The New Street Folk Shoppe..and...

...Isn't it fantastic when you find another locally owned business to love?

Our town of Bethlehem, PA is full of gems and I've found yet another.

Welcome to The New Street Folk Shoppe, a terrifically tiny shop with  a lot of goodness.

The shop is less than a block from our church and I found it a few weeks ago while waking through town with W. I walked in, took a look around, and thought, "oh boy..."

The shop is stuffed with used books from all genres. The owner, Steve, is also a fine woodworker and painter...he sells his designs and creates custom orders, as well. He is a man with a sense of humor, for sure. When you walk into the store, you know you're going to have a entertaining, sometimes hilarious conversation.

 

As I looked around, I thought of the upcoming stories I'll be telling with the children. I asked him to create some Spring robins for me, on a whim, and also a bunny family. "Sure", he said. "I'll give you a call when they're done." 

The greatest thing is, Steve doesn't even have a store phone. He has no website. No facebook page. No advertising. He used to be a computer engineer, but he eschews technology when it comes to his shop. This really adds to the charm of the store, I think. I loved looking at his paints, brushes, and pad of receipt paper strewn about the tiny front counter. 

 This is somebody's shop.

 

Here is the bunny family custom made by Steve for this month's story...

 

Complete with Mr. Sly Fox.

Would you believe I spent under $25 for all 6 pieces??

Steve is willing to do mail orders if you're interested and have ideas. 

Allow ample time for creation and shipping:)

If you're local, be sure to stop in.

newstreetfolk@hotmail.com

Ok. I have some exciting news!

The Waldorf EC teacher who has been helping me along for nearly 2 years now is moving out of the area. I will miss her so very much and I'll always be grateful for our conversations. Imagine my bittersweet excitement when she made me aware that her position will be open this coming September! By this time, I'll have completed my first 3 weeks of training, but she seemed to think that I should apply. I spent the next 2 nights gathering resumes, references, and a biographical sketch. I mailed it 2 days later and tried to forget about it; trying to acquire the mindset "What's done is done!" My mind was wandering like crazy..."what if.....??!!" If I would be so lucky, this would mean that I'd be a lead teacher with my own classroom; the *first* beautiful classroom I ever observed in, the first waldorf classroom I walked into. The space and teacher who inspired me to learn more in the beginning of my journey...

It would also mean that W would be a nursery child in the other nursery room. I wonder how he will fare...what will happen...how this change will effect our family culture. I see how he loves our parent-child class, and I begin to believe that it could be the start of something wonderful for him...

I'll be going in for observations and some sample teaching within the next 2 weeks (a circle, story, and breadbaking with the children)...I'm so, so, so, SO excited and ready to start thinking about the story and circle I'll be offering....

:):):)

It feels weird writing about this--and I am totally ready for a dissapointment as I am sure there are many applicants who are more qualified than myself. Yet, I do feel that this is a career progression for me and that I am meant to do this. I have confidence and I am passionate. I'm ready and so willing to learn more and I have a lot to offer.

We'll see!!

Holiday knits

Oh, it's that time of year again...

The time when I remember that promise I made to myself which I never seem to keep..

Last year, I nearly vowed to start Holiday knits in August...

I'm not going to be rushing through anything, but it would have been great to have had a few things started months ago. Yes, well!

'Tis the season!

The little knitting bag that will happily be accompanying me nearly everywhere until December 25th!

 Never the less, I'm enjoying walking through our local yarn store searching for the right skeins for my upcoming projects.

 

 

It's a very dangerous 3 blocks from our home!

I find myself there all the time; wandering around for nearly an hour...

Never really buying too much of anything, but touching everything.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS-- SPOILER ALERT!


...you've been warned! :)

I'll be using Noro Kureyon for a drop stitch scarf for my mother

Baby Alpaca Grande for a swiss dot cowl..
This yarn is hands down the softest I've ever felt.
It is downright scrumptious and I mean it!!
I can't tell you how many times I have dug my hands into this display of yarn...
Ahhhhhh!!

Baby Alpaca Grande for a keyhole scarf. When this project is laid out in a gift box, it very much resembles a breast cancer awareness ribbon!

I also finished W's Plain Vest just in time for the cold weather.

I'm really loving this vest, as it keeps his chest and heart extra warm:)

In between stitches, I'm reading LILIPOH magazine, which is always a pleasure!

The giveaway for the beautiful Waldorf doll continues until Friday Nov. 25th!
Good luck, friends and a very Happy Thanksgiving to you!

Autumn Seasonal Table

 ..Dancing and whirling the little leaves went,

Autumn had called them and they were content.

Soon they will sleep in their soft earthly beds

Waiting for winter to cover their heads..

 

Needlefelted pumpkin with an image of St. Michael slaying the dragon in the background

 

..I try to keep our seasonal table minimal and uncluttered, which is my goal for our overall environment, too. It will grow as the season moves forward; as we find more treasures to bring inside, but I most likely won't add any other figures, etc. It can be so easy to get carried away with needlefelted dolls, cute "ornaments", scenery, etc., but I prefer to keep only a few focal points.

 

Ps- The weather was beautiful this past weekend and we enjoyed Celtic Classic all day together:)

 

One Autumn afternoon just as the sun was setting,

I heard a bluebird in the field pipe a song..

'farewell, we're going,

cool winds are blowing...

but we'll be back when the days grow long.....'

 

 

Welcome, Autumn!

Gone Pickin'

We returned again to the Rodale Farm for the annual organic apple festival today...

It really felt like the beginnings of Autumn; a great day for apple picking and enjoying scenery.

Oh, my W. He's had a difficult past few days. A cold he's been fighting off, a weak appetite..I know he is trying to convey something to me. He's been testing us by making much mischief around the house....I've also been kicked in the jaw twice and it doesn't tickle. I know he is not in control of his limbs or impulses yet; I have to remind myself this. But somehow, I just always seem to be getting caught in the crossfire as of late!

W was very excited to run about the apple orchard; especially when we saw one of his dearest friends. Apples were so exciting to him; the perfect thing to throw- something my boy does constantly. Gravity!

...I feel like this photo needs a really funny caption...

I decided to move all of our wood blocks up to the attic last week....they were being whipped across the room, nearly taking teeth out. They're too tempting for him. I am also sure the neighboors don't appreciate all of the rocks he has thrown onto their lawn, either.
Each time my Aunt or Uncle picked an apple, Wesley retrieved it from the apple picker and threw it. It was a game for him, and gave him much pleasure. It didn't please my family too much...it was an afternoon full of "Wesley!", and "Noooo! Why are you throwing the apples?"...and more...."Nooooo, Noooo!". He stopped eventually and I felt pretty overstimulated. I hate that.

Ok. Some of you may not agree with me, but I believe that until children are a certain age, they don't truly know the difference between right and wrong. Somewhere around 7? 9? Maybe even older. They know what they have been told is right or wrong...but to really, intrinsically know right versus wrong? This comes much, much later, I believe.
I challenge myself to limit my "No's" to instances when W is doing something that really needs to stop. Running into the street...touching the oven...I am not always successful in this, especially as of late and I recognize this. He is changing and I am running to catch up with him, literally. Imitation is key to promote behaviors you want to see more of.

Today was an example of telling my child what to do because it was polite versus letting him explore his environment and everything in it- something I feel he a right to do after a 35 minute car ride. Not surprising, my Aunt and Uncle have no chilldren, so they have not the patience nor know what to expect based on age and development. I'm not proclaiming that my excitable boy should be able to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants, but I know that the apples were...just so tempting.

as was everything else...

It was a beautiful day, though. I'm looking forward to the Fall and it's Festivals, especially Michaelmas, the "festival of strong will", which I am hoping will inspire some deep thinking and inner work during this time of approaching darkness on our Earth.

Imperfectly Perfect!

It's beginning to look a lot like Autumn here in Pennsylvania....and with this wonderful season comes beautiful festivals, crisper days, and delicious seasonal fruit!!

We attended an organic apple festival at the Rodale Institute this past weekend...the date has been marked on my calendar for a month now! I couldn't wait for organic apples! They were rightfully impossible to find in our area this time of year...until now....

the chubby little hand of a very curious toddler....

With baby W in the ergo on my back, we ducked inside the trees, climbed some low branches, and picked what we could find. I overheard many people remark with a certain amount of disgust...

"These are shaped wrong!"

"Look at all the bumps!"

"They're all small and rotten!"

As a supermarket society, we have been led to believe that all fruits and vegetables are shiny, perfectly formed, free of imperfections, and large in size. But, taste an organically grown red raspberry...this small jewel will burst in your mouth with tartness and flavor...conventionally grown, they appear larger....but they clearly lack in richness of color and taste department! (indeed, I have been blind taste-tested by a nay-saying ex boyfriend of the past!!)

Yes, the apples weren't perfect........they weren't bred for ship-ability and shelf life..some were half eaten by bugs...some rotted before they were picked......but they were grown in harmony with nature. And they tasted wonderful.

The festival offered delicious Fall drinks....such as the maple creamie...2 scoops of organic vanilla ice cream, maple syrup, and fresh apple cider. YUM is an understatement....

Local crafters set up tables inside an old barn...I gazed in awe at the beautiful handwork...

Here's to the beauty of life...acceptance....simplicity...and all of the lovely imperfections!

local Mennonite Children whom I very carefully photographed, as to not reveal their identities.

I was drawn to them all afternoon! They were so precious!