Candy for Woolies

Everything's a vote in our universe.  And so whenever there's a chance to meet a vendor of something we already use, we jump at it...  
We almost missed the Yolo County Wool Mill, because it looked like a tiny red barn & a couple of sheds.
But we could see bits of red & green wool clinging to the mess of nettles.

Thank goodness we took a chance, because it was such a treat.  Like...see???This is Native wool from Churro sheep.  It's not really considered a soft wool, but after it gets washed in the above machines (so it doesn't make all their machinery sticky),

Spends some time drying,

Takes a ride through an antique picker to remove the burs & what not,Zips through the grand, grand, grand mare of drum rollers (at least 20 feet long, with dozens of different-textured drums), It goes into delicious old red 4 foot high , can filled with spirals of billowy, fluffy warm goodness.  Imagine!  I told Bear that I wanted a can for our 10 year anniversary please. Imagine!The colors, the textures!!! This is one of only 5 small lot wool mills in the country, where you can bring in your wool & they'll process it for you in to batting, sliver, roving or yarn.

Jane, the owner was a complete princess.  I probably shouldn't mention it, but she gave me one of these gorgeous spindles when she saw how ga-ga I got over them, taking photo after photo of them through yucky plastic bags.  They don't make them anymore- all hof her machines are at least 50 years old.

Spring Books

It's time to put our Spring Books together.  This is how we compile our accomplishments, projects, observations, memories & perfect moments.  I LOVE homeschooling!  I got to do it myself, since I began cutting school in 3rd grade (Smurfs, then Gummi Bears, the Brady Bunch, The Love Boat, I Love Lucy...).  So they took me out & I've been a passionate student ever since...Some images we're including:

*The "Office" under the stairs.  We put up 2 peg racks & now I'm free of the silk chaos all over my house.  And...26 silks for 3 boys?  What is that all about?  We also edited out the toys & placed all of Winn's toddler books right where he'll be able to get them.  He loves to "read" to his brothers by recalling stories or interpreting the pictures.  The first time he arranged his baby brother & Kuya (big bro in P)  on the couch next to him & read, "Many drummers drum.  Many drummers come."  It was everything I could do to not start balling & making a giant scene of it.  I grew up with that exact book.   a 

  *Love's so amazing "hawk" embroidery.  How does a 6 year-old pick up a hoop for the first time in 4 years & come strong with flight & perspective? 

*Our local birds charts.  This is so much fun.  I've never been a bird person before, but I've really gotten swept up in the magic & diversity of it all.  We made copies of a 2-sided card & the boys have them on clipboards with pens attached.  They just tally away at what they see, then we transfer it onto the big chart.  We've added trips to the raptor center & zoo, needle-felting birds, reading Trumpet of the Swan, Adopting a Trumpeter Swan...Too much to add, actually.

*Play money from the "Oak 1 Credit Union" in my livingroom.  A trip to the local Golden One included the inside of the ATM machine & made quite the impression.  In one week he's gone from teaching himself the value of coins to simple multiplication, addition, & subtraction.  Not to mention customer service! Lakeshore makes great, very realistic playmoney.  He now wants to start a blog selling embroidered pillows for, "like, from $5 to $13 dollars."

*A women's shelter at the Oakland Zoo.  It's absolutely beautiful, with a surprising efficiency built in.  The structure is made from local sticks
& cow dunge with a thatched roof.  Inside there's rooms for storing sheep, fattening livestock, raised adult women & young girl's beds, a pantry,
& kitchen.  This style is used in several countries throughout Africa, although I don't know how common they are at this point.  Next thing to study...

Hawaiian-Style Baby Quilt

A "quick" project, all machine sewn.  Hawaiian quilts are crazy-amazing & I love the graphic look of a single bold color on muslin.  They're definitely not easy, though- it's all reverse applique, which means, well I don't remember.  Because this lovely pillow, started on my honeymoon, has been sitting around for years.

This quilt was inspired by my angelic godson Kaleo, & it features the pineapple-butterfly logo of the Kapalua Hotel on Maui.  His parents married on the beach at Kapalua Bay & a giant sea turtle peeked up from the waters to bless them.  So baby sea turtles make up the centerpiece for this very Aloha-sweet boy. 
I grabbed this simple pattern book (simple to read, that is)

And then I altered the monstera leaf pattern to make the adorable baby turtles.  I made four & pieced them in the center.  Note the wonderful webs in the center- key for a Hawaiian-style quilt.

  Then I just sewed the whole thing together with a sergerish stitch compliments of my Husqvarna Computer 350.  My boy's did all the "pedalwork," making it quite homey-looking & justifying the lack of handstitching.  The background is a very dreamy Japanese-Looking flannel from Stone Mountain & Daughter, my favorite fabric shop in Berkeley, CA.  It's very funky.  The green is a tight acid yellow & lime woven linen, very raw. I'm crazy for the color.  Also from Stone Mountain.  With 3 young kids, I pick my priorities.  The purity here comes in 100% natural fibers & batting.

1st Right of Passage

If you're able to nurse & do, you're a lucky saint.  Not everyone can.  For those able...it really takes something to give yourself over in that way over time & space, to let yourself fall that in love & to be that connected.  If you tandem nurse,  then you may be an isolated saint, with virtually no agreement from the masses to support you in your mission.  If you can, do it anyway.  In our case, it was just breaking our 2 year-old's heart to have to negotiate his new role as "former baby," & weaning was the most secure gift we could give him.  That said...

Remind me next time that weaning is just as magical & respectful for the little ones & myself when I'm clear.  Like, when I chose & I'm standing there.  A part of me never totally abandoned the idea that I'd nurse my kids 'till they were 5.  As it turns out, we go about 2 1/2 years in our family.  That's about when it becomes too much & I can't count on myself to be consistently loving & tender.  That's about when I can count on spontaneous burst of agitation & then loads of guilt about it.  Kinda defeats the purpose, yeah?  So if you should find yourself needing to wean, let me share with you what we've done successfully, twice now. 

First off, I was on-again, off-again, confusing for all of us.  Then I was, "Here's the deal," setting strange boundaries like, "only in the morning & at night," "only when you're hurt," or, "only when it's nap-time (& you're melting during a playdate)." I don't recommend any of this nonsense.

The So Sweetest Weaning Party for The So Sweetest Boy

1. We picked a date a week out, when we knew both Bear Pants & I could be emotionally & spiritually present.

2. Picked out a set of beautiful dishes, just like his older brother got, but different.  We picked real porcelain to show respect for his capacities & big-boyness.  Washed them.

3. Got a "sup-sup bottle," a non-leaching stainless steel bottle fitted with his favorite sippy-cup top (We like Sigg & Klean Kanteen).  "Sup-Sup"  is Pilipino for nursing.  This was for the nights, should he get thirsty.

4. Began telling "the Rainbow Bridge" during the nights & talking about it during the day.  This set up a magical, if linear, timeline for him to notice his journey from spirit to birth, & beyond.

5. Got a red cardboard suitcase in which to present all this very important stuff.

6. "Where do you want your very last sup-sup?" Because he had no intention of ever stopping, he easily answered.  "Bath."

7. Ordered his favorite Thai food from an amazing place in town that serves unusual regional dishes.  Got Jungle Curry w/ just veggies, 3-Flavour Fish, Steamed Snapper.  And Organic Soy Decadence Ice Cream.

8. Sat at the table - candlelit, of course- & placed his suitcase in his spot.

9. "Oh wow!" We hurriedly reminded him of the Rainbow Bridge story as he ripped right into his gifts: How he was born & floated to the top of the water, how we said, "Welcome, we're so happy to see you," & he nursed.  Continued with how he turned 1 & was a big baby who walked, then 2 & he could feed himself completely & now he's a big boy & ready to stop nursing & use his own special dishes & get our love in a different way.

10. He ate a full meal on his new dishes, filled his water bottle himself & went up to his bath for his last sup-sup.  Sigh.  Sigh.

This really Was dreamy & easy.  But also full of humanity.  There was firmly asking our 6 year-old to stop trying to make him understand, Really, " You know this means you're DONE.  You're never gonna nurse Again.  You sure you don't want to One Last Time???"  There was a couple of wake-ups, some tears, some scrapes, some runny-noses that had me wanting to take it all back.  There was wearing a high-necked pajama for a bit & sleeping on my tummy as deterents.  And...he's so happy now.  He sleeps great, he knows that part is over.  He asks me if he can nurse & I say, "No, have a heart-to-heart tackle."  He asks me if I'll carry him all the way around the block.  "Of course.  When someone comes to help with your brothers...But let me give you all my love Right Here."

weaning