Yarns to Tell

Sweet Pea Class

As I've mentioned before, Julian and I have been enjoying the Sweet Pea class for toddlers at the East Bay Waldorf School. With the summer months approaching, we are transforming from Sweet Peas to begin our Sunflower class this week. I am very excited to continue with the rhythm of play, work, snack, and storytime that is so nicely woven together in the two and a half hours we gather for.

Our work involves a craft or preparation of a special meal. While children play, adults can work on a project that is simple enough to set down upon moment's notice of a child in need. Often, we all craft together, giving parents an opportunity to observe their child's hands and experience rather than guide them through; a skill I've really gained from the class.

Using and being surrounded by natural fibers and elements creates a peaceful feeling that is hard to describe. Simplicity, rawness, natural beauty. A part of the Waldorf philosophy I admire.

Here are basins set outside to wash hands. I don't think Julian has ever wanted to wash his hands more. Two big basins of water? Can't get much better than that. Our snack this day was yogurt with berries and bread dough kneaded by the children was sent home to bake.

The songs, peaceful approach to problem solving, and including my little one in daily tasks have all enriched our lives at home.

Starting with a Starter

Our newest addition to the family has been fairly low maintenance. Only requires two feedings a day, yet has inspired quite a few baked goods this past week. A couple overflows, and only one scare that it was dead. Meet our sourdough starter.

The picture is of the very first creation: sourdough, walnut, raisin cookies. They were very good but next time I'll replace the raisins with chocolate. Never been a huge raisins-in-sweets-fan. I've also made a couple breads using the recipe from Nourishing Traditions, but varying the type of flour. I must admit, the all white flour loaf was really good. The half whole wheat and half white was a little too dense and not quite as tasty. This morning, we enjoyed sourdough pancakes for breakfast, which might have to be a weekly tradition. Julian ate four.

Thank you to Jennifer, for not only sharing this world with me, but sharing the starter. The jar she gave me is an ancestor of a starter from her mom's friend's grandmother in Alaska...I hope I got that right. Apparently, quite old. And, apparently, Alaska is the place to be from if you're a starter.

So, with the dishes done, the oatmeal soaking for tomorrow's breakfast, and the starter fed, I'm off to bed!

A Good Night Walk

With our warm spring days, we are enjoying some rare warm nights. After dinner, bath, and pajamas are on, we step outside to see beautiful sunsets. We stroll around the block. Every berry bush, rock, stick, and cat is part of the adventure. Others are out, all seeming to be in a good mood with the good weather. Grandmothers with granddaughters, couples holding hands, dogs being walked.

 
The inspiration came from one of our new library books, A Good Night Walk, by Elisha Cooper. The narrator is never seen, only what he or she is observing. Squirrels chattering, screen doors shutting, the smell of apple pie. Since the walk in the book is so calming, I thought a simple stroll and transition with the night light might be a nice way to transition to bed for us as well.

Even if the walls still need to be climbed and Bobby, the cat must get lavished with love until it's really time to go, there is, indeed a calming effect watching the colors of the day being taken over by the night.

A Heinz Birthday

For mom's birthday this year, we planned a special surprise. Playing with a family joke based on a Heinz ketchup t-shirt mom wears on occasion (eh-hem), we made Heinz mustard t-shirts for the family (great idea, Hansika!) We chose a casual dinner outing to a local burger joint, Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe. After all had arrived, we stripped off our outer layers to reveal the bright yellow t-shirts.

Then, mom was given her gift...the look of surprise and laughter that followed confirmed that we had successfully pulled it off. Now she has options about which Heinz t-shirt fits the occasion.

Happy Birthday, mom! Ready for another Shakin' Jesse? Yum.

Mother's Day Proclamation

Arise, then, women of this day!

Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!

Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."

From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Julia Ward Howe, 1870

A friend and I knit some squares for the Mother's Day banner organized by CodePink which read, "I will not raise my children to kill another mother's child." Powerful words. And, what a powerful way to honor mothers worldwide.

Hope your weekend was a special one.