Change in Plans

This morning was supposed to be the busiest of all mornings with much multitasking going on. In fact, I've been prepping for this day all week long. The season's last soccer game, and Nolan's day to bring snack;The last Farmer's Market; Vending at the Fall Festival at Parker Dam State Park, which begins before said soccer game ends; Super Saturday Science for Teah in Clarion...an hour + in the opposite direction; invitation to Andy's dad's Bday shindig...all to happen today.

Well, when I awoke this morning (from a fitful sleep in which I tossed and turned and thought all night), the rain was coming down hard. I decided then and there that the Farmer's market was out for me. "Great!" I thought. Not only is it the busiest day, but we'll be busy and cold and wet all day! Better hop to it and get things rolling... Just as I was walking out the door to head to the market for fruit to chop up for the soccer snack, the phone rang. It was the coach informing me that the other team cancelled and doesn't want to make it up. I immediately was both happy and disappointed. Happy of course that we wouldn't have to hang out in the rain and that my asthmatic boy wouldn't be running and playing in the rain, but disappointed because I know how much Nolan loves soccer and was looking forward to this last game. Relieved because I didn't have to assemble snacks!

Okay, Next up...rounding up supplies and things to load for the festival. My fellow mama friend Kimberly who was to come with me, called saying that her boys were already not feeling great and she didn't think she would take them out today. Hmmm...I didn't really want to go and have Nolan sitting in the rain all day by ourselves...with all of my handmade, FABRIC wares....so that got me thinking about the fall festival in a different light. As a parent....would I take my family to the woods for a festival if it were freezing cold and raining hard? Would I want to spend money at the rainy festival? Would the activities (natural dye, leaf prints, candle dipping, cider pressing, pumpkin float, bonfire and storytelling) still occur in the rain? I'm not sure, but I don't think that I (a pretty woods-friendly mama) would even want to go to the festival given the conditions today. So, after a quick consult w/ Andy, I decided to stay home and consider my already paid fee a donation to Parker Dam.

Teah is already in Clarion with her dad and her plans to attend Harry Potter themed Super Saturday Science should be unchanged regardless of the weather.

So...all the stress of the week is suddenly gone. Amazing. I now have permission to enjoy a quiet day at home (until 6pm when we will now go to celebrate Andy's dad's bday)...doing all the things I love to do....organize, sew, clean, craft, read books snuggled up with Nolan, treat him to a movie....the possibilities are endless. Thanks to the rain!

Gratitude List for today:

1. permission to slow down (the rain)
2. being able to keep the curtains shut
3. my local freecycle group
4. crepes cooked in a cast iron skillet and filled with CNG blueberries from Zeb :)
5. our funny dog, Scooter (or Duder)
6. baskets of fall books
7. the beautiful bird tree that now we get to keep and enjoy instead of selling!
8. Spending the day with my beautiful son, just the two of us
9. tea in my mug
10. a basket full of yarn and gorgeous bamboo needles to play with

Here's hoping you are enjoying a day of stillness too! Really, we go and go all week long...don't we deserve some home time?

The end doesn't have to be...

The end of the season…
Well, Folks, we are winding down to the last weeks for the DuBois Farmer’s Market. My how time flies! I'd like to thank you all for supporting me this season. I hope you've enjoyed all your goodies. Jellies, Jams, organic breads, cookies and other healthy snacks! I've enjoyed bringing them to you. I hope to see you again next summer either at the DuBois Farmer's Market or perhaps through a CSA program. I will be attending the PASA conference in February to stay abreast on all the exciting new developments in the world of sustainability, organic farming, and all natural living so that I can bring that knowledge to you. Feel confident that when you buy local, handmade, certified naturally grown or organic, you are giving yourself and your family a wonderful gift. Thanks again and I hope to see you soon!
Now...what flavor shall I bake this week? Hmm.cinnamon-raisin, garlic-dill, healthy hearty whole grain, or honey wheat? We shall see.Oh, one more thing. I wanted to let you all know that just because the market is over, that doesn't mean you have to live without your favorite bread. No, no, no.... I still bake weekly for many other people, so if you'd like to place either a one-time order or a standing weekly order, simply give me a call at 814-591-7673 or 814-371-4130 and I'll be happy to bake for you! Okay, happy winter everyone!
In peace,
Terah
Dalai Mama’s Day

THE DAM SHOW...

Rasta tye-dye tapestry Mushroom tapestry
Beautiful Serenity in her fun and funky new dress! (thanks guys!)
patchy bags
Dalai Mama's Day...the booth

~ Dalai Mama herself~
tye-dye and patchy clothes
hacky sacks, prayer flags, bags, banners
Thanks to all who stopped by to say "Hey!"
Tree of Life tapestry

Me and my sidekick!
A very well-done lightshow on the dam
Our new friend, Local musician Josh Wolfe!
Watch for him!!!

FREE GRASS UNION!!! (we love you guys:)
Fun, fun, fun!

...at the beautiful Austin Dam Memorial Park! I had no idea such a cool event was happening right in our neck of the woods (well near Coudersport). This festival was great! Lots of families and wee ones, local music along with bands who traveled a bit, vendors, a light show, the works! I'll definitely go back next year. The music was great, it happened all day and all night...we got to mingle with new friends and say hi to some old friends! It was kind of like a vacation really...only I was working! For those of you who like great music and want to help support both young, local musicians and the Potter County Fine Arts Council and the Austin Dam Memorial Association (who put on this event to raise funds for the park), I would strongly urge you to visit:http://www.damshow.com and make plans to be there next July!!! The lineup included such bands as:

• Free Grass Union (New York)
• Gail Ayers (Coudersport)
• Willie Jack and the Northern Light (Danville area)
• Michael Cleveland & Flamekeeper (who has debuted on the Grand Ole Opry w/ Allison Krauss!)
• Blue Sky Mission Club
• J.Guy and the Grateful Floyd Band (Easton area)
• Buddhahood (Rochester)
• Tom Martin (Coudersport)
• Freakish Owl Boy (siblings, every one!)
• Redheaded Stepchild (Nashville)
• Hackensaw Boys (Virginia)
• Ryan Montbleau Band (Boston)
• The Slant (Pittsburgh)
• Cherylann Hawk (Pittsburgh)

Dalai Mama had a great weekend at the Austin Dam Show. Won't you join me next summer?

etsy shop update!

felt crowns
reusable celebration crowns
Storytelling bags
The bags come ready to use!
lil' dude messenger bag
lil' mama messenger bag
for dress up!
or birthdays
or pretending to be the frog prince!

tye dye for all ages
tye dye
the mascot of dalai mama's day...do you think she looks like me?
colored pencil rollups
recycled celebration banners!

Hey there, friends! Time for an update on my etsy shop. Summer has come and gone and we're rolling into fall. This was a busy season for me with lots of festies, and market days. Many of these items have already sold, but I thought I'd catch you up on what's happening in Dalai Mama's world! Thanks for all of your support this season and I look forward to seeing you all again real soon.

Please visit: http://www.dalaimamasday.etsy.com/ for current items!

Enjoy all that Fall has to offer!

Peace!

Slow down and love...

So, I was checking out one of my favorite environmental homeschooling groups today and came across these quotes. I pondered them and was truly moved by the honesty of them both. I hope they move you too.....really, can't we all use more love? And aren't we all feeling too rushed? Let us slow down today and really just work from our hearts...let love motivate our parenting today.



The more you are motivated by love, the more fearless and free your actions will be. -Katherine Mansfield


I am struck by the fact that the more slowly trees grow at first, the sounder they are at the core, and I think that the same is true of human beings. We do not wish to see children precocious, making great strides in their early years like sprouts, producing soft and perishable timber, but better if they expand slowly at first, as if contending with difficulties, and so are solidified and perfected. Such trees continue to expand with nearly equal rapidity to an extreme old age…Henry David Thoreau

Celebrate!

Reusable Celebration Banners available for sale now at dalaimamasday.etsy.com! Get yours now!!! These banners can be customized any way you like!!! Made from upcycled fabric samples, they are so festive and can be used for all celebrations throughout the year. Start this green tradition for your family!! The children will look forward to each holiday and celebration as they see you pulling out the treasured celebration banner! Try it.

Tye Dye helpers

it got a little out of hand...

voila!
For sale from Dalai Mama's Day!!

Look at those bright colors!
more...
still more...
silly, silly girls

Neighborhood girls start accumulating...
Shirts soaked in ash
drying the ash soaked shirts
all dyed up and setting
Neighbors really wanted to do some of their own shirts with our leftover dye

So, first off, let me apologize for the order of these pics...I still struggle with that.

Teah and I were enjoying our first mama/daughter solo night of the school year and we decided that we'd love to get started on making tye dye shirts to sell at festies this summer. Great, the boys were with Dad, Andy was on a canoe adventure with the boys...we set out to gather the goods.

Now, this is the first time we've done tye-dye since moving into a neighborhood. Let me just say that the experience was much less peaceful and enjoyable than when we lived on seven secluded acres!

As soon as the kids in the hood got wind of what was going down in Teah's backyard, we were swarmed...I tried to tell myself that the kids needed this experience more than I need chill time...though I did think, "here goes our solo time." Really though, these children may never have had this experience if it weren't for us. So...after consulting with my sidekick we decided it would be okay to delegate jobs like stirring the ash and passing the shirts and hanging them to dry to our neighbors...then when we were finished, we let them bring shirts from home and use up the rest of our dye. It got a little out of hand, I got a wee bit stressed, but the shirts, pants, skirts and dresses got dyed and Teah felt like we had some together time...and I crossed off one festi task off my to-do list!