Homemade Paper Bag Ostara Baskets

15 years ago, my children, grandmother and I made a basket from paper bags. I still have this basket; it has survived floods, toddlers, and blizzards. I was going through our house, looking for baskets for our upcoming Waldorf home school day. I realized that this paper bag basket would be a great basket to grow wheat grass in. It would also be an appropriate Brigid activity because of the weaving.

This is my first tutorial, so follow along carefully, but use your own intellect and experience as we go.

Here’s how they are made:
You will need

nine paper grocery bags ( I use Aldi bags, of course!)

a yard stick or ruler
a pair of scissors
a sturdy stapler
glue

Cut twelve pieces of paper bag paper 20″x16″

and cut another six pieces 28″x16″

That’s 18 all together!

Fold them as if you are folding double fold bias tape:

Fold them to the middle, then unfold.

Then fold the edges to the middle

then again fold to the middle

then again in half. They will measure approximately 1 ” wide

Rub them over a counter to make really sharp folds.

Choose one of the longer strips to be the top edge.

Evenly space 12 of the 20″ strips from the top edge and staple them in place.

(This also looks like a hula skirt!)

Fold 6 of those strips to the opposite side and staple them.

Then begin weaving in the remaining 6 strips, as if you are making a lattice pie crust, and staple them to the opposite side.

Now weave four of the last strips around the width of the basket from the bottom up. Overlap their edges and staple them to themselves. if possible, hide the staples under the horizontal strips.

Your basket should now appear mostly done.

Use the last strip to cover the top heavily stapled strip and glue it in place.

If you would like a handle, you could punch a hole and sew or use a manilla envelope fastener. You could also make a handle by making one of the strips as long as possible and weaving it all the way through.

My basket looked especially good today, since it was holding all the finished wedding invitations!

Wednesdays Waldorf- Inspired Homeschool day is looking very fun.

Seeds!

Our seeds came in the mail today. We ordered from Seed Savers. Seed Savers is a really cool farm in Decorah, Iowa, that grows and sells heirloom seeds. It also has a historic orchard, visitor center, museum, heirloom animals, trails, concerts, all sorts of fun!

Here is what we got:

Lettuce mixture
sunflower mixture
Burgess buttercup squash
jalapeño traveler strain
purple dark opal basil
cilantro
Danvers carrots
early scarlet globe radish
five-color silverbeet chard
arugula
mini red bell peppers
Detroit dark red beets
cornfield pumpkin squash

We also have our perennial beds of strawberries, asparagus, rhubarb, and we’re planting three new grape vines.

I received a gift copy of Stella Natura: Working With Cosmic Rhythms. I am excited to incorporate Biodynamic rhythems to our planting and harvesting.

We have never been “good” gardeners. I try to get out to the garden everyday. I figure everything I garden is something I don’t mow!

And if your looking for some more serious inspiration, check out The Mad Farmers (named for this poem) at the Davenport farmer’s Market, folks I am lucky to know.

Red Wing Blackbird Day

This year, February 19 was Red Wing Blackbird Day. Three weeks earlier than the last two years. Red Wing Blackbird Day is a holiday that my family invented and we hold it very dear. This year it started with Rhiannon hearing the trill. “Did you hear that?” she asked as she leapt across the living room.
“Hear what? “
“The blackbird!”
Now we all jump to our feet, running to every window, opening every door, the cold rushing in. We all scan the phone lines, the prairie, the trees. Again, Rhiannon: “There, on the tallest tree in willow grove!” Sure enough, there was the red wing blackbird scout, wind whipping his feathers so we get a peek at his red, looking for the best nesting area in the field, deciding if it’s warm enough for his wives.

YYYAAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!

We are all cheering. We run and get cloaks, wings and birdseed. We run around and around the house, throwing seeds, yelling wishes, welcoming, begging him to stay! Then we make a feast, using whatever we can find in the house, and place our toy red wing blackbird on the altar. The Beatles song “Blackbird” plays in the background:

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

I am a lover of summer. The arrival of the red wing blackbirds is a physical sign of its approach. Soon I will fall to my knees before the first crocus. (Tabitha just wrote that she burst into to tears this week at her first glimpse of purple and yellow blooms in Missouri).

There are now about 100 red wing blackbirds in my prairie. They are coming. In droves. They took on a red tail hawk and won. The red wing blackbirds will be my alarm clock, they will attack my dog, they will terrorize country bikers and walkers, they will shit on my tipi, eat my bees and scare my children. And in August they will rise in tornado like clouds, black birds by the thousands, when I open my front door. And I will build them altars. And I will beg them to stay.

How to Celebrate Brighid With a 4 Year Old

For those who haven’t met her – Who is Brighid?
What is Brighid/ Imbolc?

“I love Brighid, I just don’t know how to celebrate it with a 4 year old!” Oh my Goddesses – their is no one better to share your holiday with than a four year old! ( What will I do when I haven’t got one underfoot?) Imagine celebrating Yule with no children around. Bleh! This problem stems from the “coven” aspect of witchcraft- the need to gather with other adults who share your religious beliefs. But I have found that covens are for moons and magick. Save the Sabbats for family and festivities!

My essential list for making a tradition:
1. Food
2. Altar
3. Observance
4. Repeated verses

Your child has no preconceived notions about what should be happening on February 2. You have creative license. But choose carefully. What you do now will be what you are doing for your grandchildren and great grandchildren. I realized this when Tabitha and Rowan came home for Yule. They wanted sun sandwiches and loaf. It seems like it was only yesterday when Chris and I were wondering what we should make for Yule supper. Ahhh, this loaf in Recipes for a Small Planet looks yummy……..
So number 1 on my list is FOOD. What do you remember from your childhood? I remember smells and tastes. In preparation for this post I asked my kids “What do you think of when you think of Brighid?” They whole heartedly cried out ” Irish stew!” Of course. I posted the recipe last year.
The altar. Having an altar and/or nature table really helps young ones observe the turning of the year wheel. I have tried to mix Paganism with Waldorf on ours. And I try to make it a story that is happening; where one season’s story becomes the next. Our altar today has a well I bought at Micheal’s, found geodes, a wooden pentacle made by Chris and Chuck, and the Brighids. These are new this year, (the old Brighids were smaller and starting to come unglued…) made from wool felt, wooden forms and hot glue.

Observances. The one we really have focused on is candle making. No real reason for this when there are so many activities to choose from, once again I think that 20 years ago Chris said, “What do you want to do with the children on Brighid?” and I replied, ” Hmmmm, I have some old wax sitting around. Make candles?” And so we make candles. We use empty cardboard juice tubes (from Aldi ofcourse) for forms. We also do dipped candles, some container candles in old jars and a few rolled beeswax candles for the toddlers. I start by putting the materials out a few weeks in advance. It gets us excited! I talk it up!
When I am ready to make candles, I melt old wax candles, sorted by general color (reddish, greenish, naturalish) in large metal containers (old olive oil tins, coffee cans, etc.) in a water bath. I add some beeswax to it for smell and for “fancy”. Maybe you’ll throw a crayon or two in for color, and some essential oil for scent. Maybe not. Doesn’t matter, just do it.

Then put a wick into the container and pour in the melted wax. Tie off the top of the wick to a pencil to hold it in place. As it cools, you may have to top off the wax. The next day peel off the juice container and your candle will be ready to use!

There are many other observances you can do. Leave your cloaks, magickal tools or pencils and pens out for the night to be blessed by Brighid. Write or share a poem. Start seedlings. Grow sprouts. Create a small ritual. Make a Brighid’s cross or bed or corn dolly.

Repeated verses can be simple, for example saying three times, “Brighid has come, Brighid is welcome.” You may have a story you tell or read for Brighid. Circle Round has great stories.
You create the celebrations. If all of this is overwhelming, just start where you are and add one thing. The child will remember that their mother or father lit a candle or poured a libation on special nights of the year.

Did you know that human babies conceived during Beltane would be born at Brighid?

I found much inspiration at these blogs:
http://www.cauldronliving.com/content/129-imbolc-activities-crafts2.html
http://magicalmusings.wordpress.com/2010/02/02/imbolg/
http://magicalmusings.wordpress.com/2010/01/30/imbolg-ritual/

On a side note, I never took typing. I was too busy kissing boys and girls and painting murals for art class. That is why you, faithful reader, must wait so long for my posts. Rhiannon says that my typing reminds her of this blog:

Rise to your feet and open your eyes and let the white Bridgid come in!

Rise to your feet and open your eyes and let the red Brighid come in!

Rise to your feet and open your eyes and let the black Brighid come in!

Brighid has come!

Brighid is welcome!

Gratitude Friday

This week, I am grateful for:

young pregnant women turning into strong confident mothers
orchids
extra zils
inter – library loan
priestesses who call me Goddess
Aldi extra virgin olive oil
giant dogs
splinters that eventually do come out
She loves it!

What are you grateful for?

I am already working hard on tomorrow’s post, written specifically for one of my favorite followers –
“How to Celebrate Brighid With a 4 Year Old”
Until then, ❤
Om gam ganapataye namaha!

Melanie’s response to "Who’s your patron deity?"

http://manyhandshouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/whos-your-patron-deity.html
I am a Sagan Pagan. An atheist Pagan. This does not make me popular with either the Pagans or the Atheists. I understand why. I still cannot come to terms with “almost vegetarians” or “Christo-Pagans” (sorry – just can’t!)
I am a Pagan. I honor Pagan Gods and Goddesses. I tell their stories. I keep altars to them. I keep holy the Sabbats. I pilgrim. I participate in rituals. I am a Witch. I have sucked a goat’s teat. I spellcraft. I scry. I stay active in my Pagan community. I love Gerald Gardner and Margaret Murray. I have kissed Raymond Buckland. That’s right – give it to me old school baby.
I am an atheist. Because I don’t believe any of it is REAL. Not real in that I don’t believe there is an actual being floating around us, caring about us, etc. I do not believe in “energy”. Maybe it’s because I have been Pagan for so long. Before Witchcraft blended with New Age or Neo-Paganism.
Chris’ Elder Gods are awesome. They are true. They are REAL. You would think I would totally be on board. But I’m not. I mean, I do worship the Elder Gods. But I worship the Younger Gods too.
I want a deity that gives me a story, an example, a framework for my life. I want a deity who has menstruated. I want a deity who has birthed a baby. I want a deity who found her lover in the arms of another. I want a deity who has held her mother dying. The Younger Gods. Birth, growth, love, wisdom, pain, death. I want examples. I want inspiration. I put human faces and stories on my Gods. Because I can. Because as a Sagan Pagan, I make it all up as I go!

So, who am I working with? Lately it has been “Birth Goddess”. Often Tlazolteotl or Artemis. What do I know about them historically? Well, I have Wikipedia. I know that Tlazolteotl is a bad ass and can get a baby out. I know that Artemis’ first act in life was to turn and midwife out her brother. I know someone thought birth was worth making up these stories about and that I find inspiration in them.

Is that Inanna I see walking down the street? I think I’d like to work with her! Is there, or has there ever been, a more incredible, awesome, powerful woman in the universe? An awesome woman like me needs an awesome Goddess like Inanna. Please read Innana, Queen of Heaven and Earth by Wolkstein and Kramer.

“Great queen of queens, issue of a holy womb for righteous divine powers, greater than your own mother, wise and sage, lady of all the foreign lands, life-force of the teeming people: I will recite your holy song! True goddess fit for divine powers, your splendid utterances are magnificent. Deep-hearted, good woman with a radiant heart, I will enumerate your divine powers for you!”

And then, of course, there is Ganesha. Just typing his name makes him happy! And me happy! Ganesh is the remover of obstacles. When I am worried, I try to imagine the details of a real, earth side Ganesha. The elephant coarse fuzz on his ears ( I recall when I once rode an elephant as a child), his hairy man chest, his broken tusk. He loves it, and I feel better. I recommend reading Loving Ganesha.

Which brings me to a sore spot. Especially for a Sagan Pagan. Cultural co-optation. I don’t want to be a part of it! I asked T. Thorn Coyle what she thought, and she said if I didn’t own a Kali lunchbox I was fine. But I do own a Kali lunchbox. Cuss.
And so to end this, I recall a story about a man who is on a cruise ship. There is a terrible accident and the man is left on a chunk of ship alone with a circus tiger. He has many adventures, always with the tiger. He is eventually rescued. On his death bed, his great grandson asks if the story of the ship and the tiger is true. He confesses that he made up the part about the tiger. But didn’t it make the story more interesting? That is how I feel about religion. I think the tiger makes life more interesting. Chris says that makes the storyteller a manipulator.

That may be the most I have ever typed in my life.
What do you think?
WWCSD?
Jai Ganesha!

W.I.P. Wednesday

I have three projects on needles right now. I am making a larger orange silk Norwegian Baby Cap for Méabh as she has outgrown her pink one, and a Noro sweater for myself. (ok, but I am making mine out of Boku, because I have a ton of it.) The sweater is extremely easy and it is what I carry with me for knitting during movies, while driving, reading, etc.

But today I am trying to finish Chris’ seed stitch beanie. This is the second one I have made because he lost the first one last year. He claims it was an accident and he really wanted a new one. Here is a picture I took of him just now modeling it:

Doesn’t he look excited that it is almost done?!? I have been trying it on him day after day, and always it has been too small. As you can see, today it is too big, so I just frogged 10 rows! Now to begin reducing!

I wrote the pattern myself. Here it is!:

Christophers’ Awesome Seed Stitch Beanie Hat

Materials:

Worsted weight wool (Malabrigo)

1 16″ circular needle, size 7

one set of double pointeds, size 7

stitch markers

Gauge: (approximate) 4 or 4.5 sts. to the inch

Directions: Cast on 84 stitches on circular needles.Work 5.5″ (or as desired) in seed stitch (round 1: k1, p1 for entire round; round 2: p1, k1 for entire round). Then put a stitch marker after every 12th stitch.

Reduction rows: (switch to double pointed needles when necessary) *K2 tog. before each marker, knit one round plain* 4 times, then K2 tog before marker on every round until there are seven stitches left on the needle. (as I reduce, I adjust seed stitch. There is probably a better way to do this, I just don’t know it yet). Break off yarn, leaving a fairly long tail. Draw tail through remaining 7 st, pull firmly, and draw through to inside of hat.

Place on man.

Friend me on Ravelry, I am MidwifeMelanie.

What’s your W.I.P. ?

"Whoa" Tuesday

I don’t know how all these homeschooling moms and dads blog. My days are so full!

First, we watched this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuGaqLT-gO4

Then, we read this:
http://rahmetli.info/en/how-to-make-stop-motion-movie-with-imovie/

And finally, we created this:

Enjoy Whoa Tuesday!

Homeschool Monday

I have been homeschooling for 20 years. I knew I would homeschool my kids since I was in junior high. I thought I would never allow my kids to go to school at all. Of course, my oldest had a personality as strong as mine and did get to school for a few years, which set the stage for her younger siblings. So far, Tabitha went to school her junior and senior year of high school, graduated, and went on to college in Missouri. She is becoming an art teacher (which makes sense seeing as she was reared in a home that spent every spare penny on art supplies.) Rowan tried high school his sophomore year, then at 16 went straight to college. He is becoming a vet! Rhiannon is in her second year of high school, but often misses homeschooling. We’ll see where her path goes.
At home right now are Méabh (1), Wolfie (4), Morgan Finn (10) and Archer (12). Only the oldest two are actively homeschooling. I try to avoid teaching the little ones, better to keep that magical world of play as long as possible. But it is difficult, they pick up on what the older kids are doing. I think it is important not to teach reading until after children are seven years old. I followed this rule with my older kids, and they all LOVE reading for pleasure now. Just as they learn to walk and talk on their own, so will they learn reading. Gently explain this to your loved ones. Eventually your children will serve as examples as mine have.
Here is a reprint of an article I wrote in 2008 (!) for the Muscatine homeschooler’s newsletter:

Homeschool Lessons

Thu, January 24, 2008 – 10:02 PM

“It is, in fact, nothing short of a miracle that the modern methods of education have not yet entirely strangled the holy curiosity of inquiry; for this delicate little plant, aside from stimulation, stands mainly in need of freedom; without this it goes to wrack and ruin without fail. It is a very grave mistake to think that the enjoyment of seeing and searching can be promoted by means of coercion and a sense of duty.” Albert Einstein

When I began homeschooling (17 years ago) I was sure I would create geniuses. Geography and spelling bee champions. College graduates by the age of 18. Now I realize I am raising normal people. People free from the pressures of school and society. This has been a great revelation for me.
I have also learned two other important lessons that I want to pass on; the need to deflect negative comments from others and to relax.
Do not let the negative comments of othersbring you down. Remember that when people are critical it is because they feel threatened – if homeschooling is best, then their kids are getting second or third best. Just reassure these folks that you are doing what is best for YOUR family. Then surround yourself with supportivefriends, like your local homeschool group.
We sometimes want to keep up with the Jones’. When little 10 year old Tommy next door can rattle off the names of all the U.S. Presidents, we want that too! “What if my kid gets left behind?” Remember, you homeschool so that your children DON’T have to endure forced learning. It’s OK! My children played in the snow for 4 hours today. Now that’s education!
Play is THE most important work in a child’s life. (Play does not include television, video games or the internet.) I would never interrupt imaginative play for a lesson or teaching moment.
Which leads me to: relax! What good is stressing about teaching colors and shapes to a preschooler? Have you ever met any adult who didn’t know their colors? They are learned, like walking and talking, in the context of life.
Reading is similar.So many parents are making themselves crazy and overly stressing their children with this. My children have all shown an interest in reading around age 9, then learn quickly and easily, going on to pass their peers in both reading skills and love of literature.
So maybe my kids aren’t totally normal.They are beautiful, super confident and free thinking.And it has nothing to do withany curriculum I stick to, and everything to do with allowing them to develop in their own way and time.

Recommended Resources:

Growing Without Schooling and John Holt
www.holtgws.com/

Home Education Magazine
www.homeedmag.com/

Sudbury education
www.sudburynetwork.org/

Waldorf education
www.steinercollege.org/waldorf.html
www.christopherushomeschool.org/in…htm

Live Ed!

Oak Meadow Curriculum
www.oakmeadow.com/

Evolution’s End by Joseph Chilton Pierce
(available at amazon.com)

The Teenage Liberation Handbook by Grace Llewllyn
www.gracellewellyn.com/

I enjoy Waldorf inspired homeschooling. This year I have a 4th and 7th grader. Here are some photos from their main lesson books:

Norse myths:

Form drawing:


Geometry:

Map making:

Calligraphy:

And I am very excited to begin our Live Ed unit on Beowolf:

What are you doing in your homeschooling?

Bellydance Sunday

I love American Tribal Style Bellydance.

I took my first bellydance class in 1992 when I was pregnant with Rowan. The teacher was super nice to me; she gave me some of her old jewelry and albums even, but another student had assured me that the local bellydance community wouldn’t be accepting of me because I was Pagan.
Flash forward 10 years. Still taking classes. My new teacher brings in a magazine with a picture of the most beautiful bellydancer I ever saw! Raven haired, tattooed, strong, pierced. I told my teacher “I want to dress and dance like her!” “No, you don’t.” she responded.

I jotted down a phone number before going home, where I called Fat Chance Bellydance to receive their mail order catalog.
How I poured over that catalog. At homeschool meetings, at midwifery workshops, over breakfast, over evening wine. I drew my dream costume: black ten yard skirt, tassel belt, red choli, coin bra, orange veil, and yes, turban.
My teacher moved away, and suggested a few of her more dedicated students check out a folkloric troupe in a nearby city. Rakset al-Nehri was welcoming and woman centered. They wore great costumes and seemed to dance in a way that was more proud than I was accustomed to. I showed them my catalog, but they were only a bit interested. However I would not give up! I wore tribal “dots” to my first hafla. I started buying videos. Then, oh then, my forever teacher Michele choreographed the Sword Dance. We got to wear ATS costumes. And the moves were ATS inspired. Delightful!
Pretty soon I was co-teaching ATS Sundays. My skills grew and my students grew. I started teaching in different cities. Then, in 2008, I received my FCBD ATS Teacher Certification from Carolena Nericcio herself. The original raven haired woman whose picture I had fallen in love with years earlier!
I love Fat Chance American Tribal Style Bellydance. I love the beautiful strong women. I love the piercings and tattoos. I love making eye contact while dancing.The puja, the posture. The rules. The freedom. I love unda.

The nitty gritty:
Today in class we practiced passing the Arabic 123 in troupe.
In Level One it was zil day! Fun! My newest students are really coming along beautifully.
In Level Two we reviewed the Turkish Shimmy with arms and circle up
and practiced doing Reach and Sit (without bouncing).

There was much discussion and planning of our upcoming show in EuClair with Sofia Tribal
and even more excitement for the show and workshop Tribal Union this September in Milwaukee with Sister Studio Tamarind Tribal Bellydance. I cannot wait to be in the presence of Carolina again.