Mama's craftiness...

...or what I have been doing instead of cleaning my house. I've been thinking about the history of women making things, being domestic, in a whole new light now. My mom made baskets and sewed all sort of things, my grandmother quilted with her church friends, and I now find myself pulled to create things, unweave the stresses of the day, the imperfections in my mothering and partnering by creating something of beauty. It also feels good to use recycled goods--vintage fabric from my favorite senior center stash, felted old sweaters, old random buttons from my Grammy's old sewing tin. I'm always up for an afternoon or evening of communal crafting--anyone game?

The best toys are not toys, or beans, paper & duct tape

We're getting pretty creative as the winter holds on a bit longer and limits our outdoor time. We've made a sea with treasure island, pirates and sea creatures, a bean "treasure hunt" (thanks Cary!), and a duct tape race track on the rug. Other ideas not pictured: finding "treasures" in mama's sewing box, making fairy houses of flotsom and jetsum outside, playing in the sea (bathtub with a bit o' food coloring) and making planes out of pillows. Ah, imagination.

My Loves

Happy Valentines Day!

Musings on three

I have found the age three to be quite challenging, so I was really thrilled to have found in the past couple of days that my little gentle soul really was there, underneath some rather strong emotions. It seems, as all the books and Grammy wisdom say, that around each developmental leap there is an unsettling of everyone in the house. Wilson seems to be making a big leap--literally growing out of his pants, trying new foods, writing his letters, inventing complex pretend games, struggling with disappointment and limits (but Mommy, I can't shoot a basketball into a hoop...I can't reach the ceiling...I can't wait that long (for tomorrow)). You can see his brain working at trying to master concepts of time when he says "lasterday, I did that," or "Santa came two weeks ago." And five is the magic number for everything. He's also working out his place in the world by making sure to tell us that he was not finished talking, or that is not what he said, or that he wanted to set up the pretend play in a certain way. So I am just amazed at this little boy, and all that is going on in his little head and heart. Keep on growing, my bird.