tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54959646689691783482012-01-24T00:29:34.605-08:00nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.comBlogger1691100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-22750614321193341862012-01-16T12:53:00.000-08:002012-01-16T12:53:24.968-08:00

As we move into the new year, I am grateful for so much in my life.like rosy cheeks in the winter air, little helpers in the kitchen, bigger boys making dinner for the family, the same big boy tolerating his mama braiding his hair (for a few minutes), watching little ones become more independent, and all the snuggly indoor time spent playing, crafting, dreaming, and loving. Happy winter

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-69003788658511494252011-12-16T08:54:00.000-08:002011-12-16T08:54:46.096-08:00

This is the lego table in our house. Rainer and Alden spend most of their waking hours here. Lego is obviously where their passion is right now, and so our unschooling journey for the past two years has been increasingly dominated by all things lego. I'm amazed by the things they create every day. They love to follow the instructions and to also take what they learn as inspiration for their own

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-20427274014222789732011-10-26T13:17:00.000-07:002011-10-27T01:04:20.530-07:00

My heart has been heavy lately, and I can't even say why. It just feels like the suffering of the world is very close to the surface. That's the only way to describe it. But the slightest mention of injustice or tragedy just sets off the tears in this mama. I suppose my family must be wondering what's wrong with me. Maybe it is all the protests around the world finally bringing humanity's

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-23227838927101400342011-09-13T16:50:00.000-07:002011-09-13T16:50:14.429-07:00

We've gone through so much with you in two years, my lotus baby, and the journey has only begun. Two years ago so much was uncertain. Now you have become a part of our family... (in the courtroom at the adoption hearing) You've travelled so far in the first two years of your life, and come such a long way. And for your birthday we have so much to celebrate and be thankful for. Hopefully the

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-27141168776931613692011-09-08T18:46:00.000-07:002011-09-08T18:46:30.578-07:00

This week's theme was definitely water! After several days of rain, we had an exciting flood as the creek overflowed into our yard and driveway and water poured into the basement. Today Rainer and Alden also started their Earth Explorers class at the nature center. They are studying water. As a parent volunteer I got to participate as well in the activities demonstrating the different states

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-49020288435206259092011-09-01T05:33:00.000-07:002011-09-01T05:33:17.589-07:00

The boys have been listening to They Might Be Giants songs from their album, Here Comes Science. We love these guys. Rainer and Alden were inspired by their song, The Bloodmobile, to build a bloodmobile out of legos... The bloodmobile represents the bloodstream and the different color bricks are all the things carried by the bloodstream... blue is oxygengreen is nutrientswhite is white blood

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-11275736189645993432011-08-30T17:03:00.000-07:002011-08-30T17:03:41.307-07:00

We are so in love with our new favorite park. No better way to celebrate the first day of not going back to school than a lovely hike and picnic on a beautiful day!

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-7111371953269154092011-02-14T07:27:00.001-08:002011-02-14T07:27:58.108-08:00

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandsonabout a battle that was going on inside himself.He said, "My son, it is between two wolves....One is evil: Anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment,inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.The other is good: Joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness,benevolence, empathy, generosity,truth,

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-59713436157742764912011-01-21T06:13:00.000-08:002011-01-21T06:41:29.842-08:00

Yesterday Rainer and I woke up early and crept quietly downstairs to enjoy some early morning time before the rest of the family awoke. In that peaceful, pre-dawn time we both found a favorite activity to do in the living room. He worked at the Lego table while I picked up my knitting. A few minutes later a school bus drove by. Mama: Can you imagine having to get up this early and quickly eat

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-64957423251721407302011-01-09T13:23:00.000-08:002011-01-09T13:23:53.847-08:00

"Do what feels right for your family at this time. If it doesn’t feel right tomorrow, you can do something different, or do nothing at all tomorrow and start something new next week. Life isn’t scripted, and therefore learning shouldn’t be scripted either! Have fun and enjoy your child!" I read the above advise from another mama on an unschooling Internet group. It struck me how very simple it

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-80765009764072189422011-01-06T10:35:00.000-08:002011-01-06T10:35:27.198-08:00

More and more it seems to me that unschooling is about listening to kids and taking them seriously. This video really brings that home. I hope you all enjoy it. Adora's message is powerful and, I think, has the power to break us out of old patterns of thinking about children and how we interact with them.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-77010908606679270792010-12-31T09:37:00.000-08:002010-12-31T09:37:19.944-08:00

Eleven hundred and forty one pieces... One hundred and thirty four pages of instruction...  Two days of non-stop concentration (punctuated by short bursts of physical activity)... This mama no longer questions the value of legos and star wars.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-25908900248798980152010-12-28T08:32:00.000-08:002010-12-28T08:32:11.529-08:00

I like to look at my life as a journey. It is a journey of exploration and learning and growth. Every day I make choices about which way to travel next, and for many years now, my heart has been my compass guiding my journey. It takes me in the direction of love, and when I sometimes lose my way, my heart quickly puts me back on track. Now, I'm not saying the path of love is the easy path. Often

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-80881024873725688522010-12-21T09:07:00.000-08:002010-12-21T09:07:10.359-08:00

I recently had a conversation with a beautiful friend who is actively looking for ways to improve the public school system. She asked me to be a part of a group she was organizing to dialogue about some creative solutions. Although I could talk endlessly about my own criticisms of public education and how I feel our homeschooling environment provides our children with a much richer learning

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-40150233731185958522010-12-08T06:00:00.000-08:002010-12-08T06:28:05.191-08:00

I'm not... attempting to sew pajamas for the boys, taking the handmade pledge, planning Waldorfy craft projects, trying to be like Soulemama, I am... reminding myself to breathe, negotiating computer time with my eight-year-old, attempting to get one hat knitted for my four-year-old, giving myself lots of reiki (planning on getting the camera cleaned) cherishing the tender moments watching the

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-30742517998840658022010-11-05T12:11:00.000-07:002010-11-05T12:11:11.775-07:00

' Our hike in the woods, as seen through the lens of a seven-year-young photographer. Thank you, Rainer, for your beautiful perspective.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-21228150658481646102010-10-16T05:56:00.000-07:002010-10-16T05:56:04.933-07:00

This time of the year is always filled with the harvesting and preserving of nature's bounty. We've been drying the last of the season's herbs to fill the spice shelf and pantry for the winter. The boys love to help grind the dried herbs with our little hand grinder. It's a wonderful way for children to work with the plants, touch them, smell them, and notice their individual shades of green,

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-65618868271923504562010-09-26T09:41:00.000-07:002010-09-26T09:41:56.412-07:00

"Your beliefs act like filters on a camera, changing how you see the world. And your biology adapts to those beliefs. When we truly recognize that our beliefs are that powerful, we hold the key to freedom."                                              ~Bruce Lipton, The Biology of Belief I don't remember how the conversation started. It was just one of those rambling car conversations that

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-25431898848762576362010-09-22T08:33:00.000-07:002010-09-22T08:33:59.837-07:00

So grateful this week for the earth's delicious bounty, and for generous friends with apple trees. Not only are these apples local, but they are organically cared for. The boys had fun using the apple picker and munching the whole time. Today we are drying apple rings and making apple leather (and hopefully an apple pie this afternoon). Good stuff for the good life.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-81781582941667590932010-09-15T06:28:00.000-07:002010-09-15T06:28:51.704-07:00

It's hard to believe our little lotus baby is a year old now. What a crazy year it's been. I feel as though our family is coming out of a long, dark tunnel  and into the light once again. This little guy has had a lot of help on his way to learning how to become comfortable with himself, and I'm grateful for all of it. Most recently we've been fortunate to work with an amazing homeopath to help

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-37699905093767968012010-09-09T08:40:00.000-07:002010-09-09T09:04:18.429-07:00

"If you try to teach your children all the fact and answersyou think they need to know,they will end up knowing nothing.If instead you help them look deep within themselves,you will have led them to the source,from where all answers flow." ~William Martin, The Parent's Tao Te Ching In these early days of the new school year I often have a heightened sense of exactly how different our lifestyles

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-22505950072898612532010-08-09T05:28:00.000-07:002010-08-09T05:28:15.067-07:00

"Don't avoid extremes, and don't choose any one extreme. Remain available to both polarities--that is the art, the secret of balancing. Yes, sometimes be utterly happy, and sometimes be utterly sad--both have their own beauties....Life has to be lived in all its dimensions, only then is life rich."                       ~Osho My practice lately has been to accept and even embrace unpleasant

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-18078505938721990812010-08-01T05:28:00.000-07:002010-08-01T05:28:03.491-07:00

I have recently crawled into a cave of sorts, cocooning myself from the world of public blogging. I thought at the time that it just didn't feel right. I felt increasingly uneasy about putting my family out there for the world to see, but I also found it more and more difficult to come up with topics to post about. My intention for starting this blog has always been a celebration of sorts. A

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-78441224204015720232010-06-16T16:24:00.000-07:002010-06-16T16:47:37.787-07:00

The two sides of my son... You are sweet as the dew drops, with kisses and sweetness and light... until that primal boy comes forth, and you glory in mud, running, laughing, yelling in unbridled joy of life. You challenge your mama's comfort zone, and remind me...to let go.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-40007547975296819422010-06-16T09:15:00.000-07:002010-06-16T09:15:47.171-07:00

Gathering elder flowers over at Nettlejuice.  

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-11529507685215452432010-05-25T05:33:00.000-07:002010-05-25T05:33:15.977-07:00

Lately I've been a bit absent from the blogging world. To be honest I just haven't had the energy to put into it. The past six months have been quite stressful for our family and have left this mama feeling somewhat depleted. Also, it being garden season and all, any extra energy I have had has gone into the garden. As happens all too often with mamas, a lot of self care has gone out the window,

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-78304549247707895172010-05-08T16:40:00.000-07:002010-05-08T16:40:51.569-07:00

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-79429678091032575872010-04-24T08:36:00.000-07:002010-04-24T08:38:04.217-07:00

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-80259486258360840362010-04-18T14:20:00.000-07:002010-04-18T15:29:14.370-07:00

our asparagus patch, only one year old...diapers, like so many prayer flags, drying in the sun...new (that is, recycled) siding appearing behind the lilac...nettles rising is earnest along the creek...peas emerging...almond tree in full bloom...archangel below the apple trees...So much magic to love in the garden these days.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-40624610039091659562010-04-05T16:40:00.000-07:002010-04-05T17:16:59.846-07:00

I try every holiday to do at least one handmade item for the boys. This year I used some Easter print fabric I had picked up a thrift store last summer to make shoulder bags. I figured I could stuff them with some goodies for the morning, then they could use them for their annual egg hunt at the aunts' house. I also made them reversible so they could use them after the holiday as well. I'm just

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-34232890587255685372010-03-29T15:32:00.000-07:002010-03-30T04:57:33.498-07:00

Alden,It's now been four years since you traveled earthside to meet us. Four trips around the sun with you, though it seems as though you've always been here. Your day was so much fun, but a child's birthday is always experienced a little different from a mama's point of view. For me your day was experienced on an inner, quieter level. Filled with awe for my growing boy. You've traveled so far

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-58856592137064288142010-03-27T10:46:00.000-07:002010-03-27T11:17:19.663-07:00

It only took me a month longer than I planned, but I finally finished Elizabeth Zimmerman's baby sweater for our lotus baby.The pattern is from her Knitter's Almanac. And the directions are very pithy indeed. I knitted it up in a slightly larger gauge hoping it would fit the baby for more than two weeks after I finished it. The result is that it is a bit big on him, but not too big to wear now,

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-22708114438557159502010-03-06T11:34:00.000-08:002010-03-06T11:37:05.707-08:00

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-48760978243441916962010-03-05T09:20:00.000-08:002010-03-05T09:34:44.014-08:00

Witch hazel in bloom...Nettles emerging...boys outside...garden tunnel open...fresh spinach and chickweed...March, we have arrived.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-12291261085968100022010-02-27T06:05:00.000-08:002010-02-27T06:28:24.975-08:00

"Ours is a call to self-discovery, an exploration into life and all its possibilities--sacred, creative, unpredictable, and sometimes even paradoxical adventure.It is time to listen to the call, in ourselves, in each other, in our children---to connect with others who have heard their own voice echoing back through the cacophony of congested thoroughfares, drive-through windows and schedules too

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-47065156054537631022010-02-24T12:38:00.000-08:002010-02-24T13:33:24.251-08:00

Hopie, Mopie, and their child at the weddingThis morning Ed and I awoke to a most unexpected announcement...Mopie and Hopie were getting married! Mopie and Hopie, of course, are the dolls I made for the boys about eight months back. They were my first attempt at doll making, and it showed, but the boys have always adored them. In fact, alden claimed Mopie and ran off with him as soon as his body

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-15626313530533814792010-02-20T08:27:00.000-08:002010-02-20T08:48:39.705-08:00

Lately it's been Ed taking the boys out for winter play. All the hills behind our house are excellent for sledding.Alden has also created a winter garden, "planting" dried plant stalks in the snow complete with seed head flowers.Yesterday the boys even got me to go down on the toboggan. Once was enough for mama though. I'm just not as adventurous at 35 as I was at 10.Inside, I've been getting

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-75240467038822128162010-02-17T09:35:00.000-08:002010-02-17T16:10:43.182-08:00

It's not the prettiest piece of furniture in the world, but, like most of our home improvements, it was free and works very nicely to fit our needs. Now everyone has there own drawer for winter accessories. This is a big improvement over last year's big basket where every one's stuff was thrown together. Rummaging to find a mitten's mate or one particular hat that someone just had to have was

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-41651307611656795092010-02-13T06:32:00.000-08:002010-02-13T06:51:22.747-08:00

There's so much snow now that our brief excursions outside for a bit of fresh air and sunshine are largely confined to the paths Ed has shoveled around the house. Everything else is about three feet deep. The paths connect the back door, front door, wood pile, and driveway. Nevertheless, Alden and I had great fun playing in this confined space yesterday (I couldn't get Rainer away from his Harry

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-48249316868362969492010-02-09T12:08:00.000-08:002010-02-13T06:32:19.278-08:00

It doesn't get mush cuter than baby toes.Keeping those little legs and toes warm during the cold winter is important, but doing elimination communication with the babe can make for a lot of working snaps and fiddling with pants. I had a great pair of cotton baby legs for Alden when he was a baby, but have long since given them away. Last week I was lamenting the loss of those legs when I suddenly

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-56695488903757216202010-02-05T06:05:00.000-08:002010-02-05T06:41:11.469-08:00

I'm still here, though I haven't found much time to post lately.Mostly I've been trying to find the balance in my days. I've been searching for the stillness hidden among life with three young children. The quiet moments are few and far between, but when they come I usually find myself searching for meaning. What does it mean to be the mother of three children instead of two? What does it mean

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-86181428536620138082009-12-29T10:52:00.000-08:002009-12-29T12:40:17.040-08:00

Having nursed both my older boys until they self-weaned, and being passionate about breastfeeding, I think bottle feeding this little one was one of the hardest things to get used to. Not one drop of infant formula touched the lips of my natural born babes, and here I was, feeding it every two hours to this baby. At first I tried to get my own milk production going again. I bought a nursing

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-77634010345414361612009-12-28T08:48:00.000-08:002009-12-28T09:08:14.438-08:00

Much of last week around here looked like this...The boys were so excited to get to use the toboggan for several days in a row. I don't think they got to use it at all last winter with the little snowfall we had.The snow has melted now though, and yesterday was so nice and sunny we all got out for a ramble in the fields...Rainer found some chickweed to munch on, so lovely in the winter when most

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-60104203694369055212009-12-18T11:41:00.000-08:002009-12-18T14:57:51.325-08:00

Birthday bunting up...birthday people around the cake (blueberry, by request)...My first born is seven!Mama finished Erol just in time...and also a recycled sweater hat with a lovely pterodactyl on the front...happy birthday my son!May you spread your own wings in time.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-83616006605997488562009-12-06T16:28:00.000-08:002009-12-06T16:37:25.598-08:00

No photo today. Just a note to say that our lotus baby just had the best day since he has entered our lives!This morning the babe and I traveled to a friend's house to have our energies balanced with flower essences. Well, let me just say that every single cry from the little one was a communication about being hungry, tired or needing to eliminate, and once those needs were met he was content

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-15614105288436316282009-12-03T13:07:00.000-08:002009-12-03T13:21:38.675-08:00

Sweet sleeping babyI'm so glad you are resting moreThe more relaxed you areThe more relaxed we all areAs above, so belowAs I see the tension leave your tiny bodyI feel it leave our house as wellThere is ease after this trialThere are joyous together days to comeThis journey is worth itAnd we all grow

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-32215894228719813712009-11-26T02:23:00.000-08:002009-11-26T16:56:44.524-08:00

I try to make counting my blessings a regular practice for me, but this year there is so much to be thankful for, I feel I must continually offer my gratitude for all the the gifts continually coming to us. Taking in the little lotus baby has been a difficult adjustment for our family, but the whole experience has also been so magical. We have all grown in many ways. So today, as we prepare for

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-42480114087311064872009-11-19T07:51:00.000-08:002009-11-19T08:49:28.374-08:00

Had I known a new babe was heading our way, this mama would have gotten busy with the knitting needles months ahead of time. Baby knits are so easy and fast and adorable on the little ones. However, since this babe took us by surprise the baby hand knits are sparse. Sparse, but not absent...I did get around to knitting up these cable socks for him just before he was born, not knowing I would be

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-2415520166899970282009-11-18T09:03:00.000-08:002009-11-18T09:11:57.505-08:00

Yesterday we were given legal custody of our little lotus baby. Now we are all feeling a bit more relieved that we can leave behind the business of DHS and court dates and such, and focus instead on our family life and meeting every one's needs.Now that the distracting stuff is behind us, we have a lot of work to do to help this little one heal and find his balance. Already we are seeing a change

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-76325849498449684072009-11-13T10:51:00.000-08:002009-11-15T05:05:50.151-08:00

Babies who are born drug addicted may have a number of problems including low birth weight, disturbed sleep patterns, hyperactivity, low frustration tolerance, easily startled, easily woken, irritable, rapid heartbeat, excessive sudden movements, urinary tract defects, impaired motor skills, delayed social skills and behavior problems.We are slowly learning what to expect from our little lotus

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-29605205673797599962009-11-09T05:40:00.000-08:002009-11-09T06:06:08.963-08:00

I feel I can finally say that life is beginning to normalize somewhat since this little lotus baby entered our hearts. It has not been an easy adjustment, but not without it's gifts either. Our little guy has been through a lot in his short little life, and we are trying to provide him a loving, stable environment to continue his earth journey. For the past two days he has finally begun to relax

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-22521206373607631932009-11-02T12:19:00.000-08:002009-11-03T10:39:33.437-08:00

Having a babe in the house again really brings to the forefront an appreciation for the little things and the little moments in our days. My practice is to acknowledge and offer gratitude for these moments. They are the pauses, the spaces, that serve as little gifts for my spirit.Like a brief moment to take in the crisp fall air and ground myself in the beauty of my earthspace.Like checking in on

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-30458548419251611822009-10-29T08:41:00.000-07:002009-10-30T04:16:16.831-07:00

It's not been a typical week around here, to say the least. To make a long story short, our family was give one day's notice that if we could not take in my sister's two month old baby he would go into the foster care system. I won't go into the details of the circumstances leading up to this situation out of respect for the privacy of people involved, but boy oh boy (and he is a boy, by the way)

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-41751343065483556262009-10-22T04:04:00.000-07:002009-10-22T04:12:48.424-07:00

It will be another handmade holiday around here this season. And I'm planning to start my holiday crafting much earlier this year as to avoid the stress of trying to knit at lightning speed come mid December. The Crunchy Chicken is hosting a handmade holiday challenge to give us all support in this process. Not only is handmade more personal, meaningful, and full of love, it's less expensive,

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-2699453656652894022009-10-17T06:42:00.000-07:002009-10-17T07:14:28.114-07:00

After much attention was given this morning to the logistics of building a train track and a firehouse to park 5 firetrucks, I was finally able to gain the boys' help is following through on this giveaway. We put everyone's name into the fuzzy bowl and Rainer drew out....Claire..."I'm relatively new to making my own remedies. But have found lots of inspiration from your blog. Probably elderberry

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-6051481934005844892009-10-14T06:41:00.000-07:002009-10-14T07:50:36.185-07:00

The clear bulk bottles of the many elixirs I've made this season look so pretty standing next to one another, with their varied hues. The monarda is a cherry red color, the choke cherry a golden amber, and the motherwort a deep, dark reddish brown. I owe Kiva Rose the inspiration for all this elixir making, and her wonderful blog, which is overflowing with so much herbal wisdom. Elixirs are

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-44671782574618357982009-10-14T06:13:00.000-07:002009-10-18T04:09:10.451-07:00

Well not really. But we could have had a frost last night, and so we spent nearly all day scrambling around our earthspace getting ready. Life in our little frost pocket valley makes plant protection a high priority as we work to extend our harvesting season a little every year. Above, our fall beds are nice and tucked in as the sun began to set and felt confident with our efforts.I picked the

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-35947928153924813052009-10-12T05:28:00.000-07:002009-10-12T05:42:15.337-07:00

Outdoor play in Autumn requires a few more layers, but strangely the desire to throw themselves into ice cold water is still just too strong to control. We are loving these cool fall days that invite movement to get the blood flowing like the wind blowing through our hair.And can I just add how that last photo just melts my mama heart.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-73778584668428443912009-10-10T06:30:00.000-07:002009-10-10T07:06:52.931-07:00

We had a blast at the Fermentation Festival yesterday. We gave out lots of samples of sweet herbal honeys and free drawings by Rainer. The boys toured the market with their Aunt Sandy when they weren't picnicking at our table.It was wonderful to talk to everyone and to meet some of my blog readers (thanks so much for coming out). The elder medicines provoked several people to reminisce about the

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-73797802266539643542009-10-08T17:42:00.000-07:002009-10-08T18:03:33.943-07:00

Not that I need yet another reason to value this incredible plant, and after all I do rely on it for prevention and treatment of the flu, still, here it is...elderberry flavinoids prevent H1N1 from infecting host cells. (Go here to see the report.)Now I'm smiling extra big as I finally bottle my finished elixir, prepared six weeks ago from our fresh berries. The elixir is so thick, syrupy and

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-7805916550264803642009-10-04T05:04:00.000-07:002009-10-04T05:33:44.543-07:00

Ed finished work on our new pantry just in time for bringing in the harvest and storing the preserves. Living in a very old stone and log tenant house with NO storage space, the coming of a pantry is such a blessing. We built it on the north side of the house with one little window to let cool air in. Hopefully we will be able to keep the temp around 40 Fahrenheit through the winter. We'll see...

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-30667215063642045282009-10-02T07:35:00.000-07:002009-10-02T13:01:31.278-07:00

I'm gathering some of this years homemade herbal medicines to display and share at the fermentation festival at the Kennett Square farmer's market next Friday...There will be lots of locals sharing their homespun talent.Come on out if you will be in town.Although my medicines aren't technically fermented, the infused honeys come pretty close. I'll have some samples to taste and smell as well as

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-31554730016158926532009-09-28T08:04:00.000-07:002009-09-28T08:33:50.971-07:00

Ash leaves crunching under our feet...Fall garden coming in...Summer garden still offering bounty...Goldenrod in bloom...Winter berry in fruit...Sunchokes ablaze...Poke berries.Autumn turns the garden.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-80397097700919776682009-09-23T09:14:00.000-07:002009-09-23T09:23:17.624-07:00

Ed and I often wonder if we are the only people left in the country without cell phones. I know there are a few others out there, but they are few and far between. The environmental impact alone is enough to avoid cell phones, but I do think there are also serious health issues involved as well. If you do have a cell phone, please read the following and make it a point to become more conscious of

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-7314924680325513162009-09-17T11:39:00.000-07:002009-09-17T11:58:47.381-07:00

They're done...The pattern is from Oliver+S, the same one I used for Rainer's pants last spring. I made these pajama pants out of a cute flannel sheet, using the bottom edge for the the leg bottoms, saving me a little finishing work. But I also made the pants a little big for Alden (on purpose), and so had to hem the legs up anyway. I'm hoping I can make them last at least two years by bringing

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-73884581666341753242009-09-12T16:18:00.000-07:002009-09-13T08:09:10.249-07:00

The cooler weather has ushered in a new season of indoor crafting for us lately.Including preparing some very special homemade gifts for a very special and loved person (happy belated birthday Aunt Sandi)...And a new checkbook cover to replace the awful vinyl thing the bank gives out...Which led to inspiration to make a matching travel address book...complete with construction paper pages.Then

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-15173187877722565152009-09-11T05:08:00.000-07:002009-09-11T08:14:56.370-07:00

For many years since I first began getting to know the wild plants I would go out in search of them, often to the wild place of forest and field, but sometimes among tame spaces in vacant city lots or roadsides. Usually after seeking out and becomming familiar with the plants I would come to realize that they were growing very close to me all along and I just did not see them. Now they would pop

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-75287727538749312852009-09-08T11:08:00.000-07:002009-09-08T11:26:06.213-07:00

We released our second black swallowtail today. It rested for a long while on the geranium flowers, letting us marvel at it's newly emerged beauty. I noticed for the first time that the blue on the wings was actually a mass of tine dots.And there is much more orange on the undersides of the wings. The proboscis, the delicate antennae, it's legs so long and thin, it's fuzzy black body with white

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-90289861765623159412009-09-03T16:54:00.000-07:002009-09-03T17:18:19.166-07:00

For my final round of elderberry medicine I draw inspiration from Kiva Rose and her intriguing instructions for sweet herbal elixers. Elixers combine the alcohol preserving properties of tinctures with the sweet taste of syrups. They are not heated, like syrups, and so more of the plant's medicinal properties are preserved.For my elderberry elixer, I combined fresh and dried berries in a pint

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-27118857362973420632009-09-01T07:29:00.000-07:002009-09-01T08:17:39.242-07:00

Of all the nourishing and healing plants I grow and harvest in my earth space, I am most grateful for the two elder bushes, one wild and one planted. This is the first year I had a harvest large enough for medicine making, and I have been anticipating preserving these precious berries for our winter stores as we move closer to the flu season.Back in mid-summer I harvested elder flowers to dry.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-1873611650828649192009-08-28T15:58:00.000-07:002009-08-28T16:13:46.757-07:00

Two museums today...Phew!

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-53784676266759545882009-08-26T13:35:00.000-07:002009-08-26T13:54:19.497-07:00

The Natural History Museum was a little crowded for our taste this week, but we always enjoy our visits. Rainer and I took turns with the camera....As usual, most of our time was spent in the hall of dinosaurs, but the boys also enjoyed the deep sea exhibit as well, especially the submarine controls.Of course, there must be climbing on the statues before heading home...Let the field trip season

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-91253923991592687712009-08-22T08:21:00.000-07:002009-08-22T08:35:14.678-07:00

We recently released our first Polyphemus moth (you can see the caterpillar and cacoon here). This big, beautiful moth was clinging to the side of it's enclosure when we came down in the morning. It does not eat. The adult moths have no mouth parts. They will live for about 5 days, mating and laying eggs, and then they will die.We waited until dusk to release this gorgeous thing into the maple

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-49142124898637344702009-08-20T12:06:00.000-07:002009-08-20T19:29:38.083-07:00

"Also, you may find that your local home-school group is populated mostly by "unschoolers." Classical education is not easily compatible with "unschooling," which is immensely popular among many home schoolers. "Unschooling" is child-centered. It assumes that the child will learn all that she needs to know by following her natural impulses and that any learning that is "imposed" on the child by

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-73117519570838727822009-08-17T16:57:00.000-07:002009-08-17T17:07:30.087-07:00

Rainer has become aware of "math problems" lately and asked me to get him a workbook. He loves doing puzzles, and for him math is another way to do puzzles. Awesome. Out came the abacus I had bought years ago thinking we would make use of it at some point. It is so cool to watch a child's gradual grasp of abstract concepts. Learning is a joy around here. My job is to encourage the passion for

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-73946151803100710682009-08-16T03:54:00.000-07:002009-08-16T04:21:33.872-07:00

This time of year we are soooo busy around here, and it's ironic that just when I have so much material to blog about I find myself without much time for the computer. Here's a quick list of some of the joyful activities punctuating our days...Face painting,Belly painting,Watching bats,Learning about pyramids,Making a new awesome curtain for the bathroom window (fabric gifted from a friend who

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-64024843802970475702009-08-10T19:10:00.000-07:002009-08-10T19:25:09.921-07:00

Watching heavy equiptment do their thing...spying newly emerged cicadas...enjoying the bounty from our garden...and the bounty from our fruit csa...and, of course, creekin'.Happy August!

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-15263979415544575642009-08-07T17:19:00.000-07:002009-08-07T17:39:38.436-07:00

Catalpa sphinx moth caterpillar was the focus of today's butterfly workshop.These animals spend their whole life cycle with the catalpa tree and it was easy for us to find many many caterpillars of various sizes and shades on these giant trees around the nature center. Some were carrying the parasitic larva of wasps on their back.We picked a bunch of the giant catalpa leaves to feed the two

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-14394519022306361632009-08-07T04:17:00.000-07:002009-08-07T09:03:41.681-07:00

Day two of our butterfly workshop was all about the life cycle of Polyphemus moths. The caterpillars eat oak leaves and these were munching away happily.What beautiful creatures these are! We all got to hold them before placing them back in their leaf litter...Where other caterpillars had already formed their cocoons.Rainer took notes as the program progressed, illustrating the cocoon,

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-6065661644414430322009-08-05T15:36:00.000-07:002009-08-07T04:44:26.700-07:00

Today was day one of a three day caterpillar/butterfly workshop the boys and I are attending at a local nature preserve. We were so excited to find out that today's focus was on monarchs, since we planted our own milkweed patch this year and have been watching the monarch caterpillars munching the leaves and growing bigger. We learned how to safely handle the caterpillars and butterflies and

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-2546664484708764872009-08-03T04:33:00.000-07:002009-08-03T04:53:28.993-07:00

We had quite a storm yesterday, and this is what happens when 2 inches of rain falls in the space of half an hour in our little valley...That's the road up there. You can see where the fence for the bridge over the creek is. Our yard is on this side of that small tree line.Usually the creek is behind our shed. We were wondering if we would lose it, but it's still standing.A few of the boys

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-45509614197936271522009-07-29T16:31:00.000-07:002009-07-29T17:27:07.296-07:00

Such is the boy's dislike of having his hair combed that he finally asked me to cut it short. Half of this mama's heart mourns the beautiful locks that lay strewn on the bricks at my feet (I love to see boys with long hair) and the other half rejoices that I can now see his beautiful face. It's been a whole year since his last haircut, and I imagine it will be another year before he asks me to

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-31232623058383515152009-07-25T03:32:00.000-07:002009-07-25T04:01:51.284-07:00

Every time Rainer asked me a question yesterday I would say, "are you trying to learn something? You're not suppose to do that today."He became very annoyed at me by the end of the day and in exasperated tones stated for the hundredth time that he could not stop learning. I loved the practice of trying not to learn. So much of the time the focus with children, and especially with homeschooled

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-22513371803402722852009-07-24T04:41:00.000-07:002009-07-24T04:58:12.541-07:00

I was just reminded by Michelle over at Natural Attachment that today is Learn Nothing Day. We've never actually tried to get through a whole day without learning something, but this should be an interesting experience. I'll try to post later about how much non-learning we do today, though I'm afraid some learning has already happened even at this early hour. Alden and papa just finished reading

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-48115895954913260362009-07-22T04:30:00.000-07:002009-07-22T04:55:26.332-07:00

Well, I had so much fun with our homeschool group's weed walk, I decided to offer a workshop open to anyone. If you live nearby and want to get to know the weeds a little better, come on over for a morning of plant identification and taste testing.We'll be looking at very common weeds that most people are likely to have growing in their yards or that can be found easily wherever the land has been

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-69577542197262772072009-07-20T03:52:00.000-07:002009-07-20T04:44:45.598-07:00

Climbing mountains of hay...Examining farm equipment...Gathering wild berries...And eating them too...Swimming...Dress-up, Cirque de Soleil style.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-78960462151149409192009-07-17T04:41:00.000-07:002009-07-17T05:27:48.847-07:00

About three years ago I decided I wanted a swath of monardas at the edge of the garden. I bought 3 pots and divided them along the row. It didn't take them long to fill out the aisle and now they're even pushing out the susans.I originally wanted the monarda to attract the butterflies, humming birds and insects, but the more I learn about this amazing native from the mint family the more grateful

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-56618441475416086082009-07-16T03:16:00.000-07:002009-07-16T03:30:11.729-07:00

Earth who gives to us this foodSun who makes it ripe and goodDear Earth, dear Sun by you we liveOur loving thanks to you we giveWe are loving the daily harvest from the garden right now. How simply extraordinary to witness the miracle of growing and harvesting our own food (isn't Mother Earth just grand?). The boys especially like the lemon cucumbers, though Rainer does not especially like to

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-78226537439773727622009-07-13T18:17:00.000-07:002009-07-13T18:51:37.846-07:00

I'm just loving the bloom of summer right now, especially the chicory flowers. They seem to almost glow their soft blue/purple vividness. The plants are stunning all morning and then close up for the rest of the day.Today a neighbor was visiting the garden and pointed to my great big plantain plants (obviously welcome in the garden bed) and asked, "what do you use the pig ears for?" Common plant

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-55318613686883237572009-07-12T19:02:00.000-07:002009-07-12T19:20:07.163-07:00

Fairy houses and blueberries have been our theme for the last couple days.This one survived last night's thunderstorm nicely.Maybe the fairies will be appreciative enough of their new dwelling to ask the birds to kindly stop eating all our blueberries before they are even ripe. If not, we may have to take measures, like this...These are bushes at my garden guru's house. His fine mesh netting does

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-73155690350002233322009-07-11T12:07:00.000-07:002009-07-11T13:12:55.135-07:00

Yesterday seven families from our local homeschool group gathered in our garden for a walk in the weeds.How wonderful to share the virtues of the wild plants with other mamas interested in the good food and medicine Nature has to offer. Even more exciting was the amount of interest some of the young people had in learning about the weeds. They were eager to taste the wild plants and some brave

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-25704308117947257722009-07-07T05:04:00.000-07:002009-07-07T05:14:52.930-07:00

On days like this, I find myself wondering, "who needs TV?"It doesn't get more entertaining than this...What can I say?They're boys.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-5771398620190700962009-07-06T06:15:00.000-07:002009-07-06T06:51:33.681-07:00

Getting greens into the boys is a daily challenge around here. We know that leafy greens are the most nutrient dense foods and so important in our diet, especially for growing bodies. But we try to avoid being food police and so are always looking for ways of making important foods appealing to our children. Now my boys will often pick the fresh greens from the garden and wilds to munch on, but

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-20925665077414718532009-06-28T13:08:00.000-07:002009-06-28T15:22:22.038-07:00

It's puttin' up medicine time around here. Time to gather, dry, tincture, or infuse for the winter stores. I feel so grateful to be able to wildcraft fresh and vibrant St. John's wort. It grows so freely in the hedgerows around here. We gathered this batch while on a family stroll to pick wild black raspberries (none of which made it back home). Ah, the abundant gifts of summer.Rainer is getting

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-75868777197727775962009-06-25T13:13:00.000-07:002009-06-25T14:18:55.508-07:00

The annual garden is so bountiful this time of year, and really a pleasure to stroll through. My garden has always been an experimental garden. I try new things every year. Some work beautifully, and others teach me valuable lessons. The polyculture bed is beautiful, but I don't think I'll broadcast the lettuce seeds with the others next year--we have way too much lettuce. And I am finally

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-73946194331856817542009-06-21T03:46:00.000-07:002009-06-21T03:50:35.158-07:00

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-57227032231538801092009-06-20T18:30:00.000-07:002009-06-20T18:58:53.217-07:00

Our big event for today was heading over to the library for a belly dancing demonstration by local students. The boys didn't want to participate, but it was great fun to watch. We especially liked the jingly costumes. (and did you know that belly dancing was done by young women to prepare their bodies for childbirth? very interesting)Anyway, we came home to enjoy a day of torrential downpours and

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-15906775897444464542009-06-19T06:00:00.000-07:002009-06-19T18:00:13.955-07:00

Seeing my boys wearing the clothes I make for them is just as satisfying as I thought it would be. Last night, after the boys came in from playing in the rain and mud and played in the bathtub for a while we made popcorn and sat down to watch a movie together. As the boys munched and giggled at the movie, I gazed in motherly adoration at my precious babes sitting together on the floor. They were

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-47030560206154938172009-06-16T04:54:00.000-07:002009-06-16T05:40:26.047-07:00

These summer days are so full. Early mornings and late nights. We move closer to solstice and the energy builds. The energy of life flows through our days like one long celebration.Happy summer days.

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5495964668969178348.post-86147329004619760122009-06-13T16:29:00.000-07:002009-06-13T17:54:11.376-07:00

Yesterday Rainer came running in from the yard with a half eaten cucumber in his hand saying, "mama, it feels like my tooth is leaning." I had been waiting for this ever since his sixth birthday last December, wondering when my first baby would begin shedding those milk teeth and move into the transformation out of early childhood.I gave him a big smile and said, "really? let me see." Oh yes, one

nettlejuicehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09912676361292781552noreply@blogger.com7