The Rowan Tree

I have always had a thing for tree images and the concept of The Tree of Life. I remember there was a giant tree in Balboa Park in San Diego, where I grew up. Children would climb all over the natural play structure formed by the tree's huge roots, spanning far out from the trunk in all directions, before digging deep into the earth to support the massive trunk. Many Sundays after church, my sister and I would beg our parents to take lunch to the park so we could picnic in the shade of it's green leaves. Until I sat down to write this, I had forgotten about that tree.

When we were thinking about names for our second child, we had agreed on Rowan if it was a girl, and Perrin if it was a boy. I had always thought I would name my children after characters from fantasy novels, so when my husband suggested Rowan, the name of a book by one of my favorite authors, I thought it was a great idea. I am not sure I even knew there was a tree by that name.

After we lost our Rowan, I learned all about the Rowan Tree, or Mountain Ash. A friend of my father's who had an older daughter named Rowan gave us a rowan tree she had raised from a seed. During Rowan's memorial service, we planted that tree in our back yard and surrounded it with pansies, each planted by a friend or family member in attendance. My father's friend even played a piece called "The Rowan Tree" on her harp.

In the nearly four years since we planted that tiny tree, the pansies gradually stopped coming back, but have been replaced with lavender and daylilies (from my Grandfather's garden), as well as glowing toadstools, a few angels, and a little gnome girl who guard the sapling as it grows. A stone custom carved with "Rowan's Garden" rests at the base of our Rowan Tree, now twice as tall as me, which finally flowered this spring.

Once we realized what a Rowan tree was, we began to recognize them all over our neighborhood by their orangey red berries, and my almost 7 year old son often points them out in the park or on a walk. Just last night, he came running into the house to tell us, "There are Rowan Berries on our Rowan Tree!" And so there are. For the first time since it was planted, our little tree in Rowan's memorial garden is adorned with three bunches of dark orange berries .

ETA: I wrote this post before receiving the news that my Reversible Rowan Tree Vest just won the Grand Prize at the CGOA's annual Design Competition. Here is my post about Making The Vest, and you can see more photos over on Ravelry.

G's (Award Winning) Crocheted Garden

My son G loves to help me out in the garden. But living in the northwest it is often too wet to get outside in the real dirt. So now he can harvest vegetables even when it is raining. So I designed this garden for his Easter basket in 2009.

He knew I was making the vegetables. I was planning to surprise him with the garden mat, but one night when I was tucking him in he told me, "Maybe we can find some brown yarn and make a garden for my vegetables." I told him I would talk to the Easter Bunny. Little did he know I had already made him a mat with 20 pockets to plant in while he was sleeping just the night before.

When he saw the Garden sticking out of the top of his basket Easter morning he exclaimed, "That's my Garden! It's just what I asked for." He spent the rest of the morning harvesting his vegetables, cooking them into a "stew", and then planting them again. My sister, a school psychologist, has used them to help G practice patterning.
G's Garden is made from cotton and alpaca yarns (with a couple acrylic blends), and contains:
1 Tomato plant, 2 Broccoli,

3 Radishes, 3 Carrots,
3 Potatoes,

4 Strawberries (they tend to spread), and don't forget the 2 Lettuce (though I forgot a pic).

With an easy button, G's Garden rolls up and is ready to go!

Everyone who sees it wants one for their kids (or themselves), but I could never charge enough to be worth the time but into all those little plants. I have been working on writing up the patterns for all the little veggie plants for awhile now. I considered adding Watermelon and Squash vines to complete the collection, but decided to stick with root vegetables and those that grow close to the ground.

When I heard about the CGOA Design Competition this month, I sent in a complete set (minus the broccoli & tomato plants, and 4 of each of the others). I just found out that my Garden placed 3rd in the "Small Wonders" category. Such an honor among so much talent!

Cooking Camp

The Kids Cooking Corner is Vancouver's only Culinary School for Kids, housed in a quaint little farm house, painted bright colors inside and out. Founded by Heidi OConnor, they are a Non-Profit and depend on volunteers and donations to help in their gardens and to keep their school running. They even host Birthday Parties, whatever theme you like.

I spent most of this week volunteering at their Cooking Camp Griffin was attending. When he and I met the founder and owner of The Kids Cooking Corner at Dozer Days a few months ago, he was really excited go to a camp where he could cook, garden, and do crafts all week long (three of our favorite things). They even planned to make Fairy Gardens, similar to the one we made last year.

I have been volunteering for the past few months, helping them plant their gardens and plan their first Summer Camp. I got a local nursery to donate a van full of tomato and pepper starts, so they can grow plenty of their own veggies for making tomato sauce and salsa this fall, and not spend as much on produce for their classes.

Having spent many years working day camps myself, I sat down with the owner and her to help them sketch out a basic plan for their week long camps this summer. We came up with a different country for each day of the week with foods and crafts to tie into the themes, and several fun field trips. I agreed to drive my van for the field trips for all three weeks of their camps, and help out with anything else they needed during the week my son was attending the camp.

As it turned out, this past week while Griffin was attending Camp, both the teachers were sick all week. 'Driving the field trips' turned into helping out all day for three days! I led half the kids in crafts, nature walks, and harvesting from the garden while 'Miss Heidi' had the other half in the kitchen busy cooking everything from pizza and sweet'n'sour pork to pancakes and cinnamon rolls (Griffin thought it was very strange to get dessert for breakfast).

It has been many years since I taught kids craft classes at day camps and Michaels Stores, although I have organized a number of craft events for our local MOMS Club. But I had a blast helping the kids make bracelets, a totem pole, painting, tie dyed tshirts, and memory books. Griffin figures I should start my own camp. But maybe I will just start with a Creative Arts class for Willow and a Campfire Group for Griffin, and their friends.

Ladybugs and Dragonflies for Rowan

On Wednesday, our daughter Rowan would have been three years old. I had been thinking of having a bug party all summer, to release ladybugs, make worm bins, and have buggy crafts for the kids. I finally realized that Rowan's birthday would be the perfect day, as butterflies, dragonflies, and ladybugs always remind me of her, and I knew I would need something fun to do.

Ten of my mom friends and 20 kids spent the morning playing in our yard, chatting, and enjoying the yummy snacks everyone brought and cool beverages (blended mochas for the moms). About halfway through the morning, someone noticed the dragonflies hovering over our yard. Everyone got quiet for little while to watch more than a dozen dragonflies dart around our yard. In the months after we lost Rowan, Griffin and I began noticing the dragonflies who often come to visit. Then three year old Griffin really liked the idea that his angel baby sister could turn into a dragonfly whenever she wanted to come a visit us, and still talks about it. Everyone who sees them says they have never seen so many in one place.

I had picked up all sorts of bug themed crafts from the clearance bins of the local craft stores, and butterfly nets from the $Tree. The kids enjoyed coloring bug cutouts and velvet bug bookmarks, decorated foam frames with lady bug stickers, and put tissue paper squares on sticky butterflies. I thought I had too many different crafts, but Griffin finished most of them and asked me what craft I had next for him. After some of the younger kids went home I pulled out the dragonflies and other beads I had left from making bookmarks for thank you gifts, and helped the older kids make stretchy bracelets.

When I could not find ladybugs at home depot, and the other garden stores I checked were sold out, I had given up hope for releasing ladybugs, convinced it was too late in the season. But my friend Lianne saved the day, and brought me two bags of 1500 ladybugs from The Backyard Birdshop. I climbed up on our monster truck tire, gathered the kids around with their butterfly nets, and talked to them about ladybugs and why we like to have them in our garden. Then I shook about 2000 tiny ladybugs out into their nets and onto the ground. The kids LOVED it and spent the next 20 minutes with bugs crawling all over them as they adjusted to freedom and flew all over our yard.

Most of our friends went home for afternoon naps, but my good friend (and midwife who helped deliver both Rowan and Willow) spent the whole day with us, along with her kids. Her daughter is only two months younger than Willow. After Willow woke from her nap, my Dad and MIL joined us all for our annual hike to the spot where we released Rowan's ashes, and up to the top of Beacon Rock. Spending the day surrounded by supportive friends and family was a wonderful way to honor and remember Rowan.

Getting My Craft On!

A Very Crafty Week:

Saturday - Scrapbooking, all day event. Finally got back to working on my Wedding Album, set aside many years ago when I tried selling Creative Memories and worked on other albums using CM materials. Hoping to finish before my 15th wedding anniversary in June, and finally get my baby albums going.

Monday - Birthday Party Invitations, green cards and envelopes, add a little vellum (easier to print on) and polkadot ribbon ($1 per roll at Big Lots). Print cute poem written by Carissa, cut to fit, punch a few holes for attaching to card with ribbon and just because I thought they should be holey. And they were ready to mail.

Tuesday - Seedball Making Workshop with Griffin. He kept his hands remarkably clean for rolling dozens of little balls of clay, compost, and wildflower seeds. Organized by Urban Abundance. Cannot wait to try this with the MOMS Club Garden Club.

Wednesday - Craft Night, a friend hosts a monthly get together. This month there were people scrapbooking, knitting, crocheting, making valentines, and I started cutting fabric squares for party favors. I love this monthly chance to craft when I do not have to organize anything of even clean my craftroom.

Thursday - Bean Bags and Egg Shakers, party favors for Willow (and Liam)'s 1st birthday party next week, made mostly from recycled materials. Bean Bags made from cute Dr. Seuss fabric with corduroy scraps from my friend over at Sunshine Salad who makes the rockin' patchwork pants my son wears almost every day. For Shakers we used recycled plastic Easter eggs in three sizes filled halfway with rice, popcorn, or beans (to make different sounds).

Friday - Fleece Blanket Making with MOMS Club. This is our second year making No Sew Fleece Blankets as part of the Remembering Rowan Project for Foster Kids in Clark County. This year the MOMS Club of Camas is putting together a donation of sweatsuits and other necessities for the kids in foster care. We will donate the blankets and all in April for Foster Care Awareness Month. Kits for making the blankets frequently go on sale for at Joann's, just $10 for a handmade blanket to warm a child in need.

Saturday - Yarn In, crocheted all day, more Shakers and stitching horns on a hat. Only a brief break to run Willow home for a nap, and pick up a few of my crocheted hats and playscapes to show off. I got a lot of encouragement for getting my designs published...

This Week - Many many party preparations, cleaning, and making Valentines! The crafting never stops!

Pruning Berries...

...With A Five Year Old.

We have been enjoying a couple of dryer days here in the northwest, yesterday was even quite sunny! With all the rain it is important to take advantage of the few warmer days to get outside and in the garden. Since most of the garden is still sleeping, it is time to prepare for Spring, pruning and weeding.

With my one year old on my back, Griffin and I headed out to prune the overgrown raspberries and blueberries. This time of year it is farely easy to determine which branches produced last year and which ones are already growing buds ready to bring us fruit this summer. Even a five year old can do it.

Yesterday I was busy with the clippers removing dead branches while Griffin helped by collecting the pruned sticks in his little garden cart and dragging them off to the compost pile. Raspberry canes bear fruit at the top the first year and all the way down the cane during the second year. So I prune the tops off of last year's canes, and remove completely the two year old canes. Griffin also helps by pulling off the dead little sticks running along the newer canes.

Today we worked on our little patch of blueberries. Griffin asked if he could help. Together we looked at the difference between the dead brown branches from last year and the new red branches with buds for this year. I explained the clippers were too sharp but he could help by snapping off all the little brown sticks as long as he was careful not to snap off the buds.

All gardening with kids (like most things with kids) takes a certain amount of letting go of control and not getting too upset if things do not turn out quite as you planned. When Griffin inevitably said, "Oops, I snapped off a bud.." I used it as a teaching opportunity, to explain that it was okay to take off some because then the rest of the berries would grow bigger. I mentioned his favorite giant apples from his Grampa Kit's garden, then explained how his Grampa prunes some of the buds on his apple tree so that more energy from the tree can go into the rest of the buds and they can grow into giant apples.

G’s Terrarium & Fairy Garden Update

Before we even started our Fairy Garden, G suggested we make a Terrarium like we had seen on another blog awhile back. A Terrarium is generally a self enclosed little world, but when our neighbor offered us a lovely 5 gallon water jug she had lying around, G had other ideas. His dad was not happy to cut off the top of a jug that would have been perfect for his camping trips, but he did it to create G’s vision. Dad also suggested using the collection of broken toy parts they recently collected around our property, left by the neighbor kid (we like to call him Sid, like from Toy Story). The basil plants I had been meaning to put in the ground all summer make perfect trees for the dinosaurs to roam under and protect the treasure box filled with beads “left by the fairies.”


We also made fairy windchimes (upper right), toadstool caps, and plates we painted and finished with polyurethane to last longer outside. Over the first couple nights, the “fairies” left us a few surprises like tiny silk flowers in the pots we left them, and little white “tables” which G carefully arranged the toadstools around. Our neighbor even got into the act, and hung some strands of beads on the tree. G came in that afternoon saying, “I love checking to see what the fairies bring us for our garden!“

Fairy Garden!

I came across Beneath The Rowan Tree’s posts about making a Fairy Garden last night, and was inspired to make my own with Griffin. So we spent the afternoon arranging, planting, collecting, and decorating to create our very own mini world for the fairies to play in.

Our Garden is not nearly as well planned out as BTRT’s, I just used what I had on hand. As it is late summer, it may not thrive for long. But since we planted it in 2 parts, a chair planter (from Paws & Claws thrift store) and a large white pot (free from my father-in-law), we can move them under more cover when needed. Currently, our Fairy Garden resides in the shade of the large lilac tree in our front yard where Griffin can easily play with it.

Each of the plants we used was a gift, mostly ones I have kept on my kitchen window for the past couple of years, which my husband recently decided needed to be moved outside. Our plants came from my in-laws after Rowan died, my MOMS Club Secret Sister a couple years ago, a friend of Griffin’s when she moved away, my Dad for Mother’s Day, and a miniature daylily from my sister's baby shower. Griffin also recently won a couple of plants at a Master Gardener’s dinner.



While I planted the plants, Griffin went around the garden finding other decorations he thought “The Fairies will like.” He found 2 shiny stepping stones (ideal for standing on while he plays), all sorts of flower and butterfly plant stakes, and a rusty lantern "for the fairies to hang out in". We used an old pail for the pond and river rocks left from our Father’s Day craft to make paths through the gardens. The fairies “sleep” in the larger painted birdhouse I picked up for $5 at a recent garage sale.

On our second trip to the nearby forest to collect moss to cover the dirt between our plants, a neighbor gave Griffin a few tiny pots to add to our garden. Some are too small to actually plant anything in, so we left them for the fairies by the small birdhouse Griffin painted awhile back. He decided this must be their “greenhouse”. Every half hour after we came inside, he went back out to check if the fairies had come to our garden and planted anything in their tiny pots. Must find some tiny plastic plants to surprise him one of these mornings. His dad explained to him that it may take awhile for word to get around to the fairies, like the bird food they have been putting out so now all the birds come here looking for food. Next we will have to try fairy windchimes and toadstools.

Lasagna in the Garden

Ingredients:

• 1 layer Old Phone Book Pages, Newspapers or Cardboard Boxes
• 1 layer Recycled Egg Cartons & Christmas Tree Branches
• 1 layer Horse Manure
• 1 layer Dried Leaves
• 1 layer Compost
• 1 layer Hay
• 1 layer Top Soil/Sand Mix
• Sprinkle some Coffee Grounds and Egg Shells in between the layers

Add plants and grow!

We doubled our vegetable garden space last year, but no amount of rototilling will get rid of the grass and weeds. So we are trying a Lasagna Bed on top to smother the weeds. Griffin had a blast tearing up old phone books to make "a blanket to keep our garden bed warm". Not to mention the benefit of finding a use for my ever increasing piles of phonebooks, empty egg cartons, newspapers and cardboard boxes.