When I realized that my Steam Broom was no more, I was at such a loss – we do not use cleaning chemicals at home for many years now, so cleaning with steam was a great solution. Otherwise – no chemicals – and got to use lots of elbow grease. So no matter what was spilled or stuck to the floor – I would pass the steam mop et voilà – no streaks, no crawling over the floor with a rag, dry hands and everything is really clan without chemicals.

So back to the steam cleaner – I tried it tonight and I was like some Ghost Buster. Not only I steam wiped the floor in all big house in 20 minutes, with hand attachment I just kicked whatever there was from around the faucets, in crevices, etc. Like those guys who steam clean the buildings from outside. That was me today – Pshhht, and everything shines!

There was even a steam window squeegee attachment – tried it, too – all bathroom mirrors are perfect now, without spraying vinegar on them and then polishing that off with newspapers (Grandma taught me that – it works the best, of course, after my steam cleaner).

I am also thinking I will be able to steam straighten some of the fabric, some garments.

Can’t tell you the brand – but it will shop first in your Google search results anyway.

PS, Should keep in mind to restrain myself from adding lavender EO to the water tank. even though this is so tempting!

That was one of those Perfect Days…  Just a day in the Park, with baby we love, a day for a baby when we all together and the Spring is finally here.
The swans came for the crumbs; our Goose With Broken Wing survived this endless Winter; he greats us as usual, not  anymore so hungry for bread. He eats gingerly from our hands and then just settles next to us and takes a nap while we are playing in the sand.

We had a Perfect Day. But why, the more I look at those happy images the more I feel sorrow and even a sort of apprehension.

In modern times this “enemy within” is called “depression”. People learned to treat it the same way as they learned to treat othre deseases with advent of thenew powerful chemical drugs..

It is obvious that depression was always here with humans.. But is it a common disease? However,  depression does not seam to behave as a common illness. It resists chemical treatment (“Talking to someone” helps sometimes, just like going to the church helps with many human conditions).

So may be depression it is not a disease?

May be depression it’s a human condition, a natural condition, intrinsic to our human nature, like speech, sense of smell and hearing? Like heart beat and ability to breath in?

Is it given to us so we won’t feel to sad from the knowledge that one day we will all have to depart and so we won’t be holding so tight to this world since there is so much sadness and even the most joyful day seems to be a passing, deceptive illusion?  May be that?

I remember a preacher gave us a sermon on “Why God Allows Suffering”. His point was just like that – there is suffering in this World so we won’t be too heartbroken to depart from it.

So may be Depression should not be treated chemically but left as it is. May be it is one of those necessary evils? Like we need darkness to appreciate and understand what light is?

Only that that “Enemy Within” us sometimes is really, really too much. Like last weekend – we had Cherry Trees in blossom, happy people waiving at us when we were enjoying our Park Train ride, we had ice cream and hot dogs. We had it all. And the ‘enemy within” would just cast a shadow over all of it – it won’t last, it shall pass, the future is uncertain, the child will grow up and leave you naturally, you will be old, you will outlive your beloved spouse, you will end up in an old age house…

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Lastly, a bienseant quote from Amélie Nothomb:

Amélie Nothomb in her novel “Cosmeetique de l’Ennemie” has written: “Je crois en l’ennemi parce que, tous les jours et toutes les nuits, je le rencontre sur mon chemin. L’ennemi est celui qui, de l’intérieur, détruit ce qui en vaut la peine.”

(I believe in the enemy because, all the days and all the nights, I encounter him on my path. The enemy is the one who, from within, destroys everything worthwhile.)

I decided to hold MONTHLY giveaways from now on. Next month’s prize will be similar sunblock dress in surprise colour scheme.

Shaking Matryoshka… Opening first winner name… And the winner is…
Cynthia!!! Now pulling out the second prize winner – the second prize is a PDF pattern and DIY instructions on how to make a Babywearing Coat – or a Regency style Maxi dress with necklace and cuffs. Dora decided finally to participate and she pulled out the second prize second winner name and the 2nd prize winners are… Jennifer and Adrienne!

I post some excerpts from them here:

“I don’t see any young child (2-6) sitting through the entire DVD without adult interaction. As a teacher, I said the phrases with my daughter and even added some gestures, so I will admit all her attention was not on the DVD. I think 5-10 minutes is the max you could expect. Not a babysitting DVD.”

“However, the pace of the film is very slow, and while I hate to admit it, children these days need something much more lively and interactive.“

“This DVD is so boring my four year old son begged me to change it to something else. He generally loves almost anything on TV.“

“The animation is also not computer generated so some children may be put off about it. It reminds me of some of the PBS animated reading programs. At least you don’t have to worry about out-dated fashions. It’s just a cat in simple clothing. “

“The pace is very slow, and the animation is dated. I can’t see a child who is active or high strung sitting through it.”

“In my experience, pre-schoolers would find the pace too slow and it would not keep their attention”

and then, there was this:

“The animation is a little slow, but I think that is exactly what I like about it. It doesn’t overwhelm your little ones and gives them plenty of time to repeat. My kids, 3 and 5 yo, love to repeat and sing along and don’t seem to get bored with the repetition. Remember, repeating is a good way to learn that really captives young children attention.”

You know, I bought that DVD immediately.

You might be a lucky winner; the winner will be announced this coming Sunday, May the 8th.

Wishing you luck!

See the Dress here: http://www.lilies-of-the-valley.com/products-page/baby-clothes/baby-clothes-toddler-sundress-hood-long-sleeves-one-size-fits-12mo-2t/

As I wrote before – Giveaway is not a good marketing strategy. It’s just what the word implies – giving something away. I am doing a giveaway, because I do want to thank all our friends who read our posts with benevolent patience, who don’t care for my shaking English and even more shaking French.  I want to make clothes for freet, and one day, I do not know how, but I will be doing just that. For now, I make clothes and I have to sell – but I decided that at least once in 3 months I would be just giving, and not just an end of a line or a prototype, but the best of what came out from my sewing machine. That is my Birthday Resolution – to give.

Thank you!

Tania

Today we were at Dollar Store and Dora asked for a mouse – like they make as dog toys. It was clear that the mouse will fall apart before we even reach the house – a dollar was too much to pay for it. So I promised to Dora that once at home we will make a mouse together, even better that this one. She was a bit disappointed, but she is a great sport.

So at home I reached for fleece scrap box, we make most of our toys from scraps from Lilies of the Valley Babywearing Coats. Suddenly, I saw the woolen socks I had to discard – I wore them all winter and the soles got worn out beyond repair. And so, in 5 minutes (OK, that was 20 minutes) we made this glorious mouse – the body is made from the left side of the TOP of the woolen/nylom socks. The nose – a bit of black fleece (of course) – the inside of the ears and the tail is from the scraps of this coat: http://www.lilies-of-the-valley.com/products-page/babywearing-coat/babywearing-coat-for-back-and-front-carry-position/

So, here are the pictures: