getting our garden on

We've been busy in the garden these past few weeks, and 80degree weather is confusing us all into believing summer is here--forget the end of winter, or even the entire spring!

here are a few of the sq-wormies thriving in our biodynamic compost. it is rich, black soil, the perfect addition to our garden beds.

there's a promise for blueberries on this bush!

carrots were planted last Sunday--a biodynamic 'root day'.

It's likely to turn cooler again, but it's been such a mild winter in NC, it's difficult to imagine how the sweltering months will look, hopefully they will be cooler than normal to balance things out...

Our seed starting has expanded this year. Last year's method of using gutters in the greenhouse worked marvelously, and so we doubled up. Things are springing up all over the place. I'm really excited about a southern variety of Rhubarb that looks great so far, and of course--tomatoes. As always, we're trying several new varieties and some old favorites, too. 

Are you planting yet? what's your favorite homegrown produce?

Paper Chain Crowns

Sometimes the simplest crafts provide the most joy. This is a great thing for me to embrace. Though I always have grand ideas and notions of what we can accomplish in a single day, sometimes the cranky baby that can't seem to be calmed throws us for a loop. Today was one of those days, so we have Hamantaschen half made and some paper crowns to show for it.

this one is very elvish

course, we also made penguins and racoons 

If you're familiar with making paper doll strands, snowflakes, and the like, you should have no trouble picking up some paper and scissors and getting to business. I had lots of ideas to take the craft one more step, like fabric or pretty wrapping paper...but, for today the simplicity of construction paper served us well.

these new costumes are what they'll dress up in tomorrow for our party, scored Naomi's at a local consignment store--it's really cute!

LEARNING: How to Soak and Sprout Grains

Last week a friend and I are started a class on soaking and sprouting and cooking with grains. I am so excited. The diet in which grains are non existent is NOT for me, but I am willing to accept that our modern processing techniques are depleting the nutritional value--perhaps omitting it.

Here's why I love the class so far:
1. videos. I neeeeed to see it.
2. I don't have to start at the beginning figuring all this out for myself.
3. It's a lifetime access set-up, in other words I watch at my own pace, again and again if I so choose.
4. recipes, recipes, recipes, recipes...

(I don't think it's too late to join in, do it!)

Click here to find out more, Single classes are available for purchase as well, if you're already a grain-soaking pro--surely there's at least one you'd like to participate in!

movin' shakin' and tryin' to sit too.

Things are moving all around here. We're keeping things cleaner, I'm moving much of my vintage goods into a warehouse space, Drew is working steadily, the girls are changing and growing rapidly--particularly the babe, if I stop to think a minute I become completely overwhelmed by the list of things that need to get done. I see a light at the end of the tunnel, a place where things will calm and the restlessness I'm feeling right now will settle...it helps to read By the Shores of Silver Lake. 

Eliza goes to sleep around 6:30 every night. This was due to the advice of this book, which has also helped a great deal with reestablishing a sleeping rhythm for her. We had a few very trying weeks, moments of feeling like the worst mother on the universe, and days of delirium on account of her difficulty sleeping. BUT, after diligently pushing regular nap and bed times, the girl seems to have found her cycle and we are ALL better for it.

Anyway, back to the reading. After Eliza is in bed the other two need something to distract them from acting like wild gorillas playing king of the mountain. They need an activity that quiets their minds, and with the business that has filled our days lately, it's a difficult feat to convince them that calm is good, that peace does not equal laziness.

We've been reading the Little House series for years, particularly in the winter months they are the perfect evening family activity. Sometimes we mix it up with a little Roald Dahl or other book of Drew's choosing, but we all feel so comfortable with the Ingalls. Since Naomi has taken up violin, the descriptions of Pa's playing for everyone, the breaks in the story for introduction to old fiddle tunes is something we all look forward to. Not to mention the quiet. Their life was so quiet. It was so full, but of love and awareness. In this day and age it seems as though technology is such an interruptor. Often rudely it intrudes on those intimate moments that can only be achieved after some silence, some stillness...we are certainly guilty of letting it disrupt.

So, while I am thankful for the bounty of good things to-do we have in our lives, I'm also grateful for these books, and for the evenings we have to sit quietly, calmly, peacefully remembering these role models. I'm grateful for our weekly sabbath, which also is a great salvation in times like these, when the world seems to be spinning around us. It is an anchor, and these evening respites are little mirrors of it. I truly believe demanding rest in our lives is as important as nutrition, and I'm sharing that now because the blessing it offers has been at the forefront of my mind during these crazy days.

*photos are from our recent trip to Asheville where Drew had to take a certification class, and we took advantage and rode along. just one of the busy events in our life.