Corner View

This weeks corner view is Joy.

Here are photos of what has brought me joy this week. Two scarves newly completed, my second and third ever! Daddy time at the Library. The Christmas lights turned on at the Park. One of the images of the lights taken by Eliana. It has been a lovely week full of joy. A wonderful breather!

Knitting Life Lessons or Scarves Give Wisdom

Apparently knitting has much to offer me. I finished my first scarf yesterday. Green acrylic size 15, 12 stitches of stockinette, 54" long. It is, as my husband describes it, a snake! I was not aware that stockinette curls. And now I have a present for Granny that I do not want to give. I did learn to bind off and became proficient at purling in the process. This was also the first knitting project I have ever completed. I have many starting swatched but I have always discarded them out of boredom.

In the middle, and often even the beginning of a project, I curse myself to fail.

Vulnerability relies on peace in choices and eliminting perfectionism.

I read two posts and a quote yesterday that really set me to thinking. Set me to seeking truth down a slightly different path than usual. Actually, they came to me when I needed them most. They were about perfectionism, vulnerability, and peace in choices. I have been examining myself and dragging much into the light so it can be healed. I might have gone on with these things hiding in m heart and mind except for a little miracle we named Eliana. She is the reason Jason and I are ripping ourselves open and learning different, more peaceful, conscious and loving ways of talking, thinking, acting, and feeling and thus parenting.

Perfectionism is a goal of our culture. I have always admired perfectionism. My mother was a perfectionist and anything less than was frustrating to her. It drove her to become a successful seamstress. It also drove her into constant anxiety and inability to relax and deminished ability to connect with others. It undermined her already fragile sense of self-worth. Perfection was demanded of her and her environment as a child. My grandmother resorted to controlling and obsessive cleanliness and punishments for anything less. Grandmother was trying to make sense of her world and be okay, to have a shield to hide behind, to be safe.

Corner View- where has the time gone?

Corner View ~ where has the time gone?

Corner View is a weekly appointment - each Wednesday - created by Jane, where bloggers from all corners of the world share their view on a pre-arranged theme. I started via one of my favorite blogs, FuoriBorgo

You know how the time flies
Only yesterday was the time of our lives
We were born and raised in a summer haze
Bound by the surprise of our glory days
(Adele, Someone Like You)

Reading, Rain, and Storytime

Yesterday the rain let up for long enough that an enthusiastic E was out jumping in puddles and catching raindrops on her tongue. We talked about the way the rain moved, the way it looked on each leaf, how some leaves seemed to repel the water, we floated leaves down the little streams in the drive.

Santa, Snow, Gravel Angels,

Eliana has been very taken with snow lately. At the park today she made snowmen out of gravel, and snow angels with her friend. She asked me this morning "Mamma, can Santa come play today?" and last night it was "I want Santa to bring my Daddy home!" (J was working nights).

Skate Park Play, Scissors, and Shapes

Today we met friends on a Minot windy day. I was envisioning ski sailing across North Dakota. Yikes! We rolled cars down the hills, rolled down the grassy hills, and slid, alot. Seven children having a wonderful time, as well as three happy moms.

Hold your breath for this video! No one was harmed today, just many holes in clothes and undies.

Knitting Progress

My little 19 stitch scarf is coming along! I am maybe 1/3rd or a 1/4th of the way finished. I timed it last night... I probably shouldn't have... 2 minutes per 19 stitches. Ahem. At least I am getting somewhere! This photo was taken at about 11pm last night and represents 2.5 hours of knitting. I am still in love!

Photograhy

I am excited to say that my husband is now doing photography. I have just loved his work, as much as his art. We had a photo shoot last week and here are two images. One is the model wearing one of J's new art T-shirts that are soon to be up on his website for sale.

Primal Pancakes! errr Primal French Toast!

Made a recipe I found online somewhere and scribbled down, can't find site anymore, if anyone recognizes it please let me know. I made many changes and love the results, as does an enthusiastic bedheaded, blueberry mouthed E! We had a great time talking about egg yolks vs. whites, and she loved handling the yolks to drop them in the cup for later.

This Moment: A Friday Ritual (two days late this week)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.
- adopted from SouleMama

Friday Nature Table View

Our table changes and grows as we take more walks and explore more nooks of the earth. Each Friday I will take a photo to show the growth and changes. Today we dipped our leaves in beeswax that I melted in a mini crockpot and then we tied them onto our tree with thread. The whole kitchen smelled of heavenly honey. A delightful process with delightful results! The leftover beeswax still sits in the crock for melting again.

Creating A Rhythm

"...Rhythm is the daily, weekly and yearly recurring activities in our lives. There is something so magical about such a simple concept. Children thrive on familiarity and consistency. It is a sense of security for them, they feel safe and reassured to always know what comes next, to have a predictable day, a rhythm they can count on... Is rhythm just a fancy word for schedule. NO. While they have similarities, rhythm is more about a gentle flow, a knowing of what comes next, whereas a schedule is more rigid and by the clock..." Quote from an article by Nicole from Frontier Dreams over at The Magic Onion

Story Time and Friends

This past Tuesday we went to Library Storytime, and then on to the park with friends. My friend J has a lovely new blog and this entry chronicles our play.

Writing baby H's name in the mud.

Primal Bread! Very good!

Disc Golf and Waxwings

This week we have been talking about autumn, especially about birds, birdfeeding and identification, and tree identification. We have been doing lots of leaf gathering which we are going to dip in beeswax to preserve and decorate with. Spent a lovely day at Stuart Nelson Park and the Greenway Trail. It was a bit chilly and very windy and I forgot E's hat but luckily I had a bandanna, turning her into my li'l babushka.