waldorf mama

bean soup...

one of the regular meals in our house is bean soup. we have a variety of these recipes, but our favorite is a delicious hearty navy bean soup with carrots that papi makes. of course, the beans must be sorted and cleaned first. we enjoy including maya in the preparation of our food because we like for her to understand and appreciate where our food comes from and the work that is involved in preparing it. so this is an important job that she takes very seriously - fairy wings and all!

after soaking, we will have yummy bean soup tonight!

bon appetite, everyone...

shelley

p.s.  my husband wants to know if anyone has a non-meat alternative to the hamhock called for in the recipe above? we've tried various things but we're still experimenting and would love any suggestions!

wip wednesday :: rainbow dress and shawl

i've got one completed project to show you today. and one that i've just begun. first up is the rainbow dress that i finished for maya. just in time for her first day at our waldorf kindergarten next week! i really loved knitting with this fabulous great adirondack yarn - a perfect combination of cotton and silk. and let me tell you...it is a dream to work with. this dress turned out a little more snug than i normally like, but i will size it up when i knit this pattern again (and i will definitely be knitting this pattern again). i went with a simple garter stitch hem here, but there were several options to choose from. you can find a link to the pattern and more of my knitting notes and photos on my ravelry page here.

rainbow dress for maya

the second project i'd like to show you today is a simple silk shawl that i'm just beginning for my twin sister, shannon (i'm making a matching one for me in a different color). i'm knitting this in some lovely artyarns regal silk. and i'm really liking this colorway! i think this 'simple but effective' shawl pattern (which you can find, via link, on my ravelry page here) is going to be a fun and easy knit.

shawl for shannon

happy wednesday, everyone!

shelley

summer is for popsicles...

here in texas, we know about heat. our summers regularly consist of days over 100 degrees (farenheit). and as a result, we've learned how to stay cool. homemade popsicles is one yummy way to do just that...

we eat loads of these every day. cranberry juice popsicles are our favorite right now. what's yours?

here's to staying cool!

shelley

balance...

with summer drawing to a close and our first day of kindergarten at the waldorf school just around the corner, an entirely different rhythm will be emerging to our days and weeks ahead. this is something i am very much looking forward to. but at the same time, i am mindful that it will be a time to find balance. a time of letting go, and of holding tight. a time of work, and a time of play. a time of separation, and of coming back together. a time to grow and change. we are ready! and i am thankful and grateful for the opportunity.

today's bench monday shot...

happy monday,

shelley

19...

happy birthday, sweet boy of mine...

i love you, caleb. more than words can ever begin to express!

your mama

gratitude friday...

i'd like to begin a new little feature here on my blog - something i'm going to call gratitude fridays. a day to reflect on our week and the things i am grateful for. feel free to join me if you like!

artwork by ruth elsasser

this week i am grateful for...

:: coming through an illness and fever with maya over the weekend and feeling stronger because of it.

:: homemade cranberry juice popsicles.

:: my oldest daughter picking up her knitting again and sharing that renewed connection with her.

:: a special birthday coming up on sunday.

:: cutting up fresh fruit for maya to eat.

:: knitting every day and the fun i'm having getting projects photographed and organized on ravelry.

:: a husband who helps me to remember to be grateful every day.

have a great weekend, everyone!

shelley

another baby blanket...

here is the last of my past knitting projects that i'll be adding to my ravelry page (at least for now anyway). this is a large baby blanket i made for my oldest daughter, hannah, when she was pregnant with her first baby. i chose a luxurious alpaca/tencel blend yarn in natural grey (which is incredibly soft). and i decided to knit it in a simple, but i think elegant, double moss stitch. i really loved the way it turned out...

micah's baby blanket

sort of brooklyn tweed-ish, don't you think?  ;)

shelley