Category Archives: Play

A Few of Norah’s New Things

We had a wonderful Christmas.  I’ve already posted about how important family time is to us.  I wanted to share a couple of fun new things Norah received.  And bonus…she didn’t receive any plastic toys this year!

img_7313Norah’s playhouse grew. 

I love that Plan Toys designed their houses to grow by adding a basement floor.  Or really, adding as many as you wish.  Her dollhouse also now has a gazebo and some pets.

To reach the top floor now, she has to stand on the table.  Which, of course, she loves to do. 

You might also see in the bottom left corner of the picture the Plan Toys bug balance game.  The object of the game is to alternately place a ladybug on the color circle rolled by the die.  Don’t let the ladybugs fall.

Not pictured–she received a clever Haba stacking game.  She loves to stack the animals (and also to change their diapers, put them to bed, take them to the zoo, etc).

img_73151The spotted dinosaur is a bank.  Norah is notorious for stashing our spare change in odd cubbies around the house.  Little packrat.  The colorful geometric shapes are really neat shape-builders.  Like wooden legos. 

I made a terrarium for her with moss and ferns.  Norah loves moss.  I hid a few wooden turtles and frogs inside.  She loves to mist her terrarium everyday.

“Norah’s Magic Medicine” is a salve made with calendula, local beeswax, essential oils, and more.  It smells so yummy. 

These gifts are resting on a beautiful earthy blanket that Norah’s great grandfather crocheted for her. 

Not pictured is Ribbit the Rice Sock.  What can I say?  She’s the daughter of a doula so she adores rice socks and asks for a heated sock for every woe.  I sewed a corduroy frog and stuffed him with lavender scented rice.  I think she has requested Ribbit the Rice Sock at least 8 times since Christmas.  And I’ve used him once!  Between the magic medicine and the rice sock, our first aid kit is set!

A flinging reckless hum

Many birds and the beating of wings
Make a flinging reckless hum
In the early morning at the rocks
Above the blue pool
Where the gray shadows swim lazy.

In your blue eyes, O reckless child,
I saw today many little wild wishes,
Eager as the great morning.

                       –Carl Sandburg

 

Thinking today of childhood and imagination. 

I remember so well the feeling of childhood play:  making beds out of moss, carrying a wand made from a china berry twig, creating a complex world from my grandmother’s buttons.  We can’t go back to it.  The closest comes in watching our children capture it.  Sometimes I watch Norah with a jealousy for that time. 

I wish to slip into her skin and remember when pretend was real.

Self-discipline

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.

Ride the Water

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Tonight we loaded up for a quick paddle and picnic.  It was Norah’s first time in a kayak.  She loved the canoe last summer so we knew she would have fun.  She’s been asking to “ride the water.” 

 

Aside from the difficulty in getting her out of the water and saying goodbye to the geese (she had to blow kisses to each of them), it was a sweet time!

Pigs Anyone?

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I’m talking “Pass the Pigs.”  Best game on the planet.  Have you passed some pigs? 

I’ll never forget evenings around the Nicewongers’ dining room table; all of us “camp folk” stuffed from Judy’s feast and Dick’s pork tenderloin grilled on the Weber.  While we tried (successfully) to find room for Judy’s peanut butter pie, Dick would bring out the pigs.  We leaned forward in our chairs, some even stood, as the electric charge of competition lit the room.  It was on.  Each of us with our own special technique–pig kisses, the wrist flip, Dick’s special cup toss, the hand roll–we passed pigs late into the NY night. 

Don’t know about the pigs?  Hang in here with me, it gets complicated.  You have these two tiny pigs and you throw them.  The positions in which they land give you points.  The piggies touch and you lose it all.  Toss a Double Leaning Jowler and you hit the jackpot.  I told you it was complicated. 

Snouter/Razorback

So the next time you’re planning a camping trip, pack the pigs.  The next time you have some friends over, bring out the pigs and the peanut butter pie. 

Pig out.     

Romantic Notions

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My lovely husband invited me for an afternoon on Lake Jocassee today.  We paddled to a secluded cove for picnicking, napping in the sun, and exploring.  Alright, I napped in the sun.  Scott turned into a 9 year old boy–he threw rocks in the water, tracked the borders of our cove, planned our survival in case of catastrophe, and debated building a fire. 

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Jocassee is my favorite lake.  I have deep romantic notions about her water.  And I have some fear of her.  She is not warm and welcoming like Keowee or Hartwell.  She is cold and beautiful and unfathomable.  I love to swim at the base of the rocky cliffs where the water is freezing black deep.  I can lose myself staring into the earthy green moss dripping with froth at Laurel Fork Falls.  I’ve even imagined how powerful it would be to give birth in one of the pools carved out by the waterfall.  Of course, it might be a little cold and I’d probably scare some trout fisherman out of his waders! 

Enough rambling.  I had a lovely day on the water with my sweet hubby.  We didn’t make it back to the landing before the gates shut.  Thankfully, the park ranger was a former student employee of mine and he was merciful.  Now I stink of boating gear–a musty smell of neoprene–my face is sun-pinked, and I carry tiny glistens of sand in my skin. 

I sparkle.             

Treehugger

hiking-with-norah-011208-007.jpg

hiking-with-norah-011208-010.jpgI was in Chicago this weekend (my first time away from Norah).  Scott and the Bean jumped at the chance for daddy/daughter adventure which, of course, means hiking.  Norah rode in the backpack for the ascent but she chose to walk back down the trail which tripled their time.  Scott says she stopped to hug trees all the way.  “Nice tree.  Hug it.  Kiss it. Love it.”  Is anyone surprised?

My Chicago trip included much late night giggling with my sister, some daddy/daughter adventure of my own, and opportunities to annoy my new brother-in-law (and boot him out of his bed so Noelle and I could enjoy late night giggling).  Only with my sister can I discuss theology, diva cups, and poetry in the same conversation.

Scott left us sleeping this morning to go boating.  It must have rained while I was away… 

Play Day

Today was babywearing day which is Norah’s big social event of each month.  The Clemson group lasted four hours this time!  Our spur-of-the-moment topic (great to have two procrastinators as leaders) was “How to Get A Baby on Your Back.”  There was much slinging and tossing of tots.  We made a new friend.  The hit of the Clemson group was Jackson’s tin of wooden pineapples

The Greenville group topic was “Wearing Your Podaegi” (because we all have a podaegi lying around, right?).  Carey showed us different ways to use the podaegi.  Kawani brought her boys’ playsilks and Norah brought hers.  playsilks-004.jpg

The kids ran about with various capes, skirts, togas looking like a blissful band of gypsies.  I really didn’t believe Norah would play with the silks.  In the astounding way only a child can be, she becomes incredibly creative with the way she uses them:  sling, baby, water, campfire, lion mane, hat, dress, hiding place.  I’m sold.        

Scott and I spent what was left of the evening with our new ritual–watching Heroes on Netflix and eating popcorn (made on the stove with coconut oil and sea salt–mmm mmm good).  I cannot believe I’m hooked on a TV series.  This is what comes of reading too much nonfiction.  I’m hungry for story.

Puddle-Jumping

I introduced Norah to puddle-jumping today.  She had so much fun and kept asking, “Mama, dat pell?”  (that smell?) as she sniffed the puddles.  She was soaked, cold, and happy when I carried her in for a warm bath.  One day, we’ll puddle-jump Pinnacle-style.

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This morning, she “read” my Alfie Kohn book Unconditional Parenting for about 20 minutes.  She pretended to turn the pages and read aloud a complicated story about Scott going to work.  When she finished, she brought the book to me and declared, “Mommy, good story.”  Smart child.  It is a great little book. 

Meanwhile, this hot guy just called me and asked me out on a date tonight.  So, I better change out of my “mom” clothes (prana yoga pants/chacos) and get into my “outdoor girl” clothes (prana climbing pants/chacos) to impress this sexy man.  My wardrobe is pretty simple…