands on kind of way and keeping opportunities for Xoch to self guide and direct some of her learning. For instance when I was brining up my list of subjects to CJ and asking if he felt that anything was missing he mentioned that I had omitted History. All I recall from kindergarten history are the "good white man" fables of Thanksgiving and such- in other words I don't think kindergarten actually teaches any history that you don't later have to unlearn. I wrote in two blocks two days a week for History and I'm leaving CJ in charge of that. I think he plans on focusing on very local events but we shall see.

So, here it goes... I'm embarking on a new and frightening journey. Thankfully I still have about a month to help build my own confidence and prepare mentally. Xochi is very excited and I think making her wait until the school year begins for all her friends and peers around her will also help pique her curiosity.

river-love, new camera, failed cream

2010-07-15T17:52:00.000-05:00

We are so lucky. If you look toward the bottom of the handle you can see the cream line from our local milk coop, those are certainly some happy cows!

I was making some hot cocoa for the girls and I and decided to try to skim the cream and make whipping cream with which to garnish the cocoa. I skimmed it into a half pint mason jar and shook and shook, but it didn't seem to work today. So as not to waste it I placed it back in the refrigerator and told CJ to use it in his coffee in the morning. Next time I looked in the fridge I saw I had accidentally made butter. I guess I shook right on past the point of whipping cream and made butter without noticing.

Silly, thank goodness I had some fresh sprouted bread to bake the following day which of course went perfectly with freshly churned butter.

We got a new to us camera (thanks Mom)! So I get to play with all the settings to try to figure them out. I took it to one of our daily river ventures and played a little with the action feature.

It seems to work well, but I have not yet trained myself. This splash is CJ diving into the falls.

Here I am just playing with the portrait setting.

big day for two precious girls!

2010-06-07T09:49:00.000-05:00

We had a visit from Poppy today who took the girls to get some new shoes and they came home from the store with more than just converse.

Little Aza can really cruise on this beast of a bike, but to me she looks a little like Kermit the frog on a bicycle, legs a little too skinny and it just don't seem possible.

Xochi picked out a red and black Cars (Pixar movie) themed bicycle. She wouldn't have it any other way. She loves the color red!

completion of the UFOs

2010-06-03T14:29:00.001-05:00

ufo's (unfinished objects) can be a knitter's worst enemy. I've been working on the house some and stumbled upon a sweater I knit Xochi that was nearly complete early last year. It was my first sweater to ever attempt and all went smoothly except that I attached to hood not only to the back of the neck but across the entire length of the shoulders too!

I embroidered her name in the back of it, but she won't let me take it off to photograph that right now. I figure when she outgrows it, I'll unravel the embroidery and put Aza's name in there.

I did still attach the hood wrong (it's not quite centered) but I'll attack that project another time!

She loves it and that's the important part.

I hope to show you finished object number two before my kombucha is ready!

stillness in motion and small feet sneak

2010-06-01T19:20:00.000-05:00