oya baka mama

roots

2012-01-23T19:19:00.001-08:00

roots, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

nest

2012-01-23T19:14:00.001-08:00

nest, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

I feel like I'm just starting to take it in, to really live here. It doesn't seem like a month, but a blur of boxes and lists. There are still boxes and windows without curtains and things to settle into, but it is starting to feel like home.

silo

2012-01-19T20:14:00.003-08:00

silo, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

eye

2012-01-19T19:40:00.001-08:00

eye, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

I walked around the whole yard today just looking at the trees and plants.

dotty

2012-01-17T05:46:00.001-08:00

dotty, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Look who is getting very serious about her pull ups.

the play's the thing

2012-01-07T18:53:00.001-08:00

the play opens with the queen ruling the pirate ship, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

We were in invited to a play tonight up in John's room. Who knew that the pirate bed was also a theatre. They had actually rehearsed, and I got to kiss all the actors.

the evil queen eats her midday fare of frogs and mice

2012-01-07T18:50:00.001-08:00

the evil queen eats her midday fare of frogs and mice, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

the servant, the queen, and the pirate

2012-01-07T18:49:00.001-08:00

the servant, the queen, and the pirate, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

last light

2012-01-07T12:45:00.003-08:00

last light, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

twilight ruby

2012-01-07T12:45:00.001-08:00

twilight ruby, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

eating grapes and apples

2012-01-07T12:44:00.001-08:00

eating grapes and apples, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

the children are very proud of their "solar and wind powered clothesline"

2011-12-30T20:45:00.003-08:00

the children are very proud of their "solar and wind powered clothesline", a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

sunset

2011-12-30T20:45:00.001-08:00

sunset, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

christmas eve

2011-12-30T20:44:00.001-08:00

christmas eve, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

are there enough carrots for each reindeer?

2011-12-30T20:42:00.001-08:00

are there enough carrots for each reindeer?, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

tree boy

2011-12-30T20:40:00.003-08:00

tree boy, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

the big day

2011-12-30T20:40:00.001-08:00

the big day, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

merry christmas

2011-12-25T16:59:00.003-08:00

music littles, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

three

2011-12-25T16:59:00.001-08:00

three, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

ella

2011-12-25T16:58:00.005-08:00

ella, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

miss

2011-12-25T16:58:00.003-08:00

miss, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

just john

2011-12-25T16:58:00.001-08:00

just john, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Our house

2011-12-16T19:40:00.001-08:00

sunset, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

on the ninth day of christmas

2011-12-10T18:59:00.001-08:00

on the ninth day of christmas, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

We baked cookies and ate them warm with milk.

nature table

2011-12-10T18:56:00.001-08:00

nature table, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

light

2011-12-10T18:55:00.001-08:00

candles, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

The first light of Advent is the light of stones.
Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones.

The second light of Advent is the light of plants.
Roots, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit by whom we live and grow.

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts.
Animals of farm, field, forest, air, and seas.
All await the birth in greatest and in least.

The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind.
The light of love, the light of thought, to give and to understand.

Steiner

on the third day of christmas

2011-12-03T20:11:00.001-08:00

on the third day of christmas, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

The children say that we have to take our candles with us when we go to Granny's house because we have to do this every night.

I am making an effort to be simple in our celebrations this year, but I've been wanting an advent spiral for years. We can use the candles throughout the year, but spiraled on our dining room table with some pine boughs it is just right for counting the days.

2011-12-02T21:00:00.001-08:00

sit, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Today, I sat. Not like this but next to a feverish three year old watching PBS and crocheting for hours.

I have boxes for packing, a shower curtain for each new bath and a clean one to leave behind. I have finally panicked about buying a new house.

I'm working on my hundred dollar christmas. It feels strange. I think I'll go over budget soon, but not by much. Today I bought twenty five votive candles and holders to make an advent spiral and a box of candy canes. Each child will get one or two small gifts, and we'll get a christmas tree and that will be all.

All in our new house.

thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-30T04:43:00.001-08:00

thanksgiving 2011, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-30T04:42:00.001-08:00

thanksgiving 2011, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T06:27:00.001-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

native american vest :: 2005

2011-11-22T08:11:00.001-08:00

native american vest, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Our young pilgrim in 2005

2011-11-22T08:10:00.001-08:00

Our young pilgrim in 2005, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Pilgrim and Native American John

2011-11-22T08:09:00.001-08:00

Pilgrim and Native American John, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

looking for the sun

2011-11-19T18:41:00.001-08:00

november sunset, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

I took the kids out to Clover Hollow today to make wreaths for a fundraiser for our school. They had a great afternoon playing in the woods, feeding goats, feeding a llama, and playing in a small creek.

On the way home the sun was about to set and I took a detour to drive by the new house. I'd been wondering where the sun would set, and, as you can see, it goes right down in the backyard. Perfect for back porch sitting or sitting in the garden with a glass of wine.

visit

2011-11-16T21:01:00.001-08:00

porch sitter, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Ruby and I went over to the house today for about an hour. The home inspector was working, and we poked about and took in the lay of the land. I found two closets I didn't even know existed. Essentially, we can each have a closet. One of the downstairs rooms doesn't have one, but that room could use the closet under the stairs.

The owners have all of their things out, and it looks beautiful. I love all the different woods on the floors. I love the plainness of it.

we bought the house

2011-11-10T18:39:00.001-08:00

Untitled, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

We may be eating beans until our house sells, but we like beans. I can't wait to tell the children in the morning. John was going to ask Santa Claus for this house, specifically for the tree house and playset in the yard.

tree climber

2011-11-05T20:15:00.001-07:00

tree climber, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

where i stand

2011-11-04T19:58:00.003-07:00

where i stand, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

maple

2011-11-04T19:58:00.001-07:00

maple, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

ruby june

2011-11-04T19:57:00.001-07:00

ruby june, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

medusa

2011-10-31T19:55:00.005-07:00

medusa, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

jamie hyneman

2011-10-31T19:55:00.003-07:00

jamie hyneman, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

fall table

2011-10-31T19:54:00.001-07:00

fall table, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

sunnyside grocery (1946-1961)

2011-10-26T21:15:00.001-07:00

sunnyside grocery (1946-1961), a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

2011-10-25T19:39:00.001-07:00

fly, john, fly, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

I'm feeling pretty much in mid air today. Our prospective buyers have said that they will make an offer on our house by the end of the week, and although I'm pretty thrilled about that, I'm still acutely aware of how far we have to go to actually buy the farmhouse. Far financially, far in terms of no one buying it tomorrow, far in terms of putting it all in a box and hauling it down the road.

Then there is that part of me that can't stop thinking about grape vines, the apple and pear trees, and the garden.

The kids are already pretty invested in it. My fault, of course. I've been practicing every little bit of karma yoga I can fathom.

nest

2011-10-21T19:49:00.001-07:00

nest, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

The potential buyers wanted to see the survey of the property today.

throw my hands up

2011-10-19T20:19:00.001-07:00

throw my hands up, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

No house news today.

play

2011-10-16T20:04:00.001-07:00

play, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

ruby and mama

2011-10-16T20:02:00.001-07:00

ruby and mama, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

ruby june

2011-10-16T20:01:00.001-07:00

ruby june, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

new river

2011-10-16T20:00:00.001-07:00

icy water, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

at the lake

2011-10-16T19:59:00.001-07:00

at the lake, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

blue october

2011-10-15T20:13:00.001-07:00

big pumpkins, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

This has to be one of the prettiest places on earth, this top of the hill panoramic pumpkin patch of glowing golden light. We were right up here last December to saw down our Christmas tree.

three

2011-10-15T20:03:00.001-07:00

three, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

lumina

2011-10-15T19:51:00.003-07:00

lumina, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

john and the big pumpkin

2011-10-15T19:51:00.001-07:00

john and the big pumpkin, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

john drives

2011-10-15T19:50:00.001-07:00

john drives, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

maybe a few steps closer

2011-10-14T09:21:00.001-07:00

nikel lane, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

keeping calm
carrying on

root cellar

2011-10-12T20:04:00.001-07:00

root cellar, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Cross your fingers. Ruby and I went to look at that old farmhouse today, and I feel a little giddy.

When I was pretty young I started reading the Foxfire books, and I have always wanted a root cellar. This one still has the shelves and big wooden bins. Across the way is a spring house.

There is room for a dog, chickens, and four bedrooms.

shakori hills grassroots festival

2011-10-11T19:06:00.001-07:00

shakori hills grassroots festival, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

We camped for four days in Silk Hope, North Carolina at the Shakori Hills Festival of Music and Dance. It was sunny and golden during the day, and the moon was shining at night. Ruby loved fast fiddles, the sandbox, being a goldfinch in the Paperhand Puppet parade, the arts and crafts tent, and the moon. The campsites were full of hanging jack-o-lanterns, campfires, and candles, and our hair still smells faintly of woodsmoke.

birthday morning

2011-10-11T18:40:00.001-07:00

fire builder, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

On the morning of her birthday Ella built the fire by herself.

good morning pigs

2011-10-11T18:38:00.001-07:00

good morning pigs, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

We talked to the pigs several times a day. Ruby loved saying goodnight to them. One night we walked to our campsite down a dark country dirt road by following our moonshadows.

Untitled

2011-10-11T18:35:00.001-07:00

Untitled, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

the blackberry bushes stringband

2011-10-11T18:31:00.001-07:00

the blackberry bushes stringband, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

My favorite band of the weekend was the Blackberry Bushes. If we had one less child I might be convinced to drive to Ozark, Arkansas for the Yonder Mountain String Band Harvest Festival this weekend. These guys from Olympia, Washington had me thinking about the Be Good Tanyas as we walked into the field. They have a young edgy quality to go along with their sweet harmonies.

happy tenth birthday ella miranda

2011-10-10T13:10:00.001-07:00

happy tenth birthday ella miranda, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

gone camping

2011-10-05T20:07:00.001-07:00

sunshine, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

one for ruby too

2011-10-05T19:02:00.001-07:00

john gets a pumpkin for ruby, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

It was a perfect afternoon on the kindergarten field trip.

john and ruby

2011-10-05T19:01:00.001-07:00

john and ruby, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

115 {years old}

2011-10-04T19:47:00.001-07:00

househunting, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

john's robot

2011-10-02T21:06:00.001-07:00

robot by john, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

i am

2011-09-30T18:53:00.001-07:00

i am, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

fourth showing of the week

2011-09-28T20:17:00.000-07:00

I'm grateful for the people who are coming over to see the house. I'm wondering how long until the excitement wears off, until I just say whatever, mop the floor, and leave the house with no expectations. It is a little hard to have strangers evaluating your house on a weekly basis. Add the stink bug invasion, and it is fairly excruciating.

Again, I'm grateful.

2011-09-25T19:02:00.001-07:00

meditate, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Starting now. I'm stopping the rushing.

The children are settled well in school, the house is fine, the cars have fresh tires, and the pantry is full. It is time to sit back and breathe and appreciate fall.

This week I'm going to take care of everyone just as I usually do, but I'm also going to take care of myself. We might have sandwiches for dinner. I'm going to the gym. I'm going to paint my nails a dark fallish color. I'm going to take pictures, bake bread, and make soup. There is a cable scarf on the needles and a stack of books beside my bed, the bed I will be in by eleven every night.

pear chutney

2011-09-25T17:30:00.000-07:00

Edna Lewis’s Pear Chutney
She wrote that this is delicious made with apples, peaches or mangoes and will keep for months once made.
3 pounds Keiffer pears (the hard old fashioned pears)
Juice of 1 lemon
2 ounces fresh gingerroot
6 dried chili peppers
2 cups cider vinegar
2 cups sugar
1 T. salt
2 T. mustard seeds
½ pound sultana raisins
10 cloves garlic (1 ounce), peeled
Peel and core the pears, cutting each into eight pieces. Squeeze the lemon juice over the pears and let them rest while preparing the rest of the ingredients.Crush the peeled ginger in a mortar with a pestle. Do the same with the chilies (about 3 T. chilies). Bring the vinegar and sugar to a boil in a non-reactive kettle and let simmer 10 min. Add the ginger, chilies, salt, mustard seeds, raisins and pears. Bring to a boil and then lower the heat and simmer for about thirty minutes, until the chutney thickens. Crush the garlic cloves in the mortar with the pestle and stir them into the chutney. Pour the chutney into jars, fasten the lids, and store in a dark cupboard a month before using. Refrigerate after opening.

stars in my eyes

2011-09-21T08:46:00.001-07:00

stars in my eyes, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

edge

2011-09-21T04:57:00.001-07:00

edge, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

fall

2011-09-19T18:42:00.001-07:00

fall, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

self

2011-09-18T10:23:00.001-07:00

self, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Ok, so pretty soon I might be back to the daily narrative, but I've been taking this photography class and it has taken over my evenings after the children have gone to bed. I'm smitten with layering one picture of top of another. I've even finally read the owner's manual for my camera, so watch out.

Our house still hasn't sold. I know that three months is nothing in today's market. We have to keep it up until Thanksgiving, but then we'll take a break for a while and ride it out until early spring. I was so sure that I wouldn't be spending this year in the car, so sure that we wouldn't spend another Christmas here. By the way, Ella called me into the bathroom the other day to let me know that she knew I was Santa Claus.

twirl

2011-09-14T07:59:00.001-07:00

twirl, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

ella

2011-09-12T03:38:00.001-07:00

ella, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

talking to her shadow

2011-09-11T20:12:00.001-07:00

talking to her shadow, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

run, ruby, run

2011-09-11T20:03:00.001-07:00

run, ruby, run, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

home

2011-09-11T20:02:00.001-07:00

ella sews, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

We were home for Labor Day and completely enjoyed gathering around the dining room table for projects, painting, sewing, and drawing. I suppose this would be our rhythm if we were homeschooling.

Ruby has mastered cutting and glueing and can go through an entire gluestick in one session. She is drawing people, circles with faces and two stick legs. Today she wanted to make her own alphabet book.

baked in a pie

2011-09-10T19:32:00.001-07:00

twenty apples baked in a pie, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

We had John's office over for dinner on friday night.

medusa, nine

2011-09-10T19:29:00.001-07:00

medusa, nine, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

She obsesses for weeks about her Halloween costume. Today we did it all at Goodwill in ten minutes. Thank you Percy Jackson.

butterfly

2011-09-08T20:47:00.001-07:00

butterfly, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

This little one has Lyme Disease. She is going to be just fine. I can see how people could get past the acute stage on the illness. She was starting to feel better when she was diagnosed.

climbing out of summer

2011-09-04T19:37:00.001-07:00

i am the sea, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

I'm starting another photography class tomorrow with the lovely Vivienne McMaster. I took her You Are Your Own Muse course last spring, and this is my favorite image from that experience. Strangely enough, this is the first and only layered photograph that I've ever made. Since then, I've been collecting photos to layer and planning some concepts that I would like to experiment with. It is such an inspiration to share a virtual classroom space with such a variety of women and artists from around the world.

picking apples

2011-09-03T20:26:00.001-07:00

pickers, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Today we hiked around Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County and then picked a bushel of apples in Bedford. Along the way I got to knit in the car.

It seems too hot to pick apples, but tomorrow we'll dive into making applesauce and apple pies.

bonk

2011-09-03T20:20:00.001-07:00

bonk, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Apples can fall on your head.

john b

2011-09-03T20:18:00.001-07:00

john b, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

natural bridge

2011-09-03T20:17:00.001-07:00

sept3 004, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

three

2011-09-03T20:15:00.001-07:00

natural bridge, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

ella

2011-09-03T20:01:00.001-07:00

ella, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

This big sassy fourth grader has been under the weather for a while now. We went back to the doctor this week, and she is getting another Lyme test. She had a rash, large circular marks on her torso and legs, and has had a headache and nausea. Last week she had a very high white count, and by the end of this week it was going down. Today the rash seems to be gone. I'm looking forward to hearing from the doctor on monday.

ella miranda

2011-09-01T20:16:00.001-07:00

ella miranda, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

back to school

2011-09-01T20:15:00.001-07:00

back to school, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

play dough

2011-08-25T04:45:00.001-07:00

play dough, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

She wants to be in the red room too.

flower picker

2011-08-23T20:14:00.001-07:00

flower picker, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

I think there were more yellow flowers than she could comprehend. We camped for the weekend and then came back to start school on monday. It is a new year of sorts for mamas. I have a lot of work to do at school this week, but next week I'm considering some new routines, the library, bike rides on the Huckleberry, a new photography class. I'm looking longingly at my knitting needles.

The nights are dipping into the forties, but the days are hot. I love the long slow fall into winter. I get quite the thrill thinking about cooking beans in the crock pot.

up the mountain

2011-08-21T21:28:00.001-07:00

up the mountain, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

blue

2011-08-21T21:04:00.003-07:00

blue, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.