I watched the birth video. I watched it mainly because I wanted to know what song heralded the arrival of Cedar Olivia. It was “On Your Wings” by Iron and Wine. Some of the lyrics are perfect for a new arrival:
How we rise when we’re born
like the ravens in the corn
on their wings, on our knees
crawling careless from the sea
God, give us love in the time that we have.
My toddler has a playlist. She has, um, strong feelings about her music choices. And she can get pretty upset when we can’t understand what she’s asking us to play.
I understand. I used to sing “Rock Me on the Desk” and I can’t tell you how many church hymns I had wrong–“Lead on O Kinky Turtle” for example. I’ve had a fun (and occasionally frustrating) time understanding Norah’s car ride song requests. Here is a sampling. Betcha you can’t figure them out either.
“East Dream” or the “Clap, Clap Song”
“Oh Grayson” (she has a cousin named Grayson)
Because my husband has incredibly annoying incredible self-discipline, we will not be attending the Lake Eden Arts Festival (LEAF) this year with our long-lost friends Hippie and Rhonda. Norah will not get to play with Jubal. We will not hear outstanding music and we will not see beautiful people and art.
We will be remodeling the dining room.
I will console myself with memories of music from last fall.
My husband seems to have several look-a-likes.
For the longest time, we picked on him because he looks like David Phelps. Scott HATES southern gospel music. Passionate dislike. He cut his curls off once, I’m certain, because I posted a Phelps picture on facebook and tagged him. Some of our friends really thought it was Scott.
Now, he has a more appropriate twin. Check this comparison:
This one is Sam Beam. We’re lately loving Iron and Wine so I felt safe to post this one. Hopefully, he won’t cut his hair in response. On the other hand, hopefully he won’t grow a beard that long either! On an interesting note, they were, in fact, born the same year in the same state. Spooky, huh? Yeah, not really. But they could have been classmates.
Ani DiFranco talks about her homebirth.
Quote: “To take birthing out of women’s hands and deny us the continuum of eons of wisdom and experience is to eject us from the very seat of our power.”
but my job here
is not to deliver you
but to hold a mirror
till you see how
We’re lately grooving to Elizabeth Mitchell and Lisa Loeb. Elizabeth Mitchell, beautiful guitarist/ composer/ singer who formed the indie band, Ida, with her hubby, Daniel Littleton, sings the sweetest folk sounds on You Are My Little Bird. With their daughter, Storey, they sing traditional songs as well as covers of Neil Young, Bob Marley, and The Velvet Underground. Elizabeth Mitchell also recorded music with Lisa Loeb (remember her?). Catch the Moon includes the most precious rendition of “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” you’ll ever hear as well as a lovely take on Bob Dylan’s “New Morning.” Shhh, I listen to them even when Norah isn’t in the car.
Peter Cottontail brought Norah an interesting little book, A Ride on Mother’s Back. Full of bright illustrations and educational tidbits, this book highlights babywearing around the world. My favorite is the daddy carrying a net of firewood on his back and a net of baby on his front–all hanging from his head. And I’m partial to the grandpa babywearing on a hunting trip in the rainforest! Scott preferred the North American daddy trekking with the backpack carrier.
My friend (she shall remain nameless–it was a secret mission) and I took a little journey to the continent of Ikea where I staked claim to the Bygel series. What an incredibly inexpensive and uber-cool way to create some much-needed kitchen space!
Finally, though I’ve never been a watcher of cooking shows, I have learned so much over at Cookus Interruptus. Mmmm, mmmm, Cynthia has revived my love affair with collard greens.
Our family celebrated Earth Hour last night. Norah and I had been playing in cornstarch goop (who has time to make proper play-dough?) and I lost track of time. So the first part of our Earth Hour was spent giving Norah a bath by candlelight. Then we sang songs as the candles glowed. Norah played dear Nate’s “junkelele.” Our neighbors, Lee and Brittany stopped by to gift Norah with a book.
We had so much fun by candlelight that we might celebrate Earth Hour more frequently in our home. So, if our lights are off, knock anyway…
I’m re-reading Spiritual Midwifery and getting lost in the hippie love of the Farm midwives. Why is it that in almost every Farm birth story, the couple makes out during labor? I didn’t even think of that during my labor. I was very close to Scott physically and emotionally during the process and he was very hands on but we weren’t making out. No. I asked him if he’d be willing to give it a go next time around. Of course, he suggested we start practicing right away.
Because I’m dreamily lost in the Farm love, my background music carries the smell of patchouli. Yesterday, Norah and I were riding in the car. I was listening to a Cat Stevens song. Norah asked, “What’s dat song called?” I said, “It’s called ‘Morning has Broken.'” Norah: “It needs batteries, Mommy?”
This Saturday is our monthly Blessingway at UCEDS. The Blessingways are free and open to anyone. It is our way of surrounding new and expectant families with positive support and mindful information. Caryn will be sharing her birth story and then we’ll have an informational session on Cloth Diapering 101. We need experienced women with encouraging wisdom to bless these new families. We meet from 2-4 at UCEDS the 4th Saturday of each month. Children are welcome.
Inexplicable Ways 