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(This might very well push me over the edge of appropriate number of blogged baby photos per week. My apologies, but it cannot be helped.)
{Saartje's bootees (a gift), Kicking Bag for Babies, Baby Bootees, Picky Pants, Baby Surprise Jacket, Baby Bootees and the Pebble Vest.}
Feeling grateful for the cloudy, cool days of June we've had. How else is a summer babe (and her Mama) to enjoy her handknits?
Just after Annabel was born, we got the call that our bees were ready!
(I would be seriously remiss in mentioning their arrival without mentioning how they arrived. Steve, who never set out to be the beekeeper (but certainly is now), and didn't take the class or read the books, and never started this whole bee business to begin with. For, in the flurry of a busy season of breech baby appointments, life, and a birth... I wasn't exactly, um, ready for the bees when they were ready for us. As in, I was still in bed with a newborn and had nothing prepared for the bees. But he took it in stride (as he always does) with some "are you serious?" laughter...and set out driving all over the state, gathering all the equipment and gear I needed (the folks at Bee Pride in Lebanon totally set us up while laughing with us, not at us, thankfully), putting it all together in a day, painting through the night and then driving (a whole long ways) to pick up those bees and bring them home......all with four kids in his charge and at his heels. He's the bee's knees, that man. Ha!)
If not physically ready, this winter I really did mentally ready myself for their arrival. Ashley English's recently published Keeping Bees was one perfectly-timed resource for us. In addition, last fall I took a six-week beginning beekeeping class through the cooperative extention at our State university. I'm so glad I did so - I learned so much there from listening to other beekeepers, and the particulars of this region of beekeeping. I came home from the first class and told Adelaide that my (fabulous, by the way) teacher says that honeybees are 'cute and fuzzy!' Adelaide replied with a hearty, "Totally!"
Can you guess who volunteered (begged) to be my bee keeping assistant? Of course.
(Before the bees arrived. We wear long sleeved shirts and pants when tending the bees, though not a full suit. And generally we don't wear our veils backwards, but you know...who says you couldn't?)
A few details: For a variety of reasons, we opted for medium langstroth hives (I do know about top-bar, but for a variety of reasons, wasn't quite up for it this first year. We'll see what next year brings.) We opted for local overwintered nucs with a Maine-raised queen (I reserved them in the fall).
So here's the honest and real-deal thing about the bees for me. I love them. I'm fascinated by their culture, behavior and life cycle. I'm in awe of what they do and how they do it. I believe strongly in helping them, and their vital importance in our ecosystem - much grander than their place on our little farm here. And, of course I love their honey (and beeswax too!).
But still...there's just something. Something instinctually in my body that gives me butterflies each time I walk over to the bee yard. A little something I have to quiet in myself when they're flying all around me, buzzing. Something that tells me to, um, run. There's just that something initially counterintuitive to poking around in a box full of tens of thousands of bees. I resist it, I take a deep breath, I remember what I know about them and try to forget everything false I've been taught about them. But it's there - that something. I'm excited to see how that feeling changes - it already has a little. Each of the few times I've opened up the hive, the time spent has been a little bit longer as I peek around with such curiosity and amazement at what they're doing. Walking around our garden and the trees and flowers all over our little farm, I get a little giddy with excitement, and dare I say a little bit of pride in them, when I spot one of 'our' honeybees at work. My eyes glance over to their hives a few times as the day progresses, just checking in on them, even though they need so little from me. I love knowing they're there. Slowly, cautiously and with a whole lot of respect...I think I'm falling in love with them.
Cute and Fuzzy. Totally.
There's something I didn't tell you before Annabel was born. I knew she was a she.
Well, really, I knew she was a girl way back in October, because sometimes a Mama just knows these things, you know? It's true. And I just knew.
But we knew for certain a few weeks before her arrival, at my first ultrasound in my ten years of pregnancy and birthing. Because this fifth little baby, this sweet little girl who seems nothing but quiet and delicate now, had some lessons to teach her Mama, I do believe. Lessons about trust, birth, and appreciation for all the different ways (and places) that babies are born, and that oh-so-delicate balance between traditional and alternative medicine.
I thought quite confidently - beginning this pregnancy - that I had it down. I mean, really, now. Four easy-breezy pregnancies and quick, smooth and happy home births. What could be different about this one?
Ahem.
My ninth month of this pregnancy was spent using every last resource available to us to turn this little girl who had decided to hang out breech for a whole long while (and not the 'easy' breech). I called upon favorite practioners of every kind - acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathic, and on and on. I stood on my head, I prayed, I chanted, I talked to so very many midwives and doctors in an attempt to create the safest and most peaceful of births for this little one and myself - however and wherever that ended up being. We talked to my belly, I cried a little bit, and I stood on my head some more each day of that long month.
At the end of that month long effort, more pregnant than I'd ever been before...we found ourselves having thoroughly explored every option, confident that I had tried everything, and quite at peace and ready for the unfamiliar birth experience I was likely to have. It was then, in a hospital bed early one morning, heading down an unfamiliar-to-me path, that she turned. On her own, right then and there. Just like that.
I had breakfast in that hospital room, they sent me home with laughter and good wishes, and with a little more humility and a whole lot of gratitude, we prepared for the homebirth we ultimately ended up having two weeks later.
Being 'surprised' at the time of birth by the gender of a little one has been such an amazing thing to experience. Those moments of saying hello, of seeing someone just as the beautiful soul they are, without knowing a name or gender yet - have been some of my life's most powerful moments. They're snapshots permanently etched in my brain and heart, and I treasure them.
But, oh...this time, there we were (confirming her breech position), and quite frankly I just couldn't resist the temptation to really know. Amidst the stress and decision making about where and how she was to be born that so occupied that last month, it was a welcome little gift to know (for certain) more about who she was. She was a she.
(Plus, it was nice to stop chatting about the horse Adelaide had convinced us she'd need should the baby be "another brother!" Hmn.)
I probably don't need to tell you that there was some sewing in that window of time before Annabel was born. For there is little that I love more than sewing machine and needles to ease a worried mind. And tiny little, simple to make newborn baby things? Oh, good heavens. Yes, please.
The dress and overalls were made in a flurry that very first night we knew, right after I stopped by a consignment shop and picked up that sweet white and yellow dress. I didn't use a pattern for either, but fudged with tracing a few pieces of infant clothing I did have. The wrap dress is still quite big yet, but the pink suit is just right and I love it. I want to tweak the pattern a bit and make many more, I love it so.
Oh this silly, stubborn, sleepy, sweet baby girl. We're just so very glad she's here.
Little miss Annabel has just turned one month old. It has been - without a doubt - one of the quickest, and yet most beautiful and memorable months of my life.
Nearly two months ago now, I found myself at the end of a pregnancy that had been more tiring and challenging than any of the others, and full of stressful surprises too. Our family was just emerging from a trying spring with Papa's surgery, and looking ahead to the busiest time of year on our new little farm. As we prepared for a birth, a newborn baby, and the growing needs of the rest of our little ones amidst such change...I knew we would need help. I knew that family would be nearby to whisk off a child or two when they (and we) needed a break. I knew that friends would come and carrying food and love and arms to hold a baby or fold laundry. We feel rich, indeed, in all of their help and love.
Overwhelming me still, was the work that I do every day here on (and behind the) blog, that I worried would be just 'too much' in such a time of family change. And so, one late night, feeling overwhelmed and a little worried, I had an idea. I nervously sent out an email to a dozen mama friends, asking for their help in sharing this space. It's always a little scary asking for help, isn't it? It is. But...each and every one of them - so busy in their own days and full lives - overwhelmed me with thier willingness. And then...their posts! Goodness. I had the pleasure of reading them nearly eight weeks ago now, and let me tell you that in those last weeks of pregnancy, their beautiful, inspiring, real, funny, and honest and creative words evoked so much emotion for me. An inspiring bunch, I tell you. And despite not having 'met' many of them in "real life," I was reminded of how very real these relationships can be, and are. I feel blessed.
{One would think from these photos that all Miss Annabel does is sleep! I assure you, that is not true. I'm thinking it's merely an indication of when my hands are free enough to hold a camera.}
As I've shared those guest posts here in this space each day during the month of June, I've felt full of gratitude all over again each time. For each post has been like an amazing meal delivered when we most needed it. Feeding my family, nourishing my soul, and keeping my energy and focus right where it needed to be. I humbly say 'thank you' once more to each of the lovely ladies who shared their words here in this space. Thank you, thank you.
I hope that you too have enjoyed all of these posts, and been as inspired by them as I have. If you missed any, or would like a re-read, you can read the series in it's entirety right here.
So. This first month. What have we been doing?
We have been home, for we carefully crafted a month with no scheduled classes, heavy work loads or obligations. We've been with each other, soaking up the newborn love, getting to know Annabel Edrie, adjusting to our new roles and treasuring these days as best we can.
I've been washing a lot of diapers.
I've been making a lot of popcorn.
I've been staring at this baby a whole lot.
I've been holding bigger babies who need an extra snuggle.
I've been feeling overwhelmed at the blessings around me.
I've been trying to sleep when I can.
I've been asking for forgiviness when weariness and sleep deprivation rear their grouchy head.
Yes, there have been many moments of chaos and awkwardness, challenging adjustments, tears and a whole lot of spit-up. But oh, even in those moments, there is love. So much love.
And so, I think we're doing just fine.
We've never quite taken a "babymoon" so fully as we've just done. But if there is one thing I have learned from five babies, it is the truth of just how fleeing this time is. Taking this time together, particularly with the fullness of all the souls we now are, was the most wonderful gift I could have imagined - for all seven of us. We are emerging from this time together stronger, full of peace, and more connected than ever as a family. As she turns one month old and begins to wake up a little bit to the world around her, I feel all of us ready to stretch out a little bit more to the outside world, too.
So here we are today, and I am so happy to be back here. I'm feeling a little rusty and definitely still post-baby/no-sleep/a little bit hormonal fuzzy-headed. I'm feeling grateful for the time of this first month, and oh-so-grateful to be here in this space once again. I missed it! And you! We have so very much to talk about, you know? We do...
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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Quince and Company. In the words of Pam Allen:
"At Quince & Company, we sell handknitting yarn mostly sourced and spun in the US. We use wool from American sheep and the yarn is spun in New England. We're committed not only to 'local' yarns, but to fibers yarns that are grown/made responsibly in other parts of the world--if we can't source the same thing here. E.g., we import an organic linen yarn--the fiber is grown in Belgium and the yarn is spun in Italy. Our basic wool line consists of four yarns all in different weights and structures--all come in 37 colors. And we also have an American wool/silk blend."
You can follow along through the Quince & Company blog as well!
SouleMama: How long have you been in business?
Quince & Company: We're approaching our 1-year anniversary! The day we launched our website, we weren't yet hooked up to the internet at the warehouse--where we waited to fill our first orders. We had to take a laptop to Starbucks to see if anyone had placed an order. They had! Very exciting.
SouleMama: Tell us what you envision and dream for the future of your business.
Quince & Company: We'd love to see some kind of commercial, medium-scale textile industry return to New England and the northeast. Very little remains of equipment and knowledge, but given a demand, spinners and dyers could expand their businesses and pass on their expertise and a good living.
SouleMama: What's your favorite part of your job? The most challenging?
Quince & Company: Keeping up with the minutia of running a small business and at the same time keeping the big picture in mind. It's as important to plan 6 months in advance as it is to ship the day's orders. But it's harder to feel the pressure to think a ways out.
SouleMama: Tell us about your customers.
Quince & Company: We have customers from all over the world. We've shipped to Korea, Taiwan, Beijiing, Japan, Tanzania, New Zealand, Aurstralia, South Africa, Finland, Sweden, the UK, France, Belgium, Spain, Italy, and more.
SouleMama: How are your children incorporated into your business?
Quince & Company: My son is in his mid-twenties and studying green design. He's taken a keen interest in the business--how to be successful and true to our ethic: making an American and/or organic earth-friendly product, and selling it for an affordable, competitive price.
For today's giveaway, Quince & Company is generously offering the following gift to one lucky winner:
~ 6 skeins of Quince & Company yarn in a limited edition Quince Tote!
(your choice of yarn/color(s))
In addition, Quince & Company is offering 10% off your next order when you sign up for their e-letter (found in the upper right hand corner on the home page). To redeem, send a note to [email protected] telling them you've signed up, and they'll send you a code to enter.
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Thank you to Quince & Company!
To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday evening.
Comments closed! The winner is...
what a great company and what a great giveaway! Pls count me in!!
Posted by: Ren Lady of the Arts
{this moment} - A Friday 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.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Happy Weekend to you!
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(photo by Steve)
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I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the month of June, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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I sat in the hospital room and cried. Mixed with overwhelming awe at this tiny life suddenly made visible and holdable, came such an emotionally exhausting challenge. I could not get my baby to breastfeed. With each change of shifts, a new nurse would enter my room with a completely different way of doing things--football hold, cradle hold, let her sleep at your breast, never let her fall asleep.
I grew weary as I waded through unknown, uncharted waters and had no idea which path I should travel down. Who I should trust. Which advice I should heed. Everyone had a different approach.
A few days later when we finally settled back into our home, tired and tearful, I called my mom.
"Trust yourself." she told me. "You'll know what's best."
Those words washed over me with a sigh of relief. It was as if she breathed a small breath of mothering wisdom into my soul.
I have carried those words with me as I have travelled down this road of mothering.
Today, older, hopefully wiser and four little girls later I feel as though I am becoming more and more comfortable in my own skin. I'm learning to trust myself and that voice in my head.
I cling to those words that my mother spoke to me more than nine years ago.
….standing in a doctor's office, with a sick little girl, knowing he was blowing off something I knew to be more serious.
I listened to that voice.
…when she wanted to quit, but I knew she'd regret it and pushed her to keep trying….
I listened to that voice.
…when everyone I knew was sending their children off to school, but it felt right for us to do so at home….
I listened to that voice.
I hear that voice all day long. From little things like decisions to forgo a nap for a swim in the pool, to how we eat, how I teach them, how I respond to their tears, or how many animals we add to our little farm, I am learning more and more to trust myself.
This is not to say that I move through my days awash in confidence and mothering grace. I blow it. I regroup. I change my approach.
There is so much information available to me, to us, about how to mother. So many approaches and philosophies. And so many of them sound right and healthy. If I'm not careful, I find myself questioning the path that I've taken, thinking that perhaps, all along, it was the wrong path and that there's another one that's smoother and easier and has better scenery.
It is in those moments when my own voice is hard to hear. When it is but a whisper.
I still have so much to learn. I see my grandmother in the way I move about my kitchen. I see my mother in the way I rally my girls for chores or carry a baby on my hip out to the garden to snip spinach.
I take wisdom from a phone call with a friend. I scribble a few lines in my journal from a book by Wendell Berry. I tack a Bible verse on my bathroom mirror.
These are the things that strengthen my voice. They are the things that remind me listen to my mothering soul. There is freedom when I learn to trust. Peace in letting things go. And joy to be found in finding your path.
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Molly Balint lives with her husband and four little girls on several acres in rural Maryland. Her house is a sea of endless projects and her yard is overrun with barn cats and teenaged Rhode Island Reds. Just last weekend the log pile was split, the onions were weeded and a stall was built for a coming surprise. She chronicles her days on her blog, MommyCoddle and is co-creator of the photography + words project habit.
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I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the month of June, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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Space and the sharing of it. It was the first concept of motherhood that I didn't see coming (followed by oh so many more). And not space sharing in the form of deciding which room in the house to use for a nursery and how to decorate it. Heavens no, I was still in an art school dorm room. The first space that I had to share, consciously and intentionally, was my own self. It took me by complete surprise, how it felt, a bit of an invasion. And that was the real beginning of me sharing, consciously and intentionally. And that girl, the two of us, we shared everything, my childhood room, tucking her little clothes onto the shelves that used to hold high school prom photos, spring break silliness. She fit right in. With me. And only months later, after Jeff and I were married, the three of us, we all tucked in nicely into our own tiny home. Her room. Our room. A tiny sun porch for me to keep art supplies. I painted her a toy chest in that room, putting off my school work. Fuschia and yellow sunflowers.
Five more babies, little space invaders, since then. And each one has come to us and found us in some other situation or some other home. An we squeeze in. Tuck this here, tuck that there. Move that child together with the older. Decide no more toys in the living room but only in the bedrooms. Decide not more toys in the bedrooms (that's chaos!) but from now on, we just keep toys in this one corner of the den. I have sat motionless in a room, whether a family room, an almost always shared child's bedroom, or my studio, and just stared. Countless times over the years. Staring, thinking, eyes shifting back and forth, rearranging furniture in my mind. And if I could just stare hard enough, I would will the room into a bigger dimension, and will the furniture suddenly more suitable, and will the arrangement entirely more capable of organizing all of our stuff. A beautiful room then, finally, everything in its place. Yes, finally, all will be well. It was the arrangement that was the problem all along, no?
And then. No. Chaos. Life. Homework. Workwork. Babies. Toys. Books (we have a bookshelf you know!) Crayons. Papers. Drawings. Threads, Needles. Pins. Ouch. And it seems in no time I am back to the beginning and wondering why its all a mess again. How, when it seems just seconds ago everything had a home, a spot, a place? This cycle has occurred in every home we've had no matter the size, the possessions, or the amount of buckets, bins or boxes we have to try and contain ourselves. And we do, as a family clean together every Saturday (awe, no mom, not cleaning!) Yes we do. We grit our teeth, no one harder than me, and we do it. Over and over.
When, after 20 years of working as a designer, I finally had the opportunity to design a workspace from scratch in our attic, my dreams were indeed lofty. Not fancy, just very specific, coming to know what I need, after so many different work space situations (my first sewing studio was a closet after all). I knew of course that these children of mine would carve out their own little nooks and crannies, over time, but I still somehow tricked myself into believing that this was my space. A space with a door. You know, one that can open and close. But. Well. You can imagine. Its not my space at all. Nor should it be, it is ours. And we live in every inch of it, every one of us.
I've learned (and I write this sitting in my utter mess of a dream studio) that its not the size of your space, the perfection of your organization skills or the cleanliness (what?) of your children that keeps you feeling all tucked in and happy. It is actually just deciding to feel tucked in and happy. Despite the mess. Giving yourself the permission to let it be what it is. A family living together in one space, with invisible boundaries. Where much can be shared, discovered and learned (and dumped, and scribbled and torn apart too).
As I was sewing in the studio this morning, it actually took me quite a while to realize that I had slowly, one at a time, come to share the room with 5 other souls (the 6th tucked downstairs for naptime) who were each perfectly occupied in their own corner. Ideal parallel play. The idea of it was astounding. I looked up from my work at all of them, from one to the next, just staring at each. None aware of me, they were too busy doing. I was so happy at the scene, that I wanted to say so, but feared I would break the calm waters. So instead I just wrote it down, amongst my sewing pattern instruction notes:
~ Isabela flipping through the museum book of the Victoria & Albert fashion collection (sprawled on the floor) ~ Juliana cross-legged on the couch with her laptop ~ Joseph tracing a favorite cartoon character on the light table over by the window ~ Nicolas using my computer to build his Minecraft world ~ Eleni trying to catch a spider ~
Such a wonderful, welcome invasion.
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Anna Maria Horner lives with her husband, six children, one yellow lab and one very yellow canary on a not overly maintained two acres of happiness in Nashville, Tn. She designs, writes, and dreams in her home studio, where any of the above mentioned souls can be found distracting her with hugs, messes, questions, chirping, barking or complete silence, depending on who it is. You can read Anna Maria's full story and her blog, find her books, patterns, home goods, and more all at annamariahorner.com
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I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the month of June, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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Mothering. An adventure like no other, the ultimate everything. The joy, the worry, the pride, the doubt, the love, the letting go... maybe every word ever spoken could apply to motherhood. The work is hard, the blessings know no end.
In my fourteenth year of this precious work, my pool of memories continues to deepen. There are things I will always remember...
Your birth was one of the quietest, most present experiences of my life.
At 3 months old, your belly laugh was the same as it is today.
The words “I love you” formed your first sentence at seventeen months.
Toddler group classes were never your thing. You preferred to be home with your family, your animals, and maybe one or two close friends. Much like today.
At four years old we shared a property with our midwife. You would invite her cats into our place, dress them in your baby doll dresses and put them in your cradle. They loved the attention and they loved you.
We lived on a lake, one with no motorboats allowed, it was so quiet there. Out in the canoe became the only place we knew to take you those first weeks after September 11th. You felt joy and calm while we looked for understanding, for healing.
I remember the first book you read to me. You were five, I was amazed.
A 6am phone call, waking us from sweet slumber. There was a terrible accident and he died. He was seventeen, their only child. There was no buffer, I couldn’t hide the news from you. It was the only time I ever wished you slept somewhere other than my bed.
Picking you up at school with a gift, a key to your own house. You and your best friend opened the door together. After a toast of chocolate milk and a tour, she went home... directly across the street. Now, more than six years later, you are more than best friends, you are family.
Watching you become more and more complex. Knowing the world could never understand you fully. Loving that you don’t need it to.
Sitting in awe the first time I witnessed your gift for public speaking. You were seven, it came out of nowhere and you were brilliant. The moment was born from a simple opportunity... I was reminded to make sure you’ll always have plenty of opportunity.
The way you and your father read together every night. So many books over the years. Your love of reading has helped you become the talented writer you are today. No doubt about it.
That summer in the White Mountains when the only three things we did for a week straight were swim, hike, and eat ice cream. And every time we went swimming there was that beautiful black bear eating berries up on the hill behind us, enjoying her summer as much as we were.
Just days after your birth, until about eleven years old, you would grasp my hair with your little hand for comfort as I held you. Every single day. Like the silky edge of a blanket that some children love, you played with my hair. For years and years...
I watched with admiration as you starting taking pen to paper. Art sometimes frustrates you with it’s organic, unpredictable nature. But please know this - you inspired me to pick up my own pens for the first time in 20 years, and it has been a place of healing and growth for me ever since.
The way you care for and love your animals as if they were part of you. You have an understanding for their needs that is unlike anything I’ve seen.
Your heightened, intuitive awareness of the world around you. How it is both a blessing and a curse. Nothing goes unnoticed.
Seeing you shine as a “Senior” with your co-sixth graders (all five of you!). Knowing in that moment that it was all worth.
Your love for sports. So active, so coachable. You are a good team mate and for that I am so proud.
Having you home with us now, for who knows how long. Living, learning and growing together. It is a balancing act on many days, an honor and privilege each and every day.
The way you end each phone conversation with immediate or extended family members with “I love you.” You were never told to do this, it’s just you.
I will always remember Wormy, Squirrely, and that goal. Remember that goal?
But mostly, what I love so dearly and hope to remember for the rest of my days - is saying good night to you with a kiss and the words “I love you baby girl.” And how at thirteen, you are still okay with that. Well, at least you haven’t said otherwise just yet.
I am a Mother, remembering the little things is what I do, it’s what all of us Mother’s do. And you? Well, you just keep living a beautiful life so I may collect memories as my years roll on. I am blessed beyond words to be a part of it all.
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Heather can be found blogging at Beauty That Moves, or contributing regularly at Simple Homeschool. She lives with her husband and daughter in a cozy bungalow perched on a hill. Together they have just launched a new website, Unplugged Sunday, where they share stories about setting aside one day a week to slow down, unplug, and come together as a family in nature or at home.
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I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the month of June, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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Good morning SouleMama readers. I say good morning because most of my mornings involve a visit here, and I am always full of gratitude to start my day with the sense of wonder, courage, and purpose that Amanada's words and photographs inspire. Today I humbly offer some words on the joy of handmade hula hoops.
My daughter Storey and I saw our first handmade hula hoop when we performed at Clearwaters Great Hudson River Revival Festival in 2009. Storey came running to me during sound check full of excitement. She had tried to hula hoop before with a regular store-bought hoop and had always ended up frustrated - but here she had found one from a festival vendor that really worked, it was heavier weight which actually made it easier to do, and it looked very cool as well! We bought it for her even though there was very little room left in the car with all of our musical equipment. I'm so glad we did.
Here Storey is that day. She looks so serious! I think she sort of can't believe she is hula hooping successfully, after trying and failing for so long!
Here we are back at the Clearwater Festival the next year in 2010. It's hard to believe this is only one year later, I think she grew a foot between the ages of eight and nine. By the time this picture was taken she was doing tricks, making up routines, having a blast with her hula hoops.
That summer there was a drought in our area which brought with it the silver lining of the temporary disappearance of mosquitoes, so we were spending all of our evenings outside. Hula hooping was the perfect activity for watching the sunset, the moon rise and the fireflies dance. Our soundtrack was Carole King Tapestry and Michael Jackson Off the Wall. We decided it was the summer of hula hoops and that it was time to learn to make our own!
I did a little searching around for instructions, we figured it out and made many. We bought enough poly pipe at the hardware store to make several, and it became the favorite playdate activity, many afternoons were spent teaching friends our new magic trick and sending them home with their own colorful hoops. We made them as gifts for Grandma. We even made them at Storeys crafty 10th birthday party this year. The girls at the party were so creative, layering patterned duct tape with solid electrical tape and making their own distinctive designs.
When it was time for us to release our new album last fall, our record label wanted us to make some kind of promotional video for it, with a fancy interview talking about the album. I said, how about instead we show people how we make hula hoops! Thank goodness Smithsonian Folkways can have a sense of humor about "promotion." We had so much fun making this video out at my sisters home in Fairfax California while we were out there on tour.
I have to thank Amanda for inspiring me to get crafty and figure out how to make something with my daughter that is beautiful and gets us on our feet and outside together, creating a treasured simple pleasure that I know we will enjoy for years to come.
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Elizabeth Mitchell lives in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York with her husband Daniel, her daughter Storey and their puppy Yuki. They all make music together in a family band called "You Are My Flower" and have collaborated with Ziggy Marley, Levon Helm, Natalie Merchant, Dan Zanes and more. Elizabeth loves the sound of children singing, riding the train and the songs of Kate McGarrigle. More information about her music can be found at youaremyflower.org.
This morning, Father's Day, is one of the very few days of the year when I rise earlier than Steve. With a baby on my chest and four bigger ones at my side, we began our Mother's Day/Father's Day/Birthday tradition of a sleep-in and breakfast in bed. As we all scurried about baking and making, and doing Papa's morning chores with the animals and around the house, I realized that five of us (well Annabel, too) were doing the work of just this one man. And yet somehow - I never see him 'scurrying'. It always appears as a calm, steady glide instead.
Amidst our scurrying, in the moment of glass breaking, babies crying, bacon burning, children whining, siblings squabbling, and a tired Mama about ready to burst....the words of that man sounded in my head - "everything's all right" and "they just need you to love them." It's as simple as that. He makes it simple like that.
And once again, in that moment, as happens in many moments of every single day, I felt full of gratitude for this man I have by my side, fathering as he does, with so much love.
Wishing a very Happy Father's Day to Steve, my sweet Dad, and all the Papas out there!
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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Knit It Up. In the words of shop owner Kate:
"Knit It Up, fine yarns and fibers offers knitting yarns, spinning fibers and lots of other crafty goodness. We are just beginning a major re-branding of our shop, so you'll start to notice things popping up that say "McMullin Fiber Co." instead of "Knit IT UP" Don't worry, it's still us!"
SouleMama: What inspired you to start your business?
Kate: I started knitting when I was expecting my first child. It was part nesting instinct, and part luck - I had always wanted to learn, and I just happened to be working on a project with a Local Yarn Store owner who convinced me to stop by and give it a go. After I had been knitting for some time, we moved to a small town in New Mexico, with no LYS to speak of. So when I didn't have easy, local access to fine yarns and fibers, I started dyeing my own. That led to spinning of course. I think the shop actually started as an excuse to buy more yarn and fiber and dyeing supplies, but it has blossomed into this amazing way to balance my passion for the fiber arts, my desire to be at home with my children, and my desire to have my own business. I love that I get to be creative, and I'm already imagining the pride I'll feel watching my kids get involved in both the creative and business side of things.
SouleMama: How do you keep yourself motivated and avoid burnout?
Kate: I tend to have craft ADD. I don't know why, but I've never really been a steady person when it comes to my hobbies. I'm 100% obsessed with something for a spurt, then it's on to something else. That's where my love of fiber comes in handy. It's the perfect genre of crafting for me because I can be totally into knitting one week, then spend a week dyeing, then spend a week spinning yarn, then start all over again. Sometimes I put them all on hold for a short stint of genealogy research, or ice cream making or something else totally random. I've found that although I obviously need to keep the business side of things steady, if I let myself go with what I'm into at the moment as far as the crafting side is concerned, it keeps me happy and excited about what I'm doing. I used to make myself finish projects before I started another one, but it just made what should be fun feel like work. My advice to crafters who struggle with unfinished projects is: do what moves you! If you're not feeling that pair of socks at the moment, put them aside and cast on something else, learn to sew, read a new book. Just be sure to check in on your basket of unfinished business every once in awhile, and you may find yourself newly inspired to pick it up and finish it. Or you may decide you hate it, rip it out and use the supplies to make something even better!
For today's giveaway, Knit It Up is generously offering the following gift to one lucky winner:
~ a $50 gift certificate to the Knit It Up shop for a fiber shopping spree!
In addition, Knit It Up is offering SouleMama readers 20% off your entire order. Offer good until June 27, 2011. Use code "SOULEMAMA20"
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Thank you to Knit It Up!
To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday evening.
Comments closed! The winner is...
Wow, what a great giveaway! And I loved reading Kate's comments about her craft ADD. Heee, heee! Oh, how I can relate, and I appreciated the good advice! :-)
Posted by: beetnik mama
{this moment} - A Friday 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.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Have a lovely weekend!
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I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the first weeks of June, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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Connections in the undercurrents (or Behind the Scenes)
A recent day started out with electrical cords lying across the floor of our bedroom like snakes, ready to jump up and give me a whopper of a bite who-knows-where. Sometime that same day my toddler had tripped on one and fallen right on top of the 300 mls of breastmilk that I had just pumped.
“Don't cry,” I reminded myself. “It's just spilled milk.” Then I thought to myself that whoever coined this phrase was certainly referencing cow's milk, and not the human variety. Before I could let myself have a cleansing sob, I noticed that the puddle of milk was nowhere to be seen on the wood floor. I got down on my hands and knees and pulled a vagrant slipper out from the clumps of cat hair underneath the bed – still no milk. It had simply seeped through the floorboards to the basement below. That was when I started laughing.
The cords, you see, are from the following: a breastpump, a baby scale, a feeding pump attached to an IV pole, and the occasional charging laptop. Motherhood took a turn down an unknown-to-me path on October 4th of last year – the day we found out that our second baby would be born with a serious heart defect called hypoplastic left heart syndrome. I'm so grateful that he is doing well after the first in a series of three open-heart surgeries, but his is a future of question marks – a future of medical challenges.
After the first overwhelming shock of his diagnosis, I let the news soak in a bit before telling other mama friends and acquaintances. Imagined dialogues sprouted up in my head:
“Yeah, we've been pretty busy – been working on a few new sewing patterns, my parents came to visit – oh, and did I mention that only half of my son's heart works?” How's that for bringing a friendly conversation to an awkward, screeching halt? Such a party pooper I would be. But I couldn't really think or talk about anything else.
What happened instead, when I started sharing my sorrow with other mothers, was a revelation. Time and time again, through comments on my blog, conversations at the park, and phone conversations with aunts and sister-in-laws, I found that all mothers share an undercurrent of sorrow. With joy comes sorrow, with sorrow comes joy – and the cycle continues. The yin and yang of mothering, if you will. So many of us have lost babies, had a child with medical challenges, social or learning difficulties, or have worried about a child for various reasons. Often, we don't talk about it. Sometimes we don't talk about it because it's too painful, or we fear that, in reaching out, we will find ourselves alone. But we also don't talk about it because, eventually, we heal. Life becomes livable again. We become comfortable with our “new normal.”
As mamas, we are never alone in joy, and we are never alone in sorrow. Behind the scenes, we are all the same. Some of us, at any given time, feel like things will never get better. And then things do get better. We mamas befriend each other and reach out with understanding, and a clear message: it will get better. You will belly laugh again. We get by with a little help, and reassurance, from our fellow mamas.
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Meg McElwee blogs about motherhood and creativity at sewliberated.typepad.com. Her second book, Growing Up Sew Liberated, just hit the shelves this month. Her collection of sewing patterns is available at her website, sewliberated.com.
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I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the first weeks of June, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the first weeks of June, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I've always tucked little love notes into pockets, lunchboxes, and under pillows. I usually do it on a whim or for a special occasions, but this year my daughter requested one at lunch time regularly. Her meal didn't feel complete without unfolding a sweet little something. So it became a part of my morning ritual. Right after packing lunches, I would draw a little picture, and as her reading skills improved a few words were included, too. My husband does the dishes each night. While cleaning out her lunch box, he'd set aside the daily note. He said he couldn't put these little bits of love into the recycling bin. We put a jar on the counter, and now the notes live in there. If we're running late, I may "recycle" one. My daughter loves this... it's like reading a favorite story over and over again. She doesn't tire of them.
"Is it the cat one today, mama?"
"You'll see!" I say.
Her big brother, who claims to be far too old for lunch box notes, even gets in on the action as a surprise guest note-maker now and then.
These are not fancy, nor did they take a lot of effort, but the love that went into them is deeply felt. I've experienced this over and over again in my mothering. Love doesn't have to be fancy or complicated, in fact it's appreciated all the more when it's simple and straightforward. A jar of love sits on our counter... getting fuller by the day.
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Maya Donenfeld lives in rural New York with her husband and two children. Every day she marvels at the beauty outside here back door and finds time to make something inspired by nature and/or rescued materials. Her blog, maya*made, chronicles it all with plenty of tutorials and recipes to get you making, too! She is currently hard at work on her first book, which will be published by Wiley Craft in the spring of 2012.
Right now, I am...
:: laughing (still) at how Annabel decided to arrive into this world just two hours before the busiest 24 hours of our month began with three back-to-back recitals. (The show went on, of course...just without Mama.)
:: feeling grateful (in a twisted sort of way) for the infection that kept me in bed, staring at miss Annabel, for her first two weeks of life. Precious moments, and a beautiful, magical window of time that I will never forget.
:: doing a lot of sitting, still.
:: beginning to stretch out a little bit more with her on my chest...to the kitchen, the garden and the neighborhood around us (hello, lovely lakes we are just getting to know!).
:: missing my knitting needles and sewing machine and writing words in this space.
:: knowing I'll get back there/here soon enough.
:: wondering if it's her baby elbow or baby wrists that I'm loving more today. Hmn...
:: eating, a lot.
:: yawning, even more.
:: giggling every time Harper says, "That MY job!" with an inflated chest, pride in his voice, and the confidence of a two year old helper...grinding the coffee, planting seeds, washing dishes, bringing hay to the garden..and on and on and on.
:: shaking my head and sorta kinda still giggling about the afternoon when said helper picked a row of "weeds". Also known as my onions.
:: watching the garden take shape. One slowly planted half-row at a time.
:: wanting to plant lupines everywhere.
:: loving the photos my (big) girl took when she sneakily walked around with my camera. 36 photos of chickens, 4 photos of ants under a pile of logs, and 1 photo of Mama and Annabel in the garden (above).
:: continuing to eat rhubarb every day. Dinner may not be an extravagant feast each night (ahem), but I've got dessert covered. It's rhubarb.
:: reminiscing each time I put a handknit on Annabel that was made for one of her older siblings (like the kicking bag above).
:: smiling because my baby girl loves yellow. (It's true. She told me so.)
:: appreciating family, and especially the Boston Aunties (as they are called) who spoil my big boys with big city adventures just when they (and we) need it most.
:: thanking my boys (and man) for introducing me to new music, like this from Buck 65.
:: love, love, loving the guest posts here, and the beautiful words and projects shared by such lovely women. Aren't each of those posts so very beautiful? A few more to come this week...
:: wishing you the loveliest of Mondays, whatever adventures your day may hold!
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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Aurora Shoe Company. In their words:
"The Aurora Shoe Company was founded on the idea that a good pair of shoes should be made well and fit comfortably. We use American made materials and create all of our shoes in house and by hand. Assembled organically, using simple cuts of leather and minimal stitching, our shoes mold to their owners’ feet the way that only natural materials and careful design can."
SouleMama: Your family just expanded with a new daughter in February. How does parenthood effect your work?
Aurora Shoe Co.: My wife, Andrea was pregnant with our oldest daughter, Reagan when we made the move back home to the Aurora area and took over ownership of the Shoe Company just over 2 years ago. Since then we've lived in several different rentals and have now had a second daughter, Amelia Scout. To say that I've been busy is a huge understatement! As anyone who owns a small business knows, it's especially difficult to find the balance between work and family life. There isn't anyone telling me what time to go home or how many weekend hours to spend at work, so the challenge has been to find a way to do what's needed while also giving my family what they need. The time commitment is bigger than I ever would have imagined, but so are the rewards. I'll work my massive sleep deficit out once everyone is sleeping through the night...
SouleMama: What's new at Aurora Shoe?
Aurora Shoe Co.: We've been working on building up our inventory and are now ready to be selling our shoes through small retail shops around the country. We've been working with our customers to find shops and boutiques that match our values and aesthetic. It's a fun and inspiring project and has put us in touch with some really great people and businesses.
SouleMama: How do you connect with your community?
Aurora Shoe Co.: We live in a very small and tight knit community where everyone knows each other. We love visiting our small local farmer's market and supporting the other small businesses in our area. Last week we hosted a group of homeschoolers who wanted to learn about manufacturing. I think that the small town atmosphere lends itself to some great opportunities for getting to know people and working together to benefit everyone. We welcome you to visit our blog to learn more about us.
For today's giveaway, Aurora Shoe Company is generously offering the following gift to one lucky winner:
We're happy to be giving away one pair of shoes, any style, any color.
The beauty of our handmade shoes is that they're built to fit your feet and we're happy to work with you to get the sizing just right.
In addition, Aurora Shoe Company is offering free shipping on all domestic (US) orders placed in the month of June. Use promo code "Soule Mama".
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Thank you to Aurora Shoe Company!
To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Monday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday evening.
Comments closed! The winner is...
I do adore their shoes! Shoes, the ultimate in hand-craftmanship!
Posted by: Rachel Fee-Prince
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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Dirty Girl Clayworks. In Faro's own words:
"Dirty Girl Clayworks produces one of a kind slipware - each piece is handcrafted - playful & bright with a variety of images & text."
You can follow along with Faro on her blog, too!
SouleMama: Tell us about your background. What path led you to the work you do today?
Faro: Well, like most folks, my path has led me in unexpected directions. I started out to be a writer, a poet actually. I spent years at university studying and publishing in between traveling and participating in political & ecological activism. I left my first degree track and my home on Vancouver Island to move to the opposite side of the country, to Newfoundland. Another Island, another coastline, another kind of family. I finished school there, with a fantastic experience and a degree in Folklore.
In Newfoundland I discovered clay. I immersed myself in it while I could, even taking a room in the house of my first teacher, and mentor, Isabella St John of Blue Moon Pottery. When I returned to Vancouver Island I shared many studio spaces, continued to write, and wondered how I would pay the rent with my Folklore degree. I finished a poetry manuscript with the help of the Banff Centre for Arts Wired Writing program, and started selling pottery at local markets. Eventually, clay came before writing and I began to use text on all my work in attempt to reconcile my two passions.
I’ve been fortunate. I fell in love with an artist/musician who supported my need to follow my heart. I am blessed with an incredibly supportive family. I had great jobs that paid well, even though they weren’t what I wanted to do in life. I left my desk job behind for good in 2004 and opened Dirty Girl Clayworks. While I have focused on creating artful, one-of-a-kind tableware, I do also find moments in which to create narrative wall pieces. I do my best to bring my worlds together, combining elements of oral narrative, folk art & music, printmaking, photography, and poetry.
SouleMama: What's your favorite part of your job? And the most challenging?
Faro: I love to hear how my pieces play a role in people’s lives. Sometimes they are for celebrating special occasions like weddings or births, sometimes an everyday favourite mug. I also enjoy making custom pieces for people – it can feel quite intimate, especially when the text or images requested is very personal.
The most challenging is the fairly constant feeling of just keeping up with demand, This summer I am fortunate have an assistant. Her enthusiasm and talents enliven the studio, bring a fresh perspective, and make me feel like better output is possible!
SouleMama: How does the balance of work and family play out for you?
Faro: Balance is hard to find!
My studio is not located where I live. Since having my daughter 3 ½ years ago this has meant our whole family goes back and forth from home to studio many times a week. While this means I often don’t get as much work done as I could if I was alone, it has enabled to me to have more routine time with my family. My daughter has a real understanding of what I do, as well as a genuine appreciation for all things handmade. She often plays “going to work.’ Where does she go? To her studio!
Of course this couldn’t be possible without a supportive partner (who not only built most of my studio, but is, especially during peak seasons, primary childcare) and very involved grandparents (yay for grandparents!).
Balance is an evolving process…
For today's giveaway, Dirty Girl Clayworks is generously offering the following to ONE winner:
~ a choice between a set of four dippers OR a set of two mugs
(These can be chosen from whatever I have in stock in my gallery/studio)
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Thank you to Dirty Girl Clayworks!
To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday evening.
Comments closed! The winner is...
love the pottery...so sweet! thanks for the chance to win!
Posted by Sue Frazier
{this moment} - A Friday 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.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
Have a lovely weekend!
. . . . . . . .
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I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the coming weeks, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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I know it might sound strange, but I was scared about having a baby. Not because I didn’t want to be a parent, but because I had been told that I couldn’t have children. Hearing those words changes everything. Being a mom was always something I had wanted, but when I was told it wouldn’t be possible, I had planned a totally different life.
Then the line unexpectedly turned blue.
That first pregnancy was such a selfish dance. I worried about my work, my dreams, my plans. Children
were not supposed to be in the picture, and I did not know how they would fit into what I wanted to do
with my life. Then, of course, he arrived. All of those selfish thoughts that I had tried to keep so firmly in my head just fell away, and a new sense of direction came forward. I did not lose my Self in my children, in fact I think that it was the exact opposite. All of the dreams and plans and hopes that I had for myself just expanded. Everything seemed to grow bigger and brighter, and suddenly not only was I motivated to see my life fulfilled, but I was excited to watch the dreams of my children unfold as well.
There are days where the old insecurities appear, and I feel scared that my life will not be lived the way I had hoped, that I will be lost in a world of spit-up, of sleeping routines, and temper tantrums. Just when the fears seem to be engulfing me, one of my children looks at me and, from that deep place of truth, says I Love You. That is the reminder that my dreams are not really about doing as much as I can while I am on this earth, but rather to cultivate the most sacred of relationships with another human being. If I can do that, if I can allow myself to be fully present in this time with my children, than there will be little else that I will want for, and that would be a life truly fulfilled.
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Heather Fontenot is a mama of three boys, co-editor of Rhythm of The Home magazine, and a lover of everything crafty. She can be found on her blog, Shivaya Naturals.
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I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the coming weeks, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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The Making of a Mother
Last year my husband and I laid a flagstone patio in our back yard.
OK, I have to be honest. He did most of the heavy work, but I played a part in digging out the old grass, laying a new layer of sand, leveling it all, and then directing the placement of the huge flagstones as if they were pieces of a giant jigsaw puzzle.
In doing our research, we read that in laying a patio like this requires you to lay the largest stones first. Not only because they are so heavy, and you DO NOT want to have to move them again. But also because they become the anchor stones in your patio. And the anchor stones are used to judge if the others are level as you fill in the smaller stones around them.
This past Mother’s Day weekend, we enjoyed a night on the patio with friends over homemade sangria and an outdoor movie. The patio has quickly become our most favorite “room” in the house. And I got to thinking about how laying the stones in the patio are such a perfect metaphor for my journey in motherhood.
Some people know the exact moment they become a mother. Maybe it is seeing the + sign on the pregnancy test, maybe it is the first time they see that sweet wrinkly face. One of my best friends says ever since she was a little girl, she has known she was going to be a mama. But I can’t tell you the exact moment the fullness of motherhood hit me.
For me…the evolution of motherhood has taken time. And the process has looked much more like laying a patio, one giant stone puzzle piece at a time.
I come from a long line of amazing mothers. My own mother is one of the strongest, most giving and selfless women I know. She taught me about knowing your children as individuals and nurturing the gifts they naturally possess. And my grandmothers Florence and Shirley loved their children whole-heartedly before that. One grandmother taught me how to catch and clean my own fish and the other how to make a great pecan pie.
I don’t know if they realize it, but these women in my life laid the anchor stones…the heavy stones that do not move when life as a mother gets tough. They are there whether I realize it or not because they are too heavy to be moved.
And there have been other amazing mama role models along the way.
A stone was laid by Mrs. Franklin, my Campfire leader, who taught me about how important faith is. The very thing that would get me through the difficulties that being a military wife brings.
Mrs. O’Donnell, my third grade reading teacher instilled a love of words and a love of poetry. Something I would later share with my own children and provide a way to connect with other mothers all over the world. A stone was laid.
During college, I watched as my good friend Margo grew into a mother right before my eyes and I held the tiniest little baby I’d ever seen – her daughter Maddy. A stone was laid that day as well.
Two years after my husband and I were married, I thought I had my life planned out. I got pregnant and found out we would be welcoming not only one baby, but two…twins! Another stone was laid as I learned having children in my life would bring many unexpected twists and turns.
And as my belly grew, and grew, and grew and everyone we came in contact with wanted to touch my stomach, I realized that these babies did not only belong to me. They were ultimately a gift to our entire group of family and friends. Another stone was laid.
With the help of my wonderful midwife Pattie, my healthy boys were delivered safely and as I felt huge empowerment as my body did what God had designed it to do. Patti, a mother herself, helped me realize how strong I could really be. Another stone was laid.
And there so many more…Joyce and Thea who have both became stand in mothers here in Virginia when my own mother is so far away in Texas each contributed stones in their own way.
Then I am blessed to have women in my life that I call sister-mamas, a wonderful group of women with young children themselves. They are women who show up at my door with boxed pizza and a bottle of wine when they know it’s been a particularly rough day. They are women who call to ask how my day has been when S is out of town. Women to cry with me and pray with me. They want the best for me and my marriage. And they love my children almost as much as I do. Ambre, Shannon, Staci, Kari, Alicia, Jamie, Stefani, Amanda…and others have all laid a stone and with each encouraging word made me a stronger mother.
And here I am now, a mother of three boys. I have an unshakable foundation laid by the strong women in my family. And stone by stone I am becoming the mother I was born to be, one stone at a time.
Today, I encourage you to think about the women around you who have made you the mother you are today. And if you feel like it, I’d even encourage you to shoot an email, write a letter, or pick up the phone and tell her why she means so much to you. Much love to you all today!
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Eren San Pedro never thought she would give up her day job to stay at home with her three boys, 8 year old twins and a 6 year old. But home is where she is happy these days with her U.S. Navy husband and her three boys. When Eren is not looking for vintage linens at yard sales, she can be found barefoot in her backyard garden or writing about her days at Vintage Chica.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the coming weeks, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
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i began as the mother of babes.
and i mean that, for i was born then, too.
all of the me that had begun,
the wonderings and wanderings of my first three decades,
melted away in the faces of those new babies
and i was born anew.
i spent the next decade tending.
and tending, i did well. it was my thing, apparently.
i grew into it, and i loved every minute.
well,
you know that to be a gentle lie.
there were quite a few minutes of awful. of anguish, even.
and so much comedy, uncertainty, dishevelment.
you know.
but now...
some of my babes are almost grown.
do not kid yourself about how quickly that happens.
do not kid yourself and do not miss a second wishing those
wonderfully intense, delicious early years away.
for it happens even as you are watching them.
they grow.
and as much as you need to lose yourself to care for those newborn babes, those littles-
when they have grown to your size almost-when their feet may be as big!-
it is then that you need to find yourself again.
you need to grow.
for then, as they come upon ten; at twelve maybe...fourteen certainly;
then you must find yourself in order to know how to guide them. you must be the you
that you want to be,
so that the you they are growing up against and alongside, is the you that you want them to know.
for here's the thing:
in the end,
what you want for them most of all is to leave you.
to leave your house to become who they will be.
and when they are gone
who do you want to be left with?
my wish is that my own answer
is the me that was born out of mothering them.
and the man that's loved me all along the way.
~ ~ ~ ~
tara lives with her husband, tim, and their six daughters in a little yellow house that has recently acquired a clothesline.
you can read more about their days at public:: bookstore and see tara's photos on Flickr and find prints of tara and tim's art in the public::bookstore Etsy shop.
right now, I am...
:: remembering just how hungry newly nursing Mamas can get (says she who is eating a third breakfast).
::apologizing for the chaos of three 'new' posts, and an expired domain name this morning on SouleMama.com. Goodness! All will be straightened out soon.
:: telling you (because there were more emails and comments than I could answer) that in last week's {this moment} post, the hammock is by Nature's Sway (and yes, we like it very much), and the print is by Nikki McClure.
:: wearing my Moby all day long once again, holding Annabel right next to my heart and almost exactly where she was two weeks ago. Love.
:: planting the garden at the pace of a woman with a two week old baby on my chest and four children at my feet.
:: thinking we might be buying more vegetables than I originally thought this year.
:: knowing that's okay.
:: loving the random, simple moments of 'true love' that pop up in the course of a family day between older siblings and the new little one. It's enough to make a Mama melt.
:: wanting to make rhubarb something-or-other every single day. (This one was amazing, with a few modifications for all-rhubarb and less sugar.)
:: saying goodbye to lily of the valley and lilacs, and hello to poppies and iris'.
:: debating with Adelaide about how many kittens stay with us. She believes one kitten per person in the house is an apppropriate ratio. That's seven cats, people. Seven. (From left to right she's named them: Sally, Billy Blunt, Cloud and Rainbow.)
:: thinking four more cats is easier than the one horse she was declaring for the past nine months that she should receive, should Annabel have been born a boy.
:: giggling at my (older) boys forray into the world of early 90's hip-hop.
:: wondering how one little baby makes so much (more) laundry.
:: hanging the clothes on the line, loving the sunshine, and all the colors, shapes, stripes and sizes I see on the line. Even if - and perhaps especially because - it's the one chore I get done some days.
:: taking things slowly, noticing so much, and soaking in these days and my loves with all of my being.
:: enjoying the guest blogs of last week...and getting excited to share a few more this week.
:: wishing you a very lovely day!
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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor Pleasant River Soap Co. In the words of owner Mary Phipps:
"The online store of Pleasant River Soap Co. is for retail and wholesale customers alike- for immediate online ordering it reflects retail pricing, but go to the ‘Contact Us’ page for wholesale requests and info. All are welcome! When in the e-store, you will see pictures and descriptions of each of the 12 varieties of vegan bar soap, and each of the 4 scents of Pure Nature Lips."
SouleMama: Tell us about your background. What path led you to the work you do today?
Mary: For as long as I can remember, and especially after my kids were born, I have been
interested in living as naturally and preservative-free as possible. With a background in biology
and chemistry, it occurred to me that I could unleash my “inner mad-scientist” and combine
that with my love of natural and nourishing ingredients, and make body care products that I
would be proud of, products that are entirely free. Free, that is, of artificial colors, fragrances,
and preservatives! It naturally follows that I have packaged them in a way that minimally
impacts our earth- all soaps are wearing re-cycled materials, which are printed with soy-based
inks, and produced with wind-driven power.
SouleMama: Tell us about the beginnings of your business.
Mary: I made my first bar of soap in the dead of winter in 2004. Perhaps as a response to snowflake number 5 bajillion? Probably. Soap making was, for many years, just a very part-time activity, a seasonal craft-show project, really, to do while I stayed at home and raised my 2 daughters. However, a while ago, I suddenly found myself a single mom. I knew I wanted to do everything I could to remain at home with them as much as possible, because I firmly believe in the value of being available for kids as much as possible in their formative years. So, last year, in 2010, I became serious about my soap-making business- I became an LLC, hired an amazing design and marketing firm to re-design and bar-code my packaging, (Pulp & Wire), and dedicated my basement to being a full-time production facility. Now, instead of focusing on selling my products occasionally at retail craft fairs, I am primarily a wholesaler, currently in about 17 locations around Maine…the most exciting of which being Whole Foods Portland.
And, work is downstairs!
SouleMama: Tell us what you envision and dream for the future of your business.
Mary: As a single-mom business owner who, though having a science degree, had chosen to stay
home to raise children for about 10 years before suddenly finding myself needing to provide for
them, I would like to provide a happy, supportive, and empowering workplace for other moms
who may be in transition, or looking to re-enter the workplace after being a stay-at-home mom.
I strongly feel that need for school-schedule-friendly employers, and so I strive to become one
myself…Pleasant River Soap Co., LLC will be a cool “mom-world!”
SouleMama: Tell us about your customers.
Mary: My fastest growing group of loyal followers is the vegan community. I have received tons of
positive feedback lately as word is spreading that every one of my bars is vegan-friendly, which
I find tremendously exciting. So as not to confuse or mislead anyone, my Pure Nature Lips,
however, contains beeswax, which is not considered to be vegan-friendly by most vegans.
For today's giveaway, Pleasant River Soap is generously offering the following package to ONE winner:
~ Our four top-selling bars!
(one bar each of Maine Woods, Bay Rum, Lemongrass, and Lavender.)
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Thank you to Pleasant River Soap Co.!
To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Monday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday evening.
Comments closed! The winner is...
mmmmmmmmm! count me in!
Posted by: Martha Miller
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Today, I bring you a giveaway from SouleMama Sponsor The Little Travelers. In Angelina's own words:
"The Little Travelers produces children's DVDs that give a little insight to the life of a child in foreign countries. From birthday parties in Japan to going to a mosque with young sisters in Iran, we love to delve into other cultures and explore them from inside the neighborhood, rather than from a hotel."
You can follow along with the Little Travelers blog, too!
SouleMama: Tell us about your background. What path led you to the work you do today?
Angelina: Both of my parents are immigrants to this country, so perhaps wanderlust is in my blood. Since the time that I was in high school I worked during the year so I could travel in the summer. Back-packing through Europe at 16, 19 and 21, a summer job in Jamaica at 20- it was part of my lifestyle. Two weeks after graduating from college I was on a plane to Japan where I worked as an English teacher for three years and met the girls' dad. After returning to the States, I went to grad school and then had a few children, which had me state-side for a lifetime record of nearly a decade. I was itching to get traveling again but knew I wanted to wait until my youngest was three, at which point diapers, strollers and baby paraphernalia are a thing of the past and there is a bit more flexibility in nap schedules and such. So, when the girls were three and five, we headed to Japan for a three month stay in Kyoto. Just about a week before leaving I had the idea to document the trip for other kids and families, who would likely never visit Japan. Statistically speaking, most Americans will not visit Japan in their lifetimes. So, I quickly immersed myself into Apple Camp for adults, bought the necessary equipment and that was our beginning. My schooling is in Child Development and Psychology and I knew I wanted to focus more on the human interactions rather than the physical places in each country because that is where my own personal interests lie. Had I been a History major, the DVDs would be entirely different.
SouleMama: What inspires you?
Angelina: Well, the short answer is, everything. Right now the sun is rising outside my window turning the sky shades or orange to purple and I can hardly focus on writing this. I want to get out my camera (ok, cameras...the old poloroid, the holga...), my pastels, my paints (but which ones? water, oil, acrylic...), put on my walking shoes and go for a walk- all of it! If I watch a movie and it shows someone running, I feel inspired to start a new running program, etc, etc. Then there's politics, big food, health issues and don't get me started on schooling! I have Chronic Inspiration ADD (CIADD). With all the labeling going on these days, why not add another?
But in relation to the DVDs I produce, the human being is what fascinates and inspires me. Stories. I love people's stories and being challenged to think differently. Like when we were in Iran and I had just met a young mother of a toddler. Her English was minimal and when her husband invited the girls and I for dinner to their home she just quietly smiled. The minute we walked in the door of her home, she whipped off her hejab with one fell swoop and said, "F*cking hejab! I hate it!" Then she plopped herself down on the couch and her toddler pulled up her shirt and began nursing. There was not the slightest bit of discomfort on her side, nor an attempt to cover herself in any way. Moments like this send my head spinning. I finally managed to say, "So, is it common for Iranian women to nurse their babies a long time?" And she replied, "The government says we must until age two." Now, I'm a super natural, homebirthing, extended nursing mom who is a huge advocate for such behavior, but I am wildly passionate about freedom. But there is that ruler part of me that would just LOVE to have the power to make people do the right thing. And that's the power of a Theocracy. They want the strongest army and the smartest population so they mandate breast feeding until age two. When I get caught in these moments of mental challenge where for a few nights I cannot sleep because I can't figure out what I think about a certain subject that has suddenly presented itself to me and have to live with that ambiguity- well, that's when I feel completely inspired. Maybe because I have both Jewish and German blood in me, I feel most alive when chewing on internal conflict- who knows? But I absolutely love the feeling of having my belief system stretched, opened up and expanded.
SouleMama: Tell us about your customers.
Angelina: I love my customers. They are the best. Whenever I'm having a rough day, I pull out some old emails from customers who have poured their heart out to me. It's funny how a DVD on travel can bring up so much for many people. Some write just saying that they hadn't considered going to a certain country before with their own children and feel like a whole new world has opened up for them. Others are quite clear that they never intend to travel to a certain destination, but are so happy that their family now feels like the people in the DVDs are personal friends. I love the emails from women saying they found their husband finishing the DVD after the kids went to bed because he just couldn't turn it off. But the most meaningful to me are at times like the recent tsunami in Japan, or when the riots broke out in Iran, and I received letters of concern for the people in the DVDs. Customers felt like they had a connection to them and cared about their well-being. This means, the psychologist in me has done her job. My biggest, grandest hope for the DVDs is that they would change the world, of course. But even one family feeling changed by them is a win for me. For the next generation to grow up feeling connected to people on the other side of the world rather than separate from them is my greatest hope. The simple realization that humanity is a family greater than any national border could dictate. Our children already understand this- that our safety lies in our ability to care for each other, not blow blow each other up.
A note from Angelina: The DVDs are very child focused and are depictions of a child's perspective of each country. There are no political, social or other adult subjects addressed. Since my day job is that of a Waldorf-inspired preschool teacher, I am very sensitive to the protection of childhood and keeping the innocence of that period alive. I share my responses with you above as adults having a conversation. My experience is entirely different than my children, but the DVDs are about the children's experiences, not mine.
For today's giveaway, The Little Travelers is generously offering the following package to ONE winner:
~ One full set of The Little Travelers DVDs & One "The Traveler" Dress-up set!
(5 DVDs in total: Japan, Bali, British Isles, Iran & Germany)
In addition, The Little Travelers is donating 20% of all proceeds from the Japan DVDs to tsunami relief. Also, when you buy 4 DVDs, the 5th is free.
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Thank you to The Little Travelers!
To enter, please leave a comment in today's post (one entry per person, please). Comments will close on Sunday by 8am EST. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced here in this post by Monday evening.
Comments closed! The winner is...
Oh! We'd LOVE this one! Thank you!
Posted by: Carrie @Rhubarb Sky
{this moment} - A Friday 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.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
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~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the coming weeks, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
One of my most treasured possessions I have is a family cookbook my aunt and mom put together in 1980 of family recipes. It has recipes from great aunts, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, and now great-great grandmothers in it. I briefly blogged about this years ago, but never showed much from it. The recipe assortment is odd, much of it is not real appetizing, but it's an amazing history to have—how mothers in my family history have fed their families. The maiden names as well, so it's easy to trace even farther back, making it a valuable piece of family lore. I have scanned a few pages, my grandmother, mother, and great-grandmother appear on these pages along with other family members. many of these recipes are very old. I really want to make a book like this for my family. This one is typed, and was bound at a local copy shop back in 1980, It's not slick at all, making it all the more charming. I even have a recipe in here, and as a young girl, I was so proud to have "Amy's Lemon Bars" make the cut.
~ ~ ~ ~
I'm Amy Karol. I write books, draw, paint, cook, sew, parent and homeschool 3 young children, try to do yoga more often than not, and am constantly using my creativity to both express myself and not take life too seriously. I have had the pleasure to write some sewing books, Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew (Potter Craft 2007), which is currently in its fourth printing, and Bend the Rules with Fabric: Fun Sewing Projects with Stencils, Stamps, Dye, Photo Transfers, Silk Screening, and More (Potter Craft 2009). I am up to no good on an almost daily basis over at my craft weblog, Angry Chicken. You can see reviews of my books, read my interviews, and listen to podcasts on my press page. I live in Portland, Oregon with my husband, three daughters, and three cats and a lot of art supplies.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am thrilled to share with you the series of guest posts appearing here in the coming weeks, as I take a little extra time to settle in and soak up my family and the new life among us. "Soulful Mothering" is a series of written words, photographs, craft projects and thoughts on mothering from some of my favorite ladies on the web. I'm so grateful to each of them for sharing their time with me, and their hearts and words in this space. I have been inspired by the gifts they've shared, and I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I am so honored to be invited as a guest blogger here. Visiting this lovely, special place is the way I often start my day. Our three daughters are grown now, but I so enjoy the sentimental rewind as I read Amanda's heartfelt words and observe the Soule family becoming. For me, mothering is absolutely the most defining, delightful and important adventure of my life. That includes all the moments that inspired something handmade. Nothing like a baby for inspiration!
Greetings! I'm Amanda Blake Soule - mother of five, author of four books on family creativity, editor & owner of Taproot Magazine. I live with my family in an old farmhouse in Western Maine where we raise animals, grow vegetables and make lots of things. I write about it all here on the blog. Thank you for visiting!
