Such is life

We have been dealing with a bit of burnout with our living arrangements lately and everyone is counting the minutes till Mark is home on April School Vacation. At this moment his job is still up in the air. The school boeard would like to cut one and half music positions. His position has not been cut but because he has no seniority he may be bumped. It is still a waiting game. The school board will be making its decision soon. Meanwhile, we pursue our Plan B.

We have reached our monetary goals for moving. We have the down payment, and closing costs for the new house we are owner- financing. We are in the process of finding a renter for our current home for the fall, in the event that we are not able to sell it this summer. So, now we are saving money to build up our reserves.

While we are working towards our goals, we have had time to reflect on what has been good about the tough year we have been through. First and foremost, I realized that my marriage is strong. I would say, for me,that the first couple years of our marriage were a little rocky. We had Evan and moved to the country. The first year or so was a little isolating. It took a while to connect with community. It is still something of a challenge when our church, library and open play gym requires a half hour drive. However, I learned to create a rhythm to our days, find adult conversation during the day several times a week, and embraced the work of the life we have chosen. Mark has been very patient with me as I found this balance especially during some very ungraceful moments. As for this year, I have learned to let somethings go. I don't care so much about the underwear on the floor anymore. I am just grateful when he is home. We could use some more time together as a couple. But then, our whole family could use some more time together.

The other very important lesson that we have learned this year is how we manage our money. We have always been pretty frugal but there were some habits, or lack of habits, that meant that we were not really saving any money. Every weekend,now, we sit down and balance the checkbook. We both know how much money is in our accounts. We pay the bills together. We anticipate future expenses so that we can budget better for them without dipping into savings to cover them. I will admit to having some uncomfortable moments with this exercise. After we pay the bills, figure out what we need for gas, food, feed and any other expenses such as car parts or new shoes....well there is not a lot of wiggle room. But then, I realize that we put at least 500 dollars a month into the savings account.

I would say that this is our first big challenge as a family. We still have a way to go before we find ourselves in a place where the only concern we have will be what sort of barn we will be building. But I think our perspective on what is really important has changed. We love the way of living we have chosen but if we had to let it all go, we know that we would still be strong as a family. This is the most important lesson of all.

In just Spring...

Spring is about poo. I muck it. I spread it. I turn it in my compost bin.

Some would say this life is a little stinky.

But I wouldn't have it any other way:P~

This moment..is music

Simple

So, I have had this idea rambling around my head for a bit. It came from a place of fatigue and frustration. There have been a few of these lately as our current circumstances begin to wear us all down a bit. April School vacation is just around the corner and we are all needing the time together. The weekends are too short.

Anyhoo...Then I read this great post by Earth Mama yesterday and thought, well, no time like the present.

So, I am going to come up with 50 simple moments or pleasures that I have had lately. Seems like a big number but I thought that there are these moments everyday. They come and present themselves and if I am paying attention then I realize that there are many. These are just small moments of wonder, funny little things our kids say, little moments that affirm that we are doing right by our kids and partners, moments of grace or simple satisfactions.

So that this does not become the longest post in the world I will post 25 today and 25 tomorrow and my one moment post...

1. The other day I was planting spinach among the garlic. All along the row, as I was poking my finger in the soil to plant my seed, many little young earth worms came squirming out of the soil.

2. I love the smell of bread just out of the oven. Yesterday's loaves of oatmeal raison were perfect.

3.I have finished many handwork projects lately and there is a great sense of satisfaction to snip the last strand of fiber that has been woven into the garment.

4. I love that Evan is in Love with books. He does not just like to be read to but many times during the day I catch him in a quiet corner looking at books.

5. I love when Tristan comes home from visits with his dad in Portland. He gets a taste of city life and transitions back into this country life well.

6. I love that my boys, so far apart in age, are good buddies.

7. I love making a really nice dinner for Mark when he comes home on Friday nights. Evan has been reminding us that every meal together is a celebration and so we must light a candle.

8. Last night, just before dark I went to the barn to check on the sheep and caught the boys playing rough and tumble in their side of the barn (note to self, Ram-a-lama is ramming the back of the barn wall off, must get out there and reinforce it)

9. The sun toasted my face the other day, a reminder that it is time for the straw hat. It felt good to get a good dose of vitamin D.

10. There is gray in my hair. A little more than last year. At 43 I am learning to embrace the change I see in the mirror. It can be a little uncomfortable sometimes but I know that I have gained some wisdom and there is still more to learn...it is a journey.

11. There is music. Music Mark plays for Evan just before bed. Music that Tristan listens to that takes me back to my younger days. The music Evan plays on his drums and toy piano. The music Evan and I dance to in the living room every Friday afternoon.

12. There have been a few new recipes tried out. It is satisfying to see that my boys are willing to try something new.

13.As I sit in my home I can see that I am nearing a goal I had a few years ago to have a handmade home. Some pictures hanging on the wall are from friends and Tristan. Some afghans and rugs in my home are from my own hands. Some things were made by my grandmother and evoke childhood memories of handcraft lessons she tried to impart to me.

14. I am grateful to my independent kitties who share their affections and purrs with me.

15. That goofy dog, who tests my patience on the worst of days and on the best reminds me why he really is man's best friends.

16. A warm egg fresh from a chicken is the greatest gift somedays.

17. The greening. With each rain the world outside my door awakens.

18. The spinach in the cold frame has sprouted. As a sprout pokes through the soil, the shell of its seed clings to the new leaf. Soon, fresh spinach...

19.My favorite mug, found at the Goodwill, is a trusty companion throughout the day. First with the one cup of coffee, then with a cup of green tea, and then later some Iron Woman or a fine ginger tea.

20. Rainy days that keep us indoors eating soup and knitting by the fire. It is a nice transition from the hibernation of winter to have a few quiet days amongst all the sun filled outdoor time we have had.

21. Mark and Evan took a little bike ride on the tandem this last weekend. I was so surprised to see my little guy pedaling along with ease. He was having such a good time.

22. I have wondered at Evan's independence. As I work in the garden, he sits and plays in his sandbox or mud puddle somewhere. On occasion he will come and help me to plant a seed. But most often, I am hearing conversations he has with his imaginary friend George. I am reminded of Tristan's imaginary friend Nathan.

23. I can stand in the front room and see the ewes in their pasture. If they catch a sight of me they Baa. Once day this past week, while we were in the garden they were baa-ing and Evan baa-ed back:)

24. This song is playing in my mind a lot these days.

25.When Mark's car pulls into the drive on Friday evening, Evan jumps and squeals with excitement, the dog is just as excited and I am so glad to have him home.

If you would like to join in me in the exercise, please leave a link so I can read your list. I would love to read them:)

Off the needles

Life has us turned to the great outdoors but I find that I still want quiet time to knit. It really is my therapy:)I have a few projects finished that I thought I would share.

This is the vest I finished for the teen. It is the felted vest I started for Christmas. Vast amounts of stockinette stitch. It came out okay. If I make this again I will put stripes in it just to break up the back and forth of the project.

A little vest for myself. I bought this lovely Peace Fleece yarn a few years ago and started a vest to compliment a beautiful glass button that I had bartered at a craft fair I attended. I had completed the back and left front of the vest and then had to put it down to do my Christmas knitting. When I picked it up after the holidays I cast on too many stitches for the right front. I put it aside for awhile. Recently I picked it back up to finish the vest and made the same mistake again. So, I ripped it all out and started with a different pattern. It seamless and worked up in a couple of weeks. I made a few modifications to the original pattern. I love it. Just in time for spring.

I am really groovin' on these rag rugs. They work up really quick. I love the play with color. This one is nearly done and I have plans for one more.

I love this little gnome. The pattern can be found here. I made a bevy of them last spring. There are many new babies coming into my life, so I thought another batch of gnomes was needed. My trusty treadle has a new job coming up.

This is the rough sketch for Evan's birthday present. He loves playing with little trucks and blocks. I will be sewing him a play mat for this play.

Finally, I am going to call this meditation. A basket of scrap yarn and one simple knit stitch. back and forth. It has called to me all morning long. Sitting near my chair in the kitchen asking for just a few more stitches. Beckoning me to slow down and pay attention.

Hints of green

Blue Hollyhock
Rhubarb, a family heirloom from Mark's dad and grandad.
Trusty Cold Frame planted with spinach
French Sorrel
Garlic inter-planted with Spinach

One class was cancelled today. And thank goodness because we were able to spend some time outside in the mud, and garden just watching things grow.

The picture above of the rhubarb is from yesterday. When I went out today it was pretty much the same but by the time we put our tools and trucks away the little leaf was markedly bigger. Crocuses were blooming before my eyes.

We've tossed some native oats into our pasture in hopes of some early greens for our sheep and, if the weather continues on this upward trend, we may move our chicken ladies out in their tractor during the day when we are home. We had a mama fox last year that pretty well cleaned us our of hen and rooster...and duck.

I feel the sting of sun on the back of my neck from looking down all afternoon. At times I could hear conversations that Evan was having with his imaginary friend, George, while wallowing in his little mud hole. The music of his voice provided great harmony to the shush of my rake gathering leaves.

It is easy to forget our troubles on days like today. It is easy and comforting to remember that these simple pleasures are the reason we live this country life.

This moment..

I will be on the road for the next few days as I play taxi to my aspiring teenage artist. But I wanted to share this moment from this week while I sit and listen to Spring Peepers!