This Path

Always walking along
Almost a thousand days
With a gorgeous Pounamu in my hand

Passing pretty wildflowers
First abundantly, now rarely
Always walking along

Ravines before my eyes
A jump might reveal another world
But the Pounamu whispers:
Always walking along

"This path will end," they say
Alas - Here I am

Sitting down on a rock now
Looking ahead

Weary

'Twas 4th Grade

4th Grade Waldorf work. Time flies. I can't believe I will be taking my class to 5th grade this autumn! 

Local History/Geography

Flounder (from "The Human Being & the Animal Kingdom")

Sometimes all it takes to express the essence of an animal is a poem. 

Watercolor Painting

I love seals. I loved reading more about them in Penguins, Seals Dolphins Salmon and Eels by Karl Koenig. I do believe that the best lessons are based on things that live deeply within us as teachers.

Nuriel's Electric Ladyland Dress

Hine is... Nuriel's Electric Ladyland Dress. (She loves Jimi Hendrix music so much that I'm thinking she might be his reincarnation. Haha!) I started  it with my Koigu leftovers, but I purchased an additional skein when I ran out but hadn't gotten to the desired length yet. I love the colors. I used Kelly Broker's Hine pattern and increased 2 stitches underneath each arm every 6th row to achieve the A-line. I love, love the Hine pattern! The garments created are so versatile. It's quite baggy on Nuriel, but I wanted it that way. It should fit her for 2 years or so, eventually becoming a tunic.

I can now tell her to smile for pictures and most often she will do so. She's such a funny girl. 

Yup. My girl. More energy than both of her brothers combined!

I picked three random buttons from my Mom's collection. It seemed that something so colorful doesn't need three identical buttons.

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day! Too bad she can't give you a hug. She brings so much laughter to my life. Thank you. I think we did a good job. :-) She loves to play with these blocks that were made from "our" 2009 Christmas tree.

By Nathan

Here are some pages from Nathan's "Middle School I" morning lesson book.

Copyright by Nathan Thomas for all images. Thank you.

Summertime!

Apparently I wrote this two weeks ago. School's all done! Yay!

Random Allover

Memorial Day Weekend. Oh ,the joy! Nine more days of school, then summer break. Thank you, Paula for making me feel okay about looking forward to it! Haha…

I’m determined to make it a “summer of blogging.” I already have way too many knitting and crafts projects planned. We’ll be spending a lot of time at my Mom’s where Noah and Nathan can spend lots of time at the pool and on the beach.

I’m looking forward to a week in Indiana – hanging with my friend Mindi and teaching a Waldorf Summer camp there (with Nunu in tow).

Other than that it will be a time to chillax. I need some chillaxing. And beer.

The excitement about my kiwifruit vine has turned into… Argh! Sparrow’s fart!  Those bloody birds! I mean, what do we have cats for? Can’t they keep the birds from eating kiwifruit and figs? Grrr.

Nuriel is so blessed. The girl swims in awesome hand-me-downs. The kitchen was a gift from a colleague. Her daughter (who is now in college) had written all over it with beeswax crayons. The story goes that my colleague was at one of  those looong Waldorf meetings that Waldorf schools are notorious for. She came home and found the kitchen covered in crayon drawing and writing. She asked her husband what had happened. Her husband said, “Oh, she asked me if she could draw all over the kitchen. I thought it was kind of cute, so I let her…” Ha! Oh, the amazing stories that travel with hand-me-downs!  

A bottle of Goo Gone and an hour of sanding later...Voila! Waldorf Heaven. And the kitchen gadgets were hand-me-downs from a student of mine…

Oh, and her hair! Crazy hair. She despises brush and comb! I predict Rastas by the time she’s three! Hard to believe this “hairless picture” was taken just a year ago:

She looks more mellow now than then. Trust me, looks can be deceiving.

So, *nine* more days of school… Oh, but I’m not counting!

Mayfaire

 May Girl.

Pssst...

Don't tell anyone, okay?

It's a secret. It's never ever happened this soon before...

But I must tell you that I.am.so.ready.for.SUMMER.BREAK.

23 days to go.

Spring 2012

Warning: Lotsa pictures. Noah & Nathan declined to be photographed for this blog post. :-)

On Friday I was informed that the Court issued a paternity order, legally making Brent Nuriel’s father. I was elated and felt so much joy for my daughter. It’s been such a long, difficult, expensive journey.

My sisters from Germany have been visiting this past week as well & we had a beautiful, nice, simple Easter. Here it goes...

Sage. Again. Yay.

With her Easter loot. (A small chocolate bunny, a chocolate carrot & some eggs.)

My sister Anna in Williamsburg. (We titled this one: Lady Liberty... Oops. Wrong flag...)

My sister Lena & Nuriel peeking into a lil shop.

It looks like the wagon is in motion, but it's actually not!

I managed to block "Silver Lining" after the boys used it to wipe up a soy sauce spill. (Just regular ole woolwash did the trick.)

A pair of socks in Malabrigo Sock. A Christmas gift for... I don't know who. I'm sure they'll find the right person.

Jamestown.

Easter Nature Table

Nathan made "toads in a hole" for Easter breakfast.

Lotsa chickens.

Nunu and her doll. Thank you, Mindi. She loves her. The doll already had an accident... got caught under a wagon wheel & had to be washed. But - as you can see - she survived it all in style!

Easter Hot Cross Buns.

And then...

Oh my. I will delete it, but I know you can still see it in Google Reader. Everything got worked out! Yay! Yay! Yay!