A Wooly artist in a LillyZoo

New Years Eve 2011

2012-01-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Fireworks

Friends

Food

and

Finale

We had about 5 Families in all over with a couple staying over. The kids had a slumber party and the adults had a worry free good time. I made Pomegranate Martinis. The guys drank microbrews. Great conversation, laughter and BIG fireworks out by the pond.

Disclaimer: new camera and some of the pictures bite!

A Christmas Jaunt

2011-12-29T06:34:00.000-05:00

After Christmas, we visited the project my husband's worked on for the past 2 years. A massive memorial to Franklin D. Roosevelt at Four Freedoms Park on Roosevelt Island in NYC designed by Louis Kahn. Amazing!

To the left of Z is the top of the Empire State Building point and the to right is the Chrysler spire.

Massive granite block walls with an inch and a half of shiny polished space between them to let light blaze through at certain times of the day.

This old building is the small pox hospital I am sure it was amazing to see back in the day.

After walking the site, we hit Midtown to have lunch and of course see the Rockefeller Christmas Tree.

One tired babe and her daddy after a day of excitement.

Week ending

2011-11-29T13:55:00.001-05:00

With 4 days of Daddy this past long weekend we spent our days working on the playhouse trying to finish before Christmas.

primed

one window in

rest and enjoying some sweet love and chocolate with Daddy

a view from the chair

Daddy's hand-milled and built stairs from our yard

Z priming and Dad closing up eaves

a little more to go...

Our Thanksgiving at Nonni's

2011-11-29T09:06:00.001-05:00

Something to be thankful for...

Family and loved-ones

Delicious comfort food

Great Conversation

Fun Stories

The Damsel "I can't pay the rent!"

The landlord: "You must pay the rent!"

The Damsel: "I can't pay the rent!"

In steps the gentleman: "I'll pay the rent!"

This one is for all the tough guys at the biker shop!

Full belly

my little lovely

Nonni

Moderation

Meals of good food and good company are meant to be enjoyed and savored but most importantly remembered...

Weekending

2011-11-23T21:21:00.001-05:00

We believe in homemade gifts and Christmas is on the way...

So we set to work building something we have been meaning to build for quite a while...

A play house in our Fairy Hollow

Granite footing

salvaged plywood and donated nails

New 2x3s for the crooked walls

a campfire

Fire and cold temps the girls moved closer to the...

to play with the fire sprites

So Saturday morning we set to work and after church on Sunday

By the end of Sunday walls were up and a sheathed second floor in place and it is ready for a roof

Today I picked up some paint. We have a stack of old windows to put in and Ant brought home some 2x4s for the roof.

Some heat in the winter and Christmas lights on the porch. We also have an old porch railing in the barn for the porch.

Salvaged deck for the porch.

To be cont...

St Martin Nov 11th

2011-11-19T18:45:00.001-05:00

We celebrated our own St. Martins holiday on November 11th with good friends. It was the day after the full moon. Our beloved kindy teachers from last year sent us an invitation to attend the GMWS walk. What a beautiful walk and tale in the round with old friends and loved-ones.

Abeautiful tale by kindy teachers of a little girl in search of her fairy friends who have gone down to winter over within Mother Earths care. In a large circle of beautiful handmade lanterns and little wiggley children. It was so magical.

After a walk through the woods we sang St.Martin carols and retired for the night. What a wonderful way to enjoy our family time TOGETHER.

This Moment

2011-11-18T05:00:00.000-05:00

This Moment

2011-11-11T22:02:00.000-05:00

Another trip to the zoo

2011-11-09T19:45:00.000-05:00

This Moment

2011-11-05T22:08:00.000-04:00

Ghoulish Good Time

2011-11-02T18:11:00.000-04:00

So the power went out on Saturday leaving us without water or lights for 3 days, but that didn't stop us from having a Halloween party/openhouse. Luckly the house is heated with wood so it was snuggly warm and the guests also warmed the space with good conversation and cheer.

marzipan pumpkins that girls helped me make

craft table idea from the Crafty Chicks

the ghost of Mary Ingalls, Don Carlo, Helena, the ghost of Laura Ingalls, and a 50s Babe

the darling ghost of Carrie Ingalls

she may be a ghost but she can sure put it away

group of ghoulagans

feast

scariest costume

ghostly crafts

jacks

the real ghost enjoying the Victrola

this week

2011-10-21T11:49:00.002-04:00

In the Nursery with Peter Pan

On a walk in the neighborhood to see the animals.

These are the happy cows that provide our milk

Ponies that live happily with a little pig sidekick

Cabins, Mutton, Mad Science, Dogs, and Llamas (oh and wool)

2011-10-18T15:55:00.000-04:00

Another great year at the NYS Sheep and Wool Festival

Lots of Mutton

Bedtime

Packing up

Friends

Flying Dogs

Leaping Llamas

Z holding the bar

Of course the Spitters 4-H club won

Fun Slide

This Week

2011-10-14T12:13:00.005-04:00

Photo Shot by Todd Marti Photography

toddmarti.com

This Moment

2011-09-30T14:45:00.002-04:00

Photo Book

2011-08-10T14:59:00.001-04:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Snap shot into their World

2011-08-10T08:15:00.004-04:00

snap shot into their world... Mom was busy with laundry and house cleaning so they got on with there work.

Its August Already!

2011-08-04T18:11:00.002-04:00

It is August and I have so much to do these days...

I have been harvesting chickens

Thinking about sailboats

Watching the flowers grow

Helping my girls through "Fifths"

Playing with chickens

... and

Reading alot of books out loud
Sewing little girls dresses
Fending off the wildlife

but...

I am so grateful for this To Do list.

Oh BTW LillyZoo blog is 4 years old today

Equestrian Camp

2011-07-19T20:58:00.000-04:00

Our oldest girl Z has a natural way with animals. She's our official chicken herder and at age 6 could move our little sheep in and out of the field. This summer she insisted on using her gift money to do a week of Equestrian Day Camp nearby. At the end of the week, the kids showed what they had learned in the week of english and western riding.

Grade One Intensive at Sunbridge Institute

2011-07-10T16:41:00.003-04:00

This week long intensive in teaching first grade to waldorf students at Sunbridge Institute was fascinating and rejuvenating. My hubby took time off from work to have a staycation with our girls while I attended classes from 8am to 9pm at night with breaks and lunches of course. This course was open to home educators as well.

Art with Brigitte Bley-Swinston

The class is held in a large old barn with nice light

Instructor

Movement with Will Crane

In the Green Meadow Waldorf School Gym

Class Instruction with Gerry LoDolce

Grade One instruction with Gerry LoDolce from the Kimberton school and class with an amazing group of knowledgeable grades teachers from all over the country and Canada.

Also Music with Andrea Lyman of Sand Point Waldorf School.

A good start to the year ahead...

{this moment}

2011-06-03T06:42:00.001-04:00

Celebrating a 2nd Birthday

2011-06-01T21:52:00.000-04:00

She woke up this morning to fresh balloons floating above her bed and started singing Happy Birthday to you... Then she saw her sisters and yelled "Sing It!" They all started singin. For a two year old she can carry a tune. I heard them all from our room and could help but laugh. She is a toot!

Gathering resources Grade One in our homeschooling journey

2011-05-19T15:57:00.000-04:00

With an inheritance from the loss of my Stepfather I was able to put my oldest into our local Waldorf school while I continued on caring for our youngest and my postpartum transition. As the end of her Kindy year nears I am collecting my thoughts and plans for Grade One of her Waldorf homeschool year. I will be attending a Grade One intensive at Sunbridge Institute on July 4th- the 8th. I am really looking forward to it.

...So you will see and read much more in the future months and years of our adventures in homeschooling. Wish us peace and light on this journey once again.

May Pole

2011-05-03T11:36:00.000-04:00

Easter Eggs

2011-05-01T16:04:00.000-04:00

This years food color dyed eggs. Some with old lace to give them sweet patterns

Yes I know about natural dying but as these eggs are not for eating I don't see the point in wasting perfectly good food to make natural dye. ie. beets blueberries etc.

In the basement of our 150 year old house sits a room with decades maybe even centuries of old goodies. We call it the general store and the wine cellar. I found these items in our general store and couldn't resist making chocolate cake eggs with coconut cream icing. They were a hit at the family gathering.