simplicity for the holidays...

I can't bring myself to play Chistmas music yet.  There may only be 40-something shopping days left until Christmas but oh so many things to come before that I just can't get into the spirit of things just yet.  That being said, I do have some projects in the works for gift-giving and in spare moments have thought about what traditions we might like to begin this year (our first in our own home with kids).  Ah, yes.  Our new home.  Perhaps the biggest change taking place in just about two weeks.  We're wrapping up our time here at Matthew House Ottawa and will be moving into our first home.  Scary. Expensive - but we are so looking forward to it.  We have really enjoyed our time here and will miss it - but our family needs are changing now that I've begun homeschooling and we're expecting our third baby in March 2012 :) Yay. 

And so, with so many big things on the very near horizon and so many decisions to make (paint colours, furniture, and art, oh my), I'll be striving for a simple family holiday.  Cinnamon buns. Apple Cider.  A few presents. Excellent coffee with a chocolate at the bottom of the mug. A turkey  - or maybe a ham.  We haven't had pork in so long.  There are other traditions I'd like to start with our family, but this year it is family time we need.  Rest and time together.  I fully intend on breaking out the Christmas music as we paint the walls and unpack the boxes.  I think I'll be ready to enjoy it then - and the holiday to come.  

What are your holiday plans or traditions you are beginning or continuing this year?

working through a day of remembrance...

On this day, the eleventh of November, when everyone remembers and gives thanks to those who have died for our freedom, I am conflicted.  Because they also killed for our freedom.  It is not that I am not grateful for the sacrifices of life and health and family and friends.  I am grateful.  But there is a difference between laying down your life for others and taking the life of another.  I just don't know how to feel.  I see Jesus dying on a cross, I hear Jesus teaching to love our enemies.  I see Jesus commanding us to take care of the needy, to bind up the brokenhearted, to love our neighbours as ourselves - regardless of the dictators of the day.  Being a pacifist is not being a passive-ist.  It means to bring peace, to lay down the sword.  Being a pacifist means valuing the life of the person who wants to do you harm as much as you value your own.  Remembrance Day is a solomn occasion where the world remembers our victory and cost to achieve it. It reminds me of a time when the Church stopped listening to Jesus.  For if the Christian nations of the West and the Christian nation of Germany had been following Jesus' teaching - there would have been no armies.  To remember is to work for peace.

This year, we are celebrating Martinmas,  The feast day of St. Martin of Tours. He started out as a Roman soldier until one day, as legend has it, he saw a beggar at the city gates, freezing with cold.  He cut his red woolen cloak in two and gave half to the beggar.  That night dreamed he saw Jesus wearing the half of the cloak he had given away.  Jesus asking him if he recognized it, which he did and realized he must convert and devote his life to Christ. 

When he was around 20 years old, he had a military victory and was to go before Emperor Julian to receive his reward.  He was moved to refuse the bounty, saying "Up to now, I have served you as a soldier; allow me henceforth to serve Christ.  Give the bounty to these others who are going out to battle.  I am a soldier of Christ and it is not lawful for me to fight."  Emperor Julian accused him of cowardice and had him imprisoned until a truce was called.

This year we will make lanterns and bake spice cake and read his story as a small way to reflect the values we hold most dear to us - compassion, selflessness, peace.  To remember to give them causes worthy of giving their lives for- but not worthy of taking those of others.  It is a journey for us as we work through this peace-teaching of Jesus.  

Tell me about Dragons...

From the mind of my four-year-old:

A dragon can fight tigers.  He can spit fire and eat people.  They can run around and fly and flap their wings and scare other animals and step on other people.  They live in Africa - called Dragonland. Their favourite things are to fly down and run around and change into different colours (like blue and red) or change into different animals or kids, and take a nap.  And write a list for their mamadragons.  They like to collect sea shells and treasures.  They are bad - they can only scare people - but not me.  I like dragons but I only like happy dragons.  Most of the animals I like are scary animals.  I feed bad dragons when they say "I NEED SOME FOOD!"

Yarn Along

Joining Ginny over at Small Things with Yarn Along.  This week I have finished up Isaiah's Christmas socks.  I'm just so proud that I finished a pair of socks on (actually ahead) of schedule.  Colin's socks from last Christmas still look like this...  Ah well, maybe I'll get them done for next Christmas.  Or never. :)  I'm reading Paddle to the Sea with Isaiah for his "school" right now.  Great descriptive language.

Also on the needles is my Tea Leaves cardigan (which I love) and hope those little poorly knit stitches in the body block out.  A Tiny Tea Leaves cardigan for my tiny Lulu (which I also love) is also in the works.  I'm almost done the second thrummed mitten as well.  Good progress on the knitted items in the last little while.  Rainy days spent indoors with sicky kids seem to allow for more time to knit.  There's that silver lining.

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Thanksgiving Weekend at Camp IAWAH

Ropes Courses

Trust Games

By the end of the weekend we were all a little tired

Pie always helps.

And sometimes you just need to get to bed as soon as possible...which means supper in the tub.

I have been feeling guilty for not writing here lately.  It is not for lack of material - but for lack of time.  I thought some photo highlights from our Thanksgiving at Camp IAWAH would help me get back into the rhythm of posting.  Thanksgiving weekend had the most beautiful weather in history and we spent as much of it outdoors as we could.  Naturally, the kids picked up colds from all of the sharing of toys and germs from new friends, but it was all worth it.

Pumpkin Picking

The weather has turned here and brought with it lots and lots of rain.  A couple of weekends ago the weather cleared just enough for us to drive out to Miller's Farm and pick up our annual pumpkins.  One for carving and two for pies. yum. 

See the full gallery on Posterous

~ this moment ~

Joining Soulemama and her readers in "This Moment." A moment from the week I want to pause, savour, and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your "moment" in the comments section for others to find and enjoy.

Elving in September...

I don't know about you, but for me, the start of September not only means county fairs and corn on the cob but it also means the start of picking and choosing the handmade Christmas presents for the fast approaching December.  The turn in the weather inspires me to pick up the knitting again.  I find myself going through the December archives of the blogs I love to see the crafts and gifts of years past.  I get a bit delusional when I actually start to plan my own Christmas projects.  I usually end up overhauling my "to do" list a couple of weeks before Christmas.  This year we will be moving into our new house at the very end of November which is going to make finishing handmades a bit interesting.  I have some great projects lined up and some almost finished already.  I hope to share some of the process and the finished projects here as I go. I have to be a good girl and plan and actually execute these projects well in advance if I have any hope of finishing them all before our first Christmas together as a family in our very own house.

Bit of Summer, Bit of Fall

Labour Day weekend was a lovely blending of summer and fall activities.  Saturday was sunny and hot and we headed over to Saunder's Farm in Munster, ON.  It is a farm with everything from miniature houses for little people to giant "jumping pillows" for the big kid in us all.  The day was so hot but we managed to accomplish what we set out to do: have a fun day with the kids, have a picnic, get a bit wet and stay outside as much as possible.

Sunday it rained and we had a quieter day with a cleaner set of rooms by the close of it.  Monday was a perfect fall day - overcast, cool and perfect for the orchard.  It is wonderful to see those rosie apples waiting to be plucked.  The Cannamore Orchard was a bit of a drive so we were happy to see they had a wagon ride and other family activities to make a day out of it for the kids.  I picked apples, Keith took pictures and the kids, well...despite a few admonitions of "Don't pick the green ones!" and "Out of the flowers!!!", they basically did what they pleased and loved every minute of it.

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moving...

Hi Folks!

I'm moving my blog over to darciedow.posterous.com.   Blogger was having a very hard time importing my posts to facebook and posterous looks like a fun site to try so you can find me over there.  This blog will (actually is required to) remain here and the posts may show up here as well from time to time.

Hope you'll come on over!
Darcie :)

this moment

Joining SouleMama and her followers in this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Summer dresses for Miss Lucy

My dear friend Jasmine bought me this book for Christmas and I have been waiting for the time, inspiration, and fabric to make some cute clothes.  True to myself, when life got busy, Darcie got crafty.  Call is escapism, if you will.  But last month I found the time and made these two adorable dresses for my wee lass.

The first I actually made twice.  The trouble with sewing after the kids are in bed is that you can't measure them. So, the first attempt turned out too tight around the chest and will go into my gift/in the event of future children pile of stuff until I decide what to do with it.  

Sorry the pictures aren't better.  Have you ever tried to take a picture of a 2 year-old who felt pretty?

I made it - well, both of them actually, from the fabric I received from Keith's late grandma.  It is so pretty and was asking to be sewn into a dress for a toddlergirl.  The straps are too long and I need to fix them but it is otherwise satisfactory and I made it in 3 hours.  I was quite proud of how this one turned out.

The second was a nightmare in some ways - but oh so simple in others.  It was my first attempt at shirring - or smocking.  The book talked about doing it like it was no big deal - like it shouldn't mess with the tension on your machine - having elastic thread on the bottom and regular thread on top.  The machine I was using kept jamming and was very ornery about the whole thing.  Since my machine was seized (until my father-in-law came to the rescue) this little dresses was side-lined for a long time.

Once I had my machine back it too me about two hours.  And since it is smocked, it fits perfectly.  Although those straps are too long on this one as well...okay..so not "perfectly" - but close enough for me.  If Lucy didn't already have a closet full of summer hand-me-down clothes, I'd make 7 of these and she would wear one every day to play in.  The fabric I bought at value village for $2.99 or something and I've made a baby blanket as well as this dress.  Not bad :)

Notes from the Garden

I thought I should post a few pictures of our garden.  Don't laugh - I'm actually quite proud of it.  Here are some things I've learned from my first season of vegetable gardening.

1) The herbs are LOVING the direct sunlight they are getting - and are uber convenient being right outside the kitchen door.

2) Don't wait too long to reseed if the seedlings are a no-show.  There is no point in restarting peas in mid-July.

3) Don't wait too long to stake your pole beans if you don't want them to wrap themselves into an enormous mess around whatever plant they can get a strangle-hold on.  Sorry raspberry bushes.

4) Do not wait too long to do the second planting of lettuce.  If you do, your lovely sweet plants will bolt before your new ones are out of the ground.

5) Peppers love big containers.  So far the bugs have done minimal damage. I even spotted a happy jalapino pepper this morning.

6) If you don't have a sandbox, keep a row or two clear for toy car expeditions and random excavations for worms.

7) You can never have too much rhubarb. ever.

Happy Herbs

Cherry Tree 

Hopefully we'll get a pumpkin out of these...

Berry Theif

First Peas

Other peoples' bountiful gardens

Matthew House really is in full bloom - with flowers, fruit and folks.

A Birthday Gift...

There hasn't been a lot of overly-productive crafting going on here lately.  Matthew House is busy and full and there is a growing garden to tend and two very busy kids to play with and all of that glorious sunshine that has caused me to put down my lovely sweater knitting and pick up sock knitting. Naturally, new socks - not the navy blue ones I was supposed to finish in time for last Christmas.

But, in spite of the slow knitting and the nightly game (or two) of Age of Empires III I've been playing with the Keither, I found time to make a little boy a birthday present.  A friend of Lucy and Isaiah had a birthday party this Saturday and instead of buying him another plastic toy I thought I'd springboard off of the wonderful gift idea my friend gave to Isaiah for his 4th birthday and do up a Fort Kit for this next birthday boy.

I didn't use a pattern for the backpack but made it out of some fabric I picked up at the thrift store.  It was very easy and I'd be happy to write out detailed instructions for any of you who would like them.

Inside the bay is a bedsheet with long fabric ties at each corner and on the sides so it can be tied to trees, decks, chairs, etc.  There is also some rope and some clothes pins.  I hope he likes it.  I know Isaiah LOVES his. (Thanks again, Diana!).  She got the idea from a blog but I didn't ask her which one, sorry.

Hope you make your own Fort Kits for the burgeoning adventurers in your life.

this moment

Joining SouleMama and her followers in this moment - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Sunset Ceremonies

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Keith & Darcie Dow <keith.darcie@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 29, 2011 at 1:53 PM
Subject: Sunset Ceremonies
To: darciedow@posterous.com

One of the great things about living in Ottawa, Canada (and there are many) is the Canada Day celebration. The Nation's Capital is be greatest place to be to feel the patriotism, see the diversity, and experience the nation united in fun.  This year we won't be heading downtown for the festivities as we expect it will be even more crowded and crazy than usual, what with Will and Kate, the Royal Couple, in town.  mayhem.  However, there are many activities to go to that don't happen right on Canada Day that we can participate in.  For example, last Sunday night we took the kids to the Sunset Ceremonies at the RCMP Stables.  I had never seen the Musical Ride before and had only seen Mounties a few times around Parliament or in passing.  Typically, in American TV they are portrayed as 6-foot-tall men in the red surge, big hats and funny pants saying "Aboot" and "Please" and "Eh" in heavy repetition.  Truthfully, we Canadians do tend towards the extreme in manners, many of us do say "Eh?" and the Mounties do wear that funny uniform.  They are also a national symbol of sorts for honour and dignity and general uprightness. I do like the Mounties.  

For those of you who have no idea what the Musical Ride is I'll include this short video clip - although the pictures are much better.  We were on the right side of the arena for family pictures but not for horsie pictures.  I do apologize.

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Conversations with a 4 year-old.

On the way to church Keith thought he take advantage of a "teachable moment" with Isaiah and try to teach him a new "day of the week".

Keith: Isaiah, do you know what day it is?
Isaiah:  Play with toys day!
Keith: Well, yes, you're going to get to play with toys.  But do you know what day of the week it is?
Isaiah: You don't have to go to work.
Keith: That's right, and what day does Daddy get to stay home on?  What is the name of the day?
Isaiah: Hannah.
Keith: No, not Hannah.
Isaiah: Uncle Trenton.  David.
Keith: (laughing)  No, it starts with an "S"
Isaiah: Saturday!
Keith: Yesterday was Saturday, so today is..ssssss
Isaiah: Saturday!
Keith: Yesterday was Saturday, today we are going to Kidmax.  What day do we go to kidmax on?
Isaiah: Saturday!
Darcie: Sunday, Isaiah.  If Kidmax is on Sunday and we're on our way to Kidmax, what day is it today?
Isaiah: Saturday!
Keith: Isaiah, see that big bright ball in the sky?  What is it called?
Isaiah: The Sun!
Keith: That's right, the sun.  So today is Sunday.  Do you know what tomorrow is?
Isaiah: Cloud Day!

:: right now ::

Right now I am...

~ smiling at how cute it is that Lucy has now named two of her babies "Sophie" after the little girl we met at the beach on Saturday
~ marveling at how many words come tumbling out of that small face each moment she is awake
~ hoping I remember this phase of Isaiah's homeschooling where is he so excited about letters and constantly asking "What does that start with?".
~ realizing he won't always be this exciting about learning everything
~ remembering the look on Lucy's face when I caught her putting on my make-up this morning
~ grateful for Keith and what he brings to our marriage and rearing our kids.  I am so glad I am not in this alone.
~ humbled by the sermon last Sunday
~ naively excited about the prospect of camping with our kids
~ smelling fresh bread
~ rather amazed at how much can get done when you embrace a rainy day indoors with your kids
~ happy to see the little green heads popping up in the garden rows
~ enjoying my busy hands and my full heart...and a little bit of chocolate brownie.