In These Hills: February 2011

Book Talk

>> Tuesday, February 22, 2011 – Books

I have been immersed in the art world during these cold winter months and have some books to share--

The Hare with Amber Eyes is a family memoir where the author traces an inherited set of Japanese netsukes back through the generations to their original owners. On the way he discovers (and reveals) the art world of nineteenth-century Paris, the turmoil of Odessa, the final days of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and a family's trials during World War II. The author's family was one of the wealthiest Jewish families in Europe and it was interesting to follow their story.
I then moved on to The Lake of Dreams. This book is set in the finger lakes region of New York and tells the story of a young woman who uncovers her family's hidden past beginning with some old letters and scraps of fabric that she finds in her family home. Connected to these documents are a series of stained glass windows depicting biblical scenes dominated by strong women. The descriptions of glass blowing and the creation of the windows are beautiful.

Finally, I read Clara and Mr. Tiffany, which took me into the Tiffany Studios and the world of the Art Nouveau. This was an interesting story focused on a recent discovery that many of Tiffany's designs--the lamps in particular--were actually designed and created by women. The author does a wonderful job of bringing robber barons, sweatshops, and the tenements of New York during the Gilded Age to life. I enjoyed the women's perspective.

I still have Steve Martin's new book, The Object of Beauty, sitting on my "library shelf." This book takes place at Sotheby's, and I've heard good things about it.

I didn't set out to read a series of books on art, but I am so glad this group of books ended up on my shelf. Have you read anything great lately? I'm always on the hunt for some good books.

Technology Cleanse

>> Friday, February 18, 2011 – waldorf, winter

The girls had winter break this week. I took them to my parents' lake house for a little "technology cleanse." Slowly, but surely, technology has been creeping into this Waldorf house. I felt the need to just get away from it all for a few days and think about it. So, for 3 days--no ipods, ipad, computer, email, facebook, blogs, tunes. Just... snow, ice, chocolate, books, and the full moon.

There is a lot of snow up there!

Baking and Cooking.

Off across the lake for a visit to the island.

Out on the island.

Late afternoon snowshoe.

Now we are home, surrounded by flowers and strawberries, celebrating Lou's 12th birthday.
Happy birthday sweet girl.

And...time for a talk about how to bring the balance back into our lives. If my attention span and ability to read an entire book could improve over three days, then I'm sure it did for the girls as well. hmm.

Winter Fun

>> Monday, February 14, 2011 – winter

We spent some time out on our snowshoes this weekend. The snow is almost up to Liz's hips. See all those depressions in the snow up ahead of her? Those are white-tail deer beds. Our woods are full of animal signs.

We spent some time trying to identify some of the animal tracks. We found 2 big animal dens with either coyote or red fox tracks all over it. It is hard to tell the difference when the tracks aren't fresh. We've heard coyotes and seen a red fox, so know both are nearby.

We stopped for a cup of tea.
Cheers, dahling.

Happy Valentine's Day.

The Valentine Box

Liz had some fun making valentines this week and we expect to make more this weekend. I have two boxes full of valentine supplies. The contents have grown over the years as we never completely use whatever materials I purchase each February.

The box now includes doilies, red paper, a heart stencil, some feathers, a few heart stickers, old Martha Stewart craft pages, red tissue paper, and all sorts of scraps of interesting red/pink/purple paper.

Each year I pull down the boxes and add some glue sticks, the paper punch, a pair of scissors, and various pens--glitter, calligraphy, etc. Having all these supplies in one place seems to pump up the enthusiasm.

Last year, with the addition of feathers to the box, the girls came up with these birds.

This year I bought origami paper and Liz made a variety of origami hearts for her class.
She decorated them with all sorts of bits from the box.

Now all the leftover red/pink/purple origami paper resides in the box ready to inspire something new next year....or maybe even this weekend.

A Lemony Candlemas Day

>> Thursday, February 3, 2011 – candlemas

The girls were home from school yesterday so we had the chance to relax, enjoy a good snowstorm, and do some crafting. Candlemas day always lends itself well to candlemaking.

We melted down our can of beeswax, using some old candle stubs and a pot which I have set aside for candlemaking.

I had bought some lemons, thinking they would make fun candles to remind us of the coming sunshine, but had forgotten candle wicking. Amazingly enough, I found some in the cellar. We are officially out of it now. I dipped the wicks in wax first, then tied them to skewers over the lemons.

While the candles cooled, we tended to the storm.
This photo is only halfway through the storm.
We're more than halfway through our wood--something to check on Candlemas Day.

I made a pie as a way to use the juice from the lemons, so added a quiche to the baking schedule as a way to use the extra pie crust.
Here is our Candlemas dinner.

It was a really good pie!
I rarely make lemon pie.

Every day now, the sunshine will be brighter and longer.
Soon there will be yellow daffodils growing where these little lemons are lit.

Snow Candles on Candlemas

>> Tuesday, February 1, 2011 – candlemas, Crafts, winter

I'm bringing this post forward from last year as our acknowledgment of Candlemas Day this year is going to be limited. I do know, however, that we are not close to 1/2 way through our wood, we're 1/2 way through our oil, and 100% through our frozen blueberries, applesauce, strawberries, and squash :(. We need twice as much put away!

A farmer should on Candlemas Day have half his corn and half his hay.

Old New England farmers also say that you should have used about half your wood...and half your candles. We've gone through about half our wood and about 60% of our oil.

In honor of being half-way through winter, we made snow candles yesterday. First we melted paraffin in a can in our "candle pot." We wanted bright candles so used paraffin and old crayons rather than beeswax.

While the wax was melting, we tied wicking to an old paintbrush.

We dipped the wick in the wax to stiffen it and then dug some little holes in the snow. Make sure the hole isn't too deep--Lous' blue candle failed because her wick didn't reach the bottom.

Then we quickly poured the wax into the hole.

Every candle will be different. Some, due to their shape, will need to be "floating candles." It was pretty cold out yesterday, so we didn't get a lot of crystally blobs on the exterior, but on a warmish day they will look different.

Here's a little more weather-lore--

If Candlemas Day is bright and clear
there'll be two winters in the year.

If Candlemas Day be fair and bright Winter will have another fight.
If Candlemas Day brings cloud and rain, Winter won't come again.

When the cat lies in the sun in February
She will creep behind the stove in March.

Of all the months of the year
Curse a fair February.

If it thunders in February, it will frost in April.

If February give much snow,
A fine summer it doth foreshow.