Hey all! Sorry I've been completely absent here at the old blogstead, and without explanation too! I hope you didn't worry.(The boys, listening to Hub's iPod for the first time. So focused. So quiet!)
The simple fact of the matter is that I have been distracted. I was busy doing a small play/theatre thing that had me running around to rehearsals and learning the ukelele of all things! Its been a fun, lovely, whirlwind couple of weeks, but now its all done and over with and I can get back to the regular routine of life, which for me includes spending a little time blogging each evening.
But tonight I spent most of my time prepping a Valentine's Craft for the girl's group I volunteer with, (so. much. pink and red felt!) and since I'm still tired from the weekend, I'm going to leave it at that for the evening. But I will be back with more this week. Hopefully tomorrow. So many small but exciting things going on every day around here. My computer is full of photos and stories I want to share, so I'll be back here very soon.
...because this little playmobile girl is ready for the apocalypse.
I'm telling you, the way that the kids put their toys together really cracks me up sometimes.
Anyhow, I just wanted to take a minute and thank all you lovely readers who left kind comments after yesterday's post and even sent me personal e-mails to tell me that everything will be ok. I really appreciate you letting me know that you've been through it too, and that we'll get used to the allergies, and in time may stop seeing them as a challenge and start viewing them as a blessing. You are so wise, dear readers, so wise. And so compassionate. Many of you had great advice and suggestions. And really, just the empathy with which you sent out your kind words was such a tonic to my heart. I thank you all, and value the fact that when you sit down at your computers, you take a moment to come here and check in on our little corner of the world, and, when events warrant, to leave a little comment of support. You've really made a difference in my day, and that is more than I ever hoped for when I started writing this little blog. So thank you.
I must say, I really, really enjoy pinterest. It just a whole world of pretty things and good ideas and I love how clean and neat and tidy it all looks (unlike my life). But I've been noticing how I pin a lot of good ideas and interesting things, and how I rarely do any of those interesting things. Its like I'm a pinterest voyeur. Just a lot of looking and very little action. Or as one well pinned funny bit that describes the inner monologue of a pinner goes : "I want to sew! No, I want to workout. Wait, is that a mason jar? Oh f*#k it, now I want cake."
So I've decided that at least once a week, I am going to take action on something I've pinned. Whether is actually making that really cool recipe (hello Warm Gingerbread Cake with Caramel Sauce), or doing a little home organization (refolding t-shirt drawers anyone?), or a little beauty DIY or whathave you, I'm going to stop pinning and start doing. And then after that I'll pin some more.
And in the interest of sharing what I've learned, I decided to tell you all about it. So far I've done this foot treatment that was really lovely. I have super dry feet with chronically cracked heels, and spending time at the pool and the beach does not help. So I tried this soak/scrub deal. You take a hand full of rice flour, add a generous squeeze of honey and then add enough apple cider vinegar to make a paste. Since my feet are so dry, I also added a slug of olive oil. The vinegar is supposed to help to dissolve the layers of dead skin and the rice flour will gently exfoliate the top layer off. Honey and olive oil are natural moisturizers and will l prevent further cracking. I slathered on a thick layer and then put my feet up and watched tv for a half an hour. Then I soaked it all off in a warm bucket of water. And I must say, they did feel softer. Though a foot massage would have been nice as well.
But my favourite pinterest tip so far was this home-made bath scrub originally from MarthaStewart. Non-toxic, cheap, smelled good and it worked great. There will be a jar of this ready to go in my cleaning cupboard from now on. I used one cup of baking soda, added one tsp of Dr Bronner's Castile soap (orange citrus flavoured) and a few drops of Eucalyptus oil (which I just happened to have on hand) and then added just enough water to give it a paste-y texture. Next time I'd like to use peppermint oil because I'll bet that also smells great. I'm not a huge fan of artificial scents, as they are chemical-ly and weird and give my mom a headache and may even be carcinogens, but both the Dr. Bronners and they oils are scented with, well, natural essential oils and extracts, so I have no worries there. This was great on my tub, and I used it in my sink and countertops as well. We have hard water that has lots of tannins in it, which can make for very stubborn dark yellow stains. A couple of weeks ago really had a go at the shower to get all the tannin stains off, and you know what worked really well? Cream of Tartar mixed with Hydrogen Peroxide. Another good pinterest tip. You make a paste and put in on and let it sit for a couple of hours and then scrub at it with a brush or a scrubby pad. Took a bit of effort but made a huge difference. Now if I just keep on top of it every week with this new baking soda paste I'll bet I won't have to work so hard at it again.
For other tips and tricks have a look at my pinterest board titled "good ideas".
Well, I can tell you now its going to be a rough night. The Baby has a cough, is feverish and has been surly all day. He's already been up once and its not even 10:00 at night. So my big plan is to go to bed really soon so I can survive the night.
Anyhoo, since I don't have any exciting pictures or anything, I thought I'd share a link with you. I was browsing around looking for kids craft stuff and found this excellent blog resource Creative with Kids. She has lots of great ideas and links for doing Sensory Activities, something which both the Baby and my Little Dude just love. And this lovely list of 100 Ways to be Kind to your Child. Chances are you do a lot of these things already, but its an excellent reminder that its the little things that matter. And her post on Connecting with Your Kids When You are Exhausted really rang true for me the other day. Its sort of a pat on the back and a reminder to 'just keep swimming, just keep swimming...' on those days when you're sure you just don't have one little bit of energy left. Dig deep, and you'll find it. And if you just want to laugh read 10 Was to Guarantee You Will HATE Doing Kid's Crafts. Its funny 'cause its true.
Had a busy day today, up early, full of housework and the fun of a playdate. Then spent the evening making art whilst watching a documentary about art, which was very enjoyable. Anyhow, I'm pooped now, so I'm just going to use today's post to share a blog link with you. I don't even know how I managed to stumble upon it in my internet-y ramblings, but its a blog called Blue Milk and the subtitle is "thinking + motherhood = feminist". Its very well written. I haven't had time to peruse it exhaustively let, but I did read her article called "Meet Your Local Extreme Breastfeeder" on Feministe and enjoyed it a lot. Also, if nothing else, you should read her compiled 11 quotes about feminist mothers, which just has lifted my spirits so much. I had that lovely rush of identification as I read through them, especially 2, 6, 9 and 10.
Anyhow, enjoy and I'll be back here again when I'm more well rested.
Or rather, the day after Mother's Day, as I mostly blog last thing at night so I know that most of you are reading this the day after I write it. But today was Mother's Day. Sigh. I know I've only been at this mothering thing for about four years, but I figured out awhile ago that Mother's Day is a real rip off. I thought it was going to be a day about mothers, you know, honouring all our hard work, showering us with gifts and thanks. I imagined I'd be shooed off into an easy chair whilst my adoring husband made meals and dealt with potty breaks while I sipped some sort of fruity drink and paged through the latest issue of Vogue.
Yeah, those of you who have been mothers for awhile now are laughing as you read that. Because YOU know that mothers get SCREWED on Mother's Day (and I'm don't mean that in the good way). It mostly ends up being a day like all the rest, but possibly with more elaborate food prep. (On a related note, read Anne Lamott's Why I Hate Mother's Day. She's one of my favourite authors, and makes some very good points here. Thanks to my girl Sara for passing this one on).
Though to be fair, I cannot complain too much this year. (I wasn't expecting much, so that helps). We all got up in the morning together as usual, with Hubs heading out to the kitchen to start the oatmeal for breakfast. I went and got the Baby for his morning breast feed. And we had a lovely time, relaxing in the big bed for the 10 minutes that it takes him to eat, and then lolling around for another few minutes smiling and laughing and poking each other in the belly buttons. It was sweet. And then when I headed out to the kitchen I was met with flowers and a little present made by Hubs (a stainless steel ring he'd fashioned from a bit of pipe at work. Really, its nicer than is sounds and fits my middle finger perfectly).
Then L.D. and I were off to church, and after that there was a big family get together at my mom's house. But I actually was not there for most of it. I ran off to act in a play; a small informal workshop/community type theatre thing in a town nearby. Which was really nice actually. Its good to put that Theatre degree to work after all those years. And after an afternoon of pretending to be someone else, I returned home to the lovely smells and happy noises of a family having fun at my Mom's house. And the food! Oh, the food. I haven't got words for how good that home cooked deliciousness is, especially when you are not the one that cooked it. So really, my Mom was the mom who got the shortest end of the stick today, as she for sure did the most work. The ribs were to die for, I'm telling you, and I know that food does not get that tasty by accident.
Anyhow, after a day in the sun with all the fun of cousins and ATV's and then a massive dinner, we packed two VERY tired kids into the car and after some much needed baths they were tucked into bed. Though L.D. did not go so willingly into that good night. Not without a bit of fussing along the way, but it was understandable after so much excitement. (another related side link, read dooce's description of how she knew her daughter was a three year old and laugh. your. ass. off. She so nails it. No one writes about parenting funnier then that)
So, what was my point? Oh yeah, it was mother's day. And though I did not get to sleep in, or lounge around, it was still really lovely. And as I tucked my boys into bed tonight watching sleep lay its soft, sweet mantle over them, it seemed like a pretty good day.
And then I was poking about on the youtube and I found The. Most. Fantastic. Clip. EVER. And perfect for Mother's day. Behold:
This video makes me wish that I was a parent in the 70's. Or rather, it makes me wish I lived on Sesame Street in the 70's. Because then Buffy Sainte Marie could be my neighbour and we could hang out with Big Bird and nurse our babies together. Seriously, how awesome is this! Best line: "and I get to hug him when I do it, see." Awwwwwww! The only thing that makes me sad about this is that it could never, ever be on TV now. People would LOSE THEIR MINDS about a grown woman breast feeding her child on national television these days, much less on a children's show.
If you liked this you should also check out Buffy Gives Cody a Bath, which is all KINDS of adorable, and has the catchiest little impromptu bathing the baby song you will ever hear. You'll be humming it all day, yup yup. Though I have to say again, this would never make it onto TV now. Because people are crazy now, and think that children seeing naked babies will destroy the very fabric of society. Oh, 70's idealism, where have you gone?
Sorry for the silence around the blog for the last couple of days. I'm in the middle of a big etsy push, and at the same time am involved in a bit of local community theatre, so between sewing and rehearsals and late night laundry (oh, and did I mention that the washing machine flooded our laundry room at 11:30 last night. yeah. that was fun) I've been just a wee bit busy. But the baby is doing new things, and growing new teeth and I plan to fill you all in on it very soon. Maybe tomorrow even.
In the meantime, here are some links to some interesting things.
I want to do this photo-a-day challenge on Elle Moss Photography. I think I might. It really looks like fun, and if I just put my mind to it I'm sure I can find the time.
I just wanted to take a moment and wish you all a happy New Year. And also, I want to thank you. Thanks for dropping by from time to time and reading this blog. It really does mean a lot to me that these little messages in a bottle that float out into the ether get opened up and read. I know some of you who come here to read on a regular basis, and there are others of you that are strangers to me, but either way, I really appreciate that you take the time to look into the little slice of our lives that I can share with you here.
I spent New Years Eve with some good friends, one of whom is thinking about starting to write a blog himself. And as I talked with him about my experience as a blogger, I started to realize what a valuable part of my life this is. How taking an hour each night to choose some photos, and write about some small aspect of my day, is something that I really enjoy, and something that has enriched my life. As a teenager, I used to be an avid journal-er, but somehow along my road to busy, busy adulthood, I started to forget to write things down. But having this blog, this reason to write every day, has jump-started that for me again. And I'm grateful for that. I'm grateful for you, my readers, who give my brain the little external nudge it needs every evening to turn off the TV and ignore the dishes and just write down a memory, before it flitters away from me and disappears under all the to-do lists of my life. Life moves so fast when you are a parent, and is measured out in units both mundane (loads of laundry) and sublime (new words and first steps) and it has been such a blessing for me to have this small space where I can file away a few thoughts and pictures before they slip through my fingers.
And your presence here as readers keeps reminding me that I am not the only one having these experiences, that there is somebody listening, and relating to what I have to say, and laughing at what I find funny, and sharing what I find beautiful, and wondering what went on today. And I appreciate that. So thank you.
I almost never do this, but today I am bringing you some links to interesting things I found on the internet. As I mentioned before, my we have company this week and it is pretty much a constant whirl of (fun)activity. Lots going on, shopping, (I'll have a thrifting post for you later this week), outings etc. but on the downside, not very much time for me to get some stuff done. I have a few sewing deadlines coming up, so that's what I'm going to try and use my little bit of free time for tonight.
And so, I take the lazy way out and bring you links.
...to all the mothers out there. And all those who hope one day to be mothers. And to all those you have mothers. So basically, everyone, I hope you had a good day today.
I can't say I had 'good' mothers day, as this was one of those day's when the Baby chose, for whatever reason that makes sense only in his little infant brain, NOT to sleep for almost the entire day. He didn't nap for more than a half hour at a time ALL DAY! Day's like that make me crazy. He's still at the stage when he should be sleeping a lot, and I really count on that nap time so I can spend some time with the Little Dude and try to a least partially slake his insatiable need for parental contact (Come plaaaay wis me!) and also, try to get something done. Oh, and maybe relax a little, because its mother's day. Would that be too much to ask? Apparently, yes.
Though to be fair, I did get to sleep in for an extra hour, which was awesome. And I received a beautiful card, the co-creation of hubs, who wrote the lovely words and the Little Dude who collaborated on the picture. And there was also a beautiful bouquet of wild flowers, which I meant to photograph, but did not get around to. And a delicious dinner at my mom's house that I did not have to prepare at all. And also, there was some of this:
Which is really what Mother's Day is all about, right? (Though a couple of hours alone at a bookstore would not have hurt either. Sigh. Someday when I'm no longer the Milk Lady...)
Although, on mother's day, a holiday apparently made up by the greeting card companies to assist in pedaling their wares, I often think of how this might be a hard day for some. Those who have lost a mother for example. Or for those who have lost a child. Or those who struggle with fertility issues, and have not (yet) been able to become mothers. I even heard on the radio about a group of women who were meeting this weekend to honour women who gave their babies up for adoption. (I just went and googled it, and the day before Mother's Day is Birthmother's Day! How 'bout that?) They wanted to bring attention to the bravery and selflessness of women who have chosen to give birth to their babies, but knowing that they would not be able to raise them, for whatever reason, passed them on into the world to new families. I can only imagine the joy that you would feel, as the adoptive parent, to welcome that long awaited child, and what a gut-wrenching decision it would be for the birth-mother to let go of that child, knowing that it would be best for them. If any of you reading this are in the above mentioned situations, I honour you all.
I was pondering all these things because, as my readership on this blog grows, I've been thinking more and more about who my audience is. That's the funny thing about blogging. I can see how many people read my blog, and I can get to know some of you through the comments, but I can't really know who is reading it on any given day. And I remember when I was a blog reader, but had not started blogging yet. I worked a 9 to 5 job in an office, and I read blogs during my lunch hour and break times. I particularly looked forward to reading a couple of so called 'mommy blogs'. I remember thinking how jealous I was (in a good way) of their lives. And I wondered when it'd be my turn to have kids, and hopefully be able to stay home with them for awhile, and spend time getting to know them, making things and playing in the sand and reading stories to them etc. These blogs really made me look forward to parenting, but at the time I could not see into the future and know how things would turn out. I remember thinking it was odd that I vicariously enjoyed reading about these mom's lives. After all, I could hardly relate; we lived such different lives. And on mother's day they would cheerfully blog "Happy Mother's Day to you all!" and I'd feel funny 'receiving' their good wishes, as I was not a mom.
So my point is, if you are not a mom, and you read this, I'm wishing you a Happy Mother's Day too! You probably have or had a mom. And one day you might choose to have kids. Either way, if you are reading this, something about the day-to-day life of a woman who spends her day with small children resonates with you, and so I want to include you in the celebration. Happy Mother's Day, wherever you are in your life. I'm glad to share mine with you.
I love it when people link to my posts. Feel free to do that anytime. That being said, all the images, text and content here are made by me, and I hold the copyright to them. But if you wan to excerpt my writing or use a photograph that you found here (with appropriate credit of course), just drop me a quick request via e-mail at drevdk(at)yahoo(dot)com and I'm sure we can work it out.
