Happiest Winter Solstice to you dear friends!

Love,

Rachel

Outside and in, it's starting to look like Solstice around here.

Much to the delight of us all, snow began to fall yesterday. More will come today and tomorrow and we couldn't be happier. Our house – somehow – is decorated inside and out, and small handmade gifts are finding their way under our tree. 

Oh how I love Solstice!

Solstice is our the big celebration at our home. We choose to spend Christmas with my parents, so Solstice is the family tradition we have created for just the four of us.

This year's holiday has been simplified. With our move and the flu and my head and heart tied up with events elsewhere in our world, we've focused in on what matters most.

Instead of knitting them each a vest (not a huge project, but too much this season) I made them each the ornament above. Sage's little gnome ornament holds a pouch at his side made from a bit of his baby sling, so my heart gets all gushy when I look at it.

I might make a tradition of crafting an ornament for each of them each year.

Pete also made them each something, and I'll give them each a "Love Coupon" for a special day with me, a homeschooling class, or some other adventure.

When I think back to the many gifts I got as a child I'm happy to provide my kids with a more simple version of Christmas. That it isn't about the stuff, but about the wonder and magic of it all. I'm really feeling that this year.

In the morning the "Solstice Elves" always leave a little something that the children share – this year they are receiving a gift certificate to the local feed store for chicks in the spring. Simple, magical stuff.

Our Solstice tradition involves a bonfire, a mid-night walk in the snow, and staying up "all night" (midnight or later). We make gingerbread houses (though interestingly this year the kids asked to make nativity scenes), dip or roll candles, laugh, and play.

I love it so.

And with that, I'll say goodbye for now. Our celebration will begin tomorrow so I'm going to take a few days to focus inward. Happy Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas, and Winter to you all!

So much love,
Rachel

Good morning kind souls.

When I popped in on Tuesday I thought I was on the mend. In reality I was only coming up for air. This flu was a bugger, shape shifting from the standard spiking fever and deep aches variety to something evil that dwells in the intestines.

I do not exaggerate when I say there were moments when I thought I might die.

Lord have mercy. That was really exceptionally hard.

Pete suggested it was a metaphor for the changes we're going through. The purging, the release, the surrender to the now. And maybe it is.

For me it has so many layers that went simply beyond "the sickest I've ever felt". The layers that go so much deeper – into what I value, how I see myself, and how I relate to my family.

I know. Heavy, right? It was just the flu. Pete has always told me I'm an over-thinker.

But here's the kick. It was the flu a week before Solstice. Solstice. Our big celebration. Solstice. The holiday I stay up late into the night crafting magical things for my family – my kids in particular. Solstice. when I pull out all of the crafty stops.

And I was too sick to even knit.

Adorably decorated farm house? Nope. Gluten-free holiday treats? Not happening. Handmade Solstice gifts? Um, no.

And that last one. That was huge for me.

I can't exactly explain why it's so important to me. I guess for me "making" is like love encarnate. It's one really tangible way that I express myself.

I can't make up for last week. I spent six days and six nights in bed. To get done what was on my list, last week was vital. Without it I need to scrap the list and regroup.

I actually had one feverish night where I had knitting nightmares. Somethings about scratchy wool and tangles of yarn with dramatic lighting and dark music. I was trying so hard to finish my kids gifts in time and I already knew it was a lost cause.

We don't do many gifts on Solstice. But we do make them by hand.

So to give that up and throw in the needles (so to speak) was an emotional moment for me. To call the kids in and say, "This year, I just can't do it." felt like failure. Like I was letting them down. But the reality is that it's so inconsequential to them. We haven't made this be a gift-centered celebration, so it was no big deal. They'd rather have more time to snuggle with me and read books and maybe even bake a batch of cookies. They don't need the presents. They just want the celebration.

What I also realized is just how rarely I put myself first. And doing that this past week was vital. I really had no other choice.

And you know, putting myself first once in a while might be downright healthy. (Ya think?)

So maybe this flu has changed me.

Maybe I'll find a way to continue being sensitive to the needs of those I love, but also to awaken to my own.

P.S. The Winter Apothecary will be released tomorrow! And it's lovely. Thanks for your kind contributions.

 

If you've been here for a while you've been seeing my kids grow up before your eyes. Goodness it happens fast. Lupine was a baby when I started writing here. A baby!

I notice the fine details of how they are growing most of all is when I look at the photos we take each year. The "jacket pictures" as we call them.

Each year in the fall I take their photographs with the same prop: an adult-sized old leather jacket. (Sage wears Pete's vintage coat, Lupine wears one that belonged to my Grandma.)

We might not have school pictures, but these have more spunk and spirit anyway!

We started the jacket picture tradition when Sage turned one on the suggestion of a friend. (If you are inspired but have an older child you could start now and still have an amazing collection before they are grown.)

For me it's a double treat to take photos of the kids together.

Here are some favorites from this year's photos. The barn really makes it all come together. (Eeek! The barn!)

(The gnome hat idea was all Lupine. She brought a second hat outside for Sage – which he politely declined.)

And for comparison, a few annual photos from years past…

2011

2010

(See more here.)

2009

(More here.)

Before 2009 I was shooting film. If you'd like to see the whole series I'd be happy to scan them after the move is done and I find my scanner. And my albums. (Ahem.)

To me, it's nothing short of fascinating looking back throught the years through these images. I remember so much from these times past. I recall where we lived, how we spent our days. I remember what made these kids tick. I recall our struggles and blessings from that flicker of time.

These pictures are so very important to me.

As for posing, I mostly just let them do their thing. Aside from
making sure we've washed their hair in the past few days I don't do much
fussing. Because really, these are their pictures. They pick their
clothes, they brush their hair, and we and jump right in.

I do,
however, bribe them with ice cream each year.

Yes. Really.

It began when
Sage was 6 and decided that maybe the photos weren't fun anymore. I
didn't want to force him so I threw down the offer that when we were
done we were going out for ice cream! (It was innocent. I swear!)

Now he
finds the photos fun again, but we still do ice cream. Because why not?
It's ice cream.

(I swear. This is my one bribe per year. Honest.)

How does your family mark time? I'd love to hear about your favorite traditions.

Love,

Rachel

Hello sweet people.

We are seeing the first flickers of normalcy around here. Yummy food on our table (and fermenting on our counters), yarn on my needles, and evidence of crafty kids spreading from one end of our house to the other.

Though this is the move that never seems to end, we somehow even made time for our annual jacket photos. (I'll share more of those later this week.)

Yes indeed. We're Home.

The gloves, for the knitting curious, are my kid-sized variation of the Camp Out Fingerless Mitts. They were so quick I cranked them out on the drive to my parent's after I cast off a pair for my sister with the bulk of the two skeins of Noro yarn. If you would like me to write up how I modified them for wee small hands, just let me know. I'd be happy to share.

Edited: Okay! The modifications are up on my Ravelry project page. Have at it!

The final push to empty out our house in town will happen this week. Then the settling in will really begin. I'm looking forward to having all my my life (including my washing machine, phone, and computer) out on the farm.

Being settled. That word is so warm and comforting to me right now.

To add to the adventure of being in the midst of a move, we took four days to visit family and celebrate Thanksgiving in Milwaukee. (And to sell LuSa at Art vs. Craft – a crazy mad show we attend each November. It's always our busiest single-day show of the year and takes some gearing up to be ready for!)

This holiday our life felt like a comedy of errors as we rifled through boxes trying to pack and brought our injured cat to the celebration while my sister's puppy pre-washed the dirty dishes.

It was crazy, but good-crazy. Happy family celebration sort of crazy.

And it was a welcome break from the chaos of boxes at the farm.

And how about you? What blessings did you count this holiday?

I hope your week brought you much to be thankful for.

Love,
Rachel

 

2006

2012

Oh my! Now how did that happen? 

Happy birthday, Lupine Bluebird. You are magic. We love you so.

xoxo,

Mama

P.S. I posted this for Lupine last year, which many of you enjoyed. It's worth another (teary) read this morning.

Oh, goodness, friends. There is so much going on over here. I look forward to catching you up on all of the news in the coming days. So much to share! But for now, I have a birthday to prepare for. There is a cake cooling on the stove, some cute little peg girls drying their glittery wings, and a sweater that is wanting some buttons before bedtime.

With regard to Mary, I give my thanks. Thank you to all who have given so generously during the past few days. I delivered your gifts to Mary today and she was humbly grateful for it all. I know that it will help.

I was amazed to see the work they have accomplished so far. So many hands – the truest sense of community – working together, making lighter work of what is an inconceivably daunting task.

There is still much to be done. But I know they will get there.

Have a blessed weekend, friends. You have big and beautiful hearts.

Now then. On to buttons and birthday!

Love,

Rachel

P.S. Curious about our birthday customs? I wrote a two part series on Natural Birthday Celebrations two years ago. You can find those posts here and here.

 

In a few days Lupine will turn six. (I am not entirely sure how that happened.)

Strong, appreciative, beautiful, determined, joyful, and silly six.

And because it is my neurosis of choice, I'll be crafting like crazy until her birthday arrives. There is a tea party to plan, peg people to paint, a grain-free cake to bake, and yes, even a sweater to complete. Before Saturday. (The sweater is making me a little nervous to be honest.)

Oh, my. It's time to get busy!

Love,
Rachel

It's almost Halloween!

And if you are still looking for ideas to handcraft a costume, this post is a great place to start.

As for me, I only get to make my own costume. My kids go it alone every year (since around age 4 or 5), creating their own costume with just a bit of help. Which I love. They have been all manner of magic and mischief: the classic bed sheet ghost, a headless man, a vampire, a robot, a queen, Corduroy Bear, and a kitten. (Off the top of my head.) This year we are looking forward to a shadow and an "evil fairy princess".

For you luck parents whose children actually want help with a costume (or want to make something for yourself) read one. I hope some of the links below spark your imagination. (Those with photos are my work but I've included a few favorites from elsewhere at the bottom.)

Quick Felt Crown Tutorial

DIY Fairy Wings

Felted sweater gnome hat

Homemade Playsilks (great capes, skirts, wings, and more)

Warm and Cozy Bluebird Hat

Quick tutu tutorial (leave off the fabric waistband for a no-sew version!)

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

And the projects below are from elsewhere around the blogosphere. Inspiring and beautiful!

Adorable owl costume with wings and mask

Kraft paper snail costume

Felt (almost no-sew) animal masks

Tiny top hats

A ridiculously gorgeous peacock

Homemade fabric wings

And to continue the bird there, some lovely swan wings

And to carry your loot, a coffee can trick or treat bucket makeover.

Do share other tutorials or inspiring costumes you have come upon by leaving a comment below.

Also, a tip for parents who don't want all that candy staying in the house ~ I wrote this post about the Pumpkin Fairy last year. We love her and her magic. And I mean we all love her. The kids can't wait to see what she creates.

Love,
Rachel

 

Dear Sage,

A decade ago we greeted you with open arms as you wooshed into our world in a yellow house in Baraboo.

So watchful. So aware. So present. You were the most beautiful baby I had every seen, and your eyes spoke of lifetimes of knowing.

That day changed everything.

You've taught me countless lessons these past ten years. Most importantly how to mother. For that I am grateful.

I treasure your humor, your intuition, your clever mind. I love your cuddles, your creativity, and your belief in all things magical. I treasure you for honoring your truths, for your honesty, and for your sensitivity.

Happy birthday Sage. I love you with all of my heart – and then some.

Love,
Mama

In case you missed it, I shared a more about Sage's birth and babyhood in this post (my most popular post to date). I still can't read it without crying.