Becoming a Drummer

I have always been a dancer. As a child I danced to any and everything, any time and any where much to my parents chagrin. As an adult I danced with my husband every chance we got, and as a mother, I danced with my children on my hip and then holding their hands. Finally at 30 I took belly dance lessons and loved it. The djembe drums were always what I loved dancing to the most. I danced at festivals around huge bonfires and the live drumming was what kept me coming back, they fascinated me.

At one festival, when Sophie was only two. She began mimicking a drummer on a small djembe. She was so good at it that I bought her a tiny one of her own. I loved it myself, but the size was not easily played by an adult. Friends I knew had and played djembes and I longed for one of my own.

Finally, I have one. Found at a pawn shop of all places. I have no idea why someone decided they needed to a pawn this beautiful instrument. But I am glad that they did. I cleansed it with sage and now it is mine.
My church has an informal drum circle that meets every other Saturday and I recently attended my first one. It just happened to be the one where the musical director sat in and decided that he wanted us to play with the choir and band the next day. Play in front of an entire church congregation!!!! Me!!!  Well, since I have long ago decided to stop saying no to things that I later regret, I did it. I showed up the next morning early to practice and we played along to four songs and a full choir. It was so much fun and I felt great afterward.

It is a strange feeling identifying myself as a drummer, a musician. I have always felt un-musical, so to speak, never really learning an instrument completely. Always dancing to the music. Now I am the one making the music. It is a really nice feeling.

Peace, Yarrow

Budding Author

This morning Sophie became inspired by a mechanical parrot to write a story and make a book.

"All About Polly" is the story of her like of the parrot.



She wrote it on index cards.......





illustrated it herself........

















and stapled it together. What a beautiful, creative process we were privileged to witness this morning.

A Greenhouse!

These are the steps that lead up to the back bank. They are beautiful and I have always wished that they led somewhere special. That's catnip growing on the right. English Ivy growing everywhere else.

Here is the brick and stone "patio" that we uncovered when we moved in. Never used for anything, due to the location.

Here is the awning that we placed in this spot to create the greenhouse.

I am going to have a greenhouse! I am so excited! I have always, as long as I can remember, wanted one. We have come across an EZ-Up awning minus the topper. In looking at it's possible uses we decided that it could be made into a very simple greenhouse with the addition of some 6 mil polyethylene plastic sheeting. The whole thing will be great fun to create and work in. I will continue to post news as we go along.

Eggs, eggs, eggs

Today while we were gone to the flea market, Emily helped Sophie and her cousin Becca to dye eggs for Easter. They had a really good time using only regular old food coloring. The eggs turned out beautifully.
Happy Easter and Happy Spring!

Art for Kids

Art has always been a big part of our family life. When my older kids were small, we did some art every day. My daughters were very into painting and creating artworks of all kinds. Our home always was well supplied for art activities, from clay, paint,chalk and crayons and markers, to building sculptures from wood and wire to sewing and crochet. I feel that the early exposure and experience has paid off for them. My oldest daughter Laura, now 20 is a talented artist, you can see some of her work and ideas on her blog here. Her sister Emily is quickly following in her footsteps, but with her own kind of style. Now both boys, ages 14 and 12 are taking art classes and showing the same natural talent for art. Needless to say that I am thrilled.

Now I have been trying to gently nurture Sophie's growing interest and talent in the arts. She loves to sing and make music with hand instruments. She is very into painting and using the glitter! Glitter oh my!! I have found that she does best when I am somewhat involved, even as much as doing my own art next to her. She loses interest quickly when left alone, except at her easel, she will spend long moments painting there. She also loves play dough, though at this time is limited to punching and rolling, sculptures we have not attempted yet. Sophie and I enjoy reading fiction books about art, here are some we have enjoyed. Does anyone have any others that would be appropriate for a four year old?

A Piece of Chalk by Jennifer Ericsson
Willow by Denise Brennen-Nelson
Ish by Peter H. Reynolds
In the Garden with Van Gogh by Julie Merberg (a board book for the littlest ones)
Linnea in Monet's Garden by Christina Bjork
A Day With No Crayons by Elizabeth Rusch
The Pencil by Allan Ahlberg
Mouse Paint by Ellen Stoll Walsh
The Art Lesson by Tomie de Paola
Emily's Art by Peter Catalanotto
Anna's Art Adventure by Bjorn Sortland
and of course, the original art book, Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crocket Johnson

For helping teach art or just exposing your kids to it, I also recommend these fine books;

Nature's Art Box and Recycled Craft Box by Laura C. Martin

The Kid's Multicultural Art Book by Alexandra Terzian

Drawing with Children by Mona Brookes

Check them out at your local library and enjoy!!