Circles, the Sequel

I couldn't help myself; last week's My Town Shoot-Out theme was circles, and I can't get them out of my mind! What I was enjoying during my walk yesterday was how some of the circles I had photographed had transformed in the snow...well, that's what started it anyway. Really, I'm a bit addicted.

February 6

We ran around in the rain yesterday with a friend and his mighty redbone coonhound, Otis. We imagined it to be a spring-sort of rain, followed by hot chocolate and some good books...

Imagine our surprise to wake up this morning to lots and lots of snow...it was breakfast by candlelight for Ani and I in the blue morning light.

I got to shovel the sidewalk and then keep going for a walk in the stillness...which turned out to be filled with birdsong, wind, and more snowfall...

Intrepid fellow! Rambled in and out of my bootprint...

There was sledding and snowman-making and snow eating, and then there was a lot of this...

and some sewing - Eliza made a tunic that she fancies looks like what a knight might wear. Only it's going to have a Gryffindor lion sewn on the front of it. We're reading Cornelia Funke's Igraine the Brave...

Ani, ever the wise-crackin' sidekick, is sporting her own kind of funky robe and is flashing us the treasured gem...
Reading, cooking, playing, candles, more reading...it's been that kind of wintry day.

5 for 5

*edit - you can do this using Facebook if you'd rather, or if you don't have a blog. I hadn't thought of that, because I'm not on Facebook, but my SIL had the idea of expanding it that way, and I think that makes a lot of sense!

I'm not sure I thought this all the way through when Sarah from Homemade Homeschool posted her Five for Five Give-away, but I knew I had to enter. First because I am so constantly blown-away by her creativity and skill - she knits, paints, embroiders, cooks, and I'm certain that is not all - and am so curious to see what she will make for this giveaway. Second, because I have been needing a focus for my own creativity, something to keep me moving towards little goals I have for stretching the limits of my own makings. SO - I entered, and this is me holding up my end of the agreement:

The first five people to leave a comment on this post will get something from me. But in return, you have to do the same thing on your blog and make something for five other people. The details are as follows, and if you want to play, copy the following onto your blog and leave me a post: (as written by Sarah)

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.

2. What I create will be just for you, with love.

3. It’ll be done this year (2010).

4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that’s for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something strange.

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.

7. Send your mailing address – after I contact you.

WANNA PLAY????

Friday My Town Shoot-Out: Circles

I have really been enjoying following My Town Shoot-out every Friday on my aunt Kerry's blog, and thought I would join in as another way to challenge me to figure out my camera. This week's theme was chosen by Kerry. All photos were taken in Athens, Ohio.

Drainage pipes, with ice, next to the Hocking River

Cherry tree porthole

Can you find the gnome?

A more spherical take on The Circle - sweetgum pod

Circles upon Circle

Beeswax & Candles...and the day that followed

This was our nod to Imbolc this year...sigh. Well, there was also the cleaning of the porch, and we certainly talked about this middle place between the solstice and the equinox, but we did not get more ceremonious than this, I'm afraid. I hope one day to be more prepared to imbue these particular marking points with more meaning, but in order for me not to get completely frustrated, I have to allow for being more casual about when things happen - so, I guess we mark the middle point today, instead of yesterday, and maybe more tomorrow, or next week, or...

So, this part of the year is traditionally a time to make candles for all of the celebrations of the year. I haven't gotten quite that brave (though this post makes me want to try!), but thought we could handle the decorating of some beautiful local beeswax candles that we purchased last week at market.

We pulled out our Stockmar beeswax, of which we have only stubs and balls left, and melted them on the lowest heat (~150 f.) for a few minutes in our oven. We then let them cool until they weren't going to burn little fingers. We found that we needed to pop them back in a few times during the process, as they would harden rather quickly.

We talked about thinking of the things we cherished in the world, the things we hoped for this year, the things we dreamt of growing...

I was so impressed with how focused the girls were on this; Ani stopping to sniff deeply - that beeswax just smells so good - and pry out another ball of wax to transform into a mushroom or a cloud...She was also diligent about helping me scrape the last bits out to salvage for another project! I love that this is the type of job that appeals so greatly to her.

Eliza immediately crafted an acorn, then a peach (she has big dreams), a brilliant cardinal...and as a last hurrah, this gorgeous sun, which is my favorite of all of them.

I got to play too, but you know, there is never enough time for me! I could have done this for hours....hmmmm...you know, this would make a fantastic project for an evening with some lady friends...a glass of wine, a whole lot of beeswax...very relaxing and satisfying, I would think.

: : : : : :

When we were done, we needed to get outside, though the clouds were low and the day felt a little gloomy...

We visited the Plot 55 - Hello Comfrey!!!

Of course the girls found a project - we smelled something dead-ish (as Ani put it, "I smell meat!") and the girls were determined to find the "murderer" - Mama, it's a REAL MYSTERY! I think they are digging a trench to catch the culprit; some poor hawk or raccoon, I'm sure...

And this is how we ended the day - an evening with Dan working at school. It is always wise to let the flow flow on evenings like these, when there are no reinforcements coming! This is where that flow went...they built a city on the kitchen floor.

That Day and This

That Day

We climbed, we walked, we soaked in the sun, we snuggled and jogged and sniffled and looked and found treasures in the cherry trees along the river...we really really needed our outing yesterday.

This

Anika and I stayed home from choir today - sniffle, drip, cough, wheeze, sigh, grin - so we puttered and did our own versions of cleaning the front yard, and walked Baby down the block and back until sister came home for an afternoon of painting and Dragon Rider (we are almost finished) and tea. The last picture there shows my favorite thing to do right now with these girls, aside from exploring - sitting at our table, listening or talking, drawing, drinking tea, watching the late afternoon sun turn my daughter's face to gold...