46/52

  "A photo of my little man, once a week, every week, in 2014"

 

Reece, our favourite place to be, in nature. Sometimes we go alone, just the two of us, other times daddy joins us. On this day, we were with friends, exploring, wandering and just enjoying the beauty around us.

Joining Jodi for the 52 Project

Connected to the Past

Over the last few months, Reece and I have been slowly making our way through the Little House series, following the Ingalls family through the trials of moving west into unknown territory. Each night we read a few chapters as we snuggle in Reece's bed. As I read the struggles the Ingalls, and the other families, faced I am connected to the past in a strange sort of way. Most of you know that we live in an old schoolhouse, circa 1878. At the time it was schoolhouse number 20, also known as New Park School. As I read about Mary, Laura and Carrie attending school in the little schoolhouse my mind is transported back to the days of our old schoolhouse. The long walk made daily by children attending school, the wagons that must have passed by in front each day, the farming that was done on the land that surrounds us. It all happened here, and we are connected to it through our home.

We have had the honour of meeting the man, who as a boy had the responsibility of keeping the fire going during the school day, and we have met the man who used to ring the bell each day. We have family names written down showing the land they used to live on and farm. We have photos of a teacher and her students taken in front of the schoolhouse (our home!) in 1930. We have visitors drop in to say hi, and check in on the old schoolhouse. At first it was elderly men and women who attended school here, now it is grandchildren and great grandchildren of those people. Reading the Little House series has given me a deeper connection to the past, a past that I never asked to be connected to, but I am.

They say when you start a family, and find your home, that you put down roots. The roots were here already, they ran deep and were, and still are, solid and strong. We didn't need to put roots down. Instead we have entwined our roots among theirs, connecting to the past in a way we never dreamed of.

Winter Solstice Hats

I love family traditions, they are such simple and joy filled ways to mark the passage of time. A tradition that we have all come to love is that of new, handmade, mama knit hats for Winter Solstice. The hats are done...one for Reece, Justin, and myself. You will notice an extra hat in the photo, a pink one, for the little one who joins us to homeschool. We thought it appropriate that she too get a hat this year since she is such a big part of our days.

Our tradition has always been to surprise Reece with his new hat on the morning of Winter Solstice, and that will continue this year. Justin and I will open ours on the same morning, and then we will put on our new hats and hit the trail for our Winter Solstice hike.

P.S. If you haven't entered this giveaway yet, you should!

Martinmas

"The sunlight slow is dwindling

My little lamp needs kindling

It shines so bright in darkness night

Dear lantern guard me with your light."

Our preparations for Martinmas began last week with the making of new lanterns, learning some new songs and verses, and talking about our own inner light and how we can share it with others through acts of kindness and love. On Saturday afternoon we gathered with friends for a lovely lantern walk in the woods. As we walked, we sang our lantern song, chatted, and enjoyed time together in the beauty of nature. Following our lantern walk, everyone came back to our home where I shared a lovely story about tending our inner light through the long, dark, cold days of winter, and then we enjoyed a delicious potluck dinner, wonderful conversation, and lots and lots of fun play among the kiddos. Coming together with other families to celebrate this festival was truly wonderful, and I was filled with so much gratitude as I looked around our home at everyone there.

If you are not familiar with Martinmas, it is the story of St. Martin. St. Martin was a soldier in Rome in the 4th century. Legend says that one wintery night he met a poor beggar, half-naked and freezing. Martin removed the heavy military cloak from his shoulders and, drawing his sword, cut it in two, and gave half to the beggar. That night, Christ appeared to Martin in a dream, wrapped in the same piece of cloak Martin had given the beggar, and said: “Martin has covered me with this garment.” Martin became the patron saint of beggars, drunks and outcasts, dedicating his life to assisting the unfortunate and downcast. Martinmas celebrates his kindness, compassion and selflessness. Lanterns are a traditional part of the celebration as a reminder of the light that shines in each and every one of us, and that we must share and spread this light.

Martinmas falls on November 11, also Remembrance Day in Canada. Over the years it has become our family tradition to be present at our local cenotaph for the Remembrance Day ceremony honouring those who have fought, and those who continue to fight, for this life we are so blessed to lead. We then head to the grocery store to buy food for the food bank in the spirit of St. Martin. This year, instead of food, we decided to buy hats and mitts, and yesterday they were delivered to a local non-profit organization that supports young mothers.

Martinmas is a beautiful festival that speaks to me on so many levels. As the years go by, I know Reece will develop a deeper understanding of its meaning, and my hope is that he comes to truly understand how beautiful his inner light is and that he will let it shine bright on those who need it most.

Morning, Noon and Night

Morning, noon and night...three little peeks into my day yesterday.

 Morning, 10:30am

 Noon, 1:45pm

Night, 7pm

  ***If you would like to play along leave your link in the comments section so I can stop by and visit.***   

Lest We Forget

With love and gratitude, I will never forget.

Mountain Girl Yarns {Giveaway}

Today I am so happy to share Mountain Girl Yarns with you. I wrote about the lovely purchase I made a few weeks ago of beautifully hand dyed artisan yarn from Mountain Girl Yarns. It is beautiful, and that fact that it is made lovingly by a dear friend makes it even more beautiful. Join me and get to know the person behind Mountain Girl Yarns.

Tell us a little about Mountain Girl Yarns. 
There is something about soft, warm beautifully colored yarn that makes my heart sing. Going to yarn shops and buying what they had to offer, I thought one day I could do that. I can come up with my own color way and fiber combinations...and I did it. After studying interior design I have a pretty good base for design and color so dyeing yarn came quite natural...I studied fiber artists that I admired and read books extensively on how to dye.  

What inspires you? 
Nature- all the colors that mother nature offers. Never ending beauty to be found in Montana where I live, the blue of the winter mountains, golden fields of wheat and the multi-colored rocks in the glacier lakes.

Oddly enough music. I am big into music so when it's dye time I crank the music and it inspires me to let go and just allow the colors to happen naturally.

How did you become a knitter? 

My grandmother taught me when I was 6 - growing up in Scandinavia it was just something you did. Past down for generations. In school I knit under my desk- as long as my eyes were on the teacher I didn't get in trouble.

If you could spend a day with a crafter/artist who would it be? 
Georgia O' Keefe she holds a special place in my heart- her sense of color and space- she was a pioneer and great great, strong woman. Her way of life, seeing beauty in nature I admire greatly and has made me fall in love with New Mexico. Her quirkiness and the mystery that surrounds her draws me in- she is a beautiful soul.

Is there a creative pursuit you haven't explored but would like to? 
Where do I start? Yes! There is so much I want to explore- very interested in Metal Arts- rustic style of jewelry with turquoise and big stones. I also fascinated with Finnish jewelry design...one day.
 

I used to be a maternity photographer which was wonderful and exiting but with all my children I couldn't stretch, now that they are older there is more freedom to explore. I have another photography project I am working on for the future...I like to have many things going on at once.

What is your favorite knit? 
It will always be fair isle because it is in my Norwegian heritage. I used to knit lots of Norwegian sweaters- but they take a long time. Now I am obsessed with fair isle mittens using either Latvian yarn from Riga or my own hand dyed- so fun and very satisfying.

One thing you can't live without? 
Not 1 but 4...family, nature, my animals and ice cream.
 

What is your favorite quote? 
"Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is none alive that is youer than you."

Dr. Seuss

Tea or coffee?

Both
Coffee in the a.m. - tea in the p.m.

Thanks so much for taking the time to share a little bit about yourself with us. It was wonderful getting to know you a little better Camilla.

You can connect with Mountain Girl Yarns, and Camilla a few ways:

Etsy 

Blog
Facebook
Pinterest

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Camilla has generously offered one skein of yarn in the colourway 

“Alpen Fleur”

to one lucky Mothering with Mindfulness follower.

To enter, leave a comment, one per person, below.

Giveaway is open until Friday November 14, 2014 at 7pm.

I will draw a winner after this time and announce it in this post.

Giveaway is open to US and Canadian residents only.

Thanks so much Camilla! 

And the winner, chosen by Justin, is:

Ducks in the Pond:
 "Oh, my goodness! I would love to win! I'm so glad I didn't miss the chance to enter. I have wanted some of Camilla's beautiful yarn for a while! Thanks Kim and Camilla!"

Congratulations!