Luckybeans

I will be honest with you. Things have been a bit odd around here. Not bad odd, but busy in strange ways, and slightly tired and disorganised. Simon is home for a bit, which is good of course, and accounts for the donuts (which in turn account for our headaches and slight nausea this afternoon).

I spent a great deal of time over the past week and a half sorting through our digital photos. I printed something like 70 of them, which accounts for the photo wall finally getting up (Lukas, take note). Not all of the prints were for me, of course. Many had to be distributed among family...

...which accounts for an afternoon writing letters and such. Which I of course enjoy very much. For the record, I used MPix to print and was terribly pleased with the result. You can calibrate your monitor to their settings which means that the prints actually do look like, well, what they look like. And the black and whites were true black and whites instead of oddly tinged, and lovely and crisp and sharp. 

 

I am also trying to catch up on all the odd bits of laundry that accumulate-- things like hand washing and woollens and winter coats and shoes.

All of this before we head up to BC this weekend to visit Simon's family. I will not be blogging while I am gone. I shall see you all my lovelies when I return. Except for briefly this afternoon when I post this week's HIdden Word. But then, truly, I am removing my sadly disorganised self from blogdom for a few weeks.

 

 

So. I have had a few requests regarding what our house looks like. Mostly, I can say: a mess. Half-unpacked. Empty in places, crammed with random things in others. In need of a mop/vacuum/laundress. You know how this is. But Asher's room is done, and that is as good as any a place to start.

His room is at the top of the stairs, next to the bathroom. You can tell it's his because of the dinosaur at the door. His room has always had that dinosaur by the door. It is a small, sloping room, and Simon must stick to the left-hand wall perimeter or get some head dentage. When we bought the house, the room looked like this:

  

At this point, I am reminded why I blog when no one else is around. Simon is sitting next to me telling me I should have taken the after photos from the same angle. Look, you have to take what you can get here. It is a tiny room with a sloping ceiling and bad lighting. Really difficult to walk in, never mind photograph. Let me also state, for the record, that the "before" pictures are from the realty website, not mine. In case you wondered.

Right. I guess we will do this starting from the right-hand wall as you walk into his room, and then going around anti-clockwise from there.

1. bookshelf (with art projects, letters, a kleenex-box pully for his buffalo, rolly polly habitat, dress-up stuff, and books).

2. tiny, half-sized door into the unfinished storage area (also known as The Tomten Room-- very cool, but also very, very messy; and yes, that is Air Ethiopia blanket used as a draft blocker).

3. the bed (sorry-- I missed the closet. We took down the scallop trim and everything is white now). The bed has drawers underneath for legos and playmobile. 

4. The other half of the room-- window-reading spot-toyshelf. We papered this wall with old maps. In the photos it looks super wrinkly, but in real life, it's not noticable at all. Promise. It's wonderful and I would do it again in a minute! We also hung his glowing planets in front of the maps, which is pretty darn cool.

5. He wanted a close-up of his nature treasures since you couldn't see them from the other photo.

6. Wall by the door.

There you go. And yes, yes I should be studying Spanish subjunctive right now. Oh well. (We built the potato bed yesterday, too).

One of Ana's characteristics is her desire that things be done properly. A few weeks ago, she approached me and confided that she really thinks Asher should only have wooden and "natural" toys to play with. No more plastic. She and Bella made the switch quite some time ago, and now she wanted her brother to follow suit. I have always provided my children with predominantly natural playthings, and I think Ana is sensitive to this right now. And if she thinks we should be surrounded with hand crafted and otherwise beautiful things, well. I'm not going to out up much of a fight, am I?

To be honest, this was hardly a drastic lifestyle change. The only offending toys in Asher's room were his plastic animals and matchbox cars. When I went back to the US, I decided to seize the chance to get him some wooden animal figures and cars.

The animals are from Nova Natural (there is another set of forest animals waiting at Grandma's-- shhhh, don't tell), and the cars from A Toy Garden. Now we just need to find a monkey...

What does Asher think? He loves his newly organised toys. There are enough cars to bash into each other and build black roads for. And with fewer, but nicer, toys he actually sees them and plays with them more. His current toy list reads: wooden animals, wooden cars, coloured haba blocks, natural maple blocks, play silks, felt balls, musical instruments, wooden train set, wadorf doll, and a play kitchen. And lots of books and paper to colour on. 

(sometimes I have to have a bit of a turn with them, too).

One for Mum

My mother asked me to post some pictures of our living/ dining room. Eons ago, I think it was. And I get that, I really do. I love being able to picture someone's space, and how they are living in it. Even if they are continents away, I want to know where they sit to eat their supper, where they curl up to read, and where they put up those photos. And I have to admit that I love peeking in on other peoples' homes, even if I don't know them but wish I did. Isn't that what the bog world is for? I wish I were a stylist, or could make things look all lovely and inspiring for you, but no. It's just our living room. Here you go:

You enter the living room via three steps down from the front hall. The tree prints are from Modernarteveryday, the boots are because Bella had pony club and left them there. They look shockingly clean!

As you enter the room, the dining area is on the left. The children use the little table for drawing. You can see my sewing machine in the corner. Photos are black and white family favourites. It looks so bare, but I swear it certainly never feels that way full of people!

The living room side of things. Are you loving the pine panel ceiling yet, because you should be. That door goes out onto the patio, which is even better than the ceiling.

Please stop and admire these chunks of wood which we picked up by the road as the highway was being widened. I convinced Simon they would make lovely end tables, and he's finished sanding the first pair.

I can't think of anything else to say about the living room. The light and openness of it make it a wonderful space, and between this and the kitchen, we feel at home. No, I don't like my couches, but they are comfortable and used for building forts and trampolines, and I don't mind a bit. And that is as it should be!

Since you asked: the rug is from CB2 and we shipped it here as a special "moving to Malawi" treat (I think it was called "Sleepy Hollow"). We made the globes from 8 strips of paper stacked together, hole punched, and joined together with brads-- they are very simple! There is a tutorial for the same sort of thing here.  I adore them as they spin with every breeze, and add such a different element to the space. 

 

Naw Ruz

 

A very happy (if somewhat belated) Nawruz! Remember how I said I was back? Remember how I mentioned those power issues as if they were in the past tense? Oh, I am funny. Slightly deluded maybe, but funny.  So no regular electricity yet. A bit of water today, though.

 

We celebrated Naw Ruz on Saturday with egg hunts and painting, decorations, paper cones of craft supplies and some family time (at least for the morning).

 

A rare photo of Simon. He and Bella are decorating our Ridvan tree. I know it isn't Ridvan yet, but we loved the tree so much we thought it could do double-duty and come out of the box for longer.

 

We painted candy-coated chocolate eggs with food dyes. Yum. I know eggs might seem a bit Easter for you, but believe me, they pre-date Easter by a few millenia. They are also traditional for Naw Ruz. Plus, they are good and pretty and I can find them here.

 

This is our little table. I made the cones last year to hold little treats. We filled them with craft clay and mini-gunpowder-bombs and...

 

...new swimming goggles! Maybe at the next swim meet Bella will swim in a straight line since she will be able to keep her eyes open. Maybe. You never can tell with Bella.

 

Collections

One of the things I've noticed lately is how many corners, nooks and ledges in our home have accumulated their own little collections, predominantly of found objects. It's a bit like the concept of a nature table, I suppose, except that we never manage to confine ourselves to a table. Just think of those shelves in the girls' room. I was walking around dusting, and began to laugh at myself as I realised how much of my dust was accumulating on stones and oddly shaped bits of wood.  But I do like them! 

The bell jars by the dining room table hold a variety of stone stacks, seed pods, or (currently) a sea urchin.

The window ledge in the kitchen hosts a procession of telephone insulators we gathered from the roadside.

Simon is currently figuring out how best to display this collection of floats and sinks we've accumulated over our trips to Lake Malawi.

We come by it honestly, though. This collection of shells has specimens that date back all the way to my great-grandmother's visit to Guatemala. 

I wonder what part of the human creature takes such comfort and joy in this simple act of finding little odds and bits (as our friend says)of beauty and quirkiness. I think it must be one of the most endearing features of our race.

I have just written and posted this from my home. It appears I may be back at last.

Whooo hooo!

We are hopping on a plane to Cape Town in the morning. This is a rather last minute holiday, and a Much Needed one. It is also the first time the five of us have gone on a vacation together for any length of time. I am not sure what the internet situation will be there. If we have a good connection at our Hout Bay beach house (yes, perhaps I am gloating a little bit there) I am sure I will check in. If not, see you in mid- November!

In the meantime, here are some more house photos to keep you busy. Seeing as I've been somewhat preoccupied in a culinary sort of way, here are a few snaps of the kitchen.

(And pantry).

Keep well, friends!

The Rest of Asher's Room

The chaos continues, but at least the littlest one has a finished room now. 

We had to put up the Ida Pearle cards. There was no choice, especially once we saw this one:

Anyone who knows Asher would instantly recognise the tousled reddish hair, the orange tshirt and the net slung over his shoulder.

The beloved play kitchen and dinosaur found their home as well. I think that apatasaurus makes a mean sushi platter.

This shelf sits under the window (you saw part of it yesterday). The wooden animals on the window sill were vintage finds in Zambia, the trees are from Plan toys. He also keeps his match box cars and animals in tin pails here, the five minnows that Will Not Die (I think they just had babies, too), and his Haba and Waldorf building blocks.

This room is wonderful because it has built in cupboards which we could use for the rest of his toys, dividing them up and giving everything its place without feeling too overwhelmed with "stuff".

The cupboard holds more books, finger puppets, cars, musical instruments, science toys (inside the cases), games and dress up.

Asher made this little house the other day at school, and was so proud of it. It is the right size for Mr. Clown; if you are very lucky he may invite you over for tea. 

Asher has an amazing sense of rhythm (right Uncle Lukas?), so we try to keep him in the percussion. I am trying to track down some drumming lessons for him, too.

He also loves himself a good game. Most of our favourites come from Eeboo (I Never Forget a Face, Storefront Bingo, Fairy Queen), although Slamwich is a hit, as are bowling for frogs and Haba's "Catch Mouse".

I forgot to get a picture of his bulletin boards (next to the mirros in his reading corner) where he pins up his school and art work. But I think this is enough for this room, no?

It was very interesting to me to see what this room has evolved into. I have spent the past eleven years studying, researching, and simply being with small people, and this room sums up my values for a preschool/ early years environment. Bright and clean with a place for everything. Lots of books, a pet to be responsible for, toys that are open-ended and multi-purpose, no batteries or plastic (except for the animals), and that reflect his interests and provide room for his curiosity, creativity, independence and growth. And of course a space that we all love to come and be in with him.

I hope he is happy here. I also apologise if this is way too much boring cupboard space for some of you, but with family so far away, I find it comforting somehow if they can picture us where we are.

Panono Panono

Bit by bit, we are getting there. We have now spent two nights in the new(est) house. Most of it is still boxes, yes, but the priorities are sorted. We have a kitchen, a place to sit, lightbulbs, toilet paper, and places to sleep. You know how it goes.

The first rooms I unpack are always the children's. Asher loves his new room, which we are very pleased about. We went from three rooms for the children (two bedrooms and a playroom) down to two, so it took some thinking, but we are all happy with the result. 

Today I present Asher's Room, Part One:

This is his bed. He likes his bed. It has his monkey and his giraffe and his Pillow (I made that, remember when I used to make things? How novel). It has his special blankets (one from Auntie Laika, and one my Auntie Lynne made me when I was small). It has monsters underneath it. Don't worry they are friendly. I think. It also has his wooden train set and the rest of his softies underneath it; perhaps to keep those nice monsters amused. Because people always ask where I get stuff, the moon rocker is from Ikea, the blocks were ones Lukas and I inherited as kids.

This is Asher's reading corner. My grandmother gave me that rocker when I was a toddler, and Asher likes to indulge in some Frog and Toad and put his feet up. He needs to put his feet up as he stepped on a bee yesterday and couldn't even squeeze his foot into a shoe today. 

It also has the Mirror (so so necessary in little one's rooms for abundant face-making) and the silks. And again: I made the curtain (I know, I know), the ottoman and alarm clock are from Land of Nod, and the Burda truck was a brilliant 3rd-birthday gift from Grandma and Papa (I totally recommend these-- they are light enough to haul around despite their size, and tough enough to take some serious play).

And today's special bonus feature:

Asher's Current Top 20 (1) Books

Murphy the Rat: Tales from Tough City  by Paul Duggan 

No, David! by David Shannon

Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathman (Really, everything by her!)

I Can Fly by Ruth Krauss and Mary Blair

Diary of a Worm by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss

Jean-Marie in Gay Paris by Francoise

Stone Soup by Jon J Muth

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

Little Bear Series by Else Holmeland Minarik and Maurice Sendak

The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

The Owl and the Pussycat by Edward Lear and Jan Brett

365 Penguins by Jean-Luc Fromental and Joelle Jolivet

The Adventures of Tintin: Red Rackham's Treasure (this is the one with the shark submarine!) by Herge

How I became a Pirate by Melinda Long and David Shannon

Piggie Pie! by Margie Palatini and Howard Fine

Whistle For Willie (Ok, all of them) by Ezra Jack Keats 

We Are All in the Dumps with Jack and Guy by Maurice Sendak

Andy: An Alaskan Tale by Susan Welsh-Smith and Rie Munoz

The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds

The Story of Little Babaji by Helen Bannerman and Fred Marcellino

Sorry, no links for the books, but you know I have a special place in my bibliophilic heart for Powell's. I highly recommend all of these titles for any 4-6 year olds who need a snuggle or a giggle or a bit of book magic. And the best first chapter book to have read aloud is My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannet, by the by.

Ok. Enough evasive action here internets. I am back to the boxes...

Going Under...

Hello friends. So sorry for the disappearance-- life happened. We are in the midst of packing up, as we move house this weekend. The new house is a lovely wee thing, and I think we will be happy there. But the garden is a wreck as only a garden left unchecked and neglected for four years in this climate can be. So I have spent most of the past week with hoe in hand. This week looks to see the hoe replaced by boxes and packing tape. Never fear-- my lists are serving me well.

Don't expect to see me again for a while. Imagine me under an avalanche of packing paper and mismatched socks and ends of crayons and bits of broken crockery...

In the meantime, it is jacaranda season here again. I love jacaranda season. The drive looks like this:

The best part are the little popping noises as you drive over the flowers.

Oh, yes. SImon finished his stump table for the veranda. It is gorgeous! The inside has been hollowed out, and it is set on casters so we can push it if we really set our minds to it. It also afforded us our first husband-wife bow saw undertaking.

Bella rescued this fledging from Panku's jaws (it is quite funny-- she seems to bring questionable catches around for possible confiscation. I recently relieved her of a baby chameleon as well. But she is welcome to all of the flying cockroaches and skinks, as she well knows). Bella was so tender and concerned, and hugely relieved when it recovered from its shock and flew away again.

So busy, so much happening... I will be back as soon as I can with more thorough updates.