Bear's New Clothes

Before commencing on our epic journey to the UK, I managed to get these finished for Boo's stocking...

 

I had some strange notion that Boo might dress her Waldorf doll in these clothes, but I'm afraid she's never enjoyed the favour that Black Bear enjoys, so of course these clothes were destined to be worn by him.  I love knitting little things... so quick and rewarding. Babies, bears, dolls, such fun to knit for. Bear wears hat, scarf and trousers made following a pattern in 'Creative Play for your Toddler' (see my booklist), and a Waldorf doll jacket made from the free pattern available on Waldorf Mama .  I was inspired seeing the tiny knittings seen on Little Jenny Wren for waldorf dolls, and the encouragement to just start knitting for your chosen doll (... or bear in this case) rather than following a pattern, has led me to start something else... we'll see how I get on.  Perhaps bear will have himself a whole wardrobe shortly. 
 

Home Sweet Home

Hello!  I'm back from the UK, a bit washed out but so glad to be home. Our outbound trip involved being stranded overnight in Schipol after snowy weather hit Amsterdam and Manchester, resulting in our flight being cancelled. There was chaos in the airport with hundreds of confused passengers queuing up to ask 3 KLM staff if/when they could get outta there... and then the computer system crashed.  We were seriously jetlagged after our inbound flight from Vancouver, had a grouchy toddler and no buggy after we'd had the wisdom to check it in at Vancouver.  It was not a fun experience. We learnt a whole lot of lessons here: always have gate access to your buggy, always pack a full overnight kit (I brushed Beth's hair with a toothbrush!), and never ever pack your laptop in your main luggage.  We lost 3 out of 4 luggage pieces on the outbound journey, and I expect we'll never see the buggy again.  So our trip was not quite off to an auspicious start, and Boo and I never quite managed to assimilate to UK time, but we are thankful for the times we managed to spend with family and friends, and Boo's enthusiasm for visiting different houses!  I think I will remain eternally grateful too to the KLM staff member at Vancouver airport who facilitated our fast-tracking the day-long ticket office queue at Amsterdam airport to get us on a flight out to Manchester about 24 hours after we arrived at Schipol airport.  We are resolved that we should not subject Boo (or indeed ourselves) to such a stressful travel experience again, so we'll be spending future Christmases in Vancouver.  There really is no place like home.  

Of blankies and grottos

Following our recent near-loss of beloved 'blankie' (posted about here), we have been counting our blessings to still have this precious item.  I enjoyed Jane Brockett's recent exultation of granny crochet blankets here and wanted to share our love of these creations made with such love (and thrift!).  'Big blankie' has recently been put to use as part of the roof for the 'blankie grotto' which Boo likes to be constructed for play in her room.  

 

Little blankie was once her near-constant companion, trailed around after her, grasped onto at 'parting from mama' times or times of distress, rubbed into the face at naptime.  Now it's usually still around, but takes on different roles in Boo's play, it's a headdress, a bed for her toys, a picnic blanket, a dress, a tent.  Our blankies were made by my granny for my sister when she was a baby (she's now 28), and I couldn't be happier than Boo has such affection for them.

 

 
 
 

Our gingerbread house

This year, I thought I'd have a stab at making a gingerbread house ... they are a distinctly North American Christmas tradition and I thought Boo would enjoy the creation (she says its a 'bear house').

We used instructions and patterns available here and did it over a few days, dough one day, cutting/cooking the pieces the next, and then construction/decoration.  Now it does say clearly in the instructions that you need to allow 1 hour between sides and attaching the roof, and then at least an hour (preferably 8) before you begin decorating.  Waiting?  Us?  With a 2 year old?  It ain't gonna happen.  So we ploughed through, with the result that the sides are now sinking and I have them propped up with 2 juiceboxes in the hope of avoiding a complete roof slide.  Yup, we should have followed the instructions, but you try telling Boo that you can't finish it now.  Boo helped with sticking on the sweets, which she had helped choose (her choice being the gummi bears of course).

 

 

Next year I will:

• buy a greater variety of sweets, we had a bit of an overload of smarties


• buy a proper icing bag/nozzle, I used a plastic bag and it kept squidging all over my hands


• Follow the instructions and say we have to wait (maybe a 3 year old will be able to run with this)

 

 
 

And for my next trick...

So, Friday morning we have a 'scene' at home in the morning... the usual resistance to dressing and going out (Boo, not myself I hasten to point out) escalates into a full-blown tantrum and by the time we get out of the door, we are running late for the bus to our yoga class.  Mama runs with Boo in buggy all the way to the bus stop (thank god its downhill), we catch the bus, make the 10 min walk the other end and arrive at the yoga place with a few minutes to spare.  What a good recovery I'm thinking.  Then, my stomach churns as I search in vain for 'blankie'.  Blankie has been Boo's faithful companion since birth, it goes everywhere with her.  It is a crocheted baby blankie handcrafted by my nan, who passed away over 20 years ago, for my sister when she was a baby.  Oh God, we cannot lose blankie.  We swiftly repackage ourselves and pelt back down the road, frantically searching for blankie.  Oh my god, I'm going to have to learn how to crochet, I think as we make our way down busy Lonsdale Avenue.  How long will it take me to make a whole blanket?  Did we leave it on the bus?  How will I ever get it back from the bus company?  Just as my head is whirling with these thoughts, we see, folded neatly and draped over a railing outside a restaurant... its blankie!  I think Boo has been spared the emotional journey I've just been on and is finding the whole thing rather exciting.  I would just like to thank whichever kind soul on Lonsdale Ave on Friday morning picked up our precious blankie and left it carefully for us to retrieve.  Sadly we missed our yoga class but 'Boo has her blankie back.

That petit drama was nothing, however, compared to what befell on Saturday morning.  Dadda Boo had an all day conference to attend downtown, so we drove him to the Seabus and returned to Lynn Valley, with instructions to fill up the car with gas on the way home.  I'm still getting used to the paying at the pump procedure and our car which requires you to pull a lever near the driver's seat to open the cap.  So I have used my card, I have pump in my hand, I have my wallet in the other and I've forgotten to pull the lever.  I quickly dump my purse on the seat, pull the lever, shut the driver's door and fill up.  Great, I seem to be getting this now.  I go to open the door. Oh... my.... Good .... God.  The door will not open.  Neither will any of the other doors.  Boo is happily playing inside with her horse, oblivious to the fact that her mama has just locked her into the car.  With the keys.  I can see them now, on the front seat under my purse.  We have the 'beeper' kind of key.  My purse must have landed on the keys and locked the doors.  Cue one panic stricken mama running into kiosk pleading for help from cashier.  He comes out and kindly has a try with a coat hanger.  No go. Thanks be , I usually carry my cellphone in my pocket as I can't hear it if it rings in my bag, so I put in a call to Dadda Boo, my voice wobbling.  By this time Boo is becoming distressed and mama probably doesn't help by gesticulating at the window (telling her it will all be alright but probably distressing her more!)  I cannot believe my luck, Dadda Boo has not yet boarded the seabus, so he jumps in a taxi and in 10 mins or so is rescuing us.  I have sincerely learnt my lesson to always keep my keys about my person.  What would I have done if Dadda Boo couldn't reach us?  Broken a window?  Called the fire brigade?  

The good thing that came out of this debacle, was that Dadda Boo got to accompany us on a wee trip up the mountain.  I was planning to take Boo ice skating for the first time, we had been talking about it for a while and I thought she was keen.  However, sweet Boo can be rather reticent about physical adventure, and refused to countenance the suggestion when we were at the skate rental hut ( and yes, they do have them in her size), so we were confined to watching and 'maybe next time'.  She'll still little I guess, and I don't want to push her, only encourage her to try things in a safe and comfortable manner.

But she did enjoy seeing these guys...

 
 
 
 

Advent Calendar

I decided to make an advent calendar this year, wanting to make the run up to Christmas exciting and interesting for the little one, especially as its prone to endless rain at this time of year (though as I write this the sun is streaming in through the windows as if to prove me wrong).  I saw some good ideas on Kids Craft Weekly and adapted the idea from the origami cup... opting to make little boxes or 'japanese waterbombs' as they were named in the book.

 

We made 24 boxes, wrote the number on them in silver pen, and taped them to a ribbon before taping them to the wall.  They promptly fell down and are now residing on a table, but I did get a pic before they tumbled.

I came up with 24 fun things we could do during the period of advent e.g. make some christmas treats, go out at night to see christmas lights etc. and wrote them all down onto little ribbons of paper.  Then I rolled up each piece of paper and put it into the box with just a small piece visible, so when you pull it unwinds.

So far its been quite popular, and gives us a focus for each day.

Didn't manage to meet the posting date for cards to the UK though, which was today.  So our cards will be late because I won't let up and accept not making them.  Stubborn, moi?

 
 

Plaster cast christmas decorations

I love plaster casting.  It has that 'wow' (or 'oh dear' for that matter!) reveal moment, like printmaking, which gives me a bit of a thrill.  Found moulds are one of my favourite ways to cast.  There has to be some good come out of all the weird and wonderful plastic packaging we find ourselves with.  So when I saw this at the bottom of a rather gooey cheesecake we consumed at the weekend, I thought only of filling it with plaster.

Then I remembered we had this, from some crayons that Beth has (don't recommend these ones by the way, they are difficult to use and too hard, stockmar are what we love).   I wasn't sure that all the crayon shapes would cast as there was no 'base' between some of them, so I was figuring I could cast every other crayon shape... if you can get my drift.

 

We prepared the materials.  Plaster of paris for casting, water, mixing sticks, one Boo.

 

Mixed up the plaster to a lovely creamy consistency.

 

And poured in.  It's best to pour gradually and tap the side of your mould frequently so that the air bubbles rise to the surface and don't spoil your cast (more important if its finely detailed).  

 

We left the casts for a few hours, then carefully removed from the moulds (which can be reused).

 

I suspected all the crayon bits around the side wouldn't cast,  but I poured plaster in them anyway.  Sure enough, in the removal of the mould they broke away, but this is what it would have looked like.

 

However, I think its fine without all the bits, and makes a pretty good star... or is it a snowflake?  There is a lovely flat tile-like bit in the centre... I'm thinking of painting an image here or collaging something on... not sure yet.

Anyhow, they need a day or two to dry out completely now, then I can sand off the rough edges.  You can paint plaster of course.  I kind of like materials in themselves though, so I think I'll leave the round one white and put it on the nature table.  The 'stars' might get an image in the centre as I said, but I'm not sure I'll paint the rest.   
 
 
 
 
 
  

First Snow

We have been Bisy Backsons this weekend.  Boo was mesmerised by the magical puppet show and the gnome-sized creations in the 'winter wonderland' at the Vancouver Waldorf School's Christmas fair Saturday morning.  In the afternoon we headed to some open studios at the Eastside Culture Crawl .  Apart from visiting a few galleries it was the first time I'd seen local artists work in Vancouver, and it was pretty much like many open studios I've been to in London, with a few more misty landscapes thrown in (with conditions being as they are I'm finding myself falling in love with the misty vistas arounds us).  I'm always interested in seeing work in paint, printmaking and the like that I've made work in, but what we really loved was the handcrafted wooden furniture, like that at Hartwood Creations.  Dadda Boo is inspired to get into his wood workshop and get sawing and sanding.

It may be wet, but there is beauty to be found in the dark.

  

 

Sunday I finished painting Boo's room and moved her back in (pics to follow), so reclaiming my studio.  Its just the beginning of development for each room, I have tons of ideas for making Boo's room magical and my studio inspiring and functional.  

Work done, it was time for play.  Snow play.  Our local ski mountains have opened a month earlier than last year, so we glided up Grouse Mountain in the gondola with Boo padded up in her new snow gear.  Dadda Boo started to ease himself back into snowboarding with a few bumps, and Boo just took it all in.

 

 

 

Potato Printed Christmas Wrapping Paper

With the current relentless rain, toilet training and levels of unsociability only a 2 year old could muster, we are spending a whole lot of time at home.  Christmas is starting early here in an effort to keep us both entertained, and today we made some homemade wrapping paper using potato prints.

I used some mini christmas cookie cuts to cut the shapes into the potato, pressing the cutters in with the aid of bit of bashing from a rolling pin, and then cutting around them using a sharp knife.

 

Then I laid out a roll of kraft paper onto the floor, some kids paint and a sponge brush for applying, and we got printing.

 

I guess you could achieve some more professional looking prints using printing ink, but I rather liked the decidedly hand-done/imperfect results.

 

Just a little shopping now... so that we have something to wrap with all this paper.

Painting Party

The decorating continues.  After the laboursome task of papering and painting the studio, Boo has decamped into said finished room to allow for the painting of her room, in a calming (hopefully) salmon pink tint.  Several coats are required to cover the blue that we started with, and all we all muck in at various points in the proceedings... muck being the operative word with Boo of course, who decides to participate in her dressing up clothes.  I did snap a pic of her engaged in the activity but I would like to point out that this lasted all of a minute, before the walking disaster area was encouraged to leave the area, meanwhile trampling out a touch of salmon on her slippers.  

Things are much calmer of Sunday evening, with a bottle of vinto tinto and a more efficient painter in the form of Dadda Boo, although he should learn to bend over with his knees not with his back, which was suffering at the end of the activity.

Just also wanted to show you this bit of creativity, which emerged from Dadda Boo's  workshop at the weekend, newly equipped with a woodworking vice.   

I love this little boat, which Boo has been enjoying sailing in her bath and along the hallway during the daytime.  This is just the prototype apparently, there are plans for trying out different specifications in future models.  I love it when things are being made in the house, especially when its not just me making them!

I am celebrating my return to yoga classes this weekend, now being able to drive myself there as I have a driving licence.  Life looks a whole lot different in North Vancouver when you can get yourself around and I returned to the Body Harmony yoga studio with a feeling of returning home, and of finding the link that's been missing since we moved house a few months ago.  Maybe yoga and knitting will ease my passage through this period of frustration I am experiencing.  I came across Bad Annas, a knitting shop in Vancouver that does mum and kid knitting time, which I would really like to try out, and a teacher likened knitting to yoga, a moving meditation.  For me its a slowing down and a  focus, perhaps taking oneself out of the chattering mind a little.   

A Betty for a Boo

First Charlotte, now Betty, who's next Edith or Mavis?  I refer, of course, to apple dishes.  Following my last post on apple creations, a big thanks to Nicola for sending me Nigel Slater's recipe for Apple Betty.  I was slightly shocked by the quantities of butter (and sugar, and syrup, and chocolate, albeit the 'healthier' dark stuff) but why not go out with a flourish (or a coronary) for the last of our apple harvest?!  I substituted maple syrup for golden syrup (well I do live in Canada) in some skewed idea that the 'natural complex sugar' would somehow offset all the other gloop in there.  Ha ha.  There was no disguising the serious gloop factor, but it was absolutely to die for (and perhaps we will!) in the tasting.

 

Betty Boo enjoyed it too of course.

The lady has just recently stopped napping most days and I find myself stretched out as the days go on.  I am of course proud of her advanced language abilities, but the incessant questioning every minute (and her dislike of most of my answers, so repeating the question ad nauseum, or just erupting into tears) is testing my patience when there is no respite throughout the day.  Added to this that the lady has suddenly decided, after months of resistance, that we are doing toilet training (the 'big toilet' has won her favour, no pottying for this one), and the requirement for constant vigilance (and mopping up) and you have one tired mama.  I miss Boo the moment she's not with me, but some days she gives me no breathing space and I feel suffocated.  I find myself becoming snappy and feel like a terrible mother momentarily before moving into a more positive space.  We are transitioning, and will no doubt a new rhythm will soon emerge from these long days soon.    

   

Bring it on

Already?  

 

Well, actually it was heavy hail yesterday afternoon, but everything turned white for a short time and it felt decidedly wintry.  How apt that this was the day we had our first set of winter tyres fitted.  Last year we slipped and slid around in our little metal box on the unprecedented amount of snowfall, and there is no way I wanted to go there again.  We live half way up a mountain now as well so there's no question of our not having snow tyres this year.  Phew, last year we were so ill-prepared; Beth had no snow clothes, we never got a sledge because they sold out, we borrowed our landlord's snow shovel.  But we are (almost!) ready this year.  There's snow on dem dere mountains and our thoughts are turning to the season ahead.  I am musing on...

• the ski/snowboard season. I had two encounters with the experience of hurtling down a mountain last year (it has to be said I generally avoid 'high octane 'activities!) - my first lesson was great, the 2nd experience (with Dadda Boo) was terrifying and I had a nasty fall from which my hand has still not quite recovered.  Boo can start next year so I really want to try again this year, but I think lessons will be the best bet for me.  


• the Olympics here in Feb... will we get tickets (on sale on Sat)?? Will Vancouver be gridlocked for two weeks?  Will Dadda Boo have to cross the bridge to work at 4am and return at 2pm?  


• Other fun winter activities.  Would like to try snowshoeing this year, and take Beth on ice skates for the first time (ok we can do that any time of the year here, but winter seems appropriate)


• We ARE going to get a sledge this year and Beth can be pulled along snowy paths, which she is bound to love


• Walks on crisp winter mornings, taking photographs


• The whole Christmas thing with a little girl who is so much more aware of everything than she was last year, and getting into the whole christmas story side of things, and of course the santa thing


• Christmas with the family in England, our first larger family gathering since BB (Before Beth)


• Dreaming and planning for the garden next year


• Cosy fires in our new home, with our new sofa which we are expecting to arrive any day


• Kitting out the new studio (pics coming soon) and getting started on my next project


• Crafting, knitting, cooking.  Do I dare attempt a gingerbread house from scratch this year, or will I opt for an 'easy kit'?


• Making things with love for Beth, family and friends


• Sleeping bears.  Do raccoons hibernate?


• Looking forward to the new year and attending a 'Childrens Book Workshop' course at the university to help me present my book to publishers.  I am quite insanely excited and thinking of ideas for my next book already.

And here's some lovely baby cashmere yarn on my needles for some teensy tiny things (for others I hasten to add!).  I can't believe my baby will be 3 in a few short months!

What are you looking forward to this winter?

Home Comforts

The rain beats down relentlessly on the skylight above me in the kitchen and I'm grateful to not have to leave the house today.  We have continued to enjoy the fruits of our apple picking fun.  There has been a whole lot of this:

and this...

We are onto our final tray of apples now...

There has been a whole lot of apple compote and multiple apple crumbles.  But I wanted to try something different so I made an Apple Charlotte, with a recipe from BBC cooking available here.  It couldn't be simpler really, an apple sauce in a toasted bread shell.  The apple sauce has juice and zest from a whole lemon which makes it lovely and zingy.

 

We have also been enjoying our homebaked wholemeal bread on a regular basis.

 

Boo, meanwhile, has made an exciting transition, to her own 'big girl bed'.  I was going to hang back a while on this one, but she became a little too eager to fling herself out of her cot, so we made the change and she is thoroughly pleased with it.

 

Apart from climbing on and off her bed and rolling around on it, her other favourite pastime right now seems to be putting on various items of clothes in an 'unusual manner'.

Rainy days ain't so bad are they?