yarn along: more hats

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Knitting

Two weeks ago I mentioned the hat project I'm working on and I've been touched by the response I've gotten from some of you out there. Thank you for offering to contribute! For those of you who don't know, my congregation has committed to making 500 hats for the oncology ward of Children's Hospital here in DC and our deadline is mid-March. They especially need hats for 8-13 year-old boys and girls that are brand new and preferably handmade (because these very sick kids enjoy seeing something made especially for them). Any type of yarn or pattern is okay (there are lots of free hat patterns on Ravelry). I finished the little slouchy hat (the purplish one above) and now I'm casting on for a cute cabled hat from Vogue Knitting Chunky Hats and Scarves.

If you are interested in contributing a handmade hat to the project, please let me know!

Books

I finished Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See and I enjoyed it; it was quite an interesting story about the power of female relationships.  The narrator and her "old same" had such a dear, close friendship that was crushed by pride and misunderstanding - a warning as to how delicate relationships can be. The background of the story was absolutely fascinating to me, too, from the description of Chinese foot binding to the hierarchal structure of Chinese families (and society). Excellent read, I highly recommend it. Now I'm delving into The Idea Factory: Bell Labs and the Great Age of American Innovation by Jon Gertner as some reading for our upcoming play creation with dog and pony dc. I'm also reading Raising Self-Reliant Children in a Self-Indulgent World by H. Stephen Glenn and Jane Nelson which has been encouraging and eye-opening. More on that later...

yarn along: hats for hope

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Knitting

Though it pains me to put aside the sweater I've been working on forever, I want to get involved in a new project close to my heart. My congregation has committed to making 500 hats for the oncology ward of Children's Hospital here in DC and our deadline is mid-March. They especially need hats for 8-13 year-old boys and girls, so I chose a fun slouchy hat pattern from Coco Knits. I've just cast on, but I think I can finish it in the next few days. Making 500 hats is a daunting task... perhaps you knitters/crocheters out there would like to help out? I've found that yarn lovers are a warm-hearted, giving bunch and I was hoping I could enlist you to contribute a few hats to our collection. There aren't many guidelines except that hats must be brand new, never worn, and preferably handmade. The hospital prefers handmade because these very sick kids enjoy seeing something made especially for them! Any type of yarn or pattern is okay (there are lots of free hat patterns on Ravelry). I can't really imagine what it must be like for these kids to have to face something as scary as cancer, but I hope that having a hat made with love just for them will help in some little way.

If you have the time and would like to contribute, please, please please do! Let me know if you're interested or have questions—I can pick up hats from locals and I can provide my mailing address for people far away. What a sweet way for our community to come together for a special cause!

Books

Mayumi is really into chapter books now, so we've been reading the American Girl, Little House and Betsy-Tacy books - whatever we can get our hands on through the library or thrift store. It's been wonderful revisiting the Little House series. As for me, I've started reading Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.  Her description of Chinese foot binding starting at six years old was heartbreaking. I understand there was an inspired-by-the-book movie made a few years ago and I just requested it from the library... we'll see how that is. I know I'm painfully slow at finishing anything nowadays, so it may be a while before I make it through this book. Making hats is my creative priority right now!

{this moment}

A Friday ritual (inspired by Soulemama). 

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.

yarn along: McCullough and little baby pants!

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

I'm still plugging away at David Mcullough's The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris. Truth is, I don't devote much time to reading these days. But what I have read I am loving. I know so little about 19th century history and the American figures who influenced what direction this country went... and it is fascinating! Knitting happens sporadically on short Metro rides and while sitting in church, but I finished two little vests and am currently working on some matching pants. Slow and steady is my motto these days!

party time!

Gorgeously decorated theme parties abound on Pinterest and other blogs. Just this morning I received an email from Mothering Magazine advertising creative parties for toddlers. I am always amazed when I see those perfect Martha Stewart layouts and sometimes I fantasize about throwing an organized, beautiful party like that. When Mayumi turned four I tried to keep it simple with a playdate party at the park with a theme to help tie it all together: ladybugs. It was a far cry from being something that gets repinned on Pinterest. MamaM was way more successful when she put together a fantabulous party for Olive's second birthday around the theme of O's airplane obsession.

They're so lovely to see, but all those lavish table decorations and fancy decorations and pressures to be witty and creative can be a bit overwhelming. And yet, when you're celebrating a special day it seems appropriate to put some love and effort into the project, right? Ah, what a dilemma.

Then along comes Naturally Fun Parties for Kids: Creating Handmade, Earth-Friendly Celebrations for All Seasons and Occasions by Anni Daulter.

Right away the book appeals to me because it is gorgeous! Inside, Anni offers ideas for 12 uniquely-themed parties, organized by season and inspired by nature. No mass-marketed plasticky-looking clipart printables here; maybe that's why is seems so laid-back and do-able. Not to mention the way she organizes all the information, with a list of projects and materials needed, as well as a timeline of preparations beginning 2 weeks (sometimes even 3-4 weeks!) prior to the event. Granted, it's not something you can just download and print off your printer the night before the party, so in that way it is not simple. But true to Daulter's conscious parenting style, she encourages thoughtful preparation that is nurturing of a child's creative spirit, as well as respectful of nature's bounty and fragility. Instead of plastic water bottle labels and fancy cupcake decorations she offers nature-inspired art projects for the kids to participate in at the party and yummy-looking recipes like rosemary-lemon cookies and cheesy faerie wands to fill their sweet little bellies. These seem like the type of party that would be pleasant and fun for both child and parent and are about so much more than fancy layouts and table decorations.

I'm thinking the strawberry-picking and jam-making party idea is in our near future. Either that, or the forest faerie dress-up party... and for my daughter's 5th birthday party next fall? The gratitude party. Just about melts my heart thinking about it! I highly recommend this book for it enjoyment of perusal, ease of understanding and planning, and un-daunting inspiration.

Let me know where you get your inspiration for hosting parties. Do you go all out? Is it the thing to do? And let me know if you check out Anni's book and what you think about it.

yarn along: Christening dress and ...

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Knitting

A while ago I came upon this little gem of a book at a thrift store: The Family Knitting Book by James Norbury, copyright 1969, London. And I fell in love with the darling Christening Robe featured on page 166. I finally got to use a stash of creamy antique Patons 3 Ply baby wool that I picked up at a yard sale. I dutifully followed the directions and cast on with size 13 needles... and thought oh dear, this doesn't look quite right. My dear friend Ginger was on hand to let me know that British sizes are definitely NOT American sizes. Thank you handy dandy conversion chart for letting me know that I actually wanted to use American size 1 needles. Makes a huge difference! And I realize that this will take me some time, considering the rate I'm going. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it will be finished in time...

Reading

I recently read The Sweet Life in Paris by David Lebovitz, recommended by my dear friend, Nancy. He is funny and observant and fills my need to hoard information about beautiful France. And yet, there is something about his sense of humor that reminds me a bit of my dad... not that it's necessarily a bad thing. But still.

Truthfully, for the past few weeks I haven't been reading at all (somehow seems to take too much energy) and have been indulging in a little discovery: Downton Abbey. I know I'm a bit late hopping on the bandwagon; it seems every woman I know has watched the past two seasons. But thanks to Amazon I was able to catch up. A fluffy historical soap opera with good writing and excellent acting? What's not to love? And I admit that there were a couple afternoons that found me too exhausted to do anything by watch a couple episodes on the computer using headphones while I let Miss Maya watch an episode or two of Diego on the TV. Admirable mothering, I know.

Yarn Along: sweaters, cowls, and a little mystery

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Knitting

I'm back to knitting another Gap-tastic Cowl because it is such mindless work (all in the round, the same pattern over and over) so I can do it while listening to a book on CD or watching the Oscars or sitting in church... very meditative and soothing. I've also started on the Broadway Coat, a little project from the September/October 2011 Crochet Today magazine. Well, "started" may be an optimistic word to use; I've crocheted a sizing swatch and am gearing up to dive into the real deal. I'm generally not a fan of crocheted clothing, but this little number captivated me and made me think maybe I could pull it off. I'm using a lovely cobalt blue Cascade wool which I hope to line in a modern vintage fabric. I'm excited and nervous to really delve into it since it is a bigger project and requires exact sizing and I'm so inexperienced in the world of making sweaters and clothes, but here's to overcoming fear!

via

Reading

Among the Mad by Jacqueline Winspear, was a fun, quick little read. It is the 6th in the British Maisie Dobbs Mystery series, which I've quite enjoyed. Fascinating time period, interesting, strong female character, engaging mysteries - makes for a good, empowering, happy read. I mostly listened to it on CD and I loved the narrator, Orlagh Cassidy, who I learned is an American actress but is absolutely amazing with dialects. A nice, light read for spring.
And I'm still chipping away at Nicholas and Alexandra. 

yarn along

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Knitting Project
various little animal toys that have been waiting to get finished up (see Monday's post!). And some new cobalt blue yarn for a new project...

Books
A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick. I mostly listened to this one on CD and I will be straightforward about this: I didn't like the narrator, the characters or the story for that matter. The writing was tepid and unsophisticated and it had an element of trashiness that annoyed me. But I finished it, partly because I had no other book-on-CD to listen to while I worked and partly because, yes, I was a bit curious about how the story would pan out. But at the end of it all, I was left completely unfulfilled. Such a disappointment to have invested time in this one!
I'm still working my way through One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp (which I am actually enjoying and finding inspiring) as well as Nicholas and Alexandra by Robert Massie (which is wonderful but long!).

Channeling Tina Fey

My friend Teabelly has been reading Tina Fey's Bossypants and sent me this excerpt. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry (the bit about acting was especially poignant for me!) - why is Tina Fey so awesome?

The Mother's Prayer for her Daughter

First, Lord: No tattoos. May neither Chinese symbol for truth nor Winnie-the-Pooh holding the FSU logo stain her tender haunches.


May she be Beautiful but not Damaged, for it’s the Damage that draws the creepy soccer coach’s eye, not the the Beauty.

When the Crystal Meth is offered,
May she remember the parents who cut her grapes in half
And stick with Beer.

Guide her, protect her
When crossing the street, stepping onto boats, swimming in the ocean, swimming in pools, walking near pools, standing on the nearby subway platform, crossing 86th Street, stepping off of boats, using mall restrooms, getting on and off escalators, driving on country roads while arguing, leaning on large windows, walking in parking lots, riding Ferris wheels, roller-coasters, log flumes, or anything called “Hell Drop,” “Tower of Torture,” or “The Death Spiral Rock N’ Zero G Roll featuring Aerosmith,” and standing on any kind of balcony ever, anywhere, at any age.

Lead her away from Acting but not all the way to Finance.
Something where she can make her own hours but still feel intellectually fulfilled and get outside sometimes
And not have to wear high heels.
What would that be, Lord? Architecture? Midwifery? Golf course design? I’m asking You because if I knew, I’d be doing it, Youdammit.

May she play the Drums to the fiery rhythm of her Own Heart with the sinewy strength of her Own Arms, so she need Not Lie With Drummers.

Grant her a Rough Patch from twelve to seventeen.
Let her draw horses and be interested in Barbies for much too long,
For Childhood is short -- a Tiger Flower blooming
Magenta for one day --
And Adulthood is long and Dry-Humping in Cars will wait.

O Lord, break the Internet forever,
That she may be spared the misspelled invective of her peers
And the online marketing campaign for Rape Hostel V: Girls Just Wanna Get Stabbed.

And when she one day turns on me and calls me a Bitch in front of Hollister,
Give me the strength, Lord, to yank her directly into a cab in front of her friends,
For I will not have that Shit. I will not have it.


And should she choose to be a Mother one day, be my eyes, Lord,
That I may see her, lying on a blanket on the floor at 4:50 a.m., all-at-once exhausted, bored, and in love with the little creature whose poop is leaking up its back.
“My mother did this for me once,” she will realize as she cleans feces off her baby’s neck.
“My mother did this for me.” And the delayed gratitude will wash over her as it does each generation and she will make a Mental note to call me. And she will forget.

But I’ll know, because I peeped it with Your God eyes.
Amen.

My Father's Bookshelf

A room without books is like a body without a soul.

~Cicero

Growing up there was always a bookshelf or stack of books in every single room in the house. While both my parents loved reading, it was Dad who was the real bookworm. All four of us kids inherited that same book hunger (well, my brother a little less so - he's more like mom and is constantly on the move) and are pretty voracious readers. We all have our own niche interests and Dad is no different; his books are generally non-fiction history, military, religious, Japan-themed or political... though occasionally he'll surprise you.

While back in New England staying in my childhood home last month I started browsing some of Dad's titles and would pick some random book to read while I ate my breakfast. One morning I pulled out this little surprise:

Longfellow's complete poems circa 1915.

Apparently belonged to my grandmother.

What a gem.

Yarn Along: Hat and Scarf

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? ~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Knitting Project: Totoro knit hat with matching scarf.
In an effort to plan ahead and be prepared for next winter, I wanted to get a headstart on this cute little ensemble for Mayumi. So far I only have the pattern for the hat, but hopefully a trip to the yarn store will result in some choice, soft wool.

Books: Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry, Simplicity Parenting by Kim John Payne and The One Straw Revolution by Masanobu Fukuoka.
My little package from Amazon arrived two days ago with my new books! I started Jayber Crow on the airplane and was reminded of why I adore Wendell Berry so much - his compassionate, warm treatment of honest, simple people in the small town of Port William is so beautiful and life-affirming. I'm so excited to delve deeper into the story, and into my other reads. Now, to fit in some reading time...

3 Things: Japanese Books for Toddlers

It's only fair that I give fair due to the Japanese books that have influenced our bedtime reading rituals. There are so many, it is hard to narrow it down to three, but here are some that we love, broken down into two categories:

In Japanese:
Umi Dai Suki by Yoko Imoto
A sweet and simple story about a family's day at the beach.

Tebukuro o Kaini by Niimi Nankichi, Illustrated by Kuroi Ken (also available in English Translation under the title "Buying Mittens")
A sweet folktale about a fox cub visiting a human town to buy mittens in winter.

Boku wa Ukki by Claudia Bielinsky
A simple tale of a little dog and his adventures during an entire day. Excellent for learning Japanese!

In English, with Japanese themes or storyline:

Suki's Kimono by Chieri Uegaki, Illustrated by Stephane Jorisch

One Leaf Rides the Wind by Celeste Davidson, Illustrated by Kathleen Hartung

Where Are You Going? To See My Friend! by Eric Carle and Kazuo Iwamura

And a few extra, because you know I'm a cheater:

A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee-Tai, Illustrated by Felicia Hoshino

Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein, Illustrated by Ed Young

3 Things: Ooh la la - Francophile Books for Toddlers

I admit, I am a shameless Francophile. When we got to choose between French and Spanish language study in 7th grade I opted for the language of l'amour. My more thoughtful and socially astute classmates chose Spanish - it made so much more sense in our community of Latino immigrants. But alas, I had images of the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame in my head. Some of my favorite books were The Three Musketeers, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Les Miserables, and a Tale of Two Cities. There was never a question...

Ironically, I have not yet had the pleasure of visiting that lovely country. Funds and vacation time have always been reserved for the costly trip to Japan - which is incredibly amazing and wonderful and worth it (I'm not complaining, promise!). But someday, I will walk the gardens in Luxembourg and eat croissants in a charming Parisian cafe. In the meantime, I'm passing on my obsession to Mayumi. Besides, it is so fun to practice my French accent!

Adele and Simon by Barbara McClintock

Minou by Mindy Bingham

Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans

Have I missed any? Let me know if you have one to add to the list!

3 Things: Toddler Books for the Budding Naturalist

I'm such a bookworm, so my contribution to our 3 Things posts have primarily been books and I'm continuing the trend here. These are books that celebrate nature, gardening, and the seasonal cycles - a perfect way to welcome in spring, though they are standard reading fare in our home all year long. We LOVE them and I'm so incredibly happy to read them over and over to my little gardener (unlike other books which require incredible willpower to avoid groaning over whenever Mayumi requests them).

The Curious Garden by Peter Brown

Children of the Forest by Elsa Beskow

The Money Tree by Sarah Stewart, Illustrated by David Small

Runner Up:
All the World by Liz Garton Scanlon, Illustrated by Marla Frazee

I'm sure you have your favorite too, perhaps some that we haven't discovered yet, so please share!

Yarn Along: Eggs, Birds, and the Great American Novel

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for the regular Wednesday Yarn Along!

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us!

~ Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Knitting Project: "Egg to Bluebird and a Little Nest, too" from itty-bitty toys by Susan B. Anderson
I wanted a little something to help usher in spring and when I saw this reversable little gem I thought I'd try it out. I'm just using some random yarn scraps from my stash since it is such a small project. The egg knit up pretty quickly and I hope to start the bird soon (I love that there is a bluebird on the cover of the book, too!). I want to make a nest, but I don't care for the one she has, so I may try my hand at the darling felted nests on Betz White's blog.

Book: Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
A few weeks ago I attended a reading by Franzen as part of the PEN Faulkner series and it was fabulous. Got my book signed and chatted with the drole author - now I just have to finish reading the book. It's gotten a lot of hype and in addition to Franzen being lauded as one of THE great American writers (and featured on the cover of Time magazine no less), my friend Kimberly insists that this is THE great American novel of our generation. THE great American novel? Well, the jury is still out, but we'll see...

Yarn Along: Clean and Checkers

Joining Ginny over at Small Things for my current Yarn Along project:

Book: Clean by Dr. Alejandro Junger

I'd been looking for a detox in my desperate attempts to nurture myself and jumpstart my fertility efforts (more on that in another post) and my acupuncturist recommended I check out the Clean Program. I ordered the book off Amazon and though I skipped most of the introductory explanation for the cleanse, I've found it to be an extension of my overall food and health philosophy; essentially, avoiding toxins, eating more alkali-forming foods, drinking excessive amounts of water and allowing your body to heal itself. I'm on week two of my cleanse and though it has been enormously challenging I am already noticing many positive effects. I've become much more mindful about what I put into my body and I'm paying more attention to what and how my body is communicating with me. The book is easy to read with lots of bullet points and helpful planning guides and recipes.

Knitting: Checkerboard from Weekend Knitting by Melanie Falick

Using some extra cotton yarn from my stash (one brand is Japanese and the other I lost the label to) I've been working on this cute little checkerboard. It's my first experience with double knitting and I find it easy to do, at least in the checkerboard pattern with two contrasting colors (soft pink and mossy green). Mayumi learned how to play checkers over Christmas holiday and I wanted to give her a unique board. Originally I planned to try sewing one in a quilty-type way, but then I came across this and it has been the perfect project because I can work on it while sitting in church or watching a movie. Now I just have to find some unique playing pieces and knit or sew up a little drawstring bag to carry it all around in!

What are you working on and reading these days?

yarn along

Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a single photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link below to share your photo with the rest of us!
~  Ginny Sheller from Small Things

Project: Vintage Pixie Hat from She's Crafty using Spud and Chloe fine yarn in Cricket
Book: Colum McCann's Let the Great World Spin


As usual I am a bit behind getting some gifts completed and out the door.  Hopefully my little niece will understand, right M?  I love the look of the pixie hat and think little Olive will look adorable in it.  I've just about completed it, and along with a matching scarf and mittens, it will be a little warm ensemble for those cold mountain winters.

The book - I've just started and I am intrigued.  Pivoting around the 1970-something twin towers tightrope walk, Let the Great World Spin tells the story of all these lives intersecting in NYC.  It's won the National Book Awards and gleaned accolades from everyone in the literary world, so hopefully it will be a good read.  I'm kind of wishing I had it on CD, though, because I hate choosing between reading and knitting!  I've been alternating during my free time... so nice to have family around to make that possible!

3 Things: Books That Have Rocked My World

When I say "rocked my world" what I mean is that they had such an impact on me that I consciously made some major changes in my life because of them.  I think they've made me a better mama and a more conscientious human being,  I've stuck to non-fiction here (otherwise I could never narrow it down to three!) and avoided religious texts (scripture is a different thing altogether), so here goes:

1.  Radical Homemakers: Reclaiming Domesticity from a Consumer Culture by Shannon Hayes

I have to admit I am not quite finished this one, yet, but already I am begging my husband to read it and to consider quitting his job and moving to a farm to live off the land with me.  Okay, I actually don't really want to move from our lovely little rowhouse in the city because I love it here.  But I am doing some major soul-searching and reconsidering of my role in our extractive consumer culture.  I am convinced now that a consumer economy is NOT the best thing for this country or for its families and I am re-dedicated to urban homesteading and trying to be a productive household.  It starts with our little front yard vegetable garden and our elementary forays into canning and on my to-do list: start sprouting, fermenting and learning about top-bar bee-keeping.  But not only that, I am trying to review every single one of my purchases to see if there is anyway I can do without, get it second-hand, or barter for it.  Why?  It's not just about homemaking, it is about reclaiming our true purpose here.  It's about focusing on the most important things: working with and strengthening your family, re-establishing meaningful community relationships, nurturing the creative spirit, and avoiding the distracting and anesthetizing affects of materialism.  You NEED to read this book.  If anything, it is thought-provoking, but I posit that it is life-changing.

2. The Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan
Have I praised this book enough?  Michael Pollan breaks down our American food culture and re-enforced my decisions to eat organically-grown, local produce, grass-fed, free-range meats, and home-cooked (homegrown, if possible) meals.  I must admit that this book didn't necessarily change my life, since I've been essentially striving to eat this way for years, but it distilled all this interesting, amazing information about why it is so important to do so.  Even my dad, lover of SPAM and fast food and cheeze whiz, read this book and grudgingly admitted that it was interesting (though I believe it failed to convince him to abandon his naughty food habits).  I firmly believe this is information everyone should have, and then they can make their food choices accordingly.

3. Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto
I am a product of public education and I was a little skeptical when my friend Ginger thrust this book into my hands, urging me to read it (she also did that with Radical Homemakers, but by then I had learned to trust her recommendations).  In this collection of essays from an award-winning teacher in the New York City public school system, I learned about how our education system is set up more to train robots to conform to corporate needs (like cogs in a machine) than to encourage true, internalized learning.  He points out how the curriculum is imposed on students, with no regards for their individual strengths, interests or needs and how students learn that following directions is more important than thinking critically, and that grades and test scores are more important than knowledge and life-application.  It is the book that essentially convinced me to seriously consider homeschooling my children, and though that is not a realistic option for most people, I think that the information presented in this book would be helpful to any parent navigating the waters of childhood education.

And because I'm a cheater, I have two runners-up.  I won't go into details, but I also highly-recommend these reads to every parent!
Diaper Free: The Gentle Wisdom of Natural Infant Hygiene by Ingrid Bauer
The Attachment Parenting Book: A Commonsense Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Baby by William and Martha Sears

And share with us what books have impacted you!

Mama Lit

You know when you're a mom it can be tough to steal away to read.  If and when the little pumpkin naps, you must weigh your options: check email, update the blog, prepare dinner, prepare your sunday school lesson, complete your work assignment, do some yoga, catch up on episodes of Parks and Recreation, finish knitting that sweater for your niece, or even take a nap yourself.  But reading is a must!  Don't you feel as though you would wither away without this retreat?

There are always several books by my bedside.  Sometimes I feel like getting lost in a novel, sometimes I need some factual magazine instant gratification, and sometimes Shakespeare beckons me.  I recently came across this list on NPR and I'm intrigued: Three Books for a More Honest Mother's Day.  It seems there is a whole new genre of books out there: Mama Lit (this was news to me!). A quick search on Amazon turned up a plethora of Mama Lit choices, from books with titles like What Do you Do All Day? to The Yummy Mummy to Yoga Mamas I see I have some fluffier options to add to my ever-expanding reading list.

I recently finished reading The Ghost Map: The Story of London' Most Terrifying Epidemic and How it Changed Cities, Science and the Modern World by Steven Johnson, Posession by A.S. Byatt and Comfort Me with Apples by Ruth Reichl .  All were delicious getaways and I highly recommend them. 

Currently I'm working through:
The Art of Choosing by Sheena Iyengar
Collected Poems, 1957-1982 by Wendell Berry
Playful Parenting by Lawrence J. Cohen

Phew!  (Can you tell I love making lists?)  I love recommendations, though.  So all you saucy and savvy mamas out there, what are you reading these days?

Wiggly Worms

It must be said that I am a worm advocate.  I love those wiggly little subterranean creatures.  I'm quite passionate about them - and as you may have noticed, I'm a bit opinionated so can't help but think that everyone else should love them, too.  If you need a bit of convincing, here are a few reasons why they have won a place in my heart:

1.  VERMICOMPOSTNG
Every household should have one of these:

The little black box tucked behind the plant is my worm bin.

It houses hundreds, if not thousands, of red wiggler worms.

They consume almost all of my fruit and vegetable scraps and then poop it out.

Worm poop is awesome.

2. BOOKS

There are some good books about worms.  I never knew they could be so interesting until I read Amy Stewart's The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms.  I like Amy Stewart - she is a writer, a nature lover and an artist and she has her own blog called Dirt. 

We've also enjoyed these books for kids:

Wigglin Worms at Work by Wendy Pfeffer and Steve Jenkins

and Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss

and Garden Wigglers: Earthworms in Your Backyard by Nancy Loewen and Rick Peterson.

3. KIDS LOVE THEM

I don't know why (okay, maybe because I have brainwashed her) but my daughter loves worms, too.

I don't have any more reasons. I feel as though these are enough. Let me know if I've convinced you...