Breath by Breath

Home crafts ::: bedside caddies

Silas sleeps upstairs and we sleep downstairs (at least he sleeps upstairs until he decides to come downstairs).  Lately, that happens in the wee hours and he's requested a flashlight to guide his passage.  He also asked for a place to keep his flashlight so he can always find it. 

Thus, the gusseted bedside caddy was conceived and formed.  After making Silas's to fit his current chapter book and flashlight, I decided I needed one, too.  Mine is designed to hold all the important things I like at my bedside--book (and now Kindle), book light, notepad and pen, reading glasses, ear plugs and headphones/Bluetooth (who doesn't need earphones to facilitate those pre-sleep viewings of important things like "The Daily Show" and "Downton Abbey" and, if I'm super tired, "Murder She Wrote"?).  [Does everyone else love Jessica Fletcher the way I do?"]

I used cotton upholstery fabric and sturdy interfacing between layers, so they hang nicely without sagging.  Silas's has ties on it.  Mine employs hair elastics, which I hang from tiny cup hooks screwed into the underside of the moulding on the night stand.  Mine doesn't really show because it is attached to my nightstand, facing my bed.  I used the fabric to match the pillows I made last summer.  

All-in-all, quite functional.

 

Home crafts ::: while the sewing machine is on strike....

With 90 percent of Silas's Halloween costume complete and 50 percent of the holiday stockings stacked up, my sewing machine went on strike.  I haven't fixed it because I'm shopping for a new one (my birthday present from Scott) and haven't made up my mind yet (any advice?). 

While the sewing machine is on hiatus, I unpacked a Hearthsong Knitting Mushroom .  I bought it a year or two ago, assuming someday Silas would be ready for the project I had in mind ::: a spool-knit rainbow "garland."  I thought he might be able now, but it turns out he's not quite ready. 

Nevertheless, I managed to knit this entire rainbow garland using this yarn while watching Ken Burns' Prohibition.  I used two balls, and I have two more in reserve for when Silas is ready.  Destination?  The holiday tree.  Sure, I'm a little early, but when I get a sewing machine up and running again, I'll be off the the races and won't have any more time for spool knitting. 

I must say there is something delightfully meditative about it.  The simple circular motion, that long tube emerging very quickly from the center.  No wonder I enjoyed it as a kid.  It took me a few minutes to reacquaint myself with the process, but once I got going I knocked it out in no time.  The very unexciting Okahoma-Texas football game gave me the chance to finish it up.

By the way, Prohibition is a wonderful program in case you haven't seen it (availalbe to watch online at PBS), with tons of insights applicable to the political/moral/economic climate of today.  The inspiring (if not always admirable) roles played by emerging women leaders was particularly fascinating.

Anyhow, we have a sweet, festive rainbow garland to add to our holiday glow. 

3D Living ::: real life vs. reel life

 
How to begin...During our Waldorf kindergarten experiment I read a lot about media and the development of children's brains.  I read pediatric literature, I read violence and children literature, I read all sorts of Waldorf theory about how the senses develop in children and why 2-dimenional imagery overstimulates certain aspects of the brain and cuts off the visual brain from emotion, results in less imaginative play, and prevents the child's body from moving as much as it needs to do develop the nervous system and habits of activity rather than passivity.  Blah, blah, blah. 

Our recent experience at the Space Shuttle launch gave me a visceral understanding of the difference bewteen two events experienced in different ways.  Real life vs. reel life.  This probably is not news to anyone, but there's nothing like being there!

Silas and I watched the previous launch live on the internet.  We watched the recent launch from 6 miles away.  The difference in the two experiences was indescribable.  The experience of being there...really hearing the sound, feeling the heat, watching the fire and clouds of smoke, being outdoors, sharing the experience with lots of people, anticipating.  It was a full-out sensory, whole body, whole mind, whole heart experience.  It touched me emotionally.

By contrast, the live video on the computer screen was removed and flat.  I was a mere spectator, not a participant. 

The digitization of images and sound are wonderful for allowing us exposure to things we couldn't see otherwise, but they should never be confused with actually knowing what something is truly like.  A recent study revealed that watching a video of a nature scene produced a relaxation response in people, but BEING in nature magnified that effect dramatically. 

We don't really know the impact of all the 2-d or even 3-d digital imagery and digitized sound on the human mind, nervous system, heart and gut. We also don't know if there is a difference between 2-d/3-d imagery of the real variety (documentaries, IMAX movies, live events), and 2-d/3-d imagery of the live action or animated fictional kind.  This is all relatively new in human experience. 

I do know kids who often seem bored and passive. I do know kids whose play seems scripted or programmed by their media habits, whether they be super heroes or vampires.  I know kids who seek to be entertained and expect immediate gratification.  I do know kids who never want to go outside and play, who don't know where food comes from, who haven't dug in the dirt or laid in the grass. Is there a connection that is on a brain-wiring level, not just about habits or how we use our time?  I don't know. 

My point is, I want to maximize REAL experience.  

Reel experience has it's place.  We subscribe to Netflix and use the Red Box for our grown up R&R and continuing education.  But, we have been an extremely media-limited family for a long time now.  Even before we had our son we owned a tiny 13-inch TV that was hauled out for the Olympics, Oklahoma football, and major news events (this is still our only TV with no satellite/cable).  

Our Friday night "movie night" tradition with Silas began a couple of years ago.  Until recently it consisted of  20 minutes of "Kipper" or the orignal "Bob the Builder."  He's seen a handful of longer format movies which we watch over two or three evenings.  We are in the middle of the Cathy Rigby stage version of Peter Pan now, which is available for instant view on Netflix.  But we are extremely choosy.  Even "The Land Before Time" (dinosaurs!) which Netflix placed in the 2-4 year old age category scared Silas so much he insisted we turn it off after just a few minutes.  He's been exposed to a Wii once, and it took us hours to debrief from a Star Wars-based war game.  Nonetheless, it's amazing how much media-driven content enters his play by exposure to other children's viewing habits.  

Sometimes its tough to not have the TV to turn to for some peace and quiet.  But, I feel we are making a long term investment in Silas' mind and imagination by challenging ourselves to find ways of engaging with each other and with our world, developing skills, making art, sharing chores, playing together...that will pay dividends in the long run.  There's plenty of time for media exploration....later.  I don't believe he will "fall behind" in some dramatic manner by not getting his joystick or thumb-control skills at an early age. 

I'm interested in others points of view.  How much media? Which media? Any media? Do you see negative effects in your kids from their viewing/gaming habits? 

Breathtaking mommy moment ::: inventive spelling

Do you ever look at your child in total amazement when they do something that exhibits abilities that utterly surprise you?  As I'm quietly making dinner this evening, Silas is playing his "coloring game" aka "Paint" on my laptop.  He likes to get a text box up, type random letters and giggle as I pronounce the gibberish that shows up. 

Today he typed "ad" and asked me what it spelled.  I said, "Ad, like advertisement."  I went back to my duties and wandered over a few minutes later to see this on my desktop.  He was quietly sounding out the word and typing his inventive spelling of "advertisement."  I was bowled over.  First, I love that he knows what an advertisement is and is aware that they try to sell him things or ideas (critical thinking 101 is a regular course at our house on the rare occasions when hulu or a football game is on in his presence and a commercial pops up). 

Second, he could sound out a word and spell!  Who knew.  With all our reading and sound making, and "what starts with the sound 'sh', etc.'', I had no idea he'd integrated it into this important skill set at the tender age of 4 and 8 months!  I'm sure this is not startling news to anyone.  He's almost 5 and I'm sure this is on someone's developmental schedule.  But, it was a breathtaking and proud mommy moment for me.

 

Up, up and away...suburbia beckons

I've been away from this space while my little family discussed, disagreed, evaluated, educated, plotted, planned, and began to implement the next phase of our domestic life.

My dear husband spends about 1-1/2 hours a day in his car traveling to and from work.  The school system in Houston is not organized around a neighborhood school concept and every child in our neighborhood attends a different public or private school.  We all want more family time and more shared parenting for their own sake, but also so I can slowly return to the workforce and we can each pursue some personal passions.  We want to enjoy our home space more without so much clutter and with larger closets!!! (Our current house was built in 1917 and has cardboard box-sized closets.) 

Alas, we've been contemplating a move to the Clear Lake area of Houston, near the NASA Johnson Space Center where my husband is a gainfully (and satisfactorily) employed civil servant.  These past months demonstrated that the future is uncertain at any time and with both aging parents and a young child, we are headed for many years of uncertainty.  Therefore, we concluded that we want to make the years between now and my husband's retirement as simple and satisfying as we can, so that we are able to easily and gracefully respond to any unforseen or inevitable situations that rest ahead.

When we started on this journey, neither of us were enthusiastic about moving to the 'burbs and couldn't imagine anything beyond an older, cookie cutter cul-de-sac subdivision. Both of us have lived in large urban areas almost our entire adult lives and we enjoy and cherish the architectural mosaic, diversity, cultural resources, and other amenities the city offers.  

We were completely taken by surprise one day when we happened upon a property that shifted our perspective about the suburbs.  We didn't know what the house was like, but we knew the view and somewhat wild space around it were virtually unheard of.  Thus began our pursuit (quest, odyssey?). 

Yesterday, we signed the contract on a home with this view.  Closing is a few weeks away, but the deal is pretty well sealed.

 

Once we decided we could live in this (capacious and unusually organized) house on our terms (e.g., make the huge living room into a pool/pingpong/play/media/music room).  And, once we realized that we didn't need to rush out and get a giant $3000 leather sectional sofa and 48" flat screen TV for this TV-less family.  We warmed up to the rather enormous dimensions of the spaces we will occupy come 2011.  There is LOTS of space for our little family.  Pictures of the interior will have to wait unti we have the keys!

We were sold ultimately on these lovely qualities:

• view
• running room for child and dog
• large, walkable green space accessible from the yard
• very hospitable environment to offer guests
• access to good roads
• proximity to work, services and community rec center
• walkable, good school less than 1/2 mile away
• good natural Feng Shui, with some easy fixes...if you're into that kind of thing.

Of course, it's not all rosy.  The house is 30-years old.  It bakes, bathes and percolates in a hot, humid climate with the accompanying gargantuan AC bills.  Some significant infrastructure updates, maintenance and repairs are needed.  We'll be in the surbubs (did I mention that?). 

I'll be posting more as we move toward and adapt to suburban life.  I've NEVER lived in a suburb and have a lot to learn about how to do that and maintain our integrity.  In the meantime, we'll be picturing and planning to inhabit our "room with a view."

TV-free childcare in our "health" clubs

(Actually I'd like to ban the ubiquitous TV's in the workout area of the club, but I'll settle for saving our kids.)

I like my 24 Hour Fitness club.  It is convenient, priced fairly, and it has childcare provided by lovely and well-intentioned young women--a huge benefit to parents!  

But...24 Hour Fitness makes its money by trying to get people to sign up and workout, presumably to increase their health and fitness.  So, why does it have TV monitors in its Kids' Clubs? 

I am starting a campaign to encourage 24 Hour Fitness to align with the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations on TV viewing for children by banning videos and TV in their Kids' Clubs at all locations.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children under the age of 2 should watch NO television (that also means videos, computer downloaded movies, Netflix, and video games). Furthermore, children over 2 should watch no more than 2 hours per day.

Most of the children in the Kids' Club at my gym are under 2, and those over 2 are getting almost 50% of their weekly maximum if their parent works out 5 days a week.

I don't want to choose between my health and my child's.  Please see this new report just out today...

If you want to do something....

• Join my group on Facebook.  I'll provide updates and ideas as well as progress on our campaign.
  

• If you are a 24 Hour Fitness member:

• Talk with your club manager and let himi/her know how you feel.

• Befriend the childcare workers.  Ask them what the policy is in your club regarding the videos.  Ask them if they are willing to turn off the TV.  You'll get some interesting responses and in some cases the opportunity to share some information.
• I plan to make a post-card sized handout to share with parents I see at the club to encourage them to voice their opinion.  I'll supply it here when it's ready. 

•     Send a letter to:

                          24 Hour Fitness

                         Member Service Dept.

                        PO Box 2689

                        Carlsbad, CA 92018

•     Send a letter to:

                        Carl Liebert III, CEO

                        24 Hour Fitness Worldwide, Inc. 

                        12647 Alcosta Blvd., 5th Floor  

                        San Ramon, CA  94583

• Please let me know if you take any of these actions (or any others), so I can keep a count.  You can e-mail me through this blog or post it on the Facebook group.
  

No car day ::: (and no photo)

I didn't quite accomplish the "no car day" goal last week.  Saturday was my target day, but at the last minute I realized I couldn't manage to transport all our stuff and Silas and the stroller to the destination where we were to meet Scott.  Alas, one small trip that day was better than most. 

Yesterday's no car day was good for me in a number of ways. (The fact that my cold receded and I felt decent for the first time in several days didn't hurt!)  We got creative.  Silas helped me hack & hem a couple of linen skirts I traded for at the barter fair last Thanksgiving.  Then he selected an idiosyncratic wardrobe and headed outside to paint while I tackled indoor chores.  Here's some of what I was able to do with various amounts of help from little hands:

• Cleared the counter tops, including changing up some storage to be undercover instead of out in the open! 
  
• Made home made veggie Boston baked beans in the pressure cooker
• Sowed my spelt sprouts in dirt for a natural Easter basket (I'm not sure it'll be green by Sunday, though)
  
• Made sprouted spelt bread
• Made banana bread
• Harvested and cooked up a ton of "collard spaghetti"
• Watered the garden
• Hosted 5 girls and Silas for an impromptu water and paint festival in the backyard followed by hosing, stripping, bathing and hanging wet clothes to dry
  
• Did family laundry
• Did tons of dishes
• Made a third "crayon roll" as a party favor to be (I'm still working on the method and desperately in need of one of these before I do more) 
• The usual round of bathrooming, brushing, reading, cuddling, playing, nuzzling, tucking in.  (I managed to squeak in an episode of Weeds on Netflix before bed, too.  Why do I like that show????)
  

Again, productivity is NOT the total point about staying home--simplifying, not consuming, saving energy, etc. are more important.  But, they do seem somehow to go hand in hand sometimes. 

I'm thinking about what will be my April goal to post at One Small Change.

Making space for practice ::: the four corners

Lately I've been getting the message from many quarters that I am to do my yoga practice and the future will take care of itself.

Of course, taking the path of a householder in yoga means that the practice is not only on the mat--in fact it is mostly NOT on the mat.  Housework, food preparation, laundry, parenting, self-care, gardening, and relationships are all fertile grounds for yoga practice.  All these tasks are best done mindfully and with the breath, just like asana practice.  Breathe, breathe, breathe.  Patience, strength, energy, flexibility, kindness, compassion, etc., etc., etc.

Since before the holidays my art/yoga studio has been in such disarray that I could barely move, let alone breathe.  The yoga mat & rug was used so often as a play space or a kneeler for me as I cut fabric that it was sorely in need of cleaning and re-dedication.  Half-done craft projects, mending, fabric & yarn for my stash, iron & ironing board, various renditions of LED track lighting Scott's working on installing in the armoire, papers, notes & notebooks, business tax documents, etc., were towering pyramids awaiting their inevitable slide into ruin.  I mostly just shut the door and pretended we didn't have a studio.

In an effort to reignite my asana practice, along with my householder practice, I tackled the cleaning of this room over the weekend. I actually found the task enjoyable and spent a lovely Sunday morning at it.  I'm thrilled with the results. 

I cannot thoroughly clean without rearranging furniture (I need the change of energy as an incentive and reward). Are you like that? But in this case my rearrangement served multiple purposes.  First, this room is so full of furniture and windows that I lacked a wall for doing restorative poses and practicing arm balances.  Second, I wanted to put the TV/DVD player in the white cabinet rather than on top of it in order to hide it when not in use.  I wanted to position the TV so I could more easily view it while using yoga practice DVDs.  Finally, I wanted to clear the space around my desk so I can write.  Hence, I moved all the bookshelves to the other side of the room. 

I didn't take before pictures (because I forgot), but truly it was a nightmare.  Here are the results:

The Southeast corner (I get to face East while practicing)...

The Northeast corner (with my little patch of wall for arm balances)...

The Northwest corner (the door goes into the bedroom)...

West  is my writing desk & sewing armoire.  The stash is now behind the curtains to the right (along with toys out of rotation, stationery, art supplies & miscellaneous camping gear.  (I didn't take a Southwest picture, but you get the idea.  The South side of the room is ALL windows)... 

Om, shanti, shanti, shanti.  Namaste.

Downhill racer ::: from the land of Gekko

Inspired by the Olympics, no doubt...

This and that ::: part 2

Learning to tie his own scarf in his "lumberback shirt."  This is a very long seed stitch scarf knitted in Berroco Comfort.

My foray into cable knitting continues with this reversible cable scarf.  The Palindrome is so cool.  Also, you'll see a first attempt at a wool felt "treasure pouch."  My hands are not made for hand-sewing...

Close up of palindrome (knitted with two strands of Knit Picks superwash merino sock yarn) & treasure pouch.
FAVORITE new toys from Imagine Childhood.
I'm sure I've knitted miles of garter stitch during the Olympics. [We pull the TV out of the yoga room rarely.  A few events capture our family's attention (the Oklahoma-Texas football game, the Oscars and the Olympics, for sure.] 

Would anyone finish Shawl that Jazz without the Olympics?  Can you say, "boring?"  I know it will turn out lovely--it's such a classic and beautifully simple design.  I'm knitting in a lovely deep woodsy green Cascade Eco+ Wool. It would be more fun to knit in a multi-colored wool, for sure.  I'm only about two-thirds through it after "shawl" that knitting!