Peach Coglo

Nutcracker Reprieve

The past few days have been trying to say the least.  There are simply no words that truly suffice.  I know all of you are holding your loved ones more tightly.  So many feelings, from sadness to confusion and yes I must admit disgust and anger.  Then I remember what Fred Rogers (what a genius) said-something he learned from his mother.  Look for "the helpers".  So whenever I start to get that hopeless and powerless feeling, I remind myself of the helpers.  Helpers like you.  I am reminded that we can all be helpers in our own way.

If you or your child is looking for a way to contribute and support Newtown, there is a group called Hearts to Newtown.  You can find it here.  Also I read a suggestion of Twenty (or more) Promises.  You can sit down with your children and think of twenty acts of kindness that you and your children can do throughout the year.  They can be super small things like thank the person who bagged your groceries or share popcorn (without complaint) with a little brother and sister.  These are two ways to get involved and spread the love.

One thing I was grateful for during all of this madness was Helena's Nutcracker performance.  It was a hard balance-dealing with what unfolded and trying to provide a routine for my children.  The Nutcracker saved us in a way.  Being with other loving people, bringing joy to other human beings through art and music.  It was a salve for our souls and broken hearts.  It was heartwarming to see how the professional dancers heaped attention and love on our little ones.  The smiles on our children's faces were a reprieve from all the sadness and reminded everyone that we are here to take care of each other, especially our smallest and most vulnerable.

 

 

 

 

 Love to you all,

 Ang

Christmas Crackers

Have you ever made Christmas Crackers or had the good fortune to be able to pop one?  I have always found them so exotic and romantic-brightly colored tubes that explode gifts - what could be better?

Over the weekend, we six went to the Connecticut Historical Society for some Christmas Cracker construction.  I love that place.  I am a history geek so I am all about it.  Turns out the kids really enjoy it too, which is lucky for them because we would be going regardless.  At any rate, we had a blast making the crackers.  They are super duper easy.  The Society set up all kinds of neat goodies to put in the crackers-sticky frogs (pure awesomeness), candy canes, kisses, confetti, bouncy balls and paper crowns.  I adore those paper crowns.  I do wonder if I am secretly English at Christmas.  Probably not because even though I love paper crowns, I am not a fan of figgy pudding.

The employees at the Society are very sweet and fun.  One woman was even dressed in a Gryffindor sweater and tie.  We all thought that was pretty neat.  We nerd hard in our family.  I don't think there was a particular reason for her outfit except that it was cold and she wanted to be comfortable while she walked to work.  Apparently other museum patrons enjoyed it too and why not.

After constructing their treats, we roamed the museum and the kids played dress-up with busts of historical figures.  I also saw a reproduced circa 1980's kitchen that made me feel a weensy bit ancient.  Man things do change quickly!  1980's microwaves were huge and all of that brightly colored Tupperware plastic was just over the top.  The kids had a chance to play with a rotary phone.  They looked really entranced with it and they marveled at how long it took to dial a number.  To be honest, I think they were a little horrified.

 

Later that evening, after a Nutcracker meeting and rehearsal, we headed over to Gledhill Nursery to catch the tail end of their Open House.  I picked up a Christmas Cactus, some paperwhite bulbs and an Advent ring (yay!) while everyone else snacked on cupcakes and cider.  Now that was a nice full, holiday day.

Are you taking part in any old or newly discovered Christmas or Hannukah traditions?

Mysterious

A couple of weekends ago (um yeah I am that far behind in my blogging, moving on now), I participated in my local art league's juried show.  I checked out the art, helped man the psychic table (that was one of the most interesting volunteer jobs I have had in a while).  We participated in some traditional Chinese dances.  The kiddos painted panels for an art mural and made ribbons.  That was definitely fun, but it was also fun watching my girl do her thing with sidewalk chalk. 

On a whim, Helena entered a chalk competition.  She named her piece Mysterious.  She didn't have much variety in the way of chalk colors, but I thought she rocked it out.  Apparently the judges did too because she won her age division.  Sweet!  The prize was a gift certificate to a local Mexican cafeteria-style restaurant.  The best thing was seeing how proud she was to win.  Helena treated the family to some tasty Mexican food.  We had a fun celebration.  I think she is still shining from that win.  It's cool to watch her feel competent and able.  I never would've tried entering an art contest at her age.  Cheers to the next generation!

Happy Monday friends!

September Already?!

Unbelievable where the time has gone. . . .  Summer was good but not exactly what I had planned.  There was much time spent painting in the studio-halleluyer for that!  I'll be sharing what I made I haven't scanned them yet so it's slightly fuzzy pics for now). 

Greg took on painting all of the bedrooms and he installed a new floor for our back porch.  Oh it is so much better.  The floor used to be covered with the grossest outdoor/indoor carpet you have ever seen or tried to walk across.  I should have taken pictures of it.  Now we need to paint the porch to our liking.  Hmm what else?  Doran has been making up rhyming words and poetry.  Eden has been carting around her invisible friend, Ardold (this is the best spelling of the name I can muster).  Helena has been dancing at ballet camp and is gearing up for her ballet classes and The Nutcracker.  I am in disbelief that rehearsals start in three, count 'em, three weeks!  Elijah has been building and programming his robot (it was expensive but so worth it; thanks for pitching in Mom!).  That thing can really get going.  It reminds me of those horror films when toys come alive and chase people in the dark.

So now it's time to adjust to a new studio, school and activity schedule, to put a few tomatoes by, start those Christmas projects and get back to my long-neglected knitting.

It's so good to be back in this space and I will be stopping by to visit you too.

xo,

Ang

Around

Oh it's been pitiful around this section of Blogland.  School activities and to-do lists have run amok; our days are overflowing, and I am not around as much as I would like.  Posts were planned and scrapped.  Posts were planned, but I fell asleep before I could type the words.  Man.  Anyway, it looks like I'll have several more days of sparseness at this space.  I'm not even participating in Yarn Along this week-horrors! I know my world is a bit off-kilter when I have to miss Yarn Along.  I have faith that soon my little part of the world will reach a new equilibrium and everything will be really, really swell and well-rested.  Well maybe just really, really swell.

xo,

Ang

 

 

 

Weekending~May 20, 2012

Joining sweet Amanda for weekending . . . .

This weekend beautiful and fun and eye-opening.  That is a lot for one weekend.

My dancing girl danced in her fifth recital.  I cannot believe she has been dancing for five years.   She really loves it.  I hear parents say this a lot.  I have heard kids say they love something.  It's hard for me to remember being 7 and loving something so much.  It looks like I have two seven year-olds who have their passions. 

Our weekend was full of clay, wood and dance.

Elijah made his first clay figure that I think is pretty awesome (I am his mama so I know I am super biased).  He took it to school before I could snap a shot for this post.  Elijah has been obsessing over clay for months now.  He loves making stuff with his hands and has asked for a Leatherman for his birthday.  This weekend he chisled a canoe.  I need a shot of that too; Elijah tends to make off with his creations, so I'll grab him when he returns from school today.

Helena danced her ballet this weekend and declared she wants to be a professional dancer-"definitely ballet, but if not ballet then other kinds of dance.  I just want to dance all of the time."  She had a wonderful time at her recital and her brothers rallied around her (Eden was asleep which was probably for the best).

Somebody enjoys posing.  I call this her Lena Horne pose.

As per tradition we hit Dairy Queen afterwards.  That is always yummy and fun.  Then we came home and Helena danced some more, leaping everywhere, practicing her form.  I think she has discovered what incredible things her body can do.  It's a wonderful reminder for me.

Last night almost ended in a few tears as Helena was already missing her ballet teacher and not looking forward to a summer without dancing.  So here we go looking up ballet and art workshops and  stockpiling more clay . . . .

How was your weekend?  I hope your weekend was grand and that your Monday is treating you well.

 

 

 

 

Weekending~May 13, 2012

Joining amanda for weekending . . . .

A glorious and too short weekend just rushed by me.

We watched Chicken Run on Friday.  I love that there is always one character who knits in all of the Aardman films.

Saturday was Helena's last day of regular ballet class, on to dress rehearsal and recital.  I can't believe another year of dance is over.

I spent some time wrestling with the calendar and wrapping my mind around it.

I spent some time missing my grandma.  I look at her embroidery runner and try to imagine what she was thinking when she made it.

I painted a study for a commission and I liked the results so much I was able to start the actual painting.  I love it when I can think and paint clearly.

I came home to a beautiful banner the kiddos created for me.

Greg made a quick batch of oatmeal cookies using a recipe from this book.

I also experimented making some rice balls per Elijah's request.  He has decided he wants them for lunch at school now.  They are pretty tasty.

I read some more of this and finished this.

Sunday was coffee and a trip back to my studio.  What an awesome Mother's Day gift.  I made good progress on my painting and had time to read some more.

The rest of the afternoon was spent outside with the family-kids off doing various things in various parts of the yard.  Our radishes and tomatoes are showing their first leaves.  There were popsicles.  Greg taught the kiddos how to saw and whittle.  Looks like I need to order some kid-sized saws and a manual drill.

Bliss-to just sit with a sweet breeze blowing, listening to birds chatter while they hopped around in the newly-tilled garden picking around for a meal, watching the kiddos jet, lope and meander around the yard from project to activity to project.

Dinner was some delicious take-out pizza capped off with our first bonfire of the season.  It was extremely difficult to turn off the light on this particular weekend.

I hope your weekend was grand and that your week is off to a wonderful start.

First Communion

I can't believe my two middle babies just celebrated their First Communion.  Where has the time gone?!  It was a wonderful celebration.  Helena and Elijah knew what was happening too thanks to those many Meditations held by the religious education director.  We talked about many things during those programs-forgiveness, kindness, open hearts and minds, seeing God/Spirit as a woman, compassion.  I could go on.  It was a very positive experience in which the children had a firm hand.  I love that Fr.  Tom had the children sit up on the altar steps with him for the majority of mass.

We had a wonderful and raucous lunch with my parents and brother after the service.  So now I am beat.  I didn't realize how worked up I was during this whole process.  But as quick as a flash it's over, and now onto the rest of the busyness of May.

How was your weekend?

Sorry for Party Rockin'

Doran loves to write and read.  It's like a light has switched on lately.  The boy just loves language.  We can add this love to his other loves-art and music. 

Doran has been at it on his walls again.  He loves himself a big "canvas".   Greg and I are going to try to get a section of his wall painted with chalkboard paint this summer.  I am sure he will go "out of bounds", but who knows.  It's worth trying.  I think we'll have him help paint his walls too.  Perhaps we'll try a whiteboard-again.  Last time he destroyed it and wouldn't keep it on his wall.  Hmm, this should be very innerestin'.

Some kids have posters of groups on their walls, Doran writes.  Greg and I fell over with laughter when we started reading what he wrote.  Doran is a hoot.  Check out his walls and see if you can spot any songs or groups you like.  Sorry for party rockin'.

 

Weekending~April 29, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

What is with the funky movies?  I seem to be picking some interesting ones lately.  We saw Frogs and Toads.  It is a movie from the Netherlands.  It is very interesting seeing other countries' kid movies.  The kids look like actual kids.

Saturday was a marathon day at church.  The kids were at First Communion prep (a retreat) from 9am to 5pm.  We left early.  I must admit I had to do some attitude adjusting because the schedule just felt overwhelming even though it was planned with love and good intentions and everything worked out.  The kiddos are pretty excited and I think they understand a lot about the sacrament.  They participated whole-heartedly in the mass.  Something I never would have done, and probably wouldn't do now being the introvert that I am.

The kids made bread during the retreat, practiced looking reverential while processing, and talked about the banners they made for First Communion.  We go to a very welcoming and open church so it's nice to see the kiddos actually enjoy and understand the process.

Sunday was all ours. We cleaned, had some donuts.  The adults drank coffee because we were pretty tired.

Doran helped mow the lawn while I tended seedlings that are reticent to sprout.  Luckily our garlic is coming up and it was fascinating.  I've never seen garlic sprout before now.

Part of the day Greg spent baking-making pizza for our pizza-crazy Doran, pull-apart cinnamon bread, and a couple of loaves of regular bread, one of which we bestowed on our neighbor.

Then Greg and Eden folded basket after basket of clothes.

I went to the hobby store in search of some fun figurines for my terrariums.

Elijah's First Communion outfit is mostly complete.  He decided he wanted to wear a tie; orange was one of the colors he thought he would like, so orange it is.

Our lovely neighbor borrowed our rototiller and came back with 4 half-gallons of ice cream.  Then later he came with homemade fried rice, Chinese sausage and fried wonton.  Hmm we need to have him borrow more garden implements.  Thanks to our neighbor we had a very tasty dinner.

And that was our weekend.  How was yours?