Busha Full Of Grace

Baby Blanket Done

Once again, this little bitty blanket took forever to finish. I was on the decrease side of the bias design, and thought I was home free; but it ended up I worked on this little thang most of Saturday and the better part of Sunday morning.

I worked the bias for 24 inches (starting with one cast on, and increasing a stitch at the beginning of each row), then I decreased the first stitch of each row (knitting the first two together) back down to one. Using the multi yarn stripes I had a zillion ends with which to deal. When I was done I crocheted a blanket stitch and then two rows of scallops.

I'm actually pretty happy with the blanket. So then I tried to figure out how to knit a baby hat on the bias (after searching the internet over for a pattern. Anyone have one?) but I kept getting a square and I needed a rectangle (a rhombus, I believe it's called). I even drove to Knitterly in Petaluma for some help but all for naught (except for some silk and mohair blend yarn that I could not afford. I know, I'm a junkie. And then I found myself thinking about lying to Shannon that I had a store credit. I KNOW. I'm a JUNKIE!) Anyway, the hat is garter stitch, but not on the bias. I really want the matching hat and blanket so when she is swaddled she looks like a little spring bud.

And by the way, as if you hadn't already figured it out, still no baby...

A Belly-full

No tickets were to be found for tonight's event. But Mike had us all for dinner. He's always good for take out from Taste of the Himalayas. Yummy Indian food. We all sat around the living room and chatted and the boys played. Hard, fun play. Laughter and squealing, sweaty hair-clinging foreheads and hot pink cheeks. I was sitting next to Brooke on the sofa and watched the life in her belly roll and stretch. As much as that baby could move within the beyond belief full belly. In fact, I had a bird's eye view and was in such awe and amazement I told her I needed to snap a photo for my blog. So here it is:

A Little Bit of Little Knitting

Last night was the first Friday night in I don't know how long that the house was quiet and I was able to curl up on the couch with a blanket and a movie and do some knitting. We had rain throughout the evening and the night and the air was cold.

I'm working on a little wool blanket for Brooke's baby. It is the same pattern I used for that blanket that Shannon thought was a joke because it was so small. But she loves it for covering the baby in her carseat or while nursing. So she told Brooke that it was a good thing to have. For Brooke's, I am using ends (and beginnings too) from all of my wonderful wools, fancy yarns, mohairs and cashmeres. The colors are reds, lime greens, butter yellows, rust, oranges and pinks. It just gives the slightest hint of girl, yet definitely doesn't speak boy. These are the kind of colors that Brooke loves. And it is soft. Once completed (and I'm close) I will edge it in a vibrant, soft, cuddly hot pink LLH yarn, "Amelie". It's not a natural fiber, but it is lovely yarn.

This whole blanket speaks Brooke's flair. The fuzzy white yarn is what remains from Brooke's wedding scarf. They were married in a barn on our cousin's farm in the mountains, and it was a full weekend event. The night before the wedding they had a huge bonfire and she asked me to knit her a scarf to wear. Satchel was there, so now Lova has a bit of that evening too.

On another knitting note, yesterday my neighbor was walking by with her new little girl and I fell in love with the way she was swaddled in a thick, cotton garter stitch blanket made from a deep rose cotton yarn, with a matching hat. She looked like a sweet little spring blossom. I think this just may be my next project. The thing is, Brooke and Shannon are going to have to draw straws! Babies 2 months apart don't give a knitting/working full time Busha much time.

C'mon Little Lova. We're all waiting....

Authors Anne Lamott and Elizabeth Gilbert are speaking at Marin Civic Center tonight. I've put a post on craigslist to try and get 2 tickets to this sold out event. I'm hoping to invite Brooke and Lova out for a night of distraction.

The Spring of 42

Brooke is nearing week 42 in her pregnancy. So ready. So willing. C'mon, wouldcha? Yesterday she went to the midwife, who sent her to the acupuncturist, but that was the last I heard. It's been a long night of wondering. Waiting. satchel doesn't come to school on Fridays so today will not provide me with my easy peek into pregnancy land. I don't want to be a pest, ya know? Thank goodness it is a weekend. Much better for me to be available with nothing else pressing on my mind. I am so excited to hold that little girl and watch satchel with her and all the wonder that comes with a new grandchild. Satchel wants a sling of his own, to be in the tub, and to "touch the polenta with glubs on" ( you know, the polenta, the thing attached to the bubble).

Was Easter Fun?

10:00am

5:00pm

Wheatgrass Easter Baskets

Several folks are interested in just HOW we created this natural Easter Basket filler. It is such a doable project for all ages; of course, with different levels of adult participation. I have done them with my own children and my students for about 20 years! If you are really eager to try it this year but Easter has passed, we have also done them in clay flower pot saucers and let them be the little "home" for little wooden bunnies and such. Sometimes I have purchased 6 packs of tiny violas and planted a single, miniature viola in the grass while the children weren't present, and they found these sweet, spring gifts from the fairies.

So here are step-by-step instructions for the basic wheatgrass baskets:

Wheatberries can be purchased in bulk at your natural food market. They are the same that are used to grow the grass to make your wheatgrass drinks at juice bars.

I soaked the berries in water for 24 hours prior to the planting day. Shorter than that they aren't soft enough, and longer than that, they sour.

Each child brought in their Easter Basket, which we helped to line with plastic (just the bottom and barely up the sides so it can serve its purpose as a barrier, yet cannot be seen.) Then the children added potting soil. The soil fills the basket approximately 1/3 of the way, you don't want to make the basket too heavy, but want the sun can to the seeds.

Then each child scooped a measuring cup of wheatberry seeds and created a layer of seeds on top of the soil. (I went through after the children were gone and made sure each basket had an even layer)

Each basket was thrououghly watered with a gentle spray so as not to disturb the seeds).

The baskets are covered with a tight piece of saran wrap for the first 24 hours to create a "greenhouse". Be sure that the inside is moist. If it seems dry during that time, take the plastic warp off, spritz the seeds well, and reapply the wrap. The roots will be settling in first, and then you will begin to see tiny, yellow/green sprouts growing. Always leave your baskets in a very sunny place (indoors or outdoors is fine), and watch closely so that they do not become dry.

Spritz them with a spray bottle thoroughly a few times per day. If you have them outdoors be sure to bring them in in the evening to protect them from cold and animals. At school we had so much fun and laughter racing the chickens to save the baskets! Since we had a specific deadline because the children went home Friday, we created greenhouse tents on some of the slower growing baskets to warm them up and help them along. Notice the moisture inside the plastic wrap tents.

Suddenly between day 9 and 12, they will burst into thick, green lush blades of grass!

And here is a photo of the joy and magic of nature, as Ikey takes his basket home to await the Easter Bunny:

What Kind Of Flower Are You?

Here is the quiz if you would like to take it!

I am a Daffodil What Flower Are You?

Hot Cross Buns

Today we made (and ate) yummy hot cross buns to honor Good Friday/Spring Equinox, using this recipe:

1 C milk
2 T yeast
1/2 C sugar
2 tsp. salt
1/3 C butter, melted and cooled
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
4 eggs
5 C flour
1 1/3 C currants or raisins
1 egg white

Glaze
1 1/3 C confectioner's sugar
1 1/2 tsp. finely chopped lemon zest
1/2 tsp. lemon extract
1- 2 T milk

A Catholic favorite on Good Friday, Hot Cross Buns are raisin-filled yeast buns, topped with a "Cross" of lemon flavored icing. While Christians have adopted the cake with the symbolism of the cross, the cross is also symbolic of the sun wheel, which represents perfect balance at the time of the Spring Equinox.

We also colored eggs by placing small bits of colored tissue paper onto wet bolied eggs. After the paper dries and is removed, the eggs are colored with vibrant colors.

Each child also made a tissue paper butterfly to celebrate the Equinox, which was attached to the Easter baskets.

Last week we planted wheatberries into soil in our Easter baskets. We tended them all week, and today the children brought their beautiful baskets home.

Yes! All this lush, thick, green wheatgrass grew in 10 days. Such a perfect substitution for the plastic stuff, don't you think?

Happy Easter and a Blessed Equinox...

The Aztec Princess Still w/o A Name

My vote?

Ava-Pilar Quetzali Vargas

But I know how to (try to) keep my mouth shut.

Saint Pattie's Day

Lore has it, that Saint Patrick chased all of the snakes from Ireland out into the sea, where they drowned. As a child who's grandfather came directly from Ireland, Saint Patrick's Day was a day of celebration. From going to Mass to watching parents party and get drunk and sing Irish songs and dance; ending the day by eating corned beef and cabbage and probably putting myself to bed, I don't really remember that detail. It was always a holiday, a "Saint's Day" while in Catholic School. It is the day I remember a boy , Hank McGloughlin, stealing a quick and innocent, (and knock your socks off exciting) kiss from me on a sunny green hill behind San Bruno Park after Mass.

This is one of those days I grapple with: separating heartfelt tradition from what I know as an adult to be appropriate and acceptable within the values and beliefs I have adopted over the years.

One of the areas that both intrigues me and troubles me, is the symbolism of the "snakes out of Ireland". Truly, it represents a time when the Christians banned the pagans once and for all from Ireland. And with that went the right to celebrate life by the beautiful rhythms of nature. Celebration became patriarchial and rigid, governed by money and politics rather than the natural world. Don't get me wrong. I believe in God and celebrate all the mysteries of the seen and unseen world. But would I prefer the children of today dancing and singing with their families by the light of the sun and the moon? Or do I want them putting themselves to bed to the sound of drunken tenors winding down in the kitchen? Is it a religious issue or a sign of an era gone by?

Dramatic thoughts? Yes. Why? I don't know.

All this leads to a few photos of Ruby M*rning on Saint Patrick's Day. Those snakes needed to go somewhere and we welcomed Hands On Snakes to the school for a visit. The children loved it, and I must say not one of them was squeamish.