A Dress

After about a month of work I have finished a knit dress for Josephine. It started with some sale yarn (doesn't it always?) and the hope that I could really make a pattern all on my own. So I started with some measurements, a little math, and a picture in my head of what the dress would look like. It's finished and I'm in love. Thankfully, Jo loves it too, mostly because she can put it on by herself, she's so independant.

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Love List

What I am thankful for this week:

I am so thankful for the fenced in back yard my husband built for us, for our dog mostly, when we first bought this house three years ago. I was thankful then, to be sure, when housetraining our young boxer in the middle of the night. But now I am so thankful. Josephine can sing and play happily behind me while I sit, read or just enjoy the sunshine without fear that she is running into the road. Yes, she's still little so I keep a nearly constant eye on her and am always aware- but I don't need to hover over her, ever ready to usher her away from looming cars.

She's developing into a brave, courious little person. Free to move out of my eyeline, safe to experiance uncertainty a bit on her own without being completely alone.

She's creative, too. Bringing two sticks or pens together and making up her own little song. She sings, "Happy, Appy, happy..."

Then she reaches out a little hand for my help to climb around and through the bumpier, wilder parts of the yard.

This Moment

Inspired by SoulMama, A (semi)weekly ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

This Moment

Inspired by SouleMama, This Moment is a (somewhat) weekly ritual. A single photo- no words- capturing a moment for the week. A moment that I want to pause, savor and remember.

Food Not Bombs

Officially, Food Not Bombs is a global movement that takes vegan and vegetarian food that would have been thrown away out of the waste stream and serves it up for free in public spaces to protest war, poverty and the destruction of the environment.

When a friend of mine approached me recently about starting one here in Maine, I was excited, but unsure of how I could contribute with Josephine having to come along everywhere I go. Generally, protests, phone-banks, canvassing, and direct action aren't necessarily 'mother/child-friendly'. I decided to commit anyway, telling myself that I would do what I could to contribute and accept what I cannot do.

It's been amazing and Josephine has become our mascot.

A very pregnant Ashley, me, with sidekick Jo on my back, and Steph.

Personally, what I love about Food Not Bombs, (other than the obvious pro-family atmosphere and chance to cook, eat and share good vegetarian food) is that it is such a positive way to take action. Sometimes, anti-war efforts mostly yelling, complaining and self-righteous intellectual talk. As a member of Food Not Bombs, I am objecting to negative and unfair policies and attitudes and deciding for myself to put out positive energy. I am taking positive action to make a really difference in my community, which is something we all can do, no matter how much money we have.

This Moment

Inspired by SouleMama. A (semi) weekly ritual. A single photo- no words- capturing a moment from the week. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Vegan Borscht Recipe

My friend, Jessica, made some borscht for us this valentines day. There have been giant beets at the winter farmers market in Brunswick lately, so I thought I try my hand at making my own. It's a super hearty vegetarian dish for a snowy day here in Maine.
Here's what I did;
Ingredients;
4 large beets
2 medium onions
1 small cabbage
5 cups of veggie stock
balsamic vinegar (I used a bunch, but I love it. Add a little, taste, adjust and repeat.)

Boil the beets until semi-tender, about 25 minutes. Strain the water and then dunk the beets into a bowl of cold water, peel them in the water to make the skin come off more easily. Then trim then and cube them. Whatever size you like, just pick a size and try to stick with it.
At this point you may want to take out some pieces for your toddler to munch on... Ok, and some for you too.

Back in the pot saute the onions and beets in a little oil until tender, about 5 minutes. When veggies are soft add stock, vinegar and cabbage. Bring the whole thing up to a boil then down to a simmer. Let simmer for at least an hour, or until you taste it and all the flavors are blended together.

This Moment

Inspired by SouleMama's weekly ritual. A single photo with no words to pause, savor and remember.

The Best Quinoa Recipe Ever.

It's a big claim, I know. Considering the once unheard of grain has recently become the darling of the health-food crowd. And man it doesn't look like much, really just a brown bowl of mush when you see it but you are just going to have to take my word for it and cook it yourself. You won't even have to eat it to believe me, just wait till you smell it.

Ok, maybe I've talked up the recipe too much. But it really is great, it's easy to make, cheap, hearty but guilt-free and just a little spicy. In fact, up the spices if you are just cooking for grown-ups or you grew up in the southwest. But for my toddler and mild New England family, it's just right.

Ingredients:

Oil
1 Cup uncooked quinoa (Please buy it in bulk at your local natural food store where it is likely organic and inexpensive. There is no need to buy the 11 dollar box from a traditional grocer.)

1 Large Onion

1 8oz can of tomato sauce

2 Cups water

1 teaspoon of chili powder

1 teaspoon of curry powder

Directions

Saute onion in oil over med.high heat for about 5 minutes until tender. Stir in the quinoa for 1-2 minutes more to lightly toast it. Then add water, tomato sauce, chili and curry powders and stir. Bring up to a boil then reduce heat to med. low, cover and simmer for 30 minutes. That's it! Best if eaten warm, as in, directly from the pot on the stove with your wooden spoon because it's so good.

Christmas

Josephine's present; a handmade broom from etsy.com

The night before my family Christmas party I was up past midnight finishing a doll for my newborn niece, but he came out beautifully.

Kevin surprised me by lighting up a table-top tree so it was ready when I woke up Christmas Eve. We had been hesitant to put up a tree because of our two dogs, cat, and curious toddler, but Papa Bear found a solution even after he had been at work all night. He's pretty sweet on me.

And here's Jo playing with the best present ever- loud, crinkle-y wrapping paper.

Oh, It's Winter

I finished this scarf yesterday and just in time! It is getting some cold here in Maine. I had seen pictures of an 'infinity'-style scarf online, but I didn't work from a pattern, just sortof 'winged it' and came out with this:

Does this mean I'm ready for my etsy shop? Maybe... someday... when Jo gives me a little more time to craft. For now, I'll just enjoy the time I have.

What's up with Babywearing recall?

Teething and grouchy.

Just recieved this message from thebabywearer.com, it's pretty scary. Babywearing needs your help!

I want to spread the word and add my personal feelings about babywearing. Having a wrap to carry my daughter in didn't just make groccery shopping easier, it changed my life. When Jo was little she would cry for hours at a time at night when I was exhausted and my husband was at work. I felt helpless and stressed out. My pediatrition recomended that I put her in the wrap and bounce her on an exercise balll. Nothing soothed her more for months.


Now that she is a toddler and she's all go, go, go, GO! I barely keep her in my arms when she wants to walk. But when I put her in the wrap her body relaxes. She leans into me, snuggles and will nurse even if we are in a busy place. Because wrapping has been a part of our lives since she was 6 weeks old, it's farmiliar and comforting. For her and for me.

Josephine wearing her 'baby'. I hope she still can when she has a child of her own.

Love List

I'm inspired this week by Kris Carr's wonderful CrazySexyLife blog. Here's my list of what I've been thankful for this week, what's yours?


1. My mother. I know, I know, it's cliche, but I am! This week my mom watched Josephine at her house while I took my dog to obedience class. There was a tornado warning- yes tornado here in Maine, and my mom took my daughter in a wrap into the bathroom with her flashlight and life jacket. Like a boyscout she wanted to be prepared so nothing happened to our little Josephine. How sweet is that?

Note: The tornado didn't touch down near us and the thunderstorm passed us by without doing major damage. Which I'm also thankful for.



2. Fudgsicles. Yep, oldtimey ones that come by in an ice cream truck. That darn thing comes by my house at least once a day all summer long. This week I was having a rough time right when I heard that song, "Ba da da ta da ta da ta...." After rushing around for my wallet (while Papa Bear was saying, "Are you serious?) I ran outside and waved that truck down like a 2nd grader. Yum-o.

3. Free-to-the-public places like libraries and playgrounds. (Thank you, women's movement.) Sometimes, ok often, with a toddler my house is just too small and we need to get OUT. These places let Jo move and let me see her in a different space and a new light without stressing about her safety. I can just enjoy her and let her be herself. (Which I think she enjoys, too.)

Make your own list!

p.s I'm also thankful for the 'save post' feature on blogger. This post was originally called, 'Thankful Thursdays", but I'm just finishing it now and it's no longer Thursday.

Josephine's Birthday Gift

This is the doll that I made for Jo's birthday. I really loved making her. Her neck is too loose and I want to make another one right away to try to attach the head a different way. Making the hair way my favorite part. I couldn't find an online tutorial that I loved so I sortof made it up. I made a 'cap' for her like you would crochet a hat. The sewed that to her head and wove individual strands of wool yarn into it. It took forever and I am so proud. I think that handmade things are meant to be imperfect and the most important bit is that Jo loves her little doll and she's already brought us so much joy.

Long Days

I would like to start by not apologizing for not posting in a while. I am blogging without obligation and I know that other mums will understand anyway.



A nomad friend of mine, Stephanie, has started a blog about her hitching, farming, exploring trip around the country. I am struck by how different it is from my blog. And, of course, how different her life is from my own. Her life is a picture in motion and travel. My life is so often about stillness, sameness. Who was it that said about parenting, "The days are long but the years are short"? That is exactly what it feels like. Some days, and nights in particular, drag on and on and on. And yet here we are, one year down. The first year of my daughters life has slipped past unceremoniously. One long, nodescript day rolling into another.
Sometimes I am jealous of my friend's ability to move easily about the country not responsible to anyone but herself. She describes a day on the "loneliest road in America" and I think of how I long for, if not loneliness, at least 'alone-ness'. I gave blood last week and was delighted to be able to lay down for 15 minutes and not have to take care of anything or anyone. Giving blood was a treat! That's something only full-time moms could understand, I think.
Even as I envy women with more freedom and less obligation, I know that my own life is enviable. People look at me and long for family like me. I am rooted here, in a community. I am responsible, not just for my family but for my town, my state, my country. I cannot just get up and leave which forces me to change my world to more and more resemble the world that I want it to be. For my daughter, too.
And Josephine. I have Josephine and I know just how blessed I am and how many people wish for what I have. The short years and the long days.

Motherhood Is Hard

Mothering is hard. In other news: Water still wet. I know, this is an obvious statement and it's nothing that hasn't been written about/blogged about/talked about before. But really, it's tough. I find it emotionally more difficult than I ever could have imagined. My daughter, who I adore, need, need, needs me. All. The. Time. She is very social and enjoys other people but when she is upset, tired, sick or just having a rough time, she only wants me. Not my husband or my mother, who generally offer amazing support, but me.

I remember when she was itty-bitty, four weeks or so, and I so longed for some sign that she recognized me. I would search for recognition in her eyes when I picked her up, I hoped that she might stop crying because I was holding her, but she didn't.

Now I know that she knows me. I try to be mindful of it, to enjoy and appreciate it, even as the childcare staff at the YMCA is pulling me out of my workout again.

Road Trip

I want to share this wonderful picture I took on the three hour drive up to Acadia National Park. My husband, daughter, and boxer, Tesla, and I went up for 3 days for our wedding anniversary. As usual, we had some of our best times on the drive. How my idea of a 'road trip' has changed from when I was younger.

Sitting down to dinner

One unexpected benifit of Josephine starting solids has been that I get to sit down to eat dinner, too. A formality generally reserved for the weekends when my husband is home, it's been nice to take the time to enjoy food with my little one. Here she is 'eating' (ok, playing with) peas. And my favorite dinner: farmers market veggies sautaed with very, very spicy salsa. Yummmm.

Easy Home-made Granola Bars

I always keep granola bars in my car for emergency hunger. (Which happens a lot when you are breastfeeding!) It can be tough to stop and get out when you have a little one (finally) asleep in the carseat and the other option, drive-through, isn't good for anyone.
Unfortunately, granola bars themselves have lately become just health-nut candy bars and expensive ones at that. (I am also not convinced that there really should be over 20 ingredients in a granola bar. What is 'natural flavor' anyway?)
So, like with so much else in my life, the thing to do seams to be a switch to homemade. I was surprised at how easy these were to make and REALLY tasty! Much better than store-bought! Enjoy!

I got the inspiration for these from MotherEarth news here. But here's my own spin on it:


Ingredients:
3 cups rolled oats (I guess instant could work)
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup honey (the MotherEarth version also uses sugar, but I found it to be almost too sweet with just honey. I might put even less next time.)
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (the only ingredient should be 'peanuts'!)
1 cup raisins
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread the oats on a baking sheet and, once preheated, bake them in the oven for about 20 minutes.
While that's cooking, heat the butter, honey and peanut butter in a saucepan on low heat and let it simmer while the oats toast. Like so:

Pull the oats out of the oven and stir in raisins.

Take the honey mixture off the heat and add the vanilla. Then pour the hot liquid over the oats and stir until it's well covered. Push this down into a greased pan and then back in the oven for another 20 minutes. That's it! Wait until they are cool to cut them up.

Advetures in Babyproofing

See those shoes, dvds and books back there? Oh, yeah, they're not safe.

The fact that I haven't been spending much time online the last two weeks can be explained partially by the unseasonably warm Maine weather but, more importantly, by Josephine's new found crawly ability! She had been moving herself around quite well for a while but just hadn't been able to move arm and leg together in a forward motion. Well, those days are over. Not only can she now crawl, (and fast!), she can also pull herself up on furniture, people or walls and walk around as long as she is holding on to something. The speed with which she learns and changes has always amazed me. But this has changed my life.

Nothing is safe anymore. If it is within her reach- she will pull on it, put it in her mouth or try to climb up it. We have gated off everything that we can, but in the end the easiest, safest, sanest thing to do is just get rid of stuff. So I have been packing up things we don't use, giving away things we don't need and generally continuing our 'downsizing' journey. And then sometimes, it's just better to get out of the house and play outside!