Summer stuff

Sewing camp, my writing inspiration wall and Brixton's projects. 

I was able to take a writing class at the Hugo House this weekend, which was really helpful and fun. It was nice, although difficult, to carve out some time to talk about writing and strategies. Unity had Friday off for stupid reasons, (budget cuts, in a nutshell. The teachers were supposed to work unpaid and the kids stayed home. Lose, lose.) She went over to a friend's house and hung out. Later we played a bunch of games and when Brixton came home from preschool, they decided to scrub the kitchen floor together. I swear, this was all them. They did quit after about 15 minutes, but some of the tiles are definitely cleaner than they were. 

Unity also decided to sew a little pocket slash bed for her paper doll. I love the ways they find to entertain themselves. Well, except for the ways that involve wrestling with each other on my bed. That I could do without. 

First back patch

Brixton received a belated birthday present this weekend. He had asked Chris if he could have a back patch on a hoodie, just like Chris has. They picked on our together, after much discussion and debate (and a few vetoes from me. Not all metal band patches are suitable for preschool.) When it arrived they sewed it on together. 

Brixton is super pleased and loves telling people about it. Ironically, Chris tried to play the band's record for Brixton. When he asked if Brixton wanted to hear the other side, Brixton said "maybe later Dad." 

Concentration and Montessori

I've talked before about how much I love the Montessori educational philosophy. Both our kids are in Montessori schools (Unity's elementary school is a public school, so it's about half Montessori and half state standard curricula)  and I really love the ways that it helps them develop independence,  confidence and curiosity. 

They both have an ability to really focus on a project and carry it out largely on their own. Whether it's pattern blocks or sewing, or even helping fold the laundry, they will choose their activity, set it up themselves and then come and show me the finished results. 

That's not to say they never get bored, or need help, or ask me for suggestions. And I only wish our toys and materials were as organized and calm as a Montessori school. But I really appreciate what this philosophy has done for our family. 

   ah weekends. Time for us to just hang out together doing projects and listening to music. Chris and Unity made nutburgers from this fantastic cookbook. They also started a sewing project. Unity's been saying she wants to learn how to make a quilt so they found some odds and ends of fabric and started a shoo fly pattern.

And Brixton? Well any stretch of time that is free turns into the one man band show. I'm telling you, this is the show to see.

Home again, home again, jiggity jig

The bags are unpacked, the to-do list has been pulled out and the toys are all over the floor again. Yep, we are back from our fantastic trip to Chicago. And all of a sudden, summer is down to a few last threads unspooling across the floor. 

I have to remember how to make dinner again, and pull out my meal plans and my trusty workhorses. I use other cookbooks but I always come back to these. And the coffee. Nothing happens without that. 

                   

Yesterday I was at Target getting school supplies and a mom walked up and dropped a box of tissues in my cart. Her kids were laughing but really,we are all walking around with carts full of the exact same items. Totally understandable. 

We got a couple more of these too. Unity has been wearing all her party dresses, trying to squeeze in these last days of fancy. 

When I went to check out the garden for the first time in two weeks I found this: 

                                   
 It's the very first pear from Brixton's tree, the one we planted when he was born.His tree is old enough to bear fruit. I'm in awe.

Almost time for kraut.

My friend Alisa gave me a few bean seeds from her garden this spring. I planted them, not really knowing what to expect. Only one came up which is probably good, consider what this one has done.

This is the ants at the picnic dress that Chris and Unity made earlier in the year. It's a bit too big but that just means she can wear it longer, right? 

the quilt again

So Chris started working on this quilt a while ago. A long while ago.

As in, this quilt predates Brixton. 

He actually got pretty far along but then hit a part that was a little repetitive and then stopped.

And you know, when you stop a complicated project like that, it's hard to pick it back up. 

Lately, we decided we're going to finish it together. It's much better as a two-person work, as they say in Montessori. So last night we were pressing and stitching together. And this thing is not going to be finished anytime soon. But, it's fun to have a project where we are working side by side. 

Weekending-Sprinkles

This weekend we had some doughnuts and some music and some sewing. 

                                             
                                            The barista told Unity that her new nickname should be Sprinkles.
                                              She likes it.

                                    Brixton wants you to know he is wearing his jammie shirt in this picture.

We saw a Kindie band we dig- the Board of Education.  

They have a great song called "Why does Dad get so mad about Star Wars?" that discusses the very serious issue of the movie prequels and the generation gap. 

                                          Brixton was dancing and playing friendly monster.

                                 
                                      Unity and her dad worked on the dress. It might be finished by her birthday!

                                             
                                              Scraps make good headbands. She wore this outfit to the grocery store
                                             and got three compliments.

                                                  And, it's time to start our starts. All brassicas for now.
                                                We love our brassicas. It makes it hard to plan our garden rotations but
                                                 we always have to have our broccoli and cauliflower.

Linking up with Amanda for Weekending. 

Winding the Bobbin