While Tangerine Dreams

Half-Job Hajduk

That's Craig's sweet little pet name for me. Hajduk was what they called me before he paid my dowry (or did I have to pay his? I can't remember. My brain's so fried these days). Everything's all kind of half job these days. Just trying to roll with this variety show they call Nap Time.  I can't help it, but the more I decide to stave off some of my crafting pursuits to embrace the calling of homemaker and rock the roll of family rock the more I get these borderline insane surges of great ideas that I need to materialize now or else the world's going to implode unto itself. So up there in my machine I have a ensemble idea coming to life (think neo-back to the lander yet looking cute gear) very slowly. Or quite quickly considering my alloted five minute chunks of time at the machine. The commotion of the machine wakes up the little critter from his naps. Greaaat. The debut of my second Etsy shop will thus be delayed. Somewhere between a month and twelve years.

Here's another Half-Job speciality area; the knitting department. Especially the knit-along beast. Anything-along really get's an extra Half-Job dose. Does that make it a Full-Job then? Up there too is my Soule Mama-wannabe attempt at making a vest for Kale. I might have to upgrade to the original adult sizing because of Kale's, ahem, girth. In between all of this, I'm researching and applying for various aspects of Edie's homeschooling journey that will probably begin in the Fall. Good thing I'm treating myself to a seven week long yoga series exploring the chakras starting tonight. I'm hoping this will help muffle the little big idea voices in my head. I'll resist the temptation to tip toe out the door half way through the practice mouthing out I have to go to my guru while pointing at my boobs. You know it wouldn't be a post around here without ending with the word 'boobs'.

Back to the Grind

Oi! Stink foot! Think I'm going to suck it! We're home now, safe and sound - back from a whirl windy family visiting trip. Though homesick, I got to sit back, knit and bask in the glory of my Mom's Peruvian cooking. Love being back to the day to day routines I love and thrive in though. Here we are back to starting the day with Kale adjusting Craig in a morning yoga practice while Mama finishes her coffee and online stuff - parenting's my yoga these days. Edie's up a few hours later (sleeper-inner!).

And of course, Barney. In case I forgot to mention, Kale and Barney have a special thing going on. They really missed each other so while we were away visiting family - many of whom got to meet Kale for the first time. The reunion between these two was bordering on making me jealous. Meanwhile, it's been hot here so we try to spend the remainder of the day eating, cleaning up after our eats, hanging out and creating in the coolness of the strawbale walls. Love!

And guess what this is. It's a felted pencil case coughing up a handspun fur ball! I call it Barney. Just kidding. This is Petunia; your friendly hand-spun in a felted bag gifty gift! Two more colourways are in the fiber pipes and will be listed in my shop over the next couple of days. Off to crank off some bloomers for sale too! Deets to follow in my newsletter due out next week. Stay coo.

Yarn Asana's Mine

We have a pretty steady morning rhythm here I find quite comforting. Typically, I wake up first, (my first thoughts being the realization that these are probably the last couple of months of eking out some quiet morning solitude). I make my latte breve - though they're getting shorter and shorter as Craig gently guides me to smaller and smaller mugs to use. Primarly to coax out a mellower kid but mostly to avoid me chucking out a third of my brew. I usually drink my morning coffee until Drippy starts his morning kicky dance. And the dance is happening sooner and sooner.

Craig then has a clean glass of spring water from the mountain out on our backyard (hey, I use the same though it's mixed up with some gorgeous black beans) and then slips out into the front deck for his morning practice. While he does his asana routine I take pictures, spin in my office or sit here at the kitchen table and do my "work". I took these pictures for instance on some yarns I whipped up over the weekend. I needle felted these flowers while watching The Business of Being Born (I 'won' it on Ebay - Yay! Craig loves it when I say that). Oh. MY. Gawd. Every woman thinking of having kids and their partners must see it. No. Everyone must see it. Produced by Ricki Lake after the homebirth of her second son, it really raises some profound points on the direction humanity is taking when we don't consider the social/spiritual implications of leaving such a natural process well enough alone when there is no real emergency need for intervention. Really educational on the history of American attitudes and practices surrounding birth.  I brought it over to our knitting circle last night and we watched it together. And cried. Okay, only me and Edie's doula cried but still.

I digress. Watch it if you can. SO I threw these flowers on both Blueberry Flower Fairy and Sheet Dreams - a thick and thin Blue Faced Leicster spun up with the other pillow case that matches Edie's Good Sheet Pillow Case dress. I'll throw those up on my shop later. I'm trying to get a nice inventory going for the beginning of September. There's an epic Garlic Festival that goes on that I plan on sharing a table with my friend Jane at. She dyes, spins and then machine knits these gorgeous sweaters so we figure that would be a nice complement; yarn/sweaters. Busy bee. I'll do actual yoga with Edie when she wakes. Craig, if you read this, that little blue mug is waaaay too short.

Drippy, Edie and Me in a Tipi (and Dada too!)

It was that time of year again. The Family Yoga Retreat at tipi camp. You guys should come next year! The kids love it. We opted out of the tipi accomodations and stayed in our three man tent instead. Next year we'll have to upgrade to a tipi to fit our multiplying selves and various knitted and knitting items.

It's a nice opportunity to lay off the meal making and dish washing routine and just settle into just being with the family and other families and look forward to some yoga-ing if you're so inclined. The meals, like last year, were so incredibly nourishing, tasty and seamlessly flowing from one snack to another.

All about the food these days. That and lounging around all sloth-like. And getting a little massage in a little tipi. Thankfully, next year there's plans to offer a stay put a little longer option that I think we need to take them up on. I was just getting into it and then; okay, bye now!

 

Check out where all the yoga was happening! I heard Craig and Edie talking when he was putting her to sleep and he asked her what her favorite part of yoga camp was. She said the kid's yoga.

Look at my little downward dogger! Itty Bitty Edie Yogini!

How I Spent My Summer Holiday...

First of all, thank you all soooooo much for all the way to goes last post. It warms me all the commoderie to be found in this bizarre world called blogging (so hard to explain the beauty to non-bloggers without sounding like a freak). I love you guys.

We attended a Family Yoga Retreat this long weekend not too far from us, a short ferry ride then water taxi trip. There was full-on catering and tippi accomodations if we were so inclined.

We spent the four days swimming, attending three yoga classes a day (Craig and I took turns, there was a kid-friendly one too), eating amazing vegetarian fare prepared by the staff (no dishes, yay!) and just basically goofing/lounging around. Edie got to hang with some yogi kids and even made a new best friend (Craig's backpack lost its status, yay!).

One Drama Queen moment I'd like to share because you know, the beauty of blogging. When we were almost at the camp a feeling crept up leaving me to believe on a 65% level that I left the iron on. I called three neighbours to peep through my basement window to confirm it either way. I'm somewhat more embarassed of the thought that the locals think I iron before a camping weekend. It was, of course, to iron out the seams of Edie's hemp poncho I whipped up for her right before our trip. You know, to protect her alabaster-like skin. Like right before. Thus I left the iron on, perhaps. Luckily, our friend was able to jimmy a window open, crawl through, crawl back out the way he came to report back, right before I lost my yogic cool that I indeed unplug it. I thought so!

 

We had a frog living on top of our sleeping quarters,our tent, again. This happened throughout my pregnancy when we'd stay in the Horniman Trailer. Little critter kept waking us up at 5:00 am. We believe it's Edie's power animal. Can't you see the resemblance?

Sweet greens...

Fart Farm

I have been busy. This time of year is typically my busiest season with Do Be Clean plus I'm back into teaching yoga which has been such a saviour in keeping some element of balance in my life. Not to mention it gets me out of the house once in a while.

Above is the building I'm teaching out of. It's nestled in a patch of property known as the Art Farm. Because my class is running through the supper hour I called the yoga cd Craigy made me "Fart Farm". You know, you're digesting, you're twisting, you have yourself the makings of a Fart Farm.

I've been crafty too. While crafting and whipping up lots of soap I've been listening to lots of podcasts including Cast-On, Lime n Violet and Sticks n String. I'm still exploring the plethora of podcasts out there. I don't know if it's because of early onset of cabin fever but loving the sound of a human voice while I create. Of course this has got me thinking I would love to have a podcast to call my own. Craig thinks that's not the greatest idea cuz Mommy's time is stretched pretty thin these days but don't you think the world needs a podcast talking about knitting and crafting while taking breaks to do yoga once in a while? Or does that sound too tiring? I guess I'm still trying to incorporate my yoga and crafting life together somehow.

When I have a moment I'll be taking pictures of some finished objects and will be sharing them soon. Until then, might I direct you to my updated website? I have displayed my full soap collection available plus links to my new Do Be Clean blog to keep customers in the loop on specials, promotions contests and such as well as to this blog here. Just for fun.

Mind-Foolness

As you can see I added to my list of books I'm reading. Mindful Knitting by Tara Jon Manning. So far so good. Coming to me at the perfect time. First of all because I have been quoted recently by a local weekly publication as saying "Knitting's my new yoga!" (I was quoted as "one relaxed member" of our knit club - so you can insert flacid woo woo joke here). Secondly, because I've been letting my yoga practice slide these days due to my chronic crafting it's nice to be reminded that with a little intention my projects can still transport me to that sacred place where my mind, body and soul can swim in liberating stillness. Of course with reminders come the tests from the Universe. And so far I've been failing.

Failing to remain in the present moment (and this stuff only seems to happen when Craig's  out of town) results in Edie falling to help mommy remain in the present moment. First at the chiropracter's waiting room earlier this week (I won't get into it but totally my scatterminded fault - faceplant resulting in bit lower lip) and then last night I forgot to put her "bumper pillow" at the edge of the king size be we all share and >boom< at 4:00 am she fell off the bed. Oh. My. God. The sound. The guilt. The tears. The worry. The reminder.

This book comes at a good time. I need to stay more chill and quiet that monkey chatter some before I do some serious damage to my little Tangerine. Oooo, ooo, ooo (monkey sound effects).

Green Machine

I joined a new Flickr group created by Curious Bird. Collages of Colour. Funny how this collage excercise brings to my attention how I'm always surrounding myself in green in this chapter of my life. New beginnings. Especially in my knitting. Come to think of it, even my "K-is for Kathy and for Knitting" bag is quite obnoxiously green as you can see for yourself:

This was one of my first ever knitting projects so that explains me looking a little "MRF" (for any of you who also think that Arrested Development is only the best show EVER! - for those of you  who don't know that yet MRF stands for "Mildly Retarded Female" - Charlize Theron's special guest star appearance character).

I guess we can safely lable it Apple Green. My world's colour right now. The first colour Edie Tangerine has ever seen. I like it.

I start a knitting class on Sunday. Again, at my new favourite LYS, Make 1 Yarn Studio - half owned by Indiegirl of Indiegirl Knits. Super stoked! Saturday, instead of my usual SnB get-together I am joining Edie's favourite babysitter, Nivine - who's so Divine, for a morning yoga class. I need to balance my life here. Less online, more Divine!

But first, I'd like to show and tell what I will be posting on Ebay hopefully next week in case there are any takers reading:

A hemp baby sling (Little Star):

And a tv baby monitor my mom got me after she asked me if I wanted one and I said no thank you (never used - brand new). God love her:

Have a great weekend! Get lots of knitting done!

Next Big Tape Thang

This is what I scored from Knitmum through swaparama at Knitty coffeeshop - for soap of course. I remember looking at the Tape Thing book a long time ago and thinking "ooo, must get this for some summer knits" and now that I have it, everything I'm interested in is of the crochet family. Must learn to crochet! The Next Big Thing was a bonus thrown in exchange for a couple of Potty Mouth lipbalms. Thanks Knitmum!

So, like I said, we're probably moving here sooner than later and me and Craig had a family meeting about destashing our book collection. We're both book whores but I have to say we've both been pretty good lately but I'm totally going to get busted here seeing as I think he reads my blog. BUT! I came across these puppies on the kitchen table this morning as I was setting up my laptop and coffee:

It's kind of funny the contrast of the two sets of books, no? The Buddha book he got with Edie in mind. She's such a little bookworm. I took her in for a reading with an excellent Tarot reader in town and was told she was to grow up to be one of those sexy librarian types (tight buns, glasses. Look out when she peels them off). Totally happening already - except the sexy part. And the book to the right is one of the many yoga books he's been collecting (and reading) lately. My baby's so on the yogic path - truly inspiring. Especially in the morning when I sneak into the living room to grab the laptop and there he is looking so blissfully fierce in Warrior I, breathing his rejuvenating victorious breath, his body mildewy with pranic energy. Mmmmm. Yeah. My coffee tastes good.