friendly fun with the iron

Craft-wise, my friend, Mary, and I, appear to be separated at birth.  The last time we saw one another, we realized we were both currently obsessed with the bird form. At the risk of totally dorking out, I don't mind telling you we also discovered that we use the exact same wrapping paper. And we often find ourselves unintentionally and unknowingly doing similar projects at the same time. As I was here getting ready for Christmas with my iron-on crafty gifts, it turns out Mary was up to similar shenanigans. Gotta love it.

Here are some of the fun projects I've been making with Heatn Bond:

these initial tote bags are super-easy

and they look like a million bucks!

covering notebooks with fabric takes a little more time 

lots of room for creativity

P.S. Check out Mary's awesome bird-design dish towel!

snow!

photo by me, 2007

"Snow! Snow!

Just look at the snow!

Come out! Come out!

Come out in the snow."

                        --P.D. Eastman, Snow

It is 10pm, the wind is blowing, snow is snowing. I just came in from putting the chickens to bed, and it is simply a gorgeous little sparkly blizzard out there. Several area schools have already announced that they are closed for tomorrow. We will wait and see what the morning brings!

photo by me, 2007

P.S. breaking news---we have a snow day, no school---Yes!

#1 holiday

Hands-down, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I adore getting together with friends and family, enjoying a  lovingly prepared meal, basking in the warmth and togetherness. I am so happy to take part in the official acknowledgement of gratitude for all the wonder of this world.

I also love Thanksgiving for all that it doesn't have. For me, it is a perfect combination of all the best holidays, pared down to the bare essentials. No obligation to mass-mail greeting cards, no budget busting on gifts soon forgotten, no mountain of candy, just kinship and thankfulness, plus a nice dinner.

I believe that the more we feel and express our gratitude for all the beautiful little moments in life, the more open we become to receiving the abundance and support that is all around. As we practice being grateful, we get better and better at it. Soon we can even be grateful for difficulties and obstacles, as we come to see them as opportunities to learn and grow.

Happy Thanksgiving!

winter coat

I need a new winter coat. I would really like one that is exactly like my old coat, purchased at The Gap about fifteen years ago: a plain, black, super-warm puffer jacket, snap-on hood, deep pockets, no frills. In 2007, the zipper on this jacket died. I couldn't find one the right length to replace it myself and the tailor said it was too hard to do anyway. So I got rid of the jacket and am still looking for a replacement.

Our three sheep and lone goat do not have to go shopping for a new jacket--they grow their own luxurious winter coats every year. Lately, they have been getting furrier and furrier. I am truly impressed by this.

The sheep are Barbados hair sheep. They have hair instead of wool. The hair is rough and coarse, almost like plant fiber. When you pet them vigorously, you can get a nice handful of dirty hair like the bunch pictured above. The other day, I was petting the sheep,wondering what I could do with this hair. Could I stuff it into some fabric to make something warm? As I considered the possibilities, Ike came up, gave my hand a little sniff, and proceeded to eat the hair.

 

In case this was a freak occurrence, I gathered more hair and offered it to Fern, who also gobbled it up. Huh. Nature is so very interesting. I have not seen anyone coughing up a hairball out there.

click

I am so thankful for my camera. With the crazy running from here to there, I don't always take the time to stop and breathe in the beauty that is all around. Taking pictures helps me to connect, to take a moment and slow it down. I took these photos the other day during a brief few minutes of sunshine. The light breeze added some welcome mystery: every time I pressed the shutter button, the gently moving scene that ended up in the picture was entirely different from the photo I had lined up.

In a photograph, you can see things that you wouldn't otherwise notice. A heavenly glow of light through the trees; intense colors; a clear, beckoning sky; little ladybugs on leaves. It's the same taking pictures of the kids. When I look closely at their photos, I sometimes catch a glimpse of joy, courage, love, confidence, or even sadness that I didn't realize was there at the time I took the picture.

There are other perfect moments where, no matter how hard you try or how many pictures you snap, the camera refuses to capture the truth and depth of your experience.

On some days, holding the camera gets in the way of experiencing the fullness of life at hand. Then we have to just put it down and get real.

Wow, I love these photos. I'm so happy to share them with you. Thank you for spending part of your day with me.

yard art

peace

Annika loves the autumn leaves. Every year, she will spend hours, energetically raking up a big pile for herself and her brothers to jump into. With all the rain we've had this fall, the leaves are too soggy to roll around  in, but that doesn't stop my girl. Instead, racing outside after school over the course of several days this week, she turned the yard into an art gallery. First came the inspired peace symbol, then the dove you see below.

dove pattern

the dove. 

you can't see it in the photo, but there is an actual branch with

 green leaves here to symbolize the traditional olive branch

recycling: Annika's signature symbol

Last night, the big storm blew this inspired art installation away, making the memories even more precious. Today, I count my many blessings.

sweet heart

where's the beef?

mashed potatoes, garden tomatoes, garlic spinach

"Ahimsa" means non-violence, to do no harm in thought, word and deed. The word comes from the ancient Sanskrit language and the practice of Ahimsa is an important part of the yogic tradition. Today as I practice Ahimsa, I commit to doing my best to embrace and support all living beings, to cause the least possible harm, to be kind, generous and forgiving to others and to myself.

In my role as family food provider, I have really enjoyed cooking meat: the savory juice, the crunchy skin, the time-honored traditions and recipes. But I always prefer to begin with a slab of meat that is as far removed from the actual animal as possible. When it looks too much like the animal it came from, I feel creepy. It is much easier to use skinless boneless breasts that don't look anything like the chicken running around in my backyard. Bacon doesn't at all resemble a squealing piggy, so I really love the bacon. You get the picture.

On and off for several years, I have considered adopting a vegetarian diet. Not to say I haven't fully enjoyed a delicious bleu cheese burger, but since childhood, I have always gravitated more towards the vegetables with less enthusiasm for the meat. To my surprise, over the summer, I magically bypassed vegetarian and went all the way to vegan instead. The desire for meat and animal products simply disappeared.

At some point in the month of July, I just went ahead and accepted the idea that a living being doesn't necessarily need to lay down its life just so I can have a nice sandwich. In the old days, living here in Wisconsin's wintry climate, we actually needed to eat meat in order to survive. But now, with trucks and trains and greenhouses, there are plenty of other delicious proteins I can have in my sandwich.

This interesting culinary path is not for everyone. Unless my family decides to embrace the veggies 100%, I am still buying and cooking meat for them. For now, I just know this is the right choice for me. My digestion is 100% better, I can fit back into my skinny jeans, and I have a lot more energy. All this without feeling like I've made a single sacrifice.

Note on Eggs: We still have chickens living here. They have an outdoorsy, safe, healthy environment and they appear to enjoy long, rich lives here with us. By their nature, they lay eggs. For the most part, they will not sit on the eggs long enough to hatch more. We have to do something with these egg-- what should we do? Of course, eggs are not traditionally "vegetarian" and certainly not"vegan".  The only conclusion I can come to about our special chickens' eggs is that right now we are obligated to enjoy them, share them and be grateful for these beautiful, pearly gifts. Other opinions about the eggs are welcome.

ag

This summer, I spent a LOT of time tending to my inner garden. Projects included:

1. Sitting in meditation, doing yoga, reading helpful texts, sewing the seeds of new friendships (Planting).

2. Digging deep to dislodge the pesky roots that had grown into bad habits of mind and body (Weeding).

3. Learning to be in the present moment, remembering my long-hidden Higher Self, letting in the Light and reaching for the sky (Growing).

4. Discovering a certitude, peace and confidence that I had not known before (Harvest).

It was, and still is, a time of growth, transformation, trust and acceptance. I look just the same on the outside, but on the inside, now I feel shiny. I have noticed some pretty little flowers starting to bloom in the fertile earth that is me.

BUT. . . . While all this was going on, I totally neglected my other garden, the one in the yard behind the house. Darn it. This 30' x 30' plot of pure potential is now tangled with brambles and weeds of breathtaking variety. Locating the yellow and orange grape tomatoes hidden hither and thither has become a game of "I Spy".

Sunday morning found me in that weedy jungle, finally ready to work. Sitting there amidst the burdock and crabgrass, I noticed some entertaining parallels between my inner garden and my outdoor one.

Press the play button below to view the movie:

"Inner and Outer Gardening--Eerily Similar: A Demonstration"

gramps, grams and clams

grandpa brought these in the truck, all the way from Connecticut

My in-laws came for a visit at the end of August. On their first night here, we met at my brother- and sister-in-law's house for a special meal--Grandpa brought clams from Connecticut for the feast. I am very happy to see Grammy and Grandpa pulling up in the truck, but I do not eat these clams: I can't even bring myself to give them a little sniff. The rest of my family enjoyed the clams and melted butter with great gusto.

family fun with clams

As usual, David's parents spent the first half of their trip with his brother's family and the second half here with us. I love it when Grammy and Grandpa are here, we all get to slow down for a few days, work together on the crossword puzzle, catch up on the news, review family history, play cards and relax. It was a great time. Grammy & Grandpa were able to see the kids off for their first day of school, including Oliver's very first brave departure for kindergarten. A shared moment to be treasured and remembered.

ode to the fair

watching the parade 2004

August is time for the Alto Fair. Held in the unincorporated town of Alto, WI, the 2-day event is similar to a county fair, only more family-ish and much smaller. For me, it a class reunion and a family reunion with the added bonus of chickens, goats and cows. It starts with breakfast and ends with fireworks. I love it beyond reason.

As a kid, it was the place to bring all my 4-H artwork, baking and animal projects for judging. I rode ponies in the parade. Cheered on by my beloved grandpa, I led my calf, Shasta, in the ring (winning the coveted "honorable mention" ribbon). I was so proud to be the granddaughter of a dairy farmer. As a tween, there was the excitement of carnival rides and the chance to glimpse that boy for whom I held a torch. As a young adult, it was the best place to catch up with old classmates. Now, I treasure the opportunity to share all of this with my kids, to see my grandma and all my aunts, to pet the critters, check out the pies in the baking competition and admire the vegetables from 4-H'ers gardens.

2006, our friend's chicken, Claus--Grand Champion

Several years ago, I decided to enter the "butter cookie contest." I begged Grandma for her best recipe, and spent two days baking. The result was a plate of 6 perfect cow-shaped cookies. Traditionally, my grandma competes in these contests as well. That year, she used a lesser butter cookie recipe, allowing me to go for the glory. I walked away with the blue ribbon and the 20 bucks. Due to the pilfered recipe, my victory was not quite as sweet as the cookies--I would rather have seen Grandma win.

alto fair, tilt-a-whirl 2009

photo by Cal

Once the great-grandchildren arrived on the scene, my grandma and my Aunt Ann began presenting an annual "Alto Fair" envelope to each family. The envelope contains money for each child to play carnival games and enjoy the rides. It is so much fun to burn through this money, absolutely guilt-free, knowing we are here simply to enjoy.

This year, I rode the tilt-a-whirl with Oliver. The dirt, grease and faded clown pictures were eerily familiar--I believe this is exact same tilt-a-whirl we rode all those years ago. Back then it was an exciting 3 minutes and then on to the next ride. This time there were two hours of head-spinning before I felt normal again. I am changing every day. Thankfully, the Alto Fair remains pretty much the same.

Arigato Tomoyuki

a new friend, a new brother

Tomoyuki is a great cook--he made these soba noodles for us

(they came all the way from Japan in his suitcase!)

I lucked into modeling this gorgeous kimono at one of our get-togethers

Tomoyuki's whisk for making green tea--delicious!

We were honored to celebrate Tomoyuki's 13th birthday while he was here with us.

A very special occasion.

Tomorrow we will drive our precious new son and brother, Tomoyuki, to meet the chaperone who will take him on the long flight back to his family in Japan. It is a bittersweet time. Tomoyuki loves to fish, so we have done that once today, with plans to return to the lake later this afternoon. I find myself unable to tell him it's time to pack his suitcase. Oliver will have a big adjustment Friday morning, when he wakes up without his new big brother by his side. Tomoyuki has brought much joy and laughter from his home to ours, and I hope we are sending these same gifts, along with pure love and summer fun back with him. Thank you, Tomuyuki, for being you.

labyrinth amazing, not a maze

our triumphant group enjoying the labyrinth

photo by Michael, who climbed on top of the barn to take this shot

A lot of amazing, new things have been happening here lately. Last weekend, we enjoyed the great honor of hosting a meditation retreat. Our schedule included yoga, meditation, breathing exercises, music, laughter and much more. Along with 14 other people, we practiced being in the present moment. We all received many lasting life lessons.

One of the best parts of the retreat was walking the meditation labyrinth. We mowed this 7-circuit wonder into our lawn last month. Fortunately, my dad the mathematician showed up and coached the entire project. If he hadn't been here, I would still be standing out in the yard scratching my head and turning the instructions this way and that.

There will be more retreat posts coming up, too much for one entry. I am floored by how lucky I am to be part of these wonderful days.

Here is some good info on labyrinths, courtesy“The Sacred Labyrinth” website: http://www.angelfire.com/tn/SacredLabyrinth/:

Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has only one path leading to the center. There are no dead ends. There is one way in, one way out: you cannot get lost.

"Each person's walk is a personal experience. How one walks and what one receives differs with each walk. Some people use the walk for clearing the mind and centering. Others enter with a question or concern. What each person receives can be integrated on the walk out. Your walk can be a healing and sometimes very profound experience or it can be just a pleasant walk. Each time is different."

It is a perfect space for people of all beliefs to come together in a common spiritual experience.

Hooray for Tomoyuki!

family of frogs

Our family has a traveling dream: we want to see the world together, making new friends and expanding our understanding of this planet and all who live on it. The first step of this journey is welcoming others into our lives, just as we hope to be welcomed wherever we go.

Tomoyuki arrived on the 25th of July. A kind and open 13-year-old from Japan, he'll be here until the 20th of August. This young man is incredibly brave--to fly those many hours away from home and spend time with this nutty family, possibly very different from his own. We received his picture a few days before his arrival and realized that we felt a great love for him even before we met him. Our thrill at having him stay here with us helps me to understand how my own host family must have anticipated my arrival at their home in Chile back in 1981. Now I know how excited they must have felt, how they lovingly prepared a space for me in their lives.

Tomoyuki fits right in with our family, and has enriched all of our lives, even in this first short week. He and our other 3 kids are busy making origami, catching fireflies, playing with the animals, laughing and running around. Even more than I do for this blog, Tomoyuki takes pictures of everything, from birds to fishsticks. We have all become close to this wonderful boy very quickly. When David proudly proclaims "Good Morning!" in Japanese, Tomoyuki gently and laughingly lets him know that he has actually said "Good Night!" This is world travel at its best.

v-a-c-a-tion

the view from here

We just returned home from our first summer vacation in many years--northern Minnesota was gorgeous. On the tail end of this trip was an intense 3-day regatta for Calvin on Gull Lake. Loads of fun and laughter, tense moments with the X-boat, big socializing, big wind, big cold--totally good, totally exhausting.

Luckily, we had nearly 5 days on the front end to just BE. Resisting all temptation (complete with coupons) to go to the mini-golf, the go-carts and the waterpark, we enjoyed some real rest and togetherness just hanging around on our little beach and cozying up in our cute rental cottage.* The kids played, we all played, we rowed around the lake and did a lot of reading and sleeping. Our neighbors included a gigantic bald eagle, a delicate baby toad and a little nippy lizard who tried to eat Annika's finger. In the background, the beautiful flute of the Loons.

water lilies are closed up and ready for bed in the early evening

These are just the best times.

a nice, long walk through the woods

*We did venture out to see the new Harry Potter movie, of course.

sail away with me

Three years ago, our kids started taking sailing lessons on a local lake. After his first lesson, Calvin came home very excited: "Mama, I have found the sport of my life!" Since that day, Calvin has sailed competitively in two different kinds of boats. Annika, who last year sailed her regattas with an "after you, dear" politeness beat her big brother in a race this summer. Oliver is now taking his first lessons and he is thrilled. My niece and nephew are excited to be taking lessons this summer, too.

This sport takes a lot of time and commitment from parents. When your child is sailing in a race, you pretty much have to be there the whole time for safety reasons, and the regattas go on for the entire day, sometimes 2-3 days. Often at these all-day affairs, I find myself wondering when the work is going to get done at home. There is a lot of "hurry up to wait" as one parent describes it. But there are also great perks. I get to ride on lots of comfy pontoon boats, soaking in the sun, jumping off for a cooling swim when the sun burns hot. There are friendly parents to chat with on these boats, and I do love to chat. And sometimes, like last week, I get the chance to ride on really neat spectator boats, like a slick, 30-foot sailboat with all the perks or a gorgeous, romantic catamaran.

I don't know anything about sailing myself. It's better that way. The kids really own this activity. They know how to rig the sail, how to set up the boat on their own. They gain confidence and independence out there on the water, far away from me. And they have made many good friends. Even on the busiest days, I know they are receiving great gifts through this activity. What could be better than sunshine, water and friends all summer long?

The other day, Oliver and I were in the little boat at sailing lessons. It was our first time out on the water together, and we weren't sure what to do, how to get where we were supposed to be going. Oliver manned the tiller and I was giving unwelcome advice. Ollie was mad because we were behind everyone else and he savagely refused all of my "helpful tips." Even though I claim that I don't have a competitive bone in my body, I did feel a little anxious, wondering how all the other parent/child combos were zooming along and we were so far in the back. A helpful coach offered to tow us, and we gladly accepted. Later, I asked Calvin about this. How do you deal with your thoughts and feelings when you find yourself behind the pack? It happens to everyone at times. Calvin admitted those times were challenging. He said, "You just look up at the sail and find the wind. You just keep going."

a sweet for the sweetie

you will enjoy this

Oliver has been sick for a couple days. This morning, suspecting serious dehydration, I took him to the doctor. I am happy to report that he did not require IV fluids, was given some helpful medication and now seems to be on the mend.

While we were at the doctor's office, I read to Ollie from an old issue of National Geographic Kids magazine. He spotted this recipe for strawberry sorbet and the idea of something yummy made him excited to try it out. So on the way home, we stopped at the store to pick up the ingredients and I made it as soon as we got home.

Maybe it wasn't the best thing to give him considering his condition, but sometimes you just have to go with the kid's plan. He did not eat the cookie, but I did.

So from the heart biscuit test kitchen, we bring you the best medicine we've found for all that ails ya: Strawberry Sorbet. Not only gorgeous, it really is a wonderful treat.

Thanks to National Geographic for the basic recipe, and thanks very much to Grammy and Grandpa for the magazine subscription!

Recipe

1 lb. bag of frozen, unsweetened strawberries

1/3 c. sugar (next time, we're trying honey to taste)

1/2 c. buttermilk

1 T lemon juice (we used juice of 1/2 lemon)

1. put berries and sweetener in a blender

2. mix buttermilk and lemonjuice, pour on top of berries

3. blend

4. add a pretty cookie for garnish

my good egg

Oliver holding his amazing, wacky 4-incher

A few of our chickens have been laying defective eggs. Every day, I am finding one or two soft-shelled eggs (an odd thing if you've never seen one, like a delicate water balloon with a yolk inside). There are also a couple of eggs that have a hard but wrinkled shell, or a misshapen shell.

There are many possible causes for this problem, all difficult to nail down. Illness, parasites, stress, second-rate bird, who knows? Eventually, we will figure it out.

Our egg customers get only the perfectly smooth, gorgeous eggs. The ones that don't look so pretty are used here at home. I try to figure out how to i.d. the fine-feathered culprits who are laying the awful looking ova, but short of sitting out there all day, I don't know how to determine the source of imperfection. Lately, I've been thinking about what to do with the bad chickens who are laying these eggs. Should I give them away to someone looking for a fresh roaster? Do away with them myself? I don't think I can live with any of these solutions, but I do consider the possibilities.

On Friday morning, Oliver and I were making pancakes. Bemoaning the very existence of our unsightly eggs, I gave him this huge, crazy, misshapen one to crack into the batter. As he took it from my hand, his eyes widened in wonder and he became extremely excited. "Mama!" he cried, "Which chicken laid this egg? We have to go out and thank that nice chicken for giving us this best egg! I love this egg! What a good chicken!"

Wow. Wow. Ebulliant Oliver was so profusely thankful in heaping the praise upon this mystery chicken and it's special egg, I realized that once again, there was a deeper message for me. I'll take some of that perfect perspective any day. Thank you, Oliver.

key to my heart

huh, what is this strange thingy dingy?

Our 2002 Honda Odyssey minivan is slowly becoming old and stubborn. The back hatch will open with the remote only 20% of the time. For the other 80%, I climb into the back seat and painstakingly reach over the headrest to manually pull up the lock. This type of unlocking is not as relaxing as using the fancy remote.

Not long ago, I stood behind the van, remote in hand, pressing the "unlock" button over and over, hoping for a miracle. And then a miracle appeared. My nephew, Charlie, was standing next to me, noticing. He said, "Auntie Beck, just use the key."

Are you kidding me? All those times I had squeezed myself into the back of the van or sent someone else scrambling back there to pull up the lock toggle, I could have simply put the key into the lock and given a little twist.

Sometimes the solution to a challenge is right in front of us, so clear and obvious and easy that we push it aside as if it's in the way, looking around it to find "the goshdarn answer", the more complicated the better. Sometimes, if we're really lucky, a great and gentle teacher will appear to guide us back to center. I have thought about that precious moment with my nephew, who is also my godson, many times since that day.

Thank you, Charlie.

family project

chelois on the way

This is a photo of our tiny "chelois" (pronounced shaywah) grapes, just beginning to grow. These little buds are a good sign for our multi-generational family project: the vineyard. Here's how it breaks down:

• my brother, Karl, enjoys making wine,
• my mom and dad are great and enthusiastic gardeners,
• kids and cousins shall pick and mush grapes,
• my brother, Dan, will write and perform a gorgeous grape-picking song,
• LaDonna, Chrissy and David will lend a hand with the critical task of tasting,
• I love the idea of family projects,
• and we happen to have a very sunny hill in the backyard.

So we're all set. This project began last spring, when Karl suggested we try a vineyard here in our yard, since his is rather tiny. He offered to select and purchase the vines, my dad and I agreed to plant them and care for them. In May of 2008, a package arrived with 24 vine cuttings, chelois, foch and frontenac varieties, ready to plant. The digging began. There were some setbacks: the soil is clay-filled and stony. Digging holes and trenches big enough for the roots took days and days. Many times I collapsed with laughter as a half hour's hard digging and scraping yielded a cute little hole only 1.5 inches deep. Two months in, sheep and goats escaped from the pasture and ate off all the leaves. And then there was winter.

the "vineyard" one year ago

still looks pretty much the same

This spring, we had nearly 1/3 of the vines showing signs of life. I ordered replacement vines for dead ones, gave them all a good shot of chicken manure compost and we're back in business. I predict that one day we'll have a nice little vineyard with actual living grapevines. This summer, we will need to put up trellises--that job will fall to Dad and me. In a couple of years we will actually harvest grapes for winemaking. I'm very happy about this little project.

what's in the backpack

Although we still have a couple days until summer break, Calvin has already cleaned out his school locker and brought home a huge garbage bag of stuff. Usually this bag will sit in the mudroom for a month or so, until someone is motivated to sort through. And normally, the kid in question will do the sorting. But this morning, Oliver and I decided to tackle the job and peek into Calvin's world. Traditionally, Cal would just hand me all his completed assignments and I would keep the gems. But this year, in 6th grade, his academic life has been entirely his own domain.

We never really know what's going on in the private minds of our kids, the fullness of how they live in the world when we're not around. But sorting through the pile can give us a clue. What I found today was a stack of beautiful, thoughtful writing and amazing poetry. I am knocked out by the depth of Calvin's perception and the beauty of his expression.

Compare this to my own little "All About Me" packet recently discovered in a basement box. I had written it when I was the same age that Calvin is now. It is a mildly entertaining exercise in least effort:

"Favorite food: spaghetti

Why: because I like it."

Clearly, Calvin is operating on an entirely different plane here. Oliver and I also found some amazing drawings among his big brother's school papers. The drawing of the warrior/knight was so detailed and gorgeous, I scanned it to share here. As always, I am humbled by the good fortune I have to live with this family of mine. Wow, wow, wow.

warrior by Calvin