World Book Day Fun

What a way to start the day: early morning astronomy with Daddy.

We moved on, kicking off World Book Day 2012 by a trip to our local Waterstones, traipsing home in time for lunch, carrying goody bags and clutching new Where's Wally? books.

After quiet time, we transformed into our favourite characters from our favourite books [of the moment].  Yep, me too! Coo and I are Elizabeth and Jane, from Pride and Prejudice. I didn't feel like arguing with her over this one, even those Elizabeth is definitely my preferred character from P&P. So yes, I gave up my favourite character to a two-year-old. She is holding up an adorable Baby Austen version of the classic.  Also, from left to right, we have Legolas, from The Two Towers; Mr Bilbo Baggins from The Hobbit; and, striking a smouldering pose, Eragon, from the book of the same name. 

Other home educating friends came to visit, and we did a long book-sharing session together.  Miss Elizabeth Bennett listened to everyone beautifully.

Below is Eragon, reading a selection from his book. Other characters who shared with us included Max, of Where the Wild Things Are, complete with perfect mama-made costume; Anne, from Anne of Green Gables; and sisters telling us about their current favourite book series The Famous Five.  

On to everyone's favourite part of the afternoon: food time! Our snacks today were inspired by our favourite books. Anne brought a delicious fruit cake, made all by herself; and the Famous Five sisters' mummy had adventurously made homemade ginger beer. With our predominantly Middle Earth theme, we had to have lembas. However as lembas is an Elvish food, and I don't have any Elvish friends to ask for the recipe, I made naan bread instead, brushing a swath of maple syrup on top for the sweetness that Lefty assures me is so necessary for an authentic flavour.

Mt Baggins said his lembas tasted just right!  And from my experience, you can't argue with a hobbit.

Joy of Thankfulness

Honest truth, I was not feeling thankful after this morning.  

Two boys struggled to pay attention to their lessons. 

I've thought too much about how difficult it is to find time to create. 

After a quick look at my daily schedule, wondering what we were eating for tea tonight, I realised that I've forgotten to plan our menu for the week.  

I have not consumed nearly enough chocolate or drunk enough coffee in my lifetime.  

Well, the first three at least are true. 

So two boys have struggled to pay attention to their lessons? However... this mama needs to learn to be grateful for what I have!

One of these boys is incredibly creative with his hands.  He may have not done a great job of listening while I read from our history book, but he did make cardboard wings for his tiny Buzz Lightyear figure. He also drew some realistic-looking Larry Boy characters, and built a ship out of pillows.

The other boy has a mind that is full of constant possibilities.  He might have interrupted five or six times while I read aloud, but that was only because he was thinking of connections between what we were reading and something he read months ago, and wanted to let the rest of us know too.  He might have disappeared while we were in the middle of working on maps, but that was only because he went to sit down at the drums to play an amazingly complicated beat that he remembers from a song he heard once. He might have been unable to complete his history narration, but that was just because instead of recalling the facts of what we'd read, he was wondering why.  

Now, in the slowness of our usually chilled Monday afternoons, there are cloaked and masked and be-weaponed characters from Eragon stalking around our house.  

I have slowed down.  Lowered the expectations, quieted the frustrated mother voice, and listened as they narrated their book reports for World Book Day on Thursday.  I have spent quiet time with a daughter who wants to hear books read to her, dance, and be allowed to draw with pens while sitting beside me on the bed. 

In a slower mood, the menu is not a problem. After a quick glance in the fridge, I know which vegetables need to be used up before new ones arrive on Wednesday in our veg box.  

In a slower mood, the desire to have quality time to create is not a problem. I know that each project will be finished eventually. There will always be new ideas.  Just because I can't jump into them right away doesn't mean they will never happen.

Today, I'm thankful that I'm learning patience.

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought,

and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

-G K Chesterton

Pancake Day

Our children have a wonderful understanding of their bi-cultural background on days like Pancake Day [Shrove Tuesday... today!] Since our family is both English and American, we must have both types of pancakes.  Who can argue with that?  Or wants to. 

First, we enjoyed English pancakes for lunch.  Coo helped whisk them into existence.

These are thin and crepe-like.  We ate them with a filling of chopped apples and cinnamon... yummy!  The recipe is very easy: beat five eggs, add a tablespoon of maple syrup and 300 ml of milk, two cups of plain flour [I used wholemeal spelt], and another 300 ml of milk mixed with 100 ml water.  Whisk well and allow the mixture to sit for about five minutes before cooking on a hot, buttered frying pan.  One large spoonful, spread carefully, should make one thin golden circle of goodness.

For tea, we moved on to heavier fare: "proper" American pancakes.  The recipe for these can be found on my recipe page.  Today, I added mixed spice and cinnamon for extra flavour.  We ate them very traditionally, stacked with maple syrup.

So yes, we enjoyed our pancakes today.  But what about the Daddy, currently on day 21 of his raw food detox?  

He had rainbow crudites, with beetroot and carrot salad and raw houmous, topped off with a lovely whole tomato.  Mmmm.  I think his food looks the tastiest!

Joy of Thankfulness

So yes, last week my co-op order arrived; well, December's order did!  Fortunately, Suma are absolutely amazing.  Our driver was in a hurry when she delivered the order, but she phoned me later on her break and offered to drop off what we needed on her way through the area this week.  She'll also be collecting the items that we don't need.  I'm thankful I'm able to order from an ethical business like Suma, who are willing to work with me even when I make mistakes! 

I'm thankful for completed sewing projects, fun times with the kids during half-term, visits from friends both new and old, and a few hours of listening to my husband read aloud.  [We're currently reading Follow Me to Freedom]  I'm thankful for safe travels for my father, going to the Middle East; and for my sister, returning to the United States.

Last but not least I'm thankful for recent creative time with my daughter.  She is beginning to draw interesting forms and shapes.

And she loves to help make cookies.  She seems to have inherited a cookie-dough-eating gene from Grammy and Auntie Jessica.  [I can't stand raw cookie dough!]  That's a bit of cookie dough clutched in her little hand, about to surreptitiously make it into her mouth...

"I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought,

and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder."

-G K Chesterton

More Sewing

First, we made these hats together, one for each of them.  They're French Revolutionary hats: citizen caps, which were worn as a mark of revolutionary status.  We've just finished studying the French Revolution in Story of the World, vol 3.

Next, I made yet another string of bunting.

And then another. 

Which is actually two, because it's reversible!

I sewed up more drawstring bags using fabric from my scrap pile.  These are great for gift bags, or as treasure bags.  The kids love storing little figures in theirs.

 

Now for the tee-shirt skirt.  I've been saving old tee-shirts for a while, and this first attempt at an upcycled tee-shirt skirt came together nicely.

I did have to put a short length of elastic in the back because I just couldn't get the waistband quite right; the ancient tee-shirt I used for it had lost most of its stretch.  Fortunately, there are plenty of t-shirt scraps left for another try.  I'd like to perfect a tee-shirt skirt pattern that could be made again and again.  Already, I have plans for the next one, which includes embellishments like embroidery and applique.

It's so easy to keep making things for Coo; her appreciation is instant and joyous.  She loves this purple velveteen cloak.  The boys call her Arwen when she wears it.

Finally, I gathered up the scraps of a slightly felted purply-brown woollen jumper and made myself and Coo some cosy upcycled leg warmers! Here she is, shall we say, modelling them.  She was blissfully excited when they were slipped on over her tights this morning.  "They're so soft and lovely," she said happily.

Recoup

Every eight weeks, I order from an online co-operative, and have a huge amount of store cupboard food delivered to my door.  I'm so thankful that we have such a wonderful co-op available, and can find great bargains and lower prices for organic food.  Except that...

I finished my order very late Sunday evening, and e-mailed it for Monday. I sent the wrong order.  December's order, to be exact.  

When the invoice was handed to me today, as the three boys energetically helped bring in the boxes and bags, my brain dropped out of my head into a mess on the floor as I immediately began a mental attempt to problem-solve my way out of this one.  

For any of you reading this who have ordered along with me this time, don't worry!  I'll figure this one out.  There will be a way out of the mess of the moment. There always is.  

There always is.

Not just for massive food orders, but for every single mess that comes up in life.  There's always a path to follow, even if it's not the easiest, or the most clear-cut.  

Now I'm going to sit down and recoup with a cup of coffee!

Valentines

We gave the kids photo books today, one for each of them.  Starting with baby pictures, their individual collections have a few photos from each year of their lives.  These were their Valentines.  As they looked at their pictures they remembered joyfully, happily... how much they're loved, by so many people.  Dan and I wrote on the back of their collections - words from both of us - words of encouragement, reminding them how much we appreciate them.  

I received a card from Mr J.  "Happy Valentines Day.  A Mushroom. Mummy. You are the best. Love Mr J." My little boy, who sees the world so differently from most of us.

They each opened cards from Grammy and Grandpa, these pieces of exciting paper: American-style Valentines, so fun for them.  

We ate cream of tomato soup.  Beetroot, carrot, and coriander salad.  Hummus and homemade pitta bread.  Mr J ate everything, even the beetroot salad.  Happy Valentine's Day to me.

I thought about how routine all of this is, somehow.  Homemade food.  Trying to think of kind words to give to each other.  So much of this we do already, every day.  As beneficial as it is to have a special day to remember love, every moment of every day is really nothing but a joyful yet painful struggle to remember love, to walk in it.

"Let your religion be less of a theory and more of a love affair."

-G K Chesterton