French paradox

I just made some Herbes de Provence. Well, I'm calling it faux herbes de provence, since I was low on basil, out of sage, and was missing the savory and lavender. It's basically not Herbes de Provence at all.

Which is a good thing, because apparently the recipe I chose has 1.6g of fat in it, or 21% of your daily value — and 3% saturated fat! However, I'm missing out on 43% of my dietary fiber.

I wasn't aware that oregano thyme and basil were so fattening. It must be the rosemary?

Something tells me there's a problem with their nutritional facts on this one.

Crafting Binge - Holiday pillow covers

I decided to stitch some fleece pillow covers for the pillows on our outdoor furniture. The 18" pillow inserts are from Ikea. I was inspired by modern felt Christmas stockings like these on Etsy, and of course the classic Crate and Barrel mod images we see every year.

The design was simple but MAN was it time-consuming! It probably took more than an hour to cut and applique each snowflake. I didn't think about the math of the distance around the edge of the snowflakes. But I like the design!

I made the red covers for our outdoor table and chairs, and the white ones for our front porch swing. Fleece is washable!

Each tree pillow has a slightly different design. I ran out of fleece, so I still have one more pillow to make.

I cut out the cardinal freehand, and you can see it took me a few tries!

Starboy helped me with the photos for the blog in our fake-o natural light studio. We're still working on the "light and shadow" chapter of his visual education!

Crafting Binge - tea and cookies

I've been binging on creativity! Our neighbor just turned two, so we gave her tea for two and some felt counting cookies!

Why blocks are better than iPads

Yesterday I posted about a discussion on my email Mommy List, about whether or not the Feminist Pig should buy an iPad for her two-year-old son. Despite creating a ridiculously robust and rich environment for her child at home with her partner, my guess is that she felt she could further his education and understanding with a technological boost. Because More is Better, right?

Let's put the expense aside, or the idea that the $500 could be put to use feeding and building community, or accruing interest in a college fund. What's wrong with a little technology, here and there? Isn't it like having just a taste of cake, or just one cookie? Just a teeensy weeensy little dinner mint?

Well, as adults, our brains have finished their major growth. This wraps up around age 25. (Did you catch that? That experimentation in college maybe did cost you a few brain cells.) A little Cow Clicker isn't going to be as dangerous as it would be for a preschooler or toddler, whose brain is frenetically building neural roads for future commerce.

Before first grade, children learn by touching, feeling, experiencing and moving. Building with blocks, as the New York Times noted today builds excellent skills for problem-solving and processing previous experiences. Computers also don't allow children to develop their own rules about turn-taking, time spent, or being nice. These rules, called "executive functioning" skills, are a key predictor in academic and professional success.

Parenting and Technology are Complicated

photo ©Apple

First, let me point out the irony of blogging about screen-free parenting. It's a bit like "jumbo shrimp," or "Gentlemen, you can't fight in here, this is the war room!"

But this is where we are in 2011. Telling everyone about recycling on an expensive gadget that will end up in a landfill in short order. For example. Offering so many choices, that it's changing the landscape of our society, as Barry Schwartz wrote about choice-making here, as Gabriel Kahane talked about creative loss (at the end of the interview with Audie Cornish) here, as John Tierney wrote about decision fatigue here as Richard Louv wrote about here. And more, of course.

I participate in a Mommy listserv of at least 2000 local moms. It started as a breastfeeding support group, which over the years has morphed into a chat room of topics from babies to new apartments to great hostess gifts. Last week, someone posted: What's the best tablet I should put on my two-year-old darling's Christmas list? iPad, or can I save a few bucks on something else?

Come on, seriously?! An iPad for your two-year-old? Because his iPhone is boring him? Because his big-screen TV won't fit in the car? Because he needs to be online at all times to maintain his high score in Angry Birds?

Crafting binge - aprons, tablecloth, bunting

Happy Birthday, Mary Jane! The bunting now hangs on her bedroom wall so she can celebrate all year.

I forgot to make a nice photo of the tablecloth I made for Mary Jane's parents when they moved into their new house! It's intended to work for long folding tables, so I used about 2 1/2 yards of fabric in two styles. It covered a 10-foot folding banquet table easily! And it turns out their massive, mod kitchen table is about the same size, so they'll get a lot of use out of it!

For the striped fabric, I just slit it down the middle so I could use the selvedge without hemming. It doesn't look too bad.

Mary Jane's lavender gift bag

...Filled with one of Meg McElwee's aprons, which I hand-embroidered. I made the aprons earlier in the spring. Her second book has great projects in it!

Crafting Binge 2011

It's been a bit nutty around here for the last month or two, with the sewing machine finally clickiting away, and prepping for my moms club holiday party. My mother-in-law loaned me her machine when mine was in the shop, and hers is a steady workhorse! Combined with Starboy actually going to sleep before 9:00 some nights, I've been binging on creativity. Over the next several days, I will present you with the Parade of Projects!

Raccoon energy

John and Karen Hollingsworth photo

So I'm in the basement switching the laundry loads tonight and suddenly I see some movement near the doorway. Silently, a good-sized raccoon turned and glanced at me, as if to say, "Oh? Is this room busy?" And his pal, who was on his way into the other room, luckily changed tack and scooted back outside. The first guy had to think twice about it and receive an invitation back into the yard as I clapped my hands loudly.

My heart was pounding. Raccoons can be mean, right? And there were two of them between me and the way out, creeping in on nothingness and leaving on a whisper. Two, right? Two? Is that everybody? Everybody is out? They seemed fairly non-plussed, however. Not half as excited as the squirrel who came exploring into the living room one afternoon, through the front door.

I looked up the bandits in one of my animal medicine books since the encounter was so bold and direct.

What's Wrong with Testing? A quick summary. And related info.

The Washington Post's "The Answer Sheet" has run a guest column today by teacher curriculum designer Marion Brady, listing (again!) the trouble with Testing.

"Teachers oppose the tests because they’re at odds with deep-seated American values about individual differences and worth; undermine a fundamental democratic principle that those closest to and therefore most knowledgeable about problems are best positioned to deal with them; dump major public money into corporate coffers instead of classrooms.

"I, a retired teacher beyond the reach of today’s 'reformers,' oppose the tests for those reasons, and for the psychological damage they do to kids not yet able to cope. But my particular, personal beef is that the tests (and the Common Core State Standards on which they’re based) are blocking policymaker consideration of what I believe to be the most promising educational innovation in the last century — the use of general systems theory as it developed during World War II as a tool for reshaping and radically simplifying the 'core curriculum.'"

As a classroom teacher, I was surprised at how much time I had to spend focusing on prepping students for spring testing. It was weeks and weeks. Well—it was the whole year, really, because the principal and academic coaches use that data as a benchmark. I can't say it was without benefit—good educators use the data to target instruction, see where some strengths and weaknesses are. But the efforts are to the detriment of developing the whole child. Why should music education be limited to the students who are doing so well academically that they can miss class, for example?

Worker vest a success

The construction worker vest is a success. Starboy is enjoying wearing it, but he doesn't seem to love it with his heart, as he does the gnome outfit. He really has a sense of pride when he is dressed as a gnome.

The hard hat is from Home Depot. We put it on the smallest setting then wrapped a bandanna around the headband to snug it up. There's an orange tee (LS) and a yellow tee (SS) to complete the outfit, but he went with the blimp tee for a playdate in the park.

Calm in the forest

Starboy Red Gnome enjoyed a break in the pretend forest after a lot of Halloween activity. He has really been excited to be a gnome this week.

Red Robin joins the Gnome friends

Red Robin plays prominently in the art class stories. She flies around over the Green Wood and brings the news to Miss Gnome and Red Gnome (whom I sometimes call Big Red). Starboy was very excited to see that Mommy was making a Red Robin just like at Miss Molly's.

I used this pattern from Lavender's Blue Design as a guideline. Wool felt (20%, that's all Joann has) is a delight to hold: warm and inviting. I cut on the sewing lines to make a slightly smaller bird. I sewed the wings on as flaps so they can be manipulated, and I added ribbons on the tail (Miss Molly's Red Robin has ribbons on her tail). Then I sewed on the right side of the fabric to give more of a folksy style, and to save the step of turning it inside out.

I stuffed her really tightly to keep her sturdy and keep her from getting mushy over time. Wool stuffing is ideal, but polyester is more cost-effective, so that's what I used.

Starboy immediately took her into his mudpie kitchen. With any luck she is a sous-chef and not joining some blackbirds in a pie.....

Buzzkill at the park

The Halloween costumes were great, and the party was lovely, until ... one of our friends let us know that the car had been broken into—the window was smashed.

They got my big, leather mama purse, and half the baby monitor.

Half. They took the receiver and the cords, but not the base. And Starboy's headlamp was in the case with a bunch of extra batteries.

We left the party early so I could call the credit card company, the banks, and start making lists. Starboy got a can of soup for dinner, and late. Techman vacuumed glass for a long time, and I still see glittery specs.

Yes, yes, you never should leave your valuables in the car, but ironically since I knew there were going to be at least 40 people at the party, I thought it wasn't a good idea to dump my bag by a tree—surely it would be much safer locked up? I was distracted and rushed and actually left it on the front seat. Stupid, stupid.

I never carry cash—except for this week. We'd just gone to the bank, and I had collected more than $100 in camp fees for a trip that I hadn't taken out of my bag yet. (Again: I know, I know...) So the thieves scored.

And, I used to occasionally throw the contents of my wallet onto a photocopier, so I'd know what was missing if something ever happened....but we don't have a copier at home and I haven't thought to do it at Staples when Starboy is complaining that it's time to go home. So I'm piecing together what needs to be replaced. Gift cards? Maybe there was one in there. Hope not. Our address? Yup. On the car insurance card.

They used my credit card an hour later at Chuck E. Cheese and McDonald's. Seems a bit shortsighted for joyriding on someone else's dime, but at least I don't have to argue with Visa over a large purchase of electronics equipment from China, or something.

I feel like a complete ass. I know better than to leave a bag with my wallet in it, in plain sight, when I'm out of sight. I lost some of Starboy's favorite cars. I'm worried about my safety at home with my address in the hands of strangers, and I'm worried about protecting Starboy. There's glass mixed in with a bunch of his stuff, and his sippy, and there's glass all in the car door, and all that is going to kill any plan for a non-complicated Monday, for sure.

Our deductible is high, so we probably won't bother the insurance company. It's just a loss. Of hundreds of dollars' worth of stuff, a load of time, and all before Christmas. It's just stuff, to be sure. I am so grateful it was just a smash-and-grab by folks with fast-food tastes.

But it's unnerving. I didn't even want to go to sleep last night.

Happy Red Gnome

The Red Gnome costume could not be more perfect.

I found a beard template online at the annoyingly useful Disney Family Fun website. Starboy wore both the beard and the hat throughout the whole party, and it was hot out! (Whoo boy, that fuzzy giraffe costume would have been a NO-GO today.) The necklace is an acorn with a bell on it, from a Waldorf fair last year.

There weren't a lot of folks dressed up, except for the young kids, but they all appreciated the Gnome Family.

The party itself had mixed reviews in our family, but more on that at a later time.

Starboy seemed really happy to be a gnome. He wasn't too excited about Jack-o-lanterns, but I get that. He's game to give it a go again, at the rest of our 47 Halloween-related activities this week. This kid has a better social schedule than I had in college, sheesh.

It may be a hit at the Halloween party

"Starboy, would you like Daddy to dress up as a Daddy Red Gnome? Would you like to see Daddy in a tall, pointy hat like Red Gnome?"

"Yes."

"I knew I shouldn't have gone to bed early last night."

Der gnomen-plotten

So.

After checking that the giraffe costume fits...

then realizing it will be too bloody hot to wear to an afternoon party that, anyway, is at a playground with a sandbox....and cake...a week before Halloween....

I bust ass on a construction worker vest, which Starboy has been pining for since August.

It turned out beautifully.

I picked up a yellow t-shirt (short sleeved, an orange LS one if it gets cold, you never know) at Target, and I ordered vests from Amazon for Techman and myself, and picked up orange t-shirts for us, as well. The construction family. We'll take turns being Supervisor.

Tonight, while trying to calm Starboy to get him to sleep, I tell him about the Halloween party tomorrow. I say we can dress up.

"You could be a giraffe. Would you like to be a giraffe?"

Starboy nods. Really! Okay, that's cool. It's still an option, despite the hood.

"...Or a construction worker!" I expect him to get really excited.

But he has a funny, faraway look in his eye, the same look as when he wanted to wear the construction vest to Noah's Bagels last August. Like he's having an idea all. his. own.

"Or a gnome," he says quietly.

"A gnome? You would like to dress up as Miss Gnome? Or Red Gnome?"

Starboy nods. He looks a little shy about it. Like I'm going to tell him it's impossible, or a bad idea.

The gnomes are each other's friends, and are part of our weekly story at the art class. They have very pointy, tall hats. We do not own a very pointy, tall hat.

"Or you could be a construction worker!" I add, brightly.

"Or a gnome," Starboy says, dreamily. "Or Blue Duck. With a seashell." Another character in the story.

Great. Well a duck is completely out of the question.

After he has FINALLY fallen asleep, I pull the arm on the Google slot machine and I get: Cherries, cherries, CHERRIES!

I made three felt hats, one for each of us, with stuff I already had. They took just minutes. With a plaid shirt and lederhosen, I think it's an instant costume.

If there is time tomorrow, I hope to get some more ribbon to make the Mama hat more detailed, but since I promised to bake bread for the party and forgot to do it today, the chances of pulling that off are fairly low.

At this point, I don't know that I'll even show him the construction worker vest. Because if we can get Fritz's lederhosen for Techman, that right there is a day that provides pictures you couldn't buy for all the money in the world.

Stay tuned.

Big Butt Tractor Pants

I finally got a chance to try out Made By Rae's Big Butt Baby Pants. And not a moment too soon—the largest size is a 2T. Once you realize—after cutting it the wrong way first—that "cut two" means: "Make a left one and a right one," and Not: "cut two that are the same," the pattern goes really quickly. I made a second pair as Starboy was going to bed.

It's been quite the crafty week. Today I also was able to sneak in a little gift bag for Mary Jane's birthday. It matches some Super Girl Halloween stuff I whipped up this week—an iridescent cape and a slightly sorry matching skirt, but also a mask and a star badge left over from Halloween last year. I hope she actually wears the outfit to a Halloween event, but who knows if she'll even be into it.

Harvest Sensory Bin a success

Starboy had spotted the new Harvest Sensory Bin a few days ago, and I made him wait until his pal Mary Jane came over to play last week. They enjoyed the bins—but there was wayyyyy too much stuff. Both of them just sat there for several minutes and stared at the bin when it first was presented to them—they had no idea where to start. The playing field was covered with crap harvest sensory overload. It wasn't until I cleared away half the stuff into a bowl on the side that they felt like they could interact with their bins.

Starboy immediately asked for a car to drive through the bin.

It was very cute, as they found things, they played this little game of Go Fish with each other.

Starboy: "I have a fall. Leaf. Irene have a fall leaf?"

Mary Jane (thrilled to discover leaf): "YEAH! You have pumpkin?"

Starboy: "I have a pumpkin!....Turkey?"

Mary Jane: "I have TURKEY!"

This went on for a few minutes. I needed to add an empty spice jar to each bin, because both kids wanted to "pour" and there wasn't much to pour with. They both liked the little rake, the silk leaves, and filling the wooden box with beans and puffs.

Mary Jane lost interest sooner than Starboy, but when her mom came to pick her up, she was impressed that Mary Jane had sat and played for so long! She played with some Pumpkin Spice Play-doh, and then they took turns eating it while I wasn't looking. Yech.

Now to find some temporary tattoos.....

Luckily I was able to find some matching bias tape. Starboy hasn't seen the finished product yet, but I think he's going to freak out. He is supposed to be a giraffe for Halloween, but if this warm weather keeps up, I'm not sure I can make him stick to that. Luckily we have several events to attend, so we can mix it up a bit.

Aarrgh.

So after fruitless FRUITLESS searching on the web for a construction worker safety vest for Starboy I decide: You know what, it's time to give up searching and just make the dang thing.

It was hot here--it had cooled to 86 indoors by 6pm-- and I wasn't getting anything done and Joann is air conditioned. Starboy was game because he really wants this vest. He's been pining for it since he saw one at Auntie Troi's in August. So I go to Joann and get some orange fabric and miraculously find the LAST package of reflective tape that is PERFECT for what I need, along with a thing of bias tape for the edges. Of course, I get off-track and also pick up some fabric for some bubble pants for Starboy and then he wants tractor pants, so I get some fabric for that, too (P.S. Do you know of a free pattern for flannel pants/PJs?). The entire store is a monologue by Starboy explaining that he "does not want (whatever I've just shown him) any more. Starboy just wants car pants." He is referring to at least four different hideous children's fabrics we pass by, none of which I'm willing to consider. Especially since I've already said OK to the tractor fabric that he is caressing like his first love and it says JOHN DEERE all over it. (This is not an exaggeration. The brand name is part of the pattern, all over the fabric.)

So, anyway, I come home and make a pattern out of a grocery bag and try it on him. The first one isn't great, the second one is close enough, and then he pitches a fit when I take it back. I start cutting everything out and he's all into everything he is SO EXCITED about this vest. He's into the pins and decides to pin his shirt (by stabbing himself in the belly, natural consequences, ha). He wants to drive cars on the reflective tape. I finally convince him to go to sleep so I can get the thing finished.

It's all going swimmingly with Grandma's loaner Bernina workhorse, and as I'm pinning the bias tape, I'm thinking: Hmmm. This is going to be tight.

So I get to the armholes, and loosely measure, and am relieved that I have JUST enough.

I sew the first armhole (this is the second real mistake here), and then I go to pin the first armhole, and through some miracle of stretchy, circular mathematics that my feeble, journalism-major brain did not anticipate, I have exactly FOUR INCHES not-enough of bias tape. Maybe less.

You know, the bias tape that I conservatively bought only one package for, because I was trying not to overdo it so I wouldn't look like a conspicuous consumer, as always.

The first real mistake.

And then I think, A-HA! I might have some from another project! I rifle around my very small sewing stash box and immediately come up with TWO packs of orange bias tape. And the colors are close! And I rip it open, and—it's single fold, not double fold. It just, totally, will not work.

So I get to drive 30 minutes round-trip on four-buck-a-gallon gas for a single pack of bias tape tomorrow. Because the whole vest is finished except for that 10-minute tiny bit. And because I saved myself $1.40 plus tax by not buying "too much" in the first place.

ARRRGH.