7 it is

After a short night for mama, Eva was ready to see what was in store for her at 6 am. She and Eli immidiately sat in their chairs, gazing at the stage. I asked Eva if she was cold, trying to prompt her to opening a very special present (a red vintage velvet cape + muff I got on ebay as a present for her outfit for the Dicken's Fair, more on that later.) I had to prompt her several times, finally I said, "Eva aren't you cold?" she answered a bit stunned, "I'm too excited to be cold, mama."  I gave her the box and with a big grin wipped across her face immediately donned the cape. I performed the play and the day was off to a rapid clip from this point. We had dadda's waffles for breakfast, carried the little ginger bread petit fours to school for her class while wearing her cape, made the requested pasta with bolognese (almost as good as Helen's), was offered Leon's cake from Channakuh party (thanks Naomi!) that I reshaped and iced with a Martha Stewart eggwhite frosting and candy cane sprinkles, entertained two friends with crafting a soft christmas tree stuffie, dinner, cake (complete with Eva's new technique of licking the bottowm of the candle while still lit),and sweet dreams.

Eve of Eva's 7th birthday

I'd been planning Eva's birthday present for months I envisioned a "stage" between the living room/dining room complete with curtains with a lower curtain as a puppet theater option. With Thanksgiving and guests I was muchly delayed on getting started on the curtains, even purchasing the material. Finally less than a week before the big day I went to a thrift store on Valencia Street where I'd seen velvet curtains in the window, I mean every stage needs velvet curtains right? Well as it turns out there were no set of curtains only vintage single curtains sold by the pound, when I took three panels up it was going to be $78! so I mixed it up a bit, got a few pretty damask panels and one velvet panel that I'd cut in to strips and make them a patchwork. It was fun to work on them the next day with Ro in the studio, she offered solid advice and I went to town cutting strips, sewing, ripping, resewing only to rip out yet again. 

Here it is on the eve of my girls birthday I had so much to do, plan the craft for her two friends, finish the curtains, sew the "girl" portion of her banner like the one for Eli's, finish the little ginger bread petit fours for her class, and decorate the table in birthday fashion. As I tucked Eva into bed, she looked at me, biting her nails, saying," I hope you're making a set-up for me because I'll be very disappointed if you don't, I'm nervous that you won't." I reassured her that of course I would. The moment I left my head was spinning with oh no, she's going to be so disappointed when she comes out and only sees a curtain, I have no props for her. I mean we are so much a like that Eva's love of flare and drama matched my desire to perform and create a mood, giving me license to go over the top!I went to work on her curtains and banner, finishing around 11pm. The curtains are of a crude construction but will serve her and help secure the space for guests in the future with a bit of privacy. As I mediated on my girl, it came to me, I went back to an email by a story-teller, found her winter story and designed a Waldorf-type puppet show around the theme of the blue slippers with silver stars, complete with little slippers I needle felted. I set up chairs and had the performance space ready. So here at 1:00am I think of my girl.

Dear Eva,

I hope you are not disappointed tomorrow. I love your vision, your enthusiasm and your strong voice. As I sit and think of you I can hardly lament on the little girl I've left behind because in front of me I see the girl that will be with me for the rest of my life, grateful, strong, enthusiastic, determined, polite, helpful....how did we get here so soon?

I love you in first grade. There is no more pressure to find someone to play with, you are part of a large group and you are working through things harmoniously. Seeing you immerced in letters is a blessing, from writing then on your back, to hearing you sound out the alphabet, I know the words will soon come in to focus for you and look forward experiencing your journey.

I love my sweet dooby doo. Happy 7!

Love,

mama

child born of rain

Saturday before Eva's birthday I had to run some errands, there is nothing worse than running Saturday errands except running them in the rain; the parking, the poor driving, the sour attitudes. I got a sparkle in my eye when I pulled Pumpkin in to my vision of commuting around our part of the city. I pulled out my snow pants and found a raincoat and was ready to head off when Eva asked if she could join me. Why of course, no one loves rain more than my girl. The first rain storm of the year found her sitting down in the largest puddle on the playyard, wicking the water under her rain suit, leaving her wet up to her neck. Here are examples of my girl in rain one in Virginia at Graves Mt. Lodge and the other at friend's place in Novaro...(.the next time I looked out, she was naked on the tramplene, outlasting the three boys.)  We headed out in a torrent of drops, the pitter patter on the helmet sounded like that on a standing seam roof.  We took our time, stopping for lunch and a quick visit at a Holiday Bazaar of some Mission artistist - if I'd only had money. We returned home satisfied with our time out and about.

tis feudal times....

from Eva's point of view, November 12th is a tough one. she was so excited about the big day she went to sleep hours after her bed time and woke up at 4:50! yes yes yes. when Eli finally woke up, she was already an expert on his Indian Villiage, leaving nare a surprise for him to uncover. this did not seem to phase him, he did not whine nor fuss but slowly he made his claim on all the items. luckily I'd purchased two guords for each to have but the two baskets of rocks Eli would not part with, leaving his sister in a bawling mess on the floor. I finally got her back to her papa who read a chapter of Castle Corona to her and snuggled with her until she felt better. the new banner, too was too much, all for her little brother. as we were leaving for our special day at school, eva looked up at me begrudgingly and muttered, " you treat me like a peasant child..."

Pinecone's big day

what a birthday!  teepee, Dutch Baby breakfast with special guests Neema + Sameer, amazing celebration at school including a white cape and crown with Eli's story shared with all his friends in class,  a day spent in the forrest at the Presidio, a playdate with Silas at home playing, making sail boats, followed by Naomi, Leon, Marcel visit to help us eat mini pinecone cakes and Gialina pizza. Eli was feted to no end. when I woke him the next day with, "how's the birthday boy?" he replied, "I'm not the birthday boy, my birthday is over." there you go, it's over.

on the eve of Pinecones sixth birthday...

so much excitement in the air, and it's all mine. I was a mad flurry moving through my day, preparing for Eli's day and the arrival of Neema + Sameer. thanks to Peter drilling holes in the bamboo, I finished the tee pee, and to Suzanne for the little baskets/acorns and directing me to Coast for dried gourds for the set-up and Peter's wood scraps for the boat project for E + friend tomorrow. The Indian settlement is up and waiting for the boy to wake up and discover. Eva crept out while I was showing Neema the tee pee and nearly scared us both to death, you'd have thought it was our mother catching us with a beer bottle. Eva is on the secret now and I know she'll keep it, unlike in years past. I also finished the two banners: BIRTHDAY + BOY, this ought to surprise Eli who's been critical of Art's birthday garland. as I sewed the stitches I thought of my boy the entire time, there was no sense of urgency, just time to ponder this sweet boy of mine.

Eli,
I've been thinking about you and your little boyness as it's slipping away from me, here are some of the things I love and'll miss:

you won't always...

• want to run into my arms and be twirled just because they were open and waiting for you
• say milozine instead of limosine
• listen to the birds instead of my voice
• give me your special leg/night-time hug
• call "MAMA" first thing in the morning and want to be carried to the table announcing, "special delivery"
• want to be a gnome for halloween
• sing so sweetly
• call Eva, Sis
• ask for the keys, run ahead, lock me out only to let me in as soon as I arrive because it's our deal
• need your special blue blanket to sleep
  
• need me to hand you a towel when you get soap in your eyes washing your hair
• stop at a stream of water heading to the gutter to float a leaf
• climb to the top of the tree to ponder

I love you Branch Elias Pinecone Bender.

why am I bloggin? I've got so much to do....

This is hands-down avoidance, procrastination taken to the limits. we just returned from a swell family trip to Venice Beach, will blog about this later, and I am clearly avoiding the to-list that is waiting for me. Neema + Sameer and later Tim, will be staying Leslie's apartment downstairs for about two weeks, I've already broken the news my home-improvement list will not happen. I need to grocery shop, cook, unpack our bags, ready the lunches for school, pick up the odd piles of collected "life objects" around the apartment but I can't do it. Eli's birthday is now only just over 2 days away, I need to get on his tee pee, finish the birthday banner, shop for present from my mom, think about cake ....alas, here I sit with you. well the least I can do is the evenings dishes and then get to work cutting out the panels for the tee pee, funny how just writing it down get's me motivated to move on. oh, I'm going to put on my fabulous new slippers that were waiting for me today from Sydney. Thank you!!!

Art's birthday sewing

I finished Naomi's garland the night before her birthday, April 25th. I left it in the mailbox and David hung it in their kitchen while she was asleep. I now have Art's to finish. The children love to sew with felt but I've never had them work with fabric. Eli found cutting with the pinking shears fun. Eva picked up scissors and started creating with left-over fabric. She cut out shapes and sewed them together to make a house. She wanted to give them to Art for his birthday. I suggested we could sew it on to a pillow, knowing good and well I'd never have a chance to make a pillow before his birthday. We decided to pin it to another pillow we owned until I could get around to her project. She was pleased with it. I ended up helping her trace a sun she wanted and cutting the cloud for her applique project.

Projects brewing

With the children back to school, I've visited the fabric store, made lists of a couple of projects. The garland project is not over. I'm making one for Naomi's, Art's, and Suzy's birthdays. I build on the fabrics I already have but have broken out and purchased some new ones. I used to work on projects when Eva + Eli are in bed but now I find they are interested in what I'm doing and I can give them work while I'm busy.

birthday garland

I can now write this post because the recipient of the gifts have now both gotten them. After Sameer's, Neema + Tim's guy, had his first birthday, I got photos of a garland Neema made for the celebration. I was in awe and inspired. It took me a while to act on the inspiration but in February I worked on a small garland for Valentine's Day. I did not follow the plan of using the invisible thread and sewed the pieces on to a cotton band - too big. Plus I had made the velvet hearts way to big they became floppy.

I received my birthday gift from Kara - once again, a fabulous - homemade marshmellows and slippers. I've been in no condition to make any thing for anyone the last few years but I was now inspired to make a small garland for Kara/Andrew and the Simpson/Bonney clan. It was so much fun going to Discount Fabric, choosing colors, patterns that did not clash in the very least. I cut out all of the pieces and layed them out on cookie sheets. The fun began when I laid out the patterns on the newly purchased cutting board. I only had 4 patterns to choose from (would chose at least one more next time if not two) so it was fun to make a rhythem. As I worked I decided each group would receive 7 rows of pattern. The sewing took no time at all. I did this at home during they day while the children were at school. It felt so indulgent to sew during the day. It was my own little guilty pleasure.

Once finished I rolled the garland around a board to keep them straight. Of course I could not find my address book for two more weeks but they did indeed get their gifts - K/A's 2 months late and S/B 2 months early.