Peach Coglo

Doran's Hearts

Doran survives some pretty stressful moments in his life.  I can't imagine what it would be like to experience life the way he does.  It's difficult to tell lots of times the things he likes.  We can usually tell what he dislikes pretty quickly.  One thing he does like is art.  I think he especially likes painting.  The other day he finished his heart garland.  He sat so patiently and helped tape his hearts to the thread.  He was engaged, proud and happy.  It is  so great when he feels competent.  We love it when he feels that way.

 

 

 
What makes your little ones happy, content and proud?

 

Ice Dams and Snow Jams

Anyone who lives where it snows a lot can attest to the ice dam.  The gutters get clogged with ice which used to be water melting from the roof and eaves.  I couldn't get to the backyard to show you the huge mound of ice coming out of our downspouts and gutters.  It looked like a frozen fountain.  

There is snow everywhere.  Snowbanks  are waist and shoulder-high on adults and the piles of snow in parking lots look like the Alps-well kinda.  It's times like this that remind me to be grateful for  a snug house, healthy family and great friends and neighbors, and also that I am not living during the 1800's. 

 
The remains of the front-yard tunnel . . . .

 
 Can you see the street?

 

 
Our poor air conditioner. . . .

 
Elijah made this thermometer for his room.  He just decided he needed one.

We're looking forward to a weekend of playing in all of this.  Have a great weekend everyone!

 

Preparing our Hearts

I was recently inspired by Gardenmama's garland.  She has so many wonderful crafting ideas, and she always photographs so beautifully.  We are now making our own heart garlands.  This project has been delayed a bit by other activities like school, and a lack of tape.  I keep forgetting to buy more.  What is it with kids and tape anyway?  I had about 5 dispensers full one month ago!  I didn't even notice it disappearing until it was announced there the tape was no more.  I am sure little people have been plowing through it for one project or another.  The other evening Elijah was trying to make sure his shell floated by taping clippings from his haircut into his shell.  I don't know about the science behind that.  I couldn't believe it when I saw it.  At any rate, the tape has moved to the office supply closet where the little people do not venture.  I just need a tape break, not to mention Doran gets upset when we don't have tape available for his projects.

 

 

Doran had a blast painting his hearts.

 

Finally today we will string our hearts together, much to Doran's relief.  I think the colorful decoration will look fun with our twelve new inches of snow.  I used to not pay attention to Valentine's Day as so much of it was super commercialized.  Now I have found a nice happy medium.  I enjoy getting flowers and giving them.  I think simple decorations brighten up what can be drabby winter days (I am enjoying the vintage cards and decorations because they look a lot like watercolors), and it's fun to make little treats for my husband and children.  I think this year I'll even bust out the Red Velvet cake.  Usually we only have it during Christmas or New Year's, but what the hay. 

I have begun thinking about Valentine's Day as another day to express kindness to others, simple things like letting someone going ahead of me in a line or smiling instead of reciprocating the New England stare down or furtive glance.  How about you?  Do you celebrate Valentine's Day?

 

 

Snow

We have been getting our share of snow lately in New England.  I can say honestly that I am still enjoying it. As long as I am not driving in it, I am happy; so I won't go into the skating rink drive to school yesterday when we should have had a school delay.   Anyway, I have been painting snow lately.  One of the first rules of painting, or any art for that matter, is observation.  Have you really looked at snow lately?  Dry snow, wet snow, big flakes and teency ones, they all have their different properties, colors, and feel.  Have you looked at the sky during a storm or right before one and noticed the pinks and blues, and metal grays that sometimes appear.  Have you looked at the sky at night when there is snow on the ground?  The sky is a mix between Prussian blue, cobalt, purple, pink and gray.  Hmm I probably sound a little crazy, but that is what I see.  I need to find a way to capture that.  This will most likely be a painting conundrum that will be with me for a while.

How many colors of snow do you see in this picture?  In my quest to observe snow more closely, I have been watching out for light and snow.  It doesn't matter if it is moonlight or sunlight.  Here's a bit more of what I saw yesterday after our latest snowfall.

 
We will be getting some more snow this afternoon.  I am hoping to at least capture some of the funkier skies on camera.

Have a lovely day.  For those of you in the tundra, stay safe and warm.

 

Deeenied!

Ha!  Give it up squirrel.  Do you know this squirrel had the absolute nerve to chatter and scold me?  That's okay because he was deeenied.  We have been getting some birds now since I installed the new feeder: tufted titmouses, juncos, sparrows, woodpeckers, thrushes, some crazy bird I have never seen before and a blue jay (though I think he may be a bit heavy for the feeder).   The birds were having a great time before the temperature dipped to 8 below.  Now the temperature is up but it's snowing again.  We might not see them for a few days.  However, the food will still be there though because the squirrels have been deeenied!  Sweet.

 
Look at that.  Okay now that my goal has been met, I promise I'll stop posting about my skirmishes with the squirrels.  The kids have been feeding the squirrels bread so I think we have a detente.  ;-)

Has a plan of yours worked out recently?

Fingerpainting

Remember how finger-painting felt so good when you were a kid, or any kind of play really?  I got the paints out for the kiddos recently when I was trying to keep them occupied so I could get some work done.  I didn't get a chance to participate this time.  This happens a lot.  It seems I am always working on something.  Not that my house looks like it, but something is keeping me from playing as much as I would like.

   

 
I ended up having to use votive candles for weights.  Freezer paper curls up in a big way.

 

 
Doran's handiwork.

 
Elijah created this while listening to some "world music".  It's interesting how music affects how we create.

 

 
As I watched them paint, the feeling that I was missing out simply increased.  I wished I had more time to play with them, not direct or oversee.  It seems something is always interrupting be it the phone, my own disorganization, an over-taxed day or my sputtering energy.  Watching them I decided I had enough of feeling like I was constantly working or struggling to catch up with not enough play time.  One step I am taking to make time to play and create, is participating in a cleanse hosted by Hannah over at Hannah's Harvest.  I want to find the balance of food and rest that make me feel the best.  This is a good first step to finding a way to pay attention to my family, my friends and family, my house and myself without feeling as overwhelmed.   I think we all know how that feels. 

As Hannah says, "The cleanse is not just about the food we are putting into our bodies.  It is about taking time to honor ourselves, our spaces we live in, the families we share our lives with.  A cleanse opens up the space to move through any stuck places that have been holding you back."  This sounds awesome to me!

In what ways are you taking charge of your time and energy?

 

King Day

This past Monday we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  Our celebration didn't quite pan out the way I had planned but it was still wonderful.  We were going to go with some friends to the Wadsworth Antheneum.  The museum is opened to the community free of charge every King Day and there are all sorts of art activities, concerts, and other happenings to celebrate the day.  Eden had just visited the museum for the first time a few days earlier and loved it.  I just knew we would have an awesome time.

Well Monday dawned with Greg very ill.  My good friend offered to help watch children at the Wadsworth.  Such a kind and generous offer, but I figured we would need at least three adults to help since I knew at least two of my children would be likely to wander.  Plus she had her own child with her.  So we scrapped the idea until next year.

Instead of the museum, we made play dough and played in the cold.

 

We had some hot cocoa with marshmallows.

 

 

 

 

We also cozied up in the warm house and read about Dr. Martin Luther King and Mahatma Ghandi in Ten Amazing People.  We talked a little about economic, social, environmental and legal rights and what that means.  I was pleased to hear the kiddos' questions too.

We also played Wildcraft!, a cooperative board game.  The kids and I loved it.  The object is to get every player up the mountain to gather hucklberries for grandma and make it back down to grandma's house before nightfall-together.  Along the way, one can get into trouble (bee stings, sprained ankle, etc.). A player also gathers herbs to help cure the trouble along the way.  The aspect I like most is that there are cooperation cards a player receives.  This card allows a person to use one of their herb cards to cure someone's trouble or catch a player up along the board if she is behind.  The first person who gets to the mountain starts gathering pails of berries for himself first and then everyone else until the necessary amount of berries are gathered.  It doesn't matter who gathers the berries or if everyone doesn't make it to the patch.   When we played Elijah got to the mountain first.  He started gathering berries for himself, me and Helena.  Helena and I gathered one more pail each for ourselves.  Then we started back down the mountain together. 

I love the spirit of cooperation, compassion and kindness this game encourages.  The kids feel quite good and competent when they help each other as they play.  We have an extremely competitive and anxious player in the house.  This game helps quell that anxiety and the resulting unpleasantness as there is no stressing over who is ahead or behind.  There is enough of that in real life already. 

Right now playing Wildcraft! is more enjoyable than traditional games, although we do play those and they have their place.  I thought this game was quite appropriate for King Day and really exemplified in a small way how a person can help and respect others.  Indeed, I can live my life the way I do and have my family because of the sacrifices of Dr. King and others.  For that I am truly grateful.

Well we are off to enjoy another snow day.  I think pie, snowplay, art and some more Wildcraft! are in store.  Have a peaceful and fun weekend!

 

 

The Gauntlet

Maybe I am taking my squirrel situation too far.  I am fear I may be starting to look a little like Elmer Fudd-only a little though as I feel my actions are completely justified.  Of course, he probably felt the same way.  Hmmm, moving on.

I have been tussling with our assertive squirrels for a while now.  They have vandalized my pumpkins turning them into mushy, scarred orbs.  They have desecrated my daughter's bird feeder and stolen food from my little bird friends-all of this, despite the fact that they have buried heaps upon heaps of acorns and other food in my backyard.  To solve these difficulties, I got some great advice from you all; thank you.  I also purchased this:

Don't laugh! ;-)  My mom has one of these and she regularly sees it thrwart a squirrel's most greedy and best efforts.  Now we're trying it.  If the squirrels behave I might even set out some food to supplement their little diets.  I must admit they do look a little pitiful digging through two feet of snow to get at their acorn stash.

 
But back to the issue at hand, I may have to cut back a few branches to ensure the squirrels can't balance themselves on them to get at the seed.  I saw one brazen squirrel try and fail already due to the light and bendable branches, but you never know.  I like that the pedestals are weighted for little birds (we got our first visits today, sparrows, a thrush and a blue jay).  The minute a squirrel tries to get into the feeder, the weight is activated, and the access door shuts.  Slam!  Deeenied! 

There you little buggers!  I am throwing it down.  Are you picking it up?

So how is your day going so far? ;-) 

 

Outigo

Many of you are probably familiar with the book What Makes a Rainbow?.  Doran has been fiddling around with this book for a couple of days now.  The other day he kept saying 'outigo, outigo' over and over again, driving his siblings to distraction.  He was laughing hysterically.  Doran often makes up words and repeats them.  Sometimes he does it because he likes the way the words sound.  Sometimes he does it to annoy his siblings.  Sometimes both.  I couldn't quite figure out what he was up to this time.

Yesterday he pointed to the rainbow on the book's cover and said laughing, "Is this Outigo?"  He had a mischevious look on his face.  I could tell he was just tickled pink.  I didn't know what the heck he meant.  Off and on during the day, he kept pointing to the book and asking the question.  I kept looking and still couldn't figure it out.  Then towards the evening I looked again.  This time it looked like he was pointing a specific color out to me.  Again, he asked, laughing even harder, "Is this Outigo?"

What?  Hmmm, rainbows.  Yellow.  Green.  Blue.  Indigo.  Indigo?  Indigo, outigo.  Indigo, outigo!  Got it!  Slap!  That was the sound of my hand hitting my forhead.  Mama is really slow sometimes Doran.  You clever, funny boy.  Sorry it took me two days to get it!  Doran nearly fell over himself at his clever worldplay.  I swear my kids can run circles around me. ;-)  I am glad he is so patient with me.

 

 

 

Crazy Tunnels and a Homemade Hill

As I write this, we are getting more sleet, snow and some freezing rain.  That should glaze over the Crazy Tunnels completely.  They will be hard as a rock tomorrow.  I predict some little ones getting a few ice scratches in the near future.  Such is winter.

For a few days now, the children have been enjoying the crazy tunnel and the homemade hill Greg dug and packed for them.

 
The entrance to one of the tunnels.

 
Side View

 
Inside.

 

 
The boy about to slide into the Crazy Tunnel through that narrow entrance.  It worked for a while.

 
He didn't quite make it that time.

 

Helena coming out and Doran going in . . . .

 

 
On top of our front yard sledding hill which doubles as tunnel number 2 . . . .

 
At the bottom . . . .

 

 

 
Digging some more on the tunnel/sledding hill . . . .

Have a lovely day everyone.