Monday, March 29, 2010

Rhythm in our Home: Part One

We are surround by rhythm in nature: the alternation of day and night, the phases of the moon, the cycle of the seasons, the ebb and flow of the tides. Our bodies are permeated by rhythm, in the beating of our hearts, the breathing of our lungs, women's cycles of fertility and the circadian rhythms of our metabolism. But as modern human beings, we have also established a life that is removed from the rhythms of nature. Through electric light we can work well into the night; we can shop at twenty-four-hour supermarkets; we can fly strawberries to Minnesota in January. Through technology we can live outside of most of the messages and rhythms of our bodies and have forgotten the importance of rhythm in daily life."
You Are Your Child's First Teacher - Rahima Baldwin Dancy

Every day has a meaning, every day has a goal. This is something my Waldorf readings have impressed upon me. Rhythm is key, rhythm is home, rhythm is comfort.

Izzie thrives with a rhythmic balance in her life, we all do in our household. Every day has a meaning, a task to complete which gives a flow to our day. It keeps us busy, entertained and helps us love and enjoy our home and each other.

Monday is .... Laundry Day.
This day is for both Izzie and I. I love starting the week off with freshly cleaned laundry. Clean sheets on the bed, all of the outfits lined up for the rest of the week. It helps me relax, oddly enough. (I deplore doing laundry on the weekend! Weekends are for fun, not for folding!) Izzie and I tackle the laundry together. She helps me sort the clothes into piles, she carries articles of clothes to hang on the line, she hands me hangers when the laundry is clean, and she dances up a storm to my helpless giggles.

(I do not have Izzie help me put the laundry into the machines. They are down in the basement, not a place I want her to go anytime too soon. Tricky, scary stairs lead down there!)

Tuesday is ....Baking Day.
But you knew that already. We bake anything from cookies, to pizza dough, to a fruit crisp. The only stipulations are that it must be baked and it must be edible. As of now I do most of the mixing and measuring, but Izzie loves to pour, help me mix and taste test. Best baking helper ever!

Wednesday is .... Colouring Day
We have an art table set up in the living room with crayons for Izzie to colour at anytime. However, on colouring day we sit together at the dining table, listen to music and colour together. I pull out all of the colouring tools on this day, markers, pencil crayons and crayons. We both enjoy watching what the other is creating (a little too much sometimes) and chat while we work.

....to be continued.

Friday, March 26, 2010

this moment...

Inspired by soulemama
In her words: 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.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Pretty

An excerpt from our morning


Izzie: "Izzie pretty."

Me: "Yes sweetheart, you're pretty!"

Izzie: "Daddy pretty."

Me: "He certainly is. Daddy, come in here and give us a pretty twirl."

Daddy obliges us with a manly twirl.

Izzie: "Mommy pretty.....shirt."

Me: "Thank you for clarifying that munchkin."


Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Tuesday is....

Baking day!
And the
best part
about baking day
is
the taste test.

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Friday, March 19, 2010

this moment...

Inspired by soulemama
In her words {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

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Sunshine

The sun has been shining for a few days now, and we just can't get enough of it. All of us, including the cats!

Our snow is almost completely gone. So much that Izzie and I went to the park today. And stayed for a while! Oh it was glorious. Then we headed home....ran over a broken beer bottle and got a flat tire. And then I stepped in dog poop while walking home. But since today is baking day it turned into a great day with delicious homemade pizza and apple crisp. Nom!

Link time!
Trying to get someone to watch this movie with me. Anyone? Anyone? Oh, and to drink French red wine while we do...

I used to be a theatre geek. I would perform a 3 hour show (sometimes as the lead, sometimes not.) for two weeks and be so wiped and gross by the end of it. This just blows my mind. Never mind the audience, what about the actors?

I want to try this recipe...and this one.

Everybody else seems to be talking about this video, so I will too.

My dream kitchen.

I have been looking for a new purse for a long, long time. I could never afford this or have the patience to make it, but a girl can dream.

Because of my friend C, I am now addicted to the show Bones. Nards.

And lastly, tomorrow is St. Patricks Day. Here's a few tunes to get you through.

Friday, March 12, 2010

this moment...

Inspired by the always inspiring soulemama

In her words {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

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: BROOMBALL!!

A wonderful way to spend a "stuck inside" day.







Tutu optional.

Monday, March 8, 2010

What I Love

Today;
Chopping garlic by hand. I have a garlic press....I never use it.

A clean kitchen.....sigh.

That we as a family use the plates from my childhood.

Happy, sleepy kitties.

A window full of finger paintings.

The (slowly) disappearing snow.

What do you love today?

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Painfully...

..cute


Man, that Santa hat is getting a lot of mileage.

Friday, March 5, 2010

Painting Together

And surviving...

Rhythm is a very important part of our daily lives. Every day of the week has a special activity that drives our day. Friday is painting day.

I have been working very hard on calming my inner crank since we started painting.

Today we ventured back into painting with a brush.

I took the advice of Rahima Baldwin Dancy (love her!) and started with one colour and one colour only.

(Fingers just had to make contact with the paints.)

We painted for a good long while, then we were done.

No spazzing, no crying, no cringing. Just fun.

I think the matching headbands may have helped. Or not...

Happy Friday to you all! Enjoy your weekend.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Wordless Wednesday: Kilt!

These pictures were taken the morning of the Winnipeg Scottish Festival. The same festival where I first met Phil! (Nana brought this kilt back from Scotland. It is the Dress Gordon tartan, our tartan.)


(And a shot of Izzie wearing her protective earmuffs at the festival. Bagpipes are loud!)

Monday, March 1, 2010

It's Monday

And we had a wonderful weekend full of biking, adventures and family time. The temperature here is reaching balmy temps, above -10 Celsius, leading us outdoors. Sigh, I am getting excited for spring.

And in that vein of thought, here are some links!

Rhythm of the Home has their new spring edition online, lots of crafts and articles. Check it out here.

Because of this, we're changing how we do things around here. More on that later.

I would totally buy this if it was legal to have chickens in the urban center of Winnipeg....and if I could afford it.

As always the hubby and I are talking about moving someday. This is where we're thinking now. Oh, and here of course.

Because of this post, I think I now have the courage to spin my own wool. And the birthday requests to back it up!

Izzie and I are at odds for our music selection when we go upstairs. I want to play this, she wants/demands this.

This picture makes me long for a itty bitty baby to make it for.

And we finally found some pine cones to add to our nature table. Pictures and story to follow.

Happy Monday to all.