SouleMama

late August

Even though it's been consistently ninety degrees this week, there's still no doubt in the air that summer is coming to a close. Cooler nights (ever so slightly) and the garden show so many signs of where we are at in the cycle of the year. Not to mention our schedules and all the school and fall rhythm prep that's begun!

The garden is giving us so much right now, even as the wildness takes over some things and I decide to let them go (sorry potatoes, this just wasn't our year together). Lots of tomatoes are being slowly roasted and then frozen. The peaches are just about done (phew!). Beans, and cucumbers and oh so many greens. And the last of the many many sunflowers I planted are blooming bright and tall. I love those. 

We added another bed to the yurt last week - it's seen so much activity this summer and turned into an official bunkhouse and sleepover haven. I love sneaking out there for some peace and quiet. If I leave the door open, one of the (free-range, as they may be) goats will inevitably walk in. It's ridiculous but somehow charming. For a minute anyway. 

The weekend ahead is full of adventure and kick offs to the season we're entering! Class potlucks and the first cross country race of the year. And off we go, it seems! Running ahead, while remembering to pause as often as we can. These days are so full and good.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful weekend ahead!  

Chicken Club

Since moving to the farm, we've raised a batch of meat birds each year, landing ultimately with Freedom Rangers as our preferred breed, and about 75 as the perfect number for us for a year. (I wrote a bit about it in the past, once here). In the spring months, as Steve and I looked ahead at the busy days of summer and growing children, increased work loads, and all of that....we made the decision to cut ourselves some slack around the farm this summer. Nothing we give up can't be picked up again next year, we reminded ourselves. It's just that a slight pause in the long chores of every day and every morning were welcome this summer. I've been so glad for that decision each morning as the days have started out a little more calm, and with a little more time for each other. I know I'm going to miss all those pork chops in the freezer come January, but we have lots of farmer friends and we'll do some bulk buying, and it will make us appreciate it again even more when we raise pigs again. 

But the chickens! Thankfully, a friend suggested the idea of Chicken Club, whereby a group of families joined in to purchase a large amount of those freedom rangers, raised by one family, costs and expenses covered by the lot of us. And...last week was the culmination of chicken club, as we all gathered for harvesting day. And let me tell you, if only for that reason alone, it was a brilliant move and great plan, as all those helping hands made such quick work of the task. Gathering with families with the same vested interested in their food source, the same appreciation for the critters we raise for food, and all the meaningful conversation we had while doing the work of the day? Well, wow. I'm sure we'll raise our own birds again in the future - maybe even next year - but I'll certainly be inviting another family or two to join us when that time comes. Community is everything. 

Silk Oak {a soulemama sponsor}

Greetings from Silk Oak!

While new designs continue to emerge each season, it is the tried and true, beloved, vintage designs that keep customers coming back to get the same prints for their new babies that they remember loving when they were small. Truly my favorite part of Silk Oak!

The philosophy behind Silk Oak is a simple one- Have fun creating the best designs we can while growing a business that nurtures our families, strengthens our community and works everyday to show respect and care for the earth.

Silk Oak- Celebrating life since 1977!

Follow Silk Oak on Facebook (silk.oak.tees) and Instagram (#silkoak).

 
SouleMama: Since the last time you were featured on SouleMama, in what ways has your business grown or changed? Is there anything new you'd like to tell us about?

Jan: Summer and Fall are pretty full around the Silk Oak studio and Ithacamade store plus our booth at the Ithaca Farmers Market is hopping. It’s a treat to meet new customers who say, “I see your work on Soulemama!”. 

My most recent fun project has been trying to fill the gap in child and women’s clothing made in the U.S. It has become increasingly difficult to find garments to print on that are made in America. The past few weeks have found me commandeering the dining room table with 4 different types of sewing machines, spools of many colored threads and a mound of bright fabrics. It will be fun to see what takes shape over the next few months!

This weekend, Silk Oak is generously offering the following gift to ONE lucky SouleMama reader:

a $100 gift certificate!

In addition, Silk Oak is offering 15% off your purchase from 8/25-9/2 with coupon code SOULEMAMA.

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To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment below (one entry per person, please). Comments will close by 9 am EST on Monday. Winners will be chosen by Random Number Generator and announced in this post shortly after. Comments closed. The winner is...

We have loved Silk Oak for almost 20 years! Thank you for the chance!
Posted by: Laurie

reaching for the familiar

This little gap-toothed firecracker of a kiddo starts first grade next week. We've always approached homeschooling/unschooling/schooling in general on a year by year and child by child basis, starting (oh gosh) twelve years ago now. With a few family members who trail-blazed before us, we were drawn to unschooling while I was still pregnant with Calvin. That was -and has been - a beautiful experience for us, though change has always been constant. Some children and some years required more structure and curriculum. Others did not. Constantly re-evaluating and shifting gears when needed was the constant, I suppose, as well as always, always trying to create a world around them rich in experience and opportunity. It's been a path full of pride, love, doubt, and so much more. I don't see that changing.

Anyway, I could go on and on, and forgive me, but I likely will over the next few weeks as I continue to process all of this exciting an change (and celebrate what remains the same). But for now, I simply wanted to tell you that my littlest babe will be the first and the only of the lot of them to attend school from, well, almost the beginning. If you knew her - and you do ever so slightly from reading along here surely - you'd know just how perfectly suited she is to this situation. And you wouldn't be surprised to hear that she's been counting down the days until the first day. When the decision was finally made last winter, her immediate response was pure wide-eyed excitement - "I'm going to have SO MANY FRIENDS, and learn SO MANY THINGS!" That's my girl. And it's true, somehow before the year has begun, the entire class is full of her friends. I love this girl. The only extrovert in a Soule sea of Introverts. I can't wait to see her soar.

And so next week, she'll hop in the car with her older brother to start attending the same Waldorf School he is finishing up at this year. First and twelfth grade - my bookend babies. There is a tradition in the Waldorf schools of a Wildflower Ceremony on the first day, upon which seniors and first graders are paired and all sorts of beautiful things commence involving flowers and words of wisdom. I KNOW, right??? I think I started getting tearful about that in February. In fact, I'm trying to let those tears roll so that perhaps on the day of, I can control it enough to not bring embarrassment to my children. Though, credit to my seventeen year old, my tendency towards getting a little tearful at every event long stopped embarrassing him and now is just legend and a source of humor amongst he and his friends, who look back at me at school functions to see how long it is before I start. I'll take it. I deserve it. (And I am NOT the only one. Just saying.)

My coping mechanism for change is to reach for the familiar as a grounding rod. I'm sure it's no surprise to you that I've been up sewing each night. Not knitting, because that takes too long and at this point, I'm going for fast and wearable results. I have a slew of new patterns to try, and I'll probably get to those soon. But instead I've been reaching for my favorites. Really, when I look back, in my mind, at both Adelaide and Annabel as young girls (which Ani still is, thankfully), most often in the picture in my mind, they are wearing a Susanne dress. I've made so many of these over the years, and it only seems fitting that she start out a new school year with a fresh pile of them. This dress and a pair of leggings really is the ultimate in comfort for playing, which surely she'll be doing lots of in the coming year. 

She stumbled on me making this one yesterday, and talked me into letting her wear it now. She promptly wore it in the pasture to say hello to the sheep, then wore it while she collected eggs in the muddy chicken coop, and then back into the kitchen where she made herself scrambled eggs and added a little maple syrup to her yogurt. It is, as it should be, rather filthy now. And that, too, is just how I always picture this favorite dress. 

 

peachy

The weekend was...peachy? I'm sorry but it really, really was! Feeling the ticking clock of summer, we squeezed so much into our days! Lake swims, and gatherings with friends and OH SO MANY peaches processed. Just as I said last week, many to the freezer and lots to the canning shelves. To the list I already shared, I have to add Sunshine Jam, which we're all so excited about. 

That ticking clock of summer though, it's real! Are you feeling it too? The balance tips this year for the first time, as I'll have more kiddos IN school than homeschooled. Big changes, but timely ones too, that everyone is ready for. Well everyone except for Mama maybe, who got more than a little tearful as the beginning of school year packet arrived this weekend full of all the lists and dates and details for the year ahead (the tears bringing on light teasing and laughter from my crew). A first grader and a senior? How can it be, I wonder? But here we are. (I'll share more about home/school soon, just as soon as these softening peaches are all tucked away, and I catch my breath.)

I've called uncle on the peaches. I've called a few friends in to finish up the picking and preserving for themselves. Though...there's always room and time for one more tray in the freezer, yes? I think I can squeeze that in before breakfast....

blanching, on repeat

That's the sight in my kitchen these days, blanching round things on repeat! Our tomatoes are mediocre at best this year, sadly. Just too dry, I think. But thankfully there are farmers and friends nearby who are far better set up for hydrating their plants than I! A barter resulted in plenty of tomatoes for me to get the essentials made and put up for winter. Those essentials being - 

Our Carrot Tomato Soup of course
And Tammy's Garden Special has become a favorite too! 
So many of the tomatoes are landing in the freezer as Roasted Tomato Sauce as well
(A few more of our favorites from cookbooks can be found here in this post)

What we're lacking in tomatoes this year is being made up for by the peaches. Again! I can't even believe our good luck with these, only four years ago they were planted and these three trees provide enough for us and then some. We planted the 'reliance' variety, which I read did well in our zone, and that seems to be true! For peaches, my plans are - 

Lots and lots just sliced and frozen for smoothies and wintry treats
this Maple Vanilla Peach Jam was a hit
but most of all, the Peach Salsa in Naturally Sweet Food in Jars was such a huge hit with my kiddos that I don't think I could make enough

So while the blanching and slicing and canning might be a bit repetitive and certainly warm on these summery days, it's oh so worth it, and I'm glad to be doing the work of it. Cheers to a weekend of that ahead! 

Dress No. 1

I finished something! Slowly and surely, literally one seam at a time snuck in pockets of time, it took me nearly a week to finish this simple dress. It's the Dress No. 1 by Sonya Phillip, a true favorite of mine (I wrote more about it here a few years ago). I do wish I remembered where the linen came from to tell you, but it's escaping me this morning (I bet one of you will know!). The pockets and bias are Anna Maria Horner from Alewives. I love this dress for the simplicity in sewing it (despite how silly-long it took me this week), and for the ease in wearing. It's really the perfect, comfy, slip on everyday in summer kind of dress (and layered in winter). Usually I lengthen it, but I didn't this time and will just wear it over shorts or leggings. I'm wearing it now, ready to head out into the garden for the day, as the weather is cool and perfect for such a thing. 

I've got some more sewing on my mind, and hopefully on my table coming soon. For the littles, or not-so-littles, though. Ani - believe it or not - could really use a few new dresses for fall, and I'd love to make some pants for Harper. Does anyone have any great pattern suggestions for boys pants patterns? All of mine are on the small side, and well, at a somewhat-tall, almost-ten, they just aren't working for him anymore. Sigh. Growing up! But of course the flip side of that means more opportunity for sewing up some love for them. I'll take it. 

a union

My little sister got married this weekend! It was a perfect gathering as we celebrated Michelle and Patrick and their children coming together as one unit. A new brother-in-law! Another nephew! And so many new friends and connections as the family tree grows and stretches. I ended up doing a lot of the organizing - bossy older sister who's a Virgo and all that - and therefore have so few photos from the day, as most of these are from the rehearsal evening. It was gorgeous there by the shore, and oh so sweet, this union full of children! It was an epic cousin fest, to be sure. My Steve married them, having become a Justice of the Peace for the event, and he did a marvelous job, I have to say. We make a good team, I think...and I think Michelle and Patrick do too. What a joy it is to celebrate love. 

upta camp

We're just home from a blissful stretch of time in the woods, deep in DownEast Maine. It's my family's home away from home, where we go every year, where I've gone every year since I was a child too. It's a place that means such a great deal to me - to all of us now. Always a marker of time, this place and our presence there. To Adelaide this week, I recounted how I once spent a month there as a twelve year old, when there was no cabin but we simply tented for the stretch of time, seeing no one, and yet, I put on jewelry and makeup each morning because that's what mattered to my twelve year old self (she did no such silly thing as this, I should mention). And I told Calvin, for likely the millionth time about how one time, when we were still building the cabin that we sleep in today, he (one year old) and I spent a night in a tent by the lake while wild thunderstorms raged overhead, him sleeping soundly through the night while I was terrified, but breastfed him constantly to keep him asleep amidst the inch of rain that accumulated as the night wore one (though of course, with time, the story becomes that it was a hurricane, and six inches of rain). 

It's the place where my kids have learned how to swim. Of course there have been swimming lessons, and we live near the water so it's not infrequent for us to find ourselves near a body of water at the end of the day....but there is nothing like spending all day long at your lake, making gigantic strides in progress. This week, I watched Harper perfect his breaststroke (and stop splashing so much), and Ani ditch her floaties for underwater swimming. A whole summer of swimming, and then a week here, and voila! It's amazing to watch.

This year, like every other, the changes in our family were ever so present as we stepped foot into this timeless and constant place of ours that seems to serve as a mirror of what we've got going on. This week, we were down a child (Ezra is at summer camp), and up another young adult (Calvin's girlfriend joined us). Bittersweet, all of that. There was less campfire singing without Ez. And there was more telling of camp stories with Calvin and his sweetheart, a new era of camp life being shared, new stories made. And it was a funky week in other ways too - I started the week out with a sting and subsequent infection that landed me in Urgent Care for a quick dose of way more medication than I wanted to be on vacation with (prednisone, my sometimes savior but also curse, is such a bloating, yucky thing...I struggle to look at that photo above and be kind to myself, but I share it because I love those people so much). And the whole trip ended with car trouble (oh, teenagers) that meant we left a car deep in the woods in a state of repair, to be retrieved at some later date, and we all left camp a day early as a result. Oh! Life! Growing families! Change!

As a result, we find ourselves home a little earlier than expected. Disappointed, a little bit. But also full of a whole lot. Full of the goodness of our time together, of the connect we felt there when disconnected from everything else, and of the commitment and promise we make to one another to be certain, absolutely certain, that despite changing family times and growing up, we make the time - and then even more time - for the connections that matter most of all. The woods. The water. Each other. This is what matters most of all.

Issue 28 :: GRAIN!

 

Issue 28 :: GRAIN is home from the printer! It's in our hands and heading out to subscribers and our stockists all over. You may have heard the news that with this issue, we discontinued national distribution to large chain stores (you can read more about that decision here), so hopefully you've subscribed, or you can buy single issues directly from us and our small stockists (know a small shop that should carry Taproot? Tell them about us!). 

I'm excited about this issue, and think you will be too. There is some great crafty goodness in this one - a fabric book tutorial for little ones, a knit shawl inspired by a Maine tradition, a versatile and easy vest pattern from Meg McElwee, and a bookbinding tutorial by Kata Gold! That last one we're also selling as a kit (last photo) that includes everything you need to make one yourself. Of couse, HEAD and HEART are full of goodness too - stories about growing grains - from wheat to corn to brewing beer! And so much more. Wander over to the site to get a closer look inside the pages...

Thanks, always, for your support of this wild and crazy, independent and ad-free publishing adventure! 

everything blue

I got an indigo vat going this week, for all to enjoy. (I use this kit.) I knew we'd have a stretch of dry weather in which to play in the dye, leave things out to dry in the sun, and go back to it over and over again through the coming days. And that we did. I wondered if the magic of the indigo dye had worn out on my kids, having done it a few times before. But no, I got things moving first thing in the morning after breakfast and without any word, I had the youngest four at my side, each angling for a turn to take a dip! What fun! 

A while ago, I started buying these oversized cloth napkins for just this very purpose. I know it's silly (my kids think so), but I get a little weird about wanting the napkins on our dinner table to match. And despite my attempts to get everyone to use their napkin rings so I'm not washing more laundry than necessary, the reality is that I'm always washing more laundry than seems necessary and the napkin drawer can easily be full of mismatches. So I switched to these that we made a few years ago. Having these napkins on hand, and freshening the batch every year or so with some new indigo napkins makes my need for 'sorta matchy' practical and not terribly expensive or a hassle. And it makes for a lot of fun while making them of course. Blue hands and all!