I scooted over to my fellow Workermade friend from Tweal and she had this written on her blog:



"I promise to send something handmade to the first 5 people who leave a comment here. They in turn must post this statement and send something they make to the first 5 people who comment on their blog post."

"The only other rules are that (i) it must be handmade by you and, (ii) it must be sent to your 5 people sometime within 2011."


So I left a comment on her blog and now awaiting your comments down below so that I can send the first 5 comments a little surprise made by me :) 


 

Little Red Robin

 Here is a tutorial for a red robin.   Birds are easy to make and look great for your Christmas tree.  I know can you believe I just said Christmas? Yes, I am already crafting for the season of joliness!

 Felt a 3 inch sausage

 Felt one end of the sausage flat for a tail

 Red under the belly

two wings and a beak and voila you have a red robin.  change up the colours and make a red winged black bird or a chickadee.

Here is another little project I worked on today, a cute little black cat.

 

Pregnancy and giving birth is such a pivotal point in a woman`s life.  I made this for a new mother.  It will be given to her by her sister.   I loved making this doll.  It made me think of my own experiences as a new mother and how giving birth to my own children was such a heart opening experience. 

With the doll comes a card. Here is the inscription...

Like a kiss from the Universe you have been blessed with child. 

May you grow as your child grows. 

May you feel nurtured as you nurture. 

May you relax and let go with every long deep breath. 

May you feel the joy of motherhood and learn from it’s challenges. 

May you see the beauty of life that surrounds you. 

May you recognize your strengths and courage in all that you do.   

You are amazing and so are your children.  

 Breathe, let go, live and let live

 

This weekend I found myself sitting in a canoe navigating through lily pads and portaging over beaver dams.  The autumn sun kept us company.  Our adventure was on private land so very few people paddle these waters and it felt like we were explorers. I love that feeling of being surrounded by trees and being humbled by natures presence.  For me it's a mediation.  As I paddle through the calm waters and gaze at the beauty around me a calmness envelopes me and I feel strong within myself.  Stress leaves me and I become boundless and free.

Our destination was a very special rock which we have visited before.  It is south facing and the sun caressed our skin as we swam in our birthday suits.  The water was cold and invigorating. 

There is no denying that we are connected to the very soil we walk upon.  In the city it is so easy to loose that connection as we are surrounded by our jungle of cement.  At night the stars are dulled by city lights.  When is the last time you immersed yourself in the presence of nature?

 

She vibrates with colour and light.  She pulses with the very life force that we draw upon.

She surprises us with colour and beauty.

I am reading this most amazing book called the Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk.   The very first page had me captured and inspired.  Here is the excerpt. I hope you are as struck as I was by it`s beauty and truth.  Love to you and yours...

Declaration of the Four Sacred Things

The earth is a living, conscious being.  In company with cultures of many different times and places, we name these things as sacred: air, fire, water and earth.

Whether we see them as the breath, energy , blood, and body of the Mother, or as the blessed gifts of a Creator, or as symbols of the inerconnected systems that sustain life, we know that nothing can live without them.

To call these things sacred is to say that they have a value beyond their usefulness for human ends, that they themselves become the standards by which our acts, our economies, our laws and our purposes must be judged. No one has the right to appropriate them or profit from them at the expense of others. Any government that fails to protect them forfeits its legitimacy.

All people, all living things, are part of the earth life, and so are sacred.  No one of us stands higher or lower than any other. Only justice can assure balance, only ecological balance can sustain freedom. Only in freedom can that fifth sacred thing we call spirit flourish in its full diversity.

To honor the sacred is to create conditions in which nourishment, sustenance, habitat, knowledge, freedom, and beauty can thrive.  To honor the sacred is to make love possible.
To this we dedicate our curiosity, our will, our courage, our silences and our voices.  To this we dedicate our lives.

Walk this Earth with purpose.

Changes

September is synonymous with change.  The days are noticeably shorter, the mornings are crisp and there is a hint of leaves changing colour.  Children go back to school and summer is behind us.  In past years I have been ready for the first day of school, craving the routine that school days bring.  This year I have been resisting the change of fall.  I have loved having Zoe and Owen at home with me taking part in daycare happenings. 


Daycare has brought it's own changes with new faces and children starting school for the first time.  We have a great rhythm going and we are loving our grove.   I often find myself feeling so blessed to be living this life that I live.  I am not saying that I don't have my moments of frustration or days of feeling blue because I do.  I am saying that in general life is good.  I am surrounded by great people and have great experiences.  To me life is all about attitude and I am committed to working on a positive one.  Here are little daycare moments:

 

Maeve is new to our daycare family and ever so sweet.

Ian showing his million dollar smile. He's quite happy to have started school. 

Children love to build and create.

Fresh tomotoes from Big Zoë's garden.

Tomatoes stewing

Homemade Pizza

This Wednesday morning has found me on a shoppers high.  I just finished pressing the Buy Now button for this beautiful camera bag from Jo Totes.  I have been carrying the same camera bag around for 20 years. When I saw this bag I immediately got bag envy and impulsively bought it.  I can't wait to get it. It will have enough room for all my lenses, wallet and now my little camera friend will follow me everywhere that I go!!! Yipppeeeeeeeeeeee.  Hurry up mail man there is an excited woman here on Anderson street.

 The Earth keeps rotating around the Sun and every year I keep getting 1 year older.  On September 3rd I turned 41. Aging is interesting, fun and scary. On one level I am so good with it.  I feel very grounded and happy with my life.  I love where I have been and love where I am going.  I have wonderful children, love my job, and have a wonderful entourage of friends and family. 

On another level I look in the mirror and the reflection that stares back is not always what I want to see. There's a few too many wrinkles around the eyes, the mouth and my girlhood is behind me.  I am definitely a woman.  People tell me you have to age gracefully.  Aging gracefully is an art that I have not yet mastered.  My body communicates it's aches and pains with a bum knee, kinks in my neck and other little messages that say: "take care of yourself".  I eat a fairly healthy diet,  do yoga, exercise and stay creative and still I cannot fend off the natural course of events.  Aging is real, aging happens to all of us. 

I think of my birthday as a kind of New Year's where I look at my life's compass, assess where I am at and decide what it is I want to change or improve. This year, there is nothing to change, nothing to improve only to be grateful for.  I have so much and in need of nothing.

On Saturday the man in my life hosted a birthday party for me at his home in the woods.  We invited my close friends and their children.  It was most beautiful and exactly me.  We swam, ate great food,  hoola hooped, and sang songs around the fire. My favorite part was definitely the singing around the fire.  Watching the glow of fire light dancing on the faces of the people that grace my life was heart warming.  The children  sat at their parent's feet stoking the fire with their fire sticks and together we sang, chanted and shared.  I am the most happiest when I am with people, connecting in a deep way.  For me singing and chanting makes me feel connected to others and the universe.  In yoga we say that the essence of all things is vibration.  As we sat around the element of fire and the vibrations of our voices joined together, I felt connected to that deeper part of me. I especially loved watching the children's faces, their intense gazes into the fire, their sweet voices melding with the adults.  It was for me a perfect birthday gift and a great way to start my year of gratitude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mouse in a House

Fall Equinox is but a month away, Thanksgiving and Halloween just around the corner.  What a great time to celebrate those great orange pumpkins that we see in the markets and hopefully in your garden.  In this workshop you will felt a mouse in a house.  The pumpkin is actually hollow which makes a perfect little house for your mouse.  This cute mouse and pumpkin take on a character of their own and make a great centerpiece for your dining room table on Thanksgiving or your nature table. 

 We will learn a short and cute story to go with your mouse and pumpkin so that can use them as props. Children love to be dazzled with a little puppet show. Come and join me and your friends in the Ottawa community for this fun workshop. 

When?

September 21 rst, 2011

Time?

19:00– 21:30

Where?

My house address will be given upon registration

Cost?

$40/person includes supplies, light snack and tea

Register at:

anniebdr@gmail.com

I just got back from 2 weeks vacation.  This year I opted on a staycation where I pitched a tent at my friends cottage in Wakefield.  Our camping spot was on a small, quiet lake and very private. This allowed the days to roll into one another where the days of the week became vague and time seemed to slow down into a slow pace.   I never realize how busy I am until I take the time to do nothing.  My first week's vacation was on my own without Zoe and Owen., while they enjoyed their "Daddy" time I enjoyed my "Mommy" time.  My goal was to relax, read, swim, walk in the woods and spend time connecting with myself and nature.  I am glad to say that I was successful in my mission.

 A Stroll in the Woods

 Found many little treasures by mother nature

Read a great trilogy

 Appreciated the simple things

 Helped a bird who met up with a window pane.  He sat stunned for about 10 minutes and finally found his wings and flew away.

On week two Zoe and Owen joined me in paradise. They were excited to be spending a week outdoors.  They get along so well and I love watching them play.  Since they have two homes they are each others constant and I am glad that they have one another.

Brother and sister hanging in the water

Lately Zoe has been showing signs of crossing that bridge from little girl to tween. Part of me is amazed at her growing up and part of me is sad.  I fear her losing that sense of wonder and magic.  I love that wonder children have for the world.  I love how they dance, sing, draw without reserve, laugh out loud and are so authentic in who they are.
During our week in the woods Zoe appeased my fears by showing that she can still connect with the world of magic.  She proclaimed to be able to talk to trees and she says they are sad for the Earth.  She wrote fairy letters and made a little fairy garden with table, chairs and a bed.  She checked her fairy sanctuary daily and hoped for a reply from the enchanted beings.  She vows to have seen a fairy once and nobody not even her friends at school can convince her that they don't exist.  I loved watching and listening to her adventures in the enchanted world.

 Fairy table, chairs and picnic.

Fairy Letters written in pencil because fairies would never write in pen.

Since we were staying so close to Ottawa we invited our friends to come and visit.   We live a busy life and often wish we had more time to spend with family and friends.  We seized the opportunity and invited our loved ones to visit us throughout the week. 

Sister Mad and niece Avery

Ian and Owen, cousins having fun

Fun in the water with friends

A visit from our furry friend :)