Embracing 2014

Well... it's been a while.

I had every intention of writing for the last... well, since the last post really... I have lots to say (wink)... it just didn't happen.  (Obviously.)

We were away on a little jaunt to Southern California for a sunshine break  and I couldn't seem to log on to post anything.  And now, I want to write stuff, but my camera's on the fritz.  So finally, I figured I'd just jot down a few things... a "to-write" list, if you will:
- a photo of my finished shalom sweater (which I LOVE, btw)
- an easy-peasy pattern for a simple cowl that I knit on the road (when I was FREEZING on the Oregon coast), in a light grey, Royal Alpaca.  Dreamy.
- a soap-box version of what I think of this latest backyard chicken craze
- chicken update (all those babies from last year?  All grown up and Gorgeous!) & plans for 2014 babies!
- sheep update (Yep, I think they are all preggers -- due anytime after March 16)
- a mild rant on my frustrations and successes with home-schooling
- book reviews on 3 (!) novels I read while away.

.. and a few other things.

Suffice it to say, that I'm REALLY glad 2014 is here because 2013 was not my favourite year.  Putting a positive spin on it, I did A LOT of learning (read: made a ton of mistakes) and I'm looking forward to putting my learning into practise this year.  (Lesson #1: NO PIGS).

That is all.

For now (another wink).

Weekend Reading

Ah Hah!  I found one.  A novel I could read right through.  I have attention-deficit when it comes to novels, you see.  They can't seem to hold me very long.  But something the way Jeannette Walls writes really pulls me in.  I've read her memoir, "The Glass Castle" and her other novel "Half Broke Horses", and now this, her third "The Silver Star".  She says it's a novel, fiction, but I'm sure there are pieces of her crazy childhood all over this book.  Especially in the mother character.

I said it before after reading one of Walls' books:  If you think your life is spinning out of control, just try to imagine what life was like for her growing up.  Your life?  It ain't so bad.  Cozy up this weekend with a good read and really enjoy that extra hour tomorrow.

Weekend Reading :: Older Kids or Adults!

"Peter and the Starcatchers" by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, recommended by my friend Signe at Patch of Blue, was a very welcomed read.  It is essentially the prequel to the original Peter Pan book by J. M. Barrie.  We find out how Peter and the lost boys came to be on the island and why a certain pirate has a hook for a hand, among other things that I won't spoil for you.  It is a very fast-paced, exciting read with not a lull to be found anywhere.  I started reading it as a bedtime read for both kids, but my insatiable reader of a 10 year old couldn't wait to find out what happened, so read ahead and finished the book in record time.  My 6 year old son was a little un-nerved by a couple of the scarier parts (we are talking about vengeful pirates and a giant crocodile here), so I read those parts to myself and then gave him the condensed version before we continued on the slightly tamer parts.  Most of the chapters are very short, which makes a mom happy for bedtime reading, but as the book progresses, it jumps about between 3 converging story lines which can be disconcerting to younger children who need some kind of closure before bedtime.  Nonetheless, a highly enjoyable read, for slightly older children (it's recommended for 10+ years), or adults that like an exciting quick-read.

Happy Reading!  Happy Weekending!

PS - To those who have been wondering where my regular weekend reading has been, I've taken a little hiatus from my usual book learning, (unless you count books on incubating and raising various types of poultry) mostly because my trusty little light I use for my bedtime reading has expired.  I must get a new one.

Spring Reading!

"Hatching and Brooding Your Own Chicks" by Gail Damerow.  Truly, if you're planning on hatching chicks this spring (or ducks, turkeys, geese, quail, or whatever), this book is super awesome, especially if you have kids that are interested in the process, as the photos are Amazing and very helpful!!  I bought it on a whim from amazon.ca and am not disappointed!  Gail Damerow is a noted "expert" on chickens and has written several books, including Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens, which is also very helpful, though I really enjoyed the photos in this book.  It even has real-life images of what a chick looks like in every day of development, which is great if you're like me and crack the unhatched eggs to find out why they didn't hatch. You can then figure on the approximate day the embryo died and possible reasons why.
I highly recommend this book to anyone planning on hatching birds this spring!

Felting Books for Sale

I have a couple of great books for sale - "Magic Wool" by Sagmar Schmidt & Freya Jaffke and "More Magic Wool" by Angelika Wolk-Gerche.   I've seen them on amazon for more than what I'm asking, which is $5 CAD + shipping.  Leave a comment if you're interested! Thanks!

Weekend Reading

More real life reading for me.   "Trauma Farm"  is written by Salt Spring Island (BC) farmer Brian Brett and covers 18 years in a single day.  Hmmm.  How?  Well, he starts off in the morning, and tells several stories about that time of day, though the stories can span his 18 years on what is affectionately known as Trauma Farm.  And he continues like this.  He is funny, but real, exploring the harshness of factory farming vs small rural farms, the humorous anecdotes and heart-felt connections that inevitably occur when humans and animals co-habitate, the cycle of life and death,  and the importance - and necessity - of community.  Great book, and I especially loved that it's Canadian (printed and bound as well!)

Happy Reading!

Weekend Reading

"The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein was, for me, a quick and highly enjoyable foray into the contrived mind of a dog.  The story is told in the point of view of Enzo the dog, who begins at the (almost) end of the story.  It was a good one for me, when I wanted a little literary escape, without a lot of fluff or historical recounting of some bizarre or fantastical event.  I buzzed through this one in 3 easy nights.  I could say more, but I won't.  I'll save the enjoyment for you to discover.  Sweet book.  Enjoy it :)

Weekend Reading :: Winter

I love farming blogs.  As you could probably tell from the list at the right.  Ahem.

So I find this book, "The Dirty Life", quite by accident, and it's like reading an entire year of farming blogs.  Do you think I can put it down?  Nope.

This is all about Kristin Kimball's leap of faith (so to speak) from her pub-hopping, rent-fixed, take-out food city life to farming - real, permanent, dirt-andgoodnessknowswhatelse-under-your nails-forever type of farming with her honey Mark (who was a farmer, like, forever).

And since the first half of the farm deals with winter, and we're right in the middle of it in real life over here, this is the kind of book I can't wait to curl up with in my big red chair by the fire.  Ah.

Yes, it's similar to "Rurally Screwed" by Jessie Knadler, but I guess I like these sorts of books.  Kinda rings true, you know?  Although I can't say that I was ever "corporate", I did live close to downtown in my 20's, worked in offices, wore something dressier than jeans to work, and was even, briefly,  the educational director for a local business-women's group.  That was all pre - kids,-knitting, -sewing, -farm animals, etc.  That "other" life never really fit with me.

This one, happily, does.

Happy winter reading, folks!
And Happy 2013!

A Dress for Dolly

My dear daughter has become a bit obsessed with a certain type of doll - the Maplelea Doll.  I don't quite get it, but then, do I need to?  I'm more of a Waldorf-y doll lover myself, if I can even call myself a doll lover.  I was never one to play dress up with dolls; I preferred to play with my imaginary animals, or later, my real ones, or ride bikes, or run down the back alley barefoot, or make forts in the woods...

So anyway, these dolls are, like, $100 each, plus the company entices purchasers to indulge in all kinds of clothing and accessories for the dolls.  Ye Gads.  Spending this kind of moolah on dolls? I just can't wrap my head around it.  So, daughter, knowing how her mom feels about spending cash like this, finds a simple sewing pattern in one of my books:

Ta-Dah!

And this is the book:  Oliver +S "Little Things to Sew".

Yay! For moms who can sew and daughters who appreciate it!

Weekend Reading... For Kids!

"Extra Yarn" by Mac Barnett.  Another great kids' read.  This one is sweet, for the very young and upward to anyone who enjoys the reminder that a little beauty and a little effort can make a huge difference, and that there is no price for happiness that comes from within.

I've been focusing a bit more on the kids' reads lately it seems.  My daughter, who's almost 10, is enjoying very large books that I am not familiar with -- Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and other books from the pen of Rick Riordan.  I love discussing books with her, but, seriously, these novels she's reading are epic in size and content, and there is no way I have time to read the way she does.  She also enjoys the Harry Potter series, but our deal is that I will read the books ahead of her (or, re-read them) so that we can discuss them.  So that it what I'm doing with my "spare" time -- re-reading "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire" before I give it to her to devour.

So, if you'll excuse me, I've some reading to do...

Weekend Reading

I love knitting.  LOVE it.  Have I said that before?  Hmmm.  Maybe. Once or twice.  I also love reading about knitting, whether in a magazine that tells about a certain kind of fibre, or where it comes from, or how a certain designer gets his/her ideas, or reading patterns, or whatever.  But novels about knitting.  Love them too.  Especially when I want something light that I totally get.

So I found this:

"A Life in Stitches" by Rachael Herron.  What a sweet read!  Herron is very candid about events in her life and how it related to how or what she was knitting at the time.  I can relate to this!  I almost always have something on the go, and until recently, it was 2 or 3 things.  Right now, I'm focussed on finishing this sweater for me, in a lovely warm brown baby alpaca/bamboo yarn from marisol yarns.  It's dreamy.  I'll share more when I'm done.

Anyway, again, I digress.  If you knit, you will enjoy this book.

Happy Knitting! Happy Reading!  Happy Weekend :)

And so, I sew.

I love it when I can give someone a hand-made gift.  I know it's so much easier to go to the store and buy whatever is the current rage, but I really seem to have difficulty doing that.  Part of it is that I love making things.  But there's something else.  People - kids - "these days" expect things instantly, a quick fix, something that, to me, doesn't take much time or effort.  Time and Effort are precious to me.  They are so rare.  My hope is that maybe, just maybe, I can light a little spark of something in a child.  Maybe they realize that nice things can be home-made.

This is a particular favourite. I've made it at least 5 times now.  It's a colorful and practical pencil roll with individual little pockets for colored pencil crayons, or paintbrushes or knitting needles, you get the idea.

And maybe, just maybe, they will be inspired to make something, too.

Happy Crafting!

This pattern was adapted from that in "Last Minute Patchwork and Quilted Gifts"  by Joelle Hoverson.

Weekend Reading

"The Butcher and the Vegetarian" by Tara Austin Weaver.  I thoroughly enjoyed this one.  I've been needing something a little lighter lately, and this one did the trick, not only for the humor, but it was also interesting and followed my thought pattern of late.

Weaver was raised a hippie 70's type vegetarian and never knew anything else until doctors told her to eat meat to cure her chronic fatigue.   I, for over 20 years, have only eaten chicken and fish because I couldn't stand to support the commercialism and brutality that plagues the food industry in North America.  (I tried, for about 3 months to go total veggie, but I simply enjoy chicken too much.)  Lately though, I too have ventured into the land of meat, providing it is ethically raised, pasture fed, "happy" meat.  You know what?
I like it.

But Weaver's book isn't just about eating meat.  It's her journey to learn more about herself and what works for her.  For listening to one's true heart is one of the best lessons one can learn.  Interestingly enough, Weekend Reading from 2 weeks ago gives the same life lesson. Hmmm.

Where ever you are, whatever you do, enjoy your weekend!

Weekend Reading for Kids

 "Waiting for Winter" by Sebastian Meschenmoser is one of our family's seasonal favourites.  Deer has told squirrel that winter is coming and Squirrel really wants to see what that's all about.  

In his efforts to stay awake, he rouses Hedgehog and Bear who then want to see it too.  

They have an idea what winter is supposed to look like, and what they think is winter is hilarious, to both an older child, and preschoolers alike, as the pictures are priceless.  Meschenmoser's artwork captures the emotions to a "T" and the whole family will laugh out loud.

Happy Reading!

Weekend Reading

"Dying to Be Me" by Anita Moorjani is the pick of the week, this week.  It came into our house as a gift, as Hubby lost a close friend this week to brain cancer, after a rapid 7 week battle.  (Yes.  7 weeks).  This friend was one of those solid guys, one you could sit down with and share a joke, or a real heart-to-heart.  He was a true gentle man.  When you were in his presence, you knew he was truly there.  He was an amazing father and grandfather, who always had time for his family.  His home was always open, and we spent countless Christmas Eves and Thanksgivings and summer pool parties with them.  This book is about Anita Moorjani's Near Death Experience (NDE) and although I am not aware that our friend experienced this, it gives me some peace thinking that he is still with us and as happy and free as anyone could be.

As she says in the book, "Live your life fearlessly."

Weekend Reading?

As the weather cools off and I find I'm spending more and more time indoors, especially in the evening and early morning, my pile of good reads is growing taller and taller:

Because there really is only so much housecleaning I can stand.  (It's not very much).

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Weekend Reading

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway is a look into a war-torn city from the viewpoints of 3 different people.  The premise of the book is that a cellist, in memory of 22 people killed while waiting in line for bread, will play a particular piece once every day for 22 days, 1 day for each person.   The cellist becomes a becon of light and hope to all within the city, even the sniper sent to assassinate him, and makes the city beautiful again, if only for a few moments.  It is a Canadian work of fiction, but one can get a glimpse of how corrupt and demoralizing a war can be on a people; a people once so proud of their city that has now be reduced to walking miles for water every few days just to survive, and not knowing if they are going to make it home alive; the internal struggle when someone sees someone shot down and debates himself on whether or not to help at the risk of becoming the next target.  Makes one wonder, what would you do in a similiar situation?
Photo courtesy of www.audioeditions.com.

Weekend Reading

This week: Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardener's Handbook.  I borrowed it from our library, but am thinking to purchase one for my own self, as I have to restrain myself from writing little notes all over it.  Because it goes by weeks, specifically, "x amount of weeks since the last frost", you need to do a little bit of figuring and pay attention to when that actually was.  So this book will work in all different zones, though those places with shorter growing seasons would have to condense the recommendations, and those with longer seasons could be a little more lax.  Me thinks that the first year of keeping this type of gardening journal will require the most work, in regards to recording when the last frost was and going from there.  Of course, every year, the date of the last frost will differ, but it "should" be within a couple of weeks.  My only beef about this book is that it should have a few extra pages for notes at the end of each section. It does have 1 page for notes per chapter, but a rambler like me would like a few more.  Insert smiley face here.

Happy Fall gardening, folks!

Absent...

My weekend reading post will be absent again.  I've had some trouble getting into a good book lately for a variety of reasons.  It's September.  (In case you were unaware.)  Septemberrrrrrr. We've actually been hitting near-frost temperatures around here the past several nights.  And with warm afternoons and chilly overnights, I've got my hands full.  We've been outside as much as possible, enjoying the afternoon warmth that may or may not be with us much longer.  And our early evenings are spent making sure the garden is well-tucked in -- and harvesting as much as possible --

-- and the littles are warm.  Mama turkey Violet still has her 2 (we sold the other 8), and the 4 chicks that are now 5 weeks old still need a bit of heat overnight, though they are spending their days outdoors.  Then there's Beep, who still seems happy in the incubator, between bouts of being toted around in some kind of kid-made contraption.  Beep will stay in there (I can gradually lower the temperature) until she really starts to feather-out, then weather-pending, she'll start spending days outside.  I think I will put together a little chicken tractor for the garden as things are finishing up, for the 4 older chicks and Beep to do their chicken thing.  Oh, and there's next week, when Tasha's littles are due to hatch. And she's sitting on 20 eggs.  Oh, my.

Then, the fact that it's September.  It kind of sneaked up on me.  I wasn't ready to go back to schedules, even though we are homeschooling this year, and more "unschooling" than anything.  We are at the dance studio 3 times/week, plus soccer practice and games, 4H every second week, and music for the little man.  I will breathe a little deeper once October is here and soccer is done and most of the harvesting is also done.  Most because I plan to grow stuff as long as possible, whether with cloches, under plastic, or with straw bales and old windows.  

Oh, and my little reading light died on me, which is where I do most of my reading, in bed, just before the heaviness of my eye lids overcomes me.  So, stay tuned; I have a mess of books on my nightstand and I will get back to those weekly reading posts.  Soon.

Weekend Reading

I don't know why I didn't think of this before.  I read this book twice last winter, and it seems to me, I need a little reminder.  It's easy to read and one of those books that provides lots of examples of non-violent talk. You would truly be amazed at how your words are received when you use these tools.  I found it also helps if someone else close to you reads it as well, so you can practice together.  As it does take practice.  Our culture seems naturally defensive, and so it is a bit of an effort to change what is so ingrained within us.  But even if you don't have someone to practice with, you can still benefit from it, in any conversation, from your partners to your children and your parents, to the corner store clerk down the road.

The Non-Violent Communication website or NVC site has numerous other books for further study if this particular one resonates with you.

Enjoy this last long weekend of summer!